《Immortal Path Space》


 Chapter 1: Dependent on Each Other

    Chapter 1: Dependent on Each Other


    As the sun descended in the western sky, a slender figure walked along a narrow path in the mountains. Two bloodstains marked the face, likely scratches from the thorns on the mountain. The faded indigo hemp garment, mended in numerous ces, showed signs of wear, with frayed threads dangling from the cuffs. The shoes were worn to the point where the big toes peeked through. Carrying arge bamboo basket on the back, filled with various herbs from the mountains.


    The young boy was called Er Gou Zi, originally named Wang Hong, a viger from Wang''s family. In Wang''s vige, no one could read or write. Even his name was acquired by spending ten coins to invite a fortune-telling Taoist from the town. Adults thought that a humble name would make life easier, so theymonly referred to him as Er Gou Zi.


    The vige also had a plethora of names for dogs, pigs, and cows. There were six dogs with the name "Dog," and Wang Hong ranked second, hence known as Er Gou Zi. He felt satisfied with his nickname, much preferable to those names like "Cow Dung Pile" and "Tapeworm."


    Wang Hong, twelve years old this year, lost his mother at the age of five. His father, who ventured into the mountainsst spring, never returned. ording to the vige elders, he encountered a wolf pack and met his demise within the jaws of the wolves.


    Left behind were Wang Hong and his eight-year-old brother, Wang Yi, nicknamed Si Gou Zi. While their father was alive, he leased ten acres ofnd from the Wang family. Life was somewhat manageable.


    However, after their father''s death, the Wang family decided to reim thend, fearing that the young brothers wouldn''t manage it well or pay the rent. In this area where people were many andnd was scarce, there were plenty of hands willing to help with the farming.


    As for hunting in the mountains, no one was willing to take him along, fearing that he would be a burden. Chasing after wild beasts, they might end up as the prey of the mountain creatures.


    With no other option, Wang Hong could only gather herbs in the rtively safe areas around the Misty Cloud Mountain and sell them in the town''s herbal shops for a few copper coins.


    His younger brother spent his days wandering the fields, collecting wild vegetables, gathering firewood, and taking care of chores.


    Er Gou Zi calcted his gains for the day as he walked. Today''s luck was particrly bad; after a whole day in the mountains, he only managed to gather a handful of Lonicera japonica, half a unit of Pinellia ternata, and some wild chrysanthemums, mugwort, and wind-chasing vines. All these herbsbined would fetch at most two coins.


    Additionally, he found three bird eggs the size of three fingers and a handful of wild fruits.


    While the outskirts of the mountain were safer, devoid ofrge wild beasts, valuable items were already scarce due to repeated searches by the locals.


    At the foot of the mountain, smoke rose from the Wang family vige, and a few children yed at the entrance. Wang''s vige, with just a few dozen households, consisted mainly of tenants of the Wang family in the town. They made a living by farming and supplemented their ie by hunting and gathering herbs during the off-season.


    In prosperous times, they could just about manage to sustain themselves. However, during lean years, selling sons and daughters was not unheard of.


    From a distance, a seven or eight-year-old child was carefully selecting wild vegetables at the entrance. He meticulously shook off the dirt from each nt, plucking the leaves one by one, discarding those damaged by insects.


    Wang Hong approached him stealthily, and before the boy could notice, he shouted, "Ah!" Startled, the boy sat down on the ground, and upon recognizing Wang Hong, he angrily smeared the mud from his hands onto Wang Hong.


    Chasing after Wang Hong in a fit, once the younger brother vented his anger, Wang Hong took out a small package wrapped in leaves from the bamboo basket, carefully sewn together with grass stems.


    "Younger brother, guess what this is?"


    Wang Yi''s eyes lit up as he snatched it away, saying, "Consider thispensation for scaring me."


    Carefully unwrapping it, he revealed a type of raspberry, with beads the size of small grains of rice clustered together, forming a thumb-sized, ripe, jet-ck fruit. Sweet with a hint of tartness, it was Wang Yi''s favorite.


    "Wow, so many tree buds! Today, I also found a lot of wild vegetables." The younger brother smiled, squinting his eyes into thin slits, and tossed a few into his mouth.


    "Mmm... delicious!"


    He grabbed a handful and stuffed them into Wang Yi''s mouth.


    I found several raspberry bushes in the mountains, and there are many more that haven''t ripened on the trees. I''ll pick them in a couple of days. Take them and eat. I''m going to cook.


    Wang Hong scooped up a handful of rice, added arge amount of water to the pot, and, as it boiled, stirred it slowly with a wooden spoon.


    His younger brother helped with the fire on the side, asionally stuffing a few raspberries into his mouth and, from time to time, offering some to Wang Hong.


    After half an hour, when the water and rice in the pot hadpletely blended into a thick-looking white porridge, shredded wild vegetables were added. Then, three bird eggs were cracked into it. Using chopsticks, Wang Hong gently stirred, revealing green leaves and strands of egg flower floating in the fragrant and enticing wild vegetable and egg flower porridge. Tworge bowls were filled, and the brothers sat on the doorstep, slurping it up.


    As night fell and Wang Hong watched his younger brother sleep peacefully beside him, he found himself sleepless. Since their father''s deathst year, he relied on going to the mountains daily to gather herbs and sell them to the town''s herbal shop to barely sustain their livelihood.


    Often, they would go without a meal after one. The events ofst winter were still fresh in his memory. The heavy snow closed the mountain for two months, thend covered in a vast expanse of white, with no food in sight.


    The brothers had to dig into the snow, searching for roots and grass to fill their stomachs. They often woke up hungry in the middle of the night. Fortunately, they managed to catch a wild rabbit, and with the grass roots, they endured thest ten days. Winter was approaching again, and the younger brother had dried over twenty batches of wild vegetables. These needed tost until the new vegetables could be harvested in the spring, but there was still a shortfall.


    After a year of frugality, they had saved up over twenty coins, barely enough to buy a little over two catties of rice. It seemed they would have to venture deeper into the mountains tomorrow.


    In truth, the Misty Cloud Mountain had some precious herbs deep within. Last year, Wang Lao Qi found a ten-year-old ginseng, selling it for four taels of silver.


    Considering that one tael of silver equaled one guan (a traditional unit of currency) or a thousand wen (a smaller unit), two taels of silver would be enough for the brothers to live on for a year.


    However, the mountains were full of wild beasts. Usually, even hunters needed a group of five or six people to dare to enter the mountains, and even then, casualties urred from time to time. It seemed more sensible to take a chance in the deep mountains than wait at home for an uncertain fate.


    The next morning, Er Gou Zi packed up, took a bannock, a hunting knife, and, stepping on dew, headed into the mountains.


    After traversing more than ten li into the depths of the Cangyun, towering ancient trees and giant trees the size of several people hugging were everywhere. The ground was covered with thorns, tearing apart Wang Hong''s clothes and trousers in several ces.


    Wang Hong held a long stick to clear the way, pushing aside the thorns blocking the path and carefully scanning the surroundings. Suddenly, a look of joy appeared on his face. Following his gaze, a small clump of green nts could be seen not far to the left. Its stem resembled a pen, covered with small white flowers, and the leaves grew in pairs, resembling bamboo leaves.


    "Ha! Ha! Ha! So many Astragalus." Saying this, he took out a small hoe and carefully dug. After a while, a total of thirteen Astragalus nts were gathered, one of which was eight years old, and two were six years old, with the rest ranging from three to five years.


    There were also some small seedlings left for others. This was an unwritten rule among herb gatherers: take the big, leave the small. After gathering ginseng, they would scatter some ginseng seeds in the vicinity. If it had roots, they would leave some small stems in the soil; if it had vines, they would leave some vines. If everyone used a destructive method of harvesting, these precious herbs would have long been extinct.


    Later, he found several less valuable herbs, a Wild Walnuts tree, and picked up twenty or thirty Wild Walnuts. Walnuts wouldn''t spoil and could be saved to eat during winter.


    Now, Wang Hong spotted a kudzu root, vigorously digging with its butt sticking out. Kudzu root could be eaten raw, sweet with a bit of crunch, satisfying thirst. Tear off a small strip, put it in your mouth, and chew on it happily. Kudzu root could also be boiled, tasting somewhat like cooked yam, very filling. It could be sold as a herb for money too.


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 Chapter 2: Fierce Battle with the Savage Wolf

    Chapter 2: Fierce Battle with the Savage Wolf


    Wild Kudzu Roots generally grow deep underground, with some extending over a yard in length. Typically, old Kudzu Roots have numerous insect holes and are prone to hollowness. However, the one Wang Hong was digging was exceptionally sturdy and robust, devoid of any insect holes.


    Initially, it was only the thickness of a wrist, but as he dug deeper, it grewrger. By now, he had dug down more than two feet, and it was already asrge as Er Gou Zi''s leg.


    Wang Hong became increasingly excited as he dug, his face turning a deep red, and the sweat on his chin dripping unnoticed. After two hours of relentless digging, the true form of this Kudzu Root was finally revealed. It was about a yard in length, the thickest part being as wide as Wang Hong''s waist, weighing around sixty to seventy catties.


    Carrying this Kudzu Root back would at least ensure that the two brothers could safely get through the winter without worrying about starving.


    However, Wang Hong suddenly tossed the Kudzu Root aside, his attention focused on an item in his hand. It was a fist-sized pearl he had just unearthed next to the Kudzu Root.


    The object was smooth as a mirror, meticulously polished, shining like jade with a green glow, adorned with blood-red patterns that sparkled brilliantly under the sun.


    Extraordinarily hard, the stone didn''t even leave a mark when identally struck with a hoe. Its smooth and warm texture in hand alleviated the fatigue from the strenuous work.


    "This should be a gemstone; it should fetch a good price," Wang Hong muttered to himself. Thoughcking sophistication, he had apanied his father to the county town before and had seen the various gemstones worn by wealthy young men anddies, feeling that none were as impressive as the one he now possessed.


    Thinking about how to sell the gemstone, Wang Hong pondered on the need for secrecy. It was imperative not to disclose this find to others, as the world was far from peaceful, with bandits and thieves often roaming.


    Two years ago, Zhang Tiezhu from Erlihe Vige found a Three Leaf Divine Mushroom on Misty Cloud Mountain. The news of his discovery led to the annihtion of his entire family that very night, all six members meeting a tragic end.


    Once the gemstone was sold, Wang Hong nned to buy somend. Like all farmers, he dreamed of owning a piece ofnd. Landownership was not only essential for survival but also for establishing a foundation for future generations.


    "If I havend, I can raise a few chickens. Every now and then, I can enjoy a fresh egg. Last night''s egg drop soup was delicious, even if I couldn''t quite discern the vor," Wang Hong thought, licking his lips.


    "And there''s white rice, big white steamed buns, and slow-cooked fatty meat." He couldn''t continue his thoughts, fearing he would drown in his own saliva.


    Daydreaming of a better life, Wang Hong continued to tidy up the Kudzu Root he had dug up. Suddenly, an inexplicable sense of rm swept over him, and he vigntly surveyed his surroundings.


    Simultaneously, he picked up the makeshift cudgel he had used to clear the way, swiftly sharpening its tip with a hunting knife and securing the knife at his waist.


    Gripping the cudgel with both hands, he scanned the surroundings rapidly, only to see the grass on his right side rapidly parting. Before he could get a clear look, a dark shadow quickly pounced towards him.


    Wang Hong''s body turned swiftly to the right, aiming the pointed end of the cudgel at the dark shadow and thrusting forcefully. Just before the strike, the shadow, in a swift maneuver, managed to dodge a few inches to the right. The attack only grazed the left side of the shadow.


    Apanying the strike was a tremendous impact that forced him to retreat several steps, almost sitting on the ground.


    It was only now that he had time to carefully examine the creature before himit was a wolf, its fur a mix of gray and white. It seemed to be an old wolf, as the cudgel had struck its left leg, causing blood to seep out.


    The wolf, with bared teeth and a strand of saliva hanging from its mouth, had its back fur standing on end. Its back slightly arched, it was preparing for the next attack.


    Wang Hong felt his heart pounding like a drum, his hands and feet trembling uncontrobly. He tightened his grip on the wooden stick.


    In fear, Wang Hong thought, "Facing such arge wolf, almost as big as me, it seems unlikely that I''ll survive today."


    "Am I, Wang Hong, going to die here? I''m only twelve years old. What will happen to my little brother if I die? I still want to buynd and have a good life. I don''t want to die!"


    The intense will to survive calmed him down. He carefully assessed the strengths and weaknesses of both sides. In terms of strength, the wolf surpassed him, and in speed, he was no match. In terms ofbat skills, these beasts had been through countless battles and emerged victorious. His advantagey in having a knife and a long cudgel; the wolf could only harm him with its ws and teeth, primarily thetter.


    Wang Hong quickly formted a n. The next step was to engage with the wolf using the long cudgel, avoiding close-quarterbat as much as possible to maintain a distance advantage.


    If the wolf managed to get up close, he would prioritize defending vital areas. With inferior speed, he would use the knife to exchange wounds, seeing who could endure and perish first.


    In life-threatening situations, the mind bes exceptionally active. Wang Hong processed these thoughts in a mere instant.


    "Beast, today we''ll see if you feast on me or if I feast on you. Come on!" Once Wang Hong had a n, he hardened his resolve and shouted at the wild wolf.


    "Come on!"


    "Bite me!"


    First, he feigned a thrust at the wolf. Seeing an opportunity, the wolf lunged straight at him. Wang Hong still thrust the cudgel into its chest, but the blunt wooden stick only pierced the skin before sliding aside. The wolf managed to bite a small piece out of his leg, but Wang Hong also inflicted a cut on the wolf''s chest, further fueling its aggression. Wang Hong quickly stepped back.


    The wolf pounced from the side again, aiming for his legs. As Wang Hong retreated, he swung the cudgel diagonally with force. The cudgel struck the wolf''s back with a "snap," breaking it into two pieces.


    The wolf, now snarling, lunged towards his abdomen. As Wang Hong retreated, he used the remaining half of the cudgel to shield his stomach, drawing his knife with his right hand.


    The wolf bit into his left arm. Ignoring the pain, Wang Hong raised the knife and struck down, hitting the wolf''s neck near its ear. Blood sprayed out. Wang Hong had heard from an old hunter that striking this spot could instantly kill both humans and animals, and it proved to be true.


    Now, the wolfy on the ground, emitting a resentful whimper. Wang Hong sat on the ground, gasping for air. After the intense battle, he feltpletely drained, unable to summon any strength.


    His left arm throbbed with intense pain, and several areas stung fiercely, likely from scratches by the wolf''s ws.


    "That was close! I almost died. Luckily, it''s just a chunk of flesh missing from my left arm."


    "Fortune and misfortune truly coexist. Just when I found a treasure, I almost died."


    Surviving the perilous encounter, Wang Hong''s first thought was about the gemstone. He quickly took it out from his pocket and examined it, finally easing his mind.


    While looking at the gemstone in his hand, Wang Hong noticed something peculiar. The blood flowing from his wounds was being absorbed as soon as it touched the gemstone.


    Upon closer inspection, he observed that the blood automatically flowed into the red patterns on the gemstone. Changing positions, he saw the blood being absorbed again, and the luster of the gemstone seemed even brighter, emitting a slight warmth.


    This sight astonished Wang Hong; he had never heard of a gemstone that could absorb blood. Hesitating for a moment, he pressed the gemstone onto the wound on his left arm. The blood quickly rushed towards the gemstone, growing faster and faster. The gemstone became scalding hot.


    Just as he was about to remove it from the wound, a sh of multicolored light urred. It prated the wound and disappeared. Then, he felt a rush of heat ascending through his arm, passing through his shoulder, neck, and rushing towards his head. The speed was astonishing.


    Wang Hong panicked, unable to stop it. The surge of heat entered his brain, and with a resounding "boom," his entire consciousness plunged into darkness.


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 Chapter 3: Mysterious Space

    Chapter 3: Mysterious Space


    "Am I dead?"


    "Where is this?"


    "Is this how it looks when people die?"


    Wang Hong was currently floating in the air. Except for the ck earth below, all other directions were shrouded in a hazy white. He reached out, attempting to pinch his thigh to prove he was not dead, only to find his hand passing through it. Trying the same with his chest and even his head, he discovered that he could pass through his own body, and upon withdrawal, everything returned to normal.


    "It seems I really died, not bitten by wolves but yed to death by myself." A bit ufortable but also a sense of relief filled his heart.


    Day in and day out, toiling away just for that bowl of thin porridge mixed with wild vegetables at night. Twelve years of life, and he had hardly eaten a proper meal. Struggling every day to earn some food, all for the sake of having the strength to find food the next day. Such a life, even if lived for decades more, what meaning did it hold? If there was another chance, he would definitely explore the outside world, experience it, but s, there was no ''if.''


    "But if I''m dead, what about my little brother? Can he survive alone? Even if I''m dead, is there anything I can do? Forget it, forget it! Let life and death follow their natural course. I can''t do anything about it."


    "So, this is what it looks like when you die. It''spletely different from the legendary underworld. Besides my own ghostly shadow, there''s nothing else here."


    Wang Hong discovered that within this space, his thoughts could control his flight, and he could even teleport. After flying around for a while in the space, hended on the ck earth. "Thend is quite fertile, just a bit small, only one acre (one acre equals 66 square meters). It should be enough to grow crops, but I''m already dead, and there are no seeds here. s, all thingse to an end!"


    He stayed there for who knows how long, perhaps a day, perhaps three or five days, perhaps even longer. The initial novelty faded, and boredom took over.


    Except for the ck earth, there was nothing insideno other life, no sound. The white misty surroundings were like an imprable wall, unmoved by any effort to push through.


    Continuing like this felt maddening; it was worse than being in prison. At least in prison, you could see other people, even if you were beaten every day. It was better than being stuck in this lifeless ce. He didn''t know how much longer he had to stay there.


    "Is anyone there? Can we chat for a bit?"


    "Once there was a wealthy man who bought a fine horse that could travel eight hundred miles a day. The rich man thought the horse was good, but it had to eat fifty pounds of fodder every day, not very cost-effective. The rich man had a brilliant idea. The next day, he only fed it forty-eight pounds, the third day forty-six, decreasing every day. A monthter, the horse died. The rich man sighed: s! Bad luck, the horse learned to live without eating grass just as it died."


    "Hahaha! Let me tell you another one. Once there was a monkey..."


    Wang Hong told stories to himself, chatted, and even sang loudly.


    "I want to get out!"


    "Let me out!"


    "Let me out!"


    Suddenly, there was a fluctuation around him, his vision blurred, and he disappeared from this space.


    Opening his eyes again, he found himself lying in the same ce where he had fought the wild wolves just moments ago. Not far away, the wolf''s bodyy peacefully in a pool of blood, notpletely coagted, indicating not much time had passed.


    "What''s going on? Is this a dream?"


    "It doesn''t seem like a dream. The experience just now was very real."


    With a thought about that mysterious space, he found himself back inside it.


    "Let me out!" Shouting a few times, he was outside again.


    "Go in!"


    "Come out!"


    ...


    Staring at the ck earth in front of him, there was no longer the fear he felt before. As long as he concentrated his mind, he could freelye and go.


    Wang Hong was ecstatic, dancing in the air, flipping several somersaults. He then bowed in all directions, expressing gratitude to the various deities he knew of.


    Just now, he had proven that things from outside could be brought in, and items from inside could be taken out. His backpack, hoe, hunting knife, and even the giant Kudzu Root were allid out on the ck soil.


    "Haha! Finally, I have a piece ofnd! I''ll nt crops, sweet potatoes, wheat. Unfortunately, there''s no water, don''t know if rice can be grown." No farmer dislikesnd, and Wang Hong,ing from a family of generations of farmers, had a deep love for the soil. Achieving his long-held wish, he was naturally overjoyed.


    "It''s gettingte; I should go back first. If more wild wolvese, it will be troublesome." He quickly bandaged his wounds, threw the wolf''s body into the space, and found a sturdier stick, sharpening one end, holding it in his hand.


    On the way home, he didn''t encounter any more danger. However, the wounds on his body were still causing him considerable pain. When he was close to home, he went back into the space and carried the wolf in his backpack.


    "Hey! Er Gou Zi, why are you back all covered in blood?"


    "Did you encounter a wild beast? Well, as long as you''re back, that''s good." Wang Da Zhu from the vige was returning from the fields, carrying a hoe. Seeing Er Gou Zi covered in blood startled him.


    "At such a young age, escaping from the clutches of wild beasts is like having the ancestors watching over you. When you go back, burn some incense and thank the ancestors properly."


    With his shout, people around gathered. It was only now, getting closer, that they noticed the wolf head protruding from the backpack. Jaws dropped in shock. Even adults might not be able to hunt down a wild wolf one-on-one. Some women even grabbed their sons'' ears, saying, "Look at Er Gou Zi, just twelve years old, he can fight wolves on the mountain and catch fish in the water. He can support himself and his brother. Look at you, always eating, when asked to pick some wild vegetables, you y in the river. Yesterday, told to gather firewood, you climbed a tree to rob bird nests, tore your clothes, and found nothing."


    Onlookers began to discuss, usually, when they went into the mountains to hunt, several people would go together, hunting wild goats, deer, and wild rabbits. Seeing a wild wolf was not something they dared to provoke.


    Wang Da Zhu, seeing the wounds on him and his pale face, didn''t say much. He took the backpack and helped him carry it home.


    ...


    After two days of rest and using some herbs, the wounds from the wolf ws were starting to heal. However, the chunk of flesh bitten off his left arm would take at least ten more days to recover.


    During these two days, Wang entered the space several times, transnting the Astragalus nts with only three to five years of medicinal age to a corner in the space.


    After repeated attempts, he found that, except for nts, other living things couldn''t be brought into the space, not even a hopping toad.


    Moreover, the time passing inside and outside the space was indeed different. Using two incense sticks with the same markings, he lit them simultaneously. When the one inside burned out, the one outside had only consumed a small portion of the incense. The time inside the space seemed to pass at a rate of twenty to thirty times faster than the outside.


    "It seems I need to get some seeds quickly and nt thend. One day here is equivalent to almost a month outside; it''s too wasteful."


    "This time, although going into the mountains was dangerous, the harvest was not small. Over a dozen Astragalus nts, several dozen pounds of Kudzu Root, and a wolf. I''ll sell them in townter and use the money to buy some seeds."


    Wang didn''t tell his little brother about the space. Firstly, it was too bizarre a matter, and secondly, he dared not let others know. If anyone found out, Wang was certain someone woulde with a knife to split open his head, searching for the mysterious gem. As for whether they could find the gem from his head, that was not even in the realm of consideration. After all, who would care about the death of a background-less, powerless poor boy?


    It wasn''t that he didn''t trust his little brother; it was just the best way to keep a secret. Let it rot in your stomach, never let a second person know. Suppose his little brother knew. In the future, should his wife also know? Then her family, parents, and siblings? Everyone has someone close and trustworthy. In the end, it might be a widely known secret.


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 Chapter 4: Qingyang Academy

    Chapter 4: Qingyang Academy


    Cangshan Town, a town with only two streets, one horizontal and one vertical, is located in the southern part of Chu State, within the jurisdiction of Qingyang County. It''s an obscure town among the dozens in Qingyang County.


    The Wan family''s leather goods store had its shopkeeper loudly announcing, "Insects eat, rats bite, bald fur shedswild wolf hide, fifty wen per piece."


    Wang Hong gritted his teeth but chose not to engage in pointless argument. He extended his hand and took the fifty wen.


    All leather goods in Cangshan Town were monopolized by the Wan family, and the pricing of all leather goods was determined by the Wan family''s word.


    Those who intervened in the leather goods business mysteriously disappeared; some encountered thieves, leaving their families bereft. After such incidents, no one dared to touch the leather goods business again.


    After leaving Wan''s store, Wang Hong went to the pharmacy to sell medicinal herbs. Three Astragalus nts sold for seventy-five wen, Kudzu Root for one hundred and thirty wen, and other herbs collected earlier for more than twenty wen.


    Walking on the street, Wang Hong asionally reached into his pocket, feeling the weight of the copper coins. A sense of aplishment filled his heart.


    Not far along, he saw a crowd gathered ahead, engaged in lively discussions.


    Wang Hong approached and saw arge notice posted on the wall with a bright red official seal.


    As for the specific contents, Er Gou Zi couldn''t recognize a single character.


    At the forefront of the crowd, a poorly dressed middle-aged schr with a white face and a goat beard was loudly reciting.


    Most of the onlookers couldn''t readrge characters, but at this moment, they were all ears, trying to listen.


    Although thenguage was difficult to understand, Wang Hong roughly grasped the meaning.


    Qingyang Academy in the county town would expand its enrollment next spring. As long as one was under fifteen years old and passed the entrance examination, they could enter the academy by paying ten taels of silver annually.


    Before the age of twenty, those who passed the graduation examination had the opportunity to be rmended as local officials or enter the military, with a chance to be a military officer.


    "I heard the County Magistrate graduated from Qingyang Academy."


    "The County Magistrate studied liberal arts at Qingyang Academy. The most outstanding are the martial arts students. General Wu of the Northwest Army is also from Qingyang Academy."


    "I regret being born a few years too early! Otherwise, I would definitely pass the examination and be a general. Riding a tall horse, carrying a precious sword, charging into battlehow majestic!"


    A young man in the crowd, with triangr eyes and protruding front teeth, wasmenting.


    "Forget it! Triangr Eyes, with your looks, you want to be a general? The real generals have broad shoulders and a strong waist. With your small frame, carrying a burning stick, standing in front of the formation. Here''s Triangr Eyes. People might think that our great Chu State has no one." A dark-faced sturdy youth mocked.


    Wang Hong ignored the noisy crowd and quietly left. He also began to formte some ns in his mind.


    "This is a good opportunity. The tuition is ten taels per person, so my little brother and I need twenty taels. We need to earn enough silver in the next few months."


    "I have a piece ofnd, and time flows more than twenty times faster in this space. Wheat and rice can ripen in about half a year. One piece ofnd can yield twenty to thirty catties of grain each season. Even if we eat dry food every meal, half a piece ofnd is enough."


    "The other half of thend needs to be nted with more valuable crops. The first thing thates to mind is nting ginseng. There are about five months left until the examination next year."


    He went to the pharmacy and spent a hundred wen to buy a hundred and fifty ginseng seeds, as well as some wheat seeds, rice seeds, rice, and coarse salt, concluding his visit to Cangshan Town.


    "Brother!"


    He heard his little brother''s shout from afar.


    "Why did you juste back? I''ve already prepared the meal."


    "Little brother is really capable!" He took out an oil-paper package from his pocket and waved it in front of his little brother.


    "Guess, guess right, and I''ll give you this sugar figure."


    "Hmm... Pig head meat!" His little brother deliberately showed a sly expression.


    "Brother! I''m already eight years old, not a three or four-year-old child. Don''t y such childish games with me."


    Wang Yi reached out to grab the oil-paper package.


    "Give me the sugar figure!"


    Opening the oil-paper package revealed an exquisite sugar figure inside.


    The two brothers walked home with their arms around each other.


    "Brother, it''s so sweet. Take a bite."


    Wang Hong nced at the sugar figure, licked by saliva everywhere.


    "I won''t eat."


    "Just take a bite, it''s really sweet! I''m not lying to you."


    "Crunch!" Wang Hong closed his eyes and took a bite.


    "You bit its head off, I licked it for so long and couldn''t bear to bite." His little brother, flushed,ined.


    "I''ll buy you another one next time we go to town."


    "Is your word reliable?"


    "Of course! Your brother here is always true to his word." Wang Hong patted his meager chest.


    Back home, they had two bowls of wild vegetable porridge. Wang Hong thought, this porridge is thin enough that if spilled on the ground, not even a dog could catch up.


    "Little brother, starting from tomorrow, we''ll cook dry rice at home."


    "Every meal?" His little brother was a bit surprised, not catching on.


    "Of course, every day, every meal." Wang Hong proudly patted the rice bag, confidently saying, "From now on, our family will eat well and spicy. We''ll eat whatever thendlords eat!"


    "Old Xu just ate chicken legs a few days ago. I went to their vige to dig wild vegetables, saw that fool holding a chicken leg on the roadside, gnawing as if afraid others wouldn''t know. Even his snot dripped onto the chicken leg, but he gnawed with such gusto." His little brotherined with a hint of envy.


    "In a few days, we''ll eat chicken too. By then, we''ll squat at the vige entrance and eat chicken legs." Wang Hong licked his lips.


    "Others ughter pigs for the New Year!"


    "We will too!"


    "Where''s the pig?"


    "We''ll buy one!"


    "Boasting! Brother! Boasting too often won''t get you a wife." His little brother was thoroughly unconvinced. He had hardly eaten meat from childhood to adulthood.


    "Your brother here never boasts. Besides, we can do our ownundry and cooking. Why do we need to get married?"


    His little brother suddenly realized, "Right! Don''t marry. If you marry, your wife will snatch our chicken legs. Next door, Niu Dan married a wife, and they fight every night, screaming so loudly, it''s frightening."


    Wang Hong felt something was wrong, but for the moment, he couldn''t figure it out.


    The two brothers each held a bowl of porridge, sitting on a stone at the doorstep.


    After dinner, they discussed the matter of going to the academy next spring. His little brother eagerly looked forward to it, dreaming of bing a chivalrous hero wielding a sword.


    At night, Wang Hong entered the space again. The Astragalus nted earlier had grown well. After nting wheat and rice, leaving half a piece ofnd, he nted ginseng seeds and found a small piece ofnd still vacant. Er Gou Zi pondered, thinking about finding some other herbs to nt in the empty space. As a farmer, leavingnd uncultivated was intolerable.


    "Tomorrow, I''ll go into the mountains and dig some other herbs to nt in the space."


    The next morning, Wang Hong entered the space and found that the wheat and rice ntedst night had grown a few inches tall. The rice was no worse than that grown in paddy fields, and the ginseng had sprouted green seedlings.


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 Chapter 5: Harvest in the Space

    Chapter 5: Harvest in the Space


    Having wandered around the outskirts of Misty Cloud Mountain for several days, Wang Hong encountered various medicinal herbs and transnted one or two into the space. He casually also brought a raspberry into the space, which happened to be his favorite.


    Wang Hong would enter the space to stroll around whenever he had free time, examining this and touching that. He measured how much taller things had grown today, but unfortunately, there was no need to weed, loosen the soil, or water in the space, leaving him with nothing to do.


    The wheat and rice nted had matured in just five days, with each grainden ear hanging low.


    However, harvesting this half-acrend proved challenging for Wang Hong. In the space, he existed as a virtual form, and all actions were controlled by his thoughts. To pick up an item, he had to concentrate his thoughts on it; otherwise, the item would pass through his body.


    While it was uneventful doing things inside, when he started, it seemed fun. Directly manipting the sickle to dance in the air, after harvesting just over ten nts, he felt mentally exhausted, as if he had been tormented for several days.


    He copsed in the space, slept for a few hours with his head down, and only then did he recover. Subsequently, he diligently used a handheld sickle to harvest, taking a break every thirty nts.


    By the time he finished harvesting everything, he had to sleep again in the outside world to recover.


    "Hmm! Why has it grown again? Do I not need to sow again?" Wang Hong was stunned at the sight before him. The wheat and rice he had cut yesterday had sprouted again from the roots and grown more than five inches tall.


    "I was nning to dig them up and rent, but it seems unnecessary."


    In the following days, life became stress-free, and he lived quite leisurely.


    Harvesting rice and wheat every five days, asionally wandering up the mountain, the space gained a Purple Mushroom and several other medicinal herbs. asionally, he took his younger brother to forage for wild vegetables, and his younger brother finally got to enjoy chicken legs.


    ...


    The Qingyun Mountains, the thirdrgest mountain range in the Chu State, twisted and turned for hundreds of miles, teeming with wild beasts. It was rumored to be home to mythical creatures, although no one had seen them; perhaps those who did had not lived to tell the tale. Misty Cloud Mountain, where Wang Hong resided, was a branch of Qingyun Mountains, named for its perennial mist and clouds.


    In traditional Chinese cosmology, south is associated with mountains and north with water. Qingyang County was located south of the Qingyun Mountains, hence its name.


    At this moment, Qingyang City was bustling. Wang Hong had arrived two days earlier, and the two brothers were noticeably different from a few months ago. Wang Hong''s previously thin and weak body had gained some flesh, his face had a healthy flush, and he had grown taller.


    Wang Hong was currently nervous, ncing around with wide eyes, avoiding eye contact with others. If someone stared at him, unaware of the truth, they might think he had done something wrong, or perhaps he was a thief scouting for an opportunity tomit a crime.


    In reality, Wang Hong was just feeling uneasy because he was carrying a substantial sum of money. Over thirty taels of silver, to be exact. He had never seen such a fortune in his life.


    Previously, he had taken eight ten-year-old ginseng nts from the space, sold them separately to eight pharmacies, and earned thirty-two taels of silver. Given the prying eyes around, he hadn''t dared to put them in the space.


    The earliest ginseng in the space had reached ten years, and many new ginseng seedlings had sprouted from the unharvested seeds. Every time Wang Hong looked at this precious medicinal material, he would get excited and somersault in the air.


    Compared to ginseng, the value of the rice and wheat in the half-acre was rtively lower, but Wang Hong couldn''t bear to remove them.


    These rice and wheat were undergoing mutation, with a one-day extension in the growth period. The nts became taller, the grains were twice the size of regr rice and wheat, and the taste was better, giving a feeling of inexhaustible energy after consumption. Wang Hong decided to keep them for now.


    Back at the inn, he closed the doors and windows, took out the silver from his bosom, and ced it on the table. His younger brother gathered around, their eyes gleaming. They weighed the silver ingot and even bit one.


    "Brother! Where did we get so much silver? Did you steal it?"


    "Pah! Your brother has always been upright, honest, respectful to the elderly, and kind to the young. I never engage in thieving activities." Wang Hong patted his small chest loudly. Then, he mysteriously approached his younger brother''s ear and said, "Only the two of us know about this. Don''t tell anyone. Actually, I found dozens of old mountain ginseng in the mountainsst time, and I sold a few today."


    "Remember, it must be kept a secret!"


    His younger brother nodded solemnly, promising, "Anyone who leaks this will be a little dog!"


    You were already a little dog, Si Gou Zi, Wang Hong thought, realizing how easy it was to tease the young.


    Qingyang Academy was not within the city but situated in a valley outside the city, surrounded on three sides by mountains, with only one entrance and exit.


    At this moment, the entrance was jam-packed, with a sea of people making it impossible for Wang Hong and his brother to even show their heads. They could only move slowly with the flow of the crowd.


    Squeezed in the crowd, a mix of sweat, body odor, foot odor, scallion scent, and barbecue smell assaulted the nostrils.


    To make things worse, a big guy nearby clutched his stomach, his face turning purple as he tried to control the pressure. He was about to have diarrhea.


    People around him, fearing an ident, desperately squeezed away. Unaware bystanders were inadvertently pushed toward the guy with stomach issues.


    "Ah! Ah! Ah!"


    "Don''t step on me!"


    "Don''t step on me!"


    "..."


    Suddenly, distant wails echoed, but in a queue of tens of thousands, it was not something a few individuals could stop.


    "Ah ah ah ah!"


    The screams grew weaker,


    and a sense of panic spread through the crowd. If it spiraled out of control, stampedes could ur, leading to unimaginable consequences.


    "Calm down!"


    "Calm down!"


    ...


    A voice as powerful as a bell echoed from a high tform at the entrance, reaching several miles and drowning out all the noise. Everyone was momentarily awestruck by this sound.


    "Dad! Is this also martial arts?" a young teenager asked his father.


    "Of course, this is a skill called Lion Roar, mainly used in battle formations to intimidate the enemy. Just imagine, if two armies face each other, and dozens or hundreds of people simultaneously roar, followed by a volley of arrows, hehehe!"


    "Of course, even if an ordinary martial artist practices this Lion Roar, it won''t have this kind of power. This person is a master at the innate stage, a former general in the military, and now the chief instructor at the martial arts academy."


    "What? We have such a skilled person in our Qingyang County?"


    "Ah! It''s just that he''s injured; otherwise, he wouldn''te to our remote vige."


    Wang Hong finally moved to the entrance with the crowd. He saw a vigorous young man at the entrance, waving a red g and shouting, "All students of the Martial Arts Academy,e this way."


    In another direction, a schrly-looking young man was shouting, "All students of the Humanities Academy,e this way."


    Wang Hong followed the crowd to a massive field where there was a tform in the middle, with about a dozen people seated on it. In front of the tform were several tables in a row, each with a person sitting behind it and a bamboo pole standing next to them. Those entering formed queues in front of the tables, and the two brothers joined in.


    When Wang Hong reached the front, he understood that each person had to receive a sandbag. Standing in front of the bamboo pole, if you were taller than the pole, you received a fifty-kilogram sandbag; otherwise, you got a thirty-kilogram one. Wang Hong, unfortunately, was slightly taller than the bamboo pole and ended up with a fifty-kilogram sandbag, while his younger brother got a thirty-kilogram one.


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 Chapter 6: Entering the Academy

    Chapter 6: Entering the Academy


    After everyone had collected their sandbags, a man stepped out from the high tform.


    "I am Chang He, the instructor of the Martial Arts Academy."


    "Your assessment this time is to carry the sandbag you received, reach the summit of Sunset Peak before sunset to pass. Note that each sandbag has your own name on it, do not mix them up."


    At the same time, he pointed to the mountain peak behind him: "The mountain in front of you is Sunset Peak. Everyone get ready, start climbing!"


    Everyone swarmed towards the foot of the mountain. Wang Hong carried the 50-jin(25~30 Kg approx) sandbag. Initially he did not feel tired, but after walking three to five miles, he felt the sandbag on his back getting heavier and his younger brother''s breathing bing more and more coarse.


    "This won''t work." He grabbed the sandbag from his younger brother''s back and squeezed towards a less crowded ce, pretending he urgently needed to pee and drilled into a bush alone. He brought both sandbags into his space, first poured out the sand inside, then filled them back up with straw.


    The next part of the journey became much easier. By the time they reached halfway up the mountain, many people had already started falling behind.


    A burly youth in ck, carrying a sandbag on his back, breathed like a cow. His legs were heavy and he could only take small steps whenever he lifted his leg.


    At this moment, one tall and one short silhouette quickly overtook him from the side. The burly youth saw that the taller one was carrying two sandbags, yet his pace remained light. He couldnt help but be amazed.


    Afterwards, many people saw a skinny teenager walking uphill effortlessly with two sandbags on his back, apanied by a seven or eight-year-old boy, heading towards the peak.


    On the way, Wang Hong also saw someone moving even more effortlessly than him. A youth in brocade robes was walking casually with both hands behind his back.


    Behind him followed two youths in green, one of them carrying a sandbag while the other held a fan, fanning cool wind for the brocade-robed youth as they walked.


    It turned out this person had brought two servants with him. They had already discarded the sandbags at the foot of the mountain long ago. Later on, Wang Hong saw several more people simr to the brocade-robed youth, so he was no longer surprised.


    "It seems that there are always cheaters in any exam."


    When they were nearing the peak, Wang Hong drilled into the bushes again and entered his space to fill the sandbags back up with sand.


    Younger brother put the sandbag back on and curiously asked, "Brother! Howe those sandbags were so heavy yet you carried two of them up here so effortlessly?"


    "Your brother''s strength has always been like a cow''s. Even if a tiger jumped out now, I could punch it dead in one blow."


    "Blowing the cow again. Last time you were badly injured fighting an old mangy wolf."


    .......


    The two brothers soon arrived at the summit, where forty to fifty people were already there, either sitting, leaning or lying down, but not one was left standing. It seems Wang Hong was not the fastest to reach the peak.


    The Wang brothers also found a rock to sit on. More people continued trickling up until sunset. Only a little over 500 made it.


    At this time, several people dressed like martial arts academy instructors came out and gathered these 500 plus people before checking each person''s sandbag and name, also distributing a wooden que to everyone that signified their official status as academy students.


    At night, lying on the single bed in his room, Wang Hong was too excited to fall asleep. He had finally entered this legendary academy. He couldnt help but let his thoughts run wild. In the past when he was in Wang Family Vige, he only wished that his life wouldnt pass by without attaining the status of andlord.


    After experiencing everything hed seen and heard over the past few days, Wang Hongs ambitions had now vastly expanded. He felt that just being andlord wouldnt be enough. When vige idiot Xu paraded around with a chicken leg, trying to show off. Yet at tonights dinner, everyone had a chicken leg. No one was showing off. And this brand new cotton quilt...


    Bing andlord could no longer satisfy Wang Hongs desires now. He felt that in the future, he should be able mix with the county magistrates.


    Tossing and turning, utterly unable to fall sleep, he simply entered his space. Everything he owned now was thanks to this space.


    Excitedly, he tumbled in the air a few times, then mentally manipted a hunting knife to dance through the air, imagining himself to be an immortal of legend, effortlessly taking off heads with a flying sword.


    This was Wang Hongs favorite game to y these past few months. Whenever he tired of it, he would fall straight to sleep. Sleeping for a few hours in the space only equated to a minute passing in the outside world.


    Wang Hong was unaware that his spiritual power was also secretly growing all this while.


    Qingyang Academy was an academy run by the Chu State mainly to groom and supply talents for the Great Chu. It was divided into the College of Liberal Arts and College of Military Arts, or College of Letters and College of Military for short.


    The basis of learning in College of Letters lies mainly in studying the ssics passed down by ancient sages. Itprised many categories, like Astronomy, Arithmetic, Agriculture, Laws and Medicine.


    The focus of College of Military Arts epassed internal and external martial arts, 18 different weaponry skills, battle formations and strategies, medicine -- ovepping with College of Letters in certain areas like Medicine, but each specialized differently, for example Medicine in College of Letters focused more on illnesses and nurturing health while Medicine in College of Military emphasized more on trauma injuries. Students from College of Letters would also learn some horse riding and archery.


    But at present, these sophisticated courses matters little to Wang Hong. The only thing he was taught was the most basic Eight Fundamental Martial Practice Methods.


    It wasnt that the academy was unwilling to teach him more advanced martial arts, but that Wang Hong waspletely illiterate and couldnt even differentiate the human bodys channels and acupoints. All advanced martial arts were profoundly abstruse. Going wrong by a tiny margin would meanpletely derailing. Even if taught, he wouldnt dare practice randomly.


    The Eight Fundamental Martial Practice Methods was very simple with only eight moves, but it could provide a veryprehensive overall conditioning for every part of the body. It was very suitable for entry level martial arts practitioners.


    Wang Hong now stood with feet as wide apart as his shoulders, toes gripping the ground, rectum puckered and buttocks raised, teeth biting together, tongue curled up touching the pte, lower jaw retracted slightly backwards, both hands raised to his sides, four fingers joined and fingertips pointing forward, thumbs cocked up as his hands slowly thrusted forward until palms elbows shoulders aligned evenly before flipping palms down to push down, then slowly withdrawing back.


    This was the horse stance push from the Eight Fundamental Martial Practice Methods. After each practice, Wang Hong could feel his palms and soles slightly feverish. Having only practiced for three days, he already felt noticeably stronger all over.


    "It should be about time for battle formation training, beingte calls for a whipping."


    Wang Hong would get up at the hour of yin every morning to practice on his own for an hour before the hour of mao for battle formation training, which waspulsory for all Martial Academy students. They would only be drilling battle formats initially before learning how to kill the enemy in formations.


    Arriving at the training grounds, many people had already gathered.


    "Brother! Howe you''ve only just arrived? I''ve been here for a long time already." Younger brother was waving to him from afar. Wang Hong walked over and asked, "Little brother, this early in the morning, did you practice your martial arts routine?"


    "Of course I practiced. I got up to practice at the hour of yin, and I practiced yesterday afternoon and night too. I''ll be roaming jianghu with a sword in future! I feel like my arms have be thick and strong already." As he spoke, hepared his arms before Wang Hong. His arms were the same as ever of course, it was just Younger Brother''s illusion. The Eight Fundamental Martial Practice Methods created a sensation of inted vigor afterpletion.


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 Chapter 7: Learning

    Chapter 7: Learning


    Woo! Woo! Woo!


    A low and long horn sounded, and everyones expression became serious. They looked for their teammates and confirmed their positions.


    The Academys battle formation training adopts military regtions. Every five people form a team, with a temporary squad leader rotating every month. Ten people form a squad, with a squad leader, and one hundred people form a small team, with a Hundred-Man Commander.


    Wang Hong quickly found his position. On his left was a naive-looking, burly teenager named Zhang Tie Mao. His family owned several dozen acres ofnd in the countryside, which was enough to feed his family.


    On his right was a round-faced little girl with a baby fat, who would show a small tiger tooth when she smiled. Her name was Li Xiao Ya, the daughter of a tea merchant in the county.


    To the right of Li Xiao Ya was a handsome, fair-skinned young man named Hua Wen Jue. His parents were in the gemstone business. Hua Wen Jue had been practicing martial arts since he was a child and was the only entry-level martial artist among the five.


    To the right of Hua Wen Jue was a skinny guy who looked like a monkey, with two beady eyes that made him look like a thief. This guys name was Lu Jin Gou, and his family had a small boat. He had been running boats with his parents since he was a child.


    The five of them formed a team, currently led by Zhang Tie Mao as the temporary squad leader.


    Woo! Woo! Woo!


    The horn sounded for the second time, and everyone stood still, looking straight ahead, not daring to move. On the Training Ground, hundreds of people were so quiet that you could hear every breath.


    Pat! Pat!


    At this moment, a panicked sound of footsteps rang out, and a fat white guy ran towards the Training Ground, still hastily adjusting his clothes with both hands.


    Everyone was a little happy to see himte, but they tried not to look at him.


    Woo! Woo! Woo!


    As the third horn sounded, a tall figure came from afar, taking big strides. The horn stopped, and the person stopped in front of everyone, as if carefully calcted.


    The person had a tigers back and a bears waist, wearing leather armor, carrying a Treasured Saber on his waist, and a circle beard on his face. Especially the knife scar on his face made him look extremely fierce.


    This person was Military Formation Instructor Feng Li, who was privately called Feng Lao Mo by the students.


    Count!


    Soon, each Hundred-Man Commander reported the number of people, and everyone was present.


    Jin Da Bao,e out!


    The fat white guy who waste just walked out of the queue.


    Do you know your crime?


    I know, I know, Imte, five whips.


    Immediately, someone pressed him down and whipped him five times. The pain made the little fat guy cry and snot all over the ground, then he returned to the team to start training.


    The current training mainly consisted of a small square for every hundred people, and several hundred-person teams formed arge square, requiring the formation to remain stable while advancing, retreating, turning left, and turning right.


    In fact, battle formation training was not too tiring, as long as you were serious. It only made you sweat a little after an hour.


    Brother! Lets go eat, Im so hungry, Ive been so hungry these past few days. As soon as the formation was disbanded, Younger Brother ran over.


    Wang Hongs teammates had all left, and only Zhang Tie Mao was still daydreaming. So he invited him to go together, and Zhang Tie Mao happily agreed.


    The three of them each received a free meal provided by the Academy. The two brothers had a big appetite these past two days, and Wang Hong spent money to buy two pounds of cooked beef.


    The three of them sat together, eating and chatting. Zhang Tie Mao spoke little and mostly listened, asionally saying a word or two.


    "After dinner, the two brothers had to attend literacy sses. Over five hundred people joined at the same time, but only a dozen or so needed the literacy ss. After all, for brothers as impoverished as they were, who didn''t even recognize characters, it was impossible for them toe up with the ten silver coins needed for tuition.


    Others had already begun studying inner strength cultivation, which put the brothers significantly behind. They felt a sense of urgency as the Academy required them to reach the novice martial level within a year of enrollment.


    Novice martial level meant mastering an internal energy technique, bing proficient in a martial skill, and achieving a strength of three hundred catties.


    After finishing the literacy ss, the brothers hurried off to the medical course, foundational to martial arts.


    The medical instructor was an elderly man with a youthful appearance, seated at the head.


    "Man consumes various grains and cereals, digesting and absorbing their essence through the spleen and stomach, distributing it throughout the body to nourish every part. Part of this essence transforms into qi."


    "The body''s qi consists of various typesancestral qi, primary qi, defensive qi, and nutrient qi, among others. Each type serves its own purpose."


    "For instance, both nutrient and defensive qi originate from the essence of grains and cereals, yet their characteristics differ. Nutrient qi sustains the body''s nutrition; insufficient nutrient qi results in dull skin and a withered physique." Hearing this, several female students unconsciously nced at their chests.


    "Defensive qi, on the other hand, acts as an army defending against external pathogens. Individuals with weak defensive qi are more prone to colds. Defensive qi circtes in the yang for twenty-five circuits and in the yin for twenty-five circuits, making nighttime more susceptible to external pathogens. If defensive qi does not circte during the yin phase, one may sleep with open eyes."


    "..."


    "The internal true qi cultivated by martial practitioners is merely a form of qi. All strengths have their origins, and internal true qi also derives from the essence of grains and cereals and the inhtion of natural clear qi, refined through internal cultivation techniques."


    "Hence, martial practitioners require more grain and cereal essence, resulting inrger appetites. There are even anecdotes of innate-level martial practitioners consuming an entire cow in a day."


    Wang Hong finally understood why his appetite had increased. It was only the beginning; he should be able to eat even more in the future. No wonder they say the poor study while the wealthy focus on martial arts; ordinary people might not even afford food.


    After the medical ss, for dinner, Wang Hong intentionally bought tworge pork elbows. The brothers ate until their stomachs were round.


    At night, Wang Hong entered the space, grateful that he could fly inside, or he''d have had nowhere to stand. Apart from half thend covered in wheat and rice, the other half was filled with various medicinal herbs and even a small raspberry tree.


    Most abundant were the ginseng ntsinitially, there were over a hundred, andter, numerous seedlings sprouted. Additionally, there were hundreds of lingzhi mushrooms, and various other herbs grew densely, like weeds.


    "It seems I need to tidy this up; otherwise, it will affect their growth."


    Wang Hong spent five or six hours clearing out half of the densely grown medicinal herbs. What remained were the healthiest ones, forming a small pile in the space. These could only be air-dried in batches inside the room. They should fetch a considerable sum when sold.


    After dealing with misceneous tasks, Wang Hong reviewed the day''s lessons in the space. Having twenty times more time enabled him to thoroughly master the content.


    Days turned into weeks, then into half a year. Through this period of training and study, Wang Hong finally grasped the basics of writing and at least could locate the body''s meridians and acupoints for medical practices. Finally, he could start cultivating inner strength.


    In this half-year period, some students had already be novice martial practitioners. Every time Wang Hong saw others cultivating inner strength or martial skills, he couldn''t help but feel envious. His younger brother didn''t have the advantage of his space, yet his learning progress was no slower than Wang Hong''s. He often marveled at his younger brother''s greater intelligence."


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 Chapter 8: Choosing Martial Arts

    Chapter 8: Choosing Martial Arts


    The Library is located in the center of the academy, spanning five floors. The first to the third floor grants free ess to all books for the students, while the fourth and fifth floors require a certain fee for external borrowing.


    Wang Hong circled the first floor, almost getting lost among the rows of bookshelves. The sight before himprised ssical Confucian texts, Legalist principles, Mohist contraptions, military strategies, and various works of poetry and literature.


    Not a single martial arts book was in sight, suggesting that this floor was dedicated to literary works. Following the staircase, Wang Hong ascended to the second floor.


    Indeed, the second floor was filled with martial arts literature. Titles such as "Iron Sand Palm," "Thirteen Lethal Swords," "Three Tricks for Lightness Practice," "The Unavoidable Stories of Song San with a Big Sword," and "Wandering Dragon Eight Diagrams Palm" filled his vision.


    Wang Hong was momentarily enchanted by the vast ocean of martial arts secrets. He roughly surveyed the entire second floor to get a sense of what was avable.


    Then, he began systematically selecting some martial arts techniques that were suitable for his current stage, examining each one in detail.


    "The Cloud Smoke Sword Technique," with its elusive and varied sword movements,prising 120 moves and 9,600 variations.


    "The Dragon Form Fist," a powerful and forceful fist technique capable of embodying the strength of a dragon and an elephant when perfected.


    "The Water Breaking de Technique," emphasizing swift and decisive de strokes, a method for practicing quick knife skills.


    "The Thunderous Spear Technique," a spear technique as fast as thunder and elusive as a wandering dragon, making it difficult for opponents to defend against.


    ...


    However, after searching the entire second floor, Wang Hong couldn''t find a single book on inner cultivation techniques. It seemed he would have to venture higher to find them.


    Climbing to the third floor, he found more literary works. Continuing to the fourth floor, he discovered that it exclusively housed books on inner cultivation techniques.


    The fourth floor had only a few sparsely filled bookshelves, with perhaps a little over a hundred books in total.


    "Illuminating Scripture," "Purple Haze Technique," "Yin-Yang Midnight Sun Technique," "Six Extremes Technique," "Dharma-strict Mind Scripture," "Muscle-Tendon Changing and Marrow-Cleansing Technique"...


    Wang Hong randomly picked up one book, and therge red characters on the first page caught his eye: "Eight taels of silver for external borrowing!"


    "Why not just rob someone? Even the bandits in the mountain aren''t this ruthless."


    Flipping through other books, he found that the required silver varied from one to ten taels. Zhang Tie Mao spent three taels of silver on learning inner cultivation, probably the cheapest inner cultivation technique avable.


    "Regardless, let''s take a look first. After all, it''s free to read them here."


    Wang Hong carefully examined each book and ultimately settled on "Muscle-Tendon Changing and Marrow-Cleansing Technique." It felt like a continuation of the "Eight Basic Exercises" he had practiced before.


    However, borrowing "Muscle-Tendon Changing and Marrow-Cleansing Technique" required nine taels of silver, and Wang Hong had spent quite a bit over the past six months.


    "Training martial arts really costs money. Now I have to spend three taels of silver every month, and it will probably be more in the future. I''ll have to make a trip to Qingyang City soon."


    Leaving the library, Wang Hong borrowed only "Thunderous Spear Technique" and "Fundamentals of Spear Technique."


    In Qingyang City, a normal-looking teenager, dressed in in clothes with "Qingyang Academy" embroidered in gold thread on his left chest, attracted envious nces. However, therge sack on his shoulder deducted a few points from his image.


    Wang Hong entered a shop named "Ji Shi Tang - Medical Hall." He had visited this shop six months ago, and the prices were reasonable.


    "Shopkeeper, do you buy medicinal herbs?"


    "Of course! Please have a seat, young man," the kindly-looking old shopkeeper responded. He instructed someone to serve tea to Wang Hong and called over two young assistants to bring out a bamboo mat, onto which the contents of the sack were emptied.


    Among a heap of misceneous herbs, two small wooden boxes rolled out. The assistants opened the boxes, revealing one filled with ginseng and the other with purple mushrooms.


    "This... so much?" The two assistants were astonished, their mouths wide enough to fit an egg. It was the first time they had seen someone sell such arge quantity of ginseng and purple mushrooms at once.


    Usually, herbalists took ten days to half a month to collect a single ginseng root, and having over a hundred roots, not to mention the forty to fifty purple mushrooms, was unprecedented.


    The old shopkeeper also crouched down, carefully inspecting each herb. After more than half an hour, he finished examining the herbs.


    "Dear young sir, there are a total of 137 Ginseng nts, with two having a medicinal age of twelve years, and the rest ranging from three to six years."


    "Fifty-three Purple Mushrooms, including three with a medicinal age of ten years, five with a nine-year age, and ten with an eight-year age."


    "Forty-two Astragalus nts, with three aged ten years, and nine..."


    "Altogether, ites to 180 taels of silver. What do you think?"


    With a casual wave of his hand, Wang Hong nodded in agreement, but inwardly, he was extremely excited. He had never seen so much silver before.


    Moreover, these herbs were just a clean-up from half a year ago. Now, in the space, there were Ginseng and Purple Mushrooms with over twenty years of medicinal age, growing abundantly.


    "It seems I need to pluck those worthless herbs and focus on Ginseng. Selling a sack like this only got me hundred tael of silver. It''s more profitable to pluck a hair from Ginseng." Wang Hong contemted.


    "Young sir, thanks for choosing our little shop. Please ept this bottle of White Jade Powder as a gift. We hope that when you have a harvest in the future, you will consider selling it to our store," the old shopkeeper said, handing Wang Hong a small porcin bottle.


    Wang Hong epted it gratefully. White Jade Powder was essential for cultivating muscles and bones, a valuable medicine for martial artists.


    "Thank you, shopkeeper. These herbs were collected by me and a few friends after several trips to the mountains. Of course, in the future, when I gather herbs, I''ll bring them to your shop."


    Leaving Ji Shi Tang - Medical Hall, Wang Hong felt the weight of over a hundred taels of silver in his arms. Finding a secluded spot, he tossed a hundred taels into the space.


    In Zhang''s cksmith Shop to the west of the city, a middle-aged man, shirtless and sweating profusely, was hammering a piece of iron.


    "Master! I want to forge a weapon. Can it be custom-made here?"


    The middle-aged man threw down his hammer, tossed the iron into the furnace, and said, "Follow me!" He then led Wang Hong to the backyard.


    In the backyard, rows of weapon racks disyed an array of weapons. Among them, Wang Hong saw over a dozen styles of long spears alone.


    "Take a look first. Choose the style you like, and we''ll tailor it to your measurements."


    Wang Hong tried each type of spear. Therge iron spear weighed over a hundred catties, and Wang Hong could barely handle it. The one with a white wood shaft felt too light.


    Finally, he settled on an iron spear with a slender shaft, adorned with cloud patterns for both aesthetics and grip. The spearhead was leaf-shaped, eight inches long, with a red cherry blossom design extending a foot down. Its weight should be around thirty to forty catties.


    Once Wang Hong made his choice, the cksmith came over to measure his height, arm length, and other data.


    Then, Wang Hong selected a well-crafted steel knife from the weapon rack, costing twenty-five taels of silver. Since the spear would take two months to forge, he also purchased the practice spear for forty taels of silver. He paid ten taels as a deposit. The silver he had just acquired was almost half spent.


    Back at the academy, he immediately borrowed back the "Muscle-Tendon Changing and Marrow-Cleansing Technique."


    Returning to his room, armed with several manuals, Wang Hong entered the space. Seeing the vibrant array of herbs, he decisively plucked them all.


    He left only Ginseng, Lingzhi mushrooms, Astragalus, and five Fo-Ti Roots. Legend had it that the Fo-Ti Root, when a thousand years old, could turn into a human, and Wang Hong kept a few to see if they would grow into anything interesting.


    He also kept a few ordinary detoxifying and healing herbs, as better alternatives had not been found yet. These would be useful in case of emergencies.


    Then there was the raspberry nt. Wang Hong couldn''t bear to pluck it. Both he and Younger Brother had a habit of eating snacks, so he decided to keep it as a snack.


    The rice and wheat in the space were growing abnormally. Initially, they matured every five days, but now it took eight days, and the grains were as thick as a finger.


    The total harvest was a few hundred catties, all stored in the space. Wang Hong didn''t dare to take them out to sell, as they were vastly different from regr rice and wheat.


    In the collective dormitory of the academy, it was inconvenient to cook and eat. Wang Hong also didn''t know how they would taste when cooked.


    Nevertheless, they had excellent visual appeal, with grains the size of fingertips, gleaming with a golden hue. When held in the hand, they felt substantial.


    Peeling off the husk revealed crystal-clear white rice grains emitting a faint fragrance. cing a raw grain in his mouth, Wang Hong chewed slowly, savoring the aromatic taste.


    Wang Hong couldn''t wait to find a secluded ce and secretly cook some for consumption.


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 Chapter 9: Visit of the Immortal Master

    Chapter 9: Visit of the Immortal Master


    A few dayster, Younger Brother began cultivating internal energy techniques. He had always believed that a true hero should wield a sword, so he chose a sword technique as his martial skill.


    Wang Hong took Younger Brother to the cksmith Zhang to pick a fine sword. Only then did the two brothers officially embark on the path of martial cultivation.


    Subsequently, relentless training began, day and night. Anything that required time for contemtion andprehension waspleted within a spatial realm, where time flowed more than twentyfold faster. After achieving rity in understanding, they would practice outside the spatial realm. Even sleep was done within the spatial realm, maximizing every moment for cultivation.


    The spear thrust had to be swift and direct, piercing straight through with force concentrated at the tip. It should resemble a hidden dragon emerging from water on the outward thrust and a fierce tiger entering a cave on the return. Spear thrusts were categorized into upper, middle, and lower levels, with the middle level being the crucial technique. Hence, the saying, "Middle-level spear, the king of spears; the point in the middle is the most difficult to defend against."


    His movements became somewhat mechanical as he repeatedly thrust the spear forward, yet the precision of his actions remained as sharp as ever. Each basic movement was practiced two thousand times daily.


    Meanwhile, Younger Brother diligently practiced a fundamental sword technique nearby.


    In the luxurious room atop the highest building in Qinyang Academy, the highly respected Dean, a figure even the County Magistrate would defer to, currently stood with a deferential smile, bowing deeply.


    Seated at the head of the room was an old Daoist, with white hair but a youthful face, three long strands of beard hanging from his chin. His pristine blue Daoist robe made him appear like a celestial being descended to the mortal realm.


    Indeed, this old Daoist was a celestial being in the mortal realm. He was a Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Taihao Sword Sect, assigned to the mortal realm for the sect''s mission of scouting exceptional talents with Spiritual Roots.


    The role of a scout was simpleto roam the mortal realm, searching for individuals with outstanding Spiritual Roots on behalf of the sect.


    After several years of wandering in the mortal realm, the old Daoist had yet to encounter someone with exceptional aptitude. The sect stipted that only those with at least two Spiritual Roots could be directly recruited into the sect.


    Of course, if the scout managed to find a disciple with outstanding aptitude, the rewards would be substantial.


    "Two Spiritual Roots" referred to individuals possessing only two types of Spiritual Roots. In the cultivation world, there were five primary Spiritual RootsWood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Wateras well as three variationsIce, Wind, and Thundermaking a total of eight Spiritual Roots.


    Individuals with Spiritual Roots were a rare minority among mortals, and most had four or five Spiritual Roots. However, having fewer Spiritual Roots was considered better, as individuals withplete sets of five were oftenbeled as having "wasted" Spiritual Roots, resulting in slow cultivation and requiring vast resources.


    Those with four Spiritual Roots were only slightly stronger than those with five and were generally not epted by sects.


    In the cultivation world, cultivators with two or three Spiritual Roots were considered the norm.


    As for Single Element Spiritual Roots, known as "Heavenly Spiritual Roots," they were extremely rare and almost unheard of. As long as there were no idents leading to premature death, cultivators with such roots could easily reach the Golden Core stage.


    While cultivators typically faced various bottlenecks during realm advancements, some could break through after a few months or years, while others might be stuck for decades or even their entire lives.


    Cultivators with Heavenly Spiritual Roots, on the other hand, faced no bottlenecks from Qi cultivation to the Golden Core stage. They didn''t even need Foundation Establishment Pills to form their Golden Cores.


    Therefore, recruiting a disciple with Heavenly Spiritual Roots was akin to securing a future Golden Core cultivator for the sect.


    Today, as the old Daoist flew over Qinyang Academy on his sword, a treasure in his possession unexpectedly reacted.


    He immediately took out the Spiritual Testing Disk from his robes and, after performing a few incantations, the disk emitted a bright white light.


    This item was bestowed upon the sect''s scouts and would automatically heat up when near mortals with exceptional Spiritual Roots.


    With a sweep of his divine sense, the old Daoist quickly located the Dean and descended directly to the room. He exined his purpose to the ted Dean. Although the recruit wasn''t for himself, being touched by celestial luck was still a favorable oue.


    "Dong~" The sound of a bell echoed throughout the entire academy, causing everyone to cease their activities and gaze toward the direction of the bell. The academy''s bell didn''t ring casually; the number of chimes held different meanings. Wang Hong and the others had not heard the bell in the six months since entering the academy.


    "Dong~"


    "Dong~"


    After three bell chimes, everyone hurried to the central Grand Training Ground. The Grand Training Ground spanned twenty acres, amodating tens of thousands of people simultaneously.


    When Wang Hong arrived at the Training Ground, he saw his fellow squad member Zhang Tie Mao already there and naturally stood to his right.


    At this moment, the benefits of regr drills became apparent. In less than fifteen minutes, the academy students were already arranged in their usual formation, forming arge square, silent and solemn.


    On the contrary, students from the literary department on the other side were in disarray, chatting in small groups, unable to form proper lines.


    At this time, the old Dean, apanied by a seemingly ethereal old man, respectfully ascended a raised tform. From a distance, the old Dean seemed to be exining something.


    The ethereal old man took out a metal disc from his robes and gestured at it. Astonishingly, the metal disc autonomously flew into the air, slowly hovering and dancing above the crowd.


    The spectators were amazed. The metal disc had no wings, and it didn''t resemble a living creature capable of flying without falling. They had never witnessed such a peculiar urrence.


    "Could this be the legendary techniques of the immortals? Is that old man truly a celestial being?" Some immediately prostrated, while others believed it to be magic or some other mechanism.


    Unfazed by the reactions below, the old man focused on manipting the Spiritual Testing Disk, which asionally emitted a faint glow.


    Wang Hong noticed that when the metal disc flew over his head, it emitted a faint glow, which disappeared when it moved away.


    After circling the entire Training Ground, the disc returned to the old man''s hands.


    With one hand gripping the disc, the old man made a gesture in the air. Before the crowd couldprehend, a student from the audience seemed to be grabbed by an invisible hand and instantly appeared on the elevated tform.


    The old man continued to grab students from the crowd as if plucking fish from a pond. Those who were brought up to the tform either shivered in fear, imagining themselves ensnared by some dark magic, or felt ted, thinking they had caught the attention of the Immortal Master and were destined for greatness.


    Wang Hong felt a sudden tightening on his body, and before he could experience the sensation of flying in the air, he had alreadynded on the tform.


    Not long after, Younger Brother was also brought up. The two brothers being selected simultaneously left Wang Hong with mixed feelingswhether this was a good or bad thing was uncertain, making him somewhat uneasy.


    Without keeping them waiting for too long, the old man stopped after grabbing over a hundred people. He then instructed them to take turns approaching and touching the metal disc with their hands.


    The first youth ced his hand on the disc, and it emitted blue, red, yellow, white, and ck lights. The old man nced briefly and shouted, "Next!"


    The subsequent participants, dozens in a row, disyed four or five colors of light. The old man nced at each with only a brief look, shouting "Next!" each time. Only when a person with only three colors of light appeared did the old man take a longer look, saying nothing more before calling the next person.


    When it was Wang Hong''s turn, the colors were blue, red, yellow, and ck. Following him, Younger Brother touched the disc, and it immediately emitted a pure white light. While others had lights only a few inches long, Younger Brother''s light extended nearly a foot.


    The old man, initially leisurely stroking his beard, now appeared excited. His hand trembled, pulling out several strands of his beard, yet he seemed oblivious to it.


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 Chapter 10: Wang Yi Enters the Immortal Sect

    Chapter 10: Wang Yi Enters the Immortal Sect


    Old Man Dao circled around Younger Brother twice, assessing him from top to bottom. Stroking his beard, he inquired, "What is your name?"


    "I am Wang Yi," Younger Brother replied, bowing respectfully.


    "Do you wish to join the Taihao Sword Sect and cultivate Immortal Techniques under my guidance?" the old Daoist asked.


    Simultaneously, he reached into a small cloth bag at his waist, producing a radiant small sword. The sword, initially about a foot long, elongated in the wind, reaching several feet in length after a moment.


    Pointing towards arge stone in the distance, Old Man gestured, and the massive sword, resembling a bolt of lightning, shed towards the stone.


    "Boom!"


    The mountain-like stone immediately shattered into pieces.


    The sword danced in the air for a moment, then shrunk back to a foot in length,nding in Old Man''s hand.


    Younger Brother''s mind was in disarray from the sudden and overwhelming disy. He was unable to react immediately. Old Man seemed satisfied with Younger Brother''s stunned expression and waited patiently, stroking his beard. The others were also in a state of shock.


    "An immortal! I''ve only heard legends before. I never thought I would have the chance to see one in person. I can boast about this for a lifetime!"


    "If I could seize this opportunity to join the immortals, I would be an Immortal Master myself in the future."


    "Why isn''t this kid agreeing already? I''m getting anxious for him."


    After a moment, Wang Yi finally recovered and turned to look at Wang Hong. He asked the Immortal Master, "May Immortal Master also ept my elder brother?"


    Following Younger Brother''s gaze, Old Daoist found Wang Hong. Wang Hong, torn between his desire to join the immortal sect and concerns about burdening his younger brother, looked conflicted.


    Old Daoist shook his head, saying, "Is this your elder brother? His aptitude is too poor; he has Four Elements Spiritual Roots. I don''t have the authority to admit him to the sect. Only the Golden Core Elders have such privileges. Unless you can persuade a Golden Core Elder in the future or achieve Golden Core cultivation yourself  which, given your Single Element Spiritual Root aptitude, shouldn''t be a problem."


    Younger Brother, still reluctant, asked, "Is there no other way?"


    Wang Hong, fearing his brother might persist and upset the Immortal Master, hurriedly said, "Younger Brother, rest assured and follow the immortal senior. Don''t worry about me. When you''ve cultivated the path of immortality,e back to see me."


    Old Daoist nced at Wang Hong, not particrly concerned as long as there were no conflicts of interest. He said, "Apart from that, there is the path of wandering cultivators, but it is indeed quite challenging." Old Daoist shook his head, then turned to Wang Hong, "When you be stronger, you can head west to the Qingxu Mountain in the Chu State. There is a Qingxu Immortal City in the mountain. However, this route is extremely perilous for ordinary people."


    The Wang brothers expressed gratitude for the guidance of the Immortal Master. Younger Brother turned to Wang Hong and said, "Brother, wait for me. When I achieve sess in cultivation, I will find a way to have you join the immortal sect."


    The brothers spoke to each other on the side, reluctant to part. Meanwhile, Old Daoist tested the Spiritual Roots of the remaining dozens of people, but no outstanding talents appeared. Satisfied, Old Daoist looked forward to receiving generous rewards upon bringing Wang Yi back.


    At this point, many people in the audience had already knelt down, seeking to be disciples, asking for elixirs of eternal life, or seeking Immortal Master''s blessings for wealth and gambling luck. There was even a teacher requesting blessings for a son from his wife. And so on.


    Old Daoist paid no attention to these requests, his face slightly turning green. He was not a dark cultivator and had no intention of taking drastic measures for trivial matters.


    He could only release a bit of Foundation-Building Pressure outward, frightening everyone into bowing their heads like garlic. Some even thought Immortal Master was granting their requests and knocked their heads with a resounding thud.


    Old Daoist once again tossed the small sword into the air. When the sword extended to over ten feet, he leaped onto it, reaching out to grab Younger Brother onto the sword. Then, he threw two porcin bottles,nding in the hands of Wang Hong and the old dean.


    "This is two pills for enhancing your physical fitness. They are a gift to you," Old Daoist said before transforming into a beam of light and disappearing into the sky. The two brothers quickly expressed their gratitude. Wang Hong looked at the pills in his hand with a sense of loss.


    Over a hundred people brought up on the stage, realizing that they might have missed the opportunity to enter the path of immortality, were now wailing. Witnessing the extraordinary abilities of the immortals, everyone nurtured a deep longing. The chance seemed so close yet slipped away.


    The news of an immortal visiting Qingyang Academy quickly spread to Qingyang City. The entire city was abuzz, and the next day, the County Magistrate personally visited the academy to inquire. Confirming the authenticity of the event, the County Magistrate was envious, especially learning that the immortal had bestowed immortal pills. The County Magistrate personally met Wang Hong, the immortal senior, and presented fifty liang of silver.


    The news spread like wildfire from Qingyang to the surrounding regions and even reached nearby states. The information underwent significant distortion through the storytelling and exaggeration of those who spread it.


    Ultimately, it turned into a tale of a demonic threat at Qingyang Academy, prompting an Immortal Master toe and eliminate the demon. The Immortal Master was described as a giant mountain-like figure with eyes like bronze bells, a mouth capable of swallowing several cows at once, three heads, six arms, and wings on the back. A three-day battle ensued before the Immortal Master sessfully vanquished the demon.


    Following this, the immortal senior selected over ten students from the academy as his disciples and gifted the academy dozens of immortal pills. It was said that merely smelling these pills prevented all illnesses, and consuming one could increase a martial artist''s power by fifty years. The entire martial world was stirred up. Though the rumors were somewhat exaggerated, where there''s smoke, there''s fire, and some enthusiasts firmly believed in the tales.


    Due to the restricted ess for outsiders at the academy, various people lurked around the entrance these days, trying to gather information.


    On the second day, Wang Hong swallowed the immortal pill. Holding onto such a precious item drew many curious onlookers who wanted to see and even smell the pill. They wished they could devour Wang Hong too. Fortunately, Wang Hong still carried the title of an immortal senior, and for now, no one dared to forcibly snatch it. The wrath of an immortal was something nobody wanted to endure.


    In front of some people, Wang Hong swallowed the pill in one go. His face immediately turned red, and he staggered back to his room, seemingly drunk on the power of the pill.


    Wang Hong felt the pill turn into a warm energy upon entering his stomach, spreading throughout his body. It felt like soaking in warm water, leaving him with a pleasant warmth all over.


    Quickly entering a meditative state, Wang Hong guided the internal energy, directing the warmth into his dantian. The internal energy umted more and more in his dantian, causing it to swell as if on the verge of bursting.


    Suddenly, there was a "bang" inside his body. The flow of energy from the dantian seemed to find a release point, descending through the Yin channel, passing the tailbone''s strong acupoint, running along the spine through the Governing Vessel, pausing briefly before rushing through the Mingmen acupoint, ascending through the Yang channel, directly surging to the Fengfu acupoint at the back of the head. Wang Hong calmly guided the internal energy, allowing it to ascend. In just a few breaths, with a "buzz," the internal energy surged through the Fengfu acupoint into the upper dantian.


    The internal energy didn''t stay in the upper dantian for long. Wang Hong guided it downward through the Ren and Du meridians to the lower dantian,pleting a small cirction. This marked thepletion of the Microcosmic Orbit, signifying Wang Hong''s official entry into the Acquired Stage as a martial artist.


    Wang Hong had only been practicing internal energy for a few days, but with a single immortal pill, he had be a martial artist in the Acquired Stage. The methods of the immortal were indeed extraordinary. This pill alone could rece five years of cultivation.


    Moving gently in the room, Wang Hong felt his senses sharpened, his mind clear, and his spirit refreshed. Clenching his fist, he felt a surge of strength throughout his body. Generally, when a martial artist entered the Acquired Stage, their strength could reach six hundred kilograms.


    Wang Hong was considering finding a ce to test his strength when he heard a "knock, knock, knock" on the door.


    Opening the door, a student in academy attire stood outside. "Wang Hong, the dean is looking for you."


    Wang Hong asked with some confusion, "Do you know what it''s about?"


    "I have no idea. You''ll find out when you go."


    "Alright, thanks! I''ll go right away."


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 Chapter 11: Spatial Provisioning

    Chapter 11: Spatial Provisioning


    Wang Hong entered the Dean''s Office, finding Old Dean seated by the Tea Table, savoring his tea.


    "Student Wang Hong, greetings to the Dean." After a few days'' absence, Old Dean seemed more spirited, with noticeably fewer white hairs.


    "Haha! Wang Hong is here! No need for formality in my presence. Treat it like your own home. Come, sit down and taste my tea. What do you think?" The warmth in their interaction might lead one to believe they were family.


    Wang Hong took a seat nearby, and Old Dean handed him a cup of tea. Wang Hong, having been impoverished in the past, barely had enough to eat, let alone experience tea. This particr tea, with its initial bitterness followed by sweetness and a lingering fragrance, left an impression on his taste buds.


    Expressing his appreciation for the excellent tea, Wang Hong''s enthusiasm prompted Old Dean to share a wealth of knowledge about tea. Wang Hong listened attentively, asionally interjecting with questions, leading to an enjoyable conversation.


    After a while, Old Dean brought up official matters. "I observed your brisk and powerful strides when you entered the academy, full of vitality. But have you already taken the Immortal Pill?"


    "Yes, indeed. I have taken the Immortal Pill and used it to break through to the Acquired stage," Wang Hong replied truthfully.


    "That''s good. I called you here precisely because of this matter. There are some rumors circting outside; you might have heard a few. It''s advisable not to venture out of the academy easily recently. While you carry the identity of an Immortal Older Brother, and no one would dare to harm you openly, there are those with misguided motives who might target you in the shadows."


    Wang Hong nodded in understanding. In front of many people, he had taken the elixir to signify that he no longer possessed the Immortal Pill.


    "Furthermore, there''s an empty Small Courtyard on the west side of the academy. Move in; this is the key." Old Dean handed a key to Wang Hong.


    epting the key, Wang Hong thanked Old Dean. As he was leaving, Old Dean also gave him a pound of tea leaves.


    Using the key to unlock the gate, Wang Hong was greeted by a smallwn adorned with unfamiliar weeds and scattered wildflowers. Inside a wall about the height of a person were six rooms,plete with furniture, tables, chairs, benches, a kitchen, and other facilities.


    On this night, Wang Hong broke his routine and did not engage in cultivation. Instead, he brought out a lounge chair,y down on thewn, and gazed at the starry sky. In his hand, he held a handful of raspberries, the favorite of his Younger Brother, savoring them slowly.


    "I wonder how my Younger Brother is doing now? Is anyone bullying him?"


    As the saying goes, the elder brother is like a father. Wang Hong reflected, "As the elder brother, I haven''t taken good care of my Younger Brother. On the contrary, I''ve taken advantage of him gaining many benefits. A true man stands between heaven and earth, embodying principles and setting an example for others. How can I, Wang Hong, rely on the title of Immortal Older Brother to get by?"


    Wang Hong stood up, summoned an Iron Spear from Spatial, and, after assuming a starting posture, began the "Immortal''s Guidance" and "Azure Dragon Emerges from the Sea" movements. The spear disyed both real and illusory, with peculiar and precise techniques. It advanced sharply, retreated swiftly, with perilous momentum and short intervals. Motionless as a mountain, yet thunderous as a lightning strike. Wang Hong practiced the set of movements known as the "Thunderous Spear Technique" more than ten times until the moon reached its zenith, leaving him drenched in sweat.


    After a refreshing shower, Wang Hong entered Spatial and went to sleep. Several hours passed within Spatial, but only a quarter of an hour had psed in the outside world. Emerging from Spatial, Wang Hong, though mentally refreshed, still felt physical fatigue. Moving his muscles caused soreness, prompting him to begin meditating and cultivating his inner strength.


    Wang Hong has sessfully opened the Governor Vessel Meridian, entering the Acquired stage. The next step is to open the remaining six meridians of the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, namely the "Thrusting Meridian," "Girdle Meridian," "Yin Linking Meridian," "Yang Linking Meridian," "Yin Heel Meridian," and "Yang Heel Meridian." Only when all Eight Extraordinary Meridians are opened can one be considered to havepleted the entire cultivation of the Acquired stage.


    Opening the Governor Vessel Meridian is already quite challenging. For most people, it takes several years of normal cultivation, and some may even need ten to twenty years to enter the Acquired stage. Opening the remaining six meridians is even more difficult, and the majority of martial practitioners may reach a teau at the Acquired stage. Only a very small number of martial artists can open all Eight Extraordinary Meridians in their lifetime, thus entering the Innate stage. Innate practitioners, in turn, need to open the six meridians of the hands and feet, totaling twelve meridians.


    Wang Hong continued his cultivation until dawn, stabilizing the recently opened Governor Vessel Meridian to some extent. At this rate, reaching the Innate stage seemed like a task that would take an extended period.


    Wang Hong''s n was to cultivate at least until the Innate stage before venturing to Qingxu Mountain in search of Qingxu Immortal City. The journey ahead was fraught with dangers, and Wang Hong did not want to be devoured by ferocious beasts halfway.


    "It seems I need to figure something out. Those Medicinal Herbs in Spatial should be helpful; I just don''t know how to use them."


    After the morning Battle Formation Drill, Wang Hong, without eating, went to the Library and borrowed a stack of Medical Books. Carrying them back, he muttered along the way, "It''s true what they say: one regrets not having enough books when needed. I should read more in the future."


    Back at the small courtyard, Wang Hong took out some Spatial Produce Rice Grains, which he had long wanted to eat but hadn''t had the chance. These Rice Grains were as thick as a finger, golden-yellow, emitting an enticing fragrance of rice.


    Wang Hong grabbed a handful, rubbed off the husk with a twist of his hands, blew away the chaff, leaving behind grains the size of fingertips, sparkling and white.


    Wang Hong processed more than a pound of rice before tossing it into the pot. He brought the water to a boil first, then simmered it over a very low me. Only the intermittent wafts of the rice fragrance were noticeable, making Wang Hong feel like his throat was reaching out.


    Using an iron pot to cook rice, a high me after the water boils easily results in burning, and the lid should not be opened in the middle; otherwise, the rice might turn undercooked. It has to be slowly simmered over low heat, producing fragrant rice with a good texture and a crispy riceyer at the bottom. Wang Hong was an expert in cooking, though he hadn''t had many opportunities before due to his past poverty.


    It took nearly half an hour for the rice to cook thoroughly. The cooked rice was translucent, fluffy, and each grain sparkled. Wang Hong didn''t bother with any dishes; he devoured sixrge bowls, still not satisfied. Using a spat, he scraped off the crispy rice at the bottom, holding it as a post-meal snack.


    After eating, Wang Hong felt a subtle warmth in his abdomen, not as intense as when he had taken the Immortal Pillst time. Wang Hong meditated with crossed legs for two hours. The heat in his abdomen disappeared, and the newly opened Governor Vessel Meridian had be much more stable. At this rate, only five or six more times would be needed topletely stabilize it.


    Wang Hong felt ecstatic. The power gained from cultivating after just one meal was equivalent to the daily practice of four or five days.


    "Haha! As long as I eat two meals a day, I can achieve a cultivation speed nearly ten times faster than others. In the future, I can also pretend to be a genius."


    Wang Hong made a few pancakes with Spatial Wheat and ate them, finding the effect simr to that of Spatial rice.


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 Chapter 12: Outsmarting the Masked Man

    Chapter 12: Outsmarting the Masked Man


    In the days that followed, Wang Hong devoted his daylight hours to practicing marksmanship, followed by meals, cultivating internal energy, and spending his evenings immersed in study within the space.


    During this period, the Academy experienced several incidents of unidentified individuals infiltrating, all of which were discovered by the Academy patrol teams and either dealt with on the spot or captured.


    To address this, the Academy increased the personnel for patrol and vignce. The patrol teams wereposed of students with considerable strength, coupled with the coborative techniques of battle formations, making it difficult for ordinary Acquired martial artists to contend.


    Through this learning phase, Wang Hong gained a certain understanding of Medicinal Herbs. The ginseng, astragalus, and purple mushrooms in his space were all beneficial for cultivating internal energy. As for the methods of consumption, there were various options such as brewing them into medicinal soup, making medicinal pills, pairing them with food for medicinal cuisine, or infusing them into medicinal wine. Each method had its merits and drawbacks.


    At this moment, Wang Hong was fully absorbed in simmering a pot of soup. Earlier that day, Zhang Tie Mao and the others had gone hunting in the mountains and brought back arge piece of wild boar ribs, which they generously gave to Wang Hong. He also dug up a more than forty-year-old astragalus from the space and stewed it together with the pork ribs. Astragalus had a mild nature, known for invigorating the spleen, replenishing qi, and nourishing the kidneys, making it ideal for medicinal cuisine.


    The edges of the pot lid were emitting a steady stream of white steam, indicating it had been simmering for about an hour. "It should be ready to eat," Wang Hong lifted the lid, revealing a milky white broth bubbling with rich meat aroma and a faint medicinal fragrance. The scent of astragalus was not overpowering, ensuring that the medicinal cuisine retained the original vor.


    Wang Hong selected a rib, grabbed it with his hands, blew on it a few times, and then took a hearty bite. "Mmm! The bones are tender, and the meat is sulent," he eximed. He swiftly finished the meat and even sucked the broth from the bones, creating a satisfying sound. After consuming the meat, he crunched the bones, releasing the marrow with each chew.


    Just as Wang Hong was enjoying his meal, a hoarse voice interrupted, "Kid, you''re eating quite luxuriously. How about showing some respect to your elders and sharing a sip with this old man?"


    Startled by the sudden voice, Wang Hong looked towards the source and saw a figure dressed in ck night clothes, a masked face, and a gleaming single-edged sword in hand, standing at the doorway.


    Wang Hong''s heart tightened. How did someone manage to sneak into his home? The intruder was likely an Acquired martial artist, and despite Wang Hong reaching the Acquired realm, hecked any practicalbat experience, especially with his recent initiation into marksmanship. Confidence was nowhere to be found in facing this masked man.


    "Kid, don''t be nervous, and don''t harbor any ideas. I''ll ask you a few questions, and you just need to answer honestly," the masked man said, gesturing with the sword.


    Suppressing his fear, Wang Hong forced a smile. "Please go ahead with your questions. I''ll truthfully answer anything. Honestly, I''ve always admired heroes and great figures like yourself. If there''s anything you need, feel free to instruct me, and I''ll make sure it''s done properly."


    Seeing Wang Hong willing to cooperate, the masked man rxed a bit, thinking, "This kid knows how to behave. It''s not bad for a twelve or thirteen-year-old not to wet himself in fear. I''ll let him die morefortablyter."


    The masked man pulled up a chair and sat at the doorway. "I heard that not long ago, an immortal descended here. Is that true?"


    Wang Hong confirmed, "It''s true. Thousands of people witnessed it. The Immortal Master could control flying swords, turning them into several zhang in size in the air. With a gentle point of his hand, he could shatter giant rocks. In the end, the Immortal Master sat on the flying sword and disappeared like a sh of lightning." Wang Hong spoke while slowly sipping a bowl of soup.


    The masked man''s pupils contracted, revealing inner turmoil. "What was the purpose of the Immortal Master''s visit? Did he leave any treasures, like Immortal Pills or manuals for Immortal Techniques?"


    After moistening his throat with a sip of soup, Wang Hong continued, "The Immortal Master came to recruit disciples for his immortal sect. He used a magical tool to inspect everyone and eventually epted a disciple. As for Immortal Pills, there were indeed some." Wang Hong refilled his bowl with soup and paced around the room as he spoke.


    "The Immortal Pill is truly miraculous. Just smelling it after opening the bottle can make you feel a surge in power. Our Old Dean took one, and his strength improved significantly; even his white hair turned ck. As far as I know, there''s one more Immortal Pill, but unfortunately..." Wang Hong''s excitement grew, and unconsciously, he walked closer to the masked man, who was now two feet away. The masked man was getting interested; this kid was building up suspense. Instinctively, he asked, "Unfortunately, what?"


    "Unfortunately, someone else had it for dinner!" As Wang Hong uttered these words, he sshed the soup bowl in his hand towards the Masked man''s eyes.


    At the same time, an Iron Spear appeared in his hand, swiftly thrusting directly towards the Masked man''s chest. This move, involving quickly retrieving weapons from the space and immediately engaging inbat, was something Wang Hong had practiced for a long time.


    The Masked man, still processing the words "someone else had it for dinner," hadn''t fully reacted when a bowl of soup came sshing towards him. Despite his extensivebat experience, the Masked man hastily waved his left arm to block, simultaneously swinging the single-edged sword from bottom to top. Seated in the chair, he could only lean a few inches to the left in his rushed evasion.


    Wang Hong''s close-range attack with the spear was lightning fast. Just as the spearhead was about an inch away from the Masked man''s left chest, the sword''s deflection and the slight evasion caused a "pu" sound as the spear pierced more than three inches into the upper right part of the Masked man''s chest.


    Wang Hong intended to capitalize on his sess, pushing the spearhead forward. Although the Masked man, despite his injury, reacted quickly, retreating and swinging the sword along the spear shaft towards Wang Hong''s hand. Helpless, Wang Hong could only rotate the spearhead in the wound and quickly retract it, pulling out arge chunk of flesh and blood.


    Wang Hong lunged for another quick attack, seizing the opportunity while the Masked man was weak, offering no time for recovery, and securing the doorway to prevent any escape.


    Knowing that he hadn''t hit the heart, Wang Hong was aware that the Masked man wouldn''t die immediately. However, he had undoubtedly punctured the lungs, allowing air from the outside to enter the chest. In a maximum of two quarter-hours, the Masked man would lose consciousness. Additionally, with the lungs rich in blood vessels, a significant loss of blood would hasten his demise. Wang Hong only needed to stall him, waiting for him to faint, to im victory.


    Having practiced spear technique for only three months, Wang Hong''s true strength was considerably less than the Masked man''s. Currently, he could only exploit his existing advantage,unching rapid attacks, consistently targeting vital areas and forcing the opponent to defend.


    Initially, Wang Hong''s swift attacks were fueled by nervousness, as it was his first time engaging in a life-or-death struggle, especially against someone with far superior martial skills. However, with each passing moment, he became more adept at maneuvering, deepening hisprehension of the "Thunderous Spear Technique."


    On the other hand, the Masked man was growing increasingly infuriated, reflecting on his years of experience as he found himself in a dire situation today.


    At first, he didn''t take the seemingly twelve or thirteen-year-old boy across from him seriously. Even if he started martial arts training in the womb, how much skill could he possibly possess? He had let his guard down just a little, and that slight oversight had cost him dearly.


    The Masked man grew weaker as the battle progressed, feeling his breath bing more difficult. Exhaling was easy, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn''t draw in the outside air.


    His limbs grew increasingly feeble, unable to exert force. His eyelids became heavy, and all he wanted was to enjoy a good sleep.


    Biting down on his tongue, the Masked man forced himself to focus, determined to take someone down with him even if he died.


    Wang Hong''s move, the "White Snake Spits Venom," aimed at the Masked man''s abdomen. This time, the Masked man didn''t dodge. The spear directly pierced his abdomen, the tip emerging from his lower back.


    The Masked man''s eyes turned bloodshot, revealing a crazed expression. Gripping the spear with his left hand, he lunged forward, shing the single-edged sword towards Wang Hong''s neck. He seemed intent on taking both of them down together. Wang Hong hastily let go, leaping backward, but the de still left a long gash on his chest.


    The Masked man, using hisst strength, continued pursuing Wang Hong. The room was too small for a proper escape. After a few steps, Wang Hong suddenly had another Iron Spear in his hand. Simultaneously, he executed a move known as the "Retreat Horse Spear." The Masked man, caught off guard, was pierced through, feeling an icy chill through his heart.


    The Masked man copsed on the ground, convulsing for a moment before finally sumbing to death. As hey dying, he couldn''t fathom how this spear had appeared out of nowhere.


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 Chapter 13: Brewing

    Chapter 13: Brewing


    Wang Hong delivered a swift kick to the Masked Man and scolded, "Fool, couldn''t you just stay home? Had toe out seeking death. Who has Immortal Pill and doesn''t immediately swallow it? Save it for others to snatch? Fool! Just because you''ve been given Immortal Techniques, you think you can cultivate them? If it were that easy, the world wouldn''t have so many ordinary people without brains!" He kicked again for emphasis.


    After venting his frustration, Wang Hong''s mind gradually calmed. During the intense battle moments ago, his focus was solely on killing the opponent.


    Now, in the calm aftermath, looking at the corpse before him, an unsettling feeling crept into his heart.


    This encounter was dangerously close; if the surprise attack had failed, he might be the one lying on the ground now.


    Covering the corpse with a piece of cloth, he began tending to his own wounds. The wound on his chest was deep, exposing bone. Fortunately, he had acquired a bottle of White Jade Powder from Ji Shi Tang - Medical Hall during hisst visit.


    He added a pinch of salt to lukewarm water and carefully cleansed the wound. Grimacing in pain, Wang Hong felt a sense of manliness, though he regretted having no audience to witness his stoic cleaning of his own wound.


    After the cleaning, he evenly spread White Jade Powder on the wound and bandaged it with boiled hemp cloth. The remaining White Jade Powder was ingested with water.


    Wang Hong contemted the need to concoct some healing medicine in the future, but hecked the Medicinal Herbs seeds.


    Genuine high-quality Medicinal Herbs were not easy toe by; they couldn''t be bought with silver alone.


    The primary ingredient in White Jade Powder was the White Jade Mushroom, which had to be less than ten years old. This Medicinal Herbs was extremely picky about its growth environment and would generally wither and die before reaching ten years, except in exceptionally favorable conditions.


    Having dealt with his own affairs, Wang Hong, suppressing his difort, searched the Masked Man and found a few taels of loose silver and another bottle of White Jade Powder. It seemed that White Jade Powder was indeed a must-have remedy for warriors during their travels, a tool for both killing and robbing.


    Removing the Masked Man''s face covering, Wang Hong discovered a white, thin-faced man in his fifties whom he had never seen before.


    Wang Hong reported the incident to the patrol team and had them dispose of the body. By the time he finished, it waste at night, and due to blood loss, he felt a bit lightheaded. Wang Hong consumed the remaining meat soup and, having finished eating, went to sleep.


    The next day, Wang Hong informed Military Formation Instructor Feng Lao Mo of his need for a few days off and dedicated himself to recovering at home. Currently, he was leisurely sipping tea and holding an old book.


    A knocking sound echoed from outside. It was Zhang Tie Mao, Li Xiao Ya, Hua Wen Jue, and Lu Jin Gou, who hade to visit Wang Hong upon hearing about his injury.


    During this period, they often practiced battle formations together and, being children at heart, quickly found amusement in each other''spany.


    Wang Hong offered them a te of raspberries, seemingly a product of space that underwent gradual mutations over time. These raspberries, once the size of fingertips, had now grown to the size of pigeon eggs. Consuming them also had a subtle effect on enhancing cultivation, though not as pronounced as space''s rice grains and wheat.


    Li Xiao Ya picked one and, with a gentle sip, caused the fruit to burst, releasing a sweet juice that flowed down her throat. Comfortably sighing, she eximed, "Wang Hong, where did you buy these? They''re delicious!"


    Zhang Tie Mao swallowed three berries in one go, saying, "These should be wild ones from the mountain. I''ve picked such raspberries on the mountain before, although not as big or tasty."


    "I picked them on the mountain yesterday. Unfortunately, the tree was too small; I only got this much," Wang Hong replied, intentionally mentioning that he had already picked them to avoid being asked to go together next time.


    Lu Jin Gou, stuffing his mouth with berries, mumbled, "These berries would make excellent wine. I used to pick wild grapes on the mountain to make wine; these berries would probably yield a more aromatic brew than wild grapes."


    Hua Wen Jue elegantly twisted a berry between her fingers and said, "Little brat, not learning well, always imitating adults drinking."


    "You''re only a year older than me, and I didn''t see you drink any less of the grape winest time," Lu Jin Gou retorted hastily.


    The speaker is unaware, but the listener interprets. Wang Hong noticed that the Raspberries nt in space, initially half a person''s height, had grown taller than a person. The troublesome part was that it would bear a batch of fruit every few days, and if not harvested promptly, the fruits would fall to the ground, take root, and sprout anew.


    Initially, growing this Raspberries nt was for his and his Younger Brother''s daily snacks. Sometimes, if not finished, Wang Hong stored the uneaten berries in severalrge jars. Those jars of Raspberries happened to serve as an experiment for brewing.


    Wang Hong discovered a benefit in space  as long as things didn''t directly touch the ground, they could be preserved indefinitely without spoiling.


    However, once in contact with the ground, anything with a hint of vitality would take root and sprout. Earlier, Wang Hong had made a wooden rack to store harvested grains in space.


    Unexpectedly, two dayster, new roots grew beneath the rack, and the rack was covered with fresh, tender twigs. After that, any rack Wang Hong ced inside was sun-dried outside and roasted with fire.


    After some yful banter, the group reminded Wang Hong to be careful, as the Academy was currently not very peaceful, with frequent intruders. Wang Hong, of course, couldn''t resist recounting his heroic deeds against the Masked Man, embellishing the story. This earned him admiration from Zhang Tie Mao and Li Xiao Ya, while Hua Wen Jue and Lu Jin Gou regarded him with suspicion.


    Before leaving, they invited Wang Hong to go hunting in the mountains once he recovered. Wang Hong thought that with the vastness of Qing Yun Shan, once he entered the mountains, others would find it challenging to locate him, so he dly agreed.


    North of the valley where Qing Yang Academy was located, there was a cluster of houses for the instructors and their families.


    In front of the residential area was a short street, lined with small shops on one side and various stalls on the other.


    Most daily necessities could be bought and sold here, butrger transactions usually took ce in the county.


    Wang Hong, currently strolling down this street, was keenly observing the shops and stalls on either side. Stall vendors would energetically call out to passersby if they cast even a casual nce at their stalls.


    Most items sold by vendors were local specialties, mountain products, and some were items that academy students dealt with in their spare time, such as harvesting Medicinal Herbs or selling mountain products. The shops, on the other hand, offered everyday items like oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea, and clothing.


    Wang Hong found a Wan Shi Jiu Fang and walked in. As he entered, a waft of alcohol greeted him, and his eyes fell on rows ofrge wine barrels.


    Before Wang Hong could speak, a cheerful young woman approached, "Young sir, looking to buy some wine? Our store has various fine wines, including the ten-year-aged Yu Lan Chun, the twenty-year-aged Jin Yu Ye, and the newly brewed Burnt Knife."


    After a brief thought, Wang Hong inquired, "I want to buy some wine for making Medicinal wine. Any particr type you rmend?"


    The young woman rmended, "In that case, go for the newly brewed Burnt Knife. It has a robust vor, and the price is reasonable, fifty wen per jin."


    Wang Hong agreed on the spot, ordering a hundred jin of wine divided into ten small jars. He also asked the shopkeeper for some Jiu Qu for brewing. In total, he paid five taels of silver, with the Jiu Qu thrown in as a free gift.


    Returning to his courtyard, Wang Hong dug up five forty-year-old Ginseng nts and five forty-year-old Purple Mushroom nts. He soaked them separately in the wine jars, adding bee wax seal, and then stored them in space.


    He also crushed the remaining raspberries in space, added Jiu Qu, stirred it thoroughly, and sealed the jar. It would only require stirring every few days henceforth.


    In reality, berry-like fruits could be fermented into wine by simply crushing them without adding Jiu Qu. However,pared to using Jiu Qu, the resulting wine would have more impurities and a less refined taste.


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 Chapter 14: White Jade Mushroom

    Chapter 14: White Jade Mushroom


    In the lush woods of the Qingyun Mountain Range, five individuals, four men and one woman, proceeded slowly. The sturdy young man leading the way stopped and turned to ask, "There are ferocious beasts ahead. Shall we continue?"


    Ferocious beasts were no ordinary wild animals; even the weakest among them possessed the strength of entry-level martial artists, while some formidable ones could rival innate martial artists.


    After a brief discussion, the group decided to press on. Wang Hong had reached the Acquired realm, Hua Wen Jue had been in the entry-level for years, and the other three had also attained entry-level martial artist status. With a united effort, they were confident in dealing with one or two ferocious beasts.


    Moreover, their primary objective this time was to hone theirbat skills, gain battle experience, hunt ferocious beasts, gather rare medicinal herbs, and earn some wealth.


    Among them, only Hua Wen Jue came from a wealthy family, while Wang Hong had some money but didn''t unt it. The remaining three had to find ways to make a living to support their cultivation. Areas with ferocious beasts often meant scarce human presence and better opportunities for harvest.


    As they continued, the group''s harvest gradually increased. Li Xiao Ya temporarily took charge of the gathered medicinal herbs, to be distributed based on each person''s contribution. Wang Hong and Hua Wen Jue, with their strong abilities, focused on vignce, while the other three concentrated on collecting.


    Suddenly, Li Xiao Ya pointed to a cliff on the opposite side, eximing, "Look! There''s a cluster of white things that seem to be White Jade Mushrooms."


    Everyone turned to look in the direction she pointed, and indeed, beneath the vines on the cliff, a faint cluster of white could be seen. Wang Hong, with his knowledge in medicine, immediately recognized it as White Jade Mushroom.


    Known as the healing sacred medicine, White Jade Powder was made primarily from White Jade Mushrooms aged five to ten years. It was said that even a hundred-year-old White Jade Mushroom could revive a person from near-death as long as there was a breath left. Owning a high-aged White Jade Mushroom was like having an extra lease on life.


    However, White Jade Mushrooms had extremely strict growth requirements. Those within ten years weremon, but most would wither and die before reaching twenty. Only a very few, in special environments, could live beyond fifty years, and reaching a hundred was exceedingly rare.


    Eighty years ago, an eighty-year-old White Jade Mushroom had caused a sensation in the martial world. It led to a fiercepetition among martial heroes, resulting in numerous casualties.


    Approaching the cliff, Lu Jin Gou was about to climb up using the vines when Wang Hong stopped him. Wang Hong picked up a few stones and threw them towards the vines surrounding the White Jade Mushroom.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang!" The stones hit, causing leaves to scatter.


    Suddenly, the vines shook violently, and a massive snake head emerged, spitting venom and fixing its cold gaze on the group.


    The group tensed, retreating cautiously until they were several yards from the cliff. Lu Jin Gou, in particr, felt a wave of relief, realizing that if he had charged up without caution, he might have ended up inside the snake''s belly.


    The giant python stared for a moment, then, seeing the group step back, made no further moves. Its head slowly retreated.


    After a brief discussion, the group devised a strategy. They gathered a pile of stones and began throwing them at the cliff.


    After a few rocks were thrown, the snake head emerged again. The group continued pelting it with stones. Li Xiao Ya even threw a small, nimble dagger, hitting the snake''s neck, but the dagger''s force was too weak, prating only a little.


    Although these attacks didn''t cause significant harm, they were enough to enrage the giant python.


    The python writhed its thick body, charging towards the group like a gust of wind. Before getting too close, a foul wind blew in their faces. Seeing the snake approaching, Lu Jin Gou swiftly maneuvered to the side, slipping towards the cliff.


    The remaining four alternated between defending and retreating, leading the snake to an open area. Two restrained its attacks while the others approached from the sides.


    The snake spat venom at Hua Wen Jue, who leaped backward. Seizing the opportunity, Wang Hong, from the side, executed the Thunderous Spear Technique,unching three consecutive waves at a single point. This techniquebined the power of three thrusts into one, specifically designed to deal with defensively strong opponents.


    The spear thrust went in half a foot deep, causing the snake pain. It retaliated by biting towards Wang Hong. Simultaneously, Li Xiao Ya stabbed the snake''s belly, creating a wound.


    At the same time, the snake swung its tail towards her. Seeing this, Zhang Tie Mao quickly raised his thick-backed broadsword and shed at the iing tail, cutting a deep gash a few inches long.


    However, the force of the massive snake tail was tremendous. Despite Zhang Tie Mao''s attempt to slow it down, both of them were knocked to the ground.


    Meanwhile, Lu Jin Gou, who had slipped away earlier, was now standing below the cliff, observing. He threw a few stones towards the cliff, but there was no reaction. He grabbed the vines, resembling a monkey, and swiftly climbed up.


    As the snake knocked down the two, it raised its tail again, ready to strike. If it hit them again, several bones would likely break. At this critical moment, a figure pulled the two a few feet away. The snake''s tail mmed forcefully on the ground, sending dirt and rocks flying.


    It turned out that Lu Jin Gou had gone to secretly collect medicinal herbs, sessfully returned, and timely intervened, saving them.


    Originally, the n was for the four to entangle the snake, allowing Lu Jin Gou to sneak past and collect herbs. After obtaining the herbs, if they could defeat the giant snake, they would do so together; if not, they would escape together. Now, with Lu Jin Gou joining the fight, it seemed that thebined effort of the five would be more than enough to defeat the snake.


    Seeing Li Xiao Ya and Zhang Tie Mao unharmed, Lu Jin Gou, armed with a single knife, swiftly joined the battle, employing a more flexible fighting style. After striking the belly, he quickly leaped away, avoiding the iing snake tail.


    Hua Wen Jue, noticing the snake head attacking Wang Hong, swiftly counterattacked. The five coordinated their attacks, bing more proficient. In less than a moment, the giant python was covered in wounds, lying on the ground awaiting its demise. Wang Hong and the others only suffered minor injuries.


    The group had a bountiful harvest this time. The snake alone brought great joy to Zhang Tie Mao. Ferocious beasts were valuabletheir meat contained abundant vital essence, a great supplement for martial artists. Their skins were also excellent materials for crafting armor. However, ferocious beasts, especially snakes, were challenging to kill. Without the coordinated efforts of the five, defeating this giant python would havee at a significant cost.


    In the cluster of White Jade Mushrooms that Lu Jin Gou collected, there was one nt that had reached nearly twenty years of medicinal age, and several others were three to five years old or seven to eight years old.


    Hua Wen Jue paid fifty silver for the White Jade Mushroom that was over ten years old, providing each person with ten silver. Wang Hong received a White Jade Mushroom, arge segment of snake meat, and several other medicinal herbs.


    Returning to the academy, the group gathered to enjoy a feast made from the entire snake before dispersing.


    Back in his courtyard, Wang Hong first entered the space dimension to nt the newly acquired medicinal herbs. The wine made from raspberries a few days ago was ready. Wang Hong filtered it through a piece of cloth, producing two jars of deep purple fruit wine. After tasting a small cup, he found it sweet and mellow, truly excellent. He sealed the wine jars for further aging, knowing that it would only improve with time.


    Wang Hong also sampled the ginseng and lingzhi wines brewed earlier. Perhaps due to the diffusing nature of alcohol, medicinal wine quickly spread throughout the body. For cultivation purposes, the rapid dispersion of medicinal properties wasn''t ideal, making medicinal cuisine more effective. However, this type of medicinal wine was effective for alleviating physical fatigue and restoring energy and internal strength.


    After these two battles, Wang Hong''s spear technique had improved. Additionally, he considered practicing an external martial art, which essentially meant enduring beatings to enhance one''s defense.


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 Chapter 15: Innate Realm

    Chapter 15: Innate Realm


    In the following days, Wang Hong once again visited the Library and found a book titled "Henglian Liuhe Gong."


    This cultivation technique consisted of nine levels, requiring practitioners to circte their energy while simultaneously striking their entire body. From the first to the third level, one had to use a wooden stick to strike the body. After advancing to the fourth level, they would switch to an iron stick, and upon reaching the seventh level, it would be reced with arge iron rod. After each session of striking, one needed to use Medicinal Herbs to soothe tendons, invigorate blood cirction, and strengthen muscles and bones.


    In the initial stages, practicing the first to third levels required ordinary Medicinal Herbs, readily avable at major pharmacies. However, starting from the fourth level, more precious and aged Chinese herbs were necessary, turning it into a considerable expense. Without space assistance, Wang Hong wouldn''t dare to cultivate this technique.


    In the subsequent days, Wang Hong tirelessly practiced day and night. When tired from practicing "Thunderous Spear Technique," he would drink Medicinal wine to replenish energy. Then, he would proceed to practice "Muscle-Tendon Changing and Marrow-Cleansing Technique." If he felt sleepy, he would take a nap in space and then resume practicing "Henglian Liuhe Gong," squeezing in time to read books within space.


    Combining the assistance of space provisions and Medicinal cuisine, Wang Hong''s progress was rapid. In just three months, he sessfully opened the Thrusting Meridian among the Eight Extraordinary Meridians.


    Two intense years passed in the rigorous cultivation. During this time, Wang Hong transformed into a robust young man. In the first year, he apanied the team into the mountains dozens of times, finally gathering all the Medicinal Herbs required for practicing "Henglian Liuhe Gong," nting them in space.


    The turmoil caused by the arrival of immortals gradually subsided during this period. The main reason was the considerable number of casualties, and those with hot-headed intentions had mostly met their end. The remaining individuals had learned to calm down, mainly due to the Academy''s ability to bring reason to these situations. In one instance, over a hundred martial artists in the Acquired Realm came, but the organized formation of Academy students swiftly dealt with them, showcasing the might of Qing Yang Academy.


    In these two years, Wang Hong advanced "Henglian Liuhe Gong" to the sixth level. Even if he stood still and allowed others to attack, ordinary Acquired Realm martial artists would find it challenging to harm him, and even a steel knife could only leave a small cut on his skin.


    His internal cultivation had also opened all the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, reaching the peak of the Acquired Realm. Now, with a few more years of umtion and a fortuitous encounter, he could break through the Acquired Realm and reach the legendary Innate Stage.


    Over these two years of growth, the first batch of Medicinal Herbs nted in space had matured to a hundred years. The rest, ranging from thirty to eighty years, were flourishing everywhere.


    During this time, Wang Hong thoroughly read most of the books in the Library, especially those rted to medicine and martial arts. In theoretical terms, he surpassed the Academy instructors.


    In a medical book, Wang Hong discovered a form to enhance his cultivation called "Dragon Tiger Pill." The main ingredients were hundred-year Ginseng and hundred-year Purple Mushroom, supplemented by over ten other Medicinal Herbs to blend their medicinal properties. It was said that taking one pill could enhance one year of cultivation.


    Having an abundance of Medicinal Herbs at his disposal, Wang Hong decided to give it a try. He took a hundred-year Ginseng and a hundred-year Purple Mushroom from space, ground them into a fine powder. The juices of the supplementary herbs were extracted through water decoction, then the medicinal liquid was concentrated to a paste. Honey, along with the powdered Ginseng and Purple Mushroom, was added and stirred to create Medicinal pills. After half a day''s effort, he produced twenty-five pills the size of pigeon eggs.


    Wang Hong immediately swallowed one pill. As the Medicinal pill dissolved in his abdomen, the potent medicinal power transformed into a vigorous internal force, surging through his meridians.


    Guiding this internal force downward to his dantian, it flowed through his meridians. With each revolution, the force''s violent nature decreased. He then guided it through the Eight Extraordinary Meridians, where it was slowly absorbed by the meridians and acupoints.


    Meridians and acupoints were like rivers andkes, and the internal force cultivated by martial artists was like the flowing water in these rivers andkes. When there was enough internal force, it would umte in the acupoints. Only when there was sufficient stored internal force in the acupoints could it flow into the meridians, thereby opening the next segment of the meridians. Once the meridians were open, duringbat, martial artists could use the internal force stored in the acupoints to flow into the meridians.


    After theplete absorption of the medicinal power of one "Dragon Tiger Pill," it only slightly increased the storage of internal force in the meridians and acupoints. Without hesitation, Wang Hong consumed another Elixir, but even after this, he didn''t break through to the Innate Realm. However, Wang Hong dared not take another pill at this point; his entire body''s meridians and acupoints were throbbing painfully. Another pill might cause him to burst.


    Wang Hong then fetched an iron stick and forcefully struck every inch of his body, starting from the back of his left hand''s fingertips. Wang Hong remained unfazed as the iron stick mercilessly struck his body. Some of the internal force in his meridians was jolted into his muscles and bones, where it was absorbed and dissipated.


    Wang Hong carefully sensed his body and noticed that the pain in his meridians had slightly eased. Excitedly, he picked up the iron stick again and continued to beat himself. Few in the world could find joy in beating themselves as enthusiastically as he did.


    After beating his entire body six times, he filled arge bucket with hot water. Wang Hong poured the medicinal powder he had prepared into it, stirred it a few times, then eagerly jumped in, submerging himself in the water, even soaking his hair with the medicinal solution. After a while, he surfaced, took a breath, and submerged himself again.


    In this manner, he took two Elixirs every day, first cultivating internal energy to increase his power and then subjecting himself to a ruthless beating with an iron rod. On the seventh day, "Henglian Liuhe Gong" broke through to the seventh level. The iron rod used for self-beating was reced with arge iron rod, and the beating increased from six to seven times each session.


    On the tenth day, as Wang Hong took the second Elixir and circted his internal energy, a small portion of it entered his lungs. A cool sensation spread throughout his lungs, circting a few times before gradually diminishing and about to disappear.


    Without hesitation, Wang Hong immediately took another Elixir. As the cultivation technique circted, another surge of powerful internal energy rushed into his lungs.


    This force nurtured and moisturized his lungs repeatedly. After a while, a stream of internal energy flowed out of his lungs, entered the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian, and slowly reached the Middle Pce acupoint. It circled there for about fifteen minutes, causing the Middle Pce acupoint to gradually heat up and swell, as if a warm stream was slowly filling it.


    Afterward, this warm swelling sensation followed the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian and slowly flowed towards the Cloud Gate acupoint. Once it reached the Cloud Gate acupoint, it stopped moving.


    Wang Hong slowly withdrew his cultivation, took a deep breath, and felt the internal energy entering the Hand Taiyin Lung Meridian. This meant that he had officially be a cultivator in the Innate Realm, even if it was just opening one acupoint like the Middle Pce.


    Wang Hong sniffed the air, detecting the scent of his own sweat and the Medicinal cuisine he made in the kitchen. He could distinguish the aroma of various Medicinal Herbs and seasonings. There was also the smell of various weeds in the courtyard. Wait, how could he still smell thetrine from this far away?


    Feeling nauseous, Wang Hong held his breath. In doing so, he discovered that he could control the opening and closing of his pores, allowing for faint breathing through them.


    "Could this be the legendary Fetal Breathing?"


    After reaching the Innate Stage, as martial artists opened each organ and its meridians, corresponding enhancements urred in their five senses and corresponding body parts.


    Wang Hong opened the Lung Meridian, which enhanced his sense of smell through the nose, enabling him to detect scents several miles away. The lungs govern the skin and hair, improving the functionality of pores. The coveted Fetal Breathing, which many dreamed of, was now easily achievable. If Wang Hong submerged in water and breathed through his skin pores, he couldst half an hour without needing toe up for air.


    For over ten consecutive days, having taken more than twenty Dragon Tiger Pills, he finally reached the Innate Realm today. In the entire Chu State, with a poption of over a billion, there were fewer than a hundred martial artists in the Innate Realm.


    An Innate Realm martial artist under the age of twenty was unheard of, at least in the history of Chu State. If news of this were to spread, it would undoubtedly cause a sensation. Wang Hong felt a sense of satisfaction but decided to keep a low profile for now, avoiding unnecessary trouble.


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 Chapter 16: Imperial Decree

    Chapter 16: Imperial Decree


    Approaching the hour of the Rabbit, with the sky yet to brighten, the Training Ground was already bustling with activity. Even before Wang Hong drew near, he heard the distinctive voice of Lu Jin Gou, resonating like a drake, "Hua Wen Jue, such a joyous asion deserves a feast with the brothers."


    Wang Hong approached and listened for a while before understanding that Hua Wen Jue had broken through to the Acquired stage. Hua Wen Jue, one year older than Wang Hong, was now seventeen. Achieving the Acquired stage at seventeen was considered a remarkable feat.


    "Hua Big Brother is truly a martial prodigy. A seventeen-year-old Acquired warrior, there are few in the entire Academy," eximed Li Xiao Ya, fist clenched and admiration on her face.


    "If everyone keeps praising me, I''ll have no ce to hide. Wang Hong broke through to Acquired at thirteen, and he doesn''t im to be a prodigy. If I call myself a prodigy, it''ll be aughing stock," Hua Wen Jue hastily exined with modesty.


    "I reached Acquired thanks to the Immortal Pill, not counting in the rankings," Wang Hong began to speak, but the Training Ground was already filled with the horn''s wailing sound. Themotion subsided instantly.


    After three horn sts, Feng Lao Mo appeared punctually at the forefront of the formation. After the headcount, Feng Lao Mo announced a crucial piece of information.


    Ten years ago, the Qin Kingdom dispatched a hundred thousand troops to annihte the Wei Kingdom. From nobles tomoners, everyone in Wei Kingdom became ves.


    Five years ago, Qin Kingdom mobilized a hundred thousand troops to attack the Chu State border. General Qu Wu led ten thousand soldiers from Chu State, engaging the Qin forces at the border. Numerous battles urred during this period, each with its oues.


    Six months ago, Qin Kingdom suddenly reinforced with fifty thousand more troops. After five months of fierce resistance, the Chu State border was eventually breached, resulting in the casualties of tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians.


    Consequently, Chu State issued an imperial decree, summoning all individuals aged fifteen and above from major martial academies to join the military. Within three days, they were to rush to the border and participate in the war against Qin.


    Upon hearing this news, the crowd erupted into a tumult. Some were eager to join, others were anxious, and some were gearing up for battle.


    Chu State had always been known for its bold and warlike people, delighting in the prospect of battle. Achieving glory on the battlefield was a source of pride, while cowardice and fear of battle were considered shameful. Even in death, families of fallen soldiers received substantialpensation, enough to live worry-free.


    Moreover, the students were all passionate youths. Soon, the atmosphere became charged with enthusiasm, with many expressing their readiness to enlist, fight, and achieve sess on the battlefield.


    Wang Hong had originally nned to spend another two years cultivating before venturing to the Qingxu Mountain Range in search of immortal opportunities. However, with the imperial decree, disobedience would result in charges of desertion, nationwide pursuit, and death upon capture.


    With Wang Hong''s current strength, he could likely defeat any opponent in singlebat across the entire Chu State. However, facing a well-trained army, even a couple of hundred soldiers could overwhelm him.


    If he tried to escape, he wouldn''t reach the foot of Qingxu Mountain; he would likely be intercepted along the way.


    Furthermore, Chu State was his homnd, and Qing Yang Academy had nurtured him for three years. In times of national crisis, everyone had a responsibility and duty to fight. Leaving at such a critical moment would leave him with an uneasy conscience.


    Although Wang Hong believed that, with his current strength, as long as he didn''t get surrounded by enemies on the battlefield, ordinary people wouldn''t be able to kill him.


    Despite this confidence, he needed to make adequate preparations. In case things went south, dying on the battlefield wouldn''t be worthwhile. He still had a promising life ahead, with ns to cultivate the path of immortality. He didn''t want to perish on the battlefield now, fighting alongside a group of unknown soldiers.


    Wang Hong went to the liquor store again and bought a thousand pounds of wine. Over the past two years, he had intermittently brewed some Medicinal Wine, using up some of it. Currently, there were still a few hundred pounds left in the Space. In addition to this thousand pounds, it should be more than enough. Wang Hong collected some seven or eight-year-old Ginseng and Purple Mushroom from the Space to brew the Medicinal Wine.


    Now, within the Space, arge area was covered with the rarely seen White Jade Mushroom. The first batch bred had reached a fifty-year medicinal age. Wang Hong harvested some to create a healing medicine called the "White Jade Life-Extending Pill."


    He also gathered some White Jade Powder from White Jade Mushrooms with medicinal ages of two to three decades. Additionally, he prepared various medicines like the "Dragon Tiger Pill" that could be useful.


    Originally, Wang Hong had intended to acquire a set of armor, but time was too short, and he hadn''t found one yet.


    Chapter 16: Imperial Decree


    In the northern part of Chu State, a formidable force of over a thousand troops arrived outside Jingzhou City. After three months of arduous travel, Wang Hong and his contingent from Qing Yang Academy finally reached their destination.


    Among the over a thousand members of this group, only half werebat personnel, totaling just over eight hundred individuals. Another eight hundredborers were requisitioned temporarily from Qingyang County to handle tasks such as transporting provisions and building bridges.


    Though eight hundredborers might seem like a substantial number, the tasks assigned to them were demanding. If each soldier consumed one pound of rations daily, the three months'' worth of supplies would amount to nearly a hundred pounds. Soldiers couldn''t carry a hundred pounds of food onto the battlefield. Considering theborers'' own food requirements, eachborer had to transport almost two hundred pounds of rations, in addition to other supplies. War was a massive drain on resources for all involved.


    Initially, they were headed to the border forbat, but halfway through their journey, they received news that several border cities had already fallen to the Qin Army.


    In those captured cities, all defending forces had perished, and upon capturing each city, the Qin Army engaged in three days of massacre. The survivors were enved, leading to widespread mourning and separation of countless families.


    In the middle of their journey, Wang Hong''s group received orders to change their original route and converge with other reinforcements at Jingzhou City.


    Currently, there weren''t many troops stationed outside Jingzhou City, indicating that they hadn''t arrived too early. ording to gathered intelligence, the Qin Army''s offensive was fierce, and the initial reinforcements had been dispatched to assist in defending other cities.


    Their instructor, Feng Lao Mo, had already entered the city to pay respects to the General. Once Feng Lao Mo returned, he would likely allocate forces to defend other cities.


    With some free time at hand, the group quickly set up cooking equipment. Wang Hong, now serving as a Squad Leader, had nine soldiers under hismand. The role of a Squad Leader in the military had limited autonomy, simr to that of the soldiers.


    At this moment, Wang Hong and a few soldiers each held a bowl of porridge, with two buns and chopsticks in hand, squatting on the ground to eat. Although they had a hearty meal on the day of departure three months ago, the warriors'' appetite was substantial. An ordinary entry-level warrior could easily consume a dou of rice in a day. The current rations provided were far from sufficient for the warriors.


    After finishing their meal, Wang Hong sat alone in a corner, pulling out a piece of dried meat from his pocket and slowly tearing and chewing it. This jerky was a ration Wang Hong had made himself, steaming together meat from ferocious beasts and ingredients from medicinal cuisine until tender, then mashing it into a paste with added salt and spices. After pressing the mixture into palm-sized pieces, sprinkling them with roasted sesame seeds, and drying out the moisture, the jerky turned into a golden-brown delicacy.


    Consuming one piece daily could support ten days of cultivation. It was not only delicious but also filling. Unfortunately, due to the rushed preparation, he hadn''t made much.


    Before long, Feng Lao Mo returned. With his appointment as School Captain, he already had connections from his military background.


    The General ordered them to assemble with reinforcements from four other academies and proceed to Tiger''s Lair City, a hundred miles away, to assist in its defense.


    The army set off that day, marching towards Tiger''s Lair City.


    Tiger''s Lair City wasn''trge, with a poption of only fifty to sixty thousand including civilians and military. However, situated between two mountains, it held a strategic position like a gateway to Chu State. Seizing Tiger''s Lair City would open the way for the Qin Kingdom''s forces to prate deep into Chu State territory.


    Given its strategic importance, one might expect arger deployment, but the challenging terrain and defensibility made it difficult to send too many troops. The small size of the city limited the effectiveness of additional forces.


    However, what Wang Hong and his group didn''t know was that, prior to their arrival, over five thousand individuals had been dispatched to Tiger''s Lair City. Constantly under siege by the Qin Army, they suffered significant casualties, prompting the deployment of Wang Hong''s group as reinforcements.


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 Chapter 17: Tigers Lair City

    Chapter 17: Tiger''s Lair City


    On the first day of their arrival, Wang Hong and hispanions were assigned to the city walls. They were now officially part of the Tiger Might Army, with the Qing Yang Academy''s reinforcements forming a separate battalion known as the Qing Yang Battalion. It still fell under themand of Instructor Feng Li, who had now ascended to the position of School Captain.


    Wang Hong belonged to the sixth squad of the Qing Yang Battalion. Their responsibility was to defend a small section of the city wall. Due to the Qin Army''s relentless attacks both day and night, the defending forces had to rotate in shifts, each batch holding the wall for four hours before being relieved.


    Standing atop the city wall, Wang Hong marveled at Tiger''s Lair City, living up to its reputation with towering peaks on both sides. The city was strategically positioned, nestled between treacherous mountain ranges that extended for over two hundred miles. Even monkeys would find it challenging to traverse, and Tiger''s Lair City controlled the sole passage within this two-hundred-mile stretch.


    Due to the steep mountain ranges on both sides, defending Tiger''s Lair City required focusing on securing only one frontal direction. This strategic advantage made it difficult for the Qin Army, despite their numerical superiority, to breach the defenses.


    The city, perched high above, had a slope extending over a mile beneath the city walls. To reach the walls, the Qin Army had to climb this slope, which wasden with traps set by the Chu Army. At the slope''s summit, numerous rolling logs and stone catapults were strategically ced.


    Particrly menacing were the rolling logs, covered in iron spikes that sent shivers down Wang Hong''s spine. Climbing the slope alone demanded a heavy toll from the Qin Army, making their sessful assaults on the city walls infrequent after a month of siege.


    Since Wang Hong''s arrival on the city walls, the Qin Army had been sending small units for harassing attacks. Whenever the rolling logs and stone catapults were deployed, the Qin forces would retreat. Some unfortunate soldiers were crushed, while the survivors returned to sabotage the machinery, cutting the ropes attached to them.


    The rolling logs and stone catapults were equipped with ropes, allowing them to be retracted using pulleys for repeated use. This strategic use prevented the city from exhausting its resources by demolishing buildings daily.


    The Qin Army''s harassing tactics aimed to deplete the city''s rolling logs and stone catapults and to test for traps. Until evening,borers transported food to various positions, providing sustenance for the soldiers.


    Wang Hong received a bowl of meat porridge and tworge meat buns. Just as he took a bite, the sound of horns echoed from the Qin Army''s position below the slope. Following the horns, a rhythmic drumbeatmenced as the Qin Army, a formidable ck mass, advanced with disciplined steps toward Tiger''s Lair City.


    Despite their numerical advantage, the Qin Army moved deliberately, stopping every ten steps to maintain formation. Their synchronized steps resonated with thunderous shouts of "kill," making ears ring with each resounding step.


    Many inexperienced soldiers, participating in their first battle, were intimidated by the Qin Army''s imposing presence, their faces pale, and limbs trembling. The confidence they had before entering the battle had vanished.


    Seeing the approaching force, Wang Hong hastily finished his meat buns, gripped his long spear, and, due to the exertion, his knuckles turned white.


    At this moment, from the positions of the rolling logs and stone catapults beneath the city wall, amand was issued, and the soldiers hoisted gs downward. Countless rolling logs and stone catapults roared down the slope.


    In response, the Qin Army''s front line brought out structures resembling horse barriers but sturdier. These were a novel addition, and they seemed to be newly crafted. Composed of threerge wooden stakes joined at one end to form a simple cone, with three legs underneath creating a stable triangr base.


    These barriers were ced in front of the formation. When the rolling logs collided with the stakes, they were stopped dead in their tracks, unable to advance. Only a few projectiles managed to breach the defenses, causing limited casualties. Several rounds of rolling logs and stone catapults produced little effect.


    A messenger arrived with orders for them to sally forth and engage the enemy. Having studied military tactics and strategy over the years, Wang Hong understood that defending the city did not solely entail passive resistance on the city walls. It also required the ability to engage in offensive actions outside the city, as prolonged defense without counterattacks would lead to eventual defeat.


    Wang Hong and hispanions swiftly moved to form up outside the city. Even those who had been on rest rotation were assembled beyond the city walls. They organized into small formations of a hundred men, led by a Hundred-Man Commander. The outermost row consisted of sword and shield soldiers, followed by three rows of long spear soldiers. Wang Hong found himself in the second row.


    Dozens of these small formations constituted arger formation, leaving a ten-foot-wide passage between every two small formations for flexible maneuvering.


    If the enemy dared to enter these passages, they would face attacks from both sides, creating a perilous situation. Additionally, several cavalry units positioned themselves behind therge formation, with themander in the center atop a raised tform for observation andmand.


    As Wang Hong and hisrades formed their battle formation, several squads of archers hurried to the front, waiting for the Qin Army to enter their range before unleashing a volley of arrows.


    The Chu Army, with the advantage of elevation, dominated in archery duels. The rain of arrows descended upon the Qin Army formation. Though they quickly raised shields, not everyone could be protected, and numerous soldiers were struck.


    In retaliation, the Qin Army archers attempted to return fire, but the Chu Army was well out of their reach, provokingughter among the Chu forces.


    Undeterred, the disciplined Qin Army continued their advance, enduring casualties from the Chu arrows. However, the Chu Army''s intimidation was diminishing. As the Qin Army advanced, Chu Army archers skillfully retreated, always staying out of the Qin Army''s effective range.


    Thus, before the two forces directly shed, the Qin Army had already suffered hundreds of casualties. While this might seem rtively minor for a force of over ten thousand, it dealt a significant blow to their morale.


    On the Chu Army side, aside from one archer twisting an ankle during the retreat, casualties were nonexistent.


    The Chu Army archers retreated into therge formation and continued firing arrows at an upward angle. Finally, the Qin Army''s arrow rain descended upon the Chu Army''srge formation.


    At this moment, Wang Hong heard the war drums on his side pounding, igniting the fervor in everyone''s blood. Fear and thoughts of death were forgotten as, in sync with the war drums, they advanced into the rain of arrows.


    Although soldiers from both formations fell under the hail of arrows, it did not impede the determined progress of both sides. An arrow struck Wang Hong, but with his mastery of the seventhyer of "Henglian Liuhe Gong," it merely felt like an itch.


    A crimson and ck tide finally collided, sttering the battlefield with blood. The sh of metal, the piercing of des into flesh, cries of agonyall drowned out by the thunderous noise of battle drums.


    Under this overwhelming momentum, everyone''s eyes glowed red, spirits heightened, focused solely on killing the enemy in front of them, heedless of their own lives.


    Wang Hong thrust his spear through the heart of a Qin Army long spear soldier, blood spraying as the soldier, seemingly oblivious, continued to advance before slowly copsing.


    As one fallen soldier was quickly reced by another for the fifth time, the neer, witnessing the previous four dispatched with a single move, hesitated, avoiding a direct confrontation.


    Unconcerned, Wang Hong took advantage of the hesitation to consecutively pierce several Qin Army soldiers. Against a high-level expert like Wang Hong at the Innate Stage, these foot soldiers had no chance. Wang Hong felt like he was bullying children.


    However, Wang Hong showed no mercy. With each additional opponent he eliminated, the pressure on hisrades lessened, increasing their chances of survival.


    As the Qin Army filled the gaps in their formation for the fourth time, the Hundred-Man Commander noticed an opportunity and ordered a switch to a wedge formation.


    Wang Hong led the charge, with the Hundred-Man Commander on the nk, forming an inverted "V" shape. Wang Hong spearheaded the assault, like a tiger among sheep, unstoppable.


    Others protected the nks, cutting through the enemy formation like a hot knife through butter.


    Approaching the enemy formation, just as it seemed they would break through, a burly man with a face full of scars stood in the front. He wielded a mountain-splitting greataxe, wore half-body iron armor, and had a chest protector mirror.


    Seeing Wang Hong approaching, the scar-faced manunched a powerful overhead strike. Wang Hong blocked with his spear, feeling a slight numbness in his hand. Wang Hong silently eximed, "Impressive strength!"


    Typically, Acquired Stage martial artists possessed strength ranging from six hundred to nine hundred kilograms, while Innate Stage martial artists could surpass a thousand kilograms. Some, born with extraordinary strength or practicing special techniques, could break through a thousand kilograms during the Acquired Stage.


    The "Henglian Liuhe Gong" that Wang Hong cultivated excelled in defense, not raw strength. Even now, his strength only exceeded a thousand kilograms by a small margin.


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 Chapter 18: Battle Formation

    Chapter 18: Battle Formation


    At this moment, the overall situation on the battlefield favored the Qin Army. Despite the advantageous terrain held by the Chu Army, their total military strength was inferior to that of the Qin Army. Moreover, there were too many new recruits among the Chu forces, with many experiencing their first taste ofbat today.


    These new recruits had never encountered such a scene before, facing an onught of Long Spears from the enemy, and their ambitions of making a name for themselves in battle had long been abandoned.


    Were it not for the watchful eyes of the Military Judge behind them, many might have abandoned their weapons and fled. The Qin Army, seasoned from years of military expeditions, consisted mostly of battle-hardened veterans, naturally possessing superior individual strengthpared to the Chu Army.


    Wang Hong''s advantage was only a small one in this localized area. In a battle involving tens of thousands of people, individual prowess struggled to change the overall picture.


    The key to the formation was a strong vanguard, and with Wang Hong obstructed, the Qin Army quickly surrounded them,unching a fierce attack on the nks. Although the nks resisted vigorously, over time, this formation would inevitably suffer losses and could not hold out for long.


    The Hundred-Man Commander on the opposing side, despite possessing considerable physical strength, fell short in overall strengthpared to Wang Hong, who was at the Innate Stage.


    Furthermore, Wang Hong had yet to unleash his Inner Strength. When infused into the Long Spear, Inner Strength emitted a re over a foot long, which was too dazzling.


    Wang Hong was reluctant to reveal that he had reached the Innate Realm at the age of sixteen, as it would easily draw unwanted attention.


    Throughout the battle, Wang Hong relied on the strength of his physical body. Once he used Inner Strength, it would be easily detectable, and mere Acquired Stage warriors would stand no chance against him.


    After exchanging blows for a dozen moves, Wang Hong skillfully evaded a sweeping attack from the burly warrior and, capitalizing on his opponent''s exposed vulnerability, thrust his spear through the throat.


    With the Hundred-Man Commander defeated, Wang Hong faced no further hindrance. Like a hot knife through butter, he quickly pierced through the small formation, with Fang Hong and the Hundred-Man Commander leading separate teams to continue pursuing the remaining enemy forces.


    The Qin Army, true to its reputation as a formidable force with a history of numerous battles, remained organized even after being split in two. Despite the death of the Hundred-Man Commander, they resisted and did not scatter.


    Before Wang Hong could dispatch more Qin Army soldiers, another formation emerged from the rear and advanced towards them.


    Wang Hong swiftly joined forces with the Hundred-Man Commander, reorganizing their formation into a smaller one.


    If they were to pursue the remnants of the Qin Army now without a suitable formation to resist the new arrivals, it was likely that they would be quickly overwhelmed.


    Taking advantage of this opportunity, the remnants of the Qin Army regrouped and, with the support of the new forces, once again advanced towards the Chu Army.


    Before they could catch their breath, the Qin Army charged towards them. After the intense battle moments ago, everyone was exhausted, and many bore wounds. In contrast, this new Qin Army unit appeared fresh, with each soldier disying bravery and fierceness.


    They formed a dense formation, with Long Spears thrust forward like a formidable wall closing in. The front ranks of the Chu Army, armed with swords and shields, raised their shields, while the rear ranks pointed their Long Spears forward.


    This kind of confrontation ced immense psychological pressure on the soldiers. Every move could result in bloodshed, and life and death were decided in an instant. Facing such a situation required great courage.


    Fortunately, the rigorous training in Battle Formation Drills paid off. The soldiers remembered the key points of their routine drills and executed their movements with uniform precision. The rows of spearheads advanced towards the enemy like an unyielding wall.


    "Kill! Kill! Kill!" roared through the ranks, apanied by the sound of Long Spears piercing flesh. As long as vital areas were not struck, those who fell continued to fight to the end. They understood that copsing on the battlefield meant being trampled to death, and there was no concept of leaving the battlefield to seek medical attention during the heat of battle.


    If they could endure until the end of the battle, there might still be hope for survival. Wang Hong pierced a hole through the abdomen of a Qin Army soldier, intestines spilling out, but the Qin soldier, with a grim expression, paid no heed, swinging his de towards the nearest Chu soldier.


    This formation seemed to be the elite of the Qin Armyfierce and fearless. In just a few exchanges, several Chu soldiers fell.


    Wang Hong continued to pierce through multiple small soldiers with each thrust of his spear. In his peripheral vision, he saw that two of his soldiers had already fallen.


    Feeling a sense of urgency, Wang Hong knew that if his side suffered too many casualties, they would be outnumbered, making it difficult for him to fend off hundreds of soldiers forming a battle array simultaneously.


    Even without weapons, arge group of soldiers could surround him. If they pressed in from all sides, he would be crushed. His martial skills, no matter how high, couldn''t ovee such numbers.


    Engaged inbat with a Sword and Shield Soldier from his side, a soldier who seemed to have the upper hand was pierced by Wang Hong''s spear, pinning him and his shield together.


    Before Wang Hong could retract his spear, three Long Spears were thrust towards him. Wang Hong quickly withdrew his spear and shifted his body, surrounded by soldiers on all sides, making it impossible to evade on arge scale.


    A spear grazed past his ear, another skimmed his shoulder, and the third stabbed into his chest but couldn''t prate further.


    Wang Hong roared and pierced the nearest soldier through the chest. The soldier tried to block, but halfway through lifting his hands, he felt a pain in his chest. He could only tightly grip the Long Spear without letting go. At that moment, three Long Spears came at him simultaneously.


    In this manner, Wang Hong lost count of how many he had killed, while the enemy managed to inflict numerous small wounds on him. Soldiers around him also fell frequently.


    Wang Hong observed their Hundred-Man Commander being held by two Sword and Shield Soldiers around the waist. Despite stabbing one of them in the back, the two soldiers clung tenaciously.


    Then, a burly man in iron armor thrust his spear towards Wang Hong''s chest. The Hundred-Man Commander, inconvenienced by the two soldiers, could only parry with his knife. After just three exchanges, Wounds appeared on his arm. Other Chu soldiers wanted to assist, but they were entangled by the enemy, rendering them powerless.


    Suddenly, the Hundred-Man Commander felt a sharp pain in his abdomen. It turned out that the small soldier on his waist had drawn a short knife and stabbed him in the stomach.


    In pain, the Hundred-Man Commander infused Inner Strength into his legs, delivering a knee strike that shattered the chest and organs of the nearby Qin Army soldier, sending him flying.


    At this moment, the man in iron armor''s Long Spear was about to stab him in the face. The Hundred-Man Commander leaned backward, narrowly avoiding the spearhead, leaving a blood trail on his forehead. Simultaneously, he sidestepped and took a step forward, shing horizontally under the arm of the iron-d man. The de emitted a faint white light, cutting through the iron armor like tofu. The armored man recoiled a few inches, a one-inch deep gash on his chest.


    Wang Hong swept his spear horizontally, slicing through the abdomen of two Qin soldiers, intestines spilling out. Immediately, two more Qin soldiers took their ce, and the number of attackers increased.


    Lu Jin Gou, Li Xiao Ya, and Zhang Tie Mao continued to fight side by side in the same unit, each bearing wounds.


    Wang Hong and Hua Wen Jue had moved on to other Hundred-Man Commander units, leaving only the three of them in their original unit.


    Zhang Tie Mao''s leg trembled slightly, arge hole in his thigh with blood gushing out.


    Just a moment ago, two Long Spears had simultaneously thrust towards Li Xiao Ya beside him. Seeing Li Xiao Ya about to fall, Zhang Tie Mao angled his spear from the side, saving her life but receiving a spear through his leg in return.


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 Chapter 19: Healing

    Chapter 19: Healing


    "Dang! Dang! Dang!"


    The sound of the retreat horn echoed from the rear, transforming the Chu Army''s rear into the front as they slowly surged toward the city gates like a tide.


    Seizing the advantage, the Qin Army pursued for a distance but gained little, suffering from a chaotic barrage of arrows from the city walls that inflicted considerable casualties. Retreating a few hundred steps, the Qin Army established a camp on the hillside.


    Inside the central tent of the Qin Army, Chief Commander Ji Ru sat high above. His countenance was clear, with three long strands of beard on his chin, resembling more of a schr. Two rows of officers stood below, each exuding a formidable aura. A burly man with a full beard and a sturdy physique stepped forward, saying, "General, why don''t we take advantage of our momentum and charge into the city? With three thousand elite soldiers, we can break through the city gates."


    "Big Bear, the general advised you to read more often. All you seem to know is eating. Did you stuff pork into your brain too? You want to lead three thousand soldiers to their deaths. Do these soldiers have some grudge against you? Did they sleep with your wife or desecrate your ancestors'' graves?" A slightly shorter officer with an eight-character mustache mocked.


    Enraged, the man called "Big Bear" exploded, shouting, "Short and Stubby, exin to me how I''m leading to my death and how I''m getting three thousand soldiers killed. If you can''t make it clear today, we settle our differences outside the tent."


    "War requires strategy; blindly rushing in is something a foot soldier does." The mustached officer calmly said, "Tiger''s Lair City has about twenty-five thousand Chu Army troops, with nearly fifteen thousand being the elite Tiger Might Army. The rest are new recruits supported by various academies."


    "Today, the enemy sent only seven thousand troops, mostly new recruits. The estimated defenders on the city walls are roughly seven to eight thousand. Where do you think the remaining ten thousand elites are?" The mustached officer asked mockingly.


    "Big Bear" defended himself nervously, "Maybe they''re resting in the city."


    "Alright! Do you think, in the midst of the battle, the Chu Army''s general would rather be defeated and let the elites sleep soundly in the rear?" The mustached officer retorted.


    "Cough!" Chief Commander Ji Ru, sitting at the top, cleared his throat twice. Once everyone quieted down, he said, "In the next two days, reinforcements from various units will arrive. During these two days, we''ll do our best to create siege equipment. When the timees, we''ll take down this city in one go." Afterward, he assigned specific tasks to everyone.


    Wang Hong returned to his lodging at the third watch. The quarters were arge tent, amodating fifty people, making it quite crowded.


    Tonight, however, there were noticeably fewer people. About ten individuals were missing, probably lost forever. Those who were joking around earlier in the day were suddenly gone. Wang Hong felt uneasy about it.


    The returning soldiers were either tending to wounds or already deep in sleep. Wang Hong sat in a corner, casually sprinkling White Jade Powder on the wounds around him. He then took a Dragon Tiger Pill, refining the medicinal power through cultivation.


    In these months, Wang Hong had not neglected his cultivation, refining two elixirs daily. When he left the academy, he had just entered the innate realm. Now, his Lung Meridian was only two points away frompletion,cking only the closing of the Shao Shang points.


    Before Wang Hong could fully refine all the medicinal power, he felt a few light taps on his hand. Opening his eyes, he saw Lu Jin Gou standing in front of him with an anxious expression. Lu Jin Gou''s clothes were stained with blood and riddled with holes.


    Seeing Wang Hong cease his cultivation, Lu Jin Gou urgently grabbed his sleeve and asked, "Wang Hong! Help! Help! Do you have any White Jade Powder or other healing medicine?"


    Seeing that Lu Jin Gou didn''t seem to be on the brink of death, Wang Hong teased, "Lu Jin Gou! Aren''t you the one who always brags about being a hero? Turns out you''re so afraid of death!"


    "Ah! It''s not me; it''s Zhang Tie Mao!" Saying this, he pulled Wang Hong away, exining Zhang Tie Mao''s situation along the way. It turned out that Zhang Tie Mao''s injuries were severe, and he was now unconscious. The army''s medic had examined him, applied some medicine, and asserted that there was no hope of saving him. Even if he miraculously survived, one leg would be crippled.


    After a fierce battle, the number of casualties was countless, and the cries of the wounded filled the air, awaiting treatment. The army''s medics numbered only thirty or so, and the supply of medicinal herbs was severely insufficient. Not to mention the rtively precious White Jade Powder, even some inexpensive medicines were in short supply. Some wounded could only grab handfuls of grass or lime and sprinkle them on wounds to stop bleeding.


    Before reaching the medical tent, they could already hear various painful cries. Those heart-wrenching screams were undoubtedly from newly injured soldiers. As for the old injuries, they either had no strength left to cry out or were well on their way to recovery.


    The tent was filled haphazardly with wounded soldiers, some missing limbs, others with holes in their chests and abdomen. Some wounds had already rotted, emitting a foul smell that attracted a swarm of flies.


    Zhang Tie Maoy in a corner, his face pale, eyes tightly shut. His body was wrapped in bandages, many of which were stained red with fresh blood. Especially the bandages on his legs were soaked in blood, and Li Xiao Ya was tearfully trying to staunch the bleeding. Hua Wen Jue was busy cleaning wounds and applying bandages.


    After a thorough inspection, Wang Hong understood that Zhang Tie Mao had likely lost consciousness due to excessive bleeding, and his leg bones were fractured. Quickly retrieving several bottles of White Jade Powder from his pocket, he instructed everyone to sprinkle it on Zhang Tie Mao''s various wounds.


    Then, from his pocket, he pulled out an exquisite small porcin bottle, pouring out two pea-sized Medicinal pills. These were "White Jade Life-Extending Pills" refined from fifty-year-old White Jade Mushrooms. Although Wang Hong was using the "White Jade Life-Extending Pill" for the first time, he believed it should work for treating Zhang Tie Mao''s injuries.


    Opening Zhang Tie Mao''s mouth, Wang Hong fed him one pill. The leg bones had already been set. The other pill was dissolved in alcohol and applied to therge wound on his leg. Soon, the previously bleeding wounds stopped oozing blood.


    Observing this, Hua Wen Jue asked, "Wang Hong, how is your medicine so effective?" He had used a bottle of White Jade Powder on Zhang Tie Mao earlier, although the quantity was rtively small. This special White Jade Powder was custom-made, with the addition of some ten-year-old White Jade Mushrooms.


    Wang Hong smiled mysteriously and said, "This is my exclusive recipe!" He didn''t borate further, of course, not revealing that these White Jade Powders were mainlyposed of White Jade Mushrooms aged two or three decades. He then pulled out a few more bottles of White Jade Powder from his pocket, distributing them to the others for future use. The group dly epted, having witnessed the effectiveness of Wang Hong''s medicines.


    Wang Hong also handed out some homemade Medicinal cuisine jerky to Li Xiao Ya, instructing her to tear it into shreds, boil it until soft, and feed it to Zhang Tie Mao. These jerky pieces contained a hundred-year-old Astragalus, which should help replenish his vitality and restore his strength.


    Lu Jin Gou, smelling a rich aroma, approached with his nose twitching. "Wang Hong, you''re the only one who knows how to enjoy. Is this another dish you made yourself?" Seeing him almost drooling, Wang Hong tossed a piece to him and gave one each to Hua Wen Jue and Li Xiao Ya.


    Lu Jin Gou sniffed the jerky deeply in front of his nose, then took a small bite, savoring it carefully. After a few bites, he felt warmth in his stomach and quickly swallowed the remaining pieces. He thanked Wang Hong sincerely, then sat down cross-legged to cultivate.


    The other two, initially surprised by Lu Jin Gou''s peculiar behavior, soon caught on and, after finishing their portions, also thanked Wang Hong before settling into Meditation. Items that could increase cultivation were rare toe by. Although a single piece could only enhance their cultivation for about ten days, Wang Hong''s willingness to share created a bond of gratitude.


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 Chapter 20: The Battle for the City (One)

    Chapter 20: The Battle for the City (One)


    In the following days, the Qin Army remained rtively quiet. Wang Hong had recovered from his minor injuries, and thanks to Zhang Tie Mao using Wang Hong''s medicine, he had managed to save a life.


    On the second day of the battle, their superior officer, Feng Li, found Wang Hong. Due to the severe injuries sustained by the original Hundred-Man Commander, his fate remained uncertain. Recognizing Wang Hong''s performance in the recent battle, Feng Li appointed him as the Hundred-Man Commander of the sixth squad in the Qing Yang Camp.


    epting the appointment, Wang Hong couldn''t help but feel a bit proud. After all, a soldier who didn''t aspire to be a general was not a good soldier. When he and his Younger Brother entered the Qing Yang Academy years ago, they had even dreamed of bing great generals.


    However, the current situation of the sixth squad poured cold water on his enthusiasm. Including Wang Hong, there were only seventy-three members left. After the previous fierce battle, almost everyone had injuries, varying in severity. Wang Hong approached Feng Li to request some healing medicine, but Feng Li''s response was straightforward, with just one word: "None!"


    Unable to do anything about it, these were still his soldiers,rades who had fought side by side. He couldn''t just stand by and watch. Without timely treatment, there would be a reduction of at least twenty people in the sixth squad due to retirements or deaths from severe injuries.


    Wang Hong went to his Space and harvested a bunch of White Jade Mushrooms from the past five years, preparing some White Jade Powder. He had cultivated arge area of White Jade Mushrooms in his Space over the years, and they could be grown in just two or three months.


    As for the White Jade Life-Extending Pill, he dared not reveal it casually now. Wang Hong secretly added a few pills to the water of those critically injured and dying, having them drink it. This life-saving substance, once exposed, would be hard to protect with his current strength. Even if he could protect it, it would bring continuous trouble. After all, he wasn''t a saint trying to save the world.


    Wang Hong also used several bottles of White Jade Powder to exchange Li Xiao Ya, Lu Jin Gou, and Zhang Tie Mao from their respective squads to his sixth squad. As for Hua Wen Jue, who was now a Squad Leader, it wasn''t convenient to switch him at the moment, so they had to wait forter. Having a few trusted subordinates around would make things more convenient in various aspects.


    After five days of quiet from the Qin Army, they resumed their siege. This time, the Qin Army was well-prepared and didn''t rush in.


    Wang Hong''s squad, along with an archer unit, defended a small section of the city wall. Wang Hong''s squad consisted mainly of Sword and Shield Soldiers and Long Spear troops, with no archers but only ten Spear Throwers, which were too few and didn''t y a significant role in the previous battle.


    At the beginning of the battle, the Qin Army didn''tunch a fierce attack. Instead, they rolled out a series of wheelbarrows, each carrying bags filled with soil and stones and a high wooden board standing on the vehicle.


    Upon seeing this, the Chu Army on the city wall immediately released arrows. However, after a rain of arrows, the front wooden board of the wheelbarrow was filled with arrows, while the drivers behind the board remained unharmed, with only a few casualties.


    "Trebuchets, prepare!"


    Soon,rge stones the size of human heads whistled through the air, smashing into the Qin Army''s wheelbarrow formation and causing dirt and stones to fly below.


    Wang Hong saw a stone hit the wooden board of a wheelbarrow, shattering it into splinters. The driver behind the board had his head burst open, and before he could utter a scream, he met a swift end. Many others were injured, lying on the ground and moaning in pain.


    However, Trebuchets weren''t highly efficient at killing. Firstly, there weren''t many Trebuchets, so they couldn''t provide dense and widespread coverage like arrows. Secondly, it was challenging for Trebuchets to urately target small individual objects. Thus, against the sparse formation of the wheelbarrow unit, their hit rate was quite low.


    After this round of attacks, a significant portion of the wheelbarrows sessfully filled the trench under the city wall with bags of soil and stones. If this continued, the trench would be filled sooner orter, and the cost was merely the casualties of the drivers, who were originally captured from conquered cities and could be easily reced.


    All they needed to do was fill the trench, and the enemy''s siege equipment could be easily pushed forward. They could even create a slope directly with soil and stones, leading directly to the top of the city wall. By then, the difficulty of defense would increase exponentially.


    Trebuchets continued to hurl stones non-stop, but the trench was already half-filled.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong became a bit anxious. He grabbed some Short Spears and hurled one towards a wheelbarrow. With his strength of over a thousand pounds, the Short Spear created a sonic boom as it flew.


    "Boom!" The Short Spears exploded through the wooden board with undiminished momentum, piercing directly through the driver''s chest and into the soil behind.


    Wang Hong ordered the entire team to switch to Short Spears, and sixty to seventy Short Spears whizzed down simultaneously.


    "Bang, bang, bang!"


    Indeed, it was much more effective than arrows and Trebuchets. While the throwing spears had a shorter range, their prating power was stronger. Although they weren''t professional Spear Throwers, this round resulted in a dozen or so casualties. Following more rounds of throwing, dozens of drivers were killed.


    The remaining drivers, their legs trembling, dared not take a step forward and abandoned their wheelbarrows, howling as they fled back. Before they could reach their formation, a rain of arrows from the Qin Army shot down all the retreating drivers. Simultaneously, another group of drivers was pushed forward, and several who hesitated were immediately beheaded.


    Seeing the effectiveness of the throwing spears, other squads followed suit, causing a significant increase in casualties among the drivers below the city. asionally, drivers, terrified and in mental breakdown, attempted to escape backward, and without exception, were shot dead in front of their formation.


    Qin Army executed some on the spot, promised numerous rewards, and finally persuaded the remaining drivers to continue transporting soil and stones, along with presenting some heads.


    Meanwhile, the Qin Army''s Large Formation moved slowly forward, advancing a few hundred steps and entering the range of archers. Shields were raised in the front, and Archers formed several rows, continuously shooting a dense rain of arrows toward the top of the city wall.


    On the city wall, boards were propped up to block most of the arrows. Wang Hong stood on the wall, arrows falling like a torrent, "Thud! Thud! Thud!" on the top of the board. Soon, the board was covered with a multitude of arrows. Wang Hong asionally reached out to pull out the iing arrows.


    As a result, Spear Throwers were suppressed by the arrows, and individuals were asionally hit. Wang Hong handed several bottles of ordinary White Jade Powder to Li Xiao Ya, instructing him to heal promptly. There would be many more battles in the future, so they needed to conserve their forces.


    The continuous exchange of firested until dusk, with both sides sustaining casualties. Overall, the Chu Army held the advantage in terrain, with fewer casualties.


    The trench below the city was almost filled, and it was estimated that the Qin Army wouldunch a city assault tomorrow.


    Late at night, in the General''s office, Xiang Cheng, the mainmander of the Chu Army, was discussing strategy with several trusted officers around a map.


    "Our task this time is to send an elite force to burn the Qin Army''s provisions. Additionally, Bai Li City will coordinate by sending troops to cut off the passage between this Qin Army and their rear. At that point, this Qin Army won''t be able to escape our disposal." Commander Xiang Cheng said, a cold smile appearing on his lips, and a murderous intent in his eyes.


    "However, to infiltrate the rear of the Qin Army, do any of you have a clever n?" Xiang Cheng inquired.


    "Subordinate Mi Yan is willing to lead a detachment through Little Bottle Peak, infiltrate behind enemy lines through Soaring Serpent Cliff, and raid the enemy''s provisions." A general in white robes pointed out the location on the map as he spoke.


    "General Mi Yan, Soaring Serpent Cliff is tens of zhang high and extremely dangerous. How do you n to cross it?" A general in red robes asked.


    "I n to use ropes to descend directly from the top of the cliff," Mi Yan replied.


    "Falling from tens of zhang, the slightest negligence would result in shattered bones. In this way, casualties are bound to be significant."


    "Qin Army has invaded our territory, enved the people of Chu, and killed no less than a hundred thousand under their des. Hundreds or thousands of soldiers die every day on the walls of Tiger''s Lair City. As soldiers, what do we care about this life?" Mi Yan said resolutely.


    "Good! Mi Yan, you have the task!" Xiang Cheng apuded.


    "Imand you to lead five thousand elites..."


    In another direction of Tiger''s Lair City, a team of five thousand elite soldiers quietly left the city under the cover of night. Their movements were orderly, their demeanor solemn, yet they made no sound as they moved. Once out of the city, they disappeared into the mountains, leaving no trace behind.


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 Chapter 21: City Defense Battle (Two)

    Chapter 21: City Defense Battle (Two)


    The next day, as the sky began to lighten, the two armies resumed their archery duel. Below,borers continued to brave arrows and stones, pushing unicycles to fill the trenches. After two hours, several trenches had already been leveled by the Qin Army.


    At this point, the Qin Army deployed dozens of siege Cloud Ladders. Thesedders, about three zhang high, hadrge iron hooks at the top totch onto the city walls. They were approximately one zhang wide and could amodate five or six soldiers side by side, charging together at a 45-degree angle. The soldiers on the Cloud Ladder walked as if on level ground. The bottom was equipped with four rows of wheels, which could be manually pushed forward. The pushers were also shielded to protect against arrows.


    Dozens of Cloud Ladders formed a line, slowly approaching the city walls. The soldiers on the Cloud Ladders were ready, wielding swords and shields. Once they got close, they could charge up the walls and be the first wave of wall-climbing warriors.


    Participating in the first wave of a city assault was a great honor, despite the high mortality rate. Many soldiers eagerly sought this opportunity.


    If one could be the first to climb the wall, they could at least be promoted by two noble ranks. Many struggled their whole lives without achieving such a promotion.


    With fame, fortune, and rank at stake, everyone was eager to be at the forefront.


    Following the cloud carriages, the Qin Army advanced toward the city walls, enduring the rain of arrows, flying stones, and spears from the Chu Army. Soldiers fell, but theirrades paid them little attention, pressing forward with determination.


    At this point, the main targets on the city walls were the Cloud Ladders. Arrows, spears, and stones were all directed at thedders.


    Wang Hong, defending a small section of the wall, aimed at the fierce-looking soldiers on a Cloud Ladder. A short spear with a whistling sound flew toward the front line. The soldier at the forefront, clearly experienced in battle, did not dodge. He protected his chest with a shield and held a single-edged sword horizontally.


    The short spear instantly arrived, first with a "ding" sound as the sword broke in two. Then, with a "puchi" sound, the short spear pierced through the shield and into the soldier''s chest, extending a foot-long spearhead from his back.


    The soldier never understood who this person was or how they possessed such great strength. Seeing the soldier fall from the Cloud Ladder, Wang Hong shook his head, unsatisfied with piercing only one person. Adding more force to his arm, he threw another spear. This time, it was betterthree Qin soldiers were pierced together like a candied string, falling from the Cloud Ladder. Wang Hong continued to string together this "candied string," while the Qin Army behind continuously replenished the soldiers on the Cloud Ladder.


    Wang Hong showed no mercy in killing these Qin soldiers. If he didn''t kill them now, once they climbed the wall, they would turn on hisrades. Moreover, the Qin Army had a habit of massacring the captured cities. If Tiger''s Lair City fell, its people would either be killed or enved.


    When the Cloud Ladder was only three zhang away from the wall, the soldiers pushing it had been shot by spear throwers for two rounds. The soldiers on the Cloud Ladder were like targets, with casualties exceeding half. Several Cloud Ladders were directly demolished by catapults, and the soldiers on them were thrown off with broken bones.


    At this point, the Chu Armyunched jars filled with oil onto the Cloud Ladder, spreading oil everywhere. Then, a barrage of rockets set the Cloud Ladder aze. Many soldiers were on fire, and even the most valiant among them cried out in pain.


    In response, the Qin Army sent out arge number of soldiers. Some carried wet cotton quilts, smothering the fires. Others continued to push the Cloud Ladder, speeding up their advance. In just a few breaths, they reached a distance of less than one zhang, but arge wooden fork extended from the city wall, catching the Cloud Ladder and preventing it from moving forward.


    Some soldiers on the Cloud Ladder used their knives to chop the wooden fork, while others kicked with both legs, leaping directly toward the city wall. In mid-air, they were impaled by long spears extended from the wall, falling down either dead or maimed. A few lucky ones who made it to the top were besieged and killed.


    However, Qin soldiers continued to leap onto the wall, and the number of infiltrators increased. As long as one or two could establish a foothold, it would create an opening in the Chu Army''s defense, allowing a steady stream of Qin soldiers to climb onto the city walls.


    At this point, taking advantage of a gap in the defense, a small group of soldiers jumped onto the wall, helping a Cloud Ladder approach the wall. The Qin Army swarmed like a disturbed ho''s nest, brandishing their weapons and madly rushing toward the city wall.


    Wang Hong''s defense of the sixth battalion against a Cloud Ladder was not easy. It required some soldiers to hold the Cloud Ladder at bay, preventing it from approaching. They also had to engage inbat with Qin Army warriors leaping onto the wall and find time to shoot downborers continuously transporting soil and stones to the wall. Meanwhile, the rain of arrows from the Qin Army below never ceased to suppress the defenders.


    Wang Hong lifted a massive stone, weighing five to six hundred jin, high above his head and smashed it towards the Cloud Ladder. With a loud "bang," blood sttered from the impact, and cries of agony echoed.


    He continued to hurl several more stones, but Wang Hong frowned; the effect was not significant. His goal was to smash the Cloud Ladderpletely, but these stones only broke a few beams, having little impact on the entire structure.


    Wang Hong then targeted a massive rock from the side, and with a "crack," one of the supporting pirs snapped.


    "It''s working!"


    Wang Hong continued to smash more than ten giant rocks.


    "Boom, boom, boom!"


    The Cloud Ladder finally disintegrated. The Qin soldiers on top followed the copsingdder down.


    "Mighty!"


    "Mighty!"


    With the fall of the Cloud Ladder, cheers erupted from the city wall.


    Single-handedly destroying a Cloud Ladder with personal strength was exceptionally rare on the battlefield. After all, it wasn''t something just anyone could aplish with several hundred catties of giant stones.


    With the Cloud Ladder down, the defense of the sixth battalion became much easier. At times, they could even support the friendly forces on the left and right.


    The battle continued until nightfall before the Qin Army retreated. During this time, the Qin Army attempted several assaults on the city walls, but the Chu Army resisted fiercely, mobilizing rapid-response units and paying a considerable price to eliminate them.


    Underneath the city walls, the Qin Army had piled up a mound of bodies and soil over ten zhang high. With an additional two zhang, they could directly charge up the city walls.


    The Chu Army on the walls suffered substantial casualties. Wang Hong''s battalion added a few more wounded soldiers, and now there were only around sixtybat-ready soldiers.


    The sixth battalion fared rtively well; some other battalions were reduced to only thirty or forty men.


    Starved the entire day, the Chu Army leaned against the battlements, feasting on meat and devouring white steamed buns. Each person received arge bowl of braised pork, and there was plenty of steamed buns and rice. They also got a small bowl of wine eachalthough alcohol was prohibited in the military, exceptions were made during war to relieve fatigue and boost morale.


    Wang Hong took out a silver bottle from his pocket, poured himself a bowl of wine, and did the same for Li Xiao Ya and Lu Jin Gou.


    "Have some of this; it''s effective in relieving fatigue. Tomorrow''s battle will likely be even more intense," Wang Hong said, then turned to Li Xiao Ya, asking, "How is Zhang Tie Mao''s recovery progressing?"


    "He can walk already. It should take another ten days for aplete recovery," Li Xiao Ya replied, her face blushing, whether from the wine or some other reason.


    Li Xiao Ya and Lu Jin Gou raised their wine bowls, took a sip, and instantly felt a warm flow down their throats, spreading quickly throughout their bodies. They felt warm all over, as if every pore had expanded, and the fatigue from a day of battle dissipated. Their bodies were filled with renewed strength.


    Their eyes lit up, showing surprise and joy. This wine was indeed miraculous; they had never heard of such a wonder. It could quickly eliminate fatigue and restore vitality.


    Just as they were about to speak, Wang Hong waved his hand to stop them from revealing the secret. Disclosing such a thing wouldn''t benefit him and might even bring disaster. He handed each of them a piece of dried meat.


    After finishing their meal, not only did the fatigue umted over the past two dayspletely disappear, but their own martial arts skills had also improved. They expressed their gratitude to Wang Hong with a grateful smile and a bow.


    Wang Hong smiled and waved it off; these things were not a big deal to him. The cost was low, and he had plenty in his space.


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 Chapter 22: Great Victory

    Chapter 22: Great Victory


    The next day, perhaps sensing victory approaching, the Qin Armyunched a fiercer attack. The Cloud Ladder alone increased by more than twentypared to yesterday.


    Wang Hong, using the same method as yesterday, first smashed the Cloud Ladder. This significantly reduced the defensive pressure on the city walls. It attracted envious nces from the other teams who were still struggling.


    Wang Hong also casually smashed the Cloud Ladders on his left and right sides. If he could help a bit, why not? As for other areas, he could do nothing.


    On this day, the Qin Army relentlessly attacked without a moment''s rest, withdrawing only after nightfall.


    In a valley behind the Qin Army, a continuous array of tents stood, surrounded by a line of barricades for horses. Behind the barricades,rge carts were connected end to end, forming a wall. It was well-lit here, with soldiers patrolling the surroundings. This was the storage location for Qin Army''s supplies, guarded by four thousand elite soldiers.


    On one side of the camp, shadows moved in the mountains, harboring thousands of people, all eyes fixed on the camp below, like a tiger ready to pounce. The figures in the mountains lurked silently until deep into the night when the lights in the camp gradually extinguished.


    "Hoot!"


    With the cry of a bird, all the soldiers quietly descended towards the camp below.


    Momentster, mes soared in the camp, and the sound of battle erupted. Many Qin Army soldiers were separated from their lives in their sleep. Some soldiers, awakening in confusion, were unable to organize a defense and were killed on the spot.


    The next day, Wang Hong and his allies were already prepared to face the Qin Army''s fierce attack.


    However, before the Qin Army attacked the city, they received orders from Shangguan to carry three days'' worth of rations and be ready to leave the city for battle at any time.


    The soldiers were puzzled. They were in a disadvantageous position just yesterday, almost having the city walls breached. Why were they now ordered to leave the city for a counterattack?


    Soon, news arrived that the Chu Army had raided the Qin Army''s grain warehouse the previous night, setting it aze. Now, the Qin Army had at most one day''s worth of supplies. If they held out for just one day, the Qin Army would have to retreat.


    The news boosted the morale of the Chu Army, who had been suppressed by the Qin Army for days and were eager to strike back. Everyone was ready to give the Qin Army a hard beating.


    On that day, the Qin Armyunched its most frenzied attack since the beginning of the war. Arrows rained down on the city walls without stopping.


    In addition to the siegedders, the Qin Army carried makeshift woodendders and ced them directly on the city walls, climbing upward like ants, covering the entire wall.


    The defending Chu Army dropped Rolling Logs and Stone Catapults from the walls, each impact crushing arge group of attackers, painting the ground red and white.


    Arge iron pot was ced on the wall, filled with boiling oil, which was poured down from the wall onto the Qin Army below. The Qin Army was drenched, their skin peeling off, revealing tender, red flesh on their faces and hands. Their clothes were stuck to their bodies with blood, and every movement caused excruciating pain.


    After the hot oil, a few torches were thrown down, and arge fire erupted below the wall, quickly turning into a sea of mes. Inside, agonizing screams echoed.


    The screams grew weaker, and thick ck smoke rose from the fire, making it difficult for the Chu Army on the wall to open their eyes, their throats burning as if on fire.


    Wang Hong dampened his clothes, covering his nose and mouth, leaning against the other side of the wall. The ck smoke, apanied by the stench of burning and the aroma of flesh, mixed together, making Wang Hong nauseous.


    It seemed like the fire wouldn''t stop anytime soon. Before it subsided, they received orders to leave the city and pursue the retreating Qin Army!


    As they exited the city, the Qin Army had already dismantled their camp and was slowly retreating. It appeared that the Qin Army deemed the city assault hopeless and was preparing to withdraw.


    Although the Qin Army retreated in defeat, their formation remained disciplined and orderly, forming arge-scale array with Sword and Shield Soldiers on the outer perimeter, Long Spear troops with spears pointing outward on the inner side, and Archers on the innermostyer, continuously firing arrows outward.


    The Chu Army pursued in a wedge formation, with the mainmander and central forces in the middle, and wings on both sides resembling the wings of geese, ready to advance and nk at any moment.


    Wang Hong, positioned on the left wing, saw it as a perfect opportunity to achieve feats in beheading enemymanders and capturing gs. Unfortunately, his Sixth Brigade, except for the wounded, had only a little over fifty soldiers able to join the battle outside the city.


    The Qin Army advanced steadily, and the Chu Army followed at a moderate pace. After an hour, the Qin Army''s feathered arrows were depleted, and no more were shot from their formation.


    From this point on, whenever the opportunity arose, the Chu Army would attack, taking a bite out of the Qin Army. Two elite small units frequently executed nking maneuvers from both sides, piercing the Qin Army formation like sharp des, splitting a small piece from the Qin Army and quickly being engulfed by therger forces from behind.


    As they walked and fought, the results were abundant after a day, especially causing immense mental pressure on the Qin Army.


    As night fell and marching became inconvenient, both sides coincidentally stopped and set up camp.


    At this point, the Chu Army enjoyed their dry rations, while the Qin Army, stomachs growling, could only desperately drink water to alleviate hunger.


    Of course, the night wasn''t easy on the Qin Army either; the Chu Army sent out small units for several harassment attacks. Before dawn on the second day, the Chu Armyunched another attack, and the Qin Army continued to fight while retreating.


    After a long half-day, the Qin Army was exhausted and hungry. Spirits were low, and panic spread.


    Suddenly, from the thorns on both sides of a small hill, an elite Chu Army force emerged. It was the same unit that had been sent to burn the Qin Army''s supplies, already lying in ambush on the inevitable path of the Qin Army. Now, they surged forward, serving as thest straw that broke the camel''s back.


    The Chu Army in the rear alsounched a fierce attack simultaneously, nking swiftly to the left and right. They left the front open, allowing the retreating Qin Army to escape, following the strategy of surrounding three to conquer one and engaging the main force of the Qin Army.


    The Chu Army fiercely attacked for less than two quarters of an hour before the Qin Army finally copsed. Soldiers fled forward, abandoning any semnce of formation. Military Judge shouted angrily and swung his sword, beheading several individuals, but he was quickly overwhelmed by the chaotic tide of retreat. The saying "defeat is like a copsing mountain" was truly apt.


    Witnessing this, the Chu Army, organized by units, pursued the scattered Qin Army.


    Wang Hong led his fifty soldiers from the Sixth Brigade and engaged in a relentless pursuit. Killing the Qin Army seemed as simple as cutting vegetables.


    Even the most formidable opponents encountered were only peak Acquired martial artists, easily pierced through the throat by Wang Hong with a few strikes. He even managed to capture a camp g in the process.


    The harvest was abundant on this journey. Each of Wang Hong''s fifty soldiers had contributed one or two severed heads. Wang Hong personally killed two School Captains, capturing two camp gsenough for him to im merit upon returning.


    In this battle, the Chu Army achieved a great victory. Combined with the city defense, they ughtered over fifty thousand Qin Army soldiers. News quickly spread across the entire battlefield, marking the first victory of the Chu Army over the Qin Army since the reinforcement. It greatly boosted the morale of the Chu Army.


    In the following months, the Chu Armyunched counterattacks against the Qin Army. With reinforcements arriving from various fronts, the Chu Army gradually reimed lost territories.


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 Chapter 23: Qingxu City

    Chapter 23: Qingxu City


    In the western part of Chu State, within the Qingxu Mountains, stands a colossal city that seems to reach the heavens. The city walls soar to dozens of yards, piercing into the clouds, constructed entirely from massive stones weighing thousands of kilograms. The city gate, ten yards wide, is forged from a ck metallic substance.


    Luxurious vehicles of various kindse in and out of the city gate. Some emit a dazzling array of colors, clearly indicating their extraordinary quality. The creatures pulling these carts are evidently different from ordinary horses, resembling them in appearance but standing at a height of one zhang (about three meters) with muscles bulging all over. Each has a single horn on its head, and pulling arge cart appears effortless for them.


    Some individuals even ride out on giant tigers, except these tigers have wings on their backs.


    A young man emerges from the city gate, taking out a small pouch the size of a palm. He releases arge bird with a wingspan of two to three zhang from it. The young man casually sits on the bird''s back, and with a p of its wings, the bird effortlessly soars dozens of yards into the sky.


    These scenes leave the four people standing by the city gate dumbfounded, resembling rural folks entering the city for the first time.


    These four individuals are dressed in tattered clothes, unkempt. The apparent leader seems to be around eighteen or neen years old, with an ordinary appearance.


    The other three, though dressed in rags, exude a robust and fierce demeanor. A subtle sense of killing intent lingers around them, a kind of killing aura formed through countless battles.


    However, in the presence of the young leader, they show great respect, not daring to offend in the slightest. The look they cast towards the young man is tinged with admiration.


    This young man is naturally Wang Hong. Since the victory of Tiger''s Lair City over the Qin Army three years ago, the Chu Army has achieved several victories. They reimed territories lost to the Qin Army, and both sides returned to their original borders, facing each other once more.


    During these three years, Wang Hong trained a group of elite soldiers, and he himself engaged in numerous battles without a single defeat. He achieved remarkable feats, such as breaking through enemy lines with a force of two thousand and personally leading a hundred soldiers to kill the enemy''smanding general in the midst of a massive army, capturing him alive.


    These significant aplishments made him a rising star in the Chu State military.


    With umted military merits, Wang Hong rose to the position of the Northern Expedition General,manding tens of thousands of soldiers.


    Through the aid of Dragon Tiger Pills and various Medicinal cuisines, Wang Hong''s cultivation finally reached the peak of the Innate Realm.


    At this moment, Wang Hong''s meridians are unobstructed, his five senses keen, and a single strike from him carries the force of thousands of kilograms. He has also mastered the ninth level of the "Horizontal Refining Six Harmonies Technique." It can be said that Wang Hong is now invincible among martial practitioners.


    Having witnessed the methods of the immortal realm, his aspirations no longer lie in earthly power, fame, and fortune. These are mere fleeting struggles on the horns of a snail for him.


    He yearns for the freedom of immortals, to travel across the North Sea and the Cangwu region, wandering between heaven and earth, aging only once every five hundred yearsforever young while the world ages.


    A few months ago, Wang Hong submitted his resignation to the Grand General, apanied by a two-hundred-year-old Ginseng. The Grand General happily epted and promised to forward it to the imperial court, taking care of everything on his behalf.


    Before leaving, Wang Hong gathered Zhang Tie Mao, Lu Jin Gou, and others for a meal. He also gave each of them a bottle of White Jade Life-Extending Pill and a bottle of Dragon Tiger Pill.


    These individuals had been studying and fighting alongside Wang Hong for several years. Following Wang Hong in battles, they had all attained the rank of School Captain.


    Wang Hong hoped they would live well in the future.


    In these years, Wang Hong cultivated a personal guard of a hundred people, investing considerable effort in their training. When he left, ny-seven of them willingly chose to continue following him.


    It''s a good thing he brought this group along; otherwise, Wang Hong, traveling alone, might not have made it to Qingxu City.


    The journey was fraught with danger, a near-death experience. The Qingxu Mountains were filled with various perilous terrains, and ferocious beasts were everywhere.


    Despite taking the safest route, they still encountered dangers multiple times. Once, they were surrounded by a pack of fierce wolves, each possessing the strength of an Acquired stage martial practitioner. It took the group three days to break through and escape with their lives.


    I heard that within the Qingxu Mountains, there''s a type of Demonic Beast more formidable than Ferocious beasts. They can even swallow clouds, exhale mist, and cast spells, something only immortals can deal with.


    And so, along the way, battling with Ferocious beasts, enduring for several months, we suffered losses of over twenty people to finally reach Qingxu City.


    Wang Hong nced around and said, "The four of us will enter the city first to gather information, then meet here."


    Approaching the city gate, Wang Hong noticed a notice board, likely containing guidelines for entering the city.


    In essence, it stated: Qingxu City wees everyone. Upon entering for the first time, one must register at the city gate. Fighting is prohibited within the city, and those who vite this rule will be severely punished by the city guards. Flying is also forbidden, except for those with a Golden Core stage or higher.


    Beside the city gate, Wang Hong saw a table with over a dozen people in line. Behind the table sat an old man with a goatee.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong and his threepanions joined the queue.


    While waiting in line, they observed a thin white-haired youth trying to enter the city. However, when he reached the city gate, it was as if an invisible wall blocked his way. Despite exerting effort, he couldn''t move forward.


    "Haha."


    The youth''s struggle amused those around him. Finally, a helpful middle-aged person informed him that he needed to register to enter the city and wouldn''t be allowed in without a registration que.


    Embarrassed, the youth, with a flushed face, hurriedly joined the line.


    Soon, it was Wang Hong''s turn. The old man with the goatee casually nced at him, a look that made Wang Hong feel exposed and irresistiblypelled to pay homage.


    "Name?" the goatee old man asked indifferently.


    "Wang Hong," Wang Hong quickly replied.


    The old man wrote something in a book, then wrote Wang Hong''s name on a wooden que and tossed it to him.


    "Thanks," Wang Hong said, epting the wooden que. It was palm-sized, with his name inscribed on it. It felt heavy and solid, made from an unknown wood. After securing the que, he headed towards the city gate.


    Dozens of guards in ck armor stood near the city gate, indifferent to the peopleing and going. Some even closed their eyes to rest.


    Directly in front of the city gate was a straight street bustling with people, with storefronts lining both sides.


    Wang Hong felt that it was somewhat simr to the mortal world, just more majestic. On his left, there was a shop named "Treasure Pavilion," reaching a height of over thirty zhang. Four exceptionally beautiful women stood at the entrance as greeters.


    A shop selling clothes was named "Armor and Attire Store," disying garments in a divine light, including armor.


    There was also a weapon refining pavilion, showcasing weapons such as knives, spears, swords, and shields. Wang Hong guessed it was simr to a cksmith''s shop.


    Additionally, there were taverns, inns, elixir shops, and more.


    Wang Hong strolled along the street for a while and discovered a massive square filled with people. In the center stood a huge sign that read "Free Market Square," shining brightly even in broad daylight.


    It resembled a countryside fair, with various stalls offering all kinds of goods. Wang Hong hadn''t expected to find such a ce in this immortal city, and the lofty image of immortals in his mind suddenly descended.


    Without much thought, Wang Hong followed the crowd into the square. In this bustling and diverse ce, he thought it was the best way to quickly understand the city.


    "Hey! Selling Demonic Beast meat! Just hunted Golden-haired Demon Bull meat!" A dark-faced man shouted energetically, "Selling first-level intermediate Golden-haired Demon Beef, only one Spirit Stone for a hundred pounds!"


    As he approached, Wang Hong heard the enthusiastic shouts. In front of the stall, the dark-faced man had a pile of fresh red meat, with a few people haggling over the prices.


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 Chapter 24: Free Market Square

    Chapter 24: Free Market Square


    Wang Hong, seeing the situation, also joined the crowd. The demonic beast meat had a vibrant red color, adorned with snowke-like patterns.


    "Everyone knows the strength of a first-grade intermediate demonic beast, equivalent to the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation for an Immortal Cultivator. My brothers and I worked hard for half a day to hunt down this Golden-haired Demon Bull," the ck-faced man continued to exin. "Demonic beast meat is rich in spiritual energy. Consuming it can enhance cultivation, much more cost-effective than Spirit Rice. Spirit Rice requires one Spirit Stone per kilogram."


    "Don''t deceive me, friend. How can demonic beast meat bepared to Spirit Rice?" The middle-aged man in the midst of bargaining shook his head. "The Spirit Qi in Spirit Rice is bnced and easy to assimte, safe with no side effects. On the other hand, the Spirit Qi in demonic beast meat is violent and not easily absorbable. Prolonged consumption may even affect one''s sanity."


    "What you''re talking about would only happen after continuous consumption for several years. Who would eat demonic beast meat every day for years?"


    "Besides, you can always have a Spirit Chef prepare it. Spirit Meals made by Spirit Chefs are not only delicious with no side effects, but their effects are also more potent," the ck-faced man added.


    The bargaining went back and forth, and after a while, the ck-faced man nodded in agreement. He cut arge piece of meat, threaded it with a grass rope, and handed it to the middle-aged man.


    The middle-aged man took it and pulled out a crystal from his pocket. It was a square-shaped crystal, only the size of a fingertip, crystal clear, emitting a greenish glow. He handed it to the ck-faced man.


    Wang Hong spected that this crystal was probably a Spirit Stone. Were these Immortal Masters using these stones as currency? He needed to find a way to get a few and see.


    Moving on, Wang Hong discovered that this area was entirely based on transactions using Spirit Stones, albeit with different colors. The variety of items for sale was vast, but Wang Hong didn''t recognize any of them. He remained calm, considering it an opportunity to broaden his knowledge.


    At one stall, there were two piles of ore. One was shiny and ck with a sign reading "Profound Iron Ore, one Spirit Stone per kilogram," and the other was red with a sign reading "Red Copper, two Spirit Stones per kilogram." Wang Hong stood nearby and, from others'' conversations, learned that these were used for crafting artifacts. But what exactly were artifacts?


    There was another stall selling materials supposedly from demonic beasts  three-foot-long horns, giant ws, and even a small handful of golden fur, all described by the vendor in a mystical way.


    Now, Wang Hong found himself intrigued by a Spirit Herb stall. Finally, he encountered something he could recognize.


    On the stall, there was a one-foot-long medicinal herb with white stems and emerald green heart-shaped leaves. It was the Green Leafy Vine mentioned in the records, a precious medicinal herb that Wang Hong had long wished to see. Its stem would turn green after ten years of maturity and continue to darken after fifty years.


    There was also a Turtle Leaf Grass with vein patterns resembling a turtle''s back, another extremely rare herb ording to the records.


    The stall also disyed several other medicinal herbs that Wang Hong didn''t recognize but assumed to be rare as well.


    At other stalls, Wang Hong found several precious herbs recorded in various ancient texts.


    At yet another stall, he discovered a hundred-year-old Ginseng. Inquiring about the price, he learned it was selling for twenty Spirit Stones.


    Hearing this price, Wang Hong felt considerably relieved. With dozens of followers under hismand, he had been worried about bing penniless, but now, at least for a short time, he didn''t have to worry about running out of Spirit Stones. It was like securing his first substantial earnings. He still had one or two hundred ginseng nts in his Space, some of which were over two hundred years old.


    "Come and take a look! Various cultivation technique books are on sale at affordable prices! Pick and choose, there''s always one suitable for you!"


    A tall and thin young man was loudly advertising nearby.


    "Passersby, don''t miss out! Once you leave this vige, there won''t be another shop like this!"


    At the tall and thin stall, there were hundreds of various books, and a crowd had gathered to browse.


    Wang Hong also approached, finding a chaotic mix of books of all kinds piled together.


    The first book that caught his eye featured a voluptuous beauty on the cover, titled "One Hundred Techniques to Woo Female Cultivators." Flipping through, he found it filled with mundane content. Wang Hong wondered, "Are immortals really this idle?"


    He randomly picked up another book, "Basic Fire Elemental Spells." While he recognized the characters individually, strung together, the content made no sense to him.


    Trying "Wood Elemental Techniques," a cultivation method simr to inner strength techniques, still left him perplexed.


    Among the stack, he found a thick book with "Comprehensive Guide to Cultivation Basics" written in bold calligraphy on the cover. Flipping through, he realized it was perfect for his current needs. It covered various fundamental aspects of cultivation, including brief reviews of cultivation techniques, introductions to spiritual beings, andmon knowledge in the cultivation world.


    Thinking about it, Wang Hong decided to find a way to buy this book. He raised the book he was holding and asked, "How much for this book?"


    The tall and thin vendor nced at Wang Hong and said, "Ten Spirit Stones."


    Then, he continued to shout, seemingly not expecting Wang Hong to afford it. Feeling reluctant, Wang Hong put the book down and continued walking.


    After spending a few hours exploring the entire square and checking every stall, Wang Hong had a fruitful harvest.


    He nned to sell some items from his Space, gather Spirit Stones, as all transactions here were conducted in Spirit Stones or through direct barter.


    Wang Hong considered two items in his Space suitable for sale. Apart from the Ginseng he saw earlier, he was surprised to find that the Rice Grains and Wheat he cultivated had grown to the height of a person over the years. The growth cycle had also increased significantly, taking over ten days, roughly equivalent to a full year for maturity. The most notable change was that the grains were now as big as chicken eggs, crystal clear, and with an improved taste.


    Earlier, he came across a stall selling Spirit Grains, identical to the Rice Grains in his Space. They were priced at one Spirit Stone for ten Spirit Grains.


    Since Wang Hong had plenty of Spirit Grains in his Space, he could sell them to acquire Spirit Stones. However, Spirit Grains had arger volume, making it inconvenient to take them out in this crowded ce.


    The stalls in the square offered a variety of goods, mostly for sale, and some specifically for purchasing various items. There were numerous stalls advertising the purchase of Spirit Herbs.


    Wang Hong found an Old Man with a kind face, took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, and handed it to the Old Man.


    "Old man, take a look at this and tell me how much it''s worth in Spirit Stones."


    The Old Man slowly opened the cloth bag, revealing tworge Ginseng nts withplete roots, very fresh.


    "Young man, these two Ginseng nts are in excellent condition, with a dense concentration of Spirit Qi. They should have been growing in a ce with abundant Spirit Qi. Judging by the age, they should be around a hundred years old."


    The Old Man covered the bag again and said casually, "For these two Ginseng nts, I can offer a maximum of thirty-five Spirit Stones. If you agree, we can make the deal right away."


    After a brief consideration, Wang Hong nodded in agreement. Two Ginseng nts like this should be worth around forty Spirit Stones if sold individually. Taking into ount the profit margin for the buyer, receiving thirty-five Spirit Stones was reasonable. He took the Spirit Stones handed to him by the Old Man and quickly stashed them in his pocket.


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 Chapter 25: Foundation of Cultivation

    Chapter 25: Foundation of Cultivation


    As the sun set, Wang Hong gathered a few individuals at the city gate. Walking together, the three reported their findings to Wang Hong.


    Qingxu Immortal City was vast, with gates in the east, west, south, and north. They entered through the east gate, and it would take three days to walk from the east to the west gate. Today, they only explored a small area.


    The city wasn''t solely inhabited by immortals; there were also many ordinary people, mostly descendants of immortal families. Outsiders like them were rare. After all, for ordinary people, passing through the Qingxu Mountain Range was extremely difficult, and most probably ended up as meals for some ferocious beasts along the way.


    Ordinary people in the city could assist immortals with various tasks, work in shops, or take care of medicinal gardens and spirit fields. They could earn about half a Spirit Stone per month.


    Spirit Stone was the universal currency in the city; gold and silver had no value here. Everything, from daily necessities to amodation, required Spirit Stones. Even the city''s ordinary residents used Spirit Stones. If one only bought mundane items, half a Spirit Stone could buy a considerable amount.


    Wang Hong took out a Spirit Stone from his pocket, examining it carefully. He didn''t dare show it too much in the city after obtaining it.


    Seeing the Spirit Stone in Wang Hong''s hand, the three were captivated. It was clear that generals were different; they had just entered the city and already acquired such a rare item as a Spirit Stone.


    Wang Hong tossed the Spirit Stone to the three for a closer look. They marveled at the item; in the mortal realm, this would be considered a priceless gem, of inestimable value.


    After walking for over ten miles, they reached a small hill with several tents. A small group of people with long spears patrolled the surroundings.


    Upon seeing Wang Hong, they all saluted. Wang Hong waved his hand, signaling them to bring a few squad leaders to his tent for a meeting.


    This was their temporary camp. Since the situation was unclear, Wang Hong led a small group to explore the city first.


    In a spacious tent, Wang Hong sat in the center, with ten people standing below.


    "Zhao Ning, share the information you gathered in the city today with everyone," Wang Hong instructed.


    One of the three who entered the city today stepped forward and detailed the information they had gathered.


    After everyone absorbed the information, Wang Hong spoke, "We''ve faced countless hardships and dangers to reach the Immortal City, sacrificing many of ourrades on the way. Now that we''ve finally arrived, I want to ask again: will you continue to follow me, or do you wish to forge your own path?"


    The group hurriedly replied, "We pledge to follow the general to the death."


    Wang Hong raised his hand to stop them, "No need to answer now. I am no longer a general of the empire. Just arriving in the Immortal City, I am not much stronger than any of you. Opportunities are equal for everyone, and perhaps you can make a name for yourself here and create your own destiny. I hope you consider this carefully; it is a matter that will shape your entire life. If you choose to leave, I won''t stop you. But once you decide to follow me, there must be no second thoughts."


    "Go and pass on my words to all the soldiers. Ponder it well today, and give me your answer tomorrow."


    As the varied expressions of the people left, Wang Hong took out a book titled "Foundations of Cultivation" and began to study it earnestly.


    As it turned out, what ordinary people perceived as immortals were more urately called Immortal Cultivators. True immortals were still a far cry from them.


    Immortal Cultivators achieved immortality through cultivation, gradually separating truth from falsehood and transcending the mortal realm. So, Immortal Cultivators were also known as cultivators.


    Cultivation progressed from the shallow to the profound, divided into several major realms: Qi Cultivation, Foundation Building, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Soul Transformation. There were reportedly many more realms beyond, details of which were unknown to ordinary people.


    Each major realm was further divided into ten sub-realms, from the first to the tenthyer. For example, the first to thirdyers of the Qi Cultivation stage were the early stages, the fourth to sixthyers were the mid-stages, the seventh to ninthyers were thete stages, and the tenthyer was the perfection, also known as the peak of Qi Cultivation.


    The lifespan of those in the Qi Cultivation stage is simr to that of ordinary people, living up to a maximum of one hundred and twenty years. In the Foundation Building stage, one can have a lifespan of two hundred and forty years; in the Golden Core stage, five hundred years; in the Nascent Soul stage, one thousand years; and in the Soul Transformation stage, two thousand years.


    Of course, the mentioned lifespans are the maximum limits. The body cannot reach a perfect state, and engaging inbat inevitably leads to injuries, leaving some hidden wounds. Even certain drugs or cultivation techniques that unlock potential can affect the length of one''s life.


    Immortal Cultivators rely on absorbing Spirit Qi from heaven and earth to cultivate, using this Spirit Qi to nourish their primordial spirit, making it continuously stronger.


    The divine sense produced during the Qi Cultivation stage is an external manifestation of the strength of the primordial spirit.


    It is said that after reaching the Nascent Soul stage, the primordial spirit can directly leave the body. Without the constraints of the physical body, one can teleport and travel tens of thousands of miles in a day.


    Wang Hong spected that each time he entered the ethereal state in Space, it should be his primordial spirit.


    To absorb Spirit Qi between heaven and earth, Immortal Cultivators must possess Spiritual Roots. Spiritual Roots act as a bridge between the primordial spirit and the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth; the primordial spirit must pass through the Spiritual Roots to absorb external spiritual energy.


    However, most peopleck Spiritual Roots and cannot cultivate. Even for those with Spiritual Roots, the quality varies. Most people have mediocre Spiritual Roots (or five Spiritual Roots).


    After reading about Spiritual Roots, Wang Hong finally understood his own Spiritual Roots attribute, feeling a bitter smile.


    On the day at Qing Yang Academy, the disc used by the Immortal Cultivator from the Taihao Sword Sect to measure Spiritual Roots was likely a tool for this purpose.


    When Wang Hong measured himself, he emitted four kinds of light: blue, red, yellow, and ck. This meant that Wang Hong had Wood, Fire, Earth, and Water Spiritual Roots, simr to mediocre Spiritual Roots.


    Belonging to someone with extremely poor cultivation aptitude, without special opportunities, he would likely linger in the Qi Cultivation stage for his entire life. No sect would be willing to take in such a disciple and waste resources on them.


    In contrast, his younger brother Wang Yi was sought after by all sects. With the most exceptional Single Element Spiritual Root, he could directly cultivate to the Golden Core stage without any bottlenecks.


    The "Foundations of Cultivation" also covered many topics, such as Spirit Herbs, spiritual mines, geography, and more. Wang Hong delved into Space for an entire night and only covered a small portion.


    After a whole night of contemtion, the next morning, people starteding to bid farewell to Wang Hong. There were soldiers, temporary squad leaders, and squad leaders.


    Wang Hong didn''t me them; after all, the temptations before them were too great. He bid them farewell with kind words and provided them with some supplies.


    These people had followed him in battles for many years, contributing their blood and sweat. He couldn''t treat them unfairly.


    By the time the sun set, only forty-five people remained from his original seventy-plus troops.


    "Is there anyone else who wants to leave? You still have a choice now."


    Silence filled the air below, only the sound of everyone''s breathing could be heard. After a moment of quiet, Wang Hong spoke again, "Good! Good! Good! Since you, my brothers, trust me and are willing to follow me, Wang Hong, I will not mistreat any of you!"


    "We pledge to follow the general to the death!"


    Wang Hong divided the remaining people into five small teams, each led by a team leader, with eight soldiers, totaling nine members.


    He instructed them to continue with their daily Battle Formation Drills led by the team leaders. They could also hunt some ferocious beasts in the vicinity to familiarize themselves with formations and solve their food problems. Wang Hong pondered what other tasks he could give them; people couldn''t be idle for too long, or their minds would wander.


    For now, they could only stay stationed here, and with this many people, amodations alone would cost a significant amount of Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong returned to his tent and entered Space.


    "Ah! Where are my Spirit Stones?" Wang Hong''s cry echoed in Space. He had casually tossed the Spirit Stone he obtained today into Space, and now, not a trace of the Spirit Stone could be found.


    "It''s so strange. I clearly ced the Spirit Stone in this location. How could it all disappear?"


    Wang Hong turned the soil in that area and rechecked Space, but he couldn''t find a single trace of the Spirit Stone.


    "Could this Space consume Spirit Stones? I''ll try bringing in a few more tomorrow."


    Currently, Medicinal Herbs in Space had a minimum age of nearly two hundred years. There were also many Medicinal Herbs with ages ranging from decades to over a hundred years.


    Due to the inconvenience in the military, a considerable amount of Spirit Grain in Space remained untouched. These could be exchanged for Spirit Stones, but it had to be done gradually.


    After all, wealth can stir up desires, and Wang Hong couldn''t afford to attract too much attention at the moment.


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 Chapter 26: Cultivation

    Chapter 26: Cultivation


    Wang Hong returned to therge square with a big sack on his back, filled with Spirit Grain.


    This was the output from his Space over the past half-year. After negotiating with a merchant who purchased Spirit Grain, he finally sold it for a hundred and thirty-five Spirit Stones.


    Locating the book stall where he had previously bought a book, Wang Hong nned to purchase a Cultivation Techniques book. With Wood, Fire, Earth, and Water as his four Spiritual Roots, he could practice techniques from each of these four elements.


    Each element had its own characteristics, with no clear superiority or inferiority. For instance, the Wood Element exhibited vigorous vitality, the Fire Element was fierce, the Metal Element focused on killing, the Earth Element was sturdy, and the Water Element was gentle and continuous.


    "Come and see! Don''t miss this great opportunity! Each book is a treasure. Hurry, don''t miss out!"


    From a distance, Wang Hong heard the enthusiastic shouts of the Thin Tall Person.


    "Hey! Long time no see, my friend. I''ve missed you. What kind of book are you looking for today?"


    Just as he approached the book stall, Thin Tall Person greeted him. Wang Hong thought to himself; he had just bought the "Cultivation Basics Encyclopedia" from here the day before yesterday, and now it seemed like he had been missed, missed like his Spirit Stones.


    "No need to miss me. If you could give me a discount, that would show some sincerity. I''m looking for a Cultivation Techniques book for the Wood Element," Wang Hong replied with a smirk.


    After careful consideration, Wang Hong found that he still preferred Wood Element techniques. Since each element had its pros and cons, he chose the one he liked the most.


    "Oh, my friend, I''m just making a modest living. Feel free to inquire, but my books are already the lowest price in the whole city," Thin Tall Personined.


    Wang Hong sifted through the pile and found several Wood Element technique books, including "Wood Art: Ethereal Decision," "Green Wood Eternal Life Technique," and "Eternal Spring Technique."


    Afterparing them, Wang Hong ultimately chose "Wood Art: Ethereal Decision." This technique was widely popr, with no notable advantages or disadvantages. It was rtively easy for someone like Wang Hong, a self-taught cultivator, to grasp.


    Wang Hong also picked up a copy of "Catalog of Spirit Medicines." Although the "Cultivation Basics Encyclopedia" covered information about Spirit Herbs, it was too basic, and the herbs listed were limited. "Catalog of Spirit Medicines" detailed over a thousand Medicinal Herbs, their characteristics, and uses.


    Since his Space could cultivate Spiritual Medicine, Wang Hong anticipated dealing with various Spiritual Medicines in the future. It was better to familiarize himself with them in advance.


    Thin Tall Person spoke warmly but was firm when it came to collecting the Spirit Stones. He took forty Spirit Stones for the two books, not willing to give even half a stone less.


    With the techniques in hand, Wang Hong didn''t linger in the city for long. He hurried back to the camp and gathered the five squad leaders. He instructed them to enter the city in batches, familiarize themselves with the environment, especially the market, and learn about the items and their prices.


    He gave each of them two Spirit Stones to buy supplies, especially clothing. After months of battles, dozens of people were dressed in tatters, resembling beggars.


    Wang Hong advised them not to disturb him for the next few days and then retreated into his Space. He first ced a Spirit Stone on the ground and another on a wooden shelf.


    Carefully observing the changes in these two Spirit Stones, after a quarter of an hour, the Spirit Stone on the ground lost a small corner, leaving only a bit of powder behind.


    The reason Spirit Stones served as currency in the cultivation world was their rich Spirit Qi content, absorbable by Immortal Cultivators and usable in refining, alchemy, array formations, and more. When the Spirit Qi in a Spirit Stone was depleted, only a bit of powder remained.


    The Spirit Stone on the wooden shelf, however, remained unchanged, indicating that the ground was absorbing Spirit Qi.


    Despite the absorption, there was no noticeable change in the ground. "Perhaps it absorbed too little," Wang Hong spected.


    He tossed ten Spirit Stones onto the ground and allowed them to be slowly absorbed while he turned his attention to reading.


    After a while, all the Spirit Stones disappeared. Decisively, Wang Hong threw fifty Spirit Stones onto the ground.


    When all fifty Spirit Stones had vanished, Wang Hong carefully sensed his Space. This time, he finally made a discovery, and a smile appeared on his face involuntarily.


    As an innate expert, Wang Hong''s senses were extraordinarily sharp. The Space had expanded slightly.


    Wang Hong pondered; absorbing over seventy Spirit Stones only resulted in this small expansion. Considering that many Qi Cultivation stage self-taught cultivators couldn''t earn this many Spirit Stones in a year, expanding the Space seemed to be an arduous task. Slow and steady, he thought.


    In the Space, Wang Hong thoroughly studied the firstyer of "Wood Art: Ethereal Decision" before emerging.


    Facing east, he sat cross-legged, assuming a meditative posture, and slowly operated the technique. Simultaneously, he sensed and absorbed the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth.


    As the technique circted, his originally robust Inner Strength at the Innate Stage gradually transformed into strands of green Spiritual Energy.


    After circting the technique through the seven heavenly realms, all Inner Strength in Wang Hong''s body turned into nothingness. In the end, only a small cluster of green gas remained in his dantian, swirling slowly like a vortex.


    Although it was just a small cluster, it was more condensed and pure, hundreds of times more than the previous Inner Strength.


    After theplete transformation of Inner Strength, Wang Hong continued to sense and absorb the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth. With a small cluster of Spiritual Energy in his dantian as a foundation, absorbing Spiritual Energy became much easier.


    He could feel strands of heaven and earth Spiritual Qi entering his body with each breath, slowly dissipating, leaving only a small amount behind, transforming into Spiritual Energy. This should be due to his inferior Spiritual Roots aptitude.


    Undeterred, Wang Hong continued to operate the technique, circting the meager Spiritual Energy throughout his body. With each rotation, it grew stronger.


    After a whole day of cultivation, Wang Hong''s dantian gained another small strand of Spiritual Energy, blending into the swirling vortex.


    Feeling the results of a day''s cultivation, Wang Hong couldn''t help but feel a surge of pride. From now on, he could be considered an Immortal Cultivator. Cultivating Immortal Techniques and soaring through the skies seemed just a matter of time.


    In the following days, Wang Hong diligently practiced in his tent, realizing that the Dragon Tiger Pills he had consumed previously still had a certain effect on his current cultivation.


    Therefore, Wang Hong took several Dragon Tiger Pills daily, followed by a meal of Spirit Rice, making progress in his cultivation not too slow.


    On this day, Wang Hong collected over a dozen nts each of hundred-year Ginseng, Purple Mushroom, and White Jade Mushroom from his Space. He individually packaged them and went to Azure Void City.


    He casually visited more than ten Spiritual Medicine shops in the city, selling one package at each store. A little over a hundred Spirit Stones were earned, which, for theserge medicinal shops, wasn''t considered much, so they wouldn''t attract too much attention.


    The hundred-year Ginseng and Lingzhi could only be sold for thirty to forty Spirit Stones each. However, the hundred-year White Jade Mushroom, an excellent healing medicine even in the cultivation world, could fetch eighty to ny Spirit Stones.


    After selling everything, Wang Hong umted over two thousand Spirit Stones. Unfortunately, he couldn''t sell them in a short period, as it might draw unwanted attention.


    Wang Hong then went to various stalls in the square and bought some random Spiritual Medicine. Back in his camp, he mixed them with the Medicinal Herbs from his Space.


    Gathering the five squad leaders, Wang Hong asked, "Zhao Ning, Xu Lun, Zhang Chunfeng, Luo Zhongjie, Wen Lan, how well do you know that market? Are you familiar with various Medicinal Herbs?"


    "In this period, we''ve been mingling in that market every day, plus studying the ''Catalog of Spirit Medicines'' passed down by the General. We are familiar with identifyingmon Spirit Herbs and their prices."


    Wang Hong tested them with a few random Spiritual Medicines and found that they were well-acquainted with recognizing Spiritual Medicine. Although there were still some shorings, those could be addressedter.


    Subsequently, Wang Hong handed them arge bag of Spiritual Medicine and a hundred Spirit Stones. From tomorrow onwards, they would take turns setting up stalls in that market, selling and buying simultaneously. The hundred Spirit Stones would serve as the starting capital, managed collectively by the five.


    His main goal was to sell off the Medicinal Herbs in the Space and convert them into Spirit Stones. Since the Space could expand by absorbing Spirit Stones, he wanted to earn as many Spirit Stones as possible to increase its size.


    The current space was too small; it couldn''t amodate much. Spiritual Herbs in the cultivation world often took decades, even centuries, to grow, and the current space was inadequate.


    Moreover, as a farmer, why would he everin about having too muchnd? Of course, the more, the better.


    After reading the ''Catalog of Spirit Medicines,'' he gained some understanding of Spiritual Medicine. Some were ordinary nts from the mortal realm, but due to growing in ces rich in Spirit Qi, they transformed into Spiritual Medicine.


    The Medicinal Herbs in his Space, such as Ginseng, Purple Mushroom, Astragalus, followed this pattern. Some were unique to the cultivation world and were not present in his Space yet.


    Spiritual Medicine was also divided into several grades, with the grade depending on the type and the number of years it had grown.


    Certain types of Spiritual Medicine could reach the second grade after just a few decades, while others might take a hundred years to reach the first grade.


    As long as the years were enough, even the mostmon Spiritual Medicine could be a high-grade one. For example, a weed growing for ten thousand years in a ce rich in Spirit Qi could be an immortal herb. Of course, the ten-thousand-year Spiritual Medicine was just a legend, and no one in the cultivation world had ever had the chance to witness it. Even a thousand-year Spiritual Medicine was enough to make a Nascent Soul cultivator go crazy.


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 Chapter 27: Enemy Attack

    Chapter 27: Enemy Attack


    Wang Hong tossed the remaining Spirit Stones, a thousand pieces, directly into the Space. The area of the Space increased by one-tenth, indicating that it would take ten thousand Spirit Stones to expand it further.


    In the following days, Wang Hong devoted himself to cultivation, and the five squads managed to earn him a considerable amount of Spirit Stones daily.


    Initially, setting up stalls didn''t yield much profit. After deducting costs, each booth had to pay a daily fee of two Spirit Stones to the management office.


    However, due to Wang Hong''s abundant resources and numerous stalls, dealing with Space Spiritual Medicine incurred no additional costs.


    Of course, Wang Hong was fair to his subordinates. Each person received two Spirit Stones monthly, along with five Dragon Tiger Pills. The squad leader received double the amount.


    This treatment was several times better than what Mortals received in Qingxu Immortal City. Moreover, the inclusion of Dragon Tiger Pills, elixirs that increased strength, made it even more exceptional.


    At dusk, Xu Lun and Zhang Chunfeng, apanied by sixteen others, returned from Azure Void City. Despite the city''s outskirts being inhabited, they frequently encountered other travelers on the road.


    "Zhang, have you already broken through to the Innate Realm Martial Artist?" Xu Lun asked.


    "Yeah, I just broke through a few days ago, thanks to the power of the Elixir rewarded by the general. You should be close too, right?" Zhang Chunfeng answered with a hint of pride.


    "I''m close. A couple more Elixirs, and I should break through. I wonder if we have Spiritual Roots. I n to umte some Spirit Stones and test our Spiritual Roots. I''ve heard several ces can do it for a bit of Spirit Stones," Xu Lun said, his eyes gleaming.


    "Whether we have Spiritual Roots or not, let''s focus on perfecting our Martial Arts for now."


    "True, people with Spiritual Roots are rare. It''s better not to get our hopes up too much."


    As the two chatted, they were unaware that a chubby and a thin Immortal Cultivator were following them from a distance. These two were notorious troublemakers from Azure Void City.


    Their cultivation levels were not high, only at the third or fourthyer of Qi Cultivation. They roamed various ces in Azure Void City, making a living through asional piging outside the city.


    Since there were many cultivators stronger than them, they never provoked those with backgrounds.


    They targeted those with lower cultivation levels or Mortals. As a result, they lived quitefortably till now.


    "These Mortals are definitely big fat sheep. I''ve been observing them for days, and their daily earnings are over a hundred Spirit Stones," the thin one said excitedly.


    "Humph! Just a few Mortals, yet they have so many Spirit Stones. After this job, our brothers will live happily for a long time. Be efficient, don''t waste time," the chubby one, aware of the other''s tendency to enjoy torturing people slowly, cautioned.


    The thin one licked his lips, "Chubby, I''ve investigated these Mortals thoroughly. They arrived in Azure Void City just three months ago and have no backing here. Even if someone finds out, no one will stand up for them."


    "Anyway, try to be quick and keep it low-key."


    In their camp, Xu Lun and Zhang Chunfeng were reporting ounts to Wang Hong, submitting Spirit Stones and Spiritual Medicine.


    Suddenly, Wang Hong''s expression changed. His palm emitted a bright light, and he pped Xu Lun and Zhang Chunfeng without resistance from them.


    With a thud, the two were thrown out of the tent. They quickly got up, seemingly unharmed.


    They heard the sound of metal shing from where they had been standing. Turning around, they saw Wang Hong wielding his heavy 500-pound steel Long Spear, facing off against a chubby and a thin Immortal Cultivator. The two cultivators brandished ck short swords at Wang Hong.


    Xu Lun and Zhang Chunfeng shouted, "Enemy attack!"


    The thin cultivator spoke, "A mere Qi Cultivation firstyer wants to resist? I advise you to obediently hand over your belongings, kowtow a few times to this lord, and maybe I''ll spare your lives."


    Qi Cultivation firstyer cultivators had weak Spiritual Energy and almost nobat experience. Killing them was as dull as squashing ants for someone like him. Hence, he enjoyed slowly tormenting opponents, adding some excitement to his monotonous cultivation life.


    However, Wang Hong responded with a thrust to the chest, infusing his Spiritual Energy into the Long Spear, causing the spearhead to emit a faint blue light. The thin cultivator hurriedly used his sword to block.


    With a loud ng, the thin cultivator felt a surge of tremendous force from the spear, making his fingers slightly numb. Perplexed, he wondered if this guy had innate divine strength. Despite his meager skills, this Mortal dared to retaliate. He felt challenged in his dignity and swung his sword at Wang Hong.


    Typical Immortal Cultivators focused on Nascent Soul, and the physical strength of a Qi Cultivation stage cultivator was not much stronger than that of a Mortal.


    The two shed quickly, and by now, the soldiers had all arrived, surrounding the chubby cultivator in a battle formation.


    Military battlescked fancy techniques; it was a straightforward thrust of the spear. Over a dozen Long Spears simultaneously emitted a white glow, stabbing at the chubby cultivator from all directions without any blind spots.


    The chubby cultivator pped a Small Cloth Bag on his waist, and a yellow paper flew out, emitting waves of light. He formed a hand seal, and the yellow paper swiftly fell onto him, forming ayer of golden Light Screen.


    "Just a few mortals made me waste a Gold Light Talisman. Killing you all isn''t even worth it," the chubby cultivator grumbled. A Gold Light Talisman was worth more than a dozen Spirit Stones, and he had to use it against mere Mortals.


    In the past, when they plundered Mortals, they usually handed over their belongings obediently, kowtowing like smashing garlic. Yet, these damned Mortals dared to resist.


    A dozen Long Spears stabbed into the Light Screen, leaving deep holes as they retracted quickly, bouncing back to their original state. However, the Light Screen became significantly dimmer.


    As the first wave of attacks ended, a second wave of over a dozen Long Spears stabbed, piercing the Light Screen even more. As soon as the second wave ended, a third wave would follow. Divided into three squads, the attacks continued incessantly like a tidal wave. This tactic had trapped and killed numerous formidable experts on the battlefield.


    The chubby cultivator swung his sword to fend off the oing Long Spears. Although his sword was a low-quality magical weapon, it was effective against ordinary iron.


    Despite the infusion of Inner Strength into the Long Spear, the strength of an Acquired Martial Artist was far inferior to the Spiritual Energy of a Qi Cultivation stage four cultivator. Several Long Spears were instantly sheared off.


    On the other side, the thin cultivator was no match for Wang Hong in closebat. He had spent years drenched in blood on the battlefield, not something a novice in cultivation couldpare to. The thin cultivator attempted to retrieve Talismans from his storage pouch several times, but Wang Hong''s ferocious attacks disrupted his attempts.


    The thin cultivator felt extremely frustrated. A Qi Cultivation stage three cultivator was being pressed by a Qi Cultivation stage one cultivator using mundane Martial Arts. If this were to spread, he would be aughingstock.


    He had many techniques, but he hadn''t found an opportunity to use them. Whether it was spells or Talismans, they required a bit of time. However, the person before him didn''t give him any chance to catch his breath.


    Wang Hong kept pressing, forcing the thin cultivator to retreat continuously. Suddenly, he thrust a dozen spears toward his face, creating chaos. In the midst of the thin cultivator''s confusion, one spear pierced his chest, and another swept horizontally, cutting him into two pieces.


    The chubby cultivator, initially unconcerned about the siege, still had unused fireball Talismans. However, the enemies were too close, and triggering the Talisman at close range would also harm himself. Moreover, a single fireball Talisman could only kill a few people. It wasn''t worth wasting on these ants, and his Spirit Stones weren''t falling from the sky; he had earned them through hard plunder.


    He believed that soon hispanion would kill the young man, and together they could exterminate these ants.


    However, at that moment, he heard the thin cultivator''s miserable scream. Turning around, he saw the thin cultivator already cut in half. The upper part of his body struggled towards the lower part. The young man swiftly caught up, swung his Long Spear, and severed the thin cultivator''s head.


    The chubby cultivator felt panic. Once again, he reached for his storage pouch. The crowd knew this person would likely use some strange tricks of Immortal Cultivators.


    "Form the formation!" amanding shout. The first wave of soldiers crouched, over a dozen Long Spears attacked the waist and abdomen. The second wave of over a dozen Long Spears advanced, attacking the chest and back. The third wave of over a dozen people leaped into the air, Long Spears pointing towards the head and face.


    The original formation now turned into simultaneous attacks from multiple directions. Forty-five Long Spears simultaneously pierced crucial areas of the chubby cultivator.


    With a soft pop, the golden Light Screen was finally pierced. However, at the same time, another yellow Talisman flew out, stopping above everyone, emitting red light and releasing a scorching heat.


    Just before it was about to erupt, a lightning bolt shot out, pinned the Talisman, carried it a few yards away, and then with a loud boom, it turned into a one-foot-wide fireball, burning fiercely.


    Wang Hong, recognizing the urgency, had thrown his Long Spear, deflecting the Talisman a couple of yards away.


    At the moment the chubby cultivator activated the Talisman, dozens of Long Spears pierced through his body. Staring at the deflected fireball, he died unwillingly.


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 Chapter 28: Entering the City

    Chapter 28: Entering the City


    Although the battle was short, it was extremely dangerous. A slight mistake could have resulted in heavy casualties.


    Wang Hong''s finely crafted Long Spear, made of high-quality steel, was now reduced to a small puddle of molten iron. Dumping the contents of the two men''s storage bags, they found several fireball talismans, including a Gold Light Talisman that the thin Taoist hadn''t had a chance to use. Additionally, they discovered a book titled "Profound Earth Technique," another one called "Metal of the Geng Decision," and a third one named "Basic Five Elements Spells." In total, there were just over twenty Spirit Stones.


    "Real penny pinchers!" Wang Hong sighed. Unaware that these two were considered rtively wealthy among low-level cultivators, he didn''t know how many people they had plundered to amass such wealth, which was now falling into his hands at a bargain.


    The two storage bags and two Low-Quality Magical Weaponsbined were worth over two hundred Spirit Stones. Many low-level cultivators didn''t even have Magical Weapons, let alone storage bags.


    Reflecting on the event, Wang Hong felt that it was too dangerous outside the city without sufficient strength. This victory was precarious, and if they encountered stronger opponents next time, they would have no chance of winning. Moreover, they didn''t know if the two men had any aplices.


    The next morning, Wang Hong led a group of about a dozen people, including Wen Lan and Luo Zhongjie, into the city. He instructed them to disperse and find houses. Wang Hong wandered alone around the city.


    His Long Spear was destroyed the previous day. If he hadn''t continuously infused Spiritual Energy during the battle, the thin Taoist would have easily severed it with a sword. Today, he thought about finding ways to prepare some self-defense measures.


    Talismans and Magical Weapons are also briefly introduced in the "Cultivation Basics Encyclopedia." Talismans are easy to use, requiring just a bit of Spiritual Energy to unleash a corresponding spell.


    Since Talismans are disposable, the cost of using them in battle is too high. Many cultivators only use one or two Talismans in critical moments.


    As for Magical Weapons, the most familiar is the Flying Sword, but there are many types. They can generally be divided into three categories: offensive, defensive, and auxiliary Magical Weapons.


    Offensive Magical Weapons are the mostmon and rtively inexpensive. Defensive Magical Weapons are rarer and cost at least two to three times that of a Magical Weapon of simr quality. The function of auxiliary Magical Weapons depends on their specific purpose.


    Wang Hong entered a Refinery Workshop with over a dozen shelves disying various Magical Weapons.


    A young man in his twenties with a smiling face approached Wang Hong. "Esteemed friend, what kind of Magical Weapon do you need? Our shop has three senior refiners. We not only have ready-made Magical Weapons for sale but can also custom-make various Magical Weapons."


    "I want a spear-shaped Magical Weapon. Do you have one?" Wang Hong asked truthfully.


    "You''vee at the right time. We just happen to have a Low-Quality Magical Weapon in the shape of a Long Spear." The young man picked up a wooden box from the shelf behind and ced it in front of Wang Hong, opening the lid.


    "This spear is one zhang and three chi long, weighing six hundred and eighty jin. The shaft is made of century-old Red Spirit Mulberry Wood, and the spearhead is primarily crafted from Profound Iron, with over ten rare materials added during refining."


    Wang Hong gently touched the spear''s shaft. It felt warm in his hands. Trying to infuse Spiritual Energy into it, the Spiritual Energy flowed smoothly. The over six hundred jin Long Spear felt weightless after Spiritual Energy infusion.


    The young man then enthusiastically introduced the spear, emphasizing that it was the painstaking work of their senior refiner, Gao Yue.


    After a round of praises, the essence was that this spear was unique, unparalleled in the world. Selling for only one hundred and twenty Spirit Stones, Wang Hong would regret it for a lifetime if he didn''t buy it. In the end, they settled on a hundred Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong also inquired about Long Spears for Mortal warriors, requiring ones that could withstand blows from Magical Weapons.


    The young man pondered for a moment and said, "This can be custom-made. Each spear will cost ten Spirit Stones and can withstand more than ten strikes from Low-Quality Magical Weapons."


    "I want fifty, stating the actual price," Wang Hong said casually.


    "Friend, this is already at cost price. You know, materials for crafting Magical Weapons are needed to withstand blows from Magical Weapons," the young man said with a troubled expression.


    Wang Hong pretended to leave, but the young man quickly grabbed his sleeve.


    "Brother,e on! Nine Spirit Stones each, okay?"


    Actually, Wang Hong felt that ten Spirit Stones per spear was quite cheap, and he was just nning to haggle a bit.


    In reality, he didn''t know that refining would produce some waste materials that couldn''t be used in crafting and had little value when reprocessed. However, these wastes were excellent materials for crafting Mortal weapons, which didn''t require the conduction of Spiritual Energy.


    In the end, they settled on four hundred Spirit Stones for fifty Long Spears.


    As Wang Hong was leaving, the young man joyfully escorted him to the door.


    "I''m Gao Yue. Feel free toe find me if you have any needs in the future."


    In the afternoon, Wang Hong and the dozen or so people who were finding houses gathered. They found a total of five housing options, and Wang Hong inspected each one before settling on a secluded ce.


    This location was quite remote, with few pedestrians on the street. There was a small storefront facing the street, and walking through it led to arge courtyard. Surrounding it were three rows of two-story buildings.


    The rent for this ce, including the storefront, was one thousand Spirit Stones per year. The storefront wasn''t of much use, given the sparse foot traffic on this street. Whether it could earn back the rent was uncertain.


    What Wang Hong valued was the spacious courtyard, convenient for the team''s training. Although he was currently engaged in business, the team''s training had not decreased. The rooms were also sufficient to amodate theirrge group.


    Wang Hong paid a year''s rent, chose a room for himself, and left the rest to the several squad leaders.


    With a formal settlement, everyone''s hearts also settled.


    Over the next few days, Wang Hong explored various shops, asionally buying a few Spirit Herbs. He wanted to understand the market since he now had an inconspicuous storefront. Although its location wasn''t ideal, he decided to open the shop, as manpower was not a concern for him.


    Additionally, his Space had expanded to one and a half plots ofnd, with the extra half still vacant. He hadn''t figured out what specific Spiritual Medicine to cultivate.


    Wang Hong entered a grocery store where an old man in green was dozing behind the counter. Upon seeing Wang Hong, he nced briefly and continued to doze.


    There were no other customers in the store. Wang Hong leisurely observed each counter. Although the store was notrge, it had a wide variety of goods, including Talismans, Elixirs, Spirit Herbs, Ores, and Magical Weapons, each with about ten to twenty items.


    The two types of Talismans Wang Hong had seizedst time were also sold here: the Fireball Talisman for eight Spirit Stones and the Gold Light Talisman for thirteen Spirit Stones.


    There were about twenty to thirty Magical Weapons, some showing signs of wear, clearly secondhand goods.


    As for Elixirs, there was only one bottle of Condensing Qi Pill, priced at ten Spirit Stones per pill, with a small sign in front stating that it was out of stock.


    There weren''t many Spiritual Medicines, and their quality was average, stored in wooden boxes inscribed with a preservation formation.


    It seemed that Spirit Herbs and Elixirs were quite scarce. Wang Hong had visited many shops, and the well-established ones had their own Spiritual Medicine gardens and Alchemists, ensuring a stable supply of Spirit Herbs and Elixirs for Qi Cultivation.


    As for small shops like this one,cking a stable source, they relied on buying low and selling high to earn a meager profit. Elixirs like the Condensing Qi Pill, which enhanced Qi Cultivation, were generally kept for personal use by cultivators when obtained.


    With Azure Void City having tens of thousands of Qi Cultivation-stage cultivators, the annual consumption of Elixirs could be imagined. The main ingredient for refining Condensing Qi Pills needed to have a medicinal age of twenty to thirty years, and the auxiliary ingredients required a medicinal age of at least ten years.


    Wang Hong didn''t disturb the old man''s retirement and quietly exited the grocery store. With Azure Void City being sorge, there were many other shops waiting for him to patronize.


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 Chapter 29: Spiritual Roots Testing

    Chapter 29: Spiritual Roots Testing


    Wang Hong wandered the streets all day and returned to the rentedpound, gathering everyone together. He took out a round disc, a Magical Weapon, from his storage bag. He announced, "This item is called the Spiritual Testing Disk, capable of testing Spiritual Roots and their attributes. I guess you''ve all been thinking about testing your own Spiritual Roots for a while now. Well, everyone, line up, one by one."


    The people below cheered in unison. In the past three months, they had witnessed various wonders in the cultivation world, sparking a longing for Immortal Cultivation.


    Testing one''s Spiritual Roots required ten Spirit Stones, a considerable amount for ordinary mortals. If they had enough Spirit Stones, they would have tested themselves already.


    Today, General Wang actually bought a Spiritual Testing Disk just for them. They couldn''t help but feel fortunate and lined up excitedly.


    Everyone hoped to possess excellent Spiritual Roots, cultivating a path to greatness, capable of incredible feats.


    However, ideals are full, and reality is stark. When Wen Lan, the first to test, used the Spiritual Testing Disk, it showed no reactionno Spiritual Roots. Wen Lan deted like a balloon and stepped aside.


    The second person, Xu Lun, and the third, Luo Zhongjie, also showed no response on the Spiritual Testing Disk. Just as people started suspecting the disk was faulty, the fourth person, Zhang Chunfeng, ced his hand on it, and the disk emitted red, yellow, and white lights.


    Wang Hong''s eyelids twitched. There was another person with three Spiritual Roots. Back at Qing Yang Academy, aside from Wang Yitian''s three Spiritual Roots, only one other person had them. Though not outstanding, it was considered intermediate aptitude.


    The testing continued for over twenty people, all without Spiritual Roots until the twenty-seventh person, who had a rare four Spiritual Roots aptitude. After that, there were none.


    Out of forty-five people, two had Spiritual Roots. It was considered quite lucky.


    Wang Hong looked at the disappointed faces below and said, "Feeling disappointed? Beforeing to Azure Void City, weren''t you all living quitefortably? Eating, sleeping, and enjoying life as mortals. What''s wrong with being a mortal? There are millions of mortals in the world, leading splendid and brilliant civilizations. Just a few days ago, a Qi Cultivator of the fourth level was pierced like a hedgehog by your Long Spear. Immortal Cultivators are not invincible."


    "In fact, warriors and Immortal Cultivators follow two different cultivation paths. Immortal Cultivators absorb Spirit Qi through Spiritual Roots to nourish their Nascent Soul, focusing on the soul. Warriors, on the other hand, cultivate their bodies, opening meridians and acupoints, mainly absorbing the essence of the world from food, focusing on physical cultivation."


    "The strength of an Innate Stage warrior is not much different from an early Qi Cultivator, except for Magical Weapons and Talismans. In closebat, warriors might even have an advantage. If we can develop means to use or resist Magical Weapon symbols, we can definitelypete one-on-one."


    "Does reaching the Innate Stage mean the peak for warriors? I don''t think so. It''s just that our predecessors didn''t go further."


    "Just because they haven''t walked the path doesn''t mean we should stop. If there''s no path, we create one. If there are no techniques, we invent our own."


    "I will gather various manuals from the cultivation and warrior realms, establish a library, and create a contribution point system. Anyone who contributes will earn points, and in the future, everyone can borrow based on their contributions."


    "Anyone who can propose a reliable suggestion for the next step in warrior cultivation will be rewarded with a hundred contribution points and a hundred Spirit Stones. If you can create the next cultivation technique, you''ll get ten thousand contribution points and ten thousand Spirit Stones."


    The previously disheartened group now clenched their fists, eyes bloodshot, filled with enthusiasm. They were seasoned soldiers, ustomed to adversity. Their earlier disappointment was just due to their lofty expectations.


    Moreover, the General had pointed out a way forward, apanied by enticing reward schemes. They couldn''t help but wish they could create the next technique for warrior cultivation.


    Wang Hong dismissed the excited crowd, leaving behind the two individuals with Spiritual RootsZhang Chunfeng, a tall and dark-skinned man, and another, a slender figure known as "Skinny Monkey" but named Yang Youwen. They both had unique connections with Wang Hong, one saved from near-death and the other rescued from starvation on the roadside during a march.


    After this kid woke up, he saw that there was food and drink in the army, so he stubbornly refused to leave. Wang Hong noticed that he was nimble, clever, and young, so out ofpassion, he decided to let him stay.


    Reaching into his storage bag, Wang Hong produced two books, the recently confiscated "Profound Earth Technique" and "Metal of the Geng Decision."


    "You two can take a look at these two cultivation techniques. If you don''t like them, you can choose and purchase others. Come back to me for Spirit Stone reimbursement."


    After some thought, he also threw them the "Cultivation Basics Encyclopedia." "Read this book first and then decide which cultivation technique you want to pursue."


    The two expressed their gratitude to Wang Hong and left.


    Returning to his room, Wang Hong entered the Space after closing the door.


    In the Space, the various herbs that were densely grown had be sparse due to continuous harvesting for Spirit Stones over time.


    Wang Hong took out the gathered Spiritual Herb seeds and over ten varieties of Medicinal Herb seeds for Condensing Qi Pills, filling the remaining space.


    The Spiritual Herb only took a year to mature, had a high demand, and quickly recouped costs when sold. Wang Hong urgently needed arge amount of Spirit Stones to expand the Space; it was still too small.


    After nting, Wang Hong was satisfied. He then carefully observed the Ginseng area. A few months ago, he noticed that some Ginseng nts had undergone a mutation, with red veins appearing on the nt, resembling blood vessels. Over the months, the red veins had increased.


    Comparing it to the "Catalog of Spirit Medicines," it seemed to resemble Scarlet Blood Ginseng, though with fewer red veins. Wang Hong spected that the mutation was notplete and needed more time.


    Scarlet Blood Ginseng was an extremely rare Spiritual Medicine. Despite spending months in the marketce, they had nevere across it.


    It was said that Scarlet Blood Ginseng was very picky about its growth environment, challenging to cultivate in an ordinary medicinal garden and hard to find in the wild. As for its specific effects and uses, Wang Hong, with his current cultivation level, didn''t know.


    After inspecting everything, he floated over to a pile of wine jars. These were Lingzhi wine and Ginseng wine he had brewed before, now aged for a hundred years.


    Opening one slightly, the rich aroma of the wine wafted out, exceptionally mellow and filled with abundant Spirit Qi.


    Wang Hong fetched ten small bottles, each holding half a catty of wine, intending to sell them outside. He also filled ten bottles with the wine made from Raspberries.


    Wang Hong spected that this could also be considered Spirit Wine. After trying it himself, one sip could replenish his first-level Qi Cultivation Spiritual Energy.


    He nned to sell them for ten Spirit Stones each to see if they would sell; he wasn''t sure. After finishing these tasks, he also gathered some Spiritual Medicine to take out of the Space.


    The next day, Wang Hong tidied up the small shop, found a piece of Spirit Wood, and engraved "Pioneering Spirit Medicine Pavilion" on it. It represented exploration and creation.


    He ced some flowers at the entrance and bought a few Thunder Resonance Talismans. These were low-grade and inexpensive Talismans that produced crackling sounds when activated. They had no killing power and were usually used for celebrations, adding a festive atmosphere.


    After a round of crackling sounds from the Thunder Resonance Talismans, the small shop officially opened. The neighbors came to congratte, bringing gifts of around ten Spirit Stones each and symbolically buying one or two Spirit Herbs. Wang Hong reciprocated with a bottle of Spirit Wine for each person, and everyone was happy.


    As expected, the shop was nearly empty on the first day, but Wang Hong didn''t mind. He assigned someone to manage it, while two teams were still sent out daily to set up stalls for purchasing and selling.


    Wang Hong locked himself in his room to cultivate diligently. In his spare time, he delved into the books in the Space. As a novice in the cultivation world, there was too much he didn''t understand and too much to learn.


    Meanwhile, he assigned Zhang Chunfeng to implement the contribution point reward system. Each person would receive points based on their years in the Royal Guards and their merits from the journey through the Qingxu Mountain range to Azure Void City. All these would be converted into contribution points, ranging from thirty to a hundred per person. They would also receive two points monthly thereafter.


    As for merits from previous battlefields, they had already been rewarded, so there was no need to repeat it. Wang Hong didn''t have the habit of withholding rewards.


    He also bought more than ten books, acknowledging his limited financial resources; he could only buy these for now, nning to expand when he had more Spirit Stones in the future.


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 Chapter 30: Two Years

    Chapter 30: Two Years


    Time quietly passed in cultivation and learning. Two monthster, under thebined effects of Elixir and Spirit Grain, Wang Hong sessfully advanced to the second level of Qi Cultivation.


    During these two months, what surprised Wang Hong the most was the reputation gained by his Spirit Wine. Initially, the neighbors in the vicinity tried the Spirit Wine he distributed and found it decent.


    However, when they discovered it was priced at just ten Spirit Stones, the response changed from decent to incredible. The news quickly spread, leading to long queues of people eager to purchase.


    The primary benefit of Spirit Wine was its rapid replenishment of spiritual energy, especially crucial in battles where spiritual energy was quickly depleted. Possessing an item that could swiftly replenish spiritual energy was like having an extra life. Just one bottle could fill the spiritual power of a mid-level Qi Cultivation cultivator.


    Simr Spirit Wines with the same effect were sold for twenty Spirit Stones per bottle. Sensing the situation, Wang Hong raised the price to twenty Spirit Stones per bottle. He also secretly went to the Mortal Market and bought tens of thousands of pounds of Strong Liquor, steeping it with Ginseng and Lingzhi.


    Wang Hong couldn''t exin why the Medicinal wine he brewed had such excellent effects. Perhaps it was the special Spatial Environment with rich Spirit Qi, or maybe the extended storage time yed a role, or perhaps both.


    Even with the price increase, the enthusiasm of buyers did not diminish. In the end, he had to implement a purchase limit  each person could only buy one bottle per day. He also announced that the stock of this Spirit Wine was limited, and prices would increase after a year. This further intensified the rush, leading to increased sales of other items in the store.


    After handling these matters, Wang Hong immersed himself in cultivation and learning.


    Two yearster...


    Wang Hong squatted in front of Thin Tall Person''s book stall, flipping through the stack of books. To his disappointment, he couldn''t find any books that piqued his interest. Over the past two years, he had bought and read all the cultivation-rted books from this stall.


    Picking up a random book on cultivation gossip news, he casually flipped through it and said, "Hey, Ma Gan, why do you keep selling the same few books all the time? Get something new."


    Thin Tall Person slyly smiled and said, "There is indeed one, a family heirloom from my n, a treasure collected by my old man."


    With a mysterious air, he pulled out a book from under the stall and handed it to Wang Hong. The book had an ancient design, slightly yellowed, with worn edges. As Wang Hong opened the cover, clearrge characters came into view: "Newly Compiled Erotic Art." Wang Hong flipped through a few pages, instantly blushing. ncing around and seeing no one paying attention, he quickly returned the book, earning a mockingugh from Thin Tall Person.


    Having spent a long time with Thin Tall Person, Wang Hong knew this guy by the nickname Ma Gan, but he had never heard his real name. He was a disciple of a small cultivation n and had reached the sixth level of Qi Cultivation.


    With limited resources in the small n, each person received only one Condensing Qi Pill per month, along with two Spirit Stones. Despite this modest treatment, many independent cultivators envied him.


    "You''ve been wanting to learn alchemy, right? Tonight, at the Wan Family Dao Transmission Hall, a Foundation Building senior will personally exin the art of alchemy. It only costs ten Spirit Stones. Are you going?" Ma Gan asked after hiding the erotic book.


    Qingxu Immortal City had countlessrge and small cultivation ns, and most major families had their own Dao Transmission Halls dedicated to teaching their disciples. At some point, they began allowing independent cultivators to eavesdrop, charging Spirit Stones. Gradually, it evolved into a lucrative business. With numerous independent cultivators in the city,cking guidance, they relied on self-exploration, making their journey extremely challenging. Whenever there was a chance to listen to the teachings of seniors, they were more than willing to spend Spirit Stones.


    "Of course, I''m going. Are youing too? Let''s go together," Wang Hong invited. In the past year, whenever it came to alchemy, talisman crafting, and spell cultivation, Wang Hong never missed a single opportunity.


    "I, of course... won''t go! Our n already has an alchemist. Without n support, I can''t afford it. Unlike you, a little rich kid who can spend money like water."


    Wang Hong immediately put on a distressed expression and said, "You know, for every Spirit Herb I sell, after deducting the cost, I can only make a profit of two Spirit Stones. Look at my barely surviving little shop  how many Spiritual Medicines can I sell in a day? You, on the other hand, get at least one Condensing Qi Pill every month. I haven''t even seen what a Condensing Qi Pill looks like until now."


    Whileining about poverty, Wang Hong secretly rejoiced in his heart, thinking, "I''m a wealthy Qi Cultivation expert, but I won''t let them know. I just love keeping a low profile." He genuinely feared revealing his wealth; although the city was safe, he wasn''t nning to stay inside forever.


    In these two years, Spirit Wine had a booming market, bringing Wang Hong a direct ie of forty to fifty thousand Spirit Stones. Unfortunately, the original batch of Spirit Wine had already sold out, and the newly made Spirit Wine might still need a few more years to mature before being sold.


    Selling Spiritual Medicine also earned him tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. The mutated Scarlet Blood Ginseng hadpleted its transformation, and Wang Hong nted it separately. The other non-mutated Ginseng, he kept only a few with high age, pulling out the rest to sell. Wang Hong spected that Purple Mushroom, White Jade Mushroom, and other Spiritual Medicines might also mutate in the future.


    In total, over these two years, he had earned more than a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, making him undoubtedly wealthy among Qi Cultivation cultivators. Wang Hong remained low-key, quietly amassing wealth.


    While umting Spirit Stones, his cultivation had notgged behind. He had reached the peak of the third level of Qi Cultivation and had also practiced some basic spells, such as irvoyance Technique, Wind Control Technique, Object Maniption Technique, and others.


    Most of the Spirit Stones Wang Hong earned were consumed by the Space. Now, thend area of the Space had expanded to eight-tenths of an acre.


    Wang Hong allocated four-tenths of the space to grow Spirit Herbs needed for Condensing Qi Pills. He sold a portion and kept materials for two hundred furnaces, nning to learn Alchemy, which naturally required arge quantity of materials for practice.


    Apart from the Space, cultivating forty-five soldiers under him also cost him a considerable amount of Spirit Stones. Since their aptitude was poor, some even had no aptitude at all, the resources needed naturally multiplied.


    Since he announced the reward system, many suggestions had been put forward.


    Currently, the most mature n was to use cultivation techniques to convert Inner Strength into Spiritual Energy.


    Several individuals had been practicing this method. They cultivated Inner Strength ording to their martial arts techniques, then transformed it into Spiritual Energy using cultivation methods. However, the efficiency was extremely slow. Those soldiers who practiced in this way were still only at the first level of Qi Cultivation.


    As the saying goes, one paves the road as one goes. Perhaps in the future, a better method could be found.


    Maybe recruiting a new batch of independent cultivators with Spiritual Roots would be easier to train. However, their loyalty couldn''tpare. These soldiers wererades in life and death on the battlefield. It would take a long time for new recruits to fully integrate.


    Moreover, since they trusted him and entrusted their lives to him on the battlefield, Wang Hong couldn''t easily betray their trust.


    Even if they couldn''t cultivate, even if there was no way forward, Wang Hong would ensure they had a carefree life in theirter years.


    Wan Family was located not far from the market street. The n possessed several Foundation Building cultivators, three Alchemists, and an Elixir Shop, making them a rtively influential force in Azure Void City.


    Wang Hong handed ten Spirit Stones to the guarding cultivator and stepped into the Dao Transmission Hall. He had visited here several times before.


    Around the hall, thirty or so people were already seated, and Wang Hong casually found a cushion to sit on.


    In the center, there were more than ten empty seats that no one dared to upy  reserved specifically for Wan Family disciples.


    After a while, a group of young people entered, all dressed neatly. Leading the group was a man in white robes, tall and handsome, but he had a habit of looking at the sky with his nostrils. This person was Wan Family''s legitimate son, Wan Da.


    Subsequently, several independent cultivators arrived, and then a bell rang, instantly quieting the somewhat noisy hall.


    A refined middle-aged man walked out from the back, and everyone bowed in unison.


    The elegant man nodded slightly in return, then swept his robe and sat down in the main seat.


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 Chapter 31: Alchemy

    Chapter 31: Alchemy


    "Condensing Qi Pill is amonly used elixir for Qi Cultivation cultivators, often in high demand. This time, I will teach you the refining process of the Condensing Qi Pill," the refined man stated, skipping any self-introduction. A group of loose cultivators in the Qi Cultivation stage couldn''t possibly catch the attention of a Foundation Building stage Alchemist like him.


    "The main ingredient for crafting the Condensing Qi Pill is the Gathered Spirit Herb, with a medicinal age of over twenty years. There are twelve auxiliary herbs, each requiring a medicinal age of over ten years, including the Green Leaf Vine, Three-Leaf Flower..."


    As the refined man spoke, he arranged various Spiritual Medicines on the table. Then, he took out a bronze cauldron and a piece of Spirit Charcoal.


    Igniting the Spirit Charcoal, he performed alchemical operations while exining to the audience.


    He sequentially ced the Spirit Herb into the furnace, uttered an incantation, and the mes surged. Waves of blue smoke emerged from the furnace.


    "This is to eliminate impurities; the next step is to refine the medicinal power..."


    An hourter, the lid of the furnace flew open, and a delightful fragrance filled the air. Five elixirs, each the size of a fingertip, spun inside.


    A full furnace produced ten elixirs, and a fifty percent sess rate was considered moderate.


    Wang Hong contemted that, with the knowledge gained during this period, he should be able to start his own alchemical practice.


    Wang Hong confidently entered Gao''s Refinery Workshop and immediately saw Gao Yue''s mischievous smile.


    "Hey! What wind brought you here?"


    As the guy approached, he grabbed Wang Hong''s sleeve. Wang Hong shook him off, suspecting the guy had some peculiar habits.


    This guy was overly familiar, and Wang Hong had only visited a few times.


    "This time I n to buy an Alchemy furnace. Do you have any here?"


    "We do, of course. Our Gao''s Refinery Workshop has been specializing in crafting for two centuries. Although Alchemy furnaces are challenging to make and have limited sales, we still have some in stock," Gao Yue proudly introduced, a result of the family''s umted wealth over generations.


    Soon, a te-sized alchemy furnace was presented before Wang Hong.


    "Feng Patterned Bronze Furnace, a Low-Quality Magical Weapon."


    Then, a slightly smaller red-copper furnace was brought out.


    "Red Copper Double-Eared Furnace, a Mid-Quality Magical Weapon."


    After a barrage of introductions (self-praise), Wang Hong was left dazed. He examined the two furnaces carefully.


    Finally, after spending two thousand Spirit Stones, he bought the Mid-Quality furnace.


    On his way back, he also purchased a rtively simple array te. Alchemy operations could be noisy, and it was better to conceal them with a formation.


    Back at his residence, after setting up the formation, Wang Hong pondered silently, meticulously nning every step of the process.


    With the furnace arranged, Spirit Charcoal ignited, and the furnace preheated, he began cing the Spirit Herb, then covering the lid. Every action was precise.


    Half a quarter of an hourter, ck smoke billowed, apanied by a burnt smell. Opening the lid, he found that the Spirit Herb had turned into charcoal.


    Cleaning the furnace, Wang Hong didn''t rush to practice the second batch. Instead, he contemted for a long time, summarizing the lessons from the failure.


    For the second batch, he avoided burning but failed to purify the impurities properly, resulting in a sticky lump.


    Wang Hong spent another half hour thinking and summarizing.


    The third batch exploded.


    More thinking and summarizing.


    The fourth batch was a waste.


    ...


    The thirtieth batch failed.


    Undeterred, Wang Hong, through continuous reflection, knew he was getting closer to sess.


    ...


    In the thirty-seventh batch, upon opening the furnace lid, two fingertip-sized, sparkling white elixirs greeted his eyes.


    "Hahaha! Finally seeded! I am truly a genius!" At this moment, a figure, ckened by smoke, rolled around the room in excitement.


    After reveling for a while, Wang Hong calmed down and prepared to continue refining.


    He took out some homemade meat jerky. Immortal Cultivators had fasting pills, but Wang Hong found them unappetizing. He preferred hearty meat.


    However, the meat of ferocious beasts no longer aided his cultivation. Wang Hong considered hunting some Demonic Beasts for a change.


    After finishing the jerky and eating a few raspberries, he pondered and summarized his experiences before starting the next round of Alchemy.


    With the experience of one sessful attempt, the sess rate increased significantly. Initially, one sess every five batches, then four batches per sess, and by the end of the two hundred materials, asional failures were the norm.


    In the end, he obtained 180 Condensing Qi Pills. On average, not even reaching a ten percent pill formation rate. An Alchemist needed a twenty percent sess rate to break even.


    He was clearly at a loss; the two hundred Spirit Herbs were worth four thousand Spirit Stones, turned into elixirs valued at only one thousand eight hundred Spirit Stones. Wang Hong couldn''t help but sigh, realizing that cultivating an Alchemist was indeed a resource-intensive endeavor.


    Calling Zhang Chunfeng and Skinny Monkey over, he gave each of them a bottle of elixir. Currently at the Qi Cultivation secondyer, Zhang Chunfeng was close to breaking through to the thirdyer, while Skinny Monkeygged behind due to aptitude.


    In the two years since he distributed elixirs, with his assistance, over forty soldiers under him, except for a few who converted Spiritual Energy, all reached the Innate Stage.


    Wang Hong nned to break through to the fourthyer of Qi Cultivation and then practice variousbat Magical Arts. He intended to lead his men outside the city to hunt Demonic Beasts, test theirbat abilities, and assess strengths and weaknesses.


    The cultivation world was far more perilous than the mortal world, with constant strife and the ever-present possibility of death.


    Wang Hong immersed himself in cultivation again, refining a Condensing Qi Pill every day. On the tenth day, he finally broke through to the fourthyer.


    At the fourthyer, he could release his divine sense externally. With divine sense extended, even with closed eyes, he could sense everything in the surroundings, clearer than seeing with his own eyes.


    He could sense a worm burrowing through the soil, a fly buzzing by, and even detect which leg of the fly was injured.


    Wang Hong discovered that his divine sense could extend up to two yards, while the books stated that a cultivator who had just broken through to the fourthyer could only reach one yard.


    Powerful divine sense held a significant advantage in spellcasting, Alchemy, talisman crafting, artifact refining, and formations. For example, in a magical battle, the ability to attack from a greater distance provided a considerable advantage.


    Wang Hong spected that it might be rted to Space. His appearance in Space might be rted to his Nascent Soul. Wang Hong didn''t fully understand Nascent Soul at the moment, but frequent activities in Space made it evident that his divine sense was strengthening.


    Entering the fourthyer of Qi Cultivation finally allowed him to practice many Magical Arts.


    What Wang Hong longed for the most was the Control Instrument Technique. Legend had it that immortals could take a person''s head from a thousand miles away using this technique. The Control Instrument Technique allowed one to manipte Magical Weapons with divine sense, a means of long-range attacks.


    Wang Hong took out the Magical Weapon Long Spear, infused it with Spiritual Energy, and after absorbing two-thirds of his overall Spiritual Energy, the Long Spear slowly rose into the air. After swaying in the air for two breaths, it depleted all of Wang Hong''s Spiritual Energy and fell to the ground with a thud.


    With the Spiritual Energy of the fourthyer of Qi Cultivation, he could barely manage one attack. No wonder Fatty Daoist was killed back then; he couldn''t afford long-range attacks.


    Wang Hong drank a few sips of Spirit Wine to replenish his mana and began practicing again.


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 Chapter 32: Hunting

    Chapter 32: Hunting


    On this day, Wang Hong led his group, marching out of the city in a grand procession.


    A small-time ruffian who often loitered near the city gate discreetly released a messaging charm upon witnessing this scene.


    A messaging charm was the mostmonly usedmunication tool in the cultivation world, with a transmission range varying from dozens to over a thousand miles.


    Apart from Wang Hong, everyone in the group wore metallic armor, carried bundles of shiny ck short spears, and wielded long iron spears. Though most were ordinary mortals without cultivation levels, interspersed among them were a few at the Qi Cultivation level, emanating an awe-inspiring aura.


    These soldiers, except for a few who could convert into spiritual energy, had all reached the innate realm of warriors. In terms of individual strength, excluding talismanic magical weapons, they were not weaker than early-stage cultivators.


    After a period of training, Wang Hong had mastered the Control Instrument Technique, Wood Element''s Entanglement Technique, Wood Shield Technique, Wood Thorn Technique, Fire Element''s Fireball Technique, and Earth Element''s Earth Wall Technique.


    Having Four Elements Spiritual Roots, he could practice magical arts of all four elements except Metal. It was a small advantage of having diverse spiritual roots.


    To practice these magical arts, he had spent thousands of kilograms of Spirit Wine and tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, a value that would astonish other loose cultivators if revealed.


    While the consumption was enormous, Wang Hong had gained a benefit. Through repeatedly depleting and replenishing spiritual energy, his spiritual energy had been refined, bing purer.


    Their destination this time was Purple Cloud Peak, fifty miles away from Azure Void City. It was rich in Spirit Qi, abundant in Spiritual Medicine, and home to many Demonic Beasts. Cultivators often went there to hunt Demonic Beasts and collect Spiritual Medicine.


    Wang Hong''s goal in entering the mountains was to engage in battles with Demonic Beasts, honing everyone''sbat skills. As for collecting Spiritual Medicine, that was a side task.


    After nearly two hours in the mountains, they finally saw a thicket swaying slightly, apanied by sounds. To prevent identally harming humans, Skinny Monkey tossed a small stone in that direction.


    The stone''snding was met with a low growl, and the thicket parted to reveal a pig-sized Iron Fang Boar.


    The boar was napping peacefully when suddenly a stone interrupted its dream. Annoyed, it spotted a group of two-legged creatures nearby and charged towards them. In the past, it would avoid such bipedal beings as they weren''t part of its diet. But now, in a foul mood, it didn''t care if they were prey or not; it just needed an outlet for its anger.


    "Ready, aim, fire!"


    Following Zhang Chunfeng''smand, over forty short spears whistled through the air, turning the Iron Fang Boar into a porcupine with one attack. The boar took a few steps forward due to inertia before copsing.


    Wang Hong was quite satisfied to dispatch a Tier-One low-grade Demonic Beast in a single round.


    Demonic Beasts were also categorized into tiers, with a Tier-One equivalent to a Qi Cultivation level cultivator. Tier-Two wasparable to a human in Foundation Building, Tier-Three to Golden Core, and so on. Each tier had subcategories of low, mid, and high, corresponding to early, middle, andte stages.


    After clearing the battlefield, they continued forward and encountered two more Demonic Beasts, both easily dealt with. Wang Hong didn''t even get a chance to make a move.


    As the sky darkened, the group settled by a stream on a t piece ofnd.


    Dragging the Iron Fang Boar to the stream, they cleaned and peeled its meat. Wang Hong took out various Spiritual Medicine powders and poured them into severalrge bowls. He instructed Zhang Chunfeng and Skinny Monkey to help knead the meat repeatedly with spiritual energy. The purpose was to neutralize the violent spiritual energy within the Demonic Beast''s meat.


    Over the years, Wang Hong had also learned some skills in Spiritual Cooking. The main reason was his love for meat, perhaps a result of past hunger. Now, he had a particr fondness for it.


    Skinny Monkey set up tworge pots, cing the meat and bones in separate containers. He poured in Spirit Spring Water, added some seasonings, and lit Spirit Charcoal underneath. Demonic Beast meat needed an ordinary me; otherwise, it wouldn''t cook properly.


    Skinny Monkey shared amon trait with Wang Hong  a love for meat and a passion for cooking. He was the most enthusiastic about arranging meals, perhaps both stemming from past experiences of hunger.


    After half an hour, a rich aroma of cooked meat filled the air. Skinny Monkey took out a bunch of pancakes from his Storage Bag, calling everyone to the meal.


    Wang Hong took a pancake, heated it over the fire, spread it out, added some stewed meat, poured on some broth, and then rolled up the pancake.


    Taking a big bite, the mouth was filled with fragrance  the stewed meat was tender and vorful, mixed with the broth. Wang Hong had added Spirit Wheat Flour from his Space to the pancake, giving it a special chewiness. After a few sips of bone broth, thick and rich, he was satisfied.


    "If only there were some green onions inside the pancakes, it would be even better. Next time, I''ll nt some spirit onions," Wang Hong thought to himself.


    The night in the mountain forest was not quiet, with various bird calls and insect chirps. asionally, distant roars of beasts could be heard.


    Wang Hong was meditating inside the tent when a loud rumbling noise suddenly reached him. He immediately leaped up and rushed outside. It was the warning symbol he had set off.


    "Enemy attack!"


    "Enemy attack!"


    With the shouts of several night patrol soldiers, everyone rushed out of the tents. Within two breaths, they assumed battle formation, standing silently.


    Wang Hong looked in the direction of the warning and saw twelve people approaching.


    The one in the lead, Wang Hong recognized  he had seen him at the Lin Family Dao Transmission Hall.


    The Lin Family, considered a medium to lower power in Azure Void City, possessed a Foundation Building cultivator, dozens of Qi Cultivation cultivators, and, with the inclusion of allied loose cultivators, totaled over a hundred people.


    Among the other eleven, one was at Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer, three at Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, and the remaining seven were at Qi Cultivation Second or Third Layer.


    Wang Hong stepped forward and demanded, "Who are you people?"


    The lead person, Lin Junjie, waved his sleeves, smiling casually, and said, "You must be Wang Hong. I''m Lin Junjie from the Lin Family. I heard you have some assets and thought of borrowing some Spirit Stones from you. It''s just a small matter; you won''t be stingy, right?"


    "How much do you need?" Wang Hong asked indifferently.


    "As long as you hand over your Storage Bags and the magical weapons in your hands, consider yourself under my protection. I promise not to harm you at all. In the future, if you encounter any difficulties in Azure Void City, feel free to find me," Lin Junjie said as Wang Hong seemed to be considering the offer.


    At this moment, the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer cultivator chimed in, "Kid, don''t underestimate the generosity of Lin Young Master. Many in Azure Void City are trying to present gifts to him, but they can''t find the opportunity. Lin Young Master taking notice of you is your good fortune."


    After some contemtion, Wang Hong said, "Alright, I hope Lin Young Master keeps his word. From now on, I will look up to Lin Young Master."


    He turned around and gestured, "Brothers,e and meet Lin Young Master."


    The group of people behind him stepped forward in unison, moving as one.


    Wang Hong scolded, "Rx a bit, who are you trying to impress with such seriousness?"


    At the same time, he walked towards Lin Junjie, unfastening the Storage Bag from his waist and tossing it to Lin Junjie.


    Lin Junjie''s face showed a smug smile, about to reach for the Storage Bag when his expression suddenly changed. He dodged backward, but it was toote. Several seeds from underneath the Storage Bag shot towards him. While he avoided three, two of them hit him.


    One seed quickly germinated, spreading branches that firmly bound his hands and feet. Numerous tiny thorns pierced his skin, releasing a wooden toxin that obstructed the flow of spiritual energy.


    Simultaneously, a whistling sound emerged, and dozens of short spears flew toward him. Terrified, Lin Junjie watched as the spears reached him, piercing into his body with a squelching sound. He was helpless.


    As he faced death, he regretted listening to that Yin Wolf''s instigation and attempting to rob this small cultivator. Those mortal soldiers were truly oddities  how could their reactions be so quick and organized? If only he had two breaths'' time, he could have broken free.


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 Chapter 33: Annihilation

    Chapter 33: Annihtion


    Yin Wolf, the informant providing intelligence to Lin Junjie, currentlyy hidden in a thicket, discreetly observing everything happening from a distance.


    Known for his cunning and ruthlessness, he often engaged in dubious transactions. People in the know gave him the alias "Yin Wolf."


    A few years ago, his brother invited him to join in looting a group of Mortals, rumored to be a fat prey. At the time, he thought a group of Mortals wouldn''t yield much profit, coupled with other matters, so he refrained from participating.


    Little did he know, his brother never returned. After extensive inquiries, he learned that his brother had been killed by Wang Hong and his group.


    Since then, he had been secretly monitoring these people and discovered that they were indeed a lucrative target. They had set up over a dozen stalls and even owned a shop, with assets worth thousands of Spirit Stones.


    However, this group always stayed within the city, making it difficult for Yin Wolf to strike.


    Finally, seizing an opportunity, he persuaded Lin Junjie to join him. Lin Junjie, a member of the Lin Family''s branch, had modest monthly resources consisting of only two Condensing Qi Pills and an additional twenty Spirit Stones.


    asionally, he engaged in robbing loose cultivators. Upon receiving Yin Wolf''s information, he immediately led a group to pursue.


    On the way, Yin Wolf found an excuse to slip away and observed from the shadows.


    If Lin Junjie won, he nned to swoop in, get a few benefits, and maybe deliver a few extra blows. If Lin Junjie lost or died, this group would offend the Lin Family, a medium-sized power with Foundation Building cultivators, making it effortless to crush them.


    Yin Wolf felt fortunate at this moment. Lin Junjie below was ambushed and swiftly killed with a single strike.


    Among the remaining group, the Qi Cultivation cultivator at the fifth level was entangled by Wang Hong, while the remaining ten faced off against the forty-plus soldiers.


    The soldiers attacked in three waves, continuously assaulting like tidal waves. Each attack targeted the same person until they were killed.


    These soldiers coordinated seamlessly, with one wave attacking while another prepared. The magical arts and talisman attacks from the cultivators were blocked by numerous defensive talismans thrown by two Qi Cultivation cultivators among the soldiers.


    Their trust in each other and coordination were evident.


    Yin Wolf watched this scene and couldn''t help but curse his luck. In just this short time, he had wasted dozens of spirit talismans worth hundreds of Spirit Stones. Mortal soldiers were receable; there were plenty more where they came from.


    On the other side, Wang Hong shed with the Qi Cultivation fifth-level cultivator.


    The cultivator wielded a ck Flying Sword, shing toward Wang Hong. Wang Hong, unfazed, met the attack with his Long Spear. The two shed in the air multiple times.


    In an instant, they exchanged blows several times. Wang Hong swiftly drank a bottle of Spirit Wine, tossed it aside, and pulled out another bottle to consume.


    Spiritual Energy consumption was rapid, and handling a magical weapon was not ideal for a fourth-level Qi Cultivation.


    The opposing cultivator also took out Spirit Wine, took a sip, and instantly replenished his energy. His Spirit Wine seemed to be of a higher tier than Wang Hong''s.


    Realizing the disadvantage, Wang Hong retrieved a few fireball talismans and hurled them at the opponent.


    The cultivator evaded some fireball talismans in a sorry state, with singed hair, cursing, "Kid, what a waste! Haven''t seen someone throw Spirit Stones at others right from the startthat''s my style."


    The magical weapons continued colliding, and Wang Hong drank another bottle of Spirit Wine. He said, "I love throwing Spirit Stones at people. If it''s yours, feel free to take it!"


    Without waiting for the result, he threw out a few more talismans in quick session.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    The fireball talismans transformed into a sea of fire. The Qi Cultivation fifth-level cultivator had no escape amidst the continuous bombardment of talismans. In the end, he waspletely submerged, turning into ashes.


    The other ten cultivators on the opposite side were now struggling, with only five persevering.


    Wang Hong did not rush into the battle but stood nearby, observing.


    One cultivator, seeing the inevitable defeat, attempted to escape but was entangled by Wang Hong using the Entanglement Technique.


    Witnessing this, Zhang Chunfeng shouted, "Encircle!"


    The original three-wave attack formation turned into five squads, encircling the remaining four individuals from both sides.


    During this, some attempted to flee but were sent back by Wang Hong; he wanted to use them for practice.


    After a quarter of an hour, the battle concluded. All twelve individuals were in. After collecting the spoils, the bodies were cremated.


    After dealing with the battlefield, the group returned to the city under the cover of night, uncertain if Lin Junjie had any tricks left.


    Yin Wolf, lurking in the bushes, breathed a sigh of relief only when Wang Hong and the others walked far away.


    The pressure from these people was immense. He had never seen a group of Mortals, apanied by a few Qi Cultivation cultivators at the first and second levels, possess suchbat strength. His brother''s death was indeed not in vain.


    Forty-plus individuals, mostly Mortals, with the highest cultivation level being Qi Cultivation at the fourth level, had unexpectedly ughtered over ten Immortal Cultivators. This included Lin Junjie, a Qi Cultivation at the sixth level.


    He initially thought even if Lin Junjie couldn''t gain an advantage, at most three to five people would die. He didn''t expect everyone to perish here.


    He was only at the fifth level of Qi Cultivation; had he not slipped away early, he might now be part of that pile of ashes.


    The Mortals he usually treated as insignificant ants, easily crushable, were now revered as if they were gods. This battle had a profound impact on him, and he resolved to eliminate such formidable enemies.


    Wang Hong''s group returned to their residence and distributed the spoils. The twelve individuals yielded just over three hundred Spirit Stones, ten magical weapons, several elixirs, and Spirit Herbs.


    "Two of them didn''t even have magical weapons. What were they doing tagging along?" Wang Hong chuckled.


    Among the spoils was Lin Junjie''s magical weapon, surprisingly a mid-grade Flying Sword, and a book titled "Alchemy Basics," containing recipes for three elixirs and fundamental alchemical knowledge. Wang Hong took these two items, leaving the rest to be distributed among his soldiers.


    This battle was a significant loss, with the talismans alone costing over a thousand Spirit Stones. Despite the apparent victory, it was all achieved by spending Spirit Stones.


    Without talismans, the oue would have been uncertain, and even in victory, casualties would have been severe.


    It seemed he needed to elerate his progress in learning inscription techniques.


    "So much to learn in cultivatingAlchemy, inscription techniques, practicing magical arts, meditation..." Wang Hong couldn''t help but sigh.


    In reality, he was overthinking it. Others focused on cultivation, practiced a couple of magical arts, and then ventured outside to hunt Demonic Beasts and seek spiritual medicines to exchange for cultivation resources.


    The next day, Wang Hong found a shop named "Ten Thousand Laws Tower."


    Upon entering, rows of mahogany shelves filled with books and jade scrolls caught his eye.


    A white-robed maid approached and greeted, "Esteemed cultivator, pleasee this way."


    Leading Wang Hong to a tea table, she poured a pot of spiritual tea for him.


    Wang Hong took a sip, feeling refreshed by the fragrant tea.


    The white-robed maid inquired, "Our shop specializes in various books and jade scrolls. What does the esteemed cultivator need? I can find them for you."


    After a moment of consideration, Wang Hong said, "I need books on Alchemy, spiritual medicines, inscription techniques, Spirit Wine brewing, spiritual cooking, and magical arts practice. Bring me everything you have."


    The white-robed maid was bewildered; it was the first time she had encountered someone buying such a diverse range of books. Could he handle learning all of them?


    Many people spent their entire lives mastering just one skill and could prosper in the cultivation world with that alone. Learning these techniques not only required time but also substantial resource support.


    Even in prominent cultivation families, with vast resources, they could only afford to focus on one skill. Some families were known for alchemy, some for formations, and some for artifact forging.


    Not to mention individuals.


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 Chapter 34: Seeking Trouble

    Chapter 34: Seeking Trouble


    White-robed Maid felt a surge of joy. After all, she earned amission, and the more the customer bought, the more she made.


    Swiftly, she browsed through the various bookshelves, ultimately bringing back a pile of items, including scrolls and Jade Scrolls.


    Wang Hong meticulously inspected each item, discarding the unsuitable ones to the side. In the end, he selected thirty-two pieces, abination of Jade Scrolls and books.


    White-robed Maid could hardly contain her excitement, smiling so much that her two dimples showed. She said, "Twenty Jade Scrolls, twelve books, totaling twelve thousand six hundred Spirit Stones. I can waive the six hundred Spirit Stones for you. You just need to pay twelve thousand Spirit Stones."


    Wang Hong inquired, "I don''t have enough Spirit Stones on me. Can I offset the payment with Spiritual Medicine?"


    "Of course, that''s eptable," White-robed Maid replied, but she was also a bit worried that Wang Hong might not have enough Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong took out a Jade Box and handed it to White-robed Maid. "What about this?"


    White-robed Maid opened the Jade Box, nced inside, and quickly closed it. She said, "I can''t be certain about this. Please wait a moment."


    After saying that, she hurriedly walked toward the Back Hall. A quarter of an hourter, the white-robed maid followed a schrly-dressed man out of the Back Hall.


    Wang Hong''s heart skipped a beat; he couldn''t discern the man''s cultivation level, but he was at least a Foundation Building cultivator.


    The schrly-dressed man bowed to Wang Hong and said, "Young friend, may I take a look at the Spiritual Medicine you showed earlier?"


    Wang Hong respectfully handed over the Jade Box. The schrly-dressed man opened it, sniffed, and chewed on a small piece of root.


    "This is indeed a three-hundred-year-old Scarlet Blood Ginseng, enough to help a mid-Foundation Building cultivator break through to theter stage. It''s worth around thirteen to fourteen thousand Spirit Stones. Let''s settle at fourteen thousand, shall we?" the schrly-dressed man stated seriously.


    Wang Hong agreed immediately. He had inquired extensively and knew that the Scarlet Blood Ginseng could assist cultivators in breaking through bottlenecks from the Qi Cultivation stage to the Nascent Soul stage, depending on the year of the Spiritual Medicine.


    Although Scarlet Blood Ginseng was not easy to cultivate, some major powers had managed to cultivate a few. Despite being rare, it wasn''t excessively scarce, or else it wouldn''t be readily avable.


    The schrly-dressed man handed Wang Hong a Storage Bag. "Two thousand Spirit Stones, please confirm."


    Wang Hong took it, scanned with his spiritual sense, and the amount was correct. He bid farewell and left.


    Back at his residence, Wang Hong didn''t rush to delve into the cultivation techniques. Such matters required long-term study and couldn''t be rushed.


    He ced all the Jade Scrolls and books in the Library, open for anyone to borrow based on contributions. He was pleased at the thought of having subordinates skilled in alchemy, artifact forging, and talisman crafting.


    Havinge from the military, he firmly believed that individual strength was far less significant than collective strength. Any peak expert couldn''t do without the support of a powerful organization.


    Personal struggles in everything would consume his time, leaving no room for cultivation.


    Regardless of anything, cultivation couldn''t bepromised. Cultivation level was fundamental. No matter how skilled a Qi Cultivation cultivator was in various techniques, they still couldn''tpare to a Foundation Building cultivator''s p.


    Wang Hong consumed a Condensing Qi Pill, allowing the medicinal power to assimte through meditationthe most efficient way of cultivation for him at the moment.


    After refining the elixir, Wang Hong immersed himself in the Space to read.


    Having twenty-five times the time within the Space gave him the confidence to learn multiple skills. Unfortunately, after numerous attempts, he found that cultivation couldn''t be practiced inside.


    Bncing daily cultivation and learning made Wang Hong''s life quite content.


    However, on the third day, someone came knocking on his door.


    Lin Family''s legitimate son, Lin Yun, dressed in white, hands behind his back, narrow eyes gazing down at others with a condescending demeanor.


    Lin Yun spoke with a nonchnt tone, "You must be Wang Hong. Although my brother was not promising, he wasn''t someone anyone could just kill."


    Wang Hong, looking bewildered, asked, "Which brother of yours? Who killed him? The deceased can''te back to life; you must mourn and move on."


    "Humph!" Lin Yun snorted coldly. "It seems you don''t want to admit it. Yin Wolf,e out!"


    A middle-aged man in a ck robe, with a hooked nose and triangr eyes, emerged from the followers. This person was Yin Wolf, and at this moment, he wore a sycophantic smile on his face.


    Yin Wolf then recounted in detail the events of the night when Wang Hong and his group encountered enemies, killed them, and returned to the city.


    Wang Hong burst intoughter after hearing the ount. "Your fabricated story is quite entertaining. However, we have no grievances or conflicts. Why would you frame and nder me?


    Moreover, if you want to frame me, can''t you at least be serious and make the story more believable?


    With my Qi Cultivation at the fourth level, leading a group of mortal soldiers to wipe out a bunch of Immortal Cultivators. Do you even believe that yourself?"


    Lin Yun began to doubt the credibility of his words. These people simply didn''t possess such strength.


    Yin Wolf deeply bowed to Lin Yun and said, "Everything I said is true. If there''s a single false word, may I not die a peaceful death."


    Wang Hong sneered, "What''s the use of such an oath? Your appearance alone screams ''viin.'' I even suspect that you might have killed the deceased for treasures. Then you shifted the me to me, letting yourself off the hook."


    "Lin Young Master, all of this is just his side of the story. Who knows what malicious intentions he might have?" Wang Hong added with a contemptuous tone.


    Lin Yun, maintaining his indifferent demeanor, said, "Since you are involved in this matter, go down and apany my ipetent brother in death. Of course, if it turns outter that you were wrongly used, I''ll kill this person to apany you in burial."


    Angered by these words, Wang Hong retorted, "What do you want then? Let''s settle this outside the city."


    Since fighting wasn''t allowed within the city, Wang Hong wasn''t afraid. There were several Golden Core cultivators in the city, and Lin Family wouldn''t dare to openly defy them.


    "Tomorrow someone will challenge you on the Life and Death tform," Lin Yun dered before turning away.


    "I''ll apany you to the end. If you die, don''t me me," Wang Hong shouted from behind.


    Although battles couldn''t be privately fought within the city, irreconcble conflicts still arose, leading to the establishment of the Life and Death tform system.


    One party could register on the Life and Death tform and issue a challenge. The other party could choose to ept or decline. Forcing the opponent to ept wasn''t allowed. Once a challenge was epted, life and death were at stake.


    The next day, Wang Hong received a challenge letter from the Life and Death tform. It was from a Lin Family cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, aiming to challenge him.


    "I don''t ept. Tell him I''m busy with Alchemy and have no time," Wang Hong snorted. Previously, he might have spoken boldly, but he wasn''t foolish enough to go willingly to his death.


    The third day, another challenge letter arrived, again from the same sixth-level Qi Cultivation cultivator.


    "I don''t ept"


    The fourth day


    ...


    The eleventh day brought a change; this time, it was a fifth-level Qi Cultivation cultivator.


    "I don''t ept" Against a fifth-level opponent, he had no chance of winning. Thest time he defeated a fifth-level cultivator, it was by using Spirit Stones to crush them.


    Wang Hong had mediocre talent, practiced ordinary techniques, and hadn''t mastered any powerful Magical Arts or secret techniques. Facing challenges from higher tiers would most likely lead to his demise.


    For several days, Wang Hong showed no intention of epting any challenges.


    He continued his daily cultivation, delving into Alchemy and talisman crafting.


    On the twenty-fifth day, Lin Family finally sent a cultivator named Lin Dong, a fourth-level Qi Cultivation cultivator. This time, Wang Hong didn''t hesitate to ept.


    Not fighting earlier had been a matter of prudence. If he didn''t have the courage to face a same-tier opponent, there was no point in cultivating.


    Of course, courage was one thing; being adequately prepared was another. This time, Wang Hong brought arge number of spirit talismans and Spirit Wine. Using a Magical Weapon consumed too much Spiritual Energy, so it was better to be prepared for any eventuality.


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 Chapter 35: Life and Death Battle

    Chapter 35: Life and Death Battle


    Wang Hong stepped onto the Life and Death tform, a tform raised a yard high, built from stacked earth and stones, reinforced with formations. A Light Screen-like Spiritual Energy shield enveloped it, preventing the dispersion of Spiritual Energy duringbat, thus protecting the innocent.


    In the audience below, there were about thirty to forty scattered seats, with only a handful of spectators.


    Wang Hong leaped onto the high tform, where another cultivator, likely in their thirties or forties with mediocre talent, was already waiting. After exchanging names, Wang Hong, without hesitation, pped two Gold Light Talismans on himself. He didn''t summon any Magical Weapons but instead lifted a Long Spear, activated the Wind Control Technique, and charged towards Lin Dong.


    Lin Dong, in response, pped a defensive Talisman on himself while infusing power into his Flying Sword, preparing to unleash it.


    Wang Hong thrust his spear urgently towards Lin Dong, who, in a moment of desperation, added anotheryer of Gold Light Talisman.


    Lin Dong stood his ground against the spear thrust, simultaneously releasing his Flying Sword towards Wang Hong''s face.


    Wang Hong tilted his head, and the Flying Sword grazed past the Gold Light Talisman.


    The Flying Sword changed direction, aiming for Wang Hong''s back. While dodging the Flying Sword, Wang Hong thrust his Long Spear towards Lin Dong.


    In typical Immortal Cultivator battles, opponents stood about a yard or more apart, using Magical Arts, Magical Weapons, and Talismans to attack from a distance.


    Facing close-quartersbat was rare. Wang Hong, with years of battlefield experience, was already a master in this regard. This was the strategic n he had formted before stepping onto the stage, leveraging his strengths and avoiding weaknesses.


    "Close-quartersbat? Is this guy a body cultivator?" a young man in the audience wondered.


    An old man beside him shook his head, saying, "Doesn''t seem like it. He''s using ordinary mortalbat techniques, and his strength is only a few thousand kilograms. Body cultivators specialize in refining their physical bodies, boasting immense strength in closebat. Some powerful ones can even withstand magical treasures with their physical bodies."


    "If body cultivators are so formidable, why are there so few of them? I''ve never seen one," the young man asked again.


    "The path of body cultivation is extremely difficult, progress is slow, and body cultivators need to consumerge quantities of spiritual treasures, demonic beast flesh, and blood to supplement their bodies; otherwise, progress is exceedingly slow," the old man exined slowly.


    As the old man spoke, the two sides had already exchanged blows more than ten times. Lin Dong unleashed his Flying Sword repeatedly, and Wang Hong circled around Lin Dong, seizing opportunities to thrust his spear.


    Lin Dong''s face gradually paled because his Spiritual Energy was running out. Several attempts to consume Spirit Wine to replenish his energy were interrupted by Wang Hong.


    Finally, with a loud "ng," the Flying Sword fell to the ground.


    Without the distraction of the Flying Sword, Wang Hong''s Long Spear thrust urgently, breaking through severalyers of Gold Light Talismans. Then, with a sweeping motion, he sent Lin Dong''s head flying a yard away.


    Wang Hong collected the fallen Magical Weapon, the Flying Sword, and the Storage Bag left by Lin Dong before leaving triumphantly.


    The next day, Lin Family sent another cultivator, a fourth-level Qi Cultivator, to challenge Wang Hong. Wang Hongyered defensive symbols on himself and faced the opponent''s attacks with Magical Weapons and Talismans, engaging in closebat. In the end, he killed the challenger.


    After a few quiet days, on the fifth day, Lin Family sent a cultivator named Hu Qing to challenge him.


    Hu Qing, a burly man in his thirties with a darkplexion, casually dered from the tform, "Kid, me your bad luck. Lin Family paid five hundred Spirit Stones to bring me here to take your head."


    A cultivator in the audience sighed, "Lin Family is quite generous. My annual earnings are just a little over a hundred Spirit Stones."


    Another cultivator said, "I guess this Hu Qing must be skilled to warrant such a price from Lin Family."


    Wang Hong didn''t expect his bounty to be so low. He thought, "If I offer more Spirit Stones, can you help me kill another Lin Family cultivator?"


    "Hahaha! No need, once I kill you, all your Spirit Stones will be mine! Let me show you true close-quartersbat before you die." Saying this, Hu Qing put on a pair of gloves and strode confidently toward Wang Hong.


    Seeing the menacing opponent, Wang Hong pped severalyers of Gold Light Talismans on himself. Then, he thrust his spear towards Hu Qing.


    Hu Qing neither dodged nor avoided, mming his left fist onto the spear shaft. Wang Hong felt a tremendous force, causing the spear to shake violently, nearly slipping from his grasp.


    A right fist followed, targeting Wang Hong''s chest and abdomen. Wang Hong hastily blocked with the spear, but another surge of force sent him flying.


    Wang Hong struggled to stabilize himself, feeling soreness in his arms and turmoil in his chest.


    Adding two moreyers of defense, he attacked Hu Qing again. However, after just three moves, he was once again sent flying.


    Hu Qing remained calm, looking smug as he waited for Wang Hong to get up before attacking again. After a few exchanges, Wang Hong was thrown back.


    This time, Wang Hong managed to stab Hu Qing, but it was like stabbing a metal teno damage was done.


    "See that? This is a true body cultivator, with strength reaching tens of thousands of kilograms, capable of resisting Magical Weapon attacks with their physical body. Invincible in closebat," an old man in the audience told a nearby youth.


    "So, isn''t a body cultivator invincible at the same level?" the youth asked, somewhat envious.


    "More or less, but they also have their drawbacks. Generally, body cultivators don''t cultivate Magical Arts and can only engage in closebat. If the opponent doesn''t give them a chance to get close, no matter how powerful they are, they be useless, just a target for attacks," the old man exined.


    "If they also cultivated Spiritual Energy and Magical Arts, wouldn''t that be better?" the youth asked.


    The old man knocked the youth on the head and said, "It''s not that easy. Body cultivators already progress very slowly, and it requires a substantial amount of resources. If they also cultivate Spiritual Energy and Magical Arts, who can bear the time and resource consumption?"


    Meanwhile, Hu Qing''s fists shattered twoyers of Gold Light Talismans, causing Wang Hong to spit out blood.


    Struggling to get up, Wang Hong added two moreyers of defense and attacked again.


    Once again, he was sent flying, the Long Spear slipping from his hand, and he coughed up more blood.


    At this point, Wang Hong felt pain all over his body, his limbs trembling slightly from exhaustion.


    He persisted not only to assess the gap in strength but also because of a new discovery. Due to prolonged consumption of Elixirs, there was a significant amount of residual medicinal power in his body that he couldn''t absorb. Under the continuous heavy blows, these remnants gradually permeated into his muscles and bones, strengthening his physical body.


    Wang Hong slowly got up, swallowed a White Jade Life-Extending Pill, picked up the Long Spear, added twoyers of Gold Light Talismans, and limped towards Hu Qing.


    After being sent flying once again, Wang Hong sat on the ground, wiped blood from the corner of his mouth, and said, "The fact is, no matter what, I gain no advantage in closebat against you."


    "Aren''t you ying anymore, kid? In recognition of your long-suffering, I won''t torment you anymore. I''ll give you a quick death," Hu Qing said with a cruel expression, approaching Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong chuckled, "Well, I give up. I can''t defeat you in a fight. Looks like I can only use Spirit Stones to kill you again!" At the same time, he produced a handful of Talismans, at least dozens, and threw them at Hu Qing.


    Wang Hong truly disliked the feeling of having to resort to Spirit Stones to deal with opponents. However, besides Spirit Stones, he seemed to have no other notable skills.


    Hu Qing was shocked, witnessing countless Talismans flying toward him, covering the area within a radius of two yards. Unable to escape, he watched as he was engulfed in a sea of mes.


    A momentter, Wang Hong retrieved a Storage Bag and a pair of gloves from the ashes.


    Jumping down from the Life and Death tform, Zhang Chunfeng and others hurriedly came over to support him.


    In this battle, Wang Hong suffered multiple muscle ruptures, over a dozen fractures, and internal injuries. It took him a whole month to recover.


    The White Jade Life-Extending Pill was just a worldly sacred medicine, with a rtively crude production method that was no longer suitable for cultivators at this level. He would need to acquire better healing medicines in the future.


    During this month, Lin Family did not issue another challenge. Wang Hong enjoyed the peace, spending each day in his Space reading and studying various skills. He believed that once he fully recovered, he could start making talismans.


    On the other hand, Lin Family''s legitimate son, Lin Yun, was furious. The title of Lin Family''s legitimate son was not unique to him alone. The death of two Lin Family members would undoubtedly attract criticism.


    The five hundred Spirit Stones paid to Hu Qing were almost Lin Yun''s annual savings.


    Wang Hong was despicable; he talked big but refused to ept challenges from opponents slightly stronger than him.


    Helplessly, Lin Yun arranged for someone to keep an eye on Wang Hong. As soon as Wang Hong left the city, they were to hunt him down. Lin Yun didn''t believe Wang Hong could hide in Azure Void City forever.


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 Chapter 36: "Body Refining Decision"

    Chapter 36: "Body Refining Decision"


    Wang Hong was pleasantly surprised to find a book titled "Body Refining Decision" in Hu Qing''s Storage Bag.


    This cultivation technique had a rtively low requirement for Spiritual Roots but demanded a substantial amount of resources. Unlike most Immortal Cultivators who relied on meditation to absorb Spirit Qi from heaven and earth, this technique primarily utilized various Spirit Pills, Spiritual Medicines, and even different foods containing Spirit Qi.


    The practitioner would then channel the acquired Spiritual Energy through special techniques throughout the entire body.


    Wang Hong was delighted as he felt this technique suited him well. With mediocre Spiritual Roots, his progress in meditation was slow, and his current cultivation level relied heavily on consuming Elixirs.


    Despitecking in other aspects, Wang Hong, with his Space ability, had an abundance of resources. The technique mentioned two types of Elixirs, Body Refining Pill and Golden Body Pill, along with several types of spirit fruits that could assist in enhancing body refinement cultivation.


    Wang Hong instructed Zhang Chunfeng to arrange for the collection of various Spiritual Medicines and spirit fruits needed for the technique.


    Interestingly, this Body Refining Technique shared simrities with the "Henglian Liuhe Gong" Wang Hong practiced in the Mortal Realm, with the main difference being one focused on Inner Strength while the other on Spiritual Energy.


    A sudden idea struck Wang Hong: what if hebined these two techniques, integrating their strengths and weaknesses to create a new cultivation method suitable for Mortals without Spiritual Roots?


    Without hesitation, he decided to give it a try. Handing over "Body Refining Decision" to Zhao Ning and Luo Zhongjie, he instructed them to transcribe the technique for experimentation to see its effects.


    Wang Hong consumed a Condensing Qi Pill, activated the "Body Refining Decision" technique, and instead of the Spiritual Energy usual path to the dantian vortex, it flowed through meridians, nourishing and improving muscles, bones, and internal organs.


    After an hour, the effects of the Condensing Qi Pill wore off. Wang Hong could distinctly feel an increase in physical strength and improved resilience of his skin.


    Feeling energetic, Wang Hong took another Condensing Qi Pill. However, after the second pill, his body felt saturated, with muscles sore and some small blood vessels ruptured, causing minor bleeding. It seemed his body had reached a temporary saturation point.


    At his current cultivation level, "Body Refining Decision" could refine a maximum of two Condensing Qi Pills a day.


    Considering the normal consumption of one Condensing Qi Pill for spiritual energy cultivation, he would need three pills a day, totaling over a hundred pills a month, a substantial amount even for a typical Cultivation n.


    Three dayster, Zhang Chunfeng reported that they could only gather enough Medicinal Herbs for one set of Body Refining Pill, and a small portion of the Golden Body Pill. No sign of the rare spirit fruit.


    Simultaneously, he brought news that in half a month, Myriad Treasures Tower, in coboration with several major businesses, would hold the annual Ten Stores Joint Auction. Many rare spiritual items were expected to be avable.


    Wang Hong considered attending, having never participated in such an auction before. He nted the collected Body Refining Pill Spirit Herbs in his Space for cultivation and breeding.


    In the following days, Wang Hong became busier, spending at least three hours each day refining three Condensing Qi Pills.


    The remaining time was spent refining several batches of Elixirs. Wang Hong''s Alchemy skills had noticeably improved, with a pill sess rate reaching twenty percent.


    In half a month, Wang Hong sessfully refined one hundred batches of Condensing Qi Pills, totaling two hundred and thirty pills.


    With intensive cultivation and the assistance of numerous Condensing Qi Pills, Wang Hong experienced significant progress in practicing the "Body Refining Decision" technique. His physical strength increased substantially, and he could now lift an eight-thousand-pound boulder.


    The Ten Stores Joint Auction was an annual event primarily for Qi Cultivation stage cultivators.


    Although focused on Qi Cultivation, each auction would still feature several Foundation Building stage treasures. Some items were versatile, usable by both Foundation Building and Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    On the side of the auction building, there was a small door where people lined up tomission items for auction.


    Following the queue, Wang Hong observed others exiting the door, some with joyful expressions, some with furrowed brows, and others maintaining a stoic demeanor.


    When it was Wang Hong''s turn, he entered the door and encountered an old man seated behind a redwood table.


    "Friend, what items do you wish tomission for auction? We do not ept items valued below five hundred Spirit Stones," the old man inquired.


    Wang Hong quickly approached and ced two Jade Boxes on the table. The old man opened them, his initially indifferent expression transforming into delight. After inspecting both boxes, his face blossomed into a smile.


    "Excellent! Excellent! Two Scarlet Blood Ginsengs, each aged three hundred years." He handed Wang Hong a wooden que. "After the auction, use this token to settle the payment in Spirit Stones. It is binding, and the auction will deduct ten percent as amission."


    Wang Hong hurriedly epted the wooden que, looking somewhat embarrassed, and walked out of the small door.


    Observing his expression, a fellow cultivator in the queue remarked to apanion, "Many people just overestimate themselves, bringing worthless items like scrap metal and dead branches to try their luck here."


    Thepanion sighed, "Well, most small loose cultivators never get the chance to see real treasures. Our family had some Foundation Building stage items left behind by ancestors. Selling them now might get us enough Condensing Qi Pills to advance to theter stages of Qi Cultivation."


    Wang Hong, feeling a bit awkward, quickly moved away, inwardly disdainful of cultivators relying on ancestral possessions and mocking others.


    At the entrance of the auction, two Qi Cultivation stage cultivators stood guard.


    To enter the auction, each cultivator had to pay a thousand Spirit Stones as a deposit to prevent malicious bidding without the ability to pay. If such a situation urred, the deposit would not be refunded, serving to raise the auction''s threshold.


    Wang Hong paid a thousand Spirit Stones at the entrance and received a tiger head mask from a guard. This mask served as a kind of Magical Weapon, blocking spiritual probing.


    Upon entering, Wang Hong found himself in a dim corridor where he put on the mask. At the corridor''s exit, a guard handed him a number te.


    It was a palm-sized wooden que with a set of numbers, "697." When he wanted to ce a bid, he would raise this te, signifying an increase in the bid. Some people preferred shouting in excitement, and that was also eptable.


    Exiting the corridor, he entered a hall that could amodate thousands of people. Only a few hundred had arrived at this point, so Wang Hong found a seat at random.


    It seemed there was still some time, so Wang Hong took out two bunches of Raspberries from his Space and began eating while waiting. These Raspberries were now the size of fists, covered in fingertip-sized ck beads. They were Wang Hong''s favorite snacks, and he would eat a few whenever he had the chance.


    Biting into the berries and lightly pressing with his tongue, they turned into sweet juice that slid down his throat. There was no need for deliberate cultivation; the juice gradually transformed into Spiritual Energy within his abdomen, flowing into his dantian.


    Eating a whole fist-sized Raspberry provided more Spiritual Energy than an hour of his usual meditation practice.


    After finishing the two bunches of Raspberries, the hall had filled with thousands of people. The auction tform at the front began to rise slowly, stopping at a height of twenty feet.


    An old man with white hair and beard, radiating an aura of immortality, walked onto the tform.


    Clearing his throat, he began, "Ladies and gentlemen, wee to this year''s Ten Stores Joint Auction. I am Feng Qing, serving as the auctioneer for this event.


    This auction features a total of eight hundred items and is expected tost for one day."


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 Chapter 37: Misty Illusion Mask

    Chapter 37: Misty Illusion Mask


    "Let''s begin with the first item."


    At this moment, ady dressed in pce attire approached the auction tform, holding a long rectangr wooden box in her hands.


    Feng Qing received the box and took out a fiery red Flying Sword, introducing it, "A high-grade Fire attribute Flying Sword, the Crimson me Sword. It''s forged from the fire iron deposited for thousands of years at the bottom of a volcano. It enhances the power of Fire attribute attacks by ten percent."


    "Starting bid is five hundred Spirit Stones, with each increase not less than ten Spirit Stones."


    As soon as this was announced, the atmosphere below became lively. Magical Weapons that could amplify attack power were quite rare.


    In the battles of cultivators, apart from cultivation level, external factors such as Magical Weapons, Talismans, formations, Elixirs, etc., also yed a crucial role.


    "Five hundred and five!"


    "Six hundred!"


    "..."


    "Eight hundred and ten!"


    Soon, the price rose to eight hundred Spirit Stones. Wang Hong found it challenging to control even a Low-Quality Magical Weapon at the moment, and buying a high-grade Magical Weapon would be temporarily unnecessary for him, so he did not participate in the bidding.


    In the end, a cultivator wearing a monkey mask bought the Crimson me Sword for nine hundred Spirit Stones.


    "The next auction item is..."


    The next few auction items were not what Wang Hong needed at the moment. However, it didn''t hurt to broaden his knowledge a bit.


    "As for the next item, please allow me to build some suspense," Feng Qing said, taking out a white mask from the tray and putting it on his face.


    Then, a mist appeared around his face. When the mist dispersed, the old man Feng Qing had transformed into a handsome young man. Even with spiritual awareness probing, no abnormalities could be detected.


    After another round of mist, Feng Qing directly transformed into the likeness of a maid holding the tray, perfectly lifelike.


    It seemed the old man was having fun, as he changed faces more than ten times before reluctantly taking off the mask and cing it back on the tray.


    This performance stirred great interest among the audience.


    "This Magical Weapon is called the Misty Illusion Mask, crafted by a Foundation Building cultivator from the Thousand Illusions Sect. As for its specific function, I believe I don''t need to exin, right?"


    "Now, let the auction begin. The starting price is one hundred Spirit Stones, with each bid no less than ten Spirit Stones."


    "I bid six hundred."


    "Seven hundred for me!"


    "Get lost! I bid eight hundred!"


    "..."


    "A thousand, I''m taking it!"


    "One thousand one hundred."


    Wang Hong also shouted several times in the crowd.


    Although the current price was unlikely to be finalized, he joined in the bidding for the lively atmosphere, trying to be familiar.


    He was determined to get this Misty Illusion Mask, no matter the cost. He believed that once he left Azure Void City, the Lin Family would immediately pursue him. With his current level, he had no confidence in surviving the Lin Family''s pursuit.


    In essence, he was currently blocked in the city by the Lin Family, which posed no immediate threat. However, for his long-term development, this situation was unfavorable. After all, there were many resources outside the city that couldn''t be bought with Spirit Stones in Azure Void City.


    With the Misty Illusion Mask, he could change his appearance at any time, sneak out of the city unnoticed, and break free from the current state of being locked down.


    "Two thousand one hundred."


    "Two thousand two."


    "..."


    The price was still rapidly rising, showing no sign of stopping. In the end, it reached four thousand Spirit Stones, and the rate of increase slowed down.


    After all, not everyone had to buy it. Four thousand Spirit Stones were not a small amount; they could buy four hundred Condensing Qi Pills. Compared to Magical Weapons, it was already a sky-high price.


    At this point, only Wang Hong and two others were still bidding. One wore a smiling mask, and the other wore a bear-head mask.


    "I bid four thousand three hundred and fifty," said the smiling mask.


    The cultivator with the bear-head mask hesitated for a moment and then said, "Four thousand four hundred."


    The cultivator with the smiling mask, upon hearing the bid, reluctantly sat down, apparently withdrawing.


    The cultivator with the bear-head mask looked somewhat triumphant as he nced in Wang Hong''s direction. Another one had withdrawn, leaving only him and Wang Hong, and he could already see the glow of victory.


    Wang Hong was about to make a bid when a cold, emotionless voice sounded.


    "Four thousand five."


    The cultivator with the bear-head mask, who thought victory was within reach, was taken aback as another contender emerged. He looked angrily in the direction of the voice.


    It was a cultivator with a butterfly mask, gazing at him indifferently.


    "Four thousand six," the bear-head cultivator immediately raised the bid without hesitation.


    "Four thousand seven," the butterfly-masked voice remained cold.


    About to bid again, the bear-head cultivator felt a tug on his arm from a nearby cultivator. Realizing, he reluctantly closed his open mouth.


    "Five thousand!"


    Wang Hong''s voice echoed. The butterfly cultivator seemed determined and increased the bid.


    "Five thousand one."


    "Six thousand," Wang Hong bluntly raised the stakes.


    "Six thousand five."


    "Seven thousand." Wang Hong was preparing to bid eight thousand, but there was no response for a long time.


    Looking up, the cultivator with the butterfly mask was no longer calm. He stared at Wang Hong with bloodshot eyes.


    Seeing this, the bear-head cultivator felt triumphant. "Turns out, he''s just a paper tiger, boasting with no abilities!"


    Wang Hong also felt that the cultivator with the butterfly mask was too good at pretending. He was ready to bleed a bit.


    In the end, Wang Hong secured the Misty Illusion Mask for seven thousand Spirit Stones. Soon after, a maid delivered the mask to Wang Hong. He handed her a Storage Bag containing Spirit Herbs worth about eight thousand Spirit Stones.


    The auction allowed various spiritual items to be used as offsets for Spirit Stones, but they were discounted at ny percent of the market price.


    Therefore, most cultivators preferred using Spirit Stones. Besides, collecting spiritual items was not easy, and one might not have enough of them.


    Wang Hong, however, was different. As long as he had the opportunity to sell the Spirit Herbs in his possession, even if he earned a bit less, he was willing. His Space Spirit Herbs grew rapidly, and his small shop couldn''t sell them all. Additionally, the Spacend was waiting to be fed with Spirit Stones.


    The Misty Illusion Mask fetched a high price, elevating the auction to a small climax.


    Seizing the momentum, Old Man Feng Qing spoke, "The next item is an exceptional Magical Weapon. Yin-Yang Yinde."


    "An exceptional Magical Weapon already? This rare treasure that''s hard toe by proves the strength of the Ten Stores Joint Auction," someone in the audience eximed.


    "Yeah, and it''s not even the grand finale."


    Old Man Feng took out two small knife-shaped Magical Weapons from the tray and demonstrated them on the spot. The two knives danced around Feng Qing, casting shadows of light.


    "Exceptional Magical Weapon, starting bid is one hundred Spirit Stones, with each increase not less than one hundred Spirit Stones."


    "Five hundred."


    "Six hundred."


    ...


    In the end, this Magical Weapon was auctioned off for a high price of nine thousand Spirit Stones.


    Feng Qing chuckled, stroking his long beard. "All the previous items were Magical Weapons. Now, we move on to the next round of auctions, featuring Elixirs and Spirit Herbs."


    "The first item is a Barrier Breaking Pill. Qi Cultivation cultivators on the third, sixth, and ninthyers often face a bottleneck. Some may break through it without realizing, while others remain trapped for life. The Barrier Breaking Pill, made primarily from a hundred-year Scarlet Blood Ginseng, can break through any bottleneck in the Qi Cultivation stage. It even provides some benefits for Foundation Building. Starting bid is five hundred Spirit Stones, with each increase not less than fifty Spirit Stones."


    "Six hundred."


    "Seven hundred."


    ...


    Because artificially cultivating Scarlet Blood Ginseng was extremely challenging, only a small number of surviving nts remained. Both Foundation Building and Golden Core cultivators could use them. Therefore, the Barrier Breaking Pills openly avable in Azure Void City never exceeded fifty annually.


    This led to intensepetition, as every Qi Cultivation cultivator could benefit from it. Even with good innate talent, one could use it during Foundation Building to increase the sess rate without relying on the power of Elixirs.


    In the end, this Barrier Breaking Pill was auctioned off for a high price of ten thousand Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong sighed internally; being an alchemist was indeed a lucrative profession. The price for such cherished Elixirs was more than ten times the cost.


    Several other rare Elixirs were auctioned off at equally high prices.


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 Chapter 38: Green Spirit Peach

    Chapter 38: Green Spirit Peach


    Next, a number of Spirit Herbs were auctioned, and Wang Hong casually bid on several. Anything avable at the auction was extraordinary, beyond what his small shop and stall could acquire.


    Thepetition for Spirit Herbs was not as intense as for Elixirs since merely having a Spirit Herb wouldn''t transform it into an Elixir. One still needed to gather other materials and find an Alchemist to refine it into a pill.


    "The next item up for auction is a Green Spirit Peach. Legend has it that in ancient times, there was a kind of peach that bloomed for three thousand years, bore fruit for three thousand years, and matured for three thousand years. From blooming to maturity, it took a total of nine thousand years. It is said that smelling this peach grants immortality, and eating one can make you an immortal on the spot.


    This Green Spirit Peach was obtained from an ancient cultivator''s cave and is spected to be a distant branch of an ancient variety. While its effects are far from the legendary peach, it still contains potent Spirit Qi. Consuming one can allow a Qi Cultivator to ignore bottlenecks and advance to the next realm.


    Now, let the auction begin, starting bid..."


    "Five hundred."


    "Six hundred."


    ...


    "Three thousand five."


    ...


    Soon, the price rose to ten thousand Spirit Stones. This Green Spirit Peach was much more powerful than the Barrier Breaking Pill, leading to increasedpetition.


    In the end, Wang Hong spent twelve thousand Spirit Stones to acquire it.


    Afterwards, several other spiritual items were auctioned, decent but not essential. Wang Hong refrained from bidding again.


    Following Elixirs and Spirit Herbs, there were auctions for rare ores, technique manuals, and other misceneous items.


    The two Scarlet Blood Ginseng that Wang Hong submitted for auction still hadn''t appeared. It wasn''t clear if they were being saved for a special reveal.


    "Next, we have the highlight of the auction. I present the first item." As Feng Qing spoke, he unveiled a golden radiance-emitting Flying Sword.


    "This is a Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword, a lower-grade Spiritual Weapon of the Metal Element."


    A Spiritual Weapon was a higher-level concept than a Magical Weapon, possessing some advantages of a magical treasure but in a simplified form. It served as the primary weapon for Foundation Building cultivators and could be reluctantly wielded by Qi Cultivationter-stage cultivators, offering a bit of power. However, even a small amount of its power was beyond what an ordinary Magical Weapon could withstand.


    "The starting bid for the Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword is one Spirit Stone, with increments of no less than one hundred Spirit Stones each time."


    "One thousand."


    "Five thousand."


    "Ten thousand."


    ...


    "One hundred twenty-eight thousand."


    "One hundred twenty-nine thousand."


    In the end, a cultivator wearing a cow-headed mask bought it for one hundred twenty-nine thousand.


    "The next item up for auction is a pair of three-hundred-year-old Scarlet Blood Ginseng. Sufficient for refining Breakthrough Pills for Foundation Building cultivators."


    "Two Scarlet Blood Ginseng, starting bid is one Spirit Stone, with increments of one hundred Spirit Stones each time."


    "I bid five thousand."


    ...


    When the price reached ny thousand Spirit Stones, a cultivator who was bidding suddenly released the pressure of a Foundation Building stage cultivator, causing those around him to be breathless.


    Several Qi Cultivation cultivators who were originally bidding against him fell silent and dared not speak.


    Although it was an auction for Qi Cultivation cultivators, a small number of Foundation Building cultivators still participated, and the organizers didn''t oppose it.


    At this moment, powerful pressures were released from the auction stage and several corners of the hall simultaneously.


    Feng Qing calmly spoke, "Senior, please retract your pressure. We junior cultivators have limited strength and can''t withstand the senior''s supernatural abilities."


    Although he said this, there was no fear in his expression. The Foundation Building cultivator slowly retracted his pressure, taking advantage of the situation.


    At this point, another Foundation Building cultivator stepped onto the auction stage and said, "Fellow cultivators, during the auction, please adhere to the order of the auction house, or you will be expelled."


    "At this auction, the highest bidder wins, regardless of cultivation level. We will also take measures to ensure confidentiality. The auction will now continue."


    Despite the assurances, the bidding became much less lively.


    In the end, the two three-hundred-year-old Scarlet Blood Ginseng only fetched ny thousand Spirit Stones. Wang Hong was infuriated, as it sold for at least several thousand Spirit Stones less than expected.


    "Now, we will auction the final item. Prepare your Spirit Stones and get ready to bid wildly!"


    "One Foundation Building Pill..."


    As soon as the words "Foundation Building Pill" were uttered, the audience erupted.


    Except for the Heavenly Spirit Root, any Qi Cultivation cultivator aiming to enter the Foundation Building stage needed the assistance of a Foundation Building Pill.


    It could be said that the Foundation Building Pill was the dream of every Qi Cultivation cultivator.


    However, the Spirit Herbs required to refine the Foundation Building Pill were said to be abundant in ancient times. Due to the gradual thinning of Spirit Qi in the cultivation world, many Spirit Herbs had be extinct.


    The Spirit Herbs needed to refine the Foundation Building Pill were on the verge of extinction. Now, they only grew in extremely concentrated Spirit Qi environments, known as secret realms.


    Several major sects led efforts to protect and upy these secret realms, with a total of six secret realms, each opening every sixty years. They took turns, opening one every ten years, each time for three months.


    Qi Cultivation cultivators dispatched by major sects entered the secret realms together to collect Spiritual Medicine.


    Furthermore, only mature Spiritual Medicine was allowed to be collected, preventing the extinction of these herbs.


    Hearing that it was a Foundation Building Pill, Wang Hong excitedly joined the bidding. When the price reached two hundred thousand, Wang Hong couldn''t keep up.


    He currently only had the Scarlet Blood Ginseng of considerable value, and it was based on their scarcity. If too many were released at once, they would naturally lose value.


    Moreover, as a mere Qi Cultivation cultivator, possessing too many rare Spiritual Medicines could lead to his discovery. If the auction wanted to trace him, it would be easy.


    In the end, a cultivator bought the Foundation Building Pill for three hundred fifty thousand.


    With thest item sold, the Ten Stores Joint Auction officially concluded.


    Wang Hong went to the side door with the Wooden que to collect the auction proceeds from the Scarlet Blood Ginseng. After selling for twelve thousand, deducting a ten percentmission, Wang Hong received a total of one hundred thousand and eighty thousand Spirit Stones.


    Holding the Spirit Stones, Wang Hong felt that he had underestimated the heroes of the world before. With just over ten thousand Spirit Stones in his Storage Bag, he thought he was wealthy. It was truly embarrassing to think about!


    In Azure Void City, there were millions of Qi Cultivation cultivators, including many outstanding individuals. Even among loose cultivators, there were likely many remarkable figures. He had been a bit narrow-minded before.


    Returning to his residence, Wang Hong scattered the over ten thousand Spirit Stones on the ground in the Space. Then, he found an empty space to nt the Spirit Herbs he had acquired today.


    Now, the Space had more than ny percent of itsnd upied, with just a little more needed to reach an acre. In fact, an acre wasn''t veryrge, and without the twenty-five times elerated time flow, it would be challenging to sustain oneself.


    After this auction, apart from the Scarlet Blood Ginseng, all the other Spiritual Medicines from previous years had been mostly used up. These Spiritual Medicines from previous years were umted over the past few years.


    The remaining Spiritual Medicines were enough for his personal use. In the short term, there wouldn''t be arge quantity of Spiritual Herbs for sale. It seemed he would have to find other ways to earn Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong turned his gaze to a corner of the Space, where arge pile of wine barrels was stacked, over ten feet high, upying a square area.


    Since three years ago, when the Spirit Wine business boomed, he had been intermittently brewing Medicinal wine. It would take another year to reach the vintage of the previous batch.


    The previous batch of wine was only a few thousand catties, and under limited sales, it didn''tst long, selling out quickly. However, it still earned him tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.


    In fact, this was only the lowest-grade Spirit Wine, suitable for early and mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    Thinking about it, Wang Hong decided to brew some higher-quality Spirit Wine.


    The materials for brewing Spirit Wine were divided into several categories, including Spirit Grain, spirit fruit, spirit flowers, and Spirit Herbs.


    Depending on the materials used, the brewing methods naturally varied.


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 Chapter 39: Brewing Spirit Wine

    Chapter 39: Brewing Spirit Wine


    Wang Hong surveyed every corner of Space. Over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones he had scattered earlier had been partially absorbed by thend. Finally, the area of Space exceeded an acre.


    Carrying arge bag of Spirit Rice, he exited Space. He soaked the Spirit Rice in Spirit Spring Water, steamed it until cooked, and then let it cool to room temperature before mixing in Spirit Wine yeast, stirring it evenly.


    After mixing, he ced it into arge vat, positioned it in a ce rich with Spirit Qi, and let it ferment for three days. Wang Hong put it back into Space, keeping track of time.


    Wang Hong estimated that it had been a little over two days in Space, and he entered it.


    As he approached the wine vat, a sweet aroma filled the air, indicating that the fermentation had matured.


    Taking the vat out of Space, he scooped some of the lees to eat. Sweet, soft, with a hint of the wine aroma.


    Wang Hong was puzzled; the time shouldn''t have passed yet. How did it ferment so quickly?


    He poured Spirit Spring Water into the vat, stirred it effortlessly, sealed the vat, and ced it back into Space. Another six months were needed for Spirit Qi fermentation.


    He brought two hoursses, started them simultaneously, one in Space and one outside.


    After repeated tests, Wang Hong finally confirmed that time in Space passed at thirty-one times the rate of the outside world. In other words, one day outside equaled thirty-one days inside Space.


    Wang Hong spected that the absorption of Spirit Stones and the expansion ofnd in Space might have elerated the passage of time.


    But this was just spection; he could only confirm it with Spirit Stones next time.


    Six dayster, Wang Hong brought the vat out of Space and filtered out the lees.


    The vat now contained a milky-white liquid. Wang Hong performed dozens of spirit techniques on the vat, and white mist emerged.


    This was a purification Magical Art used by winemakers to remove excess water and impurities from the wine. After the mist dissipated, only two-thirds of the original liquid remained.


    The remaining liquid was sealed in small jars. Then came the aging process. Generally, after Spirit Wine was brewed, it needed to be ced in a location rich with Spirit Qi for at least ten years to mature. The higher the quality, the longer the aging required.


    Wang Hong instructed Zhang Chunfeng to use the Spirit Stones earned from the market stalls and small shops during this period to buy Spirit Rice for brewing Spirit Wine. They only needed to ferment it once before handing it over to Wang Hong.


    One day, Wang Hong sat in a secret chamber, holding a small green peach in his hand. The peach was notrge, smaller than an adult fist, entirely green with fine fuzz on the surface. Wang Hong felt that the peach was not yet ripe.


    He took a bite, and it was crispy, slightly sweet with a hint of tartness. After a few chews, it even had a bit of bitterness. Without savoring it further, he finished the peach in three or four bites.


    A few momentster, Wang Hong felt a surge of Spiritual Energy in his body. He quickly activated his cultivation technique, guiding the Spiritual Energy. Waves of Spiritual Energy flowed through his organs, limbs, and bones, as if his entire body had been massaged by Spiritual Energy, strengthening everything.


    The Spiritual Energy circting in his meridians continued to grow, eventually breaking through a limit and entering the fifthyer of Qi Cultivation.


    As the Spiritual Energy gradually calmed, it slowly entered the dantian, merging into the vortex of Spiritual Energy.


    Wang Hong looked at the remaining peach pit in his hand, feeling that the twelve thousand Spirit Stones spent were well worth it. Not only did his cultivation level increase, but he also obtained an Azure Spirit Peach Tree.


    Others might not be able to grow a tree even if they got a peach pit. Even if they did, they might not live long enough to see it blossom and bear fruit.


    However, he was different. He could casually throw a tree branch on Space''snd, and it would root and sprout, growing into a small tree. As for the lengthy growth time, it was not a problem for him.


    Wang Hong entered Space and specifically marked out a small area to nt the peach pit.


    At this point, Space had expanded to two acres, with one acre already nted with Spiritual Medicine required for Condensing Qi Pills.


    Condensing Qi Pills were considered a high-demand item among Qi Cultivation cultivators. In the bustling Azure Void City, hundreds of thousands of cultivators needed them, ensuring steady sales.


    Wang Hong nned to wait for the Medicinal Herbs to mature, refine them all into Condensing Qi Pills, and then sell them. As a low-tier Elixir, Condensing Qi Pills had a high cirction, and even withrge quantities sold, it wouldn''t attract much attention.


    Monthster, on a bustling street, a shop named "Immortal Spirits Wine Pavilion" officially opened for business.


    The entrance was adorned with flowers, Thunder Resonance Talismans producing continuous rumbles.


    A massive sign at the entrance announced an 80% discount for the first three days.


    By now, a long line had formed outside.


    Skinny Monkey, dressed in a luxurious robe, with a radiant face, stood at the entrance weing guests. Despite his poor innate talent, with the assistance of arge number of Elixirs, he had reached the peak of the thirdyer of Qi Cultivation.


    Over the years, Wang Hong had earned a considerable number of Spirit Stones, and he had never mistreated his subordinates. Without the aid of the Elixirs, Skinny Monkey would probably still be struggling at the firstyer of Qi Cultivation.


    Wang Hong entrusted the management of this new store to Skinny Monkey. It would focus exclusively on the Spirit Wine business.


    The original small shop still operated, but its location was unfavorable, with a monthly ie of only a few hundred Spirit Stones. Nevertheless, the rent was cheap, and it was convenient for amodation.


    The rent for the new store was a thousand Spirit Stones per month.


    Wang Hong actually wanted to buy a whole building himself, but the cost was too high, at least several hundred thousand Spirit Stones, which he couldn''t afford right now.


    Even if he could barely gather enough Spirit Stones, he didn''t n to buy it now. Having those Spirit Stones would be better spent letting Space absorb them to increase itsnd.


    Over the years in Azure Void City, Wang Hong and his group had naturally made some acquaintances among the cultivators, and today, many came to congratte them.


    Gao Yue walked over with a grin, teasing Skinny Monkey, "As the saying goes, clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse. Brother Skinny Monkey, now that you''re a big shopkeeper, things have really changed."


    "Brother Gao, you could have just sent the congrattions gift, why bothering in person?" Skinny Monkey replied.


    Gao Yue grinned, "I missed you guys, that''s all."


    "I don''t have any special love for you."


    The two bantered for a while before heading to the back hall with their arms around each other.


    In the back hall, there were over twenty square tables, each adorned with arge te of fist-sized raspberries, shiny and full, quite attractive.


    There was also a te of Three Yang Melon Seeds, the size of a finger and an inch long. These seeds were somewhat simr to conventional sunflower seeds butrger, rich in Spirit Qi, and took three years to mature. Hence the name Three Yang Melon Seeds.


    These were also products from Wang Hong''s Space. He had nted several of them recently, and the nts were over ten feet tall, with flower disks evenrger than grinding wheels.


    Each table also had a bottle of Spirit Wine. The three items on each table were worth dozens of Spirit Stones. If a cultivator unfamiliar with the situation saw it, they might think it was a banquet hosted by a Foundation Building senior.


    By now, several guests had already arrived in the back hall, and Zhang Chunfeng was attending to them.


    As soon as the two entered the back hall, Hemp Pole waved at them. Skinny Monkey led Gao Yue to a table behind Hemp Pole. The three of them seemed to get along quite well over the past few years.


    After settling Gao Yue, Skinny Monkey went back to the entrance to wee more guests.


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 Chapter 40: Entry Task

    Chapter 40: Entry Task


    After a short wait, all the guests from various backgrounds gathered, totaling just over ten people. As the host, Wang Hong raised a toast with Spirit Wine.


    While sipping Spirit Wine, the group exchanged insights on their cultivation experiences. Immortal Cultivators usually practiced in solitude, and asional discussions with others were valuable. After all, the proverb says, "A stone from another mountain may be used for jade carving."


    They also chatted about some peculiar events in the cultivation world.


    "In another five years, the major sects in the cultivation world will issue entry tasks to recruit disciples. Do any of you have ns?" a young man in white, named Zhu Weisheng, asked. He usually engaged in the small business of trading Spiritual Medicine.


    Having some business dealings with Wang Hong and the others, he gradually became acquainted with them.


    Wang Hong now knew that the cultivation world they were in was called the Eastern Realm of Cultivation. Several tens of thousands of miles further westy a massive mountain range called Tianzhu Mountain, spanning from north to south. Beyond Tianzhu Mountain to the east was the Eastern Realm, the territory of the human race. To the west of Tianzhu Mountain was the Western Realm, upied by the demonic race.


    The Eastern Realm of Cultivation had six major sects: Taihao Sect, Qingxu Sect, Beast Spirit Sect, Hunyuan Sect, Thousand Crafts Pavilion, and Putuo Temple. In addition, there were some smaller sects and cultivation ns, collectively forming the Eastern Realm of Cultivation.


    Wang Hong had only heard bits and pieces about the major sects recruiting disciples and didn''t know much about it.


    "I''m too old; there''s no hope for me. However, in my younger days, I participated a few times. I almost died a couple of times, not to mention any gains," an old man named Feng Xin said.


    Feng Xin had been a loose cultivator wandering around Azure Void City for many years, a seasoned individual familiar with the city, often setting up a stall in the Free Market Square.


    Wang Hong also considered joining a sect. His younger brother was already in Taihao Sect, and if he could join, it would be even better. If not, joining another sect would suffice.


    Various Qi Cultivation techniques were still avable for purchase with Spirit Stones at his current stage. However, once he reached the Foundation Building stage, such techniques and secrets were no longer essible with Spirit Stones.


    Moreover, the crucial point was that the secret realms for refining Foundation Building pills were controlled by the major sects. Without joining a faction, obtaining Foundation Building pills was impossible.


    With his aptitude, achieving Foundation Building without a Foundation Building pill was nearly impossible. Since he embarked on the path of cultivation, how could he willingly stop at the Qi Cultivation stage?


    If possible, he hoped to obtain Spiritual Medicine, cultivate the necessary herbs in the spatial dimension, and refine the Foundation Building pills himself.


    Given his aptitude, he had no confidence in using a single Foundation Building pill toplete the Foundation Building. If possible, he also wanted to cultivate some of his subordinates to the Foundation Building stage.


    Furthermore, if he joined a sect, with the sect as his backing, would the Lin Family still dare to openly pursue him?


    At this point, hearing the old man mention his past experiences, Wang Hong asked, "Sir, with your rich experience, could you offer some guidance?"


    It''s amon trait that heroes don''t mention their past glory, but when people get old, they love reminiscing about their past. Immortal Cultivators were no exception. As Wang Hong asked, the old man, named Feng Xin, began to exin in great detail.


    Every ten years, the six major sects would open their doors wide, heading to various immortal cities to recruit disciples. Although Azure Void City belonged to the influence of Qingxu Sect, all six major sects could recruit disciples here.


    During this period, the six major sects would issue entry tasks. The first fifty individuals toplete the tasks could enter the corresponding sect and be official disciples.


    In addition, if someone possessed a special skill, such as alchemy, artifact forging, talisman crafting, or presented a valuable spiritual object, they could also join the sect as registered disciples. If they performed exceptionally well in the future, they could be promoted to official disciples.


    To the west of Qingxu Mountain Range, there was a vast marsh called the ck Dragon Marsh, spanning tens of thousands of miles in all directions. Originally, it was and rich in spiritual energy, but due to excessive exploitation, the spiritual veins disappeared. Combined with the breeding of various poisonous insects and fierce beasts, the area was surrounded by toxic gas, making the environment exceptionally harsh.


    Each time the major sects issued tasks, it involved delving into the ck Dragon Marsh to find the required spiritual objects. These objects included Spirit Herbs, spirit wood, spirit fruit, spirit ore, and specific demon cores. The requirements varied each year.


    Wang Hong asked, "Not the same? Are there some items that are listed as tasks every time?"


    The old man, Feng Xin, replied, "Exactly. After all, the ck Dragon Marsh was once a fairnd, and there are still a few remnants of Spiritual Medicine used to refine Foundation Building pills, although not many. Usually, only one or two appear at most each time. As for other spiritual objects, there may be asional repetitions, but the chances are small.


    Whenever the major sects announce entry tasks, it''s the most fiercelypetitive time among Qi Cultivation cultivators. Countless young talents have lost their lives in the process. When I was young, I entered the ck Dragon Marsh several times. If I didn''t have some skill in escaping, I would have turned into a pile of bones long ago.


    At that time, almost all thete-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators in the entire city, numbering at least tens of thousands, would participate in the selection tasks. Among them were numerous experts.


    With such arge number of expertspeting for just over two hundred slots, you can imagine how brutal thepetition is.


    If your cultivation level is not at thete stage of Qi Cultivation, going in will only make you cannon fodder. It''s best not to participate.


    The ck Dragon Marsh is filled with poisonous fog, and there are countless venomous insects. You need to prepare an ample supply of detoxification elixirs.


    If you want to form a team, it''s better to find familiar cultivators. In the ck Dragon Marsh, humans are more dangerous than Demonic Beasts. Some cultivators even specialize in ambushing others, killing them, and taking their treasures.


    There''s also..."


    Wang Hong took note of everything the old man said.


    The others also expressed their intention to participate in the sect selection tasks. After chatting for a while, everyone dispersed.


    Back at his residence, Wang Hong continued pondering the matter of the sect selection tasks.


    After careful consideration, he identified several aspects he needed to address: improving his cultivation level, enhancing overallbat strength, mastering a skill, and familiarizing himself with the ck Dragon Marsh in advance.


    With his current cultivation level at Qi Cultivation Stage 5, he had no hope. He probably wouldn''t even qualify as cannon fodder.


    However, there were still five years to go. By then, reaching Qi Cultivation Stage 7 should be achievable. But among the many cultivators at the 9th and 10th stages, he would be nothing more than a stronger piece of cannon fodder.


    Simrly, at thete stage of Qi Cultivation, there were variations in strength. In terms ofbat power, he was currentlycking.


    Determining a person''sbat power involved factors such as cultivation level, techniques, magical weapons, talismans, and many other aspects.


    Currently, the only technique that could enhance hisbat power was the "Body Refining Decision." It was practically a tailor-made technique for him.


    It had low requirements for Spiritual Roots but required a substantial amount of resources. Consumingrge quantities of elixirs or rare materials, he could refine the spiritual energy within and temper his physical body.


    The enormous resource consumption was unbearable for other loose cultivators, directly resulting in slow progress in cultivation.


    Hu Qing, who was beaten by Wang Hong before, had practiced this technique for ten years and only reached the second level.


    With the assistance of his spatial ability, Wang Hong could obtain abundant resources. What hecked the least was the Spiritual Medicine resource. His goal was to convert these resources into his cultivation level and strength.


    Wang Hong took three Condensing Qi Pills every day, elerating his progress in the "Body Refining Decision." In less than a year, hepleted the first level of the technique.


    Additionally, Wang Hong nned to focus on improving his alchemy skills. He had no assurance of standing out among numerouste-stage and peak Qi Cultivation cultivators. If his alchemy skills were exceptional, he could enter a sect, providing himself with an extra option.


    The improvement of alchemy skills boiled down to practice.


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 Chapter 41: Spiritual Medicine Pavilion

    Chapter 41: Spiritual Medicine Pavilion


    The Immortal Spirits Wine Pavilion currently only sells two types of Spirit Wine. One is made by Wang Hong using worldly Strong Liquor, soaked in Spiritual Medicine, and stored in Space for a hundred years. Its cost is low, and its quality is only at the lower tier of the first tier, making it the most basic Spirit Wine. Each bottle, half a catty, is priced at thirty Spirit Stones.


    The other type is Spirit Rice Wine brewed with Spirit Rice and stored in Space for ten years. It is of a middle-tier first tier quality. Each bottle, one tael, is priced at twenty Spirit Stones.


    Although the quality of these two Spirit Wines is not high, their prices are reasonable. The number of Immortal Cultivators follows a pyramid structure, with more people at the lower levels. These two types of Spirit Wine have the highest demand among Qi Cultivation early and mid-stage cultivators.


    Since the opening of the Spirit Wine Pavilion, business has been booming. In the first month alone, it made a profit of twelve thousand Spirit Stones, equivalent to his annual profit before.


    Wang Hong left only a few subordinates to manage the stalls in the market, focusing the rest on brewing Spirit Wine. The acquisition of Spirit Herbs, however, continued as it was essential to supplement the source and disguise the Spirit Herbs produced by Space. Additionally, sometimes he could acquire rare Spirit Herbs not avable to him before.


    Once the production of Spirit Wine stabilized, Wang Hong handed over its management entirely to Skinny Monkey. He then secluded himself to practice Alchemy.


    He continued with the Condensing Qi Pill, preparing a thousand Spirit Herbs this time. Besides the necessary pill consumption for his cultivation, Wang Hong spent the rest of his time on Alchemy.


    This time, it took him a full half-year to refine the thousand Spirit Herbs. The harvest, however, was enormous.


    The sess rate of Wang Hong''s Condensing Qi Pill finally reached forty percent. Each Spirit Herb was worth twenty Spirit Stones, and he sold each Condensing Qi Pill for ten Spirit Stones. With a sess rate of forty percent, it meant a profit of twenty Spirit Stones for each batch of Condensing Qi Pills.


    Furthermore, Wang Hong obtained a bottle containing eight middle-tier Condensing Qi Pills. Elixirs could be ssified into lower, middle, upper, and peak tiers.


    Commonly seen Elixirs, if notbeled with a tier, were considered lower-tier Elixirs. Middle and upper-tier Elixirs were rarely produced except by highly skilled Alchemists, and only a few would asionally appear in the market.


    Middle-tier Condensing Qi Pills had fewer impurities, contained a vast amount of Spiritual Energy, and were several times more effective than lower-tier pills. They provided significant assistance in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks and offered numerous long-term benefits if consumed regrly.


    Afterpleting this batch of Elixirs, Wang Hong took a few days to rest and rx.


    In the past six months, the business at the Spirit Wine Pavilion flourished, bringing in over ten thousand Spirit Stones every month after deducting expenses.


    All the ie, tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, were invested by Wang Hong into the Spacend. At this rate, in two or three more months, the Spacend would expand to three acres.


    Currently, one acre of Spacend was dedicated to Condensing Qi Pill materials. The original Spirit Grain and Spirit Wheat, due to overcrowding, were transnted, upying two-fifths of thend.


    Wang Hong also nted some Iron Thorns that were covered in seeds. These thorns produced seeds once every ten years and could be used for Wood Element Magical Arts  the Entanglement Technique.


    The Green Spirit Peach he nted in Space grew extremely slowly. After experiencing nine years in Space, it finally sprouted and had been growing for several decades. It was now over a foot tall, with crystalline, emerald-green stems and leaves that bore faint white patterns.


    Additionally, the Astragalus he nted initially began to mutate. Golden yellow streaks appeared on its originally emerald-green leaves. The mutation had just begun, and Wang Hong was curious to see how it would ultimately turn out.


    After a few days of rest, Wang Hong resumed his grand endeavor of Alchemy. He was uncertain about the standards required by sects when recruiting Alchemists but aimed to do his best.


    However, this time he was going to refine the Barrier Breaking Pill. The main ingredient of the Barrier Breaking Pill, Scarlet Blood Ginseng, is exceptionally rare for others. Wang Hong had arge quantity of it growing in his Space, but it was inconvenient to sell inrge quantities. It was perfect for practice, and with his mediocre aptitude, he believed he would need this Elixir in the future.


    Building on the previous foundation, he refined only a hundred batches, improving the sess rate of the Barrier Breaking Pill to forty percent.


    Next, Wang Hong spent over half a year refining several types of first-tier Elixirs. He refined over a hundred batches of each, achieving a forty percent sess rate for each.


    At this point, Wang Hong had umted over ten thousand first-tier Elixirs. He couldn''t use so many Elixirs himself in the short term, and keeping them in hand was a waste of resources.


    Selling the Elixirs to an Elixir shop inrge quantities might attract attention. It would be better to open another Elixir shop.


    Running a business in the cultivation world differed significantly from the Mortal Realm.


    The Mortal Realm had abundant resources, and the market was filled withmon items. Thepetition was fierce, and businesses had to work hard to attract customers.


    In the cultivation world, resources were scarce, and as long as there were Spiritual Objects, they would sell without difficulty. The most intensepetition among major businesses was for the supply channels and various resources.


    In the Mortal Realm,petition was downstream, in a buyer''s market. In the cultivation world,petition was upstream, in a seller''s market.


    Spiritual Objects needed for Qi Cultivation could still be bought with Spirit Stones in major stores. However, for Foundation Building, the required Spiritual Objects became rare, and the Spiritual Pills consumed by Foundation Building cultivators were no longer readily avable like Condensing Qi Pills. By the Golden Core stage, the appearance of any kind of Spiritual Objects would cause contention.


    The scarcity of resources was the main reason for the small number of high-tier cultivators.


    Opening an Elixir shop required two main conditions. One was a stable supply of Spirit Herbs. The Spirit Herbs required for Alchemy had a long maturation period, and the demand was high. The meager spiritual resources found in the wild were simply insufficient.


    Most Elixir shops had their own medicinal gardens, and some even established stable supply rtionships with Spirit Herb suppliers.


    The other condition was having a skilled Alchemist. An Elixir shop without an Alchemist would notst long. However, cultivating an Alchemist was costly. Alchemists trained by Cultivation ns would serve their families, and loose cultivators often struggled even to obtain resources for their own cultivation, let alone having an abundance of Spirit Herbs to practice with, as Wang Hong did.


    For example, the Wan Family owned a ten-acre Spiritual Medicine garden and had their own Alchemist, allowing them to sustain an Elixir shop in Azure Void City.


    Currently, Wang Hong''s Space had three acres ofnd, with time passing at thirty-two times the normal speed. One hundred thousand Spirit Stones could increase Space by one acre. With each acre added, the speed of time passing would double. This was enough to supply an Elixir shop.


    As for Elixirs, he was already practicing Alchemy extensively for his own cultivation. He believed his forty percent sess rate was still too low and needed further improvement.


    The only additional requirement was to rent another shop, which was also a considerable expense.


    Wang Hong had always wanted to buy a house in Azure Void City and several pieces of spiritualnd. Unfortunately, Spirit Stones were always insufficient. Despite earning quite a few Spirit Stones in recent years and having expenses for over forty people, the major portion went to Space, which was the foundation of all his development.


    After so many years, he didn''t even have a decent Magical Weapon. Firstly, he hadn''t found a suitable one, and secondly, he genuinely didn''t have spare Spirit Stones.


    He aimed to make the most of every Spirit Stone spent, ensuring maximum value.


    Wang Hong called Zhao Ning over and assigned him the task. Zhao Ning, currently at the first cultivation level of Qi Cultivation, rarely appeared in public, and this Elixir shop would be established in his name.


    Ten dayster, a shop named "Zhao''s Pill Shop" opened. It specialized in Elixirs and Spirit Herbs, with all Elixirs sold in the store being first-tier Elixirs required for Qi Cultivation.


    This time, Wang Hong didn''t inform anyone. He wanted to downy the connection between this shop and himself. He preferred to stay behind the scenes.


    Being a Qi Cultivator without a background, owning a Spirit Wine Pavilion was already remarkable. If he also had an Elixir shop, he would likely attract attention soon.


    Having immense wealth without corresponding strength was dangerous.


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 Chapter 42: Immortal Transformation

    Chapter 42: Immortal Transformation


    Zhao Ning and Luo Zhongjie, after a period of repeated practice of the "Body Refining Decision," made a crucial discovery. They found that, due to theck of Spiritual Roots, practicing directly for two months yielded no progress. Subsequently, they tried the approach of using elixirs or other Spiritual Objects, simr to what Wang Hong did. While this method had some effect, the absorption of Spiritual Energy was highly inefficient, slow, and led to significant wastage.


    It seemed that Spiritual Roots not only served as a bridge for absorbing Spirit Qi from the external environment but also yed a role when ingesting Spiritual Objects, affecting the process.


    The specific reasons were beyond Wang Hong''s limited understanding at the moment, leaving room for future exploration.


    Despite the low absorption efficiency, it was still a significant improvementpared to making no progress at all. At least, they saw a glimmer of further hope.


    The efficiency of absorbing Spiritual Medicine when practicing "Henglian Liuhe Gong" was much better. However, this ordinary martial art couldn''t reach the level of immortal cultivation techniques. Even if one cultivated "Henglian Liuhe Gong" to the highest level, it wouldn''t withstand a blow from a Magical Weapon.


    Wang Hong pondered on how tobine the advantages of both approaches. All cultivation techniques could be broadly categorized into two types: Dynamic Cultivation and Static Cultivation.


    Dynamic Cultivation involved continuous movement during practice, either with physical and mental movement or abination of stillness and movement, like "Henglian Liuhe Gong."


    Static Cultivation, on the other hand, required the body to be stationary during practice. This could be with mental movement and physical stillness or the reverse, like "Body Refining Decision."


    Wang Hong''s experiment involved using the practice method of "Body Refining Decision" along with the techniques of "Henglian Liuhe Gong" to strike the entire body, aiming to enhance the absorption efficiency of Spiritual Energy.


    He remembered thest battle with Hu Qing, where the forceful blows from Hu Qing helped absorb the residual medicinal power in his body.


    After several months of repeated experiments and numerous modifications, they finally had a preliminary form of a cultivation technique. Wang Hong named it "Immortal Transformation," consisting of nineyers, intended to be the main cultivation technique for the soldiers under hismand.


    Although the technique had many shorings and appeared rough in many aspects, given their current level, it was the best they could achieve. They would have to wait for their strength and understanding to improve before making further modifications. In any case, they had taken the first step.


    ...


    In a swampy area shrouded in ck mist, poisonous creatures asionally emerged. A group of five people, four men and one woman, cautiously moved through, heading towards the depths of the ck Dragon Marsh.


    The elderly man named Ge at the front cautioned, "Everyone, be mindful of suppressing your aura. There''s a tentacle monster lurking in this swamp, highly venomous and attacks based on aura detection. If you suppress your aura, you can stand in front of it without being noticed."


    A young cultivator in ck robes, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, asked from within the group, "What tier of Demonic Beast is this tentacle monster?"


    Another cultivator in the group, named Lei, replied, "Friend Wang must not have been to this area before. This tentacle monster is a mid-tier Demonic Beast. Due to its highly poisonous nature, even cultivators in theter stages of Qi Cultivation are reluctant to provoke it."


    The ck-robed cultivator referred to as Friend Wang was, in fact, Wang Hong in disguise. With this new appearance, even acquaintances wouldn''t recognize him.


    During this time, while he was busy with alchemy, running a store to earn Spirit Stones, he didn''t neglect his cultivation. He had progressed to the secondyer of "Body Refining Decision." His physical strength had reached twenty thousand catties, and his flesh was as tough as iron, resistant to most Low-Quality Magical Weapons.


    Using the alias Wang Kun, he had infiltrated this temporary exploration team to familiarize himself with the terrain of the ck Dragon Marsh.


    In this swamp, there wasn''t only one type of creature, the tentacle monster. Countless buzzing poisonous mosquitoes danced around the group, searching for ces to bite.


    The group constantly waved their hands to drive away the approaching mosquitoes. Normally, releasing a Spiritual Energy shield would be enough to prevent mosquito bites. However, in the current situation of suppressing their aura, they couldn''t use Magical Arts; otherwise, it might attract the tentacle monster.


    Helplessly, they could only drive away these intrusive mosquitoes.


    While Wang Hong was swatting away mosquitoes, he suddenly realized that he might not need to do so. These mosquitoes'' attacking power was probably far inferior to a Low-Quality Magical Weapon. With his current body-refining cultivation level, they shouldn''t be able to prate his defenses.


    He tried letting a mosquitoe close, simultaneously activating his divine sense to observe carefully. The mosquitonded on his leg, extended a slender needle, and silently pierced through his pants.


    Then, it released a venom that coated the needle, viciously stabbing toward the skin. The moment it touched the skin, the needle broke into several pieces. The mosquito shook its head, still not understanding what happened, before Wang Hong casually crushed it.


    Next, Wang Hong continued to drive away mosquitoes while observing the surroundings.


    This time, in addition to familiarizing himself with the ck Dragon Marsh environment, he had another n. He intended to transnt as many Spiritual Medicines produced in the ck Dragon Marsh into his Space as possible.


    Although he didn''t know what Spirit Herb the Entry-level Mission would require, if he collected all Spirit Herbs in advance and nted them in his Space, there would be no need to search for Spiritual Medicer.


    Of course, only Wang Hong could pull off such a move.


    Firstly, the required Spirit Herb for the Entry-level Mission must be freshly harvested. While Jade Boxes and formations could preserve them, there was still a significant differencepared to freshly harvested Spirit Herbs.


    Secondly, each Spirit Herb required a different growing environment. To cultivate them artificially, one needed to be well-versed in the habits of various Spirit Herbs. It also required spiritual fields for different environments to amodate the growth of Spirit Herbs. With thousands of types of Spiritual Medicine in the ck Dragon Marsh, even major cultivation sects couldn''t achieve this.


    This swamp was a vital passage into the ck Dragon Marsh, and any rare Spirit Herbs would have been collected by previous explorers. Wang Hong casually dug up a small gray grass with its roots, storing it in his Storage Bag.


    "Wang Dao-you, why are you collecting these Spirit Herb seedlings along the way? Some of these Spirit Herbs take decades, even centuries, to mature for medicinal use. We, loose cultivators, can at most cultivate one or two types of Spiritual Medicine, and it''s challenging to seed with more." The only female cultivator in the group blinked her lively eyes and asked curiously.


    "Sister Shi, you might not know. I''ve recently been studying the growing habits of various Spirit Herbs and need arge variety for reference. If you have Spirit Herbs, I''m willing to exchange them for Elixirs or Spirit Stones." Wang Hong replied calmly.


    "I happen to have some unused Spirit Herbs. What Elixir do you n to use for the exchange?" Miss Shi asked, blinking her eyes.


    "It depends on the value of the Spirit Herb. I have Condensing Qi Pill, Revitalizing Pill, Poison Resistance Pill, and Spirit Wine for restoring Spiritual Energy." Wang Hong replied.


    "Is Wang Dao-you also proficient in Alchemy?" Miss Shi asked, and the others also looked over.


    Wang Hong chuckled, "I''m not skilled in Alchemy at all. I was fortunate to meet an Alchemist in Azure Void City. Currently, I''m running errands for this Alchemist."


    The others showed a disappointed yet envious expression. Befriending an Alchemist was a significant advantage. Alchemists were rare resources, and everyone hoped to have the chance to seek their assistance.


    Seeing this, everyone took out a few Spirit Herbs and exchanged them for Elixirs with Wang Hong, who epted all of them. With everyone getting what they needed, their spirits lifted, and they hastened their journey.


    The five of them safely traversed the swamp, encountered no dangers, passed through a grassy area, and finally arrived at their first destination of the journey, the "Hundred Flowers Valley."


    Hundred Flowers Valley, with a radius of three to four miles, had various Spirit Blossoms blooming throughout the year. However, only a few were suitable for medicinal use. Nevertheless, these Spirit Blossoms were excellent choices for brewing Hundred Flowers Spirit Wine.


    Hundred Flowers Spirit Wine was brewed with various Spirit Blossoms, and the more varieties and higher tier of Spirit Blossoms, the stronger the effect. The group''s purpose foring here was to pick flowers for brewing.


    At this moment, Hundred Flowers Valley was filled with colorful flowers and a fragrant aroma. Various Spirit Bees and Spirit Butterflies fluttered around. However, the group had no intention of appreciating the beauty; they were busy picking Spirit Blossoms, engaging in the task at hand.


    Some Spirit Blossoms would bloom continuously as long as the Spirit Herb was mature, while others would only flower once every ten or even several decades. Everyone picked only the flowers, but Wang Hong still transnted one or two seedlings of each Spirit Blossom into his Space. The group had already be ustomed to such entricities from cultivators in the immortal cultivation world.


    Suddenly, a cultivator named Yu in the group pointed at a two-zhang tall small tree and eximed, "Everyone, look! There''s an Azure-tailed Spirit Bee Nest here."


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 Chapter 43: Green-tailed Spirit Bees

    Chapter 43: Green-tailed Spirit Bees


    The crowd followed the sound and found themselves beneath a Wood Hibiscus Tree. Hanging from one of its branches was a three-foot-wide beehive, surrounded by finger-sized Spirit Beesing and going.


    A few people stood under the tree, gazing upward with greedy expressions. Spirit Bee Honey was a precious substance, rich in Spiritual Energy. Its mild energy could be directly consumed, easily refined and absorbed without any poisonous side effects.


    Moreover, its adaptability surpassed that of Elixirs, usable at any cultivation level. Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, in particr, was a favorite among female cultivators for its beauty-enhancing and anti-aging properties.


    Wang Hong recalled a book titled "100 Ways to Woo Female Cultivators" at the book stall. It mentioned that Resplendent Youth Pills and Spirit Bee Royal Jelly were the ultimate weapons for courting female cultivators.


    However, many alchemists considered it a waste for female cultivators to use Spirit Bee Royal Jelly solely for beauty, deeming it extravagant.


    If a few drops were added to Alchemy, it could increase the sess rate of pill formation by one percent. This was especially valuable for rare Elixirs since Spirit Herbs were hard to find, and a one percent increase in pill formation had significant worth.


    The challengey in the difficulty of harvesting these Spirit Bees. They wouldn''t watch their hard-earned Spirit Honey be taken by cultivators without a fight.


    They didn''t consider themselves friends with humans, nor did they have the noble intention of contributing to humanity through honey collection.


    The issue was that Spirit Bees were tough opponents. While the strength of a single bee might not surpass that of a Qi Cultivation first-level cultivator, theirrge numbers and resistance to magic made them formidable.


    The hive in front of them was rtively small among Spirit Bees, but it wasn''t something they could easily deal with.


    "How about waiting until nightfall, let them return to the hive, and then set it on fire?" suggested a cultivator named Lei.


    "No, these Spirit Bees have resistance to fire. The Fireball Technique won''t be very effective. Regr mes will be useless and might even provoke the swarm," Elder Ge countered.


    After some discussion, they couldn''t find a better solution. Finally, Ding, a cultivator who usually didn''t speak much, proposed a straightforward method: lure the Spirit Bees away in batches, kill them at a distance, and collect the honey after they were all dead.


    Unable toe up with a better n, everyone nodded in agreement. They discussed the details and assigned tasks.


    The group retreated to a hundred yards away. Elder Ge took out a bow and arrow, aimed at the beehive, and shot an arrow. The arrow hit the hive, creating a small hole. The hive then released a swarm of bees.


    Seeing this, the five individuals immediately scattered. Wang Hong attached a Divine Movement Talisman to himself and ran swiftly. Some of the bees chased him, but after a while, some started to return. Only a few hundred continued pursuing him relentlessly.


    Wang Hong reached an open area, stopped, and pped an Earth Armor Talisman onto himself.


    As the Spirit Bees approached, he threw a Fireball Talisman at the swarm. It exploded with a bang, but it had little effect. Only four or five bees lost their wings and fell to the ground, while a few others suffered minor injuries.


    Wang Hong then tried Wind de Talismans, Wood Thorn Talismans, Ice Spike Talismans, Water Arrow Talismans, and various elemental spirit talismans. However, their effects were not as good as the Fireball Talisman.


    All the magical arts from the talismans encountered a blue light emitted from the Spirit Bees'' bodies. It was like ice meeting hot water, quickly melting away.


    Wang Hong sighed at the miraculous nature of these creatures. Unfortunately, their tier was too low, making them insufficient against absolute strength. Otherwise, he would have had no way to deal with them.


    In the time it took for these thoughts, the Spirit Bees had approached to within a few feet.


    Wang Hong wielded his Long Spear, creating a spear flower and smashing several Spirit Bees. Although these Spirit Bees were resistant to magic, their bodies were fragile. Touching the Long Spear meant instant death, and being nearby meant injury.


    The Spirit Bees, utilizing their numerical advantage, surrounded him from all directions, with somending on the protective light shield formed by the Earth Armor Talisman.


    The Spirit Bees emitted a blue light, which gradually merged with the defensive light shield. The entire Spirit Bee then entered the shield.


    Once inside, the Spirit Bees quickly moved toward Wang Hong''s clothing, searching for exposed skin to sting. However, their forceful stings only left small red marks on the skin, unable to pierce it.


    Seeing one method fail, the Spirit Bees switched to biting directly. Their teeth repeatedly scraped over the skin, only managing to scrape off some skin kes.


    Though Wang Hong continued to swing his Long Spear, killing Spirit Bees, everything was closely monitored by his spiritual awareness. As expected, these Spirit Bees couldn''t prate his skin.


    However, even though the skin wasn''t pierced, the venom on the Spirit Bee''s stinger caused a numbing sensation in the local skin. Being stung repeatedly was ufortable.


    Wang Hong''s spear technique transformed, creating a dance of light and shadows around him, imprable. This was a defensive spear technique he had cultivated when he was still a Mortal.


    Spirit Bees charging towards him collided with the Light Screen formed by the dancing Long Spear, shattering upon impact. Wang Hong, wielding his Long Spear like a grinding machine, advanced into the swarm of bees.


    Despite their low intelligence, the Spirit Bees, unaware of evasion, continued recklessly approaching him.


    "Pap pap pap" sounds echoed, and in the span of an incense stick, only a dozen Spirit Bees remained, flying away in different directions.


    Having exterminated a small group of Spirit Bees, Wang Hong''s spiritual energy was depleted by more than half. He took a few sips of Spirit Wine, meditated briefly, and then started to walk back. Continuous use of the spear technique was physically exhausting.


    Wang Hong returned to the Spirit Bee nest, waiting for the others who gradually returned looking a bit disheveled.


    The five individuals continued with their previous method, luring and killing Spirit Bees in batches.


    A dayter, the five were once again under the small tree. This time, all of them had sustained some injuries, and most notably, everyone''s face had swollen.


    A female cultivator named Shi, who originally had a clear and delicate face, now had one side swollen and the other side normal, her mouth slightly crooked. For a naturally beauty-conscious female cultivator, it was a significant blow.


    The group hadn''t anticipated that these Spirit Bees not only resisted magical attacks but also ignored magical defenses. All kinds of defensive barriers were easily prated.


    With Wang Hong''s body refining cultivation level, these Spirit Bees naturally couldn''t harm him. However, since his face was currently covered by the Misty Illusion Mask, he created a few swollen areas on his face.


    Around the beehive, only a few scattered Spirit Bees were still flying. Elder Ge summoned a Flying Sword, cutting the entire hive down.


    They only harvested ten drops of Royal Jelly, just enough for each person to have two drops.


    With a few swipes, the hive, along with the honey, was divided into five equal parts. Since everyone contributed equally to the operation, the ie was divided among them, and each person received their share in their Storage Bags. Wang Hong casually stored his share in his Space.


    As the evening approached, the group decided to spend the night in the Hundred Flowers Valley, which was rtively safe.


    After nearly two days of continuous battles, they were exhausted, and their spiritual energy was depleted. They urgently needed rest and recovery. Unlike Wang Hong, they didn''t have the financial means to treat Spirit Wine like water.


    A bottle of Spirit Wine cost at least several dozen Spirit Stones, and although they had prepared some, they were reluctant to consume it unless absolutely necessary.


    Wang Hong found a t rock to sit on, took out an Earthen Jar from his Storage Bag, and sealed it with a kind of leaf. This was a Spirit Meal he had recently concocted, using 300 pounds of Demonic Beast meat, refining its essence, and supplementing it with several types of Spiritual Medicine. Finally, it was condensed into this small jar of meat soup.


    Sealed in a small jar, it could be preserved for a long time. Wang Hong made some and kept them in his Storage Bag, using them instead of fasting pills.


    The taste of fasting pills was like chewing wax, and their effects only kept one from starving for a few days. They were convenient for cultivation but didn''t provide much help otherwise.


    For Wang Hong, who had been afraid of hunger since childhood, now cultivating immortality, enduring starvation was something he couldn''t tolerate. After all, weren''t all things in the world meant to be eaten?


    Cultivator Lei sat cross-legged, taking out a fasting pill, preparing to consume it when suddenly, he caught a whiff of a strange fragrance.


    Following the scent, he saw Wang Hong holding an Earthen Jar in his left hand, filled with milky white liquid, with some green onions floating on top. In his right hand, he held arge pancake, taking a big bite. The pancake seemed quite chewy.


    Wang Hong was hungry too. After a couple of bites and a sip of the meat soup, he felt incrediblyfortable.


    "Friend Wang truly knows how to enjoy!" Cultivator Lei chuckled at Wang Hong. "Seeing you enjoy it so much has aroused our appetites. Friend Wang, could you sell me a portion?"


    Cultivator Lei''s words caught the attention of the others. Thinking about buying a portion themselves, after all, in the face of delicious food, who would willingly consume those tasteless fasting pills?


    Wang Hong pondered for a moment. He had just met these people, and they had no previous acquaintance. If he appeared too generous, he might be taken advantage of. He said, "Sure, but it will cost twenty Spirit Stones per jar. I can throw in the pancakes for free."


    Hearing this price, the group was shocked. A fasting pill only cost one Spirit Stone, and a regr Spirit Meal in Azure Void City usually went for a few Spirit Stones. Twenty Spirit Stones were considered quite expensive. The group couldn''t help but marvel at Wang Hong''s shrewdness.


    Cultivator Lei, who was rtively wealthy among the loose cultivators, and satisfied with today''s harvest, decided to buy a portion and see why Wang Hong was pricing it at twenty Spirit Stones.


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 Chapter 44: Blue Wind Monkey

    Chapter 44: Blue Wind Monkey


    Wang Hong took out a small Earthen Jar, opened the leaf-sealed top, activated Spiritual Energy to heat it up, and plucked a small green onion from the Space. With a few swift cuts, he sprinkled the chopped onions on top.


    At this moment, the rich aroma of the broth and the crisp fragrance of the green onions merged into one, wafting in all directions. It stimted everyone''s appetite, causing a few to discreetly swallow saliva.


    Wang Hong, holding the Earthen Jar and a piece of tbread with Spiritual Energy, presented it to the cultivator surnamed Lei.


    Lei, the cultivator, caught it with one hand and brought it close to his nose. He deeply inhaled, revealing an extremely content expression. Beyond the delicious scent, he sensed a rich presence of Spirit Qi in the food.


    Taking a bite of the tbread, he felt its soft and stic texture. There was a distinct fragrance of Spirit Wheat. This tbread alone was worth at least two Spirit Stones.


    After sipping the soup, which was smooth on the pte, it transformed into Spiritual Energy upon entering the stomach, slowly flowing into the meridians.


    This was the difference between Spirit Meal and Elixir. Spirit Meal, when consumed, directly transformed into Spiritual Energy without the need for deliberate cultivation, making it easily absorbed by the body.


    Moreover, Spirit Meal, when consumed regrly, was non-toxic and had no side effects.


    On the other hand, Elixir required cultivation; otherwise, most of its medicinal properties would go to waste.


    Lei, the cultivator, had eaten Spirit Meals before, but the Spirit Qi was much thinnerpared to this soup.


    As he ate, Lei praised the meal as being worth more than its cost. The others, though tempted, touched their own depleted Storage Bags and reluctantly abandoned the idea.


    With twenty Spirit Stones, they could buy two Condensing Qi Pills or two low-tier Talismans, which could be life-saving in critical moments.


    Venturing into the ck Dragon Marsh was risky, and sometimes, it took a month to earn twenty Spirit Stones. Spending them casually on a meal was something they couldn''t afford.


    The group couldn''t help but suspect Wang Hong''s identity, from exchanging Elixir for Spirit Herb before to now offering a Spirit Meal worth twenty Spirit Stones.


    Typical loose cultivators didn''t have such financial resources. He was probably a disciple from some family, disguised as a loose cultivator for training.


    After finishing the meal, Wang Hong set up a tent and disappeared inside.


    His Nascent Soul floated in the Space, which now had an area of over three acres. The Spirit Herbs transnted in the past two days already upied a portion. To transnt all the Spiritual Medicine from the ck Dragon Marsh, the Space needed to expand by several more acres at least.


    Suddenly, he noticed a Green-tailed Spirit Bee dancing among the Spiritual Medicine. Wang Hong enveloped it with his divine sense, caught it, and realized there wasn''t just one; there were at least a dozen in the Space.


    Inspecting the hive he had collected earlier, he found many unhatched eggs. The dozen Spirit Bees were likely hatched from these eggs.


    Could it be that living creatures can now enter the Space? Previously, even insects couldn''t get in. Wang Hong exited the Space, caught two ants outside the tent, and hurriedly went back in.


    The cultivator surnamed Lei, sitting on a rock outside, couldn''t help but exim, "Friend Wang is truly extraordinary, always acting in a way that''s hard to fathom."


    Wang Hong tried to bring the two ants into Space but failed. However, he effortlessly brought a Spirit Bee out of Space. Wang Hong spected that with the Space''s upgrade, it could now bring in life forms like eggs. As long as the creatures hatched in the Space, they could enter and exit at his discretion.


    Thinking about it, he went out and, using his divine sense, found a nest of ordinary Iron-toothed Ants. With a few digs, he found some ant eggs and returned to the tent.


    "Who would have thought that Friend Wang enjoys catching ants and raiding their nests? This hobby is truly unique!" the cultivator surnamed Lei eximed once again.


    Wang Hong was unaware of Lei''s remarks. He was pleased that these ant eggs could indeed be brought into the Space. He would have to wait for the ants to hatch to try with other creatures.


    After a night''s rest, the injuries the group had sustained were mostly healed. Continuing deeper into the ck Dragon Marsh, their next destination was the Mist Wind Gorge.


    The Mist Wind Gorge spanned dozens of miles, either shrouded in mist or buffeted by fierce winds, earning it the name Mist Wind Gorge among cultivators.


    The unique environment made it a haven for various Spiritual Medicines and a paradise for Demonic Beasts.


    As the group entered the gorge, white mist enveloped everything, reducing visibility. Objects beyond ten yards were already unclear.


    They all released their divine senses, cautiously vignt of their surroundings.


    Not far ahead, the group simultaneously sensed a Silver Silk Orchid. After some discussion, the Spirit Herb was imed by Elder Ge, withpensation of two Spirit Stones for each member.


    The Silver Silk Orchid wasn''t particrly rare, so no one objected. The incident served as a reminder that if they discovered valuable and rare Spiritual Medicines, the sharing might not be as amicable.


    At this point, a female cultivator named Shi suggested, "Why don''t we spread out a bit, about five yards apart? It''ll be easier to find Spiritual Medicines, and in case of danger, we can rescue each other promptly."


    "True, the mist is thick here, but a five or six-yard gap should be fine. If something happens, the others can arrive in an instant," agreed a cultivator named Ding.


    Lei, another cultivator, also concurred, "We all came seeking opportunities; it wouldn''t be wise to damage our rtionship over this."


    With unanimous agreement, they dispersed. Wang Hong walked on the far left, Lei on the far right, each person five yards apart.


    After traveling over twenty miles, each person had made gains. Wang Hong had collected two Spirit Herbs.


    "Wow! So many Red Silk Fruits," eximed Shi.


    Wang Hong, on the far left, couldn''t see the specific situation on the right. Seeing Elder Ge and Ding flying towards the right, he followed.


    Approaching, he realized the terrain on the right waspletely different from the left. The left side he had just walked was a grassy area with sparse small trees.


    On the right stood many peculiar stones several yards high, and among the Stone Forest grew tall fruit trees. White fruits hung from the lush leaves, and some of the half-ripe fruits had a touch of crimson, appearing quite appealing.


    These were Red Silk Fruits, a Tier-One spirit fruit. Although not extremely valuable, the quantity was still a significant ie.


    At this moment, the first few to arrive had not moved, facing off against several demonic monkeys on the trees in front.


    On the opposite tree, there were seven Blue Wind Monkeys, with green backs and white bellies, not veryrge, only a little over three feet tall. They bared their teeth, ring angrily at the group.


    "These monkeys are called Blue Wind Monkeys, Wind-type Demonic Beasts. They are good at living in groups, ranging from a dozen to several hundred in a group," Elder Ge exined slowly.


    "Do we attack? I checked just now, and there''s arge forest inside with Red Silk Fruit trees. If we pick them all, it''s worth at least tens of thousands of Spirit Stones," suggested Lei.


    Hearing this, the group''s eyes instantly reddened. With ten thousand Spirit Stones, they wouldn''t have to worry about expenses for the entire Qi Cultivation period; they could bid farewell to Spirit Stone troubles for the entire cultivation phase.


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 Chapter 45: Battle with the Blue Wind Monkey

    Chapter 45: Battle with the Blue Wind Monkey


    "What are we waiting for? Why don''t we just kill these monsters and pluck these spirit fruits? Then we won''t have to risk our lives for Spirit Stones anymore. As cultivators, we contend with the heavens for our destiny. Where is it not full of risks? Fearful at the beginning and the end, how can one achieve the Dao?" said a cultivator with the surname Ding.


    Wang Hong initially felt something was amiss. It was unlikely that such arge orchard of fruits had gone unnoticed before. There must be some hidden dangers to have preserved it until now.


    However, others had alreadyunched an attack on the Blue Wind Monkey, and his attempts to dissuade them were futile.


    If he were to leave on his own, walking alone in the ck Dragon Marsh would probably be even more dangerous.


    So, he also wielded a Flying Sword to sh at the demonic monkey, while keeping a vignt eye.


    Elder Ge, at the sixth level of cultivation among the five, possessed the highest cultivation level. He used a Fire Element Flying Sword enveloped in scorching mes. The first strike cleaved the smallest Blue Wind Monkey into two without any resistance.


    The cultivator named Lei, at the fifth level of cultivation, wielded an axe Magical Weapon and struck at another monkey. The monkey evaded by leaping aside, simultaneously swinging its w and sending a green wind de toward Lei''s waist.


    The remaining four monkeys pounced on the group, with Elder Ge, the female cultivator Shi, and Ding each intercepting one. An extra one headed straight for Ding.


    Ding, with only a cultivation level of four, had two defensive Talismans on him and wielded a Low-Quality Magical Weapon long sword. Dealing with two Blue Wind Monkeys alone, he was in a precarious situation.


    Wang Hong battled a Blue Wind Monkey for a while and realized that these creatures were fast and agile. Several attacks were dodged, and he narrowly avoided being hit by the wind des.


    Taking advantage of a defensive Talisman, he withstood a wind de and seized the opportunity to shoot two iron thorn seeds. The monkey leaped, avoiding them.


    Before it couldnd, he shot six more seeds in various directions. This time, threended on the monkey, two of which quickly sprouted and entangled the creature. Thorns grew on the vines, piercing into the monkey''s flesh, causing its Spiritual Energy to stagnate.


    Simultaneously, a Flying Sword circled its neck, and its head rolled off, blood spurting several feet high.


    With the opponent dealt with, Wang Hong surveyed the battlefield. Currently, the most perilous situation was Ding''s. However, judging by his movements, though dangerous, he managed to narrowly evade each danger. It seemed he could hold on for a while.


    Rescuing him hastily might lead to a stalemate, not conducive to a quick resolution. Instead, Wang Hong decided to assist the other team members in killing the monkeys, causing more harm to them.


    Wang Hong formted a battle n, took a gulp of Spirit Wine, and said to Ding, "Friend Ding, hold on a little longer. I''lle to your rescue shortly."


    "Friend Wang, hurry, I can''t hold on much longer," Ding responded, his face turning red.


    At the same time, Wang Hong shot three thorn seeds at a Blue Wind Monkey entangled with Elder Ge. Only one seed hit, quickly entwining the monkey. Seizing the opportunity, Elder Ge beheaded it with a swift stroke.


    Then, Elder Ge rescued Ding, while Wang Hong, ording to n, assisted Lei.


    After a short while, the two killed one monkey and moved towards the remaining three.


    Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, the three remaining monkeys squeaked and fled towards the depths of the Stone Forest. The thick mist made it too risky to pursue.


    "Many thanks, Friend Wang, for your assistance. Otherwise, I don''t know how much longer I would have been entangled with it," Lei thanked Wang Hong. In this battle, Wang Hong had the most merit, and the others also expressed their gratitude. Wang Hong modestly responded.


    Having driven away the monkeys, the group took a short break before swiftly climbing the spirit fruit trees. They used both hands to pick the spirit fruits, fearing that a slight dy would result in others grabbing them all. They regretted not having more hands.


    Wang Hong, not in a rush, drank some Spirit Wine at the back. Only after his Spiritual Energy recovered did he climb the spirit fruit tree.


    It''s okay to pick fewer spirit fruits. Wang Hong, now earning two or three thousand Spirit Stones every month, couldn''t afford to put himself in danger for a small amount of Spirit Stones. If his Spiritual Energy ran out and he encountered danger, it would be troublesome.


    Standing on a branch, Wang Hong plucked a spirit fruit and sniffed it. It had a faint and delicate fragrance.


    "Crunch." He took a bite. The taste was goodcrisp, juicy, and melted into liquid with each chew, leaving no residue.


    After finishing a Red Silk Fruit in three or two bites, while others had already picked more than half of a tree in this short time, Wang Hong extended both hands and picked over ten spirit fruits in an instant.


    When he had picked half a tree, others had finished one tree and began picking from another.


    Suddenly, Wang Hong stopped, sniffing the air. He detected a foul smell wafting from all directions. Although his vision was obstructed by the White Mist, and his divine sense could only reach a few dozen yards, his sense of smell remained acute.


    Most Immortal Cultivators relied on divine sense,cking distinctive features in other aspects like their five senses.


    Unless a cultivator practiced special techniques to enhance a specific organ.


    For example, some could see through illusions with special eye techniques. Wang Hong spected that his Mirage Mask might be exposed to such techniques.


    "Friends, it seems we are surrounded," Wang Hong cautioned.


    "How does Friend Wang know? Do you know what it is?" asked Lei, a cultivator, without halting his fruit-picking.


    "It could be the monkeys," Wang Hong responded, avoiding how he knew and focused on the imminent threat.


    While Lei and Ding continued picking, Shi, the female cultivator who had initially stopped, hesitated and joined them.


    Only Elder Ge, after a sip of Spirit Wine, stood with his sword.


    Wang Hong also wielded his Long Spear, vigntly scanning the surroundings.


    Suddenly, a dozen figures pounced from various directions, releasing over a dozen wind des before arriving.


    Wang Hong only had time to pat an Earth Armor Talisman on himself. Three wind des were already upon him. He blocked two with his spear and dodged the remaining one.


    At this moment, over a dozen monkeys emerged from the White Mist, unleashing more wind des towards them.


    Dodging the iing des, Wang Hong heard a scream. ncing towards the source, he saw Shi, the female cultivator, losing an arm and sustaining a severe abdominal wound.


    What angered him more was seeing Ding patting an Earth Escape Talisman on himself, disappearing into the ground during the chaos. He had taken advantage of the confusion to escape.


    With over twenty monkeys closing in, the remaining three and a half people were surrounded. Escaping now was challenging.


    The Earth Escape Talisman Ding used was a high-tier one, not easily found on the market. Wang Hong was fortunate to have one.


    However, this type of talisman could only travel a dozen yards at a time, and it was toote for Ding to escape. Once he surfaced, he would likely face a barrage of wind des.


    Surveying the situation, Wang Hong identified thergest monkey, twice the size of the others, as the leader. It was blocking the direction they came from, creating a dilemma.


    While fending off wind des, Wang Hong shouted, "Later, I''ll use Talismans. Everyone, scatter. Life and death hinge on this moment."


    "Agreed. I also have several Talismans. We''ll use them together in three breaths," thundered Lei, the cultivator.


    The remaining two nodded in agreement.


    Wang Hong and Lei took out a stack of Talismans each. They exchanged nces and simultaneously threw the Talismans towards the monkey group.


    Numerous Talismans exploded in the monkey group, including Fireball Technique, Wood Thorn Technique, water arrows, and earth spikes. The monkeys were momentarily overwhelmed.


    Seizing the chaos, Wang Hong activated an Earth Escape Talisman and vanished into the depths of the Stone Forest.


    A dozen yards away, Wang Hong cautiously peeked out from the ground. Looking back, he saw that the monkey leader blocked the exit from the Stone Forest. As he anticipated, the other three had independently chosen to break through towards the outside of the Stone Forest.


    Shi had been torn apart by the monkey group. Elder Ge and Lei managed to break through the encirclement but were now being chased by arge group of monkeys.


    Silently, Wang Hong infiltrated deeper into the Stone Forest. He had sensed that Ding had alsoe in this direction.


    [Read at /shanefreak, without ads and support the work.]

 Chapter 46: Counter Kill

    Chapter 46: Counter Kill


    Wang Hong quietly advanced into the depths of the Stone Forest. As he progressed, the concentration of Spirit Qi increased. Along the way, he encountered various spirit fruit trees. He summoned his Flying Sword, selecting one specimen of each type of fruit and digging them out with their roots before tossing them into his Space.


    Monkeys were known for their love of alcohol and skill in brewing. The hundred-fruit wine they produced, also known as monkey wine, was a rare and exceptional delicacy. These fruit trees were likely used for brewing.


    Wang Hong was currently in need of spirit fruits for brewing. Faced with a variety of options, he regretted the limited space in his Storage, allowing him to take only a small sample of each.


    Suddenly, his movement halted, and he swiftly hid behind a massive rock.


    A ck-robed cultivator emerged from the front, stopping where Wang Hong had been standing. Facing Wang Hong''s concealed location, he said, "Friend Wang,e out!"


    This person was none other than Ding, the cultivator who had fled earlier. Wang Hong ceased hiding and stepped out from behind the rock.


    Ding spoke, "Friend Wang, you''ve figured it out. Indeed, my purpose in leading you here was to have you help divert the monkey horde, aiding me in smoothly infiltrating and obtaining the treasure."


    "Haha! Friend Wang is truly clever. Unfortunately, you''ve realized it a bit toote. I enjoy a good plunder every now and then. I''ve been eyeing your wealth for quite some time," Ding said, approaching Wang Hong step by step.


    As Ding neared, his aura escted from Qi Cultivation level four to level eight. The oppressive force of Qi Cultivation eight left Wang Hong breathless, unable to muster any resistance. Taking a deep breath, he focused his mind to withstand this negative state. Then, he pped severalyers of Earth Armor Talismans onto himself.


    Withstanding the pressure, Wang Hong roared and attacked Ding with his Long Spear.


    Despite the distance, Ding summoned a golden Flying Sword, a high-quality Metal Element Flying Sword. The golden sword emitted a dazzling light as it shed toward Wang Hong. He hastily intercepted with his spear, resulting in a sharp sound as the Long Spear snapped in two.


    The golden Flying Sword continued its descent, severing the Long Spear. Although its momentum weakened, it still broke through twoyers of Earth Armor Talismans before stopping, leaving Wang Hong''s chest throbbing.


    Wang Hong, astonished, realized that if he hadn''t been cautious and used extra Earth Armor Talismans, he might already be a lifeless corpse.


    Swinging the broken spear fragments towards Ding, he also hurled a series of Talismans at him. Then, he turned and sprinted away, adding two moreyers of Earth Armor Talismans and activating a Divine Movement Talisman.


    Using the Wind Control Technique, he reached maximum speed, the wind causing difort on his face as trees and rocks swiftly retreated behind him.


    Thinking he had left his pursuer far behind, Wang Hong prepared to mock his opponent. However, a nce back chilled his heart. Ding was leisurely following at a moderate distance, seemingly with energy to spare.


    Unable to win in a fight and unable to escape, Wang Hong had no choice but to continue fleeing, hoping for a turning point.


    After three hours of pursuit, Wang Hong had used seven Divine Movement Talismans and consumed five Spirit Wines.


    "Damn it!" Ding cursed bitterly. Seeing Wang Hong use yet another Divine Movement Talisman, he couldn''t fathom how the young man possessed so many.


    Divine Movement Talismans cost over ten Spirit Stones each, and no one would carry so many. Ding''s heart bled; these were his Talismans, burning through his Spirit Stones. The contents of Wang Hong''s Storage Bag should rightfully belong to him. Now, it was all being wasted by the youth.


    It wasn''t that Ding wanted to toy with Wang Hong; he followed slowly because he had a bitter story to tell. He had previously killed a Qi Cultivation stage loose cultivator and obtained a map marking the location of a cave mansion.


    After investigating, Ding learned that deep within the spirit fruit trees, there was a cave mansion left behind by at least a Foundation Building cultivator. The group of demonic monkeys guarding outside was beyond his ability to handle alone.


    His n was to lure other cultivators here. He had secretly informed a cultivator named Lei that there was a massive spirit fruit orchard guarded by over ten demonic monkeys.


    The scene unfolded as nned, with Lei leading the monkeys away. Meanwhile, Ding quietly infiltrated the cave mansion.


    However, the ghosts in the cave mansion weren''t peaceful. He fell victim to the formation inside, suffering significant injuries that required several days of rest for recovery.


    Now, as he ran, his wound throbbed like a twisting knife, and faint traces of blood seeped through. What he thought would be an easy opponent turned out to be quite slippery.


    His magical power was now depleted by more than half. While the magical power in theter stages of Qi Cultivation was immense, replenishing it was a challenging task.


    Ordinary Spirit Wine could only satisfy one''s appetite, offering minimal replenishment of spiritual energy consumption.


    Higher-tier Spirit Wines were in high demand and not something that could be easily bought with a few Spirit Stones.


    As Wang Hong continued his desperate escape, he found himself on a dead-end path. Surrounded by cliffs in all directions, unless he could fly, there was no way out.


    In a narrow passage, the brave emerge victorious. Wang Hong, a former soldier who had walked through fields of corpses, never hesitated to engage in a fight, even if it meant fighting to the death. If he were to fall, he would at least take a piece of flesh from his opponent.


    Wang Hong summoned a ck Flying Sword, which circled and danced above his head and around his body. This sword was the mid-tier Flying Sword he had confiscated from Lin Junjie. Standing still, he calmly awaited his opponent''s approach.


    "Hey there! Weren''t you good at running? Why stop now? Surrender your Storage Bag obediently, and I might spare your life. I have quite a reputation among treasure-seeking cultivators," Ding said, hoping to coax Wang Hong into willingly handing over his possessions. Otherwise, a fierce confrontation would result in the loss of many valuable items.


    "Do you think I''m a three-year-old child? Handing over my Storage Bag to you would be like offering myself up for ughter. Stop the nonsense ande at me!" Wang Hong retorted.


    "Alright! Let''s see how much longer you can keep dodging." Ding unleashed his golden Flying Sword, shing towards Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong directed his Flying Sword to intercept in mid-air, simultaneously rushing forward and throwing an iron thorn seed.


    The two swords shed in a dazzling collision of light. Subsequently, the ck Flying Sword was forced backward.


    At the same time, the iron thorn seed failed to hit Ding and, upon reaching the ground, quickly took root and grew into a thicket several feet high.


    The golden Flying Sword came at Wang Hong again but was entangled by the ck Flying Sword. The ck Flying Sword was repeatedly struck, developing more and more cracks, and it seemed it wouldn''t hold up much longer.


    Seizing the opportunity, Wang Hong gulped down a bottle of Spirit Wine and charged towards Ding again, throwing another iron thorn seed.


    A peculiar scene unfolded: in the air, Wang Hong''s ck Flying Sword was pushed back, while on the ground, Wang Hong chased Ding, indiscriminately tossing iron thorn seeds.


    Ding, floating two feet to the side, shouted, "Are you wasting these seeds recklessly?"


    "I''d rather waste them all than let you benefit." Wang Hong defiantly threw another handful of iron thorn seeds.


    Suddenly, a loud explosion echoed in the air as the ck Flying Sword shattered into pieces.


    At this moment, the golden sword descended towards Wang Hong once again. Without hesitation, Wang Hong pulled out another Flying Sword and threw it towards the golden sword, thankfully having kept some confiscated Flying Swords earlier. Simultaneously, he continued his mad dash towards Ding, carelessly throwing another iron thorn seed.


    Ding, realizing the iing seed, found his surroundings covered with iron thorn thickets to his rear and left. It turned out that Wang Hong had nned it all along, seemingly tossing seeds haphazardly but strategically limiting Ding''s movement with the iron thorn thickets.


    In a hurry, Ding could only dodge to the right, but Wang Hong had already predicted this and had thrown an iron thorn seed to the right of Ding two feet away before he dodged.


    Ding collided with the seed, and several seeds attached to him, quickly entangling him securely.


    At this point, his Flying Sword was once again shattered, and the golden Flying Sword descended towards him.


    Simultaneously, Ding produced a small knife, a magical weapon, to cut the thorns entwined around him. In just a moment, he could break free from the thorns, making it challenging to ensnare him again.


    Gritting his teeth, Wang Hong thought, "It''s now or never!" Ignoring the approaching Flying Sword, he pulled out a bunch of talismans and hurled them towards Ding, who was busy cutting the thorns.


    Just as the talismans were released, the Flying Sword descended. In a rush, Wang Hong barely had time to move a few inches to the right.


    The golden Flying Sword tore through threeyers of Earth Armor Talismans, slightly losing its momentum. It sliced through Wang Hong''s left ear, separating his left shoulder from his body, creating a wound that exposed his vicle, broke his scap, severed his ribs, and cut through lung tissues.


    At the same moment, a bunch of talismans exploded around Ding. Ding managed to emit a horrified scream before turning into a pile of ashes.


    With Ding''s death, the golden Flying Sword lost control and wedged itself into Wang Hong''s chest. His left shoulder disconnected from his body, the wound resembled a wide-open blood basin, and his left hand hung weakly below.


    Wang Hong took out several healing medicines from his Storage Bag, swallowed them, and sprinkled some hemostatic and tissue-regenerating powder onto the wound. Then, he gently pulled out the golden Flying Sword lodged in his chest. As it was removed, blood sprayed over a foot away. Immediately, he applied hemostatic powder and pressed firmly. After a quarter of an hour, the blood flow gradually stopped.


    "That was close! The wound is just an inch away from the heart. Why didn''t I dodge to the left at that critical moment? At least it wouldn''t have been so perilous."


    Thanks to the threeyers of Earth Armor Talismans and his well-trained body, his defense was strong enough; otherwise, he would have been cleaved in half long ago.


    Hastily bandaging the wound, he picked up the Flying Sword and Ding''s Storage Bag before hurriedly leaving.


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 Chapter 47: Harvest

    Chapter 47: Harvest


    In a dimly lit cave, a figure sat cross-legged, slowly opening its eyes.


    After a month of recovery, the figure couldn''t help but marvel at the formidable life force of Immortal Cultivators.


    Broken bones had seamlessly rejoined, and lungs nearly sliced in two had fully healed.


    Now with some free time, the figure began to inspect the spoils, pouring the contents of a Storage Bag onto the ground.


    Firstly, there was the golden Flying Sword that had nearly killed him. Unfortunately, it was a Metal Element Flying Sword, and despite being usable, it didn''t fully align with his Spiritual Roots, limiting its power.


    Among the items spilled from the Storage Bag, a pile as tall as a person caught his attention, mostlyprising various spirit fruits.


    Upon careful counting, there were over thirty varieties, andbined with those Wang Hong had collected, there were over forty types of spirit fruits.


    Especially eye-catching were a dozen jade-white, crystal-clear fruitsthe white crystal fruit. ording to the books, consuming these second-tier spirit fruits refined a cultivator''s Spiritual Energy, eliminating impurities.


    This was a rare find; he had scoured Azure Void City withouting across a shop selling them.


    Pure Spiritual Energy could enhance the power of Magical Arts, prolong battles, and even increase the sess rate of Foundation Building.


    After sorting the remaining spirit fruits, Wang Hong discovered they were all first-tier, without any exceptionally precious varieties.


    He gathered the spirit fruits into a pile and continued sorting through other items. Astonishingly, there were over fifty thousand Spirit Stones. Ding, the cultivator he had defeated, left Wang Hong deeply impressed. For a loose Qi Cultivator, having a few hundred Spirit Stones was considered wealthy. Were all treasure hunters this promising?


    Additionally, there were several Jade Scrolls. One detailed a unique body movement technique called "Shifting Positions," likely Ding''s evasive skill that allowed him to float twelve feet away in a peculiar manner.


    Another Jade Scroll contained Ding''s primary cultivation technique, the "Sharp Gold Decision," irrelevant to Wang Hong.


    There was also a scroll recording the experiences of a Foundation Building cultivator, including details about hister years spent in Mist Wind Gorge, cultivating spirit fruits and brewing Spirit Wine with trained spirit monkeys.


    Realizing there was a cave mansion of a Foundation Building cultivator in the depths of the orchard, Wang Hong connected the dots that the substantial Spirit Stone sum must have been the cultivator''s fortune.


    Ding, it seemed, was too greedy. Despite obtaining a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, he still coveted the fortune, ultimately giving away his life.


    Additionally, there were cultivation techniques like "Soft Water Art," a manual on controlling insects and beasts, and a guide on brewing high-grade Spirit Wine.


    High-grade Spirit Wine was rare, difficult to obtain due to precious ingredients, secret recipes, and the lengthy brewing process spanning decades.


    The collection of Spirit Stones was scattered onto the ground, likely expanding the space to around four acres. Wang Hong had been wondering where to nt all the spirit fruits he had gathered.


    Picking up a small ck sword, a Foundation Building cultivator''s Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword, Wang Hong marveled at its value, estimating it to be worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.


    He couldn''t help but sigh at Ding''s poor judgment. Perhaps the habit of killing for treasures led him to impulsively attack any target, ultimately resulting in his own demise.


    Among the misceneous items on the ground were Spirit Herbs, spirit ores, and other items of lesser value, all of which were casually stored in the Storage Bag.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t find any techniques for hiding one''s cultivation level, something Wang Hong had hoped to acquire to deceive others.


    Nevertheless, the harvest was plentiful, and one should be content with what they have.


    The Nascent Soul appeared in the space, with the Spirit Stones already absorbed. Thend area had expanded to four acres, and considering the previous calction, time inside should have progressed thirty-three times faster than the outside world.


    Wang Hong nted each variety of spirit fruit, filling the empty acre ofnd.


    Notably, the more white crystal fruits, the better. He nted all fifteen of them.


    Recently, he observed changes in Spirit Grain and Spirit Wheat, not aplete mutation this time but only about half.


    The nts grew taller, stems thickened to the size of a bowl, reaching almost ten feet, and the grains becamerger with an extended maturation period.


    Now, theplete sess of the mutation has not yet urred, and Wang Hong is eager to see what the final oue will be.


    Observing several Spirit Bees flying around Spirit Herbs, he recalled the "Controlling Spirits Technique" he had just acquired, providing a perfect opportunity to test it with these Spirit Bees.


    ording to the technique, a bee colony functions like a human kingdom, with clear tiers and detailed divisions ofbor. Labor roles include those responsible for gathering nectar, brewing honey, cleaning the hive, feeding bee eggs, and more, all falling under the category of worker bees. On the other hand, male bees, despite theirrger size, do not participate in anybor. They are solely responsible for two tasks: defending the queen and the hive and mating with the queen.


    Normal Spirit Bee colonies have a queen, and all Spirit Bees obey hermands. If the queen dies or is lost, a portion of the bees will slowly evolve into a new queen. However, these queens, born from such evolution, have inherent deficiencies, leading to lower-quality offspring.


    Currently, the bee colony in Space is without a queen. Wang Hong''s task is to select the strongest egg from those yet to hatch, cultivate it to be the queen, and then use the queen to control the entire bee colony.


    However, the hive in Space has already passed nearly three years, and the original eggs have all hatched. The current queens are those that evolved from the bees, and their quality is not ideal, leading to inadequate offspring.


    Suddenly, he remembered that Ding, the cultivator he defeated, also had a bee colony in his Storage Bag. It had only been a month, so those eggs should not have hatched yet.


    He immediately retrieved the hive from the Storage Bag and indeed found many unhatched eggs inside.


    Selecting the strongest egg, he squeezed out a drop of essence blood from his fingertip. In mid-air, he drew a small rune and activated it with Spiritual Energy. The rune emitted a faint light, prating the insect''s body.


    At that moment, Wang Hong felt an inexplicable connection between himself and the insect.


    He then manually created a queen tform and ced the egg that had recognized him into it. Thervae in the queen tform would receive special care from the bee colony, being fed with royal jelly, eventually bing a new queen.


    Once the new queen was born, the colony would eliminate the unfit queens, leaving only the most outstanding one.


    After dealing with the bee colony, Wang Hong remembered that he had brought in some ant eggs earlier and wondered how they were doing.


    Scanning with his divine sense in Space, he discovered several ants happily nibbling on one of his Spiritual Medicines. Furious at the intrusion, as he intended to sell the Spiritual Medicine for Spirit Stones, he threw them all out of Space. Recalling the previous experiment, he caught a handful and brought them back into Space. It seemed creatures hatched in Space could be transported back into it.


    With Space matters settled, it was time to return to Azure Void City. Despite the hardships, this journey had yielded abundant rewards.


    Space was now out of avable space, and even if he found more Spiritual Medicine, there was no ce to nt it. Additionally, all his Magical Weapons had been destroyed, posing a significant risk in case of danger.


    Thus, he transformed into a middle-aged man with a full beard and joined a group heading back to Azure Void City.


    During Wang Hong''s absence, the various shops operated smoothly, bringing in an additional thirty thousand Spirit Stones.


    Moreover, Zhao Ning reported a piece of information that caught his attention.


    Recently, someone was secretly investigating the supply channels of the Elixir Pavilion, trying to find information about his suppliers or Alchemists.


    However, the investigator approached the wrong person, attempting to bribe his soldiers with a mere five Spirit Stones. This person was too naive; five Spirit Stones might be a considerable fortune in the eyes of mortals or Qi Cultivators, but for his soldiers, it was just a fraction of their monthly ie. As Wang Hong''s ie increased, so did the benefits for his soldiers, who wererades that had faced numerous life-and-death trials together.


    This incident served as a reminder for Wang Hong. Since he intended to sell Elixirs and Spirit Herbs, it was only a matter of time before someone set their sights on him. If he continued to keep his sources secret, it might raise suspicions.


    The Spirit Wine Pavilion was simpler. With dozens of mortals helping to brew Spirit Wine, and Spirit Rice being readily avable for purchase with Spirit Stones, there was no need for secrecy. The form for brewing Spirit Rice wine was not a closely guarded secret and could be easily bought with Spirit Stones.


    Thinking about it, Wang Hong realized that he should expose the secret of Space openly rather than keeping it hidden.


    Familiarity breeds trust, and by revealing the secret openly, people would get used to it, reducing suspicions.


    "Well, in the future, let''s hide the secret of Space under the bright and glorious facade," Wang Hong thought to himself.


    However, once Spirit Stones became abundant, it would be wise to purchase some spirit fields. Over time, managed spirit fields would yield consistent outputs, and hiring people to tend to them wouldn''t require much of his own effort. Additionally, it would help conceal the sources of some Spirit Herbs.


    [Read at /shanefreak, without ads and support the work.]

 Chapter 48: Myriad Treasures Tower

    Chapter 48: Myriad Treasures Tower


    On this day, Wang Hong checked into an inconspicuous inn, prepaying for half a month''s stay. After spending a few days unnoticed, he transformed into a man with thick eyebrows and big eyes named Wang Kun and left the inn.


    In the city, he rented a secluded courtyard, considering the need for a long-term residence with his current identity.


    At Zhao''s Pill Shop, a distinguished guest, a young man with thick eyebrows and big eyes, arrived. Zhao, the shopkeeper, personally weed him with great enthusiasm. The two entered a secret room, the details of which remained unknown, and were then respectfully escorted outside by Zhao.


    The next day, Zhao''s Pill Shop, which had been out of stock, once again had supplies of Elixirs. Rumors circted that a precious Barrier Breaking Pill was even sold and bought by a cultivator for nine thousand Spirit Stones.


    No need to say, the mysterious guest with thick eyebrows and big eyes was none other than Wang Hong disguised as Wang Kun.


    He believed that if he appeared a few more times, those who were secretly investigating him would eventually find him.


    In a quiet room in Azure Void City, Wang Hong took out all the white crystal fruits he had obtained from the core. Gently picking one up, its texture resembled high-quality jade, crystal clear, and faintly translucent, making it hard to resist.


    With a light bite, the fruit was crisp, juicy, and melted in the mouth, leaving a mouthful of juice that slid down the throat.


    "Mmm! Delicious! I''ll switch to this for future snacks and fruits."


    After consuming fifteen white crystal fruits, he felt a cool breeze entering his dantian, merging into the Spiritual Energy vortex. It seemed like a purification, and his entire body felt refreshed. The Spiritual Energy vortex in his dantian had shrunk.


    Upon finishing all fifteen white crystal fruits, he sadly discovered that his cultivation level had dropped from Qi Cultivation level five to level four.


    While shocked by the potency of the white crystal fruits, he also marveled at how his previous cultivation level, boosted solely by Elixirs, was somewhat superficial.


    Although his realm had dropped, his mana became purer. His overallbat strength not only didn''t decrease but seemed to have subtly improved.


    After consuming the white crystal fruits, he brewed Spirit Wine using the remaining dozens of types of spirit fruits, following the recipe in the "Secret Brewing Techniques." These were stored in his Space.


    High-quality Spirit Wine was currently in high demand, and no Spirit Wine shop in Azure Void City could supply enough. They were typically sold in batches every month or few months, attractingte-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    Havingpleted these tasks, Wang Hong nned to buy some Magical Weapons. The ones he carried had been mostly depleted, and the two items he acquired were still beyond his current usage.


    Coincidentally, in this month, his three businesses had earned him nearly thirty thousand Spirit Stones.


    Approaching the entrance of Myriad Treasures Tower, the four maids standing there all bowed in unison. One maid stepped forward, leading him into the tower.


    "Esteemed guest, are you here to purchase or sell items today?" the maid asked politely with a smile.


    ncing at the beautiful face of the maid, Wang Hong replied, "This time, I need to buy some attack and defense Magical Weapons."


    Following the maid into the spacious hall, he realized it could easily amodate several hundred people shopping.


    The maid skillfully guided him to the Magical Weapon area, which had ten rows of mahogany shelves disying over a thousand Magical Weapons. Each Magical Weapon had a protective barrier.


    From low-grade to high-grade, with mid-grade being the most abundant and high-grade the least, prices ranged from one hundred to over a thousand Spirit Stones.


    Surveying the rows, Flying Swords were the mostmon, with various other types of Magical Weapons avable.


    Wang Hong walked up to the counter disying Long Spear Magical Weapons. There were a dozen or so Long Spears, with only two being high-grade.


    The two high-grade Long Spears were, one red and one deep ck.


    The maid introduced, "This red Long Spear is crafted entirely from a first-grade fire sunstone, with a length of nine feet and nine inches, weighing nine hundred kilograms. Ites with Fire Element Magical Arts attack and is priced at one thousand Spirit Stones."


    She continued, "This ck Long Spear is crafted entirely from dark abyss iron, with a length of six feet and six inches, weighing six thousand kilograms. Ites with a gravity formation and has no Magical Arts attack. It is priced at one thousand two hundred Spirit Stones." As she introduced this Long Spear, she found it somewhat strange.


    ording to the senior in the store, this Long Spear had been here for decades. No one knew what the cksmith was thinking when crafting such a heavy Long Spear. Who could wield it?


    Unexpectedly, the unremarkable young man seemed more interested in this dark and heavy spear.


    Wang Hong gestured for the maid to help him deactivate the barrier. She took out a token and gently swiped it, causing the protective barrier to slowly open.


    Wang Hong took out the ck Long Spear, weighing it in his hand. Feeling the weight, he found it neither light nor heavy, just right.


    He chose the Long Spear for meleebat, as a heavier weapon would better utilize his body refinement advantages. Without much consideration, he decided on this Long Spear.


    Having chosen the Long Spear, Wang Hong then proceeded to the Flying Sword area.


    He wasn''t particrly picky about Flying Swords and selected a mid-grade Earth Element Flying Sword. While Earth Element Flying Swordscked some flexibility, they excelled in durability and wouldn''t easily shatter like thest time. The price was also reasonable, just two hundred Spirit Stones.


    When he reached the counter for defensive Magical Weapons, he faced a dilemma. Of course, the better the defensive ability, the better. However, his current Spiritual Energy cultivation level could only activate mid-grade Magical Weapons at most. If he forcefully activated a high-grade Magical Weapon once, Mist Wind Gorge could easily drain his entire Spiritual Energy.


    Moreover, during the defense process, the owner''s Spiritual Energy was continuously consumed, which was why he had previously relied on defensive Talismans rather than Magical Weapons.


    In the end, Wang Hong decided to buy two items. One was a mid-grade transparent yellow small shield for eight hundred Spirit Stones, suitable for everyday use. The other was a high-grade ck Tortoise Shield, crafted from aplete turtle shell, priced at a whopping three thousand five hundred Spirit Stones.


    The high-grade Magical Weapon could be used to save his life in critical situations, serving as a recement in case his primary weapon was damaged.


    With the selected Magical Weapons, he asked the nearby maid, "May I see the second-tier Spiritual ObjectsSpirit Herbs and spirit fruits?"


    "Second-tier Spiritual Objects are on the second floor, exclusively for Foundation Building cultivators. If Qi Cultivation cultivators wish to enter the second floor, they need to deposit ten thousand Spirit Stones, which will be refunded upon leaving," the maid replied.


    Wang Hong thought it made sense. Second-tier Spiritual Objects were generally beyond the reach and affordability of Qi Cultivation cultivators. If every Qi Cultivation cultivator wanted to take a look, it would be troublesome.


    To avoid outright rejection and considering that some wealthy Qi Cultivation cultivators might have the means to purchase, setting a ten-thousand-Spirit-Stone threshold was an effective way to deter those without buying capability but curious to explore.


    Wang Hong paid the ten-thousand-Spirit-Stone deposit and followed the maid to the second floor. Compared to the first floor, the second floor was noticeably quieter.


    The shelves were also much sparser. There were only around twenty people, but over a dozen of them exuded formidable pressure, indicating they were Foundation Building cultivators.


    Several Qi Cultivation cultivators cautiously kept their distance from the Foundation Building cultivators. They only approached to observe after the Foundation Building cultivators moved away.


    Approaching an unattended Spirit Herb counter, Wang Hong found there weren''t many Spirit Herbs, only about a dozen. However, they were all valuable. Among them, he discovered a nine-leaf golden thread grass, the main ingredient for the Golden Body Pill, a Spiritual Medicine he had only read about but never seen in person.


    In his "Body Refining Decision," there were two pill recipesone for Body Refining Pill and one for Golden Body Pill. He had gathered the materials for the Body Refining Pill and cultivated a small area in his Space.


    Although he had only collected some auxiliary herbs for the Golden Body Pill, today he unexpectedly found the main ingredient, bringing him a pleasant surprise.


    Wang Hong decided to purchase this Spiritual Medicine along with three types of second-tier Spiritual Medicine seedsmonly used during the Foundation Building stage.


    While he wanted to buy everything and cultivate them in his Space, being too conspicuous could lead to a swift demise, especially when showing off in front of Foundation Building cultivators.


    Later, he also visited the spirit fruit counter and bought three types of spirit fruit seeds.


    Considering that he could gradually purchase all avable second-tier Spiritual Herbs and spirit fruits in the future, he nned to cultivate them in batches in his Space. The profit from cultivating second-tier Spiritual Medicine would be much greater.


    Having a Space, even with poor aptitude, he had confidence in his Foundation Building. Once he reached that level, he could use these Spiritual Medicines himself.


    Most second-tier Spiritual Medicines took one or two hundred years to mature. Cultivating them in advance would save waiting time when needed.


    After making these selections, he proceeded downstairs to settle the bill. Including the purchased Spirit Herbs and seeds on the second floor, he spent a total of seven thousand Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong took out a Barrier Breaking Pill to offset the cost. The buyback price for the Barrier Breaking Pill was eight thousand Spirit Stones, so in the end, he not only bought a bunch of items without spending a single Spirit Stone but also received a refund of one thousand Spirit Stones.


    Satisfied, he returned to his residence, allowing the Space to absorb the remaining thirty thousand Spirit Stones. This cleared up more space, perfect for nting the newly acquired second-tier Spirit Herbs and spirit fruits.


    He had cultivated over thirty portions of the Body Refining Pill materials. Harvesting them all took seven days, and he sessfully refined over a hundred Body Refining Pills.


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 Chapter 49: The Changes of Three Years

    Chapter 49: The Changes of Three Years


    Wang Hong swallowed a freshly-made Body Refining Pill and then activated the "Body Refining Decision" technique. The medicinal power of the Body Refining Pill transformed into strands of Spiritual Energy, nourishing his muscles and bones.


    The effectiveness of one Body Refining Pill in body refinement surpasses that of taking two Condensing Qi Pills. It seems that the breakthrough in the "Body Refining Decision" is imminent.


    Wang Hong summoned Wen Lan and Luo Zhongjie, both practicing the modified "Immortal Transformation" technique based on the "Body Refining Decision." The Body Refining Pill should also be effective for them.


    Giving each of them a Body Refining Pill, Wang Hong instructed them to take it on the spot.


    Wang Hong carefully observed with his divine sense as the Spiritual Energy from the elixir diffused into their muscles and bones, gradually improving their tissues.


    After five days, indicating that they had fully absorbed and refined the medicinal power, it seemed they could refine at most six Body Refining Pills in a month.


    In contrast, Wang Hong could refine one pill in just two hours, with a maximum of two pills in a day.


    However, the effect of them taking one Body Refining Pill was stronger than taking five Condensing Qi Pills.


    Cultivating with Condensing Qi Pills would waste a lot of medicinal power, while the Body Refining Pill''s medicinal power, though slow, was fully absorbed.


    It seems the overall path for those without Spiritual Roots to cultivate their physical bodies is correct, just a bit slow in refining speed.


    However, at this early exploration stage, there is much room for improvement. After all, their group is still too low in both cultivation level and insight.


    Before they left, Wang Hong informed them that they could exchange this kind of elixir for contribution points in the future, equivalent to the value of two Condensing Qi Pills.


    Excited, the two bid their farewells.


    Wang Hong obtained a secret technique called "Shifting Positions" from Ding''s storage bagst time.


    Though he excelled in physical refinement and closebat, most cultivators fought from a distance using Magical Arts, Magical Weapons, Talismans, and the like.


    If the enemy didn''t give him a chance to get close, despite his strong physical body, he would be a sitting duck, unable to fully utilize his physical advantages.


    He vividly remembered Ding''s elusive speed.


    "Shifting Positions" had threeyers. The firstyer allowed instant movement of one to ten yards, but the direction and traces of the movement could still be seen, making it easy to interrupt.


    Upon reaching the secondyer, one could move ten to forty-nine yards instantly. During the movement, only afterimages could be seen, making the trajectory hard to discern, appearing mysterious and unpredictable.


    At the thirdyer, instant movement surpassed fifty yards, but Jade Scroll did not provide detailed information beyond this.


    Wang Hong decided to diligently practice this technique. Just mastering the firstyer''s ability had already made him envious, not to mention the even more miraculous second and thirdyers.


    Spending some time in the Space, he thoroughlyprehended the firstyer of the technique.


    Standing in the secret room, Wang Hong activated the "Shifting Positions" technique. After a brief moment, his body floated forward, stopping just over five feet away.


    By now, Wang Hong''s face was pale, and he was sweating profusely. This brief moment had depleted his entire Spiritual Energy.


    He hadn''t expected this technique to be so challenging to practice. Activating the technique took just a moment, but in a battle, that moment could be enough for others to turn him into minced meat.


    Taking out Spirit Wine, he took arge sip, allowing his Spiritual Energy to recover before continuing his practice.


    Three dayster, the time it took for the technique to activate shortened, and the distance he could move increased slightly.


    After three months, he finally regained his cultivation to the fifthyer of Qi Cultivation, and the distance he could move reached one yard. However, the activation still required half a moment.


    Six monthster, he finally achieved instant activation, drifting one yard. At this point, his "Shifting Positions" firstyer could be considered proficient.


    Exiting the training room, Wang Hong, again as Wang Kun, visited the Elixir Pavilion to replenish a batch of elixirs.


    As he left, he sensed someone following him. Wang Hong casually walked to a secluded ce and stopped.


    "Fellow Daoist! Isn''t it tiring to follow me for so long? If you have something, just say it."


    A lean middle-aged man with two small mustaches emerged from the alley behind.


    "Fellow Daoist, please forgive me. I have no ill intentions. I wanted to discuss something with Fellow Daoist, hence this approach."


    ncing around, the man added, "This is not the ce to talk. I have some light wine prepared in the VIP Pavilion. How about we move there?"


    After a brief consideration, Wang Hong agreed. Inside Azure Void City, he wasn''t afraid of any tricks.


    In a VIP Pavilion private room, the middle-aged man had already set up a table with a variety of dishes.


    Green-stir-fried spirit bamboo shoots, phoenix-tailed spirit chicken stewed with hundred-year Ginseng soup, braised iron-armored spirit turtle...


    Looking at the spread, worth at least two hundred Spirit Stones, it was clear that effort had been put into it.


    "I am Qian Gui. I apologize for my previous intrusion. Please forgive me. I''ll take the initiative to apologize with a drink." With that, he raised a cup of Spirit Wine and drank it in one go.


    "I am Wang Kun. I wonder what business Friend Qian has in inviting me?" Although he had some guesses, Wang Hong still asked.


    "I run a small Elixir shop. Despite having a few acres of spirit fields passed down from my ancestors, supplying a shop is still insufficient, and we often run out of stock. I wonder if Friend has a source of goods?" Qian Gui looked at Wang Hong expectantly.


    Since the matter was already clear, Wang Hong didn''t beat around the bush. After a moment of contemtion, he spoke, "I do have goods."


    Qian Gui''s face lit up. He didn''t think he could persuade the other party in one go. He didn''t expect the other party to be so straightforward.


    Taking a sip of Spirit Wine, Wang Hong continued, "However, I cannot make the decision. I need to apply to the tradingpany."


    Upon hearing this, Qian Gui didn''t feel disappointed. Whoever could provide so many Elixirs and Spirit Herbs clearly wasn''t a small force. It was something a Qi Cultivation cultivator couldn''t decide on their own.


    "I wonder how I can get a supply from you?"


    "I can help you apply for the supply. You can refer to Zhao Ning''s Elixir Pavilion for the types of goods."


    "Including the Barrier Breaking Pill?" Qian Gui asked cautiously.


    "Barrier Breaking Pills are also avable, but the quantity won''t be too much, probably only one pill per month."


    Qian Gui was greatly relieved; having one Barrier Breaking Pill per month was already excellent for his Elixir shop, which had never sold Barrier Breaking Pills before.


    "However, the prices for the Spiritual Objects we provide are fixed at a 10% discount, and no negotiation is allowed," Wang Hong added.


    After a moment of contemtion, Qian Gui quickly understood. Although slightly more expensive than typical suppliers, the difference was only around half to a full discount.


    As long as there was a sufficient supply, he could still make substantial profits.


    Receiving one Barrier Breaking Pill per month could earn him over a thousand Spirit Stones more than usual.


    Ten dayster, Wang Hong provided Qian Gui with a batch of Elixirs and Spirit Herbs worth twenty thousand Spirit Stones. This included the much-anticipated Barrier Breaking Pill.


    He promised to provide a long-term supply in the future, leaving Qian Gui excited and his mustache trembling.


    Wang Hong realized that, despite his high Alchemy sess rate, there was still a bit of a supply shortage.


    He handed over materials for a thousand Condensing Qi Pills to Zhang Chunfeng, shocking him as he had never seen anyone practice with such arge quantity of materials.


    With only Zhang Chunfeng and Skinny Monkey capable of Alchemy, and Skinny Monkey managing the Spirit Wine Pavilion, responsible for brewing, Wang Hong had no other option. He delegated this task to Zhang Chunfeng, knowing that while Alchemy emphasized talent, with arge umtion of materials, even someonecking talent could be a master.


    During this period, the Spirit Bee Queen in his Space had sessfully hatched. He could nowmunicate with it telepathically, givingmands through his thoughts.


    Now, over ten thousand Spirit Bees had been bred, although the current Space was too small for their needs.


    Various Spirit Blossoms transnted from Hundred Flowers Valley had not yet bloomed, and the nted spirit fruit trees were still saplings, far from bearing fruit.


    Currently, only a few Spirit Herbs capable of flowering were avable, limiting the supply of Spirit Blossom honey. When the number reached ten thousand, Wang Hong ordered the Bee Queen to stopying eggs, the maximum the Space could sustain.


    During this time, another batch of matured Spirit Herbs in the Space had been refined into Condensing Qi Pills over three months, supplied to the Elixir Pavilion for sale. His sess rate in producing Condensing Qi Pills had finally reached the fifthyer.


    In these few months, the Space area had increased by over two acres, reaching a total of six acres. Time passed at thirty-five times the speed of the outside world.


    Taking some time, he changed his appearance several times, collecting second-tier Spirit Herbs and spirit fruit seeds from various major shops and nting them in the Space.


    Afterpleting these tasks, he changed his appearance again, joining a team of mid-level Qi Cultivation individuals entering the ck Dragon Marsh for training.


    Although he was only at the fifthyer of Qi Cultivation this time, his overall strengthpared to thest entry into ck Dragon Marsh was iparable.


    With well-equipped Magical Weapons for attack and defense, elevated cultivation level in body refinement, and mastery of the firstyer of "Shifting Positions," this training session encountered no major troubles. In a little over a month, he familiarized himself with an area, reaping over a hundred Spirit Herbs.


    In this way, Wang Hong went to ck Dragon Marsh for training every few months. In three years, except for some extremely dangerous areas, he almost traversed every corner of the ck Dragon Marsh.


    He had previously teamed up for training but had been acting alone since breaking through to the seventhyer of Qi Cultivationst year, significantly enhancing his strength in various aspects.


    Now, the Space area had reached fifteen acres, and time flowed forty-four times faster than the outside world.


    Wang Hong categorized the Spiritual Objects in the Space: a five-acre spirit fruit orchard, containing three acres of second-tier spirit fruit that had been harvested several times. Some were distributed to the soldiers, and the rest were brewed into high-quality Spirit Wine.


    Currently, the Spirit Wine Pavilion sold a fixed quantity of one hundred kilograms of high-tier Spirit Wine every month, each bottle weighing one ounce, with a selling price of thirty Spirit Stones. This added an ie of thirty thousand Spirit Stones per month.


    Two acres of second-tier spirit fruit had a longer growth period and had just begun to bear fruit. It would take several more decades for them to mature fully.


    Among them, fifteen white crystal fruit trees, each as tall as a person, bore several small white fruits on each tree.


    The previously nted Green Spirit Peach, after so many years, had grown to a height of five feet, with three pink flowers on top. These flowers had bloomed for over a decade in the Space, showing no signs of bearing fruit.


    Legend had it that some spirit fruit took hundreds of years to flower, hundreds of years to bear fruit, and hundreds of years to mature. It seemed to be true.


    Five acres were upied by various types of Spiritual Medicine from ck Dragon Marsh, with only three to five nts of each kind. It showed the diverse variety of Spiritual Medicine in ck Dragon Marsh. If not for the fact that any picky Spiritual Medicine could thrive in the Space, such extensive cultivation would not be possible.


    Two acres were dedicated to aggregating Spirit Herb, mainly supplied to the Spirit Pill Pavilion. Wang Hong''s sess rate in refining Condensing Qi Pills had reached eighty percent, producing about ten percent of mid-grade pills.


    Currently, Wang Hong only consumed mid-grade Condensing Qi Pills himself. There was also a small supply of mid-grade pills to the Spirit Pill Pavilion.


    After continuous Alchemy practice by Zhang Chunfeng in recent years, his sess rate had reached forty percent, relieving Wang Hong of a lot of pressure.


    An acre ofnd was dedicated to growing Medicinal Herbs for Body Refining Pills, mainly for Wang Hong''s personal use and the soldiers under him. With his increased Spirit Stone ie, the soldiers'' treatment had also improved.


    Each soldier could now exchange for at least two Body Refining Pills per month, and there was also a plentiful supply of Demonic Beast meat. Demonic Beast meat not only contained Spiritual Energy but also had a significant amount of essence blood, beneficial for body refinement.


    All soldiers had converted their Inner Strength to Spiritual Energy cultivation level. Some had even reached the secondyer of Qi Cultivation.


    The conversion to Spiritual Energy was mainly for the convenience of using Talismans, Magical Weapons, and other items. The soldiers primarily focused on body refinement, cultivating the "Immortal Transformation," which was currently the most suitable technique for them.


    The remaining two acres were once again filled with various kinds of Spiritual Medicine that had mutated sessfully.


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 Chapter 50: He Yuan

    Chapter 50: He Yuan


    In these three years, several shops have inquired about his information, seeking him as a supplier.


    He reluctantly agreed to all of them. Only a fool would refuse the opportunity to safely and quickly exchange resources for Spirit Stones.


    To add ayer of mystery, he even fabricated a powerful forcethe Immortal Way Trading Company. He himself was just an inconspicuous member of this business.


    Apart from the major sects in the cultivation world, there were various forces, such as cultivation ns, trade associations, businesses, and even some secretive assassination and intelligence organizations.


    Although Azure Void City was within the influence of the Qingxu Sect, having intricate connections with them, it could be considered a force in its own right.


    Therefore, Wang Hong''s exnation didn''t raise suspicions. In the cultivation world, countless forces intertwined, making it normal not to know about each other.


    Without major forces, it was impossible to stably provide such a quantity of Spiritual Objects.


    He had now developed five shops, supplying them with Spirit Pills and Spiritual Medicine.


    These five were small cultivation families or individuals running small shops,cking significant backgrounds.


    Major forces wouldn''t pay attention to these small shops. Wang Hong dared not provoke them; a wrong move, and not even bones would be left.


    His current n was to quietly expand and umte wealth through these inconspicuous small businesses, which posed no threat.


    These small businesses were numerous, mostlycking a stable supply, often experiencing scarcity. Wang Hong was like a timely rain for them.


    With his current strength, he nned to silently expand among these small businesses and quietly amass wealth.


    He intended to gradually turn his fabricated Immortal Way Trading Company into reality, spreading its influence to every city in the cultivation world.


    Of course, this was a long-term n; one had to eat a meal step by step and walk a road one step at a time.


    In a few months, the once-in-a-decade sect missions would be released. This caused the prices in Azure Void City to rise, with prices for talismans, magical weapons, elixirs, and spirit wine increasing by twenty to thirty percent.


    Hence, this year''s Ten Stores Joint Auction was held exceptionally grandly. It was said that each major store brought out their most precious treasures for auction.


    Wang Hong also nned to participate, hoping to acquire one or two practical treasures.


    This time, he had already submitted two Barrier Breaking Pills, a small bottle of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, and ten bottles of Spirit Wine for auction.


    The Spirit Wine was his top-quality spirit fruit wine from the first tier, stored in the Space for over a hundred years. Though its effects were not as potent as the second-tier Spirit Wine, the difference wasn''t too significant.


    Additionally, he brought out two 300-year-old mutated Astragalus nts for auction. He didn''t recognize them himself and wanted to see if anyone could identify them.


    The number of participants in this auction had evidently increased. Manyters stood in the back, unable to secure seats.


    The Ten Stores Joint Auction maintained its tradition of not having VIP seats, symbolizing equality in bidding for everyone, regardless of cultivation level, identity, or statusthe highest bidder wins.


    Hosting the auction was still the venerable Old Man Feng Qing with an air of immortality.


    Feng Qing ascended the auction stage, briefly introducing himself.


    Then, he directly entered the main topic, drawing out his words as he shouted, "Now, presenting the first item for auction, the Windsoar Boat."


    Two sturdy men carried a small wooden boat onto the stage. The boat was only five feet long and two feet wide, appearing cramped even for one person.


    "I believe many fellow cultivators have harbored the wish to soar in the blue sky, but unfortunately, only senior practitioners at the Foundation Building stage can achieve it. We Qi Cultivators can only envy them from the ground," Old Man Feng Qing said, tempting the audience.


    "Those who can progress from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Building are few and far between. If one cannot reach Foundation Building, they can never fulfill the dream of flying and escaping."


    "This flying magical weapon, named Windsoar Boat, is crafted from wind-attributed spirit wood, engraved with wind formation and levitation array. By infusing Spiritual Energy into the boat, even Qi Cultivators can possess the ability to fly."


    After saying this, Old Man Feng Qing personally jumped into the boat to demonstrate. With the infusion of his Spiritual Energy, the boat slowly floated two yards high, circling the auction stage.


    "As you can see, the Windsoar Boat is easy to control, and even Qi Cultivators can master it with agility," Feng Qing said, hopping down from the Windsoar Boat.


    "Old man, how is the flying speed of this Windsoar Boat? And what about the consumption of Spiritual Energy?" a middle-aged man asked.


    "This friend''s question is quite fitting; I was just about to exin. The flying speed of the Windsoar Boat is simr to the Wind Control Technique of a Qi Cultivator. As for Spiritual Energy consumption, a fifth-level Qi Cultivator can sustain it for about fifteen minutes," Feng Qing exined, stroking his long beard.


    Upon hearing this, the enthusiasm that had just risen among the audience diminished significantly.


    The main issue was the slow speed, unsuitable for either chasing enemies or escaping. Purchasing such a magical weapon would only satisfy the craving for flight, too slow forbat and too energy-consuming for travelmerely a collectible toy.


    "The starting bid for the Windsoar Boat is five hundred Spirit Stones, with each subsequent bid no less than ten Spirit Stones."


    "I bid five hundred!"


    "I bid five hundred and one!"


    "Five hundred and five!" Wang Hong also joined the bidding. If it wasn''t too expensive, he could consider buying it. Despite some drawbacks, it could still be useful for oveing certain obstacles.


    In the end, Wang Hong raised the price from nine hundred, making a one-time increase of six hundred, reaching a total of one thousand five hundred Spirit Stones, and no one contested with him anymore.


    After all, a high-quality magical weapon usually cost around a thousand Spirit Stones. Obviously, not many were willing to spend too much on a magical weapon that wasn''t very practical.


    "Good! Congrattions to this fellow cultivator for acquiring a rare flying magical weapon."


    "The next item for auction is the high-grade magical weapon, Frostde Sword, crafted entirely from extremely cold ice crystals, making it the best choice for cultivators with ice or water spiritual roots. Starting bid: five hundred Spirit Stones..."


    Seeing the first item sold for a satisfactory price, Old Man Feng Qing quickly seized the opportunity and announced the next item.


    In the midst of bidding, a maid brought Wang Hong''s auction items. After confirming their authenticity, she handed several Jade Boxes containing second-tier Spiritual Medicine to the maid.


    As the maid couldn''t assess the value of second-tier Spiritual Medicine, she had to consult a specialized appraiser. In the end, they settled at a ny percent value and paid Wang Hong an additional two hundred Spirit Stones.


    The auction continued, and since there was nothing else of particr interest to Wang Hong, he refrained from bidding further.


    It wasn''t until the Spiritual Medicine auction segment that he became interested again, purchasing several types of Spiritual Medicine he didn''t already have.


    "The next items for auction are two mutated Spiritual Medicines, identified by appraisers as three-hundred-year-old, with the ability to greatly replenish essence blood. They are second-tier Spiritual Medicines. If anyone is familiar with medicinal properties, feel free toe up and inspect."


    As soon as these words were spoken, more than ten cultivators walked up to the stage. A new, mutated variety was quite appealing to alchemists.


    Even if they didn''t buy, going up to take a look didn''t cost Spirit Stones. Perhaps they might encounter something simr elsewhere in the future.


    The group approached, carefully examining the Spiritual Medicines with their divine senses. Then, a maid cut several small roots and handed them to each person.


    An Old Man with white hair, wearing a monkey-faced mask, sniffed a small section of the root and chewed it carefully. His eyes revealed a hint of excitement, quickly hidden.


    Despite being in his fifties, this man, who had umted considerable wealth in thest few decades of Qi Cultivation, wasn''t considered too old for a cultivator with a lifespan of a hundred years. His natural talents were exceptional, reaching theter stages of Qi Cultivation by his twenties, and he was highly valued in his family.


    However, during an adventure, he faced a siege of blood-devouring bats and nearly lost his life after having his essence blood drained. The deficient essence blood couldn''t be replenished, leaving him without the possibility of reaching Foundation Building.


    He could sense that with these two Spiritual Medicines, his essence blood could fully recover. There might even be a chance to further advance and achieve Foundation Building.


    "After everyone''s personal identification, I believe you have a good understanding of these two Spiritual Medicines. Now, let the bidding begin, starting at five hundred..."


    "I bid a thousand!" The Old Man in the monkey-faced mask shouted.


    "One thousand two!"


    "One thousand three!"


    The Old Man''s bid was soon drowned out by the continuous bids.


    "Fifteen thousand!"


    "Fifteen thousand one hundred!"


    "Sixteen thousand!" The Old Man in the monkey mask bid his entire wealth umted over several decades. All the items on himbined were only worth this much.


    However, the bidding didn''t stop there. The price skyrocketed and quickly surpassed twenty thousand.


    The Old Man in the monkey mask slumped in his chair, clearly seeing hope but unable to seize it due to insufficient Spirit Stones. His heart was filled with regret. He gazed nkly at the various cultivators, passionately driving up the price but feeling powerless.


    In the end, a Qi Cultivation cultivator bought the two Spiritual Medicines for fifty thousand Spirit Stones.


    Suddenly, the Old Man in the monkey mask''s eyes shed with determination. He made a decision.


    Suddenly standing up, Old Man removed the mask from his face and bowed to the Qi Cultivation cultivator from a distance.


    "This fellow cultivator, I am He Yuan. These two Spiritual Medicines are extremely important to me. Can you consider giving them to me? I am willing topensate you with twenty thousand Spirit Stones and sign a blood contract, serving you for ten years."


    As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience was shocked into silence, everyone looking around.


    It''s worth noting that a blood contract is imprinted onto the Nascent Soul. Once signed, it cannot be revoked, making the signer subject to the other party. Generally, cultivators wouldn''t sign a blood contract unless absolutely necessary.


    The Qi Cultivation cultivator scrutinized He Yuan and said slowly, "Thirty thousand Spirit Stones can make a tenyer Qi Cultivator pledge loyalty for ten years, which is indeed a good deal. Unfortunately, these two Spiritual Medicines are equally important to me." With these words, the Qi Cultivation cultivator revealed a faint aura of a Foundation Building cultivator.


    The Qi Cultivation cultivator thought with regret. If not for a life-saving technique he had used earlier, which consumed a considerable amount of essence blood and required at least five years of normal recovery, he would have dly epted a tenyer Qi Cultivator as a subordinate.


    He Yuan slumped back into his seat, and the auction continued without much attention to him.


    Suddenly, his ears perked up, and he looked around with excitement. Unfortunately, he didn''t find the person he was looking for in the crowd.


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 Chapter 51: Little Three Elements Formation

    Chapter 51: Little Three Elements Formation


    The auction had reached the final auction of the most valuable treasures. The items Wang Hong put up for auction had already been sessfully sold. Two Barrier Breaking Pills were auctioned for twenty thousand Spirit Stones, while ten bottles of Spirit Wine fetched a total of ten thousand Spirit Stones.


    A small bottle of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly caused a fiercepetition among many cultivators. Some wanted to buy it to gift to a celestial maiden, hoping to win a smile from her. Alchemists were also interested, intending to use it to refine a rare elixir and increase their pill formation sess rate.


    After intense bidding from various parties, it was finally sold for a high price of thirty thousand Spirit Stones.


    "Now, we are going to auction a set of formations called the Little Three Elements Formation. You might have heard of the Grand Tri-Formation, a protective formation used by many ns to guard their mountains.


    The Little Three Elements Formation is a simplified version of the Grand Tri-Formation, crafted into an array te for easy portability and maniption.


    Even a Qi Cultivation stage cultivator controlling it can momentarily trap a Foundation Building stage cultivator. It is undoubtedly the bestpanion for your home cultivation and hunting of demons in the wilderness."


    "Old Man Feng, you praise it so much. There must be drawbacks, right? Don''t hide anything; spill it all," a impatient man below clearly was not unfamiliar with Old Man Feng''s tactics.


    Old Man Feng, typically only stating the advantages and avoiding or downying the disadvantages, didn''t seem embarrassed when pointed out. He exined in detail, "The main drawback is that it consumes a considerable amount of Spirit Stones. If controlled by a Qi Cultivation cultivator, the Spiritual Energy consumption is also fast. Additionally, it''s only a Restriction Formation,cking offensive capabilities."


    In other words, if controlled by a Qi Cultivation cultivator, it can only trap a Foundation Building cultivator for a short time. Afterward, the Qi Cultivation cultivator would run out of Spirit Stones and Spiritual Energy, and the Foundation Building cultivator would break free, ready to face the enraged attacks.


    "Little Three Elements Formation, starting bid at one thousand Spirit Stones..."


    "Two thousand Spirit Stones!"


    "Three thousand!"


    ...


    For something capable of trapping a Foundation Building cultivator, many people showed great interest. Although it had some drawbacks, where in the world could one find something perfect?


    Wang Hong also actively participated in the lively bidding. Initially, the price was at the bottom, with many people shouting, creating an enthusiastic atmosphere. They were just joining in for fun, without spending Spirit Stones. In the future, when boasting during tea or meals, they could say they participated in the bidding for a top-notch treasure, narrowly missing it.


    As the lively bidding gradually quieted down, the realpetition began.


    At this point, only five people were still participating in the bidding.


    "One hundred and twenty thousand!" Wang Hong casually quoted a price, unafraid topete financially with Qi Cultivation stage cultivators.


    This formation might have a significant impact on Qi Cultivation stage cultivators, but it held little attraction for Foundation Building stage cultivators. Foundation Building cultivators had more suitable options, so they wouldn''t expend much effort on such a formation.


    "One hundred and twenty-one thousand!" a masked cultivator with a ck dragon mask gritted his teeth and shouted.


    "One hundred and twenty-five thousand!" another white-robed cultivator followed suit.


    Seeing no further bids, the other two had apparently withdrawn.


    "One hundred and thirty thousand," Wang Hong nonchntly quoted a price, taking out a spirit fruit and taking a bite. The crisp sound echoed in the quiet auction venue.


    "One hundred and thirty-one thousand," the ck dragon-masked cultivator raised the bid by a thousand.


    "One hundred and thirty-five thousand," the white-robed cultivator added four thousand.


    "One hundred and forty thousand."


    Wang Hong continued to eat the spirit fruit, seemingly indifferent, waiting for others to bid. He casually threw out a number. His behavior angered his opponent and, at the same time, exerted great pressure on them.


    "One hundred and forty thousand," the white-robed cultivator felt frustrated. As a direct descendant of a major cultivation n, he was highly favored by the ancestral founder. His daily expenditure on Spirit Stones was not insignificant, and being able to produce over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones at once was almost on par with a Foundation Building cultivator''s wealth.


    Today, this unknown cultivator seemed topletely overshadow him in momentum. One hundred and forty thousand was already his bottom line.


    "One hundred and fifty thousand!" Wang Hong continued to nibble on the spirit fruit, not bothering to look up, seemingly casually quoting a price.


    After a while, Old Man Feng Qing''s voice was heard, "One hundred and fifty thousand, once!"


    "One hundred and fifty thousand, twice!" Feng Qing paused for a moment, scanning the entire venue and seeing no further bids.


    "One hundred and fifty thousand, thrice, sold! Congrattions to this Fellow Daoist for winning the auction item, Little Three Elements Formation." Feng Qing, satisfied with the price, decisively concluded the deal with a bang of his gavel.


    Seizing the opportunity, Feng Qing enthusiastically began introducing the next auction item.


    "Dear friends, as Qi Cultivation cultivators, our ultimate goal is to one day reach Foundation Building and be experts in the Foundation Building stage.


    If unable to achieve Foundation Building, after a hundred years, we will eventually be nothing more than Yellow Soil, no different from mortals.


    However, Foundation Building Pills are rarely seen. I believe many cultivators join sects with the hope of obtaining a Foundation Building Pill.


    However, even after joining a major sect, Foundation Building Pills remain scarce and hard to obtain.


    Next, we will auction a genuine Foundation Building Pill. I hope you all seize the opportunity and break through to new heights!"


    Feng Qing''s words stirred up excitement among the crowd. Everyone was eager to try, wishing they could snatch the Foundation Building Pill directly.


    After a frenziedpetition among various cultivators, the Foundation Building Pill was finally sold for four hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    The auction concluded amid the madness of the crowd.


    Zhexian Residence Restaurant in Azure Void City was quite well-known, with a constant flow of customers, thriving in business.


    At this moment, He Yuan sat alone on the third floor near a window, ncing around anxiously.


    Previously, he had searched tirelessly for Spiritual Objects that could restore essence blood, but such items were scarce. Even when asionally finding some, their effects were not very noticeable.


    After decades of effort, his essence blood had only recovered less than ten percent.


    Since the damage to his essence blood, he had fallen from being a genius to a waste. The immense gap was hard for him to ept.


    What saddened him even more was the attitude of his n. Formerly a genius, all the n''s resources were inclined towards him, and everyone ttered and respected him.


    However, when they learned about his lost essence blood and inability to recover, those who once ttered him now avoided him. Those who merely spoke cold words or mocked him were considered kind.


    The n''s resources no longer reached him. Yet, whenever there was a dangerous or undesirable task, it always fell on his shoulders.


    He understood that the n wanted to squeeze out his final value, even if it meant using him as cannon fodder.


    He had already given up hope and was ready to live the rest of his life in despair. However, he suddenly discovered a Spiritual Medicine that could restore him. Just a small piece of its root could noticeably elerate his essence blood recovery, making him almost tremble with excitement.


    Unfortunately, his Spirit Stones were still too few, extinguishing the faint hope that had just emerged.


    So, he made a determined decision. Instead of living like a walking corpse, he would take a risk for a chance. Even if it meant death, it was better than passively enduring life.


    Upon hearing the message at the auction, he decisively followed the agreement and waited here. As long as there was a glimmer of opportunity, he wouldn''t give up.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!" A red-faced old man in a ck robe walked up the stairs. After reaching the top, he walked straight toward He Yuan. He Yuan hurriedly stood up to greet him.


    "Fellow Daoist He, you''ve waited for a long time!" the red-faced old man greeted, sping his hands.


    "Not at all, not at all, Fellow Daoist is too polite. I just arrived a moment ago."


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 Chapter 52: Blood Contract

    Chapter 52: Blood Contract


    The two sat by the window, and He Yuan eagerly cast a Spiritual Energy shield, enveloping them to prevent eavesdropping and block any prying eyes or spiritual awareness.


    He Yuan leaned forward and asked, "Is what Fellow Daoist said earlier true? This matter is crucial to me and not a subject for jest."


    "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist He," replied the red-faced Old Man. "I haven''t been so idle as to use this matter to amuse myself with you."


    The Old Man with the red face produced two Jade Boxes and ced them on the table in front of He Yuan.


    He Yuan gently opened the box, revealing two golden Spiritual Medicines emitting a fragrant aroma. He took a deep breath and carefully chewed on two small root segments. His initially tense features gradually rxed.


    "Good, this is precisely the Spiritual Medicine I need. Moreover, its quality surpasses the two presented at the auction. How would Fellow Daoist like to proceed with the exchange?"


    He Yuan felt a bit uneasy. Despite the tempting conditions he had offered earlier, being rejected at the auction had shaken his confidence.


    "Let''s proceed with the conditions you proposed earlier," said the red-faced Old Man indifferently.


    "However, you must consider carefully. Once the Blood Contract is signed, there is no turning back. Within ten years, you will be bound to obey me. This is not a trivial matter and could even endanger your life."


    "I have made up my mind. Rather than living in humiliation and submission, what difference does it make from death? I appreciate Fellow Daoist''s reminder," resolutely dered He Yuan.


    "Very well! I won''t be sentimental. Rest assured, I am not an evil person, and I won''t mistreat you."


    The red-faced Old Man took a small yellow paper from his Storage Bag, adorned with peculiar runes and about the size of two palms.


    This was the Blood Contract document, extremely difficult to produce, known only to a few major sects.


    There were two types of Blood Contracts. The one they were using was the ordinary type, simr to Mortal Realm contracts, specifying terms that the signer must adhere to.


    Vition would result in bacsh, ranging from loss of cultivation to instant death.


    The other type, a Master-ve Blood Contract, was even more expensive. A tier-one Master-ve Blood Contract cost fifteen thousand Spirit Stones.


    They wrote the terms on the Blood Contract, then each forced out a drop of essence blood, which was quickly absorbed by the contract. The essence blood flowed through the runes, and after nine cycles, the entire Blood Contract turned to ashes with a soft "puff."


    Only two drops of essence blood floated in the air. The two reached out, and the drops entered their foreheads.


    Afterpleting the Blood Contract ritual, the red-faced Old Man said, "Now that we are allies, there''s no need to conceal certain things. My real name is Wang Hong; this face is just a temporary illusion."


    The red-faced Old Man''s face was shrouded in mist, and when it cleared, a in young face was revealed.


    "For the next few months, don''t reveal our connection. You can continue as before. Currently, I am nning a major operation with some risk, but don''t worry; I don''t intend to use you as cannon fodder. I will personally participate. Provide me with your address, and I''ll notify you when the timees."


    Since witnessing the Three Elements Formation, he had a bold idea.


    He had already gathered information about the Lin Family. With over a hundred Qi Cultivation practitioners, they only had one Foundation Building cultivator, the grandfather of Lin Yun.


    Lin Yun had three Spiritual Roots and was diligent in cultivation. He had ambitious aspirations, often taking the revival of the family as his mission. In his early twenties, he had reached the eighthyer of Qi Cultivation.


    Due to his potential, he gained the favor of his grandfather, who saw him as the next family head.


    The family members also regarded him highly, and due to his focus on cultivation, he had limited experience.


    Over time, he became somewhat arrogant, having rarely faced setbacks.


    Wang Hong considered that he had offended the Lin Family, and now, if he left the city, he would undoubtedly be hunted by them.


    Over the years, every time he left the city, he had to change his identity to avoid the Lin Family''s pursuit. His soldiers hadn''t left the city at all during this time.


    He was not afraid at the moment, but he dreaded the possibility of facing both the young and the old Lin Family members.


    Moreover, he nned to join a sect. The foundation he left in Azure Void City couldn''t be easily abandoned, considering the substantial monthly ie of tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.


    Additionally, he had dozens of subordinates here. With the Lin Family constantly lurking nearby, he couldn''t leave them without concerns.


    If he joined a sect, he would undoubtedly travel between the sect and the city, posing potential security risks.


    Furthermore, in recent years, the Lin Family had been making subtle moves, often sending loose cultivators to harass his shop.


    If he left, the Lin Family might intensify their actions, and the remaining people might not be able to handle it.


    It would be best to resolve this issue before leaving.


    Since the moment he saw the Little Three Elements Formation, he had a crazy idea: to gather a group and hunt down a Foundation Building cultivator.


    That night, Wang Hong gathered his forty-five subordinates.


    Among them, Zhang Chunfeng had the best aptitude and the highest cultivation level, having reached the sixthyer of Qi Cultivation. He was responsible for Battle Formation Drills.


    Skinny Monkey had four Spiritual Roots and, with the assistance of numerous elixirs, had reached the fifthyer of Qi Cultivation. He managed the Spirit Wine store.


    Zhao Ningcked Spiritual Roots, was at the secondyer of Qi Cultivation, and the thirdyer of Body Refining. He managed the Elixir store.


    The rest were at the first or secondyer of Qi Cultivation, and the second or thirdyer of Body Refining.


    In recent years, Wang Hong had also recruited someborers for various mundane tasks such as brewing, cooking, and basic processing of Spirit Herbs. This allowed the soldiers to focus on cultivation, resulting in rapid progress.


    Now, the forty-five individuals stood in a neat formation in the courtyard.


    "Everyone, after years of hard work, our strength has skyrocketed. However, we''ve been stuck in Azure Void City, unable even to leave the city gates.


    I''m giving you three months of preparation time. After three months, I will personally lead you out of the city for a hunt.


    During these three months, each person will receive an extra three hundred contribution points to exchange for suitable elixirs and further enhance your strength.


    In three months, it will be time to showcase our strength! Do you have confidence?"


    "Kill! Kill! Kill!"


    Wang Hong spoke some motivating words and then dismissed the crowd, leaving behind a few leaders.


    "Zhang Chunfeng, you''ve been at the sixthyer of Qi Cultivation for some time now. Can you break through to theter stages within these three months?"


    Zhang Chunfeng pondered for a moment and replied, "I haven''t made any progress in my cultivation level in the past few months. It seems like I''ve reached a bottleneck, and the chance of a breakthrough in three months is not very high."


    Wang Hong took out two small porcin bottles and casually tossed them to Zhang Chunfeng.


    "Here are twenty mid-grade Condensing Qi Pills and one Barrier Breaking Pill. Break through to theter stages of Qi Cultivation within these three months.


    Your task is the most crucial, and you''ll also be responsible for training the others. Tomorrow, take Skinny Monkey with you, bring some Spirit Stones, and each of you purchase a high-grade defensive Magical Weapon."


    "Yes!"


    "Great, great! I want a sturdy tortoise shell too. In future battles against cultivators of the same tier, I''ll let them have a taste of it within three moves."


    Skinny Monkey joyfully shouted. Among the forty-five subordinates, only Skinny Monkeycked the solemn and serious demeanor expected of a military person. Being the youngest and ate addition, he had previously served as a misceneousborer. Now in charge of the Spirit Wine store, he had be more active and lively.


    Ignoring Skinny Monkey, Wang Hong continued, "Xu Lun, you''re in charge of logistics. Each person will be supplied with a hundred pounds of Demonic Beast meat daily for these three months."


    At the same time, he produced two golden Spiritual Medicines, the mutated Astragalus.


    "Add this as well. Stew it together with the Demonic Beast meat. Add two pieces for every hundred pounds."


    "General, what kind of Spiritual Medicine is this? I''ve never seen it before."


    "This is a mutated Astragalus. It greatly replenishes essence blood. I''ve tried it, and it''s very beneficial for Body Refining. After using it, you cane find me again."


    "In addition, during this time, we need to prepare some marching supplies and purchase some Talismans."


    After arranging everyone, Wang Hong had a lot of preparations to do himself.


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 Chapter 53: Dragon Serpent Escape

    Chapter 53: Dragon Serpent Escape


    Wang Hong entered the Space. Over the years, due to the expansion of the Space, various spirit fruits and herbs bloomed one after another.


    The swarm of Spirit Bees he raised had now reached over thirty thousand. Additionally, there was a considerable amount of Spirit Bee Honey stored.


    As Spirit Bees had no natural enemies in the Space, among the thirty thousand Spirit Bees, only five thousand werebat-capable drones. The rest were worker bees.


    Wang Hong issued orders to the Bee Queen, instructing it to focus on producingbat-capable drones in the future.


    In case of insufficient food like nectar, they could use the stored Spirit Bee Honey.


    While individual Spirit Bees were of a low tier and easily killed, their strength lied in their sheer numbers.


    With a sufficient quantity, even a Golden Core cultivator would be intimidated, let alone someone at the Foundation Building stage.


    Unfortunately, the Spirit Blossom quantity in his Space was limited, enough to sustain only fifty thousand Spirit Bees at most.


    By reducing the number of idle male bees, he managed to save some Spirit Bee Honey.


    Upon receiving themand, the Bee Queen, with itsrge abdomen, began moving around the hive.


    Each hole left behind sesame-sized white dots, indicating bee eggs that would take a year to hatch into Spirit Bees.


    After arranging the matters concerning the Spirit Bees, Wang Hong once again ascended to the second floor of the Myriad Treasures Tower. However, he could only purchase a second-tier Talisman, leaving him somewhat disappointed.


    Second-tier Talismans could only be crafted by Foundation Building cultivators and could directly harm or even kill Foundation Building cultivators.


    The materials for crafting such talismans were precious, and usually, cultivators kept them for personal use or exchange. As a result, there were very few second-tier Talismans circting in the market.


    If he could buy a substantial number of second-tier Talismans with Spirit Stones, Wang Hong would sell even his pants to purchase them for self-defense. Why fear Foundation Building cultivators then?


    Wang Hong had also heard of something called "Symbolic Treasures" that had tremendous power, some even capable of directly killing Foundation Building cultivators.


    However, these legendary treasures were something he had never seen, and he wasn''t sure if the legends were true.


    Wang Hong visited several shops, managing to buy a second-tier Fire Dragon Talisman and two low-grade defensive Spiritual Weapons.


    This cost him tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, making him deeply regret losing a plot ofnd.


    He found He Yuan''s residence, handed him a Spiritual Weapon, a few bottles of Spirit Wine, gave some instructions, and left.


    He Yuan stood there in shock. This was a Spiritual Weapon; their family, despite having several Foundation Building cultivators, only had a few Spiritual Weapons.


    Back then, despite receiving attention from the family, he never received any additional Spiritual Weapons for self-defense.


    Looking at the bottles of Spirit Wine, not the small ones sold in regr Spirit Wine shops butrger ones weighing at least ten pounds each, and all of high quality, suitable for his cultivation level to restore Spiritual Energy.


    These kinds of Spirit Wine were not easy toe by, even with Spirit Stones, let alone getting so many at once.


    He knew he hit the jackpot; just these items were worth him serving for ten years.


    Moreover, Wang Hong mentioned that if he performed well in the uing battle, the twenty thousand debts he owed would be forgiven.


    This made him doubt Wang Hong''s identity. He was familiar with most descendants of the Wang family in the city, and none of them were this generous.


    Wang Hong paid little attention to He Yuan''s shock; he just felt reluctant to let the child not catch the wolf.


    Currently, he was studying the newly acquired Windsoar Boat. As he infused Spiritual Energy from his feet into the boat, it swayed and floated.


    When the boat was three feet off the ground, it suddenly shot forward. Wang Hong, not standing steadily, fell from the boat. He quickly looked around, relieved that no one had witnessed it.


    Getting up swiftly, he jumped back onto the boat. This time, he carefully controlled the wooden boat, soaring higher as he practiced forward movement, backward movement, and turns, all manipted by his divine sense. The magnitude of inputting Spiritual Energy controlled the flight speed.


    However, when the boat reached a height of two zhang, it couldn''t ascend further. Wang Hong realized that flying was forbidden in the city; there were anti-flight formations in ce.


    He had to descend slowly; it seemed better to practice outside the city.


    Wang Hong transformed back into the appearance of Wang Kun and went to a small valley outside the city. ncing around and finding no one, he released the Spirit Bees to collect nectar in the vicinity, saving some Spirit Honey for himself.


    Wang Hong took out the Windsoar Boat to continue practicing. Forward, backward, and turnsall controlled by divine sense. The amount of Spiritual Energy input determined the flight speed.


    Three dayster, the Windsoar Boat flew over the valley, sometimes fast and sometimes slow. Wang Hong stood on the boat, hands behind his back, head held high, disying the demeanor of a master.


    After a while, he sat down, moving his neck. Although the posture looked cool, it strained his neck too much.


    After three days of practice, he could now control the flying boat effortlessly, adjusting speed at will.


    Wang Hong thoroughly enjoyed the sensation of flying in the air; after all, flying in the sky was more in line with his ideal image of an immortal.


    During his flight just now, he suddenly had an idea. Could the "shifting positions" technique he practiced be used in mid-air?


    Thinking about it, he decided to give it a tryit was his usual style.


    Stopping the Windsoar Boat in mid-air, he shifted sideways, appearing a yard away. Then...


    A loud "bang" echoed as he plummeted straight down, creating a pit on the ground. Fortunately, with his well-trained body, no bones were broken.


    As the Windsoar Boat lost its Spiritual Energy support, it slowly descended, caught by Wang Hong.


    Once again standing on the wooden boat, this time flying only a yard high, he attempted "shifting positions" again, drifting forward a yard before dropping to the ground.


    He could already move a distance of two yards, but it seemedcking in leverage points in the air, causing him to fall after just one yard.


    He needed to figure out how to move the Windsoar Boat along, or he''d keep falling.


    The simplest method was to, after using "shifting positions," hold onto the Windsoar Boat with one hand. However, this would be inconvenient in battle.


    Wang Hong got back on the Windsoar Boat, this time releasing a small amount of Spiritual Energy that wrapped around the boat.


    Then, using "shifting positions," he moved to the side while injecting a significant amount of Spiritual Energy into the boat. This time, the speed increased slightly, drifting seven to eight feet before stopping.


    No longer falling down, but the slow speed wasn''t helpful inbat.


    Sitting on the ground, Wang Hong contemted for a while, then suddenly stood up, getting back on the Windsoar Boat. Again, he released a small amount of Spiritual Energy, winding it around the boat.


    While using "shifting positions," he simultaneously infused arge amount of Spiritual Energy into the Windsoar Boat from his feet. This time, the speed increased a bit more, drifting about eight feet.


    "Hmm, better, but still not enough," Wang Hong was not entirely satisfied; he needed to improve further.


    In the following days, he tried various methods, encountered problems, and found solutions.


    A monthter, Wang Hong, controlling the Windsoar Boat, swiftly flew forward in the air. Suddenly, his figure flickered, and he, along with the boat, moved to the right, drifting horizontally over eight feet.


    Then, he drifted forward another eight feet, took a sip of Spirit Wine, and continued flying forward, interspersed with some rapid drifting and changes in direction.


    This created a trajectory of unpredictable speed and direction, like a dancing spirit snake, difficult to predict.


    Wang Hong, after much effort, finally managed to use "shifting positions" in the air.


    The speed was slightly faster than using it on the ground, covering a distance of just over eight feet. However, the Spiritual Energy consumption was immense, depleting one-third of his internal Spiritual Energy in one attempt.


    Thus, he needed to continuously replenish Spiritual Energy with Spirit Wine during flight.


    With the modifications to "shifting positions," coupled with the Windsoar Boat, he could now maneuver left, right, forward, and backward in the air.


    Like a soaring dragon, agile and unpredictable.


    He named this aerial flying technique "Dragon Serpent Escape."


    In truth, true escape methods could only be formally mastered in the Golden Core stage and were then called escape methods.


    Though Foundation Building cultivators could fly, they still required external objects like Flying Swords for airborne movement.


    Currently, he hadn''t even touched the edge of escape methods; it was just a name for now.


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 Chapter 54: Preparing for Battle

    Chapter 54: Preparing for Battle


    On this day, forty-five individuals formed a neat formation, standing solemnly in the courtyard.


    After months of relentless improvement, almost everyone had ascended to a higher level.


    All forty-five were d in aplete set of ck metal armor, named "Extreme Night." Under the sunlight, it didn''t reflect the slightest gleam.


    These were all magical weapons tailored by Wang Hong through Gao Yue''s meticulous measurements. From cing the order topletion, it took an entire year.


    The full set of magical armor included: one helmet, two shoulder tes, two arm guards, one chestte, one backte, two leg guards, one crotch guard, and a pair of leather boots.


    The armor, named "Extreme Night," weighed five hundred catties and was entirelyposed of high-quality magical weapons. Its defensive capability approached that of a top-grade magical weapon, but its drawback was its excessive weight, impacting speed.


    Despite being only a mid-grade magical weapon, its cost exceeded that of top-grade magical weapons.


    Each set was priced at two thousand Spirit Stones, totaling ny thousand Spirit Stones for the forty-five sets. ording to the conniving merchant Gao Yue, this was considered a friendly price.


    Additionally, each person was equipped with ten long spears for throwing, with weights ranging from one to three thousand catties based on individual strength.


    In battle, if dozens of people simultaneously threw these long spears at a single point, with tens of thousands of catties in weightbined with the force of the throw, how many could withstand it?


    Wang Hong stood at the forefront of the formation, looking at the team he had invested a considerable sum in, nodding with satisfaction.


    "Everyone! Over these years, we''ve endured numerous humiliations from the Lin Family, being trapped in the city like turtles, afraid to venture out. We''ve also been harassed by ruffians disturbing our shop from time to time.


    As upright men of seven feet, how can we tolerate such humiliation for long? To endure for a moment is heroic, but to endure for a lifetime is to be a bear.


    Tell me, do we want to be heroes or bears?" Wang Hong emphasized, shouting loudly.


    "Heroes! Heroes!" the crowd roared in unison.


    "Good! Good! We''ve taken the heads of enemy generals in the midst of a sea of soldiers; we''ve collectively killed experts at the Innate Stage; we''ve in an Immortal Cultivator with mortal bodies. Faced with formidable enemies, we fear nothing. All formidable foes before us will be crushed to dust!"


    Pausing for a moment, he raised his voice even higher, "Where the de points, I am invincible!"


    "Where the de points, I am invincible!"


    "Where the de points, I am invincible!"


    All soldiers shouted along with flushed faces.


    Wang Hong made a downward gesture with both hands, and though the soldiers were emotionally charged, they immediately quieted down.


    "Good! Good! Zhang Chunfeng, step forward!"


    Zhang Chunfeng walked out of the front row withrge strides. After consuming a Barrier Breaking Pill, he finally broke through the bottleneck, reaching the seventhyer of Qi Cultivation and entering theter stages.


    Zhang Chunfeng, standing at nine feet tall with broad shoulders and a robust figure, silently stood at the front of the army like a silent mountain. Through the years, he had be even more steady.


    "In this battle, Zhang Chunfeng will be inmand. Any vition of militaryw will be punished."


    Everyone responded in unison.


    Zhang Chunfeng tookmand, standing at the front of the formation, and shouted, "Everyone, put on your outer robes, depart in small teams!"


    Everyone took out a ck, oversized cloak from their Storage Bag and wore it over the armor, including a hood covering their helmets.


    They didn''t leave the city together but departed in small teams, converging at a designated location outside the city.


    Along the way, several scouts were deployed, with one positioned on the teahouse opposite the main gate of the Lin Residence, observing any activities within.


    Azure Void City had four gates in the east, west, south, and north. Due to limited manpower, scouts were only ced on the side they would exit.


    Additionally, ten miles away from the battle location preselected by Wang Hong, a hidden lookout was stationed to serve as an early warning system.


    Wang Hong had carefully chosen the battle location in advance after much reconnaissance. It was a rtively small t ground, advantageous for deploying a battle formation. The surrounding area was nted with various messy bushes and thorn thickets by Wang Hong, greatly restricting agile movements.


    This allowed them to maximize their own advantages, oveing shorings such as insufficient speed and less agility in collective actionpared to individuals.


    One side of the t ground was a swift-flowing river, about thirty to forty zhang wide, impassable for cultivators in the Qi Cultivation stage.


    The other two sides were towering cliffs. Unless one could fly, even monkeys would find it impossible to climb over.


    With this arrangement, as long as they guarded one side, no one could escape. Even if they were defeated, there would be no easy escape for themselves.


    Of course, Wang Hong didn''t like the idea of setting up a deathtrap. He preferred the strategy of having multiple options and being prepared for any situation.


    In the direction of the cliffs, there was a cave with several forks inside. One of the paths led to another exit on the other side of the mountain.


    If they were to lose the battle, this would be the only retreat route. Wang Hong had set up the ambush for Foundation Building cultivators in this cave.


    In case of defeat, they could retreat through the cave, which had numerous branches. Wang Hong also arranged some means to hinder pursuers.


    Even more daringly, Wang Hong used arge number of explosive talismans. The entire two-mile-long path leading to the exit in the cave was covered with these talismans.


    During the escape, all it took was for thest person to continuously activate these talismans, causing the entire cave to copse, leaving the enemy with no path to follow.


    He believed that in the event of defeat, this would still provide an opportunity for escape.


    This was a habit he developed in the militarythinking about failure before sess. Bearing the lives and fortunes of countless people, he wanted to ensure there was always an escape route, regardless of the circumstances.


    If, due to his impulsive actions, dozens of subordinates lost their lives, he would regret it toote.


    At this moment, dozens of people gathered on this t ground, casually enjoying an outdoor feast.


    Several demonic beasts were skinned and cleaned, roasting over the fire. Soldiers who had learned spiritual cooking moved around, asionally brushing on some sauce or sprinkling some spices.


    The sauce and spices, when grilled over the fire, emitted bursts of blue smoke, while the rich aroma of meat and spicesbined wafted far and wide.


    Dozens of people sat around the bonfire in separate groups.


    "Xu Ge, what if the Lin Family cultivators don''t show up after all the precautions we''ve taken?" Skinny Monkey whispered to Xu Lun, sitting beside him.


    In the cultivation world, seniority was usually determined by cultivation level, but Wang Hong''s team had not adopted this convention internally. They still addressed each other in their original way, adapting to external norms.


    Although Skinny Monkey had a slightly higher cultivation level, he was younger, picked up by the group on their journey. Hence, he respectfully called everyone "ge" (brother).


    He said it naturally, and no one found it inappropriate.


    Xu Lun casually poked the bonfire with a wooden stick.


    "The Lin Family will definitelye. Killing Lin Junjie before might have been forgotten over the years, but after the general executed several Lin Family cultivators on the Life and Death tform, the news spread.


    This enmity is not about whether the Lin Family wants revenge but about necessity. If they don''t seek revenge, the Lin Family''s reputation will suffer, affecting their status in Azure Void City, and other families may look down on them.


    So, it''s not about whether the Lin Family wants revenge; it''s a must."


    Looking at Skinny Monkey''s admiring gaze, Xu Lun took the opportunity to impart some wisdom, "When facing an enemy, first understand their intentions, then guide them. Where, when, and how to fightall these decisions are up to our side."


    Skinny Monkey nodded in partial understanding.


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 Chapter 55: Hunter and Prey

    Chapter 55: Hunter and Prey


    In Azure Void City, within a quiet room at the Lin Residence, Lin Yun leisurely sipped a cup of spirit tea while holding a Jade Scroll containing a cultivation technique.


    Taking a small sip of the spirit tea, he then seemed to enter into contemtion.


    At that moment, a firm knock interrupted his thoughts. Upon receiving permission to enter, a ck-d subordinate hurriedly walked in.


    "What''s the rush, acting so flustered?" Lin Yun''s thoughts were interrupted, and he asked with a hint of displeasure, a cold expression on his face.


    "Master, just received intelligence that Wang Hong and his group have left the city," the subordinate replied hastily.


    Hearing this, Lin Yun''s expression eased. "Oh, is that so? Tell me more."


    The subordinate organized his words and exined, "This morning, Zhang Lao Han, the pastry seller at the city gate, saw Wang Hong and a few people leaving the city. Although they were wearing hooded cloaks at the time, upon closer inspection, they were recognized."


    "And you didn''t alert them?""No, afterward, they split into several groups and left the city discreetly. I reckon they''re gathering now, relieved that we didn''t discover them."


    "Hahaha!" Lin Yun burst intoughter. That group of people could be considered thorns in his side, a constant source of irritation. They had eluded him for a long time.


    As the release of the sect mission approached, these people seemed to lose their patience.


    Initially, he thought killing Wang Hong was just a casual matter, standing up for the cultivators in his family and maintaining personal dignity.


    However, after Wang Hong killed several members of the Lin Family on the Life and Death tform, it became more than just a personal matter; it concerned the dignity of his entire family.


    In the following years, as he delved deeper into understanding Wang Hong, he discovered that Wang Hong was a lucrative target. This discovery excited him, multiplying his motivation to eliminate Wang Hong by more than tenfold.


    A Qi Cultivation cultivator owning three shops in Azure Void City was astonishing. Apart from a remote little shop, the other two, the Spirit Wine Pavilion and Elixir Pavilion, were booming businesses.


    Although Zhao''s Pill Shop was officially managed by someone named Zhao Ning, after thorough investigation, Zhao Ning was confirmed to be Wang Hong''s subordinate, still part of Wang Hong''s team.


    Even if he wasn''t directly associated with Wang Hong, he had significant ties. If they captured them all, it wouldn''t matter whose shop it was.


    With over a hundred cultivators in the Lin Family, they had only one modest Elixir shop, primarily selling the family''s own Elixirs and Spiritual Medicine. asionally, they purchased misceneous Spiritual Medicine from loose cultivators, but due to limited resources, their shop frequently faced shortages.


    Observing these shops over the years, despite the good business, they never ran out of stock.


    He believed that capturing these people would bring in a considerable amount of Spirit Stones. Through rigorous interrogation, he could unveil the source of the Spiritual Medicine, a significant aplishment for the family.


    With resources, the family could train more cultivators, gaining strength and acquiring even more resources.


    He hadn''t publicized this matter; he wanted to aplish this feat alone. Inheriting the position of the family head in the future, he envisioned no opposition.


    Thinking about the family flourishing under his leadership, Lin Yun felt exhrated and confident.


    "You, go gather thirty people in my name. Follow me out of the city, and we''ll capture these people," Lin Yun, with a hint of ferocity in his cold and proud face, instructed.


    "Young Master, ording to Yin Wolf, although these people have low cultivation levels, their fighting style is peculiar, well-organized, and their cooperation is seamless, making them formidable," the ck-d subordinate cautioned.


    "Yes, and that Yin Wolf, remember to bring him too. This matter started because of him, and he muste, whether he likes it or not."


    After a moment of contemtion, Lin Yun added, "Gather fifty people, and each person will be rewarded with Spirit Stones ranging from twenty to a hundred, based on their cultivation level."


    Lin Yun thought for a moment and added, "Also, immediately arrange for a clever individual to trace their route and mark it discreetly. Remember, don''t alert them. Go and do it quickly."


    "Yes! I''ll handle it right away." The ck-d subordinate exited the quiet room.


    After half a day passed, the ck-d subordinate reported that the personnel had been assembled.


    Lin Yun arrived at a hall where many people were gathered in groups, chatting lively. Upon Lin Yun''s arrival, the previously bustling hall instantly quieted down.


    Satisfied with this, Lin Yun continued to maintain his usual aloof demeanor, striding into the hall.


    Surveying the crowd below, among the fifty people, only a small portion were Lin Family disciples, while the majority were loose cultivators recruited by the Lin Family.


    Among them was a Qi Cultivation cultivator in theter stage, an old man d in a green Daoist robe.


    This person was a loose cultivator practicing Wood Element cultivation techniques, skilled in using poison. He was known as Poisonwood Daoist Master and had a certain level of reputation among Qi Cultivation loose cultivators.


    Apart from thister-stage cultivator, there were twenty cultivators in the middle stage of Qi Cultivation, and the rest were in the early stage.


    Looking at the formidable lineup before him, Lin Yun felt like using a sledgehammer to crush an egg.


    "Everyone, this time we''re leaving the city to hunt down a group of small rats. The strongest among them is only a Qi Cultivationter-stage cultivator, two in the middle stage, and the rest are just small fries in the first or second stage of Qi Cultivation. So, this time, consider it as me, Lin, inviting you all out of the city for a stroll," Lin Yun said with a hint of mockery.


    Instantly,ughter erupted from the crowd.


    "A group of ants like these, I reckon Young Master Lin could handle them all by himself," a sharp-mouthed cultivator ttered.


    "No, no! Young Master Lin is a person of noble status. Personally dealing with these ants would lower his status and soil his hands," another cultivator with angled eyebrowsplemented, very cooperatively.


    It seemed these two were usually in harmony; now they harmonized even more. While Lin Yun knew it was ttery, he still enjoyed listening to it.


    Others who were resentful of having their lines stolen had to follow along. Those who secretly disdained the tterers discreetly moved a few steps away to maintain some distance.


    After the sharp-mouthed cultivator finished ttering Lin Yun, he turned to Poisonwood Daoist Master and said, "Senior Poisonwood, please go a bit slower when you actter."


    Poisonwood Daoist Master looked somewhat displeased and gave him a sidelong nce, saying, "What do you mean?"


    "You see, as soon as you make a move, those ants will be wiped out. Senior, please graciously leave one or two for us to show off our skills," the sharp-mouthed cultivator, skilled in ttery, said again, repeating the same content but with a different twist.


    Poisonwood Daoist Master stroked his beard, smiling, "Alright, alright! I''ll leave two for you to y with."


    "I''ve heard that Senior Poisonwood has the demeanor of an elder. Seeing it today, it''s truly admirable. We deeply admire you," the cultivator with angled eyebrows cooperatively added another round of ttery. Others followed suit, praising Poisonwood Daoist Master.


    Seeing the lively scene, Lin Yun lightly coughed a few times. When everyone''s attention focused on him, he spoke.


    "Fellow Daoists, it''s gettingte. Let''s quickly go and capture those rats. It might be troublesome if they run too far away."


    "Yes, yes, we shouldn''t waste any more time. Young Master Lin, please give the order," Poisonwood Daoist Master said in agreement.


    "Alright! I won''t say much. Let''s depart now!"


    A group of people, led by Lin Yun, walked towards the city outskirts, following the marked trail.


    After walking twenty miles outside the city, at a three-way intersection, the team had to stop because the markings disappeared.


    A cultivator who had been sent to track was waiting at the roadside. Apparently, after reaching this point, they lost track of the direction.


    It was evident that the other party took measures to conceal their tracks, preventing pursuit.


    At this moment, several experts in tracking volunteered from the team.


    After observing the intersection for a while, they unanimously agreed to pursue the leftmost fork.


    Although these people had covered many traces, with so many people passing through, they inevitably left behind some signs.


    On the left, many grass stems showed signs of being trampled, and some branches and leaves were slightly bent forward. It was clear that arge group had passed not long ago.


    "Hahaha! Truly like magic towering above, and the Dao towering even higher!" Laughter erupted from the crowd, and they continued to move forward, surrounding Lin Yun.


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 Chapter 56: Unlucky Encounter with Poisonwood

    Chapter 56: Unlucky Encounter with Poisonwood


    "These idiots, can they even find this ce? If they want to hunt us down, why make us wait for so long?" Skinny Monkey muttered unclearly while enjoying roasted meat and sipping Spirit Wine.


    Two hours ago, Lin Yun received a message and arrived with fifty people in tow.


    After indulging in a feast of Spirit Wine, it was time for a satisfying battle.


    "Eating won''t shut your mouth. You left so many clues for them; anyone with a bit of tracking skill could find our trail," remarked Xu Lun nearby.


    "We might as well be straightforward. Let them have all the clues; it''s more convenient."


    "It''s different. We are the weaker side, the ones being hunted. We need to look like we''re being hunted; unusual actions breed suspicion and make people doubt."


    Xu Lun took a sip of Spirit Wine and added, "You should read more books; you might have to take on important responsibilities in the future."


    "I want to read, but every time I open a book, I get drowsy. I never lose sleep, but reading puts me to sleep," Skinny Monkey replied helplessly.


    Most soldiers in the Chu State army were conscripted from academies, educated in both arts and warfare, with the potential to be leaders. Skinny Monkey, however, learned to read only after being picked up halfway, not recognizing even a single character initially.


    Another hour passed, and with thete evening sky, the scouts ten miles away sent a message: Lin Yun and his fifty-person squad had arrived.


    "Everyone, get ready for battle. The enemy will be here in less than an incense stick''s time."


    Zhang Chunfeng stood up, shouting, "The enemy consists of two Qi Cultivators in theter stages, Lin Yun, the legitimate son of the Lin Family, at Qi Cultivation level eight, and an old man at Qi Cultivation level nine.


    Our first-round target is to take down the Qi Cultivation level nine old man."


    Zhang Chunfeng outlined some battle ns and tactical coordination. Afterward, everyone resumed their barbecue and Spirit Wine, seemingly unchanged but secretly prepared for a lightning strike at any moment.


    After a while, the Lin Family cultivators lived up to expectations, arriving in a grand procession.


    Lin Yun''s high-profile journey naturally attracted numerous gazes from the Immortal Cultivators; good opportunities were never scarce in the Immortal Cultivator world.


    A bit further away, a scattered group of onlookers, likely more numerous than Lin Yun''s group, followed, hoping to gainbat experience and perhaps take advantage if both sides suffered losses.


    Seeing Lin Yun being surrounded by arge crowd and approaching the open space in the middle, the group previously sitting, drinking, and eating suddenly stood up.


    Though their formation seemed chaotic, it subtly hinted at an encirclement, trapping the neers in the center.


    "Ha ha ha! Wang Hong! It''s truly a small world. I never thought we''d meet here. After so many years in Azure Void City, what made youe out today? It seems we''re fated to meet..."


    "Attack!"


    Lin Yun had expected the opposing side to realize they were being pursued and reveal expressions of surprise, fear, anger, despair, and reluctance. Unfortunately, he saw none of that; they were already prepared with many words, yet only half were spoken.


    The opponent, like a ferocious deity,unched an attack against them.


    "We''re the ones here to hunt you down; shouldn''t you be trying to escape?" Lin Yun''s group hadn''t reacted yet when dozens of Long Spears, apanied by the sound of wind and thunder, were already flying towards them.


    And the primary target of this round of attacks, Poisonwood Daoist Master, previously praised by the sharp-mouthed cultivator and the cultivator with the eight-character eyebrows, smiled while stroking his beard, maintaining the image of a senior expert.


    However, his slightly narrowed triangr eyes made his temperament appear excessively sinister.


    At this moment, arge number of spear shadows pressed down toward his head. Previously being surrounded like the moon by stars, he felt a bit smug and self-satisfied. But now, it had be a path to certain death.


    He tried to dodge in several directions, wanting to escape. Unfortunately, the people around him were too dense, and his panickedpanions blocked his way. Qi Cultivation practitioners couldn''t fly, so he could only watch as the spear shadows descended upon him. He could only manage to summon a high-quality defensive shield just in time.


    He could only be grateful that he had umted a high-quality defensive Magical Weapon over the years.


    Then he saw dozens of Long Spears striking the shield.


    These Long Spears were thrown with tremendous force, each carrying tens of thousands of pounds of power.


    This attack was divided into two waves. The first wave consisted of over twenty Long Spears, simultaneously shooting from various directions toward the center where Poisonwood Daoist Master stood.


    Only a dozen or so spears hit Poisonwood directly, while the rest blocked the surrounding area. However, even these dozen or so Long Spears were no small matter.


    Combined, they exerted at least tens of thousands of pounds of force, all applied to one side of the shield.


    Visible cracks appeared on the shield, constantly expanding.


    Poisonwood Daoist Master could only pour his Spiritual Energy into the shield, maintaining its defensive power.


    After the first wave, the shield was covered in cracks, as if a gentle touch would shatter it.


    While Poisonwood Daoist Master continued to infuse Spiritual Energy into the shield, he surveyed escape routes around him.


    However, the opponents didn''t give him a chance to catch his breath. Right after the first wave ended, the second wave of Long Spears had already arrived.


    The soldiers who threw the first wave of spears had thrown their Long Spears again, creating a continuous and uninterrupted assault.


    The second wave of Long Spears hit the shield, and the high-quality Magical Weapon shield shattered with a crackling sound.


    Before Poisonwood Daoist Master could react, another wave of Long Spears arrived, puncturing his Spiritual Energy shield like paper.


    The renowned poison expert, Poisonwood Daoist Master, hadn''t even had a chance to use his ultimate technique. In a moment of carelessness, he was pierced like a hedgehog by the Long Spears.


    This sudden turn of events happened so quickly, from the first move to Poisonwood''s death, it didn''t even take a breath.


    Lin Yun and his subordinates werepletely unprepared. They didn''t expect the opposing side to be so decisive and ruthless, striking with lethal force.


    Some people in the group panicked and wanted to escape, some were on high alert, and only three people, in their confusion, threw a few talismans toward Wang Hong''s group. However, Zhang Chunfeng easily resolved them.


    No one had thought of rescuing Poisonwood Daoist Master. In the Cultivation World, it had always been a rule: a fellow cultivator''s life took precedence over everything. They could only watch as their strongest force was killed.


    At this moment, the remaining people had various thoughts. Only a few loyal individuals remained steadfastly by Lin Yun''s side.


    Yin Wolf, mixed in the crowd, looked around for an opportunity to escape. He was forced to participate in the battle.


    He just wanted to use the Lin Family to avenge his brother; he had no intention of personally getting involved. If Lin Yun lost, the Lin Family Patriarch was still a Foundation Building cultivator. Even if the Lin Family werepletely wiped out, he could seek refuge with another power and instigate further.


    The spectators in the distance found advantageous positions, preparing to watch the battle.


    Some cultivators took out tables from their storage bags and arranged Spirit Wine and spiritual tea, adding an air of elegance.


    However, before the spectators were fully prepared, the battle had already begun.


    "This is too fast, starting a fight right after meeting. I wasn''t ready yet," a slender, ck-d youthughed.


    "I guess these are just impulsive youngsters,ckingbat experience. Immortal Cultivators usually exchange fierce words first, then re at each other, exchange insults, and two hourster, they officially start the battle," another plump cultivator joked.


    "Exactly, the normal procedure is to issue threats first, then stare at each other, exchange insults, and two hourster, the actual battle begins." Clearly, these two had deep experience in observing battles.


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 Chapter 57

    Chapter 57


    As the two onlookers bantered with gusto, Wang Hong''s first round of attacks had already been unleashed.


    While the opponents were still in disarray, Wang Hong''s forces swiftly organized themselves and infiltrated their rear, cutting off their escape routes. Along the way, no one dared to stand alone against them.


    Once Lin Yun and the others reacted, a group of soldiers had already positioned themselves in the rear, forming a defensive formation. Over forty Long Spears were hurled towards them.


    "Don''t panic, everyone! Spread out. Regardless of their cultivation level or numbers, the enemy is weaker than us."


    Lin Yun stood in the midst of the crowd, shouting loudly. He felt both embarrassed and angry; in a situation where they held an advantage in all aspects, they had unexpectedly been caught off guard by the enemy.


    In just one round, the highest-cultivated member of their side, Poisonwood, was killed. Even if they won this battle, it would be a stain on Lin Yun''s reputation.


    "If anyone has any special skills, use them now. Don''t hold back; we''re all in this together."


    In the world of cultivation, one had to guard against both enemies and teammates, so everyone was ustomed to keeping a trick up their sleeve.


    At this moment, everyone was too busy to think much. Many unleashed their trump cards and charged towards Wang Hong''s side. Although some were just pretending to contribute, the overall momentum was intense.


    Seeing dozens of colorful lights flying towards them, Wang Hong, Zhang Chunfeng, and Skinny Monkey each activated their high-grade defensive Magical Weapons.


    The defensive shields of the Magical Weapons connected, barely managing to protect all forty-plus people.


    Although the soldiers were d in full sets of mid-grade armor, in such a chaotic group battle, even a mid-grade Magical Weapon wouldn''t withstand focused attacks, let alone a high-grade one.


    Under the protection of the defensive shields, the soldiers advanced confidently.


    Attacks from various Magical Arts and Magical Weapons collided with the defensive shields, creating a series of loud bangs.


    Unlike the disciplined and coordinated attacks of Wang Hong''s soldiers, Lin Yun''s group had a chaotic and uncoordinated assault. Their attacks were scattered, with varying timing; in short, it was every man for himself.


    This significantly relieved the defensive pressure on Wang Hong''s side. Dealing with the attacks from dozens of people was no easy feat.


    Among the three, Skinny Monkey had the weakest cultivation level. Originally, using a high-grade Magical Weapon was already quite a stretch for him. His face turned pale, and blood oozed from the corners of his mouth as he endured the onught.


    His internal Spiritual Energy was depleted, and before activating the Magical Weapon, he had consumed a bellyful of Spirit Wine.


    The Spirit Wine continuously released Spiritual Energy, replenishing it into his dantian. Skinny Monkey, disregarding everything, squeezed out every bit of Spiritual Energy from his body, frantically pouring it into the Magical Weapon.


    Gradually, the replenishment of Spiritual Energy couldn''t keep up with his consumption. His dantian became dry, and the vortex of Spiritual Energy in the center of his dantian slowly shrunk.


    In a short time, he had dropped from the fifthyer of Qi Cultivation to the fourthyer.


    Skinny Monkey continued to infuse his original source of Spiritual Energy into the Magical Weapon. A cultivator''s original source of Spiritual Energy was hard-earned through rigorous training, and its depletion would result in a decline in cultivation level.


    He no longer cared about his own cultivation level; he didn''t want to witness the death of the people he had grown close to.


    Originally the son of a northern farmer in the Chu State, he roamed with his parents after being separated during Qin Kingdom''s invasion, living a life of alternating hunger and satiety.


    Afterward, he lost his parents again and copsed by the roadside after starving for more than ten days.


    Thinking his life was over, he woke up in a warm tent with a steaming bowl of Meat Porridge beside him.


    After years of wandering, he finally felt warmth and an unprecedented sense of security.


    From then on, he worked hard, eagerly taking on any task, and stubbornly refusing to leave the military camp.


    Later, Wang Hong epted him into his personal guard. Seeing his youth, intelligence, and diligence, the members of the guard treated him like a younger brother.


    He had officially integrated into this team, considering this ce as his home. He was a member of thisrge family, and whenever someone died in battle, he would grieve for a long time.


    Therefore, even if his cultivation level waspletely depleted, he would fulfill his responsibility, protecting his loved ones. He didn''t want to see anyone else die.


    Under the protection of the three-person defensive shield, the soldiers had already rushed to the enemy''s front. Three squadsunched the main attack, while two teams nked from the sides.


    At this point, Skinny Monkey''s cultivation level had dropped to the thirdyer of Qi Cultivation, and Wang Hong ordered him to step back.


    By now, on Lin Yun''s side, there were few actively engaging in the attack. Overall defense wasn''t as crucial, and Wang Hong and Zhang Chunfeng''s defense seemed effortless.


    The Lin Family cultivators were hastily gathered,cking even basic mutual trust, let alone cooperation.


    When the soldiers charged forward, each person''s reaction and choice varied. Some defended cautiously, some retreated, and only a small portion charged forward.


    Moreover, due to the earlier evasion of the dense spear attacks, they had already dispersed.


    This resulted in a situation where, despite having numerical superiority, Lin Yun''s side was facing a disadvantage of being outnumbered by Wang Hong''s forces.


    The soldiers didn''t bother with defense; each time it was three to five people, or even eight to nine, attacking one person.


    The moves were also very simple, with several people thrusting their spears simultaneously, leaving no room for evasion or defense.


    So, although their cultivation levels were slightly lower, utilizing the closebat advantages of body-refining cultivators, the efficiency of killing enemies was extremely high when facing multiple opponents.


    This scene greatly surprised the observing cultivators in the distance.


    "Tsk, these Lin Family cultivators are too useless. Two in thete Qi Cultivation stage, twenty in the mid Qi Cultivation stage, with an overwhelming advantage, and they still end up like this."


    "It''s not that they''re useless, but the opponents are too strong. If you led the Qi Family cultivators, do you think you''d have much chance of winning?" a white-robed cultivator said casually.


    The cultivator in green robes pondered for a moment before speaking, "If I led a group simr to the Lin Family cultivators in number, I should be able to win."


    The white-robed cultivator chuckled, "You mean your Qi Family''s elite hundred, right? Even if you win, the losses would be devastating."


    They were both families with a long-standing rtionship, knowing each other inside out.


    "Brother Jiang, I''ve never heard of these people popping up from nowhere. I never knew there was such a force in Azure Void City."


    "I haven''t heard of them either, but judging by their disciplined and well-trained movements, it''s obvious they didn''t form in a short time. Their fighting style also resembles Mortal military battle formations, where Mortalsck individual strength and emphasize collective cooperation. Cultivators, on the other hand, focus on individual strength enhancement, and most aren''t willing to be constrained by military formations."


    The white-robed youth precisely pointed out the difference in fighting styles between Mortals and cultivators.


    By now, on the battlefield, most of the Lin Family cultivators were either dead or injured. The remaining twenty-plus had been intentionally allowed to escape by the opposing forces.


    Yin Wolf wasn''t lucky enough to be on the list of those released. He had long been on Wang Hong''s cklist; how could he be allowed to escape?


    Seeing the encircling soldiers, he hadn''t even had a chance to beg for mercy before several Long Spears pierced through his body. He, who usually enjoyed plotting in the shadows, had miscalcted this time, even costing his own life.


    Lin Yun, realizing the situation was dire, tried several times to escape but was repeatedly surrounded by a group of soldiers.


    He had considered surrendering temporarily, but he also understood that this was a premeditated trap. If they wanted to kill him, surrendering wouldn''t help; it would only bring humiliation. If they didn''t want to kill him, there was no need for him to surrender willingly.


    "Do you really dare to kill me? Aren''t you afraid of retaliation from the Lin Family''s ancestors?" Lin Yun shouted at Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong smiled faintly, confidently stating, "I''m waiting for him toe!"


    "I understand." Lin Yun now realized that he had fallen into a carefullyid trap. He had foolishly brought the Lin Family cultivators here, a thousand miles away, only to meet their doom.


    Regret filled Lin Yun''s heart at this moment. Falling into the trap was his own fault, and he had indirectly caused the deaths of many Lin Family cultivators. It might even implicate the ancestral roots of the family.


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 Chapter 58: Loyalty and Righteousness Duo

    Chapter 58: Loyalty and Righteousness Duo


    Lin Yun watched as one Lin Family cultivator after another fell beside him, his heart aching like a twisted knife.


    Because of his own mistake, the family suffered heavy losses, and he felt ashamed to face the elders of the family.


    His eyes were bloodshot as he summoned a high-grade Flying Sword, exerting all his strength. The sword emitted a fiery red light as it shed towards Wang Hong.


    A sword blocked Zhang Chunfeng''s shield, continuing its strike towards Wang Hong.


    When the Flying Sword was three feet away from Wang Hong, it ttered to the ground.


    More than a dozen Long Spears pierced through Lin Yun''s body.


    A soldier kicked Lin Yun''s lifeless body to the ground without a second nce, continuing to advance...


    The battlested only half an hour, and except for a few intentionally spared individuals, the rest were wiped out.


    After clearing the battlefield, the bodies were piled up, ready to be set on fire. At this moment, two survivors crawled out from the pile.


    One had a sharp face and a monkey-like appearance, while the other had a bitter melon face with an arched brow.


    As soon as they emerged, they prostrated on the ground, begging loudly.


    "I have an eighty-year-old mother and a three-year-old child. I implore the seniors to spare me, treat me as if I were nothing!"


    "Senior, you are noble and upright. Overlook the faults of a small person like me, and I am willing to be a cow or a horse to repay you."


    ...


    Wang Hong looked at the two with interest, saying, "In dealing with enemies, I have always believed in killing them swiftly, not leaving any chance for retaliation."


    "We are known as the Loyalty and Righteousness Duo, absolutely loyal, never betraying," they dered, seemingly forgetting that they had already betrayed the Lin Family.


    Wang Hong, unimpressed by their smooth talk, said, "Kill them!"


    "Yes!"


    Someone immediately stepped forward, ready to decapitate them.


    "Mercy! We are willing to establish a Blood Contract and serve for a lifetime."


    "Yes! Yes! We are also willing to establish a Blood Contract, never to betray."


    "Do you think your lives are worth a Blood Contract?" mocked the soldier about to swing the de.


    Seeing the impending de, the two hurriedly said, "We have our own Blood Contracts, already prepared, with essence blood dripped in advance."


    Everyone was stunned. They hadn''t expected this level of preparation.


    Wang Hong, intrigued, retrieved the two''s Storage Bags from the spoils of war.


    Sure enough, he found two Blood Contracts, each with a drop of essence blood. Once essence blood was dripped, the contract could only be used on them.


    Thinking ahead, they were afraid of being killed, and someone using the Blood Contracts to sell for Spirit Stones.


    To avoid wasting the precious Blood Contracts, Wang Hong decided to take them in, using them for misceneous tasks.


    These two were cousins in the secr world, surnamed Ma. The one with the sharp mouth was called Ma Zhong, and the one with the arched brow was Ma Yi.


    As for the nickname "Loyalty and Righteousness Duo," they had given it to themselves, perhaps expecting no one to recognize it.


    Their principle was that it''s better to live a wretched life than to die honorably. Dignity, face, and all that meant nothingpared to staying alive and having a chance to obtain everything.


    They had gone all out to save their lives, evening up with this bizarre method. Most of the items in their Storage Bags were life-saving treasures.


    However, among the items, they found a damaged technique without a name.


    After practicing it, one could conceal all vitality and breath. Even when scanned with spiritual awareness, it would appear like a piece of dead wood, devoid of any vitality.


    Even if seen with the naked eye, it would seem like a lifeless corpse.


    This should be the technique they used to feign death.


    After cleaning up the battlefield, with no time to check the spoils of war, everyone rested on the spot.


    Skinny Monkey suffered the most severe injuries, dropping to the thirdyer of Qi Cultivation, and his internal organs were shaken. It seemed like it would take a long time for him to recover.


    In this battle, the most pressure was on the three responsible for defense. The rest didn''t suffer much damage and could still fight after a short rest.


    Observing from afar, most of the onlookers had already left as the battle concluded.


    Everyone felt that this trip was not in vain; they had never witnessed such a style of battle in the Cultivation World before.


    "Shouldn''t we leave?" the youth in blue asked the youth in white, puzzled.


    "The battle isn''t over yet. Why rush to leave when the most exciting part is still ahead?" the youth in white said calmly.


    The young cultivator looked even more puzzled.


    "The cultivators below obviously had nned this in advance, intentionally luring Lin Family cultivators here to kill them."


    "The terrain is favorable for them in this battle, and judging by their reaction speed, they were clearly waiting for a long time."


    "At a time when they know Lin Family''s patriarch will seek revenge, yet they are not in a hurry to leave, it indicates a bigger scheme."


    The youth in white, based on some subtle clues, had already analyzed the entire event almostpletely.


    "Yeah! Look, there''s a cave on that cliff over there. They all went inside. Should we follow?" The youth in blue sought the opinion of the youth in white, indicating that thetter usually took the lead in their interactions.


    "Let''s wait here. Who knows what kind of arrangements they''ve made in that cave."


    Just a moment ago, Wang Hong received a message that within the Lin Family residence, a furious roar erupted, apanied by a violent Foundation-Building Pressure.


    Shortly afterward, there was another message at the city gate: Lin Family''s patriarch had left the city, flying on a Flying Sword towards them.


    Wang Hong quickly led his group into the cave. The setup of the Three Elements Formation required some time, so the formation had been prepared in advance. This included a cave left for escape, also prearranged.


    Wang Hong, fearing that these arrangements might be identally triggered or destroyed, something that could be a matter of life and death, sent He Yuan to guard inside the cave.


    Once the Three Elements Formation was set up, it couldn''t be moved. They had to wait for the opponent to step into the formation voluntarily.


    Wang Hong also purchased a concealment formation array te, cing it inside the Three Elements Formation.


    Everyone entered the concealed formation, pretending to be heavily injured and healing, luring Lin Family''s patriarch into the Three Elements Formation.


    At the same time, the fluctuation of the concealed formation array confused and concealed the existence of the Three Elements Formation.


    Lin Family''s patriarch, Lin An, was flying swiftly between the mountain ranges on his Flying Sword.


    Not long ago, a servant hurriedly reported that the lifemp of Lin Yun, the legitimate son, had extinguished.


    In Cultivation ns, important figures usually leave a lifemp in the ancestral hall. When a person dies, themp goes out.


    Almost simultaneously, several message symbols flew into the Lin Family. The escaped cultivators reported the information about the battle, outlining its general course.


    Learning the ins and outs of the matter, Lin An was both shocked and enraged. The losses suffered by Lin Family in this battle were immense.


    Lin Yun was groomed as his sessor. Even with substantial resources, achievingte Qi Cultivation in his twenties was no small feat. Lin Yun had the potential to reach Foundation Building, and with Lin Family''s strength, they could only cultivate one Foundation Building cultivator in each generation.


    Lin Yun''s death meant that the resources invested in the early stages were all in vain.


    Although Lin Yun''s temperamentcked a bit of maturity, it was merely ack of experience. A few more years of experience would have made him mature.


    There were also more than fifty cultivators taken out, which ounted for over half of Lin Family''s manpower. Such a loss of manpower greatly wounded Lin Family''s vitality.


    Lin An had never hated someone so much before. He wanted to peel the person''s skin, break their bones, and inflict every cruel punishment he could think of.


    Following the traces, he quickly found the t ground where the two sides had fought.


    The scene still bore the marks of the recent battle, with the terrain being somewhat uneven due to magical arts bombardment.


    On the t groundy a pile of white ashes, and Lin An knew exactly what it wasdozens of Lin Family cultivators, whose cultivation had consumed countless resources, were now reduced to meaningless ashes.


    "Ah! I will tear you apart into ten thousand pieces!"


    Lin An''s eyes were filled with fury as he raised his hand and struck the ground with a palm. Dust flew, and after the dust settled, a palm imprint several yards in size appeared on the ground.


    Such terror in a single Foundation Building strike!


    The onlooking cultivators in the distance dared not even breathe, afraid that this Foundation Building senior would unleash his anger on them.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!" Lin An struck out a few more palms, venting his anger. Only then did he feel a bit calmer.


    After sweeping his spiritual awareness, Lin An strode towards the cave entrance on the cliff.


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 Chapter 59: First Battle of the Spirit Bee

    Chapter 59: First Battle of the Spirit Bee


    Lin An entered the mountain cave. The entrance to this cave was notrge, and it was dark and narrow, with many side paths along the way.


    As Lin An walked to a fork in the path, one of the paths showed clear signs of someone passing through. A small strip of cloth hung from the protruding corner of the stone wall.


    "Petty tricks, do you think you can deceive me with such skills?" Lin An snorted coldly and continued on another path.


    Along the way, he encountered several forks with small tricks set up to mislead him, but Lin An cleverly saw through each one.


    If he knew that Wang Hong set up so much just because he was afraid Lin An would get lost and couldn''t find the ce, he might be infuriated.


    After walking three miles into the cave, there was arge hall ahead, about ten yards in diameter.


    Lin An walked to the center of the hall and looked towards a corner, saying coldly, "Are youing out on your own, or should I invite you out?"


    "Do you really think that with such a low-tier concealment formation and thoseughable setups outside, you can escape from a Foundation Building cultivator?" Lin An continued speaking, simultaneously summoning a Flying Sword. The few inches long Flying Sword flew into the air, rapidly expanding to about ten yards in length, shing towards the corner.


    He Yuan was responsible for activating the formation. As soon as Lin An stepped into the center of the hall, He Yuan began infusing Spiritual Energy into the array te to activate the formation.


    Seeing Lin An summoning the Flying Sword, He Yuan, though anxious, remained calm. Having experienced many hardships, he had a resolute character.


    He continued steadily infusing Spiritual Energy into the array te, simultaneously guiding the runes throughout and channeling the Spirit Qi from the Spirit Stone in the array te into the Large Formation.


    As the Flying Sword approached, Wang Hong had already summoned a defensive Spiritual Weapon in preparation. The Large Formation finally sessfully activated.


    A mist rose within the Large Formation, causing the Flying Sword to slow down as if stuck in mud. Lin An exerted force, but the Flying Sword maintained a sluggish pace, then flew into the mist, losing all contact.


    At this point, he saw arge glow made of Talismans flying towards him.


    The surrounding mist thickened, and like the earlier Flying Sword, he felt sluggish, each movement requiring tremendous effort.


    In haste, he could only summon a defensive Spiritual Weapon. Fortunately, just before the Talisman reached him, he managed to summon a Wooden que about a foot in size.


    The Wooden que emitted a blue glow, enveloping Lin An.


    A multitude of Talismans struck the light shield, but it only rippled.


    Then more than forty Long Spears flew in, striking the shield. It wavered for a moment but quickly returned to its original state.


    Seeing this, Lin An burst intoughter.


    "Truly ignorant, thinking that with this formation, you can kill me? Let me show you the methods of an Immortal Cultivator."


    While speaking, Lin An struggled to retrieve a high-grade Magical Weapon Flying Sword from his Storage Bag.


    As a Foundation Building cultivator and the head of the Lin Family, he only possessed two Spiritual Weapons for offense and defense.


    Having lost his Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword, he had to resort to a high-grade Magical Weapon temporarily. However, a simr high-grade Magical Weapon in the hands of a Foundation Building cultivator was iparable in power.


    Yet, just like the previous Flying Sword, this Magical Weapon, when summoned, got stuck in the mud-like mist and lost contact.


    Now both sides were desperately attacking, but their efforts couldn''t harm each other in the slightest.


    However, over time, this situation became extremely disadvantageous for Wang Hong. Once Lin An broke free, no one could stop him.


    Wang Hong rushed to Lin An''s side, took out several spirit beast bags, and released a dense swarm of Spirit Bees.


    During this time, He Yuan controlled the formation, restricting only Lin An, so the actions of others were unaffected.


    Seeing the swarm of Spirit Bees, even Lin An couldn''t help but be moved.


    The Spirit Bees, under themand of the Bee Queen, swarmed around the light shield.


    Green-tailed Spirit Bees possessed a unique dispelling property. As they crawled onto the light shield, their bodies emitted a green light, dissolving the surrounding light shield. Then, their entire bodies merged with the light shield, only to detach from it and enter the interior once again.


    The holes left by the departing Spirit Bees on the light shield quickly restored.


    In a short time, arge group of Spirit Bees broke through the defensive light shield, climbed onto Lin An, and sought convenient ces to sting.


    While Foundation Building cultivators had stronger physical bodies than those in the Qi Cultivation stage, unless specifically cultivating their bodies, the Spirit Bee''s stingers could still prate.


    Lin An raised his hand to swat them away, but due to the restrictions of the formation, his movements were slow. He managed to kill some, but against a swarm of Spirit Bees numbering in the tens of thousands, it was like a drop in the ocean.


    Soon, the sound of Lin An''s uncontroble groans echoed from inside. The toxicity of the Spirit Bees wasn''t particrly strong, but the intense pain it caused surpassed that of a knife cut.


    At this point, all the Spirit Bees had prated the defense, covering Lin An''s entire body, resembling a massive ball of Spirit Bees.


    While the poison from the Spirit Bees wasn''t too potent, the sheer quantity was something a Foundation Building cultivator couldn''t easily endure.


    Under the influence of the Spirit Bee''s toxins, Lin An''s magical energy cirction became sluggish, and the defensive light shield dimmed slightly.


    Seizing the opportunity, Wang Hong vigorously attacked the defensive shield with his Long Spear, while Zhang Chunfeng and the others joined in.


    Dozens of people simultaneously attacked the shield, causing its radiance to dim progressively.


    At this point, Lin An was surrounded by a swarm of ten thousand Spirit Bees, enduring a torture akin to the cruelest imaginable.


    The Spirit Bees infiltrated through the seams of his clothes, crawling over every inch of his skin, first injecting toxins with their stingers. Although the toxins wouldn''t kill, the pain was excruciating.


    Every area pierced by the stingers quickly became swollen and incredibly painful, as if being cut with a knife at the slightest touch.


    Each Spirit Bee had limited toxins, releasing them through stings and then resorting to biting with their less-than-impressive teeth.


    The problem was, these Spirit Bees weren''t carnivorous; they didn''t have good biting capabilities. Now, countless Spirit Bees crawled over Lin An, fiercely biting with their inadequate teeth.


    It was like trying to cut meat with a blunt knife, struggling back and forth without making much progress.


    Moreover, affected by the Spirit Bee toxins, Lin An''s entire body was swelling, erging several times over.


    These swollen areas felt like they were burning, causing unbearable pain with the slightest touch, and tens of thousands of Spirit Bees continued to gnaw on them.


    At this moment, Lin An was suffering a pain worse than being drawn and quartered, but he gritted his teeth and endured.


    It wasn''t that he was exceptionally strong-willed; it was just that if he opened his mouth, Spirit Bees would pour in. He had already swallowed arge number of them, and now his stomach was in excruciating pain.


    Countless Spirit Bees also crawled into his ears and nostrils.


    Unable to bear it any longer, he pulled out a second-tier Talisman from his Storage Bag, pressed it against himself, and activated it directly. The Talisman instantly exploded on him.


    As the dust settled, Lin An bore the full brunt of the second-tier Talisman''s impact. At this point, his entire body was charred, and standing up seemed precarious.


    As for the significant increase in his body size, it was undoubtedly the result of the bee venom.


    A pile of Spirit Bee corpses fell to the ground. Although Spirit Bees had dispelling properties, they also had a limit to what they could endure. When the force was strong enough, any attribute became useless.


    At least tens of thousands of Spirit Bees had died this time, but after a brief daze, the remaining Spirit Bees continued to crawl onto him.


    If a second-tier Talisman were used four or five times, these Spirit Bees would bepletely wiped out. However, just one or two more uses, and Lin An himself would be blown up by the Talisman.


    The Talisman he had just used exploded internally, and the defensive light shield Lin An summoned also experienced a significant impact.


    Its radiance dimmed further, and Wang Hong and the others elerated their attacks.


    He Yuan, manipting the formation, now had a paleplexion, drenched in sweat, having already emptied a bottle of high-grade Spirit Wine.


    Although there was enough Spirit Wine, controlling the formation required not only Spiritual Energy but also spiritual awareness. At this moment, it felt like countless needles were piercing his head.


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 Chapter 60: Spoils of War

    Chapter 60: Spoils of War


    Wang Hong took out a second-tier Arrow Rain Talisman, infused it with Spiritual Energy, only to find that his Spiritual Energy dissipated like mud in the ocean.


    The consumption of Spiritual Energy by the Talisman was, rtively speaking, small, but a second-tier Talisman was a realm higher than Wang Hong.


    For a Foundation Building cultivator, their internal energy was like magical power, much more refined than Spiritual Energy.


    It wasn''t until Wang Hong had depleted nearly a quarter of his Spiritual Energy that he finally activated the Talisman.


    The Talisman transformed into numerous golden arrows, striking the protective barrier.


    At this moment, Lin An, tormented by the Spirit Bees, once again activated a second-tier Talisman on himself.


    Under the sh of internal and external forces, the defense barrier finally couldn''t bear the strain, bursting with a sound, dispersing into twinkling lights in the air.


    The wooden que, about a foot in size, was now covered in cracks and fell to the ground.


    Simultaneously, He Yuan, who was manipting the formation, spurted out blood and fainted.


    Without the suppression of the formation, Lin An, despite being heavily injured, slowly climbed up from the ground, blood oozing from several wounds.


    Even though he was swollen from the bee venom, resembling arge fleshy ball with a face like a pig''s head, and had suffered two explosions that left him charred, his Foundation Building pressure still lingered, causing everyone to unconsciously take a step back.


    Lin An stood still, spinning like a top. The Spirit Bees that had covered his body were thrown off in all directions.


    After getting rid of the Spirit Bees and pausing, he didn''t immediately attack. In a calm tone, he spoke, "Young friend! How about making a deal with me?"


    "How do we trade?" Wang Hong asked cautiously.


    "I offer the heads of those on my list and items in my Storage Bag in exchange for a promise from you," Lin An said calmly, as if he were discussing someone else''s matters.


    Wang Hong and his group were surprised, wondering what promise Lin An wanted. Or perhaps he was just trying to buy time to recover his strength.


    "I am severely injured. If I were to attack now, I could at least kill twenty or thirty of you. I only want one promise in returnto leave a way out for the Lin Family."


    Considering Lin An''s words, now that the Large Formation had been broken and Lin An, though injured, was still alive, he wasn''t easy to deal with.


    If Wang Hong attacked recklessly, there would undoubtedly be significant casualties. He didn''t want widespread harm to his subordinates, especially since the remaining cultivators of the Lin Family were not a significant threat.


    With Lin Family''s vitality severely damaged and no more Foundation Building cultivators left, their decline was inevitable. It would be challenging for them to establish a foothold, and they probably wouldn''t have the energy to seek revenge.


    Even if they sought revenge, Wang Hong had no fear of same-tier cultivators.


    "Alright! I agree. If members of the Lin Family don''t actively trouble me, I won''t retaliate against the Lin Family. We''ll consider this matter settled. How about that?" Wang Hong proposed.


    Upon hearing this, Lin An took out a nk Jade Scroll from his Storage Bag and entered information into it.


    Unsure if Wang Hong would keep his promise, Lin An knew this battle had be a dead end for him. He hoped to kill a few more people and leave a glimmer of hope for his family.


    Without his protection, the decline of the Lin Family was inevitable. He hoped that among the younger generation, talented individuals would emerge to lead the family out of its predicament.


    Lin An took off his Storage Bag from his waist and tossed it in front of Wang Hong.


    "I hope Fellow Daoist will keep his promise. Here''s a letter; please deliver it to the Lin Family. From now on, the Lin Family won''t trouble Fellow Daoist."


    Lin An tossed the Jade Scroll, containing the recorded information, to Wang Hong, then sat cross-legged on the ground. Soon, he breathed hisst.


    Witnessing this, Wang Hong felt conflicted. His feud with the Lin Family began when Lin Junjie attempted to rob him and was killed in self-defense.


    Later, Lin Yun sought revenge for the family''s honor, and a few people were killed by Wang Hong on the Life and Death tform.


    Finally, Lin An, driven by revenge and the family''s prestige, had to kill him.


    Wang Hong gathered Lin An''s belongings, feeling uneasy. He used a Fireball Technique to burn Lin An''s body to ashes.


    Immortal cultivators had too many means. If there were any fake deaths or if there was an enemy among Foundation Building cultivators secretly, the thought was horrifying.


    Killing andpletely destroying the corpse is the best, leaving no chance for the opponent to turn the tables.


    For example, the Ma brothers are a good example. Their feigned death technique could deceive dozens of people present.


    As Wang Hong''s group emerged from the cave in an orderly fashion, the observing cultivators stationed outside revealed expressions of disbelief.


    Since Wang Hong and his group emerged from the cave so calmly, it was evident they were the victors, the winning side.


    Not a single person among the forty-plus was missing; instead, they had gained one more person than when they entered.


    Regardless of the means they used, it was an indisputable fact that they, a lower tier, had defeated a Foundation Building cultivator.


    Others could only see the results but were unaware of the efforts they had put in.


    In this battle, Wang Hong had spent countless thoughts, nning and arranging for months, and expended arge number of Spirit Stones.


    Soldiers underwent daily training to achieve the current level of seamless cooperation.


    The final result was satisfactory, everything went ording to Wang Hong''s n, without any unexpected incidents.


    He Yuan, Skinny Monkey, and a dozen soldiers suffered injuries of varying degrees.


    He Yuan mainly had excessive mental energy consumption, requiring several months of rest for recovery. The Spiritual Medicine for restoring mental energy was extremely rare, and Wang Hong didn''t have any on hand.


    As for Skinny Monkey, his cultivation realm dropped by two levels, and he could only start the cultivation process anew.


    Given his originally poor aptitude, returning to the fifthyer of Qi Cultivation would be a lengthy process.


    Other soldiers had minor flesh wounds, healed with the help of healing Elixirs, making the expensive armor worthwhile.


    Wang Hong sat in a quiet room, taking out over fifty Storage Bags and inspecting them one by one.


    Now, the rewards for the soldiers were all converted into contribution points, eliminating the need to distribute the spoils to them.


    Contribution points could be exchanged for various items Wang Hong needed, which he found more satisfying than directly allocating the loot.


    Picking up one Storage Bag and emptying its contents on the ground, he found only a Low-Quality Magical Weapon, over thirty Spirit Stones, five Condensing Qi Pills, and a Qi Cultivation stage cultivation technique.


    "So poor?"


    Wang Hong, somewhat unbelieving, shook the Storage Bag downwards, confirming that it was indeed empty.


    He grabbed another Storage Bag and poured it out, but to his disappointment, it was even poorer than the previous one.


    It contained just over twenty Spirit Stones, a Low-Quality Magical Weapon, a Talisman, and not a single Elixir.


    Wang Hong went through all the Storage Bags except for Lin An''s, and most cultivators seemed to be poor as church mice. The few who were rtively wealthy had a few thousand Spirit Stones at most.


    Lin Yun''s Storage Bag held just over eight thousand Spirit Stones, several Magical Weapons, and a few Jade Scrolls, all containing Qi Cultivation stage cultivation techniques, of no use to Wang Hong.


    Then there was another Storage Bag that belonged to the unlucky Poisonwood Daoist Master, who almost caused Wang Hong to die from poisoning.


    This Storage Bag contained items contaminated with severe poison. Wang Hong''s finger barely touched them, and the poison quickly spread up his arm.


    Fortunately, Wang Hong carried an antidote Elixir, which alleviated the poison''s spread. He then found the antidote within this Storage Bag.


    Carefully inspecting this Storage Bag, Wang Hong found over ten thousand Spirit Stones inside. Poisonwood was probably not a benevolent character, and who knew how many cultivators he had harmed.


    There were also more than ten bottles of Elixir, including Condensing Qi Pills, various poisonous pills, and detoxifying Elixirs.


    In it, he found a Jade Scroll containing information on a thousand types of highly poisonous Spiritual Medicines and their antidotes. Many were unfamiliar to Wang Hong, rare and unknown Spiritual Objects.


    There were also instructions on manufacturing various poisonous pills, the principles of poison, and methods of detoxification. It even detailed strange and varied methods of poisoning, leaving Wang Hong amazed at the countless invisible ways to kill.


    Fortunately, this time they stumbled upon and killed Poisonwood Daoist Master first; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.


    In Poisonwood Daoist Master''s Storage Bag were two Spiritual Medicines: one jet ck, known as ck Grass, usually found in areas with a concentration of venomous snakes. Ironically, ck Grass was not only non-toxic but also a detoxifying herb.


    The other was emerald green, with an exceptionally beautiful flower called Red Beauty. It was highly poisonous. Often, the most beautiful things concealed deadly dangers.


    Wang Hong took out Lin An''s Storage Bag and emptied its contents onto the ground.


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 Chapter 61: Cultivating Alchemists

    Chapter 61: Cultivating Alchemists


    The Lin Residence spanned fifty acres, with nearly two hundred houses, including ten acres dedicated to Spirit Fields where the Spirit Qi was particrly dense.


    This was the hard-earned legacy of several generations of the Lin Family. The production from the ten acres of Spirit Fields formed the foundation for the family''s continuity.


    When Wang Hong visited, the members of the Lin Family had not yet recovered from the shock of losing their patriarch.


    He was received by a middle-aged man in theter stages of Qi Cultivation, bearing some resemnce to Lin Yun.


    "I wonder what brings Fellow Daoist to visit?" He was unaware that their patriarch had died at the hands of this young man.


    "I am entrusted by someone to deliver an item to the Lin Residence. You''ll understand after examining it," Wang Hong said, taking out a Jade Scroll from his Storage Bag and handing it over.


    The middle-aged man received the Jade Scroll, carefully examined it, then forced out a drop of essence blood onto it.


    The essence blood quickly permeated the Jade Scroll, and the middle-aged man began scrutinizing it with his divine sense.


    After a while, he looked at Wang Hong with aplex expression. Then, he slowly said, "I understand the patriarch''s intention. I promise that from now on, the Lin Family will never be enemies with Fellow Daoist. I only hope Fellow Daoist will spare the members of my Lin Family, and all grievances will be wiped clean from this moment on."


    "All I''ve done is for self-preservation. As long as the people of the Lin Family don''t trouble me, I have no interest in causing further disputes," Wang Hong said calmly, taking a sip of tea.


    After an incense stick''s worth of time, Wang Hong left the Lin Family, settling all grievances between them.


    After this battle, a new force emerged in Azure Void City,prising forty-plus individuals, three of whom were in theter stages of Qi Cultivation, while the rest were in the early stages.


    Theycked Foundation Building cultivators but possessed the strength to kill them.


    Upon investigation by those interested, it was revealed that this force owned three shops in Azure Void City, with two of them thriving and well-stocked.


    The ample supply of goods piqued the curiosity of some individuals.


    After Wang Hong, once again disguised as Wang Kun, replenished the Elixirs for the Elixir Pavilion, people approached him.


    Naturally, they hoped Wang Kun could provide a portion of their goods.


    Subsequently, several shopkeepers from different stores found him. Wang Hong didn''t immediately agree, stating the need to report to the higher-ups in the business, and it would take at least a month to respond.


    During this month, Wang Hong nned to focus on Alchemy, utilizing the time to replenish his stock for the numerous stores.


    He gathered a batch of Spiritual Medicine from the space and handed it to Zhang Chunfeng, instructing him to refine all of it into Elixirs within the month.


    Currently, there were only two Alchemists, Wang Hong and Zhang Chunfeng. Both of them had to cultivate, with Zhang Chunfeng also managing the daily training of soldiers, leaving limited time for Alchemy.


    Wang Hong nned to train several more Alchemists. With abundant resources, as long as there was enough Spiritual Medicine for practice, cultivating Alchemists wouldn''t be too challenging.


    As his current subordinates had low cultivation levels, he shifted his focus to the newly recruited individuals.


    At Skinny Monkey''s Immortal Spirits Wine Pavilion, today was the day for selling top-tier Spirit Fruit wine.


    Top-tier Spirit Wine wasn''t easy toe by, so every time a hundred kilograms were supplied, it sold out on the same day.


    Especially with the imminent release of sect missions, top-tier Spirit Wine became even more sought after.


    A long queue formed inside the shop, extending onto the street. Each person could only purchase a small bottle, limited to two liang.


    Some cultivators even hired others to wait in line, resulting in an evenrger crowd.


    The two brothers, Ma Zhong and Ma Yi, were busy in the shop, but their mood was excellent.


    Initially, they had signed a Blood Contract with Wang Hong to save their lives. Wang Hong, not wanting to waste the Blood Contract, had epted them as his subordinates.


    They had anticipated a life shrouded in endless darkness, with abuse and mistreatment beingmonce. The brothers had imagined various tragic experiences of ves.


    Who would have thought that Wang Hong didn''t throw them into the mines as mining ves, extract their essence blood, or perform horrifying Alchemy experiments by cutting their organs?


    As it turned out, he simply had them do odd jobs in the shop, which posed no difficulty for them as they had done simr tasks in other shops before.


    What surprised them even more was that they received contribution points every month.


    Contribution points were a privilege for members within this organization, exchangeable for various precious Spiritual Objects.


    Although fewerpared to other soldiers, it still delighted them as if in a dream.


    Based on the items that could be obtained with contribution points, each of them could receive thirty Spirit Stones per month.


    This meant that their treatment for doing odd jobs surpassed that of ordinary family cultivators.


    Considering that, in their previous Lin Family, they only received ten Spirit Stones per month, and sometimes had to risk their lives, this was a significant improvement.


    Fortunately, they had acquired a substantial amount of wealth during a previous adventure, buying two Blood Contracts. This had saved their lives when it was critical.


    When Wang Hong arrived at the Spirit Wine Pavilion, the two of them weed him and offered ttery.


    "Your recent performance has been quite good. I''m here to ask if you''re willing to learn the art of Alchemy and be Alchemists?" Wang Hong ignored their ttery and asked directly.


    The Ma Brothers were struck dumb by this unexpected surprise, forgetting even to tter.


    "Master, learning the art of Alchemy requires a considerable amount of Spiritual Medicine," Ma Zhong said cautiously.


    In the Lin Family where he previously resided, with ten acres of spirit fields, they had to tighten their belts and exert the entire family''s efforts to cultivate a single Alchemist.


    Yet, the new master was suggesting training both of them as Alchemists with a single statement.


    "You don''t need to worry about Spiritual Medicine; just request it from Zhang Chunfeng. As long as you be Alchemists, I can guarantee resources for you to cultivate up to the tenth level of Qi Cultivation. As for Foundation Building, it depends on your performance."


    Wang Hong currentlycked Foundation Building pills, and one of his goals in joining a sect was to obtain the Medicinal Herbs for Foundation Building pills.


    Although they couldn''t betray him after signing the Blood Contract, giving them some hope would motivate them to work harder.


    "Here are several Jade Scrolls containing knowledge about Alchemy. Study them carefully. When you feel you''veprehended it thoroughly, go to Zhang Chunfeng to receive Spiritual Medicine for practice."


    The two received the Jade Scrolls, thinking that signing the Blood Contract might have marked the end of their lives. Unexpectedly, it might just be a new beginning.


    After leaving the Spirit Wine Pavilion, Wang Hong sought out He Yuan.


    While Wang Hong allowed him to choose freely, He Yuan was not interested in learning Alchemy. His sole focus was on pursuing the Dao.


    Of course, having signed the Blood Contract, Wang Hong could directly order him. However, he didn''t n to force things; he would only utilize He Yuan''sbat abilities.


    He Yuan, unlike the Ma Brothers, had a resilient character and was dedicated to the Dao, willing to sacrifice everything, including his own life, to pursue it.


    The Ma Brothers, being more pragmatic,cked long-term goals and significant aspirations. Everything they did was for survival, just to stay alive.


    Using the Elixir refined by the Ma Brothers in the short term seemed unlikely.


    Entering the Space, the Green Spirit Peach trees finally began bearing fruit. Three peaches, each the size of a small finger, hung from the branches, covered in white fuzz.


    The white crystal fruit was nearing maturity. It would likely be edible in a little over ten years of growth. Wang Hong had been craving this type of spirit fruit for a long time, but the quantity was a bit limited.


    The Spiritual Medicine for Condensing Qi Pills only covered two acres in the Space, and it was now insufficient.


    Fortunately, the spoils from the recent battle yielded over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, which could be used to expand the Space.


    However, a little over an acre was still insufficient. In the past few years, he had umted several hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    Wanting to buy a residence in Azure Void City, where he nned for long-term development, he needed his own base. Currently, he could only divert some Spirit Stones. Once he earned more, he could replenish them.


    So, he used over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, adding up to three hundred thousand, and increased thend by three acres.


    Of the added three acres, two were dedicated to the Spiritual Medicine for Condensing Qi Pills, while the remaining one acre was for Spiritual Medicine required during the Qi Cultivation period.


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 Chapter 62: The Beginning of the Mission

    Chapter 62: The Beginning of the Mission


    Wang Hong secluded himself and spent a month refining Elixirs. His alchemical skills had improved significantly during this time.


    With an eighty percent sess rate, he sessfully crafted over two thousand Elixirs in a month, including more than three hundred high-grade Elixirs.


    Combined with the one thousand Elixirs refined by Zhang Chunfeng, they now had a total of four thousand Elixirs, which should be sufficient for the time being.


    Wang Hong also gathered some Spiritual Medicine from the Space and stored them in Jade Boxes.


    Seven new businesses approached him for supplies, adding to the initial five, making a total of thirteen. These shops had some stock, and reaching out to Wang Hong was just a way to replenish their inventory.


    This already stretched his capacity to supply, and there was no room for expansion in the short term. Wang Hong couldn''t afford to dy his cultivation for the sake of earning more Spirit Stones; cultivation always took precedence.


    Expanding the number of shops could only happen when Zhang Chunfeng and the Ma Brothers reached the alchemical proficiency Wang Hong currently possessed.


    However, Spirit Wine was a different story; it could be expanded. The profit margins for Spirit Wine were exceptionally high.


    With medium and low-grade Spirit Wine, Wang Hong could recruit additional help to brew them. Some tasks could even be handled by Mortals, and their monthly wages would only require half a Spirit Stone. Early-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators would also need just one or two Spirit Stones per month.


    The most challenging aspect of brewing Spirit Wine was the extended aging process, but Wang Hong''s advantagey in Space, where time passed forty-seven times slower than in the outside world.


    While others aged their wine for a hundred years, he only needed a little over two years.


    These misceneous tasks were delegated to Skinny Monkey; Wang Hong didn''t need to worry about them.


    Having a group of loyal andpetent subordinates was a significant asset in cultivation, saving him time and energy while reaping more benefits.


    Since Wang Hong began cultivating, Space had been his greatest aid, followed closely by these loyal subordinates.


    They handled misceneous tasks, earned Spirit Stones for Wang Hong, and, most importantly, their unwavering loyalty, something no amount of Spirit Stones could buy.


    If he had to manage daily chores, earn Spirit Stones, asionally engage in conflicts, and still find time for cultivation, it would be impossible.


    It was said that some cultivators spent several years, even decades, searching for a single Spiritual Object.


    Wang Hong summoned the managers of the seven shops, sold them a batch of Spirit Herbs and Elixirs, and earned over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    He also hinted that, being only a ninth-level steward in the Immortal Way Trading Company, he had limited resources allocated each year.


    In two or three years, he expected to rise to the eighth level, gaining ess to more and better resources, possibly including second-tier Spiritual Medicine.


    He requested their confidentiality about this tier level, warning that if leaked, other shops might demand supplies, potentially reducing their current share.


    Concerning matters of self-interest, the shop managers naturally kept silent.


    They were also astonished by the immense power of this mysterious tradingpany. Even the lowest-level ninth steward could wield such influence.


    It was rumored that eighth-level stewards could obtain second-tier Spiritual Objects. The higher levels, seventh, sixth, and even higher, were beyond their imagination.


    In Azure Void City, in front of the city lord''s mansion, there was a massive square. At this moment, the square was bustling with people, and six three-yard-wide Light Screens floated in the air.


    Many people surrounded the Light Screens, watching and discussing animatedly.


    On each Light Screen, detailed information about the six major sects and their entry-level missions was disyed.


    After the self-introductions, the content of the entry-level missions was written below.


    Wang Hong, amidst the crowd, became more and more excited as he watched. His guesses were right.


    In these past few years, he thoroughly searched the entire ck Dragon Marsh, transnting any visible Spiritual Medicine into Space. Most of the required Spiritual Medicine for the major sects'' Entry-level Missions were in his possession.


    Of course, the Taihao Sect, Qingxu Sect, Beast Spirit Sect, Hunyuan Sect, Thousand Crafts Pavilion, and Putuo Temple each had different materials and entry conditions.


    Taihao Sect, located in the northern part of the Eastern Cultivation World, emphasized sword cultivation, focusing on using one sword to break through myriad techniques without being burdened by external factors.


    The entry conditions were having a Heavenly Spirit Root, and those with dual Spiritual Roots could directly join. For those with three Spiritual Roots or fewer,pleting the Entry-level Mission was necessary.


    The mission required independently killing ten high-quality first-tier Demonic Beasts, submitting intact corpses for verification of solitary kills. Additionally, a catalog of thirty types of Spiritual Medicine was provided, indicating the required years, all being a minimum of a hundred years. Only twenty types of Spiritual Medicine needed to be submitted.


    The first fifty individuals achieving either of these criteria would be official disciples of the Taihao Sect. Those ranking from fifty-one to one hundred could also join and be registered disciples.


    If someone possessed a unique skill such as Alchemy, talisman crafting, refining, or formations, they could be a registered disciple through assessment.


    For those unable toplete the Entry-level Mission andcking a special skill but still wanting to join the sect, they could do so by paying Spirit Stones. Each person only needed to contribute twenty thousand Spirit Stones to be a registered disciple.


    Wang Hong pondered this and couldn''t help but admire the person who devised this n.


    Heavenly Spirit Roots and the saplings of those with dual Spiritual Roots were extremely rare, sometimes even difficult to find. Hence, their direct admission.


    Those with slightly inferior Spiritual Roots were moremon in the Cultivation World, and among them, some would disy exceptional talent.


    Therefore, the top fifty individuals would be selected from those with outstanding overall strength, bing the backbone supporting the sect''s development.


    What impressed Wang Hong the most was the registered disciple system. Although they received lower treatment and had to undertake various tedious tasks, it was essentially simr to misceneous chores. The title of registered disciple just sounded nicer.


    Despite this, countless cultivators were still willing to be registered disciples of major sects.


    Firstly, being a disciple of one of the six major sects was a prestigiousbel. When walking outside, simply stating one''s affiliation with a major sect would evoke a sense of awe and garner various conveniences.


    Even when facing disciples of other smaller sects, a registered disciple would feel a sense of superiority, satisfying their vanity.


    Moreover, if a registered disciple performed exceptionally well, there was a chance to advance and be an official disciple.


    As a result, even cultivators with steadfast Dao hearts, solely dedicated to cultivation, would often choose to be registered disciples of major sects rather than smaller ones. After all, once they became official disciples, the resources and opportunities avable would be much greater.


    For the sect, recruiting registered disciples required minimal resources, providing them with a batch of cheapbor. These registered disciples could then support the cultivation of official disciples. In the early stages, cultivating official disciples yielded no immediate returns, but once they grew, they would bring substantial benefits to the sect.


    Wang Hong, with his strategic acumen developed through leading tens of thousands of troops at the age of eighteen or neen in the mortal realm, quickly grasped the intricacies of this system.


    In Wang Hong''s view, Immortal Cultivators were essentially just individuals with stronger abilities, and the fundamental nature of humanity hadn''t changed.


    After carefully reviewing the Entry-level Missions of the six major sects, each sect had its own characteristics. Qingxu Sect excelled in Alchemy, Taihao Sect focused on sword cultivation, Beast Spirit Sect specialized in beast mastery and deep research on Demonic Beasts, Thousand Crafts Pavilion excelled in refining and various mechanical puppets, Putuo Temple followed the Buddhist path, emphasizing mental cultivation, while Hunyuan Sect was more bnced, having proficiency in various areas without specializing in one.


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 Chapter 63: Handing Over the Mission

    Chapter 63: Handing Over the Mission


    XXX-----XXX-----XXX-----XXX


    Wang Hong carefullypared the situations of various major sects. Although the tasks required by each sect were somewhat different, the other regtions were almost the same.


    With the Spiritual Medicine resources he had on hand, he could directly join the Qingxu Sect and Putuo Temple.


    Both of these sects required only Spiritual Medicine, with no other demands, and Wang Hong happened to have all these items.


    Originally, he nned to join the Taihao Sect. After all, his younger brother was still there. It had been so many years without any news; he wondered how the kid was doing. How was his life?


    Now he knew that his younger brother''s aptitude was extraordinary, and he believed that he must be doing well in the Taihao Sect.


    However, his desire to join the Taihao Sect was not solely to seek refuge in the genius of the sect. He only wanted to reunite with his brother and be content with that.


    Now, he hesitated a bit. He already had the Spiritual Medicine needed for the Taihao Sect''s mission, which meant he hadpleted half of it. Hunting ten Tier-One high-grade Demonic Beasts alone should also be achievable.


    His main concern was that the Taihao Sect was too far from Azure Void City. With his current strength, it would take half a year to get there, and a round trip would consume a year.


    His assets were in Azure Void City, which he had spent several years building. It was the foundation for his future development, something he couldn''t simply abandon.


    His aptitude was too poor; today''s cultivation level relied entirely on Space. Maintaining Space required a considerable amount of Spirit Stone, and relying on the sect''s allocation of Spirit Stone would limit him to Qi Cultivation for the rest of his life.


    Moreover, the crucial point was that the Taihao Sect was a sword cultivation sect, emphasizing having no attachments and using only a sword. Wang Hong felt that this philosophy did not align with his own.


    His belief was that as long as one could defeat the enemy, even using one''s teeth was eptable.


    In his view, humans were the spirits of heaven and earth, and all things could be used for him. Humans were the masters of all things, and everything could be used for him. How could he be confined to just one sword?


    After careful consideration, Wang Hong ultimately decided not to go to the Taihao Sect.


    At the moment, he was just a small ant in the Cultivation World, a character that others could easily crush with a casual gesture. Strengthening his power should be his primary goal for now.


    Anyway, with strength in the future, there would be plenty of opportunities to meet.


    Once Foundation Building was sessful, it wouldn''t take much time to run to the Taihao Sect using the Flying Sword.


    He could directly join two sects: the Qingxu Sect and Putuo Temple.


    The Qingxu Sect was closest to Azure Void City, in the same mountain range. With the speed of Qi Cultivation, it would take only seven days to reach. Going once or twice a year wouldn''t take much time.


    Moreover, the Qingxu Sect excelled in Alchemy, and his current Alchemy skills were enough to establish himself there.


    As for Putuo Temple, it was on the eastern side of Dongzhou, quite far away. Also, Wang Hong had little interest in bing a Buddhist cultivator.


    The best choice for now was the Qingxu Sect.


    Since he decided to go to the Qingxu Sect, he didn''t linger. He had many things to do.


    Firstly, he returned to his residence and summoned Zhang Chunfeng.


    "I will join the Qingxu Sect. Are you willing to join me in joining the Qingxu Sect, or do you want to stay in Azure Void City? I want to hear your thoughts."


    Among his forty-plus subordinates, only Zhang Chunfeng had the strength to join a sect.


    Although He Yuan had sufficient cultivation level, the formal disciples of major sects could not exceed fifty years old.


    He was already beyond that age, so at most, he could be a registered disciple. Due to his age, he would never have the opportunity to be a formal disciple.


    For He Yuan, who was dedicated to the Dao, staying in Azure Void City to help Wang Hong manage his industries, having more time for cultivation, was a more profitable choice.


    After some thought, Zhang Chunfeng said, "I am willing to follow the general and be a errand boy by your side."


    Wang Hong thought for a moment and felt that having an assistant by his side wouldn''t be bad.


    "Good, but in the sect, we should address each other as senior and junior. Don''t disclose our situation in Azure Void City to outsiders."


    Wang Hong took out a list of required Spiritual Medicine for entry into the Qingxu Sect from his Space and handed it to Zhang Chunfeng, asking him to wait for the right time to submit the task.


    ording to past experience, it takes at least seven days for someone to return afterpleting the mission.


    At this moment, arge group of cultivators should have just arrived at the ck Dragon Marsh, preparing to wreak havoc.


    If he rashly goes to submit the mission now, it will raise suspicions.


    Furthermore, with so many Spiritual Medicines needed for these tasks in his hands, he naturally wants to take the opportunity to make a big profit.


    But it''s still too early to make a move. He needs to wait until people start returning and then release the Spiritual Medicines.


    At that time, many cultivators will offer extra Spiritual Medicines, exchanging or buying the ones theyck. Wang Hong''s Spiritual Medicines can blend in, and no one will notice anything unusual.


    Wang Hong found Luo Zhongjie and instructed him to take over from Zhang Chunfeng. He would now be responsible for the daily training of soldiers andmanding during wartime.


    Luo Zhongjie, who had been following Wang Hong for many years, was a more reliable choice.


    Since there were still several days left, Wang Hong decided to immerse himself in Alchemy in his quiet room.


    After a few days, Wang Hong emerged from the quiet room with hundreds more Elixirs in his Storage Bag.


    He handed dozens of Spiritual Medicines to Luo Zhongjie, instructing him to distribute them to the soldiers, selling a few to various ces, with each person only offering one or two.


    Wang Hong changed his appearance and went to various ces, offering the Spiritual Medicines needed for the tasks.


    However, Wang Hong didn''t recklessly sell Spiritual Medicines. Apart from the Qingxu Sect, he sold only two sets to each sect, earning more than three hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    He didn''t sell the Spiritual Medicines needed for Qingxu Sect''s mission because he had only nted two or three of each type at that time. He and Zhang Chunfeng used two sets, and he decided to keep the remaining set, perhaps for future use.


    With a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, he could finally buy a house.


    He had set his eyes on a courtyard earlier, but the asking price was 600,000 Spirit Stones, and he hadn''t been quite well off.


    Now, with these three hundred thousand, along with the Spirit Stones he had saved before, he already had 550,000 Spirit Stones, onlycking 50,000.


    After some thought, Wang Hong decided toplete the sect mission first. Just in case he missed the timing and lost out on arger opportunity.


    Zhang Chunfeng had already submitted the mission a day ago, and by then, ten people had alreadypleted the Qingxu Sect''s task.


    When Wang Hong returned to the main square in front of the city lord''s mansion, tables were already set up under eachrge Light Screen, each with two sect cultivators guarding them.


    Each Light Screen disyed the number of people who hadpleted the task. Under the Qingxu Sect''s Light Screen, it showed that thirty-five people hadpleted the task, and they had already recruited ny registered disciples.


    Wang Hong walked directly to the Qingxu Sect''s Light Screen, behind which sat a middle-aged cultivator with fair skin, slightly squinted eyes, dressed in a purple Daoist robe with the Qingxu Sect emblem embroidered in gold on the cuffs and cor, depicting a cauldron and cloud patterns.


    Behind the middle-aged cultivator stood a young man in ck Daoist robe, with red-thread embroidered cauldron and cloud patterns on the cuffs and cor.


    "Elder, I''vee to submit the task items," Wang Hong said, taking out fifty-eight Jade Boxes from his Storage Bag and cing them on the table one by one.


    As Qingxu Sect primarily focused on the art of Alchemy, the Entry-level Mission listed eighty types of Spiritual Medicine. As long as one could submit fifty-eight of them, they could join the sect.


    Qingxu Sect also had special treatment for Alchemists. If the sess rate of concocting a Tier-One Elixir reached fifty percent, one could directly be a formal disciple.


    Wang Hong nned to gradually showcase his Alchemy skills after entering the sect, so he chose to submit Spiritual Medicines for now.


    The middle-aged cultivator in the purple robe nced at the Spiritual Medicines on the table and nodded.


    The young cultivator in ck immediately stepped forward.


    "Congrattions, junior brother, on bing a Qingxu Sect cultivator. Please test your Spiritual Roots first."


    The young man pointed to a Spiritual Testing Disk on the table, indicating for Wang Hong to ce his hand on it.


    "Hmm, four Spiritual Roots!"


    The young man was a bit surprised. It wasn''t umon for cultivators with four Spiritual Roots toplete tasks and enter the sect, but someone so young was the first.


    The young man took out a booklet, asked Wang Hong for his name and other information, and recorded everything.


    He gave Wang Hong a Wooden que as a token and instructed him to leave for now. Half a monthter, he should return to the same ce with the token.


    Wang Hong took the Wooden que and left.


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 Chapter 64: sing a Residence

    Chapter 64: sing a Residence


    XXX-----XXX-----XXX-----XXX


    After dealing with the Entry-level Mission matters, Wang Hong''s mind settled a bit, and he began contemting the purchase of a residence.


    He currently had five hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones, just fifty thousand short of his goal.


    There were many items Wang Hong could sell for Spirit Stones now, with Scarlet Blood Ginseng and the mutated Astragalus being the most valuable. However, these were not easy to part with.


    After some thought, Wang Hong found a secluded ce, transformed into a middle-aged cultivator, and entered a small courtyard adjacent to Wang Kun''s residence.


    The middle-aged cultivator walked into a cultivation room in the courtyard, pushed a bookshelf aside, revealing a dark hole in the floor.


    Without hesitation, Wang Hong entered the hole, and the bookshelf above slowly returned to its original position.


    After a moment, Wang Hong crawled out from the other end of the hole.


    It was still a cultivation room, but Wang Hong changed into a different set of clothes, assuming the appearance of Wang Kun.


    This was an additional precaution Wang Hong tookter on. Once Wang Kun''s identity was exposed, endless troubles would await him, possibly even jeopardizing his life.


    Wang Hong wasn''t sure if the Misty Illusion Mask could deceive Foundation Building cultivators, so he never dared to wear the mask in front of them.


    Wang Kun, now in disguise, left his residence and found Qian Gui''s Elixir store.


    Qian Gui was the shopkeeper who first encountered Wang Kun and became quite familiar with him.


    Qian Gui, the head of a small family, had just over ten cultivators in the entire n, and even the highest cultivation level among them, Qian Gui, was only in theter stages of Qi Cultivation.


    Relying on three acres of spirit fields, the family could barely sustain itself.


    Twenty years ago, Qian Gui took over as the head of the family. Determined, he used the resources saved through frugality to open an Elixir store.


    Although the business was not booming when the store opened, it still added thousands of Spirit Stones to the family''s ie each year, earning him the respect of the n.


    However, Qian Gui was not satisfied. He tirelessly searched for various sources until he met Wang Kun, leading to a significant turning point. Since then, he no longer worried about sourcing and saw at least a tenfold increase in profit every year.


    Continuing on this path, it was possible for the family to cultivate a Foundation Building cultivator.


    When Wang Kun entered the store, he saw Qian Gui at the counter, calcting with a radiant smile on his face.


    Looking up and seeing Wang Kun, Qian Gui''s smile widened like a blooming chrysanthemum.


    "I heard magpies singing early this morning; turns out, the God of Wealth is at my doorstep! Please,e inside!"


    Qian Gui ushered Wang Kun into a quiet room and personally served him a cup of spiritual tea.


    Wang Kun took a sip of the tea and took out a small wine bottle, handing it to Qian Gui.


    "What do you think of this? Are you interested?"


    Qian Gui took the bottle, opened it, smelled it, and his expression changed slightly. He poured some out, took a small sip, revealing a pleasantly surprised expression.


    "Fellow Daoist Wang, how much of this high-grade Spirit Wine can you give me?"


    Although his store primarily sold Spirit Pills and Spiritual Medicine, selling some Spirit Wine on the side was also feasible.


    This type of high-grade Spirit Wine was in high demand, with some factions even treating it as strategic reserves.


    "For now, I can offer you up to two hundred catties. But this is no small amount; it depends on whether you can handle it."


    Two hundred catties of high-grade Spirit Wine could retail for at least sixty thousand Spirit Stones. Wang Hong would sell it to him for no less than fifty thousand.


    Wang Hong still remembered the first transaction, just over ten thousand Spirit Stones. It took Qian Gui quite a while to gather the amount. Despite being a family head, he wasn''t much wealthier than the average loose cultivator.


    Qian Gui fell silent for a moment. While his current Spirit Stones were insufficient, the ie over the past few years, coupled with some savings, should be enough to arrange. This Spirit Wine sold well, and if he agreed, it could be sold out in a day, earning him thousands of Spirit Stones. Wang Kun implied there might be more in the future, a new source of ie that he couldn''t afford to miss.


    "Fellow Daoist Wang, can you give me one day? I promise to gather enough Spirit Stones within that time."


    "Sure, bring the Spirit Stones to my residence tomorrow afternoon," Wang Hong agreed to Qian Gui''s request. Qian Gui was Wang Kun''s first customer, and despite having some ambitions, he had always been trustworthy. Wang Kun treated him with care.


    The next day, Wang Hong received Qian Gui''s Spirit Stones, finally totaling six hundred thousand.


    Entering through a side gate of the Lord''s Manor, there was a department responsible for managing vacant residences in the city, handling their daily affairs, external rentals, and sales.


    Wang Hong entered the hall and saw an old man sipping tea, apanied only by a maid, making the hall appear spacious and quiet.


    Having been here several times before, Wang Hong recognized the old man as the person in charge.


    "Fellow Daoist, this time I n to purchase a residence."


    The old man''s originally half-squinted eyes suddenly brightened.


    "Fellow Daoist, please have a seat."


    "Tea, please."


    The maid quickly poured a cup of spiritual tea for Wang Hong. The tea had a clear emerald color, a lingering fragrance, clearly of excellent quality.


    After Wang Hong took a sip, the old man brought out a Magical Weapon simr to a map and ced it in front of Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong''s spiritual sense entered the map, as if overlooking the entire Azure Void City from a high altitude. The houses, mountains, and trees were all intricately detailed.


    Some residences were shrouded in mist, making their shapes vague, indicating they were already upied and not open for public viewing.


    Unupied residences were crystal clear, each disying a set of numbers indicating their prices.


    With his spiritual sense, Wang Hong could clearly see every detail of the interior, from bricks to nts.


    The price of a residence wasn''t solely based on its area; it also considered the concentration of Spirit Qi, the number of spirit fields, and other factors.


    He had already chosen a residence he liked, which hadn''t been sold yet. Wang Hong directly selected it.


    This residence covered thirty acres, had over a hundred rooms, and five acres of spirit fields. The price was six hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    After selecting it, Wang Hong paid half the Spirit Stones as a deposit. It would take another day for the official transaction because each vacant residence had spirit fields that needed to be cleared. It would take a day to remove the Spiritual Objects before the transaction with Wang Hong could bepleted.


    Two dayster, Wang Hong and his subordinates moved into their newly purchased residence.


    This ce became Wang Hong''s development base in Azure Void City.


    With a sufficient number of rooms, everyone had enough space. As for the five acres of spirit fields, the original crops had already been cleared.


    Wang Hong nned to nt his Space-mutated Spirit Grain and Spirit Wheat on four acres.


    Other Spiritual Medicine had a too long growth period, often taking decades or even centuries.


    These Space-mutated Spirit Grains could be harvested in just ten years, and after the second mutation, they becamerger than a person''s fist.


    Once steamed, they had a unique rice fragrance and a distinctive taste with great sticity.


    Moreover, the Spiritual Energy contained in them was enormous. Eating a grain of rice was slightly less effective than consuming a Condensing Qi Pill.


    The effects of Spirit Wheat were simr. Noodles made from its flour were crystal clear, like crystal.


    Wang Hong had never tried nting mutated Spiritual Objects from his Space outside. This was an experiment.


    If sessful, the soldiers'' cultivation speed would increase significantly.


    Wang Hong handed out some seeds, had the soldiers prepare thend, and nted two acres of Spirit Grain and two acres of Spirit Wheat.


    The remaining acre was transnted with some one-tier spirit fruit trees from his Space.


    These fruit trees had already grown intorge trees in the Space, reaching three zhang in height. Each tree could yield over a thousand spirit fruits.


    These fruits could be consumed, and any surplus could be used to brew Spirit Wine.


    Wang Hong also transnted a white crystal fruit tree, a second-tier spirit fruit. It grew much slower, only about a person''s height, with a few fruits nearing maturity.


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 Chapter 65: Wang Yis News

    Chapter 65: Wang Yi''s News


    XXX-----XXX-----XXX-----XXX


    Time passed in the blink of an eye, and in this half month, Wang Hong had made all the arrangements for Azure Void City.


    Zhao Ning managed the Elixir shop, and the two aspiring alchemists, the Ma Brothers, were also ced under Zhao Ning''smand.


    Skinny Monkey took charge of the Spirit Wine Pavilion, overseeing its daily operations. Additionally, the courtyard they had previously rented was transformed into a brewery.


    Recruiting both cultivators and Mortals, they produced arge quantity of Spirit Wine. These individuals were responsible for brewing the medium-grade Spirit Rice wine.


    This type of Spirit Wine had abundant raw materials, a simple process, and no risk of technical leakage.


    As for the low-grade Spirit Wine, Wang Hong continued to purchase some mundane Strong Liquor, soak it with Spiritual Medicine, and store it in the Space for a hundred years. Besides the time cost, it was a profitable venture.


    The high-grade Hundred Fruits Spirit Wine, with limited production and a confidential recipe, was exclusively handled by Wang Hong''s subordinates.


    Skinny Monkey took care of all matters rted to Spirit Wine.


    Xu Lun managed logistics, including the administration of various supplies, expenses, and the distribution and exchange of contribution points.


    Luo Zhongjie took over from Zhang Chunfeng, leading the soldiers in their daily drills and overseeing their management.


    With the Lin Family''s threat eliminated, they now led a small team out of the city for hunting every month.


    He Yuan, with the highest cultivation level in Azure Void City and a widework, was solely focused on cultivation. Wang Hong didn''t assign him a specific role unless conflicts arose with other individuals or factions, in which case he took the lead.


    Once all these arrangements were made, Wang Hong bid farewell to everyone with Zhang Chunfeng.


    Wang Hong instructed Zhang Chunfeng to report to Qingxu Sect first and went to the location of Taihao Sect himself.


    Under Taihao Sect''s Light Screen, dozens of people had already gathered, waiting.


    As Wang Hong approached, a white-robed cultivator with a horse-faced appearance intercepted him.


    "Please show your token."


    "Fellow Daoist, I came to inquire about someone. Please be amodating."


    Wang Hong stepped closer, simultaneously handing over a wooden box.


    The cultivator epted the box and discreetly nced inside, finding five medium-grade Condensing Qi Pills.


    The cultivator''s expression eased, and he said, "What business do you have? However, if it involves sect secrets, I''m afraid I can''t divulge any information."


    "Thank you, Fellow Daoist. I mean no harm. My brother joined Taihao Sect several years ago, and there has been no news since. As his elder brother, I''m concerned and came to inquire."


    Wang Hong spoke truthfully, as there was no need to conceal such matters. He frequentlymunicated with Wang Yi, and it would inevitably be discovered.


    "What is your brother''s name?"


    "Wang Yi."


    As soon as this was revealed, the cultivator gasped. He was well aware of the name Wang Yi.


    There was only one person named Wang Yi in the sectthe sole cultivator with a Heavenly Spirit Root.


    It was said that Wang Yi''s cultivation speed was extremely fast, already reaching the tenth level of Qi Cultivation. He could advance to the Foundation Building stage at any time, bing the youngest Foundation Building cultivator in Taihao Sect, or even in the entire cultivation world. However, for some unknown reason, he had been dying the Foundation Building.


    Heavenly Spirit Root cultivators could directly progress to the Golden Core stage without any bottlenecks.


    Under the Light Screen of Taihao Sect, a Foundation Building cultivator who had been meditating with closed eyes quietly opened them, using his divine sense to secretly lock onto Wang Hong.


    It was prudent to be cautious when it involved a sect genius.


    "Are you truly his brother?"


    "Absolutely!"


    The cultivator carefully scrutinized Wang Hong. Although he wasn''t familiar with Wang Yi, being in the same sect meant he had seen him a few times.


    The two shared some resemnce in their facial features, but their temperament differed greatly. Wang Yi appeared handsome and ethereal, like an immortal, while the person before him seemed quite ordinary, the kind that would easily blend into a crowd.


    However, some basic information about Wang Yi was not a closely guarded secret, and even if this person was an imposter, it didn''t matter much.


    "Wang Yi is a talented cultivator of our Taihao Sect, having already cultivated to the peak of Qi Cultivation. He is highly valued by the sect and is currently taken as a disciple by a Golden Core Elder."


    Having said this, the cultivator with a horse-faced appearance stopped, refusing to reveal more.


    After many years, Wang Hong finally heard news about Wang Yi. Although he had anticipated that Wang Yi should be doing well, at this moment, Wang Hong couldn''t suppress his excitement. He carefully savored and repeatedly chewed on every word the cultivator spoke, and what seemed like simple sentences to others were more melodious to his ears than the world''s most beautiful music.


    With slightly trembling hands, Wang Hong took out a Jade Scroll and handed it to the cultivator, along with an exquisitely crafted jade bottle.


    "I have a family letter here. I hope Fellow Daoist can deliver it for me, and this bottle of Spirit Wine is a token of my gratitude."


    The cultivator epted the Jade Scroll and the bottle. The Jade Scroll had a simple sealing enchantment that, once opened, couldn''t be restored, making it a practical form of magical protection.


    Opening the bottle''s cork and taking a light sniff, the cultivator found it to be a high-grade Tier-One Spirit Wine.


    Although this unassuming cultivator was generous, the value of the items wasn''t extremely high. Still, they were good things that couldn''t be easily bought even with Spirit Stones.


    "Fellow Daoist, you''re too polite. Since Wang Yi and I share a sect brotherhood, delivering a letter is a small favor. There''s no need for a reward. Rest assured, I will make sure it reaches him."


    While the cultivator spoke politely, his actions were sincere, swiftly storing the Jade Scroll and the bottle together in his Storage Bag.


    In truth, even if Wang Hong had declined the reward after revealing their rtionship, the cultivator would have dly helped with this small favor. In situations where there was no conflict of interest, anyone would be willing to be on good terms with a future Golden Core cultivator, if not to form a friendship, at least to familiarize themselves.


    After handing over the Jade Scroll, Wang Hong calmed his somewhat excited emotions and walked towards the Light Screen of Qingxu Sect.


    Under Qingxu Sect''s Light Screen, more than eighty people had gathered, divided into two areas with two distinct groups.


    The two cultivators who had apanied him on the previous mission were also present, along with several more cultivators wearing Qingxu Sect robes.


    After verifying Wang Hong''s token, a cultivator instructed him to wait in the less crowded area.


    As Wang Hong approached, he saw Zhang Chunfeng among this group of people, waving at him from a distance.


    He spected that this group of people should be the official disciples, while therger group in the other area must be registered disciples.


    Wang Hong stood with Zhang Chunfeng, chatting casually.


    As time passed, more people arrived, and those who had waited for a long time gathered into small groups.


    Only a few cultivators sat alone in a corner, engaging in Meditation.


    Among them, a few cultivators had the most followers, being surrounded by a group of people.


    When male cultivators were adored, it was usually due to their good family background or exceptional talent. As for female cultivators, their beauty was often enough. In this regard, Immortal Cultivators were no different from ordinary Mortals or even wild animals in the mountains. Perhaps it was a primitive instinct shared by all living beings.


    Wang Hong observed the surrounding crowd with interest.


    The people surrounding male cultivators and those around beautiful female cultivators behaved differently.


    Those around male cultivators were focused on pleasing and ttering, hoping for future assistance or favor.


    On the other hand, those around female cultivators were mostly young cultivators, showcasing themselves to attract the attention of the female cultivator.


    Some appeared valiant and imposing, some handsome and graceful, and others showed off their literary talents.


    At this moment, a cultivator with a pockmarked face seemed to have just told a joke and burst intoughter, amusing himself. However, the people around him looked puzzled.


    Suddenly, the surroundings quieted down instantly, even the pockmarked-faced cultivator stopped his performance.


    Everyone turned their heads simultaneously, looking in one direction.


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 Chapter 66: Joining the Qingxu Sect

    Chapter 66: Joining the Qingxu Sect


    A figure in white approached from a distance, appearing to be around seventeen or eighteen years old. With a refined and ethereal demeanor, she seemed detached from earthly concerns. Draped in a white dress, it gently fluttered in the wind.


    All eyes, regardless of gender, turned to focus on the young woman.


    Those who had been showcasing their talents around a few female cultivators suddenly felt dull and uninteresting.


    Wang Hong, upon seeing this woman, experienced a sense of self-shame for the first time in his life.


    Perhaps others felt the same way; even the thick-skinned male cultivators couldn''t muster the courage to approach or even nce at her, considering it sacrilegious.


    Seemingly ustomed to such attention, the young woman slowly approached the Qingxu Sect cultivators.


    "Senior brother, I''vee to register."


    The young cultivator receiving her was momentarily flustered, not expecting to have a chance to speak with her.


    He didn''t know if he should leave his hands gracefully at his sides or adopt a more dignified posture with his hands behind his back. At this moment, his hands felt redundant, ced anywhere seeming unnatural.


    He also struggled with organizing his words to appear refined, sophisticated, and preferably witty.


    "Um... token... go over there... wait... give it to me."


    Finally, the young cultivator, hands entangled awkwardly, face flushed, stammered out a sentence, unsure of its content.


    The woman in white smiled, a smile like blooming flowers.


    The young cultivator opposite her blushed, scratching the back of his head, even more unsure of how to speak.


    However, the woman in white understood his intention, handed him the token for verification, and gracefully walked away from the crowd.


    Approaching the group where Wang Hong stood, the woman effortlessly parted the crowd.


    Finally, she stopped at the edge of the gathering.


    Several self-assured male cultivators approached to strike up a conversation.


    The woman didn''t outright reject them but politely replied, maintaining an air of distance.


    Time passed quietly as everyone waited.


    After two hours, the group wasplete.


    A Purple-robed daoist from the Qingxu Sect summoned a delicate Flying Boat. The small vessel flew into the air, expanding to a size of over ten yards.


    Several Mystic Cloth daoists ushered everyone onto the boat, and Wang Hong joined the others,nding on the Flying Boat as if on level ground.


    Observing his surroundings, Wang Hong noted the boat''s dimensions, approximately fifteen yards long and eight yards wide.


    Fourrge cannons adorned each side of the boat''s hull, appearing intimidating. Their potential firepower remained a mystery.


    It seemed this Flying Boat was more than just a means of transportation; it doubled as abat vessel.


    Aside from a main hall, the cargo hold contained dozens of resting chambers.


    Rooms were assigned to pairs, and Wang Hong found himself sharing one with the pockmarked-faced cultivator.


    The friendly-faced cultivator introduced himself as Sun Er upon first meeting,unching into a lengthy self-introduction that left Wang Hong in awe. Sun Er boasted about his exploits in the ck Dragon Marsh, his thriving life in Azure Void City, and the countless powerful or well-born friends he had.


    When Sun Er delved into his close rtionship with a Golden Core cultivator''s nephew for the third time, Wang Hong couldn''t endure it any longer and made an excuse to leave the room.


    Sun Er licked his dry lips and, still unsatisfied, called out to Wang Hong.


    "Fellow Daoist Wang, we seem to hit it off. Let''s continue our conversationter."


    Wang Hong couldn''tprehend why there were such verbose individuals even among Immortal Cultivators, incessantly repeating the same thing three or four times without adding anything new. It made him contemte pulling out his Flying Sword and splitting the person in question.


    Stepping out of the cargo hold, he stood on the deck, taking a deep breath. It was his first time flying hundreds of yards above, observing the clouds swirling above and the towering mountains rapidly passing beneath him. In that moment, his troubles dissipated, and he felt expansive, realizing how insignificant he waspared to the vastness of the world.


    The next morning, as Wang Hong meditated on the deck, a massive mountain range emerged in the distance. Mist encircled the peaks, emitting a colorful radiance under the morning sun.


    This was the main peak of the Qingxu Mountain Range, where the Qingxu Sect was situated.


    The Flying Boatnded on arge square at the mountain''s foot. As everyone disembarked, they lined up under the guidance of the Purple-robed daoist from Qingxu Sect.


    Several groups had already arrived at the square, each standing in various locations under the guidance of different Purple-robed daoists. They seemed to be Disciples recruited from other cities.


    While Wang Hong and the others waited, more Flying Boats returned, disgorging dozens or even hundreds of people.


    It appeared that the group from Azure Void City, including Wang Hong, was thergest, totaling around one hundred and sixty-seven individuals.


    Around noon, as the cultivators stood on the square, they suddenly sensed a powerful pressure thatsted only a moment before retracting, leaving everyone astonished.


    Then, a yellow streak descended from the mountaintop,nding on a high tform in front of the square. A figure with white hair and a youthful appearance appeareda truly ethereal and immortal demeanor.


    Having encountered several Foundation Building cultivators before, Wang Hong recognized the vast difference in the pressure emitted. Moreover, Foundation Building cultivators couldn''t directly fly using magical techniques. Judging by this, the neer must be a formidable figure at the Golden Core stage.


    "I am Elder Ling Yuan of the Qingxu Sect. Wee, everyone, to our sect. Qingxu Sect has stood for tens of thousands of years, boasting numerous inheritances. As one of the six major sects, we possess formidable strength. Currently, we have dozens of Golden Core cultivators, thousands of Foundation Building cultivators, and tens of thousands of Qi Cultivation practitioners."


    The people on the square were thrilled to be part of such a powerful sect.


    Observing their reactions, Ling Yuan, satisfied, stroked his long beard and delivered some motivating words.


    Excitement surged through the crowd. If asked to dedicate themselves to the sect at that moment, they would do so without hesitation, considering it an honor.


    Wang Hong sighed inwardly, acknowledging the wisdom of the experienced senior who could stir people''s blood with just a few words. There was much for him to learn.


    After Ling Yuan''s inspirational words, he transformed into a streak of light and departed, leaving behind a square filled with enthusiastic new disciples.


    The trivial matters were left to the Golden Core cultivators.


    Several Purple-robed daoists, each holding a small magical weapon, projected seven light screens from them. Qingxu Sect had seven peaks, named after the seven stars of the Big Dipper: Yaoguang, Kaiyang, Tianquan, Tianji, Yuheng, Tianshu, and Tianxuan.


    The names of the peaks were disyed on the light screens, along with a list of names below each. People searched for their names on the light screens, standing beneath the appropriate peak once found.


    Wang Hong located his name on the light screen for Kaiyang Peak and obediently stood beneath it.


    He noticed that Sun Er, the pockmarked-faced cultivator, was also under the Kaiyang Peak light screen.


    At that moment, Sun Er was enthusiastically chatting with a female cultivator. Upon seeing Wang Hong, he nodded and continued his animated conversation.


    Approximately two thousand new disciples had joined Qingxu Sect, and each light screen now had over three hundred people beneath it.


    A square-faced, stern Purple-robed daoist approached and loudly dered, "Disciples of Kaiyang Peak, follow me."


    He then strode off in a particr direction, and the others hurriedly followed.


    Simr scenes unfolded for the disciples assigned to the other peaks, each guided by their respective Purple-robed daoists.


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 Chapter 67: News from the Hidden Realm

    Chapter 67: News from the Hidden Realm


    On the way to Kaiyang Peak, a Mystic Cloth doaist introduced Qingxu Sect and the basic situation of Kaiyang Peak to the group.


    "Our Qingxu Sect has been established for tens of thousands of years, renowned in the Cultivation World for the art of Alchemy. However, not all members of Qingxu Sect are Alchemists; Kaiyang Peak, in particr, is known for itsbat prowess, with a rtively smaller number of Alchemists. The peak''s master is a cultivator in theter stage of Golden Core, unmatched in strength, surpassing others of the same tier."


    As the Mystic Cloth doaist spoke, a look of reverence appeared on his face.


    Along the road they walked, on either side, stretched vast spirit fields filled with various Spiritual Medicines.


    Mostly first-tier Spiritual Medicines, with a few fields containing second-tier Spiritual Medicines.


    "Senior brother, do these spirit fields belong to our Kaiyang Peak?" asked a fellow disciple.


    "From the foot of the mountain to the midsection, these spirit fields belong to the sect. The sect distributes batches of Elixirs and Spirit Stones every month. Additionally, the sect sells some Elixirs to the outside world in exchange for Spirit Stones or other resources, all relying on the production of these spirit fields."


    "As for the spirit fields above the midsection, they belong to individual peaks. Every official disciple can receive three acres of spirit fields."


    Upon hearing this, many felt a burning excitement. Three acres of spirit fields would be sufficient to barely sustain a small family in Azure Void City.


    After two hours of travel, they reached the peak. With each ascent, the Spiritual Qi became denser.


    The registered disciples had already stayed below the midsection, where arge cluster of houses stoodresidences for these registered disciples.


    Official disciples resided above the midsection, and further up were the cave mansions of Foundation Building cultivators, followed by those of Golden Core cultivators.


    In daily terms, the area below the midsection was habitually referred to as the foothill, and above the midsection was called the mountaintop.


    Through this exnation along the way, Wang Hong gained a rough understanding of the sect''s situation.


    Registered disciples wore uniform blue clothes, receiving one Condensing Qi Pill and three Spirit Stones per month. They also had to perform various sect tasks daily.


    Official disciples wore uniform ck clothes, receiving five Condensing Qi Pills and ten Spirit Stones per month. They were required toplete at least one sect task each month, earning sect contribution points, which could be exchanged for many items not easily found outside.


    Reaching the Foundation Building stage marked the backbone strength of the sect, earning a respected status. They could participate in specific sect matters.


    Foundation Building disciples wore purple robes, receiving five hundred Spirit Stones per month. However, Elixirs were no longer provided, as second-tier Spiritual Medicines were rare and hard to cultivate. The sect could not supply them, and they could only be obtained using sect contribution points.


    Golden Core cultivators held a senior position within the sect, and the specifics were not known to disciples of the mere Qi Cultivation stage.


    Wang Hong received a set of dark robes, surprisingly a Low-Quality Magical Weapon with dust removal and resistance to heat and cold.


    He also received a token representing his identity, requiring a blood oath for recognition.


    Each person could have an independent small courtyard with only four rooms. Wang Hong nned to use one as a living room, one for cultivation, one for alchemy, and one for rest.


    Around the small courtyard were three acres of spirit fields, belonging to him personally.


    The allocated spirit fields from the peaks could not be inherited or traded. If a cultivator left the sect or died, the fields would revert to the ownership of the mountain peak.


    A minimum distance of at least a hundred yards was maintained between each pair of small courtyards. Immortal cultivators valued their privacy, and this distance both saved space and ensured privacy, with the interveningnd transformed into spirit fields.


    Of course, not every ce could be cultivated as spirit fields. Spirit fields consumed arge amount of Spiritual Qi and required areas with Spirit Veins.


    If the Spiritual Qi was insufficient, Spiritual nts would grow slowly or even die. Regr replenishment with Spirit Stones was necessary to supplement Spiritual Energy.


    Qingxu Sect monopolized arge Spirit Vein, with numerous smaller branches scattered across the seven peaks. This was why Qingxu Sect could cultivate such extensive spirit fields.


    Wang Hong quickly tidied up his room, leaving other matters for the next day.


    Early the next morning, Zhang Chunfeng found Wang Hong. The small courtyard assigned to him was only a few miles away, a quick journey for an Immortal Cultivator.


    He came to help Wang Hong manage the spirit fields and see what Spiritual Objects Wang Hong nned to cultivate.


    After some thought, Wang Hong decided to nt something with a short growth period. In the end, he chose Three Yang Melon Seeds, which would mature and be ready for harvest in just three years, with a flowering periodsting a year.


    He had observed carefully yesterday and noticed numerous Spirit Blossoms here, but not many Spirit Bees collecting honey. Today, he felt it was a waste.


    He decided to cultivate a swarm of Spirit Bees to gather nectar outside. In the future, when he took out Spirit Honey or Spirit Bees, it wouldn''t seem out of ce.


    Unlike other Spirit Beasts that could be hidden and fed, Spirit Bees needed to collect flower nectar for sustenance.


    nting some Three Yang Melon Seeds nearby could also provide a honey source.


    In his Space, he had nted a few Three Yang Melon Seeds, which he usually snacked on. Now, he could use them as seeds.


    Wang Hong took out some Three Yang Melon Seeds, and with Zhang Chunfeng, they turned the soil and nted the seeds. These melon nts grew to a height of one zhang, with flower discs evenrger than grinding tes, so they needed a separation of five or six feet to nt each one.


    In just half a day, the two of them had sessfully nted three acres ofnd, and they also nted Three Yang Melon Seeds in Zhang Chunfeng''s three acres.


    After finishing the nting in the afternoon, both of them felt a bit hungry. As cultivators of Body Refining Technique, they had a substantial consumption and got hungry quickly.


    On Kaiyang Peak, there were two canteensone at the foothill serving tens of thousands of registered disciples and another at the mountaintop where official disciples and Foundation Building disciples, numbering nearly ten thousand, resided.


    Cultivators needed to reach the Golden Core stage topletely abstain from eating. Foundation Building cultivators were in a semi-fasting state and had to eat every few days.


    The two nned to go to the canteen, have a meal, and familiarize themselves with the surroundings.


    This canteen covered an area of about four to five acres, with two floors, capable of amodating several thousand people simultaneously.


    Standing at the entrance, they noticed tworge doors in the same direction. One led to the first floor, with "Qi Cultivation Passage" written on it. The other led to the second floor,beled "Foundation Building Passage."


    Wang Hong thought it was good this way. Having Foundation Building cultivators nearby might make eating ufortable.


    Entering the first floor, they found that regr meals were provided for free by the sect, while Spirit Meals had to be purchased with Spirit Stones.


    As Body Refining cultivators, Spirit Meals were more beneficial for their cultivation.


    They bought tworge portions of Spirit Meals, each estimated to weigh around ten catties, made from a ck-haired Spirit Lamb raised by the sect, costing ten Spirit Stones each.


    However, ten catties of Spirit Beast meat would only be enough to fill the gaps between their teeth. If they ate openly, considering the tier of the meat, Wang Hong alone could consume hundreds of catties at once.


    Of course, the higher the tier of the meat, the more Spiritual Qi and essence it contained, and the less quantity was needed.


    After finishing their meal, they felt even hungrier and bought a roasted Cow leg, cing it on the table and cutting and eating it with a small knife.


    "I heard that a new female cultivator has arrived at Yao Guang Peak, with extraordinary beauty that has captivated the talents of various peaks," the conversation of several cultivators at the neighboring table reached Wang Hong''s ears.


    "I also heard that this woman was directly recruited based on her aptitude with two Spiritual Roots. Upon entering Yao Guang Peak, she was taken as a disciple by a Golden Core Elder of Yao Guang Peak. These people are visiting not only because of her beauty but also due to her aptitude and status."


    "I''ve heard something simr. I heard that Pan Yuan from our Kaiyang Peak also went."


    "What''s Pan Yuan, just a mediocre talent. He''s just joining the crowd. Look at his conduct; he bullies lower-cultivation level junior disciples within the peak when the senior brother is absent, and when he sees stronger cultivators from other peaks, he tries to please them like a sycophant."


    At this point, a bearded man spoke, "Zhang Yi, you better be careful with your words. Although this person has a bad character, he does have real strength. Among the thousands of Qi Cultivation cultivators in our Kaiyang Peak, he is also ranked in the top twenty."


    Shifting the topic, another cultivator said, "I heard that Senior Brother is about to return to the mountain. He is going to open the secret realm next year, and Senior Brother should return early to prepare for next year''s trial in the secret realm."


    "If Senior Brother leads the team, I also n to participate," the bearded one said.


    "Our peak has the strongest Senior Brother in terms of strength. Besides him leading, I can''t think of a second candidate."


    ...


    Hearing this, Wang Hong guessed they were talking about the secret realm that grew Foundation Building Dan Spiritual Medicine. He didn''t expect to catch up with this event right after joining the sect; he needed to inquire more about it.


    Unconsciously, the two had finished eating a Cow leg, spending over a hundred Spirit Stones, and they were only half-full.


    They couldn''t eat more, not because theycked Spirit Stones, but eating more would attract attention. Only Body Refining cultivators could eat so much. They didn''t want to reveal their cultivation level for now.


    They could only go back and eat the processed Spirit Meals they brought with them. They had cooked Spirit Beast meat soup, meat jerky, and Spirit Wheat-made pancakes.


    It seemed like they would have to cook their own meals in the future.


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 Chapter 68: Sect Mission

    Chapter 68: Sect Mission


    After returning to his residence, Wang Hong entered Space once again.


    Last time, he cultivated around a hundred thousand male Spirit Bees, but after a great battle, only about twenty thousand remained.


    However, twenty thousand male bees were still a bit too many. With other types of Spirit Bees included, there were around fifty thousand in total, and Space''s Spirit Blossoms could barely provide enough food for them.


    This led Wang Hong to enter the Qingxu Sect, where he saw countless Spirit Blossoms but no Spirit Bees collecting nectar. He felt it was a waste and immediately thought of moving some Spirit Bees out to cultivate.


    Creating a new Bee Queen normally took years, but using the time difference in Space, it only took less than a month.


    This time, cultivating the Bee Queen was even easier than before. He only needed tomand the Bee Queen to let the bee colony cultivate a new one.


    The colony would choose an egg with good qualifications, feed it with royal jelly daily, and once it matured, it would be the new Bee Queen.


    When the new Bee Queen was born, it would lead a group of Spirit Bees out of the original hive, find a suitable ce to build a new nest, and develop into another entirely new poption.


    Wang Hong directly issued themand to cultivate a new Bee Queen and didn''t concern himself much with the affairs of the bee colony.


    Flying in the air, he patrolled around in Space.


    Now, Space covered eighteen acres, and inspecting the entire area took at least half an hour.


    However, Wang Hong didn''t find it tiresome at all. On the contrary, he enjoyed it very much. Every time he saw this vast expanse of thriving Spiritual Objects, he felt genuine joy.


    Every time he entered Space, he liked to look at this nt, touch that one, andpare how much they had grown.


    He carefully observed the veins on their leaves.


    All of this had nothing to do with cultivation, Spirit Stones, purely the love of a farmer for the crops in his fields.


    Seeing the crops he nted grow, a sense of aplishment welled up in his heart.


    Wang Hong patrolled to a spot and found the two Spiritual Medicines he obtained from Poisonwood Daoist Master''s Storage Bag before: Red Beauty and ck Grass, one highly toxic and the other an antidote.


    Red Beauty absorbed Spirit Qi, converting it into a deadly poison, bing its nutrient. ck Grass, on the other hand, needed to absorb the poison and convert it into Spiritual Energy for its growth.


    Within a yard around these two Spiritual Medicines, all other nearby Spiritual Medicines had withered and died. There were also many Spirit Bee corpses on the ground.


    Wang Hong suddenly thought of a problem. What if the Spirit Bees collected poisonous nectar, brought it to the hive, turned it into Spirit Honey, and he unknowingly consumed it...


    Well, during this time, he wouldn''t dare to take Spirit Honey. However, ording to the "Spirit Control Scripture," if Spirit Insects grew in a poisonous or other special environment for a long time, there was a certain probability of mutation.


    But it wasn''t possible now. He only had one poisonous flower, and he couldn''t let a swarm of Spirit Bees circle around it all day.


    He needed to wait until Space expanded before growing more poisonous flowers. Additionally, he had to cultivate another swarm of Spirit Bees for experimentation. If he identally killed all the Spirit Bees, it would be a big loss.


    Wang Hong remembered that besides these two Spiritual Medicines, there was also a book called "Wood Poison Scripture" in Poisonwood Daoist Master''s Storage Bag, which he hadn''t seriously studied yet.


    Now that he had time, he exited Space, hung a wooden que at the courtyard entrance indicating seclusion, and returned to Space.


    Wang Hong entered Space again, holding a Jade Scroll and carefully studying it.


    Like this, more than a month passed in Space. Wang Hong felt hunger signals from his physical body outside, so he stopped contemting and left Space.


    A day had already passed outside, and his physical body was starving. Wang Hong thought, if he immersed his mind a bit more, would he identally starve himself?


    He took out more than a hundred fist-sized mutated Spirit Rice, soaked them in Spirit Spring Water, put them in Space to absorb water for a day.


    After burning incense, Wang Hong took out the Spirit Rice from Space, ced them in a wooden steamer, and steamed them for half an hour. A tempting aroma wafted from the steamer, making Wang Hong even hungrier.


    He took out a sealed earthen jar, opened the lid, heated it up, took a sip of the rich broth, then used chopsticks to pick up a grain of rice, swallowing it in three or four bites.


    As for scalding, Body Cultivators were not afraid of it, let alone cutting with a knife.


    He ate more than ten grains of rice in one breath, finally feeling full. He sealed the leftovers, ready to eat them next time.


    Satisfied and replenished, he re-entered Space to contemte the "Wood Poison Scripture."


    Wang Hong spent two years in Space to fullyprehend the scripture, butplete mastery required extensive practice.


    The scripture introduced several types of poison pills and the refinement of detoxifying Spirit Pills. However, hecked most of the required Spiritual Medicines and needed to collect them gradually.


    When Wang Hong exited Space, opened the courtyard gate, only a little over half a month had passed outside.


    The Three Yang Melon Seeds he nted had just sprouted, with two plump and tender cotyledons pushing out of the soil, quite adorable.


    The soil was still a bit moist, indicating recent watering, probably done by Zhang Chunfeng.


    Wang Hong transnted a Spirit Jujube tree from Space, over three zhang tall, covered with Spirit Jujubes, red and green. The red ones were ripe, and the green ones were not. Some branches still had jujube flowers.


    Due to the long ripening period of spirit fruit, most spirit fruit trees continuously flowered and fruited during the ripening period, resulting in both flowers and fruits on the same tree.


    After a few more days, a new Bee Queen finally emerged, leading thirty thousand Spirit Bees out of the original hive, including ten thousand male bees.


    Wang Hong led the new bee colony out of Space and settled them, building a nest on the Spirit Jujube tree.


    He saw countless Spirit Beesing and going, searching for nectar. The nearest source was the jujube flowers, and further away were the surroundingrge spirit fields, many of which were in bloom, providing abundant nectar.


    After handling these matters, Wang Hong remembered that he had been in the sect for nearly a month and hadn''t done any sect missions yet.


    The main sect institutions were located on Heavenly Authority Peak, including the Task Hall, Enforcing Hall, Main Sect Hall, and Scripture Pavilion.


    The journey to Heavenly Authority Peak took two to three hours. Wang Hong rode the Windsoar Boat, which, though not fast, could save a lot of time by avoiding detours.


    He had noticed that Qi Cultivators in Qingxu Sect possessed flying Magical Weapons, and he wasn''t the only one.


    The Task Hall upied an acre, with over a dozen desks lined up in a row, each with several people queuing in front.


    Wang Hong randomly found a ce at the back and waited for almost an incense stick''s time before it was his turn.


    An old man in the Qi Cultivation stage behind the desk directly handed him a book-shaped Magical Weapon with a light screen.


    The screen disyed categories like Alchemy, Refining, Seeking Spiritual Medicine, Hunting Demonic Beasts, and Killing Evil Cultivators, each with various tasks.


    Wang Hong tried touching the word "Alchemy" with his hand. As soon as his finger touched "Alchemy," the light screen changed.


    Tasks like refining Fasting Pills, Condensing Qi Pills, and Hundred Flowers Spirit Dew appeared on the screen.


    He lightly touched the line of refining Condensing Qi Pills, and the light screen disyed the specific task details.


    It showed: Refine five batches of Condensing Qi Pills, with a requirement for a pill sess rate of over forty percent. Each Elixir rewarded one contribution point. No reward for a sess rate below forty percent, and if it fell below twenty percent, he needed topensate twenty Spirit Stones for the raw materials.


    Wang Hong opened other tasks and found that the contents of Alchemy tasks were mostly simr.


    He then opened the Seeking Spiritual Medicine category, all of which involved submitting a specified Spiritual Medicine for contribution points.


    Wang Hong found that he had many of the required Spiritual Medicines in his Space.


    "Fellow Daoist, can I take multiple tasks at once?" Wang Hong thought that if he took several at once, he couldplete all the tasks for the year in one go and not worry about itter.


    "You can, but the tasks must bepleted within three months, or you will be punished."


    Wang Hong then directly took five Condensing Qi Pill refining tasks and seven Spirit Herb tasks.


    The old man gave him twenty-five sets of Condensing Qi Pill Medicinal Herbs and registered him.


    Leaving the Task Hall, Wang Hong saw that it was still early. Since he was already there, he decided to visit the Book Tower.


    One of his purposes for joining the sect was the umted heritage of tens of thousands of years here, something that loose cultivators outside couldn''t ess.


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 Chapter 69: The Difficulty for Cultivators

    Chapter 69: The Difficulty for Cultivators


    Book Tower stood tall and majestic, with two cultivators guarding the entrance.


    "Excuse me, senior brothers, any requirements for entering Book Tower?" Wang Hong asked, handing two Spirit Stones to the guards.


    The two guards, in good spirits after receiving the Spirit Stones, were impressed by Wang Hong''s thoughtfulness.


    "Haha, you''re too polite, junior. You must be a new disciple. To enter Book Tower for reading or borrowing books, you just need to umte contribution points," one guard said with a friendly smile.


    "Observing inside costs two contribution points per hour, while borrowing or duplicating depends on the content of the book, starting at a minimum of ten contribution points," the other guard added quickly.


    "Moreover, only Golden Core Elders or those specially permitted by the sect can ess the top floor of Book Tower."


    Without contribution points, one couldn''t even enter Book Tower. Wang Hong thought it made sense; after all, the sect''s cultivation techniques were not handed out for free. It was a fair trade and encouraged disciples to contribute to the sect.


    Wang Hong currently had no contribution points, so he could only go back and focus onpleting tasks.


    "Thank you for your guidance, senior brothers. I''lle back when I earn enough contribution points. Farewell."


    Wang Hong left Book Tower briskly, not in the mood to explore other ces. He rode his Windsoar Boat back.


    He was already proficient in refining Condensing Qi Pills, even achieving high-quality results. However, he didn''t want to reveal his exceptionally high sess rate. He had heard that most alchemists had sess rates below fifty percent, and reaching fifty percent was considered skilled.


    He decided to submit tasks with a forty percent sess rate. If needed, he could take on more alchemy tasks next time.


    Twenty-five furnaces of elixirs were effortlessly refined in just a few days. He obtained a total of two hundred and ten Condensing Qi Pills. Considering a forty percent sess rate, he only needed to submit one hundred pills.


    After gathering the required spiritual medicine for the task and storing them in Jade Boxes, he was ready to go to the Task Hall to submit the task. Just as he opened the courtyard gate, two cultivators approached his small courtyard.


    "Excuse me, junior."


    Wang Hong was puzzled, and one of them greeted him. One was an old man at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, with white hair and a face full of wrinkles, showing signs of declining life essence. The other was a middle-aged man at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, thin with two strands of mustache on his lips.


    "Senior brothers, what can I do for you?" Wang Hong asked.


    "No need to be formal. We noticed a new neighbor and came to visit, get acquainted," the middle-aged man replied, pointing to the left and right small courtyards.


    "That courtyard is mine," he pointed to the left, "and this one is Fellow Daoist Cheng''s."


    It turned out they were nearby neighbors. Wang Hong couldn''t be impolite and invited them into the living room.


    Only then did he realize he didn''t even have Spirit Tea to offer. Normally, such matters were taken care of by his subordinates; he never bothered with them. It seemed like he should nt some Spirit Tea trees in his spatial realm for such asions.


    After a moment of thought, he took out a few bottles of Spirit Wine from the spatial realm and picked some fresh Spirit Jujubes from the Spirit Jujube tree outside the door.


    The three sat in the living room as host and guests, exchanged names, and chatted about various stories in the Cultivation World. Wang Hong inquired about some information on the sect from the two, as he was still new and unfamiliar with many things. They patiently exined everything to him.


    "Senior brothers, I heard that a secret realm will open next year. Is it one of the six major secret realms?" Wang Hong asked, recalling the rumors he heard in the cafeteria a few days ago.


    "The one opening next year is indeed one of the six major secret realms. Wang junior, do you n to participate? Keep in mind that it has an extremely high mortality rate. In previous years, the number of returnees has never exceeded fifty percent," Old Man Cheng said with a serious expression, emphasizing the life-threatening nature of the trial.


    Wang Hong was taken aback, not expecting the mortality rate to be so high.


    "Is it dangerous inside the secret realm, or do cultivators engage in infighting for treasures, causing casualties?" he asked.


    Concerning the six major secret realms, Wang Hong, as a loose cultivator, had limited knowledge. He only knew that these realms were rich in Spirit Qi, making them suitable for various types of Spiritual Medicine, including those needed to refine Foundation Building pills.


    He wanted to understand whether the high mortality rate was due to dangers beyond the capabilities of Qi Cultivation stage or if it was caused by human factors.


    "It''s both. The realms are rich in Spirit Qi, making them suitable for Spiritual Medicine and the breeding of Demonic Beasts. Inside, many fierce and brutal Demonic Beasts are born. However, the realms are also equipped with ancient Large Formations. Any creature at the Foundation Building stage or above will be struck by heavenly thunder and turned to ashes.


    Therefore, the strength of the Demonic Beasts inside will not exceed the second tier."


    Hearing this, Wang Hong breathed a sigh of relief. As long as they didn''t reach the Foundation Building stage, he could handle it to some extent.


    If there were second-tier or higher Demonic Beasts inside, he would be powerless against their absolute strength.


    "The most dangerous thing inside is still people. Although the six major sects usually get along peacefully, it doesn''t mean there are no disputes. Even close brothers may fight over benefits, let alone major sects with inevitable frictions between them.


    Sometimes it''s just because of the allocation of a small market''s profits, which may not exceed tens of thousands of Spirit Stones per year. If the major sects were to engage in a major conflict over this, leading to the death of Foundation Building cultivators or even implicating Golden Core cultivators, it would be a loss not worth the gain.


    Therefore, the major sects negotiate and postpone all disputes to the secret realm trial held once every decade.


    After all, Qi Cultivation cultivators are recruited in the thousands every ten years, serving as a cheap expendable resource. Losing a few hundred is eptable for the sect''s foundation.


    Then, based on the amount of Spiritual Medicine each sect obtains, a ranking is established to address the umted disputes over the past decade."


    Upon hearing this, Wang Hong understood. He felt a mix of emotions. It seemed that the battles between Qi Cultivation cultivators were just a chess game between sects, avoiding the loss of high-tier cultivators.


    However, he couldn''t me anyone. From the perspective of sect interests, this was the best choice. If he were in the sect leader''s position, he would also choose this without hesitation.


    Long-term disputes between sects would only consume strength and resources, something no one wanted to see.


    But how could Qi Cultivation cultivators do anything about it?


    No one forced them; it was entirely voluntary to sign up, yet they had to participate topete for the resources for Foundation Building.


    Compared to the vast number of Qi Cultivation cultivators, Foundation Building pills were scarce. Althoughrge trading houses asionally auctioned them, the prices, reaching hundreds of thousands, were unaffordable for most Foundation Building cultivators.


    Everyone had their reasons for doing this, driven by their own interests. Immortal cultivation wasn''t as idyllic as Mortals imagined  it wasn''t just about enjoying wine and tea while watching the clouds. It required constant and arduous practice, facing challenges from the heavens, the earth, and fellow cultivators. It was like crossing a single-nk bridge amid a sea of thousands of soldiers.


    This structural aspect could be seen in theposition of Qingxu Sect''s cultivators: tens of thousands of Qi Cultivation cultivators, thousands of Foundation Building cultivators, and only a few dozen Golden Core cultivators.


    Wang Hong, realizing this, took a big sip of Spirit Wine, feeling a sense of relief.


    Filling the cup again, he proposed, "Dear neighbors, meeting is fate. Let''s drink to this moment."


    "Cultivation is tough. Perhaps tomorrow we''ll be nothing but dry bones. It''s better to enjoy life now. Today, there''s wine, so let''s get drunk. Old Cheng, you should also enjoy yourself," Xun Rui raised his cup, echoing Wang Hong''s sentiment.


    Cheng Zan also lifted his cup. It was then that Wang Hong noticed Cheng Zan had almost finished the te of Spirit Jujubes in front of him, while Xun Rui''s te was still intact, having only a few eaten.


    After finishing their drinks, Wang Hong asked, "Senior Cheng, is the Spirit Jujube not to your liking?"


    Cheng Zan blushed slightly, feeling a bit embarrassed. He replied, "Junior Wang''s Spirit Jujubes and Spirit Wine are excellent, and they also help with cultivation. They are truly rare treasures."


    After a moment of silence, Cheng Zan said, "Forgive my boldness, but could I take the remaining ones with me?"


    "Of course, there''s no problem. They were meant to treat Senior Cheng. Take as much as you want."


    Although Cheng Zan''s request was somewhat impolite, it wasn''t unreasonable. These items could be sold for several dozen Spirit Stones in the market. Perhaps he was just frugal and couldn''t bear to eat them.


    "The Spirit Jujube tree in front of the door produces at least a few hundred Spirit Stones annually. I''ve noticed a group of Spirit Bees on the jujube tree. Junior Wang really knows how to make money," Xun Rui said admiringly.


    "Senior Xun, you''re too kind. I acquired the Spirit Jujube tree and Spirit Bees by chance. They barely sustain my cultivation needs," Wang Hong humbly replied. In truth, he didn''t consider a few hundred Spirit Stones a significant amount. With his continuous production in the spatial realm and the efforts of his subordinates, he had it much easier than ordinary cultivators.


    After chatting for a while longer, the two neighbors bid farewell and left.


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 Chapter 70: Book Tower

    Chapter 70: Book Tower


    Once the two cultivators had left, Wang Hong tidied up and set out again, heading towards the Task Hall toplete his assigned tasks.


    At the Task Hall, he queued up and submitted Elixir and Spirit Herb. One hundred Elixirs earned him one hundred contribution points, while seven Spirit Herbs brought in one hundred and forty contribution points, totaling two hundred and forty contribution points.


    Returning to the Book Tower, he exchanged greetings with the two guards at the entrance before entering.


    Inside the building was a spacious hall with two doors on one of the walls. The door above one wasbeled "Entrance," and the other wasbeled "Exit."


    Both the entrance and exit were guarded by Foundation Building cultivators in purple robes.


    Approaching the entrance door, Wang Hong was stopped by the guard.


    "Show your token."


    Wang Hong quickly retrieved the sect token and handed it over to the Purple-robed daoist.


    The daoist took the token, ced it on a magical weapon, and after a faint glow, returned the token to Wang Hong.


    With the token in hand, Wang Hong entered through the entrance, finding himself surrounded by rows of bookshelves with neatly arranged books, eachbeled with categories such as spirit ore, spirit wood, Spirit Herb, spirit fruit, Demonic Beast, demonic insects, misceneous records, Geography, Customs, and more.


    Although the ssifications were detailed andprehensive, they mainly covered basic knowledge of the Cultivation World. Wang Hong spected that advanced topics like techniques, alchemy, and artifact refining might be on the upper floors.


    The nearest section to him was the spirit wood category. Wang Hong walked over, picking up a Jade Scroll at random. As he probed with his spiritual sense, he discovered it was a book specifically discussing the various impacts of different soils on the growth of spirit wood.


    He was amazed by the numerous types of soils mentioned, something he had never heard of before. Fortunately, his unique spatial ability allowed him to cultivate almost any spiritual object.


    Suddenly, he wondered about the type of soil in his Space. He carefully examined the Jade Scroll but found no simrities.


    Deciding not to delve deeper into it, Wang Hong moved on, selecting another Jade Scroll that focused on the appraisal and identification of different spirit woods, exining their properties, characteristics, and suitable applications.


    Picking up several more scrolls, he realized they all contained knowledge about spirit wood that he had never encountered before.


    Moving to the familiar Spirit Herb area, he found even more books. Dozens of shelves surrounded him, filled with Spirit Herb-rted scrolls.


    Grabbing one scroll, he read about the specific requirements of different Spirit Herbs for their growth environment. Despite theplexity, he was relieved knowing that his Space could amodate the growth of any Spirit Herb.


    Another scroll exined the pharmacology and properties of various Spirit Herbs.


    Engrossed in the wealth of knowledge, Wang Hong lost track of time. It was only when hunger became unbearable that he reluctantly set aside the Jade Scroll in his hand.


    Realizing he had forgotten to choose scrolls to bring back, Wang Hong selected ten scrolls focusing on the pharmacology and properties of Spirit Herbs. There were over a hundred scrolls in this category, each representing the umted experience and wisdom of past practitioners.


    He nned to diligently study all these scrolls. As an Alchemist, he felt embarrassed not knowing the pharmacology and properties of medicines, relying solely on following established forms.


    Little did he know that among Alchemists, less than one percent were proficient in pharmacology and properties. Most started by following established alchemical forms before gradually bing aplished Alchemists.


    The primary reason was the vast variety of Spiritual Medicines. What Wang Hong currently saw was only a fraction, as there were also spirit fruits, spirit wood, Spirit Insects, spirit ores, and more, all usable in alchemy.


    To thoroughly grasp this knowledge would require a significant amount of time. The lifespan and energy of cultivators are limited, and it is impractical topletely set aside cultivation to specialize in researching Spiritual Medicine.


    Another point to consider is that onlyrge sects possess suchprehensive legacies, perfected through the umtion of countless generations.


    Carrying the Jade Scrolls, Wang Hong walked toward the exit. Another Purple-robed daoist stood there, epting the Jade Scrolls and the sect identity token Wang Hong handed over.


    "Do you want to copy or borrow? Borrowing each Jade Scroll costs ten contribution points, to be returned within a month. Copying costs fifteen contribution points, with no need for return and no time limit."


    After a brief consideration, Wang Hong chose to copy.


    "Copy, please."


    The Purple-robed daoist produced ten nk Jade Scrolls, allowing Wang Hong to imprint his spiritual mark on each one. Then, the daoist ced two Jade Scrolls on a magical weapon, initiating the copying process.


    Normally, cultivators could use their spiritual sense for copying, but excessive use could lead to mental fatigue. Given the bustling activity in the Book Tower, daily copying tasks were undoubtedly abundant.


    Thinking about the small magical weapons in Task Hall, Wang Hong realized they were convenient inventions. After fifteen minutes, all ten Jade Scrolls were sessfully duplicated.


    Spending ten hours reading inside cost him twenty contribution points, and copying ten Jade Scrolls cost him one hundred and fifty contribution points. With his initial two hundred and forty contribution points, he now had only seventy left. It seemed he would need to undertake more tasks.


    The Purple-robed daoist returned the Jade Scrolls and the token, reminding Wang Hong not to disclose sect information and that they were for personal use only.


    Wang Hong wondered, "What if I lend the Jade Scrolls to someone secretly? Can the sect really monitor me?"


    Leaving the Book Tower, Wang Hong returned to Task Hall to pick up twenty new tasksten Alchemy tasks and ten Spiritual Medicine tasks. While he found Spiritual Medicine tasks easier, he dared not ept all of them.


    Submitting various Spiritual Medicine regrly might arouse suspicion since the required Spiritual Medicine wasn''t the mass-produced type cultivated by the sect. Exining the source of his Spiritual Medicine could be problematic.


    Back in his courtyard, Wang Hong examined the duplicated Jade Scrolls. He realized his initial concerns were unnecessary. The spiritual imprint he left on the nk Jade Scrolls acted like a lock, and only his spiritual sense, like a matching key, could ess them. Any other intrusion would trigger the hidden restrictions and destroy the Jade Scrolls.


    Considering the vast heritage of a sect spanning thousands of years, Wang Hong realized he couldn''t easily exploit loopholes.


    For the next month, Wang Hong followed a routinecrafting two Elixirs daily, cultivating for three hours, and spending the remaining time in his Space, studying the contents of the ten Jade Scrolls.


    Although a month passed in the outside world, Wang Hong experienced two years within his Space, finallypleting the study of the ten Jade Scrolls.


    He then exchanged his findings for contribution points, used them to copy more Jade Scrolls, and continued this cycle for six months. The days were monotonous yet fulfilling, and Wang Hong found joy and satisfaction in his immersive learning.


    Today, Wang Hong achieved a breakthrough, reaching the eighth level of Qi Cultivation.


    His Alchemy skills also progressed, achieving a sess rate of ny percent, with at least one high-quality pill per furnace.


    Afterpleting his tasks, Wang Hong decided not to pick up new ones. He nned to visit Azure Void City.


    With over half a year passed, items in the shops there should have sold. During this time, he umted some Elixirs, and Zhang Chunfeng helped refine more. Returning to Azure Void City would allow him to exchange them for Spirit Stones and expand his Space once again.


    Wang Hong packed lightly, informed the sect of his temporary absence, and took off in the Windsoar Boat towards Azure Void City.


    Wearing the standard Qingxu Sect dark robe, cultivators with some discernment would avoid targeting him to prevent potential consequences from the sect.


    As for deliberately posing as a loose cultivator to attract bandits and then counter-attacking for treasures, he had no time for such activities.


    He didn''t care much about the few hundred Spirit Stones in the pockets of bandits. Bandits mostly targeted struggling loose cultivators, even if they squeezed them dry, the loot wouldn''t amount to much.


    Originally a journey of seven days, he reached Azure Void City in just five days with the Windsoar Boat.


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 Chapter 71: Return to Azure Void City

    Chapter 71: Return to Azure Void City


    Back at the residence he purchased, two guards saluted Wang Hong enthusiastically upon seeing him.


    Entering the courtyard, the Ma Brothers were the first to receive the news and eagerly weed him. Their faces were filled with ttery, more affectionate than meeting their own father.


    "Master, you''re back! We''ve missed you, brother! It''s been half a year, and Master''s cultivation level has be even more unfathomable. Truly a rare talent bestowed by the heavens! As the ancients said, a figure destined to be renowned for a thousand years, none other than our Master," Ma Zhong eximed,ying on thick praise.


    Interrupting the ttery, Wang Hong replied, "Enough of that."


    "Master''s extraordinary talents are well-known. It''s this robe from the Qingxu Sect that adds to the brilliance." Not to be outdone, Ma Yi chimed in. However, it seemed the brothers had misced their praise; Wang Hong, without the vast resources of Space, would likely still be lingering in the early stages of Qi Cultivation.


    "Cut the ttery. How''s your progress in Alchemy, as I instructed?" Wang Hong inquired.


    The brothers seemed a bit uneasy but, gathering courage, Ma Zhong said, "Master, our average pill sess rate is slightly over ten percent."


    Feeling they might have disappointed Wang Hong and wasted many materials, they anxiously awaited his response.


    Wang Hong, however, didn''t seem inclined to scold them. Considering they had been learning for just over half a year, with only the past month dedicated to Alchemy, their results weremendable.


    Recalling his own struggles before achieving proficiency in Alchemy, Wang Hong chose not to reproach them, relieving the Ma Brothers.


    Luo Zhongjie, Xu Lun, He Yuan, and others also approached to greet and wee Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong first visited the spirit fields, finding the spirit fruit trees thriving but the mutated Spirit Grain appearing somewhatcklusterpared to its Space counterpart.


    Wen Lan, responsible for managing the spirit fields, provided detailed information on the daily care of the Spirit Grain. Unable to identify the issue, Wang Hong considered Spirit Qi, soil, and Spirit Spring Water.


    Spirit Qi seemed fine, as Wen Lan supplemented Spiritual Energy with Spirit Stones every seven days due to the wilting crops. This left either soil or the quality of the spring water.


    Thinking of a solution, Wang Hong decided to use soil from his Space, where things grew well. He spread a small bag of ck soil evenly over a section of the spirit fields, gently turning the soil.


    Only time would reveal if this experiment had any effect.


    That night, everyone gathered in the courtyard''s martial arena, a spirit charcoal fire burning in the center. Several cows and a dozen other Demonic Beasts roasted on top. Wang Hong brought out hundreds of pounds of Spirit Wine, and the group cheered and drank heartily.


    After a long absence, they needed this lively reunion.


    The Ma Brothers, a bit too enthusiastic after drinking,plimented everyone they encountered. Wang Hong couldn''t fathom their sudden warmth, as, in their own words, it was just a hobby. Seeing others basking in praise gave them a sense of aplishment.


    The next day, Wang Hong, disguised as Wang Kun, contacted thirteen supply shops. He provided them with batches of Elixir and Spirit Herbs.


    In this round, there were only a few thousand Elixirs in total, and Wang Hong had to reserve some for his own shop. As a result, each shop was provided with only a few hundred Elixirs.


    The shortage mainly existed in themonly used Condensing Qi Pills. For other less popr Elixirs with low consumption, Wang Hong had plenty of inventory. As for Spirit Herbs, the supply was open.


    Qian Gui, having tasted sessst time, wanted to purchase a top-tier Spirit Wine again. He had even gathered the Spirit Stones in advance. Wang Hong sold him two hundred pounds once more.


    The thirteen shops contributed a total of one hundred and eighty thousand Spirit Stones this time, with Qian Gui iming one-third.


    Wang Hong sighed, realizing that the profit from Spirit Wine was more substantial. He nned to stock more Spirit Wine and supply each shop with it next time.


    In the past six months, the distillery managed by Skinny Monkey had produced two hundred thousand pounds of Spirit Rice Wine. All of it was stored in the cer for aging.


    Without notifying Skinny Monkey, Wang Hong quietly entered the cer, transferred all the wine into his Space, and nned to sell it on his next visit to Azure Void City.


    Afterpleting these tasks, Wang Hong stayed in Azure Void City for three more days. During this time, he guided everyone in their cultivation and taught the Ma Brothers Alchemy.


    He intended to groom them into grandmasters of Alchemy to shoulder responsibilities in the future. Since they had signed a lifelong Blood Contract, not making good use of them would be a waste.


    He also left five thousand sets of Alchemy materials for them to practice. The Ma Brothers were deeply moved; the value of these materials, a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, exceeded their worth by several times.


    They never imagined that someone would be willing to invest so many resources in their development.


    After a few days, the Spirit Grain seedlings treated with Space soil showed significant improvement, standing slightly taller than those in other areas.


    Wang Hong dug up a few sacks of Space soil and gave them to Wen Lan. He instructed her to spread it in the spirit fields and turn the soil again.


    After settling affairs in Azure Void City, Wang Hong once again sailed back to the sect on the Windsoar Boat.


    In the past six months, Skinny Monkey''s distillery, after deducting expenses such as purchasing Spirit Grain, earned three hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Wang Hong took two hundred thousand and left him with a hundred thousand for turnover.


    Zhao Ning''s Elixir shop earned a hundred and thirty thousand Spirit Stones, with minimal cost. Wang Hong added a few second-tier Spiritual Medicines and medium-grade Elixirs to his shop.


    He also left Xu Lun with ten thousand Spirit Stones for logistical expenses.


    Summing it up, his ie for the past six months reached five hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    If this news got out, not only Foundation Building cultivators but even Golden Core cultivators would envy him. However, for now, he was rtively safe. Although he appeared to have two thriving small businesses, everyone knew that the profit margin in retail wasn''t high. The other thirteen shops wouldn''t easily disclose information about the Immortal Way Trading Company.


    The crucial point was that Wang Kun''s identity must not be exposed. Even if someone investigated, they would only find Wang Kun.


    Wang Hong scattered all five hundred thousand Spirit Stones into his Space. He noticed that the pit he left when digging the soil was gradually filled as the Spirit Stones were absorbed, restoring the surrounding soil to its original state.


    The Space expanded by five more acres, reaching a total of twenty-three acres, with time passing at fifty-two times the rate outside.


    With the extra space, Wang Hong could now attempt his n to cultivate poisonous flowers and let Spirit Bees mutate.


    For this purpose, he copied several Jade Scrolls from the Book Tower that contained information about Spirit Bees, poisonous insects, and toxic nts. He carefully studied them.


    The Red Beauty Poison Flower still hadn''t produced seeds, but Wang Hong was undeterred. As long as there was a hint of vitality, nting it in Space soil would make it take root and sprout.


    He picked some leaves and cut a few roots, leaving one Red Beauty bare.


    nting these leaves and roots in the soil, they would root and grow into new individuals after some time. However, there were only about twenty newly nted Red Beauty Poison Flowers.


    Next, he nted two acres of non-toxic Spirit Blossoms. He couldn''t let the Spirit Bees feast on highly poisonous substances from the beginning; there had to be a gradual adaptation process.


    He then ordered the Spirit Bee swarm to cultivate another Bee Queen.


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 Chapter 72

    Chapter 72


    The newly acquired five acres ofnd were divided by Wang Hong, with three acres dedicated to experimenting with Spirit Bee cultivation. The remaining two acres were nted with various Tier-One spirit fruits for future use in brewing Spirit Wine.


    As of now, counting the original ones, he had nted a total of five acres of Tier-One spirit fruits and two acres of Tier-Two spirit fruits.


    The five acres of Tier-One spirit fruits should be sufficient for brewing spirit fruit wine. Currently, his production of spirit fruit wine was around 3,000 kilograms per year. However, his Spirit Wine Pavilion only sold about 100 kilograms per month, leaving the surplus spirit fruit wine stored in the Space.


    His Tier-Two spirit fruits were about to mature in a few days. After consuming a dozen White Crystal Fruitsst time, his Spiritual Energy had be much purer, significantly enhancing his strength.


    Tier-Two spirit fruits were indeed precious. Even Foundation Building cultivators could benefit from consuming them, as they could enhance cultivation levels. Due to their slow growth and rarity, the price of a single Tier-Two spirit fruit could fetch at least thousands of Spirit Stones.


    Special-effect fruits like White Crystal Fruits might cost hundreds of Spirit Stones for just one.


    The Tier-Two Spirit Wine brewed from Tier-Two spirit fruits could rapidly restore mana for Foundation Building cultivators, making it highly sought after.


    At this moment, Wang Hong was contemting another matter. His recent trip to Azure Void City made him realize that their Alchemy production couldn''t keep up.


    Operating his own Elixir Pavilion, supplying thirteen other shops, the monthly demand for elixirs was immense. The quantity of elixirs that he and Zhang Chunfeng could refine was already quite strained, considering they also needed time for cultivation and other responsibilities.


    It was impossible to spend all their time and energy on Alchemy just to earn Spirit Stones; that would be detrimental to their future.


    Ever since obtaining the Space, it instilled in him a profound confidence. He believed that with diligence and careful consideration, he would surely have a bright future. Only by standing at a higher vantage point could one witness the most beautiful scenery.


    Therefore, he always liked to base his actions on long-term considerations. Anything detrimental to long-term development or even self-destructive actions were resolutely avoided.


    To impersonate a major power, he had to demonstrate formidable strength and couldn''t afford to run out of supplies casually; otherwise, it might reveal weaknesses.


    Currently, to increase production, he considered waiting for the Ma Brothers to be Alchemists. Another approach was to improve the pill formation rate of himself and Zhang Chunfeng. However, these would take time, and it was a bit of a temporary solution. As the number of shops he supplied increased in the future, elixirs would still be insufficient.


    Recruiting Alchemists wasn''t an easy task either; generally, Alchemists were alreadymitted to other sects.


    At this point, he thought of a question: why did Alchemy have to be done one batch at a time? Couldn''t multiple batches be produced simultaneously? If this were possible, it could solve the current dilemma.


    With this in mind, he entered the Alchemy room, set up the pill furnace, lit the spirit charcoal, and sequentially added two Condensing Qi Pill Medicinal Herbs.


    However, after refining ten batches, the average pill formation rate was only ten percent, meaning only about two pills were produced per batch of two materials.


    Wang Hong carefully analyzed and thought it might be due to the fire''s intensity because the increased materials required a different level of heat.


    He attempted to adjust the fire intensity multiple times, but the results were not ideal.


    Wang Hong decided to check the Book Tower; perhaps there were some experiences from predecessors that he could learn from.


    It was his first time on the second floor of the Book Tower. The books here were all rted to various cultivation arts.


    In the Cultivation World''s development of tens of thousands of years, various arts rted to cultivation had emerged. Among them, Alchemy, refining tools, Talismans, and formations had developed the most prosperously. Other skills like nting, breeding, Spiritual Cook, brewing, construction, etc., had slightly lower technical requirements and were easier to get into, resulting in a rtively lower status in the Cultivation World.


    Although Qingxu Sect primarily focused on Alchemy, after countless years, they wouldn''t becking in other skills either.


    Facing rows of thousands of Jade Scrolls on Alchemy, Wang Hong was at a loss on how to choose, utterly clueless.


    Picking up a random Jade Scroll and skimming through it briefly, it introduced two Tier-Two Elixirs'' pill recipes and refining experiences.


    Wang Hong had to admit it was a valuable find, something that would definitely cause amotion among loose cultivators if revealed outside. However, it wasn''t helpful to him at the moment.


    He continued to browse hundreds of Jade Scrolls, not entirely without gains. One scroll mentioned a method of refining multiple batches at once. Additionally, he unexpectedly came across the pill recipe for Foundation Building pills, and upon inspecting it with his divine sense, he found hecked all the required Spiritual Medicines.


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 Chapter 73: Nothing Like a Pill Furnace

    Chapter 73: Nothing Like a Pill Furnace


    After spending more than a day, Wang Hong finally found several suitable Jade Scrolls in the Book Tower and hid away in his Space for over a year to study them.


    He summarized the reasons for his previous failures.


    On one hand, as he suspected, theck of firepower was indeed a problem. Naturally, more materials required greater firepower, and he needed to use a higher-tier spirit charcoal.


    Another issue was the insufficient quality of his pill furnace. He needed arger pill furnace with better heat conduction performance to evenly heat the Medicinal Herbs.


    There were also some details that needed improvement.


    Currently, his first task was to purchase spirit charcoal and a new pill furnace. He had been using a medium-quality pill furnace before and decided it was time for an upgrade.


    He had already inquired with Cheng Zan and Xun Rui, and there were tens of thousands of cultivators within the sect, indicating the existence of a market.


    The Sect market was located at the foot of the Heavenly Authority Peak. Although Wang Hong had been to Heavenly Authority Peak a few times before, he always used the Windsoar Boat to fly directly to the top without stopping at the base.


    Arriving at the Sect market, Wang Hong found it more prosperous than Azure Void City. Sect disciples seemed to be wealthier than loose cultivators.


    The trading area for stalls and themercial district were separate. Setting up a stall here was free, a benefit provided by the Sect for low-tier disciples.


    All the shops belonged to the Sect and were for rent only. Task individuals could also rent shops, but if sect cultivators rented them, they received a ten percent discount on the rent.


    Wang Hong decided to first explore the stall trading area. He had heard stories of people finding treasures on street stalls, buying invaluable items at low prices from seemingly worthless goods.


    Due to the free stall setup, some low-tier disciples had only a few Spiritual Medicines or a few self-made Talismans or Elixirs on their stalls. If it were like Azure Void City, where stall fees were required, they might not even earn back the fees.


    As Wang Hong walked and observed, most items here were things Qi Cultivation disciples either couldn''t use or had crafted themselves.


    Most of it was worth only a few dozen Spirit Stones, and he didn''t find any particrly valuable treasures. It seemed that treasures were not meant for him. Feeling a bit disappointed, he left the stall area.


    Themercial district presented a different scene, with fewer people bustling about.


    Tall buildings stood magnificently, and in the center was the Myriad Treasures Tower, over ten stories high. The crowds here appeared more morous.


    It was said that Myriad Treasures Tower was a powerful tradingpany, and nearly every city with cultivators had a branch.


    Wang Hong went directly to Myriad Treasures Tower. He had a favorable impression of Azure Void City''s Myriad Treasures Tower.


    Upon entering, he informed the nearby maid to take him to choose a pill furnace.


    Since Qingxu Sect primarily practiced Alchemy, Myriad Treasures Tower, in response to market demand, had more Alchemy furnaces for salepared to other cities.


    Reaching the shelf with pill furnaces, there were sixty to seventy furnaces of various shapes.


    "Which of these furnaces are of top quality?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "There are five top-quality pill furnaces here, each one is exquisite," the maid said, pointing to the top shelf.


    Wang Hong used his spiritual sense to examine the five furnaces above, confirming their exquisite craftsmanship and meticulous formations, though they seemed a bit small for him.


    "They are indeed excellent, but do you haverger pill furnaces?"


    "I wonder how big Senior would like the furnace. We also provide custom Magical Weapon services."


    "Oh, it can be customized. Of course, the bigger, the better."


    "If you provide the materials, it will only take ten days. If we need to find the materials, it will take two months."


    At this point, the maid thought of something else and asked, "Is bigger really better?"


    "Of course."


    "Then please wait a moment; I''ll be right back."


    The maid found a seat, arranged for Wang Hong to sit down, and then left with a mysterious smile on her face, which made Wang Hong feel uneasy.


    After a while, more than ten strong men carried a massive object towards him, causing other customers to avoid them along the way.


    The group stopped in front of Wang Hong with a muffled thud, gently cing the huge item in front of him.


    At this point, the maid returned from behind.


    "Senior, this pill furnace is twelve feet long, eight feet wide, one foot high, and weighs thirty-six thousand kilograms."


    Though Wang Hong had initially thought bigger was better, he didn''t expect something this colossal.


    Seeing Wang Hong hesitate, the maid added, "Originally, this item was meant to be refined into a Spiritual Weapon-grade pill furnace. It was supposed to be able to shrink for alchemy and expand for defense or attacking enemies. However, due to unexpected interference during the refining process, there was a mistake, and it can''t be easily reduced in size. Now, its quality is somewhere between a Spiritual Weapon and a Magical Weapon."


    "Can this Magical Weapon still be used for alchemy?" Wang Hong questioned, unable to imagine throwing a few Spirit Herbs into such a massive furnace.


    "Of course, it can. Our Myriad Treasures Tower Alchemist personally verified it. However, due to therge size, it requires higher-tier and more spirit charcoal than a regr pill furnace."


    The maid seemed a bit uneasy as she spoke. Alchemy was indeed possible, but the amount of spirit charcoal needed was excessively high.


    For a regr Condensing Qi Pill, one only needed a piece of low-tier spirit charcoal, costing just one Spirit Stone. However, for this furnace, making the same pill would require at least five medium-tier spirit charcoals, doubling the cost to ten Spirit Stones.


    So, while the cost for a single Condensing Qi Pill was originally twenty Spirit Stones, with this furnace, it increased to thirty Spirit Stones.


    "Senior, you can also use it as abat Magical Weapon. Although it failed as an alchemy tool, all the materials used are of the second tier, capable of defending against Spiritual Weapon attacks, surpassing typical defense Magical Weapons."


    The maid hastily added,cking confidence.


    Wang Hong, with a troubled expression, said, "Even if it''s sturdy, I need to be able to wield it. Who can move something over thirty-six thousand kilograms? I can''t just carry it onto the battlefield with a few people. If it falls, it might crush me. I think only a body-cultivating cultivator could handle this. It''s not suitable for ordinary cultivators like us. You should find a body-cultivating cultivator and sell it to them."


    Wang Hong showed clear refusal; this Magical Weapon was too impractical, a true oddity.


    Body-cultivating cultivators were already rare, and those intending to use a pill furnace as a weapon were even rarer.


    Most Alchemists didn''t need such arge pill furnace, and as a weapon, it required strength beyond what an average cultivator could muster.


    He doubted anyone, except perhaps himself, would be interested in this furnace.


    "Senior, if you can''t move it, you can ce it in your Alchemy room. We can offer a discount, considering its cost. The refining tool materials alone cost us a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, but we''ll sell it to you at a loss for just forty thousand Spirit Stones. Moreover, this is a better pill furnace than even a top-grade Magical Weapon. Once you reach Foundation Building, you can still use it. It''s quite a cost-effective deal."


    Originally, the maid intended to suggest fifty thousand, but seeing Wang Hong''sck of interest, she lowered it by another ten thousand.


    The refining tool master disliked the sight of this Magical Weapon and had specifically instructed to lower the price if it could be sold.


    Wang Hong understood that Alchemy furnaces, due to higher material requirements and difficulty in crafting, were at least twice as expensive as defense Magical Weapons of the same tier.


    This time, he had initially nned to buy a top-grade Alchemy furnace, which would have cost at least ten thousand Spirit Stones.


    "I don''t have forty thousand Spirit Stones."


    As he spoke, he made a motion to stand up.


    "Senior, please wait. Other Spiritual Objects can also be used aspensation."


    ...


    In the end, Wang Hong used some Spiritual Medicine from his Space aspensation and bought the peculiar pill furnace for twenty-five thousand Spirit Stones.


    On the way back, Wang Hong was in high spirits, humming a tune while steering the Windsoar Boat.


    Although he didn''t find any incredible deals at the Sect market, he acquired something useful for himself at an incredibly low price.


    Despite its seemingly excessive size, he only needed it for Alchemy, and he intended to attempt batch processing, which required arger furnace. As for the weight, being a body-cultivating cultivator, he was thinking of acquiring a heavier melee weapontely, and this over thirty-six thousand kilograms pill furnace falling down could likely crush anyone in its path.


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 Chapter 74: Multiple Pills in One Furnace

    Chapter 74: Multiple Pills in One Furnace


    Wang Hong hadn''t even returned to his own courtyard when he spotted a Daoist Master standing at his doorstep from afar. As he approached, he realized it was Sun Er, the chatterbox who loved to boast.


    "Brother Sun, what wind has blown you here?"


    Both Wang Hong and Sun Er joined the sect at the same time, but Wang Hong found Sun Er, with his talkative nature, a bit daunting, so he rarely interacted with him.


    Moreover, Sun Er showed little interest in male cultivators and often trailed behind female cultivators.


    "Wang Brother, I''vee today with a request," Sun Er said, bowing to Wang Hong.


    "Oh, what is it? Tell me."


    Wang Hong, unsure of the matter at hand, didn''t immediately agree and had no intention of inviting Sun Er inside. He was a bit wary of Sun Er''s talkative nature.


    "Brother, recently, I''ve developed a good rtionship with Xin''er, a junior sister from Tianxuan Peak. Xin''er likes to drink Spirit Honey tea. After inquiring around, I found out that you raise a group of Spirit Bees. So, I''vee to request the purchase of some Spirit Honey. If there''s Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, I''d like to buy some as well."


    Upon hearing this, Wang Hong understood. Sun Er was indeed putting effort into pursuing a female cultivator. He couldn''t fathom how Sun Er, who was always following female cultivators, managed to attain such a cultivation level.


    Wang Hong did have some Spirit Honey stored. Qingxu Sect''s Spirit Herb and Spirit Blossom were abundant, providing ample honey sources. Although he maintained ten thousand inactive male bees, he could still save a few pounds of Spirit Honey each month.


    As for the Spirit Honey in the Space, he was cautious because there might be Red Beauty Flower poison in the previous batch, which could be harmful.


    Although he had already ordered the Bee Queen not to collect nectar in that particr area, the stored honey from before should still be avable.


    "I have ten pounds of Spirit Honey and ten drops of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly. Spirit Honey is twenty-five Spirit Stones per pound, and Bee Queen''s Royal Jelly is ten Spirit Stones per drop."


    Since business hade to his doorstep, there was no reason to turn it away. Wang Hong invited Sun Er to sit on a stone bench under a jujube tree and picked some Spirit Jujube, cing them on the stone table for him to taste.


    After eating two Spirit Jujube, Sun Er hesitated for a moment before making a decision. He said, "I''ll take all of them."


    "Let me tell you, Xin''er not only has an outstanding appearance, but her grandfather is also a Foundation Building cultivator from Tianxuan Peak. Anyone who wants to pursue her could line up from the peak to the foot of the mountain. Yet, she ignores everyone except me, treating me differently and enjoying our conversations."


    Wang Hong spected that what Sun Er referred to as enjoying conversations was probably himughing desperately while others watched coldly.


    Seeing that Sun Er was about to unleash his talkative talent again, Wang Hong regretted inviting him to sit down earlier.


    Quickly preparing the Spirit Honey and Bee Queen''s Royal Jelly, Wang Hong handed them over to Sun Er along with some Spirit Jujube, encouraging him to leave with the items.


    Sun Er reluctantly counted out three hundred and fifty Spirit Stones, a considerable sum for him. This time, he had invested quite a bit.


    He envied Wang Hong''s bee colony. If he had such a group of bees, many female cultivators would actively seek him out.


    Unfortunately, he didn''t have Spirit Bees, and even if he did, he wouldn''t know how to care for them.


    After paying with Spirit Stones, Sun Er didn''t immediately leave.


    "Wang Brother, let me tell you, I happened to meet a Foundation Building senior from Tianji Peakst time. He praised me a lot, saying I''m clever and respectful to elders, h h h..."


    "..."


    In the end, Wang Hong excused himself after listening to Sun Er''s lengthy speech, suddenly feeling a need to seclude himself for a few days to gain insights.


    Sun Er left reluctantly, likely adding another skill to his repertoire for boasting when chatting with others, which would help him in his breakthroughs.


    Wang Hong couldn''t wait to enter his courtyard and closed the door behind him. He retrieved the newly purchased Three-Unlike Elixir Furnace from his Space. This elixir furnace was enormous, evenrger than some Storage Bags.


    Grasping the ear-like handles on one side of the furnace, he lifted it high above his head and began swirling it around in the courtyard.


    After ying for a while, he felt a slight strain from the movements, but since his strength could still grow, it wasn''t a significant issue.


    After cing the elixir furnace in the Alchemy room, he calmed his mind for a moment.


    He took out several pieces of spirit charcoal, ignited them, and after warming the furnace, he sessively added Spiritual Medicine. This time, he only used one set of materials. With the new elixir furnace, he needed to familiarize himself as each furnace was unique.


    Soon, one batch of elixir was sessfully refined. Opening the lid of the massive furnace, he found eight elixirs the size of fingertips lying quietly in the room-sized furnace.


    He then refined two more batches, mastering the performance characteristics of the new elixir furnace. The sess rate reached ny percent.


    The new elixir furnace also had a faster Alchemy speed, saving about fifteen minutes for each Condensing Qi Pill.


    Every eight furnaces saved him an hour, and for this reason alone, he considered it a profit.


    For the next batch, Wang Hong directly threw in five sets of materials. Even in this enormous elixir furnace, the five sets were still inconspicuous.


    His spiritual awareness saw the essence refined from the Spiritual Medicine rapidly flowing at the bottom of the furnace. Wang Hong quickly lowered the firepower and performed a set of Pill Condensation techniques.


    With the assistance of the Pill Condensation techniques and spiritual awareness, the liquid medicine solidified into round elixirs. However, a significant portion turned into a mist and dispersed into the air due to the boiling heat.


    Counting them, Wang Hong had sessfully produced eighteen elixirs, with a sess rate just above thirty percent.


    He knew that the main issue this time was with the final stage of spiritual awareness assistance, where he made some mistakes due tock of proficiency.


    After cleaning the residue in the furnace, he persevered and started Alchemy again. This time, there was progress, and he ended up with twenty-four elixirs, just a hair away from a fifty percent sess rate.


    Three monthster, Wang Hong could simultaneously refine twelve sets of materials in one furnace, with a sess rate around sixty percent. Increasing the number of materials further made the control with spiritual awareness significantly more challenging.


    Nevertheless, he was satisfied with reaching this level. In the future, he only needed to refine two furnaces of elixirs per day, more than enough to supply the stores in Azure Void City.


    In addition to Zhang Chunfeng''s contributions and the Ma Brothers also refining some elixirs, there should be a surplus.


    Refining only two elixirs a day left him with plenty of time for cultivation and to continue studying the basics of Spiritual Medicine.


    Since he was fortunate enough to enter the sect and had ess to the Book Tower with umted wisdom from predecessors, not learning would be a waste of his life.


    Entering the Space, Wang Hong found that the swarm of Spirit Bees he used for experiments had already been cultivated. He had intentionally let the new Bee Queen bring out forty thousand Spirit Bees from the swarm.


    He then ced the new bee colony in the three-acre plot where he conducted experiments. The poisonous flowers he had nted hadn''t bloomed yet, so he transnted the original Red Beauty Flower over.


    However, with just one poisonous flower, after a month in the Space, more than half of the bee colony was poisoned to death. The remaining half was barely alive, with Spirit Bees continuously dying.


    Using his pharmacological knowledge, Wang Hong prepared some body-enhancing elixirs and mixed them into Spirit Honey for the Spirit Bees to consume.


    While the symptoms eased, Spirit Bees continued to die, prompting Wang Hong to feed them body-enhancing Spiritual Medicine regrly.


    Until now, this group of Spirit Bees had endured severe poisoning in the Space for several years, yet more than a thousand Spirit Bees were still stubbornly alive.


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 Chapter 75: Great Harvest

    Chapter 75: Great Harvest


    Looking at these more than a thousand Spirit Bees, although not dead, they were all weak and looked sickly.


    Wang Hong had made some progress in learning Spiritual Medicine, so he attempted to reconfigure some medicinal liquids.


    Based on the previous form, he removed some aggressively medicinalponents and added Spiritual Medicine that could gently replenish Qi, strengthen bones, and invigorate the body.


    In the following days, Wang Hong only refined two batches of pills per day. He would then study the basic knowledge of Spiritual Medicine and continuously experiment on Spirit Bees based on the acquired foundational medicinal and pharmacological knowledge.


    However, he did not formte detoxifying Spiritual Medicine for the Spirit Bees. Instead, he enhanced their physique to resist toxicity and stimte their bodily functions to develop resistance to severe poisons.


    Afterward, every few days, there were still Spirit Bees dying, but the number of Spirit Bees dying from poisoning decreased.


    In the end, when only three to four hundred Spirit Bees remained, they finally stopped dying from poisoning. Under Wang Hong''s careful treatment with Spiritual Medicine, the physical condition of the Spirit Bees gradually improved.


    Wang Hong pinched the wing of a Spirit Bee, aimed its stinger at his arm, and plunged the needle. However, the stinger broke, and his arm was unharmed.


    He grabbed another Spirit Bee, took out a high-quality Magical Weapon Flying Sword from his Storage Bag, cut a small wound on his arm, and let the Spirit Bee''s stinger pierce the wound. The surrounding area quickly reddened and swelled, followed by waves of sour pain, swelling, and a burning sensation.


    Wang Hong endured this intense pain, carefully sensing the toxicity of the Spirit Bee.


    After a moment, he took a detoxification pill, and the pain gradually disappeared, and the redness subsided.


    Although Spirit Bees could now resist severe poisons, their inherent toxicity had hardly increased; it only allowed them to slowly mutate.


    ...


    In Azure Void City, Qian Gui was at the counter, calcting his profits for the month. This was his favorite activity, and he did it at least once a day, sometimes several times a day.


    Each time he calcted the ounts, a sense of aplishment would arise within him.


    Since aligning himself with Wang Kun, his annual ie had increased by more than tenfold. The ie from the first two sales of Spirit Wine alone exceeded his earnings from the previous year.


    The increase in ie also significantly improved the treatment of the n''s younger generation. Last year, a Qi Cultivationte-stage cultivator emerged in the family, and the prosperity of the n was imminent. This elevated his prestige within the n, surpassing all previous family heads.


    He also envisioned umting some capital, expanding the business when the time was right, and securing asting foundation for the family,pletely reversing the family''s fortunes.


    However, thest time he only received a few hundred Elixirs, and they had been sold out for half a year. He didn''t know how many Elixirs would be supplied this time, and thinking about it cast a shadow over his otherwise pleasant mood.


    At this moment, a transmission symbol flew to him, and with a wave of Spiritual Energy, a voice he longed to hear emanated from it, sounding like heavenly music.


    He quickly tidied up his appearance and hurriedly left.


    Qian Gui arrived at a not-sorge residence, pushed the door open, and entered a hall where several people were already waiting.


    Among them were some familiar faces exchanging greetings. This was the first time they had all met together; previously, Wang Kun had only dealt with them individually.


    Although some people were unfamiliar with each other, they could guess that they were also businesspeople in Azure Void City.


    Qian Gui found an empty seat, and on the table were some spirit fruits and Spirit Tea for everyone to enjoy.


    Before long, a total of fourteen people arrived one after another. Wang Kun also walked out from the back hall, and everyone stood up to pay their respects.


    Although Wang Kun''s cultivation level might not necessarily be higher than theirs, and he was only a Tier Nine steward in the immortal way tradingpany, they dared not show any contempt. Their financial path now relied on Wang Kun.


    "Everyone, the Elixirs providedst time were a bit scarce. This time, I''ve brought tens of thousands of Elixirs, which should be enough for everyone."


    The people below breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.


    "Today, I''ve gathered everyone for another matter. I received a notification from the higher-ups of the tradingpany, stating that we can organize the suppliers below into an Immortal Way Merchants Alliance."


    Upon hearing this, everyone''s hearts skipped a beat. They were all independent small merchants, already struggling to survive. Naturally, they were unwilling to be further controlled and exploited by an organization. However, if they refused, they feared they might lose their future supply. It became a dilemma.


    "Do not worry, the newly established alliance is only a free, loose, and mutual aid organization. Joining is voluntary, and you can leave freely. The leaders will be selected from among you. The main purpose of the alliance is mutual assistance and resource sharing. We will gather every six months, and each shop can trade their surplus items with others."


    At this point, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. As long as it was a voluntary association and the mutual aid model appealed to them, many had unique products or family specialties that could be traded. There was also an opportunity to obtain specialties from other shops.


    "In addition, there''s another piece of good news. Starting today, the tradingpany can supply everyone with Spirit Wine, mainly Tier One low and medium quality. Tier One high-quality Spirit Wine is limited to one hundred kilograms per person."


    Upon hearing this news, Qian Gui was the first to express interest in purchasing Spirit Wine, having tasted the sweetness before. Others also expressed the need to buy Spirit Wine. Previously, it was not that they were unwilling to sell; it was just that theycked a source, and brewing Spirit Wine required a long time.


    To increase their ie, why not?


    Then, Wang Kun presented Elixirs, Spirit Herbs, Spirit Wine, and other items for trade.


    After the transactions werepleted, everyone elected the directors of the alliance. In the end, Zhao Ning from Zhao''s Pill Shop was sessfully elected as the director.


    Under Zhao Ning''s leadership, everyone conducted the first mutual aid trade. Since it was the first time and there was not much preparation, the traded items were not plentiful, but it was still a good start.


    This time, with an ample supply of Elixirs and the addition of Spirit Wine, they earned a total of 450,000 Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong estimated that these Spirit Stones were probably the total liquid assets of these small merchants over this period.


    Since thest injury, Skinny Monkey''s cultivation had dropped to the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, but with numerous Spiritual Medicines, he had recovered. Despite his poor talent and cultivation level, he was still adept at earning Spirit Stones. In the past six months, after deducting costs, he earned 300,000 Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong decided to reward him with a few Green Spirit Peaches in the future to improve his cultivation level.


    Including the ie from Zhao Ning''s Elixir Pavilion, this time they earned a total of 980,000 Spirit Stones, the most Wang Hong had ever received at once.


    Thinking about expanding the space and gaining nearly ten more acres, his mood improved significantly.


    When he first arrived in Azure Void City, with a few thousand Spirit Stones in his pocket, he felt like a wealthy hidden figure among Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    Back at his residence in Azure Void City, the Ma Brothers were practicing Alchemy. ording to Zhao Ning, their pill sess rate had reached over thirty percent, at least making Alchemy no longer a losing business.


    He Yuan, however, seemed a bit downtely. After recovering from his injuries and returning to the n, his status had slightly improved. However, the n had focused on cultivating a younger cultivator in recent years, making it nearly impossible for him to obtain a Foundation Building pill from the n. Due to his older age, the sess rate of Foundation Building would be much lower, and the n naturally chose the younger, more promising cultivator for maximum benefits.


    Wang Hong couldn''t console him on this matter and decided to observe his performanceter. After all, he hadn''t obtained a Foundation Building pill himself.


    The mutated Spirit Grains in the spirit fields of the courtyard, after using Space soilst time, were now flourishing and had grown to over a foot tall.


    After checking all these matters, Wang Hong gave some instructions, had a brief meeting with everyone, and then didn''t stay much longer in Azure Void City. He returned to the sect.


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 Chapter 76: Registration for the Hidden Realm

    Chapter 76: Registration for the Hidden Realm


    Wang Hong had just returned to the Sect for about an hour when Zhang Chunfeng came looking for him.


    The Sect had already issued the task for the trial of the Hidden Realm, and registration had begun yesterday.


    Zhang Chunfeng had known in advance that Wang Hong intended to participate in the Hidden Realm trial, so he came to find him.


    Wang Hong had carefully considered the matter beforehand. Inside the Hidden Realm, the Spiritual Qi was rich, containing not only the Spiritual Medicine for refining Foundation Building pills but also rare treasures rarely seen outside.


    Various reasons prompted him to decide to take the risk and participate in this trial.


    Firstly, he aimed to refine the Medicinal Herbs for Foundation Building pills, as he was sure he would need more than one pill for his own Foundation Building.


    Additionally, he wanted to cultivate several subordinates at the Foundation Building level. As his business expanded, having a Foundation Building cultivator overseeing things was necessary.


    Recruiting new talent was not entirely trustworthy, and he couldn''t always stay in the store himself.


    Furthermore, he wanted to collect some second-tier and even third-tier Spiritual Objects. Once he reached the Foundation Building stage, it would be challenging to find the various Spiritual Objects he needed.


    Since there was an opportunity now, he naturally wanted to venture into the Hidden Realm. These Spiritual Medicines also needed time to grow in the Space.


    Second-tier Spiritual Medicine would take at least a hundred years, if not several hundred years, to mature. It was best to acquire them in advance and cultivate them.


    As for the danger, he heard that the Hidden Realm would open in half a year, and during this time, he could make many preparations.


    In terms ofbat power, his greatest advantage was not in Magical Arts, Magical Weapons, Spirit Bees, or body refining techniques.


    Wang Hong believed his greatest advantage was having Spirit Stones. If he couldn''t defeat someone, it didn''t matter; he could still use Spirit Stones to crush his opponent.


    He was confident that among Qi Cultivation cultivators, there were very few who could match his wealth.


    Zhang Chunfeng still chose to follow him, and of course, he would also register for the trial.


    In truth, Wang Hong hadn''t nned for him to go. He had various life-saving measures, and safety was guaranteed. But if Zhang Chunfeng went, it would still be very dangerous. Zhang Chunfeng was a stubborn person who believed everything he had was given by Wang Hong, and he should protect Wang Hong even if it meant death.


    Registration was unified at the Heavenly Authority Peak. Outside the registration site, there was arge Wooden que with the registration details for this Hidden Realm mission.


    Firstly, participants must be at thete stage of Qi Cultivation to register, whether they were formal disciples or registered disciples.


    Secondly, anyone participating in the Hidden Realm trial could receive a reward of fifty thousand contribution points upon returning from the Hidden Realm.


    The gains in the Hidden Realm could be exchanged for contribution points at the Sect. With a hundred thousand contribution points, one could prioritize exchanging for a Foundation Building pill in the exchange hall.


    Of course, if one didn''t want a Foundation Building pill, they could exchange for other items. However, Foundation Building pills were rare, as indicated by the priority for exchange. Even if you had umted a hundred thousand contribution points, it wasn''t certain you could exchange for one.


    To umte ten thousand contribution points, an ordinary Qi Cultivation cultivator would have to work tirelessly on Sect tasks, taking at least fifty years or more to umte enough. How many fifty years could one have in a lifetime?


    Lastly, Qingxu Sect had a total of one thousand slots for entering the Hidden Realm. Once this number was reached, they would no longer ept registrations.


    Seeing the number one thousand, Wang Hong was also startled. Although the Sect had tens of thousands of Qi Cultivation disciples, only one-tenth reached thete stage of Qi Cultivation.


    This was considering that many cultivators in the Sect entered at ater stage. If they were loose cultivators, it would be even more miserable, with many people remaining in the early stage of Qi Cultivation for their entire lives.


    However, it''s said that within the Hidden Realm, there are countless treasures. If the number of participants is too small, many ces are likely to be overlooked, benefiting the Demonic Beasts that grow inside, and the full potential of the Hidden Realm cannot be realized.


    When Wang Hong and Zhang Chunfeng registered, they found that there were already more than eight hundred people signed up.


    Although it was said that entering could be a life-threatening experience, when the benefits were substantial, many people would harbor a sense of luck. After all, they had never died before; who would firmly believe that they would die?


    Leaving the registration site, Wang Hong handed Zhang Chunfeng arge pile of Spirit Stones, asking him to buy some self-defense treasures. Zhang Chunfeng epted it calmly; he felt that his life belonged to Wang Hong.


    Back at his residence, Wang Hong entered the Space. The nine hundred thousand Spirit Stones he tossed into the Space had all been absorbed, adding nine more acres.


    Now, the Space had a total of thirty-two acres. Time passed sixty-one times faster inside than outside, meaning one year outside was sixty-one years in the Space.


    With the additional nine acres, Wang Hong nned to expand the cultivation of white crystal fruit and Green Spirit Peach. More of these good things could only be beneficial.


    He was now certain that the one he had eaten before was definitely not ripe. He didn''t know how powerful a mature Green Spirit Peach could be.


    The Azure Spirit Peach Tree he nted had been around for three to four hundred years and was still a small tree less than a person''s height.


    Wang Hong cut some branches from the Azure Spirit Peach Tree, sliced them into two-inch sections, and densely nted them in one section of thend.


    Green Spirit Peach grew slowly, so he would wait until it reached a foot in height before transnting.


    The first batch of white crystal fruit had matured, and he now ate two every day, constantly refining his Spiritual Energy.


    However, this also resulted in his cultivation level stagnating recently. Nevertheless, he wasn''t in a hurry. He still had three Green Spirit Peaches, enough to advance his cultivation level to the peak of Qi Cultivation.


    Using the same method, Wang Hong cultivated seedlings for white crystal fruit, nurturing two thousand nts on an acre ofnd, preparing to sell them in the future for Spirit Stones. This was his two thousand money-making trees.


    The remainingnd was entirely nted with Medicinal Herbs for the Condensing Qi Pill. With half a year before the Hidden Realm opened, he could harvest a batch before going to the Hidden Realm.


    The Poison Bees he cultivated with the Red Face Flower had adaptedpletely to the flower''s poison over time, and their numbers were slowly increasing.


    He also caught a Spirit Bee to test its toxicity, but it couldn''t pierce his flesh. The toxicity seemed to have increased a bit.


    Wang Hong had a sudden idea. He wanted to try feeding Body Refining Pills to these Spirit Bees to see if he could cultivate them to be as sturdy as him, with bodies as tough as iron.


    If sessful, coupled with their potent poison and innate ability to resistw techniques, who in the world could resist?


    By then, he would have another powerful trump card.


    In the "Controlling Spirits Manual" he obtained, there were only simple introductions to Spirit Bees, mainly used for collecting nectar to obtain Spirit Honey and Royal Jelly. There were no specific methods to enhance their strength; he had to figure it out on his own.


    Wang Hong ced a Body Refining Pill in the hive. After a while, two worker bees responsible for cleaning the hive carried the Elixir out intact and threw it far away from the hive.


    He then took another Body Refining Pill, ground it into powder, and mixed it into the Spirit Honey for the Spirit Bees to consume. However, the Elixir powder did not blend with the Spirit Bees.


    After the Spirit Bees consumed the Spirit Honey, ayer of Elixir powder remained underneath.


    There were two ways for an Elixir to dissolve. One easily dissolved in water and melted upon contact, while the other could only dissolve in Spiritual Energy. Thetter type needed Spiritual Energy to refine and be absorbed.


    Body Refining Pills belonged to thetter category, requiring Spiritual Energy to be absorbed.


    Wang Hong thought for a moment; changing the nature of the Elixir seemed a bit difficult. However, with his current understanding of medicinal properties, trying a few more times should yield results.


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 Chapter 77: Senior Brother

    Chapter 77: Senior Brother


    Wang Hong spent several days repeatedly experimenting, finally refining a kind of spiritual liquid. This liquid was based on the materials of the Body Refining Pill andbined with the alchemical method of the Condensing Qi Pill.


    As for its effects, Wang Hong himself was uncertain; only by trying it would he know. He added this medicinal liquid to the Spirit Honey, and this time, the Spirit Bees finally consumed it all.


    After observing for a while and seeing no abnormalities in the Spirit Bees, he added this medicinal liquid to all the Spirit Honey in the beehive.


    On the fifteenth day after signing up for the mysterious trial, Wang Hong received a notice. All disciples who had signed up for the trial were to gather at the peak square.


    When Wang Hong and Zhang Chunfeng arrived at the peak, dozens of people had already gathered on the square, standing in groups of three or five.


    ncing around, he noticed his neighbor Cheng Zan was also present, so he walked over.


    "Senior Brother Cheng, I didn''t expect you to sign up for the trial as well."


    Wang Hong was indeed surprised that Cheng Zan would sign up. Given his age, even if he obtained the Foundation Building Pill, reaching Foundation Building was a distant hope. It would be better to retire peacefully at home.


    "It''s Junior Brother Wang. I''m not going to let these old bones die in peace. If I cane out alive by some chance, even if I don''t get the Foundation Building Pill, with the contribution points rewarded by the sect, I can leave behind a lot of cultivation resources for the juniors. I didn''t expect you to join the trial either."


    Only now did Wang Hong notice that there were several cultivators on the square with their lifespans nearing the end, probably sharing Cheng Zan''s thoughts.


    "Do you know why they summoned us?" Wang Hong asked.


    "It''s to gather all the disciples who signed up for the trial at the peak for a six-month training session."


    "Training?"


    Wang Hong was a bit puzzled. He hadn''t heard that participating in a trial required additional training.


    "Junior Brother Wang, you might not know. Our participation in the trial is closely rted to the sect''s interests. The sect naturally wants us to die less and gain more. Each major sectpetes fiercely in the trials, hoping that their side bes stronger. Survivors in the trials, who endure the brutal life-and-death struggles, are elites within the Qi Cultivation stage, the cornerstone of the sect''s development. Naturally, the more, the better."


    Now Wang Hong understood. Major sects wanted their side to be as strong as possible in the trials.


    "Why train here? Wouldn''t it be better to gather the entire sect for training?"


    "Qingxu Sect is united externally, but there ispetition among the seven peaks internally. The sect benefits avable to disciples from each peak vary. This is the result ofpetition, to stimte the Disciples'' desire for progress."


    Cheng Zan, being an old member of the sect, was well-versed in various aspects of the sect''s affairs.


    "So every time we enter the trial, it''s based on the mountain peaks for entry."


    As they spoke, more than a hundred people had gathered on the square, and dozens were crowded around something happening inside.


    People naturally liked to watch amotion, so Wang Hong and Cheng Zan also squeezed in.


    It turned out that two disciples inside were having a dispute, and Wang Hong took a moment to understand what was happening.


    It turns out that a disciple named Pan Yuan borrowed a middle-grade Magical Weapon from another disciple named Hu Hao, promising to return it a few dayster. However, over a year had passed, and Pan Yuan was still refusing to return it, using various excuses.


    Hu Hao was helpless, as his cultivation level was lower than Pan Yuan''s, making it impossible to win in a fight. Despite pleading and trying to reason, Pan Yuan kept avoiding the issue.


    Today, they met here, and with many fellow disciples present, Hu Hao gathered the courage to confront Pan Yuan.


    The two were pulling at each other, refusing to let go.


    "Senior Brother Pan, you said you were facing difficulties that day, and out of goodwill, I lent you the Magical Weapon. Now, you''ve taken it as your own."


    "Junior Brother Hu, let me warn you. I did borrow your thing, but I''ll return it to you. Don''t tarnish my reputation in front of so many fellow disciples, or I won''t be polite."


    Just then, someone in the crowd shouted, "Senior Brother is here!" The crowd automatically made way, revealing a tall young man striding in.


    "Pan Yuan, it''s you again. Do I need to hand you over to the Enforcement Hall for the senior brothers to handle?"


    Upon hearing this, Pan Yuan immediately released his grip on Hu Hao''s clothes, putting on a smile.


    "Oh, it''s Senior Brother returning. Hu Junior Brother and I were just joking."


    "Who''s joking with you? Give me back my Magical Weapon."


    Seeing someone taking charge, Hu Hao seized the opportunity.


    "I really didn''t bring it with me. I''ll give it back to you tomorrow. How about that?"


    "I bet you''ve already sold the Magical Weapon!" At this moment, the senior brother who knew Pan Yuan well spoke coldly.


    "Speak up! How many Spirit Stones did you sell it for? Return them to this junior brother, or you''ll know the consequences of bullying fellow disciples."


    "I used the Spirit Stones to buy Elixirs. Here are two bottles of Condensing Qi Pills, equivalent to the value of your Flying Sword."


    Saying this, Pan Yuan handed two bottles of Elixir to Hu Hao, who epted them, satisfied.


    With no more excitement to watch, the crowd gradually dispersed.


    "Senior Brother seems quite influential. How did he manage to make Pan Yuan yield so easily?" Wang Hong quietly asked Cheng Zan beside him.


    He could tell that Pan Yuan was no good, but in front of the senior brother, he behaved like a mouse encountering a cat.


    "Senior Brother is a direct blood rtive of our peak master. He is upright, often upholding justice for the lower-tier disciples within the peak. Besides, he is formidable in battle, rumored to possess the demeanor the peak master had in his youth. I heard he will lead the team into the trial this time."


    "Quiet!"


    Just then, a loud voice sounded, and three disciples in purple robes appeared in the center of the square, unnoticed until now.


    "I''m surnamed Qin. I''m pleased that you all have signed up for the trial, bringing glory to the sect. For the next few months, the three of us will be responsible for teaching and assisting you. This will give you the chance to collect more Spiritual Medicine and increase your chances of survival."


    After speaking, Senior Uncle Qin led everyone into a hall, where they took their seats.


    "Today, I''ll exin the terrain of the trial. The area of the trial is equivalent to a mortal kingdom with a poption of over a hundred million. Inside, there are mountains, rivers,kes..."


    Senior Uncle Qin began detailing each location''s terrain, the distribution of treasures based on past experiences, and more.


    In the following days, they were taught about the terrain, Demonic Beasts in the trial, various traps'' creation and identification, as well asbat skills.


    Every day, Foundation Building cultivators taught them hands-on, providing invaluable knowledge and exposing them to the various skills of cultivators.


    Wang Hong spent his days like this, studying for a few hours during the day, returning to his courtyard to refine a couple of pills, and then tending to the Spirit Bees.


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 Chapter 78: Crimson Skull

    Chapter 78: Crimson Skull


    Three monthster, the group of Spirit Bees cultivated by Wang Hong had recovered to a count of twenty thousand.


    While only three months had passed in the external world, more than ten years had psed in Space. During this time, Wang Hong continuously fed the Spiritual Medicine he refined, asionally modifying the form to apply newly acquired pharmacological knowledge.


    Currently, the color of the Spirit Bees had changed from the original green to pure ck, and their physical strength had increased. They were no longer as frail as before, now resilient enough to withstand a gentle squeeze without perishing.


    The cultivation level of the Spirit Bees had also reached the first level of Qi Cultivation, with some even progressing to the second level. However, they still couldn''t pierce Wang Hong''s skin. While their toxicity had increased, it posed little danger to Qi Cultivation cultivators. Their primary function remained inflicting pain.


    Presumably, the reason for this was having only one poisonous flower. The new nts he propagated from the red flower had yet to bloom.


    Wang Hong nned to refine additional poisons to supplement the Spirit Bees'' diet and enhance their toxicity. Despite searching the market, he only found a few moderately toxic nts.


    The Sect''s Exchange Hall, simr to the Task Hall, consisted of rows of long tables where disciples could handle various exchange affairs.


    The Exchange Hall managed the conversion of contribution points. Disciples could submit various Spiritual Objects in exchange for contribution points or use contribution points to acquire various treasures.


    The exchange of Spiritual Objects for contribution points wasn''t based on market prices but determined by the tier, rarity, and Sect''s demand, with adjustments made regrly.


    Overall, performing tasks to earn contribution points was more profitable than exchanging Spiritual Objects.


    Wang Hong approached an empty spot, across from a slightly plump middle-aged female disciple, and handed her a Magical Weapon simr to the one in the Task Hall.


    Taking the Magical Weapon, he quickly found the category for poisonous herbs in the Spirit Herb ssification. Surprisingly, there were hundreds of highly toxic Spiritual Medicines.


    It''s worth noting that at the level of Immortal Cultivators, the number of toxins effective against cultivators was extremely limited.


    Wang Hong couldn''t help but marvel at the Sect''s wealth. While Qingxu Sect excelled in alchemy, the use of poisons was a niche, with very few practitioners.


    He selected three rare second-tier Medicinal Herbs: 200-year Ghost Worrier, 200-year Crimson Skull Flower, and a 600-year Devil Vine. Ghost Worrier cost 100 contribution points each, Crimson Skull Flower required 900 contribution points, and Devil Vine needed 2000 contribution points.


    Having spent over a year in the Sect, Wang Hong earned contribution points mostly through monthly Sect tasks. After deducting the consumption of borrowing books from the Book Tower, he now had only two hundred contribution points left.


    He retrieved a Jade Box from his Storage Bag, handed it to the middle-aged woman, who opened it, carefully examined its contents, and checked a book.


    "This is a 500-year Scarlet Blood Ginseng, exchangeable for a thousand contribution points. The Spiritual Medicines you''ve chosen require a total of 3200 contribution points."


    Wang Hong sighed internally. The exchange seemed a bit steep. The 500-year Scarlet Blood Ginseng could help Foundation Building cultivators break through a bottleneck, yet it was only worth a thousand points.


    Hastily, he produced two more identical Jade Boxes, handed them to the woman, and she checked them meticulously.


    "Three thousand contribution points, still short by two hundred," the middle-aged woman said coldly.


    Wang Hong then submitted his identity token, containing the remaining two hundred contribution points.


    Back in his small courtyard, he kept only one Ghost Worrier and nted the rest in the area where he bred the poisonous bees.


    The Ghost Worrier was over a foot tall, covered in tiny poisonous thorns, making it difficult to handlehence the name Ghost Worrier.


    The Crimson Skull Flower, a small shrub, didn''t boast beautiful flowers but emitted an enticing fragrance. It lured Demonic Beasts in the wild, and when they approached, their bodies becamefortable from the pollen. Reluctant to leave, they eventually sumbed to the potent toxins, turning into a pool of blood nourishing the nts.


    However, the two-hundred-year Crimson Skull Flower was still a sapling, capable of attracting only unintelligent, small-sized Demonic Beasts. If it identally lured a formidable beast like a Pig Demon, it might get attacked before the poison took effect.


    Moreover, it is said that in the territory of the demonic n, once the presence of this poisonous flower is detected, they spare no effort to eradicate it at any cost.


    Hence, the Crimson Skull Flower is extremely rare in the wild, almost extinct. It''s unclear where the Sect obtained this nt.


    The Devil Vine is a colorful vine that usually lies dormant on the ground. When prey approaches, it quickly entwines them withyers of vines. The thorns on the vines, inches long, pierce the prey, extracting its essence blood and Spiritual Energy until the prey eventually bes a dried corpse.


    Typically, cultivators use Devil Vine to craft binding-type Spiritual Weapons or even treasures.


    However, Wang Hong''s intention in nting Devil Vine was to use its seeds for the Entanglement Technique.


    While he was busy nting the poisonous herbs, he noticed many Spirit Bees flying near the Crimson Skull Flower, reluctant to leave, and more were approaching from afar.


    Soon, several Spirit Bees turned into a dense liquid.


    Wang Hong rushed forward to drive them away. At this rate, the entire Spirit Bee colony might be wiped out in no time.


    After chasing away one group, another swiftly arrived. He immediatelymanded the Bee Queen to restrain the swarm, forbidding them from getting close to the poisonous flower.


    However, the situation only slightly improved, with countless Spirit Bees still flying towards them.


    While driving away the Spirit Bees, Wang Hong contemted a solution. Suddenly, he had a brilliant idea.


    He dug out the Devil Vine, rented it next to the Crimson Skull Flower, and used some of its vines to cover the area around the flower.


    Then, a group of Spirit Bees flew towards the Crimson Skull Flower. Before the Spirit Bees could get close, the vines in the Devil Vine area danced, curling towards the Spirit Bees. Frightened, the Spirit Bees dodged backward. Though some were still caught by the Devil Vine and consumed, it was far better than sending all of them to their deaths.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong finally exited the Space.


    He used the Ghost Worrier as the main ingredient and added other poisonous herbs to concoct a liquid.


    Each time, he added a small drop to the Spirit Honey while continuing to feed Spiritual Medicine to enhance their strength.


    Afterpleting the training for the day, Wang Hong was walking back alone.


    "Wang Junior Brother, please wait."


    Wang Hong turned around to see Pan Yuan approaching. He wondered why Pan Yuan, with whom he had no prior interaction, was seeking him.


    "I wonder what advice Senior Brother Pan has?" Wang Hong asked.


    Pan Yuan caught up, smiling, "I heard Junior Brother Wang is raising a group of Spirit Bees. I wonder if there''s any Royal Bee Jelly for sale?"


    "I do have some Royal Bee Jelly. How much does Senior Brother Pan need?"


    The first group of Spirit Bees Wang Hong bred in the Space had umted a considerable amount of Royal Bee Jelly after several times the normal passage of time.


    "Just one or two ounces. Does that work?" He knew Royal Bee Jelly was produced in very small quantities. With Wang Hong''s small group of Spirit Bees, at most, it would be half an ounce in a year.


    Wang Hong calcted that half an ounce would be about a thousand drops. Going by the price he sold to Sun Er before, it would cost ten thousand Spirit Stones.


    For a Qi Cultivation Disciple, this was a substantial sum. He doubted Pan Yuan could produce ten thousand Spirit Stones at once.


    Earning over ten thousand Spirit Stones in one go among Qi Cultivation Disciples was too conspicuous and not a good thing. It was like a mortal suddenly finding a gold ingot, attracting envy from the neighbors.


    "Senior Brother Pan is joking. There won''t be that much Royal Bee Jelly. At most, half an ounce, and that''s my umtion over several years."


    "Half an ounce is fine." Pan Yuan nodded with a smile, "Five thousand Spirit Stones."


    Wang Hong pondered. Half an ounce was approximately a thousand drops, and based on the previous transaction with Sun Er, it would be worth ten thousand Spirit Stones.


    "This... Junior Brother Wang, can we negotiate? I''m a bit tight on funds at the moment. How about you give me the Royal Bee Jelly, and I''ll definitely repay you with Spirit Stones in three days, alright?" Pan Yuan expressed some difficulty.


    "One hand pays the Spirit Stones, and the other hands over the goods. Please understand, Senior Brother Pan." After witnessing the dispute between Pan Yuan and Hu Haost time, he couldn''t trust him easily.


    "Junior Brother Wang, don''t be so reserved. I''ll return the Spirit Stones to you in three days. We''re fellow disciples, why bother about these few days?" Pan Yuan persuaded.


    "Senior Brother Pan can also wait for three days before making the transaction, no need to rush for just a few days." Wang Hong suggested.


    After a few more attempts at persuasion, seeing Wang Hong still unyielding, Pan Yuan didn''t say anything more. He turned around and left without a word.


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 Chapter 79: Reunion After a Long Separation

    Chapter 79: Reunion After a Long Separation


    As the opening of the secret realm was still a month away, Wang Hong took a leave and returned to Azure Void City. Everything in Azure Void City''s industries was running smoothly, and he gained another million Spirit Stones.


    Expanding the size of his space to 42 acres, the time flow reached 71 times.


    The newly added ten acres ofnd were temporarily left unnted by Wang Hong. He intended to keep it empty and transnt various Spirit Herbs and spirit wood once inside the secret realm, nning to thoroughly search and collect resources.


    After this period of cultivation, the toxicity of his poison bees finally strengthened.


    Now, it was no longer the awkward situation of tens of thousands of Spirit Bees attacking one person, causing unbearable pain but not being life-threatening.


    However, there was a bit of regret; the mutated poison bees he cultivated lost their ability to ward off spells. Wang Hong couldn''t figure out the specific reason, considering it a trade-off.


    During this time, Wang Hong found time to refine some poisons for unexpected needs.


    He also harvested over a dozen seeds of Devilvine. Devilvine''s vines were tough, resistant to Magical Weapons, and its inch-long poisonous thorns could absorb a person''s Spiritual Energy and essence blood.


    In preparation for the secret realm trial, he made various arrangements. Additionally, he picked some white crystal fruit for Zhang Chunfeng, hoping to increase his chances of survival.


    ...


    On a mountain range tens of thousands of miles away from Qingxu Sect, over ten thousand people gathered.


    The multitude was divided into severalrge formation camps, with a group of mystic cloth daoists standing solemnly beneath the g of Qingxu Sect.


    There were also gs of Hunyuan Sect, Taihao Sect, Beast Spirit Sect, Thousand Crafts Pavilion, and Putuo Temple, each with a thousand people.


    Other medium and small sects, major families, and loose cultivators'' alliances also had their allotted quotas.


    Adding up the forces, there were over ten thousand people.


    This situation had been formed after countless years of struggles, mutual adjustments, andpromises in the Cultivation World.


    If the major sects monopolized the six secret realms, cutting off other cultivators, it would anger the public and provoke retaliation from cultivators worldwide.


    The members of Taihao Sect stood opposite Qingxu Sect, all dressed in white robes, looking dignified.


    Wang Hong squeezed to the front of the crowd, peering across to the opposite side, carefully searching in the crowd of Taihao Sect.


    Among the Taihao Sect members, a young man with a tall and slender figure, his eyebrows sharp and eyes bright, was surrounded by many fellow disciples as if he were the center of attention. However, at the moment, his gaze was frequently wandering toward the camp of Qingxu Sect.


    Wang Hong felt a bit conflicted at this moment. He really wanted to see Wang Yi, but at the same time, he didn''t want him to appear here and now.


    Suddenly, his gaze stopped, and he saw a young man across the way looking in their direction. Their eyes met.


    Wang Hong felt a sourness in his eyes, and tears welled up. Although they hadn''t seen each other for more than a decade, the memories of the little boy who rejoiced in finding wild vegetables, the thin figure crouching at the door picking vegetable leaves, the younger brother waiting at the doorstep for him to return, and the boy showing off a chicken leg at the vige entrance all resurfaced.


    Past scenes floated in his mind, gradually merging with the present young man.


    The once little kid, now full of vitality, stood out among thousands.


    "Wang Senior Brother, what''s wrong?"


    A fellow disciple beside Wang Yi asked.


    "Nothing, got some sand in my eyes."


    Wang Yi raised his head, and his slightly moist eyes gradually returned to normal.


    At this moment, Wang Hong felt a mix of excitement and annoyance. As a Heavenly Spirit Root cultivator who didn''t need Foundation Building pills, why did he bothering here?


    With the high mortality rate inside the secret realm, Taihao Sect shouldn''t intentionally send him to participate; he probably volunteered.


    But the solemn atmosphere at the moment wasn''t suitable for their reunion. Moreover, all major sects were inpetition, and once inside, they would be fighting each other.


    If he went out to acknowledge him now, he didn''t know if the sects would clear him out in advance.


    Suddenly, a powerful pressure rose, enveloping the entire scene, and ten Golden Core experts ascended into the air.


    "After one stick of incense, we ten will join forces to open the entrance to the secret realm. Please enter one by one."


    "We, representing the entire Cultivation World in the East, hereby reiterate that no one is allowed to maliciously destroy the secret realm. Once discovered, they shall face collective punishment.


    Premature harvesting of Spiritual Medicine is strictly prohibited. No one should excavate or wantonly cut down the spirit trees in the secret realm. Offenders will be held ountable.


    The six major secret realms are the foundation of our Cultivation World in the East. Let us all work together."


    Wang Hong was already aware of these regtions during his training.


    If not for the joint efforts of major sects to establish these protective measures, the six major secret realms would have ceased to exist long ago.


    A spirit wood might take several hundred or even thousands of years to grow, yet cultivators could chop it down in an instant.


    Spiritual Medicines that had been growing for decades or centuries might still be in their infancy, with minimal effects. However, some individuals, with a shortsighted mentality, might still pluck them.


    Little did they know that if past cultivators had taken away these seedlings, they might not find the roots of the Spirit Herbs today.


    Once a Spirit Vein was damaged, recovery was extremely difficult. Without constraints, those who intentionally detonated Spirit Veins during fights would be plentiful among selfish and self-centered Immortal Cultivators. If not for some farsighted, world-loving great cultivators maintaining order, the Cultivation World in the East would have long declined and perished.


    In the sky, ten cultivators each performed their techniques, forming runes that rearranged into arge seal.


    The ten joined forces to control this seal, slowly imprinting it towards a certain point in the void. Ripples appeared in the empty space as the seal slowly merged into it.


    At this moment, a vague light gate gradually appeared in the valley below, bing clearer over time.


    The gate was about a yard wide, emitting a white brilliance that obscured the scene behind it.


    Disciples from various sects below began to line up for entry. Taihao Sect entered first, and Wang Hong watched as Wang Yi stepped into the light gate.


    Next was Putuo Temple, rows of disciples reflecting light as they bowed and entered.


    Then came Hunyuan Sect, Beast Spirit Sect, Thousand Crafts Pavilion, and finally, Qingxu Sect.


    Wang Hong spected, could Qingxu Sect be the weakest among the six major sects?


    When Wang Hong stepped into the light gate, he felt a momentary dizziness. When he regained his senses, all he saw was a verdant color.


    Before he could get a clear view, his body dropped as if falling. It turned out he had been transported to the base of arge tree.


    Wang Hong quickly grabbed a branch to steady himself, standing on a tree limb.


    But before he could stabilize, he felt a strong winding from his left. He quickly dodged, avoiding the attack.


    Looking back, it was a colorful snake, only the size of a thumb, with a crimson crest on its head, resembling a chickenb.


    At this moment, the small snake was coiled around a branch, spitting venom in his direction, seemingly ready to attack at any moment.


    Wang Hong saw this Tier-1 intermediate-grade snake and thought it would be a good test for the poison bees he cultivated. Poison against poison, let''s see which is more powerful.


    He released five hundred poison bees, buzzing and flying in front of him.


    One hundred of them stopped in front of him, while the remaining four hundred rushed towards the small snake.


    The poison bees didn''t bother with tactics, swarming over the snake. The snake rolled, spiraled, and struggled, but it was futile.


    After a short moment, the snake hung lifelessly on the branch,pletely still.


    Wang Hong approached and observed carefully. The snake''s scales were covered in tiny puncture marks.


    Due to regr feeding with body-refining Spiritual Medicine, the stingers of these poison bees had be sturdy and much sharper. Moreover, the venom on the stingers had some corrosive properties, making it easier to prate armor.


    After eliminating the snake, Wang Hong took a moment to survey the surroundings.


    This ce was an endless dense forest, with no traces of other people within his line of sight.


    Upon entering the light gate, everyone would be randomly transported to any location in the secret realm.


    To address this, the sects had long devised a solution, setting dozens of points on the map as convergence points. Everyone could find the nearest point ording to the map to quickly gather with their fellow sect members.


    However, in this space without sun, moon, stars, or other distinctivendmarks, he couldn''t discern the cardinal directions and didn''t know which way to go.


    For now, he could only randomly choose a direction, intending to exit this dense forest first.


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 Chapter 80: Demon Hunting Tree

    Chapter 80: Demon Hunting Tree


    Wang Hong released five hundred Spirit Bees, three of which died in the recent battle. He didn''t retract the remaining bees but let them hover around him, guarding against potential unnoticed dangers.


    Wang Hong expanded his spiritual awareness, moving slowly over the thick carpet of fallen leaves. asionally, small insects and snakes would be startled by his presence.


    Most of the trees in this area were unfamiliar to Wang Hong, their canopies towering high, obscuring the sky. Walking beneath them, he couldn''t see any trace of the sky.


    During his journey, he encountered some trees bearing fruits. However, most were ordinary fruits, enriched with a hint of Spirit Qi due to the dense concentration in this area. If ced in the mortal world, these fruits would undoubtedly be top-grade, promoting health and longevity.


    However, in the eyes of cultivators, they were somewhatckluster, offering minimal assistance to cultivation levels.


    Yet, for Wang Hong, the taste was an essential criterion for judgment. Along the way, when he found enticing wild fruits, he would first check for toxicity, then taste them. If the vor was exceptionally good, he would unhesitatingly pluck them, along with a twig to nt in his Space.


    In his Space, there were already numerous spirit fruits, but he had only collected one type of red wild fruit so far. Some fruits looked too tempting, deceiving one into thinking they were delicious, prompting Wang Hong to try them despite past experiences.


    Currently, Wang Hong walked while sipping Spirit Wine to cleanse his pte, as one wild fruit he tasted earlier was quite bitter.


    Suddenly, Wang Hong''s gaze stopped; in front of him grew a patch of green-patterned Lingzhi mushrooms, a second-tier Spiritual Medicine.


    There were over fifty of these Lingzhi mushrooms, but only three met the second-tier medicinal standard. Green-patterned Lingzhi mushrooms needed at least two hundred years to reach the second tier.


    Carefully, Wang Hong dug up these three mushrooms with their roots, transnting them into his Space.


    He could have secretly moved these immature Spiritual Medicines into his Space without anyone noticing. However, he deemed it unnecessary, as many Spiritual Medicines, once nted in his Space, would quickly reproduce numerous saplings.


    Afterpleting these tasks, Wang Hong casually grabbed a handful of Spiritual Medicine seeds, scattering them in the forest. His Space was abundant with Spiritual Medicine seeds, which were not valuable and challenging to handle.


    Whether they would survive or not was left to fate.


    This habit resembled the practices of herbalists in the mundane world, gathering precious Medicinal Herbs and scattering their seeds in the mountains.


    Nearly a day into the expedition in this mysterious forest, he finally found the first Spiritual Medicine.


    The resources of Spiritual Medicine in this dense forest should be plentiful. However, given his limited range of perception during the journey, it only covered an area within a few dozen yards in radius.


    Wang Hong suddenly had an idea, though he wasn''t sure if it would work.


    Waving his hand, he released two thousand poison bees, ordering them through the Bee Queen to spread out and search for anything with Spirit Qi.


    Although the strength of these poison bees had increased, their intelligence hadn''t. It remained uncertain whether they could understand his intention.


    After releasing the bees, Wang Hong continued forward.


    After a short while, one poison bee flew back to him. It then circled in front of him, flying in loops.


    This seemed to be their way of expressing themselves. The problem was, Wang Hong didn''t understand it; he had never learned thenguage of bees. Normally, hemunicated directly with the Bee Queen through his spiritual awareness.


    He had only briefly read about this in a book, where drawing circles like this could convey information about direction, distance, and the source of nectar.


    Unable to do much else, he could only instruct the bee to lead the way, following closely behind.


    After walking for a while, he saw the bee circling in a particr area. Upon closer inspection, he found a piece of Profound Iron Ore.


    Although it was a low-tier ore, this discovery excited him. It proved that the poison bees could indeed help him find Spiritual Objects, significantly increasing his chances of discovering them.


    Especially in this dense forest where sight was obstructed, and the spiritual awareness of Qi Cultivation practitioners had limitations, manual searching would undoubtedly miss many things.


    Afterward, every few intervals, poison bees flew to him, drawing circles and significantly increasing his harvest.


    Certainly, the intelligence of the poison bees determined the quality of their findings.


    Once, following a poison bee, Wang Hong arrived at a location and discovered a dark lump emitting a foul smell. It turned out to be a pile of feces, roughly two days old, releasing Spirit Qi.


    This was likely the result of some Demonic Beast mistakenly ingesting Spiritual Medicine with poor digestion and absorption capabilities, eventually expelling it.


    Ignoring it, he left with the poison bee.


    After a while, another poison bee led him back to the same spot, where the pile of Demonic Beast feces was. At this point, Wang Hong felt close to breaking down.


    To prevent other poison bees from guiding him here, he had to dig a hole and bury the mess.


    Harvesting brought joy, and the consecutive gains helped him forget some unpleasant moments, healing his mental wounds.


    Immersed in the joy of harvest, Wang Hong lost track of time, and before he knew it, night had fallen.


    Before darkness enveloped the surroundings, he found arge tree hollow inhabited by a second-tier mid-grade demon bear. Wang Hong beat it soundly, drove it out of the hollow, and imed it as his own.


    After a brief cleanup of the hollow, he released poison bees to stand guard outside. Then, he took out some steamed Spirit Rice, eating it with meat broth, and went to sleep.


    The demon bear, ousted from its den, lingered nearby, refusing to leave. asionally, it howled, serving as Wang Hong''s makeshift patrol.


    On the first day of entering the secret realm, Wang Hong spent it peacefully like this. Meanwhile, in other areas, some cultivators were still engaged in battles, and a few unlucky ones had already perished on the first day of entering the realm.


    On the second day, Wang Hong continued his journey.


    With the help of the poison bees, he harvested the second second-tier Spiritual Medicine, one of the main ingredients for crafting Foundation Building pills: Spirit Butterfly Flower.


    The petals of the Spirit Butterfly Flower resembled the wings of a Spirit Butterfly. The nt took two hundred years to flower, bloomed for three hundred years, withering rapidly around the five-hundred-year mark.


    To craft Foundation Building pills, at least four hundred years'' worth of Spirit Butterfly Flower petals were needed.


    After two days, he summarized that the poison bee''s activity range was within a radius of about a mile from him during his travels.


    While wild Spirit Bees could collect honey from areas dozens of miles away, perhaps Wang Hong''s continuous activity restricted these poison bees from venturing too far.


    Thinking about this, he decided not to rush out of this forest just yet. The vast and obstructed terrain here made it improbable that predecessors had thoroughly explored this dense forest.


    With this advantage, and considering his primary goal was to find Spiritual Medicine, he might as well search extensively.


    He found a temporary spot, released all the poison bees, and built a temporary nest on arge tree.


    As for himself, he located arge tree and, with a Flying Sword, carved out a tree hollow in the middle of the trunk.


    Once all the poison bees flew out to search for Spiritual Objects, Wang Hong got busy, tirelessly following the bees in different directions.


    He had no idea how the bees distinguished directions, but if Wang Hong ventured too far, he would have to rely on the bees to lead him back home.


    On the third day of the secret realm, several poison bees suddenly led him in the same direction. Puzzled, Wang Hong followed these bees for over ten miles.


    What appeared before him was an unusuallyrge tree, with lush green leaves and strings of fruit pods hanging from its branchesgreen and yellow. They exuded rich Spiritual Energy and a peculiar fragrance, incredibly enticing.


    Additionally, numerous cocoons of various sizes hung from the tree, ranging from a yard in length to just a few inches.


    Feeling that this tree was peculiar, Wang Hong hesitated to approach immediately. He noticed several Demonic Beasts surrounding therge tree, neither daring to get close nor willing to leave.


    Observing a monkey not far away squatting on a branch, intensely staring ahead, Wang Hong discreetly approached it using a poison bee. He then stung the monkey on its backside. Yelping in pain, the monkey leaped forward.


    When it realized, it had already entered the range of the tree''s branches, and they all curled toward the monkey.


    Fortunately, the monkey only entered the peripheral area, escaping the dangerous range of the branches after a few moments.


    ncing back and seemingly in a bad mood, the monkey left, probably going home to recuperate.


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 Chapter 81: Hostage

    Chapter 81: Hostage


    After a recent probe, Wang Hong spected that this tree likely lived by trapping Demonic Beasts, and the cocoons hanging from its branches were probably the captured Demonic Beasts.


    As for the bait attracting Demonic Beasts, it was highly likely the string of fruit pods hanging from the tree, each about the length of a forearm.


    These fruit pods seemed to be highly beneficial to Demonic Beasts, keeping them stationed here and unwilling to leave.


    Just then, a string of fruit pods on the tree burst open, releasing five golden seeds that shot off in different directions.


    The Demonic Beasts surrounding them, seemingly unafraid of danger, leaped towards the seeds.


    Using the Shifting Positions technique, Wang Hong swiftly appeared next to one of the seeds, sweeping it up with a single motion.


    Due to his refined Spiritual Energy, he could now shift up to four yards in a single move using the Shifting Positions technique.


    Other Demonic Beasts rushing in the same direction, realizing the seed had been snatched, turned around and fled without hesitation.


    Meanwhile, the branches from above had rolled down, and experienced Demonic Beasts, regardless of sess, sprinted back to safety. Over the years, those who didn''t act this way had likely perished.


    As Wang Hong used the Shifting Positions technique to retreat, two branches blocked his path, sweeping towards him.


    Swiftly wielding his Flying Sword, Wang Hong attempted to cut through the branches, but they proved unexpectedly resilient and resisted being severed with a single strike.


    At the same time, branches from other directions were also closing in. Without time to ponder, Wang Hong quickly supplemented two more sword strikes to sever one of the branches.


    Grabbing the severed branch, he used the Shifting Positions technique to maneuver around the remaining branch from the side.


    Evading the front branch, Wang Hong needed just one more Shifting Positions move to reach the outer perimeter.


    Most Demonic Beasts were still engaged in skirmishes with the branches, and in the end, only one Demonic Beast got entangled, resulting in a new cocoon on the tree.


    This exined why these Demonic Beasts knowingly faced danger, rushing under the tree topete for the golden seeds.


    Because each rush wasn''t necessarily fatalonly a small number died the opportunity outweighed the risk, especially for this group of irrational Demonic Beasts.


    If the tree killed every Demonic Beast that approached, it would likely starve eventually.


    Thus, a symbiotic rtionship formed between the tree and the Demonic Beasts: Demonic Beasts needed seeds to enhance themselves, and the tree consumed Demonic Beasts.


    Once the Demonic Beasts escaped the danger zone, their amicable demeanor from earlier vanished.


    Immediately, they turned on each other, mainly besieging the one who had obtained the golden seed.


    Among them, three Demonic Beasts singled out Wang Hong as an easier target and encircled him.


    At the forefront was a Tier-One top-grade pig-shaped Demonic Beast, standing over ten feet tall and with a body length of more than twenty feet. Weighing at least several thousand pounds, its fur shone, and two one-foot-long tusks protruded, giving it a fierce appearance.


    Wang Hong stared at its plump figure, swallowing. He thought, "You''ll be dinner tonight."


    However, instead of fighting here, he turned and fled. He feared that the other dozen Demonic Beasts would settle their dispute and alle to attack him.


    After running several miles, the speeds of the three Demonic Beasts varied. The pig-shaped one, the strongest, led the way, with the other two trailing far behind.


    Wang Hong unsheathed his Long Spear, intentionally slowing down. The pig-shaped Demonic Beast, not highly intelligent, noticed Wang Hong''s reduced speed. As they closed in, the four hooves simultaneously pushed off, elerating fiercely and aiming its head at Wang Hong''s lower back.


    Wang Hong had been keeping an eye on the pursuing Demonic Beasts with his spiritual sense. Seeing the eleration, he took arge step forward, leaning his body forward. Using his left foot as an axis, he rotated his body with his waist, holding the spear with both hands and aiming at the beast''s neck, the typical spot for pig ughtering in the mortal world.


    This way, the Demonic Beast essentially rammed its vulnerable spot into the spearhead. However, with the close distance, sudden change, and high speed, it had no time to react.


    The Long Spear had already pierced through its neck, rupturing blood vessels and entering the chest cavity, piercing the heart and lungs.


    Wang Hong twisted the Long Spear, turned it around, and smoothly withdrew it. Blood sprayed out, reaching quite a distance.


    The other two Demonic Beasts chasing from behind, witnessing their leader''s quick demise, got scared and turned to flee.


    Ignoring them, Wang Hong felt one beast was enough, so he collected the carcass and headed back to the temporary camp.


    The pig''s hide and tusks could be used for refining tools. Wang Hong extracted the tusks but left the hide, thinking that pork with the skin would taste better.


    Using a high-grade Magical Weapon, the Flying Sword, he cleaned the pig hair. Employing the Fireball Technique, he controlled the mes to burn the pigskin to a golden brown. Then, using the Flying Sword again, he scraped it clean, eliminating the gamey odor.


    Using high-grade tools and techniques meant for cultivation, like a Flying Sword and Fireball Technique, to prepare a meal was likely umon in the entire Cultivation World.


    He plucked some green onions, ginger, garlic, and chili from his Spatial Storage for cookingitems he had cultivated there.


    Heart, liver, and pig kidneys stir-fried, spare ribs braised in soy sauceon the third day inside the secret realm, he spent his time drinking wine and eating meat.


    Little did he know that at that moment, Wang Yi was still wandering around, hoping to encounter Wang Hong soon.


    In the following days, Wang Hong discovered several more trees capable of hunting Demonic Beasts. However, he chose not to seize the seeds again.


    Firstly, waiting for the seeds to burst would waste too much time. Secondly, he had already nted the branches obtainedst time in his Spatial Storage, believing he would soon harvest many more seeds.


    On the sixth day inside the secret realm, Wang Hong decided to continue moving forward and leave the current area, which he had already thoroughly plundered.


    As a result, he harvested two more main herbs for Foundation Building Pills, ten auxiliary herbs, and numerous other Spiritual Medicines and Objects.


    For the Foundation Building Pills, requiring thirty-six main herbs and seventy-two auxiliary herbs, he had already found eight main herbs and more than twenty nts in total.


    Following the previous direction, Wang Hong reached a new area, resettled, and resumed searching for Spiritual Objects.


    With a mix of walking and stopping, he finally walked out of the forest with a smile on the fifteenth day.


    During these days, his harvest was immense. He had found eight of the main herbs needed for Foundation Building Pills, totaling more than twenty nts. Additionally, he discovered over ten varieties of second-tier Spiritual Medicines.


    He took out the map provided by the sect,pared it with a small mountain in front of him, confirmed his location, and headed towards the nearest gathering point.


    Arriving at the agreed-upon Mountain Valley, Wang Hong couldn''t spot any fellow disciples. He left a discreet mark, indicating that the previous gathering had dispersed.


    The central area of the secret realm contained a massive Spirit Vein with its branches spread throughout the entire region. This made the central area the most abundant in Spiritual Medicines but also the most dangerous.


    Generally, those confident in their strength or those feeling lucky and less likely to die easily would venture towards the central region after entering the secret realm.


    Conversely, others would choose to stay as far away from the central area as possible.


    Wang Hong spected that since his younger brother, Wang Yi, chose to enter this secret realm, he wouldn''t hide in the peripheral areas. Therefore, he headed towards the central region.


    However, Wang Hong overlooked some factors this time.


    Wang Yi initially nned to enter the central area as well, but he wanted to find Wang Hong first.


    In Wang Yi''s impression, his brother was an extremely cautious person.


    He remembered from their childhood that when children from poor families encountered snakes, they would catch them directly with their hands. Catching a snake wasn''t difficult; it just required oveing fear, mastering some techniques, and making gentle movements from behind to avoid provoking the snake. Usually, snakes wouldn''t bite if handled this way.


    In contrast, his brother always used a stone or stick to kill the snake before picking up the corpse to eat.


    In his brother''s words, even if they were poor, their lives were more valuable than a snake''s. Why risk a fight with a small snake? What if they lost?


    Therefore, during their childhood, Wang Yi often mocked Wang Hong as a coward, but his brother remained unmoved, sticking to his cautious nature.


    Knowing his brother well, Wang Yi felt that after entering the secret realm, Wang Hong would likely say, "There are numerous Spiritual Medicines in the world; why risk one''s life in a fight?"


    Therefore, he decided to search for Wang Hong in the peripheral areas first. If unsessful, he would then proceed to the central region.


    The two brothers went in opposite directions to find each other.


    Once out of the forest, Wang Hong retracted the Poisonous Bees. With a broader field of view outside, hiding the bees would give him an advantage in case of a sudden conflict.


    While walking through a canyon, he unexpectedly encountered five cultivators. Judging by their attire, they weren''t disciples of the major sects. Wang Hong vaguely recalled them being dressed like members of a mid-tier sect.


    nning to detour, Wang Hong found himself surrounded. It was evident they intended to kill him and seize his treasures.


    Quickly summoning a high-grade Flying Sword, Wang Hong prepared to find an opportunity to escape, as he couldn''t defeat all five of them working together.


    The leader, an old man at Qi Cultivation grandpletion, and the other four were all in theter stages of Qi Cultivation,parable to himself.


    The old man spoke, "Fellow Daoist, no need to panic. We are looking for a Spiritual Object guarded by a powerful Demonic Beast. We only need Fellow Daoist to help distract it. After obtaining the treasure, you are free to leave. How about it?"


    Seeing this, Wang Hong realized they wanted to use him as cannon fodder. He doubted they would let him go after seeding.


    However, with no better escape n for the moment, he had topromise. He would take the chance to eliminate two of them when the opportunity arose, and then he wouldn''t be afraid.


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 Chapter 82: Ink Jade Spirit Lotus

    Chapter 82: Ink Jade Spirit Lotus


    "Hand over the Storage Bag first, and I''ll take care of it for you. Oh, and that Flying Sword too," said the Middle-aged Man with a ck Face among the five people when Wang Hong agreed.


    The five people narrowed the encirclement a bit more when Wang Hong hesitated. After a moment of struggle on his face, he ultimately chose topromise.


    Putting away the Flying Sword, Wang Hong grabbed it and stuffed it into the Storage Bag. At the same time, a ck Medicinal pill appeared in his hand. He casually crushed a small Medicinal pill inside the bag, and the five people couldn''t notice his subtle movements in the Storage Bag.


    Wang Hong obediently threw the bag, but not to the Old Man with the highest cultivation level or the Middle-aged Man with a ck Face who spoke earlier.


    The Storage Bag fell into the hands of the youngest among the five, who hesitated before passing it to the Old Man.


    The Middle-aged Man with a ck Face red at Wang Hong. "Kid, don''t y useless tricks. Follow us honestly, and we''ll let you go when the timees."


    The Old Man took Wang Hong''s Storage Bag, opened the mouth, and scanned it with his divine sense.


    "Is your Qingxu Sect so poor that you can''t make ends meet?" hemented.


    In Wang Hong''s Storage Bag, apart from the high-quality Flying Sword he took out earlier, there was nothing valuable. It contained misceneous items, a few first-tier Spirit Herbs, a poorly conditioned Ore not worth picking up, a low-grade defensive Magical Weapon with some cracks on it.


    The others also explored the opened Storage Bag with their divine senses and burst intoughter simultaneously.


    The Old Man, a bit puzzled, searched Wang Hong''s body with his divine sense twice. Finding nothing suspicious, he hung Wang Hong''s Storage Bag on his waist.


    The Old Man found a robe from the Storage Bag and instructed Wang Hong to wear it to avoid being recognized by Qingxu Sect cultivators.


    The five people, along with Wang Hong, headed towards the central area. Wang Hong felt relieved that they were going in the same direction, eliminating the need for detours.


    On their journey, they encountered other cultivators, but due to mutual wariness, no one engaged inbat.


    At night, they found a mountain cave to rest.


    "Huh!"


    Suddenly, the Old Man sitting in the corner eximed softly.


    He noticed a ck energy forming within him, small but exceptionally potent. It continuously devoured his Spiritual Energy while corroding his flesh and blood.


    Although he used Spiritual Energy to suppress it temporarily, the ck energy consumed Spiritual Energy at an even faster rate, growing stronger every moment, with inevitable moments of being uncontroble.


    "Senior Qi, have you noticed anything unusual?" a fellow disciple inquired.


    Everyone else asked in quick session upon hearing the question.


    "I might be poisoned. There''s a ck energy inside me," the Old Man detailed his situation.


    "Kid, did you do something?" The Middle-aged Man with a ck Face used Wang Hong first, and others red at him too.


    "You better hand over the antidote, and we might spare your life."


    "You may have misunderstood. I have nothing on me, and the Storage Bag is with you. You can search it thoroughly. I know nothing about poisons, and there are no toxins or antidotes in the Storage Bag."


    Upon Wang Hong''s reminder, the five people considered the possibility of something on the Storage Bag. They gathered around, using divine sense to thoroughly inspect Wang Hong''s Storage Bag several times and emptied its contents onto the ground.


    The items inside were simple, and they carefully checked them multiple times, finding nothing rted to poison.


    "I specte that Fellow Daoist hase across a significant opportunity."


    "Wang Fellow Daoist, what do you mean?" the Old Man asked uncertainly, and the others looked at Wang Hong with suspicion.


    "Have you encountered anything peculiar or special before, Fellow Daoist?" Wang Hong thought about their days in the secret realm. It wasn''t possible for them not to encounter anything. He had spent time in the forest and had even seen the unique species like the Demon Hunting Tree.


    After a moment of contemtion, the Old Man nodded uncertainly, "Yes, I have."


    "That''s it. I read in the Sect records that in ancient times, cultivators had incredibly robust bodies, capable of resisting Demonic Beasts with their physical strength alone. This was not only due to abundant Spiritual Medicine but also two types of Spirit Qi: Xuanhuang Qi, where Xuan Qi purifies the meridians and marrow, and Huang Qi nourishes the flesh. These remnants can be found in some ancient ruins and special ces in various secret realms."


    "I guess Fellow Daoist might have coincidentally obtained the Xuan Qi from the Xuanhuang Qi."


    Wang Hong hadn''t expected to use the knowledge he had spent a lot of time learning so soon, especially to deceive others. Nevertheless, when the others heard this, despite some doubt, they admired the Disciples from major sects. Even in such a miserable state, they possessed a wealth of knowledge.


    "May I ask, Wang Fellow Daoist, what should I do now?" The Old Man''s tone towards Wang Hong had be much more polite.


    "I don''t know much about it. After all, such ancient items are something ordinary people might not encounter in their entire lives," Wang Hong said, appearing unwilling to share more.


    "Kid, you better be honest. If something happens to Senior Qi, don''t expect a good oue for yourself. I have a hundred ways to make you beg for life and not find death," warned the Middle-aged Man with a ck Face, his face cold and a smirk on his lips.


    "Junior brother, don''t be disrespectful to Wang Fellow Daoist!" The Old Man stopped the Middle-aged Man with a ck Face and then smiled as he returned Wang Hong''s Storage Bag to him.


    "Wang Fellow Daoist, we may have offended you earlier. Rest assured, as long as you help us with a small favor, we willpensate you with a thousand Spirit Stones once the task ispleted," the Old Man said with a smile.


    Upon hearing the reward of a thousand Spirit Stones, Wang Hong''s eyes lit up, showing a pleasantly surprised expression.


    "In fact, while this Xuan Qi is corroding your flesh and Spiritual Energy, it is also refining your body and Spiritual Energy. Just endure it, and your strength will increase several times. In ancient times, Xuan Qi was used inbination with another type called Huang Qi. Xuan Qi refines the body and Spiritual Energy, while Huang Qi reshapes the body. Nowadays, obtaining even one of them, especially Xuanhuang Qi, is a huge opportunity. But there''s only one type now. If handled improperly, it''s as dangerous as ingesting intestinally poisonous herbs. I once read in a sect ancient text about a way to deal with it, as for the method..."


    Wang Hong spent a lot of effort persuading the Old Man that he had obtained a great opportunity rather than being poisoned. In reality, he had several types of poison, but only a small amount of poison crafted from the Red Powdered Skeleton Flower Pollen he collected could silently kill them. The others were traceable, and he wouldn''t fare well if the five people retaliated.


    After considering, he thought a slow-acting poison would be more cost-effective. Once a cultivator was poisoned, engaging in intense battles would trigger the rapid onset of toxicity. Moreover, only his specially formted antidote would work.


    The Old Man, having kept Wang Hong''s Storage Bag at his waist, was the first to experience the effects. The next day, everyone except the Old Man confidently followed Wang Hong''s instructions to resist the pain caused by the corroding bones within their bodies.


    They continued their journey, and today, the five people were much more courteous to Wang Hong. Even the Middle-aged Man with a ck Face no longer spoke harshly to him.


    After walking for two hours, they arrived at a mountain cave and stopped. The five people subtly surrounded Wang Hong, as if afraid he would escape.


    "Wang Fellow Daoist, please proceed!" The Old Man''s expression remained friendly.


    Wang Hong walked towards the mountain cave. The entrance was well-hidden, only allowing one person to enter or exit at a time. After a short distance, the passage widened to over ten feet.


    They walked a few more miles, and the passage continued to broaden until they reached a water pool. They stopped advancing.


    Wang Hong surveyed the water pool and couldn''t help his heart racing. There, unexpectedly, grew a three-tier Spiritual Medicine.


    In the center of the water pool stood a Spiritual Lotus, with a lotus seedpod rising in the middle. Two ink-green lotus flowers bloomed on either side, one petal of one already withered, while the other had just begun to open.


    Having studied various Spiritual Medicines day and night at the sect, Wang Hong immediately recognized it as a three-tier Spiritual Medicine, the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus.


    The Ink Jade Spirit Lotus took three hundred years to bloom, three hundred years to bear fruit, and a total of six hundred years from blooming to the maturation of the lotus seeds.


    A three-tier Ink Jade Lotus Seed was something even a Golden Core cultivator would fight over.


    At this moment, facing such a treasure, everyone''s breathing became somewhat hurried, yet none of them stepped forward to pick it.


    Instead, they remained vignt, indicating that despite the seemingly calm water pool, it concealed enormous danger.


    Wang Hong was also on guard. Suddenly, he leaped high into the air, summoning his Flying Boat, andnded on the Windsoar Boat.


    Simultaneously, the five people below cast Magical Arts, striking the spot where he had stood moments ago.


    "A few Fellow Daoists, I have promised to help. Why attack me?" Wang Hong already knew the five harbored ill intentions, but he wanted to extract more information.


    "Wang Fellow Daoist, you can''t escape our encirclement. I advise you to surrender obediently. At least, you can die more quickly," the Old Man, enduring immense pain, suppressed the toxins in his body while speaking. He had almost been devoured by the toxins after casting a Magical Art a while ago.


    "At this point, I might as well tell you the truth. We won''t spare you. This pool contains a type of poisonous insect that feeds on a cultivator''s heart''s blood. The reason we brought you here is to use your hot blood as bait to lure the demonic insect out of the pool, allowing us to then harvest the Spiritual Medicine."


    The Old Man continued speaking, and the five people simultaneously unleashed two flying Magical Weapons, intercepting Wang Hong in mid-air.


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 Chapter 83: Poison of Spirit Devouring

    Chapter 83: Poison of Spirit Devouring


    Several individuals simultaneously wielded Magical Weapons, attacking Wang Hong. He was incredibly agile in the air, frequently dodging when the Magical Weapons approached, shifting his figure one or two zhang away, asionally shing near the group tounch counterattacks.


    After Old Man unleashed several attacks, he could no longer endure and spewed out a mouthful of ck blood.


    Seizing the opportunity, Wang Hong aimed and with a "pu chi" sound, the Flying Sword pierced through Old Man''s heart.


    Before the others could fullyprehend the reason, puzzled by Old Man''s sudden weakness, he was easily in by Wang Hong.


    "Why not stop here, my friends? After all, the blood you desired is already obtained. Whose blood it is doesn''t matter, so why spoil the mood?" Wang Hong teased, dodging the attacks of several individuals'' Magical Weapons.


    The remaining four individuals were further infuriated and intensified their assault.


    Unbeknownst to them, a lurking ck energy within their bodies was devouring their Spiritual Energy, rapidly growing stronger.


    At this moment, a buzzing sound resonated as numerous finger-sized insects flew out of the water pool, with double wings on their backs, entirely ck, forming a dense swarm. Their numbers were at least several tens to hundreds of thousands, far more spectacr than Wang Hong''s swarm of bees.


    The insect swarm was drawn to the heart''s blood released by Old Man, flying towards the location where Old Man fell,nding on his corpse and feasting on the blood.


    Seizing this opportunity, Wang Hong executed his self-created Dragon Serpent Escape technique, his figure shifting and flickering. In the blink of an eye, he flew above the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus.


    Reaching out, he grabbed the stem of the lotus seedpod, forcefully pulling it out. The stem was over ten feet long, with a small piece of lotus root attached below. Without sparing a nce, he stowed it away in his Space.


    Observing Wang Hong''s actions, the other two flying magical tools also approached this Spiritual Medicine.


    Meanwhile, on the ground, Old Man''s body had already been sucked dry by the swarm, not even two breaths had passed.


    The swarm, having drained Old Man, once again lunged towards others. The first targets were the two cultivators standing by the water pool.


    They hastily deployed defensive Magical Arts, forming a light shield around themselves, securely protecting their bodies.


    At this moment, they noticed a ck energy mass appearing within their bodies, devouring their Spiritual Energy and corroding their flesh and blood, exactly as Old Man had mentioned.


    By now, if they still didn''t realize it was Wang Hong''s doing, they truly would be fools.


    "It''s indeed your poison! You seek death!" The two individuals were furious, disregarding the swarming insects covering their defense shield, simultaneously summoning their Flying Swords to attack Wang Hong.


    The two individuals flying on Magical Weapons, alerted by the situation, also discovered the anomalies within their bodies and were equally enraged.


    They, a group of five elite cultivators from the sect, had been arranged by the Golden Core ancestor toe here and harvest Spiritual Medicine. Unexpectedly, all five of them had fallen into the trap set by the person before them.


    With the strongest force now dead and the remaining four poisoned, their only option was to exert their utmost effort to kill this person and search for an antidote.


    Facing the relentless pursuit of the four, Wang Hong didn''t engage in direct confrontation. Relying on the flexibility of his Dragon Serpent Escape technique, he weaved between left and right, elusive and unpredictable, preventing the four from touching him.


    In his eyes, since he was already poisoned and practically the same as a dead man, why waste effort on a corpse?


    However, the countless swarm of insects wouldn''t wait for the four to determine the oue. Hungry for a long time, they saw mobile delicacies before them and wouldn''t let this opportunity pass.


    The swarm indiscriminately rushed towards the five individuals. The four pursuing Wang Hong, deeply poisoned and with diminished Spiritual Energy, were the weakest in cultivation level. The young cultivator who had firste into contact with Wang Hong''s Storage Bag, his defensive shield was bitten through by the swarm.


    Instantaneously, ck insects covered his entire body. He screamed in terror, iling his limbs, desperately pping at himself. Each strike could kill dozens of insects, his hands covered in a mixture of red and ck blood.


    Yet, the number of insects was simply too vast. Killing dozens or hundreds at a time was futile.


    Moreover, the insects chasing others caught wind of the bloody scent and turned towards the young man.


    "Ah ah ah!"


    The young cultivator copsed on the ground, rolling ceaselessly. In a matter of moments, he was motionless.


    Seeing how horrifying the ck insects were, Wang Hong fled towards the exit of the mountain cave.


    Although he felt that the individual strength of these insects might not pierce his skin, he didn''t want to stay and test that hypothesis. What if they could bite through?


    "Surrender the antidote, or we''ll all die here together."


    The Middle-aged Man with a ck Face, who had always found Wang Hong displeasing, now blocked the exit, adopting a stance of mutual destruction.


    The other two remaining individuals also chased in that direction.


    Anger surged within Wang Hong. He had disliked this person for a while now, thinking he could intimidate him.


    He drew his Long Spear, executed a shifting positions technique, and ghostly shifted, instantly appearing in front of the Middle-aged Man with a ck Face. Before the man could react, he felt a pain in his chesta Long Spear had pierced through his heart.


    In the brief dy, the young man behind had already been sucked dry by the insects, and the shields of the two individuals chasing behind were also bitten through by the swarm.


    Witnessing this scene, Wang Hong grabbed the Storage Bag from the Middle-aged Man with a ck Face''s waist and swiftly rushed towards the exit.


    A portion of the swarm continued to pursue relentlessly. While fleeing, Wang Hong kept his awareness focused on the swarm behind.


    At this point, he noticed a peculiar phenomenonmany insects, as they flew, seemed intoxicated. They swayed east and west before descending in a staggering manner.


    As Wang Hong continued to escape, the number of pursuers dwindled. Eventually, he stopped running, standing in ce and watching as the insects fell like rain.


    The remaining pursuers were now few, perhaps less than ten thousand. Wang Hong waved his hand, releasing a group of Poisonous Bees.


    Once the Poisonous Bees emerged, they engaged in battle with the ck insects. Although the number of Poisonous Bees was significantly less, their individual strength was much greater than that of the insects. Wang Hong''s efforts in feeding them Spiritual Medicine had not been in vain.


    After a moment, the battle between the two types of Spirit Insects concluded. The ck insects were entirely wiped out, and approximately two hundred Poisonous Bees perished.


    Wang Hong picked up a few corpses of the ck insects and observed them closely. He suddenly realized that these ck insects had died from poisoning.


    All five individuals, surnamed Qi, were poisoned by him, and this toxin would consume Spiritual Energy within a cultivator''s body, transforming all of it into a potent poison.


    These insects turned all five individuals into dry corpses, naturally poisoning thempletely.


    Unexpectedly, he had identally eliminated such a terrifying group of Spirit Insects.


    This poison was concocted on a whim during his pharmacology studies. Utilizing the knowledge he possessed, he experimented dozens of times before sessfully refining it.


    He didn''t expect its potency to be so strong. Considering its ability to devour Spiritual Energy and enhance itself, he decided to name it "Spirit Devouring."


    Now that the ck insects were dead, Wang Hong nned to return and check. He was eager to see if there were still several Storage Bags left to pick up.


    The ground was now covered with ayer of insect corpses, producing squeaky sounds when stepped on.


    Stepping on the insect corpses, he returned to the water pool. The five dry corpses were scattered around.


    Wang Hong collected valuable items from the five bodies, burning them into ashes.


    Among the five, there were also two flying Magical Weaponsone shaped like a leaf, simr to his Windsoar Boat, and another styled as a Flying Boat. Although it looked like a Flying Boat, it was faster than his Windsoar Boat. If not for him using the Dragon Serpent Escape technique, he wouldn''t have been able to outrun this Flying Boat.


    In the Storage Bags of the five individuals, a total of four types of Foundation Building medicinal herbs were found, totaling six.


    Combined with what he had originally collected in the forest, he now possessed a total of twelve types of Foundation Building medicinal herbs, covering one-third of the total.


    Additionally, there were various Spiritual Medicines, several Magical Weapons, and not many Spirit Stonesonly three thousand in total, probably spent before entering the secret realm.


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 Chapter 84: Resplendent Visage Fruit

    Chapter 84: Resplendent Visage Fruit


    Wang Hong now had the time to carefully examine this mountain cave. Upon entering, he had immediately engaged in intense battles, leaving no time to observe the surroundings.


    The water pool here was about an acre in size, with water carrying a faint green hue, clear enough to see the fish and shrimp swimming within.


    Along the edge of the pool were several Spirit Herbs, all second-tier Tiger Marked Marsh Orchids. Wang Hong harvested three mature ones, transnting them into his space.


    After dealing with these second-tier Spiritual Medicines, he gazed at the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus at the center of the pool, his heart filled with excitement.


    During the earlier rush, he had grabbed the lotus seed and hastily fled.


    Now, with ample time, he took a leisurely approach. Jumping into the water, he submerged and explored the bottom.


    The underwater had beautiful emerald-green stones that caught Wang Hong''s eye, prompting him to collect some of the better-looking ones.


    The pool also harbored many transparent three-inch-long fish that seemed delectable. Using his spiritual awareness, he herded the fish to one spot and effortlessly caught dozens of pounds.


    Diving into the depths, he excavated the entire Ink Jade Spirit Lotus, revealing twenty lotus roots. Each root was only seven inches long, plump, and translucent, resembling jade.


    The Ink Jade Spirit Lotus added a section every hundred years, indicating this spirit lotus had grown for two thousand years.


    It possessed ten leaves, two lotus flowers, lotus seeds, lotus pods, flowers, leaves, stems, and roots  all precious treasures.


    Wang Hong cut off a lotus root section and rented it in the pool''s mud.


    Such generation of Spiritual Objects was rare, and since this ce could nurture one, it seemed suitable for its growth.


    Not wanting this treasure to disappear due to his actions, Wang Hong created a small pond in his space, filled it with water from the pool, and threw in the green stones he had collected.


    Only then did he divide the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus into three nts, leaving some lotus roots behind to sampleter.


    Ascending to the shore and seeing numerous insect corpses, he felt it was a bit wasteful. While these bugs were low-tier individually, they still contained Spiritual Energy, and their quantity was considerable.


    Contemting, he thought his Demon-ying Tree in space could digest insect corpses, but it was still too young. He also had the Devilish Vine and the Pink Skull Flower.


    Throwing a handful of insect corpses towards the Devilish Vine, Wang Hong witnessed its frenzied movements. Each thorn urately impaled an insect, causing them to rapidly wither before falling to the ground.


    It seemed that, although Devilish Vine could absorb Spirit Qi for growth, blood was its favorite food.


    After spending half an hour collecting all the insect corpses, he piled them in the Devilish Vine''s area.


    Cleaning up the mountain cave, Wang Hong set up arge pot, heated oil, and fried the transparent small fish he had caught. After searing both sides, he added ginger, garlic, and chili, stir-frying them until ready.


    Simultaneously, he set up a steamer, steaming another batch of transparent small fish. Steaming allowed the original vor of the ingredients to shine through.


    Taking a bite of the stir-fried fish, paired with a sip of Spirit Wine, the enjoyment made him almost forget the dangers of the current secret realm.


    After sating his hunger, he was still not satisfied. He went back to the pool, found some fish eggs, and threw them into the small pond in his space. These eggs were tiny, and he wasn''t sure if they were from these fish, but he figured he could discard themter if needed.


    Having spent a night in this mountain cave, he set off towards the central area the next day.


    Encountering other cultivators along the way, he confidently passed those he felt he could defeat. For those with ill intentions, they all ended up as souls under his spear, and the Spiritual Medicines they hadbored to plunder ended up benefiting Wang Hong.


    If he encountered a group that seemed overwhelming, he wisely avoided them.


    This journey also yielded several Foundation Building stage medicinal herbs.


    He visited several marked areas with Spiritual Objects, only to find them already taken by others.


    Now he is heading towards a mountain valley where the sect recorded the growth of a Resplendent Visage Fruit tree.


    The Resplendent Visage Fruit is a second-tier spirit fruit that can be refined into a Resplendent Visage Elixir, known for preserving one''s youthful appearance for a hundred years.


    Although this fruit is not a primary medicine for Foundation Building, it is even more popr. The pursuit of beauty is a natural instinct, especially among female cultivators. From powerful Golden Core to Nascent Soul cultivators, down to Qi Cultivation novices, everyone has this desire. Therefore, each Resplendent Visage Fruit is extremely valuable.


    When he arrived at the mountain valley, he saw a group of people gathered at the valley entrance. "Could I bete again?" Wang Hong thought to himself.


    Approaching, he observed that, except for Putuo Temple, representatives from all other six major sects were present. There were also some cultivators from smaller sects and family ns.


    In the eyes of those Great Monks, the physical body might be considered just a foul bag, and beauty might not be a concern.


    Among the Clear Void Sect cultivators present were four individuals  two males and two females. Wang Hong didn''t recognize any of them; they were likely from different peaks.


    Having experienced numerous dangers alone in the secret realm for over ten days, seeing fellow sect members naturally evoked a sense of closeness.


    Among the two male cultivators, one had reached the Qi Cultivation Grand Perfection realm, while the other was at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, both considered formidable experts.


    The cultivation levels of the two female cultivators were slightly lower, both at the seventh or eighth level of Qi Cultivation and in their twenties. One had an oval face with bangs, and the other had a melon-seed face with double ponytails, appearing quite charming.


    Immortal cultivators aged slowly, and someone who appeared to be in their twenties might actually be over thirty.


    Being able to reach theter stages of Qi Cultivation in their twenties was a sign of talent. Although Clear Void Sect was a major sect, such talents were not overly abundant.


    The two female cultivators were happy to see fellow sect members and greeted Wang Hong warmly. However, the two male cultivators were indifferent towards Wang Hong''s arrival, offering only a slight nod.


    "Senior brother, which peak are you from? You''ve arrived just in time. This Mountain Valley is currently upied by a pack of Demon Wolves, blocking everyone from entering," said the oval-faced girl to Wang Hong.


    "Oh, I''m from Kaiyang Peak. How many Demon Wolves are there in this Mountain Valley?" Wang Hong asked.


    "It''s said there are over a hundred, mostly mid-tier first-grade ones. Five cultivators went in earlier, but they encountered the pack of Demon Wolves and four of them died. Only one, heavily injured, managed to escape," the ponytailed girl exined, pointing towards the injured Hunyuan Sect cultivator.


    Aside from the injured man, Hunyuan Sect had two remaining members.


    The other three major sects had about five or six individuals each, along with cultivators from smaller sects, family ns, and loose cultivator alliances, totaling over fifty cultivators.


    With so many people present, it seemed the allure of the Resplendent Visage Fruit was significant.


    If everyone could trust each other and work together, a pack of just over a hundred mid-tier first-grade Demonic Beasts could be easily annihted in fifteen minutes.


    Even if Wang Hong brought his forty-plus subordinates, they would dare to fight, especially considering all present were Qi Cultivationter-stage cultivators.


    As the two female cultivators spoke with Wang Hong, the two male cultivators asionally cast nces in their direction, seemingly concerned that Wang Hong might snatch their chances. This exined their initial cold demeanor.


    Wang Hong felt they were overthinking; after all, he wasn''t a threat to them like Sun Er Ma Zi.


    "Everyone, with this many of us, we can easily charge in and seize that youth-preserving spirit fruit. How can we be stopped by just a few beasts?" At this moment, a burly man in loose cultivator attire, representing the loose cultivator alliance, shouted from arge rock.


    "Fearless ones, follow me in."


    The burly man leaped down from the rock and marched confidently towards the Mountain Valley, with five loose cultivators following closely behind.


    After a while of walking, they noticed no one behind them and slowed down.


    The five loose cultivators exchanged nces and quietly sneaked back.


    The burly man, noticing he was now alone and hesitating to enter, was teased by the cultivators behind him. Eventually, prioritizing his life over face, the burly man sheepishly returned.


    At that moment, a cultivator from Thousand Crafts Pavilion and a Spirit Beast sect cultivator arrived, seeking cooperation with the Qi Cultivation Grand Perfection cultivator from Qingxu Sect to jointly attack the Mountain Valley.


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 Chapter 85: Success

    Chapter 85: Sess


    Representatives from several major forces gathered and decided to jointly charge into Mountain Valley. As for the ownership of the Resplendent Visage Fruit, it was left unspoken among them.


    The experts discussed matters, and Wang Hong, at the eighth level of cultivation, naturally did not qualify to participate.


    Two female cultivators asionally spoke to him, trying to gather information about him. Upon learning that Wang Hong was just an ordinary loose cultivator with no significant background, the two women lost interest in him.


    "Ah! I wonder if there''s a chance to snatch the Resplendent Visage Fruit this time. Without the Resplendent Visage Elixir, I''ll turn into an olddy in a few years," a woman with an oval face muttered with a worried expression, her eyes ncing at the two male cultivators present.


    "I heard that Tianshu Peak Senior Brother Zhu gave a Resplendent Visage Fruit to Yuheng Peak Senior Sister Shui, and then they became Daopanions," the girl with twin ponytails chimed in.


    "If Senior Brother Zhu can give such a generous gift, it proves he is sincere. Of course, it''s worth entrusting a lifetime to him!"


    While the two women chatted, they asionally cast nces at the two male cultivators, appearing pitiful.


    Wang Hong immediately reassured them, "Two junior sisters, rest assured. If I get the Resplendent Visage Fruit, I will prioritize selling it to you at a price discounted from the market rate."


    The two girls couldn''t hide their disappointment, disying a truly pitiable look.


    "Junior sisters, don''t worry. It''s just a Resplendent Visage Fruit. I''ll pick one for youter," a senior brother who had just returned from discussions nonchntly stated, clearly outperforming Wang Hong''s previous performance.


    Another senior brother at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation also pledged to give the Resplendent Visage Fruit to the two junior sisters.


    This made the two women cheer, surrounding the two men with a particrly intimate atmosphere.


    With this, the two senior brothers'' favor towards Wang Hong increased significantly, instructing him to follow them when charging into Mountain Valley.


    After a stick of incense, everyone rushed towards Mountain Valley. Meanwhile, a wolf howl echoed from the valley, and a pack of Demon Wolves charged out.


    The two sides quickly shed, with shes of magical weapons from the cultivators and wooden spikes spewing from the mouths of the Demon Wolves. In the first round, over a dozen Demon Wolves were killed or injured, while only a few cultivators were harmed. Wang Hong also used his Flying Sword to kill a Demon Wolf.


    As they approached, the battle intensified. Demon Wolves bit anyone they saw, and blood sttered across the battlefield.


    The two senior brothers from Qingxu Sect were indeed extraordinary. They led the way, often sealing the throats of Demon Wolves with a single sword strike.


    Wang Hong followed behind, effortlessly dealing with the asional stray Demon Wolf.


    The two female cultivators following behind had an even easier time. They still had the energy to watch the battles of other cultivators. When someone was bitten by Demon Wolves, they would exim in shock.


    Seeing the defeated Demon Wolves retreat, everyone immediately elerated towards the valley, frightening the fleeing Demon Wolves.


    At this point, no one was desperate enough to fight the retreating Demon Wolves. Their goal was the Resplendent Visage Fruit tree.


    The fastest cultivator reached the Resplendent Visage Fruit tree first, rejoicing and nning to take advantage of their speed to pick a batch and escape.


    Then, dozens of radiant lights descended upon him. He had no time to dodge and was instantly reduced to dust. Years of diligent cultivation ended in an unfortunate death.


    With this precedent, everyone hesitated upon reaching the tree. A group of people gathered in front of the tree, each pretending to pounce, yet no one dared to be the first.


    The Resplendent Visage Fruit tree, about twenty feet tall, held hundreds of fruits, but only about thirty were ripe.


    "Charge!"


    A cultivator from Beast Spirit Sect shouted, pushing two fellow n members in front. Hearing the loud call, others quickly followed, rushing towards the Resplendent Visage Fruit tree.


    Seeing a few people take the lead, others also rushed towards the tree, simultaneouslyunching attacks at those ahead.


    In the front, those who bore the brunt of everyone''s concentrated attacks were instantly obliterated.


    With the previous few taking the brunt of the attacks, the crowd finally managed to reach the base of the tree.


    The Beast Spirit Sect cultivator with a yellow face swiftly climbed the tree, plucking three Resplendent Visage Fruits, and immediately fled.


    At this point, others ignored mutual attacks and focused on picking and escaping.


    Wang Hong employed the Shifting Positions technique, swiftly moving from the rear of the crowd to the tree. He broke off a small branch with three Spirit Fruits, directly storing them in his Space.


    Turning around, he fled. In that moment, most of the mature Spirit Fruits on the tree were already plucked, and a skirmish ensued.


    Despite the fighting, no one dared tounch powerful attacks at the Spirit Fruit tree. If anyone destroyed the only Resplendent Visage Fruit tree in this secret realm in front of so many witnesses, the consequences outside the secret realm would be worse than death.


    As Wang Hong turned, he saw the senior brother surrounded and attacked by several cultivators. The other senior brother, Tian,y on the ground, life and death uncertain.


    The two female disciples following them shouted cheerfully, but their efforts seemed futile.


    Wang Hong frowned. Initially, he didn''t want to get involved, but they were fellow disciples. During the previous battle, the two senior brothers had protected him, even though he didn''t need it. Still, he appreciated the gesture.


    He shot two Devilish Vine seeds at one of the attackers while using the Shifting Positions technique to appear ghost-like behind another. In a swift motion, he thrust his spear towards the second attacker''s back.


    Caught off guard in the midst of battle, the cultivator was pierced through.


    The other cultivator managed to dodge one Devilish Vine seed but got struck by the other. In that instant, Wang Hongpleted the backstabbing motion, followed by the use of the Entanglement Technique.


    The Devilish Vine seed rapidly sprouted, entwining around the cultivator. Thorns on the vines pierced his flesh, absorbing his Spiritual Energy and essence blood. In a moment, all the Spiritual Energy and essence blood would be drained, turning him into a lifeless corpse.


    Having killed two people, Wang Hong created an opening in the encirclement. He shouted to the senior brother, "Follow me!"


    Afterwards, he led the way, the two female disciples carrying Tian closely behind, and the senior brother guarding the rear.


    This coordinated effort was part of their training in the sect.


    Wang Hong, with his spear, walked ahead, while the two cultivators wielded their Flying Swords to block the front.


    In a blink of an eye, Wang Hong appeared in front of the two cultivators.


    Most cultivatorscked closebat skills. Wang Hong''s heavy Long Spear,bined with his immense strength, easily swept one cultivator into two.


    The other cultivator retreated hastily, and Wang Hong didn''t pursue. Instead, he picked up the Storage Bag and waited for his fellow disciples to catch up.


    The fellow disciples were astonished, unable to close their mouths. They hadn''t expected their seemingly ordinary senior disciple to be so powerful and secretly felt fortunate not to have offended him earlier.


    Wang Hong continued leading the way. Anyone who dared to obstruct was swiftly approached with Shifting Positions and then mercilessly killed with thunderous methods.


    He fully leveraged the advantage ofbining Body Refining and Shifting Positions. Within four yards of him, it was almost a guaranteed kill. After a few rounds, no one dared to obstruct anymore.


    After all, everyone''s goal was to seize the Resplendent Visage Fruit, not to fight desperately. If someone went too hard, there were softer targets to focus on.


    They swiftly covered more than ten miles before finding a mountain cave to rest.


    Tian, the senior brother, was severely injured, with arge wound on his abdomen and several broken ribs. He was unconscious and would likely have died if he were a mortal.


    Wang Hong fed him a healing elixir, ensuring there was no immediate danger to his life.


    After tending to Tian''s wounds, the senior brother took out five Resplendent Visage Fruits. Wang Hong looked at them and thought, "No wonder so many people attacked him. He managed to pick five by himself, making it quite enviable."


    "I originally nned to pick five Resplendent Visage Fruitsone for each of us five. Unexpectedly, it put everyone in danger, and we almost lost our lives. If it weren''t for Junior Brother Wang''s bravery, our losses would likely have been much greater," the senior brother exined somewhat awkwardly.


    Indeed, if Wang Hong hadn''t saved them at a critical moment, the consequences could have been dire.


    As for whether the senior brother truly intended to give each person one initially, that remained unknown.


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 Chapter 86: Ambush

    Chapter 86: Ambush


    After an intense battle, the five individuals found themselves exhausted, each taking a corner in the mountain cave to rest and recover from the spiritual energy depletion.


    Wang Hong sat in a corner of the cave, assessing the gains from the battle. The most significant loot this time was the Resplendent Visage Fruit.


    Directly plucked from a branch, there were three Resplendent Visage Fruits, but only one was fully mature. Wang Hong took the ripe one and nted the remaining two immature ones in the soil of his spatial realm.


    Senior Brother Gao also shared one Resplendent Visage Fruit with him, giving Wang Hong a total of two mature fruits in his possession.


    The several cultivators in by him contributed additional Foundation Establishment Pill main ingredients, bringing his collection to sixty-five, with a total of twenty different spiritual medicines. He was onlycking sixteen more toplete his collection.


    After a day of rest in the mountain cave, Senior Brother Tian, who had been injured, had recovered enough to move freely. The group decided to set out again.


    They were now on the outskirts of the central region, where the abundance of Spiritual Medicine increased. The search yielded several second-tier Spiritual Medicines and Foundation Establishment Pill main ingredients for each person.


    The frequency of encounters with other cultivators had also risen, leading to more frequent shes. In the past few days, they faced conflicts almost daily, with victories and losses, leaving everyone with some injuries.


    Although the group consisted of five people, the mainbat strength currently resided in Wang Hong and Senior Brother Gao. Senior Brother Tian could only unleash sixty to seventy percent of his full strength due to his severe injuries.


    The two female cultivators, initially fearful ofbat, had grown more aggressive after the life-and-death experiences. They no longer relied solely on others and had developed a formidablebat prowess. Wang Hong couldn''t help but marvel at their fierceness, thinking, "Female cultivators are terrifying when they go all out!"


    Despite the change in mindset, theirbat skills had only moderately improved, limited by their previousck of experience in battles and training inbat skills.


    As the days passed, Duanmu Shimei, with her Goose Egg Face and Qi Liu Hai, and Ke''er Shimei, with her melon seed face and twin ponytails, showed significant changes. Duanmu Shimei engaged in deep conversations with Senior Brother Gao, while Ke''er Shimei and Senior Brother Tian enjoyed yful moments, finding joy in small activities.


    Observing these scenes from his corner, Wang Hong couldn''t help but wonder if he truly belonged in this team.


    On this particr day, the group officially entered the central region, where the concentration of Spiritual Qi was ten times higher than the forest where Wang Hong initially entered. Such an environment promised richer natural treasures.


    As they approached a ce with numerous strange stones, they noticed a Fiery Sun Mushroom growing in front of a massive rocka key ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pills. However, with many hiding spots among the strange stones, they remained vignt against potential ambushes.


    Deciding to have Senior Brother Gao collect the Spiritual Medicine, the others stood guard. However, as Senior Brother Gao touched the Spiritual Medicine, it dissipated into spiritual light.


    "Trouble, we''ve been tricked!"


    Senior Brother Gao hastily retreated, but a Light Screen enveloped him within a one-yard radius. Eight cultivators emerged from behind the rocks, all wearing Hunyuan Sect attire, with two at the Qi Cultivation peak and the rest ranging from the seventh to ninth level.


    "Hand over your Storage Bags, and we might spare your lives."


    Wang Hong exchanged a nce with the others, a silent agreement formed over time. Utilizing his advantage in body refining and speed, Wang Hong would conduct surprise attacks within a four-yard range, taking out opponents swiftly. The rest engaged in frontalbat and distraction, creating opportunities for Wang Hong.


    "We''ll give you our Storage Bags, but can you release the formation and let Senior Brother Gao go first?"


    Ke''er feigned panic, batting her misty eyes, appealing to the emotions of the opposing Hunyuan Sect cultivators.


    While Eagle-nosed Man was still speaking, Wang Hong took action. Just as a Qi Cultivation ninth level cultivator was about to make a jest, a Daoist Master''s figure suddenly shed in front of him. A fierce wind blew, and a Long Spear, exuding boundless momentum, thrust toward his chest.


    Instinctively, the cultivator tried to dodge and block with his hand. However, the moment his arm touched the spear, it shattered into pieces, flying in all directions.


    Before he could fullyprehend the intense pain, another sharp pain struck his chest. He saw the Long Spear piercing through his chest. Slowly, his consciousness faded, and he felt no more pain.


    Eagle-nosed Man, intending to deliver a few more threatening words, enjoyed the satisfaction of overwhelming advantage. After years of rigorous cultivation, the pleasure of standing on top of others was invigorating. However, he was infuriated to find that an ambush had taken ce, and one expert among them had been killed by a single spear thrust.


    "Kill! Leave no one alive!"


    Eagle-nosed Man roared, brandishing a golden brick-like Spiritual Weapon, smashing it down towards Wang Hong.


    In their numerous battles over the days, it was the first time they encountered a cultivator using a Spiritual Weapon.


    Spiritual Weapons were standard for Foundation Building cultivators, with values ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands. Generally, Qi Cultivation cultivators couldn''t afford them.


    Wang Hong possessed several Spiritual Weapons, but he had always fought as a body cultivator and hadn''t used them yet.


    Perhaps due to Wang Hong''s preemptive attack, three out of the remaining seven immediatelyunched an assault on him.


    Wang Hong dodged the iing golden brick, and two other Magical Weapons were already at his side. He used the Long Spear to deflect a Flying Sword Magical Weapon.


    At that moment, arge de Magical Weapon struck his shoulder, prating over an inch into his flesh. If not for his aplished Body Refining, it would have cleaved him in half.


    Simultaneously, the brick-like Spiritual Weapon, which he had just dodged, descended again from above, showing no intention of giving him a breathing space.


    The other three were also in perilous situations, facing opponents with superior strength. Engaging four enemies simultaneously made their lives precarious.


    Although Senior Brother Gao was still trapped in the Restriction Formation, he relentlessly attacked the Light Screen. However, the formation seemed to be of high quality, and despite his Qi Cultivation peak level, it only caused ripples on the surface.


    Wang Hong raised his Long Spear to block the descending golden brick Spiritual Weapon, feeling an overwhelming weight that numbed his arms. His legs sank into the ground, reaching his waist. He estimated that this Spiritual Weapon weighed at least a hundred thousand pounds.


    Trapped in the soil, he couldn''t move momentarily. Seizing this opportunity, the enemies intensified their attacks.


    The golden brick Spiritual Weapon rose again and struck Wang Hong''s Light Screen. Though it didn''t break, the screen sank several inches, and its color dimmed.


    "Hehe! So, you''re a fat sheep hiding a Spiritual Weapon. But having a Spiritual Weapon, how long can you endure?"


    Eagle-nosed Man sneered, harboring some jealousy. He had schemed and spent his savings to acquire his Spiritual Weapon. Now, facing an opponent with a defensive Spiritual Weapon, his sense of superiority vanished.


    He continued his fierce assault on Wang Hong. Each time Wang struggled to escape, the golden brick promptly descended, preventing him from catching a breath.


    The situation for the other three was even more perilous. Ke''er Shimei had been in danger, and in a critical moment, Senior Brother Tian had taken a blow meant for her, resulting in his arm being crushed. The three were now in a desperate situation.


    Wang Hong was swiftly contemting a counter-strategy. He understood the principle that prolonged defense would lead to defeat.


    As long as the opponents broke the Light Screen or Senior Brother Tian and the others couldn''t hold on, he would be inescapable.


    Suddenly, a spark of inspiration hit him. He pulled out a talisman, pped it onto himself, and the entire person sank into the ground. From several yards away, he then leaped out.


    At a critical moment, he remembered he had a few Earth Escape Talismans. Since he couldn''t climb out from this position, he chose to dive into the soil and emerge from another location.


    As Wang Hong jumped out of the ground, countless ck Poisonous Bees flew out from his sleeve.


    These were his Poisonous Bees, cultivated over time, and it was the first time he had used them in a battle against cultivators.


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 Chapter 87: Solo Journey

    Chapter 87: Solo Journey


    ck Poisonous Bees continuously emerged from Wang Hong''s sleeves. Initially, he could have them appear directly in the air, but that would be too abrupt.


    Eagle-nosed Man watched as Wang Hong released over ten thousand Spirit Bees. However, in his eyes, it was just a desperate struggle from someone on the brink of death.


    Ordinary Spirit Bees didn''t possess formidable individual strength; they relied on their numerical advantage. If there were over a hundred thousand, he might have turned and fled. Currently, there were only about ten thousand, and he didn''t take them seriously.


    Taking a swig of Spirit Wine, Eagle-nosed Man continued tomand the golden bricks to rain down from Wang Hong.


    The power of the Spiritual Weapon was indeed formidable. If the opponent didn''t rely on elusive body techniques and had aplished Body Refining, one strike could end their life.


    However, the consumption of a Spiritual Weapon was immense. Even with hisplete Qi Cultivation, he couldn''t wield it many times.


    Fortunately, he had obtained two bottles of high-tier Spirit Wine from a cultivator''s storage bag earlier. Otherwise, he wouldn''t dare to casually use the Spiritual Weapon.


    When Wang Hong saw the Spirit Wine bottle in his hand, he felt a pang of regret. The bottle even had the emblem of his Immortal Spirits Wine Pavilion.


    After suffering a setback, Wang Hong no longer dared to directly confront the golden brick Spiritual Weapon. Relying on his swift body movements, he dodged and asionally intercepted attacks from the Flying Sword Magical Weapon.


    Simultaneously, hemanded the Poisonous Bees to swarm towards the battlefield where Senior Brother Gao and others were engaged. A cultivator raised a Flying Sword, intending to strike Senior Brother Gao, but suddenly a group of Spirit Bees surged towards him. Before he could evade, they covered his entire body.


    Then, he felt as if millions of needles were piercing his flesh, apanied by a numbing sensation. Soon, he lost control of his Spiritual Energy, feeling it solidify throughout his body. He also lost control of his limbs, and gradually, his consciousness plunged into eternal darkness.


    Senior Brother Tian, who thought his death was inevitable, suddenly saw a swarm of Spirit Bees attacking the cultivator across from him. They quickly covered his body, and the Flying Sword fell to the ground.


    A few breathster, the opposing cultivator lost vitality, falling to the ground like a stiff piece of wood.


    Senior Brother Tian, who narrowly escaped death, quickly stuffed a healing Elixir into his mouth. Through this time of fighting together, he realized Wang Hong had be quite powerful.


    With his robust Body Refining cultivation and mysterious body techniques, Wang Hong could easily deal with ordinary Qi Cultivation cultivators. Unexpectedly, he still held such a powerful trump card.


    After killing this cultivator, the situation greatly improved for Senior Brother Tian and the other two. Though still at a disadvantage, it was no longer as precarious as before.


    The swarm of ck Poisonous Bees took flight again, heading towards another cultivator. This cultivator had witnessed the prowess of the Poisonous Bees before and hastily summoned a protective barrier.


    The swarming Poisonous Bees instantly covered the protective barrier, forming a ck sphere around the cultivator.


    However, now, thanks to Wang Hong''s dedicated cultivation, the individual strength of the Poisonous Bees wasparable to Qi Cultivation. Faced with the onught of thousands of them, how long could his protective barrier hold?


    Wang Hongmanded the Poisonous Bees while skillfully dodging the attacks from Eagle-nosed Man and hispanions. If he could kill two more people, he could reverse the current situation.


    As for the cultivator besieged by the Poisonous Bees, seeing them relentlessly attacking, his protective barrier was already on the verge of copse. Learning from the fate of the previous cultivator, fear gripped him, and he desperately shouted for help.


    In the face of imminent death, how many people could remainposed? He came to the secret realm seeking opportunities, not to court death.


    The terrified cultivator shouted for help while using his Flying Sword to y Poisonous Bees. He rolled on the ground, but the hooks on the bees'' feet firmly clung to the protective barrier.


    After a moment, the protective barrier finally gave way under the strain. The Poisonous Bees instantly covered his entire body.


    "Save me!"


    "Help!"


    "I surrender!"


    ...


    The cultivator managed to utter a brief cry for help before falling silent.


    The remaining members of Hunyuan Sect, witnessing the formidable nature of the Poisonous Bees, wore expressions of fear. Their attacks slowed down, and their gazes turned towards Eagle-nosed Man.


    Eagle-nosed Man also noticed the situation. If they continued, they might suffer significant losses. He decisively shouted, "Retreat!"


    He led the escape, and the other four quickly followed, fearing that Wang Hong''s Poisonous Bees would catch up.


    Wang Hong didn''t pursue; there were still five opponents. Senior Brother Tian and the others were heavily injured, and he couldn''t take them all on alone without help.


    Senior Brother Tian and the others, bearing severe injuries, had barely managed to support themselves through the earlier life-and-death struggle. Now, with the main enemies gone, they copsed to the ground.


    Senior Brother Tian bore the heaviest injuries. His old wounds hadn''t healed, and new ones were added. One arm was already gone, making him a one-armed cultivator. Unless he could obtain a divine medicine capable of regenerating limbs, a rare find indeed, he would remain in this state.


    The two female cultivators fared slightly better than Senior Brother Tian, their Spiritual Energy depleted, and their meridians damaged. The three of them consumed healing Elixirs, mending their injuries on the spot.


    The formation trapping Senior Brother Gao seemed formidable. Regardless of how he attacked from within, it proved futile.


    Wang Hong circled the formation, unable to discern its weakness. The only option was the most straightforward one: deplete the Spiritual Energy sustaining the formation, causing it to copse naturally.


    The operation of any formation required the support of Spiritual Energy. Some smaller formations could draw from the Spirit Qi of the heavens and earth to run indefinitely.


    However, for temporary setups like this, designed to trap individuals, relying solely on the Spirit Qi of the heavens and earth was insufficient. They required Spirit Stones as a power source to maintain the formation''s operation. The more powerful the formation, the more Spirit Stones it consumed.


    Large Formations, such as those protecting sect mountains, relied on Spirit Veins as their primary source of Spiritual Energy, supplemented by Spirit Stones where necessary.


    Wang Hong directed the Poisonous Bees to swarm the formation''s barrier, aiding Senior Brother Gao in attacking the formation. It took the better part of an incense stick''s time to deplete the formation''s Spiritual Energy, finally releasing Senior Brother Gao.


    Once the formation was shattered, several array tes were revealed: one main array te and five auxiliary array tes. The Spirit Stones embedded in them had turned to ashes. Counting the slots, it would take at least two hundred Spirit Stones to set up such a formation.


    Although Senior Brother Gao had been trapped inside the Restriction Formation, he could witness the external battle. What seemed like an inevitable demise turned into a reprieve thanks to Junior Brother Wang''s release of the Spirit Bees.


    Qingxu Sect seemed to have produced such a formidable cultivator, and they had never heard of him before.


    Wang Hong had, once again, saved their lives. Senior Brother Gao immediately handed the array te to Wang Hong, and the other three also agreed to let him take all the array tes.


    The three Storage Bags they obtained were also dered Wang Hong''s share, with no division among the four.


    Wang Hong felt a bit guilty. They all took the beating together, yet all the benefits now went to him alone.


    Although he was the one who killed the three cultivators, this kind of battle required teamwork to distract the enemy. If he had faced the attack alone, he would have been the one taking a beating. Therefore, he could only im the primary credit during distribution, but the others also deserved a share.


    "Since you insist, I won''t be overly modest. Fortunately, I have some friendship with the manager of a Spirit Wine shop in Azure Void City. I obtained some Spirit Wine from him, so I''ll give each of you a bottle."


    He took out several bottles of Spirit Wine, originally top-grade first-tier Hundred Fruits Brew. Aged for over two hundred years in his space, the quality was now close to second-tier Spirit Wine. Just sipping half a mouthful could fully restore the mana of ate-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator.


    After smelling the aroma, the three quickly closed the bottle caps, feeling their Spiritual Energy recovering. They couldn''t help but sigh. Having connections was indeed beneficial. They would have struggled to obtain even a top-grade first-tier Spirit Wine.


    They settled the injured three in a mountain cave, cing the newly acquired array te at the cave entrance. If anyone intruded recklessly, they would be trapped by the formation.


    Wang Hong and Senior Brother Gao searched the surrounding area for Spiritual Medicine.


    In the three newly acquired Storage Bags, Wang Hong found over twenty Foundation Establishment Pill primary herbs. It seemed these four had looted quite a few cultivators.


    He now possessed over a hundred Foundation Establishment Pill primary herbs, but of the thirty-six types, he only had thirty-one. The remaining five were still elusive. During sect training, it was mentioned that they grew in several ces in the central region.


    He had to visit those ces. However, this time, he nned to go alone. Time waits for no one, and if someone got there before him, obtaining those Spiritual Medicines would be difficult. The recovery of the three heavily injured cultivators would also take some time.


    Unlike other cultivators who only needed to hand over Spiritual Medicine for contribution points and exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills, he had to collect all primary herbs. Not only did he need Foundation Establishment Pills for himself, but he also had to cultivate arge number for his future subordinates.


    As his cultivation level increased, his subordinates'' cultivation level needed to keep pace. In the future, if he wanted to sell higher-tier Spiritual Objects, relying solely on Qi Cultivation wouldn''t be enough to control the situation.


    Seeing Wang Hong about to leave alone, Senior Brother Gao and the others felt some reluctance, but they couldn''t stop him. Everyone had their own tasks.


    Before leaving, Wang Hong left behind the newly obtained array tes for the three injured cultivators to use for protection.


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 Chapter 88: Spirit Tea Tree

    Chapter 88: Spirit Tea Tree


    After Wang Hong left the group, he proceeded cautiously, releasing a hundred Poisonous Bees along the way to help him search for Spiritual Medicine. This significantly increased his harvest.


    At this moment, Wang Hong was inspecting a tea tree on the cliff. A Spirit Bee had led him here earlier.


    The tea tree was about three feet tall, with several branches and dozens of vibrant green shoots. Below the tree was a small mountain cave, and from below, the edge of a Giant Bird Nest was visible.


    Picking up a stone, Wang Hong threw it towards the nest''s edge. There was no reaction from inside, indicating that the bird was likely away hunting.


    Guiding his Windsoar Boat to the edge of the cliff, Wang Hong observed the tea tree. Although not tall, its stem was robust, and the branches twisted like dragons, with roots deeply embedded in the rock crevices.


    Judging by its appearance, it seemed to have grown here for many years. Wang Hong plucked a piece of fresh tea leaf and tasted it.


    As the tea touched his tongue, a refreshing fragrance spread throughout his body. Instantly, his mind cleared, and worries dissipated. He felt rejuvenated, his thoughts bing remarkably clear.


    "What a fantastic thing!"


    Drawing his Flying Sword, Wang Hong carefully cut open the rock, muttering as he dug. Digging up a small tea tree shouldn''t be considered reckless destruction of the secret realm, right?


    After uprooting the tea tree, a three-foot tall nt with roots extending a yard, he left some roots behind, hoping they would grow again in the future.


    Transnting the tree to his spatial storage, he descended to the Giant Bird Nest he had seen earlier. Perhaps due to childhood habits, he feltpelled to explore bird nests.


    The nest was about five to six feet in diameter, and Wang Hong felt like he could fit inside. The most conspicuous item inside was an egg the size of a baby''s head.


    Picking up the egg and sensing its strong life force, he carefully stowed it away. After securing the egg, he swiftly departed on his Windsoar Boat. Momentster, sharp bird cries echoed from behind.


    On a mountain peak, a colorful Spirit Herb grew, and not far away, a group of Giant Apes battled several cultivators.


    Meanwhile, a Daoist Master sneaked up to the Spirit Herb, pulled it out, and hastily ran off.


    The battling Giant Apes roared angrily, abandoning their opponents to chase the thief.


    The cultivators left behind, realizing they had been used as pawns, grew furious. They too pursued the fleeing figure.


    The thief who stole the Spiritual Medicine was none other than Wang Hong. The Rainbow Grass he had just seized was one of the crucial main ingredients hecked.


    Having eyed this Spiritual Medicine for a while, he had nned to lure the Giant Apes away. Unexpectedly, a group of cultivators arrived, sparking a fight with the Giant Apes. Seizing the opportunity, he chose to snatch and run.


    Wang Hong led the way in a frantic escape, pursued closely by the Giant Apes and the group of cultivators.


    The Giant Apes were not slow; in fact, they were slightly faster than Wang Hong. When they closed in, he used shifting positions to create distance again.


    However, shifting positions were meant forbat and not an ideal escape skill. It drained both physical and spiritual energy rapidly.


    If used solely for traveling, even a short distance would deplete his entire spiritual energy, and replenishing with Spirit Wine wouldn''t keep up.


    Wang Hong gulped down Spirit Wine while sprinting for his life.


    Suddenly, he spotted a group of cultivators ahead and rushed towards them.


    Seeing him approach, the cultivators brandished their Magical Weapons, ready to strike. It seemed that if he continued forward, they would not hesitate to kill him.


    Helpless, Wang Hong had to change direction, continuing his escape. However, this dy brought the Giant Apes even closer.


    In desperation, Wang Hong summoned his Flying Boat and flew upward. In the sky, the Giant Apes below roared in frustration, unable to pursue into the air.


    Just at that moment, Wang Hong noticed that the pursuing cultivators behind him had summoned a flying Magical Weapon in the shape of willow leaves. Surprisingly, it wasrger than his Windsoar Boat, capable of carrying several people and much faster. In no time, it flew above Wang Hong.


    "Descend!"


    Laughter echoed from the flying Magical Weapon above, and a few Magical Weapons were sent his way.


    Wang Hong employed the Dragon Serpent Escape technique to dodge the attacks while wielding a Long Spear to counterattack the flying Magical Weapon.


    However, the opponent''s Magical Weapon had a defensive mechanism. Ripples appeared on the Magical Weapon, blocking the Long Spear.


    Dodging the attacks and preparing to unleash his Spiritual Weapon, the Flying Sword, Wang Hong couldn''t believe that the flying Magical Weapon could withstand a Spiritual Weapon.


    Just then, a loud shout came from below.


    "Who dares to harm a disciple of our Qingxu Sect?"


    Wang Hong turned to see a group of cultivators in dark robes from Qingxu Sect on a nearby mountain. The leading figure was none other than their Kaiyang Peak senior brother.


    Wang Hong immediately flew towards that mountain, and the Giant Apes below followed in pursuit.


    As Wang Hongnded on the mountain, the senior brother and his group were already engaged in battle with the Giant Apes.


    Without time for formalities, Wang Hong joined the fight.


    These Giant Apes stood at eight feet tall, robust and powerful. Despite being struck by Magical Weapons, they only suffered minor injuries.


    Seemingly devoid of Magical Arts, theirbat style was wild. They picked up massive rocks from the ground and hurled them directly into the crowd or used small trees as makeshift clubs.


    Wang Hong didn''t hold back; after all, he was the one who instigated the situation, and everyone was helping him. The previous group of cultivators hadn''t left yet and was watching from the sidelines, ready to reap the benefits.


    Using the shifting positions technique, Wang Hong rushed to a Giant Ape, piercing its heart with a spear before engaging inbat with another, thergest among them.


    The senior brother wielded arge Spiritual Weapon, cutting one Giant Ape in half with a single swing before cleaving another.


    Seeing this, the Giant Ape that was currently battling Wang Hong roared at the others. They all turned and fled. The cultivators who had been observing discreetly also left as the battle concluded.


    "Thank you, senior brothers, for saving my life!"


    After the skirmish, Wang Hong expressed his gratitude. There wasn''t much to clean up as these Demonic Beasts were not rich.


    Apart from some materials from their bodies, there wasn''t much valuable loot. They even used stones picked up from the ground as weapons.


    "Junior Brother Wang, no need to be polite. We''re all fellow sect members and should help each other. If you feel awkward, just treat us to a Spirit Meal and some wine when we return!"


    The senior brother said cheerfully. Wang Hong now noticed that the group consisted of eight cultivators, mostly from Kaiyang Peak, including his neighbor Cheng Zan. He hadn''t expected the old man to venture into this dangerous central region.


    "Sure, sure! I''ll treat you all to a feastter. I happen to know a bit of Spiritual Cooking."


    Wang Hong always carried plenty of food in his Space, collecting various ingredients whenever he encountered something delicious outside.


    So, the idea of a feast appealed to him. Besides, he couldn''t think of any other way to express his gratitude.


    When they reached a rtively t area to rest, Wang Hong got busy.


    First, he set up arge pot. Thest time he killed that few-thousand-pound pig demon, he hadn''t had the chance to eat it yet.


    Putting it in the pot with various ingredients to bnce Spiritual Energy, adding aromatic spices like spirit ginger, and pouring in some hundred-fruit brew, he also added a 300-year-old mutated Astragalus.


    Using spirit charcoal to light the fire, thisrge pot was also a middle-grade Magical Weapon he custom-ordered from Gao Yue''s Refinery Workshop in Azure Void City. At that time, he ordered ten such pots and kept two for himself, giving the rest to his subordinates.


    Additionally, he roasted a sulent Demonic Beast for barbecue. After preparing the seasoning, everyone could grill their own.


    From his Space, he took out a jar of tier-one low-grade Spirit Wine. For cultivators in theter stages of Qi Cultivation, this wine could only satisfy their taste buds.


    He couldn''t bring out anything better, as it was just a treat and not avish disy.


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 Chapter 89: Exchange of Spiritual Medicine

    Chapter 89: Exchange of Spiritual Medicine


    Senior Brother grabbed arge piece of Pork Elbow, tore into it with gusto, juices dripping,pletely ignoring appearances. Wang Hong stood by, a bit dumbfounded. Senior Brother had easily consumed at least five hundred kilograms of meat. Could it be that Senior Brother was also a formidable body cultivator?


    "Junior Brother Wang, you really have excellent culinary skills! This pork is so tender and delicious. Especially this Spirit Meal, not only does it enhance cultivation levels with its rich Spiritual Energy, but it also eliminates fatigue and replenishes essence blood. It''s truly a masterpiece," Senior Brother praised between bites.


    For the past few days, he had been consuming fasting pills daily as he couldn''t cook himself, and he had longed for a hearty meal.


    "Senior Brother, you tter me. It''s just my gluttonous nature. I often think about and experiment with food in my spare time," Wang Hong quickly replied. Truthfully, he hadn''t formally studied the ways of Spiritual Cooking. It was more of an instinct to think about how to eat anything he came across.


    Senior Brother scooped up a piece of mutated Astragalus, took a bite, and raised an eyebrow.


    "Junior Brother, what kind of Spiritual Medicine is this? I''ve never seen it before. It seems to greatly replenish essence blood."


    "I''m not sure of its name, but it seems to be a mutation of Astragalus. I found a few in the secret realm. It''s excellent for making Spirit Meals, making the meat more vorful, and the soup sparkling with golden light."


    Wang Hong exined. Originally, he had nned to turn in this mutated Astragalus to the sect in exchange for contribution points when he left the secret realm.


    "Do you have more of this Spiritual Medicine? Can you exchange some with me?"


    "I''ve used some of it for Spirit Meals these days, but there''s still some left."


    Senior Brother felt a bit annoyed. Such a rare Spiritual Medicine was used by this glutton to make Spirit Meals. Did he not realize how rare Spiritual Medicines that replenish essence blood were?


    "What Spiritual Objects do you need for exchange?"


    "I need Starlight Seven-leaf Clover, Green Leaf Red Lotus Flower, Stone-patterned Golden Melon, Seven-star Mushroom, or other Spiritual Objects produced in the secret realm."


    Wang Hong listed the primary ingredients hecked for Foundation Establishment Pills. If there were other rare Spiritual Objects, he was willing to exchange them. After all, the secret realm was vast, and what one person could find was limited.


    "I have Starlight Seven-leaf Clover and Green Leaf Red Lotus Flower, but I haven''t found Stone-patterned Golden Melon or Seven-star Mushroom."


    Senior Brother turned to other fellow disciples and asked, "Does anyone have Stone-patterned Golden Melon or Seven-star Mushroom? I can exchange with other rare Spiritual Medicine."


    "I have a Stone-patterned Golden Melon here. I can exchange it with Senior Brother." One disciple, who had obtained one before, handed it over.


    The vines of the Stone-patterned Golden Melon had to grow on a spirit ore with both gold and earth attributes. The melon was fist-sized, earthy yellow with golden patterns, and carried a sweet fragrance. Wang Hong almost took a bite as he held it in his hands.


    Wang Hong sessfully exchanged three kinds of Spiritual Medicine using three nts of six-hundred-year-old mutated Astragalus, saving him a lot of effort.


    Senior Brother also handed over a few types of Spiritual Medicine that Wang Hong didn''t have. In return, he received two mutated Astragalus.


    He had nted quite a few mutated Astragalus, but since only he possessed them, it wasn''t easy to sell them. Selling too many might attract inquiries about their source.


    "After the exchange, Senior Brother, where will you be heading?"


    "We''re going to the Mirror Gorge area. They produce some second-tier spirit fruits, and it''s said there''s even a three-tier spirit fruit tree. Junior Brother Wang, would you like to join us?"


    It seemed they were not headed in the same direction.


    "I still want to search for Seven-star Mushroom, so I can''t travel with you at the moment."


    At this point, Wang Hong remembered another matter and asked, "Senior Brother, have you encountered cultivators from Taihao Sect on your journey?"


    "We have encountered Taihao Sect cultivators. The sword cultivators from Taihao Sect are indeed powerful. On our way here, we saw a Taihao Sect cultivator single-handedly fighting against five Beast Spirit Sect cultivators and not falling behind."


    Upon hearing this, Wang Hong and the others couldn''t help but marvel. Obviously, that battle had left a deep impression on them.


    "What happenedter? Who won?"


    "We watched for a while and then left. We don''t know the final oue."


    "What does that cultivator look like?"


    Senior Brother gave Wang Hong a strange look but didn''t inquire further.


    "That cultivator has a good appearancetall and slender, with sharp eyebrows and starry eyes, a face like carved jade."


    Upon hearing this, Wang Hong felt a mix of joy and urgency. This person was very likely Wang Yi.


    "To be honest, I have a younger brother who joined Taihao Sect. Based on Senior Brother''s description, it seems quite simr to my brother."


    Senior Brother, intrigued, carefully examined Wang Hong''s face.


    "Now that you mention it, there is indeed some resemnce between that person and Junior Brother."


    After rifying the direction with Senior Brother, Wang Hong hurriedly made his way.


    Outside the secret realm, Wang Yi had been searching for more than twenty days around the periphery. He hadn''t found Wang Hong''s trace, so he continued searching toward the central region.


    Years ago, he had already reached the pinnacle of Qi Cultivation. As long as he wished, he didn''t need Foundation Establishment Pills. He could easily build his Foundation by closing up for a month, bing the youngest Foundation Building cultivator in the Eastern Cultivation World.


    However, he persisted in suppressing his cultivation level, refusing to step into Foundation Building. His Master had scolded him several times for this.


    But he persisted because he wanted to enter the secret realm. He had learned that the best way to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills was to venture into the secret realm.


    Even though he didn''t need Foundation Establishment Pills, Wang Hong did. Yi wanted to take this opportunity to enter the secret realm and gather a few Foundation Establishment Pills for his brother.


    He remembered how Wang Hong had silently shouldered everything when they were younger. Wang Hong would bring half a tbread into the mountains every morning, returning near nightfall. Whenever he found delicious wild fruits in the mountains, he would bring them home for Yi to eat, always joking that he had already eaten his fill in the mountains.


    At that time, Yi was too young and didn''t understand much. He was short and could, at most, help dig a few wild vegetables nearby.


    He still remembered the time when Wang Hong had brought back a wild wolf, wounded all over. He had secretly cried all night.


    So, he had silently resolved to do something for Wang Hong when he became capable.


    If he missed the chance to earn Foundation Establishment Pills this time, it might take decades to gather enough for Wang Hong''s Foundation Building. By then, Wang Hong might already be old.


    What he didn''t expect was that Wang Hong had also entered the secret realm. The secret realm was dangerous, and if something happened to Wang Hong, what use would Yi''s search for Spiritual Medicine be?


    Therefore, after entering the secret realm, his first goal shifted from finding Spiritual Medicine to locating Wang Hong.


    Although he wasn''t actively searching for Spiritual Medicine, many cultivators he encountered tried to attack him, thinking he was an easy target due to his lone journey.


    As a result, he ended up gaining quite a bit of Spiritual Medicine from the Storage Bags of those cultivators. At least, he could exchange them for a Foundation Establishment Pill.


    Since entering the central region, he had faced even more battles. Just recently, he had engaged in a fierce battle with five Beast Spirit Sect cultivators, resulting in mutual injuries.


    He had killed two of them, but they had left several wounds on him. After leaving the scene, he could always feel eyes locking onto him, probably others wanting to take advantage of his injuries.


    He knew he was being targeted again. They likely thought that with his injuries, he wouldn''t be able to fight back.


    He sneered inwardly, thinking, "Do you really believe I can''t kill you just because I''m injured?"


    He decided not to move and sat on the spot, taking out a golden longsword and cing it horizontally on his knees. He gently stroked the sword''s body.


    As a sword cultivator, achieving single-mindedness was crucial. With just one sword, regardless of a thousand variations or countless magical arts, he could break through them all with a single sh.


    At that moment, five radiant lights shot towards him, forming magical weapons.


    Wang Yi raised his longsword, and a dazzling sword radiance shot out.


    The radiance split into nine in the air. Five of them intercepted the iing magical weapons, while the remaining four shot towards a thicket at a faster speed.


    "Ah! Ah! Ah!"


    A few miserable screams came from the thicket, and it wasn''t clear whether they were alive or dead. However, one of the magical weapons lost control and fell to the ground.


    The remaining four magical weapons collided with the sword radiance, dispersing it. The magical weapons were pushed back a foot.


    After unleashing this sword strike, blood trickled down from the corner of Wang Yi''s mouth. The strike had aggravated his internal injuries, and his remaining Spiritual Energy was almost depleted.


    The bottle of Spirit Wine he carried had been consumed during these days of battles.


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 Chapter 90: Clash of Ideals

    Chapter 90: sh of Ideals


    Wang Yi, now heavily injured with depleted Spiritual Energy, stood at the brink of defeat. Despite resolving one opponent with a single stroke moments ago, his swordsmanship could muster only one more attack.


    The remaining four opponents emerged from the bushes, slowly closing in on him. Their Magical Weapons circled around them as they approached.


    Wang Yi raised his longsword once again, locking eyes with one of the four. As his gaze shifted to another, that person discreetly took two steps back.


    Seeing this, the other three hesitated, reluctant to advance. They exchanged nces, each hoping someone else would take the lead.


    "Hahaha! A bunch of spineless rats!"


    Infuriated, one of them shouted, "Attack together!"


    Four Magical Weapons hurled towards Wang Yi simultaneously. With a swift stroke, he brought down another opponent.


    After this strike, blood oozed from Wang Yi''s wounds, and his stance became unsteady. Despite this, he defiantly dered, "Spineless rats, care to guess who''s next?"


    The remaining three were conflicted, recognizing that Wang Yi was near his limit. They sensed the tremendous energy drain from his powerful sword technique, wondering if he could unleash another attack.


    However, none dared to test it with their lives. Abandoning the fight now, so close to sess, seemed regrettable. Skilled cultivators like Wang Yi usually possessed valuable treasures.


    As the three hesitated, an elderly cultivator appeared from behind arge rock. He casually tossed a water arrow talisman towards Wang Yi and swiftly retreated.


    Clearly attempting to provoke Wang Yi and gauge his strength, the elderly cultivator intended for Wang Yi to engage, leaving him vulnerable to the others.


    At that moment, a dark figure rapidly approached. It moved ghostly, appearing four zhang away in an instant. Wang Yi, even with limited Spiritual Energy, had to use what remained to defend against the iing talisman.


    As he prepared to resist, a figure in dark Daoist robes, carrying a ck Long Spear, positioned itself between Wang Yi and the projectile. Wang Yi, relieved, couldn''t sustain his stance and copsed.


    Lying on the ground, his vision blurred, Wang Yi observed the water arrow from the talisman striking the dark figure. However, the neer paid no attention, releasing countless ck dots that buzzed toward the elderly cultivator.


    The Daoist Master, wielding the ck Long Spear, swiftly reached the three remaining opponents. A single thrust pierced one cultivator''s head, causing it to explode in a spray of red and white.


    Moving to the next, the Daoist Master faced a cultivator with a ck shield. A horizontal spear sweep sent both shield and cultivator flying five zhang away.


    A resounding crash echoed as the demon python collided with a massive rock, creating a human-shaped dent. The cultivator''s bones and organs shattered, blood mixed with visceral fragments sttering on the ground.


    The remaining cultivator attempted to flee, but a gust of wind from behind brought a ck Long Spear thrusting through his chest.


    A swarm of Poisonous Bees, previously sent with a talisman, returned. The elderly cultivator who hadunched the sneak attacky lifeless on the ground.


    Wang Hong, having dispatched the four cultivators, rushed to Wang Yi''s side. Gently assisting him to sit up, he administered several healing elixirs. The brothers, reunited after over a decade, faced each other with a myriad of unspoken words.


    "Take a moment to calm your mind and absorb the elixirs," Wang Hong suggested after a brief silence.


    Five dayster, the Wang brothers traversed a dense forest. A demon python, as thick as a water bucket, lunged at them.


    Wang Yi prepared to strike, but Wang Hong swiftly tossed two Devilish Vine seeds. They adhered to the demon python, rapidly growing into vines that tightly entangled and absorbed the creature. In moments, the demon python turned into a dry carcass.


    Wang Hong collected the remains and the entwined Devilish Vine. These dried serpent bodies could be offered to the demon-hunting tree.


    The smaller branches Wang Hong had nted had grown considerably, now capable of consuming some Demonic Beasts. Their potent digestive abilities left nothing but bones.


    Ordinarily, nts grown from seeds using the Entanglement Techniquecked inherent strength and would wither once their vitality dispersed. However, Wang Hong discovered that these vines survived when stored in his spatial storage.


    Having observed Wang Yi''s limited survival methods, Wang Hong decided to equip him with an array of Magical Weapons, Talismans, and other items he deemed useful. However, Wang Yi declined, asserting that a true swordsman only needed his de. He believed in breaking through any defense with his sword, and if he couldn''t, it meant he needed to improve.


    Wang Hong embarked on a prolonged effort to persuade him. "Look, cultivating immortality involves various techniques. With a mere gesture, the demon python is eradicated."


    While collecting the demon python, Wang Hong lectured Wang Yi. "I could aplish the same with a sword or even a spoon. Any means to kill the enemy is a good one. Why be so fixated?"


    Despite Wang Hong''s earnest attempts, Wang Yi remained steadfast. "Whether with a sword or a spoon, I choose the sword. I''ll master my art rather than dabble in everything."


    Undeterred, Wang Hong emphasized, "A good technique is one that ensures victory, be it with a sword or a spoon."


    This philosophical divide persisted as the brothers sought the Seven-star Mushroom together. In the central region, they encountered treacherous cultivators, whom Wang Hong dispatched using unconventional methods. Some fell victim to Poisonous Bees, while others unknowingly sumbed to toxins, smiling in their final moments.


    The poison was from the Red Blossom Skeletona rare substance that Wang Hong had been reluctant to use until now.


    While Wang Yi admired his brother''s resourcefulness, he remained resolute on his path of sword cultivation. He understood Wang Hong''s concern for his safety and appreciated the intention behind providing the best resources.


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 Chapter 91: Lotus Roots

    Chapter 91: Lotus Roots


    After two days of travel, the two finally reached their destination. Only a few demonic beast corpses remained on the ground, along with some Seven-star Mushrooms that were not yet mature.


    Wang Hong dug up two young seedlings of Seven-star Mushroom and stored them away, intending to cultivate them on his own.


    "Brother, when we leave the secret realm, we''ll undergo inspection. Picking young seedlings in vition of the rules could lead to severe penalties, even the possible revocation of cultivation levels. Shall I help you carry them out?" Wang Yi suggested.


    Wang Hong nced at him with suspicion, "Do you have a way to deceive the Divine Sense inspection of a Golden Core cultivator? That doesn''t sound like you."


    These past few days, aside from his sword technique, Wang Yi hadn''t demonstrated any other extraordinary skills. His sword was merely a high-grade Magical Weapon, and as a talented disciple of Taihao Sect, he didn''t even have a single Spiritual Weapon.


    Wang Yi had nned to equip Wang Hong with aplete set of Spiritual Weapons, preferably from head to toe, along with a Spiritual Weapon-grade Flying Sword. The strategy involved bombarding enemies with a heap of Talismans and, if necessary, throwing more.


    Wang Yi admitted somewhat embarrassedly, "I don''t have any means, but my cultivation progresses rapidly. Even if my cultivation level were severely damaged, I could recover in a few years."


    "Smack!" Wang Hong pped him on the back of his head.


    "Is this how you use your Heavenly Spirit Root? Heavenly Spirit Root is heaven''s favored child, destined to reach the pinnacle of this world. Can you afford to be reckless and jeopardize your future like this?"


    "Why are you hitting me again?" Wang Yi rubbed the back of his head. These days, Wang Hong always found excuses to spar with him, showcasing his power to break through myriad techniques with a single sword.


    Each time, Wang Hong defeated him using various tactics, iming it was to expose him to the diverse methods of the Cultivation World. Wang Yi felt frustrated because many of his sword moves were lethal, and he couldn''t use them during these bouts. So, even though he consistently lost, he never truly epted defeat.


    "I haven''t asked you yet. As a Heavenly Spirit Root, you don''t even need Foundation Establishment Pills. Why did youe here? Do you know how dangerous it is?" Wang Hong was irritated at the thought of what could have happened if he hadn''t arrived in time.


    "I just came in to broaden my horizons." Seeing Wang Hong raising his hand again, Wang Yi fled in fear and took cover on the side.


    After another round of scolding, Wang Hong picked up the demonic beast corpses and stored them in his spatial storage, ready to feed the demon-hunting tree.


    Feeding the pig demon tree with flesh and blood in the spatial dimension had elerated its growth, but it hadn''t started bearing fruit yet.


    After dealing with the demonic beast corpses, the two found arge rock to sit on casually.


    "I saved something good for you, guaranteeing you''ve never tasted it before."


    Saying this, Wang Hong brought out two sections of lotus roots, as white as jade, emitting an enticing fragrance. These were the Lotus Roots of the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus. He had kept them, waiting to eat them together with Wang Yi.


    Sitting on a rock, each holding a section, they munched on the exceptionally crisp lotus roots. The moment it entered their stomachs, it transformed into pure Spiritual Energy, flowing into their meridians and dantian, causing a slight tingling sensation.


    While Wang Hong ate and circted his cultivation technique, he realized halfway that he was about to break through his cultivation realm again.


    Hastily finishing the remaining half, he focused on circting his technique. The lotus root inside him transformed into a majestic Spiritual Energy, swirling rapidly in his dantian. The Spiritual Energy from the lotus root merged gradually, making his dantian expand.


    After three hours, he finally absorbed all the Spiritual Energy. His cultivation level had risen by anotheryer, reaching the ninth level of Qi Cultivation.


    Opening his eyes slowly, Wang Hong noticed Wang Yi sitting nearby, looking somewhat uneasy and resembling someone struggling with constipation.


    "What''s wrong? Upset stomach? Constipated?" he asked.


    "Brother! What kind of lotus root is this? The Spiritual Energy is so massive. I only ate a few bites, and I feel like I''m about toplete Foundation Building." Wang Yi said nervously. Inside the secret realm, the ancient formations could detect attacks once the strength reached Foundation Building, exining why there were no high-tier demonic beasts despite the rich Spiritual Qi.


    Wang Hong, scanning with Divine Sense, confirmed the surging Spiritual Energy within Wang Yi. He hadn''t anticipated making such a big mistake. An idea struck him suddenly.


    He took out a white crystal fruit and handed it to Wang Yi. He remembered that the first time he ate it, his cultivation level dropped by ayer.


    "Try eating this."


    epting the white crystal fruit with skepticism, Wang Yi had little choice but to give it a try.


    When Wang Yi swallowed the white crystal fruit, with each revolution of his Spiritual Energy, it condensed and purified, appearing as if it had been concentrated.


    After a few rounds, the effects of the white crystal fruit gradually diminished until it disappeared. Wang Yi felt slightly relieved.


    "It works, but I only have one. We can endure for another two or three days at most."


    Once a Heavenly Spirit Root cultivator entered the Qi Cultivation stage, a Spiritual Energy vortex formed in their dantian. Even without active cultivation, their body autonomously absorbed the Spiritual Qi of heaven and earth, leading to automatic growth in cultivation level.


    This was the advantage of innate talent. Someone like Wang Hong, with four Spiritual Roots, couldn''t match the independent absorption of Spiritual Qi by a Heavenly Spirit Root. Moreover, the cultivation process for those with four Spiritual Roots often encountered various bottlenecks.


    Typically, a cultivator with four Spiritual Roots, without special opportunities, would, at most, reach the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation in their lifetime.


    Hearing Wang Yi''s confirmation, Wang Hong feltpletely reassured. He had many white crystal fruits in his spatial storage.


    Directly taking out several dozen, he handed them over. Wang Yi, probing with Divine Sense, revealed a pleasantly surprised expression.


    He had been worried about Wang Hong''s well-being, considering hisck of background and aptitude, making survival in the Cultivation World exceedingly difficult. However, this encounterpletely changed his perspective. He discovered that his brother possessed formidable strength, having witnessed him effortlessly y four cultivators. Furthermore, Wang Hong''s wealth surpassed that of an ordinary cultivator by far.


    Although Wang Yi was epted as a disciple by a Golden Core cultivator, his master had multiple disciples, and there were direct blood rtives as well. Therefore, his resources were limited, and he had no other means of earning Spirit Stones.


    "Brother, do you often kill people and loot treasures? Are all treasure-hunting cultivators so wealthy?" Wang Yi asked.


    "Nonsense! Your brother is righteous, morally upright, always ready to help others, a role model for the Cultivation World. How could I possibly engage in such killing and looting?" Wang Hong replied with a serious expression.


    "Younger Brother, in the Cultivation World, have you ever heard this saying?" Wang Hong asked mysteriously.


    "What saying?"


    "Ten in tribtion is not as good as one selling Elixir."


    Wang Yi pretended to suddenlyprehend and said, "Brother, are you working in someone''s Elixir shop, profiting secretly? If they catch you, you might get your legs broken."


    "Smack!" Wang Hong knocked on his head again.


    "Can''t you think of something positive? Your brother is now an Alchemist, you know? Do you understand how lucrative Elixirs are? It''s iparable to mere tribtion cultivators."


    The two brothers bantered like this, revealing their true selves only in front of family.


    Suddenly, thirty or so cultivators appeared ahead, eyeing them menacingly.


    While Wang Yi contemted whether to fight, Wang Hong grabbed him and ran.


    Seeing them flee, the pursuing cultivators from behind gave chase.


    Without looking back, Wang Hong directly threw a handful of Talismans behind. Although they were low-tier Talismans, the sheer quantity was overwhelming!


    The two cultivators at the forefront were instantly engulfed in the radiant light of the Talismans. When the smoke cleared, the two cultivators were already dead, their bodies in pieces.


    "How about that? Isn''t it satisfying to kill enemies like this?" Wang Hong continued to instill some of his beliefs in Wang Yi.


    Seeing the gruesome fate of the pursuers, those from the rear no longer dared to step forward. Gradually, they distanced themselves from Wang Hong and Wang Yi until they disappeared.


    It had been two months since they entered the secret realm. During this time, many cultivators stopped searching for Spiritual Herbs and formed groups of dozens to specifically hunt down other cultivators.


    Because by now, finding Spiritual Herbs was no longer as easy as at the beginning. Rtively speaking, the profits from killing and looting were much greater.


    In the following days, Wang Yi consumed dozens of white crystal fruits in session. His internal Spiritual Energy became much purer. Although his cultivation realm, which had nearly dropped to the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation, was stabilized, hisbat strength increased by at least twoyers.


    Not only did he control his cultivation realm, but with Wang Yi''s aptitude, he would need at least half a year of further cultivation to reach the state where he could attempt Foundation Building again.


    In the days that followed, they nned to join arge group, as it was too dangerous to continue on their own.


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 Chapter 92: Saving Lives

    Chapter 92: Saving Lives


    In the days that followed, both of them became exceptionally cautious.


    Wang Hong had obtained an unnamed secret technique from the Ma Brothers, and they had used it to fake their deaths, deceiving everyone. Little did they know, Wang Hong was someone who couldn''t rest easy until he turned his enemies to ashes, almost setting them on fire.


    Wang Hong passed this secret technique to Wang Yi, emphasizing its use in critical situations.


    "I''m telling you, there''s no need to recklessly fight with others. Life is precious; if you can win, fight, if not, run. Seize an opportunity to strike back. Only when pushed to the extreme should one fight desperately. That''s called fighting to the death for a chance at life, not throwing away your life for nothing."


    Wang Hong took the chance to lecture Wang Yi, who, in normal circumstances, didn''t talk much with others. But since encountering Wang Yi, he became a bit of a chatterbox.


    "Us cultivators should be brave and make progress, advancing without fear. How can we be timid in the face of death?" Wang Yi spoke passionately.


    Wang Hong was startled by these words, wondering who had taught him such ideas.


    "Who taught you this twisted philosophy?"


    "Our sect elders always teach us this. It''s not a twisted philosophy; it''s a universally epted truth in the world."


    "Well, I often say the same things to educate other people''s children. When your sect elders instruct your own disciples, they surely won''t say the same. They would teach them to fight when they can win, run when they can''t."


    Wang Yi joined Taihao Sect when he was not yet ten years old, too young to understand many things. He simply followed whatever others taught.


    Many organizations trained young disciples because cultivating them from a young age yielded better results. Moreover, children were easier to moldpared to adults.


    "If you recruit adults and ask them to be loyal, even to the point of sacrificing their lives, they would agree readily if you offer enough Spirit Stones. However, when the crucial momentes, most of them would choose to run without hesitation."


    "I''m telling you; we should keep ourselves useful and do meaningful things. Right now, you can only fight desperately against a group of Qi Cultivation cultivators. Once you reach Foundation Building, you could easily crush several Qi Cultivation cultivators with a flick of your finger. Isn''t that a waste?"


    Wang Hong tried to slowly change some of Wang Yi''s dangerous thoughts.


    At this moment, the two were walking in a canyon when a rumbling sound echoed, and several figures ran towards them.


    Not wanting to get involved, Wang Hong pulled Wang Yi behind a tall rock.


    As the Daoist Masters approached, it turned out that there were five people escaping in front, pursued by about a dozen others.


    To Wang Hong''s surprise, the escaping group consisted of Qingxu Sect cultivators, who had shared a meal and drinks with them a few days ago.


    The Elder Brother from Kaiyang Peak seemed heavily injured, running with blood streaming from his mouth.


    The pursuers were from the Beast Spirit Sect, led by a refined-looking cultivator mounted on a bird-like Demonic Beast.


    The Demonic Beast had a wingspan of one yard, moving at incredible speed. With a few ps of its wings, it swiftly reached the front of Elder Brother.


    Without much ado, the refined cultivator threw a Talisman towards the escaping group. It exploded, turning one cultivator into ashes.


    Witnessing this, Wang Hong couldn''t help but marvel. Using Spirit Stones to kill peoplewasn''t that hismon approach?


    He initially didn''t want to interfere, but seeing his fellow sect members who had helped him in battle just a few days ago, he couldn''t bear watching them die.


    Currently, there were fifteen Beast Spirit Sect cultivators against four surviving sect members, who were already injured, along with the two brothers. A direct confrontation was surely unwinnable.


    Wang Hong carefully analyzed the situation and the surroundings, believing that they had a good chance of escaping.


    "Let''sunch a surprise attack together, targeting those with flying mounts."


    "Brother! Didn''t you say to run if we can''t win, not to fight desperately?" Wang Yi retorted, his face echoing with a loud p.


    "Ah! They helped me, and a favor must be repaid. Some things are unavoidable. Be carefulter; rescue them and then run."


    Among the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators, ten were apanied by Spirit Beasts, and three of them had flying Spirit Beasts, making their attacks more agile than regr flying magical weapons.


    Due to the leading cultivator''s obstruction, the dozen pursuers caught up rapidly, ready to surround the remaining four.


    Just then, behind arge stone by the canyon, a dazzling sword light rose, apanied by a ck figure darting out from behind.


    "Enemy attack!"


    The Beast Spirit Sect members quickly prepared for defense.


    The figure and the sword light almost simultaneously reached the position of the group. Before the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators could fully defend themselves, a cultivator in midair, along with his mounted bird, was cleaved in half by the sword light.


    After rushing into the group, Wang Hong stabbed a cultivator and threw four Devilish Vine seeds into the air.


    The cultivator was preparing to summon a shield Magical Weapon when he noticed four small ck dots approaching. Hastily, he maneuvered his Spiritual Beast to evade.


    Three of the seeds missed him, but one attached to his body, rapidly growing and entwining him. The Devilish Vine absorbed his essence blood and Spiritual Energy, growing even faster, eventually entangling both him and his Spiritual Beast.


    Wang Hong pierced through the shield of another cultivator, who quickly dodged to a distance of about ten feet, narrowly avoiding a fatal blow.


    By this time, Wang Yi had emerged from behind the rocks, shouting at the four Qingxu Sect cultivators, "Follow me!"


    This had been prearranged before the attack; there was a river on the way, and Wang Yi nned to lead them across it.


    With Wang Hong''s existing flying Magical Weapons, they had three in total. Wang Yi took two and went ahead with the others. They expected the Beast Spirit Sect to have fewer flying Magical Weapons, so the n was to ambush and kill three Spiritual Beasts, making it difficult for the pursuers to cross the river simultaneously.


    Wang Yi led the group in the front, while Wang Hong, relying on his agility, harassed the pursuers from behind, dancing on the edge of their attacks.


    The refined-looking cultivator from the Beast Spirit Sect threw a handful of Talismans at Wang Hong, who quickly used a shifting positions technique to move four yards away. However, two fireball Talismans still grazed him, burning off part of his clothes.


    Wang Hong, who often enjoyed throwing many Talismans at others, now found himself in a simr situation, feeling like it was karma.


    While dodging various attacks, Wang Hong retaliated by throwing a bunch of Talismans back at the cultivator. To his surprise, the cultivator took out an Ancient Jade, emitting a faint white light. The attacks from the Talismans entered the light and disappeared.


    Angry that Wang Hong adopted his tactics, the Beast Spirit Sect cultivator began exchanging a barrage of Talismans with him. The difference was that the Beast Spirit Sect cultivator, riding on his flying beast, was protected by a Spiritual Weapon, looking quiteposed.


    Wang Hong, on the other hand, faced many difficulties. While throwing Talismans, he had to dodge various attacks, not only from Talismans but also from other cultivators'' Magical Weapons. His body bore multiple injuries, but his agility,bined with body refining, kept him alive.


    Approaching the river while being attacked, Wang Yi, with the four Qingxu Sect cultivators, had already crossed. Wang Yi took two flying Magical Weapons, leaving one for Wang Hong.


    The refined-looking cultivator blocked Wang Hong''s path, riding his flying beast, which was faster than Wang Hong''s Flying Boat.


    "Thinking of running? No one can escape from me."


    He took out a Copper Mirror, unleashing a beam of light toward Wang Hong. Before he could dodge, the light hit him, disrupting the flow of his Spiritual Energy. Controlling even the Flying Boat became difficult, let alone using the Dragon Serpent Escape technique.


    Without his advantage in agility, Wang Hong became an easy target for the pursuers. He probably wouldn''t survive another breath.


    Just then, Wang Yi arrived on a flying Magical Weapon. He grabbed Wang Hong and headed for the other side of the river.


    Simultaneously, Wang Yi swung a sword energy at the refined cultivator. Although the attack was ineffective, it slowed the cultivator down a bit.


    Chasing them were six more Beast Spirit Sect cultivators, using flying Magical Weapons. Wang Yi flew toward the riverbank, releasing a sword energy to hinder their pursuit.


    As they reached the opposite bank, Wang Yi tossed Wang Hong to the ground and turned back to confront the pursuing Beast Spirit Sect cultivator.


    Six Beast Spirit Sect cultivators, along with the refined young man, made a total of seven.


    After a brief recovery, Wang Hong''s Spiritual Energy was back to normal. He handed four bottles of Spirit Wine to the Qingxu Sect cultivators, whose Spiritual Energy had depleted besides their injuries.


    After drinking the Spirit Wine, they felt a surge of Spiritual Energy, revitalizing their meridians.


    Wang Yi and the refined young man were engaged inbat, but Wang Yi''s attacks couldn''t break through the opponent''s defense, and he had to constantly guard against the Copper Mirror.


    Observing this, Wang Hong released a swarm of Spirit Bees, specifically the Green-tailed Spirit Bees he had cultivated, possessing anti-magic properties.


    As the Spirit Bees approached, entering the area covered by the Ancient Jade''s light, they emitted a green glow, gradually blending with the white light from the Ancient Jade. The Spirit Bees moved closer to the young man.


    At the same time, the other six Beast Spirit Sect cultivators had engaged in battle with the four Qingxu Sect cultivators. Wang Hong released Poisonous Bees to join the fray, attacking the refined young man from a different angle.


    The remaining Beast Spirit Sect cultivators without flying Magical Weapons were swimming across the river, and though slower than flying, they would arrive shortly.


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 Chapter 93: Calculating to Kill a Formidable Foe

    Chapter 93: Calcting to Kill a Formidable Foe


    The situation was dire; if the opposing force were topletely cross the river, they would be no match for them.


    Wang Hong, seizing the opportunity, charged into the group of Beast Spirit Sect cultivators. In just a few rounds, he stabbed a cultivator through, snatched his Storage Bag in passing.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong''s Spirit Bee had crawled onto the Young Cultivator, starting to bite all over his body.


    Although the venom of the Green-tailed Spirit Bees wasn''t extremely potent, the pain they caused far exceeded the Poisonous Bees Wang Hongter cultivated.


    "Ah, ah, ah!"


    The Young Cultivator let out painful cries, but soon he dared not scream anymore. Whenever he opened his mouth, the Spirit Bee would dart inside.


    The Poisonous Beescked repellent abilities. At this moment, while Ancient Jade emitted a glow, Wang Hong decided to recall them and join the attack on other cultivators.


    At this point, the young man, enduring intense pain, took out a talisman made of beast skin. After activating it, it transformed into a fire dragon, flying towards Wang Yi.


    A second-tier Fire Dragon Talisman, equivalent to an attack from a Foundation Building cultivator, was nearly unstoppable within the Qi Cultivation period.


    Seeing the fire dragon approaching, Wang Yi spat out essence blood, and his Flying Sword shone even brighter, swiftly flying toward the fire dragon.


    "Boom!"


    The Flying Sword collided with the fire dragon, making a loud noise, then disappeared, weakening the fire dragon only by a fraction.


    Wang Yi lost his Flying Sword and resorted to finger sword techniques, shooting sword energy at the fire dragon. However, it proved ineffective, as the fire dragon closed in.


    Typically, sword cultivators only possessed one Flying Sword. Before use, it needed blood refinement and constant nourishment with their own Spiritual Energy to imbue it with spirituality and align it with the cultivator''s intentions.


    Of course, the effects were not very apparent in the Qi Cultivation period and required reaching Foundation Building or even Golden Core stages to manifest significantly.


    At this moment, Wang Hong swiftly intervened, standing in front of his younger brother and kicking the young man away.


    Wang Hong wondered why his brother, who was quite clever in his childhood, seemed to have be foolish as he grew older.


    In reality, before entering the secret realm, Wang Yi had been practicing in the sect and had littlebat experience. He had barely engaged in sparring with fellow disciples before entering the central region. Facing formidable opponents and gainingbat experience was a rare urrence for him.


    No one is born with innate knowledge; growthes with experience. Talent only represents the aptitude for cultivation, and seclusion cannot substitute practical experience.


    Having joined the military at a young age, Wang Hong had undergone countless battles, despite the significant changes inbat styles. The essence of battle remained unchanged.


    After kicking Wang Yi away, Wang Hong observed as the fire dragon approached. In haste, he could only summon the Wooden que Spiritual Weapon. However, before the defensive barrier could fully activate, the fire dragon swallowed him.


    Wang Yi, thrown several yards away, witnessed the fire dragon engulfing Wang Hong. Eyes aze, he rushed towards the young cultivator.


    The Beast Spirit Sect cultivator, writhing in pain but determined, took out a second-tier talisman, ready to activate it.


    Just then, Wang Hong, covered in ck smoke, emerged from the mes and witnessed the scene.


    "Run! Everyone, cross the river, go back to the other side!" Wang Hong shouted loudly while tossing a flying magical weapon to Wang Yi.


    His purpose in killing a Beast Spirit Sect cultivator earlier was to seize this flying magical weapon.


    Now, if they crossed the river back to the other side, he wanted to see how the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators would pursue them.


    Wang Yi understood the urgency of the situation. Without much thought, he controlled the Flying Boat, flying to where his Elder Brother and the others were battling.


    The four of them were already heavily injured. Although they had used Spirit Wine to restore their Spiritual Energy, theirbat strength had still decreased. They had just lost another fellow disciple, leaving only three of them now.


    However, on the opposing side, the original six members had been reduced to three. Wang Hong had killed one, the Poisonous Bees had imed another, and Elder Brother had taken out the third.


    Wang Yi wielded his finger as a sword, sending out sword energy, but its power was considerably diminished. Standing on the flying magical weapon, he protected Elder Brother and the others as they piloted the Flying Boat to escape to the other side.


    Back to Wang Hong''s side, after escaping from under the Fire Dragon Talisman, he was burnt and smoked, his defensive Spiritual Weapon destroyed due to iplete activation. Nevertheless, he considered himself fortunate to escape with his life.


    Upon seeing the young man taking out another second-tier talisman, Wang Hong, without hesitation, summoned the Windsoar Boat and flew across the river to the other side.


    By the time the young man activated the second-tier talisman, Wang Hong had already distanced himself by twenty yards using the Dragon Serpent Escape technique.


    When the second-tier talisman finally caught up to Wang Hong, his Spiritual Energy was nearly depleted. He threw a handful of first-tier talismans, dispersing the pursuer.


    When Wang Hong reached the other side of the river, he copsed, having already sustained injuries while protecting others, and narrowly avoided being burned to a crisp by a second-tier Talisman.


    On the opposite bank, the group of Beast Spirit Sect cultivators had just swum across when their opponents, piloting a flying magical weapon, returned to the other side of the river above their heads. Did they really intend to swim back again?


    However, the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators had more pressing concerns. Their leader, Senior Brother Qi, was currently rolling on the ground, bitten all over by Spirit Bees.


    If something happened to Senior Brother Qi, they couldn''t afford the consequences. His father was a Golden Core cultivator, and so was his grandfather. With such a powerful background within the Beast Spirit Sect, currying favor with them could yield significant benefits. Conversely, dealing with a few Qi Cultivation disciples like them would be a simple matter.


    Once Wang Hong left, the Spirit Bees lost control, and most of them flew away from Senior Brother Qi.


    Several Beast Spirit Sect cultivators rushed over to help drive away the Spirit Bees. While the venom might not be highly potent individually, arge number could still be deadly.


    After chasing away the Spirit Bees, Senior Brother Qi was left with only half of his life.


    "Chase! Chase them down! If we don''t crush them, I swear I won''t rest."


    Though Senior Brother Qi had only half of his life left, he had never suffered such a grievous loss before. He couldn''t ept it.


    The remaining disciples hurriedly reached the riverbank. However, they only had one flying magical weapon left, and Senior Brother Qi''s spiritual beast had been bitten to the brink of death by Spirit Bees.


    Helplessly, three of them sat on the flying magical weapon, while the rest had no choice but to swim across.


    Although Wang Hong was injured and lying on the ground, his consciousness remained clear. He took some healing elixirs and sat up.


    "Junior Brother Wang, I owe you my life for your great favor."


    Elder Brother, covered in blood, had been in battle for a long time before encountering Wang Hong.


    "Junior Brother Wang, what should we do next?" After expressing gratitude to Wang Hong, Elder Brother and the others turned to him, clearly acknowledging him as their leader.


    "Let''s stay on this side of the bank. At least here, we have a slight advantage. Everyone, use this time to recover from your injuries. If the enemyes over, we''ll cross the river again."


    If they ran elsewhere, the enemy would likely follow, and given their current injuries, escaping might not be guaranteed.


    While nursing his injuries, Wang Hong retrieved a high-quality golden Flying Sword from his Storage Bag and handed it to Wang Yi. He also took out many first-tier talismans and gave them to Wang Yi. In this critical situation, Wang Yi no longer rejected using talismans.


    At this moment, the three remaining Beast Spirit Sect cultivators on the Flying Boat had crossed the river. Wang Hong released Poisonous Bees again, attacking one cultivator, while the others surrounded the remaining two.


    In just a few moments, the three Beast Spirit Sect cultivators were in. They had intended toe early to hinder the opponents and prevent them from using magical weapons to escape. However, they had not anticipated losing their lives in such a short time.


    Meanwhile, the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators who had just swum to the center of the river were still contemting. Once they left the secret realm, their first priority would be obtaining a flying magical weapon. Today''s battle had been frustrating.


    Since the beginning of the fight, they had been swimming in the water, not even touching the opponents'' fur. However, as soon as they swam to the riverbank, they saw their opponents flying back to the other side using magical weapons.


    The Beast Spirit Sect cultivators were furious, feeling as if they were being mocked.


    "If you''re not going to fight, why did you stand there in a row, looking ready for a decisive battle? Were you nning to wait for us to finish the entire swim?"


    Fine, let''s swim back.


    Wang Hong and the others quickly flew to the other side. Senior Brother Qi was still here, nursing his injuries. He didn''t expect that when being chased, they would turn around andunch a counterattack.


    Now, he was the only injured person on their side, while the other disciples were still swimming in the water.


    Without saying much, Wang Hong directly activated a second-tier talisman, of which he had obtained several for self-defense.


    The remaining disciples each summoned their magical weapons and attacked Senior Brother Qi. In a series of thunderous sounds, the radiant light around Senior Brother Qi finally dissipated.


    Seeing this opportunity, Wang Hong''s Poisonous Bees swarmed Senior Brother Qi.


    At the same time, Senior Brother Qi activated another second-tier talisman and aimed it at Wang Hong. He harbored the deepest hatred for Wang Hong and was determined to kill him even if it cost him his life.


    When the fire dragon, formed by the second-tier talisman, flew towards Wang Hong, Wang Hong, Wang Yi, Elder Brother, and the other two each produced dozens of first-tier talismans, hurling them at the iing fire dragon.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    The talismans collided in mid-air, creating a tremendous noise. Simultaneously, Wang Hong''s Poisonous Bees covered Senior Brother Qi''s entire body. After a few breaths, Senior Brother Qi had no breath left.


    Wang Hong walked over, took off Senior Brother Qi''s Storage Bag, and then used a me to reduce the body to ashes.


    At this time, the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators who had just swum to the center of the river saw this scene. No longer daring to pursue, they turned around and swam back.


    Now, Wang Hong and his group were also at their weakest. Seeing that the enemy no longer pursued, they quickly left together.


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 Chapter 94: Sharing the Spoils

    Chapter 94: Sharing the Spoils


    Wang Hong and his team of five found a secluded spot. Using their Flying Swords, they dug out a small mountain cave and concealed the entrance with some misceneous grass. The team entered the cave, seeking refuge.


    Immediately, they began to take Elixir to heal their injuries. Among the five, Wang Yi had the least severe injuries, so he took on the task of standing guard.


    It had been a long time since Wang Hong had suffered such heavy injuries. He hadn''t expected that the cultivator they encountered would possess so many powerful treasures. It was a narrow escape for him, making him realize that he had underestimated the heroes of the world. From now on, he needed to be more cautious.


    At this moment, Wang Hong''s skin was charred, with many ces cracked open, revealing the red muscles underneath. He was in pain all over, and touching any part of his body caused intense pain.


    This time, he had recuperated for ten days. A newyer of tender skin had grown beneath the charred one, without leaving any scars.


    The injuries of the others also healed to some extent. Initially, Elder Brother''s team had eight members, but now only three remained.


    The other two surviving cultivators were from Kaiyang Peak, named Yue Hao and Zhang Zhuo. Both were at the ninth level of Qi Cultivation.


    ording to Elder Brother, they had regrouped with three more sect members, making their team a total of eleven people.


    In the canyon, they discovered the three-tiered spirit fruit tree. However, they were not the only ones who had found it. Powerful demonic snakes surrounded the tree, led by a snake king who could rival five Qi Cultivation experts.


    During their battle with the demonic beasts and the subsequent struggle for the spirit fruit, four of their sect members died, and the rest suffered various injuries.


    The three-tiered spirit fruit was a treasure even Golden Core cultivators would fight over. For Qi Cultivators like them, thepetition was inevitably fierce.


    These spirit fruits of three or higher tiers, when directly consumed by Qi Cultivators, had a chance to assist in Foundation Building.


    In ancient times, when the Spirit Qi was abundant, and various Spiritual Herbs were plentiful, there were no Foundation Establishment Pills. Cultivators could casually consume various natural treasures, although the sess rate of Foundation Building was lower than with pills. However, the abundancepensated for it.


    As the number of cultivators increased, the resources were quickly depleted, endangering the cultivation world. To address this crisis, the ancient cultivators invented Foundation Establishment Pills, using arge quantity of then not-so-precious second-tier Spiritual Herbs. This invention significantly saved resources, allowing the cultivation world to thrive for nearly a million years.


    Nowadays, even finding natural treasures of three tiers or above was rare, let alone the precious herbs for Foundation Establishment Pills.


    If not for the protection measures of the six major secret realms, the cultivation world might have already declined.


    Many smaller groups of cultivators were annihted in the quest for three-tiered spirit fruits. Fortunately, Elder Brother''s team was rtively strong among the same-level cultivators. They managed to snatch a few spirit fruits and quickly leave the battlefield.


    However, cultivators from Beast Spirit Sect and Hunyuan Sect coborated to block the perimeter, targeting those attempting to leave. To break through the blockade, two more of Elder Brother''s team members sacrificed themselves.


    Cheng Zan, Wang Hong''s neighbor, also perished in this battle. Wang Hong remembered him as a somewhat stingy and opportunistic old man, especially during their gatherings, where he would only take a small bite of the offered spirit fruits and Spirit Wine, then pack them up to take away.


    It was said that Cheng Zan, the old man who perished in the battle, had a grandson with decent potential. Feeling old and without much hope for himself, Cheng Zan had cut down all his expenses to provide for his grandson. Entering the secret realm this time, he had the mindset that he might as well take the risk, hoping for a stroke of luck to survive.


    ording to Elder Brother, Beast Spirit Sect had gathered dozens of cultivators. To continue intercepting others, their leader only brought around a dozen followers.


    This implied that once those Beast Spirit Sect cultivators learned that their leader had been killed, they might seek revenge, especially considering the high status of the young cultivator they had in.


    It seemed staying in this ce for long was not wise. They all sat together in a circle inside the mountain cave.


    Everyone brought out their captured Storage Bags and emptied the contents in the center of the cave, creating a small mountain of items that crowded the temporary space.


    Despite the excitement in their eyes, nobody spoke. All eyes turned to Wang Hong, clearly indicating that they expected him to oversee the distribution.


    While Wang Hong owed their life, he couldn''t im all the items for himself. Each person had contributed during the battle, and it was essential to allocate ordingly. If effort wasn''t rewarded, resentment might brew over time.


    Understanding the dynamics, Wang Hong decided to distribute based on each person''s contribution in the battle. He and Wang Yi, having yed significant roles, would choose two items first. Elder Brother would then select one, and the rest would be divided equally.


    No one objected to this n.


    Wang Hong chose a Copper Mirror from the pile, a powerful Spiritual Weapon. This mirror had nearly been the end of him if Wang Yi hadn''t arrived in time. Considering its formidable strength, he wanted to keep it for himself.


    Upon Wang Hong''s insistence, Wang Yi chose a defensive Spiritual Weapon used by the young cultivator. The Ancient Jade emitted a defensive radiant light that had required thebined effort of a second-tier talisman and nearly two hundred first-tier talismans to break.


    In the hands of a Qi Cultivator, the true potential of a Spiritual Weapon couldn''t be fully unleashed. With this item, Wang Yi''s safety would be more assured in the future, as long as they avoided provoking Golden Core cultivators.


    With each brother choosing a Spiritual Weapon, Wang Yi''s gaze turned to three spirit fruits stored in Jade Boxes.


    "Are these the three-tier spirit fruits you fought for?" he asked.


    "Exactly, these are Dragon Scale Fruits, three-tier spirit fruits," Elder Brother replied.


    Wang Hong and Wang Yi chose one Dragon Scale Fruit each, leaving thest for Elder Brother.


    With the three of them having priority, the remaining items were to be shared among the five.


    Following the same method, they took turns selecting items, a bit time-consuming but ensuring each person got what they desired.


    Starting the selections, Wang Hong found a mature Seven-star Mushroom. With this, the Medicinal Herbs needed for his Foundation Establishment Pill were nowplete.


    Wang Yi followed suit, choosing another Foundation Establishment Pill main herb. Others made simr choices, prioritizing Foundation Establishment Pillponents.


    After several rounds, it came back to Wang Hong. This time, he didn''t choose another Foundation Establishment Pill main herb. Instead, he picked a second-tier Spiritual Herb he didn''t possess. With the main herbs already collected, he could cultivate them in the spatial dimension.


    In subsequent rounds, Wang Hong continued to select various second-tier Spiritual Herbs.


    After more than ten rounds, Wang Hong chose a segment of spirit wood, thumb-thick, five inches long, entirely green. Using his Divine Sense, he observed signs of vitality, indicating it could be cultivated. He didn''t know what it was, found in the Storage Bag of the young Beast Spirit Sect cultivator, carefully preserved in a Jade Box with a talisman to prevent energy loss.


    Wang Hong guessed its value must be high for the wealthy young cultivator to treasure it. Little did they know that, during these ten days, over thirty Beast Spirit Sect cultivators were diligently searching the area, just three feet away from their hidden cave.


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 Chapter 95: Poisonous Scheme

    Chapter 95: Poisonous Scheme


    After dividing a heap of spoils, each person got what they desired. The practitioners from the Beast Spirit Sect were formidable, specializing in looting, and thus had many valuable items.


    This time alone, there were nearly two hundred main herbs for Foundation Establishment Pills, and each person, except Wang Hong, received dozens of them.


    Wang Hong seized the opportunity to enter the Space and transnt the rare Spiritual Herbs obtained this time. He needed to extract the core of the Dragon Scale Fruit beforehand and nt it. Once out of the secret realm, he nned to submit this three-tier spirit fruit to the Sect.


    The three-tier spirit fruit was too precious, an item even Golden Core cultivators would fight over. As a Qi Cultivation cultivator, he had no right to possess it.


    Keeping it a secret was impossible as there were three others besides Wang Yi who knew about it. Holding onto this item was too risky; if a Golden Core cultivator took an interest, it would be terrifying.


    Although the core of the Dragon Scale Fruit could be used as medicine, it was only a two-tier item. By submitting the entire fruit and retaining just one core, he hoped to avoid further disputes.


    The small piece resembling branches of spirit wood was also nted. He wasn''t sure what tree it came from.


    Originally, he intended to cut it into segments, but despite using his Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword with full force, he couldn''t sever it. Even after a dozen strikes, only a slight injury appeared on the outer green skin.


    This made him doubt if it was truly branches, but upon closer inspection, the genuine wood attributes inside dispelled his suspicions. He had no choice but to nt it and wait for it to grow into a small tree, making it easier to identify with leaves.


    The Bird Egg he had stolen from the nest was nearing hatching due to the elerated time flow in the Space. He needed to establish ownership before that happened.


    Establishing ownership before hatching yielded the best results. At this stage, the Spirit Beast hadn''t developed self-awareness and wouldn''t resist.


    With three drops of essence blood, he drew numerous runes on the eggshell and chanted a few spells. The essence blood runes gradually permeated the shell.


    Initially, he thought of roasting the Bird Egg, but witnessing Beast Spirit Sect practitioners riding Spiritual Beasts in battle fueled his envy. He decided to cultivate a flying Spirit Beast for himself.


    Now that everyone''s injuries were healed and their strength restored after several battles, those who survived were truly formidable. Before deciding to venture out again, Wang Hong gave Wang Yi a bunch of Talismans. After some education, Wang Yi was now willing to carry Talismans as life-saving measures during critical moments.


    He also exchanged several bottles of Spirit Wine with Elder Brother and others. Wang Hong imed to have some connection with the owner of a wine shop in Azure Void City, allowing him to acquire high-quality Spirit Wine exceeding tier one. He wasn''t lying, given the circumstances.


    If not for the excessive killings and looting in the secret realm, and the difficulty of exining things once outside, Wang Hong would have considered bing a Spirit Wine merchant within the secret realm, trading Spirit Wine directly for various Spiritual Herbs.


    With only twenty days left until the end of the secret realm, most areas had already been thoroughly searched. Over the millennia, various sects had mapped out which Spiritual Herbs grew where. Now, disciples were no longer searching for Spiritual Herbs but forming teams to kill both humans and demons on sight.


    The Demonic Beasts within the secret realm were terrified, hiding and avoiding confrontation. Every sixty years, practitioners from various sects would purge the realm of powerful Demonic Beasts, so their numbers were not overwhelming.


    Wang Hong and his group finally left the small mountain cave they had been hiding in for ten days. However, as they covered only a short distance, they encountered a group of Beast Spirit Sect practitioners. There were ten of them, and upon seeing Wang Hong''s group, they didn''t approach but instead whispered among themselves and immediately sent amunication talisman.


    Observing this, Wang Hong and hispanions understood that the other party was calling for reinforcements. They charged towards the group, but surprisingly, the ten practitioners chose to flee upon seeing Wang Hong''s group. Instead of pursuing, Wang Hong''s group decided to leave first.


    As they prepared to depart, the ten practitioners followed from behind. When Wang Hong and his group turned to chase them, the practitioners ran even farther.


    "Quick, run! Their goal is to entangle us, waiting for more people to surround and kill us."


    They sprinted in a specific direction, with Wang Hong at the rear. identally dropping a few small Medicinal Pills, the pills quickly dissipated into the surrounding air and soil once he moved away.


    With each segment of the journey, a few more Medicinal Pills dropped and vanished into the invisible surroundings.


    The Beast Spirit Sect cultivators in the rear were trailing far behind and hadn''t noticed the unfolding events.


    After a moment, two more squads of Beast Spirit Sect practitioners arrived, chasing Wang Hong and his group in the direction they were escaping.


    Seeing more reinforcements arriving, the pursuers began surrounding and intercepting them from different angles, clearly determined not to let them escape.


    "We should just run; it might be difficult to shake off their pursuit. Fighting head-on is not a viable option; they have over thirty people," Wang Hong said in a low voice as he caught up with the others.


    "Junior Brother Wang, do you have any ns? Should we head back to that river?" Elder Brother asked. He admired Wang Hong for cleverly using a river to defeat strong enemies, allowing everyone to escape a dire situation.


    "We''re too far from that river now, and they might have arranged guards after suffering a loss there. We can''t risk falling into their trap," Wang Hong replied.


    "Brother, what if we kill a few of them and then run?" Wang Yi suggested.


    "Kill and risk being entangled? No, let''s not linger in battles. If we gain an advantage, we run. Even if we can''t kill them, we still run," Wang Hong stated. "I have other arrangements. Here are a few detoxification elixirs I refined. Take one each, and if you find yourself poisonedter, consume the elixir."


    He handed each person a detoxification elixir.


    "Follow me closely when we run. If we encounter anyone blocking our way, we all attack together, try to kill one or two, but don''t get caught up in prolonged battles. Seize any opportunity and run. Even if we can''t defeat them, we must escape."


    With Wang Hong leading, the group charged forward. Soon, they encountered eight Beast Spirit Sect practitioners charging towards them from the side.


    Wang Hong and his group decisively turned to confront the attackers, engaging in a sh of magical weapons. As Wang Hong attacked, he released numerous Poisonous Bees into the air, swarming towards the enemies.


    Amidst the swarm, he discreetlyunched a small ck medicinal pill, inconspicuously blending it with the bees.


    After two exchanges, neither side gained an advantage. The other squad from the Beast Spirit Sect was closing in.


    Wang Hong changed direction, leading his group away while drawing the Poisonous Bees away. Staying here would result in their annihtion, given the numerous Beast Spirit Sect cultivators.


    After a short run, they faced another interception. This time, one of the enemy cultivators, identally letting his guard down, was surrounded by a group of Poisonous Bees and met a tragic end.


    Wang Hong seized the opportunity and led the group to escape once again.


    In this manner, Wang Hong led his people in circles, never leaving the area.


    "Why do these people keep running in this particr region? Are they hoarding some treasure here, unwilling to leave?" wondered the Beast Spirit Sect practitioners. They had almost closed the encirclement with over thirty people.


    However, Wang Hong''s group seemed uninterested in forcefully breaking through. Instead, they engaged briefly before swiftly retreating, avoiding prolonged conflicts.


    "Never mind them. Even if they''re up to something, they won''t escape. Once we catch them, we''ll interrogate them thoroughly," thought the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators.


    Meanwhile, Wang Yi voiced a simr question, "Brother, why do we keep running in this area? How long will this go on?"


    "It should be almost over. Check with your Divine Sense to see if there''s a ck energy inside you," Wang Hong suggested.


    After a moment, the group''s expressions changed. Unbeknownst to them, a ck energy had silently invaded their bodies, quietly devouring their Spiritual Energy. They werepletely unaware.


    Attempting to expel it through cultivation proved futile, only intensifying the ck energy''s voracious appetite for their Spiritual Energy.


    Elder Brother and the others felt anxious. Although they belonged to the same sect, they had minimal interaction in the past. While they had fought together twice, it wasn''t to the extent of relying on each other for life and death.


    At this moment, their lives were almost entirely in Wang Hong''s hands, depending on his character.


    "You can take the detoxification pills now. If we encounter more cultivators, there''s no need to run," Wang Hong said, anticipating their thoughts. He had already provided them with the antidote in advance.


    As Wang Yi took the lead in swallowing the detoxification pill, the others followed suit. The pill dissolved into a surge of Spiritual Energy, spreading throughout their bodies.


    Upon encountering this Spiritual Energy, the ck energy rapidly dissipated, transforming back into pure Spiritual Energy.


    The group sighed in relief, their respect for Wang Hong''s character increasing.


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 Chapter 96: Annihilating a Formidable Foe

    Chapter 96: Annihting a Formidable Foe


    When Wang Hong and his group encountered the interception squad from the Beast Spirit Sect again, they didn''t retreat without a fight. Instead, theyunched a fierce attack, seemingly preparing to break through.


    As the two sides shed, several other groups took the opportunity to surround them. This time, there was no chance for Wang Hong and his team to escape.


    However, they couldn''t afford to bepletely surrounded. If that happened, they might die before the poison took effect on their pursuers.


    All five of them used defensive Magical Weapons to protect themselves. In such a critical moment, preserving their own lives was the top priority.


    While retreating, they prevented beingpletely surrounded but stayed close enough. Simultaneously, they asionally threw a few Talismans or used Magical Weapons to harass their enemies.


    Beast Spirit Sect cultivators unleashed relentless attacks, putting Wang Hong and his team in a precarious situation. In just a few breaths, they sustained varying degrees of injuries.


    Gradually, the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators felt their Spiritual Energy depleting, finding it odd. How could their Spiritual Energy be consumed so quickly in such a short battle?


    During the pursuit, everyone used the Wind Control Technique, a Magical Art ideal for long-distance travel with minimal Spiritual Energy consumption.


    While Divine Sense could perceive the slightest details, who would constantly use it to observe their own internal state unless they were narcissistic or entric?


    It was like asionally looking in the mirror; you wouldn''t do it all day long.


    During a battle, all focus was on external threats, and nobody paid attention to their own bodies.


    "Not good! There''s a strange energy in my body, devouring my Spiritual Energy."


    Someone noticed the anomaly and warned the others. The rest checked with their Divine Sense, their expressions changing. There was no need to guess; they had fallen into the enemy''s trap.


    However, this discovery only intensified their aggressiveness. In such a moment, it was a fight for survival.


    The only chance was to restrain these five individuals. The Beast Spirit Sect cultivators were ruthless; it was a do-or-die situation.


    The earlier pursuit had a yful element, akin to a cat chasing a mouse. But now, it had escted to a life-or-death scenario, and no one held back their strength.


    Those who made it to the central secret realm and survived until now were not weak. In this critical moment, they erupted with their most powerful techniques.


    Countless Magical Weapons, Magical Arts, and Talismans burst forth like a brilliant firework, heading straight for Wang Hong and hispanions.


    "Run!"


    Facing the strongest attacks from over thirty experts, all five of them could only flee for their lives.


    Wang Hong was the fastest, but he didn''t rush to the front; instead, he positioned himself at the rear of the group.


    As a body-refining cultivator, his defense was the strongest among the team. If anyone else were in his ce, facing the attacks of over thirty people, they would be doomed.


    A Dark Turtle Shield, about a dozen feet in size, floated behind Wang Hong, securely protecting him.


    The pursuing Beast Spirit Sect cultivators could only see a massive turtle shell, asionally catching a glimpse of legs running beneath it.


    As over thirty attacks approached, half of themnded on Wang Hong''s turtle shell.


    "Plop, plop, plop!"


    After a dozen consecutive sounds, cracks appeared on the turtle shell.


    However, as the first round ended, another set of attacks, slightly weaker than the first, struck the turtle shell. Though this second wave was less powerful, dealing with life-and-death blows from Qi Cultivation experts was no easy task. Eventually, the turtle shell couldn''t withstand the pressure and shattered into pieces.


    "Junior Brother Wang, let me handle this!"


    "Brother, I''ll take your ce!"


    At this critical moment, both Elder Brother and Wang Yi, who were fleeing alongside Wang Hong, offered to rece him.


    Wang Yi activated the newly acquired Ancient Jade, emitting a radiant light that enveloped Wang Hong.


    Elder Brother raised arge shield, blocking attacks from behind.


    Without hesitation, Wang Hong let Elder Brother take the rearmost position. If Elder Brother couldn''t hold, Wang Yi would be the next in line.


    Originally, Elder Brother, being a descendant of a Golden Core cultivator, possessed a defensive Spiritual Weapon. Unfortunately, it was damaged during the battle for the three-tier spirit fruit. Now, he could only rely on a high-quality defensive Magical Weapon, likelysting for only about two rounds.


    As for the other two disciples, their strength was slightly inferior. Faced with two to three attacks each round, they struggled to keep up.


    Meanwhile, the strength of the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators rapidly declined. The ck energy inside them, devouring their Spiritual Energy, grew more potent, and the consumption rate increased.


    One Beast Spirit Sect cultivator, controlling a Flying Sword, was about to strike again when he coughed up ck blood and copsed, the Flying Sword falling with him.


    Several others had their Spiritual Energy entirely drained, rendering them powerless, copsing on the ground.


    The remaining Beast Spirit Sect cultivators had little Spiritual Energy left, forcing them tounch attacks with whatever they had.


    Escape was no longer an option; there was no chance left. Their remaining Spiritual Energy was almost depleted, and they would likely sumb to poison not long after running.


    As theyunched another round of attacks, the power was significantly diminished, with two or three people falling each time.


    Witnessing this, Wang Hong and his group stopped fleeing and turned to fight.


    Wang Hong led the charge, using his Long Spear to withstand various attacks as he entered the crowd, akin to a tiger among sheep.


    Each thrust of his spear sprayed blood, while the Magical Weapons employed by the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators felt soft against him, causing only minor wounds.


    Wang Yi wielded his Flying Sword, emitting several sword rays, with each strike bringing down one opponent.


    Elder Brother, using arge Spiritual Weapon sword, could defeat an opponent with each swing. He harbored deep resentment toward these Beast Spirit Sect cultivators.


    Originally leading a squad of over ten people, most had died at the hands of the Beast Spirit Sect. Now, only three remained.


    In the previous encounter, heavily injured and with depleted Spiritual Energy, they were almost annihted by the Beast Spirit Sect. Fortunately, Wang Hong and his brother intervened, saving them fromplete destruction.


    This reversal of fortune allowed Elder Brother, who had been harboring a grudge, to vent his frustration. In less than a quarter of an hour, all thirty-two Beast Spirit Sect cultivators who had surrounded them were ughtered.


    After looting their spoils, Wang Hong and his group burned the bodies of the thirty-two cultivators to ashes.


    They found a mountain cave and divided the items taken from their fallen enemies. Once again, Wang Hong made the most significant contribution, earning another Dragon Scale Fruit, which he promptly nted.


    Each person received hundreds of Spiritual Herbs and over ten Magical Weapons. As Wang Hong''s Dark Turtle Shield was damaged, he acquired a new high-quality defensive Magical Weapon.


    After distributing the spoils, the group rested for a day before setting out again.


    After Wang Hong''s group left, a squad of eight Beast Spirit Sect cultivators arrived at the site of their battle. Equipped with flying Magical Weapons or flying Spiritual Beasts, they had been lying in wait by the river to prevent Wang Hong and his group from escaping in that direction.


    After waiting for several days without seeing any sign, they followed the traces of the battle. To their horror, they found no survivors and quickly retreated from the area.


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 Chapter 97: The Exit

    Chapter 97: The Exit


    With just over ten days remaining until the conclusion of the secret realm, numerous cultivators had gathered near the exit. Various sects and factions each upied their respective positions.


    The six major sects imed small hills for themselves, while smaller sects and family cultivators,cking sufficient strength for self-preservation, formed alliances of mutual assistance. Despite internal intrigue, they presented a unified front to the outside world.


    In recent days, conflicts had been constant among the factions, erupting into asional battles resulting in numerous casualties.


    Since the day Wang Hong and his group annihted over thirty cultivators in a single battle, they had departed from the central region. After annihting the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators, they obtained a great harvest from the Spiritual Herbs found in their Storage Bags.


    The once formidable Beast Spirit Sect, which had previously intercepted and killed cultivators from other sects, had now be a windfall for Wang Hong''s group. This included the two Dragon Scale Fruits Wang Hong acquired from the Beast Spirit Sect cultivators.


    Up to this point, Wang Hong had harvested over two thousand second-tier Spiritual Herbs in the secret realm,prising more than three hundred varieties. He left a few hundred for the sect and nted the rest in his personal space. This way, when he advanced to the Foundation Building stage in the future, he would have a constant supply of Spiritual Herbs.


    While others might use these herbs to refine a few elixirs that would be depleted once consumed, Wang Hong, by obtaining a single herb as a seed, could continuously cultivate them, creating an endless source.


    At present, their group had grown to fifteen people. After leaving the central region, they encountered ten Qingxu Sect cultivators who joined forces with them.


    Led by two Qi Cultivation experts, rumored to be Tianji Peak disciples and referred to as Senior Gu and Senior Xiang, the ten neers wore ck Daoist robes with a hint of red. This attire was in contrast to Wang Yi''s white robe, making him stand out as the only Taihao Sect cultivator in the group.


    The Qingxu Sect cultivators had some subtle hostility towards Wang Yi, and by extension, Wang Hong. Having recently shed with Taihao Sect cultivators, resulting in the death of three of their own, they eyed Taihao Sect members with envy.


    Wang Yi, intending to leave the group alone, was persuaded to stay by Wang Hong for safety reasons.


    In a subsequent battle against a group of loose cultivators, the Qingxu Sect cultivators disyed ack of enthusiasm, asionally avoiding direct engagement and even subtly hiding behind Wang Yi.


    Observing this, Wang Hong decided that it was best for him and Wang Yi to separate from the group. It was dangerous to be in a team where trust wascking, and there were even undercurrents of hostility. Instead of navigating the constant internal strife, it was better for them to travel alone.


    The duo encountered another skirmish and realized that Senior Gu and Senior Xiang were deliberately holding back during battles, sometimes even positioning themselves behind Wang Yi. Witnessing this, Wang Hong concluded that it was time for him and Wang Yi to leave the group. If teammates couldn''t trust each other and harbored hostility, it was more sensible to venture on their own.


    With their skills, they could handle most encounters, either fighting or fleeing as needed. Moreover, it made their movements more convenient. Besides, facing a few ordinary cultivators was hardly a concern, unless they encountered someone as well-equipped as the Beast Spirit Sect''s youth.


    When Wang Hong proposed leaving the group, Senior Gu and Senior Xiang feigned reluctance, attempting to convince them to stay a little longer.


    Kaiyang Peak''s Elder Brother decided to apany Wang Hong, while the other two former teammates hesitated for a moment before choosing to stay in therger group. Their reasoning was simple  safety in numbers, especially considering their rtively weaker strength.


    Wang Hong, Elder Brother, and the Kaiyang Peak cultivator broke away from the main group, heading towards the exit. Along the way, they observed several teams moving in the direction of the exit, with many of them being loose cultivators.


    These groups were notorious for ambushing lone cultivators, and Wang Hong''s trio became prime targets due to their small number. Currently, they were busy collecting spoils from the ninth batch of cultivators they had defeated.


    Their Storage Bags bulged with loot, each person adorned with over ten Storage Bags, fueling the desire of other groups to rob them.


    Encountering formidable opponents, they wisely opted for a hasty retreat rather than risking unnecessary conflict. Pursuers would give up after a short chase, aware that opportunities for plunder were plentiful.


    The most perilous aspect of their journey was the various traps scattered along the way. Wang Hong appreciated the training provided by the sect, which covered a wide array of traps. It was a definite advantage of being part of arge sect.


    Disdainful of the simplistic traps set by the recently defeated loose cultivators, Wang Hong was nevertheless intrigued by the bait they used. Taking advantage of his agility, he swiftly grabbed a few precious Spiritual Herbs left as bait and made a quick escape.


    Hidden cultivators observing the scene anticipated an easy kill, only to realize toote that their bait had been taken, and Wang Hong had slipped away.


    The surviving cultivators, each umting substantial wealth, were motivated to seize any opportunity. Obtaining a second-tier Spiritual Herb outside the secret realm was a rare prospect for Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    After dividing the spoils, the trio prepared to continue their journey when they spotted two figures running towards them. Upon closer inspection, one of them turned out to be Zhang Chunfeng, while the other sported a gleaming bald head.


    Chased by a group of more than ten loose cultivators, Wang Hong quickly moved forward, with Wang Yi and Elder Brother following in tacit agreement.


    As Zhang Chunfeng approached, Wang Hong, without hesitation, charged into the group of loose cultivators, sweeping through with his spear and sending a cultivator''s head soaring into the air.


    Wang Hong moved through the loose cultivator group effortlessly, swiftly killing three, while Wang Yi and Elder Brother dispatched two each. The loose cultivators, who had gathered temporarily, scattered in fear at the disy of their overwhelming strength.


    After collecting Storage Bags, each person took what they had individually killed, a standard practice when no coordinated effort was involved.


    "Senior Brother, I''ve finally found you," Zhang Chunfeng eximed, visibly relieved.


    Since entering the secret realm, Zhang Chunfeng had been searching for Wang Hong, much like Wang Yi. Although they had teamed up with others to enter the central region, they hadn''te across Wang Hong.


    Navigating the vast secret realm made encounters extremely challenging. After reaching the exit and failing to find Wang Hong at the Qingxu Sect gathering point, Zhang Chunfeng decided to search for him alone. The Putuo Temple monk had joined him merely because they happened to be in the same location when they both became targets.


    "Reverend, no need for formalities. We aren''t nning to kill you for treasures," Elder Brother chuckled.


    Throughout their journey, they never initiated violence for personal gain. Instead, they only retaliated when others attempted to exploit them.


    "Good, good! How may these humble monks assist you, fellow cultivators?" Huiyuan, the Putuo Temple monk, inquired.


    "Great Monk, no need for formalities. We are heading to the exit to regroup with our sect. If you''re going in the same direction, feel free to join us," Wang Hong said. With more people, there would be more strength.


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 Chapter 98: Exiting the Secret Realm

    Chapter 98: Exiting the Secret Realm


    With Zhang Chunfeng and Monk Huiyuan joining the team, the group now consisted of five members.


    Although the team''s strength had increased, the frequency of encounters with interceptors had not diminished. They faced several attacks every day, often having to escape in different directions, slowing down their progress.


    They discovered that near the exit, bandit cultivators organized themselves into small groups, scattering and regrouping unpredictably, causing headaches for major forces.


    Loose cultivators struggled in harsh living conditions, constantly fighting for cultivation resources as they were hard toe by.


    Despite being inferior in terms of magical weapons and equipment, loose cultivators were fierce in battle. Their ruthlessness extended even to betraying their own teammates, as witnessed by Wang Hong when a loose cultivator pushed arade forward to block an attack.


    As long as loose cultivators were willing to risk their lives in the secret realm, they could amass considerable gains upon leaving. They could exchange these gains for Foundation Establishment Pills, obtaining resources for years of cultivation beyond Foundation Building.


    Therefore, the loose cultivators staged a final frenzy in the secret realm, nning to live incognito for a few years after leaving, only to reappear as experts with Foundation Building cultivation.


    At this moment, Wang Hong and his fivepanions gathered in a mountain valley, roasting a deer-shaped demonic beast over a fire. Wang Hong sprinkled various seasonings onto it.


    The group sat around the bonfire; Elder Brother, Wang Yi, Zhang Chunfeng, and Wang Hong enjoyed Spirit Wine, while Monk Huiyuan, tempted by the aroma of alcohol and the scent of roasting meat, recited scriptures on the side.


    "How about you have some Spirit Wine too? I can see you''re enduring quite a bit. I won''t tell anyone, I promise," Wang Hong suggested to Monk Huiyuan.


    The Great Monk had been watching them pitifully whenever they drank since they started, but he refused to join.


    "Ah, Amitabha! Forgive me! The Pu Tuo Sect does not forbid disciples from drinking and eating meat," Huiyuan exined, and only then did they understand it was part of his cultivation method.


    Their Buddhist cultivation emphasized detachment and enlightenment. To achieve this, they needed to sever worldly attachments, primarily arising from desires.


    Cultivating a calm mind involved oveing desires rted to the six senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch, and thought. All these stimted personal desires, which were insatiable, leading to perpetual troubles.


    Now, Huiyuan sat before a feast, resisting the temptation of delicious food. When he couldn''t endure any longer, he would take a sip of water and have a cold steamed bun.


    "If you can''t resist, just move away and don''t look. Amitabha! Without experiencing worldly pleasures, how can one resist their allure? Without worldly engagement, how can one transcend it?" Huiyuan philosophically responded.


    Seeing his determination, Wang Yi didn''t press further.


    After spending a few days, they finally neared the exit.


    Because they seemed easy targets, every group of cultivators they encountered wanted to rob them. Any group with fewer than fifteen members almost always met their end at Wang Hong''s hands. He noticed that Monk Huiyuan, newly added to the group, was also a formidable opponent among cultivators of the same level.


    During these days, they gained arge number of storage bags, even more than they did in the central region.


    Wang Yi and Monk Huiyuan headed towards their respective sect gathering ces.


    Before Wang Yi left, he called Wang Hong aside and handed him two storage bags.


    "Brother, these are for you. I don''t need these for my cultivation."


    Wang Hong took the bags and found piles of spiritual herbs, the main and auxiliary ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills in one bag, and stacks of second-tier spiritual herbs in the other.


    "I have enough spiritual herbs for my cultivation, more than sufficient for Foundation Building. The resources for cultivation after Foundation Building are also ample."


    Wang Hong had originally nned to find an opportunity to give most of the spiritual herbs to Wang Yi. After all, he could cultivate spiritual herbs himself, and in the future, there would be no shortage. Although Wang Yi didn''t need them now, when he turned them in to the sect, he could exchange them for techniques, spiritual weapons, and other items.


    As a sword cultivator, it was essential to have a decent flying sword at least. The prices of spiritual weapons ranged from tens of thousands to several hundred thousand spirit stones, a considerable expense for ordinary cultivators.


    Despite Wang Hong''s several refusals, he eventually epted them. By now, he had a rough idea of Wang Yi''s purpose ining here.


    The spiritual herbs Wang Yi handed over were enough for him to exchange for several Foundation Establishment Pills in the sect. Additionally, Wang Yi handed over two storage bags. One contained two thousand kilograms of high-grade first-tier Spirit Wine, valued at around six hundred thousand spirit stones. The other bag held various elixirs crafted by Wang Hong, which could fetch several hundred thousand spirit stones.


    Wang Hong instructed him to wait until after reaching Foundation Building before slowly selling them and acquiring a higher-quality spiritual weapon.


    Furthermore, Wang Hong presented another storage bag, which contained a jar of second-tier Spirit Wine. This was the only jar he had brewed using the second-tier spirit fruits from his space, a limited quantity that he intended to use after advancing to Foundation Building.


    He also picked all the mature white crystal fruits from the tree, instructing Wang Yi to consume them before preparing for Foundation Building. White crystal fruits could refine spiritual energy, providing a more solid foundation for the next cultivation tier.


    Upon exiting the secret realm, everyone had to check their storage bags. They could keep ten percent of the total value of spiritual herbs, spirit fruits, and other gains, with the rest being handed over and exchanged for contribution points.


    Wang Hong was concerned that Wang Yi''s remaining spiritual herbs might not be enough, potentially requiring him to surrender even the white crystal fruits.


    He collected two eight-hundred-year-old Scarlet Blood Ginseng from his space and handed them to Wang Yi. This vintage of Scarlet Blood Ginseng already possessed the quality of a third-tier spiritual herb and could likely fetch a good amount of contribution points.


    Scarlet Blood Ginseng also existed in the secret realm, and Wang Hong had once seen a three-hundred-year-old one.


    Looking at the pile of items his brother handed him, Wang Yi was momentarily stunned. This collection was worth much more than the spiritual herbs he gave Wang Hong.


    Initially worried that Wang Hongcked sufficient resources for cultivation, Wang Yi realized he had been overly concerned.


    Wang Hong arrived at the gathering ce of Qingxu Sect in a rxed manner. By this time, around two to three hundred people had gathered beside the exit.


    Senior Brother Gao and Senior Brother Tian, who had teamed up with Wang Hong before, were already here and delighted to see Wang Hong safely return.


    In the following days, people gradually returned. Those who made it back were mostly in high spirits, exuding confidence after surviving the three months of life-and-death battles.


    After waiting for three days at the exit location, a light gate suddenly appeared in a specific spot. Starting as a blurry haze, it became increasingly clear.


    The order of exiting followed the order of entry, with Taihao Sect leading the way.


    While entering the secret realm involved random teleportation, exiting was through a unified exit. After leaving, they would appear in the same mountain valley they had entered before.


    The cultivators from Taihao Sect proceeded steadily. Wang Yi noticed that none of the loose cultivators who used to rob them on the way out had appeared. They seemed to be keeping a low profile, probably fearing retaliation from cultivators of various sects. After all, once out of the secret realm, they couldn''t openly seek revenge.


    When Wang Hong walked out of the light gate, he saw a Golden Core cultivator from Qingxu Sect standing on a hill. Other disciples stood solemnly behind him. Wang Hong quickly approached.


    By now, disciples from all six sects hade out. When entering, each sect had a thousand members. Currently, Qingxu Sect had around four hundred left, with more than half lost. Taihao Sect, as expected, remained the strongest, with over six hundred members. Other sects had around five hundred disciples each.


    Only Beast Spirit Sect seemed to have fewer peopleing out than Qingxu Sect, perhaps due to Wang Hong wiping out arge number of their elites. The Golden Core cultivator from Beast Spirit Sect had a grim face, and his disciples dared not even breathe heavily behind him.


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 Chapter 99: Power of the Golden Core

    Chapter 99: Power of the Golden Core


    After the representatives of the six major sects exited, it was the turn of the disciples from various smaller sects, major cultivation families, and the loose cultivator alliance. The loose cultivators, known for their independent nature, emergedst, as expected.


    In this secret realm, the mortality rate among loose cultivators was the highest, with approximately seventy percent casualties. Their average strength was the lowest, and being prone to looting, only a few managed to survive.


    The next step was to tally the gains. First, the sects exchanged and inspected the disciples'' Storage Bags to ensure no vitions of the rules.


    Only after this inspection could they turn in the gains from the secret realm to their respective sects.


    At this moment, a Golden Core cultivator from the Taihao Sect soared into the sky. From his body flew a dazzling golden Flying Sword, emitting a hundred-zhang-long brilliance in the air.


    With a single sweep, the radiant light cut through a mountain three miles away, breaking it at the waist. The upper half of the peak turned into rubble, while the lower half remained untouched.


    The Flying Sword then re-entered the body of the Golden Core cultivator, disappearing from sight.


    Below, Qi Cultivation cultivators were frightened by the power disyed by the Golden Core cultivator. The boldness they had shown in the secret realm had vanished, leaving them pale-faced.


    Wang Hong stood among the crowd, any trace of his earlier self-satisfaction long gone. Hismitment to the path of cultivation was now stronger than ever.


    What did the modest achievements in the Qi Cultivation stage amount to? Even the strongest Qi Cultivation cultivator couldn''tpare to a Golden Core cultivator''s fingertip.


    He secretly rejoiced in his cautious approach. He believed he had never drawn the attention of a Golden Core cultivator, let alone provoked one.


    He had heard tales of the formidable treasures used by Golden Core cultivators, capable of reshaping mountains and oceans. Now, he witnessed it firsthand.


    It was said that the size of a treasure depended on the cultivator''s heart, allowing them to store it within themselves and nurture it with their own spiritual power. The longer the nurturing, the more powerful the treasure became.


    At this point, a Golden Core cultivator from the Hunyuan Sect also disyed his prowess. Soaring into the sky, he released a fiery red gourd from his body.


    The gourd expanded to a height of two zhang, aiming its mouth at the remaining half of the mountain. A stream of mes erupted, turning the mountain fragment into a sea of fire.


    Even though separated by several miles, the spectators could still feel the intense heat. The mes produced by the second-tier Fire Dragon Talisman paled inparison.


    After a brief moment, the mes gradually extinguished, leaving the mountain fragment several zhang shorter. The melted top turned into ss, smooth and t.


    Following this, each sect arranged long tables on the leveled ground. Foundation Building cultivators sat behind the tables, responsible for receiving and registering the submitted items.


    Everyone formed lines in front of the tables, submitting their gains from the secret realm.


    At the forefront of each line stood a Foundation Building cultivator, inspecting the Storage Bags for any rule vitions. The sects implemented thorough cross-checking to prevent favoritism.


    Supervising and inspecting the Qingxu Sect disciples was a Foundation Building cultivator from the Beast Spirit Sect. He had a goatee, a cold demeanor, and looked as if everyone owed him a Spirit Stone.


    Wang Hong followed behind his Elder Brother in the queue.


    He had no intention of turning in all the Spiritual Herbs he had acquired in the secret realm. With his spatial abilities, he could easily hide them from others.


    He had gathered plenty of Spiritual Herbs this time. He could keep arge portion in his Space, elerating their cultivation. These Spiritual Herbs would be useful for his future Alchemy endeavors.


    Additionally, he had cultivated some second-tier Spiritual Herbs in his Space before, and now he had a considerable quantity. Given his low cultivation level, he refrained from using them too often.


    Now, with this opportunity, he nned to turn them in to the sect for contribution points. After all, these Spiritual Herbs also grew in the secret realm.


    For instance, Scarlet Blood Ginseng was scarce outside, but there seemed to be quite a few in this secret realm. Although highly valuable, he could only sell those with lower cultivation ages, and the quantity couldn''t be toorge for now.


    He had umted arge batch of Scarlet Blood Ginseng with a cultivation age of seven to eight hundred years. He had previously given two to Wang Yi, and now he intended to turn in one of the eight hundred years old Scarlet Blood Ginseng, along with several others with a cultivation age of four to five hundred years.


    Additionally, he nned to submit two eight hundred years old mutated Astragalus. Although this type of Spiritual Herb had not appeared in the secret realm before, there was a chance it might in the future.


    Anyone doubting this could venture inside to verify. He had scattered many seeds in the secret realm, so a few should have survived.


    He also gathered some rare Spiritual Herbs produced by his Space, mixing them with the ones obtained in the secret realm.


    With this, the portion he nned to turn in was already enough to exchange for several Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Out of the more than four hundred fellow disciples who emerged from the secret realm this time, Wang Hong observed that over half of those who submitted Spiritual Herbs upfront couldn''t reach a hundred thousand contribution points, meaning they couldn''t exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill.


    The remaining individuals who could exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill had around one hundred and twenty thousand contribution points at most, enough for just one pill.


    As for those who could exchange for two or three Foundation Establishment Pills, they were a rare few.


    Wang Hong suddenly realized he might have prepared too many Spiritual Herbs for submission. However, at this point, he dared not hide them in his Space. With so many Golden Core cultivators around, revealing the secret of his Space would be a significant loss.


    With no other choice, he had to reluctantly submit these Spiritual Herbs.


    Fortunately, with Elder Brother ahead of him, who likely had a good harvest, he could follow suit and submit his Spiritual Herbs without drawing too much attention.


    An hourter, they finally reached Elder Brother. The Beast Spirit Sect cultivator with the cold expression used Divine Sense to carefully inspect Elder Brother before taking the Storage Bag.


    "What''s your name?" The Beast Spirit Sect cultivator asked seemingly casually as he searched through the items in the Storage Bag.


    "Wu Tingchang," Elder Brother replied honestly.


    After a thorough inspection without finding any rule vitions, the Beast Spirit Sect cultivator returned the Storage Bag to Elder Brother.


    Taking the bag, Elder Brother went to the table to submit the Spiritual Herbs.


    Now it was Wang Hong''s turn for inspection. He sensed the Beast Spirit Sect cultivator''s Divine Sense scanning him thoroughly, sparing no inch of his body.


    Although Wang Hong was unaware of how the previous cultivator conducted the inspection, he could feel the unfriendly intentions of the current one.


    Despite feeling angry, he couldn''t express any dissatisfaction at this moment. He could only deeply remember this cultivator in his heart.


    "What''s your name?" The Beast Spirit Sect Foundation Building cultivator still asked in a seemingly casual tone.


    "Wang Hong."


    "Hmm, next!"


    At this moment, Elder Brother''s submitted Spiritual Herbs had already been counted, amounting to a value of six hundred and thirty thousand contribution points.


    This caused waves of astonishment among the surrounding cultivators. The counting was a joint effort by Foundation Building cultivators from at least two sects, making it credible, as it concerned the rankings of the major sects.


    "Truly worthy of being our Kaiyang Peak''s Elder Brother. He has the strongest strength and the highest harvest," eximed a disciple from Kaiyang Peak.


    "Hmph! Nothing to be amazed about. With just this bit of Spiritual Herbs, he wants to be the first? My Hunyuan Sect Senior Brother Ye''s submitted Spiritual Herbs haven''t been counted yet. Soon you''ll know that there''s always someone better, and there''s always a higher sky outside the sky," a Hunyuan Sect disciple from another queue sneered.


    Just then, at the forefront of the Hunyuan Sect line, an astounding figure of seven hundred and eighty thousand contribution points was announced.


    Although each sect had different internal management methods, and the value of contribution points varied within sects, for the sake of ranking the major sects, the counting standards for Spiritual Herbs were uniform.


    This result dampened the spirits of the Qingxu Sect disciples. Just as they had a high scorer, they were quickly surpassed.


    The nearby Hunyuan Sect disciples were reveling in their triumph.


    Meanwhile, the two Golden Core cultivators nearby remained indifferent. Having lived for several hundred years, they had seen it all, and such trivial matters were not enough to affect their moods.


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 Chapter 100: Mutated Astragalus

    Chapter 100: Mutated Astragalus


    Wang Hong respectfully handed over the Storage Bag. A Foundation Building cultivator in front received it and emptied the contents onto the table. The table was soon filled with Spiritual Herbs.


    Two Foundation Building cultivators carefully examined and documented the items. Suddenly, amidst the pile of herbs, they discovered a Resplendent Visage Fruit.


    Though a mere second-tier Spiritual Herb, the Resplendent Visage Fruit was favored by cultivators from the Qi Cultivation to the Nascent Soul stages. After all, who liked to present themselves with an aged appearance?


    The surprise of finding the Resplendent Visage Fruit didn''t fade as they uncovered several Scarlet Blood Ginseng nts from the pile. Some were at least four to five hundred years old, with one even boasting a medicinal age of eight hundred years.


    Observing from the side, a Golden Core cultivator from the Qingxu Sect, whose Divine Sense had been monitoring the situation, couldn''t conceal his excitement when he saw the eight-hundred-year-old Scarlet Blood Ginseng. Stuck at the bottleneck of the Golden Core initial stage for decades, this rare find could potentially help him break through to the mid-stage within two years.


    Contemting how to intercept and keep the Scarlet Blood Ginseng, he realized that waiting to hand it over to the sect might not ensure he''d get a fair share.


    Just then, the two Foundation Building cultivators found two Dragon Scale Fruits amid the items. The excitement of identifying Spiritual Herbs felt like ying a treasure hunt game for them.


    While the Qingxu Sect''s Golden Core cultivator was pondering how to secure the Scarlet Blood Ginseng, the discovery of two Dragon Scale Fruits further unsettled him. These fruits could be consumed raw, used to refine Elixirs, or brewed into third-tier Spirit Wine, enhancing cultivation levels.


    Meanwhile, a Golden Core cultivator from the Hunyuan Sect approached and casually picked up two Golden Radiant Spiritual Herbs  two eight-hundred-year-old mutated Astragalus.


    "Elder Huang, what is the meaning of this?" The Qingxu Sect''s Golden Core cultivator, still contemting how to intercept the Spiritual Herbs, was taken aback as Elder Huang from the Hunyuan Sect took action without warning.


    Elder Huang, older by over a hundred years, was someone he didn''t want to offend.


    However, these were assets of the Qingxu Sect, representing the sect''s dignity. Even if it were mere herbs, not everyone could touch them.


    Although he didn''t recognize these two Spiritual Herbs, their extraordinary aura was evident.


    "Fellow Daoist Gu, it''s a misunderstanding! I just found these Spiritual Herbs peculiar and couldn''t resisting for a closer look," Elder Huang chuckled awkwardly.


    "Oh? I wonder if Fellow Daoist Huang has noticed anything special about them?" Gu Qingyang couldn''t identify the herbs and hoped to gain some information from Elder Huang.


    "I don''t know them either, but they seem unique. Out of curiosity, I came to observe. It appears to be a mutation of Astragalus," Elder Huang replied, not admitting he recognized them, as he had only read about them in ancient texts.


    "I wonder if Fellow Daoist Gu would be willing to exchange these two Spiritual Herbs with me. I''m willing to offer a Solid Essence Pill in return," Elder Huang proposed.


    He quickly added, fearing suspicion, "I''ve been studying Alchemytely and would like to research their properties."


    Solid Essence Pill was a precious Elixir for increasing cultivation levels in the Golden Core stage. Elder Huang had prepared for years to craft one, and it had be highly sought after. Now, he was offering it in exchange, which stirred Gu Qingyang''s interest.


    However, it was clear that Elder Huang was familiar with these herbs, given the significant offering for mere research purposes.


    "Fellow Daoist Huang, I am indeed tempted by your offer. However, these items belong to the sect, and I cannot take the liberty to exchange them without proper authorization," Gu Qingyang replied, feigning reluctance. If Elder Huang wanted them, he had to sweeten the deal a bit.


    "Fellow Daoist Gu, you''re being too modest. Every Golden Core cultivator here epted this sect mission for the rare Spiritual Herbs that might be found in the secret realm. As long as the exchange doesn''t tarnish the sect''s reputation, which sect wouldn''t turn a blind eye?" Elder Huang revealed, exposing the truth.


    Gu Qingyang wasn''t embarrassed. After all, a Golden Core cultivator of several hundred years had a thick skin, unlike the ordinary Qi Cultivation disciples.


    "Hehe, don''t pretend. A Spiritual Herb for a Solid Essence Pill, plus you telling me everything about these herbs. It''s up to you whether to exchange or not," Elder Huang said, cutting to the chase.


    Elder Huang pondered for a moment and surprisingly agreed. He took out a Jade vial from his Storage Bag and tossed it to Gu Qingyang. Then, he retrieved a Jade Scroll, ced it on his forehead, imprinted some information onto it, and handed it to Gu Qingyang.


    Wang Hong, observing nearby, noticed the scene. It seemed like this mutated Astragalus had some significant background, enough to make a Golden Core cultivator go to such lengths to obtain it.


    It appeared that before having substantial strength, one should be cautious about revealing such Spiritual Herbs. Otherwise, there might be dire consequences.


    Fortunately, he could justify this acquisition asing from the secret realm, which should suffice.


    Elder Huang took out an exquisite Jade Box, ced one mutated Astragalus inside, and, with a meaningful look at Wang Hong, left.


    This startled Wang Hong, making his hair stand on end. He dared not breathe and tried to shrink his head into his neck. He had only aimed to avoid standing out among Qi Cultivation cultivators, but now, he unintentionally caught the attention of even a Golden Core cultivator.


    At this point, the tally of the Spiritual Herbs he handed over, including the mutated Astragalus taken by Elder Huang, amounted to a total of one million two hundred thousand contribution points.


    Dragon Scale Fruits, Scarlet Blood Ginseng, and the mutated Astragalus ounted for most of his gained contribution points. He had noticed that Elder Brother didn''t contribute any Dragon Scale Fruits. Their family had a senior in the Golden Core stage, making them less susceptible to others coveting their treasures.


    The announcement of one million two hundred thousand contribution points drew gasps from the surroundings. The Qingxu Sect disciples now faced disciples from other sects with pride, along with jealousy. This unknown fellow disciple had somehow obtained a vast collection of rare Spiritual Herbs.


    With one million two hundred thousand contribution points, he could exchange for twelve Foundation Establishment Pills. Having twelve Foundation Establishment Pills meant even a pig could be raised to the Foundation Building stage.


    This figure made the disciples from the Hunyuan Sect abandon thoughts ofpetition, given the significant difference. Moreover, their own Golden Core cultivator sought Spiritual Herbs from others, leaving them regretful for not encountering this person in the secret realm.


    If they had in him in the secret realm, all these gains would have been theirs. Countless cultivators sighed and regretted the missed opportunity.


    At that moment, Gu Qingyang called Wang Hong over.


    Wang Hong respectfully approached Gu Qingyang, feeling anxious and unsure about the purpose. Was it fortune or misfortune?


    Gu Qingyang casually cast a light shield, enveloping the two within.


    "I want to make a deal with you," Gu Qingyang said with a smile.


    "Disciple listens to Master''s instructions," Wang Hong responded cautiously, relieved that, at least for now, there seemed to be no imminent danger.


    "I want to exchange for your Scarlet Blood Ginseng and this mutated Astragalus. What do you need in return?" Gu Qingyang inquired.


    Wang Hong contemted for a moment, realizing that any condition he proposed might not be suitable. If he asked for too much, he might anger the Golden Core elder, and if the conditions were too low, they might be futile in case of a forced exchange.


    "Disciple leaves it to Master to decide."


    "Alright, I''ll propose a few conditions, and you can choose. How does that sound?" Gu Qingyang suggested.


    Wang Hong nodded repeatedly in agreement.


    "You can exchange Spiritual Herbs for contribution points, mainly to redeem Foundation Establishment Pills. The first condition is that I''ll trade two Foundation Establishment Pills for your two Spiritual Herbs."


    Wang Hong found this to be a fair offer, without the pressure of forced transactions based on strength.


    "These two Spiritual Herbs are worth around three hundred thousand contribution points, equivalent to three Foundation Establishment Pills," Wang Hong thought to himself.


    "But with your remaining Spiritual Herbs, you can still exchange for quite a few Foundation Establishment Pills. Since you already have a surplus in Foundation Building, the second condition is that I can temporarily ept you as a named disciple. If your character and temperament are suitable, you may be a formal disciple."


    Gu Qingyang valued character and temperament over aptitude when epting disciples. He believed that even with mediocre talent, as long as one had a good character, there would be no harm to the sect or himself.


    "I leave it to Master to decide," Wang Hong responded.


    "Great. Lastly, I propose that you asionally assist in alchemical tasks within the sect. This can be considered part of your contribution to the sect," Gu Qingyang added.


    Wang Hong agreed to the terms, feeling fortunate that the conditions were not too demanding.


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 Chapter 101: Taking Stock of Gains

    Chapter 101: Taking Stock of Gains


    Wang Hong contemted inwardly. At the moment, he indeed had no shortage of Foundation Establishment Pills; whether he had a few more or less made little difference to him.


    If he could be taken in as a Named Disciple by a Golden Core cultivator, there would be many benefits. At least, in the Qingxu Sect, he would have a strong backing. Before others considered taking action against him, they would think twice, pondering whether they could withstand the wrath of a Golden Core cultivator.


    However, he had secrets, and prolonged closeness to others could easily expose subtle traces, leading to undesirable consequences. But, for now, bing a Named Disciple was the only option. Such disciples might not be summoned by their masters for ten or even twenty years, making intimacy non-existent.


    Regarding bing an official Disciple, his current status was too low, and he had no concrete information about the process. He would have to learn about it gradually in the future.


    Moreover, Gu Shizong mentioned that one must possess the right character and temperament to be a formal Disciple. If he didn''t want to be one, he could deliberately perform a bit poorly. Trying to impress someone with good behavior would be challenging, but being a littleckluster would be easier.


    He even thought about a strategy: teasing married women every three days, bullying fellow disciples every five days. However, he wasn''t sure if this would lead to expulsion.


    Having figured out these intricacies, Wang Hong respectfully bowed.


    "Master, I bow to you!"


    "Alright, get up. Taking you as a Named Disciple this time is more of a transaction. Whether you be a formal Disciple depends on your own efforts."


    Gu Qingyang extended his hand, and an invisible force lifted Wang Hong to his feet.


    Suddenly, Gu Qingyang frowned, reached into the air, and grabbed a small dot that floated out of Wang Hong''s body,nding in Gu Qingyang''s hand.


    "Have you recently offended anyone?"


    "Disciple has always been cautious and has not offended anyone. Would killing cultivators from other sects in the secret realm count?"


    Wang Hong pondered. He hadn''t really offended anyone recently. The feud with the Lin Family had been resolved, and the remnants of the Lin Family posed no threat. In the secret realm, he had killed several cultivators, estimating about eighty to a hundred.


    "This is a tracking mark, generally used by higher-tier cultivators to hunt down those of lower tiers."


    "Can Master identify who did this?"


    "It''s impossible to discern, but the person''s cultivation level is definitely below Foundation Building."


    Gu Qingyang casually crushed the small light ball, and it disappeared.


    "I have something else to ask you. Where did you obtain this Spiritual Herb?"


    Gu Qingyang took out the Mutated Gold and gestured.


    Wang Hong immediately presented a map of the secret realm, marking the location where he had nted seeds.


    After a few more instructions and reminders of sect rules, Gu Qingyang dismissed Wang Hong.


    After leaving Gu Qingyang, Wang Hong breathed a sigh of relief. Standing next to a Golden Core cultivator still made him nervous, even though the person was now his master.


    At this point, the harvests of various sects had already been tallied. Taizong Hao had the most significant gains, ranking first, Beast Spirit Sect was at the bottom, and Qingxu Sect was second tost.


    Observing Gu Qingyang''s expression, Wang Hong felt that he was satisfied with the results, perhaps even better than previous years.


    If a sect consistently ranked at the bottom, the resources it received would diminish, further weakening the sect. In such a cycle, the strong would be stronger, and the weak would find it challenging to overturn their situation.


    However, Wang Hong''s current position and knowledge were limited, and he could only infer from appearances.


    Once the rankings werepleted, the Qi Cultivation disciples like them were no longer involved. They returned on the flying giant ship that same day.


    Wang Hong sat cross-legged in a corner of the ship. While they hade with over a thousand people, only about four hundred remained on the return journey.


    At this moment, everyone was taking stock of their gains in the secret realm, nning their future development. Who would remember those who had died? It was the living who could truly possess everything.


    After returning to the sect, Wang Hong fell into a deep sleep for three days. While there was some rest in the secret realm, constant vignce was required, keeping one''s mind in a tense state.


    Three dayster, Wang Hong finally rose with a refreshed spirit. He noticed several Transmission Talismans floating at his doorstep.


    After reading them all, he found that almost everyone he knew had sent him one, congratting him on bing a disciple of a Golden Core cultivator.


    Gu Qingyang had arranged for the news of Wang Hong''s eptance as a disciple to be released upon his return to the sect. This implied that Wang Hong was now under his protection.


    Generally, Golden Core cultivators rarely epted Qi Cultivation disciples, even if they were only Named Disciples. This was a significant stroke of luck for a Qi Cultivation disciple.


    In the following days, a constant stream of cultivators came to visit. They devoured all the Spirit Jujubes on the Spirit Jujube Tree in front of Wang Hong''s door.


    The visitors had two reasons: Wang Hong was now a disciple of a Golden Core cultivator, and he possessed Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Although it would take some time for the sect to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, Wang Hong''s contribution points were enough to exchange for nine pills.


    Even if Wang Hong was considered talentless, he wouldn''t need so many Foundation Establishment Pills. Later, he could either sell or trade them.


    Therefore, it was necessary to establish good rtionships in advance, especially since Foundation Establishment Pills were always scarce.


    Many cultivators who didn''t know him before expressed goodwill. Rtionships that were merely nods in passing now seemed as if they had decades of history.


    Some female cultivators even subtly expressed their willingness to be Dao Companions.


    Initially, Wang Hong thought that after a few days, the enthusiasm would die down, but it had been over ten days now. He had to entertain several fellow disciples who came to visit every day, making it impossible to cultivate.


    In desperation, he hung arge closed-door sign on his door. Generally, people wouldn''t disturb someone in closed-door cultivation, as it was considered a serious offense.


    Finally, when things quieted down, he entered the Space to assess his gains from this journey.


    The Space now covered forty-two acres, and time passed seventy-one times faster inside than outside. One year outside equated to seventy-one years inside.


    Before entering the secret realm, he left twenty acres of open space to transnt Spiritual Herbs and spirit wood from the secret realm.


    However, since he had only transnted one or two of each kind, he had only used three acres.


    He needed to n these areas carefully.


    Earlier, he had propagated some branches of the White Crystal Fruit and Green Spirit Peach. Now, they had grown and needed to be transnted.


    The three Spirit Peach orchards had some empty space. Wang Hong nned to use these areas specifically to cultivate Medicinal Herbs needed for Foundation Establishment Pills.


    He needed more White Crystal Fruit, at least five acres to grow them. After nting them, the Space would have only nine acres left.


    These remaining nine acres would be used to cultivate various Spiritual Herbs obtained from the secret realm. He also wanted to grow more of the mutated Astragalus.


    Considering the performance of the two Golden Core cultivators, the mutated Astragalus was undoubtedly extraordinary. More of it would be better.


    He also had the Dragon Scale Fruit he obtained. After nting it in the Space, it had taken six to seven years to sprout. Now, it was just beginning to grow. When it branched out in the future, he nned to use the branches to cultivate arge area.


    There was also the peculiar Spirit Tea tree he obtained. After several years in the Space, it had only produced a new bud. Waiting for a cup of tea seemed too anxious, so he felt it necessary to nt more.


    Calcting it all, the Space area was still not enough.


    The Ink Jade Spirit Lotus he nted still looked the same as when he nted it.


    Wang Hong sighed. The growth of these high-tier Spiritual Objects was too slow. If ced outside, the lotus seeds of the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus would take five to six hundred years to mature, roughly the lifespan of a Golden Core cultivator.


    The growth of these Spiritual Objects was slow, but the small branch he obtained from the Beast Spirit Sect youth''s Storage Bag, which he observed with Divine Sense, had only slightly enhanced vitality.


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 Chapter 102: Little Peng

    Chapter 102: Little Peng


    The Bird Egg Wang Hong picked up from the Bird''s Nest had hatched in the past few days. The newly hatched bird was slightlyrger than an adult fist, with eyes yet to open, pink skin, and not a single feather on its body, making Wang Hong hesitant to handle it.


    Due to the bond formed during recognition, Wang Hong could sense the constant stream of thoughts from it, echoing:


    "Hungry!"


    "Happy!"


    "Hungry!"


    "Hungry!"


    ...


    Wang Hong crafted a nest for it using straw from the Space and ced the bird inside. Whenever Wang Hong approached the nest, the bird would open its mouth wide in an exaggerated manner.


    He fed it a transparent small fish about an inch long, and the bird, with a few stretches of its neck, swallowed it down.


    One small fish was enough for it to digest for several hours.


    As for the transparent small fish used to feed the bird, they were now self-produced in the Space. He had initially dug a pond to nt Ink Jade Spirit Lotus, putting some fish eggs in it, and now they were breeding abundantly in the Space.


    He hadn''t eaten yet, but the bird had already consumed his share.


    Due to the faster passage of time in the Space, he had to constantly enter it to feed the bird.


    Even in the middle of the night, he could sense the bird''s hungry thoughts, forcing him to enter the Space and feed it.


    Feeding the bird turned out to be more troublesome than witnessing women in the vige give birth.


    However, each time he finished feeding, a sense of joy emanated from the bird, giving him a slight sense of aplishment.


    For the sake of a future flying mount, he could only endure this hardship. Spirit Beasts had a long lifespan, but their growth rate was slow. It was possible for a master to pass away from old age before their Spirit Beast had fully matured.


    Thus, though Spirit Beasts could provide significant assistance in bothbat and daily life, cultivators willing to raise them were few.


    The Beast Spirit Sect possessed numerous Spirit Beasts, many of which were passed down through generations of cultivators.


    Legend had it that the Beast Spirit Sect had an Nascent Soul ancestral figure formed from a Spirit Beast. Whether it was true or not remained uncertain.


    In fact, Spirit Beasts and Demonic Beasts were essentially the same entities. Those domesticated were called Spirit Beasts, while those in the wild were referred to as Demonic Beasts.


    The long lifespan of Demonic Beasts was both an advantage and a drawback. Their lengthy lifespan meant slow growth, and sometimes they perished before reaching maturity, even after centuries.


    After feeding the bird, Wang Hong cradled it in his hands.


    "I''ve been calling you Little Bird, which doesn''t sound great. How about I give you a name?"


    "How about Little Peng? As a bird, you must be an ideal one, with lofty ambitions and great goals. If you don''t object, let''s go with that."


    Regardless of whether it understood or not, Wang Hong decided on the name.


    Due to the time difference, it was inconvenient for him to leave the Space now. If he spent a day in the outside world, seventy-one days would pass in the Space, likely resulting in Little Peng starving to death.


    So, he had to stay in the Space to feed the bird. Unable to cultivate in the Space, he spent his time organizing the various Spirit nts repeatedly.


    After a few rounds of sorting, he made a surprising discovery. The White Jade Mushroom he had nted in his early years, while not a particrly valuable Spiritual Herb, he had preserved hundreds of nts.


    He suddenly noticed that among the sea of white, two nts looked slightly different. Although White Jade Mushrooms were white, they didn''t resemble white jade much.


    Yet, these two White Jade Mushrooms had a genuine appearance of white jade, crystal clear and resembling top-grade white jade.


    It turned out that the White Jade Mushroom had also undergone a mutation. ording to his previous experiences, when a Spirit nt mutated in the Space, its tier would increase significantly.


    Moreover, he hade across this type of Spiritual Herb in the sect''s records.


    This is a third-tier healing elixir called Jade Marrow Mushroom, renowned for its ability to heal any injuries below Nascent Soul level. It is said that even if one''s heart is pierced, as long as death doesn''t ur instantly, this elixir can bring the person back to life.


    In critical moments, everyone would want to possess a nt of this life-saving Spiritual Herb. Unfortunately, in the current Cultivation World, it is nearly extinct.


    Rumors tell of a Foundation Building cultivator from a small family who obtained a thousand-year Jade Marrow Mushroom in a ruin a century ago. Once the news leaked, the entire family was annihted overnight.


    Afterward, the cultivator removed all the non-mutated White Jade Mushrooms. His initial purpose in keeping these Spiritual Herbs was in hopes that they might undergo mutation someday.


    These non-mutated White Jade Mushrooms also had a medicinal age of seven to eight hundred years. If used as a medicinal base for a second-tier Elixir, the quality would immediately improve significantly.


    Selling these few hundred White Jade Mushrooms could fetch a good price, but it had to be done carefully and thoughtfully.


    Jade Marrow Mushroom reproduces through spores, and a six-hundred-year-old one can meet the third-tier medicinal standards. However,plete maturity, with spore production, requires a thousand years.


    Wang Hong was not deterred by theck of spores for reproduction. He cut one Jade Marrow Mushroom into dozens of pieces and nted them separately. With the characteristics of the Space, it wouldn''t take long before they rooted and grew into new Jade Marrow Mushrooms.


    This journey into the secret realm consumed a significant amount of time on healing. This was the reason for the shortage of high-quality healing Elixirs.


    "Hungry! Hungry! Hungry!"


    After dealing with these matters, it was time to feed Little Peng again...


    Only ten days had passed in the outside world, but nearly two years had psed in the Space.


    Finally, one day, Wang Hong reappeared in his small courtyard, holding a round, fluffy, yellowish thing in his hands.


    Having served as a foster parent in the Space for nearly two years, he finally got a little relief.


    The little one had grown a softyer of fur, feelingfortable to the touch.


    Now, if he threw a small fish to it, it would eat on its own, saving Wang Hong a lot of worry.


    As soon as the little one left the Space, it tilted its head, and its round, shiny eyes kept rolling, curiously observing everything around, as if everything was new and fresh.


    Wang Hong gently stroked its back, ced it on the ground, and it started twisting its round body, running around, pecking here and there, having a joyful time.


    The reason Wang Hong brought it out of the Space was unavoidable. Since it grew fur and could move on its own, it liked to roam around in the Space, sometimes causing trouble for a couple of Spirit Herbs.


    However, the Space was not a safe ce now. Devilish Vine, Red Powder Skull Flower, and demon-hunting trees inside could pose a threat to its life.


    Seeing the demon-hunting tree reminded him that he once obtained the seed of a demon-hunting tree.


    He found a golden seed from a corner of a Storage Bag. Since he saw those Demonic Beasts directly swallowing it, he concluded that it should be edible.


    He cut a small piece from it, carefully analyzed it, and found it to be non-toxic. With his current understanding of medicinal properties, few could match him.


    After confirming its non-toxic nature, Wang Hong swallowed the seed. After the seed entered his stomach, he felt like a me ignited within him. The heat spread throughout his body, and he quickly operated his cultivation technique to guide this warmth.


    An hourter, Wang Hong slowly opened his eyes. The Spiritual Energy in his body had not increased, but his strength had improved significantly. He felt he had gained at least five hundred kilograms of strength. Moreover, his Body Refining had also strengthened.


    No wonder so many Demonic Beasts risked their lives to fight for it. Most Demonic Beasts relied on their physical bodies forbat, and this seed could increase strength by five hundred kilograms. Consuming a few could elevate them to a higher tier.


    It turned out this seed enhanced physical strength, a perfect aid for his Body Refining.


    It seemed he needed to cultivate the demon-hunting tree properly in the future.


    This trip to the secret realm yielded so many unique Spirit nts, a harvest beyond his initial expectations.


    Wang Hong suppressed his excitement and then noticed Little Peng was on his bed, pecking a big hole in his nket with its small beak.


    He quickly picked it up, then transmitted a thought, indicating that it couldn''t eat or peck at the nket.


    Little Peng blinked its eyes, seemingly understanding. Did he need to tie it up?


    He didn''t bring it out of the Space just to y with it. He had to prepare for Alchemy soon.


    Last time, he gave all the refined Elixirs to Wang Yi. Now, his Storage Bag had only a few Elixirs left. Azure Void City had many shops eagerly waiting for his Elixir supply.


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 Chapter 103: Ambush

    Chapter 103: Ambush


    Wang Hong took out his massive pill furnace and began refining Elixir. In his previous attempts, he could simultaneously refine twelve portions of materials in one furnace.


    Now that his cultivation had advanced and his Divine Sense strengthened, he should be able to refine even more materials simultaneously.


    Igniting the spirit charcoal and preheating the pill furnace, he meticulously added materials in proportions suitable for fifteen Condensing Qi Pills. The medicinal herbs, upon entering the furnace, had impurities melted away by the high temperature, forming wisps of green smoke.


    The essence of the remaining Spiritual Herbs melted into liquid, and Wang Hong consecutively cast a dozen or so spells towards the furnace.


    After over half an hour, he lifted the lid of the massive three-thousand-jin pill furnace, revealing a small pile of Elixir at the bottom.


    With a wave of his hand, a heap of Elixir flew towards him, and he hastily caught them in a jade te.


    Counting them on the table, there were one hundred and two pills, approaching a seventy percent sess rate, and among them were over ten high-grade Condensing Qi Pills.


    As Wang Hong separated these Elixirs into bottles, one pill rolled off the table.


    Little Peng found a dried twig from somewhere and was energetically ying with it. Suddenly, it noticed a round bead rolling nearby. It was startled at first, pped its wings and took a few steps back. After observing for a while, it seemed not too frightened.


    Slowly inching closer, it tilted its head for a long look. Seemingly convinced there was no danger, it tentatively extended a w to poke the Elixir. As it did, the Elixir rolled, startling it once again, and it fluttered away.


    After repeated attempts, Little Peng finally realized the thing was harmless. It could be rolled on the ground by wing or pecking, which turned out to be extremely amusing.


    Seeing Little Peng enjoying itself, Wang Hong left that Elixir for it to y with and started a new round of Elixir refinement.


    He consecutively refined three batches of Elixir, each with a sess rate of around seventy percent.


    "Hungry!"


    "Hungry!"


    Little Peng''s thoughts came again. Wang Hong turned to see the little one tugging at his robe hem with its mouth.


    He grabbed two small fishes from his space, ced them on a te, and set it in front of Little Peng.


    After devouring the two fishes, it sent hungry thoughts again. Wang Hong brought out another one, but this time, it refused to eat and continued signaling hunger. Wang Hong was puzzled.


    Little Peng walked to where it had yed with the Elixir earlier, circled the area, then returned.


    After several peculiar exchanges, Wang Hong finally guessed that Little Peng had identally eaten one Elixir and, having found it enjoyable, wanted another. Wang Hong picked it up, noticed no adverse reactions, and handed it another Elixir, letting it y on its own.


    Continuing with his alchemy, three months passed. During this period, Little Peng would eat one or two Elixirs every day. Initially treating them as toys, it asionally identally ate one. Later, finding the taste pleasing, it stopped ying with them and started requesting one or two Elixirs daily.


    However, it couldn''t express the concept of Elixir directly. Each time, it first transmitted a few hungry thoughts, then walked in circles at the spot where it used to y with the Elixir.


    Now, half a year had passed since hest visited Azure Void City. Wang Hong decided it was time to go back.


    After a casual preparation and a leave of around ten days, he set out from the sect with Little Peng.


    Wang Hong prepared a Spirit Beast bag for Little Peng. After stuffing it inside, a chaotic mix of thoughts emanated from within. Helpless, he released it again.


    Although the world inside the Spirit Beast bag had air and light, itcked everything else. It was like being in a small dark room, cut off from all external sensations.


    Not many Spirit Beasts would probably enjoy staying inside, especially tier beasts like Little Peng, which were young, ignorant, and lively.


    Holding it in his hands wasn''t much trouble. However, on the way out of the sect, he attracted many curious gazes, especially from female cultivators. It seemed they naturally liked fluffy, round creatures.


    Some even took the initiative to strike up conversations, wanting to hold or touch Little Peng. Wang Hong politely declined; he didn''t have much time to indulge in such interactions. Was earning Spirit Stones not more important?


    If Sun Er had such a Spirit Beast, he might have used it as a tool for charming female cultivators.


    After leaving the sect, Wang Hong flew towards Azure Void City on his Windsoar Boat.


    As Wang Hong neared Azure Void City, a Magical Weapon from behind swiftly approached him, moving much faster than his Windsoar Boat.


    Two figures stood at the front of the Flying Boat, both dressed in ck robes. One was tall, at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, while the other was slender, at the seventh level of cultivation.


    "Fellow Daoist ahead, please stop. My brother and I have something to inquire about," the slender cultivator said respectfully.


    Wang Hong stopped, knowing that his Flying Boat couldn''t outrun theirs, and with their cultivation levels, they couldn''t harm him much.


    He casually stuffed Little Peng into the Spirit Beast bag, disregarding whether it liked it or not.


    "I wonder what advice the two Fellow Daoists have?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "Well, we noticed Fellow Daoist wearing the Qingxu Sect attire, so we wanted to ask about something," the slender cultivator exined.


    "Oh, what urgent matter brings you two here?" Wang Hong asked.


    "We heard yesterday that the Sect Master of Qingxu Sect had died."


    Wang Hong was taken aback, and just then, he sensed danger approaching from an unknown direction, seemingly silent and invisible.


    *Ding!*


    Just as he prepared to use the Dragon Serpent Escape to dodge, a ck, thin needle was embedded in his chest.


    However, with his robust physique, such small needle-type Magical Weapons couldn''t prate his flesh defense.


    The needle had only pierced less than an inch before it could go no further.


    Although surprised, the two attackers didn''t seem overly disappointed.


    "Not good! This needle is poisoned."


    Wang Hong summoned his Flying Sword and cut arge piece of flesh from his chest. However, the toxin had already begun spreading throughout his body. Removing that chunk of flesh only provided temporary relief. He hurriedly took an antidote pill.


    "It''s useless. You''ve been poisoned with our secret concoction. Unless you have the antidote we made, no one can save you," the attackers gloated.


    Feeling his body growing weaker, Wang Hong, who usually possessed tens of thousands of pounds of strength, now struggled even to stand. His Spiritual Energy no longer obeyed hismand.


    Just as they anticipated Wang Hong''s imminent demise to im their spoils, a swarm of Poisonous Bees appeared suddenly.


    These Poisonous Bees materialized right beside them, some even crawling directly onto their bodies.


    Caught off guard, they had no time to defend themselves. The swarm began biting them, and despite their desperate attempts to shake off the bees, it was futile. Panic-stricken, they wanted to scream, but no sound came out. Poisonous Bees crawled into their mouths, nostrils, and ears, biting while forcefully burrowing inside.


    After struggling for a few breaths, the two attackers fell silent, their bodies plummeting along with the Flying Boat.


    Wang Hong maneuvered his Flying Boat to catch up, stowed their Flying Boat into his Storage Bag, and slowly descended to the ground with their lifeless bodies.


    First, he took off their Storage Bags, finding more than a dozen potion bottles inside.


    Among them, he found two bottlesbeled "Poison" and "Antidote."


    Wang Hong poured out one Elixir from each bottle. The Elixirbeled as the antidote was white and had a refreshing fragrance, while the other ck Elixir emitted a foul smell.


    Instead of immediately ingesting the antidote, Wang Hong took out a small knife and scraped a bit of powder from each. He then cast two Fireball Techniques, each engulfing the respective powders.


    After a moment, the two sets of powder turned into blue smoke. Wang Hong examined the smoke and took a whiff.


    By now, he had almost lost all his strength. Even moving a finger felt incredibly heavy, as if each finger weighed a thousand pounds.


    Struggling, he forced the ck, foul-smelling poison into his mouth. After that, he could no longer move, copsing on the ground. Above him, a swarm of Poisonous Bees circled and danced.


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 Chapter 104: Black Needle

    Chapter 104: ck Needle


    Wang Hongy quietly on the ground, watching Poisonous Bees dance in the air. Once again, Poisonous Bees had saved his life.


    The recent battle, from ambush to counterattack,sted only a few breaths, but it was extremely perilous. The opponent''s Flying Needle Magical Weapon showed no Spiritual Energy fluctuations, and even Divine Sense couldn''t detect it. If Wang Hong wasn''t a body cultivator, that flying needle might have pierced through his heart.


    At a critical moment, he released Poisonous Bees for a sneak attack. The Poisonous Bees appeared directly around the opponent''s body, leaving them no time to defend. The result was the demise of both.


    The two would never understand how a swarm of Poisonous Bees suddenly appeared beside them. In reality, Wang Hong could retrieve items from his Space, cing them anywhere within his Divine Sense range. Unlike items from the Storage Bag, which had toe out from the bag''s opening, Wang Hong could make things from Space appear anywhere he chose.


    He had refrained from using this Space feature in public to avoid exposure. Today, faced with a life-or-death situation, he had no choice but to use it. He couldn''t afford to leave survivors or be discovered, risking suspicion.


    However, Space couldn''t make items appear directly in a sealed space. If there were barriers like Divine Sense, formations, or restrictions, Space couldn''t breach them unless Wang Hong had the power to ovee these obstacles.


    Otherwise, in battle, he could simply make a Flying Sword appear directly in an opponent''s abdomen without all this effort.


    The same principle applied to pulling external items into Space. Why bother fighting when he could just snatch an enemy''s head into Space?


    After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Wang Hong slowly sat up, and most of the poison in his body had been neutralized. This potent poison would have turned him into a lifeless body if he hadn''t found the antidote in time.


    Moreover, if he didn''t have expertise in the art of poisoning and a knowledge of pharmacology surpassing a typical alchemist, he wouldn''t have been able to identify the specific antidote. It would have been a matter of luck.


    After collecting the Storage Bags of the two deceased, he released two Fireball Techniques, turning their bodies into ashes. He then quickly left the area, heading towards Azure Void City, which wasn''t far away. Currently, Azure Void City was rtively safe.


    Nothing eventful urred on the way to Azure Void City. Once there, he didn''t contact Skinny Monkey and the others. Instead, he checked into an inn.


    He wasn''t sure if these two were merely robbing and killing or if there was a nned assassination. If it was a targeted attack against him, he couldn''t approach Skinny Monkey and the others in this manner. If the assants were initially unaware of their rtionship, this approach would reveal it.


    After entering the inn, he closed the doors and windows and activated the istion formation of the inn. Only then did he sit cross-legged on the bed.


    An hourter, all the residual poison had finally dissipated, and his tense expression rxed somewhat.


    It was only at this point that he took out the two Storage Bags, emptying their contents onto the beda jumble of items. After a brief search, he found two ck Tokens. One side of the Token had the character "" (Shadow), while the other side respectively bore the characters "" (Department of Personnel Fifty-Eight) and "" (Department of Personnel Fifty-Nine).


    It seemed these two individuals belonged to the same organization, making it more likely that they hade specifically to assassinate him.


    He was puzzled, though. He had never heard of this organization, let alone offended them.


    Among the heap of items were some Jade Scrolls containing various cultivation techniques. Qingxu Sect possessed a vast heritage, and Wang Hong wasn''t interested in ordinary techniques.


    He quickly scanned through them until one Jade Scroll caught his attentionHidden Spirit Technique. This technique''s main function was to conceal one''s cultivation level. It was a practical secret that allowed one to hide a portion of their cultivation level until a surprise attack during a confrontation.


    Wang Hong remembered that when the two cultivators were bitten by Poisonous Bees, they seemed to erupt with a stronger Spiritual Energy pressure. However, at that moment, he was poisoned and couldn''t pay much attention.


    Considering the opponent''s disyed cultivation level was slightly lower than his, it could eliminate his vignce, making an ambush easier.


    Wang Hong thought this technique was worth learning. The Sect likely had simr techniques, but he had focused on studying Spiritual Herbs and Alchemy, neglecting cultivation techniques.


    The Sect''s heritage spanned tens of thousands of years, and its umtion was too vast. Even a Qi Cultivation cultivator like him couldn''t hope to read all of the Sect''s records in one lifetime. The only requirement for essing the Sect''s records was contribution points. As long as he contributed enough to the Sect, theoretically, he could borrow any book from the Sect''s collection.


    He currently had no shortage of contribution points; originally, he had 1.2 million. By exchanging three Spiritual Herbs for the status of a Named Disciple, he still possessed 900,000 contribution points.


    Among the Qi Cultivation Disciples, he had the highest contribution points, although he wasn''t sure about the Foundation Building Disciples.


    He decided to put away this cultivation technique and nned to check the Sect''s Scripture Towerter for a moreprehensiveparison before making a decision.


    The rest of the items consisted of various Spiritual Herbs, ores, and Magical Weapons. Additionally, he harvested over 20,000 Spirit Stones from the two individuals, indicating the wealth of their organization.


    After counting everything, he took out a ck needle from his Storage Bag. The needle was about the length of a finger and slightly thicker than a sewing needle, feeling weightless in his hand.


    What made it peculiar was that it couldn''t be probed with Divine Sense. Wang Hong marveled at the existence of such a secretive weapon.


    He tried to manipte and control it but faced a problem. Since the needle could iste Divine Sense, how could he use his own Divine Sense to control it?


    After much experimentation in the room without sess, he decided to try refining it with his blood.


    Typically, only Spiritual Weapons used by Foundation Building cultivators and treasures used by Golden Core cultivators required refining. Qi Cultivation cultivators could use Magical Weapons directly, with only a few special cases requiring refinement.


    He cut a slit on his index finger with a high-quality Flying Sword from his Storage Bag, allowing a drop of blood to fall onto the needle. He didn''t dare pierce himself with the poisonous needle directly; that would be fatal.


    The blood was quickly absorbed, leaving him puzzled about how such a small needle could absorb such arge drop of blood.


    Next, he inscribed dozens of intricate runes on the needle. Soon, the needle emitted a faint glow, then instantly disappeared.


    At this point, he felt a faint connection between himself and the needle. Injecting Spiritual Energy into it, he directed a thought, and the ck needle shed, embedding itself silently and swiftly into the wall, the needle''s tail vibrating continuously without a sound.


    Satisfied with obtaining such a magical weapon, Wang Hong felt that enduring the ordeal had not been in vain.


    Only now did he release Little Peng, who had been confined during the battle to avoid distractions. The moment it came out, it joyfully conveyed thoughts of happiness to him, rubbing against him energetically.


    Wang Hong rested at the inn for a night. The next day, he changed his appearance and swaggered out of the inn.


    Walking to an uninhabited ce, he changed his appearance twice more. Only after the third change did he confidently stride towards Zhao''s Pill Shop.


    "Hello, senior! It''s a pleasure to serve you! What do you need today? Elixirs or Spiritual Herbs?" A Level Two Qi Cultivation apprentice enthusiastically greeted him as soon as he entered Zhao''s Pill Shop.


    Wang Hong noticed that three more apprentices had been added to the shop, all with cultivation levels at the first or second stage of Qi Cultivation.


    Zhao Ning was responsible for all aspects of the shop''s management, and Wang Hong didn''t interfere.


    Inside the shop, several cultivators were browsing, while two seemed to have decided on their purchases, engaged in intense bargaining.


    "You go about your business; I''m just browsing."


    "Of course, if you need anything, feel free to let me know."


    The apprentice left as instructed. Every customer was different; some cultivators preferred to take their time and choose without assistance.


    This was the first time Wang Hong had visited his own shop as a customer. Although he had crafted most of the Spirit Pills and Spiritual Herbs, it felt somewhat refreshing from a different perspective.


    "Grandpa! It''s not easy for me to enter the city with you. You said you''d show me around, but we just passed by several grand and majestic shops. Why didn''t we go in, and now we''re here?" A thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl with watery eyes asked the old man beside her.


    "Don''t you know? While those shops arerge with a wide range of items, some even selling second-tier Spiritual Objects, this shop has the mostprehensive collection of first-tier Spiritual Herbs and Spirit Pills. I found that out by chance a while ago."


    The old man was somewhat proud as he stroked his beard.


    "We''re in the Spiritual Herb business, so naturally, I would prioritize showing you the Spiritual Herbs. Look at this 50-year-old Cleansing Spiritual Herb. The market price is usually twelve Spirit Stones, and it''s the same here. However, the quality is much better. Now, take a look at this Yellow Cloud Flower"


    The old man seemed to have turned this ce into a teaching ground for his youngerpanion.


    "I ask you, have you heard of the Loyal Alchemist Brothers?" A tall and skinny young cultivator, feigning mystery, asked a gloomy-faced young man beside him.


    "Of course, I''ve heard. They''re reputed Alchemists."


    "Correct! The Loyal Alchemist Brothers are my big brothers, and they are the alchemists for this shop."


    Wang Hong couldn''t help but sigh. When did these two tterers be so famous? People were even proud to know them.


    He forgot that, under his guidance, the Ma Brothers had be decent Alchemists. Having good rtions with one Alchemist was already enviable, let alone two.


    After strolling around, he walked towards the counter where Zhao Ning was stationed.


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 Chapter 105: Harvest

    Chapter 105: Harvest


    At this moment, Zhao Ning was going through ount books when a middle-aged man suddenly approached him.


    "Innkeeper, I have a Spiritual Object I want to sell. Do you ept such items?" the man inquired.


    "Oh! What kind of Spiritual Object is it?" Zhao Ning became intrigued. The boss had instructed him that any peculiar Spiritual Objects or Spirit nts should be epted without worrying about potential losses.


    The middle-aged man took out a Jade Box, opened it slightly in front of him, allowing Zhao Ning a glimpse. He then promptly closed the lid and looked around.


    "Pleasee inside," Zhao Ning understood and quickly led the way to a secret chamber.


    Once inside, Zhao Ning closed the secret chamber door and activated istion formations. Then he turned around...


    "You... Boss! You''re back!" Zhao Ning was both surprised and delighted, never expecting Wang Hong to return in such a manner.


    "Don''t spread the news of my return for now. This time might be a bit dangerous. Send messages to everyone to strengthen defenses. The residences must activate protective formations. Don''t worry about wasting Spirit Stones; we can afford the cost to maintain the formations."


    "Who are these people?" Zhao Ning asked.


    "I don''t know either. Currently, I''m in the light, and the enemy is in the dark. The overall strength of the other party should be much stronger than ours. Of course, it might be a false rm, but it''s better to be prepared."


    Wang Hong handed a token with "" (Personnel Department Fifty-Eight) written on it to Zhao Ning, briefly exining the attack he had suffered and asking him to discreetly investigate.


    "Don''t go out alone on regr days. It''s best to be in groups of two or three. Also, don''t leave the city recently. We shouldn''t engage in battles within Azure Void City. Unless absolutely sure, the other party probably won''t make a move."


    After that, Zhao Ning presented the profits from the Elixir store during this period. The sales had increased, and the earnings reached three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, finally catching up to the profit of the Spirit Wine store.


    Although Spirit Wine had higher profits, Elixir could be consumed daily, while Spirit Wine was mainly used by cultivators during battles. Only a few cultivators indulged in Spirit Wine for leisure.


    After Wang Hong left the Elixir Pavilion, he visited the Spirit Wine store. Business was still booming, but Skinny Monkey was not found. He learned that Skinny Monkey had gone to the brewing workshop.


    The brewing workshop was in the originalrge courtyard they had rented. Inside, there were over a dozen wine cers, employing dozens of people to brew Spirit Wine.


    Skinny Monkey was using a green bamboo basket to pour wine from arge wine jar into a ss, ready to taste it.


    Before cing each new batch into the cer, he personally came to inspect and evaluate. Only qualified new wine would be stored in the cer for a lengthy aging process.


    Simr to Alchemy, both brewing Spirit Wine and Alchemy had a possibility of failure. Failed Spirit Wine could have strange tastes and even harmful substances.


    The newly brewed wine contained violent Spiritual Energy, was hard to absorb, and had some impurities, resulting in vors like spicy, strong, astringent, and bitter.


    After a long period of aging, the Spiritual Energy would be mild. If aged in a ce rich in Spirit Qi, the Spirit Wine would absorb some of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Qi, making the Spiritual Energy more abundant, and the taste smoother and more aromatic.


    "Boss, there''s a man outside who says he wants to see you, iming to be familiar with you," a gatekeeper reported quietly.


    "Tell him to wait; I''m busy right now. I''ll go over when I''m done," Skinny Monkey said.


    Skinny Monkey could tell with just a bit of thought; it must be someone trying to use connections to buy high-grade Spirit Wine.


    Only a hundred jin (50 kg) of top-tier Spirit Wine was sold each month, as per the boss''s rule, and no one could change that.


    Wang Hong waited in the living room for two hours, drinking several pots of tea before seeing Skinny Monkey strolling in leisurely from the doorway.


    Once Skinny Monkey entered, Wang Hong immediately cast several spells, activating the istion formation in the room.


    Skinny Monkey suddenly felt like he was facing a great enemy, even summoning his Magical Weapon.


    "How do you know the activation code for this formation?" Each formation had a specific code, and outsiders couldn''t activate it.


    At this point, Wang Hong revealed his true identity. Afraid that if he didn''t, Skinny Monkey might have unleashed his Magical Weapon.


    "General! You''re trying to kill me! You scared me half to death," Skinny Monkey quickly put away his Magical Weapon.


    "Call me the boss! How many times do I have to tell you?" Wang Hong scolded.


    "Hehe! It just slips out. Since there''s no one else here, we''re still your subordinates, aren''t we?"


    "Anyway, we''ll change it backter. We''re all businessmen now."


    "Alright! Alright! I''ll change it for sure," Skinny Monkey grinned.


    "I came here this time and hid my identity because..."


    Wang Hong repeated what he had told Zhao Ning.


    "This organization dares to attack the... Boss, when we find them, we must wipe them outpletely, not leaving a single trace."


    "Any random person they send out is at least in thete Foundation Establishment stage. You, in the mid Qi Cultivation stage, boasting here won''t do you any good. They could squash you with two fingers."


    Wang Hong kicked him disdainfully.


    "That''s fine. Let''s wait until our cultivation levels rise before we wipe them out, let them enjoy a few more years of freedom."


    Skinny Monkey endured Wang Hong''s scolding without feeling embarrassed at all. It seemed like he genuinely believed that he could surpass thete Qi Cultivation stage in a few years. As a cultivator with four Spiritual Roots, he was only at the sixthyer of Qi Cultivation currently. It was unclear where he got such confidence.


    "I see your cultivation level hasn''t increased much, but your cheekiness has grown a lot. Did you cultivate all of that into your skin during Body Refining?" Wang Hong teased.


    "Got it! I''ll take these Elixirs. I''ll strive to reach thete Qi Cultivation stage soon. If I encounter a bottleneck, I''ll go to Zhao Ning for a Barrier Breaking Pill." Wang Hong tossed a few bottles of Elixirs to him.


    Skinny Monkey gleefully epted and stowed them in his Storage Bag. He knew the boss always gave him mid-grade Condensing Qi Pills.


    In the past six months, in addition to keeping some working capital, Skinny Monkey had a remaining bnce of 350,000 Spirit Stones, all of which he handed over.


    After Wang Hong left the brewing workshop, he transformed back into Wang Kun. He gathered the shopkeepers from various Immortal Path Trading Alliance stores in his mansion.


    "Everyone! In theing days, I will be heading to the headquarters of the immortal way tradingpany for assessment. If I pass, I will be promoted from a Ninth-level Executive to an Eighth-level Executive. My authority will increase, and you all will benefit more. Therefore, for some time, I won''t be able to supply goods to you. It would be best for you all to stock up on merchandise during this period."


    For the next period, he decided to stay in the sect and note out. He didn''t believe anyone would dare to directly attack him in the sect. This reason was pre-nned and had been hinted at before. Wang Hong couldn''t tell people he was afraid of death and needed to hide for a while; otherwise, the formidable image of his constructed immortal way tradingpany would copse instantly.


    "I wonder how long Manager Wang will be away?" Li, the manager of the Elixir store, asked, standing up and cupping his hands.


    "I don''t know the specific time. How can we low-level managers know about headquarters matters?" Wang Kun sighed helplessly. "So, I''ve applied for various Tier-One Elixirs, a total of sixty thousand, and countless Tier-One Spirit Herbs. In the past, the limit for purchasing Tier-One top-grade Spirit Wine was one hundred jin per person. This time, due to special circumstances, you can buy two hundred jin."


    "I want two hundred jin!" Qian Gui was most interested in Spirit Wine, so he rushed to make a purchase, afraid there wouldn''t be any leftter.


    "I want..."


    Soon everyone had purchased two hundred jin of top-grade Spirit Wine. These more than ten shops had earned quite a few Spirit Stones following Wang Kun these years. Wang Hong alone received over six hundred thousand Spirit Stones for this item. If it were in the past, he would have already emptied their coffers.


    However, when it came time to buy Elixirs and Spirit Herbs, these people were a bit financially strained. They wanted to buy more, but their liquid capital was insufficient.


    In the end, many Elixirs and Spirit Herbs remained unsold. However, the thirteen managers couldn''t even find one Spirit Stone from their pockets.


    This disrupted the internal exchange process, making it impossible to proceed. Without a single Spirit Stone, how could they manage?


    Everyone reported the items they had for exchange, and if there was a need, they could trade after the meeting.


    "I''ll leave the remaining Elixirs and Spirit Herbs with Director Zhao. When your Spiritual Herbs are depleted, you can buy from Zhao''s Pill Shop," Wang Hong, in front of everyone, handed over the remaining items to Zhao Ning.


    This time, he had drained all the managers, harvesting a total of eight hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Adding the previous earnings from his two stores, he had collected a total of one million four hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones.


    After concluding the gathering, Wang Hong once again changed his identity secretly and entered his residence in Azure Void City.


    This time, in the secret realm, he had in many cultivators, obtaining numerous Magical Weapons and Jade Scrolls. He left these items here, cing Jade Scrolls in the Library for everyone to borrow using contribution points. Magical Weapons could be exchanged using contribution points or distributed as rewards.


    He spent two days with his subordinates, guiding them on some cultivation difficulties and also imparted some Alchemy techniques to the Ma Brothers. He taught them how to refine multiple pills in a single furnace to improve Alchemy efficiency.


    As for the subsequent practice, it would be up to them.


    After staying for two days, he changed his identity again and quietly left Azure Void City to return to the sect.


    On the way back, he didn''t encounter any dangers and smoothly returned to his small courtyard.


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 Chapter 106: Sect Grand Competition

    Chapter 106: Sect Grand Competition


    Wang Hong returned to his small courtyard with over a million Spirit Stones in his possession, feeling a sense of calm. Releasing Little Peng, who had been confined in the Spirit Beast pouch for days, the creature immediately rubbed against him affectionately, seemingly more eager to please Wang Hong than its own father.


    Entering his spatial realm with Little Peng, Wang Hong allowed the creature to roam freely. He scattered the just-acquired 1.4 million Spirit Stones across thend in his spatial realm, with Little Peng trailing him eagerly.


    After dispersing all the Spirit Stones, Wang Hong sat by the pond where he cultivated the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus. He caught two small fish for Little Peng to feast on.


    Observing the small pond, Wang Hong recalled digging a hole when he first took soil from the spatial realm. As Spirit Stones were added to the space, it automatically leveled the previously dug hole. He wondered if the pond would be simrly leveled.


    As the Spirit Stones were gradually absorbed by the spatial realm, the Spirit Qi in the pond became richer. With the growth of Spirit Qi, the nature of the pond seemed to quietly change. The slightly greenish water gradually became clear and transparent, allowing a clear view of the transparent little fish swimming inside.


    When the Spirit Qi in the pond reached equilibrium with the spatial realm''s soil, it ceased to increase. At this point, thend began to expand, and the water level slowly rose. When it reached the same level as the surrounding soil, it finally stopped.


    Wang Hong was surprised to discover this feature of the spatial realmbeing able to consume Spirit Qi to improve the pond water.


    Seeing the now improved and crystal-clear pond water, containing Spiritual Energy far superior to the Spirit Spring Water he had bought in the past, he thought it would make excellent water for cooking and tea.


    However, watching the transparent fish happily swimming inside, Wang Hong lost his appetite. Even though the water was excellent, it was only bathwater for these small fish.


    After all the Spirit Stones were absorbed, the spatial realm gained a little over thirteen acres ofnd. Transforming the pond water, along with raising its level, consumed a significant amount of Spiritual Energy, costing several tens of thousands of Spirit Stones.


    Nevertheless, Wang Hong dug a one-yard-sized pit on the newly addednd, nning to construct a new pond for his drinking water in the future.


    To fill this pond, he would need a considerable amount of Spirit Spring Water, which he didn''t currently possess and would have to purchase.


    With a little over ten acres of remainingnd, he trimmed branches from the Spirit Tea tree and rented fifty of them, covering one acre. Although he had only tasted Spirit Tea twice, he sensed its exceptional quality, despite its slow growth.


    The Resplendent Visage Fruit branch he had nted in the secret realm had grown into a small tree, bearing mature fruit. Two Resplendent Visage Fruits, left immature at that time, were now fully ripe.


    Half of the remainingnd was used to nt the primary and auxiliary herbs needed for Foundation Establishment Pillsa strategic resource in the current Cultivation World. He had only exchanged for nine Foundation Establishment Pills, but it had already attracted the admiration of many cultivators.


    Considering the potential dangers of possessingrge quantities, he nned to distribute them sparingly when his strength increased in the future.


    These scarce items needed to be cultivated in advance, just in case they would be neededter. Given the slow growth rate of the main herb for Foundation Establishment Pills, even with the spatial realm, it would take hundreds of years to cultivate a significant quantity.


    The rest of the empty space was dedicated to nting second-tier Spiritual Herbs. These would be needed when he advanced to Foundation Building, so preparing them in advance was essential.


    Afterpleting these tasks, Wang Hong left the spatial realm with Little Peng. He also caught some transparent fish from the pond for his lunch. As a cultivator in theter stages of Qi Cultivation, he quickly processed the fish, frying them until golden brown and seasoning them lightly.


    cing tworge tes on the central stone table in the courtyard, he opened a bottle of Spirit Wine and poured a full ss. After giving two pieces to Little Peng, he felt a wave of joyous thoughts from the creature. Wang Hong had recently discovered that the little fellow also enjoyed cooked food.


    Eating two fish and taking a sip of Spirit Wine, Wang Hong felt incredibly content.


    Just then, a knocking sound echoed from outside. Annoyed at the interruption during his meal, Wang Hong opened the door to find Senior Brother Gao, the one-armed Senior Brother Tian, Ke''er Shimei with twin ponytails, and Duanmu Shimei with an oval face.


    They had fought together in the secret realm, and their impressions of each other were positive. Since leaving the secret realm, they hadn''t been in touch.


    "Junior Brother Wang! Apologies for the disturbance," Senior Brother Gao spoke first.


    "No need to be polite, pleasee in!"


    "Ah, so Junior Brother Wang is having a meal. We really did disturb you."


    Entering the courtyard, they noticed the food and wine, realizing Wang Hong was in the midst of a meal.


    "Arriving early is better than arriving on time. How about we all sit down and have a few drinks together?"


    Saying so, Wang Hong invited them to sit, and the four of them settled around the stone table without much ceremony.


    "Wow! How adorable! Senior Brother Wang, is this your Spirit Pet? Can I hold it?"


    Ke''er Shimei spotted Little Peng circling the table and immediately squinted her eyes into crescent moons. The little creature was fluffy and round, irresistibly cute.


    "Of course." Before Wang Hong finished speaking, Ke''er Shimei had already lifted Little Peng into her arms.


    Duanmu Shimei beside her also reached out, gently stroking the fur on Little Peng''s back.


    The two female cultivators, engrossed in cuddling Little Peng, forgot about the meal and drinks.


    "Junior Brother Wang, don''t mind them. This is how female cultivators are. You''ll understand when you have a Dao Companion in the future."


    Senior Brother Gao, taking a sip of wine, said with a hint of satisfaction.


    "Oh! Senior Brother Gao must have a wealth of experience. You must have had many Dao Companions. I truly admire you, Senior Brother."


    Wang Hong knew that when Senior Brother Gao first held Duanmu''s hand, he was so nervous that he could hardly walk. Now, after just a few months, he was boasting in front of him as if he were an experienced person.


    At this moment, Duanmu Shimei, ying with Little Peng on the side, nced over at them.


    "How is that possible? In these decades, I''ve been diligent in cultivation, rarely speaking to female cultivators. Each conversationsts no more than five sentences."


    Duanmu Shimei turned her head to continue ying with Little Peng, while Senior Brother Gao took a big gulp of wine.


    "This wine is excellent! And the fish is also top-notch!"


    Senior Brother Gao continued to shove two more fish into his mouth. Senior Brother Tian had already noticed how delicious the fish and wine were and had been quietly enjoying them.


    Indeed, the wine was delightful. Wang Hong had aged this Spirit Wine in the spatial realm for five hundred years. Though initially only a middle-grade product, after absorbing Spirit Qi for half a millennium, it had far surpassed high-grade quality.


    "Junior Brother Wang, in a few months, the sect will hold its once-in-a-decade grandpetition. The top twenty participants will receive Foundation Establishment Pills as rewards. Are you prepared?"


    Senior Brother Gao, munching on a fish, vaguely asked.


    Wang Hong had heard of the sect''s grandpetition held every decade. After each secret realm trial, the sect organized apetition, and the winners were awarded Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Some talented disciples would avoid going all out in the secret realm, considering the risks. After all, even someone like Wang Yi with a Heavenly Spirit Root had nearly perished. It was not a profitable venture for the sect or the individual.


    "I''ll pass; I won''t participate."


    Wang Hong answered. He already had enough Foundation Establishment Pills. Competing for another one wouldn''t make much sense and might attract envy.


    "I guessed Junior Brother Wang wouldn''t participate, but we came here to buy some Spirit Wine from you. The Spirit Wine you gave usst time was a great help; it practically saved our lives."


    "At first, we were worried you might be gone, but it seems we were overly concerned."


    Senior Brother Tian took a sip of Spirit Wine. Even the one he was currently drinking was enough to replenish the Spiritual Energy of a Qi Cultivationte-stage cultivator. Yet, Wang Hong was using it as a side dish.


    "We each want two catties of Spirit Wine."


    "Half a catty per bottle, five bottles per person, and one extra bottle as a gift." Wang Hong took out twenty bottles of Spirit Wine from his Storage Bag and ced them on the table.


    "Senior Brother Wang, your little bird is so much fun. Can I borrow it for a couple of days?"


    Holding Little Peng while organizing the Spirit Wine, Ke''er Shimei asked.


    Wang Hong found the request somewhat awkward.


    "Its name is Little Peng. If you like it, you can take it with you for a few days. I''m almost annoyed by it."


    Wang Hong was actually eager for someone to take care of Little Peng for a few days. In the spatial realm, he was afraid the creature would be eaten by the demon-hunting tree. Little Peng didn''t like being in the Spirit Beast pouch, and letting it roam freely outside required constant supervision.


    "Wow! That''s great. Thank you, Senior Brother Wang!"


    Ke''er was so delighted that she almost jumped up.


    When Senior Brother Gao and the others left, Wang Hong handed a bag of transparent small fish to Ke''er Shimei. He also took out a bottle of Elixir, giving it to Ke''er and instructing her that when Little Peng nudges her and spins in circles on the ground, she should feed it the Elixir, and the rest of the time, she should give it regr food.


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 Chapter 107: Turtle Concealment

    Chapter 107: Turtle Concealment


    Having seen off Little Peng, he could finally do as he pleased.


    First, he visited the market below the Heavenly Authority Peak because the secret realm had just ended, making the market exceptionally lively.


    Wang Hong noticed many disciples who had juste out of the secret realm setting up stalls. Although they weren''t familiar with each other, the shared journey created some impressions.


    While Spiritual Herbs needed to be handed in, one could keep ten percent for themselves. Moreover, the gains from the secret realm were not limited to Spiritual Herbs; there were also Magical Weapons, Jade Scrolls, and more. Anything found in the Storage Bags of other cultivators could be your spoils.


    Wang Hong strolled through the market area, and most of the disciples returning from the secret realm were selling Magical Weapons, Jade Scrolls, and some Ores. There were very few selling Spiritual Herbs.


    "Senior Brother, how much for your Jade Scrolls here?" Wang Hong stopped at a stall, picked up a Jade Scroll, and found it to be a Cultivation Technique.


    "Oh, it''s Senior Brother Wang. One Jade Scroll for a hundred Spirit Stones, take your pick."


    The stall owner, a somewhat plump and shrewd-looking cultivator, recognized Wang Hong because he had submitted the highest-value Spiritual Herbs andter became Elder Gu''s Named Disciple.


    Wang Hong bought a Jade Scroll from this stall. Although Sect Scripture Tower had many Jade Scrolls, they were not allowed to be shared.


    He wanted to collect some Jade Scrolls to bring back to Azure Void City. His own Library was stillcking, and most of the books weremon. The Jade Scrolls sold here were mostly carried by elite disciples of various sects and were naturally of higher quality.


    He walked to a deserted ce, used the Misty Illusion Mask to change his appearance, and returned to the market.


    "Junior Brother, how much for these Jade Scrolls?" Wang Hong walked back to the previous stall.


    "A hundred Spirit Stones each, take your pick."


    "Too expensive. For this level of Jade Scrolls, I can replicate one at Sect Scripture Tower for only twenty or thirty Spirit Stones. How about I buy all of them for fifty each?"


    "Senior Brother, Sect Scripture Tower''s Jade Scrolls can only be viewed by the owner and cannot be lent or sold. These Jade Scrolls, once bought, are truly yours. You can dispose of them as you wish. After reading, you can sell them again. Isn''t it more cost-effective than Sect Jade Scrolls?."


    Wang Hong found it reasonable, making him momentarily unsure how to refute. Nevertheless, he persisted, "Fifty Spirit Stones."


    "At least eighty. You know, these Jade Scrolls are hard-earned, obtained at the risk of our lives. Look at the wounds on my body; they haven''t healed yet."


    "Fifty."


    Wang Hong remained unmoved.


    "Senior Brother, add a bit more, and I''ll throw in a Healing Pill''s Spirit Stone for each Jade Scroll," the stall owner continued to plead.


    In the end, Wang Hong bought all the Jade Scrolls on this stall at the price of sixty-five Spirit Stones each.


    He then moved on to the next stall...


    That day, a rumor spread in the market that a mysterious cultivator had swept away all the Jade Scrolls in the market, spending at least twenty to thirty thousand Spirit Stones. Nobody recognized this wealthy fellow disciple, and his sect affiliation was unknown.


    When many disciples rushed to the market with their genuine or fake Jade Scrolls, hoping to make the acquaintance of this wealthy senior, they couldn''t find his trace.


    It was as if this fellow disciple had appeared out of thin air and disappeared just as mysteriously.


    Wang Hong collected hundreds of Jade Scrolls, reverted to his original appearance, contentedly headed towards the shop area, humming a tune.


    Spotting a small store named "Spirit Spring Shop," he casually walked in. Inside, an old man stood up to greet him.


    "Fellow Daoist, are you interested in purchasing Spirit Spring? Our shop has various kinds."


    "Yes, I want to buy some Spirit Spring Water. Could you tell me the types avable and their prices?"


    He knew there were many varieties of Spirit Spring Water, differing in quality and price. Some premium ones could be quite expensive.


    "We have Spirit Rock Spring, priced at ten pounds per Spirit Stone; Bamboo Root Spirit Spring, five pounds per Spirit Stone; Forest Concealment Spring, two pounds per Spirit Stone; Tiger Hill Spring, one pound per Spirit Stone... and Dragon Saliva Spring, twenty Spirit Stones per pound."


    The shopkeeper listed all the Spirit Springs from low to high.


    "I''ll take some Spirit Rock Spring." Since his space needed to absorb Spirit Qi for transformation, there was no need to buy anything too expensive.


    "How much?" The shopkeeper wondered why Wang Hong didn''t just say he wanted the cheapest one, making him recite all the Spirit Springs.


    "Sixty thousand pounds."


    "How much?" The shopkeeper couldn''t believe his ears. People usually bought a few pounds or dozens of pounds of Spirit Spring. This was the first time someone wanted so much, and it wasn''t for fish farming.


    "Sixty thousand pounds. Don''t you have that much?"


    "We do! We do!" The shopkeeper nodded quickly, fearing he might lose this substantial deal.


    "Wait here; I''ll be right back." The old man went into the backyard and returned shortly with three Storage Bags in hand.


    Storage Bags varied in size, with some small ones being only about a foot long but having an internal space reaching ten yards in radius, already considered top-notch among Storage Bags.


    Wang Hong took the three Storage Bags handed to him by the old man. These bags seemed small, each containing two hundred wooden barrels.


    Taking out one barrel and weighing it in his hand, it was approximately a hundred pounds. Opening the lid, he checked the Spirit Spring Water inside and found no issues.


    Wang Hong paid with Spirit Stones and took out each barrel from the three Storage Bags, storing them in his own Storage Bag.


    After leaving the market, instead of immediately returning to Kaiyang Peak, he decided to make a detour to the Scripture Tower since he was already at the foot of the Heavenly Authority Peak.


    The Scripture Tower was as bustling as ever when Wang Hong entered. This time, he didn''t linger on the first or second floors, heading directly upstairs.


    The first and second floors primarily focused on various cultivation arts, but this time, he was looking for books on cultivation techniques.


    On the third floor, what caught his eye were various travelogues, strange tales, and even many mundane books, including literature and paintings.


    It turned out that the third floor was designated for misceneous items, hosting all kinds of books.


    Starting from the fourth floor, all the books were rted to cultivation techniques.


    The books on the fourth floor mainly consisted of Magical Arts. The main cultivation techniques were likely on the higher floors. The books here were also meticulously categorized.


    Looking around, he saw conspicuous signs, each stating "Thunder Element Magical Arts," "Wood Element Magical Arts," "Fire Element Magical Arts," "Ice Element Magical Arts," and so on. Every type of Magical Art was avable.


    Magical Arts that were highly sought after by loose cultivators outside were piled up here, creating a dazzling scene.


    Wang Hong randomly pulled out a Jade Scrollbeled "Control Thunder Technique" to inspect. In the outside world, cultivation techniques and Magical Arts for the rare Ice, Wind, and Thunder spiritual roots were the most scarce.


    However, he was startled by the price listed on the Jade Scroll. Borrowing it for five hundred contribution points and duplicating it for a thousand contribution points.


    Previously, most of the Jade Scrolls rted to Spiritual Herbs cost him just a dozen or so contribution points, and the most expensive one was fifty contribution points.


    It seemed that rare items within the sect were not cheap either; one needed to make a significant contribution to have a chance of obtaining them.


    Wang Hong walked between the rows of bookshelves, wondering which category included Magical Arts that concealed one''s cultivation level.


    Suddenly, his eyes lit up as he saw a sign ahead that read "Concealment Arts."


    Hurrying over, he carefully examined the various concealment techniques. After searching for a while, he finally found a cultivation technique called "Turtle Concealment."


    This technique, when cultivated to the highest level, could hide all of one''s Spiritual Energy within the body, making the external appearance seem ordinary. Even a Golden Core cultivator wouldn''t notice anything if they didn''t carefully inspect with Divine Sense.


    Wang Hong felt that this technique was much better than the "Spirit Concealment Art" he obtained from the two assants.


    He decided to cultivate this Turtle Concealment technique, although the price was quite high. It required twenty thousand contribution points to duplicate.


    If he hadn''t just received nine hundred thousand contribution points, he might have had trouble affording it in the short term.


    If other disciples had twenty thousand contribution points, they probably wouldn''t be willing to spend them on such a technique. After all, the resources needed for cultivation might not be sufficient.


    After some hesitation, he decided to duplicate it anyway. After all, he still had nine hundred thousand contribution points.


    As the Foundation Establishment Pills had not yet been refined in the sect, many held onto their contribution points and were reluctant to spend them.


    He copied this technique on the first floor, then left without lingering. Controlling his Flying Boat, he flew directly back to Kaiyang Peak.


    Returning to his small courtyard, he activated a simple istion formation and immediately entered his space.


    In the space, he first poured the purchased Spirit Spring Water into the newly constructed pool, which was still a foot short of being filled.


    Then he took out all the Spirit Stones he had left, a little over twenty thousand, and scattered them all in the space.


    After a while, the Spirit Qi in the pool of Spirit Spring Water slowly rose. When the Spirit Qi reached its peak, the water level began to rise.


    When the water was six inches from being full, the rise stopped. It seemed that the Spirit Qi from the over twenty thousand Spirit Stones had been exhausted.


    Now, the water was finally drinkable. He filled some water and caught some transparent small fish, preparing to make a pot of fish soup.


    The steaming fish soup was ready, and the taste was definitely several times better than any soup he had made before.


    However, he found it tasteless now. When he used to eat, there was always a little fellow trying to please and act cute. Now, facing a big pot of fish soup alone, he felt that something was missing.


    When the little thing was around, he always found it annoying, wishing to send it away or throw it far away.


    Now that it was gone, he felt the absence of this little creature, and the entire courtyard seemed too quiet.


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 Chapter 108: Old Daoist Ganba

    Chapter 108: Old Daoist Ganba


    On the fifth day, just as Wang Hong was preparing to fetch Little Peng back from Ke''er Shimei, Senior Brother Tian and Ke''er Shimei had already brought Little Peng to his door.


    Little Peng, who had been a bit down while in Ke''er Shimei''s arms, jumped onto Wang Hong upon seeing him. It rubbed against him, showing immense excitement.


    "Senior Brother Wang, Little Peng has been a bit listless these past few days. We were worried it might be sick, but it turns out it missed you," Ke''er Shimei exined.


    Wang Hong, in a great mood upon seeing Little Peng, took out a food box from his Storage Bag and fed it a small fish cooked with Spirit Spring Water from the Space. He had prepared some in advance for convenience.


    Senior Brother Tian and Ke''er Shimei, catching a whiff of the fish''s aroma, couldn''t resist sniffing and even swallowed a bit of saliva, feeling a bit embarrassed afterward. After all, they were eyeing the bird''s food; it was a bit awkward.


    "Oh, by the way, you still have a lot of the Elixir you gave Little Pengst time," Ke''er quickly changed the subject, handing over a bottle to Wang Hong.


    Taking the Elixir, Wang Hong noticed their actions but decided to ignore it. After stowing away the Elixir, he took out two wooden food boxes and handed them to the two.


    "I''m not a fan of fasting pills. These are something I made in advance for times when I''m toozy to cook. Take two boxes and give them a try."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Wang!"


    "Thanks! We won''t be polite then."


    The two expressed their gratitude and chatted for a bit before bidding farewell. They were eager to taste the delicious food and had already suppressed their hunger for quite some time.


    Since they didn''t have a flying Magical Weapon, the two walked on a small mountain path. When there was no one around, Ke''er took a few quick steps and caught up with Senior Brother Tian.


    Holding onto Senior Brother Tian''s remaining arm, she said with a bit of coquetry, "Senior Brother, let''s eat one box here. I''m so hungry."


    "Alright! I''m a bit hungry too," Senior Brother Tian replied, looking at his junior sister''s lovely face and understanding her hunger.


    Senior Brother Tian took out the food box from his Storage Bag, and they sat by the roadside to eat. However, while Senior Brother Tian took a few bites of the fish, his mind seemed elsewhere.


    "Junior Brother Wang''s fish this time is really delicious. Much better than the ones he brought for us to apany drinksst time."


    Senior Brother Tian, now fully focused on eating, finally realized the deliciousness of the fish.


    "Yeah! It''s so tasty. Senior Brother Wang is so powerful, good at alchemy, and even cooks so well. Senior Brother, why can''t you do anything?" Ke''er casually remarked while savoring the delicacy, wishing they could eat such delicious food more often.


    "I... I can eat," Senior Brother Tian blushed a bit, thought for a moment, and couldn''te up with anything else he was good at.


    "You two little ones sneaking around to eat. Don''t you know how to show respect to your elders? Poor me, these old bones haven''t had a grain of rice in three months, and I''ve lost weight."


    A voice suddenly appeared above them, startling the two. When did someone get so close without them noticing?


    They looked up to see an Old Daoist Master leaning against the branches above them, appearing as light as a fallen leaf as he descended.


    "Sorry for ourck of courtesy, Senior. We didn''t realize you were here."


    Trying to maintainposure, the two bowed. If someone could enter the sect without wearing sect uniforms, it could only be a senior with Golden Core cultivation or above. Outsiders wouldn''t casually enter and leave the sect.


    At this point, the Old Daoist gently floated down from the tree and stood in front of them. Seeing that the Daoist had no ill intentions, the two rxed a bit.


    "May I ask what instructions Senior has?" Senior Brother Tian asked.


    "Well, let me taste that fish of yours," the Old Daoist said, shamelessly asking the juniors for food. His face didn''t even flush; apparently, he was used to such things.


    The two breathed a sigh of relief. They dared not let the senior eat their leftovers and quickly presented the other food box to him.


    "Not bad, you two have filial piety," the Old Daoist remarked.


    In the presence of such a senior, they couldn''t afford to be disrespectful.


    Taking the food box, the Old Daoist opened it, wiped his hands on his ragged robe, and, whether his hands got cleaner or dirtier, the ck dirt under his nails remained visible. He then reached into the box, grabbed a small fish, and savored it carefully.


    After finishing the fish, he took out a yellow gourd from his waist, removed the stopper, and a fragrant aroma filled the air. The Old Daoist took a sip, then remembered something and raised the gourd.


    "Two little ones, I ate your fish, so I''ll treat you to some wine."


    The two shook their heads like drums, indicating they didn''t drink. The Old Daoist finished the fish, not leaving a drop of soup, and patted his lips, looking content.


    "Good fish! Good water! Unfortunately, the preparation is not right, wasting such excellent ingredients."


    ''Even if you didn''t prepare it well, you enjoyed it so much. That food box is now cleaner than if a dog had licked it,'' Ke''er Shimei thought.


    Although she thought so, she dared not show any disrespect on her face.


    "Well then! I won''t eat your things for nothing. Here, I have a Magical Weapon that can serve aspensation."


    Saying this, the Old Daoist grabbed a high-quality Magical Weapon in the shape of a flying knife from his Storage Bag and tossed it to Senior Brother Tian.


    The two received the Magical Weapon, unexpectedly exchanging a box of small fish for a high-quality Magical Weapon, and they were overjoyed.


    "Who made this dish, and where does he live?" The old man asked.


    Seeing that this Old Man seemed to have no ill intentions and was just greedy, the two told him Wang Hong''s address.


    After mentioning Wang Hong''s address, they felt a gust of wind, and the messy Old Daoist disappeared.


    After sending off Senior Brother Tian, Wang Hong practiced the newly acquired Turtle Concealment technique. After these few days of practice, he could now conceal his cultivation level of Qi Cultivation Nine Layers as Qi Cultivation Eight Layers.


    Moreover, in a fight, as long as he didn''t use strength beyond Qi Cultivation Eight Layers, he wouldn''t reveal any ws.


    Just after practicing, Little Peng clung to him again, rubbing against him.


    He took out a small fish from the food box on the stone table in the courtyard and fed it to the little guy. After feeding Little Peng, when he turned back, he found the food box on the stone table was gone.


    Scanning around, he was shocked. At some point, someone had appeared next to him.


    A skinny and messy Old Taoist stood by the stone table, holding a food box and savoring the small fish inside.


    "Kid, this old man is starving. Any objections if I eat a bit of your bird food?"


    "Disciple Wang Hong of Kaiyang Peak under Elder Gu''s guidance pays respects to the senior!"


    Wang Hong didn''t know who this skinny old man was, but anyone with such skills, silently bypassing the istion formation and suddenly appearing in front of him, was undoubtedly a senior in the sect.


    At the same time, by revealing that he was Gu Qingyang''s disciple, he hinted that he had someone backing him, making the other party wary.


    "So, you''re Little Yang''s disciple. Not bad, much smarter than those disciples he had before."


    The Old Daoistmented while stuffing his mouth with small fish, demonstrating an impressive ability to eat and talk simultaneously without affecting each other.


    "Let me tell you, the fish is good, the water is good, but your method is wrong."


    The Old Daoist continued his critique while eating.


    "Oh! Please enlighten me, senior."


    Not knowing the purpose of this Old Daoist and facing his formidable strength, resisting was impossible. It was better to follow his words. People often liked to give advice in their areas of expertise, and it was quite satisfying for them.


    "The kid is teachable! Bring out some fresh fish. I''ll show you what real Spiritual Cook skills are."


    The Old Daoist had already rolled up his sleeves and ced arge cauldron in the courtyard, emitting a strong Spiritual Energy fluctuation, much higher than a Spiritual Weapon.


    "Is this a magical tool?"


    "Seeing something rare and making a fuss. It''s just a magical tool. Do you need to be so surprised? Quickly bring out the fish. I''m all prepared. What are you dawdling for?"


    "Oh, right away! Right away!"


    Wang Hong quickly took out arge jar from a prepared Spirit Beast bag. The jar was filled with Spirit Spring Water, and there were many transparent small fish swimming inside.


    The Old Daoist skillfully gutted and cleaned dozens of small fish, keeping the scales intact.


    He then put most of the fish into the magical cauldron.


    "Bring the Spirit Spring Water."


    Wang Hong handed over two bottles of Spirit Spring Water. Old Daoist took the bottles, opened them, sniffed, and handed them back.


    "Don''t use this to fool this old man. You didn''t use this before. Don''t hold back. You''ll benefitter."


    Thinking Wang Hong was reluctant to use the more precious Spirit Spring Water, the Old Daoist was quite discerning. Unable to help it, Wang Hong took out two bottles of Space-modified spring water and handed them to the Old Daoist.


    Old Taoist opened the bottles, took a look, and poured the water into the cauldron.


    "Where did you get this Spirit Spring Water?"


    As expected, he asked this question. Wang Hong was organizing his words to answer.


    "If it''s inconvenient, you don''t have to say. The Old Daoist won''t bully a junior of the same sect."


    "There''s nothing inconvenient to say. I obtained it by chance in a secret realm."


    He now had something not easy to exin, so he pushed it to the secret realm. Anyway, the next time it opened, it would be sixty yearster.


    The secret realm was vast, and every time disciples entered, they only had Qi Cultivation cultivation levels. No sect dared to im that they were familiar with the secret realm. Even if they sent people to look next time it opened, with so many people entering at once, it was possible that someone would get there first.


    After hearing about the secret realm, the Old Daoist didn''t ask further questions. Instead, he ignited a pile of spirit charcoal under the magical cauldron.


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 Chapter 109: Shadow Kill

    Chapter 109: Shadow Kill


    Old Daoist lit a big fire, boiling the fish and Spirit Spring Water together without adding any other seasonings.


    "You added a bunch of random seasonings to the fish before, covering its natural vor," he remarked.


    "Is it really that simple?" Wang Hong asked skeptically.


    "Do you think the Great Dao isplicated? Understand the simplicity of the Dao?" Old Taoist replied.


    Wang Hong nodded, half understanding.


    Old Taoist casually cast several spells into the big pot, and the spiritual fire below burned fiercely. Standing beside it, Wang Hong could feel the heat.


    However, the Spirit Spring Water inside the pot remained still, unaffected by the heat, with no trace of steam or Spirit Qi escaping.


    After some time, Wang Hong noticed that although the water in the pot didn''t boil, the small fish inside were slowly dissolving.


    A quarter of an hourter, all the fish had dissolved, leaving behind a pot of clear Spirit Spring Water with no sign of fish meat, resembling pure water.


    Still, there was no steam rising, and no aroma could be detected.


    Old Taoist scooped out two bowls of fish soup from the pot, appearing identical to clear water, and ced them on a stone table.


    "Is this fish soup?" Wang Hong looked at the two bowls of clear water with confusion.


    Old Daoist ignored him, took out a Jade Box from his Storage Bag, sealed with a Talisman to prevent Spirit Qi loss.


    Gently lifting the Talisman, he opened the box, revealing a small green onion inside.


    Wang Hong murmured inwardly, "You, a revered Golden Core elder, are so cautious with this. I thought it was some earth-shattering treasure, but it turns out to be a small onion."


    He carefully picked a small section of the onion leaves, immediately covered the box, and affixed the Talisman.


    Then, he finely chopped the small onion leaves and evenly sprinkled them into the two bowls of clear fish soup.


    "Senior, is that small onion really that precious?" Wang Hong asked.


    After spending some time together, Wang Hong was no longer as fearful of Old Daoist as before. He found this dry elder to be approachable.


    "You youngd, don''t underestimate it. This is the Pr Small Cold Onion that has grown for over a thousand years in an extremely cold region. I acquired it at a great cost," Old Daoist said, revealing a hint of regret on his face.


    "Oh, Senior, could you spare a small portion of the root for me?"


    "You have good eyes. Even its roots, when added to Spirit Meal, enhance its effectspared to ordinary spirit onions. However, if you want some, you''ll have to exchange it with your Spirit Spring Water," Old Daoist said.


    Wang Hong promptly took out a bottle of Spirit Spring Water and handed it to Old Daoist.


    This time, Old Daoist was more generous, directly plucking two inch-long roots from the small onion.


    Wang Hong received the two root segments, imitating Old Daoist''s actions. He ced them in a Jade Box, sealed it with a Talisman, and stored it in his Storage Bag.


    By this time, Old Taoist was sitting by the stone table, sipping the clear soup slowly. After each sip, he would pause to savor the taste.


    Wang Hong, following suit, sat down and lifted a bowl of clear soup. Aside from a few green onion specks, there was still no fragrance. He drank a skeptical sip.


    As the clear soup entered his mouth, the savory taste of fish mixed with the refreshing aroma of green onions. The two vors blended, elevating the entire soup''s aroma and taste, enhancing the overall sensory experience.


    The soup had a slightly thick texture, but it wasn''t greasy. On the contrary, it felt fresh and delightful. After the clear soup slid down his throat, a subtle and elegant fragrance lingered in his mouth for a long time.


    Only now did Wang Hong understand that Old Daoist''s words were not empty. Although most of the ingredients were his, he had never tasted something so delicious before.


    After finishing a bowl of clear soup, it gradually transformed into a gentle Spiritual Energy in his stomach, and his cultivation level increased slowly.


    Wang Hong, ready to refill his bowl, was stopped by Old Daoist.


    "Even good things should be enjoyed in moderation. Excess is no good. Flowers are best appreciated halfway open, and wine should be sipped lightly to appreciate its subtleties."


    Wang Hong, slightly surprised, couldn''t believe these words came from the dry and unkempt Old Taoist before him.


    This was a different style from his messy but good-natured eating habits.


    Thinking it over, Wang Hong found it reasonable. Every cultivator who reached a high tier was exceptional; they couldn''t be simple.


    He reminded himself not to judge people solely by appearances in the future; otherwise, he might be deceived by outward appearances.


    "Should we discard the remaining soup?" he asked.


    "Phew!"


    Old Taoist almost choked and spewed out the soup but managed to suppress it. Once something reached the mouth, it couldn''t be easily spat out. A Golden Core expert was indeed formidable.


    After swallowing the almost-spat-out soup, Old Taoist sighed and waved at Wang Hong.


    "Leave it there. Don''t move. I have my ways."


    After slowly finishing a bowl of soup, Old Taoist walked to the side of therge pot and collected the remaining soup in a porcin basin.


    He restarted the fire, lightly pan-fried the remaining small fish on both sides, then poured the clear soup from the basin into the pot.


    Old Taoist cast several spells toward therge pot, and soon, the clear soup flowed towards the small fish in the pot. It was gradually absorbed until the souppletely disappeared, leaving only a dozen small fish lying quietly at the bottom of the pot.


    Old Daoist sprinkled some fine powder on top and then used a jade te to serve the small fish, cing it on the stone table.


    At this point, Old Taoist took out a Jade vial and two small wine cups from his Storage Bag. He uncorked the bottle, filled his own cup carefully, absolutely halfwayno more, no less. After recorking the bottle, he thought for a moment and added a few more drops to the cup, making it slightly more than half full.


    Wang Hong, sitting nearby, couldn''t help but silently mock in his heart. A Golden Core expert, a revered existence indeed, making even half a cup of wine seem like a grand gesture.


    First, he treated a small onion like a treasure, and now this bottle of wine was probably some extraordinary brew.


    "Youngd, don''t be ungrateful. This wine is something I stealthily obtained after lurking outside the cave mansion of a thousand-year-old ape for five months, waiting for it to leave. It''s a collection the old ape guarded for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. He wouldn''t even drink it himself and chased me for over a month when he found out."


    Old Taoist spoke proudly, seemingly unashamed of stealing demonic beast wine.


    "So, this wine is precious. Thanks for the generous gift, Senior!" Wang Hong deeply bowed.


    "No need for thanks. I''m only sharing half a cup because you provided the ingredients. Also, with your Qi Cultivation eighthyer, it''s not advisable to drink too much," Old Taoist replied.


    Hearing this, Wang Hong was pleased. Old Taoist hadn''t realized he was at Qi Cultivation ninthyer. The twenty thousand contribution points were indeed well spent.


    By now, Old Daoist had already picked up a small fish and started eating, thoroughly enjoying the taste.


    Wang Hong also picked up a small fish, took a bite, and found the crispy fish skin and tender flesh to be much more delicious than the fish he cooked earlier. The essence of all those fish, condensed into these dozen or so small ones, surpassed the vor of his previous attempt.


    He then took a sip of the wine, confirming it was much better than his five-hundred-year-old brew. No wonder Old Taoist spent months stealing it.


    After finishing his small cup of wine, Old Taoist didn''t pour more from the Jade vial. Instead, he took out a yellow gourd hanging from his waist, drank from it, and asked Wang Hong if he wanted a sip. Wang Hong politely declined, iming a low alcohol tolerance.


    Observing Old Taoist''s content expression, a thought suddenly struck him. He stood up, bowed to Old Taoist, and said, "Senior, back in Azure Void City, I encountered a destitute cultivator who sold me a jar of supposedly ancient wine, passed down from his ancestors. It''s been untouched for hundreds of years. Could you please appraise it for me?"


    Old Taoist''s eyes lit up at the mention of hundreds of years of wine.


    "Oh! Bring it here; let me have a look."


    Wang Hong presented arge wine jar, containing a hundred catties of wine, with the sealed mud still intact.


    Old Taoist pped away the seal, and a strong aroma of wine wafted out. Using Spiritual Energy, he absorbed a small amount of the wine, tasted it, and then closed his eyes, inhaling deeply before slowly exhaling.


    "Good wine! Although it''s just regr Spirit Rice wine, it has been exceptionally well preserved, aged between five hundred and sixty years. No effort is too much for good manners. Youngd, if you have any trouble, just say it."


    Wang Hong hastily handed a ck Token to Old Taoist.


    "Senior, with your extensive knowledge, do you recognize the origin of this item?"


    Old Taoist took the Token, nced at it casually, and tossed it back to Wang Hong.


    "Where did you get this?"


    Wang Hong briefly exined the situation, omitting some details that shouldn''t be disclosed.


    "It seems you''ve run into a big problem. This Token belongs to a mysterious organization called Shadow Kill."


    "Shadow Kill? I''ve never heard of this organization, and I certainly haven''t offended them."


    Wang Hong was puzzled. He couldn''t recall ever encountering such a mysterious organization.


    "Shadow Kill Organization doesn''t need anyone to offend them. They kill for Spirit Stones. As long as you pay a high enough reward, they''ll even kill their own fathers."


    "If I''m willing to pay more Spirit Stones, can I negotiate with them to stop pursuing me?"


    "No, the reason Shadow Kill Organization has thrived for thousands of years in the Cultivation World is due to their excellent reputation. Besides, you can''t afford to pay more. They start their tasks at a minimum of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Even for a Qi Cultivation eighthyer like you, the price would be at least that much."


    This infuriating professionalism made Wang Hong, for the first time in his life, feel deep resentment towards an ethically sound business.


    "So, is there nothing I can do? They won''t even give face to a Golden Core cultivator?"


    "Rumors say they''ve sessfully assassinated Golden Core cultivators. Do you think they would fear Golden Core cultivators?"


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 Chapter 110: Formation

    Chapter 110: Formation


    "You currently have a way out. As long as you don''t step out of Qingxu Sect until you have enough strength, what can these sinister forces do to you? If a sect can''t even protect its disciples, how can it establish itself in the Cultivation World?


    If anyone dares to interfere with the six major sects, then that organization has no reason to exist."


    At this moment, the Old Taoist revealed strong confidence. A powerful aura inadvertently emanated from him, oppressing Wang Hong to the point where he struggled to breathe.


    In this moment, the image of the Old Taoist in Wang Hong''s mind underwent another transformation, appearing even more towering and majestic.


    "Elder, will my family and friends outside be implicated?" Wang Hong respectfully asked.


    "No, they charge per head. If they receive payment for one person''s Spirit Stone but kill two people, it would be a loss. Of course, if the client has specific requests, that''s a different matter."


    With this assurance, Wang Hong felt a bit relieved, although he was unsure who had ced themission.


    Pondering over recent events, besides killing some people in the secret realm, he hadn''t offended anyone. At least until he reached the Foundation Building stage, he couldn''t leave.


    "Shadow Kill specializes in assassination, but it doesn''t rule out other methods. Here''s a second-tier defense talisman; use it for protection. Take care of yourself."


    The Old Taoist disappeared, along with the remaining small fish on the stone table.


    The image of the respected senior that Wang Hong had built up in his mind diminished significantly.


    Wang Hong stood in the courtyard for a while, contemting. His primary task was to enhance his strength, swiftly reaching the Foundation Building stage. The sect''s Foundation Establishment Pill was nearingpletion.


    Currently at Qi Cultivation ninthyer, he needed to advance to the tenthyer quickly, which posed no difficulty. He still had three Green Spirit Peaches left to consume.


    To refine his spiritual energy, the white crystal fruits, especially the ones recently matured after he gave some to Wang Yi, would be useful.


    The fifteen white crystal fruit trees he initially nted had grown, supplying him abundantly. The newly nted five acres of white crystal fruit were still saplings and would take time to bloom.


    He also needed to strengthen his subordinates. With a group of Foundation Building cultivators under him, he would dare to confront the Shadow Kill Organization.


    However, a more immediate concern was changing the formation in his residence. This was his home, not a market. Even if the opponent was a Golden Core Elder, it didn''t mean anyone coulde and go without notice.


    His privacy had no guarantee. He had to visit the market to acquire a more robust formation.


    Wang Hong piloted the Flying Boat once again, leaving Kaiyang Peak. Instead of going directly to the market, he first visited the Task Hall on Heavenly Authority Peak.


    He needed to inform Wang Yi about the situation. If things went awry, and Wang Yi suffered consequences, he would regret it for the rest of his life.


    The Task Hall was always bustling. Any disciple wanting sect resources had to contribute and earn contribution points to exchange for various items.


    Contribution points were the internal currency. With enough points, one could even request high-tier cultivators for assistance.


    After waiting for about fifteen minutes, it was finally Wang Hong''s turn.


    "Hello, I''d like to post a task. Is that possible?"


    "Of course, what task would you like to post?"


    The person across from him was a slightly plump Qi Cultivation female cultivator with a bulbous nose and small eyes. However, her voice was enchanting.


    Wang Hong sighed, understanding why many female cultivators preferred to cover their faces. The voice alone could captivate countless male cultivators.


    "I want to send a letter to Taihao Sect. How can I go about it?"


    "You can set the task deadline, the minimum cultivation level required, and the number of contribution points you''re willing to offer."


    After some thought, Wang Hong estimated that it would take four to five months for a Qi Cultivation cultivator to reach Qingxu Sect from here, possibly shorter for a Foundation Building cultivator.


    "If I set the requirement to be Foundation Building or above, how many contribution points would that need?"


    "There''s no absolute limit. You can even offer just one contribution point, but in that case, it might be challenging to find someone willing to take on the task."


    Wang Hong extended a delicate Jade vial to the female cultivator.


    "Oh, thank you for the information, junior sister. Here''s a bottle of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly as a token of appreciation."


    The female cultivator might be a bit older than Wang Hong, but politeness was essential when seeking help. Wang Hong believed that addressing her as junior sister, considering their simr ages, sounded more respectful than junior sister.


    After she epted the Jade vial, Wang Hong inquired, "Based on your experience, how many contribution points would be appropriate for such a task? And it needs to bepleted quickly."


    Smelling the contents of the vial, the female cultivator''s eyes sparkled with delight. No male cultivator had ever given her Spirit Bee Royal Jelly before. This was her moment to show off among her peers.


    "For tasks requiring Foundation Building cultivators, a minimum of five hundred contribution points is needed for someone to take it. Your task isn''t too difficult but requires more time. I suggest offering one thousand five hundred contribution points. If you want it to be taken quickly, two thousand contribution points would be better."


    After receiving the gifts, the female cultivator''s voice became even more charming, and she considered every aspect for Wang Hong.


    "Alright! I''ll offer nine thousand contribution points for three tasks, each worth three thousand contribution points."


    At that moment, the female cultivator''s eyes were filled with stars. Wang Hong seemed like the ideal partner in her mind.


    "Sister, are you alright?" Wang Hong woke her from her reverie.


    "Oh, yes. Please provide the task items, senior brother."


    Wang Hong handed over three Jade Scrolls, each containing the same content. He was concerned about potential dangers on the way. If the messenger encountered treasure hunters and lost their life, it would jeopardize his ns.


    He didn''t mind spending a few extra contribution points. Inparison to his younger brother''s safety, it was worthwhile.


    After receiving the scrolls, the female cultivator deducted nine thousand contribution points from Wang Hong''s Sect Token. With everything settled, Wang Hong was about to leave.


    "Senior brother, I''m Shui Ruo''er from Yuheng Peak. Feel free to find me if you need anything."


    She smiled sweetly, her voice pleasant as she spoke to Wang Hong.


    "Sure, thank you, junior sister!"


    Leaving the Task Hall, Wang Hong marveled at how well the Golden Core Elders managed things. The attitude of the duty cultivators in the Task Hall had improved significantly.


    Exiting the hall, he headed towards the market at the foot of the mountain. He needed to get some Spirit Stones, as he had depleted them in his previous expenditures.


    Taking advantage of the deserted surroundings, he slipped into a small grove, changing his appearance before emerging. Now, Space had many Spiritual Herbs for sale. Wang Hong selected somemon ones, interspersed with a few rare ones.


    Each batch was worth two to three thousand Spirit Stones. After visiting nearly twenty small shops, he managed to sell his Spiritual Herbs.


    Entering Myriad Treasures Tower again, he reverted to his original appearance. His Storage Bag now held nearly fifty thousand Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong found the attendant and asked for a rmendation on a formation. He needed one suitable for Qi Cultivation stage, serving as protection for his cave mansion, with the highest possible effectiveness.


    Since he knew nothing about formations, he preferred the shop to make the rmendation. While most shops might not suggest the best, they usually rmended the most expensive products. As long as the business cared about its reputation, the items shouldn''t be too bad.


    Feeling a bit inted after earning five thousand Spirit Stones, he didn''t mind spending a bit more.


    The attendant introduced him to a set of Small Five Elements Formation, even stating that some Foundation Building cultivators used it for their cave mansion''s protection.


    This formation utilized the intery of the five elements, creating interconnections. If any point was attacked, it would trigger a chain reaction throughout the entire formation. This meant that at any point, the full strength of the entire Large Formation could be used.


    Just hearing the description, Wang Hong felt that this formation was exceptionally powerful. He paid twenty thousand Spirit Stones on the spot to purchase it.


    Back at Kaiyang Peak, Wang Hong spent another ten days setting up this intricate formation in his residence. Afterpleting the arrangement, he personally tested it. Without using the correct passage technique, he spent a day but still couldn''t break through the formation.


    He felt the twenty thousand Spirit Stones were well spent.


    Satisfied with his work, he took two medium-grade Condensing Qi Pills, activated his cultivation technique, and slowly absorbed the medicinal power. Two hourster, he absorbed all the medicinal power, and his cultivation level slightly increased.


    Taking out ten white crystal fruits, he ced them on the stone table in the courtyard and enjoyed them slowly.


    "Kid, how many of those transparent little fish do you have? Share some with this old Daoist."


    A voice suddenly appeared behind him, nearly choking him in surprise. Turning slowly, he saw the skinny and unkempt Old Taoist holding a white crystal fruit.


    Wang Hong struggled to rece his stiff expression with a bright smile.


    "Elder, when did you arrive? You should have informed me earlier so that I could open the formation and personally wee you, showing the utmost respect in front of the senior."


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 Chapter 111: The Philosophy of Qingxu Sect

    Chapter 111: The Philosophy of Qingxu Sect


    "Are you talking about this little Five Elements Formation? No need toplicate things; I can activate or deactivate this small formation with just a wave of my hand."


    With that, Old Taoist raised his hand, and the Wood Element in the Large Formation stopped operating. Wood fueled Fire, and the Fire Element also ceased. Following the natural order of generation, Earth, Metal, and Water Elements stopped one after another, effortlessly closing the Large Formation.


    Another wave of his hand, and the eastern Wood Element lit up with a green light, restarting the Wood Element.


    Then, in the order of generation, starting from the eastern Wood, followed by the southern Fire, central Earth, western Metal, and northern Water, the Large Formation lit up with five different colors: blue, red, yellow, white, and ck. The Large Formation was reactivated.


    Wang Hong felt dejected. It took him twenty thousand Spirit Stones and ten days to set up this Large Formation. Now, someone could open and close it with a simple wave of their hand, making entry and exit seamless. It was more convenient than his carefully crafted formation.


    Originally, he arranged this formation to prevent the Old Daoist from entering and leaving casually. Now, how could he defend against it?


    Perhaps the formation he thought was powerful seemed like child''s y in front of a Golden Core cultivator.


    "Elder''s magical powers are vast, turning clouds with a flip of your hand and making rain with a turn. This junior is deeply impressed and admires you wholeheartedly."


    Having received so much ttery from the Ma Brothers, a few more words of praise were easy toe by. He opened his mouth without any psychological burden, facing the imposing attitude of the Golden Core cultivator.


    He pondered whether he could ask the Old Taoist to help set up a formation. Judging by the Old Man''s abilities, even if done casually, it would be stronger than what he painstakingly created.


    "I happen to have some rare fish that I''ve been reluctant to use. Now is the perfect time to present them to Elder as a sign of respect."


    After saying this, Wang Hong took out arge water tank from a Spirit Beast bag, filled with lively fish.


    "You brat, don''t pretend to be pitiful in front of me. I saw you feeding the birds with it just a few days ago. Do you look like someone who can''t bear to eat it? Your little tricks are better off spoken inly. If my mood is good and I feel like it, I might help you."


    Even though Wang Hong was exposed, he didn''t feel embarrassed. In front of a Golden Core expert like him, he didn''t dare to make requests casually.


    "I dare to be bold. Junior wishes to ask Elder for help in modifying a formation."


    "If you want Old Daoist''s help, these little fish won''t be enough."


    "I happened to encounter a down-and-out cultivator the other day. I bought two jars of aged wine from him, and I still have one left."


    "Not enough!" The Old Daoist resisted the impulse to agree and firmly shook his head. He thought this kid must be a food enthusiast, and he might be hiding some good stuff.


    Compared to himself, he enjoyed collecting good ingredients.


    "Bearing no deceit, Junior has a Spirit Wine workshop in Azure Void City. We either brew or purchase, and I have some top-quality Spirit Wine, only tier one, in my possession. I wonder if Elder would find it appealing?"


    Wang Hong revealed his Spirit Wine workshop because a brief investigation in Azure Void City would reveal it anyway. It wasn''t a particrly big secret. He had an idea  maybe, in the future, he could entice the Old Daoist with fine wine and persuade him to go to Azure Void City to get it.


    This way, he would have a free bodyguard, and he could use this opportunity to show that his Spirit Wine workshop had a Golden Core cultivator as a backer. asionally, his shop received some good wine from cultivators or families leaving not-so-valuable items for their descendants.


    ...


    Many Spirit Wines are purchased and stored, left for future generations. These Spirit Wines are not too expensive when bought, but once passed down for several generations, their value naturally increases.


    Of course, there are many instances where the inheritance is interrupted for various reasons, benefiting others. Some are not stored properly, losing their Spirit Qi and bing ordinary wines.


    A few well-preserved Spirit Wines can be sold when junior cultivators urgently need Spirit Stones, providing immediate relief.


    In truth, many of the Spirit Wines sold from his Spirit Wine workshop are being stored by others.


    "How much do you have? " Old Daoist felt secretly delighted. Indeed, squeezing this kid a bit more seemed right.


    He drank Spirit Wine purely to satisfy his cravings. Even if it was just a tier one Spirit Wine, he had consumed ordinary wine before. After all, high-tier Spirit Wines were both expensive and rare, and as a Golden Core cultivator, he couldn''t afford to consume them regrly.


    "I still have three hundred catties on me. If you want more, I''ll have to go to Azure Void City." Wang Hong took out a few more jars of Spirit Wine, somewhat helplessly.


    He had many items that could impress Golden Core cultivators, including three-tier Lotus Root and Lotus Seeds, but he didn''t dare to reveal them.


    "Never mind, this will do. I''ll generously be a good person this time."


    Old Taoist felt he had squeezed enough for now. He needed some time to fatten up before returning. After all, he was just a Qi Cultivation minor cultivator, and there would be plenty of opportunities for him to make demands.


    As for directly resorting to robbery, he hadn''t even thought about it. Firstly, he rarely encountered a like-minded junior, and he felt that Wang Hong understood his temperament well.


    Secondly, this couldn''t be separated from the sess of Qingxu Sect''s management over the past tens of thousands of years.


    Qingxu Sect had tens of thousands of cultivators, and internal conflicts were inevitable. However, the Sect did not allow high-tier cultivators to recklessly oppress lower-tier disciples.


    Just imagine, if a disciple grew up in various oppressions and humiliations, would they feel affection for the Sect or remain loyal? Their first instinct might be to seek revenge against the Sect.


    So, internally, while there were inevitably some scheming and plotting, it was not allowed to be overt, and there were certain boundaries.


    Therefore, the entire Sect seemed harmonious. The Sect encouragedpetition among disciples but never condoned internal ughter.


    The growth atmosphere within the Sect was still positive. Over generations, disciples joining Qingxu Sect were subtly changed.


    Growing up without harboring such thoughts from the bottom of their hearts, Old Taoist, having been raised in this environment, naturally didn''t have such thoughts either.


    However, Qingxu Sect''s disciples were ruthless towards outsiders, showing no mercy.


    It was said that there was once a Sect that allowed, and even encouraged, internal ughter. Disciples raised in such a way were indeed formidable in battle because the weaker ones had already died.


    This Sect was once extremely powerful and terrifying, but it only existed for a little over a thousand years before being easily eradicated by a smaller Sect. When external enemies attacked, they were too busy fighting among themselves. During battles, few were willing to fight to the death for the Sect, making them like scattered sand.


    Take people''s money and help them dispel cmities. Old Daoist epted the benefits and began working.


    He casually waved his hand, making some subtle adjustments to the Large Formation, and then cast a few techniques that entered the formation.


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 Chapter 112: Golden Body Pill

    Chapter 112: Golden Body Pill


    "Is this enough?"


    Old Taoist, with a few casual moves just now, flowed effortlessly, disying a graceful and leisurely posture. The key was that Wang Hong felt like he got the short end of the stick, being deceived by this dry and stoic Old Daoist.


    He had been thinking of coaxing Old Daoist into bing his bodyguard, but reality made him realize that if the sly fox didn''t sell him out, he should be thankful.


    "This kind of child''s y, do you think it''splicated? The Five Elements include generation, restraint, surplus, inste, and various changes. Your little formation only utilizes the generation principle, barely tapping into the restraint principle. I helped you improve on that aspect."


    "What about its power now?" Wang Hong was somewhat convinced. After all, a Golden Core expert''s intervention was bound to be extraordinary.


    "You can try it yourself."


    "But my original formation could still trap me."


    "Then find a Foundation Building Disciple to help you test it."


    "Forget it, where do I find one? Can this even stop a Golden Core cultivator?"


    "Get lost! With your broken thing, you think you can stop a Golden Core cultivator? Do you think their centuries of cultivation are wasted on a dog like you?" Old Taoist nearly kicked him out.


    "Calm down. Although this formation is shabby, it has been modified by a master like you. It should have some miraculous effects."


    Old Taoist seemed in a better mood, pulling at his oil-stained robe, making himself appear more like a venerable Golden Core expert.


    "It can''t exactly block, but if a Golden Core cultivator wants to sneak in silently, it''s impossible."


    At this point, Old Taoist seemed to suddenly think of something, giving Wang Hong a meaningful look.


    Wang Hong felt a bit awkward. After all, he had asked someone to help set up a formation specifically to hinder others. It seemed a bit unfair.


    However, despite the twists and turns, the final result was satisfactory.


    To express his apology, Wang Hong gave Old Taoist a 200-year-old mutated Astragalus to make soup.


    He imed to have picked it in the secret realm and kept a few small ones for himself.


    After Old Taoist left, he could finally focus on enhancing his strength without worries.


    His cultivation had two directions: Qi Cultivation and Body Refining.


    In previous battles in the secret realm, he mainly relied on agile movements, swiftly closing in for closebat.


    Typically, once a cultivator of the same tier was approached by a body cultivator, their frail bodies couldn''t withstand a single blow.


    Thus, facing a group of enemies in the secret realm, he would charge directly into their midst, and his Long Spear made short work of them.


    However,tely, his progress in body cultivation seemed to have hit a bottleneck.


    He had previously consumed a seed from the demon-hunting tree, feeling its excellent effects. Unfortunately, the demon-hunting tree he nted had yet to bear fruit.


    Remembering he had the form for a Golden Body Pill, he hadn''t switched because the effects of the Body Refining Pill were still decent.


    The main herb for the Golden Body Pill is the nine-leaf golden thread grass, and Wang Hong has nted many in his spatial storage. The refinement of the Golden Body Pill requires the herb to be at least 150 years old, and many of the ones he nted have already reached 400 years.


    The Golden Body Pill is positioned between the first and second tier elixirs, making it more challenging than the previous first-tier elixir he refined.


    Entering the spatial storage, Wang Hong harvested some 150-year-old nine-leaf golden thread grass and other supplementary spiritual herbs. Since it''s just practice, there''s no need to use too high-quality spiritual herbs and waste them.


    Wang Hong settled Little Peng in the courtyard to y, confident that the formation would keep it safe. Sitting beside his massive alchemy furnace, Wang Hong arranged the processed spiritual herbs skillfully, warming the furnace, and adding the herbs...


    After a while, ck smoke emerged from the alchemy room, apanied by a burnt smell. The first furnace of elixir was indeed a failure.


    The second furnace, also a failure.


    The third furnace produced two Golden Body Pills, shiny white with golden patterns on them.


    Taking advantage of his practiced hands, he continued refining ten more Golden Body Pills. Only two furnaces wereplete failures, while the rest yielded one to three pills. In total, he obtained twelve Golden Body Pills, with aprehensive pill sess rate of ten percent.


    After feeding Little Peng, he immersed himself in the cultivation room, eager to test the effects of the Golden Body Pill.


    Cross-legged, he ingested a Golden Body Pill. Instead of instantly dissolving in his mouth, it remained intact. Stretching his neck, he swallowed it whole, and it slid into his stomach.


    Luckily, the elixir was only the size of a thumb. If it were any bigger, it could have choked him.


    The Golden Body Pill, enveloped by spiritual energy, slowly broke down into a unique, faintly golden spiritual energy. This energy, as his cultivation technique operated, gradually infused into his limbs, imparting a subtle golden hue. As the golden spiritual energy depleted, the color gradually faded.


    After refining one Golden Body Pill, he stood up and felt an increase of around thirty kilograms in strength. His body''s durability should have also improved.


    Comparing it to the Body Refining Pill, the Golden Body Pill was much more effective. He used to consume three Body Refining Pills a day, and theirbined effects were not as good as a single Golden Body Pill.


    Wang Hong took two more Golden Body Pills in session, feeling that he had reached the limit of the number he could ingest. In total, his strength increased by about one hundred kilograms.


    At this rate, as long as he persisted in taking three Golden Body Pills daily, he could gain over thirty thousand kilograms of strength in a year. In just a year, he should have around one hundred thousand kilograms of strength.


    Any magical or spiritual weapon had a limit of endurance. With enough strength, any defense could be broken. Moreover, body refining was not as conspicuous as spiritual energy cultivation; others couldn''t easily discern your strength.


    Thinking about this, Wang Hong couldn''t help but burst into sillyughter in the cultivation room.


    Exiting the room, he fed Little Peng and himself, body cultivators being particrly hearty eaters. The more strength he gained, the more he ate, as this strength wasn''t generated out of thin air.


    In the following days, he refined several furnaces of Golden Body Pills each day. Although he couldn''t consume them all, it helped improve his alchemy skills.


    With continuous practice, his overall pill sess rate for refining Golden Body Pills reached thirty percent. Simultaneously, his storage bag was now filled with numerous Golden Body Pills. Since it wasn''t easy to sell them, he decided to keep them for his subordinates to enhance their strength.


    A powerful organization required a strong overall strength, and as the biggest beneficiary of this organization, Wang Hong naturally needed to take more care.


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 Chapter 113: Messenger

    Chapter 113: Messenger


    In the distant Taihao Sect, Wang Yi had just awakened from his meditation.


    A Transmission Talisman floated in at the door, and Wang Yi reached out to bring it closer.


    "Wang Senior Brother! Pleasee to the Mountain Gate; someone is looking for you." A man''s voice came through the Transmission Talisman.


    Wang Yi got up and walked out of his room. His residence was more magnificent than Wang Hong''s, with artificial mountains, water features, and bamboo groves in the courtyard.


    Among the Qi Cultivation Disciples of Taihao Sect, he enjoyed quite a high level of treatment.


    Wang Yi headed towards the Mountain Gate, exchanging greetings with fellow disciples along the way.


    Due to excessive consumption of white crystal fruit, his cultivation level had dropped, and he had not yet reached Foundation Building.


    As he approached the Mountain Gate reception building, he was surprised to find three Foundation Building cultivators waiting there, which startled him.


    "Junior Wang Yi pays respects to the three seniors."


    Until he achieved Foundation Building, no matter how talented he was, he had to show respect to Foundation Building cultivators.


    "Are you Wang Yi?"


    The leading Foundation Building cultivator asked curiously, wondering about Wang Yi''s identity.


    That day, when he was preparing to take on a mission, an additional task popped up, requiring a Foundation Building cultivator to personally deliver a letter to Taihao Sect, with a reward of three thousand contribution points.


    Without hesitation, he epted the task. A trip with almost no danger and a reward of three thousand contribution points  such generous opportunities were rare.


    After leaving the Mountain Gate with the task, he encountered two fellow disciples. To his surprise, they were all assigned the same mission.


    Unaware of the contents of the important letter they were delivering, the fact that three Foundation Building cultivators were simultaneously tasked hinted at the significance of the delivery. Considering the high reward for the mission, they spected that what they were delivering was anything but ordinary.


    This realization turned what they initially thought was an easy task into a cautious journey, fearing unexpected dangers.


    Fortunately, the journey was uneventful, and they safely arrived at Taihao Sect.


    However, they couldn''t rx yet, as the mission required them to bring back a letter. The return journey might still hold potential dangers.


    "I am indeed Wang Yi."


    Wang Yi took three Jade Boxes from the hands of the three men, dripping a drop of blood onto the seal of each box.


    This seal could only be opened by the blood of a specific individual. Anyone else attempting to open it would cause the entire Jade Box, along with its contents, to turn to ashes.


    Opening the Jade Box revealed three identical Jade Scrolls inside.


    Wang Yi took out three Jade Scrolls from the Jade Boxes and checked them. The contents were identical.


    Wang Yi was familiar with his brother''s style of handling matters, so he wasn''t surprised.


    The letter mentioned a Shadow Kill Organization that might pose a threat to him. It advised him to be cautious and preferably not leave the sect.


    In front of the three men, Wang Yi imprinted the Jade Scrolls and ced them back into the original Jade Boxes, sealing them with the same symbols.


    The three Foundation Building cultivators took the Jade Boxes and carefully returned. After this experience, they would likely develop some inner demons regarding missions with high rewards.


    Once they left, Wang Yi suppressed his anger towards the Shadow Kill and went back to seclusion to prepare for breaking through to Foundation Building. Without strength, any ns were futile.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong plucked a Green Spirit Peach and prepared to eat it.


    The current Green Spirit Peach was muchrger than the one Wang Hong had consumed before, about the size of a fist.


    Although it hadn''t fully ripened, it was still entirely green, with slightly less fuzz on the surface.


    *Crunch!* The Green Spirit Peach was exceptionally crisp,cking the previous astringency. It tasted much better.


    After consuming the entire Green Spirit Peach, a powerful surge of Spiritual Energy rose within him, flowing through his meridians and causing them to throb.


    He worked to calm this potent Spiritual Energy, allowing it to gradually settle. The Spiritual Energy in his dantian vortex swirled and expanded continuously.


    Soon, Wang Hong broke through the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, reaching the Tenth Layer. However, the ascent didn''t stop there.


    His cultivation level continued to rise, reaching the pinnacle of the Qi Cultivation stage, where no further progress was possible.


    Wang Hong guided the internal Spiritual Energy to impact a few more times, but there was no effect.


    This was the bottleneck between Qi Cultivation and Foundation Building, an obstacle that ordinary cultivators couldn''t break through on their own.


    Perhaps mature Green Spirit Peaches had this effect, but waiting for them to ripen was an uncertain timeframe.


    He nned to consume more white crystal fruit in theing days to purify his internal Spiritual Energy further.


    Then, he would prepare for Foundation Building quietly. After seeding, he intended to conceal his cultivation level, appearing as if he were still at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation.


    This had to be discreet; no information should leak. Also, the sect''s Foundation Establishment Pills hadn''t been refined yet, so he couldn''t exchange them.


    Thinking ahead, he considered refining the Foundation Establishment Pill himself before the sect distributed them. This way, he could better conceal his cultivation level.


    When necessary, he could exchange a few Foundation Establishment Pills from the sect, feigning another breakthrough.


    This approach could deceive enemies, making them think he was still at the Qi Cultivation stage. Then, he could catch them off guard.


    Given the strength of his adversaries, revealing his Foundation Building status might lead to powerful opponents being sent after him.


    Deciding on this course of action, Wang Hong, due to the scarcity of the main Medicinal Herbs for the Foundation Establishment Pill, which he cultivatedter, had not reached maturity.


    The Foundation Establishment Pill belonged to the second tier of Elixirs. He needed to familiarize himself with the refinement of second-tier Elixirs, as the previously refined Golden Body Pill was only close to the second tier, not a true representation.


    He chose to practice with refining the Nourishing Essence Pill, a second-tier Elixirmonly used by Foundation Building cultivators to enhance their cultivation levels.


    The primary ingredient, the second-tier Essence Nurturing Grass, took at least a hundred and fifty years to mature, and locations suitable for its growth were limited.


    This scarcity led to a continuous rise in prices over the years, from a few dozen Spirit Stones per pill a thousand years ago to two or three hundred Spirit Stones per pill today.


    Many Foundation Building cultivatorsined about being unable to afford it, and some cultivators even specialized in manipting the prices of Nourishing Essence Pills.


    They boughtrge quantities when the prices were low and sold them when the prices were high.


    In fact, the prices of second-tier and higher Elixirs had been rising continuously. Due to the scarcity of elixirs, wealthy cultivators were willing to spend more Spirit Stones to acquire them.


    Today, someone offered five Spirit Stones, tomorrow someone else offered six, and if the demand persisted, prices would keep rising. This made elixirs unaffordable for most cultivators while allowing the wealthy ones to purchase the needed elixirs with Spirit Stones.


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 Chapter 114: Second Tier Pill Master

    Chapter 114: Second Tier Pill Master


    The Essence Nurturing Grass and other Spiritual Herbs needed for refining Nourishing Essence Pills had been cultivated by him several years ago.


    However, due to limited space and their long growth period, he had only umted a little over five hundred materials until now.


    Each Nourishing Essence Pill material was valued at around five hundred Spirit Stones, making these materials worth nearly three hundred thousand in total.


    In the Cultivation World, an Alchemist capable of refining first-tier elixirs was known as a first-tier Alchemist.


    As the supply of first-tier Spiritual Herbs was rtively abundant and not too expensive, one could cultivate a first-tier Alchemist by investing around fifty thousand Spirit Stones, provided they were willing to spend the money.


    So, while first-tier Alchemists were not numerous, almost every decent family or faction would have one or two.


    Although the initial investment was significant, once sessfully cultivated, it was like having a golden-eggying hen, yielding continuous profits in theter stages. As long as the financial resources were sufficient, it was a worthwhile endeavor.


    However, second-tier Alchemists were extremely rare. Firstly, the resources required to cultivate a second-tier Alchemist were enormous. Some small families couldn''t even gather enough resources by selling everything they had.


    Even for medium-sized forces, it wasn''t a task aplished in a day or two; it often took decades.


    Furthermore, after putting in tremendous effort to cultivate a second-tier Alchemist, there was a serious problem to fk of second-tier Spiritual Herbs.


    Second-tier Spiritual Herbs grew slowly, ranging from a couple of hundred years to six or seven hundred years. During this lengthy period, sometimes people would pass away several times, and there was no guarantee of sessfully cultivating the Spiritual Herb.


    Obtaining second-tier Spiritual Herbs was also very challenging, making second-tier Alchemists often unable to refine elixirs. If luck wasn''t on their side, they might not even recover the cost of cultivating the Alchemist.


    Refining second-tier elixirs required the use of second-tier spirit charcoal. The fire produced by first-tier spirit charcoal was insufficient to effectively melt the Spiritual Herb, purify impurities, and extract essence.


    Second-tier spirit charcoal required second-tier spirit wood refinement, and it wasn''t cheap. One piece of spirit charcoal cost thirty Spirit Stones.


    There was no space for nting spirit wood specifically for refining spirit charcoal, so he cut down dense branches from those second-tier spirit fruit trees.


    Cutting these branches into two or three feet lengths, he ced them in the Alchemy furnace, covered them, and burned them with first-tier spirit charcoal below.


    In some spirit charcoal workshops, there were specialized carbon kilns for construction.


    Wang Hong didn''t need too much himself, and his Alchemy furnace was incrediblyrge, just enough to temporarily refine some spirit charcoal.


    The spirit charcoal refined from spirit fruit branches was of better quality than the ones sold in the market. The only difference was that the shapes he made weren''t as regr, and the spirit charcoal turned out to be in the shape of branches.


    Anyway, he only used them for himself and had no intention of selling them. Who cared about their appearance?


    Wang Hong took out a Nourishing Essence Pill material and ced it next to the alchemy furnace.


    First, he brewed a cup of Spirit Tea using Spirit Spring Water and Spirit Tea from the space. This Spirit Tea had the effects of relieving fatigue, keeping the mind clear, and sharpening the intellect.


    After drinking a cup of Spirit Tea beforehand, he thought it might increase the sess rate a bit.


    Once everything was prepared, he began the Alchemy process.


    Taking several branches-like spirit charcoal, he ced them under the alchemy furnace and ignited them. Then, he used the Fire Control Technique to adjust the me size to the right position.


    Wang Hong sensed the temperature inside the furnace, threw an Essence Nurturing Grass into it, but the firepower seemed insufficient, showing no sign of melting the Essence Nurturing Grass.


    He cast two more spiritual techniques towards the me. The mes surged, emitting a burnt smell. The fire was too intense, and the Essence Nurturing Grass was charred, ruining the first step.


    Wang Hong wasn''t frustrated. It was his first attempt at refining a second-tier elixir. He wasn''t familiar with me temperatures or the characteristics of these Spiritual Herbs. It was expected to waste several furnaces before mastering it.


    After adjusting the me again, he sessfully melted the Spiritual Herb into a green liquid with the previous experience.


    Then, he gradually added various other Spiritual Herbs, turning the furnace''s contents into arge liquid mass.


    The next step was Purification of Impurities. If impurities weren''t refined, the resulting elixir would be useless. Conversely, refining too much could eliminate the essence of the Spiritual Herbs, leading to failure. Therefore, precise control of the me was crucial.


    Wang Hong cautiously increased the firepower. Gradually, a faint mist evaporated from the liquid, indicating the impurities being refined.


    After a stick of incense, he used the Fire Control Technique again, slowly reducing the firepower. Now, he needed to blend the various ingredients in the liquid to achieve a bnced and coordinated medicinal effect.


    His hands moved like phantoms, executing hundreds of techniques. These techniques were specific to refining second-tier elixirs, and he had practiced them extensively before attempting Alchemy.


    However, at this moment, the Spiritual Energy in the furnace suddenly became extremely violent. Various Spiritual Energies collided, resulting in a loud bang and ck smoke. The furnace exploded.


    Wang Hong cleaned the furnace, contemted silently for a while, and then started the refinement of the next elixir.


    The third furnace, another failure.


    The fourth furnace, failure.


    ...


    Finally, on the tenth attempt, he seeded in obtaining a second-tier Nourishing Essence Pill.


    Then, the eleventh furnace failed again. After fifty furnaces, he finally stabilized. On average, every ten furnaces produced three or four elixirs.


    The overall Pill Sess Rate was still below ten percent. To break even, the Pill Sess Rate for Nourishing Essence Pills needed to be at least twenty percent. At his current level, he was essentially losing money with each attempt.


    This was only possible because of his strong foundation in Alchemy. He had mastered the refinement of first-tier elixirs to perfection. Additionally, his extensive study of various medicinal properties and theories made Alchemy easier for him than for others.


    If it were someone else, even after refining a hundred furnaces, they might not reach his current level. Refining second-tier elixirs was at least ten times moreplicated than refining first-tier elixirs.


    Afterpleting a hundred furnaces, Wang Hong took a day off, treated himself to a delicious meal, drank some wine, and rxed.


    A dayter, he resumed Alchemy. This time, he refined another hundred furnaces consecutively, showing some improvement. Now, approximately eight furnaces out of ten produced visible elixirs, and the overall Pill Sess Rate finally reached ten percent.


    After another day of rest, he added some Spirit Bee Royal Jelly during Alchemy. This substance could increase the Pill Sess Rate.


    He hadn''t used it before while refining first-tier elixirs because his Pill Sess Rate was already high when he acquired the Spirit Bee. Most first-tier elixirs were not as expensive as Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, so adding it would result in a loss. Now, with the refinement of second-tier elixirs, each extra elixir per furnace could cover the cost of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly.


    As for the previous hundreds of furnaces where most didn''t yield a single elixir, adding Spirit Bee Royal Jelly would be futile.


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 Chapter 115: Breakthrough Realm Pill

    Chapter 115: Breakthrough Realm Pill


    More than three hundred Spiritual Herbs remained, and with the addition of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, the Pill Sess Rate increased. Out of the three hundred Spiritual Herbs, over seven hundred pills were sessfully produced.


    Combining this with the two hundred Elixirs previously crafted, a total of nearly nine hundred Nourishing Essence Pills were obtained.


    Calcting solely in Spirit Stones, Wang Hong incurred a loss of two to three hundred thousand Spirit Stones in this round of Alchemy.


    However, this couldn''t be measured in Spirit Stones alone. For other cultivators, merely gathering a few hundred Spiritual Herb materials would require a significant amount of time and effort.


    Wang Hong currently had no more Spiritual Herbs for Nourishing Essence Pills, as he needed to wait for the next batch to grow.


    Despite the rtively low Pill Sess Rate, he could now barely be considered a second-tier Alchemist.


    It''s worth noting that Qingxu Sect specialized in Alchemy, with thousands of Foundation Building cultivators. However, there were only a little over a hundred second-tier Alchemists among them.


    As for Qi Cultivation Disciples, before Wang Hong, none had reached the level of a second-tier Alchemist. This was because investing resources to train a Qi Cultivation Disciple into a second-tier Pill Master was not cost-effective. The lifespan of a Qi Cultivation cultivator was only around a hundred years. Spending a considerable amount of resources to train one might not even cover the costs before the Alchemist''s lifespan expired.


    With his current 20% Pill Sess Rate, attempting to refine Foundation Establishment Pills was risky. The difficulty of refining Foundation Establishment Pills was higher than that of Nourishing Essence Pills, and Wang Hong had never attempted it before.


    After much consideration, he decided to be more familiar with it. He chose to go to the marketce to see if he could purchase some Medicinal Herbs for Nourishing Essence Pills.


    Returning to the marketce, he entered the Myriad Treasures Tower, a ce he was now quite familiar with.


    "I would like to purchase some Medicinal Herbs for Nourishing Essence Pills. Do you have them here?" Wang Hong asked a maid who weed him.


    "Senior, Nourishing Essence Pill''s Medicinal Herbs are second-tier materials. Our first floor doesn''t have them. I can check on the second floor for you. Please wait a moment," the maid replied respectfully.


    Wang Hong hadn''t even finished half a cup of tea when the maid returned.


    "Senior, although we have around a dozen Medicinal Herbs for Nourishing Essence Pills, they have all been pre-booked. However, if Senior needs them, you can also make a reservation in advance. With the strength of our Myriad Treasures Tower, it''s still easy to obtain these Medicinal Herbs."


    As she spoke, a hint of pride appeared on the maid''s face.


    "So, if I make a reservation, how long will it take to get the Spiritual Herbs?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "We cannot guarantee the exact time because there are dozens of people ahead of you, but it should take about three months to receive the Spiritual Herbs. Additionally, each person can only reserve up to three portions at a time."


    Hearing this, Wang Hong gave up. At this rate, it would take him forever to gather a hundred materials.


    Leaving the Myriad Treasures Tower, he reluctantly visited several other shops, but they only had a few portions, and those were also pre-booked.


    It seemed he had to find another way. He still had some other second-tier Spiritual Herbs in his Space, but each type was not inrge quantities. Moreover, hecked the corresponding pill recipes. He decided to go to the Scripture Tower to find some suitable pill recipes, which would be more cost-effective than reserving Spiritual Herbs here.


    The books rted to Alchemy were on the second floor of the Scripture Tower. Wang Hong spent three days and nights inside and finally found several usable pill recipes.


    One of them was the Breakthrough Realm Pill, with Scarlet Blood Ginseng as the main ingredient. It was divided into small Breakthrough Realm Pills andrge Breakthrough Realm Pills.


    The small Breakthrough Realm Pill required Scarlet Blood Ginseng of at least two hundred and fifty years as the main ingredient, with the effectiveness increasing with the age of the ginseng.


    Therge Breakthrough Realm Pill, on the other hand, used Scarlet Blood Ginseng of at least eight hundred years. This Elixir was between second-tier and third-tier, suitable for breaking through bottlenecks in theter stages of Foundation Building and the early stages of Golden Core.


    Continuing, there were also several auxiliary cultivation pill recipes that he couldplete with his existing Spiritual Herbs.


    Wang Hong selected these pill recipes and went down to the first floor to make copies.


    Surprisingly, these pill recipes cost him nearly a thousand contribution points. However, considering these were the crystallization of countless predecessors'' experiences, the cost was worthwhile. At least within the sect, he could obtain them by spending contribution points.


    Back at his residence, Wang Hong made preparations, drank a cup of Spatial Produce''s Spirit Tea, and began his alchemical endeavors.


    The tea''s effects were indeed remarkable, but it grew too slowly. Despite the time passing over eighty times faster in his Space, he still couldn''t drink it frequently enough. The newly bred acre of Spirit Tea trees were still in their early stages, and it would take a while before he could enjoy their leaves.


    Scarlet Blood Ginseng, due to its long nting time, was rtively expensive. Wang Hong had nted two acres of it, employing limited sales. He had umted many harvested Scarlet Blood Ginseng in his Space, which he had pulled when the nts grew too close to each other. Now, they were proving useful.


    After organizing, he had about three hundred portions with a Scarlet Blood Ginseng age surpassing two hundred and fifty years, which should be enough for his practice.


    Over the next month, Wang Hong finally refined the three hundred small Breakthrough Realm Pills. By the end of the process, his Pill Sess Rate had stabilized at thirty percent.


    The other alchemical recipes he copied from the Scripture Tower also yielded dozens per recipe. Each recipe, except for the first one or two furnaces that failed, reached a simr thirty percent Pill Sess Rate.


    At this point, he could finally prepare to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.


    One day, he brewed a pot of tea, sat under the Spirit Jujube Tree at his doorstep, and observed the mature Spirit Jujubes. He had already picked the ripe ones some time ago, leaving the Spirit Bees buzzing around.


    The three acres of Three Yang Melon Seeds he nted in front of the door had already bloomed. Each nt bore arge flower disk, always facing the sun and following its movement.


    Wang Hong had been curious beforehow did the flower disk manage to turn back during the night? After observing all night, he discovered that it naturally drooped in the evening and lifted its head towards the sun in the morning.


    "Junior Brother Wang! Enjoying your leisure time, I see!"


    Wang Hong was lost in thought under the tree when a voice suddenly rang out. Turning around, he saw Elder Brother approaching from a distance.


    "Ah, it''s Elder Brother. What a rare visitor! Please,e in!"


    Wang Hong quickly weed Elder Brother into the courtyard, and the two sat at the stone table.


    "Senior, would you like tea or wine?"


    "Wine. I''m a simple person, not ustomed to drinking tea. I''ve been craving your good wely."


    Wang Hong took out a bottle of Spirit Wine, two sses, filled them to the brim, and arranged a te of spirit fruits.


    "Excellent wine! Junior Brother''s wine makes you want another sip after just one. It''s irresistible!"


    Elder Brother downed a cup, and Wang Hong promptly refilled it.


    "If Senior likes it, feel free to visit often. Drinking alone is not enjoyable."


    "Junior Brother Wang, I didn''te for the wine this time. I have another matter at hand."


    "Oh?"


    Wang Hong inquired with a curious look. Elder Brother didn''t speak immediately but nced around.


    Wang Hong performed a few techniques, and the surroundings emitted green, red, yellow, white, and ck lights. The entire courtyard was covered in these colors, isting it from the outside with arge formation.


    "An impressive formation!"


    Elder Brother eximed and then spoke with a somewhat solemn tone, "Yue Hao and Zhang Zhuo have both gone missing."


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 Chapter 116: Foundation Establishment Pill Completed

    Chapter 116: Foundation Establishment Pill Completed


    Upon hearing that the two individuals had gone missing, Wang Hong was not too surprised because he had long spected about it.


    During the trial in the secret realm, Yue Hao and Zhang Zhuo, along with Elder Brother, were rescued by him and Wang Yi. They then joined forces to counter-attack arge group of Beast Spirit Sect cultivators. Among them, the leader possessed numerous treasures, indicating an extraordinary background.


    "Do you have any clues about when they disappeared?"


    "There are currently no clues. Yue Hao took on a sect mission to hunt down a Demonic Beast two months ago and hasn''t returned since. Zhang Zhuo requested a seven-day leave half a month ago and hasn''t returned after leaving the sect."


    Most Qi Cultivation disciples in the sect didn''t leave behind items like lifemps, so when someone went missing, it was uncertain whether they were alive or dead.


    In the Cultivation World, unexpected events were abundant, and the sect couldn''t constantly search for Qi Cultivation disciples. They only dispatched people to investigate after half a year of absence.


    If someone close wanted to search within the first half year, they were free to do so without sect interference.


    Elder Brother pondered for a moment and added, "After returning from the secret realm, my family elders discovered a tracking mark on me. I suspect it''s retaliation from the Beast Spirit Sect. I''vee to ask you to investigate this matter together. If there''s evidence proving Beast Spirit Sect''s involvement, we''ll let the sect elders handle it. Retaliation after leaving the secret realm goes against the rules set by the Cultivation World. Moreover, this matter concerns our lives and fortunes, and resolving it early would eliminate hidden dangers."


    "I think there''s no need to investigate. This matter is probably unrted to the Beast Spirit Sect."


    Wang Hong took out a token and handed it to Elder Brother, saying, "I''ve encountered an assassination attempt before, barely surviving. This token is from them."


    "Shadow Kill?"


    "Elder Brother knows about the Shadow Kill Organization?"


    "Yes, I''ve heard about it from my family elders."


    Elder Brother then shared what he knew about the Shadow Kill, which matched Wang Hong''s knowledge closely.


    This was troublesome. Shadow Kill was a secretive organization with a tightly guarded internal structure. Their assassins were trained from a young age, and even capturing one or two wouldn''t yield useful information.


    The organization had no visible base, hiding entirely in the shadows. They likely knew they had made too many enemies to reveal themselves.


    Only a few high-tier cultivators could find their contact person and issue assassination tasks.


    "Junior Brother Wang, if not necessary, it''s best not to leave the sect. If you must, invite others to apany you."


    Elder Brother couldn''t think of a better solution and could only advise Wang Hong to stay indoors as much as possible.


    "Junior Brother Wang, the majorpetition is in a little over a month. Are you prepared?"


    "I won''t participate. I already have enough Foundation Establishment Pills. How about you?"


    "Hahaha! Great minds think alike. I have enough too. I won''tpete with them. It''s gettingte; I''ll take my leave."


    As he left, he handed Elder Brother a bottle of Spirit Wine. Everyone familiar with him in Azure Void City knew he owned a brewing workshop and employed dozens of people to produce Spirit Wine.


    This was his concept of hiding in in sight, cing the true secrets beneath conspicuous things, making them appear openly visible and easily overlooked by others.


    In contrast, anything shrouded in mystery, hinting at a big secret but not revealing it, tended to pique people''s curiosity.


    Upon careful investigation, traces would eventually be discovered sooner orter. He remembered a lesson from his military strategy studies: the best defense is not withstanding fierce attacks but preventing enemies from striking or reaching him.


    After a day of rest, it was time for him to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill. He submitted some Spiritual Herbs upon returning from the secret realm and retained five sets of Foundation Establishment Pill Medicinal Herbs.


    With only five chances, he had to handle every detail carefully. He repeatedly deduced the details of alchemy, simting it countless times in his mind. He also experimented with each type of Spiritual Herb, deducing their medicinal properties.


    Feeling well-versed in every aspect, he officially started the alchemy process. However, despite his preparations, the first furnace failed. Many things needed real practice for understanding, and the previous simtions were merely imagination.


    However, the prior preparations proved helpful, and he seeded in refining one Foundation Establishment Pill in the second furnace. In the third furnace, two pills were formed. The fourth and fifth furnaces produced two and three pills, respectively.


    From five sets of materials, he obtained a total of eight Foundation Establishment Pills. The Pill Sess Rate was low, but since he had already cultivated enough for his Foundation Building, he wasn''t concerned. Besides, he had nted several acres of Foundation Establishment Pill Medicinal Herbs for the future.


    Now, he needed to prepare for Foundation Building. He hadn''t known much about it before, but fortunately, the Sect''s Scripture Tower contained the experiences of many predecessors. Although he had casually browsed through them before, he nned to delve deeper in theing days.


    Of course, after sessfully building his foundation, he could contribute his experiences to the Sect, earning some contribution points. However, he didn''t have that intention at the moment. When he became powerful enough without jeopardizing himself, he might consider giving back to the Sect.


    This time in the Scripture Tower, Wang Hong spent a day selecting dozens of Jade Scrolls rted to Foundation Building. When he went to copy them, the purple-robed Daoist wasn''t too surprised. The distribution of the Sect''s Foundation Establishment Pills was imminent, and many people came to copy scrolls rted to Foundation Building these days.


    However, this Qi Cultivation Disciple, now at the Ninth Layer, was somewhat rare. Many cultivators reached the Ninth Layer and then faced a bottleneck, stopping their progress. This was evident from the fact that Qingxu Sect had hundreds of thousands of Qi Cultivation Disciples but only a few thousand Foundation Building cultivators.


    With a stack of Jade Scrolls in hand, Wang Hong returned to his small courtyard. A "Closed-door Cultivation" sign hung at the entrance, and he activated the Five Elements Formation before entering with Little Peng.


    After a brief inspection of Space, he took Little Peng to a ce far from the poisonous creatures before starting to read the Jade Scrolls.


    Time passed quietly. In the eighty-fold time eleration of Space, he spent over twenty days inside, equivalent to just one day outside. Every twenty days, he woulde out to eat something and have a cup of Spirit Tea.


    In this manner, hepleted reading andprehending all the Jade Scrolls in a little over three years, while only half a month passed in the outside world.


    Having spent three years in Space, Little Peng had grown significantly. Its originally yellow fur had turned into a dull gray plumage, losing the adorable charm it once had.


    Wang Hong couldn''t help but wonder why his Spirit Pet was getting uglier despite themon belief that Spirit Pets be more majestic as they grow. Nevertheless, despite its appearance, Little Peng had grown rapidly due to regrly consuming Wang Hong''s refined elixirs. Even though not yet an adult, it already possessed the strength of a middle-tier Spirit Beast.


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 Chapter 117: Selling Pills

    Chapter 117: Selling Pills


    After a period of dedicated learning, he had a clear understanding of Foundation Building.


    Foundation Building, in essence, is the establishment of the foundation for the Dao. Only afterpleting Foundation Building can one be considered to have taken the first step on the Cultivation Path.


    All the cultivation before reaching Foundation Building, even before entering the Foundation Building phase, is considered preparation for this crucial step.


    From the Foundation Building phase until the formation of the Golden Core, the entire process is focused onying the groundwork for the future Dao. Thus, the cultivation during the Foundation Building phase emphasizes solidifying the foundation, rather than hastily advancing in cultivation levels.


    In the Foundation Building phase, it''s amon practice to concentrate on strengthening the foundation, and the advancement in cultivation levels should not be rushed.


    For many cultivators today, advancing one level is already considered fortunate. Establishing a solid foundation is even more challenging since only a few Foundation Building cultivators have the hope of reaching higher realms.


    During the Qi Cultivation phase, cultivators can only absorb the Spirit Qi of heaven and earth and use it in simple ways, termed as Spiritual Energy. However, this Spiritual Energy is not entirely their own, and its effectiveness is limited.


    Upon entering the Foundation Building phase, cultivators refine all their Spiritual Energy, integrating it into themselves to be Spiritual Power. Spiritual Power and the cultivator be inseparable, and its use is dependent on one''s mind.


    Spiritual Power represents a more advanced state than Spiritual Energy. While Spiritual Energy is in a gaseous state, Spiritual Power is liquid. The density of Spiritual Power is several times or even hundreds of times greater than that of Spiritual Energy for the same volume.


    Therefore, during sessful Foundation Building, when Spiritual Energy transforms into liquid Spiritual Power, absorbing arge amount of Spirit Qi is essential. The concentration of Spirit Qi in the surroundings directly influences the quality of Foundation Buildingthe more Spirit Qi absorbed, the more solid the foundation.


    Most cultivators during Foundation Building search for ces with abundant Spirit Qi. When sessful, the absorption of Spirit Qi not only fortifies the foundation but also triggers the flow of Spirit Qi in the vicinity.


    Each peak at the Qingxu Sect has secret rooms specifically designed for Foundation Building, avable for rent with some contribution points.


    However, he nned to conduct his Foundation Building secretly and wouldn''t rent a secret room.


    He found another formation in the Jade Scroll, the Transmutation Array. By having enough Spirit Stones and using the formation, he could release the Spiritual Energy from the Spirit Stones, turning it into Spirit Qi and filling the air. Setting up this array in the Cultivation Room, along with a pile of Spirit Stones, would naturally create a rich Spirit Qi environment.


    As Spirit Qi is densest in the Cultivation Room and with the concealment of the courtyard''s formation, the flow of Spirit Qi during sessful Foundation Building wouldn''t be noticed.


    ording to the Jade Scroll, using the Transmutation Array would require approximately ten to twenty thousand Spirit Stones. He currently had over forty thousand Spirit Stones, which should be sufficient.


    However, he thought, the more abundant the Spirit Qi, the better. He decided to get more Spirit Stones, just to be safe.


    He went to the market under the Heavenly Authority Peak. This time, he didn''t use the Misty Illusion Mask for disguise but directly entered a seemingly powerful Elixir shop.


    He had previously learned that this shop was just the right sizenot too small to handle much merchandise, and not toorge to potentially overshadow him.


    The shop owner was a Foundation Building cultivator who usually wasn''t in the shop, employing a junior disciple to manage the business.


    "Senior, may I help you find an Elixir?" A middle-aged cultivator warmly greeted Wang Hong as soon as he entered.


    "I would like to sell some Elixirs. Are you interested in purchasing?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "May I know which Elixirs you wish to sell? Our buying prices are slightly lower than retail prices, as we need to make a profit."


    Qingxu Sect primarily focused on Alchemy, and many disciples practiced it. It wasmon for cultivators to bring their own refined Elixirs to sell to the shops.


    However, some disciples insisted on selling at retail prices, not considering that the shop owners also needed to earn Spirit Stones. So, the shopkeeper rified this in advance.


    "I understand that," Wang Hong replied, well aware of the business aspect.


    Taking out a bottle of Elixir from his Storage Bag, he handed it to the middle-aged cultivator.


    The middle-aged cultivator took the Jade vial, opened the lid, and probed inside with his Divine Sense. Suddenly, he took a deep breath, looking surprised.


    "This... Is this your Refinement?"


    "How is that possible? I''m just a Qi Cultivation Disciple; how could I refine a second-tier Elixir? This is something my Master asked me to handle for him."


    As Wang Hong spoke, he wore a proud expression on his face.


    "May I ask, who is your esteemed Master?" The middle-aged cultivator asked cautiously.


    "Of course, my Master is Elder Gu from Kaiyang Peak!"


    At this moment, Wang Hong spoke with confidence, an air of arrogance about him, disying a demeanor of having a significant background.


    "Congrattions, Senior Brother. With such a distinguished Master, your future on the Dao is undoubtedly promising."


    The middle-aged cultivatorplimented with envy on his face. With years of experience, he knew that ttering a person like this, praising them a bit, and then getting down to business would make transactions smoother.


    After a few morepliments, the middle-aged cultivator finally got to the point.


    "The Nourishing Essence Pill currently has a market value of two hundred and eighty Spirit Stones per pill. I can offer you two hundred and twenty, how about it?"


    "It seems you''re not serious about the purchase. Well then, I''ll have to look elsewhere for these two hundred pills of Nourishing Essence Pill."


    Wang Hong thought, "You really think I''m a fool," and made a show of leaving.


    "Senior Brother, please wait. Let''s discuss this. Do you really have two hundred pills of Nourishing Essence Pill?"


    The middle-aged cultivator''s eyes gleamed at the mention of two hundred pills. This was a significant deal, the kind that could sustain a business for three years with one sale.


    "And how about two hundred and five?" Wang Hong shook his head, about to leave again.


    "Two hundred and six!"


    "Two hundred and seven!"


    "Fine, I''ll sell them to you. I find you quite congenial."


    Wang Hong finally stopped, taking out a dozen more pill bottles.


    "But let me warn you of one thing. This matter must be kept confidential. Don''t mention it to anyone. Originally, my Master asked me to handle this quietly. It shouldn''t be publicized. I identally let it slip just now."


    "You can rest assured. Even if you give me ten times the courage, I wouldn''t dare plot against a Golden Core cultivator behind their back." The middle-aged cultivator assured, patting his chest.


    "As long as you keep the secret well, whenever there''s something simr in the future, I''ll sell it to you." After the threat, Wang Hong added a temptation.


    "Absolutely, I promise. If you have anything in the future, just bring it to me. I will keep my mouth shut."


    After confirming the number of Elixirs and Spirit Stones, Wang Hongpleted the transaction.


    With an additional fifty-four thousand Spirit Stones,bined with the previous amount, he now had a total of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. This should be more than enough for his Foundation Building, considering that the Jade Scroll mentioned ten to twenty thousand would suffice.


    His approach to selling the Nourishing Essence Pill was carefully nned. Shops that could manage second-tier Spiritual Herbs were typically owned by Foundation Building cultivators. Wang Hong had little confidence in the Misty Illusion Mask; if someone saw through it, it could lead to trouble.


    Rather than risk exposure, he decided to openly sell under the name of Gu Qingyang. After all, he was genuinely Gu Qingyang''s disciple, and a little coercion and temptation followed.


    Most Foundation Building cultivators operated shops to gain resources. Since he now had Nourishing Essence Pills, suitable for Foundation Building cultivators, the cultivator would likely use them personally and refrain from selling them again to avoid attracting attention.


    Moreover, once the Foundation Building cultivator benefited, a little inquiry would reveal that Wang Hong was Gu Qingyang''s disciple. This would dispel any doubts about the authenticity of the matter. After all, a Qi Cultivation Disciple wouldn''t possess so many Nourishing Essence Pills, and only a Golden Core cultivator''s actions could make sense.


    Wang Hong was confident that Gu Qingyang wouldn''t learn of this. Even if he did, Wang Hong was prepared to handle it discreetly.


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 Chapter 118: Foundation Building

    Chapter 118: Foundation Building


    After acquiring more than fifty thousand Spirit Stones, Wang Hong returned to his small courtyard. He felt that earning Spirit Stones this way was too strenuous. It was better to focus on developing his shop and that somewhat mythical Immortal Way Trading Company. Having others help him earn Spirit Stones was the righteous path.


    This time, in order to sell two hundred second-tier Elixirs, he invested countless efforts, considering every aspect, including the psychology of each person and their likely responses. He even took into ount his own demeanor.


    In the future, he decided to avoid such endeavors. It was too mentally taxing. Skinny Monkey effortlessly earned him this meager amount of Spirit Stones every month.


    He only needed to enhance their strength at the right time to ensure their safety.


    Wang Hong activated the Little Five Elements Formation. Originally, this formation required fifteen Spirit Stones per day, but after Old Taoist''s modification, it now consumed twenty.


    In a calm state, if someone broke through the formation or attacked it, the consumption of Spirit Stones would increase significantly, possibly reaching a hundred.


    Fortunately, he wasn''tcking in Spirit Stones. Otherwise, despite setting up a powerful formation, he wouldn''t be able to afford it.


    Once the formation was activated, no one outside could see what was happening inside. Wang Hong first settled Little Peng, who had grown considerably and be more sensible. It didn''t require much of his attention now.


    He allowed it to roam freely in the courtyard and prepared an abundance of food for it to eat when hungry.


    Entering the Cultivation Room, Wang Hong began inscribing a Transmutation Array on the floor. This formation was simple enough for an outsider like him to set up by following a pattern.


    After spending half a day, he finallypleted the formation, piling Spirit Stones like a small mountain within it.


    Seated within the formation, he executed a technique toward it, and a radiant light shed. The formation started operating.


    As the formation rotated, chunks of Spirit Stones rapidly lost their Spirit Qi, turning into a small amount of powder.


    Meanwhile, the Spirit Qi in the Cultivation Room became increasingly dense. When twenty thousand Spirit Stones were dposed into Spirit Qi, the concentration in the room was on par with the secret realm''s central region. At this point, Foundation Building waspletely feasible.


    After dposing fifty thousand Spirit Stones, a white mist gradually filled the rooma phenomenon of Spirit Qi turning into mist, a rare urrence only in Celestial Abodes with exceptionally rich Spirit Qi.


    Once all hundred thousand Spirit Stones were dposed, the mist in the Cultivation Room condensed into tiny droplets.


    Controlled by the Little Five Elements Formation in the courtyard, all Spirit Qi was sealed within this small Cultivation Room.


    Inside the room, it seemed as if a drizzle had started. Raindrops fell to the ground, only to be transformed back into Spirit Qi by the Transmutation Array, rising into the air and then turning into a drizzle again, repeating in a continuous cycle.


    Wang Hong sat in meditation within the formation, took out an exquisite Jade vial, and poured out a Foundation Establishment Pill. He swallowed it.


    The elixir melted upon entering, transforming into a surging Spiritual Energy that he ingested into his abdomen.


    This Spiritual Energy entered his dantian, propelling the whirlpool of Spiritual Energy within it to spin rapidly.


    After a quarter of an hour, the spinning gradually slowed down, and the excess Spiritual Energy flowed through his meridians, causing a slight swelling sensation.


    "A single Foundation Establishment Pill is indeed not enough!"


    He then stuffed another Foundation Establishment Pill into his mouth, and this time, the whirlpool of Spiritual Energy spun even faster.


    However, after only spinning for another quarter of an hour, it slowed down again. The excess Spiritual Energy once again surged through the meridians, causing a faint pain throughout his body.


    However, as a body cultivator, his physical strength was incredibly robust, and he easily withstood this level of impact.


    For ordinary cultivators, a failed attempt at Foundation Building would result in damage to the dantian and meridians due to the massive impact of the Spiritual Energy transformed by the Foundation Establishment Pill. In some cases, it could even lead to a regression in cultivation level.


    Therefore, if the attempt failed, one needed several years of recuperation and practice before attempting Foundation Building again.


    Having consumed two Foundation Establishment Pills, Wang Hong only felt a slight swelling and pain in his meridians and dantian. It seemed that he wasn''t injured. This was a benefit he had just discovered about body refining.


    He then took a third Foundation Establishment Pill. After ingesting it, the pain in his dantian became more pronounced.


    The Spiritual Energy vortex spun rapidly, but after a quarter of an hour, it started to slow down again.


    Without waiting for it toe to aplete halt, Wang Hong swallowed the fourth Foundation Establishment Pill, elerating the rotation of the Spiritual Energy vortex.


    This time, with experience, he didn''t wait for a quarter of an hour and immediately took the fifth Foundation Establishment Pill.


    As this elixir transformed into Spiritual Energy and entered his abdomen, a sharp pain emanated from his dantian.


    Checking with his Divine Sense, he discovered several cracks appearing on the dantian''s surface. As the Spiritual Energy vortex spun faster, the cracks increased in both size and quantity.


    At this point, signs of condensing into liquid appeared in the center of the Spiritual Energy vortex. However, the time had reached another quarter of an hour.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong, disregarding the damage to his dantian, swallowed the sixth Foundation Establishment Pill.


    After this elixir entered his abdomen, the cracks on his dantian intensified, spreading to the meridians throughout his body.


    Wang Hong even felt as if his body was leaking energy.


    Now, he felt intense pain all over, as if he were being torn apart. Large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead.


    Simultaneously, a drop of liquid fell from the center of the Spiritual Energy vortex in his dantian. This was the more refined Spiritual Powerpared to Spiritual Energy.


    With the first drop, followed by the second, the third...


    After the transformation of Spiritual Energy into liquid Spiritual Power, the pressure on his dantian and meridians finally reduced. No new cracks appeared.


    At the same time, the dense Spirit Qi in the Cultivation Room began to surge into his body. The surging Spiritual Energy poured into the Spiritual Energy vortex.


    Due to the continuous influx of rich Spirit Qi from the outside, the Spiritual Energy vortex expanded again, causing new cracks in the dantian and meridians.


    Some of the iing Spirit Qi even rushed directly through the cracks. Dantian couldn''t amodate so much, leading to its expansion and subsequent rupture.


    Wang Hong now felt like his entire body was leaking energy. He watched as Spiritual Energy seeped in and out of the cracks, even the newly transformed Spiritual Power leaked.


    At this rate, there was a possibility of his entire dantian and meridians being destroyed, resulting in the loss of cultivation.


    In a sh, he entered his personal space, took out a Jade Marrow Mushroom over eight hundred years old, and returned to the Cultivation Room.


    At the moment he entered the space, more cracks appeared in his dantian, nearingplete rupture.


    Hastily, he brought the Jade Marrow Mushroom to his mouth, took a bite, and quickly swallowed it.


    This was probably the first time in his life that he couldn''t taste the food.


    As the Jade Marrow Mushroom entered his stomach, it released a gentle, green Spiritual Energy. This energy, upon contact with the cracks, swiftly began repairing them.


    However, the repair speed couldn''t match the rate of dantian rupture. It continued to break apart.


    Wang Hong consumed the remaining Jade Marrow Mushrooms in three gulps, unleashing numerous threads of green energy to rapidly mend each crack.


    Due to the immense energy impact, although dantian and meridians continued to rupture, the repair speed temporarily bnced the situation.


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 Chapter 119: Wood-Fire Incineration Technique

    Chapter 119: Wood-Fire Incineration Technique


    Spirit Qi in the Cultivation Room continuously flowed into Wang Hong''s body, and the concentration of Spirit Qi gradually decreased.


    From the initial fine drizzle to the rising White Mist, which then slowly thinned until it vanishedpletely.


    The vast Spirit Qi, transformed from a hundred thousand Spirit Stones, was entirely absorbed by Wang Hong and refined into Spiritual Power.


    At this moment, his dantian and Meridians still bore cracks, but no new ones were forming.


    Inside his abdomen, the Jade Marrow Mushroom continued releasing a green Spiritual Energy, mending the cracks as streams of green energy traversed through Meridians and dantian.


    The repaired dantian and Meridians were muchrger than before, a stroke of fortune amid adversity.


    In the center of his dantian, there was a small "pond" about six feet in diameter.


    Although the dantian was within his body, it seemed like a separate space, allowing Wang Hong to amodate such arge dantian, even if he were as broad as six feet around the waist.


    He recalled reading in a book that the human body is like a small world, and now, it seemed quite fitting.


    At the bottom of this "pond," there was a shallow pool of water.


    This small pond was the sea within the dantian, around which the cultivation in the Foundation Building stage revolved.


    Once the Spiritual Power cultivated filled this small dantian sea, it would signify the perfection of the Foundation Building, reaching the tenthyer.


    Moreover, the width and depth of the dantian sea influenced a cultivator''sbat strength and future breakthroughs.


    However, with the scarcity of Spiritual Objects today, reaching the perfection of Foundation Building is challenging, let alone expanding the dantian sea. Eachyer widened made further advancement more difficult.


    Wang Hong had learned from a Jade Scroll that, typically, at the initialpletion of Foundation Building, the dantian sea was only about a foot wide and deep. His, however, was six feet in both dimensions. Reflecting on the perilous process he went through, he acknowledged that, without the 800-year healing sacred medicine Jade Marrow Mushroom, he would have been doomed this time.


    Nheless, this made his progression slowerpared to other cultivators.


    Given his originally inferior aptitude, the difficulty had increased.


    If not for the continuous resources provided by his Space, he believed he might have remained in the early stages of Foundation Building for a lifetime.


    Finally reaching the Foundation Building stage, he sighed in relief.


    Simultaneously, he reflected on his actions during this Foundation Building process, realizing two main mistakes.


    Firstly, he had an excessive desire for more. Although the Jade Scroll stated that twenty thousand Spirit Stones were sufficient, he insisted on acquiring a hundred thousand, a fivefold increase. If not for the massive surge of Spiritual Energy at the end, his injuries would not have been as severe.


    Secondly, Foundation Building required the right timing, favorable conditions, assistance, and a bit of luck. He had been reckless, relying solely on his abundance of Elixirs without considering the consequences.


    If he had paused to contemte, simr to his approach in Alchemy, and summarized his experience, he wouldn''t have needed to ingest so many Foundation Establishment Pills, preventing the excessive impact of Spiritual Energy on his dantian and Meridians.


    Building a foundation required skill; otherwise, why would there be so many scriptures in the Tower dedicated to Foundation Building experience?


    However, those matters were in the past. He had gained benefits despite the risks, and now he needed to n for the future.


    His business in Azure Void City had been suppressed by him, intentionally avoiding expansion.


    He understood that the scale of his power determined how many Spirit Stones he could earn. At least on the surface, the Spirit Stones earned should not exceed his deserved amount, or trouble would follow.


    Even with his current scale, he needed at least one Foundation Building cultivator to preside over it. Without one, they remained cautious, never daring to sell second-tier Spiritual Objects.


    The shadowy assassinations by the Shadow Kill Organization were also a concern. While they failed in theirst attempt, the next one would likely be more potent.


    As long as he continued disying the strength of the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, they would probably, at most, send an early Foundation Building assassin after him, already considering it a high evaluation of his capabilities.


    Now that he had finally achieved Foundation Building, even if he encountered assassins of the Foundation Building stage, he now had the power to contend with them. Taking advantage of the fact that they were unaware of his details, he might even gain some benefits.


    While contemting, the green Spiritual Qi inside him had already repaired all the cracks, and the restored dantian and Meridians were more resilient than before.


    The Jade Marrow Mushroom truly lived up to its reputation as a healing sacred medicine. In just half a day, his injuries werepletely healed.


    Dantian and Meridians ruptures were challenging to recover from, and some people remained stagnant or even regressed in cultivation levels.


    However, the single 800-year-old Jade Marrow Mushroom had been used up. The newly nted ones were still saplings, and at the current rate, it would take several more years before they could be used medicinally.


    After leaving the Cultivation Room post-Foundation Building, Wang Hong fed Little Peng, then re-entered the room. After five more days of practice, he could proficiently conceal his Foundation Building cultivation level at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, allowing him to go out and meet people.


    When he opened the Little Five Elements Formation, several Transmission Talismans flew in. Their content mostly expressed good rtions with Wang Hong and invitations for tea, drinks, or leisure activities.


    Reading between the lines, Wang Hong guessed that the Sect''s Foundation Establishment Pills had been sessfully refined, hence the sudden friendliness. He wondered if he needed toy low again.


    But before hiding, there was an important matter to attend to. He stillcked the post-Foundation Building cultivation technique; the one he practiced before was amon one. Now, with 900,000 contribution points, it was time to acquire a better technique.


    At the time of the Foundation Establishment Pill distribution, many Qi Cultivation Disciples would go early to choose their Foundation Building stage techniques. Going now wouldn''t attract attention.


    So, leaving Little Peng in the courtyard, he went alone to the Scripture Tower.


    The Scripture Tower had seven floors. The first and second floors covered various cultivation arts and basic knowledge, while the third floor held misceneous books, including travel notes, local customs, and even some mortal world paintings and calligraphy.


    Despite its seeming insignificance, the third floor housed hidden treasures and valuable items. Legend had it that a disciple once found a treasure map there and sessfully located a treasure.


    The fourth floor contained books on various magical arts, while the fifth floor held a variety of cultivation techniques.


    As for the sixth and seventh floors, they were shrouded in mystery, essible only to Golden Core Elders and above.


    Wang Hong returned to the fifth floor, navigating through shelves of techniques. The sect had an extensive collection, making it a bit overwhelming.


    As he had Wood, Fire, Earth, and Water spiritual roots, he could practice techniques from these four elements. Choosing a primary technique was a serious decision as changing midway was difficult.


    After deliberating for two days, he finally settled on a Wood-Fire Dual Attribute cultivation technique called the "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique."


    This technique could be practiced up to the Nascent Soul stage and included methods for refining Lifebound Magical Treasures.


    However, it required dual Wood and Fire spiritual roots and had specific requirements during cultivation.


    Firstly, practitioners needed to consume a specific elixir, and using others like the Nourishing Essence Pill was possible but less effective.


    Secondly, after reaching the Golden Core stage, practitioners needed at least two Lifebound Magical Treasures, one of wood attribute and one of fire attribute, and these two treasures could bebined.


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 Chapter 120: Spirit Fire

    Chapter 120: Spirit Fire


    The "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique" was a cultivation method that could directly lead to the Nascent Soul stage. Wang Hong had spent a considerable amount of time selecting from various techniques, and those capable of directly cultivating to the Nascent Soul stage were quite scarce.


    Therefore, it was one of the most valuable cultivation techniques, costing a hundred thousand contribution points to duplicate, equivalent to the value of a Foundation Establishment Pill.


    However, a saying circted in the Cultivation World: "Elixirs have a price, but Cultivation Techniques are priceless."


    Even if an elixir was expensive, it had a measurable value. In contrast, a good Cultivation Technique was often considered a treasure of a sect''s heritage and wouldn''t be sold at any price.


    Wang Hong chose to focus on cultivating Cultivation Techniques and also found a technique called "Indomitable Body Refinement Art."


    This was a high-tier Body Refining Technique divided into fiveyers: practicing the skin, muscles, tendons, bones, and internal organs. Eachyer further had three realms: initiation, achievement, and mastery.


    What pleased him the most was that this Cultivation Technique came with a magical art. It allowed him to control the shape of his skin, muscles, tendons, and bones, essentially changing his appearance.


    This magical art was far superior to his Thousand Illusions Mask. The mask only altered facial features, a mere illusion that could be easily discerned. In contrast, this magical art could change the entire body shape, making it virtually impossible for anyone to recognize his original form, even if discovered.


    In the future, when he mastered this technique, he should be able to assume various forms. If he transformed into a female cultivator or even a Demonic Beast, no one would likely recognize him.


    However, these were just contemtions for now. At the first level of cultivation, the most he could achieve was minor alterations to his skin, like adding a few wrinkles or changing color.


    Yet, this Cultivation Technique was even more expensive, requiring fifteen thousand contribution points. Despite the cost, he gritted his teeth and decided to exchange for it.


    Contribution points could be earned again, and now that he had sessfully built his foundation, he no longer needed to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills.


    High-tier Cultivation Techniques were typically possessed by long-standing and deeply rooted sects. Small sects might have one or two, kept well hidden.


    Other ancient ruins might also harbor high-tier Cultivation Techniques, but acquiring them often involved fierce battles. Even if obtained, they might not be more suitable than the ones avable here.


    After selecting these two Cultivation Techniques, Wang Hong proceeded to the Copying Area.


    "The total is two hundred and fifty thousand contribution points. Are you sure about these two Cultivation Techniques?" The purple-robed daoist in charge of copying carefully assessed the situation and asked solemnly.


    "Sure!"


    "Wait a moment. I''ll go fetch Elder Bai."


    After saying this, he turned and left, entering a small room adjacent to the main gate, likely a resting area or a Cultivation Room.


    These two Jade Scrolls were of too high a tier, and the daoist''s authority was insufficient for their duplication. It required the personal confirmation and intervention of a Golden Core Elder.


    After a while, an old man in a gray robe emerged from the Cultivation Room. The purple-robed daoist respectfully followed behind.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays respects to Elder!"


    Wang Hong greeted the old man with a bow. Although he didn''t recognize him, the fact that he wore a dark-colored daoist robe inside the sect indicated a Qi Cultivation level, while purple-robed individuals were at the Foundation Building stage. Only Golden Core or higher-level elders had the privilege to wear any attire they wished.


    The old man nodded, then asked, "Do you want to duplicate these two Jade Scrolls?"


    "Yes."


    "Do you know that the ''Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique'' has gone unmastered for many years?"


    "Please enlighten me, senior. Is there anything inappropriate about this Cultivation Technique?" Wang Hong genuinely didn''t know. If there were any ws in the Cultivation Technique, he wouldn''t have chosen it. After all, the Scripture Tower offered various alternatives.


    "Cultivation Techniques themselves are not problematic. As you may have noticed, it mentions several Spiritual Objects, rare and precious items. Without these aids, progressing in cultivation would be extremely slow, and it might take several hundred years just to reach the first level."


    "Thank you for the warning. I''d still like to give it a try."


    Upon hearing this, he felt relieved. As long as the Cultivation Technique was fine, he could gradually acquire the necessary Spiritual Objectster.


    "Very well, proceed at your own discretion." The old man no longer insisted. Youngsters often aspired to reach great heights, thinking they were the protagonists of the world. He had encountered many such individuals over the centuries.


    The old man took out two nk Jade Scrolls, affixed them to his forehead, and meticulously inputted the content. After a stick of incense''s time, hepleted the writing and tossed the Jade Scrolls to Wang Hong.


    Choosing these two Cultivation Techniques had cost him two hundred and fifty thousand contribution points. Now, he had just over six hundred thousand contribution points left, enough to exchange for six Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Having obtained the Cultivation Techniques, he returned to his small courtyard, opened the formation, and entered the Cultivation Room.


    Taking out one Jade Scroll, as soon as his Divine Sense touched it, the entire scroll turned into powder. A ball of light flew out, entered his head through Divine Sense, and released countless pieces of information.


    After a while, he organized theplex information. It turned out these Cultivation Technique Jade Scrolls were disposable, and they had a restriction. While he could understand it, attempting to articte or write it down would cause excruciating headaches.


    This, presumably, was a security measure to safeguard the sect''s high-tier Cultivation Techniques.


    He tried the other Jade Scroll, and the same happened.


    Wang Hong began the process of Hidden Cultivation once again.


    The "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique" emphasized Wood-Fire Dual Cultivation, utilizing Wood Element Spiritual Power to enhance vitality. In case of injury, the recovery speed surpassed that of an ordinary cultivator by threefold.


    Wood nourished fire, and wood aided the intensity of fire. Simultaneously cultivating the Fire Element made the firepower stronger, surpassing the power of cultivators solely focused on the Fire Element.


    Although Fire Element attacks were potent, cultivating only Fire Element was like a fire without a source. Wood-Fire Dual Cultivation allowed continuous nourishment of Fire Element by Wood Element, ensuring an uninterrupted source of firepower.


    Additionally, the Cultivation Technique mentioned that during the Foundation Building stage, one could cultivate a kind of Spirit Fire. Typically, cultivators had to reach the Golden Core stage to cultivate Samadhi True Fire. However, this Cultivation Technique provided a unique method to master a me in advance, though not as powerful as Golden Core Samadhi True Fire, it offered considerable convenience.


    This Spirit Fire could assist in alchemy, refining tools, attacking enemies, and ording to the description, it seemed quite formidable.


    The cultivation of this Spirit Fire required gathering fire from wood, preserving a trace of wood attribute within it. The collected mes would be extracted, incorporated into the body, and nourished by the Wood Element Spiritual Power, fostering its growth.


    However, he had just reached Foundation Building, and his realm was not stable yet. These aspects had to be postponed forter.


    Therefore, he immersed himself in closed-door cultivation for a month, just managing to stabilize his realm.


    At this point, the sect''s biennial Grand Competition had already begun.


    Wang Hong attended a few matches, where participants showcased their most powerful techniques, drawing cheers from the audience.


    However, with Wang Hong''s current strength, watching Qi Cultivation stagepetitions felt somewhat dull.


    Zhang Chunfeng had also enrolled in the Sect Grand Competition and had sessfully entered the top one hundred.


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 Chapter 121: Lotus Seeds Spirit Rice Porridge

    Chapter 121: Lotus Seeds Spirit Rice Porridge


    In the intensepetition where the top hundred were vying for a spot in the top fifty, Zhang Chunfeng found himself in a closely contested battle on the stage with a tall and thin youth.


    In the audience, Wang Hong held a handful of Three Yang Melon Seeds, casually standing among the crowd and munching on them.


    Beside him stood two cultivators, one chubby and the other thin, passionately discussing the ongoing battle on the stage, disying more enthusiasm than the participants themselves.


    "Excellent! This move is executed beautifully! Senior Brother Gao''s renowned technique, the Fireball Technique in a triple sequence, very few can escape from that," the chubby cultivator eximed with excitement.


    "The Fireball Technique''s triple sequence is useless in practicalbat. Only someone like you,cking real battle experience, would think it''s impressive. Just throw three fireball talismans directly; it''s much more efficient," the thin cultivator scoffed.


    "You understand nothing. Do you think your so-called practical experience is impressive? Facing a lower-tier demonic boar with a dozen people and letting it escape with two Magical Weapons strapped to its rear end. Do you think throwing three fireball talismans doesn''t cost Spirit Stones? Try throwing three rounds for me," the chubby cultivator taunted.


    As the chubby cultivator finished speaking, Zhang Chunfeng on the stage swiftly dodged the Fireball Technique triple sequence. In reality, the range covered by the three fireballs was not that extensive, making it rtively easy to evade.


    Then, Zhang Chunfeng raised his hand and threw a cascade of ten fireball talismans. These ten fireball talismans enveloped an area of about ten feet in radius, pressing towards the tall and thin youth.


    At this moment, the judge on the stage, a Foundation Building cultivator, intervened to protect the tall and thin youth and dered Zhang Chunfeng the winner.


    "See, I told you this skill is mediocre. Practicing this is no better than having a good Talisman," the thin cultivatormented disdainfully.


    "Hmph! Winning with the help of a Talisman doesn''t showcase any real skill," even though the cultivator he supported, Senior Brother Gao, had lost, he remained defiant.


    "Hehe, you haven''t seen Senior Brother Zhang''s previous battles. Even if Senior Brother Gao''s Fireball Technique had hit Zhang Shixiong, he would have suffered at most minor injuries. Moreover, as long as Zhang Shixiong gets close, not many can defeat him," the thin cultivator confidently exined.


    The thin cultivator was a staunch supporter of Zhang Chunfeng, never absent from any of hispetitions.


    Throughout the journey, every disciple entering the top one hundred had gained a group of enthusiastic supporters, creating a fervor around them. Businesses in the market even collected information about these disciples, printed it in booklets, and sold them to these supporters.


    Therefore, the Grand Competition held every decade was a grand celebration for lower-tier disciples.


    "Why is that?" the chubby cultivator questioned. They had been friends for many years, and they had only ended up heatedly arguing because of their respective supported individuals.


    "Let me tell you, in thest fight, I saw with my own eyes a flying knife with a middle-grade Magical Weapon consecutively shing him more than ten times, and not a single strand of hair fell off. How much damage do you think that Fireball Technique could have done to Zhang Shixiong?" the thin cultivator said proudly, full of pride.


    "Oh! Does Senior Brother Zhang also cultivate in the Body Refining technique?" the chubby cultivator asked in surprise. He knew that being a body cultivator was not easy, and cultivating both the physical body and magical techniques simultaneously was even more challenging.


    "Other than a body cultivator, who else could have such strength? Didn''t you see that Senior Brother Gao kept a considerable distance from Zhang Shixiong throughout the battle? He should be aware of it," the thin cultivator said triumphantly.


    "After this battle, Senior Brother Zhang has already entered the top fifty. Remember to call me to watch his nextpetition," the chubby cultivator quickly changed his stance.


    Being among the top fifty out of tens of thousands of participants in the Grand Competition was already an excellent achievement.


    "Look! Senior Brother Zhang ising towards us, and he''s smiling at me!" the thin cultivator eximed with excitement, his face flushed with joy.


    "Hmm! He''s reallying towards us. Does Senior Brother Zhang know you? Are you acquainted? Why not introduce me as well?" The chubby cultivator was also a bit excited.


    Zhang Chunfeng approached Wang Hong with a smile.


    "Senior Brother! Did I have any shorings in my spellcasting just now?"


    Wang Hong stuffed a handful of Three Yang Melon Seeds into Zhang Chunfeng''s hand, and he naturally epted them.


    "It was fine, but in the future, you should find a way to enhance your speed. The Scripture Tower should have Cultivation Techniques of this kind. If your contribution points are insufficient, you cane to me. Come on, let''s go to my courtyard for a drink!"


    The chubby and thin cultivators watched the two of them leave, feeling like they wanted to find a hole in the ground to hide in. It was too embarrassing; it seemed like everyone''s eyes were on them.


    At Wang Hong''s courtyard, there were several small dishes and three cups of wine arranged on a stone table. Two people and arge bird sat around the table.


    Since tasting alcohol once, Little Peng often drank with Wang Hong. However, his alcohol tolerance was poor, and he would get drunk after just one cup.


    This fellow''s alcohol tolerance wasn''t great either. Last time, after drinking a cup, he insisted on fighting the Spirit Bees in front of the Spirit Jujube Tree. It turned into a group attack, and it wasn''t even a match. He got stung by the Spirit Bees, making a fuss, and that woke him up.


    Wang Hong and Zhang Chunfeng hadn''t started drinking yet, but Little Peng had already finished his cup and stumbled away.


    After drinking a cup, Wang Hong pushed a bowl of porridge in front of Zhang Chunfeng.


    "Eat this. I specially made it for you. There''s a big pot; take it all with youter."


    Wang Hong used the mutated Spirit Rice produced in his Space, soaked in Space spring water for a day, then stewed for two days until the Spirit Rice melded with the water.


    Most importantly, he crushed a Lotus Seed from an Ink Jade Spirit Lotus and added it. He had obtained eighteen Ink Jade Spirit Lotus seeds in total. After reaching Foundation Building, he tried various methods and consumed three seeds. This stabilized his realm within a month and even improved it.


    He found that eating a bit of this porridge every day during the Qi Cultivation period was effective for enhancing cultivation levels.


    He estimated that after drinking this whole pot of porridge, Zhang Chunfeng should be able to advance to the tenth level of Qi Cultivation.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother!"


    "No need for formalities. Hurry up and reach Foundation Building. After you reach Foundation Building, I have many tasks for you. Weck experts at the Foundation Building level."


    "Alright, I won''t be polite then!"


    Zhang Chunfeng said and took a sip of the porridge. Wang Hong''s cooking was, as always, delicious, making hime to Wang Hong''s ce for a meal every now and then. If he went for a while without eating, he would miss that taste.


    After Zhang Chunfeng left, Wang Hong started refining another batch of Elixir. He currently had no materials for Nourishing Essence Pills, and he was still refining first-tier Elixirs. Second-tier Elixir materials were unavable, but he had plenty for the first tier.


    Entering the Foundation Building stage had strengthened his Divine Sense significantly, reaching a range of a hundred and thirty zhang. The usual range for a first-tier Foundation Building cultivator should be around a hundred zhang. He surpassed it by thirty percent. His Divine Sense had been stronger than others since he started cultivating.


    Due to the enhanced Divine Sense, he could now refine thirty sets of first-tier Elixir materials in one furnace, with an eighty percent sess rate.


    He needed to refine some Elixirs now. When Zhang Chunfeng reached Foundation Building, he could send them to Azure Void City in the future.


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 Chapter 122: Elder Brothers Reminder

    Chapter 122: Elder Brother''s Reminder


    The Sect Grand Competition, held once every decade, finally concluded after rounds of intensepetition.


    Zhang Chunfeng, with his cultivation level at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, secured the ninth position, just squeezing into the top ten. As a reward, he received two Foundation Establishment Pills and a Spiritual Weapon from the Sect.


    Standing out among numerous disciples and entering the top ten made Zhang Chunfeng a rising star among the younger generation of Qi Cultivators, garnering numerous supporters.


    There were even several female disciples iming to be his Dao Companion, only to be rebuffed by a few male disciples.


    Exiting the secret realm, Zhang Chunfeng obtained two hundred thousand contribution points, and now with the additional two Foundation Establishment Pills, he had a total of four.


    As a cultivator with three Spiritual Roots, and with good fortune, he only needed one Foundation Establishment Pill to seed. So, his sess in Foundation Building was already a certainty.


    After consuming the Spirit Rice-Lotus Seeds porridge diligently prepared by Wang Hong, he reached the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer. With a bit more consolidation, he would be ready for Foundation Building.


    In the Cultivation Room, Wang Hong ingested a Nourishing Essence Pill. The Spiritual Energy of the pill transformed into a mixed blue and red Spiritual Power, a result of practicing the "Wood Fire Incineration Technique."


    The Nourishing Essence Pill was amonly used elixir for Foundation Building cultivators, possessing a bnced and adaptable medicinal power. It was effective regardless of the Cultivation Techniques practiced.


    Many Cultivation Techniques required specific elixirs, as seen in Wang Hong''s "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique" and "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique," both of which included specific elixir prescriptions.


    In the absence of a particr elixir but a desire for faster progress, the Nourishing Essence Pill served as an excellent substitute.


    Although its effects might be slightly inferior to elixirs designed for specific Cultivation Techniques, it still sped up the process considerablypared to not using any elixir.


    The "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique" documented several elixirs, but only one suited Wang Hong''s current cultivation levelthe East Departure Pill. Its main ingredient was the East Departure Grass, a Spirit Herb containing the Wood-Fire Dual Attribute.


    Although he currentlycked this Spirit Herb, he spected that the Sect should have it in stock.


    The "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique" was one of the powerful Cultivation Techniques that required a hefty one hundred thousand contribution points for exchange. Despite its cost, it wouldn''t be shelved. There would undoubtedly be practitioners.


    Moreover, the Elder he encountered in the Scripture Tower mentioned the rarity of the Spiritual Herb for the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique" but didn''t touch upon this Cultivation Technique, further supporting his assumption.


    However, in his current status as a Qi Cultivation Disciple, inquiring about the Spiritual Herbs used during the Foundation Building stage might be inappropriate.


    Concealing one''s cultivation level had its advantages, but it also came with inconveniences. Unless absolutely necessary, he might refrain from such actions.


    It was more practical to wait for Zhang Chunfeng to achieve Foundation Building. As a Foundation Building disciple, he could handle such matters more conveniently, and after all, Zhang Chunfeng was nearing Foundation Building.


    After two hours, Wang Hong sessfully refined the medicinal power of the Nourishing Essence Pill. His dantian sea gained several dozen drops of original Spiritual Power.


    At this rate, it seemed like filling itpletely would take quite some time. It was no wonder many cultivators could only reach the Foundation Building stage in their entire lives.


    His dantian sea wasrger, requiring more original Spiritual Power to fill.


    The Spiritual Power within the dantian sea was the foundation of a cultivator''s realm. Consuming too much would result in a drop in cultivation level.


    During normal battles, the Spiritual Power used in spells was derived from the original Spiritual Power. The stronger the original Spiritual Power, the more potent the derived Spiritual Power, and vice versa.


    The derived Spiritual Power is not afraid of consumption; once depleted, it can absorb Spirit Qi again, generating anew.


    Wang Hong, having refined two Nourishing Essence Pills in a row, stepped out of the Cultivation Room. A Transmission Talisman floated above the Small Five Elements Formation, and with a wave of his hand, Wang Hong summoned it.


    It turned out to be a message from Elder Brother, inquiring if he had finished seclusion as he was outside.


    Wang Hong opened the door and found Elder Brother sitting by the stone table under the Spirit Jujube Tree, holding a half-green, not-quite-ripe Spirit Jujube in his hand.


    "Junior Brother Wang, you finally came out. I was about to leave. Snap!"


    After speaking, Elder Brother took a bite of the Spirit Jujube in his hand.


    "Elder Brother! Um... no, I should call you Senior Uncle Wu now." Wang Hong realized halfway through his words that Elder Brother had already reached Foundation Building.


    "If you still want to interact with me, just call me Elder Brother." Elder Brother said with a stern face.


    "I came today just to mooch a meal off you. I''ve been taking fasting pills for over three months, and my mouth has lost its taste. Even my farts have the smell of fasting pills."


    Foundation Building cultivators could already eat once every two or three days. However, sometimes, to avoid interrupting cultivation, they still needed to take fasting pills.


    Before each practice session, Wang Hong would prepare a lot of food and store it for convenient consumption during cultivation.


    "Pleasee in!"


    Inviting Elder Brother into the courtyard, Wang Hong first presented a te of grape spirit fruits on the stone table.


    Elder Brother grabbed a handful and stuffed them into his mouth, chewing vigorously.


    "Junior Brother Wang, why are you still lingering at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer? You should hurry and breakthrough to achieve Foundation Building. You''re holding so many Foundation Establishment Pills; it''s quite tempting, and many are secretly eyeing them."


    Elder Brother probably came here today to remind him, with a meal as a bonus.


    "Elder Brother, I also want to progress quickly, but it seems like I''ve hit a bottleneck." Wang Hong said with a troubled expression.


    "Oh, is that so? Wait a moment. In a few days, I''ll get you a Barrier Breaking Pill."


    "Don''t! I''ve already inquired about it. I''ll be able to buy a Barrier Breaking Pill soon."


    Wang Hong hurriedly stopped him. What if Elder Brother really got him a Barrier Breaking Pill? Would he ascend to the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer? Would reaching the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer lead to Foundation Building? Then, with all those Foundation Establishment Pills, would he be a Foundation Building cultivator? What about tricking Shadow Kill?


    "Don''t worry; I''ll take care of the Barrier Breaking Pill for you," Elder Brother said, taking a big gulp of Spirit Wine and exhaling a long breath.


    "Great wine, so fragrant!"


    "Elder Brother! You really don''t need to buy the Barrier Breaking Pill. I''ll be able to get one in a few days too."


    "Well, you''re always so polite."


    Wang Hong prepared a few more dishes, and together with Elder Brother, they enjoyed some wine.


    Before leaving, Wang Hong gave Elder Brother two sealed Earthen Jars containing pre-cooked meals. Just heat them up before eating.


    Thinking about Elder Brother''s reminder, he felt it was necessary to deal with the Foundation Establishment Pills. He pondered for a while and decided to sell some of them. Since he had already seeded in Foundation Building, he only needed to keep two. He could pretendter on.


    As for how to sell them, he thought about a direct auction, making it a grand event. The more people who knew, the better. This way, everyone would be aware that he no longer had extra Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Additionally, he could recover some Spirit Stones. Lately, he found that Spirit Stones were always in short supply. After Foundation Building, he still needed to acquire a suitable Spiritual Weapon, and all these required Spirit Stones.


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 Chapter 123: Commission

    Chapter 123: Commission


    He now possessed two Spiritual Weapons. One was a powerful auxiliary-type Spiritual Weapon, a Copper Mirror obtained from a youth in the Beast Spirit Sect. It had the ability to slow down a person''s movements, and he had almost lost his life because of it.


    The other was a low-grade Flying Sword, merely average in terms of power.


    His defensive Spiritual Weapon was already damaged, and he needed to find a new one. Although his physical body could withstand attacks from Magical Weapons, he discovered that the Flying Sword, even as a Spiritual Weapon, could still cut his skin.


    In battles against others, a defensive Spiritual Weapon was indispensable.


    Additionally, he wanted to find a closebat weapon that could leverage the advantages of body refinement.


    As his strength increased, the Long Spear weighing several thousand kilograms felt light in his hands. Moreover, the Magical Weapon level was a bit low. In case he encountered sharper Spiritual Weapons, there was a possibility of being cut by them.


    All these items required a considerable amount of Spirit Stones, and sometimes even with Spirit Stones, they couldn''t be obtained.


    Wang Hong once again arrived at the market below the Heavenly Authority Peak. After experiencing a Grand Competition, the atmosphere here was quieter than usual.


    Most likely, those who needed to make purchases before the Grand Competition had already done so. After thepetition, many people would be stimted,cking the mood toe out for leisure, choosing instead to stay at home for secluded cultivation.


    He entered the Myriad Treasures Tower, and a maid immediately greeted him.


    "Senior, greetings! What treasures do you need to purchase?"


    "I would like to see your shopkeeper. Can you help me inform them?" Wang Hong got straight to the point without unnecessary words.


    "May I ask, Senior, do you have any specific business with our shopkeeper?"


    If there wasn''t a valid reason, they wouldn''t readily inform the shopkeeper. After all, what significant matter could a Qi Cultivation Disciple have?


    If they bothered the shopkeeper with every little thing, considering the size of the shop, the shopkeeper would be overwhelmed. What was the point of hiring them if that were the case?


    "I have business, a big deal to offer to your establishment."


    "Senior, could you please provide more details? If it''s not convenient to disclose, could you at least mention the approximate amount? It will help me report appropriately."


    The maid asked politely, avoiding offending the customer and not rushing to inform the shopkeeper based on just a few words.


    "I have Foundation Establishment Pills. Is that sufficient?"


    "More than enough! Please wait in the VIP room, and the shopkeeper will be with you shortly."


    The maid nodded excitedly. If the previous hospitality towards Wang Hong was out of courtesy, the current enthusiasm was undoubtedly heartfelt and sincere.


    Wang Hong entered the VIP room at the Myriad Treasures Tower for the first time. The room was decorated with an ancient touch.


    There was only one Tea Table inside, and surprisingly, the table was carved from a single piece of second-tier spirit wood.


    On the Tea Table, a set of tea utensils was arranged, and an incense burner emitted a gentle, curling smoke.


    Wang Hong sat down beside the Tea Table. After a short wait, a chubby middle-aged man appeared at the door. The maid from before followed respectfully behind him.


    The chubby middle-aged man wore a smiling face, his fat cheeks nearly covering his eyes, making it unclear how he managed to see the path.


    "Fellow Daoist, I apologize for the wait. I am Sima Jing, the manager of this establishment."


    Sima, the manager, briefly introduced himself and personally brewed a pot of tea, pouring a cup for Wang Hong.


    After Wang Hong took a sip of tea, he spoke, "I heard that you have Foundation Establishment Pills for sale?"


    "That''s correct. I am Wang Hong, a disciple under Elder Gu of Kaiyang Peak. I currently have over 600,000 contribution points, enough to exchange for six Foundation Establishment Pills. Since I can''t use all of them, I n to take out three and have your esteemed shop auction them for me."


    Upon hearing that three Foundation Establishment Pills were up for sale, the chubby Sima nearly spilled his tea in surprise.


    Wang Hong disclosed all his details. His intention was clearto let everyone know that the surplus Foundation Establishment Pills had been sold. Although he still had three left, it was not as enviable as before.


    He had to leave some for himself. If he didn''t, it might raise suspicions since abnormal behavior often attracts attention.


    Additionally, he revealed his status as Gu Qingyang''s disciple, a weighty identity to showcase.


    "Ah, it''s Fellow Daoist Wang. My apologies for any disrespect. Fellow Daoist, as you may know, the price of one Foundation Establishment Pill ranges from 300,000 to 350,000. If we auction them here, there will be amission fee. Would Fellow Daoist consider selling them directly to Myriad Treasures Tower? We can offer up to 330,000 per pill, ensuring you receive more Spirit Stones in hand."


    Buying three Foundation Establishment Pills would indeed be a significant achievement for him.


    "I''m sorry, but I need to auction them this time, and I want as many people as possible to know that I''m auctioning the Foundation Establishment Pills."


    Hearing Wang Hong''s exnation, Sima quickly grasped his cautious approach. Being an old fox who had lived for over a hundred years, he easily understood the nuances.


    "In that case, I won''t insist. When does Fellow Daoist Wang n to auction them, and do you have any specific preferences or suggestions regarding the auction?"


    Wang Hong considered his objectivesto make the information widely known and to sell Spirit Stones.


    Considering these, he needed to release the news before the auction, allowing time for it to spread and ferment.


    "I suggest scheduling it a month from now. Before that, Myriad Treasures Tower needs to help me spread the news."


    In the Mortal Realm, a month might be enough for the hype to die down. However, in the Cultivation World, where cultivators had rtively long lifespans, closing up for several days wasmon, making the efficiency of actions slower.


    "Alright, no problem with that."


    The two then discussed some additional details.


    "After I auction the Foundation Establishment Pills, I n to purchase some Spiritual Weapons. Does Myriad Treasures Tower have suitable ones?"


    Wang Hong thought it would be a good opportunity to inquire directly from the shopkeeper. If there were suitable weapons, he could buy them now; otherwise, he would look elsewhereter.


    "May I know what type of Spiritual Weapons Fellow Daoist Wang is looking for?" Sima, the chubby man, was delighted. This meant that the Spirit Stones from selling Foundation Establishment Pills would flow into Myriad Treasures Tower.


    "Do you have any defensive Spiritual Weapons and closebat Spiritual Weapons?"


    "We do have several defensive Spiritual Weapons, but as for closebat Spiritual Weapons, we don''t have them readily avable. However, we can customize them for you."


    "What do the defensive Spiritual Weapons look like?" Wang Hong decided to see if any of them were suitable.


    Sima signaled a maid standing at the door, and she entered the VIP room.


    "Retrieve three defensive Spiritual Weapons for Fellow Daoist Wang to inspect."


    The maid left, and after a short while, she returned, carrying a tray covered with a red cloth. Surprisingly, the cloth could block Divine Sense, preventing Wang Hong from seeing the contents.


    Let''s end it here for today, feeling exhausted.


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 Chapter 124: Golden Light Bowl

    Chapter 124: Golden Light Bowl


    The maid ced the tray on the tea table before unveiling three palm-sized Spiritual Weapons.


    "Fellow Daoist Wang, please take a look. These three are all middle-grade Spiritual Weapons, rare treasures in our Myriad Treasures Tower."


    Wang Hong reached out and took a ck, round shield. It felt heavy in his hands, the material unfamiliar.


    "This is a Nether Iron Shield, crafted entirely from Nether Iron Refinement, using a total of three thousand kilograms of materials. After infusing Spiritual Power, it can expand to a size of one zhang."


    Sima Fatty took the shield from Wang Hong, infused it with Spiritual Power, and the round shield transformed into a one-zhang-sized barrier floating in front of Sima Fatty.


    Fortunately, the VIP room was spacious enough; otherwise, the room would have burst.


    Magical Weapons had fixed sizes, but Spiritual Weapons werepact when not in use. Once infused with Spiritual Power, they could change size, resembling magical treasures in this aspect.


    Moreover,pared to Magical Weapons, Spiritual Weapons possessed a degree of spirituality.


    In battles during the Qi Cultivation stage, one could evade attacks from a more flexible Magical Weapon. However, at the Foundation Building stage, if locked by the opponent''s Divine Sense, a Spiritual Weapon would autonomously pursue and attack the target, making it difficult to dodge.


    By the Golden Core stage, the spirituality of magical treasures became stronger, making them almost impossible to dodge, requiring a head-on confrontation.


    After Sima Fatty put away the shield, Wang Hong took out a brass-colored bowl.


    "Fellow Daoist Sima, isn''t this the alms bowl used by Great Monks for begging?"


    Wang Hong, from the impoverished Wang family vige, was familiar with this type of alms bowl as monks often came to beg.


    Although the style was familiar, the material differed.


    Once, on a whim, he had given arge wild vegetable leaf to an old monk. The monk smiled, chanted a Buddhist mantra, caught it in the bowl, and left.


    Wang Hong regretted it a bit; such a fresh wild vegetable leaf exchanged for just a Buddhist chant.


    Traveling Taoists would even perform sword-swallowing and fire-spitting, breakingrge stones with their chests.


    "Fellow Daoist Wang is correct. This is indeed a treasure of the Buddhist sect, named the Golden Light Bowl. It can emit a ball of golden light, enveloping cultivators within."


    Sima Fatty took the bowl and demonstrated.


    "Additionally, the Golden Light Bowl is also a flying Spiritual Weapon. Its flying speed is simr to a regr Flying Sword, but its advantage lies in being a defensive Spiritual Weapon. It remains impervious to sudden attacks during flight, surpassing other flying Spiritual Weapons."


    In fact, during the Foundation Building stage, any cultivator could make any Spiritual Weapon fly. However, some Spiritual Weapons were not meant for flight; they might be slow and ufortable to control.


    Wang Hong was quite interested in this Spiritual Weapon but didn''t show it, continuing to look at the next one.


    Thest item was a blue pearl called the Gentle Water Pearl, serving both offense and defense. When activated with Spiritual Power, it released a blue water curtain and countless water arrows to attack enemies.


    "How many Spirit Stones for each of these Spiritual Weapons?"


    "The Nether Iron Shield costs three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, the Golden Light Bowl is three hundred and fifty thousand, and the Gentle Water Pearl is three hundred and eighty thousand. Which one do you think suits you?"


    Middle-grade Spiritual Weapons were much more expensive than lower-grade ones, and defensive Spiritual Weapons were even pricier, each equivalent to a Foundation Establishment Pill.


    For a Foundation Building cultivator, equipping oneself with these would require years of effort.


    Some newly advanced Foundation Building cultivators, due to financial constraints, still engage in battles using Magical Weapons.


    "Could you keep the Golden Light Bowl for me? After the auction ends, I''ll pay you in Spirit Stones," Wang Hong requested.


    "No problem. I''ll make sure to keep it for you and won''t sell it to anyone else," Sima Fatty assured boldly.


    "Do you have anything else you need to buy? Should we choose together?" Wang Hong pondered for a moment and asked, "Do you have any Spiritual Weapons suitable for closebat? One of my junior brothers excels in melee, and I can get one for him."


    "Generally, only body cultivators engage in closebat, and their numbers are scarce. There are few Spiritual Weapons like refining tools suitable for them. Myriad Treasures Tower has only a few Magical Weapons suitable for closebat, and weck closebat Spiritual Weapons."


    Wang Hong wasn''t too disappointed. After all, there were few body cultivators, and there weren''t many circting closebat Spiritual Weapons in the market, making them harder toe by.


    "However, if Fellow Daoist has a need, we can customize one for you, but you need to provide the refining tool materials."


    "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Sima. If I find suitable materials, I will definitelye to your shop for customization."


    After returning to Kaiyang Peak, Wang Hong sent a Transmission Talisman to each cultivator who wanted to buy Foundation Building Pills from him, informing them of the auction at Myriad Treasures Tower a monthter.


    Auctioning off Foundation Building Pills would save him a lot of trouble, avoiding constant pestering. Although he would receive Spirit Stones instead of Foundation Establishment Pills, it was still better.


    Wang Hong entered his Space, where the Dragon Scale Fruit he had nted had grown into five-inch-high seedlings. The three Ink Jade Spirit Lotuses had also grown, with one about to wither. He collected the petals and gathered petals from other second-tier spirit fruit trees, including Green Spirit Peach, altogether obtaining dozens of varieties. Among them, Ink Jade Spirit Lotus petals were the most valuable, while the Green Spirit Peach''s tier remained unclear.


    He ced all these petals in a small jar for fermentation, following the brewing method of Hundred Flowers Spirit Wine, which required decades for proper aging.


    The green branches he had nted before showed no signs of sprouting, only bing more vibrant than before.


    Despite researching numerous records, Wang Hong couldn''t determine the type of tree, astonished by its slow growth.


    He harvested all the mature first-tier Spirit Herbs in the Space, nted new ones, and collected excessive branches from second-tier spirit fruit trees to bring out of the Space.


    In his Cultivation Room, he arranged a formation on the ground ording to the Wood-Fire Incineration Technique, piled the branches in the center, ignited them with Spiritual Energy, and cast dozens of Techniques at the burning pile.


    The mes quickly grew, reaching a certain size and stabilizing. Seeing this, Wang Hong quickly cast over a hundred Techniques, his fingers moving so fast that they seemed a blur. After the hundred Techniques, a three-foot-diameter me floated into the air, detaching from the spirit wood below.


    While casting Techniques, Wang Hong extended his Divine Sense toward the me. Upon contact, a scorching sensation reached him. Enduring the pain, he merged a tiny strand of Divine Sense with the me.


    As his Techniques entered, the me shrank but became more condensed.


    Two dayster, the three-foot me had reduced to a strand as thin as an embroidery needle, only an inch long.


    This tiny me danced in Wang Hong''s hands, seemingly alive but controlled by the minuscule Divine Sense he had merged with it earlier.


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 Chapter 125: Function of Spirit Fire

    Chapter 125: Function of Spirit Fire


    After the small strand of Spirit Fire danced in his hands for a moment, Wang Hong opened his mouth, swallowing it into his abdomen. Upon entering the dantian, it peacefully floated above the sea of spiritual power in his dantian.


    The inherent Spiritual Power in the sea of the dantian absorbed the threads of the divine little me. After a while, the me seemed to grow slightly.


    Although the speed was not fast, this was his inherent Spiritual Power. If he consumed too much, his cultivation level would decline. Wang Hong carefully calcted that at this rate, he would consume about the equivalent of one Nourishing Essence Pill in a day, while he could only refine two pills a day.


    He hadn''t seen the benefits of cultivating this Spirit Fire yet, but he had already discovered the drawback  it consumed his inherent Spiritual Power.


    Moreover, with the current size of the me, just like the size of an Embroidery Needle, he couldn''t imagine how useful it could be. Nevertheless, he had to nurture it for now.


    Then he swallowed a Nourishing Essence Pill and began practicing the "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique."


    After refining two Elixirs, he was pleasantly surprised to find that the small me was not entirely useless.


    It could assist in refining the medicinal power, reducing the time needed to refine the Elixir. Although currently, refining one Elixir was only about fifteen minutes faster than before, the potential for growth in this small me was significant.


    Time was a cultivator''s life. Saving even a quarter of an hour was equivalent to adding a quarter of an hour to one''s life.


    Moreover, he made another discovery that delighted him. Previously, he could only refine and absorb the power of two Nourishing Essence Pills.


    Perhaps due to Spirit Fire absorbing some of the power today, he felt he could refine and absorb one more. He decisively swallowed another Nourishing Essence Pill, proving that three pills were currently his limit.


    After more than ten days, Wang Hong received a Transmission Talisman from his Elder Brother, saying he wanted toe over for a meal and asking if he had time.


    He immediately sent a message back, saying he would prepare a sumptuous meal for him.


    Not long after, Elder Brother arrived.


    "Hahaha! Junior Brother Wang, I''vee to freeload on your meal again."


    Little Peng, seeing Elder Brother''s arrival, walked to a corner of the wall, turning his backside toward him and asionally sneaking a nce.


    Since thest time Little Peng had a drink, he had been harassing Elder Brother, throwing stones at him, and even spitting at him. Elder Brother, in a fit of anger, had beaten him up, pulling out several feathers. Now, seeing Elder Brother again, Little Peng was both afraid and resentful, hiding in a corner.


    After three rounds of drinks and a variety of dishes, Elder Brother took out a Jade vial from his Storage Bag and ced it in front of Wang Hong.


    "This is for you. I knew you hadn''t gotten your hands on a Barrier Breaking Pill yet, despite your stubbornness."


    Elder Brother was well-informed. He learned that there was a Zhao''s Pill Shop in Azure Void City, a shop not veryrge but stocked with aplete set of first-tier Elixir Spiritual Herbs. Moreover, they sold one Barrier Breaking Pill every month.


    So, he personally went to Azure Void City, found the mentioned Elixir shop, and inquired about it. The shop was clean and tidy, without unnecessary extravagance, but it was bustling with customers.


    The shopkeeper, a cultivator in his thirties with a clean-shaven face, had only reached the fourthyer of Qi Cultivation. This level was quite low, considering the shop''s quality. When Elder Brother revealed his purpose, the shopkeeper informed him that purchasing a Barrier Breaking Pill required advance reservation and a two-year waiting period. Despite offering more Spirit Stones, the shopkeeper refused.


    Elder Brother, angered but constrained by the rules of Azure Void City, had a clever idea. He ced a chair at the entrance of the Elixir shop, took out a Spiritual Weapon, arge knife, and sat there, sharpening the de. Anyone trying to enter the shop would be red at.


    Most of the customers were scared away by Elder Brother''s intimidating tactics. Seeing a sharp decline in business, the shopkeeper had no choice but to agree to sell a Barrier Breaking Pill to him.


    Elder Brother proudly shared this story with Wang Hong, who couldn''t help but find it amusing and exasperating at the same time.


    Unsure whether to tell him, Wang Hong contemted revealing that the Elixir shop was actually his. He decided to keep that information to himself for now and said, "Elder Brother, I really can''t ept this Elixir. The reason I''ve stayed at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer is aplicated matter. I just can''t disclose it right now. I hope you can understand."


    Wang Hong exined, half-truthfully. He hadn''t decided whether to inform Elder Brother of the connection between him and Zhao''s Pill Shop. The rtionship wasn''t much of a secret, but he felt it wasn''t the right time to reveal it.


    Seeing Wang Hong''s apparent dilemma, Elder Brother said, "Alright, since the Elixir is already bought and I won''t use it, just take it."


    Under Elder Brother''s insistence, Wang Hong reluctantly epted.


    ...


    Time quickly passed, and within a month, many Qi Cultivation disciplespleted their Foundation Building. Senior Brother Gao, a friend of Wang Hong, also seeded, as did Zhang Chunfeng, who was currently consolidating his realm in seclusion.


    Wang Hong, once the center of attention when he emerged from the secret realm, still remained at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.


    People often shook their heads and sighed when discussing him, thinking that Wang Hong might be forever stuck at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. Initially having nine Foundation Establishment Pills, he impulsively spent tens of thousands of contribution points, leaving him with sixty thousand. Under pressure, he had to sell half of them, and with the remaining thirty thousand contribution points, whether it could help him achieve Foundation Building was uncertain. After all, he hadn''t even reached the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer yet.


    A group of Qi Cultivation disciples had no idea that they were worrying about a Foundation Building senior.


    Wang Hong asionally heard these rumors about himself but paid them no mind. Instead, he secretly rejoiced that no one suspected his Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivation level.


    On the scheduled auction day, Wang Hong naturally went to see what was happening.


    When he arrived at the Myriad Treasures Tower, hundreds of people had already gathered. Most of them were there just to watch the excitement, as only a few could afford to bid.


    Due to the scarcity and irreceability of Foundation Establishment Pills, the prices were artificially inted.


    Although Foundation Establishment Pills were just second-tier Elixirs, their prices were several times that of Nourishing Essence Pills. The limited supply of Spiritual Herbs for these pills, coupled with the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few, led to high demand and prices.


    Since Foundation Establishment Pills were a rare and crucial resource, every time they appeared on the market, wealthy individuals would inte the prices, ultimately benefiting themselves.


    Therefore, in secret realms, although loose cultivators were the weakest in terms of strength, they were often the most desperate. Having no foundation and being extremely poor, they staked their lives on everything. The only thing they couldpete with others was the fact that everyone had only one life.


    So, in secret realms, while others fought for resources, loose cultivators fought for their lives. Winning meant soaring to new heights, while losing meant death.


    Therefore, in this auction, only a fraction of the hundreds of people could genuinely afford topete for the Foundation Establishment Pills. The rest were there just to witness the spectacle and increase the crowd for the auction.


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 Chapter 126: Auction

    Chapter 126: Auction


    This auction was a small-scale event hastily organized by the Myriad Treasures Tower.


    Since the Foundation Establishment Pills had attracted so much attention, someone as astute as Sima Jing wouldn''t just stop at selling three pills.


    To maximize the effects of the three Foundation Establishment Pills and extract every possible benefit, careful nning was required.


    Myriad Treasures Tower gathered a batch of treasures for this asion, intending to sell them alongside the auction. Due to thepetitive nature of auctions, the final prices often exceeded the market value.


    The auction officially began, and the hostess for the event was a woman who appeared to be in her thirties, exuding a charm that hinted at both youth and maturity.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining this auction. I am Jiang Yue, and I appreciate your presence," the woman courteously greeted.


    "Now, for the first item, we have a high-grade defensive Magical Weapon, the Red Gold Shield. The starting bid is five hundred Spirit Stones, with increments of no less than one hundred Spirit Stones."


    "Six hundred!"


    "Eight hundred!"


    ...


    The Qi Cultivation Disciples in the venue were spirited, eagerly bidding for the item. High-grade defensive Magical Weapons like the Red Gold Shield were attractive to them.


    Wang Hong, who was once like them, engaged in fiercepetition for Magical Weapons in previous auctions. However, such items no longer caught his eye; things he once considered precious now seemed ordinary.


    Seated in the front row of the auction venue were ten Foundation Building cultivators, observing the proceedings with unwavering calmness.


    They were the true power yers of this auction, the big spenders whose sole focus was the Foundation Establishment Pills; they paid little attention to the smaller items.


    Among them were the cultivators who had previously approached Wang Hong, seeking to purchase Foundation Establishment Pills from him.


    Although Qingxu Sect had thousands of Foundation Building disciples, not every one of them could afford the tens of thousands of Spirit Stones required for a pill. Somecked the funds, others were away, and some were busy in seclusion or cultivation.


    This led to the presence of these ten Foundation Building cultivators.


    After the auction of ten Magical Weapons, the first Foundation Establishment Pill finally appeared, causing an explosion of excitement in the venue.


    Numerous Qi Cultivation Disciples eagerly joined the bidding. When the price reached fifty thousand, only a few dozen participants were still holding on.


    As the price surpassed one hundred thousand, only around ten individuals continued to bid desperately. The ten Foundation Building cultivators in the front row remained silent throughout, showing no sign of participation.


    When the bids reached two hundred thousand, one of the front-row cultivators calmly spoke, "Two hundred and twenty thousand." The other nine remained silent.


    "Two hundred and thirty thousand!" A square-faced cultivator in the rear increased the bid by ten thousand.


    "Two hundred and fifty thousand!" Another front-row Foundation Building cultivator raised the stakes by twenty thousand.


    "Two hundred and sixty thousand!"


    "Two hundred and eighty thousand!" The bid came from another front-row cultivator.


    The rear cultivator seemed to have run out of Spirit Stones and did not bid further.


    The auction venue fell silent, waiting for others to bid. At this moment, all was still.


    The ten Foundation Building cultivators in the front row, including the one who had ced thest bid, maintained an indifferent demeanor, showing no interest in the ongoing auction.


    The situation became somewhat bizarre; these ten individuals seemed to act as one.


    Whenever someone else ced a bid, they immediately suppressed it. If one of them bid, the other nine remained silent.


    "Two hundred and eighty thousand Spirit Stones! Any other bids?" Jiang Yue loudly inquired from the auction stage. It was rare for a Foundation Establishment Pill to go for less than three hundred thousand.


    Clearly, these ten Foundation Building cultivators had coordinated in advance. If anyone else bid, they would collectively suppress it. If there were no other bidders, they could secure the Foundation Establishment Pill at a lower price, saving tens of thousands of Spirit Stones eacha considerable amount.


    Wang Hong signaled to Zhang Chunfeng in the opposite corner, thankful for the precautions he had taken.


    "Three hundred thousand!" Zhang Chunfeng bid, directly raising it by twenty thousand, reaching Wang Hong''s expected price.


    "Three hundred and ten thousand!" Another front-row cultivator ced a bid.


    After bidding once, Zhang Chunfeng remained silent. With limited Spirit Stones on hand, he didn''t want to risk buying the pill back at a higher price, plus paying additional auctionmissions.


    Moreover, there were still two more pills to go. He needed to conserve some resources to prevent a repeat in the subsequent auctions.


    In the end, the first Foundation Establishment Pill was sold for three hundred and ten thousand, imed by a Foundation Building cultivator in the front row.


    Several first-tier Spiritual Objects were auctioned before the second Foundation Establishment Pill was presented.


    Simr to the first pill, the front-row cultivators raised the bid to two hundred and eighty thousand, plunging the auction into a brief silence.


    Until Zhang Chunfeng boldly called out three hundred thousand. Again, the same front-row Foundation Building cultivator imed it for three hundred and ten thousand.


    By now, the suspicions about Zhang Chunfeng''s identity had grown among the front-row ten.


    Some auctions hired individuals to artificially inte prices during the bidding, creating an illusion of high demand and intensepetition to sell items at higher prices.


    Now, they suspected Zhang Chunfeng might be one of these individuals hired to boost prices.


    The ten secretlymunicated via Message Transmission, quickly reaching a consensus.


    Soon, thepetition for the third Foundation Establishment Pill began.


    "Three hundred thousand!" Zhang Chunfeng once again shouted the bid.


    "I request fund verification. I suspect he''s bidding falsely and doesn''t actually have this many Spirit Stones."


    Auction houses had strict penalties for false bidding. Deliberately inting prices without possessing the corresponding amount of Spirit Stones or resources could lead to severe consequences, including the loss of the entrance deposit or, in extreme cases, even one''s life.


    Due to the auction of Foundation Establishment Pills, each person had deposited twenty thousand Spirit Stones as an entrance fee.


    If the party raising the concern turned out to be unfounded, they would still need topensate the other party. Thispensation was usually based on the value of the auctioned item, typically one-tenth of its value.


    "Fellow Daoist, at the request of Zhang Fellow Daoist, we need to verify your funds. Please present the Spirit Stones you intend to use for the purchase," an old man from the auction venue announced. Judging by his cultivation level, he had reached theter stages of Foundation Building, a formidable figure.


    "I indeed don''t have three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, but I can offer other items aspensation. Would these items be sufficient?" Zhang Chunfeng handed over a Storage Bag to the old man.


    epting the Storage Bag, the old man immediately erected a Light Shield around him, Zhang Chunfeng, and the cultivator who had raised the question. This shield prevented external scrutiny and protected the privacy of the party being verified.


    After setting up the Light Shield, the old man emptied the contents of Zhang Chunfeng''s Storage Bag on the ground, revealing a pile of bottles, jars, and Jade Boxes.


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 Chapter 127: Pan Yuans Invitation

    Chapter 127: Pan Yuan''s Invitation


    Old Man opened a Jade vial, revealing a collection of middle-grade Condensing Qi Pills. Another bottle contained low-grade Condensing Qi Pills, and to their surprise, a third bottle held three Barrier Breaking Pills.


    Opening yet another Jade Box, they found ten Spirit Herbs inside. Another box, and it was still more Spirit Herbs.


    After a thorough count, most were first-tier Elixirs, apanied by some first-tier Spiritual Herbs. While individually not highly valuable, their abundance was noteworthy.


    "How do you have so many Elixirs on you?" the cultivator named Zhang couldn''t help but ask.


    "What items I carry on me don''t seem to concern Fellow Daoist Zhang, right?" the Old Man replied.


    "Is Fellow Daoist an Alchemist?" inquired the Old Man.


    Only an Alchemist would carry such an array of Elixirs, and even among Alchemists, few possessed such a quantity.


    Some of these Elixirs were refined by Zhang Chunfeng, while others were crafted by Wang Hong,bined and presented by Zhang Chunfeng.


    "Indeed, these Elixirs are what I''ve umted over several years," Wang Hong admitted.


    "ording to my estimate, this batch of Elixirs and Spirit Herbs is worth four hundred thousand Spirit Stones. However, for exchange purposes, we can only consider ny percent, which amounts to three hundred and sixty thousand Spirit Stones. Do you two have any objections?"


    Both individuals expressed no disagreement.


    With confirmation, the cultivator named Zhang reluctantlypensated Zhang Chunfeng with thirty thousand Spirit Stones.


    The auction continued.


    "I bid three hundred and ten thousand!" Zhang bid again.


    "Three hundred and twenty thousand!" This time, Zhang Chunfeng didn''t withdraw but continued to raise the stakes.


    "Three hundred and thirty thousand!"


    ...


    Finally, a Foundation Building cultivator in the front row secured the lot for three hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones.


    They had initially aimed for a bargain on the three Elixirs but ended up paying an extra thirty thousand Spirit Stones.


    As thest Foundation Establishment Pill was auctioned off, the auction officially concluded.


    Wang Hong didn''t leave immediately. Instead, he settled the Spirit Stones with Sima Fatty.


    The three Foundation Establishment Pills fetched a total of nine hundred and seventy thousand Spirit Stones. After deducting the ten percentmission, Wang Hong was left with eight hundred and seventy-three thousand.


    He casually bought the Golden Light Bowl, leaving him with over fifty-two thousand Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong then handed over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones to Zhang Chunfeng. Early-stage Foundation Building cultivators were often financially strained, needing resources like Spiritual Weapons.


    Hence, when one saw a Foundation Building cultivator still using a Magical Weapon in battles outside, it might not be a disy of skill but a result of genuine poverty.


    Post Foundation Building, cultivators needed to find suitable Cultivation Techniques, acquire Spiritual Weapons and necessary resources, making it a challenging phase. Many squandered their prime years on such pursuits.


    After the auction, Wang Hong returned home, quietly focusing on cultivation, avoiding unnecessary outings.


    In the vast Qingxu Sect with hundreds of thousands of cultivators, numerous outstanding neers continued to emerge, creating a plethora of exciting stories.


    Someone like Wang Hong, once the top disciple in a secret realm, gradually faded into obscurity after selling the Foundation Establishment Pills. During this period, he had Zhang Chunfeng make a trip to Azure Void City, delivering a batch of Elixirs and bringing back Spirit Wine brewed by Skinny Monkey.


    The delivered goods were temporarily stored with Zhao Ning, who, in theory, still held a position in the Immortal Path Trading Alliance. He then distributed a portion to various shops, making the process more convenient.


    At present, Wang Hong found it challenging to show himself publicly, so this served as a temporary solution to the supply problem.


    However, this was not a long-term strategy. Continually doing so risked exposing them all.


    During this time, Wang Hong intensified his cultivation. He focused on mastering the cultivation techniques "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique," which took several hours per session. Additionally, he practiced the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique." Although he hadn''t refined specific auxiliary Elixirs, he substituted them with Nourishing Essence Pills. Despite being less effective, he finally reached the first level of the cultivation technique.


    After reaching the first level, his skin became tough and stic.


    Activating the cultivation technique, his facial skin rippled, and wrinkles covered his face.


    If he were to wear the Misty Illusion Mask now, even if someone saw through the illusion, they would perceive him as an old man.


    Exiting the cultivation room, Little Peng approached him, rubbing against him. Wang Hong casually fed it an Elixir.


    Demonic Beasts possessed a physique and digestive capacity far superior to humans. Currently, if Wang Hong continuously fed it Elixirs, it could consume around ten first-tier Elixirs a day without any issues.


    This was something humans couldn''tpare to. Human strengthy in intelligence, learning, and creative abilities, not physical bodies.


    At this moment, a Message Transmission symbol arrived from outside. Taking a look, Wang Hong discovered fellow sect members hade to visit.


    Opening the door, he saw two figures in ck and purple standing outside.


    Wang Hong recognized both, though they were not very familiar.


    In a purple robe was Pan Yuan, who had sessfully reached Foundation Building not long ago. Previously, he had sought to buy Spirit Bee Honey from Wang Hong on credit, but the deal fell through.


    The other person was named Qiao Yun, currently at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation. They had minimal interaction, more of acquaintances than friends.


    "Senior Brother Pan, Junior Brother Qiao, what brings you here today?"


    "Wang Senior Brother, now that Senior Brother Pan has sessfully reached Foundation Building, addressing him as Senior Brother would be more appropriate, wouldn''t it disrupt the hierarchy?" Qiao Yun reminded Wang Hong.


    "Junior Brother Qiao makes sense. We shouldn''t disrupt the hierarchy. However, I am Elder Gu''s disciple, and Senior Brother Pan and I are of the same seniority." Wang Hong directly changed Junior Brother Qiao to Junior Brother Qiao.


    "Junior Brother Wang, let''s address each other as peers. No need for these formalities. I came here today to seek Senior Brother Wang''s help," Pan Yuan spoke up.


    "I wonder what Senior Brother Pan needs my help with. If it''s beyond the capabilities of Senior Brother Pan''s Foundation Building cultivation level, I may not be of much assistance."


    Wang Hong had no good impressions of this Senior Brother Pan and instinctively preferred not to deal with him.


    "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. Junior Brother Wang, how can you underestimate yourself? Your feats in the secret realm were well-known to all!"


    Pan Yuan praised Wang Hong generously, creating an instinctive feeling that Senior Brother Pan had an ulterior motive.


    "Well, I found several East Departure Grass in a secluded ce, but there''s a group of Demonic Insects nearby, and I''m helpless. I heard Junior Brother Wang has a formidable group of Poisonous Bees, so I wanted to ask for help in restraining the Demonic Insects. Once I collect the Spiritual Herb, I will surely share a few East Departure Grass with Junior Brother Wang."


    Wang Hong had previously asked Zhang Chunfeng to inquire about East Departure Grass, and it seemed Pan Yuan got wind of it. Now, he intended to lure Wang Hong with East Departure Grass, undoubtedly harboring some hidden motives.


    Wang Hong wondered if it was a scheme by Shadow Kill, intentionally luring him out of the Sect, making him an easy target for assassination.


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 Chapter 128: Space Upgrade Again

    Chapter 128: Space Upgrade Again


    Wang Hong pondered for a moment, specting on Pan Yuan''s past behavior. He was sure that Pan Yuan had no good intentions.


    In terms of his current strength, he wasn''t afraid of a direct confrontation with Pan Yuan. However, the Cultivation World was filled with numerous mysterious methods, making it impossible to guard against everything. There was no rule stating that life-and-death battles must be fought head-on.


    For instance, Wang Hong excelled in using poison, and he had killed many people more powerful than him. If Pan Yuan had other ns after they left, there was a chance things could go south.


    In his earlier years, he had set up battlefields and ambushed Foundation Building cultivators. As the art of war says, "Attack others where they are unprepared, make yourself unpredictable."


    Since the opponent had nned in advance, why should he follow their n and let them take the initiative? If someone wanted to plot against him, they should do so on his terms.


    Knowing there might be traps, he wouldn''t recklessly walk into them. "I''m sorry, Senior Brother Pan, but I''ve reached a crucial point in my cultivation recently and can''t afford any interruptions. I''m afraid I won''t be able to assist you this time. Please find someone more suitable."


    "Since Junior Brother Wang is busy, let''s forget about it. We can discuss it next time," Pan Yuan said with a smile, seemingly unconcerned.


    Qiao Yun, on the side, wanted to say something, but Pan Yuan stopped him with a nce. The two bid farewell and left.


    "Senior Uncle Pan, are we just letting it go? This kid, relying on the status of a Named Disciple, dares to show such disrespect."


    "Smack!"


    Pan Yuan pped Qiao Yun across the face.


    "Can''t you use your brain? What do you mean by the status of a ''Named Disciple''? I can p you like this, but I can''t do the same to him? A disciple is a disciple; if a disciple is humiliated, it reflects poorly on the master. What can I do to him within the sect?"


    "Yes, yes, Senior Uncle, you''re right," Qiao Yun said, looking as if he had learned a valuable lesson.


    He thought he had gained benefits by attaching himself to a powerful figure, but now, instead of rewards, he received a p. It was to make him understand that Pan Yuan could p him anytime, but Wang Hong couldn''t be openly pped.


    It seemed not every influential figure was worth associating with.


    After dismissing Pan Yuan, Wang Hong found himself frequently approached by fellow sect members in the following days. Some invited him on treasure hunts, others for leisure activities, and so on.


    These individuals might be acting on Shadow Kill''s orders or might be eyeing his possessions. After all, news had spread about him selling three Foundation Establishment Pills, earning nearly ny thousand Spirit Stones. Even Foundation Building cultivators didn''t possess such wealth.


    Recently, the sect distributed Foundation Establishment Pills, leading to a continuous stream of sessful Foundation Buildings. Within two to three years after each secret realm opening, over a hundred people would achieve Foundation Building, ensuring the sect had thousands of Foundation Building cultivators.


    Newly established Foundation Building cultivators were often strapped for resources. They would meticulously examine roadside weeds, hoping to find overlooked natural treasures.


    Regardless of the reasons, Wang Hong silently noted down the names of these people. He decided not to leave the sect for a while, letting these individuals grow impatient. Let the winds blow from every direction; he would stand firm.


    If Shadow Kill dared to enter the sect for an assassination attempt, he was eager to test the small Five Elements Formation in his courtyard, modified by the messy old man. He wondered if it could trap a Foundation Building cultivator.


    Unlike other recently promoted Foundation Building cultivators, who sought Spirit Stones and resources everywhere, Wang Hong''s primary goal was to strengthen his power.


    Not only did he need to enhance his personal strength, but also the strength of his subordinates, the Forty-plus People.


    The recent incident where Elder Brother forcibly bought Barrier Breaking Pills from his Elixir Pavilion showed that without a Foundation Building cultivator overseeing, business was challenging.


    Considering Elder Brother''s methods, they were rtively mild. Wang Hong entered the Alchemy room, spending several days refining arge batch of Body Refining Pills and Golden Body Pills.


    He then summoned Zhang Chunfeng, instructing him to deliver these elixirs to Azure Void City. In the future, everyone could exchange these elixirs at half price using contribution points, but profiting from resale was strictly forbidden.


    Although he wished to give these elixirs for free to his subordinates, he knew that people often failed to appreciate things that came for free. He couldn''t let them develop a habit of getting something for nothing; it would be destructive for his loosely formed organization.


    While he had faith in the loyalty of his subordinates and didn''t intend to manipte them deliberately, he understood the importance of maintaining authority. If he gave elixirs for free today, what could he give tomorrow? As a former general whomanded tens of thousands, he knew the importance of leading one''s subordinates wisely.


    When Zhang Chunfeng returned from Azure Void City, he brought back two million Spirit Stones, the total ie for this period. Previously, after auctioning the Foundation Establishment Pills and buying the Golden Light Bowl, he had just over four hundred thousand Spirit Stones left, which he hadn''t stored in Space.


    With these two million, he could upgrade Space once again. After absorbing the Spirit Stones, thend in Space increased by twenty mu, reaching a total of seventy-five mu, and time flow increased to a hundred and four times that of the outside world.


    Now, one year outside was equivalent to over a hundred years inside Space.


    He nned to nt all the additional twenty mu with second-tier Spiritual Herbs, as the existing space was insufficient. As for third-tier Spiritual Herbs, he currently only had Dragon Scale Fruit and Ink Jade Spirit Lotus. Since the Dragon Scale Fruit hadn''t grown yet, he focused on expanding the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus by erging the pond to one mu.


    Then, he divided the Lotus Root of the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus into sections and rented each section as a new nt. In total, he now had thirteen Ink Jade Spirit Lotus.


    Expanding the cultivation of the Spiritual Herb for Refining Nourishing Essence Pills was urgent. Nourishing Essence Pills were widely used among Foundation Building cultivators, making them easy to sell.


    Last time, when he wanted to practice Alchemy, he couldn''t even buy the Spiritual Herbs for Nourishing Essence Pills with Spirit Stones and had to reserve them in advance.


    Having previously cultivated two mu of Essence Nurturing Grass, with several decades of medicinal age, he could harvest them in about a year ording to the time difference in Space.


    He rented another eight mu of Nourishing Essence Pill Medicinal Herbs, adding to the original two mu of Essence Nurturing Grass, making a total of ten mu.


    The remainingnd was filled with second-tier spirit fruits or Spiritual Herbs. As the nting area was less than a fraction of thend, he filled it up.


    Currently, in addition to practicing two cultivation techniques daily, he also set aside time each day to enter Space and read books. The content included Alchemy, various cultivation techniques, and more.


    The contribution points required to exchange for cultivation techniques were much higher than the Spirit Herb books he had read before. For instance, the two cultivation techniques he practiced were valued at two hundred and fifty thousand. However, he only exchanged them for reference and didn''t have the ability to afford such expensive cultivation techniques.


    Every month, he would collect dozens of Alchemy tasks from the Task Hall, earning a few hundred contribution points, considering each task only required the refinement of twenty materials, which wasn''t too strenuous.


    He used these contribution points to exchange various books each month. Joining the sect''s biggest advantage, in his opinion,y in the umted heritage of tens of thousands of years, most of which rested in the Scripture Tower.


    Given the current opportunity and the ample time provided by Space, he intended to make the most of it.


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 Chapter 129: New Strain of Elixir

    Chapter 129: New Strain of Elixir


    On this day, Wang Hong and Zhang Chunfeng sat facing each other in the courtyard, each with a cup of Spirit Tea in front of them.


    The plot of Spirit Tea in Wang Hong''s Space was finally ready for a small harvest. This was the Spirit Tea he refined anew.


    Before mastering the Refinement technique, he used to pluck a few tender leaves from the Spirit Tea nt and steep them directly in Spirit Spring.


    Refining Spirit Tea was, in itself, an art. To learn this, Wang Hong spent some time in the Scripture Tower, studying several Jade Scrolls on Refining Spirit Tea. Only then did he master the technique.


    The Spirit Tea, refined through this process, had a much stronger taste and efficacypared to before.


    This led to the fact that, apart from Zhang Chunfeng, no one else in the Qingxu Sect had tasted his Spirit Tea.


    For something merely pleasant in taste, he wouldn''t mind sharing. However, if it was rted to cultivation and had extraordinary effects, he wouldn''t easily reveal it.


    For instance, the items he traded with the unkempt old man were exceptionally delicious but had rather ordinary effects. At least, for a Golden Core cultivator, they weren''t very effective.


    "Have you chosen your Body Refining Technique?" Wang Hong asked casually after taking a sip of tea.


    "Not yet," Zhang Chunfeng replied.


    When he came out of the secret realm, he had over two hundred thousand contribution points in total. Participating in the Grand Competition earned him two Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Before reaching Foundation Building, he exchanged one Foundation Establishment Pill, leaving him with just over a hundred thousand contribution points.


    He spent eighty thousand points on a primary Cultivation Technique at the Scripture Tower, saving the rest for acquiring a Body Refining Technique.


    After much contemtion at the Scripture Tower, he couldn''t afford the better Cultivation Techniques, so he decided to umte more contribution points and then choose a superior Body Refining Technique.


    "If you''re short on contribution points, I can lend you some. Also, check the Scripture Tower for Disguise Techniques or simr Cultivation Techniques. If avable, exchange and practice them," Wang Hong suggested.


    "Alright, I''ll go look tomorrow. I''ve set my eyes on a Body Refining Technique; I just need a bit over ten thousand contribution points more."


    "Transfer twenty thousand contribution points from me for now. Also, how are the people left in Azure Void City doing in terms of cultivation levels?"


    "He Yuan, without getting a Foundation Establishment Pill when he returned to his family, is still at the Qi Cultivation Grand Completion. Next are the Ma Brothers, who, with a pile of Elixirs, have reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation."


    "How has He Yuan been performingtely?"


    Wang Hong contemted. If He Yuan was useful, he intended to assist him in Foundation Building with a Foundation Establishment Pill. If not, he''d let him go after the ten-year period.


    "This person has an extremely steadfast Dao heart. There haven''t been any outstanding performances or issues. It seems he''s not very concerned about anything other than cultivation."


    Wang Hong felt that such a person couldn''t be a confidant, but he was still useful. The next time he returned to Azure Void City, he nned to have a good talk with him.


    As for the Ma Brothers, they have signed a lifelong Blood Contract. Once they reach the Grand Completion of Qi Cultivation, they can proceed with Foundation Building. However, given their timid nature, don''t expect them to excel inbat.


    Nevertheless, they can assist in Alchemy, and with two Foundation Building cultivators as a deterrent, they can also serve as a show of strength to intimidate others.


    "What about the others?"


    "Skinny Monkey has reached the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation, and the rest are between the Third and Sixth Layers of Body Refining."


    "It''s still a bit slow! Bring back some Elixirs like these next time; you can exchange them with contribution points and Demonic Beast corpses."


    Wang Hong took out a Jade vial from his Storage Bag and handed it over.


    Zhang Chunfeng took the Jade vial and poured out a pill. It was thumb-sized, with a golden hue. He had never seen this type of Elixir before.


    "What kind of Elixir is this?" Zhang Chunfeng asked curiously.


    "Try taking one. It''s a new Elixir I formted by referencing ancient recipes and using some new Medicinal Herbs, as well as the essence blood of Demonic Beasts."


    Zhang Chunfeng was surprised to learn that Wang Hong could formte Elixirs on his own. Alchemists typically followed recipes step by step, making any modifications a significant achievement that required extensive experience and knowledge.


    Unknown to Zhang Chunfeng, Wang Hong had modified Elixir recipes multiple times during his Qi Cultivation period.


    Zhang Chunfeng swallowed the Elixir, and as it released waves of energy in his abdomen, nourishing his muscles and bones, he felt his strength increase by at least a hundred kilograms.


    He had previously consumed the Golden Body Pill, which increased strength by about thirty kilograms per pi highly effective Elixir. However, Wang Hong''s newly researched Elixir proved to be much stronger.


    This Elixir was formted by Wang Hong using nine-leaf golden thread grass of over three hundred years and a small amount of seeds from the demon-hunting tree. After numerous experiments, he managed to create it.


    Originally intended to rece specific auxiliary Elixirs required by the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique," this new Elixir, though beneficial for body refining, fell short of the effects described in the technique. Yet, it was much more potent than taking Nourishing Essence Pills.


    For Wang Hong, this Elixir was considered a work in progress. However, he was content with its current effects and nned to experiment further to refine it gradually.


    Currently, the demon-hunting tree had started yielding results, but its conditions were somewhat unique. It only bore fruit after consuming a sufficient number of Demonic Beasts or humans. Additionally, the efficacy of the seeds varied, seemingly linked to the strength of the consumed Demonic Beasts.


    Realizing this, Wang Hong reced some acres of one-tier Spiritual Herbs with nine-leaf golden thread grass and demon-hunting trees. However, hecked a substantial amount of Demonic Beast flesh and blood. Despite purchasing some in the Sect market, the supply was limited.


    Typically, cultivators, to save Storage Bag space, only took the most valuable parts of Demonic Beasts after killing them in the wild. The rest of the flesh and blood were usually left behind and became food for other Demonic Beasts.


    To address this, Wang Hong sent his subordinates to hunt Demonic Beasts. This not only allowed them to obtain Demonic Beast flesh and blood but also served as a training opportunity, familiarizing them withbat and giving them a chance to earn contribution points, exchange for Elixirs, and enhance their strength.


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 Chapter 130: Acquiring Beast Meat

    Chapter 130: Acquiring Beast Meat


    "In addition, we can secretly acquire the corpses of Demonic Beasts in Azure Void City. Those destitute loose cultivators should be willing to pick up and sell the corpses. As for the purchase price, you can set it yourselves."


    "Alright, we can also hire a Qi Cultivation Disciple to purchase in the Sect market. With tens of thousands of people in the Sect, we should be able to acquire a substantial amount."


    "Sure, you handle this. It would draw too much attention if I, as a Qi Cultivation Disciple, were to purchase arge quantity of Demonic Beast carcasses. Also, be cautious not to attract too much attention. Currently, I have no ns to disclose the form and refining methods of this Elixir."


    Zhang Chunfeng naturally understood what this Elixir meant for body cultivators. Body cultivators were rare because they required a significant amount of rare Spiritual Herbs to progress. Now, using the cheap flesh of some Demonic Beasts, they could refine an Elixir that enhanced cultivation levels. Previously, except for some high-tier Demonic Beasts, most were abandoned in the wilderness.


    If this form were to spread, it could affect the entire Cultivation Worldndscape. It would undoubtedly lead to an increase in body cultivators, who would hunt Demonic Beasts recklessly. Considering the scarcity of Demonic Beasts in the Eastern Cultivation World, they would quickly be depleted.


    "Senior Brother, have you named this Elixir yet?"


    "Oops! I forgot. I haven''t named it yet. This Elixir, with Demonic Beast essence as its main ingredient, might as well be called Essence Elixir. By the way, take one."


    After saying this, Wang Hong handed him a bottle, and Zhang Chunfeng opened it to find only one Elixir inside.


    "Is this the Resplendent Visage Elixir?"


    "Yes, I obtained a few Resplendent Visage Fruits in a secret realm. I kept two, and the other day, with nothing else to do, I refined them into this Elixir."


    Resplendent Visage Elixir was a second-tier Elixir that, when consumed, preserved one''s appearance for a hundred years.


    Zhang Chunfeng put away the Resplendent Visage Elixir. He didn''t find it strange that Wang Hong could refine second-tier Elixirs. In their eyes, Wang Hong was not an ordinary person, which was one of the reasons why they faithfully followed him.


    After Zhang Chunfeng left, Wang Hong headed towards the Heavenly Authority Peak.


    In the Task Hall, Wang Hong casually found a ce to queue up. When it was his turn, he realized he had encountered the female cultivator with the pleasant voice and the big-nosed, small-eyed features fromst time.


    "Senior Brother, long time no see!"


    Seeing Wang Hong, the female cultivator appeared delighted, her slightly chubby face blossoming with a smile like arge peony.


    "Oh! Junior Sister Shui, long time no see." He remembered this fellow disciple''s name was Shui Ruo''er.


    "Senior Brother Wang! Are you posting a mission today, or epting one?"


    He remembered thest time Wang Hong posted a mission - a delivery task with triple the usual reward. This bold move had impressed her. More importantly, he had gifted her a bottle of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, a first in her life to receive such a treasure.


    After bringing it back, he made his sisters envious for several months.


    "I''m going to pick up some Alchemy tasks today."


    He now came every month to collect some Alchemy tasks, earning contribution points to exchange for Jade Scrolls in the Scripture Tower.


    Wang Hong received the book-shaped Magical Weapon from the female cultivator and directly found the Alchemy section. Soon, he selected a task to refine 120 Condensing Qi Pills.


    Refining one hundred and twenty in a month was not a small amount. With an average of four furnaces a day, he could diligentlyplete the task.


    Wang Hong could refine twenty at once,pleting all in a day without affecting his cultivation. Moreover, his Pill Sess Rate when submitting Elixirs was gradually increasing, helping him establish his identity as an Alchemist.


    After reaching Foundation Building, Sect Disciples became the backbone of the Sect, enjoying more benefits but also bearing more responsibilities. Sometimes, the Sect directly assigned dangerous tasks to Foundation Building Disciples, with high rewards but equally high mortality rates.


    As Alchemists were generally not adept atbat, they were not sent on perilous missions. The Sect often assigned Alchemy tasks, which posed no difficulty for him.


    Refining twenty materials in one furnace was effortless for him now. Additionally, excellent Alchemists had the chance to ess more rare Spiritual Herbs, precisely what he needed.


    Those not good at fighting, with low cultivation levels andcking skills like Alchemy, were dispensable in any faction, ideal candidates to be cannon fodder.


    "Senior Brother! Are you sure you want to take so many tasks at once? If you can''tplete them, you''ll be punished."


    She knew that refining four furnaces of Elixirs every day would take up a lot of time and might affect his daily cultivation. Thus, she kindly reminded him.


    "Thanks for your concern, Junior Sister. I need to earn more contribution points recently, and there''s no better way than taking more Alchemy tasks."


    "Oh, Senior Brother is currently short on contribution points? I have some, why not let me transfer them to you?" Saying this, she took out her Sect Token.


    "No, no need! Thanks for your kindness. I''m not in a hurry; I can umte them slowly." Wang Hong quickly declined.


    Seeing Wang Hong refuse, the female cultivator felt a bit disappointed, but she quickly concealed it.


    "Senior Brother Wang, where do you live? If you have anything next time, you can send me a Transmission Talisman directly, and I cane to you."


    She said with a smiling face. Wang Hong casually mentioned his address; after all, it wasn''t a secret.


    After receiving the required Spiritual Herbs for the tasks and leaving the Task Hall, Wang Hong headed towards the Scripture Tower.


    This time, he didn''t go upstairs but started looking for basic books on symbol-making on the first floor.


    Back in Qingxu, he had wanted to learn the art of making symbols, but he was busy with Alchemy then, and time and energy were insufficient.


    Now, having sessfully built his Foundation, his strength increased, and with two hundred years of lifespan, his mindset rxed. No longer did he feel the constant chase, as Qi Cultivation cultivators were considered ants that high-tier cultivators could crush anytime in the Cultivation World.


    With two hundred years of lifespan, he no longer needed to tirelessly travel to earn resources like other cultivators. He now had ample time to slowly learn a new skill, and the hundredfold time dtion in his Space made learning even more favorable.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 131: Symbol Crafting

    Chapter 131: Symbol Crafting


    On the first floor''s bookshelf, there were numerous books rted to symbol crafting. However, these were just the basics. The actual methods for crafting symbols could be found on the second floor.


    The basics of symbol crafting covered a wide range of topics, including materials for symbol papers, the crafting process, and the quality of various symbol papers.


    There were also categories for ink and brushes, containing extensive content.


    In addition to symbol crafting, one also needed to learn various runic inscriptions. This alone was enough for countless individuals to delve into for a lifetime.


    This was because runes formed the foundation of everything in the world, and various techniques in the Cultivation World, including many cultivation techniques, were closely rted to runes.


    Apart from symbol crafting, there was also the refinement of tools. When refining objects, one needed to inscribe runes on them to facilitatemunication between cultivators.


    Runes also formed the basis of formations and prohibitions. When tiny runes werebined, they created a formation or prohibition.


    Even alchemy was rted to runes. Natural formations formed on each Elixir, but Wang Hong hadn''t delved deep into this before.


    Now that Wang Hong had time, he decided to start from the basics, learning foundational knowledge thoroughly. He understood that anything profound was built upon a foundation.


    He first selected ten Jade Scrolls rted to symbol paper materials. He needed to know in advance the various materials required for symbol crafting, so he could nt some Spirit nt materials if needed.


    He also chose ten Jade Scrolls about runic inscriptions. In reality, each Jade Scroll exined only two or three runes.


    However, each rune, though small, was extremelyplex. Coupled with theirbinations and variations, they became exceedingly intricate.


    Having chosen twenty Jade Scrolls, he directly went to copy them. Most of the first-floor Jade Scrolls could be copied for ten to twenty contribution points each. In total, it only cost him a little over two hundred contribution points.


    Returning to his small courtyard with these Jade Scrolls, as soon as he entered the gate, Little Peng rushed towards him, colliding with him.


    This seemingly affectionate collision carried at least the force of several thousand catties. If an ordinary mortal were involved, they would probably be killed by such an impact.


    Although Little Peng was still underage, it often treated Elixirs as candy under Wang Hong''s guidance.


    Including the Golden Body Pill, it had not consumed fewer. The Golden Body Pill could increase strength by thirty catties with each pill.


    Now, Little Peng''s strength had reached at least over ten thousand catties. Wang Hong realized he needed to educate it properly, ensuring it controlled its strength well, or else there could be trouble if it identally killed someone.


    However, Wang Hong was troubled about how to teach it. Although Little Peng had grown a bit, it could only convey simple thoughts. Communicating anything tooplicated was practically impossible.


    Unable to think of a solution for the time being, he decided to ponder over this problem slowly.


    He fed it a Condensing Qi Pill, letting it y on its own.


    Meanwhile, he entered the Cultivation Room, took a Nourishing Essence Pill, and began refining the medicinal power. The Spirit Fire in his dantian grew a bit stronger, making the process of refining Elixirs faster than before.


    Only after refining three Elixirs did he leave the Cultivation Room, brewed a cup of Spirit Tea, and drank it.


    Little Peng walked up to him, pointed to the Spirit Tea on the stone table with a wing, and conveyed a thought to Wang Hong.


    "Wants to drink."


    "Not wine, not tasty!"


    Wang Hong also transmitted a simple thought to it. It struggled toprehend anything moreplex.


    "Wants to drink! Tasty!"


    "Fine, I''ll let you taste it."


    Wang Hong poured a cup of Spirit Tea for Little Peng. After all, this Spirit Tea had no harmful effects, and it drank it down in one gulp, much like it usually did with alcohol.


    After finishing their tea, both Wang Hong and the bird entered their respective spaces. Wang Hong immersed himself in the study of Jade Scrolls, while Little Peng flew around aimlessly.


    Ten dayster, Wang Hongpleted the reading of ten Jade Scrolls about symbol paper materials, gaining a preliminary understanding.


    There were various types of symbol papers for crafting talismans, roughly falling into several major categories.


    One type was made from the fur of Demonic Beasts. After peeling off the fur and undergoing a slight refinement, it became excellent symbol paper. The tier of the symbol paper depended on the tier of the Demonic Beast.


    Another type was bark-based, simr to Demonic Beast fur. They didn''t requireplex processing and could be directly used for talisman inscriptions.


    Then there was the Spirit Herb category, which involved a moreplicated process. It required the proportional preparation and refining of several Spirit Herbs before crafting them into symbol papers.


    Apart from these, there were other lessmon types like Ore, metal, and Spirit Bone, used by fewer people.


    After understanding these, Wang Hong decided to use Spirit Herb and bark-based symbol papers in the future, as it suited his situation.


    He visited the sect''s market again, checking several shops without finding the main herbal materials he needed. Finally, he found a moderately-sized Spiritual Herb shop.


    "Innkeeper, do you have Seven Star Grass seeds here?" Wang Hong asked as soon as he entered. Seven Star Grass was the main material for crafting second-tier symbol papers, but it needed to be at least five hundred years old.


    "We don''t have Seven Star Grass seeds, but our shop has a six-hundred-year-old Seven Star Grass nt. Would Fellow Daoist be interested?" The shopkeeper, an old man with white facial hair, appeared amiable.


    Wang Hong believed that the normal appearance of businessmen was always pleasant because when they smiled at you, they were eyeing the Spirit Stones in your pocket.


    "A six-hundred-year-old Seven Star Grass? Let me take a look first." Wang Hong didn''t immediately agree.


    The shopkeeper brought out a Jade Box and ced it in front of Wang Hong.


    Opening the Jade Box revealed a dry silver-colored little grass about a foot long, with almost no visible roots.


    "Innkeeper, how many years have you had this Spiritual Herb? Its Spiritual Energy is almost depleted."


    "In truth, we obtained this Spiritual Herb from someone else, and it looked like this when we got it. It is said to havee from an ancient cultivator''s cave mansion."


    The white-haired old man exined a bit awkwardly.


    Wang Hong examined it carefully and found that it still retained some vitality. If nted in the Space, it should be able to revive.


    "Give me a price. If it''s not too expensive, I''ll buy it. After all, this Spirit Herb is already like this, and I''m not sure if it will be useful."


    The old man extended his right hand and gestured with an eight-shaped motion.


    "Eighty Spirit Stones? I think that''s a bit expensive. How about a bit less? Look..."


    Wang Hong''s words were interrupted by the old man.


    "I said eight hundred Spirit Stones!"


    "Eight hundred! I''ll give you at most fifty less. This is a six-hundred-year-old Spirit Herb. If it weren''t for the significant loss of Spirit Qi, you might not even get it for two thousand Spirit Stones."


    Wang Hong thought for a moment and nodded in agreement. He often bought and sold Spiritual Herbs, understanding the market. The price wasn''t high; he had only tried bargaining for the sake of bargaining.


    After buying the Seven Star Grass, he also purchased several auxiliary herbs. Combined with the Spirit Herbs he had collected in the Space, he now had all the ingredients to create second-tier symbol papers.


    The only thing missing was a suitable Spirit Tree to craft the symbol papers, and he hadn''t even found a single branch yet.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 132: Rune

    Chapter 132: Rune


    Unable to find a suitable Spirit Tree, Wang Hong could only continue his search in the future.


    Anyway, all of this was preparation for the future refinement of second-tier runes. Currently, he needed to start practicing from the lowest-tier inferior runes.


    Inferior runes of the first tier were readily avable everywhere, but he still bought some Chen Guang Grass seeds and nted them in the Space.


    Chen Guang Grass was a first-tier Spirit Herb, and a ten-year-old Chen Guang Grass could be refined into inferior first-tier runes.


    Thirty-year-old ones could be used to craft medium-grade first-tier runes, and eighty-year-old ones could refine superior first-tier runes.


    They would wither after reaching ny, as living beyond a hundred years was impossible anyway.


    Suddenly, Wang Hong wondered about a problem: Would Chen Guang Grass wither in the Space? Well, currently, there hadn''t been any discovery of a withered nt.


    Even the Rice Grains and Wheat he nted in the Space were different. Normally, the nts would wither after the seeds matured, but in his Space, new seedlings would sprout from the roots every time he harvested the aboveground parts.


    After two mutations, the current Rice Grains and Wheat nts no longer resembled their original forms. They had grown into towering trees over ten feet tall, producing bunches of grain spikes on various branches. Harvesting only required cutting off the grain spikes, and new ones would grow on the tree.


    Wang Hong had no idea how Chen Guang Grass would look after reaching over a hundred years, as such a thing had never appeared in the Cultivation World.


    After nting the seemingly withered Seven Star Grass, he began learning runes.


    Ancient cultivators observed the heavens, surveyed geography, examined the patterns of birds and beasts, and then created runes.


    There were many naturally urring runes in the world, growing on high-tier Spiritual Objects or high-tier Demonic Beasts. The initial runes were all imitations of these natural runes.


    After millions of years of study and umtion in the Cultivation World, from initial imitation toter creating new runes, a new runic system gradually formed.


    Anyone wanting to learn runes had to start with the Yin and Yang runes, the fundamental principles of all runes in the world.


    Theposition and changes of all things in the world were closely rted to runes, and the Yin and Yang runes were the foundation of all runes.


    Although the Yin and Yang runes were the simplest, they epassed the ultimate principles of the heavens and earth. Arranging the two runes in different ways would create new runes with different functions.


    Wang Hong naturally had to start honestly with the Yin and Yang runes, but though they seemed simple, they were actually quiteplex and challenging to learn.


    Little did he know that most beginners just needed to follow a pattern, and sessy in being able to draw them.


    No one delved into them deeply from the beginning. If one were to explore thoroughly, even with a lifetime, it might not be possible to fully understand these two runes.


    He had suffered from ack of guidance and, coupled with his insistence on mastering the basics, he had veered further onto an incorrect path.


    While Wang Hong diligently studied runes, at Qingxu Mountain Range, Elder Brother flew rapidly, wielding arge Spiritual Weapon.


    There was a fist-sized hole in his abdomen, and his intestines were severed into several pieces, blood gushing out steadily.


    Behind him, a Foundation Building cultivator in ck robes, controlling a Spiritual Weapon, chased closely.


    Just a moment ago, on the way back from Azure Void City, just two hours away from the Sect, Elder Brother rxed.


    On a hillside below, two ck lights shot out from the crown of a tree, silent but incredibly fast.


    In the midst of the rush, Elder Brother managed to block one of the attacks aimed at his chest, but the other ck light pierced through his abdomen.


    Elder Brother was already injured, and his opponent was at the third level of Foundation Building, two levels higher than him.


    Since they were not far from the Sect, Elder Brother naturally tried to escape in the direction of the Sect.


    While fleeing, Elder Brother also sent out a Transmission Talisman to the Sect, hoping to receive rescue.


    At this moment, someone in a purple robe from Qingxu Sect flew towards him.


    "Senior Brother Wu, don''t panic. I''ll save you!"


    "Thank you, Junior Brother. Just help me block for a moment."


    Overjoyed, Elder Brother flew towards the fellow disciple while simultaneously sending out another Transmission Talisman.


    "Thank you for the rescue. Please help me dy for a moment. I''ll deal with the wound first. Shortly, we''ll join forces to fight him, and other fellow disciples should arrive soon."


    Elder Brother stood by the newly arrived Foundation Building cultivator, hurriedly taking out an Elixir and consuming it.


    The Foundation Building cultivator raised a shield in front and drew a spike-like Spiritual Weapon. The corner of his mouth subtly curled upward.


    Instead of summoning the Spiritual Weapon, the cultivator held it in his hand, infusing it with Spiritual Power. The spike gradually emitted a dazzling light.


    Then, the cultivator wielding the Spiritual Weapon thrust it towards Elder Brother. This unexpected attack caught Elder Brother off guard.


    Seeing the spike about to pierce Elder Brother''s chest, just a few inches away, defense came toote.


    An opening in the abdomen, with severed intestines, wasn''t too severe for a Foundation Building cultivator. With a few days of rest, he could recover.


    However, if there was another opening in the chest, the organs in the chest cavity were much more crucial than the intestines in the abdomen. Any injury to them, even if not fatal on the spot, would render him powerless and await inevitable death.


    At that critical moment, a white light shed, and the head of the Foundation Building cultivator soared high.


    Until his death, he never understood how his w was discovered.


    Their n was perfect; they deliberately ambushed in this location, close to their Sect. They were sure the opponent''s focus would rx somewhat, given the proximity, but with enough distance to prevent an easy escape back to the Sect.


    They had the higher cultivation level among the twounch the sudden attack. Ideally, a single strike would be fatal.


    If not, being close to Qingxu Sect meant the opponent would likely try to escape towards the Sect, providing an opportunity to intercept.


    The initial n was to pretend to be fellow disciples, silently aiming for a deadly blow. After all, choosing this location was best for a swift and decisive strike.


    However, the w was exposed when Elder Brother was addressed as "Senior Brother Wu."


    Because in Qingxu Sect, the previous batch of Foundation Building disciples, due to Elder Brother being the first to sessfully achieve Foundation Building at Kaiyang Peak, disciplester attaining Foundation Building continued calling him Elder Brother. Disciples from other peaks also adopted this convention.


    Wang Hong initially addressed him as Senior Brother Wu a few times butter found Elder Brother more fitting and switched.


    Before, Elder Brother sensed something amiss, secretly reinforcing his guard, but refrained fromunching a sneak attack. What if he guessed wrong and killed a true fellow disciple?


    While sending the Transmission Talisman, Elder Brother discreetly concealed a high-tier second-grade Talisman rewarded by the Kaiyang Peak''s master in his sleeve. It was in a semi-activated state, ready to be used for an offensive strike against the enemy.


    After dealing with one enemy, he turned around and continued to flee.


    Though he managed to slightly tend to his injuries with the Foundation Building cultivator''s distraction, dying time in the vicinity of Qingxu Sect was advantageous for him.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 133: Blue Beauty Grass

    Chapter 133: Blue Beauty Grass


    The ck-robed Foundation Building cultivator, witnessing hispanion fall in battle, hastened to pursue Elder Brother. Simultaneously, he produced arge ck bow, slowly drawing it.


    Upon the ck bow, Spiritual Energy converged, shaping into two ck arrows.


    With a release of the bowstring, the two ck arrows swiftly shot toward Elder Brother.


    Elder Brother, fleeing all along, maintained awareness of his surroundings through Divine Sense. Upon seeing the ck Spiritual Energy arrows approaching, he hastily summoned a shield that rapidly expanded, reaching nine feet in size.


    "Bang, bang!" The arrows were blocked by the shield.


    Ignoring the assant, Elder Brother continued to escape. Gradually, he noticed the absence of pursuit and the silence behind him. His Divine Sense detected no trace of the pursuing cultivator.


    Coming to a halt, he scrutinized his surroundings. The Foundation Building cultivator had vanished without a trace.


    After a moment, two purple-robed Daoists arrived together.


    "Wu Junior Brother, did you seek help from the sect just now? Did you encounter any danger?" The two cultivators, upon seeing Elder Brother, were puzzled. There were no signs of a battle here, and no outsiders were in sight.


    "Senior Qi! Senior Lu! I indeed sought help from the sect just now. On my way back, I encountered two Foundation Building cultivators who attacked me. I killed one of them, and the other was chasing me just now."


    Elder Brother exined while scanning the surroundings, finding nothing.


    "I killed one just now. Let me show you."


    Elder Brother led the two back to where he had in one of the cultivators, but the body had disappeared.


    As if the two cultivators had never been there, Elder Brother, feeling helpless, returned to the sect with the two, nursing his injuries.


    After they left, the pile of rotten leaves on the ground stirred, and a figure slowly stood up.


    It was the ck-d person who had pursued Elder Brother. Draped in a cloak with a hood, it had the peculiar ability to block Divine Sense and change color and shape to blend with the surroundings.


    The ck-d person silently departed.


    In a secret chamber within Azure Void City, a middle-aged man sat at the upper seat. After a while, the ck-d person who had failed to assassinate Elder Brother entered.


    "Reporting to Manager Xing, Si Ling Liu (Code number 406) and Si Er Wu (Code number 425) failed in their mission, and Si Er Wu (Code number 425) is dead."


    "Is Si Er Wu (Code number 425) dead?"


    "Yes."


    As they discussed Si Er Wu''s death, there was no emotional fluctuation, as if it were an insignificant matter.


    "Do you know how much the organization spent to lure Target Number 106 out of the sect for this assassination? And after failing to assassinate Target Number 107st time, Target Number 107 has stayed inside the sect ever since. Now, with Target Number 106 alerted, if it follows the path of Target Number 107, what will happen? Your mission failed; go to the Prison and receive your punishment."


    Si Ling Liu (Code number 406) trembled at the prospect of going to the Prison, anticipating something terrifying.


    When Wang Hong emerged from the Cultivation Room, he received a message from Zhang Chunfeng about Elder Brother being attacked and returning injured.


    Upon hearing this news, Wang Hong decided to visit and gather information.


    Elder Brother, now in Foundation Building, had been reassigned to a cave mansion with a residence and spirit fields spanning fifty acres. He had also enlisted several Qi Cultivation Disciples to manage the spirit fields.


    This was Wang Hong''s first visit to Elder Brother''s residence after reaching Foundation Building. At a nce, Elder Brother''s dozens of acres of spirit fields were nted with Essence Nurturing Grass and other second-tier Spirit Herbs.


    Essence Nurturing Grass takes over 150 years to mature for medicinal use. The nts before you seem to be newly purchased seedlings, only about two or three decades old.


    Just with these seedlings, they already hold significant value. If allowed to mature, it would be a massive fortune. However, reaching maturity would require at least another hundred years, with a considerable amount of energy and manpower needed for care. Yet, the lifespan of a Foundation Building cultivator is only two hundred years.


    "Elder Brother! How''s your injury?"


    In the living room, Elder Brother and Wang Hong met. Elder Brother''splexion was a bit pale.


    "No trouble, Junior Brother. I''ll recover in a few days." Elder Brother said, waving his fist to show he was unharmed.


    "Do you know who did this?"


    "Perhaps it was the work of Shadow Kill. Although I killed one person, I was in a hurry to escape and didn''t check the body."


    Elder Brother then recounted the sequence of events.


    "Ah! I hadn''t nned on going out recently. Senior Brother Hong invited me to Azure Void City a few days ago for a trade fair among Foundation Building cultivators. It was said that items enhancing the sea of dantian would appear."


    Expanding and erging the dantian sea for cultivators was not easy, even more challenging than advancing in realms. One way was through natural growth: at Foundation Building, the dantian sea was about a foot in size, expanding with each tier until reaching a yard in size at Foundation Building Grand Completion.


    The second method involved specific cultivation techniques, and the third, rare Spiritual Objects, which were hard toe by.


    "Did those items actually appear?"


    Wang Hong was now intrigued. Despite having many second-tier Spiritual Herbs in his Space, none could erge the dantian sea.


    "They did indeed. It''s a Blue Beauty Grass, but it came at a hefty price."


    Elder Brother didn''t hide anything from Wang Hong, partly due to their long association, knowing each other''s character. Also, he nned to take the Blue Beauty Grass after his injuries slightly improved. Committing robbery and murder within the sect was not advisable, with several Golden Core real individuals on each peak.


    "Can I exchange for a small branch or root? Just a tiny bit would do. You know, I enjoy Alchemy, and I''ve been researching medicinal propertiestely."


    "No problem at all, it''s a trivial matter. But Junior Brother, you should elevate your cultivation level as soon as possible. Don''t spend too much time on Alchemy."


    Elder Brother took out a jade box from his Storage Bag. It was over a foot long, covered with several prohibition Talismans.


    Carefully opening the jade box revealed a nt about a foot long, entirely blue, with five branches. Blue Beauty Grass grows a branch every hundred years, and this one should be around five hundred years old, truly a rare item.


    Elder Brother directly plucked a piece from the top and handed it to Wang Hong.


    "It''s a gift for you."


    "I can''t ept this! Such a rare item, how can I take it? I have something slightlyckluster here; let me exchange it with Elder Brother."


    Wang Hong took out a flowerpot from his Spirit Beast bag, containing a translucent Jade Marrow Mushroom sapling.


    Cultivators often nted precious Spirit nts, but fearing idents, they usually carried them. Since Storage Bagscked Spirit Qi and couldn''t support growth, some cultivators devised a method. They nted Spirit nts in flowerpots, then put them in Spirit Beast bags. Since Spirit Beasts could survive and grow inside, Spirit nts could as well.


    However, Spirit Beast bags were expensive, and Spaces were not particrlyrge, so only a small amount could be cultivated.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 134: Foundation Pill

    Chapter 134: Foundation Pill


    Wang Hong took out a sprout of Jade Marrow Mushroom for exchange, but Elder Brother initially declined. It was only after Wang Hong''s persistent insistence that Elder Brother reluctantly epted.


    The Jade Marrow Mushroom, a sacred healing herb, takes hundreds of years to grow before it can be used. This sprout, in particr, seemed somewhatckluster.


    There was a significant chance that if Elder Brother nted this Spiritual Herb, by the time his lifespan ran out, the herb might not have matured yet.


    Nevertheless, even if it seemed somewhatckluster, as a sprout of a sacred healing herb, it was tradable, and many people were willing to have it.


    Elder Brother, originating from a Cultivation n and a direct blood rtive of the Kaiyang Peak Master, could exchange this sprout with the n for a decent reward.


    "Elder Brother, if we don''t have anything important in the future, let''s just stay in the Sect for cultivation. As long as we don''t leave the Sect, Shadow Kill wouldn''t dare to do anything to us. I''ve been invited by several fellow disciples to go out, but I didn''t dare to venture outside," Wang Hong suggested.


    Upon hearing this, a gleam of understanding shed in Elder Brother''s eyes. It seemed he had grasped some key points. Surviving until Foundation Building wasn''t a feat achievable by fools.


    "Thanks for the reminder, Junior Brother!"


    After some more casual conversation, Wang Hong left Elder Brother''s cave mansion.


    Even though Elder Brother had reached Foundation Building, he still interacted with Wang Hong as equals. Despite Wang Hong being only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, Elder Brother didn''t look down on him. He was one of the few friends Wang Hong had in the Qingxu Sect.


    Back home, Wang Hong nted the branches of Blue Beauty Grass. It would take hundreds of years for them to mature fully.


    Blue Beauty Grass could be directly consumed, or it could be refined into a Foundation Pill for better effects. The refinement process required dozens of second-tier Spiritual Herbs, most of which Wang Hong already had in his space. However, he stillcked three types of Spiritual Herbs.


    He would have to find them slowly in the future. If he couldn''t find them, he could resort to direct consumption, even though the effects would be slightly inferior. Quantity couldpensate for quality.


    Earlier, Elder Brother had asked Wang Hong about the Spiritual Herbs needed for refining the Foundation Pill. Since Elder Brother couldn''t find them immediately, he chose to consume them directly.


    After nting the Blue Beauty Grass, Wang Hong continued his study and contemtion of the Yin and Yang runes in his space.


    Time passed quickly, and without realizing it, almost a month had gone by.


    One day, Wang Hong was outside with Little Peng, having a simple meal. On the stone table were several Green Onion Pancakes, a bottle of Spirit Wine, and a few second-tier spirit fruits.


    The Pr Small Cold Onion he cultivated was only a few decades old, merely two inches long, but it had a unique taste of its own.


    He heated Three Yang Melon Seeds oil and poured it onto the onion flowers. With a sizzle, a burst of fragrance filled the air.


    Using Spatial Produce''s Spirit Wheat ground into flour, he partially cooked it, brushed it with green onion oil, then rolled it into pancakes, pan-frying until both sides were slightly golden.


    The resulting Green Onion Pancakes were crispy, soft, and stic, emitting a delightful aroma.


    Now, every meal of Spirit Rice or Spirit Wheat, which had undergone a second mutation, could increase a few drops of liquid Spiritual Power in his dantian''s sea. The effect was almost equivalent to that of a Nourishing Essence Pill.


    He could now consume three Nourishing Essence Pills daily, with one being absorbed by the small mes in his dantian''s sea.


    By absorbing two Nourishing Essence Pills himself and having two Spirit Meals each day, it was equivalent to taking two Nourishing Essence Pills.


    Calcting, he was gaining spiritual power equivalent to four Nourishing Essence Pills every day. This speed was significantly faster than other Foundation Building cultivators.


    Typically, obtaining the materials for one furnace of Nourishing Essence Pills would take at least half a year for a Foundation Building cultivator. Even if they managed to refine it into an elixir, some would be deducted, and the few elixirs obtained would be treasured like precious items, saved for special asions.


    For cultivators like Wang Hong, who consumed Nourishing Essence Pills daily, such elixirs were a regr part of his diet.


    Hence, Foundation Building cultivators usually spent their daily routine meditating, absorbing the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth. This was the norm.


    This exined why many cultivators liked to consume fasting pills. It allowed them to save time on meals and dedicate it to cultivation, absorbing the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth.


    Due to his poor aptitude, Wang Hong rarely meditated to absorb the spiritual Qi of heaven and earth. Instead, he preferred to spend that time and energy preparing a Spirit Meal, which not only tasted good but also enhanced his cultivation level.


    Wang Hong felt slightly full only after eating thirty Green Onion Pancakes, while Little Peng, taking advantage of its status as a demonic beast, swallowed them effortlessly.


    "You, as a bird without teeth, eating by swallowing a pancake, can you even taste its vor? Why eat with such gusto?" Wang Hong teased Little Peng while munching on the pancakes.


    During this period in the space, almost ten years had passed. Little Peng''s size had increased, with a wingspan now exceeding six feet.


    It could now carry Wang Hong in flight, though it effortlessly hunched under his weight. However, Wang Hong had ridden it only once in the sect, garnering sympathetic nces from others. Riding such a small bird made it seem like he was mistreating a spirit pet.


    Little Peng''s intelligence had also improved significantly. It could now barely understand Wang Hong''s words. At this moment, it felt a bit wronged. Did it mean it couldn''t eat without teeth? Tasting the vor used the tongue, not teeth.


    It vented all its grievances on the Green Onion Pancakes, which, in Wang Hong''s eyes, made its eating even more enjoyable.


    Just then, a Message Transmission symbol flew in. Wang Hong caught it, and a melodious female voice echoed from within.


    He walked to the courtyard gate, opened it, and found Shui Ruo''er from the Task Hall standing there.


    "Sister Shui, why are you here?"


    Shui Ruo''er wore a loose ck daoist robe, perfectly concealing her slightly plump figure. A ck veil covered her not-so-pretty face, giving her a vague and misty beauty.


    This finally confirmed Wang Hong''s suspicion. Many female cultivators liked to wear veils to hide their faces, probably because they weren''t particrly attractive.


    "Senior Wang, I remember you took on a hundred and twenty Alchemy tasks, and they''re due tomorrow. I was afraid you might forget, so I happened to pass by and thought to remind you," Shui Ruo''er said, her face growing redder, her voice lower. She even considered turning and running away.


    This time, she had prepared for a long time, mustering the courage toe and find Wang Hong. Even the words she spoke now had been rehearsed countless times.


    From childhood to now, no male cultivator had ever actively shown interest in her. The first time a male cultivator gave her Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, it stirred her heart.


    After returning, analyzing the situation with her sisters, they were convinced that this male cultivator was interested in her and was generous with his gifts. They urged her to seize the opportunity.


    Initially happy, as time passed without seeing him again, disappointment set in. Paradoxically, her longing grew, creating a unique emotion within her.


    "Ah, I almost forgot. Thanks for reminding me, Sister Shui. By the way, have you eaten? How about we have a meal together?" This time, Wang Hong had genuinely forgotten about the tasks as he waspletely absorbed in his rune studies.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 135: Worth It

    Chapter 135: Worth It


    Shui Ruo''er felt her heart race like a startled deer upon hearing Wang Hong''s invitation to have a meal together, but she forced herself to remain calm.


    "I haven''t eaten for a day as well," she replied.


    After saying this, she felt it might sound too forward. Standing at the doorway, she hesitated whether to enter or not. Eventually, she followed Wang Hong into his courtyard.


    Little Peng was still venting its grievances against a pile of Green Onion Pancakes on a stone table.


    Wang Hong shooed it away to eat on its own. He couldn''t let a guest dine with a bird, after all.


    Wang Hong moved all the food from the stone table to Little Peng''s spot.


    He then went back to the kitchen, fetched a te of steaming Green Onion Pancakes, and arranged them on the stone table.


    "It''s a bit simple. Shui junior sister, please don''t mind. Would you like Spirit Wine, tea, or spirit fruit juice?" Wang Hong asked.


    Shui Ruo''er thought for a moment and said, "If it''s not too much trouble, I''d like to have spirit fruit juice."


    Wang Hong went into the kitchen, took out several juicy red spirit fruits, and a fragrant green one with a slightly sour taste. He skillfully peeled and seeded them, enveloped them in Spiritual Power, squeezed out the juice, and then mixed in some Spirit Honey.


    While Wang Hong asionally experimented with juices when studying food, he preferred alcohol and tea.


    He poured the juice into a ss made of colored ss and ced it in front of Shui Ruo''er.


    Pretending to be reserved, Shui Ruo''er took a small sip of the spirit fruit juice. The taste wasplex, with a predominant sweetness, apanied by a hint of sourness and a touch of bitterness, creating a harmonious blend that elevated the overall vor.


    As a food enthusiast, she couldn''t resist the aroma of the Green Onion Pancakes. She had already secretly swallowed saliva several times, tempted to snatch a bite like a hungry bird.


    Picking up a Green Onion Pancake, she took a hearty bite. So delicious! Another hearty bite...


    As for her initial purpose, who cared? She''d deal with that after satisfying her appetite.


    Wang Hong apanied Shui Ruo''er in eating a pancake, noticing her joyful expression.


    He said, "Junior sister, enjoy your meal here. I have an Alchemy task to finish; I''ll go brew some elixirs."


    "Sure, go ahead. Don''t worry about me!" Shui Ruo''er, with a Green Onion Pancake in hand, focused on the table full of treats, not bothering to lift her head.


    "Alright, I''ll take my leave then."


    Wang Hong took out more spirit fruits, Three Yang Melon Seeds, and other snacks, cing them on the stone table for Shui Ruo''er to pass the time.


    He then entered the Alchemy room. He used to make a furnace of elixirs every day, buttely, his fascination with runes made him forget about it.


    Now, with a 70% Pill Sess Rate, he needed over 800 elixirs for his task of a hundred and twenty.


    Checking his Storage Bag, he found around four hundred Condensing Qi Pills. He needed over four hundred more.


    Taking out twenty Spiritual Herbs, he began the Alchemy process.


    After crafting three furnaces of elixirs, he obtained five hundred elixirs.


    However, he noticed a problemthere were too many mid-grade elixirs in his refined batch, with a few high-grade ones.


    As an Alchemist, Wang Hong had never seen high-grade elixirs before; they were legendary. High-grade elixirs had stronger effects and fewer impurities, making them highly sought after.


    Exiting the Alchemy room, he found Shui Ruo''er ying happily with Little Peng.


    And in just a few short hours, Shui Ruo''er unexpectedly advanced to the ninthyer of Qi Cultivation from the eighthyer.


    Wang Hong spected that it might be because of the Spirit Meal he prepared. After all, as a Foundation Building cultivator, consuming a meal could add a few drops of liquid Spiritual Power to the sea of dantian.


    Shui Ruo''er realized that she might have damaged her own image earlier and felt a bit embarrassed.


    "Wang Senior Brother, has the Elixir Refinement finished? If not, I have over ten Condensing Qi Pills here. You can use them to make up the numbers."


    "Thanks for your kindness, Shui junior sister. The refinement is already done."


    Saying this, Wang Hong handed a Storage Bag to Shui Ruo''er, containing over eight hundred Condensing Qi Pills.


    After checking the quantity, Shui Ruo''er found no reason to stay longer and bid farewell to Wang Hong.


    "Wang Senior Brother, I''ll help you submit the task. If you need anything, feel free to send me a message!"


    As Shui Ruo''er walked out of the courtyard, she once again put on her veil, obscuring her face.


    At that moment, Elder Brother approached from a distance and witnessed the scene.


    After Shui Ruo''er left, he approached Wang Hong with a teasing expression.


    "Junior Brother Wang, you''re doing well! It''s only been a few days, and you''re already on a date with a female cultivator. Judging by her voice, she must be an unparalleled beauty!"


    "Elder Brother, didn''t you see it clearly?"


    Wang Hong felt that Shui Ruo''er indeed had a pleasant voice, but terms like unparalleled beauty didn''t quite fit.


    "My discerning eyes can''t be wrong. Are you saying she''s a bit on the chubby side? Don''t you think it''s more cost-effective this way?"


    "What does that have to do with being cost-effective?" Wang Hong asked, puzzled.


    "Of course, it matters! Look! When finding a Dao Companion, others'' Dao Companions weigh only a hundred catties. But your Dao Companion weighs two hundred catties. Isn''t that like gaining an extra hundred catties? It''s like finding two Dao Companions at once. Isn''t it cost-effective?"


    Wang Hong thought about it and found some logic in it. Apparently, being a bit chubby was cost-effective.


    "Junior Brother Wang, what do you think? Are you smitten?"


    "I don''t have such thoughts now. Until the Dao is achieved, how can one think of settling down?" Wang Hong said with determination.


    "Alright, I''ll give you credit for having aspirations, or should I say, pretending to have them."


    "Elder Brother, let''s go inside."


    Wang Hong invited Elder Brother into the house.


    Entering the courtyard, Elder Brother grabbed a Green Onion Pancake from the stone table and stuffed it into his mouth.


    "Delicious! Junior Brother Wang, you make the best Spirit Meal among all the Alchemists."


    "You''re too kind, Elder Brother. It''s just that I used to be afraid of hunger as a child. Every time I saw a Demonic Beast, my first thought was whether it could be eaten and how to cook it."


    "Hahaha! Junior Brother Wang is quite simr to an elder in our sect. His Lifebound Magical Treasure is arge ck pot. No one has seen him use it for battles, but he''s often spotted using it to cook meat and vegetables."


    "That elder once secretly killed a Spirit Beast nurtured by the Beast Spirit Sect for hundreds of years to eat its meat. He was chased by a thousand-year-old monkey for a month, all for stealing Spirit Wine."


    Upon hearing this, Wang Hong thought of Sloppy Old Daoist.


    "Oh! Is the senior Brother mentioned by Elder Brother the one who looks unkempt?" Wang Hong asked.


    "Yes, Junior Brother, have you met him?"


    "I have indeed seen him a few times. Honestly, Elder Brother, the Five Elements Formation in my courtyard was modified by that senior."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 136: Shadow Kills Hideout

    Chapter 136: Shadow Kills Hideout


    "No wonder, even though I''ve reached Foundation Building, I''ve always felt trapped by this formation," Elder Brother said, looking enlightened.


    "Speaking of which, this senior is from the same hometown as you, hailing from the literary elite of Chu State. In his youth, he was as outstanding and handsome as the Exiled Immortal, drawing admiration from countless female cultivators.


    With exceptional talent, he reached the Golden Core realm in just a hundred years, making him the most promising candidate within the sect to advance to the Nascent Soul tier. He once called himself Chu Madman.


    However, after a certain incident, he ended up in the state you see him now."


    Elder Brother also had senior figures in his family who had reached the Golden Core stage, so he was somewhat aware of internal secrets.


    "Oh? I wonder what incident could cause such a drastic change in a Golden Core cultivator?" Wang Hong asked, intrigued. The senior in question disyed none of his former charisma.


    "I don''t know the details. I''ve only heard our family elders mention it asionally, sighing each time."


    Life for cultivators is often filled with challenges, and not everyone can navigate it smoothly. Some fall in the face of adversity, bing stepping stones for others.


    Yet, a few manage to ovee setbacks, facing each challenge head-on, ultimately paving their way to greatness.


    After munching on several green onion pancakes, wiping his mouth, and taking a sip of wine, Elder Brother continued, "By the way, I''ve found a hideout of Shadow Kill. I''ve invited some fellow sect members to join me in wiping them out. Do you want toe and vent some frustration with us?"


    "Where is it?" Wang Hong didn''t expect Elder Brother to act so quickly.


    "It''s right in the middle of Azure Void City. Since it''s in our Qingxu Sect''s territory, we should deal with it properly. If they dare to attack members of our sect, the sect won''t turn a blind eye. Mobilizing the sect''s power to locate and deal with them in Azure Void City won''t be too difficult."


    He didn''t mention that it was his grandfather, the Kaiyang Peak master, who gave the order. Only with such influence could they progress so rapidly. Without this background, a neer like him, who had just entered Foundation Building, might have waited a year or more to find them.


    "Azure Void City prohibits battles, right? How do we siege them?" Wang Hong knew Azure Void City was strict about this rule, even for Foundation Building cultivators.


    Because of this, it was a safe haven, attracting many low-tier cultivators to settle there.


    "If you don''t know, Junior Brother, Azure Void City''s lord is one of our sect''s elders. Do you think we need to fear anything in the city?


    The information this time came directly from the city lord''s mansion, and City Guard will dispatch a team to assist us."


    Wang Hong, who had only known that Azure Void City was within the sect''s influence, now realized that Azure Void City was akin to their backyard.


    "In fact, all major sects have built such a city. It attracts attention, recruits talent, amodates the rtives of sect cultivators, and manages some peripheral affiliated forces."


    More importantly, managing a city properly yields enormous profits, serving as a crucial source of ie for the sect. I''ve heard that the six major sects gather cultivators and build cities for an even more important purpose, though I''m not sure what it is."


    Seeing that Wang Hong wasn''t well-versed in sect affairs, Elder Brother decided to share what he knew.


    "With such arge city, who knows how many spirit stones and spiritual objects are collected each year?


    Moreover, Shadow Kill is practically living under our Qingxu Sect''s nose, not staying put and daring to cause trouble. Elder Brother, when are you nning to go?"


    Wang Hong thought about it and felt it might be interesting to join Elder Brother''s group. However, he intended to only reveal his Qi Cultivation stage strength. This time, he would only be dealing with one of their hideouts. Given Shadow Kill''s good reputation in business, they would likely send someone to assassinate him in the future. For example, in their encounter with Elder Brother, they dispatched two Foundation Building cultivators for an ambush.


    Since Elder Brother had gathered so many people, there was probably no need for a Qi Cultivation stage cultivator like him to go all out. He could just stand aside and watch the battle from a safe distance. Besides, he could take the opportunity to meet with the people under him in Azure Void City, as many matters required his personal attention.


    "No time to waste. Make some preparations today; we''ll set out tomorrow."


    "Alright! I''ll join in tomorrow to see what''s going on, as long as Elder Brother doesn''t mind me tagging along."


    "Tomorrow, you just stand back and watch. Avoid getting identally injured in a sh with Foundation Building cultivators. I''ll go invite Junior Brother Zhang as well."


    The mentioned Junior Brother was naturally Zhang Chunfeng. They had fought together in a secret realm, and their rtionship was good. After giving a few more instructions, Elder Brother left.


    After a while, Wang Hong received a Transmission Talisman from Zhang Chunfeng, exining that he also nned to participate in the siege against Shadow Kill.


    Ever since the first encounter when Shadow Kill ambushed Wang Hong, Zhang Chunfeng had wanted to eliminate them. The next day, Wang Hong arrived early at Elder Brother''s cave mansion.


    Elder Brother stood at the entrance, weing Wang Hong into the living room. "Junior Brother Wang, you''re here quite early!"


    After arranging for Wang Hong to sit in the living room, Elder Brother went to greet someone who was already seated. Wang Hong knew this person  Liu Jihu. They had entered the secret realm together as part of the same group of disciples. Liu Jihu seemed to have obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill after exiting the secret realm and had now reached the Foundation Building cultivation level.


    Once Elder Brother had Wang Hong settled, he went to wee Liu Jihu.


    Liu Jihu picked up the tea on the table and drank it sip by sip, not intending to talk to Wang Hong. With a major cultivation realm difference, Wang Hong''s uncertain path to Foundation Building, and their different circles, they were no longer on the same level.


    Liu Jihu didn''t understand why Elder Brother would bring along a burden like a Qi Cultivation stage cultivator. However, in front of Wang Hong, he still felt a sense of superiority, considering their past acquaintance. People often tended to show off when they prospered, especially in front of those who had fallen.


    After drinking three cups of tea and noticing that Wang Hong hadn''t initiated a conversation with him, Liu Jihu thought to himself. "Wang Hong had his glorious moments too. I even visited him with gifts back then. Why is he so oblivious? In front of a Foundation Building expert, shouldn''t he take the initiative to chat and build rapport? That way, I could feel even more superior."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 137: Siege

    Chapter 137: Siege


    "Junior Brother Wang! I heard that you''ve been diligently studying the path of Alchemytely, making rapid progress?" Liu Jihu couldn''t resist, taking the lead in starting the conversation.


    "That''s right. I''ve been fascinated by the path of Alchemy recently and gained a little insight. It''s nothing worth mentioning in front of Foundation Building cultivators," Wang Hong modestly replied.


    "It''s true. Even as a first-tier Alchemist at most in Qi Cultivation, it''s better to focus on cultivation. Hurry up and reach Foundation Building. Only then will you truly understand the difference between Qi Cultivation and Foundation Building," Liu Jihu advised, unaware that Wang Hong was already a second-tier Alchemist and had achieved Foundation Building earlier than him.


    Liu Jihu found it satisfying to asionally guide junior cultivators in Qi Cultivation after bing a Foundation Building cultivator.


    "Thanks for the guidance, Senior Brother Liu. I''ll strive to achieve Foundation Building soon," Wang Hong replied, feeling a bit frustrated for having to downy his cultivation level and express gratitude to peers of the same tier.


    "Ah, Foundation Building is indeed challenging! This time, hundreds obtained the Building Foundation Pills, but only a little over a hundred actually achieved Foundation Building in the end," Liu Jihu said with a sigh, pretending to be regretful but filled with pride.


    While saying these words, Liu Jihu asionally disyed a look that seemed to say, "See, Foundation Building is so difficult, but I sessfully achieved it!"


    At that moment, Elder Brother brought in two more Foundation Building cultivators: a mid-stage female cultivator and ate-stage male cultivator.


    Liu Jihu and Wang Hong quickly stood up and saluted. Thete-stage male cultivator, Lu Fang, the main disciple of Kaiyang Peak, weed them with a smile.


    "Junior brothers, no need to be polite. Please, have a seat."


    Lu Fang, with a radiant face, efficiently managed the daily affairs of Kaiyang Peak. Elder Brother found them a ce to sit and left.


    Gradually, more people arrived, and after a while, Zhang Chunfeng entered.


    After exchanging greetings with everyone, he walked straight to Wang Hong and sat beside him.


    Liu Jihu had initially intended to invite Zhang Chunfeng to sit next to him, considering they were from the same peak and achieved Foundation Building simultaneously. However, before he could speak, Zhang Chunfeng had already taken a seat beside Wang Hong, showing great respect for him.


    When did Foundation Building cultivators start showing such respect to a Qi Cultivation junior?


    With everyone finally gathered, including the somewhat out-of-ce Wang Hong, there were twenty people in total, with Lu Fang having the highest cultivation level at thete Foundation Building stage.


    Exiting Elder Brother''s cave mansion together, Lu Fang produced a small Spiritual Boat. Tossed into the air, it transformed into a boat two zhang long and five feet wide. All twenty people boarded the Spiritual Boat, and it didn''t feel crowded at all.


    Powered by Spirit Stones, the boat moved swiftly andfortably with a wind-resistant formation, making the journey enjoyable for everyone.


    In just one day, the group arrived at Azure Void City.


    At the city gate, Lu Fang released a Transmission Talisman, which flew into the city.


    Shortly after, a squad of cultivators in standard armor arrived at the city gate.


    This group consisted of ten individuals, with the lowest cultivation level at the early Foundation Building stage, and the highest being a tall cultivator in thete Foundation Building stage.


    All of them woreplete sets of Spiritual Weapon armor, a rarity that held significant value.


    "Fellow Daoist Zhao, long time no see! How have you been?" Lu Fang greeted the tall cultivator in thete Foundation Building stage, appearing familiar with each other.


    "Ah, it''s Fellow Daoist Lu! Pleasure to meet you! Everyone, follow me. The target is still in that location," Zhao, the tall cultivator, replied, leading the group into the city. The nine individuals with him turned and followed closely, their armor making a nging sound.


    Lu Fang led the rest of the group.


    During their journey, the tall cultivator and Lu Fang exchanged information through Message Transmission, sharing details about the situation here.


    Lu Fang then conveyed this information to the other neen people.


    The group learned that the adversaries were hiding in a mansion with a total of twenty-three individuals. Thirteen were Qi Cultivation disciples, and ten were in the Foundation Building stage, with only one in thete Foundation Building stage.


    Arriving at a rtively small estate covering more than two mu, the group discreetly spread out, surrounding the entire estate.


    Among the thirty individuals, Wang Hong was the only one who stayed far away, seemingly afraid of being involved.


    Liu Jihu thought, "If you''re staying so far away, why bother following us? Are you just here to watch the show?"


    After the encirclement, the group slowly closed in, shrinking the perimeter.


    Despite having numerical superiority, the thin spread of people made it difficult to guard against a concentrated breakout. If the adversaries focused their efforts in one direction, stopping them would be challenging.


    Upon reaching the estate wall, everyone stopped. The estate had protective formations, making further progress impossible.


    "Listen to mymand. When the timees, we''ll attack the formation together," Lu Fang instructed through Message Transmission.


    Then, a sharp whistle sounded, and everyone exerted their strength tounch a fierce attack.


    "Boom!"


    Wang Hong, sitting on a distant rooftop, watched as the formation was attacked. Various runes flowed on the Large Formation.


    In Wang Hong''s eyes, these flowing runes consisted of Yin and Yang symbols constantly rearranging and evolving into new patterns.


    Carefully observing, he verified what he had learned. After all, he had spent years contemting these matters in Space.


    Currently, he only understood the Yin and Yang symbols, unable to recognize the other runes.


    Althoughprehending these unfamiliar symbols was challenging, he sat on the rooftop, brewing tea. Sipping tea, he contemted the runes he saw.


    An odd scene unfolded: thirty cultivators below fervently attacking the formation, while a Qi Cultivation disciple leisurely sat on a rooftop, sipping tea.


    After attacking for the time it took an incense stick to burn, there was finally a resounding "boom." The formation shattered, and the group leaped over the estate wall.


    Inside the courtyard, twenty-three ck-d cultivators were ready for battle.


    It wasn''t that they didn''t want to seize the opportunity to escape during the incense stick time; after all, Shadow Kill never prohibited fleeing, and training an assassin wasn''t an easy task.


    "I believe you can guess why we''re here. If you can reveal the mastermind behind your actions this time, we can leave immediately," Lu Fang stood at the forefront, addressing the leader of the opposing group.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 138: Red Sun Separation Fire Formation

    Chapter 138: Red Sun Separation Fire Formation


    "Do you think we would leak the Gold Master''s information?" Their employer, who spent Spirit Stonesvishly, was referred to as the Gold Master.


    Shadow Kill adhered to strict confidentiality, and if anyone leaked the Gold Master''s information, the consequences would be more tragic than death.


    "Take action!"


    Lu Fang knew the chances were slim, but he casually inquired, prompting everyone to quickly gather around.


    A loud shout echoed, and everyone summoned their Spiritual Weapons, enclosing the twenty-three ck-robed cultivators inside. These cultivators held small red gs, each two feet long and shaped like a triangle, as they took positions in different directions.


    "Red Sun Separation Fire Formation! Be cautious!"


    Lu Fang recognized the formation and loudly warned. Theplete formation required the coordination of forty-nine cultivators at the Foundation Building stage or above. Such a formation could contend with Golden Core cultivators when fully activated.


    However, there were only twenty-three individuals present, including thirteen at the Qi Cultivation level. Naturally, they couldn''t unleash the full power equivalent to resisting Golden Core cultivators.


    Moreover, they had only rehearsed this formation briefly just now, and their coordination was still unfamiliar, significantly reducing its effectiveness.


    Initially, their small courtyard had a secret passage leading to another yard a hundred feet away, serving as a retreat in critical moments, eliminating the need for direct confrontation.


    But ironically, just two days ago, another group identally connected their underground tunnel during some digging.


    In the city of Azure Void, housing tens of thousands of cultivators, inevitably, some harbored secretive activities. Some created hidden chambers underground, while others dug tunnels, turning Azure Void into a maze of underground passageways.


    Connecting all these tunnels would indeed form a massivebyrinth.


    Wang Hong, alias Wang Kun, was no stranger to tunneling; he had dug a tunnel under the residence he impersonated and built underground cers for his brewing workshop. Even his recently purchased mansion had an escape route underground.


    Five yards below Azure Void City, there were protective formations linked to the city''s Large Formation. As a result, everyone''s tunnels could only be dug within this range.


    This led to the frequent urrence of two tunnels identally connecting.


    Though Immortal Cultivators possessed Divine Sense for exploration, it had limited range underground. By the time they detected each other, it was often toote.


    In such cases, both sides usually pretended not to notice the new neighbor, silently blocked the passage, and dug a new one.


    Shadow Kill Organization was no exception. They had sealed off their tunnel, preparing to open a new one when, unbeknownst to them, the city lord''s mansion sent ten teams to dig tunnels around their residence.


    During this process, several tunnels passing through this area were discovered, and the owners could only silentlyment their misfortune, unable to raise the matter.


    It took ten teams two days to find Shadow Kill''s underground passage.


    With their escape route blocked, in a critical moment, the leading cultivator at the Foundation Buildingter stage brought out the Red Sun Separation Fire Formation.


    Despite only rehearsing it once with twenty-three people, their unfamiliarity still made it more potent than facing the danger alone.


    The twenty-three individuals infused Spiritual Energy and Spiritual Power into the small gs in their hands, causing them to emit a radiant red light. These twenty-three varying intensities of light converged in the air above them, forming a dazzling red me.


    Controlled by the cultivator at the Foundation Buildingter stage, the me flew towards the front. The twenty-three Shadow Kill cultivators maintained the formation, following behind the me, running while channeling Spiritual Power and Spiritual Energy into their formation gs.


    Meanwhile, twenty-nine powerful Spiritual Weapons approached, aiming at the twenty-three cultivators. A Spirit Qi in the front collided with the fiery mass, igniting the Spiritual Weapon, which melted into a liquid after a moment.


    The remaining twenty-eight Spiritual Weapons struck the red Light Screen in the air, causing it to dim slightly. The thirteen Qi Cultivation cultivators within the formation appeared pale, staggering as if they might copse at any moment.


    Wang Hong, seated on a distant rooftop, took a sip of Spirit Tea, his eyes fixed on the operation of the Red Sun Separation Fire Formation. If he could decipher ten percent of the runes on the protective formation before, he now found himself unable toprehend even one percent of the current Red Sun Separation Fire Formation.


    He forgot that his study of runes was for creating talismans, and he had only grasped Yin and Yang runes. Understanding one percent was already remarkable.


    He only saw the Yin and Yang runes circting, arranging into new patterns, which then gathered to form a more intricate andplex set of runes. Eventually, thisplex arrangement gave birth to the formidable me.


    Taking another sip of Spirit Tea, his thoughts raced. After a while, his eyes lit up as if he had grasped something.


    From his Storage Bag, he retrieved a piece of animal hide, dipped his finger in animal blood, and began to draw. He sketched three Yang runes connected to each other, forming a mysterious shape. He infused some Spiritual Power into it, hearing the collisions of Spiritual Power within the runes.


    Suddenly, the three runes emitted a burst of heat, and a light smoke rose from the animal hide, carrying a burnt smell. Perhaps due to insufficient firepower, only the area where he drew the runes turned ck.


    Although unsessful, he felt he had found the right direction and nned to practice more when he got back.


    While Wang Hong delved into rune research, the thirteen Qi Cultivation cultivators belonging to Shadow Kill had depleted their Spiritual Energy and copsed on the ground. The remaining ten Foundation Building cultivators continued maintaining the Red Sun Separation Fire Formation, charging forward.


    Just moments ago, two Qingxu Sect Foundation Building cultivators were hit by the me. Along with their defensive Spiritual Weapons, they turned to ashes.


    Lu Fang, wielding a two-yard-diameter shield, arrived at the forefront of Shadow Kill''s attempt to break through. As the me approached, his shield did not melt like the Spiritual Weapons before.


    "A high-grade Spiritual Weapon! So, Fellow Daoist Lu has a high-grade Spiritual Weapon. Please, Fellow Daoist Lu, hold on for a moment. We''ll break this Red Sun Separation Fire Formation," shouted the high-ranking cultivator.


    At this point, the me had diminished somewhat due to the loss of support from the thirteen Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    Boom! At that moment, over twenty Spiritual Weapons simultaneously struck the Light Screen of the Red Sun Separation Fire Formation. The Light Screen shattered, turning into scattered starlight.


    The ten Foundation Building cultivators maintaining the formation all spat out a mouthful of blood.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 139: The Invisible Adversary

    Chapter 139: The Invisible Adversary


    As the Light Screen shattered, the red mes on Lu Fang''s high-grade Spiritual Weapon did not extinguish. Instead, they continued to burn fiercely.


    The Foundation Building cultivator from the Shadow Kill sect wore a maniacal expression as he raised his hand, directing several techniques towards the g in his hand.


    He held the main g of the Red Sun Separation Fire Formation, allowing him to control the entire formation.


    At this moment, the Spiritual Power within the ten Foundation Building cultivators surged madly toward the g in his hand.


    All this Spiritual Power converged onto the zing red mes, causing them to intensify instantly.


    Lu Fang''s high-grade Spiritual Weapon gradually weakened, and beads of sweat formed on his forehead.


    "Fellow Daoists, please hurry. I won''t be able to hold on much longer," Lu Fang called out.


    The others responded byunching more than twenty Magical Weapons at the ten individuals in the center. With the Light Screen shattered, there was no barrier to stop them.


    The Foundation Building cultivator continued to manipte the Red Sun Separation Fire Formation, and the Spiritual Power within the other nine individuals poured uncontrobly into the g.


    The red mes grewrger andrger. Just as the Magical Weapons approached, the mes exploded, emitting a dazzling and blinding light.


    The intense light made it difficult for everyone to open their eyes. When the brilliance faded, they saw arge crater in the center. The nine Shadow Kill Foundation Building cultivatorsy dead on the ground.


    Lu Fang''s high-grade Spiritual Weapon had been shattered, and the explosion had thrown him several yards away, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth.


    Lu Fang''s pain was not from the injuries but the destruction of his Spiritual Weapon. It was a top-tier creation refined over countless years with materials that couldn''t be easily acquired, even with Spirit Stones.


    He would rather endure more injuries himself than see his precious Spiritual Weapon damaged. Injuries would heal, but a cracked Spiritual Weapon couldn''t be restored.


    After careful inspection, the group couldn''t find the Foundation Building cultivator from Shadow Kill. They searched the surroundings but found no trace of him.


    Wang Hong, who was observing the battle from the rooftop, suddenly felt a chill, sensing impending danger.


    Using his Divine Sense, he scanned the surroundings but found nothing. Suddenly, he noticed a disturbance in the air, revealing a faint humanoid silhouette.


    Had he not reached the Foundation Building stage with an enhanced Divine Sense from working in the Space for an extended period, he might not have noticed these subtle signs.


    Wang Hong pretended ignorance, continuing to scan the area asionally. However, he observed the silhouette slowly approaching him.


    Cursing inwardly, Wang Hong wondered why the Daoist Master wasing towards him. Was it satisfying for a Foundation Building cultivator to assassinate a Qi Cultivation stage cultivator like himself?


    Pretending nonchnce, Wang Hong sipped his Spirit Tea and moved around the rooftop. The silhouette continued to trail behind him, matching his every move.


    After strolling around, Wang Hong deduced that the person must have limitations in concealing their presence, likely unable to freely use Spiritual Power.


    Otherwise, I could just summon my Spiritual Weapon and y this Qi Cultivation cultivator with a single strike. No need for all this trouble.


    As the humanoid silhouette approached him again, slowly reaching towards his head, Wang Hong casually turned, evading the grasp.


    Muttering to himself, "Everyone''s dead now. It should be safe. I''ll go take a look at the spoils."


    With that, he leaped off the rooftop and headed towards the Qingxu Sect members.


    The Daoist Master''s silhouette hesitated on the rooftop for a moment, then gradually moved away in another direction.


    This Foundation Building cultivator, bitter about missing the chance to kill Wang Hong on his escape, considered it an opportunity to vent his frustration. Moreover, he knew Wang Hong was their assassination target. Since he was already here, killing a Qi Cultivation stage cultivator on the way seemed worthwhile.


    Now that he hadn''t seeded, he wouldn''t deliberately pursue it. Survival was his top priority. Killing someone like Wang Hong could be done anytime; if itpromised his escape, it wouldn''t be worth it.


    Other people''s lives might be valuable, but not as much as one''s own.


    Wang Hong''s Divine Sense detected the departure of the humanoid silhouette, and he breathed a sigh of relief.


    The group gathered all the loot, distributing it among themselves. Those like Wang Hong, who had been leisurely sipping tea throughout the ordeal, naturally had no share.


    The Shadow Kill Organization was indeed wealthy, with each person''s Storage Bag containing considerable wealth. There were over three hundred Nourishing Essence Pills, more than two million Spirit Stones, and various second-tier Spiritual Objects such as Spiritual Herbs, spirit ore, Magical Weapons, making the remaining twenty-seven individuals quite pleased.


    In the end, it was thanks to Lu Fang using his high-grade Spiritual Weapon to withstand the powerful red mes; otherwise, someone from their group might have perished in the inferno.


    Consequently, Lu Fang received the most loot, getting thirty Nourishing Essence Pills, two hundred thousand Spirit Stones, and many other second-tier Spiritual Objects, significantly improving his mood.


    After dividing the spoils, Senior Brother Gao and the City Guard had to return to report. The Elder Brother and other Foundation Building cultivators decided to stay in Azure Void City for a few days before returning to the sect.


    "Elder Brother, I need to visit my home around here. I''ll leave for a while. I''ll treat you to drinks at my tavern when I''m back."


    Wang Hong decided to find an excuse to leave alone; he had many things to attend to, and it wasn''t convenient with a crowd.


    "Junior Brother Wang, be careful. That Foundation Building cultivator from Shadow Kill likely escaped during the chaos. If anything happens, contact me anytime."


    "Sure, thank you, Elder Brother!"


    Zhang Chunfeng wanted to leave with him, but Wang Hong stopped him with a nce.


    After Wang Hong left alone, he released a few Spirit Bees.


    During this time, he had trained hundreds of Spirit Bees specifically for tracking.


    Training them was challenging due to their low intelligence. Currently, these tracking Spirit Bees could only follow a specific scent.


    Using pollen from the Green Spirit Peach, processed into fine powder, he scattered it into the air like dust. It was nearly undetectable when itnded on the body.


    The Spirit Bees could then trace a target up to ten miles away based on the faint scent emitted by this fine powder.


    On the rooftop earlier, he pretended to stroll around while secretly dispersing this powder into the air. Additionally, he subtly added a bit of poison.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 140: Tracking the Spirit Bee

    Chapter 140: Tracking the Spirit Bee


    Wang Hong found a secluded spot, removed his Qingxu Sect Disciple robe where no one could see, activated his cultivation techniques, and strained to create a few wrinkles on his face.


    Unfortunately, his proficiency in these cultivation techniques was only at the rudimentary level, so he could only barely alter his skin''s appearance.


    He pasted some sparse facial hair on his chin, examined himself in the mirror, felt dissatisfied, let his upper eyelids droop a bit, and even added a dark circle under his eyes.


    Looking much wearier, he then put on the Misty Illusion Mask, transforming his appearance into that of a young man.


    Wang Hong, now with a changed appearance, casually followed a few Spirit Bees.


    Not long after, several Spirit Bees flew towards a residence and entered.


    Wang Hong felt excitement; he had found them so quickly. Truly, these Spirit Bees were excellent for tracking! He thought of rewarding them when he returned.


    It was not the time to reveal his cards. Although his Devouring Spirit Poison operated silently and was hard to detect, it had a significant drawbackits slow onset, making it prone to counterattacks from enemies on the verge of death, an experience he had in a secret realm.


    He had been trying to improve it recently, but with limited knowledge, the results were meager. Yet, one thing was certainthe poison was equally effective against Foundation Building cultivators'' spiritual power.


    He nned to scout the surroundings first. The residence wasn''trge, and soon he circled around to its back.


    At this moment, he noticed several Spirit Bees flying out of the residence, crossing the alley in front of him, and heading towards another residence.


    "What''s going on?"


    He slowly circled around the other side of this residence. After a short while, Spirit Bees indeed flew out. Then, crossing the alley, they entered another residence.


    Walking along the courtyard wall of the current residence to the opposite side, he contemted.


    He realized he had overlooked something. Spirit Bees could fly, and to them, the sky was a path as long as there were no obstacles. They wouldn''t follow roads like humans but fly directly to their destination.


    With their limited intelligence, they couldn''tprehendplexmands but would fly directly to where the fragrance of the Green Spirit Peach was.


    Wang Hong had trained them hard in this aspect. He selected hundreds of Spirit Bees and fed them honey mixed with Green Spirit Peach pollen daily. Simultaneously, he continuously tempted them with other honey not mixed with Green Spirit Peach pollen. If a Spirit Bee couldn''t resist the temptation and ate other food, it faced a harsh punishment.


    Over time, perhaps due to habit or submission to Wang Hong''s authority, these Spirit Bees now only acknowledged honey mixed with Green Spirit Peach pollen, ignoring other nectars.


    Wang Hong chose Green Spirit Peach pollen because it was rare, and as far as he knew, there were no Azure Spirit Peach Trees around.


    Now that Spirit Bees were flying straight, he had to follow the circuitous route. Fortunately, Spirit Bees were not hungry, so they didn''t fly too fast.


    At this moment, Huang Yu sat in a honeb room, feeling extremely depressed. He had managed this Shadow Kill branch for nearly fifty years. Based on his achievements, he should have had a chance to receive a Golden Core as a reward and find some spiritual objects to aid in core formation, increasing his chances of condensing a Golden Core.


    This time, he suffered a devastating blow. Out of the over thirty cultivators under hismand, except for a dozen who hadn''t returned, the rest had all met their demise.


    Losing so many hands in one go, facing such a significant failure, his rewards were all in vain.


    He knew that assassinating the six major Sect Disciples was a challenging task. They were Disciples cultivated at the expense of Spirit Stones, and you were tasked with killing them.


    Where would the face of their respective sects be ced? Even if it was just for appearances for the other Disciples, retaliation must be taken! How else could they unite the hearts of their followers?


    However, for organizations like his, once an assassination task was assigned, it had to bepleted without any room for hesitation.


    He also heard that not long ago, on the side of Taihao Sect, their people hadn''t even taken action yet. The Golden Core Elder of Taihao Sect had already issued a statement.


    He dered that any organization daring to assassinate their Heavenly Spirit Root Disciple would face retaliation from all cultivators of Taihao Sect, including those below the Golden Core stage.


    Taihao Sect, like rabid dogs, always looked for trouble even when there was none. Now that an opportunity had presented itself, people from Taihao Sect were probably ecstatic.


    Of course, if this assassination mission could be sessfullypleted, the Shadow Kill Organization would once again gain a prominent reputation in the Cultivation World.


    Their organization thrived on killing to earn Spirit Stones, and having a good reputation was crucial.


    Huang Yu cleared his mind, took a pill, and began cultivating to heal his injuries.


    Suddenly, his face changed drastically. In his dantian sea, a ck energy mass was devouring his Spiritual Power.


    Initially slow and discreet, the energy mass suddenly elerated its consumption when he activated his cultivation techniques, catching his attention.


    He hastily mobilized his Spiritual Power, attempting to expel it, but to no avail. The Spiritual Power he directed towards it was devoured, making the ck energy mass grow stronger and consume faster.


    If a solution couldn''t be found, he would inevitably be devoured by that ck energy mass in the long run.


    "Damn it! It must be something Qingxu Sect did during the battle that I didn''t notice."


    After a fierce battle, his body was already injured. Now he couldn''t even heal; the more he cultivated, the faster the ck energy mass consumed.


    Moreover, even if he didn''t cultivate to heal, his internal injuries wouldn''t hold for long, and neglecting their treatment would worsen the situation.


    In the previous battle, he had depleted all his Spiritual Power to activate the Red Sun Separation Fire Formation.


    Now, after the ck energy mass consumed all his internal Spiritual Power, it started devouring his innate Spiritual Power.


    He took out an antidote Elixir from his Storage Bag and swallowed it.


    After a moment, he disappointedly rummaged through his Storage Bag, took out seven or eight items, and swallowed them, but there was no improvement.


    For a while, Huang Yu couldn''t think of a solution, but waiting at home for death was not an option.


    He took out a mask as thin as a cicada''s wing from his Storage Bag, gently put it on his face, and transformed into a different appearance.


    After leaving his house, he would enter every shop on the street, asking if they had any detoxifying Elixirs. If they did, he would buy them without hesitation.


    As for the price, he wouldn''t bother asking. A person near death wouldn''t care about such things.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 141: Subjugation

    Chapter 141: Subjugation


    Huang Yu consumed over a hundred types of Detoxification Pills in a row, but instead of resolving his issues, it exacerbated them, umting various conflicting medicinal forces within his body.


    These forces were ipatible, colliding with each other, tormenting his already injured body even more.


    Each poisonous pill had a different nature, and their mechanisms of toxicity within the human body varied.


    For cultivators who employed poison, anything that could harm a person could be considered a poison.


    To simplify, for Mortals, daily meals were a necessity for survival and harmless to them. However, imagine force-feeding someone a hundred bowls of rice after they''ve already eaten their fill  to them, these additional bowls would be no different from poison.


    Hence, there was no universal antidote that could counter all poisons. Only by understanding the properties of each poison could one craft targeted Detoxification Pills.


    The Detoxification Pills sold in pharmacies were refined specifically for severalmon poisons.


    As for antidotes for some obscure poisons, pharmacies wouldn''t sell them. It might take countless years to encounter one, and even then, it might not be effective. Selling such refined pills would be a loss-making venture.


    Moreover, some Detoxification Pills themselves were poisonous. If taken improperly, they could cause even more poisoning.


    At this moment, Huang Yu''s body was in turmoil due to the shes of various medicinal forces, causing a tearing pain throughout.


    Several Detoxification Pills he took had inherent toxicity, leaving him dizzy, weak, and experiencing double vision.


    The ck energy within him incessantly devoured his original Spiritual Power, causing his cultivation level to drop from Foundation Building Eighth Layer to Foundation Building Sixth Layer, and it continued to plummet.


    After a frenzied intake of antidotes yielded no progress, coupled with the fear of death, he had given up. In their line of work as assassins, few met a peaceful end. He had mentally prepared for it, but the realization had been hard to ept just now.


    Now that he hade to terms with it, he felt calm. If there was a way, no one would want to die. Since he couldn''t change it, he preferred to meet his end with dignity.


    He paced with hands behind his back, leisurely strolling, observing the bustling streets filled with people striving for various purposes. Would all these struggles still hold meaning in the end?


    Returning to his temporary residence, he removed the mask he had hidden behind all his life. In the face of imminent death, he chose to die openly and honorably.


    His cultivation level had dwindled to Foundation Building Third Layer, but he paid no attention. Instead, he meticulously bathed and changed, tidying his hair and beard. As the ancients said, "A nobleman''s death must be dignified."


    He had been adopted by the Shadow Kill Organization from a young age, rigorously trained to be an assassin. He couldn''t even recall how many lives he had taken.


    Huang Yuy peacefully on the bed, contemting his life, awaiting the arrival of death.


    "Buzzing!"


    Several Spirit Bees flew to his bedside, circling and dancing around him.


    "Can''t I die in peace?" Huang Yu sighed.


    "What if I have an antidote?" Wang Hong entered from the doorway.


    "What are the conditions?" Having lived for over a hundred years, Huang Yu knew that there were no free lunches in this world.


    "I want you to sign a Blood Contract with me."


    "A ve''s Blood Contract? How is that any different from death?" He would rather die now than bind himself to a lifetime as a ve.


    "I don''t need that. I only require you to serve me as you did in Shadow Kill, keep my secrets for a lifetime, and the rest of your personal matters are your own. However, a Blood Contract must be signed; it''s the foundation of trust between us."


    Continuation:


    He urgently needed high-endbat power. Apart from Zhang Chunfeng, who was at the Foundation Building cultivation level, everyone else in his team was at the Qi Cultivation stage.


    Without formidablebat power, business would suffer. To establish a presence in Azure Void City, at least one Foundation Building cultivator was required.


    However, Wang Hong hesitated to employ strangers without a Blood Contract. Disobedience was a minor issue; the real dangery in the potential exposure of his secrets.


    "I can serve you and keep your secrets, but I won''t divulge any information about Shadow Kill, nor will I get involved in your conflicts with Blood ughter," Huang Yu proposed, setting his minimum conditions. After all, who had the courage to face death if they could avoid it?


    He didn''t want to be enemies with Shadow Kill. Despite the brutal training, it was the ce that raised him. Without Shadow Kill, he would have died on the roadside long ago.


    "I can agree to that condition." Wang Hong could understand the sentiment of not wanting to engage in life-and-death struggles with the organization that once nurtured him.


    Wang Hong immediately produced a Blood Contract. Both of them dropped a drop of blood into it, swiftlypleting the ritual.


    "All right! From now on, call me East Master!"


    "Yes, East Master!"


    "Here''s the antidote; take it first."


    Wang Hong handed a jade vial containing a dark pill to Huang Yu.


    After Huang Yu took the pill, the ck energy within him slowly transformed into his Spiritual Power, visibly restoring his cultivation level.


    Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.


    Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer.


    ...


    Foundation Building Eighth Layer.


    Finally, his cultivation level was fully restored.


    From this moment, he bid farewell to his past identity. The previous him was dead, vanished from this world.


    Having just experienced a life-and-death transformation, his mind was clear, and he understood the preciousness of life even more.


    Everything they were fighting for today would be worthless if someone died.


    He aimed to pursue the path of immortality, to live forever.


    "I have a somewhat secretive organization in Azure Void City. Since you have experience in this area, I''ll entrust it to you. However, your previous identity is exposed; do you have a solution?"


    The reason Wang Hong wanted to recruit Huang Yu was due to histe-stage Foundation Building cultivation level and experience in managing underground organizations.


    His fabricated immortal way tradingpany urgently needed someone to manage it. Zhang Chunfeng was inconvenient at the sect, and the otherscked the strength.


    Moreover, the opportunity was rare. Huang Yu had just fought a fierce battle with everyone, weakening him.


    Approaching him invisibly posed difficulties, leading to his eventual surrender.


    If it were another time, Wang Hong wouldn''t be able to deal with ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator, and if confronted, he would have to flee for his life.


    "That''s not difficult." Huang Yu took out the mask he had worn earlier, put it on his face, and underwent a facial transformation. "This is a Spiritual Weapon-grade Shape-shifting Mask. It can directly alter facial features."


    As a former assassin, he frequently needed to sneak and disguise himself.


    Then, he took off the mask and handed it to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong received it, feeling its soft and silky texturelight as a feather. Obviously, it was much more advanced than his Misty Illusion Mask.


    After a brief inspection, he handed it back to Huang Yu. Although the mask was excellent, it couldn''t match his Cultivation Techniques, which could directly change his appearance. However, due to his current inadequate cultivation level, he couldn''t fully unleash its potential.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 142: Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell

    Chapter 142: Golden Cicada Shedding Its Shell


    "Was the method you used to conceal your figure before due to Cultivation Techniques or the effect of a Spiritual Weapon?" Wang Hong was very curious about how Huang Yu had suddenly disappeared, a method of stealth he found intriguing.


    If it was Cultivation Techniques, he wanted toe over and practice it himself. The ability to conceal oneself, silently approach enemies, and thenunch a surprise attack was something he truly enjoyed.


    "Is this what East Master was referring to?" Huang Yu''s figure slowly blurred as he spoke, until hepletely vanished, bing invisible even to Divine Sense.


    After a moment, Huang Yu reappeared in front of him.


    "It''s the effect of this Spiritual Weapon-grade Daoist robe on me. It can conceal my figure, allowing me to lurk and assassinate in secret."


    However, there was a significant drawback  after bing invisible, he couldn''t use Spiritual Power, and his own Divine Sense was greatly restricted.


    Wang Hong thought it was a bit regrettable; these two ws significantly diminished the effectiveness of this Spiritual Weapon.


    If it weren''t for the limitation on Divine Sense, it might not have been so easy to fall into the trap. His poison could have dispersed into the air without a trace.


    However, even though his pollen was as fine as dust, it still had a form. With the Divine Sense of theter stages of Foundation Building, it could be detected with caution.


    Since he now had the entire person in his grasp, Wang Hong had no intention of taking these treasures from Huang Yu. They would probably be more useful in Huang Yu''s hands.


    Suddenly, Wang Hong remembered something important and asked, "After leaving the Shadow Kill Organization, they probably won''t let you go easily, right?"


    Huang Yu''s expression became solemn, hesitated for a moment, and said, "My situation is considered a betrayal. I will be pursued for the rest of my life. Once caught, I''ll face extremely severe punishment, with no chance of survival or death."


    The Shadow Kill Organization had strict control over its assassins, absolutely forbidding any betrayals.


    He still remembered the first day he joined Shadow Kill. Someone took him to visit a ce, and after returning, he had nightmares for several years.


    The fear deeply imnted itself in his soul.


    Inside were dozens of betrayers, howling in pain day and night. The longest-incarcerated had been there for a hundred years.


    Those imprisoned were subjected to constant torment, and even as they neared the end of their lifespan, Shadow Kill ensured they did not die. Even after death, their souls were pulled out for continued torture.


    Thinking about this, Huang Yu felt his whole body go numb, his hair standing on end. He couldn''t help but tremble slightly.


    He took a deep breath, took a long time to calm down, and then regained hisposure.


    "I need to cooperate on this. It''s best if Ipletely disappear from this world."


    Wang Hong pondered for a while, came up with a solution, and said, "We can do it this way..."


    At this moment, Elder Brother and several fellow disciples were celebrating in a tavern when they received a Transmission Talisman.


    "Elder Brother, I just found the Foundation Building cultivator from Shadow Kill. His location is..."


    Wang Hong''s voice came through the Transmission Talisman, causing Elder Brother''s expression to change.


    "Wu Junior Brother, what''s going on?" one of the disciples asked.


    "Haha! Fellow disciples, Junior Brother Wang just happened to encounter a Foundation Building cultivator from Shadow Kill."


    "What are we waiting for? Let''s go kill him now!" One robust disciple with a hasty temperament immediately put down his wine cup and stood up.


    "Junior Brother, can we trust this information? Junior Brother Wang is only at the Qi Cultivation level. Did he not get killed when encountering that Shadow Kill cultivator?" Lu Fang inquired.


    "Senior Brother, rest assured. Senior Brother Wang is reliable. It''s said that the Shadow Kill cultivator was heavily injured and fell victim to Junior Brother Wang''s ambush."


    "Ambush?" The others were puzzled. How could a Qi Cultivation cultivator sessfully ambush a Foundation Building cultivator?


    "Junior Brother Wang is skilled in alchemy and adept at using a unique poison. It''s silent and undetectable for a short period after poisoning," Zhang Chunfeng exined.


    The revtion left everyone gasping. The seemingly honest-looking person actually possessed such sinister techniques.


    "No time to waste. Let''s go kill this guy quickly before night brings more dreams," Lu Fang said, standing up.


    The group set off again, heading towards the address Wang Hong had provided.


    "Senior Brothers, I saw that person entering this pill shop just now."


    When the group arrived, Wang Hong weed them from an alley, providing an update.


    "Zhang Junior Brother, Li Junior Brother, Liu Junior Brother, guard the entrance. The rest, follow me inside."


    After Lu Fang gave his orders, he led the way into the pill shop.


    Zhang Chunfeng and the other two guarded the entrance. Suddenly, they saw a person jump down from a window upstairs. Upon closer inspection, it was the Shadow Kill cultivator who had escaped earlier.


    However, his originalte-stage Foundation Building realm had now dropped to the mid-stage.


    The three shouted andunched their Spiritual Weapons at Huang Yu.


    Huang Yu summoned a shield, blocking the attacks without lingering in battle, and turned to leave.


    The others rushed out of the shop and chased after Huang Yu.


    While fleeing, Huang Yu kept a shield up to block attacks from behind.


    The pursuing group noticed that Huang Yu''s realm was continuously dropping. In a short time, he went from the sixthyer of Foundation Building to the fourth.


    During the chase, Huang Yu darted into a courtyard.


    The group quickly surrounded the entire courtyard.


    Although notrge, the courtyard had protective formations. It endured the collective assault for half a quarter of an hour before finally breaking down.


    When they rushed into the courtyard and thoroughly searched it, they found a concealed entrance in a cultivation room.


    "Five of you, follow me through this tunnel. The rest, scatter and find the exit," Lu Fang ordered, then led the group into the tunnel.


    The tunnel wasn''t spacious, allowing only two people to pass side by side. They had to be vignt for traps as they walked.


    When Lu Fang and the five cautiously emerged from the other end of the tunnel, they saw Zhang Chunfeng holding a Storage Bag. In his other hand, he was stuffing a Spiritual Weapon-grade shield into the bag.


    It was the same shield the cultivator had used before.


    "Where''s the person?" Lu Fang asked.


    "That pile over there!" Zhang Chunfeng pointed to a nearby heap of humanoid ashes.


    "Did you kill him alone? He was ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator."


    One disciple couldn''t believe it.


    "When I encountered him, he was only at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. Killing him was effortless," Zhang Chunfeng casually exined.


    Hearing this, the others finally recalled that the cultivator''s realm had been continuously dropping earlier, marveling at Zhang Chunfeng''s stroke of luck.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 144: Head of the Immortal Way Trading Company

    Chapter 144: Head of the Immortal Way Trading Company


    Skinny Monkey moved several jars of medium-grade Spirit Wine into the room, and Wang Hong handed him a Storage Bag containing various ingredients.


    Among his group, Skinny Monkey was the best at making Spirit Meals, and he was also a big foodie. It was a mystery why he stayed so skinny despite eating so much every day, resembling a monkey.


    After Skinny Monkey left, it didn''t take long for various delicacies to be served.


    As they drank Spirit Wine and enjoyed the food, even though they were all Foundation Building cultivators, Spirit Meals and Spirit Wine were not things they could indulge in regrly. All these delicacies were bought with Spirit Stones!


    "I never thought that Junior Brother Wang, at such a young age, would have a way to make money. It makes us, who have lived for over a hundred years, feel embarrassed!" Lu Fang eximed after taking a sip of Spirit Wine, genuinely moved.


    While the sect treated Foundation Building disciples reasonably well, the path of cultivation was a bottomless pit. The consumption of Spiritual Weapons, Pills, and various other Spiritual Objects always left him feeling financially strained.


    Having lived for over a hundred years, Lu Fang felt like he had spent his youth on Demonic Beasts. He couldn''t help but wonder why he hadn''t thought of opening a shop back when he was young.


    After some contemtion, he realized that he wasn''t wealthy in his youth either. He earned a few Spirit Stones and spent them all on Condensing Qi Pills, leading to his current cultivation level.


    Upon hearing Lu Fang''s words, others chimed in, agreeing with him. Having a shop like Wang Hong seemed like a prosperous venture, at least ensuring one''s own cultivation needs were met.


    Some even had inappropriate thoughts, but the moment they considered Wang Hong''s mysterious and unpredictable poison techniques, they immediately dismissed those thoughts.


    "Senior Brothers, what Junior Brother Wang said is true. When I first entered Azure Void City, I made a living by setting up a stall in the Free Market Square. It was all thanks to your support that my small business grew, and now it can barely sustain my cultivation needs," Wang Hong exined modestly. With a Foundation Buildingte-stage disciple under hismand, along with himself and Zhang Chunfeng, three Foundation Building cultivators, he wasn''t afraid to reveal some wealth. As long as the wealth matched their strength, it was safe.


    "Junior Brother Wang, if you evere across a lucrative business in the future, remember to bring us along! I''m practically bowing my head while walking now, hoping to find Spirit Stones on the ground," Liu Jihu said to Wang Hong, losing the superiority he had before.


    "Definitely, definitely. I''m just afraid you Senior Brothers won''t be interested in my small business," Wang Hong replied. Suddenly, he thought that in the future, when his strength increased, he could team up with these fellow disciples to open more shops. This way, he could build stronger rtionships with people who hadmon interests and, in the process, sell some items discreetly.


    After some casual chatting, the group dispersed.


    In a hidden room in Azure Void City, Wang Hong and Liu Changsheng sat facing each other.


    "Congrattions, Fellow Daoist Liu, on your rebirth!"


    "I must thank East Master for everything."


    Everything Liu Changsheng experienced this time could be attributed to Wang Hong''s help, but he harbored no resentment toward him. At that time, they were on opposing sides, and in such circumstances, one had to use every means avable.


    And between him and Wang Hong, there was no personal vendetta. Previously, Shadow Kill had ordered him to kill Wang Hong, and he had to follow orders.


    Wang Hong didn''t want to die, so naturally, he fought back. Unable to find the Gold Master, his target naturally shifted to Shadow Kill.


    As Liu Changsheng bathed and changed, lying on the bed waiting for death, he had already let go of everything. He had drawn a clear boundary between himself and Shadow Kill.


    He didn''t want to live a life like before, where he killed endless people every day. He had been like a tool, only knowing ughter, living each day like a walking corpse.


    When he decided to seek a new life, he chose to let go of all grudges andpletely break away from the past.


    Even though he had signed a Blood Contract with Wang Hong now, it was still much more freedompared to the Shadow Kill Organization, due to the different nature of their organizations.


    Shadow Kill relied on killing for profit; their assassins were essentially tools for earning Spirit Stones. They had to fight and kill every day, living a life no different from the mundane world.


    Wang Hong, on the other hand, was a businessman who earned Spirit Stones through buying and selling goods. He rarely needed to fight, and their rtionship was more like an employer-employee one, albeit for life.


    "Starting from tomorrow, you will be in charge of the Azure Void City branch of the Immortal Way Trading Company. However, our strength is still insufficient, and we need to develop quietly," Wang Hong said. From the beginning, he intended to entrust this task to Liu Changsheng, as histe-stage Foundation Building strength was enough to establish a small force.


    Moreover, having been involved in covert activities for a long time, Liu Changsheng had much more experience in this area than Wang Hong.


    "Thank you, East Master, for your trust!"


    Liu Changsheng didn''t expect to be entrusted with such a significant responsibility right after joining.


    "Additionally, you can recruit some people. I suggest hiring younger individuals and gradually training them. I''m notcking in resources, but loyaltyes first."


    Wang Hong nned to develop on two fronts. One was the public face, including the forty-plus subordinates and two shops, all of which were open secrets.


    The other was the covert line, currently represented by the Immortal Way Trading Company, with only Liu Changsheng. At present, he didn''t urgently need manpower for this, as it was like an empty shell.


    This way, these two parts werepletely separated. Even if it was his own shops in the future, he would have to get goods from the Immortal Way Trading Company, further reducing the risk of exposure.


    Previously, providing tier-one Spiritual Herbs was manageable, as they could be bought with Spirit Stones. However, tier-two Spiritual Herbs were not easily obtainable with Spirit Stones. Wang Hong couldn''t continuously supply them personally.


    When taken from an organizational force, it was a different matter. It only indicated the strength of that organization.


    To investigate further, one needed strength far surpassing the organization''s.


    So, he essentially erected anotheryer of protection for himself. Others would have to tear down this wall to have a chance to reach him.


    His mission was to continuously strengthen this wall, gradually developing the Immortal Way Trading Company into a significant force, making it impossible for anyone to uncover his secrets.


    In the future, the Spiritual Objects produced in his space would be sold through the Immortal Way Trading Company. No one would suspect him, and outsiders wouldn''t know his rtionship with thepany.


    Currently, only Wang Hong and Zhang Chunfeng knew Liu Changsheng''s identity and his rtionship with them. Wang Hong had no intention of letting others know. Since secrecy was crucial, the fewer people who knew, the better.


    In the future, Liu Changsheng would be the head of the Immortal Way Trading Company branch, and on the surface, Wang Hong would continueing here to purchase Spiritual Objects.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 143: Liu Changsheng

    Chapter 143: Liu Changsheng


    After everyone had gathered, Zhang Chunfeng didn''t hide anything. He took out the Storage Bag he had obtained and emptied its contents on the ground. This included the Red Sun Separation Fire Formation, and together with everyone present, they divided the spoils.


    Zhang Chunfeng''s actions earned unanimous praise from the group.


    While everyone was joyfully sharing the spoils, Huang Yu hid in a secret chamber, took out a pill, and swallowed it.


    After taking the pill, his expression finally rxed. Though it was the second time he had been poisoned in this manner, the despair was just as real. There was no way out.


    To make his act more convincing, he willingly subjected himself to the poison again, then entered the temporary base of the Shadow Kill. With years of preparation, he had set up many such temporary bases in various locations.


    Emerging from the exit, he handed over the Storage Bag and other items to Zhang Chunfeng, even giving him a corpse. Then, through another secret passage, he made his escape.


    With this, the former Huang Yu was officially dered dead. He assumed a new identity, giving himself the name Liu Changsheng, as he embarked on the path to pursue immortality.


    After Qingxu Sect members divided Huang Yu''s wealth, their mood improved significantly. The spoils from the Shadow Kill were indeed abundant. In the Storage Bag alone, there were over a million Spirit Stones, along with several Spiritual Weapons,parable to the assets of some Golden Core cultivators.


    For cultivators like Liu Jihu, who had justpleted Foundation Building and were nearly penniless, the sight of such wealth made their eyes gleam with excitement. Each person could now receive tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, finally alleviating their current plight.


    This time, Wang Hong made significant contributions and received a substantial share of the loot. However, people cast strange nces at him, maintaining a certain distance. Even though they knew there were no grudges between them and Wang Hong wouldn''t harm them, a sense of unease lingered whenever they got too close. It was better to keep a distance.


    Only Elder Brother remainedposed, patting Wang Hong on the shoulder. "Junior Brother Wang, well done! We owe this sess to you."


    "It''s purely a stroke of luck. If it weren''t for my injuries, I wouldn''t have been able to pull it off."


    Although skeptical, the others rxed a bit upon hearing this exnation.


    "I have a Spirit Wine shop in Azure Void City. How about I treat everyone to a drink?" Wang Hong suggested, thinking that having a group of Qingxu Sect Foundation Building cultivators visit his establishment would be advantageous.


    Everyone agreed. Initially, they had seen Elder Brother bringing along a Qi Cultivation cultivator as unnecessary, but now, after witnessing the effects of the Devouring Spirit Poison, they treated Wang Hong as an equal. It was wise not to offend him, and if they did, it would be met with swift and decisive retribution.


    In the Spirit Wine shop, Skinny Monkey smiled broadly, "Senior, the shop only has a monthly quota of a hundred catties of top-tier Spirit Wine. It''s already sold out for this month. Perhaps you coulde back next month or try another store?"


    "I don''t care. Running to ten shops is not as good as waiting for one. Anyway, today, I must buy top-tier Spirit Wine, and not a single Spirit Stone will be less for you. Figure it out yourself."


    Facing Skinny Monkey, an Old Man at the Foundation Building stage spoke somewhat shamelessly.


    Although a top-tier Spirit Wine wasn''t of much use to him, he had boasted in front of his granddaughter that as long as he took action, the other party would obediently offer the Spirit Wine. If he returned empty-handed, he wouldn''t be able to face his granddaughter. How could he brag about his past bravery to her if he failed?


    "Senior, the shop really doesn''t have any!"


    Skinny Monkey said with a troubled expression. Although he had plenty of top-tier Spirit Wine, breaking the rules would harm future business.


    "You''ll find a way. I won''t leave until I get top-tier Spirit Wine. You figure it out."


    The Foundation Building old man was stubborn and insisted on being difficult.


    "Senior, what if you buy some mid-tier Spirit Wine? I can offer a discount."


    "No! I don''tck those few Spirit Stones. I only want top-tier Spirit Wine!"


    At this moment, a young man walked in from the door, only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation. However, around him and behind him followed more than ten Foundation Building cultivators.


    This sight startled some customers in the shop. They wondered if this store had offended someone, bringing so many people to cause trouble.


    People retreated, prepared to watch the excitement, and if possible, take advantage of the situation to grab some valuables.


    The Foundation Building old man sighed, feeling that he was getting old. If he had such a lineup, would the store owner dare not sell him the wine?


    Contrary to everyone''s spection, Skinny Monkey, instead of being intimidated, had a happy expression. After a moment of confusion, he walked to the young man with a look of joy, as if he had seen a savior.


    "East Master! You''ve finally returned."


    Wang Hong hadn''t been back to Azure Void City for a long time. Seeing Wang Hong, Skinny Monkey was overjoyed.


    Wang Hong''s appearance with such a lineup left a deep impression, even shocking the Qi Cultivation junior.


    After a brief exchange via Message Transmission, Wang Hong understood the situation about the old man wanting to buy top-tier Spirit Wine.


    Wang Hong approached the Foundation Building old man. "Esteemed senior, I happen to have some top-tier Spirit Wine. How about I sell it to you?"


    "Of course, thank you, young friend!"


    The old man couldn''t help but feel a bit embarrassed. Having been difficult in front of so many cultivators of the same level, he now just wanted to leave quickly.


    Wang Hong immediately took out a bottle of top-tier Spirit Wine and sold it to the old man. After the transaction, the old man left without looking back.


    The customers who had been watching from a distance, expecting a spectacle, were surprised to find that the group of Foundation Building cultivators who came in were actually associated with the shop.


    Disappointed at theck of excitement, they were also shocked to discover the seemingly inconspicuous store had such a powerful background. Fortunately, they hadn''t offended it before.


    Wang Hong''s disy of strength and influence was sessful. He only needed people to know about his formidable backing, and although only a few saw it now, such information would spread.


    He invited his fellow sect members into the backyard, where arge lounge awaited them. After everyone took their seats, Wang Hong instructed Skinny Monkey to bring in a few casks of Spirit Wine.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 145: Handover

    Chapter 145: Handover


    After Wang Hong, Liu Changsheng was meticulously briefed on the affairs of the Immortal Way Trading Company.


    "Your previous belongings were taken as evidence and distributed among everyone. These items are for your cultivation. If it''s not enough, just let me know."


    Wang Hong tossed a Storage Bag to Liu Changsheng. Opening it, Liu Changsheng was astonished to find second-tier Pills, Spiritual Herbs, and even a bottle of second-tier Spirit Wine. Upon using his Divine Sense to inspect the bag, he discovered two hundred Nourishing Essence Pills, a bottle of small Breakthrough Realm Pill, and several Spiritual Objects suitable for the Foundation Building stage.


    The generosity of the new East Master exceeded his expectations. Items like the Nourishing Essence Pill were usually given sparingly, even a few at a time.


    "This is because your losses were significant this time. Consider itpensation. In the future, obtaining such items will depend on your merits," Wang Hong exined.


    Even so, Liu Changsheng was content. His previous Storage Bag had an abundance of Spirit Stones.


    The reason for having many Spirit Stones but almost no Pills was due to scarcity. asionally obtaining a few, he consumed them all, leaving no stock.


    "There are also some items here. Keep them, and tomorrow I''ll take you to meet the shopkeepers on this side."


    Wang Hong handed several Storage Bags to Liu Changsheng, containing various Spiritual Herbs, spirit fruits, Spirit Wine, and a few second-tier Spiritual Objects. There were fewer Pills this time.


    Lately, Wang Hong had been engrossed in studying Runes and hadn''t focused much on Alchemy. Zhang Chunfeng had assisted in Refinement.


    The next day, Wang Hong transformed back into Wang Kun and gathered all the shopkeepers.


    Looking at the shopkeepers below, Wang Hong noticed a Foundation Building cultivator among them.


    The shopkeeper was at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer when they first met, but in these years, they had sessfully reached Foundation Building.


    "Congrattions to Manager Fang for reaching Foundation Building! The future looks promising," Wang Hong congratted with a smile.


    "Thanks to Master Wang for this. Following Master Wang these years, I earned some Spirit Stones. Recently, I spent over three hundred thousand Spirit Stones to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill, leading to my sessful Foundation Building."


    Although Manager Fang spoke proudly, he didn''t dare to be arrogant in front of Wang Hong. The force behind Wang Hong was not something he could afford to offend.


    The other shopkeepers cast admiring nces, not discouraged. They had also earned a considerable amount of Spirit Stones and had a good chance at Foundation Building.


    "That''s because Manager Fang runs the business well. I only provided some goods," Wang Hong said with a smile. He then announced, "The reason I gathered you all here is to inform you that I may not be in Azure Void City for a long time."


    "What? What should we do then?"


    "Yeah, without you, we can''t survive."


    "..."


    "Don''t worry; let me finish! Although I''m leaving, I can introduce you to a senior. This senior will reside in Azure Void City and serve as the manager of the Azure Void City branch."


    Wang Hong finished speaking and bowed towards the back hall.


    "Please wee Senior Liu!"


    Liu Changsheng slowly emerged from the back hall, and the pressure from histe Foundation Building stage receded.


    "I pay my respects to Senior Liu!"


    Everyone bowed together, feeling somewhat uneasy in the presence of a suddenly appearing senior at thete Foundation Building stage.


    Among them, Zhao Ning was the most surprised. He knew the details of the Immortal Way Trading Company well, and this Senior Liu was unheard of to him. However, since Wang Hong hadn''t informed him, it must be a significant secret. Some things were better left unknown to avoid trouble.


    Zhao Ning was a wise and intelligent person. Otherwise, Wang Hong wouldn''t have entrusted him with important responsibilities.


    In fact, the hundred personal guards Wang Hong brought out were not only loyal but also well-trained academically and martially.


    Liu Changsheng took the main seat, and Wang Hong stood respectfully by the side.


    "Fellow Daoists, there''s no need for excessive courtesy. I am Liu Changsheng, currently serving as the manager of the Azure Void City branch of the Immortal Way Trading Company. If you have any needs in the future, you cane directly to me."


    Liu Changsheng introduced himself amiably and continued, "I will be in charge of this supply transaction. In addition to the first-tier Spiritual Objects I''ve been providing, I''ve brought some second-tier Spiritual Objects for you. However, I would like to remind everyone that wealth can stir one''s desires. If your strength is insufficient, selling second-tier Spiritual Objects should be done with caution."


    Initially excited to hear about the avability of second-tier Spiritual Objects, the shopkeepers were brought back to reality by Liu Changsheng''s words. His cautionary advice made them instantly sober. They were all smart people, quick to understand.


    In the end, except for Manager Fang, who had already reached Foundation Building, the others cautiously chose only one or two second-tier Spiritual Herbs, while some opted for two or three.


    They also made a silent determination to find ways toplete their Foundation Building. Otherwise, they would fall behind.


    The transaction concluded, and Wang Hong earned nearly a million Spirit Stones.


    Liu Changsheng was astonished. He had saved for over a hundred years and had just two million Spirit Stones. Now, in a single transaction, he had reached a million.


    Of course, he understood that doing business had its costs. Even with just ten percent profit, it amounted to a hundred thousand, a considerable sum.


    "Alright! From now on, I entrust the management of this business to you. As for the goods, I will deliver them regrly.


    Additionally, I''d like to ask you, how long do you think it will take for Shadow Kill''s influence to fully recover in Azure Void City? This concerns our lives, so please inform me."


    "From the information I''ve received, gathering a new group anding over will take about half a year. When they arrive in Azure Void City, they''ll need time to familiarize themselves with the environment and settle in; all of this takes time," Liu Changsheng replied after some thought.


    Although he didn''t reveal specific details about Shadow Kill at the time, he also didn''t participate in the conflicts between the two parties.


    This information was for self-preservation. He wasn''t willing to disclose specific details about individuals rted to Shadow Kill, such as their information and whereabouts.


    "Then, in your estimation, if someone is sent to assassinate me next time, what kind of cultivator do you think they would send?"


    "Because of your proficiency in poison, that information has likely spread. The assant will undoubtedly be skilled in that aspect. Secondly, the likelihood of the person being a Foundation Building cultivator is extremely high, based on the strength you''ve disyed."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 146: He Yuans Worries

    Chapter 146: He Yuans Worries


    Wang Hong, in his efforts to help Liu Changsheng conceal his identity, willingly exposed his own use of poison. He believed that by revealing this skill, it would make it harder for others to catch him off guard in future encounters.


    This move had its pros and cons. While it exposed one of his hidden cards, it also gained him a valuable ally. Wang Hong saw the benefits outweighing the drawbacks.


    Had he not revealed his poison technique, the next encounter with Shadow Kill assassins might have only involved opponents at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. Dealing with two Qi Cultivation grandmasters against a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivator would have been overestimating his abilities.


    Now, it seemed likely that they would send Foundation Building cultivators after him, probably in the early stages of Foundation Building. Looking at Shadow Kill''s past methods, dispatching two cultivators seemed more probable.


    Facing two Foundation Building early-stage cultivators against a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivator, especially with the likelihood of a surprise attack, was a challenging situation. Dealing with them head-on was one thing, but evading hidden threats was another matter.


    Fortunately, by eliminating the Shadow Kill branch this time, the next encounter would likely be months away. Wang Hong nned to use this time to quietly enhance his strength and umte more hidden cards.


    After a brief exchange with Liu Changsheng, Wang Hong left, as there wasn''t much to attend to at the Immortal Way Trading Company currently.


    Returning to his residence in Azure Void City, it was now flourishing. The courtyard boasted five acres of spirit fields. Initially, before joining Qingxu Sect, Wang Hong had nted some Spirit Grain and Spirit Wheat. There was also an acre of spirit fruit trees, including a second-tier white crystal fruit tree.


    The once-acre of spirit fruit trees, nted with mature fruit trees, now bore abundant fruits, highly enticing to anyone. The yearly harvest from this acre alone was worth nearly a thousand Spirit Stones.


    At present, Wang Hong had no shortage of Spirit Stones, and he left them for his subordinates to enjoy as snacks.


    Rumors circted that some destitute loose cultivators tried to sneak inst year to steal spirit fruits. They were caught by patrolling subordinates, given a severe beating, and then thrown out.


    As for the second-tier white crystal fruit tree, its growth seemed mysterious. Despite being nted some time ago, the fruits showed no sign of ripening.


    The second-tier Spirit Grain in the spirit fields, which had been a bit sluggish, fully recovered after Wang Hong had Zhang Chunfeng bring back some Space Soil to fertilize the fields.


    Now, the crops were thriving, with the wheat reaching a height of one zhang. Green rice spikes emerged, each spikerge and promising a bountiful harvest in a few years.


    Thergest building in the courtyard, which had always been reserved for him, stood prominently.


    Wang Hong summoned He Yuan.


    "East Master!"


    "Take a seat; I want to discuss something with you," Wang Hong said casually.


    He Yuan sat in a chair at the lower end. His once white hair, a result of essence blood depletion, now appeared rejuvenated and healthy. Only the white hair, draped behind him, added a touch of ethereal charm.


    "How long have you been with me?" Wang Hong sipped his tea and asked.


    He Yuan pondered for a moment and replied, "East Master, it has been six years."


    Answering this question, He Yuan felt a bit uneasy. When someone in a higher position asked such a question so calmly, it usually meant they were about to discuss something significant.


    Honestly, life had been quitefortable since he started following Wang Hong. Except for the initial risky task of killing a Foundation Building cultivator from the Lin Family, he had very little to worry about in the following years. The resources for cultivation were abundant.


    He Yuan couldn''t help but wonder if Wang Hong was considering letting him go. If that were the case, he felt a twinge of reluctance. His family had already abandoned him, and he didn''t want to return to a life of servitude where his value would be exploited.


    He had already repaid his debts to the family over these years. Wang Hong treated his subordinates exceptionally well, and He Yuan believed it would be challenging to find such generosity elsewhere in Azure Void City.


    Therefore, he had umted considerable wealth during these years. In the future, he could even buy a Foundation Establishment Pill himself and attempt Foundation Building. His aptitude was good, but his age might reduce the sess rate to around fifty percent.


    "Time flies, doesn''t it? What are your ns for the future once you leave?" Wang Hong asked calmly.


    He Yuan felt like Wang Hong had guessed correctly; he was indeed considering parting ways. He also felt that he had the least valuepared to others like the Ma Brothers, who were skilled in Alchemy and ttery.


    He wished there was a sudden disturbance that required his martial prowess, something to make him feel more significant.


    "I haven''t thought about it yet. After all, there are still several years, right?" He Yuan felt that if he left, he would have to wander around, trying to earn Spirit Stones through activities like monster hunting, herb gathering, or guarding houses. Certainly, the ie wouldn''tpare to the leisurely life he had with Wang Hong.


    "I have a proposal; I wonder if you would be interested."


    As expected, He Yuan anticipated Wang Hong''s announcement of his departure, feeling a bit disheartened. "East Master, please go ahead."


    "I heard you''ve been preparing for Foundation Building andck Foundation Establishment Pills."


    "That''s true. I''ve been saving up my contribution points and various Spiritual Objects given to me over these years."


    Feeling like he had gained too many benefits in these years, He Yuan added, "East Master, you don''t need to allocate so many contribution points to me every month. After all, I don''t have much to do now."


    "These are rightfully yours. Everyone receives the same amount; it''s not specifically for you. Even though you''re idle now, there might be times when I need your assistance."


    Wang Hong saw nothing wrong with He Yuan being idle. It was like a country''s military, even though it required significant funding each year, having the military idle was preferable.


    "In fact, I called you here because I have a Foundation Establishment Pill. I can assist you in sessfully reaching Foundation Building. Since I''m providing the Foundation Establishment Pill, I naturally expect you to serve for a more extended period," Wang Hong straightforwardly stated.


    Thinking that Wang Hong might ask him to leave, He Yuan nodded at first, only realizing what Wang Hong meant after a moment. He was stunned by this tremendous surprise.


    "I''m willing. I can serve for thirty years after Foundation Building, not just twenty or ten."


    After a brief daze, he quickly expressed his willingness, stating that he could serve for thirty years. Though a bit confused earlier, he heard Wang Hong correctlyWang Hong was offering to help him sessfully reach Foundation Building, not just providing one or two Foundation Establishment Pills.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 147: Trading Conference

    Chapter 147: Trading Conference


    Wang Hong initially thought that having a Foundation Building cultivator serve for twenty years would be sufficient. Given He Yuan''s aptitude, two Foundation Establishment Pills should be enough.


    Since He Yuan volunteered to serve for thirty years, then so be it.


    Thirty yearster, if He Yuan''s performance was satisfactory, Wang Hong could offer other items in exchange.


    "Alright, I can help you achieve Foundation Building, and in return, you''ll serve me for another thirty years."


    "Thank you, East Master! I am willing to go through fire and water for East Master, not hesitating to die ten thousand deaths!"


    He Yuan bowed deeply, a gesture he hadn''t shown Wang Hong before.


    "That''s enough, no need for excessive courtesy! Here are two Foundation Establishment Pills; take them first. If the two pills are unsessful, I will provide you with moreter."


    Wang Hong took out a jade vial from his Storage Bag and handed it to He Yuan.


    At the same time, he inscribed a Jade Scroll, detailing his understanding and experiences with Foundation Building. Wang Hong believed his Foundation Building experience might be considered a bit of a failure, but any guidance for He Yuan would be better than none.


    "Alright, you may leave. Also, bring the Ma Brothers here."


    He Yuan bowed again before leaving.


    After a moment, the Ma Brothers entered from outside.


    "Ma Zhong, Ma Yi pays respects to East Master!"


    "Congrattions to East Master for greatly advancing your strength and sessfully plotting against formidable enemies."


    They had heard about Wang Hong using a poison pit to kill a Foundation Building cultivator and wanted to praise him.


    "Look at you two, your ttery skills have regressed. You''re patting the horse''s leg instead of its back. Have some self-awareness," Wang Hong scolded with augh.


    Not many cultivators liked to publicize using poison pits, and some even hoped to use the technique again in the future. By boasting about it, it might be misconstrued as a subtle mockery.


    "How is your Alchemy proficiency now?"


    "East Master, our Pill Sess Rate in Alchemy has reached eighty percent. Additionally, we are researching the technique of refining multiple materials in a single furnace."


    With ample materials for refinement in their daily lives, their Alchemy skills had progressed rapidly. Having an eighty percent Pill Sess Rate in a tier-one Alchemist was already considered top-notch.


    "Not bad. How about your grasp of the method to refine multiple materials in a furnace?"


    "We''ve started experimenting with it, but unfortunately, all attempts have failed," the two replied somewhat disheartened.


    "It''s okay to fail. Everyone in Alchemy wastes some materials at the beginning. If you master this skill, I can reward you with Foundation Establishment Pills."


    Among Wang Hong''s subordinates, aside from He Yuan and Zhang Chunfeng, the Ma Brothers had the highest cultivation levels. Wang Hong believed that with Foundation Establishment Pills, he could cultivate more Foundation Building cultivators. Having just given away two pills, Zhang Chunfeng still had three, and he could exchange his Sect contribution points for three more.


    Apart from the Ma Brothers, the one with a higher cultivation level was Skinny Monkey, but he was still at the seventh level of Qi Cultivation, a step away from Foundation Building.


    Upon hearing the chance to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills, the Ma Brothers were overjoyed.


    "Thank you for your kindness, East Master. We will surely grasp it soon and make sure to satisfy you."


    After guiding them in some Alchemy techniques, Wang Hong let them leave.


    Later, Wang Hong met separately with Wen Lan, Luo Zhongjie, Xu Lun, and others.


    Despite their current lower cultivation levels, they were efficient in their respective responsibilities. Having been with Wang Hong for many years, their loyalty was irreceable, something Wang Hong valued greatly. When conditions were right, he nned to allocate more resources to cultivate them to Foundation Building, granting them two hundred years of lifespan as a reward for their loyalty.


    With an abundance of Spiritual Herbs in his Space, Wang Hong couldn''t imagine how many Foundation Establishment Pills he could refine when the time came. Instead of hoarding them in the Space, he intended to use them on his subordinates, easily cultivating dozens of Foundation Building cultivators.


    During this period, they discreetly purchased many Demonic Beast corpses in Azure Void City, all of which were now handed over to Wang Hong.


    With these Demonic Beast corpses, the demon-hunting tree could produce numerous seeds. Wang Hong could then refine arge quantity of Essence Core Pills. Consuming one Essence Core Pill could increase strength by a hundred pounds, a treasure for body cultivators. Taking one daily would result in an increase of over thirty thousand pounds of strength in a year.


    Wang Hong stayed in the residence for three days, engaging in conversations with each of his subordinates and joining them for meals and drinks daily.


    Three dayster, Wang Hong sought out Liu Changsheng again.


    "Keep an eye out for these materials in your daily observations. If you find them, buy them for me regardless of cost."


    Wang Hong handed Liu Changsheng a Jade Scroll containing a list of Spiritual Herbs and refining tool materials needed for his cultivation techniques and Foundation Pill refinement. These were rtively rare, and even after searching many stores, he couldn''t find them. Fortunately, he had collected some in a secret realm, enough toplete most of the requirements.


    The refining tool materials were for a heavier Spiritual Weapon he intended to refine for meleebat. With his current strength of a hundred thousand pounds, wielding a few-thousand-pound Magical Weapon felt like holding straw.


    Liu Changsheng examined the list and said, "East Master, the items you need are rare and hard to find in ordinary shops. You may only encounter them at trading conferences for Foundation Building cultivators or auctions specifically for high-tier cultivators."


    Being over a hundred years old, Liu Changsheng was well-versed in these matters, which was why Wang Hong sought him out.


    "Just keep an eye out in the future. If you find them, buy them at any cost. If not, there''s no rush," Wang Hong said, understanding the difficulty of finding these items.


    He also left a list for his subordinates in the residence, but with mostly Qi Cultivation disciples, he didn''t expect them to have many opportunities to ess high-tier items.


    "East Master, I heard about a small Foundation Building cultivators'' trading conference happening tomorrow. If you''re interested, you can personally go and take a look."


    Liu Changsheng suddenly remembered the event and suggested it to Wang Hong.


    "Oh, a Foundation Building trading conference! When and where is it tomorrow?" Wang Hong was intrigued; he had never witnessed such an event before. He nned to change his appearance, wear the Misty Illusion Mask, and reveal his Foundation Building cultivation level, making it impossible for anyone to guess that he was just a Qi Cultivation cultivator.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 148: Resplendent Visage Elixir

    Chapter 148: Resplendent Visage Elixir


    In the bustling streets of Azure Void City, where the hustle and bustle of life painted a vivid scene, there was one ce that stood out from the lively surroundings. A rather inconspicuous building with a small sign reading "Trading Pavilion" was devoid of the usual crowd. This was the ce for transactions.


    Wang Hong, still concealing his true appearance under twoyers of disguise, now appeared as a middle-aged man. He lingered around the vicinity, his first time entering the inner circle of this tier as a Foundation Building cultivator. The only acquaintances he had in this circle were Elder Brother and someone named Liu Changsheng.


    In the cultivation world, each tier had its own social circles, often referred to as "daopanions" in the realm of wealth and cultivation. Everyone inevitably had to interact with other immortal cultivators, engaging in discussions, sparring, and trading items. Hence, havingpanions was indispensable.


    Except for Liu Changsheng''s guidance, Wang Hong wouldn''t have paid much attention to this unassuming venue, as he had passed by it several times before without noticing it. Surprisingly, this seemingly inconspicuous ce was a trading pavilion specifically for Foundation Building cultivators.


    Liu Changsheng informed him that cultivators of Foundation Building or higher rarely sold rare spiritual objects directly. Most preferred to keep them, hoping to exchange them for items they needed from other cultivators. This method of trade was highly inefficient in a world filled with countless treasures, such as the myriad of Spirit Herbs Wang Hong had studied, numbering over a hundred thousand.


    In this vast array of treasures, the probability of two people possessing items the other needed was lower than finding a Dao Companion in a sea of people. Yet, very few were willing to exchange their precious items for Spirit Stones, as converting back to Spirit Stones was challenging.


    Entering the small shop, Wang Hong was greeted by an Old Man in the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation, who amiably bowed to him. "Is the senior here for the trading pavilion?"


    "Indeed."


    "Thank you! It''s a hundred Spirit Stones per person."


    Wang Hong handed over a hundred Spirit Stones, the entrance fee for this venue. These establishments, mainly run by well-connected cultivators, thrived on these fees. Sometimes, familiar cultivators gathered for impromptu trades, but such asions were infrequent. Thus, the need for a dedicated ce arose, organized periodically with an entry fee to cover costs and ensure a profit for the organizers.


    "Senior, please head upstairs."


    Having received the Spirit Stones, the Old Man led Wang Hong to the upper floor.


    In the hall upstairs, there were nearly a hundred sets of tables and chairs, with over a dozen Foundation Building cultivators already seated. Most of them were at the early stage of Foundation Building, with only one at theter stage.


    After Wang Hong entered, he casually found a seat, and soon someone ced some ordinary spirit fruits and spirit tea on his wooden table.


    These weremon spirit fruits, not worth many Spirit Stones. Wang Hong took a sip, finding the taste quite ordinary. Considering the mere hundred Spirit Stones entrance fee, he didn''t expect anything fancier.


    With two hours left until the official start of the trading pavilion, people continued to trickle in. After two hours, more than fifty people were seated in the hall, not reaching full capacity but still contributing over five thousand Spirit Stones for this session.


    Twice a month, on the first and fifteenth days, this ie added up to over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones annually, a decent profit.


    At this moment, a middle-aged cultivator entered, stood in the center, and respectfully bowed to each direction.


    "I am Xue Pu. I thank Fellow Daoists for the honor and for participating in this trading pavilion. As per tradition, please ce the items you wish to trade on the table and then state the items you want in return based on seating order."


    After his words, everyone presented their trade items on the tables. The items varied from materials obtained from Demonic Beasts, such as ws, feathers, teeth, bones, and essence blood, to bizarre things like a whip resembling a tiger''s, as thick as a person''s calf and five feet long, origin unknown.


    This action attracted the attention of nearby female cultivators. Some showed disinterest, others pretended to be disgusted while sneakily ncing, and there was even a bold one who curiously reached over and touched it.


    Various ores and materials for refining tools and alchemy were also disyed. One cultivator with a stern expression even ced a massive material,rger than two tablesbined, directly on the floor.


    Of course, Wang Hong was most interested in the array of Spiritual Herbs and rted items. Some were already in his possession, and for those hecked, he hoped to acquire them all. After all, he was operating under a false identity and wasn''t afraid of attracting attention.


    First up was a mid-stage Foundation Building female cultivator, appearing to be in her twenties. Her skin was radiant, and she showcased several Spirit Herbs, pieces of ore, and a section of ck spirit wood.


    "I want to exchange for a Resplendent Visage Elixir. You can choose from my itemsStar-Moon Grass, Purple Orchid Grass, and this section of Golden Ironwood."


    She introduced all her items, which were second-tier Spirit Herbs and ores. After finishing, she looked expectantly at the gathered cultivators.


    Over a hundred years old, she had taken a Resplendent Visage Elixir in her youth, allowing her to maintain a youthful appearance even in her centennial age. Dao Companions hade and gone, but she still looked like a maiden in her prime. Her favorite pastime was strolling outside, where young cultivators blushed upon seeing her.


    Unfortunately, the effects of the Resplendent Visage Elixir were about to fade, and once they did, she would rapidly age, eventually bing an elderly woman with gray hair and wrinkled skin. This prospect was unbearable to her, and in recent years, she frequented various trading pavilions in hopes of obtaining another Resplendent Visage Elixir.


    She looked at more than thirty people consecutively, all without any response. It seemed like another failed attempt, and she could only return empty-handed.


    When she looked at a middle-aged cultivator, his gaze didn''t shy away from her scrutiny. Instead, their eyes met, and his gaze was clear. She knew this wasn''t a gaze of admiration but something else.


    She smiled and asked, "Fellow Daoist, do you happen to have a Resplendent Visage Elixir?"


    "I do have a Resplendent Visage Elixir, but Fellow Daoist, I''ll need to pick at least three items from your table in exchange."


    Wang Hong replied with a smile.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 149: Medium-grade Spirit Stone

    Chapter 149: Medium-grade Spirit Stone


    "Fellow Daoist, the value of these items on my table exceeds that of the Resplendent Visage Elixir, and I have at most two of them."


    The items on her table were no ordinary treasures but a collection of rare finds she had gathered over the years.


    "This Fellow Daoist, I only have this one Resplendent Visage Elixir, and it was not easy to obtain. I was nning to give it to a beloved female cultivator. I won''t exchange it without sufficient benefits."


    Wang Hong spoke confidently, knowing that a woman with a high cultivation level wouldn''t fear death, so what were a few Spiritual Objects to her? He had the upper hand.


    "Giggle! It seems fate has brought us together! Look, why not give it to me? If you want, bing Dao Companions is not impossible!"


    This female cultivator, having lived for over a hundred years, had encountered countless male cultivators. asionally teasing younger ones was her favorite pastime.


    Besides, old cows prefer young grass, right?


    "Cough! Fellow Daoist, if you were to give the Resplendent Visage Elixir to another female cultivator midway, you might face consequences when you return! If you can''t choose three Spiritual Objects, I won''t make the exchange."


    Wang Hong firmly stated.


    "Alright, I''ll let you choose three, not understanding the value of a rare beauty." The female cultivator said with a hint ofment in her eyes, as if Wang Hong had abandoned her without reason.


    Wang Hong picked three items from her table and handed her a Jade vial containing a Resplendent Visage Elixir.


    He chose two Spirit Herbs and an intriguing piece of Golden Ironwood. His main interesty in this ck spirit wood, showing signs of vitality. It should thrive when nted in his spatial storage.


    Golden Ironwood was an excellent material for refining tools and could grow into a third-tier spirit wood. In its infancy, it was green, gradually turning ck after three hundred years, and finally, around eight hundred years, it would transform into a golden third-tier spirit wood.


    The first transaction of this exchange was a sess, marking a promising start.


    Next was an elderly male cultivator, his table adorned with feathers, bird ws, and a chaotic arrangement of ores.


    "I have some me Bird feathers and ws, along with some Iron Mother Ore. I want to exchange them for Nourishing Essence Pills."


    This request posed a challenge. As Foundation Building cultivators, everyone found Nourishing Essence Pills insufficient for personal use, let alone trading them for tool-refining materials.


    In such exchanges, cultivators often offered items they didn''t need personally but hesitated to sell for Spirit Stones.


    Pills and Spirit Wine were especially hard toe by, as these were items everyone could use, and once used, there was no surplus for trading.


    As expected, after fifteen minutes passed, no one responded, and the old man''s trade failed.


    The subsequent twenty-plus transactions varied in sess and failure.


    Wang Hong managed to exchange for a second-tier Spirit Herb, a variety hecked in his spatial storage. He paid with two second-tier spirit fruits.


    He also eyed several Spiritual Herbs butcked what the other party desired.


    Now, it was the turn of a middle-aged man carrying a giant whip to make his trade.


    "I have a whip made from the antlers of a Three-Eyed Lustful Deer. I want to trade it for a second-tier healing pill."


    The Three-Eyed Lustful Deer was known for its lecherous nature, and its antler whip was a potent tonic for replenishing Yang energy.


    Soon, two cultivators expressed interest in the trade, with one being a middle-aged woman. In the end, the female cultivator exchanged two second-tier healing pills for the whip.


    Next up was a sturdy-built Foundation Building cultivator in the middle stage.


    "I have a thousand kilograms of Iron Mother Ore and want to exchange it for some second-tier Spirit Wine. Would any Fellow Daoist be willing to part with it?"


    The sturdy cultivator looked around after speaking, but to his dismay, no one showed any reaction. So, he repeated his words.


    Seeing the continuedck of response, the sturdy cultivator took out another item from his Storage Bag.


    This item was as thick as a thumb, square in cross-section, and less than an inch long, emitting a faint white glow.


    "Ah!"


    "Medium-grade Spirit Stone!"


    ...


    Instantly, a series of exmations echoed through the crowd.


    The sturdy cultivator had revealed a medium-grade Spirit Stone this time. The distinguishing feature of a medium-grade Spirit Stone from a low-grade one was its different cutting shape. While a low-grade Spirit Stone was thumb-sized and square, a medium-grade Spirit Stone was also thumb-sized but rectangr, roughly equivalent in volume to two low-grade Spirit Stones.


    In the Cultivation World, Spirit Stones were ssified into three grades: upper, medium, and lower. Usually, when people mentioned Spirit Stones, they referred to the lower-grade ones. The exchange rate between the upper, medium, and lower grades was one to ten thousand.


    For instance, one upper-grade Spirit Stone could be exchanged for ten thousand medium-grade Spirit Stones, and simrly, one medium-grade could be exchanged for ten thousand lower-grade ones.


    However, due to the continuous decline of Spirit Qi in the world, medium-grade Spirit Stones had be extremely rare, and upper-grade ones were even rarer.


    Cultivators often said that even with Spirit Stones, it was challenging to purchase second-tier Spiritual Objects. This was mainly referring to lower-grade Spirit Stones. With medium-grade Spirit Stones, such purchases were still feasible.


    Medium-grade Spirit Stones were considered a more robust form of currency in the Cultivation World. This was because they not only served as currency but also had many effects that lower-grade Spirit Stones couldn''t rece.


    For example, assisting in cultivation: all Spirit Stones had a role in aiding cultivation. Holding a Spirit Stone while meditating allowed the absorption of its Spiritual Energy, making cultivation noticeably faster than simple meditation.


    Wang Hong rarely relied on meditation to enhance his cultivation, so he hadn''t used Spirit Stones for cultivation assistance.


    After reaching the Foundation Building stage, the assistance provided by lower-grade Spirit Stones in cultivation became minimal. Medium-grade Spirit Stones were needed for better results.


    Besides meditation, they were also immensely helpful in restoring Spiritual Power. Holding a Spirit Stone during or after a battle significantly increased Spiritual Power recovery.


    For Qi Cultivation cultivators, the Spiritual Energy recovery provided by medium-grade Spirit Stones could even rival that of first-tier Spirit Wine, although there was still a considerable gappared to second-tier Spirit Wine.


    Seeing the sturdy cultivator directly present a medium-grade Spirit Stone, it stirred a bit of interest among the others.


    However, after hesitating for a while, no one spoke up. Generally, even if cultivators possessed second-tier Spirit Wine, they wouldn''t have much. Exchanging it meant losing what they had.


    Wang Hong, having been in business for many years, had earned millions of Spirit Stones, but he had never seen a medium-grade Spirit Stone.


    Now that he saw one, he intended to make the exchange. Unlike others who carried only a few or a couple of pounds of Spirit Wine, his spatial storage was already piled up with a small mountain of second-tier Spirit Wine, totaling thousands of kilograms.


    "I do have some second-tier Spirit Wine. How much are you nning to exchange for one medium-grade Spirit Stone?" Wang Hong inquired.


    The sturdy cultivator, who had lost hope after seeing a few people hesitate earlier, didn''t expect another person to show interest.


    "I''d like to exchange for a pound of second-tier Spirit Wine. Do you have that much?"


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 150: Recruiting New Members

    Chapter 150: Recruiting New Members


    "Sure, I have Spirit Wine, but I''d like to choose something from your items as well," the sturdy and short cultivator said.


    In front of the stout cultivatory various items, including the iron mother ore.


    Wang Hong wasn''t particrly interested in any item; he just felt it shouldn''t be too easy to agree.


    "Alright, besides the iron mother ore, you can choose anything else," the stout cultivator replied after a moment of thought. He was heading to a dangerous ce and having a pound of Spirit Wine to promptly replenish Spiritual Power would significantly enhance his safety.


    Wang Hong, feigning seriousness, picked a piece of ore from the pile. He was utterly ignorant about refining tools and had no idea what kind of ore it was.


    The stout cultivator took Wang Hong''s Spirit Wine, inspected it, and sniffed it. It seemed decent, slightly better in quality than the usual second-tier low-grade Spirit Wine.


    When cultivators spoke of second-tier Spirit Wine without specifying medium or high grade, they usually referred to second-tier low-grade Spirit Wine.


    After the transaction, it was the turn of the next cultivator. After a few rounds, it finally came to Wang Hong''s position.


    In front of him were some Spirit Herbs and spirit fruits. Though not particrly precious, they were diverse.


    "I wish to purchase East Departure Grass, Dragon Blood Grass, Golden Leaf Mushroom, Purple Leaf Orchid... I prioritize exchanging these materials for the Spiritual Objects in front of me," Wang Hong listed more than ten names of Spiritual Herbs, some needed for his cultivation techniques, and others deliberately added to confuse.


    "Fellow Daoist, do you have any second-tier Spirit Wine?" a red-faced cultivator asked at this point.


    "I do have some Spirit Wine. What do you intend to exchange for?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "I have a 300-year-old East Departure Grass and want to exchange it for one or two second-tier Spirit Wines," the red-faced cultivator suggested reasonably.


    "Alright," Wang Hong reluctantly took out one or two Spirit Wines, enough for an early Foundation Building cultivator to recover Spiritual Power once.


    "Fellow Daoist, I also have the Purple Leaf Orchid you need, 300 years old. But I won''t trade if you don''t have Spirit Wine," another round-faced cultivator said. Initially disinterested in Wang Hong''s Spiritual Herbs, he changed his mind after seeing the red-faced cultivator get Spirit Wine.


    "I do have some, but a 300-year-old Purple Leaf Orchid is not as valuable as East Departure Grass. I can only offer half a pound of Spirit Wine," Wang Hong exined.


    "No way! Half a pound is too little. Add a bit more. This Purple Leaf Orchid has excellent quality," the round-faced cultivator insisted, disying a jade box with a purple Spiritual Herb inside for Wang Hong to inspect.


    "Well, I''ll give you half a pound of Spirit Wine and an additional two white crystal fruits. How about that?" Wang Hong proposed.


    In the end, the two reached an agreement. Wang Hong traded half a pound of second-tier Spirit Wine and two white crystal fruits for the Purple Leaf Orchid.


    Seeing the potential deals, other cultivators eagerly presented their Spiritual Objects, wanting to trade with Wang Hong. However, none had the specific Spiritual Herbs he needed. Wang Hong onlypleted two transactions, exchanging a total of one or two Spirit Wines.


    Wang Hong felt a bit exhausted. Dealing with half or one pound of Spirit Wine was usually just a sip for him. Yet now, he had to haggle for such a small amount, not because he was stingy but because in the eyes of others, second-tier Spirit Wine was too precious, and he couldn''t appear too extravagant.


    He had to pretend that the Spirit Wine was very rare, to make it more reasonable.


    It seemed that the pile of second-tier Spirit Wine in his Space could only be consumed by himself; selling them all would be challenging.


    After spending half a day and wearing out his mouth, he managed to trade for several Spiritual Objects, but only sold a bit over a pound.


    Other cultivators, unable to exchange for Spirit Wine, felt a bit regretful. However, considering that the other party had already traded for more than a pound, it made sense to retain some for emergency use.


    The transactions continued, but Wang Hong chose not to participate further. He had already traded for what he needed, and the remaining items held no attraction for him.


    After the trade, Xue Pu stepped forward again, offering a courteous bow.


    "Thanks to the generous support of Fellow Daoists, this trading event has concluded sessfully! If any Fellow Daoists still have treasures left untraded, you can register them here, leaving contact information. In the future, if there''s a suitable trade, we will get in touch. Registration is free, and if a trade seeds, we will charge a ten percentmission."


    At this point, he took out a book-shaped Spiritual Weapon, executed a few Techniques, and created some illusions in front of the Spiritual Weapon.


    "Please take a look, Fellow Daoists. These are the demands left by participants in previous trading events."


    Wang Hong carefully examined each illusion, apanied by textual descriptions.


    "Seven Star Grass, 700 years old, excellent quality, seeking exchange for Nourishing Essence Pill."


    "Thousand-Year White Sand from the Seabed, ten pounds, seeking exchange for a second-tier attack Talisman."


    ...


    "I need this Four-Leaf Red Flower Grass, and I happen to have the Mysterious Yellow Stone he wants."


    Some cultivators immediately discovered what they were looking for and informed Xue Pu. After confirming, Xue Pu sent out a Transmission Talisman.


    Wang Hong thought this approach was reasonable. If a trade could bepleted, it would be great; if not, there was no loss.


    He registered his own Spiritual Objects and the items he desired, then left the trading venue.


    He returned to Liu Changsheng''s residence, a new one he had purchased for 900,000 Spirit Stone. Liu Changsheng had abandoned the previous houses he prepared; he was afraid of being exposed.


    Although this residence was slightly smaller than the previous one, the Spiritual Qi was denser, making it a suitable cultivation haven.


    Most of his subordinates didn''t have Spiritual Roots, so the strength of the Spiritual Qi didn''t affect them much. However, he nned to recruit new people here, and they would likely require Spiritual Roots for effective cultivation.


    "Go to the Mortal Realm and find some children with Spiritual Roots. Bring them here for education and training," Wang Hong instructed Liu Changsheng.


    Children with undeveloped minds were easy to educate and guide, making it easier to cultivate loyalty. Wang Hong always believed that loyalty and character were the most important.


    "What qualifications do we require for the newly recruited members?" Liu Changsheng asked.


    "Finding highly qualified individuals is too difficult and time-consuming. As long as they have four or more Spiritual Roots, they can be recruited."


    Wang Hong knew that Mortals with Spiritual Roots were rare, and those with good qualifications were even rarer. Back at Qing Yang Academy, with so many people, he only saw Wang Yi with a Heavenly Spirit Root. There was another student with a tricolored light, but they weren''t directly recruited.


    Above three Spiritual Roots, there were only two individuals. If he demanded excellent qualifications for everyone, it would take ages to recruit them all.


    He would rather save time and energy to train new talents.


    It was just a matter of consuming a bit more resources, and resources were something he had in abundance.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 151: The Escaped Fish

    Chapter 151: The Escaped Fish


    His spatial realm now covered seventy-five acres, with time inside flowing at a rate of one hundred and four times that of the outside world.


    The spiritual herbs produced within his spatial realm were more than enough to sustain himself, and the surplus supplied over forty of his subordinates. Especially the lower-tier spiritual herbs matured in two to three decades, yielding multiple harvests each year.


    The spatial realm continued to expand, ensuring an increasing abundance of spiritual herbs. Simr to his second-tier spiritual wine, which piled up within the spatial realm, he couldn''t consume all of it himself, and selling it proved challenging.


    Leaving thend in the spatial realm barren was not an option, and he currentlycked the strength to expand the Immortal Way Trading Company''s supply scale.


    Even at the present scale,bined with his shop''s ie, he amassed over a million annually after deducting expenses. Yet, all the surplus found its way into his spatial realm.


    However, the Spirit Stones earned this time were invested in Liu Changsheng. Establishing influence wasn''t easy; substantial upfront investments were necessary, with no immediate returns, requiring continuous reinvestment.


    After spending several days handling various affairs in Azure Void City, Wang Hong''s elder brother and his group had returned to the sect two days ago. Now, Wang Hong was on his way back alone.


    Wang Hong piloted a flying magical weapon, steadily heading towards the sect. When he reached the top of a mountain, a ck light suddenly shot from below, aiming directly at his forehead.


    In the urgency of the moment, without much thought, he summoned a middle-grade spiritual weapon, the Golden Light Bowl.


    Before the Golden Light Bowl could transform, it collided head-on with the ck light.


    With a resounding "bang," the ck light shattered and dispersed. The Golden Light Bowl tumbled a few times but remained undamaged.


    "Hehe! Unexpected for a mere Qi Cultivation cultivator to possess a middle-grade defensive spiritual weapon."


    A cultivator in a ck robe emerged from the mountain below, wielding a ck bow. If Wang Hong''s elder brother were present, he would recognize him as the Foundation Building third-level cultivator who had previously ambushed them.


    When they destroyed the Shadow Kill hideout, a dozen or so individuals outside were fortunate enough to escape. This assassin was one of those lucky ones, having hidden himself after the hideout was destroyed.


    His luck continued as he noticed Wang Hong leaving the city alone. Having previously undertaken the assassination mission from Number 107, he had failed and faced punishment from Xing Steward. With Xing Steward now killed, he had managed to survive.


    Having taken on Number 107''s mission, he knew some details about the target, Number 106. Seeing Wang Hong leave the city, he silently followed, waiting for an opportunity to strike.


    Although the hideout had been destroyed, and everyone had gone into hiding, it wouldn''t be long before the headquarters sent more people. Seizing this chance to earn some merit, he could make a name for himself in front of the newly appointed overseer.


    Despite having a higher cultivation level than Wang Hong, adhering to the assassin''s professional habits, he chose to ambush.


    Wang Hong waved, holding the Golden Light Bowl in his hand, coldly staring at the ck-clothed individual.


    He hadn''t expected someone to attempt an assassination so soon, especially a Foundation Building third-level cultivator.


    Turning his flying magical weapon, he retreated. Though he possessed the strength to fight, fleeing suited his identity as a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer cultivator.


    Despite being two small realms above him, his dantian''s sea was broader. In a real fight, it should be an evenly matched battle. If he could incapacitate his opponent and seize victory when they least expected it, it would be even better.


    "Hahaha! You think you can escape?" With these words, he held the ck bow and slowly drew it, gathering Spiritual Power on the bow, forming a ck arrow.


    Then, the ck arrow shot from the bow, heading towards Wang Hong from behind.


    Wang Hong held the Golden Light Bowl, infused it with a bit of Spiritual Power, causing it to erge slightly. It appeared as if the Spiritual Energy was insufficient, unable to activate.


    When the ck light arrow was about to reach him from behind, he held the Golden Light Bowl, directly blocking the attack.


    The collision between the ck arrow and the Golden Light Bowl created a powerful shock, but for Wang Hong, a body-refining cultivator, it was nothing.


    Nevertheless, he feigned a struggle, almost letting the Golden Light Bowl slip from his hand, appearing unstable.


    "Hahaha! Take another arrow!" He shot another arrow, and Wang Hong barely managed to catch it with the Golden Light Bowl.


    The opponent continued to shoot several arrows in session. Although Wang Hong seemed to struggle, he still managed to intercept every arrow.


    Infuriated, the ck-clothed assassin put away the ck bow, summoned a flying sword, and shed towards Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong maneuvered his flying magical weapon, dodging left and right, asionally using the Golden Light Bowl to barely block the iing flying sword.


    Unnoticed, the distance between them closed to about six yards.


    Suddenly, Wang Hong shed, and in an instant, he and his flying magical weapon appeared in front of the ck-clothed assassin.


    This was his Dragon Serpent Escape technique, cultivated based on shifting positions. In the air, it allowed him to move quickly within a range of about seven yards.


    Once close, without giving the opponent a chance to retreat, Wang Hong directly used the Golden Light Bowl as a weapon, smashing it towards the ck-clothed cultivator.


    In closebat, a body-refining cultivator was invincible among peers.


    The Golden Light Bowl carried Wang Hong''s immense strength, mming down on the ck-clothed cultivator. Upon contact, the ck-clothed cultivator''s arm shattered from the tremendous force.


    With a "snap," the ck-clothed cultivator was pped to the ground by the colossal force from the air.


    Uponnding, the ck-clothed cultivator lost his human shape, turning into a messy lump of flesh.


    Wang Hong surveyed the surroundings, finding no other individuals or traps. He descended to the ground.


    Picking up the ck-clothed cultivator''s fallen Flying Sword, a low-tier Spiritual Weapon, Wang Hong didn''t want to dirty his hands. He found a nearby branch and used it to separate the messy pile of flesh.


    After rummaging for a while, he picked up a Storage Bag.


    Shaking off the flesh on the Storage Bag, he cleaned it several times with some cleansing techniques.


    Only then did he open the Storage Bag, using his Divine Sense to inspect its contents, revealing a satisfied expression.


    Wang Hong released the Spirit Fire obtained from his cultivation of the "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique." After some time of nurturing, the tiny me had grown to be five times its initial size, now asrge as five embroidery needlesbined.


    The small me stood in Wang Hong''s palm, continuously flickering.


    Then he pointed towards the messy pile of flesh on the ground, and the me leaped onto it.


    With a "puff," the messy flesh instantly ignited into a raging fire.


    The fire was fierce, and in just a moment, the pile of flesh turned into flying ashes.


    This was the first time he had released the tiny me, and it seemed to have formidable power.


    After the fire subsided, a small, inconspicuous me hovered above the remains.


    Wang Hong retracted the me and once again piloted his flying magical weapon, leaving the scene.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 152: Cloak

    Chapter 152: Cloak


    Wang Hong spent another day away from the Sect before returning. As he entered his small courtyard, Little Peng rushed towards him, colliding with his body.


    He had left Little Peng at home when he went out, providing it with a pile of food to keep itpany for several days.


    Now, upon seeing Wang Hong return, Little Peng joyfully bumped into him, its strength surprisingly robust. An ordinary person would be turned into a meat paste by its force.


    Wang Hong swiftly turned and pinned it down, mounting it.


    With Wang Hong on its back, Little Peng soared into the sky, spiraling and dancing through the air. Sometimes it dashed forward, somersaulted in mid-air, shot straight up into the clouds, performed a free fall at high speed, and then stabilized just a foot or two above the ground.


    This was theirtest trick, a game Wang Hong found more interesting than flying with his own spiritual tool.


    After ying in the air for a while, Wang Hong and Little Peng returned to the courtyard. Wang Hong prepared some food for it and then entered the Cultivation Room alone.


    In the Cultivation Room, Wang Hong took out the Storage Bag of the ck-robed assassin and emptied its contents.


    First, he found a Token with the inscription "Si Ling Liu of the Earth Division (Code number 406)."


    He now knew that the Shadow Kill had three divisions: Heaven, Earth, and Human. The two assassins he encountered earlier belonged to the Human Division, with only Qi Cultivation level.


    Assassins of the Earth Division possessed Foundation Building cultivation level. Both this Si Ling Liu (Code number 406) and the previous Huang Yu belonged to the Earth Division.


    Above the Earth Division was the Heaven Division, whose assassins were said to have Golden Core cultivation level, a terrifying thought.


    It seemed that in the long days ahead, he couldn''t reveal his true strength. He had to conceal some trump cards.


    If he showed too much strength, they might send assassins with Golden Core cultivation directly. It would be as simple as squashing an ant for them.


    With his current level of strength, even ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator would be challenging for him to handle, let alone someone with Golden Core cultivation.


    Tossing the Token aside, the item that caught Wang Hong''s attention the most in this pile was the ck longbow.


    Wang Hong grabbed the ck longbow, a rare middle-grade Spiritual Weapon, measuring five feet in length.


    Despite his wealth, he only had one middle-grade Spiritual Weapon, the Golden Light Bowl, before. Now, he had another middle-grade weapon,pleting his offense and defense with two middle-grade Spiritual Weapons.


    However, bows were generally suited for long-range attacks. As for mid-range weapons, he only had a low-grade Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword, and for closebat, he didn''t have any Spiritual Weapons at all.


    The bow''s body was refined from a ck wood material, exceptionally tough, weighing about a hundred pounds.


    The bowstring was red, likely made from the tendons of some Demonic Beast.


    After rummaging through the pile for a while, Wang Hong couldn''t find any arrows.


    When he saw the ck-d person using it, they condensed Spiritual Energy into arrows. While convenient, this type of Spiritual Energy arrow had slightly less power.


    He tried pulling the bowstring and infused it with Spiritual Power, quickly condensing a ck arrow on the bowstring.


    He loosened his grip, and with a "whoosh," the ck arrow flew out, embedding itself in arge b of blue stone. The ck arrow, made of Spiritual Energy, dissipated, leaving behind a one-inch deep hole.


    Although this type of blue stone was exceptionally sturdy, it couldn''t be used for refining tools. It was generally employed to test the power or strength of weapons.


    Wang Hong exerted his strength, which amounted to a hundred thousand catties, leaving only shallow fist imprints.


    A smile yed on his lips; he was very satisfied with this Spiritual Weapon.


    Typically, Spiritual Weapons needed refinement, leaving one''s Divine Sense imprint on them. After refining, controlling them became effortless, responding to the user''s will.


    This flexibility was why Spiritual Weapons were more spiritedpared to Magical Weapons. The Divine Sense imprints were bestowed by the owner. Once erased, the weapon became lifeless.


    Additionally, the Divine Sense imprint also served to acknowledge the master. A Spiritual Weapon with a Divine Sense imprint responded better to its owner. If someone else used it, it would feel awkward, like wearing someone else''s shoesufortable and ill-fitting.


    There were legends of powerful magical treasures generating a spirit of their own, capable of fighting enemies without the need for a master''s control. However, Wang Hong had never witnessed or heard of anyone possessing such a formidable magical treasure.


    Contentedly, he stored away the ck longbow and continued sifting through the pile on the ground. He discovered that these Shadow Kill assassins, despite the increased risks, were swimming in wealth.


    Their ie surpassed that of treasure-seeking cultivators by a considerable margin.


    Most treasure-seeking cultivators didn''t dare provoke major powers. They only robbed poor loose cultivators, resulting in meager gains with no guaranteed iefeast or famine. Unlucky ones might even incur losses.


    These assassins were different. They received a regr sry and were backed by major powers, daring to kill anyone. After a sessful assassination, all the target''s belongings became theirs, with additional rewards from superiors. They were the high-ie group among cultivators, despite the danger.


    Soon, he found a Cloak in the pile, with an attached hood and a cloak-like design.


    It turned out to be a low-grade Spiritual Weapon. Wang Hong draped it over himself and activated it with Spiritual Power.


    His figure began to blur, gradually blending with the surroundings until he vanished into thin air.


    After a moment, he reappeared.


    Wang Hong sensed that this Spiritual Weapon Cloak was simr to Liu Changsheng''s, able to conceal his form. However, there was a differenceLiu Changsheng''s allowed movement while invisible, useful for assassination or escape.


    This one, when invisible, could only stay still, unable to move.


    Its advantage was greater concealment than Liu Changsheng''s, and its Divine Sense wasn''t restricted. Liu Changsheng''s cloak had limitations on Divine Sense, leaving him unaware when poisoned.


    Despite its drawbacks, Wang Hong was satisfied with acquiring such a Spiritual Weapon. Free things, who wouldn''t be content!


    He then sorted through the pile, finding a low-grade Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword used by the ck-robed cultivator, worth tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. There were also various ores, spiritual herbs, and misceneous items that Wang Hong casually stored.


    Several bottles of Pills for cultivation, healing, etc., amounted to just over a dozen. The Spirit Stones in the Storage Bag numbered over two hundred thousand, allowing him to expand Space by two acres to cultivate the newly acquired Spiritual Herbs.


    The rest were worthless odds and ends, burned by Wang Hong with a flick of fire.


    Killing a Shadow Kill Earth Division assassin unexpectedly yielded so many valuable items, significantly alleviating his fear of Shadow Kill.


    Entering Space, Wang Hong scattered the two hundred thousand Spirit Stones, letting them absorb slowly.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 153: Purchasing the Symbol Pen

    Chapter 153: Purchasing the Symbol Pen


    After absorbing two hundred thousand Spirit Stones, Space expanded by another two acres, bringing the total to seventy-seven acres. Time flowed within at a rate one hundred and six times faster than the outside world.


    Wang Hong took the recently acquired East Departure Grass and cut dozens of root segments, nting them separately. He also nted the Golden Ironwood in a corner, patiently waiting for it to thrive before further cultivation.


    The Seven Star Grass that Wang Hong purchasedst time, a six-hundred-year-old specimen, was on the brink of withering. However, after the passage of time in Space, it had sprouted new leaves.


    Taking advantage of its revived state, Wang Hong didn''t hesitate to cut dozens of root segments from its base for propagating new nts. Seven Star Grass, aged over five hundred years, was an excellent material for crafting second-tier talismans. He reminisced about his early days in Qi Cultivation, where he could effortlessly toss a handful of talismans to turn enemies into dust.


    Upon returning to Azure Void City, Wang Hong brought back numerous Demonic Beast corpses collected by Luo Zhongjie and the others. They were piled beside the demon-hunting tree, and now the tree was adorned with various-sized cocoons.


    Some fruit pods hung from its branches; upon maturation, they burst open, releasing golden seeds. Due to the unique properties of Space''s soil, these seeds quickly germinated uponnding, growing into small demon-hunting trees.


    However, Wang Hong had no particr use for so many small demon-hunting trees. He couldn''t guard them like the group of Demonic Beasts in the secret realm did.


    Eventually, he devised a simple solution: he hung a lot of cloth horizontally under the tree. As the demon-hunting tree''s pods burst open, the seeds flew out and were caught by the cloth. As long as the seeds didn''t touch the soil, they wouldn''t take root. Wang Hong only needed to collect them regrly.


    Bybining these seeds with the nine-leaf golden thread grass and some other auxiliary Medicinal Herbs, he could refine an Essence Core Pill. This was his first self-created Pill Recipe, a departure from merely improving existing recipes.


    Previously, he had only made improvements to existing Pill Recipes and couldn''t be considered a creator. Now, he consumed one Essence Core Pill daily, gaining an additional one hundred pounds of strength. By taking three Golden Body Pills, he added another ny pounds of strength. These two pills could be taken simultaneously, allowing him to increase his strength by around two hundred pounds dailyterrifying body-refining speed.


    However, his body refinement wasn''t solely about enhancing strength; it was aprehensive improvement. If muscles and bones didn''t strengthen proportionally, using a strength of a hundred thousand pounds might turn him into a puddle of flesh.


    His progress in the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique" was slow, still stuck at the introductory tier of the firstyer.


    In the following days, Wang Hong dedicated a fixed time for cultivation each day. The remaining time was spent with Little Peng in Space, where he continued to learn Yin and Yang Runes, while Little Peng yed around.


    asionally, he refined pills like the Golden Body Pill and Essence Core Pill. However, the stockpile of the Nine-Leaf Golden Body Grass he had umted was running low. While he still had some five to six hundred-year-old specimens, he hesitated to use them all at once.


    He uprooted some one-tier Spirit Herbs, freeing upnd to nt Nine-Leaf Golden Thread Grass. After a few months, his Rune studies finally showed progress.


    Inspired by his experiences in Azure Void City, he attempted tobine me Runes. Now, he could effortlesslybine several yang symbols into a me symbol. Uponparing it with a Jade Scroll detailing me Runes, he discovered an extra yang symbol in hisposition.


    But this only indicates a difference between the two; it doesn''t necessarily mean his me Rune is incorrect.


    Each type of Rune has numerousbinations, and the Jade Scroll only exins one of the mostmon Runebinations.


    Now that he has mastered the basic me Rune, drawing it should not be too difficult. He has immersed himself in this for a long time and wants to give it a try.


    It happens that he has collected a lot of Morning Light Grass, which is perfect for making first-tier talisman paper and can be harvested in just ten years.


    Carrying arge bundle of Morning Light Grass, Wang Hong exited Space. Making talisman paper was different from conventional paper-making.


    Talisman paper needed to bear and store Spiritual Energy because each Talisman contained a Magical Art. If the quality of the talisman paper was insufficient, it couldn''t hold and store vast amounts of Spiritual Energy. Moreover, the Spiritual Energy on the paper needed to circte smoothly without any hindrance.


    He ced the Morning Light Grass and various auxiliary materials into his Alchemy furnace and crushed them with Spiritual Energy. Then, he added Spirit Spring Water to the furnace, ignited spirit charcoal below, and injected a dozen Techniques.


    The process was somewhat simr to Alchemy; impurities needed to be refined first. As the Techniques were injected, a burst of blue smoke emanated from the furnace. When the smoke gradually dissipated, leaving only a thick, slightly transparent, and white mass in the furnace.


    Wang Hong injected dozens more Techniques into the furnace, and the remaining mass flew out. Under the dual influence of Spiritual Power and Divine Sense, it slowly expanded, bing wider and thinner.


    Finally, it turned into a three-foot-square piece of paper emitting a soft white light, like the first sunlight of dawnhence its name, Morning Light Grass.


    This sheet still needed trimming to be used for making talismans. In the end, he cut out forty-nine talisman papers from it.


    He stillcked a Symbol Pen and Spiritual Ink, which he needed to buy from the market. Leaving Little Peng behind to guard, he piloted a flying Magical Weapon toward the market.


    He headed straight to Myriad Treasures Tower; they had the mostprehensive selection, saving him the trouble of searching everywhere.


    "Hello, sir! May I ask what you need?" a maid asked as she approached.


    "I want to buy a Symbol Pen and Demonic Beast essence blood."


    "Materials for making talismans are over here. May I inquire about the tier you need?" The maid led the way, asking.


    "What is the highest-tier Symbol Pen you have here?"


    "The best Symbol Pen we have is a high-grade Magical Weapon level."


    "Don''t you have anything better, like a Spiritual Weapon level?" Wang Hong, now a Foundation Building cultivator, naturally didn''t want to use a Magical Weapon level item.


    "Sir, you''re joking. Spiritual Weapons aren''t that easy toe by. We at Myriad Treasures Tower don''t have many Spiritual Weapons, and those are primarilybat-oriented. essories like Symbol Pens are already rare. Finding a high-grade Magical Weapon level one is already considered lucky. If you need one, you can find the materials yourself and thenmission our refining tool master for Refinement."


    Another round of finding materials himself. Last time, when he wanted a close-range Spiritual Weapon, Sima Jing made him search for spirit materials himself, and after so long, he had nothing to show for it.


    Since he couldn''t buy a Spiritual Weapon, he decided to make do with the high-grade Magical Weapon for now. Having something was better than nothing, especially since he hadn''t even drawn a first-tier low-grade talisman yet.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 154: First Symbol

    Chapter 154: First Symbol


    "Let''s worry about finding materialster. For now, let''s purchase this high-quality Magical Weapon Symbol Pen. How much for this Symbol Pen?" Wang Hong asked.


    "This Symbol Pen is called Golden Wolf Hair. The pen tip is made from a small tuft of hair taken from the back of the Golden Wolf King, and the pen shaft is refined with a three-hundred-year Bloodline Bamboo. It''s priced at eight thousand Spirit Stone," the attendant exined.


    A maid took out a Jade Box from the shelf, opened the lid, revealing a Symbol Pen over a foot long inside.


    Wang Hong took the Symbol Pen in his hand. The cool touch of the Bloodline Bamboo shaft with its crimson patterns felt refreshing. The emerald green shaft was adorned with many blood-red lines, and the pen tip was a golden wolf hair, resilient and sharp.


    "Alright! I''ll take this one. Also, get me a bottle of Demonic Beast Essence Blood," Wang Hong decided on the Symbol Pen.


    "Senior, what tier of Demonic Beast Essence Blood do you need?"


    "Just give me a low-tier one."


    "Is there anything else you need?" The maid handed a bottle of Demonic Beast Essence Blood to Wang Hong.


    "That''s all for now. Let''s settle the bill."


    "Senior, the Golden Wolf Hair costs eight thousand Spirit Stone, and a low-tier Demonic Beast Essence Blood is only five Spirit Stone. I''ll take the liberty to gift the Demonic Beast Essence Blood to Senior. Just pay eight thousand Spirit Stone, and you''re good."


    Wang Hong paid the eight thousand Spirit Stone, pocketed the Golden Wolf Hair, and left the marketce.


    Back in his Cultivation Room, Wang Hong closed the door and began his inscription work.


    Demonic Beast Essence Blood, used as ink for symbols, required refining before use. Wang Hong poured the blood into an inkstone and mixed it with auxiliary materials like Vermilion Spirit Sand.


    This was a simple low-tier symbol ink, the only kind he knew for now. It could only be used for crafting low-grade Talismans and had to be prepared on the spot.


    Experienced symbol craftsmen would carry various symbol inks for convenience. Wang Hong ced a piece of symbol paper on the table and secured it with a paperweight.


    Dipping the Golden Wolf Hair into the thick ink, he started inscribing. Crafting a Talisman was different from a simple Rune; it involved arranging dozens of Runes in a specific way to form a new Runebination.


    While drawing the Talisman, Wang Hong had to continuously infuse Spiritual Power. The input had to be steady and adjusted ording to the fluctuating Runes.


    He was crafting a Fireball Symbol containing nine me Runes. Connecting these Runes, Spiritual Energy flowed, creating a Magical Arts route simr to the Fireball Technique on the symbol paper.


    The process mimicked how Spiritual Energy circted in a person''s body during the use of Magical Arts. Wang Hong sessfully stored various Magical Arts in a single Talisman by using Rune imitations of Meridians'' Spiritual Energy pathways on symbol paper.


    Focusing, Wang Hong tightened his grip on the Symbol Pen and slowly drew the first Rune. Drawing a Talisman required continuous strokes without pauses. He proceeded downward, his arm tense, preventing any trembling.


    However, the harder he tried, the more he felt his arm acting disobediently. It might just be an illusion, but he sensed a sluggishness in his hand, and his Spiritual Energy seemed a bit unstable.


    By the time he reached the third Rune, he exerted a slightly higher amount of Spiritual Energy, causing all the Runes to instantly copse. mes erupted on the symbol paper, reducing it to ashes.


    It seemed he had underestimated the task. Instead of persisting, he decided not to waste these rtively inexpensive symbol papers.


    He gathered some regr paper, dipped the Golden Wolf Hair in ink without using Spiritual Energy, and practiced drawing Runes on the paper.


    After three days of practice, feeling more confident, he resumed practicing symbol crafting on the symbol paper.


    Despite consecutive failures, over twenty symbols to be exact, due to theck of coordination between Spiritual Energy and brush technique, he remained patient. He heard that some novices needed to fail hundreds of times before seeding.


    On his twenty-eighth attempt, unexpectedly, he seeded, much to his delight.


    Even though this Fireball Symbol was only worth ten Spirit Stones, he could have picked a Spirit Herb leaf from his Space that was worth the same. But this was his personally crafted First Symbol, and he seeded on the twenty-eighth try. If word got out, others might think he was a symbol-crafting genius.


    However, he knew better. He wasn''t a genius; everything he achieved was a result of his efforts, except for his possession of Space.


    The reason for his swift sess with the first symbol was his proficiency in the basic Yin and Yang Runes. While other cultivators learned symbol crafting by rote, he understood the underlying principles. This made sess more elusive for them.


    This was also why he dedicated considerable effort to mastering the basics of both Yin and Yang Runes.


    His high-level Alchemy skills, the ability to create new Pill Recipes, stemmed from extensive study and mastery of Spiritual Herb fundamentals. He delved deep into herbology, understanding properties, characteristics, and variations of various Spiritual Herbs. This knowledge allowed him to modify Pill Recipes ording to his needs.


    Simrly, his other sesses were the result of his diligent efforts. He personally tested the poison in Refinement after numerous form adjustments.


    His Poisonous Bees were cultivated through repeated trials using Spirit Bees.


    In the Cultivation World, there were often legends of individuals identally obtaining incredible opportunities and ancient inheritances, achieving unparalleled Cultivation Techniques. However, Wang Hong wasn''t particrly interested in such tales. Ancient cultivators were humans, just like present cultivators. The strength of the ancient cultivators was due to denser Spirit Qi and more natural treasures.


    Present cultivators inherited much of the knowledge of their predecessors, standing on the shoulders of those who came before. Although some advanced Cultivation Techniques were lost, the foundational knowledge persisted. Over millions of years, present cultivators had managed to create techniques better suited for the current environment.


    This distinguished humans from the demon tribes. Humans could continuously learn old knowledge and create new things. The Western Demon Tribe, despite developing for millions of years, still relied on bloodlines. If the bloodline was strong, the individual would be strong, and vice versa.


    Wang Hong noticed his thoughts wandering and refocused.


    Since the first one seeded, he continued. Out of the remaining twenty-one symbol papers, he sessfully crafted two more Fireball Symbols. He went on to produce hundreds of symbol papers, and after using them all, his sess rate improved to six sessful symbols for every ten attempts, amendable sess rate.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 155: Cultivating Poisonous Bees

    Chapter 155: Cultivating Poisonous Bees


    When his sess rate in refining Tier-One Fireball Symbols reached eighty percent, he ceased practicing symbol crafting and delved into the study of Runes.


    Currently, his most proficient skilly in me Runes.


    He wasn''t in a hurry, though. His Spirit Herb was not yet mature enough, allowing him to produce, at most, a Tier-One Intermediate-quality symbol paper.


    Tier-One High-quality symbol papers would take a few more months, and as for the Tier-Two Seven Star Grass needed for Tier-Two Refinement, that would require several more years.


    This scarcity of Tier-Two Talismans in the market was primarily due to insufficient raw materials.


    He gradually noticed a problem. After reaching the Foundation Building stage, not only were Tier-Two Spiritual Herbs challenging to find for their Realm, but other Tier-Two Spiritual Objects were also elusive.


    Materials for symbol crafting and refining tools, he had encountered several times, necessitating him to seek out materials to refine the desired Spiritual Weapon.


    So far, his melee weapon was still absent, and he nned to create a Spiritual Weapon-grade Symbol Pen in the future, requiring him to gather materials himself.


    He could nt the pen''s handle material in his Space, and there were many spirit woods suitable for refining tools.


    In the future, he needed to collect such materials, nting them in the Space to save the trouble of searching for materials.


    It seemed that, for now, relying on Talismans to enhance his strength in a short time was not feasible.


    The fundamental improvement in his cultivation level was essential, but the daily increase in Spiritual Power from his dantian''s sea was fixed, with no shortcuts avable.


    Additionally, he only had Poisonous Bees and poison at his disposal.


    After years of nurturing his Poisonous Bees, feeding them ample Spiritual Herbs, some had reached Tier-One Intermediate quality, but most remained at the lower tier, possessing only the strength of the first level of Qi Cultivation.


    The few Poisonous Bees that reached Tier-One Intermediate quality only had the strength of the fourth level of Qi Cultivation.


    Moreover, all the Poisonous Bees'' strengths had ceased growing, as if they had encountered a bottleneck.


    After all, it was rare for wild Spirit Bees to reach the first level of Qi Cultivation, and their aptitude was a limiting factor.


    Spirit Bee battles relied on quantity, and his Space had its limits, providing a finite supply of nectar. This constrained the number of the bee colony.


    Currently, the total number of Spirit Bees and Poisonous Bees in his Space was around a hundred thousand. This quantity ensured a bnced food supply and left a small surplus of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly and Spirit Bee Honey.


    Exceeding this number would lead to a shortage of food. If Wang Hong didn''t purchase additional Spirit Honey for feeding, many Spirit Bees would starve.


    He now had two main goals: finding a way to help them break through the bottleneck, which required him to formte Spiritual Herbs separately, consuming a lot of time and effort, and conducting numerous experiments.


    His initial idea was to base it on the Pill Recipe of the Barrier Breaking Pill, adjusting it to suit Poisonous Bees.


    The Barrier Breaking Pill was the most suitable pill for human Qi Cultivation cultivators to break through bottlenecks, and he had no shortage of the main ingredient, Scarlet Blood Ginseng, for refining it.


    However, there were differences in the constitution between humans and Demonic Beasts, requiring further refinement.


    But there was another limitation to the growth of Poisonous Beesthe normal Spirit Bee''s lifespan was only a little over a hundred years.


    While Demonic Beasts had rtively long lifespans, it was not infinite. Wang Hong hadn''t heard of any species with inherently eternal life.


    The lifespan of regr bees is only a few months, while Spirit Bees can survive for over a hundred years, a hundred times longer than regr bees.


    The Bee Queen''s lifespan is somewhat longer, reaching three to five hundred years.


    Currently, time in Wang Hong''s Space passes over a hundred times faster than the outside world. As long as he cannot elevate their strength to the Foundation Building stage, achieving an increase in lifespan.


    In this way, Wang Hong had just boosted their strength a bit, and then their lifespan would deplete, leading to their demisea futile effort.


    However, he had no choice but to do so. In case of an enemy encounter, he still relied on them for battle.


    This was another issue Wang Hong hoped to resolve from a different perspective.


    Enhancing their overall aptitude, allowing them to reach higher Realms within their lifetime, perhaps even reaching the Foundation Building stage. Of course, this was just a distant aspiration at the moment.


    As for Spiritual Herbs that could enhance aptitude, they were considered treasures throughout the Cultivation World, and he didn''t possess any. He hadn''t even heard of such a treasure.


    If such a treasure existed, it would undoubtedly be used to enhance his own aptitude first.


    Although he couldn''t directly enhance Poisonous Bees'' aptitude, he thought of an indirect method.


    If he raised the Bee Queen''s tier, the aptitude of the offspring it produced should also improve.


    In reality, at least among the human race, if the parents were high-tier cultivators, their offspring generally had better aptitude.


    Wang Hong spected that it should be simr for Demonic Beasts.


    Moreover, the Bee Queen had a longer lifespan. With three to five hundred years, by heavily using Spiritual Herbs, there was a good chance of cultivating a Foundation Building stage Bee Queen.


    Now, he decided to simultaneously enhance the overall strength of the bee colony and work on cultivating a Foundation Building stage Bee Queen using Spiritual Herbs.


    His top priority now was to formte a Spiritual Herb that could help Poisonous Bees break through the bottleneck.


    Because the Bee Queen was also currently in a Bottleneck Realm, and it hadn''t improved for a long time.


    Time passed as Wang Hong practiced daily, took pills, studied Runes in his spare time, and researched Spiritual Herbs. Another year had gone by.


    Justst month, he concocted a potion mixed into the poison honey. After some Poisonous Bees consumed it, their strength began to grow again.


    Hard work paid off, and he finally sessfully formted a Spiritual Herb suitable for Poisonous Bees to break through. A new type of Spiritual Herb was now present in the world.


    Wang Hong didn''t know if the demonic races had a simr Spiritual Herb. If not, leaking information about his Spiritual Herb could bring trouble.


    Having achieved several steps of sess, he was in high spirits. On this day, he prepared arge table of delicacies to reward himself.


    Sitting at the Stone Table, he poured himself a cup of fine wine.


    Little Peng squatted on the other side of the Stone Table. It had grown muchrger, now towering over Wang Hong by a head.


    At this moment, it crouched low, pretending to have a shorter stature than Wang Hong, bowing its head to the side as if it had ears, trying to appear shorter than Wang Hong.


    In front of it was an empty cup, and it asionally stole nces at the wine jug in Wang Hong''s hand.


    Wang Hong, after downing a cup of fine wine, poured himself another full cup.


    "You''ve grown so big, yet no matter how I educate you, it seems useless?"


    Little Peng seemed to understand but kept peeking at the wine jug in Wang Hong''s hand. A transparent droplet of saliva hung from its mouth, continuously extending.


    "I often warn you not to drink if you can''t handle it, and if the wine isn''t good, drink less. But every time, you want to drink, and after just one cup, you''re drunk. Fine, be drunk, stay quiet, or sleep it off. Every time, you have to go crazy with the wine. Last time, you got drunk and flew into the sky, dancing and twisting. The entire Kaiyang Peak''s disciples saw it. It scared me into hiding in the courtyard, afraid people would find out it''s my Spirit Beast. I can''t afford that trouble!"


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 156: Hell on Earth

    Chapter 156: Hell on Earth


    After giving Little Peng a lecture, Wang Hong, with a smirk, finally poured a ss of wine for it.


    Little Peng couldn''t quite understand why Wang Hong always had to deliver a lengthy speech before pouring him a drink. When did Wang Hong develop this peculiar habit?


    Little Peng didn''t dwell on it too much. As for Wang Hong''s words, it only half understood, not paying much attention. In its opinion, being a bird required a straightforward approach, not the fussiness of Wang Hong.


    It promptly downed the ss of wine in one go, then promptly got drunk.


    In its intoxicated state, Little Peng became lively, hopping around the courtyard with some unpleasant bird calls apanying its erratic movements.


    Coincidentally, Elder Brother arrived at this moment. He witnessed Wang Hong weing him into the courtyard, and the two engaged in a cheerful conversation.


    Seeing Elder Brother reminded Little Peng of thest time it got beaten by him. A surge of anger welled up in its chest; after all, it was destined to be a majestic bird and couldn''t tolerate such humiliation.


    The more it thought about it, the more infuriated it became. Empowered by the alcohol and feeling a significant improvement in its strength, it staggered towards Elder Brother.


    When it reached Elder Brother, it abruptly spat out a mouthful of saliva.


    Anticipating such a move, Elder Brother had already guarded against it. With a shake of his Spiritual Power, he redirected all the saliva back onto Little Peng''s face.


    Then, Elder Brother swiftly approached and grabbed Little Peng by the neck, poised to strike. Little Peng struggled as Elder Brother tightened his grip.


    pping its wings forcefully, Little Peng managed to push Elder Brother a few feet away. It had gained some strength from consuming numerous Golden Body Pills and Body Refining Pills under Wang Hong''s care.


    Feeling victorious, Little Peng became even more excited, howling as it lunged at Elder Brother.


    "Heh! Indeed, strength alone won''t work against a Demonic Beast. Looks like I need to use some tricks," Elder Brother remarked.


    Summoning arge, Elder Brother enveloped Little Peng as it charged towards him.


    With nobat experience, under the influence of alcohol, Little Peng foolishly collided with the.


    Despite its raw strength, it couldn''t break through the specialized designed to capture Demonic Beasts.


    The tightened, securing Little Peng in a firm grip. Elder Brother lifted it up.


    Defiant in its drunken state, Little Peng struggled within the. Elder Brother, carrying the bundled Little Peng, flew out of the courtyard.


    Elder Brother carried Little Peng to the butchering area in the backyard. The pungent smell of blood greeted them.


    The butchering area was scattered with dismembered limbs of Demonic Beasts. A bird-like Demonic Beast with its chest cavity open dangled from an iron hook, nearly air-dried.


    Another Demonic Beast seemed freshly killed, with a few people plucking and scalding its feathers.


    One Demonic Beast was tied up like a zongzi, resembling Little Peng''s current state. Several individuals, wielding knives, stood before it, discussing where to make the incisions.


    The Demonic Beast trembled in fear, emitting a series of roars.


    "Xiao Huang! You must be precise in your positioning and your strike. From this angle, a five-inch incision will sever the blood vessels and the windpipe, silencing the Demonic Beast with a single blow, ending its life," the young man holding the de was nervous as he received careful guidance from his master.


    Old Man noticed Elder Brother bringing Little Peng in and hurried over, asking, "Do you need this Demonic Beast ughtered, senior? Please wait a moment, we will attend to it after we finish with this one."


    Elder Brother remained silent, watching as they ughtered the Demonic Beast, positioning Little Peng''s head to witness the entire process.


    The young man made a cut at the Demonic Beast''s neck, and blood gushed out, causing the beast to howl in agony.


    "The cut was too shallow, the main vessels and windpipe are still intact. Try again," the master said calmly.


    The young man raised the de once more, but the Demonic Beast continued to howl. It was not dead.


    "No, the strike was off. Another strike!"


    The young man raised the de again...


    These scenes terrified Little Peng, sobering it up from its drunken state. It had never imagined such a hellish existence in the mortal realm.


    Even more terrifying was the realization that it would be next.


    After several strikes, the young man finally killed the Demonic Beast.


    The master arranged for the skinning of the Demonic Beast and then approached Elder Brother.


    "Senior, please entrust the Demonic Beast to me. I can clean it up quickly, and we can also help you remove the bones or cut it into pieces."


    At this point, Little Peng cked out and copsed.


    "Forget it, I suddenly don''t feel like killing today. I''ll take it back and fatten it up before I do," Elder Brother made an excuse and flew away with Little Peng.


    As the cold wind blew during the flight, Little Peng slowly regained consciousness, realizing it was still bound in the, with its legs and wings intact, and its feathers untouched.


    Little Peng breathed a sigh of relief, never expecting such a hellish ce in the mortal realm.


    It stole a nce at Elder Brother and decided it was best to stay away from this bird-ughtering demon in the future.


    In the courtyard, Wang Hong saw Elder Brother returning with Little Peng, which looked dispirited and disheveled.


    He couldn''t help but ask, "Elder Brother! What did you do to it? It''s just a beast."


    Elder Brother''s face darkened. "I just took it to the ughterhouse for a visit."


    "Oh! Let''s continue drinking," he said, waving to Little Peng.


    "Little Peng, do you want a drink?"


    This time, Little Peng kept its distance and didn''t dare approach.


    "Junior Brother Wang, the Sect should be arranging a new group of Foundation Building disciples for training soon."


    "Training?" Wang Hong was not very familiar with the affairs of the Sect, nor was he particrly well-informed. He had not heard of this matter.


    "Yes, after each disciple sessfully reaches Foundation Building, they mustplete a training task to ensure that they not only focus on cultivation, but also understand the dangers and cruelty of the Cultivation World."


    If a disciple only focuses on cultivation andcks corresponding experience, they will not be very useful. After all, Foundation Building disciples are the backbone of the Sect. The Sect hopes that each Foundation Building disciple will have the ability to take on important tasks in the future, as the future Golden Core Elders will also grow from these Foundation Building disciples.


    Strength can be gradually enhanced through cultivation, but abilities and experience need to be cultivated slowly.


    It seems that hiding in the Sect indefinitely is not very likely, unless he always conceals his cultivation level at the Qi Cultivation stage. However, this is not possible. Hiding one''s cultivation level can only be temporary and is not a long-term solution.


    "How long does this kind of training task usuallyst?" Wang Hong asked.


    "It depends on the type of training task, usually at least three years, and at most five years."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 157: West Zhou Demon Realm

    Chapter 157: West Zhou Demon Realm


    Elder Brother began discussing the various types of missions, and Wang Hong inquired further, "What specific types of missions are there, and what do we need to do?"


    "The specific missions are assigned by the Sect, and there are many types, such as managing the Sect''s industries, capturing some rogue cultivators, or guarding important locations for the Sect.


    Among these missions, the mostmon is being assigned to hunt Demonic Beasts in the Boundary Mountain Range."


    Wang Hong was familiar with the Boundary Mountain Range; it was a massive mountain range running from north to south.


    To the easty the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, the territory of humans, where Demonic Beasts were scarce and had be prey for humans in their pursuit of various cultivation materials.


    On the west side of the Boundary Mountain Range was the West Zhou Demon Realm, entirely belonging to the demonic race, in stark contrast to the East Zhou Cultivation Realm.


    There, numerous demonic beings thrived, forming various forces of different sizes.


    A small number of humans also survived on that side, existing in an environment simr to that of Demonic Beasts here, treated as resources to be exploited by the demonic beings.


    In the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, cultivators would raise some Demonic Beasts as Spirit Pets.


    It was rumored that on the West Zhou side, some demonic beings would also take humans as Spirit Pets andmand them at will.


    "Do we really need to hunt so many Demonic Beasts? Don''t the major demonic beings in the East Zhou demon realm object? Won''t it provoke a war between humans and demons?"


    Wang Hong had read in some books that humans and demons had peacefully coexisted on either side of the Boundary Mountain Range for millions of years.


    Wouldn''t massive hunting of each other''s poptions lead to a war?


    "You worry too much, Junior Brother. It is said that on the demonic side, they also frequently drive some Demonic Beasts over the Boundary Mountain Range to hunt humans on our side.


    Moreover, some species of Demonic Beasts reproduce quickly, with a litter of ten or more, and they have long lifespans.


    Over there, the number of Demonic Beasts grows rapidly, and as their numbers increase, so does their demand for various spiritual objects.


    Over time, internal conflicts arise as theypete for spiritual objects, leading to mutual killings and a bnce being restored.


    In the past, on the West Zhou Demon Realm side, a significant number would die in this way every few decades to centuries.


    Until tens of thousands of years ago, a visionary demonic being emerged, contacting major tribes for a joint discussion.


    Ultimately, a decision affecting the future of both human and demonic races was made.


    They decided that instead of killing each other, it was better to let these newly born forces harm the human race. Those who could plunder resources from humans would benefit, and those who couldn''t could consume human strength, a win-win situation.


    So, every few periods, the West Zhou Demon Realm would select some newly born Demonic Beasts from various tribes, send them to the Boundary Mountain Range to hunt East Zhou cultivators, plunder resources, and all the spoils would belong to them.


    This decision received enthusiastic responses from major demonic tribes because they had long coveted some things from the human race."


    We, the human race, hunt Demonic Beasts and use their body materials to make Alchemy tools. The Yao race, on the other hand, takes pride in killing humans and snatching various Magical Weapons, Spiritual Weapons, and Pills from them, especially thetter. This is because there are very few Demonic Beasts in the Yao race that understand Alchemy. They obtain natural treasures by swallowing them alive. Even cooking raw food is something only the upper ss of the Yao race understands.


    Moreover, the Yao race in East Zhou has umted enough Demonic Beasts for about a hundred years, and they willunch arge-scale attack on us, called the Beast Tide. When the timees, Demonic Beasts will flood like a tide, and wherever they go, they will leave no survivors.


    It has been almost a hundred years since thest Beast Tide, so we must seize the opportunity to kill more Demonic Beasts now. The more we kill now, the fewer there will be in the future.


    Wang Hong had never heard so many secrets of the Yao race before.


    The only thing we humans can do is to send some Foundation Building cultivators to fight against them in the Boundary Mountain Range. Is there no other way to deal with them? For example, we could fight back and push them to the West Zhou Demon Realm, and make them suffer?


    Wang Hong had led soldiers for many years and naturally knew that this kind of passive defense was the most disadvantageous.


    Otherse when they want toe, fight when they want to fight, and leave when they want to leave. If others attack the east, you have to defend the east. If others attack the west, you have to defend the west.


    The initiative is always in the hands of others, so long-term defense is bound to fail.


    Of course, some human seniors have proposed to fight back to the West Zhou Demon Realm, but they are powerless and simply cannot spare enough manpower. Elder Brother said with some emotion.


    Is the West Zhou Demon Realm so strong? Our East Zhou human race has six major sects, as well as some small and medium-sized sects and families. Cant we defeat the Demonic Beasts that cant even cook a meal in West Zhou?


    Wang Hong felt that since both sides couldpete for so long, their strength should be about the same.


    Our East Zhou Cultivation Realms strength is naturally not worse than West Zhous, but we are surrounded on all sides and need to organize manpower to defend ourselves. When divided, it appears that we are short of manpower.


    Wang Hong also just learned that the East Zhou human race has more than one enemy, not just West Zhou.


    Are the other factions also in need of constant defense like West Zhou?


    More or less. To the east is the East Sea Aquatic n, and there has been no formal cessation of small battles with them. Humans covet the abundant resources in the sea, and aquatic creatures in the sea also covet humans, treating them as food.


    Anyway, humans often fish for seafood in the water as food, so both sides eat each other.


    "In addition, there is the South Dark Continent to the south. The South Dark Continent is full of evil cultivators, demon cultivators, and ghost cultivators. Although they can also be considered human, they have never regarded themselves or others as human.


    The people of the South Dark Continent are all vicious and cruel, with strange Cultivation Techniques. They often refine living people into pills or Magical Weapons. When they get vicious, they even kill their own parents and rtives.


    If we dont send people to defend, they will treat the East Zhou human race as their resource pool."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 158: BeePoison

    Chapter 158: BeePoison


    Wang Hong sent a message to Zhang Chunfeng, and after a while, Zhang Chunfeng arrived at Wang Hong''s residence.


    Wang Hong shared the information he obtained from Elder Brother with him.


    "In some time, you should also undergo training. Prepare in advance and have some self-defense items ready. I have a bottle of poison here; you can take it. I''ve tested it, and it''s still effective during the Foundation Building stage. You can apply it to your Spiritual Weapon, and it will take effect immediately upon breaking the skin."


    After exining, Wang Hong handed Zhang Chunfeng two bottlesone containing the poison and the other containing the antidote.


    The poison was extracted from the venom of deadly Poisonous Bees, refined through repeated processes, and Wang Hong named it Bee Poison.


    Unlike Devouring Spirit Poison, this poison acted quickly. Once the enemy was poisoned, they rapidly lost theirbat effectiveness. The downside was that it had to be applied directly to the skin, unlike Devouring Spirit Poison, which could be released into the air invisibly.


    "Thanks, senior!"


    Zhang Chunfeng took the two bottles, opened the caps, and inspected them.


    "Be careful not to poison yourself. This poison takes effect quickly. If you don''t take the antidote in time after being poisoned, your blood will clot, and your body will stiffen, making it impossible to detoxify yourself."


    Zhang Chunfeng, upon hearing this, carefully closed the lids and ced the two bottles in a secure location.


    "While there''s no training mission assigned yet, run an errand for me. Go to Azure Void City and find a Foundation Buildingte-stage cultivator named Liu Changsheng. Give him these two Storage Bags."


    Simultaneously, Wang Hong handed Zhang Chunfeng two Storage Bags, each sealed with a self-destructive seal at the mouth. If not opened correctly, the bags would explode.


    "Remember, this is confidential. You''re the only one who knows about these Storage Bags. They must not fall into the wrong hands. If things go south, you can detonate them."


    Since he was establishing an immortal way tradingpany to sell and conceal Spiritual Objects produced in Space, this was an extrayer of protection. Naturally, the fewer people who knew about it, the better.


    Seeing Wang Hong''s serious tone, Zhang Chunfeng carefully tucked the two Storage Bags into his embrace.


    Having undertaken many secret missions for Wang Hong in the military before, he had always been meticulous about keeping things confidential, without any mistakes.


    Although Zhang Chunfeng had only met the previous Huang Yu and had some spections about the newly emerged Liu Changsheng, Wang Hong hadn''t explicitly told him, so he kept these thoughts to himself.


    After leaving Wang Hong''s residence, Zhang Chunfeng left the Sect on the same day. With his elevated status in the Foundation Building stage, his freedom had greatly increased.


    Now, leaving the Sect for a short period required no formal permission. If the absence exceeded a year, a simple notification to the Sect about his approximate location and expected return sufficed.


    Zhang Chunfeng didn''t inform Skinny Monkey, Zhao Ning, and others about his entry into Azure Void City.


    Since it was a secret mission, the fewer people who knew, the better.


    When he found the address Wang Hong provided, it led him to a rather inconspicuous residence. After sending a Transmission Talisman inside, a boy came to open the door after a considerable dy.


    "May I ask, senior, what brings you here?" The young boy''s face appeared serious, and he asked in a crisp, childlike voice.


    Wang Hong handed him a Token, a token given to him by Wang Hong before leaving.


    "Give this to Fellow Daoist Liu and tell him an old friend is looking for him."


    "Alright, Senior, please wait for a moment."


    The disciple took the token and left Zhang Chunfeng at the entrance while walking alone towards the residence.


    After a quarter of an hour, the disciple returned with Liu Changsheng following behind.


    "Fellow Daoist, sorry to keep you waiting. Pleasee inside!" Liu Changsheng said, leading the way while asking, "May I know how to address Fellow Daoist?"


    Although Liu Changsheng had caught a glimpse of Zhang Chunfeng when he was still in his Huang Yu identity, it was his first time seeing Zhang Chunfeng as himself.


    "I am Zhang Chunfeng!"


    "So, you are Fellow Daoist Zhang. It''s a pleasure to meet you!"


    Zhang Chunfeng followed behind Liu Changsheng and along the way, he saw several other disciples, each pretending to have a serious expression and acting in a disciplined manner. It was evident that they had undergone specialized training.


    Moreover, these disciples all possessed a cultivation level of Qi Cultivation, indicating that they had Spiritual Roots.


    Liu Changsheng led Zhang Chunfeng to a secret room and deactivated the istion formation before inviting Zhang Chunfeng to take a seat.


    "These are the items I brought this time. Please inspect them." Zhang Chunfeng handed two Storage Bags that Wang Hong had given him to Liu Changsheng.


    After receiving them, Liu Changsheng carefully examined the seals on the Storage Bags. Seeing that the seals were intact without any signs of tampering, he put them away in his embrace.


    "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhang. I also have a Storage Bag here that I need you to take back for me."


    As he spoke, Liu Changsheng took out a Storage Bag and handed it to Zhang Chunfeng. The Storage Bag also had a self-destruct seal on it.


    After Zhang Chunfeng put away the Storage Bag, he didn''t linger and left directly through the city gate, heading towards Qingxu Sect.


    When he returned to the sect, the sect''s training tasks had already been announced.


    He and a group of fellow disciples, including his Elder Brother, were assigned to hunt and kill Demonic Beasts in the Boundary Mountain Range, departing in half a month.


    "In half a month, you will be going to hunt demons. This journey willst at least three years. I have a bottle of second-tier Spirit Wine here for you to take, just in case."


    When Zhang Chunfeng handed the Storage Bag to Wang Hong, Wang Hong gave him a bottle filled with second-tier Spirit Wine.


    Second-tier Spirit Wine was not something easily obtained with Spirit Stones. Firstly, second-tier spirit fruit was hard to find, secondly, it took a long time to brew, and thirdly, it required a suitable ce for aging.


    "Furthermore, when you are there, there will surely be many demon corpses that no one wants. Please collect them for me as they can be used to refine Essence Core Pills."


    Then, Wang Hong gave him arge number of empty Storage Bags. The main reason why people abandoned the corpses of Demonic Beasts in the wild was that they took up too much space.


    Most Demonic Beasts were toorge in size, and the space inside the Storage Bags mostly ranged from one zhang to ten zhang. Some Storage Bags were even only a few chi in size, barely able to fit a Demonic Beast.


    These Storage Bags were prepared hastily by Wang Hong upon hearing Elder Brother''s news. In his rush, he only managed to purchase a little over a hundred of them.


    Currently, he wascking Demonic Beast corpses, which meant he didn''t have enough Essence Core Pills to consume.


    The demon-hunting tree hunted Demonic Beasts, absorbing their essence blood and spiritual energy primarily to strengthen itself, only converting a small portion into those golden seeds that attract Demonic Beasts.


    After all, the main purpose of the demon-hunting tree producing those golden seeds was to act as bait, attracting other Demonic Beasts for hunting.


    The demon-hunting tree didn''t have the noble dedication to make contributions to the Cultivation World through hard work.


    Thus, he had to find a way to collect more Demonic Beast corpses to obtain more golden seeds and refine Essence Core Pills.


    This opportunity was perfect since Demonic Beasts ran rampant in the Boundary Mountain Range, and there were plenty of in Demonic Beasts.


    It was the time for him to make use of waste and make a fortune. If he didn''t think it was too ostentatious, he even wanted to mobilize arge number of fellow disciples to help him collect Demonic Beast corpses.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 159: Organizing

    Chapter 159: Organizing


    Wang Hong currently had a limited supply of Essence Core Pills for Refinement. The quantity of Essence Core Pills provided to his subordinates was quite low. With a substantial amount of Essence Core Pills, the overall strength of his followers could increase rapidly.


    Zhang Chunfeng returned this time with a Storage Bag containing eight hundred thousand Spirit Stones. During this period, Liu Changsheng had gained one million Spirit Stones, reserving two hundred thousand for nurturing new recruits.


    Liu Changsheng ced a Jade Scroll in the Storage Bag, providing a detailed report on everything to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong scattered all eight hundred thousand Spirit Stones into his Space. Once these Spirit Stones were fully absorbed, the Space expanded by nearly eight acres ofnd.


    In the past, he frequently sprinkled Spirit Stones inside, and each time, the addednd variedsometimes acres, sometimes fractions. He didn''t meticulously calcte.


    However, after reaching Foundation Building, his Divine Sense greatly enhanced. The phantom body within the Space became clearer and more substantial, and his perception became sharper.


    He discovered that the growth of Spirit nts and the aging of Spirit Wine in the Space consumed Spirit Qi. He recalled the words of an old professor of medicine at Qing Yang Academy: "All powers have their source."


    This applied to the Cultivation World as well. Spiritual Objects, during their growth, naturally needed to absorb other Spirit Qi to enhance their own Spiritual Energy.


    In the Space, there were several sources of Spirit Qi. One was the slow absorption of surrounding natural Spirit Qi by the Space, used to replenish its own consumption. However, this absorption was slow, and the quantity was not significant, insufficient to sustain the consumption of many Spiritual Objects.


    Wang Hong realized this after his Foundation Building, thanks to the strengthened Divine Sense, and because he was the master of the Space, only within could he make this discovery.


    Another source of Spirit Qi was the Spirit Stones he scattered. These Spirit Stones didn''t directly break down into Spirit Qi and spread to the surroundings. Instead, the Space''snd absorbed them deep underground and then emitted them from the depths, evenly dispersed into every inch of soil.


    When the Spirit Qi in the soil reached saturation, the soil expanded outward. This was the reason for the increase in Spacend every time he scattered Spirit Stones.


    Once the excess Spiritual Energy in the soil was depleted, the soil would stop expanding. Moreover, Space had a highly efficient utilization of Spiritual Energy. Wang Hong always felt that the Spirit Qi released from the deep soil was greater than what was absorbed.


    He didn''t know the secrets of the deep Spacend. It was too deep, and with his current phantom-like body in the Space, he didn''t have the strength to explore.


    Not to mention anything else, even digging a pond on the surface would be a significant project for him.


    In the past, the Spiritual Energy absorbed by the Space could barely support it, coupled with his habit of frequently tossing spare Spirit Stones into the Space.


    The Spiritual Energy in the Space soil had not been consumed much, and he replenished it with new Spirit Stones.


    After each absorption of Spirit Stones by the Space, the subtle differences in the quantity ofnd produced went unnoticed by him.


    It wasn''t until his Divine Sense greatly increased after Foundation Building,bined with being confined within the Sect and unable to freely travel to earn many Spirit Stones, that he noticed the significant consumption of Spiritual Energy in the soil.


    Wang Hong saw that thend added by the Space was still a bit less than eight mu, so he took out another fifty thousand Spirit Stones from his body and scattered them into thend. After absorbing them, the newly addednd finally reached eight mu.


    Now thend area of the Space has reached eighty-five mu, and the flow of time has reached one hundred and fourteen times.


    Wang Hong took a tour of the Space and felt that theyout of the Spiritual Herbs inside was chaotic. Many things were scattered all over the ce, making it difficult to see clearly.


    He decided to tidy them up and ssify them, making it more convenient for nting, picking, and managing in the future.


    First, he marked out ten mu specifically for nting poisonous flowers and poisonous grass, and then enclosed them with a dense, letting the Poisonous Bees roam inside.


    From now on, he wouldn''t have to worry about the Spirit Bees collecting poison honey from the poisonous flower bushes. Previously, he had only given orders through the Bee Queen, prohibiting the Spirit Bees from flying in that direction.


    With the limited intelligence of the Spirit Bees, they couldn''t understand detailed instructions. As a result, a lot of Spirit Blossoms and Spirit Honey had been wasted around the poisonous flower area because the Spirit Bees didn''t fly in that direction.


    Then, the remaining seventy-five mu ofnd was divided into three areas.


    Thirty mu was dedicated to first-tier Spiritual Objects. Wang Hong himself no longer needed first-tier Spiritual Objects, but first-tier Spirit Pills, Spirit Herbs, spirit fruits, and Spirit Wine were currently the main products sold by the Immortal Way Trading Company, which were his main source of wealth.


    Moreover, for a long time toe, the Immortal Way Trading Company would focus on selling first-tier Spiritual Objects.


    First-tier Spiritual Objects had thergest consumer base. Qi Cultivators at the Qi Cultivation stage were at the bottom of the Cultivation World, but their numbers were enormous. Just the Qingxu Sect alone had hundreds of thousands of Qi Cultivation Disciples.


    Although Qi Cultivators were at the bottom andcked strength, not having many Spirit Stones in their pockets, they could umte wealth little by little, and the returns were still considerable.


    The most important thing was that with his subordinates, including Skinny Monkey and the people recruited by Liu Changsheng, they were all in the Qi Cultivation stage and needed arge quantity of first-tier Spiritual Objects.


    Since first-tier Spiritual Objects had a short growth cycle and generally only required several decades of medicinal age, the thirty mu ofnd was already sufficient.


    Thirty-five mu ofnd was allocated to second-tier Spiritual Objects. Since the growth cycle of second-tier Spiritual Objects was longer, most of them were still under cultivation.


    Currently, the Immortal Way Trading Company only sold a small amount of second-tier Spiritual Objects for the same reasoninsufficient strength.


    Moreover, second-tier Spiritual Objects were scarce in quantity, and there was not much cirction in the market. Only some stronger shops would sell a small amount of second-tier Spiritual Objects.


    Arge number of second-tier Spiritual Objects were held by cultivators above the Foundation Building stage and were treasured. They were only willing to trade through barter.


    If the Immortal Way Trading Company supplied too many second-tier Spiritual Objects, it would quickly attract attention, and that wouldn''t be a good thing.


    After all, the development and future of a force were rted to Foundation Building cultivators, and even the Golden Core ancestors had to take them seriously.


    Among the second-tier Spiritual Objects, five mu ofnd was nted with materials for Nourishing Essence Pills. This batch of Spiritual Herbs was finally about to mature, and his stock of Nourishing Essence Pills was running low.


    Two mu ofnd was used for nting Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Herbs


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 160: Advancing to the Third Tier of Poisonous Bees

    Chapter 160: Advancing to the Third Tier of Poisonous Bees


    The third-tier Spiritual Herb covered an area of ten mu. Since it was difficult to move the pond where the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus was nted, Wang Hong decided to transnt the other third-tier Spiritual Objects around the pond.


    The third-tier ssification included Spiritual Herbs that had reached a certain age and growth, even if they were currently only at the first or second tier. For example, the Scarlet Blood Ginseng could reach the third tier if it grew for more than a thousand years, making it suitable for Golden Core cultivators.


    So far, Wang Hong''s Space hadn''t produced any thousand-year Spiritual Herbs, but it was getting close. The earliest batch he nted had already been growing for over nine hundred years.


    Apart from the Scarlet Blood Ginseng, there was also the mutated Astragalus, which was approaching a thousand years in age and could also be ssified as a third-tier herb.


    Unfortunately, there were only two mutated Jade Marrow Mushroom nts, and both had been used up. Now there were only some seedlings left.


    There were also a few Fo-Ti Roots that were nearing a thousand years, but they hadn''t mutated and could only be considered ordinary Medicinal Herbs.


    Back in the day, there was a secr legend that imed a thousand-year-old Fo-Ti Root could grant immortality. It had been over nine hundred years now, but there were no signs of it turning into a human form.


    It wouldn''t suddenly transform into a human when it reached a thousand years, right? It was probably just a way to fulfill the worldly people''s desire for immortality.


    Since it didn''t take up much space, Wang Hong didn''t remove it and left it in the Space.


    Speaking of which, the Spirit Grain and Spirit Wheat he nted in his Space were also approaching a thousand years. After two mutations, they were slightly better than ordinary second-tier herbs but hadn''t reached the third tier.


    In the third-tier area, there were also the Golden Ironwood trees that had been exchanged before, but they were still only at the second tier.


    The Green Spirit Peach trees had also been moved to the third-tier area. Wang Hong hadn''t seen mature Green Spirit Peaches yet, so he didn''t know their growth limit.


    The first batch of three peaches that grew on the tree had one eaten by him. The remaining two had grownrger and were probably already at the second tier. However, they hadn''t matured yet, and he estimated that they would reach the third tier when they did.


    Now, dozens of small Green Spirit Peaches had grown on the tree, only the size of a finger and covered in fuzz.


    The Azure Spirit Peach Tree saplings he bred earlier were already over three feet tall and upied three mu ofnd.


    Once these Azure Spirit Peach Trees grew, he wouldn''t have to worry about cultivating his subordinates anymore. They could directly improve their small Realms, which was quite remarkable.


    The small green branch he nted in the Space had been there for over two hundred years. Finally, it sprouted some tiny roots and had a tender green bud on top.


    Although it clearly looked like more than a third-tier nt, Wang Hong still transnted it to the third-tier area.


    It took Wang Hong over two months to organize everything in his Space, and now it looked neat andfortable.


    A few dayster, Wang Hong''s Elder Brother and Zhang Chunfeng, the newly promoted Foundation Building Disciples, left the sect and began their own cultivation journeys.


    Wang Hong continued his cultivation, adding dozens of drops of Spiritual Power to his dantian sea every day. Thanks to the pills and various Spirit Meals he consumed, his umtion of Spiritual Power was not slow and even faster than most cultivators at the same tier.


    However, due to therger size of his dantian sea, his Realm advancement was not fast.


    In addition to his daily cultivation, he continued to study Runes and talisman making. Although he couldn''t refine second-tier talismans in the short term, it would be worthwhile in the long run.


    asionally, Wang Hong would take some time to refine a furnace of pills. He was now able to refine thirty portions of materials simultaneously, with a pill sess rate of 80%. Each furnace could produce over two hundred pills.


    He didn''t know if the Ma Brothers had mastered the method of refining multiple portions of materials in one furnace.


    Now that Zhang Chunfeng was gone, he had lost someone who used to help him with alchemy. He needed to refine more pills to ensure the sales of the Immortal Path Trading Alliance.


    He had harvested all the mature materials for the five-acre Nourishing Essence Pill, and after properly preparing the main and auxiliary ingredients, he had about five hundred portions of materials. He rented them in the originalnd.


    With this batch of spiritual herbs as a foundation, he temporarily didn''tck spiritual herbs for the Nourishing Essence Pill. He still remembered thatst time he went to the pharmacy to buy spiritual herbs for the Nourishing Essence Pill, he had to wait in line for several months, and there was also a quantity limit.


    Wang Hong was not proficient in refining the Nourishing Essence Pill, and he only had five hundred portions of spiritual herbs. It would take several more years for the next batch to mature. Therefore, when refining the Nourishing Essence Pill, he could only refine one portion per furnace.


    After a year, he had only refined a hundred furnaces of Nourishing Essence Pills, producing over three hundred pills, which was still not enough for his own use.


    During this year, the strength of the Poisonous Bees he cultivated had improved a lot, with nearly half of them reaching the middle-grade of the first tier.


    Under his intensive cultivation, the Bee Queen of the Poisonous Bees had already reached the upper-grade of the first tier.


    After the improvement in strength, their reproductive capacity had decreased significantly. They used toy three thousand eggs a day, but now they could onlyy a thousand eggs.


    This was amon problem among all species. The stronger the strength, the more difficult it was to reproduce offspring.


    However, a thousand eggs were more than enough. He now controlled the poption of the Poisonous Bees at around ten thousand.


    After the improvement in strength, each Poisonous Bee consumed more venom nectar. The scale of the venomous flowers could only support this number.


    Among these ten thousand Poisonous Bees, three thousand were worker bees responsible for collecting nectar and performing various misceneous tasks, while the remaining seven thousand were truebat drones.


    Now, even if Wang Hong faced the siege of several cultivators of the same tier, he was confident that he would not be at a disadvantage with seven thousand Poisonous Bees.


    After a year, it was time to contact Azure Void City again. This time, without Zhang Chunfeng''s help, he had to go there himself.


    Even if Zhang Chunfeng was here, he couldn''t rely on him for everything. There were some things that he had to do himself.


    For example, he had never met the new subordinates recruited by Liu Changsheng. Although Liu Changsheng was constrained by a Blood Contract and couldn''t betray him, what about these new people? They had never seen each other before. Suddenly appearing, who knew if they could be trusted.


    Even as the mastermind behind the force, it was necessary to asionally show up and increase the loyalty of his subordinates, brushing up his presence.


    Moreover, these new recruits were young, and their thoughts and awareness had not yet fully formed. They were still easily swayed.


    Of course, he had no intention of harming these young boys and girls. He just hoped that the people he cultivated could be loyal to him in the future and would not easily betray him.


    However, human hearts were often the mostplex and unpredictable. Many people didn''t even know how they would be in the future, so who couldpletely control them?


    As for the assassination attempts by Shadow Kill, since he couldn''t escape from it, he might as well face it head-on. He would consider it as a whetstone in his growth process.


    However, it was still essential to make necessary preparations. He couldn''t let the de be dull from sharpening. He had to be fully prepared.


    This time, he nned to bring Little Peng along. It had gained some strength now, but it had nobat experience, as seen from its previous encounter with Elder Brother.


    He needed to let it gain some practical experience so that it could be his assistance in the future.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 161: Return to Azure Void City

    Chapter 161: Return to Azure Void City


    Wang Hong set out this time with Little Peng by his side, riding on the creature''s back at a leisurely pace. Dozens of Spirit Bees circled and danced around him, providing a bit of alertness.


    However, the journey back to Azure Void City was uneventful, with no encounters with treasure-seeking cultivators or the notorious assassins from Shadow Kill.


    "Doesn''t Shadow Kill know that he has left the sect? With such a massive organization, they must have dedicated intelligence units. It''s impossible for them not to know," Wang Hong spected. He believed that they might attempt an assassination on his return journey.


    They could be observing in the shadows, and his bold departure, knowing the potential threat from Shadow Kill, might arouse suspicion on their end. After all, they had just recently eradicated a branch of the Qingxu Sect. What if this was a deliberate attempt to lure them out?


    They would surely be watching, checking if other sect cultivators were stealthily following him. Once they determined the reality, a battle was inevitable on his way back; it all depended on how the other party would strike.


    Wang Hong returned to Azure Void City in a confident manner, heading first to his residence or shop.


    As he arrived at his residence, he coincidentally encountered Luo Zhongjie leading twenty individuals returning from a hunting expedition outside the city.


    "East Master!" The twenty individuals simultaneously saluted Wang Hong, their voices and movements synchronized, the clinking of their ck Magical Weapon armor echoing.


    Passing cultivators cast curious nces as most of them resided nearby, having some knowledge about the upants of this estate.


    The estate housed dozens of people, including the friendly Ma Brothers, who were known for their amiable demeanor and articte speech.


    The others maintained a serious demeanor, rarely speaking, and strangely, they always left in neatly arranged formations.


    A little over a year ago, a Foundation Building cultivator had ascended within this estate, but apparently, they were not the master of this ce.


    Today, they discovered that the true owner was only a Qi Cultivationte-stage cultivator, seemingly unremarkable in appearance but capable ofmanding so many subordinates, disying apparent loyalty.


    "You''ve all worked hard!" Wang Hong returned the gesture and said, "Let''s go inside and talk!"


    "Luo Zhongjie, I heard from Zhang Chunfeng that you were injured. How are you recovering? I have a high-quality healing pill here." Wang Hong tossed a Jade vial to Luo Zhongjie.


    "Cui Fang, I heard you brought your family to Azure Void City?," he continued, addressing a middle-aged man who seemed a bit nervous. Cui Fang hadn''t sought permission beforehand and was worried about Wang Hong''s reaction.


    He had no choice. As the only son with a deceased elder brother who served in the military, he had to take care of his aging parents in Azure Void City. He couldn''t abandon them just because he embarked on the path of cultivation.


    Being loyal and filial was a challenge, and if the general disapproved, he would have to find a way to fulfill his filial duties first.


    Although Cui Fang had followed Wang Hong for many years and owed him a great debt, it didn''t mean he could disregard his filial duty to his parents.


    "East Master, my parents are elderly and have no one to care for them, so I took the liberty of bringing them here. I ask for your punishment," Cui Fang exined. Even though he had prepared himself for this conversation, there was still some anxiety in his heart. Honestly, he had no desire to leave.


    "Why should I punish you? Filial piety is a sacred duty. If someone easily abandons parents who have nurtured them, regardless of the reasons, I would doubt their character. I neglected this aspect before, not considering everyone''s situation," Wang Hong spoke, bowing to express his apology.


    "Tomorrow, I will buy another estate. Those who have family in the mortal world can take a leave and bring their rtives here. I will cover all living expenses, ensuring that you have nothing to worry about. Cui Fang, I will apany you to visit your parents shortly, and once I purchase the estate, you''ll be the first to move in."


    In truth, Wang Hong couldn''t trust someone who couldn''t fulfill their filial duties. "Everyone can take leave in the next few days to bring their family members here. Concentrating the care and support for everyone''s rtives in one ce will bring peace of mind to all."


    The next day, Wang Hong assigned Xu Lun to buy arge estate dedicated to amodating the families of his subordinates.


    "East Master, you''ve finally returned! We''ve been missing you every moment!" the Ma Brothers greeted enthusiastically. They evenplimented Little Peng, a seemingly ordinary flying creature that Wang Hong kept.


    "It seems you two have mastered the Refinement technique with multiple materials. Are you aiming for the Foundation Establishment Pill? And how did you notice Little Peng''s extraordinary qualities? I didn''t see anything special," Wang Hong inquired.


    "About half a year ago, we luckily mastered the Refinement technique for multiple pills. We can refine five materials simultaneously, with a Pill Sess Rate of thirty percent," one of the brothers exined hesitantly.


    "Little Peng is extraordinary in its simplicity. Its spirit and demeanor reveal its uniqueness," the other brother added.


    Acknowledging their alchemical proficiency, Wang Hong promised to reward them with Foundation Establishment Pills on his next visit, which would be about a yearter. He advised them to focus on cultivation and solidify their Qi Cultivation realm during this time.


    "Thank you, East Master, for your nurturing. Even if we be cows or horses, we can''t repay your kindness," the Ma Brothers expressed genuine gratitude.


    These two were truly thankful. Without Wang Hong, they wouldn''t have achieved their current status. Now respected as alchemists, people even came topliment them. Being on the receiving end of ttery was surprisingly satisfying for them.


    They were the type who openly expressed gratitude, not ones to silently keep favors in their hearts for future repayment. Expressing their thanks on the spot was their style, ensuring that their usual ttery wasn''t in vain.


    "However, although your alchemical skills are passable, you still need to practice. A thirty percent Pill Sess Rate is a bit low," Wang Hong remarked.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 162: Assassination

    Chapter 162: Assassination


    After the Ma Brothers left the living room, He Yuan entered to find Wang Hong.


    He Yuan greeted Wang Hong with a deep bow before expressing, "All thanks to the Foundation Establishment Pills provided by East Master!"


    At the age of sixty, achieving Foundation Building was a formidable task for He Yuan. With the increased difficulty, he had to use both Foundation Establishment Pills given by Wang Hong to aplish this feat.


    Originally, he hoped to obtain just one Foundation Establishment Pill when returning to his family. However, it seemed futile now, even if he had managed to acquire it. Building a foundation through his own efforts and earning enough Spirit Stones to purchase Foundation Establishment Pills at his age was an unrealistic dream.


    Considering the strength of a Qi Cultivator, umting enough resources for two Foundation Establishment Pills in a lifetime was a daunting task.


    Wang Hong, grateful for He Yuan''s transformation, acknowledged, "No need to be polite. This is a rightful reward. In the future, many matters in Azure Void City will rely on your efforts."


    "East Master, rest assured. As long as I''m alive, no one can interfere with the affairs on this side."


    After some casual conversation, He Yuan took his leave.


    "East Master! The residence has been purchased. Would you like to take a look?" Xu Lun, who had handled the purchase of the new residence, returned.


    "Let''s go! Take me to see it."


    The newly acquired residence had an average concentration of Spirit Qi but was spacious, covering a hundred acres. It was more than enough to amodate several hundred people in the future.


    This was Wang Hong''s intention. The group he brought from the military were mostly bachelors, and those joiningter were also single. While leading a group of bachelors might be easier, he couldn''t lead them indefinitely. Where would he find so many bachelors?


    Some individuals would inevitably seek Dao Companions and start families. With Dao Companions and offspring, attachments and personal agendas would arise, potentially affecting the cohesion and unity of the group.


    Wang Hong couldn''t prevent these natural urrences; it was human nature.


    He always believed that Immortal Cultivators were simply individuals with stronger abilities, still susceptible to human desires and emotions.


    If Immortal Cultivators were topletely sever desires, how would their existence differ from that of nts?


    Since change was impossible, he decided to go with the flow. Gathering everyone''s families together would enhance cohesion. Taking care of their families collectively would relieve many worries, and when recruiting new members, he could consider candidates from these families.


    With the long lifespan of Immortal Cultivators, what this ce could develop into in a century or two was uncertain.


    At the moment, Cui Fang, apanied by his parents, was moving in. They were the first residents of the new residence, unpacking their belongings.


    Wang Hong greeted them. Cui Fang''s parents, with white hair and impaired vision and hearing, had received two pills from Wang Hong the previous day. Although these pills weren''t particrly valuable to Wang Hong, they held significant benefits for the elderly couple.


    Reluctant to consume the pills, they insisted on giving them to their son, but Cui Fang refused. The elderly couple then decided to keep the pills as a family heirloom.


    Cui Fang, feeling helpless, once again sought Wang Hong''s help for two pills, nning to secretly "medicate" his elderly parents'' meals.


    Wang Hong spent two days with everyone in his residence, settling affairs and making arrangements with individuals like Skinny Monkey and Zhao Ning. He left behind some Body Refining Pills, Golden Body Pills, and Essence Core Pills for everyone to exchange and consume using contribution points.


    Other items like Spiritual Herbs needed replenishment from the Immortal Way Trading Company.


    Transforming back into Wang Kun, with a cultivation level now at the first level of Foundation Building, he found the residence bought by Liu Changsheng. Compared to his previous visit, there were now fifteen young disciples aged around ten.


    He decided to recruit only these fifteen individuals for now, focusing on quality over quantity. Nurturing even these fifteen would still consume a considerable amount of resources.


    Wang Kun spent a few days with the disciples, offering guidance on their cultivation. Later, he handed Liu Changsheng a substantial amount of Spirit Pills and Spiritual Herbs, taking away one million Spirit Stones in return.


    Reverting to Wang Hong, he left Azure Void City with Little Peng, heading towards the sect.


    Throughout the journey, Wang Hong, riding on Little Peng''s back, hummed a tune, appearing rxed on the surface but maintaining constant vignce against potential ambushes.


    Two-thirds into the journey, a cultivator at the early stage of Foundation Building appeared behind him, flying steadily. When Wang Hong urged Little Peng to elerate, another Foundation Building cultivator, wielding a Flying Sword, emerged ahead, flying towards him.


    These two individuals, one at the first level and the other at the second level of Foundation Building, conspicuously showed themselves, indicating no intention of lurking in the shadows for an ambush.


    Wang Hong felt relieved. As long as it was a straightforward confrontation, he wasn''t afraid of these two.


    Remaining calm, Wang Hong was a bit excited inside. After secretly cultivating and preparing for so long, today was the day to put his skills to the test.


    "Kid, you''ve been hiding for so long. How dare you show up now? Under Shadow Kill''s assassination order, allowing a mere Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer to survive for this long is quite a miracle!" The first-level Foundation Building assassin seemed talkative.


    "Today, let me end this miracle for you!"


    The first-level cultivator unsheathed a small flying knife, only three inches long and one inch wide, incredibly swift.


    Typically, when people used Spiritual Weapons, they would erge them for greater impact. However, this flying knife, a Spiritual Weapon, remained small to enhance speed, with only the tip bing sharper.


    Wang Hong quickly summoned the Golden Light Bowl he had been holding, protecting himself and Little Peng.


    The flying knife struck the Light Screen produced by the Golden Light Bowl, as it was designed for swift sneak attacks rather than robust assaults.


    Simultaneously, the silent second-level Foundation Building cultivator summoned a Spiritual Weapon, a Golden Seal that grew to over ten feet, pressing down towards Wang Hong.


    A loud crash echoed as the Golden Seal shed with the Golden Light Bowl, both proving to be high-grade Spiritual Weapons.


    Wang Hong marveled at the wealth of Shadow Kill. Despite the slight realm advantage of the opponent, both sides hadparable Spiritual Power, resulting in a stalemate.


    "Not bad, kid. You''ve already reached Foundation Building! However, even if you''ve achieved Foundation Building, you can''t escape from the palms of the two of us." The loquacious first-level assassin dered, and Wang Hong saw no need to conceal his cultivation level any longer.


    "Humming..."


    Wang Hong released Poisonous Bees, directing them towards the talkative first-level Foundation Building cultivator.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 163: Triumph through Battle

    Chapter 163: Triumph through Battle


    Wang Hong released two thousand Poisonous Bees, surrounding the verbose Foundation Building cultivator.


    The two cultivators, perhaps intimidated by Wang Hong''s notorious use of poison, kept their distance during the confrontation. They each summoned a defensive Magical Weapon, releasing a Spiritual Power shield that enveloped thempletely, not daring to let out even a breath.


    Fortunately, Foundation Building cultivators could go a long time without breathing and didn''t casually release any bodily functions.


    Despite Poisonous Bees surrounding the cultivator, their attacks were blocked by the Spiritual Power shields he released. Although Poisonous Beescked thew-averting properties of Spirit Bees, they were strong. Wang Hong had fed them medicines containing Body Refining properties, and over the years, each Poisonous Bee had developed strength in the hundreds of kilograms.


    With two thousand Poisonous Beesbined, they possessed nearly a million kilograms of force. Of course, it was challenging for Poisonous Bees to coordinate, and they couldn''t fully exert such immense power.


    However, the constant attacks from two thousand Poisonous Bees, each with hundreds of kilograms of force, gradually wore down the cultivator''s Spiritual Power shield, and he couldn''t hold on for much longer.


    On the other side, Wang Hong stood on Little Peng''s back, using the Golden Light Bowl to resist the attacks from the Golden Seal. The two forces were deadlocked in mid-air.


    Currentlycking a powerful Spiritual Weapon for offense, Wang Hong had a low-tier Flying Sword, but it couldn''t quickly break through the opponent''s defensive shield, making it meaningless to use at this moment.


    Riding Little Peng, Wang Hong swiftly approached the Foundation Building cultivator. Seeing Wang Hong closing in, the cultivator thought Wang Hong intended to get closer for an easier poisoning opportunity.


    Although he had a secure defense, maintaining some distance felt safer. While attacking with the Golden Seal, he rapidly retreated.


    In the early stages of Foundation Building, cultivators'' Divine Sense generally reached around twenty yards. Wang Hong''s Divine Sense was stronger, reaching nearly thirty yards. In battles between Foundation Building cultivators, they typically maintained a distance of at least ten yards, then used Spiritual Weapons from afar to attack each other.


    The two opponents kept a distance of ten yards between them, with Little Peng being only a first-tier Demonic Beast, unable to match the speed of the Foundation Building cultivator.


    At this moment, Wang Hong grabbed one of Little Peng''s wings, enveloping both himself and Little Peng in Spiritual Power, and swiftly moved through the air, leaving behind an afterimage.


    After the afterimage dissipated, Wang Hong appeared ten yards away, now only four or five yards from the Foundation Building assassin.


    The assassin''s expression changed; his seasonedbat experience told him that the opponent must have a trump card to unleash. He hastily retreated, recalling the Golden Seal, no longer concerned about attacking Wang Hong, solely focused on self-preservation.


    Wang Hong wouldn''t give him a chance. Using the Golden Light Bowl, he entangled the Golden Seal, swiftly moving again with Little Peng.


    The assassin saw Wang Hong creating another afterimage. When it faded, Wang Hong was already in front of him, holding a gigantic cauldron the size of a room.


    Unable to find a suitable weapon at the moment, Wang Hong casually wielded the Alchemy Furnace he used for his alchemical practices.


    Wang Hong''s philosophy in battle was never confined to specific tools or fixed forms. He believed that as long as he could exploit strengths and weaknesses to defeat his enemies, any method was eptable.


    For the choice of weapons, he simply used whatever was convenient and effective. Without a more suitable Spiritual Weapon for closebat, it seemed the Alchemy Furnace was the best option avable.


    This Alchemy Furnace was originally a failed product as a Refinement Spiritual Weapon, crafted from superior materials, weighing thirty-six thousand kilograms.


    At this moment, Wang Hong gripped one of the furnace legs with both hands, raising it high above his head and smashing it down towards the assassin.


    "Boom!"


    The assassin was struck down, creating a five or six feet deep crater upon impact.


    Lying in the center of therge pit, the assassin''s shield formed by a defensive Spiritual Weapon shattered with this blow. The immense force disoriented his internal organs, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.


    Little Peng descended, carrying Wang Hong to the edge of the crater.


    On the other side, the two thousand Poisonous Bees relentlessly attacked the assassin''s protective shield, using sheer force.


    The Poisonous Bees flew high before crashing ruthlessly into the shield. Some of the Poisonous Bees got disoriented from the impact.


    Nevertheless, the results were evident. The assassin desperately directed his Spiritual Power towards reinforcing the shield, but it continued to crack slowly.


    The assassin''s face turned pale. Simultaneously controlling his flying knife Magical Weapon, he swiftly moved, cutting down more than a hundred Poisonous Bees.


    He cursed Wang Hong for his cunning tacticshiding his cultivation level, using poison, and employing these frenzied insects.


    With such strength, pretending to be a Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer disciple and staying hidden within the sect, they had misjudged him.


    Some mistakes were irreparable, like the present situation.


    As the cracks on the shield grewrger, despite the assassin''s efforts to repair them, he couldn''t keep up with the pace of the fractures.


    Several Poisonous Bees had already crawled inside through the cracks. He tried to swat them away with his hands, managing to kill one or two with each strike.


    However, the number of Poisonous Bees inside the shield kept increasing, overwhelming his attempts. Finally, one Poisonous Beended on his hand, followed by a sharp sting on his face. The pain was fiery.


    He pped himself hard, squashing the Poisonous Bee and leaving a vivid red imprint on his face.


    The physical resilience of these Poisonous Bees was remarkable; with less force, he couldn''t kill them.


    Now, more Poisonous Bees climbed onto him, some stinging him repeatedly. The venom spread through his body, causing a burning sensation. His limbs grew stiff, and he lost control.


    Lacking support from his Spiritual Power, the shield finally shattered, dissipating into countless points of light.


    Over a thousand Poisonous Bees swarmed over him, covering his body. He fell vertically from the sky and crashed onto the ground, motionless.


    Simultaneously, Wang Hong had just knocked the Foundation Building second-tier assassin down from the sky. The assassin staggered to his feet, intending to escape.


    Wang Hong lightly swept the cauldron towards him, sending him back into the deep pit. Hey there, blood oozing from his mouth and nose.


    Approaching the pit, Wang Hong lifted the assassin, who was at the Foundation Building second tier, like a dead dog, and tossed him onto the ground.


    Without wasting words, Wang Hong released several Spirit Bees. These bees, following hismand, flew towards the assassin and began to sting.


    His Spirit Bees were quite different from the Poisonous Bees. While the Poisonous Bees'' venom quickly proved fatal, the poison from Spirit Bees induced excruciating pain.


    "I want to know who the Gold Master is that spent Spirit Stones to buy my life," Wang Hong said calmly.


    The assassin remained silent, enduring the pain from the Spirit Bees. Although it was ufortable, he could tolerate a few bees.


    "Well then! You seem quite resilient. Since I have many Spirit Bees, let me apany you in this slow game."


    After saying this, Wang Hong released a few more Spirit Bees from his sleeve, sending them towards the assassin.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 164: Little Pengs Wisdom

    Chapter 164: Little Pengs Wisdom


    Wang Hong released several Spirit Bees once again, guiding them to slowly fly towards the assassin. They swarmed over the assassin, biting and stinging.


    Seeing no immediate reaction from the assassin, Wang Hong released ten more Spirit Bees. He was in no hurry; after all, he wasn''t the one suffering from the pain.


    His approach was akin to beating a bush to see if any information would fall out. If he could extract some intelligence, that would be ideal. If not, no problemcapturing a live one mighte in handyter, as opportunities tend to present themselves.


    He continued to release Spirit Bees multiple times, causing the assassin''s forehead veins to bulge with pain. However, the assassin remained tight-lipped.


    At this point, Wang Hong regretted not keeping the talkative assassin who loved to spout nonsense. Maybe interrogating him would have yielded more information. The current one was as silent as a m.


    With this thought, Wang Hong left the assassin in ce and instructed Little Peng, "Little Peng, keep an eye on him. Don''t let him escape, understood?"


    Little Peng nodded in understanding.


    Wang Hong confiscated items from the assassin and delivered a punch to his abdomen, dispersing the Spiritual Energy. Satisfied that the assassin was incapacitated, Wang Hong departed.


    With Little Peng''s limited intelligence, keeping the promise not to let the assassin escape was a given.


    Wang Hong''s purpose was to tidy up after the chatty assassin who liked to talk nonsense.


    He never disposed of bodies carelessly after a kill. The remains had to be turned into ashes to prevent any chance of retaliation from the enemy.


    Immortal Cultivators possessed mysterious techniques, and since he had taken a life, there was no room for giving the opponent a chance to turn the tables.


    The assassin was thoroughly dead, his Poisonous Bees still hovering nearby. In this battle, nearly three hundred out of two thousand Poisonous Bees had perished.


    Wang Hong collected all the Poisonous Bee corpses on the ground. Not only could the toxins be extracted from these corpses, but it also helped eliminate any traces of the Poisonous Bees'' presencea strategic move to avoid unnecessary exposure.


    After clearing the area of any Poisonous Bee traces, he found a swift Spiritual Weapon, a small knife, near the corpse.


    The Level Two Foundation Building assassin, observing Wang Hong leaving alone and leaving only a tier-one bird as a guard, saw an opportunity.


    Enduring intense pain, he slowly sat up. As he did, Little Peng''s wing swiftly descended, knocking him back to the ground.


    "Cough, cough, cough!"


    Little Peng''s strength was considerable. A year ago, he could already send Elder Brother flying several feet away with just his strength. Now, his power had undoubtedly increased.


    The assassin, on the ground again, had two more broken ribs. After catching his breath, he attempted to sit up again, keeping a wary eye on Little Peng.


    Seeing the assassin making movements but not attempting to escape, Little Peng made no move to interfere.


    It wasn''t until the assassin fully sat up that Little Peng''s wing descended once more. This time, the assassin was prepared, quickly dodging the strike and rolling several feet away.


    The assassin, realizing Little Peng wasn''t bothering him anymore, cautiously continued rolling towards one side. Little Peng remained indifferent.


    As the assassin cautiously rolled in one direction, Little Peng allowed it. The assassin, thrilled at the apparentck of attention, continued to roll energetically.


    Despite the pain with each roll, especially from the broken bones, he persisted, hoping to reach a safe distance.


    The excruciating pain caused by the poison of the Spirit Bees was like being roasted alive in a fire. The assassin''s entire body was swollen and even a gentle touch brought intense agony.


    With each roll, he endured unbearable pain, convulsing all over. Truly an elite talent cultivated by Shadow Kill, he continued rolling energetically despite the excruciating pain, heading in one direction.


    Little Peng observed the rolling assassin, unsure of what to do. Wang Hong had only mentioned preventing the assassin from getting up, but the assassin hadn''t stood up yet. Little Peng was perplexed about whether it should intervene.


    After pondering for a while, Little Peng came up with a brilliantpromise. Proud of its own wisdom, it quickly caught up with the rolling assassin, extended a w to grab him, and helped him stand up.


    The assassin was bewildered. What did this mean? He cautiously examined therge bird, but it showed no further intention.


    Deciding to take a chance, the assassin suddenly exerted force with both legs, attempting to escape. Unaware that Little Peng was waiting for him to run, considering the confusion during the previous rolling on the ground, he thought he could escape now.


    As he took a few steps, arge wing swept down.


    "Bang!"


    The assassin was swept off his feet and crashed onto a nearby rock. He coughed up arge amount of blood and then went lifeless, dead.


    Unfortunately, this skilled assassin, a product of Shadow Kill''s training, had killed countless cultivators. Now, he met his end in a confused manner at the hands of a bird. Until his death, he never understood what the bird''s intentions were.


    Upon Wang Hong''s return, he found the assassin dead but paid little attention. Little Peng ran to Wang Hong, proud and eager to showcase its intelligence, using various gestures to convey its actions.


    Wang Hong took a moment to understand that the assassin intended to escape, but Little Peng intervened, causing the assassin to lie still. Unaware of the specific events during the chase, as the two battlefields were somewhat distant, Wang Hong decided to let it be.


    Since the assassin was already dead, Wang Hong ignited a fire, reducing the body to ashes.


    Returning to the sect with Little Peng, Wang Hong first examined the storage bags of the two assassins. Two sect tokens had no significant value, a small knife, a low-grade Spiritual Weapon with incredible speed suitable for sneak attacks.


    There was also a Golden Seal, a medium-grade Spiritual Weapon with the ability to erge to about ten meters, a powerful medium-grade Spiritual Weapon thatpensated for Wang Hong''sck of high-powered attack Spiritual Weapons.


    Additionally, there were two low-grade defense shields, previously witnessed by Wang Hong. They had average defense and could be sold or exchanged for contribution points in Azure Void City.


    The total Spirit Stones in the storage bags amounted to over two hundred thousand, considered wealthy among early-stage Foundation Building cultivators. Including the Spiritual Weapons, they were now rich.


    The bags also contained various misceneous itemsPills, Spirit Herbs, Ores, Jade Scrolls, and other cultivation items. Wang Hong categorized the valuable ones and burned the rest.


    With a harvest of two hundred thousand Spirit Stones and adding those reimed from Azure Void City, despite buying a mansion, Wang Hong now possessed one hundred and twenty thousand Spirit Stones.


    He scattered over a million into Space, expanding it by ten acres. nting two acres of East Departure Grass, five acres of Nourishing Essence Pill Medicinal Herbs, and leaving three acres vacant, he nned to find Spirit nts suitable for refining tool materials.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 165: Golden Scale Hall

    Chapter 165: Golden Scale Hall


    After expanding the Space by another ten acres, the total area reached ny-five acres. The passage of time inside was one hundred and twenty-four times faster than outside.


    Although the Space had grown in size, the cultivation time for many second-tier Spiritual Objects had increased. Some Spirit nts had grown to be over ten feet tall, resembling trees, and only a few could be nted in one acre.


    Take, for instance, the Spirit Grain that had undergone two mutations within the Space. The nts reached over ten feet in height, resembling trees. In reality, only a few nts could be cultivated in one acre.


    Simrly, for the Nourishing Essence Pill, the main medicine along with dozens of auxiliary Spiritual Herbs required cultivation periods of at least a couple of hundred years. The main medicine, Essence Nurturing Grass, required at least three hundred years.


    Given the current time ratio in the Space, it would take two to three years for one acre to produce a hundred units of materials.


    After nting the Spiritual Herbs in the Space, Wang Hong disyed his cultivation level as Qi Cultivation at the tenthyer. He then rode Little Peng towards the Heavenly Authority Peak.


    After this experience, he felt it was unnecessary to conceal his cultivation level in the Qi Cultivation period. Having defeated two killers in the early stages of Foundation Building, pretending to be in a lower cultivation stage would be a bit self-deceptive.


    This was his second visit to the exchange hall. The first time, he exchanged for the Red Powder Skull Flower and Devilish Vine.


    Wang Hong casually found a spot in the queue. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, it was his turn.


    He took the Magical Weapon containing the exchange catalog and began to examine it slowly.


    Apart from exchanging for the Foundation Establishment Pill this time, he also wanted to see if there were any other Spiritual Objects that he could use.


    The sect had umted a wealth of resources, asionally offering rare Spiritual Objects in the exchange hall to motivate disciples to contribute to the sect.


    He currently had three hundred and thirty thousand contribution points. Exchanging for three Foundation Establishment Pills required three hundred thousand contribution points, leaving him with a surplus of thirty thousand.


    Since he was here, he naturally wanted to take a look around. Perhaps he could find something useful.


    "Hurry up! Don''t dawdle!" The person in charge of the exchange was a female disciple who looked to be in her fifties or sixties. Seeing Wang Hong constantly staring at the Magical Weapon, she impatiently urged him.


    Only then did Wang Hong notice that the disciple on the opposite side had a cold face and was quite impatient.


    Internally, he couldn''t help but sigh. This exchange hall and the Task Hall were definitely not managed by the same elder. The difference in attitude was too significant.


    The water disciple at the Task Hall, although average-looking, had a delightful manner of speaking and a good attitude.


    The current person, on the other hand, had an unpleasant appearance and a tasteless way of speaking, as if everyone owed her Spirit Stones.


    "Sorry! I got lost in thought just now," Wang Hong apologized.


    "Hurry up!" The female disciple was not interested in his exnation.


    "I want to exchange for three Foundation Establishment Pills," Wang Hong quickly said, so as not to be urged againter.


    "Oh! So, Senior Brother is here to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills!" The tone of the female disciple instantly improved, and a friendly smile appeared on her face.


    As someone who had lived for fifty or sixty years, she naturally knew that once a person sessfully reached Foundation Building, they became a Foundation Building Disciple. She couldn''t afford to offend such individuals.


    With three Foundation Establishment Pills in hand, the likelihood of failure was extremely low. If she could leave a good impression today, it might help her in the future.


    "Please show me your Token," the female disciple smiled.


    Wang Hong handed over his Sect Token.


    The disciple took it, checked it, and said, "Senior Brother, there are still three hundred and thirty thousand contribution points on your Token. After exchanging for three Foundation Establishment Pills, you''ll have thirty thousand contribution points left. Do you want to exchange for something else?"


    Wang Hong thought to himself that he had indeed wanted to exchange for something else before getting lost in thought a moment ago.


    As for the change in the other party''s attitude, Wang Hong could understand. Holding three Foundation Establishment Pills meant he was on the verge of bing a Foundation Building cultivator. Naturally, no one would want to offend him without reason, hence the somewhat ttering tone.


    Isn''t this how most people are? They tend to seek favor with strong individuals, even though, in reality, such efforts often bear no fruit. Strong individuals are unlikely to give benefits just because someone tries to please them, but many people still seem to enjoy trying.


    Since the other party kindly reminded him, Wang Hong took the book-like Magical Weapon and started examining it again.


    "I want to exchange for this Golden Spotted Bamboo."


    After searching for a while, he finally found a three-hundred-year-old Golden Spotted Bamboo, requiring eight hundred contribution points. It was a second-tier Spirit nt that could be used for refining Spiritual Weapons. Wang Hong intended to use it for the shaft of the Symbol Pen.


    The bamboo sprouted every five hundred years, producing shoots from the base. The shoots of the Golden Spotted Bamboo were also a rare delicacy.


    "Anything else you need?"


    "No, nothing else for now." His luck wasn''t great this time; he didn''te across any rare Spiritual Objects for exchange.


    "Alright, please wait a moment."


    The female disciple then left her position, entered a small door, and returned with a wooden tray after a while.


    On the tray were a Jade vial and a long wooden box. Items were obtained from the backstage and distributed at the front desk. Carrying items in Storage Bags was strictly prohibited, as they would be held responsible if any issues arose.


    "These are three Foundation Establishment Pills; please verify them first," the female disciple handed the Jade vial to Wang Hong. Such valuable items had to be inspected in person.


    Wang Hong took it, carefully examined it, and stored it in his Storage Bag.


    Next, the disciple handed over the wooden box for Wang Hong to check. When he opened it, he found a bamboo shoot over three feet long and as thick as a thumb.


    The bamboo was a vivid green with golden spots, and at the base, there was a small section of bamboo whip a few inches long with some fine roots.


    After confirming everything was in order, Wang Hong stored it in his Storage Bag and said, "Thank you! I''ll take my leave now."


    "No need to be polite. Next time, you cane directly to my side in the queue. I wish Senior Brother sess in Foundation Building!" The woman, who looked to be in her fifties or sixties, calling herself a "little girl" sent shivers down Wang Hong''s spine.


    However, fifty or sixty years old wasn''t considered old among cultivators. Calling herself a little girl wasn''t entirely incorrect; there were female cultivators several hundred years old who still referred to themselves as young girls.


    The difference between this female cultivator and a genuine young girl was just a Resplendent Visage Elixir.


    With a Resplendent Visage Elixir, a girl who appeared to be in her twenties might actually be several hundred years old.


    Upon returning to his small courtyard, Wang Hong didn''t immediately reveal his Foundation Building cultivation level. He had just reached the tenthyer of Qi Cultivation on the surface, so he needed to pretend to consolidate for a few days.


    Three monthster, Wang Hong finally revealed his Foundation Building cultivation level, and now he could straightforwardly do what a Foundation Building cultivator should be doing.


    After sessfully reaching Foundation Building, every disciple in the sect needed to register at the Golden Scale Hall, named after the transformation of scales into a dragon.


    At the entrance of the Golden Scale Hall were two Qi Cultivation disciples on guard. Their responsibility was to intercept unrted individuals from entering and disturbing the Golden Core Elders inside.


    Wang Hong approached the entrance of the Golden Scale Hall, and the two disciples, with keen eyes, saw that he had reached the Foundation Building level. Yet, he was still dressed in the dark Daoist Robe of a Qi Cultivation Disciple. They immediately understood that Wang Hong had just achieved Foundation Building and hade to register. They quickly stepped forward to greet him.


    "Senior Uncle, are you here to register?"


    "Exactly, please inform them."


    "Senior Uncle, there''s no need to be polite. This is our duty."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 166: Cave Mansion

    Chapter 166: Cave Mansion


    The imposing Golden Scale Hall loomed as Wang Hong stepped inside, a profound sense of his own insignificance washing over him.


    Seated high on the main hall throne was a cultivator, and Wang Hong was momentarily stunned. Wasn''t the figure on the throne none other than his nominal master, Gu Qingyang?


    "What''s the matter? Can''t even recognize your master?" Gu Qingyang spoke first.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays respects to Master!" Wang Hong quickly bowed.


    "Why did it take you so long to reach Foundation Building?" Gu Qingyang was surprised. Among the disciples who entered the secret realm at the same time, Wang Hong had obtained the most Foundation Establishment Pills, and sess in Foundation Building should have been a certainty.


    "When I reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, I encountered a bottleneck, so it dyed me for some time," Wang Hong exined.


    "Oh, I see," Gu Qingyang didn''t dwell on the matter.


    "Now that you have sessfully reached Foundation Building, let''s take care of the registration formalities!" Gu Qingyang took out a scroll, opened it to a nk page, and said, "Take a drop of essence blood and hand over your Sect Token."


    Wang Hongplied, presenting his Token and extracting a drop of essence blood, which he handed to Gu Qingyang.


    Gu Qingyang took the essence blood and, utilizing his Spiritual Power, drew intricate runes in the air. After a few moments, he transferred theplex rune onto the nk page of the scroll, and an image of Wang Hong appeared vividly.


    At this moment, Wang Hong felt a subtle connection between himself and the scroll, a sensation reminiscent of Blood Contracts he had signed before.


    Summoning his courage, he asked, "Master, what treasure is this scroll?"


    Gu Qingyang smiled and exined, "This is a magical treasure that can collect and sense the essence blood and Nascent Soul aura of cultivators. If a registered disciple faces an untimely death, the scroll will sense it, and the recorded image and information will vanish, returning to a nk page. As long as one doesn''t betray the Sect or act against its interests, there are no adverse effects."


    Wang Hong understood. It seemed like an advanced version of a Blood Contract, a means for the Sect to control its disciples. In arge Sect with numerous Qi Cultivation disciples, registration might seem wasteful, but for thousands of Foundation Building disciples, a measure of control was necessary.


    Though heprehended the necessity, Wang Hong couldn''t shake off the difort. Even though he never harbored thoughts of betraying the Sect, the feeling of being constrained was unpleasant.


    Gu Qingyang didn''t dwell on this aspect, asserting that everyone had grown ustomed to it, and as long as loyalty prevailed, there would be no harm.


    "Now that you''ve reached Foundation Building, the Sect''s treatment will naturally improve," Gu Qingyang continued.


    Foundation Building Disciples can receive two thousand Spirit Stones annually, with the requirement toplete at least one Sect mission per year on average. There are additional rewards forpleting Sect missions, the specifics depending on the mission''s difficulty.


    As for Qi Cultivation Disciples, they receive ten Spirit Stones monthly and five Condensing Qi Pills.


    While the Spirit Stone ie for Foundation Building Disciples increases nearly twentyfold, the distribution of Pills is discontinued. With thousands of Foundation Building Disciples, each receiving one Pill, the surplus is used as rewards for various tasks, motivating disciples to strive for improvement.


    "Furthermore, Foundation Building Disciples can choose a cave mansion. Each peak in the Sect has vacant cave mansions for selection. You can either pick one from these or explore and construct a new cave mansion. Oncepleted, make sure to register it here," Gu Qingyang exined.


    Considering the rich Spirit Qi concentration, Wang Hong knew the older cave mansions, opened by predecessors over thousands of years, would already be upied. Despite this, he preferred constructing his own cave mansion for a morefortable residence.


    Since he didn''t absorb Spirit Qi through meditation and found it to be a waste of time due to his poor aptitude, Wang Hong nned to post a mission to hire other cultivators for construction.


    "In response to Master, Disciple would like to construct one personally."


    "Very well! If you choose to handle it yourself, find a suitable location. However, it''s challenging to find a ce with concentrated Spirit Qi on each peak, as previous disciples have already imed them."


    "Thank you, Master! I''d like to explore and find a suitable ce!"


    "Alright, these are for you. If there''s nothing else, you may leave."


    Gu Qingyang tossed a Storage Bag to Wang Hong, who epted it with gratitude before leaving Golden Scale Hall.


    Back at his residence, Wang Hong opened the Storage Bag to find a set of purple Daoist Robes, a Brass Token with his name on it, and two thousand Spirit Stonespresumably his ie for the year.


    He changed into the Daoist Robes and stored the Token safely; it would now serve as his identity token. The next step was to search for a location to construct his cave mansion.


    Over the next few days, Wang Hong would wander aimlessly around the mountain top after his cultivation sessions, seeking a secluded and spacious ce. Unfortunately, every spot with slightly dense Spirit Qi had already been imed.


    After more than ten days of fruitless searching, he reluctantly returned to Golden Scale Hall, seeking guidance from Gu Qingyang.


    During his wandering, he did gain some insights. He learned of a cave mansion with more extensive grounds and denser Spirit Qi. In the end, he chose one spanning sixty acres, rtively secluded and rich in Spirit Qi.


    Although the external appearance was somewhat dpidated, the Spirit Qi inside was promising. What pleased him most was the forty acres of spirit fields apanying the mansion.


    Posting a mission at the Task Hall, Wang Hong hired Qi Cultivation cultivators to repair the cave mansion. The term "cave mansion" didn''t necessarily mean residing in a mountain cave; it was a general term. Thanks to the generous contribution points and rewards he offered, several cultivators quickly epted the mission, and the repairs werepleted within a fortnight.


    Before moving in, he employed the Qi Cultivation Disciples who repaired the house to help transnt the Three Yang Melon Seeds he had cultivated for years and the Spirit Jujube Tree in front of his previous residence. Though they were just nts, he couldn''t bear to part with them.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 167: Blood Contract Rune

    Chapter 167: Blood Contract Rune


    Wang Hong transnted the Spirit Jujube Tree to a new location at the entrance of his cave mansion. Originally adorned with Spirit Jujubes, the tree now bore only a few immature fruits. Wang Hong''s close friends helped themselves to the ripe ones, while others less familiar hesitated. In such cases, Wang Hong would usually pick some to offer as hospitality.


    Each Spirit Jujube took over twenty years from flowering to maturity, a pace that couldn''t keep up with the rate at which they were consumed. Especially when Elder Brother visited, he spared not even the unripe ones on the tree, relishing every bite.


    Now, with over forty acres of spirit fields and twenty Spirit Jujube Trees transnted from his Space, Wang Hong had no shortage of offerings for guests. Walking under the trees,den with Spirit Jujubes of various sizes, brought joy even if one didn''t indulge in eating them.


    Though these Spirit Jujubes were only tier-one Spiritual Objects and tasted delightful, they were rtively insignificant considering Wang Hong''s current status. Additionally, he had also transnted two white crystal fruit trees and a few other tier-two spirit fruits  his regr snacks, now more conveniently essible.


    After setting up his spiritual orchard, Wang Hong still had plenty of space in the forty-acre spirit fields. Contemting, he decided to nt some crops with shorter growth periods and quicker returns.


    Many tier-two Spiritual Objects took a minimum of one to two hundred years, some even several hundred years, to mature. If these objects matured and he achieved the Golden Core stage, they would be of little use to him. If he failed to form a core, he would be dead, rendering them useless.


    In the end, he chose to nt Space-mutated Spirit Grain for a second time. This Spirit Grain matured in just ten years in the Space, a significant improvementpared to the longer periods required in regr spirit fields.


    However, thest batch of Spirit Grain in Azure Void City had nearly perished, saved only by adding some Space soil. Unfortunately, the regr soil in the external spirit fields did not seem suitable for its growth. The Spirit Grain saplings from Azure Void City had been close to death, saved only by sprinkling some Space soil on them. Moreover, the effectiveness of the Space soil outside the spirit fields was temporary, requiring reapplication after a certain period.


    Having hired a few Qi Cultivation Disciples, Wang Hong enlisted their help in nting the Spirit Grain. nting forty acres of Spirit Grain, even with his current Foundation Building cultivation level, would take several days. He reasoned that this time could be better spent on cultivation. The Qi Cultivation Disciples, on the other hand, wouldplete the task in just ten days, earning themselves ten Condensing Qi Pills as a reward  a far more efficient arrangement.


    This favorable opportunity left countless Qi Cultivation Disciples envious. With the workers assigned, Wang Hong set off to focus on his cultivation.


    Within the new cave mansion, the Cultivation Room alone upied two acres, standing three zhang tall. It provided a convenient space for practicing various Magical Arts, Flying Sword techniques, and other Magical Weapons.


    After refining several pills, Wang Hong entered the Space. Amidst the chaos of the past few days, he hadn''t spent much time there. asionally, he enjoyed idling in this world that belonged solely to him. Floating in the air or reclining among the flowers, he relished the undisturbed tranquility.


    Today, he hung himself on a tree branch, allowing his thoughts to wander aimlessly. Suddenly, he noticed a Rune at the center of his head, a Rune he vaguely remembered. It was the Rune Gu Qingyang had inscribed with essence blood when he advanced to Foundation Building.


    In the Space, his body was a mere ethereal form resembling a Nascent Soul. The power akin to a Blood Contract was directly imprinted onto his Nascent Soul. Attempting to move the Rune with Divine Sense, he felt a slight tremor before it settled, apanied by a severe headache.


    After the pain subsided, he tried again. This time, the Rune moved slightly, proving he had a chance to shift it. No need to rush; he could deal with it slowly. Unlike other cultivators who couldn''t even see their own Nascent Soul, Wang Hong had a chance to move it.


    Below the Nascent Soul stage, there was no solution to this issue. Only at the Nascent Soul stage could a cultivator temporarily leave their physical body. In this situation, other cultivators were helpless.


    Ten dayster, his forty acres of Spirit Grain had been sessfully nted. Wang Hong gathered the Qi Cultivation Disciples, rewarding each with ten Condensing Qi Pills. Their joy was concealed, suppressed to avoid bursting out.


    "What''s your name?" Wang Hong asked a robust Disciple, who had diligently stood out among the rest in the past few days, using Divine Sense to asionally observe.


    "I am Disciple Chen Nian," the Disciple respectfully replied.


    "I want to hire you to look after the spirit fieldsresponsible for watering, weeding, pest control, and all other tasks. Are you up for it?"


    External spirit fields required significant time and effort for daily care. Wang Hong''s Space, thanks to his vignce, had no weed seeds, saving him a lot of trouble. Otherwise, with the Space''s time dtion of over a hundred times, the weed growth rate would be rapid. He probably wouldn''t be able to keep up even with daily weeding.


    The same logic applied to pests; without them present in the Space, no watering was needed. The Space soil itself had sufficient humidity for Spirit nts to grow as long as there was ample Spirit Qi.


    Zhen Nian was overjoyed; in these few days, he had observed that this senior uncle was generous, and the treatment was bound to be good.


    "Disciple is willing, thank you for senior uncle''s kindness!"


    Zhen Nian bowed deeply to Wang Hong.


    "Alright, from now on, you''ll manage the spirit fields here. I''ll reward you with ten Condensing Qi Pills each month, and if you perform well, there might be additional rewards."


    The other Disciples, not selected by Wang Hong, felt jealous, thinking Chen Nian had struck gold with luck.


    None of them realized that while they chatted and goofed off in the spirit fields, Chen Nian diligently worked. While they casually tended to the crops, Chen Nian meticulously nted every Spirit Grain with precision.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 168: Pill Hall Assessment

    Chapter 168: Pill Hall Assessment


    Upon reaching the Foundation Building stage in the Qingxu Sect, disciples gained the privilege to participate in various sect affairs. They could sign up for different departments and, upon passing the assessments, be members, actively engaging in specific tasks.


    Joining these departments also came with additional rewards.


    For instance, Wang Hong often visited the Scripture Tower, where the two disciples in purple robes at the entrance, responsible for copying Jade Scrolls, belonged to the Scripture Tower. However, tasks like theirs were time-consuming, and thepensation was rtively low.


    There were various other options, such as managing business affairs, overseeing the sect''s industries, infiltrating different areas to gather intelligence for the sect, and the four halls  Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and ck Tortoise. These four halls, being in charge of externalbat, had the highest number of members and the best treatment.


    There was also the Punishment Hall, responsible for internal matters and handling any vitions of sect rules.


    Qingxu Sect, known for its proficiency in Alchemy, had a formidable department called Pill Hall. With over a hundred second-tier alchemists, Pill Hall even boasted five third-tier alchemists, surpassing other sects.


    Pill Hall not only refined pills for the sect but also provided refinement services for other sects, generating significant ie for Qingxu Sect.


    From the beginning, Wang Hong had nned to join Pill Hall. Compared to other cultivators, he was rtively wealthy. Moreover, he owned a pill shop in Azure Void City, making his identity as an alchemist reasonable.


    Being an alchemist also presented numerous opportunities to ess rare Spiritual Herbs, precisely what he needed.


    As an outstanding alchemist of Pill Hall, he would be a protected asset. The sect wouldn''t assign him to risky tasks, considering there were plenty of cannon fodder avable.


    Every year on the first day of May, Pill Hall conducted a centralized assessment.


    Even first-tier alchemists could apply to join Pill Hall, but the requirements were stringent, making it challenging for disciples to qualify. Therefore, most participants in the assessment were first-tier alchemists, with second-tier alchemists being a rare sight throughout the year.


    On this day, Wang Hong stood in the crowd, awaiting themencement of the assessment.


    "Ah, I heard they raised the assessment standards again. It''s even harder to get into Pill Hall this time,"ined a disciple in the crowd.


    "That''s right. For any first-tier pill in Refinement, the Pill Sess Rate must reach eighty percent. If I had known, I would have appliedst year. I thought practicing for another year would be more secure, but who knew they would raise the standards this year. Now, I''m even less confident," regretted a tall, thin disciple beside him.


    "Sigh! Only by entering Pill Hall do you have a chance to be selected by the sect and cultivated into a second-tier alchemist. If you rely on yourself, you can forget about bing a second-tier alchemist in your lifetime," said the worried cultivator.


    "There are still some who be second-tier alchemists on their own, but they''re few and far between," added the thin disciple.


    "Most of them have family support. I heard Tang Wan''er from Tianshu Peak can refine second-tier pills with the backing of her family. The Pill Sess Rate is reportedly quite good."


    "I''ve heard about that too. She should be participating in the Pill Hall assessment this year, but I haven''t seen her yet."


    Wang Hong, standing in the crowd, overheard the discussions and gained valuable information. It turned out that many Foundation Building disciples were willing to join Pill Hall as first-tier alchemists because Pill Hall selected outstanding individuals to be cultivated into second-tier alchemists.


    Therefore, joining Pill Hall was the best path to bing a second-tier alchemist.


    "Hey, junior, you look unfamiliar. Is this your first time participating in the assessment?" A cultivator with protruding teeth next to Wang Hong struck up a conversation.


    "It is indeed my first time. Do we have to take the assessment multiple times?" Wang Hong asked with some confusion.


    "No need for that. Just pass it once," the cultivator replied.


    The cultivator with protruding teeth had initially wanted to boast about his experiences with multiple assessments. However, upon hearing Wang Hong''s question, he felt awkward and refrained from doing so. Going through the assessment multiple times wasn''t exactly an honorable achievement.


    "Sigh! With such stringent conditions, not many can pass on their first attempt. Most people here have tried several times," he continued.


    At that moment, the doors of Pill Hall opened, and a middle-aged schr-looking Foundation Building cultivator stepped out.


    "Dear disciples, this year''s Pill Hall assessment is now beginning. Please line up and enter the hall in order."


    Wang Hong followed the crowd into the hall, where everyone stood still.


    "The assessment follows the usual rules. You will draw lots to determine which pill you need to refine. The Pill Sess Rate for first-tier alchemists is slightly increased fromst year, requiring it to reach eighty percent."


    At this moment, a girl in Qingxu Sect purple robes entered from the hall''s entrance. Her purple robe, unlike the standard sect robes others wore, seemed more tailored to her body.


    "Uncle Yuan! I''m sorry for beingte!"


    Before the girl arrived, she apologized to the middle-aged schr standing at the front.


    "Wan''er, my niece, you''re notte! I thought you might note this year."


    The middle-aged schr waited for the girl to join the crowd before speaking again, "The assessment standards for second-tier alchemists remain unchanged fromst year. Choose any second-tier pill and achieve a Pill Sess Rate of twenty percent to pass."


    Then, he took out a wooden box wrapped in cloth to block Divine Sense.


    "Everyone,e forward one by one to draw lots. Choose the Pill Recipe for the pill you want to refine, then go to the left to collect the Spiritual Herb."


    As people drew lots, the cultivator with protruding teeth had invited Wang Hong to join him, but Wang Hong politely declined.


    After a quarter of an incense stick''s time, only Wang Hong and a female cultivator named Tang Wan remained in the hall. Everyone else had drawn lots and gone to the other side to collect Spiritual Herbs.


    "Are both of you here for the second-tier alchemist assessment?" the middle-aged schr asked, mainly addressing Wang Hong.


    "Exactly!" Wang Hong answered straightforwardly.


    "For the second-tier alchemist advancement assessment, you need to prepare the form and bring your own Spiritual Herb materials. Have you brought them?" The middle-aged schr inquired of Wang Hong.


    Second-tier Spiritual Herbs were not cheap. If provided for free by the sect, there would undoubtedly be a surge in disciples participating in the assessment each year, hoping to try their luck without any personal cost.


    "Indeed, I''ve brought them. I n to refine the Nourishing Essence Pill," Wang Hong said, handing over a Storage Bag for inspection. This was to prevent any cheating.


    "Hehehe! Coincidentally, I''m also nning to refine the Nourishing Essence Pill. Let''spare and see whose Pill Sess Rate is higher!" Tang Wan''er chimed in, handing over her Storage Bag at the same time.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 169: Lionhead Spirit Mushroom

    Chapter 169: Lionhead Spirit Mushroom


    The assessment for the second-tier Alchemist only requires a Pill Sess Rate of at least twenty percent to be considered qualified. This minimum sess rate ensures that Alchemy won''t result in losses.


    The assessments for first-tier and second-tier Alchemists are conducted simultaneously in the grand hall.


    About a hundred people stand on the east side of the hall, while only two are on the west side.


    Now, in front of each person, an Alchemy Furnace is ced. These furnaces are uniformly provided by the Pill Hall, and their quality is roughly the same.


    "The Pill Hall assessment begins now. Each person has three chances, and the final average Pill Sess Rate will determine the oue."


    In charge of the assessment, apart from the middle-aged schr, there are also two cultivators in theter stages of Foundation Building.


    At themand of the middle-aged schr, everyone focuses solely on Alchemy, neglecting everything else.


    Wang Hong takes out the materials and sets them up, preparing for Alchemy.


    "Junior Brother Wang, want to make a bet?" Tang Wan''er says to Wang Hong.


    "No bet! Wait, do I know you?" Wang Hong is puzzled. He has no recollection of Tang Wan''er, so how does she know him?


    While talking, he has already ignited spirit charcoal to start heating the furnace for Alchemy.


    "Of course, I know you! Someone is always talking about you around me. How could I not know you?" Tang Wan''er reveals a cunning smile.


    While speaking, Tang Wan''er''s hands continue to move without stopping, also beginning the furnace heating process.


    Wang Hong is even more confused. He can''t recall anyone talking about him in front of her.


    "Hint: she''s a beautiful female cultivator!" Tang Wan''er, seeing Wang Hong''s confusion, offers a reminder.


    "Please enlighten me, Senior Sister Tang," Wang Hong still can''t remember, and he doesn''t recall having a particrly good rtionship with any female cultivator.


    "Oh! Another forgetful and ungrateful person. My cousin has been talking about you all the time, and you''ve already forgotten her. Since you can''t remember, I won''t say more. Let''s talk about our bet instead."


    "When did I agree to bet with you?" Wang Hong asks.


    Through continuous practice, his current second-tier Pill Sess Rate is close to twenty percent, which is quite good among second-tier Alchemists. He doesn''t n to stand out too much; his intention is to pass the assessment with a twenty percent Pill Sess Rate and gradually improveter.


    "Oh dear! Junior Brother Wang, don''t be afraid. My skills are quite lousy, so you should easily win," Tang Wan''er reassures.


    Wang Hong thinks it''s probably because he doesn''t want to win against her.


    "I have a second-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushroom. If you can beat me, I''ll give you this Lionhead Spirit Mushroom. How about it?"


    In the first-tier Alchemist examination area to the east, several people are Alchemizing while surreptitiously listening to Wang Hong and Tang Wan''er''s gossip.


    Upon hearing Tang Wan''er wagering a second-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushroom, one person''s heart skips a beat. In their distraction, a mistake is made, and a furnace of Spirit Herb is burnt, emitting ck smoke from the Alchemy Furnace.


    Having failed an entire furnace, it seems they''ve missed another opportunity.


    It''s not that their focus iscking; rather, they''ve been preparing to refine a second-tier Pill through someone for the past two years. The Lionhead Spirit Mushroom is one of the main herbs they''ve been searching for.


    The Lionhead Spirit Mushroom needs to grow on spirit wood, requiring at least second-tier spirit wood to cultivate. Growing on second-tier spirit wood makes it a second-tier Spiritual Herb.


    If cultivated on third-tier spirit wood, it bes a third-tier Spiritual Herb.


    Moreover, the Lionhead Spirit Mushroom has an exceptionally delicious taste, making it a favorite among many cultivators.


    "So, what do I have to give if I lose?" Wang Hong spectes that she must want something from him in return.


    Simrly, Wang Hong is intrigued by the Lionhead Spirit Mushroom that Tang Wan''er mentioned.


    "If you lose, just give me a pound of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly."


    "At most, half a pound!" Wang Hong, after a moment of consideration, suggests. Half a pound of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly is equivalent in value to a second-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushroom.


    "Deal!"


    At this point, Tang Wan''er has already purified the impurities in the Spiritual Herb.


    Confident about this bet, she has been recognized for her Alchemy talent since childhood and received significant cultivation in Pill Recipe within the n, earning her the reputation of an Alchemy genius.


    Wang Hong, too, has finished purifying the impurities and begins the process of blending the medicinal power.


    He decides to control the Pill Sess Rate to within thirty percent. If Tang Wan''er surpasses thirty percent, he is willing to admit defeat. He believes in not pursuing small gains at the expense of greater harm.


    During the pill formation process, he deliberately slows down his Technique by a small fraction, allowing some medicinal power to dissipate.


    Soon, his first furnace of pills is ready, producing three Nourishing Essence Pills.


    This unexpected sess catches the attention of many. Initially unknown, they thought he was just practicing with a few second-tier Spiritual Herbs, not expecting him to have a decent chance of sess.


    This situation is not umon in the annual Pill Hall assessments. Some individuals use second-tier materials to practice, and since they are already here, they might as well participate in the assessment. Who knows, they might identally seed.


    Despite being elite first-tier Alchemists, some Foundation Building Disciples still hesitate to join the Pill Hall as first-tier Alchemists. The elite status of first-tier Alchemists in the Pill Hall is rtively low.


    For this reason, many choose to undergo the assessment only when they reach second-tier Alchemist status.


    Even the middle-aged schr sitting at the top now regards Wang Hong with a bit more attention. There are only a little over a hundred second-tier Alchemists in the Pill Hall, and most of them were cultivated from the first-tier Alchemists in the Pill Hall. Very few joined as second-tier Alchemists based on their own abilities.


    After a few moments, Tang Wan''er also sessfully refines three Nourishing Essence Pills. To everyone''s surprise, she is equally matched.


    Tang Wan''er, confident after refining three Nourishing Essence Pills, smiles triumphantly at Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong pays little attention and proceeds to refine the second furnace of Nourishing Essence Pills.


    In the second furnace, Wang Hong produces three pills, and so does Tang Wan''er. At this point, it''s a tie, and the oue will be determined by the third furnace.


    On the eastern side, where the first-tier Alchemist assessment is taking ce, some cultivators who had given up on themselves are now participating in the bet''s spectators.


    "Who is this junior disciple? Howe I''ve never heard of such an Alchemy genius in the sect?"


    "I know him. His name is Wang Hong. A few years ago, he came out of a secret realm. Among that batch of disciples, he ranked first in contribution points. Later, he auctioned off three Foundation Establishment Pills. Unfortunately, I was busy with Alchemy at that time and didn''t have the time to go."


    "You refine a first-tier pill, and it only takes an hour or two. Even without Spirit Stones, you can talk so nicely." A familiar cultivator nearby jokes immediately.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 170: Qiu Long Tea

    Chapter 170: Qiu Long Tea


    Wang Hong and Tang Wan''er''s bet on the first two furnaces, with each producing three Pills, ended in a draw.


    As the third furnace''s Pill production began, Wang Hong continued to operate calmly and methodically, following the previous procedure.


    Tang Wan''er, however, was now ignited with apetitive spirit. Changing her Technique, she manipted her Spiritual Power in a unique way, causing a surge in her vitality.


    This was an Alchemy technique she had learned, capable of temporarily enhancing Divine Sense, strengthening Spiritual Power, and consequently increasing the Pill Sess Rate. However, the aftermath meant she would need several days of rest to recover.


    After using the technique, Tang Wan''er''s Pill formation speed increased significantly, employing techniques she had never used before.


    Witnessing this, Wang Hong sighed inwardly. It seemed he was destined to lose this time, but he wouldn''t increase his Pill Sess Rate because of it.


    At his current level, in the eyes of many, he was already an Alchemy genius. Exining that he had already refined one or two thousand second-tier Pills would be difficult. Besides, he wasn''t one to shy away from a loss, and the Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, though extremely rare to others, was abundant in his Space, with over a hundred pounds.


    Over the years, there had been asional fellow practitioners seeking to purchase from him, but he hadn''t sold much, considering he only had the one nest on the Spirit Jujube Tree openly.


    In the end, during the third furnace, Tang Wan''er produced five Pills, far surpassing Wang Hong''s three.


    With this, the assessment concluded smoothly, and both Wang Hong and Tang Wan''er sessfully became second-tier Alchemists in the Pill Hall.


    Three first-tier Alchemists also passed the assessment, smoothly joining the Pill Hall.


    "Alright! The assessment has concluded sessfully. For those who didn''t pass, don''t be discouraged. Work hard, and there will be another chance next year.


    Wang Hong, Tang Wan''er, Xiao Jun, Gao Ge, Duan Wei, stay. The rest can leave now."


    Others left one after another. The cultivator with the protruding teeth who had chatted with Wang Hong before bid him farewell, hoping for more interactions in the future.


    "I''m Yuan Yong. Wee to the Pill Hall. From today, you five are Alchemists of the Pill Hall. Refine at least two furnaces of Pills per month for the Pill Hall, and, of course, the rewards in Spirit Stones will not be meager.


    If anyone among you can''t ept this condition, you can leave the Pill Hall right now."


    Yuan Yong paused for a moment when there was no response.


    "Follow me. I''ll take you to meet our Pill Hall''s Master. If you can receive guidance from the Master, it will be of great benefit."


    Leading the way, Yuan Yong took the five to the fifth floor. Standing in front of a door, Yuan Yong respectfully said, "Master Mei, I''ve brought the five who passed this year''s assessment."


    "Creak!"


    The door in front of Yuan Yong opened automatically.


    "Come in!"


    A friendly female voice echoed from inside.


    Yuan Yong led Wang Hong and the others into the room. Inside, a woman in her thirties or forties was arranging a set of tea utensils, currently brewing a pot of Spirit Tea on her own.


    "Please, have a seat," the female cultivator gestured towards several chairs in front of her.


    Carefully, the group took their seats.


    By now, the Spirit Tea was ready. The woman poured it into seven small cups, and then six of them gracefully flew to the small table in front of each person.


    "This is Cloud Mist Tea from the peak of Lingxiao Peak. It''s challenging toe by, harvested only once every thirty years, producing a mere four ounces each time. Give it a try."


    "Thank you, Senior Mei!" the six of them expressed their gratitude simultaneously. Even the Golden Core cultivator could tell that this tea was extraordinary.


    Wang Hong brought the cup to his lips, taking a sip. The tea was fragrant, imbued with a hint of Spiritual Energy. It seemed to repair Divine Sense fatigue after consumption, though he felt it was slightly inferior to the Spirit Tea he grew in his own Space.


    Tang Wan''er, who had felt fatigued due to her secret technique, regained some vitality after drinking a cup.


    "Excellent tea. I didn''t expect such a good tea in the world," Yuan Yong praised after taking a sip, whether he genuinely felt so or was just beingplimentary remained uncertain.


    "During thest secret realm opening, there was a Qiu Long Tea inside. Its quality surpassed even this Cloud Mist Tea. It can be harvested each time the secret realm opens, about one or two times each time. Originally, I sent two Qi Cultivation disciples to collect it, but somehow, someone dug up the entire tea tree," Master Mei revealed, a hint of resentment showing on her normally calm face.


    Yuan Yong, knowing Master Mei''s temperament, was aware that she rarely showed such expressions. It was evident how much she cherished that Spirit Tea. Trying to ease the atmosphere, he suggested, "Are there no other ces with Qiu Long Tea? We can transnt a few to our sect."


    "As far as I know, there is only this one in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm. Several thousand years ago, there were several Qiu Long Tea nts there. Unfortunately, people always tried to im them for themselves, and one by one, they were stolen. None of the transnted Qiu Long Tea trees survived," Master Mei exined.


    Hearing this, Wang Hong seemed to realize something. That cursed person mentioned by Master Mei was probably him. It seemed he needed to be more careful even when drinking tea in the future. It felt somewhat unfair to sneakily enjoy the fruits, vegetables, and tea he cultivated himself.


    "Enough of these digressions. Let''s discuss themter. You all are quite promising. Xiao Jun, Gao Ge, Duan Wei, what youck now is experience in Alchemy. Practice more in the future.


    Xiao Jun, reduce the fire slightly during refining, and..." Master Mei provided guidance on the strengths and weaknesses of the three.


    "Thank you, Master, for your guidance," the three thanked her before being dismissed.


    Master Mei then looked at the remaining two. "Tang family girl, don''t let your emotions guide your Alchemy. Using a self-damaging secret technique for just half a catty of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly is imprudent. Be more cautious in the future."


    "Thank you, Master Mei, for your guidance! I will be more careful in the future," Tang Wan''er quickly expressed her gratitude.


    "As for you, why are you always a bit slower in Pill Condensation each time? You make the same mistake every time. Pay more attention in the future. Also, you seem a bit unfamiliar with the process of merging Spiritual Herbs. Practice more," Master Mei pointed out Wang Hong''s shorings and issues directly.


    It turned out that although Master Mei didn''t personally preside over the assessment in the main hall, her Divine Sense had been observing the entire event.


    Afterward, Master Mei gave them some additional instructions, and Wang Hong took the opportunity to ask her about some challenging Alchemy questions.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 171: Transaction

    Chapter 171: Transaction


    Master Mei responded in detail to Wang Hong''s inquiries about Alchemy. Wang Hong had always explored Alchemy on his own, umting countless doubts and uncertainties. Today, everything suddenly became clear, and he felt that his Alchemy skills had improved significantly.


    Wang Hong felt sorry for digging out the Qiu Long Tea, but he couldn''t reveal it yet. He decided to keep it to himself for now.


    "Alright, we''ll conclude today''s session. You may leave now," Master Mei dered after exining various Alchemy techniques.


    "Thank you, Master Mei, for your guidance. Disciple takes his leave," Yuan Yong said as he led the two out of Master Mei''s room and headed downstairs.


    "Junior Brother Wang, our Pill Hall holds an Alchemist exchange meeting every month. It''s mainly for sharing Alchemy experiences and exchanging Alchemy materials. If you have time, remember to join," Yuan Yong told Wang Hong. As for Tang Wan''er, she grew up in the sect and was familiar with Pill Hall, so Yuan Yong didn''t need to say much to her.


    "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Yuan."


    "Junior Brother Wang, no need to be polite. As fellow Pill Hall Alchemists, we should take care of each other in the future."


    Everyone was willing to befriend Wang Hong, considering his outstanding talent in Alchemy.


    After being escorted out of Pill Hall''s gate, Tang Wan''er turned to Wang Hong.


    "Junior Brother Wang, it''s time to fulfill your bet! A real man keeps his word, and with someone as resolute as Junior Brother Wang, I believe you will honor your promise."


    She was a bit worried that Wang Hong might try to renege on the bet, especially considering the significant value of half a jar of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, which was worth thousands of Spirit Stones.


    Even she felt a twinge of heartache, but fortunately, she won. Otherwise, she''d be the one feeling regret.


    To her relief, Wang Hong didn''t hesitate and readily took out five Jade vials, each containing an ounce of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly.


    "Sister Tang, can I trade for your Lionhead Spirit Mushroom? Just a small portion will do; I want to taste it," Wang Hong asked after handing over his lost bet.


    "What do you n to offer in exchange? I''m not interested in ordinary items," Tang Wan''er replied.


    "Sister Tang, how about exchanging it for Spirit Bee Royal Jelly?" Wang Hong suggested. He had plenty of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, more than he could use.


    "That''s eptable. But how much Spirit Bee Royal Jelly do you have?" This royal jelly was a consumable with cosmetic and Alchemy benefits, and she wouldn''t mind having more.


    "Two ounces, is that enough? I only need a small portion."


    "No, at least three ounces. I can cut off half of the nt for you."


    After some hesitation, Wang Hong reluctantly agreed with a pained expression.


    Tang Wan''er took out a piece of spirit wood from her Spirit Beast pouch. On it grew a Lionhead Spirit Mushroom, resembling a lion''s head, slightlyrger than a bowl. Using a small knife, she cut it in half, revealing the tender, white flesh inside. She handed half to Wang Hong and, in return, took the three vials of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly he offered.


    Tang Wan''er stored the remaining Lionhead Spirit Mushroom, then turned and left, in a very good mood.


    After winning the bet, Wang Hong obtained a total of eight ounces of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly. Tang Wan''er spected that Junior Brother Wang''s Spirit Bee Royal Jelly might have been squeezed dry by her.


    Despite feeling a bit lightheaded from just using a secret technique, it didn''t dampen her good mood.


    With a new delicacy in hand, Wang Hong, in high spirits, hummed a tune as he headed in the opposite direction.


    Back at his cave mansion, he entered the Space and split the half of the Lionhead Spirit Mushroom. One half was directly nted in the Space soil. Although nting Lionhead Spirit Mushroom like this was usually impossible, he had confidence in the Space soil.


    The other half was nted on a second-tier fruit tree. Wild Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms parasitized on spirit wood, absorbing Spiritual Energy for their own use.


    He intended to cultivate a second-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushroom and then make a deal with Sloppy old man.


    Other second-tier Spiritual Objects might not impress the old man, but Wang Hong knew that exquisite food definitely would.


    His cave mansion stillcked a powerful formation. Although he had moved the small Five Elements Formation from before, it was too small, only covering his cultivation room.


    He wondered if he could ask Sloppy old man for help in arranging a formation. Having interacted with him multiple times, Wang Hong felt that the old man''s character was reliable when not influenced by significant interests.


    As for situations involving significant interests, how many people could remain true to themselves? Family members turning against each other and brothers fighting were not umon in the face of substantial benefits.


    In the following days, Wang Hong made preparations. Although joining Pill Hall as a second-tier Alchemist provided significant security, he still had regr tasks toplete.


    It had been a while since he registered for Foundation Building, and it was likely that he would soon be assigned experiential tasks.


    One day, he dug out the Devilish Vine with the longest history from the Space, then bound it to a piece of spirit wood.


    When he first acquired this Devilish Vine, it was only six hundred years old. Now, it had reached a thousand years. If it were outside, it would be challenging to deal with. Once an item approached it, the vine would entangle it and absorb Spiritual Energy and essence blood.


    However, the Devilish Vine seemed to have no reaction to his Nascent Soul body, and Wang Hong easily bound it using controlled items.


    He stored this thousand-year-old Devilish Vine in his Storage Bag and headed straight to the market.


    Entering the Myriad Treasures Tower, Wang Hong spoke to the weing maidservant, "I n to refine a Spiritual Weapon. Could you please inform your refining tool master, so I can meet with him?"


    "Of course, pleasee this way," the maid led Wang Hong to a quiet room and prepared a pot of Spirit Tea for him.


    "Please wait a moment; I''ll go and fetch our refining tool master." The maid then left the room.


    After a while, an old man entered the room. He was in the mid Foundation Building cultivation level, with white hair.


    "May I ask, friend, are you here to refine a Spiritual Weapon? Do you have the refining tool materials?" The old man asked first.


    "Exactly, I have a refining tool material. I''m not sure if your shop can refine it into a Spiritual Weapon, so I wanted to inquire," Wang Hong replied.


    "As long as the friend''s material is qualified, we can naturally refine it into a Spiritual Weapon. Please show me the material first." The old man spoke with pride, simr to how Alchemists tended to be.


    Wang Hong looked around and said, "My item is rtivelyrge. I''m afraid this room may not be able to amodate it."


    "Oh! Please follow me," the old man said and walked out of the room, with Wang Hong following closely behind.


    The old man led Wang Hong to a spacious courtyard. "Friend, see if this ce is big enough for your material."


    "Good! No problem." Wang Hong said, taking out the thousand-year-old Devilish Vine from his Storage Bag.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 172: Binding Spirit Rope

    Chapter 172: Binding Spirit Rope


    This Devilish Vine, aged over a millennium, stretches for ten zhang (about 33 meters), with its thickest part being as wide as a water bucket.


    Even though it''s bound in ce, it continually writhes, sensing the presence of Wang Hong and Old Man nearby, intending to attack them.


    This spirit vinecks any sentience; it acts purely on instinct. However, itsbat instinct is exceptionally formidable.


    Old Man, initially proud, now wears a face of astonishment.


    "This... must be at least a thousand years old. How did you subdue it?" Old Man asked in shock.


    He had encountered a Devilish Vine of six hundred years before, and to subdue it, most of its tendrils had to be cut off.


    But the thousand-year Devilish Vine before them showed no signs of damage.


    Wang Hong, in response, merely chuckled without uttering a word. Observing this, Old Man realized he had been impolite, prying into someone else''s secrets.


    "I apologize for my rudeness, Daoist friend. Please forgive me!"


    "No harm! Do you think the material I provided is suitable?" Wang Hong asked.


    "Very suitable! Very suitable!" Old Man excitedly nodded. In all his years of refining tools, he had never worked with such excellent materials.


    "If this doesn''t work, there''s nothing better! A thousand-year Devilish Vine is already quite impressive as a Refinement treasure. With some luck, it might even yield a top-grade Spiritual Weapon. At the very least, it should produce a high-grade one."


    While Old Man spoke, he gently touched the Devilish Vine, causing it to struggle and writhe.


    "You mentioned it''s barely a Refinement treasure. Why then the need for luck to produce a top-grade Spiritual Weapon?" Wang Hong questioned with suspicion.


    "I only said ''barely.'' You should know that the Refinement process requires the addition of a considerable amount of other rare materials. To produce a top-grade Spiritual Weapon is like an Alchemist crafting a high-grade pill. It depends on both skill and luck, with no absolute guarantee."


    Old Man admitted this with a hint of guilt. He had never sessfully crafted a top-grade Spiritual Weapon, and even his hand paused on the Devilish Vine.


    "Well then, how long would it take toplete the Refinement?" Wang Hong pondered. Whether it''s top-grade or not, he had plenty of three to four hundred-year Devilish Vines in his spatial storage. In a few more years, they would reach a thousand years as well.


    "Please state your requirements first, so I can make a decision," Old Man replied.


    "I want a Spiritual Weapon like a rope from the Refinement, hoping to retain the characteristics of the Devilish Vine. Additionally..." Wang Hong detailed his requirements.


    "It will take about two months, as I need to prepare some auxiliary materials. The entire Refinement process will also take a few days," Old Man confidently stated, returning to his expertise.


    "As for the cost, it''s divided into two aspects: the cost of providing auxiliary materials and the Refinement fee. Together, it amounts to fifteen thousand Spirit Stones. You only need to pay five thousand today."


    Though Wang Hong was wealthy, this price startled him. Fifteen thousand Spirit Stones could purchase two or three ordinary low-grade Spiritual Weapons. Here, it was only enough for the cost of materials and the Refinement fee.


    No wonder Lu Fang, the former peak master''s top disciple, felt so distressed after losing a top-grade Spiritual Weapon.


    After paying five thousand Spirit Stones, Wang Hong left the Myriad Treasures Tower.


    In the following days, he immersed himself in Alchemy, refining first and second-tier pills.


    With his Alchemy speed, he could produce over two hundred pills per furnace for a first-tier pill, refining one or two thousand pills daily.


    Even with the convenience of his spatial storage, Wang Hong didn''t have an abundance of Medicinal Herbs. He only had a few hundred materials, so he had to be frugal, refining only one material per furnace.


    After two months of effort, he sessfully refined a hundred thousand first-tier pills and over three hundred second-tier pills.


    When the agreed-upon delivery time with Myriad Treasures Tower arrived, he went there and paid ten thousand Spirit Stones. In return, he received his newly refined top-grade Spiritual Weapon.


    Originally a Devilish Vine that was ten zhang long and as thick as a water bucket, after refinement, it was reduced to a three-zhang long, thumb-thick rope. It was entirely ck, covered in tiny thorns. He named this Spiritual Weapon the Binding Spirit Rope.


    It was his first top-grade Spiritual Weapon. After spending a few more days consecrating it, the Spiritual Weapon operated smoothly.


    With everything arranged, he mounted Little Peng once again and left the sect.


    The journey to Azure Void City was uneventful.


    He first returned to his residence, collected all the pills refined by the Ma Brothers, and stored them away. After learning to refine multiple materials in one furnace, they had refined nearly a hundred thousand first-tier pills during this time.


    Simultaneously, he gave the three Foundation Establishment Pills he obtained from the sect to the brothers. Since dividing three pills among them was tricky, he let them negotiate among themselves.


    Although the brothers were usually sycophantic and cowardly, their rtionship was surprisingly good. Wang Hong also promised that if one of them failed in Foundation Building, he would find a solution for them, preventing them from turning against each other for these three Foundation Establishment Pills.


    In reality, many cultivators only needed one Foundation Establishment Pill toplete Foundation Building.


    He then visited Skinny Monkey''s winery, stored the newly brewed wine in his spatial storage, and took out some well-aged first-tier Spirit Wine from his spatial storage, cing it in the wine cer.


    After consuming many top-grade Condensing Qi Pills, Skinny Monkey had finally reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation. The profits from Skinny Monkey''s Spirit Wine business had earned Wang Hong over five hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    Next, he visited Zhao Ning''s Elixir Pavilion, collected three hundred thousand Spirit Stones, and then vanished from Azure Void City.


    This left the Shadow Kill assassins, who had been lurking in the shadows, infuriated.


    At this moment, Wang Hong transformed into Wang Kun and went to Liu Changsheng''s residence. He handed over a heap of Spiritual Herbs and Spirit Pills, including a small amount of second-tier Spiritual Herbs. In return, he took away a million Spirit Stones, his entire ie for this period.


    The youths Liu Changsheng recruited had all grown significantly taller in this time. Thanks to the umtion of abundant resources, many had reached the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation. The difference between those with Spiritual Roots and those without was substantial.


    After spending a few days with Liu Changsheng, making necessary arrangements and informing him of his departure for several years, Wang Hong disappeared once again.


    Ten dayster, in Azure Void City, at a secret Shadow Kill base.


    A man in a brocade robe sat at the top, and a man in ck robes reported from below.


    "Reporting to Steward Xing, Target Number 107 suddenly disappeared from Azure Void City. Just received information that he has returned to the sect."


    "Damn it! Headquarters has already reprimanded us, asking if we''re going to wait for over a hundred years until he dies of old age toplete the mission."


    Steward Xing''s face showed frustration. This little mouse had been pursued by Shadow Kill since the Qi Cultivation period, and now he had already reached Foundation Building.


    "The next opportunity we get, at any cost, we must kill him."


    "Yes, I understand, sir."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 173: Training Mission

    Chapter 173: Training Mission


    After leaving Liu Changsheng, Wang Hong assumed yet another identity. To maintain this false persona, he rented a small courtyard in Azure Void City, intending to use it regrly.


    Feeling that another encounter with Shadow Kill might be too challenging this time, Wang Hong decided to avoid conflict until he felt confident in facing them. His n was to engage in battle when he could win and gain some valuable spoils in the process.


    Disguised as a mid-level Qi Cultivation practitioner, Wang Hong walked for seven days to return to the vicinity of Qingxu Sect. There, he discreetly resumed his true appearance and entered the sect.


    His recent trip to Azure Void City yielded over a million Spirit Stones, expanding his spatial area by ten acres. With several hundred thousand Spirit Stones left, he was well-prepared for daily expenses.


    His space now covered 105 acres with a time dtion of 134 times.


    Out of the additional ten acres, he dedicated one each to Golden Spotted Bamboo and Lionhead Spirit Mushroom, both serving as delicacies. The remainingnd was used for three acres of East Departure Grass and some auxiliary Medicinal Herbs for East Departure Pill.


    The remaining five acres continued to cultivate Spiritual Herbs for Nourishing Essence Pill. The total nting area for Nourishing Essence Pill had reached fifteen acres, making it the mainstay for Immortal Path Trading Alliance to sell second-tier Spiritual Herbs.


    Three monthster, Wang Hong received a notice instructing him toplete his training mission after Foundation Building, starting in ten days.


    As a second-tier Alchemist, his mission was to go to the Boundary Mountain Range and serve as the resident Alchemist in the Elixir Pavilion established by Qingxu Sect.


    Wang Hong''s earlier spection proved correct; the sect did not intend to assign him perilous tasks as a second-tier Alchemist. Being stationed for Alchemy was much safer than engaging in dangerous activities.


    However, even in Alchemy, he couldn''t afford to be careless. His formidable strength remained his best security.


    Before departure, he meticulously organized his belongings, which included several Spiritual Weapons, most of them gifts from Shadow Kill. Among them were four low-grade Flying Swords and a small dagger, suitable for sneak attacks.


    For medium-grade Spiritual Weapons, he finally had one for offense (Golden Seal, a gift from Shadow Kill) and one for defense (Golden Light Bowl, purchased with Spirit Stones).


    Possessing a high-grade Spiritual Weapon, the Binding Spirit Rope, was a notable achievement during the early stages of Foundation Building, enviable for many practitioners who hadn''t even collected two low-grade Spiritual Weapons yet.


    After sorting out his items, he took everything he could carry and used his spacious Storage Bag. For items that couldn''t fit, he had an additional hundred acres of Space.


    Summoning Chen Nian, the disciple who helped tend to his spirit fields, Wang Hong spoke, "Chen Nian, greet Senior Brother Wang!"


    Chen Nian respectfully bowed upon entering. "Disciple Chen Nian pays respects to Senior Brother Wang!"


    "I''m about to embark on a training mission that may take several years. Take care of my cave mansion and spirit fields, and when I return, I won''t forget to reward you adequately."


    "Disciple will do his best to manage everything in Senior Brother''s cave mansion."


    "Alright, here are five hundred Condensing Qi Pills as an advance reward for you. I''ll reward you more upon my return."


    He had previously rewarded Chen Nian with ten Condensing Qi Pills per month, and these five hundred pills were enough for over four years.


    Chen Nian, originally at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, with these five hundred Condensing Qi Pills, as long as his aptitude wasn''t too poor, he should be able to reach the tenth level of Qi Cultivation, achieving a perfect realm.


    After handing over the management of his cave mansion to Chen Nian, Wang Hong went alone to the Sect Task Hall. Several others were also headed to the Boundary Mountain Range, and they were to meet at the Task Hall before departure.


    On the small t ground in front of the Task Hall entrance, three cultivators, two men, and a woman, all at Foundation Building, were already waiting. They were fellow disciples going on the training mission.


    "Are you all headed to the Boundary Mountain Range?" Wang Hong, just arriving, observed that these three were recently at the Foundation Building stage and appeared to be waiting for someone. He approached and inquired.


    "Exactly, I''m Jiang Qing. May I ask how Senior Brother would like to be addressed?" one of them responded.


    "Let''s dispense with formalities. I am Wang Hong from Kaiyang Peak."


    With simr cultivation levels and being from the same sect, when addressing each other, they politely used "Senior Brother." If not from the same sect, addressing as fellow Daoists would bemon.


    The other two also exchanged names. The other male cultivator was Xu Gang, and the female cultivator was Tian Qing.


    After the introductions, a female cultivator approached from a distance. Her face was elegant, and despite wearing the standard robe of Qingxu Sect, she couldn''t hide her ethereal charm.


    Everyone couldn''t help but stop and take an extra look, even Tian Qing, who was also a female cultivator, was momentarily captivated.


    Seeing her, Wang Hong couldn''t help but feel his heart race. Ashamed of his thoughts, the only woman who could evoke such feelings was the one he glimpsed when joining Clear Void Sect years ago.


    It was her, and since entering the sect, he hadn''t seen her again. Wang Hong heard she was on Yaoguang Peak, apprenticed to a Golden Core female elder who held her in high regard.


    Unexpectedly, she had also seeded in Foundation Building, and now, she was part of the same training mission.


    This stirred some different emotions within him, a bit of anticipation, and a hint of blush on his face.


    After all, he was still young and physically normal, reacting like any ordinary person.


    However, he quickly dispelled those thoughts, regainingposure. He thought he was overthinking, especially considering his recent Foundation Building. Additionally, he heard that many outstanding youths in Qingxu Sect were pursuing her.


    Why would she be interested in him, especially when he hadn''t done anything extraordinary?


    After resolving these thoughts, his expression returned to calm. Observing his fellow disciples with a slightly superior gaze, he said, "Sorry for the wait, everyone. I am Wang Hong from Kaiyang Peak."


    "No need to apologize! We just arrived as well," Jiang Qing quickly responded.


    Xu Gang added, "No need to be apologetic, Junior Sister Yun. We have nothing urgent to attend to; waiting a bit longer is fine."


    "Now that everyone is here, let''s start our journey," Tian Qing suggested.


    Being a female cultivator, she didn''t transform into a dazed state like the male cultivators did. Looking at Wang Hong, who remainedposed, Tian Qing couldn''t help but hold him in higher regard, sensing a camaraderie among heroes.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 174: Formation

    Chapter 174: Formation


    The five of them left the Mountain Gate together, each controlling their Spiritual Weapons, flying towards the Boundary Mountain Range.


    Wang Hong released Little Peng from the Spirit Beast pouch. Since it was ufortable inside, always wanting toe out, he decided to ride on Little Peng to make things easier.


    Although Little Peng was powerful and had a rtively fast flying speed, it was still slower than Foundation Building cultivators fully controlling Spiritual Weapons.


    Fortunately, the group was not in a hurry. They flew slowly along the way, allowing Little Peng to sometimes fly ahead of everyone.


    Xu Gang and Jiang Qing were eager for everyone to fly a bit slower, taking more time to be with Yun Qingya.


    Wang Hong and Tian Qing didn''t mind going faster or slower. Although they didn''t have any other thoughts, having a female cultivator like Yun Qingya around was pleasing to the eyes.


    During the journey, Yun Qingya became the undisputed center of attention among the five. Xu Gang and Jiang Qing tried to please her, and Wang Hong and Tian Qing would amodate her on trivial matters.


    Yun Qingya, in turn, was gentle and polite, not arrogant or overbearing, making her easy to get along with.


    The journey to the Boundary Mountain Range would take more than ten days, and they were just a couple of days away from their destination.


    One day, they arrived at a not-sorge mountain range with strange stones scattered around.


    Suddenly, a Rainbow Spirit Pheasant flew out from the stones, got startled upon seeing the five people, and flew back into the Stone Forest.


    "Wow! What a beautiful Rainbow Spirit Pheasant! Please wait a moment, senior brothers. Tian junior sister and I will go catch it, okay?"


    The Rainbow Spirit Pheasant wasn''t powerful, but its meat was delicious, especially its colorful feathers, which were highly favored by female cultivators.


    Tian Qing had long wanted to catch it, so she and Yun Qingya went after it.


    "Junior sister Yun, let me help you," Xu Gang said, following them.


    Jiang Qing didn''t want to fall behind either and shouted as he joined the pursuit.


    As the four went down, Wang Hong remained in the air. He decided to follow them and see what was going on.


    When he descended into the Stone Forest, he realized it was empty except for giant stone pirs. There was no sign of the others.


    Feeling something was off, Wang Hong walked around, leaving marks with his Flying Sword. After a quarter of an hour, he looked at the mark on a stone pir and sighed helplessly.


    It seemed he had fallen into a formation, but unfortunately, he didn''t understand formations.


    He wandered like a headless fly, only to end up back where he started.


    Since he couldn''t find a way out, he decided to use brute force.


    Taking out the Golden Seal, he erged it to ten feet and smashed it onto a nearby stone pir.


    "A boom!" The pir shattered into pieces.


    He then lifted the Golden Seal and smashed another stone pir.


    In another part of the Stone Forest, Tian Qingy on the ground, unconscious, with several bloody wounds on her body.


    Xu Gang was engaged in a fierce battle with a Brawny Man at the mid-stage of Foundation Building, who surprisingly turned out to be a rare body cultivator.


    The Brawny Man chased Xu Gang, wielding a ck giant club. Xu Gang dared not engage in closebat, escaping and dodging while using a Flying Sword to entangle the pursuer.


    Yun Qingya stood at the back, merely observing without any intention of assisting.


    "A bang!" The Brawny Man''s club struck Xu Gang''s waist. Xu Gang''s dragon bones were instantly shattered, and he copsed to the ground.


    The Flying Sword in the air also fell to the ground.


    Although a broken waist wasn''t a severe injury for an Immortal Cultivator, it greatly impacted his currentbat strength. The burly man approached, stepping on Xu Gang.


    "You have two choices now, death or signing this Blood Contract."


    The burly man produced a Blood Contract and threw it in front of Xu Gang. Once signed, his life and death would be at the mercy of the other party.


    "Fine, I''ll sign! I''ll sign!"


    Xu Gang struggled to sit up, and suddenly, the Flying Sword on the ground shot towards the burly man.


    Despite knowing that this attack wouldn''t harm the burly man, Xu Gang still struck out with determination.


    The man swung his club, deflecting the Flying Sword. Simultaneously, he stomped on Xu Gang''s chest, crushing his internal organs, and Xu Gang sumbed.


    Unfortunately, Xu Gang, who had recently sessfully achieved Foundation Building, didn''t get to enjoy the feeling of being a high-level cultivator for long before meeting his demise.


    "Hahaha! Quite a stubborn guy. I love killing people like him the most." The burly manughed heartily after killing Xu Gang.


    "Don''t just enjoy killing. Don''t forget our mission. If it fails, you know the consequences," Yun Qingya said coldly from behind. Though their positions were different, witnessing Xu Gang, who had been so attentive to her just a short while ago, being crushed by the burly man left her in a bad mood.


    Hearing Yun Qingya''s words, the burly man shivered, clearly fearing the consequences. However, he still refused to show weakness, saying, "My affairs are none of your concern. Take care of yourself. I''ll definitely capture a few ves and make them serve their masters well. If I fail, don''t expect to enjoy any benefits. You go and bring me another person."


    Carrying his ck club, the burly man walked towards a different direction in the Stone Forest, leaving the area with too many signs of a fight.


    Wang Hong, in the Stone Forest, stopped bothering with directions. Instead, he lifted his Golden Seal Spiritual Weapon and continued smashing everything in a straight line, turning it all into rubble.


    "Wang senior brother, how did you end up here? We just went out, couldn''t find you outside, and came back in search," Yun Qingya approached Wang Hong, smiling.


    "Oh! So everyone has already left. No wonder I couldn''t find anyone here. Junior sister Yun, do you also understand formations?"


    Wang Hong was delighted, putting an end to his destruction of the Stone Forest and taking out a small wine bottle to take arge sip.


    With his early Foundation Building cultivation level, continuously attacking with the Golden Seal consumed a considerable amount of Spiritual Power.


    "That''s great! Junior sister, please lead the way in front," Wang Hong happily said.


    "Junior Brother Wang, no need to be polite. Please follow me."


    Yun Qingya then led Wang Hong in a certain direction.


    Not long after, Jiang Qing came from the same direction.


    "Junior Brother Wang, finally found you," Jiang Qing said happily upon seeing Wang Hong.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 175: Traps

    Chapter 175: Traps


    "Brother Wang, let''s go this way! The others are still waiting."


    Guiding Wang Hong, the two walked confidently in a specific direction, the path clear and unobstructed.


    Wang Hong felt something was off. In a group of five, he couldn''t be the only one unfamiliar with formations. The other four seemed to move effortlessly, unlike him.


    Everyone had just reached the Foundation Building stage, so why was he so far behind?


    "Sister Yun, I heard you joined the sect from Giant Turtle Immortal City. Is that your hometown?" Wang Hong casually asked as they walked.


    "Brother Wang, you''re teasing me. We all joined the sect from Azure Void City. Have you forgotten?" Yun Qingya smiled gently.


    "Oh! My mistake, perhaps I remembered wrong!" Wang Hong scratched his head, feeling a bit awkward.


    Throughout the journey, Wang Hong engaged in casual conversation with the twopanions.


    After a short while, a Daoist Master emerged from the Stone Forest ahead, blocking their path. This person was tall and sturdy, wielding arge ck staff.


    Simultaneously, Jiang Qing and Yun Qingya took a few steps back, forming a triangr position with the imposing cultivator opposite them, subtly enclosing Wang Hong in the middle.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong summoned the Golden Light Bowl, cautious.


    "Brother Wang, I''m sure you''ve guessed that today won''t end well. In fact, all you need to do is sign a Blood Contract to ensure your safety," Jiang Qing tried to persuade him.


    "So, you''ve already signed one?" Wang Hong calmly inquired.


    "Brother Wang, don''t me me. I had no choice. I just signed a Blood Contract myself. It''s not a big deal. In desperate situations, staying alive is better than senselessly dying," Jiang Qing justified, attempting to convince himself as much as Wang Hong.


    "So, what do I need to do after signing the Blood Contract?" Wang Hong seemed intrigued. If there was no other choice, he might reluctantly agree, especially since he believed there could be a chance to break free inside the Space.


    However, it wasn''t the time to submit just yet. He wasn''t someone to be easily manipted.


    "After signing the Blood Contract, you can return to Qingxu Sect as if nothing happened. Just provide some assistance when needed in the future," the brawny man added.


    "Young man, you''ll appreciate today''s choice. With your status as a second-tier Alchemist, you''ll be valued wherever you go. Why hang yourself on a tree? Give it two breaths'' time to considersign the Blood Contract or die!" The brawny man''s tone was fierce, relying on his master''s special regard for Alchemists.


    "Yes, Brother Wang, as an Alchemist, you''re not skilled inbat. Facing the three of us working together, you have no way to escape," Jiang Qing quickly chimed in, eager to affirm his decision.


    "Well then, I''ll sign the Blood Contract," Wang Hong agreed, presenting an image of eptance. He walked towards the brawny man.


    From the words and actions of these individuals, Wang Hong sensed that the brawny man was likely the leader. To catch the thief, catch the king first. If he dealt with this man, the other two would be more manageable.


    Although the brawny man had a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivation level, Wang Hong nned to use his usual strategy: get close, leverage the advantage of body refining, and preferably defeat him with a single strike.


    The burly man seemed unaware of Wang Hong approaching and took out a Blood Contract from his Storage Bag, waiting for Wang Hong toe and sign.


    As Wang Hong closed in, unable to retrieve any other Spiritual Weapon in time, he gripped the Golden Light Bowl he had summoned earlier and mmed it directly onto the burly man''s head.


    A thunderous crash echoed, but instead of the burly man''s head shattering, he lifted therge staff in his hand to block the descending Golden Light Bowl.


    The force emanating from the Golden Light Bowl wasparable to Wang Hong''s current strength of 150,000 jin.


    Wang Hong now realized the opponent was also a body refining cultivator, with strength on par with his own.


    "Hmph! Ignoring advice and courting punishment!" The burly man angrily shouted, lifting the ck staff to strike Wang Hong.


    Feeling that he had given Wang Hong enough face by offering advice, the burly man was furious when Wang Hong didn''tply.


    Simultaneously, Jiang Qing and Yun Qingya, seeing Wang Hong taking the initiative, summoned their Spiritual Weapons to attack him.


    Jiang Qing wielded a low-grade Flying Sword, while Yun Qingya used a mid-grade White Silkboth Spiritual Weapons aimed at Wang Hong.


    The three of them joined forces, creating a deadly situation for Wang Hong.


    In an instant, a swarm of Poisonous Bees flew out of Wang Hong''s sleeve, attacking the two assants. At the same time, he used the Golden Seal to block their oing Spiritual Weapons.


    All this happened in the blink of an eye, leaving Wang Hong feeling a bit overwhelmed by his own responses.


    Meanwhile, the burly man didn''t wait for Wang Hong to finish his maneuvers. He swung the staff down towards him.


    Having the Golden Light Bowl in hand left him no time to defend, so Wang Hong could only hurriedly dodge to the side.


    "Crack!" The staff struck Wang Hong''s left shoulder, breaking his left corbone and two ribs. The fractured bones pierced his lung.


    "Cough, cough, cough!"


    Wang Hong couldn''t help but cough violently. This was the result of his perfected body refining; otherwise, using such force could have turned someone into mush.


    Ignoring his injuries, he quickly shifted positions, appearing ten yards away.


    As a fellow body refining cultivator, Wang Hong understood their weaknesses best. As long as he kept his distance, no matter how formidable they were, it wouldn''t matter.


    Despite the recent injuries, a broken corbone, and a temporarily disabled left hand, he had thwarted the three''s joint attack, allowing himself a moment to breathe.


    His Poisonous Bees had already reached the two assants, swarming to attack.


    As for the burly man, his Poisonous Bees likely couldn''t breach his defenses.


    Now, Yun Qingya and Jiang Qing were entangled by the Poisonous Bees, unable to focus on attacking Wang Hong.


    Jiang Qing, equipped with only a Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword, managed to block the Poisonous Bees with a magical weapon-grade shield and a Spiritual Power shield. Meanwhile, Yun Qingya retracted her White Silk, which danced around her, protecting her body from any intrusion. The Poisonous Bees that collided with the White Silk were deflected.


    Seeing the two entrapped by Poisonous Bees, Wang Hong knew he could now deal with the burly man without any interference.


    Both being body refining cultivators, even with a few broken bones and a disabled hand, Wang Hong wasn''t necessarily afraid of his opponent.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 176: Annihilation of the Enemy

    Chapter 176: Annihtion of the Enemy


    Wang Hong wielded the Golden Seal, smashing it down towards the Brawny Man. The burly figure raised a ck giant club, and with a resounding "bang," he struck the side of the Golden Seal, sending it flying several yards away.


    Wang Hong, with a single hand holding the Golden Light Bowl, lunged at the Brawny Man. "Bang, bang, bang!" The two engaged in a rapid exchange of blows for dozens of rounds, neither gaining the upper hand.


    As time passed, the situation might turn unfavorable for Wang Hong. Firstly, he already had injuries, and with prolongedbat, his stamina would deplete rapidly. Secondly, his weapon wasn''t suitable. All his previous opponents were not body cultivators, easily overpowered by his absolute strength. Now facing a worthy adversary with a convenient weapon, Wang Hong found himself on equal footing.


    His Golden Light Bowl, shaped like arge bowl, shed awkwardly against the Brawny Man''s massive club.


    Wang Hong swung the Golden Light Bowl towards the Brawny Man, who blocked it with his club, giving Wang Hong the opportunity to retreat several yards.


    He then summoned his high-grade Spiritual Weapon, the Binding Spirit Rope. Seeing Wang Hong retreat, the Brawny Man naturally pursued. The Binding Spirit Rope, like a snake, swiftly coiled around him.


    Attempting to fend off the approaching rope, the Brawny Man swung his club, but the Binding Spirit Rope climbed along the weapon, quickly reaching his arm.


    After reaching his arm, the long rope resisted the Brawny Man''s attempts to shake it off. Despite his vigorous efforts, the Binding Spirit Rope tightened its hold, forming a secure bond around him.


    The more it tightened, the more helpless the Brawny Man became. The rope, a high-grade Spiritual Weapon, bore numerous poisonous thorns that pierced through his skin. Despite his robust body from body refining, the poisonden thorns were effective.


    The three zhang long Binding Spirit Ropepletely entangled the Brawny Man, rendering him powerless. As he struggled, thorns prated his skin, absorbing his essence blood and Spiritual Power.


    Wang Hong, wielding the Golden Light Bowl, swept down, knocking the Brawny Man to the ground. He then stepped forward, firmly nting his foot on him.


    Meanwhile, Jiang Qing''s defensive Magical Weapon had been breached, and a swarm of Poisonous Bees attacked the shield. It seemed he wouldn''t hold out much longer.


    On the other side, Yun Qingya''s White Silk, despite the onught of Poisonous Bees, remained unscathed. However, Yun Qingya''splexion didn''t look good, possibly due to the substantial consumption of Spiritual Power.


    Just as a Foundation Building cultivator, if utilizing a medium-grade Spiritual Weapon for an extended period, their Spiritual Power might struggle to keep up.


    If not for Wang Hong''s exceptionally pure and profound Spiritual Powerpared to cultivators of the same tier, wielding a high-grade Spiritual Weapon might have strained him. However, now that the Binding Spirit Rope was absorbing the enemy''s essence blood and Spiritual Power, it significantly reduced Wang Hong''s expenditure of Spiritual Power.


    "Speak, to which faction do you belong? What are your intentions?" Wang Hong asked, looking down from his elevated position, his foot pressing on the Brawny Man''s chest.


    The Brawny Man remained silent, and the Binding Spirit Rope continued absorbing his vital essence and Spiritual Power.


    "You don''t have much time left. Why carry your secrets to the grave? Do you still care about it after death? How about sharing, maybe I''ll spare your life," Wang Hong urged.


    "Kid, you better release me now and apologize. My master is not someone you can afford to offend. If you kill me, my master will surely seek revenge!" threatened the Brawny Man.


    "Your master speaks so smoothly. Is being a ve that enjoyable? Does your master have Nascent Soul cultivation level?" Wang Hong retorted, delivering two kicks to the Brawny Man.


    "Whether my master has Nascent Soul cultivation level or not, squashing you is as simple as squashing an ant," replied the Brawny Man weakly, drained of essence blood and Spiritual Power.


    Judging by the tone, Wang Hong spected that the Brawny Man''s master was likely at the Golden Core cultivation level.


    Seeing no chance of obtaining information from him in the short term, Wang Hong smashed the Brawny Man''s head with the Golden Light Bowl.


    After all, he was in a perilous situation, with two others dealing with Poisonous Bees, and he wasn''t sure if there were any hidden threats.


    As the Brawny Man''s head shattered, Jiang Qing, entangled with Poisonous Bees, let out a miserable scream. He rolled on the ground, hands clutching his head, emitting painful cries.


    Those bound by a Blood Contract to recognize a master would face severe punishment or even death upon their master''s demise.


    Seizing the opportunity, the swarm of Poisonous Bees closed in on Jiang Qing. Shortly after, his cries ceased, and silence engulfed the area.


    With two foes disposed of, Wang Hong turned his attention to Yun Qingya.


    Yun Qingya was strenuously fending off the Poisonous Bees, herplexion pale, and her robes soaked in sweat. She no longer radiated the previous elegance and grace.


    Witnessing the demise of the other two, Yun Qingya realized that the Alchemist she thought would be the easiest to deal with had defeated three of them single-handedly, including a mid-level Foundation Building cultivator.


    Now, being the sole survivor, she was at an even greater disadvantage. With a thought, she enveloped herself in the White Silk.


    The White Silk transformed into a white streak, shooting out over a dozen yards in an instant, soon dwindling to a mere dot.


    After Yun Qingya fled, only Wang Hong remained. He looted the belongings of the two corpses thoroughly before setting them aze.


    However, although the enemies had escaped, they left behind the formation. Wang Hong searched the Brawny Man''s Storage Bag but found nothing to control the formation.


    Being unfamiliar with formations, he didn''t know how to exit. He resorted to his previous brute-force method, taking out a bottle of Spirit Wine brewed from second-tier white crystal fruits.


    He had nted numerous white crystal fruit trees in his Space, and with the strict control of second-tier Spiritual Objects in the shop, Wang Hong couldn''t easily handle the surplus. So, he turned them into Spirit Wine.


    Spirit Wine brewed from white crystal fruits not only restored Spiritual Power but also refined it with prolonged consumption.


    Wang Hong took a sip of Spirit Wine to replenish his expended Spiritual Power. Once again, he wielded the Golden Seal, breaking the formation with brute force. The Stone Forest echoed with constant explosions.


    All formations required Spiritual Energy to function. Wang Hong''s strategy was to attack randomly, depleting the Spiritual Energy maintaining the formation and eventually breaking it.


    After three hours and finishing a pound of second-tier Spirit Wine, the mist in the Stone Forest dispersed, signaling the copse of the formation.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 177: Healing

    Chapter 177: Healing


    The formation shattered, and with it, the flying restriction formation disappeared. Wang Hong released Little Peng, mounted its back, and soared into the sky, aiming to quickly leave this troubled ce.


    Not far into his flight, he noticed signs of a recent battle ahead. Two Daoist Mastersy on the ground.


    Guiding Little Peng to descend, Wang Hong confirmed the identities of the fallen cultivators: Xu Gang and Tian Qing.


    Xu Gang''s chest had copsed, with his internal organs, including the heart and lungs, shattered. His body was ice-cold, life extinguished for quite some time.


    On the other side, Tian Qing had several wounds, a sizable pool of blood surrounding her motionless form, now congealed.


    Approaching, Wang Hong carefully examined them. Xu Gang was beyond revival, but Tian Qing, surprisingly, clung to life. Immortal cultivators possessed formidable vitality, despite multiple fractures and internal injuries, blood drained from her body; she somehow remained alive.


    Using a Storage Bag, Wang Hong stored Xu Gang''s body, then administered healing pills to Tian Qing. His supply of effective healing pills was limited since his Jade Marrow Mushroom had not matured, and hecked potent healing pills at the moment.


    Despite temporarily preserving her life with the healing pills, Tian Qing''s injuries were severe. Wang Hong couldn''t simply leave her unattended.


    Wang Hong hadn''t even dealt with his own broken bones; only his right hand was operational. Deciding to find a secluded spot to address their injuries, he could better handle any unforeseen dangers along the way.


    Seated on Little Peng''s back, Wang Hong gently enveloped Tian Qing with his spiritual power, lifting her securely.


    After half an hour, Wang Hong found a concealed location. Using a Flying Sword, he created a mountain cave. Inside, he sealed the entrance with arge rock, leaving a few small openings for venttion.


    He first aligned his fractured bones and bandaged himself. Such injuries were considered minor for Immortal Cultivators. With some healing pills and two to three days of rest, he would recover. However, his left hand would remain inconvenient for a while.


    Once he tended to his own injuries, he began assisting Tian Qing.


    After feeding her several healing pills, Tian Qing was temporarily stabilized. Wang Hong didn''t know the exact details of the earlier events. However, given her current statewith over two hundred bone fragments, more than twenty fractures, and numerous areas prone to bleedinghe couldn''t leave her untreated.


    Due to the multitude of injuries, Wang Hong assisted Tian Qing in removing her Daoist Robe for easier cleaning and bandaging. What he saw left him shocked, his heart racing, face flushed, and fingers trembling.


    It wasn''t about mental fortitude but rather genuine unfamiliarity with such sights, despite his age.


    Struggling to control his distractions, he began cleaning Tian Qing''s wounds. Due to nervousness, his trembling hands asionally misced the bandages.


    What should have taken half an hour stretched to two as he finally managed to dress all her wounds.


    Tian Qing''s original Daoist Robe was in tatters. From his Storage Bag, Wang Hong retrieved a recement, carefully helping her put it on.


    As he wiped away the blood stains from her face, he noticed Tian Qing''s attractive features. Previously overshadowed by Yun Qingya''s brilliance, she had gone unnoticed by many.


    Comparing her to someone like Yun Qingya, possessing both talent and charisma, there were few equals in the world.


    Thinking of Yun Qingya, Wang Hong found himself bewildered by the attack they had just experienced.


    Yun Qingya was highly regarded by the Golden Core Elder, taken in as a disciple. It was baffling why she would betray the sect, colluding with outsiders to harm fellow disciples. Moreover, there should be a binding force akin to a Blood Contract when registering for Foundation Building. Was Yun Qingya not afraid of such consequences?


    Unable toprehend, Wang Hong decided to let it go for now. After all, this incident didn''t seem specifically targeted at him.


    Tian Qing remained unconscious, her wounds freshly bandaged, requiring a day or two of rest before she could move.


    The decision to save Tian Qing stemmed from a sense of camaraderie among sect members and, practically, to have an additional witness. If he reached their destination alone and the sect questioned himter, it would be difficult to exin.


    Wang Hong sat in a corner of the mountain cave, taking stock of the spoils. Most intriguing was the hefty ck rod wielded by the Brawny Man. As fellow body cultivators, if the man could use it, Wang Hong should be able to as well.


    He retrieved the three-foot-long rod with one end thick as an adult arm and the other the size of an egg, convenient for gripping. The main material was wood, adorned with dark golden metal patterns.


    Weighing it in his hands, it was around twenty thousand jin. With his current strength of one hundred and fifty thousand jin, he could swing it effortlessly.


    Although just a low-grade Spiritual Weapon, it was a boon for Wang Hong in the current situation.


    After stowing the weapon, he rummaged through the Brawny Man''s Storage Bag. Despite being a mid-level Foundation Building cultivator, he only carried thirty thousand Spirit Stones. Other items were mostly low-value demonic beast materials. The pills were clearly from Qingxu Sect, and several items belonged to Xu Gang and Tian Qing.


    Turning to Jiang Qing''s Storage Bag, Wang Hong found even less  a single low-grade Spiritual Weapon and misceneous items barely worth a thousand Spirit Stones. Disappointed, he put away both Storage Bags.


    A dayter, Tian Qing finally woke up. Expecting certain death, she found herself safe in a mountain cave, her injuries expertly treated.


    "Hmm..." Something felt off. The Daoist Robe was oversized, and the clothes underneath were wrong. She quickly scanned herself with Divine Sense, realizing her injuries were tended to without any untoward incidents. She breathed a sigh of relief, simultaneously feeling self-reproach for doubting Wang Hong''s intentions. Despite being saved, her thoughts had strayed in inappropriate directions. Blushing, she expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Senior Brother, for saving my life!"


    Tian Qing attempted to get up to bow in gratitude, but the pain throughout her body made her stumble back down.


    "No need for formalities, Tian Qing. We are fellow sect members; it''s my duty," Wang Hong gently assisted her to lie back down.


    Although awake, Tian Qing was still weak. Wang Hong gave her another healing pill, and she thanked him profusely.


    Tian Qing tactfully avoided mentioning the awkward situation of wearing Wang Hong''s clothes. In the Cultivation World, there wasn''t a custom of revealing one''s body before marrying someone.


    After two days of recovery, Wang Hong''s injuries were fully healed. Although Tian Qing hadn''tpletely recovered, she could already control her flying instrument. The two set off once again towards the Boundary Mountain Range.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 178: Jinan City

    Chapter 178: Jinan City


    On the western side of the Boundary Mountain Range stood Jin''an City. The city walls soared twenty zhang high and were five zhang thick. Intricately woven formations and runes adorned its surface, while squads of cultivators patrolled tirelessly.


    This stronghold served as the frontline defense against the Demon n, although smaller than Azure Void City both in size and poption. Nevertheless, Jin''an City''s strength rivaled that of Azure Void City.


    With a poption of less than fifty thousand,parable to some small towns, the city harbored no mortals. Instead, a constant presence of at least two thousand Foundation Building cultivators guarded the city, supported by over ten Golden Core cultivators.


    At the city gate, Foundation Building cultivators came and went, often in groups, venturing out to hunt Demonic Beasts before returning for respite.


    At this moment, two Foundation Building cultivators, a man, and a woman, emerged at the city gate. They were Wang Hong and Tian Qing, having traveled for three days to reach Jin''an City.


    Unlike Azure Void City, which belonged exclusively to the Qingxu Sect, Jin''an City was governed by a council of elders, each representing a major sect. These elders, including at least one Golden Core cultivator from each sect, collectively managed the city.


    Wang Hong and Tian Qing located the residence of the Qingxu Sect in the city, reported their arrival, and were ushered into a hall after a brief wait.


    Shortly thereafter, a Foundation Building cultivator in theter stages emerged from the back hall.


    "Haha! I am Shen Jian, apologies for not greeting you from afar. Wee, fellow junior and junior sister, you''ve traveled far," he greeted warmly.


    Shen Jian, with a tall figure, wore a purple-gold Daoist crown, and three neatly arranged foot-long beard strands on his chin.


    "Senior Shen, no need for formalities. I''m Wang Hong," said Wang Hong, handing over his Sect Token for verificationa necessary procedure to prevent infiltration.


    Tian Qing introduced herself and presented her Token to Shen Jian.


    After confirming the Tokens, Shen Jian inquired, "The sect dispatched five individuals, yet only two have arrived. Where are the other three? And, it seems Sister Tian has injuries?"


    Wang Hong and Tian Qing recounted their journey and presented Xu Gang''s body to Shen Jian. Wang Hong omitted details of his battle, respecting the sect''s policy on privacy.


    "Unexpected turn of events! Please wait a moment; I''ll inform Senior Brother Song," Shen Jian said before hastily leaving the hall.


    Upon his return, Shen Jian addressed the two, "Senior Brother Song requests your presence. Please follow me."


    Following Shen Jian, they reached an outside balcony, where Shen Jian prepared to report.


    "Come in!" a muffled voice came from inside.


    Shen Jian entered, revealing a chubby cultivator seated at a desk, devouring a massive pork trotter. Grease covered his face, nose, and the food-filled mouth as he invited them to sit.


    "Want some?" he asked, though the single trotter on the table suggested otherwise.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Song, but we''re not hungry," they replied in unison.


    "Tell me the details of what happened," he instructed after they declined the food.


    Wang Hong and Tian Qing recounted their experiences once more, while Senior Brother Song pondered with a thoughtful expression, savoring each bite.


    After a while, Senior Brother Song spoke, "Are there any more of those Blood Contracts? Show them to me."


    Wang Hong quickly retrieved several Blood Contracts from the Brawny Man''s Storage Bag and ced them on the table in front of Senior Brother Song.


    The chubby cultivator observed them carefully while still indulging in his pork trotter.


    "These are specially crafted Blood Contracts, akin to a master-ve pact. Signing them can also break weaker Blood Contracts on the target," he exined, waving his hand towards the three, "I''m aware of this matter now. You may leave."


    The trio exited the balcony and returned to the previous hall.


    "Rest assured, the elders will handle this matter. Let''s focus on our own duties," Shen Jian said, stroking his beard.


    "Senior Brother, what arrangements do you have for us?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "Junior Brother Wang is a second-tier Alchemist from the Pill Hall. Naturally, you''ll go to the sect''s Spiritual Herb shop to serve as a resident Alchemist. You can go to the East Street; there''s a Qingxu Tower there specializing in selling our sect''s specialties. Just present this Jade Scroll and ask for the shopkeeper, Wu Dayong," Shen Jian exined, handing Wang Hong a Jade Scroll.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Shen!"


    "Junior Brother Wang, no need to be so polite."


    Shen Jian smiled, gesturing to Tian Qing, "Tian Qing, go rest and recover. Come see me in a month, and I''ll assign tasks for you then."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Shen!" Tian Qing expressed her gratitude.


    After leaving the sect''s residence, Tian Qing thanked Wang Hong, "Thank you, Senior Brother Wang, for taking care of me during this time. I won''t trouble you anymore as you head to Qingxu Tower. Farewell."


    "Tian Qing, no need to be so polite. Let''s part ways here!" After bidding farewell, Wang Hong headed towards the East Street.


    Jin''an City had four main streets: East Street, West Street, South Street, and North Street, along with several small alleys.


    Wang Hong quickly found Qingxu Tower on East Streeta majestic building bustling with activity.


    Entering the tower, a maid promptly approached him.


    "I''m looking for Manager Wu!" Without waiting for the maid to speak, Wang Hong showed his Qingxu Sect Token, stating it first.


    The maid paused for a moment, realizing that a senior from the sect had arrived.


    "Senior Uncle, pleasee inside!" The servants in the shop, including maids and boys, could be considered peripheral disciples of the Qingxu Sect.


    The maid led Wang Hong to the top floor and knocked on a door.


    Inside, an Old Man in the mid Foundation Building stage greeted Wang Hong with a smile, thinking a significant deal had arrived.


    "Senior Brother Wu, I am an Alchemist from the sect. Here are my Sect Token and Senior Brother Shen''s Jade Scroll. Please have a look!" Wang Hong presented the Token and Jade Scroll.


    Wu Dayong''s smile diminished slightly, but then it bloomed again.


    "No need for such formalities, Junior Brother!"


    While saying this, Wu Dayong carefully took the two items, examining them more meticulously than anyone else.


    After confirming everything was in order, Wu Dayong returned the Token to Wang Hong.


    "People are indeed not what they seem! Junior Brother Wang, bing a second-tier Alchemist at such a young age, your future is limitless!" Wu Dayong eximed, impressed by Wang Hong''s achievement despite his recent Foundation Building.


    "Senior Brother Wu, you''re too kind. It''s just a stroke of luck. I wonder how the arrangements for my residency and alchemy duties will be made. I seek Senior Brother Wu''s guidance."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 179: Human Pet

    Chapter 179: Human Pet


    Wu Dayong arranged Wang Hong in a secluded courtyard behind Qingxu Tower. The ce was adorned with various furnishings, and the craftsmanship of the furniture was exquisite.


    For the next few years, Wang Hong would spend his time here.


    His responsibility was to take on Alchemymissions from customers and collect rewards. Additionally, he could assist in refining Pills for Qingxu Tower, which could be sold, but most of the Pills sold here were supplied internally by the sect, so it was entirely voluntary.


    During his free time, Wang Hong could move around as he pleased, as long as it wasn''t too far, and he could be contacted if needed.


    As a second-tier Alchemist, this kind of experience was quite enriching.


    After settling Wang Hong, he went to find Zhang Chunfeng and Elder Brother, who hade here before. Yesterday, he had inquired about their addresses from Senior Brother Shen Jian.


    In the South City District, behind South City Street, there was an alley with neatly arranged houses of consistent architectural style.


    This area was where Qingxu Sect arranged the residences for Foundation Building disciples.


    Wang Hong found one of the houses, sent a Transmission Talisman inside  these houses were protected by formations, and knocking on the door wouldn''t work.


    After a moment, the door opened, and Zhang Chunfeng walked out.


    "Senior Brother! You''re here too?"


    Zhang Chunfeng was somewhat surprised to see Wang Hong.


    "I was assigned to this ce shortly after reaching Foundation Building. Let''s talk inside," Wang Hong said, taking the initiative.


    "Yes, yes, Senior Brother, pleasee in!"


    Wang Hong followed Zhang Chunfeng into his house, which was smaller and simpler in decorpared to Wang Hong''s solitary courtyard.


    Zhang Chunfeng brewed a pot of Spirit Tea, and the two chatted about various matters concerning Jin''an City and the Boundary Mountain Range.


    From their conversation, Wang Hong learned that hunting demons in the Boundary Mountain Range was not an easy task.


    Humans hunted Demon n members, and in turn, Demon n hunted humans. It wasn''t a situation where arge group of Demonic Beasts waited for humans toe and hunt them.


    Within the Boundary Mountain Range, there were numerous birds and beasts, and among them were the eyes and ears of the Demon n. Therefore, Demon n often set up ambushes to kill human cultivators.


    A few days ago, a team of ten people encountered an ambush by a group of Demonic Beasts in the Boundary Mountain Range. Two Foundation Building cultivators were killed on the spot, and several others were injured. Elder Brother, who was on the mission with them, was seriously injured and was now recovering at home.


    In the process of hunting demons, injuries weremon, and deaths were not rare.


    As they discussed the Demon n, to the west of the Boundary Mountain Range, Yun Qingya quietly traversed the forest. In the West Zhou Demon Realm, humans wandering carelessly outside would be targets for numerous Demonic Beasts.


    Demon n hunted humans for various reasons. Some were used as food, while those with better aptitude were raised and some even chosen to be Demon n''s pets.


    Because humans had higher intelligence, were easier to tame, and more useful, it was quite popr within the Demon n to domesticate human pets.


    Yun Qingya was a native of the West Zhou Demon Realm. Until the age of five, she lived with her parents and a group of uncles in a secluded mountain cave. The family struggled to survive by gathering wild fruits and hunting small animals.


    Due to her frailty from a young age, the uncles were not fond of her. However, her parents never med her and continued to cherish her like a pearl in their palms. Despite often going hungry andcking proper clothing, Yun Qingya felt happy with the love of her parents. Even now, recalling those times brought sweetness to her heart.


    Tragedy struck when she was five. One day, a group of Demon n members raided their mountain cave, capturing everyone. They killed all the adults, including Yun Qingya''s parents. She witnessed a Demonic Beast knock her father down, biting off a leg, and blood flowed everywhere.


    The small Yun Qingya, witnessing her parents'' death, saw their eyes filled with reluctance, worry, and perhaps something else.


    She and a group of children were then herded together and literally raised, locked inside another mountain cave. Food was thrown in casually every day, causing chaotic scrambles among the children.


    The food varied from nearly spoiled wild fruits to leaves of wild vegetables, asionally including some unidentified meat. Once, Yun Qingya found a human finger in a pile of minced meat, reminding her of her consumed parents. From then on, she chose to go hungry rather thanpete for meat.


    Some among them tried to escape, but they were quickly caught. Three children were tied to a bonfire, roasted alive in front of everyone. The smell of cooking flesh wafted in the air, and the screams lingered, ensuring no one dared to escape again.


    After being raised for two years, Yun Qingya was sold to a Demon n member covered in ck scales, with a humanoid appearance. She became this Demon n''s human pet after being acknowledged.


    Later, another human pet, seemingly aged fifty or sixty, was assigned to educate her. Every day, she learned thenguage, writing, and various customs of the human race. The teachings covered even the minutest details, such as walking posture and tone of speech. Failure to meet the requirements resulted in punishment.


    At the age of eighteen, she was brought to Azure Void City. After spending some time there, she sessfully joined Qingxu Sect.


    In Qingxu Sect, she experienced care from elders and admiration from fellow disciples, momentarily forgetting she was just a human pet.


    However, this happiness was short-lived. She received orders to cooperate with another human pet, subduing some Qingxu Sect disciples to be undercover agents for the Demon n.


    Now, she moved cautiously, despite being someone''s possession. If she were casually killed by passing Demon n members for dinner, her owner wouldn''t seek revengeperhaps justpensating with a few Spirit Herbs.


    Since the Demon ngged in Pill Recipe refinement, their transactions seldom involved Pills, mostly consisting of raw Spirit Herbs.


    After two days of stealth, she finally returned to her owner''s cave mansiona not toorge stone pce entirely constructed from blue stones.


    At the upper part of the main hall, a Demon n member with tusks, covered in ck scales with a thick tail, sat high. Two robust humans, apparently females, served this Demon n member attentively.


    The two women were tall and muscr, with bulging muscles, facial hair, and ayer of fine beard on their mouths.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 180: Beauty and Ugliness

    Chapter 180: Beauty and Ugliness


    Within the Demon n, not all beings took on the form of Demonic Beasts; some possessed a certain degree of human appearance.


    Typically, Demonic Beasts could only transform after reaching the fourth tier. A fourth-tier Demonic Beast was equivalent to the Nascent Soul realm of the human race.


    However, some Demonic Beasts, as early as the third tier, equivalent to the Golden Core Realm of humans, could partially transform. They retained both a human form and the characteristics of the Demon n, giving them an unsettling appearanceneither fully human nor demon.


    In special cases, some higher-tier transformed Demons, upon giving birth, had offspring that were human-like from a young age.


    These human-like offspring also had a chance of producing descendants with human appearances.


    This led to the existence of numerous individuals with a mix of human and demonic traits in the West Zhou Demon Realm.


    The creature with a body covered in ck armor, a hybrid of a demon and a human, was a third-tier Demonic Beast that hadn''tpleted its transformation, originally a ck Jiao.


    Currently, it was enjoying the services of two robust women, watching the dance below and asionally cheering loudly.


    In the center of the grand hall, a group of over a dozen te-sized toads was happily hopping around. They stretched their front legs, back legs, performed one-legged jumps, two-legged jumps, three-legged jumps, crossed-leg jumps, forward jumps, backward jumps...


    This was a renowned dance among the Demon n known as the Chaotic Frog Dance.


    As the Demonic Beast observed the dance, Yun Qingya walked in from outside and immediately prostrated herself on the ground.


    Most Demon n members didn''t bother much with etiquette; there was no need for an announcement when entering. However, if one had the misfortune of encountering a hungry or bad-tempered Demonic Beast, being swallowed whole was amon urrence.


    Therefore, low-tier Demonic Beasts didn''t dare disturb higher-tier ones casually.


    "Master, the mission failed, and Tie Ta was killed by the human race," Yun Qingya said cautiously, afraid that the ck Jiao might tear her apart in a fit of rage.


    She had witnessed a human servant torn to pieces by the ck Jiao for ipetence.


    "Roar! Why are you still alive then?" The ck Jiao was indeed furious.


    In an instant, a long whip appeared in its hand,shing towards Yun Qingya without mercy.


    "Roar! Crack! Crack!"


    The whip fell repeatedly, leaving bloody welts on Yun Qingya''s body.


    At the same time, Yun Qingya felt a slight relief. Perhaps the ck Jiao wouldn''t kill her after all.


    From childhood to adulthood, this kind of punishment had always apanied her. When the ck Jiao was pleased, it would whip her a few times, and when angered, it would still whip her.


    If not for the powerful recovery abilities of an Immortal Cultivator, her body would have been covered in scars with no good skin left.


    The main reason for this was the differing aesthetic values of the Demon npared to the human race. They revered strength and admired robust and powerful individuals.


    In terms of female beauty, they preferred tall and muscr women, ideally with thick body hair and even a bit of facial hair because Demon n members either had fur or scales.


    Hence, when they saw Yun Qingya, with her smooth and delicate skin, they found it extremely ufortable.


    So, despite being its human pet, the ck Jiao still detested her.


    If not for hearing that the human race was exceptionally perverse, liking these extremely ugly women, it would have eaten Yun Qingya long ago.


    It sent Yun Qingya undercover among the human race, with significant ns rted to a major Demon n scheme.


    After a bout of whipping and some fondling of the robust thighs of the two women beside it, the ck Jiao gradually calmed its anger.


    Women with such a tall, muscr build, dense body hair, and facial hair were considered top-notch in the demonic worldone in a million. After all, most human women appeared soft and delicate, with smooth and tender skin,cking any tactile sensation.


    "I sent you to learn Alchemy. Have you mastered it?" It had another purpose in sending Yun Qingyato learn the art of Alchemy.


    Throughout the West Zhou Demon Realm, there were only a few Demonic Beasts capable of Alchemy or refining tools, as the Demon n had no innate talent in this field. Their inherited bloodlines granted them various powerful abilities, such as sharp teeth, ws, sturdy shells, and some Demonic Beasts were naturally proficient in certain Magical Arts. This, however, greatly suppressed their creative abilities.


    "Master, I''ve learned to refine second-tier Pills," Yun Qingya reported.


    Hearing this, the ck Jiao''s mood improved. Having a human pet skilled in Alchemy meant a future source of wealth. Pills were in high demand in the West Zhou Demon Realm, and although they weren''t specifically designed for Demonic Beast refinement, they were much more efficient than directly consuming Spiritual Herbs.


    "If it weren''t for the human race''s preference for extraordinarily ugly women like you, I would have eaten you by now. Alright, you may leave," the ck Jiao said impatiently, waving its hand to dismiss Yun Qingya.


    After spending two days at Qingxu Tower, Wang Hong received a message from Wu Dayong, saying there was business to discuss.


    Guided by Wu Dayong, Wang Hong arrived at a secret chamber, a room specifically designated for major business discussions. Surprisingly, within just a few days of his arrival, a significant business opportunity had presented itself, sparking his curiosity.


    Upon entering the secret chamber, Wang Hong found Wu Dayong apanied by a cultivator, thetter dressed in arge ck robe with a cloak covering most of their facial features. Only two eyes were visible, giving off an air of secrecy and mysteryclearly a person with a big secret.


    Seeing Wang Hong''s arrival, Wu Dayong quickly introduced, "Fellow Daoist Gu, this is our Qingxu Tower''s resident second-tier Alchemist."


    Fellow Daoist Gu, in a hoarse voice, inquired, "I wonder, what is the Pill Sess Rate for your second-tier Refinement Pills?"


    "It depends on the type of Pill Fellow Daoist wishes for. Most are around thirty percent, but some can reach forty percent," Wang Hong confidently replied.


    Generally, a second-tier Alchemist with a thirty percent Pill Sess Rate was consideredpetent. Wang Hong''s actual sess rate was already above fifty percent.


    "What about the Nourishing Essence Pill?" Fellow Daoist Gu asked with concern.


    "Due to frequent refinement, the Nourishing Essence Pill can reach forty percent," Wang Hong replied.


    Hearing the mention of the Nourishing Essence Pill, Wang Hong felt a bit disappointed. He had enough Spiritual Herbs for the Nourishing Essence Pill, but he didn''t reveal it.


    After a brief hesitation, the robed cultivator named Gu bit the bullet and said, "Alright! Please examine whether these materials are suitable, Friend."


    He handed over a Storage Bag to Wang Hong, who opened it and found materials for the Nourishing Essence Pill. The quantity was considerableforty portions, exining the air of mystery around this person.


    Wang Hong wondered how he had umted such a batch of Spiritual Herbs. He recalled trying to purchase Nourishing Essence Pill Spiritual Herbs but had no luck, even after scouring the Sect market. This mysterious person seemed to have acquired them effortlessly. With a forty percent Pill Sess Rate, this batch would yield at least a hundred and sixty pills, a number that could make many people jealous. Jin''an City had various factions, and in terms of safety, it couldn''tpare to Azure Void City. Street fights urred almost every month.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 181: Alchemy

    Chapter 181: Alchemy


    The ck-robed cultivator had anticipated that Wang Hong would be astonished by the generous offer. He had meticulously prepared for possible reactions, even nning the tone and wording of his responses. However, when Wang Hong took the materials, he merely nced at them, counted them briefly, and showed no other reaction.


    This left the ck-robed cultivator feeling a bit disheartened, apanied by a hint of self-doubt. He had thought the quantity was substantial and had taken precautions to prevent any leaks of information. Perhaps, he mused, it was merely hisck of exposure to the wider world.


    Wang Hong, who was an alchemist himself, was ustomed to preparing over a hundred sets of materials for each alchemy session. With just dozens of materials, it was challenging to impress him.


    He casually remarked, "A total of forty sets of Nourishing Essence Pill materials. This should yield approximately one hundred and sixty pills. Additionally, I will need to extract thirty percent from thepleted pills as my alchemy fee."


    In alchemy, it was customary for alchemists to extract a portion of the pills they produced aspensation. For example, if ten pills were sessfully refined, the alchemist would im three of them.


    This was the overt reward, as alchemists also had the tendency to discreetly withhold some pills, the extent of which depended on the alchemist''s skill and character.


    Hence, a proficient alchemist could enjoy a lucrative ie, cing them among the higher-earning groups among cultivators.


    Thepensation terms were easily settled between the two parties. After all, Wang Hong''s forty percent pill sess rate was considered respectable among second-tier alchemists. Some alchemists with a higher sess rate of 50 or 60 percent might still only offer 30 or 40 percent, pocketing the surplus for themselves.


    Having agreed on the next pill collection date, the ck-robed cultivator departed hastily, and Wang Hong returned to his alchemy work.


    Back at his ce, Wang Hong retrieved the forty sets of materials. He was a second-tier alchemist and hadn''t tried refining multiple sets of materials in a single session. The primary reason was his limited supply of second-tier spiritual herbs, insufficient for such extravagance.


    This time, he decided to start with five sets. Additionally, he had umted over two hundred sets of Nourishing Essence Pill materials himself, so he thought it wise to refine them all at once.


    The first attempt with five sets produced only six pills. Ignoring the slight pain of wasting spiritual herbs, he proceeded to the second attempt.


    It was natural to face initial challenges when doing something new, and Wang Hong experienced a learning curve. The second attempt with five sets resulted in eight pills. After a short break, he initiated the refinement of the third batch.


    One monthter, he sessfully refined all the Nourishing Essence Pills. By the end, he could refine thirty sets in a single session, achieving a pill sess rate of about thirty percent.


    While this method of alchemy wasted a considerable number of spiritual herbs, it saved him a significant amount of time.


    Compared to the preciousness of spiritual herbs, Wang Hong valued his time more. With the time saved, he could focus on cultivating techniques, delve into magical arts, and learn rune and talisman crafting.


    In contrast, some exceedingly abundant spiritual herbs, like the second-tier spiritual fruit and the white crystal fruit he had nted earliest in his space, were piling up since he couldn''t consume them all and was hesitant to sell too many.


    To avoid wasting the white crystal fruit, Wang Hong fermented all of them into second-tier Spirit Wine. Now that the white crystal fruit had been processed, his space was overflowing with a substantial amount of white crystal fruit Spirit Wine.


    White crystal fruit Spirit Wine was undoubtedly a precious substance. It not only restored Spiritual Power but also purified it, making it a rare and valuable treasure.


    However, Wang Hong couldn''t sell it recklessly. If he put just a hundred kilograms on the market, it would surely cause a sensation. Yet, he had thousands of kilograms of white crystal fruit Spirit Wine in his space, and the quantity was still increasing.


    He couldn''t bring himself to cut down the white crystal fruit trees.


    Today was the agreed-upon time for delivering the pills. Afterpleting his cultivation, Wang Hong didn''t engage in other activities. Instead, he brewed a pot of Spirit Tea and leisurely sipped on it.


    He now knew that this tea was called Qiu Long Tea, a tea that Master Mei of the Pill Hall had always remembered fondly.


    Before finishing the pot, he received a message that the cultivator hade to collect the pills.


    Wang Hong went to the secret chamber where they had metst time. The cultivator still wore a ck robe, and his cloak covered his face.


    "Thank you for waiting, fellow daoist."


    Wang Hong greeted upon entering, then directly handed over several pill bottles to the ck-robed cultivator.


    "A total of one hundred and sixty pills were sessfully refined. Deducting the alchemy fee of forty-eight pills, you have a total of one hundred and twelve pills. Please verify."


    The ck-robed cultivator took the pill bottles, used Divine Sense to confirm, nodded in satisfaction, and then bid farewell.


    After the cultivator left, Wang Hong took out five Nourishing Essence Pills and handed them to Wu Dayong. As the resident alchemist, Wu Dayong was required to contribute ten percent of the earnings to the store.


    Wu Dayong epted the pills with a smiling expression and said, "Junior Brother Wang''s alchemy skills are truly remarkable. Previous resident alchemists usually had a sess rate of only thirty percent."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Wu, for your care during this time. I still have two Nourishing Essence Pills here; please ept them."


    Wang Hong knew that Wu Dayong was reminding him. A thirty percent sess rate was also eptable, and it would allow him to withhold an additional ten percent of the pills.


    However, he didn''t want to withhold too much. Firstly, he didn''tck those few pills, and secondly, he wanted to establish his reputation in the field of refining pill recipes. In the future, more people might seek him for pill refinement.


    This way, he could potentially receive rare spiritual herbs that he didn''t currently possess, which was his true goal.


    Although reminded by Wu Dayong, Wang Hong expressed his gratitude. Wu Dayong happily received the two Nourishing Essence Pills, as the previous five pills belonged to the sect, and these two were his personal gain.


    "Junior Brother Wang, it''s advisable not to go out if you have nothing urgent. These days, focus on alchemy in seclusion. There are things you might not be aware of yet."


    Wu Dayong reminded after putting away the pills.


    "Oh? What''s going on?" Wang Hong asked with a hint of curiosity.


    "It''s said that some Foundation Building cultivators were intercepted by a mysterious force on their way to Jin''an City a while ago. They were forced to sign a ve Blood Contract. The Foundation Building cultivator involved was quite capable and managed to kill several assants and return to Jin''an City to report the incident."


    "Now, the higher-ups in Jin''an City have investigated and found that this is not an isted case. The entire city is now scrutinizing cultivators who may have signed ve Blood Contracts. If someone is found to have signed such a contract, they need to identify their master. Otherwise, they are considered suspicious."


    Upon hearing this, Wang Hong felt like it was rted to him. It seemed this matter had already caused quite a stir.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Wu, for the reminder. I have nothing important to do these days, so I won''t go out and stir up trouble."


    After bidding farewell to Wu Dayong, Wang Hong returned to his private courtyard.


    With the newly acquired information, he sensed that this matter was far from ordinary.

 Chapter 182: Foundation Building Second Level

    Chapter 182: Foundation Building Second Level


    Wang Hong sensed that this mysterious force wasn''t specifically targeting him or the Qingxu Sect but rather all the major forces in Jin''an City.


    In Jin''an City, representatives of various major forces from the East Zhou Cultivation Realm had their presence. The fact that this force dared to challenge them made him specte.


    At this moment, he felt a strong sense of unease. Although he was an Alchemist, usually exempt from directbat, he believed in relying on himself rather than others.


    His means of rapidly enhancing his strength were limited at the moment.


    The factorsprising hisbat prowess could be divided into several major aspects.


    Firstly, there was the advancement of his cultivation levelRealm. Despite diligently consuming pills for years, his dantian''s sea was vast, hindering breakthroughs to the second level of Foundation Building.


    Days ago, he saw that Zhang Chunfeng had already reached Foundation Building Second Level, and he heard that even Elder Brother had achieved the same. Despite having a far greater total and purer Spiritual Power, he couldn''t afford to remain stagnant in his realm, considering that Foundation Building cultivators only had a lifespan of two hundred years.


    The second aspect was body refining. Despite possessing a strength of 150,000 jin, progress in the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique" was slow due to theck of crucial Spiritual Herbs. It lingered at the entry-tier of the first level.


    Though he researched medicinal forms, hoping to adapt to the cultivation technique using herbs like the nine-leaf golden thread grass or Essence Core Pill, his efforts were in vain.


    The third aspect was his Spirit Beasts. Currently, he only had Poisonous Bees and Little Peng. Little Peng, though, was not much help in battles yet. While Poisonous Bees were beneficial, their spatial enhancement was limited in the short term.


    The fourth aspect was his poison skills, which had yielded some sess, but unless he obtained other potent poisonous Spiritual Herbs, progress would be slow.


    Lastly, there were items like Spiritual Weapons. The recently acquiredrge ck club was convenient, but obtaining such items depended on luck.


    Considering these aspects, Wang Hong pondered for a long time before entering his Space. He approached the first-nted Azure Spirit Peach Tree.


    Now, the tree was seven to eight feet tall, bearing dozens of fuzzy young peaches. Two peaches,rger than adult fists, hung in the middle of the branches.


    Though not fully ripe, Wang Hong decided to eat them first, prioritizing the enhancement of his strength. He could leave the next batch to ripen.


    With determination, he plucked the two peaches and brought them out of the Space.


    Holding the peaches, Wang Hong examined them, sniffing before decisively biting into one.


    "Crunch!"


    While it still had a slightly unripe taste, the bitterness was gone, indicating it was nearing maturity. Despite not being fully ripe, it tasted much better than the white crystal fruit. With only two peaches avable, he finished one.


    As he consumed it, the majestic energy released by the peach transformed into pure Spiritual Power, flowing into his dantian''s sea, enhancing his cultivation.


    If his dantian''s sea were of ordinary size, the Spiritual Power from this Green Spirit Peach alone would have been enough to elevate him from Foundation Building First Level to Second Level.


    However, he was just a bit short of breaking through. Without hesitation, he quickly devoured the second peach.


    The infusion of Spiritual Power into his dantian''s sea this time finally propelled him to Foundation Building Second Level.


    Simultaneously, as he ascended to the second level, his dantian''s sea expanded by two feet, from the initial six feet to eight feet.


    Typically, when Foundation Building cultivators advanced in realms, their dantian''s sea expanded ordingly, usually by one foot at a time. By the time they reached Foundation Building perfection, it would be about ten feet in size.


    Wang Hong''s initial six-foot size now increased by two feet, making further advancement even more challenging.


    Due to the sudden influx of a substantial amount of Spiritual Power, his originally pure Spiritual Power became somewhat impure. This would need gradual refinement and purification in the future.


    After stabilizing his newly attained realm, he secluded himself for several days. Following that, he concealed his cultivation level back to Foundation Building First Level.


    Upon emerging, he took a stroll outside to get some fresh air. During this time in Jin''an City, he learned that several cultivators who had been forced into signing ve Blood Contracts were captured.


    From what he gathered, their experiences mirrored Wang Hong''s own. Coerced into signing ve Blood Contracts outside, theycked Wang Hong''s strength and had no choice but to submit.


    This matter, for the time being, concluded.


    Back in his solitary residence, Wang Hong resumed his alchemical activities, this time crafting Essence Core Pills.


    The numerous Demonic Beast corpses he obtained from Zhang Chunfeng were fed to the demon-hunting tree, transforming into golden demon-hunting tree seeds. Whenbined with the nine-leaf golden thread grass, they could refine Essence Core Pills, each pill increasing strength by a hundred jin.


    With materials for three hundred Essence Core Pills, given his current Pill Sess Rate, he could produce over a thousand Essence Core Pills.


    While Demonic Beast corpses were abundant in Jin''an City, his supply of nine-leaf golden thread grass was slightly insufficient.


    He saw this opportunity as a chance to gather more demon-hunting tree seeds, realizing that such opportunities might note again.


    After some consideration, he left his residence and entered an inn. Inside, he transformed into an old man with wrinkled skin, darkening it further before donning the Misty Illusion Mask, taking on the appearance of a middle-aged cultivator.


    Exiting the inn, he casually wandered through the four major districts.


    After two days of exploration, he finally selected a target and headed towards a moderately-sized general store.


    This was one of the targets he had identified in the past two days. For a long-term partnership, he needed coborators with some strength but not too overpowering.


    Those too weak would struggle to protect themselves, while dealing with someone too strong might lead to being swallowed up if the transaction volume increased.


    Upon entering the store, a clerk approached. Without waiting for the clerk to speak, Wang Hong straightforwardly said, "I''m looking for your shopkeeper or your East Master."


    "Our East Master is currently out. Please have some tea, esteemed senior. I will go fetch the shopkeeper. Kindly wait for a moment," the clerk responded.


    The clerk settled Wang Hong in a secluded room, served tea, and then left.


    Having previously investigated, Wang Hong knew that the store''s owner was a Foundation Building mid-stage cultivator who rarely managed store affairs. He had hired a Qi Cultivationte-stage cultivator as the shopkeeper to handle the day-to-day operations.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter [NaN]

    Chapter [NaN]


    Wang Hong hadn''t even finished his cup of tea when the fellow led an Old Man into the room.


    "Junior Hu Jin, may I ask what instructions the senior has for me?" the Old Man, upon entering, first gave a bow and respectfully inquired.


    "I wish to coborate with you and engage in a small business. I wonder if you might be interested," Wang Hong said casually after taking a sip of tea.


    "Oh? As long as it''s within the junior''s capabilities, I am naturally willing," Hu Jin replied with caution. Who knew what kind of small business a Foundation Building cultivator would propose.


    "It''s something easily within your reach. I want you to help me purchase some Demonic Beast corpses. I am willing to pay a high price," Wang Hong exined. However, he noticed no signs of surprise or joy on the other''s face, just an expression that was difficult to read.


    Little did he know that over a decade ago, a group of loose cultivators had pulled off a simr stunt. Roaming into the Boundary Mountain Range in search of Spiritual Herbs or materials from Demonic Beasts, they ended up with nothing but trouble and decided to salvage what they could.


    Following the principle of not letting opportunities slip, they gathered arge pile of Demonic Beast corpses. Back in Jin''an City, they visited various shops, iming to urgently need a batch of Demonic Beast corpses, negotiated with the shopkeepers, and agreed to purchase them at a high price.


    The next day, they sent people with the Demonic Beast corpses to those shops for sale, and naturally, they fetched good prices. However, once the shops bought the corpses, they waited in vain for the cultivator who had promised to buy them at a high price.


    This incident became a hot topic in Jin''an City''s gossip circles.


    The shopkeeper naturally knew about this, and when Wang Hong finished speaking, he felt that such an outdated trick was still in use?


    If the other party weren''t a Foundation Building expert, he would have already kicked him out.


    "Senior, our humble shop operates on thin profits, and Spirit Stones are not readily avable. This business is inconvenient for us. Please, find someone else," Hu Jin respectfully declined.


    This puzzled Wang Hong even more. He was offering a good deal, so why were they pushing it away? Well, if they didn''t want to, he wouldn''t force them. With so many shops in Jin''an City, one rejection wasn''t a big deal.


    After leaving, Wang Hong approached several other shops but was surprised to find that they all declined to cooperate in purchasing Demonic Beast corpses.


    Perplexed and frustrated, he felt that he needed to expand his influence to this side in the future. In Azure Void City, such trivial matters wouldn''t require his personal intervention. A simple order to his subordinates would suffice.


    Unfortunately, hecked that strength now. Azure Void City was rtively safe, and having one or two Foundation Building cultivators in the open would maintain order.


    Jin''an City was different; it was a chaotic ce with frequent conflicts. Survival would be challenging with insufficient strength.


    Currently, he had only two Foundation Building cultivators at his disposal, Liu Changsheng and He Yuan, and he was uncertain about the sess of Ma Brothers'' Foundation Building.


    At least he needed to cultivate several more Foundation Building cultivators among his subordinates to expand in this direction.


    But for now, he had to approach these shops for coboration. He didn''t have the time to collect Demonic Beast corpses himself.


    He always believed that matters solvable with Spirit Stones should be resolved with Spirit Stones.


    So, Wang Hong returned to the first shop he visited. Hu Jin, the shopkeeper of this establishment, had just seen Wang Hong off, and now, in no time, he was back.


    Hu Jin was puzzled. Were swindlers nowadays so persistent?


    Unable to offend a Foundation Building cultivator, Hu Jin reluctantly ushered Wang Hong into a private room.


    "Senior, our humble shop has been facing difficulties with Spirit Stone circtiontely. We genuinely cannot cooperate at this time," Hu Jinined directly upon seeing Wang Hong.


    "Tell me the truth. What''s the reason behind your reluctance to cooperate with me?" Wang Hong, now emanating Foundation-Building Pressure, demanded.


    Seeing Wang Hong genuinely angered, Hu Jin, despite having a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator backing him, knew that if Wang Hong killed him in a fit of rage, there would be no revenge orpensation afterward. He had to earnestly exin the situation to Wang Hong.


    It was then that he realized he had been mistaken for a swindler all along.


    "I can prepay a portion of the deposit here. Will that put your mind at ease?" Wang Hong, unable to prove he wasn''t a swindler, decided to make a partial payment to ease the other party''s suspicions.


    Hu Jin, surprised that Wang Hong not only didn''t me him but was willing to prepay, became even more confused. Was this a new type of scam? Still, Wang Hong had gone this far, and Hu Jin couldn''t refuse without offending him.


    "Of course! Of course!" Hu Jin nodded repeatedly. He had decided to focus on purchasing Demonic Beast corpses with these prepayments and wouldn''t charge a single extra Spirit Stone.


    "Here are five thousand Spirit Stones. I''lle back to collect the Demonic Beast corpses in a month," Wang Hong ced five thousand Spirit Stones and then left.


    A monthter, Wang Hong returned to the same shop, the same secret room.


    Hu Jin handed over several Storage Bags to Wang Hong, who, after scanning them with Divine Sense, frowned and asked, "Is this all there is?"


    He had left five thousand Spirit Stones as a deposit, and these Demonic Beast corpses were not worth even five hundred.


    "Senior, please don''t be upset. This is all we''ve received in a month, a total of two hundred and sixty Spirit Stones."


    Even Hu Jin felt a bit guilty because he hadn''t actively collected Demonic Beast corpses for Wang Hong. There wasn''t even a signboard at the shop entrance advertising their purchase.


    Wang Hong was frustrated. Azure Void City could purchase many Demonic Beast corpses, and with the Human-Demon Battlefield nearby, they could easily pick them up in the Boundary Mountain Range.


    If Zhang Chunfeng entered the mountains once, he could collect so many Demonic Beast corpses. Wang Hong sighed, realizing that it''s difficult to find trustworthy subordinates.


    "Here''s the deal. For every Demonic Beast corpse you purchase in the future, I''m willing to settle two-tenths of the payment with second-tier Nourishing Essence Pills."


    Since the other party was not proactive, Wang Hong had no better solution than to entice them with benefits.


    Due to the rise in raw material costs, the price of Nourishing Essence Pills had also increased significantly. Each pill now cost four hundred Spirit Stones and was hard toe by.


    Hu Jin was a bit stunned this time. Nourishing Essence Pills were scarce resources, and even with Spirit Stones, they might not be obtainable.


    He began to doubt the other party''s intentions, but regardless of whether it was genuine or not, he decided to purchase more this time. He wanted to see if Wang Hong could indeed use Nourishing Essence Pills as payment. If true, it would be a huge profit for him.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 183

    Chapter 183


    Wang Hong hadn''t even finished his cup of tea when the fellow led an Old Man into the room.


    "Junior Hu Jin, may I ask what instructions the senior has for me?" the Old Man, upon entering, first gave a bow and respectfully inquired.


    "I wish to coborate with you and engage in a small business. I wonder if you might be interested," Wang Hong said casually after taking a sip of tea.


    "Oh? As long as it''s within the junior''s capabilities, I am naturally willing," Hu Jin replied with caution. Who knew what kind of small business a Foundation Building cultivator would propose.


    "It''s something easily within your reach. I want you to help me purchase some Demonic Beast corpses. I am willing to pay a high price," Wang Hong exined. However, he noticed no signs of surprise or joy on the other''s face, just an expression that was difficult to read.


    Little did he know that over a decade ago, a group of loose cultivators had pulled off a simr stunt. Roaming into the Boundary Mountain Range in search of Spiritual Herbs or materials from Demonic Beasts, they ended up with nothing but trouble and decided to salvage what they could.


    Following the principle of not letting opportunities slip, they gathered arge pile of Demonic Beast corpses. Back in Jin''an City, they visited various shops, iming to urgently need a batch of Demonic Beast corpses, negotiated with the shopkeepers, and agreed to purchase them at a high price.


    The next day, they sent people with the Demonic Beast corpses to those shops for sale, and naturally, they fetched good prices. However, once the shops bought the corpses, they waited in vain for the cultivator who had promised to buy them at a high price.


    This incident became a hot topic in Jin''an City''s gossip circles.


    The shopkeeper naturally knew about this, and when Wang Hong finished speaking, he felt that such an outdated trick was still in use?


    If the other party weren''t a Foundation Building expert, he would have already kicked him out.


    "Senior, our humble shop operates on thin profits, and Spirit Stones are not readily avable. This business is inconvenient for us. Please, find someone else," Hu Jin respectfully declined.


    This puzzled Wang Hong even more. He was offering a good deal, so why were they pushing it away? Well, if they didn''t want to, he wouldn''t force them. With so many shops in Jin''an City, one rejection wasn''t a big deal.


    After leaving, Wang Hong approached several other shops but was surprised to find that they all declined to cooperate in purchasing Demonic Beast corpses.


    Perplexed and frustrated, he felt that he needed to expand his influence to this side in the future. In Azure Void City, such trivial matters wouldn''t require his personal intervention. A simple order to his subordinates would suffice.


    Unfortunately, hecked that strength now. Azure Void City was rtively safe, and having one or two Foundation Building cultivators in the open would maintain order.


    Jin''an City was different; it was a chaotic ce with frequent conflicts. Survival would be challenging with insufficient strength.


    Currently, he had only two Foundation Building cultivators at his disposal, Liu Changsheng and He Yuan, and he was uncertain about the sess of Ma Brothers'' Foundation Building.


    At least he needed to cultivate several more Foundation Building cultivators among his subordinates to expand in this direction.


    But for now, he had to approach these shops for coboration. He didn''t have the time to collect Demonic Beast corpses himself.


    He always believed that matters solvable with Spirit Stones should be resolved with Spirit Stones.


    So, Wang Hong returned to the first shop he visited. Hu Jin, the shopkeeper of this establishment, had just seen Wang Hong off, and now, in no time, he was back.


    Hu Jin was puzzled. Were swindlers nowadays so persistent?


    Unable to offend a Foundation Building cultivator, Hu Jin reluctantly ushered Wang Hong into a private room.


    "Senior, our humble shop has been facing difficulties with Spirit Stone circtiontely. We genuinely cannot cooperate at this time," Hu Jinined directly upon seeing Wang Hong.


    "Tell me the truth. What''s the reason behind your reluctance to cooperate with me?" Wang Hong, now emanating Foundation-Building Pressure, demanded.


    Seeing Wang Hong genuinely angered, Hu Jin, despite having a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator backing him, knew that if Wang Hong killed him in a fit of rage, there would be no revenge orpensation afterward. He had to earnestly exin the situation to Wang Hong.


    It was then that he realized he had been mistaken for a swindler all along.


    "I can prepay a portion of the deposit here. Will that put your mind at ease?" Wang Hong, unable to prove he wasn''t a swindler, decided to make a partial payment to ease the other party''s suspicions.


    Hu Jin, surprised that Wang Hong not only didn''t me him but was willing to prepay, became even more confused. Was this a new type of scam? Still, Wang Hong had gone this far, and Hu Jin couldn''t refuse without offending him.


    "Of course! Of course!" Hu Jin nodded repeatedly. He had decided to focus on purchasing Demonic Beast corpses with these prepayments and wouldn''t charge a single extra Spirit Stone.


    "Here are five thousand Spirit Stones. I''lle back to collect the Demonic Beast corpses in a month," Wang Hong ced five thousand Spirit Stones and then left.


    A monthter, Wang Hong returned to the same shop, the same secret room.


    Hu Jin handed over several Storage Bags to Wang Hong, who, after scanning them with Divine Sense, frowned and asked, "Is this all there is?"


    He had left five thousand Spirit Stones as a deposit, and these Demonic Beast corpses were not worth even five hundred.


    "Senior, please don''t be upset. This is all we''ve received in a month, a total of two hundred and sixty Spirit Stones."


    Even Hu Jin felt a bit guilty because he hadn''t actively collected Demonic Beast corpses for Wang Hong. There wasn''t even a signboard at the shop entrance advertising their purchase.


    Wang Hong was frustrated. Azure Void City could purchase many Demonic Beast corpses, and with the Human-Demon Battlefield nearby, they could easily pick them up in the Boundary Mountain Range.


    If Zhang Chunfeng entered the mountains once, he could collect so many Demonic Beast corpses. Wang Hong sighed, realizing that it''s difficult to find trustworthy subordinates.


    "Here''s the deal. For every Demonic Beast corpse you purchase in the future, I''m willing to settle two-tenths of the payment with second-tier Nourishing Essence Pills."


    Since the other party was not proactive, Wang Hong had no better solution than to entice them with benefits.


    Due to the rise in raw material costs, the price of Nourishing Essence Pills had also increased significantly. Each pill now cost four hundred Spirit Stones and was hard toe by.


    Hu Jin was a bit stunned this time. Nourishing Essence Pills were scarce resources, and even with Spirit Stones, they might not be obtainable.


    He began to doubt the other party''s intentions, but regardless of whether it was genuine or not, he decided to purchase more this time. He wanted to see if Wang Hong could indeed use Nourishing Essence Pills as payment. If true, it would be a huge profit for him.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 184: Spirit Stone Vein

    Chapter 184: Spirit Stone Vein


    After Wang Hong left, Hu Jin erected arge sign at the entrance with the words: "Highly Purchasing Demonic Beast Corpses."


    It didn''t take long for passing cultivators to notice, and some of them entered, inquiring about the details. Upon receiving urate information, groups of them headed towards the Boundary Mountain Range to collect Demonic Beast corpses.


    When Wang Hong found Hu Jin again a monthter, Hu Jin had helped him amass arge pile of Demonic Beast corpses. Due to the naturallyrge size of Demonic Beasts and their low market value, the pile wasn''t worth even five thousand Spirit Stones.


    Hu Jin still felt a bit uneasy, fearing that Wang Hong might deceive him somewhere.


    As the shopkeeper and not the owner, he couldn''t bear significant losses.


    Wang Hong retained the initial five thousand Spirit Stones as a deposit and then paid with two Nourishing Essence Pills and several thousand Spirit Stones.


    After receiving these Spirit Stones, Hu Jin gained some confidence and decided to expand the purchasing scale.


    The loose cultivators who had previously gone to the mountain to collect corpses, having tasted the benefits, enthusiastically prepared once again to head towards the Boundary Mountain Range.


    In the following months, Wang Hong''s gains kept growing.


    However, Demonic Beast corpses in the Boundary Mountain Range were ultimately limited. What seemed abundant in normal circumstances was because they were left unwanted on the mountain, creating an illusion of abundance.


    Suddenly, many small Demonic Beasts living in the Boundary Mountain Range, relying on eating the corpses, found their food source taken away by humans.


    These Demonic Beasts were left hungry, howling through the night, silently resenting the humans who stole their food.


    Wang Hong refined the demon-hunting tree seeds he had obtained into Essence Core Pills. The quantity was vast, more than he could use for a while.


    He sent a Transmission Talisman, summoning Zhang Chunfeng. Many of the demon corpses were collected with Zhang Chunfeng''s help, so it was only fair to share some with him.


    "These Essence Core Pills are for you," Wang Hong handed several bottles of pills to Zhang Chunfeng.


    Taking the Essence Core Pills, Zhang Chunfeng felt the impact of increased loose cultivators entering the mountains, making it difficult to find Demonic Beast corpses unless he personally killed them. He suspected that Wang Hong was behind this.


    "You''ve been in Jin''an City for almost three years. Have you heard anything about when we can go back?" Wang Hong asked again.


    "I haven''t heard anything. Recently, there might be a major battle with the Demon n, and they are less likely to let us leave," Zhang Chunfeng replied.


    "Oh! How do you know?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "Some time ago, there were rumors that the Demon n discovered a medium-sized Spirit Stone vein in the Boundary Mountain Range. Whether it''s true or not, it''s currently under investigation."


    As a frontlinebat cultivator, Zhang Chunfeng had a broader range of information sources.


    In the Cultivation World, Spirit Stones were extracted from Spirit Stone veins, cut into standard sizes for counting. These veins were generally located in ces rich in Spirit Qi, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth over time.


    They were categorized as small, medium,rge, and superrge. Small veins produced low-grade Spirit Stones in limited quantities. Medium veins, on the other hand, yielded arger quantity, mainly low-grade Spirit Stones with a small amount of medium-grade ones.


    Large Spirit Stone veins, if the yearly extraction is controlled, can continuously generate new Spirit Stones while being mined. It''s said that each of the six major Sects controls arge Spirit Stone vein, which serves as the foundation for their sustained development.


    Withinrge Spirit Veins, besides medium-grade Spirit Stones, there''s a chance of encountering high-grade Spirit Stones. High-grade Spirit Stones contain an immense amount of Spiritual Energy; one high-grade Spirit Stone is equivalent to ten thousand medium-grade ones.


    High-grade Spirit Stones are used to assist Golden Core cultivators in their practice and possess excellent effects, especially for Foundation Building and Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    Due to the scarcity of third-tier Spiritual Objects, items that aid in cultivation are essential for Golden Core cultivators. Anyone in possession of high-grade Spirit Stones either keeps them secretly for personal use or presents them to Golden Core cultivators; otherwise, it could be dangerous.


    As for superrge Spirit Stone veins, they are merely legends with records found in ancient texts. During ancient times, there were many superrge spirit ores, but most were destroyed in battles. Coupled with the inadequate Spirit Qi to nourish these veins, they gradually disappeared.


    The medium-grade Spirit Stone vein in the Boundary Mountain Range holds enough value to establish a medium-sized power.


    If the information is true, there will undoubtedly be fiercepetition, and who knows how many will lose their lives in the process.


    "Be cautious. The Demon n is mostly physically powerful and prefers closebat. You better find a Spiritual Weapon suitable for closebat," Wang Hong advised, knowing that Zhang Chunfeng, like himself,cked a suitable Spiritual Weapon for closebat.


    "I''ve made some progress on that recently. I exchanged for two refining tool materials and n to ask a refining tool master for assistance in refinement," Zhang Chunfeng replied.


    Zhang Chunfeng had good luck, obtaining two ore materials each weighing over ten thousand pounds in a recent Foundation Building cultivators'' exchange meeting. Rumor had it that these were spoils from the Demon n; as they weren''t skilled in refining tools, a demonic beast wielded these heavy ores to attack.


    "That''s good. If you run short of Spirit Stones, let me know."


    "Sure, thanks."


    After seeing Zhang Chunfeng off, Wang Hong continued with his Alchemy. Refining this batch of Essence Core Pills further honed his Alchemy skills.


    Refining thirty portions of materials in one furnace, his Pill Sess Rate had reached nearly forty percent. During his time in Jin''an City, consistently offering a forty percent Pill Sess Rate had boosted his reputation.


    Now, more cultivators sought him out for Pill refinement, and he epted all who came.


    Most cultivators usually requested refinement for one or two furnaces, producing two or three Pills. Those like the cultivator who asked for forty portions of Nourishing Essence Pills were a rare few. That cultivator seemed too embarrassed to show his face after being scared off.


    Formon second-tier Pills, Wang Hong couldn''t be bothered to refine them individually. He collected the materials and gave a few Pills directly from his reserve when needed. It might seem like he was operating at a loss, but after deducting Alchemy fees, he wasn''t actually losing much  just earning a bit less in Pills.


    He wasn''t short of Pills at the moment, and saving time was more crucial. With experience umtion, his Pill Sess Rate would continue to improve.


    If someone brought him a Spiritual Herb he didn''t possess, he would diligently refine it one by one. In this method, his Pill Sess Rate had long surpassed fifty percent, allowing him to retain a few extra Pills for himself.


    His true intention in doing this was to attract more people seeking Pill refinement, giving him the chance to encounter rarer Spiritual Herbs.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 185: Python-Serpent Pill

    Chapter 185: Python-Serpent Pill


    In the Cultivation Room, Wang Hong refined three Nourishing Essence Pills. Afterpleting the "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique," he gradually concluded his cultivation.


    Extending his hand, a strand of crimson me appeared at his fingertip. This thin me, only as thick as half a chopstick, was the Spirit Fire cultivated through the "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique."


    Though small, Wang Hong had tested its power. With a defense shield supported by Spiritual Power, it only took a few breaths for the Spirit Fire to burn a hole, albeit a small one.


    At that moment, a Transmission Talisman flew to him and was caught by his outstretched hand. Typically, the arrival of such amunication indicated another customer seeking his services.


    After stowing away the Transmission Talisman, Wang Hong exited the Cultivation Room.


    Inside a guest room at Qingxu Tower, a mid-level Foundation Building cultivator named Qiu Jiulin sat with a deep expression of worry. He was the head of a cultivation family stationed in Jin''an City.


    As Wang Hong entered, Qiu Jiulin''s previous anxiety instantly vanished, reced by his usual confidence andposure, as if the prior worry had never existed.


    "Greetings, fellow cultivator. I am Wang Hong, an Alchemist from Qingxu Tower. May I inquire about the type of Pill refinement you require?" Wang Hong bowed and asked.


    "Have you heard of the Python-Serpent Pill?" Qiu Jiulin inquired. The Python-Serpent Pill was a rtively obscure type, requiring ny-eight Spiritual Herbs, with ten of them being extremely rare. The main ingredient, Dragon Blood Grass, was particrly precious and hade into Qiu Jiulin''s possession through a stroke of luck.


    Due to the rarity of the required Spiritual Herbs, many Alchemists had never attempted to refine this Pill. Qiu Jiulin hesitated to entrust it to just anyone, fearing that a failed refinement would make it challenging to find a second set of Spiritual Herbs.


    "The Python-Serpent Pill? I do have some experience with it," Wang Hong replied with a hint of surprise. The Dragon Blood Grass, the primary herb for the Python-Serpent Pill, happened to be something he had been diligently searching for without sess.


    Unexpectedly, an opportunity had presented itself today, and he had to make sure to keep Qiu Jiulin interested.


    "So, fellow cultivator, you''ve refined the Python-Serpent Pill before. That''s excellent news!" Qiu Jiulin said with excitement.


    Wang Hong smiled without saying a word, portraying an air of mysterious depth.


    In truth, Wang Hong had never refined this particr Pill. He imed to have experience but never explicitly stated that he had sessfully refined it. Having studied Pills for many years, he felt confident in handling almost any type.


    He wasn''t entirely bluffing, and for a second-tier Pill like the Python-Serpent Pill, he estimated a sess rate of around twenty to thirty percent for a first attempt.


    "I wonder about the Pill Sess Rate for refining the Python-Serpent Pill?" Qiu Jiulin asked hopefully.


    "I cannot guarantee that. As you know, unforeseen events can ur. However, I can assure you of one thing: if the Pill Sess Rate is less than thirty percent, I won''t charge any refinement fees."


    Typically, when Alchemists assisted in Pill refinement, even for a single pill, they would ask for a share of the benefits. Wang Hong''s offer was already quite tempting, and it showcased his confidence. Qiu Jiulin couldn''t help but be intrigued.


    He had previously approached several Alchemists, none of whom had experience in refining the Python-Serpent Pill. At least this cultivator had some experience.


    "In that case, I entrust you with this task," Qiu Jiulin said, handing over a Storage Bag to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong inspected its contents, ensuring the Spiritual Herbs were in order. After a thorough check, an agreement was reached to return in ten days to collect the Pill.


    Taking the materials back with him, Wang Hong nted the few types of Spiritual Herbs hecked in his personal Space, nurturing them to maturity. Among the harvest were three rare Spiritual Herbs, especially the Dragon Blood Grass, a crucial auxiliary herb for his cultivation of the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique."


    His progress in the technique had been slow, still at the introductory stage of the firstyer of skin cultivation. With the acquisition of the Dragon Blood Grass, his advancement in the technique would elerate considerably after a few more years of cultivation.


    Next, he ground a bit of powder from each type of Spiritual Herb required for the Python-Serpent Pill, familiarizing himself with the properties of each.


    Determined to do his best, Wang Hong spent five days understanding the properties of each herb. Then, he sat quietly for another day, meticulously contemting every detail to ensure nothing went wrong.


    Although failures weremon in the Alchemy world, especially for first attempts at refining a second-tier Pill, Wang Hong was backed by Qingxu Sect, and any objections from the client could be easily handled.


    However, he preferred not to make things look too ugly. Since he had already gained benefits, he aimed to produce several Pills for the client.


    After simting and rehearsing the process in his mind several times, he began the Alchemy process.


    With careful preparation, the Alchemy process went smoothly, taking just over two hours to produce the Python-Serpent Pill.


    His previous efforts weren''t in vain, and the oue pleased him. A burst of good fortune resulted in four Python-Serpent Pills, an impressive feat for his first attempt at refining this Pill.


    On the tenth day, Qiu Jiulin arrived to collect the Pills. Wang Hong handed him two Python-Serpent Pills, stating that only three were sessfully refined, and he deducted one as the refinement fee.


    Qiu Jiulin joyfully received the Pills, praising Wang Hong''s Alchemy skills.


    Second-tier Alchemists generally had a lower Pill Sess Ratepared to first-tier Alchemists, who could achieve a fifty percent sess rate or more. This was due to the scarcity of second-tier Spiritual Herbs, leading to fewer opportunities for Alchemy. Wang Hong''s cautious approach was well-founded.


    Within the Qingxu Sect, there were many experts with a Pill Sess Rate of over fifty percent, but they were usually dedicated to refining rare Pills, such as Foundation Establishment Pills. Newly promoted second-tier Alchemists were often sent out to contribute to the Cultivation World''s Alchemy while cultivating their own Disciples using other people''s Spiritual Herbs.


    Two monthster, Zhang Chunfeng visited Wang Hong with some news. The earlier rumors about the Demon n discovering a medium-sized Spirit Stone vein in the Boundary Mountain Range were true. Numerous first and second-tier Demon n members were stationed there, fortifying defenses and formations for a prolonged stay.


    The situation was critical; if the Demon n could establish a stronghold in the Boundary Mountain Range, especially using the Spirit Stone vein as a foundation, it would be highly detrimental to the human race.


    After consultations among the leaders of Jin''an City, a decision was made to use the most formidable force to seize the Spirit Stone vein. At least, they aimed to disrupt the Demon n''s defensive formations.


    Jin''an City had ten Golden Core cultivators, and six of them would participate in this mission. Out of the over two thousand Foundation Building cultivators in the city, only five hundred would stay behind, while the rest would be sent out to join the battle for the Spirit Stone vein.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 186: Spirit Energy Cannon

    Chapter 186: Spirit Energy Cannon


    On this day, six massive Flying Boats soared out from Jin''an City. These boats, each stretching around forty to fifty zhang in length and fifteen to sixteen zhang in width, were equipped with a peculiar weaponry known as the Spirit Energy Cannon.


    Mounted on every Flying Boat were numerous Spirit Energy Cannons, with over ten on each side resembling the tusks of ferocious beasts. This Spirit Energy Cannon could be controlled even by Qi Cultivation stage cultivators by simply infusing it with Spirit Stones.


    Despite being manageable by Qi Cultivation practitioners, its power rivaled that of a mid-level Foundation Building cultivator, boasting an impressive range. However, every advantagees with drawbacks, and this Spirit Energy Cannon was no exception. It consumed Spirit Stones at an rming rate, requiring ten thousand Spirit Stones for each shot.


    Another w was its low uracy. The Spirit Energy Cannon couldn''t be targeted using Divine Sense, making it challenging to aim precisely or lock onto a target. Dodging the attacks was a viable strategy for the opponents.


    Therefore, these Spirit Energy Cannons truly excelled only inrge-scale battles when deployed in significant numbers. Each giant vessel was manned by a Golden Core cultivator, carrying two to three hundred Foundation Building cultivators and over a hundred Qi Cultivation practitioners.


    Qi Cultivation Disciples were responsible for misceneous tasks on the Flying Boats and operating the Spirit Energy Cannons. Due to the swift nature of this mission, only a limited number of Qi Cultivation practitioners were brought along. The six Flying Boats were a considerable investment, representing the entirety of Jin''an City''s assets.


    Including ten thousand Qi Cultivation Disciples as cannon fodder would significantly slow down the procession, providing ample time for the Demon n to prepare. Zhang Chunfeng stood on one of the Flying Boats with fellow disciples from the Qingxu Sect. Various factions naturally gathered their forces together for mutual support.


    In a specific location within the Boundary Mountain Range, seven tall Stone Towers were constructed using colossal stones, interconnected by walls still under construction. Many Demonic Beasts moved in and out, carrying massive stone blocks on their backs. Among them were humans, some involved in construction, while others arranged formations.


    These humans were considered pets of the Demon n, utilized for tasks like wall construction and formation arrangements where the Demon n fell shortpared to humans. This coboration proved more advantageous than simply ughtering them for meat.


    At this moment, six ck dots appeared in the distance. On top of one Stone Tower, a humanoid Demonic Beast stood upright, gazing in the direction of the dots.


    "Roar! Ahh!"


    In their uniquenguage, the Demonic Beast issued a warning. Some Demon n members understood and immediately started fleeing, while others, confused, took a moment toprehend.


    "Squeak! Ribbit! Wail!"


    Various beastly roars echoed from different directions, helping the Demonic Beasts understand the situation. They swiftly climbed the unfinished walls, vignt and alert.


    Simultaneously, the iplete formation activated, creating arge protective shield covering the walls and stone structures.


    In the West Zhou Demon Realm, each Demonic Beast tribe had its uniquenguage, makingmunication between different species challenging. Previous attempts to unify the Demon n''snguage were unsessful, as most Demonic Beasts were unwilling to learn and use other races''nguages.


    Teaching a cow to meow, a frog to growl like a bear, or an eagle to howl like a wolf indeed posed considerable difficulties.


    By the end, thenguage of the human race had be the most widely used in the West Zhou Demon Realm. This was because almost every tribe kept human pets, and the most convenient way tomunicate with them was to master the humannguage, or at least understand it, even if they couldn''t speak it.


    On the Flying Boat, several Foundation Building cultivators were scrutinizing the walls and formations built by the Demon n.


    "Shang, as a formation master, what do you think of this Demon n formation?" a gray-robed cultivator asked a red-faced, ck-bearded cultivator beside him.


    "Haha! Brother Li, you tter me. I''ve only just reached the second tier as a formation master. My experience and strength are stillcking. But this Seven-Star Protection Array is extremely crude, full of loopholes," the red-faced cultivator said, stroking his long beard with a smile.


    "Haha! It''s just a deception by these beasts. We''ll surely defeat them in no time," a young cultivatorughed.


    "Young Junior, don''t underestimate them. The Demon n has stood against our human race for centuries, and they even hold an advantageous position. They must have extraordinary capabilities," cautioned a more mature-looking middle-aged cultivator.


    "Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother!" the young cultivator quickly expressed his gratitude.


    As the Flying Boat approached the Demon n''s constructed city, several three-tier Demonic Beasts on the Stone Tower roared at the oing vessel. Upon the order of the Golden Core cultivator on the Flying Boat, dozens of Spirit Energy Cannons aimed at the city.


    With anothermand, each Spirit Energy Cannon shot a beam of light towards the same spot on the city wall, creating a massive hole in both the formation and the wall.


    The Demon n was not known for being benevolent, and being attacked wasn''t their style. A furious roar echoed from the Demon n''s camp, signaling a retaliation.


    Demonic Beasts of all kinds, flying and crawling, charged towards the Flying Boat. Simultaneously, Foundation Building cultivators on the Flying Boat leaped into action, engaging in a chaotic battle with the Demon n.


    Zhang Chunfeng raised a shield to protect himself, deflecting various attacks from all directions. The battlefield was fraught with peril, and one could be identally injured by apanion.


    A Flying Sword flew from his hand, aiming for the head of an early-stage three-tier bear-shaped Demonic Beast. The beast swatted the sword away with a single paw and roared, charging at Zhang Chunfeng.


    The monstrous bear, towering and robust, swung its meaty paws at Zhang Chunfeng. Unable to retrieve his shield in time, he quickly raised his arm to block the attack. The impact made his arm numb, forcing him to step back involuntarily.


    Ignoring the Flying Sword knocked aside earlier, he drew a Mountain-splitting Greataxe and swung it towards the bear''s head. This axe, refined using two recently acquired spirit ores, was a lower-grade Spiritual Weapon, weighing thirty thousand jin. Even for Zhang Chunfeng''s current strength, wielding such a massive axe was a bit challenging.


    However, Wang Hong had provided him with numerous Essence Core Pills. After consuming them all andbining the effects with his cultivation, he anticipated reaching a strength of one hundred thousand jin. At that point, using the greataxe should be much easier.


    Exerting all his strength, Zhang Chunfeng swung the greataxe with a whooshing sound, aiming for the bear''s head.


    While the Demon n was physically robust, they hadn''t yet reached the point of directly facing a Magical Weapon with their heads. The bear hastily withdrew its arm to block the iing axe.


    Given the bear''s experience, in a direct confrontation with a human cultivator, as long as it closed the distance, the human would be at its mercy.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 187: Occupying the Vein

    Chapter 187: upying the Vein


    In the urgency of the moment, the Demon Bear retracted its forelimb, blocking the massive axe strike from Zhang Chunfeng. As the axe de collided with its forelimb, a substantial bear paw fell to the ground.


    Zhang Chunfeng withdrew hisrge axe, gathered his strength again, and with the Demon Bear now missing a forelimb, it roared in pain. Seizing the opportunity, it opened its mouth to bite at Zhang Chunfeng''s neck.


    Reacting swiftly, Zhang Chunfeng, now re-energized, swung hisrge axe from below at an oblique angle as the Demon Bear lunged at him once more.


    In an instant, the Demon Bear''s body was cleaved into two sections, crashing to the ground.


    With just three or four moves, Zhang Chunfeng had already in his opponent.


    The Demon n was originally known for its formidable physical strength, often putting humans at a disadvantage in closebat. However, Zhang Chunfeng''s physical strength now matched that of the Demon n, allowing him to engage in hand-to-handbat. Moreover, wielding a weapon, he far surpassed the Demonic Beasts that relied on fangs and sharp ws.


    The battle continued, with two more Demonic Beasts targeting him. In haste, Zhang Chunfeng picked up the severed bear paw, thinking it would make a delicious treat for Wang Hong.


    At this moment, water arrows and wind des shot towards him, but he deftly blocked them with his shield.


    On the battlefield, the human forces held the upper hand in terms of numbers at the Foundation Building level. Though there were casualties, more Demon n members were being cut down.


    Having conducted detailed reconnaissance before the battle, Jin''an City had a clear advantage, knowing their enemies well.


    The Demon n was in full retreat, falling back towards the city walls.


    Taking advantage of the situation, human cultivators pursued from behind, while flying on the Flying Boat in the sky, dozens of Spirit Energy Cannons once again attacked the city walls.


    Suddenly, arge ck bird emerged from a Stone Tower, its wings spanning five yards, flying towards the giant boat.


    "A three-tier Iron Feathered Eagle!"


    Someone in the crowd recognized it and eximed. People, regardless of their ongoing battles, fled in panic.


    The three-tier Iron Feathered Eagle was on par with a Golden Core cultivator. If caught in the shockwaves of a battle with a Golden Core cultivator, even if not killed, they would be severely injured.


    Seeing everyone flee, Zhang Chunfeng naturally followed suit.


    The Iron Feathered Eagle had not fully approached yet, but the pressure it emitted made it difficult for those inbat, both human and demonic, forcing them to temporarily cease fighting.


    As for the Qi Cultivation Disciples on the Flying Boat, they were the first to bear the brunt. Many disciples were bleeding from their noses and mouths, and some had already copsed.


    The Iron Feathered Eagle flew in the sky, releasing a feather that shot out like a sharp arrow towards one of the Flying Boats.


    After reaching the third tier, Demon n members could refine a part of their bodies into a Lifebound Magical Treasure simr to a Golden Core cultivator.


    The feather shot by the Iron Feathered Eagle was its lifebound feather, refined and nurtured over hundreds of years, its power rivaling a cultivator''s refined magical treasure.


    At this moment, from the besieged Flying Boat, a figure in fiery red emerged. Surprisingly, it was a female cultivator adorned in a long crimson dress with me patterns.


    With delicate jade-like hands extended, she released a red streak of light, meeting the iing feather with precision.


    "Boom!"


    The red streak shed with the feather in mid-air, creating sparks. As it turned out, the red streak was a red Flying Sword.


    Subsequently, the Flying Sword and the feather entangled in a high-altitude struggle, attacking each other fiercely.


    Though both seemed rtively small, they emanated immense power. Every collision sent shockwaves resonating through the ground below.


    Separated by dozens of yards, the human and the demonicbatants manipted their treasures in a prolonged battle.


    The ongoing struggle affected the onlookers below, Foundation Building cultivators, with the dispersed shockwaves causing dizziness and nausea.


    Just then, the woman in the red dress opened her small mouth, and a ball of mes shot out from it.


    Upon its release, the temperature in the vicinity skyrocketed. Even Zhang Chunfeng, standing a hundred yards away, could feel the intense heat, instinctively taking a few steps back.


    With this level of fire intensity, a mere touch could turn anything into ashes.


    The ball of mes immediately joined the battlefield. Most feather-type treasures dreaded fire, being inherently weaker against me-type treasures.


    The me, beside the Iron Feathered Eagle''s lifebound feather, flickered for a moment, then elerated towards the eagle.


    In response, the eagle quickly released several feathers to block, simultaneously surveying its surroundings for the best escape route.


    Though these feathers had been refined by the Iron Feathered Eagle, they were far from the level of treasures. Upon contact with the mes, they ignited in the air.


    ming feathers scattered, and fire danced, sparks falling to the ground triggered an instant ze, causing those below, both humans and Demonic Beasts, to flee in panic.


    Soon, these feathers were burning out, their spiritual energy depleting rapidly.


    Seeing the unfavorable situation, the Iron Feathered Eagle turned and fled. It feared that in a little while, it might be a roasted Iron Feathered Eagle.


    Witnessing the eagle''s retreat, the Golden Core cultivators in the rear shouted.


    Then, the Spirit Energy Cannons on the Flying Boat began to bombard the crude city walls, creating holes in them.


    Foundation Building cultivators rushed through the openings onto the city walls, chasing the retreating Demon n.


    The fleeing Demon n employed various methodssome burrowed underground, some flew into the air, while others ran on the ground. Pursuing them proved to be quite challenging.


    Seeing the situation unfold, the few remaining third-tier Demonic Beasts in the area also fled.


    The Golden Core cultivators from Jin''an City decided not to pursue further. While battling within the same tier provided a chance to defeat opponents, killing them outright was difficult.


    Their objective was to upy the Spirit Stone vein, and with that achieved, they had no intention of escting the conflict.


    Having sessfully captured the Spirit Stone vein, the group entered the mine. Some were genuinely curious, while most harbored intentions of casually taking a few Spirit Stones.


    However, to their disappointment, the Demon n had damaged the mining tunnels. Reopening them would require time and effort.


    Jin''an City''s forces had sent out the majority of their Foundation Building cultivators for the Spirit Vein assault, leaving only five hundred defenders within the city.


    Wang Hong, too, had been assigned a task. d in the uniform of a city guard, he led a group of Qi Cultivation cultivators to patrol a section of the city wall.


    Unbeknownst to everyone, Demonic Beasts from the Boundary Mountain Range were quietly converging on Jin''an City from all directions.


    Due to the shortage of manpower, patrols around the city had been temporarily suspended, allowing Demonic Beasts to approach undetected.


    As a result, the Demonic Beasts gradually neared Jin''an City, while the city remained oblivious to the impending danger.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 188: Demonic Beast Assault on the City

    Chapter 188: Demonic Beast Assault on the City


    Wang Hong was patrolling when he suddenly felt the ground tremble. The vibrations grew stronger, resembling the thunderous charge of a massive army.


    Wang Hong''s expression changed; having led troops in numerous battles, he was familiar with such tremors.


    Simultaneously, urgent bell tolls echoed within the city, and four figures ascended from the city, soaring into the sky.


    These were the four Golden Core cultivators stationed in the city. As the source of the tremors extended beyond the range of their Divine Sense, they could only ascend to the skies to observe with their naked eyes.


    From the direction of the Boundary Mountain Range, a dense horde of Demonic Beasts emerged, countless and overwhelming.


    The four Golden Core cultivators gathered in the air, and a middle-aged man in white spoke, "Fellow Daoist Zhao, Fellow Daoist Ning, Fellow Daoist Yun, judging by the situation, it seems to be an inevitable Beast Tide. Do you have any strategies to counter it?"


    "With the city currently vulnerable, we may not be able to hold out for long. There''s a risk of the city falling and lives being lost. The immediate priority is to contact those who are seizing control of the Spirit Stone mines and have them rush back for reinforcement," said the Golden Core cultivator surnamed Zhao.


    "Our reinforcements might not make it in time. It will take at least two days for them to return, and that''s in an ideal situation. If they encounter interference from the Demon n, the time required could be even more unpredictable," the Golden Core cultivator surnamed Ning pondered.


    "Fear is inevitable now. If we wait, we might lose Jin''an City before our people arrive. Currently, there are only five hundred Foundation Building cultivators left in the city, and they are not skilled inbat. They are mostly shopkeepers, alchemists, tool refiners, and spirit meal practitioners," the cultivator surnamed Yun spoke.


    As he spoke, the Demonic Beasts drew closer. At this point, the Golden Core cultivators could observe the specific details of the beasts with their Divine Sense.


    There were ten third-tier Demonic Beasts, three thousand second-tier Demonic Beasts, and no less than three hundred thousand first-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Comparing this force to Jin''an City''s strengthfour Golden Core cultivators, five hundred Foundation Building cultivators, and over forty thousand Qi Cultivation practitionersthe most terrifying were not the three hundred thousand first-tier Demonic Beasts but the ten third-tier ones.


    First-tier Demonic Beasts would find it challenging to breach Jin''an City''s walls and protective formations. By relying on the city walls and formations, there was still a possibility of defending Jin''an City by continuously killing them.


    However, the real threaty in the ten third-tier Demonic Beasts. With Jin''an City''s current strength, they could only hold off four, leaving the other six tobine forces with the three thousand second-tier Demonic Beasts. If they relentlessly attacked the protective formation, it would be difficult to withstand for more than two days.


    At this moment, the faces of the Golden Core cultivators turned grim. Facing enemies several times their strength, even with their Golden Core cultivation level, if they were carelessly surrounded by several Demonic Beasts, there was a risk of falling.


    "Given the current situation, defense is absolutely impossible. It''s just a matter of how long we can hold on. But defending the city is doomed to fail, and the duration of the defense is meaningless," the first cultivator in white said somewhat despondently.


    "With the city destined to fall, and under the siege of Demonic Beasts, only a few will survive breaking through. Perhaps one in ten. We might as well organize the city cultivators to scatter from Jin''an City while the Demonic Beasts haven''t fully converged," suggested the cultivator in white.


    "Although Fellow Daoist Zhou''s suggestion is reasonable, abandoning the city now and being pursued by the Demon n from behind would lead to substantial casualties as well," said the Golden Core cultivator surnamed Zhao.


    "But wouldn''t it be much better than breaking through the Demon n''s siege? After all, more people are likely to survive," argued the cultivator named Zhou in white.


    "But, Fellow Daoist Zhou, have you considered this? If we abandon the city today and those who died in battle are counted against us, people might think that we, the four, are greedy for life and fear death, leading the escape at the sight of the Demon n attacking the city, disregarding the deaths of many low-tier cultivators. If we lead the low-tier cultivators in defending the city until it falls, and then break through the siege, even though there will be countless casualties, it won''t be solely our responsibility," said the Golden Core cultivator named Ning.


    "I also agree with Fellow Daoist Ning''s point. If we lead a group of low-tier cultivators in a desperate defense, we might at least inflict some damage on the Demonic Beasts. Leaving these Demonic Beasts alive will cause trouble for the Cultivation World in the future," the cultivator named Zhao said.


    While Zhao agreed with defending the city, he believed it was more advantageous to harm more Demonic Beasts.


    At this point, the cultivator named Yun also spoke, "I also agree to defend the city. At the same time, we should send a message to our friends seizing the Spirit Vein, informing them of the situation here. Whether they choose to reinforce or not is up to them. What if we can hold on until the main force arrives?"


    Yun still held a glimmer of hope. After all, they couldn''t decide whether the reinforcements woulde or not. Since both sides were in an equal rtionship, he could only suggest letting the other side decide, making it sound more agreeable.


    With three out of four Golden Core cultivators agreeing to defend the city, that became the unanimous decision.


    They then stationed themselves in the four directionseast, south, west, and northand organized the Foundation Building and Qi Cultivation cultivators to defend the city.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong, standing on the city wall, watched the approaching tide of Demonic Beasts. Despite having witnessed numerousrge-scale scenes, he couldn''t help but feel a bit nervous.


    The city was currently empty, and the gap in strength between the two sides was too significant, leaving no chance of victory.


    As a mere foot soldier, leading these Qi Cultivation cultivators, who were unfamiliar with each other andcked coordination and trust, added to the challenge.


    At this moment, a Daoist Master flew to the sky above the city, apanied by a strong Golden Core pressure.


    "All of you, defend the city walls, await reinforcements, and don''t make mistakes. Once the walls are breached, everyone has only one pathdeath," the Golden Core cultivator named Zhao shouted loudly from the air.


    Upon hearing the voice of the Golden Core cultivator, everyone rallied, finding their backbone.


    Just then, a massive light screen rose from the city walls, enveloping the entire city. This was Jin''an City''s protective formation.


    The formation required a considerable amount of Spirit Stones to operate and was usually dormant. There was a central hub in the city guarded by a team of Foundation Building cultivators, and arge group of over a hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators was responsible for recing the Spirit Stones.


    At this moment, the city''s streets were deserted, with all the civilians assigned to participate in the city''s defense posted on the walls.


    Wang Hong''s patrol team, originally consisting of twenty people, had now increased to eighty.


    The segment of the city wall they were defending was only ten yards long. If all eighty people crowded onto it, each person would have just over a foot of space, making it quite cramped.


    He divided the eighty people into two groups, A and B, taking turns to guard the wall. Currently, each group was assigned to fight for an hour before resting and letting the other group take over.


    After all, they were only Qi Cultivation cultivators. Even fighting for an hour was a tiring task. Fatigue could lead to increased casualties, so rotating was essential.


    Each group of forty was further divided into two teams. One team of thirty was responsible for the front-line defense, while the other team of ten provided support and assistance.


    Additionally, on this section of the city wall, there was a Spirit Energy Cannon, a powerful weapon that Wang Hong had only heard about but never witnessed in action.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 189: City Defense

    Chapter 189: City Defense


    The ground tremors intensified as the tide of Demonic Beasts approached. The colossal noise, the quivering earth, and the relentless momentum of the Beast Tide created an overwhelming sense of pressure.


    Wang Hong stood atop the city wall, silently observing the encroaching Beast Tide. Two hundred zhang, one hundred zhang, fifty zhang, thirty zhang...


    Wang Hong drew a ckrge bow, a gift from the assassin Shadow Kill in the past.


    At the forefront were not the fastest Demonic Beasts but rather the bulky ones withrger bodies, greater strength, and formidable defenses.


    The swifter Demonic Beasts were generally smaller in size and weaker in strength, making them less effective as cannon fodder at the front lines.


    Wang Hong, holding the longbow, aimed at the leading two-tier Iron Armor Rhino.


    In front of the section of the city wall he defended, there were Demonic Beasts from the Iron Armor Rhino n, with this particr Iron Armor Rhino having the highest cultivation level.


    Capturing the leader first, Wang Hong aimed to eliminate this mid-grade two-tier Iron Armor Rhino first. This way, dealing with the remaining one-tier Demonic Beasts would be much easier.


    Infusing his Spiritual Power into the ckrge bow, an arrow immediately formed on the bow, shooting towards the leading Iron Armor Rhino.


    A swift "whoosh," the arrow formed from condensed Spiritual Power hit the Iron Armor Rhino''s head, creating a bloody hole but not proving fatal.


    Due to its robust defense, especially in the vital head area covered by a solid bone armor, the Iron Armor Rhino survived the attack. Additionally, the bone armor could serve as excellent material for refining tools.


    Wang Hong conjured another arrow with his Spiritual Power whilemanding several Qi Cultivation cultivators to operate the Spirit Energy Cannon, attacking the two-tier Iron Armor Rhino together.


    By this time, the horde had reached the base of the city wall. The Iron Armor Rhinos elerated towards the wall, causing the protective Light Screen to shake.


    Seizing the opportunity, Wang Hong once again shot an arrow formed with Spiritual Power at the two-tier Iron Armor Rhino, while the Spirit Energy Cannon''s beam also struck its head.


    Despite thebined assault from Wang Hong and the Spirit Energy Cannon, the mid-grade two-tier Iron Armor Rhino did not sumb. Its head took two hits, leaving it a bit dizzy, but it continued attacking the wall alongside other Demonic Beasts.


    Among Demonic Beasts, Iron Armor Rhinos had lower intelligence. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have been sent as cannon fodder, let alone fight so valiantly.


    At this point, the Beast Tide had reached the base of the city wall. It split into two groups, maneuvering along the wall and converging from both sides topletely besiege Jin''an City. Then, they attacked the city''s defensive Large Formation from various directions.


    In just a brief moment, at the core of the city''s Large Formation, the cultivators responsible for changing Spirit Stones had reced a batch, consuming over ten thousand Spirit Stones.


    The Qi Cultivation cultivators in charge of the Spirit Stones exchange felt aching hearts. They had never seen such a vast quantity of Spirit Stones consumed in such a short time.


    The two-tier Iron Armor Rhino attacking Wang Hong''s section of the wall, after enduring several rounds of attacks, had its head thoroughly battered. What was once a pristine piece of refining tool material was now unusable.


    Finally, this Iron Armor Rhino couldn''t withstand any longer, and its two-zhang-tall body copsed to the ground, crushing two one-tier Iron Armor Rhinos in the process.


    At this moment, other Qi Cultivation cultivators also began ughtering the Demonic Beasts below the wall. Protected by the defensive Large Formation, they only needed to focus on killing the Demonic Beasts without worrying about their own safety.


    They usually directly summoned attack Magical Weapons to strike at the Demonic Beasts below.


    However, the Divine Sense of Qi Cultivation cultivators typically doesn''t extend beyond twenty zhang, and with the city wall being twenty zhang high, their uracy significantly dropped.


    Despite the multitude of Iron Armor Rhinos crowding below, hitting a Demonic Beast''s rear and hitting its head would yield different results.


    Facing the densely packed one-tier Demonic Beasts below, the Qi Cultivation cultivators'' efficiency in killing them was still too low. They often needed more than ten strikes to kill a one-tier Iron Armor Rhino of the same rank.


    After dealing with the two-tier Iron Armor Rhino, Wang Hong once again used his bow and arrows to kill the one-tier Demonic Beasts below, each arrow striking down one.


    However, for someone like him with a Foundation Building cultivation level, consecutive killing of one-tier Demonic Beasts wasn''t limitless.


    After firing more than three hundred arrows continuously, his Spiritual Power waspletely depleted, even with his deeper cultivation levelpared to those of the same rank.


    The Qi Cultivation cultivators beside him had long exhausted their Spiritual Energy, their faces pale as they held Spirit Stones, desperately absorbing the Spiritual Energy within to replenish their spent resources.


    Originally nning to change shifts after an hour, the situation had already deteriorated before the designated time arrived.


    They had no choice but to bring in another group early, while the exhausted group rested behind the city wall to recover their Spiritual Energy.


    In fact, most of these Qi Cultivation cultivators had some Spirit Wine for replenishing Spiritual Energy. After all, one-tier Spirit Wine was still essible, and everyone tended to keep some as a precaution. It''s just that they hadn''t reached a genuinely critical situation yet, so they hesitated to use it.


    Wang Hong surveyed the bodies of the Demonic Beasts below the city wall. In nearly an hour, he had killed over six hundred one-tier Demonic Beasts in his section.


    He had personally killed over three hundred, and the forty Qi Cultivation cultivators had killed nearly three hundred as well.


    If everyone could maintain this pace, the hundreds of thousands of Demonic Beasts in this Beast Tide could be wiped out in just over a day.


    However, the ounts didn''t add up that way. After this round, everyone had depleted their Spiritual Energy and Spiritual Power, which couldn''t be restored in just an hour.


    Especially for Foundation Building cultivators whose Spiritual Power was exhausted, it would take at least half a day of Meditation to recover.


    Wang Hong took a few sips of Spirit Wine, rapidly restoring his Spiritual Power. He picked up his longbow once again and began shooting the Demonic Beasts below.


    On other sections of the city wall, Foundation Building cultivators had made some initial attacks in the first round but hadn''t struck again.


    After all, their Spiritual Power recovery was too slow, and there was no need to waste it on cannon fodder. The two-tier Demonic Beasts hadn''t appeared prominently yet, which were the ones Foundation Building cultivators needed to deal with.


    Wang Hong''s Qi Cultivation cultivators had changed shifts twice by now. Each group could only endure for a short half-hour before their Spiritual Energy was depleted, and the number of Demonic Beasts they could kill gradually decreased.


    Wang Hong didn''t intervene anymore. At this point, all Foundation Building cultivators had refrained from killing one-tier Demonic Beasts again. Wang Hong doing it alone would attract too much attention, and with his sole strength, killing a few hundred one-tier Demonic Beasts wouldn''t contribute significantly to the overall situation.


    The Demonic Beast siege continued for five to six hours, entering the dark night. The Qi Cultivation cultivators defending the city wall were weary, some Foundation Building cultivators had depleted their Spiritual Power and were now in Meditation, aiming to recover as quickly as possible.


    During this time, Wang Hong once again made a move, killing a two-tier Demonic Beast.


    But as night fell, many Demonic Beasts became more active.


    At this time, the main force attacking the city had switched to a type of Giant Lizard covered in tough scales.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 190: Rescue

    Chapter 190: Rescue


    Within the Boundary Mountain Range, despite the cultivation sects of Jin''an City having control over the Spirit Stone veins, tranquility eluded them.


    The Demonic Beasts they had previously defeated and driven away would frequently return, employing various methods to harass and attack them, leaving them in constant vignce.


    The newly acquired Spirit Stone veins couldn''t be mined immediately due to ack of manpower, and they had to construct defensive structures. The crude walls and formations previously built by the Demon n were unusable.


    All of this required manpower and resources mobilized from Jin''an City. However, news arrived that the Demon n hadunched a Beast Tide to attack Jin''an City, cutting off their crucial support.


    Although Jin''an City''s main forces were concentrated here, losing the follow-up support from the city meant they were left isted, struggling to gather the necessary materials even for setting up defensive formations.


    Without the ability to build a city or deploy formations, they would be vulnerable to constant harassment from Demonic Beasts. If Jin''an City fell to the Demonic Beasts and another Beast Tide was unleashed, even low-tier Demonic Beasts could overwhelm them.


    No one knew when the Demon n had produced such a cunning strategist, who could easily manipte the fate of Jin''an City with a few simple steps.


    At this moment, six Golden Core cultivators gathered to discuss whether they should go back for reinforcements.


    "Everyone, we''ve been outyed by the Demon n this time. The current situation is clear to all. What do you think is the best course of action? Should we go back and reinforce Jin''an City?" a cultivator named Xiao asked.


    "I believe we must save Jin''an City. There are significant resources still stored there, which we urgently need. Moreover, even though we''ve seized the Spirit Stone veins here, we still need arge workforce. With just over two thousand people, it''s challenging to manage this ce effectively," a cultivator named Yao, with white hair, spoke.


    "Though what Senior Yao said makes sense, even if we rush back now, we might not necessarily save Jin''an City. If Jin''an City doesn''t receive reinforcements, we risk losing both the Spirit Stone veins we''ve gained and our forces," another cultivator named Shao expressed a differing opinion.


    "But if Jin''an City falls, we''ll struggle to preserve this ce, and we can''t afford to lose here. Why not send a portion of our forces for reinforcement? If we can break the siege of Demonic Beasts around the city, that''s the best oue. Even if not, we can assist those breaking through and save some people," a cultivator from the Qingxu Sect named Song suggested after wiping his mouth.


    "The idea is good, but who should go now?" a cultivator named Wang questioned.


    Everyone remained silent, knowing the dangers involved. In the end, they all looked at Daoist Song.


    "Alright! Since I proposed it, I''ll be the one to go."


    With the n settled, the six dispersed.


    Daoist Song then gathered all Foundation Building cultivators.


    "I am Song Wei from Qingxu Sect. Jin''an City is currently under attack by a Beast Tide, and urgent reinforcements are needed. This is a voluntary mission. Those willing to join me,e forward and register. Time is of the essence, and we have the duration of an incense stick to decide."


    The Foundation Building cultivators below erupted in discussions.


    "I''m willing to follow Senior Brother Song for the rescue," Zhang Chunfeng stepped forward, the first to register.


    Wang Hong, still besieged in Jin''an City, naturally volunteered.


    "I''m going too!" Kaiyang Peak Elder Brother also emerged. Wang Hong had saved him, and now that Wang Hong was in trouble, he had to go.


    "I''m going; my Dao Companion is still in Jin''an City!" another cultivator stepped forward.


    "Count me in!"


    "I''m going too!"


    "I''m in!"


    ...


    Soon, the number of volunteers reached over three hundred. These individuals all had rtives or friends left in Jin''an City and couldn''t bear to stand idly by.


    Song Wei quickly organized the three hundred volunteers,mandeering a Flying Boat headed towards Jin''an City.


    After covering a distance of just over two hundred li, a dense swarm appeared ahead, apanied by a group of Iron-Feathered Eagles.


    The Iron-Feathered Eagles elerated towards the Flying Boat, with Song Wei standing atop it, shouting, "Attack!"


    The Flying Boat charged straight into the horde of Iron-Feathered Eagles, while simultaneously, three hundred Spiritual Weapons flew out from the Flying Boat, shing towards the surrounding Iron-Feathered Eagles.


    ...


    Meanwhile, atop the walls of Jin''an City, the defending cultivators, after a day of relentless fighting, were exhausted. Wang Hong''s two teams could only endure for about fifteen minutes each time they went into battle before needing recements.


    The efficiency of the battles was extremely low, with an hour of fighting unable to kill a hundred first-tier Demonic Beasts. Wang Hong leaned against the city wall, taking a sip of Spirit Wine. After a whole day ofbat, even with his profound Spiritual Power, it was depleted several times, not to mention the Qi Cultivation cultivators who were consistently on the frontline.


    Even with the protection of the Large Formation, the continuous killing of Demonic Beasts had drained their Spiritual Energy entirely.


    Suddenly, several shadows rose from behind the horde, apanied by a powerful pressure.


    "Third-tier Demonic Beasts!" cried out a cultivator on the city wall.


    Wang Hong, directly across, witnessed a toad about ten feet in size flying into the air.


    "Croak!" With a croak, the Giant Toad spewed a water sphere with a diameter of three feet towards the city wall.


    "Boom!"


    Therge water sphere hit the protective Large Formation, causing the formation to shake violently. Simultaneously, loud crashes echoed from several other directions, signaling attacks on the Large Formation.


    "You fiend! Cease your recklessness!" Zhao, a Golden Core cultivator, flew up from the city wall towards the Giant Toad.


    He wielded a Golden Knife Magic Treasure, around ten feet in size, shing towards the Giant Toad.


    Although the Giant Toad was momentarily restrained, attacks on the Large Formation continued from other directions. It seemed that there were still some third-tier Demonic Beasts free to attack the Large Formation.


    At the same time, numerous second-tier Demonic Beasts appeared in the horde beneath the city wall.


    These second-tier Demonic Beasts charged directly to the base of the city wall, relentlessly attacking the protective Large Formation.


    At the section of the city wall defended by Wang Hong, several second-tier Demonic Beasts appeared, apanied by many first-tier high-grade Demonic Beasts, significantly stronger than the previous cannon fodder.


    Wang Hong took arge gulp of Spirit Wine, stowed away his longbow, and with a flip of his hand, revealed a Golden Seal Spiritual Weapon.


    Tossing the Golden Seal into the air, it expanded to about ten feet in size before crashing heavily onto one of the second-tier Demonic Beasts below.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 191: Formation Broken

    Chapter 191: Formation Broken


    Wang Hong raised the Golden Seal, bringing it down with force. A two-tier demonic ape, towering over a zhang in height, wielded a massive stone club and swept it horizontally towards the Golden Seal.


    With a resounding "bang," the Golden Seal was sent flying several feet away, crashing down and crushing a few first-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Undeterred, Wang Hong lifted the Golden Seal again, infusing it with greater Spiritual Power. The Golden Seal erged once more, descending upon the demonic ape.


    The demonic ape raised its stone club once more, attempting to block the Golden Seal''s descent. The collision generated a tremendous sound, and fine cracks appeared on the stone club.


    As Wang Hong smashed the Golden Seal down again, the stone club shatteredpletely.


    Facing another strike from the Golden Seal, the demonic ape surprisingly countered with a single-handed punch. A sharp "crack" echoed, signifying a broken arm. The demonic ape, disying fear on its ugly face, retreated among the Demonic Beast group.


    Realizing it couldn''t confront the Golden Seal head-on, the demonic ape hastily sought refuge within the swarm of Demonic Beasts.


    Wang Hong, unwilling to let it escape, pursued with the Golden Seal, smashing it down once more. The demonic ape, with only one functional arm remaining, desperately raised it to block the Golden Seal. Another "crack" rang out as the remaining arm was rendered useless.


    As Wang Hong prepared for a final pursuit, arge hole appeared in the formation shield on the adjacent city wall. Over a dozen Demonic Beasts had already infiltrated.


    The city''s Large Formation, already strained by continuous attacks from third-tier Demonic Beasts and precise strikes from second-tier ones, exhibited cracks in the Light Shield. Despite the cracks, the Large Formation quickly healed itself through the cirction of Spiritual Energy.


    This time, however, the cracks were substantial. Over twenty Demonic Beasts managed to prate before the Large Formation repaired itself and closed the breach.


    Among the infiltrating Demonic Beasts, four were second-tier, and the rest were first-tier.


    Once inside the Large Formation, these Demonic Beasts climbed the city wall. Despite the efforts of cultivators defending on the wall, only ten first-tier Demonic Beasts and one second-tier were in. The remaining dozen or so Demonic Beasts reached the top of the wall and attacked the Qi Cultivation cultivators stationed there.


    Chaos ensued in this area as the cultivators on the wall, already at the end of their strength, struggled against the ferocious Demonic Beasts. In a short time, several cultivators fell victim to the beasts.


    While a Foundation Building cultivator engaged one of the second-tier Demonic Beasts, the other two, a six-legged beast covered in scales and a lion-tiger hybrid, targeted Wang Hong. The six-legged beast seized a Qi Cultivation cultivator, tearing them in half with a single motion, while the lion-tiger beast bit into another cultivator''s waist, shaking its head forcefully until the unfortunate cultivator was ripped in two.


    Losing two allies in an instant, Wang Hong had no time to pursue the demonic ape. He wielded the Golden Seal, smashing it towards the six-legged Demonic Beast. Simultaneously, a three-zhang-long rope shot out from his Storage Bag, entwining itself around the lion-tiger beast.


    The lion-tiger beast extended its foreleg to kick at the Binding Spirit Rope, only to have the rope entangle its leg. The Binding Spirit Rope moved like a snake, winding its way up the leg and securely tying a knot.


    With the lion-tiger beast subdued, Wang Hong focused on dealing with the six-legged Demonic Beast, which proved to be much stronger than the earlier demonic ape.


    Its two front legs effortlessly blocked the Golden Seal, showcasing the beast''s ability to withstand the power of a middle-grade Spiritual Weapon with its physical body.


    After blocking a strike, the Demonic Beast swiftly closed in on Wang Hong, relying on its experience to gain an advantage in closebat with humans.


    Unfazed by the approaching Demonic Beast, Wang Hong stood his ground. His current weapon of choice was a massive club, and he swung it at the oing creature.


    The Demonic Beast blocked the attack with its front legs, producing a loud "bang." The tremendous force behind the twenty-thousand-jin club,bined with Wang Hong''s strength, sent the Demonic Beast retreating over twenty zhang.


    Wang Hong swiftly closed the distance and delivered another blow, causing the Demonic Beast to retreat once more. The relentless assault bewildered the Demonic Beast, an experience it had never encountered before.


    Onlookers, including nearby cultivators, were astounded. Who was the true Demonic Beast here? The creature''s resilience surpassed that of typical Demonic Beasts, even rivaling body-refining cultivators.


    Wang Hong''s figure flickered, relentlessly pursuing the bewildered Demonic Beast. After dozens of strikes, the Demonic Beast finally copsed, motionless.


    By this time, the cultivators had already in the remaining first-tier Demonic Beasts that had climbed the city wall.


    The Binding Spirit Rope had nearly subdued the lion-tiger beast, which was now barely clinging to life.


    Wang Hong retracted the Binding Spirit Rope, and its ck surface emitted a faint red glow, having absorbed a considerable amount of demonic energy and essence blood. The absorbed energy could replenish a cultivator''s expended Spiritual Power in a short period, reducing the overall consumption during battle.


    Wang Hong had sessfully killed the two second-tier Demonic Beasts and stored their bodies in his Storage Bag.


    In this brief period, of the eighty individuals he led, five had perished, and several were wounded. The extended battles had drained the Spiritual Energy of the cultivators.


    As time passed, numerous cracks appeared in the formations, allowing Demonic Beasts to breach the defenses regrly. Cultivators from all sections rushed to support and eliminate the intruders beneath the city wall.


    Although fewer Demonic Beasts managed to climb the wallter on, the increased frequency of breaches exhausted the Spiritual Energy of the defending cultivators. Fatigue set in, evident in their pale faces and profuse sweating.


    At this critical juncture, over a dozente Foundation Building cultivators arrived along the city wall. Among them, Wang Hong spotted Shen Jian, the manager of Qingxu Sect in Jin''an City.


    These cultivators distributed small bottles of one-tier Spirit Wine to every cultivator. While not abundant, the Spirit Wine was a lifeline in the current crisis, offering a chance of survival.


    The wine was part of Jin''an City''s umted stockpile, but with tens of thousands to distribute among, each person received only a small amount.


    Several hourster, the frequency ofrge cracks increased, prompting Wang Hong to strike down another second-tier Demonic Beast that had infiltrated the Large Formation.


    Suddenly, a loud roar echoed through the air, causing the entire city to tremble. Apanying this, the city''s Large Formation disintegrated into scattered points of light.


    The city''s Large Formation had been breached!


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 192: Breaking Through

    Chapter 192: Breaking Through


    With a deafening roar, the Large Formation shattered, and countless Demonic Beasts climbed over the city walls.


    The cultivators on the walls fought with all their might, hoping to kill as many Demonic Beasts as possible to slow down their advance.


    If the main force of Jin''an City was still present, they could resist to some extent. Foundation Building cultivators, skilled inbat, could efficiently eliminate some first-tier Demonic Beasts.


    However, with only tens of thousands of exhausted Qi Cultivation cultivators, how could they withstand the onught of hundreds of thousands of ferocious Demonic Beasts?


    Wang Hong fought fiercely against the Demonic Beasts climbing the city walls, but he couldn''t hold them back alone. Demonic Beasts frequently made it onto the walls, causing significant casualties and panic.


    As more and more Demonic Beasts climbed the walls, it became apparent that it was impossible to stop them. Despair filled the faces of countless people.


    While desperately resisting the Demonic Beasts, Wang Hong scanned the surroundings, hoping to find a glimmer of hope. Unfortunately, trapped under the siege of Demonic Beasts, there was no safe ce.


    "All Foundation Building cultivators, lead your Qi Cultivation subordinates to break through towards the west city gate."


    Suddenly, a voice echoed in Wang Hong''s mind. It was the voice of a Golden Core cultivator with the surname Zhao, currently battling a Demonic Beast above the city wall.


    Golden Core cultivators possessed powerful Divine Sense, allowing them to transmit messages to over a hundred people simultaneously.


    Upon hearing the voice, Wang Hong swung his staff, cleaving a first-tier Demonic Beast into two halves beside him. He shouted, "Don''t linger in battle, follow me!"


    At this moment, he couldn''t afford to consider anything else. After a loud roar, he jumped down from the city wall, running along the city streets towards the west wall.


    Whether these Qi Cultivation cultivators could keep up was left to fate. Wang Hong himself was in a precarious situation.


    He wielded the Binding Spirit Rope like a nimble serpent, circling around him. Holding arge staff, he led the way towards the west.


    There were others ahead of him on the road to the west, several groups of cultivators clearing the path. However, asional Demonic Beasts still leaped out,unching attacks.


    Most of these Demonic Beasts were first-tier, easily dispatched with a swing of his staff.


    asionally, a second-tier Demonic Beast appeared. Wang Hong, fearing entanglement, swiftly used the Binding Spirit Rope to entwine the opponent, then delivered a fatal blow.


    Since the Large Formation had recently broken, the number of Demonic Beasts breaching the city wall was still rtively small. Thus, his progress was quite fast.


    Wang Hong advanced with over forty Qi Cultivation cultivators trailing behind. Of the initial eighty, only this group managed to keep up.


    While moving forward, he noticed a group of cultivators blocked by Demonic Beasts up ahead.


    Observing from a distance, Wang Hong recognized the leader as Wu Dayong, the shopkeeper of Qingxu Tower.


    Wu Dayong was currently in a dire situation, entangled by two mid-tier first-tier Demonic Beasts. Several attempts to break free had proven unsessful.


    In the current circumstances, any dy could trap him in the Beast Tide.


    Suddenly, a three-zhang-long ck rope shot out from behind him, swiftly wrapping around one of the second-tier Demonic Beasts like a snake.


    Realizing he had assistance, Wu Dayong was overjoyed. He activated his Spiritual Weapon and attacked the other Demonic Beast.


    His Spiritual Weapon had just reached the airspace above the Demonic Beast when a figure swiftly emerged from his side. With a swing of arge staff, the entwined second-tier Demonic Beast''s brain burst open, ending its life with a resounding thud.


    Wu Dayong finally saw the true identity of the person who came to his rescue, and he was greatly astonished. The person turned out to be Wang Hong, an Alchemist from Qingxu Tower.


    Although Wu Dayong had been dealing with Wang Hong for quite some time, he only knew him as a skilled Alchemist. He had no idea that Wang Hong possessed such formidablebat skills.


    Generally, cultivators in professions like Alchemy and tool refining were not adept atbat. After all, time and energy were limited, and one couldn''t excel in everything.


    "It turns out to be Junior Brother Wang. Thanks for the help!" Wu Dayong expressed his gratitude to Wang Hong with a cupped hand.


    "Wu Shizhang, no need to be so polite. I happened to be passing by. This ce is not suitable for a prolonged stay. Let''s quickly deal with this Demonic Beast and leave," Wang Hong said while summoning the Binding Spirit Rope once again, entangling another Demonic Beast.


    While the Demonic Beast was ensnared, Wu Dayong unleashed his Flying Sword, swiftly severing the beast''s head.


    Wang Hong retracted the Binding Spirit Rope and walked forward briskly. Wu Dayong hurriedly followed; he wasn''t foolish. Having witnessed Wang Hong''s abilities just now, he naturally kept close.


    As the two groups merged, Wang Hong and Wu Dayong cooperated. Whenever a second-tier Demonic Beast blocked their path, Wang Hong used the Binding Spirit Rope to bind it, and Wu Dayong simultaneously employed the Flying Sword for a swift kill, slightly elerating their progress.


    However, with the passage of time, more and more Demonic Beasts entered the city, increasing the difficulty of their journey.


    Yet, Wang Hong''s Binding Spirit Rope proved highly effective, efficiently dealing with the Demonic Beasts one by one.


    During their journey, the two killed several second-tier Demonic Beasts. They could now see the west city gate within reach, just a few breaths away.


    However, the Demonic Beasts seemed to have received information and were converging in their direction.


    In front of them appeared a pure white Demon Wolf, two zhang long and one zhang tall. Its tier had reached the upper level of the second tier, equivalent to theter stage of human Foundation Building.


    Behind it were thirty-some first-tier Demon Wolves.


    Wang Hong had not encountered a second-tier upper-level Demonic Beast on this journey, and he was unsure about the difference in strength.


    Once again, he summoned the Binding Spirit Rope, entwining the Demon Wolf.


    Wu Dayong had already unleashed his Flying Sword, waiting for the moment the Demon Wolf was bound to swiftly kill it. They had coordinated like this several times on their journey.


    Seeing the rope approaching, the Demon Wolf opened its mouth and spewed arge barrage of ice spikes toward the Binding Spirit Rope.


    The ice spikes hit the rope, instantly forming ayer of frost on its surface, slowing it down and making its movements stiff.


    This was the first time the Binding Spirit Rope encountered such a situation, and Wang Hong was unsure how to remedy it.


    Meanwhile, seeing the Binding Spirit Rope restricted, Wu Dayong, with the Flying Sword already in y, aimed for the white Demon Wolf.


    Before the Flying Sword could reach it, the white Demon Wolf lifted its front paw and pped it away.


    Witnessing this, Wang Hong once again summoned the Golden Seal, frantically inputting Spiritual Power and then smashing it down on the Demon Wolf.


    The Demon Wolf extended its front paw once more, colliding with the Golden Seal. Surprisingly, there was no visible damage.


    Wu Dayong''s Flying Sword came flying again, directly shing towards the Demon Wolf''s hindquarters.


    The Demon Wolf swung its tail, knocking the Flying Sword away. Simultaneously, it leaped forward, its bloody maw wide open, lunging at Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong wielded his staff to strike forward, but the force of the impact from the Demon Wolf''s pounce threw his aim off. The staff missed, and his arm felt a bit numb. It was the first time he encountered an opponent with such immense strength.


    As the Demon Wolf leaped towards Wang Hong once again, about to reach him, its body suddenly paused slightly.


    Taking advantage of the opportunity, Wang Hong shed away, appearing several zhang away.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 193: Offering a Plan

    Chapter 193: Offering a n


    After swiftly dodging the attack of the Demon Wolves, the colossal beasts crashed to the ground with a thunderous roar, kicking up a cloud of dust.


    Wang Hong waved his hand, collecting the corpses of the Demon Wolves, and then summoned the Golden Seal, smashing the remaining beasts to death.


    In this brief moment, eight Qi Cultivation stage cultivators fell victim to the ws of the Demon Wolves.


    Wang Hong stored the bodies of the Demon Wolves casually and continued forward.


    Wu Dayong hurriedly followed suit. He was curious about how Wang Hong had dealt with the Demon Wolves earlier, but wisely refrained from asking. It involved someone''s privacy and was not something to be casually inquired about.


    The white Demon Wolves they just faced were challenging opponents. Even with thebined effort of the two, it would have taken a considerable amount of time to defeat them.


    However, time was a luxury they couldn''t afford. They needed to break through the West Gate and escape before the Demonic Beasts could react.


    When the Demon Wolves lunged at him with open mouths, Wang Hong had a sudden inspiration.


    The first time he was assassinated by Shadow Kill, he narrowly escaped death from a thin ck needle. This needle, imbued with potent poison, couldn''t be detected by his Divine Sense even after sessfully advancing to the Foundation Building stage.


    Therefore, after the Demon Wolves opened their mouths, he utilized the power of Space to make the ck needle instantly appear in the mouth of the closest Demon Wolf. He then manipted the flying needle to pierce directly into its head, causing the Demon Wolf to die instantly.


    With the Golden Core cultivators having left and the Divine Sense of Foundation Building cultivators finding it difficult to detect the ck needle, Wang Hong dared to use such a technique.


    When Wang Hong arrived at the West Gate, more than half of the cultivators had gathered there. Four Golden Core cultivators had already fled far away, and behind them, ten third-tier Demonic Beasts chased, asionally engaging in brief skirmishes.


    Outside the West Gate of Jin''an City, chaos ensued between humans and Demonic Beasts. Everyone was in disarray, pushing and shoving. Instead of advancing, the crowd was gradually retreating.


    Now was the best opportunity to break through. The initial distribution of Demonic Beasts around the city walls meant that only a few could arrive here promptly.


    If they didn''t seize this chance, when more Demonic Beasts arrived, the current group would quickly be overwhelmed by the Beast Tide.


    With only Wang Hong and Wu Dayong''s strength, coupled with these Qi Cultivation cultivators, breaking out of this encirclement seemed impossible.


    At this moment, Wang Hong spotted Shen Jian and another Foundation Building cultivator in Qingxu Sect''s Daoist Robe withdrawing from the front lines, looking somewhat worse for wear from their encounters with Demonic Beasts.


    "Senior Brother Shen, how is the situation ahead?" Wang Hong hurriedly inquired.


    "It''s Junior Brother Wang and Wu Junior Brother! Your arrival is timely. There are nearly a thousand second-tier Demonic Beasts ahead, and it''s truly beyond our capabilities! Moreover, the number of Demonic Beasts is still increasing," Shen Jian sighed.


    "If we wait a while longer, the number of Demonic Beasts may grow even more, making it even more impossible to break through."


    "Everyone understands the reasoning, but with the Golden Core cultivators gone, and no one inmand, the remaining cultivators are scattered. Whoever charges forward risks death, while those who hold back can survive a bit longer, at least temporarily," Shen Jian said somewhat helplessly.


    After thinking for a moment, Wang Hong said, "Senior Brother Shen, I have an idea. I''m not sure if it will work."


    "The situation is urgent now. Whatever good n you have, Junior Brother Wang, please speak it out," Shen Jian hastily replied.


    Wang Hong nced around and cast a soundproof barrier, enclosing the four Foundation Building cultivators within.


    "The current situation is urgent, but the main pressure is ahead, and there''s no influential figure guiding us. Naturally, everyone will hesitate to advance.


    I have two ideas. One is that we can create pressure from behind, for example, simte a Beast Tide attack from the rear to instill panic. We then harness that panic, lead the way west, and a significant number of people will inevitably follow.


    Swift as flowing water, forceful as a drifting stone  once a powerful momentum is formed, we can break through the encirclement in one go," Wang Hong proposed.


    "This method is ingenious, but it carries some risk. What about your second idea, Junior Brother?" Shen Jian apuded.


    Wu Dayong and the other cultivator also agreed with Shen Jian''s viewpoint.


    "As for the second idea, with cultivators gathering at the West Gate, Demonic Beasts are also converging in that direction. By observing on my way here, most Demonic Beasts are moving along the city walls towards this side. Although there are Demonic Beasts in other parts of the city, they are not as densely packed.


    We can quietly maneuver through the city again and reach the East Gate. From there, we break out," Wang Hong quickly suggested to save time.


    "Excellent! Junior Brother Wang is clever. I support the second n!" Shen Jian dered.


    "I''m in agreement!"


    "Count me in too!"


    The other two also expressed agreement with the second n. Since the decision was made, they wasted no more time.


    "Those willing to join us, follow along, but be prepared for life and death," Wang Hong turned to the dozens of Qi Cultivation cultivators trailing behind him.


    While more people meant more strength and could help fend off a few Demonic Beasts, Wang Hong didn''t want to insist and couldn''t promise anything.


    Among the group following him, more than twenty chose to join, unsure of their destination but having found Wang Hong reliable since following him.


    In addition, over a dozen Qi Cultivation cultivators who were originally with Shen Jian also followed.


    Seeing these people looking exhausted, Wang Hong took out dozens of bottles of first-tier Spirit Wine from his Storage Bag, distributed them, and ordered them to replenish their consumed Spiritual Energy immediately.


    As a Foundation Building cultivator, presenting some first-tier Spirit Wine was generous without being too conspicuous.


    After the decision was made, the group didn''t waste any more time. Without alerting others, they moved quietly through a narrow alley in the city towards the west.


    Demonic Beasts roamed everywhere in the city now. They avoided disturbing them as much as possible. When necessary, they cooperated to swiftly eliminate any threats.


    Without the presence of third-tier Demonic Beasts, thebined strength of the four could easily handle several second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Shen Jian was ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator, coupled with Wang Hong''s strengthparable to mid-stage Foundation Building. Wu Dayong, although considered weaker among Foundation Building cultivators, was still mid-stage, and the other cultivator was also at mid-stage.


    They deliberately chose secluded alleys for their route, asrge groups of Demonic Beasts tended to stick to main roads.


    Thebyrinthineyout of the city''s alleys, coupled with the limited intelligence of the Demonic Beasts, caused them to quickly lose their way once they entered smaller pathways.


    Twisting and turning, some clumsy Demonic Beasts even ended up entering people''s courtyards, creating chaos inside. It was often a challenge for them to find their way out.


    Therefore, as a group of Demonic Beasts entered the narrow alleys, their numbers gradually decreased.


    Along the way, the four of them also killed quite a few Demonic Beasts and stealthily approached the vicinity of the East Gate.


    Observing that there were still a considerable number of Demonic Beasts here, some heading west, they took note of the situation.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 194: Temptation and Slaughter

    Chapter 194: Temptation and ughter


    At the East Gate of Jin''an City, hordes of Demonic Beasts continued to pour in from outside the city, moving westward along the main street.


    Wang Hong and his group wisely refrained from rashly charging into the chaos. Instead, they sought refuge in a nearby five-story store.


    This particr store had an excellent vantage point, offering a clear view of the situation near the East Gate. Its backyard was spacious enough tofortably amodate dozens of people.


    The group silently ascended to the top floor of the store, discreetly observing the situation of the Demonic Beasts at the city gate.


    After half an hour, no more Demonic Beasts entered from outside the city. However, a considerable number lingered near the gate, and some still upied the city walls.


    Rough estimates suggested there were around ten thousand Demonic Beasts near the gate and surrounding walls, with more than twenty of them being second-tier. At the gate, approximately ten second-tier Demonic Beasts stood alongside over a thousand first-tier ones.


    In different circumstances, they might have dared to force their way through. But in the current situation, any engagement risked attracting nearby Demonic Beasts, resulting in an overwhelming siege.


    "This can''t go on. Once the cultivators at the West Gate either seed or fail in breaking through, arge number of Demonic Beasts will return here. It will be difficult to hide when that happens. Does anyone have a better idea?" Wu Dayong wore a worried expression, having lost count of the Demonic Beasts countless times, with no signs of a miracle.


    "I''m thinking, what if we lure these Demonic Beasts in batches, kill a portion of them, and then make a run for it?" Shen Jian suggested after some thought.


    While the idea had merit, the challengey in deciding who would be the bait and how to lure them. If they attracted too many, handling the situation would be even more precarious.


    For a while, the group struggled to devise a workable n.


    "Perhaps we can let my Spirit Beast give it a try?" Wang Hong proposed, unsure.


    "Oh? What kind of Spirit Beast do you have?" Shen Jian inquired hastily.


    Wang Hong released Little Peng from the Spirit Beast pouch. Little Peng emerged in high spirits, stretching its wings and legsit had been confined for quite some time.


    "It''s an immature Rock Sand Carver," Wang Hong exined. Rock Sand Carvers wererge Demonic Beasts that could reach the second tier once fully grown.


    After somemunication with Little Peng through mental intention, Wang Hong managed to convey his n. However, due to Little Peng''s limitedprehension, it took a considerable amount of time to reach a vague agreement.


    After a while, Little Peng, holding two jugs of Spirit Wine, confidently approached the East Gate.


    As it neared the Demonic Beast crowd, one of the jugs identally fell and shattered on the ground, releasing a fragrant aroma that wafted far and wide.


    Observing from a distance, Wang Hong shook his head in disappointment. Little Peng''s acting skills were truly terrible; anyone in the shadows could see that the jug had been deliberately smashed.


    Yet, the Demonic Beasts were not discerning critics. Catching the scent of the wine, they moved towards Little Peng with sniffing noses and drooling mouths, forming a pack around it.


    Clutching the remaining jug, Little Peng turned and darted into a narrow alley.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    The pack roared in pursuit, with two second-tier Demonic Beasts leading the charge, followed by two to three hundred first-tier Demonic Beasts.


    A quarter of an hourter, Little Peng emerged from the narrow alley, still cradling two jugs of Spirit Wine with its wings. However, therge group of Demonic Beasts that had been chasing it was nowhere to be seen.


    Approaching the Demonic Beast crowd again, Little Peng identally broke another jug, releasing the enticing aroma once more. It triggered a repeated pursuit and escape, drawing the attention of the Demonic Beasts each time.


    This showcased the major w of the Demon nthe low intelligence of their lower-tier Demonic Beasts. Even at Little Peng''s level of cunning, it was considered quite intelligent among them.


    With crude acting, repetitive tactics, and five iterations, each round managed to fool more or fewer Demonic Beasts. However, on the sixth attempt, a more intelligent second-tier Demonic Beast grew suspicious.


    This three-eyed Yao Leopard roared loudly, swiping at Little Peng with its ws. Little Peng hastily dropped the wine jug and fled. The swipe left its tail feathers scattered, leaving its backside exposed.


    pping its wings, Little Peng flew into a narrow alley, closely pursued by the second-tier Yao Leopard. As the Yao Leopard entered the alley, a ck rope suddenly flew out from the side, swiftly entangling the Yao Leopard.


    Simultaneously, Shen Jian unleashed his Flying Sword from the other end of the alley. Like a lightning bolt, the Flying Sword severed the Yao Leopard''s head, blood spraying from its neck.


    After the kill, the group emerged from the shadows. Little Peng, seeing the dead Yao Leopard, proudly strutted towards Wang Hong, wagging its tail. Even with a bare backside, it seemed unfazed, perhaps enjoying the breeze.


    Wang Hong gently stroked Little Peng''s back feathers, then fed it a spirit fruit as a reward, asking, "Fellow seniors, do you think we can break through the siege now?"


    Reluctant to send Little Peng out again, Wang Hong was relieved that it managed to escape earlier. "At the East Gate, there are only five second-tier Demonic Beasts left, and about three to four hundred first-tier ones. If we swiftly engage and break through before the surrounding Demonic Beasts arrive, we can sessfully escape."


    Wu Dayong, grateful for Wang Hong''s assistance throughout their journey, voiced his agreement. Shen Jian and another Foundation Building cultivator also concurred, acknowledging that since the Spirit Beast belonged to Wang Hong, and he was providing the Spirit Wine, they had no better alternatives.


    After the decision was made, Wang Hong reluctantly stowed Little Peng back into the Spirit Beast pouch.


    The four carefully devised an escape n and quietly made their way towards the East Gate.


    When they approached within fifty yards of the city wall, they were spotted by a Demonic Beast.


    "Roar!" The Demonic Beast bellowed in their direction, alerting other Demonic Beasts, who turned to look.


    "Roar! Roar! Roar!"


    Seeing that the Demonic Beast crowd was alerted, the group abandoned stealth and sprinted towards the East Gate.


    They refrained from using flying techniques, not daring to fly too high and draw attention from Demonic Beasts in the vicinity.


    Surrounded by encroaching Demonic Beasts, the group charged forward, ignoring those closing in.


    When the distance between them and the Demonic Beasts was twenty yards, Wang Hong deployed the Binding Spirit Rope, and Wu Dayong unleashed his Flying Sword, both attacking a second-tier Demonic Beast.


    This was a prearranged strategyWang Hong, using the Binding Spirit Rope, and Wu Dayong working together, could swiftly eliminate second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Shen Jian and the other Foundation Building cultivator coborated as well. With Shen Jian''ste Foundation Building cultivation level and the assistance of the other, their efficiency in dispatching enemies was exceptionally high.


    The remaining Qi Cultivation cultivators focused on dealing with the first-tier Demonic Beasts that were too close forfort.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 195: Breaking Through the Encirclement

    Chapter 195: Breaking Through the Encirclement


    Song Wei, a Golden Core cultivator from the Qingxu Sect, led over three hundred Foundation Building cultivators on a Flying Boat to reinforce Jin''an City.


    However, their journey was cut short as they encountered an ambush by the Demon n.


    Led by a three-tier Iron Feather Eagle, arge group of Demon n members blocked their path.


    Song Wei, along with his group of Foundation Building cultivators, plunged into the midst of the enemy like a sharp sword.


    However, the Demon n had nned ahead. As they attempted to break through, another three-tier Demonic Beast emerged from the ranks of Demonic Beasts.


    This beast was a deer-shaped creature, with a pair of antlers refined into its formidable weapons, surpassing even the Iron Feather Eagle''s own formidable feathers.


    The Demon n had set up an ambush to intercept the rescue team, but due to dividing their forces to besiege Jin''an City, they could only allocate two three-tier Demonic Beasts for the ambush.


    The two Demonic Beasts teamed up to attack Song Wei, forcing him to retreat continuously. By the time he reached the side of the Flying Boat, he had no more room to retreat.


    The Iron Feather Eagle''s feathers and the deer-shaped Demonic Beast''s antlers attacked, but Song Wei managed to block them with arge bowl-sized magical artifact.


    Simultaneously, the over three hundred Foundation Building cultivators on the Flying Boat, seemingly following a prearranged order, unleashed a coordinated assault with their Spiritual Weapons against the deer-shaped Demonic Beast.


    Thebined force of the three hundred Foundation Building cultivators was no less powerful than a full-force strike from a Golden Core cultivator.


    With defensive formations on the Flying Boat, the Foundation Building cultivators were momentarily safe inside.


    Facing the attack of over three hundred Spiritual Weapons, the deer-shaped Demonic Beast lifted its front hooves and stomped in the air.


    A radiant glow emitted from its hooves, rolling through the air and deflecting the majority of the iing Spiritual Weapons.


    The remaining hundred or so Spiritual Weapons, it intended to withstand with its physical body. With the robust physique of a three-tier Demonic Beast, this was not too difficult.


    After blocking most of the Spiritual Weapons, the three-tier demonic deer increased its Spiritual Power and, together with the Iron Feather Eagle, continued to besiege Song Wei.


    The remaining hundred or so Spiritual Weapons were about to strike the demonic deer.


    Suddenly! A golden Flying Sword among them burst into dazzling light, growing several times in size and swiftly shing towards the demonic deer.


    "Not good!" The demonic deer realized only at this moment that among the Spiritual Weapons, there was a hidden flying sword technique treasure that it had failed to detect earlier.


    At this moment, it also discovered that among the three hundred Foundation Building cultivators on the Flying Boat, there was unexpectedly a Golden Core cultivator.


    On the Flying Boat, a burly man with a full beard revealed his Golden Core cultivation level, releasing a powerful pressure. He was controlling the golden Flying Sword technique treasure with all his might.


    This revtion left the Foundation Building cultivators around him drenched in cold sweat. They had recently made jokes about this Golden Core expert, and if not for the ongoing battle, they might have received a few ps.


    The demonic deer felt deceived, realizing that human cultivators could be so cunning.


    Before Song Wei and the other Golden Core cultivators set out, they had anticipated the Demon n''s interception on the way.


    Despite the significant setback for the human race this time, overall, human intelligence could not be weaker than that of the Demon n.


    The demonic deer felt panic and attempted to evade, but the golden Flying Sword technique treasure was now only a few feet away. Dodging was no longer an option.


    The demonic deer let out a miserable howl, and before it could react, the golden sword cleaved it into two.


    After killing the demonic deer, the two Golden Core cultivators joined forces to attack the Iron Feather Eagle, assisted by the three hundred Foundation Building cultivators.


    This was where the advantage of the Flying Boat became apparenta flying fortress capable of swift movement and equipped with a defensive shield.


    Even against arge group of first and second-tier Demonic Beasts, it could withstand for a considerable time.


    Under the three-way assault, the Iron Feather Eagle was quickly in by Song Wei.


    After eliminating the two three-tier Demonic Beasts, the remaining first and second-tier Demonic Beasts were soon scattered like birds and beasts.


    After a brief cleanup of the battlefield, the Flying Boat hurriedly headed towards Jin''an City.


    ...


    At the East Gate of Jin''an City, while Wang Hong''s Binding Spirit Rope restrained a second-tier Demonic Beast, Wu Dayong''s Flying Sword swiftly beheaded it.


    Wang Hong didn''t spare a second nce at the in demonic corpse and continued to deploy the Binding Spirit Rope on the next Demonic Beast.


    At this moment, Senior Brother Shen also beheaded a second-tier Demonic Beast with a single stroke.


    Other Demonic Beasts in the vicinity, alerted by themotion, began to gather around.


    Without even bothering to collect the corpses of the in Demonic Beasts, the group rushed straight towards the city gate.


    After killing three second-tier Demonic Beasts, the remaining two were unable to block their breakout.


    Wang Hong didn''t linger in battle; he retracted the Binding Spirit Rope and pulled out a ck giant club.


    Leading the way with the giant club, he charged at the forefront, responsible for clearing the path. Any obstructing Demonic Beasts were forcefully knocked away by his club.


    The other three Foundation Building cultivators followed closely, cutting down Demonic Beasts on the sides to widen the escape route.


    Dozens of Qi Cultivation cultivators followed behind, dealing with Demonic Beasts on both sides and preventing being surrounded by numerous low-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Wang Hong swung his giant club, sending a second-tier Demonic Beast rolling more than ten feet away. Another swing swept through, causing three first-tier minor demons to be scattered in a bloody mess.


    Finally breaking out of the city gate, the density of Demonic Beasts outside was not as intense as at the gate.


    With the obstruction reduced, they elerated, dashing forward with a horde of Demonic Beasts tailing them.


    These Demonic Beasts were relentless, having chased them from a considerable distance, and they continued the pursuit.


    However, now that the distance had increased, the group could utilize flying techniques. Moreover, the pursuing Demonic Beasts were mostly ground-bound.


    Wang Hong ran and released the Golden Light Bowl into the air. It swiftly expanded to over two yards, flying towards the Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    "Get in! Hurry!"


    Wang Hong shouted at the Qi Cultivation cultivators. Given the chance to help them with minimal effort, Wang Hong wasn''t willing to see them fall prey to the ws of beasts.


    The Qi Cultivation cultivators rejoiced at his words. They were the weakest and had been at the rear, with several already torn apart by pursuing Demonic Beasts.


    Once everyone crowded into the Golden Light Bowl, filling it to the brim, Wang Hong lifted it into the air.


    Meanwhile, Shen Jian and others also ascended with their flying tools, unleashing their Spiritual Weapons, bombarding the area.


    Wang Hong, controlling Little Peng, soared into the sky alone. He invoked the Golden Seal, pressing down from above, each strike crushing several beasts.


    After being chased by these Demonic Beasts for so long, it was time to retaliate. After killing hundreds of Demonic Beasts, the rest scattered and fled.


    After escaping, Wang Hong and the others swiftly left the troubled area.


    At this moment, most of the Demonic Beasts in Jin''an City had gathered at the West Gate, forming a solid blockade around the group of cultivators preparing to break through.


    At this critical juncture, no one remembered themand to break through to the west. Individuals rushed around like headless flies, colliding randomly.


    This disorganized chaos resulted in each individual being torn apart by Demonic Beasts. Massacres were inevitable.


    This showcased the difference between organized and disorganized efforts. If a Golden Core cultivator or a slightly respected Foundation Building cultivator had stood up at this moment, a single call could have rallied these desperate individuals, quickly forming an escape route and breaking through to safety.


    Tian Qing from the Qingxu Sect found herself amidst the surrounded cultivators, her Spiritual Power depleted.


    She watched as fellow cultivators fell one by one, their cries and the expressions of horror and despair etched on their faces. Numbly squeezing out thest shreds of her Spiritual Power, she controlled her Spiritual Weapon to strike forward.


    Suddenly, she noticed a ck dot flying from the sky above the Boundary Mountain Range. The dot grewrger by the moment.


    After a brief moment, she could distinguish that the flying object was the Flying Boat that had gone to seize the Spirit Stone mine in front of Jin''an City.


    "Reinforcements are here! Reinforcements are here!"


    Other cultivators also spotted the approaching Flying Boat. Their spirits soared instantly, and even their injuries seemed less painful.


    As the Flying Boat approached the group of Demonic Beasts, numerous Spiritual Weapons were unleashed, raining down on the Demonic Beast horde.


    The magical weapons attacked fiercely, causing blood to spray wherever theynded.


    Although there were still one or two thousand second-tier Demonic Beasts within the Beast Tide, most were unable to fly and couldn''t reach the Flying Boat.


    Unlike Foundation Building cultivators, ordinary crawling Demonic Beasts needed to reach the third tier before learning flight techniques.


    A few flying Demonic Beasts managed to break through the Flying Boat''s defensive shield for a short time.


    With the departure of the Demon n''s three-tier Demonic Beasts, the remaining Demonic Beasts were disorganized and unable to mount an effective attack.


    The Flying Boat soon carved a bloody path through the Beast Tide, reaching the gathering ce of the cultivators.


    "Do any of you know where the Golden Core cultivators defending Jin''an City went?"


    The bearded Golden Core cultivator on the Flying Boat asked, his formidable Golden Core pressure causing the Demonic Beasts below to hesitate.


    "They went north!"


    "All four seniors headed north!"


    "Ten three-tier Demonic Beasts are trailing them!"


    The rescued cultivators below eagerly answered.


    After understanding their direction, the bearded Golden Core cultivator leaped from the Flying Boat, turning into a golden streak that disappeared into the sky.


    "Wait for me!"


    At this moment, Song Wei also emerged from the Flying Boat, transforming into a streak of light and flying north.


    With over three hundred Foundation Building cultivators providing air cover, the remaining Jin''an City cultivators gradually carved out a bloody path from the Beast Tide, finally breaking free.


    The Flying Boat escorted everyone to a rtively safe ce. Hundreds of Foundation Building cultivators descended from the Flying Boat, eagerly entering the crowd, searching for their lost family and friends.


    Among them was Zhang Chunfeng, rushing into the crowd.


    Of the four to five thousand cultivators who stayed behind in Jin''an City, only about ten thousand survived the breakthrough.


    Zhang Chunfeng swiftly moved through the crowd, searching for Wang Hong''s figure.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 196: The Heir

    Chapter 196: The Heir


    At this moment, joy and sorrow coexisted. Some experienced the joy of reuniting with loved ones, their faces radiant with happiness. Meanwhile, others grieved the loss of close friends and family.


    Zhang Chunfeng searched the crowd repeatedly, anxiety growing as he failed to spot any trace of Wang Hong. Despite his familiarity with the faces in the crowd, he couldn''t find Wang Hong. Every stone''s cement was etched in his memory.


    If Wang Hong were here, he should have noticed Zhang Chunfeng by now. Standing alone for a while, he refused to believe that Wang Hong could have perished in the Beast Tide. Nevertheless, to find sce, he needed confirmation  either seeing Wang Hong alive or his lifeless body.


    With determination, Zhang Chunfeng set off towards Jin''an City.


    "Senior Zhang, wait for us!"


    Zhang Chunfeng hadn''t gone far when two Foundation Building Cultivators quickly caught up.


    "Are you going too?"


    "Yes," they nodded, their expressions heavy.


    Ling Shuai, in the mid-stage of Foundation Building, and Zhou Qian, in the early stage but at the third level, provided brief introductions. All three headed towards Jin''an City''s West Gate, still swarmed with Demonic Beasts, their strength insufficient for a direct entry.


    Jin''an City was now underplete control of the Demonic Beasts. They circled the city but found no suitable entry point. Only at the East Gate, with fewer Demonic Beasts and signs of a battle, did they discover hope  someone had sessfully escaped.


    This discovery heightened Zhang Chunfeng''s confidence, especially seeing the traces of a body cultivator''s fight. However, the group couldn''t be sure if Wang Hong was among those who escaped. If he was still hiding in the city, they risked missing the opportunity.


    "In fact, I know of an abandoned secret passage that leads underground into the city," Ling Shuai hesitated before revealing.


    "Oh? Fellow Daoist Ling, please share! Where is it?" Zhou Qian asked eagerly.


    "Outside the north city wall, on a small hill," Ling Shuai pointed north.


    "Let''s go there now. Ling Dao friend, please lead the way," Zhou Qian urged.


    "Alright, please follow me!" Ling Shuai, decisive in his choice, led the way north.


    After reaching a discreet mountain cave, Ling Shuai, having entered first, found the path ahead blocked by a copse. They spent two hours digging through, relying on the convenience of Immortal Cultivators using Flying Swords. Eventually, they emerged in arge underground chamber in Jin''an City that seemed like the base of a ndestine organization.


    Ling Shuai skillfully located a hidden mechanism in a brick, revealing a staircase. As they followed, another door appeared at the end of the tform.


    Zhang Chunfeng extended his Divine Sense outside and found a pool of congealed blood with dragged traces.


    Suddenly, Ling Shuai''s expression changed, and he swiftly rushed out.


    Zhang Chunfeng and Zhou Qian followed, finding Ling Shuai''s disappearance. Following the blood trail, they reached a corner where Ling Shuai had just in a Demonic Beast, his Flying Sword still unsheathed.


    Unfazed, he stood with clenched fists, fingers embedded in his flesh, blood slowly dripping. Ignoring everything, his gaze was fixed on a corner where a half-eaten corpsey.


    The female corpse, missing half her body, exhibited signs of brutal tearing. Her face, with half its flesh devoured, still held an expression of extreme terror. Bite marks covered her body, and her distended abdomen suggested she was pregnant.


    Ling Shuai, dragging his heavy legs, slowly approached the female corpse and gently cradled her in his arms. Trembling hands delicately wiped the blood from her face with his sleeve.


    Tears streamed down his face like a waterfall, his teeth biting into his lip, mixing blood with the tears as it dripped from his chin. Zhang Chunfeng sensed Ling Shuai''s shaky breath, clearly suppressing intense emotions.


    Zhang Chunfeng and Zhou Qian silently observed, hesitant to disturb. They couldn''t find words to console Ling Shuai; any words seemed feeble in this moment.


    Ling Shuai carefully arranged the woman''s appearance, each movement meticulous, as if any added pressure might harm her.


    Suddenly, Ling Shuai paused; he sensed a slight movement in the woman''s abdomen. Leaning in, he carefully inspected, and after a moment, a hint of joy appeared on his face.


    With a small knife, he spoke to the corpse, "Xiao Ya, I''m sorry. For the sake of our child, I must bring you some pain."


    He cut the woman''s abdomen, amniotic fluid gushing out. Within, a tiny body curled up.


    Gently, Ling Shuai pulled the infant out, sensing its extremely faint life force. Holding a small piece of the umbilical cord, he infused a weak Spiritual Power to sustain the baby''s vitality.


    Only then did he have the chance to clean the newborn. When he cleared the mouth and nose, the baby finally cried, marking her entrance into the world.


    After that cry, the baby returned to silence, breathing faintly.


    The first cry wasn''t the baby''s initiative; while in the mother''s womb, the lungs were in a contracted state, devoid of air. Only upon entering the world did external air fill the lungs, eliciting the first cry.


    Ling Shuai found a robe and gently wrapped the baby. He then temporarily covered the woman''s body with another robe, cing it in a Storage Bag.


    Once everything was settled, Ling Shuai, holding the baby, walked out silently, with Zhang Chunfeng and Zhou Qian following.


    Only when they exited the courtyard did Ling Shuai''s emotions stabilize a bit. He turned to the two and asked, "Do you have any clues about the person you''re looking for?"


    "Yes," both Zhang Chunfeng and Zhou Qian replied.


    After a brief discussion, they decided to search for Zhou Qian''s brother first.


    Zhou Qian led the way this time, navigating through less popted alleys to avoid encounters with Demonic Beasts. Ling Shuai''s Spirit Weapon, capable of concealing their aura, proved invaluable.


    In a chaotic Jin''an City, they had to be cautious. Once three-tier Demonic Beasts returned, organizing the Demonic Beasts in the city, they''d have no ce to hide.


    Unfortunately, they had to return the way they came. Zhang Chunfeng and Zhou Qian held onto a sliver of hope, especially considering the signs of survivors outside the East Gate.


    After emerging from the small mountain cave, Ling Shuai carefully unwrapped the baby''s robe.


    The baby girl, premature and feeble,y barely clinging to life. Ling Shuai searched his Storage Bag, but nothing suitable for her emerged.


    "Friends, do you have any food that could nourish this baby? If you have any Spiritual Meals that can replenish her essence and blood, it would be greatly appreciated," Ling Shuai asked with a hint of trepidation. He knew the odds were slim.


    Generally, Cultivators carried a few fasting pills for convenience, rarely bringing other food. Even if some carried Spirit Meals, finding something suitable for a newborn was challenging.


    The baby, born prematurely, needed nourishment to survive, and their only hope was through food.


    Zhou Qian shook her head, and Ling Shuai''s disappointment briefly shed across his face.


    Zhang Chunfeng thought for a moment, then pulled out a ceramic jar from his Storage Bag, handing it to Ling Shuai, saying, "How about this?"


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 197: Boundary City

    Chapter 197: Boundary City


    Ling Shuai took the ceramic jar and opened it. Inside was a jar of golden meat soup, bringing great joy to Ling Shuai.


    With this jar of meat soup, the baby in his arms should be able to endure for some time.


    Now that Jin''an City was broken, and all industries were in decline, he didn''t know where to find a Spirit Meal Master.


    He could sense that this soup was perfect for replenishing essence blood and vitality. It was the right time to use it.


    "Thanks, Senior Zhang. How much Spirit Stone do you need?"


    "No need. This thing can only satisfy my appetite now. It''s not of much use to me. Just consider it a gift to Junior Ling," replied Senior Zhang.


    This was given to him by Wang Hong earlier, made from Demonic Beast meat. It was a convenient type of Spirit Meal.


    "Then, thanks a lot, Senior Zhang!"


    Ling Shuai enveloped a drop of the soup with Spiritual Power, slightly heated it, and fed it to the baby girl.


    Although the baby girl was still in a deep sleep, her instinctive swallowing response remained. She gulped down the soup in one go.


    After feeding a drop, Ling Shuai stopped. After all, Spirit Meals contained arge amount of Spiritual Energy. Though gentle, a tiny baby couldn''t handle too much.


    "Now, where should we go next?" Ling Shuai asked.


    "I want to go outside the East Gate to look for a bit," Zhang Chunfeng said confidently. Wang Hong should have broken through from there, but he hadn''t seen him, and he was still worried.


    "I''ll go too!" Zhou Qian chimed in. Her younger brother hadn''t been found yet, and she wanted to search again.


    "In that case, I''ll apany you both on another trip," Ling Shuai said, holding the baby.


    After a while, the three of them headed towards the East Gate again.


    After breaking through the encirclement, Wang Hong and his group of dozens found a mountain valley and opened a few cave mansions as temporary resting ces.


    Wang Hong sat in the temporary cave mansion, sorting through the spoils of warvarious Demonic Beast corpses.


    The Demonic Beast corpses he had previously acquired had already been harvested for useful materials. Now, they could only be used to feed the demon-hunting tree to produce seeds.


    This time, he harvested fresh goods. Demonic Beast meat could be used as ingredients, and some materials from the Demonic Beasts, such as fangs, ws, bone spurs, and horns, could be refined into armor or talisman paper.


    The most precious part of a Demonic Beast was its demon core. After reaching the second tier, a Demonic Beast''s Spiritual Energy would transform into demonic power.


    Wang Hong harvested a total of eight second-tier demon cores this time. In the hands of a Cultivator, demon cores had significant uses.


    The demonic power within the demon core was a form of Spiritual Energy from the heavens and earth. In the endless battles between humans and the Demon n, numerous methods had been developed to convert the demonic power in demon cores into pure Spiritual Energy.


    For example, demon cores could be used in pill refinement. Many pill recipes incorporated demon cores, releasing the demonic power through special techniques, transforming it into pure Spiritual Energy to be infused into the pill.


    Some formations could also use demon cores as a power source. The Spiritual Energy produced by a second-tier demon core could rival that of a middle-grade Spirit Stone. However, demon cores were much cheaper on the marketpared to middle-grade Spirit Stones, serving as an alternative.


    Due to their immense value, second-tier and higher Demonic Beasts were like moving treasures in the eyes of Cultivators. The conflict between humans and the Demon n was nearly irreconcble.


    Wang Hong stored these second-tier demon cores and cut off some materials from the second-tier Demonic Beasts, such as sharp teeth, ws, bone spurs, and horns.


    Especially the second-tier high-grade Demon Wolves he killed this time. There was a small tuft of fur on its back that could be used to refine a symbol pen. This was exactly what he needed.


    Then, he peeled off the skin of these second-tier Demonic Beasts, which could be refined into armor for the subordinates in Azure Void City.


    Wang Hong and his group rested here for a few days, allowing the injuries from consecutive battles to heal.


    They had two options ahead: one was to return to the East Zhou Cultivation Realm because this ce had be dangerous, and theing days wouldn''t be peaceful. The other was to find other Cultivator teams that had broken through and join forces with them.


    Not long after they sessfully broke through, a Flying Boat appeared in the distance, flying towards them from the direction of the West Gate of Jin''an City. It seemed to be a Cultivator teaming to rescue them.


    However, Wang Hong and the Sect Cultivators couldn''t leave this ce freely and return to the East Zhou Cultivation Realm. They hade to Jin''an City toplete Sect missions. Returning now would mean the missions were iplete.


    Although there would be many more battles in the future, Wang Hong, as an Alchemist, wouldn''t risk his life against Demonic Beasts unless absolutely necessary.


    Since Wang Hong and Shen Jian, along with the other four Foundation Building Cultivators, had made their decision, the remaining Qi Cultivation disciples had no choice but to follow suit.


    Returning to the East Zhou Cultivation Realm from here was not easy, especially after the fall of Jin''an City. With their strength, going back alone would be akin to seeking death.


    To travel quickly, they continued flying on their instruments, with Little Peng carrying Wang Hong.


    All the Qi Cultivation Cultivators squeezed into the Golden Light Bowl, grimacing and gritting their teeth. It was unclear how they had managed to squeeze in quickly during the previous life-and-death escape.


    This time, even squeezing two-thirds of the way in felt crowded. The remaining people had to be kicked in with their feet, reluctantly fitting into the bowl.


    Since Jin''an City was upied by the Demon n, there had been many Demonic Beast activities around Jin''an City.


    Along their journey, they encountered many Demonic Beasts. However, with everyone working together, few Demonic Beasts could stop their progress.


    Suddenly, sounds of a battle came from the side. The group changed direction and flew towards themotion.


    When they arrived, they saw three Foundation Building Cultivators fiercely fighting a group of Demonic Beasts.


    The Demonic Beast group consisted of four second-tier beasts and over twenty first-tier beasts. Three people were struggling to deal with them.


    When Wang Hong spotted Zhang Chunfeng among the Demonic Beasts, he immediately took out a ck staff from his Storage Bag.


    Little Peng dove rapidly, and as they approached a second-tier Demonic Beast, he leaped off, wielding therge ck staff in a descending strike.


    The second-tier Demonic Beast extended its w to block.


    "Bang!" Therge ck staff broke its w, continuing its momentum to smash the Demonic Beast''s head into pieces.


    Seeing Wang Hong take action, the others also joined in, quickly scattering the Demonic Beasts.


    "Senior Brother! Finally found you!" After dispersing the Demonic Beasts, Zhang Chunfeng quickly approached Wang Hong.


    "Zhou Lei!"


    Zhou Qian hadn''t had a chance to clean up the captured Demonic Beasts, her eyes fixed on the Qi Cultivation Cultivators packed tightly inside the Golden Light Bowl.


    Soon, she noticed Zhou Lei, who had been squeezed into a distorted shape, with only half of his head visible.


    Zhou Qian hurried over and, like pulling out a radish, yanked Zhou Lei out from the crowd.


    "Sister!"


    After experiencing life and death, the two embraced and wept in each other''s arms.


    Seeing that Zhang Chunfeng and Zhou Qian had found the person they were looking for, Ling Shuai, holding the baby, thought of his deceased Dao Companion and couldn''t help but feel mncholy.


    After the three of them reunited, they headed towards the Boundary Mountain Range. After three to five days, they finally arrived at the newly seized Spirit Stone mine.


    With the addition of over ten thousand people dispatched from Jin''an City, construction at the Spirit Stone mine finally entered the right track.


    They were organizing manpower to build a new city here, which they named Boundary City.


    Rebuilding a city was not an easy task. It required arge workforce, abundant materials, numerous refining tool masters, and skilled formation masters.


    Among the new arrivals, some were shop owners with plenty of various materials. Upon reaching here, they naturally resumed their old businesses, significantly enriching the local supply of resources.


    There were also refining tool masters, formation masters, and various other professions among the new Cultivators, temporarily addressing some urgent needs.


    It was said that the East Zhou Cultivation Realm was mobilizing people toe here and support the construction of the new city.


    In addition, losing Jin''an City was not something they could ept quietly. Once reinforcements arrived, they would surelyunch a counterattack.


    After losing Jin''an City, the Demon n could use it as a stronghold tounch attacks on the East Zhou Cultivation Realm at any time, making it a strategic threat. Reiming it was a necessity.


    The four Golden Core Cultivators who had previously guarded Jin''an City had already returned to Boundary City. However, there was news that one of the Golden Core Cultivators was critically injured and on the brink of death, with uncertainty about whether he could be saved.


    The new city walls of Boundary City were still under construction, and buildings such as shops and residences were starting to take shape.


    The new Qingxu Tower had only erected a framework, but Cultivators seeking Alchemy services were already queuing up.


    After the recent major battle, many people were injured and needed healing Pills.


    Even more people felt their own inadequacy in strength and were eager to improve. They brought out Spiritual Herbs they had hoarded for years.


    Now, there were at least a dozen Alchemy tasks every day. Wang Hong didn''t personally handle them; instead, he delegated the responsibility to Wu Dayong, who would attend social events on his behalf.


    Wang Hong only started the Alchemy Refinement when he had umted enough tasks, saving time to focus on cultivation. This way, he could bnce Alchemy and cultivation.


    His Poisonous Bees, which he had heavily relied on in the past, did not y a role this time. The second-tier Demonic Beasts had tough hides, making it difficult for the Poisonous Bees to prate.


    Although the ck staff he obtained had a reasonable weight, he felt it was a bit short. He preferred the Long Spear he was ustomed to, but there was no choice now; he had to make do.


    He believed his Symbol Crafting skills had improved, and he could now attempt to refine higher-tier Talismans.


    The white fur from the Demon Wolves he obtained this time was just right for refining a Spiritual Weapon-grade Symbol Pen.


    As for the pen shaft, he already had one. Previously, he exchanged contribution points for a 300-year-old Golden Spotted Bamboo, and it had now aged to five or six hundred years. It was the best material for refining a Symbol Pen.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 198: Thousand Crafts Pavilion

    Chapter 198: Thousand Crafts Pavilion


    Wang Hong entered the Space, and the Golden Spotted Bamboo had grown significantly. When he nted it, it was only three feet tall and as thick as a thumb. Now it had reached over five feet in height, slightly thicker than a thumb, with some bamboo shoots around eight inches high.


    These bamboo shoots were a rare delicacy, as the Golden Spotted Bamboo only grew once every five hundred years. Despite being busy, Wang Hong hadn''t had the chance to savor this delicacy.


    While cutting down the Golden Spotted Bamboo, he also harvested a dozen bamboo shoots, leaving a few to grow into more bamboo.


    Exiting the Space, he stored the Golden Spotted Bamboo and summoned the white Wolf''s Hair. With this, he had all the materials needed for the Refinement Spiritual Weapon Symbol Pen.


    He knew of a few shops specializing in refining tools, but with the ongoing construction everywhere, he had to go out and explore.


    The new Boundary City was constructed in the image of Jin''an City, not particrlyrge, with one main north-south street and one east-west street.


    The intersection of these two main streets divided Boundary City into four regions: A, B, C, and D.


    The eastern part of the street was called East Street, and the others followed suit.


    Wang Hong walked onto the main street and saw a building under construction with a sign that read "Thousand Crafts Pavilion."


    Among the six major Sects, Thousand Crafts Pavilion excelled in refining tools and was skilled in creating various mechanical puppets.


    Approaching the newly built entrance, Wang Hong entered the first-floor hall. Immediately, a Qi Cultivation stage attendant greeted him.


    "Senior, are you here to purchase items or tomission a refining tool?" the attendant asked respectfully.


    "I would like tomission the refinement of a Spiritual Weapon. Is your shop''s refining tool master avable?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "I apologize; there''s currently a high demand for tool refinement, so there''s a waiting list. If you need it, you''ll have to wait," the attendant said somewhat apologetically.


    "Oh! How long is the wait?" Wang Hong asked.


    If the wait was short, he could wait; if it was too long, he might explore other ces, as there was more than one shop capable of refining tools.


    "It will take approximately three months. Is that eptable, Senior? If not, I can arrange for the refining tool master to meet with you," the attendant exined.


    With Boundary City still under construction and the demand for refining tools and formations high, waiting three months was considered normal after the recent major battles.


    "That''s fine. Please go ahead and arrange for your refining tool master toe," Wang Hong agreed.


    The attendant led Wang Hong to a corner of the hall and left to make the arrangements.


    Since the building was not yetplete, there was no dedicated meeting room. Instead, a set of seats was ced in a corner for discussions.


    After a while, the attendant returned with a Qi Cultivation stage youth and an old man.


    "Senior, greetings! Our master is currently busy refining tools and is not avable for interruption. If you have a tool refinement request, you can provide the items and details to me," the youth, who was the disciple of the refining tool master, exined.


    Wang Hong understood this arrangement; even he, dealing with Alchemy matters, preferred not to handle direct receptions due to the time it consumed.


    The old man was the shopkeeper, less knowledgeable about the art of refining tools, hence the presence of the refining tool master''s apprentice.


    I would like to refine a Symbol Pen. I have prepared two materials; can you refine it? Wang Hong said, taking out the Golden Spotted Bamboo and the white Wolf''s Hair from his Storage Bag.


    The youth carefully examined them and said, "Very good! The Golden Spotted Bamboo is over five hundred years old, and the white Wolf''s Hair is a top-quality second-tier material, perfect for refining a Symbol Pen. However, there''s a chance of failure in refining Spiritual Weapons. Would Senior be willing to take that risk?"


    Simr to Alchemy, refining tools also had a certain sess rate. If a refining tool master failed, the resulting item''s tier might decrease. For example, Wang Hong''srge Alchemy furnace was a failed product.


    "Sure," Wang Hong reluctantly agreed. Such conditions were prevalent everywhere, and the materials he provided were more than enough for refining a Symbol Pen. The surplus materials naturally went into the refining tool master''s pocket.


    Just like when he provided Alchemy services, where he would withhold a portion of the Pill, refining tool masters, Spirit Meal masters, and formation masters all had their ways of making extra ie.


    He didn''t quite enjoy the feeling of being out of control, especially since he didn''t understand refining tools.


    "In addition, we need some auxiliary refining tool materials. It will cost approximately ten thousand Spirit Stones, and the refining fee is thirty thousand Spirit Stones. Senior can pay ten thousand Spirit Stones in advance as a deposit," the youth added.


    Wang Hong handed over the two materials and ten thousand Spirit Stones to the youth.


    The shopkeeper, who had been silent until now, wrote a receipt for Wang Hong. If the shopkeeper didn''t appear, and the materials and deposit were given directly to a low-level Cultivator, few would feel at ease.


    After finalizing the details with the shopkeeper, Wang Hong left the Thousand Crafts Pavilion.


    Returning to his temporary residence in Boundary City, provided by Qingxu Tower, Wang Hong found a small house hastily built since Boundary City was still under construction.


    Preparing to refine a second-tier Talisman, he decided to practice with a first-tier high-quality Talisman.


    Over the years, he never neglected his study of Runes. Starting from the basics and utilizing the hundredfold time eleration in the Space, he had established a solid foundation in various fundamental Runes, such as Yin and Yang Runes.


    This was something many Foundation Building Cultivators could not achieve in their entire lives. Foundation Building Cultivators had a lifespan of only two hundred years. During the few decades in the Qi Cultivation stage, they were busy every day for survival and Foundation Building.


    After Foundation Building, they had to run around for Spirit Stones, Spiritual Herbs, and Spiritual Weapons. Very few could focus on studying foundational things as it was more beneficial for long-term development than immediate gains.


    He now possessed enough knowledge to refine a second-tier Talisman butcked practical experience. Wang Hong picked some eighty-year-old Morning Light Grass from the Space to make first-tier high-quality Talisman Paper.


    Thirty-year-old Morning Light Grass could be used to make first-tier middle-quality Talisman Paper, while eighty-year-old or older could produce first-tier high-quality Talisman Paper.


    The Morning Light Grass grown outside would wither and die when it reached a hundred years. However, the Morning Light Grass he nted in the Space had some reaching two hundred years, still vibrant and lively.


    Wang Hong had previously harvested a few two-hundred-year-old Morning Light Grass nts, producing Talisman Paper slightly better than first-tier high-quality but not reaching second-tier standards.


    He crafted two hundred sheets of Talisman Paper using these eighty-year-old Morning Light Grass.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 199: Second-tier Talisman

    Chapter 199: Second-tier Talisman


    Wang Hong refined eighty top-tier first-tier Talisman Papers out of the two hundred he had created.


    Feeling dissatisfied with the low sess rate, he had an abundance of first-tier Talisman Paper materials butcked the materials for second-tier Talisman Paper. Wasting even one was a significant loss.


    He proceeded to craft a thousand top-tier first-tier Talisman Papers, and after using them all, his sess rate reached seventy percent.


    While this was already a high sess rate among symbol artisans, he wasn''t content. He refined two thousand more Talisman Papers, converting all of them into Talismans. Finally, his sess rate for top-tier first-tier symbol crafting reached ny percent.


    By this time, three months had passed, and the refining tool master at Thousand Crafts Pavilion lived up to expectations. They crafted a middle-grade Spiritual Weapon Symbol Pen for him.


    During these three months, the construction of buildings within Boundary City waspleted. However, the construction of the city walls would still take a considerable amount of time, given the colossal nature of the project and the countless manpower and resources required.


    After thepletion of Qingxu Tower, Wang Hong was allocated an even better independent residence than before.


    Wu Dayong, the manager of Qingxu Tower, had developed a closer rtionship with Wang Hong after their escape together. Within his authority, he naturally provided Wang Hong with more conveniences.


    Sitting in his new home, Wang Hong toyed with the Symbol Pen in his hand. The pen''s tip was wless, and the green pen shaft still retained golden spots.


    With the Symbol Pen in hand, he could now start refining second-tier Talismans.


    Among the second-tier Demonic Beast hides he had peeled off earlier, not all were suitable for refining Talisman Paper. He selected six pieces of hide, each about the size of a palm.


    Taking one piece, he refined it with Spirit Fire, removing impurities until only a palm-sized piece remained. Using the same method, he refined the remaining five hides into Talisman Paper.


    Next was the preparation of Spiritual Ink. The ink required for refining second-tier Talismans was not ordinary, and Wang Hong had started collecting it long ago.


    He took out a small bottle, poured some Demonic Beast essence blood onto an inkstone, and then took a small thumb-sized piece of Spiritual Ink, grinding it gently on the inkstone and mixing it with the essence blood.


    After spreading the Talisman Papers on the table, he pressed them down with a paperweight and dipped the Symbol Pen into the Spiritual Ink.


    A second-tier Talisman contained at least a hundred runes, several times moreplex than a first-tier Talisman. The top-tier first-tier Talisman he had previously refined had at most forty to fifty runes.


    Now, he was preparing to refine the Fire Rain Talisman, which included a total of one hundred and twenty-eight runes.


    From the symbol head to the symbol body, galldder, and feet, the strokes had to be continuous. Any slight mistake could lead to the failure of the entire process.


    During the preparation phase, Wang Hong had practiced countless times on regr paper and had be proficient.


    Wang Hong picked up the pen, took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and began drawing on the Talisman Paper.


    While drawing, he also controlled the amount of Spiritual Power input, ensuring that the runes were drawn smoothly while the Spiritual Power circted on top. The speed of his strokes needed to match the flow of Spiritual Power.


    Despite his careful approach, the first refinement of the second-tier Talisman failed.


    He sat in quiet contemtion for a while before starting the production of the second Talisman.


    After using all six second-tier Talisman Papers, he obtained two Fire Rain Talismans.


    After finishing the symbol crafting, Wang Hong packed away all the tools. In a short time, he had run out of second-tier Talisman Paper to craft more Talismans.


    During this period of symbol crafting, Wu Dayong had taken on numerous Alchemy tasks for him. Wang Hong needed to refine these Pills as quickly as possible, a task that wasn''t difficult for him.


    In just a few days, hepleted all the Alchemy tasks umted over the past few months.


    After the busy work, he stepped out of his secret chamber, collected the Transmission Talismans floating at the door, and checked them one by one.


    Most of the messages were visitation requests. Having spent over a year in Jin''an City, he had naturally made acquaintances with some Cultivators, and asional mutual visits weremon.


    Due to the frequent need for Immortal Cultivators to cultivate or attend to other matters, it wasn''t convenient to disturb them anytime. Therefore, Cultivators above the Foundation Building stage would send a Transmission Talisman in advance, waiting for a reply before visiting.


    As for Qi Cultivation Cultivators, it wasn''t a matter of disrespect but rather poverty. A month''s worth of Spirit Stones earned by a Qi Cultivation Cultivator might not even be enough to buy a Transmission Talisman, making it difficult for them to develop such polite habits.


    Among these Transmission Talismans was one sent by Ling Shuai, who had returned with him to Boundary City earlier. He mentioned having urgent matters.


    Wang Hong had a favorable impression of Ling Shuai and replied with two Transmission Talismans.


    Within a quarter of an hour, Ling Shuai arrived, carrying an infant in his arms.


    After entering, Ling Shuai exchanged brief greetings with Wang Hong and said, "I beg Senior Wang for help!"


    "Why does Ling Fellow Daoist say so?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "I implore Senior Wang to check on the condition of this infant and lend a helping hand," Ling Shuai said, partially opening the swaddling cloth and bringing the baby closer to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong had heard about the situation of this baby before and knew that her survival was precarious.


    Wang Hong carefully examined her with Divine Sense, discovering that the baby''s vitality was extremely weak, with the constant risk of dissipating and dying.


    "s! Originally born with insufficient innate vitality, the weak life force, coupled with theck of proper care during this period, puts her at constant risk of dissipating."


    Wang Hong had observed her when they returned to Boundary City together, knowing that the baby was born with insufficient vitality but had improvedpared to the present.


    During this time, Ling Shuai had been at a loss. Initially, he fed the baby with the thick soup given by Zhang Chunfeng, and her condition improved slightly.


    However, after finishing that one pot of soup, Ling Shuai sought Zhang Chunfeng to buy more but was told that there was only one pot avable. Zhang Chunfeng refused to reveal the origin of the soup.


    Helpless, Ling Shuai sought advice from Alchemists and Spirit Meal masters, but the Spiritual Herbs they prescribed were either rare treasures or ineffective.


    He tried various methods and sought help from many people, but each day he could only watch the infant''s condition worsen.


    Today, he went to Zhang Chunfeng again. Seeing the baby''s dire state, Zhang Chunfeng, moved with pity, suggested that he might try seeking help from Wang Hong.


    Ling Shuai, desperate and willing to try anything, came to Wang Hong and exined the process of seeking medical help and the various treatment ns he had tried.


    Based on Ling Shuai''s information and his own observations, Wang Hong felt that there might still be a chance to save the baby.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 200: Grand Gift

    Chapter 200: Grand Gift


    Ling Shuai had heard that Wang Hong was not only skilled in Alchemy but also adept at crafting various Spirit Meals.


    Therefore, he couldn''t think of a more suitable person than Wang Hong for the task at hand.


    After examining the infant girl, Wang Hong pondered for a moment before speaking, "I can only do my best. I cannot guarantee sess."


    "As long as Daoist friend can save my daughter''s life, from now on, my life is at yourmand," Ling Shuai said firmly.


    After witnessing the tragic death of his Dao Companion, Ling Shuai''s life goals had narrowed down to two: raising the only descendant left behind by him and his Dao Companion and seeking revenge on the Demon n when the opportunity arose.


    With his daughter''s life hanging in the bnce as the primary goal, he was willing to sacrifice anything else.


    "Daoist Ling, your words are weighty, and I will do my best."


    Wang Hong was somewhat confident in treating the infant girl.


    Althoughplete recovery was not guaranteed, he was confident that he wouldn''t cause harm.


    Without this confidence, he wouldn''t dare to intervene and treat the child.


    Some people, in their desperation for a cure, would agree to anything and promise anything. However, if the actual oue didn''t meet their expectations, there was a high probability of turning hostile.


    "I can prepare a Spirit Meal suitable for the infant to cultivate essence blood and vitality. Additionally, I will concoct a Spirit Elixir, but it will take some time for the refinement process."


    Creating a Spirit Elixir tailored for an infant, while not as challenging as devising a new Pill Recipe, still required modifying existing forms, which was not a task aplished in a day or two.


    "In that case, I am truly grateful, Daoist Wang!"


    Ling Shuai deeply bowed in gratitude.


    "Very well! Please wait here for a moment; I will go and prepare the Spirit Meal for you."


    Wang Hong entered the kitchen, selecting ingredients that were gentle and suitable for infant nourishment, adding a few pieces of mutated Astragalus aged a hundred or two hundred years.


    Gradually adding these materials to the pot, he poured in Spirit Spring Water improved by Space, refining it slowly. After an hour, a pot full of ingredients had transformed into a thick soup. The originallyrge pot of Spirit Spring Water had condensed into a bowl of concentrated soup.


    Wang Hong poured this soup into an Earthen Jar and left the kitchen.


    "You only need to feed a few drops of this thick soup to the infant each day to sustain her life."


    "Thank you, Daoist Wang!" Ling Shuai received the Earthen Jar and eagerly fed a drop to the infant. Shortly after consumption, a hint of color returned to the baby''s face.


    "Given the urgency of the situation, I used readily avable ingredients. I''ll provide you with a list of ingredients. In the future, you can collect them, and I''ll assist in the refinement."


    Wang Hong handed Ling Shuai a Jade Scroll containing the names of various ingredients, which inevitably included some items Wang Hong needed.


    "This jar of Spirit Meal soup shouldst for about seven to ten days. When youe next time, I''ll refine the Spirit Elixir for you."


    The form and refinement method for the Spirit Elixir required further study and experimentation.


    After Ling Shuai left, Wang Hong began researching the preparation method for the Spirit Elixir. With the rich heritage of the Cultivation World, there were naturally many simr forms, and Wang Hong had mastered several of them.


    However, these forms were not entirely suitable for the current condition of the infant girl. Therefore, Wang Hong had to modify the original forms.


    He took on this task not only because of his acquaintance with Zhang Chunfeng and Ling Shuai but also out of a sense ofpassion.


    The primary reason was that solving these challenges could enhance his Alchemy skills.


    He had never feared difficulties; each challenge resolved brought about progress, and that was what he enjoyed the most.


    In the following days, he worked on concocting Spirit Elixir, modifying forms. Finally, on the sixth day, he sessfully refined a Spirit Elixir that satisfied him.


    On the eighth day, Ling Shuai arrived at Wang Hong''s residence carrying the infant girl. After consuming Wang Hong''s refined Spirit Meal, the baby''splexion had improved somewhat, at least temporarily removing the threat to her life.


    "Thank you, Daoist Wang, for saving my daughter''s life. Please ept this small token of gratitude," Ling Shuai said, handing Wang Hong a Jade vial.


    Opening the vial, Wang Hong found over thirty Nourishing Essence Pills inside, which left him both amused and touched.


    These thirty-plus pills were extremely precious for Ling Shuai. Since he couldn''t practice Alchemy himself, every batch of Pills he received from an Alchemist would yield only two or three Pills, at most. Gathering enough materials for this amount wasn''t an easy task.


    However, for Wang Hong, these Pills were rtively insignificant. He couldn''t tell Ling Shuai that he didn''t value them and ask for a different gift.


    "Ling Shuai, this is too valuable. As fellow Alchemists, I have no shortage of Pills in my daily life. Please keep these for yourself," Wang Hong suggested tentatively, not particrly needing them.


    Thinking it was just customary politeness, Ling Shuai insisted, "Master Wang, you must ept them; otherwise, my heart will be uneasy!"


    Unable to refuse further, Wang Hong epted the generous gift.


    "This is the Spirit Elixir I refined specifically for you. When you return home, prepare arge basin, fill it with warm water, drop ten drops of Spirit Elixir each time, and let the infant soak for the duration of an incense stick. Repeat this once a day."


    Wang Hong handed the Jade vial filled with Spirit Elixir to Ling Shuai, providing detailed instructions and precautions.


    Then, Wang Hong refined another batch of Spirit Meal for him. This time, Ling Shuai brought some good-quality ingredients, resulting in a higher-quality Spirit Meal.


    Ling Shuai left with the Spirit Elixir and Spirit Meal, expressing his gratitude profusely.


    Over a monthter, when Ling Shuai came to Wang Hong for the fourth time, the infant girl had undergone significant changes.


    She was no longer in a deep sleep; asionally, she would open her eyes and look around. Although still weak, it was a considerable improvement.


    Filled with gratitude toward Wang Hong, Ling Shuai, to express his thanks, once again gifted Wang Hong over thirty Nourishing Essence Pills.


    After this period of experimentation and modification, Wang Hong had further improved the form of the Spirit Elixir.


    During this time, there was also good news in Boundary Citythe Spirit Stone veins had been reopened, and they were now producing Spirit Stones. Rumor had it that there were even several high-grade Spirit Stones among them.


    However, the manpower was insufficient, and the current production was not high. They were recruiting Qi Cultivators to mine Spirit Stones.


    This tempted Wang Hong a bit. Should he disguise himself as a Qi Cultivator and sign up to mine Spirit Stones?


    After some consideration, he decided against it. He didn''t really need Spirit Stones at the moment. If he ever did, he had plenty of second-tier Spirit Wine hidden in his Space. He could easily sell some secretly, yielding higher ie than mining Spirit Stones.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 201: The Beast Tide Strikes Again

    Chapter 201: The Beast Tide Strikes Again


    The walls of Boundary City had been raised to over ten zhang in height, with Cultivators patrolling back and forth atop the walls. Countless formation masters were busy setting up formations.


    Suddenly, a ck dot appeared in the distance, swiftly approaching Boundary City. As it drew nearer, the people on the city walls finally saw that it was a Thunderhawk carrying a Foundation Building Cultivator.


    The Thunderhawk was a Spirit Beast known for its speed, unmatched within its tier. However, it had a fierce temperament and was not easy to train.


    As the Thunderhawk approached Boundary City, the person on its back shouted, "The Beast Tide ising! The Beast Tide ising!"


    Amidst the shouts, the Thunderhawk flew into the city and reported to the Golden Core Elders.


    The higher-ups of Boundary City had already assigned numerous Cultivators to patrol the outskirts of the city as a precaution.


    At this moment, the Demon n had sessfully stabilized its control over Jin''an City, at least bringing an end to the chaos.


    On the human side, having just suffered a major defeat with countless casualties, the losses were significant.


    Boundary City had recently been constructed, and its walls were not fully repaired yet. It was an opportune time for the Demon n tounch an attack, and they wouldn''t miss such a chance.


    Upon receiving the news, the Golden Core Elders of Boundary City quickly gathered to discuss a strategy.


    Originally, Jin''an City had ten Golden Core Elders, but now there were only nine present. Elder Zhao, who was severely injured during thest attack, was still bedridden and virtually incapacitated. Unless a healing treasure like the Jade Marrow Mushroom could be found, there was little hope for Elder Zhao.


    Unfortunately, even if someone possessed such a healing treasure, they would be unlikely to give it to others. Self-preservation was the priority.


    Elder Zhao, in his current state, was virtually helpless, and obtaining such a precious item was nearly impossible for him alone.


    The nine Elders had reached a consensus early on, anticipating that the Demon n might take advantage of the situation to attack Boundary City. They had made preliminary preparations, including the Cultivator who had just warned them, serving as an additional confirmation of their nned actions.


    "I wonder where the Cultivatorsing to reinforce us are now?" a Golden Core Elder with a slightly reddened nose asked.


    "They are about to arrive. The first batch of reinforcements will be here in three or four days," another Elder responded.


    "Alright! The Beast Tide is about to arrive. Let''s proceed ording to the n!" The nine Elders then dispersed.


    A momentter, on the walls of Boundary City, additional teams of Cultivators appeared. Each Foundation Building Cultivator led ten Qi Cultivation Cultivators.


    Though the total number was not as high as in Jin''an City, the quantity of Foundation Building Cultivators had increased significantly.


    Simultaneously, four Flying Boats soared out of Boundary City, each carrying two hundred Foundation Building Cultivators and one hundred Qi Cultivation Cultivators.


    After takeoff, these four Flying Boats headed toward the direction from which the Beast Tide was approaching.


    Currently, the walls of Boundary City were not yetplete, and the city''s Large Formation for defense had not been established.


    Rather than waiting for Demonic Beasts to attack the city walls and adopting a defensive posture, it was better to confront the enemy outside, preemptively killing a portion of the Demonic Beasts to alleviate the pressure on the city.


    The four Flying Boats flew more than a hundred li in the direction of Jin''an City and already saw a vast tide of Demonic Beasts approaching, covering the sky and earth.


    Faced with the powerful impact of the Beast Tide vanguard, the four Flying Boats did not dare to directly confront them.


    They immediately split into two groups and flew to the sides of the Beast Tide. Although the Beast Tide was charging forward, it was not easy for them to chase after the Flying Boats.


    Two Flying Boats stayed far away on either side, allowing the vanguard of the Beast Tide to pass.


    Once the vanguard had passed, the two groups of Flying Boatsunched attacks on the sides of the Beast Tide.


    Hundreds of Spiritual Weapons, including Flying Swords, throwing knives,rge axes, big hammers, and massive bricks, flew out from the two Flying Boats and entered the midst of the beast horde.


    Many Demonic Beasts, charging forward with momentum, couldn''t defend in time and died on the spot.


    Some slightly stronger Demonic Beasts, although only injured and not killed, fell to the ground in the Beast Tide, where they were trampled into mush by the following Demonic Beasts.


    Some cunning Cultivators specialized in using Spiritual Weapons to infiltrate the horde, attacking the lower three routes of the Demonic Beasts. Although not fatal, the lower three routes were less defended, causing the Demonic Beasts to fall and be trampled to death.


    Although the total number of the two groups of Flying Boats was only eight hundred Foundation Building Cultivators, a meager forcepared to the tens of thousands in the Beast Tide, it was an absolute overpowering force against the first-tier Demonic Beasts.


    In an instant, they had killed thousands of first-tier Demonic Beasts and over a hundred second-tier Demonic Beasts, either dead or injured.


    Although the Beast Tide had thousands of second-tier Demonic Beasts, they were scattered throughout the vast horde and were no match for thebined strength of the two Flying Boats in a localized area.


    In this brief moment, considerable chaos had already ensued on the sides of the Beast Tide.


    Although lower-tier Demonic Beasts had limited intelligence, the fear of death was amon trait among all life forms. Those that weren''t afraid of death had long since gone extinct.


    Upon witnessing the chaotic deaths of theirpanions due to the flying Spiritual Weapons, some lower-tier Demonic Beasts began to run wildly without restraint, causing further confusion among the Demonic Beasts not yet attacked.


    At this moment, tworge groups of flying Demonic Beasts emerged from the Beast Tide, heading directly towards the two sides where the Flying Boats were.


    Upon seeing the approaching Demonic Beasts, the Flying Boats started to retreat into the distance, leading the flying Demonic Beasts away from the Beast Tide.


    Once the flying Demonic Beasts saw that they had sessfully driven away the threat, they prepared to return to the Beast Tide.


    Unexpectedly, the human Flying Boats caught up and, with another round of hacking and shing, caused the death of another two thousand or so Demonic Beasts.


    As the two groups of flying Demonic Beasts prepared to turn back and confront their pursuers, the Flying Boats retreated again. While the Flying Boats weren''t exceptionally fast, the multitude of first-tier Demonic Beasts couldn''t catch up. Although some stronger Demonic Beasts could catch up, the smarter ones refrained from individually pursuing the Flying Boats. The less intelligent ones that did pursue were quickly turned into dust by the onught of Spiritual Weapons.


    In this pursuit and skirmish, the tworge groups of flying Demonic Beasts were reduced to a few thousand survivors and retreated back into the Beast Tide.


    When the two groups of Flying Boats returned to the vicinity of the Beast Tide, preparing to repeat the tactics and harass the sides of the Beast Tide, the Beast Tide was already close to Boundary City.


    At this moment, two more Flying Boats flew out from Boundary City, heading towards the vanguard of the Beast Tide. Their goal was to slow down the charge of the Beast Tide.


    Without these Flying Boats, given the current state of the city walls in Boundary City, it was impossible to stop the initial onught of the Beast Tide. With tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts, they could easily overrun Boundary City.


    After just returning, the two Flying Boats saw that the Beast Tide was approaching the city walls. They flew to the sides of the vanguard to harass and restrain it.


    Meanwhile, three-tier Demonic Beasts, which had not appeared in the Beast Tide until now, also flew out and headed straight for the two Flying Boats.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 202: Little Peng Unleashes Power

    Chapter 202: Little Peng Unleashes Power


    Several third-tier Demonic Beasts soared out from the Beast Tide, charging towards the Flying Boats. Each Flying Boat released a Golden Core Cultivator to confront these formidable creatures.


    With the intervention of Golden Core Cultivators to block the Demonic Beasts, the Flying Boats continued their assault on the side of the Beast Tide, disrupting their offensive.


    The two Flying Boats directly facing the Beast Tide were under immense pressure and could only fight and retreat.


    Fortunately, the Flying Boats were equipped with defensive shields. As long as the shields held, the Cultivators on board remained safe, focusing on ying the Demonic Beasts without concern.


    The forefront Demonic Beasts, though robust and powerful, were scattered by the Foundation Building Cultivators on the Flying Boats, easing the momentum of the Beast Tide.


    The two leading Flying Boats slowly retreated, finally reaching the airspace above the city walls, where they joined forces with the Cultivators defending on the walls to repel the Beast Tide together.


    As the Beast Tide reached below the city walls, the ten-zhang-high walls were not easily surmountable for the crawling Demonic Beasts.


    Only the flying Demonic Beasts couldn''t be entirely stopped and rushed into the city.


    Boundary City had a total of just over ten thousand Cultivators, and with the Beast Tide attacking, the entire city was mobilized.


    Most Cultivators were deployed to the city walls for defense, leaving only a few thousand who were not proficient inbat patrolling various areas within the city.


    As an Alchemist, Wang Hong naturally fell into the category of those not skilled inbat.


    Theck ofbat skills among these Cultivators had no direct corrtion with their personal strength. For instance, Wang Hong possessed a unique expertise.


    If someonecked both strength and a notable skill, they wouldn''t be ssified among those not skilled inbat but rather on the frontline, assigned to cannon fodder teams.


    At this moment, Wang Hong, along with Wu Dayong, led eight Qi Cultivation Disciples to patrol the city streets.


    Suddenly, arge group of flying Demonic Beasts entered the city. Upon entering, they began attacking the city''s Cultivators and evenunched surprise attacks from the rear on those defending the city.


    Among them was arge flock of ck-winged Red-beaked Birds, heading straight for Wang Hong and his group. This flockprised over a thousand birds.


    These Demonic Beasts had a wingspan of about three feet, unable to use Magical Arts and relying solely on physicalbat. Among them was a second-tier Bird King with a wingspan of six feet.


    Wu Dayong engaged in a fierce battle with the second-tier Bird King, while Wang Hong led the remaining eight Qi Cultivation Cultivators to fend off the remaining first-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Seeing the approaching horde, Wang Hong released Little Peng from the Spirit Beast pouch. It was an excellent opportunity for Little Peng to practice and gainbat experience, given the dark sky filled with flying Demonic Beasts.


    Having strength alone was useless without practicalbat experience, and Little Peng had too little experience in real battles. After emerging from the Spirit Beast pouch, it observed the densely packed sky and the numerous flying Demonic Beasts passing by from a distance.


    When Wang Hong signaled for Little Peng to charge into the flock of birds and face the battle alone, it hesitated. The sky was filled with creatures of the same tier as itself.


    Although it had faced thousands of Demonic Beasts before, that was merely a tactic to lure the enemy. This time, it was a genuine life-and-death situation.


    Perhaps it had eaten too much this morning, upsetting Wang Hong, who wanted it to go to its death. Little Peng resolved to eat less in the future, especially from Wang Hong''s bowl.


    Seeing Little Peng hesitating, Wang Hong, controlling his Flying Sword to y the descending demonic birds, kicked Little Peng from behind.


    Despite Wang Hong''s presence ensuring Little Peng''s safety, no amount of persuasion seemed effective. Nearby Qi Cultivation Cultivators struggled against the attacking birds, feeling bitter about their leader''s Spirit Beast being so timid and fearful.


    Meanwhile, Foundation Building Cultivator Wu Dayong battled fiercely with the second-tier Bird King, upied and unable to assist.


    Suddenly, Wang Hong had an idea. He took out a small bottle, removed the cork, and a rich aroma of spirits wafted out.


    This made Little Peng even more unwilling to engage in the fight. With transparent liquid dripping from its beak, it looked at Wang Hong with a resentful gaze.


    Wang Hong aimed the bottle at Little Peng''s mouth, pouring about a cup of the spirit. Little Peng swallowed it eagerly. Wang Hong then threw the bottle into the air, and in the ensuing struggle among the birds, it shattered, and Spirit Wine rained down, causing anothermotion.


    With a cup of Spirit Wine in its system, Little Peng began to swell. Seeing other Demonic Beasts daring to snatch its Spirit Wine, it became furious. With a p of its wings, it soared into the sky,rger than the ck-winged Red-beaked Birds.


    Little Peng, enhanced by Wang Hong''s regr use of Refinement Pills, Golden Body Pills, and Essence Core Pills, dove into the flock like a tiger among sheep. With a single p, it sent several ck-winged Red-beaked Birds flying. It grabbed one and split it in half, blood sttering.


    Moving through the flock, Little Peng was unstoppable, showcasing incredible ferocity. This sudden turn of events significantly relieved the pressure on the Qi Cultivation Cultivators below.


    Witnessing the power of the Foundation Building expert''s Spirit Beast, the Cultivators felt a tinge of shame for their earlier doubts.


    Seeing Little Peng in action, Wang Hong focused on controlling his Flying Sword to deal with approaching birds. Simultaneously, he used a Binding Spirit Rope to entangle the Bird King fighting Wu Dayong in the air.


    Taking advantage of Bird King''s distraction attacking Wu Dayong, the Binding Spirit Rope silently approached from behind. Demonic Beasts had weaker spiritual senses than human Cultivators.


    By the time the Bird King noticed the Binding Spirit Rope, it was toote. It was quickly bound securely. Wu Dayong, well-practiced in coordination with Wang Hong, swiftly beheaded the Bird King.


    After the Bird King''s demise, the remaining lower-tier demonic birds, unrestrained, fell victim to Wang Hong, Wu Dayong, and the now empowered Little Peng.


    After scattering the demonic bird group, Little Pengnded beside Wang Hong, head held high, exuding a triumphant air. Wang Hong patted its back and rewarded it with a pill.


    Without much dy, Wang Hong and Wu Dayong, apanied by a few Cultivators and Little Peng, charged towards another group of demonic birds.


    While these demonic birds were slightly weaker than the previous horde attacking the city, leaving them unattended in the rear could jeopardize the safety of the city''s defenders.


    The battle on the city wall intensified, with demonic beasts asionally breaching and being swiftly in by defending Cultivators. Those that couldn''t be quickly dispatched would upy a section of the wall, providing an opportunity for more demonic beasts to climb up.


    In such moments, the two Flying Boats would rush over,bining forces to eliminate the demonic beasts on the wall.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 203: Grave Robbery Master Thief

    Chapter 203: Grave Robbery Master Thief


    At this moment, the siege by Demonic Beasts had been going on for several hours.


    The three-tier Demonic Beasts on the opposing side, along with our Golden Core Cultivators, had been engaged in battle from the very beginning, but now there was no sign of them. It was unclear where they had disappeared to.


    The Demonic Beasts were no longer as ferocious in their siege, and our defending Cultivators were extremely fatigued.


    The hours-long battle had already depleted the Spiritual Energy of most Cultivators.


    Meanwhile, the four Flying Boats in the rear continued to vigorously y the Demonic Beasts.


    At this moment, the Foundation Building Cultivators on the Flying Boats each held a medium-grade Spirit Stone. They wielded Spiritual Weapons to kill Demonic Beasts while actively absorbing Spiritual Energy from the stones to replenish their own consumption.


    These medium-grade Spirit Stones had been distributed to them in advance by the higher-ups of Boundary City, specifically for replenishing the expenditure of Spiritual Power.


    The immense Spiritual Energy within the medium-grade Spirit Stones, while not as potent as second-tier Spirit Wine in replenishing Spiritual Power, was much faster than consuming first-tier Spirit Wine.


    This was the benefit of possessing a vein of medium-grade Spirit Stone.


    However, the quantity of medium-grade Spirit Stones in the vein was not abundant. Over this period of time, only a few hundred had been mined.


    This amount was just enough to give each Foundation Building Cultivator on the six Flying Boats one piece each, as they had the highest frequency of battle. Without replenishment, they would have lost theirbat effectiveness long ago.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong and Wu Dayong''s group had already killed more than ten groups of flying Demonic Beasts within the city.


    Wang Hong had consumed Spirit Wine several times to replenish his Spiritual Energy. As for Wu Dayong, having been the shopkeeper for so many years, he had naturally umted quite a few good items and surprisingly had some second-tier Spirit Wine.


    As for the eight Qi Cultivation Cultivators, Wang Hong simply sold them a bottle of first-tier Spirit Wine each at a low price to prevent them fromgging behind.


    It wasn''t that he couldn''t afford to give them the meager amount of Spirit Stones for the first-tier Spirit Wine; it was just that they were not close enough to warrant such generosity.


    The overall strength of the flying Demonic Beasts entering the city was initially slightly stronger than that of the human Cultivators in the city.


    However, after killing more than ten groups of them, the bnce shifted, and now both sides were evenly matched.


    Outside the city at this moment, the four Flying Boats had finally prated the Beast Tide from the left and right, cutting through the middle and temporarily splitting the Beast Tide into two.


    Taking advantage of this opportunity, the two Flying Boats supporting the city defense boldly attacked from the front, causing chaos in the small section of the beast horde in front of them.


    The six Flying Boats took advantage of the confusion within the Beast Tide, maneuvering freely and relentlessly killing Demonic Beasts.


    As a result, the vanguard of the Beast Tide fell into disarray, losing the strength to continue the siege. The defending Cultivators on the city walls finally gained a moment to catch their breath.


    While the six Flying Boats were busy ying Demonic Beasts, two three-tier Demonic Beasts once again flew out from the Beast Tide and attacked the Flying Boats.


    However, the Flying Boats were unafraid. They formed pairs to confront each Golden Core Cultivator.


    Combining the strength of hundreds of Foundation Building Cultivators, along with the protective barriers of the Flying Boats, they engaged in a fierce battle against the three-tier Demonic Beasts, and for a short time, neither side gained the upper hand.


    The remaining two Flying Boats continued to ruthlessly y Demonic Beasts in front of the city wall, preventing them from regrouping for another siege.


    Realizing that they couldn''t take advantage today, the two three-tier Demonic Beasts emitted a strong pressure and roared loudly toward the Beast Tide.


    Upon hearing the roar, the horde led by second-tier Demonic Beasts began to retreat.


    As the horde moved away, the two three-tier Demonic Beasts turned and followed, leaving the battlefield.


    Seeing the Beast Tide retreat, the Cultivators on the city wall copsed one by one, feeling as if they had lost all strength even to move a finger.


    The six Flying Boats returned to the city, and it took another hour for the Golden Core Elders to return to Boundary City.


    Although the Demonic Beast horde had temporarily retreated, there were still many tasks to be done.


    First and foremost was cleaning up the battlefield and collecting the spoils of war.


    The battle was too chaotic, and there was no time to tidy up the Demonic Beast corpses. They had to be collected systematically, and the distribution would followter.


    Qi Cultivation Cultivators were assigned to handle these tasks, with some Foundation Building Cultivators supervising. The overall coordination was overseen by the Golden Core Elders.


    Wang Hong also received three demon cores and various misceneous materials from the Demonic Beasts.


    In addition, efforts were concentrated on mining the Spirit Stone vein within the city.


    The medium-grade Spirit Stones yed a significant role in today''s battle; otherwise, the Foundation Building Cultivators on the six Flying Boats wouldn''t havested long.


    The city mobilized Cultivators to mine Spirit Stones overnight, even calling on some Foundation Building Cultivators to participate in the excavation.


    Currently, the Demonic Beasts had only temporarily withdrawn and were staying about a hundred miles away from Boundary City, preparing for a possible second siege.


    Wu Dayong approached Wang Hong, inviting him to join in mining the Spirit Stone vein.


    "Foundation Building Cultivators can bring other Magical Weapons into the mine, and with these weapons, we can efficiently mine Spirit Stones. Imagine how fast it could be."


    "It indeed sounds fast, but how much can we gain from mining these Spirit Stones?" Wang Hong was intrigued; after all, using a Magical Weapon like a Flying Sword, a Foundation Building Cultivator could dig a cave mansion in a short time.


    "In these special times, the rewards are naturally much higher. For every ten Spirit Stones mined, one can be distributed to the miner."


    "Really, even for medium-grade Spirit Stones?"


    A swing of a Foundation Building Cultivator''s sword could unearth dozens of Spirit Stones. A ten-to-one ratio was already quite generous, ensuring a considerable daily ie.


    "Of course, including medium-grade Spirit Stones. That''s why I invited you. If you''re lucky enough to mine ten medium-grade Spirit Stones, you get one medium-grade Spirit Stone."


    Wu Dayong knew that, as an Alchemist, Wang Hong was wealthy. Offering only low-grade Spirit Stones might not have piqued his interest.


    "Getting medium-grade Spirit Stones is indeed a fantastic opportunity to earn Spirit Stones. Unfortunately, after the big battle, I feel a bit unwell. I need some time to recuperate, so I have to miss this chance." Wang Hong expressed his regret.


    "That''s a shame, Junior Brother Wang. Your health is more important. Take care, and if the mountains remain green, there will always be wood to burn. I''ll take my leave then."


    With Wang Hong unable to join, Wu Dayong expressed his regret and left.


    That night, the Spirit Stone mine was bustling with activity, with asional cheers from Cultivators echoing within.


    Legends of someone finding a medium-grade Spirit Stone or simr stories stirred waves of envy and admiration.


    Boundary City,cking protective formations at this time, had only around ten thousand Cultivators. After the battle today, there were significant casualties.


    At this moment, most of the remaining Cultivators were busy mining Spirit Stones in the caves, and the number of Cultivators patrolling the city walls was extremely scarce.


    It was precisely at this time that a dark figure quietly slipped out of Boundary City''s walls.


    After leaving the city walls, the figure did not go far but headed towards a pile of Demonic Beast corpses.


    In this battle, the Beast Tide''s total numbers far exceeded the previous siege of Jin''an City.


    Thest time the Beast Tide wasunched, it was a surprise attack, with a limited number of beasts avable due to some being stationed to guard the veins.


    This time, however, it involved most of the Demonic Beasts from the Boundary Mountain Range. Although the time was short, the number of casualties far exceeded those from the previous two days.


    Aside from the avian Demonic Beasts that died within the city, at least a hundred thousand Demonic Beasts died outside the city. After salvaging useful parts from their corpses, several hills of Demonic Beast bodies piled up outside the city.


    Once the dark figure approached one of these corpse mountains, the bodies of the Demonic Beasts disappeared one by one. After a moment, the entire mountain of corpses vanished without a trace.


    The shadow then moved towards another pile of corpses...


    Early the next morning, the Cultivators guarding the city noticed a strange phenomenon: several hills of Demonic Beast corpses outside the city had mysteriously disappeared.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 204: Spirit Wine

    Chapter 204: Spirit Wine


    In the morning, when Wang Hong left his residence, the city was abuzz with discussions about who had good luck in finding Spirit Stones and how much they had unearthed. There was also a peculiar incident that caught everyone''s attention. All the Demonic Beast corpses piled outside the city had mysteriously disappeared overnight.


    Given the sheer number of corpses, even consolidating all the Storage Bags in the city wouldn''t be enough to contain them. Moreover, these Demonic Beast corpses didn''t hold much value and were not worth stealing.


    This event led to various spections among the Cultivators in the city. Some believed it was the work of a necrophiliac madman, while others thought the Demonic Beasts from outside the city had quietly returned and moved the corpses. However, if the Demonic Beasts had such capability, they could have attacked the city walls instead.


    There were also theories that a powerful Nascent Soul expert passing by might have done it, among other spections. In short, there were numerous guesses, but none stood out as usible.


    Wang Hong actively participated in the discussions, vehemently opposing the necrophiliac theory and favoring the idea that a passing senior expert was responsible.


    However, with the ongoing threat of the Demonic Beast Tide, people couldn''t afford to waste too much energy on such matters. The Beast Tide had temporarily receded but remained about two hundred miles away from Boundary City.


    Some Cultivators from the city were dispatched to keep a close eye on the Beast Tide. Any unusual movement had to be reported immediately.


    Although the Beast Tide showed no signs of activity at the moment, there was a continuous influx of Demonic Beasts toward it. The number of Cultivators in the city had dwindled to less than ten thousand after yesterday''s battle, and many were injured and unable to participate.


    Wang Hong had little time for idle chatter. His Space was now filled with Demonic Beast corpses, some massive and reaching several yards in height, while others were only fist-sized, all collected within.


    The area designated for nting demon-hunting trees had turned into a mountain of monster corpses, burying the demon-hunting tree under a massive pile, rendering it invisible.


    He absorbed all the Spirit Stones on him into the Space, but it only expanded by two acres. Unable to amodate everything, he temporarily removed three acres of Spiritual Herb fields to make room for the Demonic Beast corpses. He nned to rent them once space became avable.


    Additionally, he selected some meat from second-tier Demonic Beasts and stored it separately. This meat was of high quality and served as excellent ingredients.


    The powerful bodies of second-tier Demonic Beasts contained rich essence, far superior to the first-tier ones he usually obtained. Except for a few with unpleasant tastes, no one would discard the bodies of second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Due to the overwhelming quantity this time, it was impossible to handle everything, and there weren''t enough Storage Bags to contain it all. Some Cultivators had already packed their bags with spoils from the battle, reluctantly discarding the bodies of second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Wang Hong seized the opportunity and collected them all. Now, he needed to acquire more Spirit Stones to increase the Space''s capacity.


    He had various items that could be exchanged for Spirit StonesSpiritual Herbs, spirit fruits, Pills, and, notably, Spirit Wine. Any of these items could fetch him a substantial amount of Spirit Stones.


    Entering a crowded inn, he changed his appearance before leaving. He believed in keeping the business within his circle, so his first choice of a shop was Qingxu Tower.


    Choosing Qingxu Tower had an additional advantagehe was already affiliated with it, knowing the ins and outs of the ce, including its capabilities.


    Upon entering Qingxu Tower, a familiar waiter approached him. "Esteemed guest, may I inquire about your needs?"


    "Help me find your shopkeeper; I have a significant deal for him," Wang Hong said with a satisfied expression.


    "Of course, please follow me," the waiter led him to a private room.


    Wang Hong had received many Alchemy-rtedmissions in this room in the past, never expecting he would be a customer here himself one day.


    After a while, the waiter returned with Wu Dayong.


    "Fellow Daoist, I am the shopkeeper of this establishment, Wu Dayong. May I know what brings you to our humble shop with such a grand business proposition?" Wu Dayong asked with a friendly smile.


    "I have some Spirit Wine. I wonder if your shop would be interested?" Wang Hong inquired with a smile.


    "Of course! Of course! How much do you have, and we''ll take as much as you have!" Wu Dayong eagerly replied.


    Spirit Wine was currently in high demand as a strategic resource during the war. It could be a life-saving elixir in critical moments, and no one would consider it too much.


    "I have fifty pounds of second-tier Spirit Wine and five hundred pounds of top-grade first-tier Spirit Wine. We can trade for Spirit Stones. Would your esteemed shop be interested, and what price could you offer?" Wang Hong asked.


    In ordinary times, and outside of wartime, such items couldn''t be easily obtained with Spirit Stones. With the ongoing war against the Demon n, the prices of various strategic resources were skyrocketing, and it was challenging to transport goods from other cities to this location.


    Items like Spirit Wine, which could restore spiritual energy at any time, were held onto tightly by everyone, reluctant to exchange them for Spirit Stones.


    "Thirty thousand Spirit Stones per pound for second-tier Spirit Wine, and one thousand Spirit Stones per pound for top-grade first-tier Spirit Wine. How about that?" Wu Dayong quoted a price significantly higher than the market value.


    Wu Dayong knew that, at this time, spending Spirit Stones to secure such a deal was more than worthwhile. As long as he could obtain this batch of Spirit Wine, the safety of Cultivators from Qingxu Sect in this region would be greatly assureda significant achievement for him.


    "Wu Manager is indeed generous. Deal!" Wang Hong agreed without negotiating further.


    He immediately presented several sealed wine jars for Wu Dayong to inspect. Wu Dayong opened each jar to examine the Spirit Wine. He found the quality to be exceptional, especially considering the storage duration, which exceeded the norm by a considerable margin.


    "Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment. The Spirit Stones will be delivered shortly." Wu Dayong resealed the wine jars and sent a Transmission Talisman.


    After a while, a Foundation Building Cultivator entered the room, bowed to Wang Hong without uttering a word, and handed a Storage Bag to Wu Dayong before standing silently, like a piece of wood.


    Wang Hong recognized this Foundation Building Cultivator, responsible for the warehouse at Qingxu Tower and known for his taciturn nature.


    Wu Dayong scanned the Spirit Stones in the Storage Bag with Divine Sense, then handed it to Wang Hong, saying, "Two million Spirit Stones. Please verify, Fellow Daoist."


    Wang Hong took the bag and scanned it with his Divine Sense, finding exactly two million Spirit Stones.


    "Exactly two million. Since the deal is concluded, I''ll take my leave," Wang Hong stated.


    After the sessful transaction, Wang Hong didn''t linger. Wu Dayong hastily stood to see him off.


    Wang Hong was escorted all the way to the entrance of the shop, and Wu Dayong expressed hope for future coborations.


    After leaving, Wang Hong returned to the inn, changed his identity once again, and then left the inn. He entered another inn, resuming his original identity.


    Back at his residence, he scattered the newly acquired Spirit Stones into the Space. The original area was 105 acres, increased by two acres earlier, totaling 107 acres. After replenishing the spent Spiritual Energy in the recent Space expansion, he allowed the Space to absorb 1.8 million Spirit Stones, increasing its area by eighteen acres.


    Now, his Space had a total area of 125 acres, and the time flow had reached 154 times the normal rate.


    With the additional eighteen acres, he rented the three acres of Spiritual Herb fields he had removed earlier. He also cleared the Demonic Beast corpses piled in the demon-hunting tree forest, allowing the tree to absorb them normally and produce golden seeds.


    He had umted a considerable number of these golden seeds, a valuable resource he didn''t mind having more of. Here, he had the opportunity to gather them in abundance, something he couldn''t achieve elsewhere without spending Spirit Stones.


    He reserved over ten acres of emptynd to store Demonic Beast corpses.


    Throughout the day until evening, the Beast Tide didn''t attack the city. However, this didn''t ease the tension among the Cultivators; if anything, it heightened the sense of urgency. The Beast Tide''s numbers continued to increase, while the number of Cultivators remained stagnant.


    In the evening, Wu Dayong sought out Wang Hong, mysteriously gifting him a pound of second-tier Spirit Wine.


    Without guessing, Wang Hong knew it was the Spirit Wine he had sold. Wu Dayong was thoughtful enough to remember him for such a good deal.


    Shortly after, he received a message from Shen Jian, a senior from Qingxu Sect, summoning everyone for a gathering.


    When Wang Hong arrived, a dozen Foundation Building Cultivators had already gathered in a hall.


    "Wang Senior Brother!" Tian Qing greeted Wang Hong with a smile.


    "Tian Junior Sister!"


    After exchanging pleasantries with Tian Qing, Wang Hong chatted for a while. Zhang Chunfeng walked in and stood beside Wang Hong.


    After a while, Shen Jian arrived, greeted everyone, and stood at the forefront, dering, "Fellow senior brothers, today''s gathering is for a good cause. We''re here to share some benefits, so everyone can gain a bit of light."


    "Shen Senior Brother! What good news do you have?" an eager junior brother asked.


    "It''s like this. I currently have a batch of second-tier Spirit Wine, but it doesn''t belong to me personally; it belongs to the Sect. With Elder Song''s approval, each Foundation Building Cultivator present is entitled to half a pound. However, to obtain this Spirit Wine, the Sect paid a hefty price. Considering the ongoing war and the safety of everyone, we''re distributing it to you at the cost of twenty thousand Spirit Stones per half a pound."


    Wang Hong understood the situation. Sects indeed knew how to make money. In less than half a day, the price had risen from thirty thousand Spirit Stones per pound to forty thousand.


    Although he felt the Sect was being opportunistic, it didn''t dampen the enthusiasm of the fellow Cultivators.


    Items like second-tier Spirit Wine, Spiritual Objects, were usually traded through barter. Sess rates for transactions using Spirit Stones were typically low. As many high-tier Cultivators would say, if it could be resolved with Spirit Stones, it wasn''t a big deal.


    Now, with everyone willing to spend Spirit Stones to buy Spirit Wine, Wang Hong naturally couldn''t be an exception.


    At the price of forty thousand Spirit Stones per pound, he purchased back half a pound of the Spirit Wine he had sold.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 205: Roasting Meat

    Chapter 205: Roasting Meat


    That night, the mining cave continued its intense excavation of Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong, however, was not engaged in mining. Instead, he was busy roasting a leg of a second-tier Demonic Beast. The mes from the spirit charcoal below rose, crisping the meat above as its aroma filled the entire room.


    Using a small knife, Wang Hong sliced off a piece of meat and tossed it into his mouth. With a few chews, the outeryer was crispy while the inside remained tender, and the vor filled his mouth.


    Just as he was about to enjoy another piece, a resounding bell suddenly echoed. In haste, he flicked his sleeve, extinguishing the spirit charcoal.


    However, he couldn''t bear to waste the freshly roasted meat; after all, he had only taken one bite.


    Grabbing the roasted meat, he hurriedly headed outside.


    The ringing bell signaled the imminent Beast Tide attack, and everyone who heard it needed to assemble immediately at the designated location.


    Arriving at the assembly point in a rush, Wang Hong found nine solemn Golden Core Cultivators standing on a high tform. Below them were over a hundred Foundation Building Cultivators.


    Finding a spot to stand, Wang Hong suddenly remembered he was holding arge piece of roasted meat.


    Deciding it was inappropriate to hold it in such a serious situation, he took out arge leaf, intending to wrap it up and store it in his Storage Bag. Who knew how long the uing battle wouldst?


    One of the Golden Core Cultivators on the tform, a chubby man, wrinkled his nose, quickly spotting the roasted meat in Wang Hong''s hands.


    He vaguely remembered this Disciple of their sect. With a mere thought, he appeared beside Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong, in the process of wrapping the meat with a leaf, suddenly felt a massive shadow blocking his light.


    Looking up, he saw a chubby man with soft features staring at him seriously. It was Uncle Song, a Golden Core Elder from the Qingxu Sect.


    "Respects to Uncle Song!" Wang Hong quickly bowed.


    "In the midst of a great battle, you still have the leisure for such unrted matters. Do you understand the gravity of your actions?" Song Wei sternly questioned.


    "I acknowledge my mistake and ask for Uncle''s forgiveness!" Wang Hong replied with genuine fear. He thought his actions, though not dignified, wouldn''t warrant the attention of a Golden Core expert.


    "Hand it over, confiscate it!" Song Wei extended a serious hand.


    Wang Hong obediently handed over the roasted meat wrapped in the leaf. Without a word, Song Wei walked away.


    By this time, all the Foundation Building Cultivators had gathered. After several recent battles, their numbers had dwindled to less than two thousand.


    "Fellow cultivators, just now, the scouts brought news. Beast Tide is charging in our direction, ready to crush our Boundary City. Jin''an City has already fallen. If Boundary City falls too, this ce will be the Demon n''s domain, leaving no refuge for our human race.


    "We, cultivators, will either be their food or be captured as ves, akin to pigs and dogs. This battle not only determines our fate but also the sess or failure of the entire human race.


    "For our people, we shall honorably fight to the death!" dered the Golden Core cultivator on the high tform with fervor.


    Below, many Foundation Building Cultivators were stirred up, clenching their fists, their faces flushed. They also joined in the loud cheers.


    After boosting morale, the Golden Core Cultivators proceeded to assign tasks to everyone. Each Foundation Building Cultivator was then given a mid-grade Spirit Stone to restore their Spiritual Power.


    These past two days, they had been tirelessly mining spirit ore day and night, collecting a considerable number of mid-grade Spirit Stones, enough for each person to receive one.


    Wang Hong couldn''t escape this time either. He ascended the city wall to join the battle. The mortality rate for defending cultivators on the city wall was quite high.


    Once the assignments were made, everyone hurried to their respective positions.


    When Wang Hong reached the city wall, there were already five Qi Cultivation Cultivators waiting there. These five were assigned to follow him and be under his temporarymand.


    "Respects, senior!" The five greeted Wang Hong upon his arrival.


    "No need for excessive courtesy. Since you''re following me, I''ll give you a little benefit. I have a few bottles of high-grade first-tier Spirit Wine. I''m selling them at a low price, only three hundred Spirit Stones per catty. Each person can buy one catty."


    This was more of a gift than a sale. Even in Azure Void City, the price was five to six hundred Spirit Stones per catty.


    "Thank you, senior!" After expressing their gratitude, the five began searching for Spirit Stones on their persons.


    In the end, only three managed to gather enough Spirit Stones. The other two even turned their shoe insoles inside out but couldn''t gather the required three hundred Spirit Stones.


    Finally, Wang Hong agreed to ept items in exchange. He cheerfully pulled out a pile of things from his Storage Bag,ying them on the ground for Wang Hong to choose.


    With so little to offer, Wang Hong wasn''t particrly interested, so he randomly picked a few items. In return, he gave each of them a catty of Spirit Wine and then assigned them to guard their respective positions, waiting for the arrival of the Demonic Beasts.


    At this moment, six Flying Boats had already engaged in battle with the Beast Tide. Following the previous strategy, they avoided the forefront and attacked the Demonic Beasts from the side. This time, each side had three Flying Boats.


    On one of the Flying Boats, Song Wei, the chubby man, sat cross-legged in the cargo hold, enjoying the confiscated roasted meat from Wang Hong. asionally, he took a sip of Spirit Wine, also purchased from Wang Hong at Qingxu Tower.


    Hundreds of Spiritual Weapons flew from these Flying Boats into the midst of the Beast Tide, creating sshes of blood.


    However, the Beast Tide this time was too massive. Including the fist-sized flying birds, their total number exceeded a million.


    The chaos caused by the side attacks of the Flying Boats was like ripples in a river, unable to change the overall trend of the Beast Tide.


    Although unable to halt their advance, the six Flying Boats stubbornly held onto the side of the Beast Tide, fervently ughtering Demonic Beasts in an attempt to alleviate the pressure.


    On each Flying Boat, Foundation Building Cultivators held a mid-grade Spirit Stone, manipting Spiritual Weapons to kill Demonic Beasts while simultaneously absorbing their Spiritual Energy, sustaining themselves for a longer duration.


    When the Beast Tide reached under the city wall, tens of thousands had already been in by the Foundation Building Cultivators on the Flying Boats.


    The vanguard of the Beast Tide crashed into the city wall with undiminished speed, violently colliding with it. The impact shook the wall intensely, causing the forefront Demonic Beasts to bleed from their heads.


    Wang Hong stood on the city wall, seeing the Beast Tide below. He immediately summoned the Golden Seal and smashed it fiercely downward.


    This blow killed three first-tier Demonic Beasts. Simultaneously, he used the Binding Spirit Rope, specifically targeting the second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Any beast caught by the Binding Spirit Rope would be followed by a strike from his Golden Seal, shattering their heads.


    However, being a Foundation Building Second Layer cultivator, Wang Hong was simultaneously controlling two Spiritual Weapons, one of superior grade and one of mid-grade. This led to rapid consumption of his Spiritual Power. If not for his exceptionally vast dantian sea, he wouldn''t be able to control them for more than a few strikes.


    Despite his profound foundation and considerable Spiritual Power, each time he used both Spiritual Weapons to kill a second-tier Demonic Beast, he needed to take a sip of second-tier Spirit Wine to replenish his Spiritual Power.


    Despite others conservatively hiding their Spirit Wine and only drinking it in critical moments, Wang Hong believed that everyone had different thoughts, and their preferences couldn''t be forced upon them.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 206: City Defense

    Chapter 206: City Defense


    As the Demonic Beasts charged beneath the city walls, the flying Demonic Beasts in the sky soared directly over the walls and into Boundary City.


    This time, the city was deserted as everyone had climbed onto the walls. After wreaking havoc in the empty city, the flying Demonic Beasts found it uninteresting.


    They turned back to attack the Cultivators defending the walls, making the already challenging defense even more difficult for the Cultivators.


    Fortunately, four Flying Boats had returned to the city walls, assisting the defending Cultivators in ughtering arge number of flying Demonic Beasts.


    This significantly relieved the pressure on the city''s defenders, but the Demonic Beasts continued to flood in like a tide, making the situation far from optimistic.


    On Wang Hong''s right side, a mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator defended with some skill, wielding a Mountain-splitting Greataxe. The axe was sharp, cutting through the Demonic Beasts with each swing.


    At least for the time being, Wang Hong''s right side seemed secure.


    On the left side, however, the Cultivator was not as reliable. This Cultivator on the left only had an early-stage Foundation Building cultivation level, indicating recent advancement.


    More strangely, this individual used a shield-shaped Spiritual Weapon for defense, firmly protecting themselves. Then, they unexpectedly summoned a high-quality Magical Weapon, a Flying Sword, to sh at the Demonic Beasts. Although the Magical Weapon, under the activation of a Foundation Building Cultivator, had more power than a Qi Cultivation Cultivator, using it to cut through the tough hides of second-tier Demonic Beasts seemed as if they were merely scratching an itch.


    Perhaps the second-tier Demonic Beasts even found the attack insufficient to scratch an itch.


    In between battles, Wang Hong nced at the left side, noting the precarious situation.


    Wang Hong continued to use the Binding Spirit Rope in conjunction with the Golden Seal to relentlessly y Demonic Beasts. Fortunately, second-tier Demonic Beasts were a minority in the Beast Tide.


    Soon, there were no second-tier Demonic Beasts left in the small section of the city wall he was defending. After all, the Beast Tide was primarilyposed of first-tier Demonic Beasts,cking intelligence and making them easier to control as cannon fodder.


    At this moment, five Qi Cultivation Cultivators were red-eyed, exerting themselves to the limit to y first-tier Demonic Beasts crawling on the city wall.


    It wasn''t just Wang Hong''s section; the situation was the same elsewhere. With only a few thousand Qi Cultivation Cultivators against a Beast Tide numbering in the millions, without the protection of the city walls, they wouldn''t even create a ripple in the tide.


    Fortunately, the frequent support from the Flying Boats prevented the overwhelming numbers of first-tier Demonic Beasts from climbing the city walls.


    However, the Flying Boats had their own challenges. While supporting the defending Cultivators, they also had to deal with the numerous flying Demonic Beasts in the sky.


    Originally intending to attack the Cultivators on the walls, the flying Demonic Beasts were blocked by the Flying Boats, diverting their focus to attack the boats directly.


    Although the Flying Boats had defensive shields, sustained attacks could still break through.


    Therefore, the Foundation Building Cultivators on the Flying Boats had to allocate some of their efforts to kill the flying Demonic Beasts closing in.


    After an hour of battle, a second-tier Demonic Beast had reached the city wall on Wang Hong''s left. In an instant, three Qi Cultivation Cultivators lost their lives.


    Due to the weakbat strength of the early-stage Foundation Building Cultivator and the limited support from the Flying Boats, they couldn''t be monitored continuously.


    As a Demonic Beast burst through the breach, countless others took advantage and surged up from that point.


    The Foundation Building Cultivator, witnessing the swarm of Demonic Beasts pouring onto the city wall, panicked. He saw the second-tier Demonic Beast with its gaping bloody maw charging towards him, followed by numerous ferocious Demonic Beasts.


    Terrified, he turned and fled. From his Storage Bag, he pulled out a flying shuttle Spiritual Weapon, leaped onto it, and swiftly escaped dozens of yards away.


    Observing this, Wang Hong, beside himself in battle, noticed that this Cultivatorcked an attacking Spiritual Weapon but possessed a flying Spiritual Weapon.


    These specialized flying Spiritual Weapons were considerably faster than others, and their prices were not cheap.


    More importantly, in the current situation where the enemy was strong and they were weak, setting a precedent for fleeing on the spot would have dire consequences.


    Once someone fled, others would follow suit, and soon no one would fight to the end. Those who persisted in defending would ultimately find themselves in a dead end.


    Wang Hong was prepared. If the act of fleeing without consequences continued after observing for a while, he would also turn and escape.


    At that moment, another Foundation Building Cultivator on another section of the wall also took flight, preparing to escape.


    "Anyone fleeing the battlefield shall die!"


    A Golden Core pressure emanated from one of the Flying Boats, and simultaneously, a beam of light shed by. Two Cultivators attempting to escape were cleaved in half in mid-air.


    After killing the two Foundation Building Cultivators, the beam of light on the Flying Sword stopped, hovering motionless in the air.


    Now that everyone could see, the beam of light was merely a Flying Sword, moving too quickly for them to discern.


    Some Cultivators who harbored simr thoughts now felt relieved.


    As for the Demonic Beasts that had already climbed the left city wall, the Foundation Building Cultivators on the Flying Boat effortlessly ughtered them.


    Then, Wang Hong received an order to take charge of the now vacated left wall.


    With no other choice, Wang Hong extended the defensive area he managed, even though the manpower did not increase, and the five Qi Cultivation Cultivators on the left side were all dead.


    The original five Qi Cultivation Cultivators under hismand were already struggling. If he extended further, the defense would copse soon.


    Wang Hong waved his hand, releasing two thousand Poisonous Bees from his Spirit Beast bag to take over the additional section of the wall.


    Although the prating ability of his Poisonous Bees was not strong, they proved effective against many first-tier Demonic Beasts, as many of the bees had reached the mid-level of Qi Cultivation.


    The Poisonous Bees buzzed toward the base of the city wall, quickly poisoning the first-tier Demonic Beasts that stood in their way.


    Apart from asionally dealing with some Demonic Beasts that the Poisonous Bees couldn''t prate, the defense of this segment of the wall seemed effortless with the two thousand Poisonous Bees.


    While individually weaker than Cultivators of the same tier, the sheer number of Poisonous Bees prevented the first-tier Demonic Beasts from approaching the wall.


    In this way, the defense of Wang Hong''s segment of the wall seemed considerably easier.


    On the other sections of the wall, the Spiritual Energy of Qi Cultivation Cultivators had been depleted, resulting in numerous casualties. Demonic Beasts frequently breached the wall.


    The defense of the wall was riddled with holes, and the situation was dire. Not only were Qi Cultivation Cultivators killed, but nearly a hundred Foundation Building Cultivators had also fallen, with the death toll still rising.


    The four Flying Boats in the sky were busy rushing to various locations for rescue.


    Two Flying Boats that had initially attempted to create chaos in the rear by killing Demonic Beasts had returned to support the defense on the wall. With the addition of these two boats, the defensive situation slightly improved.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 207: Defeat in the North

    Chapter 207: Defeat in the North


    The battle between the two sides raged from night until dawn, and from morning until noon.


    On the city wall, only a little over a thousand Qi Cultivation Cultivators remained able to resist the onught of Demonic Beasts. Many Qi Cultivation Cultivators under themand of Foundation Building Cultivators had already perished, leaving only one resolutemander.


    Among them, the five under Wang Hong''smand had all survived, thanks in part to the Spirit Wine he had sold them earlier.


    More crucially, Wang Hong had sessfully in all the second-tier Demonic Beasts, and the Poisonous Bees had taken care of most of the first-tier ones.


    Since the appearance of the Poisonous Bees, these five Qi Cultivation Cultivators led a rtively rxed life, asionally engaging in small talk.


    The Cultivator on Wang Hong''s left fell in battle, yet this bolstered his defense significantly.


    The bodies of Demonic Beasts below the city wall had piled up to a height of four or five zhang, allowing more agile ones to leap onto the wall.


    Wang Hong used the Binding Spirit Rope to securely tie up six first-tier Demonic Beasts and tossed them aside.


    As he was about to activate the Golden Seal to strike at a few other first-tier Red-Haired Cow demons, a sudden change urred.


    Although the number of second-tier Demonic Beasts was not significant, after he killed a few, they appeared only asionally. Thus, he focused on eliminating the first-tier ones.


    Suddenly, five second-tier Demonic Beasts emerged from the advancing Beast Tide, heading straight for his section of the wall.


    Simultaneously, the Beast Tide exhibited a transformation. The vanguard was no longer the previously straightforward and physically dominant Demonic Beasts.


    At this moment, simr situations unfolded in other locations. It seemed that the earlier attackers were merely cannon fodder, and now the real siege had begun.


    Seeing the five second-tier Demonic Beasts charging toward the wall, Wang Hong felt the challenge. These Demonic Beasts were much stronger than the ones he had dealt with before.


    Summoning two Spiritual Weapons and wielding the ck giant club, he engaged inbat. After dispatching one of the second-tier Demonic Beasts with the Binding Spirit Rope and Golden Seal, the remaining four beasts advanced onto the wall.


    While Wang Hong was entangled with the Demonic Beasts, more Spiritual Weapons were released from the six Flying Boats. Many Foundation Building Cultivators, each possessing two Spiritual Weapons, simultaneously unleashed their power.


    Normally, Foundation Building Cultivators rarely used two Spiritual Weapons simultaneously, as it doubled the consumption of Spiritual Power. Under this continuous high-intensity battle, the Foundation Building Cultivators on the Flying Boats were already in an extremely fatigued state.


    Controlling two Spiritual Weapons, Wang Hong entangled two second-tier Demonic Beasts, while the other two climbed onto the wall.


    Wang Hong wielded the giant club and charged towards the two second-tier Demonic Beasts: a ck crocodile opening its mouth to bite, and a white fox agilely approaching.


    He quickly retracted the club, avoiding the crocodile''s bite, and then swung it at the fox. The fox dodged a few feet away.


    Meanwhile, the crocodile''srge mouth missed its target, and its massive tail swung towards Wang Hong.


    With a swift movement, Wang Hong appeared next to the fox before it could react. The club struck its head, instantly killing the fox.


    After ying the fox, Wang Hong casually collected its corpse, thinking its fur might be valuable.


    Seeing that Wang Hong had evaded one attack and killed apanion, the enraged crocodile lunged at him.


    Single-handedly facing four Demonic Beasts, having already killed one, Wang Hong felt confident he could handle the remaining three with caution.


    The giant crocodile, though powerful and covered in tough scales, was clumsy in its movements. While dodging, Wang Hong sought an opportunity to strike with his giant club.


    Simultaneously, first-tier Demonic Beasts under the city wall wereunching a frenzied attack. Wang Hong released two thousand Poisonous Bees to defend against the first-tier Demonic Beasts assaulting the city.


    While Wang Hong was entangled with various Demonic Beasts, other sections of the city wall were also in dire straits. Numerous Demonic Beasts surged onto the wall.


    Although the Foundation Building Cultivators on the six Flying Boats fought with all their might, they couldn''t handle the situation for the time being.


    Surrounded by Demonic Beasts, several Foundation Building Cultivators near Wang Hong''s location retreated to his side when they saw a temporary respite.


    Simr situations urred on several parts of the wall, creating gathering points where Cultivators temporarily defended small sections together, maintaining some safety.


    In other areas, Demonic Beasts had overwhelmed the defenses and entered the city.


    The six Flying Boats continued to hover above the city wall, vigorously battling Demonic Beasts. They assisted Cultivators at each gathering point, bringing them aboard the Flying Boats.


    At this point, nearly all Qi Cultivation Cultivators on the city wall had perished. It was a rare sight that Wang Hong and his five Qi Cultivation Cultivators were still alive.


    The surviving Foundation Building Cultivators numbered only around two to three hundred. They were hastily loaded onto the Flying Boats.


    With the support of the Flying Boats, Wang Hong and his group also boarded one of them.


    While boarding, he casually used the Golden Light Bowl to capture the five Qi Cultivation Cultivators following him, bringing them onto the Flying Boat. If they had survived this long, might as well save them rather than leave them to perish below.


    After all Foundation Building Cultivators were brought aboard, it marked theplete loss of Boundary City.


    Even if they managed to reim Boundary City from the Demonic Beasts, the remaining one thousand plus people on the six Flying Boats wouldn''t be enough to defend the city. In the end, it would fall into the hands of the Demonic Beasts.


    After the six Flying Boats converged, they didn''t immediately depart. Instead, they unleashed a massacre in the air, specifically targeting flying Demonic Beasts.


    Previously, they had to defend the city walls, unable to fully deal with these flying Demonic Beasts. Now, ughtering them served both as a release of frustration and a strategic move for the future battles against the Demon n. These flying Demonic Beasts were too troublesome.


    If they could eliminate most of the flying Demonic Beasts, how could the ground-based Demonic Beasts pose a threat to the Flying Boats?


    After a round of ughter by the six Flying Boats, the flying Demonic Beasts scattered and fled, bringing the carnage to an end.


    Watching the Flying Boats depart, the Demon n did not pursue. Mainly because, apart from third-tier Demonic Beasts, the rest of the Demonic Beastscked the strength to contend with the Flying Boats.


    In this battle, the Golden Core Cultivators on both sides and the third-tier Demonic Beasts had merely been a mutual restraint, without either side making a move. Since they had emerged victorious without having to resort to these forces, there was no need to employ them now.


    Moreover, the Demon n had achieved two consecutive victories. First, by capturing Jin''an City using the Spirit Stone vein as bait, the Demon n left the human race without a foothold in the Boundary Mountain Range. Then, in a retaliatory move, they seized Boundary City, which the humans had already developed. This further weakened the human race.


    The Demon n suffered only minor losses in terms of cannon fodder. Apart from that, they had no significant casualties.


    In this battle, the Demon n was the clear winner!


    At this moment, the Cultivators on the Flying Boats were despondent. Some mourned the loss of friends and family, others felt frustrated due to the defeat, and some were forward-thinking, worrying about the future.


    Wang Hong, however, did not feel particrly emotional about the oue. Victory and defeat weremon in warfare, and he had witnessed it countless times.


    Besides, his few friends had been assigned to the Flying Boats and were unharmed.


    As for the other Cultivators who had died, he didn''t know them personally. While it was disheartening to see fellow humans fall to Demonic Beasts, he didn''t have much emotional attachment. If given the opportunity, he would avenge them by killing more Demonic Beasts in the future.


    The Cultivators on the Flying Boats went through a brief period of mourning before starting to tend to their wounds and engage in meditation for recovery. After all, they still needed to survive.


    After a short period of recovery, Wang Hong opened his eyes and found a Qi Cultivation Cultivator kneeling three feet away from him.


    During Foundation Building Cultivator meditation, they closed off their six senses. However, if someone or something approached within three feet, it would awaken the Cultivator. Therefore, Wang Hong hadn''t noticed.


    Wang Hong raised an eyebrow and asked, "What do you want?"


    The person was one of the Five people Wang Hong had saved earlier.


    "I am Yin Ze, and I want to express my gratitude to Senior for saving my life," the man said as he bowed.


    The other four who had been saved by Wang Hong also came forward, expressing their thanks.


    "No need for excessive courtesy. I just helped out a bit," Wang Hong said, waving his hand.


    "For Senior, it may be a trivial matter, but for us, it''s a matter of life and death. If Senior hadn''t intervened, we would have died at the hands of the Demonic Beasts. We have no way to repay this life-saving grace, so we are willing to follow Senior for the rest of our lives and serve as Senior''s loyal servants!" Yin Ze said with determination, and the others echoed simr sentiments.


    "Following me is quite dangerous. There''s always a risk to your lives. Think carefully," Wang Hong said with a half-smile.


    "We have considered it thoroughly. Since our lives were saved by Senior, we naturally want to return them to Senior," Yin Ze replied without hesitation.


    "Yes, yes," the other four hesitated for a moment but followed suit.


    "Unfortunately, I only need one person for now. Yin Ze, I''ll ept you temporarily. However, any betrayal midway will result in me extracting your soul!" Wang Hong warned.


    "Thank you, Master!" Yin Ze replied with unwavering determination.


    The other four secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although they were grateful, entrusting their lives to Wang Hong wasn''t their intention. It was just a spur-of-the-moment expression, and now they didn''t dare offend Wang Hong and could only follow suit.


    "You don''t need to worry about that. From now on, you can call me East Master!" Wang Hong said.


    "Yes, East Master!" Yin Ze replied respectfully.


    Wang Hong had gained another follower in the form of a Qi Cultivationte-stage Cultivator. Although he had many followers, manpower was still insufficient.


    Especially for Foundation Building stage followers, they were severelycking. Yin Ze was already at the Qi Cultivationte-stage, and with the help of a Foundation Establishment Pill, Foundation Building was within reach.


    However, Wang Hong was selective in epting followers. Yin Ze''s usefulness still needed observation. If he proved valuable, Wang Hong would cultivate him into a Foundation Building Cultivator to take on more significant responsibilities.


    If not, he could always leave him at the store to handle minor tasks in the future.


    [East Master or Master, both are the same.]


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 208: Temporary Camp

    Chapter 208: Temporary Camp


    After six Flying Boats departed from Boundary City, they flew for hundreds of miles beforending in a rtively t area.


    This ce might be a temporary camp because even Flying Boats, despite their ability to fly, consume Spiritual Energy and cannot stay airborne indefinitely.


    The Flying Boats were arranged in a sparse circle on the t ground, with the Flying Boats serving as a temporary wall, and people rested within the circle.


    These Flying Boats wererge magical treasures that couldn''t be absorbed into a cultivator''s body like other treasures. They could be activated either with Spirit Stones or Spiritual Power.


    At this moment, the six Flying Boats parked on the outskirts were more secure than the walls of Boundary City.


    After half a day of rest, those who could recover had already done so, while those with severe injuries were still recuperating.


    With nothing urgent to attend to, many cultivators brought out the spoils they obtained in thest battle and set up stalls in a corner to sell or trade.


    After the intense battle, the resources of many cultivators were depleted. Therefore, they exchanged things they didn''t need for items they urgently required.


    It was rare for over a thousand Foundation Building Cultivators to gather in one ce. Although they were in the same city before, they were scattered all over. Gathering a couple of hundred people at once was considered a grand scale.


    Seizing the opportunity, these Foundation Building Cultivators turned this temporary camp into a bustling trading fair.


    Moreover, considering the current situation, although the human side suffered a setback, the casualties among Foundation Building Cultivators were not too severe. Theirbat strength was still rtively intact.


    If they didn''t stabilize their foothold in the Boundary Mountain Range, the Demon n would have no constraints within the range, essentially opening the gate to the East Zhou Cultivation Realm. There would be no peace from then on, so they had to reim the city.


    Now, all they could do was wait for reinforcements from the East Zhou Cultivation Realm. As soon as the reinforcements arrived, they would undoubtedlyunch a counterattack.


    At this moment, Wang Hong was squatting in front of a stall, carefully selecting materials from a pile of Demonic Beast parts.


    He took advantage of this opportunity to purchase various materials. Currently, he needed a wide range of items: alchemy materials, refining tool materials, talisman-making materialsanything he could use.


    "Excuse me, Fellow Daoist, how many Spirit Stones for this piece of beast hide?" Wang Hong asked, holding a piece of second-tier Demonic Beast hide, which could be used to make second-tier Talisman Paper.


    "I apologize, Fellow Daoist. I only exchange my materials; I don''t sell them, unless you have mid-grade Spirit Stones," the vendor replied.


    Currently, ordinary Spirit Stones didn''t help him much, and it was challenging to find items he needed with low-grade Spirit Stones.


    "May I inquire, Fellow Daoist, what items you are looking to exchange?" Wang Hong asked softly.


    "I ept Spiritual Herbs that enhance cultivation or heal, Pills, and if there''s Spirit Wine, even better."


    At present, Pills, mid-grade Spirit Stones, Spirit Wine, Talismans, and Spiritual Weapons were all highly sought after.


    Having these items allowed cultivators to exchange for almost anything they desired at any stall.


    "I have a nt of Essence Nurturing Grass, would Fellow Daoist be interested?"


    "Of course, and do you have more Essence Nurturing Grass? I have a few more pieces of this kind of beast hide."


    The vendor happily took out the remaining pieces of hide from his storage bag and ced them in front of Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong examined the pieces and confirmed that they could be used to make second-tier Talisman Paper.


    "There are seven pieces in total. I don''t have that much Essence Nurturing Grass, but I can offer you a set of Nourishing Essence Pill materials, along with an additional Healing Blood Pill. How about that?"


    Healing Blood Pill was amonly used healing Pill among Foundation Building Cultivators. Wang Hong had a few hundred of them in stock, and he couldn''t possibly consume them all even if he got injured every day. So, he took this opportunity to exchange some of them.


    "Of course, and do you see anything else you need? All of these are avable for exchange," the vendor replied, pointing to his stall, hoping to make a few more transactions.


    Currently, Demonic Beast materials were abundant, and almost every cultivator had some. It was challenging to trade them away.


    "Thank you, Fellow Daoist. I only need these for now."


    After saying that, Wang Hong took out the items for the trade  several Jade Boxes containing Nourishing Essence Pill materials and a vial from which he poured out a Healing Blood Pill, handing it to the vendor.


    Havingpleted the transaction with the vendor, Wang Hong moved on to the next stall.


    He went through a few hundred stalls, exchanging for many useful materials. Some could be bought with Spirit Stones, and for those that couldn''t, Pills were always epted. If that failed, there was always Spirit Wine, which was guaranteed to work.


    As a second-tier Alchemist, Wang Hong had a stockpile of Spiritual Herbs. It wasn''t surprising, and he wasn''t selling them on arge scale anyway.


    While passing by a stall, arge piece of ore caught his eye. It was ced on the ground, over five feet tall, entirely ck.


    "Excuse me, Fellow Daoist, what type of ore is this?"


    He had some recollection of this ore. Back in the sect, he had inquired with a refining tool master from the Myriad Treasures Tower who had provided him with a list of materials needed for refining closebat Spiritual Weapons.


    Among them was a material called Falling Star Profound Iron, a refining tool material known for its dense and solid texture, incredibly heavy.


    "This material is called Falling Star Profound Iron, an excellent material for refining Spiritual Weapons. Especially a piece thisrge, it might even be possible to refine a top-grade Spiritual Weapon," the vendor enthusiastically exined upon seeing Wang Hong''s unfamiliarity with the material.


    "But, I heard from a refining tool master that Falling Star Profound Iron, due to its excessively heavy texture, results in Spiritual Weapons that are bulky and challenging to control," Wang Hong expressed skepticism, his interest in the ore diminishing.


    "That''s pure rumor. Falling Star Profound Iron is undoubtedly a top-tier refining tool material, a rare find," the vendor quickly defended, seizing the opportunity to counter Wang Hong''s unintentional revtion of the ore''s drawbacks.


    Lamenting the scarcity of fools nowadays, he thought, "It''s not easy to deceive anyone!"


    "Oh! What price is Fellow Daoist nning to sell this piece for? If it''s too expensive, I might reconsider," Wang Hong feigned ack of interest and casually inquired.


    "I can see that Fellow Daoist and I have a good connection. I''ll give you a discount. How about two mid-grade Spirit Stones or equivalent value in other Pills?" the vendor proposed.


    Wang Hong, pretending to leave, was stopped by the vendor who hastily said, "Fellow Daoist, let''s discuss. I can offer you a lower price. After all, we have a good connection!"


    In the end, Wang Hong gave the vendor one mid-grade Spirit Stone and a few Pills, reaching a deal that was below market price. Although Wang Hong had ample resources, he disliked being taken for a fool and managed to negotiate the price down.


    With this piece of ore and some additional auxiliary materials, he could finally refine a handy closebat Spiritual Weapon.


    After concluding this transaction, he visited all the remaining stalls. His haul included over a hundred pieces of second-tier beast hides suitable for talisman-making and various other materials.


    He was particrly pleased to acquire a two to three feet tall ink pine sapling. Ink pine was an excellent material for making spirit ink, and he was struggling to find good ink for talisman-making. With the ink pine tree, he could produce his own spirit ink in the future.


    Additionally, when ink pine matured to a certain age, it would produce pine nuts. Wang Hong had read in some ancient texts that these nuts were delicious and even had some life-prolonging effects when consumed regrly.


    Inside the temporary camp, cultivators from Qingxu Sect gathered together, as did members of other major factions.


    As for some smaller factions, some had disappeared after this battle, and the remaining ones were as insignificant as a couple of small cats.


    After Wang Hong finished browsing the stalls and returned to the gathering point of Qingxu Sect, he found many cultivators who didn''t belong to Qingxu Sect.


    Upon seeing his return, everyone greeted him warmly, as if Wang Hong were a long-lost rtive.


    Wu Dayong rushed over when he saw Wang Hong and pulled him aside, exining in detail.


    It turned out that this battle was too dangerous, and everyone was fighting for their lives. Even lower-level cultivators like alchemists and refining tool masters, who usually focused on their crafts, were thrust into the front lines against Demonic Beasts.


    After a fierce battle, many alchemists, who weren''t adept atbat, suffered heavy casualties. Now, among the over a thousand Foundation Building Cultivators, only Wang Hong, a second-tier alchemist, remained. As a result, those in need of pills flocked to him.


    "Junior Brother Wang, do you have time now?" After exining everything to Wang Hong, Wu Dayong asked for his opinion.


    The current situation was an opportunity to expand the sect''s influence, but Wu Dayong couldn''t force Wang Hong. With Qingxu Tower gone, everything depended on Wang Hong''s decision.


    "There''s nothing urgent now. Senior Brother Wu, you can go ahead and arrange the alchemy requests," Wang Hong replied, maintaining the coordination they had at Qingxu Tower.


    "Great! I''ll go arrange it right away!" Wu Dayong happily turned to attend to the customers.


    As Wu Dayong approached, the crowd immediately surrounded him, with everyone enthusiastically presenting their requests.


    "Wu Fellow Daoist, my senior brother is critically injured and lying on his bed, his life hanging by a thread. We''re waiting for life-saving pills. Please arrange the refinement as a priority. We''ll be eternally grateful."


    "Wu Fellow Daoist, my master is severely wounded. I fear he won''tst a few hours. Please, Wu Fellow Daoist, have mercy!"


    "Your master is dead; you can inherit his legacy. Go back and wait calmly!"


    At this point, another burly man squeezed through the crowd and loudly dered, "Who doesn''t have an emergency? Li Erha''s Dao Companion is still bleeding profusely in bed, just like nothing happened."


    "Mighty Bear, stop talking nonsense. I know about my Dao Companion''s situation. Can you refine alchemy? If not, then leave!" Li Erha shouted from the crowd.


    "Of course, I can. I was just giving an example," Mighty Bear replied, turning to Wu Dayong with a smile. "Wu Fellow Daoist, as I''m the first one here, can you please arrange for Wang Fellow Daoist to refine pills for me?"


    Li Erha, still dissatisfied, shouted loudly, "Mighty Bear, you used my Dao Companion as an example. Why?"


    "Because I don''t have a Dao Companion!" Mighty Bear turned around and said.


    Li Erha, hearing this, thought Mighty Bear had a point and stopped arguing.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 209: Counterattack

    Chapter 209: Counterattack


    Wu Dayong felt a bit smug seeing the ongoing disputes among the crowd.


    "Fellow Daoists, we dare not vite the rules of the Qingxu Sect. We can only refine the items for you in the order they were received. However, if anyone urgently needs healing pills, Qingxu Tower has a small stock that can be traded for emergency use."


    After Wu Dayong made this arrangement, the cultivators had nothing more to say. They obediently followed the order and handed over their items to Wu Dayong, registering the transactions.


    Once Wu Dayong collected all the alchemy materials, he handed them over to Wang Hong.


    In their temporary camp, Qingxu Sect had set up a makeshift alchemy room specifically for Wang Hong.


    Entering the room constructed for him, Wang Hong organized the materials. For most pill recipes, he already had a ready stock. Whenever he had the pill recipe for a spiritual herb in his space, he would refine some pills in advance to avoid the need for on-the-spot refinement every time.


    There was only one pill recipe he didn''t have. Hecked one key herb, and he only needed to refine this missing ingredient. The rest could wait until he gathered enough quantities.


    The refinement of this pill was not difficult. Despite it being his first attempt, he decided to start the process. Surprisingly, it only took an hour toplete, producing four pills.


    Exiting the temporary alchemy room, Wang Hong noticed five additional flying boats and a significant increase in people around the temporary camp.


    After inquiring with Wu Dayong, Wang Hong learned that the reinforcements from the East Zhou Cultivation Realm had arrived. This was just the first batch, consisting of six Golden Core Cultivators, five flying boats, fifteen hundred Foundation Building Cultivators, and some supplies.


    If they had arrived a bit earlier, Boundary City might not have fallen, and fewer cultivators would have perished. Unfortunately, in this world, there were no "ifs."


    The East Zhou Cultivation Realm was vast, with numerous factions and powers. First, these factions had to gather to discuss the reinforcement n and the distribution of benefits, leading to prolonged debates.


    Then came the collection of resources and the summoning of personnel, which required even more time to bnce the interests of all parties.


    Although the Boundary Mountain Range was in distress, it was a distant matter for many. Only a few felt urgency as the crisis hadn''t directly affected them yet.


    After sorting out the immediate matters to ensure a fair distribution of resources, the first batch of reinforcements took several months to arrive from Jin''an City''s call for help.


    More reinforcements were on the way, with a second batch of fifty thousand Qi Cultivation Cultivators still en route, likely taking another month or two to arrive.


    After understanding the situation, Wang Hong returned to his temporary alchemy room.


    Opening the formation, he took out the beast skins he had acquired earlier from his storage bag. With the reinforcements present, more battles were expected, so he decided to refine some second-tier talismans for future use.


    While Wang Hong was busy refining talismans, fifteen Golden Core Cultivators in the temporary camp gathered to discuss the next course of action.


    Three dayster, all Foundation Building Cultivators were summoned. With the addition of the fifteen hundred reinforcements, they now numbered around three thousand.


    "Fellow Daoists, the Demon n first attacked Jin''an City, killing forty thousand of our fellow cultivators. Later, they breached Boundary City, resulting in the death of nearly ten thousand more.


    The fallen cultivators were not justrades; they were someone''s family, friends, and fellow disciples.


    A Golden Core Cultivator stood at the forefront, expressing the sorrow in his tone. His words brought back memories of lost loved ones, igniting a collective desire for revenge among the Foundation Building Cultivators.


    "Now is the time for us to seek vengeance! Today, I ask all of you to board the Flying Boats and avenge our fallenrades!"


    Having spoken, the Golden Core Cultivator took the lead onto one of the Flying Boats. Under the arrangements of several other Golden Core Cultivators, the remaining cultivators boarded the other eleven Flying Boats.


    Once on board, the Golden Core Cultivators revealed the objective of this mission. Instead of attacking the two cities directly, they had switched to a defensive strategy against the Demon n. With fewer people now, everyone could take to the Flying Boats without hesitation.


    The eleven Flying Boats were divided into three groups, patrolling outside the two cities to eliminate Demonic Beasts. Specifically, they targeted the flying Demonic Beasts of the Demon n, aiming to exterminate every one of them.


    Returning to the vicinity of Boundary City, the Flying Boats split into three groups, each taking its own course of action.


    In this mission, the cultivators of Qingxu Sect were on the same Flying Boat. Leading them was Song Wei, a Golden Core Cultivator from Qingxu Sect.


    Ever since Wang Hong had received a stern lesson from Song Wei and had his barbecue confiscated, he had developed a bit of fear for this senior.


    The three Flying Boats roamed several hundred miles outside Boundary City, systematically eliminating any Demonic Beasts they encountered.


    After hours of patrolling, they suddenly came across a massive herd of Three-Horned Quadrupeds, numbering around twenty thousand. Among them were over a dozen second-tier Demonic Beasts, while the rest were first-tier. They were heading towards Boundary City.


    This sizable group of Demonic Beasts couldn''t be ignored. The three Flying Boats caught up, releasing numerous Spiritual Weapons at the creatures below.


    As the Spiritual Weapons struck the Demonic Beasts, blood sttered, and the creatures roared in anger at the unexpected assault.


    However, being grounded, they could only roar in frustration,cking the ability to fly.


    Therefore, the twenty thousand Demonic Beasts, ranging from first-tier to second-tier, could only endure the onught.


    After eliminating the leading second-tier Demonic Beasts, the remaining creatures lost their will to fight. Realizing that escape was more practical than a futile struggle, the first-tier Demonic Beasts scattered, sprinting away.


    Hundreds of Foundation Building Cultivators on the Flying Boats soared out, chasing the fleeing first-tier Demonic Beasts. With their flying abilities at the Foundation Building level, they efficiently hunted down the lesser demons.


    Wang Hong also rode Little Peng and joined the chase, wielding a low-grade Flying Sword. He easily caught up with the fleeing Demonic Beasts, swiftly dispatching dozens of them in a matter of moments.


    After a brief pursuit, everyone returned, beginning to collect their spoils.


    The most valuable parts of the Three-Horned Quadrupeds were their demon cores and the three horns on their heads. Several second-tier Demonic Beasts had their demon cores extracted, horns removed, and hides peeled. Surprisingly, the meat of the Demonic Beasts was left untouched.


    This sight pained Wang Hong. Such excellent ingredients were being discarded. He could only salvage one due to the limited space of their Storage Bags.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 210: The Comrades

    Chapter 210: The Comrades


    Seeing the pained expression on Wang Hong''s face, Elder Brother of Kaiyang Peak strolled over from behind, teasingly remarking, "What''s wrong, reluctant to part with this meat?"


    Having a long-standing friendship with Wang Hong, he was well aware of Wang Hong''s love for food.


    "Sigh! What a waste," Wang Hong admitted without reservation, gazing at the bodies of Demonic Beasts, each over ten feet in size.


    "How about we carry two of them onto the Flying Boat and roast them for a meal?" Elder Brother suggested, genuinely admiring Wang Hong''s culinary skills.


    Wang Hong hesitated, then thought of the stern gaze of Uncle Song and shook his head.


    He said, "Forget it. If Uncle Song mes us, we won''t be able to escape."


    Seeing that Wang Hong was afraid of this, Elder Brother couldn''t help but chuckle. He patted his chest and said, "I''ll take the me for this. If there''s any scolding, I''ll bear it alone."


    Elder Brother was a junior from the main family of Kaiyang Peak and had a good understanding of the Golden Core Elders within the sect.


    With Elder Brother''s assurance, Wang Hong trusted him. After all, it wasn''t a particrly significant matter.


    Elder Brother called Zhang Chunfeng for help. Knowing that Zhang Chunfeng was also a body cultivator, and the weight of this second-tier Three-Horned Quadrupeds was over ten thousand catties, it made sense to ask him for help.


    The three of them cleaned the two fattest Demonic Beasts first and then lifted them onto the Flying Boat.


    After collecting valuable items from the battlefield, everyone boarded the Flying Boat, heading to another location.


    The space inside the Flying Boat was spacious. Wang Hong found a rtivelyrge area and set up two fire pits.


    Song Wei, sitting in the center of the Flying Boat''s storage room, nced at Wang Hong with his eyes and then focused on his Meditation without paying further attention to him.


    One fire pit held a massive barbecue grill, and the other had arge pot.


    Two Demonic Beast meats, one roasted and one stewed.


    The Flying Boat continued to roam in this area. asionally, they encountered a few Demonic Beasts, which were swiftly killed by the two or three hundred cultivators on the Flying Boat.


    Wang Hong didn''t have a chance to join in, so he focused on roasting meat and stewing soup.


    After a while, the Flying Boat encountered arge group of flying Demonic Beasts, also heading towards Boundary City.


    Without caring about the delicious food he was preparing, Wang Hong immediately stood up and ran outside.


    "Come back!" Song Wei''s voice suddenly echoed in his mind, startling him.


    Seeing Wang Hong frozen in ce, Song Wei transmitted a message again, "As a cultivator, you must remain calm in the face of changes and keep yourposure even when the sky is falling!."


    Wang Hong still didn''t understand, feeling a bit lost. He thought he hadn''t shown any panic or change in expression.


    "Since you''re a Spirit Meal Master, focus on the food being refined. Do you really need to run around for a few small beasts?" Song Wei transmitted the message again. This time, Wang Hong understood; he had misunderstood Song Wei''s profession. He was being asked to concentrate on cooking, not participate in the battle, which was something Wang Hong happily epted.


    While outside, the cultivators were fervently chasing and killing the demonic birds, Wang Hong was alone on the Flying Boat, diligently roasting meat.


    In just over half an hour, cultivators who had participated in the battle returned one after another, gathering the spoils. To avoid disputes, they decided to distribute the rewards collectively.


    Three hourster, the Flying Boat where Wang Hong was located was filled with a tantalizing aroma.


    The pot of stew had turned into a thick, milky broth. The giant pot contained meat and bones from a ten-thousand-catty Demonic Beast,pletely melted into the broth.


    As for the roasted meat, it had been marinated with various seasonings, roasted over high heat to tighten the outeryer, locking in the Spirit Qi and moisture. Then, it was slow-cooked over low heat until the bones became tender. Finally, it was roasted over high heat again to make the outeryer crispy and fragrant.


    The roasted meat was now crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the bones easily separating. When cut open, the meat still released vorful juices.


    The enticing smell from Wang Hong''s cooking attracted the attention of everyone on the Flying Boat, but due to unfamiliarity, they hesitated to approach. Some with thicker skin had already gathered around Wang Hong, trying to impress him.


    Of course, there were also steadfast cultivators who continued to meditate with closed eyes, seemingly indifferent to the tempting aroma. Among them was Song Wei, the Golden Core Cultivator, sitting in the central storage room.


    His closed eyes emitted a white mist between breaths, resembling a statue, creating an awe-inspiring image. Despite his outwardposure, his Divine Sense had been secretly monitoring Wang Hong. At times, he even discreetly swallowed saliva.


    This couldn''t be revealed to the younger generation. In front of the same tier, he might not care about his image, but maintaining dignity in front of the juniors was essential. A true gentleman remained formidable even when not emphasizing authority.


    Several times, he wanted to get up and cut a piece of meat to pay tribute to his internal organs, but he forcibly resisted the temptation.


    He had already made up his mind. If Wang Hong didn''t voluntarily offer some for him to taste, he would confiscate it all. This wasn''t something he hadn''t done before.


    Wang Hong was about to cut a piece of roasted meat to taste when Elder Brother stopped him.


    Perplexed, he saw Elder Brother pick up a knife and cut off a hind leg from the roasted meat, a leg weighing at least a thousand catties.


    Elder Brother carried this roasted leg and presented it respectfully to Song Wei, who was still in meditation.


    "Uncle Song! We juniors have roasted some Demonic Beast meat. Please honor us by tasting it."


    He offered the leg with both hands.


    Song Wei opened his eyes, took the roasted meat, and, as a senior expert, didn''t hastily bite into it.


    "Hmm, not bad! You guys have put in effort. However, I find this roast a bit dry. Here''s a bowl. Fill it with some soup for Master Uncle to moisten his throat."


    Elder Brother took an ordinary-looking wooden bowl and went to therge pot to fill it with soup.


    Carefully pouring a bit of soup into the small bowl, fearing it would overflow, he added anotherrge spoonful, just enough to cover the bottom of the bowl.


    It turned out this seemingly ordinary wooden bowl was a storage magic treasure.


    Elder Brother poured the soup into the bowl, managing to fill almost half of it after pouring nearly the entire big pot of soup.


    With a bowl filled, Elder Brother quickly delivered it to Uncle Song.


    Song Wei picked up the thousand-catty roasted leg, took a big bitecrispy on the outside, tender inside. With each chew, the juice flowed through his mouth.


    Song Wei praised silently. After another sip of the meat broththick, delicate, smooth, and fragranthis lips retained a thin film-like texture.


    After serving the Golden Core Cultivator, Wang Hong and the others began eating.


    With so many people on the Flying Boat and everyone''s eyes on him, Wang Hong felt awkward eating alone. So, he invited everyone to join in.


    Moreover, most of the people on this Flying Boat were from Qingxu Sect, and even if there were a few who weren''t from the same sect, they considered themselvesrades.


    Upon Wang Hong''s invitation, people flocked over, and even those steadfast cultivators who remained motionless got up.


    For those who couldn''t get in, they simply controlled their Flying Swords to cut off a piece and took it to the side to eat.


    With so many people, each person could only get a few dozen catties of meat on average. Given the physique of Foundation Building Cultivators, eating a few hundred catties of this meat was no big deal.


    Everyone was somewhat unsatisfied, but it awakened their desire for more. They hoped to encounter another group of second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Their wish was granted. After a few hours, they encountered a group of Redmane Boars, led by more than a dozen second-tier ones.


    The other two Flying Boats were still preparing, but the one Wang Hong was on shot out like an arrow.


    Their primary target was those dozen second-tier Demonic Beasts, making the cultivators on the other two Flying Boats think they wanted to snatch the spoils. They elerated to catch up.


    After a fierce battle and collecting the spoils, the group lifted the ten second-tier Demonic Beasts onto the Flying Boat.


    With everyone''s help, they quickly set up tenrge fire pits.


    Wang Hong became the overallmander, guiding every detail, from marination to fire control.


    The Golden Core Cultivator, Song Wei, on the Flying Boat, did not object. He was even pleased with the development.


    When the Flying Boat encountered Demonic Beasts again, Wang Hong was no longer allowed to participate.


    Wang Hong was fine with that; he preferred making delicious food to fighting with Demonic Beasts anyway. After all, he knew he would still get a share of the spoils.


    Gradually, Wang Hong became a cook on the Flying Boat, and people almost forgot about his identity as an Alchemist.


    Eleven Flying Boats roamed around Boundary City, and after more than ten days, the nearby Demonic Beasts were almost exterminated. Even the Demonic Beasts in Boundary City were too scared to venture out.


    Finally, the Demon n organized tens of thousands of flying Demonic Beasts, including more than ten third-tier Demonic Beasts, to besiege the eleven Flying Boats.


    Among the three groups of Flying Boats, the one Wang Hong was on had the fewest numbers, making them the easiest target.


    On this day, they encountered a group of Silver-winged Bird Monsters. These creatures weren''t particrly powerful, but they were incredibly fast.


    They chased them for dozens of miles, entering a mountain valley. Suddenly, countless Demonic Beasts appeared from all directions.


    The peaks around them were crawling with Demonic Beasts, the flying Demonic Beasts in the sky darkening the skies. Even the daylight seemed to dim several degrees.


    "Not good! Ambushed, retreat quickly!"


    These Demonic Beasts hid beyond the range of the Golden Core Cultivators'' Divine Sense, preventing the Golden Core Cultivators on the Flying Boats from detecting them in advance.


    Taking advantage of the fact that the Demonic Beast group hadn''tpletely closed in, the three Flying Boats quickly retreated along the same path.


    They alsomunicated with the other two groups of Flying Boats, hoping they could provide support from the periphery.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 211: Feeding the Beasts

    Chapter 211: Feeding the Beasts


    At this moment, the other two groups of Flying Boats were lured away by two packs of Demonic Beasts, making it impossible for them to return for rescue in the short term.


    The three Flying Boats swiftly retreated in the opposite direction. Just as they were about to break through the encirclement from the gap, fifteen third-tier Demonic Beasts flew out from the Demonic Beast group, blocking their way out.


    With formidable enemies in front and tens of thousands of flying Demonic Beasts chasing from behind, they found themselves with no other option but to charge forward, despite having no way to retreat.


    Five Golden Core Cultivators flew out from the three Flying Boats, facing the fifteen third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    As Song Wei was about to leave, he turned around and instructed, "We''ll go and lead away the third-tier Demonic Beasts. You guys break through on your own!"


    After days of interaction, Wang Hong felt that Uncle Song wasn''t as stern as he initially seemed. In fact, he was quite easy to get along with.


    After a secret discussion among the five Golden Core Cultivators, they decided to take the initiative. Simultaneously, they unleashed their magical treasures and attacked a half-human, half-horse Demonic Beast ahead.


    This particr Demonic Beast had already developed some humanoid features and seemed to be an important figure among the Demonic Beasts. If they could kill or injure it, it would be easier to divert the attention of the third-tier Demonic Beasts. Then, once they reunited with the other two groups of Flying Boats, they could counterattack.


    This Demonic Beast was currently in the midst of the group of Demons, feeling proud of its calctions when suddenly, five magical treasures struck towards it.


    It quickly raised its two front hooves to block. After a series of loud bangs, it felt intense pain as one of its front hooves was shattered.


    Following that, five figures swiftly passed by it, not forgetting to send their magical treasures towards it again before leaving.


    Fortunately, several other third-tier Demonic Beasts arrived at this moment, helping block a few magical treasures.


    Enraged, the half-human, half-horse Demonic Beast roared and chased after the five figures.


    Seeing that the leading Demonic Beast was catching up, the other third-tier Demonic Beasts followed closely behind.


    Only arge, emerald-green serpent remained in ce, coiling its snake body like a small mountain, spitting snake venom and blocking everyone''s retreat.


    As the three Flying Boats approached, the snake body tumbled in the air, and its tail swept, causing one Flying Boat to somersault several times in mid-air.


    Simultaneously, thousands of Spiritual Weapons flew out from the three Flying Boats, shing towards the demonic serpent ahead.


    "ng, ng, ng!" Nearly a thousand Spiritual Weapons hit the serpent''s scales, producing a crisp sound of metal colliding.


    Only a few Spiritual Weapons managed to pierce through the scales, prating a few inches into the demonic snake flesh.


    However, even if they couldn''t breach its defenses, with thousands of Spiritual Weapons, each carrying the strength of several thousand pounds, thebined force amounted to several million pounds.


    The tremendous impact caused the demonic serpent''s body to tumble in the air repeatedly, howling in pain.


    Wang Hong observed the scene and thought, "It''s a shame, the coordination among the Cultivators on the three Flying Boats is too poor."


    If they could coordinate like his subordinates, hitting the same spot simultaneously to form a collective force, harnessing the strength of over a thousand people, they could y this demonic serpent in one strike.


    Seizing the opportunity, the three Flying Boats continued forward, bombarding the demonic serpent with a continuous barrage of Spiritual Weapons, causing it to roll forward in agony.


    Suddenly, the Demonic serpent surged into the air, temporarily avoiding most of the Spiritual Weapons. Then, in a swift move, its body entwined around one of the Flying Boats.


    The Demonic serpent''s coils tightened around the Flying Boat, squeezing the protective Light Shield into deformation.


    Although the crowd''s Spiritual Weapons struck the Demonic serpent''s body, it remained motionless while coiled around the Flying Boat.


    After a few breaths, there was a loud "bang," and the defense shield on the Flying Boat was crushed.


    With the shield broken, Foundation Building Cultivators within were ejected one by one from the boat.


    The giant serpent took a deep breath, instantly sucking in two Foundation Building Cultivators, devouring them alive.


    More than three hundred people flew out from the ejected group, steering their flying instruments toward the other two Flying Boats.


    Cultivators on the other two Flying Boats were also attacking the Demonic serpent with all their might, aiming to support the three hundred individuals.


    The Demonic serpent swung its tail in the air, whipping several Cultivators into blood mist.


    Then, in a lunge, it entangled the Flying Boat where Wang Hong was situated.


    Seeing the Demonic serpent inhale, destabilizing a Cultivator flying towards it, Wang Hong acted quickly. He grabbed a piece of sizzling Demonic Beast meat from a barbecue grill and threw it into the serpent''s mouth.


    Simultaneously, as he grabbed the meat, he inserted a ck pill into it  the Poison "Devouring Spirit" he had developed.


    This poison pill dissolved quickly upon contact with water, blending seamlessly into the meat''s juices, bing invisible.


    The Demonic serpent, about to swallow another Foundation Building Cultivator, suddenly had something fly into its mouth. Finding it quite tasty, it swallowed the meat along with the pill.


    The Cultivator, fortunate to be spared, hurriedly flew back into the Flying Boat.


    "Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for saving me!" In such perilous moments, those willing to lend a helping hand were rare.


    Wang Hong, seeing the Demonic serpent swallow the meat, became less anxious about it entangling the Flying Boat.


    Swiftly grabbing another piece of grilled meat, this time he added poison derived from the Red Powder Skull Flower  once again, an invisible toxin.


    Since the Light Shield of the Flying Boat acted as a barrier to detection, the Demonic serpent was unaware of Wang Hong spicing up the meat. Oblivious, it swallowed another piece.


    Wang Hong proceeded to season the remaining grilled meat on the Flying Boat, tossing them one by one to the Demonic serpent.


    Now, Wang Hong could only pray silently, hoping that these poisons would be effective against the third-tier Demonic Beast.


    While Wang Hong was feeding the serpent, the Foundation Building Cultivators who had lost their Flying Boat had already flown onto another one.


    As for the one Wang Hong was on, normal individuals shouldn''t approach it.


    Meanwhile, tens of thousands of flying Demonic Beasts had formed an encircling posture.


    When the Demonic serpent swallowed the eighth piece of meat, it suddenly felt a severe stomachache, as if being twisted from the inside. Its abdominal muscles writhed, and then it opened its mouth, regurgitating two pieces of meat.


    As for the others, they had already been digested. The digestive ability of a third-tier Demonic Beast was quite powerful.


    Enraged, the Demonic serpent was about to intensify its entanglement, intending to swallow everyone inside. However, after some consideration, it thought crushing them into pieces would be sufficient; swallowing might lead to a stomachache.


    At this moment, it felt an unbearable stomachache and overall weakness, rendering it powerless.


    Simultaneously, it experienced dizziness, headache, drowsiness, blurred vision, bleeding gums, and intolerable itching all over its body.


    In short, under the influence of numerous poisons, though not fatal, it brought forth countless diforts.


    Every part of its body, from teeth to tail, itched unbearably, and every joint ached.


    Now, from head to tail, there was not a singlefortable spot on its body.


    Especially the strange itchiness, making it extremely ufortable. Unlike others who could scratch an itch, it didn''t have hands.


    Unable to endure any longer, it no longer cared about the Flying Boat and leaped towards a peak, rolling and rubbing between the peaks.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 212: Confidence

    Chapter 212: Confidence


    As the Demonic Serpent went to Peak to scratch its itch...


    The remaining two Flying Boats took the opportunity to fly in one direction.


    In front of them, a dense group of Demonic Beasts had gathered, stretching as far as the eye could see, making it impossible to estimate their exact numbers.


    Demonic Beasts from other directions were also closing in. There was no time to hesitate; they had to press forward bravely.


    Despite losing one Flying Boat, the Foundation Building Cultivators did not suffer significant losses. The Demonic Serpent hadn''t attacked yet; it was just scratching its itch.


    Countless Spiritual Weapons flew out of the two Flying Boats, swirling and dancing around them. As they entered the midst of the beast horde, it was like two meat grinders, shing through the surroundings, causing blood to rain down.


    Once they plunged into the horde, in every directionfront, back, left, right, up, and downall they could see were Demonic Beasts. It was like entering a pitch-ck space with no light, unable to discern directions.


    They could only grit their teeth and charge in one direction. Everyone''s Spiritual Weapons were unleashed outside the Flying Boats, shing wildly. There was no room for any pause.


    If they stopped, these two Flying Boats, along with everyone on board, would bepletely engulfed, leaving nothing behind.


    If someone were to observe from outside, they would see countless flying Demonic Beasts tightly packed together, forming a massive sphere.


    Even at this moment, more flying Demonic Beasts joined in, causing the sphere to gradually expand, moving along with the direction the Flying Boats advanced.


    After an hour, they no longer actively killed the Demonic Beasts but focused on those approaching the Flying Boats with the intent to attack.


    Their primary task now was to protect the protective barrier from being breached. Escaping seemed almost hopeless.


    They only hoped to hold on a bit longer, to survive until the moment rescue arrived.


    Fortunately, each person had been given a mid-grade Spirit Stone before. The Spiritual Power could still support them temporarily.


    Three hourster, the Foundation Building Cultivators on the Flying Boats appeared exhausted, bloodshot eyes staring.


    The mid-grade Spirit Stones in their hands had dimmed, and the Demonic Beasts around them still pressed in like a wall.


    In the darkness, without direction and unable to see hope, despair was most likely to set in.


    Many appeared numb, their Spiritual Weapons shing aimlessly. They had given up.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong knew they couldn''t hold on for much longer; they were on the verge of being swallowed by the beasts.


    He was not one to give up easily. Even if it came to thest moment before his head was severed, he wouldn''t give up.


    "Everyone, pull yourselves together. ording to my calctions, as long as we endure for a little over an hour, reinforcements will arrive." Wang Hong said to boost their spirits.


    "As for how I calcted it, the situation is critical now. Let me exin after we break through."


    Wang Hong continued to encourage them. As long as he could give them some hope, no one would easily give up.


    Hearing Wang Hong''s words, everyone''s spirits rose again, focusing on killing the approaching Demonic Beasts.


    This news quickly reached the other Flying Boat, and their situation also improved.


    Communication between the Flying Boats was possible. Each Flying Boat was equipped withmunication Spiritual Weapons. They had used this method to ry messages to the other two groups of Flying Boats.


    However, with the Demonic Beasts surrounding them so closely, it affected the effective use ofmunication devices, significantly reducing the distance they couldmunicate.


    Another hour passed, and the mid-grade Spirit Stones in everyone''s hands had turned into powder due to the intense consumption.


    Now, they had no choice but to divide themselves into three groups, with two groups defending together while the third group meditated to restore Spiritual Power.


    They rotated in this manner, but everyone had reached their limits. Flying Demonic Beasts frequently attacked the defensive shield now.


    On the side of Qingxu Sect, the situation was slightly better due to the fifty jin of second-tier Spirit Wine they had received earlier.


    However, there was still no news of reinforcements, and people couldn''t help but frequently ask Wang Hong why the reinforcements hadn''t arrived yet.


    Wang Hong always reassured them with a confident tone, saying that the reinforcements would arrive soon.


    Deep down, they knew asking Wang Hong was futile, but they hoped to get a definite answer from him.


    In times like these, confidence was crucial!


    Now, everyone was pushing their limits, and they needed unwavering confidence to sustain them.


    Another half-hourter, there were less than half of the cultivators on the Flying Boat who could still wield Spiritual Weapons to kill Demonic Beasts. Demonic Beasts frequently attacked the protective barrier.


    The defense Light Shield had dimmed significantly and wouldn''t hold for much longer.


    "Junior Brother Wang, do you think our reinforcements will stille?" a fellow Qingxu Sect member asked.


    "Senior Brother He, rest assured. The reinforcements will arrive within half an hour," Wang Hong said confidently.


    Suddenly, themunication Spiritual Weapon on the Flying Boat lit up.


    "Fellow Daoists, please endure a little longer. We will arrive in the time it takes for an incense stick to burn."


    A melodious voice emanated from themunication Spiritual Weapon, leaving many cultivators with memories that remained fresh even after decades or centuries.


    All cultivators regained their spirits. Those who had copsed on the ground struggled to get up, meditating to restore Spiritual Power.


    Wang Hong took out ten second-tier Talismans from his Storage Bag and threw them out. He distributed arge batch of first-tier Talismans that he had refined while practicing to the people around him, asking them to help throw them.


    After using these Talismans, they finally cleared the Demonic Beasts attacking the protective barrier.


    This type of protective barrier could slowly absorb Spiritual Energy to recover, but the recovery speed was quite slow.


    Clearing these nearby Demonic Beasts allowed the defensive shield to catch a breath.


    Then, he took out two jin of second-tier Spirit Wine and handed it to Senior Brother Shen Jian, instructing him to distribute it among the people on the Flying Boat. Each person could get about a mouthful.


    This amount was enough for a Foundation Building first-level cultivator to restore half of their Spiritual Power. It was a timely help in this critical situation.


    But he could only provide this much; it would alleviate the current situation, but more wouldn''t be ideal.


    The people on the Flying Boat, replenished with Spirit Wine, regained their vigor. They even helped the other Flying Boat clear some Demonic Beasts. The situation on the other Flying Boat, which already had more people, improved slightly after receiving assistance.


    Approximately the time it took for an incense stick to burnter, eight Flying Boats flew in from the distance.


    Cultivators on the Flying Boats, seeing the massive beast ballposed of Demonic Beasts in the sky, were shocked. They hadn''t expected to be alive in such a situation.


    There was no time for too much astonishment. The eight Flying Boats surrounded the huge ball of Demonic Beasts from eight different directions.


    Since these flying Demonic Beasts had gathered together, it was an opportunity to annihte them in one fell swoop.


    Seeing that the Demonic Beasts were surrounded by eight Flying Boats, the outer Demonic Beasts realized what was happening and rushed toward the Flying Boats. However, the inneryer of Demonic Beasts in the ball remained oblivious, still vigorously attacking the two Flying Boats in the center.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 213: Dividing Spoils

    Chapter 213: Dividing Spoils


    Due to the attraction of the two Inner Flying Boats, the outer eight Flying Boats, like peeling an onion, systematically killed the Demonic Beastsyer byyer.


    Under normal circumstances, facing hundreds of thousands of flying Demonic Beasts, these eight Flying Boats might have been defeated. However, now they only needed to kill themyer byyer, facing a limited number each time.


    This was due to the low intelligence of the low-tier Demonic Beasts, rigid andcking adaptability.


    The only Tier Three Demonic Beast on the scene could havemanded the group of monsters and be the leader of hundreds of thousands of Demonic Beasts.


    Unfortunately, this Demonic Beast was currently coiled around a peak, sleeping soundly.


    The continuous thunderous sounds on the scene didn''t affect the sleeping Demonic serpent at all, who seemed to be the epitome of carefree sleep, solving a thousand worries with a nap.


    The eight Flying Boats on the outeryer continued to divide and kill, and the piles of monster corpses below were no smaller than the peaks surrounding them.


    However, the two Flying Boats in the center, where Wang Hong was, had a hard time. The bit of Spiritual Power replenished with Spirit Wine earlier had already been depleted.


    Although reinforcements were right outside, in a crisis, dying even a moment might still lead to the tragic end of the boat being destroyed and lives lost.


    Wang Hong suggested to Shen Jian, who controlled the Flying Boat, "Senior Shen, even though the rescue is on the outskirts, I''m afraid we won''tst until then."


    "Now that we are all in the same boat, Junior Brother Wang, what do you suggest? Feel free to speak up; I believe everyone trusts Junior Brother Wang," Shen Jian said.


    Shen Jian, now disheveled and no longer theposed figure from before, nodded in agreement after careful consideration of Wang Hong''s proposal.


    After gaining the approval of most people on the Flying Boat, they formed a consensus quickly, with only a few expressing dissent.


    Shen Jian trusted Wang Hong, especially considering their joint efforts in breaking out of Jin''an City and Wang Hong''s performance on the Flying Boat before.


    The others on the Flying Boat had be acquainted with Wang Hong during the barbecue, and there was a bit of goodwill towards him.


    In the most desperate moments, Wang Hong had given them hope.


    What was even more miraculous was Wang Hong''s prediction from some time ago, initially taken as wishful thinking, turned out to be true.


    In a group of hundreds, getting everyone to listen to a suggestion from an ordinary person without status was challenging enough. Getting them to believe and act on it was even more difficult.


    In the current emergency, the two Flying Boats quickly reached a consensus.


    On Wang Hong''s Flying Boat, everyone contributed more than eighty Tier Two Talismans, including twenty from Wang Hong and over a thousand Tier One Talismans.


    Another cultivator contributed ten Thunderous Thunder, a rare one-time-use Spiritual Weapon with slightly more explosive power than Tier Two Talismans but challenging to refine.


    Everything was prepared quickly.


    Suddenly, a burst of mes shot out from the two Flying Boats, heading towards the front.


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    Numerous Spiritual Weapons also flew forward, clearing a path.


    The eight outer Flying Boats noticed that the sphere formed by Demonic Beasts inside the encirclement suddenly moved in one direction.


    Thinking the Demonic Beasts inside the sphere were trying to escape, everyone rushed to block their path, killing the Demonic Beastsyer byyer as they fell.


    This move undoubtedly greatly helped Wang Hong and the others.


    Suddenly!


    "Boom!" A burst of fire erupted from the sphere, and the two Flying Boats rushed out of the mes.


    As the two Flying Boats broke out of the encirclement, the sphere formed by Demonic Beasts disintegrated.


    Now surrounded by additional Flying Boats, the Demonic Beasts realized they were trapped.


    After breaking out of the Demonic Beast encirclement, the two Flying Boats flew to the rear of the battle,nding on a peak to lower their defensive shields for recovery.


    The people on the Flying Boat had no strength to continue the fight and focused on meditation to restore their Spiritual Power.


    Without Wang Hong and the others as a distraction, the Demonic Beasts inside the encirclement desperately rushed out, making it more challenging for the eight Flying Boats and over two thousand Foundation Building Cultivators to resist.


    In the end, forced by circumstances, they let go of most of the Demonic Beasts before gradually surrounding and killing the remaining ones.


    As the flying Demonic Beasts were gradually in, only a peak-sized pile of monster corpses and a gigantic serpent peacefully coiled around a distant peak remained.


    Even though they had emerged victorious, the group hesitated, unsure about how to approach the massive pile of spoils.


    What if they disturbed the sleeping serpent while collecting the loot? After all, it was a formidable Tier Three Demonic Beast.


    Leaving without collecting the vast wealth beneath them, however, felt unsatisfying.


    In the end, the ten Flying Boats gathered to discuss a viable n.


    Although the people on Wang Hong''s two Flying Boats had not fully recovered, they were determined to crawl if needed when it came to the spoils.


    Surviving such a close call demanded somepensation.


    It was decided unanimously that six Flying Boats would encircle the serpent but refrain from disturbing its slumber, only keeping a watchful eye. The remaining four Flying Boats'' crews would collect the spoils, to beter distributed evenly.


    If the Demonic serpent woke up suddenly, they would deal with it!


    With ten Flying Boats and over three thousand Foundation Building Cultivators, dealing with a Tier Three Demonic serpent together was feasible, although everyone was drained after the recent battle, making it unsuitable to provoke it immediately.


    Wang Hong, too, was assigned to the spoils collection team.


    Over a thousand people surrounded the monster corpses, skinning, extracting tendons, and bleeding the beasts.


    After ten hours of work, the originally towering mountain of corpses was divided into two piles.


    The smaller pile consisted of various materials from the Demonic Beasts, such as feathers, fur, ws, teeth, etc.


    Therger pile wasprised of the bodies of the Demonic Beasts, including over two thousand Tier Two Demonic Beasts, which had to be reluctantly discarded.


    It was decided to distribute the spoils first, just in case the enormous serpent woke up. If they couldn''t defeat it, escaping would be easier without being weighed down by the loot.


    All the Golden Core Cultivators were engaged in battle with the Demon n''s Tier Three Demonic Beast outside Boundary City. It was uncertain how the battle was going or when they would return.


    Without Golden Core Cultivators on their side, victory couldn''t be guaranteed.


    The items were divided into over three thousand piles roughly equal to the number of people. Each pile was two to three zhang in size, and it was estimated that everyone''s Storage Bag would be filled to the brim again.


    The value of each pile would inevitably have some discrepancies, so they decided to draw lots to determine ownership.


    After dividing the spoils, many people found that their Storage Bags couldn''t contain everything, so they piled the excess in thepartments of the Flying Boats.


    Wang Hong took out an empty Storage Bag from his robe and collected these items.


    "Junior Brother Wang, you''re really prepared. You had a Storage Bag ready for the loot."


    Kaiyang Peak Elder Brother, holding a pile of items with no ce to put them, was surprised to see that Wang Hong had a Storage Bag ready for the spoils.


    "How about I store these things with you for now?"


    "No problem, but if anything goes missing, I won''t be responsible!" Wang Hong chuckled.


    "No problem. These things are practically worthless."


    Valuable items had already been taken, leaving only some less valuable items that people couldn''t bear to discard.


    After dividing the loot, the group turned their attention to the gigantic serpent. A Tier Three Demonic Beast, if in, would be a tremendous gain.


    Even if they couldn''t defeat it, as long as the ten Flying Boats cooperated, self-preservation wouldn''t be a problem.


    Previously, three Flying Boats outside Boundary City could go toe-to-toe with a Tier Three Demonic Beast.


    Now, with ten Flying Boats and three thousand Foundation Building Cultivators, dealing with a Tier Three Demonic Beast should be manageable.


    Wang Hong had read in the records that a cultivator surnamed Long used to surpass tiers in battle, killing Golden Core Cultivators during the Qi Cultivation period and Nascent Soul old monsters during the Foundation Building period.


    Every time Wang Hong read about this, he yearned for such abilities!


    Now, with their three thousand Foundation Building Cultivators, they intended to emte the ancient practitioner''s feat of surpassing tiers in battle. The only difference was that their numbers made it less morous.


    After discussions, eight Flying Boats surrounded the serpent from four directions, while two remained in the sky. All three thousand people would attack the serpent''s head simultaneously, hoping for a decisive blow.


    This Demonic serpent, poisoned by various toxins from Wang Hong, had been struggling since the beginning and was now exhausted. The effect of some toxins had left it weak, fatigued, and drowsy, deepening its sleep. Currently, it was entwined in a dream with a female serpent.


    Although Wang Hong had administered a substantial amount of poison, the intense sleepiness induced by the toxins had slowly dissipated during the Demonic serpent''s slumber. Given some more time, the toxins in its body would likely bepletely neutralized, and it would awaken.


    Ten Flying Boats silently encircled the Demonic serpent. A cultivator dropped a fresh flower from a Flying Boat.


    Seeing the flower descend, everyone unsheathed their Spiritual Weapons, slowly umting power. When the flower touched the ground, everyone would unleash a lethal strike on the serpent''s head simultaneously.


    With three thousand people powering up for the strike, the force of each person''s attack was equivalent to at least tens of thousands of jin. The cumtive power of thirty million jin wouldpletely shatter its head.


    Just as the flower was about to touch the ground, the serpent, sensing the overwhelming killing intent, was bitten fiercely by the female serpent in its dream, waking up abruptly.


    As it woke up, it found itself surrounded by ten Flying Boats in the sky, with numerous Spiritual Weapons hanging above its head.


    What was happening? Where were the other Demonic Beasts? Just awakened from its dream, it needed time to regain its senses.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 214: Division

    Chapter 214: Division


    On the Flying Boat, everyone was taken aback as the Demonic Serpent awakened. It was a situation they hadn''t anticipated in their ns.


    Three thousand people exchanged uncertain nces, unsure whether tounch their attack now or wait until the Demonic Serpent made a move.


    The giant serpent hesitated for a moment but quickly realized that it was under attack. Roaring in defiance, it swung its tail towards the Spiritual Weapons hovering in the air.


    Witnessing the Demonic Serpent initiating the attack, a tall Cultivator couldn''t hold back and unleashed a flying de towards it.


    This triggered a chain reaction, with others joining in to attack the Demonic Serpent. The coordinated n for a simultaneous strike fell apart.


    Fortunately, everyone remembered to target the serpent''s head, and despite some Spiritual Weapons being knocked away by the tail, most of them hit the serpent''s head.


    While the attacks were not perfectly synchronized, they were close enough.


    After a round of assaults, the Demonic Serpent''s head was a gruesome sight, with flesh and bones exposed, and cracks running through the skull.


    As the Demonic Serpent flew up, just leaving the peak, countless Spiritual Weapons struck its head again, causing it to crash down with even more fractures on its skull.


    The Demonic Serpent fell to the ground, lifted its head, and spat out a radiant, round beadthe demon core of the serpent.


    The demon core swiftly flew towards a Flying Boat. Cultivators on board quickly controlled their Spiritual Weapons to intercept the core.


    Others continued attacking the serpent''s head, while only a few Cultivators assisted in blocking the demon core.


    Upon meeting the demon core, Spiritual Weapons were sent flying, some even shattering on impact.


    The demon core relentlessly flew forward, encountering resistance that only slightly slowed its speed.


    Finally, the demon core struck the protective barrier of the Flying Boat, causing a significant dent.


    It spun rapidly, advancing with each rotation, until the defense shield finally shattered with a loud bang.


    The demon core continued its trajectory towards the Flying Boat, prompting Cultivators on board to panic and flee.


    When everyone had exited the Flying Boat, they were surprised not to hear the expected sound of it breaking apart. Turning back, they saw the demon core on the ship''s deck, its radiance subdued.


    The Demonic Serpenty in the Mountain Valley, its head shattered, brains scattered, unequivocally dead.


    It turned out that others had taken advantage of the situation to ruthlessly attack the serpent''s head, finally shattering it.


    With the three-tier Demonic Serpent in, it was now time to divide the spoils.


    The scene was somewhat eerie, with everyone fixated on the valuable three-tier demon core, yet no one uttered a word.


    The three-tier demon core was incredibly precious, coveted by all, but everyone feared they might not be able to keep it and risk losing their lives in the process.


    Moreover, within the entire body of the Demonic Serpent, the demon core was the most valuable. How could the three thousand people present divide it among themselves?


    Certainly, they couldn''t just split the intact three-tier demon core into three thousand parts. Once a demon core shattered, its demonic energy would quickly dissipate into the air, rendering the fragments worthless.


    If one person were to possess the demon core, among the Cultivators present, none could offer equivalent treasures to distribute among all.


    At this moment, everyone surrounded the area, yet no one dared to approach and pick up the demon core.


    If someone were mistakenly thought to be attempting to monopolize the demon core, they might face collective retaliation. Suspicion arises in ambiguous situations, and caution was necessary.


    Having lived for many years, none of them were prone to such elementary mistakes.


    Finally, a Cultivator in theter stage of Foundation Building, a figure with an air of elegance and Daoist principles, stepped forward. He bowed to all directions.


    "Fellow Daoists, I am Wei Yang from the Taihao Sect. I have a suggestion. May I present it for your consideration?"


    This person was the representative sent by the Taihao Sect, simr to Shen Jian from the Qingxu Sect,manding respect among the Cultivators present.


    "Wei Fellow Daoist, please speak. Let us all discuss and consider your suggestion," another Cultivator in theter stage of Foundation Building joined in.


    Several other Cultivators, including Shen Jian from the Qingxu Sect, expressed their agreement, inviting him to share his proposal for collective discussion.


    These individuals who spoke up were somewhat influential figures, people who could contribute to the conversation. Speaking out without such stature would only invite embarrassment.


    "I propose that, firstly, if anyone can offer treasures equivalent in value to this demon core, I will exchange it with them. Afterward, we can distribute the wealth.


    If no one can make such an exchange, why not give it to the esteemed Golden Core seniors? We can then proceed with the distribution.


    What do you think, Fellow Daoists?"


    After Wei Yang spoke, the crowd pondered for a while, finding the suggestion seemingly usible. They nodded in agreement.


    "Good! Since Fellow Daoists have no objections, may I ask if any Fellow Daoist present is willing to offer treasures for the exchange?" Seeing everyone''s agreement, Wei Yang continued to inquire.


    Among the three thousand present, silence prevailed. Nobody spoke up.


    No one was foolish. It wasn''t easy to produce such a substantial amount of wealth, even for a Golden Core Cultivator.


    Even if a Foundation Building Cultivator possessed considerable wealth, there was still the risk that a Golden Core Cultivator might covet it. This move was akin to inviting trouble.


    Moreover, the three-tier demon core had limited use for Foundation Building Cultivators, primarily due to their lower cultivation levels.


    "Wei Fellow Daoist, if we were to trade with a Golden Core senior, which one should we choose? Considering the authority of the Golden Core senior..." A Cultivator asked, implying concerns about a potential low-ball offer.


    "This matter can wait until our esteemed Golden Core seniors return. Theye from different factions, making it less likely for such situations to arise.


    Additionally, each of you has your own Sect''s Golden Core seniors present to represent your interests."


    Wei Yang thoughtfully considered the dynamics, leveraging thepetition among Golden Core Cultivators. If one offered a low price, others wouldn''t want them to gain an advantage.


    These Golden Core cultivators would undoubtedly safeguard their disciples from suffering losses in the hands of outsiders.


    With the matter settled, the crowd once again divided the materials from the serpent''s corpse. The snake''s body yielded various valuable resourcessnake skin, bones, galldder, tendons, fangs, and blood, all three-tier refining tool materials, a rare find for Foundation Building Cultivators.


    There was also the meat of the three-tier Demonic Serpent, a delicacy that Foundation Building Cultivators might not have the chance to taste in their lifetime.


    Unfortunately, the serpent had reportedly fallen into a dormant state due to poison administered by Wang Hong. This created an opportunity for them to kill the serpent. Otherwise, the three Flying Boats might have been annihted by the demons, turning the tables and attacking the other Flying Boats. The victor in this scenario was uncertain.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 215: Spoils of War

    Chapter 215: Spoils of War


    Upon learning that snake meat was poisonous, everyone hesitated to take any. Fearful of poisoning, they refrained from epting the snake meat. After all, even a third-tier demonic beast had been tormented to such an extent. No one was certain about what Wang Hong might have fed the snake, and their gazes towards him became somewhat suspicious.


    Observing that no one dared to im the snake meat, Wang Hong used the excuse of wanting to research the venomous properties of the snake meat. He retrieved more than ten storage bags and distributed the snake meat among them.


    Only a few Foundation Building Cultivators believed there might be some profound secrets within the snake meat. Each of them took a small piece, intending to study it thoroughlyter on.


    Unlike Wang Hong, who had numerous storage bags, most people only carried one or two. Carrying too many was inconvenient, as these bags were spatial magical weapons that couldn''t be ced inside others.


    Wang Hong''s spatial abilities allowed him to store storage bags within his space effortlessly. Every time he appeared to take one out from his robe, it was actually from his spatial storage.


    Having collected these third-tier snake meats, Wang Hong nned to refine them and use them as food for the poisonous bees. These were third-tier spiritual objects, and who knows, maybe feeding them to the bees could elevate their tier.


    He also considered giving some to the demon-hunting tree, though he was unsure whether the seeds it produced would be toxic.


    During the distribution of the snake materials, Shen Jian suggested that the snake had initially been poisoned by Wang Hong, giving everyone a chance to kill it. Moreover, this action saved two flying boats from being destroyed by demonic beasts. The boat that had been wrecked was now scattered in fragments across the mountain valley, a testament to the demonic beasts'' hatred for flying boats.


    Apart from that, they directly saved the lives of nearly a thousand people on the three flying boats. If all three boats had been destroyed, facing a beast tide of hundreds of thousands, none of the people on the flying boats would likely have survived.


    Shen Jian believed that Wang Hong deserved the most credit. The materials from the demonic serpent should be shared with Wang Hong receiving an extra portion.


    This proposal received the support of hundreds of people. Some cold-hearted individuals expressed opposition, but with few supporters, the majority followed the popr opinion.


    Ultimately, the leaders agreed. To be a leader in this force, besides possessing strength, one needed to be tactful. The additional materials, distributed among three thousand people, were only a meager benefit, not worth missing the chance to curry favor.


    In the end, Wang Hong received arge piece of snake skin, barely enough to refine a protective garment.


    After the demonic serpent was divided among the group, they set up a temporary camp on a t ground a few miles away from the battlefield, enclosed by the flying boats. Here, they could rest and await the return of the Golden Core Cultivators.


    The battles of the Golden Core Cultivators took a considerable amount of time. With centuries of cultivation experience, each one was a sly old fox with some hidden tricks up their sleeves. Sometimes, two opponents could battle for days without either side managing to kill the other.


    For these lower-tier Foundation Building Cultivators, the best option was to patiently wait in this area.


    The reinforcements that came, consisting ofbat-oriented cultivators, alchemists, and refining tool experts, were still on their way. Wang Hong, being the sole alchemist, remained highly sought after.


    In their temporary camp, the Qingxu Sect arranged a makeshift alchemy room for Wang Hong.


    This temporary Alchemy room was, in fact, a magical weapon that could be resized. When minimized, it was only the size of a fist, easily fitting into a storage bag. When erged, it had two rooms where Wang Hong could engage in Alchemy and rest, a special privilege befitting his status as a second-tier Alchemist.


    Wang Hong announced that for this round of Alchemy, he would ept demonic beast materials as payment without deducting any pills separately. This delighted the Foundation Building Cultivators, who had amassed piles of demonic beast materials that their storage bags couldn''t contain and had no ce to sell.


    However, Wang Hong was selective about the materials he epted. Hearing that he was willing to take demonic beast materials, other cultivators sought him out, hoping to trade with him. With demonic beast materials flooding the market, even if they couldn''t trade for pills, converting them into spirit stones was still viable.


    Using pills, spirit herbs, and spirit stones, Wang Hong traded for some second-tier beast skins, some suitable for refining armor and others for crafting talisman paper. He also traded for the essence blood of second-tier demonic beasts, which could be used in talisman-making.


    After these transactions, he expressed his inability to trade further, iming he had no extra spirit stones or spiritual herbs. Once he refused further trades, Wang Hong closed the door and began his Alchemy in seclusion.


    In the night, a few people remained on watch on the flying boats surrounding the temporary camp. They sat within, chatting and joking. Though engrossed in their lively discussions, they failed to notice a ck figure emerging from the ground on the outskirts of the temporary camp.


    This person was Wang Hong, now draped in a ck cloak acquired from a killer''s body years ago. This cloak could block divine sense detection, making him invisible as long as he remained still.


    ncing around in the thorny thicket, ensuring no one noticed, he stealthily headed towards the daytime battlefield.


    Therge pile of demonic beast corpses, resembling peaks,y there untouched and wasted. Wang Hong felt restless at the thought of letting them go to waste and believed they should be collected for better use, especially since there were numerous second-tier demonic beasts among them.


    Near the pile, as far as his divine sense reached, the demonic beast corpses vanished and appeared in his space.


    Early the next morning, Wang Hong opened the temporary Alchemy room, looking fatigued. Absorbing that mountain-like pile of demon corpses into his space had heavily drained his divine sense.


    Supporting his exhausted body, he retraced his steps, destroying the tunnel he had dug and erasing all traces. Back at the temporary camp, he drank a pot of Qiu Long Tea, slightly rejuvenating his spirits.


    "Senior Brother Wu, these are the pills I refinedst night. Please distribute them for me. I still have dozens of materials waiting for refinement," Wang Hong found Wu Dayong and handed over a bunch of bottles.


    Wu Dayong looked at the numerous pill bottles, then at Wang Hong''s tired expression. "Junior Brother Wang, take care of yourself. There''s no rush with thesemissions. Your health is more important."


    Wu Dayong thought Wang Hong''s fatigue was due to Alchemy and quickly advised him.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Wu. I will be careful," Wang Hong replied with gratitude before returning to his seclusion for more Alchemy.


    The materials used this time were from his own inventory, and with plenty in stock, there was no need for refinement. After closing the door, he slept for a day and a night, waking up refreshed.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 216: Gifted Pill

    Chapter 216: Gifted Pill


    Wang Hong opened the door once again and handed the sessfully refined pill to Wu Dayong. However, along with this, he received some unsettling news  the bodies of Demonic Beasts outside their temporary residence had vanished once more.


    This piece of information quickly spread within the temporary camp, sparking widespread discussions. Many cultivators personally went to investigate the scene but returned empty-handed.


    After a day had passed, all fifteen Golden Core Cultivators came back, bearing some injuries but with no casualties.


    Led by severalte-stage Foundation Building Cultivators, they had traded the demon core of the Demonic Serpent with the Golden Core Cultivators, acquiring over a hundred high-quality Spirit Stones.


    However, distributing these three hundred plus Spirit Stones among three thousand people proved to be a challenging task and took considerable effort.


    Wang Hong didn''t pay much attention to these matters. Although the value of a third-tier demon core was high, when divided among three thousand people, the share for each individual wasn''t substantial.


    Later, someone sent him a few thousand Spirit Stones as a gesture of goodwill, which could be considered better than nothing.


    After a few days of rest, ten Flying Boats set off again, this time in two groups, to hunt down Demonic Beasts outside two cities.


    Learning from a previous setback, they now divided into two groups, each with five boats, maintaining a distance of no more than an hour''s flight from each other.


    After two months of sweeping through the areas outside Boundary City and Jin''an City, there were no traces of Demonic Beasts left. They had sessfully driven them into hiding.


    During this period, the Demon n attempted a few counterattacks, but the human cultivators, having learned from their losses, engaged only when they were sure of victory. If the odds were against them, they fled without hesitation, never pursuing the enemy.


    Moreover, the flying Demonic Beasts had suffered substantial losses in the previous encounter. They were no match for ten Flying Boats and three thousand Foundation Building Cultivators in a direct confrontation.


    Once, the Demon n located the temporary residence of human cultivators, organizing Demonic Beasts from two cities to attack simultaneously. However, the cultivators abandoned the fight, retreating into the Flying Boats and soaring away.


    Seizing the opportunity, the ten Flying Boats circled to Boundary City, wreaking havoc with a frenzy of attacks, causing chaos through burning, killing, and looting.


    When the horde of Demonic Beasts hastily returned, the ten Flying Boats were already gone.


    The high-tier Demonic Beasts howled in anger, while the low-tier ones, with limited intelligence, were oblivious to the meaning behind their actions, merely following orders.


    After two months of such activities, they refrained from going out to hunt Demonic Beasts. Therge Flying Boats consumed Spirit Stones during flight, and since losing Jin''an City, they had run out of supplies. Though the first batch of reinforcements brought some resources, it wasn''t enough.


    After this period, they had umted a substantial amount of Demonic Beast materials, with the Flying Boats now filled with these materials, seemingly discarded like garbage with no one paying them any attention.


    Other essential supplies were also running thin. In the past, many cultivators queued up for Wang Hong''s refined pills, but now, there were none.


    Because the Spiritual Herbs had beenpletely depleted, although they could gather some wild Spiritual Herbs in the Boundary Mountain Range, it was like a drop in the bucket and didn''t solve the problem at all.


    Currently, healing pills and second-tier Spirit Wine were in short supply. Just yesterday, Wang Hong had used a healing pill to exchange for a piece of third-tier snake skin.


    Now, even ordinary Spirit Stones were running out quickly. Wang Hong dared not make any moves to exchange for more Spirit Stones to expand the Space.


    They had already moved their temporary camp in the direction from which the second batch of reinforcements was expected. This served both to assist iing cultivators and to await supplies.


    Wang Hong spent every day secluded in a temporary Alchemy room, crafting talismans and asionally preparing some delicacies for himself.


    Little Peng was also released and often wandered around the temporary camp. People, aware that it was Wang Alchemist''s Spirit Pet, treated it with respect, sometimes even offering it food.


    Today, a cultivator brought out a Spirit Wine that had been hidden for a while, pouring half a cup and savoring it slowly. Though it was only a first-tier Spirit Wine, in their current situation, once it was consumed, there was no ce to buy more.


    Little Peng happened to pass by, caught a whiff of the wine, and couldn''t resist. It walked up to the cultivator, fixating its bird eyes on the wine cup, its saliva dripping.


    The cultivator, finding the bird''s behavior amusing and already having a desire to befriend Wang Alchemist, poured a cup of Spirit Wine and ced it in front of Little Peng.


    Using its wing, Little Peng grabbed the wine cup, brought it to its mouth, tilted its head back, opened its beak, and gulped down the Spirit Wine.


    After downing the cup, Little Peng smacked its beak, expressing that the wine wasn''t as good as Wang Hong''s. Then, its vitality surged, and it became lively.


    Proudly, it approached the cultivator, extending its wing to embrace him. Although it couldn''t speak andcked expressive abilities, it conveyed a sense of friendliness. If it could, it would have definitely bowed, burned incense, and paid respects to this cultivator.


    Though the cultivator was somewhat perplexed, he could sense Little Peng''s friendly intentions. Little Peng felt this wasn''t enough to express its gratitude, so it flipped a Storage Bag out of its feathers.


    This Storage Bag was obtained after many pleas to Wang Hong. It contained items collected by Little Peng in its daily life and some snacks given by Wang Hong.


    From the bag, it took out a shiny crystal, wanting to give it to the cultivator. However, after some hesitation, it tucked the crystal back in.


    In reality, this was an ordinary ruby in the mortal world. Though beautiful, it was no different frommon stones in the eyes of cultivators.


    After putting the stone back, Little Peng retrieved a pill from the bag, which was its snack. It used its wing to pick up an Essence Core Pill and offered it to the cultivator.


    Initially hesitant, the cultivator intended to refuse, but Little Peng insisted. Finally, unable to refuse the bird''s persistence, he epted the pill.


    Examining the pill closely, the cultivator realized it was a type he had never seen before. Specting that it might be a pill specifically refined by Wang Alchemist for Spirit Pets, he nonchntly put it away, thinking it wouldn''t be too valuable.


    At this moment, Wang Hong was in the Space collecting seeds from the demon-hunting tree. During this period, he could harvest arge pile of golden seeds every day.


    As the seeds of the demon-hunting tree matured, they would shoot out a great distance. Due to the nature of Space''s soil, once the seedsnded, they would root and sprout.


    To amodate this, Wang Hong had prepared many pieces of cloth, covering the entire area designated for nting demon-hunting trees on the ground.


    After collecting the seeds on the ground, he went and brought some demon corpses for the demon-hunting tree to absorb.


    Now, the demon-hunting tree was covered with various-sized green cocoons. Whenever a few branches were free, Wang Hong would bring more demon corpses to replenish them.


    The demon corpses collected in thest round in the Space were not yet used up. With the current rate of absorption by the demon-hunting tree, it would take a long time to consume all of them.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 217: Zhu Yan

    Chapter 217: Zhu Yan


    On this day, a group of fifty thousand people entered the temporary camp, causing the entire camp to buzz with excitement.


    The majority of the neers were Qi Cultivators, with a small number of Foundation Building Cultivators interspersed among them. These Foundation Building Cultivators possessed unique skills.


    Among them were three second-tier Alchemists, one of whom was also a disciple of the Qingxu Sect. Additionally, there were Cultivators skilled in refining tools, formations, and various other abilities.


    Notably, among the reinforcements, several merchant teams arrived, bringing a substantial amount of supplies, finally relieving the urgent situation.


    Under the jurisdiction of the Qingxu Sect, the Qingxu Tower also had its own merchant team. This time, they brought many second-tier Spiritual Herbs, Pills, and other resources.


    Before the merchant team of the Qingxu Tower could catch their breath, they were surrounded by countless Cultivators who came to trade.


    With a surplus of Demonic Beast materials in their hands, what they urgently needed were various Pills. Without Pills, the other sects in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm would be even more deprived.


    The members of the merchant team were surprised by the enthusiasm of the Cultivators on the Boundary Mountain Range side. However, with limited quantities of second-tier Spiritual Objects they could bring, they decided, after consulting with Wu Dayong, to hold a small-scale auction.


    Through the auction, they nned to sell half of the merchant team''s goods, such as Spirit Herbs and Pills, and exchange them all for the abundant Demonic Beast materials avable here.


    Afterward, the merchant team would transport these Demonic Beast materials to other cities for sale and, in turn, acquire more Spirit Herbs and other items.


    Taking advantage of the current abundance of materials in everyone''s hands, making the auction happen as quickly as possible was deemed essential. Thus, they decided to hold it one dayter.


    Since there were other merchant teams, they were not to be taken lightly. They would undoubtedly buy inrge quantities. When the supply of Demonic Beast materials in everyone''s hands decreased, their value would increase.


    Wang Hong apanied Wu Dayong to wee the merchant team. While Wu Dayong was busy discussing specific auction details with the person in charge of the team, Wang Hong leisurely observed the team.


    Suddenly, amidst the merchant team, he spotted a somewhat familiar face. This person was also an Alchemist from the Pill Hall. When Wang Hong joined the Pill Hall, this person had just advanced to a second-tier Alchemist.


    "Fellow Daoist Wang! Long time no see!" The man, named Zhu Yan, noticed Wang Hong and approached with a smile.


    "Fellow Daoist Zhu, it''s been a while! I didn''t expect you to be one of the second-tier Alchemists this time."


    Although Zhu Yan had recently advanced to a second-tier Alchemist, his cultivation level had already reached the mid-stage of Foundation Building. It was rare for an Alchemist to be proficient not only in Alchemy but also inbat, making him stand out.


    "I''m new here, and I''ll rely on Fellow Daoist Wang for guidance in the future," Zhu Yan said politely.


    "Fellow Daoist Zhu, you''re too kind. We should support each other," Wang Hong replied.


    Although Wang Hong didn''t have much interaction with Zhu Yan, he knew him to be gentle and courteous, with good poprity within the sect.


    After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the two bid farewell.


    The next day, news spread in the temporary camp that Qingxu Tower would hold a small-scale auction, offering Demonic Beast materials and other items in exchange for bids on Spirit Herbs, Pills, and more.


    The auction venue was marked out in the temporary camp, surrounded by fences. Since everyone lived in tents or small magical weapon rooms simr to Wang Hong''s, the arrangements were kept simple.


    Regardless, the items to be auctioned weremon Pills and Spirit Herbs; there were no particrly rare treasures.


    The auction venue was enclosed with both an entrance and an exit.


    At the entrance, a long line had already formed, and several Cultivators sat at tables, responsible for estimating the prices of items for participating Cultivators. When bidding, the estimated price would serve as the basis, with direct quotes in Spirit Stones, and the items exchanged ordingly.


    Otherwise, during the auction, if someone were to shout, "I offer a pair of Cow Horns!" and another person shouted, "I offer a Tiger Whip!" or "I offer a piece of Snake Skin!"it would be chaotic. Estimating prices on the spot would be too troublesome.


    At this moment, it was the turn of the Cultivator who had previously shared a drink with Little Peng. He handed over a Storage Bag containing items meant for bidding.


    A Foundation Building Cultivator from the merchant team took the Storage Bag and carefully estimated the value of the items inside. With his extensive experience, he quickly appraised the Demonic Beast materials and other items.


    However, there was a Pill inside that he had never seen before, nor had hee across it in any records.


    He took the Pill and found Zhu Yan, the second-tier Alchemist nearby.


    Zhu Yan took the Pill, sniffed it, observed it carefully, scraped off a bit of powder, picked it up with his fingernail, put it in his mouth, and savored it.


    Then, with an indifferent tone, he asked, "Did Fellow Daoist bring this Pill?"


    "It was brought by that Cultivator in ck," the Foundation Building Cultivator replied.


    "Ah, let me personally talk to him then!" Zhu Yan said with a smile and walked towards the Cultivator in ck.


    "Fellow Daoist, may I exchange this Pill for a Nourishing Essence Pill? Can you trade this Pill with me?"


    The Cultivator in ck was dumbfounded upon hearing this trade condition. He had always thought this kind of Pill was worthless and had thrown it into his Storage Bag without bothering to take it out. He never expected to get a few Spirit Stones for it. Last time, he saw a silly bird eating them like candy, and he ate several in a row.


    While he was still in a daze, Zhu Yan, thinking he was hesitant, persuaded him, "Fellow Daoist brought it for appraisal, presumably for trading for cultivation-rted Pills. I can add another Nourishing Essence Pill. How about trading with two Nourishing Essence Pills? If you still can''t agree, then I can only express regret."


    The Cultivator in ck, who hadn''t anticipated gaining a Nourishing Essence Pill just by staring nkly, quickly nodded in agreement.


    Afterpleting the transaction, Zhu Yan calmly put away the Pill and went on to attend to other matters.


    Regarding this, Wang Hong was oblivious. He was currently locked in a temporary Alchemy room, crafting Talismans.


    The auction proceeded smoothly as scheduled, and Qingxu Tower reaped a significant harvest of Demonic Beast materials at a low cost. Simultaneously, Foundation Building Cultivators, with their umted resources, obtained the items they urgently needed, bringing joy to everyone.


    After auctioning off half of their items, the merchant team left some Qi Cultivation Cultivators to assist Wu Dayong and departed with their newly acquired Demonic Beast materials.


    Witnessing the sess of Qingxu Tower''s small-scale auction, other merchant teams followed suit, exchanging their goods for Demonic Beast materials.


    However, each subsequent auction was less sessful because the earlier ones had already exchanged most of the materials.


    With the arrival of reinforcements, a counterattack was imminent. Now with over fifty thousand people, if the Demon n discovered the situation and concentrated their forces for another Beast Tide, defending this location would be challenging. The ten Flying Boats could fly away, but the newly arrived fifty thousand people couldn''t escape unscathed.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 218: Entrusted Refining Tool

    Chapter 218: Entrusted Refining Tool


    In Boundary City, now crowded with hundreds of thousands, Demonic Beasts pressed against each other.


    When the Human n built the city, they hadn''t nned for arge poption, only enough for about a hundred thousand people. Consequently, after the Demon n took over, there wasn''t enough space for so many Demonic Beasts, and many resided outside the city.


    However, during a recent Flying Boat sweep, most of the Demonic Beasts outside the city were in. The remaining few were now crammed inside, turning Boundary City into chaos. The city reeked, and expecting these low-tier Demonic Beasts to maintain hygiene, not litter, or refrain from defecating anywhere was impossible.


    Roars of Demonic Beasts fighting echoed within the city walls. They fought for mating partners, shed due to inter-species disputes, and chaos ensued.


    At this moment, on the city wall, two low-tier Demonic Beasts were fiercely fighting over a piece of bone, surrounded by others cheering them on.


    Suddenly, ten ck dots flew in from the distance, and the city echoed with the roars of third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Countless Demonic Beasts surged onto the city wall, and groups of flying Demonic Beasts took to the sky.


    The ten Flying Boats arrived at the city but didn''t engage the Demonic Beasts below. Instead, they formed a fan shape and attacked the flying Demonic Beasts.


    The remaining flying Demonic Beasts were no match for the ten Flying Boats. They were swiftly annihted, leaving the sky open for the Flying Boats.


    The Demonic Beasts within the city could only watch the aerial battle, helpless to contribute.


    In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, most of the flying Demonic Beasts were in, and the few remaining fled far away, avoiding the Flying Boats.


    With no aerial threat, the ten Flying Boats turned their attention to the Demonic Beasts in Boundary City.


    The city walls and the Large Formation protecting the city weren''t yet repaired, providing no hindrance to the ughter of the Demonic Beasts. Over a thousand Spiritual Weapons rained down, scattering the Demonic Beasts on the city walls.


    With no flying Demonic Beasts causing trouble, the crawling first and second-tier Demonic Beasts were at the mercy of the Flying Boats.


    Only a few Demonic Beasts possessed innate Magical Arts capable of long-range attacks, but their reach was too short to reach the Flying Boats. The Flying Boats prioritized attacking the rare second-tier Demonic Beasts that posed a threat.


    Often, as soon as these Demonic Beasts revealed themselves, they were swiftly killed by a barrage of Spiritual Weapons.


    With just these ten Flying Boats, they had the strength to take down Boundary City before the second wave of reinforcements arrived. However, resources and manpower were scarce, and even if they conquered the city, there wouldn''t be enough people to defend it.


    Moreover, it would deplete their reserves of Spirit Stones. Without Spirit Stones, the Flying Boats would be grounded.


    Now, with sufficient resources, capturing Boundary City was a straightforward task.


    Soon, the ten Flying Boats created a massive breach in the city walls and pushed in another direction.


    Watching the Demonic Beasts fall without resistance, the third-tier Demonic Beasts defending the city couldn''t hold back any longer.


    Roaring, they and the low-tier Demonic Beasts fled from the city in another direction.


    The Flying Boats pursued for a while but didn''t continue hunting the Demonic Beasts.


    With fifty thousand low-tier Cultivators in the rear, getting surrounded by Demonic Beasts wasn''t worth the risk. The priority was to upy Boundary City and secure it.


    Five Flying Boats hovered to guard, while the other five went to assist the Qi Cultivation Cultivators approaching on foot.


    Soon, fifty thousand Qi Cultivation Cultivators reached the city, entering triumphantly through the main gate.


    After passing through the city gate, they entered what felt like another world. The air was filled with a nauseating stench.


    The ground was the worst, with Demonic Beast dung and rotting food covering the streets. Disgusting liquids, ck or yellow, flowed everywhere.


    The Qi Cultivation Cultivators couldn''t immediately process the immense psychological gap, unsure whether to continue forward.


    However, there was no choice. Many Cultivators were still outside the city, eager to experience this moment of glory.


    With constant urging from behind, the Qi Cultivation Cultivators ahead found a bizarre-looking substance and stepped on it, causing juices to stter.


    Given the city''s current state, a temporary camp was set up outside. The Qi Cultivation Cultivators took turns entering the city to clean up, hoping the Demon n wouldn''t attack during this time. If they did, even if they were neck-deep in sewage, they would have to defend the city. After all, survival was more important.


    Using various Magical Arts, the fifty thousand Qi Cultivation Cultivators spent a month cleaning up Boundary City.


    Qingxu Tower, once a prominent structure, had been ravaged by Demonic Beasts. Wang Hong''s residence was also demolished and rebuilt during this month.


    During this period, an interesting incident urred. Given the mysterious disappearance of Demonic Beast corpses in the previous two attacks, the Cultivators had been on high alert.


    This time, many Cultivators secretly hid near the pile of corpses. There was even a Golden Core Cultivator using Divine Sense to monitor the area.


    Among the spections of many, it was highly probable that a Cultivator possessed a Space-erging storage magical treasure. Only this could exin the mysterious disappearance of the demonic corpses.


    It''s important to note that typical Storage Bags have a small internal space, ranging from a few feet to a few yards. Even Golden Core Cultivators mostly use Storage Bags with such capacities.


    Considering the size of the vanished demonic corpses, it would take at least a hundred yards of Space to contain them. Thus, it wasn''t surprising that it attracted the attention of Golden Core Cultivators.


    However, their month-long vigil turned out to be disappointing. Despite the presence of over a dozen Golden Core Cultivators, they gained nothing.


    Wang Hong didn''t even think about the matter of the demonic corpses outside. He had collected enough, and for now, he had no need.


    Having stolen twice already, he had garnered attention, and during the first two times, there were no Golden Core Cultivators nearby. This time, with over ten present, he couldn''t be certain of evading their Divine Sense.


    His caution paid off, saving him from a close call.


    After settling in Boundary City, with two second-tier Alchemists in Qingxu Tower, his Alchemy tasks reduced. His rtionship with the newly arrived Alchemist Zhu Yan was good. The two often discussed Alchemy and exchanged experiences.


    During this downtime, Wang Hong crafted talisman papers from the materials he had gathered and refined them into second-tier talismans.


    Sorting through the materials harvested during this period, he found mostly refining tool materials. Unfortunately, after the two previous major battles, all the second-tier refining tool artisans had perished. Despite having many materials, he couldn''t refine them into usable Spiritual Weapons.


    Fortunately, among the reinforcements, there were a few second-tier refining tool artisans, allowing him to finally refine the materials.


    After organizing everything, he left.


    He returned to Seven Wonders Pavilion, where he had previouslymissioned a Symbol Pen. Despite the original refining tool artisans being deceased, Seven Wonders Pavilion''s reputation was still reliable.


    "Are you here to purchase items or tomission refining tools, esteemed senior?" A shop assistant greeted him as he entered.


    "I need tomission refining tools. Is there avability among your refining tool artisans?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "I apologize. Our refining tool artisans are booked for tasks half a year in advance. Would that be eptable, senior?" The shop assistant expressed regret.


    "Well, in that case, I''ll join the queue." Wang Hong replied with a hint of resignation.


    "Thank you for your understanding. Please follow me."


    The shop assistant led Wang Hong to a secluded room and excused himself. After a short wait, the proprietor of Thousand Crafts Pavilion arrived with a middle-aged man.


    "So, you''re Alchemist Wang. I''ve heard much about you," the proprietor greeted warmly, recognizing Wang Hong as the only second-tier Alchemist among the three thousand.


    "Shopkeeper Mo, the pleasure is mine. Today, I''d like tomission the refinement of a few Spiritual Weapons. I hope Fellow Daoist here can assist me," Wang Hong said politely.


    "Oh? What kind of Spiritual Weapons does Fellow Daoist need, and do you have the materials?" Shopkeeper Mo inquired.


    "I do have the materials. I would like to refine a Long Spear. Would these materials suffice?" Wang Hong presented the previously acquired Starfall Profound Iron and a five-hundred-year-old Golden Ironwood.


    "I''m sorry; I''m not well-versed in refining tools. Let this fellow Daoist Bai examine them for you." Wang Hong remembered that Shopkeeper Mo had brought a young man to appraise itemsst time, so he wasn''t concerned.


    The middle-aged man carefully inspected the materials and then asked, "Starfall Profound Iron, five-hundred-year-old Golden Ironwood. Is Senior nning to refine a melee weapon with these?"


    "Exactly." Wang Hong felt relieved. If this Qi Cultivation Cultivator could discern this much, the second-tier refining tool artisan should be even more capable.


    "Does Senior have any other requirements?" the middle-aged man asked.


    Wang Hong stated his requirements, and the transaction waspleted. However, it would take over half a year for the refinement to bepleted.


    Wang Hong patiently waited at home for half a year until the appointed time to collect the finished items.


    Once again in the same secluded room, the same three individuals were present.


    This time, the middle-aged Qi Cultivation Cultivator stood behind Shopkeeper Mo, holding a wooden box over a yard long.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 219: Refining the Leather into a Formidable Weapon

    Chapter 219: Refining the Leather into a Formidable Weapon


    Middle-aged Qi Cultivator held a wooden box, his face flushed, veins popping on his forehead, appearing to struggle.


    Wang Hong, observing his difficulty, took the wooden box and casually ced it on the tea table.


    "Boom, tter, ng!"


    Unexpectedly, as soon as he put the wooden box down, the tea table disintegrated under the pressure, and the teapot and teacups on it scattered on the floor.


    "Sorry! Sorry!" Wang Hong, apologetic, picked up the wooden box and ced it on hisp.


    "No need to apologize, it''s just a tea table. Alchemist Wang doesn''t need to worry about it," Shopkeeper Mo said, waving his hand and using a Storage Bag to collect the remnants of the tea table from the floor.


    Wang Hong opened the wooden box, revealing a ck long spear inside. He gently picked it up, feeling its weight, which was around thirty thousand pounds.


    "This spear is made mainly from the Fallen Star Profound Iron and Golden Ironwood provided by the seniors. In addition, more than ten auxiliary materials were added, merging all the materials into one.


    It possesses the flexibility of spirit wood, the hardness and weight of the Fallen Star Profound Iron. The spearhead and the body are seamlessly integrated, with a total length of sixteen feet and a weight of three thousand two hundred pounds. Its quality is ssified as a middle-grade Spiritual Weapon."


    The middle-aged Qi Cultivator exined to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong checked it thoroughly, found no issues, and felt satisfied. He then paid the remaining refining tool fee.


    As an Alchemist, he directly took out several bottles of second-tier pills as payment, delighting Shopkeeper Mo.


    "I wonder how long it will take for my refining tool to bepleted?" After settling the bill, Wang Hong didn''t leave immediately and asked Shopkeeper Mo.


    "If it were someone else, it would naturally take at least half a year. However, for Alchemist Wang''smission, we can arrange it as soon as possible, within a month," Shopkeeper Mo said with a smile.


    "Thank you, Shopkeeper Mo. I happen to have another item that needs refinement," Wang Hong said, taking out arge and a small piece of snake skin from his Storage Bag.


    The middle-aged Cultivator took the snake skin from Wang Hong''s hand, gently touching it and carefully sensing the Spiritual Energy fluctuations.


    "Two pieces of third-tier snake skin. If we had a whole snake skin, it would be enough for refining a Spiritual Weapon armor.


    Senior, do you want to refine it into a Spiritual Weapon armor?" Although the middle-aged Cultivator was responsible for reception at the Thousand Crafts Pavilion, handling third-tier materials was still a first-time experience, making him slightly excited, but he quickly regainedposure.


    "Yes, are these materials sufficient?" Wang Hong asked.


    "If it''s a full-body armor refinement, it''s naturally not enough. This quantity can only refine a half-body armor because, after refinement to remove impurities, it will shrink a lot," the middle-aged exined.


    "Alright! Let''s refine a half-body armor then."


    Although the Demonic serpent was enormous, each person had a piece, and they kept it hidden, unwilling to trade. These pieces were already the share of three people.


    Wang Hong left a bottle of pills as a prepayment and left with his long spear.


    Back at his residence, he took out the long spear again, yed with it in the training room, and felt very satisfied.


    After Foundation Building and several years of effort, he finally refined a handy melee weapon.


    After dealing with the refining tool materials, he still had a pile of second-tier Demonic Beast meat left.


    He nned to process them all for convenient consumption in the future.


    Second-tier Demonic Beast meat contained demonic power, simr to a Cultivator''s Spiritual Power. It needed to be converted into pure Spiritual Energy during processing, making it easier for a Cultivator to absorb.


    This was the most basic requirement for making Spirit Meals. Next was thebination of various materials to enhance its physical replenishing effects.


    Lastly, there was the taste. If the first two points weren''t handled properly, it might not be edible, let alone considering the taste.


    He took out his massive Alchemy Furnace, ignited the spirit charcoal at the bottom, and poured in Spirit Spring Water transformed through Space.


    Last time on the Flying Boat, surrounded by people, he used some ordinary Spirit Spring Water and didn''t add any rare Spiritual Herbs.


    This time, it was for his own consumption, so naturally, everything had to be of the highest quality.


    He then ced a processed Demonic Beast inside. Although the Alchemy Furnace wasrge, most Demonic Beasts had a size that fit well.


    For those withrger sizes, they needed to be put in two times.


    He added dozens of thousand-year mutated Astragalus nts and over eight hundred years of mutated Astragalus. Even Golden Core Cultivators valued these, so he wondered about the effects of these thousand-year-old herbs.


    Then he added more than ten types of auxiliary medicinal ingredients and slowly brewed the concoction.


    Wang Hong cast several Techniques into the Alchemy Furnace, sat down nearby, took a Nourishing Essence Pill, and began circting his energy, refining the medicinal power.


    After refining one Nourishing Essence Pill, he stopped and slowly opened his eyes.


    By now, the Demonic Beast meat in the Alchemy Furnace had been simmered to the point of tenderness, and the milky-white broth shimmered with a golden glow.


    Wang Hong added a few pieces of spirit charcoal below and injected dozens of Techniques into the furnace. He then took another Pill and continued cultivation.


    After refining the Pill again, the Demonic Beast meat simmering in the Alchemy Furnace hadpletely melded into the soup, bones and all.


    He then added a piece of second-tier Demonic Beast meat, as before, waiting for it topletely dissolve before adding the next.


    This process repeated for over a month, and he had only used a bit more than two hundred pieces of second-tier Demonic Beast meat.


    Now, it was time to pick up the finished product as agreed with the Thousand Crafts Pavilion. He covered the Alchemy Furnace, stowed the entire furnace into his Storage Bag, and returned home after just over an hour.


    Setting up the Alchemy Furnace again, igniting the spirit charcoal, he ced another piece of Demonic Beast meat inside.


    After preparing everything, he sat down in front of the Alchemy Furnace. This time, he had a green vest in his hand.


    Running his fingers over it, the fabric felt soft, like silk, making it hard to believe it was made from snake skin.


    This was his second top-grade Spiritual Weapon, enhancing his personal safety significantly.


    Wang Hong took off his outer robe on the spot, put on the vest, feeling its soft andfortable fit, almost weightless.


    Every day at home, he processed Demonic Beast meat. If there was an Alchemy task, he would directly take a few Pills from his inventory.


    The variety of second-tier Spiritual Herbs he collected was already quite extensive, making it rare for him to encounter one he didn''t have.


    So, out of a hundred Alchemymissions he received, ny-nine were already in his inventory, and there was no hurry to refine them.


    After processing a thousand pieces of second-tier Demonic Beast meat, he finally stopped this concentrated concoction.


    This massive concoction weighed hundreds of thousands of pounds. It was divided into a thousand jars, sealed, and covered.


    After packing, he and Little Peng shared two jars.


    As it touched his lips, it felt silky smooth, leaving a lingering fragrance between his teeth.


    Aside from its delicious taste, after consuming a jar, a warm energy rose in his abdomen, spreading throughout his body.


    After digesting this heat, he found that his cultivation level had increased slightly, equivalent to the effect of taking about ten Nourishing Essence Pills.


    And that wasn''t the most crucial pointhis "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique" had unexpectedly broken through.


    He had been lingering at the first level of "Refining the Skin" Realm, and now, he finally broke through to the level of "Refining the Skin Small Achievement."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 220: Little Pengs Advancement

    Chapter 220: Little Pengs Advancement


    Wang Hong took out a low-grade Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword and infused it with Spiritual Power. He then controlled the Flying Sword to move back and forth on his arm, cutting without causing the slightest harm.


    Although his strength had increased significantly before, his cultivation in the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique" had been progressing slowly. This time, he finally made a breakthrough.


    Reflecting on it, Wang Hong realized that the soup not only enhanced his cultivation level but also greatly aided in refining his physical body.


    He felt that every organ in his body was now filled with vitality, whether it was due to the effects of the second-tier beast meat or the millennium variant Astragalus, he wasn''t sure.


    However, after Little Peng drank the soup, it appeared lethargic and on the verge of falling asleep.


    After a thorough examination, Wang Hong found nothing wrong and allowed it to rest.


    He had read in some books that many Demonic Beasts exhibited such reactions before advancing to the next tier. Wang Hong suspected that Little Peng might be ready to advance.


    Sure enough, after sleeping for more than ten days, Little Peng sessfully advanced to be a second-tier Demonic Beast.


    Wang Hong felt somewhat uneasy about this. In the Demon n, Little Peng belonged to a category with rather ordinary aptitude. Unlike human cultivators who faced numerous challenges to build their foundations, Demon n members, especially those with ordinary aptitude, advanced naturally over time.


    Fortunately, the Demonic Beast advancement process was lengthy, and Little Peng had spent a considerable amount of time in the Space. Coupled with regrly consuming Wang Hong''s Refinement Pills like candy, it managed to advance in such a short time.


    Demon n had a unique characteristic: the height they could reach was determined by their bloodline. Demonic Beasts with low bloodline aptitude found it nearly impossible to be high-tier Demonic Beasts, no matter how long they lived.


    For creatures like Little Peng, advancing to the second tier was already its limit. Without special opportunities, it could never hope to ascend to the third tier.


    After advancing, Little Peng''s intelligence improved significantly, and it seemed less foolish than before.


    Wang Hong was genuinely happy for Little Peng and specially poured a cup of Spirit Wine to celebrate.


    Surprisingly, after drinking a cup of Spirit Wine, Little Peng showed no signs of getting dumber. It even gestured towards the wine bottle and then to the empty cup, indicating its desire for more.


    Seeing that Little Peng was fine, Wang Hong poured another cup. Little Peng grabbed it with its wing, tilted its head, and gulped it down.


    Wang Hong had always been curious about Little Peng''s way of drinking. Could it taste the alcohol with such a method? Yet, its fondness for alcohol was evident.


    After finishing the third cup, Little Peng started acting a bit strangely. It alternated between being energetic, dancing with its wings, and appearing mncholic, huddling in a corner, using its wings to cover its face.


    It seemed that, despite the slight improvement in intelligence, its nature was hard to change.


    After refining a thousand second-tier Spirit Beasts, Wang Hong decided to take a break. Several months of continuous work were exhausting.


    One day, he received a Transmission Talisman from Zhu Yan, expressing the intention to visit. Wang Hong responded promptly.


    In the living room, Zhu Yan and Wang Hong chatted for a while, exchanging some Alchemy experiences. Then, Zhu Yan said, "Junior Brother Wang, I came with an invitation."


    "Oh? I wonder what Senior Brother Zhu has in mind. Feel free to share, and as long as it''s within my capabilities, I''ll do my best to assist," Wang Hong replied, curious but cautious.


    "Well, I know of a ce where a third-tier Jade Ginseng Fruit tree is growing, and it has just matured," Zhu Yan revealed.


    "Since it''s such a good opportunity, why doesn''t Senior Brother Zhu go alone?" Wang Hong, although tempted, couldn''t help but express his doubt. Who wouldn''t want to keep such good fortune to themselves rather than share it with others?


    A third-tier Spirit Fruit, a treasure even coveted by Golden Core Cultivators. Although Zhu Yan was usually friendly, Wang Hong couldn''t believe he was truly generous.


    "I also thought of going alone, but there''s a second-tier high-grade Demonic Beast guarding the ce. Going alone might not be a match," Zhu Yan said with a hint of worry.


    "What kind of Demonic Beast is it? Could Senior Brother Zhu not handle it?" Wang Hong still found it hard to believe.


    "It''s a second-tier Demon Ape. Its physical strength is formidable, and its power is unmatched. I can''t defeat it," Zhu Yan admitted with embarrassment.


    "I see. Unfortunately, I''m not particrly skilled inbat. I''m afraid I might disappoint Senior Brother Zhu," Wang Hong said.


    "I''ve already considered that. I heard that Junior Brother excels in using poisons. I''d like to ask Junior Brother to poison the Demon Ape. This way, it''ll be much easier. After the sess, we can split the Spirit Fruit fifty-fifty," Zhu Yan exined. Many cultivators were aware of Wang Hong''s poison expertise, while hisbat capabilities were known to only a few.


    In the end, Wang Hong agreed to apany Zhu Yan. With his current strength, he wasn''t too worried about Zhu Yan, as long as he was cautious.


    "Good! When should we depart? I need to prepare as well," Wang Hong agreed.


    "Two days from now, how about that?" Zhu Yan suggested.


    "Sounds good!"


    After the agreement, Zhu Yan left Wang Hong''s residence. After Zhu Yan''s departure, Wang Hong quickly packed, as he could store arge number of items in the Space. The main reason he agreed to go with Zhu Yan was the second-tier talisman he had just refined.


    Below the Golden Core level, there were few opponents that couldn''t be handled with a handful of talismans.


    Two dayster, Wang Hong wore his soft armor, ced Little Peng in a Spirit Beast bag, and headed to the city gate to meet Zhu Yan.


    Since the recovery of Boundary City, continuous efforts were being made to build the city walls, and now the walls reached a height of thirty yards. However, the city''s protective formation was still under construction, estimated to bepleted in about half a year.


    Every day, several Flying Boats were dispatched to kill Demonic Beasts near Jin''an City, while also monitoring the movements of the Demon n.


    When Wang Hong arrived at the city gate, Zhu Yan was already waiting there. After a brief exchange, they left Boundary City under Zhu Yan''s guidance.


    Flying with Zhu Yan for five days, they arrived at a canyon. The canyon was infested with snakes and insects, with asional appearances of highly poisonous creatures. However, Zhu Yan seemed familiar with the area, leading Wang Hong through the canyon confidently.


    An hourter, Zhu Yan brought Wang Hong to a waterfall with a clear pool below. The pool was transparent, and the fish inside were clearly visible.


    "We''re finally here!" Zhu Yan eximed.


    "Here?" Wang Hong looked around but found no trace of the third-tier Jade Ginseng Fruit or the second-tier Demon Ape.


    "You''ll know soon, Junior Brother!" Zhu Yan said mysteriously.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 221: The Hidden Cave

    Chapter 221: The Hidden Cave


    Zhu Yan led Wang Hong along the edge of a serene pool, arriving at the back of a waterfall. Unbeknownst to them, there was a concealed mountain cave behind it.


    The cave entrance was only two to three feet wide and five to six feet tall, requiring them to stoop to enter.


    Bending forward, they walked for two miles until suddenly, the path opened up before them. It felt as if they had reached the end of the cave.


    Before themy a vast space, with green mountains and clear waters stretching across hundreds of acres. A grassy field spread out before them, and in the distance, a small mountain had a stream meandering down its slopes, curving through the grassy terrain.


    Unbelievably, this stream contained Spirit Spring water, and Spirit Herbs of various tiers grew along its banks. Some small Demonic Beasts roamed and frolicked in this space.


    Above them, the cave''s ceiling was adorned with numerous luminescent ores, like a sky full of stars, casting a bright glow across the entire space.


    Without lingering, Zhu Yan led Wang Hong towards the small mountain ahead.


    As they reached the mountainside, they discovered that the Spirit Spring water flowed from a mountain caverge enough for both of them to walk through side by side.


    "So, there''s another cave within this cave, and the item should be in here?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "Exactly. Within this space, there are several small Spirit Veins converging, and this mountain is at the center of their convergence. Due to the long period of disuse and minimal consumption of Spirit Qi in this area, it has allowed the birth of such Spiritual Objects," Zhu Yan exined.


    "I see. That''s why I feel the Spirit Qi bing denser."


    Usually, one small Spirit Vein was sufficient to support a family, but here, there were several small Spirit Veins, and the living creatures were not particrly numerous.


    With less consumption of Spirit Vein energy, the Spirit Qi naturally became more concentrated, making it easier to nurture natural treasures.


    While they chatted, they continued walking along the stream into the inner cave.


    They hadn''t gone far when they encountered a hall ahead. A Spirit Spring gushed out from the center of the hall. Beside the Spirit Spring stood a small tree that looked as if it were carved from jade, about the height of a person. On this tree hung thirteen fruits of varying maturity, with only three of them ripe.


    Around the hall, there were several doors that appeared to lead to chambers.


    "Roar! Roar, roar!"


    Before they could approach the jade-like tree, they heard roars emanating from one of the doors. Subsequently, a white Demonic Ape wielding a thick stone club emerged from the door and charged toward them.


    Both of them hastily summoned their Spiritual Weapons to defend themselves. Wang Hong wielded his most frequently used Golden Seal and swung it at the ape, while also activating his Golden Light Bowl for protection.


    Zhu Yan, on the other hand, unleashed a medium-grade Spiritual Weapon, a flying knife, towards the ape. But the ape blocked the attack with its stone club.


    At the same time, Wang Hong''s Golden Seal was already closing in on the ape''s head. Surprisingly, the ape disyed incredible agility. While blocking the flying knife, it also retaliated with a punch on the Golden Seal and swiftly approached both of them, swinging its club at Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong quickly dodged backward, and at that moment, Zhu Yan positioned himself behind him, preventing Wang Hong from retreating. Simultaneously, Wang Hong''s Divine Sense detected that the flying knife Zhu Yan had just unleashed was now behind him, stabbing towards his back.


    "Senior Brother Zhu! What is the meaning of this?" Wang Hong''s retreat was blocked, so he had to change direction temporarily and dodge to the side.


    "Junior Brother Wang, as the saying goes, ''only by facing death can one truly live.'' I''m blocking your retreat to see if, in such dire circumstances, you can unleash your full potential and maybe defeat this Demonic Beast!" Zhu Yan replied with a hint of mischief.


    At this moment, Zhu Yan had retreated to the entrance of the cave where they hade from. He was setting up a formation at the entrance, nning to seal it off, forcing Wang Hong and the Demonic Ape to engage in a life-and-death battle inside.


    He stood outside the formation, intending to watch a thrilling showdown between a second-tier Alchemist and a white Demonic Ape. Once the winner emerged, he would step in and reap the rewards.


    "Junior Brother Wang, it''s all up to you now. Give it your all!" Zhu Yan cheered Wang Hong on while observing their battle. As a spectator, he yed the part well.


    "Senior Brother Zhu, we had no grievances before, so why are you plotting against me like this?" Although Wang Hong had prepared for the worst when he agreed to this venture, he was still somewhat surprised by Zhu Yan''s betrayal. After all, they had a good rtionship, and there hadn''t been any significant conflicts between them.


    "Hahaha! Junior Brother Wang, why are you so naive? In the eyes of Immortal Cultivators, everything revolves around self-interest. When ites to interests, elders, family, friends, anyone can be killed," Zhu Yan chuckled as if it were a joke and then continued in a somewhat introspective tone, "I was once kind and naive like you, but s... I realized it toote."


    He recounted how, in his childhood, his father had rescued an injured and unconscious Qi Cultivation Cultivator from the mountains. However, when that Cultivator woke up, he used a secret healing technique to kill Zhu Yan''s parents and over a thousand vigers in their vige.


    At the time, Zhu Yan had managed to survive by hiding in a cer during the massacre. Although he had escaped death, young and helpless, he had lived a life of humiliation and suffering, struggling to survive on the streets.


    Eventually, through a stroke of luck, he joined a sect and became a Cultivator himself. His past experiences made him adopt a faade of a benevolent person in public.


    However, behind the scenes, hemitted all sorts of atrocities. Even after reaching the Foundation Building stage, he had once robbed and killed Qi Cultivation initial-stage Cultivators just to get his hands on a few Spirit Stones.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong was still being pursued by the Demonic Ape, jumping and dodging to evade its attacks. He had already used Devouring Spirit Poison on the ape, a poison with excellent concealment but slow-acting.


    His Golden Light Bowl was buzzing from the ape''s attacks, its radiance flickering.


    Eventually, the Demonic Apended a heavy blow on the Golden Light Bowl, causing the light on it to extinguish as it fell to the ground.


    At the same time, Wang Hong''s Golden Seal struck the ape''s back, making it stumble forward, narrowly avoiding a nasty fall.


    Though the ape wasn''t severely injured, the blow further fueled its rage, and it swung its stone club ferociously at Wang Hong.


    As its attacks grew more relentless, the Devouring Spirit Poison spread faster within its body. Unaware of this, the ape remained fixated on chasing and attacking Wang Hong.


    "Junior Brother Wang, I heard this pill was originally made by you for feeding Spirit Beasts. Is it true that your Spirit Beasts often treat it like candy?" Zhu Yan pulled out the Essence Core Pill and waved it in his hand.


    While escaping, Wang Hong cast a sidelong nce in Zhu Yan''s direction. "Indeed, it''s my creation. But where did you get it? I don''t have many of them."


    Wang Hong couldn''t be sure how Zhu Yan had obtained the pill, but ever since he had revealed it to his subordinates, he knew that the secret might eventually leak.


    "Oh, but I heard this was just a pill you used to feed Spirit Beasts. Your Spirit Beasts seem to enjoy it like candy, don''t they?" Zhu Yan teased with a sly grin.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 222: The Harvest

    Chapter 222: The Harvest


    Zhu Yan, as a second-tier Alchemist, had recognized the extraordinary nature of this type of Pill from the very first moment heid eyes on it.


    Ever since that day, he had been keeping an eye on Wang Hong, appearing to be closer to him on the surface while secretly plotting.


    Upon hearing Zhu Yan''s words, Wang Hong guessed that it was that foolish Little Peng who had leaked the information.


    He felt that as Little Peng grew older, its intelligence had also increased significantly, and in the future, they would need to keep important secrets away from it.


    Especially anything rted to Space, it couldn''t be allowed to enter. Wang Hong hadn''t let it in since it had advanced to the second-tier Demonic Beast. When it grew older, even if it could remember a little bit vaguely, that would be impressive enough.


    "Junior Brother Wang, if you can hand over this Pill Recipe to me, I will spare you. We can still be friends in the future, what do you say?"


    Zhu Yan thought Wang Hong was quite easy to deceive and tried to persuade him. He was afraid that if he killed Wang Hong and couldn''t find the Pill Recipe in his Storage Bag, he would be at a loss.


    "That sounds good, but my Pill Recipe isn''t with me. Senior Brother Zhu, please open the formation and kill this Demonic Beast first. I will then take Senior Brother to retrieve it."


    Wang Hong replied while desperately dealing with the pursuit of the Demonic Ape. He wasn''t really foolish enough to believe such nonsense.


    By now, he had already been struck by the Demonic Ape''s club and was coughing up blood repeatedly, clearly in a dire situation. However, the Demonic Ape was also bing increasingly poisoned, and its attacks on him were weakening.


    "It seems, Junior Brother Wang, that you don''t intend to give it to me so easily. I''ll have to take it myself after you''re dead."


    Zhu Yan said with a sinister tone, his demeanor nowpletely different from his usual friendly facade.


    While he was talking, Wang Hong was struck by another blow and spat out arge amount of blood.


    At this point, the Demonic Ape seemed exhausted, and the stone club it held seemed much heavier. It dragged it along the ground as it slowly approached Wang Hong step by step.


    "Senior Brother Zhu, if you don''te in to save me now, I''ll destroy this Pill Recipe."


    Wang Hong, now sitting on the ground, blood continuously dripping from his mouth, took out a Jade Scroll from his Storage Bag and held it up high in his hand.


    "Junior Brother Wang, please don''t act rashly. I was just ying a small joke with you. Please don''t take offense!"


    Zhu Yan said with a smile on his face and quickly opened a hole in the formation to enter. After he passed through, the formation was sealed shut once again.


    Once inside, Zhu Yan first summoned a flying de and decapitated the Demonic Ape.


    Then, with a smug smile on his face, he approached Wang Hong and reached out to help him up.


    Suddenly, Wang Hong leaped up without grabbing a weapon, delivering a direct punch to Zhu Yan''s chest.


    Zhu Yan was now toote to dodge and only felt a sharp pain in his chest as Wang Hong''s fist pierced through his front and out the back.


    Zhu Yan looked at the fist that had just passed through his body in disbelief.


    He had clearly seen Wang Hong being struck multiple times in the chest by the Demonic Ape earlier, so he had never doubted that Wang Hong was injured.


    He had experienced the Demonic Ape''s strength firsthand. A single blow would result in broken tendons, fractures, and shattered organs.


    "You''re not injured?" he couldn''tprehend it, even as he was about to die, he couldn''t help but ask.


    "Of course, I''m not injured. If I were injured, how could I muster such strength to kill you? I''ve been eating too many Spiritual Herbstely, which made my gums bleed a bit, and I ended up spitting some blood."


    Wang Hong withdrew his fist, flicking off the blood that had sttered onto his arm in disdain.


    Zhu Yan, unwilling to ept his fate, slowly fell to the ground.


    Wang Hong wiped the blood from his arm onto Zhu Yan''s robe, then removed the two Storage Bags from his body.


    He ignited a fire and used the Fireball Technique to cremate Zhu Yan''s body. After a while, it turned into a pile of ashes, which he swept away with his sleeve, leaving Zhu Yanpletely extinguished from this world.


    After collecting the Demonic Ape''s body, he stood up and approached the small tree that resembled a Jade Ginseng Fruit.


    The Jade Ginseng Fruit had a shape simr to ginseng, with a jade-like appearance that was almost translucent.


    Wang Hong first plucked the three ripe fruits hanging from the Jade Ginseng Fruit tree, stored them in a Jade Box, and sealed it with a Talisman to prevent the loss of Spirit Qi.


    Next, he transnted the spirit fruit tree into his Space. Using a Flying Sword, he carefully dug up the surrounding soil, then severed the main root, leaving most of the roots in the soil. Even without roots, Wang Hong could ensure the spirit fruit tree''s survival, but he wanted to leave as many roots as possible, hoping that another Jade Ginseng Fruit tree would grow here in the future.


    Spirit fruit trees and Spirit Herbs had significantly different growth cycles. Spirit fruit trees required a long waiting period in the early stages, but once matured, they could continuously yield fruit, with much higher productionpared to Spirit Herbs. On the other hand, most Spirit Herbs had much shorter growth cycles, and once harvested, they needed to be rented.


    Wang Hong estimated that this Jade Ginseng Fruit tree had already been growing for over a thousand years, and it was still rtively small.


    If Wang Hong used its branches to propagate, it would take a very long time for the saplings to grow and bear fruit. Even with the help of his Space, it would still take a considerable amount of time before he could enjoy the fruits of hisbor.


    After nting the Jade Ginseng Fruit tree in a corner of his Space, Wang Hong emptied the items from Zhu Yan''s Storage Bag onto the ground. Since no one would disturb him here, he could clean Zhu Yan''s belongings before leaving.


    The first item he noticed was Zhu Yan''s Spiritual Weapon, a middle-grade one. Wang Hong inspected it and found it to be quite good, so he stowed it in his Storage Bag.


    The second item was a lower-grade Spiritual Weapon-level Alchemy Furnace. Wang Hong marveled at Zhu Yan''s average alchemical skills, as it was rare to possess a Spiritual Weapon-level Alchemy Furnace. Such furnaces required extremely rare and scarce materials, and that''s why there weren''t many of them in existence. Many second-tier Alchemists continued to use high-grade Magical Weapon-level Alchemy Furnaces even after decades of pill refining.


    However, Wang Hong was unaware that Zhu Yan had recently felt the need for a better Alchemy Furnace. He had lured an Alchemist from the Pill Hall out of the city and killed him, taking all of the Alchemist''s wealth before sessfully advancing to be a second-tier Alchemist.


    Among the remaining items were various bottles and containers, each filled with a mishmash of pills, ranging from first-tier to second-tier.


    There were also various Spirit Herbs of different kinds, collected out of habit by every Alchemist.


    Inside Zhu Yan''s Storage Bag, there were tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, which happened to be exactly what Wang Hong needed at the moment.


    In the end, all the wealth that Zhu Yan had umted through countless robberies had now fallen into Wang Hong''s hands.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 223: The Stone

    Chapter 223: The Stone


    After Wang Hong had finished sorting through the spoils of war, he searched the mountain cave once more. Besides the Spirit Spring, there were also some Spiritual Herbs growing nearby. However, these herbs had not matured yet, most likely devoured by the Yao Apes. He had some of these Spiritual Herbs in his Space, so he decided to leave them for future adventurers.


    He then proceeded to explore several stone chambers in the cave. These chambers showed clear signs of human activity, indicating that someone had once lived here for cultivation. Judging by the marks, it seemed like a long time had passed since anyone had been here.


    One of the chambers he entered appeared to be the long-term dwelling ce of the Yao Apes. It emitted a foul odor, with various random items scattered inside. The mostmon item among them was a type of stone, hard and heavy, likely made from the same material as the stone clubs the Yao Apes used.


    The stone club wielded by the Yao Apes was roughly carved from raw stone but could easily withstand his middle-grade Spiritual Weapon. There were only a few cracks on the club''s surface. Wang Hong was unfamiliar with this material and decided to collect these stones to have them identified by a refining tool masterter.


    After gathering the stones, he noticed some misceneous ores on the ground, which he also collected. Additionally, there were a dozen or so pieces of Spirit Stone ore, which could potentially be split into over a thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones. It was unclear where the Yao Apes had obtained these. These wild and disorganized Demonic Beasts didn''t trade with others and probably picked them up because of the rich Spirit Qi.


    Wang Hong explored a few more stone chambers, but there was nothing else of value. One chamber contained scattered human bones and a few deteriorated and worthless Spiritual Weapons.


    Now, the exit was blocked by a formation set up by Zhu Yan. To leave, Wang Hong had to break it with brute force. He once again summoned the Golden Seal and struck it towards the formation. The formation emitted a bright light but easily withstood the Golden Seal''s attack.


    It seemed he would have to gradually deplete the Spiritual Energy within the formation. Once the energy was exhausted, the formation would copse. Wang Hong released five thousand Poisonous Bees to slowly wear it down. Since the Poisonous Bees numbered in the thousands and possessed tremendous strength, they were more effective than Wang Hong himself.


    Stuck again by the formation, he realized that after returning to the sect, he should consider studying formation techniques. Fortunately, he had his Space, which would allow him to have over a hundred times more time for learning.


    The Poisonous Bees relentlessly hammered the formation while Wang Hong rested and recovered on the side. Despite having a top-grade Spiritual Weapon armor for protection during his battle with the Yao Apes, his injuries were still quite significant. The Yao Apes, being second-tier top-grade Demonic Beasts, were equally powerful, and the strikes from their stone clubs had been painful.


    After an hour of relentless effort from the Poisonous Bees, they finally depleted the Spiritual Energy within the formation. As the formation dissipated, Wang Hong noticed three array tes arranged in the shape of the character "" on the ground. There were Rune inscriptions etched on the ground, and Wang Hong could only understand a few of them.


    Wang Hong collected the three array tes and left the mountain cave. After exiting the small cave, he looked around outside and picked a few mature second-tier Spiritual Herbs before leaving this peculiar little space.


    Upon returning to Boundary City and his own residence, Wang Hong was visited by Ling Shuai. His daughter, who had congenital deficiencies, had shown significant improvement after nearly a year of care. Though still far from a normal infant''s condition, at least her life was no longer in immediate danger of premature death.


    "Hello!" Ling Shuai greeted Wang Hong while holding his little daughter, who was now starting to speak but identally called him "h h" instead of uncle.


    The little girl was in the stage of babbling, and due to her frail health, she was much quieter than other children her age. Herplexion was pale.


    "Xiao Ling Xue,e here, ''h h'' will hold you!" Wang Hong extended his arms toward the little girl, signaling that he wanted to hold her.


    Since Xiao Ling Xue had visited Wang Hong with Ling Shuai several times before, she was already somewhat familiar with him. She reached out her tiny arms to Wang Hong without hesitation.


    Wang Hong gently picked up the little girl and gave her a soft, juicy spirit fruit. Even with her baby teeth, she could manage to bite into it.


    "Thank you, ''h h''!" The little girl expressed her gratitude and then used both hands to feed herself the spirit fruit.


    Having two Spiritual Roots, and regrly consuming the Spirit Meals prepared by Wang Hong, she had managed to naturally reach the first level of Qi Cultivation despite her weak constitution at such a young age. This was an exceptional talent.


    Behind this achievement was Ling Shuai''s relentless effort to nurture her health.


    After ying with Xiao Ling Xue for a while, Wang Hong handed her back to Ling Shuai and said, "You can y here for a while. ''h h'' will prepare something delicious for you."


    Wang Hong had been away for a few days and hadn''t prepared her food in advance, so they would have to wait for a while.


    In the kitchen, Wang Hong began to work. With Ling Shuai''s improving health, he had adjusted the Spirit Meal recipe multiple times. Initially, he had provided her with very mild Spirit Meals due to her fragile condition, but now that her constitution had improved, he could use more potent Spirit Meals to elerate her recovery.


    After over an hour of busy cooking, Wang Hong returned with a porcin jar in hand.


    "Here you go, this shouldst for ten days." Wang Hong handed the jar to Ling Shuai.


    Ling Shuai epted it and then gave Wang Hong a Storage Bag containing his payment. To support Xiao Ling Xue''s treatment, Ling Shuai had to search for various Spiritual Objects and providepensation to Wang Hong. This year had taken a toll on his finances, and he had even sold his own cultivation resources.


    While Wang Hong had offered him a discount, charging only for the cost of materials, it had still been a considerable expense over time.


    "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Wang!" Ling Shuai expressed his gratitude. Without Wang Hong''s help, he wouldn''t have been able to continue.


    He was truly thankful for Wang Hong''s assistance, but his financial situation was dire, and he couldn''t repay Wang Hong properly at the moment. He could only keep this favor in mind and hope to repay it in the future.


    "No need to be so polite, Fellow Daoist Ling. It was just a small effort." Wang Hong waved it off.


    After bidding farewell to Ling Shuai and his daughter, Wang Hong left his home. He intended to consult a refining tool master about the materials he had found among the stones and whether they could be used for refining tools.


    He made his way to the Thousand Crafts Pavilion, finding it effortlessly. Once you became familiar with a ce, it became your first choice for simr matters, even if it had its shorings.


    He located the middle-aged Cultivator he had approachedst time, and the Cultivator was more than willing to assist Wang Hong with his inquiries.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 224: Trial

    Chapter 224: Trial


    "Senior Wang, this type of stone appears to be Earthen Yellow Stone, but I have only read about it in ancient texts and have never seen it in person, so I can''t be certain," the middle-aged Cultivator said.


    "Then what is its use? Can it be used for refining Spiritual Weapons?" Senior Wang inquired.


    "In response to Senior, if it is indeed Earthen Yellow Stone, it can be used for refining tools, particrly suitable for refining hammers, seals, bricks, rods, and simr Spiritual Weapons," the middle-aged Cultivator replied without hesitation.


    Senior Wang pondered for a moment and felt that his current Spiritual Weapons were sufficient; he didn''t currently have a need for it.


    He had many Body Cultivators under hismand, and perhaps they would have a use for it in the future, making it a potential reward.


    "Never mind, I won''t be refining it this time. Maybe next time. Take this bottle of Pill as your reward," Wang Hong said, tossing a bottle of Pill to the middle-aged Cultivator. In situations like this, even if no reward was offered, nobody wouldin.


    However, Wang Hong was not interested in taking advantage of others; he had no need for such small gains.


    "Thank you, Senior!" the middle-aged Cultivator gratefully eximed. He knew that this Senior was a renowned second-tier Alchemist, so the Pills he provided would certainly be of good quality.


    After Wang Hong departed, he opened the Pill bottle and poured out three high-quality Condensing Qi Pills, causing him to be ecstatic. Such high-quality Pills were not easy toe by, even with Spirit Stones.


    Due to Wang Hong''s improvement in Alchemy skills, most of the Pills he refined now were of high quality, with only a few being top-quality or lower-quality Pills.


    This made it difficult for him to refine lower-quality Pills for sale.


    Back at home, Wang Hong resumed the process of cooking the flesh of the second-tier Demonic Beasts he had acquired.


    Now that he had a Spiritual Weapon-level Alchemy Furnace, his previousrge Alchemy Furnace had be a pot for stewing meat.


    During the time he was cooking Demonic Beast meat, Boundary City and Jin''an City experienced severalrge-scale battles, with countless small skirmishes.


    The human race had recently suffered a major loss, losing Boundary City, and they were naturally not content with this oue.


    Moreover, if the Demon n could easily move from Jin''an City to the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, it would pose a future threat to the entire human race. They were like thorns in the eyes and irritants under the skin, and they needed to be dealt with.


    On the other hand, the Demon n''s goal was to expel the human race from the Boundary Mountain Range. If they captured Jin''an City but allowed the human race to establish another Boundary City, it would be a fruitless endeavor.


    Due to thepleted construction of the city walls and the Large Formation in Boundary City, along with over three thousand Foundation Building Cultivators and ten Flying Boats stationed within, taking Boundary City was no easy task for the Demon n.


    In contrast, Jin''an City already had a protective Large Formation, and the Demon n had many individuals skilled in formations who could easily activate it. Therefore, reiming Jin''an City posed a significant challenge for the human race.


    Both sides decided to first eliminate each other''s forces outside the city, so they dispatched small teams to hunt down each other''s living beings.


    Countless life-and-death battles urred between the hunting teams of both sides in the Boundary Mountain Range, resulting in losses for both sides, with neither gaining the upper hand.


    The human faction''s Flying Boats were powerful, but each battle they engaged in consumed a significant amount of Spirit Stones. Consequently, Boundary City regrly dispatched hunting teams. Whenever they discovered arge group of Demonic Beasts, they would report it, and Boundary City''s Flying Boats would be sent out to eliminate the threat.


    Once, the Demon n intentionally sent out some bait to lure the Flying Boats into a trap, with the intention of surrounding and destroying them. However, that time, the Flying Boats sent by the humans exceeded the Demon n''s expectations, resulting in a protracted battle with neither side gaining the upper hand.


    As the battles raged outside, Wang Hong, as a second-tier Alchemist, didn''t need to participate unless there were special circumstances. Due to Zhu Yan''s disappearance, there was an increased demand for Wang Hong''s Alchemy skills. Wu Dayong, responsible for handling Alchemy matters, was kept busy.


    Wang Hong often needed to gather thirty sets of materials before starting an Alchemy session. Surprisingly, he found himself with more free timepared to the busy Wu Dayong.


    After continuous efforts over this period, he had finally turned most of the second-tier Demonic Beasts into a thick soup. There were still over a hundred of them left, and he nned to create some other delicacies with them.


    One day, he ced a prepared second-tier Demonic Beast into arge Alchemy Furnace, ignited spirit charcoal underneath, poured in some soup, and began a technique. As the technique was applied, the soup gradually absorbed into the beast''s flesh.


    Wang Hong then took out the meat, which was now soaked in the soup, and cut it into small pieces. He proceeded to slowly dry it with Spirit Fire, making it a convenient and delicious snack.


    He repeated this process for the remaining hundred-plus second-tier Demonic Beasts, creating a unique and vorful treat. As he enjoyed the dried meat, he couldn''t help but praise his culinary skills.


    Wang Hong stored all the prepared dried meat and soup in his spatial storage.


    While savoring his dried meat and sipping on Spirit Wine, Yin Ze came to pay him a visit. Since deciding to follow Wang Hong and returning to Boundary City, Yin Ze had been visiting him regrly, hoping to be assigned some tasks.


    However, Wang Hong was in Boundary City toplete his cultivation mission and didn''t have much for him to do. Nevertheless, when Yin Ze came this time, Wang Hong decided to find something for him to work on.


    The best way to judge someone''s character is to give them tasks. Only through the process of working can a person''s true qualities be revealed.


    "Yin Ze, I want to open a Spiritual Herb shop here in Boundary City. Do you have the confidence to manage it?" Wang Hong asked.


    As an Alchemist, it made sense for Wang Hong to have a shop to purchase Spiritual Herbs and sell finished Pills through his subordinates.


    "I can only say that I will give it my all, even if it means giving my life," Yin Ze replied in a way that suggested hecked confidence.


    However, Wang Hong was not worried about whether he could do it well or not, and he didn''t mind a small loss. The main purpose was to see if Yin Ze could handle significant responsibilities and whether he could be trusted. It was a test for Yin Ze.


    "Very well, if that''s the case, find a suitable storefront, rent it, and start preparing to open the Spiritual Herb shop. I''ll leave all the details to you," Wang Hong said, handing over the task to Yin Ze.


    Ten dayster, Yin Ze found a total of five avable storefronts. He didn''t want to make the decision on his own, so he returned to seek Wang Hong''s guidance. Following Yin Ze''s lead, Wang Hong walked towards the city''s streets to make the final selection.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 225: A New Shop

    Chapter 225: A New Shop


    Yin Ze and Wang Hong carefully surveyed several locations, considering aspects like rent, location, foot traffic, and the neighboring businesses and residents.


    After inspecting several shops, they had a good understanding of the general situation of each one.


    "Yin Ze, if it were up to you, which one would you choose?" Wang Hong asked.


    Upon hearing this, Yin Ze felt a surge of enthusiasm. He knew it was time to prove himself. While he had decided to follow Wang Hong unconditionally to repay a life-saving favor, he didn''t want to be a mere bystander.


    He straightened his robe and replied, "East Master, out of these five shops, two are in remote locations with low foot traffic and cheap rent, making them unsuitable options.


    The remaining three include one at the intersection of Boundary City''s four main streets, which is in the most prosperous area of Boundary City. The surrounding shops are all owned by major factions, and given our current strength, it''s not suitable for us to establish ourselves there.


    The other two locations have simr geography and foot traffic. The difference is that the shop on West Street has more Qi Cultivation Cultivators nearby, while the one on East Street has more Foundation Building Cultivators. Thebined wealth of dozens of Qi Cultivation Cultivators doesn''t match that of a single Foundation Building Cultivator.


    Moreover, there are only fifty thousand Qi Cultivation Cultivators in the entire Boundary City. Even if we capture the entire Qi Cultivation business, the profits won''t be significant. Therefore, if it were up to me, I''d choose the shop on East Street."


    After listening to Yin Ze''s reasoning, Wang Hong nodded in agreement. "In that case, I entrust this matter to you entirely. You can go ahead and secure the lease for the shop. I have three hundred thousand Spirit Stones here, which I''ll give to you as startup capital."


    Wang Hong took out three hundred thousand Spirit Stones and handed them to Yin Ze, without inquiring about how they would be spent. Yin Ze was free to make his own decisions on how to use the Spirit Stones.


    Trust those you employ, and employ those you trust. Since Wang Hong had appointed Yin Ze for this task and wanted to assess his abilities, he didn''t hesitate to provide the three hundred thousand Spirit Stones. If this amount could help him better understand Yin Ze, it was a reasonable price to pay.


    "Thank you, East Master, for your trust," Yin Ze epted the Spirit Stones and expressed his gratitude.


    "No need to be polite. Just give it your all," Wang Hong waved his hand.


    With the Spirit Stones in hand, Yin Ze departed. From that point on, he took charge of renting the shop, hiring assistants, purchasing inventory, and finding suppliersall on his own.


    Several weekster, Yin Ze returned to Wang Hong. He had nearlypleted the preparations for opening the shop.


    "East Master, I''ve contacted twelve suppliers. The Li n Caravan is willing to provide one Tier-Two Spiritual Herb at ny percent of the market price per month and offer a discount of fifteen percent for one hundred Tier-One Spiritual Herbs.


    There''s also the Zhang n Caravan, which is willing to supply one Tier-Two Spirit Fruit each month at a ny percent discount, and Tier-One...


    In total, these fifteen suppliers can provide us with ten Tier-Two Spiritual Herbs, two Tier-Two Spirit Pills, and thousands of Tier-One Spiritual Herbs and Spirit Pills every month."


    Yin Ze reported the numbers with ack of confidence, somewhat anxious as he looked at Wang Hong.


    Even though he had worked diligently to find suppliers, many powerful ones had rejected him due to his status as a Qi Cultivation Cultivator. In the past month, he had visited every merchant caravan in Boundary City, some multiple times, to achieve the modest results he had now.


    With the current achievements, they should be able to break even every month.


    "Hmm, not bad!" Wang Hong affirmed Yin Ze''s achievements. He was well aware that for a Qi Cultivation Cultivator like Yin Ze with no background, achieving such results was quite challenging.


    Especially the Tier-Two Pills; after Zhu Yan''s disappearance, there were only two Tier-Two Alchemists in the entire Boundary City. Obtaining two Tier-Two Pills was considered quite an achievement.


    Having received Wang Hong''s approval, Yin Ze breathed a sigh of relief.


    "East Master, when should we open for business?" Yin Ze cautiously asked.


    "These minor details are for you to decide. However, we do have a bit of a shortage of Tier-Two Spiritual Herbs and Pills.


    I can provide you with fifteen Tier-Two Pills, fifteen Tier-Two Spiritual Herbs, one thousand Tier-One Spiritual Herbs, and five hundred Tier-One Pills every month at an eighty percent discount," Wang Hong replied.


    "So... so many?" Yin Ze couldn''t believe it. He had scoured the entire city and hadn''t found even half of what Wang Hong was offering.


    Wang Hong smiled and didn''t confirm or deny it. Instead, he handed Yin Ze a Storage Bag.


    "Take these for now. When you''re just starting, you need ample inventory to make a good impression on customers."


    "Thank you, East Master!" Yin Ze gratefully epted the bag, realizing that Tier-Two Alchemists indeed had generous resources.


    "You''re working for me, no need to thank me. Now, go and focus on your tasks," Wang Hong waved him off.


    Three dayster, on East Street in Boundary City, a Spiritual Herb shop opened its doors. Although the shop was notrge, it was bustling with activity.


    This was because those in the know were aware that one of Boundary City''s two Tier-Two Alchemists owned the shop. An Alchemist opening their own shop meant there would likely be plenty of Pills, which attracted countless Cultivators.


    At this moment, two assistants stood at the door, weing guests, while Yin Ze handled the collection of Spirit Stones at the counter.


    On the first day of opening, all the Tier-Two Spiritual Objects were sold out. This meant that the entire month''s stock of Tier-Two Spiritual Objects had been sold in a single day, and the shop would face a shortage of stock the next day.


    With no other choice, Wang Hong had to supply more Tier-Two Spiritual Objects.


    However, starting from the next day, Tier-Two Spiritual Objects would be limited in quantity.


    On the second day, many Foundation Building Cultivators entered the shop, only to find that Tier-Two Spiritual Objects were being sold in very limited quantities each day.


    Most Cultivators respected the Alchemist and patiently registered and queued up before leaving.


    In the afternoon, a Foundation Building Mid-Stage Cultivator entered the shop.


    "Young man, I need ten Nourishing Essence Pills!" The Cultivator made an exorbitant request. It took this shop about ten days to produce ten Nourishing Essence Pills, a quantity on par with other simr-sized shops, if not less.


    As a Foundation Building Mid-Stage Cultivator, he couldn''t be unaware of the market situation and was likely looking for trouble.


    "We''ve already sold out of Nourishing Essence Pills for today. You''ll need to register and wait in line to purchase them," the assistant responded cautiously.


    "Hmph! If you don''t have the Pills, why even bother running a shop? You should just close it down!" The Foundation Building Cultivator spoke rudely and released his Foundation-Building Pressure, causing everyone in the shop, from the shopkeeper Yin Ze to the assistants and other customers, to freeze in ce, unable to move.


    The customers in the shop were mostly Qi Cultivation Cultivators. While they were not directly involved, they dared not make any move, not even daring to take a breath, for fear of attracting trouble.


    "Young man, please calm down and give me a moment to think of a solution. Right now, we really don''t have any. I''m helpless," Yin Ze exined cautiously, having just sent a message to Wang Hong, hoping to buy some time.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 226: Slaying

    Chapter 226: ying


    Wang Hong was busy in his space when he suddenly felt a disturbance in his heart. He quickly left the space.


    Wang Hong, who was sitting cross-legged, slowly opened his eyes and took out a magical weapon from his storage bag. A voice came from it, which belonged to Yin Ze.


    "Master Wang, there''s a mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator causing trouble in the store. He wants to forcefully buy ten Nourishing Essence Pills."


    This magical weapon was specially prepared by Wang Hong for the Pill shop, allowing for long-distance one-on-onemunication.


    Compared to transmission talismans, this magical weapon was more discreet and couldn''t be intercepted. Using a transmission talisman would emit a conspicuous light, which high-level cultivators could intercept.


    Wang Hong put the magical weapon back into his storage bag and quickly headed towards the direction of his store.


    "I''ll give you only fifteen minutes. If I don''t see ten Nourishing Essence Pills in that time, you''ll meet your end! Hahaha!"


    The mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator had Yin Ze pinned under his foot,ughing maniacally.


    "Please, Fellow Daoist, spare him. I am Wang Hong. Could you give me some face and release the shopkeeper Yin for now?"


    Just then, Wang Hong walked in from the door and spoke to the Foundation Building Cultivator.


    "Are you the owner of this shop? You came just in time. I only need ten Nourishing Essence Pills today. Give them to me, and I''ll leave immediately."


    The mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator didn''t recognize Wang Hong and looked down on him because of his Foundation Building first-level cultivation.


    "Hehe! Since Fellow Daoist wants them, why not? I''ll give them to you."


    As Wang Hong spoke, he moved swiftly and appeared next to the Cultivator. In his hand, a spiritual weapon throwing knife appeared, and he sliced at the Cultivator''s leg.


    Seeing that the Cultivator had no intention of reconciliation, Wang Hong didn''t waste words and acted directly.


    This mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator had recently arrived in Boundary City and didn''t know Wang Hong. He was even unaware that Wang Hong was an Alchemist.


    Arriving in Boundary City, he was extremely broke. Someone paid him with a medium-grade Spirit Stone to cause trouble at this shop, promising that the highest cultivation level in the store was only at the Foundation Building first level.


    The Cultivator was arrogantlyughing when suddenly, he noticed an extra figure in front of him. Then, there was a cold sensation on his leg, and he was sent flying as Wang Hong sliced off one of his legs.


    Wang Hong had reached the second level of his Shifting Positions technique, greatly increasing his speed and range of movement. Therefore, as he shed, all the Cultivator could see was a blur, and he couldn''t evade in time.


    After cutting off one leg, Wang Hong didn''t stop there. He swung his knife towards the Cultivator''s other leg.


    The Cultivator, despite losing one leg, reacted quickly and managed to dodge the second strike narrowly.


    "Bold! You dare to cut off my leg! None of you will leave here alive today."


    The mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator, now missing a leg, could potentially recover if the leg was reattached in time. However, his anger was uncontroble.


    He summoned a flying sword spiritual weapon and attacked Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong forced the Cultivator back, then calmly helped Yin Ze to his feet and handed him the severed leg.


    He said, "This leg was stepping on you, so now it''s yours to deal with."


    At this moment, the Flying Sword was already descending towards him. Wang Hong simply summoned the Golden Light Bowl to block the attack of the Flying Sword and didn''t immediately counterattack.


    As the mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator prepared to summon the Flying Sword for another attack, he suddenly felt his entire body stiffen and lose strength.


    "Bang!"


    With just one leg remaining, the mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator staggered and fell backward.


    Wang Hong approached the Cultivator, and the small knife he held was coated with a potent poison.


    "How about this? If you tell me who ordered you to do this, I might spare your life."


    Wang Hong spoke and struck his abdomen forcefully, dispersing the spiritual energy in his dantian. Then, he fed him an antidote pill. If not treated promptly, the poison would render him unable to speak, eventually causingplete paralysis and death.


    The poisoned mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator slowly regained consciousness. His spiritual power had been scattered throughout his body, rendering his limbs powerless.


    He realized that he was in deep trouble and shouted, "Kill me or spare me, it''s up to you!"


    Feeling that he was on a one-way path to death anyway, he chose to put up a tough front.


    "Oh? So, you prefer to be stubborn?" Wang Hong said and raised his knife, severing the Cultivator''s other leg.


    "Now have you thought it through? If you cooperate and tell me, I might spare your life."


    Wang Hong brandished the gleaming knife menacingly in front of the Cultivator, who remained silent this time.


    "Well, I appreciate someone who sticks to their principles, a real hero," Wang Hong said. As he spoke, he swung the knife at the mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator once more, cutting off one of his arms.


    As Wang Hong raised his knife to strike again,


    "I''ll talk! I''ll talk!"


    The mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator hastily spoke, hiding his only remaining arm behind his back. He had hesitated for a moment earlier and lost an arm as a consequence.


    "That''s more like it. A wise man knows when to cooperate. Tell me, who ordered you to do this?"


    Wang Hong didn''t put away the small knife in his hand and kept a sharp eye on the Cultivator''s remaining arm, ready to strike at a moment''s notice.


    "To be honest, I don''t know who sent me. I''ve only been in Boundary City for a few days, and someone found me at the inn where I was staying. He offered me a medium-grade Spirit Stone to cause trouble here every day. He paid me three thousand Spirit Stones upfront and promised more medium-grade Spirit Stones after the job was done."


    Wang Hong listened and questioned him repeatedly, finding it likely that the story was true but unwilling to let him off so easily.


    In the end, his hand trembled, and he identally dropped the poison-coated knife onto the middle-aged Foundation Building Cultivator.


    Momentster, the middle-aged Cultivator sumbed to the poison, and Wang Hong removed the storage bag from his body. Then, he incinerated the Foundation Building Cultivator into ashes with a burst of fire.


    Wang Hong felt no sympathy for the mid-level Foundation Building Cultivator''s death. Today, he had defeated his adversary, but had he been the one defeated, he had no idea what the Cultivator would have done to him.


    At least when he entered the shop, the Cultivator was toying with Yin Ze, threatening to kill him.


    Now, the customers had all fled the store, leaving only Yin Ze and the shop assistants.


    Wang Hong pondered that in the future, he should station a Foundation Building Cultivator here permanently to maintain order; otherwise, situations like today might still ur regrly.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 227: Nascent Soul

    Chapter 227: Nascent Soul


    Boundary City is a ce where various powerful factions coexist, but when issues arise, they can onlye together to discuss matters. There isn''t a single unified governing organization.


    As a result, while Boundary City can unite against the Demon n during times of war, there are plenty of conflicts and rivalries among its factions during peacetime.


    Fights like the one happening inside Wang Hong''s shop are quitemon in Boundary City.


    Compared to Azure Void City, the safety here is far less assured.


    Previously, Wang Hong was merely known as a second-tier Alchemist. He had no direct conflicts of interest with others, and, in fact, many people came to him seeking assistance.


    Furthermore, he hadn''t disyed any coveted items, so as the saying goes, "Out of sight, out of mind." This allowed people to coexist peacefully.


    However, now that his shop had opened, he had seized the interests of others, and the resources circting within his shop were enough to make others envious.


    It''s clear that such conflicts and fights would be moremon in the future. As an Alchemist, Wang Hong wasn''t suited for regrbat.


    He needed to maintain the image of a dedicated Alchemist, as Alchemists were supposed to focus solely on their craft and weren''t skilled inbat.


    If he were to engage in frequent fights, he might as well close his shop altogether.


    Prolongedbat would inevitably reveal all of his capabilities to the public, leaving him with fewer cards to y in future battles.


    Moreover, it would consume a significant amount of his time and energy, affecting his cultivation.


    Therefore, he needed to find a Foundation Building Cultivator to guard his shop long-term. Having a Foundation Building Cultivator present would significantly reduce the frequency of conflicts.


    After all, without a high chance of victory, people would think twice before causing trouble.


    Wang Hong contemted suitable candidates in his mind, and his first thought was naturally Zhang Chunfeng.


    However, Zhang Chunfeng hade here for a sect-rted training mission. He frequently had to leave the city for assignments, and it seemed like his mission would be concluding soon, with his return to the sect imminent.


    Soon, he thought of a suitable candidate and sent out a Transmission Talisman.


    A short whileter, Ling Shuai arrived at Wang Hong''s residence, carrying Little Ling Xue in his arms.


    Ling Shuai appeared quite exhausted, with slightly disheveled hair. He had been running around with the little girl, enduring the hardships of outdoor life, which had taken a toll on his appearance.


    "Whoosh! Hug!"


    As soon as Little Ling Xue saw Wang Hong, she extended her tiny arms towards him. Children are simple in their desiresthey love those who often provide them with delicious food and fun.


    Every time she came to Wang Hong''s ce, she received tasty treats. Over time, in her young heart, Wang Hong became synonymous with delicious food.


    Wang Hong reached out and picked up the little girl, holding her in his arms. He then retrieved a small pastry from his Storage Bag, which he had made using Spirit Wheat.


    "Ling Fellow Daoist, I brought you here to discuss something with you," Wang Hong said after pouring a pot of Spirit Tea and serving them both a cup.


    "What''s the matter? Please, go ahead, Wang Fellow Daoist," Ling Shuai replied after taking a sip of tea.


    "It''s like this, Ling Fellow Daoist, you are aware that I recently opened a small shop. I''d like to invite you to manage it for me. In return, during your tenure, I will provide all the Spiritual Objects required for Little Ling Xue''s care free of charge. Additionally, I can offer you two Nourishing Essence Pills each month. What do you think?" Wang Hong presented these generous terms.


    The rewards Wang Hong offered were quite substantial within their industry.


    "Wang Fellow Daoist, there''s no need to be so generous. As long as you can provide the necessary resources for Ling Xue''s care, I am already deeply grateful," Ling Shuai replied. He had been tirelessly running around every day for the sake of his daughter''s health. Even without the additionalpensation of two Nourishing Essence Pills, he would have readily agreed.


    In Ling Shuai''s heart, Wang Hong had essentially saved Ling Xue''s life. Moreover, Wang Hong''s provision of Spiritual Herbs and other items at cost had alleviated a significant amount of his financial burden, creating a debt of gratitude towards Wang Hong.


    After Wang Hong and Ling Shuai discussed and finalized the arrangement, the next day, Ling Shuai brought his daughter to the shop to watch over it. This way, the little girl wouldn''t have to endure the hardships of being outside with her father.


    Although Ling Shuai asionally had to be dispatched by Boundary City for battles, it upied only a small portion of his time.


    With the shop''s affairs sorted out, Wang Hong found himself with more leisure time. In addition to his daily cultivation, he enjoyed tea, indulged in wine, prepared delicious meals, and delved into the study of Rune in his personal space. Rune was the foundation of many techniques in the Cultivation World, so studying it extensively was never a waste of time.


    At present, Wang Hong''s personal space had reached a total area of 125 acres, and time inside it passed 154 times faster than in the outside world. This meant that spending half a year in the space would only equate to one day in the external realm.


    Wang Hong, as a Nascent Soul, didn''t experience aging inside the space. The rtionship between a Cultivator''s Nascent Soul and their physical body was one of mutual dependency. The Nascent Soul needed to reside within the physical body and relied on it for nourishment. Without the sustenance of the physical body, the Nascent Soul would quickly dissipate and die. Conversely, if the physical body lost its Nascent Soul''s guidance, it would be inert, losing all function and vitality, akin to lifeless wood and stone. It would soon decay and turn into dust.


    Cultivators needed to reach the Nascent Soul stage to briefly separate their Nascent Soul from their physical body. It was only during the Soul Transformation stage that they could truly project their Nascent Soul outside.


    The aging of a Cultivator primarily stemmed from the aging of their physical body. The physical body had a limited lifespan, and when that lifespan was exhausted, its functions would decline, leading to aging and death.


    After the physical body''s death, a Nascent Soul belonging to a lower-tier Cultivator would revert to three souls and seven spirits. If it couldn''t be reborn or reincarnated, it would wander the world until it eventually dissipated. Only a few souls could cultivate into ghosts, extending their lives in another manner.


    A Cultivator''s Nascent Soul was condensed from three souls and seven spirits, whereas Mortals had only three souls and seven spirits,cking a Nascent Soul.


    Wang Hong''s personal space seemed to have a special function that allowed his Nascent Soul to leave his physical body and enter the space without dissipating for an extended period. However, outside the space, the same benefits didn''t apply. Thus, Wang Hong had to return to his physical body periodically, eat, and stretch his muscles.


    At this moment, Wang Hong''s Nascent Soul was drifting through the space, inspecting various Spiritual Objects. The mountain of Demonic Beast corpses had shrunk slightly, but with time inside the space passing over a hundred times faster than the outside world, considering the current quantity of demon-hunting trees, it would take a considerable amount of time to deplete them.


    Wang Hong had already collected a Storage Bag full of demon-hunting tree seeds. If he only supplied himself and his subordinates, they shouldst for several years.


    In addition to the mountain of Demonic Beast corpses, there were also two smaller mountains made up of Spirit Wine within the space. Each of these smaller mountains upied around one acre of space.


    One mountain contained first-tier Spirit Wine, and the other second-tier Spirit Wine. The wine barrels were stacked on top of each other, forming towering piles.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 228: Alchemy

    Chapter 228: Alchemy


    Many years ago, he had nted arge number of spirit fruit trees in his Space. Now, these first and second-tier spirit fruit trees had all grown, providing him with a steady supply of spirit fruit.


    Back in Azure Void City, he could sell some of them in the shops below, and the rest, apart from what he consumed himself, he turned into Spirit Wine.


    The first-tier Spirit Wine could still be sold to some extent. Although the second-tier Spirit Wine was highly sought after, it was too risky to sell it openly. Selling a few pounds of Spirit Wine would attract too much attention. Thest time he sold fifty pounds of second-tier Spirit Wine, he had to be extremely cautious, even going undercover. To sell the thousands of pounds of Spirit Wine he had would take ages.


    However, Spirit Wine stored in the Space would not spoil, and it would even improve with time. The first-tier Spirit Wine he had stored the earliest had been aging for a thousand years. Its quality was no worse than that of second-tier Spirit Wine, and its taste far surpassed ordinary second-tier Spirit Wine.


    Currently, he had thousands of pounds of second-tier Spirit Wine made from white crystal fruit. He mainly consumed this type of wine in his daily life. Regr consumption of this Spirit Wine would refine his Spiritual Power.


    The Resplendent Visage Fruit branches he had nted in Space had grown into small trees, six to seven feet tall. Dozens of Resplendent Visage Fruits hung from them, with some already ripe.


    He had only nted one Resplendent Visage Fruit tree so far, but when he had more space, he would nt several more. This item was even more in demand than pills used for cultivation.


    The three acres of newly nted Green Spirit Peaches were all bearing fruit now. Some were as big as chicken eggs, while others were only the size of fingertips. They were already capable of enhancing the strength of Qi Cultivation Cultivators.


    The next time he returned, he could help his subordinates improve their strength. With a group of Foundation Building stage subordinates, he would be able to dominate the Foundation Building stage.


    When Wang Hong emerged from the Space, he picked three ripe Resplendent Visage Fruits. He nned to refine them into Resplendent Visage Elixirs, which he could asionally sell in this world.


    After exiting the Space, Wang Hong entered the Alchemy room with the Resplendent Visage Fruits. He took out a palm-sized round cauldron from his Storage Bag.


    This was the Spiritual Weapon-grade Alchemy Furnace he had obtained from Zhu Yan. With this Alchemy Furnace, his sess rate in Alchemy had increased by half.


    Currently, he was refining Nourishing Essence Pills, using thirty portions of materials per batch, resulting in around one hundred and sixty to seventy pills per batch. His batch Alchemy Pill Sess Rate had already reached over fifty percent.


    Since Zhu Yan''s disappearance, it had raised high concern on the Qingxu Sect''s Boundary City side. They had dispatched several teams to search for him. After finding no clues, they could only suspect that he had fallen victim to Demonic Beasts outside the city and ced the me on them.


    Wang Hong slowly infused Spiritual Power into the Alchemy Furnace. As Spiritual Power entered, the Alchemy Furnace rapidly expanded to two feet in size. Afterward, he stopped the infusion of Spiritual Power and added spirit charcoal underneath the Alchemy Furnace.


    Spiritual Weapon-grade Alchemy Furnaces could change in size at will, making them much more convenient to operate than Magical Weapon Alchemy Furnaces. With a two-foot-sized furnace, three portions of materials were sufficient.


    He added the three portions of materials into the Alchemy Furnace in sequence.


    After more than an hour, he opened the furnace lid to find fourteen Resplendent Visage Elixirs inside. Since he had refined this Pill fewer times, the Pill Sess Rate was slightly lower.


    After refining the Resplendent Visage Elixirs, Wang Hong and Little Peng sat together in the living room, each with a bowl of thick soup that Wang Hong had prepared, along with some dried meat.


    At this moment, a Transmission Talisman arrived, bearing Zhang Chunfeng''s voice.


    After checking, Wang Hong sent a reply using another Transmission Talisman.


    Shortly after, Zhang Chunfeng and Kaiyang Peak''s Elder Brother arrived together.


    "Come,e, please have a seat!"


    Wang Hong invited Zhang Chunfeng and Elder Brother to take a seat. He then took out a ceramic jar and poured each of them a bowl of thick soup, along with two pieces of dried meat.


    The two men held their bowls and brought the soup to their lips, taking a sip.


    "Mmm! Junior Brother Wang''s culinary skills are getting better and better. The taste of this soup is definitely the best I''ve ever had," praised Elder Brother, giving a thumbs-up, with Zhang Chunfeng agreeing beside him.


    "This batch of soup contains the essence of a second-tier Demonic Beast''s flesh and blood, along with some rare Spiritual Herbs," Wang Hong exined.


    "Senior Brother, our group will be able to return in two more months," Zhang Chunfeng said.


    "Oh, that soon?" Wang Hong responded.


    "Yes, we''ve been here for over four years," Zhang Chunfeng replied, taking a bite of the dried meat.


    Elder Brother finished the remaining soup in his bowl in one go, licked his lips, and said somewhat wistfully, "It''s a pity that we won''t be able to taste the delicious food you make after we go back."


    "Senior Brother, when did you be so roundabout in your speech? Don''t worry, when you leave, I''ll give each of you a jar of this soup."


    Wang Hong understood Elder Brother''s implied message and said generously while refilling their bowls from the jar.


    "Zhang Junior Brother,e to me again before you leave. I''ll need you to take some things for me."


    Wang Hong told Zhang Chunfeng that he needed him to carry some Spiritual Herbs and other items back, which he could then pass on to Liu Changsheng.


    "Sure, I''ll definitelye by when the timees," Zhang Chunfeng agreed.


    After the two of them chatted with Wang Hong for a while, they left.


    Once they were gone, Wang Hong resumed his alchemical work. He needed to refine a batch of pills in the next two months.


    Wang Hong once again infused Spiritual Power into the round-shaped small alchemical furnace, causing it to expand to a size of ten feet before he started heating it.


    He first added Concentrated Spirit Herbs into it, followed by other Spiritual Herbs.


    After a series of incredibly skilled operations, a batch of pills was quicklypleted.


    Wang Hong opened the furnace lid, expecting around three hundred Condensing Qi Pills from the thirty portions of materials. However, he was surprised to find over two hundred and eighty pills. The Pill Sess Rate had reached over ny percent.


    He separated these pills into upper, middle, and lower tiers.


    Among the two hundred-plus pills, the middle-tier pills were the most abundant, making up more than half of the total, while the upper and lower-tier pillsbined were only a small portion.


    Wang Hong looked at this batch of pills, realizing that what he needed most right now were lower-tier pills because they were the main products he sold in his store. He couldn''t afford to sell only middle-tier Condensing Qi Pills. Lower-tier pills had to remain the primary product for sale.


    Especially the upper-tier Condensing Qi Pills were nearly impossible toe by for Qi Cultivation stage cultivators. They were usually considered the most precious treasures in most stores.


    Next, Wang Hong refined another batch of Condensing Qi Pills. This time, he intentionally made some mistakes in the process, hoping to produce more lower-tier pills.


    Soon, this batch of pills was sessfullypleted, but due to Wang Hong''s deliberate mistakes, there weren''t significantly more lower-tier pillspared to the previous batch. However, the Pill Sess Rate had decreased considerably.


    Wang Hong realized that this method might not be very effective and decided to continue refining carefully.


    Two months passed quickly, and Wang Hong had prepared over seventy thousand first-tier pills, including upper, middle, and lower tiers.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 229: A New Arrival

    Chapter 229: A New Arrival


    On this day, Zhang Chunfeng came to bid farewell. Wang Hong packed a storage bag with pills, gathered a storage bag full of spirit herbs and spirit fruits, and included a storage bag of first-tier spirit wine. He asked Zhang Chunfeng to deliver them to Azure Void City.


    "Take these three storage bags to Azure Void City and hand them over to Liu Changsheng. You''ve been there once before, so you should know the address," Wang Hong instructed.


    Wang Hong had been on the Boundary Mountain Range side for over two years now, and he assumed that Liu Changsheng''s management of the immortal way tradingpany had nearly depleted its supplies. Sending these items back with Zhang Chunfeng at this time would help relieve the pressure on their inventory.


    "Alright, I''ll make sure to deliver them safely. Is there anything else Senior Brother needs?" Zhang Chunfeng asked as he epted the storage bags.


    "After you return, tell Luo Zhongjie to arrange a team to handle the security issues for the new store we''re opening here," Wang Hong added.


    Although Ling Shuai was overseeing things here, it was only a temporary arrangement, and Wang Hong knew that they needed a more permanent solution. Given the unique geographical location of this ce, Wang Hong had ns to run the store here for the long term and wanted to establish their own power.


    "Take this bottle of spirit wine as well, for any unexpected situations on your way back," Wang Hong said, handing over a bottle of second-tier spirit wine to Zhang Chunfeng. The road back wasn''t always safe, especially with Jin''an City under upation. They needed a group of cultivators to travel safely through the areas near Jin''an City, where demonic beasts were active.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother!" Zhang Chunfeng expressed his gratitude as he stored the spirit wine in his bag.


    The next day, Zhang Chunfeng and his group departed from Boundary City. Most cultivators in Boundary City were transient,ing and going in waves, with only a few choosing to settle there.


    Not long after Zhang Chunfeng and his group left, another batch of Foundation Building Disciples from Qingxu Sect arrived, and among them was a familiar face to Wang Hong.


    "Zhang Senior Brother! I never expected to meet you here. It''s a small world indeed!" The talkative Sun Er, whom Wang Hong had once worried about, greeted him with enthusiasm. It had been a while since they had seen each other, and now Sun Er had reached Foundation Building, piquing Wang Hong''s curiosity.


    Wang Hong couldn''t help but wonder about Sun Er''s journey to Foundation Building. After all, Sun Er had spent most of his time pursuing a female cultivator, leaving little time and energy for cultivation.


    What was more astonishing was that Sun Er had still managed to achieve Foundation Building. This made Wang Hong ponder how other cultivators who had dedicated themselves to cultivation must feel.


    With a keen sense of curiosity, Wang Hong engaged in a conversation with Sun Er. One of Sun Er''s advantages was that he couldn''t keep secrets, and he willingly shared all his experiences without prompting.


    "Do you know, Wang Senior Brother, my Dao Companion sessfully achieved Foundation Buildingst year, and she had one Foundation Establishment Pill left. She secretly gave it to me. I used that pill to finally achieve Foundation Building," Sun Er proudly exined.


    "Congrattions, Sun Junior Brother!" Wang Hong eximed, finally understanding the secret behind Sun Er''s progress.


    "Senior Brother Wang, you won''t believe it, but my Dao Companion''s father is ate Foundation Building cultivator, with a great chance of reaching the Golden Core stage. Every month, my Dao Companion receives two Nourishing Essence Pills, and she always shares one with me. So, I can enjoy one Nourishing Essence Pill every month. It won''t be long before I reach the second level of Foundation Building," Sun Er said, licking his slightly dry lips and thinking, "If only I could find a few more Dao Companions like her!"


    "Wang Senior Brother, let me tell you, when my Dao Companion chose me from among many suitors, it wasn''t just because of my appearance. It was also because of my character..." Sun Er continued to talk, and once he started, there was no stopping him.


    Wang Hong regretted indulging his curiosity earlier and engaging in a conversation with Sun Er.


    "Sun Junior Brother, have you reported to Shen Senior Brother yet? You should go find Shen Senior Brother as soon as possible. Let me tell you, Shen Senior Brother is a true gentleman, very hospitable, and he enjoys chatting with fellow disciples. He''ll be delighted to see you," Wang Hong suggested, trying to divert Sun Er and hand off the responsibility to someone else.


    After some time, led by Wen Lan, a group of ten people arrived in Boundary City. They had traveled with a merchant caravan and had now safely reached Boundary City.


    "Many thanks, Manager Yan, for your assistance along the way. We have safely arrived at Boundary City, and now we bid you farewell," Wen Lan respectfully expressed his gratitude to an old man from the merchant caravan.


    Throughout their journey, the merchant caravan had not only transported goods but had also provided protection for the group of cultivators traveling alongside them. They had faced several dangers along the way, and the skills of Wen Lan''s team had proven to be far superior to their current cultivation realms.


    In one particr battle, these ten individuals had managed to hold off a second-tier Demonic Beast in closebat, leaving the members of the merchant caravan in awe.


    As a result, Manager Yan had been trying to recruit Wen Lan and his team, offering generous rewards, but Wen Lan had consistently declined. He believed that Wen Lan might be a fiercely loyal individual and changed his approach, attempting to persuade other members of the team. However, the oue remained the same.


    Manager Yan couldn''tprehend how these individuals, who had turned down his extremely lucrative offer of one hundred Spirit Stones per month for each Qi Cultivation cultivator, were so loyal to their unknown benefactor.


    Little did he know that each of Wen Lan''s one hundred subordinates was an ardent and unwavering loyalist. For a military leader, having such devoted followers was a testament to his leadership. Anymander without such loyal subordinates would be deemed unfit and eventually phased out on the battlefield.


    Once they arrived in Azure Void City, Wang Hong managed to persuade some of Wen Lan''s team members to leave with enticing offers. However, the remaining forty-five individuals were the kind of steadfast and resolute loyalists who were hard to sway.


    Of course, over time, people''s loyalties could change. Wang Hong not only frequently recruited new members but also offered exceptionally high incentives that no one else could match if they ever decided to leave.


    Furthermore, Wang Hong assured them that if they chose to leave, he would help them settle in Azure Void City, ensuring they had no worries about their future.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 230: Power Enhancement

    Chapter 230: Power Enhancement


    Wen Lan and the others bid farewell to the merchant caravan and were about to leave when they noticed a person approaching from a distance. It was none other than Wang Hong.


    "Greetings, East Master!" Wen Lan and the other nine people quickly bowed, their movements precise and uniform.


    The members of the merchant caravan were intrigued to see this seemingly ordinary young manmand such respect from these ten individuals. They became even more curious about Wang Hong''s background.


    Wang Hong swept his Divine Sense over them and discovered that everyone had made significant progress in the past two years. Their Qi Cultivation levels had reached at least the fifth or sixth level, and their body refining strength was now at least at theter stages of Qi Cultivation.


    "Not bad at all. None of you have wasted these past two years. Follow me!" Wang Hong beckoned and led them towards a shop.


    Wang Hong introduced Yin Ze to everyone and then took the ten of them to meet Ling Shuai. Afterward, he arranged for them to stay in the shop.


    "You will stay here for now and assist Fellow Daoist Ling in ensuring the security of this ce. I have ten Green Spirit Peaches here, one for each of you. They can help you advance your Qi Cultivation by one level."


    Wang Hong produced ten Green Spirit Peaches and distributed them to the group.


    "Thank you, East Master!" The ten individuals had never heard of such a miraculous item in the world. With their aptitude, advancing a level was a nearly insurmountable challenge. Wang Hong''s peaches filled them with astonishment.


    "After taking them, remember to refine your Spiritual Energy diligently to ensure a stable foundation. Each month, I will provide each of you with a Green Spirit Peach until you reach the peak of Qi Cultivation. However, do not breathe a word about the Green Spirit Peaches to outsiders."


    After handing out the peaches, Wang Hong cautioned them.


    Boundary City was far more dangerous than Azure Void City, with both city-based cultivators and demonic beasts outside posing constant threats. Therefore, Wang Hong was eager to enhance their strength so they could defend themselves.


    In the previous battle, almost all fifty thousand Qi Cultivators had perished, a scene etched in his memory. These were people who had followed him for over a decade or two, and losing any of them would be deeply distressing.


    "East Master, rest assured, we will not let you down," Wen Lan said, presenting two Storage Bags to Wang Hong and saying, "These two Storage Bags were given to me by Skinny Monkey and Zhao Ning to bring to you. Please check them, East Master."


    Wang Hong epted the bags, broke their seals, and found that they contained Spirit Stones, totaling nearly one million pieces.


    Due to the secret independence of the Immortal Way Trading Company, Zhao Ning''s Pill Shop had to purchase Spirit Herbs and other supplies from thepany. As a result, Zhao''s Pill Shop had only modest profits after ounting for costs. It was fortunate that the Ma Brothers were skilled in Alchemy, allowing them to earn back a considerable amount of Spirit Stones.


    Skinny Monkey''s Spirit Wine business still yielded high profits. Thus, most of the nearly one million Spirit Stones came from Skinny Monkey.


    After examining the Spirit Stones, Wang Hong inquired about the recent developments in Azure Void City and learned that everything was normal, and everyone was safe.


    After chatting with the group for a while, Wang Hong left the shop.


    Outside the city, the constant battles between the Human n and Demon n raged on, with skirmishes every three days and major shes every ten days. However, all of this didn''t concern Wang Hong. He was merely an Alchemist, focused on his alchemical pursuits.


    As his Alchemy skills continued to improve, Wang Hong''s reputation in Boundary City grew, and more cultivators came seeking his alchemical expertise.


    After about a year of rest and recovery, resources in Boundary City were no longer as scarce as they once were, and the number of second-tier Alchemists had increased by three.


    At this moment, Wang Hong held a piece of third-tier Demon Snake meat, carefully contemting it. He realized that he couldn''t refine it using second-tier spirit charcoal and Spirit Fire, so he pondered his options. Obtaining third-tier spirit charcoal required third-tier spirit wood, and although he had a Dragon Scale Fruit tree and a Jade Ginseng Fruit tree in his Space, both of which were third-tier spirit wood, it would be unwise to cut their branches for spirit charcoal at this time.


    After some thought, he raised his right index finger, and a flickering small me appeared at his fingertip. This was the Spirit Fire he had cultivated through the "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique." It had consumed a significant amount of his original Spiritual Power and was now as thin as a pinky finger.


    Wang Hong took out his Spiritual Weapon, the Alchemy Furnace, ced the small piece of third-tier Demon Snake meat inside, and added some Spirit Spring Water from his Space. Then, he used the small Spirit Fire to heat the Alchemy Furnace from below. After an hour, the Demon Snake meat inside the furnace slowly began to melt.


    Two more hours passed, and the meatpletely dissolved into a liquid. Another two hours of refinement and purification turned the thick soup into a small cup of clear Spirit Elixir.


    Originally, Wang Hong intended to feed it to his Poisonous Bees colony, but because his Spirit Fire was so small, it took him a lot of time to refine only a small amount. If he were to feed the entire bee colony, he would be overwhelmed. So, he decided to use it to feed the Poisonous Bees Queen.


    As long as the Bee Queen''s tier increased, the offspring she produced would have stronger aptitude and abilities. Thinking of this, Wang Hong picked a Green Spirit Peach from his Space and refined it into Spirit Elixir. The effect of the Green Spirit Peach in enhancing their strength should be even better.


    However, Bee Queen wouldn''t eat it in; he needed to mix it with Spirit Honey and royal jelly to create the desired vor. Bee Queen primarily consumed royal jelly, so he only needed to mimic that taste.


    The only problem was that the royal jelly produced by Poisonous Bees was poisonous, and Wang Hong had never tasted it before. Nevertheless, as a Spirit Meal Master, he could replicate any taste he had experienced.


    Wang Hong prepared the antidote for Bee Poison beforehand, cautiously took a sip of Poisonous Bees royal jelly, and then felt his brows furrowing as the poison took effect. His limbs stiffened, and he struggled to speak.


    Hastily, he ingested the antidote, and after a while, his body gradually regained sensation, and he could move freely again.


    Remembering the taste, Wang Hong spent only two hours preparing food that matched the vor of Poisonous Bees royal jelly. During this time, he continually refined Demon Snake meat and fed the Poisonous Bees Queen. As he witnessed the Bee Queen''s strength steadily increasing day by day, Wang Hong''s mood improved.


    During this period, every month, he provided each of his ten subordinates with a Green Spirit Peach, allowing them to advance one small realm in their cultivation each month. To maintain secrecy, the ten individuals did not consume the Green Spirit Peach on the same day but staggered their intake.


    Ling Shuai and Yin Ze, although Wang Hong''s subordinates, were not given Green Spirit Peaches. Yin Ze was still undergoing his assessment, and Wang Hong would only acknowledge him if he passed this trial.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 231: Bloodline

    Chapter 231: Bloodline


    After half a year of rigorous training, Wen Lan and the other nine individuals had all reached the pinnacle of Qi Cultivation. The Bee Queen of the Poisonous Bees had also reached Tier One.


    Now, Wang Hong had reced the Green Spirit Peach he had been providing to Wen Lan and the others with White Crystal Fruits to prevent their Spiritual Energy from advancing too quickly and bing unstable.


    Currently, as long as they had enough Foundation Establishment Pills, these ten individuals could all be Foundation Building cultivators. Wang Hong had nted Spiritual Herbs that produced Foundation Establishment Pills in his space, and they would mature in some time. When that happened, he could refine arge number of Foundation Establishment Pills. Even though these forty-plus subordinates didn''t possess Spiritual Roots, with a stockpile of resources, he was confident that he could cultivate them all into Foundation Building cultivators.


    Having more power would allow him to acquire more resources. In the early stages, his space expansion required a significant amount of Spirit Stones. As the space''s size increased and the cultivation of Spiritual Objects reached higher tiers, the daily consumption of Spiritual Energy also rose significantly.


    For example, the nearly one million Spirit Stones he had acquired this time were all stored in his Storage Bag to replenish his daily consumption. If the Spiritual Energy in the space was insufficient, when it reached a certain limit, the space would slowly shrink, releasing Spiritual Energy to supplement its consumption.


    Furthermore, as the requirements for high-tier Spiritual Herbs'' maturity increased, the required nting area also had to correspondingly increase. Some high-tier Spiritual nts required thousands or even tens of thousands of years to grow, and some spirit woods, once fully grown, could cover several acres.


    Therefore, as his Realm improved, the needed space area would undoubtedly increase. Wang Hong had no idea where the limit of space enhancement was or what it would develop into in the future. These were things he couldn''t predict right now, as he was currently just a Foundation Building cultivator.


    In any case, if he wanted to obtain more resources in the future, he needed a group of strong and capable subordinates. These subordinatescked Spiritual Roots and were more suitable for body refinement. However, if they only focused on body refinement and couldn''t reach the Foundation Building stage in Qi Cultivation, they wouldn''t even be able to fly with magical tools in the future battles.


    In battles toe, they would surely be at a disadvantage, just like how the human race often used Flying Boats to deal with Demonic Beasts that couldn''t fly. It was said that once a body-refining cultivator reached the Golden Core stage, they could control their strength to fly through the air, just as proficiently as other Golden Core cultivators'' flying techniques.


    Raising his subordinates to the Foundation Building stage wasn''t too difficult, but for Poisonous Bees, Wang Hong''s wish to advance them to Tier Two was a challenging task. The Demon n had a limit to their Realm, and the heights they could reach were rted to their bloodlines.


    The bloodline of their mother, the Green-tailed Spirit Bees, determined that they were a Tier One Demonic Beast and couldn''t advance to Tier Two. Unless Wang Hong could enhance their bloodline.


    To elevate their bloodline, one needed to extract bloodline power from Demonic Beasts with higher bloodlines, from the essence blood at the heart of their beings, and use it to enhance their bloodlines. Only after their bloodlines were improved could they potentially advance to higher Realms.


    Thinking about this, Wang Hong left his secret chamber and prepared to purchase some essence blood from higher-tier Demonic Beasts on the street. After all, as long as they were Tier Two or above, their essence blood should be stronger than that of the Poisonous Bees.


    Wang Hong first visited his own shop, where Yin Ze was registering a Foundation Building cultivator. This cultivator needed to purchase a Tier Two Spiritual Herb and could only register here to be notified when it became avable.


    This method of shopping was quitemon among Foundation Building cultivators because Tier Two Spiritual Objects were rtively scarce, but the demand was high. They often had difficulty finding them in stock and had to use this pre-order method to increase their chances of sessfully purchasing them. They would often ce orders with multiple stores to improve their chances.


    "Do we have any essence blood from Demonic Beasts of Tier Two or higher in the shop?" Wang Hong asked Yin Ze once the Foundation Building cultivator had finished registering.


    "Reporting to East Master, we''ve never received essence blood from Demonic Beasts at the heart." Yin Ze shook his head. The essence blood at the heart of Demonic Beasts was different from regr essence blood, as it had to be extracted directly from the heart and needed to be collected promptly; otherwise, it would dissipate into regr essence blood over time. Due to its rarity and widespread use, such as in alchemy or refining tools, it was notmonly found in the market.


    Wang Hong usually only required regr essence blood for his talisman-making, and it wasn''t too hard toe by. "Wang Alchemist, I do have some essence blood from Tier Two Demonic Beasts in my possession," he continued.


    After finishing his registration, the Foundation Building cultivator who had not yet left approached Wang Hong.


    He had previously sought Wang Hong''s help in refining a pill, so they were acquainted.


    "Oh! I wonder, how would you like to exchange?" Wang Hong asked, knowing that the other party surely had something in mind.


    "Wang Alchemist, I''d like to exchange for a healing pill. What do you think?" said the Foundation Building cultivator.


    "I wonder, how much essence blood do you have, and what''s its quality?" Wang Hong needed to assess the quantity and quality of the essence blood to determine the exchange.


    "Please have a look, Wang Alchemist." The Foundation Building cultivator promptly handed Wang Hong a small Jade vial.


    Wang Hong opened the vial and found a small amount of essence blood inside, of decent quality.


    After some thought, he agreed since the value of the two items was roughly equivalent. He handed over a Tier Two healing pill to the Foundation Building cultivator, who checked it and then left, satisfied.


    "Yin Ze, from now on, let''s actively purchase essence blood from Tier Two or higher Demonic Beasts. When you collect them, bring them to me."


    After the Foundation Building cultivator left, Wang Hong instructed Yin Ze.


    "Understood, East Master!" Yin Ze replied.


    "East Master! We''ve made a total profit of 2,600 Spirit Stones this month. Here are the detailed ounts for your review," Yin Ze said as he handed over the ounts.


    When Wang Hong took the ledger and scanned it with his Divine Sense, he found no issues and handed it back. Although this shop had tens of thousands of Spirit Stones in monthly revenue, that was only the turnover, and the profit margin wasn''t that high.


    Suppliers typically offered goods at an 80% or 90% discount, leaving the shop with a profit margin of only around 10% to 20% after factoring in costs like rent and personnel expenses. Making this many Spirit Stones per month was already considered good.


    His shop in Azure Void City, on the other hand, made tens of thousands of Spirit Stones in monthly revenue because the items it sold, such as Spiritual Herbs, were sourced directly from Wang Hong. However, even with such sales, it wasn''t too conspicuous because the monthly ie also included the cost of goods.


    Unfortunately, there was no immortal way tradingpany here, so he couldn''t sell too many of his own items.


    "Good job! Let''s temporarily keep these 2,600 Spirit Stones in the shop as working capital. I also have a bottle of high-quality Condensing Qi Pills for you as a reward for the past few months!"


    Wang Hong took out an exquisite Jade vial and handed it to Yin Ze.


    "Thank you for your generous gift, East Master!"


    Yin Ze eagerly epted the Jade vial and stored it in his Storage Bag. The high-quality pills contained pure Spiritual Energy with minimal impurities, making them a rare and valuable item. More importantly, this reward represented Wang Hong''s recognition of him.


    After Wang Hong left, Yin Ze took out the Jade vial and carefully opened it. When he saw what was inside, he nearly dropped the vial  it contained twenty high-quality Condensing Qi Pills.


    He had thought he might receive two or three pills at most as a reward, so Wang Hong''s generosity surprised him.


    Later, Wang Hong searched the city''s shops one by one and obtained another sample of Tier Two essence blood.


    Back at home, he refined these two samples of essence blood and extracted a small amount of golden liquid from them. This quantity was far from enough to enhance the bloodlines of the Poisonous Bees, so he knew he needed to continue searching for more essence blood.


    During this period, Wang Hong secluded himself at home to cultivate. He put the Resplendent Visage Elixir he had refined in the shop for sale, and it caused a frenzy among male and female cultivators in the city. There were already hundreds of cultivators registered in the shop, waiting for the elixir.


    However, Wang Hong couldn''t supply such arge quantity of Resplendent Visage Elixir for now, so he asked them to be patient.


    While Wang Hong was in seclusion, in a secret chamber in Boundary City, a Foundation Building cultivator from the Beast Spirit Sect was receiving a young man who had just arrived from the sect.


    "Senior Crane, when I came this time, Master asked me to deliver a letter to you," the young man said, taking out a Jade Scroll from his Storage Bag and handing it to the Foundation Building cultivator with the crane surname.


    Both the young man and the Foundation Building cultivator shared the same master, ate-stage Golden Core cultivator, and their master''s family was a powerful one in the Beast Spirit Sect, holding great influence.


    The crane-surnamed cultivator received the Jade Scroll, probed it with his Divine Sense, and read it for a while before speaking, "Junior Qi, our master wants us to find an opportunity to kill the two individuals from the Qingxu Sect. Do you know why?"


    "As for the reason, I only know a little bit. Do you recall that our master''s favorite grandson was killed in a secret realm?" The young man calmly exined.


    "Naturally, I remember that. Our master was furious, and dozens of disciples in the sect were ughtered as a result of his anger. Even the sect leader couldn''t do anything about it." The crane-surnamed Foundation Building cultivator showed a hint of satisfaction on his face.


    "Are these two the culprits from back then? I heard they were already entrusted to Shadow Kill, but did even Shadow Kill fail to kill them?" The Foundation Building cultivator with the crane surname asked with confusion.


    "It''s not that these two are exceptionally skilled, but they''ve been holed up in the sect all along, making it impossible for Shadow Kill to get to them," the young man exined.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 232: Foundation Establishment Pill

    Chapter 232: Foundation Establishment Pill


    In the realm of Space, the five acres of Spiritual Herbs required for the Foundation Establishment Pills had finally ripened.


    To refine the Foundation Establishment Pills, one needed a total of 108 different types of Spiritual Herbs36 primary herbs and 72 secondary ones. These herbs matured at different times, yielding a total of 500 Alchemy materials from the five acres ofnd.


    Inside the Alchemy chamber, Wang Hong meticulously organized 100 sets of materials. He arranged the Alchemy Furnace, ignited the Spirit Fire, and began the refining process. He was well-versed in every step of this procedure.


    With 30 sets of materials in each batch, after the first batch was done, he obtained 140 Foundation Establishment Pills. The second batch yielded 150 pills, the third 155 pills, and surprisingly, the fourth batch, with only 10 sets of materials, produced 60 pills.


    He now had 505 Foundation Establishment Pills in total from the 100 sets of materials, which seemed like a considerable amount. However, he knew that he would likely consume most of them himself.


    With his current team, including the ten individuals recruited by Liu Changsheng, he needed to nurture over 60 people to reach the Foundation Building stage. Most of them had poor aptitudes andcked Spiritual Roots, so the demand for Foundation Establishment Pills would be substantial.


    In the future, as his influence expanded and his team grew, the need for Foundation Establishment Pills would only increase.


    After experiencing several battles, he realized that in the Cultivation World, Qi Cultivation cultivators were barely qualified even as cannon fodder. To have even a slight foothold and be a significant force in battles, one had to at least reach the Foundation Building stage.


    As for selling more Foundation Establishment Pills to the outside world, he currently had no such ns. Selling one or two pills wouldn''t make a significant difference for him. If he sold too many, it would attract the attention of various powers, which could be a death sentence.


    After collecting the Foundation Establishment Pills, Wang Hong and Little Peng had a meal together and then sent a Transmission Talisman.


    It didn''t take long for Wen Lan to arrive at his residence.


    They sat down at the tea table, and Wang Hong brewed a pot of Qiu Long Tea, which had grown in his own cultivation space. With more than a hundred times the normal growth rate, he now had an ample supply for himself.


    "Wen Lan, how many years have you been with me?" Wang Hong casually asked as he took a sip of tea.


    "It''s been twenty-two years," Wen Lan replied.


    "Time flies, doesn''t it? Back then, Skinny Monkey was just a little kid. In the blink of an eye, it''s been over twenty years. You''ve worked hard all these years," Wang Hong said with emotion.


    "I didn''t really feel it was hard. In fact, I consider myself fortunate for the choice I made. Not long ago, I met a formerrade from our days in the Personal Guard Unit, Li Yuntian. He''s now working in a Refinery Workshop, doing heavy and menial tasks. He earns only half a Spirit Stone per month, and because he can''t even gather enough Spirit Stones, he doesn''t even know if he has Spiritual Roots. Being with you is like being on the battlefield again, always leading us to victory. That''s what makes life meaningful," Wen Lan expressed his feelings.


    "If you evere across them in the future and they''re not doing well, help them out. You can get reimbursed for the Spirit Stones you spend. Even though they chose to leave, it''s not betrayal; they simply chose their own paths. After all, they were once my soldiers,rades who fought side by side with me. I remember Li Yuntian even took an arrow for me back in the day.


    Next time you meet him, if he''s willing, you can suggest he go to Skinny Monkey''s distillery for work. They need extra hands over there, and the benefits are quite good."


    Wang Hong instructed Wen Lan. He was willing to provide some form of support for his former subordinates who had left. These were the people he had brought in, and they had shed blood and risked their lives together in countless battles.


    However, it was unlikely that they would be able to enter his inner circle again. Offering a decent livelihood was one thing; allowing them to regain the same trust and status as before was another. If those who left were allowed to return and were given the same treatment as others, it would set a bad precedent and influence others negatively.


    "Alright, I''ll talk to him next time I''m in Azure Void City."


    Wen Lan had wanted to help Li Yuntian when hest saw him, but he wasn''t sure how Wang Hong would react at the time, so he refrained from extending assistance.


    He also knew the current situations of several oldrades, and as far as he knew, none of those who had left had fared well. Even a regr worker in Wang Hong''s shop had a much better life than them.


    "As for this matter, let''s discuss it when you get back to Azure Void City. I called you here today for something else."


    Wang Hong took out a jade vial and handed it to Wen Lan.


    "There are ten Foundation Establishment Pills inside. Take them back and try to start your Foundation Building. I have no idea how many Foundation Establishment Pills someone without Spiritual Roots like you would need toplete the process."


    Wang Hong admitted to his uncertainty. He had read about cultivators with five Spiritual Roots seeding despite having poor aptitude, but there were no records of how those without Spiritual Roots could achieve Foundation Building.


    "Ten... ten pills? That''s so many!"


    Wen Lan''s hand trembled slightly. Foundation Establishment Pills were usually highly sought after, and people often fought fiercely for just one or two pills.


    He had never imagined that he would one day have ten Foundation Establishment Pills.


    "Yes, take these for your Foundation Building. But remember, keep it a secret. After you seed in Foundation Building, return the remaining pills to me, and also share your experience with me. I have some Foundation Building experience recorded here, and I''ll give it to you as well."


    Wang Hong handed Wen Lan a jade scroll containing his own cultivation experience.


    "Thank you, East Master!" Wen Lan deeply bowed and then epted the jade scroll.


    Wen Lan took the Foundation Establishment Pills provided by Wang Hong, returned to his residence, and spent several days meditating to adjust his state of mind and Spiritual Energy to the optimal condition.


    Afterward, he left his ce and went to South City Street, where he entered an inconspicuous door. This ce was where temporary Foundation Building cave mansions were avable for rent in Boundary City.


    Across from the entrance gate, several teahouses had people peeking out of the windows facing the street, watching this side with curiosity. These individuals were sent by various factions to keep an eye on Foundation Building cultivators, to understand their situation in a timely manner.


    If someone from an opposing faction seeded in Foundation Building here, it would warrant increased vignce. If an opportunity arose, they might even secretly eliminate them.


    For lone cultivators without affiliations, they would try to recruit them into their own factions.


    If it was a Disciple from a friendly faction who seeded in Foundation Building, they would pretend not to have seen and offering congrattions was out of the question.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 233: The Genius

    Chapter 233: The Genius


    At this moment, Wen Lan was sitting cross-legged in a secluded room filled with dense Spiritual Qi. This room was equipped with istion formations, making it impervious even to the Divine Sense of a Golden Core cultivator.


    He began by meditating, circting the Spiritual Energy within his body. Once everything was ready, he tilted his head back and swallowed a Foundation Establishment Pill.


    As the pill entered his stomach, it immediately transformed into a vast amount of Spiritual Energy, flowing into the vortex in his dantian, causing it to spin rapidly.


    His entire body''s Spiritual Energy surged, causing his limbs to ache as if they were being twisted like knives. After a quarter of an hour, the Spiritual Energy dissipated into nothingness, and his attempt at Foundation Building had failed.


    Wen Lan didn''t immediately take a second Foundation Establishment Pill but instead pondered carefully, reflecting on his gains and losses from the previous attempt.


    Six hourster, Wen Lan finally consumed a second Foundation Establishment Pill, once again converting it into a massive surge of Spiritual Energy that flowed toward his dantian.


    A dayter, at a teahouse across from the temporary Foundation Building cave mansion, various major powers had already gathered detailed information about Wen Lan in Boundary City.


    "This person is just a guard for a small shop. It''s unlikely he''ll stay in the same shop after seeding in Foundation Building," said a cultivator in green robes, discussing with a burly man in crimson robes.


    "Even if it''s just a small shop, he won''t receive much recognition. We can offer him one Nourishing Essence Pill every month, plus a hundred Spirit Stones. For a new Foundation Building cultivator, this is an irresistible offer," the burly man responded.


    Major powers weed the addition of Foundation Building cultivators, and smaller factions went to great lengths to recruit them. Cultivating a Foundation Building cultivator from scratch was exceptionally challenging, requiring the cultivation of a group of Qi Cultivation cultivators before selecting the best candidate for Foundation Building.


    For any faction, obtaining Foundation Establishment Pills was a significant challenge for most cultivators trying to advance.


    Therefore, directly recruiting Foundation Building cultivators was far more cost-effective than starting from Qi Cultivation stage.


    Three days passed, and Wen Lan had still not emerged from the Foundation Building cave mansion. Cultivators at the teahouse began to grow concerned.


    "Could this person be nning to cultivate inside and nevere out?" one cultivator wondered, as the rent for such a ce, despite its rich Spiritual Qi, was exorbitant.


    "Perhaps there was an issue with his cultivation," another spected.


    Three more days passed, and Wen Lan was still absent.


    "Is this cultivator stuck inside, unable to leave after failing in Foundation Building?" one cultivator suggested with a hint of schadenfreude. Though such a thing rarely happened, it couldn''t be ruled out, considering the time that had passed without any news.


    "Maybe he failed to break through, suffered severe injuries, and is now lying motionless in the secret room," another cultivator spected. Observers tended to lean toward negative assumptions when it came to others'' affairs for added excitement.


    Just then, a figure walked out of the temporary Foundation Building cave mansion, and it was none other than Wen Lan, confirming or dispelling the spections. His body exuded the aura of a sessful Foundation Building.


    At the same time, a shadow leaped down from a teahouse window and approached Wen Lan. It was the cultivator who had previously spected about his death.


    "Congrattions, Friend Wen, on your sessful Foundation Building! I knew you were destined for greatness and would smoothly reach Foundation Building. As for those who were gossiping earlier, they must be feeling embarrassed right now," the cultivator said, ncing at the group of cultivators who were now approaching.


    Wen Lan had just emerged, and seeing the group closing in on him, he was a bit bewildered. He hadn''t been in Boundary City for long and wasn''t familiar with this situation. However, sensing that they meant no harm, he rxed.


    "Friend Wen, I am Qian Bozhu from the Wantong Trading Company. I would like to extend an invitation on behalf of ourpany. We hope you''ll be a guest member of the Wantong Trading Company and receive a monthly stipend of seven hundred Spirit Stones," Qian Bozhu said, trying to downy thepetition and quickly presenting their attractive offer.


    At first nce, this offer seemed more generous than what Wang Hong received at the Qingxu Sect, where he could only collect two thousand Spirit Stones annually. However, that was just the surface. Wang Hong also had ess to spirit fields covering tens of acres, could exchange contribution points for pills and other spiritual objects, and had ess to the sect''s various legacies that smaller factions couldn''t provide.


    "Qian! How can your few hundred Spirit Stones a monthpare to the cost-effective offer of one Nourishing Essence Pill we provide at the Gu Ling Sect?" another cultivator chimed in, wanting to seize the opportunity.


    "Friend Wen, I''m Gu Yun from the Gu n of Cultivation. I see that you''re a talented individual, and I''d like to introduce my younger sister to you. Would you be interested in visiting our residence for a meeting?" the n cultivator proposed, using his sister as an enticement.


    "Gu, don''t deceive Friend Wen. Your sister looks just like youshort and muscr," someone immediately countered.


    "Friend Wen..."


    ...


    As everyone chimed in with theirments, Wen Lan finally understood what was happening. These smaller and medium-sized factions were trying to recruit him.


    For these factions, every additional Foundation Building cultivator represented a significant boost in their power.


    "Ahem! May I offer my opinion?" Wen Lan felt like he couldn''t get a word in, so he cleared his throat and spoke up, raising his voice.


    Everyone heard him now and turned their attention to Wen Lan.


    "Yes, yes! Let''s not interrupt. We should listen to Friend Wen''s opinion," Qian Bozhu quickly added.


    "Yes, please, Friend Wen, speak your mind! We''re all ears!" others echoed.


    Wen Lan found himself still unable to speak, so he stood in the middle, smiling silently, observing the back-and-forth among the others.


    Since he had just sessfully reached Foundation Building, he was in a good mood and didn''t mind listening to everyone argue on his behalf.


    After about fifteen minutes, they realized that something wasn''t quite right and gradually fell silent. The scene finally quieted down, and you could hear a pin drop.


    Seeing that it was finally his turn to speak, Wen Lan didn''t want to waste any more time. He bowed to the four directions and began, "Thank you, friends, for your kind offers. I''m truly honored, but I owe a great debt to my East Master, one that I can never repay even a fraction of in this lifetime. I cannot betray his trust, and I hope you understand."


    Wen Lan spoke firmly and sincerely, not showing any signs of deception. The onlookers hesitated to persuade him further, as it wasn''t appropriate to try to convince someone to betray their benefactor in such a public setting.


    Wen Lan bid farewell to everyone and returned on his way.


    The reason it had taken him so long to achieve Foundation Building this time was twofold. First, hecked Spiritual Roots, so he needed more pills, which naturally took more time. Second, even though Wang Hong had given him ten Foundation Establishment Pills at once, he didn''t dare to waste too many of these precious resources.


    Therefore, after each failed attempt, he carefully contemted, reflected on his gains and losses, and only then took another pill to try Foundation Building. Those without Spiritual Roots had very few chances for cultivation, and even fewer seeded in Foundation Building. With little experience to draw from, he had to rely on his own exploration.


    However, legend had it that tens of thousands of years ago, there was a Lin cultivator without Spiritual Roots who not only achieved Foundation Building but also reached a Realm above Soul Transformation. Afterward, he left this realm, but whether the story was true or not, there was no way to verify it now.


    Wen Lan finally seeded in Foundation Building after taking seven Foundation Establishment Pills, and even he thought that Wang Hong had invested too much in cultivating them. With these resources, Wang Hong could have cultivated several Foundation Building cultivators.


    In the eyes of others, they were considered worthless, and they probably didn''t even qualify to be cannon fodder. But Wang Hong, due to their friendship, was unwilling to give up on them.


    Thinking of this, Wen Lan straightened his resolve. He had to work even harder in the future to repay Wang Hong for his kindness.


    Upon his return to their residence, Wen Lan found Yin Ze with some free time and greeted him.


    "Friend Wen, it''s been a few days, and you look much more spirited! Ah! Senior... you''ve already achieved Foundation Building?" Yin Ze''s words were cut short as he realized that Wen Lan had already seeded in Foundation Building. He couldn''t believe that it had only been a few days since theyst met, and Wen Lan had already achieved this milestone.


    He couldn''t help but feel a sense of inadequacy within himself. Among the disciples of East Master, every one of them seemed to be a genius, advancing quickly in their cultivation, and achieving Foundation Building in one go.


    This made him feel somewhat inferior. As a Three Spiritual Roots cultivator, he was the mostmon type in the Cultivation World, found everywhere.


    If he knew that even among Wang Hong''s original team, the best Spiritual Roots cultivator, Zhang Chunfeng, also had only three Spiritual Roots, he might have felt differently.


    "No need to be so polite. I only seeded by chance," Wen Lan waved his hand and replied.


    Wen Lan chatted briefly with Yin Ze before returning to his cultivation to consolidate his newfound realm.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 234: Food Heist

    Chapter 234: Food Heist


    Since Wen Lan reached the Foundation Building stage, Wang Hong had secretly arranged two more followers to undergo Foundation Building as well.


    However, renting a temporary Foundation Building cave mansion seemed a bit too conspicuous.


    For a small shop like his, having people consecutively advance to Foundation Building would inevitably raise suspicions if it got out.


    As of now, the two newly established Foundation Building followers were secluded, focusing on strengthening their realms, and nobody outside was aware of their progress.


    In a hidden chamber within Boundary City, ate Foundation Building cultivator from the Beast Spirit Sect with the surname He, along with five other Foundation Building cultivators, including the young man from the previous encounter, were discussing their ns.


    Upon receiving the recent information, He had investigated the two Qingxu Sect cultivators'' situations and found himself a step behind; one of them had already returned to the Qingxu Sect.


    Only Wang Hong, the alchemist, remained in Boundary City, but they hadn''t found a suitable opportunity to act against him yet.


    Because Wang Hong, as an alchemist, rarely needed to leave the city for missions, and he couldn''t just wander outside the city without reason.


    When he was in the city, Wang Hong resided in the Qingxu Tower''spound and rarely ventured beyond its gates.


    Although Boundary City was somewhat chaotic, targeting the top figures of the six major sects required significant courage and strength. The Beast Spirit Sect, despite its enmity with the Qingxu Sect, couldn''t muster both.


    Qingxu Tower represented the Qingxu Sect''s prestige outside, openly attacking it would be a direct affront to the sect itself, and they dared not do that, as life was precious.


    "Everyone, after our recent investigations, we know that Wang Hong, despite usually staying at the Qingxu Tower, asionally visits a shop on East Street. We can ambush him on his way there. However, his visits are irregr, and there''s no set pattern. I''ve assigned someone to discreetly monitor him, and as soon as we get any news, we''ll be informed," said He, the cultivator with the surname He, sitting at the head of the table. The five below were his sect members, though some were recent additions from other sects.


    "He, what about the strength of that shop? Shouldn''t we just wipe them all out together?" one of the sect members below inquired, eyes gleaming with greed.


    "That shop''s strength is only average. Previously, there was only one mid Foundation Building cultivator guarding it. Recently, something unexpected happened; one of his guards also achieved Foundation Building sessfully. If we count Wang Hong, there are three Foundation Building cultivators in totaltwo early-stage and one mid-stage," He said slowly.


    "In that case, we shouldn''t worry. We have six people in total, e-stage, one mid-stage, and four early-stage. We''re more than capable of handling them," another sect member chimed in.


    "Yes, let''s not stop at one. We should eliminate all of them and remove any future threats," another added.


    The discussion below erupted with everyone voicing their desire to eradicate all potential problems.


    In reality, their true motivation was the wealth within Wang Hong''s shop. With a store of that scale, seizing all its resources could amount to at least a hundred thousand Spirit Stones. After the job, each of them could get their hands on one or two thousand Spirit Stones'' worth of loot, making the battle worthwhile.


    "In that case, we''ll go with the majority''s decision. Let''s head to the shop on East Street and carry out the massacre," He said, following the consensus.


    "He, we''ll await good news from you then," one of his sect members said with anticipation.


    At the lower end of the table, the young man spoke first, and the others chimed in in agreement.


    Wang Hong remained oblivious to the plot against him. He continued to spend his days cultivating, practicing alchemy, asionally crafting runes, and even venturing into his personal space, keepingpany with the nts and flowers there.


    He found this life quite enjoyable, so he rarely ventured out when he had nothing important to do.


    Today, he was in the middle of a food battle with Little Peng over a freshly roasted Demonic Beast meat.


    Little Peng, with itsrge size and mouth, effortlessly tore off a plump hind leg from the roasted meat and devoured it in just a few bites, bones and all, without the need for chewing.


    Wang Hong, not one to back down, quickly snatched another leg and held it in his hand. However, Wang Hong''s eating speed couldn''t match that of the Demonic Beast. He took arge bite of the roasted meat, swallowed it without chewing, and ended up choking briefly before managing to swallow the substantial piece of meat.


    By the time he finished that leg, Little Peng had already devoured three. Fortunately, this Demonic Beast had eight legs.


    As Wang Hong reached for another leg to tear off, a Transmission Talisman flew in through the door andnded in his hand.


    It turned out to be a message from Yin Ze''s shop, containing the essence blood of a Tier 2 Demonic Beast.


    Wang Hong waved his hand, stashing the roasted meat into his Storage Bag, and then headed out.


    Little Peng wasn''t satisfied yet and quickly followed him out the door.


    Wang Hong led the way with arge bird drooling behind him, closely following his every step.


    Upon entering the shop, Little Peng followed suit.


    Seeing the bird''s eager appetite, Wang Hong took it to a corner, removed the roasted Demonic Beast, and allowed it to feast there.


    He also took out a small bottle and ced it nearby, containing only about two cups of liquid to ensure the bird didn''t get too drunk.


    After taking care of Little Peng, Wang Hong approached Yin Ze''s counter to retrieve the essence blood.


    "East Master, I''ve just received a sample of Tier 2 Demonic Beast essence blood. Could you please check if everything is in order?" Yin Ze asked, handing a small bottle to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong took the bottle, opened it, and inspected it carefully before confirming its authenticity. "Yes, this is indeed the right one."


    Just then, six Foundation Building cultivators dressed in ck robes and wearing sinister masks entered through the main door. They remained silent, forming a semi-circle around Wang Hong''s location.


    Customers inside the shop sensed that something was amiss and hastily put down their belongings, fleeing the scene.


    Seeing the danger, they didn''t need any further prompting to leave. The six masked individuals didn''t stop them and allowed them to escape.


    Yin Ze had already sent a message to the others at this point.


    "Gentlemen, do you have any business here? Please speak your request, and I''ll do my best to amodate," Wang Hong greeted them politely, hoping to buy some time for the others to arrive.


    Meanwhile, his Golden Light Bowl Spiritual Weapon was concealed in his hand, hidden within his sleeve.


    "To prevent any unexpected surprises, let''s start by killing him," the lead cultivator spoke and simultaneously unleashed a Flying Sword towards Wang Hong.


    The others wasted no time either, activating their Spiritual Weapons andunching attacks toward Wang Hong.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 235: A Defeat in the First Battle

    Chapter 235: A Defeat in the First Battle


    Wang Hong saw six individuals approaching and immediately retreated in Little Peng''s direction. At the same time, he sent a message to Yin Ze through Message Transmission, instructing him to hide on the side. This wasn''t a fight he could get involved in.


    Little Peng, the foolish creature, didn''t realize it was time for a brawl. When Wang Hong called out to it, it thought he wanted to share his grilled meat and started eating even more enthusiastically.


    Seeing that the six people had already summoned their Spiritual Weapons, Wang Hong swiftly moved to Little Peng''s side and grabbed the entire roasted Demonic Beast. He then hurled it forward.


    Little Peng, having its food stolen, finally reacted. Its eyes followed the flying meat and then watched as the meat was shattered by several Spiritual Weapons.


    Even if it was dim-witted, it now understood that trouble was brewing, especially since these people had destroyed its food, which only fueled its anger.


    At this moment, the six Spiritual Weapons had already flown above Wang Hong and Little Peng, whistling as they descended towards them.


    Wang Hong had already activated the Golden Light Bowl, which floated in the air, creating a protective golden shield around him.


    At the same time, he held a Long Spear in both hands, aimed it forward, tightened his lips, and kept his gaze fixed on the iing Spiritual Weapons.


    Little Peng, on the other hand, flew in the air. Since all six Spiritual Weapons were targeting Wang Hong, it seemed like it had nothing to do with it. It swiftly swooped down towards one of the six, the weakest-looking one among them. Even when not drunk, it still had a bit of cunning left in it.


    As it passed by one of the low-grade Spiritual Weapons, it pped its wings and sent the weapon flying.


    "Boom!"


    The remaining five Spiritual Weapons collectively struck the golden shield formed by the Golden Light Bowl, which only held for a moment before the golden light dissipated.


    "Crash!" The Golden Light Bowl fell to the ground, covered in cracks.


    The remaining Spiritual Weapons circled around, gathered their strength, and struck towards Wang Hong once more.


    Senior Brother He and the others wore smiles on their faces, knowing that under this assault, Wang Hong was bound to meet his demise.


    At this moment, Wang Hong''s pupils constricted. He took a deep breath and tightly gripped the Long Spear with both hands, slightly rxing his grip to allow for better movement.


    Suddenly, he sidestepped, and the Long Spear in his hand danced like a blooming flower, deflecting three of the Spiritual Weapons in session.


    However, the fourth and fifth Spiritual Weapons carried immense power. They rattled Wang Hong''s arms, and then, with a sudden burst of speed, one of them struck him squarely in the chest.


    The tremendous impact sent Wang Hong flying backward. He crashed into several rows of shelves, breaking through a wall.


    As he flew backward, blood sprayed from his mouth, staining several rows of shelves red.


    With just this one blow, his breastbone was shattered, several ribs broken, and his internal organs ruptured.


    If he hadn''t been wearing the high-quality armor made from the hide of a Demonic Snake, he might have already met his end.


    Abined attack from a Foundation Buildingte-stage and a Foundation Building mid-stage cultivator was not easy to withstand.


    Wang Hong didn''t have time to take a healing pill. He struggled to his feet, holding his spear, and faced the five people, blood still oozing from his mouth.


    Aside from one Foundation Building early-stage cultivator who was entangled by Little Peng, the remaining five continued to control their Spiritual Weapons and advanced toward him, ready to strike.


    The five Spiritual Weapons, now carrying even greater power than before, whizzed towards Wang Hong.


    Suddenly, two figures darted out from the backyard. It was Wen Lan and Ling Shuai. Both of them simultaneously summoned a Flying Sword and a Long Spear, intercepting the Spiritual Weapons heading for Wang Hong.


    As the spear and sword flew towards the top-tier Flying Sword wielded by the crane-named Foundation Building cultivator, the Long Spear shattered the high-grade Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword on impact.


    Wen Lan had just reached the Foundation Building stage, and he didn''t possess a Spiritual Weapon yet. What he had just used was merely a high-grade Magical Weapon, which proved futile against a high-grade Spiritual Weapon.


    Ling Shuai''s medium-grade Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword managed to engage the crane-named cultivator to some extent.


    Seeing that the crane-named cultivator was momentarily distracted by Ling Shuai, only one mid-stage Foundation Building and three early-stage Foundation Building cultivators remained on Wang Hong''s side. He felt slightly relieved.


    The Golden Light Bowl was damaged and unusable now. Other than the armor he wore, he had no other means of defense against Spiritual Weapons.


    He had some second-tier Talismans in his Storage Bag, but there was no way he could retrieve items from it while his opponents were attacking him relentlessly.


    With one of the strongest foes momentarily tied up, there were only four weaker opponents left, although Ling Shuai might not hold out for much longer.


    Wang Hong once again used his spear to deflect three Spiritual Weapons, but there was one medium-grade Flying Sword he couldn''t stop.


    Just as it was about to thrust into Wang Hong''s chest, a figure suddenly appeared in front of him, and the Flying Sword pierced through their chest instead.


    The Flying Sword''s momentum slowed, but it continued its path towards Wang Hong''s chest, sending him flying backward once again.


    Although this time the impact was less severe, Wang Hong was already injured. The effort of deflecting three Spiritual Weapons had taken a toll on him, causing intense pain in his chest.


    Now, with this additional blow, his internal organs were not just ruptured butpletely shattered. The blood he coughed up contained fragments of his organs.


    When Wen Lan saw Wang Hong in danger, he rushed to his side, attempting to shield him with his own body.


    Wen Lan was pierced through the chest by the Flying Sword and seemed not to have died yet. Hey on the ground, blood seeping from his wound, his chest still rising and falling.


    At the same time, two more Foundation Building cultivators arrived. They had been meditating a bit farther away and arrived slightlyte.


    Seeing Wen Lan on the ground and Wang Hong injured, they were infuriated. Both of them summoned high-grade Magical Weapons and attacked the opponents across from them.


    Unfortunately, as newly promoted Foundation Building cultivators, their realms were not stable, and they did not have Spiritual Weapons. They could only use high-grade Magical Weapons.


    Wang Hong struggled to his feet from the ground. In the meantime, Poisonous Bees kept flying out of his sleeves.


    He paid no attention to them and instead took advantage of the moment to retrieve a pill bottle from his Storage Bag. Without bothering to open it, he crushed the jade vial, causing three pills to roll out and threw them into his mouth.


    As two Flying Swords flew towards him again, the two underlings'' high-grade Magical Weapons were once again shattered within a short period.


    The Poisonous Bees continued to swarm out of his sleeves, surrounding the two Foundation Building cultivators. However, their defensive Spiritual Weapons momentarily blocked the bees.


    Countless Poisonous Bees relentlessly attacked the defensive Spiritual Weapons of the two cultivators. Although they hadn''t broken through the defenses yet, they left the two cultivators trembling with fear.


    Panicked, the two cultivators quickly recalled their Flying Swords, attempting to strike down the Poisonous Bees. Regardless of whether it would be effective, at least it would calm their frightened hearts.


    There were still one medium-grade and one low-grade Spiritual Weapon, both continuing their assault on Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong was their primary target in this mission, originally thinking it would be an easy task, but they hadn''t anticipated so many twists and turns.


    They had no idea what kind of defensive treasure Wang Hong possessed, enduring multiple attacks and still surviving.


    ording to the information they had received, Wang Hong was just an Alchemist with a Foundation Building initial-stage cultivation, yet he exhibited formidablebat prowess.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 237: Talisman Annihilates the Enemy

    Chapter 237: Talisman Annihtes the Enemy


    The Beast Spirit Sect, led by five cultivators surnamed Crane, has already lost three of their members in the battle. However, their main target, Wang Hong, remains alive.


    They underestimated Wang Hong''s strength. They initially thought of him as an ordinary second-tier Alchemist with only early Foundation Building cultivation, someone they could easily defeat.


    But to their surprise, Wang Hong withstood attacks from both early andte Foundation Building cultivators without being killed, and he had allies by his side.


    One of the Crane cultivators, feeling desperate, exerted all his strength to strike at Wang Hong. He wanted the fight to end as quickly as possible.


    Wang Hong, seeing ate Foundation Building cultivator''s Flying Swording at him again, knew he couldn''t afford to take the hit in his weakened state. He hastily took out three second-tier defensive Talismans and threw them forward. In an instant, they activated, forming threeyers of sturdy defenses in front of him.


    The Flying Sword sliced through the firstyer of defenses in an instant, turning it into Spirit Qi that dissipated into the air. The secondyer met a simr fate,sting only a moment before bing Spirit Qi.


    "Haha! Let''s see how many second-tier Talismans you have and how long they can hold me back!" the Crane cultivatorughed. Second-tier Talismans were not cheap, and he doubted that Wang Hong could afford to use many of them.


    Each Talisman he threw represented a significant expenditure of Spirit Stone resources. Even if Wang Hong was a wealthy Alchemist, he couldn''t sustain such consumption.


    The Crane cultivator had never considered that Wang Hong, in addition to being an Alchemist, was also skilled in Talisman crafting. Both of these arts required a great deal of time and resources to master, and excelling in even one of them was no small feat.


    As the Crane cultivator continued to attack with the Flying Sword, Wang Hong took action once more. He threw out threeyers of enormous wooden shield Talismans, which formed massive shields in front of him.


    The Crane cultivator was surprised to see that Wang Hong indeed possessed second-tier defensive Talismans. However, he wasn''t too concerned; he could simply strike a few more times.


    But then, to his shock, after Wang Hong had thrown the three wooden shields, he pulled out a stack of Talismans. At first nce, there seemed to be over twenty of them, and all of them were second-tier Talismans.


    Each of these Talismans was equivalent to the full-force attack of an early to mid-Foundation Building cultivator. Facing more than twenty Foundation Building cultivators simultaneously was a daunting prospect even for him.


    The Crane cultivator''s face paled, and he hastily recalled his Flying Sword, allowing it to circle around him to help defend against the onught of Talisman attacks.


    Before activating the Talismans, Wang Hong had already withdrawn his Poisonous Bees that had been harassing the Crane cultivator. They were now assisting in the encirclement of the other two Foundation Building cultivators.


    These two Foundation Building cultivators, one in the early stage and the other in the middle stage, were facing thebined attacks of Wang Hong''s nine subordinates, along with Little Peng. Surprisingly, they appeared to handle the situation with ease.


    Among Wang Hong''s nine subordinates, two were also Foundation Building cultivators, but they had only recently achieved this level and had not yet stabilized their Realms. Moreover, their Spiritual Weapons were temporary, unrefined tools with limited power.


    Fortunately, Ling Shuai had joined the frayter on. Despite his injuries, as a mid-Foundation Building cultivator, he was able to help contain the other mid-Foundation Building cultivator from the enemy side, ensuring the situation remained under control.


    As the swarm of Poisonous Bees flew towards them, the two remaining enemies had no choice but to divert their attention from attacking others and quickly defend themselves.


    *Boom! Boom!*


    Wang Hong unleashed over twenty second-tier Talismans simultaneously, targeting the copper bell that the Crane cultivator had summoned for protection.


    The invisible ripples emanating from the copper bell disappeared, and it crashed to the ground, with the residual power of the Talismans creating numerousrge holes in the Daoist Robe of the Crane cultivator.


    "Haha! Your Talismans can''t kill me either. Are you out of tricks? Go ahead and use more Talismans!" Despite his disheveled appearance, the Crane cultivator''s injuries weren''t severe after the Talisman''s power was blocked by the copper bell.


    He had only suffered some superficial wounds, which for Foundation Building cultivators were akin to being pricked by a needle for Mortals.


    He believed that Wang Hong had just used all of his Talismans in a desperate attempt.


    However, reality disappointed him. Just as he had summoned his Flying Sword, intending to behead Wang Hong and conclude this unpleasant mission, Wang Hong pulled out another stack of second-tier Talismans. Judging by their quantity, there were even more than the previous batch.


    "What the hell!" Who would carry this many Talismans on them? Even if they emptied the entire wealth of a second-tier Alchemist, it wouldn''t necessarily yield so many second-tier Talismans.


    That was because such second-tier Talismans weren''t something you could simply buy with Spirit Stones. Even if they could be acquired, they were of considerable value, and cultivators still had to expend other resources to create them.


    At this point, Wang Hong had already locked onto the Crane cultivator with his Divine Sense, and he sent a barrage of second-tier Talismans flying towards him.


    Although the Crane cultivator managed to deflect a few of the Talismans with his Flying Sword, he was soon overwhelmed by a swarm of second-tier Talismans. He screamed in agony, then ultimately turned into a pile of ashes.


    After ying the Crane cultivator, Wang Hong didn''t rush to collect the spoils on the ground but instead turned his attention to the remaining battlefield.


    The two remaining Foundation Building cultivators were barely holding on, relying on their defensive Spiritual Weapons. Their Spiritual Power was rapidly depleting as it flowed into their protective tools.


    Ling Shuai and the others continued their relentless attacks on the two men''s defensive Spiritual Weapons.


    Seeing that only two enemies remained and that they were already at a disadvantage, Wang Hong no longer felt the need to join the siege personally. Instead, he walked towards the fallen Qi Cultivation stage subordinate.


    After repeatedly investigating the subordinate with his Divine Sense, Wang Hong''s expression darkened.


    This subordinate had been impaled through the heart by a sword, causing his heart to shatter into more than ten pieces. His body was now cold, his pupils dted  a clear sign of death.


    Although cultivators had strong vitality, before reaching the Golden Core stage, once their hearts were pierced, death was inevitable.


    In the Golden Core stage and beyond, cultivators possessed various means and techniques to preserve their lives. There were countless ways to escape death, and some Nascent Soul experts were rumored to be able to survive even if their physical bodies were destroyed.


    Wang Hong then checked Wen Lan''s condition and found that although he remained unconscious, his life should be safe.


    "Capture them alive!"


    Furious at the loss of his loyal subordinate who had followed him for many years, Wang Hong burned with anger. He wanted to seek revenge.


    He needed to know who their adversaries were and why they hade to attack him.


    Wang Hong could sense that this wasn''t the work of the Shadow Kill Organization; their modus operandi was different. Beforeing to Jin''an City, he had inquired and confirmed that there was no branch of the Shadow Kill Organization here. It was unlikely they would extend their reach to this area for his sake alone.


    The group formed a circle, trapping the two remaining enemies within. Wang Hong and Little Peng flew above, making it impossible for the two foes to escape.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 238: Emerging from the Depths

    Chapter 238: Emerging from the Depths


    Amidst the relentless assault of numerous adversaries, two Foundation Building cultivators struggled to defend themselves for a short while before their Spiritual Weapons shattered.


    A swarm of Poisonous Bees descended upon them, crawling over their bodies. With a few stings, the two cultivators stiffened and fell to the ground.


    Wang Hong stepped forward, feeding each of them an antidote pill. He then delivered two powerful punches to their dantian, dispersing their Spiritual Power.


    Wang Hong crouched down and removed the eerie masks from their faces.


    "Is it you?"


    This mid-level Foundation Building cultivator was not only recognized by Wang Hong but had also fought alongside him against formidable enemies in the past.


    They had previously shared a Flying Boat, besieged by tens of thousands of flying Demonic Beasts, and had been fortunate enough to survive.


    As for the other cultivator in the early stages of Foundation Building, Wang Hong didn''t recognize him. He seemed to be a neer to Boundary City.


    Among the initial group of over three thousand Foundation Building cultivators, they might not have been close, but they were at least familiar with each other''s faces.


    "Wang Daoist friend, I apologize. We serve different masters, and I personally didn''t want to be your enemy. It''s just that I never expected you to conceal your true strength so well. We were all deceived by appearances."


    In his memory, Wang Hong was friendly, possessed exceptional Alchemy skills, enjoyed fine cuisine, and had once roasted Demonic Beast meat for everyone on the Flying Boat while sharing drinks and food.


    If circumstances allowed, he would rather be friends with Wang Hong.


    "Wang Daoist friend, can we, for the sake of our past friendship, allow me a swift end?" The mid-level Foundation Building cultivator asked.


    "That is certainly not a problem. However, I hope that, in light of our past friendship, you can also inform me of the mastermind behind this, as well as some other relevant information."


    Wang Hong agreed seemingly straightforwardly, but the implication was that he would need to be provided with this information before granting a swift death. Otherwise, a painless demise would be impossible.


    "You came here to kill me, and you expect me to show you friendship?"


    The mid-level Foundation Building cultivator pondered for a moment and then nodded. "Fine, what do you want to know?"


    He hade to realize that, given his impending demise, revealing these secrets was inconsequential to him. He had not originally wanted to participate in this mission but had beenpelled by pressure, only to meet with total defeat.


    "I want to know who is the mastermind behind this operation," Wang Hong inquired without hesitation.


    "If you wish to know, then I''ll tell you. Have you ever heard of the Qi n within the Beast Spirit Sect?"


    "As for the Qi n, I have heard of them," Wang Hong replied.


    Wang Hong was no longer a neer to the Cultivation World, and he had some knowledge about the internal affairs of various Sects. The Qi n was a powerful family within the Beast Spirit Sect, consisting of three Golden Core cultivators. Their n leader had already reached the peak of Golden Core and was rumored to have a high chance of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.


    In addition to the Golden Core cultivator, the Qi n also had a mid-level and an early-stage Golden Core cultivator. As for the Foundation Building stage, including the cultivators affiliated with the Qi n, there were at least several hundred of them.


    In the Beast Spirit Sect, the Qi n held immense power as long as the Nascent Soul ancestors didn''t intervene.


    "Yan Xianghe, you have quite the audacity! You dare to betray my Master. Aren''t you afraid of having your soul extracted and refined?" Another early-stage Foundation Building cultivator, witnessing Yan Xianghe''s betrayal, fumed and shouted.


    "Given our current situation, do you think there''s any way out for you? We''re all doomed, so what do I have to fear? Wang Daoist friend, this loudmouthed guy is surnamed Qi and is the Named Disciple of the Qi n''s early-stage Golden Core cultivator. Regarding the specific reasons for this attack on you, I don''t know much. He''s the one who''s most familiar with the details."


    Yan Xianghe spoke coldly, fueled by his deep resentment towards the Qi n for bringing him to this dire state.


    Understanding this, Wang Hong would undoubtedly subject the Qi n cultivator to thorough questioning.


    "Yan Xianghe, you won''t have a good end! And you, Wang Hong, if you dare to kill me, my Master won''t spare you. The world is vast, but there won''t be a ce for you anymore. You''d better release me immediately and apany me to the Beast Spirit Sect to meet my Master, apologize in person. I could even speak on your behalf, and perhaps we could resolve this peacefully."


    The Qi n cultivator continued to resist, clinging to a glimmer of hope. He first attempted to threaten Wang Hong and then resorted to persuasion. As long as there was a chance, who would willingly embrace death?


    "Wang Daoist friend, you mustn''t believe these words. The three Golden Core cultivators of the Qi n are petty and vengeful. If our friend here really goes to them, he''s likely to face torture and a fate worse than death."


    Yan Xianghe quickly interjected, understanding that if Wang Hong believed the Qi n cultivator''s deceit, he, too, would be handed over to the Qi n''s Golden Core cultivators, resulting in unimaginable consequences.


    Of course, Wang Hong wasn''t inclined to trust such deceitful words. Compromising wasn''t his style.


    "I won''t easily fall for such childish persuasion. Please, Yan Daoist friend, tell me what you know."


    Yan Xianghe then honestly recounted the entire sequence of events. As a peripheral member of the plot, he wasn''t privy to many details.


    However, when he reached the part where they originally intended to kill both him and his Elder Brother butter changed the target to just him because Elder Brother had already left, Wang Hong deduced that one of the Qi n members was the true mastermind behind the hiring of Shadow Kill.


    With Yan Xianghe''s confessionplete, he looked at Wang Hong with hopeful eyes. After all the discussions, he hoped Wang Hong would spare his life.


    Wang Hong''s gaze shifted to the still unconscious Wen Lan and the lifeless body that had fallen to Yan Xianghe''s hand. Both of these individuals had met their end because of Yan Xianghe.


    If he spared Yan Xianghe, how could Wang Hong exin to Wen Lan, to his deceased subordinate, and to the rest of his followers? How could he maintain his authority and reputation?


    Wang Hong nced at Yan Xianghe and then at the remaining eight subordinates. He whispered softly, "Give him a swift end."


    Upon hearing these words, Yan Xianghe''s eyes, which had once held a glimmer of hope, instantly turned bleak, and he copsed to the ground in resignation.


    "Hahaha! Yan Xianghe, you spoke so much, but you''re still doomed to die! Hahaha..."


    The Qi n cultivator, seeing Yan Xianghe''s fate, mocked andughed from the sidelines. In response, one of Wang Hong''s subordinates struck him in the face with a punch, knocking out several of his teeth.


    Yan Xianghe made no resistance as one of Wang Hong''s Foundation Building subordinates delivered a powerful blow that shattered his head, leaving his body lifeless. Wang Hong then arranged for Yin Ze to purchase a high-quality coffin to preserve the Qi stage cultivator. He intended to bring the remains back to Azure Void City for the deceased''s family.


    With the bodies properly taken care of, the group began to clean up the battlefield, collecting all the spoils and handing them over to Wang Hong.


    At this point, everyone was wounded, except for Yin Ze. Wang Hong had initially allowed him to participate in the battle, but it had been a futile endeavor. Unlike the other subordinates, who were well-trained and coordinated, Yin Ze''s involvement had been ineffective.


    Wang Hong ordered him to hide and engage in sneak attacks, but against the Foundation Building cultivators on the battlefield, his efforts were as insignificant as scratching an itch.


    Wang Hong instructed everyone to return and tend to their injuries, deferring discussions on other matters until they had recovered.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 239: Recap

    Chapter 239: Recap


    Wang Hong was severely injured this time, but his physical strength was formidable, and his recovery ability was even stronger.


    In his moment of desperation, he hastily gave himself and Wen Lan each a whole Jade Marrow Mushroom. Although the mushrooms were not fully matured at the time, their healing effects surpassed those of most second-tier healing pills.


    He wasn''t sure if anyone had noticed when he gave himself and Wen Lan the Jade Marrow Mushrooms. Back then, he had been focused on staying alive and hadn''t paid much attention to that detail. Looking back now, he felt it was a bit inappropriate.


    Fortunately, the Jade Marrow Mushrooms were still less than four hundred years old and hadn''t maturedpletely, so they didn''t hold much appeal to high-tier cultivators. For Foundation Building cultivators, they should still be quite tempting, especially in critical moments when better than ordinary healing pills.


    Wang Hong''s injuries had almost healed after just seven days. His fractured chest and ribs had already mended, and even his previously shattered internal organs had mostly returned to their original state, albeit with some very fine scars.


    These fine scars were referred to as hidden injuries, which had minimal impact on daily cultivation and were often imperceptible. In the life of a cultivator who had faced countless battles, everyone umted some hidden injuries over time. If these injuries umted too much, they could affect a cultivator''s progress in tiers and their lifespan.


    After recovering from his injuries, Wang Hong went to visit Wen Lan, who had been more severely injured and had a weaker physical constitution, resulting in a slower recovery.


    The Foundation Building cultivator who had been captured initially remained tight-lipped, refusing to reveal any information. Several subordinates, fueled by the loss of theirrades, showed no mercy, but even their efforts couldn''t force the captive to speak.


    In the end, Ling Shuai took the initiative to handle the matter and, after a few days, presented Wang Hong with a Jade Scroll. The scroll contained detailed information about the captured cultivator''s life, as well as the secrets of the Qi n from the Beast Spirit Sect and the entire course of the attack on Wang Hong.


    It was unclear what methods Ling Shuai had employed, but Wang Hong was greatly impressed.


    After more than ten days, Wen Lan''s injuries finally healed. Wang Hong gathered everyone together to distribute the spoils of war.


    "This time, the enemy had a total of six individuals: e Foundation Building cultivator, one mid Foundation Building cultivator, and four early Foundation Building cultivators. Among them, Little Peng killed one of the early Foundation Building cultivators, Ling Shuai engaged thete Foundation Building cultivator, and Wen Lan..."


    Wang Hong summarized the contributions of each person in the recent battle and then proceeded to distribute the spoils ording to their merits. There were no objections from the group.


    In total, they acquired two top-grade Spiritual Weapons, one middle-grade Spiritual Weapon, and ten low-grade Spiritual Weapons from the enemy. The Spirit Stones found in the six Storage Bags amounted to a total of 320,000, along with various Pills, Spirit Herbs, and spiritual ores.


    Since most of the opponents had died directly or indirectly at the hands of Wang Hong during the battle, it was only fair that he received thergest share of the loot.


    Wang Hong first selected the bronze bell that had belonged to the cultivator with the crane surname. It was a top-grade defensive Spiritual Weapon, and Wang Hong had witnessed its power. His Golden Light Bowl had also been damaged in this battle, so he chose the bell as his first pick.


    Apart from Wang Hong, Ling Shuai had the most significant contributions, and he received another top-grade Spiritual Weapon.


    The remaining middle-grade Spiritual Weapon naturally went to Little Peng, who had single-handedly in one of the enemies.


    However, Wang Hong decided to intervene and generously gave the middle-grade Spiritual Weapon that Little Peng rightfully deserved to Wen Lan instead. He alsopensated Little Peng with a bottle of tier-one Spirit Wine.


    Wang Hong believed that if Little Peng knew about this arrangement, he would willingly ept the trade. Wang Hong had no intention of taking advantage of him; it was simply a matter of each person getting what they needed.


    The remaining ten low-grade Spiritual Weapons were distributed to his nine surviving subordinates, along with Ling Shuai, making it an even ten for everyone.


    As for the fallen subordinate who had lost his life in the battle, his share was absolutely crucial. Failing to honor his sacrifice would not only disappoint the living but also lead to disloyalty and desertion among Wang Hong''s ranks. Furthermore, since he had given his life for Wang Hong, it was only fair to treat him with respect.


    The families of this fallen subordinate were settled in Azure Void City, and upon returning, Wang Hong nned to provide them with a substantial amount of Spirit Stones, Spiritual Herbs, spirit ores, and other resources.


    With the newfound wealth, theirck of strength to protect themselves wouldn''t be an issue, as long as they resided in the family estate that Wang Hong had prepared for his subordinates. He could ensure their safety.


    After distributing the remaining Spirit Stones and resources, Wang Hong didn''t need much for himself and took only a few items.


    Once the distribution of the spoils wasplete, everyone dispersed to continue their individual tasks.


    Wang Hong now sat in seclusion, contemting the gains and losses of this battle.


    During this confrontation, although he had three Foundation Building cultivators under hismand, none of them had corresponding Spiritual Weapons to use. Furthermore, as they had just sessfully entered the Foundation Building stage, they hadn''t yet cultivated second-tier Magical Arts, which meant that their cultivation levels at the Foundation Building stage were not being fully utilized.


    Wang Hong recognized that he had neglected this aspect, as his subordinates had always been safe in Azure Void City. So when they came here, he hadn''t prioritized equipping them with suitable Spiritual Weapons promptly.


    His subordinates had been working for him without any other source of ie, relying on Wang Hong for all their resources.


    In the near future, Wang Hong nned to arrange for the Foundation Building cultivation of his subordinates quietly while also providing them with Spiritual Weapon equipment.


    He had an ample supply of Foundation Establishment Pills in his possession, and his Space could produce them as well. The existing Foundation Establishment Pills wouldst him a long time.


    However, the challengey in acquiring the materials for crafting Spiritual Weapons, such as ores, which Wang Hong had no easy way of obtaining. It had taken him several years to secure a suitable melee Spiritual Weapon for himself initially.


    Now, having to procure equipment for nine more people, the difficulty was evident.


    Nevertheless, he recognized that this task was essential, as his subordinates needed to increase their strength. ording to the information he had gathered through Ling Shuai, the Golden Core cultivators from the Qi n lineage, while differing in personality, all shared onemon trait: they held grudges and sought revenge for any wrongs done to them.


    Wang Hong had killed one of the grandchildren of a Golden Core Patriarch, who had then hired Shadow Kill to assassinate him. Subsequently, the Patriarch sent these individuals to kill him as well.


    Even after all this time, they were still determined to seek revenge. Having now killed the Patriarch''s disciple, Wang Hong was certain that the Patriarch would not easily let go of the matter.


    The Qi n lineage boasted over three hundred Foundation Building cultivators, and the Patriarch alone had control over seventy to eighty Foundation Building cultivators who would follow hismands.


    Faced with such formidable strength, Wang Hong needed to elevate the power of his subordinates to stand a chance in a battle.


    Relying solely on his own strength would be insufficient. While he could handle one or two opponents, dealing with arger number of foes would overwhelm him, leaving him with no opportunity to even retrieve Talismans from his Storage Bag.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 240: Arrangements

    Chapter 240: Arrangements


    Compared to many Immortal Cultivator Cities, Boundary City, with its poption of just over fifty thousand, was rtively small, more like a town.


    In this small city, most people knew each other, and news spread quickly among them.


    During this period, one particr piece of news became the hot topic of conversation during tea breaks and discussions over drinks. If you didn''t chime in, you risked being seen as ignorant.


    Not long ago, there was a violent surge of Spiritual Power on East Street, indicating the involvement of at least a dozen experts at the Foundation Building stage.


    ording to insiders, this conflict urred in an inconspicuous little shop, rumored to be owned by someone named Wang, an Alchemist.


    Normally, only one Foundation Building cultivator resided in the shop, and no one knew why there was such a massive battle or who was involved.


    Then, someone imed to have witnessed the battle firsthand.


    However, when he described the scene, everyone ridiculed him for spouting nonsense, pointing out numerous inconsistencies.


    "You''re saying that a tiny Pill shop like that had five Foundation Building cultivators? Who would believe that? Even selling the entire shop wouldn''t be enough to sustain so many Foundation Building cultivators."


    "And what about this ''Wang Alchemist'' single-handedly defeating a Foundation Buildingte-stage cultivator and killing them? Can''t you make up a more believable story? Everyone who knows Wang, the Alchemist, is aware he''s only at the early stages of Foundation Building. He''s already considered impressive among his peers, but how could he possibly take on ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator?"


    "And there''s..."


    The honest cultivator was left red-faced and speechless after the barrage of criticism.


    Finally, he took out a Shadow Stone from his Storage Bag and activated a technique, projecting an image in front of them.


    Shadow Stone was a Magical Weapon created by a refining tool master, resembling a stone that could record visual information, hence the name.


    As the Shadow Stone activated, the image showed a group of cultivators wearing masks with eerie expressions storming into a small shop, and a battle ensued.


    After watching this footage, everyone fell into silence, realizing that the story was indeed true.


    The image was duplicated and circted among many individuals.


    Some timeter, another astonishing piece of news spread within Boundary City: Wang Hong was said to possess numerous Jade Marrow Mushrooms.


    With the visual evidence from the circted images, those with ulterior motives took notice.


    Wang Hong had administered a Jade Marrow Mushroom to both Wen Lan and himself, saving Wen Lan''s life. Using two mushrooms at once suggested he had more in his possession.


    With the help of these individuals, the news became widely known throughout the city.


    Now, countless cultivators wanted to visit Wang Hong, hoping to obtain a Jade Marrow Mushroom from him.


    Wang Hong secluded himself in the Qingxu Tower, refusing to meet anyone. Some used the excuse of entrusting Refinement Pills to him, with Wu Dayong acting as a buffer.


    Qingxu Sect''s reputation came in handy during crucial times.


    However, this couldn''t go on indefinitely; a proper solution had to be found.


    Wang Hong suspected that someone from the Beast Spirit Sect was behind the scenes in this matter.


    After all, Wang Hong had recently killed six Foundation Building cultivators from the Beast Spirit Sect, even though it might be considered a personal vendetta.


    However, this situation had now be widely known throughout the city, causing considerable embarrassment. People from the Beast Spirit Sect dreaded running into acquaintances who would bring up the battle in the small shop, leaving them unable to hold their heads high.


    One day, even Shen Jian came looking for him. Shen Jian was a Golden Core Elder from their sect and hade with a message.


    The main purpose was to inquire if Wang Hong had any higher-aged Jade Marrow Mushrooms on hand. If he did, it was advisable not to keep them hidden from the senior members of the sect.


    Otherwise, once the truth came out, even a Golden Core Elder wouldn''t be able to protect him.


    Wang Hong openly asked Shen Jian to convey that the highest-aged Jade Marrow Mushroom he possessed was only a little over five hundred years old. If the sect''s senior members needed it, he was willing to hand it over unconditionally.


    The situation was getting more and more troublesome, and it needed to be resolved. If the issue escted, attracting the attention of Golden Core cultivators, it would spell trouble for him.


    On this day, Wang Hong left the Qingxu Tower, entered an inn, changed his identity, and left the inn in a different guise.


    He then changed his appearance multiple times in the same manner, strolled through several streets for half a day, making sure he wasn''t being followed.


    Only after confirming no one was tailing him did Wang Hong leave the city.


    He arrived at the mountain cave Zhu Yan had previously shown him, where he first cleared away any traces of the Jade Marrow Fruit tree''s growth.


    Then, he made some adjustments to the surroundings to make it look suitable for Jade Marrow Mushroom cultivation.


    Over the years, besides studying pharmacology, he had also put effort into cultivating Spiritual Herbs.


    After setting up the area, Wang Hong spread some Space soil near the Spirit Spring and nted several Jade Marrow Mushroom seedlings.


    If he was forced to, he could reveal that this ce produced Jade Marrow Mushrooms.


    Furthermore, he made detailed arrangements inside the stone chamber, especially in the one with the remains of a cultivator. He intentionally ced an extremely old and decayed shelf there.


    On the shelf, he ced several bottles of pills that had lost almost all their Spiritual Energy, making them almost worthless.


    Wang Hong spent a day arranging this ce to resemble the remains of an ancient cultivator''s cave mansion.


    This was just one of his contingency ns, and if he didn''t have to use it, all the better.


    Once everything was set up properly, he double-checked multiple times and found no ws.


    He retraced his steps, sealed the entrance to the cave, and safely returned to Boundary City.


    During this recent period, Wang Hong had secretly helped two of his subordinates sessfully reach the Foundation Building stage.


    Cultivators without Spiritual Roots needed at least six Foundation Establishment Pills, with some using as many as nine.


    In the current Cultivation World, it was likely only Wang Hong who would use such vast resources to cultivate individuals without Spiritual Roots.


    As of now, including Ling Shuai, Wang Hong had a total of six subordinates at the Foundation Building stage. Adding Wang Hong himself and Little Peng, the second-tier Spirit Beast, they were nearly on par with the mid-sized and minor factions in Boundary City.


    However, currently, only Ling Shuai had reached the mid-stage of Foundation Building, while the rest were still in the early stage.


    On this day, Wang Hong and Wu Dayong hid in a secret chamber, and no one knew what they were secretly doing inside; they wouldn''t allow anyone to enter.


    The next day, Qingxu Tower announced that they would hold an auction in the near future.


    The items up for auction included Jade Marrow Mushrooms, second-tier Spirit Wine, and some rtively rare second-tier pills.


    When people saw that Jade Marrow Mushrooms were among the items, the hearts of all the cultivators in Boundary City raced with excitement. News of Jade Marrow Mushrooms had been on their minds for a while now, and the prospect of seeing them at an auction was thrilling.


    However, this auction had a unique requirement: it wouldn''t ept low-grade Spirit Stones.


    To participate in the auction, one needed to pay with mid-grade Spirit Stones or equivalent second-tier refining tool materials.

 Chapter 241: The Beautys Plan

    Chapter 241: The Beautys n


    Wang Hong had a n to elevate all nine of his subordinates to the Foundation Building stage to ensure their self-preservation.


    In terms of Spiritual Herbs, his personal Space could handle that. What hecked now were materials for refining tools, as he needed to prepare Spiritual Weapons for everyone.


    His n was to create a standardized style of Spiritual Weapon for his subordinates to enhance their coordination in battle.


    Since everyone was following the body cultivation path, he felt that sticking with the Long Spear from the Qi Cultivation stage would suffice.


    With over ten Foundation Building stage body cultivators wearing armor and wielding Long Spears weighing tens of thousands of pounds, who under the Golden Core stage could stop them?


    As for the main material for the Long Spear''s shaft, he had a n in mind.


    The first time he participated in a Foundation Building cultivator trade fair after reaching the Foundation Building stage, he obtained a Golden Ironwood sapling.


    This type of spirit wood could reach the second tier after three hundred years of growth and the third tier after eight hundred years.


    When he had previously crafted his Refinement Long Spear, he had already cut down the oldest one. He still had an acre ofnd with trees he propagated, now over three hundred years old.


    As these spirit wood trees grew, they became too crowded, and he could cut down some to use for refining Long Spears.


    However, using only this type of spirit wood would not be enough. The Golden Ironwood was not heavy enough in texture andcked sharpness. Therefore, he needed to add other refining materials to create a suitable melee Spiritual Weapon.


    As for armor, Wang Hong had previously collected a lot of second-tier Demonic Beast hides, which he could use for refining armor.


    For this auction, Wang Hong not only contributed Jade Marrow Mushrooms but also brought out some precious second-tier Spirit Pills and Spiritual Herbs, such as Breakthrough Realm Pills of various sizes, which could help Foundation Building cultivators break through bottlenecks.


    There were also second-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms, Golden Spotted Bamboo Shoots, and other delicacies that cultivators rarely cultivated because they usually focused on training.


    Ordinary auctions did not have such items, but Wang Hong wanted to give it a try; if they sold, that would be great, and if not, it wouldn''t matter.


    As for third-tier Spiritual Objects, he did not have many, and even if he did, he wouldn''t openly disy them.


    He and Wu Dayong had agreed to keep the impact of this auction within the Foundation Building stage. Anything that piqued the interest of Golden Core cultivators would not appear at the auction.


    Otherwise, with Qingxu Tower''s deep pockets, they could easily bring out a few third-tier Spiritual Objects.


    Sessfully hosting an auction was not an easy task; it required a certain level of strength.


    First, they needed an auction venue. Boundary City had over three thousand Foundation Building cultivators, so the auction hall had to amodate at least a thousand people.


    Secondly, they needed enough personnel to maintain the safety and order of the auction.


    To host an auction, you needed the strength to protect yourself. The goods and resources at an auction were tempting, and incidents of theft during auctions were not umon.


    For an auction like this, involving Foundation Building stage cultivators, it was necessary to have at least one Golden Core stage cultivator overseeing it.


    Moreover, in the Cultivation World, most people respected strength above all else; power spoke louder than words.


    If others at the auction used their strength to intimidate, the auction would not proceed smoothly.


    If everyone at the venue disyed their cultivation levels, those with lower levels would be frightened away, and no one would dare to stay and bid, making the auction futile and potentially leading to trouble.


    Therefore, to host a sessful auction, they needed the power to control and enforce order, ensuring that all participants respected the rules of the auction.


    Moreover, this kind of matter could only be resolved by himself. He couldn''t keep bothering the Golden Core cultivator who would oversee the auction. After all, Golden Core cultivators were usually treated with great care once they were hired.


    In addition to having sufficient strength, hosting an auction also required arge quantity of rare items to attract attention.


    Wang Hongcked all of these conditions, and he could only achieve this with the support of Qingxu Tower.


    Before the auction, various rumors had already spread throughout the entire city. There were rumors about various treasures to be auctioned, as well as news about the cultivators preparing to participate in the auction.


    Among these many rumors, one was of particr interest to everyone: the news rted to the Jade Marrow Mushroom.


    "I heard that Alchemist Wang once identally entered an ancient cultivator''s cave mansion and found a total of seven Jade Marrow Mushrooms. He used two of them and still has five left."


    In a private room in a tavern, a burly Foundation Building cultivator withrge ears, who had consumed some Spirit Wine, was now blushing as he spoke.


    "Friend, you''re not close to Alchemist Wang, how could you know such details? You make it sound as if it''s true," a middle-aged cultivator nearby questioned.


    "I... I do know, but I can''t reveal how," the burly cultivator stammered, feeling defensive as he was being questioned.


    "I think our friend here might have had a bit too much to drink and made up this story. I thought you were an honest person, but now you''re ying tricks on us," a beautiful female cultivator with narrow eyes and an expression of disdain said.


    The burly cultivator, perhaps genuinely an honest person, found himself in a predicament after being challenged. His face turned even redder, and with the effects of the alcohol kicking in, he blurted out, "I do know! I saw it with my own eyes!"


    Realizing his mistake, the burly cultivator quickly covered his mouth.


    "Hahaha! It seems we misunderstood our friend here. Let''s have a drink! A drink!" the middle-aged cultivator hastily tried to smooth things over, pouring a ss of Spirit Wine for himself and the burly cultivator. They decided not to dwell on the matter any longer.


    The burly cultivator, feeling relieved that the others were no longer pressing him for answers, continued drinking with his newly made friends.


    After a while, the burly cultivator started to feel the effects of the alcohol. His face was now flushed, and his speech became a bit slurred.


    asionally, his gaze would secretly drift toward the beautiful female cultivator, and his eyes would linger on certain areas of her body.


    Whenever the female cultivator looked at him with a smile, he would quickly avert his gaze, flustered.


    The female cultivator seemed unaware of his subtle actions and continued to smile. In fact, she seemed to casually move closer to him.


    There were asional, almost imperceptible, touches of their skin, and each time the soft and smooth sensation made the burly cultivator''s heart race. His hand holding the cup trembled uncontrobly.


    Now, he was practically hoping that the female cultivator would ask him some personal questions, giving him a chance to impress her.


    "Do you think Alchemist Wang will auction off a few Jade Marrow Mushrooms this time?" The female cultivator casually leaned closer to the burly cultivator, though her words were addressed to the group.


    "Four mushrooms. Alchemist Wang will keep one for himself," the burly cultivator hastily responded, not wanting anyone else to seize the opportunity to impress the female cultivator.


    "Do you know the quality of the mushroom Alchemist Wang is keeping for himself?" The burly cultivator, having forgotten about the need for secrecy, asked to show off.


    "I think it should be the oldest one, right? Perhaps it''s already eight hundred years old?" The female cultivator guessed with admiration in her eyes, keeping her gaze fixed on the burly cultivator.


    After all, once a Jade Marrow Mushroom reached eight hundred years of age, it matured and became a healing elixir that Golden Core cultivators would fight over.


    "That''s not it. None of the Jade Marrow Mushrooms Alchemist Wang harvested this time have reached eight hundred years."

 Chapter 242: The Stratagem of Deception

    Chapter 242: The Stratagem of Deception


    "Alchemist Wang''s harvest of Jade Marrow Mushrooms this time, the oldest among them is only a five-hundred-year-old one, which he kept for his own use," said a cultivator with some regret.


    "Could it be that Alchemist Wang has actually gathered Jade Marrow Mushrooms that are over eight hundred years old and kept them hidden?" a female cultivator beside them expressed doubt.


    "Yeah, if I had such a valuable treasure, I would definitely keep it hidden from others," another middle-aged cultivator chimed in.


    At that moment, the female cultivator was pouring wine into the cup of the first cultivator while her hand identally brushed against his arm, a soft touch that sent shivers down his spine. His eyes turned bloodshot, and his mind was filled with fantasies, leaving reason far behind.


    "It''s impossible, I saw it with my own eyes," the first cultivator said without reservation.


    "Is it really true?" the female cultivator asked skeptically.


    "Do you not believe me? Luckily, I kept some evidence," the first cultivator said, taking out a Shadow Stone from his Storage Bag and activating it.


    The image showed Wang Hong leading the way along a stream, with voices of several people behind him, but their figures were not recorded by the Shadow Stone. Wang Hong soon arrived at a mountain cave and entered it. Inside the cave was a spacious hall with a Spirit Spring, and next to it, nine Jade Marrow Mushroom nts were growing.


    Among them, two of the Jade Marrow Mushrooms were norger than fingers, while the other seven ranged from two hundred to five hundred years old.


    Then, they heard the astonished exmations of several people, and the image suddenly shook and disappeared.


    "Why did it disappear? There were nine of them, right?" the female cultivator asked.


    "Well! At that time, because the Jade Marrow Mushrooms appeared, I was not allowed to record, and I was even ordered to destroy the Shadow Stone. But I secretly kept it," the first cultivator said. "Although there were nine in there, two of them were too small, so Alchemist Wang only picked seven and left behind two saplings."


    The first cultivator nced at the female cultivator and continued to share many pieces of information they had managed to extract from him.


    An hourter, a waiter from the tavern entered the private room. Inside the room, only the first cultivator with prominent ears who had been talking remained, sprawled on the table, sound asleep. The other cultivators had disappeared without a trace.


    The waiter gently woke up the first cultivator, who seemed disoriented as he looked around.


    After a while, he seemed to remember that he had been drinking here with someone, including a beautiful female cultivator.


    "Elder! When your friends left, they mentioned that you would be paying for them. You see..." The waiter cautiously spoke, unsure of the exact situation and had to ask carefully.


    The first cultivator instinctively reached for his Storage Bag, but to his dismay, the Storage Bag hanging at his waist had vanished.


    Then, in a state of panic, he searched his chest, but there was nothing there. He searched his whole body, even repeatedly scanning the ground, but his Storage Bag was nowhere to be found.


    "Um... How much are the Spirit Stones? Can I owe you for a few days?" the first cultivator said somewhat sheepishly.


    "Elder, the total amount this time is one hundred and thirty Spirit Stones. We don''t extend credit for small transactions!" The waiter''s tone was now firm, discarding his earlier caution.


    Most businesses in Boundary City had some degree of power behind them, and they were not afraid to deal with those trying to dine and dash.


    The first cultivator wore a regretful, frustrated, and dejected expression. After some thought, he made a decision and said, "Alright, how about this? My Daoist Robe and these boots are both Magical Weapon-grade, though a bit worn. They should cover the cost of this meal."


    Without waiting for a response, he took off his Daoist Robe and boots and handed them to the waiter.


    The waiter had no choice but to ept them, knowing that he could sell them for around one hundred and fifty Spirit Stones with some effort, even if it required a bit of time and energy.


    A whileter, the first cultivator left the tavern barefoot, wearing a disheartened expression.


    Once he found a secluded spot where no one was around, he discreetly transformed himself into a horse-faced cultivator. He conjured a Storage Bag out of thin air, retrieved the Daoist Robe and boots, put them on, and hung the Storage Bag at his waist.


    This first cultivator was, in fact, Wang Hong in disguise. Since he had achieved a decent mastery of the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique," his transformation skills had be incredibly difficult to discern.


    To spread this piece of information, Wang Hong had gone to great lengths. His greatest fear was that someone would suspect him of possessing Jade Marrow Mushrooms older than eight hundred years. If he were suspected of such a thing, he doubted he would survive if he returned to Qingxu Sect.


    Although his actions couldn''tpletely dispel such suspicions, they could at least alleviate them to some extent.


    The few cultivators he interacted with had been chosen by him in advance. They often worked together to deceive inexperienced cultivators and asionally moonlighted as information brokers.


    To make these individuals believe him, Wang Hong had used all his skills.


    In his eyes, the female cultivator was merely of average appearance, far less interesting to him than talking to Shui Ruo''er. Her looks couldn''tpare to Yun Qingya''s either.


    After the first cultivator left the tavern, the waiter, while cleaning the private room, found a Shadow Stone in the corner.


    The waiter didn''t dare to make decisions on his own, so he called the innkeeper. When the innkeeper arrived, he picked up the Shadow Stone and inspected it. With a few techniques, he activated it.


    The image in the air disyed the previous situation in the private room, including the image disyed by the first cultivator''s Shadow Stone.


    Then, taking advantage of the first cultivator''s drunken slumber, the others took his Storage Bag and hastily left.


    Over the next few days, the story of how Alchemist Wang had obtained the Jade Marrow Mushrooms, the specific number of them, and their ages became widely known.


    However, one aspect piqued everyone''s curiosity: the location of the ancient cultivator''s cave mansion that Wang Alchemist had found.


    People scoured various maps, trying to identify the mountain shown in the image inside the private room. Yet, despite their efforts to search the vicinity of Boundary Mountain Range thoroughly, they couldn''t locate the ce.


    It should be noted that the maps in the Cultivation World were quite different from those in the mortal realm. These maps were usually in the form of Jade Scrolls, containing precise images of mountains, rivers, and even living creatures.


    So, as long as you knew the shape of the mountains and rivers, it was highly likely you could find them on the map.


    But no one knew that what they sawthe small mountain, the stream, the grasndexisted only within a single Mountain cave.


    One day, the auction was finally about to begin, and Wang Hong had his subordinates busy with preparations.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 243: The Profound Iron Essence

    Chapter 243: The Profound Iron Essence


    Today, in a grand hall within Qingxu Tower, it was packed with over a thousand people.


    In the center, there was a raised tform serving as the auction stage, hosted by Wu Dayong.


    In various corners stood some Foundation Building cultivators, acting as security to prevent any ill-intentioned individuals from causing trouble during the auction.


    For this auction, they had specifically invited Shen Jian to assist. Wang Hong and Shen Jian had cooperated multiple times before and had some rapport.


    Shen Jian had strength and reputation in Boundary City, and most cultivators would show him some respect. Having him oversee the event was a wise choice.


    They had also invited Elder Song Wei. Wang Hong hade to understand the Elder''s temperament and had prepared a spacious VIP room for him to rest in.


    Wang Hong had taken on the role of a dedicated chef, preparing delicious meals for Song Wei, who enjoyed them immensely.


    Of course, a Golden Core cultivator, having lived for hundreds of years, couldn''t be easily impressed by a single meal.


    Song Wei would receive ten percent of the proceeds from this auction.


    The first item up for auction was a 200-year-old Jade Marrow Mushroom, instantly sparking enthusiasm among the audience.


    Although this Jade Marrow Mushroom was only a young sapling at 200 years old, its healing properties wereparable to amon second-tier healing pill.


    However, it was a potted nt, looking vibrant and healthy, which meant it could continue to grow after purchase.


    Even though it would take a long time to mature, many family cultivators were present. Even if they couldn''t use it immediately, they could pass it down to future generations.


    For solitary cultivators, who knew if they might have descendants one day or identally achieve Core Formation? Lack of foresight leads to imminent worries.


    nting one now for future use, as long as the price was within their means, most people wouldn''t refuse.


    After a fierce bidding war, the young Jade Marrow Mushroom sapling was sold for a price of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    The one hundred thousand Spirit Stones mentioned here were just for auction calction purposes; they would need to use other second-tier materials or medium-grade Spirit Stones to make up the value.


    The items in this auction were divided into two categories. Some could be directly purchased with Spirit Stones, and these items typically fetched higher prices.


    The other category, like the Jade Marrow Mushroom, required the use of other second-tier Spiritual Objects to exchange, and these items tended to sell for lower prices.


    For example, a Foundation Establishment Pill, if purchased with Spirit Stones, would require at least three hundred thousand or more Spirit Stones due to its rarity, which inted its price.


    However, if exchanged for other rare second-tier Spiritual Objects, you could obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill for a maximum of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones, as these second-tier Spiritual Objects were also scarce.


    After the Jade Marrow Mushroom auction, several items from Qingxu Tower were sold, and their prices were quite decent.


    In the VIP room, Song Wei was enjoying a dish of Nine-Style Mystic Cow Tail made by Wang Hong.


    The dish was prepared using the tail of a second-tier Mystic Cow, with the skin and fascia removed.


    Then, abination of a second-tier Mystic Cow, a second-tier Mystic Sheep, a second-tier Seven-Colored Chicken, and more than ten other ingredients were stewed together to create a rich and vorful broth.


    The prepared Cow tail was ced in the broth for an hour, removed, dried, and then put back into the broth for this process to be repeated nine times.


    This process made the Cow tail meat tender, vorful, and with a satisfying texture, all while retaining its natural juices. Even the Cow bones emanated a delightful aroma.


    At this moment, in the auction hall, they happened to be auctioning off Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms, with dozens of cultivators bidding leisurely.


    These Spiritual Objects, while rare, were not as popr as Spirit Pills or Spiritual Herbs, mainly because they were used as ingredients.


    "Little Wang Hong, help me secure that Lionhead Spirit Mushroom," Song Wei said to Wang Hong, who was busy making crystal cakes nearby.


    "Senior Brother Song, these Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms are provided by the junior. I don''t have much stock on hand. How about I gift you some instead?" Wang Hong replied. He had cultivated a considerable amount of Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms, splitting them into two batches.


    Generally, nting Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms required attaching them to Spirit Wood. When nted on second-tier Spirit Wood, they matured into second-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms. When nted on third-tier Spirit Wood, they would mature into third-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms.


    Wang Hong had nted one batch on second-tier Spirit Wood, and for the other, he had directly ced them in his Spacend. He wanted topare the growth of the two batches to see which one fared better.


    It turned out that the Spirit Mushroom nted in the Space soil grew much betterpared to those on the Spirit Wood. Currently, they were all still at the second-tier stage, and whether they could reach the third-tier stage after a certain number of years remained uncertain.


    The Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms he brought for the auction were the ones grown on the Spirit Wood, and they were rtively smaller.


    "Very well! Please bring them out; I won''t let you suffer a loss," Song Wei replied while carefully enjoying the Cow tail.


    Wang Hong took out half a Lionhead Spirit Mushroom from his Storage Bag. This mature Lionhead Spirit Mushroom had a diameter of about two feet. Only half of it was on the auction stage, with Wang Hong keeping the other half.


    The ones he had nted in the Space soil were evenrger, with diameters exceeding three feet, and they were more sulent. Wang Hong often indulged himself by eating them in private.


    Song Wei received the Lionhead Spirit Mushroom from Wang Hong and casually threw a fist-sized object to him.


    "I heard you''ve been short on refining materials recently. This piece of Profound Iron Essence was refined by me during my free time. Consider it a gift."


    Profound Iron Essence was created using first-tier Profound Iron as the base material, refined with the Golden Core-stage fire, repeatedly purifying it to reach a qualitative change, thus bing Profound Iron Essence.


    Profound Iron Essence was considered a top-tier material among second-tier materials, known for enhancing the hardness and sharpness of refining materials.


    Wang Hong epted the piece of Profound Iron Essence, which was small but surprisingly heavy, almost weighing as much as ten thousand catties.


    "Senior Brother Song, do you happen to have more of this Profound Iron Essence? I''d like to make another exchange," Wang Hong asked. This Profound Iron Essence was indeed useful for his refining ns, and he currently needed this type of material.


    "Do you perhaps have more Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms?" Song Wei asked with great interest.


    "I''m afraid not. I consider myself lucky to have obtained one. However, I do have some Spirit Wine. Would Senior Brother Song be interested?" Wang Hong replied. Lionhead Spirit Mushrooms were quite rare, so he didn''t dare to bring out too many. As for the one-tier Spirit Wine, he could offer a fair amount for trade.


    Typically, cultivators consumed one-tier Spirit Wine for their daily drinking needs, as the cost of two-tier Spirit Wine was high. Even Golden Core cultivators rarely indulged in two-tier Spirit Wine, only asionally for a special treat.


    "That could work. How much Spirit Wine do you have, and what''s its quality?" Song Wei asked after a brief thought.


    "I have a wine workshop in Azure Void City with a variety of one-tier Spirit Winesupper, middle, and lower grades. Currently, there are tens of thousands of catties of aged Spirit Wine in the cer, and there are also several thousand catties of well-aged Spirit Wine. Each year, I can also acquire some high-quality, aged Spirit Wines," Wang Hong exined, not hiding anything and providing an overview of his wine business.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 244: Auction

    Chapter 244: Auction


    "Hahaha! I didn''t expect you to have some treasures. I only want tier two middle-grade and high-grade Spirit Wine."


    "A pound of middle-grade Spirit Wine can be exchanged for a pound of Profound Iron Essence, while a pound of high-grade Spirit Wine can be exchanged for ten pounds of Profound Iron Essence. If you have Spirit Wine that''s over a hundred years old, we can calcte the price separately."


    Song Wei''s offered price was significantly higher than the market rate, but Wang Hong had a specific need, so he reluctantly agreed.


    "Senior Brother Song, I happen to have a barrel of Spirit Wine that''s over five hundred years old. Can I exchange it for some Profound Iron Essence?"


    Wang Hong spoke as he handed over arge sealed container of Spirit Wine to Song Wei.


    Song Wei opened the container, and the entire secret room was filled with the aroma of the wine. The fragrance even wafted down to the auction venue below.


    Some wine enthusiasts kept sniffing the air, trying to locate the source of the fragrance.


    "Wu Dao friend, you''ve hidden such fine Spirit Wine. Isn''t it an item for auction?"


    "Yes, Wu Dao friend, why not bring it out for auction?"


    Several sharp-nosed cultivators had already figured out that the aroma wasing from upstairs, and they thought it might be part of Qingxu Tower''s collection.


    "Friends, this isn''t a part of Qingxu Tower''s collection. It might be an elder in one of the VIP rooms enjoying some wine. It''s best not to disturb them," Wu Dayong exined, guessing that Song Wei was the one enjoying the wine. As a Golden Core expert, it wasn''t surprising that he had ess to better quality Spirit Wine.


    Hearing Wu Dayong''s exnation, everyone felt a bit disappointed and decided to focus their attention on the auction below, so they wouldn''t be distracted by the scent of the wine.


    Song Wei poured a small cup and tasted it, smacking his lips in satisfaction.


    "This wine is excellent. Do you have more? I can exchange it for thirty thousand pounds of Profound Iron Essence. How does that sound?"


    Song Wei closed the container and inquired.


    "Senior Brother Song, this barrel of Spirit Wine was purchased by this junior from a destitute cultivator. Being able to acquire one barrel is already fortunate; there''s unlikely to be more."


    Wang Hongmented when Song Wei asked about more Spirit Wine.


    Song Wei thought it over and agreed. As a Golden Core cultivator who had lived for hundreds of years, he hadn''te across such an opportunity often.


    The two of them then reached a deal, with Wang Hong exchanging one barrel of Spirit Wine for three pounds of Profound Iron Essence.


    However, he was still far from his goal. He had nine subordinates with him, and if each pound could be used to refine a Spiritual Weapon, he was still short by five pounds. Wang Hong hoped this auction would yield a few more pieces. With so many items being auctioned, there should be a good chance.


    Meanwhile, in the auction below, they were bidding for the Resplendent Visage Elixir, an item also provided by Wang Hong.


    He had supplied three Resplendent Visage Elixirs, each auctioned separately for Spirit Stones, without the need for tier two materials.


    Therefore, there was fiercepetition in the auction for Resplendent Visage Elixir below.


    "I offer eighty thousand Spirit Stones!"


    Though wearing a mask, the voice revealed the bidder was a female cultivator, driven by a hint of madness.


    "I bid one hundred thousand!"


    Another cultivator with a butterfly mask directly increased the bid by twenty thousand. She was also a female cultivator, clearly desperate to preserve her youthful appearance.


    As a female cultivator, who could tolerate watching her reflection age day by day if there was a solution?


    "One hundred and fifteen thousand!"


    A male cultivator timidly shouted a price, fully aware that he couldn''t match the determination of the female cultivators.


    "One hundred and twenty thousand!" Another female cultivator joined in.


    "One hundred and forty thousand!"


    "One hundred and fifty thousand!"


    And the bidding continued...


    ...


    In the end, driven by several crazy female cultivators, the price for the first Resplendent Visage Elixir soared to two hundred thousand Spirit Stones before it was sold.


    The second one was auctioned off for two hundred and ten thousand, and the third one reached an astonishing two hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones.


    Watching from the VIP room upstairs while enjoying a barbecue, Wang Hong deeply appreciated the charm of female cultivators.


    After Wu Dayong auctioned several more items, he presented a pill bottle in his palm.


    "Dear fellow cultivators, what we are auctioning now is a Small Breakthrough Realm Pill, which has remarkable effects for breaking through bottlenecks in the early and middle stages of Foundation Building."


    Wu Dayong introduced it briefly since most Foundation Building cultivators were familiar with this type of pill.


    The Small Breakthrough Realm Pill was mainly refined from Scarlet Blood Ginseng aged over three hundred years, allowing cultivators in the early and middle stages of Foundation Building to break through ayer of bottleneck instantly.


    The Large Breakthrough Realm Pill, on the other hand, was mainly made from Scarlet Blood Ginseng aged over five hundred years and could help those in theter stages of Foundation Building break through bottlenecks. It was even rumored to have slight benefits for Golden Core condensation.


    Due to the rarity of Scarlet Blood Ginseng, which was challenging to cultivate and more likely to die as it aged, Small and Large Breakthrough Realm Pills were extremely scarce.


    Some Foundation Building cultivators might spend several years or even decades trying to ovee their bottlenecks. Considering how limited a cultivator''s lifespan was, there were not many decades to spare.


    Some cultivators even never managed to break through their bottlenecks throughout their lives. As a result, every appearance of a Breakthrough Realm Pill triggered fiercepetition among Foundation Building cultivators.


    After Wu Dayong announced the bidding had begun, the price of the Small Breakthrough Realm Pill began to rise rapidly and quickly reached over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    The value of these Spirit Stones was higher than usual since they needed tier-two Spiritual Objects for exchange.


    "Two hundred and fifty thousand!"


    The young cultivator who didn''t wear a mask, a sect''s young master, confidently bid. He had no fear attending such a small-scale auction.


    "Two hundred and sixty thousand!"


    Following the bidding was a middle-aged cultivator without a mask, who clearly had a significant background.


    "Two hundred and eighty thousand!"


    The bidder who raised the bid by twenty thousand had a raspy voice, wore a tiger head mask, and a cloak covering their body.


    At this point, only these three individuals remained in the bidding.


    The two unmasked cultivators, feeling challenged by the masked bidder, grew increasingly frustrated and continued to raise the bid.


    "Two hundred and ny thousand!"


    "Three hundred thousand!"


    Wang Hong, sitting in the VIP room above, couldn''t help but smile as he watched these talented young cultivatorspeting and showing their determination.


    He was thrilled, as each bid meant more Spirit Stones and resources for him.


    In the end, it was the mysterious cultivator with the tiger head mask who secured the Small Breakthrough Realm Pill with a winning bid of three hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones.


    The other two cultivators, although unwilling, couldn''tpete due to financial constraints and had to concede for now.


    Once the masked cultivator obtained the Small Breakthrough Realm Pill, he promptlypleted the transaction with the auction house and quietly left the auction venue.


    Several cultivators from the audience also followed him outside, whether for friendly exchanges or potential conflicts, it was no longer Qingxu Tower''s concern.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 245: Planting

    Chapter 245: nting


    After sessfully auctioning off the Small Breakthrough Realm Pill, they proceeded to auction some other items, interspersing the few remaining Jade Marrow Mushrooms among them and selling them as well.


    Two 400-year-old Jade Marrow Mushrooms were auctioned off at satisfyingly high prices that pleased Wang Hong. Each one was sold for over two hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    The remaining Large Breakthrough Realm Pill was reserved for the grand finale of the auction, causing countless cultivators to vie for it. Many hade specifically for this item.


    The Large Breakthrough Realm Pill not only broke through bottlenecks but was also particrly attractive to those seeking to form their Golden Cores.


    Even if its effects were subtle, the psychological impact alone was enough to incite fiercepetition.


    Amidst the bidding frenzy of numerous cultivators, the Large Breakthrough Realm Pill was eventually sold for the staggering price of five hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    With that, the auction concluded sessfully.


    Wang Hong leveraged the influence of Qingxu Tower, not only selling the Jade Marrow Mushrooms but also diverting a lot of attention and making a considerable profit in the process.


    In total, Wang Hong garnered over one million Spirit Stones from this auction, along with refining materials worth more than one million Spirit Stones. It was a bountiful harvest indeed.


    In the past, he wouldn''t have dared to casually part with so many items for fear of attracting envy. However, the situation had changed. He had be a small force to be reckoned with in Boundary City.


    Officially, including Wang Hong himself, they now had five Foundation Building cultivators and a second-tier Demonic Beast. That was no longer considered weak.


    Furthermore, they had recently wiped out all six members of the Beast Spirit Sect, including ate Foundation Building cultivator, leaving a lingering sense of their might.


    Anyone who wished to target them would have to think twice.


    Wang Hong and Wu Dayong spent an entire day dividing the wealth they had acquired.


    Wang Hong used the newly obtained one million plus Spirit Stones to expand the Space by ten acres.


    With this addition, the Space''snd now totaled one hundred and thirty-five acres, and the time flow inside had reached a hundred and sixty-four times that of the outside world.


    He nned to use these ten extra acres to cultivate high-tier Spiritual Objects. These objects had longer growth periods, required more Space, and would be of use when he eventually reached the Golden Core stage.


    Condensing a Golden Core was undoubtedly a daunting task. On average, it took thousands of cultivators to produce a single Golden Core cultivator.


    Even for prominent sects like the six major sects, which had strong foundations, it still took several hundred Foundation Building cultivators to cultivate a Golden Core cultivator.


    However, Wang Hong had great confidence in condensing a Golden Core because he had the Space.


    While others had to exhaust their wealth or even risk their lives for a Breakthrough Realm Pill, he could consume several Nourishing Essence Pills in a single day.


    While others required a month or more ofbor for a Nourishing Essence Pill, he could consume several in a day.


    While others could only use a rare Spiritual Herb once, he could cultivate vast quantities of them in his Space.


    All he needed to do was diligently cultivate, and if that still couldn''t help him condense a Golden Core, he might as well just headbutt a wall and call it quits.


    Currently, there were only three types of third-tier Spiritual Herbs in his Space.


    One of them was the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus, obtained from a secret realm years ago. It had now grown over a dozen flowers and produced two lotus pods, although they had yet to mature.


    To encourage the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus to reproduce more, Wang Hong had refrained from eating its Lotus Roots for quite some time.


    However, he had collected some of its petals, along with those of other second-tier Spirit Blossoms, to brew a small quantity of Spirit Wine.


    Moreover, there was another third-tier Spiritual Fruit, the Dragon Scale Fruit, which he had also obtained from a secret realm. He had been cultivating it in the Space for hundreds of years, but it had only grown into a small tree about a person''s height, showing no signs of flowering or bearing fruit.


    Another third-tier Spiritual Fruit tree was the recently acquired Jade Ginseng Fruit tree. It wasn''t very tall, and it had some immature fruits hanging from its branches.


    In the Space, there was also a peculiar Spirit nt that Wang Hong had obtained from a young cultivator''s Storage Bag during a trial in a secret realm. Even in his Qi Cultivation stage, Wang Hong couldn''t damage this strange nt with his Spiritual Weapon.


    After nting it in the Space, hundreds of years had passed, and this nt had just started to sprout. It had grown two tender leaves with natural Runes on them. Despite Wang Hong''s current Rune proficiency, he couldn''t decipher the meaning of the Runes on the leaves.


    For now, he could only watch and wait to see how this unique Spirit nt would develop.


    Afterpleting all these tasks, Wang Hong flew to a small grove within the Space, where many thick, straight trees grew. These trees were entirely ck and had a metallic sheen.


    These were the Golden Ironwood trees. Golden Ironwood trees under eight hundred years old were ck, and those above eight hundred years gradually turned golden yellow.


    Wang Hong wielded a Flying Sword and struck one of the Golden Ironwood trees with all his might, but it only went half an inch deep. He had expected this; his own Long Spear had been crafted from over five hundred years old Golden Ironwood, and that piece of spirit wood was even tougher than these three hundred-year-old ones.


    Wang Hong spent over a day cutting down nine Golden Ironwood trees within the Space. He took these trees out of the Space, stored them in a Storage Bag, and then left.


    He went directly to the Thousand Crafts Pavilion, where the store employees had already learned to recognize him.


    "Hello, Alchemist Wang! How can we assist you today?" A store employee greeted Wang Hong warmly as he entered.


    "I''m looking for your shopkeeper Mo. Could you please inform him?" Wang Hong requested.


    The employee promptly led Wang Hong to a private room and then excused himself.


    "Haha! Alchemist Wang, what an honor it is to have you visit and grace our humble establishment!" Shopkeeper Mo, upon entering, greeted Wang Hong with a heartyugh. He then warmly prepared tea and served it.


    Mo was aware of the recent Qingxu Tower auction. He knew that Wang Hong had earned a significant amount of refining materials from it and likely intended tomission some crafting work.


    If Wang Hong hadn''te, Mo was contemting paying him a visit to discuss business. With so many refining materials, it was undoubtedly a lucrative opportunity.


    Now that the fat fish hade to him voluntarily, how could Mo not be delighted?


    "Shopkeeper Mo, you''re too kind. I''vee this time to discuss a substantial business venture I''d like to entrust to your esteemed establishment," Wang Hong said as he took a sip of tea.


    "Oh! I''m eager to hear more about this venture," Mo replied, his eyes narrowing with anticipation. It seemed that good fortune hade knocking on his door.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 246: Third Level of Foundation Building

    Chapter 246: Third Level of Foundation Building


    "I need tomission the Thousand Crafts Pavilion to refine nine Spiritual Weapons ¨C Long Spears, and nine Spiritual Weapon armors, for a total of eighteen Spiritual Weapons," Wang Hong calmly stated his requirements. However, the inner turmoil of Mo, the shopkeeper, was anything but calm. His facial muscles were trembling with excitement, a clear indication of the magnitude of this unexpected business.


    He could sense that it was a significant deal, but he never expected it to be this substantial. Eighteen Spiritual Weapons at once could match several months'' worth of business as usual.


    "Wang Alchemist, refining eighteen Spiritual Weapons requires a considerable amount of materials. Do you have everything prepared?" Mo, the shopkeeper, inquired, knowing that supplying such a quantity of materials was not an easy task.


    "I''ve prepared all of these materials in advance, but I''m not sure if they are suitable. I''d like you to take a look," Wang Hong replied, handing over a Storage Bag to Mo, the shopkeeper.


    Mo epted the bag and probed it with his Divine Sense. Inside, he found nine neatly arranged Golden Ironwood logs, all of simr age. There were also eight pieces of Profound Iron Crystals, two of which Wang Hong had obtained at an auction, and one that Wu Dayong had retrieved from the Qingxu Tower''s warehouse and exchanged with Wang Hong.


    There was arge pile of hides from second-tier Demonic Beasts, totaling more than thirty pieces, along with various other materials.


    "Overall, it should be sufficient, but we''ll need to have a refining tool master inspect them. Please wait a moment; the refining master will arrive shortly," Mo, the shopkeeper, said as he got up and gave some instructions to an employee waiting outside, who hurriedly departed.


    Mo then returned and continued to chat and share tea with Wang Hong.


    After a while, a middle-stage Foundation Building cultivator with a stern face entered from outside."Wang Alchemist, this is our Thousand Crafts Pavilion''s resident refining tool master, Friend Mu," Mo introduced. Wang Hong had visited Thousand Crafts Pavilion several times, but it was his first time meeting their second-tier refining tool master.


    "It''s an honor to meet you, Wang Alchemist. I deeply admire your Alchemy skills," Friend Mu, the refining tool master, spoke more courteously than the middle-aged man from the Qi Cultivation stage earlier.


    Wang Hong exchanged pleasantries and then handed the Storage Bag over to Friend Mu.


    Friend Mu carefully examined the contents and remarked, "Most of the materials are sufficient, but having one more piece of Profound Iron Crystal would be ideal."


    Wang Hong had only eight pieces of Profound Iron Crystals, which was a bit inconvenient to distribute.


    "Wang Alchemist, we happen to have one more piece of Profound Iron Crystal in our shop, but it''s not for sale in Spirit Stones. We''d require other refining tool materials or Spiritual Herbs as a trade," Mo, the shopkeeper, said. Normally, such materials wouldn''t be readily avable for sale, but for a valued customer and Alchemist like Wang Hong, he was willing to make an exception.


    "Thank you, Mo, for your help. I''ll purchase it with second-tier Pills," Wang Hong agreed.


    The price of the additional Profound Iron Crystal was negotiated, along with the cost of refining the Spiritual Weapons. Wang Hong paid it all with Pills, showcasing one of the reasons why Alchemistsmanded respect wherever they went.


    With the transactionplete, Wang Hong left the Thousand Crafts Pavilion.


    Back at his residence, Wang Hong continued to train the remaining Qi Cultivation cultivators under his wing, guiding them to reach the Foundation Building stage. Now, all nine of his subordinates had sessfully advanced to Foundation Building, adding to his formidable strength.


    With this force at his disposal, he was no longer someone to be trifled with in Boundary City.


    Three monthster, Wang Hong returned to the Thousand Crafts Pavilion to collect the finished Spiritual Weapons.


    Nine ck Long Spears, each measuring thirteen feet long and weighing twenty thousand catties, were presented. Although the Profound Iron Crystals used were of the highest quality among second-tier materials, the Golden Ironwood, with an age of just over three hundred years, was of lower quality. As a result, the nine Long Spears refined were of a quality approaching that of mid-grade Spiritual Weapons.


    Regarding the nine Spiritual Armors, thanks to the abundance of materials, Wang Hong had chosen high-quality Demonic Beast hides for each one, all of which met the standards of mid-grade Spiritual Weapons.


    For cultivators who had just reached the Foundation Building stage, owning a low-grade Spiritual Weapon was already considered excellent. Wang Hong''s subordinates, who had recently achieved Foundation Building, now possessed three Spiritual Weapons each, in addition to the spoils they had received earlier.


    With his team''s strength now bolstered, Wang Hong could focus on his cultivation. The Alchemy tasks from the Qingxu Tower were not overly burdensome for him, leaving him with ample time for training.


    Two peaceful years passed in this manner. During this time, alongside his continued study of Alchemy and Runes, he also practiced various other Magical Arts and secret techniques.


    His figure suddenly disappeared within the Cultivation Room, leaving only a vague afterimage before reappearing twenty zhang away. This was the result of his mastery of the "Shifting Positions" body technique he had obtained years ago. Due to his focus on Body Refining and proficiency in closebat, he had used this technique multiple times to swiftly approach and gain the upper hand against opponents.


    This technique had three tiers. In the first tier, one could only move within a ten zhang radius, which was considered inadequatepared to Foundation Building cultivators in terms of speed and distance.


    In the second tier, the maximum distance increased to forty-nine zhang, with even faster and more elusive movements, making it difficult for others to predict.


    However, the immense power of this secret technique came with a significant physical toll. Despite his substantial Spiritual Power foundation, he could only cover slightly more than twenty zhang instantly. Repeated use of the technique would rapidly deplete his Spiritual Power and physical stamina.


    It was difficult to determine the originator of this secret technique, and most people found it challenging to progress beyond the second tier.


    Over the past two years, Wang Hong had consumed copious amounts of Pills daily, making significant progress in his cultivation. However, his dantian sea was muchrger than that of an average person, which had dyed him from reaching the third level of Foundation Building.


    It wasn''t until two months ago, when the East Departure Grass he had nted in his spatial realm matured, that he was able to harvest it and refine East Departure Pills. East Departure Pills were described in his cultivation technique, the "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique," and they greatly aided the cultivation of this technique. For cultivators practicing this technique, East Departure Pills were of immense help.


    During these two months, he had switched from consuming Nourishing Essence Pills, which he took regrly, to East Departure Pills.


    The "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique" was specialized for cultivating both the Wood and Fire attributes. It enhanced the body''s vitality through the internal cultivation of the Wood attribute, while externally, it predominantly disyed the Fire attribute forbat purposes. By nourishing the Wood to fuel the Fire, the technique''s power became more formidable.


    Because he hadn''t had ess to East Departure Pills earlier, the effects in this regard weren''t particrly noticeable.


    One day, after refining an East Departure Pill, Wang Hong suddenly felt his Spiritual Power surge within him, and his dantian sea''s Spiritual Power roiled. Then, crackling sounds followed, and his dantian sea expanded by another two feet, reaching a size of one zhang.


    Initially, his dantian sea had been six feet in size. After advancing to the second level of Foundation Building, it had increased by two feet to eight feet. Now, with his promotion to the third level of Foundation Building, it had reached one zhang.


    Typically, a third-level Foundation Building cultivator would have a dantian sea measuring only three feet in size unless they had used specific Spiritual Objects to expand it. Only upon reaching the Foundation Building Grand Completion realm would one naturally possess a one-zhang dantian sea.


    With his vastly expanded dantian sea, Wang Hong had a wider path for future growth and could reach higher heights. While having a strong foundation was advantageous, it also significantly increased the difficulty of advancing further.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 247: Mission Completed

    Chapter 247: Mission Completed


    On this day, Wang Hong had just finished his cultivation when he received a Transmission Talisman.


    Surprisingly, it was sent by Shen Jian. Shen Jian rarely had any business with him, so it piqued his curiosity.


    After Wang Hong arrived at Shen Jian''s residence, Shen Jian received him in the living room.


    "Junior Brother Wang, since you arrived here, Qingxu Tower''s Alchemy business has grown by thirty percent in over four years, greatly enhancing the reputation of our Qingxu Sect''s Alchemists," Shen Jian praised Wang Hong''s performance at Qingxu Tower.


    "Senior Brother Shen, you''re too kind. I''ve just been doing my part," Wang Hong replied, sensing that Shen Jian had something in mind.


    "This time, Junior Brother Wang, I have news for you. Your training mission cane to an end soon. In a few days, a recement Alchemist from our sect will arrive. You can start preparing to return to our sect," Shen Jian announced, confirming Wang Hong''s suspicions.


    "Ah, that''s great news! Thank you, Senior Brother Shen, for taking care of me all these years. Please ept this small token of my appreciation." Wang Hong took out a porcin bottle containing ten Nourishing Essence Pills and handed it to Shen Jian.


    Shen Jian politely epted it and said, "Junior Brother Wang, if you encounter any difficulties after you leave, feel free to ask for help. As long as it''s within my capabilities, I will do my best to assist you."


    "Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother. I don''t have any personal issues, but I hope you can look after the Pill store I opened when I leave Boundary City," Wang Hong exined.Though the store wasn''t making much profit at the moment due to high procurement costs, he nned to continue running it. In the future, with the growth of Liu Changsheng''s immortal way tradingpany, it would expand to other cities, and Boundary City could serve as the first step in their expansion.


    "I see, you can rest assured. If anythinges up, I will take care of it. By the way, are your subordinates from the Foundation Building stage staying or leaving?" Shen Jian admired Wang Hong for establishing such a significant industry at a young age and attracting powerful subordinates in Boundary City.


    "I will return alone, and they will stay here to manage the store''s daily operations."


    "Since they will be here, you can rest assured. There aren''t many forces in Boundary City that can rival them."


    Whenever there was a battle against Demonic Beasts, all cultivators in Boundary City had a duty to participate. Wang Hong''s subordinates were no exception and had participated in several battles, demonstrating impressive performance.


    In one particr battle against a Beast Tide, led by Wen Lan and eight others, they engaged in closebat with Demonic Beasts and killed an opposing Demon Beast.


    As a result, this nine-member squad gained fame in Boundary City and became a symbol of Wang Hong''s Pill store. After that incident, no one dared to cause trouble at his store.


    After bidding farewell to Shen Jian, Wang Hong returned to his store on East Street.


    Due to Wang Hong and his subordinates'' growing influence, Yin Ze received more resources from suppliers each month. With more Spiritual Objects in stock, the business in the store naturally improved.


    "East Master, you''re back!" Yin Ze greeted Wang Hong.


    In the past two years, with the abundant resources supplied by Wang Hong, Yin Ze had also achieved Qi Cultivation Grand Completion in his cultivation.


    His performance over the past few years had satisfied Wang Hong, though it remained uncertain whether Yin Ze''s loyalty could match that of Zhang Chunfeng and others.


    However, Yin Ze was diligent and managed the store efficiently, keeping things well-organized. At least in terms of work, he was doing well.


    "Well, I came to check on things and discuss something with you," Wang Hong said as he headed straight for a secret chamber, with Yin Ze following closely.


    "In a few days, I''ll be returning to the sect, so I''m entrusting everything here to you. Also, your cultivation level is still a bit low. Here are a few Foundation Establishment Pills for you. Use them to cultivate and set aside other matters for now." Wang Hong handed Yin Ze a bottle containing three Foundation Establishment Pills. With Yin Ze having three Spiritual Roots, usually, one pill would suffice.


    "Thank you, East Master!" Yin Ze epted the pills and bowed deeply.


    Originally, he had intended to follow Wang Hong to repay his life-saving favor. However, following Wang Hong, he had received even more benefits than he had ever imagined during his time as a loose cultivator.


    For example, Foundation Establishment Pills were something many loose cultivators would strive for their entire lives and risk their lives to obtain. This was something he had never dared to dream of before.


    In this store, apart from the recruited shop assistants, there were only two Qi Cultivation stage cultivators¡ªhimself as the store manager and Ling Shuai''s daughter, Ling Xue.


    Being on the same level as a three-year-old girl made him feel somewhat inferior. At this moment, he was so excited that even his body, which was prostrated on the ground, was trembling slightly.


    Wang Hong helped him up, patted his shoulder, and said, "After I leave, many things here will depend on you. Having a sufficient cultivation level is essential. People like Wen Lan will be responsible for the store''s security, but you will still be in charge of its management."


    After Wang Hong gave Yin Ze some additional instructions, he went upstairs to find Ling Shuai.


    His rtionship with Ling Shuai could be described as employment or cooperation. He helped Ling Xue refine her body with Spirit Meals and Spirit Nectar, and in return, Ling Shuai helped him oversee the store.


    Now, after more than three years, Ling Xue had mostly recovered. Even if they hired another Spirit Meal Alchemist, they could still help Ling Xue with her recovery.


    Therefore, before Wang Hong left, he came to discuss Ling Shuai''s ns for the future.


    "Uncle Wang!" Upon seeing Wang Hong, Ling Xue, with her big bright eyes, greeted him with a smile.


    "Ah, little Ling Xue!" Wang Hong walked to the door, pinched Ling Xue''s petite, snow-white face, and then handed her a box of candied fruits made from Spirit Honey and spirit fruits.


    Ling Xue thanked him with a crisp voice, then extended her little hand, grabbed Wang Hong, and pulled him inside.


    "Daddy! Uncle Wang is here!" Ling Xue, holding Wang Hong''s hand, called out loudly.


    Ling Shuai had known that Wang Hong wasing. If it had been a stranger, he wouldn''t have allowed anyone near Ling Xue so easily.


    "Friend Wang, please have a seat. Ling Xue, go y on your own and don''t bother Uncle Wang," Ling Shuai said.


    Ling Xue made a funny face at her father, then left Wang Hong''s side somewhat reluctantly, holding the box of candied fruits.


    Wang Hong released Little Peng from his Spirit Beast pouch and let it go y with the little girl. Wang Hong noticed that their rtionship, between the human and the bird, seemed quite good. They often yed together, perhaps because their intelligence levels were somewhat simr.


    "Ling Friend, I just received a notice. My training mission will be over in a few days, and I need to return to the sect. I came here to ask about your ns for the future. Would you like to apany me to live in Azure Void City?"


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 248: Road to Calamity

    Chapter 248: Road to Cmity


    Ling Shuai made this decision because he had carefully considered his options.


    Although leaving Wang Hong now wouldn''t put Ling Xue in any danger, he could find another Spirit Meal Master and Alchemist elsewhere. However, finding someone with both skills and expertise like Wang Hong would be a challenge. Ling Shuai wouldn''t risk his precious daughter''s safety by experimenting with someone new, so he decided to stick with Wang Hong for a more secure path.


    "Ling Daoist Friend, in Azure Void City, I have two establishments. How about you join one of my stores?" Wang Hong suggested. After coborating for so long, having Ling Shuai oversee one of his stores in Azure Void City and potentially attracting another Foundation Building expert would be beneficial.


    "As long as Wang Daoist Friend doesn''t mind, that would be the best option," Ling Shuai replied, realizing that Wang Hong had more assets than he initially thought.


    Ling Shuai was more than willing to ept this arrangement. It would provide him with a stable ie and, most importantly, create a safe environment for Ling Xue to grow up in. Guarding a shop was a rtively secure upationpared to their previous life of constant danger and battles.


    So, Ling Shuai readily agreed. After bidding farewell to Wang Hong, he informed Wen Lan of the decision and left.


    Ten dayster, a group of ten cultivators departed from Boundary City and headed toward the East Zhou Cultivation Realm.


    Since Jin''an City had fallen, their journey required them to traverse an area upied by Demonic Beasts. As a result, most of the cultivators opted to travel in groups for safety.


    Wang Hong was part of this group of ten, with two of them belonging to Qingxu Sect as disciples, while the remaining eight consisted of sect disciples and loose cultivators.Wang Hong had known the two Qingxu Sect disciples for several years in Boundary City, although they weren''t particrly close. Among the other eight, a few were familiar with Wang Hong because they had either requested pills from him or heard about his reputation.


    As they ventured through the Demonic Beast-infested region, several cultivators enthusiastically helped Wang Hong eliminate Demonic Beasts. They were more than willing to establish a friendly rtionship with a second-tier Alchemist.


    Consequently, Wang Hong hardly had to lift a finger during their journey through the Demonic Beast territory.


    Once they sessfully passed through this dangerous area, they were almost back in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm.


    "Wang Daoist Friend, we will part ways in another thirty to forty miles. If you ever need anything in the future, just send word," a jovial loose cultivator said.


    "I''ll be leaving in fifty miles as well. Wang Daoist Friend, it was a pleasure meeting you. If you ever require assistance, don''t hesitate to ask," another cultivator added.


    Throughout the journey, several cultivators engaged in friendly conversations with Wang Hong, forging connections.


    Suddenly, above their heads, a long streak of light shot across the sky. It resembled a shooting star, radiating a sandy yellow glow and swiftly passing overhead.


    Seeing this type of flight, the group recognized it as a Golden Core cultivator''s transportation technique¡ªan entity they dared not offend. Everyone became cautious, and their breathing slowed.


    Just as the streak of light was about to disappear from their sight, it unexpectedly halted and, after a few breaths, turned back. It returned to the front of the group and came to a stop once more.


    The streak of light dissipated, revealing the figure within.


    The stranger was d in a python-patterned robe, tall and slender, and wore a mask that concealed their face.


    "Heh heh! You must be Wang Hong, right?" the man in the python robe pointed at Wang Hong and asked.


    "That''s correct, may I know what brings you here, senior?" Wang Hong took a few steps forward and respectfully inquired.


    "Well, I heard you came across some Jade Marrow Mushrooms. How about you show them to me for appraisal?" The man in the python robe chuckled, but his gaze remained chilling, sending shivers down Wang Hong''s spine.


    Wang Hong knew that, facing a Golden Core cultivator, his modest strength was utterly insufficient.


    The other nine Foundation Building cultivators discreetly moved back, maintaining a certain distance from Wang Hong. They didn''t want to risk getting involved in this situation, preferring to keep a low profile. Offending a Golden Core senior could lead to dire consequences.


    Reluctantly, Wang Hong retrieved a flowerpot from his storage bag. Inside it, a vibrant Jade Marrow Mushroom was flourishing.


    Before Wang Hong could react, the man in the python robe used his Spiritual Power to take the flowerpot from him.


    "Indeed, it''s only around five hundred years old," the Golden Core cultivator remarked. He had heard about the Jade Marrow Mushroom when he was in Boundary City. Whether there were older specimens or not, he wanted to examine it personally.


    Back in Boundary City, with over a dozen Golden Core cultivators around, he couldn''t act openly. In this stroke of luck, he encountered this group on his way back from an errand and realized that Wang Hong was among them.


    The man in the python robe carefully examined the flowerpot before casually stashing it into his own Storage Bag.


    Though it was only a five-hundred-year-old Jade Marrow Mushroom, in the hands of a Golden Core cultivator, it held some value. Moreover, it was already well-cultivated, and with a few hundred more years, it could be a healing treasure.


    After securing the Jade Marrow Mushroom, the Golden Core cultivator extended his hand towards Wang Hong, who suddenly felt a tremendous force. Before he could react, his own Storage Bag hanging from his waist flew out andnded in the man''s hand.


    The Golden Core cultivator thoroughly searched Wang Hong''s Storage Bag but found no trace of the eight-hundred-year-old Jade Marrow Mushroom he desired. He concluded that Wang Hong didn''t possess it, as he knew that Wang Hong hade from Boundary City and would have carried valuable items if he had them.


    The man in the python robe seemed somewhat disappointed as he collected Wang Hong''s Storage Bag. Then, he reached out to the others and collected their Storage Bags as well.


    Since he had alreadymitted to this robbery while concealing his identity, he decided to go all the way. Although it was somewhat embarrassing for a Golden Core cultivator to rob younger Foundation Building cultivators, he maintained his anonymity.


    The Foundation Building cultivators, now stripped of their entire wealth, felt deeply disheartened. They hung their heads low and suppressed their dissatisfaction, not daring to show even a hint of resentment.


    This Golden Core cultivator, despite resorting to robbery, refrained from taking lives. After collecting all the Storage Bags, he transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the horizon.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 249: Return to the Sect

    Chapter 249: Return to the Sect


    After the Golden Core cultivator of the Robbery Dao had departed, the group of ten people resumed their journey, but the atmosphere was no longer as cheerful as before.


    They walked with their heads hanging low, looking dejected like dogs that had lost their home. Ten people silently trudged forward, and the only sound was the rustling of leaves under their feet.


    Their Spiritual Weapons had been stolen, leaving them unable to fly with their tools. Now, they had to measure the distance in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm by walking on the ground.


    Wang Hong walked quietly with the group, but his heart was in turmoil, far from calm.


    For him, the loss of material possessions was inconsequential. Although his Storage Bag contained many valuables, he had ced all his important items in his personal Space. Whenever he took something from his Storage Bag, it was just for show.


    The Golden Core cultivator who had attacked them had probably just passed by and decided to rob them on a whim. He hadn''t thoroughly investigated Wang Hong and the others. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have left Wang Hong''s main Spiritual Weapon in the Storage Bag, raising suspicions.


    Also, he had left Wang Hong''s Spirit Beast pouch on his waist, probably considering it worthless. A Foundation Building cultivator''s Spirit Beast wouldn''t be of much value to him. Once a Spirit Beast had recognized a master, it couldn''t be re-recognized, so the robber couldn''t make much use of it unless he killed it for meat.


    Feeling powerless, depending on the mercy of others for life and death, was a terrible feeling.


    In the Cultivation World, higher-tier cultivators often robbed lower-tier ones. After all, where did the wealth of high-tier cultivatorse from if not from such actions? Wang Hong had worked hard to earn Spirit Stones and resources, but in the end, robbing was quicker.However, it was typically lower-level cultivators robbing those just a few minor realms lower than them. Robbing a Foundation Building cultivator like this, with a difference of an entire major realm, was akin to adults snatching candy from a child and was generally frowned upon.


    Wang Hong had been fortunate not to encounter bandit cultivators until now, but unexpectedly, he had run into them for the first time on this trip.


    After walking for several dozen miles, the group split up and went their separate ways, with no more pleasantries exchanged.


    Only two fellow disciples from Qingxu Sect remained on the same path as Wang Hong.


    At this point, Wang Hong released Little Peng from his Spirit Beast pouch.


    "Senior brothers, the journey back to Qingxu Sect is still far. How about I give you both a ride?" Little Peng now had a wingspan of fifteen feet and a broad back, so carrying three people was not a problem.


    "That would be wonderful, Senior Brother Wang. Thank you!" Hearing Wang Hong''s offer, the two disciples expressed their gratitude.


    The distance from here to Qingxu Sect would take over ten days even if they could fly with their tools as usual. Walking on foot, they had no idea how long it would take. When they heard Wang Hong''s invitation, they were naturally grateful.


    The three of them sat on Little Peng''s back, and although Little Peng was initially reluctant, Wang Hong promised some rewards, and Little Peng reluctantly agreed.


    Before leaving, Wang Hong took off one of his boots and retrieved two Talismans from inside. He spoke a few words to the Talismans and activated them, causing them to fly away.


    His boots were also of Magical Weapon quality and could conceal some fluctuations in Spiritual Energy. Although they weren''t very far from Boundary City, better-tier Message Transmission Talismans could still work.


    The two Talismans he sent were for Wen Lan and Ling Shuai, asking them to inquire about the recent departures of Golden Core cultivators from the city. After all, Boundary City only had about a dozen Golden Core cultivators in total, so it shouldn''t be too difficult to find out.


    Ling Shuai had some personal matters to attend to and wouldn''t be heading to Azure Void City with Ling Xue for another month.


    Little Peng''s flying speed was slightly faster than using amon low-tier Spiritual Weapon for flight.


    After more than ten days, the three of them and the bird finally returned to Qingxu Sect.


    After bidding farewell to the two fellow disciples, Wang Hong made his way to his cave mansion on Kaiyang Peak.


    As soon as he opened the cave mansion''s protective formation, Chen Nian hurriedly arrived to pay his respects.


    "Greetings, Senior Uncle Wang. Wee back to the sect!"Wang Hong briefly surveyed his cave mansion, which epassed more than forty acres of spirit fields. Out of these, all forty acres were filled with Spirit Grain mutated by his Spatial abilities.


    The Spirit Grain fields were lush, already standing at about one zhang (3.3 feet) tall and beginning to form grain heads.


    The remaining several acres of spirit fields were mostly dedicated to cultivating various spirit fruits and Spiritual Herbs, with a focus on spirit fruits.


    "Not bad, you''ve done a great job over the years," Wang Hong nodded in satisfaction. He was quite pleased with the current state of his cave mansion, well-managed by Chen Nian.


    When Wang Hong had left, he had pre-paid Chen Nian for about three years'' worth ofpensation. Relying on the Condensing Qi Pills provided by Wang Hong, Chen Nian had progressed to the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation.


    With his hands behind his back, Wang Hong strolled through the cave mansion, while Chen Nian followed carefully, fearing Wang Hong might find something to reprimand him for.


    "You can go rest for now; I''ll find youter," Wang Hong said, feeling content with how Chen Nian had managed things. He had no intention of nitpicking.


    It had been a few years since he returned home, and even if he saw some weeds in his cave mansion, he found it pleasant andforting.


    Unaware of Chen Nian''s anxieties, Wang Hong leisurely walked through a field of Three Yang Melon Seeds. The golden flowers of the Three Yang Melon Seeds were facing the sun.


    Next to the Three Yang Melon Seeds field was a spirit fruit orchard. After wandering through the melon seeds field, he entered the spirit fruit orchard with a cheerful mood.


    The twenty Spirit Jujube Trees he had nted earlier had not been harvested for years. They were nowden with Spirit Jujubes the size of chicken eggs, all a vibrant red.


    He lightly jumped up and sat on a tree branch, picking a ripe, red Spirit Jujube that dangled overhead.


    "Crunch! Crunch!"


    He began to eat it right there, and he couldn''t help but think that even a low-tier spirit fruit tasted better in his own home than anywhere else.


    After having some fun, Wang Hong returned to the main hall and summoned Chen Nian.


    "Senior Uncle, here are one thousand catties of Three Yang Melon Seeds. They matured two years ago, and I''ve harvested them all here. Seeing thend lying idle afterward, I took the liberty of renting them. Please forgive me, Senior Uncle."


    Chen Nian took out severalrge sacks and ced them in the hall, each filled with Three Yang Melon Seeds.


    Three Yang Melon Seeds mature every three years and, when roasted, make for excellent spiritual food. Like Spirit Tea, many cultivators used them to entertain guests.


    "Well done, you handled this matter excellently. Over the years, you''ve taken good care of the cave mansion, and I''m very satisfied. Here, I have five hundred Condensing Qi Pills topensate you for the past two years. The surplus can be considered as a reward."


    Wang Hong retrieved several pill bottles, held them up with Spiritual Power, and presented them to Chen Nian.


    He had promised to provide Chen Nian with ten Condensing Qi Pills every month aspensation. Since he had owed Chen Nian for approximately two years, he naturally had to give a little extra as a Foundation Building cultivator repaying his sect''s junior.


    "Thank you, Senior Uncle Wang!" Chen Nian epted the pills, overjoyed. Finally, he could rest easy, as there were not only no reprimands but also rewards.


    With these pills, he should be able to reach the peak of Qi Cultivation soon.


    "Alright, you may go now," Wang Hong dismissed him.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 250: Taking a Master

    Chapter 250: Taking a Master


    After returning to the Qingxu Sect, Wang Hong mingled with the fellow cultivators he knew. Then, he went to collect the Spirit Stones he was owed for the past few years. He received only two thousand Spirit Stones per year.


    In addition to that, he had umted some Spirit Stones as rewards forpleting various cultivation tasks over the years, totaling around twenty thousand Spirit Stones. He also earned five thousand contribution points.


    As Wang Hong was about to return to his cave mansion after receiving the Spirit Stones, he received a Transmission Talisman. Upon checking it, he was surprised to find that it was from Gu Qingyang, instructing him to visit his cave mansion.


    Wang Hong found it peculiar because Gu Qingyang had never actively sought him out after taking him as a disciple. He wondered what important matter could have prompted Gu Qingyang to contact him now.


    Wang Hong straightened his robes and made his way towards the peak. Although he had been living on Kaiyang Peak for several years, he had never visited the summit. The entire summit was filled with cave mansions belonging to Golden Core Elders. He couldn''t afford to offend anyone there.


    As Wang Hong ascended the mountain, the Spirit Qi became denser. When he reached the summit, even with his mediocre aptitude, he could feel his cultivation level improving with just a slight effort.


    Soon, he found Gu Qingyang''s cave mansion, which was covered by a protective formation. From the outside, a thin mist obscured the view, making it impossible to see what was inside.


    Wang Hong didn''t dare to enter recklessly. He had no idea what dangers might be lurking inside a Golden Core cultivator''s cave mansion, and he didn''t want to meet an unfortunate end.


    He sent a Transmission Talisman inside, and after a brief moment, the mist surrounding the cave mansion began to churn, revealing a passage that extended all the way to Wang Hong''s feet.A young man who appeared to be around eighteen or neen years old, with only Qi Cultivation level, emerged from the passage with a cheerful smile on his face.


    "Are you Senior Brother Wang?" he asked. Without waiting for Wang Hong''s response, he walked over and grabbed Wang Hong''s sleeve, ready to lead him inside.


    Judging by his tone, Wang Hong deduced that he must be Gu Qingyang''s son. So, he followed the young man inside.


    This young man had a lively and outgoing personality, and he enjoyed chatting. He smiled frequently, revealing two prominent canine teeth.


    As they conversed, Wang Hong learned that the young man''s name was Gu Wei, and he was Gu Qingyang''s only child.


    During their journey, Gu Wei constantly asked Wang Hong about various topics. When he learned that Wang Hong had just returned from the Boundary Mountain Range, he disyed a great interest in the region and inquired about it repeatedly. He expressed his ambition to venture to the Boundary Mountain Range himself in the future, hunt Demonic Beasts, and eradicate evil spirits to uphold the honor of the human race.


    Wang Hong didn''t argue with his youthful aspirations. He was aware that Gu Wei was currently sheltered under his parents'' wings and had yet to experience the hardships of the Cultivation World. Once he ventured out on his own, he would likely have a different perspective.


    Gu Wei was quite talkative, and whenever Wang Hong inquired about something, he would provide detailed andprehensive answers.


    Before long, Wang Hong learned that Gu Qingyang had four personal disciples in total. Only one female disciple lived with Gu Qingyang on Kaiyang Peak, who, ording to Gu Wei, was the daughter of one of Gu Qingyang''s old friends. After the friend''s death, he entrusted his daughter to Gu Qingyang, who then epted her as a disciple.


    The other three personal disciples each had their own cave mansions and would visit Gu Qingyang periodically.


    As Wang Hong chatted with Gu Wei, he couldn''t help but marvel at the scenery within the cave mansion. Upon entering the cave mansion belonging to a Golden Core cultivator, Wang Hong immediately noticed that the concentration of Spirit Qi inside was significantly higher than outside. He felt that if he were to cultivate in such an environment, even without the assistance of pills, he could reach the pinnacle of Qi Cultivation.


    The cave mansion was vast, with small mountains, a Spirit Spring, and spirit fields where various Spiritual Herbs were cultivated.


    As Wang Hong marveled at everything inside the cave mansion, Gu Wei seemed nonchnt. He had grown up here and had be ustomed to it. To him, all of this had lost its novelty. Gu Wei longed for the outside world, yearning to venture out into the Cultivation World, make a name for himself, and establish his own legacy.


    After walking for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, they reached a grand hall ahead. Gu Wei led Wang Hong into one of the chambers, where Gu Qingyang was seated at the head, apanied by a young-looking female cultivator who appeared to be in her twenties.


    Rows of empty chairs were arranged below them, with no one upying them at the moment.


    "Dad! Mom! I''ve brought Senior Brother Wang here!" Gu Wei eximed loudly as soon as they entered the hall, then found a chair to sit in.


    It was only at this moment that Wang Hong realized the young-looking female cultivator was actually his master''s wife. He couldn''t help but think, "That Resplendent Visage Elixir is truly deceiving." Due to the effects of the elixir, many elderly women appeared as young as girls. How could male cultivators handle such temptations?


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays respects to Master and Mistress!" Wang Hong said, finally putting aside his distracting thoughts and bowing respectfully while presenting his gift.


    As a disciple visiting his master''s home for the first time, it was customary to bring a gift. Wang Hong had prepared two bottles of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, which might not be particrly valuable to a Golden Core cultivator but were still rare and useful items.


    "No need for excessive courtesy," Gu Qingyang said, epting the wooden box. He continued, "I''ve called you here to inform you of something. After a thorough evaluation of your character, I''ve decided to take you as my personal disciple."


    When Gu Qingyang had first epted Wang Hong as a Named Disciple, he had mentioned the possibility of evaluating Wang Hong''s character and giving him a chance. At that time, Wang Hong hadn''t been very hopeful, and he was also hesitant about taking on a master. Now, Gu Qingyang''s decision came as a surprise.


    Wang Hong realized that the decision might not be solely based on his character. If he hadn''t reached the Foundation Building stage or be a second-tier Alchemist, Gu Qingyang wouldn''t have epted him as a personal disciple, even if his character were impable.


    "Disciple Wang Hong kowtows to Master!" Wang Hong promptly bowed, acknowledging Gu Qingyang''s decision. He understood that it was not something he could refuse. Having an official master would be beneficial, especially when he had questions about cultivation.


    Moreover, he had used Gu Qingyang''s name to assert his authority outside before, but now he could truly represent his master.


    "Wei''er, go and summon your Fourth Senior Sister to introduce her to your Martial Brother," Gu Qingyang instructed.


    Gu Wei reluctantly got up from his seat, his earlier enthusiasm now gone. He grumbled, "Dad, why not just send a Transmission Talisman? Why do I have to go there in person?"


    Gu Qingyang''s face darkened, ready to reprimand him, but the girl who appeared as young as a teenager tugged gently at his sleeve, preventing him from doing so.


    "Wei''er, your Fourth Senior Sister lost both of her parents at a young age, and her temperament has be somewhat cold. You should spend more time with her and talk to her," the woman advised Gu Wei gently.


    "I''ll go, then. She always ignores me and is so aloof," Gu Wei said reluctantly as he made his way out.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 251: Ji Chen

    Chapter 251: Ji Chen


    After Gu Wei left, Wang Hong and Gu Qingyang performed the formal ceremony of bing master and disciple.


    "Wang Hong!"


    "Your disciple is here!"


    "Now that you have joined my sect, you must abide by our rules. There are twelve major rules in our sect, and every disciple must remember them by heart and never vite them!"


    Then, Gu Qingyang, with a serious face, began to recite the sect rules: "First, never betray or disrespect your master. Vitors will be executed. Second, do not harm your fellow disciples. Those who do will be expelled from the sect or have their cultivation level abolished.


    Third¡­"


    Gu Qingyang sternly finished all twelve rules.


    "Have you memorized all these twelve rules?"


    "Your disciple hasmitted them to memory and will never dare to vite them!"


    After reciting the rules, Gu Qingyang''s expression softened slightly, and he said:


    "Well, the punishments mentioned are only for those who vite the sect rules. Now that you have joined my sect, if you have any doubts or questions in your cultivation, you cane to me for guidance. I also have a Spiritual Weapon that I no longer use, and I will bestow it upon you."


    Gu Qingyang took out a silver shuttle-shaped object several inches long, held it up with Spiritual Power, and handed it to Wang Hong, who hurriedly received it.


    "Thank you, Master, for your generous gift!"


    "This is a mid-grade flying Spiritual Weapon, named Silverlight Shuttle. It''s main feature is its speed, with no other special effects."


    Gu Qingyang exined that generally, Spiritual Weapons designed for flying are faster than those for other purposes. However, how much faster, as Gu Qingyang mentioned, was unknown.


    "Also, I have some personal businesses that need to be managed by you and your fellow disciples in turns. Currently, your second senior brother is in charge, and it will be your turn in the future."


    After offering benefits, Gu Qingyang also assigned him duties, implying there are no benefits without obligations in this world.


    While Gu Qingyang and Wang Hong were talking, a beautiful figure walked in from outside, followed by Gu Wei.


    This female cultivator had a graceful figure, with skin like snow and delicate features.


    Despite her beauty, her expression was cold and detached, as if everyone owed her tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. It was unclear if this was her natural disposition or the result of some past trauma. No wonder the enthusiastic and lively Gu Wei was reluctant to meet her.


    Upon entering the hall, the female cultivator managed a forced and stiff smile.


    "Disciple Ji Chen greets Master and Mistress!"


    Her smile seemed forced, and her voice retained a cold tone.


    "Ji Chen, it''s been so many years, why so formal?" the Mistress, who looked like a young girl, said with a beaming smile.


    "Ji Chen, this is my newly epted disciple. From now on, you, as fellow disciples, should take care of each other," Gu Qingyang introduced.


    "Wang Hong greets senior sister. I hope for your guidance in the future!" Wang Hong stepped forward and greeted her.


    "Hmm."


    Ji Chen nced coldly at Wang Hong, gave a slight nod, and then there was no further interaction.


    Although the situation was a bit awkward, Wang Hong had at least made the acquaintance of his fellow disciple and senior sister.


    Wang Hong listened intently as Gu Qingyang gave a few more instructions, and he took the opportunity to ask some questions about his cultivation practice.


    Gu Qingyang answered each question in detail, exining issues rted to the Foundation Building stage from the perspective of a Golden Core cultivator, makingplex concepts simple and easy to understand.


    Having his long-held doubts resolved, Wang Hong felt enlightened and invigorated, his spirit uplifted.


    During this Q&A session between master and disciple, the seemingly young Mistress watched Gu Qingyang with a smile and starry eyes.


    Meanwhile, Gu Wei looked around boredly, examining everything from a tiny crack in the floor tile to an insect on a tree outside.


    Ji Chen, throughout this time, remained as still as a statue, not even moving a finger.


    After getting his questions answered, Wang Hong took his leave.


    Gu Wei escorted him out again, reverting to his lively demeanor on the way.


    "Brother Wang... I should call you Fifth Brother now, right? Fifth Brother, can you take me with you on your future adventures?" Gu Wei asked eagerly.


    Seeing his hopeful expression, Wang Hong couldn''t bring himself to refuse outright and said, "If there''s a suitable mission and if Master agrees, I''ll consider it."


    "Really? That''s great!"


    Gu Wei didn''t realize Wang Hong was just being polite. But soon after, he frowned and said, "My father will never agree. He never lets me leave home, always saying that the Cultivation World is treacherous and full of dangers, and I must reach the Foundation Building stage before I can venture out. I think my father is overthinking it. I''ve been friendly with our fellow sect members for seventeen years, and many senior brothers give me gifts when they see me. People outside should be Immortal Cultivators too, so they can''t be that bad, right?"


    Hearing this, Wang Hong thought to himself, "If I had a Golden Core period father, everyone would be nice to me too, and all the low-tier cultivators in the Qingxu Sect would be my friends."


    However, as a senior brother, he felt obliged to warn Gu Wei, "The outside world is different from the Sect. Some cultivators lurk on main roads to rob and kill."


    Hearing this, Gu Wei indignantly said, "There are such despicable people in the Cultivation World? When I leave the Sect, I will kill these bandits to bring peace."


    Wang Hong realized his words had little effect; without personal experience, one can never truly understand.


    They quickly reached the cave mansion''s exit.


    "Fifth Brother, remember toe and visit me when you''re free. It''s so boring staying inside all the time."


    Gu Wei waved goodbye to Wang Hong.


    "Sure, I''ll visit when I have time."


    Back in his cave mansion, Wang Hong couldn''t wait to go to the Cultivation Room to try out the flying shuttle given by his master to see how fast it was. A gift from a Golden Core Elder should be impressive.


    In the Cultivation Room, Wang Hong took out the silver shuttle. It was streamlined, five inches long, and shone brightly.


    He slowly infused it with Spiritual Power, and the Silverlight Shuttle gradually erged to ten feet long and floated in the air.


    Wang Hong leaped onto the shuttle, standing steadily, and then infused it with more Spiritual Power.


    With a "whoosh," the shuttle shot forward several meters before Wang Hong could react, startling him.


    Luckily, his Cultivation Room wasrge enough to prevent a collision with the wall.


    After flying around the room for a while, Wang Hong became proficient in controlling the shuttle.


    To fully utilize the Spiritual Weapon''s power, he needed to bond and refine it.


    Shrinking the shuttle back to palm size, he held it, feeling attached.


    So, this was the speed considered ''fast'' by a Golden Core cultivator.


    He spent two days refining the Silverlight Shuttle, and when he used it again, it was even faster and responded to his will as naturally as moving a limb.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 252: Gao Family

    Chapter 252: Gao Family


    Wang Hong had been resting at the Qingxu Sect for several days before he left for Azure Void City.


    It had been nearly five years since hisst visit, and he was eager to see how the two powers he had established in Azure Void City had developed.


    Wang Hong wandered leisurely through Azure Void City, walking and observing along the way, asionally buying some street snacks to eat as he strolled.


    Although these snacks couldn''tpare to the Spirit Meals he made himself, each had its unique appeal, and there was a certain mood in such casual eating.


    As he meandered to Zhao''s Pill Shop, he noticed a crowd gathered outside the Elixir Pavillion, pointing and discussing animatedly.


    Wang Hong tossed the duck tongue he was eating onto the ground and made his way into the crowd.


    "Excuse me! What''s the..."


    A burly onlooker was about to react angrily but swallowed his words upon realizing Wang Hong was a Foundation Building cultivator.


    Wang Hong, uninterested in the man, pushed his way to the front of the crowd.At the entrance of Zhao''s Pill Shop sat a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator, nked by fourte-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators. The seated cultivator emitted a constant, powerful Foundation-Building Pressure, deterring anyone from approaching.


    While fighting was prohibited in Azure Void City, there were no rules against exerting one''s pressure or sitting outside someone''s shop.


    Wang Hong moved out of the crowd and approached the shop. As he was about to pass the Foundation Building cultivator, thetter gave Wang Hong a cold look.


    "Fellow Daoist, are you nning to cross paths with my Gao Family?"


    Wang Hong nced sideways at him and said slowly, "What Gao Family? Never heard of it."


    He then turned to the onlookers and asked, "Has anyone here heard of a Gao Family in Azure Void City?"


    The crowd remained silent, not wanting to get involved, even though many knew of them.


    "See! So many people here, and not one has heard of this Gao Family. Obscure families shouldn''t be unting themselves."


    "You''re seeking death! I challenge you!" the Foundation Building cultivator, enraged, challenged Wang Hong.


    At this moment, Zhao Ning, hearing Wang Hong''s voice, came out from the shop. Seeing Wang Hong about to ept, he tugged at Wang Hong''s sleeve.


    Understanding Zhao Ning''s gesture, Wang Hong said to the cultivator, "Who are you to challenge me? Guard the door well, and maybe you''ll be rewarded with a bone."


    Saying this, Wang Hong turned and walked inside.


    Wang Hong''s remarks caused a burst ofughter among the onlookers. They would have enjoyed a street fight even more.


    The Foundation Building cultivator at the door was furious.


    With a loud "bang!", the chair under him shattered.


    "How stinky! Unbearably stinky!"


    Wang Hong, just stepping inside, heard the noise and covered his nose, pretending to be disgusted.


    This scene again causedughter among the onlooking cultivators, which only subsided after a stern look from the Foundation Building cultivator at the door.


    Fuming with rage, the cultivator silently vowed to take revenge on Wang Hong if given the chance.


    After entering the shop, Wang Hong ignored the outsidemotion and went into a secret chamber with Zhao Ning.


    "East Master, we''ve been humiliated and bullied right to our doorstep. Please decide how to handle this."


    After entering the secret chamber, they immediately knelt down.


    "Get up and tell me everything about this matter in detail," Wang Hong said, helping Zhao Ning to his feet.


    "The cause of the issue is this..."


    Zhao Ning narrated the entire sequence of events.


    It turned out that the Gao Family, possessing some influence in Azure Void City, owned several properties there. They had two mid-stage Foundation Building cultivators and four early-stage Foundation Building cultivators, totaling six.


    A year ago, for some reason, they set their sights on Wang Hong''s two shops. They sent a Foundation Building cultivator with a ridiculously low offer to buy shares in the shops and demanded involvement in their management, wanting ess to all internal affairs. This was akin to a robbery, even worse, as they aimed to infiltrate and eventually take over the shops.


    Zhao Ning and Skinny Monkey tly refused their proposal. The Gao Family, undeterred, repeatedly tried to coerce and tempt them unsessfully, then issued a challenge to the shops.


    Knowing the strength of the Gao Family, Wang Hong''s side wasn''t prepared for a battle. However, seeing no response to their challenge, the Gao Family sent people to disrupt the businesses of the two shops.


    Wang Hong''s subordinate, Luo Zhongjie, led a team to retaliate against one of the Gao Family''s shops in the same manner. However, they were outsmarted. Using various means, the Gao Family seriously injured Luo Zhongjie with a copsing shelf and another subordinate was injured by a falling ceiling.


    Eventually, He Yuan epted the challenge. After years of training, he had reached the second level of the Foundation Building realm. But upon entering the arena, he realized his opponent was a fifth-level Foundation Building cultivator. He Yuan was quickly defeated and left severely injured, his possessions taken, and his bones and organs shattered. He was lucky to escape with his life.


    The Ma Brothers, not skilled inbat and naturally timid, were dissuaded from epting the challenge. They were secretly relieved and politely dropped the matter.


    The Gao Family continued to send Foundation Building cultivators to sit outside the shops, disrupting normal business operations. They also tried to negotiate separately with Zhao Ning and Skinny Monkey, hoping for apromise.


    They thought about contacting Zhang Chunfeng for help. However, after discussing, they concluded that since Zhang Chunfeng was only at the early stage of Foundation Building, he wouldn''t be much help and might end up injured. Thus, they didn''t inform Zhang Chunfeng.


    Wang Hong hadn''t expected that within five years of his absence, someone would start targeting his properties. He was unsure if it was solely for the businesses or for other reasons. But this time, he had to retaliate, not just for self-preservation, but also to deter others from targeting him again.


    Additionally, the incident highlighted the urgent need to strengthen his subordinates'' capabilities in Azure Void City. After all, a power cannot be sustained by just one or two individuals.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 253: Injury

    Chapter 253: Injury


    As Wang Hong exited the Elixir Pavilion, a Foundation Building cultivator from the Gao Family was standing at the entrance, ring at him fiercely.


    "I give you ten breaths to leave, or bear the consequences yourself!" Wang Hong dered before departing.


    "I want to see what you can do," retorted the Gao Family''s Foundation Building cultivator, who couldn''t just leave and lose face.


    After ten breaths, a buzzing sound emerged, followed by a swarm of ck shadows flying towards Zhao''s Pill Shop. "Spirit Bees! Where did so manye from?"


    "Indeed, who in this area raises Spirit Bees?"


    Arge group of Spirit Bees then attacked Zhao''s Pill Shop, with the five Gao Family cultivators at the entrance bearing the brunt. They each summoned protective barriers, but these Green-tailed Spirit Bees had the ability to prate such defenses, rendering the barriers useless.


    In just a moment, all five were covered in Spirit Bees. The poison of these bees wasn''t fatal for Foundation Building cultivators but caused excruciating pain.


    The five Gao Family cultivators, struggling against the bees, soon attracted the attention of the Azure Void City guards. Fighting was prohibited in Azure Void City, and getting caught by the guards could lead to punishment - a fine in Spirit Stones for minor offenses, or even the loss of cultivation level for severe ones.


    "Stop!" shouted the captain of the guards from afar.The five cultivators ceased their actions immediately, but the Spirit Bees didn''t heed the captain''s orders. The cultivators, in agony, continued to fight off the bees covering them. Seeing the city guards, they rushed towards them, bringing along the swarm.


    "Stop! Don''te closer!" the captain ordered, readying his Spiritual Weapon to block their approach. Without knowing who controlled the Spirit Bees, they couldn''t risk getting bitten.


    "Whose Spirit Bees are these? Recall them immediately!" the captain demanded.


    "They must belong to them," the Gao Family''s Foundation Building cultivator used, pointing at Zhao''s Pill Shop, as several more bees flew into his mouth. His fourpanions, Qi Cultivation cultivators, had already copsed, twitching on the ground.


    "The shop doesn''t own such creatures and we are unaware of their origin," pleaded Zhao''s Pill Shop.


    The captain signaled his men, who inspected Zhao''s Pill Shop thoroughly, finding no evidence linking the Spirit Bees to the shop.


    Unable to identify the bees'' owner, the guards decided to exterminate them. After the guards joined in the effort, the bees were quickly decimated, with the remaining few scattering in all directions.


    With no culprit found, the matter was left unresolved. After the guards left, the Gao Family Foundation Building cultivator summoned additional cultivators to carry away their fallen, fate-unknown Qi Cultivationpanions. Then, with his head covered in bumps, he left with a grimace of pain, forgetting even to leave a harsh word behind.


    After they had all left, Wang Hong emerged from the shadows, wearing his cloak that rendered him invisible. He had returned quietly after initially leaving, as controlling the Spirit Bees required him to be nearby.


    In Azure Void City, where fighting was forbidden, Wang Hong had resorted to this underhanded tactic,cking a better n.


    Wang Hong returned to the shop and instructed Zhao Ning to resume normal business. If the Gao Family sent another challenge, they were to ept it.


    After leaving Zhao''s Pill Shop, Wang Hong visited Skinny Monkey at his Spirit Wine shop. Due to frequent disturbances by the Gao Family, many lower-tier cultivators were scared away, leading to a decline in business.


    Seeing Wang Hong return, Skinny Monkey enthusiastically embraced him, nearly crushing him. Wang Hong, however, with his strong body refining cultivation level, managed to withstand the hug.


    "Let go! Keep your distance! At least three feet!" Wang Hong eximed, pushing Skinny Monkey away and pretending to dust off his robe.


    "You''re in your forties and stillck gravity and dignity," Wang Hong chided.


    "I haven''t seen you in so long, I got a bit excited!" Skinny Monkey replied cheerfully. "And with my physique, I can''t exactly be ''heavy''!"


    Skinny Monkey, like Wang Hong, was a cultivator with four Spiritual Roots and had progressed slowly. Without the pills provided by Wang Hong, he might never have moved beyond the initial stages of Qi Cultivation.


    "Prepare yourself for Foundation Building," Wang Hong advised Skinny Monkey, who had finally reached the peak of Qi Cultivation.


    Regarding the Gao Family, Wang Hong instructed, "If they send another challenge, ept it. If not, send one ourselves. It''s only right to reciprocate."


    Skinny Monkey, trusting Wang Hongpletely, didn''t worry about the oue of any potential conflict.


    After a short chat with Skinny Monkey, Wang Hong left to check on two seriously injured individuals at his residence.


    Upon returning to his residence in Azure Void City, everyone eagerly came out to greet Wang Hong.


    After some casual conversation with his subordinates, Wang Hong went to see the injured He Yuan.


    He Yuan, lying in bed, appeared emaciated, with dry hair, hollow eyes, and a lifelessplexion.


    "You''ve finally returned, East Master. I am useless," He Yuan weakly greeted Wang Hong.


    "No need for formalities. You''ve suffered," Wang Hong replied, sitting beside him. Upon examining He Yuan with his Divine Sense, Wang Hong felt a surge of anger.


    The Gao Family had not killed He Yuan outright, but their methods were cruel, leaving him in a state worse than death. He Yuan''s bones were shattered, meridians broken, and his organs, except his heart, were ruptured. His dantian, the sea of his spiritual power, was also shattered, making it impossible to retain spiritual power.


    Such injuries were beyond the help of ordinary healing pills, effectively rendering He Yuan crippled.


    Wang Hong took out a jade vial from his storage bag, pouring out a snow-white, crystal-clear pill. He Yuan, however, felt hopeless. Despite having taken many second-tier healing pills, there was no improvement.


    He Yuan had faced many ups and downs in his life, but his dedication to the path of cultivation had never wavered. This time, however, he truly felt despair, having tried countless methods to no avail.


    Only a few healing holy medicines could save him, but such natural treasures were highly sought after, even by high-tier cultivators. Who would use such a precious item to save a mere Foundation Building cultivator like him? Crippled and dependent on thest bit of vitality in his body, He Yuan had no means to obtain such spiritual objects.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 254: A Single Move

    Chapter 254: A Single Move


    Wang Hong directly brought the pill to He Yuan''s mouth.


    "Swallow it! Whether it works or not, you''ll only know after you take it."


    He Yuan had no choice but to swallow the pill as instructed.


    This snow-white, crystal-clear pill was refined by him using Jade Marrow Mushrooms over six hundred years old, mixed with some other spiritual herbs.


    This type of pill was also a creation of Wang Hong''s after a long time. The pill''s effects, when spoken of, were somewhat embarrassing; it was even less effective than consuming Jade Marrow Mushrooms directly.


    Since Jade Marrow Mushrooms were so potent, creating a pill that surpassed them was no easy task.


    There were existing pill recipes for mature Jade Marrow Mushrooms, but currently, the mushrooms were not mature, and hecked additional spiritual herbs.


    His main purpose in refining it into a pill was to make it unrecognizable as Jade Marrow Mushroom, to avoid envy from others.


    After taking the pill, He Yuan felt different from the previous healing pills he had taken.Once the pill dissolved in his stomach, a cool flow circted slowly, gradually healing the holes in his intestines.


    Although it was slow, it finally gave him hope.


    He Yuan wondered if Wang Hong had more of these pills; they seemed very precious and probably not in abundance.


    "There are nine more pills in this bottle. After you finish them, I will figure out what to do depending on the situation."


    Wang Hong''s original intention was to adjust the alchemy form based on the recovery, to improve the quality of the pills.


    He Yuan, however, took it as there were only nine pills left, all for him to use. Once finished, Wang Hong would find more of these pills for him.


    He Yuan was so moved that he was on the verge of tears. If only he could move and get out of bed, he would have kowtowed in gratitude.


    "Alright, rest and recuperate. I will avenge you and also find a way to heal your wounds."


    After staying for a while, Wang Hong left; another injured person was waiting for his attention.


    Luo Zhongjie''s injuries were slightly better than He Yuan''s, but his cultivation level was too low, and his recovery ability was not as good as He Yuan''s.


    Wang Hong chatted with He Yuan for a while and left a bottle of Jade Marrow Mushroom pills before departing.


    Two dayster, the Gao Family challenged him again through the Life and Death tform, and Wang Hong decisively epted.


    Now, even if he encountered a powerful Foundation Building daoist in theter stages, he had the ability to protect himself and didn''t have to worry about losing his life.


    Perhaps the Gao Family was arrogant, thinking there were no experts on Wang Hong''s side.


    Or maybe they were afraid to send a mid-stage Foundation Building daoist, as it might intimidate the other side.


    In any case, the daoist sent by the Gao Family for the challenge was only at the third level of Foundation Building.


    The next day, the area under the Life and Death tform was packed with spectators. A life-and-death battle between Foundation Building daoists was not amon sight.


    Even before the main characters appeared on stage, the audience below was already buzzing with discussion.


    Especially some daoists who considered themselves well-informed were actively spreading what they knew or imagined.


    A daoist with a ruddy nose, short and chubby, with a greasy face, was currently bragging to a young man about his knowledge.


    "The Gao Family''s participant this time is Gao Ru. Although Gao Ru is only at the third level of Foundation Building, he is an old and strong fighter. It''s said that he has been in the Foundation Building stage for over fifty years."


    "Ah, over fifty years, and still only at the third level of Foundation Building?"


    The young man listening intently eximed in surprise.


    "Gao Ru reached the third level of Foundation Building twenty years ago, then hit a bottleneck. For thirty years, he has been unable to break through."


    The short, chubby daoist also felt sorry for Gao Ru.


    "Once a daoist encounters a bottleneck, no matter how much they cultivate, they cannot progress. Some people spend years, slowly enduring and can break through. Others might need decades, a hundred years, or might never break through in their lifetime.


    It''s said that Gao Ru wants to use this life-and-death battle to try and break through his current bottleneck."


    The short, chubby daoist seemed to know quite a lot.


    "Isn''t a bottleneck something that a small Breakthrough Realm Pill can solve?" asked the young man.


    The chubby daoist nced at the young man and said:


    "You must be new to Foundation Building. These small Breakthrough Realm Pills are not so easy toe by. Even if one asionally bes avable, it gets priced sky-high, and ordinary people can''t afford it."


    "Oh, I see, thank you for the lesson!" the young man said, bowing in gratitude.


    "It''s just unfortunate for Gao Ru''s opponent."


    The chubby daoist sighed when he saw the young man divert the topic and said,


    This sessfully piqued the young man''s curiosity, who couldn''t help but ask, "Why would his opponent be unfortunate?"


    "Think about it, Gao Ru has been at the third level of Foundation Building for over thirty years. Can you imagine how deep his umtion is and how many hidden cards he has?


    It''s said that Gao Ru already has few opponents among early-stage Foundation Building daoists.


    His opponent, although not much is known, seems to have just reached Foundation Building a few years ago, is at the first level of Foundation Building, and most importantly, is an Alchemist.


    We all know thebat strength of Alchemists. A second-tier Alchemist bing Gao Ru''s sharpening stone, isn''t that a pity?"


    While they were talking, Gao Ru had already arrived, surrounded by followers. He walked in the middle, with a dragon-like stride and a majestic aura.


    The spectating daoists quickly made way, creating a path for him.


    "Hehe, I think it''s more likely that the sharpening stone is too hard and might grind Gao Ru to death," the young manughed.


    "Shh! Don''t let Gao Ru hear you say that, or you might offend him. But why do you say so?"


    The chubby daoist stopped the young man and asked, sensing that the young man might have some inside information.


    "Because, I am that sharpening stone!"


    The young man revealed his white teeth in a smile. Wang Hong had already arrived and noticed that no one recognized him. Joining in the lively discussion, he thought it was better than doing nothing.


    Wang Hong ignored the chubby daoist''s surprised expression and made his way through the crowd towards the Life and Death tform.


    Wang Hong thought to himself as he squeezed through the audience, "If I can''t get through, I might as well go home and let you all miss the show. I should have brought more people with me."


    Gao Ru, standing on the Life and Death tform with arms crossed, had been waiting for a while before Wang Hong finally emerged from the crowd.


    Wang Hong leaped onto the tform.


    "Humph! If you were afraid, you shouldn''t havee. What a dilly-dallier for a man!" Gao Ru said discontentedly.


    "Letting you live a bit longer, isn''t that good?" Wang Hong said with a smile.


    "Sharp-tongued and courting death!"


    Gao Ru snorted coldly, conjuring two spiritual weapons, one for attack and one for defense.


    He stood behind arge shield,pletely covered.


    Above his head, a splendid golden sword, about ten feet long and three feet wide, appeared, weighing thousands of pounds when activated.


    Below, several experienced old Daoistsmented, "As expected of an experienced veteran, he''s using his full strength right from the start. His swordsmanship has improved a lot."


    They spoke as if they were also talking about themselves, proud of their insights.


    "It''s like using full strength to hunt a rabbit. That''s what an experienced daoist should do."


    "Looking at the Alchemist, he seems tock realbat experience. It took him so long just to draw out a Long Spear, and he hasn''t even wielded it in the air yet. He''s already lost the initiative."


    "Alchemists aren''t known for fighting. I just hope Gao Ru doesn''t kill him. After all, any second-tier Alchemist is a rare resource."


    "..."


    Gao Ru''s golden sword in the air emitted dazzling light, dazzling the audience below.


    The sword, splitting the air with a whistling sound, swung down towards Wang Hong, seeming to split him in half.


    However, Wang Hong didn''t seem to dodge. Instead, he raised his Long Spear to meet the golden sword.


    Some audience members, foreseeing Wang Hong''s tragic end, covered their eyes, unable to bear watching.


    With a loud ng, the sound of metal striking metal echoed, itching the ears of the onlookers.


    Wang Hong still firmly held the Long Spear, while Gao Ru''s golden sword was knocked aside, its de chipped and covered in cracks.


    "Just one strike, and with physical strength alone, he disabled a low-grade Spiritual Weapon. Is this really an Alchemist not skilled inbat?"


    After deflecting the golden sword, Wang Hong didn''t stop. His figure blurred into an afterimage as he pounced towards Gao Ru.


    Gao Ru only saw a blur before hearing two soft "puff" sounds, followed by a pain in his chest.


    He looked down to see a Long Spear piercing through his shield and his chest.


    The audience below only saw a blurry afterimage on the tform.


    When the afterimage stopped in front of Gao Ru, both he and his shield were impaled by the Long Spear.


    Seeing that Gao Ru was not yet dead, Wang Hong lifted the Long Spear, nailing Gao Ru and his shield to the ground.


    Gao Ru, pinned to the ground, twitched and convulsed.


    Wang Hong, seeing this, prepared to inflict injuries on him simr to He Yuan''s.


    He stepped down on Gao Ru''s trembling leg, and a "crack" sound of breaking bones echoed.


    "Stop!"


    An old man in the middle stage of Foundation Building emerged from the audience, questioning, "Why so cruel at such a young age?"


    Wang Hong nced at the old man and asked, "And who are you? At your age, why so ignorant? Don''t you know that on the Life and Death tform, life and death are one''s own responsibility?"


    Wang Hong retorted in the same tone.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 255: Cultivation

    Chapter 255: Cultivation


    "Although life and death are disregarded on the Life and Death tform, there is a virtue of cherishing life in the universe. As cultivators, we should not be ruthlessly aggressive."


    The Old Man continued with his twisted logic.


    "Oh! So you are a cultivator from the Gao Family. If you disagree, you cane up and teach me yourself."


    While Wang Hong was speaking with the Old Man, his movements did not stop. The sound of cracking bones could be heard from under his feet.


    The audience below, hearing these bone-crushing sounds, felt chills down their spines and their teeth ached.


    This was no Alchemist, but a fierce god.


    Especially the short and plump cultivator who had just been chatting with Wang Hong. Seeing Wang Hong''s ferocious side, he pped himself hard.


    He regretted speaking carelessly earlier, only seeking momentary pleasure byparing Wang Hong to a whetstone, not knowing if he had offended this man.


    "The old man need not stoop to your level. It would be seen as bullying for me, at the mid-stage of Foundation Building, topete with you. It would invite ridicule."


    After saying this, the Old Man swished his sleeves and left, showing a sort of immortal elegance.


    The Old Man had thought it through. From Wang Hong''s performance, although he was slightly higher in realm, he didn''t have much chance of winning.


    A life and death battle was not a trivial matter. One oversight could lead to the end of one''s path in cultivation.


    As for losing face, having lived so long, he had learned to let go. Pride was not more important than life.


    He decided to go back, rethink his strategy, and then decide whether to fight or not.


    Wang Hong had stepped on Gao Ru several times, effectively crippling him, as revenge for He Yuan.


    He hadn''t intended to kill Gao Ru, but seeing the hatred in Gao Ru''s eyes, Wang Hong hardened his heart and crushed his skull. Leaving an enemy alive was never a good idea.


    After killing Gao Ru, Wang Hong looted valuable items from his body, set fire to the corpse, and turned it to ash.


    The audience watched this scene under broad daylight. Wang Hong''s methods of killing, looting, and destroying evidence were so skilled and experienced that it was awe-inspiring.


    People wondered if he was really an Alchemist. His proficiency seemed more like that of a treasure-hunting cultivator.


    It seemed prudent to keep a distance from this Alchemist in the future.


    As for the other cultivators of the Gao Family, they were filled with grief and anger but powerless. Even their mid-stage Foundation Building elder had left. What could these minor Qi Cultivation level cultivators do?


    After killing Gao Ru, Wang Hong did not linger. He jumped off the tform and left.


    Seeing him leave, the surrounding cultivators quickly moved aside, opening a wide path for him, a stark contrast to his arrival.


    In the following days, the Gao Family did not seek him out, and he did not bother them either, returning to a temporary peace.


    Wang Hong used this time to greatly enhance the strength of his followers.


    First was Skinny Monkey, who had reached the peak of Qi Cultivation and was just missing the Foundation Establishment Pill.


    Wang Hong gave Skinny Monkey some Jade Scrolls of Foundation Building experience and six Foundation Establishment Pills, the same number he had used for his own Foundation Building.


    Skinny Monkey''s talent was simr to his, but with his and other non-Spiritual Root cultivators'' experience, he probably wouldn''t need as many.


    Ten dayster, Skinny Monkey sessfully achieved Foundation Building, using four pills and returning the remaining two to Wang Hong.


    After Skinny Monkey''s sess, it was Zhao Ning''s turn. Zhao Ning was currently at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation, still two levels away from reaching the peak of Qi Cultivation.


    Wang Hong entered his Space, where he had propagated Green Spirit Peach trees over three acres ofnd using branches and roots. These peach trees, almost a thousand years old, had grown over ten feet tall and wereden with peaches of various sizes.


    Previously, in Boundary City, he had picked somerge ones to enhance the strength of Wen Lan and others, taking away dozens of them. Now, after more than three hundred years in the Space, the peaches, which were originally the size of eggs, were nearly as big as fists.


    With a sufficient quantity this time, he finally could keep a few to see what tier the mature Green Spirit Peaches would reach. He was always curious about this since the ones he had consumed before were immature.


    He picked three not-sorge peaches from the Space, two for Zhao Ning, which should be enough. The extra one, he wanted to taste for himself. Even though he had eaten them before and found the taste average, he was curious to try again, especially now that he had plenty.


    "Zhao Ning, here are two peaches for you to consume," Wang Hong said, handing over two Green Spirit Peaches to Zhao Ning.


    "Thank you, East Master!" Zhao Ning said, taking the two green peaches handed to him by Wang Hong with a bit of confusion.


    Wang Hong had called him to a secret room and solemnly opened the formation just for these two seemingly unripe peaches. Could there be something special about them?


    "These Green Spirit Peaches can boost a Qi Cultivation cultivator by one cultivation level upon consumption. Quickly reach the peak of Qi Cultivation Realm to prepare for Foundation Building," Wang Hong exined.


    Zhao Ning realized the unassuming items in his hand had such potent effects, feeling their weight increase in his grasp.


    After more than ten days, Ling Shuai finally arrived at Azure Void City with his daughter. Wang Hong, feeling short of capable people, found Ling Shuai''s arrival timely.


    He hadn''t sought trouble with the Gao Family mainly because hecked manpower. He Yuan''s injuries had improved, but he was only able to move around a bit. The Ma Brothers were afraid of death and not realistic forbat. Skinny Monkey, just having achieved Foundation Building, wasn''t stable enough for fighting either.


    That left Wang Hong as the only capable leader. The Gao Family had six Foundation Building cultivators; even after killing one, there were still five left.


    "Ling Daoist, was your journey here safe?" Wang Hong asked, though it was somewhat redundant. He was just reminded of his own robbery by a Golden Core cultivator.


    "I followed a merchant convoy here, so there were no issues," Ling Shuai replied.


    "That''s good. Rest for a few days, Ling Daoist. I''ll need your help with something soon. Also, from now on, your monthlypensation will be increased from two Nourishing Essence Pills to five. How does that sound?" Wang Hong offered, knowing Ling Shuai''s strength would be greatly beneficial to him.


    For Ling Shuai, a typical Foundation Building cultivator, this was a generous offer. It would be difficult for him to find better treatment elsewhere, and earning it on his own would be even harder. People ustomed to better treatment and living environments rarely choose to ept worse conditions.


    "Thank you for your generosity, Wang Daoist. I''m at your service for anything you need," Ling Shuai gratefully epted, knowing that Wang Hong, having observed him and deemed him not greedy, was willing to offer higherpensation. Wang Hong always kept his distance from those who were never satisfied.


    "There''s no hurry. Rest for a few days and then help me manage the shop," Wang Hong concluded.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 256: Another Victory

    Chapter 256: Another Victory


    Ten more days had passed. By this time, Skinny Monkey''s realm had stabilized, and Zhao Ning had sessfullypleted his Foundation Building, working on solidifying his realm.


    With two additional Foundation Building subordinates, Wang Hong, no longer worried about rear attacks, issued a challenge to the Gao Family.


    The Gao Family, possessing two mid-stage Foundation Building cultivators, quickly epted Wang Hong''s challenge.


    This time, Gao Family''s patriarch Gao Rong personally stepped forward. He had prepared specifically for Wang Hong''s unique style of fighting to the death, observed in the previous battle.


    Upon entering the arena, Gao Rong unveiled a top-grade Spiritual Weapon passed down in his family, a turtle shell Refinement defensive Spiritual Weapon.


    This Spiritual Weapon could split into thirty-six pieces, surrounding him, orbine into a single piece to defend one direction.


    Gao Rong, with his mid-stage Foundation Building cultivation level, adopted a cautious approach, aiming not for triumph but to avoid faults.


    He nned to rely on his higher realm and deeper Spiritual Power to slowly grind Wang Hong down.


    For Wang Hong, defeating Gao Rong without revealing his other techniques would indeed require some effort.


    "ng, ng!"


    Wang Hong, wielding a Long Spear, shed with the opponent''s offensive and defensive Spiritual Weapons.


    The Gao Family''s ancestral Spiritual Weapon was indeed powerful. Its thirty-six turtle shell pieces could defend attacks from any direction.


    Whenever Wang Hong exerted full force, aiming to break through at a point, the thirty-six pieces would swiftlybine, bing unbreakable.


    Gao Rong''s defense was like a tortoise, unyielding despite Wang Hong''s continuous strikes, steady as Mount Tai.


    Meanwhile, a mid-grade Flying Sword harassed Wang Hong, aiming to drain more of his Spiritual Power.


    Once Wang Hong''s Spiritual Power weakened, Gao Rong would unleash a storm-like counterattack.


    However, after half an hour of battle, Wang Hong still seemed to have energy to spare, showing no signs of Spiritual Power deficiency.


    A typical early-stage Foundation Building cultivator would have run out of Spiritual Power by now.


    In fact, Wang Hong''s Spiritual Power was no less formidable than Gao Rong''s, even stronger.


    His dantian sea wasrger than that of a typical mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator, which slowed his progression and required more resources.


    But the benefits were clear: a solid foundation and Spiritual Power several times stronger than his peers.


    At this moment, Wang Hong pondered whether to conceal some of his strength. Revealing all his secrets was not advisable.


    Wang Hong attacked a few more times, his face turning pale, sweat beads forming on his forehead, and the power of his attacks diminishing, indicating his weakening Spiritual Power.


    He then deflected an iing Flying Sword with his Long Spear, retreated a few meters, and took out a bottle of Spirit Wine, preparing to drink.


    Gao Rong, experienced in magical duels, refused to let Wang Hong drink the Spirit Wine unchallenged. He quickly maneuvered his Flying Sword, swiftly striking towards Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong, turning into a blur, retreated to the right side of the arena. He seemed determined to drink the Spirit Wine at any cost.


    Gao Rong, disregarding defense, circled the edge of the arena, aiming to cut off Wang Hong''s retreat.


    The Flying Sword in the air, along with Gao Rong, closed in on Wang Hong, prepared to end the fight in a decisive blow.


    The audience admired Gao Rong''s strategy, praising his veteran skills and cunning.


    "Experience does matter. Gao Rong is truly like a cunning old fox."


    "Wang Hong is still too young. How can he outsmart someone like Gao Rong, who has lived over a hundred years?"


    In battles between cultivators, when their powers are not vastly different, victory often depends on experience and strategy rather than sheer strength.


    Of course, if the gap in strength is too wide, strategies be ineffective against overwhelming power.


    As Gao Rong thought he had Wang Hong cornered, ready for the Flying Sword to strike him down, a smirk appeared on his face.


    At that moment, disregarding the Flying Sword striking from behind, Wang Hong lunged forward with his Long Spear, targeting Gao Rong''s chest.


    Gao Rong was caught off guard by Wang Hong''s seemingly suicidal tactic.


    His defense was toote; he had dispersed his thirty-six turtle shell pieces too widely for effective interception.


    In desperation, he managed to bring only a few pieces to the front as a shield.


    Wang Hong''s Long Spear spun rapidly, deflecting the turtle shells.


    Realizing he might have been tricked, Gao Rong tried to retreat, but he couldn''t match Wang Hong''s speed.


    A ck Long Spear, like a dragon, snaked through the gaps between the turtle shells, deflecting them upon contact.


    Then, a sharp pain in his chest, his vision blurred, and his consciousness sank into darkness.


    Before dying, he vaguely saw his Flying Sword struggling to prate Wang Hong''s back, only to be stopped as his consciousness faded, and the sword fell to the ground.


    Wang Hong pulled out his Long Spear, and Gao Rong''s body fell heavily to the ground.


    Wang Hong then proficiently looted and destroyed the body. Gao Rong, the head of the Gao Family, was erased from the world.


    Wang Hong collected Gao Rong''s belongings, including the ancestral turtle shell Spiritual Weapon, which he found very satisfactory.


    During this process, Wang Hong feigned exhaustion from battle.


    He noticed another mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator from the Gao Family among the spectators.


    This old man, who had debated with him previously and then left in silence, might be tempted to challenge him, providing an opportunity for Wang Hong to eliminate him as well.


    However, the old man disappointed him by leaving expressionlessly after witnessing Gao Rong''s death.


    Feeling like hitting cotton, Wang Hong returned to his residence, sorting through Gao Rong''s items.


    He found that Gao Rong''s Storage Bag contained little apart from a small bottle of Spirit Wine and a healing pill ¨C not even a single Spirit Stone.


    Thankfully, he had acquired Gao Rong''s top-grade defensive Spiritual Weapon and a mid-grade Flying Sword, making his efforts worthwhile.


    Unbeknownst to him, Gao Rong had made contingency ns before the battle. If he won, nothing needed to be said.


    But in case of defeat, another mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator was to take over as the head of the family.


    They were to avoid further confrontations with Wang Hong on the Life and Death tform, preserving the family''s strength for a future resurgence.


    Gao Rong had also taken multiple measures to ensure the family''s safety, leaving a secure fallback n.


    For a Cultivation n with centuries of heritage, ups and downs weremon, and they wouldn''t copse from a single defeat.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 257: Negotiation

    Chapter 257: Negotiation


    Wang Hong had fought twice on the Life and Death tform recently, acquiring two impressive Spiritual Weapons. During his first battle with Gao Ru, he damaged Gao Ru''s two lower-grade Spiritual Weapons.


    He still needed to gather some refining tool materials and have a refining tool master work on them to repair these weapons.


    Regretting this for a long time, Wang Hong''s current concern was providing his subordinates with Spiritual Weapon equipment.


    Many things couldn''t be bought with just Spirit Stones. In Boundary City, to equip nine people, he had to co-host an auction with Qingxu Tower to gather the necessary materials.


    If he were to train his thirty-odd people to the Foundation Building stage and equip them uniformly, he didn''t know where he''d find all the required materials.


    There was also Liu Changsheng to consider. He had recruited fifteen youths who would also need Spiritual Weapons in the future.


    "East Master, the Spirit Grain nted in our spirit fields has been harvested once during your travels. We gathered 3,200 kilograms, used 300 for seeding, leaving 2,900. How should we handle this surplus?"


    Xu Lun, responsible for logistics, reported this to Wang Hong, seeing that he had some free time.


    "Give 300 kilograms to Skinny Monkey to try brewing some Spirit Wine. Let''s see if he can make second-tier Spirit Wine. The rest can be distributed for everyone to eat; this Spirit Grain is quite effective in enhancing cultivation levels."


    Each grain of this Spirit Grain contained spiritual energy equivalent to a third of a Condensing Qi Pill and was easier to consume and absorb than pills.


    If they could produce second-tier Spirit Wine, they could nt this grain on arge scale every ten years, significantly reducing costspared to using second-tier spirit fruits.


    "Alright, I''ll see to it," Xu Lun said, turning to leave. Wang Hong stopped him again.


    "Also, send another challenge to the Gao Family. This matter isn''t settled yet."


    Wang Hong nned to mimic the Gao Family''s tactics, sending people to cause trouble at their shop daily if they refused the challenge.


    After Xu Lun left, a subordinate reported a visitor at the door.


    "East Master, a Foundation Building cultivator named Ye Tao requests an audience."


    "Did he mention his purpose?"


    Wang Hong was surprised, as he knew few Foundation Building cultivators in Azure Void City, certainly none named Ye.


    "He only mentioned urgent business," the subordinate replied.


    "Alright, bring him in."


    Soon, the subordinate escorted in ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator.


    "Junior Brother Wang, I''m Ye Tao from Heavenly Authority Peak. I''ve long heard of your reputation but never had the chance to meet. I hope you don''t mind my visit."


    Ye Tao, a Qingxu Sect Disciple, introduced himself upon entering.


    Ye Tao was a skilled conversationalist. After some small talk, they got along well.


    It turned out Ye Tao was a cultivator from the Ye family in Azure Void City, a disciple of a Golden Core Elder in the Qingxu Sect.


    After a while, Ye Tao finally broached the main subject.


    "Junior Brother Wang, my visit today is on behalf of someone else." "Oh! May I know the reason that requires Senior Brother Ye to make a personal visit?"


    Wang Hong asked with some interest.


    "It''s like this..."


    It turned out that Ye Tao''s family, the Ye family, had a long-standing rtionship with the Gao Family. The Gao Family, having suffered a significant loss, wanted to concede defeat but feared that Wang Hong wouldn''t agree. Hence, they spent a considerable sum to have Ye Tao mediate.


    "To show their sincerity, the Gao Family is willing to give theirrgest shop to Junior Brother Wang as an apology, hoping to turn hostility into friendship," Ye Tao exined, noting that Wang Hong hadn''t immediately refused and was considering the offer.


    Wang Hong was familiar with the shops operated by the Gao Family, having nned retaliation against them. The Gao Family''srgest shop, located on a bustling street, was much bigger than Zhao''s Pill Shop both in geographical location and scale. The Gao Family was indeed making a substantial sacrifice.


    Seeing Wang Hong''s nonmittal response, Ye Tao continued persuasively, "Junior Brother Wang, although there''s conflict between you and the Gao Family, it''s just over business interests. After the Gao Family injured two of your subordinates, you killed two of their Foundation Building cultivators. The feud has been avenged.


    Our Ye family has long been allied with the Gao Family. Hence, I know of a secret fortune of the Gao Family."


    Ye Tao paused briefly, sipping his Spirit Tea to pique Wang Hong''s interest, before continuing:


    "The previous head of the Gao Family owes a life debt to a Golden Core Elder of our Qingxu Sect. That Golden Core cultivator once promised to intervene twice should the Gao Family face a catastrophic disaster."


    Hearing this, Wang Hong couldn''t help but be moved. While he wasn''t afraid of ate-stage Foundation Building supporter, a Golden Core cultivator''s support was beyond his current ability to contend with.


    After careful consideration, Wang Hong thought it best to end his retaliation against the Gao Family. If pushed too hard, the Gao Family could seek help from the Golden Core cultivator. Wang Hong''s current strength wouldn''t withstand a single blow from a Golden Core cultivator. Even with Gu Qingyang as his backer, annihting the Gao Family was impossible.


    Moreover, even without the Golden Core cultivator''s promise, the Gao Family''s wealth could still hire high-tier cultivators in a critical moment.


    Eventually, Wang Hong agreed to the mediation and epted the Gao Family''s terms.


    A dayter, the Gao Family sent over the deed to the shop.


    Wang Hong instructed Xu Lun to clean and organize the shop. The shop, facing the street, had five floors and included some auxiliary buildings. One of the halls could amodate hundreds of people, suitable for small auctions.


    Wang Hong decided to keep Zhao''s Pill Shop running as usual and open a new Spiritual Herb shop here.


    Given therge number of Qi Cultivation practitioners in Azure Void City, the first floor, with its vast space, would sell first-tier Spiritual Herbs and Spirit Pills.


    The second floor would sell first-tier Spirit Wines. Spirit Wine, unlike Spirit Herbs and Spirit Pills, didn''t have massive consumption but offered higher profits than selling pills.


    The third floor would be for selling various second-tier Spiritual Objects. Although Wang Hong''s current strength wasn''t fully sufficient for mass selling these second-tier items, his recent victory over the Gao Family should deter any troublemakers in the short term.


    In time, his subordinates would include dozens of Foundation Building cultivators, making him fearless.


    Wang Hong nned to have Xu Lun manage thisrge shop. Xu Lun had been handling logistics for years, effectively serving as a chief steward and Wang Hong''s right-hand man.


    Wang Hong felt confident entrusting the management of thisrge shop to Xu Lun. The shop''s Spirit Herbs and Pills would be supplied by the Immortal Way Trading Company, while Spirit Wine would be partially supplied by Skinny Monkey and the rest by the Immortal Realm Commerce Guild.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 258: The Widow

    Chapter 258: The Widow


    After settling matters with the Gao Family, Wang Hong had another important task to personally attend to.


    Wang Hong needed to personally return the body of a fallen subordinate to his family.


    At therge residence where the families of the fallen were housed, in front of a two-story house, a little boy about five or six years old was swinging a wooden sword with both hands, haphazardly.


    As Wang Hong approached gently, the little boy stopped his random sword movements, looking curiously at Wang Hong.


    After a moment, he mustered up the courage and, imitating the adults, gave Wang Hong a formal greeting and asked, "May I ask who you''re looking for?"


    "Are you Dong Xinchang''s son?" Wang Hong asked instead of answering.


    "Yes, I am. How do you know? Do you know my daddy?" the little boy asked with wide, curious eyes.


    "Of course, I know your daddy. I often heard him talk about you."


    The little boy''s interest was piqued, and he courageously approached Wang Hong, asking, "What did my dad say about me? When will he be able toe home?"


    "Your dad often praised you for being smart and sensible. He also asked me to bring some treats for you."


    Wang Hong took several small packages from his Storage Bag, strung them together with a piece of grass, and handed them to the little boy.


    The little boy, holding the string of packages, turned and ran towards the house, shouting, "Mom! Mom! There''s news from daddy! And he sent lots of tasty treats!"


    As the child ran, he kept shouting.


    Soon, a beautiful young woman came out of the house.


    The woman was a mere Mortal, appearing to be in her mid-twenties.


    "This Immortal Master, do you bring news of Dong Lang?" she asked, her face slightly flushed with a shy and hopeful look in her eyes.


    Wang Hong was momentarily at a loss for words. He looked at the young woman, then at the little boy''s clear, hopeful eyes.


    "He has gone on a mission that will take a long time toplete. He asked me to bring these things back. He also said not to worry about him, and if you have any difficulties, you can seek help from East Master or Xu Lun."


    At that moment, Wang Hong wasn''t sure if what he was doing was right, as there were some things he just couldn''t bring himself to say.


    He couldn''t bear to let this mother and son lose hope. Perhaps, with time, they might gradually forget a bit.


    After finishing his speech, Wang Hong took out arge package containing Dong Xinchang''s deserved share of the spoils of war and some constion money.


    "Take good care of these belongings. If you encounter any difficulties, you can alsoe to me.


    Here''s a Talisman for you. In case of an emergency, just tear this Talisman, and I will sense it."


    Wang Hong left a blood-red Talisman with the mother and son and then left the familypound.


    "Xu Lun, Dong Xinchang has died in battle, leaving behind a widow and orphan. We''ve been brothers in life and death for many years, so please look after them.


    Also, if you have time, bring a Spiritual Testing Disk and see if his son has Spiritual Roots. If he does and is willing to cultivate, then teach him the way of cultivation."


    Wang Hong sighed as he said this. Of the forty-five followers he once had, one was now gone.


    "Alright, I''ll make sure it''s done."


    Xu Lun also felt regret for Dong Xinchang. These forty-plus people had rtionships akin to life-and-deathrades.


    "What about the shop''s matters? How are theying along?" Wang Hong, rubbing his forehead, asked again.


    Xu Lun reported, "Everything is sorted out on that end. The shelves and counters have been set up, and now we''re recruiting staff."


    "Good, I''ll entrust you with full responsibility for the shop from now on. You have the freedom to decide on all matters. However, managing such arge shop, your cultivation level is still a bitcking," Wang Hong noted.


    Xu Lun felt somewhat embarrassed by thisst remark. They, the subordinates without Spiritual Roots, had consumed a lot of Wang Hong''s resources. Over the years, the strongest among them hadn''t even reached the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation.


    "You are currently at the Seventh Layer of Qi Cultivation. I have three spirit peaches here, each of which can increase your cultivation level by oneyer when consumed. Take them and focus on cultivating these next few days. Stabilize your rapidly improved realm, thene find me."


    Wang Hong then tossed three green spirit peaches to Xu Lun, who carefully caught them, thinking, "Such precious Spiritual Objects, I wonder where he bought them from, and he didn¡¯t even use a packaging box."


    "Alright, go and focus on your cultivation," said Wang Hong, sending Xu Lun away. He then pondered visiting Liu Changsheng.


    Since returning from Boundary City, he hadn''t visited Liu Changsheng. Now that things were mostly settled here, it was time to visit.


    Wang Hong, disguising himself as Wang Kun through previously established channels, appeared at the residence of Liu Changsheng. The residence was the same as before, but the people were quite different.


    When Wang Hongst visited, they were all youngds with youthful faces. Now, each of them had grown into adults.


    "Greetings, Director!" Fifteen young men in ck robes saluted Wang Hong in unison.


    Within the immortal way tradingpany, Wang Hong still held the nominal position of director, with Liu Changsheng as the deputy director responsible for the daily management and operation of the firm.


    These fifteen young men, most with three Spiritual Roots, had now mostly reached theter stages of Qi Cultivation thanks to a plethora of resources.


    "Today, I bring you good news. I have some resources that can quickly cultivate two Foundation Building cultivators. So, I will select the two most outstanding among you to be Foundation Building cultivators."


    Though Wang Hong had many Green Spirit Peaches and hundreds of Foundation Establishment Pills, releasing too many at once would devalue them. Limited quantity encouragedpetition.


    Then, Wang Hong announced various assessment criteria, including cultivation level,bat strength, and other aspects.


    The puzzling part of the assessment was a categorybeled ''other'', which actually referred to personal character and loyalty, though not explicitly stated. This was because overtly stating it might lead to people feigning loyalty and pretending to be something they''re not. Loyalty and kindness shown for a purpose are not genuine. This is the principle behind ''intentional kindness is not rewarded.''


    Three dayster, two individuals were selected. Wang Hong gave them a few Green Spirit Peaches each to elevate their cultivation level to the peak of Qi Cultivation.


    After reaching the peak realm, they needed a few days to consolidate before using the Foundation Establishment Pill for the Foundation Building phase.


    During this waiting period, Liu Changsheng presented the ounts of the past few years for Wang Hong''s review.


    In these five years, the immortal way tradingpany''s total sales reached over seven million Spirit Stones. Since the items sold by thepany were produced in Wang Hong''s Space, with almost no other costs besides absorbing Spirit Qi, these seven million were mostly his gross profit.


    After deducting the expenses of cultivating these fifteen young cultivators and some minor expenditures, Wang Hong stillted six million Spirit Stones.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 259: Purchasing Spirit Fields

    Chapter 259: Purchasing Spirit Fields


    Wang Hong was thrilled to receive a one-time ie of six million Spirit Stones. In the Qingxu Sect, a Foundation Building Disciple only receives two thousand Spirit Stones annually. Typically, Foundation Building cultivators, apart from acquiring wealth through defeating others, could earn tens of thousands of Spirit Stones in a year, which was considered a high ie.


    However, the several million Spirit Stones Wang Hong now had likely represented the collective earnings of his faction over several years. The Immortal Way Trading Company, still operating covertly, needed to amass sufficient strength before transitioning to a more overt operation. With annual sales exceeding one million, even Golden Core cultivators would be envious.


    Enhancing strength was urgent; dys could lead to discovery by others. However, the rapid advancement of his subordinates had to be managed carefully. A sudden group promotion to the Foundation Building stage would certainly create a stir in Azure Void City.


    After waiting for over ten days and with the aid of some Pills, the cultivation levels of two of his subordinates who were at the peak of Qi Cultivation stabilized. Wang Hong gave each of them a Foundation Establishment Pill and several manuals on Foundation Building for them to advance on their own.


    A dayter, only one seeded in Foundation Building, while the other emerged from the Cultivation Room dejected. Wang Hong simply patted his shoulder and handed him another Foundation Establishment Pill. The disheartened cultivator gratefully epted the pill and returned to his cultivation.


    The next day, this young cultivator sessfully achieved Foundation Building and, upon exiting the Cultivation Room, prostrated before Wang Hong in deep gratitude before silently departing.


    Wang Hong stayed around Liu Changsheng for about a month before secretly returning to his identity as Wang Hong and went back to Xu Lun.


    Xu Lun''s realm had stabilized, so Wang Hong gave him eight Foundation Establishment Pills for his cultivation. Ten dayster, Xu Lun sessfully achieved Foundation Building and returned two pills to Wang Hong. Xu Lun, having more daily responsibilities, only cultivated for two days to stabilize his realm before resuming his duties.


    The preparations for the new store were almostplete, and the Immortal Way Trading Company agreed to supply goods for thisrge new establishment. As the manager, Xu Lun oversaw these operations personally.


    Due to the store''s size, Xu Lun recruited three assistant managers. Each floor of the three-story building was managed by one of them. Additionally, over thirty Qi Cultivation period attendants, evenly split between men and women, mostly worked on the first floor. These attendants were chosen for their good looks and cleverness, ensuring a pleasant experience for customers.


    Wang Hong left the store''s operations entirely to Xu Lun. A few dayster, the new shop, named "East Zhou Trading," opened. Wang Hong chose this name with the hope that one day, his shops would span the entire East Zhou Cultivation Realm, simr to the Myriad Treasures Tower, with a presence wherever cultivators were found.


    Due to the abundant supply of goods provided by the Immortal Way Trading Company, the grand opening of the new shop was a bustling sess, keeping the over thirty attendants extremely busy.


    He Yuan''s injuries had healed by about seventy to eighty percent, but the remaining wounds seemed to have stabilized and showed no improvement despite consuming many Pills. He had no choice but to wait another year for his Jade Marrow Mushroom to reach eight hundred years of age and be a true healing panacea.


    Luo Zhongjie''s injuries were originally lighter and had fully recovered by now. Wang Hong nned to allocate the next Foundation Building opportunity to Luo Zhongjie. Since Zhang Chunfeng''s departure, Luo had effectively be the chief instructor of his subordinates, and it was necessary for him to have corresponding strength.


    However, Wang Hong decided to upgrade only Luo Zhongjie for now, with the rest to be gradually addressedter. Sudden collective advancement would draw too much attention; just providing a Foundation Establishment Pill for each of over thirty individuals was a significant undertaking.


    Wang Hong gave Luo Zhongjie three Green Spirit Peaches, eight Foundation Establishment Pills, and instructed him to hand over any remaining pills to Xu Lun after his Foundation Building.


    Additionally, Wang Hong left more than ten Green Spirit Peaches with Xu Lun for distribution, allowing one per month for any cultivator to exchange using contribution points. However, he strictly prohibited anyone from selling the Green Spirit Peaches externally or leaking any information about them. Even though these peaches were immature and only effective for Qi Cultivation period cultivators, Wang Hong preferred to avoid any unnecessary trouble.


    With a substantial amount of Spirit Stones and Foundation Building cultivators at hand, Wang Hong was finally ready to pursue another long-nned venture: purchasing spirit fields. Continuously extracting various spiritual objects from his space was risky over time and inrge quantities.


    At present, his few small stores did not attract much attention, but as his business expanded, it would inevitably draw more scrutiny. There were always idle cultivators keen on investigating others, and probing into his business could lead toplications.


    Although he had created the Immortal Way Trading Company as a cover, it was still a small-scale operation focused mainly on minor stores and tier-one spiritual objects. As thepany emerged into the limelight and expanded, it would need its nting bases.


    In the Cultivation World, a standard power needed a material foundation to thrive. Some powers possessed spirit ores, others excelled in trade, tool refining, or talisman making, but they all engaged in nting spiritual herbs to some extent.


    With Luo Zhongjie''s sessful Foundation Building, Wang Hong summoned both Luo and Xu Lun to discuss his ns.


    "I''ve called you here today to discuss something. I want to purchase some spirit fields for nting Spiritual Herbs. You both are more familiar with Azure Void City and its surroundings than I am. Do you have any suggestions?"


    Xu Lun pondered for a moment before replying, "There are mainly two types of spirit fields: those within Azure Void City and those outside. The ones in the city are scattered and more expensive but convenient to manage, requiring only one or two Qi Cultivation cultivators as guards. The fields outside the city arerger, more concentrated, and cheaper. In some remote, unimed areas, if a Spirit Vein is found, one can even establish spirit fields without needing Spirit Stones. However, the external fields are riskier due to Demonic Beasts and treasure-hunting cultivators, necessitating at least one Foundation Building cultivator for protection. Master East, what type and size of spirit fields are you considering?"


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 260: Seizing Territory

    Chapter 260: Seizing Territory


    Xu Lun meticulously described the market situation of the spirit fields inside and outside Azure Void City.


    Based on what Xu Lun said, Wang Hong pondered briefly before making his decision.


    He needed arge number of spirit fields. The spirit fields within the city were too scattered, which was not conducive to centralized management.


    Moreover, the spirit fields in the city were more expensive, and buying inrge quantities would be uneconomical.


    Therefore, the spirit fields outside the city became the best choice. As for security, he had dozens of subordinates. Since they didn''t have much to do in the city, they could be sent out.


    ¡°I need arge expanse of spirit fields. I''m not afraid of arge area, and it doesn''t matter if it''s remote.¡±


    Wang Hong actually preferred a remote location, away from prying eyes.


    In a secluded area, he could do as he pleased without attracting attention.


    ¡°I do know a ce that might suit East Master¡¯s preference,¡± Luo Zhongjie said. He often led people to hunt Demonic Beasts in the Qingxu Mountain range and was probably the most familiar with it.


    ¡°To the south of Qingxu Mountain range, about a three-day flight by spiritual tool, there''s a mountain valley surrounded by mountains on three sides, with two small Spirit Veins intersecting.


    I''ve been there before. The area is upied by a group of Earth Element Demonic Beasts, including some of the second-tier. We didn¡¯t dare to venture deep and only observed from the periphery.¡±


    ¡°Oh! Such a great ce exists? Take me there for a look. If suitable, we just need to clear out this group of Demonic Beasts.¡±


    Wang Hong was very interested. In the Cultivation World that had developed over millions of years, any slightly better ce was already upied.


    Seizing a piece of territory from Demonic Beasts would be extremely beneficial for future development.


    No sooner said than done, Wang Hong immediately gathered his forces. Thirty Qi Cultivation disciples, along with Wang Hong, Luo Zhongjie, and Ling Shuai, three Foundation Building cultivators, paid these Demonic Beasts considerable respect.


    The group assembled outside the city. Over the years, his thirty subordinates had finally all reached thete stage of Qi Cultivation.


    That was just their apparent cultivation level. In reality, they primarily focused on body refining and now each possessed tens of thousands of jin in strength.


    In closebat, even a Foundation Building cultivator might suffer a disadvantage.


    Over the years, Wang Hong had earned many Spirit Stones. Each of his thirty subordinates was d in high-quality Magical Weapon-grade armor, and their weapons were also top-quality Magical Weapons.


    Moreover, they were all uniformly custom-made Magical Weapons.


    As Qi Cultivation cultivators were too slow, they were apanied by three Foundation Building cultivators, each carrying ten Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    Ling Shuai used a Flying Sword, and Wang Hong summoned a flying knife Spiritual Weapon. The Silverlight Shuttle given to him by Gu Qingyang was slender and not suitable for carrying many people.


    Only Luo Zhongjie summoned a spherical object, which hardly looked capable of seating several people.


    Having just achieved Foundation Building, his only Spiritual Weapon was one he had saved from his Qi Cultivation period.


    ¡°Use mine for now!¡± Wang Hong offered his flying knife to Luo Zhongjie.


    He originally had several low-grade Spiritual Weapons to spare, but some were in the Storage Bag robbed by a Golden Core cultivator.


    Then, when Skinny Monkey and Zhao Ning seeded in Foundation Building, Wang Hong gifted them each a Spiritual Weapon as a congrattory present.


    By the time Xu Lun and Luo Zhongjie reached Foundation Building, Wang Hong no longer had any Spiritual Weapons to give away.


    After giving his flying knife to Luo Zhongjie, Wang Hong summoned the turtle shell Spiritual Weapon he got from Gao Rong, erged it to ten feet in size, and carried ten people on it, flying behind Luo Zhongjie.


    He was thinking that with so many subordinates, it would be good to get a small Flying Boat for future endeavors. It would make group movements more convenient, although the cost of building a Flying Boat was not cheap.


    He nned to learn more about it when he had time. If affordable, he would build one or two.


    Three dayster, they arrived at their destination. Flying over the mountain valley, they saw a group of Stone Armor Beasts roaring at the sky.


    After circling over the valley several times, they estimated around five hundred Stone Armor Beasts. The second-tier Demonic Beasts had not appeared yet, and their numbers were unclear, suspected to be in the caves within the valley.


    After a brief discussion, the three decided to start their attack from the valley entrance.


    The three parked their Spiritual Weapons at the entrance, and the Qi Cultivation cultivators jumped down, quickly forming a battle formation.


    The thirty Qi Cultivation cultivators split into three squads. In each squad, three cultivators wieldedrge shields and wore full metal, high-quality Magical Weapon-grade armor for defense.


    The remaining seven in each squad wielded long spears, standing behind the shield-bearers. They also had several short spears in their Storage Bags for throwing.


    These cultivators,cking Spiritual Roots and specializing in Body Refining, were not adept at spell-basedbat.


    Thus, over the years, theirbat style remained simr to that of a military unit.


    Before the second-tier Demonic Beasts appeared, Wang Hong and Ling Shuai provided cover, allowing Luo Zhongjie and his subordinates to kill the first-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Since the number of first-tier Demonic Beasts was more than ten times theirs, rushing in recklessly was not wise.


    The three squads devised a strategy where one squad would lure a portion of the Demonic Beasts out of the valley.


    The other two squads would ambush at the entrance and jointly kill the lured Beasts.


    The squad assigned to lure the Beasts didn''t have to go far into the valley before three Stone Armor Beasts noticed and charged at them, regardless of whether they could win or not.


    With just three Demonic Beasts, the ten-person squad stabbed forward with their long spears and easily killed them.


    Hearing themotion, seven more Demonic Beasts surrounded them, which the squad also effortlessly killed.


    As they moved forward, they encountered Demonic Beasts in small numbers, not enough to bother luring them out.


    Observing from above, Luo Zhongjie noticed this and sent a message, telling the two squads at the entrance to stop ambushing and join the attack.


    Once the other two squads joined, the three maintained a certain distance, advancing in a triangr formation to support each other.


    Wang Hong and Ling Shuai followed, observing the battle from the air.


    Wang Hong was ustomed to watching his subordinates fight, but Ling Shuai, who had lived in Jin''an City and Boundary City and fought Demonic Beasts countless times, was somewhat surprised.


    He had never seen such a fighting style before. Their every move was uniform, and they trusted each other immensely, coordinating seamlessly.


    Each team of ten moved as one.


    He also noticed that these cultivators were incredibly strong. Those with shields in front could directly collide with the Demonic Beasts, sending the Stone Armor Beasts flying.


    The short spears they threw whistled through the air, always urately piercing the Demonic Beasts'' heads, showcasing their precision and strength.


    Since these were thrown with brute force, unlike cultivators controlling Magical Weapons with Divine Sense, their attack range was far greater.


    When they reached the center of the Mountain Valley, a second-tier Stone Armor Beast emerged from a cave.


    This lower-tier second-tier Stone Armor Beast, noticing themotion in the valley, roared and charged towards the three squads.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 261: Cultivating Spirit Fields

    Chapter 261: Cultivating Spirit Fields


    A second-tier Demonic Beast charged toward them, and Wang Hong, wanting to test everyone''s strength, stopped Ling Shuai, who was about to make a move.


    Wang Hong took care of the other first-tier Demonic Beasts approaching them and left the second-tier Demonic Beast to charge towards the three squads with a roar.


    Luo Zhongjie understood Wang Hong''s intention and refrained from attacking, instead directing from the air.


    This second-tier Stone Armor Beast was over twenty feet long, covered in thick stone armor all over its body. It didn''t seem particrly fast and didn''t appear to possess any innate Magical Arts abilities.


    When they were about a hundred yards apart, Wang Hong''s subordinates on their side began their attack.


    Following Luo Zhongjie''smand, over twenty short spears split into three groups and swiftly shot towards the head, neck, and chest of the Stone Armor Beast.


    The Stone Armor Beast stood upright upon seeing the spearsing, swinging its two front legs to deflect most of the iing short spears.


    Only a few short spears hit its chest, knocking off ayer of stone armor.


    Seeing this, Luo Zhongjie, who was flying in the air, gave anothermand, and the three squads dispersed, shooting from three different directions, targeting different parts of the beast.


    The seven short spears in front no longer concentrated on a single point but instead targeted the head, chest, and front legs from the front, with the primary purpose of drawing the Demonic Beast''s attention from the front.


    The other two squads targeted the two hind legs from the front and side to limit its mobility.


    As expected, the Stone Armor Beast stood upright again, waving its two front legs to sweep away the short spearsing from the front.


    It didn''t clearly sense that there were fewer short spearsing from the front this time, after all, it hadn''t learned mathematics during its growth, so it was not sensitive to numbers.


    As it brushed away the short spears from the front and was about to let out a triumphant roar, it suddenly felt intense pain in its hind legs.


    Then, it roared and charged toward the squad that had shot its hind legs moments ago.


    Luo Zhongjie had no intention of letting this squad face off against the second-tier Demonic Beast directly. Instead, he changed the formation.


    They repositioned the squad to attract the Stone Armor Beast''s attention from the front while simultaneously attacking it from the front and then retreating, maintaining a safe distance.


    The remaining two squads continued to attack from the sides, primarily targeting its legs to restrict its mobility.


    Themotion from this battle attracted more Stone Armor Beasts from the vicinity, but Wang Hong and Ling Shuai managed to hold them off.


    Just at that moment, two more second-tier Stone Armor Beasts rushed out from the mountain cave, one of which turned out to be a high-quality second-tier Demonic Beast.


    Wang Hong went to meet the high-quality second-tier Stone Armor Beast, simultaneously summoning his Binding Spirit Rope to entangle it.


    The second-tier Stone Armor Beast was still running around cluelessly, not understanding what was happening, when it was securely bound by the Binding Spirit Rope.


    After immobilizing the Demonic Beast, Wang Hong paid it no further attention and continued to watch the battle while clearing out the first-tier Demonic Beasts approaching them.


    As a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator, Ling Shuai only needed a few rounds to y a first-tier lower-grade Demonic Beast that couldn''t fly.


    At this point, the second-tier Demonic Beast that had been surrounded by thirty people already had both of its hind legs broken.


    Due to the Demonic Beast''s habit of changing direction each time it was attacked, it hadn''t even touched its opponents until now. This strategy was purely taking advantage of the low intelligence of the Demonic Beast.


    At this point, both of its hind legs were broken, and it had no chance of catching up to its enemies. It could only slowly sumb to the continuous attacks.


    Before long, this group of Demonic Beasts had beenpletely ughtered, including three second-tier and around five hundred first-tier ones.


    Valuable parts from the Demonic Beast corpses were collected, and the remaining carcasses were stored in severalrge Storage Bags by Wang Hong.


    It was only now that the group had the time to thoroughly inspect the entire Mountain Valley. Everyone spread out, each going in a different direction to survey the entire area.


    This Mountain Valley had a total area of over a thousand acres, with two small Spirit Veins running through it, converging at a Spirit Spring.


    Due to the presence of Spirit Veins, there were some Spiritual Herbs growing in the Mountain Valley, although most of them were not mature, likely having been consumed by the group of Demonic Beasts.


    Near the Spirit Spring, a few decent second-tier Spiritual Herbs grew, but they were also not yet mature.


    On the edge of the Mountain Valley, there were three Mountain caves, likely the dwellings of three second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Wang Hong explored inside them and found a few pieces of second-tier Ore but nothing else of value.


    Although this Mountain Valley had an area of over a thousand acres, not all of thend was suitable for cultivating spirit fields. To be suitable, it needed a sufficient supply of Spiritual Energy.


    Furthermore, the quality of spirit fields depended on the concentration of Spiritual Energy. In the Cultivation World, spirit fields were categorized as first-tier, second-tier, third-tier, and so on.


    First-tier spirit fields were suitable for nting first-tier Spiritual Objects, second-tier spirit fields for both first-tier and second-tier Spiritual Objects, and third-tier spirit fields for nting first-tier to third-tier Spiritual Objects, and so forth.


    If one wanted to nt second-tier Spiritual Objects in a first-tier spirit field, it could be done, but it would require constant watering with Spirit Stone or Spirit Spring Water to replenish Spiritual Energy for the fields to support the growth of second-tier Spiritual Objects.


    All the estates Wang Hong had purchased in Azure Void City had first-tier spirit fields. Even though his sect-allocated cave mansion had over forty acres ofnd, thebined second-tier spirit fields only amounted to a little over an acre.


    Additionally, different types of soil in spirit fields were suitable for nting different Spiritual Objects.


    After a thorough examination, it was determined that this Mountain Valley could be developed into spirit fields of over three hundred acres. Close to the Spirit Vein, they could potentially create over ten acres of second-tier spirit fields.


    Since they had decided to develop spirit fields here, the group of over thirty people decided to temporarily settle down in this area.


    Ling Shuai''s daughter was entrusted to Xu Lun for care, and Wang Hong instructed him to return to Azure Void City first since he was needed there.


    Wang Hong and his thirty-plus subordinates began working on cultivating the spirit fields, starting with leveling the ground.


    The Mountain Valley was not entirely t, with numerousrge boulders scattered about. Aside from a few Spiritual Herbs growing on some of the rocks, most of them were unnecessary obstacles.


    They had to dig out and remove theserge stones first, then cut down all the trees that grew naturally in the area. Afterward, they would tten the soil and divide the spirit fields into manageable plots for cultivation.


    Once the spirit fields were properly prepared, they needed to construct houses. Since there would be a permanent presence here, it made sense to build the houses now.


    For this group of people with immense strength, building houses was not a challenging task. They used the stones excavated while leveling the ground to construct sturdy foundations. Due to the lower terrain here, they built the foundations three feet above the ground.


    Then they used the wood they had previously cut down to construct houses on top of these stone foundations.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 262: The Formation Master

    Chapter 262: The Formation Master


    They were a group of more than thirty people who had spent over a month constructing dozens of houses. In addition to the two weeks it took to clear thend for the spirit fields, it had taken them nearly two months topletely transform this Mountain Valley.


    Originally, this Mountain Valley was filled with trees and scattered rocks, but now it was neatly organized. Spirit Spring Water had been diverted into the fields, and dozens of houses were scattered around the valley.


    There were only two things left to do. First, they needed to prepare seeds or seedlings. The second was to set up a defensive formation. In this remote wilderness, having no defensive formation was not an option. Both humans and Demonic Beasts posed a danger.


    Especially when certain Spiritual Herbs matured, they would emit a unique aroma. Some of these aromas could travel quite far, attracting people or Demonic Beasts from a distance.


    A protective formation not only defended against external threats but also prevented the leakage of these aromas, reducing many potential problems.


    "You will temporarily stay here with your people. If there''s a danger you can''t handle, evacuate with your group. I will return to Azure Void City first to find Spiritual Herb seeds or seedlings. Additionally, I will need to hire a formation master to set up a formation here."


    Wang Hong arranged Luo Zhongjie and the others and then left Mountain Valley.


    On his way, he found a secluded ce, quietly hid, and entered his Space.


    Inside the Space, he cleared a few acres ofnd specifically for cultivating seedlings. Currently, time inside his Space passed at a rate of one hundred sixty-five times that of the outside world.He could cultivate some young nts first and then transnt them into the spirit fields, saving some time in the process.


    Tier-one Spiritual Herbs were rtively quicker to mature, usually taking a few decades. However, tier-two Spiritual Herbs required several hundred years to mature, longer than the lifespan of a Foundation Building cultivator.


    With over three hundred acres of tier-one spirit fields, if he added some Space soil to them, he could even nt tier-two or tier-three Spiritual Objects.


    However, he didn''t n to do so. If all the tier-one spirit fields were filled with tier-two Spiritual Objects and they thrived, he might have to resort to drastic measures if someone wanted to inspect the ce.


    He intended to allocate fifty acres for that purpose and use some Space soil to nt mutated Spirit Grains. The rest of the spirit fields, he decided to cultivate honestly, growing whatever was appropriate.


    After returning to Azure Void City, Wang Hong first sought out Xu Lun.


    "East Master, is it all set up over there? I heard from Ling Shuai that they managed to clear hundreds of acres of spirit fields in that Mountain Valley."


    Xu Lun approached Wang Hong excitedly, clearly sharing in the joy of this achievement.


    "Yes, it''s all cleared. There are over three hundred acres and ten acres of tier-two spirit fields," Wang Hong said with a smile.


    "I''vee back this time to find a formation master to set up a defensive formation in Mountain Valley. Do you know which of the tier-two formation masters in Azure Void City has the highest proficiency in formations?"


    Mountain Valley was too vast, and ordinary array tes wouldn''t be able to cover such a distance. They needed a formation master to set it up on-site.


    Xu Lun pondered for a while before responding slowly:


    Among the tier-two formation masters in Azure Void City, there was one particrly skilled individual. However, this person was quite arrogant and had no interest in ordinarypensation. It might be challenging to persuade her," Xu Lun exined.


    "Oh, there''s such a remarkable person? You may as well tell me about her. I''ll give it a try, even if I can''t convince her, I won''t lose anything," Wang Hong replied with keen interest.


    "This person is named Cai, a female cultivator who resides in the South City District. She is deeply engrossed in the study of formations, rarely entertaining outsiders. East Master, you can give it a shot," Xu Lun said.


    "Alright, I''ll go and look for her," Wang Hong said and was about to leave. However, Xu Lun called him back and handed him a Jade Scroll.


    "East Master, if you can''t persuade her, this Jade Scroll contains the addresses of a few otherpetent tier-two formation masters. You might find them useful," Xu Lun said, clearly not holding high hopes for Wang Hong''s sess.


    Wang Hong found the address Xu Lun had mentioned¡ªa tranquil courtyard with a cluster of spirit bamboo at the entrance. He approached the door and gently knocked. After a moment, he heard faint footsteps approaching the door.


    "Creak."


    The wooden door opened slowly, revealing the face of a young woman in her twenties.


    "Whom are you looking for?" the woman asked.


    "Is this the residence of Daoist Cai?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "Yes, what is it? My mistress does not usually receive visitors," the woman replied and seemed ready to close the door.


    Wang Hong quickly took another step forward and said, "Please wait. I happened to obtain a type of Spirit Tea that I believe is quite invigorating and can dispel fatigue. I would like Daoist Cai to taste it."


    Wang Hong retrieved a small wooden box from his Storage Bag and handed it to the woman.


    "My mistress doesn''t ept gifts," the woman responded.


    Seeing the woman about to decline again, Wang Hong added, "This Spirit Tea is exceptional, and your mistress will surely appreciate it."


    The young woman epted the wooden box, thinking that she could let her mistress decide whether to ept it or not.


    "Alright, wait here," the woman said. She closed the door, and soon, the faint footsteps faded into the distance.


    The young woman entered an attic room where a woman in white sat.


    The woman had a serene and elegant appearance, untainted by the dust of the world, exuding a transcendent beauty.


    "Miss, someone was here earlier, offering a Spirit Tea. He said you might like it," the young woman said, cing the wooden box containing the Spirit Tea on the table in front of the woman in white.


    "That person is quite stingy, isn''t he? Who measures tea by the leaf?" the young woman grumbled from the side.


    Meanwhile, the woman in white approached the wooden box, gently opened the lid, and found only five emerald-green tea leaves inside.


    "This person is quite miserly indeed. Who measures tea by the leaf like this?" shemented.


    Nevertheless, she took a breath and instantly felt a significant improvement in her overall well-being.


    "This tea seems quite good and should be beneficial for me. Go and invite him in," the woman in white instructed. For a formation master like her, who often exhausted her mental energy when deducing formations, this Spirit Tea was a rare treasure.


    When they deduced formations, it took a significant toll on their mental strength, often leading to fatigue and even straining their spiritual energy.


    The woman had just taken a sip and felt the refreshing effects of the Spirit Tea on her mind. This made her reconsider her usual practice of avoiding visitors.


    Soon, the young woman led Wang Hong into the attic.


    "Esteemed guest, wee. Please have a seat," the woman in white greeted Wang Hong. After he took a seat, she continued, "May I inquire about the purpose of your visit?"


    "I would like to request Daoist Cai''s assistance in setting up a formation," Wang Hong replied directly, not beating around the bush.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 263: Designing the Formation

    Chapter 263: Designing the Formation


    The white-d woman spoke, "I wonder what kind of formation you need?" It seemed she had no intention of refusing.


    Wang Hong quickly exined the situation in Mountain Valley and the desired oue.


    After a brief pause, the white-d woman said, "I need to inspect the site first, consider the terrain, the direction of the Spirit Veins, and other factors. Only then can I design a formation diagram tailored to your needs."


    Wang Hong was surprised. He hadn''t expected the formation master to be so skilled, which exined her reputation.


    Formation masters shared something inmon with their counterparts, the alchemists. Ordinary formation masters would set up formations by following established patterns. Throughout history, countless fixed formation diagrams had been passed down. Most formation masters would simply learn a few of these diagrams and replicate them.


    It was akin to mastering a basic formation like the Three Powers Formation and being able to set it up meticulously, which would qualify one as a formation master.


    Some formation masters could only grasp three to five formations and would use them repeatedly everywhere they went.


    Being proficient in dozens of formations made one stand out among formation masters of the same tier.


    A formation master who could modify existing formations based on geography, Spirit Veins, and other factors to better suit the environment was considered a true master of the craft.As for those who could directly design formation diagrams, they were exceedingly rare.


    In the Cultivation World, this pattern of learning from predecessors and rigidly adhering to their methods wasmon across all fields. Most people simply applied what had already been created, with only a few able to adapt and innovate after mastering the basics.


    True geniuses were scarce, and even the most extraordinary among them had to acquire a solid foundation of knowledge before they could create something new.


    This was why Cultivation Techniques, skills, and traditions were highly valued¡ªbecause true creators were few, and in a world where time was scarce due to cultivation, who had the time to delve deeply into these arts?


    Wang Hong was not a genius. The reason he could create new Pill Recipes was because he had ess to Space, which afforded him hundreds of times more time to slowly acquire the necessary knowledge.


    Seeing Wang Hong lost in thought, the white-d woman added, "Before I investigate the terrain, you''ll need to provide a deposit. I only ept this kind of Spirit Tea."


    She gently shook the wooden box Wang Hong had brought.


    She had originally nned to focus on her formation studies during this time, but Wang Hong''s offering of this Spirit Tea made her reconsider.


    "I''m not sure how much Spirit Tea you require, and I don''t have much on hand either," Wang Hong said cautiously, fearing an exorbitant demand. After all, without the assistance of Space, the production of this Qiu Long Tea was extremely limited.


    The white-d woman asked, "How much do you have right now?"


    "I currently have only one pound," Wang Hong replied. This was already his bottom line. It wasn''t about being stingy; it was the fact that, given the rarity of Spirit Tea, this was the most he could provide.


    "Alright, one pound of Spirit Tea, and I''ll be responsible for designing the formation diagram for you. As for the materials needed for the setup, you''ll have to purchase them yourself. If you require my assistance in the actual deploymentter, additional fees will apply."


    The two agreed on the price, and Wang Hong paid half a pound of Spirit Tea as a deposit.


    The following day, Wang Hong took the white-d woman to Mountain Valley, where they carefully investigated the area for an entire day.


    Upon their return to Azure Void City three dayster, the white-d woman handed Wang Hong a Jade Scroll. Inside were the formation design for Mountain Valley and a list of materials required for the setup, which included hundreds of different materials, some of which Wang Hong had never heard of before.


    Wang Hong transcribed the list of materials and handed it to Xu Lun to begin collecting them.


    After more than half a month, Xu Lun returned to Wang Hong.


    "East Master, there are still over ten types of materials that we couldn''t find. I''ve already searched through all the shops in Azure Void City."


    Xu Lun handed over a Storage Bag to Wang Hong, along with a Jade Scroll listing the materials that couldn''t be found.


    Wang Hong nced at the Jade Scroll and saw that these were all second-tier materials. He said, "Make two more copies of this list, and give one to Zhao Ning and one to Skinny Monkey. During this time, each of us will attend various trade fairs and auctions."


    Thinking for a moment, Wang Hong retrieved various items from a Storage Bag, including pill bottles, wine bottles, wooden boxes, jade boxes, and more. "These materials for the formation are undoubtedly rare items. No one will be willing to sell them for Spirit Stones. Let''s use these rare materials for trade as well."


    He stuffed all these items into a Storage Bag and handed it to Xu Lun.


    Azure Void City had numerous ces where Foundation Building cultivators could trade, but they usually urred every half month or month. Sometimes there would be no trade fairs for several days, while other times, there might be multiple fairs in a single day. Therefore, each of them had to attend different events.


    After bidding farewell to Xu Lun, Wang Hong sent a Transmission Talisman to Liu Changsheng, asking him to discreetly search for the remaining materials.


    Liu Changsheng, as the former head of Shadow Kill, was privy to many secrets, including some underground ck markets.


    On that day, dozens of Foundation Building cultivators gathered in a hall, participating in a trading event.


    Wang Hong, disguised as a middle-aged man, waited for his turn at the event and directly listed the names of the over ten materials he needed.


    In exchange, he offered second-tier Spirit Wine or Nourishing Essence Pills.


    Second-tier Spirit Wine and Nourishing Essence Pills were considered standard currencies among Foundation Building cultivators. Almost everyone had a need for these items, and they were always in demand.


    As a result, Wang Hong''s offer quickly drew the interest of many Foundation Building cultivators.


    In the end, he managed to exchange two pieces of formation materials in return for his Spirit Wine. Others were interested in his Spirit Wine and pills, but they could only envy his sessful trades.


    On the same day, Skinny Monkey and Zhao Ning each obtained one piece of formation material, while Xu Lun had no sess.


    In the following weeks, the four of them attended every avable trading event.


    Wang Hong''s disguise skills were quite effective, as he consistently offered attractive terms at these events, leading to a high sess rate in his trades.


    Xu Lun and the others,cking reliable disguise skills, were more cautious and had a lower sess ratepared to Wang Hong.


    After more than three months, they finally managed to gather the remaining ten-plus pieces of formation materials.


    Wang Hong decided to spare himself the trouble and asked the woman surnamed Cai to handle the formation setup.


    "You''ve run out of Spirit Tea. What do you intend to use aspensation this time? I have no interest in ordinary items," the female cultivator asked when Wang Hong approached her again for assistance with the formation.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 264: Formation Deployment

    Chapter 264: Formation Deployment


    "Do you think this will work?"


    Wang Hong took out a Jade vial, holding it with Spiritual Power, and offered it to the woman cultivator.


    The woman in white reached out to take the vial, opened the lid, nced at its contents, and then casually closed it.


    "Resplendent Visage Elixir! If other female cultivators see this, they might be willing to trade their fortunes for it with a fellow cultivator."


    Unfortunately, it''s useless for me. I don''t have many years left, so what use do I have for this Resplendent Visage Elixir?"


    Wang Hong hadn''t expected that this seemingly young formation master was already nearing the end of her lifespan. She must be nearly two hundred years old!


    No wonder she secluded herself. When a person is so close to death, what use do they have for worldly possessions?


    The woman in white seemed to guess Wang Hong''s thoughts and added, "I have some injuries, though. If the fellow cultivator happens to have some high-quality healing pills, it''s worth considering."


    Perhaps even when facing death, she didn''t want to be mistaken for an old hag.As she proposed the exchange, the woman also offered an exnation to herself.


    "I happen to be an Alchemist, and I have some healing pills on hand. Maybe there are some that would suit fellow cultivator Cai," he said.


    Wang Hong took out three vials of pills and ced them in front of the woman in white.


    Hearing Wang Hong''s words, a hint of surprise appeared on the woman''s face as she carefully examined the three vials.


    "These three pills, while they are considered top-tier among second-tier healing pills, I''ve already tried them all, and they won''t help my injuries," she said with some disappointment. Over the years, she had tried countless types of pills, mostly second-tier healing pills, and had already taken them.


    "Would fellow cultivator kindly take a look at this?"


    Wang Hong looked at the serene and elegant face of the woman in white and felt a pang of sympathy. He took out a finely crafted Jade vial and presented it to her.


    These were the pills he had refined for He Yuan''s injuries, and there were still some left. They were made primarily from seven-hundred-year-old Jade Marrow Mushroom, and he had made significant improvements to the pill recipe, making them more effective than before.


    The woman in white picked up the Jade vial and gently poured out a crystal-clear pill, holding it in her hand and carefully examining it.


    She had never seen this type of pill before, so she had no idea of its effects.


    "I don''t know what kind of pill this is; I''ve never heard of it," she admitted. The pill looked beautiful like jade, but she wasn''t an expert in this field and couldn''t judge its quality.


    "This is a new pill I''ve personally formted. Its effects are better than other second-tier healing pills," Wang Hong said, being modest.


    The woman in white couldn''t determine the pill''s quality and didn''t know if Wang Hong was deceiving her, but in the end, she decided to trust him and agreed to the exchange.


    Wang Hong once again led the woman in white to set up a formation in Mountain Valley.


    Mountain Valley was surrounded on three sides by mountains, and the defensive formation extended to the peaks on all three sides. By utilizing the height of the peaks, it enhanced the defense.


    As a result, the three peaks became natural walls, and because the range of the formation increased, the amount of Spiritual Energy needed to activate the formation also significantly increased.


    The valley entrance was still preserved as the entrance and exit for the Large Formation. Anyone entering or exiting the Large Formation needed to carry a specially made pass token; otherwise, they would be considered intruders by the Large Formation.


    This formation had two operating modes. The first was the daily mode, suitable for times of peace. In this mode, the Large Formation isted the area, preventing outsiders from probing or entering without permission. It consumed very little Spiritual Energy, relying on the two small Spirit Veins in the valley to maintain its operation.


    The second mode was the defensive mode, used during times of war or external threats. It would activate a protective shield to withstand external attacks.


    This mode consumes Spiritual Energy extremely quickly and requires arge supply of Spirit Stones. The exact amount of consumption depends on the intensity of the enemy''s attacks.


    It took a full seven days to set up this formation.


    On the second day of the formation arrangement, Wang Hong delivered the promised healing pills to the woman in white.


    That same evening, she took one of the pills as she prepared herself for setting up the formation.


    It was only then that she realized Wang Hong had not exaggerated when he imed that these healing pills were better than ordinary second-tier ones. In fact, he had been quite modest.


    However, given the extent of her injuries, one pill wouldn''t be enough.


    Seven dayster, the two of them, one in purple and one in white, stood at the valley entrance.


    "Wang Daoist friend, the formation has finally been sessfully set up. Currently, it''s in the daily mode. I wonder if you are satisfied?" the woman in white asked.


    "I''m very satisfied. Fellow cultivator Cai, you truly live up to your reputation," Wang Hong replied. Indeed, this formation was exceptional, even among second-tier formations.


    "I''m d you''re satisfied. I have one more request, though, and I hope you can agree."


    "Oh, I wonder what it is? If it''s within my abilities, I will do my best to fulfill it."


    Although Wang Hong didn''t know the nature of the request, he had some guesses.


    "Do you still have any of your healing pills? I would like to make a trade with you."


    "May I ask what you intend to trade with me?" Wang Hong asked. Just like before, he wasn''t interested in ordinary Spiritual Objects.


    "I have a Breakthrough Realm Pill. Would you consider trading with me?" the woman in white proposed. She thought that Wang Hong, being an Alchemist, might not have this kind of pill, and even if he did, he wouldn''t mind having more.


    Wang Hong shook his head and said, "I''m sorry, but I don''t need that kind of pill."


    "I also have a thousand-year-old Spiritual Herb."


    This was herst resort, something she never revealed to others. Besides, most Alchemists were passionate about Spiritual Herbs. Even a second-tier Spiritual Herb that survived for a thousand years would be third-tier.


    However, she didn''t know that Wang Hong was currently contemting how to sell off the thousand-year-old Spiritual Herbs in his Space.


    "What kind of Spiritual Herb is it?" Wang Hong asked. If it was a rare species he didn''t have, he might consider the trade.


    "It''s a thousand-year-old Frigid Star Grass."


    "Unfortunately, it''s a coincidence, but I also have a thousand-year-old Frigid Star Grass."


    This type of Spiritual Herb was rtivelymon, but it was rare to find one that had survived for a thousand years. Wang Hong actually had more than a hundred of them.


    "How about this? I''m very interested in the art of formations. What if you teach me about formations, and in return, I''ll take care of your injuries?" Wang Hong suggested.


    "Do you really have a thousand-year-old Frigid Star Grass?" She found it unlikely. Having one such Spiritual Herb was already impressive, but having the same species was highly improbable.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 265: Planting

    Chapter 265: nting


    The white-d woman neither epted nor rejected Wang Hong''s proposed trade conditions. Instead, she persistently inquired about the Thousand-Year Cold Star Grass, seemingly suspecting that Wang Hong had fabricated it to deceive her.


    Helplessly, Wang Hong took out a single Thousand-Year Cold Star Grass and disyed it.


    Even though it was a trade, he also had his own requests. Although there were many jade scrolls on formations within the sect''s inheritance, self-study and guidance from experts made a significant difference.


    Learning without guidance meant having to figure out every problem on his own, making it easy to go astray and unknowingly enter a dead end.


    "Do you really have enough pills topletely heal my injuries?" the white-d woman asked. She could sense that, given the effects of the pills she had used before, it would take at least a dozen more topletely heal her.


    "I have some pills on hand, and if they are not enough, I will find a way to obtain spiritual herbs to refine more for you, Fellow Cai," Wang Hong promised.


    "Very well, I am Cai Xuanzhi. In the future, I can assist you in learning the path of formations. Before delving into formations, you must first learn runes. Have you studied runes before?" Since she had agreed to the trade, Cai Xuanzhi quickly got to the point.


    "I have previously practiced talisman crafting and have self-studied some basic runes," Wang Hong replied.


    Wang Hong had spent at least a couple of hundred years studying basic runes."It''s good that you''ve studied talisman crafting before. Runes are indeedmon, so it should be easier for you to learn. However, the path of talismans is different from that of formations. I have some basic rune jade scrolls here. Take them back and contemte. When you''ve learned enough,e find me," Cai Xuanzhi said, thinking that Wang Hong probably only had a superficial knowledge of runes.


    She had a high regard for Wang Hong''s alchemy skills, as being able to independently develop new pills was a rare talent. However, human energy was limited, and mastering one field was already difficult. Wang Hong''s pursuit of both talisman crafting and formations seemed overly ambitious to her.


    Nevertheless, their rtionship was purely transactional, and she didn''t want to say more. Their connection hadn''t reached the point of deep conversation, and revealing too much might lead to embarrassment.


    Taking the rune jade scrolls Cai Xuanzhi handed over, Wang Hong also took out a jade vial from his storage bag and handed it to her.


    "Fellow Cai, I have six pills here for you. Please ept them," Wang Hong said, reserving two for himself. He would need to refine more healing pills when he returned, so it was wise to have some in stock.


    "Do you have a name for this pill?" Cai Xuanzhi asked as she examined the pills in her hand.


    "Not yet. How about you give it a name?" Wang Hong replied, showing little interest in naming them.


    Cai Xuanzhi looked at the pills, pondered for a moment, and said, "These pills are as clear as jade. How about calling them ''Hanyu Pill''?"


    "Great! Let''s go with ''Hanyu Pill'' from now on," Wang Hong agreed, finding the name fitting.


    Afterpleting the transaction, Cai Xuanzhi left the mountain valley, while Wang Hong remained behind to nt spiritual herbs. The spiritual herb seedlings he had cultivated in his space had matured over the past few months, and he began harvesting the first-tier spiritual herbs.


    In the past few days, Wang Hong had cultivated some first-tier seedlings, and they had already aged a few years.


    Wang Hong took these seedlings and handed them over to Luo Zhongjie, instructing him to take thirty people to nt them. Meanwhile, Wang Hong took out severalrge bags of soil from his storage space and evenly spread them across fifty acres of first-tier spiritual fields, then turned the soil.


    Afterward, he nted the Spirit Grain. Currently, these three hundred-plus acres of spiritual fields were primarily for rapidly obtaining substantial returns, and Spirit Grain was the key.


    With his Foundation Building cultivation level, Wang Hong used his Flying Sword to create rows in the spiritual fields, then used his control over objects to scatter the seeds into the furrows and covered them with soil using the sword.


    He finished nting all fifty acres in just one day.


    Luo Zhongjie and his group nted Spiritual Herbs in the remaining first-tier spiritual fields. Now, only ten acres of second-tier spiritual fields were left.


    Wang Hong, apanied by Luo Zhongjie and others, nted most of these second-tier spiritual fields with the main ingredient for the Nourishing Essence Pill, the Essence Nurturing Grass. Additionally, he transnted some second-tier spirit fruit trees, which bore some immature spirit fruits.


    Such spirit fruit trees were sometimes avable in Azure Void City, but they were extremely expensive. Therefore, Wang Hong''s decision to nt them directly didn''t raise any eyebrows.


    Furthermore, he also transnted several Azure Spirit Peach Trees to the convergence point of two Spirit Veins, where the Spirit Qi was the most concentrated. To ensure their survival, he sprinkled some space soil around the tree roots.


    In the future, he might frequently harvest these spirit fruits, so it made sense to nt a few here.


    Currently, there were also somerge and small Green Spirit Peaches hanging on the trees, with therger ones even bigger than those given to Luo Zhongjie and his group.


    After nting these three hundred-plus acres of spiritual fields, Wang Hong decided to stay here and found a ce to live.


    Entering his space, he remembered that he had received over six million Spirit Stones from Liu Changsheng this time. Originally, he nned to use these Spirit Stones to buy spiritual fields, but after seizing this piece ofnd from the Demonic Beasts, he saved a significant amount of Spirit Stones.


    Zhao Ning and Skinny Monkey''s shops had also used some Spirit Stones to treat He Yuan and Luo Zhongjie''s injuries and purchase healing pills before Wang Hong''s return. The remaining Spirit Stones were invested in the newly opened East Zhou Trading Company. They needed a substantial initial investment to procure goods from the Immortal Way Trading Company.


    Wang Hong still had over five million Spirit Stones left. This time, he only expanded his space by twenty acres ofnd, so the remaining Spirit Stones were used to replenish daily Spiritual Energy consumption.


    As the area of his space increased, time inside passed faster, and the daily Spiritual Energy consumption greatly increased. Therefore, he needed to keep more Spirit Stones on hand for replenishing Spiritual Energy.


    His space originally had a hundred and thirty-five acres ofnd, with time passing at a rate of one hundred and sixty-four times that of the outside world. With the addition of twenty acres, the totalnd area reached a hundred and fifty-five acres, and time inside passed at one hundred and eighty-four times the outside world.


    Wang Hong used the newly added twenty acres to nt second-tier Spiritual Herbs. In the future, he would have many followers at the Foundation Building stage who would also need a significant supply of second-tier Spiritual Herbs, so he wanted to be prepared.


    Most of the Demonic Beast corpses he had collected had been digested and absorbed by the demon-hunting tree, turning into golden seeds. He had built a warehouse from dried wood, which was now filled with demon-hunting tree seeds.


    In the area where he had previously piled the demon corpses, he had nted nine-leaf golden thread grass for refining Essence Core Pills.


    Afterpleting these misceneous tasks in his space, he began studying the basic Rune Jade Scrolls that Cai Xuanzhi had given him. Most of these runes he had already mastered, so it was mainly a matter of revising and learning a few he hadn''t encountered before. He quickly grasped them all.


    Back in the outside world, only two days had passed, and Wang Hong had finished studying the Jade Scrolls. He decided to return to Azure Void City to request new learning materials from Cai Xuanzhi.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 266: The Second Tier Formation Master

    Chapter 266: The Second Tier Formation Master


    When Wang Hong found Cai Xuanzhi and told her that he hadpleted studying all the materials she had provided, Cai Xuanzhi didn''t say much. Instead, she handed him arge bundle of Jade Scrolls and instructed him to study on his own.


    Cai Xuanzhi believed that Wang Hong had only skimmed through the Jade Scrolls, learning only the basics without delving deeper. She recalled that it had taken her over a year to master these materials when she learned them, earning her praise from the elders in her family for her talent in formations.


    She had wanted to advise Wang Hong to be diligent and patient in his studies, emphasizing the importance of not just scratching the surface of knowledge.


    After some contemtion, she decided to hold back her words but couldn''t help but look down on Wang Hong a bit.


    The materials Cai Xuanzhi had given Wang Hong this time included the fundamentals of Runebinations, arrangements, and connections. Most of these were entirely new to Wang Hong, so it took him a bit longer this time, approximately a month. However, he had experienced over a decade in the Space, which helped him master these materials thoroughly.


    Wang Hong once again sought out Cai Xuanzhi, informing her that he hadpleted the contents of the Jade Scrolls and wanted to move on to the next stage of his studies.


    Cai Xuanzhi''s belief in her initial assessment of Wang Hong''s character only grew stronger. She gave him another stack of Jade Scrolls and told him to continue studying on his own, showing little interest in his progress. After all, their rtionship was merely a business transaction; she had done her part, and whether Wang Hong made the most of it was his own concern.


    They continued this way for a year, with Wang Hong asionally returning to Qingxu Sect toplete some Alchemy tasks and earn contribution points. He used these points to exchange for more formation-rted Jade Scrolls at the Scripture Tower.


    During his time studying under Cai Xuanzhi''s guidance, heprehended all the formation Jade Scrolls obtained from the Sect. In this year, Wang Hong''s proficiency in the art of formations advanced rapidly, and he had alreadypletely grasped first-tier formations.He had performed limited practical applications, but he believed that with more hands-on experience in setting up formations, he could easily modify the existing first-tier formations to his liking.


    As for second-tier formations, he had only acquired basic knowledge and could create simple formations when referencing diagrams.


    One day, he approached Cai Xuanzhi once more, informing her that he hadpleted the content she had provided and had umted some questions he wanted to discuss.


    Over the past year, Wang Hong had also gifted Cai Xuanzhi with some Hanyu Pills, and her injuries had fully healed.


    After hearing Wang Hong''s request, Cai Xuanzhi responded, "I have already imparted all the teachings I can provide for you. From now on, you''ll need to explore andprehend on your own. If you have any questions, feel free to ask."


    After this year, she had little hope that Wang Hong could excel in formations. She had decided to end her guidance here, especially since she had already taught him second-tier formations, and teaching further would seem pointless.


    She didn''t expect Wang Hong to have any substantial questions either, considering his superficial approach to learning. Why would someone who had never taken their studies seriously suddenly have profound questions?


    "I''ve been pondering the transitions between the Five Elements Formation and the Yin and Yang Array, how to maintain bnce among the Five Elements, and the interactions within the Eight Trigrams," Wang Hong exined, listing the questions that had been weighing on his mind.


    At this moment, Cai Xuanzhi, who had always beenposed, revealed a surprised expression on her face. She was well aware of these questions, and some of them had troubled her deeply.


    However, these were typically questions encountered by second-tier formation masters. "Are these your own questions, or did you learn them elsewhere?" Cai Xuanzhi asked, still somewhat skeptical about Wang Hong''s sudden depth of inquiry.


    "Indeed, these are questions I''ve been pondering for a long time without finding a solution, which is why I specifically sought advice from Fellow Daoist Cai," Wang Hong replied confidently. His usual approach to problems was to attempt to solve them himself, using various methods. If he couldn''t find a solution right away, he would set the problem aside and revisit it once he had grown in strength, hoping to find answers more easily.


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''s assured response, Cai Xuanzhi''s surprise deepened. In her impression, Wang Hong had never diligently studied formation knowledge, only skimming through the Jade Scrolls. She had even doubted if he had thoroughly reviewed all of them because it had been such a short time¡ªjust one year¡ªfor him to transition from a formation novice to a second-tier formation master.


    Cai Xuanzhi had been considered a formation genius throughout her life, yet it had taken her several decades to be a second-tier formation master. What kind of monstrous talent, possessed with extraordinaryprehension abilities, could achieve such a feat in just a year?


    Though surprised, Cai Xuanzhi quickly provided detailed answers to Wang Hong''s various questions. She felt a sense of satisfaction that Wang Hong had made such progress, even if he wasn''t her disciple. She had yed a role in his education, which brought her some sense of aplishment.


    "Now that you have be a second-tier formation master, I have a few more Jade Scrolls here that you can study. Feel free toe to me if you have any further questions," she said, her impression of Wang Hong changing significantly along with her attitude.


    Originally, she hadn''t intended to give Wang Hong these additional Jade Scrolls for study, as she had initially considered it an insult to the value of the scrolls. Now, she believed that withholding these scrolls from him would be a waste.


    After having his long-standing questions resolved, Wang Hong left with a clear mind, holding several precious Jade Scrolls. While it had been a business transaction, he still felt gratitude toward Cai Xuanzhi.


    Before departing, he gifted Cai Xuanzhi with some Spirit Bee Royal Jelly and Spirit Honey, knowing that these items were appreciated by female cultivators.


    Armed with the Jade Scrolls, Wang Hong returned to the Mountain Valley base. The space there wasrge enough for him to practice setting up various formations.


    Twenty individuals were stationed at Mountain Valley year-round to ensure its safety and take care of the spirit fields. Luo Zhongjie had already returned to Azure Void City, leaving a newly promoted Foundation Building cultivator in charge.


    In the past year, Wang Hong had only managed to cultivate one Foundation Building cultivator. Unless unexpected circumstances arose, he would continue at this pace to eventually cultivate all his subordinates into Foundation Building cultivators.


    While this speed was quite rapid, the prospect of cultivating an entire group of cultivators into Foundation Building stage was still astonishing. However, he couldn''t afford to slow down if he wanted to survive and expand. Without sufficient power, his wealth could easily attract adversaries who would spare no expense to obtain it.


    Wang Hong began setting up various formations in Mountain Valley, starting with the simplest first-tier formations and gradually progressing to moreplex ones. He had already purchased the materials required for these formations in advance.


    In this year of rapid progress, he had also spent a considerable amount of resources on formation materials. He had nearly emptied the profits earned by the Immortal Way Trading Company for the year.


    For formation masters in the early stages of learning tiers, apart from innate talent, they also needed to consume significant resources. Without a solid foundation, they wouldn''t be able to bear the costs.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 267: A Troubled Autumn

    Chapter 267: A Troubled Autumn


    Wang Hong had spent nearly a year in Mountain Valley. During this time, he hadpletely mastered a Tier 1 formation and was almost at a point where he could use it effortlessly. He had also started setting up Tier 2 formations but had to pause due to a shortage of Tier 2 formation materials.


    The Jade Scrolls that Cai Xuanzhi had given him in theirst meeting were indeed exceptional. Throughout the year, Wang Hong often pondered their contents and gained valuable insights. However, with theck of materials, he had no choice but to leave Mountain Valley and head to Azure Void City. He also needed to visit his sect.


    At this point, Mountain Valley had two Foundation Building cultivators guarding it, along with defensive formations, so Wang Hong didn''t need to worry about its safety anymore. His group of Foundation Building cultivators had grown to twenty-six in total.


    In Boundary City, there were ten Foundation Building cultivators, while in Azure Void City, Xu Lun and his group, along with the Ma Brothers, He Yuan, and Liu Changsheng''s disciples, totaled nine. Liu Changsheng''s group had six members, and there was one more, Zhang Chunfeng.


    With such a force, no one dared to underestimate them if they were all gathered together.


    Upon reaching Azure Void City, Wang Hong went directly to the East Zhou Trading Company to find Xu Lun.


    The tradingpany had been flourishing since its opening two years ago. Besides selling arge quantity of Spirit Pills, Spiritual Herbs, Spirit Wine, and other items, it could also help Wang Hong procure the materials he needed for his formations.


    "I have a list here. Please keep an eye out for these items, and if youe across them, purchase them for me," Wang Hong handed Xu Lun a list that contained the materials he needed for his formations.


    "In addition, if you find any suitable Spiritual Weapons that can be bought with Spirit Stones, get them. Also, if there are good refining materials avable, buy them too. We have arge group now, and there is still a significant gap in Spiritual Weapons," Wang Hong instructed."East Master, the prices of Spiritual Weapons have increasedtely. Even the lower-quality ones that could be bought with Spirit Stones are now highly sought after. Thankfully, I managed to buy a few Spiritual Weapons before the price surge," Xu Lun sighed.


    "What happened?" Wang Hong felt that there must have been some significant events leading to this situation.


    "Indeed, something has happened. While the situation at the Boundary Mountain Range on the west side has not yet been resolved, trouble has erupted in the east. Recent reports indicate that the Eastern Sea Demon n has been unusually active, constantlying ashore and harassing human settlements. Justst month, they directly surrounded a human city. Despite the city''s inhabitants holding out for three days, it was eventually captured by the Eastern Sea Demon n. Only a few Golden Core cultivators and over a hundred Foundation Building cultivators managed to escape. The rest of the tens of thousands of humans in the city fell victim to the ws of the beasts," Xu Lun exined.


    Hearing this, Wang Hong had a foreboding feeling. The West Zhou Demon Realm and the Eastern Sea Demon n hadunched attacks on the East Zhou Cultivation Realm nearly simultaneously. He wondered if there was some coordination or just a coincidence. Moreover, even though the West Zhou Demon Realm and the Eastern Sea Demon n were different types of demonic beasts, they both belonged to the Demon n. Could there be some connection between them?


    In any case, with attacksing from both sides, the East Zhou Cultivation Realm was undoubtedly facing a difficult situation.


    "So, what measures has the East Zhou Cultivation Realm taken in response?" Wang Hong asked.


    Wang Hong had spent almost a year in Mountain Valley. During this time, he hadpletely mastered a Tier 1 formation and had be quite proficient in using it. He had also started setting up Tier 2 formations but had to stop due to a shortage of Tier 2 formation materials.


    The Jade Scrolls that Cai Xuanzhi had given him in theirst meeting were exceptional. Throughout the year, Wang Hong had been diligently studying them, gaining valuable insights. However, with materials running low, he needed to leave Mountain Valley and head to Azure Void City. Additionally, he had to pay a visit to his sect.


    Mountain Valley was now guarded by two Foundation Building cultivators, and there were Foundation Building cultivators in his shops as well, so Luo Zhongjie had some free time on his hands.


    "Luo Zhongjie, I have a task for you. I want you to go to the mortal realm and search for children with Spiritual Roots. Recruit them and organize their training using military methods, including daily drills," Wang Hong instructed.


    Wang Hong had experienced many battles in the Boundary Mountain Range and noticed that cultivators often fought in a disorganized and uncoordinated manner. Theycked discipline and seldom cooperated effectively. While individually strong, their collectivebat abilities werecking.


    "East Master, how many people should we recruit, and what are the criteria for Spiritual Roots?" Luo Zhongjie inquired.


    "Let''s start with a hundred people for now, and we''ll see how it goes. As for Spiritual Roots, anyone with four or more Spiritual Roots can be recruited," Wang Hong replied. He believed that recruiting a hundred individuals would suffice for the time being, providing him with some self-defense capabilities in case of major disturbances in the future. In times of peace, he nned to organize them into a caravan guard force for his future trading ventures in various cities.


    "Understood, I''ll get to it right away," Luo Zhongjie acknowledged.


    Before leaving Azure Void City, Wang Hong also gave the same order to Liu Changsheng, instructing him to recruit another hundred individuals. However, Liu Changsheng wouldn''t be able to use military methods for training, as he didn''t have ess to that kind of talent.


    Instead, Wang Hong decided to have Liu Changsheng train them in the ways of Shadow Kill, as that was his expertise.


    After making these arrangements in Azure Void City, Wang Hong once again disguised himself, this time as a sturdy elderlydy, and returned to Qingxu Sect.


    He wasn''t sure if Shadow Kill was still pursuing him, but it wasn''t the right time to confront them directly. He would evade them for now.


    Back at Qingxu Sect, Wang Hong continued to take on Alchemy tasks to earn contribution points, which he then used to exchange for formation Jade Scrolls in the Scripture Tower. Thanks to the spatial advantage, he learned at a rapid pace, which forced him to take on arge number of Alchemy tasks to umte more contribution points.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 268: Exchange Meeting

    Chapter 268: Exchange Meeting


    Pill Hall often held exchange meetings for Alchemists to share materials and experiences. Wang Hong asionally attended these gatherings.


    On this particr day, it was time for the Alchemist exchange meeting again. Wang Hong entered the grand hall where dozens of Alchemists were already seated.


    Wang Hong greeted everyone and casually found a seat.


    "Junior Brother Wang, howe you have time to attend the exchange meeting today? Aren''t you busy with Alchemy?" Tang Wan''er happened to be sitting right next to Wang Hong, and she leaned over to ask.


    They both passed the assessment on the same day and even had a bet back then. Wang Hong had once lost to her and had to give her a few bottles of Jade Bee Emperor Nectar.


    So, they were quite familiar with each other, and they greeted each other every time they met.


    "I''m not doing Alchemy today, Tang Senior Sister. Why do you ask?" Wang Hong was a bit puzzled by Tang Wan''er''s question about Alchemy.


    "Hehe! You''ve gained a nickname recently, maybe you don''t know yet. Do you know how everyone refers to you behind your back?" Tang Wan''er said with a mischievous smile.


    Wang Hong waspletely puzzled. He had been focused on studying formations recently and hadn''t paid much attention to other things, so he had no idea when he had acquired a nickname."Hehe! Everyone calls you the ''Alchemy Maniac.'' They say if you don''t practice Alchemy for a day, you won''t be able to eat or sleep, and you''ll feelpletely drained." Wang Hong couldn''t believe that people saw him as an Alchemy Maniac, considering that he had been spending most of his time studying formationstely.


    Every time, he simultaneously refined thirty sets of materials and could produce over three hundred Pills, with a Pill Sess Rate of slightly over sixty percent. No one would have expected him to have this kind of skill in Pill refinement, as it was rare for Alchemists to refine multiple batches of Pills at once.


    "You''re making meugh. Lately, I''ve had some insights into Alchemy and wanted to refine more Pills to improve my Alchemy skills," Wang Hong exined with a smile.


    "Did you hear the news, or are you pretending not to know?" Tang Wan''er asked mysteriously through Divine Sense Message Transmission.


    "What news?" Wang Hong asked in confusion.


    "The Alchemy Competition! Do you really not know, or are you pretending?" Tang Wan''er felt that Wang Hong was acting oblivious, despite clearly putting effort into his Alchemy practice.


    "Tang Senior Sister, I really didn''t know. I just returned from Azure Void City not long ago," Wang Hong said honestly.


    "Alright, I''ll fill you in. It''s no secret anyway, and the announcement might evene today. Pill Hall is going to host an Alchemy Competition soon, and they''ll select a group of outstanding Alchemists to receive guidance from Master Mei. Moreover, it''s been ten years since thest secret realm opened. The winners this time will likely get a chance to participate in the refinement of Foundation Establishment Pills," Tang Wan''er revealed, her connections in Pill Hall providing her with valuable information. She also mentioned that historically, Alchemists who performed well in the Pill Hall Competition received special attention from the sect. Based on Qingxu Sect''s past experiences, those who excelled in the Alchemy Competition had a higher chance of reaching Golden Core stage and bing Tier Three Alchemists.


    Wang Hong kept this matter in mind, and he was indeed quite interested. While he had an abundance of cultivation resources, he didn''t possess any Spiritual Objects for forming a Golden Core, not to mention that he hadn''t heard any news about it.


    As Wang Hong and Tang Wan''er chatted through Message Transmission, more Alchemists trickled into the hall. They initially exchanged Alchemy experiences and engaged in casual conversations, sometimes veering off-topic.


    After all, these exchange meetings happened every month, so there was no shortage of experiences to share. Though casual chatting wouldn''t directly improve their Alchemy skills, over time, it could help foster connections and spread some minor insider information.


    Wang Hong figured that his nickname, "Alchemy Maniac," must have originated from these idle conversations.


    Once the casual discussions were over, the meeting moved on to the next stage ¨C item exchange. The focus was on exchanging various Alchemy materials, but some other items were also traded.


    First, everyone disyed the items they were willing to trade on the tables. Forrger items, they used Magical Arts to create illusions of the objects, hovering them in front of the cultivators.


    Wang Hong took out two 600-year-old Spiritual Herbs from his Storage Bag, along with a few pieces of second-tier spirit fruit, a bottle of second-tier Spirit Wine, and a bottle of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly.


    As soon as his items were revealed, they attracted the attention of many. Even though Wang Hong didn''t have arge quantity of items for trade, everything he offered was rare and precious.


    The nearby Tang Wan''er messaged him, "Junior Brother Wang, you sure have quite the collection!"


    Tang Wan''er had some support from her family, so she had slightly more cultivation resources than the average person. However, the treasures she could trade were rtively few. She had only brought a few 200-300-year-old Spiritual Herbs and some Pills she had refined herself.


    Once everyone had disyed their trade items, the exchange began, starting with a cultivator at the far east side of the hall.


    This cultivator stood up, surveyed the room, and then said, "I''d like to exchange for Spirit Bee Royal Jelly. You can choose from the items on my table."


    As he spoke, his eyes kept shifting towards Wang Hong''s table. In the entire hall, only Wang Hong had a bottle of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly disyed.


    Wang Hong nced at the materials on the cultivator''s table, most of which were Spiritual Herbs that didn''t catch his eye.


    After waiting for a while with no response, the cultivator had no choice but to sit back down in disappointment.


    "I''d like to exchange for Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, White Crystal Fruit, Qianxue Grass, and me Blossom," another cultivator stood up and stated what he wanted to trade. He was a bit smarter, as he not only included Wang Hong''s items in his offer but also added some extra options in case Wang Hong declined.


    However, Wang Hong still didn''t find any of his trade items appealing. He managed toplete some trades with other cultivators, though.


    Finally, it was Wang Hong''s turn to make a trade, and everyone was curious about what he needed.


    "I''d like to exchange for second-tier or higher refining tool materials, or some branches of second-tier or third-tier spirit wood. You can choose from the items on my table," Wang Hong announced. He needed a substantial amount of refining tool materials, and relying solely on Xu Lun''s purchases was too slow.


    "Junior Brother Wang, I happen to have a piece of Elemental Iron Mother. Would you like to exchange it for second-tier Spirit Wine?" A red-faced cultivator stood up and was the first to propose a trade, seemingly afraid of someone else taking the opportunity.


    Wang Hong agreed to the trade immediately, and they exchanged their items on the spot.


    Three more cultivators approached Wang Hong with refining tool materials and traded them for Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, spirit fruit, and a 600-year-old Spiritual Herb, respectively.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 269: Purple Cloud Mulberry

    Chapter 269: Purple Cloud Mulberry


    Afterpleting a few transactions, Wang Hong suddenly received a Message Transmission from Tang Wan''er.


    "I can get my hands on a branch of Three-Tier Spirit Wood. Do you still have any Spirit Bee Royal Jelly left? And do you need anything else?"


    Wang Hong''s heart leaped with joy, and he quickly responded via Message Transmission, "What species is it, and how much can you obtain?"


    "It''s a young Purple Cloud Mulberry sapling that hasn''t matured yet. I can only get you a one-foot-long segment," Tang Wan''er replied. She exined that her grandfather had been cultivating a Purple Cloud Mulberry for over two hundred years, and it was only now one zhang tall.


    The Purple Cloud Mulberry was a type of Three-Tier Spirit Wood. Its leaves could be used to nurture Spirit Bees, and its mature trunk was a valuable refining tool material.


    "I''ll give you half a catty of Spirit Bee Royal Jelly, plus one Resplendent Visage Elixir. How does that sound?" Wang Hong offered.


    "Deal! Wait for my message; I''ll get back to you in a few days."


    The two quickly negotiated their trade, and at this point, their conversation came to an end.


    "Please wait for a moment, everyone. I have an announcement to make. Next month, Pill Hall will be hosting an Alchemypetition. The top five participants in thispetition will have the opportunity to participate in the Foundation Establishment Pill Refinement."As everyone was about to leave, Senior Yuan, a middle-aged schr, stepped forward to make an announcement.


    Participating in the Foundation Establishment Pill Refinement was not only about practical benefits but also a matter of honor and a symbol of one''s Alchemy prowess.


    This announcement immediately piqued everyone''s interest, and they became excited.


    At the same time, many people looked at Wang Hong with knowing nces, suddenly understanding the significance of Wang Hong''s previous frenzied Alchemy activities.


    Wang Hong remained nomittal and left Pill Hall along with the others.


    Three dayster, two female cultivators arrived at Wang Hong''s cave mansion. One of them was Tang Wan''er, but to Wang Hong''s surprise, the other was Shui Ruo''er, whom he hadn''t seen in a long time.


    During their first meeting, Tang Wan''er had mentioned her cousin, which had left Wang Hong puzzled. He had never guessed that the cousin was Shui Ruo''er.


    Shui Ruo''er had also sessfully reached Foundation Building, but she still wore a veil, and her voice remained as melodious as ever.


    Wang Hong picked some Spirit Fruits from the tree and served them with Spirit Tea. He also provided some roasted Three Yang Melon Seeds for their enjoyment.


    "Junior Brother Wang, your cave mansion is quite unique," Tang Wan''er praised as she cracked open some melon seeds.


    "I heard you went to the Boundary Mountain Range. How has it been over there?" Shui Ruo''er, with her eyes focused solely on Wang Hong, asked.


    "Tang Senior Sister, you tter me. Although there is constant fighting in the Boundary Mountain Range, my involvement as an Alchemist has limited my actual participation in battles."


    Wang Hong then briefly recounted his experiences in the Boundary Mountain Range.


    Tang Wan''er asionally marveled at some exciting moments, but for the most part, her expression remained calm.


    Only Shui Ruo''er, who seemed a bit naive, blushed and had stars in her eyes as she listened.


    After some casual conversation, Wang Hong concluded a trade with Tang Wan''er. As they left, he also gave them some Spirit Fruits from his orchard.


    On their way back, Shui Ruo''er held a Spirit Fruit in her hands and smiled foolishly.


    "Cousin! Look, he gave me something again!"


    Seeing Shui Ruo''er''s expression, Tang Wan''er wanted to say something but decided against it, not wanting to dampen her cousin''s enthusiasm.


    "Silly girl! You see, three-legged Demonic Beasts are rare in this world, but two-legged male cultivators are everywhere," Tang Wan''er gently reminded her.


    "Senior Sister, do you think I should collect these Spirit Fruits?" Shui Ruo''er asked.


    Tang Wan''er didn''t want to talk anymore and walked ahead in silence.


    "Senior Sister, why are you walking so fast? Wait for me..."


    After obtaining the Purple Cloud Mulberry, Wang Hong divided it into several small pieces and nted them in his Space.


    Then, Wang Hong drifted towards the area where he cultivated Poisonous Bees.


    Previously, he had collected the bloodline power of Demonic Beasts, which had all been absorbed by the Poisonous Bee Queen.


    Unfortunately, the Poisonous Bee Queen still hadn''t advanced to a Two-Tier Demonic Beast and had eventually reached the end of its lifespan.


    The current Poisonous Bee Queen was born from the bloodline power absorbed by the previous generation''s Bee Queen, and its strength had improved significantly. It possessed the strength of a high-quality One-Tier Demonic Beast from birth.


    As Wang Hong approached, arge group of Poisonous Bees flew towards him, circling around him as if they were very friendly.


    These creatures with little intelligence, the Poisonous Bees, seemed to have developed a close affinity with Wang Hong over the years, whether it was due to the extended breeding time or some special effect of the Space.


    Now, Wang Hong no longer needed to use a Blood Contract to establish control; each individual Poisonous Bee felt very close to him.


    This phenomenon had slowly developed in recent years and also extended to the group of Green-Tailed Spirit Bees and even Spirit nts like the Demon-Hunting Tree and Devilish Vine.


    Previously, every time he approached the Demon-Hunting Tree or Devilish Vine, these Spirit nts would attack him. But now, they showed no reaction when he came near.


    Surrounded by the Poisonous Bees, Wang Hong approached the bee''s nest, took out a small bottle, and poured out a drop of emerald green liquid, which he enveloped with his Divine Sense, letting it hover in the air.


    Then, he summoned the Poisonous Bee Queen and, under hismand, had it consume the drop of liquid.


    This liquid was specifically prepared by Wang Hong for the Poisonous Bee Queen, primarily using Green Spirit Peach as the main ingredient, along with several other Spiritual Herbs.


    After the Poisonous Bee Queen consumed the medicine, it prostrated itself on Wang Hong''s palm. Wang Hong held it in front of him and carefully examined it.


    The Poisonous Bee Queen was now entirely glossy ck, slightlyrger than a thumb, and had reached the standard of a high-quality One-Tier Demonic Beast. There was still a good chance it could advance to Two-Tier in the future.


    After feeding the Poisonous Bees, Wang Hong held a Formation Jade Scroll and drifted up to the treetops, where he began contemting quietly.


    He remainedpletely still for what felt like a year, until the sensation of hunger in his physical body awakened him. It had probably been two days in the outside world.


    He floated to the Azure Spirit Peach Tree forest, picked two of thergest Green Spirit Peaches, and then moved to the pond where he cultivated the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus. Using his Divine Sense, he captured some small fish and brought them into the Space.


    After frying the fish and pairing them with the Demonic Beast meat soup he had prepared earlier, Wang Hong felt his cultivation level increase once again.


    He had started consuming Green Spirit Peaches recently, even though they were not fully matured. At this moment, the Spiritual Power converted from the Green Spirit Peaches above his dantian continuously flowed like rain.


    After both Green Spirit Peaches were ingested and fully refined into Spiritual Power, the depth of the Spiritual Power in his dantian had increased by another inch.


    With a few more days of consuming Green Spirit Peaches, his dantian would bepletely filled, and he should be able to advance again.


    Satiated and satisfied, he continued practicing the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique."


    Earlier, he had obtained a Dragon Blood Grass in Jin''an City, which he had cultivated in his Space for hundreds of years. It had finally matured.


    Recently, he had refined it into pills, greatly enhancing the effects of practicing the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique."


    Now, when he circted his Cultivation Technique, his skin emitted a golden glow, as if he had been forged from metal.


    When he used a low-grade Spiritual Weapon to strike his body, it made a resounding ng.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 270: Fourth Level Foundation Building

    Chapter 270: Fourth Level Foundation Building


    One monthter, Wang Hong finally broke through to the fourth level of Foundation Building, bing a mid-level Foundation Building cultivator.


    At the same time, he elevated his hidden cultivation level to the second level of Foundation Building. Among the batch of cultivators who started Foundation Building with him, those who practiced faster were now in the mid-level, and those who progressed slower had reached the second level. He couldn''t afford to fall too far behind.


    After reaching the fourth level of Foundation Building, he felt that his Spiritual Power was a bit unstable, and it didn''t flow as smoothly as he''d hoped. This was likely due to his excessive consumption of Green Spirit Peaches, which had rapidly increased his Spiritual Power but left it impure and his Realm unsteady.


    He couldn''t continue to use Green Spirit Peaches to increase his cultivation level in the short term. Instead, he needed to refine his Spiritual Power and stabilize his Realm.


    With this promotion, his dantian''s sea expanded by another two feet, now measuring twelve feet in width, surpassing the majority ofte-stage Foundation Building cultivators. Due to his naturallyrger foundation, each two-foot increment required much more Spiritual Power than others at his level.


    Wang Hong only secluded himself for a few days to stabilize his cultivation before emerging, as the Alchemypetition organized by the Pill Hall was about to begin.


    If possible, he hoped to make it into the top five, but he was still a neer, having only reached Foundation Building within thest ten years.


    Within the Pill Hall, some of the older Alchemists had been in the second tier for over a century, making their Alchemy experience immensely rich.


    For this Pill Hallpetition, participants had to bring their own materials, and they could choose the type of pill they wanted to refine. Wang Hong decided to bring materials for the Nourishing Essence Pill, as it was the one he had the most experience with.He also had to bring his own Alchemy Furnace. The Spiritual Weapon-level Alchemy Furnace he currently used had been acquired from the assassin Zhu Yan in the past. However, it was not convenient to use it openly, so he had to settle for a high-quality Magical Weapon Alchemy Furnace. Despite it potentially affecting his Pill Sess Rate, Wang Hong remained confident.


    "Now, I announce the start of the 453rd Alchemypetition of the Qingxu Sect!" dered the chief judge, Master Mei, seated at the head of the Pill Hall''s main hall. She was apanied by two others who would serve as judges for thepetition.


    All around the hall, more than a hundred participants were seated, each with a distance of several feet between them and an Alchemy Furnace in front of them.


    Wang Hong''s Alchemy Furnace stood out due to its size, taking up a whole room. This forced the surrounding cultivators to move further away. It was unavoidable, as his Spiritual Weapon-level Alchemy Furnace was not suitable for this asion. He had to rely on this high-quality Magical Weapon Alchemy Furnace, even if it might slightly affect his Pill Sess Rate. Nevertheless, Wang Hong remained confident.


    "With the judge''smand, the 453rd Alchemypetition of the Qingxu Sect begins!" As the judges gave the order, everyone quickly went into action, lighting fires and heating the furnaces. These initial steps were the same for everyone.


    However, the real divergence in their skills began when they started refining the pills.


    The first round involved using self-prepared materials to refine pills, and the final score would be based on the Pill Sess Rate, with each sessfully refined pill counting as one point.


    ncing around, Wang Hong noticed that most of the cultivators around him were refining Nourishing Essence Pills, including himself. There was no choice, as among the second-tier pills, the Nourishing Essence Pill was the mostmon and widely practiced.


    Almost everyone had full confidence in this first round of thepetition and disyed their true abilities, believing they could achieve a good rank. Wang Hong was no exception. He had lost count of how many Nourishing Essence Pills he had refined during his ten years of practice, and he was confident that many second-tier Alchemists hadn''t produced as many pills in their entire lifetimes.


    Wang Hong skillfully administered the medicine, tempered, fused, and performed various other steps with ease, like a river flowing smoothly.


    Not even an hour had passed when Wang Hongpleted the process of refining the pills. After extinguishing the furnace, he finally had the opportunity to observe his surroundings.


    To his surprise, he was the first to sessfully form the pill. There were a few other cultivators who seemed idle and disappointed¡ªAlchemy failures.


    Wang Hong lifted the enormous lid of his Alchemy Furnace and retrieved six thumb-sized Nourishing Essence Pills from within.


    The five judges seated at the front examined him with curiosity and used their Divine Sense to assess the number and quality of his pills, nodding in approval.


    "I remember he''s from the group that came out of the secret realm before Foundation Building, right? To be a second-tier Alchemist in such a short time is truly impressive," one of the lean judges, who seemed to have a recollection of Wang Hong, remarked.


    "Yes, indeed! His Pill Sess Rate is even at sixty percent. It seems his Alchemy talent is indeed extraordinary," another slightly chubby judge agreed.


    With a hint of teasing, the lean judge said, "With such a talented young man, you should consider taking him as your disciple."


    "No need to think about it; he was already taken in by Gu Qingyang long ago," Master Mei, who had remained silent until now, responded. As the head of the Pill Hall, she knew quite a bit about the Alchemists under her jurisdiction.


    "This kid reacts quite quickly," the lean cultivatormented.


    After Wang Hong''s pills were produced, the pills of others began to bepleted one after another. It was at this point that Wang Hong realized his sixty percent Pill Sess Rate might not be high enough.


    Just by looking around, he saw several participants with a Pill Sess Rate of sixty percent or even higher. There was one young cultivator who had achieved a seventy percent Pill Sess Rate.


    This revtion dashed the small sense of achievement Wang Hong had umted earlier.


    At that moment, a chorus of astonished voices arose from the crowd. Wang Hong followed their gazes and saw that the pills of a middle-aged cultivator had just beenpleted. Incredibly, he had produced eight pills from a single batch.


    "Quiet down! Anyone causing amotion will be expelled from the hall," Master Mei at the head of the hall admonished loudly.


    The scene instantly fell silent, with only the sound of Spirit Fire hissing and the bubbling within the Alchemy Furnaces audible.


    At this point, only three participants had yet toplete their pills. Among them, an old man with white hair, an air of serenity, and a demeanor befitting an immortal, stood out the most. His focus was exceptional, and every movement he made was precise and meticulous. He seemed oblivious even to a mosquitonding on his brow.


    Such unwavering concentration would make one think he was refining an unparalleled Immortal Pill.


    After a moment, the pills of the other two cultivators were alsopleted, producing only three or four pills each. They didn''t seem disappointed, as this was likely their usual level of performance.


    A few breathster, the pills of the white-haired old man were finally finished.


    Everyone craned their necks, eager to see how many pills he could produce from one batch, given his meticulous approach.


    Some who were familiar with the old man were filled with anticipation.


    The old man slowly opened the furnace lid and waved his hand, causing nine glowing points to fly out of the Alchemy Furnace andnd in a prepared jade tray.


    "Hiss! Hiss!"


    Gasps filled the room; it was truly astounding. They had just witnessed a miracle.


    In the jade tray were nine round and radiant Nourishing Essence Pills. Among them, one pill emitted an exceptionally brilliant radiance¡ªit was a top-grade pill.


    Apart from the top-grade Nourishing Essence Pill, there was also a middle-grade pill in the tray.


    The old man had produced nine pills in one batch¡ªnine pills, including one top-grade and one middle-grade pill.


    Based on this batch of pills alone, it was clear that the first ce in this Grand Competition belonged to him.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 271: Alchemy Competition

    Chapter 271: Alchemy Competition


    The first round of the Alchemypetition concluded with Old Man scoring twenty-two points, securing the first ce. Among his aplishments, a high-quality Pill earned him ten points, while a middle-tier Pill granted him five points.


    The middle-aged cultivator who sessfully concocted eight Pills received eight points and imed the second position. Following closely behind was a young-looking cultivator with seven points, securing third ce.


    Wang Hong earned six points in this round, tying for fourth ce with seven others. Breaking into the top five seemed challenging for him.


    After evaluating everyone''s scores, the second round of the Alchemypetitionmenced.


    In this round, all participants were tasked with refining the same type of Pill known as the "White Dew Pill," a second-tier healing Pill.


    During this round, Old Man managed to create eight Pills, with one of them reaching the middle-tier quality, earning him twelve points and maintaining his lead.


    Wang Hong, however, still received six points in this round, cing him in fourth position alongside four other cultivators.


    Hopes of entering the top five now rested on the final round, a thought shared by many.


    As the third round began, each participant received arge bag of Medicinal Herbs but no Pill Recipe. They were required to select Medicinal Herbs from the assortment and refine a Pill.The bag contained various types of Spiritual Herbs, but none of them couldplete any specific Pill Recipe. Regardless of which Pill Recipe they followed, some ingredients were missing, making it impossible to refine a Pill sessfully. Even if they managed to refine one, it would be challenging toplete it.


    "Master Mei, isn''t this challenge a bit too difficult?" remarked one of the lean judges, sighing.


    "Yes, Alchemists who can modify Pill Recipes are a rare breed, and doing it within this short timeframe is even more challenging," another judge concurred.


    "Our Qingxu Sect is renowned in the entire Cultivation World for our Alchemy expertise. We not only have the most Alchemists, but we also possess the top Alchemists in the entire Cultivation World. As the Pill Hall''s Master, it''s my duty to cultivate the finest Alchemists for our Sect," Master Mei said, her expression unusually serious.


    Of course, not everyone was helpless in this situation.


    Some Alchemists had already begun refining, with asional bursts of burnt odors filling the room. Others were still pondering, repeatedly picking up and putting down the Spiritual Herbs, unable to make a decision.


    At this moment, Wang Hong was still furrowing his brows in contemtion. The elderly man with a white beard also began his refinement after some thought.


    Amidst the asional sounds of furnaces exploding and the pervasive smell of charred materials, Wang Hong finally started his refinement.


    In the end, out of the over one hundred participants, only three seeded in refining Pills in this third round, and among them was Wang Hong.


    Due to the modifications made to the Pill Recipes, the sess rate for each person''s Pills was quite low, with only two or three Pills sessfully refined. Moreover, the altered Pill Recipes left everyone uncertain about the effects of their Pills.


    The three sessful participants presented their refined Pills to the three judges for evaluation.


    The lean judge carefully examined the Pill created by the elderly man with a white beard, observing it closely and even tasting a bit of the powder. After a moment, a satisfied expression appeared on his dry face.


    "Well done! You modified the Water Spirit Pill''s Pill Recipe, removing the Waterweed and Tendon Grass and adding two types of flowers. Your refining technique was also quite appropriate," praised the lean judge, followed by some constructive feedback.


    Meanwhile, Master Mei inspected the Pill refined by the middle-aged cultivator, finding it eptable and offering a few pointers.


    Only the slightly overweight cultivator, when examining Wang Hong''s Pill, looked puzzled for a long time and couldn''t provide any meaningful feedback.


    "Could you two take a look at this Pill? My eyes can''t discern what kind of Pill it is," Wang Hong finally handed over two Pills to Master Mei and the lean judge beside him.


    Both judges epted the Pills and examined them closely before using various Pill appraisal techniques. Although they didn''t recognize the Pill Recipe used for refinement, it didn''t hinder their assessment of the Pill''s properties and effects.


    "Do you happen to know the name of this Pill?" After their evaluation, they guessed that it might be a new Pill, and they were curious about where Wang Hong had obtained the Pill Recipe.


    "It doesn''t have a name yet. I just refined it recently and haven''t had the chance to name it," Wang Hong replied. He had reviewed the Spiritual Herbs in the bag and felt that using an existing Pill Recipe with slight modifications would always leave some shorings, preventing the full potential of these Spiritual Herbs from being realized. After careful consideration, he had rbined the Spiritual Herbs to design a new Pill Recipe that could fully utilize their maximum potential.


    "So, you''re saying that this Pill was created by you on the spot today, using a newly devised Pill Recipe?" Master Mei suppressed her astonishment and maintained a calm demeanor. As the Pill Hall''s Master and a Golden Core senior, she couldn''t afford to lose herposure in front of the younger generation, as it would undermine her authority.


    "That''s correct. I came up with the Pill Recipe on the spot. If there are any shorings, please feel free to point them out," Wang Hong exined, briefly outlining the design concept of the Pill Recipe. The three Golden Core judges nodded in understanding.


    Cultivators had keen hearing, and the other cultivators in the hall had perked up their ears, attentively listening. While most of them didn''t fullyprehend the discussion, they sensed its depth and nodded approvingly. Only a few truly understood the content and found it highly beneficial.


    "Well done! To have such a deep understanding of Alchemy at such a young age is remarkable. However, there are still some areas where the Pill Recipe can be improved," Master Mei praised Wang Hong while pointing out some shorings.


    Being a third-tier Alchemist, she couldn''t create a Pill Recipe as quickly as Wang Hong did, but she could still identify some ws in his work. As a senior, she needed to provide bnced feedback, including constructive criticism, to maintain her authority.


    After a thorough evaluation, the final ranking was announced. The white-bearded Old Man scored a total of thirty-six points, securing the first ce without a doubt. The middle-aged cultivator had a total score of seventeen points, earning him second ce. Wang Hong''s total score of fifteen points ced him third. While he excelled in theoretical knowledge and Pill Recipe creation, thispetition''s scoring was based on the Pills he had refined.


    Master Mei began by encouraging all the participating Alchemists and then praised the top five Alchemists. She particrly emphasized the Alchemy skills of the white-bearded Old Man and invited him to share his path to sess with everyone.


    "In this world, there are no shortcuts. The key is to focus and be proficient in your craft," Old Man stated briefly. He had been immersed in Alchemy for decades, not taking a single step away from the Sect. At one hundred and fifty years old, he had dedicated over a century to Alchemy. He couldn''t perform Magical Arts, didn''t understand talisman-making, couldn''t refine tools, and didn''t even know how to engage inbat. Apart from Alchemy, he had no other skills.


    After Old Man''s speech, a profound silence enveloped the hall, touching the hearts and minds of everyone present. To achieve sess in a particr field, one must dedicate a considerable amount of time and sometimes sacrifice other pursuits.


    Wang Hong''s ability to master multiple skills simultaneously was primarily due to his unique spatial abilities. In reality, he had spent over a century in the field of Alchemy. However, he prioritized speed and efficiency in Alchemy, cing less emphasis on Pill Sess Rate.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 272: The Five-Colored Spirit Jujube

    Chapter 272: The Five-Colored Spirit Jujube


    After the Pill Hallpetition ended that day, Master Mei instructed everyone to leave and asked the top five alchemists to meet her again the next day.


    On the following day, the top five alchemists from thepetition once again gathered at the Pill Hall.


    The Pill Hall''s fifth floor was the same teahouse Wang Hong had visited before. However, this time, he noticed a young man he didn''t recognize sitting there.


    This young man had a tall and slender figure, phoenix-like eyes, and a calm and gentle demeanor that exuded extraordinary grace.


    When Wang Hong entered, the young man gave him a friendly smile and nodded in acknowledgment.


    Once everyone had assembled, Master Mei distributed prizes to the top five winners. Each received a sealed wooden box with a talisman affixed to it. She instructed them not to open the boxes until they returned home, and each person''s prize was unique.


    Wang Hong couldn''t help but wonder what treasures were inside those boxes. They seemed shrouded in mystery.


    "Starting from today, for the next month, I will personally guide the six of you in the art of alchemy. After a month, you will be eligible to participate in the refinement of Foundation Establishment Pills," Master Mei announced.


    Although Foundation Establishment Pills were only second-tier pills, they held immense importance, ranking first among all second-tier pills. The refinement of these pills was crucial for a sect''s prosperity and development. Any sect valued the refinement of Foundation Establishment Pills greatly.Participating in the refinement of Foundation Establishment Pills meant that they had entered the core tier of the sect and were no longer insignificant figures within the sect. They would also have the opportunity to participate in the refinement of other important pills in the future.


    Except for the calm andposed young man who had recently joined them, the rest of the five were visibly excited.


    As they would be studying alchemy together for the next month, Master Mei asked them to introduce themselves.


    It was then that Wang Hong learned the names of the others: the serene young man was named Qi Shaoqing, the elderly man with white facial hair was named Xu Zhiguang, and the middle-aged man who ranked second in thepetition was named Lv Zhen.


    "Today, I will demonstrate the refinement of a second-tier pill for you all. Observe carefully," Master Mei said.


    She led the six of them to an adjacent alchemy room and began the demonstration. Master Mei exined each step in detail, from start to finish, until the pill was sessfully formed.


    The pill Master Mei personally refined this time was a full batch of ten pills, including one top-grade pill and three middle-grade pills. This left the five alchemists in awe. In the Cultivation World, forming a full batch of pills, let alone obtaining a top-grade pill, was extremely rare. It usually required a stroke of great luck.


    However, Master Mei''s nonchnt expression suggested that she was ustomed to such results.


    "Remember today''s demonstration well. There are countless ways to make mistakes in alchemy, and I can only teach you the method thates closest to perfection," Master Mei emphasized.


    Perfection was an elusive concept, but the alchemy technique that came closest to it would be their guiding principle in the lessons toe.


    After her demonstration, Master Mei dismissed them, instructing them to return home and practice and contemte on what they had learned.


    Once Wang Hong returned to his cave mansion, he immediately opened the wooden box he had received as a reward from Master Mei.


    Inside, he found only two items: a jade scroll and a peculiar-looking fruit.


    Wang Hong''s attention was immediately drawn to the fruit. His pupils contracted as he carefully held it in his hand and examined it.


    This fruit was about the size of an egg and exhibited five different colors on its surface. It emitted an exceptionally dense spiritual energy.


    Wang Hong had heard about the sect''s three-tier Five-Colored Spirit Jujube Tree. Originally, it was just a regr first-tier Spirit Jujube Tree, but after thousands of years in the highly spiritual environment atop the Heavenly Authority Peak, it had undergone a miraculous transformation.Over the course of tens of thousands of years, the Spirit Jujube Tree had continuously absorbed spiritual energy and had undergone several mutations, eventually reaching the third-tier as it was today.


    The current Five-Colored Spirit Jujube had a remarkable property ¨C it could assist Foundation Building cultivators in their core formation process, reportedly increasing the sess rate by half when consumed.


    In an era with a scarcity of spiritual objects like today, the Five-Colored Spirit Jujube was considered highly valuable. asionally, the sect would reward its disciples with these fruits.


    Despite the sect''s various attempts, they couldn''t cultivate a second Spirit Jujube Tree by any means.


    Wang Hong carefully extracted the core of the fruit. The sect had previously attempted to use the cores for propagation, but they had tried countless times without sess. Just because the sect couldn''t do it didn''t mean Wang Hong couldn''t.


    He entered his personal space and nted the core beside the Dragon Scale Fruit tree. The Dragon Scale Fruit tree he had nted earlier was now bearing fruit.


    Wang Hong possessed several third-tier spiritual objects now, including a batch of Ink Jade Spirit Lotus, a dozen Lotus Seeds he had harvested, and a few Jade Ginseng Fruits he had preserved.


    After examining the spirit fruit, he turned his attention to the Jade Scroll. Inside, he found Master Mei''s experiences and insights into advancing to the third-tier as an alchemist.


    Though the sect had a rich heritage, he hadn''te across a Jade Scroll regarding third-tier alchemy in the Scripture Tower. There were still two upper levels in the Scripture Tower, essible only to Golden Core Elders. Perhaps, there he might find what he was looking for.


    In any case, the Jade Scroll was a rare treasure for him now.


    Starting from the next day, Master Mei required the six of them to perform live alchemy. She pointed out their mistakes on the spot and corrected them. asionally, she also shared some theoretical knowledge about alchemy, offering her guidance at the level of a third-tier alchemist, which greatly benefited Wang Hong.


    During the time Wang Hong was learning alchemy, the group of disciples who had participated in the secret realm trial and gathered spiritual herbs had returned.


    It was said that Qingxu Sect had suffered some losses during this expedition, and they hadn''t collected many Foundation Establishment Pill Medicinal Herbs. This would affect the number of new Foundation Building cultivators in the next decade, and if this continued, the sect would gradually decline.


    Soon, Wang Hong was also assigned to participate in the refinement of Foundation Establishment Pills.


    The refinement of Foundation Establishment Pills in the sect was centralized in one location, with over a dozen alchemists and Golden Core cultivators guarding it. Entry and exit required passing through multiple formations, and carrying a Storage Bag was not allowed.


    Here, alchemy couldn''t involve using a single furnace for multiple batches of materials, as it would be considered a wasteful practice, which could lead to severe consequences.


    Wang Hong, therefore, diligently refined each batch of materials, focusing on improving the pill''s sess rate and quality. Under Master Mei''s guidance for over a month, his pill sess rate had already reached seventy percent.


    However, among the alchemists refining Foundation Establishment Pills here, his sess rate was not particrly high. After all, these alchemists represented the highest level of the entire East Zhou Cultivation Realm.


    Xu Zhiguang''s alchemy was always meticulous, asionally producing top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills. But he was not the only one among the alchemists who could achieve this feat.


    Inspired by these top-grade pills, Wang Hong also became more focused, paying meticulous attention to every detail. As a result, his pill sess rate gradually increased.


    Three monthster, the refinement of all the Foundation Establishment Pill Medicinal Herbs wasplete. Wang Hong''s pill sess rate had reached eighty percent, and in each batch, there would invariably be one or two middle-grade pills, asionally even a top-grade pill.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 273: Ten Years

    Chapter 273: Ten Years


    Afterpleting their Alchemy tasks, the Alchemists participating in the Refinement Foundation Establishment Pill were rewarded with two Foundation Establishment Pills each and received twenty thousand contribution points.


    While the profit-sharing ratio might not be as high as when practicing Alchemy outside the sect, these were Foundation Establishment Pills, and each of them could be sold for at least six hundred thousand Spirit Stones or more.


    Moreover, their status within the sect had risen significantly. These Alchemists were now considered core members of the Qingxu Sect, which only had a little over a dozen of them in total.


    The future third-tier Alchemists of the sect would be chosen from among these dozen or so individuals. If they ever left the sect, they would be eagerly sought after by others no matter where they went.


    Wang Hong, who was now a prominent figure within the sect, would be greeted warmly and approached by people wherever he went, regardless of their previous interactions.


    Furthermore, several influential families were interested in forming alliances with him to strengthen their connections.


    Many families were dependent on the sect, with their descendants being disciples of the Qingxu Sect. Some of these families had joined from the outside, while others had produced their own cultivators within the sect, forming familial ties over time.


    These families constituted a significant source of the Qingxu Sect''s hundreds of thousands of Qi Cultivation Disciples. Those born and raised within the sect were often more loyal to the sect than outsiders.


    Wang Hong politely declined all the marriage proposals from various families. He didn''t want to tie himself down with a Dao Companion at the moment, as it would limit his freedom.In the days that followed, he kept a low profile, spending most of his time in his cave mansion, cultivating and studying. He continued to refine his Spiritual Power and asionally treated himself to some delicious food he prepared.


    Every day, he set aside time to study in his personal Space, covering a wide range of subjects, including Alchemy, talisman crafting, formations, Spirit nts, Spirit Meals, beast taming, Spirit Insects, artifact refinement, and Cultivation Techniques. Anything avable in the Scripture Tower was fair game for his studies.


    When he ran out of contribution points, he would take on Alchemy tasks. His current status allowed him to take on as many Alchemymissions as he wanted, and no one questioned it.


    With a vast amount of time at his disposal in his Space, he felt that not making the most of it would be a waste.


    Over the course of the next ten years, Wang Hong continued to live this way.


    During this decade, he recruited another twenty Foundation Building stage subordinates.


    Ten came from Liu Changsheng''s side, and the other ten from Luo Zhongjie''s side. He now had more than forty Foundation Building stage subordinates under hismand.


    In this ten-year span, his Space expanded by fifty more acres.


    His Space now covered two hundred and five acres, and the time ratio inside had reached two hundred and thirty-four times that of the outside world.


    In the span of these ten years, while only a decade passed outside, over a thousand years had psed within his Space. Now, thousand-year Spiritual Herbs were abundant everywhere.


    The Golden Ironwood he had nted had all turned from ck to gold, bing third-tier spirit wood, incredibly sturdy.


    The small piece of Purple Cloud Mulberry he had exchanged from Tang Wan''er had been nurtured into a hundred trees, all towering giants.


    After over a thousand years of maturation, the Green Spirit Peaches had finally ripened. In the three-acre peach orchard, bright red peaches hung everywhere.


    He finally confirmed that the mature Green Spirit Peaches were also third-tier spirit fruits.


    During this ten-year period, many events urred in the Cultivation World.


    The East Zhou Cultivation World had engaged in countless battles against the Demon n on both the eastern and western fronts. The battles grew increasingly intense, resulting in countless casualties on all sides.


    However, the humans, who fought on both fronts, suffered the most. Many Qi Cultivators and Foundation Building cultivators from the human race were worn down and killed by some less intelligent members of the Demon n.


    During this time, Boundary City was once again lost and upied by the Demon n, but fortunately, reinforcements arrived in time and reimed the city from the demons.


    Two CultivationCities along the East Sea were also captured, where both cultivators and mortals were devoured by Demonic Beasts.


    To cope with the increasing frequency of battles, the East Zhou Cultivation Realm summoned reinforcements twice, sending them to both the eastern and western fronts.


    Wang Hong, with his three shops in Azure Void City, contributed resources twice more for the frontline support.


    He had always been supportive of this cause. While others were risking their lives on the front lines, he enjoyed a peaceful life in the rear and saw no problem in providing some wealth and resources.


    Moreover, these resources were not a significant burden for him. When he had no power, he needed to hide and evade, but now that he had strength, he didn''t mind doing what he could to help.


    These external crises were not the only challenges the East Zhou Cultivation Realm faced. Due to the ongoing battles with the Demon n, manpower had to be conscripted from various factions and even loose cultivators, while merchants were required to contribute a portion of their supplies.


    In recent years, life in the Cultivation World had be difficult for everyone. Major factions with vast resources could endure, but smaller ones struggled to keep up.


    Some minor factions were already small, to begin with, and having one or two members conscripted meant they would disband.


    The same applied to shops; some small shops barely earned a few hundred Spirit Stones a year after covering all expenses. Confiscating several hundred Spirit Stones worth of their supplies in one go made it nearly impossible for them to survive.


    As a result, chaos and unrest spread within the East Zhou Cultivation Realm. The most immediate manifestation of this was the surge in treasure-seeking cultivators resorting to robbery.


    Sometimes, within just a few hundred miles, one could encounter several instances of cultivators fighting over treasures.


    This situation discouraged people from traveling freely, causing treasure-seeking cultivators to lose their livelihoods, which in turn led to infighting.


    Treasure-seeking cultivators caused small trade caravans to avoid traveling, andrge caravans had to hire a significant number of guards to venture forth.


    Blocked trade routes naturally led to skyrocketing prices, making life even more challenging for cultivators.


    Of course, these were the conditions at the bottom of the Cultivation World. Major forces like the Six Sects were not facing severe difficulties at the moment.


    They simply had to send more disciples into battle, and they could sustain their efforts for a short period.


    Wang Hong''s life in the sect remained unaffected by these external issues. He continued to practice Alchemy every day to earn contribution points and then spent time cultivating and studying.


    Recently, he had been delving into various Cultivation Techniques. His biggest ambition was to study all the Jade Scrolls in the Sect''s Scripture Tower that pertained to Cultivation Techniques.


    The reason for this was that a prominent issue had arisen among his group of Foundation Building stage subordinates: theycked Cultivation Techniques for the Foundation Building stage.


    The "Immortal Transformation" Cultivation Technique he had previously created based on the few techniques he possessed was something he now felt embarrassed to mention. At that time, he had a poor foundation and limited knowledge, but he had no better options and didn''t consider himself inferior to ancient cultivators, so he had used it.


    With his current perspective, he could see that it was crude and full of ws. However, it had helped him get through the initial stages of cultivation.


    Therefore, he nned to revise the "Immortal Transformation" Cultivation Technique. To achieve this, he had spent over five hundred years of cumtive time in his Space.


    The modified "Immortal Transformation" had taken shape, with its framework established. The only thing left was to make detailed refinements and additions.


    The new Cultivation Technique still primarily focused on body refinement but now also incorporated Qi Cultivation.


    This revised Cultivation Technique was divided into twoyers: the firstyer was the Qi Cultivation stage, and the secondyer was the Foundation Building stage, with eachyer further divided into nine segments.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 274: A Turn of Events

    Chapter 274: A Turn of Events


    Wang Hong sat cross-legged in a secret chamber, holding a vibrant, red Green Spirit Peach in his hand. It was a ripe Green Spirit Peach that he had been eager to eat for a while.


    As he gazed at the alluring, red fruit, Wang Hong had longed to take a bite. However, he had to restrain himself previously because his Spiritual Power had be unstable after a rapid advancement, and he hadn''t fully stabilized it yet.


    Now, he could finally indulge himself. Taking a bite, the juice burst forth, and the peach''s flesh was tender and delicious, with a fragrant aroma.


    With each bite of the peach, it transformed into a substantial amount of Spiritual Energy, and in the sea of his dantian, a small rain shower of Spiritual Power began to fall.


    A thumb-sized me in the middle danced joyfully, doing its best to intercept the falling rain of Spiritual Power. After absorbing the Spiritual Power, its size increased slightly.


    Wang Hong couldn''t stop himself from devouring the peach, and soon, only the peach pit remained in his hand.


    He carefully ced the pit in a wooden box since it could also be used in pill refinement.


    After refining the Spiritual Energy from this Green Spirit Peach, the Spiritual Power in his dantian had risen by almost a foot. With just one or two more of these peaches, he could ascend another level.


    However, the increase in Spiritual Power from this particr peach was so vast that it showed signs of bing uncontroble due to the sudden surge.He would have to wait a while before consuming another one, but the taste of the Green Spirit Peach was truly unforgettable.


    Exiting the secret chamber, Little Peng immediately greeted him, nuzzling Wang Hong''s body with itsrge head.


    It seemed to sense that Wang Hong had eaten something delicious without sharing, and it projected a hungry thought toward him.


    "You''re not hungry! You''ve eaten all the spirit fruit in the spirit fields, half of the Three Yang Melon Seeds from three acres, and you even damaged the beehive on the Spirit Jujube Tree the day before yesterday. Don''t tell me it wasn''t you! Who has a Spirit Beast that eats more than its master?"


    Little Peng thought to itself, "With my size, of course, I eat a lot. Although I sometimes feel ufortable when I eat too much, I digest it quickly. As for those Spirit Bees, they used to sting me all over when I couldn''t fight back, so I''m just settling the score now. Besides, Spirit Honey tastes really good."


    Seeing Little Peng put on a pitiful expression, Wang Hong pulled out another Green Spirit Peach and offered it to him. Little Peng opened its mouth and swallowed it in one gulp.


    Then, it looked at Wang Hong with the same pitiful expression as if nothing had happened before.


    "Is there any point in eating like that? Do you even know how it tastes? Go away, there''s nothing left!"


    After Wang Hong said that, he kicked Little Peng, sending it flying more than ten feet away.


    "Why are you so hard? You''re like a big block of iron. You hurt my foot when I kicked you."


    After kicking Little Peng away, Wang Hong scolded it a bit.


    Little Peng usually roamed freely in the cave mansion, and Wang Hong rarely paid attention to it. As a result, all the various Spiritual Objects in the spirit fields had been devoured by it. All the ripe spirit fruit in the orchard had disappeared as well.


    At that moment, a Transmission Talisman flew in from outside, and Wang Hong caught it. Inside, Zhang Chunfeng''s voice came through, and Wang Hong quickly responded with another Transmission Talisman.


    A momentter, Zhang Chunfeng arrived to pay a visit. Wang Hong opened the cave mansion''s formation and weed him in.


    As it turned out, Zhang Chunfeng hade to bid farewell. The sect had assigned him to head to the East Sea to resist Demonic Beasts. He would depart in three days, apanied by more than a dozen fellow disciples.


    In recent years, the battles had been incessant, and the Cultivation World had been sending reinforcements to both the east and west directions. However, no one had returned from those regions.


    Just ten days ago, the human race had lost another Cultivation City, and only a few strong cultivators had managed to escape. Most had be food for the Demonic Beasts.


    Now, a small area near the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, close to the East Sea, had beenpletely upied by the East Sea Demon n.


    As a result, the East Zhou Cultivation Realm was once again mobilizing tens of thousands of cultivators to reinforce the eastern frontlines.


    "Be cautious when you go there, and take these items with you for your own safety," Wang Hong said, reaching into his Storage Bag and pulling out several bottles of second-tier Spirit Wine, as well as some healing Pills and a stack of second-tier Talismans.


    Among these bottles were Hanyu Pills that he had refined using Jade Marrow Mushrooms, which had superior healing propertiespared to regr second-tier Pills.


    Even though he had plenty of Jade Marrow Mushrooms that were over a thousand years old, having Hanyu Pills at the Foundation Building stage was more than enough for him.


    Having these three items on the battlefield would greatly increase his chances of survival.


    "Also, have some tea first. Wait for me a moment!" Wang Hong left these words behind and entered another secret chamber.


    Over the past few years, he had maintained contact with Wang Yi, who was now also fighting against Demonic Beasts in the East Sea. Wang Hong took this opportunity to ask Zhang Chunfeng to bring some things to Wang Yi.


    Using a Jade Scroll, Wang Hong wrote a letter to Wang Yi and ced it in a Storage Bag. Then, he packed severalrge jars of second-tier Spirit Wine, various Pills, and a wooden box containing three pills he had refined from a thousand-year-old Jade Marrow Mushroom - the Yu Shui Dan.


    These pills were true lifesavers, capable of healing even the most severe injuries. Wang Hong emphasized in the letter that Wang Yi should not reveal them easily to others, as it could lead to unwanted consequences.


    He also put two ripe Green Spirit Peaches into a Jade Box and sealed it with a Talisman.


    Wang Hong hadn''t seen Wang Yi in a while, so he didn''t want to send him off with just a few things.


    He stuffed everything he could think of into an oversized Storage Bag. Second-tier Talismans, different types of spirit fruits, Spirit Rice, homemade pastries, and even Demonic Beast meat soup¡ªall found their way into the bag. Soon, it was packed to the brim, and nothing else could fit.


    "I wonder how Wang Yi is doing nowadays. Is he still as stubborn as ever?" Wang Hong muttered to himself as he sealed the Storage Bag with restrictive seals and then headed to the secret chamber.


    He handed the Storage Bag to Zhang Chunfeng, instructing him to pass it on to Wang Yi.


    "I happen to have a Spiritual Object here that you can take. Once you return, consume it, and it should help you reach the fifth level of Foundation Building," Wang Hong told Zhang Chunfeng.


    Currently, both Wang Hong and Zhang Chunfeng were at the fourth level of Foundation Building.


    Wang Hong gave him a Green Spirit Peach, and as long as his dantian wasn''t as spacious as Wang Hong''s, consuming it should allow him to advance one level directly.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother. Take care!" Zhang Chunfeng was amazed by the efficacy of these Spiritual Objects, but since Wang Hong had rmended them, he trusted their effectiveness.


    After Zhang Chunfeng left, Wang Hong secluded himself for another month before emerging.


    Surprisingly, after consuming a Green Spirit Peachst time, even Little Peng had sessfully advanced by one level and was now a mid-tier second-grade Spirit Beast.


    The usual rate of advancement for Demonic Beasts was extremely slow, but Little Peng had advanced so quickly because it had been following Wang Hong and enjoying good food.


    After tidying up the cave mansion, Wang Hong gave some instructions to Chen Nian and left the sect, heading towards Azure Void City.


    Cultivation World had be chaotic, and major disruptions could ur at any time. Wang Hong needed to expedite some of his ns.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 275: Formation of the Caravan

    Chapter 275: Formation of the Caravan


    After Wang Hong arrived in Azure Void City, he gathered his trusted subordinates.


    After discussing recent developments with them for a while, Wang Hong spoke up, "I''m nning to form a caravan and travel to various cities to explore. Do any of you have any objections or suggestions?"


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''s n to form a caravan, his subordinates became excited, their faces flushed with enthusiasm.


    "Great! Let''s build the most powerful caravan in the entire Cultivation World and spread its reputation far and wide," Skinny Monkey eximed eagerly, being the first to speak up.


    "We have more than ten Foundation Building cultivators currently idle. We can take them along to sharpen their skills and prevent them from getting rusty. Additionally, we can also take those one hundred neers out to gain some experience and broaden their horizons," Luo Zhongjie added. Wang Hong had previously tasked him with recruiting one hundred new members, and after over a decade of training, they had all reached theter stages of Qi Cultivation.


    When they were first recruited, these youngsters were barely teenagers and were like nk tes. Over the past decade, they had been continuously trained by Luo Zhongjie. Now that the opportunity hade, it was only natural to take them on a journey for more experience.


    After some discussion, they decided to gather Spiritual Herbs, Spirit Pills, and even Skinny Monkey''s Spirit Wine from Azure Void City and head to the city of Thousand Crafts Pavilion. Azure Void City specialized in Alchemy, while the city of Thousand Crafts Pavilion excelled in refining tools. This coboration would allow them toplement each other''s strengths and weaknesses.


    Over a monthter, the group set out from Azure Void City in a grand procession. Almost all their visible strength was mobilized for this journey.


    All one hundred neers were brought along, divided into ten teams, each led by a Foundation Building cultivator. In addition to Wang Hong, He Yuan, and Luo Zhongjie, there were a total of thirteen Foundation Building cultivators. Skinny Monkey also wanted to join, but Wang Hong didn''t agree.He Yuan had already fully recovered from his previous injuries, and with Wang Hong''s support over the years, he had reached the mid-stage of Foundation Building.


    The caravan consisted of over ten carts pulled byrge camel-like creatures called Cow. These Cows were known for their size and gentle temperament, making them ideal for transporting goods in the Cultivation World.


    Due to the limited storage capacity of Storage Bags and the fact that some items in the Cultivation World were quiterge, several carts in the caravan were filled withrge crates, each containing numerous bulging Storage Bags.


    Of course, the most valuable items were carried by the individuals themselves.


    Most of these supplies had been purchased from the Immortal Way Trading Company. Otherwise, with the resources of Wang Hong''s three shops alone, it would have been impossible to gather such arge quantity of goods.


    As they embarked on their journey, Wang Hong sat on the back of Little Peng, hovering in the sky. They had traveled for several days without any trouble. There were no signs of treasure-seeking cultivators on the road, perhaps because they were intimidated by theirrge group.


    However, several hundred miles ahead of them, a group of treasure-seeking cultivators had gathered.


    In recent years, due to poor business prospects, treasure-seeking cultivators had been attacking and merging with each other, resulting in the formation of severalrge treasure-hunting teams.


    Now, inside a mountain cave, dozens of cultivators had gathered, led by a burly man in theter stages of Foundation Building. His skin was slightly tanned, and his eyes resembled bronze bells. His right ear was missing from the root, likely severed during a previous fight, giving him a more ferocious appearance.


    "Report to Chief Changshan, a caravan with over a hundred people and fifteen carts is approaching from the direction of Azure Void City. They bear the banner of the East Zhou Trading Company."


    The man with the ferocious appearance, surnamed Chang, had gathered dozens of treasure-seeking cultivators and imed this territory as their exclusive hunting ground for robbing and killing.


    He referred to himself as Chief of the Mountain. When other treasure-seeking cultivators entered this area, they either joined his group or faced annihtion.


    "East Zhou Trading Company? Never heard of it. Kill them!" Changshan ordered. Despite having only a Foundation Building cultivation level, he had managed to upy this territory and engage in murder and robbery for a long time, indicating he had some tricks up his sleeve.


    For lone travelers, they were mercilessly killed, and their bodies were obliterated to leave no trace. However, when dealing with caravans passing through, they would assess the situation and choose their targets carefully, following the principle of "picking the weak and sparing the strong."


    To Chief Changshan, these caravans he had never heard of were asmon as dirt. They believed these were just small factions and robbing them would pose no challenge.


    So, they set up an ambush on the path the caravan was sure to take.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong and his group continued on their journey. Ahead, there was a narrow canyon with an entrance that was only a few yards wide, appearing equally narrow from the inside. This terrain was very familiar to Wang Hong and hispanions¡ªa perfect location for an ambush.


    As they reached the entrance of the canyon, they halted their progress. Wang Hong guided Little Peng to fly directly above the canyon, allowing him to have a bird''s-eye view. While the canyon wasn''t very high, the elevated position allowed him to see everything inside reasonably clearly.


    However, Little Peng''s vision was even sharper. It quickly spotted something and used its ws to point Wang Hong in the right direction. Wang Hong then noticed faint figures on the cliff below.


    He immediately activated a Transmission Talisman, providing a brief update on the situation to his group waiting at the canyon entrance. He urged them to prepare and descended with Little Peng.


    Their presence had already been noticed by Chief Changshan''s group, who were no longer hiding. They readied their Spiritual Weapons, waiting for Wang Hong and Little Peng toe closer beforeunching their attack.


    However, Wang Hong and Little Peng remained about fifty to sixty yards away from them in the air, and Chief Changshan''s group dared not approach. Instead, they circled in the sky for a moment, dropped a few Talismans, and fled.


    "Hahaha! This kid is scared out of his wits! Throwing Talismans from that far away? Useless!" Chief Changshanughed heartily.


    "Hahaha!" The other treasure-seeking cultivators joined in, watching Wang Hong''s hasty departure.


    By the time these Talismans reached them, they had already dissipated to the point where a simple breath could extinguish them. They posed no threat at all.


    Most Foundation Building cultivators had a Divine Sense range of only twenty or thirty yards. Even Wang Hong, with a stronger Divine Sense, had a range of only about thirty yards in theter stages of Foundation Building. When activated Talismans were out of their detection range, they would gradually lose control and dissipate.


    "Hahaha! Let''s go after him! First, we''ll kill this kid, and then we''ll deal with the ones waiting at the canyon," Chief Changshan shouted and took the lead, flying toward Wang Hong.


    Since they had already been discovered, there was no need to continue hiding. They decided to engage in a full-fledged battle.


    However, after chasing for a while, they realized that Wang Hong and Little Peng were exceptionally slippery and impossible to encircle. Therge bird''s aerial agility far surpassed what Foundation Building cultivators could achieve when flying on their artifacts.


    Little Peng alternated between soaring upward, diving straight down, or executing 180-degree turns. It performed all sorts of acrobatic maneuvers¡ªforward, backward, sideways, and even spirals. It was like a performance of aerial acrobatics.


    asionally, the two of them could even hear the excited roarsing from Wang Hong and Little Peng.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 276: Enemys Demise

    Chapter 276: Enemys Demise


    A group of more than thirty individuals had been in hot pursuit for a while, but they hadn''t harmed a single soul or even a bird. Instead, they had fallen into a trap, leading to the death of one of their own.


    "Stop! Everyone, cease your pursuit. The five of you are responsible for chasing down that youngd. Make sure not to separate. The rest of you, follow me to the canyon entrance. We''ll seize the goods first and deal with themter. Don''t let them escape,"manded Changshan, the leader of the group.


    Changshan had figured out that this youngd was intentionally luring them into this situation. It was possible that the people at the canyon entrance were also trying to escape at this very moment.


    Five individuals were dispatched from the group, chasing after Wang Hong, while the remaining twenty or so people followed Changshan towards the canyon entrance, flying swiftly.


    When they reached the canyon entrance, they found that the merchant caravan hadn''t fled but was instead prepared for a confrontation. They weren''t concerned about the cargoden vehicles but had gathered in one ce.


    Wang Hong had instructed them earlier: in times of danger, people were more valuable than goods, and the truly valuable items were carried on their persons.


    One hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators formed a defensive formation, their expressions tense, and they tightly gripped their magical weapons. They awaited Luo Zhongjie''smand tounch an attack.


    Though they only possessed Qi Cultivation stage strength individually, if these one hundred individuals could attack simultaneously, not many Foundation Building cultivators could withstand them.


    They had never engaged in a real battle before, so they were naturally nervous, but Luo Zhongjie''s rigorous training had prepared them well. They followed Luo Zhongjie''s orders as if it were their daily training routine, without any unnecessary movements.Fortunately, the eight Foundation Building cultivators flying above their heads instilled great confidence in them. These eight Foundation Building cultivators maintained a distance of just over a yard from the Qi Cultivation formation below, providing protection and ensuring that any treasure hunters who approached would face theirbined attack.


    Above these eight cultivators were four more Foundation Building cultivators, one of them in the middle stage. It was unclear what the purpose of these four individuals was.


    At this moment, the twenty-plus treasure hunters didn''t recklessly charge forward. Instead, they cast their gazes towards the several parked vehicles to the side.


    "Listen up, none of you are allowed to touch anything inside those vehicles until we''ve dealt with these people," Changshan ordered loudly. With years of experience in treasure hunting, he knew that the valuable items were likely carried by the individuals themselves. Once they began robbing the vehicles, it would sow discord among the group. Some might want more, while others might advocate for restraint.


    Leading a group with such diverse intentions required constant strategizing on his part.


    The twenty-plus treasure hunters gradually closed in on the one hundred-plus individuals waiting in formation. When they reached a distance of about twenty yards, they all came to a stop.


    There was no need for anyone tomand this; any treasure hunter who continued charging forward from this distance would essentially be cannon fodder.


    This motley group of treasure huntersposed entirely of individuals seeking riches couldn''t possibly be united. Self-preservation was the top priority.


    At a distance of twenty yards, they each summoned their spiritual weapons andunched an attack on the merchant caravan.


    The eight Foundation Building cultivators in the middle of the formation raised their defensive spiritual weapons, intercepting the twenty-plus iing spiritual weapons.


    Although it was challenging for these eight individuals to defend against more than twenty attackers, they managed to hold their ground for the time being since the treasure hunters were holding back their full strength.


    Meanwhile, the four individuals above them did not participate in the defense. Instead, they each summoned a flying spiritual weapon and charged directly towards the treasure hunters from the left side. This move startled the treasure hunters on the left, causing them to hastily activate their defensive spiritual weapons.


    After they summoned their defensive spiritual weapons, these four individuals swiftly passed by their side, leaving that direction and heading elsewhere.


    The task of these four individuals was to continuously harass, attacking whenever they found an opportunity. If they couldn''t seize an opening, they would continue their harassment from various directions, preventing the treasure hunters fromunching a full-scale assault.


    Before the battle could escte further, Wang Hong returned riding on Little Peng.


    After being pursued by the five individuals earlier and waiting for the departure of the twenty or so treasure hunters, Wang Hong had shed his previous evasive demeanor.


    He hadn''t been confident in dealing with therge group from earlier, but he didn''t regard these five individuals with much concern. He turned back towards them and charged. In a blink, only the figure of him holding a Long Spear was visible, moving so fast that it left only a trail.


    Then, a wail echoed, and Wang Hong had already appeared behind them. Of the five individuals, one had been reduced to four, with another person impaled on the spear, lifeless.


    The remaining four individuals scattered and simultaneously activated their spiritual weapons,unching an attack on Wang Hong.


    The four spiritual weapons roared, carrying boundless power from four different directions, converging on Wang Hong. The wind generated by these spiritual weapons sent loose rocks and tree branches swirling into the air.


    The four individuals couldn''t help but smile, believing that Wang Hong was surely doomed this time.


    However, to their astonishment, Wang Hong paid no heed to the four iing spiritual weapons, allowing them to strike him.


    "ng! ng! ng! ng!"


    Four metallic shes rang out, yet Wang Hong remained unscathed, a satisfied smile ying on his lips.


    He was merely testing the defensive capabilities of his current body refining cultivation level against spiritual weapons. While he had practiced with spiritual weapons at home, realbat testing was far more satisfying.


    Wang Hong''s figure blurred once again, and his afterimage rapidly approached one of the treasure hunters. The treasure hunter quickly summoned his defensive spiritual weapon.


    With a resounding "boom," the treasure hunter''s defensive spiritual weapon shattered into pieces, scattering all around. Wang Hong''s Long Spear pierced through the treasure hunter''s chest from the front and exited through the back.


    By this time, Little Peng had also arrived and pounced directly on one of the treasure hunters. Its two ws grabbed the treasure hunter, and with a swift motion, it tore the individual in half.


    The remaining two treasure hunters realized their peril and attempted to flee, but their speed was no match for Wang Hong''s.


    Soon, Wang Hong and Little Peng caught up with them, and both treasure hunters met a grim fate.


    Seeing Wang Hong''s return, Changshan, the leader, didn''t pay much attention, merely thinking that this person was too slippery and had escaped once again.


    He only felt that his spiritual power was depleting faster today during the battle, but he didn''t dwell on it, perhaps just an illusion.


    Changshan had a deeper reservoir of spiritual power, and a slight depletion wouldn''t have much impact in the short term. However, the other treasure hunters with lower cultivation levels suddenly realized that a ck mass of spiritual energy had formed in their dantian sea, voraciously devouring their spiritual power.


    "Oh no! I''m poisoned!" one treasure hunter eximed in terror.


    Upon his warning, others also noticed something amiss with their bodies.


    "I''m poisoned too!"


    "So am I!"


    And so on.


    If their previous attacks had been executed with casual confidence, they now appeared frenzied. The defense formed by the eight Foundation Building cultivators was breached instantly, creating an opening through which three Flying Swords entered.


    Two of the swords simultaneously struck a Foundation Building cultivator but were blocked by the cultivator''s armor, causing non-lethal injuries.


    The third sword pierced through two Qi Cultivation cultivators simultaneously before being halted by a Foundation Building cultivator.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 277: Annihilation

    Chapter 277: Annihtion


    As two Qi Cultivation disciples fell to the ground, pierced by the Flying Swords, Wang Hong arrived just in time.


    With a swift movement, he entered the formation of the merchant group and quickly ced pills in the mouths of the fallen Qi Cultivation practitioners.


    Simultaneously, countless Poisonous Bees swarmed out from his sleeves.


    Instead of targeting any specific individual, thisrge group of Poisonous Bees scattered and attacked all the treasure-seeking cultivators.


    While this couldn''t eliminate the enemy quickly, it greatly distracted their attention, preventing them from focusing on a full-scale attack.


    At this moment, the Formationposed of the remaining ny-eight Qi Cultivation practitioners was no longer stationary. They charged toward the group of treasure-seekers.


    Their Divine Sense was limited to about ten yards, so they had to get closer to unleash their Magical Weapons against the enemy.


    After feeding the pills to the two Qi Cultivation practitioners, Wang Hong swiftly returned, wielding a Long Spear and charging towards the treasure-seekers alongside Little Peng.


    He Yuan, who had been responsible for harassment, automatically followed Wang Hong as he entered the fray.In this brief moment, most of the treasure-seekers had exhausted their Spiritual Power reserves, causing their realms to slowly decline.


    The defensive Spiritual Weapons they had summoned grew dim under the attacks of the Poisonous Bees.


    These dim Spiritual Weapons, whether middle-grade or lower-grade, couldn''t withstand Wang Hong''s powerful strikes.


    Leading the fourpanions, Wang Hong entered the midst of the treasure-seekers, like a force of nature. At this point, he no longer cared about the merchant group and was fully intent on surrounding and killing him.


    The remaining members of the merchant group finally regained their strength and began attacking the treasure-seekers from the outside.


    With eight Foundation Building cultivators and ny-eight Qi Cultivation cultivators, their actions were coordinated and precise. Each strike focused on a single treasure-seeker, and theirbined efforts resulted in almost every strike killing one of the treasure-seekers.


    At this moment, the tide of battle hadpletely reversed. The once-advantageous treasure-seekers, who had previously bullied the weaker, now appeared fierce and ruthless.


    Under their current disadvantage, everyone had lost their will to fight, fleeing in panic like hunted dogs.


    Surprisingly, the first to flee was Changshan himself. Affected by the Devouring Spirit Poison, his Spiritual Power waspletely depleted.


    Since he was just a treasure-seeker, he could kill and loot wherever he went. There was no need for him to fight to the death here.


    Wang Hong had no intention of letting him escape and quickly pursued.


    At this moment, under Luo Zhongjie''smand, the merchant group''s formation quickly changed. Led by the ten Foundation Building cultivators, they surrounded the group of treasure-seekers.


    After a stick of incense had burned, the battle came to an end. Wang Hong had intentionally spared a few lives, and Luo Zhongjie was currently interrogating them.


    Wang Hong arrived at the side of his two injured Qi Cultivation disciples who had fallen earlier.


    At the time, the situation had been urgent, and he hadn''t paid much attention to their injuries. Without checking their conditions, he had simply given them two Hanyu Pills and left.


    Both of them had been pierced through the chest. While their hearts had not been directly prated, the damage from the Spiritual Weapon''s Spiritual Power was more than Qi Cultivation practitioners could endure.


    At this moment, their bodies were cold, breathless, and only a faint warmth remained in their chests, almost imperceptible unless one looked closely.


    Some of their closepanions gathered silently around them, tears and mucus running down their faces.


    They were all young, justing of age, and some of them had never experienced life and death before. At this moment, they couldn''t contain their emotions. If it weren''t for Wang Hong being there, they might have burst into loud sobs.


    "Give them some space; there might still be hope!" Wang Hong said calmly.


    Upon hearing these words, the young cultivators quickly wiped away their tears and mucus from their faces. If anyone saw them like this, they wouldn''t be able to show their faces again.


    Wang Hong took out two Jade Marrow Pills from his Storage Bag. Each pill could hire a Golden Core cultivator to help with tasks. While others might think it was wasteful, Wang Hong valued the lives of his subordinates more than his umted wealth.


    If he didn''t save them, the deaths of these two would be considered insignificant in the grand scheme of things, just numbers. However, behind each number was a living, breathing person.


    Of course, in Wang Hong''s eyes, the enemies were not included in this consideration. To him, the death of an enemy was just a number, nothing more.


    He gave each of the two injured cultivators a Jade Marrow Pill, and then arranged for others to tend to their wounds.


    Fortunately, he had given them two Hanyu Pills earlier, which had alleviated their injuries. Otherwise, by now, they would have be lifeless corpses.


    "East Master, we''ve interrogated them. Their hideout is just over a hundred miles from here, and there''s quite a stash of goods there," Luo Zhongjie reported as he approached Wang Hong.


    "Assign a few people to stay behind; let''s go and see what treasures they''ve hidden," Wang Hong ordered. A hundred miles was just a matter of minutes for Foundation Building cultivators when they controlled their flying vessels.


    However, his Qi Cultivation subordinates couldn''t keep up, so he assigned a few Foundation Building cultivators to stay behind with them.


    Luo Zhongjie immediately took the two captives, wielded his Spiritual Weapon, and led the way. Wang Hong followed with several Foundation Building subordinates.


    They soon reached a peak, and halfway up the mountain was a second-tier protective formation. From the outside, it looked like a bank of clouds.


    Luo Zhongjie and the others were about to attack the formation, but Wang Hong stopped them. He was eager to personally break through this formation.


    He circled around the formation a few times, then sat down and formed hand seals. In the air, he drew a rune and directed it towards the formation''s Qian position. The rune disappeared into the formation.


    Then, he drew another rune and directed it towards the formation''s Kun position. He continued this process, drawing a total of eight runes before stopping.


    He slowly got up, walked to a certain spot, and waved his hand towards the cloud bank. Arge part of the mist dispersed, revealing a passage with stone walls on both sides.


    Wang Hong was the first to step into the passage, and at the end, he drew runes in several directions, then waved his hand again, dispelling more mist.


    Another section of the passage became visible, but this time, Wang Hong didn''t advance further. He turned around and said to the others behind him, "Follow me, and don''t get lost."


    After giving this instruction, Wang Hong took three steps forward, made a right turn, and went straight through the stone wall to the right.


    The surprising thing was that the others saw Wang Hong pass right through the wall, disappearing into it.


    After a short while, they saw Wang Hong emerge from the wall at the end of the passage. He stood there, waving to signal them.


    Luo Zhongjie quickly moved forward, reached the spot where Wang Hong had made the right turn, and followed suit, walking right through the stone wall.


    It took Wang Hong and his group some effort, but they finally reached the end of the passage. Although it had taken some effort, breaking through a Large Formation with his own hands left Wang Hong feeling quite satisfied.


    At the end of the passage, they found a spacious hall with luminescent stones on the ceiling for illumination. The interior was rather simple.


    There were several branching paths inside, and with the guidance of the captives, they proceeded down one of the paths.


    Soon, they came across a hidden chamber, protected by yet another formation. Wang Hong spent some time dismantling the protective formation outside the chamber.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 278: Bountiful Gains

    Chapter 278: Bountiful Gains


    Inside a hidden chamber, there were severalrge chests, each about half the height of a person. Along one wall, a wooden shelf held dozens of Spiritual Weapons.


    Next to it, there were over a hundred damaged Spiritual Weapons piled up like discarded trash.


    "Please... spare us!" Two captives, looking at Luo Zhongjie, whose intentions were bing less benign by the moment, knelt on the ground and pleaded loudly.


    "Hmm! Weren''t you treasure hunters known for killing without hesitation? Are you suddenly afraid of death?" Luo Zhongjie asked with a curious expression.


    "I was forced into this! I was once an upright cultivator, but Leader Changshan coerced me into joining them."


    "Yeah, yeah! We were both coerced! We can sign a Blood Contract and serve you."


    The two captives tried to absolve themselves. Killing others might not have troubled them, but they still valued their own lives. Even a mere pinprick would cause them pain on ordinary days.


    "Perhaps what you say is true, but I currently only need one more person. This puts me in a difficult position. It''s up to you two to decide."


    Luo Zhongjie tossed two short swords in front of them, and they both scrambled to grab them.Seemingly unable to make up their minds, unable to harm theirpanion, suddenly, almost simultaneously, they both lunged, swords aimed at each other.


    They both seeded, each impaling the other in the chest, locking themselves together in a deadly embrace.


    They had never supported each other in life, even scheming against one another. In death, they ended up supporting each other.


    Luo Zhongjie ignited a me and turned both of them into ashes. Spending time with Wang Hong had influenced him in this regard. People like them, even if they could sign a Blood Contract, were nauseating to use.


    After dealing with the two of them, they began to sort through the treasures in the secret chamber.


    ording to the captives, this secret chamber contained the private hoard of their leader, Changshan Sect''s master. asionally, he would take out a small portion as rewards.


    There were 32 intact Spiritual Weapons, mostly of low quality, with only three of medium quality, and none of high quality.


    There were 140 damaged Spiritual Weapons, with nearly half of them still repairable and usable.


    The remaining damaged ones were beyond repair, but they could still be sold for some Spirit Stones. Refining tool masters could extract materials from them.


    There were a total of five chests, one filled with wooden boxes and Jade Boxes, all containing Spiritual Herbs.


    Another chest was filled with nothing but Spirit Stones, numbering in the hundreds of thousands.


    The remaining three chests held various materials, primarily for refining tools, as well as materials for array formation and talisman-making.


    In reality, there were no strict boundaries between these different materials, as some materials had multiple uses.


    "Pack everything up, and then we''ll search elsewhere," Wang Hong instructed Luo Zhongjie.


    Luo Zhongjie packed all these items into a Storage Bag and followed Wang Hong out of the secret chamber.


    Later, they found some more items in other locations, but the gains were meager, with no valuable treasures to be found.


    Before leaving, Wang Hong dismantled the second-tier formation guarding the mountain cave entrance and retrieved several second-tier materials from it.


    Generally, dismantling a formation from its interior was not particrly difficult.


    When Wang Hong and his group returned to the entrance of the canyon, the others had already finished cleaning up the battlefield.


    The bodies had all been cremated, leaving behind arge pile of Storage Bags.


    They emptied dozens of Storage Bags onto a t piece of ground, along with the scattered Spiritual Weapons collected from the battlefield, creating a mountain-like pile of spoils.


    Gazing at the treasure trove that had been amassed through this battle, Luo Zhongjie couldn''t help but exim, "These treasure hunters are incredibly wealthy. The gains from this battle alone surpass the profits of a whole trip with a merchant caravan.


    "East Master, what if we organize a team specifically for hunting down treasure hunters across various ces?"


    In the pile of spoils, there were at least sixty to seventy Spiritual Weapons, including the ones obtained from the Mountain cave. A merchant caravan trip wouldn''t yield as many Spiritual Weapons, even after factoring in costs.


    "Let''s discuss thatter. Right now, we''re short on manpower. Let''s focus on building up the merchant caravan first."


    Luo Zhongjie was surprised by the seriousness of Wang Hong''s response. Wang Hong had been troubled by the shortage of Spiritual Weapons for a while, and this battle seemed to have resolved the issue entirely.


    Although these weren''t standard Spiritual Weapons and might have some impact on cooperation, having them was better than not having any.


    "Calcte everyone''s contributions and convert them into contribution points. As for the spoils, let everyone choose as they please."


    Wang Hong instructed Luo Zhongjie. They had always distributed spoils this way, allowing each person to choose ording to their contributions. As long as they had contributed on the battlefield, even the lowest-level Qi Cultivation cultivators could im a share.


    Wang Hong only selected a few array formation materials that he could use from the spoils. The rest of the items were of no use to him.


    After everyone had exchanged their shares, Luo Zhongjie temporarily kept the remaining items. They would be handed over to Xu Lun for storage upon their return.


    They hit the road again, and the group seemed to be somewhat hopeful of encountering another group of treasure hunters. Unfortunately, they did note across any more on their way to Thousand Crafts Pavilion.


    As a subsidiary city of Thousand Crafts Pavilion, its size and scale were simr to Azure Void City. However, themercial activities in Thousand Crafts Pavilion seemed more prosperous due to its focus onmerce.


    Because the products produced by Thousand Crafts Pavilion were different from Qingxu Sect''s Refinement Pills, which were a necessity for everyone, they needed to focus more onmerce to maximize profits.


    When Wang Hong and his group, arge assembly of cultivators, entered the city, they attracted quite a few curious gazes.


    Immediately, several Qi Cultivation junior cultivators approached, unafraid despite the presence of more than ten Foundation Building cultivators.


    "Wee, seniors, to Thousand Crafts Pavilion! Allow us to arrange amodations for you."


    After one of the Qi Cultivation junior cultivators greeted them, he offered to assist with lodging.


    Following that, another junior cultivator stepped forward, bowing, and said, "Wee, seniors, to Thousand Crafts Pavilion! Allow me to guide you in handling any trading matters."


    Subsequently, another cultivator came forward, and they reported their respective services.


    It turned out that they were all simr to guides, offering their services to neers in Thousand Crafts Pavilion, helping them navigate the city.


    This service indeed provided convenience to neers. However, among these guides were some unscrupulous ones who colluded with certain businesses, targeting inexperienced cultivators for scams.


    These rogue guides typically swindled cultivators once and then disappeared for several years, making it almost impossible for the deceived cultivators to seek revenge.


    "Stop! What do you do?" Luo Zhongjie called out, halting everyone. He pointed to a young Qi Cultivation cultivator with bushy eyebrows and big eyes at the back, asking, "What is your upation?"


    He had noticed that the young Qi Cultivation cultivator had tried to approach several times but had been pushed aside by others. It seemed like this individual was new.


    The young Qi Cultivation cultivator was delighted to be asked and promptly bowed before saying, "I can assist you with lodging and sightseeing, honored seniors."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 279: Puppets

    Chapter 279: Puppets


    "It''s you! Take us to find amodation first," Luo Zhongjie said to the Qi Cultivation practitioner with thick eyebrows andrge eyes.


    With over a hundred people and more than ten carriages, they needed to find a ce to settle down first. Ordinary inns couldn''t amodate so many people and horses. Since they were neers to Qianqiao City and knew nothing about it, they had to find a ce to stay first and then gather information.


    "I am Pei Jian, thank you for your guidance, senior! Senior, please follow me."


    After Pei Jian spoke, he turned and led the way. Pei Jian, the Qi Cultivation practitioner, had a reserved personality. He only spoke when Luo Zhongjie asked him something, and he was not very suitable for the role of a guide. His fee for a day''s guidance was one Spirit Stone, and additional services like running errands and gathering information came at an extra cost.


    Pei Jian introduced more than ten possible amodations to Luo Zhongjie, and they eventually settled on a rtivelyrge independent courtyard. They rented it for a year, and when Pei Jian left, Luo Zhongjie gave him two Spirit Stones, instructing him toe back as their guide tomorrow.


    Pei Jian left with excitement. From him, Luo Zhongjie learned that there was a marketce called the Wantoong Square within Qianqiao City. This marketce was specifically for the trading of various goods by major shops and merchant caravans. It wasn''t open to individuals, and merchant caravans needed to register and pass an audit to enter.


    The next day, Wang Hong didn''t rush to enter Wantoong Square. Instead, he wanted to gather information about various aspects of Qianqiao City, starting with understanding the local prices. They split into several groups and wandered around Qianqiao City. Sometimes, this kind of exploration was the best way to learn about local customs.


    Wang Hong walked alone on the streets and asionally entered some shops to look around. He noticed that there were many shops in Qianqiao City that specialized in refining tools. Some of these shops were established by the Thousand Crafts Pavilion, while others were owned by refining tool masters associated with the Thousand Crafts Pavilion. In any case, most of the refining tool shops had some connection to the Thousand Crafts Pavilion.


    Pill shops affiliated with the Thousand Crafts Pavilion were rare in Qianqiao City. Wang Hong entered a few of them and found that there weren''t many Spiritual Objects avable, but the prices were significantly higher than in Azure Void City.On the other hand, there was a good supply of Spiritual Weapons and Magical Weapons, and their prices were somewhat lower than in Azure Void City.


    Wang Hong also noticed that many shops in the city had puppets for sale. He entered a few puppet shops and was impressed. Azure Void City had only a limited number of puppets for sale, and he hadn''t paid much attention to them before.


    These puppets came in various shapes, including humanoid, animal-like, and insect-like designs.


    At that moment, he entered a shop called the "Qianji Puppet Pavilion," one of therger puppet shops in the vicinity. As soon as he entered, a puppet that resembled a maid walked up to him.


    "Hello, sir! Wee!"


    To Wang Hong''s surprise, this puppet not only moved but also spoke fluently!


    Wang Hong was amazed by this and wondered how it was done. He had heard of puppets before but had never had such a close encounter with one.


    He carefully observed the puppet in front of him. Its size and shape were identical to a real person, with delicate facial features and smooth, rosy skin. Wang Hong couldn''t resist lightly poking it, and the skin felt soft and stic, just like a real person''s.


    "Giggle! Sir, please behave yourself!"


    Unexpectedly, after he poked the female puppet, it changed its expression, giggling while yfully evading him.


    This sudden reaction from the puppet startled Wang Hong, who wasn''t sure if he had identally damaged it. He felt a bit at a loss for words.


    "An impressive disy of craftsmanship, my friend," a shopkeeper-looking cultivator approached Wang Hong, deftly diffusing his awkward moment.


    "You''re too kind. I was indeed impolite," Wang Hong replied sincerely, genuinely amazed at the intricacy of puppetry. These puppets were so lifelike, almost indistinguishable from real humans.


    "I am Chao Ming, the proprietor of this establishment. Are you interested in purchasing a puppet?"


    "Yes, I''m considering it, but I don''t know much about them, so I came in to take a look," Wang Hong exined.


    "No problem! Since you have some time, I''d be happy to provide some information," Chao Ming replied warmly.


    "Thank you, Chao friend," Wang Hong expressed his gratitude with a nod.


    "The art of puppetry is a branch of refining tools, but it''s moreplex and intricate, making puppets rtively expensive. Puppets are powered by Spirit Stones. You simply insert a Spirit Stone, and the puppet will run until the Spiritual Energy is depleted, then you can rece it. The control methods for puppets can generally be divided into two categories: one is direct control using Divine Sense, simr to controlling a Spiritual Weapon. The other is issuingmands directly, and the puppet will follow thosemands. Puppets can be categorized by their forms, such as humanoid, animal-like, or insect-like. They can also be categorized by their functions, such asbat puppets and utility puppets."


    Chao Ming continued by pointing out various types of puppets in the shop to Wang Hong.


    "What category does this particr puppet belong to?" Wang Hong pointed at the maid-like puppet he had poked earlier.


    "This puppet took me several years to create, and it should be considered a servant puppet," Chao Ming proudly stated. Then, he added with a hint of mystery, "This puppet has endless uses; you''ll discover its benefits once you bring it home."


    Wang Hong wondered if there were secrets hidden within this puppet. Perhaps Chao Ming was intentionally being mysterious to raise its price.


    "I''d like to seebat puppets and Spirit nt puppets, if possible," Wang Hong said, showing particr interest in these two categories after Chao Ming''s exnation.


    "Of course, not a problem. Please follow me. On this shelf, you''ll find all thebat puppets."


    Following Chao Ming''s guidance, Wang Hong observed a variety of puppets on the shelf, each with different shapes and sizes.


    "These are closebat puppets, all with the strength of Qi Cultivation initial stage. Then there are these bow-wielding puppets, reaching the Qi Cultivation middle stage, and these tiger-shaped puppets, also at the Qi Cultivation middle stage," Chao Ming introduced several types, noticing Wang Hong''s limited enthusiasm.


    He then walked to two bow-wielding puppets and emphasized, "These two puppets are rare Qi Cultivationte-stage models in our shop, capable of shooting targets within fifty yards."


    After Chao Ming''s introduction, Wang Hong inquired, "Are there no puppets with Foundation Building stage capabilities?"


    Wang Hong thought that after all the introductions about Qi Cultivation stage puppets, he might as well inquire about Foundation Building stage ones, as they would be more useful to him.


    "Hehe, it seems you''re looking for Foundation Building stage puppets. I''ll be frank, no shop in Qianqiao City sells Foundation Building stage puppets privately."


    In response to Wang Hong''s question, Chao Ming smiled.


    "Why is that? These Qi Cultivation stagebat puppets won''t be of much help to a Foundation Building cultivator in battle," Wang Hong asked with some confusion, especially since he mentioned that they couldn''t be sold privately, suggesting there was more to the story.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 280: Entrusting the Refining Tool

    Chapter 280: Entrusting the Refining Tool


    "Due to the strength of the Foundation Building stage, it can already influence the rise and fall of a sect. Therefore, the Thousand Crafts Pavilion strictly controls the puppet refinement methods and transactions for the Foundation Building stage.


    In the entire city of Qianqiao, there are no more than five people who can refine Foundation Building stage puppets. All Foundation Building puppets sold to outsiders must be auctioned by the Thousand Crafts Pavilion, and no one is allowed to sell them privately."


    "I see. Thank you, Friend Chao," said Wang Hong, grateful for Chao''s exnation.


    After hearing the exnation from Innkeeper Chao, Wang Hong abandoned the idea of purchasing arge number of Foundation Building puppets. Some Qi Cultivation stage puppets were not particrly useful to him, and his Poisonous Bees were more practical.


    However, as a specialty of Qianqiao City, the trading caravan could bring some back to Azure Void City for sale, which should be profitable.


    "Could you please show me the Spirit nt puppets, Friend Chao?" Wang Hong had lost interest inbat puppets.


    Subsequently, Innkeeper Chao introduced various Spirit nt puppets to Wang Hong. There were puppets specialized in tilling soil, weeding, and various other tasks rted to farming and gardening.


    The craftsmanship of these utility puppets was not as refined, and they looked rougher. Some humanoid puppets had square faces with lifeless eyes, serving mainly as decorations.


    After Innkeeper Chao''s introduction, Wang Hong found these puppets, although not visually appealing, quite useful."I''ll take two of each of the soil-tilling, nting, harvesting, and weeding puppets, please," Wang Hong decided after some thought. Having these puppets in his Space would save him a lot of trouble.


    Without any weeds to remove in his Space, he could give the two weeding puppets to Ch¨¦n Ni¨¢n, who was quite busy managing the cave mansion alone.


    "Very well, each of these puppets is priced at ten thousand Spirit Stones, totaling eighty thousand Spirit Stones. Also, would you like to purchase the maid puppet we discussed earlier? She could serve tea, pour water, and tidy up the courtyard in your cave mansion. There might even be some unexpected surprises. If you buy them together, I can offer you a discount on Spirit Stones," Innkeeper Chao suggested, noticing Wang Hong''s interest in the maid puppet.


    "What is the price for that specific puppet, and how much of a discount can you offer in Spirit Stones?" Wang Hong inquired. He was indeed intrigued by the puppet''s remarkable realism and didn''t mind spending the extra Spirit Stones.


    "This particr puppet was crafted by me over several years, using countless rare materials. Its price is one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. If you purchase it along with the eight other puppets, the total would be one hundred and eighty thousand Spirit Stones. However, I can offer you a discount of ten thousand Spirit Stones, making it one hundred and seventy thousand Spirit Stones," Innkeeper Chao exined.


    After a brief consideration, Wang Hong agreed to the deal and promptly paid one hundred and seventy thousand Spirit Stones. Innkeeper Chao, after receiving the payment, became even more enthusiastic and exined in detail how to control the puppets.


    Taking advantage of the conversation, Wang Hong also gathered some valuable information from Innkeeper Chao, who was willing to share his knowledge.


    "Friend Chao, I intend to refine a Spiritual Weapon. Do you have any rmendations for a reputable refining tool shop in the city?" Wang Hong asked.


    "Thergest-scale refining tool shop in Qianqiao City is undoubtedly the Thousand Crafts Pavilion. However, the skill level of the refining tool masters there is only average. The truly outstanding ones are kept within the pavilion''s inner circle. It''s simr to our Qingxu Sect, where the truly exceptional Alchemists are reserved for Sect use, and the external shop Alchemists mostly practice with other people''s materials," Innkeeper Chao replied, understandingly.


    Wang Hong nodded, understanding the situation. It seemed that he would need to explore his options carefully when it came to refining a Spiritual Weapon.


    "So, are there any better options in Qianqiao City? I would appreciate your guidance," Wang Hong inquired.


    "Guidance, I dare not offer, but there is Qianlian Pavilion to the west of the city, founded by the Yu-Chi Cultivation n. This n has been dedicated to refining tools for generations and has extraordinary expertise in the field. Additionally, in the northern part of the city, there is the Ouyang family, another Cultivation n specializing in refining tools, known for their exceptional skills," Innkeeper Chao replied, enthusiastic after a sessful deal.


    "Thank you for the information, Friend Chao!"


    After leaving the puppet shop, Wang Hong inquired around and found that Innkeeper Chao''s rmendations for these two refining tool families in Qianqiao City were highly regarded.


    Subsequently, he headed to the west of the city and quickly located the Yu-Chi family''s shop. With its imposing storefront and bustling activity, it was clear that business was thriving.


    Upon entering, a Qi Cultivation cultivator approached him, asking, "Senior, are you interested in purchasing finished products ormissioning a refining tool?"


    "I''d like to take a look at finished Spiritual Weapons first, if that''s possible," Wang Hong replied. While he intended tomission the Refinement of some Spiritual Weapons eventually, he wanted to see what was avable for purchase.


    "Of course, please follow me upstairs. The first floor disys Magical Weapons, while the second floor showcases Spiritual Weapons," the Qi Cultivation cultivator said.


    Wang Hong followed the cultivator to the second floor, which was much quieter. Several dozen Spiritual Weapons were disyed on shelves, and a few Foundation Building cultivators were browsing the selection.


    Approaching the shelves, Wang Hong noticed that the weapons avable were mostlymon and lower-grade Spiritual Weapons. He picked up a few to examine and found the quality to be eptable.


    Spiritual Weapons sold here could only be traded for middle-grade Spirit Stones or other second-tier Spiritual Objects, not epting lower-grade Spirit Stones. Wang Hong understood this policy; Refining Spiritual Weapons required at least second-tier materials, making it challenging to acquire them with lower-grade Spirit Stones.


    "Could you please rmend one of your refining tool masters to me? I''m interested inmissioning the Refinement of some Spiritual Weapons," Wang Hong asked after briefly inspecting the weapons. He had decided to try their Refinement services.


    The primary purpose of his trading caravan''s visit to this city was to obtain refining tool materials andmission the Refinement of Spiritual Weapons. Although they had acquired a significant number of Spiritual Weapons from treasure hunters on the way, unifying their equipment with Spiritual Weapons would enhance thebat capabilities of his Foundation Building cultivators.


    "Of course, Senior, please follow me."


    Guided by the Qi Cultivation cultivator, Wang Hong entered a private meeting room. A refining tool master was already waiting inside.


    "I wonder what kind of Spiritual Weapons you wish to have Refinement, and do you have your own materials?" the refining tool master inquired.


    "I have some mulberry wood and leopard''s tendons that I''d like to use to Refine some powerful bows. Would that be feasible?" Wang Hong inquired. He remembered nting Purple Cloud Mulberries, which now had over a thousand years of growth, and believed that mulberry wood was suitable for crafting sturdy bows. However, he only had a limited quantity of leopard''s tendons, having acquired them during the battles with Demon n forces.


    "These materials should be eptable. May I ask about their tier?" The refining tool master epted the leopard''s tendons for examination and replied.


    Wang Hong took out a Storage Bag and ced a piece of mulberry wood, measuring several zhang in length, on the floor. He then handed over the leopard''s tendons for inspection.


    "The leopard''s tendons are second-tier, suitable for bowstrings. As for this... this is third-tier Purple Cloud Mulberry, with an age of at least fifteen hundred years." The refining tool master eximed in astonishment after examining the Purple Cloud Mulberry wood.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 281: Wantong Market

    Chapter 281: Wantong Market


    Because the bark of this spirit wood can be used to make talisman paper, Wang Hong had already peeled it off in advance.


    This discovery shocked the refining tool master when he took a closer look. It turned out to be a third-tier spirit wood, which surprised him.


    He stared at it reluctantly for a while, then shook his head repeatedly, saying, "What a pity! What a pity!"


    Wang Hong, puzzled by his abrupt words, asked, "Is there something wrong with this spirit wood?"


    "Not really," the refining tool master replied. "It''s indeed excellent material. However, using this third-tier Purple Cloud Mulberry for refining a Spiritual Weapon would be a bit of a waste. Moreover,pared to the spirit wood, the beast tendons are of lower quality and can''t withstand greater Spiritual Power and strength. It would affect the final quality of the product. If you had better beast tendons, you could create top-quality Spiritual Weapons. With these materials, you''ll at most achieve high-quality Spiritual Weapons. Are you sure you want to proceed with this refinement?"


    Wang Hong had no reservations about the refining tool master''s doubts. He had plenty of this spirit wood in his Space, and to avoid drawing too much attention, he deliberately chose a smaller Purple Cloud Mulberry.


    "I''m sure I want to refine it. Fellow Daoist, rest assured. I have a total of five sets of beast tendons. I want to refine five identical bows. How much spirit wood will I need for that?"


    Wang Hong nodded to indicate his determination.


    "These spirit wood pieces won''t be enough for refining five bows. Do you have more, Fellow Daoist? If you have any surplus materials, you can sell them to us, and you won''t be at a loss," the refining tool master said eagerly, his eyes gleaming with hope. As a refining tool master, he was most passionate about top-notch refining materials."I do have some more," Wang Hong replied. He took out ten more pieces of the same spirit wood from his Storage Bag, along with arge bundle of branches, which were all materials from the same Purple Cloud Mulberry tree.


    Wang Hong decided to bring out the entire materials of the third-tier spirit wood, including the branches, to maximize their value and prevent anyone from coveting them.


    "To refine five Spiritual Bows, you''ll only need two pieces of spirit wood. Do you need to refine anything else, Fellow Daoist?"


    "I also need to refine a hundred high-quality Magical Weapon-grade strong bows. For the remaining materials, I''d like to trade for some bowstring materials at your store, which I''ll use for refining Spiritual Weapon bows," Wang Hong exined. Since he had brought out the whole tree of third-tier spirit wood, he wanted to make the most of it.


    With the current cultivation level of the hundred disciples he had recently recruited, they couldn''t participate in battles with Foundation Building cultivators due to their limited Divine Sense. Their Magical Weapons had a maximum attack range of only ten yards, while even the weakest Foundation Building cultivators had a Divine Sense range of twenty yards.


    These new disciples didn''t have Spiritual Roots like the previous group, so they expended more energy on body refining and couldn''t collectively throw short spears at a long distance. However, using bows and arrows was a different story. With their strength, using Magical Weapon bows and arrows, they could be effective at a range of at least a hundred yards.


    Moreover, Wang Hong''s Foundation Building subordinates were facing some difficulties in their currentbat style. Being body cultivators, they were not proficient in controlling Spiritual Weapons for long-distance attacks. They were not as fast as Wang Hong and couldn''t quickly approach their opponents before they ran away. Refining these bows and arrows would give them a means of long-distance attack.


    The refining tool master couldn''t take his eyes off the spirit wood materials Wang Hong had brought out. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Fellow Daoist, these materials are too precious. I can''t make the decision alone. Please wait a moment."


    He took out a Transmission Talisman, transmitted a voice message using Divine Sense, and then turned into a streak of light, flying away.


    After about a cup of tea''s time had passed, another streak of light flew in from outside andnded in the hands of the refining tool master.


    "We''ll add some materials to it. In total, we''ll provide Fellow Daoist with a hundred high-quality Magical Weapon bows, seven high-quality Spiritual Weapon bows, one top-quality Spiritual Weapon bow, a hundred Spiritual Weapon arrows, a thousand Magical Weapon arrows, and we''ll also give you ten mid-grade Spirit Stones. How does that sound?"


    This offer meant that Wang Hong only needed to provide the spirit wood and five sets of beast tendons. He wouldn''t need to worry about the rest of the materials, and it even included a top-quality Spiritual Weapon.


    Wang Hong immediately agreed to the Yu-Chi Family''s proposal, and the two of them discussed many details andpleted the transaction procedures.


    ...


    Wantong Market had hundreds of stalls, each piled high with various Spiritual Objects, most of which were haphazardly arranged.


    It seemed that Spiritual Objects, which were rarely seen elsewhere, became rtively inexpensive here. Due to therge number of Spiritual Objects on disy, the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the entire market had increased.


    Various merchants, appearing as cultivators, wandered between the stalls, strolling at a leisurely pace. Some were shopkeepers, while others were in charge of merchant caravans. They were ustomed to the world of business and acted as if they were indifferent to these things, even though they were not.


    Regardless of whether they were genuinely indifferent or not, when it came to doing business, this attitude was necessary.


    At this moment, a new merchant caravan arrived at the entrance. The caravan consisted of only about a dozen people, with several Qi Cultivation cultivators in the middle, each carrying arge wooden crate on their shoulders.


    These dozen people proceeded to an empty stall and set up over a dozen rudimentary disy stands to showcase their goods. They then opened severalrge wooden crates, revealing a variety of styles of Storage Bags inside.


    A Qi Cultivation cultivator picked up one of the Storage Bags and emptied it onto the disy stand.


    "ng, ng."


    After a crisp and melodious sound, the disy stand was now filled with porcin bottles, each with abel that read "Condensing Qi Pill, Low-Grade."


    Thisrge pile of porcin bottles immediately attracted numerous gazes. There weren''t many merchant caravans doing business with Spiritual Herbs and Spiritual Pills in Qianqiao City, especially in recent years, with chaos erupting everywhere and an increase in treasure-hunting cultivators. Consequently, there were even fewer merchant caravans doing business with Spiritual Herbs here.


    Therefore, thisrge pile of Condensing Qi Pills naturally caught people''s attention.


    Following that, the Qi Cultivation cultivator poured out another pile of porcin bottles. This time, all thebels read "Condensing Qi Pill, Mid-Grade," and the quantity appeared to be over a thousand.


    To be able to produce so many Mid-Grade Condensing Qi Pills at once, it seemed that this merchant caravan''s strength was not to be underestimated. Now, even more people''s attention was focused on the merchants.


    Following that, the Qi Cultivation cultivator poured out another pile of porcin bottles. This time, there were only a few hundred bottles, but thebels on the bottles read "Condensing Qi Pill, High-Grade."


    With this, many seemingly casual observers became lessposed. High-Grade Condensing Qi Pills were rarely seen and highly sought after. People couldn''t miss the opportunity to acquire them.


    At this point, more Qi Cultivation cultivators freed up their hands and began pouring Storage Bags from the wooden crates onto the disy stands.


    One person emptied arge pile of Spirit Herbs, while another poured out arge pile of spirit fruits. Each item that came out of the Storage Bags was more dazzling than thest.


    By this time, a crowd had already gathered in front of this stall. However, the goods from the merchant caravan hadn''t been arranged properly yet, so no one had started attending to the customers.


    "Oh my! There are so many Resplendent Visage Elixirs! I must get a few bottles."


    "Surprisingly, there are second-tier spirit fruits! And so many white crystal fruits! I must get my hands on some."


    As people secretly made up their minds, more Qi Cultivation cultivators began to pull out one wine barrel after another from their Storage Bags.


    They hadn''t expected that this merchant caravan would not only offer Spiritual Herbs but also so much Spirit Wine.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 282: Spirit Wine

    Chapter 282: Spirit Wine


    In the current turmoil of the Cultivation World, Spirit Wine had be a strategic reservemodity. All major forces were gathering and stockpiling Spirit Wine.


    The demand for Spirit Wine in the market had long exceeded the supply. ording to onlookers'' estimates, there were at least several thousand pounds of Spirit Wine avable.


    Attracted by the Spirit Wine, more and more people had gathered around the stalls. They were ready to fight for their share of the Spirit Wine.


    Just then, a Qi Cultivation practitioner took out a Storage Bag from a wooden crate and emptied numerous bottles withbels indicating "second-tier Spirit Wine."


    Preliminary estimates suggested that there were over a hundred pounds of this second-tier Spirit Wine.


    For most Foundation Building cultivators, obtaining even a pound or two of second-tier Spirit Wine was considered a treasure. They would not use it unless it was absolutely necessary.


    Although this was arge trading market, such arge quantity of Spirit Wine was still quite rare.


    The forces that had Spirit Wine in their possession were holding onto it tightly for personal use.


    After they had filled their rented stalls with goods, the crowd noticed that at least two-thirds of the Storage Bags in their wooden crates had yet to be revealed."I am Luo Zhongjie, the manager of the East Zhou Merchant Caravan. I am new here, and I humbly request your guidance. All the first-tier Spiritual Objects from our caravan can be purchased directly with low-grade Spirit Stones, starting at ten thousand Spirit Stones each, and we won''t entertain anything less."


    This rule excited the surrounding merchants, as some caravans often imposed additional conditions when selling rare first-tier Spiritual Objects.


    "All the second-tier Spiritual Objects from our caravan can be traded for second-tier refining materials or purchased directly with medium-grade Spirit Stones."


    Luo Zhongjie added regarding the trade of second-tier Spiritual Objects.


    They had already learned that in this Wantong Market, medium-grade Spirit Stones were a universally epted currency for convenience in transactions. Holding medium-grade Spirit Stones, one could buy any Spiritual Objects they desired from any stall.


    Of course, if one did not have enough medium-grade Spirit Stones, barter was also an option, depending on whether the seller agreed.


    "What''s the price for the second-tier Spirit Wine? I want it all!"


    Luo Zhongjie had just spoken when a Foundation Building cultivator, who had arrivedter and couldn''t get closer, jumped up in the rear of the crowd and shouted loudly.


    "Who do you think you are? Haven''t you seen that the people in front haven''t spoken yet?"


    A middle-aged man in a silk robe at the front turned around, his eyes wide open, and scolded angrily.


    Then he turned back, wearing a smile, and said kindly, "Fellow Daoist Luo, I would like to purchase fifty pounds of second-tier Spirit Wine. May I know the price?"


    After the man in the silk robe finished speaking, he took out a Storage Bag filled with medium-grade Spirit Stones and waited for Luo Zhongjie''s response, intending toplete the transaction swiftly and depart.


    He was much more shrewd than the cultivator in the rear. He, of course, also wanted to buy all of it, but that was not realistic. Everyone was now fixated on this second-tier Spirit Wine, and if anyone tried to monopolize it, they would face unanimous resistance.


    Buying only a portion of it and leaving hope for others was the wise course of action. There were still people berating the Foundation Building cultivator in the rear, who was now even more crowded and frustrated in the back.


    "Second-tier Spirit Wine, one medium-grade Spirit Stone per pound."


    Luo Zhongjie responded; he was willing to sell to anyone.


    "I''ll take fifty pounds too!"


    "I also want..."


    "..."


    It was still the man in the silk robe who reacted the quickest. He rapidly handed over fifty medium-grade Spirit Stones and was the first to ce them into Luo Zhongjie''s hand.


    With fifty pounds of second-tier Spirit Wine in his possession, the man took advantage of the crowd''s distraction and quickly disappeared into the crowd.


    "I also want fifty pounds of second-tier Spirit Wine!"


    Another cultivator imitated the man in the silk robe''s approach, pushing his way forward and handing over fifty medium-grade Spirit Stones. Soon, he too had secured fifty pounds of Spirit Wine and slipped away.


    "I also want fifty pounds of second-tier Spirit Wine!"


    The third cultivator followed the previous two''s example, pushing his way forward and presenting his Spirit Stones.


    But before he couldplete the transaction, the crowd around him pushed him aside directly.


    "Don''t push! Don''t push! Hey... Who kicked me? Hey! Hey... My Spirit Stones!"


    As the Foundation Building cultivator was rendered immobile by the surrounding crowd, someone snatched the Spirit Stones he was holding and made a quick escape, leaving him trapped in the midst of the crowd.


    The remaining second-tier Spirit Wine was soon sold out. While other cultivatorsmented the missed opportunity, they shifted their attention to other Spiritual Objects.


    There were still many second-tier Pills, spirit fruits, and Spiritual Herbs here, all worth stocking up on.


    Some quick-witted individuals had already begun their shopping while everyone else was focused on the Spirit Wine.


    Wang Hong didn''t concern himself with the stall''s affairs; he entrusted these matters to his subordinates, feeling confident in their abilities.


    He was leisurely strolling through the market, where both local businesses and caravans from other regions had set up stalls.


    From the items they were selling, one could generally discern that the local Qianqiao City businesses primarily offered refined Spiritual Weapons, Magical Weapons, and Puppet items.


    In contrast, the stalls run by caravans from outside the city showcased a diverse range of items, some of which were distinctive to their regions.


    At that moment, Wang Hong was examining a stall where only one type of item was disyed: raw Ore piled up across the entire space.


    This raw Ore had not been refined, and it contained numerous impurities, making it bulky and taking up a considerable amount of space.


    "How much for these Ores?" Wang Hong picked up a piece of ck Ore and inquired.


    "One medium-grade Spirit Stone can buy a thousand pounds of it. This is second-tier Tungsten Spirit Iron Ore, and this price is an absolute bargain!"


    Seeing someone inquiring about the price, the dark-faced cultivator manning the stall quickly responded.


    "This is raw Ore; getting a hundred pounds of Tungsten Spirit Iron from a thousand pounds would already be considered good. Moreover, refining Tungsten Spirit Iron Ore like this requires a substantial amount of time."


    Over the years, Wang Hong had borrowed many Jade Scrolls from the Scripture Tower containing information about refining tools and refining tool materials. He was no longer ignorant about these materials like he once was.


    Tungsten Spirit Iron was a second-tier material, known for its heavy weight, high hardness, and resistance to high temperatures. It was a high-quality refining tool material and came at a high price.


    However, it had one characteristic: it was challenging to melt. Therefore, refining the raw material required a lot of time and effort, proceeding slowly.


    Unless one possessed a high-tier me capable of rapidly melting it, such as the True Fire cultivated by Golden Core cultivators or third-tier Spirit Charcoal, any method used for refining it would increase the final price of Tungsten Spirit Iron.


    "Fellow Daoist, how much do you need? If you buy over ten thousand pounds, it''s one medium-grade Spirit Stone for twelve hundred pounds, how does that sound?"


    "That works. Give me ten thousand two hundred pounds."


    Wang Hong promptly spent ten medium-grade Spirit Stones to purchase ten thousand two hundred pounds of Tungsten Spirit Iron Ore, filling up two Storage Bags.


    Getting already refined Tungsten Spirit Iron was quite challenging, so he wanted to buy some raw material to refine himself and experiment. If he could refine it quickly, he woulde back to buy more.


    His Foundation Building subordinates needed a significant amount of refining tool materials toplete dozens of standardized sets of equipment.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 283: Refining

    Chapter 283: Refining


    The merchandise disyed by the caravan for sale, known as Spiritual Objects, had already sold seventy percent of its stock by the time they closed shop in the evening. Only a small amount of second-tier Spiritual Herbs and some first-tier spiritual fruits remained.


    Wang Hong returned to his residence, and by the time hepleted his cultivation tasks for the day, it was already the next day at dawn.


    He had arranged for Luo Zhongjie and the others to set up a stall at the Wantong Market and instructed them to use the middle-grade Spirit Stones earned from the previous day''s sales to purchase as many second-tier refining tool materials as possible.


    Additionally, they could also acquire some special products from Qianqiao City to bring back and sell in Azure Void City.


    When Luo Zhongjie and his group arrived at the Wantong Market, many people were already waiting at their booth.


    Most of these individuals were the heads of various shops in Qianqiao City.


    Their purpose foring here today was twofold. On one hand, they aimed to secure a good location in advance to buy more Spiritual Objects. On the other hand, they hoped to establish long-term cooperation and form stable business rtionships.


    Since they were prominent figures in Qianqiao City, working with them could be beneficial, but Luo Zhongjie didn''t dare to make decisions without consulting Wang Hong first.


    Today, Wang Hong didn''t go out. He was at home researching how to refine Tungsten Spirit Iron Ore. Although he had read about it in the scriptures before, hecked practical experience.He began by igniting the second-tier spiritual charcoal he usually used for alchemy and then ced a fist-sized piece of Ore over the me.


    After half an hour, the Ore was still cool. He continued to burn it, and after another hour, the Ore finally began to heat up.


    Three more hours passed, and the Ore turned red. It wasn''t until ten hourster that the Ore started to melt.


    However, he stopped at this point. He only wanted to understand what the process was like when using second-tier spiritual charcoal for refining.


    Now that he had a general idea, there was no need to waste more time on it.


    At this moment, a me slightly thicker than his thumb appeared in his hand, flickering.


    This was the Spirit Fire cultivated from his "Wood Fire Incineration Technique." Although it was small, its power was formidable, almost on par with a Golden Core cultivator''s true fire.


    With a thought, he directed the me to hover in front of him, and then he used his Divine Sense to control the fist-sized piece of Ore, which floated above the me.


    As soon as the Ore touched the me, it quickly turned red. After a quarter of an hour, signs of melting appeared, and after half an hour, the Ore hadpletely melted into liquid.


    Guiding the liquid with his Divine Sense, it continuously rolled and emitted blue smoke, which gradually grew fainter until no more smoke emerged.


    He then manipted the liquid to slowly move away from the me. It cooled and solidified, with some fragments falling from its surface.


    When there were no more fragments falling, a small metal sphere the size of a fingertip remained suspended in the air.


    Wang Hong held it in his hand and examined it closely. The sphere was entirely ck and shiny, weighing around a pound. This was the finished product of Tungsten Spirit Iron.


    While using Spirit Fire for refining Tungsten Spirit Iron was faster than what ordinary Foundation Building cultivators could achieve, Wang Hong still wasn''t entirely satisfied.


    He wanted to refinerge quantities, and this method was still too time-consuming.


    He had always wanted to cultivate talents among his subordinates in various fields, including alchemy, refining tools, talisman-making, and more.


    However, the majority of his first batch of subordinatescked Spiritual Roots, making their daily cultivation already challenging, leaving little time to learn other skills.


    As a result, he had only cultivated three Alchemists: Zhang Chunfeng and the Ma Brothers.


    Among the one hundred recruits this time, Wang Hong nned to train talents in various fields. Many tasks would no longer require his personal attention in the future.


    With so many Foundation Building cultivators under hismand, each requiring various resources, it was impossible for him to produce everything himself. Doing so would defeat the purpose of cultivating his subordinates, and if that were the case, the Nascent Soul ancestors of those sects would have long been exhausted.


    To refinerge quantities of raw ore and improve efficiency, he needed a refining tool furnace, preferably of Spiritual Weapon quality.


    Wang Hong instructed Luo Zhongjie to purchase all the Tungsten Spirit Iron Ore from the stall he had visited. Even if he didn''t have time to refine it immediately, he could save it forter. Refining tool materials would be harder toe by once he returned to Azure Void City.


    After spending two days searching throughout Qianqiao City, Wang Hong couldn''t find a Spiritual Weapon-level refining tool furnace. He had to settle for a high-grade Magical Weapon-level furnace for the time being.


    However, he did hear some news: in half a year, there would be arge auction organized by the Thousand Crafts Pavilion. At that time, a Spiritual Weapon-level refining tool furnace would be up for sale, along with two Foundation Building stage Puppets.


    It seemed he needed to stay in the city for a while longer.


    A little over ten dayster, the caravan had sold out of its merchandise.


    Using the Spirit Stones earned, he purchased arge quantity of refining tool materials, various Magical Weapons, and a few Spiritual Weapons from the Wantong Market. He also had one hundred middle-grade Spirit Stones left, which he nned to use at the uing auction.


    A monthter, Wang Hong went to Thousand Refinement Pavilion in the western part of the city and collected the Spiritual Weapons he hadmissioned.


    Eight Spiritual Weapons, made from third-tier Purple Cloud Mulberry spirit wood refinement, consisted of seven high-grade ones and one top-grade Spiritual Weapon. They were apanied by a total of one hundred Spiritual Weapon-grade arrows.


    ording to Wang Hong''s specifications, these bows were incredibly strong, requiring tens of thousands of pounds of strength to draw. The top-grade Spiritual Weapon needed a staggering one hundred thousand pounds of strength to draw, custom-made for Wang Hong himself.


    These bows were beyond the capabilities of ordinary cultivators to draw, and even most body cultivators would struggle to handle them.


    Thanks to the consumption of arge number of Essence Core Pills, Wang Hong''s physical strength had now reached half a million pounds, making it easy for him to draw the one-hundred-thousand-pound bow.


    It was said that some powerful body cultivators could move mountains and fill seas with their physical strength alone. While he couldn''t do that, he could easily shatter a fewrge boulders at the foot of a mountain.


    Luo Zhongjie and the others also had strength exceeding one hundred thousand pounds at this point, making them slightly stronger than cultivators of the same tier.


    All the Demonic Beast corpses he had collected in the spatial storage had been absorbed by the demon-hunting tree, leaving him with a warehouse full of demon-hunting tree seeds.


    It wasn''t that he was unwilling to share with his subordinates, but from the very first day he led troops, he never had the habit of giving away things for no reason.


    One had to contribute or achieve something to earn corresponding benefits. Getting something for nothing would only undermine discipline and discourage everyone from striving for excellence.


    Wang Hong kept the top-grade bow and twenty arrows for himself and entrusted Luo Zhongjie with distributing the rest.


    One hundred high-grade Magical Weapon bows, each infused with a trace of third-tier Purple Cloud Mulberry, were considered to be of excellent quality even among high-grade Magical Weapons.


    Each of his one hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators received one bow, along with a thousand arrows, ten for each person.


    With one hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators simultaneously aiming at a single point and firing ten rounds, it was enough to turn a Foundation Building cultivator into a ho''s nest.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 284: Preparing for Battle

    Chapter 284: Preparing for Battle


    While awaiting the auction, Wang Hong spent his time practicing his skills and attempting to refine some small magical weapons. In his spatial storage, he had a wealth of precious third-tier materials that he wanted to refine into spiritual weapons to equip his subordinates.


    However, revealing too many resources at once would make him a target. Currently, he had only a little more than twenty Foundation Building cultivators and ten more in Boundary City, with just ten that he could mobilize at any moment. If he attracted a Golden Core cultivator, it would spell trouble.


    Therefore, learning the art of refining tools was imperative. Wang Hong had already exchanged for several refining tool techniques from the Sect Scripture Tower, some of which he had already mastered, while others he had yet to start learning.


    During this time, he contemted and practiced, starting with the basics of refining various materials. asionally, he would attempt to refine a simple low-quality magical weapon, seeding only after dozens of failures.


    Refining tools required the corresponding blueprints. The Cultivation World had developed fixed refining tool blueprints over many years. For those new to refining tools, they only needed to follow these blueprints.


    After that, they needed tobine various materials ording to the blueprints'' requirements and then fuse and shape the materials. But that was not the end; they also had to inscribe formations on the weapon. Each magical weapon had unique formations, but there were somemon ones, like durability, sharpness, and flight.


    The formations Wang Hong had learned before were oriented toward attack, defense, and trapping. Each formation was at least several meters in size. In contrast, the formations used in refining tools focused on enhancing the weapon''s functions and were much smaller, often fitting within the size of a palm.


    Learning refining tools was not a quick process, but Wang Hong took the time to craft a few whenever he had the chance. Therefore, for the foreseeable future, he wouldn''t be able to refine spiritual weapons on his own.


    During this period, he assumed various identities and ced orders at refining tool shops all over Qianqiao City. Since the city had a plethora of such shops, and each shop only refined one or two items, these orders were gradually beingpleted.Now, each bow was equipped with a hundred arrows. Unlike other magical weapons, these arrows didn''t return automatically, so in battle, every shot counted, and there was no chance to retrieve them.


    In addition, each Foundation Building cultivator was equipped with a Binding Spirit Rope, just like Wang Hong''s, made from high-quality spiritual weapon Devilish Vine. Using the refining tool materials he had acquired and the spirit wood from his Spatial Produce, he managed to refine five Long Spears suitable for closebat body cultivators. Unfortunately, he didn''t have enough materials to provide one for each person.


    Wang Hong also disguised himself and visited another refining tool family, the Ouyang family, and used a piece of thousand-year-old Golden Ironwood to refine a wooden shield of exceptional quality. He distributed one of these shields to each of his Foundation Building subordinates.


    With everyone now equipped with stronger gear, he was confident that if they encountered a group of treasure-hunting cultivators like Leader Changshan''s gang again, his subordinates would be capable of handling the situation.


    Their business at Wantong Market was booming, and the bustling market inevitably drew attention from those with ill intentions. The vast array of rare spiritual objects they carried would surely attract covetous eyes. As their influence grew, some things could not remain hidden forever.


    He couldn''t afford to stagnate and retreat just to avoid attracting unwanted attention. Currently, he could only control the influence within the Foundation Building realm, and therefore, his caravan would never sell any third-tier Spiritual Objects.


    During the crafting of his bow and arrows, Wang Hong had already used an entire Purple Cloud Mulberry, including its branches. For most people, obtaining a whole Purple Cloud Mulberry was considered exceptional luck, and no one would suspect he had another one.


    Wang Hong believed that there were two ways to deal with Foundation Building cultivators coveting his wealth. One was to disy overwhelming strength to deter them, ideally with a Golden Core cultivator in their midst or severalte-stage Foundation Building cultivators. The other was to hide one''s true strength, making the opponent underestimate them, and strike back when the time was right.


    In the eyes of outsiders, Wang Hong''s caravan had He Yuan, the strongest cultivator at the mid-stage of Foundation Building, with the rest being only at the early stages. As for the hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators, they could be ignored.


    Such strength wouldn''t intimidate others, so they had to quietly enhance their power and strike back when necessary.


    Wang Hong waited for half a year, and finally, the auction hosted by the Thousand Crafts Pavilion began. The auction would span three days, with the early stage featuring mostly first-tier Spiritual Objects, followed by second-tier Spiritual Objects, and rumors even suggested that third-tier Spiritual Objects would make an appearance.


    The auction items were in line with the Thousand Crafts Pavilion''s specialty, primarily consisting of Spiritual Weapons, Magical Weapons, and spirit ore. Unlike the Qingxu Sect, the Sect of the Thousand Crafts Pavilion did not focus on nting Spiritual Herbs. Instead, they had arge spirit ore mine producing various ores suitable for refining tools, which had contributed to the Pavilion''s sess.


    To manage the event efficiently and reduce the number of unrted individuals, each person had to pay a deposit of ten high-grade Spirit Stones or equivalent Spiritual Objects. The value of ten high-grade Spirit Stones was at least a hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, if not more.


    This barrier was sufficient to keep cultivators of the Ninth Layer and above out. Many Qi Cultivation cultivators could only earn one low-grade Spirit Stone per month, with an annual ie of a little over ten low-grade Spirit Stones. Some wouldn''t even earn ten thousand Spirit Stones in their entire lifetime.


    Even among Foundation Building cultivators, most could only make a few thousand low-grade Spirit Stones annually. Those who earned ten to twenty thousand Spirit Stones per year were considered high-ie individuals.


    Of course, there were exceptions. Alchemists, refining tool masters, formation experts, and Talisman Makers, who possessed specialized skills, as well as professional treasure hunters, earned well above this tier. Their annual ie easily exceeded one hundred thousand Spirit Stones.


    Despite their high earnings, they paid a steep price for it, especially the treasure hunters, whose lives were constantly at risk.


    Beyond these two tiers of ie, there was another tier ¨C those who held the most wealth in the Cultivation World. Some individuals had amassed fortunes in their lifetime that others could never hope to achieve.


    Over millions of years of development, the Cultivation World had seen the rise of countless strong individuals. Resources concentrated around them, forming various power structures like families, businesses, and sects. Those at the upper echelons of these power structures umted vast wealth and enjoyed the fruits of theirbor.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 285: The Medium-sized Flying Boat

    Chapter 285: The Medium-sized Flying Boat


    In the world of cultivation, there existed a stark contrast between those at the pinnacle of power, possessing vast wealth, and those at the very bottom, scraping by with just a single Spirit Stone each month.


    Although they all inhabited the same Cultivation World, the disparities among them were self-evident.


    Wang Hong had managed to climb his way up through sheer determination and had be the leader of a minor faction, just barely escaping the lowest echelons of the Cultivation World. He now had some hope of making a decent life for himself.


    For those at the very bottom, life was bleak. They couldn''t even afford a decent Magical Weapon, let alone dream of getting rich through treasure hunting and murder.


    The auction held by the Thousand Crafts Pavilion was naturally tailored to cater to those in the upper echelons of the Cultivation World.


    At this moment, the auction had been underway for over a day. The auction hall was divided into two tiers: the upper tier for Foundation Building cultivators and the lower tier for Qi Cultivation practitioners.


    On the auction stage, an auctioneer was energetically introducing a high-quality Magical Weapon, captivating the audience with his eloquence and enthusiasm.


    Even though it was only a tier-one item, the Foundation Building cultivators found it interesting and far from boring.


    Wang Hong, at this moment, leisurely sipped the Spirit Tea provided by the auction and cracked open some Three Yang Melon Seeds. He admired the ingenious designs behind some of the Magical Weapons offered by the Thousand Crafts Pavilion."Ladies and gentlemen, the auction for tier-one Spiritual Objects concludes here. Next, we willmence the auction for tier-two Spiritual Objects. The first item in this category is a meticulously crafted mobile loft by a tier-two refining tool master from the Thousand Crafts Pavilion."


    "This item is convenient and can be set up anywhere during outdoor camping, with an interior space of approximately fifteen meters wide. Bidding will start at one middle-grade Spirit Stone."


    The elderly auctioneer held up a delicate-looking house, slightly smaller than the palm of his hand.


    "Two middle-grade Spirit Stones!" The first bid came from a Qi Cultivation practitioner in the lower tier. Wang Hong noticed that this Qi Cultivation practitioner had already won several treasures in previous bids.


    "Three middle-grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Four middle-grade Spirit Stones!"


    Foundation Building cultivators on the upper tier also began bidding.


    "Five middle-grade Spirit Stones!"


    Surprisingly, the Qi Cultivation practitioner didn''t back down and continued bidding.


    After several rounds of bidding, it was this Qi Cultivation practitioner who secured the item for the price of ten middle-grade Spirit Stones.


    Wang Hong couldn''t help but be amazed. There were indeed hidden talents among the Qi Cultivation practitioners.


    The auction continued with several more items, and Wang Hong refrained from participating in any bids. His main objective for this auction was the refining tool furnace.


    He had only a hundred middle-grade Spirit Stones on him, which wasn''t enough for his extravagant spending. If he revealed all the treasures in his spatial storage, he could easily buy everything in the auction hall, but there was no need to expose too much for items of little importance.


    So, he remained silent, patiently waiting throughout the day. The practitioner sitting next to him cast curious nces his way, wondering how he could sit there silently for two days without uttering a word.


    "Now, we are auctioning a refining tool furnace, a middle-grade Spiritual Weapon with a starting bid of ten middle-grade Spirit Stones."


    "I bid eleven middle-grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Twelve middle-grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Fifteen middle-grade Spirit Stones!"


    And so on, as the bidding for the refining tool furnace began. Wang Hong scanned the entire hall and noticed that there was considerable interest in this Spiritual Weapon, with the price quickly reaching twenty middle-grade Spirit Stones.


    "Fifty middle-grade Spirit Stones!"


    Wang Hong''s booming voice, fueled by his Spiritual Power, echoed through the room, instantly doubling the current bid.


    However, he carefully controlled the volume, not wanting to draw too much attention or risk being forcibly removed from the auction hall.


    The room fell momentarily silent, stunned by both the voice and the increased bid. Soon, the bidding continued as everyone realized the true value of the item. Many were reluctant to let it slip from their grasp.


    "Fifty-three middle-grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Fifty-four middle-grade Spirit Stones!"


    "Sixty middle-grade Spirit Stones!"


    Despite Wang Hong''s efforts with round numbers like seventy and eighty, they were in vain. The other participants were wealthy individuals who didn''t mind spending their Spirit Stones.


    In the end, Wang Hong secured the refining tool furnace for the price of ny middle-grade Spirit Stones.


    As he imed the furnace, he also garnered envyden nces from others in the room.


    The curious practitioner seated beside him, who had been wondering why Wang Hong had remained silent for so long, now realized that this seemingly cid individual possessed great determination when necessary.


    For the rest of the auction, Wang Hong refrained from bidding, as he had only a few middle-grade Spirit Stones left. He would only consider items that truly piqued his interest.


    "Ladies and gentlemen, next, we have a tier-three refining tool material up for auction."


    As the auction neared its conclusion, the announcement of tier-three materials instantly ignited the excitement in the room.


    Wang Hong observed several burly men carrying arge cylindrical object covered with red fabric, which blocked Divine Sense from prating.


    To be honest, Wang Hong found the red fabric more interesting. Its ability to block Divine Sense while being so voluminous was quite rare.


    "This is a segment of tier-three Purple Cloud Mulberry spirit wood, with an age exceeding fifteen hundred years. It can be used for refining treasures, and if used for refining a Spiritual Weapon, it can undoubtedly produce a top-tier Spiritual Weapon."


    While the auctioneer introduced the item, he unveiled the segment of spirit wood beneath the red fabric.


    Wang Hong''s expression turned somewhat peculiar because he recognized it as the Purple Cloud Mulberry he had exchanged with the Yu-Chi Family. It was the same spirit wood he had cut and stripped. He could easily identify it.


    This segment of spirit wood quickly incited a fierce bidding war among the practitioners, and the price kept rising.


    In the end, the segment of spirit wood was sold for one hundred middle-grade Spirit Stones, making Wang Hong feel that the price he had agreed to in his previous exchange was too low.


    "Next up for auction is a medium-sized Flying Boat, capable of carrying around a hundred people.


    Its normal flying speed is equivalent to a Foundation Building mid-stage cultivator''s full-speed flight, requiring only low-grade Spirit Stones for operation.


    This Flying Boat also features a high-speed flying mode, which consumes a substantial amount of middle-grade Spirit Stones, allowing it to surpass the full-speed flight of ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator.


    Furthermore, the Flying Boat is equipped with a defensive formation, creating a protective shield on its exterior."


    Medium torge Flying Boats like this were rarely seen and typically belonged to influential factions of significant power.


    The refinement process for such a Flying Boat was extremely challenging, requiring numerous materials and the prior refinement of countlessplex Spiritual Weaponponents, which were then assembled into a Flying Boat.


    The Flying Boat currently up for auction was being consigned by an aging, somewhat fading prestigious family.


    Many cultivators attending the auction hade specifically for this Flying Boat. Now that it was finally on disy, they all sat up straight, their interest fully piqued.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 286: Hasty Departure

    Chapter 286: Hasty Departure


    Wang Hong was not a prominent figure in Qianqiao City, and his informationwork was limited. Prior to attending the auction, he had no idea that there would be a Flying Boat avable for bidding, and he made no preparations for it.


    However, like other auctions, this one allowed bids with other Spiritual Objects.


    He was genuinely interested in this Flying Boat; having one would greatly facilitate the operations of his trading caravan. No longer would they need to trudge along with a dozen wagons, moving slowly. Qi Cultivation cultivators would no longer be a burden, and their overallbat power would increase significantly.


    Furthermore, he had a growing sense that something was amiss, and he felt that acquiring an item that could enhance the strength of his trading caravan was imperative.


    The bidding for the Flying Boat quickly heated up, with the price soaring from fifty high-grade Spirit Stones to one hundred fifty in just a few moments.


    Soon, it crossed the two hundred mark. Even some of the influential figures found it challenging to keep up, hesitating before each bid.


    Wang Hong joined the bidding at this point, fully prepared to make a substantial investment since the Flying Boat was highly valuable to his caravan.


    He continued bidding from two hundred and closely followed the escting prices. What began with over a hundred participants bidding fiercely eventually dwindled to just a few dozen, then down to a dozen or so sporadic bidders, until only he and an old man remained in a head-to-head battle.


    "Three hundred and sixty Spirit Stones!"After this high bid from the old man, he was filled with both anxiety and conflict. He had gone all-in, and if he were to purchase the Flying Boat at this price, his entire family might face financial hardship for the next decade.


    However, he couldn''t bear to give up either, knowing that with this Flying Boat, his family''s strength had a chance to rise to a much higher tier.


    "Three hundred and sixty-five!"


    Wang Hong, determined, immediately followed up with a bid. He had decided not to bid beyond five hundred Spirit Stones, and he still had a long way to go.


    The old man, upon hearing Wang Hong''s bid, could no longer muster the strength to bid further.


    Finally, when he had no choice but to concede, the old man felt a sense of relief. Although he didn''t win the Flying Boat, at least he hadn''t incurred a loss.


    In the end, Wang Hong secured the medium-sized Flying Boat for three hundred and sixty-five high-grade Spirit Stones.


    When a maid brought the shrunken Flying Boat to Wang Hong, he handed her a Storage Bag containing only arge wine jug, filled with four hundred catties of second-tier Spirit Wine.


    There were rules in the auction house, and any transaction involving Spiritual Objects had to be calcted at a ten percent discount. They were in the business of making a profit, and once they acquired Spiritual Objects, they couldn''t sell them at the original price; they had to make some profit from them.


    Afterpleting the transaction with the auction house, Wang Hong decided not to participate in any further auctions. He also skipped the auction for Foundation Building stage Puppets. Leaving the auction hall, he quickly returned to the small courtyard they had rented.


    Luo Zhongjie and the others were already prepared. They had sensed that someone had been tracking their movements for the past few days.


    They were just waiting for the auction to end so that Wang Hong could acquire what he needed and they could leave. This was the main reason he had been willing to spend a hefty sum on the Flying Boat.


    The group soon left Qianqiao City, and once they were outside the city walls, Wang Hong took out the Flying Boat he had obtained at the auction and infused it with Spiritual Power.


    This particr Flying Boat wasrge andprised numerousponents, requiring a substantial amount of Spiritual Power to transition from its shrunken form to its full size.


    All thirteen of them simultaneously channeled their Spiritual Power into the Flying Boat. Slowly, it began to expand, continuing until their Spiritual Power was nearly depleted. The Flying Boat finallypleted its initial activation, reaching a length of over twenty zhang and a width of seven to eight zhang.


    They abandoned their vehicles and misceneous items and loaded all their goods onto the Flying Boat. Over a hundred people boarded the Flying Boat, and it didn''t appear crowded inside; there was ample space to move around.


    On both sides of the Flying Boat, there were empty spaces reserved for installing Spirit Energy Cannons, but for now, they remained vacant. Theserge-scale spiritual weapons were not easy toe by.


    With everyone on board, the Flying Boat ascended into the sky and flew off into the distance. After a moment, it became a mere dot on the horizon.


    At the same time, in a grand mansion within Qianqiao City, an old man with a cold expression sat at the head of the main hall. Several Foundation Building cultivators stood below him.


    "Reporting to the n leader, we just received news that the fatmb we''ve been tracking has left the city," one of the Foundation Building cultivators below reported.


    This family was a rising force in Qianqiao City, but theycked a strong foundation. They had expended all their efforts to help their n leader achieve Golden Core cultivation, depleting the family''s savings umted over a century or two. As a result, every member of the n had to tighten their belts to make ends meet.


    Despite reaching the Golden Core stage, the n leadercked Spirit Stones and resources. For over a decade, he had remained without even a single magical treasure. He often felt embarrassed among fellow cultivators of the same stage, and some even ridiculed him as the weakest Golden Core cultivator.


    One day, in a fit of frustration, he witnessed a trading caravan passing by outside the city. Suddenly, he realized that he wasn''t the weakest; after all, there were thousands of Foundation Building and Qi Cultivation cultivators in the Cultivation World.


    In that moment, he had a revtion. He let go of his inner demons, found rity in his thoughts, and decided to act.


    He ruthlessly ughtered the entire trading caravan, and it brought him immense satisfaction. He may not have been at the top, but he still had an edge over those beneath him.


    After annihting the caravan, he gained a substantial amount of wealth. Although these items didn''t offer significant assistance to his Golden Core cultivation, they provided great help to the family in escaping their financial struggles.


    From that point on, he became addicted to this feeling - acting submissive in front of stronger individuals and then asserting dominance over those of lower cultivation levels. As he plundered more and more, he gradually acquired valuable resources, giving him hope for a brighter future.


    He was determined to prove himself through his efforts, make those who had once looked down on him take notice, and even humiliate them.


    The old man with the cold expression regained his focus and asked, "Which direction did they head?"


    "To the northwest."


    "Good! I''ll be back soon. Keep an eye on the other fatmbs leaving the city. Remember the directions."


    The cold old man gave his orders and left the room.


    He dispatched disciples from their n who frequently mingled in the Wantong Market to find suitable targets for him to strike. Then, he would personally take action.


    Over the past few years, they had sessfully plundered over twenty trading caravans, leading to a dramatic transformation in the family''s circumstances.


    It was during this time that they truly appreciated the advantages of having high-level cultivators in their n.


    Once Wang Hong and the others were on the Flying Boat, each of them took a fewrge sips of second-tier Spirit Wine to replenish the Spiritual Energy they had expended.


    While the method of controlling the medium-sized Flying Boat was simple, among the hundred-plus people on board, only Wang Hong had prior experience with this type of Flying Boat and knew how to operate it.


    For now, he would be the one controlling the flight while simultaneously instructing a dozen or so Qi Cultivation cultivators on how to load Spirit Stones, operate the flight, and activate the protective barrier.


    Despite its convenience, this medium-sized Flying Boat consumed Spirit Stones at an rming rate. Each loading required hundreds of Spirit Stones and could only sustain an hour of regr flight. This was without taking into ount the increased consumption when activating the protective barrier duringbat, which depended on the intensity of the enemy''s attacks.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 287: Striking First

    Chapter 287: Striking First


    In most battles, to prevent rapid consumption of Spirit Stones without time for replenishment, practitioners typically load one or two medium-grade Spirit Stones as a precaution.


    After flying for over an hour, a sudden, powerful pressure surged from behind.


    This pressure left the Qi Cultivation practitioners pale and trembling, their teeth clenched in fiercebat between upper and lower rows.


    Wang Hong immediately activated the defensive shield on the Flying Boat in response to this overwhelming pressure.


    The defensive shield on the Flying Boat was effective against the pressure of high-tier cultivators.


    In battles, encountering high-tier cultivators was inevitable, and they couldn''t afford to surrender at the sight of one. They had to prepare defensive measures.


    With the shield activated, the group of Qi Cultivation practitioners slowly eased their tension.


    "Everyone, prepare for battle!" Wang Hong shouted, then handed control of the Flying Boat to several Qi Cultivation subordinates.


    At the same time, he sent a Message Transmission to Luo Zhongjie, instructing him to load the medium-grade Spirit Stones onto the Flying Boat.Judging from the pressure, the neer should be a Golden Core cultivator.


    Facing a formidable Golden Core expert, regardless of their intentions, they had to make every possible preparation and be absolutely vignt, without any room for carelessness.


    "You there in front, stop!" Wang Hong saw an old man with a cold expression flying towards them from behind. Despite his age, he moved through the air faster than the Flying Boat could at full speed.


    This was the hallmark of a Golden Core cultivator. Foundation Building cultivators needed a flying tool to soar into the sky, but Golden Core cultivators could freely fly without relying on any external aids.


    Wang Hong quickly ordered several Qi Cultivation practitioners to halt the Flying Boat, suspending it in mid-air, but they didn''t lower the defensive shield.


    "Younger generation Wang Hong pays respects to the senior. May I ask what brings you here? I will do my utmost to amodate your request," Wang Hong respectfully performed a bow on the deck of the Flying Boat.


    His mind was racing, trying to figure out how to respond. First, he needed to discern the neer''s intentions. Judging by the powerful pressure disyed from the outset, it was unlikely that they had benevolent intentions.


    When facing a potentially hostile Golden Core cultivator, escaping directly was nearly impossible since their opponent was faster. They needed to at least probe the neer''s intentions. Perhaps the individual was only here to ask a question, and fleeing immediately would be unwise.


    Another critical factor was the disparity in their Divine Sense range.


    A Golden Core cultivator''s Divine Sense could reach up to a hundred yards, allowing them to freely attack any target within that range. Their group''s Divine Sense only extended up to thirty or forty yards at most.


    If the distance was too great, once they engaged inbat, their side would only be passively receiving attacks.


    Although arrows could reach beyond a hundred yards, Wang Hong didn''t rely on those hundred-plus arrows to effectively deal with a Golden Core cultivator.


    So, he opted to stay put and wait for the neer to approach.


    "I have lost a Spirit Pet, and I suspect it''s hidden within your Flying Boat. Open the shield and let me inspect it," the old man said, despite being a Golden Core cultivator, he still needed some effort to break through the Flying Boat''s defensive shield.


    He didn''t even possess any magical treasures and could only rely on his Magical Arts for attacks. Cultivating high-level Magical Arts in the Golden Core stage was challenging, and the casting speed wasn''t particrly fast. Hence, if he could coax Wang Hong into opening the shield, it would save him some trouble.


    "Senior, I swear, I haven''t seen any Spirit Beast on our journey," Wang Hong stood on the Flying Boat''s deck, looking genuinely innocent. However, he didn''t lower the defensive shield or step outside of it.


    "Hmph! Are you unwilling?" The old man snorted, a cold, threatening look in his triangr eyes.


    "Please, senior, calm down! I truly haven''t seen any Spirit Beast," Wang Hong pleaded with an anxious expression.


    "Senior, a while ago, I obtained a thousand-year Spiritual Herb. Please ept it as a token of my apology and forgive me," Wang Hong took out a Jade Box with a Talisman attached and spoke with a conciliatory tone.


    Luo Zhongjie, his longtime subordinate, could tell from Wang Hong''s current expression that their East Master was up to something devious again. Many formidable foes had met their demise this way at the hands of their East Master on the battlefield.


    Wang Hong used his Spiritual Power to lift the Jade Box and slowly brought it within a dozen yards of the old man because they still maintained a certain distance. Golden Core cultivators had strong Divine Sense, and they usually didn''t like getting too close to other practitioners.


    The old man epted the Jade Box and gently removed the Talisman on top, immediately detecting a pleasant medicinal fragrance emanating from it, a result of the Spiritual Herb''s potency.


    The old man didn''t pay it much mind. He believed that a mere Foundation Building cultivator like Wang Hong couldn''t cause any significant trouble.


    When facing Foundation Building and Qi Cultivation practitioners, he was especially confident.


    He opened the Jade Box to reveal a vibrant pink flower with an enchanting fragrance.


    As he smelled the floral scent, he experienced a strange sense of d¨¦j¨¤ vu. It made him recall a time when he was just a teenager, digging a small hole beneath his aunt''s house. He would lurk by the hole and peek inside, watching scenes that would send his blood racing. It felt as if he had been transported back to those moments.


    Wang Hong felt that the old man''s malice had be quite apparent, and he realized that surrendering his safety to the old man was unwise. Instead of waiting for the old man to make a move, he decided to take the initiative and turn the tables.


    What he had given the Golden Core cultivator was a two-thousand-year-old Red Powder Skull Flower. This poisonous flower induced hallucinations in humans or Demonic Beasts, particrly those with lower intelligence. It would make them revel in their delusions until they were eventually dissolved into a toxic liquid, serving as fertilizer for the flower.


    This was the first time Wang Hong had used a Red Powder Skull Flower against a Golden Core cultivator, and he wasn''t certain about its exact effects.


    He had prepared the Jade Box in advance when he was still in the Qingxu Sect, ready for use at any moment.


    Additionally, he had added some "Devouring Spirit" poison to the Jade Box. Although this poison acted slowly, its greatest advantage was its subtlety, as it left no trace.


    Over the years, Wang Hong had improved "Devouring Spirit" several times, enhancing its concealment.


    Wang Hong believed that even if the old man wasn''t affected by the Red Powder Skull Flower, he would definitely sumb to the "Devouring Spirit" poison.


    At this moment, he noticed that the old man''s expression had be dazed. This rare opportunity couldn''t be wasted, and there was no room for hesitation.


    "Archers, prepare!" Wang Hong gave the order in a hushed tone while also drawing his bow.


    One hundred and eight bows were simultaneously aimed at the old man, awaiting Wang Hong''smand.


    "Fire!"


    "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" Following Wang Hong''smand, one hundred and eight arrows, apanied by a rushing wind, flew toward the old man.


    Perhaps it was the sound of the arrows or the innate sense of danger, but the old man was awakened at that moment.


    Seeing more than a hundred arrows flying toward him, he had no time to mount a significant defense. All he could do was mobilize his Spiritual Power, spreading it across his body as his Daoist Robe billowed out.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 288: The Battle of the Golden Core

    Chapter 288: The Battle of the Golden Core


    "Pupupu!"


    Countless arrows struck them, with a hundred arrows shot by Qi Cultivation cultivators, only causing slight dents in their Daoist Robes before being bounced away. Though they hadn''t achieved much, it had depleted a small amount of the opponent''s Spiritual Power.


    The arrows from the Foundation Building cultivators pierced through the Daoist Robes, but they were stopped by an inneryer of armor.


    Only one arrow, shot with all of Wang Hong''s strength, pierced through the armor and struck two inches into the chest of the Old Man.


    Wang Hong sighed in disappointment; he had almost seeded in ambushing and taking down a Golden Core expert in one blow.


    "You dare!" Old Man roared in anger, his hair standing on end. He had never seen a Foundation Building cultivator daring to attack him actively; he had just narrowly escaped a fatal attack.


    Old Man pinched a technique with one hand and silently chanted in his mind. In an instant, a giant log appeared in front of him. With a wave of his hand, the log hurtled towards the Flying Boat.


    This was the only Tier-Three Magical Art that Old Man currently knew.


    The people on the Flying Boat, after the first arrow was shot, didn''t pay attention to the oue of that arrow. Without hesitation, they fired two more rounds of arrows.Seeing that the first round had not achieved sess, Wang Hong immediately changed his strategy. As Old Man began casting his spell, the thirteen Foundation Building cultivators on the Flying Boat all summoned the Refinement''s defensive wooden shields, protecting the front of the Flying Boat.


    At the same time, they each used Binding Spirit Ropes andunched attacks on Old Man from different angles.


    The next two rounds of arrows mostly collided with the giant log in mid-air, shattering upon impact and weakening the log''s force as it approached.


    The remaining arrows flew towards Old Man but were blocked by the defensive barrier he conjured.


    Though Old Man could only perform the Tier-Three Giant Log Art, even ordinary Tier-Two Magical Arts, when wielded by a Golden Core cultivator, were not something Foundation Building cultivators could contend with.


    The giant log advanced again and collided in mid-air with the wooden shields summoned by Wang Hong and the others.


    The high-grade Spiritual Weapons wielded by the Foundation Building cultivators proved no match for the Tier-One Magical Art of the weakest Golden Core cultivator. The first wooden shield shattered instantly, and the second barely held for a moment before breaking as well. Only the third one managed to hold its ground.


    As they shed in the air, the third wooden shield began to show cracks, and the giant log, constructed from Magical Arts, also dimmed.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong and the others'' Binding Spirit Ropes had already reached Old Man''s side.


    Seeing thirteen Binding Spirit Ropes closing in, Old Man summoned a Spiritual Weapon, the Flying Sword. It emitted a blue light and danced in the air, repeatedly striking at the Binding Spirit Ropes.


    In the air, there was a sh of blue light, thirteen long shadows, and the two sides tangled in mid-air, resembling a heroic figure in green robes battling thirteen serpentine dragons.


    For a moment, Old Man, armed only with a Spiritual Weapon Flying Sword, was evenly matched against the thirteen Binding Spirit Ropes. The Binding Spirit Ropes couldn''t get any closer.


    Even Old Man was slightly gaining the upper hand. Sword marks of various sizes had already appeared on the Binding Spirit Ropes, indicating that they wouldn''t hold for much longer.


    While controlling the Flying Sword, Old Man conjured another giant log, sending it hurtling towards the Flying Boat.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong changed tactics once again. He ordered everyone''s Binding Spirit Ropes to entangle with the giant log rather than confronting it head-on, applyingteral force to continuously alter its course.


    At the same time, Wang Hong released all fifteen thousand of his Poisonous Bees, swarming towards Old Man in a dense ck cloud.


    The Poisonous Bees hesitated and refused to approach when they sensed the immense pressure emanating from Old Man.


    Through the Bee Queen, Wang Hong issued amand, forcing the swarm of Poisonous Bees to charge at Old Man once again.


    In the world of the bee swarm, they functioned like a highly structured kingdom, each with its own role and responsibilities. The Bee Queen was their sole ruler, and they would unhesitatingly execute hermands, even if it meant giving their lives.


    As more than ten thousand Poisonous Bees converged on Old Man, his Flying Sword could no longer defend against them as effectively as before.


    Old Man''s expression changed slightly, but he soon regained hisposure. He knew that breaking through his protective shield with these Spirit Bees would not be a quick task.


    One by one, Poisonous Bees fearlessly struck Old Man''s defensive Light Shield, creating a cacophony of rapid, rhythmic buzzing.


    Each Poisonous Bee possessed the strength of a Tier-One Demonic Beast, with hundreds of pounds of power. Over ten thousand Poisonous Bees relentlessly assaulted the Light Shield, rapidly depleting Old Man''s Spiritual Power.


    Old Man realized that these Spirit Bees were extraordinary. Fearing that his shield wouldn''t hold for much longer, he summoned another Spiritual Weapon, adding an additionalyer of defense around him.


    Though this significantly increased his Spiritual Power consumption, he didn''t believe that a group of mere junior cultivators could oust him.


    On the other side, although Old Man''s giant log was affected by the Binding Spirit Ropes and had lost some power and speed, he still relentlessly charged toward the Flying Boat under Old Man''s control.


    The others were fully upied controlling the Binding Spirit Ropes and had no time to assist, leaving Wang Hong to face it alone.


    This time, instead of using a shield-type Spiritual Weapon, Wang Hong employed several Tier-Two Talismans.


    While others might hesitate to use their precious Tier-Two Talismans except in critical moments, Wang Hong had no such reservations. Over the years, he had grown all the materials for Tier-Two Talismans, the Seven Star Grass, in his Space and umted a vast supply. He hadn''t sold a single one and kept them all on his person.


    The talismans he activated transformed into various forms¡ªsome into earthen walls, others into golden Light Screens, and still others into wooden shields, all ced in front of the giant log.


    With a deafening explosion, a burst of mes erupted in the air. After the mes dissipated, the giant log disappeared from view.


    However, as soon as the giant log vanished, Old Man cast his spell once again, summoning another segment of a giant log. His Flying Sword also joined in the attack this time.


    He wanted to see how many Tier-Two Talismans the Flying Boat still had to spare.


    To his surprise, when the giant log approached the Flying Boat, the opponents threw out anotherrge batch of Tier-Two Talismans, halting the giant log''s advance.


    Both sides remained deadlocked in this manner, waiting to see who would give in first.


    After a short while, the Foundation Building cultivators on Wang Hong''s side had replenished their Spiritual Power twice using Spirit Wine. They primarily specialized in Body Refining, and their Spiritual Power wasn''t very deep, nor were they skilled in long-distance control of Spiritual Weapons.


    With the cooperation of the Flying Sword, Old Man''s Giant Log Art broke through Wang Hong''s defenses several times, mming into the Flying Boat''s defensive shield, causing it to waver and dim in its spiritual light.


    Old Man, too, was getting increasingly anxious. He had encountered and plundered many caravans before, but he had never faced such a stubborn one.


    Moreover, he now felt some obstruction in the flow of his Spiritual Power, causing his limbs to stiffen and be less agile.


    He spected that it might be the side effect of that flower he had encountered earlier.


    Furthermore, his Spiritual Power was running dangerously low. He couldn''t believe that he, a Golden Core cultivator, would exhaust his Spiritual Power in a battle against a group of Foundation Building juniors.


    Little did he know that he had fallen victim to three different poisons administered by Wang Hong.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 289: Slaying the Enemy

    Chapter 289: ying the Enemy


    At first, he was poisoned by the Red Powder Skull Flower. If he were to stop fighting now and use his Divine Sense to examine himself, he would discover that his internal organs had already begun to decay.


    However, the poison of the Red Powder Skull Flower had a unique property ¨C it didn''t cause any pain. If he hadn''t awakened from the illusion, he might have even feltfortable as his body dissolved into blood.


    Additionally, he was also afflicted by the "Devouring Spirit" poison, which was originally invisible and dispersed in the air. A small dark spot had already appeared on his Golden Core, and it was devouring his Spiritual Power, growing stronger with each passing moment.


    The Old Man''s Spiritual Power was depleting rapidly, not only due to the relentless attacks of the Poisonous Bees but also because of the "Devouring Spirit" poison.


    Lastly, there was the third poison, the arrow that Wang Hong had shot at him in the beginning. The arrowhead was coated with a deadly poison, extracted from the Poisonous Bees. This poison was blocking his Spiritual Power.


    Wang Hong was skilled in the use of poison, and he believed that any method to eliminate his enemies and preserve himself was a good one. He had no need for morality or righteousness when dealing with his foes.


    Any one of these three deadly poisons would be a death sentence for a Foundation Building cultivator. The only difference was in the way they would die.


    The Old Man, a master of the Golden Core stage, had endured for quite some time, and he still wasn''t in dire straits.


    With a resounding crash, the Old Man''s giant wooden technique broke through Wang Hong''s interception and struck the protective barrier of the Flying Boat.The activation of a second-tier Talisman required Spiritual Power and Divine Sense control, and Wang Hong had a limited number of Talismans he could use. This asionally led to situations where the protective barrier could be breached by the Old Man''s attacks.


    However, this time, the protective barrier finally couldn''t withstand the assault and shattered with a soft ''pu''.


    As the protective barrier crumbled, there was no longer any protection on the Flying Boat. Their previous advantage had disappeared, and staying on the Flying Boat was now pointless.


    Wang Hong made an immediate decision ¨C he would charge!


    "Follow me and fight!"


    In the face of a Golden Core stage expert, whether you fought or withdrew, the oue was the same. After shouting, Wang Hong, holding a Long Spear, rode on the back of Little Peng and charged toward the Old Man.


    The remaining twelve Foundation Building cultivators followed without hesitation, showing no fear just because they faced a Golden Core expert.


    Luo Zhongjie and the other eleven had be ustomed to fighting alongside Wang Hong, achieving victory time and time again, which had made them fearless.


    He Yuan, after spending more time with the group, had gradually been influenced by them. Moreover, he was originally a determined individual. In the current situation, their only chance of survival was to unite and defeat the Golden Core Old Man.


    To quickly approach the Old Man, Wang Hong left Little Peng''s back and used his body-shifting technique to close the distance rapidly.


    The Old Man harbored a deep grudge against Wang Hong, and he had long desired to kill the cultivator who had almost thwarted his ns. He immediately used a giant wooden technique to attack Wang Hong. However, due to the effects of the poison, his body was no longer as agile as before, and the power of his Magical Arts had diminished significantly.


    Wang Hong used his wooden shield to block the giant wooden attack in mid-air. The wooden shield was knocked away, flying several zhang away, while Wang Hong continued to approach using his swift shifting positions technique.


    Simultaneously, all thirteen Binding Spirit Ropes flew around the Old Man to restrict his movements, working in tandem with Wang Hong''s attacks.


    Wang Hong finally closed the distance to within a dozen zhang of the Old Man. He raised his Long Spear and thrust it forward.


    The Old Man, weakened by multiple poisons and continuous attacks from the Poisonous Bees, was already at hisst breath. His final protective barrier was shattered.


    At this moment, the Old Man conjured another giant wooden attack and charged towards Wang Hong once more.


    Due to their close proximity, Wang Hong had no choice but to use his Long Spear to directly intercept the attack.


    As the Long Spear collided with the giant wooden attack, Wang Hong felt an immense force pushing against him. He was sent flying over twenty zhang away and crashed onto the ground. He quickly assessed himself and found that his bones were intact, and his internal injuries were not too severe.


    The Old Man, taking this opportunity, cast a wooden armor technique to protect himself.


    Simultaneously, he controlled two Flying Swords, preventing Luo Zhongjie and the others from getting closer.


    Golden Core cultivators possessed powerful Divine Sense, allowing them to multitask efficiently. While using Magical Arts to attack Wang Hong, they could also manage several Spiritual Weapons.


    The Old Man once again charged at Wang Hong with a giant wooden attack, fueled by his intense hatred for Wang Hong.


    This time, Wang Hong was again sent flying over twenty zhang away, but he could clearly sense that the Old Man''s strength had diminished further.


    At this moment, one of the Foundation Building cultivators rushed forward to intercept the Old Man''s strike, losing an arm in the process. Despite his injury, he continued to charge at the Old Man.


    The Old Man could only use a Flying Sword to pierce through the wounded cultivator''s abdomen, opening an opportunity for others to get closer.


    In the heat of battle, Wang Hong couldn''t pay attention to the injuries of his subordinates. He took advantage of this opportunity to transform into a blur and get close to the Old Man''s side.


    Wang Hong swept his Long Spear, once again breaking the Old Man''s wooden armor technique. The other eleven cultivators arrived just in time, and five Long Spears pierced the Old Man''s chest and abdomen.


    Several other Spiritual Weapons also passed through the Old Man''s body, and his head was finally pierced, ending his life.


    Wang Hong didn''t pay further attention to the deceased Old Man. His figure flickered and appeared beside the subordinate who had been struck twice earlier.


    The injured subordinate was named Hu Jian. He was typically quiet but disyed a reckless and aggressive nature in every battle. In simple terms, he didn''t value his own life and enjoyed ying recklessly with his opponents. He had followed Wang Hong for decades and had somehow managed to survive until now, which could be considered a miracle.


    Hu Jian nowy on the ground, covered in blood, making it unclear whether he was alive or dead.


    Wang Hong first fed him a Jade Marrow Pill, then examined his injuries.


    He had two main injuries ¨C one was theplete severance of his arm from the shoulder, which wasn''t particrly life-threatening.


    The other was a sword thrust through his abdomen, which was a fatal wound.


    In battles between cultivators, besides the powerful physical damage inflicted by Magical Weapons, there was also the added damage that came with the use of Magical Weapons. Additionally, a cultivator''s Spiritual Power could enter the body along with the Magical Weapon, causing substantial harm.


    Although only a few breaths had passed since Hu Jian had been injured, his heart had already stopped beating, and his vitality was rapidly dissipating.


    The Jade Marrow Pill that Wang Hong had administered was now replenishing the vitality that was rapidly fading.


    Wang Hong infused a trace of his own Spiritual Power, assisting the Jade Marrow Pill within Hu Jian''s body to quickly dissolve and refine. Finally, the rate of vitality replenishment began to catch up with the rate of dissipation.


    Gradually, the vitality within Hu Jian''s body grew thicker, and suddenly, his heart gave a faint beat.


    After a dozen or so breaths, his heart beat again, this time with slightly more strength.


    As his vitality recovered, the frequency of his heartbeats gradually approached that of a normal Foundation Building cultivator ¨C one beat per breath.


    For a normal mortal, the heartbeat was typically four beats per breath. As a cultivator''s cultivation level deepened, the heartbeat rate slowed down.


    By the Foundation Building stage, it usually reached one beat per breath or even one beat every two breaths.


    It was said that once a cultivator reached the Nascent Soul stage, even if their heart was removed, they would not die; a new heart would eventually grow in its ce.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 290: Harvest

    Chapter 290: Harvest


    As Hu Jian''s heartbeat slowly recovered, his other internal organs began to recover as well. Although he was still in aa, his life was no longer in danger.


    Luo Zhongjie retrieved Hu Jian''s severed arm and attempted to reattach it at the stump. Unfortunately, in this short span of time, the vitality in the severed arm had already extinguished, turning it into a lifeless chunk of flesh that couldn''t be reattached.


    Judging from thebat techniques, the Old Man appeared to be practicing a cultivation technique rted to the Wood Element, a technique skilled at severing one''s life force. This was especially devastating when wielded by someone at the Golden Core cultivation level, as the flesh of those at the Qi Cultivation stage could hardly withstand it.


    From that moment on, Hu Jian was left with only one arm.


    Spiritual Herbs capable of regenerating limbs were exceedingly rare. Wang Hong had been mingling in the Cultivation World for decades, and he had only heard of such Spiritual Herbs but never seen one.


    Unless Hu Jian advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, only cultivators at that level possessed the ability to regenerate severed limbs magically. However, reaching the Nascent Soul stage was an incredibly arduous task, and even with the assistance of Space, Wang Hong couldn''t be sure if he would ever reach such heights.


    To Wang Hong''s knowledge, in the entire East Zhou Cultivation Realm, there were probably only about twenty Nascent Soul stage cultivators. Among the six major Sects, Taihao Sect had three Nascent Soul cultivators, while the other Sects typically had two. Altogether, the six major Sects had thirteen Nascent Soul cultivators, and a few mid-tier Sects had one Nascent Soul cultivator each.


    Furthermore, Wang Hong had heard of a loose cultivator in the Cultivation World who had reached the Nascent Soul stage, although it was a mystery how they had achieved such a level.


    After confirming that Hu Jian was out of immediate danger, Wang Hong collected all the items on the Old Man''s person and then incinerated the body with a burst of mes."The next time we go to Qianqiao City, remember to discreetly gather information and find out who this Old Man was and which faction he belonged to," Wang Hong instructed Luo Zhongjie as they returned to their Flying Boat.


    He needed to know the origin of their enemy to be better prepared in the future.


    "Yes!" Luo Zhongjie replied with a look of determination. Even though they were currently powerless to retaliate against the force that had attacked them, he was resolved to seek vengeance once they gained the strength.


    Wang Hong ordered his Qi Cultivation stage subordinates to operate the Flying Boat, heading in the direction of Azure Void City.


    During the recent battle, they had been unable to participate due to their Qi Cultivation stage cultivation level. They couldn''t even perform controlled flight techniques and had to watch from the Flying Boat.


    Wang Hong took a moment to rest on the Flying Boat before carefully examining the items from the Old Man''s possession.


    The Old Man''s Storage Bag was quiterge, measuring ten zhang in all dimensions. Wang Hong emptied its contents onto the deck of the Flying Boat, making the already cramped space even more crowded.


    The first thing that caught his eye was arge pile of Spirit Stones. There were over two million low-grade Spirit Stones and more than five hundred mid-grade Spirit Stones. This was no small fortune, even among Golden Core cultivators.


    Next, there were various supplies stored in different crates, some of which had the names of merchant caravans written on them. It seemed that this Old Man had plundered numerous merchant caravans.


    Wang Hong opened all these crates to find dozens of Spiritual Weapons, all of which were of high quality. Even a Golden Core cultivator would find them appealing.


    Among the many crates, the most abundant were various refining tool materials, with most of them being second-tier materials and a small amount of third-tier materials. Surprisingly, there were over a dozen pieces of Profound Iron, the same kind that Wang Hong had acquired in Boundary Cityst time.


    These materials were exactly what Wang Hong urgently needed. With these refining tool materials, he could craft more standard Spiritual Weapons, significantly enhancing the strength of his subordinates.


    In addition to these items, there were also a few Spirit Pills, Spiritual Herbs, and other misceneous items.


    This Old Man had ughtered more than a dozen merchant caravans, seizing their treasures. Although he had given some of it to his family members upon returning, he had selfishly kept the best items for himself, which now benefited Wang Hong.


    Over the years, he had also gathered some third-tier materials for refining a treasure for himself, and now all of it fell into Wang Hong''s hands.


    Wang Hong collected all the refining tool materials and handed the remaining Spirit Stones, Spiritual Weapons, and other items to Luo Zhongjie, allowing his subordinates to exchange them freely based on their contributions.


    During the return journey on the Flying Boat, Luo Zhongjie was somewhat disappointed that they didn''t encounter any treasure-seeking cultivators. After all, they had recently cleared this route of them during their journey to Azure Void City.


    In the short term, there wouldn''t be any treasure-seeking cultivators on this route, as even crops didn''t grow back this quickly after being harvested.


    Upon returning to Azure Void City, Xu Lun''s East Zhou Trading Company had acquired a considerable amount of merchandise from Qianqiao City. To amodate this, Xu Lun had set aside another floor specifically for selling these goods, primarily consisting of Magical Weapons, Spiritual Weapons, refining tool materials, and Puppets.


    The addition of these goods quickly attracted numerous cultivators who came to purchase, boosting thepany''s business.


    From then on, East Zhou Trading Company expanded its range of products to include Spirit Herbs, spirit fruits, Pills, Spirit Wine, Magical Weapons, Spiritual Weapons, refining tool materials, and more.


    The reputation of East Zhou Trading Company gradually spread throughout Azure Void City, and it slowly became one of the top businesses in the city.


    At this point, some small shops also began to purchase goods from East Zhou Trading Company because most tradingpanies provided goods to smaller businesses at wholesale prices.


    East Zhou Trading Company hadn''t engaged in this business before, but now that they had their own merchant caravans, they decided to do so.


    Furthermore, since the merchant caravan had brought back a substantial amount of merchandise, the Immortal Way Trading Company had promised to increase their supply of Spiritual Herbs, further strengthening their partnership.


    Although Azure Void City wasrge and had many shops, most of them were small-scale businesses. There were only a few truly sessfulrge-scale businesses.


    Thergest business in Azure Void City was Qingxu Tower, which was established by the Qingxu Sect and essentially owned the entire city. No one couldpete with it or encroach on its market share because theycked the resources and power to do so.


    Beneath Qingxu Tower in terms of strength was the Ten Shops Alliance, led by Myriad Treasures Tower. These ten shops had formed an alliance to work together, share profits, and eliminatepetition.


    Every year, the Ten Shops Alliance held a Qi Cultivation item auction, during which they usually auctioned a Foundation Establishment Pill, attracting numerous Qi Cultivation cultivators. Every five years, they also hosted a Foundation Building cultivator auction, drawing Foundation Building cultivators not only from Azure Void City but from other regions as well.


    Wang Hong had participated in several Qi Cultivation auctions in the past and had acquired items such as the Green Spirit Peach and the Misty Illusion Mask.


    At this moment, the ten shopkeepers of the Ten Shops Alliance gathered to discuss the preparations for their annual Qi Cultivation auction.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 291: Cultivation Training

    Chapter 291: Cultivation Training


    After the official business discussions with the Ten Person Team had concluded, they began to chat about various other matters.


    At that moment, a cultivator with a goat-like beard spoke up, "Have any of you heard about the new East Zhou tradingpany that recently appeared on our street?"


    "I''ve noticed that shop before. They were doing quite well in the Spiritual Herb business from what I observed. I even conducted an investigation. The East Master of that shop is a disciple of the Qingxu Sect, and he used to manage two smaller shops with decent sess. However, they got into a conflict with the Gao Family, which led to them acquiring the current location of the East Zhou tradingpany. They also seem to have a substantial spirit field outside the city, with people stationed there for defense. I''ve taken a look from afar, and it seems to be quiterge. Furthermore, it appears they have other sources of Spiritual Herbs that I haven''t uncovered yet," a red-faced cultivator remarked, seemingly knowledgeable about Wang Hong''s situation.


    "We''ve dealt with such emerging small forces in the past. For now, let''s gather information about them and decide on further actionster," concluded the shopkeeper of Myriad Treasures Tower. As the leader of the Ten Store Alliance, he had the most authority.


    After returning to Azure Void City, Wang Hong conducted inspections at various ces, finding that his shops were running smoothly. In the Mountain Valley, the first-tier Spiritual Herbs, after years of growth, were now mature and being harvested. The hundred Qi Cultivation stage subordinates he had brought with him were dispatched to help.


    After each Spiritual Herb was harvested, it needed to be processed and stored promptly; otherwise, the Spirit Qi within it would dissipate, rendering it worthless as a Spirit Stone. The Jade Boxes and wooden boxes used to store the Spiritual Herbs required refining to incorporate formations that prevented Spirit Qi loss. Many shops in Azure Void City sold these low-end items at very affordable prices, with one low-grade Spirit Stone buying more than ten of them. In the past, Wang Hong had purchased them from Azure Void City, but now that he had decided to learn the art of refining tools, he nned to make the boxes himself as practice.


    For materials, he intended to use spirit wood for the wooden boxes. This material was readily avable to him, and he didn''t mind wasting it. He had nted several first-tier spirit wood trees in his space, which had now grown into towering trees. Some of the first-tier spirit wood, after a thousand years of growth, had even mutated into second-tier spirit wood. Wang Hong cut down a first-tier spirit wood tree from his space and divided it into smaller pieces.


    Ordinary wooden boxes were not even considered magical weapons, so refining them posed no significant difficulty. It could be considered an entry-level refining tool technique. Wang Hong quickly mastered the method in just a few days. However, with this batch of first-tier Spiritual Herbs needing thousands of wooden boxes, the task would still be time-consuming. Fortunately, he had previously intended to train a group of his subordinates in various skills. Assigning them the task of refining the wooden boxes would be a good way for them to gain practical experience.


    Wang Hong gathered the one hundred Qi Cultivation stage subordinates he had recently recruited. "Everyone, you''ve been practicing cultivation for over a decade, so I believe you have a good understanding of the Cultivation World. What I want to discuss today is about the various arts in cultivation. The Cultivation World has developed over millions of years, giving rise to a wide range of techniques. The pills you consume are refined by alchemists, the magical weapons you use require refinement by refining tool masters, and there are also talismans, spirit wine, formations, spirit meals, and more.Now, I''m giving you an opportunity to learn. This includes alchemy, formation mastery, talisman crafting, refining tools, spirit meals, spirit wine, spirit nts, and spirit beast training, among other cultivation techniques."


    You are free to choose any skill, but each person can only learn one. You have one day to consider your choice, and you should report it to me after that. All the resources and expenses for your learning will be covered by thepany."


    After Wang Hong''s words, there wasplete silence below. Everyone had a serious expression, and no one spoke. However, from the burning look in their eyes, you could see the excitement in their hearts at this moment.


    After years of rigorous training, they had ingrained discipline and obedience into their very blood. Although they were Immortal Cultivators and not ordinary soldiers, the education they had received from a young age was no different from that of ordinary military forces. After more than a decade of influence, following these disciplines had be a habit.


    At this moment, they were holding back their excitement. They all wanted to discuss and share their thoughts with the people around them.


    Having cultivated for over a decade, they knew how difficult it was to master a skill in the Cultivation World and how much it would cost.


    When Wang Hong announced the dismissal, the one hundred people immediately formed small groups and began to quietly discuss.


    "I want to learn Alchemy. I''ve always admired Alchemists."


    "Alchemy is great, but Talisman Making is even better. You can throw a Talisman at your enemies and watch them turn to ashes."


    "I''m going to study formation. I''ll trap you in a formation and see if your Talismans are more powerful or my formations!"


    At this moment, all one hundred people were engaged in discussions. They were all in their twenties and had rtively naive thoughts, so they spoke without much restraint.


    Wang Hong decided that from now on, he would train a wide range of skills among his subordinates, ensuring that each person would at least master some basic knowledge. Of course, with so many people, not all of them would seed in their training. People had different talents and determination. In the future, he would select the most outstanding individuals for focused training.


    The next day, Luo Zhongjie collected the choices made by each individual and handed them over to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong nced at the list and noticed that Alchemy, refining tools, Talisman Making, and formation skills were the most popr choices, each having more than ten people interested. The other cultivation techniques had only a few candidates. Interestingly, one person had not chosen any specific skill but simply wrote two words as a note: bat."


    "What''s the situation with this Yang Tiezhu?" Wang Hong asked with some confusion. He hadn''t includedbat skills in the options he had announced earlier.


    "Well, I asked this team member about it. She inquired if there were anybat-rted skills, as she''s only interested inbat," Luo Zhongjie exined. He had anticipated that Wang Hong might have questions about this.


    "Bring her here. I have some questions for her personally."


    "Understood."


    Luo Zhongjie left, but as he turned, Wang Hong felt that his smile was somewhat peculiar.


    After a while, Luo Zhongjie returned with a young female team member.


    The young woman was in her twenties, not very tall, had a baby-face, and a faint smile on her face.


    "Is this Yang Tiezhu you mentioned?" Wang Hong double-checked the list; it indeed had Yang Tiezhu''s name on it, so there was no mistake.


    Before Luo Zhongjie could speak, the young woman said, "I''m Yang Tiezhu!"


    This unexpected statement nearly made Wang Hong bite his own tongue.


    "When my mother was pregnant with me, her belly was big, and the vigers all said I was a boy, so my father gave me this name. Later, after my father was eaten by a big tiger in the mountains, my mother gave birth to me and used the name my father had given me."


    Seeing Wang Hong''s surprised expression, the young woman exined. She had grown ustomed to this kind of reaction from people after announcing her name; after saying her name, she would always exin it.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 292: Arrangements

    Chapter 292: Arrangements


    After Wang Hong heard Yang Tiezhu''s exnation, he no longer paid attention to the matter of names, considering it trivial.


    "Why are you not interested in other skills?" Wang Hong asked.


    "In our vige, people say that a true hero is someone with strength, someone who can defeat a great tiger. My father didn''t believe it; he was the best carpenter in ten miles, but in the end, he was still eaten by a tiger. So, I think it''s the same for Immortal Cultivators. The best heroes are the ones who can fight the best. I want to be a respected hero too," Yang Tiezhu replied.


    Wang Hong thought that she would never be a hero in her lifetime, but now was not the time to discourage young people.


    "Good! You have determination! Although the Cultivation World doesn''t ssifybat as a separate skill, I can help you specialize inbat techniques."


    Cultivationbat epassed a wide range of skills, involving various aspects. Whilebat was a necessary skill for every cultivator, few focused exclusively on it. This was because survival in the Cultivation World involved numerous distractions, making it challenging to concentrate on one thing.


    The reason Taihao Sect''s sword cultivators were powerful was because they focused solely on the sword. However, not everyone in Taihao Sect specialized in swords; they also needed extensive logistical support and assistance from other types of cultivators.


    If everyone only focused on swords, where would their resources for cultivatione from? Where would they obtain their swords?


    Wang Hong handed Yang Tiezhu over to Luo Zhongjie for instruction, and in the future, she would be taught by others skilled inbat. He wanted to see how far Yang Tiezhu could progress.Now that everyone had chosen the skills they wanted to learn, the next question was how to teach them.


    In truth, Wang Hong was proficient in most skills, but if he personally taught each skill one by one, it would be too time-consuming and exhausting.


    The Pill Recipe could be taught by the Ma Brothers. These two brothers had be second-tier Alchemists, and although their character was a bitcking, their Alchemy skills were excellent, more than sufficient to teach these neers.


    Skinny Monkey could help teach Spirit Wine and Spirit Meal. They could also provide some assistance in his Spirit Wine workshop.


    However, there were several skills left, and no one among his subordinates was proficient in them.


    Fortunately, in Azure Void City, many ns allowed loose cultivators to pay Spirit Stones to listen in while they taught their disciples. The content covered a wide range, including Cultivation Techniques, Alchemy, refining tools, and more.


    When Wang Hong was still a loose cultivator, he had initially learned Alchemy through this method.


    For the remaining skills, Wang Hong could have Luo Zhongjie arrange for them to listen in and purchase additional Jade Scrolls rted to these skills to allow everyone to gain insights on their own. In the future, when he had time, he could exin the content to them.


    With these arrangements in mind, Wang Hong entrusted the task to Luo Zhongjie and moved on.


    For the time being, Wang Hong worked with a dozen of his subordinates who were learning refining tools, guiding them in refining wooden boxes. This type of refinement was straightforward and perfect for beginners.


    After three days of instruction, Wang Hong left behind arge pile of first-tier spirit wood for them to experiment with refining on their own before departing.


    He then disguised himself as Wang Kun and went to Liu Changsheng''s Immortal Way Trading Company. Currently, there were also more than ten Foundation Building stage subordinates here, as Liu Changsheng had previously recruited one hundred new recruits.


    The Immortal Way Trading Company still operated as a covert and secretive force because it dealt with significant resources, and the pressure it would face in the future was bound to be immense.


    As early as two years ago, Wang Hong had arranged for two Foundation Building cultivators to be promoted from this side every year.


    The initial group of fifteen people he recruited had all sessfully reached Foundation Building now.


    The new batch of one hundred recruits was currently not nned to learn Cultivation skills but rather to focus on improving their cultivation realms.


    "East Master, it seems like someone has been secretly investigating East Zhou Trading Company recently," reported Liu Changsheng.


    Liu Changsheng had been involved in covert activities for a long time and was experienced in such matters. He had also trained many subordinates who had been lurking in the shadows, and they were no pushovers.


    "Who are these people, and have they found anything?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "It should be people from the Ten Store Alliance. They can only find out what we want them to know. If we don''t want them to know something, with their methods, they will never find out," Liu Changsheng confidently replied. He had previously served as the highest-ranking figure of the Shadow Kill in a city, dealing with several businesses in secret.


    After all, businesses did not have Liu Changsheng''s level of expertise in such matters.


    "For now, issue a discreet warning to them. If we can avoid a direct conflict, we should. I don''t think we''re powerful enough to challenge the Ten Store Alliance, especially Myriad Treasures Tower, their leading force. Myriad Treasures Tower has a presence wherever Immortal Cultivators gather. Our current force would be crushed quickly if we directly confront them."


    "Understood," Liu Changsheng agreed. To be honest, he also didn''t want to face off against a massive force like Myriad Treasures Tower head-on.


    As for how to issue the warning to make them back off, Wang Hong didn''t specify. He left it to Liu Changsheng''s discretion. With the enemy in the light and himself in the shadows, there were countless ways to achieve the desired oue, especially since the Ten Store Alliance primarily focused on business.


    "After you''ve dealt with these matters, recruit another one hundred neers in the Mortal Realm. I''m afraid we''ll need more manpower in the future," Wang Hong instructed. His recent journey with the caravan had involved two dangerous battles, and although they had emerged victorious, the process had been perilous.


    He felt that the number of cultivators among his subordinates was still insufficient. In the future, they would need to travel between various cities, which carried significant risks. He had already instructed Luo Zhongjie to have all one hundred new recruits learn various skills.


    If they excelled and became skilled, they would no longer participate inbat, and the manpower would be insufficient.


    After Wang Hong had settled most of the affairs in Azure Void City, he returned to Qingxu Sect.


    Upon returning to the sect, he first paid a visit to his master, Gu Qingyang.


    As a disciple, it was essential to visit the master from time to time, and it also allowed Wang Hong to maintain a good rapport with his master while seeking guidance on various matters.


    "Wang Junior Brother, you''re back! I tried to find you recently, only to learn that you were away. Look, I''ve finally reached Foundation Building!" Gu Wei, the master''s only son, who hade to greet Wang Hong, said with a cheerful smile.


    "Congrattions, Gu Junior Brother! I have a little something for you, specially brought back this time," Wang Hong said, taking out an exquisitely crafted puppet from his storage bag and handing it to Gu Wei.


    Wang Hong had a positive impression of Gu Wei. As the descendant of a Golden Core cultivator, he had an outgoing personality and was not arrogant. Instead, he was friendly and somewhat innocent in his interactions with others.


    "Thank you so much, Senior Brother! Now that I''ve reached Foundation Building, can you take me with you next time you go out? Ji Junior Sister went out a few days ago and didn''t take me with her," Gu Wei looked at Wang Hong with a hopeful expression.


    "Well... we would need Master''s approval for that," Wang Hong replied, thinking that Gu Qingyang might not agree.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 293: The Situation

    Chapter 293: The Situation


    Gu Wei led Wang Hong back to the main hall where Gu Qingyang resided.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays respects to Master and Master''s Wife."


    "Ah, I heard you recently formed a trading caravan and went to Qianqiao City with them?" Gu Qingyang inquired. He was well-informed about Wang Hong''s activities, so it was not surprising.


    "Master, the caravan I formed was just established, and our strength iscking. It was our first time trading outside the city, so I apanied them," Wang Hong exined, mindful of Gu Qingyang''s previous advice to prioritize cultivation.


    "You certainly have a knack for management. Your Master is humbled," Gu Qingyang praised, deviating from his usual scolding and insteadplimenting Wang Hong.


    "Hehe, when ites to management skills, Master is still miles behind Little Hongzi," Master''s Wife chimed in, teasingly. Gu Qingyang managed some businesses, but they never really thrived, and he hadn''t earned many Spirit Stones over the years.


    "Master''s dedication to cultivation is what leads to the path of the Golden Core. He''s the role model for us disciples. This time, I happened to obtain some Ink Pine nuts, and I''d like Master and Master''s Wife to taste them!" Wang Hong said.


    As people spent more time together, they influenced each other. Wang Hong had picked up the habit of givingpliments from his interactions with the Ma Brothers.


    "Haha! Among all your disciples, only Little Hongzi is so considerate. Every time hees to visit, he brings some snacks," Wang Hong knew that Master''s Wife liked to snack, so he always brought some with him. While not particrly precious, sometimes the value of a gifty in thoughtfulness rather than its actual worth.Coincidentally, he had some Ink Pines growing in his space. Ink Pine nuts were excellent materials for making spirit ink. The nuts had a fragrant aroma and were believed to have longevity benefits.


    Wang Hong picked arge bag of them and gave it to Master''s Wife as a suitable pastime snack.


    "Master''s Wife, you''re too kind. Showing filial respect to one''s elders is a disciple''s duty," Wang Hong replied humbly.


    Afterward, Wang Hong took the opportunity to seek guidance from Gu Qingyang on some challenging cultivation questions, and Gu Qingyang provided detailed exnations.


    "Next, there''s another matter I need your help with," Gu Qingyang said after answering Wang Hong''s questions.


    "I wonder what task Master has for me?" It had been over a decade since Wang Hong had joined, and this was the first time Gu Qingyang had assigned him a task.


    "I''ve established a market in Heishi Valley. Currently, your Elder Brother is stationed there. I''d like you to go and assist him. Take Gu Wei with you as well; it''s time for him to gain some experience."


    Gu Wei had been pestering Gu Qingyang to let him go out and gain experience, but Gu Qingyang didn''t have the time to apany him. Besides, with a Golden Core cultivator by his side, how could he truly experience the world? Gu Wei''s understanding of the Cultivation World had be skewed over the years.


    Sending him out alone was not an option, but Wang Hong was a stable individual, and they seemed to get along well. Having Gu Wei apany Wang Hong would put Gu Qingyang''s mind at ease.


    Moreover, Heishi Valley''s market is guarded by your Senior Disciple, so there shouldn''t be any safety issues.


    The surrounding areas of Heishi Valley are mostly upied by loose cultivators, and it''smon for deception, murder, and treasure hunting to ur. This will give Gu Wei a chance to witness the cruelty of the Cultivation World.


    Originally, Gu Qingyang had intended to pair Gu Wei with your Fourth Disciple, Ji Chen, and have them develop into Dao Companions. Ji Chen had excellent potential and a chance to reach the Golden Core stage in the future. If the two of them became Dao Companions, Gu Wei would also receive care and support.


    Although Gu Qingyang had nearly a hundred years of life left, he had to n ahead for his only heir. Unfortunately, Ji Chen had a cold personality and could never ept Gu Wei, forcing him to abandon the idea of pairing them up. After all, forcing a connection wouldn''t lead to a happy oue.


    As for Gu Wei, his Spiritual Roots were not outstanding, only possessing four Spiritual Roots. Without his guidance, he wouldn''t even have been able to achieve Foundation Building, let alone reach the Golden Core stage in his lifetime.


    Hearing this news, Gu Wei nearly jumped up with excitement, but a stern nce from Gu Qingyang made him shrink back, hiding his giddy excitement.


    "Master, when should we depart, and how long will we be away?" Since Gu Qingyang had given the order, there was no room for negotiation.


    "Prepare yourselves and depart in three months. You two will go to Heishi Valley''s market, and you can return in two years. Additionally, focus on your cultivation, and try to enhance your own strength. In theing years, there may be significant changes in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, and having personal strength is crucial for survival amidst the chaos."


    With these words, Gu Qingyang had already hinted at important information, causing Wang Hong to tremble. Hearing such words from a Golden Core cultivator indicated that the situation was not optimistic.


    "Has the conflict with the Demon n in the east reached such a point?" Although Wang Hong had sensed the turmoil in the Cultivation World, it was the first time he had heard specific information from a high-tier cultivator. Perhaps his lower status prevented him from knowing more confidential information.


    "The battle with the Demon n in the east has resulted in the loss of several Cultivation Cities. One of the Mortal kingdoms fell, with over a hundred million lives consumed by Demonic Beasts. During this time, the casualties among cultivators have reached tens of thousands. The Demon n is rapidly depleting the foundation of the Cultivation World."


    "On the other side, the Demon n in the West Zhou Demon Realm, after a decade of prolonged conflict with our human race at the Boundary Mountain Range, has recently shown signs of reinforcement. It seems they are preparing for arge-scale attack."


    "Just a few days ago, the Cultivation World started conscripting a hundred thousand cultivators to establish a new city east of Jin''an City. The new city can both contain Jin''an City and provide mutual support with Boundary City to prepare for the impending major battle. Your Fourth Senior Sister was part of the first group of cultivators dispatched to support this effort, and the second group will be summoned in a few days."


    "Due to your Alchemist status, you won''t be conscripted for now, but your Alchemy tasks will be increased."


    After listening to Gu Qingyang''s detailed information, Wang Hong was even more shaken. Tens of thousands of cultivators had been casualties, and over a hundred million Mortals had fallen prey to Demonic Beasts. If this continued, the entire foundation of the East Zhou Cultivation Realm would be exhausted.


    If both sides of the Demon n broke through, it would likely mean that there would be no ce left for humanity to stand.


    "Alright, you have an idea of the situation now. Prepare yourselves, and do not spread this information. Our sect has survived for tens of thousands of years and will find a way to survive."


    "Furthermore, I have an item for your personal protection. I may also need to join the battle in the near future. Take care of Gu Wei for me; he still has much to learn. As his senior brother, you can guide and teach him."


    Gu Qingyang took out a Jade Box, enveloped it in Spiritual Power, and handed it to Wang Hong.


    "Yes, thank you for the gift, Master. I will do my best to ensure my junior brother''s safety."


    Wang Hong epted the Jade Box and ced it carefully into his Storage Bag. If Gu Qingyang said it could save his life, it certainly wouldn''t be an ordinary item.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 294: Arrangements

    Chapter 294: Arrangements


    Wang Hong left the grand hall, with Gu Wei still seeing him off from the cave mansion.


    Wang Hong''s mood was somewhat heavy, but Gu Wei seemed carefree as ever, even showing signs of excitement.


    After returning to his own cave mansion, Wang Hong locked himself in a secret chamber, brewed a pot of Qiu Long Tea, and quietly contemted for a day.


    The current situation in the Cultivation World had made him feel a sense of urgency. Even with his current strength and the assistance of his subordinates, it would be challenging to stand firm amid the Beast Tide.


    While the sect had its means of self-preservation, who could guarantee they wouldn''t be abandoned when the crucial moment arrived? Relying on others was not the best strategy.


    Afterward, Wang Hong went to the Pill Hall and took on arge number of Alchemy tasks, directly using multiple sets of materials for Refinement.


    After receiving rigorous training from Master Mei, his Alchemy skills had improved significantly, and his Pill Sess Rate for second-tier pills had reached ny percent.


    Moreover, there were high-grade pills and middle-grade pills, and all the pills he consumed now were high-grade.


    In just a few days, he refined the pills for these tasks.However, he couldn''t turn them in just yet; that would be too fast.


    He stored the refined pills and then left the sect again, heading for Azure Void City.


    In Azure Void City, Wang Hong transferred his remaining dozen or so Qi Cultivation stage subordinates to a base in the mountain valley outside the city.


    Then, he provided them with abundant resources and promoted all of them to the Foundation Building stage.


    These subordinates had followed him for decades, risking their lives. Each of them had earned the opportunity to reach the Foundation Building stage through their contributions.


    Initially, he had deliberately slowed down their Foundation Building progress to avoid drawing too much attention. They had been advancing one by one each year.


    In reality, their main focus had been on body refining, and over the years, their physical cultivation had reached the Foundation Building level, making their closebat abilities no less than those of Foundation Building cultivators.


    However, without achieving Foundation Building, they couldn''t control flying artifacts and would be at a severe disadvantage in battles against Foundation Building cultivators.


    As a result, they had been treated as Qi Cultivation cultivators all this time, even though their cultivation was far beyond that stage.


    Once these dozen or so individuals sessfully reached the Foundation Building stage, they concealed themselves in the mountain valley base. Here, they could also assist in training the new recruits.


    Yang Tiezhu had been practicing in the mountain valley base all along. Each of the Foundation Building stage subordinates had been her teacher, and she, with her three Spiritual Roots talent, was considered average.


    Over the past decade, with Wang Hong''s generous resource investment, she had advanced to thete Qi Cultivation stage.


    Since Wang Hong''s first-generation subordinates were all body cultivators, Yang Tiezhu had learned theirbat style by following their lead.


    Now, Yang Tiezhu''s fighting style was extremely fierce, akin to a ferocious tiger.


    She had even begun to dual-cultivate her body and techniques, and her body refining cultivation had already reached a profound level.


    Wang Hong couldn''t help but wonder if this girl would transform into a muscr, fearsome warrior in the future.


    Among the items he provided to his subordinates, there was also the Resplendent Visage Elixir. As long as their contribution points were sufficient, anyone could exchange for it.


    He hoped that one day Yang Tiezhu would remember to exchange for one. The Resplendent Visage Elixir not only preserved facial youth but also had simr effects on the body.


    Otherwise, a Golden Core cultivator in their hundreds with a youthful face but a wrinkled and sagging neck below would be quite unbearable to look at.


    The newly added dozen or so individuals didn''t have a standardized Spiritual Weapon to use yet. Wang Hong provided each of them with two ordinary Spiritual Weapons.


    Fortunately, they had previously made a trip with a trading caravan and had acquired a considerable number of Spiritual Weapons, which could now be put to use.


    After Wang Hong arranged matters for his Foundation Building subordinates, Azure Void City began recruiting manpower and resources once again to construct a new city in the Boundary Mountain Range. Afterpletion, it would require a long-term garrison.


    The East Zhou Cultivation Realm had been at war with the Demon n for over a decade, resulting in significant losses for the Cultivation World. After multiple rounds of conscription, many cultivators in the rear were already overwhelmed.


    Over these years of peace in the Human Cultivation World, most cultivators had be extremely self-centered. Few were willing to contribute to the greater cause, and everyone hoped to push others to the frontlines while they enjoyed the benefits from behind.


    Although this battle was a matter of life and death for the entire East Zhou Cultivation Realm, when the crisis wasn''t imminent, cultivators in the rear adopted a detached attitude.


    As a result, there were widespreadints within the East Zhou Cultivation Realm. Many cultivators had fled the city and secluded themselves to cultivate.


    In recent years, the number of cultivators in Azure Void City had decreased by at least ten percent. Some had been conscripted to fight against Demonic Beasts, while others had simply fled the city.


    The cultivators who had escaped the city became targets for treasure hunters, and some even turned to treasure hunting themselves.


    For this round of conscription, Wang Hong''s several shops once again contributed arge quantity of resources.


    The principle of this conscription was "people contribute people, wealth contributes wealth."


    Businesses with significant resources often chose to contribute goods and materials. In contrast, some less affluent organizations could only send their own members.


    Apanying the conscription team this time were many trading caravans as well.


    Wang Hong had also quickly organized a batch of resources through Xu Lun, most of which were Spiritual Herbs purchased from the Immortal Way Trading Company.


    For this trading caravan, Luo Zhongjie led ten Foundation Building cultivators and twenty Qi Cultivation stage subordinates, setting out with minimal fanfare.


    Since they were traveling with the second batch of reinforcements and alongside other trading caravans, their safety was well assured. This group of people should suffice for the task.


    In addition to the trade goods, Wang Hong had Luo Zhongjie bring a substantial amount of cultivation resources for Wen Lan and the others.


    After arranging matters on this end, Wang Hong made some arrangements with Liu Changsheng and urged them to quickly find a spiritualnd outside the city to establish a base, which would be more conducive to the development of their faction.


    Just as Luo Zhongjie was leading the trading caravan on its departure, the ten managers of the Ten Store Alliance gathered together.


    "A few days ago, an empty Jade Scroll suddenly appeared in our trading caravan''s item box, and we couldn''t figure out who did it. Isn''t that strange?"


    "Ah? You''ve also had an empty Jade Scroll appear? We''ve experienced something simr."


    "Our trading caravan had one too!"


    "So did ours..."


    At that moment, several merchant families found themselves in simr situations, and this couldn''t be exined away as mere coincidence.


    The few remaining families hadn''t encountered this issue because their trading caravans hadn''t left the city recently.


    If a Jade Scroll could appear mysteriously in their trading caravans, it could also make their goods disappear without a trace.


    "Since the other party left only a Jade Scroll, it suggests they''re not eager for direct conflict. It''s more of a warning."


    "We haven''t provoked any factions recently!"


    "..."


    Finally, the manager of the Myriad Treasures Tower spoke up, "I suggest we don''t investigate the East Zhou Trading House any further. I suspect there''s a hidden force behind them. The enemy is in the dark while we''re in the light. Until we''ve thoroughly understood their background, we shouldn''t act recklessly."


    Though Myriad Treasures Tower wasrge, they were ultimately merchants and not suited for constant fighting.


    If they won, it would be fine and they could gain some benefits. But if they lost and it affected Myriad Treasures Tower''s business, he would also face punishment.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 295: The Curious Disciple

    Chapter 295: The Curious Disciple


    After Wang Hong had made all the necessary arrangements in Azure Void City, he returned to the Sect.


    He turned in all the Alchemy tasks he had previously taken and received a substantial amount of contribution points in return.


    Then, he went to the Scripture Tower and exchanged all those contribution points for Jade Scrolls rted to refining tools.


    He was nning to focus his efforts on studying the art of refining tools during the two years he would spend in Heishi Valley''s market.


    For this purpose, he had brought arge quantity of refining tool materials with him. Additionally, many Spirit nts in his Space could also be used for refining tools, making it convenient.


    In no time, three months had passed, and on this day, Wang Hong and Gu Wei left the Sect.


    The life-saving item Gu Qingyang had given Wang Hong turned out to be a Talisman.


    This was Wang Hong''s first encounter with a Talisman; he had only heard about them before.


    Talismans were said to be created by cultivators at the Golden Core stage or higher, sealing a portion of their Lifebound Magical Treasure''s power onto several pieces of paper.Each Talisman could inherit about one-tenth of the power of the original Lifebound Magical Treasure.


    Since Lifebound Magical Treasures varied in strength, the Talismans created from them also differed in power.


    Even the weakest Talisman, which held one-tenth of a Magic weapon''s power, surpassed ordinary Spiritual Weapons.


    One notable feature of Talismans was that they could be used regardless of the cultivator''s cultivation level. Even Qi Cultivators could activate and use them.


    Unlike Magic weapons, which required a cultivator to be at the Golden Core stage or higher to wield.


    One Lifebound Magical Treasure could be used to create three to five Talismans, but once the Talismans were made, the original Lifebound Magical Treasure''s power would be depleted, rendering it useless.


    Since Lifebound Magical Treasures were closely tied to cultivators, very few high-tier cultivators would willingly turn their Lifebound Magical Treasures into Talismans unless it was ast resort.


    The Talisman Gu Qingyang had given him depicted a small ck knife. Wang Hong assumed that this ck knife was the original appearance of a Magic weapon.


    As Wang Hong watched Gu Wei''s cheerful demeanor on their journey, he guessed that the life-saving items Gu Qingyang had given to his own son were probably even more remarkable.


    After leaving the Sect, the two of them flew on their respective flying devices. Gu Wei looked around in curiosity, seemingly fascinated by everything.


    "Gu Junior Brother, have you never left the Sect before?" Wang Hong asked.


    "Well, I was born in the Sect, and for the past thirty years, I''ve never left. My father didn''t have the time to take me out, and he wouldn''t allow me to leave the Sect on my own," Gu Wei replied with a hint of regret. Thirty years might be just a few retreats for a Golden Core cultivator like Gu Qingyang, but for Gu Wei, it epassed his entire upbringing.


    "Gu Junior Brother, it seems like you''ve been searching for something all this time," Wang Hong observed, noticing Gu Wei''s constant searching gaze.


    "Wang Senior Brother, didn''t you say there are many treasure-hunting cultivators outside? Howe we haven''t seen any?" It turned out Gu Wei had been searching for treasure-hunting cultivators all along.


    "We''ve only just left the Sect, and we''re still within the Sect''s sphere of influence. Treasure-hunting cultivators wouldn''t daree here to kill and plunder unless they''re extremely desperate."


    "Ah, that''s a pity," Gu Wei sighed, looking somewhat disappointed.


    "Gu Junior Brother, don''t underestimate treasure-hunting cultivators; they are all ruthless ouws with cunning and cruel methods."


    Wang Hong was worried that Gu Wei might get into trouble if they encountered treasure-hunting cultivators and cautioned him. He then shared some of his own personal experiences to make him more alert. To emphasize the danger, Wang Hong exaggerated the stories, making them sound extremely perilous.


    However, to Wang Hong''s surprise, Gu Wei became even more excited after hearing the stories and seemed eager to find treasure-hunting cultivators and engage in battle.


    As they traveled to Heishi Valley''s market, which was a several-day journey for Foundation Building cultivators, they passed through some Mortal kingdoms along the way.


    "Wang Senior Brother, what kind of Demonic Beast is that, willingly serving Mortals?" Gu Wei asked, pointing at a scene below.


    Wang Hong looked in the direction Gu Wei was pointing and had to stifle augh. "That''s not a Demonic Beast; it''s a type of livestock called a ''Cow.'' Mortals use them for plowing, pulling carts, and even eating their meat when they die."


    At that moment, a Cow was seenboring in the field, pulling a plow, while a farmer behind it shouted and asionally struck it with a bamboo stick.


    "So, this is the legendary Cow! I read about them in books."


    Simr scenes unfolded several times during their journey. Gu Wei even saw someone in a Mortal city selling Strength Pills and bought arge bottle, hoping to get a bargain.


    The two of them continued their journey at a leisurely pace, and Wang Hong wasn''t in a hurry. He knew that the main purpose of this mission was to expose Gu Wei to the world.


    Three dayster, they reached a canyon, and suddenly, four Foundation Building cultivators appeared in front of them and behind them. One was at the mid-stage of Foundation Building, while the other three were in the early stages. They all wore sinister masks, clearly harboring ill intentions.


    "Hey! Are you treasure-hunting cultivators?" Gu Wei suddenly became alert and asked loudly.


    "Quit the chit-chat. If you know what''s good for you, hand over your Storage Bags, and maybe we''ll spare your lives," the four cultivators threatened loudly upon hearing Gu Wei''s question.


    Gu Wei received a clear response and became thrilled, so excited that he forgot the lines he had prepared. He took out several dark objects from his Storage Bag and hurled them towards the leader of the mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator.


    "Boom!"


    As soon as these dark objects made contact with the defensive Spiritual Weapon of the treasure-hunting cultivator, they produced a deafening explosion. After the dust settled, the mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator had vanished, leaving behind a massive crater.


    The other three treasure-hunting cultivators, witnessing the brutality of Gu Wei''s attack, had no intention of continuing the fight and quickly turned and fled.


    Gu Wei wanted to pursue them, but Wang Hong grabbed his sleeve and pulled him back. With Gu Wei''s impulsive nature, who knew what could happen if he chased after them.


    During the earlier battle, Wang Hong had not intervened but had protected Gu Wei throughout.


    Wang Hong hadn''t regarded these treasure-hunting cultivators highly, but he knew Gu Wei couldn''t afford to be careless.


    "So, treasure-hunting cultivators can be this ruthless!" Gu Wei eximed, still feeling the rush of the battle.


    "Gu Junior Brother, those were the weakest type of treasure-hunting cultivators. Nowadays, most of them gather in groups of ten or more, and they can be quite formidable opponents. Also, Gu Junior Brother, the ck beads you used earlier, were they Thunder Beads?"


    Gu Wei retrieved another ck bead and handed it to Wang Hong. "Is this what you''re talking about? My father gave it to me for self-defense, and he said it''s called a Thunder Bead."


    Wang Hong took the Thunder Bead and examined it for a moment before returning it to Gu Wei. He had heard of Thunder Beads before; they were disposable Spiritual Weapons, and their power depended on the strength of the Refiner and their refining skills.


    Even the weakest Thunder Bead could be equivalent to a full-force strike from an early-stage Foundation Building cultivator.


    Judging by the destructive power of the Thunder Bead he had seen earlier, it was at least as powerful as a full-force strike from ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator.


    Gu Wei had thrown several of these high-powered Thunder Beads, yet he hadined about treasure-hunting cultivators being ruthless.


    If the treasure-hunting cultivators had heard his words, they would probably feel quite unjust.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 296: Heishi Valley

    Chapter 296: Heishi Valley


    The journey from Qingxu Sect to Heishi Valley, which should have taken five or six days, had stretched into more than ten for Wang Hong and Gu Wei.


    Upon their arrival at the Marketce''s outskirts, they presented a Transmission Talisman to the elder brother stationed there.


    Soon, a tall Foundation Building cultivator soared out of the Marketce on his flying sword.


    "Hahaha! Junior Brother, congrattions on sessfully reaching Foundation Building!" The tall cultivator greeted Gu Wei with a bear hug before turning to Wang Hong. "You must be the new fifth disciple that Master has taken in, right?"


    "Junior Brother Wang Hong, I greet Elder Brother," Wang Hong replied respectfully. It was their first meeting, and he wanted to be polite.


    "I am your Elder Brother Luo Yuxuan. Come, follow me inside."


    Luo Yuxuan''s cultivation had already reached theter stages of Foundation Building, and ording to Gu Wei, he had been under Gu Qingyang''s tutge for over a hundred years.


    Luo Yuxuan led Wang Hong and Gu Wei into the Marketce, where he arranged for them to stay in ces rich in Spirit Qi.


    Within Heishi Valley, there was a medium-sized Spirit Vein that had been discovered by a Golden Core cultivator many years ago and imed as their own. The Marketce had been established around it, continually attracting loose cultivators to reside there. These loose cultivators paid Spirit Stones for the privilege of practicing and living in the valley, with the backing of Golden Core cultivators ensuring their safety.After many years of development, Heishi Valley had be a gathering ce for loose cultivators in the surrounding area, giving rise to several Cultivation ns that settled there. The valley''s owners had changed several times over the years.


    Over a hundred years ago, Gu Qingyang had used two bottles of three-tier Pills to acquire ownership of Heishi Valley from a Golden Core cultivator. After more than a century of management, Gu Qingyang had finally recouped the investment.


    The ie from Heishi Valley''s Marketce primarily came from two sources: rent for cave mansions and shop spaces, and the revenue from Gu Qingyang''s own shop, thergest one in the Marketce. While controlling the entire Marketce might seem lucrative, the ie from these lower-grade Spirit Stones was limited in its usefulness to Golden Core cultivators.


    After living in the valley for a few days, Wang Hong had gained some understanding of the Marketce''s situation and had also identified some areas that could be improved to increase its ie. However, since the Marketce was currently managed by Luo Yuxuan, and he was still rtively new here, Wang Hong didn''t want to impose his ideas without being asked. Besides, he and Luo Yuxuan were not close, and bringing up unsolicited suggestions mighte off as annoying.


    So, Wang Hong settled into life at the Marketce and hung up a closed-door sign. In the initial period, the heads of a few local families in Heishi Valley would oftene to pay their respects or invite him to gatherings. After all, they lived in Gu Qingyang''s territory, and Wang Hong was Gu Qingyang''s disciple, so it was only natural to curry favor.


    After attending a few gatherings, Wang Hong focused on his cultivation, while Gu Wei helped Luo Yuxuan manage various affairs within the Marketce, thoroughly enjoying his responsibilities.


    Several female cultivators from different ns in the valley intentionally or unintentionally created opportunities to get closer to Gu Wei, though their true intentions remained unclear.


    Gu Wei had been a quiet figure within the sect and had a friendly disposition, so he naturally weed these interactions.


    With the peaceful atmosphere in the valley, Wang Hong spent his days secluded in his cave mansion, practicing the art of refining tools.


    He harvested several one-tier spirit wood from his space and began his practice with Magical Weapons.


    First, he cut a small piece from the spirit wood, ignited spirit charcoal, and ced the spirit wood over the me.


    Spirit wood contained variousponents, each requiring different temperatures to refine. When refining tools with spirit wood, the first step was to use this knowledge to eliminate impurities, leaving only the essentialponents.


    Afterward, the crafting process began, shaping the refined essence into a tool, followed by inscribing formations.


    Wang Hong''s current project was refining Magical Weapon arrows. Since these arrows were rtively simple, he nned to refine a substantial quantity for the Qi Cultivation disciples under him.


    However, even with his hard work, there was still a high failure rate in refining these arrows. Nevertheless, he didn''t give up and continued refining one after another, knowing that the vast supply of one-tier spirit wood he had cultivated would be sufficient.


    After a month of dedicated effort, he finally mastered the refinement process for Magical Weapon arrows.


    He then proceeded to refine Magical Weapon Flying Swords, still using spirit wood as the material but incorporating small amounts of additives.


    Three dayster, he sessfully refined his first Flying Sword, albeit a Low-Quality Magical Weapon.


    After another month of practice, he was able to consistently refine Low-Quality Flying Swords.


    In the days that followed, Wang Hong''s routine consisted of cultivation, refining tools, and delving into the knowledge from the Jade Scroll he had obtained from the sect.


    Time passed quickly, and after a year of hard work, he had learned the majority of Magical Weapon refinement techniques.


    One day, just after he had finished refining a Magical Weapon, he received a Transmission Talisman from Luo Yuxuan. He immediately opened his cave mansion.


    Luo Yuxuan and Gu Wei arrived together. After a year of spending time together, Wang Hong had be quite familiar with them. They often gathered to enjoy tea and wine.


    Once they were seated in the living room, a lifelike female servant puppet entered, carrying three bottles of Spirit Wine and cing them on the table.


    "Junior Brother Wang really knows how to enjoy life!" Luo Yuxuan admired the puppet, a hint of envy and lechery in his eyes.


    "I only know some basic skills; there''s nothing to enjoy. I bought it because it was meticulously crafted and looked so lifelike, but it''s not that useful," Wang Hong replied. He had bought the puppet thinking it was a novelty but was surprised when it started behaving strangely after he removed its clothes.


    It had acted erratically, making strange noises and unusual movements, which had embarrassed him. The puppet was incredibly lifelike, and Wang Hong couldn''t bear to look at it directly. It wasn''t until he dressed it in clothing that it returned to normal. After that, he refrained from undressing it and only let it perform menial tasks like pouring tea and water.


    "I''ve heard that Junior Brother Wang is skilled in management and has received praise from Master. I''ve been guarding Heishi Valley Marketce, but our annual ie keeps decreasing. Do you have any good ideas?" Luo Yuxuan asked after taking a big sip of Spirit Wine.


    In recent years, many cultivators had retreated into deep forests and mountains to avoid the ongoing conflict with the Demon n. Additionally, some had been conscripted, resulting in a decrease in the valley''s poption. With fewer people, business naturally suffered.


    "The current situation is challenging, with almost every city experiencing a decline in poption. I''m afraid there''s not much I can do," Wang Hong replied, considering the circumstances.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 297: The Disappearance Incident

    Chapter 297: The Disappearance Incident


    "Junior Brother, there''s no need to be modest. Everyone knows that you excel in management. If you have any ideas or suggestions for improvement, please share them. I''m all ears," Luo Yuxuan said sincerely.


    "Well, I don''t have any groundbreaking ideas, but after thinking it over, I believe the key is to attract more cultivators. Poption is the foundation of development. With arger number of cultivators, the Marketce will naturally thrive, and more shops and cave mansions will be rented out," Wang Hong replied.


    "But how do we attract more people? I''ve tried several methods before, but the results were minimal," Luo Yuxuan said. He had previously attempted rent reductions and other approaches to retain cultivators, but those who needed to leave still left, resulting in a loss of rental ie.


    "To make cultivators stay, we need something that can draw them in, such as benefits or safety. For safety, we must put an end to conflicts and battles within the Marketce to ensure their safety. Over the past year, I''ve noticed many cultivators fighting in the Marketce, and it''s especially detrimental to lower-tier cultivators, making everyone feel unsafe. Additionally, we should dere an area of about fifty miles around the Marketce as a safe zone and eliminate or drive away Treasure Hunters in that region."


    "Furthermore, our Marketcecks a prominent advantage. Currently, we offer a wide variety of goods, but there''s little differencepared to other small Marketces in the vicinity. When nearby cultivators buy items, they have no reason to specificallye to Heishi Valley Marketce. We need to select a specific category of goods among our offerings, develop it to be well-known far and wide. Whenever nearby cultivators think of a particr item, the first ce thates to mind should be Heishi Valley Marketce. That''s when we can consider our business a sess."


    While Wang Hong might not be well-versed in management, he did oversee several shops. He believed that focusing on these two aspects could significantly improve the Marketce''s business.


    "Clearing out Treasure Hunters and prohibiting battles, those are not too difficult to achieve. However, what kind of Spiritual Objects should we manage to establish an advantage? Unfortunately, despite being a few years older, I know nothing," Luo Yuxuan admitted.


    "Senior Brother, our Qingxu Sect excels in Pill refining. Although it''s not easy to obtain two-tier Pills, one-tier Pills are readily avable to us. While other Marketces may also supply one-tier Pills, we can offer higher quality and a moreprehensive range. This way, lower-tier cultivators will be naturally drawn to us. Additionally, if Senior Brother has difficulty sourcing Pills, I have a few Alchemists under mymand with decent Alchemy skills. They can provide Pills to Senior Brother, primarily one-tier Pills and some mid-tier Pills and high-tier Pills," Wang Hong suggested, while also looking to expand his own business.


    Luo Yuxuan was delighted to hear this proposal. While lower-tier one-tier Pills weremon and avable in every Marketce, mid and high-tier Pills were rare and often kept within the sect. Knowing that Wang Hong could source them was impressive."I never expected your business to be so strong. I''ve been managing here for over a decade, andpared to you, I feel quite embarrassed," Luo Yuxuan said. He had heard about Wang Hong''s shops but hadn''t realized their true potential.


    The two of them discussed some details, and then Wang Hong prepared a letter to be sent to Azure Void City. Since Luo Zhongjie was still at Boundary Mountain Range and hadn''t returned yet, Wang Hong instructed Ling Shuai to bring a batch of Pills over.


    Upon hearing about the n to eliminate Treasure Hunters in the vicinity, Gu Wei was already itching for action. Despite gaining more experience over the past year, his personality remained unchanged.


    In the following days, Luo Yuxuan issued a notice to the Marketce, dering that all fighting within Heishi Valley Marketce, including the surrounding fifty-mile radius, was strictly prohibited. They also recruited several Qi Cultivation stage patrol teams specifically responsible for inspections. If the patrol teams couldn''t handle a situation, Luo Yuxuan and others would intervene. If even Luo Yuxuan couldn''t handle it, they would invoke Gu Qingyang''s name and the reputation of the Qingxu Sect.


    Together, the three of them set out to clear the nearby Treasure Hunters. Since most of the cultivatorsing to this area were lower-tier, the strength of the local Treasure Hunters was not too formidable.


    Thus, their efforts turned into Wang Hong and Luo Yuxuan supervising Gu Wei''s performance. They also gave him pointers to improve hisbat skills, particrly urging him to abandon his tendency to immediately resort to using Thunder Beads or Spirit Stones to attack, regardless of the opponent''s strength.


    Within just one or two months, they managed to eliminate all the Treasure Hunters in the vicinity. Those who had managed to escape were too frightened to return, seeking fortune elsewhere.


    However, during their investigations, they discovered that cultivators were still frequently disappearing in the area. While it had previously been attributed to the actions of Treasure Hunters, it seemed there was more to the situation.


    Most of the missing individuals were Qi Cultivation cultivators, but two Foundation Building cultivators had also disappeared. They conducted interviews and inquiries but found no leads. Just when they were about to give up on the investigation, another n''s patriarch went missing.


    This n patriarch was only at theter stages of Qi Cultivation. He had gone to the Marketce to purchase items two days ago and had not returned home since.


    This prompted the three of them to reinvigorate their efforts and continue searching, but they still found no clues.


    "Elder Brother, I think it''s possible that the three of us are too conspicuous. When we go out to investigate, the other party may have already concealed themselves," Wang Hong suggested, realizing that the current approach might not lead to any results.


    "Junior Brother, you make a valid point. However, what can we do about it? Whenever the three of us appear in the Marketce, we are immediately recognized. Even if we wear masks, it''s still too conspicuous. Acting mysteriously might only make people more cautious," Luo Yuxuan admitted, acknowledging the problem butcking a better solution.


    "What if... let me try something?" Wang Hong proposed.


    "Junior Brother, do you have a n?"


    "Yes, I have a Magical Weapon that can shape-shift. I''m not sure if it will work, but how about this: tomorrow, both of you stay in seclusion to avoid arousing suspicion. I will pretend to be in seclusion as well and then use my shape-shifting Magical Weapon to secretly investigate."


    Wang Hong didn''t want to reveal too many details but mentioned having a shape-shifting Magical Weapon. He requested that they both remain in seclusion.


    "Alright! We''ll cooperate with you. Just be careful, Junior Brother. If you encounter any danger, send a Transmission Talisman immediately," Luo Yuxuan said, still a bit concerned since Wang Hong appeared to have only a Foundation Building initial cultivation level.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 298: Fury

    Chapter 298: Fury


    On the second day, a young cultivator arrived at the Heishi Valley Marketce. He was in theter stages of Qi cultivation and had a fair, innocent appearance. When he spoke, he seemed a bit shy.


    The young man in the marketce disyed curiosity about everything he saw, showing a keen interest in everything around him.


    The people in the marketce immediately recognized him as a novice cultivator from some n, someone who didn''t know much and was likely easy to deceive.


    As a result, many of the merchants in the marketce took advantage of his naivety and sold him subpar goods at inted prices.


    The young man, oblivious to being taken advantage of, remained cheerful.


    This young man was actually Wang Hong in disguise.


    Previously, he had posed as a strong big man and wandered through the marketce, but no one paid him any attention.


    He had no choice but to transform into this easily deceived persona. His performance wasrgely learned from observing Gu Wei, and he tried to mimic Gu Wei''s demeanor and actions.


    He believed he did a decent job at imitating Gu Wei, as evidenced by the number of people trying to scam him for Spirit Stones.Wang Hong had finally reached the second level of his cultivation technique, the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique." This allowed him to enter the realm of flesh refinement.


    Upon reaching this tier, both his strength and defense greatly improved. Additionally, he could now change the shape of some of his muscles with his mind, altering his body''s appearance, such as making himself appear more or less muscr. However, he still couldn''t change his height.


    He transformed into a young man but left arge birthmark on his face. He also wore a Misty Illusion Mask.


    This way, even if someone saw through his initial disguise and noticed the birthmark, they would likely dismiss it as a young person''s vanity.


    After being swindled out of quite a few Spirit Stones, Wang Hong strolled away from the marketce.


    Countless eyes filled with reluctance followed him. If customers like him came by every day, they had a chance to umte enough resources for Foundation Building.


    After leaving the marketce, he hadn''t walked far when he sensed he had a fish on the hook.


    Pretending not to notice, he looked around, casually wandering until he reached a secluded spot.


    "Excuse me, Fellow Daoist!" Suddenly, two cultivators emerged from behind and called out to Wang Hong.


    He stopped in his tracks, turned around with a nervous expression, and stared at the two approaching figures.


    "Are you Treasure Hunters? What do you want? I''ll have you know that I''m quite powerful," Wang Hong threatened, though his voice quivered.


    "Fellow Daoist, you''ve misunderstood us. We mean no harm. We have a treasure passed down by our ancestors. We want to sell it, but we''re wary of encountering unscrupulous cultivators who might resort to violence for the treasure. We believe you to be a person of good character, so we''d like to offer it to you at a fair price," one of the two cultivators said, trying to appear harmless.


    "Is that so?" Wang Hong responded with a mix of doubt and curiosity.


    "Absolutely, you can even ask around in the marketce. We are known for our honesty, respect for elders, and kindness to the young. We never deceive anyone..." The two cultivators listed all the virtues they could think of, not concerned about being exposed. If they couldn''t deceive this young man, they were prepared to take more forceful measures.


    "Really? What kind of treasure is it? Show me," Wang Hong disyed an eager expression.


    "We wouldn''t carry such a valuable treasure on us. If Fellow Daoist is interested, pleasee with us to the treasure''s hiding ce," one of the two men replied.


    They hadn''t expected this young man to be so gullible, but it seemed they had easily convinced him.


    The two men led Wang Hong towards a peak, and as they walked, they chatted amiably. Laughter and friendly conversation filled the air, making it seem like they were longtime friends.


    Before long, they arrived at a hidden mountain cave beneath the peak.


    One of the men entered first, while the other followed behind Wang Hong.


    "Please, Fellow Daoist, enter quickly. All our wealth is hidden within this mountain cave. If someone were to discover it, things wouldn''t end well for us," one of the men urged.


    To avoid raising suspicion, Wang Hong followed them into the cave. He was confident that there were no Golden Core cultivators inside. If there were, they wouldn''t need to be so secretive. With a Golden Core cultivator in the vicinity, the entire marketce would be at their mercy. With Little Peng by his side and numerous Poisonous Bees, they had enough means to escape from cultivators below Golden Core level.


    The three of them walked through the mountain cave until they reached a spacious hall.


    At that moment, more than ten Qi Cultivation cultivators emerged from the path they had taken, blocking their retreat.


    "What''s the meaning of this?" Wang Hong asked nervously. The main actors hadn''t yet appeared, so he needed to continue acting.


    Suddenly, a Foundation Building cultivator stepped out from one of the stone chambers in front of them. Wang Hong recognized him. He was the head of a Qiu n family, someone who had hosted him and Gu Wei in the marketce before.


    "Don''t be rmed, young friend. All you need to do is sign a Blood Contract, and you''ll be able to leave safely. If you don''t cooperate, you might experience some difficulties," the Qiu n head said with a sly smile.


    "What do I need to do if I sign it?" Wang Hong asked.


    "You only need to sign the Blood Contract; you don''t need to know more," the Qiu n head replied impatiently. A mere Qi Cultivation cultivator had no right to negotiate with him.


    "Hmph! I''ll give you three breaths to consider. This is what will happen if you refuse." As he spoke, the Qiu n head waved his sleeve, opening the door to one of the stone chambers.


    Wang Hong nced to the side and saw dozens of desated human corpses hanging in the chamber. Male and female, they had been stripped bare, with their internal organs removed. Some werepletely dried out, while others seemed to have been killed just a few days ago.


    What disgusted Wang Hong even more was the smell of marinated fooding from them. It was clear that these people had been processed as ingredients for some kind of dish.


    Seeing this scene, Wang Hong felt a surge of anger.


    "Did you do all this?" he asked in a stern voice.


    "Naturally. These are the delicacies our master loves most. I carefully prepared them for our master''s enjoyment," the Qiu n head said with an intoxicated and proud expression.


    "Who is your master?" Wang Hong asked again.


    "It seems you have no intention of signing the Blood Contract. Capture him, but don''t kill him," the Qiu n head ordered, gesturing to the dozen Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    Since they wanted to capture him alive, they wouldn''t dare kill him. Their master insisted on using live human beings for their dried meat, preferably with their eyes still moving when marinating to make the meat more delicious.


    Wang Hong was now consumed by fury. He drew his Long Spear and swept it horizontally, cutting down all the Qi Cultivation cultivators in his path.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 299: Capturing the Quarry

    Chapter 299: Capturing the Quarry


    After Wang Hong had in more than a dozen Qi Cultivation cultivators, he approached the leader of the Qiu family with deliberate steps.


    "Hehe! Turns out, you''re a big fish! No matter your purpose foring here, since you''re here, don''t even think about escaping."


    The leader of the Qiu family quickly activated a Transmission Talisman and summoned a Flying Sword to strike at Wang Hong. At this moment, Wang Hong only disyed a cultivation level of Foundation Building in the early stages, and he didn''t appear afraid.


    As the Flying Sword summoned by the Qiu family''s leader was about to strike Wang Hong, he suddenly saw a blur before his eyes. Then, he felt an intense pain in his legs, and he copsed to the ground. It was only then that he realized his legs had been severed just above the knees.


    Wang Hong ced his foot on the leader''s chest, holding a spear with the tip pointed at his face. The Flying Sword that the Qiu family''s leader had summoned struggled in Wang Hong''s hand.


    "I''ll give you three breaths'' time, confess everything honestly!" Wang Hong coldly demanded, without specifying what he wanted to hear.


    "I''ll talk! I''ll talk! I was forced into this!" The leader of the Qiu family stared at the spear inches from his face and hastily cried out, fearing that the spear might descend any further and end his life.


    "We all signed Blood Contracts. I only joined two years ago, and I don''t know much more!" His voice trembled as he spoke. If he hadn''t been afraid of death, he would have died long ago, and he wouldn''t have made it this far.


    "Who dares to act recklessly here?" At this moment, a strange creature emerged from another passage.This creature stood a yard tall, had two horns on its head, stood on two legs, and carried a massive wolf-toothed club.


    This creature belonged to a special race within the Demon n, possessing human-like features and a certain degree of intelligence. Some of these races were descended from powerful demons, while others were the result of human-demon hybrids.


    In the Demon n, most Demonic Beasts didn''t care about bloodlines and would mate indiscriminately, resulting in numerous hybrid species.


    In the West Zhou Demon Realm, humans coexisted with these creatures, but their status was rtively low, leading to instances of human-demon hybridization.


    Within the West Zhou Demon Realm, many individuals with human bloodlines didn''t consider themselves human due to the lower status of West Zhou humans. If anyone imed they had human blood, they would take it as an insult, fueling their animosity towards humans.


    In contrast, the East Zhou Cultivation Realm rarely witnessed human-demon hybrids, as humans were less savagepared to Demonic Beasts, making it difficult to engage in such unions.


    This creature likely fell into the category of human-demon hybrids, and upon arriving in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, it continued to harbor a deep hatred for humans, leading it to engage in acts of cannibalism.


    Seeing that the main yer had arrived, Wang Hong casually fired a shot, creating a hole in the Qiu family leader''s head.


    People who had already signed Blood Contracts couldn''t reveal specific information. If they did, the Blood Contract would backfire, causing varying degrees of harm to their souls.


    "You lowly human! I''ll turn you into minced meat!" The human-demon hybrid seethed with anger. This despicable human had dared to kill its subordinates in front of it.


    It swung the massive wolf-toothed club in its hand, aiming to strike Wang Hong.


    At this moment, all the cultivators hiding in the mountain cave had gathered around, surrounding the twobatants.


    They were too afraid to join the battle, as this Demonic Beast was exceptionally brutal and would readily kill humans without hesitation.


    If they joined now, it would be seen as ack of trust in its abilities, and after the battle, they would face execution.


    However, just watching wasn''t an option either. If this Demonic Beast suffered losses, it might take out its frustration on them.


    So, a group of people surrounded Wang Hong, loudly cursing him. If curses could inflict harm, Wang Hong would have been reduced to ashes by now.


    This Demonic Beast was a second-tier high-grade creature, relying on its formidable demonic body.


    To prevent Wang Hong from using a long-range Spiritual Weapon attack, the Demonic Beast roared and charged towards him.


    "Die!"


    The Demonic Beast raised its massive wolf-toothed club triumphantly and swung it down at Wang Hong''s head. It slightly leaned back to avoid getting sttered with brain matter.


    Wang Hong wielded his Long Spear, colliding with the club mid-air. The tremendous impact sent dirt flying in all directions.


    The Demonic Beast felt a tremendous force in its arms and was pushed back more than a yard. Its legs plowed deep furrows into the ground.


    It never expected that it would lose to a human solely based on physical strength.


    It thought it must be an illusion or that the human used some strange method. It refused to ept it and was about to swing its club again.


    At this moment, Wang Hong was already in front of it, moving much faster.


    Wang Hong smashed his Long Spear down, and the Demonic Beast raised its club to meet it. This time, it didn''t slide back but sank a foot deep into the ground.


    The massive impact made it feel dizzy, and its vision darkened. It tried to step back, but Wang Hong struck again.


    Helpless, it raised its club once more to defend but was pushed back another foot.


    "ng, ng, ng!"


    Wang Hong kept striking for more than a dozen times, driving the massive body of the Demonic Beast into the earth.


    Only its head and two arms, one of which still held the club, remained above ground.


    Wang Hong approached and took the club from its hand. The quality of this Spiritual Weapon was quite good; even after being subjected to such intense blows, it showed no signs of deformation.


    The Demonic Beast, now weaponless and immobilized, continued to curse loudly.


    Meanwhile, the cultivators who had been shouting insults earlier had fallen silent. Some of them were already preparing to slip away quietly.


    "No one is allowed to leave!" Wang Hong shouted loudly. He released Little Peng, ordering it to keep an eye on this group of Qi Cultivation cultivators and kill anyone who attempted to escape.


    Little Peng flew around the Qi Cultivation cultivators, herding them together.


    While the Demonic Beast continued its profanity, Wang Hong seized the opportunity to ce a poison pill into its mouth, rendering it temporarily immobilized. Then, he grabbed its two horns and pulled it out of the ground.


    Afterward, he sent a Transmission Talisman to Luo Yuxuan and the others in the Marketce, asking them toe and handle the aftermath.


    He then ced the Demonic Beast into a Spirit Beast bag and headed towards the passage from which the Demonic Beast hade.


    Walking down the passage for a short distance, he arrived at another hall, slightly smaller than the previous one, with several stone chambers connected to it.


    The hall didn''t contain anything of significant value, so he headed towards one of the stone chambers.


    Inside the stone chamber, it was empty, with many areas showing signs of being smashed and damaged. This was likely a cultivation room.


    He then entered another stone chamber, where various items were scattered all around. Most of them were first-tier spiritual herbs, spiritual ores, and other items. There were only a few second-tier spiritual herbs and spiritual ores, along with several thousand pieces of low-grade Spirit Stones.


    In one corner, there was a pile of items like Magical Weapons, clearly belonging to human cultivators.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 300: Infiltrators

    Chapter 300: Infiltrators


    When Luo Yuxuan and Gu Wei, apanied by a group of Qi Cultivators, arrived, they were shocked by the sight of the hanging bodies.


    Grabbing the Demonic Beast that Wang Hong had thrown to the ground, they unleashed a flurry of punches and kicks. Using Spiritual Weapons at this point wouldn''t help vent their frustration.


    The Demonic Beast had a tough and thick hide, and after a prolonged fight, they had barely broken any of its bones.


    Despite being beaten, the Demonic Beast remained defiant, taunting the two of them with sarcasm.


    Wang Hong stepped forward, delivering a couple of blows to shatter its jaw. Only then did it be cooperative.


    "Senior Brother Luo, is there a way to extract information from this Demonic Beast?" Wang Hong had spared the creature in the hopes of gaining some information.


    From his encounter with these beasts when he ventured into the Boundary Mountain Range years ago to their recent activities, Wang Hong suspected that these Demonic Beasts'' actions were not isted incidents but part of an organized and premeditated effort.


    Considering Yun Qingya''s entry into the Qingxu Sect, it seemed that the Demon n had been infiltrating the East Zhou Cultivation Realm for a long time, with the potential to change the entire course of events at a critical moment.


    "I''m not particrly skilled in interrogation, but I''ll give it a try," Luo Yuxuan replied."Very well. I''ll be waiting for your good news," Wang Hong said, leaving these captives, both human and demonic, in Luo Yuxuan''s care.


    He set fire to the chamber, reducing the bodies to ashes.


    Three dayster, Luo Yuxuan emerged shaking his head.


    "I''m ashamed to say that the Demonic Beast was quite stubborn. It revealed nothing. As for the other Qi Cultivators, they didn''t have much information either. Whenever we touched upon crucial points, their Blood Contracts triggered, causing them to be either mentally impaired or their souls to dissipate. All I know is that there are more of them lurking in the Marketce, but I don''t have a specific list."


    Over the past three days, Luo Yuxuan and Gu Wei had used every method they could think of, but the Demonic Beast remained tight-lipped. He felt somewhat defeated. Wang Hong had managed to eliminate all these individuals on his own, yet he couldn''t extract any valuable information.


    "Don''t be disheartened, Senior Brother Luo. I have a friend who excels at extracting information. He''s scheduled to deliver some pills in a few days. Perhaps we can wait for his arrival?" Wang Hong suggested.


    Recalling how Ling Shuai had helped him extract information from Beast Spirit Sect cultivators in Boundary City, Wang Hong believed Ling Shuai might seed again this time.


    "That would be ideal. Do you know how soon this Fellow Daoist can arrive?" Luo Yuxuan eagerly agreed.


    After discussing their ns, they confined the captives to a mountain cave, leaving Wang Hong and Gu Wei to guard them while Luo Yuxuan returned to the Marketce.


    As for the infiltrators in the Marketce, since they didn''t have a specific list yet, they decided not to tip their hand.


    Five dayster, Ling Shuai arrived with his daughter, Ling Xue, and five Foundation Building cultivators.


    Ling Xue, now in herte teens, had grown into a graceful youngdy.


    Ling Xue, who had been raised by Wang Hong and benefited from his care and a steady diet of Spirit Meals since childhood, was now in perfect health, indistinguishable from a regr cultivator. Due to her early consumption ofrge quantities of Spirit Meals, her cultivation level had reached the seventh stage of Qi Cultivation.


    Having enjoyed a plethora of snacks and treats from Wang Hong since childhood, Ling Xue had always felt a close affinity with him.


    During this visit, Ling Shuai brought arge number of first-tier Pills and a few high-quality Pills, along with a few second-tier Spiritual Herbs. He had heard that Wang Hong had captured a member of the Demon n in need of interrogation, so he rushed to the mountain cave.


    True to his reputation, Ling Shuai was an expert interrogator. In just two days, he extracted detailed information.


    It turned out that the Demon n had indeed premeditated their actions. They had been infiltrating the East Zhou Cultivation Realm for several decades. Some infiltrators had signed ve Blood Contracts, while others, like the Demon n members with awakened intelligence, had joined their ranks. The exact number of infiltrators remained unknown due to their deployment in separate batches that had nomunication with each other.


    The Demonic Beast only knew the whereabouts of one of its kind; it had no information about the whereabouts of the other Demonic Beasts. Their mission was simply to infiltrate the East Zhou Cultivation Realm and secretly gather manpower. They awaited orders to act at the opportune moment.


    This particr Demonic Beast had been cautious, rarely exposing itself and fearing attacks from human cultivators. It wasn''t until the past decade that it had grown bolder, ambushing and devouring lone low-tier cultivators at first. Later, its audacity increased, resulting in more and more victims. Sometimes it caught too many at once and couldn''t eat them all. So, it forced these captives to sign Blood Contracts, keeping them by its side to do its bidding, assist with chores, and asionally be eaten.


    As the number of captives grew, itmanded some to live inconspicuously in the Marketce, luring unsuspecting cultivators. This gruesome method of feeding on people had been devised in recent years.


    Wang Hong handed the information Ling Shuai had extracted to Luo Yuxuan. Luo Yuxuan promptly organized a team to arrest all the infiltrators in the Marketce. Finally, alongside the captured cultivators from the mountain cave, they were all executed.


    Although these individuals had been coerced into signing Blood Contracts, they had also been aplices in harming many people. Additionally, after killing the Demonic Beast, these cultivators who had signed the ve Blood Contracts suffered severe soul damage and became mentally impaired.


    Luo Yuxuan did not keep this matter a secret; he wanted more people to be aware of it to strengthen their vignce.


    The revtion sent shockwaves throughout themunity. Many were taken aback, realizing that their friends could potentially lead them to be sacrificed to a Demonic Beast.


    Word of this incident also spread to neighboring Marketces, alerting their management.


    Once Ling Shuai had finished dealing with the matters here, he found Wang Hong.


    "Hello, Uncle Wang!" Ling Xue greeted Wang Hong with the same warmth as when she was a child.


    "Ah, just over a year, and Ling Xue has grown so much taller. In a couple more years, she might be taller than me, and that would make her Uncle Wang feel embarrassed," Wang Hong teased.


    "In that case, I''ll bend over and stoop!" Ling Xue replied with determination.


    "I couldn''t bear to see such a lovely youngdy stooping."


    "All right, Ling Xue! I need to talk to Uncle Wang about something. You can go y over there," Ling Shuai said, approaching Wang Hong.


    Ling Xue obediently walked away but turned back after a few steps, yfully winking and saying, "Daddy, Uncle Wang, I''m already all grown up!"


    Once Ling Xue had moved away, Ling Shuai exined to Wang Hong that the other Demonic Beast interrogated by Ling Shuai was not far from their location, and he wanted to go and eliminate that demon.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 301: Business

    Chapter 301: Business


    Ling Shuai harbored a deep-seated hatred for the Demon n, having witnessed the brutal death of his beloved Dao Companion at the hands of the Demon n.


    In the past, due to Ling Xue''s tender age and fragile health, his main goal was to raise his daughter to adulthood, leaving him with little room for distraction.


    Although many years had passed, his hatred for the Demon n had not waned in the slightest.


    This time, with the opportunity at hand, he naturally couldn''t let such a golden chance slip by.


    Wang Hong agreed to his request and assigned several Foundation Building cultivators brought by Ling Shuai to assist him.


    Sending Ling Shuai alone to hunt down lurking Demonic Beasts would be too risky, and it would be challenging to eliminate them all in one go.


    After Ling Shuai''s departure, Wang Hong handed over arge batch of pills to Luo Yuxuan.


    Most of the shops in the marketce had already been rented out, and Wang Hong was still running thergest one.


    This particr shop had a wide variety of goods, surpassing many of the smaller neighboring stores in quality and selection.However, it had alwayscked a gship product that could leave asting impression on customers.


    Ever since the Heishi Valley had eliminated the lurking Demonic Beasts, Luo Yuxuan, the manager of Heishi Valley Marketce, made an announcement.


    Given the current rampant Demon n activities and the need to help Qi Cultivation cultivators grow quickly to face future crises, he was willing to use the Pills umted over many years by Wang Hong to hold an auction, selling these Pills to cultivators who truly needed them.


    Among the Pills to be auctioned, many were rare treasures that were not typically avable, and it was rumored that even top-quality Pills would be part of the auction.


    This news had many cultivators eager to get a piece of the action.


    The auction was scheduled to take ce in one month at an open area within the Heishi Valley Marketce, and anyone, without any additional conditions, could participate.


    This auction aimed to genuinely benefit low-tier cultivators.


    With the guidance of those in the know, the news spread quickly throughout the surrounding areas.


    In fact, hiring a few low-tier loose cultivators to spread the news didn''t cost much in terms of Spirit Stones.


    Luo Yuxuan''s actions earned him praise from the nearby cultivators.


    In these special times, everyone hoped to be stronger, as each bit of strength brought a bit more hope for survival.


    This also led to an increased demand for various cultivation Pills.


    After a month of slow fermentation, the news of the auction in Heishi Valley Marketce had caused the flow of people in the marketce to increase by more than double the usual amount.


    All the inns in the marketce were fully booked, and taking advantage of the situation, Luo Yuxuan temporarily converted several unrented shops into inns, increasing his ie.


    The influx of people attracted by the auction also brought a lot of profit to other businesses in the marketce.


    This auction didn''t have a formal venue; instead, a raised tform was erected in the center of an open area, serving as the auction stage.


    On the day of the auction, the entire venue was packed with cultivators. The open ground was overflowing with people, and even the roofs of nearby buildings and the branches of trees were filled with spectators.


    Luo Yuxuan had specifically invited an old Taoist to preside over the auction.


    This individual had an air of immortality and eloquence. Among the low-tier cultivators in the vicinity, he held quite a reputation.


    Wang Hong and two others were primarily responsible for maintaining order at the auction venue.


    The auctionsted for an entire day, during which hundreds of rare Pills were sold.


    As the auction came to a close, Luo Yuxuan ascended the auction stage and bowed to the audience.


    "Thank you, fellow Daoists, for participating in this auction. Due to limited auction items, many of you may not have acquired the items you desired. Our store has arge stock of Pills avable, so if any fellow Daoist is in need, please feel free toe and take a look. Additionally, we n to hold an auction of simr scale every year, and you are all wee to join."


    While the items sold in the store might not be as precious as those at the auction, they were plentiful, and anyone with Spirit Stones could purchase them.


    After expanding its influence through this auction, business in Heishi Valley Marketce improved day by day.


    If this trend continued, it would surely get even better in the future.


    "Junior Brother Wang, your ideas have really worked wonders. In the past few months, the ie of the marketce has increased by thirty percent, and most of the previously vacant shops and cave mansions have been rented out," Luo Yuxuan eximed excitedly as he raised a ss to Wang Hong and Gu Wei to celebrate.


    "Yes! Senior Brother Wang, you are a genius!" Gu Wei, who hadn''t had much worldly experience, was in awe of Wang Hong.


    Gu Wei had only been with Wang Hong and Luo Yuxuan for nearly two years, and hisbat experience had increased, but in other aspects, he was still the same.


    He felt disappointed that his father had assigned him here while he went to the Eastern Sea battlefield. Gu Wei believed that he should be on the front lines, ying Demonic Beasts like cutting vegetables, which was what he aspired to do.


    Gu Wei had spent these two years with Luo Yuxuan and Wang Hong, and hisbat experience had increased a bit, but in most other aspects, he remained the same.


    This was likely the reason why Gu Qingyang didn''t dare to send him to the front lines to fight the Demon n.


    After returning to his cave mansion, Wang Hong activated the formation in his Cultivation Room.


    Then he entered his personal Space, which was now filled with millennia-old Spiritual Herbs.


    Millennia-old Spiritual Herbs were now suitable for Golden Core stage cultivators to use as third-tier Spiritual Herbs. Unfortunately, his own cultivation level was too low to casually use them.


    He could only asionally use one, but due to his insufficient strength, there was a long interval between each use.


    The three-tier Ink Jade Spirit Lotus that he had nted years ago had now spread throughout the entire pond, covered in blooming lotus flowers.


    The silver-colored small fish he had once raised in the pond, which had originally been no more than three inches long, had grown into fish over a foot long. Some of them had even mutated, possessing the strength of a first-tier Demonic Beast.


    As a result, the original small fish in the pond had be their food source. Fortunately, these small fish reproduced quickly, preventing extinction.


    Wang Hong scooped out two silver fish that were over a foot long. These mutated silver fish had a more delicious tastepared to the original ones, but they had a very slow reproductive rate, so he had refrained from eating too many.


    Then he returned to his Space, cing them next to the "Mountain of Liquor," which had piled up over the years.


    The low-tier Spirit Wine in his Space had maintained its original quantity thanks to sales in several stores over the years.


    Meanwhile, Spirit Wines of tier two and higher were umting more and more. Many second-tier Spirit Wines had aged for two thousand years in his Space.


    Now, he even had quite a few third-tier Spirit Wines, including Dragon Scale Fruit Wine, Jade Ginseng Fruit Wine, and Ink Jade Lotus Flower Wine.


    If Golden Core stage cultivators found out, he''d probably be bombarded to smithereens.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 302: Foundation Building, Fifth Level

    Chapter 302: Foundation Building, Fifth Level


    Wang Hong soared through the Mountain of Liquor, selecting a jar from the second-tier Spirit Wine. This particr jar contained White Crystal Fruit wine, aged for over a thousand years.


    Earlier, he had consumed a ripe Green Spirit Peach, causing his Spiritual Power to surge. For the past few years, he had been refining his Spiritual Power diligently.


    White Crystal Fruit was the best aid for this purpose, and the Spirit Wine brewed from it had even greater effects.


    With wine and meat in hand, he drifted into the Green Spirit Peach forest and plucked a ripe fruit. His refined Spiritual Power had be exceptionally pure over the years.


    Wang Hong decided to eat another Green Spirit Peach to break through to the Fifth Level of Foundation Building as soon as possible.


    In the current turbulent Cultivation World, even as a core Sect Alchemist, he couldn''t be assured of his safety.


    It was crucial to increase his strength to have an extrayer of protection in times of crisis.


    Exiting his Space, Wang Hong steamed the two silverfish over high heat for a quarter of an hour, separating the fish from their bones and flesh.


    Then, he sprinkled some scallions made from Thousand-Year Pr Small Cold Onions, which he had obtained from Sloppy Old Daoist.ording to the Old Taoist, he had paid a significant price to obtain a single eight-hundred-year-old Pr Small Cold Onion.


    Wang Hong had only cultivated a small patch of Pr Small Cold Onions in his Space, but it was more than enough for his personal consumption. Growing more seemed unnecessary.


    The snow-white and glistening silverfish, adorned with scallions, sizzled as he poured hot oil over them.


    A sizzling sound filled the room, and the scallion aroma blended with the fish fragrance, wafting through the entire room.


    Wang Hong couldn''t help but inhale deeply, trying to savor the delightful aroma that filled the air.


    Using chopsticks, he picked up a piece of fish and brought it to his mouth. The fish was tender and slightly stic, with a rich and fragrant vor that didn''t instantly dissolve but lingered on his taste buds.


    He savored the exquisite taste of the fish until he swallowed it, wanting more.


    Next, he brought out a jar of thousand-year Spirit Wine, opened the seal, and was immediately enveloped in a rich and mellow fragrance that filled the room.


    The jar was nearly half-empty after aging for a thousand years, and the wine had be incredibly thick. Even when a drop was ced on the table, it maintained its spherical shape without spreading.


    Wang Hong poured a ss into a jade cup and took a deep breath before sipping it. The wine''s aroma prated deep into his lungs.


    Taking a small sip of the Spirit Wine, the liquid expanded fully in his mouth, covering his entire pte with a harmonious blend of sour, bitter, sweet, spicy, and salty vors that coexisted without conflicting.


    As he swallowed the wine, he took a slow breath, allowing the fragrance to flow from his mouth to his belly and then throughout his entire body.


    Finally, he exhaled the breath through his nose, feeling a sense of ease and ethereal tranquility wash over him.


    Wang Hong only drank two cups of Spirit Wine, saving the rest in small bottles forter use.


    It was only then that he took out the Green Spirit Peach and began consuming it.


    After swallowing a Green Spirit Peach, Wang Hong immediately began meditating to refine the surging Spiritual Energy within him.


    Once the Spiritual Energy hadpletely transformed into his own Spiritual Power, his dantian sea was only inches away from being full.


    With one more Green Spirit Peach, he would be able to directly advance to the Fifth Level of Foundation Building.


    Wang Hong secluded himself in the Cultivation Room for another month, waiting for his Spiritual Power to stabilize before consuming another Green Spirit Peach.


    After digesting the Green Spirit Peach, Wang Hong finally achieved his goal of reaching the Fifth Level of Foundation Building.


    His dantian sea expanded once again, now reaching a size of fourteen feet.


    At this point, if we were topare solely based on the total amount of Spiritual Power, he had more than many fully cultivated Foundation Building practitioners.


    Of course,bat strength wasn''t determined solely by the quantity of Spiritual Power. Battle experience, possession of Spiritual Weapons, and other factors also influenced the oue of a fight.


    With his current strength, even without using any other means, he could easily defeatte-stage Foundation Building opponents.


    After advancing to the Fifth Level of Foundation Building, he couldn''t use Green Spirit Peach to advance quickly again for some time. He needed to refine his power further.


    Wang Hong continued his seclusion for three more months. By this time, he had spent over two years in the Heishi Valley Marketce and felt it was time to return to the sect.


    "Luo Senior Brother, Gu Junior Brother, I n to return to the sect tomorrow, so I''vee to bid farewell to both of you," Wang Hong said after finding the two.


    "Wang Senior Brother, can I go with you?" Gu Wei hurriedly asked upon hearing that Wang Hong was leaving. After spending a long time here, he felt as though he was practically part of the sect, still confined to one ce.


    "Gu Junior Brother, Master specifically instructed you to stay in the marketce and help me manage the business," Luo Yuxuan said, making it sound like Gu Wei''s assistance was vital for the marketce, though it was mainly to keep him here.


    "I will be going into seclusion for quite a while when I return to the sect. Will youe back with me?" Wang Hong knew Gu Wei''s temperament well and asked.


    "Forget it, I''ll stay here and learn more from Elder Brother," Gu Wei quickly shook his head. Compared to returning to the sect, he preferred staying here.


    "In that case, Junior Brother, take care on your journey!"


    The next day, Wang Hong rode Little Peng and flew toward the Qingxu Sect. On the way, he encountered five Treasure Hunters who, seeing him alone, thought he would be an easy target and surrounded him.


    To ensure his Spiritual Power stabilized sooner, Wang Hong deliberately summoned two Spiritual Weapons to fight against the five individuals.


    He fought them single-handedly and didn''t seem to be at a disadvantage. In fact, he appeared to gain confidence as the battle went on.


    The highest cultivation level among the five was only in the mid-stage of Foundation Building, and they had unwittingly be Wang Hong''s whetstones for practice.


    At this moment, the five Treasure Hunters were growing increasingly worried. They felt as though they had kicked a ho''s nest and didn''t know if it was toote to surrender.


    They were now clearly on the losing side. One of them had even tried to escape earlier but was blocked by a giant bird that didn''t join the fight. It leisurely flew around, asionally tossing a handful of melon seeds into its mouth, ensuring no one could escape.


    They deeply regretted encountering this bird now. As they struggled to fend off Wang Hong''s relentless attacks, one of them lost their head to his de.


    The remaining four immediately surrendered and begged for mercy, hoping to be spared.


    However, their opponent showed no mercy and continued to ruthlessly kill. Thest Treasure Hunter attempted to flee but was cleaved in half by Little Peng''s wing.


    After this battle, Wang Hong''s Spiritual Power had been further tempered, and the previously unstable energy had be more solid.


    He collected the items from the five corpses, then cremated the bodies with a burst of mes and left the scene.


    Sitting on Little Peng''s back, Wang Hong examined the loot and realized that these Treasure Hunters were either neers or struggling financially. Their possessions were meager, consisting of a few ordinary Spiritual Weapons and minimal Spirit Stones and pills.


    It was nothingpared to thest haul he had obtained in the Demonic Beast''s cave.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 303: Change of Defense

    Chapter 303: Change of Defense


    Before Wang Hong returned to the Sect, he made a detour to Azure Void City. This was his own territory, and he naturally cared more about it than Sect affairs.


    In the past two years, East Zhou Trading Company''s business had been flourishing, rapidly catching up with the level of several top-tier shops.


    Luo Zhongjie had gone to Boundary Mountain Range and had already returned. He was currently training new recruits at the Mountain Valley base.


    The manpower Wang Hong had arranged to recruit was nowplete, totaling a hundred people.


    At this moment, they were all arranged in formation, practicing with precision.


    These youths had never had any contact with the Cultivation World before. They had not yet developed the freedom and selfishness typical of Cultivation World inhabitants.


    Starting now, they would receive training and education simr to that of a military, and the lessons they learned during their growth would influence their behavior for decades, even hundreds of years toe.


    After the training session, Luo Zhongjie approached Wang Hong.


    "How is the situation at Boundary Mountain Range?" Wang Hong inquired."Not very good," Luo Zhongjie replied. "The Demon n has mobilized arge number of low-tier Demonic Beasts from the West Zhou Demon Realm and continues tounch Beast Tides in an attempt to deplete the strength of the human race. It''s be a small skirmish every three days and a major battle every five days, resulting in significant casualties. The consumption of various supplies, including healing Pills, restorative Spirit Wine, Magical Weapons, Spiritual Weapons, and more, is extremely high and in short supply. Fortunately, Wen Lan and his group of ten have been coordinating and supporting each other in battle, so there have been no casualties so far. However, when I arrived, their supplies were nearly depleted, and the shop almost had nothing left to sell. It''s doubtful how much longer they can hold on."


    Luo Zhongjie briefly exined the situation at Boundary City to Wang Hong.


    "How is the construction of the new city going?" Wang Hong had heard about the n to construct a new city in that area, and the tens of thousands of people sent there this time were meant for that purpose.


    "The new city is located to the east of Jin''an City, forming a triangle with Boundary City in the west. It''s being built to counter the Demon n presence in Boundary City. The Demon n won''t allow the human race to build a city right under their noses. They''ve made several attempts to harass us, and by the time I returned, the city walls were only about ten feet high," Luo Zhongjie said, wearing a deeply concerned expression.


    If Boundary Mountain Range fell, the Western Demon Tribe would march straight into the East Zhou Cultivation Realm''s hearnd. Qingxu Sect was situated at the westernmost side of the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, and at that time, Azure Void City would be the first to face the threat.


    "Here''s what we''ll do: you select another ten people, take a batch of supplies to Boundary City, and then rece Wen Lan and his group. From now on, we''ll rotate them every five years or so to give them a break from the long-term fighting."


    Wang Hong thought about how Wen Lan and the others had been fighting the Demon n for over a decade, which was no easy feat. It so happened that he still had dozens of Foundation Building stage subordinates who were currently idle, and sending them over would provide some practicalbat experience and serve as training.


    After thinking for a moment, Wang Hong added, "Furthermore, in the future, our trading caravan will make at least one trip to Boundary Mountain Range each year. Even though we''re not participating in the battles, we can still transport more supplies to support them. The materials we send over can be directly exchanged for special Demon Beast materials produced in that area."


    "These materials, when brought back, can be used for our new recruits to practice. The finished products can also be sold again," Wang Hong remarked.


    Wang Hong had previously stationed there for five years and had a deep understanding of the affordability of Demonic Beast materials in Boundary Mountain Range.


    This approach benefited both sides. It allowed Wang Hong to profit while assisting the frontline human cultivators in their battle against the Demon n.


    "Alright, I''ll take care of it as soon as possible. East Master, before thest batch of new recruits, we spent two years teaching them various skills. However, most of them are still at a beginner level, and the consumption has been quite significant," Luo Zhongjie mentioned.


    Luo Zhongjie was distressed by the fact that these new recruits had consumed arge amount of resources. Typically, even for a family or faction, cultivating one or two Disciples in these skills was quite a burden. Wang Hong had nearly a hundred, and the consumption was immense.


    "It''s fine. We''re investing heavily now, and the returns in the future will be even greater. At the same time, we should identify those among them with exceptional talents and focus on their development. Additionally, they should maintain their cultivation and daily training rigorously to staybat-ready."


    Most of the materials used in their practice were grown in their own space, albeit after a roundabout from the Immortal Way Trading Company. Luo Zhongjie and the others had practically used up all the earnings from the three shops for these materials, which was naturally painful.


    Subsequently, Luo Zhongjie went to prepare the supplies and mobilize the manpower.


    Two dayster, Ling Shuai came to find Wang Hong. He had learned that Wang Hong intended to send a group of people to Boundary City to rece Wen Lan and the others.


    He specifically came to request permission to go to Boundary City.


    In reality, his rtionship with Wang Hong was more of an employer-employee arrangement, and if he went on his own, Wang Hong couldn''t stop him. However, he had grown ustomed to following Wang Hong, and Wang Hong treated him well.


    Just recently, with the help of a Breakthrough Realm Pill Wang Hong had given him, he had finally broken through the bottleneck and reached thete Foundation Building stage. If he ventured to Boundary City alone, he would only be regarded as a loose cultivator, the lowest status, and often relegated to cannon fodder roles.


    Although he harbored a deep grudge against the Demon n and wanted revenge, he also didn''t want to perish alongside a few first and second-tier Demonic Beasts, which would render his death meaningless.


    Wang Hong naturally agreed. Having ate Foundation Building stage cultivator go would be safer.


    "East Master, I have one more request. The only thing I can''t rest assured about when I go there is Ling Xue. I want to leave her here and hope that East Master can look after her for me," Ling Shuai said.


    In such a dangerous ce, he was unwilling to let his daughter venture into danger, and besides, a Qi Cultivation stage cultivator would only serve as cannon fodder over there.


    "Don''t worry about that. Ling Xue has been under my care since she was young. I''ll take care of her like my own junior," Wang Hong assured him.


    Wang Hong nodded in agreement. Whenever they met, the little girl was always exceptionally enthusiastic, and it had left a good impression on him. So, every time they met, he liked to give her some snacks to make her happy. After all, children naturally gravitated towards those who had delicious and fun things to offer.


    Ten dayster, Luo Zhongjie had already prepared the supplies and manpower. Led by Ling Shuai, a group of ten Foundation Building stage cultivators headed to Boundary City.


    After that, Wang Hong went to visit the new base recently established by Liu Changsheng, which was also located outside the city.


    However, Wang Hong had purchased this piece ofnd with a significant amount of Spirit Stones.


    Here, there were hundreds of acres of spirit fields. The previous owner had suffered from frequent Treasure Hunter activities outside the city. Their spirit fields had been plundered once before, and the people guarding the spirit fields had either died or fled. All the Spiritual Herbs in the spirit fields had been looted.


    The previous owner didn''t have the strength to protect the spirit fields and decided to sell them off. However, there were few people willing to take over the spirit fields outside the city, so they had no choice but to sell them at a low price.


    After Liu Changsheng bought thisnd with hundreds of acres of spirit fields, he moved most of the people from the city to this area.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 304: The Second-Tier Refining Tool Master

    Chapter 304: The Second-Tier Refining Tool Master


    Liu Changsheng''s way of training his subordinates waspletely different from Luo Zhongjie''s.


    As Wang Hong entered the Spirit Fields base, he didn''t see anyone around, and it was eerily quiet.


    However, relying on his powerful Divine Sense at the Foundation Building stage, he could still sense Qi Cultivation cultivators lurking within a forty-yard radius. Some of them were concealed in the soil, unmoving, while others clung to the tree trunks, blending in with the colors of the trees.


    Wang Hong walked around but couldn''t pinpoint the hiding ces of the Foundation Building cultivators. He could only have a vague sense of their presence.


    At that moment, Liu Changsheng emerged from a small building inside.


    "East Master, pleasee in!" Liu Changsheng said after bowing to Wang Hong, then shouted in the direction of the Spirit Fields, "Continue practicing! It''s not time yet; no one is allowed to move!"


    "East Master, how does this ce look to you?" Liu Changsheng asked as he and Wang Hong entered the building.


    "It''s not bad, but the defensive formation is a bit rudimentary. We need to rearrange the formation," Wang Hong replied.


    With his current level of formation cultivation, he could easily spot the weaknesses in this formation. Even if he had to forcefully enter, it would be a breeze."For this task, we should have East Master handle it personally," Liu Changsheng suggested. They hadn''t officially revealed themselves yet, so it wouldn''t be suitable to invite outsiders to assist with the formation.


    "Alright, are the materials for setting up the formation ready?"


    "Yes! They''ve been prepared for a while," Liu Changsheng said, clearly anticipating this moment. He pulled out two Storage Bags filled to the brim and handed them to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong spent a month arranging the formation, taking into ount the changes in the terrain. He could now adjust the formation as needed, without rigidly adhering to a fixed pattern.


    Though this formation couldn''tpare to the one designed by Cai Xuanzhi in the Mountain Valley base, it was still much stronger than an ordinary second-tier formation.


    When Wang Hong left Liu Changsheng''s base, he had gained more than two million Spirit Stones. Upon returning to the sect, he expanded his Space by ten more acres and used the remaining Spirit Stones to replenish his usual Spiritual Energy consumption.


    His Space now housed an increasing number of high-tier Spiritual Objects, and their Spiritual Energy consumption had be more substantial. The unremarkable little green tree he had obtained from a Beast Spirit Sect cultivator''s Storage Bag in a secret realm was a prime example. It had grown to only a few feet tall over the course of more than two thousand years within his Space.


    However, this inconspicuous little tree absorbed Spirit Qi at an astonishing rate. Wang Hong could clearly sense that the Spirit Qi within a yard''s radius was constantly flowing towards the tree, as if it were an endless pit capable of amodating any amount of Spiritual Energy.


    The tree was incredibly resilient. Wang Hong had once plucked a leaf from it and attempted to refine it using his Spirit Fire. After a month of trying, the leaf remained unresponsive, forcing him to temporarily abandon the effort.


    Nevertheless, the runes on the leaf could still be studied, though it would require a long time for him toprehend them properly; patience was key.


    Having been away from the sect for two years and just returning, Wang Hong had plenty of Alchemy tasks ahead of him.


    Pill Hall had already notified him toe and collect Alchemy tasks as soon as possible.


    When Wang Hong arrived at Pill Hall, there was only one steward from Pill Hall present, who greeted him with a cheerful smile.


    "Junior Brother Wang, you''ve finallye. Everyone else has already collected their Alchemy tasks, and you''re thest one."


    "I apologize for keeping Senior Brother waiting. What type of Pill Refinement is needed this time?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "This time, we need a substantial quantity of Jade Luster Pills. Due to the rarity of the ingredients and the need for arge number of pills, we have to trouble you and the other Alchemists."


    Jade Luster Pills were a type of healing pill, and among second-tier healing pills, they were considered the best. They were usually hard toe by and quite expensive, likely needed for front-line battlefields.


    Normally, these important pills were entrusted to the highest-skilled second-tier Alchemists like them to minimize material wastage.


    "Do you know how many sets of materials are required this time?"


    "Thirty sets per person, to bepleted within a month. We also require a Pill Sess Rate of at least eighty percent."


    As core-cultivated second-tier Alchemists, each of them had a Pill Sess Rate of at least eighty percent.


    This meant that those with superior skills and a high Pill Sess Rate could keep one or two pills for themselves, while those with lesser skills would merely be practicing, serving as a stepping stone for improvement.


    Outside, due to the scarcity of Spiritual Herbs, many second-tier Alchemists could not refine more than a few second-tier pills in a year. Sometimes, in order to refine more pills to gain Alchemy experience, they were willing to help others for free.


    For Wang Hong, thirty sets of materials wasn''t particrly burdensome. To others, it might be a lot, but for him, it was just enough for one pill.


    On the same day, he tossed the thirty sets of materials into the Alchemy Furnace to refine a batch.


    In total, he refined two hundred and sixty Jade Luster Pills, including six high-quality ones.


    Wang Hong kept these six high-quality pills separately. Although their effects weren''t as potent as his own creation, the Hanyu Pill, they could still be used for trade, as many cultivators favored this type of pill.


    Afterpleting the Pill Refinement, he could return to his own business. His refining tool skills were still far from adequate, and he needed a lot of practice.


    He entered his Space and selected a rtively small Golden Ironwood tree, around five to six hundred years old, from the forest filled with Golden Ironwood trees. He was nning to attempt refining a Spiritual Weapon, starting with something simple and practical like arrowheads.


    Since he had a vast supply of arrowhead materials in his Space, he wasn''t concerned about wastage. Additionally, producing arge number of arrowheads could be distributed to his subordinates for their use.


    He cut the entire Golden Ironwood tree into segments and began the refinement process. Using the refining tool furnace he had obtained in Qianqiao City, he summoned a strand of Spirit Fire that hovered before him, motionless.


    The Spirit Fire he had cultivated had grown to the size of three fingers as he advanced in cultivation. Wang Hong controlled the me with his Divine Sense, directing it beneath the refining tool furnace. This me was akin to a Golden Core True Fire and quickly heated the furnace.


    He promptly tossed a section of spirit wood into the furnace and executed dozens of techniques upon it. Soon, the spirit wood was melted down, purifying it and leaving only a ck liquid churning inside the furnace.


    After purification, it was time to shape it with Divine Sense and inscribe formations, but it was during this shaping process that he failed.


    He had mentally prepared for this oue and began his second attempt.


    After more than ten failures, he finally seeded in refining a second-tier Spiritual Weapon for the first time.


    Now, he could barely consider himself a second-tier refining tool master.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 305: Refining the Weapon

    Chapter 305: Refining the Weapon


    After sessfully refining the first Spiritual Weapon, Wang Hong continued to refine more - the second, the third, and so on.


    In about a month''s time, when he was ready to go and exchange his alchemy tasks, he had already refined more than fifty Spiritual Weapon arrows.


    Wang Hong had now be quite skilled in refining arrows, so he decided to try his hand at refining other types of Spiritual Weapons.


    He still used spirit wood as the raw material, but this time, he aimed to refine a wood attribute Flying Sword.


    Refining a Flying Sword required more materials than arrows, including some additional auxiliary materials.


    Refining a Flying Sword was far moreplex than arrows, involving intricate formations and techniques.


    Wang Hong faced numerous failures, even more than a dozen times, and it took three golden ironwood trees before he sessfully refined his first Flying Sword.


    Although this initial Flying Sword was of a low-grade Spiritual Weapon, it still had value. Wang Hong knew he could sell it for several thousand Spirit Stones. Even if Foundation Building cultivators might not be interested, plenty of Qi Cultivation stage cultivators would vie for it.


    Possessing such a Spiritual Weapon could significantly boost a Qi Cultivation cultivator''sbat prowess, making them formidable opponents.Undeterred by his initial failure, Wang Hong continued to refine more Flying Swords. The second one he refined was slightly better than the first.


    He repeated this process over the course of a year, ultimately crafting a total of one hundred Spiritual Weapon Flying Swords.


    Although they all shared the same design, the quality of these one hundred Flying Swords varied greatly. Starting from roughly made ones, they gradually became more exquisite, with some approaching the level of mid-grade Spiritual Weapons.


    For this particr endeavor, Wang Hong had obtained a golden ironwood tree that had grown for over two thousand years. Its entire body had turned into gold, making it suitable for crafting magic weapons.


    He split the tree and extracted its core, the most essential part of the spirit wood.


    Even the outeryers of the discarded spirit wood were considered third-tier materials and could fetch a good price if used by other refining tool experts to craft high-quality Spiritual Weapons.


    The core of the golden ironwood was just the size of a bowl''s mouth, seven to eight feet long¡ªjust enough for crafting one Flying Sword.


    From his spatial storage, Wang Hong also retrieved various ore materials required as auxiliaryponents for the Flying Sword.


    One particr piece, a small ck metal chunk the size of a jujube pit, might not look impressive, but it was a rare material known as "Rinjing." Wang Hong had acquired it at a high cost from a Foundation Building cultivator.


    This metal, Rinjing, was incredibly valuable. Adding just a tiny speck the size of a soybean to a Spiritual Weapon could make it razor-sharp.


    Wang Hong set up his refining tool furnace and activated a technique, causing it to expand to around ten feet in size. He then summoned the Spirit Fire and ced it at the bottom of the furnace.


    After carefully warming the furnace, he inserted the golden ironwood core into it.


    He began infusing a substantial amount of Spiritual Power while adjusting the fire to make it more intense.


    Simultaneously, he cast hundreds of techniques onto the refining tool furnace in a continuous stream.Ten hourster, the refining tool furnace gradually shrank in size, and all impurities in the wooden core had beenpletely refined. What remained was a thick liquid-like substance the width of an arm.


    At this point, Wang Hong retrieved the Rinjing and tossed it all into the refining tool furnace.


    After another hour, the Rinjing was entirely assimted, gradually merging into the arm-sized liquid substance.


    He continued to add other auxiliary materials intermittently and kept refining.


    A dayter, Wang Hong had before him a floating golden Flying Sword. However, at this moment, the sword was still in a semi-solid state.


    Now, he needed to inscribe formations onto it. He meticulously engraved dozens of formations onto the sword, with the majority being sharpness-enhancing formations.


    As hepleted these inscriptions, a strong radiance emitted from the Flying Sword. When the light subsided, all the inscribed formations had merged into the sword.


    At this point, the Flying Sword had cooled and solidified. Wang Hong gently caressed the golden Flying Sword. Finally, he had sessfully crafted his first top-quality Spiritual Weapon.


    While the materials he used could have produced at least a high-quality Spiritual Weapon in the hands of another seasoned refining tool expert, Wang Hong had countless thousand-year spirit wood trees in his Space. This meant he could use the resources in his Space to craft various types of Spiritual Weapons without needing to involve others.


    After crafting the Flying Sword, Wang Hong had no intention of stopping there. He had only mastered the refinement of arrows and Flying Swords so far.


    This was certainly not enough, especially since he wasn''t in a hurry while staying in the sect.


    Tasks that might take others half a month toplete, he could finish in a single day.


    Besides cultivation, he continued to exchange Jade Scrolls from the Scripture Tower and dedicated time each day to study within his Space.


    His range of study was vast, epassing almost every content avable in the Jade Scrolls from the Scripture Tower. He estimated that he wouldn''t stop until he had gone through all of them.


    Next, Wang Hong decided to refine Devilish Vines, which had grown extensively in his Space, including several thousand-year-old specimens.


    He found Binding Spirit Ropes quite useful, especially against Demonic Beasts, where it worked exceptionally well since Demonic Beastscked effective means of resistance. Against human cultivators, its effectiveness was reduced but still served as a means of restraint.


    Although he had never refined Binding Spirit Ropes before, his experience from refining Flying Swords made the process considerably easier.


    In a little over half a year, Wang Hong had refined dozens of low to mid-grade Binding Spirit Ropes and sessfully crafted his first top-quality one.


    With the experience of his initial sess, his sess rate improved as he continued to refine. He created over a hundred top-quality Binding Spirit Ropes, depleting all the thousand-year-old Devilish Vines in his Space.


    Now, only several hundred-year-old vines remained along with a few two-thousand-year-old ones.


    With these older vines in mind, Wang Hong came up with an idea. He cut down dozens of the two-thousand-year-old Devilish Vines, intending to refine a Spiritual Weapon even more potent than the Binding Spirit Rope.


    As he refined and experimented, it took him over a year to seed.


    Now, Wang Hong held in his hands a one-foot-sized Spirit, the culmination of his year-long effort.


    This Spirit was crafted from dozens of Devilish Vines and, when infused with Spiritual Power, could cover an area of one to two acres.


    Within this range, escape was nearly impossible. Additionally, the Spirit inherited a unique trait from the Devilish Vines - the ability to absorb the opponent''s Spiritual Power and essence blood. Once ensnared, unless the captive could break free quickly, they would only weaken over time.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 306: The Council of Nascent Souls

    Chapter 306: The Council of Nascent Souls


    During the years when Wang Hong was deeply engrossed in refining tools, the battle between the Cultivation World and the Demon n continued to escte, growing fiercer by the day.


    The Human n found themselves caught in a two-front war, and their disadvantage became increasingly evident. They were running short on manpower.


    At this point, most loose cultivators from various Cultivation Cities, except for those conscripted, had left the cities and gone into hiding in remote, untraceable locations.


    Hoping to save the fate of the Cultivation World by sacrificing themselves and shedding blood was nothing more than a fool''s dream.


    While there was a loose cultivator alliance that could represent the entire loose cultivatormunity, it only held when there were benefits to be gained. When it came time to make sacrifices, most individuals couldn''t be found anywhere.


    The cultivators who remained in ce at this moment were those with families and businesses, unable to flee.


    Inside a grand and imposing hall, ten powerful cultivators were seated.


    If a Golden Core cultivator were to rashly intrude at this moment, they would likely be terrified by the overwhelming aura these ten individuals exuded.


    Remarkably, all ten of them were Nascent Soul cultivators, a sight rarely seen in ordinary times. Today, they had gathered to discuss the fate of the East Zhou Cultivation Realm in the face of the ongoing war between humans and demons."Ladies and gentlemen, given the current situation, the East Zhou Cultivation Realm finds itself trapped between two enemies. If this continues, our realm is in grave danger!" spoke a seemingly young cultivator.


    "Yes! If we cannote up with a solid n, East Zhou may face destruction!"


    "Every day, cultivators are dying, while the Demon n loses only cannon fodder, with a steady stream of reinforcements."


    "Last year, I ventured into the Southern Region and tried to contact the Southern Region cultivators, hoping they would extend a helping hand in solidarity as fellow members of the Human n against the Demon n. Unfortunately, those Southern Region cultivators were short-sighted and only cared about their immediate safety. Not a single one was willing to help,"mented a cultivator with a youthful appearance and silver hair.


    "Humph! Those deviants in the Southern Region no longer consider themselves part of the Human n. If East Zhou falls to the Demon n, they shouldn''t expect to fare any better. The Demon n doesn''t discriminate between those who practice evil or ghostly arts," angrily retorted a middle-aged woman.


    Although the Southern Region Cultivation World was also part of the Human n, they practiced sinister Cultivation Techniques or ghostly arts, which had always been despised by East Zhou cultivators. There had been tension between the two sides for a long time.


    Now that East Zhou was in trouble, expecting assistance from the Southern Region was nearly impossible.


    "Getting reinforcements is unlikely, and the Southern Region is a lost cause. Seeking help elsewhere is also a long shot. We should focus on finding a way to save ourselves."


    "I do have a risky idea. What do you all think?" asked a young man dressed in flowing white robes.


    "Please share your idea, Fellow Daoist. Let us hear it and discuss it together," they all agreed. Their purpose in gathering today was toe up with a strategy.


    "As you are all aware, considering the current situation, it is almost certain that the East Zhou Cultivation Realm is facing defeat. My idea is this: since defeat is inevitable, why not take a risk? As you know, the East Sea is vast, teeming with countless Demon n creatures that live in the sea. However, most of them are aquatic Demonic Beasts and cannot stay out of the water for extended periods.


    So, these Demon n creatures are gradually advancing along rivers, expanding their territory. Although theye with great aggression, their progress cannot be too rapid, and it''s unlikely they will quickly prate deep into East Zhou.


    My idea is this: for the aquatic ns in the east, we should primarily focus on dying their advance through a containment strategy. Then, we should gather our greatest strength andunch a lightning-fast assault on the Western Demon Tribe.


    We aim to recapture Jin''an City and eliminate all Demon n members in the Boundary Mountain Range before they can react. After that, we should swiftly enter the West Zhou Demon Realm and try to y one-third of the Demonic Beasts there, weakening their forces.


    Once the West Zhou Demon Realm reacts, we can withdraw rapidly and take a defensive position in the Boundary Mountain Range to fend off the Western Demon Tribe''s counterattack."


    The young man in white proposed temporarily abandoning the eastern front and using a small number of cultivators as a distraction while concentrating the majority of their forces for a surprise attack on the Western Demon Tribe.


    "Excellent! This n is brilliant! What do you all think?" the youthful-looking old man with silver hair eximed, being the first to express support.


    "This n is indeed excellent! I also agree with it. If we can weaken the West Zhou Demon Realm first, half of our problem is solved," another cultivator voiced their support.


    "Fellow Daoist''s n is indeed exceptional, but there is one concern. I believe Fellow Daoist is aware of the presence of Demon n infiltrators. If we mobilize all our forces, leaving our defenses vulnerable, might they take advantage of our weakness?" a middle-aged woman, while supportive, raised another issue.


    "This is indeed troublesome, and it''s something I hadn''t considered before. Do any of you have suggestions to address this concern?" The white-robed young man was open about his limitations.


    After thinking for a while, the group couldn''te up with a better solution. The number of Demon n infiltrators was substantial, and it would be challenging to identify them all quickly.


    "In my opinion, we may have to sacrifice a small number of individuals."


    One middle-aged person suggested, and everyone was aware that although there were many infiltrators, they were scattered throughout the entire East Zhou Cultivation Realm. Gathering them quickly was unlikely, and the dispersed forces posed no real threat to their major factions.


    They only needed to activate the protective Large Formations, making it difficult for the Demon n to break through, regardless of how they attacked.


    As a result, it was the smaller factions outside the city that would suffer the most, and those without any affiliations would have to rely on their luck.


    The Cultivation World had always been cruel in this regard, with the weak unknowingly bing cannon fodder for others. Wang Hong, in particr, had no knowledge of these matters.


    At this moment, he was upstairs in the East Zhou Trading Company, handing a Storage Bag to Xu Lun.


    Inside it were countless Spiritual Weapons he had crafted over the past few years to practice his skills, which he now intended for Xu Lun to sell.


    He had no intention of keeping such unsightly Spiritual Weapons anymore. Xu Lun, looking at the hundreds of Spiritual Weapons in the Storage Bag, was utterly amazed.


    He knew that Wang Hong had been learning refining tools, but he never expected his progress to be this rapid. Wang Hong was now proficient in crafting Spiritual Weapons.


    "You can trade all of these for refining tool materials," Wang Hong instructed Xu Lun. The reason he hade out of his sect this time was that he needed more refining tool materials.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 307: Assembly

    Chapter 307: Assembly


    Join for free


    Chapter 307: Assembly


    New


    February 9


    In the present Azure Void City, due to the departure of many independent cultivators, it had lost its former prosperity, and the streets were now eerily empty.


    Businesses in the city were slow, and with the continuous conscription of manpower and resources, many shops had closed down for good.


    As a result, the number of shops still operating in Azure Void City had dwindled significantly.


    "East Master, business has been getting quieter day by day, and it''s not evenparable to the previous years. Those Spiritual Weapons you brought a few days ago? We''ve only managed to trade five Flying Swords.""Everyone wants them now, but our Storage Bags have long been emptied, and the things we could exchange have all been used up. However, Demonic Beast materials have be exceptionally cheap. We''ve received over a dozen vials of second-tier Demonic Beast essence blood during this period," Xu Lun said, taking out several Jade vials and handing them to Wang Hong.


    Wang''s Poisonous Bees still hadn''t advanced to the second tier, so he instructed Xu Lun to help him purchase some second-tier or higher Demonic Beast essence blood during the ongoing battle between humans and demons.


    As they conversed, a group of cultivators dressed in Azure Void City guard uniforms entered the shop.


    "East Zhou Trading Company, where is Manager Xu?" the leader of the city guards demanded as he entered.


    "I am he. May I inquire what this is about?" Xu Lun asked politely.


    "I am here to deliver an order from the City Lord! In order to prepare for the Demon n''s attack and defend the peace of the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, every resident of the East Zhou Cultivation Realm bears the responsibility of resisting the Demon n. As a special decree, the East Zhou Trading Company and its affiliated shops are to contribute fifteen Foundation Building cultivators to the war effort."


    The captain of the city guard announced the decree with a serious expression. This conscription order had been personally issued by the City Lord, and there was no room for negligence.


    Xu Lun epted the document handed over by the captain of the city guards, inspected it for authenticity, and then asked, "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, why is the conscription rate so high this time?"


    The East Zhou Trading Company, along with Zhao Ning and Skinny Monkey''s shops, only had a total of eighteen publicly known Foundation Building cultivators. This number included three managers and the two Alchemists, the Ma Brothers. If they were to contribute fifteen people, it meant they would have to send almost everyone, including the Alchemists.


    The Foundation Building cultivators in the Mountain Valley base had always remained hidden and had not shown themselves in the outside world.


    "This is a conscription order personally issued by the City Lord. As for the reasons, I am not privy to them. It involves ssified information, and I advise Fellow Daoist not to inquire further. Moreover, starting from the day this conscription order was issued, cultivators not participating in the war are not allowed to leave Azure Void City for a month or use anymunication tools. Vitors will be executed."


    The captain of the city guard didn''t have any additional information and only knew that this was a significant operation.


    "I wonder, if we were to contribute in terms of resources, how much would be required?" Azure Void City''s conscription orders had historically allowed contributions in the form of goods, but the prices varied each time. Given the substantial consumption of resources during battles with the Demon n, offering a significant amount of supplies was sometimes more effective than sending a few additional individuals."Ten Lingyu Pills, or three Spiritual Weapons, or ten catties of Spirit Wine for one slot for a Foundation Building cultivator. Are you willing to exchange?" the captain of the city guards asked, his toneced with a hint of disdain, considering them to be individuals who valued their own lives above all else.


    However, he didn''t show any of this on the surface. People who had lived for hundreds of years couldn''t let their emotions be exposed so easily. This conscription required significant contributions in the form of Spiritual Objects, and escaping the battle came at a high cost that ordinary cultivators couldn''t bear.


    This conscription made it clear that Azure Void City wasmitting all its resources to the uing battle. If Azure Void City was going all out, it was likely that other cities would be in a simr situation. The major sects were also expected to mobilize all their resources.


    Taking such a huge gamble meant that if they seeded, it would be great, but if they failed, the entire Cultivation World would have no more strength left to oppose the Demon n. No one could guarantee victory in any war, especially when the Cultivation World was currently in a disadvantageous position.


    "I have some Essence Core Pills here. Distribute them to the people in the city, and give each person one catty of Spirit Wine. Let everyone be prepared for battle at any time," Wang Hong said, handing over some Essence Core Pills to Xu Lun. Although there was no immediate danger, it was always better to be prepared.


    However, Luo Zhongjie and the others were currently in the Mountain Valley base outside the city, and it was uncertain if they had been located.


    One dayter, fiverge Flying Boats lifted off from Azure Void City. Each Flying Boat carried two hundred Foundation Building cultivators and over a hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    Previously, Azure Void City had more than two thousand Foundation Building cultivators, and at its peak, it even had three thousand. But now, there were only slightly over a thousand Foundation Building cultivators in the city. They had put in their maximum effort to gather this number. The five Flying Boats were not even fully loaded, so they had to squeeze in a hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    The main mission of this operation was a surprise attack, and speed was of the essence, so they didn''t bring Qi Cultivation cultivators to avoid slowing down the operation.


    Azure Void City had five Golden Core cultivators, and four of them were deployed this time.


    After flying for half a day, the five Flying Boats converged with another group of six Flying Boats. This group belonged to the Qingxu Sect, and it had brought six Flying Boats, over eighteen hundred Foundation Building cultivators, and ten Golden Core Elders.


    After the merger, the Flying Boat group was led by a Golden Core Elder from the Qingxu Sect, and they set their course for the Boundary Mountain Range.


    Several dayster, in a Mountain Valley located a thousand miles away from the Boundary Mountain Range, nearly a hundredrge Flying Boats had gathered.


    This ce had nearly the entire strength of the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, making it a rare asion in the Cultivation World for centuries.


    If we average two hundred Foundation Building cultivators per Flying Boat, it adds up to twenty thousand Foundation Building cultivators. Even more rarely seen, there were over a hundred Golden Core cultivators gathered here.


    Moreover, there seemed to be even more terrifying auras hidden among them, undetectable by ordinary cultivators.


    As for the Qi Cultivation cultivators fortunate enough to participate in this event, if they survived this battle, it would be enough to boast about for generations toe.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 308: Advancement of the Bee Queen

    Chapter 308: Advancement of the Bee Queen


    After returning to his residence, Wang Hong secluded himself in a closed cultivation room. He took out over a dozen vials of second-tier essence blood.


    Spending a whole day, he refined the bloodline power within them and stored it in a small, delicate Jade vial, where a tiny amount of liquid swirled at the bottom.


    With a bit of that bloodline power and some Poisonous Bee royal jelly, he concocted a vial of Spirit Honey, following the preferred taste of the Bee Queen.


    It had taken the Poisonous Bee Queen more than a year within the Space to absorb this bloodline power. Then, nearly a decade had passed within the Space, where it consumed a substantial amount of Spiritual Objects. Finally, the Poisonous Bee Queen met his expectations and advanced to a second-tier Demonic Beast.


    After reaching the second tier, the offspring of the Poisonous Bee Queen hatched, already possessing the initial cultivation level of a first-tier Demonic Beast. Unlike before when it took time for the young bees to reach the first tier, these were much stronger right from the start.


    Although the strength of the bee offspring had improved, their reproductive numbers had significantly decreased. In the past, theyid thousands of eggs in a day, but now it was reduced to only a hundred per day. Fortunately, time passed much quicker within the Space, allowing for rapid cultivation.


    Eventually, the overall strength of the bee swarm should see an improvement.


    While Wang Hong was engrossed in nurturing the Poisonous Bees, the Boundary Mountain Range had erupted into chaos. Over a hundred Flying Boats from the East Zhou Cultivation Realm gathered and flew above Jin''an City.


    The oppressive aura released by these twenty thousand Foundation Building cultivators alone was enough to make the Demonic Beasts below tremble.Then, tens of thousands of Spiritual Weapons rained down upon Jin''an City''s protective Large Formation. The Light Screen formed by Jin''an City''s protective Large Formation onlysted for fifteen minutes before dissipating into specks of light.


    Following that, tens of thousands of Spiritual Weapons descended like a torrent upon the Demonic Beast horde below. The Demonic Beasts fled in panic, but there was nowhere to hide.


    In just a moment, arge number of them were killed or wounded. Some Demonic Beasts tried to escape Jin''an City, but they found Flying Boats guarding the outskirts, ready to kill them on sight.


    Their mission was not to conquer the city but to y the Demonic Beasts, making the Demon n incapable of further eastward invasion.


    At this moment, ten third-tier Demonic Beasts flew out of the city. They scattered and fled in all directions, unwilling to engage inbat.


    However, with over a hundred Golden Core cultivators on the scene, there was no way they would let them escape.


    These cultivators had been oppressed by the Demon n for a long time, and even though they hadn''t actively participated in the battle, they were burning with rage.


    The ten third-tier Demonic Beasts were immediately torn to pieces by a group of Golden Core cultivators and their remains stored in Storage Bags. Not a single strand of fur was left behind, but with limited resources and a high demand, this left the Foundation Building cultivators hoping for some leftovers disappointed.


    An hourter, the several hundred thousand Demonic Beasts that had upied Jin''an City were exterminated in an instant.


    Over twenty thousand Foundation Building cultivators descended from their Flying Boats to clean up the battlefield, salvaging only the most valuable parts of the Demonic Beasts.


    As for the lower-value demon corpses, they had no choice but to leave them behind, a collective sigh of regret hanging in the air.Their mission this time was a surprise attack, and they couldn''t afford to waste too much time. The recaptured Jin''an City could be handed over to cultivators from the other two cities.


    Jin''an City had been upied by the Western Demon Tribe for over a decade. Finally, it was back in the hands of human cultivators.


    After boarding the Flying Boats, the hundred of them set forth towards the Boundary Mountain Range once again, in a grand procession.


    They located gathering points of Demonic Beasts within the Boundary Mountain Range and directly exterminated them.


    After two days of cleaning up, the entire Boundary Mountain Range had been cleared, leaving only a few small gathering points with about a dozen Demonic Beasts each, which they left for the cultivators in the rear to handle.


    Two dayster, the fleet of Flying Boats crossed the Boundary Mountain Range and entered the West Zhou Demon Realm.


    On the main path leading from the Boundary Mountain Range to the West Zhou Demon Realm, the Demon n had established a city simr to Jin''an City.


    However, the Demon n''s city appeared much more rugged, with various Demonic Beasts bustling about. The streets within the city were chaotic, often witnessing Demonic Beasts relieving themselves wherever they pleased.


    The number of Demonic Beasts residing here amounted to at least a million, including the Demon n reinforcements that had arrived from nearby in the past few days.


    But the majority of these million Demon n members were low-tier Demonic Beasts, with only a few thousand second-tier Demonic Beasts among them. Moreover, many of these Demonic Beasts were unable to fly and posed no threat to the multitude of Flying Boats.


    With such a rare opportunity at hand, over a hundred Flying Boats descended upon the city below...


    After various major sects, families, and forces mobilized and headed for the Boundary Mountain Range, the Demonic Beasts lurking in different parts of the Cultivation World, though unaware of the exact situation, seized this opportunity tounch attacks.


    They, along with some human cultivators they had subjugated, began assaulting nearby families and marketces.


    Among these forces, any that carried a reputation had already dispatched most of their fighting strength to the Boundary Mountain Range.


    Unable to withstand the onught, these small forces were eliminated by the lurking Demonic Beasts, who had spent decades preparing for this moment.


    Once the Demonic Beasts had revealed themselves, they began to contact and gather, rapidly bolstering their forces like a snowball rolling downhill.


    As human forces concentrated tounch a sudden attack, they killed a significant number of Demon n members. Simultaneously, within the heart of the Human n territory, the Demon n struck at the roots of the humans.


    Of course, only a small number of them managed to infiltrate this deeply. They could only target smaller forces, as they dared not risk their lives by attackingrge cities, especially given their current limited strength. Any city could easily deploy a defensive Light Screen that they wouldn''t be able to breach.


    During this chaotic period when the lurking Demonic Beasts wereunching attacks everywhere, Treasure Hunters hidden in various ces felt that this was a golden opportunity and seized it.


    This unfortunate turn of events spelled trouble for loose cultivators who had escaped the cities and were living peacefully in the mountains. They were either captured and killed by Treasure Hunters or devoured by lurking Demonic Beasts.


    In the Mountain Valley base, Luo Zhongjie was training a hundred new recruits.


    Some time ago, Azure Void City suddenly restricted entry and exit, and rumors spread that Foundation Building cultivators from all over had been conscripted.


    Although he currently couldn''t contact Wang Hong, he believed that Wang Hong should still be in the city. Given Wang Hong''s status in the Qingxu Sect, achieving this wouldn''t be too difficult.


    Just then, more than twenty Foundation Building cultivators arrived at the entrance of Mountain Valley on their flying instruments and stopped there.


    "This is the ce. I heard that this is East Zhou Trading Company''s Spiritual Herb garden. I once came nearby to observe and saw arge quantity of goodsing in and out," a thin, ck-robed cultivator reported to the white-haired old man leading the group.


    "Listen carefully, those outside. You have one incense stick''s worth of time to leave, or bear the consequences," a loud voice came from within Mountain Valley, separated by a formation.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 309: Military Training

    Chapter 309: Military Training


    "Hahaha!"


    Over twenty Treasure Hunters stood at the entrance to the valley, hearing the arrogant words echoing from within Mountain Valley. They couldn''t help but burst intoughter.


    This group of Treasure Hunters had already wiped out several medium-sized families in the past few days. They had never encountered anyone who dared to speak to them like this before, so their egos naturally swelled.


    If it weren''t for the Large Formation blocking their way, they would have stormed in long ago.


    "Cao Fellow Daoist, it seems that the formation set up in this Mountain Valley is quite peculiar. What do you think about how to break it?" The white-haired Old Man leading the group turned to a scruffy-looking cultivator in the back of the crowd and asked.


    This seemingly downtrodden cultivator was the only formation expert among the Treasure Hunters. He straightened his beard and tried to focus as he stepped forward.


    Finally, it was his moment to shine. As a professional second-tier formation expert, he had nobat abilities. He was just trying to survive among a group of treasure-hunting cultivators who only knew how to kill and loot.


    Now, he could finally demonstrate his worth. Among second-tier formation experts, he was considered one of the best.


    Cao, the formation expert, began to investigate the formation. However, as he delved into it, he found the formation to be incrediblyplex, and he couldn''t make heads or tails of it.After pondering for a while, he realized that this Large Formation was beyond his ability to decipher. But he couldn''t admit it directly.


    He didn''t have much status within this treasure-hunting team to begin with. If he admitted defeat, it would mean he had no utility, and his death would be imminent.


    Others wouldn''t think the formation was tooplex; they would see him as a fraud.


    Cao pretended to investigate the formation while buying time, hoping for a breakthrough.


    Meanwhile, inside the Large Formation, Luo Zhongjie had organized over a hundred Qi Cultivation stage members into rows, each holding a magical weapon bow and arrow.


    Since so many people hade to them, it was a perfect opportunity for some military training. Otherwise, he would have sent a group of Foundation Building cultivators to go out and annihte them.


    When the incense in front of the formation was about to burn out, all the team members slowly raised their bows and arrows, aiming at Cao, who was still pretending to investigate the formation.


    Due to the Large Formation, those inside Mountain Valley could clearly see the outside, but the Treasure Hunters outside could only see a thick mist.


    Cao, pretending to be nonchnt, suddenly felt his heart racing. This was definitely a dangerous sign.


    He casually walked back to the white-haired Old Man.


    "While this formation is mysterious, I''ve already figured out its essence," Cao said as he spoke while discreetly moving closer to the crowd.


    The white-haired Old Man was about to inquire further when suddenly, over a hundred arrows shot out from the Large Formation, heading straight for him.


    The white-haired Old Man had lived for over a hundred years, and hisbat experience was extensive. Without panicking, he swiftly moved behind two tall cultivators who had let their guard down, using them as human shields.


    Unfortunately, those two tall cultivators were struck by several arrows, bing human pincushions.


    Swoosh! Afterward, a cultivator who had been standing behind the white-haired Old Man, although he activated a protective shield, was still pierced like a hedgehog.


    The two cultivators who had served as shields for the white-haired Old Man also got hit by several arrows, but luckily, the injuries were not fatal.The first barrage of arrows had just ended when the second one struck. However, this time, they were prepared, and the arrows shot by the Qi Cultivation stage cultivators couldn''t harm them for the time being.


    The white-haired Old Man caught a few of the arrows and examined them. They turned out to be just ordinary Magical Weapon arrows.


    "These are just some Qi Cultivation cultivators. Let''s charge in and leave no one alive," the white-haired Old Man dered, his anger ring up at the audacity of the attackers.


    "How do we break the formation?" he asked Cao, the formation expert.


    Cao, trying to save his own skin, randomly pointed in a direction and exined, "Walk eight feet forward from the Gen position, then five feet toward the Kan position..."


    With that, the Treasure Hunters immediately rushed in the direction indicated by the formation expert. They couldn''t afford to bete; otherwise, all the benefits might be taken by others.


    Cao followed behind the group, but when he saw everyone entering the formation''s mist, he turned and fled.


    He didn''t dare to enter the formation as it became increasingly bewildering. He had been captured by these people, but he had no intention of sharing their fate.


    Cao initially thought of escaping right then, butter, his curiosity got the better of him. He hid on a distant hill and observed quietly.


    For several days, the Large Formation remained eerily silent, with no changes and no oneing out.


    This left Cao in disbelief, as he had personally witnessed the strength of these Treasure Hunters. The forces they had eliminated were all well-known in the area, and none of them were weak.


    Terrified, he couldn''t stay any longer and quietly slipped away. In the current Cultivation World, very few dared to fly solo.


    On the side of Mountain Valley, Luo Zhongjie saw the Treasure Hunters rush into the Large Formation and took advantage of the situation. He trapped them all within the formation, releasing only one or two individuals into Mountain Valley at a time. Then, the Qi Cultivation stage team members would surround and engage them, practicing various battle tactics.


    After each opponent was defeated, Luo Zhongjie provided targeted feedback before releasing the next batch of people.


    These team members rapidly progressed in cultivation due to the abundance of resources. The first group of a hundred had all reached theter stages of Qi Cultivation, with some even achieving Foundation Building.


    Although they had cultivation levels, their actualbat experience was limited. Luo Zhongjie gave them the opportunity to gainbat experience in this battle.


    The second batch of recruits consisted mostly of underage individuals with cultivation levels at Qi Cultivation stages three or four. They had never experienced battle before and were mainly there to observe and gain exposure tobat.


    After this battle, the spirits and temperaments of these Qi Cultivation stage team members unknowingly changed significantly. After all, they had now in Foundation Building cultivators. From now on, they would no longer fear facing Foundation Building cultivators.


    While Luo Zhongjie''s Mountain Valley base defeated the Treasure Hunters, more and more Treasure Hunters were gathering around Azure Void City.


    At this point, within the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, aside from some major sects and cities, no ce remained peaceful.


    Although the Demon n had been the first to cause chaos in East Zhou, their numbers were limited. Their primary role was to stir up desires within people''s hearts.


    Some cultivators who had previously lived quietly were now incited by the chaos, transforming into Treasure Hunters. They saw an opportunity to plunder and couldn''t resist the temptation. As chaos spread, many small factions were wiped out, and even medium-sized sects and families were attacked and annihted.


    Although some major forces had Golden Core cultivators remaining behind, they dared not leave their own protected areas easily. In case they were ambushed, they would regret their decision.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 310: Chaos

    Chapter 310: Chaos


    Wang Hong had been in Azure Void City for a month, unable to contact the outside world. During this time, he had seen numerous cultivators arriving from outside the city, and they were somewhat informed about the current situation in the Cultivation World.


    However, due to the need to prevent spies from infiltrating the city, not just anyone could enter Azure Void City. The city''s security was incredibly strict.


    Many loose cultivators who had chosen to leave Azure Void City earlier to avoid conscription were now regretting their decision. Except for a few who had joined the Treasure Hunters, most of them were now filled with regret.


    Even those who had joined the Treasure Hunters lived a precarious life, as they were constantly required to be ready for battle. They had to be wary of their fellowpanions as well. Some individuals, after getting injured, became targets for theirrades'' treasure hunting. In this group, there were no virtuous individuals.


    Azure Void City had been sealed off for a month initially to prevent leaks of information, but it seemed that the Demon n had still found out about it. This measure indirectly saved the lives of those who couldn''t leave the city.


    After Wang Hong learned about the situation outside, he could understand the Demon n''s presence, even though he held a grudge against them. With opposing positions and as enemies, any means were justifiable in their fight. The goal of battle was to eliminate the enemy, without any moral constraints.


    However, he held a deep hatred for the Treasure Hunters who were causing chaos throughout the entire Cultivation World. The current situation made all East Zhou cultivators connected by the same thread, where their fortunes and misfortunes were shared. These individuals, at a time when they should contribute, were all hiding and afraid to confront the Demon n.


    Now, East Zhou was internally vulnerable, and these individuals, driven by personal gain, were shortsighted, causing chaos in the entire Cultivation World and destabilizing the rear lines. If the front lines were to falter, the entire East Zhou would fall, and everyone would be doomed.


    Although Wang Hong was not a saint, this matter concerned the bigger picture, affecting the safety of every individual, including himself and his business.Wang Hong left the city with ten Foundation Building stage subordinates, fully aware that traveling alone outside the city would make him a target for the Treasure Hunters.


    He needed to check on his two bases personally, even though he believed they were safe. Seeing them with his own eyes would put his mind at ease.


    On the way, he witnessed a scene of devastation. There were many spirit fields outside the city where Spirit Grain, Spiritual Herb, spirit fruit, and other items were grown, guarded by cultivators. Now, these fields were ruined, with all the Spirit Grain and Spiritual Herb harvested, whether mature or not, not a single one left. It was as if locusts had passed through.


    Most of the spirit fruit trees had been uprooted, leaving behind onlyrge craters. The few remaining spirit fruit trees had also been knocked down.


    These external spirit fields were the foundations painstakingly built by many generations of powers within the city. To rebuild them would take decades or even centuries.


    After the Treasure Hunters'' rampage, even if they eventually defeated the Demon n, the East Zhou Cultivation Realm would suffer a significant loss of vitality. There would be a shortage of usable Spiritual Herbs for a long time.


    As he walked this path, he couldn''t find a single intact spirit field, which worried him.


    Finally, he reached his Mountain Valley base and found everything was safe, which was a relief. Upon hearing Luo Zhongjie''s report, he learned that two waves of Treasure Hunters hade in the past month with intentions to attack the base. However, Luo Zhongjie and his men had managed to kill both groups. The second group of Treasure Hunters had engaged them outside Mountain Valley and escaped with just over ten survivors.


    These ragtag individuals were courageous and skilled when they had the upper hand, but once they were defeated, they abandoned theirrades and fled for their lives.In Mountain Valley base, there were usually around two to three dozen Foundation Building cultivators stationed there. Most Treasure Hunter groups consisted of about ten to twenty people. While having more people made each robbery easier, it also resulted in reduced profits.


    However, recently, many Treasure Hunters were fighting each other, merging forces, and growing in size, squeezing out the smaller groups that couldn''t survive.


    After inspecting this base, Wang Hong traveled alone to Liu Changsheng''s base. Here, he had more Foundation Building cultivators hidden, totaling over forty people, which made it difficult for ordinary Treasure Hunters to challenge them.


    He learned that a batch of Treasure Hunters had alsoe here, but they had all been annihted, leaving no survivors. Besides guarding this base, Liu Changsheng''s group had been sending people out to gather information.


    Wang Hong found out that there used to be many small and medium-sized factions near Azure Void City. Except for a few who had received advance notice and retreated with their personnel and resources into the city, most of the small factions had been wiped out in the past month. Even some of the medium-sized factions had been upied by Treasure Hunters.


    The strength of Wang Hong''s two bases could ce them among the medium-sized factions, but the Foundation Building cultivators within his bases were currently in hiding, and outsiders were unaware of their existence, which is why they hadn''t been conscripted.


    Now, Treasure Hunters were scattered all around the area, upying the ces they had taken over.


    Additionally, there were several forces consisting of lurking Demonic Beasts in the vicinity. These forces were even more ruthless, not only killing for treasures but also leaving no trace of destruction behind.


    "East Master, based on our intelligence analysis, these Treasure Hunters are constantly merging with each other. There wille a day when they form a massive force. Currently, there are hundreds, nearly a thousand Treasure Hunters around Azure Void City. If theserge Treasure Hunter groups form, I''m afraid our base won''t be able to stop them," Liu Changsheng said with concern.


    Wang Hong pondered for a moment, harboring no affection for these Demon n infiltrators and Treasure Hunters. To say he despised them wouldn''t be an exaggeration.


    With the power he currently controlled, counting both overt and covert forces, he had over a hundred Foundation Building cultivators. With this strength, dealing with the current Treasure Hunters would be more than sufficient.


    The concern now was that these Treasure Hunters were continuously merging and expanding, making them a potential threat in the future.


    "In that case, let''s take the initiative! We''ll clear out all the Treasure Hunters in this vicinity," Wang Hong finally made a decision. These Treasure Hunters were like a malignant tumor in the Cultivation World, contributing nothing, acting selfishly, and causing chaos throughout the realm.


    Rather than waiting for them toe knocking, it was better to seize the advantage they currently had and eliminate the danger in its infancy.


    "You''re responsible for the security of the two bases. For Mountain Valley base, you must act covertly, ensuring they don''t find out. Additionally, send some people to collect and transmit information discreetly."


    "Understood, East Master. Is there anything else you need me to do?"


    "No, that''s all. You don''t need to concern yourself with anything else. Consider yourself as unrted to the Mountain Valley base''s two forces."


    After giving these orders to Liu Changsheng, Wang Hong continued his journey alone, quietly making his way to the Mountain Valley base. He couldn''t afford to draw attention to himself, as it might attract the attention of the Treasure Hunters.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 311: Going into Battle

    Chapter 311: Going into Battle


    After returning to the Mountain Valley base, Wang Hong gathered all of his Foundation Building stage subordinates.


    The soldiers who had followed him in the past had all been promoted to the Foundation Building stage. Additionally, the first batch of recruits from the trading caravan had also achieved Foundation Building, numbering several people.


    Apart from the eleven individuals who remained in Azure Void City and the ones dispatched to guard the shops in Boundary City, the rest had gathered at Mountain Valley. In total, there were forty subordinates at the Foundation Building stage.


    Wen Lan was instructed to stay behind in Mountain Valley with four Foundation Building stage members, while the remaining thirty-five people followed Wang Hong into battle.


    The medium-sized Flying Boat that Wang Hong had purchased on his previous trip had limited carrying capacity, amodating only around a hundred people at a time.


    Furthermore, only seventy of his Qi Cultivation experts at the Grand Mastery stage were chosen to apany the expedition, primarily to gainbat experience.


    Among the thirty-five Foundation Building cultivators, ten were primarily responsible for controlling wooden shields for defense. These wooden shields were mainly high-grade Spirit Shields obtained from Qianqiao City, with a few damaged ones that Wang Hong had personally repaired, although they were only of medium grade.


    Twenty individuals were equipped with bows and arrows for long-range attacks. These bows and arrows were also obtained from Qianqiao City, with only seven high-grade ones, while the remaining thirteen were medium-grade ones that Wang Hong had refined himself.


    Although he had sessfully refined high-grade Spiritual Weapons before, it was still somewhat challenging for him, making medium-grade Spiritual Weapons a much more manageable task.The remaining five Foundation Building subordinates each carried a Binding Spirit Rope to immobilize the enemy, and all of these ropes were of high grade.


    The seventy Qi Cultivation stage members primarily engaged in long-range archery attacks. The bows and arrows they wielded ranged from Magical Weapons to lower-grade Spiritual Weapons, serving as Wang Hong''s practice pieces in refining tools.


    Of course, these were standardized equipment to facilitate coordinatedbat, and each person had their own additional weaponry.


    The battle strategy was not entirely fixed but adapted ording to the situation.


    After making all necessary preparations and ensuring they had the required supplies, more than a hundred individuals stood silently in Mountain Valley, awaiting Wang Hong''smand.


    As Wang Hong looked at the neatly arranged team before him, a sense of satisfaction welled up within him. This was the result of his efforts since entering the Cultivation World. This force, if deployed, would be considered powerful even among medium-sized factions.


    Even if they were to join forces against an early Golden Core stage cultivator, they should be more than capable.


    With amand from Wang Hong, everyone boarded the Flying Boat and departed from Mountain Valley.


    Based on the information provided by Liu Changsheng, they directly arrived at a small family n''s residence.


    This ce had originally been home to a family n that had operated here for centuries. It had several Foundation Building elders, over a hundred Qi Cultivation stage disciples, and thousands of Mortals.


    Just a few days ago, the entire family n had been wiped out by a group of Treasure Hunters. All the cultivators, along with the Mortals, numbering in the thousands, had been killed without a survivor.


    As they approached the area from a distance, most of the houses had already been burned down, leaving only a cluster of intact buildings in the central region.


    Wang Hong ordered his subordinates to control the Flying Boat and head straight for the remaining buildings in the center.


    At this moment, more than a dozen Foundation Building cultivators rushed out from those buildings.


    "Who dares to act recklessly here? You''d better... ah! Quick, retreat!"


    The leader of the Treasure Hunters was about to speak harshly, but he abruptly noticed that the Flying Boat was filled with cultivators, with at least thirty of them at the Foundation Building stage. Furthermore, the people on the Flying Boat had already drawn their weapons and were ready to strike.


    The leader of the Treasure Hunters had no time to save face and was the first to turn and flee.The others were quick to react, scattering in all directions. As Treasure Hunters, those who were slow to react or made mistakes had already perished in previous battles.


    A multitude of Spiritual Weapons flew out from the Flying Boat, taking down one of the slower escaping cultivators.


    "Chase!" Wang Hong led the pursuit on his Little Peng mount and quickly caught up with the leading Treasure Hunter.


    The fleeing cultivator didn''t dare to engage inbat with Wang Hong. Instead, he removed a Storage Bag from his waist, turned it upside down, and poured countless Spiritual Objects out of it, sending them flying in all directions with his Spiritual Power surging.


    He had used this trick several times to escape from formidable opponents. Since their primary motivation was wealth, they wouldn''t ignore his treasures and would prioritize chasing him.


    Unfortunately, he guessed wrong this time. Wang Hong and his group were not there for the wealth, and none of his subordinates were interested in seizing his spoils.


    Without even ncing at the treasures, Wang Hong''s figure on Little Peng''s back became a blur as he appeared behind the fleeing cultivator.


    A silent and swift spear thrust pierced through a medium-grade shield and shattered ayer of defense from the Light Shield. All these defenses were like paper in front of Wang Hong''s Long Spear.


    The Long Spear then prated the back of the fleeing cultivator. He only felt a sharp pain in his chest while running, and a piece of spearhead emerged from his chest.


    He remembered having doubleyers of defense, or did he make a mistake? Then, lost consciousness in confusion.


    Wang Hong withdrew his Long Spear, used the shifting positions technique, and chased after another Treasure Hunter, while ordering Little Peng to pursue freely.


    In just a quarter of an hour, the battle had concluded. They had killed twelve Treasure Hunters, while a few managed to escape.


    These Treasure Hunters might not have been the strongest fighters, but each of them had a trick or two up their sleeves for escaping danger.


    They collected the Storage Bags from the twelve fallen Treasure Hunters, and even Wang Hong''s eyes widened at the sight.


    These Treasure Hunters had amassed a fortune during this time, with multiple Storage Bags hanging from each person. Some even had ten or more Storage Bags on them.


    The items inside the Storage Bags ranged from tier one to tier two, covering a wide variety of goods. There were over sixty Spiritual Weapons, countless Magical Weapons, and the most numerous were various raw materials, including Spiritual Herbs, spirit fruits, and spirit ores.


    Consumable items like Pills and Spirit Wine were rtively scarce, likely already used up.


    Wang Hong ordered his men to gather all these treasures and distribute themter.


    They proceeded to search through several more buildings they had previously missed.


    However, they didn''t find anything valuable inside. It seemed that these desperate individuals had carried all their wealth on their persons.


    What they did find were over thirty female cultivators, all at the Qi Cultivation stage. After interrogating them, they revealed that they had been kidnapped by the Treasure Hunters.


    These women were all incredibly beautiful, with graceful figures. Under normal circumstances, they would have been the objects of admiration for many male cultivators.


    Whatever they had gone through, their bodies were now terribly weakened.


    Wang Hong decided not to cause them any more distress and intended to let them go.


    "Thank you, senior, for saving our lives! However, considering the current situation, we have nowhere to go. We are willing to serve as servants or maids, to serve and obey you day and night. We implore senior to take us in."


    The group of women kowtowed before Wang Hong, with one leading the plea, and the others followed suit, repeatedly kowtowing. They were oblivious to the fact that their foreheads were bleeding from the repeated prostrations, and tears flowed down their faces.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 312: Swallowing the Bait

    Chapter 312: Swallowing the Bait


    Their families or factions had already been eradicated by the Treasure Hunters, and in the current chaotic environment, they had no ce to hide.


    As loose cultivators, they couldn''t enter the city either. Outside the city walls, they would sooner orter fall victim to the Treasure Hunters'' des or be abducted.


    In this dire moment, encountering Wang Hong''s group was like grasping a lifeline. In the face of life and death, who would be willing to give up easily?


    Wang Hong might not be a saint, but for these female cultivators stuck outside the city, he felt a pang ofpassion. After some consideration, he offered them a way out.


    "My team doesn''t ept female cultivators, but I can introduce you into Azure Void City. If you''re willing, you can work at my trading business and receive Spirit Stones as monthly payment."


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''s offer, the group of female cultivators cast their eyes toward Yang Tiezhu and a few other female team members. They dared not object and quickly kowtowed in gratitude. At least, they had a safe haven now.


    "You can use my East Zhou Trading Company token to enter the city, and I''ll also provide you with a safe route."


    Wang Hong intended to hand these people over to Xu Lun. Their appearances were pleasing, and they could serve as attendants in the shop, weing customers and making the ce more attractive.


    After bidding farewell to this group of female cultivators, they once again boarded the Flying Boat and headed to the next Treasure Hunters'' base.In the following two weeks, under Liu Chang''s intelligence guidance, they managed to annihte one Treasure Hunters'' team on average every day.


    In those two weeks, they had in over two hundred Treasure Hunters and collected severalrge crates of Storage Bags.


    Many of the items they obtained in this world were exactly the Spiritual Objects Wang Hong had been searching for. While his Space could grow Spiritual Herbs and spirit wood, there were still many materials it couldn''t produce.


    Among the items they harvested, there were even more than a dozen Foundation Establishment Pills.


    As word spread among the escaping cultivators, the Treasure Hunters in the area all learned of the existence of this plundering Flying Boat.


    This made it increasingly difficult for them to hunt down their adversaries. Many Treasure Hunters, upon seeing their Flying Boat, fled from afar.


    Just a moment ago, a group of Treasure Hunters was only two or three miles away, but they immediately turned and ran upon seeing them.


    The Flying Boat was too conspicuous, and it seemed like they needed to change their tactics.


    They had been out for over ten days now, and it was time to return and rest for a few days. Despite the substantial gains, the continuous battles had left everyone looking fatigued.


    As Wang Hong''s group traveled back, a small team of around a dozen people suddenly appeared in front of them.


    Other teams would flee upon seeing them, but this team acted strangely; they didn''t avoid them and charged straight toward them.


    Wang Hong''s group had just used their Spiritual Weapons to kill two people, but this team quickly turned and fled.


    However, their escape was different from the norm. Typically, Treasure Hunters would disperse when fleeing, making it easier to escape.


    But these people were running in the same direction and at a rtively slow pace,cking the urgency of a life-or-death escape.


    This made Wang Hong suspicious; unusual actions often hid sinister motives.


    He cautiously pursued them for a short distance. His speed wasn''t too fast, and the enemy''s escape wasn''t frantic either, as if escaping wasn''t their top priority.


    When he ordered the Flying Boat to stop pursuing, the group of Treasure Hunters ahead no longer wanted to escape.


    Instead, they turned back and charged at the Flying Boat. Everyone on board coldly brandished their Spiritual Weapons to meet them, and the enemy once again turned and fled from a distance.


    After this experiment, Wang Hong was sure that this group of people definitely had ulterior motives.He immediately ordered everyone to stand by while he rode Little Peng and flew out of the Flying Boat towards the approaching group of cultivators.


    A medium-sized Flying Boat was designed to chase down small enemy teams. Although it could catch up to Foundation Building cultivators when using high-quality Spirit Stones, its agility was far inferior. Sometimes, when they were about to get close, the enemy would suddenly make a sharp turn, quickly increasing the distance between them.


    Upon seeing Wang Hong alone on Little Peng charging towards them, this group of cultivators stopped running altogether and waited calmly in ce, each with a smirk on their faces, as if they had already figured out Wang Hong''s fate.


    Wang Hong rode on Little Peng''s back, wielding a Long Spear, and charged at the Treasure Hunters. Simultaneously, a golden Flying Sword flew out towards the enemy, seeking an appropriate target for attack.


    This group of cultivators consisted of about a dozen members, with the highest cultivation level being a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator. Wang Hong didn''t take them very seriously.


    "Bang! Bang! Bang!"


    "Boom! Boom! Boom!"


    The attacks from their dozen or so Spiritual Weaponsnded solidly on Wang Hong, causing a ze of various lights around him. However, he didn''t take any defensive measures and simply charged out of the midst of the magical weapon radiance, leaving no injuries behind.


    Meanwhile, the golden Flying Sword he had summoned earlier darted among the enemy cultivators, searching for suitable targets.


    "Whoosh!" In an instant, the Flying Sword found a gap and pierced through a cultivator''s defensive Light Shield, cutting off his head in the process. Blood spurted several feet high from the severed neck.


    By this time, Wang Hong and Little Peng had reached the vicinity. They plunged into the group of cultivators like a tiger among sheep.


    In closebat, a body cultivator like Wang Hong left this group of Treasure Hunters defenseless, easily killing or injuring them with every strike.


    In no time, Wang Hong had in most of this group of Treasure Hunters, and he and Little Peng grew even more enthusiastic in their battle. They roared in triumph as they fought.


    This scene filled the cultivators on the Flying Boat with excitement. Although they were also body cultivators, they couldn''t withstand Spiritual Weapon attacks as Wang Hong could. They had immense strength, but they hadn''t yet reached the point of overpowering spiritual techniques.


    As for the newly recruited team members, they were all young and naturally admired heroes and powerful individuals. At this moment, their eyes sparkled with admiration.


    In a ruined sect''s location, more than a dozen groups of Treasure Hunters had gathered.


    The only reason these cultivators, who lived by the creed of killing and plundering, woulde together was the promise of immense profit.


    The leaders of the more than a dozen Treasure Hunter teams were currently holding a ndestine meeting in an open area.


    "Fellow Daoist Qiao! We just received news that the plundering Flying Boat is heading southwest. Your people should take action," a scar-faced man said.


    "I''ve already given the orders; they''ll arrive soon," replied another red-faced cultivator while sending out a Transmission Talisman.


    "We should head to the ambush location now. Let''s await Fellow Daoist Qiao''s good news."


    These more than a dozen groups of Treasure Hunters had united primarily due to their fear of Wang Hong''s recent series of massacres of their kind. Their fear had driven them to band together, totaling over three hundred individuals inbined strength.


    Since they were gathered together, theirbined power emboldened them to consider turning the tables on the plundering Flying Boat.


    They knew that the Flying Boat had recently made significant gains, and after deliberation, they decided to send a small team to lure the Flying Boat into a pre-set ambush zone and then surround and kill it there.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 313: Fellowship Alliance

    Chapter 313: Fellowship Alliance


    Arge group of Treasure Hunters concealed themselves around a canyon, patiently waiting for their prey.


    As professional Treasure Hunters, they were all skilled in the art of camouge and stealth.


    Now, each of themy hidden among the treetops, grass, and scattered rocks, concentrating and remaining motionless.


    Unless one approached them closely and carefully scanned with Divine Sense, it would be extremely difficult to detect them.


    At first, they felt a sense of pride in their stealth skills.


    However, maintaining this stealthy state was quite taxing, and as time slowly passed, these Treasure Hunters grew increasingly restless while holding their positions.


    Nevertheless, they continued to wait silently for two days, but not a single soul appeared.


    "Daoist Qiao! Why haven''t any of your people returned? Could they have all been in?" A young leader among the Treasure Hunters couldn''t hold back and approached the red-faced Qiao n Cultivator to inquire.


    "I don''t know either. I even sent two trusted subordinates to supervise and maintainmunication, but there has been no word from them," replied the Qiao n Cultivator, his expression growing uneasy.At the same time, Wang Hong and his group had already in the team of Treasure Hunters, leaving only two survivors.


    They handed them over to Luo Zhongjie for interrogation. These two were not exactly loyal and tight-lipped individuals.


    Luo Zhongjie believed he had plenty of powerful methods left to employ. As a result, both of them confessed quickly, and it felt as if he had struck a fist into cotton.


    Meanwhile, Liu Changsheng and a few others remained hidden, observing and rying messages.


    They had captured two other cultivators on nearby hilltops who had been monitoring Wang Hong''s side. However, these two had signed Blood Contracts as ves, making it impossible to extract much information from them, so they were killed outright.


    Wang Hong received reports from both sides and had a rough understanding of the situation.


    It appeared that they couldn''t return to the Mountain Valley base in the short term. Wang Hong didn''t want these Treasure Hunters to discover their connection to the Mountain Valley base, as it would onlyplicate matters further.


    Since there was a formidable force out to get them, he needed toe up with a countern.


    Their numbers were ten times greater, so a direct confrontation was out of the question; they needed to use their wits.


    The reason the opposing force of hundreds of people was gathered and peaceful was primarily because of Wang Hong and his group.


    After devising a n of action, the Flying Boat boldly set off toward Azure Void City and entered it smoothly.


    A dozen dayster, the rumors of the Flying Boat that had been circting among them suddenly disappeared.


    This brought a sigh of relief to the Treasure Hunters in the area, and they could resume their activities freely.


    Fu Li, originally an elder in a cultivation n, had ten Foundation Building cultivators within his n.


    Not long ago, eight of the n''s Foundation Building cultivators were forcefully conscripted, leaving only him and another elder to defend the n.


    However, after just five or six days, a group of Treasure Huntersunched a night raid on their n. The elder who stood guard alongside Fu Li was killed on the spot, while Fu Li managed to escape with his life.


    After wandering for a few days, he began to feel increasingly unsafe alone. Eventually, he made a tough decision and joined a group of Treasure Hunters.The Treasure Hunters'' groups weren''t easy to join, especially when they had enough members. Killing neers seemed more profitable at first nce.


    Fu Li had joined a group of only six or seven people, with the condition that he had to be at the forefront during battles. Moreover, when it came to distributing loot, he would only receive what was left after everyone else had their share. Essentially, he was just cheap cannon fodder, a status that would only change when new recruits arrived, and he became a veteran.


    Fortunately, Fu Li''s luck was on his side. Within a few days, the size of their group had grown to over twenty people, and he quickly shed his cannon fodder status. With his mid-level Foundation Building strength, he earned a certain position in this treasure-hunting team.


    After a period of piging and killing, he had umted substantial wealth. Although his n had been destroyed, this was a significant opportunity for his personal growth.


    As for his deceased n members, he vowed to avenge them once he had the power.


    Just when he thought he was about to reach the pinnacle of his life, a Flying Boat appeared in the region. This Flying Boat was notorious among Treasure Hunters, known as the "Treasure-Hunting Flying Boat." It was considered a scourge in the treasure-hunting world.


    The reason was that this Flying Boat never dared to rob influential ns and instead targeted Treasure Hunters exclusively, making it a blight on their industry.


    This had seriously affected their chances of getting rich, and every time they discussed the Treasure-Hunting Flying Boat, their teeth would grind in frustration.


    Eventually, more than a dozen treasure-hunting teams set aside their differences and formed a united front, creating an alliance of Treasure Hunters.


    They convened a grand meeting of Treasure Hunters to n an attack on the Treasure-Hunting Flying Boat, aiming to eliminate a major threat, though they were primarily motivated by fear.


    Of course, they couldn''t call their alliance a "Treasure-Hunting Alliance" directly; it wouldn''t be suitable to bring it out in the open. Instead, they chose the name "Fellowship Alliance," with the main goal of supporting the weak and working together in solidarity.


    However, after waiting for two days and nights in ambush, they received no sign of the Treasure-Hunting Flying Boat. Theyter learned that the Flying Boat had killed the bait they had set and had entered Azure Void City, never to reappear.


    Since the formidable enemy had gone into hiding, the Fellowship Alliance resumed its treasure-hunting activities. With more people, conflicts naturally arose, especially when it came to dividing the spoils.


    Almost every time, heated arguments erupted over the distribution of loot, sometimes even leading to physical fights.


    As for their everyday dealings, there were schemes, ambushes, and covert actions against one another. If a member of the alliance suddenly disappeared, everyone pretended not to know what had happened.


    During this period, Fu Li quietly disposed of several rivals through cunning schemes. Even some of the higher-ranking members in his original team ended up dead by his hand. Apart from umting vast wealth, his primary gain was the newfound authority within this team.


    Now, he had set his sights on other treasure-hunting teams. If he could eliminate a few more individuals, he would have the opportunity to control a group of several hundred people.


    However, others were not fools either; they all had simr ambitions, each aiming to swallow up the rest and be the one calling the shots. Consequently, during this period, friction between the teams within the alliance was constant, often resulting from minor disputes.


    In battles, they frequently sabotaged each other, making it a daily urrence.


    Once, two leaders of different treasure-hunting teams jointly attacked a sect cultivator. However, during the fight, they turned on each other, leaving the sect cultivator confused about whether to assist one side or simply watch the spectacle.


    Simr incidents urred frequently, and it had now reached a point where no one had the energy or motivation to continue their treasure-hunting and killing activities.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 314: Divide and Conquer

    Chapter 314: Divide and Conquer


    Within the Fellowship Alliance, there was a constant web of intrigue and scheming. The first unfortunate soul to fall victim to this was a cultivator from the Qiao n.


    Half of his subordinates had been killed by Wang Hong, and during a raid, they were divided and conquered by two different teams.


    With the Qiao n cultivator dead and his followers either killed or forced to submit, trust within the Fellowship Alliance vanished. Members became wary of each other, and they no longer acted as a united front.


    Instead, they formed smaller raiding parties, though they still maintained their headquarters, keeping the semnce of the Fellowship Alliance intact.


    As for Wang Hong, he hadn''t returned to Azure Void City. With his Foundation Building cultivators, he remained hidden nearby.


    Previously, he had sent seventy Qi Cultivation cultivators back to Azure Void City on a Flying Boat.


    Now, with his Foundation Building followers, he discreetlynded the Flying Boat in an unpopted area. Guided by the intelligence provided by Liu Changsheng, they slowly crept closer to the Fellowship Alliance.


    He kept a close eye on the Fellowship Alliance, waiting for the right moment to strike.


    Finally, these Treasure Hunters no longer acted as a united force in recent days.Liu Changsheng and a few others quietly tailed one group of Treasure Hunters, leaving markers for Wang Hong along the way.


    When it came to covert tracking, Liu Changsheng was a master, and few could rival his skills.


    Wang Hong and his group discreetly followed behind, and the numbers on both sides were roughly equal. The Treasure Hunters had increased in number due to mergers with other groups.


    At this moment, this group of Treasure Hunters was engaged in a fierce battle with a small sect.


    The small sect had only five Foundation Building cultivators, and four of them had been conscripted, leaving only one Foundation Building mid-stage cultivator to defend their sect.


    The battle had just begun, and the small sect relied on a Large Formation and the support of several hundred Qi Cultivation disciples to hold their ground, at least for the time being.


    The small sect had emptied its treasury, bringing out all kinds of treasures. Rather than let the Treasure Hunters have themter, they chose to use them now.


    From the start of the battle, talismans filled the sky, and when their spiritual energy ran low, they resorted to consuming Spirit Wine for a quick replenishment.


    Some of the Qi Cultivation disciples even advanced in rank during the battle after using these spiritual objects, making it difficult for the thirty-plus Treasure Hunters to gain the upper hand.


    Wang Hong and his group observed the battle from a distance, waiting for the opportune moment to intervene.


    Luo Zhongjie watched for a while, shaking his head. "This small sect has numerous Qi Cultivation disciples and abundant resources, but they don''t know how to utilize them properly. Failure is inevitable."


    Having experienced countless battles, he had no respect for disorganized group fights.


    "You''re right! They are safe within their formation, no need for defense. If these hundreds of Qi Cultivation cultivators focused their attacks on one or two targets in each round, they could potentially eliminate a Foundation Building cultivator with each assault. If they did that consistently, it''s hard to predict the oue," agreed another one of Wang Hong''s Foundation Building followers.Although there was a vast disparity in strength between the Foundation Building and Qi Cultivation cultivators, when their numbers wererge enough and they leveraged their advantages effectively, they could swarm and overwhelm their opponents.


    After an hour of battle between the two sides, the small sect had nearly depleted its supply of Spiritual Objects, and their fighters were showing signs of fatigue.


    The Treasure Hunters had also been engaged inbat for an hour, and their Spiritual Power was running low.


    At this moment, Wang Hong gave the order, and his group of over thirty individuals swiftly charged towards the battlefield.


    When both sides saw another group joining the fray, they halted their fight, watching the neers with uncertainty, unsure whether they were allies or enemies.


    Wang Hong''s group stopped about a hundred yards away from the Treasure Hunters.


    "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what brings you here?" cautiously inquired the leader of the Treasure Hunters. He was even more nervous than the small sect members in their formation.


    To him, these neers were strangers, and people like them typically had no friends.


    Wang Hong and his group remained silent, as there was no point in conversing with the dead.


    Luo Zhongjie and his team arranged themselves in battle formation. The foremost ten individuals summoned defensive Spiritual Weapons, responsible for the defense of the entire group of thirty-five.


    Behind them, the other twenty individuals had already drawn their bows and aimed forward, ready to release their arrows uponmand.


    Cultivators holding Binding Spirit Ropes positioned themselves on the sides, prepared to entangle any enemies.


    The opposing cultivators, upon seeing this group approach, wasted no time in summoning their Spiritual Weapons, understanding the intentions of their new arrivals.


    Since the Divine Senses of Foundation Building cultivators extended only up to fifty yards, and they were currently a hundred yards apart, regr Spiritual Weapons wouldn''t be able to reach their targets. Only long-range weapons like bows and arrows could be effective at this distance.


    The Treasure Hunters, disregarding the sect members within the formation, summoned their Spiritual Weapons and rushed toward Wang Hong''s group, hoping to close the gap quickly.


    They were met with a barrage of arrows. Twenty arrows from Spiritual Weapons were simultaneously unleashed at the lead Treasure Hunter.


    The lead Treasure Hunter, bearing the brunt of twenty powerful arrows, including several fired from high-quality Spiritual Weapon bows, had his spiritual shield shattered, and several arrows pierced through his chest.


    He fell to the ground, resentful, and a fellow cultivator who rushed over casually plucked a Storage Bag from his body, then stepped over him to continue charging forward.


    Several nearby cultivators, ignoring the ongoing battle, rushed to the fallen bodies, fighting over the Storage Bags.


    Meanwhile, three of the Treasure Hunters in the group emitted miserable cries and clutched their heads, writhing on the ground.


    These three appeared to have signed Blood Contracts with the fallen leader, and now, experiencing bacsh in their Nascent Souls, they were left either dead or mentally incapacitated.


    The remaining Treasure Hunters showed no sympathy. Instead, they too converged to seize the Storage Bags from the fallen individuals.


    The rtionships among Treasure Hunters were purely transactional, driven by mutual self-interest. Concepts like friendship and mutual aid were nonexistent.


    Themotion of Treasure Hunters scrambling for Storage Bags provided more opportunities for Luo Zhongjie and his team to pick them off.


    Each volley of arrows resulted in another fallen Treasure Hunter, sparking a new round of fights over the Storage Bags.


    They were aware of the dangers, but they had conducted countless robberies, and each of them was essentially a walking treasure trove. They clung to the hope that, with so many people around, they might not be the next one to die and that they could snatch some loot and escape.


    At this moment, a few more rational Treasure Hunters began to flee.


    This was when the five Binding Spirit Ropes came into y, as they were used to intercept those attempting to escape.


    Wang Hong and Little Peng refrained from engaging in the main battle. Their mission was to use their speed advantage to intercept any escaping Treasure Hunters, ensuring none of them slipped away and leaked information.


    As for the sect members still huddled within the formation, seeing the Treasure Hunters being mercilessly ughtered and the neers immediately eliminating several of them upon arrival, they felt a mix of anxiety and excitement. It was a sense of revenge finally being served.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 315: The Deal

    Chapter 315: The Deal


    When there were only a dozen or so Treasure Hunters left in their original position, they finally realized it was time to escape. Unfortunately, it was toote now, as Luo Zhongjie had already led his group to encircle them.


    The few cultivators who had tried to escape earlier were all killed on the spot. The remaining dozen or so Treasure Hunters quickly met their end under the relentless attacks of Luo Zhongjie and his group.


    Afterward, they began to clean up the battlefield. These Treasure Hunters had be quite wealthy, as they had collected three hundred fully packed Storage Bags from the thirty-plus individuals.


    Wang Hong took a quick nce and noticed that many of the items were various raw materials he needed.


    "I am Du Chongshui. I would like to express my gratitude to all the Fellow Daoists for saving us! Please ept this modest token of appreciation," Du Chongshui said as he and a few Foundation Building cultivators from their small sect, along with some Qi Cultivation Disciples, carried severalrge crates towards Wang Hong and his group.


    The previous battle had left a deep impression on him. Both sides had simr numbers and strength, yet one side emerged victorious without any casualties, while the other waspletely wiped out. The losing side had almost destroyed their sect just moments ago.


    Du Chongshui had also realized that if this group were also Treasure Hunters, they wouldn''t have survived for long even if they hid inside their sect. So, it was better toe out and express gratitude, creating a favorable impression.


    Moreover, he felt that this group was quite different from typical Treasure Hunters. They were disciplined, coordinated, and didn''t engage in fighting over the spoils. Instead, they collected everything together.


    Du Chongshui ordered some Qi Cultivation Disciples to ce therge crates in front of Wang Hong. He had already deduced that this group was led by Wang Hong."Fellow Daoist, you are too polite. We were merely passing through and couldn''t stand by when we saw Treasure Hunters causing trouble. Maintaining peace in the Cultivation World is our duty," Wang Hong said firmly, sounding quite sincere.


    With a casual motion, Wang Hong opened one of therge crates to reveal it was filled with Purple Copper.


    Du Chongshui quickly opened the other crates, revealing more Purple Copper and a piece of Purple Copper Essence ced on top. Purple Copper was a refined product from Purple Copper ore and was high-quality tier-one refining material. It was suitable for refining defensive Magical Weapons and could also be used in Alchemy Furnaces for Magical Weapon refinement.


    Within Purple Copper ore veins, there was a chance of obtaining tier-two Purple Copper Essence. This tier-two material had properties simr to Purple Copper, suitable for refining tier-two defensive Spiritual Weapons or for use in Spiritual Weapon Alchemy Furnaces. It was a precious refining material.


    "Most of the other Spiritual Objects within our sect have been depleted to deal with the Treasure Hunters earlier. Only these rtively worthless refining materials remain in the warehouse," Du Chongshui exined after opening the wooden crates. He had been cautious, keeping items that could immediately enhance theirbat abilities within the sect. In case this group turned hostile, they wouldn''t have given away those valuable items. Although these refining materials were also precious, there were currently no trading caravans willing to visit in the chaotic Cultivation World, so leaving them in the warehouse served no purpose.


    "Oh, do you happen to have a Purple Copper ore vein?" Wang Hong asked.Du Chongshui inwardly sighed in relief, fearing that revealing their Purple Copper ore vein might arouse greed in the other party. However, this matter couldn''t be concealed because all the cultivators in the vicinity knew that their sect relied on a small Purple Copper ore vein.


    "I won''t hide it, Fellow Daoist. Our Spirit Ore Sect indeed possesses a small Purple Copper ore vein that produces Purple Copper ore. We provide a fixed amount of Purple Copper to the Hundred Refinements Sect every year. However, due to the current turmoil in the Cultivation World and the disruption of trade routes, all this Purple Copper has piled up in our warehouse," Du Chongshui admitted frankly, also hinting at their rtionship with the Hundred Refinements Sect.


    The Hundred Refinements Sect was a rtively well-known medium-sized sect in the vicinity, specializing in refining tools, with a Golden Core Patriarch overseeing the sect.


    Wang Hong naturally saw through Du Chongshui''s cautious intentions but saw no need to expose them.


    He didn''t intend to follow the example of those Treasure Hunters, forcibly seizing everything. He had his own sizable entourage, and if they all engaged in robbery and murder, it would be difficult to maintain order. If wealth could be obtained through violence, who would bother with legitimate activities?


    "How about this? I won''t ask for your Purple Copper for nothing. I can trade with you. I can offer Spirit Stones, Pills, and Spirit Wine in exchange for your stock of Purple Copper. What do you think?" Wang Hong proposed.


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''s response, Du Chongshui was overjoyed. With the other party''s strength, they could easily wipe them out now, taking everything. Yet, they were willing to trade, and with consumable items that were in high demand in the current situation. Any faction needed these supplies urgently. With ample resources, they could withstand another wave of Treasure Hunter attacks, thanks to their sect''s defensive formation.


    "If Fellow Daoist is willing to trade with these supplies, I couldn''t be more grateful. On behalf of our sect, I express our thanks to Fellow Daoist," Du Chongshui said with a deep bow, his gratitude this timeing from the heart. With these resources, they had hope of surviving in this chaotic environment.


    Luo Zhongjie was then tasked with arranging the specifics of the trade with Du Chongshui.


    After half a day of negotiations, both sides received what they desired, and both felt like they had gained the upper hand.


    Currently, due to the presence of Treasure Hunters everywhere, no trading caravans dared to venture out. Most factions had redirected their forces, leaving only a skeleton crew to guard their strongholds, which was already a strenuous task. No one dared to venture out.


    At present, various factions were like isted inds, unable to establish contact with the outside world, making item trading even more impossible.


    Wang Hong realized he had stumbled upon a massive business opportunity. Right now, no trading caravan had the strength to navigate this world filled with Treasure Hunters.


    In the future, he could send Luo Zhongjie and his team to proactively engage in trade with various small and medium-sized factions.


    At this time, survival was paramount, and rare Spiritual Objects that had been hoarded in treasure vaults were being brought out for trade.


    Now, as long as they had Spiritual Weapons, Spirit Wine, and Pills ¨C essential strategic resources ¨C they could be acquired at a very low price.


    Of course, all these matters would need to be addressed after dealing with that alliance of Treasure Hunters.


    They packed all the items obtained from these trades into dozens of Storage Bags. With the Storage Bags they had seized from in Treasure Hunters during this period, each of them was carrying dozens of Storage Bags.


    This made their group appear just like Treasure Hunters as they moved through the world.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 316: Return

    Chapter 316: Return


    In the following days, under the guidance of Liu Changsheng, one Treasure Hunters squad was eliminated each day.


    At first, the Fellowship Alliance cultivators thought it was an inside job and pretended not to know.


    But as a squad disappeared every day for seven consecutive days, leaving no survivors, the Treasure Hunters of the Fellowship Alliance grew suspicious.


    They all knew that no internal member had the skills to pull this off.


    They sent some scouts out, but some of them disappeared, while others returned with no findings.


    Now, the Treasure Hunters seemed like prey to some giant beast, and they were too afraid to venture out alone. Even their raids were coordinated efforts.


    Within the Fellowship Alliance, the internal conflicts and disputes that had simmered down earlier resurfaced, reced once again by unity and harmony.


    Wang Hong and his group had been waiting in the vicinity for more than ten days. Seeing that the Treasure Hunters had no intention ofing out individually, they decided to leave with their team.


    Currently, this Treasure Hunters alliance still had over a hundred members, and confronting them head-on would be a losing proposition. They had to bide their time and strike when the opportunity arose.Once the external danger subsided, these people would likely resume their internal struggles.


    Having been out for so long, it was time for them to return. Each of them carried dozens of Storage Bags, making their journey extremely cumbersome.


    In theter stages, most of the Treasure Hunters they had killed had more than ten Storage Bags on them.


    It was likely the reason many cultivators became obsessed with killing for treasure.


    Previously, Treasure Hunters did not fare well, often working solo or in small groups of three or four at most. They usually dared to rob only loosely connected cultivators, reaping meager rewards.


    Only recently, with the internal turmoil in the Cultivation World, did they have the opportunity to band together and attack powerful forces they would otherwise avoid.


    During their absence, another group of Treasure Hunters had prepared to raid the Mountain Valley base.


    However, when they were just a dozen miles away from the Mountain Valley base, they were ambushed by a group of ck-robed cultivators.


    These ck-robed cultivators were elusive and employed mysterious techniques. Some victims didn''t even see iting; they would be walking one moment and have their heads rolling on the ground the next.


    After each sessful ambush, the ck-robed cultivators would immediately retreat. If pursued, more ck-robed figures would appear to ambush the pursuers.


    After losing seven or eight members in session, the Treasure Hunters dared not linger in the area any longer. They turned and fled, not stopping until they had flown a considerable distance.


    These ck-robed individuals were, of course, the subordinates trained by Liu Changsheng. Some were tasked with delivering messages, while others were ordered to lurk in the area and eliminate any approaching Treasure Hunters.


    Upon returning to Mountain Valley, Wang Hong and his group gathered all the spoils, totaling over two thousand Storage Bags.


    Although many of these Storage Bags contained only first-tier Spiritual Objects, it was still an unprecedented windfall for Wang Hong.


    They emptied these items, covering several acres of ground within Mountain Valley.


    All the Qi Cultivation cultivators were mobilized to collect and categorize the loot. It took them two full days toplete the task.


    Among the items, there were over a thousand Spiritual Weapons, mainly of medium and lower quality, with several high-quality ones as well.


    Additionally, tworge warehouses were constructed to store the Spiritual Objects. One held second-tier Spiritual Objects, and the other held first-tier Spiritual Objects. The objects were organized and stored ordingly.


    These Spiritual Objects had been umted over hundreds or even thousands of years by various sects, families, and factions and formed the foundation for their survival and growth.


    Now, all of it had been unearthed by the Treasure Hunters and fallen into the hands of Wang Hong.Wang Hong''s acquisition of this wealth allowed him to cultivate arge number of low-tier cultivators.


    While he could produce various Spirit nts in his Space, he still needed to purchase many other cultivation resources. This windfallpensated for that shortfall and wouldst them quite a while.


    After organizing the resources, the next step was to reward everyone based on their contributions, converting them into contribution points. Everyone could then freely exchange these points for items they needed.


    Most individuals chose to exchange for items like pills, especially the Essence Core Pills that aided in body refinement, which sold like hotcakes.


    Wang Hong also brought out some Green Spirit Peaches, both ripe and unripe, which could also be exchanged for contribution points.


    However, these Spiritual Objects, which could directly enhance cultivation levels, were limited in quantity, and their exchange prices were rtively high. Whenever they were made avable, they were immediately snatched up by eager cultivators.


    As a result, most people had used up their points on these items, and the loot from the two warehouses remained untouched.


    Most of the items in the warehouse were raw materials, and many people had no use for them. Additionally, some Spiritual Weapons and Magical Weapons were not in high demand at the moment.


    Wang Hong assigned Wen Lan to lead a group of people into Azure Void City to retrieve the subordinates who had previously taken the Flying Boat into the city.


    Upon their return, Wang Hong added over thirty Foundation Establishment Pills, which they had seized, to the exchange list.


    All the Qi Cultivation cultivators who participated in this battle were at the Qi Cultivation Grand Perfection Realm. With Foundation Establishment Pills in hand, they all had the potential to advance to the Foundation Building stage.


    This would allow Wang Hong to bolster his ranks with a new batch of Foundation Building cultivators. Having more strength at this point would enhance their security.


    Furthermore, on Liu Changsheng''s end, he discreetly sent over some of the spoils, leaving behind a portion of Foundation Establishment Pills as well.


    Their side also needed to strengthen their forces urgently, and through this experience, Wang Hong discovered the many advantages of this hidden power.


    While the Cultivation World was in turmoil internally, the Human n cultivators who had journeyed from the Boundary Mountain Range to the East Zhou Monster Realm had achieved remarkable results.


    Firstly, they reimed Jin''an City, solidifying a tripartite bnce of power with Boundary City and the new city. They could now mutually support each other, making their positions more secure.


    Secondly, they cleared out the Demonic Beasts in the Boundary Mountain Range, securing it entirely for the Human n.


    Following that, the second wave of cultivators established numerous strongholds in the Boundary Mountain Range, allowing them to rely on it for defense.


    Afterward, with a fleet of one hundredrge Flying Boats, over twenty thousand Foundation Building cultivators, and more than one hundred Golden Core cultivators, theyunched a direct assault on the West Zhou Demon Realm.


    This surprise attack caught the Western Demon Tribepletely off guard. Many Demon ns had not even assembled before they were obliterated.


    Human n cultivators moved freely in the West Zhou Demon Realm, cleansing it for over a month, ughtering countless Demonic Beasts.


    During this period, even fourth-tier Demonic Beast Kings were unable to gain an advantage for the Demon n.


    The materials from the Demonic Beasts and various other spoils filled the decks of one hundred Flying Boats.


    At this point, the Demon n finally reacted, amassing a significant force to counter the Human n.


    At this juncture, Human n cultivators dared not remain on West Zhou''s territory any longer. They swiftly retreated to the Boundary Mountain Range, preparing to hold their ground and counter the Demon n''s retaliation.


    Until now, this organized raid by the Human n had been highly sessful, achieving the desired results by greatly weakening the Demon n''s overall strength.


    However, at this moment, a piece of news began circting among the Human n cultivators.


    Due to their departure, the East Zhou Cultivation Realm had be vulnerable internally, leading to chaos in the Cultivation World.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 317: Establishing Dominance

    Chapter 317: Establishing Dominance


    News of the turmoil within the Cultivation World had spread like wildfire among the Human n cultivators, sparking a greatmotion. The primary reason they were summoned to join the battle was that they couldn''t simply hide like loose cultivators. They had families and homes within the Cultivation World, and the current internal chaos raised questions about the fate of their forces and ns.


    After all, their ultimate goal in fighting against the Demon n was to defend the entire Cultivation World. Now, with their own homes potentially raided by Treasure Hunters, what meaning was there in holding the front lines?


    Many, including Golden Core cultivators, were deeply troubled, demanding to return to the Cultivation World to restore peace.


    However, at this moment, the Western Demon Tribe, like a ho''s nest poked by a stick, was rallying its forces andunching a fierce counterattack.


    If they were to retreat now, Boundary Mountain Range would undoubtedly fall, and Western Demon Tribe would flood into the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, rendering all their previous efforts meaningless.


    In the end, a Nascent Soul cultivator hidden in a Flying Boat had to step forward to suppress the situation, but the morale had clearly dwindled.


    To pacify their spirits, it was decided, after discussions among the Nascent Soul cultivators, to send a Flying Boat back to the Cultivation World to eliminate the rampaging Demon n and Treasure Hunters.


    During this time, Wang Hong had been diligently cultivating his subordinates using the spoils of this campaign. He allocated the one-tier spirit materials obtained to the members for practicing cultivation techniques, and their skills were rapidly improving.


    The items they crafted during their training, such as Magical Weapons, Pills, Talismans, and array tes, were all collected and stored in their inventory. These were then handed over to Luo Zhongjie, who led a caravan of over thirty Foundation Building cultivators to trade with various factions.Using these products, they exchanged for a substantial amount of raw materials, continuing to support the cultivation practice of their members.


    Currently, the East Zhou caravan was the only one still active in foreign territories, so they had the upper hand in setting the trade prices.


    Even so, many factions were eagerly awaiting the caravan''s arrival, hoping to make deals.


    Now, the caravan had cultivated over a hundred individuals skilled in various techniques, forming a self-sustaining cycle. Even without Wang Hong''s direct support, they could sustain themselves entirely.


    As the skills of the team members continued to improve, they were able to make profits on their journeys.


    While traveling outside, the East Zhou caravan asionally encountered groups of Treasure Hunters. These were usually not too formidable and were easily dispatched.


    The gains from defeating Treasure Hunters far outweighed the profits from trade, making it a significant source of ie.


    Of course, not every encounter with Treasure Hunters was as straightforward. Some time ago, they had been targeted by the Fellowship Alliance, a group of over two hundred Treasure Hunters. In a desperate situation, Luo Zhongjie brought out a medium-sized Flying Boat, and with the protection of the Flying Boat, they fought their way out of the encirclement of over two hundred Treasure Hunters.


    This incident quickly spread throughout the Cultivation World, causing a significant uproar. The Treasure Hunters finally learned the true identity of the Flying Boat they had been trying to steal. Previously, they had rampaged through Treasure Hunters, leading to the formation of the Fellowship Alliance.


    Now that they knew their opponents, these Treasure Hunters were gearing up for a major showdown. While revenge wasn''t the main motive, they were certainly envious of the wealth that the East Zhou caravan had umted.


    At the same time, this news also spread throughout the Cultivation World around Azure Void City, leaving many cultivators in awe of the East Zhou caravan''s strength.With just over thirty people, they managed to fight their way out and escape the encirclement of over two hundred Treasure Hunters from the Fellowship Alliance.


    The Fellowship Alliance had be a formidable force in the region, known for its power and influence. Besides Azure Void City, no other faction dared to challenge them.


    The mere mention of the Fellowship Alliance struck fear into the hearts of everyone, from adults to children, from smaller factions to Treasure Hunters.


    After the identity of the Flying Boat was exposed, Luo Zhongjie temporarily refrained from leading the caravan outside. The inventory of supplies could sustain them for quite some time.


    Wang Hong exchanged the Foundation Establishment Pills they had confiscated for contribution points, and his Qi Cultivation team members quickly used them up.


    During this time, he recruited another twenty Foundation Building cultivators, bringing the total number in the Mountain Valley to sixty.


    For the new recruits, Wang Hong provided them with middle-grade Spiritual Weapon Flying Swords.


    As for high-grade Spiritual Weapons, they were challenging to control for cultivators at the Foundation Building stage. After their cultivation levels became more stable, he nned to train them alongside Luo Zhongjie and others to enhance their teamwork.


    Wang Hong knew that the identity of the Treasure-Stealing Flying Boat would eventually be exposed, so he wasn''t surprised. The Fellowship Alliance must have already figured out who had caused them trouble before.


    For whatever reason, they would surelye knocking at their door. Now, he could only prepare for that inevitable confrontation.


    One day, the Fellowship Alliance announced that they would sweep through the Mountain Valley base of the East Zhou Trading Company in one day. They invited onlookers to witness the spectacle.


    The Fellowship Alliance was confident when releasing this news, as dealing with a mere few dozen people from various merchant caravans with their two or three hundred members was a walk in the park.


    After a period of internal struggles, Wu Youshou, their leader, had finally managed to subdue the rest of the members. However, his position was still not entirely stable, and he needed to establish dominance, both internally and externally. He needed an adversary and a victory to solidify his position.


    The East Zhou Trading Company was the only one that had dared to offend the Fellowship Alliance and was still thriving.


    By giving them a one-day head start, the Fellowship Alliance wasn''t worried about the East Zhou Trading Company''s members escaping. With so many resources in the base, it would take more than a day to relocate everything.


    The next day, Wu Youshou led three hundred Treasure Hunters confidently toward the direction of the Mountain Valley.


    The Fellowship Alliance previously had over three hundred Foundation Building cultivators, but Wang Hong had secretly eliminated several batches of them, leaving only slightly more than a hundred members. Recently, they had absorbed several small teams of Treasure Hunters, bringing their numbers back up to three hundred.


    Many cultivators had lurked on the nearby peaks to watch the battle. Most of them were Treasure Hunters, but there were also a few from other factions.


    "Fellowship Alliance is about to make a fortune again!"


    A cultivator with a ck mole on his face licked his lips and eximed.


    "Yes! It''s because they are the strongest!"


    "That East Zhou Trading Company brought this upon themselves. A small caravan with just a few dozen people actually dared to provoke a powerful enemy."


    "However, we need to establish better connections with other fellow cultivators. Otherwise, we might be swallowed up by the Fellowship Alliance sooner orter."


    ck Mole Cultivator said, and indeed, many Treasure Hunter teams had started joining forces, and there were even teams with a hundred members or more.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 318: The Crimson Skull Flower

    Chapter 318: The Crimson Skull Flower


    When Wu Youshou and arge group of Treasure Hunters arrived at the valley entrance, it was eerily quiet, and not a soul could be seen.


    At the entrance of the valley, there was a massive stone with the words, "Unauthorized entry, consequences at your own risk!" carved in bold red letters, making it stand out prominently.


    Around therge stone, many vibrant flowers were nted, and chubby Spirit Bees, thicker than a thumb, danced among the blossoms.


    "Leader, do you think the cultivators from the East Zhou Trading Company have already fled?" one of the Treasure Hunters asked.


    "When they heard about the reputation of our Fellowship Alliance, who wouldn''t be scared away?" another chimed in.


    "Haha! I bet they were terrified out of their wits and ran back to Azure Void City. They probably won''t dare toe out for the rest of their lives!"


    "Since they abandoned their belongings, I think this ce looks promising. Why don''t we just take over this Mountain Valley and capture a few cultivators in the future to help us manage the spirit fields?"


    Wu Youshou''s trusted followers showered him with ttery, and he basked in their praises.


    He lightly stroked his beard, squinted his eyes, and maintained an appearance of calm andposure. After all, a leader had to look the part."Is there anyone inside? If there is,e out and face your demise. Our leader is merciful; we will make it quick."


    A Treasure Hunter stepped forward, shouting loudly. When there was no response from inside, he shouted a few more times, convinced that they had truly scared everyone away.


    "Haha! Cowards!"


    "From now on, anyone who dares to oppose the Fellowship Alliance will meet the same fate as this stone."


    With a loud rumble, therge stone at the valley entrance, bearing the warning, shattered into pieces, and debris and flower petals flew in all directions.


    This cultivator was clearly seeking attention and favor from their leader, which would trante into better rewards in the future.


    As the dust scattered, a sweet fragrance filled the air, causing everyone to feel dazed. Unconsciously, they recalled some seductive scenes from their past experiences and found themselves immersed in those pleasurable feelings.


    Some even emitted soft moans and involuntarily moved their bodies.


    The cultivators watching the battle from the peak couldn''t believe their eyes when they witnessed this bizarre spectacle.


    "What... what''s happening?" one of the hidden observers muttered, utterly perplexed by the unprecedented scene.


    Wu Youshou had brought over three hundred people, and now, a significant portion of them were experiencing simr reactions.


    "It might be some powerful formation or a kind of poison. I''ve heard of a rare poisonous flower that induces such reactions, but it''s extremely rare," a more knowledgeable observer next to him exined, recalling the Red Powder Skull Flower.


    Considering the many alluring flowers nted nearby, he couldn''t help but suspect that some of them resembled the notorious flower. Unfortunately, the distance prevented him from making a definite identification.


    "It looks like there''s more to this than meets the eye!"


    Wang Hong stood at the rear of the formation, closely observing the Treasure Hunters'' reactions to the Red Powder Skull Flower''s poison.


    Behind him, over two hundred of his subordinates waited silently.


    Wang Hong remained patient and observed the poisoned cultivators carefully.He wanted to gain a better understanding of the properties of this poison for future use and umte experience. While he had done some research before, nothingpared to the current effects.


    During the previous use of the Red Powder Skull Flower against a Golden Core cultivator, he was unsure how effective it would be against them. When the Golden Core cultivator was poisoned, they used an arrow to kill him, but it had the opposite effect, waking the Golden Core cultivator up.


    Over a hundred of those positioned toward the back were far from the source of the poison and remained unaffected. They watched as the over a hundred in front seemed to fall into a hallucination.


    A young man with a fairplexion took a few steps forward, trying to push his friend ahead. His friend didn''t respond, even after several attempts to call him. Seeing that his friend couldn''t be awakened, he began to calmly remove the Storage Bags from his friend''s body, hanging them on himself.


    Now, each Treasure Hunter of their Fellowship Alliance had over ten Storage Bags hanging on them, essentially a mobile treasure trove.


    One by one, they all considered taking advantage of this opportunity to benefit from theirpanions. Whether this would lead to the failure of the battle was not a concern for them; their own interests mattered more.


    Seeing the Fellowship Alliance cultivators plundering the Storage Bags from theirrades, the hidden observers on the peak couldn''t believe their eyes. They were filled with anger, thinking that these Treasure Hunterscked humanity, even stealing from their ownpanions.


    Meanwhile, the members of the merchant caravan within the Mountain Valley sighed with relief, grateful that everyone in their group could be trusted in life and death situations.


    At that moment, some of the Fellowship Alliance cultivators, who had been busy collecting Storage Bags, were once again ensnared by the poison''s hallucinations.


    Seeing this, other Treasure Hunters dared not take the bags and hurriedly fled, utilizing their Spiritual Weapons to escape.


    "Both sides haven''t even engaged in battle yet, and the Fellowship Alliance is already on the brink of annihtion!" one of the observing cultivators eximed.


    Sitting within the Mountain Valley, Wang Hong merely waved one hand forward and continued to observe the symptoms of those poisoned, paying no attention to the fleeing cultivators.


    Luo Zhongjie and hispanions, upon seeing Wang Hong''s signal, charged toward the valley entrance like a torrent.


    Once they rushed out of the valley, they paid no heed to the poisoned cultivators inside and chased after the fleeing Fellowship Alliance members.


    "Goodness! So many Foundation Building cultivators were hiding in this Mountain Valley!"


    "Previously, I thought the East Zhou Trading Company had around thirty Foundation Building cultivators, which was already impressive. Little did I know they had sixty Foundation Building cultivators!"


    "The strength of this East Zhou Trading Company is far deeper than we imagined!"


    In the end, Luo Zhongjie slew most of the fleeing Treasure Hunters, and the rest scattered in all directions.


    Fu Li, who had once led a Treasure Hunters team, had been suppressed by Wu Youshou when he almost took control of the Fellowship Alliance. He was ced at the very back of the group, which had spared him from the poison. While others were busy grabbing Storage Bags, he only did so on the fringes. When it came time to escape, he finally had a chance to be in the front.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 319: Spoils of War

    Chapter 319: Spoils of War


    After Fu Li escaped, he gathered dozens of remnants from the Fellowship Alliance.


    These people weren''t particrly loyal to the Fellowship Alliance, but in the current Cultivation World, it was hard to survive alone.


    Fu Li hid with these people and refrained from drawing too much attention. Every time they killed and plundered, they did so discreetly, secretly recruiting members and strengthening their power.


    When Luo Zhongjie pursued the remaining Fellowship Alliance cultivators, over two hundred Treasure Hunters at the mouth of Mountain Valley were bleeding from every pore. The most eerie thing was that these people hadn''t died yet; they wore satisfied smiles on their faces.


    The cultivators lurking on the peaks around, watching the battle, shivered at the sight of these Treasure Hunters'' gruesome deaths.


    More than three hundred people came to attack Mountain Valley, and they had already lost two hundred without even seeing the enemy''s figures. Their deaths were inexplicable.


    Facing such opponents, who would dare to provoke them in the future? When encountering the East Zhou Trading Caravan outside, it was best to keep as far away as possible.


    Wang Hong ordered a few of his subordinates to ingest antidotes in advance, then went to the mouth of Mountain Valley to remove the Storage Bags from the bodies of the cultivators.


    They also took off various equipment worn by these cultivators, including defensive spiritual armor, robes, boots, and hundreds of other items.All the items that Treasure Hunters could wear were high-quality treasures.


    The cultivators watching from the peaks above looked down at the various treasures piled up on the ground at the mouth of Mountain Valley, treating them like garbage.


    The Storage Bags taken from the Treasure Hunters were also casually piled on the ground.


    For these cultivators who had made a living by killing and plundering for decades or even centuries, they felt that their treasure-hunting careers had been in vain.


    However, just moments ago, they had witnessed the immense strength of the East Zhou Trading Caravan. Even if they were given ten times the courage, they wouldn''t dare to be greedy.


    These Treasure Hunters made up their minds not to provoke the East Zhou Trading Caravan again in the future and quietly retreated, avoiding feelings of inferiority.


    As for whether they would encounter other cultivators on the way back who would engage in killing and plundering, only time would tell.


    The group transported all these items back to the valley and spent several days organizing them.


    These Treasure Hunters had plundered far and wide, essentially gathering the wealth of many sects and families in the surrounding area into Wang Hong''s hands.


    The various Spiritual Objects they had acquiredst time hadn''t been used up yet, and the trading caravan had earned even more now.


    Luo Zhongjie had to build two more massive warehouses to store all these Spiritual Objects.


    "East Master, all these Spiritual Objects have finally been organized. Here are the ounts; please review them," Luo Zhongjie said, having spent several days organizing the ounts.


    "Hmm, there are so many!" Wang Hong casually nced at them and couldn''t help but be shocked by the amount.


    No wonder there were so many; it turned out that even the cultivators who had been diligently cultivating had recently joined the ranks of Treasure Hunters.


    "All these Spiritual Objects piled up in the warehouses are of no use. Items have value when they are put to use. You arrange for the new Foundation Building members to continue refining second-tier items. The finished products will still be sold by the trading caravan," Wang Hong instructed.


    He had originally nned to select some talented individuals and allocate resources for their intensive training. However, in the face of theserge warehouses filled with Spiritual Objects, such a n was no longer necessary.


    "Understood, I will arrange it. Currently, all the members in the first-tier stage have mastered their respective skills. Some Alchemists can achieve a Pill Sess Rate of seventy to eighty percent when refining first-tier pills. Other skills like refining tools and talisman making are also at a simr level."


    Reaching such a level meant that they were already quite outstanding in their respective fields, and profitability was inevitable.Chapter 320: Spoils of War


    After Fu Li escaped, he gathered dozens of remnants from the Fellowship Alliance.


    These people weren''t particrly loyal to the Fellowship Alliance, but in the current Cultivation World, it was hard to survive alone.


    Fu Li hid with these people and refrained from drawing too much attention. Every time they killed and plundered, they did so discreetly, secretly recruiting members and strengthening their power.


    When Luo Zhongjie pursued the remaining Fellowship Alliance cultivators, over two hundred Treasure Hunters at the mouth of Mountain Valley were bleeding from every pore. The most eerie thing was that these people hadn''t died yet; they wore satisfied smiles on their faces.


    The cultivators lurking on the peaks around, watching the battle, shivered at the sight of these Treasure Hunters'' gruesome deaths.


    More than three hundred people came to attack Mountain Valley, and they had already lost two hundred without even seeing the enemy''s figures. Their deaths were inexplicable.


    Facing such opponents, who would dare to provoke them in the future? When encountering the East Zhou Trading Caravan outside, it was best to keep as far away as possible.


    Wang Hong ordered a few of his subordinates to ingest antidotes in advance, then went to the mouth of Mountain Valley to remove the Storage Bags from the bodies of the cultivators.


    They also took off various equipment worn by these cultivators, including defensive spiritual armor, robes, boots, and hundreds of other items.


    All the items that Treasure Hunters could wear were high-quality treasures.


    The cultivators watching from the peaks above looked down at the various treasures piled up on the ground at the mouth of Mountain Valley, treating them like garbage.


    The Storage Bags taken from the Treasure Hunters were also casually piled on the ground.


    For these cultivators who had made a living by killing and plundering for decades or even centuries, they felt that their treasure-hunting careers had been in vain.


    However, just moments ago, they had witnessed the immense strength of the East Zhou Trading Caravan. Even if they were given ten times the courage, they wouldn''t dare to be greedy.


    These Treasure Hunters made up their minds not to provoke the East Zhou Trading Caravan again in the future and quietly retreated, avoiding feelings of inferiority.


    As for whether they would encounter other cultivators on the way back who would engage in killing and plundering, only time would tell.


    The group transported all these items back to the valley and spent several days organizing them.


    These Treasure Hunters had plundered far and wide, essentially gathering the wealth of many sects and families in the surrounding area into Wang Hong''s hands.


    The various Spiritual Objects they had acquiredst time hadn''t been used up yet, and the trading caravan had earned even more now.


    Luo Zhongjie had to build two more massive warehouses to store all these Spiritual Objects.


    "East Master, all these Spiritual Objects have finally been organized. Here are the ounts; please review them," Luo Zhongjie said, having spent several days organizing the ounts.


    "Hmm, there are so many!" Wang Hong casually nced at them and couldn''t help but be shocked by the amount.


    No wonder there were so many; it turned out that even the cultivators who had been diligently cultivating had recently joined the ranks of Treasure Hunters.


    "All these Spiritual Objects piled up in the warehouses are of no use. Items have value when they are put to use. You arrange for the new Foundation Building members to continue refining second-tier items. The finished products will still be sold by the trading caravan," Wang Hong instructed.


    He had originally nned to select some talented individuals and allocate resources for their intensive training. However, in the face of theserge warehouses filled with Spiritual Objects, such a n was no longer necessary.


    "Understood, I will arrange it. Currently, all the members in the first-tier stage have mastered their respective skills. Some Alchemists can achieve a Pill Sess Rate of seventy to eighty percent when refining first-tier pills. Other skills like refining tools and talisman making are also at a simr level."


    Reaching such a level meant that they were already quite outstanding in their respective fields, and profitability was inevitable.


    It could be predicted that after some time, the warehouse would once again be packed with items acquired solely for profit.


    "Good! Excellent! Next time our trading caravan goes out, we can trade all first-tier Spiritual Objects for Spirit Stones. For second-tier Spiritual Objects, we can select a portion to sell for lower-grade Spirit Stones," Wang Hong instructed.


    Other forces might be reluctant to exchange second-tier Spiritual Objects for lower-grade Spirit Stones, but he always needed lower-grade Spirit Stones.


    Shortly after Luo Zhongjie left, Yang Tiezhu and Ling Xue entered together.


    "East Master!"


    "Uncle Wang!"


    They both bowed upon entering. When Ling Shuai left, he entrusted Ling Xue to Wang Hong''s care. Wang Hong arranged for Ling Xue to stay in Mountain Valley because there were more people her age here, and she felt morefortable.


    Surprisingly, the delicate Ling Xue had the best rtionship with the burly Yang Tiezhu.


    "East Master, do we still have those heavy melee Spiritual Weapons that can be exchanged? These Spiritual Weapons are too light for me to handle," Yang Tiezhu asked.


    She had sessfully reached Foundation Building not long ago, and among the one hundred cultivators of the same batch, she was the only one who had not learned cultivation techniques. Influenced by Luo Zhongjie and others, she had even started practicing body refinement. However, she also knew that despite exchanging for a Resplendent Visage Elixir, she hadn''t developed bulging muscles on her face. Her face remained smooth and deceptive.


    "How heavy are you looking for?" Wang Hong asked with interest.


    "At least two to three hundred pounds! These ones are too light; they feel like feathers in my hands," Yang Tiezhu replied while clenching her fist, her slender fingers making a cracking sound.


    Among their spoils, there were no closebat weapons suitable for body cultivators.


    After thinking for a moment, Wang Hong rummaged through his Storage Bag and found a Wolf Fang Club.


    It was the one he had obtained by killing a lurking Demonic Beast at the ckstone Valley Market. At that time, he had sensed that the quality of this Wolf Fang Club was good and had kept it.


    "Try this one. How does it feel?" Wang Hong handed the Wolf Fang Club to Yang Tiezhu.


    As soon as Yang Tiezhu held it, she felt a weight in her hand and tried swinging it. It felt slightly heavier, but her strength had been steadily increasing, so a little extra weight was actually preferable. She could handle it for a long time.


    "East Master, I''ll go outside and try it!" Yang Tiezhu epted the Wolf Fang Club and was eager to test it out.


    "Let''s go! We''ll head to the training ground outside."


    As they walked out, they reached a spacious area in Mountain Valley, the ground fortified with sturdy formations. This ce was used for daily practice and various magical arts exercises.


    When they arrived at the training ground, they found many people already practicing.


    Yang Tiezhu wielded the Wolf Fang Club and practiced for a while, feeling that it suited her well.


    "Big Brother Zhang, Big Brother Li, I''ve got a new Spiritual Weapon. Would you like to spar with me?" Yang Tiezhu asked two cultivators not far away who had been recruited at the same time as her. They often practiced together.


    Hearing Yang Tiezhu''s request, the two of them wore awkward expressions. If Wang Hong hadn''t been there, they would have fled long ago.


    They had sparred with Yang Tiezhu many times before and were always on the receiving end.


    Nowadays, everyone knew that Yang Tiezhu was a battle maniac. Beneath her delicate appearance, she hid a wild heart.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 320: Chaos

    Chapter 320: Chaos


    In the entire Mountain Valley now, apart from the senior Foundation Building cultivators who had followed Wang Hong from the beginning, there were very few who dared to spar with Yang Tiezhu.


    Wang Hong had heard about this and, seeing the expressions of the two people, had a rough idea of what was going on.


    "You two can have a friendly match with her. After that, I''ll give you a bottle of Spirit Wine, and if you manage to defeat her, each of you will be rewarded with a Green Spirit Peach."


    Wang Hong was also curious to see how strong Yang Tiezhu had be.


    Seeing that Wang Hong had spoken and there were rewards involved, even if they had to endure a beating, it was worth it for the two of them.


    Both of them summoned their Flying Swords and took the initiative to attack Yang Tiezhu, deciding to strike first.


    Yang Tiezhu, seeing the Western-style Flying Sword approaching, calmly knocked it away with her wolf-fang club.


    The Flying Sword circled back and came at her from behind.


    Without paying further attention to the Flying Sword, Yang Tiezhu lifted her wolf-fang club and charged towards the two opponents.When the Flying Sword was about to reach her, she swung her wolf-fang club backward while charging forward, knocking the Flying Sword away once again.


    Yang Tiezhu also had a technique that increased her speed.


    By the time the Flying Sword made its third attack, she had already closed in on Daoist Zhang.


    Under normal circumstances, if Yang Tiezhu got close, Daoist Zhang would have admitted defeat. However, today, driven by the promise of a Green Spirit Peach, he summoned a shield to resist a few more moves and create an opportunity for hispanion.


    When Yang Tiezhu reached him, she attacked like a wild tiger, pounding Daoist Zhang''s shield with her wolf-fang club.


    With each strike, Daoist Zhang and his shield were sent flying a dozen or so yards away.


    By this time, their Flying Swords had reached her from behind, but a Light Shield appeared around Yang Tiezhu, blocking the attacks.


    After a short while, Yang Tiezhu shattered Daoist Zhang''s shield, causing it to break into pieces that fell to the ground.


    They continued to battle for about fifteen minutes, giving their all for the Green Spirit Peach, but in the end, both of them failed.


    "Not bad, but you''ll need topensate for a shield worth four hundred contribution points. Additionally, this wolf-fang club is worth five hundred contribution points. So, you''ll have to pay a total of nine hundred contribution points."


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''s final calction, Yang Tiezhu regretted her momentary impulse. She would have to pay contribution points again for breaking someone else''s things.


    Due to her frequent sparring and the damage she caused to others'' possessions, she often found herself hoping for battles to earn more contribution points.


    "East Master, I don''t have enough contribution points right now. Can I owe you some?" Yang Tiezhu''s face turned slightly red as she spoke, feeling a bit embarrassed.


    At this moment, her demeanor was quite different from her wild appearance during the fight. It was only now that Wang Hong realized that she was also a female cultivator.


    "I''ll lend you my wolf-fang club for now, but you need to repay the contribution points for the shield right away," Wang Hong said. He didn''t mind lending her the wolf-fang club, as long as she took responsibility for the damage she caused to others.


    "Alright, thank you, East Master! I''ll repay the contribution points I owe you as soon as possible," Yang Tiezhu said before leaving.


    After Yang Tiezhu left, Ling Xue didn''t follow her immediately but handed Wang Hong a wooden box.


    "Uncle Wang, I''ve been learning how to make Spirit Meals recently. Please try this pastry I made and let me know how it tastes."


    Ling Xue had been following Wang Hong since she was young, indulging in snacks. Perhaps influenced by this, she had recently started learning Spirit Meal preparation with some of the team members.


    Wang Hong took the wooden box from her and smiled, saying, "Oh! Thank you, little Ling Xue, I''ll give it a taste!"


    "Uncle Wang, can you drop the ''little'' from my name in the future? I''m already grown up!" Ling Xue requested.


    "Sure! Sure! From now on, you can be called ''Big Ling Xue''!" Wang Hong teased with a straight face.


    "That''s even worse, Uncle Wang. How about you just call me ''Xue''er''?" Ling Xue blinked, nced around, and whispered.


    "Alright, I''ll go with ''Xue''er'' then," Wang Hong agreed. He opened the wooden box that Ling Xue had handed him, revealing a pink pastry adorned with flower petals, which looked quite appealing.


    Taking the pastry in his hand, he took a gentle bite and found it to be decent but far from the level of his own creations.


    "It''s delicious, Xue''er. Your skills are improving! However, to make great Spirit Meals, you''ll also need quality ingredients. I happen to have some good stuff here; you can take it and try."


    Wang Hong pulled out more than ten wooden boxes from his Storage Bag, each containing various food ingredients he had collected.


    Silently, Ling Xue packed all these wooden boxes into her Storage Bag.


    "Thank you, Uncle Wang! I''ll be on my way."


    Watching Ling Xue''s retreating figure, Wang Hong seemed to recall something, shook his head, sighed, muttered "kids," and then went back to his cultivation.


    In the following period, Wang Hong used the substantial amount of Spiritual Objects he had obtainedst time to nurture his subordinates. From the loot, which included dozens of Foundation Establishment Pills, he put them all up on the contribution points exchange list.


    Soon enough, they were all imed by his subordinates, who had already saved up their contribution points, eagerly waiting for Wang Hong to release Foundation Establishment Pills.


    It wouldn''t be long before he could recruit another batch of Foundation Building stage subordinates.


    The previous group of Foundation Building cultivators had been practicing intensively during this period, sparing no effort with the raw materials. Now, three of them had sessfully advanced to the second tier of Alchemy, while others in various professions like Talisman crafting and tool refining were also making official progress to the second tier.


    As these subordinates grew, they rapidly depleted the inventory in the warehouse, turning it into popr finished products.


    Everything in Mountain Valley was developing in an orderly manner.


    However, the situation in the Cultivation World was far from optimistic.


    In the vicinity of Azure Void City, due to Wang Hong''s ughter of most of the Treasure Hunters, there were still around a few hundred of them remaining.


    These few hundred individuals had now formed several factions, each consisting of about a hundred people.


    With the reduced number of Treasure Hunters and their consolidation intorger groups, the chances of encountering them when traveling had actually decreased.


    Now, some bolder cultivators, unable to withstand the loneliness, were venturing out secretly.


    All of this could be attributed to the East Zhou Trading Company, founded by Wang Hong.


    The Ten Store Alliance in Azure Void City had learned about the East Zhou Trading Company''s activities and secretly celebrated the fact that they hadn''t offended thepany in the past.


    In the entire Cultivation World, the Treasure Hunter poption in the vicinity of Azure Void City was the smallest and rtively low-profilepared to other regions.


    Returning from the Boundary Mountain Range, the Flying Boat first headed to the Sect of the Golden Core cultivator they had on board.


    However, upon reaching the Sect, they discovered that it no longer existed. They inquired and learned that about half a month ago, a group of several hundred Treasure Hunters had attacked the Sect.


    They besieged the Sect for three days before finally wiping it out.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 322: Master Visits

    Chapter 322: Master Visits


    After Wang Hong emerged from seclusion, he celebrated Little Peng''s promotion by sharing a hearty meal together.


    "East Master, there''s a message from Xu Lun!" Luo Zhongjie entered.


    "Oh, what''s the matter?"


    For the sake of convenience, Xu Lun had acquired a pair of Spiritual Weapons suitable for long-distancemunication. One was ced in Azure Void City, and the other in the Mountain Valley base.


    These long-distancemunication Spiritual Weapons were extremely rare and valuable, and Xu Lun had spent a considerable amount to obtain them.


    As a refining tool master, Wang Hong naturally had some knowledge of such Spiritual Weapons, as the sect''s records contained information about Refinement techniques. However, due to the scarcity of raw materials, he had never had the chance to refine a pair himself.


    "He didn''t say, so perhaps you should ask him personally."


    "Alright! I''ll go do that. Would you like to sit down and have something to eat?"


    Luo Zhongjie didn''t hesitate and helped himself to a bottle of Spirit Wine, some grilled meat, and some spirit fruit. He sat at a table and began eating heartily.Wang Hong entered a hidden chamber, where a highlyplex Spiritual Weapon, taller than a person, was ced. This particr Spiritual Weapon was the one used for long-distancemunication.


    Approaching the Spiritual Weapon, Wang Hong pressed his hand against a jade te on it and transmitted the message through Divine Sense.


    "What''s the matter?"


    The message would take about a breath''s time to travel through the Spiritual Weapon and reach Azure Void City.


    "There''s a female cultivator looking for you."


    After a few breaths, Wang Hong received Xu Lun''s message.


    "Do you know her? What does she want?"


    Another two breaths passed before he received Xu Lun''s response.


    "She''s a young and beautiful cultivator at the Foundation Building level. She ims to be from the Qingxu Sect and seems to have an urgent matter. East Master, forgive my presumption, but should we be expecting a new East Master''s wife?"


    Wang Hong, upon hearing Xu Lun''s message, couldn''t immediately identify the visitor.


    "That''s not the case; don''t spread rumors. I''ll be back soon."


    Wang Hong left the chamber and gathered thirty of his Foundation Building subordinates to apany him back to the city. The Cultivation World was currently unsettled, and despite his strength, he didn''t want to venture into danger alone.


    Luo Zhongjie had led a trade caravan out a few days ago, taking the Flying Boat with him, so Wang Hong had to rely on his subordinates for aerial transportation.


    When he returned to Azure Void City and saw the female cultivator who hade to find him, he was surprised. It turned out to be his master, and she looked somewhat weary, indicating that she had encountered some difficulties.


    With Gu Qingyang away and all the sect''s cultivators deployed elsewhere, facing difficulties could prove challenging.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays respects to Master!" Wang Hong approached her respectfully and bowed deeply.


    This action by Wang Hong startled Xu Lun, who had been apanying him. He suddenly remembered saying some things he shouldn''t have.


    "Rise quickly, Little Hongzi. I''ve finally found you." Master helped Wang Hong to his feet and then nced at Xu Lun.


    "East Master, I have some matters to attend to, so I''ll take my leave." Xu Lun understood and hastily excused himself.


    "Little Hongzi, Master would like to ask for your help.""Oh? May I ask, Master, what is it that you need? As long as it''s within my capabilities, Disciple will do his best," Wang Hong inquired with curiosity.


    "It''s like this, your Junior Brother has always been at ckstone Valley Market, as you are aware. A few days ago, I received a message from your Elder Brother informing me that ckstone Valley Market is under siege by a group of hidden Demon n members. Unfortunately, within the sect, your Master''s close friends have already been summoned to the frontlines of battle, and I cannot find suitable assistance elsewhere. If I were to go alone, it would not be enough; it would be a futile effort and I wouldn''t be able to rescue your Junior Brother and your Elder Brother. Right now, you are the only help I can think of. I have no other options, and I hope you can assist me. When your Master returns, he will surely express his gratitude to you."


    Master spoke these words with a sense of urgency, as the bond between a mother and her children was strong, and Elder Brother was like a son to her.


    "Do you know how many Demonic Beasts are there on that side, and what is the current situation?" Wang Hong had to rify these details because rushing in blindly could put his own life at risk.


    "On that side, there are second-tier Demonic Beasts, along with over forty human cultivators at the Foundation Building level. In addition, there are some in the Qi Cultivation stage, probably totaling a few hundred individuals. Your Elder Brother''s Marketce has seven Foundation Building cultivators and several thousand Qi Cultivation stage cultivators. Fortunately, the Marketce is protected by a powerful Large Formation set up by a third-tier formation master at the Golden Core stage. Over the years, the Marketce has generated significant profits and umted arge number of Spirit Stones, which should provide temporary support."


    As Master spoke, she nced at Wang Hong again. She recognized his contributions to the Marketce, which had seen increasing revenue in recent years.


    "I understand that this is very dangerous, but I only ask that you help create some chaos on the outskirts to assist them in breaking out."


    Master was unaware of Wang Hong''s East Zhou Trading Company, and she still believed it to be a small operation with only around ten Foundation Building cultivators, making it challenging to face over forty Foundation Building cultivators. Therefore, she only hoped that Wang Hong could help distract the enemy on the outside, allowing those inside to break free.


    Wang Hong agreed without much hesitation. Aside from anything else, the friendship he shared with Elder Brother and Gu Wei was worth the effort. Moreover, the task at hand posed no significant difficulty for him.


    "Master, please wait a moment. I will make preparations, and we will depart immediately."


    Wang Hong immediately gathered the thirty people he had brought from Mountain Valley and assembled them at the entrance of the East Zhou Trading Company.


    When Wang Hong, apanied by his Master, emerged from thepany, she was surprised to see thirty well-disciplined individuals lined up at the entrance. She initially thought they were troublemakers but was taken aback when they saluted Wang Hong in perfect unison. These were all Wang Hong''s subordinates.


    His Master was deeply moved by the sight. She had not expected Wang Hong, who usually kept a low profile, to have gathered such arge group of followers. She couldn''t fathom where he had recruited these cultivators, who stood upright and disciplined, disying a stern and resolute demeanor.


    Immortal cultivators usually cherished their freedom, pursuing the path of immortality throughout their lives and resisting constraints. She had lived for over a hundred years and had never seen anyone train cultivators to this extent.


    "Master, shall we depart now?"


    Wang Hong bowed to his Master with a slight nod.


    "Very well! Thank you for this. With these thirty individuals, I have newfound confidence that we can create an opening on the outskirts to facilitate their escape."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 323: The Siege

    Chapter 323: The Siege


    A group of more than thirty individuals were riding Spiritual Weapons, swiftly cutting through the sky, leaving streaks of light in their wake.


    They were on their way to the ckstone Valley Market, a journey that had taken them several days without rest. When their Spiritual Power was running low, they replenished it by drinking Spirit Wine.


    During their rest, Master''s Wife noticed that Wang Hong''s thirty subordinates were all equipped with top-quality second-tier Spirit Wine, which rapidly restored their Spiritual Power. It seemed even better than the Spirit Wine she was using.


    With full force, they had already reached the outskirts of ckstone Valley Market in less than half the expected time.


    At this moment, countless Demonic Beasts and human cultivators had surrounded the Marketce. These people had been secretly subdued by infiltrators.


    They were taking turns attacking the defensive formation of the Marketce, and the Light Shield''s defense was fading, with little Spiritual Energy remaining.


    Luo Yuxuan had reached a point of desperation, and the umted Spirit Stones and resources of the Marketce were nearly depleted.


    Including all the Cultivation ns within the Marketce, no one could hide their treasures anymore. Everyone had emptied their coffers.


    "Junior Brother, all the Spirit Stones of everyone in the Marketce have been exhausted, and the Large Formation won''t hold for much longer.When the formation breaks, it will be our chance to break through. Stay close to me.


    I have two second-tier defense Talismans; take them for your protection.


    Take advantage of this time to meditate and restore your Spiritual Power."


    Luo Yuxuan took out two second-tier Talismans and offered them to Gu Wei.


    After holding out for so many days, he had nearly run out of supplies, even using the life-saving Talismans given to him by his Master.


    He had only managed to alleviate some of the defensive pressure by killing three Foundation Building cultivators from the other side.


    Gu Qingyang had provided his disciples with items primarily meant for self-preservation.


    Wang Hong had also received a silver shuttle and a Talisman, but he had hardly engaged in one-on-one battles, so he hadn''t used them yet.


    "Elder Brother, I still have dozens of Thunder Beads and half a bottle of Spirit Wine. I''ll give you the Spirit Wine; your strength is greater, and it can be more effective in your hands."


    Gu Wei handed over half a bottle of Spirit Wine to Luo Yuxuan. Wang Hong had given him some Spirit Wine earlier, and now he regretted being too greedy and drinking most of it.


    His father had prepared arge bag of Thunder Beads for him, but he had used up most of them.


    "Junior Brother, save them for a critical moment. Thest bottle Junior Brother Wang gave me, I''ve been reluctant to use it."


    The two of them meditated for a while when suddenly, there was a deafening explosion. The defensive formation of the Marketce had finally been breached.


    Gu Wei leaped up, ready to charge outside, but Luo Yuxuan held him back.


    "Junior Brother, don''t rush. Let''s assess the situation first and decide where to break through."


    Although Gu Wei had matured considerably, his experience in facing enemies was still limited.


    The building they were in was at the highest point in the center of the Marketce, offering a view of the entire situation.


    Now was not the time to be the first to charge forward. Those who rushed ahead often met a gruesome fate.


    Nor could they afford to be thest, as those whogged behind rarely fared well.


    People had already begun to break out, but as soon as they rushed out, they were surrounded, including two Foundation Building cultivators, and quickly met their demise.At this point, everyone could only slowly retreat, with no one daring to attempt a rash breakout.


    As a result, Luo Yuxuan and Gu Wei found themselves unable to break out and could only hide temporarily within the building, unable toe up with a solution.


    Luo Yuxuan had only recruited a few Qi Cultivation stage subordinates during his time in the Marketce. The other Foundation Building cultivators in the Marketce were all leaders of other ns, and he couldn''t recruit them.


    With just the two of them and a few Qi Cultivation stage disciples, it was impossible for them to break out.


    "Elder Brother, it seems we have no hope this time. I always thought about going down the mountain to gain experience, but I never expected that my first time would be myst."


    Facing a life-and-death trial for the first time, Gu Wei began to reflect on his past thoughts.


    "Junior Brother, don''t worry. We haven''t reached the end yet, and anything is possible. I''ve been through situations like this several times before, and I''m still here, right?"


    Luo Yuxuan reassured him. Although he felt a sense of despair as well, his wealth of experience taught him not to give up until thest moment.


    Moreover, there were still five Foundation Building cultivators and hundreds of Qi Cultivation stage cultivators in the Marketce. Once the battle began, there was still a chance to escape amidst the chaos.


    "I''m not afraid of death. I''m only afraid that my parents will be heartbroken after I''m gone!"


    Since their building was located in the center of the Marketce, everyone had retreated to its vicinity, and there was nowhere else to go.


    At the edges, they were already engaged inbat with the Demon n. At this moment, everyone was fighting for their lives, and although they were at a disadvantage, not many had died yet.


    Just then, while Luo Yuxuan was observing the battle from above, he suddenly noticed a distant glimmer rapidly streaking across the sky towards their location.


    After a few moments, they could roughly discern the figure of the approaching person. Arge bird flew at the forefront with a Daoist Master standing on its back, making them stand out.


    Luo Yuxuan and Gu Wei were very familiar with thisrge bird, and even though it wasn''t clear at the moment, they could still recognize it.


    "Haha! Elder Brother, we''re saved!"


    "Yes, it should be Junior Brother Wanging to rescue us. I didn''t expect him to bring so many helpers."


    Wang Hong, wearing the purple robes of the Qingxu Sect, stood on the back of Little Peng, his robes billowing in the wind. He stood with his hands behind his back, calm andposed.


    A female cultivator flew beside Wang Hong, her eyes scanning the front with a look of urgency on her face.


    Behind them, thirty Foundation Building cultivators were lined up neatly, following closely.


    This group of people arrived outside the encirclement formed by the Demonic Beasts.


    The person and the bird at the forefront charged directly into the crowd, and therge bird''s wings swept through, sending people and demons flying into the air. Those struck by its wings suffered broken tendons, shattered bones, and ruptured organs. Even with divine pills and miraculous medicines, there was no saving them.


    This time, Wang Hong was standing on the back of Little Peng, wielding a golden Flying Sword that turned into a golden light, swirling around him. Wherever the golden light touched, whether it was people, demons, Magical Weapons, or Spiritual Weapons, everything was sliced in half.


    The thirty people following closely behind him had ten of them using defensive Spiritual Weapons to protect the group, while the remaining twenty wielded Flying Swords. There was not a single survivor in their path.


    Wang Hong''s master, though anxious, could only follow Wang Hong at his side. On her own, she had no chance of breaking through thisyered blockade.


    In the midst of the battle, she realized that her ownbat abilities were not even on par with Wang Hong, her own disciple. She was even less capable than the giant bird under Wang Hong''smand.


    She had only known Wang Hong to be skilled in Alchemy and management, never realizing how formidable hisbat abilities were. Even her husband didn''t know; he had truly hit the jackpot with such an outstanding disciple.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 324: Confidence

    Chapter 324: Confidence


    As the battle raged on, a group of Demon n members saw reinforcements arriving and immediately ordered everyone, including the demons, to encircle the neers, totaling more than thirty individuals.


    Facing the enemy''s overwhelming assault, these thirty-plus individuals stood like rocks amidst the surging tide, resolutely holding their ground as the enemy waves crashed against them.


    They advanced rapidly through the rolling sea of enemies, leaving a trail of dismembered bodies in their wake.


    The ground was drenched in blood, with a continuous flow of it among the scattered corpses.


    In the rear, over a dozen Demonic Beasts constantly urged their subordinates to join the attack.


    These people and Demonic Beasts had all signed Blood Contracts, rendering them unable to resist. Even though they knew that going forward would be a death sentence, they could only grit their teeth and move forward, for staying behind would be even worse.


    Whether it was those in the Qi Cultivation stage or the Foundation Building stage, no one couldst more than a breath of time when approaching this group of thirty-plus individuals.


    They cut a bloody path through the enemy ranks and reached the central Marketce.


    Upon seeing Wang Hong and his group arriving, Luo Yuxuan and Gu Wei had already rushed out of the building, leading others to charge toward the Demon n.The Demonic Beasts on the enemy side realized that they were no match for such formidable reinforcements and decided to retreat.


    "Hmph, theye when they please, and they leave when they want to. There''s no such thing as an easy win here!" Wang Hong said as he ordered Luo Zhongjie to lead his men in pursuit of the retreating demons.


    He and his senior martial sister turned toward Luo Yuxuan and Gu Wei, who were running toward them.


    "Senior Sister, why did youe too?" Wang Hong asked.


    "How could I note? I wanted to see if you were injured," his mother replied.


    A mother''s worry for her child was boundless.


    When mother and son reunited, they were naturally overjoyed, but due to her consumption of the Resplendent Visage Elixir, his mother now looked more like his elder sister.


    "Junior Brother Wang, I owe you my life this time. If it weren''t for your timely rescue, I would have fallen here," Luo Yuxuan expressed his gratitude to Wang Hong with a bow.


    "We''re all part of the same family, Senior Brother Luo. There''s no need for such formality," Wang Hong replied.


    After their initial reunion, Wang Hong asked Luo Yuxuan to help him arrange some manpower to clean up the battlefield and collect the spoils of war.


    Luo Yuxuan had no Foundation Building cultivators under hismand, but he had more than twenty Qi Cultivation stage individuals who could lend a hand.


    The enemies were in by Wang Hong and his group, and after witnessing their strength, no one dared topete for the spoils.


    Wang Hong and Luo Yuxuan sat on the rooftop, chatting and drinking while observing the battlefield being tidied up below.


    "Junior Brother, does your merchant group now have so many Foundation Building cultivators?" Luo Yuxuan asked.


    Thest time he saw Ling Shuai leading Wang Hong''s subordinates, there were ten Foundation Building cultivators among them, which had made him envious for a long time. Despite his years of managing the Marketce, he had never recruited a single Foundation Building cultivator.


    Now, Wang Hong had brought out thirty Foundation Building cultivators, leaving him with nothing but admiration.


    "Yes, we previously killed some Treasure Hunters and found some Foundation Establishment Pills in their Storage Bags. We distributed them to the Qi Cultivation cultivators in our group, and the results were quite good. We have cultivated another batch of Foundation Building cultivators," Wang Hong exined.Wang Hong spoke casually, his words based on truth but skillfully concealing the source of the Foundation Establishment Pills he mentioned. Many times, there was no need to lie; misleading with facts often had a more powerful effect.


    "Report to Senior Luo and Senior Wang, all the spoils of war have been collected and are ready for your inspection," a Qi Cultivation cultivator reported after a while.


    Wang Hong took a look and saw that they had gathered hundreds of Storage Bags, mostly used by Qi Cultivation stage cultivators. Additionally, there were various materials harvested from Demonic Beasts, including skin, horns, teeth, bones, tendons, and blood.


    It seemed that these Demon n members were not as wealthy as the Treasure Hunters. When considering the value of their bodies as well, this was all they had.


    These Demon n members were originally outsiders whose arrogance did not match that of the Treasure Hunters. Their initial goal had been to create chaos, and they had not anticipated the extraordinary oue that led to all the Treasure Hunters in the Cultivation World being drawn out. This had caused widespread chaos in the Cultivation World, far beyond their expectations.


    After achieving their primary objective, which was to attack the Human n forces and plunder their wealth, attacking the Cultivation World was only a secondary endeavor for them.


    Wang Hong briefly inspected the spoils and then picked up over twenty Storage Bags to hand to the reporting cultivator. "Thank you! You''ve all worked hard. Take these items and distribute them among yourselves."


    "Thank you, Senior!" The cultivator replied with gratitude, not expecting to receive such wealth simply by helping to clean up the battlefield.


    During their defense of the Marketce, everyone had already turned in their Spirit Stones to support the operation of the Large Formation. They had used up any other Spiritual Objects they possessed, leaving them in dire straits.


    Receiving this unexpected windfall brought great joy to them, and their fondness for Wang Hong grew significantly.


    "Junior Brother, are you trying to buy my subordinates right in front of me?" Luo Yuxuan teased Wang Hong as he watched the excited cultivator carrying the Storage Bags to distribute the spoils.


    "How could I dare? I can barely support my own subordinates. These are all Senior Brother''s subordinates; Younger Brother wouldn''t dare to mistreat them," Wang Hong replied with a smile.


    "By the way, Junior Brother, your subordinates have been chasing after the enemy for quite some time now. Shouldn''t we go and check on them? In case there''s any danger, we can offer assistance," Luo Yuxuan expressed his concern. After all, this situation had started because of him, and he couldn''t bear the guilt if any of them suffered casualties.


    "No need to worry about them. They can handle this level of danger," Wang Hong said confidently. He had faith in the subordinates he had carefully cultivated. He believed that with the right tactics, even if they encountered enemies several times their number, they coulde out victorious. Moreover, Little Peng was with them, and with its current strength, it had few rivals in the same tier unless it encountered a three-tier Demonic Beast.


    Luo Zhongjie and the others returned to ckstone Valley Market two dayster. Due to therge number of Demon n members who scattered and fled, they had lost track of many of them. However, Luo Zhongjie managed to capture a second-tier Demonic Beast and extracted information about the Demon n''s hiding ce. They then led their group to the demons''ir and exterminated them all.


    When Luo Zhongjie returned, he brought back a substantial amount of spoils, surpassing what was collected from the battlefield in Heishi Valley. Although these Demon n members had not looted as much as the Treasure Hunters, it was still a significant haul.


    Furthermore, even if there were no other riches, the bodies of these Demon n members were valuable assets.


    Wang Hong estimated that the warehouse would once again be filled to the brim with the spoils from this expedition.


    After this battle, ckstone Valley Market had suffered significant damage. Although there were not many casualties among the personnel, their supplies were nearly exhausted.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 325: Seeking Refuge

    Chapter 325: Seeking Refuge


    ckstone Valley Market was no longer capable of defending itself against the constant threats of Demonic Beasts and Treasure Hunters. The chaos had driven away all potential customers, and guarding a Marketce with no profit while risking one''s life was no longer feasible.


    After seeking advice from his master, Luo Yuxuan decided to temporarily abandon ckstone Valley Market and return when the situation was more stable. As long as Gu Qingyang was around, no one could seize control of ckstone Valley Market.


    "Fellow Daoists, I want to express my deep gratitude for your support over the years. I have decided to leave ckstone Valley Market temporarily until the situation improves. Given the current state of the Marketce, it is in everyone''s best interest to temporarily depart for safety," Luo Yuxuan announced.


    He began to bid farewell to the numerous merchants and families in the Marketce.


    "At least Luo Fellow Daoist can return to Qingxu Sect, which provides a safe haven. It''s not the same for us small ns," one person said.


    "That''s right! I heard that Azure Void City is strict in screening for spies, and we might not even have a chance to enter the city," another added.


    "It''s unlikely we''ll get in. If we could, I would have moved my entire family to Azure Void City long ago," someonemented.


    As they heard Luo Yuxuan''s n to leave, the remaining cultivators began discussing their options. With their current strength, despite being more powerful than loose cultivators in normal times, they would be burdensome when apanied by families.


    After a brief discussion, one cultivator proposed, "How about we seek refuge with Wang Fellow Daoist''s East Zhou Trading Company?""That''s a good idea, but we don''t know if Wang Fellow Daoist is epting people," another replied.


    "True, we''re penniless now, and with businesses suffering, our skills are of little use," they agreed.


    Their various skills, such as shop management and cultivation techniques, were currently of little use as trade routes were blocked due to the ongoing crisis. Staying in Heishi Valley had be unsustainable. They were willing to join another faction, receive protection, and weather the difficult times.


    "We''re just discussing here; why don''t we go and inquire about Wang Fellow Daoist''s intentions?" one suggested.


    "Yes, let''s go together!" others agreed.


    They approached Wang Hong and expressed their desire to join his faction. After considering for a moment, Wang Hong found the idea feasible. With his current strength, providing shelter for this group of people was not a problem. Additionally, many of them possessed skills in Alchemy, refining tools, Talisman Making, and more, which could be useful to him.


    "I''m open to having you join, but I have strict requirements for my core members and won''t recruit outsiders easily. If you join, you''ll be peripheral members. As peripheral members, you''ll enjoy the protection of the East Zhou Trading Company but will need to contribute to its battles. There won''t be free resources provided regrly; you''ll have to earn them yourselves. However, in case of battles, you can exchange for resources based on your contributions," Wang Hong exined.


    "Are you all willing?" Wang Hong asked.


    Wang Hong briefly exined the responsibilities and obligations of joining their group.


    "We''re willing! We''re willing!" The group nodded eagerly. At this moment, having a ce to stay was all that mattered, and as long as the conditions weren''t too harsh, they were willing to agree. Survival was their top priority, and Wang Hong''s conditions were already more than reasonable.


    With the initial agreement in ce, they moved on to the specifics. Wang Hong delegated the tasks to Luo Zhongjie, who would register each person, record their cultivation levels, and note their skills. Afterpleting this, they packed everyone''s belongings into Storage Bags and marked them with their owners. Although the consumable supplies in the Marketce were depleted, there were still a substantial number of remaining goods, enough to fill several carts.


    In total, over five hundred cultivators joined Wang Hong''s faction, with three Foundation Building cultivators and the rest in the Qi Cultivation stage. Among them was one Tier Two refining tool master, but his skills were still at the early stages. The rest were Tier One practitioners of various skills, and Wang Hong hadn''t had the time to evaluate their specific levels.


    Because Qi Cultivation cultivators couldn''t control flying devices, they had to rely on the Wind Control Technique for travel, which was significantly slower. It took them two months to reach the Mountain Valley base.


    During their journey, they encountered a group of reckless Treasure Hunters who seemed to have strayed from another region. Ignorant of the reputation of the East Zhou Trading Company, they attempted to rob and kill. However, this group of over fifty Treasure Hunters was swiftly defeated.


    Upon arrival at Mountain Valley, Wang Hong divided it into two parts: the inner and outer areas. The new members, including the Qi Cultivation practitioners, were considered peripheral members and could only reside and operate in the outer region. The inner area was reserved for Wang Hong''s original followers. This separation wasn''t due to the richer Spiritual Qi inside but rather the necessity of keeping the groups apart. Otherwise, the newly trained recruits might develop some undesirable habits from the Cultivation World.


    These new arrivals needed amodation and a reliable person to manage them. Wang Hong sent a Transmission Talisman, and shortly, Hu Jian, the one-armed man, walked in.


    "East Master, are you summoning me for another battle mission?" Hu Jian asked eagerly, his face filled with excitement. Despite losing an arm in their previous battle, he remained enthusiastic and battle-hungry.


    Wang Hong was concerned that Hu Jian might push himself to the brink and decided to give him a less strenuous task.


    "It''s like this, you''ve seen that we have over five hundred new members now. They''re peripheral members and need someone trustworthy to manage them."


    "Ah, I see. We do need one of our own to handle this."


    Hu Jian suggested, "What about Wang Xiaohu? He''s sociable and gentle, so he should be suitable."


    Although Hu Jian was often reckless in battles, he wasn''t foolish and could discern Wang Hong''s intention. He wanted to rmend someone more suitable for the task than himself.


    Wang Hong shook his head slightly, smiling without a word.


    "What about Zhuang Mo? He''s cautious and detail-oriented, so he should do well."


    Wang Hong still shook his head.


    "Then how about Qian Fei..."


    Hu Jian introduced six people in session, but Wang Hong continued to shake his head. Finally, Hu Jian sighed in resignation, "Alright, I give up. East Master, why do you insist on picking someone like me, a rough person? Aren''t you afraid I''ll mess everything up when I''m in charge?"


    Compared to managing these meticulous administrative tasks, he preferred charging into battle without thinking. In his own words, he didn''t need a brain; using his brain was Wang Hong''s responsibility.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 326: Planning

    Chapter 326: nning


    "You''ve already given the answer yourself, haven''t you?" Wang Hong smiled and said. Hu Jian had just listed a few names, but they were quite fitting. This showed his ability to judge people urately.


    In truth, Hu Jian was a meticulous person, but whenever he facedbat, he transformed into apletely different person, often risking even his life.


    "Ah! Being too clever can sometimes backfire! Small cleverness can''t always lead to great sess!" Hu Jian scratched his head, looking quite simple-minded.


    "Alright, stop pretending. I''m entrusting those five hundred people outside to you!" Wang Hong said.


    "Alright!" Hu Jian reluctantly walked out.


    Hu Jian made his way to Outer Valley, where over five hundred neers had gathered, forming groups in the east and west.


    "May I ask, Fellow Daoist, what is your name?" Hu Jian approached a Foundation Building cultivator and inquired.


    "I am Meng Song, the head of the Meng family. How may I assist you, Fellow Daoist?" Meng Song, seeing that Hu Jian hade out of Inner Valley, knew that he was one of Wang Hong''s core members.


    Now, as a guest in someone else''s territory, even though Hu Jian appeared honest, Meng Song dared not be disrespectful."So, you''re Fellow Daoist Meng. I''ve heard that there''s a Tier Two Refining Tool Master named Meng in Outer Valley. I assume that''s you?" Hu Jian said with pleasant surprise.


    "Fellow Daoist is too kind. I''ve only recently started my journey in Tier Two Refining Tools. May I know Fellow Daoist''s name?" Meng Song replied, somewhat pleased with the praise.


    "I''m Hu Jian. East Master has entrusted me with the affairs of Outer Valley, and I''ll need your assistance in the future," Hu Jian exined.


    "Certainly, Fellow Daoist. Please feel free to ask for anything," Meng Song politely nodded and bowed.


    "In that case, thank you. I have a matter at hand and would like to trouble Fellow Daoist for assistance. I''d like you to gather the shopkeepers from various stores and the n leaders from different families so that we can discuss matters together."


    "No problem, I''ll take care of it," Meng Song assured him. He left and returned a whileter with several dozen people.


    Among these people, there were only three Foundation Building cultivators, while the rest had the lowest strength at Qi Cultivation Fourth Level.


    Having experienced the Marketce Battle and a long journey, their faces showed signs of exhaustion.


    Hu Jian led them to a t area and arranged some simple tables, cushions, and mats.


    Once everyone was seated, Hu Jian began, "You''ve traveled a long way, and I appreciate your efforts. I''m Hu Jian, and I''ve prepared some water and wine to wee you."


    He then took out dozens of bottles of Spirit Wine and some spirit fruits, snacks, and other items. Using his Spiritual Energy, he ced them on each person''s table.


    These cultivators hesitated as they looked at the various Spiritual Objects on the tables. Except for the three Foundation Building cultivators, the rest were not ustomed to such extravagance when it came to Spiritual Objects.


    Especially in the current Cultivation World, such consumable Spiritual Objects were rare and precious.Because most of the spirit fields had been damaged, there would be no production of Spiritual Objects for a long time in the future.


    Hu Jian persuaded them with several rounds of drinks, and these junior cultivators finally let loose and began eating. While eating, they were also secretly regretting their extravagance.


    In fact, several Qi Cultivation cultivators even broke through their realms during the feast.


    After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, the weariness that had been on their faces earlier was swept away, and theirplexions appeared much healthier.


    "Fellow Daoists, I''ve invited you here today to discuss the future development of our Outer Valley," Hu Jian finally got to the official business after seeing that everyone''s spirits had improved.


    "I understand the current situation you all are in, and it''s safe to say that you are starting from scratch. The supply of Spiritual Qi in this Mountain Valley is clearly insufficient for hundreds of cultivators. We can only rely on Spirit Stones to supplement our daily cultivation."


    Hu Jian paused here to allow everyone to think for a moment.


    At the moment, none of the Outer Valley cultivators could produce a single Spirit Stone, as they had all been invested in the Large Formation during the Demon n attack. Fortunately, they didn''t give up back then, or they wouldn''t have survived until Wang Hong''s rescue. However, to continue their cultivation, they needed a sufficient supply of Spirit Stones.


    "If we want to obtain Spirit Stones, we must earn them ourselves. Now, East Master is offering you an opportunity to earn Spirit Stones. He can provide some raw materials, and you can use your skills to refine them into finished products. Afterward, you can return the finished products, deducting the cost of the materials you received, and receive Spirit Stones or other resources as payment."


    Upon hearing this news, those with particr skills couldn''t help but feel delighted. At least they would have a means of livelihood and cultivation. Although some n leaders didn''t possess these skills themselves, every n had one or two such talented individuals. Relying on these individuals, they could at least get their ns through the current hardships.


    While some were happy, others were worried. The shopkeepers of these stores were at a loss since they were only good at managing businesses and had never learned any particr skills.


    "As for the shopkeepers, there''s no need to worry. We have other arrangements for you, which we won''t discuss today," Hu Jian reassured the shopkeepers present, putting their minds at ease.


    "Do any of you have any objections or suggestions regarding this n?" Hu Jian asked the crowd.


    Everyone expressed their approval of the arrangement, and no one opposed it.


    "Good! Since everyone agrees, let''s put this matter aside for now. Our current priority is to repair the housing. I have here a set of blueprints. I''d like you to organize the workforce, and together we will construct it."


    Hu Jian then handed out dozens of copied blueprints to the people below. These construction blueprints included not only the residential areas in Outer Valley but also ns for constructing a marketce in a t area outside the valley''s entrance.


    The residential area was to be built in Outer Valley, while beyond the valley''s entrance, two streets were nned for construction. On both sides of these streets would be shops, as Hu Jian intended to establish a marketce there. After all, the products they manufactured needed a market.


    As for customers, he aimed to attract the vast group of Treasure Hunters. These Treasure Hunters had umted a lot of wealth, including various raw materials, which were currently a burden to them. Among the Treasure Hunters, very few had the skill to refine these materials, and those who did wouldn''t resort to robbery and looting.


    The East Zhou Trading Company now had the strength and capability to trade with these Treasure Hunters, taking these materials off their hands.


    Afterward, dozens of people discussed and allocated areas for each person to be responsible for construction. Hu Jian also provided a certain amount of Spirit Stones or pills aspensation for those participating in the construction. For these peripheral members, it was a lifeline.


    As a result, everyone worked diligently on the construction task. In just five days, all the construction tasks werepleted.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 327: Hua Xue Valley Marketplace

    Chapter 327: Hua Xue Valley Marketce


    Once all the houses were constructed, Hu Jian retrieved arge quantity of raw materials from the Inner Valley''s storage and handed them over to the hands of Outer Valley cultivators.


    In this chaotic world, finding something to do and having the opportunity to support oneself was extremely rare and precious.


    These materials were quickly refined into various resources such as pills, talismans, magical weapons, and more.


    Hu Jian collected these resources, deposited them in the storage, and then had the trading caravans take them to various influential forces for trade, exchanging them for a substantial amount of goods and Spirit Stones.


    As the trading caravans traveled through thends, a piece of news began to spread throughout the Cultivation World.


    It was said that outside of Hua Xue Valley, a temporary marketce had been established, and it would open on the first and fifteenth day of each month.


    As for the name Hua Xue Valley, it was none other than Wang Hong''s Mountain Valley base.


    During thest Fellowship Alliance battle, more than three hundred cultivators attacked Mountain Valley, and over two hundred of them fell victim to the Red Powder Skull Flower''s poison.


    In front of everyone''s eyes, these two hundred-plus cultivators turned into ck liquid at the entrance of Mountain Valley, seeping into the ground.Every cultivator who witnessed this scene couldn''t help but shiver at the memory.


    In the ounts passed down by many cultivators, this Mountain Valley''s name became synonymous with blood and bones.


    It was rumored that the items traded in Hua Xue Valley''s Marketce would mainly consist of second-tier Spiritual Objects, with arge number of second-tier talismans, pills, spiritual weapons, and other items avable for sale.


    After this news spread, various small and medium-sized forces were tempted, but they currentlycked the ability to participate in such trades.


    They were isted and vulnerable, and if they dared to participate in the trading, they would likely be robbed along the way.


    The only ones capable of participating in the trade were the active Treasure Hunters in the vicinity.


    This piece of news quickly caused a stir among the Treasure Huntersmunity.


    Although Treasure Hunters plundered great wealth, consumable Spiritual Objects were just that¡ªconsumable. They didn''t possess the skills for refinement, so even if they had a lot, they would eventually run out.


    It wasn''t easy for Treasure Hunters to trade away the vast amount of wealth in their possession.


    Azure Void City wouldn''t allow Treasure Hunters inside, and other forces dared not open their gates to trade with them.


    This resulted in an umtion of wealth in the hands of Treasure Hunters, most of which they couldn''t use themselves.


    Their Storage Bags continued to multiply, filled with items they couldn''t use. The hard-earned loot became somewhat of a burden.


    The temporary trading marketce in Hua Xue Valley seemed tailor-made for them.


    When the fifteenth day of this month arrived, Hua Xue Valley''s temporary marketce opened for the first time. Hu Jian even organized some events to attract nearby cultivators.


    Hu Jian also specifically retrieved the female cultivators Wang Hong had taken from Azure Void City from Xu Lun''s hands.


    These female cultivators were all charming, responsible for weing guests at the valley entrance and various shops.


    However, after the marketce opened, it did not witness the expected grandeur.


    Only a few Foundation Building cultivators strolled through the marketce, and they weren''t in a hurry to make purchases. Instead, they roamed around, scrutinizing their surroundings.


    It wasn''t until the end of this temporary trading marketce event that these cultivators made a few modest purchases.


    These Treasure Hunters weren''t uninterested in the abundance of Spiritual Objects in the marketce. They simply had a certain level of caution in their hearts.After all, Hua Xue Valley had a fearsome reputation, and everyone spoke of it with trepidation. Moreover, the East Zhou Trading Caravan had always been unfriendly to Treasure Hunters.


    They were afraid that if they participated, they might be targeted and robbed by the East Zhou Trading Caravan. After all, each of them was a walking treasure trove, and anyone who saw them would be envious.


    As a result, when the Marketce opened for the first time, very few people dared to trade there. Considering the East Zhou Trading Caravan''s penchant for violence and piging, anyone could be a target in the eyes of Treasure Hunters.


    Therefore, the major treasure-hunting forces only sent one or two representatives into the Marketce, engaging in only symbolic transactions.


    When these individuals safely returned from the Hua Xue Valley Marketce, the Treasure Hunters weren''t any happier. They didn''t know if this was a trap set by the East Zhou Trading Caravan. If it was, they couldn''t risk trading there.


    However, if they didn''t participate in the temporary Marketce trade, they would watch the second-tier Spiritual Objects slip through their fingers, unable to be their own. It was a frustrating situation.


    During the second opening of the Hua Xue Valley Marketce, slightly more cultivators came to trade, but the volume of transactions only increased slightly.


    "Fellow Daoist Hu, our Marketce business is extremely slow. We can''t sell many Spiritual Objects in a day. Should we consider changing our line of work?" Meng Song looked at theckluster Marketce with a sense of urgency. Many of their outer disciples relied on the Marketce for their livelihoods.


    "Don''t worry, Fellow Daoist. The time is just not right yet. When the timees, people will naturallye to trade," Hu Jian said confidently. Second-tier pills, talismans, spiritual weapons, and spiritual wine were all rare treasures even before the Cultivation World turmoil. Now, their numbers were even scarcer.


    Treasure Hunters, in their daily activities, had no means of obtaining these items aside from looting.


    The turning point in this situation urred just before the sixth opening of the Marketce when a group of Treasure Hunters obtained a substance called Moonwatch Rhino urine.


    This Moonwatch Rhino was an extremely rare species within the Demon n. Its urine had the ability to dispel illusions.


    The reason why the reputation of the blood transformation in Hua Xue Valley was so great was mainly due to the horrifying Red Powder Skull Flower poison used by Wang Hong before. It was too terrifying, and its defenses were insurmountable.


    This group of Treasure Hunters each dripped a few drops of Moonwatch Rhino urine into their noses and confidently entered the Marketce.


    Empowered by the Moonwatch Rhino urine, they were no longer afraid of Wang Hong''s Red Powder Skull Flower poison and began purchasing various second-tier Spiritual Objects in the Marketce.


    For instance, second-tier pills were bought in quantities of hundreds, second-tier spiritual wine was purchased by the pounds, and spiritual weapons were bought by the handful.


    These Treasure Hunters almost converted all their idle resources into consumable second-tier Spiritual Objects.


    With an abundance of resources, these Treasure Hunters rapidly increased their strength and soon absorbed another group of treasure-hunting teams.


    This event had a significant impact on the surrounding area.


    Now, they couldn''t just watch others obtain arge number of resources and grow stronger. Therefore, during the seventh opening of the Marketce, arge number of Treasure Hunters flooded in.


    These Treasure Hunters went on a buying spree, fearing that if they didn''t act quickly, others would snatch everything. The second-tier items in the Marketce''s inventory were quickly depleted, causing this Marketce event to end early.


    From then on, business in the Marketce began to thrive.


    Products produced by Inner Valley and Outer Valley cultivators were exchanged for Spirit Stones or raw materials, then refined and sold to Treasure Hunters.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 328: The Fall of East Zhou

    Chapter 328: The Fall of East Zhou


    In the Hua Xue Valley Marketce, various Spiritual Objects were sold to Treasure Hunters, while merchant caravans were dispatched to trade with various small and medium-sized factions.


    The Spiritual Objects were sold at high prices to Treasure Hunters. However, the prices offered to the smaller factions were rtively low, enabling them to defend themselves effectively against Treasure Hunters'' attacks.


    This was essentially a way of indirectly forcing Treasure Hunters to pay higher prices, thus subsidizing the smaller factions.


    Wang Hong had several reasons for doing this.


    Firstly, he had no goodwill towards Treasure Hunters and was willing to take advantage of them. Treasure Hunters were one of the main culprits responsible for the current turmoil in the Cultivation World.


    If Wang Hong had the power, he would have eliminated all those causing chaos in the Cultivation World. However, he was currently not strong enough and had to focus on acquiring resources from them first.


    Leaving a vast amount of resources in the hands of Treasure Hunters was a waste, and it was better to have them in his own possession.


    But Wang Hong didn''t want Treasure Hunters to use the supplies he provided to attack the smaller factions and cause countless factions to be wiped out. That wasn''t something he wanted to see.


    So, selling resources to the smaller factions at slightly lower prices was a small sacrifice in terms of profit for Wang Hong. However, it helped him restrain arge number of Treasure Hunters, which was in his long-term interest.As a result, East Zhou Trading Company became thergest trading entity in the surrounding area of Azure Void City.


    With a vast collection of raw materials, the skills of Wang Hong''s subordinates had improved significantly.


    Now, the refinement of one-tier Spiritual Objects had beenpletely transferred to the Outer Valley, where it was handled by peripheral members. This no longer upied the time of Inner Valley members, allowing them to dedicate more time to cultivation.


    For the peripheral members, having additional refinement tasks meant increased ie, which was undoubtedly a good thing.


    While Wang Hong was umting various resources and nurturing his subordinates, the war in the Cultivation World continued.


    Due to the temporary abandonment of the resistance against the Demon n in the eastern seas by the Human n, they switched to containment. This allowed the eastern Demon n to continuously conquer cities and territories, upying arge area of the East Zhou Cultivation Realm.


    The East Sea Demon n was not solelyposed of aquatic Demonic Beasts; some inhabited the inds in the East Sea, while others were amphibious or avian Demonic Beasts.


    Previously, these Demonic Beasts had been cautious and had not ventured too far from their aquatic counterparts. They would open waterways as they conquered territory, turning each region into a water-filled isted ind.


    Now that these non-aquatic Demon n members had ventured into the Cultivation World, they were no longer as cautious as before. They were advancing directly towards the interior of East Zhou.


    Along this path, these Demonic Beasts had annihted countless sects and cities. Currently, they were closing in on the vicinity of Putuo Temple.


    Arge number of Demonic Beasts had gathered in the vicinity, seemingly ready tounch a full-scale attack on Putuo Temple.


    The Buddhist cultivators stationed at Putuo Temple didn''t seem to have fully grasped the concepts of life and death or the emptiness of worldly desires.


    At this critical moment, they had no intention of disying the spirit of "I would rather go to hell than you." Instead, they urgently dispatched messengers to Boundary Mountain Range to contact their Nascent Soul ancestors.


    When the Nascent Soul ancestor of Putuo Temple heard about the dire situation, he was no longer calm. Previously, when Treasure Hunters were causing havoc, they couldn''t threaten the six major sects, so the ancestors had remainedposed.In the pursuit of victory in this war, sacrifices were inevitable. However, the Nascent Soul ancestors were unwilling to sacrifice their sects.


    After a brief discussion with the other Nascent Soul ancestors, the Nascent Soul ancestor of Putuo Temple, along with the sect and its affiliated forces, left the Boundary Mountain Range overnight.


    Putuo Temple took with them a dozen or so Flying Boats, erasing any advantage the Boundary Mountain Range once had.


    After half a year, the wave of Demonic Beasts that had failed to attack Putuo Temple shifted their focus to the Hunyuan Sect.


    During the transition to attacking the Hunyuan Sect, countless smaller factions that had been upied were destroyed. However, the destruction of these smaller factions did not weigh heavily on anyone''s minds.


    The once-arrogant Treasure Hunters had already hidden or relocated to other areas when they saw the Demon nunching a massive invasion.


    The cultivators from the Hunyuan Sect within the Boundary Mountain Range naturally chose to lead their fellow sect members back to aid in the defense.


    With the return of the Hunyuan Sect cultivators, the battle in the Boundary Mountain Rangested for another two months before it ultimately fell.


    The withdrawing cultivators from the Boundary Mountain Range returned to their original factions.


    At this point, the entire East Zhou Cultivation Realm had officially fallen. Demon ns from both the east and west had entered the East Zhou Cultivation Realm without any resistance.


    Many of the returning cultivators from the Boundary Mountain Range discovered that their original sects or families had already been destroyed by the Treasure Hunters.


    These cultivators suddenly found themselves homeless¡ªsome joined other sects or forces, some even joined the ranks of the Treasure Hunters, while others with simr experiences gathered together.


    Some chose to find a secluded ce and go into seclusion.


    Xue Wen, a Golden Core cultivator, had also stopped leading Flying Boats on sweeping missions. Instead, he returned to the ruins of his original sect and established a new one called the Wan Nie Sect. During this time, he absorbed arge number of homeless Foundation Building cultivators and acquired substantial resources through his recent missions.


    The Wan Nie Sect now boasted hundreds of Foundation Building cultivators, making it a formidable force among medium-sized factions.


    With the Boundary Mountain Range entirely lost and the Demon n already deep within the East Zhou region, the cultivators who had previously defended the east had no reason to remain there and returned to their respective factions.


    No one was willing to confront the Demon n anymore; everyone was focused on their own survival.


    Zhang Chunfeng also returned and made a special trip to the Mountain Valley base to meet Wang Hong.


    "East Master, I''m back!"


    After entering, Zhang Chunfeng performed a deep bow, prostrating himself before Wang Hong.


    "Good! I''m d you''re back," Wang Hong said as he helped Zhang Chunfeng up and took a close look to ensure that Zhang Chunfeng was intact, limbs and all. Only then did he finally rx.


    "Luckily, this time I had the Spirit Wine and Healing Pills you gave me, or I might not have made it back," Zhang Chunfeng said, recalling the countless dangers he had faced on the battlefield, narrowly escaping death multiple times, and losing manyrades.


    The two then discussed the situation on the front lines, and Zhang Chunfeng naturally mentioned Wang Yi''s circumstances over there.


    Wang Hong had been hesitant to ask about Wang Yi''s condition earlier, fearing the worst. Now that he knew Wang Yi was safe, he finally let out a sigh of relief.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 329: Rewards

    Chapter 329: Rewards


    Wang Hong learned from Zhang Chunfeng that Wang Yi had gained quite a reputation on the eastern frontlines over the years.


    Wang Yi had once ventured into the heart of the Beast Tide, armed with just a single sword, and managed to save a female cultivator from the Taihao Sect by defeating thousands of Demonic Beasts.


    He had also engaged in a relentless battle with a third-tier Demonic Beast for a whole day and night, holding his ground with just his sword.


    Wang Yi was hailed as the top Foundation Building cultivator on the eastern frontlines.


    Upon hearing about Wang Yi''s remarkable feats on the battlefield, Wang Hong felt no joy but rather frustration. He feared that Wang Yi might act recklessly and disregard his own safety.


    "Furthermore, many new talents have emerged on the eastern frontlines, and they have gained great prestige among Foundation Building cultivators," Zhang Chunfeng continued, introducing Wang Hong to the names, backgrounds, and cultivation techniques of these rising stars.


    However, he didn''t mention that he was one of them.


    "Oh, by the way, you mentioned that Wang Yi risked his life to save a female cultivator from the midst of thousands of Demonic Beasts. What kind of rtionship do they have?" At this point, Wang Hong''s curiosity got the better of him, wondering if Wang Yi had found himself a future sister-inw.


    "I have had the fortune of meeting this female cultivator once. It seems her rtionship with our younger brother is quite special. Based on appearances, it aligns with what Elder Brother had spected," Zhang Chunfeng replied with a knowing smile, fully aware of Wang Hong''s thoughts."That kid has learned quickly in that regard. I remember when he was a child, he vowed not to marry to avoid someone stealing his chicken drumsticks," Wang Hong couldn''t help but recall Wang Yi''s childhood determination not to marry to safeguard his chicken drumsticks.


    "By the way, do you know how our Master is doing now? Has he returned?" Wang Hong inquired about Gu Qingyang, who had gone to the battlefield. He felt the need to pay his respects as a disciple if Gu Qingyang had returned to the Qingxu Sect.


    "Master Gu risked himself to protect many Qingxu Sect disciples during their retreat. He single-handedly faced two third-tier Demonic Beasts and sustained some injuries. At that time, he and another Golden Core cultivator held off four third-tier Demonic Beasts and tens of thousands of lower-tier Demonic Beasts to buy time for us Foundation Building cultivators to escape," Zhang Chunfeng recounted, a deep respect evident in his voice.


    "Afterward, both Golden Core cultivators returned, looking quite battered. Rumor has it they were both injured," Zhang Chunfeng added, his tone filled with admiration.


    "Since Master has returned, as his disciple, it''s only right and proper for me to pay my respects," Wang Hong remarked as he prepared some offerings for his Master. With thirty of his subordinates in tow, he left the Mountain Valley base alongside Zhang Chunfeng.


    These days, Treasure Hunters were bing rare on the roads, but the wilderness had be more dangerous. Both Demon ns had started infiltrating the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, and various Demonic Beasts now roamed freely.


    Without the strength of dozens of Foundation Building cultivators, leaving their strongholds was virtually impossible. Moreover, this was just the beginning, as more and more Demonic Beasts were expected to enter the East Zhou Cultivation Realm.


    At this point, no one was thinking about driving the Demonic Beasts out of the Cultivation World anymore. Their main goal was simply to survive.


    Each faction had retreated to their respective bases, with everyone focusing on their own problems.


    Due to the withdrawal of many cultivators from both the eastern and western fronts, the strength of various small and medium-sized factions had increased significantly, and their defensive capabilities had also improved greatly.


    Wang Hong and Zhang Chunfeng returned to their sect, encountering several waves of Demonic Beasts on the way, ranging from dozens to hundreds or even thousands. Most of these Demonic Beasts were first-tier, with a few second-tier ones among them.


    The route they traveled was mostly within the territory of the Qingxu Sect, and there were usually squads of cultivators responsible for hunting and killing these Demonic Beasts, so the numbers were rtively manageable.


    Upon returning to the sect, Wang Hong first paid his respects to Master Gu Qingyang.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays respects to Master!"


    When Wang Hong saw Gu Qingyang, he immediately bowed respectfully.


    "Not bad, your strength has improved, and this time you saved Xuan''er and Wei''er. Do you have any specific rewards in mind?" Gu Qingyang asked.


    "Master, you''re too kind. This was my duty as a disciple," Wang Hong replied humbly.


    Gu Qingyang stroked his beard and seemed satisfied with Wang Hong''s response.


    "Since you''ve achieved merit, it''s only right to reward you. Since you can''t decide, how about this: I''ll make a decision for you. You should know about Heishi Valley. Inside Mountain Valley, there''s a hidden medium-sized Spirit Vein. Right now, I have no use for it, so why not reward Heishi Valley to you?"


    Gu Qingyang had been deeply impressed by Wang Hong''s ability to gather so many followers. As a Golden Core cultivator, he knew how challenging it was to recruit so many subordinates. Heishi Valley had be redundant for him, and he couldn''t afford to guard it for the sake of low-tier resources. By giving it to Wang Hong, he could also gain favor, and Wang Hong was the only one with the strength to protect the medium-sized Spirit Vein within Heishi Valley.


    Wang Hong was surprised by Gu Qingyang''s willingness to give him Heishi Valley. It contained a medium-sized Spirit Vein, enough to establish a medium-sized sect.


    "Thank you, Master, for your generous gift! I heard that Master was injured during this time. I happened to acquire a healing pill, though it''s only a second-tier pill. Perhaps it might be of some help to Master."


    After speaking, Wang Hong handed over a bottle of Hanyu Pill. Although he had more effective Jade Essence Pills, he dared not take them out, so he offered this pill instead.


    Third-tier pills were quite rare in the Cultivation World, and some Golden Core cultivators had no ess to healing pills. They had to rely on their cultivation levels to slowly heal.


    Wang Hong didn''t want anything to happen to Gu Qingyang. After all, having a Golden Core cultivator as support made things much easier within the sect.


    Gu Qingyang took the pill bottle, poured out a pill, and carefully examined it.


    "This pill seems to have some effect on me. You are considerate. What is the name of this pill? I''ve never seen it before."


    Gu Qingyang could sense that this pill would be of significant help to his injuries.


    "Master, this pill is called Hanyu Pill. It was acquired by chance," Wang Hong replied.


    "You are filial indeed. This pill is extraordinary, and I gratefully ept it. I also have one more request for you," Gu Qingyang said as he put away the pill bottle.


    "What would you like me to do, Master?"


    "Well, you know Gu Wei''s temperament, and my lifespan is not very long. I want him to follow you and gain more experience. You can include him among your subordinates and have him assist you."


    Gu Wei had poor spiritual roots, and Gu Qingyang wanted to provide him with an alternative path since his own lifespan was limited.


    "Master, my base is often in dangerous ces."


    "It''s okay. Just let him apany you in battles, and even if something happens, I won''t hold you responsible."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 330: The Four Halls Meeting

    Chapter 330: The Four Halls'' Meeting


    Since Gu Qingyang had already spoken up, Wang Hong couldn''t easily refuse. He could just let Gu Wei follow him.


    Gu Wei, although not very mature,cked the arrogance often found in high-born disciples. He seemed more like an immature junior.


    Moreover, Gu Qingyang had treated him well and patiently guided him in his cultivation, especially when he had questions.


    What surprised Wang Hong even more was that he had acquired a medium-sized Spirit Vein from Gu Qingyang.


    However, relocating his base after all these years meant abandoning many things, like the newly thriving Marketce. Moving to a new ce would require starting over, and most of his peripheral subordinates were only at the Qi Cultivation level, unable to control flying vessels, making the journey difficult.


    Moving his management of the Heavenly Dao Trading Company, overseen by Liu Changsheng, wouldn''t be suitable either, as it would expose his connection to thepany. Besides, Liu Changsheng''s base and Mountain Valley base were not far from each other, making it convenient for mutual support.


    It seemed he would have to stay there for now and consider his options in the future.


    Wang Hong heard that some Golden Core cultivators possessed the ability to absorb or move Spirit Veins. He would keep an eye out for information on this and hope he could relocate itter.


    After leaving Gu Qingyang''s cave mansion, Wang Hong returned to his own. With many disciples returning, the sect had regained its former lively atmosphere.However, some people could nevere back, like the chatterbox Sun Erma, who had died in the Boundary Mountain Range during this battle.


    There was also Tian Qing, the female cultivator who had been saved by Wang Hong after being injured, but she had been swallowed by a sea Demonic Beast in the eastern battlefield.


    And then there was Elder Brother from Kaiyang Peak, the blood descendant of the Peak Lord, who had suffered severe injuries.


    Wang Hong went to visit him, and Elder Brother had both legs severed and had be almost crippled.


    In the past, he used to be lively, enjoyed drinking, loved good food, and often drank and chatted with Wang Hong. But now, he was silent and reserved.


    There were Spiritual Objects that could regenerate limbs, but Wang Hong knew of at least five such objects. However, all these Spiritual Objects were rare treasures of heaven and earth, on par with Wang Hong''s Jade Marrow Mushroom, and were incredibly hard toe by.


    Apart from these natural treasures, cultivators had some regenerative capabilities after reaching the Nascent Soul stage. But with Elder Brother''s current state, reaching the Golden Core stage would be difficult, let alone Nascent Soul.


    Elder Brother was one of Wang Hong''s few friends in Qingxu Sect, and he had always taken care of him.


    Wang Hong still remembered how Elder Brother had almost taken Zhao Ning''s Zhao''s Pill Shop when he thought Wang Hong was stuck at a bottleneck.


    Seeing Elder Brother''s current condition, Wang Hong empathized, and if there was an opportunity, he would definitely search for Spiritual Objects that could aid in bodily regeneration.


    Qingxu Sect had four halls: Blue Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and ck Tortoise, responsible for external battles and overseeing allbat personnel within the sect.


    With the return of members from these four halls, their primary task now was to defend the sect against attacks from Treasure Hunters and the Demon n.


    "If we have the strength, it''s best to clear out all the Treasure Hunters and Demonic Beasts within our influence," said the hall masters as they gathered in a grand hall to discuss their battle ns. "Currently, all the major forces are acting independently, and our top priority is to protect the sect and not lose ground."Next, it was suggested, "We should allocate a portion of our manpower to clean up the Treasure Hunters and Demon n within our influence."


    The hall master of the Blue Dragon hall, dressed in a blue robe with three strands of beard under his chin, his features slender, and his position the highest among the four halls, spoke up first.


    "Currently, the outer areas beyond our sect are in chaos, preventing the nting of spirit fields and hindering the cirction of goods. We can sustain for a short time with our stockpile, but it''s not a long-term solution."


    The ck Tortoise hall master, a stout man, proposed, "If everyone is confined to their own sects, our resources will deplete over time. Furthermore, various forces can easily pick us off one by one."


    "ck Tortoise hall master has a point, and it''s well understood by all. However, our manpower is severelycking at the moment. If the Demon nunches a major assault, even holding onto our sects will be challenging," voiced the White Tiger hall master, a female cultivator who meticulously analyzed the power bnce between the sect and the Demon n, causing worry on the faces of the other three hall masters.


    "Perhaps we can contact various groups of Treasure Hunters now and get them to join us in the fight against the Demon n. As long as they cooperate in fighting the Demon n, we can overlook their past mistakes. After all, they are Foundation Building cultivators like us, and we share amon goal in dealing with the Demon n."


    This suggestion came from the ck Tortoise hall master, and it had a good chance of sess because these Demonic Beasts ughtered anyone they came across, regardless of their cultivation level.


    "Humph! These Cultivation World scoundrels hid when we were fighting the Demon n. They didn''t participate and instead took advantage of the chaos to cause trouble in the Cultivation World. If we let them off so easily, other cultivators won''t ept it."


    The Vermilion Bird hall master had a fiery and straightforward temperament, showing no tolerance for such behavior.


    Speaking of these Treasure Hunters, the Blue Dragon hall master posed a question with a hint of suspense, "Regarding this matter, I do have some information, though I''m not sure if it''s urate. It is said that our Pill Hall has produced a talent this time, a person named Wang Hong. He is skilled in business and has established a tradingpany, as well as formed a merchant caravan. I don''t know where he recruited a group of Foundation Building cultivators, but recently, the Foundation Building cultivators led by him have killed nearly half of the Treasure Hunters in our vicinity."


    "Well done!" Before the White Tiger hall master could finish her words, she was interrupted by the enthusiastic approval of the Vermilion Bird hall master.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 331: Deputy Hall Master

    Chapter 331: Deputy Hall Master


    "Good! That''s impressive! Disciples with such determination should be duly rewarded," Vermilion Bird Hall Master suggested again.


    "Oh, is that so? I wonder which Disciple from which peak did this. To be able to y so many Treasure Hunters, how many Foundation Building cultivators did they have to recruit?" ck Tortoise Hall Master inquired with curiosity.


    "I''ve already dispatched people to investigate this matter, and it''s confirmed. This Disciple belongs to Kaiyang Peak, a direct disciple of Gu Qingyang. Moreover, he is the core Alchemist of the Pill Hall. Initially, he managed two small shops, but as his business grew, he opened an East Zhou tradingpany. He had over a dozen Foundation Building stage subordinates, but after ying numerous Treasure Hunters, he obtained some Foundation Establishment Pills. Surprisingly, he used these pills to cultivate his subordinates, resulting in dozens of Foundation Building cultivators under hismand. It has be an undeniable force," Blue Dragon Hall Master provided detailed information, giving everyone a clear picture of the situation.


    "I believe since this force was built by a Sect Disciple, it should belong to the Sect. At this point, it should be reimed and ced under the unifiedmand of the four halls. Leaving such power in the hands of a youngster would be a waste," ck Tortoise Hall Master, with a glint in his triangr eyes, proposed once more.


    Such a formidable force, even for a Golden Core cultivator like him, would be challenging to assemble.


    "You old turtle, I can''t stand people like you the most. You never think about how to reward others for their great aplishments. Instead, you''re obsessed with the power they hold. These resources were earned through his Alchemy or taken from Treasure Hunters, without spending a single Spirit Stone from the Sect. Why should he hand them over to the Sect now?" Vermilion Bird Hall Master, displeased with ck Tortoise Hall Master''s proposal, added a touch of mockery.


    ck Tortoise Hall Master was momentarily left without a retort, grinding his teeth audibly but knowing he was in the wrong.


    "Both of you need not damage your rtionship further over this matter. I''ve already consulted Gu Qingyang, and he''s quite resolute about it. He tly refused. Besides, everyone should know the character of Wu Feng, the Peak Master of Kaiyang Peak. He''s fiercely protective of his own. Moreover, he''s the core Alchemist of the Pill Hall. Trying to move him and seize that force would indeed be very difficult," Blue Dragon Hall Master revealed that he had considered a simr idea earlier, causing Vermilion Bird Hall Master to feel even more indignant, though he refrained from speaking further.


    The other two hall masters wore thoughtful expressions."It''s quite remarkable to have such a young talent within our sect. I''d like to meet him myself. Why not summon him here, and we can all meet this outstanding Disciple," White Tiger Hall Master suggested.


    This time, Vermilion Bird Hall Master didn''t oppose the idea; he was also eager to meet this exceptional Disciple. In front of so many witnesses, no one dared to openly harm a Disciple. And, with Gu Qingyang as his Master, he wouldn''t allow anyone to have ill intentions toward his Disciple.


    Blue Dragon Hall Master, seeing that everyone shared the same sentiment, activated a Transmission Talisman and continued discussing the matter of countering the Demon n with the others.Not long after, a purple-robed Disciple entered respectfully from outside.


    "Disciple Wang Hong, I pay my respects to the senior martial uncles," he said with a bow.


    "Hahaha! Quickly rise, you are indeed an extraordinary talent," ck Tortoise Hall Masterughed heartily and warmly helped Wang Hong to his feet, showering him with praise. It seemed as if his earlier proposal to take Wang Hong''s subordinates back to the Sect was forgotten.


    "I heard that you led your subordinates to y hundreds of Treasure Hunters. Is this true?" However, Vermilion Bird Hall Master, who had initially been quite impressed with Wang Hong, seemed to doubt it now, seeing Wang Hong''s unassuming appearance.


    "Disciple only used some minor tricks to eliminate many Treasure Hunters. I dare not take credit for it," Wang Hong replied humbly.


    "Merely using minor tricks to y hundreds of cultivators? Truly, you are a talented Disciple. Can you tell us about the methods you used?" ck Tortoise Hall Master praised Wang Hong with great admiration.


    "Disciple is an Alchemist and also dabbles in refining some poisons. Disciple has used poisons to deal with Treasure Hunters several times, which has contributed to this achievement," Wang Hong attributed his sess to the use of poisons. After all, many cultivators had witnessed him poisoning over two hundred Fellowship Alliance members.


    Hearing Wang Hong''s exnation, the four individuals found it reasonable. After all, even with dozens of subordinates, it was not guaranteed that they could win every battle. A single failure could result in severe injuries or the annihtion of the entire group.


    "Very well! You are truly a promising young talent. Dealing with Treasure Hunters doesn''t require us to scrutinize your methods. I have a Spiritual Weapon here, which is perfect for self-defense." ck Tortoise Hall Master praised Wang Hong and then warmly presented him with a mid-grade Spiritual Weapon, a Flying Sword.


    Giving a Spiritual Weapon upon their first meeting was quite generous, even though it was only of mid-grade quality. The other three hall masters also each presented a Spiritual Weapon.


    "Now that you possess such formidable strength, we hope that you can contribute to the Sect in these troubled times," Blue Dragon Hall Master spoke up after Wang Hong epted the items from the four of them.


    "If it''s within Disciple''s capabilities, I will do my utmost. However, I''m afraid my subordinates are just an ordinary bunch, and their strength may not be sufficient. Failing toplete the mission might cause more harm than good to the Sect''s official business," Wang Hong replied humbly, but he made it clear that he would only undertake tasks that were within his capabilities. He didn''t want to take unnecessary risks.


    "Don''t worry, we won''t send you as cannon fodder. If I did that, I suspect your Master and Master Mei of the Pill Hall woulde after me," Blue Dragon Hall Master said with a smile.


    "We, the Blue Dragon Hall, intend to appoint you as the Deputy Hall Master for External Affairs. This is the first time in our Sect that someone at the Foundation Building cultivation level holds such a position." After saying this, Blue Dragon Hall Master directly handed Wang Hong a token representing the position of Deputy Hall Master.


    "Thank you, Hall Master, for your generosity," Wang Hong reluctantly epted the token, knowing that refusal was not an option.


    The other three hall masters, now left with envy, watched as Wang Hong was taken under the Blue Dragon Hall''s wing.


    "At present, the Deputy Hall Master for External Affairs is primarily responsible for dealing with Treasure Hunters and the Demon n in the vicinity. The Sect will also provide you with a substantial supply of resources every year."


    Seeing that Wang Hong had epted the token, Blue Dragon Hall Master added further instructions.


    Although Blue Dragon Hall Master gave Wang Hong the title of Deputy Hall Master, he didn''t specify what authority Wang Hong would have within the Blue Dragon Hall. He didn''t assign him any assistants either, making it clear that Wang Hong had a nominal position and would stillmand his own subordinates in battle.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 332: Chu Elder

    Chapter 332: Chu Elder


    In the Blue Dragon Hall, aside from the head elder, there were several deputy hall masters, with Wang Hong being perhaps the weakest among them.


    While the title of deputy hall master might sound somewhat honorary, it carried significant prestige both within and outside the sect, making it easier to handle various matters.


    Especially outside the sect, his subordinates could act in the name of the Blue Dragon Hall of the Qingxu Sect, which was quite intimidating to outsiders.


    Currently, apart from the Demon n, who would dare to openly oppose the Qingxu Sect?


    After Wang Hong was appointed as the deputy hall master, several hall masters warmly chatted with him. From time to time, they offered guidance on his cultivation, greatly benefiting Wang Hong.


    "Nephew Wang, you''re young and promising. If only my less capable juniors were half as sessful as you, I''d have a worry-free life. How about I send a junior to follow you, let him gain some experience and learn from you?" ck Tortoise Hall Master suggested.


    "Uncle, you''re too kind, but I''m just a junior with limited knowledge. I''m not worth Senior Brother''s time," Wang Hong instinctively resisted outsiders. His subordinates were all trained by him and loyal only to him.


    Previously, it was easier to ept someone like Gu Wei since they had spent a long time together, and Wang Hong knew Gu Wei was straightforward and wouldn''t disrupt his team.


    Now, adding an unfamiliar person made him a bit ufortable."Nephew Wang, do me this favor, let him assist you. Nephew, please don''t refuse," ck Tortoise Hall Master said earnestly, and since it was hard to refuse a Golden Core Elder, Wang Hong reluctantly agreed.


    Although he wasn''t entirelyfortable with an outsider joining his team, his visible power had no hidden secrets. In the early days, when his strength was limited and he needed to grow quickly, he had no choice but to reveal some secrets to his subordinates. Now that he had grown powerful, he had concealed those secrets. The resources they used were either plundered spoils or provided by the Immortal Way Trading Company. Adding one or two more people wouldn''t affect his team.


    After Wang Hong agreed to ck Tortoise Hall Master''s request, Blue Dragon Hall Master and White Tiger Hall Master also made simr requests, wanting to send one or two juniors to learn from Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong readily agreed to all of them. If one was epted, why not ept two or three?


    Only Vermilion Bird Hall Master didn''t make a simr request, and Wang Hong nced at him suspiciously.


    Then, he received a Message Transmission from Vermilion Bird Hall Master: "Kid, be cautious! Don''t get sold out by others and end up helping them count Spirit Stones."


    After hearing this Message Transmission, Wang Hong discreetly sent a grateful look to Vermilion Bird Hall Master and casually shifted his gaze away.


    The group encouraged Wang Hong, and he took the opportunity to ask the hall masters, "I have another matter to seek advice from the esteemed senior martial uncles. My Master once bestowed upon me a medium-sized Spirit Vein, but it''s too far from the sect to guard. I want to relocate it closer to our current base. Do you have any guidance on this?"


    The people present were all formidable Golden Core cultivators, so Wang Hong''s inquiry was well-ced.


    "So, Gu Qingyang from Heishi Valley gave you that medium-sized Spirit Vein? He''s quite generous. It seems your Master treats you well," Blue Dragon Hall Master remarked. In the Qingxu Sect, with only a few dozen Golden Core cultivators, everyone knew each other well. It was difficult to keep secrets about who possessed valuable items.


    Gu Qingyang had once traded this Spirit Vein by spending a bottle of a Tier 3 Pill, and everyone knew about it.


    "The best expert in manipting Spirit Veins within the sect is Chu Elder, but whether you can get him to help depends on your luck," Blue Dragon Hall Master informed Wang Hong, along with Chu Elder''s cave mansion address.


    After bidding farewell to the four hall masters, Wang Hong made his way to the address provided by Blue Dragon Hall Master.


    When he arrived at the specified location, what he saw surprised him.


    Although there was a Spirit Spring here, it was nearly dried up. The surrounding spirit fields were overgrown with weeds, and amidst the weeds, he asionally spotted a few slender Spiritual Herbs.


    If it weren''t for the dense Spirit Qi in the area, he would have doubted whether he had gone to the wrong ce.


    Wang Hong didn''t dare to venture recklessly into the area. He stood in front of one of the spirit fields, activated a Transmission Talisman, and waited patiently.


    After about fifteen minutes, the scene before him suddenly became blurry. The overgrown spirit fields and the almost dried-up Spirit Spring disappeared from his sight.


    In front of him was a vast, featureless white expanse, with nothing visible except for a narrow path in the center.


    Wang Hong was relieved that he hadn''t ventured in without caution. He followed the path through the white expanse.


    Once he walked through the path, he encountered apletely different scene.


    Inside the spirit fields, everything was lush, and small silver fish swam and yed in the Spirit Spring, exactly like the silver fish he had once brought out from a secret realm.


    The Spiritual Objects nted in the spirit fields weren''t conventional. As a food enthusiast, Wang Hong recognized all of them. These Spiritual Objects were all top-grade ingredients, some of which he also had nted in his own Space.


    He couldn''t help but marvel at Chu Elder''s dedication to food.


    Wang Hong continued down the main path through the spirit fields, and what he saw on both sides were more and more ingredients.


    At the end of the road stood a bamboo hut. A wisp of white smoke wafted from it, carrying a faint fragrance.


    "Young disciple Wang Hong pays respects to Chu Elder," Wang Hong bowed outside the bamboo hut.


    "Kid Wang,e on in!" came a voice from inside that Wang Hong recognized well. From the moment he saw the acres of ingredients, he had a guess, and it turned out to be correct.


    With a creaking sound, Wang Hong pushed open the bamboo door and saw an old Daoist with a sloppy appearance. He was squatting in front of arge ck cauldron, asionally adding things to it.


    The soup in therge ck cauldron was milky white and simmering slowly, emitting a white mist. The delightful fragrance Wang Hong had smelled earlier came from it.


    "Young Wang, you''vee at the right time. Use some Spirit Wine to marinate this chicken," the Sloppy Old Daoist didn''t even turn around but tossed a plump chicken the size of a grinding te to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong took the chicken, retrieved a bottle of Spirit Wine from his Storage Bag, drizzled it over the chicken, and gently massaged it.


    "All right, put it in now!" Only when Wang Hong had finished massaging did the Sloppy Old Daoist speak.


    Seeing Wang Hong ce the chicken into the big cauldron, the Sloppy Old Daoist finally had time to pay attention to him and asked, "What did youe to me for? Did you happen to acquire some top-notch ingredients and want to present them to me as a tribute?"


    "Recently, I obtained a Tier 3 Lionhead Spirit Mushroom from a group of Treasure Hunters. I wanted to offer it to you, Senior," Wang Hong quickly presented a Lionhead Spirit Mushroom, which was simr in size to the chicken he had just marinated.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 333: Spirit Vein

    Chapter 333: Spirit Vein


    Sloppy Old Daoist received the massive Lionhead Spirit Mushroom with a grin, inspecting it closely and bing increasingly satisfied. He praised it repeatedly.


    The Lionhead Spirit Mushroom had a unique trait: when nted on a second-tier spirit wood, it could grow to the second tier. If nted on a third-tier spirit wood, it could mature into the third tier.


    Wang Hong had nted this Lionhead Spirit Mushroom directly in his own spatialnd. Initially, it was only at the second tier, but after eight hundred years of growth in the spatial realm, it had evolved into the third tier. Moreover, when matured in the spatialnd, it continued to grow, and this one had reached over a thousand years, making it incredibly huge.


    A regr third-tier Lionhead Spirit Mushroom could only grow to half the size of this one, making it quiterge.


    "You young fellow, you don''t show up here for no reason. Just spill it!" Sloppy Old Daoist was clearly very pleased with Wang Hong''s gift and went straight to the point.


    "You''ve heard, Senior Chu, that you''re skilled at manipting Spirit Veins. I have a medium-sized Spirit Vein that''s quite far away, and I''d like your help in moving it here," Wang Hong requested.


    "You sure know how to make big requests. Do you know how difficult it is to manipte a medium-sized Spirit Vein? If it were that easy, all the nearby Spirit Veins would have already been brought to the sect, and there wouldn''t be any left outside," Sloppy Old Daoist responded.


    Wang Hong thought about it and realized the validity of his point. If it were so easy, arge sect like Qingxu Sect, after thousands of years of development, would have already imed all the Spirit Veins in the world. Furthermore, why didn''t Gu Qingyang move the Spirit Vein himself?


    "Youngster, you truly don''t know. To manipte a medium-sized Spirit Vein, you would need at least five Golden Core cultivators working together, and it would take about a year. Some stages require a continuous output of Spiritual Power, without interruption. Otherwise, all previous efforts would be wasted, and Spiritual Power consumption must be replenished with Spirit Wine. Do you think you can afford the cost and convince five Golden Core cultivators to work for you for a year?" Sloppy Old Daoist exined.Hearing Sloppy Daoist Master''s exnation, Wang Hong felt overwhelmed. Convincing five Golden Core cultivators and providing resources for a year? He did have these Spiritual Objects, but did he dare?


    "I see now that manipting a Spirit Vein is so difficult. I''ve been too naive," Wang Hong said with disappointment.


    "In appreciation of your gift of the Lionhead Spirit Mushroom, I can teach you a method that even a Foundation Building cultivator can use," Sloppy Old Man offered.


    While speaking, the fat chicken in the pot had be fully cooked. As he continued talking, he took the chicken out of the pot and ced it on a cutting board.


    Wang Hong didn''t expect there to be a method usable by Foundation Building cultivators. He quickly took out a bottle of Spirit Wine that had been aged for seven to eight hundred years from his Storage Bag and ced it on Sloppy Old Daoist''s table.


    "This is Spirit Wine purchased by our tradingpany. Please have a taste, Senior."


    Sloppy Old Man extended his oily hand, grabbed the wine bottle, uncorked it, took a sip, and then exhaled a breath.


    "Haha! Good wine! I like your attitude. In fact, the method for transferring a Spirit Vein by a Foundation Building cultivator is less efficient than that of a Golden Core cultivator. Moreover, with a medium-grade Spirit Vein, you can only move about half of it."Sloppy Old Daoist continued to talk while grabbing a kitchen knife. With a series of swift cuts, he carved the fat chicken intorge pieces.


    "You''re in luck, kid. Let''s eat together," Sloppy Old Daoist said, pointing to a nearby chair, inviting Wang Hong to sit and eat with him. He had already grabbed a big piece of chicken and was busy enjoying it.


    Wang Hong didn''t stand on ceremony with the old man either. He took a seat beside him and picked up a piece of chicken, taking a bite.


    The chicken was tender and vorful. Wang Hong couldn''t help but admire Sloppy Old Daoist''s culinary skills.


    "To manipte a Spirit Vein, you must first understand itsposition. Arge Spirit Vein can be divided into a hundred medium-sized Spirit Veins, and a medium-sized Spirit Vein can be divided into a hundred small Spirit Veins. When manipting a Spirit Vein, in order to increase the chances of sess, it''s often divided into smaller units for maniption," Sloppy Old Man exined, taking a sip of Spirit Wine to moisten his throat.


    "For example, the medium-sized Spirit Vein you want to manipte, when done by Golden Core cultivators, would be divided into a hundred small Spirit Veins, each pulled separately. However, if a Foundation Building cultivator is doing it, they must break it down into even smaller units. Due to the insufficient Spiritual Power and Divine Sense of Foundation Building cultivators, it will cause the Spirit Qi within the Spirit Vein to dissipate. So, even if you manage to sessfully manipte it, you''d be lucky to have half of it left. Moreover, manipting a Spirit Vein as a Foundation Building cultivator requires a significant amount of Spiritual Objects."


    Wang Hong refilled Sloppy Old Daoist''s wine ss and asked, "So, you mean that when you move this medium-sized Spirit Vein to its destination, only half of it will remain?"


    "That can only be considered as fifty small Spirit Veins. Even if you manage to collect a hundred small Spirit Veins, it''s not a guarantee that you can merge them back into a medium-sized Spirit Vein. Splitting Spirit Veins is easy, but merging them back is difficult. Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, Spirit Veins are usually not divided," Sloppy Old Daoist sighed, knowing the difficulties involved in Spirit Vein maniption all too well.


    "The method I''m going to teach you involves using a secret technique to condense the Spiritual Energy within the Spirit Vein into a Spirit Source Pearl. Then, you take this Spirit Source Pearl to your desired location, bury it underground, and after a period of cultivation, it will transform back into a Spirit Vein."


    After Sloppy Old Daoist had eaten and drunk his fill, he took out a nk Jade Scroll, ced it on his forehead, and after a moment, he stored the information he wanted to impart to Wang Hong in it.


    "Senior Chu, may I pass on this technique to the subordinates in my tradingpany?" Wang Hong asked, hoping that by teaching this technique to others, he could significantly improve the efficiency of moving Spirit Veins.


    "You can handle that yourself," Sloppy Old Daoist replied. This technique was somewhat redundant, and even if someone learned it, moving a Spirit Vein would still be challenging. That''s why Sloppy Old Daoist was not too concerned about passing it on so easily.


    "Thank you, Senior!" Wang Hong expressed his gratitude.


    "Don''t mention it. In the future, if youe across any good ingredients, remember to send me some. It''s more effective than saying ten thousand words of thanks. Well, it''s gettingte today; you should head back now."


    "I''ll take my leave then." Wang Hong bid farewell to Sloppy Old Daoist and returned to his cave mansion.


    Over the next few days, he took on some Alchemy tasks at the Pill Hall to earn contribution points and then exchanged them for various books at the Scripture Tower. He never seemed to stop, as if he genuinely intended to read all the Jade Scrolls in the Scripture Tower.


    A little over a month passed, and three young Foundation Building cultivators came to visit Wang Hong''s cave mansion. These three were the juniors rmended by the hall masters Blue Dragon, White Tiger, and ck Tortoise.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 334: The First Battle

    Chapter 334: The First Battle


    Three cultivators, two men and one woman, all appeared to be in their early twenties.


    Among them, Fang Xuan was introduced by the ck Tortoise sect leader as a junior disciple. He was polite and always had a smile on his face.


    Zhan Shulong was introduced by the Blue Dragon faction leader as a junior disciple. He had a calm demeanor and was quite talkative.


    The only female cultivator, Miao Rui, was a junior disciple of the White Tiger sect leader. She had a striking appearance and seemed quite proud.


    The three of them stayed here for a while, arranged a meeting time with Wang Hong, and then left.


    Wang Hong now served as the vice sect leader of the Blue Dragon faction and sometimes hadbat missions that couldn''t be avoided.


    Half a monthter, Wang Hong, along with the three disciples, descended the mountain. This time, they were tasked with clearing out a Demon n stronghold.


    ording to the intelligence, there were approximately over two thousand Demonic Beasts in this stronghold, including more than ten second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    For Wang Hong, dealing with a group of this size of Demonic Beasts was not considered too difficult."Senior Brother Wang, I heard that we''re going up against a group of over two thousand Demonic Beasts this time. Do we have enough people to handle them?" Fang Xuan asked curiously.


    "In terms of manpower, we are naturally outnumbered by these Demonic Beasts, but it''s not too difficult to deal with them," Wang Hong replied.


    "It seems Senior Brother Wang has everything under control," Zhan Shulong praised.


    On the way, the three of them chatted andughed, but Miao Rui seemed uninterested in the conversation. They soon arrived at the Mountain Valley base.


    Wang Hong led the three of them and introduced them to Luo Zhongjie, who arranged amodations and daily necessities for them.


    As they entered the Inner Valley, they saw many Qi Cultivation cultivators practicing in a uniform and disciplined manner. This training method was new and unheard of in the Cultivation World.


    They were also amazed by the powerful aura formed by dozens or even hundreds of people simultaneouslyunching attacks, all hitting their targets without missing a beat.


    If these hundreds of people were to attack them simultaneously, even with their current Foundation Building cultivation level, it would be difficult to withstand.


    Luo Zhongjie arranged for the three of them to stay in the Inner Valley and provided them with some supplies.


    "Senior Brother Zhan, I roughly estimated today. There are at least ny Foundation Building cultivators in this Inner Valley. The previous information only mentioned he had over sixty Foundation Building cultivators, so it seems we underestimated."


    "Including the Golden Core Elders, everyone has been deceived by him. He only sends out thirty to forty people each time, and at most, he sent out sixty Foundation Building cultivators at once. The outside world believed he had only sixty or so Foundation Building cultivators at most."


    "I also noticed that the Foundation Building cultivators in this valley are trained just like Qi Cultivation cultivators, practicing every day. I''m not sure about their specificbat capabilities, but we''ll find out tomorrow."


    "Regardless of how many of them there are or their strength, we''ll stick to the n."


    The next day, Wang Hong gathered forty Foundation Building cultivators and sixty Qi Cultivation cultivators from the Inner Valley. They flew towards the Demon n gathering point under the banner of the Qingxu Sect''s Blue Dragon hall, riding a medium-sized Flying Boat. This was Wang Hong''s first battle since bing the vice sect leader of the Blue Dragon hall.


    The three of them stood on the deck of the Flying Boat, watching as this team of a hundred people was about to confront a group of over two thousand Demonic Beasts. They couldn''t help feeling uneasy.


    All three of them had experience fighting the Demon n on the frontlines and knew that Demonic Beasts were fearless in battle. Dealing with over a thousand first-tier Demonic Beasts, led by more than a dozen second-tier Demonic Beasts, would likely result in significant casualties for the team.


    As the Flying Boat approached a peak, they could see numerous giant gray birds with a wingspan of about ten feet circling and flying around the peak.


    When a Flying Boat approached, dozens of these birds screeched and flew towards it.


    "I didn''t expect them to be Demon n sea creatures. They''ve already crossed the entire East Zhou Cultivation Realm in such a short time," Fang Xuan eximed, recognizing these Demonic Beasts.


    The Qingxu Sect was located on the westernmost side of the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, so the presence of these sea creatures here indicated that there was no safe ce left in the realm.


    Sea creatures were known for their fast flying speeds, and often, the first wave was followed by a continuous stream of Demon n reinforcements.


    As the dozens of sea creatures approached, the sixty Qi Cultivation cultivators on the Flying Boat simultaneously summoned their Flying Swords.


    Sixty Flying Swords flew out, and in an instant, a rain of blood fell from the sky as dozens of sea creatures emitted mournful cries and fell to the ground.


    Thismotion quickly attracted more sea creatures, and arge group of over two hundred of them flew towards them.


    Instead of getting closer, the Flying Boat remained in ce, waiting silently for the sea creatures to approach.


    When this group of sea creatures neared, another flurry of sword shadows filled the sky, forming a massive.


    None of the two hundred sea creatures could escape the onught of this vast sword. In just a moment, they all perished.


    This turn of eventspletely rmed and angered the sea creatures on the peak.


    After a loud screech, over two thousand sea creatures flew towards the Flying Boat.


    Zhan Shulong and the other two were nervous, their fists clenched. Being surrounded by the sea creature horde at this moment would be highly unfavorable in battle.


    They contemted joining the fight several times but restrained themselves when they saw the calm demeanor of the Qi Cultivation cultivators around them.


    At this moment, Luo Zhongjie gave the order, and the Flying Boat quickly retreated. Forty Foundation Building cultivators on board simultaneously flew out, forming two groups of twenty people each.


    These two teams flew around the sides and nked the sea creature horde, while the Flying Boat attacked from the front, drawing the attention of the sea creatures.


    The two teams of twenty cultivators continued to y sea creatures from the sides and rear, while the sea creatures in the front chased after the Flying Boat, leaving a trail of bodies behind them.


    By the time the sea creatures in the front realized that their numbers were dwindling, it was toote.


    The two teams at the sides and rear, along with the Flying Boat in front, had effectively encircled them.


    The battlested only the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and all the sea creatures were wiped out. Not a single one of Wang Hong''s subordinates suffered any injuries.


    Zhan Shulong and the other two were ted to see that the battle, which they had thought would be challenging, had ended so effortlessly. Their eyes gleamed with excitement.


    The three of them descended from the Flying Boat and, along with the team members, cleaned up the battlefield, storing the sea creature corpses in Storage Bags.


    Since these sea creatures were rtivelyrge, Luo Zhongjie had prepared arge number of Storage Bags in advance.


    "Isn''t it enough to collect the most valuable parts of these sea creature corpses?" Fang Xuan asked one of the team members nearby.


    Normally, after killing Demonic Beasts, everyone would collect the most valuable parts of the beasts. As for the flesh of first-tier Demonic Beasts, most of it was discarded because it piled up into mountains on the battlefield. Making Spirit Meals out of them was impossible for everyone, and it required the skills of a Spirit Meal master.


    Not everyone had Wang Hong''s mindset as a food lover, and creating Spirit Meals also required specialized expertise.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 336: A New Situation

    Chapter 336: A New Situation


    In the following period, the number of Demonic Beasts in the vicinity continued to increase, and Wang Hong and his group found themselves engaging in battles more frequently.


    Zhan Shulong and his twopanions always apanied them into battle, appearing well-behaved and notmitting any indiscretions.


    However, Wang Hong knew that they had secretly recruited a Qi Cultivation practitioner behind his back.


    Wang Hong pretended to be oblivious and carried on as usual.


    At this point, Zhan Shulong and his group were bing increasingly uneasy. They had invested a lot of effort and paid a significant price to recruit a Qi Cultivation member.


    The person they recruited was someone who had recently joined the merchant caravan, with the lowest cultivation level and not much significance.


    The information they could gather from this person was extremely limited.


    Based on what they knew, they pieced together that the East Zhou Trading Company earned vast wealth through its trade. It was said that every time they annihted Treasure Hunters, they acquired a significant amount of wealth, including a substantial number of Foundation Establishment Pills.


    There was also a Marketce established at Gu Pass, which yielded abundant resources. These resources were then refined into finished products and traded back for even more resources.The resources obtained through trade and conquest were used extensively to cultivate the members of the caravan. As the strength of the caravan members increased, it ensured more profits for the caravan.


    This created a virtuous cycle that continued to grow.


    Although they had a rough idea of where Wang Hong''s wealth came from, they couldn''t replicate it without a strong foundation.


    Unless they could take over everything Wang Hong had.


    What puzzled them was how Wang Hong had initially developed. They had only known that Wang Hong had arge number of capable subordinates.


    Now, as they delved deeper into their understanding, their envy, jealousy, greed, and desire to obtain everything Wang Hong had grew stronger.


    However, Wang Hong''s subordinates were challenging to bribe. Those at the Foundation Building stage were wealthier than them, the Golden Core juniors, and they had nothing to offer in exchange.


    Especially now, with the chaos in the Cultivation World, various Spiritual Objects had be extremely scarce, far more valuable than before.


    In Wang Hong''s territory, they couldn''t feel this scarcity. In particr, some items on the contribution points exchange list were things they had never heard of before.


    For example, there was a type of Essence Core Pill that could be exchanged for contribution points, and it was very affordable but highly effective in assisting body refining cultivators.


    The reason there were few body refining cultivators was mainly due to the scarcity and high cost of the Spiritual Objects required for body refining, which most cultivators couldn''t afford.


    There was also a healing pill called Hanyu Pill that they exchanged for research. It turned out to be more effective than all the second-tier healing pills avable in the market.


    Furthermore, there were many Spiritual Objects they had never seen before, all appearing on the exchange list.


    They had secretly reported this situation to several Golden Core Elders, but it didn''t garner much attention. After all, these were just second-tier Spiritual Objects, which were of little use to Golden Core cultivators.


    Now, the three of them were at a loss regarding their recruitment n. They didn''t know how to proceed and could only wait for the right opportunity.


    Meanwhile, the Cultivation World was undergoing significant changes during this time.


    Firstly, all the Treasure Hunters within the influence of Azure Void City were now recruited by Qingxu Sect and had be affiliated with them.


    Furthermore, the Nascent Soul ancestor of Qingxu Sect issued a decree that henceforth, Human n cultivators were not to attack each other but to unite and resist the Demon n together. This was due to the increasing number of Demon n members entering the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, causing many smaller sects and forces to struggle for survival.


    Some had already been wiped out by the Demon n, while others had relocated to the vicinity of Azure Void City, automatically bing affiliated forces of Qingxu Sect.


    This sudden influx of power led to a rapid increase in Qingxu Sect''s strength, doubling the number of Foundation Building cultivators they possessed.


    It was rumored that simr situations were happening elsewhere as well.


    As a result, the entire East Zhou Cultivation Realm was left with only six major sects defending against the Demon n, while other regions had fallen into the hands of the Demon n.


    In areas upied by the Demon n, cultivators and mortals who hadn''t managed to escape had be ves and were kept as livestock for the demons. The extent of their misery was unimaginable.


    With arge number of people pouring into the vicinity of Azure Void City, the area became bustling with activity.


    "East Master, our East Zhou Trading Company''s revenue has doubled recently!" reported Xu Lun during a meeting, his excitement evident.


    "My Zhao''s Pill Shop''s revenue has also doubled," Zhao Ning chimed in.


    Wang Hong listened to their reports and then turned his gaze to Skinny Monkey.


    "Hehe, the ie from my Spirit Wine shop has more than tripled," Skinny Monkey grinned.


    "So much?" Xu Lun and Zhao Ning asked simultaneously.


    "Hehe! Spirit Wine is in high demand now. Prices have already doubled, and anyone who has Spirit Wine in their store is guaranteed a buyer," Skinny Monkey exined triumphantly.


    "Let''s not get too carried away just yet. The recent increase in ie is mainly due to the influx of outside cultivators. But this growth is like a tree without roots, water without a source¡ªit won''tst," Wang Hong cautioned them, ensuring they stayed alert.


    In this small area, the sudden doubling of cultivators also meant that the consumption of various resources would increase significantly. Without the vast resources of the East Zhou region, they would face resource depletion sooner orter.


    Even if everyone stopped consuming resources, simply absorbing Spiritual Qi through meditation was also a form of consumption.


    Lately, he had already noticed a slight decrease in the concentration of Spiritual Qi in the air.


    "During this time, when selling items, make sure to stockpile some ore materials and other refining tool formation materials. There''s no harm in having extra," Wang Hong advised. These materials couldn''t be produced in the Space, and he needed them inrge quantities.


    This time, Qingxu Sect had abandoned many remote mining areas because they couldn''t afford to maintain them. Right now, they were using up their stockpiles, but over time, these ore materials would undoubtedly be scarce.


    "East Master, should we also stockpile some Demonic Beast materials?" Xu Lun asked. Demonic Beast materials were currently abundant and affordable.


    "We only need second-tier or higher Demonic Beast materials, and don''t stockpile too many. They will definitely depreciate in the future," Wang Hong replied.


    In the uing battles against the Demon n, there would be more and more Demonic Beast materials avable. Currently, many Demonic Beast material products flooded the market because so many had been refined, and prices were dropping. Despite this, they were still unseble because there simply wasn''t enough demand.


    "Among the Demonic Beast materials, we can collect a bit more of the essence blood from second-tier or higher Demonic Beasts. I have a use for it," he added.


    Although his Poisonous Bees King had already reached the second-tier, it was the weakest among the second-tier Demonic Beasts and needed to increase its bloodline strength.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 337: Return to Heishi Valley

    Chapter 337: Return to Heishi Valley


    After Wang Hong and Xu Lun''s meeting, they took away arge quantity of Spirit Stones.


    In Wang Hong''s space, there was now a row ofrge wooden crates, with one of them containing Spirit Stones stored in Storage Bags.


    Over the past period, he had umted a vast number of Spirit Stones, totaling over ten million.


    Another wooden crate held the millennium-old Spiritual Herbs he had previously collected, which he had stored in wooden boxes refined for the purpose. These were then ced in Storage Bags and filled the crate to capacity.


    The remaining wooden crates were also filled with Storage Bags, each containing various types of materials he had collected.


    Wang Hong took out one Storage Bag after another from the wooden crates and scattered the Spirit Stones across thend in his space.


    As time rapidly passed, the Spirit Stones were absorbed, causing thend within his space to expand slowly.


    When thend area reached 265 acres, he stopped spreading Spirit Stones but left behind several million for emergencies and daily consumption.


    Now, the total area of his space was 265 acres, with time passing nearly 294 times faster within itpared to the outside world.One day in the outside world equaled almost a year within his space.


    Wang Hong nted second-tier Spiritual Herbs on the additionalnd he had created in his space.


    With the increasing number of Foundation Building stage cultivators under hismand, the need for second-tier Spiritual Objects also grew.


    At the current rate of time flow in his space, these Spiritual Herbs would mature in no more than two years, allowing him to refine arge number of pills.


    Among his second-tier Alchemists, in addition to the Ma Brothers, there were five others who no longer required his personal attention for alchemy.


    However, as a hobby, he asionally refined a few furnaces of pills himself.


    Now, his sess rate in refining second-tier pills had reached at least ny percent, and he even produced middle-grade and top-grade pills.


    He kept the top-grade pills for his personal use, used some of the middle-grade pills for himself and his subordinates, and sold the low-grade pills to the public.


    The Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Herbs he had nted previously had all matured and been collected.


    Wang Hong spent several days in the Mountain Valley refining this batch of Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Among them, there were eighty top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, three hundred middle-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, and over five hundred low-grade Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Using a top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill would increase the sess rate of Foundation Building by at least fifty percent. Even if one had lower talent, a single Foundation Establishment Pill would suffice.


    After Wang Hong finished his alchemy work, he summoned Luo Zhongjie.


    "I''m nning to go away for a while, and I''ll leave the Mountain Valley in your care. Don''t ck off in the daily training."


    "For the management and trade aspects, you can have Yin Ze assist you. He has been running things in Boundary City on his own for over ten years, so he''s quite adept at managing."


    Wang Hong instructed Luo Zhongjie, who was skilled in training the team members andmanding battles.


    However, when it came to trade, business, and industry, Luo Zhongjie was not as proficient as Yin Ze, who had been following Wang Hong for many years and could be relied upon in terms of character and loyalty.


    "Understood. East Master, where are you nning to go this time, and when can we expect your return?"Luo Zhongjie had no objections to Yin Ze assisting him; in fact, he was relieved. With the growing poption in Mountain Valley and various external affairs, he had been overwhelmed. Having Yin Ze share some of the responsibilities was a wee relief.


    "I n to make a trip to the former site of ckstone Valley Market. There''s a medium-sized Spirit Vein there that my Master has gifted to me. Recently, I''ve learned a secret technique that allows me to transfer a portion of the Spirit Vein. I intend to give it a try."


    Mountain Valley only had a few small Spirit Veins, and with hundreds of people residing there, including over a hundred Foundation Building cultivators, the Spiritual Energy was no longer sufficient. The concentration of Spirit Qi was useless for the Foundation Building cultivators.


    "But Heishi Valley is already on the edge of Qingxu Sect''s influence. There are numerous Demonic Beasts there, and it''s considered a dangerous area," Luo Zhongjie expressed his concerns.


    "No worries, I''ll bring along more people for safety. Besides, I''ll leave Little Peng in Mountain Valley. If we have external threats, it can be quite helpful. It has fast flying speed, making it convenient for message delivery," Wang Hong reassured Luo Zhongjie.


    After arranging everything with Luo Zhongjie, Wang Hong selected forty of his subordinates and set off on a Flying Boat.


    Wen Lan led the team, and apanying them were Ling Shuai and his daughter Ling Xue. Wang Hong had previously given a Foundation Establishment Pill to Ling Xue, which allowed her to sessfully advance to the Foundation Building stage.


    When they arrived at Heishi Valley on their Flying Boat, they discovered that the area had been upied by a group of powerful Demonic Beasts. There were thousands of them, including dozens of second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Despite being a Feng Shui treasure with a rich Spirit Qi concentration due to the medium-sized Spirit Vein, it was strange for the area to be upied by Demonic Beasts.


    "With the current strength difference, a direct assault won''t work. We''d better lure them out and eliminate them in batches," Wen Lan suggested afterparing their strengths. Wang Hong readily agreed to the n.


    The method of luring was simple: most of them hid in the distance while a few individuals approached the Demonic Beasts and waved a couple of times. These less intelligent Demonic Beasts would then chase after them.


    All they needed was to lead them to an ambush area in the distance, where they could quickly defeat them.


    After luring and killing the first batch of Demonic Beasts, several cultivators were sent to lure more Demonic Beasts from the outskirts of the original ckstone Valley Market. It seemed that Demonic Beasts in general were not very clever, as they pursued relentlessly after being lured and killed repeatedly by the same group.


    After several days of effort, there were now only a little over a thousand Demonic Beasts remaining in Heishi Valley, with around ten second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    This time, the members of the lure and kill team reached the valley''s entrance and found no traces of Demonic Beasts in the vicinity.


    "Everyone, follow me; let''s take a look inside," Yang Tiezhu, the team leader of the lure and kill squad, dered. She rushed inside as soon as she spoke.


    Seeing their leader entering, the remaining nine team members immediately followed suit.


    Inside, Yang Tiezhu encountered a sparse group of Demonic Beasts. She charged forward, wielding her wolf''s tooth club, and swiftly killed a second-tier Demonic Beast.


    The others followed suit, and within moments, they had in the small group of Demonic Beasts.


    At this point, more Demonic Beasts began to gather, but Yang Tiezhu seemed to have forgotten her mission to lure them. She swung her club at the approaching horde without hesitation.


    As the other cultivators waited outside in ambush for a long time without seeing the lure and kill team return, they became suspicious. Suddenly, they heard roars from inside Heishi Valley, as if chaos had erupted.


    "Everyone, follow me to the Flying Boat; we''re going into the valley!" Wen Lan shouted, leaping into the Flying Boat. The others quickly followed suit.


    The Flying Boat quickly took off and headed straight for Heishi Valley.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 338: Extracting the Spirit Vein

    Chapter 338: Extracting the Spirit Vein


    As the Flying Boat arrived at Heishi Valley, they witnessed Yang Tiezhu leading nine team members in a fierce battle against a horde of creatures. They moved through the beasts like they were in an uninhabited realm, filled with excitement.


    Yang Tiezhu brandished a massive wolf-toothed club, clearing a path ahead, and no Demonic Beast they encountered could stand against her.


    The other team members followed closely, summoning Flying Swords that sliced through any Demonic Beast that dared to approach.


    Yang Tiezhu and her team quickly broke free from the encirclement, and she turned back towards the horde.


    With the remaining number of Demonic Beasts dwindling, the Flying Boat descended rapidly, joining the massacre.


    In just over a quarter of an hour, they had ughtered all the Demonic Beasts in the valley, not letting a single one escape.


    Yang Tiezhu stood atop a pile of Demonic Beast corpses, her blood-spattered forehead casually wiped with the back of her hand, looking quite heroic.


    "Lil'' sis, you''re amazing!" eximed Ling Xue, running over with admiration in her eyes.


    "Ah, it''s just okay. It''s my first time leading a team, so Ick experience. I''ll improve in the future," Yang Tiezhu modestly replied with a hint of pride on her baby face."Do you even realize how poorly you did? You were supposed to lure the Demons here, but you got carried away with the killing! Deducting all your contributions this time, and you''ll also be tasked with cleaning the houses where forty people stayed, without anyone''s help," scolded Wen Lan, wearing a stern expression.


    Although Yang Tiezhu had shown great bravery, individual valor wouldn''t work inrge-scale battles.


    Yang Tiezhu stuck out her tongue in resignation and headed towards the rtively intact buildings within the valley.


    The original structures in Heishi Valley had been thoroughly ravaged by the Demonic Beasts. Cleaning them up would be a time-consuming task even for one person.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong ventured into the heart of the valley where the Spirit Qi was thickest. The main branch of the medium-sized Spirit Veiny here.


    He followed the main branch, identifying and marking its tributaries along the way.


    There were various methods for relocating a Spirit Vein, each with its pros and cons. The method taught by Sloppy Daoist Master to Wang Hong was a rtively simple one.


    However, during the relocation process, a significant amount of Spirit Qi would dissipate, and by the time the entire Spirit Vein was moved, it might be reduced to only half its original strength.


    There was said to be another method involving the use of formations to draw the Spirit Vein along the Earth''s meridians, which could almost entirely transport it intact to another location. But this method required a significant amount of materials, the setup of several Tier Three or higher formations, and was time-consuming.


    Wang Hong found a small tributary and, following Chu Elder''s teachings, began setting up a formation.


    Entering the formation, he took out a bottle of Spirit Wine and ced it in front of him.


    Then, he activated the secret technique taught by Sloppy Old Daoist, pressing both palms against the ground.


    A surge of Spiritual Power flowed through his hands and seeped into the ground. He condensed this Spiritual Power into a ribbon-like form, guided by his Divine Sense, and directed it toward the small Spirit Vein underground.


    Once the ribbon of Spiritual Power approached the tiny Spirit Vein, it began to wrap around it in tight coils.


    By the time the small Spirit Vein was one-fourth enveloped, Wang Hong''s entire reserve of Spiritual Power had been depleted.His Spiritual Power was as profound as that of ate-stage Foundation Building cultivator, yet now hisplexion was pale, andrge beads of sweat dripped down like beans.


    His hands were currently immobilized, so he directed his Spiritual Power toward the Spirit Wine bottle. With a forceful inhtion, a stream of wine shot out from the bottle and into his mouth.


    As this mouthful of Spirit Wine entered his stomach, it swiftly transformed into a massive surge of Spiritual Power that spread throughout his entire body.


    Wang Hong took two more sips from the Spirit Wine bottle, finally replenishing his depleted Spiritual Powerpletely.


    Throughout the process of replenishing his Spiritual Power, Wang Hong carefully controlled the output of his Spiritual Power from his hands, ensuring it never ceased.


    In this manner, he depleted his Spiritual Powerpletely and then replenished it four times, finally wrapping the entire small section of the tiny Spirit Vein with his Spiritual Power.


    At this point, Wang Hong used a technique to condense a portion of his Spiritual Power into a de and sliced at the connection point between the small Spirit Vein segment and the main branch.


    As he severed this section of the tiny Spirit Vein from the main branch, a substantial amount of Spiritual Energy gushed out from the cut.


    Wang Hong swiftly absorbed this rich Spiritual Energy, rejuvenating his spirits. Simultaneously, he used his Spiritual Power to wrap around the severed ends of the Spirit Vein, preventing further leakage.


    Leakage of Spiritual Energy was detrimental to the Spirit Vein and was irreversible.


    Wang Hong then formed a series of Runes in the air with his hands, guided by his Divine Sense, whichbined to create arger Rune.


    This Rune was then imprinted into the cut end of the severed Spirit Vein, causing it to slightly contract.


    Following this, he continued to create and apply Runes, one after another, onto the Spirit Vein segment. With each Rune, the segment grew smaller.


    After embedding hundreds of Runes, the segment had shrunk to the size of a chicken egg.


    Wang Hong used his Spiritual Power to draw the egg-sized segment out from the ground, catching it in his hand.


    This pearl-like object, condensed from a section of the Spirit Vein, was milky white, hard to the touch, and emitted a strong aura of Spirit Qi.


    The Spiritual Energy on the pearl would constantly seep out, so Wang Hong ced it in a Jade Box and affixed Talismans to prevent further energy loss.


    However, even with these precautions,plete preservation of the Spiritual Energy was impossible. It needed to be promptly reintroduced into the earth to nurture it.


    The segment Wang Hong had just collected was equivalent to a tiny Spirit Vein.


    To cultivate a small Spirit Vein, one needed a hundred of these segments, and to nurture a medium-sized Spirit Vein, a hundred small ones were required.


    This meant that to transfer this medium-sized Spirit Vein to his Mountain Valley, he would need to perform at least ten thousand operations like the one he justpleted.


    He had spent three to four days collecting just this one segment of the tiny Spirit Vein. Toplete ten thousand would take over a hundred years.


    This was just considering the time and material consumption. For instance, he had already used an entire pound of Tier Two Spirit Wine just now, which would require over ten thousand pounds toplete the entire task.


    No wonder Sloppy Old Daoist had described this technique as somewhat redundant.


    However, for others, this task would indeed be extremely challenging, but for Wang Hong, the difficulty was not particrly significant.


    He had ample resources and manpower at his disposal, with over a hundred Foundation Building cultivators under hismand, and the Spirit Wine stored in his Space formed several mountains.


    With so much Spirit Wine, even if he turned into a wine aficionado, he would never finish it all in his lifetime because the Spirit Wine in his Space was still continuously increasing.


    Especially with the expansion of his Space and the elerated passage of time inside, the rate at which the Spiritual Objects matured had also increased.


    He stored away the inexhaustible Spiritual Objects and used most of them to brew Spirit Wine.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 339: Qian Huanzi

    Chapter 339: Qian Huanzi


    Wang Hong gathered everyone together and began teaching them the secret techniques passed down to him by Sloppy Old Daoist.


    This secret realm was not overlyplex, and within just five days, everyone had mastered it.


    Wang Hong divided them into groups of four or five people, a move designed to save some Spiritual Power and conserve Spirit Wine. Though he had plenty of Spirit Wine, it wasn''t practical to use tens of thousands of catties of second-tier Spirit Wine all at once.


    Several months after Wang Hong had left the Mountain Valley base, Zhan Shulong and hispanions started brainstorming. They believed it was an opportune moment to make their move.


    "Even though Wang Hong is not in Mountain Valley right now, loyal followers like Luo Zhongjie, Yin Ze, and Hu Jian are still there. It''s not easy to infiltrate," Miao Rui sighed, surprised by their unwavering loyalty.


    "Indeed, the East Zhou Trading Company in Azure Void City is under the control of people like Xu Lun, making it equally difficult to break through," Zhan Shulong added, sharing the same sentiment.


    "I have an idea. Since they are loyal to Wang Hong, why don''t we act in Wang Hong''s name? Let''s see how they can refuse then," Fang Xuan said with a sly smile.


    "Oh? How can we act in Wang Hong''s name?" Zhan Shulong asked, and Miao Rui turned their attention to Fang Xuan as well.


    "I once met a Fellow Daoist skilled in the art of shape-shifting and impersonation. Their imitations are often indistinguishable from the real thing.""Are you suggesting... we have this person impersonate Wang Hong?" Zhan Shulong, not one to miss a beat, immediately grasped the n.


    "Yes! We can have this person impersonate Wang Hong, then we''ll bring them into Mountain Valley. ''Wang Hong'' can personally issue orders, allowing us to gradually take control of his subordinates'' powers. In the process, we can cultivate our own loyal followers and use our newfound authority to strengthen our position. Those loyal to Wang Hong will either submit to us or face dire consequences. Once we''ve secured all the power, even if the real Wang Hong returns, he won''t be able to do anything against us. We can even turn the tables and use him of being an imposter. Afterpleting these steps, everything here will belong to us entirely!"


    Fang Xuan''sughter couldn''t be contained as he spoke. He was truly impressed with his own cleverness.


    "Brilliant, Junior Brother Fang! This n is ingenious!" Zhan Shulong couldn''t help but apud, realizing that this n was far superior to what he had initially considered.


    "Senior Brother Fang''s intelligence is unmatched. I''m in awe!" Miao Rui gazed at Fang Xuan with admiration.


    "There are still a few issues to address, though. Firstly, how reliable is this Fellow Daoist''s disguise technique? What if it gets uncovered? That would be a disaster. Secondly, Wang Hong has been away for several months, and if he returns too soon and we haven''tpleted our mission yet, it could be problematic," Zhan Shulong pointed out, thinking of potential pitfalls and suggesting that they should discuss countermeasures in advance.


    "Don''t worry about these two points, Senior Brother Zhan. First, I''ve already thoroughly investigated it. Wang Hong is expected to be away for at least a year, which gives us plenty of time to execute our n." Fang Xuan reassured them as heid out his strategy.


    As for the other matter, seeing is believing. Let''s first meet with this Fellow Daoist to witness their disguise skills."


    The three of them left Mountain Valley and flew for a day until they reached a not-so-tall peak, guarded by a simple concealed formation. From a distance, all they could see was a vague mist.


    Factions like this,cking significant power and strong support from Spirit Veins, didn''t keep their defensive formations active all the time. After all, maintaining such formations consumed a considerable amount of Spiritual Energy constantly.


    Approaching closer, theynded in front of the peak, feeling that the Spiritual Qi here was even thinner than at Wang Hong''s Mountain Valley base. This faction had likely recently relocated, and neers like them often didn''t have ideal ces to settle. The areas with Spirit Veins had already been upied, so they were content with finding any ce to call home.


    Fang Xuan took out a Transmission Talisman and imprinted it with a message beforeunching it toward the peak.


    After a brief moment, a Daoist of about fifteen or sixteen years old, with rosy lips and white teeth, emerged from the mist.


    "May I inquire if the three seniors are here to find Master Qian Huanzi?" After offering a respectful greeting, taoist asked.


    "That''s correct! Is Fellow Daoist Qian Huanzi within the mountain?" Fang Xuan inquired.


    "Master is currently on the mountain, but temporarily unable toe far to wee you. Please forgive us and follow me," taoist replied.


    Afterwards, taoist led the three of them to a grand hall and arranged for them to sit down.


    "Please wait for a moment, sirs. I will go inform Master."


    After offering another bow, taoist exited the grand hall.


    A whileter, a person walked into the hall from outside, surprising the three visitors. The person who entered was none other than Fang Xuan, looking exactly like the Fang Xuan sitting among them. Even their gait and demeanor were indistinguishable.


    "Senior Brother Zhan, Greetings, Miao Sister. Don''t tell me you don''t recognize me?" The "Fang Xuan" who had just entered greeted them, adopting the same tone and manner of speaking.


    If there hadn''t been another Fang Xuan sitting in the hall, they might have mistaken this one for the real thing.


    "Hahaha! Fellow Daoist Qian Huanzi, your skills have be even more exquisite. Please, no more tricks," the real Fang Xuan chuckled.


    "Just a trivial skill. Please bear with me for a moment," the imposter Fang Xuan replied before leaving the grand hall once more. In just a short while, they returned, now dressed differently.


    This Qian Huanzi appeared slightly leaner but radiated vitality in their facial features. It was hard to tell if this was their true appearance.


    After reintroducing themselves and engaging in casual conversation, they learned that taoist who had guided them up the mountain was also Qian Huanzi in disguise. They had traveled together for quite some time, and yet the three of them had not suspected a thing.


    "To be honest, we''vee here to request a favor, Fellow Daoist," Fang Xuan said, receiving silent approval from Zhan Shulong and Miao Rui before continuing, "Could you assist us with something?"


    "Oh, I see. As long as it''s within my capabilities, I will do my best to help," Qian Huanzi replied.


    Fang Xuan retrieved a Storage Bag from his pocket and handed it to Qian Huanzi before exining, "This matter is certainly within Fellow Daoist''s capabilities. These are just earnest money, and if the task is sessful, there will be more rewards."


    Qian Huanzi epted the Storage Bag and scanned its contents with Divine Sense, immediately drawn to the valuable items inside. They had just relocated and were in dire need of resources. With this substantial wealth, they could ovee their current hardships. Moreover, these were just the earnest money. After rifying the details, Qian Huanzi readily agreed to help.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 340: Unfinished Victory

    Chapter 340: Unfinished Victory


    After Qian Huanzi agreed, Fang Xuan took out a Jade Scroll containing an image of Wang Hong and handed it to Qian Huanzi for reference.


    "Fellow Daoist, do you have any information about the people around him?" Qian Huanzi inquired. Without this information, their n might be easily exposed.


    "Of course, I''ve prepared for that too! These two Jade Scrolls contain records of Wang Hong and the habits of those around him," Fang Xuan replied, handing over two more Jade Scrolls to Qian Huanzi.


    Zhan Shulong and Miao Rui, seeing Fang Xuan''s thorough preparations, became alert. They guessed that Fang Xuan must have been nning for a long time, and they had not noticed any clues. Who knew what other schemes he might have hidden?


    Although they had an agreement among the three faction'' leaders, they didn''t want to risk being outmaneuvered by Fang Xuan when it came to dividing the spoils in the future.


    They exchanged a discreet nce, conveying some information that only they understood.


    "Please allow me some time to prepare, my fellow Daoists. I will need up to three days," Qian Huanzi said after briefly scanning through the Jade Scrolls. He couldn''t absorb all this information in one go; he needed some time.


    Several dayster, the marketce outside Hua Xue Valley was bustling with activity. Due to the increased number of cultivators in the area and the recruitment of Treasure Hunters, prosperity had returned temporarily.


    The daily ie in this marketce was now nearly equivalent to what a trading caravan would make on a journey. Moreover, all the shops in this marketce were owned by Wang Hong himself, and the goods sold were all refined by his subordinates, eliminating many intermediaries and greatly increasing profits.The substantial increase in ie had led to the four warehouses in the valley bing insufficient to store everything. Recently, Yin Ze had organized the construction of tworge warehouses to amodate the new supplies.


    At this moment, Hu Jian was on the second floor of a tavern in the marketce, sipping wine leisurely while observing the bustling crowd below.


    Suddenly, his pupils contracted as he spotted Wang Hong in the crowd below.


    He swiftly leaped from the window and arrived in front of Wang Hong in just a few steps.


    "East Master! Why have you returned so early?" Hu Jian asked. They were aware of the purpose of Wang Hong''s recent trip, so it seemed odd for him to return so soon.


    Wang Hong had gone with forty others, and they hadn''t seen anyone else, so it felt unusual for him to be walking with these three.


    "Hu Jian, how has the situation in the marketce been recently?" "Wang Hong" didn''t answer directly but inquired about the marketce''s status.


    "Business has been booming recently. If we convert the daily earnings into Spirit Stones, it''s roughly in the millions. However, following your instructions, most of it has been converted into stockpiled resources."


    Hearing Hu Jian''s report, the imposter Wang Hong shivered and almost passed out. He had risked his life to impersonate Wang Hong, and the promised reward from Fang Xuan was about the same amount.


    At first, he thought it was a huge deal, and he was quite pleased with himself. Now, he realized it was only equivalent to Wang Hong''s daily ie. At the same time, he began to hatch a scheme to make a fortune from this opportunity.


    Zhan Shulong and the other two were equally shocked by this figure. In the past, Wang Hong had always kept them away from such matters, and they had never imagined the profits could be so substantial.


    "East Master! Is there something wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Hu Jian asked with concern as he noticed Wang Hong''s shivering.


    "I''m fine; it''s just some matters within the sect. I returned early, while the others are still at the original location. Well, I''ll head into the valley now. Please take care of the marketce," Wang Hong instructed Hu Jian before leaving. He had narrowly avoided revealing himself just now.


    Hu Jian watched Wang Hong''s departing figure with a hint of suspicion. He had followed Wang Hong for decades and hadn''t noticed anything amiss, but his intuition told him something was strange.


    This time, Wang Hong had not brought Little Peng with him. Little Peng was a second-tier high-quality Spirit Beast with fast flight abilities, making it convenient formunication if needed. Wang Hong had left it with plenty of its favorite snacks, including some rare Spiritual Objects that other Foundation Building cultivators could only dream of.


    Little Peng had enjoyed its freedom for the first few days when Wang Hong was away, but after a while, it couldn''t help but feel a deep longing for him.


    Today, ity in a patch of grass, wings and legs stretched outzily, looking like a lifeless bird.


    "East Master is back!" Suddenly, it heard many voices from the valley, all calling out to East Master. In this entire Mountain Valley, only Wang Hong was addressed as East Master by everyone.


    Instantly, its spirits soared, as if it had a spring inside, propelling it upward. Standing tall, Little Peng spotted several people approaching from a distance, with Wang Hong leading the way.


    Like a bird that had just drunk a jug of Spirit Wine, Little Peng rushed excitedly toward Wang Hong.


    The imposter Wang Hong had carefully studied the provided information, and he knew about the rtionship between Wang Hong and this Spirit Beast. He had been worried all along since the bond between a Spirit Beast and its master could easily reveal his true identity.


    Now, seeing Little Peng approaching him with excitement, he felt a sense of aplishment. After all, an animal was just an animal, easily fooled.


    With a smile on his face, he stood still, watching as Little Peng charged towards him. Passing this test would make it even more challenging for others to discover his true identity. From now on, he would have full authority in this Mountain Valley.


    Little Peng, with great force, crashed into the imposter Wang Hong.


    There was a loud "bang" as Little Peng collided with him.


    Unfortunately, Qian Huanzi, a genius in his own right, didn''t even have time to scream before being turned into a pulp by the force of Little Peng''s collision.


    As he faced imminent death, he cursed the cunningness of the beast that had deceived him.


    Little Peng, now in a state of confusion, looked at the human-shaped object it had collided with.


    It was extremely agitated and felt as if it had identally killed Wang Hong.


    It remembered Wang Hong had cautioned it repeatedly to be careful and remainposed. It was feeling very sorry for itself now.


    Themotion naturally drew the attention of others, and suddenly, everyone in the valley rushed over.


    They had seen Little Peng often collide with Wang Hong at high speed, so they couldn''t understand why this had happened today.


    Now, the people in the valley were also feeling somewhat perplexed.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 341: Return

    Chapter 341: Return


    Little Peng identally killed Wang Hong. A group of people surrounded Little Peng, unsure of how to handle the situation, when Luo Zhongjie rushed over.


    When he heard what had happened, he found it very strange. Wang Hong''s sudden return alone was not normal at all.


    These people naturally knew that Wang Hong''s level of body refining cultivation was unfathomable.


    And even with the body refining strength of these veteran team members, being bumped by Little Peng shouldn''t have caused much harm, let alone to Wang Hong.


    When Luo Zhongjie arrived, many people were already sobbing softly.


    Many others stared at Little Peng with red eyes, wishing they could tear it into pieces.


    Luo Zhongjie pushed through the crowd and approached the pile of flesh in front of Little Peng.


    Although the person had been turned into a pile of flesh, the skin and flesh were still connected. At this moment, he gently smoothed out the pile of flesh and barely managed to form a human shape.


    Once he had reformed the figure, everyone realized that the pile of flesh lying on the ground was definitely not Wang Hong.At this moment, lying on the ground was an old man, his face covered in wrinkles, with several age spots on his face.


    After Qian Huanzi''s death, his transformation cultivation techniques naturally failed, revealing his true form.


    "I heard that East Master returned with Zhan Shulong and the other two? Where are they?" Luo Zhongjie nced around and did not see the three of them.


    At this point, others were also looking around, but the three were nowhere to be found.


    Because the incident had happened so suddenly, and people were caught off guard, no one had paid attention to these three individuals.


    Seeing that the situation was exposed, the three decided to slip away while everyone was in chaos.


    "Search! Everyone, go out and find them. Once you find these three, whether alive or dead, bring them back," Luo Zhongjie shouted. Other people, now knowing that Wang Hong was not dead, quickly regained theirposure and flew out ording to their usual battle formation.


    After searching around the Mountain Valley for several rounds, they found no trace of the three, and had no choice but to return empty-handed.


    At this point, it was almost certain that this matter was definitely rted to those three individuals.


    This incident was reported to Wang Hong''s master, Gu Qingyang, through Gu Wei.


    Upon hearing about it, Gu Qingyang was furious! He dragged the Peak Master of Kaiyang Peak with him, and the two of them went to confront the leaders of the three halls: Blue Dragon, White Tiger, and ck Tortoise, causing quite a scene.


    Of course, while they made a scene, they didn''t actually engage in physicalbat.


    The rules of the Qingxu Sect were quite strict. Even though they were esteemed as Golden Core Elders, there were Nascent Soul ancestors above them.


    So, any real conflicts were conducted discreetly, without being brought out into the open.


    Their actions served two purposes. First, they were seeking justice for Wang Hong.


    When a disciple is mistreated, it reflects poorly on the master or the peak leader, and they must save face.


    Secondly, it was a way of making their stance clear. They wouldn''t just stand idly by.


    However, this matter ultimately remained unresolved, and whether there would be any hidden conflicts remained uncertain.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong was far away in ckstone Valley Market,pletely unaware of what had transpired.


    He was currently busy extracting Spirit Veins with a group of his subordinates.


    Therge pearls, the size of eggs, that he had extracted earlier had now umted to several hundred, if not a thousand.


    Wang Hong had once buried these egg-sized pearls in the soil of his space, hoping to see if they could form a Spirit Vein.


    As a result, these pearls quickly dissolved into the purest form of Spiritual Energy, and the area of the space''snd increased by about one acre.


    Wang Hong continued to use a hundred of these pearls, but he couldn''t even catch a glimpse of a Spirit Vein forming.


    Instead, thend in his space absorbed arge amount of Spiritual Energy, increasing its size by about ten acres.


    As a result, the totalnd area in his space reached 275 acres, and the time flow ratio had reached 304 times.


    Seeing that his space had absorbed and dissolved over a hundred pearls, he decided not to continue experimenting.


    These pearls weren''t meant to be used as Spirit Stones. Spirit Veins had their own limits on the amount of Spiritual Energy they contained, but once cultivated, they would form a Spirit Vein and continuously produce Spirit Qi.


    After sealing the collected pearls in a wooden box, he stored them in his space. This way, even if some Spiritual Energy leaked, it would still remain within his space.


    They continued to extract Spirit Veins for over a year, and by now, Wang Hong had collected over four thousand Spirit Vein pearls.


    "East Master! A group of Demonic Beasts is approaching from the southeast!" Wen Lan reported to Wang Hong. While they were fully upied with extracting Spirit Veins, they couldn''t afford to neglect their outer defenses.


    "How many are there, and what''s their strength?" Wang Hong asked.


    "There are approximately over two thousand, with more than ten of them being second-tier Demonic Beasts. They are all crawling Demonic Beasts and cannot fly."


    "Inform everyone to prepare for the iing attack!" Wang Hong ordered. Dealing with this number of Demonic Beasts, especially since they were all crawling Demonic Beasts, posed no significant threat.


    Soon, everyone finished their tasks, took a sip of Spirit Wine to replenish their depleted Spiritual Power, and boarded the Flying Boat. When the group of Demonic Beasts arrived, theyunched a fierce attack from the Flying Boat.


    These Demonic Beasts could only endure the assault and had no means to counterattack since they couldn''t fly. They could only be pummeled on the ground. The second-tier Demonic Beasts roared in frustration as they leaped to attack the Flying Boat, but all they encountered was a barrage of Flying Swords.


    The battle (ughter) between the two sidessted for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, leaving behind a vast pile of corpses as the group of Demonic Beasts scattered and fled.


    As the team members gathered to collect the spoils, they were all quite excited. The past year had been extremely monotonous, with the daily extraction of Spirit Veins.


    These Demonic Beasts, who had tirelessly traveled thousands of miles to deliver Demonic Beast materials and merits, alleviated their loneliness and earned their admiration.


    However, after five days had passed, another group of Demonic Beasts came charging toward them.


    These Demonic Beasts were also not very strong and were quickly subdued.


    But this time, when they collected the spoils, there was no joy like the previous time.


    During the past year, they hadn''t encountered suchrge groups of Demonic Beasts approaching.


    Now, in just a few days, two batches of Demonic Beasts had already appeared, which was definitely not a good sign.


    As expected, two dayster, another,rger group of Demonic Beasts appeared.


    Once again, they managed to eliminate all the Demonic Beasts.


    In the days that followed, more and more groups of Demonic Beasts continued to appear, only to be annihted by Wang Hong and his team.


    "Arrange for everyone to pack up. Let''s return," Wang Hong told Wen Lan after they had just killed another group of Demonic Beasts. The frequent appearances of Demonic Beasts had be too much of a concern, prompting him to make the decision to temporarily leave.


    "Understood, I''ll arrange it right away!"


    An hourter, Wang Hong and the others boarded the Flying Boat and headed back in the direction of Azure Void City.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 342: Arrangements

    Chapter 342: Arrangements


    Wang Hong and his group were flying back on their Flying Boat when they encountered several small groups of Demonic Beasts.


    As they were flying ahead, they suddenly heard the sounds of battle and fightinging from the left, and it seemed to be a significant conflict.


    "Let''s go! Let''s check it out," Wang Hong eximed.


    They turned the Flying Boat towards the source of themotion on the left.


    When they arrived at the battlefield, they saw a group of cultivators engaged in a fierce battle with a horde of Demonic Beasts.


    There were about two thousand cultivators below, with half of them wearing the robes of the Qingxu Sect. Among them, only ten were Foundation Building cultivators, while the rest were in the Qi Cultivation stage.


    On the other hand, there were three to four thousand Demonic Beasts, including nearly twenty second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    It was evident that the Qingxu Sect cultivators were at a disadvantage, with their fellow cultivators falling one by one, torn apart by the Demonic Beasts.


    "East Master, should we help them?" Wen Lan asked as they witnessed Human n cultivators being killed by the Demonic Beasts."Of course, we must help," Wang Hong said decisively. The Demon n was themon enemy of the entire Human n, and in the current situation, no one could afford to stand idly by.


    The Human n cultivators struggling in the battle below suddenly saw a Flying Boat descending from the sky, crashing directly into the midst of the Demonic Beasts. Numerous Demonic Beasts were sent flying by the impact.


    At the same time, dozens of sword lights flew out from the Flying Boat, circling around it. Blood and body parts were scattered in all directions, creating a gruesome scene.


    With an unstoppable momentum, the Flying Boat plowed through the Demonic Beast horde, leaving a path paved with severed limbs and body parts. Soon, it was engulfed by the swarm of Demonic Beasts again.


    The Flying Boat continued to advance until it reached a group of Human n cultivators.


    "Follow me! Fight alongside me!" Wang Hong shouted from the Flying Boat.


    The Flying Boat changed direction and charged back into the midst of the Demonic Beasts, with the two thousand cultivators following closely behind.


    The Flying Boat, acting like a sharp knife, cut through the Demonic Beasts, dividing them into two groups.


    Then, it prated again, creating more divisions and eliminating the Demonic Beasts piece by piece.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Wang, for your assistance!" After all the Demonic Beasts had been in, a Foundation Building cultivator wearing a purple robe from the Qingxu Sect stepped forward.


    Wang Hong, known as a core Alchemist of the Pill Hall in the Qingxu Sect, had gained some recognition among Foundation Building cultivators in the sect. Therefore, many people in the sect knew him.


    "You don''t need to be so polite. The Demon n is themon enemy of all Human n, and it''s only natural for me to lend a hand. Please forgive my ignorance; I don''t recognize you. May I ask for your name and which peak you are from, Junior Brother?" Wang Hong replied, feeling slightly embarrassed.


    "I am Liao Yang from the Yuheng Peak. I have heard of Senior Brother Wang''s name for a long time, but we haven''t had the chance to meet. Seeing you today, your reputation is well-deserved," Liao Yang said respectfully.Liao Yang praised, though deep down, he was more curious. Wang Hong was known in the sect for his Alchemy skills, and Liao Yang had never heard of his talent in battle. He couldn''t fathom how Wang Hong, as an Alchemist, had entered the Blue Dragon Hall, primarily focused on externalbat. Moreover, Wang Hong was in charge of the people on the Flying Boat. Liao Yang could only envy such a position.


    "I''m not aware, Senior Brother Liao, why you and your group are fighting against the Demonic Beasts here? I just returned from elsewhere, and I''m not familiar with recent events. Could you please enlighten me?" Wang Hong inquired, realizing that Liao Yang was leading an organized effort.


    From Liao Yang, Wang Hong learned that in the past month, arge number of Demonic Beasts had been pouring into this area. The Qingxu Sect had dispatched many disciples, along with other allied forces, to guard key routes in various locations.


    Their group of over a thousand people had just arrived and hadn''t had the chance to make any preparations when they encountered this group of Demonic Beasts. They were nearly overwhelmed, but fortunately, Wang Hong and his group had arrived in time.


    After understanding the situation, Wang Hong knew that significant events might unfold in the near future. He swiftly led his people away from the area.


    Back in the Mountain Valley, they were informed by Luo Zhongjie that Zhan Shulong and the others had been exposed for impersonating someone else. Wang Hong was only slightly surprised by this. He had long known that these three were up to no good, and he had prepared several contingencies. However, he hadn''t had the chance to use them before the three had escaped.


    Nheless, he nned to meet with these three Hall Masters when the opportunity arose. Some things could be done discreetly, but if someone caught wind of them openly, it would be an entirely different matter.


    Upon returning to the valley, Wang Hong first retrieved the Spirit Vein pearls he had collected and found suitable locations to imnt them underground. The fate of these over four thousand Spirit Vein pearls, and how many small Spirit Veins they would eventually birth, would only be clear after some time.


    In the foreseeable future, things might not remain peaceful, and his Mountain Valley might be a target for Demonic Beast attacks. Therefore, he needed to make some preparations in advance.


    He entered his Space and flew to the area where he had nted Devilish Vines. These Devilish Vines had been growing for thousands of years. Devilish Vines could hunt on their own, appearing as ordinary vines crawling on the ground or climbing on trees. However, as soon as any living being entered their range, they would attack.


    Once they entangled their prey, they would release numerous poisonous thorns. The toxins in these thorns could immobilize the prey. Then, the thorns would absorb the prey''s Spiritual Energy, demonic energy, and essence blood until the victim turned into a pile of bones.


    Wang Hong nned to transnt some Devilish Vines and cover the surrounding peaks of the Mountain Valley with them. That way, if the Demonic Beasts dared to approach from those areas, they would have no way out.


    For some reason, these Devilish Vines growing in his Space no longer attacked him. It could be that they had grown ustomed to his aura, or perhaps there was some subtle influence from the Space itself. Wang Hong couldn''t be sure.


    He floated to the center of these Devilish Vines and selected those that were less than eight hundred years old. The ones with two to three thousand years of age, while more powerful, did not suit his identity as a Foundation Building cultivator. It was better not to use such high-tier Spiritual Objects.


    The Devilish Vines he dug up varied from several decades to a few hundred years old. These Devilish Vines would grow faster if they were regrly fed with Demonic Beasts.


    Looking at the Devilish Vines he had dug up, Wang Hong realized that the quantity was still far from enough to cover the three surrounding peaks of the Mountain Valley.


    Fortunately, there was a patch of mature Nourishing Essence Pill Spiritual Herb in his Space. He harvested all of them and used the vacant space to cultivate young Devilish Vine saplings.


    After leaving his Space, it took Wang Hong two days to nt these Devilish Vines around the Mountain Valley''s peaks, sparsely but strategically. This task could only be done by him, as anyone else approaching would trigger the Devilish Vines'' attacks.


    Wang Hong looked at the results of his two-daybor and felt satisfied. Although the nting was sparse for now, it would provide the equivalent protection of several hundred cultivators guarding him.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 343: Planting

    Chapter 343: nting


    After sessfully nting the Devilish Vine, Wang Hong brought numerous Red Powder Skull Flowers from his space and ced them in the gaps and behind the Devilish Vine.


    The Demonic Beasts that had narrowly escaped the Devilish Vine''s attacks were now harvested by these Red Powder Skull Flowers. Those who could break through to attack the Mountain Valley defense formation would be in short supply.


    Wang Hong looked at his masterpiece, and now, he was somewhat eager to see how those mindless Demonic Beasts would fare against this formation.


    The weakest point of defense was now the valley entrance. It was inconvenient to set up these defenses there since it was the main entrance for everyone.


    The reason Wang Hong was able to nt Red Powder Skull Flowers at the entrancest time was because the Fellowship Alliance had leaked information in advance. Wang Hong had prepared some gifts for them in return.


    After that battle, he removed the Red Powder Skull Flowers from the entrance.


    Next, Wang Hong reinforced the formation at the entrance and added more defensive and offensive formations.


    After a dozen more days, the Spirit Vein seeds buried underground finally gave birth to Spirit Veins.


    He had used over four thousand Spirit Vein seeds, equivalent to the quantity of more than forty medium-sized Spirit Veins. In the end, he sessfully nurtured more than twenty small-sized Spirit Veins.Even with just these twenty-plus small-sized Spirit Veins, the concentration of Spirit Qi in Mountain Valley had increased several timespared to before.


    Even the Marketce at the entrance was affected, with some miniature Spirit Veins appearing, attracting cultivators who wanted to rent houses and settle there long term.


    Many factions in the vicinity, asters, were satisfied with having one or two small-sized Spirit Veins to call their own.


    Some factions had no Spirit Veins in their areas at all, and their cultivation relied solely on consuming resources.


    The increase in Spirit Veins allowed over a thousand acres ofnd in the valley to be Spirit Fields.


    Wang Hong ordered Yin Ze to organize a team to cultivate all the open spaces in Mountain Valley into Spirit Fields.


    Due to the elevation in Spiritual Energy, they even expanded the number of second-tier Spirit Fields by more than ten acres.


    The original Spirit Spring had also grown significantly, and its outflow was sufficient to irrigate nearly a thousand acres of Spirit Fields.


    "East Master, all our Spirit Fields have been cultivated. What kind of Spiritual Objects should we nt?" Yin Ze asked Wang Hong after organizing the Spirit Fields.


    "We can nt Devilish Vine in all those ten-plus acres of second-tier Spirit Fields. You can collect more Demonic Beast corpses in the future to feed the Devilish Vine and elerate its growth," Wang Hong said as he handed some Devilish Vine seeds to Yin Ze.


    "Devilish Vine?" Yin Ze thought he had misheard and repeated his question.


    "Yes, Devilish Vine! And we''ll nt it densely," Wang Hong replied confidently.


    "But East Master, what will we do with so much Devilish Vine?" Devilish Vine was considered a niche among Spiritual Objects. While some people might grow one or two, no one would nt over ten acres of seedlings at once.


    "Of course, we''ll sell them. Just nt them without worries; there will definitely be people willing to buy them at high prices in the future," Wang Hong said confidently.After discussing what to nt in the other one-tier Spirit Fields, Yin Ze asked, "What kind of Spiritual Objects should we nt in the remaining hundreds of acres of one-tier Spirit Fields?"


    Since Wang Hong was so confident, Yin Ze believed it should be fine, but there were still many fields to be arranged.


    "nt three hundred acres of one-tier Spirit Grain, two hundred acres of two-tier Spirit Grain, and the rest can be used for nting some one-tier Spiritual Herbs," Wang Hong replied.


    Wang Hong referred to the Spirit Grain he had mutated in his space as two-tier Spirit Grain.


    Due to the recent rampant destruction by Treasure Hunters,bined with therge number of cultivators now crowded into this small area, various Spiritual Objects were bing extremely scarce. Spirit Grain had a rtively short growth cycle, which meant they could be quickly harvested and supplied to the market.


    Wang Hong had been hesitant to sell his previously nted two-tier Spirit Grain, as he had consumed it all within his group. But now, with his increased strength, he was more confident in expanding his operations.


    He decided to nt most of the newly acquired Spirit Fields with Spirit Grain, anticipating that they would be highly sought-after when Spiritual Objects became scarce in the future.


    After handling the situation in Mountain Valley, Wang Hong quietly visited the Mountain Valley guarded by Liu Changsheng.


    Here, Liu Changsheng had also developed over eighty Foundation Building cultivators, but their overall strength still couldn''t match that of the main Mountain Valley base.


    Wang Hong made simr arrangements here, though the Devilish Vine count was still insufficient, so he only nted a small amount.


    With arrangements in ce, Wang Hong was ready to return to the Sect. He had already received a summons from the Sect and expected to be assigned some tasks.


    Upon returning to the Sect, Wang Hong paid a visit to Gu Qingyang first.


    He had heard that Gu Qingyang had provided significant assistance during Zhan Shulong''s incident, and as his disciple, he wanted to express his gratitude properly.


    This time, he brought some Ink Pine Nuts with him. Gu Wei had mentioned that his mother enjoyed the Ink Pine Nuts Wang Hong had given her. Winning the favor of his master''s wife could be even more beneficial than directly pleasing the master.


    Of course, Wang Hong also brought a hundred catties of two-tier Spirit Grain as a gift for Gu Qingyang.


    Since he nned to sell this Spirit Grain in the future, he decided to give some to Gu Qingyang now.


    Gu Qingyang and his wife were delighted to receive Wang Hong''s gifts.


    At the same time, Gu Qingyang shared some news with Wang Hong. The Demon n had formed a Beast Tide around the outskirts of Qingxu Sect, and thoseing this way were being driven forward as the vanguard.


    The Sect was currently in need of capable individuals. Wang Hong''s caravan had proven itsbat strength, and his overall power was at least on par with a Golden Core cultivator. This was why there had been attempts to seize his assets previously.


    However, the Sect was now focusing on recruiting him and his followers. With Gu Qingyang''s support, no one would dare to use force against him.


    Gu Qingyang hinted to him that if he were to be deployed in battle again, he could make some demands and seek benefits in return.


    Following Gu Qingyang''s guidance, Wang Hong met with the four hallmasters.


    When Wang Hong entered the same great hall as before, all four hallmasters were present.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays respects to the four senior martial uncles. Disciple seeks the senior martial uncles'' guidance!" Wang Hong bowed deeply as he entered.


    "What do you need us to guide you on?" Blue Dragon Hallmaster asked, though he was silently wondering why this young disciple had dared toe here to seek judgment.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 344: The Flying Boat

    Chapter 344: The Flying Boat


    "Zhan Shulong, Fang Xuan, Miao Rui have conspired with outsiders, attempting to seize the assets of our East Zhou Trading Company. I humbly request the four senior martial uncles to make a decision in favor of the disciples!" Wang Hong pleaded, bowing down.


    "Ah, we are already aware of this matter. We three old fellows truly owe an apology to Wang Shizu. We have already punished the three of them, deducting ten thousand contribution points from each and ordering them to reflect on their actions in seclusion within the Abyssal Cave for a year.


    At the same time, we will transfer the thirty thousand contribution points they have forfeited topensate Wang Shizu. How does Wang Shizu feel about this?" Blue Dragon Hall Master, in a seemingly fair manner, shifted the me onto the three individuals and imposed penalties.


    Wang Hong had no choice in this matter, given that they were Core Elders of the sect and held substantial power.


    "Thank you, senior martial uncles, for your decision," Wang Hong expressed his gratitude. Receiving thirty thousand contribution points wasn''t bad at all; his trip wasn''t entirely in vain.


    "Wang Shizu, I summoned you here for another important matter," Blue Dragon Hall Master said, shifting the conversation from Zhan Shulong and the others to official business.


    "I wonder what it is, please instruct me, senior uncle," Wang Hong respectfully replied.


    "As you are now the vice hall master of Blue Dragon Hall, you are eligible to know about some of our strategic arrangements. Currently, the Demon n hasunched a massive invasion, and a Beast Tide has formed on the outskirts. I presume you have heard something about it."


    Wang Hong nodded in acknowledgment. "Yes, I''ve heard rumors.""Now, as the vice hall master of Blue Dragon Hall, you are qualified to be informed about our strategy to counter this threat." Blue Dragon Hall Master proceeded to provide Wang Hong with a brief overview of the situation, including the Beast Tide formed by the convergence of the West Zhou Demon Realm and the East Sea Demon n, which posed a formidable threat.


    If not handled properly, it could lead to the downfall of the entire Qingxu Sect. To address this crisis, the sect had mobilized a vast amount of resources, including the cultivation of over five hundred Foundation Building cultivators through the use of Foundation Establishment Pills alone. Other resources were also being deployed.


    The centuries-old umtion of the sect''s resources was truly formidable. After extensive discussions among the sect''s high-ranking members, they decided that both defense and offense must be simultaneous. Passive defense alone would eventually lead to the sect''s defeat.


    Currently, the sect had organized all cultivators within its sphere of influence into three defensive lines. These three lines, centered around Qingxu Sect, formed concentric circles.


    The outermostyer consisted of Treasure Hunters who had been subjugated and newly recruited cultivators.


    The secondyer wasposed of Qingxu Sect''s cultivators and the previously established local forces, including those like Liao Yang whom Wang Hong had encountered before.


    The innermostyer was made up entirely of Qingxu Sect''s disciples.


    Additionally, the sect had assembled a group of elite forces, led by Golden Core cultivators, who would pilotrge Flying Boats beyond the first defensive line to seek opportunities to y Demonic Beasts. This strategy aimed to maximize the number of Demonic Beasts killed and reduce their overall strength.


    The key to victory in this battley in both defense and weakening the Demonic Beasts continuously.


    Wang Hong''s assigned task was to lead his subordinates to the first defensive line as mobile support. On the surface, it appeared to be a support mission, but the primary role was to supervise andmand.


    In the first defensive line, most of the cultivators were forcefully deployed, and only a few were genuinely willing to fight. Especially among the Foundation Building cultivators, Treasure Hunters made up the majority. These individuals had a reputation for hiding during battles and causing trouble afterward, essentially acting as opportunists.


    Therefore, the first defensive line required someone trustworthy to supervise it. Considering Wang Hong''s past performance and the apparent mismatch between him and the Treasure Hunters, assigning him to oversee a region was a suitable decision.


    "May I ask, senior martial uncles, if we are heading to oversee the defense, could the sect provide two well-performing Flying Boats? While I do have an old Flying Boat, it''s too antiquated and unreliable. I''m afraid it might hinder our efforts. Additionally, I''ve been facing a shortage of Spirit Stonestely. Could the senior uncles allocate some for me?" Wang Hong requested.


    If he was expected to work without receiving personnel support and with the sect allocating so many resources, it was only fair that he received some resources as well.


    "At present, we don''t have enough Flying Boats. I''ll provide you with one medium-sized Flying Boat. Additionally, I''ll allocate three million low-grade Spirit Stones and fifty mid-grade Spirit Stones," Blue Dragon Hall Master replied after a brief moment of hesitation.


    Wang Hong hadn''t expected Blue Dragon Hall Master to agree so readily. He wished he had asked for more resources earlier.


    "Now that the resources are allocated to you, we hope you can stay stationed at the first defensive line for a month, assisting in the construction of the second and third defensive lines in the rear to buy us more time. Simultaneously, you can contribute by ying more Demonic Beasts to relieve the pressure on the subsequent defense," Blue Dragon Hall Master added.


    Blue Dragon Hall Master handed Wang Hong a Jade Scroll, which he could use to collect resources from the sect''s storage. The sect''s storage facility was also located on the Heavenly Authority Peak, with a Golden Core Elder stationed there year-round. However, a Foundation Building cultivator was responsible for daily tasks such as handling entries and exits, as Golden Core Elders considered these trivial matters beneath them.


    After Wang Hong handed the Jade Scroll to a slightly overweight middle-aged cultivator, he discreetly gave the man two mid-grade Spirit Stones. He knew that there must be more than one medium-sized Flying Boat in the storage, and their qualities might differ.


    The middle-aged man happily epted the mid-grade Spirit Stones and, after searching for about fifteen minutes in the storage, handed Wang Hong a meticulously crafted medium-sized Flying Boat, as well as arge Storage Bag filled with Spirit Stones.


    "This is the only medium-sized Flying Boat in the storage equipped with Spirit Energy Cannons. Its size is slightlyrger than the others," the middle-aged man exined.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother!" Wang Hong gratefully epted the Flying Boat and Storage Bag. Spending those two mid-grade Spirit Stones was definitely worth it.


    After receiving the Flying Boat and Spirit Stones, Wang Hong returned to his cave mansion. Over the years, Chen Nian had been taking care of his cave mansion diligently, ensuring that all spiritual objects were well-maintained.


    Chen Nian had already reached theter stages of Qi Cultivation, but theck of Foundation Establishment Pills had prevented him from advancing to Foundation Building. Qingxu Sect had tens of thousands of Qi Cultivation disciples, and those who could enter the sect had reasonably good aptitudes. There were many like Chen Nian who faced the same predicament.


    "Chen Nian, you''ve been taking care of my cave mansion diligently all these years. I have a Foundation Establishment Pill here; consider it a reward for you," Wang Hong said, handing a pill bottle to Chen Nian.


    Chen Nian epted the pill bottle with gratitude, bowing in appreciation. He never expected that his role in maintaining Wang Hong''s cave mansion would lead to him receiving a Foundation Establishment Pill.


    For other Qi Cultivation cultivators, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill required entering a secret realm and risking their lives.


    "You stay here and work on your Foundation Building while I go out to participate in the battle," Wang Hong instructed before leaving the cave mansion. After he had gone some distance away, Chen Nian still found it a bit unbelievable.


    Quietly, he opened the pill bottle and took a peek inside, causing him to gasp in astonishment. Inside the bottle was a mid-grade Foundation Establishment Pill, an item that couldn''t be obtained with contribution points even within the sect.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 345: Qi Shaoqing

    Chapter 345: Qi Shaoqing


    After returning to Mountain Valley, Wang Hong took out the newly acquired Flying Boat to examine it. He gathered Luo Zhongjie and others to infuse Spiritual Power into the Flying Boat. After about a quarter of an hour, the Flying Boat finally revealed its true form.


    This Flying Boat was twenty zhang long and ten zhang wide, which was a bit wider than the usual Flying Boats. What stood out the most were the eight Spirit Energy Cannons on board¡ªfour at the front and back and three on each side.


    These Spirit Energy Cannons required Spirit Stones as their power source, consuming ten thousand pieces of low-grade Spirit Stones each time they fired. Their power wasparable to a mid-stage Foundation Building cultivator''s full-powered attack. The greatest advantage of these cannons was that Qi Cultivation stage cultivators could operate them as long as there were enough Spirit Stones, effectively adding several mid-stage Foundation Buildingbatants to their forces.


    Since this Flying Boat was slightlyrger, it could carry over a hundred people at once. With two Flying Boats at his disposal, Wang Hong could likely fit all his two hundred-plus subordinates on board if they squeezed together.


    As for Liu Changsheng''s subordinates, they weren''t needed for the time being. They primarily operated in stealth and preferred not to engage in direct confrontations. However, they had also been conscripted to participate in the battle against the Demon n.


    Most of Liu Changsheng''s subordinates typically operated in a hidden state, so only about a dozen of them had been conscripted this time, and they were stationed in the second defensive line.


    In Mountain Valley, Wang Hong selected fifty Foundation Building stage members and eighty Qi Cultivation stage members, forming a team of a hundred and thirty individuals. Among the fifty Foundation Building stage members, ten were tasked with defense using shields, another ten with restraining and binding using Binding Spirit Ropes, and the remaining thirty used medium-grade Flying Swords as their weapons.


    Among the eighty Qi Cultivation stage members, ten were responsible for piloting the Flying Boat, ten operated the Spirit Energy Cannons, and the remaining sixty each had a set of low-grade Spiritual Weapon bows and arrows.


    Just this entire set of equipment was something only a few forces could afford to assemble.Luo Zhongjie continued to lead the team this time, with Ling Shuai, Ling Xue, and Gu Wei joining Wang Hong in battle.


    Furthermore, Wang Hong assigned Wen Lan to organize a merchant convoy to prepare supplies for the journey. Wen Lan''s convoy consisted of thirty Foundation Building stage members and an additional twenty Qi Cultivation stage members.


    Considering the ongoing battles ahead, resources were likely to be scarce. Bringing the merchant convoy would allow them to trade with frontline cultivators, exchanging spoils of war for various strategic resources. This way, they could profit while also providing support to the frontline.


    Having experienced major battles in the Boundary Mountain Range in the past, Wang Hong knew that, in the end, resources often yed a decisive role.


    However, with the simultaneous deployment of two Flying Boats, the strength within Mountain Valley had be somewhat depleted. Excluding the Outer Valley outer perimeter cultivators, there were now only a few dozen individuals left in the Inner Valley.


    Nevertheless, after Wang Hong''s careful arrangements, Mountain Valley was not an easy target to conquer.


    After several days of travel, Wang Hong arrived at the location where he was responsible for overseeing five strongholds. These strongholds had previously been managed by supervisory teams on both sides, but now that Wang Hong was here, they would be under hismand.


    As Wang Hong arrived, two medium-sized Flying Boats approached from both sides, bearing the insignia of the Qingxu Sect.


    These two Flying Boats must belong to the other two supervisory teams on his nks.


    "Is it Junior Brother Wang?" called out a tall, slender youth standing on the deck of the Flying Boat to his left, shouting loudly toward Wang Hong. Wang Hong looked over and was somewhat surprised to encounter a familiar face in this ce.


    The cultivator on the left Flying Boat was none other than Qi Shaoqing, with whom Wang Hong had once studied Alchemy at the Pill Hall. They had spent a month learning Alchemy together, but then Qi Shaoqing disappeared from their sight.


    Wang Hong had personally inquired about Qi Shaoqing''s background because he had previously offended the Qi family from the Zengling Sect. Sharing the same surname, with a mysterious background, Wang Hong had to be cautious.


    In the end, he received an answer from Elder Brother: Qi Shaoqing had a significant background as a direct descendant of a Nascent Soul elder of the sect, and he had gained that elder''s favor. That was why he could learn Alchemy directly from Master Mei without going through a test.


    Encountering Qi Shaoqing here again, Wang Hong assumed that he hade for further experience.


    "Senior Brother Qi! It''s me," Wang Hong greeted him from the Flying Boat.


    "Come! Let''s talk down below," Qi Shaoqing gestured downward while standing at the bow of the boat. Then, he turned the boat and descended.


    Wang Hong''s group followed suit in their right Flying Boat.


    Several Flying Boatsnded on a t area below, and everyone disembarked, setting up a temporary camp.


    It was only when everyone had disembarked that the differences became apparent. The two other Flying Boats had cultivators wearing Qingxu Sect Daoist Robes, while Wang Hong''s group, except for Wang Hong himself, wore blue robes.


    Surprisingly, all one hundred cultivators from Qi Shaoqing''s Flying Boat were Foundation Building stage disciples. On the other hand, the cultivators from the other Flying Boat were simr to Wang Hong''s group, consisting of fifty Foundation Building stage and fifty Qi Cultivation stage members.


    "I heard that Junior Brother Wang personally recruited a group of experts, but I didn''t expect them to be this elite!" Qi Shaoqing observed Wang Hong''s subordinates, noting their seriousness, strong presence, and unwavering determination. It was clear that they were not a random assortment of individuals.


    Although Qi Shaoqing had brought one hundred Foundation Building stage disciples, it seemed like Wang Hong''s group was stronger. However, Qi Shaoqing''s disciples came from various peaks, many of whom did not know each other, making it difficult to build trust and cohesion among them. They were currently scattered and did not appear to work together effectively.


    In contrast, Wang Hong''s group of over one hundred people, while now on the ground, demonstrated remarkable coordination, even in tasks as simple as setting up tents.


    Qi Shaoqing had one hundred elite sect members at hismand, but he couldn''t help but admire Wang Hong''s ability to assemble such a team by himself.


    "Senior Brother Qi, you overestimate me. My aplishments are still not enough to catch your eye. I am Wang Hong. I''ve met Senior Brother before. May I inquire about Senior Brother''s esteemed name?" Wang Hong replied without engaging in much small talk, as another cultivator from the right Flying Boat had also approached.


    "Tianji Peak, Shi Fei!" the middle-aged man with a horse-like face replied briefly. He had heard Qi Shaoqing praising Wang Hong earlier and was feeling somewhat displeased. He had always tried to curry favor with Qi Shaoqing, rarely hearing such praise from him. Most of the time, Qi Shaoqing''spliments were mere formalities.


    Wang Hong sensed that Shi Fei might not have a favorable impression of him and didn''t want to cozy up to someone who appeared indifferent.


    Both Qi Shaoqing and Wang Hong had led their forces into battle, and Wang Hong had brought a merchant convoy with him. Qi Shaoqing didn''tment on it, but Shi Fei clearly disyed a disdainful attitude, thinking that Wang Hong was neglecting his duty by seeking personal gain at such a critical time.


    The three groups stayed on the tnd for an hour or two before parting ways. They were still in a war zone, and shes with the Demon n could happen at any moment, so there was no time to waste.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 346: Vanguard

    Chapter 346: Vanguard


    After Wang Hong and his two groups of soldiers separated, he left Wen Lan in charge of the merchant caravan to rest in ce. The major battle had just begun, and all the strongholds were well-stocked with supplies, so they wouldn''t run out of provisions anytime soon.


    Wang Hong took the lead on his Flying Boat and began patrolling the area under his responsibility. In this region, there were a total of five strongholds, each strategically located on vital routes.


    Each stronghold was manned by several thousand soldiers and had amander in charge. Wang Hong first arrived at the first stronghold, which had over four thousand people, including more than thirty Foundation Building cultivators.


    The stronghold had some rudimentary walls built around it, standing about ten feet tall and offering minimal defense.


    "Where is yourmander? Have hime out to meet me," Wang Hong shouted to the cultivators stationed on the walls as he and his groupnded their Flying Boat outside the stronghold.


    After a moment, a group of Foundation Building cultivators emerged from behind the walls, with one of them being Fu Li, the same man who had escaped during Fellowship Alliance''s attack on Mountain Valley.


    After escaping the pursuit that day, Fu Li had gone into hiding, living a low-key life and asionally robbing smaller factions for survival. However, when the forces of the major factions returned to the scene, they issued an ultimatum to Treasure Hunters like him: join them or face death.


    Like many other Treasure Hunters, Fu Li had chosen to join the major factions for safety. Before long, he was assigned to this stronghold to defend it.


    "It''s you!" Luo Zhongjie, who was behind Wang Hong, immediately recognized Fu Li and his aura surged, as if he was ready to attack without hesitation.Wang Hong also recognized Fu Li''s identity. He had received information from Liu Changsheng about the high-ranking members of the Fellowship Alliance, so he was familiar with them. Wang Hong had no intention of stopping Luo Zhongjie''s actions; he thought it might be good to establish some dominance, and if necessary, he could eliminate Fu Li directly.


    "I ask for your forgiveness, Fellow Daoist. I was originally a legitimate family cultivator. I joined the Fellowship Alliance only because I had no other choice at the time. I was coerced into it," Fu Li apologized cautiously to Wang Hong. Then, he passionately expressed his determination to fight against the Demon n.


    Fu Li was genuinely afraid that Wang Hong might kill him in a fit of anger, considering how Fellowship Alliance had suffered at Wang Hong''s hands before. The formidable impression of the East Zhou Merchant Caravan had deeply imprinted itself in his mind, and he dared not be Wang Hong''s enemy anymore. Moreover, even if he were to resist, he had no confidence that he could gain any advantage with his current resources.


    "Very well, since you are now dedicated to fighting the Demon n, defend your stronghold diligently. Starting today, you must hold it for a month without allowing a single Demonic Beast to cross the border. If you fail, you will be held ountable. Now, tell me, how is the situation with the Demonic Beasts? Have there been any incursions by their hordes here?" Wang Hong asked, temporarily letting Fu Li off the hook and inquiring about the Demonic Beast situation.


    "Since we''ve been stationed here, we''ve intercepted three waves of Demonic Beasts, with their numbers ranging from two thousand to five thousand," Fu Li reported.


    Fu Li breathed a sigh of relief, finally putting this page behind him. While introducing the situation to Wang Hong, he led Wang Hong and his group into the stronghold.


    Wang Hong conducted a thorough inspection of the stronghold and found that Fu Li had managed it quite efficiently. Not spotting any issues, he made a brief stop and then proceeded to the next stronghold.


    The five strongholds under Wang Hong''s jurisdiction were not too far apart, allowing for mutual support if one stronghold faced a heavy attack.


    Soon, Wang Hong had visited all five strongholds and was surprised to find that all the strongholdmanders were former Treasure Hunters.


    Upon Wang Hong''s arrival, some, like Fu Li, were cautious and feared repercussions. Others, however, were more arrogant due to their numbers and strength.


    One of the strongholds was led by Bai Yikui, whomanded over a hundred Foundation Building cultivators. Before being recruited, Bai Yikui had been a notorious and long-standing bandit leader, causing trouble for many smaller factions. People held deep grudges against him, but they were helpless to deal with him until Qingxu Sect took a tough stance. Under Qi Shaoqing''s supervision, they had been kept in check. However, now, with Wang Hong leading a group that didn''t include any Qingxu Sect disciples, Bai Yikui felt no fear or respect.


    Taking advantage of the weak and fearing the strong was the nature of these Treasure Hunters. Wang Hong had no immediate ns to confront them as long as they diligently defended their strongholds. Since the true Beast Tide had not arrived yet, the current influx of Demonic Beasts was not too numerous, and their size wasn''t particrlyrge.


    Over the next ten days, Wang Hong had a rtively rxed time. Only a few small waves of Demonic Beasts arrived, and they were easily repelled.


    During this time, Wang Hong urged the strongholds to further fortify their walls, emphasizing the importance of height. When the actual Beast Tide arrived, these low defensive walls would allow many Demonic Beasts to easily jump over them.


    After these ten days of hard work, the walls of the various strongholds had been significantly raised and strengthened.


    One day, Wang Hong was at one of the strongholds where more than two thousand Demonic Beasts were about tounch an attack. Suddenly, he received an urgent message from amander named Feng Chang, reporting that arge group of Demonic Beasts was approaching his stronghold.


    Wang Hong immediately took flight on his Flying Boat with his team, heading towards Feng Chang''s stronghold. When he arrived, he saw a massive swarm of Demonic Beasts about a mile away, apanied by a cloud-like formation of flying Demonic Beasts.


    A rough estimate put the total number of this wave of Demonic Beasts at tens of thousands, indicating that the vanguard of the Beast Tide had likely arrived. The total number of defenders at this particr stronghold was only around five thousand, with just over forty Foundation Building cultivators. The difference in strength was staggering.


    "You, take a few people and go to the other strongholds to gather reinforcements," Wang Hong quickly instructed Luo Zhongjie, who promptly departed.


    "Ling Shuai! Ling Xue! You two willmand the Flying Boat now. Lead the remaining eighty Qi Cultivation stage members to confront the flying Demonic Beasts in the sky," Wang Hong ordered.


    Since the flying Demonic Beasts were faster than the crawling ones and were already at the forefront of the Beast Tide, this was an opportunity to eliminate them before the full-scale battle began.


    "Feng Chang, lead the original forty Foundation Building cultivators from this stronghold. Take to the air and position yourselves as the right wing of the Flying Boat."


    "All Foundation Building stage members, listen up! Follow behind me and serve as the left wing of the Flying Boat."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 347: Reinforcements

    Chapter 347: Reinforcements


    With amand from Wang Hong, everyone ascended into the sky together.


    They were racing against time now, aiming to quickly eliminate these monstrous birds before they reached their stronghold.


    These monstrous birds were not particrlyrge, and aside from being slightly faster, they had no significant advantages in battle. That''s why Wang Hong had the confidence to eliminate nearly ten thousand of them in such a short time.


    In the center was the Flying Boat, the weakest of the three groups. It spread its wings on both sides like the wings of a bird, nking the monstrous birds from both sides.


    "Boom! Boom!"


    With a distance of over two hundred zhang still between them, the spiritual energy cannons on the Flying Boat started to bombard the front.


    The principle behind these spiritual energy cannons was simr to cultivators casting Magical Arts. They used Spirit Stones as a power source, converting spiritual energy into powerful Magical Arts through the formations on the cannons.


    These Magical Arts were not all the same. The spiritual energy cannons on Wang Hong''s Flying Boat included both the Rain of Ice and Rain of Fire Arts.


    First, several Rain of Ice Arts from the spiritual energy cannons struck directly into the flock of flying beasts. Some of the monstrous birds at the forefront were frozen into ice blocks and fell to the ground, shattering upon impact.The remaining birds that weren''t frozen solid were shivering from the cold, their flight patterns erratic.


    Before the cold had a chance to dissipate, there were more booming sounds from the Flying Boat. This time, it was a torrential rain of fire.


    These creatures,cking much intelligence, were initially relieved by the sudden warmth. However, their relief was short-lived as the rain of fire descended upon them, causing another round of agonizing screeches.


    Countless monstrous birds turned into fireballs and plummeted, while those that only caught the edges of the mes had their feathers singed, making their flight less agile.


    But this wasn''t the end. Following more booming sounds, another rain of ice fell from the sky.


    Some of the birds had just been roasted, and when the cold air hit them, their bodies cracked open.


    After enduring multiple rounds of bombardment from the spiritual energy cannons, the two sides finally closed in. Originally, there were over ten thousand monstrous birds, but after the onught of the cannons, they had lost nearly two thousand.


    Many of the remaining birds were injured, and at this moment, they finally encountered the culprits responsible for their suffering. They charged angrily towards the Flying Boat.


    They were met with another wave of cannon fire, resulting in more casualties.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong rode on Little Peng''s back, wielding a golden Flying Sword, leading the charge towards the monstrous birds. The rest of the team members followed closely, entering the midst of the monstrous bird flock.


    On Feng Chang''s side, there was no room for hesitation either. Each of them summoned their Spiritual Weapons and began bombarding the monstrous birds.


    Among the monstrous birds, there were also over two hundred second-tier creatures. They had only suffered a few casualties from the previous cannon bombardment.


    These second-tier monstrous birds were naturally much more challenging to deal with than the first-tier ones.


    Fortunately, these second-tier birds were scattered throughout the flock, so they only had to deal with a few at a time.


    Moreover, aside from the members inside the Flying Boat, all the cultivators on the wings were at the Foundation Building stage, so dealing with a few second-tier Demonic Beasts should not have been too difficult.


    However, due to theck of coordination among Feng Chang''s team, they often found themselves in disarray when facing these second-tier monstrous birds.


    The Flying Boat had protective shields and was not particrly afraid of the attacks from these second-tier birds.


    As for Wang Hong''s side, they had even less to worry about. Most of the second-tier monstrous birds were no match for Little Peng''s wings or ws.


    The remaining one or two stragglers were swiftly dealt with by Wang Hong''s Flying Sword, leaving no trace of second-tier monstrous birds behind.


    Wang Hong checked the situation on both wings and selected five team members from his own group to assist Feng Chang.


    These five individuals were equipped with Binding Spirit Ropes and, upon arriving at Feng Chang''s location, focused solely on dealing with the second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Whenever a second-tier Demonic Beast appeared, they swiftly used their Binding Spirit Ropes to immobilize one, finally stabilizing the situation for Feng Chang.


    While the battle raged on, Luo Zhongjie had already visited five different strongholds.


    Wang Hong demanded that apart from the strongholds currently under attack, all the remaining strongholds must divert at least half of their manpower to reinforce the frontlines.


    These strongholdsplied with the orders, but the speed at which they acted varied from one to another.


    Those who were swift, like Fu Li, personally led a group of twenty Foundation Building cultivators and quickly flew to the battlefield, while also mobilizing over two thousand Qi Cultivation cultivators who were rushing behind them.


    As soon as Fu Li and his group arrived, they ascended into the air and joined the hunt for the monstrous birds.


    On the other hand, those who were slower, like Bai Yikui, were still leisurely counting the number of personnel.


    Though they were instructed to divert at least half of their manpower, this required counting the numbers first. Despite Luo Zhongjie''s several reminders, there was no immediate response.


    He could only temporarily abandon this stronghold. With the current group, they couldn''t hold off the enemy, and pushing too hard might lead to humiliation.


    He left with a parting remark, "If you dy in defending, you''ll bear the consequences!"


    Then he moved on to the next stronghold.


    Another stronghold, led by amander named Yuan Jin, also dispatched a team to reinforce. Although they weren''t as proactive as Fu Li, they had thousands of people on the way.


    In the air, they charged into the monstrous birds, striking from the front and behind the flock, cutting through them.


    After ughtering most of the monstrous birds, only about four thousand remained, charging towards the stronghold.


    The stronghold was defended by five thousand Qi Cultivation cultivators, and they were not afraid of these remaining four thousand monstrous birds.


    Wang Hong and his team turned back, heading towards the monstrous birds.


    With both aerial and stronghold attacks, the remaining four thousand monstrous birds were soon eliminated. At this point, the ground-based Demonic Beasts had reached the base of the city wall andunched a fierce assault. Under thebined pressure of countless Demonic Beasts, the city wall trembled.


    In just a short moment, some Demonic Beasts had climbed onto the city wall, causing chaos among the defenders.


    Luckily, Wang Hong and his team had dealt with the monstrous birds and returned to the city wall in time, temporarily stabilizing the situation. However, it was still possible for the Demonic Beasts to breach the wall at any moment.


    After all, the number of cultivators defending the stronghold was only a few thousand, while the Demonic Beasts below numbered in the tens of thousands, ten times their quantity.


    Furthermore, the crawling Demonic Beasts were much stronger in terms of size and power than the flying ones, making them even more difficult to handle.


    Wang Hong ordered the Foundation Building cultivators to spread out along the city wall and assist in the elimination of the Demonic Beasts.


    Ling Xue continued tomand the Flying Boat, patrolling along the city wall. Whenever a section seemed on the verge of copse, they would fly over to provide support.


    The eighty Qi Cultivation cultivators on the Flying Boat all had a cultivation level in theter stages of Qi Cultivation and wielded low-grade Spiritual Weapons.


    Whenever all eighty of them simultaneously shot their arrows, they could create a clearing effect in a small area, though it was quickly filled by the advancing Beast Tide.


    Despite their efforts, they were bing overwhelmed, and some sections of the city wall had started to crack.


    Fortunately, after holding out for a while, Fu Li''s two thousand Qi Cultivation reinforcements finally arrived.


    With the addition of these fresh troops, the frontlines breathed a slight sigh of relief, but the mission remained arduous, and the stronghold was still at risk of being breached at any moment.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 348: Neglect of Duty

    Chapter 348: Neglect of Duty


    In this particr beast horde, there were some Demonic Beasts with innate magical abilities. These Demonic Beasts could unleash their magical arts to attack the cultivators defending the city walls.


    One by one, the cultivators on the city walls were falling, putting even more strain on the already limited manpower.


    Facing nearly ten times their number in Demonic Beasts, many of the cultivators on the city walls had lost theirposure. They could only attack frantically, their eyes fixed on the ceaseless onught of Demonic Beasts.


    Suddenly, with a deafening roar, a segment of the city wall, about fifteen feet long, copsed under the relentless assault of countless Demonic Beasts.


    Some of the cultivators on the wall couldn''t escape in time and were buried beneath the fallen wall.


    Countless Demonic Beasts poured through the breach in the city wall, charging towards the stronghold.


    In this dire moment, Wang Hong rode Little Peng, flying towards the breach.


    Before he even arrived, Wang Hong unfurled a massive that descended upon the breach in the city wall.


    The ensnared hundreds of Demonic Beasts crowded at the breach, and then it tightened, binding them tightly.Wang Hong ced this full of Demonic Beasts in the gap of the city wall, using them as a temporary recement.


    "As you''ve damaged the city wall, you canpensate with your bodies," Wang Hong muttered to himself as he left.


    Another group of cultivators quickly took their ce on the temporary wall made up of Demonic Beasts. Despite the struggling and writhing beasts beneath their feet, it didn''t hinder the Immortal Cultivators from continuing their fight.


    After leaving the breach, Wang Hong rode Little Peng and flew above the Beast Tide. The flying Demonic Beasts had already been wiped out, leaving the sky open for him.


    From his Storage Bag, he retrieved a small bottle containing a precious substance. It was sealed with numerous talismans for protection.


    After breaking the seals one by one, he opened the bottle, releasing a delightful floral fragrance into the air.


    Wang Hong held his breath, not daring to inhale even a tiny bit, for it was the pollen of the Red Powder Skull Flower he had collected.


    Although he and Little Peng had taken a specially crafted antidote, he still didn''t want to breathe in too much of it.


    He carefully and evenly sprinkled the small bottle of pollen onto the Demonic Beast horde below. With meticulous control, he spread the pollen over arge portion of the horde.


    During his poisoning efforts, another section of the city wall was brought down by the Demonic Beasts.


    Fortunately, reinforcements from Yuan Jin''s stronghold, over two thousand strong, had arrived and secured the breach with a thousand defenders.


    At the same time, Luo Zhongjie and his team, who had gone to call for reinforcements, had returned. They patrolled the city walls, ying any Demonic Beasts that managed to breach them.


    Wang Hong''s poison began taking effect within moments. Some Demonic Beasts that were charging forward suddenly stopped in their tracks, entrapped in a hallucination. It was unclear what they experienced in that illusion, but some even emitted pleasurable moans.


    However, those Demonic Beasts that weren''t poisoned in the rear continued to advance. Under the crush and trample of their fellow beasts, some of them unwillingly woke up from the illusion.


    Some who remained asleep became stepping stones for the other beasts and could never get back up.


    Due to Wang Hong''s poison, the strength of the Demonic Beasts'' attacks had decreased by at least half. On the other hand, the defense of the Human n had improved due to the reinforcements.


    With this ebb and flow, even though the Demon n still outnumbered the human cultivators several times over, the battle was gradually stabilizing in favor of the Human n.


    Moreover, even after the Demonic Beasts passed through Wang Hong''s poisoned area, many of them remained poisoned. Even if they were awakened, they would eventually sumb to the poison.


    They were simply awakened to a less joyful end.


    After a day of continuous battle, though the defending cultivators on the city walls were exhausted, theyunched a counterattack against the Demonic Beasts.


    Everyone could see that the Demonic Beasts were not in their best condition now, so it was the perfect opportunity to strike while they were weakened.


    Just as the battle at this stronghold was finally turning in their favor, about tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts were approaching Bai Yikui''s stronghold.


    Meanwhile, Bai Yikui was frolicking with a Foundation Building female cultivator inside his cave mansion.


    "Bai Ge! Are you really not nning to reinforce the defenses? Aren''t you afraid of consequencester?" The female cultivator, wrapping her arms around Bai Yikui''s neck, asked seductively.


    "Of course, I must go! The Demon n is attacking, and how can we, cultivators, stand idly by? I''ll gather my forces and rush to Feng Chang''s stronghold for reinforcement," Bai Yikui replied solemnly, giving off the impression of a righteous cultivator to those unaware of the situation.


    "Hehe! Then, how long will you take to gather them all?" The female cultivator asked yfully.


    Bai Yikui, pretending to count, plucked a small tuft of curly hair from the female cultivator''s body and began counting it.


    "Am I not counting right now? One, two, three, four..."


    Just then, a Transmission Talisman flew into his cave mansion from outside.


    Bai Yikui, irritated by this sudden interruption and the fact that it disrupted his mood, angrily channeled his spiritual power to shatter the Transmission Talisman.


    After crushing the Transmission Talisman, he continued to indulge in the activities he enjoyed.


    However, only momentster, another Transmission Talisman flew into his cave mansion.


    Bai Yikui paid it no attention and once again angrily shattered it.


    In just a few breaths, yet another Transmission Talisman entered his cave mansion.


    Bai Yikui, infuriated at having his private affairs repeatedly interrupted, was now fuming. He snatched the Transmission Talisman and listened to the familiar voice that came from it.


    "Commander! A massive horde of Demonic Beasts is approaching us rapidly. There are at least fifty thousand of them, and they are less than a mile away!"


    The voice in the Transmission Talisman sounded urgent, indicating a critical situation that warranted disturbing Bai Yikui. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have dared to contact him.


    Bai Yikui didn''t even have time to adjust his robe. He rushed out of his cave mansion in a state of panic.


    Inside the stronghold, people were running in all directions, chaos reigning supreme.


    He also noticed that some had taken advantage of the chaos to flee, while others were packing their belongings in preparation to escape.


    Bai Yikui grabbed a Foundation Building subordinate whom he had been close to and demanded loudly, "Why are you leading the retreat?"


    This subordinate, clearly flustered, exined, "Commander Bai, the Demonic Beasts are too ferocious, and there''s no way we can stop them. Moreover, they''re already at the base of the city walls. Even if we seek reinforcements now, it''s toote."


    Bai Yikui looked out toward the stronghold''s walls and saw the sea of Demonic Beasts, just moments away from leaping onto the city walls.


    Inside the stronghold, the cultivators were in disarray, unable to organize an effective defense.


    "Qingxu Sect is using us as cannon fodder. Staying here now means a certain death. If we can escape this dangerous ce, there''s the whole world out there, where can''t we go?" His subordinate continued, trying to persuade Bai Yikui who was still hesitating.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 349: Ten Thousand Reinforcements

    Chapter 349: Ten Thousand Reinforcements


    Bai Yikui didn''t hesitate for long before making a decision. He swiftly entered the cave mansion.


    Inside the cave mansion, a female cultivator who hadn''t yet tidied her robes saw Bai Yikui return and hurriedly approached him, wrapping her arms around him from behind.


    "Brother Bai, I''ve missed you!" she eximed.


    Bai Yikui was already overwhelmed by the situation and didn''t have the patience for her feigned affection.


    "Get off me, you wretch!" He pushed the female cultivator away and quickly began gathering valuable items, preparing to make his escape.


    After Bai Yikui left, the female cultivator casually put on a robe and followed him outside.


    This stronghold had originally housed eight to nine thousand people, with over a hundred Foundation Building cultivators, making it the most powerful among the five strongholds. But now, with Bai Yikui''s retreat, thousands of people in the stronghold had lost their will to fight and were fleeing in all directions.


    When the news reached Wang Hong, he had just led a group of cultivators to a great victory and hadn''t had time to collect the spoils of war.


    Upon learning that Bai Yikui had not resisted and had even led the escape, allowing the Demonic Beasts to easily take over the stronghold, Wang Hong was furious. He had tolerated Bai Yikui''s disrespect earlier and had nned to address itter. But now, with Bai Yikui leading a mass retreat, Wang Hong had to take immediate action to maintain morale."Luo Zhongjie, send a message to Wen Lan right away. Tell him to bring Bai Yikui''s head to me!"


    Wen Lan led a caravan that was currently resting on level ground not far from the stronghold.


    "Fu Li, Feng Chang, Yuan Jin, the three of you lead your subordinates and apany me to reinforce the stronghold. We must drive back the wave of Demonic Beasts that crossed our defenses."


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''smand, the three men exchanged nces, clearly uncertain. They had just emerged from a grueling battle, exhausted and with their Spiritual Power depleted, rendering them unfit for another fight. Moreover, they were aware of the iing wave of Demonic Beasts, numbering a staggering fifty thousand, while their own forces, even at their best, could barely muster five to six thousand. It seemed like a suicide mission.


    "Are you afraid?" Wang Hong''s voice turned cold as he questioned them.


    The three men still wore uneasy expressions, and Yuan Jin finally mustered the courage to speak, "Fellow Daoist Wang, it''s not a matter of bravery. The fact is, the power gap between the two sides is too vast at the moment."


    After Yuan Jin exined, the other two nodded in agreement. In this recent battle, they had gathered nearly ten thousand people and had been able to repel the Demonic Beasts'' attacks only with the support of the stronghold''s walls. Now, without any advantageous position to defend, it would be a certain death sentence.


    Wang Hong sighed. "Don''t worry, I won''t force you into a hopeless situation. I have a n, and there will be ten thousand reinforcementsing soon. In addition, I believe you will soon see Bai Yikui''s head."


    With Wang Hong''s promise of ten thousand reinforcements, the three men''s eyes lit up, and they regained some confidence.


    At the same time, Luo Zhongjie and the others standing nearby were somewhat fearful, for they had witnessed the fighting prowess of this group before. Even with thebined strength of the three groups of Foundation Building cultivators, they weren''t necessarily a match for them.


    Furthermore, their own cultivators would lose their fighting spirit if they suffered even a few casualties. But the imposing presence of the enemy was not something that could be easily intimidated by a few casualties.


    "In addition, all those who participate in this battle will receive a half-jin bottle of Spirit Wine for recovery."


    Seeing that the group was starting to show signs of relenting, Wang Hong dangled another incentive.


    "I''ll go gather the troops now!" Fu Li turned and walked toward the cultivators who were busy collecting the spoils of war.


    With the first one agreeing, the others soon followed suit, one after another, rallying their subordinates.


    Once all the cultivators were gathered, Wang Hong took out severalrge barrels of Spirit Wine and filled small bottles for each person. Foundation Building cultivators received second-tier medium-grade Spirit Wine, while Qi Cultivation cultivators received first-tier high-grade Spirit Wine.


    Each person received half a jin (250 grams) of Spirit Wine, which amounted to thousands of kilograms in total. The generosity of Wang Hong left the cultivators in awe.


    Especially the Foundation Building cultivators, who numbered over a hundred, received fifty to sixty jin of second-tier Spirit Wine each. This was something they could never afford with their Spirit Stones on ordinary days.


    After distributing the Spirit Wine, Wang Hong ordered all the Foundation Building cultivators to join him in quickly heading to Bai Yikui''s stronghold.


    There were over a hundred Foundation Building cultivators flying with their magical devices, with a group of eighty Qi Cultivation cultivators piloting a Flying Boat in the center. The remaining Qi Cultivation cultivators, with slower speeds, followed behind as the second wave of reinforcements.


    When they arrived, all the defending cultivators had fled, and many Demonic Beasts had already breached the stronghold.


    "Let''s first deal with these Demonic Beasts that crossed the stronghold, and then we''ll tackle the ones inside," Wang Hong instructed.


    Over a hundred Foundation Building cultivators, apanied by a Flying Boat, charged toward the Demonic Beasts that had crossed the stronghold''s defenses. The number of Demonic Beasts wasn''t overwhelming, mainly consisting of first-tier creatures. As they charged in, they swiftly cut down the Demonic Beasts, like a wolf among sheep.


    Seeing the Demonic Beasts rushing out of the stronghold upon spotting them, Yuan Jin and the other Foundation Building cultivators were filled with a sense of impending doom.


    "Our lives are at stake!" Yuan Jin couldn''t help but mutter as he witnessed the countless Demonic Beasts closing in on them.


    "Wang Fellow Daoist! Where are the ten thousand reinforcements?" Feng Chang anxiously asked Wang Hong.


    "They''re here!" Wang Hong shouted, and then, his sleeves billowed as countless small ck dots flew out, so numerous that their exact number was hard to discern.


    "Are these the ten thousand reinforcements Wang Fellow Daoist mentioned?" Feng Chang couldn''t help but wear a wry smile.


    "These are just some slightlyrger Poisonous Bees. They won''t be enough to deal with so many Demonic Beasts," Wang Hong replied, paying them no further attention. Instead, he directed the Poisonous Bees to fly downward.


    As the Poisonous Bees entered the midst of the Demonic Beasts, chaos erupted among the creatures. Though these Poisonous Bees were still only at the first-tier level in terms of their strength, their physical resilience far exceeded that of Demonic Beasts of the same tier. Under the nurturing of various Spiritual Herbs by Wang Hong, their small bodies contained formidable power.


    Wang Hong released fifteen thousand Poisonous Bees in total, and on average, every one or two of them could restrain a first-tier Demonic Beast. It was at this moment that Yuan Jin and the others realized the exceptional nature of these Poisonous Bees.


    Meanwhile, from a distance, another Flying Boat approached, led by Wen Lan and his caravan.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 350: Heavy Losses

    Chapter 350: Heavy Losses


    Seeing the formidable Poisonous Bees released by Wang Hong and the reinforcement of the Flying Boat, the various cultivators who had been feeling somewhat desperate were instantly invigorated.


    As the Flying Boat approached, it informed everyone that Wen Lan had gathered several thousand fleeing cultivators who were still on their way here.


    These more than ten thousand Poisonous Bees were like having several thousand extra allies out of nowhere. With the assistance of the caravan, their situation finally began to ease.


    All of them were Foundation Building cultivators, but their numbers were still too few. They were in chaos when facing the siege of tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts.


    Moreover, among these tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts, there were a significant number of second-tier Demonic Beasts, making the situation even more difficult.


    At this moment, Feng Chang was surrounded by three second-tier Demonic Beasts, with two bodies lying beside him.


    They were the elderly people who had been following him for years, surviving all those decades, but unexpectedly met their end here today.


    His gaze wandered as he dealt with the three Demonic Beasts attacking him, his mind drifting.


    The Treasure Hunters around him were also struggling. The number of Demonic Beasts was simply too overwhelming.Although Wang Hong''s Poisonous Bees managed to restrain some first-tier Demonic Beasts, there were still numerous second-tier Demonic Beasts that they couldn''t deal with.


    Just a moment ago, he had seen Yuan Jin being caught by several Demonic Beasts and torn into five pieces alive.


    He felt that if this continued, he might also die in battle. In just a short while, more than ten Treasure Hunters had already died.


    He didn''t want to die here. He was searching for an opportunity to escape.


    His gaze turned to the fifty Foundation Building cultivators led by Wang Hong and Luo Zhongjie, filled with envy and fear.


    These fifty individuals worked together seamlessly.


    Among them, ten formed a joint spiritual shield for defense, creating an imprable barrier above the fifty of them, like a turtle shell.


    Another ten wielded long ropes as Spiritual Weapons, which were very effective in restraining Demonic Beasts or binding them.


    The remaining thirty each had a Flying Sword, all unleashed simultaneously, cutting down any Demonic Beasts in their path into pieces that couldn''t resist.


    The existence of Luo Zhongjie''s fifty people was the reason why Feng Chang hadn''t fled yet.


    He feared that the moment he tried to escape, he would be dismembered by thirty Flying Swords.


    At the same time, these fifty people also gave him hope of defeating the Demonic Beasts and achieving victory.


    Feng Chang was still in a dilemma, torn between whether to escape or not.


    A massive ck shadow flew past him, creating a strong gust of wind that rustled his robe.


    After the ck shadow passed, two of the three Demonic Beasts that had been attacking him were missing. They were now struggling in the clutches of the shadow, nearing their death throes.


    Feng Chang regained hisposure and decided not to run. He knew he couldn''t escape faster than that giant bird, and he might end up in its clutches.


    Just then, a group of cultivators arrived rapidly from a distance. They were the Qi Cultivation cultivators who had fallen behind but had finally reached the battlefield.


    With the addition of these thousands of people, the situation finally improved slightly, and they could barely hold their ground against the Demonic Beasts.


    While Wen Lan was pursuing Bai Yikui, he had also found many scattered cultivators who hadn''t managed to get far. It was quite challenging to locate Bai Yikui among these cultivators. Thankfully, he received guidance from a Foundation Building female cultivator and found Bai Yikui in a secluded mountain cave.


    After killing Bai Yikui, Wen Lan arranged for the Flying Boat to return early to assist in the battle. He then led twenty Foundation Building cultivators, carrying Bai Yikui''s head, and roamed around, rallying the scattered cultivators to join the battle.


    He carried Bai Yikui''s head with him wherever he went, using both persuasion and reasoning to convince most of the cultivators to return to the battle.


    Only a very small number of stubborn individuals refused to cooperate, and in desperation, Wen Lan had no choice but to execute them.


    As a result, the twenty people with him had more and more heads in their hands.


    Fortunately, most of the cultivators they encountered on their way were reasonable. Sometimes, before they could even speak, the other party voluntarily expressed their willingness to return to the battle.


    This made Wen Lan feel that most of the cultivators in the Cultivation World were still good-hearted and dedicated to the cause.


    When Wen Lan led around four to five thousand people to the battlefield, it was already a scene of carnage, with both human and cultivator corpses littering the ground.


    Humans and Demonic Beasts continued to fight on amidst the corpses.


    "Everyone, join the battle immediately. Anyone who shows cowardice or attempts to flee during the battle will be mercilessly killed!" Wen Lan''s voice echoed as he ascended into the air, stringing the previously severed heads together and hanging them on arge tree.


    With Wen Lan''s loudmand, the four to five thousand people he had brought with him all rushed into the battlefield.


    Some of the cultivators who had harbored ill intentions or thoughts of escape immediately changed their minds upon seeing the long row of severed heads, realizing they had no choice but to fight for their lives on the battlefield.


    Combined with the twenty people Wen Lan had brought, Human n cultivators finally began to gain the upper hand.


    The battle raged on for an entire day. Out of the fifty thousand Demonic Beasts, thirty to forty thousand were in, and the remaining Demonic Beasts, seeing their defeat, scattered and fled.


    After the great battle, Wang Hong gazed at the countless corpses strewn across the ground, feeling a mix of emotions.


    In this battle, there were around ten thousand participating Human n cultivators, including nearly two hundred Foundation Building cultivators. After the fierce fighting, nearly eight thousand Qi Cultivation cultivators had died in battle, along with over fifty Foundation Building cultivators.


    Wang Hong''s Foundation Building cultivators, thanks to their coordinated teamwork and decent Body Refining Cultivation levels, had stronger life forces. Only two of them were severely injured, nearly dying on the spot but managing to survive thanks to timely consumption of Jade Marrow Pills.


    Unfortunately, the eighty Qi Cultivation cultivators under hismand did not fare as well.


    During the battle, the defensive barrier on the Flying Boat had been breached by Demonic Beasts, allowing thirty people to die on the spot, with fifteen others sustaining serious injuries but ultimately being saved.


    This was still because of their well-trained and well-equipped status.


    As for the leaders stationed at various points of defense, except for one who didn''t participate in the battle, Wang Hong now only had Fu Li and Feng Chang left.


    The losses in the four defense points that participated in the battle were substantial, and their future defenses were now in question. With more than ten days left until the one-month deadline, they wouldn''t be able to withstand another Beast Tide of this magnitude.


    From the current situation, it was almost certain that there would be more Beast Tides, and perhaps evenrger ones. Thinking about it, Wang Hong couldn''t help but wish he could capture Bai Yikui and execute him a few more times.


    In the previous battle against a Demonic Beast horde of simr size, they had faced difficulties but had made it through due to their early preparations and the utilization of city walls for defense. In that battle, they had only lost a little over two thousand Qi Cultivation cultivators and three Foundation Building cultivators.


    In this defense point with nearly ten thousand people and over a hundred Foundation Building cultivators, they should have had an easier time, but instead, they had lost more than half of their manpower.


    "East Master, we''ve already gathered all the spoils of war. What should we do next?" Luo Zhongjie approached Wang Hong, asking for guidance as he pondered the situation.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 351: Reorganization

    Chapter 351: Reorganization


    Wang Hong looked at the pile of materials from the Demonic Beasts and the bodies of the Human n scattered on the ground.


    Though he had been in many battles over the years and had seen countless bodies, those had been mere mortal conflicts. Sometimes, defeating just one-tenth of the enemy was enough for victory, and there were rarely situations where they had to fight to the bitter end.


    However, this was a war between humans and demons, a battle of races. If the Human n were to bepletely defeated, even if he managed to survive, he had no idea where he would go or what he would do.


    "Help gather up the bodies and move the harvested items to the stronghold," he instructed, "Have everyone take a temporary rest inside the stronghold, and then we''ll distribute the loot."


    Everyone was injured, and it would take some time to distribute thisrge pile of spoils.


    "Furthermore, take some people with you and go outside to find those who scattered during the battle earlier. Try to bring them all back to replenish our manpower."


    Afterward, Wang Hong entered the stronghold with the others. Among the Qi Cultivation cultivators who had survived this ordeal, there were only a little over two thousand left, but all of them were formidable experts at the Qi Cultivation Late stage, possessing strongbat abilities.


    Wang Hong sighed. After the battles and natural selection, only the best talents remained. Unfortunately, if another wave of such a massive battle were to ur, these people might still find it hard to survive.


    If he had the strength of a Golden Core cultivator now, he would produce arge quantity of Foundation Establishment Pills to help these individuals sessfully build their foundations. After fighting side by side for two consecutive battles, his feelings toward them had changed somewhat. He considered it affection or sympathy towards these people. After all, whether willingly or not, they had shed blood for the Human n.Moreover, those who remained had no issues with their character and could be considered the elite of the Human n.


    Regrettably, he couldn''t do that now. With his current strength, he couldn''t afford to give out too many Foundation Establishment Pills. At present, all he could do was assist them a bit with the distribution of spoils.


    After this battle, they had obtained countless materials from first-tier Demonic Beasts, and there were also many second-tier Demonic Beast materials. When distributing the spoils, he allocated some second-tier materials to each Qi Cultivation cultivator. At the same time, hepensated the Foundation Building cultivators with many first-tier materials.


    The second-tier materials allocated to the Qi Cultivation cultivators were primarily materials used for refining tools, items that could enhance their chances of survival.


    After the distribution of the spoils waspleted, Wang Hong found Wen Lan.


    "You can now arrange for the caravan to trade. Exchange the Magical Weapons and Spiritual Weapons we brought this time. However, these Spiritual Weapons can only be exchanged for the spoils from this battle, and even Qi Cultivation cultivators can exchange them."


    He remembered that there were several refining tool masters in the caravan, and now was the time to startmissioning refining tool tasks.


    Wang Hong instructed Wen Lan, nning to help these Qi Cultivation cultivators obtain one or two Spiritual Weapons to enhance theirbat power.


    "Alright, after this major battle, many people have been inquiring about trade. I''ll go back and prepare," Wen Lan agreed. The caravan had brought arge number of items, which had not yet been brought out for trade, and many cultivators had inquired about it multiple times.


    "In addition, I n to take out three Foundation Establishment Pills and auction them through the caravan."


    Wang Hong decided to auction off three Foundation Establishment Pills, but they were not avable for purchase by Foundation Building cultivators. Instead, they were exclusively for the Qi Cultivation cultivators who had participated in this battle. They could bid with the spoils they had acquired in the battle.


    He also announced that in the future, after major battles, there might be auctions for Foundation Establishment Pills to encourage everyone''s determination to fight against the Demon n.


    Wang Hong made this decision to boost morale and increase their defensive strength. He knew that three Foundation Establishment Pills could make a significant difference. Three Foundation Building cultivators, if they performed well, could rival nearly a thousand Qi Cultivation cultivators.


    "East Master, we are showing special consideration for Qi Cultivation cultivators. What about Foundation Building cultivators?" Wen Lan reminded him. After all, the real backbone of the battlefield was the Foundation Building cultivators.


    While this move could motivate the Qi Cultivation cultivators, it had no meaning for the Foundation Building cultivators.


    "For the Foundation Building cultivators, we''ll also open up refining toolmissions. Additionally, we''ll offer some Pills, second-tier Spiritual Wine, and other resources in exchange for their services."


    Due to the scarcity of second-tier Spiritual Herbs, Foundation Building cultivators highly valued second-tier Pills and Spirit Wine, as they could significantly enhance their strength in a short amount of time.


    When Wen Lan released this information, it caused a great sensation among the two thousand plus people. Especially the news about Foundation Establishment Pills excited many Qi Cultivation cultivators. If they had the opportunity to purchase Foundation Establishment Pills after every major battle, it was definitely worth fighting to the death.


    Foundation Building cultivators were equally intrigued by the various Spirit Pills that the caravan could provide. The Nourishing Essence Pill was a given, as it was useful for everyone. There were also several Pills that could enhance their cultivation, rare items rarely seen in everyday life.


    In addition, there was a peculiar healing Pill called the Hanyu Pill. Its effects were exceptionally extraordinary, and the caravan had brought some for trade. During this major battle, a few lucky individuals had their lives saved by this Pill, and ording to them, it was even better than the second-tier healing Pills avable on the market.


    This led many Foundation Building cultivators to rush to acquire these Pills.


    A few dayster, Luo Zhongjie returned. He had thoroughly searched the surrounding areas and managed to retrieve more than two thousand people. Since these two thousand-plus individuals had not participated in the battle, they did not receive the same treatment as the others.


    After a few days, the original group of over two thousand Qi Cultivation cultivators who had participated in the battle had undergone a transformation. Now, each of them had at least one Spiritual Weapon, significantly boosting theirbat capabilities.


    With their increased strength, their mental state was also different. When they looked at the cultivators Luo Zhongjie had brought back, they felt a sense of superiority, forgetting that they had once fled or had simr thoughts.


    While they were recuperating, Wang Hong wasted no time. He reorganized these people into multiple squads of around forty individuals each, based on theirbat characteristics, assigning them various tasks such as defense and offensive roles, emphasizing cooperation among themselves.


    He then appointed his remaining fifty Qi Cultivation period members as their squad leaders to oversee their training.


    In this way, all these two thousand plus individuals fell under his direct control. While these temporary squads were certainly not as effective as the ones he had recruited earlier, they would still provide additional strength during these special times.


    As there were still some cultivators left at other strongholds due to this major battle, Wang Hong imed that he needed to supplement manpower in areas with insufficient personnel. He transferred people from these strongholds to others, disrupting their original organization.


    He then distributed these newly formed fifty elite squads to five strongholds, with ten squads in each. In the future, his actual control over these five strongholds would be strengthened, and there would be no repeat of the situation where they couldn''t be mobilized or fled without fighting.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 352: Promotion

    Chapter 352: Promotion


    After adjusting the manpower at each stronghold, there were still two stronghold leaders missing.


    Wang Hong assigned Ling Shuai to be in charge of one stronghold as its leader, while the other stronghold was entrusted to Wen Lan to oversee the caravan.


    The three remaining leaders were naturally displeased with Wang Hong''s restructuring, and they had expressed their opposition in a subtle manner.


    After all, although they only needed to be stationed for about a month, they knew there would be future battles, and their performance in those battles would determine their standing.


    Unfortunately, their current strength was far inferior to Wang Hong''s, and they had just witnessed the ruthlessness of Wang Hong and his subordinates.


    They couldn''t afford to be too confrontational, so they reluctantly voiced their objections.


    As expected, Wang Hong rejected their objections. In a situation where their strength wascking, they had no choice but to ept it.


    After arranging the personnel, Wang Hong ordered them to set aside time each day for training, especially in terms of teamwork and cooperation inbat.


    A little extra training during peacetime could save lives during battles and increase the chances of victory.Although time was tight, some training was better than none. Currently, cultivators fought individually without considering cooperation.


    After a few days, Wang Hong had everything organized. Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei came to see him together.


    "Junior Brother Wang, we heard that you encountered arge-scale Demonic Beast horde a few days ago, and the losses were severe. Why didn''t you inform us so that we could provide reinforcement?" Qi Shaoqing asked as soon as they met.


    "At that time, the situation was too urgent, and I forgot to inform you," Wang Hong exined reluctantly. In fact, the location of his second battle was not far from Qi Shaoqing''s territory.


    The battle had raged on for a whole day, with such a hugemotion that he couldn''t believe Qi Shaoqing didn''t know about it.


    If he had intended to send reinforcements, they would have arrived long ago. Talking about it now was just a formality.


    In reality, while they were fighting, Qi Shaoqing had been observing everything from a distance.


    He envied Wang Hong''s power and was even a bit jealous. Therefore, he had been watching the battle from afar, waiting for the moment when Wang Hong was in dire straits and suffered heavy losses.


    Then, he would swoop down with his subordinates to rescue Wang Hong. This would not only make Wang Hong feel indebted to him but also gain him more followers.


    As the descendant of a Nascent Soul Ancestor, he had excellent aptitude and had been heavily nurtured from a young age. Great expectations were ced on him.


    In his heart, he had always regarded the Qingxu Sect as his own. When he saw Wang Hong and his group, he wanted to recruit them.


    Unfortunately, he hadn''t found a good opportunity until now. Unexpectedly, the caravan, which he had not paid much attention to, had turned the tide of the battle this time.


    This was the first time he had witnessed such a fighting style and realized that a well-trained group could be so powerful inbat.


    When he saw that Wang Hong had already turned the tables, he decided not to intervene. He wanted to be the one who provided assistance when Wang Hong was in dire straits, not when he was already winning.


    He could only wait for the next opportunity. He believed that with Wang Hong''s current state, he wouldn''t be able to withstand another wave of powerful Demonic Beasts in the future.


    "That''s right. This time, Senior Brother Shi and I came here to discuss a trade with your caravan."


    As they fought on the frontlines, they had always received a steady supply of resources. However, Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei had initially not paid much attention to Wang Hong''s caravan.


    Recently, due to the frequent battles, the supply of resources from the rear had fallen behind. In their strongholds, there were still many injured individuals, and without Healing Pills, they could only endure their injuries.


    They were in urgent need of items like Spirit Wine, Talismans, and even Spiritual Weapons and Magical Weapons. The weapons had suffered significant damage in battle and needed repairs or recements.


    Unfortunately, theycked a refining tool expert to repair the damaged weapons of their cultivators, let alone craft new Spiritual Weapons or Magical Weapons.


    "That won''t be a problem. However, due to the shortage of manpower, the caravan is stationed at one of the strongholds, so Senior Brother will need to go there in person for the trade," Wang Hong agreed, as his caravan was primarily a business venture.


    Wang Hong provided them with directions and asked them to proceed on their own, as he had other matters to attend to.


    He sought out Luo Zhongjie and said, "Help me list five names from our Qi Cultivation team members. I need to arrange for them to advance to Foundation Building. Of course, they''ll need to deduct the corresponding contribution points to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills."


    He had already auctioned off three Foundation Establishment Pills, and he couldn''t be too stingy with his subordinates. It would also enhance their chances of survival.


    In thest battle, he lost thirty Qi Cultivation stage subordinates, which was a huge loss he had never experienced since entering the Cultivation World. He had invested significant effort in each of his subordinates, with the training period alonesting more than ten years.


    "Additionally, I obtained some mature Green Spirit Peaches from the Immortal Way Trading Companyst time. I''ve only eaten one; the rest, you can take back and let the Foundation Building stage team members exchange them for contribution points."


    He handed five Green Spirit Peaches to Luo Zhongjie again. These mature Green Spirit Peaches were not unfamiliar to him, as they asionally appeared on their exchange list. These mature Green Spirit Peaches were traded from the Immortal Way Trading Company and had unique effects. Consuming one could directly promote a Foundation Building cultivator by one cultivation level.


    A hint of excitement shed in Luo Zhongjie''s eyes. With five peaches, he should be able to reach the mid-Foundation Building stage. Although he primarily practiced Body Refining, who wouldn''t like a boost in strength?


    After making the arrangements, Wang Hong also consumed a Green Spirit Peach in seclusion, finally advancing to the sixth level of Foundation Building. After reaching this level, his dantian sea expanded by another two feet, now measuring one foot and six feet in size.


    With his current mid-Foundation Building cultivation level, his Spiritual Power surpassed that of mostte Foundation Building cultivators. The Spirit Fire floating above his dantian sea had also grown significantly, now the size of three fingers.


    After his promotion, Wang Hong rested for a few hours before entering the Space with more than a dozen swollen Storage Bags. This time, he had prepared arge number of Storage Bags in advance. In the recent battles, he had ordered his subordinates to collect the bodies of low-tier Demonic Beasts that no one wanted.


    These low-tier Demonic Beast corpses had their most valuable parts removed, and the remaining parts, although somewhat valuable, were not worth much when calcted per Storage Bag.


    Now, due to the continuousrge-scale battles, even low-tier cultivators could enjoy the meat of second-tier Demonic Beasts at a very low price.


    For first-tier Demonic Beasts, they would naturally prioritize the best parts. Wang Hong poured the Demonic Beast meat from several Storage Bags into the area where the Devilish Vine grew, and the rest was given to the demon-hunting tree.


    Since he had provided his subordinates with arge number of Essence Core Pills at a very low price, almost every one of his subordinates now had a dual-body and cultivation.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 353: The Deal

    Chapter 353: The Deal


    Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei arrived at the outpost where the caravan was stationed. They were guided by two Qi Cultivation practitioners as they made their way inside.


    Upon entering the outpost, Qi Shaoqing was greatly surprised by the scene before him. He had managed this outpost for a while in the past and had visited it several times, so he was somewhat familiar with it.


    In the past, there had been nearly ten thousand people here. Although that was a substantial number, most of the time, except for a small number of guards on the city walls, you wouldn''t see many people around.


    This was because most cultivators spent their time hidden away in their own cave mansions, onlying out when necessary. It wasmon for many of them to shut themselves in their cave mansions for a year or more.


    Qi Shaoqing estimated that after Wang Hong''s heavy losses, there wouldn''t be as many people here as before. It should be quieter now.


    But what he saw was more than a thousand people lined up on a massive Training Ground, divided into many groups, each led by different individuals.


    At this moment, all these people were practicing various martial arts andbat techniques.


    At that moment, dozens of people simultaneously summoned their Magical Weapons. Upon the leader''smand, they struck arge boulder, which shattered into countless pieces and scattered in all directions.


    "This is at least equivalent to a full-powered strike in the Foundation Building stage!" Shi Fei eximed, following Qi Shaoqing. He hadn''t expected these seemingly ordinary Qi Cultivation practitioners to possess such formidable power.However, Shi Fei could hear the leader of this group of practitioners seeming dissatisfied with the recent strike, constantly mentioning the names of some practitioners and pointing out their shorings.


    Meanwhile, other practitioners were also cooperating with each other, using various techniques for defense, containment, and attack.


    "How long have you been practicing like this?" Shi Fei asked the Qi Cultivation practitioner who was guiding them.


    "Senior, ever since thest major battle, Senior Wang divided us into groups and started this training," the Qi Cultivation practitioner replied honestly.


    Shi Fei took a deep breath. In such a short time, theirbat capabilities had improved at least twice as much. These Qi Cultivation practitioners had made remarkable progress.


    Then the two of them inquired about some more details from this Qi Cultivation practitioner.


    While they were talking, Wen Lan came over with a cheerful expression.


    "Fellow Daoists, your arrival is an honor, forgive me for not weing you from afar," he said.


    "You certainly have quite an attitude!" Shi Fei remarked, a bit annoyed. They had traveled from afar, and yet this caravan''s leader had sent two Qi Cultivation practitioners to greet them directly.


    Qi Shaoqing, on the other hand, remained calm and friendly, quickly responding, "Not at all! Fellow Daoist must be busy with many matters, and we are the ones imposing."


    Wen Lan then led them to a guest hall and offered Spirit Tea and various spirit fruits.


    After chatting for a while, Qi Shaoqing brought up the matter of their trade, and Wen Lan readily agreed. Their trade involved arge quantity of goods, and negotiating item by item would take an eternity.


    Wen Lan handed both of them a list of items. The list clearly indicated the goods that the caravan was currently trading and their prices.


    Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei each took a list and examined it. The list primarily containedmon Tier One and Tier Two Spiritual Objects.


    "Wen Fellow Daoist, I heard that your caravan once auctioned three Foundation Establishment Pills. Is that true?" Qi Shaoqing closed the list and inquired. He had just received this information from the Qi Cultivation practitioner they had spoken to earlier.


    "Yes, that''s correct! Our East Master auctioned them to boost morale," Wen Lan replied without hiding the fact. At the time, this event had caused quite amotion in the five outposts, and such things couldn''t be kept secret.


    "I wonder if your tradingpany still has any Foundation Establishment Pills? Could you spare one for me? I also want one to boost morale among my people," Qi Shaoqing said. He didn''t quite understand Wang Hong''s decision. If he had those Foundation Establishment Pills, he would have used them on his trusted followers.


    Shi Fei remained silent, waiting to see if Qi Shaoqing''s request would be sessful. However, he didn''t have high hopes. Who would easily sell such Pills?


    "I''m sorry, but we''ve already run out of Foundation Establishment Pills. Those three Foundation Establishment Pills were obtained during our past encounter with the Treasure Hunters," Wen Lan replied. Qi Shaoqing wasn''t too surprised by this; it was expected. He responded, "That''s a pity. If your tradingpany ever has Foundation Establishment Pills for sale in the future, please remember me."


    "Absolutely! Absolutely!" Wen Lan chuckled.


    "I''ve also heard that your caravan has a unique healing Pill called the Hanyu Pill, with extraordinary effects. It doesn''t seem to be listed on this inventory," Qi Shaoqing inquired. He had only heard about the Hanyu Pill; as for the Jade Marrow Pill, even Luo Zhongjie and Wen Lan didn''t know of its existence. Those who had been saved by the Jade Marrow Pill only knew they had been rescued, as Wang Hong had never revealed its name.


    "We do have some of those Pills, but due to the scarcity of raw materials, our inventory is limited. We usually don''t sell them externally," Wen Lan said with a troubled expression.


    Before Qi Shaoqing could respond, Shi Fei spoke up, "Fellow Daoist Wen, please name your price. I hope you can sell me some."


    Shi Fei knew that Qi Shaoqing had a Nascent Soul stage grandfather who certainly didn''tck healing and life-saving Pills. However, he himself needed them. If he were to get injured, he wouldn''t have many high-quality Pills to rely on.


    Therefore, he was eager to obtain the life-saving Hanyu Pills.


    Wen Lan thought for a moment, then showed a reluctant expression, saying, "If Fellow Daoist Shi insists, one Hanyu Pill can be traded for at least ten High-Quality Spirit Stones, or thirty thousand Spirit Stones for a Lower-Quality Spirit Stone."


    Wen Lan quoted a rtively high price, almost on par with Foundation Establishment Pills.


    After hesitating for a while, Shi Fei gritted his teeth and said, "Alright! I''ll trade two for thirty thousand Lower-Quality Spirit Stones."


    Since he could use Lower-Quality Spirit Stones for the trade, he was reluctant to use High-Quality Spirit Stones.


    They immediately exchanged the money and the goods,pleting the transaction.


    Afterward, the three of them discussed their intentions for the uing goods trade. Specific identification of goods and the transfer of items would be handled by specialists.


    Once both partiespleted their transactions, Qi Shaoqing said, "I also wish to propose another trade with Fellow Daoist. I wonder if you would be interested?"


    "What kind of trade is it? Feel free to propose, as long as it''s within my discretion," Wen Lan responded.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 354: Practice

    Chapter 354: Practice


    "In observing Fellow Daoist''s training methods, it seems highly effective. I hope Fellow Daoist can help me train a group of cultivators as well. Of course, thepensation will be more than satisfactory," Qi Shaoqing said.


    Thest time he secretly observed, he discovered that Wang Hong''s subordinates had an exceptionally powerfulbat style. He had long wanted to train his own subordinates in the same way. However, he didn''t know how to do it, and his subordinates didn''t possess such talent. It was only today when he saw these Qi Cultivation cultivators that he realized they had made significant progress after just a few days of training.


    He knew that the cultivators currently stationed at the first defense line were a motley crew, often fighting on their own during battles. What was even worse was their tendency to ck off, shirk their responsibilities, or even undermine their teammates.


    Therefore, building trust and cooperation among these people was extremely difficult.


    "I''m sorry, but I can''t make a decision on this matter. I''ll need East Master''s approval," Qi Shaoqing proposed a deal but only invited him. Wen Lan naturally couldn''t agree.


    "Yes, yes, I didn''t consider it properly. I''ll inquire with Wang Fellow Daoist about this matterter," Qi Shaoqing chuckled.


    While the three of them were talking, a Transmission Talisman flew in from outside andnded in Wen Lan''s hand.


    Wen Lan pointed his finger at the Transmission Talisman, receiving the message on it. His expression changed immediately.


    "Wen Fellow Daoist, is there any problem?" Qi Shaoqing asked."A group of Demonic Beasts is attacking from the front and is now within five miles of our location," Wen Lan reported.


    Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei''s faces turned serious upon hearing this. They knew that there were only a little over two thousand people stationed at this base, and facing five times the number of Demonic Beasts would be a tough challenge.


    However, Qi Shaoqing quickly regained his calm demeanor and asked, "Wen Fellow Daoist, when I set out this time, I brought twenty Foundation Building cultivators with me. They are willing to help you resist the Demonic Beasts."


    "Thank you for your assistance, Fellow Daoist!" Wen Lan hurriedly expressed his gratitude.


    Shi Fei, seeing Qi Shaoqing''s willingness to help, also offered his assistance.


    Originally, Wen Lan didn''t have much confidence, but now with an additional forty Foundation Building cultivators, along with the caravan''s manpower and some of the original defenders, they had a total of eighty Foundation Building cultivators.


    With this force, he was now confident that they could handle the ten thousand Demonic Beasts without needing support from Wang Hong.


    "Both of you, please follow me," Wen Lan led the two of them out of the main hall and into the Training Ground where the previous exercises had taken ce.


    At this moment, over a thousand people were lined up in formation on the Training Ground, standing silently. The atmosphere was solemn, with only the sound of the three of them entering and distant beastly roars breaking the silence.


    Wen Lan ascended a tform and spoke loudly, "Everyone, another group of Demonic Beasts has attacked and is now just over four miles away from here. The uing battle will be a fight for our lives. If we don''t repel the Demonic Beasts, no one will make it out of this base alive!"


    "At the same time, the one who disys the most courage and kills the most Demonic Beasts in this battle will receive priority when I distribute Foundation Establishment Pills in the next round. Let this be our motivation!"


    Wen Lan didn''t bother with lofty ideals about fighting for the Human n; these people hadn''t developed that level of consciousness yet. Instead, he simply told them that losing meant death, and winning had benefits ¨C a straightforward approach.


    As he spoke, some people began distributing bottles of Spirit Wine to everyone. Each person received one bottle. The previous exercises had consumed a significant amount of Spiritual Power, so it was essential to replenish it before reentering battle.


    Then, Wen Lan began to arrange the battle tasks, and everything was organized in an orderly manner, showing the demeanor of a great general.


    Qi Shaoqing had been silently observing all this time, and his heart was filled with envy. How could Wang Hong have so many talented individuals by his side? Wen Lan, who was merely in charge of the caravan under Wang Hong, had such remarkable abilities.


    After receiving the Spirit Wine, these people formed groups just as they had during the training and, under the leadership of their respective leaders, headed to their assigned positions.


    Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei brought their people and formed two separate groups, responsible for rescuing those in danger at various locations.


    Qi Shaoqing noticed that these people were now standing on the city walls, looking serious. Each of them had their Magical Weapons ready, in a state where they could activate them at any moment. It was a far cry from the disorganized mob they had been before. He had also experienced several battles against Demonic Beasts by now.


    In the past, it would take at least a quarter of an hour to gather everyone after the assembly signal was blown, and then they would slowly make their way to their respective defense areas. While waiting on the city walls for the Demonic Beasts to arrive, there were all sorts of behaviors on disy.


    Some were fighting over advantageous positions for killing Demonic Beasts, while others were more timid, trying to hide in the back of the crowd.


    There were also some who liked to act sophisticated, deliberately sitting in prominent positions on the city walls, meditating with closed eyes before the Demonic Beasts arrived.


    And then there were those who believed they had an air of elegance, not making any preparations, standing with their hands behind their backs, looking up at the sky.


    In any case, it was all paid for with Spirit Stones, amodating all kinds of people.


    The individuals before them, however, seemed to have predetermined positions, and none of them hesitated, swiftly moving to their designated spots. Their postures also seemed to follow a fixed standard, with almost identical movements depending on the task.


    The battle quickly began, and Qi Shaoqing noticed that although it was intense, the death rate among the cultivators on the city walls had significantly decreased due to their better cooperation.


    Especially impressive were the ten teams, each consisting of around forty members, all in theter stages of Qi Cultivation. Their performance was outstanding. In the area they were defending, not a single Demonic Beast had managed to climb the city wall so far, and they asionally assisted other nearby teams as well.


    With the additional assistance of the forty Foundation Building cultivators brought by Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei, the defense battle, while intense, was not overly strenuous.


    This battle had only been going on for two hours when the Demonic Beast horde below the city walls, leaving a field of corpses behind, began to retreat.


    Wen Lan even took control of a Flying Boat, leading a group of Foundation Building cultivators to chase after the retreating Demonic Beasts, seizing the opportunity to kill many more.


    He didn''t believe that his stronghold was a ce where Demonic Beasts coulde and go as they pleased, and he wasn''t willing to let them escape so easily. Although he usually appeared refined and gentle, he was a person who would bite back when bitten by a dog.


    After being attacked by the Demonic Beasts for two hours, he certainly wouldn''t be willing to let them go without a fight.


    The casualties in this battle were not significant, but they had killed a considerable number of Demonic Beasts, resulting in a substantial harvest of Demonic Beast materials. When it all added up, it was still a profitable venture.


    After collecting arge number of spoils, Wen Lan generously distributed items to Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei as a token of appreciation for their assistance.


    This battle served as a practical test of the results of their recent training. While not as impressive as Wang Hong''s original team, they were starting to show some promise.


    Qi Shaoqing, who had witnessed the entire battle, couldn''t help but be envious. Afterpleting the transaction here, he hastily departed.


    He yearned for this kind of power and hoped to have a group of subordinates like this. He intended to discuss the matter with Wang Hong, hoping that Wang Hong would agree to help him train some of his own subordinates.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 355: Processing

    Chapter 355: Processing


    After Wang Hong''s promotion, he temporarily closed himself off for a day to stabilize his Realm. For someone like him, ascending to a minor Realm didn''te with too many taboos.


    Unlike the lengthy stabilization required for higher Realms, where a misstep could result in a drop back to a lower Realm.


    After just a day of cultivation, he emerged from seclusion. During this period, he had engaged in continuous battles, ying countless Demonic Beasts in the process.


    Among these Demonic Beasts, there were quite a few of the second tier, and many of them offered excellent meat for consumption.


    Not all Demonic Beast meat was edible; some had unpleasant vors, and others were even toxic.


    At this moment, Wang Hong was organizing a group of subordinates on an open field, processing the meat of those second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Some of his subordinates who were not skilled in Spiritual Cooking were also called in to assist, helping with the removal of unusable parts and cutting the meat into suitable shapes.


    Ling Xue and her father were on the sidelines, providing guidance, as those unfamiliar with Spiritual Cooking didn''t know how to handle different parts.


    Another group of people was dealing with various Spiritual Herbs. Since the nature of many Demonic Beast meats was too aggressive, they needed to incorporate some Spiritual Herbs during the processing to bnce their properties.Some of these Spiritual Herbs had to be ground into powder, some had their juices extracted, and others needed their essences refined.


    On one side of the open field, severalrge cauldrons were set up, fueled by spirit charcoal, emanating a tantalizing meaty aroma from within.


    These cauldrons were at least of Magical Weapon-grade quality, as the meat of second-tier Demonic Beasts required mes generated by second-tier spirit wood to be properly cooked. Inferior cauldrons or pots couldn''t withstand the immense heat.


    Wang Hong was currently busy here as well. Although he could assign others to handle these tasks, being a gourmet, he preferred to be directly involved.


    He walked over to a smoking rack for meat, added a small piece of spirit charcoal to the fire pit, covered it with fresh spirit branches and leaves, and sprinkled some spices.


    A wisp of smoke rose from the fire pit, gently wafting upwards, causing the meat of the Demonic Beasts above to release some of their oil, which dripped down.


    They had collected a considerable amount of Demonic Beast meat by now, and they needed to process it all into finished products for easier transport and consumption.


    These finished products would first be consumed by their internal team members, providing significant assistance to their cultivation levels.


    With the amount they had collected, they were sure they couldn''t consume it all, so the excess could be sold.


    For now, they were only processing second-tier Demonic Beast meat, while first-tier meat was set aside. They would gradually feed the first-tier meat to the Devilish Vine and the demon-hunting tree.


    Although there were some first-tier Demonic Beast meats with excellent vors, there was currently an oversupply of them. Processed products couldn''t be sold, leading topetitive price drops. In the end, many cultivators were selling them below cost, resulting in losses for everyone involved.


    At this moment, the lid of arge cauldron was lifted, releasing an enticing aroma of meat that wafted across the entire open field. Everyone couldn''t help but extend their noses to catch a whiff.


    Those who had no urgent tasks in their hands immediately dropped what they were doing and headed toward therge cauldron.


    For those who had urgent matters at hand, they could only feel a sense of frustration as they watched others indulge in the task at hand.


    Someone yelled impatiently, "Don''t forget to bring me two pieces of meat!"


    "Alright! I''ll help you once I''ve had my fill."


    At this moment, Wang Hong also walked over to arge cauldron where a whole processed Demonic Beast had been ced.


    This Demonic Beast had been marinated with spices and then ced whole into the cauldron. No water was added. The lid was tightly sealed, and a Technique was used to prevent any aroma from escaping. It was then slowly simmered over a low me.


    After a long time of slow cooking, the meat inside the cauldron had the aroma of barbecue, yet it was as tender as stewed meat, with a texture even smoother and juicier than regr stew.


    Wang Hong tore off arge chunk, weighing more than ten jin, and ced it on arge stone. He also took out a bottle of Spirit Wine and began to savor it slowly.


    After leaving Wen Lan''s base, Qi Shaoqing headed towards Wang Hong''s location. As he neared Wang Hong''s camp, he saw a group of people busy at work from a distance.


    He approached the area, and when he was about to get close, he suddenly caught a whiff of an incredibly enticing meaty aroma, causing his stomach to rumble in response.


    This raised his vignce. After many years of experience, he knew that the Cultivation World was full of unpredictable and mysterious techniques that made one''s guard indispensable.


    Moreover, he knew that Wang Hong was highly skilled in poison, known for his insidious methods. It was said that Wang Hong had several types of potent poisons, all with fragrant scents that ensnared those who smelled them, rendering them helpless.


    He held his breath, activated his Spiritual Power in secret, and remained fully alert. He suspected that Wang Hong might be concocting some extremely malicious poison again.


    As for this type of poison with a meaty aroma, it was probably intended for luring and killing Demonic Beasts.


    Of course, following Qi Shaoqing''s usual practice, although he remained cautious, he maintained a carefree appearance as he walked towards the open field.


    When he reached the t ground and saw Wang Hong''s people enjoying their meal enthusiastically, he realized that he had misunderstood.


    "Senior Brother Qi, you''vee from afar. Shall we have a drink together?" Wang Hong called out from a distance.


    "Sure! Today, you and I shall drink together!" Qi Shaoqing agreed heartily.


    He now disyed an exceptionally bold demeanor, partly to conceal his earlier misunderstanding, even though no one had seen it, he still felt a bit embarrassed.


    Qi Shaoqing, seeing the bustling scene at Wang Hong''s camp, couldn''t help but exim, "Junior Brother Wang, you truly have a talented group under yourmand!"


    He had no idea how Wang Hong managed to gather so many talented individuals. He had strategists like Wen Lan andmanders like Luo Zhongjie, as well as many refining tool experts, Alchemists, and even several Spiritual Meal experts here.


    Other people would be thrilled to recruit just one or two of them, but Wang Hong seemed to have enticed all the talents in the Cultivation World.


    However, no one knew that all these individuals under Wang Hong''smand had been cultivated with a substantial investment of resources.


    "Senior Brother Qi, you''re too kind! These are just minor skills, unworthy of Senior Brother Qi''s discerning eyes."


    As Wang Hong spoke, two of his subordinates had already brought several delicious dishes to therge stone.


    The two of them enjoyed their meal, with one dish after another being served. Qi Shaoqing rarely indulged in worldly desires. He believed that seeking pleasure would hinder his cultivation path.


    But this time, he couldn''t help but appreciate the delicious food and drink before him.


    After some casual conversation, Qi Shaoqing finally brought up his official business. The purpose of his visit was to request Wang Hong''s assistance in training some of his subordinates.


    After listening, Wang Hong pondered for a moment and said, "Training can be arranged, but there are several challenging aspects we need to address."


    He then briefly exined to Qi Shaoqing the difficulties involved in the training.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 356: Retreat

    Chapter 356: Retreat


    In reality, training Immortal Cultivators to obey orders like Wang Hong seemed easy on the surface, but it was far moreplex than it appeared.


    First and foremost, Immortal Cultivators fundamentally opposed such obedience. They pursued freedom and the path to immortality.


    To make themply with orders, constant suppression with overwhelming strength was necessary, or they might rebel.


    Moreover, this method wasn''t sustainable; prolonged suppression would eventually lead to unforeseen outbreaks.


    Human nature tends to seek benefits and avoid harm. Wang Hong not only used his formidable power to control these cultivators but also guided them with certain incentives.


    For example, the Foundation Establishment Pill, the most potent tool to motivate these Qi Cultivation practitioners. Besides, there were other rewards, such as coveted Spiritual Objects, that these cultivators desired.


    Qi Shaoqing, after hearing Wang Hong''s exnation, fell into contemtion. With his current strength, he could only train Qi Cultivation stage cultivators at best.


    The hundred Foundation Building cultivators he had brought with him had only joined him because of the Nascent Soul ancestor''s influence. Training them without theirpliance could lead to their departure, and no one in the sect would follow him in the future.


    People followed him because they saw benefits, not to be constantly troubled. Loyalty was easily achieved with Spirit Stones and other rewards.Of course, Wang Hong didn''t reveal some of the more critical aspects to Qi Shaoqing.


    Wang Hong believed that relying solely on "benefits" and "harm" might work for a while, but if there came a time when they were not enough to motivate hearts, all the hard work put into training might go to waste.


    That''s why he insisted on training his subordinates from a young age.


    "Thank you, Junior Brother Wang, for your guidance. Our current mission of holding the fort is almost over. When I return to the sect in a few days, I will gather some more people. I might need Junior Brother Wang''s help again."


    Since he knew that training a loyal team required considerable effort, he wanted to ensure he had trustworthy subordinates.


    The ones currently stationed here were considered expendable by the sect, not worth too much effort on his part.


    After a brief chat, Qi Shaoqing also purchased some pre-prepared Spirit Meals before leaving.


    "Junior Brother Wang, I''ve received word that the Beast Tide has reached nearby and might approach our defenses soon. Please be cautious."


    As he departed, Qi Shaoqing reminded Wang Hong. His unique position granted him ess to information even more up-to-date than Wang Hong''s.


    "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Qi," Wang Hong expressed his gratitude.


    Over the next few days, the five strongholds under his responsibility faced numerous waves of Demonic Beasts, with their numbers growing steadily. However, they managed to repel all of them.


    During this time, Wang Hong was continually preparing for the retreat. As soon as the time came, they would leave without hesitation, as the danger in this area had escted significantly.


    One day, Wang Hong received an urgent plea for help from Fu Li. They had spotted a massive horde of Demonic Beasts approaching their stronghold, numbering in the tens of thousands.


    Once again, facing tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts, he had to gather all avable forces and fight with everything they had to stand a chance.


    With three days left until their scheduled retreat, they had to hold on a little longer toplete their mission.


    He immediately dispatched all avable personnel to reinforce the Fu Li stronghold, and they quickly engaged in battle.


    From the beginning, the fight was intense, with Demonic Beasts constantly attempting to breach the city walls. However, they managed to push them back each time.


    Despite being vastly outnumbered, they held their ground for several hours, refusing to give an inch. This was the result of their intensive training over the past few days.


    A Foundation Building cultivator had just in a Demonic Beast that leaped onto the city wall and nced in the direction from which the Demonic Beasts wereing.


    In the distance, a dark line had appeared, stretching across the horizon and slowly approaching their location.


    "What... what is that?" the cultivator stammered, his voice trembling.


    Others took a look during a lull in the battle. The ck line had thickened, resembling a ck tide rolling towards them.


    Simultaneously, the ground began to shake, and a deafening rumble echoed from afar.


    "God! So many Demonic Beasts!"


    "Are there tens of thousands? Or even millions?"


    "We''re done for! This time, we''re done!"


    Facing the overwhelming onught of Demonic Beasts, many had abandoned their training principles and started yelling in panic.


    Some had even started to retreat quietly. At this point, staying here was a sure path to death.


    However, those few cultivators who attempted to retreat were cut down into two pieces by a golden Flying Sword controlled by Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong, after dealing with the retreating cultivators, shouted, "Anyone daring to retreat without orders will be executed!"


    "Wang Fellow Daoist, the Demon n''s numbers are overwhelming, and defending here is like hitting a rock with an egg. Do you have a n?" a Foundation Building cultivator asked Wang Hong, his gaze flickering with hidden intentions.


    As he posed his question, the other cultivators around, except for Wang Hong''s trusted team who remained focused on the battle, perked up their ears, eager to hear Wang Hong''s response. If Wang Hong insisted on holding the position at this point, these cultivators might revolt.


    After all, there was no way to survive by holding the fort anymore, and very few would choose to die in ce.


    Luo Zhongjie and Wen Lan had also temporarily abandoned their fight with the Demonic Beasts and moved closer to Wang Hong''s position. They were ready to support him no matter what decision he made.


    Wang Hong scanned the crowd and then shouted, "We are currently engaged in battle. If we retreat abruptly now, the Demonic Beasts could easily catch up to us. Please, my fellow Daoists, hold on for half an hour. I will make some preparations, and then we''ll retreat together. However, until that moment, anyone who dares to retreat without orders will be executed!"


    Wang Hong understood that the situation was dire. Holding the position was no longer an option, and he didn''t want to sacrifice his and his subordinates'' lives needlessly.


    But retreating at this very moment, amidst the ongoing battle, could lead to the Demonic Beasts catching up to them. So, they needed to stand firm for a while.


    In the time it took him to speak, more Demonic Beasts rushed onto the city wall, and several cultivators who had been eavesdropping on the conversation were instantly killed.


    The cultivators on the city wall, after hearing Wang Hong''s promise and under the watchful eyes of Luo Zhongjie and others, quickly returned to the battle with the Demonic Beasts.


    "Arrange for messengers to inform all our other strongholds to retreat," Wang Hong instructed Luo Zhongjie through a Message Transmission.


    His subordinates were now spread out in various strongholds, and preparations needed to be made in advance. Given the scale of this Beast Tide, all the strongholds in this area would likely be affected, including those belonging to Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei nearby.


    "Wait for me for half an hour, and I''ll be back!" Wang Hong shouted and, riding on Little Peng, charged into the sea of Demonic Beasts outside the city walls. Countless flying Demonic Beasts surrounded him and his avianpanion.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 357: Mountain Cave

    Chapter 357: Mountain Cave


    As Wang Hong rode on the back of Little Peng, they entered the airspace filled with a horde of Demonic Beasts. The sky was swarmed by countless malevolent birds, all attacking relentlessly.


    Little Peng spread its massive wings, resembling two enormous des, and cut through the flock of malevolent birds, creating bloody paths as their bodies rained down.


    Wang Hong, sittingfortably on Little Peng''s back, didn''t intervene at the moment. Instead, he took out several bottles, each carefully sealed.


    In a previous battle with the Demonic Beasts, he had used a bottle of Red Powder Skull Flower pollen, and its effects had been remarkable. However, he had limited quantities of this pollen, which was why he hadn''t used it until now. This time, he had brought out his entire stock.


    While Little Peng rampaged through the flock of malevolent birds, Wang Hong sat steady, slowly sprinkling the pollen from the bottles into the midst of the beast horde.


    Meanwhile, in the distance, the Beast Tide was approaching, and the outlines of the front row of Demonic Beasts were bing visible. The thunderous roar of countless Demonic Beasts running sent shivers down the spines of those witnessing it.


    "Retreat! Fall back!" Wang Hong shouted to the people at the stronghold as he rode Little Peng back to the city wall.


    Finally hearing Wang Hong''s order to retreat, the cultivators within the stronghold felt as if they had been granted a reprieve. They abandoned their opponents and turned to escape.


    Seeing this scene, Wang Hong couldn''t help but sigh inwardly; all their days of training had seemingly gone to waste. However, he was fortunate that the elite cultivator teams he personally led were still maintaining some semnce of formation.The dosage of poison he had administered this time was substantial, causing the tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts beneath the city wall to stand frozen in a bizarre manner. Only a small portion of them, the ones currently attacking the city, remained active.


    Fu Li didn''t attempt to escape on his own. He believed his chances of survival would be greater if he stuck with Wang Hong.


    As they left, he looked back at the forest-like horde of Demonic Beasts standing there, and a chill ran down his spine. The tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts that had pushed them to use all their abilities had been subdued in an instant.


    Wang Hong led the group in breaking out of the stronghold and retreating towards the direction of the second defense line. By now, there were still roughly over a thousand cultivators following him.


    Of the over two thousand Qi Cultivation Stage elites he had organized earlier, only eight or nine hundred remained here, while some other cultivators had chosen to follow Wang Hong.


    "Quick! Lower the Flying Boat!" Luo Zhongjie shouted from within the Flying Boat.


    Originally, they had arranged for numerous Foundation Building cultivators to pilot the Flying Boat, intending to provide aerial support. However, they saw that countless malevolent birds from behind were being lured toward their direction by the Flying Boat. They quickly lowered the Flying Boat.


    They had no choice but to retract the two Flying Boats. Flying in the sky at this moment would make them a prime target for flying Demonic Beasts. Running on the ground still provided some cover, and with so many targets on the ground, not all of them would be focused on the group.


    The groups that managed to maintain their original formations were swiftly moving in a battle formation, while those without organization resorted to activating their own defensive measures.


    As the pursuing malevolent birds flew above them, most continued forward, while only a few chose to attack, swooping down from above.


    These descending malevolent birds were scattered by the brilliant light emitted from the numerous Magical Weapons released by the crowd. Their pitiful cries upon dying attracted even more malevolent birds to join the fray.


    They continued their advance, attacking as they went along. Along the way, individuals asionally fell, but those who did were mostly isted cultivators.


    It seemed like these malevolent birds knew that isted cultivators were easier prey, as most of their attacks were aimed at them.


    For organized groups of cultivators, some were responsible for defense while others focused on cutting down the approaching Demonic Beasts.


    However, the isted cultivators, now running for their lives, had no energy left to fight the malevolent birds. Their efforts to fight off the birds only drew the attention of more malevolent birds, resulting in an increasing number of them in the sky.


    In this short time, over three hundred individuals had fallen. When the isted cultivators were mostly gone, the malevolent birds shifted their focus to the more challenging targets¡ªthe organized groups.


    Most of these groups wereposed of Qi Cultivation Stage elites that Wang Hong had assembled, but under the relentless onught of the malevolent birds, they were gradually faltering.


    Each person had replenished their Spiritual Energy several times, but it still couldn''t keep up with the intense consumption.


    Finally, a defensive shield jointly raised by a group was shattered by the malevolent birds, and they were swarmed by countless malevolent birds.


    Yang Tiezhu arrived with a group to rescue them, but out of the original forty-plus individuals in the group, only a dozen or so remained.


    "Qi Cultivation teams, focus on defense and advance!" Luo Zhongjie shouted.


    Upon hearing this, the Qi Cultivation teams stopped killing the malevolent birds and activated their defensive Magical Weapons, formingyered defenses resembling turtle shells.


    So far, out of the original over a thousand, there were now only slightly over eight hundred left, but the casualties were mainly among Qi Cultivation stage cultivators.


    Just then, hundreds of cultivators rushed toward them from the front. As they got closer, it became clear that these were Wang Hong''s subordinates who had been stationed at other strongholds. Unexpectedly, they had crossed paths here.


    "About ten miles to the left, there''s arge Mountain cave. We can hide inside," one of the approaching cultivators said to Wang Hong.


    "Good! Let''s temporarily take shelter in the Mountain cave. Lead the way!" Wang Hong replied.


    By now, most of them were at their limits, and if they persisted for much longer, the casualties would undoubtedly increase significantly.


    The few hundred who hade to assist immediately turned back and led the way through the malevolent bird attacks, with the others following closely.


    At this point, everyone had their defenses fully activated and dared not engage with the malevolent birds in any way. If they fell behind, it would almost certainly be a death sentence.


    After pushing forward with all their might for over ten miles, they saw a conspicuous Mountain cave entrance on the side of a half-peak. The area around the peak had sparse vegetation, mostly bare rocks, making the dark cave entrance stand out.


    At this moment, everyone ignored everything else and rushed towards the Mountain cave entrance.


    "How is it inside the Mountain cave? Have you explored it before?" Wang Hong asked one of his subordinates.


    "Don''t worry, East Master. We retreated here earlier, and we came here to rest and wait for you when we heard the sound of battle from your direction," the subordinate exined while using a massive wooden shield to fend off the approaching malevolent birds.


    The Mountain cave entrance was quite spacious, over a dozen feet wide, allowing several people to enter side by side. Everyone quickly rushed into the cave.


    Once everyone was inside, Wang Hong tossed dozens of array tes at the entrance. When activated, arge stone appeared,pletely sealing the cave entrance.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 358: Temporary Refuge

    Chapter 358: Temporary Refuge


    The mountain cave was spacious, with several branching tunnels inside, providing ample space for over a thousand people without feeling crowded.


    Moments ago, the group was being pursued by a flock of demonic birds, and many of them had chased into the mountain cave. However, at this moment, the cultivators were relentlessly hunting them down, causing the demonic birds to screech and panic.


    After being relentlessly pursued by these foul creatures for so long, and with the loss of hundreds of lives, everyone was simmering with anger. Now, they had the perfect opportunity to vent their frustration on these isted demonic birds.


    As they took refuge in the mountain cave and activated the defensive array, numerous demonic birds were about to catch up. But they were stopped in their tracks by a massive boulder that suddenly appeared at the entrance.


    Naturally, these creatures were unwilling to let their prey escape after chasing them for so long. Some of them rammed directly into therge stone blocking the entrance.


    After the boulder was struck, it emitted concentric ripples. It turned out that the massive stone was not physical but an illusion created by the formation.


    Seeing their attacks seemingly having an effect, the demonic birds redoubled their efforts to charge at the cave entrance.


    Inside the cave, the people were exhausted after killing the demonic birds that had followed them. After continuous intense battles, their spiritual energy was depleted, and they were mentally fatigued.


    Wang Hong took only a brief rest and then approached the cave entrance. He instructed Wen Lan to lead a dozen people to guard the entrance and observe the situation outside."East Master, the demonic birds have been continuously attacking the formation at the entrance. It''s unlikely it can hold for much longer!" Wen Lan reported to Wang Hong as he approached.


    "How about this? Should I dismantle the energy cannon from the Flying Boat and set it up here to st them a few times?" Wen Lan had been itching for revenge after being chased by the demonic birds all the way.


    "If weunch an attack on the demonic birds outside now, it will only attract more of them. I suspect that the Beast Tide from behind will catch up shortly, making things even more troublesome. Right now, we can only reinforce the formation and defend passively," Wang Hong replied. He then took out a small bottle and handed it to Wen Lan. "If you''re feeling frustrated, you can spread this at the entrance."


    "Alright!" Wen Lan took the small bottle and walked toward the formation at the entrance. Although he couldn''t kill the demonic birds personally, poisoning them was still a good solution.


    Wen Lan stood at the cave entrance and discreetly released the contents of the small bottle outside the formation. Then, with a surge of spiritual power, the bottle shattered into pieces.


    A faint ck smoke emanated from the broken shards, spreading around the cave entrance under the influence of the demonic birds'' energies.


    The demonic birds remained oblivious to the Devouring Spirit Poison dispersing around them. They continued their relentless assault on the formation at the cave entrance.


    Wang Hong set up several additionalyers of formation at the entrance and left Wen Lan in charge of replenishing the spirit stones. Even if the demonic birds maintained their current attack rate, they would be busy for an entire day.


    "East Master, we''ve counted the numbers. Here''s the tally," Luo Zhongjie handed a jade scroll to Wang Hong, who nced at it.


    Wang Hong was in charge of five strongholds this time. Originally, thebined forces of these five strongholds amounted to around thirty to forty thousand people. However, at this point, only slightly over a thousand remained, including his own subordinates. Among them, the Qi Cultivation stage members suffered the most significant losses, with only about forty left out of the initial eighty. The Foundation Building stage cultivators had fewer casualties, with only a few injured. Despite the fierce battles today, most of the enemies were low-tier Demonic Beasts, making it challenging to kill a Foundation Building stage cultivator.


    Currently, Wang Hong had over a hundred Foundation Building cultivators under hismand, including his own eighty followers.


    During their retreat, many of the people he had recruited from the Treasure Hunters had seized the opportunity to escape the battlefield on their own, eager to get away from the danger.


    As Wang Hong and his group hid in the mountain cave, the outside world had be a sea of demonic beasts. What they had seen at the defensive line earlier was only a small part of the Beast Tide. The Beast Tide was converging from various directions towards the Qingxu Sect''s defensive line.


    The first line of defense, which was meant to stop the demonic beasts, crumbled instantly. In some areas, the demonic beasts had even broken through the defenses before Wang Hong''s group.


    Countless demonic beasts surged like a tidal wave, quickly engulfing the area behind the first defensive line. The cultivators who had retreated from there were now struggling in the midst of this sea of demonic beasts.


    Feng Chang, a seasoned Treasure Hunter, had a wealth of experience in escaping life-threatening situations. After Wang Hong ordered the retreat, Feng Chang had fled with a few trusted individuals.


    He had even looked back and sneered at Fu Li, who had been following Wang Hong. Feng Chang had thought that following Wang Hong would lead to returning to the battlefield, which he considered foolish.


    However, Feng Chang hadn''t gone far before a group of demonic birds caught up with him, trapping him in an endless onught. Due to the overwhelming numbers of demonic birds, he couldn''t even move forward.


    Soon, crawling demonic beasts caught up to him, and within moments, there was nothing left but a pile of flesh, with no trace of a human form.


    Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei had been rtively lucky initially, as they hadn''t been immediately surrounded by demonic beasts.


    When the Beast Tide first arrived, they quickly evacuated from their stronghold and then merged their forces, heading rapidly toward the direction of the second defensive line. Unfortunately, they hadn''t gone far before they encountered another group of tens of thousands of demonic beasts, forcing them to take a detour.


    After that, they changed directions several times, but each time they encounteredrge numbers of demonic beasts. It seemed that the density of demonic beasts was increasing.


    "Junior Brother Shi, it seems we''ve been trapped within the Beast Tide. The situation is urgent. How about we join forces and try to break through to find a way back?" Qi Shaoqing proposed when they found a temporary safe spot.


    "Agreed. Senior Brother Qi, please lead the way."


    Shi Fei understood that further dy could lead to everyone''s demise. Moreover, their two groups had not suffered losses as great as Wang Hong''s, and now that they had merged, they had over thirty thousand people, including more than five hundred Foundation Building cultivators. With theirbined strength, there was a chance to carve a path through the Beast Tide.


    "Fellow Daoists, today we face life and death, and everyone must follow my lead. Charge with me!" Qi Shaoqing stood atop a high rock and shouted to the over thirty thousand people below. He then turned and led the way forward, leaving the cultivators with a resolute and towering figure to follow.


    At that moment, Qi Shaoqing seemedrger than life in the eyes of the others.


    Shi Fei wasted no time and followed Qi Shaoqing''s lead. The others began to follow, although some straggled behind, hesitant to face the danger head-on, hoping to let others lead the way while they reaped the rewardster.


    Such individuals were always present, no matter the circumstances.


    Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei charged forward, and a massive group of tens of thousands of demonic beasts approached them head-on. Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei exchanged nces and slightly adjusted their direction, elerating towards the left and right nks of the approaching demonic beast horde.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 359: Preparing to Stay Long

    Chapter 359: Preparing to Stay Long


    Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei, along with their trusted followers, charged ahead toward the horde of beasts. Suddenly, they elerated and changed direction, weaving their way through the nks of the beast horde.


    They weren''t fools; they had also noticed that many cultivators behind them were reluctant to contribute. Qi Shaoqing certainly didn''t want to risk his life leading the way.


    As they moved to the sides, only their loyal followers and a few faster-moving cultivators kept up with them. Those slow and hesitant cultivators at the rear became the frontline defenders.


    Now, they also wanted to follow suit and break to the sides, but the Demonic Beasts in front of them had already closed in. They had no choice but to face the Demonic Beasts head-on.


    After Qi Shaoqing and Shi Fei veered to the sides, they didn''t immediately retreat. Instead, they attacked the beast horde from the nks.


    Though the others behind them wished to take it easy, they were pulled into the battle. The path back was still long, and it would require everyone''s concerted effort to return to the second defense line sessfully.


    Just when they were locked in intense battle with the Demonic Beasts and saw a glimmer of victory, arger group of Demonic Beasts rushed into the battlefield from behind.


    Judging by their numbers, there were at least seventy to eighty thousand, or perhaps even over a hundred thousand.


    At this point, they had no choice but to forget about the others. Qi Shaoqing signaled to his fellow disciples and broke through toward the front.However, Shi Fei wasn''t as fortunate. Just as he was about to escape, a massive emerald-eyed toad leaped out from the beast horde. It stood over ten feet tall, with tworge eyes likenterns.


    "Ah! A third-tier Demonic Beast!"


    "Run!"


    The Giant Toad opened itsrge mouth, and a long tongue shot out with lightning speed, like a streak of light.


    In the blink of an eye, a Foundation Building cultivator was captured by its tongue and swallowed whole, along with their clothes.


    "Ah! Run! Senior Brother Shi was swallowed by the toad!"


    One of the cultivators who had been by Shi Fei''s side moments ago regained hisposure and yelled before turning to flee.


    The third-tier toad had just devoured a Foundation Building cultivator and seemed unsatisfied. Its tongue shot out again, capturing and swallowing another person.


    As they fled, the number of people kept decreasing. They were utterly powerless against a third-tier Demonic Beast.


    Perhaps the Demonic Beast had its fill, or perhaps luck was on their side, but eventually, they managed to escape with only a few dozen survivors.


    Qi Shaoqing gazed at the grimy and disheveled Foundation Building cultivators in front of him. Out of the initial thirty thousand, only a mere few dozen remained after this battle.


    They hid behind a fewrge natural rocks, taking advantage of the fact that the Demonic Beasts hadn''t discovered them yet, and desperately tried to restore their Spiritual Power.


    After a while, one of the cultivators had slightly recovered and spoke up, "Senior Brother Qi, with our current strength, it seems unlikely that we can fight our way back."


    "Junior Brother Xu Xing, do you have any good ideas? Please share them with us," Qi Shaoqing replied.


    Qi Shaoqing''s hair was disheveled at this point, and his Daoist robe had severalrge tears, revealing a golden armor underneath. He could no longer maintain his carefree appearance.


    Xu Xing, the cultivator who spoke, suggested, "Why don''t we find a more secluded ce, dig a mountain cave, and hide there temporarily?"


    After everyone had entered the cave, Xu Xing''s proposal seemed feasible. They could at least heal their wounds for now and look for an opportunity to returnter.


    Upon hearing Xu Xing''s suggestion, the group nodded in agreement.


    "I think this ce is secluded enough. Why not start digging right here?" a cultivator proposed. Besides being sufficiently hidden, they dared not wander around at the moment to find a better location.


    They wasted no time and, using their Spiritual Weapons, quickly dug a mountain cave behind therge rocks. The cave entrance was only wide enough for one person to pass through, and it wasn''t very spacious inside. They would have to expand itter when they had more time.


    Meanwhile, in Wang Hong''s group''s cave mansion, they were slowly recovering. However, the outermost defensive formation had been breached by the relentless onught of demonic birds.


    Outside the cave entrance, the ground was littered with the bodies of demonic birds, and a few of them were still trying to break through the formation shield in front of the cave.


    Their strength had diminished considerably, though. These demonic birds didn''t understand why they were growing weaker.


    Wang Hong approached the cave entrance, looking at the pile of demonic bird corpses. At least twenty thousand had met their end here.


    In the sky outside, flocks of demonic birds asionally flew by, and there were oftenrge numbers of crawling demonic beasts passing through the vicinity.


    Wang Hong reinforced the cave entrance''s formation, satisfied with the result, and then entered one of the stone chambers.


    This stone chamber had been specifically carved outter, and there were dozens of them inside the mountain cave.


    They didn''t know how long they would have to stay here, but they needed to prepare for the long haul.


    Wang Hong opened a wooden box in the stone chamber, revealing Storage Bags filled with the corpses of demonic beasts. He took out two of them.


    These Storage Bags were full of the demonic beast corpses they had collected. Wang Hong took the bags and left the stone chamber, entering a hall where he emptied the bags of demonic beast meat.


    Fortunately, they had collected arge number of demonic beast corpses before, not expecting they woulde in handy here.


    Qi cultivation stage cultivators couldn''t go without food, and Foundation Building stage cultivators still needed to eat every few days, even though they had stronger constitutions.


    With over a thousand people here now, the daily food consumption was a daunting number.


    But based on the demonic beast meat Wang Hong had collected, they could sustain themselves for at least a year.


    After emptying the meat, Wang Hong gathered a dozen people and instructed them to prepare Spirit Meals and distribute them to the others.


    However, he still had another task to attend to.


    They didn''t know when they could return to the second defense line. Being hidden within the Beast Tide meant they were in constant danger, so they needed to make moreprehensive preparations.


    Wang Hong found Luo Zhongjie and said, "You go collect data on the Qi cultivation stage cultivators under ourmand, and then select ten individuals. I have some Foundation Establishment Pills on hand, and I n to have them undergo Foundation Building. This way, they''ll have some self-defense abilities."


    His Qi cultivation stage subordinates had suffered significant losses in this battle. Inrge-scale conflicts like this, Qi cultivation stage cultivators were too vulnerable.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 360: Seeking Refuge

    Chapter 360: Seeking Refuge


    Luo Zhongjie quicklypiled a list of Qi Cultivation disciples under hismand and handed it over to Wang Hong.


    A few dayster, ten more Foundation Building disciples joined the Mountain cave, leaving the other Qi Cultivation disciples within the cave envious.


    Most of the surviving Qi Cultivation disciples in the Mountain cave had been reorganized by Wang Hong after thest major battle, with many of them only needing a Foundation Establishment Pill to be Foundation Building disciples. However, those sent to the frontlines as cannon fodder were individuals without significant backgrounds, making it difficult for them to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills.


    Wang Hong added these ten new Foundation Building disciples to the existing thirty Qi Cultivation disciples, forming a group of forty.


    With ten Foundation Building cultivators in a team of forty, they were rtively safe as long as they didn''t encounterrge groups of second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    The Qi Cultivation disciples, who had originally been leaders of more than forty small teams, were reappointed as leaders.


    One day, as Wang Hong checked the formation at the cave entrance as usual, he noticed that the Yao birds outside had flown away.


    The ground outside the cave was littered with Yao bird corpses, attracting many scavenger Demonic Beasts. Wang Hong watched as these Demonic Beasts happily feasted, wondering if they would be affected by the Devouring Spirit Poison in the Yao bird meat.


    Meat from Demonic Beasts contaminated with Devouring Spirit Poison was still poisonous, but scavenger Demonic Beasts typically had strong resistance to toxins. Wang Hong wasn''t sure if they could withstand the effects of the Devouring Spirit Poison.With thisrge group of scavenger Demonic Beasts guarding the cave entrance, they were temporarily unable to leave. Any attempt to leave would alert the Demonic Beasts and potentially lead to more attacks.


    Inside the Mountain cave, they could hear the constant roars of Demonic Beasts outside, indicating that the area was likely teeming with them.


    After Wang Hong finished inspecting the formation at the cave entrance, he was about to head back when dozens of cultivators approached him, kneeling down in unison.


    Wang Hong was surprised and asked, "What''s going on? Get up and speak."


    "I am Shi Yang, representing our team of twenty-three people. We are willing to follow you, Senior, and serve you."


    "I am Zhou Canshi, representing our team of eighteen people. We are also willing to follow you..."


    It turned out that these forty-plus leaders from various teams were now representing their respective teams and expressing their desire to follow and serve Wang Hong.


    These Qi Cultivation disciples were currently trapped in the Mountain cave, surrounded by Demonic Beasts on all sides. If Foundation Building disciples had some confidence in their abilities, these Qi Cultivation disciples had very little chance of surviving on their own.


    Even if they somehow managed to escape, theirck of connections and background would likely lead them back to being cannon fodder.


    They needed to join a faction to seek protection, but the major factions weren''t interested in them, and the smaller factions had no say in such arge-scale battle.


    In the end, they believed that joining Wang Hong was a good choice. Firstly, he was right in front of them, so there was no need to look further. Additionally, they had seen the Qingxu Sect Blue Dragon Hall emblem on Wang Hong''s Flying Boat, and from what they''d heard from well-informed sources, Wang Hong held some influence within the Qingxu Sect.


    After observing Wang Hong''s character for some time, they found him to be trustworthy. Joining him as his subordinates reduced the likelihood of being treated as cannon fodder, or at least, they wouldn''t be easily discarded.


    Moreover, since they were already ying the role of cannon fodder, it couldn''t get much worse.


    Furthermore, they were also envious of the treatment that Wang Hong''s subordinates received, believing that following Wang Hong offered them a chance to reach Foundation Building.


    "Get up, all of you. This is a serious matter, and you should consider it carefully!" Wang Hong advised.


    Over a thousand Qi Cultivation disciples in the Mountain cave were watching this unfold, and when they saw that Wang Hong hadn''t declined, they all knelt down as well.


    "We sincerely wish to follow you, Senior, and request your eptance."


    "I am willing to make an oath to follow you faithfully and never betray you!"


    "I also pledge my loyalty!"


    In the Cultivation World, making an oath was not taken lightly, as it held a certain degree of binding power on cultivators, although not as strong as a Blood Contract. Viting an oath could easily lead to the birth of inner demons, affecting one''s cultivation progress, and even causing mental instability.


    However, Immortal Cultivator oaths could be broken with some hidden methods at a cost.


    The two hundred individuals Wang Hong had recruited for Mountain Valley had also taken oaths.


    "Since you all show such sincerity, I cannot refuse. From now on, I will appoint you as the guards of the East Zhou caravan."


    Wang Hong could discern their intentions but saw this as an opportunity to strengthen his forces. With the East Zhou''s uncertain situation and even the six major Sects facing instability, having more people meant greater protection.


    As for the resources needed to support their numbers, that was not a significant concern for him.


    "Thank you, East Master!" Upon hearing Wang Hong''s eptance, the over a thousand individuals began addressing Wang Hong as "East Master" and expressed their gratitude.


    "Very well. Since you have decided to follow me, you must obey my orders. Those who disobey will face consequences, ranging from the loss of cultivation levels to execution."


    "I will give you the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to reconsider. It''s not toote to change your minds now!" Wang Hong reminded them once more.


    "I, Shi Yang, solemnly swear from this day forward to willingly follow Senior Wang, without regrets orints!" After the incense stick burned down, Shi Yang was the first to make his oath.


    Following him, other Qi Cultivation disciples made their oaths, officially bing Wang Hong''s subordinates.


    "Although you are now part of my East Zhou Trading Company, you have not yet contributed to our cause. Therefore, for now, you will be considered peripheral members of the caravan, with slightly lower privileges than our core members."


    Their main motivation for joining Wang Hong was survival, followed by the potential benefits. Their loyalty was unlikely to match that of his long-standing core members. Wang Hong understood this, and while loyalty could be cultivated, it was more challenging in adults than in youths. If any of these new recruits showed exceptional performance, they could be promoted to core members in the future.


    "Where is Liu Wenlie?" Wang Hong called out.


    A burly man with a stubbled beard stepped forward from the crowd and approached Wang Hong.


    "Here I am!"


    "Starting today, the guard unit will be under your management. Don''t disappoint me," Wang Hong said with a smile.


    Liu Wenlie was one of Wang Hong''s personal guards from the past, known for his bravery on the battlefield.


    "Thank you for your trust, East Master. I will not let you down," Liu Wenlie replied with a bow.


    He then turned to the group of newly recruited Qi Cultivation disciples and spoke sternly, "From now on, I am your captain. My management is simple: rewards for achievements and punishments for mistakes. We do not tolerate cowardice in our guard unit. Anyone who fears battle and retreats will be executed!"


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 361: Beast Assault

    Chapter 361: Beast Assault


    After taking charge of the newly recruited guard squad, Liu Wenlie reorganized the entire squad.


    He grouped every ten individuals into a small team, appointing a team leader for each. Ten small teams formed a toon, with one toon leader.


    After the reorganization, they cleared a t area within the Mountain cave. This space allowed one toon to practice at a time, rotating among all the toons, promoting familiarity and coordination among the members.


    They had been hiding in this Mountain cave for over half a year now. During this time, several waves of scavenging Demonic Beasts outside had been poisoned to death.


    The Demonic Beasts that sumbed to the poison had be prey for other Demonic Beasts. Consequently, a thickyer of bones now covered the ground beneath the Demonic Beast corpses.


    The ones still alive here were no longer afraid of the Devouring Spirit Poison.


    They were unsure of the current situation outside, but the nearby Demonic Beasts never strayed far, and their roars were constant.


    Qi Shaoqing and dozens of others, who had sought refuge in this Mountain cave while being pursued by Demonic Beasts, had been hiding here for over half a year. They had already exhausted their supplies of food.


    Foundation Building cultivators couldn''t entirely abstain from eating; they still needed nourishment. Without it, they would eventually starve.Now, theyy at the cave entrance, quietly waiting for any isted Demonic Beast to pass by. Their only option now was to ambush these solitary Demonic Beasts and survive on their meat.


    However, Demonic Beast meat needed to be processed by a professional Spirit Meal Master before consumption. Unprocessed Demonic Beast meat not only tasted unpleasant but also contained residual demonic energy. Prolonged consumption would harm cultivators. As a result, they all had mild symptoms of irritability and red eyes.


    Qi Shaoqing stared intently at an injured Demon Wolf outside, about a hundred yards away from them. Normally, they wouldn''t have paid much attention to a wounded Demon Wolf, but they dared not rush out to kill it, fearing it might attract more Demonic Beasts with too muchmotion.


    All they could do was wait for the Demon Wolf toe closer and attempt a swift, fatal strike. To achieve this, they had even left a small piece of meat uneaten at the cave entrance, specifically to lure the Demonic Beast closer.


    For the past half year, the Beast Tide had been continuously attacking the second defensive line.


    Thanks to the time bought by the first defensive line, the second defensive line had be even stronger, with a more concentrated defensive force. As a result, the Demonic Beasts had failed to breach it.


    However, the Demonic Beasts had gathered in greater numbers outside the second defensive line. Now, the areas where Wang Hong, Qi Shaoqing, and others were hiding were all within the Beast Tide''s range.


    On this day, in the Mountain cave where Wang Hong and his group were hiding, a hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators were practicing. Liu Wenlie was shouting loudly from the sidelines.


    Just then, Wen Lan rushed to find Wang Hong.


    "East Master, arge group of Demonic Beasts has gathered at the entrance. It seems they want to attack the formation guarding the entrance."


    Their formation at the entrance could create a convincing illusion, blending seamlessly with the surrounding rock walls. With the limited intelligence of the Demonic Beasts, they shouldn''t have been able to detect it.


    "Oh, quickly take me there!" Wang Hong responded, hastening towards the entrance. Outside, a vast assembly of Demonic Beasts had already gathered, and what was even more surprising was that these Demonic Beasts of different species coexisted peacefully, crowded together.


    Suddenly, a roar emanated from the midst of the horde, and all the Demonic Beasts surged toward the formation guarding the Mountain cave entrance. It was unclear how they had discovered the formation, but the resulting impact sent shockwaves rippling through the outermostyers of the formation.


    These Demonic Beasts wereing on with overwhelming force, causing the outermostyer of the formation to dim quickly. If they continued to attack like this, it wouldn''t hold for much longer.


    Wang Hong took out another bottle of Devouring Spirit Poison and silently sent it outside using his Spiritual Power. He then shattered the bottle.


    Unfortunately, he had exhausted his supply of Red Powdered Skeleton Flower Pollen during theirst retreat. Although he had managed to gather some more recently, the quantity was limited.


    This Devouring Spirit Poison, although invisible, took a while to take effect.


    The Demonic Beasts outside seemed unaffected by the poison and continued their relentless assault on the formation.


    "Have Luo Zhongjie lead a group to defend the entrance," Wang Hong instructed Wen Lan by his side.


    There was no time to worry about alerting the enemy. Since the Demon n had organized so many Demonic Beasts to attack the Mountain cave, they must have already been discovered.


    Luo Zhongjie quickly brought a group of Foundation Building cultivators to the entrance. They wielded Spiritual Weapons and began attacking the Demonic Beasts outside, trying to slow down their assault on the formation.


    Rows of Spiritual Weapons flew out of the Mountain cave, harvesting the lives of countless Demonic Beasts.


    Wang Hong, on the other hand, was busy reinforcing the formation. As he worked on it, the firstyer of the formation gradually dimmed and eventually shattered.


    With no other option, he continued to fortify the secondyer of the formation.


    Luo Zhongjie and his group were pushing their Spiritual Weapons to the limit, but they still couldn''t eliminate the seemingly endless waves of Demonic Beasts.


    The entrance was rtively narrow, making it impossible to deploy too many cultivators there.


    Meanwhile, Qi Shaoqing and hispanions were lying in wait at the entrance, listening to the continuous roars in the distance.


    Looking up, they saw a multitude of Demonic Beasts gathered more than two miles away, surrounding a peak.


    Immortal cultivators had better vision, and at a distance of over two miles, with an unobstructed view, they could get a rough idea of what was happening.


    Countless Demonic Beasts were attacking in unison, converging in one direction.


    "It turns out there are also cultivators hiding in that peak. I wonder who they are," one of the cultivators by Qi Shaoqing''s side remarked.


    "In this vicinity, it''s just a handful of us. The direction of retreat shouldn''t be too far off. Junior Brother Shi was swallowed by that Tier Three Demonic Beast, so the likelihood is that it''s Wang Hong."


    "Can Wang Hong and his small group really make it here without casualties? I remember they were fighting arge group of Demonic Beasts that day."


    Qi Shaoqing replied, "The chances are higher for Junior Brother Wang. Although his group is small, they consist of elite warriors."


    "So, what should we do? Should we help them?" another cultivator by Qi Shaoqing asked.


    "With just a few dozen of us, we don''t even have the power to protect ourselves. There''s no way we can provide assistance."


    "Yeah, you''re right. They probably won''tst much longer either."


    An hourter, the battle ahead showed no signs of ending.


    Two hourster, the battle raged on.


    Three hourster, it continued.


    After half a day, anotheryer of the formation at the entrance was breached, and the Foundation Building cultivators guarding it had rotated through several waves.


    At this moment, inside the Mountain cave behind them, countless small snakes emerged from the rocky crevices.


    These small snakes were all green in color, not veryrge, but exceptionally agile.


    Once these Demonic Beasts entered the Mountain cave, they attacked humans on sight, and a fierce battle erupted among them and the cultivators inside the Mountain cave.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 362: Breaking Out

    Chapter 362: Breaking Out


    A green serpent emerged continuously from various cracks, and their numbers kept increasing, gradually putting the cultivators inside the mountain cave at a disadvantage.


    Wang Hong, who was strengthening the formation at the cave entrance, also noticed the situation. With powerful enemies on both sides, holding their ground inside the mountain cave was no longer an option.


    "Wen Lan, take a group and open the reserved exit. Organize a retreat!"


    After over half a year of exploration, they had thoroughly examined every corner of the mountain cave they were in. They had discovered that this mountain cave had only one exit. If arge number of Demonic Beasts stormed in from the entrance, they would be left with no escape route.


    Therefore, they hadn''t been idle during this time. They had excavated three additional passageways leading in different directions within the mountain cave.


    At the ends of these three passageways, about a yard of earth and stone remained against the outer mountain wall. When needed, Foundation Building cultivators could easily st it open with a single strike.


    "Alright, East Master, which exit should we use to break out?" There were three exit options, and he didn''t have the authority to decide which path to take.


    "You should first narrow the passageways to the north and west sides. Then, open the entrance and feign a breakout, leading the surrounding Demonic Beasts toward the north and west sides. After that, we''ll break out from the southern entrance."


    Although the Demonic Beasts were currently focusing on the main attack at the entrance, the entire peak was already surrounded by them. No matter which exit they chose, they would encounter resistance from the Demonic Beasts. Moreover, the exits they had dug were only about a yard wide, so it would take some time for over a thousand people to pass through. This dy would be enough for the Demonic Beasts to react, gather more of their kind, and block the exit.These Demonic Beasts could directly find the formation at the entrance, and the fact that they had gathered various types of Demonic Beasts together indicated that there was a highly intelligent Demonic Beastmanding them.


    It wasn''t that they werezy and didn''t want to widen the exits; it was because they were all trapped inside the cave, and there was no more space to store the excavated earth and stones.


    For now, they could only open two small openings to lure the Demonic Beasts away and then break out from another direction. Wen Lan quickly followed Wang Hong''s instructions and left.


    Qi Shaoqing and the others, who were watching from a distance, saw another location on the peak suddenly open a mountain cave, and dozens of people rushed out, seemingly preparing to break out and escape.


    Due to the angle, Wen Lan opened two exits simultaneously, and Qi Shaoqing''s group could only see one of them.


    "Hmm! Isn''t that Wen Lan who just came out? It''s really Senior Brother Wang and the others. Should we go and join them and escape together?"


    A Foundation Building cultivator recognized Wen Lan and asked Qi Shaoqing.


    Qi Shaoqing rubbed his reddened eyes and suppressed his restlessness. After some thought, he said, "Let''s wait a bit longer and see."


    He didn''t know how much strength Wang Hong and the others had retained. If they had too few people and were too weak, joining them now would only lead to being fodder for the Demonic Beasts.


    As expected, they saw only dozens of people rushing out from the mountain cave, and they were forced back inside by the Demonic Beasts that had converged from all around.


    "Indeed, Senior Brother Qi has exceptional foresight. If we had rushed out just now, we would probably have be Demonic Beast food," one of the cultivators remarked.


    Now that they had drawn the Demonic Beasts surrounding other parts of the peak to the exit, they were all gathered near the exit,unching a fierce assault. However, the exit was too narrow, allowing only two Demonic Beasts to enter at a time.


    Yang Tiezhu, carrying her wolf-toothed club, and another Foundation Building cultivator stood guard at one of the cave entrances. Every time a Demonic Beast tried to emerge from the entrance, Yang Tiezhu swiftly smashed its head with her club. The huge Demonic Beast corpses blocked the entrance, forcing the Demonic Beasts behind to use brute force to push forward.


    When they finally managed to expose their heads while struggling with the corpses, they were met with another club strike before they could figure out what was happening. Outside the mountain cave, many Demonic Beasts had gathered, unaware of what was transpiring inside due to the narrow entrance.


    Yang Tiezhu felt that the Demonic Beasts were crawling too slowly, and she kindly helped by pulling the corpses obstructing the path forward, allowing the others behind to move more swiftly.


    "Yang Tiezhu, Yu Liangxin, stop worrying about those Demonic Beasts there! Come quickly to the southern exit and regroup."


    Hearing Luo Zhongjie''s call, Yang Tiezhu reluctantly left her post at the entrance. After luring a significant number of Demonic Beasts with the newly opened exits, Wang Hong instructed everyone to fight against the green serpents while gathering at the southern exit.


    Though these green serpents were only Tier 1 Demonic Beasts, their sheer numbers made them formidable opponents. When most of the group had assembled near the southern exit, Wang Hong and Luo Zhongjie took the lead, using their Flying Swords to cut away chunks of the earth and stone in front of them.


    In fact, with their Foundation Building cultivation levels, they could easily st open the cave entrance with a single strike. However, that would create too much noise and could alert the other Demonic Beasts outside.


    With a gentle sword strike, Wang Hong sliced through the finalyer of rock, revealing a passage wide enough for one person to pass through. They spotted only three Demonic Beasts outside the cave, one of which was the closest and about to discover the entrance, preparing to let out a roar.


    Unfortunately, before it could make a sound, a Flying Sword had already decapitated it. Wang Hong quickly emerged from the mountain cave, and the Flying Sword continued to dispatch the remaining two Demonic Beasts. The other two Demonic Beasts didn''t even have time to react before they met the same fate.


    Luo Zhongjie emerged from the cave entrance at this point, and the two of them silently moved to the sides, discreetly killing the Demonic Beasts a bit further away. They were careful not to let these Demonic Beasts make any noise before dying.


    The rest of the group continued to widen the cave entrance. Many cultivators streamed out of the mountain cave, and after Wang Hong and Luo Zhongjie had killed the Demonic Beasts further away, more than half of the people inside the mountain cave had exited. By this time, the cave entrance had expanded to a yard wide.


    The group quickly poured out of the mountain cave, taking only a few moments for over a thousand people to exit. Many green serpents followed them out.


    "Run! Don''t mind these little snakes!"


    "Maintain battle formation!"


    "Be silent, don''t make a sound!"


    Themanders in the group continuously transmitted messages to the others. In the distance, Qi Shaoqing and hispanions saw that Wang Hong and the rest had all exited the mountain cave from the other side and had managed to preserve so many people.


    "Senior Brother Qi, should we join them in breaking out? This is a rare opportunity!" someone in their group suggested.


    "Yes! If we keep hiding, we might starve to death even with Demonic Beast meat!"


    After a brief consideration, Qi Shaoqing realized that it was indeed a good opportunity.


    Continuing to hide would only lead to them bing increasingly aggressive due to their inability to consume Spirit Meals, despite having ess to Demonic Beast meat.


    "Good! Let''s join Junior Brother Wang and break through together."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 363: Slaying the Green Serpent

    Chapter 363: ying the Green Serpent


    Qi Shaoqing immediately approached Wang Hong and the dozens of Foundation Building cultivators inside the cave.


    Wang Hong had noticed Qi Shaoqing''s group approaching from a distance, and he had no objections. He didn''t understand why there were so few people with Qi Shaoqing, but more hands meant more strength, as long as they didn''t hinder their progress.


    The group hurriedly ran forward, covering over a mile. The green snake behind them continued its relentless pursuit.


    Suddenly, they heard a furious roar from behind, and a green streak of light shed through the air beforending in front of them.


    When the green streak of light came to a halt, its true form was revealed: a green serpent with a single horn on its head, roughly the thickness of a water bucket. Its pair of triangr eyes emitted a green glow as it stared at Wang Hong and his group, who were approaching it.


    Wang Hong and hispanions, who had been rushing forward, saw this scene and immediately stopped in their tracks, narrowly avoiding colliding with the serpent.


    "Ah! A third-tier green serpent!" Qi Shaoqing and the others, who were approaching Wang Hong, eximed as they saw the creature from a distance.


    "What should we do? Should we regroup or retreat?" someone asked anxiously.


    Qi Shaoqing nced back and said in a low voice, "We''ve already been exposed, and there''s no way back now. Let''s move closer slowly and take it one step at a time."With the earlier roar, the Demonic Beasts from the Peak side had already started chasing them, leaving them with no way to retreat.


    Wang Hong looked at the green serpent blocking their path and guessed that this third-tier green serpent was likelymanding the lower-tier Demonic Beasts.


    With no time for pleasantries, both sidesunched attacks simultaneously.


    The green serpent swung itsrge tail towards Wang Hong''s group.


    At the same time, over a thousand people on Wang Hong''s side, including more than a hundred Foundation Building cultivators, alsounched their attacks on the green serpent. The twenty-plus cultivators wielding shields to defend were knocked to the ground by the sweeping tail.


    Simultaneously, the attacks of over a thousand peoplended on the green serpent''s body, with most of them hitting the same area, the serpent''s vulnerable spot.


    Thebined force of over a thousand people, even though the green serpent was a third-tier Demonic Beast, was overwhelming. The area where they struck the serpent turned into a gruesome mess of flesh and blood.


    At this moment, more than a hundred Spiritual Weapons and over a thousand Magical Weapons were continuously cutting into the green serpent''s body. Despite the serpent''s formidable body, it couldn''t withstand the slow but steady grind of so many weapons.


    In pain, the green serpent wildly thrashed its tail into the crowd, sending groups of cultivators rolling on the ground with broken bones, severed tendons, and even fatalities.


    Qi Shaoqing and his group were getting closer to Wang Hong''s camp and were witnessing the ferocity of the green serpent. They slowed their pace.


    "Beast! Cease your arrogance!" Wang Hong shouted and summoned arge to envelop the green serpent.


    If they allowed the green serpent to attack freely, Wang Hong and his group would likely suffer heavy casualties even if they eventually won the battle. Wang Hong couldn''t let that happen.


    Upon seeing therge descending, the green serpent lowered its body to the ground, creating a gust of wind as it swiftly dodged to the side.


    Wang Hong couldn''t let it escape so easily. His figure blurred, and he executed the Shifting Positions technique, appearing in front of the green serpent. He thrust his spear directly at the serpent''s face.


    The green serpent, finding a mere Foundation Building cultivator daring to block its way, raised the horn on its head and thrust it toward Wang Hong.


    "Boom!" The sh between the spear and the horn sent shockwaves through the surrounding area.


    As their powers collided, Wang Hong was thrown back more than twenty feet, while the green serpent was pushed back over ten feet.


    Qi Shaoqing and hispanions, following closely behind, were all astonished by this sight.


    "Senior Brother Qi, I heard that this Wang Senior Brother is a core Alchemist of the Pill Hall. How can he possess such formidable Body Refining cultivation, already capable of facing a third-tier Demonic Beast head-on? Could it be that Alchemists are more suitable for Body Refining?" a fellow cultivator asked Qi Shaoqing.


    Qi Shaoqing found it difficult to answer this question. He, too, had been an Alchemist, and with the support of a Nascent Soul elder, he hadn''t achieved such a level of Body Refining cultivation.


    Meanwhile, therge had already descended upon the green serpent, and it violently contracted, ensnaring the creature.


    However, as a third-tier Demonic Beast, the green serpent wasn''t going to give in easily. Its long body struggled within therge.


    If it were an ordinary Spiritual Weapon, it would have surely been torn apart by now. However, each vine on Wang Hong''srge was made from a two-thousand-year-old Devilish Vine Refinement, a material that surpassed ordinary magic weapons.


    Unable to break free, the green serpent opened its mouth and sprayed a green liquid towards Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong quickly blocked it with a wooden shield, and the green liquid sizzled upon contact. His high-grade Spiritual Weapon wooden shield soon bore severalrge holes, which rapidly expanded until the entire shield disintegrated.


    At this critical moment, mes suddenly appeared in Wang Hong''s hand. He flicked the mes towards the iing venomous liquid.


    As the mes met the venom in mid-air, they ignited violently. Contrary to expectations, the venomous liquid didn''t extinguish the mes but instead burned fiercely.


    In no time, the venom was incineratedpletely, and the mes continued their path,nding on therge restraining the green serpent.


    The mes rapidly spread across the, covering its entire surface. Though Wang Hong''s had many poisonous thorns, the green serpent''s body was too formidable for them to prate. However, this Spirit Fire was different; it was a potent me,parable to Golden Core True Fire.


    The green serpent was soon reduced to agonized cries, struggling within the. However, this Spirit Fire was not easy to extinguish.


    The serpent''s cries grew weaker, and it became evident that it would sumb to the Spirit Fire eventually.


    Upon witnessing Wang Hong''s use of Spirit Fire, Qi Shaoqing recognized its origin. It was a type of Spirit Fire cultivated specifically after practicing the Sect''s Cultivation Technique called the "Wood-Fire Incineration Technique."


    However, this technique was incredibly challenging to master, and no one within the sect had seeded in recent years. Qi Shaoqing also knew how Wang Hong had managed to seed, and he had just witnessed that Wang Hong''s Spirit Fire was even more powerful than what the sect recorded.


    At this moment, the pursuing Demonic Beast horde had closed the gap to within a couple of hundred feet behind them.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 364: Injured

    Chapter 364: Injured


    As they saw the Demonic Beast from behind closing in, Wang Hong knew that if they got entangled, other Demonic Beasts in the vicinity would also join the chase, making escape impossible.


    "Run quickly! You all go ahead; I''ll catch upter!" Wang Hong shouted, ordering his subordinates to run ahead. He decided to deal with the green serpent on his own, hoping to slow down the pursuing Demonic Beasts in the process.


    He retrieved several second-tier Talismans from his Storage Bag and began hurling them continuously at the relentless green snake behind him. The sessive explosions from the Talismans killed many of the leading Demonic Beasts, slowing down the pursuit.


    Wang Hong couldn''t afford to dy any longer; he needed to eliminate the green serpent quickly. He raised his Long Spear and began ruthlessly pounding the trapped creature''s head.


    The green serpent, unwilling to meet its end, thrashed wildly within the, even spitting out its demon core, but the held it firmly in ce.


    Although the demon core was blocked by the, it started to glow brighter, and its demonic energy rapidly spread outward.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong''s face turned pale. He swiftly used his Shifting Positions technique, causing his figure to blur and turn into an afterimage, escaping towards the distance.


    When he had moved several dozen feet away, the demon core reached its peak brightness and, with a deafening explosion, finally detonated.


    The self-explosion of a third-tier Demonic Beast''s demon core unleashed a powerful surge of Spiritual Energy that spread violently from the inside out.As an afterimage, Wang Hong tried to flee, but a sudden immense force struck him, causing him to spit out blood. He was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the ground.


    Wang Hong''s body left a deep crater upon impact, and his outer robe disintegrated under the force, leaving only the inner armor he wore close to his body intact.


    The explosion''s radius reached several dozen feet, creating a massive pit at its center, reducing the surrounding rocks and soil to powder.


    A third-tier Demonic Beast''s demon core, simr to a Golden Core in a Cultivator, could be made to self-destruct using certain secret techniques.


    However, this was usually a desperate measure, and few would choose it unless they had no other option.


    The snake saw no hope of survival and decided to take Wang Hong down with it. The self-explosion of a third-tier Demonic Beast''s demon core was enough to make even a Nascent Soul Cultivator retreat.


    If Wang Hong hadn''t possessed the Shifting Positions technique and managed to escape the explosion''s center in time, his body might not have even been found now.


    Hey on the ground, ears ringing, feeling as if his internal organs were shattered. He struggled to get up, but he couldn''t even move a finger.


    At that moment, he faintly heard someone loudly calling out for "East Master," but he couldn''t muster the strength to respond.


    His consciousness grew heavier, and he descended into darkness.


    Luo Zhongjie and the others received Wang Hong''s order to run ahead temporarily. They hadn''t gone far when they heard a deafening explosion behind them.


    Turning back, they witnessed dozens of cultivators being blown into the sky by the explosion, including Wang Hong.


    "East Master!"


    "East Master!"


    Luo Zhongjie and the others rushed back frantically, reaching Wang Hong''s side just as he lost consciousness.


    Luo Zhongjie gently pried open Wang Hong''s mouth and slipped a Yu Sui Pill inside. Fortunately, Wang Hong had given each of them a Yu Sui Pill for emergency use.


    The Demonic Beasts from behind were getting closer, with some already within striking distance. There was no time to tend to Wang Hong''s injuries.


    With the help of others, they carefully ced Wang Hong on Luo Zhongjie''s back.


    "Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Luo Zhongjie, with Wang Hong on his back, shouted as he ran, urging the others around him.


    At the same time, Wen Lan swiftly approached therge pit where the explosion had urred. Inside, all that remained of the green serpent were a few scattered fragments.


    Without taking the time to inspect the debris, he gathered it all into his Storage Bag.


    Their group had already gained some distance due to Wang Hong''s distraction, which meant the explosion had a smaller impact on them.


    The ones who were blown into the sky were mainly Qi Shaoqing and his group, who had joinedter and had slowed down upon encountering the third-tier Demonic Beast ahead.


    They had arrived just in time to witness Wang Hong''s victory and had intended to approach him and inspect the entangled green serpent. Little did they know they would witness such a rare event as a self-explosion of a demon core.


    Among their group of several dozen people, over ten were killed instantly, and many others were injured.


    Qi Shaoqing had used arge cauldron to shield himself during the explosion and emerged unscathed. This demonstrated the advantage of having a Nascent Soul-level backer.


    With the pursuing Demonic Beasts now at their heels, Qi Shaoqing shouted, "Retreat! Bring the injured with us; we need to retreat quickly!"


    He also threw a couple of second-tier Talismans toward the approaching Demonic Beasts, momentarily slowing them down.


    Then, they quickly carried the injured and followed Luo Zhongjie and the others towards the front.


    The loud explosion from earlier had resonated far and wide, attracting even more Demonic Beasts from the distance, all converging on their location.


    So, this group of people fled desperately in the front, while a horde of Demonic Beasts chased from behind.


    Currently, both sides were maintaining a simr pace, and they dared not pause for even a moment. If they were caught by the pursuing Demonic Beasts, they would be swallowed up by the Beast Tide, leaving nothing behind but bones.


    As they raced forward, they maintained their battle formation, with Wen Lan leading fifty Foundation Building Cultivators at the forefront.


    asionally, they encountered small groups of Demonic Beasts, which they plowed through with sheer force, scattering the beasts blocking their path.


    But as they hurried forward, they suddenly encountered a massive group of Demonic Beasts up ahead, numbering in the tens of thousands, advancing towards them.


    "Trouble! There''s another group of Demonic Beasts ahead! We''re in real trouble now!" A cultivator responsible for the nks couldn''t help but feel despair. Under normal circumstances, they might not fear such arge number of Demonic Beasts, but with tens of thousands chasing from behind, any dy could lead to disaster.


    "Charge through!" Wen Lan led the fifty Foundation Building Cultivators, forming a spearhead as they directly plunged into the beast horde. There was no more room for evasion.


    The fifty of them formed a sharp wedge, like a dagger thrusting into the heart of the beast horde, carving out a path within the mass of creatures.


    The cultivators behind them, numbering over a thousand Qi Cultivation Cultivators, simultaneously unleashed their Magical Weapons and cut down the Demonic Beasts that tried to attack from the sides.


    The Demonic Beasts surged like waves, crashing against them repeatedly, but these over a thousand people were like the rocks on the shore, weathering wave after wave, sending countless sprays into the air.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 365: Python-Serpent Pill

    Chapter 365: Python-Serpent Pill


    As they pushed through the horde of Demonic Beasts, hundreds of cultivators fell prey to the ws of these creatures, leaving countless injured in their wake.


    During their pursuit, they had to break through several more waves of beastly obstacles until they finally spotted the second defensive line in the distance.


    In front of them, on various mountain ranges, stood a majestic city wall that stretched for dozens of yards.


    However, even though they could faintly see it now, the distance that separated them was vast. What was more concerning was that countless Demonic Beasts had already gathered before the second defensive line.


    These Demonic Beasts were stationed right in front of the second defensive line,unching attacks several times a day, slowly depleting the strength of the human cultivators who defended it.


    Leading the charge was Wen Lan, who frowned as he gazed at the densely packed horde of Demonic Beasts below the second defensive line.


    At this point, they were at a point of no return. They had to press forward, even if it meant doing so with grim determination.


    If they were overtaken by the Demonic Beasts from behind and sandwiched between them and those in front of the defensive line, there would be no escape for them.


    Pushing forward might still carve out a path to survival. If the cultivators on the defensive line opposite them took the opportunity to attack the Demonic Beasts, their chances of sess would increase."Zhu Duan! I entrust East Master to you. Make sure to safely take him back!" Luo Zhongjie transferred Wang Hong onto Zhu Duan''s back. Zhu Duan was one of Wang Hong''s loyal guards, someone they could trustpletely.


    "Luo Senior Brother! Take care!" Zhu Duan shouldered Wang Hong, his expressionplex.


    He understood the unspoken message in Luo Zhongjie''s words. There were tasks that had to be carried out, and everyone had their role to y.


    "Prepare yourselves, in ten breaths'' time, follow me and charge forward. We must carve a path through this bloodbath!" Hearing Luo Zhongjie''smand, everyone knew that after this grueling journey, they had finally reached the decisive moment.


    At this moment, the remaining few hundred people, exhausted as they were, had unwavering determination in their eyes. There was no fear left, only the courage to advance relentlessly.


    Through the baptism of continuous battles, every survivor had undergone a profound transformation.


    Now, as they ran, they quickly consumed the Spirit Wine they had prepared for this moment, replenishing their depleted Spiritual Energy.


    Only those who had joined Wang Hong still had Spirit Wine left. Qi Shaoqing''s Spirit Wine had run out, and at this point, his Spiritual Power was almost depleted, with his Daoist Robe in tatters.


    "Wen Lan, stay close to Zhu Duan and ensure East Master''s safety!"


    "Don''t worry, East Master is in my hands. Unless all of us perish, no one willy a finger on East Master."


    Wen Lan''s voice was resolute, his gaze unwavering.


    "Fellow Daoists, we are currently facing formidable enemies in the front and relentless pursuers from behind. We can only ovee this ordeal by working together.


    As a gesture of goodwill, on behalf of the East Zhou caravan, I offer each of you a bottle of Spirit Wine for recovery. I hope we can unite in sincerity."


    Simultaneously, Wen Lan retrieved some bottles of wine and handed them to a nearby team member to distribute among the group.


    At this moment, enhancing someone else''s strength was akin to bolstering their own.


    Luo Zhongjie looked at the dwindling few hundred survivors, took a swig from a bottle of Spirit Wine, tightened his grip on his Long Spear, and sped up as he charged forward.


    Behind him, fifty Foundation Building cultivators followed closely, forming a wedge formation.


    On the city wall of the second defensive line, several cultivators were lethargically observing the continuous sea of Demonic Beasts across from them. The days of unceasing battles had left everyone thoroughly fatigued.


    Suddenly, a startling voice cut through the air: "Everyone, look! There seems to bemotion behind the Beast Tide!"


    Upon hearing this voice, all eyes turned towards the rear of the Beast Tide.


    Sure enough, chaos had erupted behind the Beast Tide, but due to the distance, nobody could discern the details of what was happening.


    "Could it be that there are cultivators attacking the Demonic Beast horde from behind?" someone spected.


    "How is that possible? Look at the countless Demonic Beasts down there. Who would be so reckless as to attack from behind at a time like this?" another person immediately countered.


    "Maybe it''s some survivors retreating from the first defensive line?"


    "That''s even more unlikely. Besides the few who returned on the first day, we haven''t seen anyone elsee back from the first defensive line."


    The chaos continued to unfold at the rear of the Demonic Beast horde. At this moment, a cultivator on the city wall produced a mirror, and after offering it as a sacrifice, it expanded to about thirty feet in size and floated in the air.


    With this mirror, they could clearly observe the distant events.


    As this mirror was deployed, other cultivators on the city wall turned their heads to watch.


    "Ah! There really are people attacking the horde from the rear!"


    "I reckon this group has only a few hundred members, yet they''re this audacious!"


    "Haha! There are always people who underestimate the situation."


    While the cultivators on the city wall watched and made casual remarks, Luo Zhongjie led his group of fifty people forward, all of whom possessed high-level Body Refining cultivation.


    Their battles against the Demonic Beasts were now straightforward and brutal, devoid of any finesse. Each strike was a matter of life and death.


    After continuous intensebat, their equipment had sustained damage, and the Spiritual Weapon armor they wore was in tatters.


    As they slew Demonic Beasts, blood sttered on them, covering them as if they had been dipped in a bucket of blood, with fragments of flesh and internal organs.


    Just then, a white Tier-Three Tiger appeared in front of them, blocking their path. A slight dy would lead to them beingpletely surrounded.


    In that critical moment, ten individuals from the group each swiftly took out a pill and swallowed it without hesitation.


    As they consumed the pills, their aura skyrocketed, and they burst into maniacalughter.


    "Hahaha! Beast! Today, you''ll learn the true meaning of ferocity."


    "Brothers, go ahead without me!"


    The ten individuals suddenly increased their speed several times over and pounced on the Tier-Three Tiger ahead of them.


    The White Tiger attempted to strike, but it was immediately seized by all four limbs by the ten individuals, who exerted force simultaneously, tearing the Tier-Three Tiger into several pieces.


    A Tier-Three Demonic Beast was in in an instant.


    This scene left all the cultivators on the city wall speechless.


    "What... what''s going on? What kind of pill did they just swallow to be so powerful?" one cultivator eximed in astonishment.


    "If I''m not mistaken, that should be the legendary Python-Serpent Pill."


    "I wonder about the origin of this Python-Serpent Pill. How can it be so effective?" another cultivator''s eyes sparkled with curiosity.


    "There''s nothing to envy about. The herbs required to make this kind of pill are extremely rare and hard toe by. But most importantly, taking the Python-Serpent Pill consumes everything within the cultivator, including Spiritual Power, vitality, essence, and even their lifespan. In the end, it guarantees certain death."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 366: Breaking Through the Siege

    Chapter 366: Breaking Through the Siege


    After ten cultivators who had consumed Python-Serpent Pills joined forces to tear through three formidable White Tiger Demonic Beasts, their strength had slightly diminished.


    Without uttering any grandiose words, these ten individuals, after ying the three-tier Demonic Beasts, used their remaining strength to clear more obstacles for theirrades.


    Every moment they spent now was precious, as it was bought at the cost of burning all of their resources, making every ounce of their energy even more invaluable.


    Their current attacks still far exceeded those ofte-stage Foundation Building cultivators. Each strike could instantly turn arge group of Demonic Beasts within a range of one to two yards into shredded meat, sttering in all directions.


    With the ten powerful individuals paving the way, those behind them found it much easier to progress, and the pace of the group quickened.


    In a short time, they had covered nearly a mile within the sea of beasts.


    At this point, the ten cultivators in the front had hair turned snow-white, their muscles had begun to wither, wrinkles covered their faces, and their attacking prowess had dropped to that of Qi Cultivation stage cultivators.


    "Brothers, I''ll go ahead. Look after my family!" one of the cultivators, aware of his imminent demise, shouted and charged straight into the horde of Demonic Beasts. He tightly gripped the neck of one Demonic Beast, refusing to let go.


    The Demonic Beast tried desperately to shake him off but couldn''t seed.At that moment, a Flying Sword descended, beheading the Demonic Beast. However, the cultivator had already been swallowed by the Beast Tide.


    Seeing this, the other nine followed suit, rushing recklessly toward the Beast Tide, without hesitation.


    "They''re mad! These people are all lunatics!" The cultivators on the city wall couldn''tprehend their actions.


    In their eyes, nothing in this world could make them willingly sacrifice their lives.


    Qi Shaoqing was among the group, struggling to fend off the Demonic Beasts attacking him, narrowly escaping danger several times.


    The Foundation Building cultivators who had followed him initially had protected him, but now, each of them was struggling to protect themselves, and two of them had already perished.


    Now, when he faced danger, most of his subordinates pretended not to notice. Fortunately, his grandfather had given him several life-saving treasures, allowing him to endure without injuries.


    Seeing the ten individuals simultaneously consuming the Python-Serpent Pills andparing it to his situation, he couldn''t help but feel a sense of injustice.


    After the ten had sacrificed themselves, the group''s progress slowed down once again. They still needed to travel about two more miles within this sea of beasts to reach the city wall of the second defense line.


    Demonic Beasts asionally broke through the line formed by the group, infiltrating the crowd. Because everyone''s attention was focused on the outer Demonic Beasts, some cultivators within the group lost their lives due to insufficient vignce.


    At this point, the cultivators on the city wall were no longer mocking them as before.


    They watched as wave after wave of the Beast Tide surged toward the small team below, turning into a bloody rain, with the same pattern repeating in the rear.


    Just then, the cultivators on the city wall saw threerge Flying Boats soaring out from behind them. They passed over the city wall and headed straight for the Beast Tide below.


    As a Golden Core cultivator stood on the leading Flying Boat, the two Flying Boats approached the Beast Tide. From the Flying Boat, six to seven hundred Spiritual Weapons wereunched with tremendous force, pounding the Beast Tide below.


    In no time, they created a gap in the Beast Tide, but arge swarm of demonic birds flew toward them from the sky.


    At this moment, the Golden Core cultivator at the forefront of the Flying Boat opened his mouth and produced a ck wooden ruler with mes dancing around it. He split the ruler in two, then in four...


    The wooden ruler transformed into countless ruler-shaped shadows that enveloped the surrounding demonic birds.


    Every bird struck by the ruler turned into a fiery ball, plummeting downward with gruesome cries.


    After dealing with the birds, the cultivators on the Flying Boat focused their efforts on ying the Demonic Beasts below. Wherever the Flying Boat passed, limbs of Demonic Beasts scattered.


    With the assistance of the two inner Flying Boats, Luo Zhongjie''s group elerated their progress and headed towards the Flying Boats.


    As the two sides drew closer, Qi Shaoqing spotted the Golden Core Elder on the Flying Boat and urgently called out, "Senior Muli, save me!"


    He felt that he could no longer hold on; his spiritual power was depleted, and when he saw the rescue arriving, he couldn''t muster the strength to persevere any longer.


    The Golden Core Elder, seeing Qi Shaoqing below, leaped and transformed into a streak of light, diving toward him.


    While he didn''t particrly care about Qi Shaoqing, the face of a Nascent Soul cultivator''s descendant was not something to be disregarded.


    In the midst of the crowd, he grabbed Qi Shaoqing and flew up to the Flying Boat.


    However, this action attracted the attention of the third-tier Demonic Beasts within the Beast Tide.


    Several third-tier Demonic Beasts were already flying toward them.


    The Golden Core cultivator, carrying Qi Shaoqing, swiftly entered the Flying Boat.


    The third-tier Demonic Beasts that had been lured turned furious and attacked the Flying Boat.


    There was also a fish-like third-tier Demonic Beast flying towards the group below.


    Coincidentally, the direction of this Demonic Beast''s charge happened to be where Wang Hong was positioned.


    At this moment, the cultivators within the group had no time to fend off the attacks of other Demonic Beasts. They focused all their efforts on controlling their Spiritual Weapons to intercept this Demonic Beast.


    However, the speed of this Demonic Beast was unmatched by Foundation Building and Qi Cultivation cultivators. They couldn''t catch up with its speed.


    Wen Lan, who stood by Wang Hong''s side, rushed forward to block the beast. Their immense collision left Wen Lan on the ground with most of his bones shattered.


    Although Wen Lan, as a body-refining cultivator, had also been hurt, the Demonic Beast was feeling a bit dizzy at this point.


    At this moment, hundreds of magical weapons from the group above finally caught up to it, and taking advantage of its dizziness, they all struck it.


    Simultaneously, in the air, the Flying Boat endured attacks from the Demonic Beasts. It had already reached their position, and hundreds of Spiritual Weapons were directed toward the third-tier Demonic Beast.


    The Demonic Beast, still disoriented, suffered attacks from hundreds of Foundation Building cultivators and was in on the spot.


    With the protection of the two Flying Boats from above, the group easily carved a path through the Beast Tide, escaping the pursuit of the Demonic Beasts. They finally entered the second line of defense.


    When they initially broke out of the mountain cave, there were over a thousand people. Now, only a bit over five hundred remained.


    Among the remaining, there were about ten led by Qi Shaoqing, and then there were some Treasure Hunters like Fu Li, totaling around thirty to forty individuals.


    In this battle, the Qi Cultivation cultivators suffered the most casualties, with only around three hundred survivors, all of whom had now pledged loyalty to Wang Hong.


    The aftermath of the Python-Serpent Pill, the sacrifices made by his subordinates to protect Wang Hong¡ªQi Shaoqing couldn''t help but be amazed.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 367: Changes in Space

    Chapter 367: Changes in Space


    After Wang Hong was injured, his consciousness remained shrouded in a hazy state. He felt as though he were soaking in a hot spring, as if he had been asleep for a very long time.


    When Wang Hong''s consciousness finally stirred from the darkness, he found himself floating in what appeared to be Space.


    At this moment, he felt an even stronger connection with Space. He no longer needed to consciously release his Divine Sense; he could sense everything within Space effortlessly.


    He felt that within Space, he could do as he pleased. Even the living creatures within Space seemed to obey hismands.


    With a mere thought, a Spirit Beended on his hand. He could sense the emotions of this Spirit Bee,municate with it using his thoughts, and make it perform variousplex actions under his mentalmand.


    In the past, he could only indirectly control Spirit Bees through the Bee Queen. Sometimes, after several transmissions, themands might be misinterpreted, leading toical mishaps.


    But now, within Space, he could directly control every single Spirit Bee.


    Furthermore, the fish he kept in the pond could now leap into a cooking pot by his side with a single thought.


    In Space, he could control much more than just living beings. He could alsomand the Spirit nts within Space.Previously, he could only prevent the Devilish Vine from attacking him, but now, he could directly manipte all of the Devilish Vines,manding them to swing and attack at his will, experiencing a satisfying sense of control.


    Simrly, with the Enchanting Tree, he couldmand it effortlessly.


    Besides these living creatures, he discovered that he could also manipte the Spirit Qi within Space, making it flow in a particr direction.


    He couldpress some of the Spiritual Energy to create walls made of Spiritual Energy, blocking the movement of creatures inside.


    In the past, he had put a lot of effort into preventing the Poisonous Bees and Spirit Bees from wandering around haphazardly. Now, he only needed to create a Spiritual Energy barrier between them.


    He didn''t know why this was happening, but at this moment, he truly felt like the master of Space.


    He slowly opened his eyes and found himself lying on a stone bed.


    Checking his body, he realized that all his injuries hadpletely healed, but he had no idea how long he had been unconscious.


    He sat up and noticed that he was in a rtively simple stone chamber.


    Walking out of the chamber, he saw Luo Zhongjie sitting at the entrance with his back turned.


    "East Master, you''ve finally awakened!" Luo Zhongjie eximed upon hearing the movement behind him.


    "How long have I been unconscious?" Wang Hong inquired, considering the extent of his recovery; it must have been quite a while.


    "It''s been over two months. Your injuries had healedpletely, but you simply couldn''t wake up," Luo Zhongjie replied with a hint of concern, then added, "Now that East Master has awakened, is there anything wrong with your body?"


    "I''m perfectly fine," Wang Hong smiled.


    "What about the others? Any casualties?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "Wen Lan suffered severe injuries, and the others have some minor injuries," Luo Zhongjie said with a peculiar expression, unable to bring himself to say more.


    Seeing Luo Zhongjie''s unease, Wang Hong directly asked, "Is there something else? Please tell me; I''m sure I need to know."


    Luo Zhongjie pondered for a moment and realized that Wang Hong would eventually find out, so he decided to speak his mind, as it had been weighing heavily on him.


    "East Master! Jing Shenghong, Feng Yisong, Zhao Chaoxu..." Luo Zhongjie swiftly listed ten names.


    "All ten of them have consumed the Python-Serpent Pill..." Luo Zhongjie''s words weighed heavily on Wang Hong''s heart. These were hisrades who had fought alongside him for many years.


    He had always thought that since he had brought them to the Cultivation World, he should secure a bright future for them. While they might not pursue immortality, they should at least have a peaceful and prosperous life.


    "What about the others?" Wang Hong inquired.


    Luo Zhongjie proceeded to inform Wang Hong about the condition of the others. The losses had been substantial. Over ten Foundation Building cultivators had died in battle, and the Qi Cultivation cultivators suffered the most significant losses. Out of the eighty who had ventured out, including those who had already achieved Foundation Building, only around twenty returned.


    Nearly a thousand Qi Cultivation cultivators who had joined them were now reduced to just over three hundred.


    "When we return tomorrow, let''s make sure to take care of their families," Wang Hong suggested. He often met with the families of his closest subordinates and was familiar with them.


    However, Luo Zhongjie''s expression soured as he responded, "We may not be able to return so soon. During your unconsciousness, all our people were assigned to various defensive positions along the front lines."


    During Wang Hong''sa, the cultivators stationed at the front lines, concerned about his prolonged absence, had requested permission from the Golden Core Elders in charge to distribute his subordinates to different locations.


    Qi Shaoqing and the others who had returned with Wang Hong were currently recuperating at the sect.


    The reason behind this was Qi Shaoqing''s influential background, which deterred anyone from taking action against them. Even many Golden Core cultivators treated them as equals.


    Moreover, thebat strength of the East Zhou Trading Company was highly regarded, and many factions were eager to recruit them. They believed that once they had them, they could easily turn raw recruits into seasoned fighters. Therefore, not everyone was determined to return to Wang Hong''s side.


    At the time Wang Hong had yet to wake up, and they didn''t dare defy Qingxu Sect''s orders, so they had temporarilyplied.


    Upon learning of the situation, Wang Hong felt a surge of anger. He hadn''t even died yet, and so many people were already eyeing his subordinates.


    He immediately inquired about the name and residence of the Golden Core Elder in charge of that section of the front lines and left the stone chamber.


    Following Luo Zhongjie''s provided directions, Wang Hong soon found Muli''s cave mansion.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays respects to Senior Uncle Muli!"


    "Hehehe, Wang Junior Nephew, please rise quickly! I heard about your prolonged unconsciousness, and I was extremely worried. How are you feeling now? Is there anything amiss?" Muli appeared exceptionally warm and friendly.


    "Thank you for your concern, Senior Uncle. However, I havee here with the intention of recalling the original East Zhou caravan members. I hope Senior Uncle can grant my request," Wang Hong directly stated his main purpose for visiting.


    "Hehe! So, Junior Nephew came for this matter. You may not be aware, but manpower is scarce at various defense points now. People from different factions must adhere to orders and participate in the secondary defense lines," Muli exined.


    Most of the individuals who joined Wang Hong''s group were Muli''s trusted subordinates. At this point, he was not inclined to let go of something he had already acquired.


    "Senior Uncle, the East Zhou caravan currently has a mission and cannot stay stationed here temporarily. I hope Senior Uncle can understand," Wang Hong requested.


    "Oh! I see. What mission is that?"


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 368: Return to Mountain Valley

    Chapter 368: Return to Mountain Valley


    When Muli inquired about the mission, Wang Hong had no real mission in mind; he simply wanted to make use of the reputation of the Blue Dragon Hall.


    "This matter is confidential, and I can''t disclose it at the moment. I hope you understand, Senior Muli," Wang Hong replied.


    "Oh! Even I don''t have the right to know?" Muli''s gaze suddenly sharpened, causing Wang Hong to feel immense pressure.


    "Please, Senior Muli, don''t make it difficult for me. This matter has been arranged personally by the Blue Dragon Hall Master, and I can''t leak any information."


    Wang Hong felt that if he were to fabricate a mission out of thin air, no matter how well he did it, a lie was still a lie, and there would be ws. It was better to simply decline. He couldn''t confront the Blue Dragon Hall Master about it right now.


    "In that case, I won''t inquire further," Muli said.


    Muli had also heard of Wang Hong being the Vice Hall Master of the Blue Dragon Hall, so he didn''t want to create unnecessary trouble openly.


    "Thank you for your understanding, Senior."


    After Wang Hong left, he entrusted Luo Zhongjie to gather the necessary personnel and return the following day.However, after Luo Zhongjie made a trip outside, he returned disappointed.


    "East Master, I went to all the stationed points, but they are unwilling to release anyone. They say they need an order from Senior Muli himself."


    Since his subordinates were already stationed in different ces, he couldn''t simply leave without informing their immediate superiors and obtaining their consent.


    "Go inform everyone again; we''ll gather here tomorrow morning and leave directly."


    Since the other side was being stubborn, Wang Hong had no choice but to resort to this.


    "If everyone, during this time, it seems that some people may have been recruited by other forces," Luo Zhongjie asked.


    "Oh, those people?"


    "Our original members should be fine, but some of the Foundation Building cultivators who joined us at those strongholds some time ago don''t seem reliable anymore."


    When Wang Hong was stationed at the five strongholds, quite a few Foundation Building cultivators had expressed their desire to follow him.


    He had epted them back then, but it was merely a verbalmitment with no real binding force.


    "For those people, there''s no need to notify them. We don''t need disloyal individuals among us."


    Wang Hong had no particr fondness for these former Treasure Hunters, and even if he had recruited them, they weren''t of much use. They could only be counted on in a fight.


    The next morning, shadows from various locations along the defensive line converged at Wang Hong''s location.


    Some had quietly left their barracks, while others who were stationed on the city walls had found an excuse to leave and never returned.


    The defense line mainly focused on guarding the outer walls, so there was more freedom of movement within the city unless there was an emergency.


    "East Master, we''re back!" Yang Tiezhu and a few others returned and gathered around Wang Hong.


    At that moment, Ling Shuai and his daughter, Ling Xue, also returned. Wang Hong silently counted the number of his lively subordinates.


    When the number reached more than three hundred, no one else returned.


    "East Master! Everyone who should havee is here. Those who didn''te won''t return," Luo Zhongjie said softly, with a touch of sadness in his tone.


    The ones who suffered the most in this battle were the Qi Cultivation stage members. These were the individuals Wang Hong had recruited from the Mortal Realm and personally trained and nurtured. It was heartbreaking for him to see so many of them lose their lives.


    "Let''s depart!"


    Two Flying Boats slowly ascended, preparing to leave.


    At that moment, a dozen or so cultivators flew in from the distance, shouting loudly, "Hold on!"


    All of these individuals were wearing the standard purple robes of the Qingxu Sect, and they quickly flew in front of the two Flying Boats, blocking their path.


    Wang Hong stepped out of the Flying Boat, thinking to himself, "They''ve arrived."


    Standing at the bow of the boat, he raised his voice, "May I inquire what guidance Senior Brothers have for us? Please don''t interfere with the important matters of the Blue Dragon Hall."


    Naturally, Wang Hong understood their intentions, so he decided to use the reputation of the Blue Dragon Hall first.


    "Wang Senior Brother, please forgive us! These individuals have already been conscripted for defensive duty on the frontlines. However, they fled in the face of battle, and we have the authority to apprehend them."


    One of the middle-aged cultivators, who appeared to be the leader, stepped forward andbeled them as deserters on the battlefield.


    "Wrong! These people are all members under mymand in the Blue Dragon Hall and are subject to our orders. Outsiders have no authority to conscript them!"


    "These individuals are not Qingxu Sect Disciples. Where does the im of them being members of the Blue Dragon Halle from?"


    Wang Hong then presented his Blue Dragon Hall Vice Hall Master Token to them as proof.


    "This is an internal matter of the Blue Dragon Hall. You need not concern yourselves," he dered, waving his hand. "Let''s depart!"


    "Hehe, we''ll have to offend then!" the leading middle-aged cultivator sneered.


    Just at that moment, more than a hundred individuals flew in from the front, all Foundation Building cultivators, forming a fan-shaped formation as they encircled them.


    "Charge!" Wang Hong ordered coldly. After losing so many of his subordinates, he was already in a bad mood, and these individualsing to confront him were an outlet for his frustration.


    Having fought their way out from a swarm of tens of thousands of beasts, this group of over a hundred people was not something Wang Hong took seriously.


    With only two Flying Boats for their three hundred-plus people, it was quite crowded inside. Some of the Foundation Building cultivators were flying on their own swords.


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''smand, Yang Tiezhu took the lead, wielding his wolf-toothed club, charging towards the oing crowd.


    The others also unleashed their Spiritual Weapons at the same time, and the battle between the two sides onlysted a few moments before a victor emerged.


    The leading cultivator was also caught off guard by Yang Tiezhu and received a severe beating, falling from the sky. Fortunately, he managed to regain flight halfway down; otherwise, he might have be the first Foundation Building cultivator to die from being thrown.


    Wang Hong''s group didn''t intend to kill them, as they were all Qingxu Sect cultivators. If they killed them, it would be difficult to exinter. After causing chaos among these individuals, Wang Hong''s group quickly passed through and continued on their way.


    After leaving for several months, they finally returned to Mountain Valley.


    Wang Hong settled the newly recruited two hundred-plus Qi Cultivation cultivators in the Outer Valley and entrusted their training and management to Liu Wenlie.


    These two hundred-plus individuals were all at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer or had reached the Qi Cultivation Grand Completion Realm. They were all formidable fighters, as many of the weaker ones had already perished in previous battles.


    However, these neers, having just joined, would naturally have lower loyalty levels. They would need to undergo some trials before being epted into the Inner Valley and bing core members.


    At the moment, their interests aligned. They followed Wang Hong for safety and ess to the vital resources they needed.


    In return, Wang Hong required their assistance in various tasks and would provide them with some of the resources stockpiled in the warehouses.


    In reality, the rtionship between most cultivators and their sects or factions was based on a simr foundation¡ªself-interest and mutual benefit.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 369: The Tavern

    Chapter 369: The Tavern


    After returning to Mountain Valley, Wang Hong took a stroll around the area where he had initially nted the Devilish Vines and the Red Powder Skull Flowers. To his delight, both the Devilish Vines and the Red Powder Skull Flowers were still thriving, untouched by any harm.


    Not only had nothing gone missing, but he had also stumbled upon several Storage Bags. In the ces where he found these Storage Bags, there were also some human and Demonic Beast remains.


    It seemed that during this time, someone had attempted to infiltrate Mountain Valley but had identally met their demise at the hands of the Devilish Vines.


    Wang Hong gathered the remaining bones and tattered Daoist Robes, disposing of them to prevent these eerie remnants from lurking among the vines.


    Next, he transnted some Devilish Vines from his Spatial Storage and, after nting them, attempted to manipte them using his mentalmands.


    He discovered that he could still control andmand these recently transnted Devilish Vines, though their responsiveness was slightly inferiorpared to when he controlled them within his Spatial Storage.


    He believed that these Devilish Vines had great potential for the future and decided to cultivate more of them.


    Within Azure Void City, the once bustling streets were now deste, with only a few people to be seen. Those withbat capabilities had been deployed to the frontlines to resist the encroaching Demonic Beasts.


    Wang Hong walked through the empty streets, feeling a sense of destion. Suddenly, he spotted a tavern that still had a decent number of patrons inside. Seeing an opportunity for a break, he decided to step inside."Wee, esteemed guest! Pleasee in!" The waiter at the entrance greeted him warmly.


    "I''ll have a pot of Spirit Wine and a few appetizers," Wang Hong ordered after finding a seat by the window.


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''s request, the waiter had a troubled expression and said, "Esteemed guest, I regret to inform you that we no longer have any Spirit Wine. Currently, we only offer ordinary alcoholic beverages and some Spirit Tea."


    "Are you telling me that this tavern doesn''t have a single pot of Spirit Wine?" Wang Hong found this quite perplexing.


    "Esteemed guest, you must have just returned from the frontlines. You might not be aware, but the situation there has be extremely dire. Resources are being rapidly depleted. Strategic items like Spirit Wine have been scarce for the past month or two. Now, only a handful of merchants in Azure Void City still have limited supplies of Spirit Wine. Additionally, other Spiritual Objects within the city are also in short supply. Tier-one Pills, which used to be readily avable, are now hard toe by," the waiter exined. Wang Hong had not been aware of the current state within the city since he had recently returned from the frontlines.


    "I see. In that case, please bring me a pot of Spirit Tea."


    Soon, the waiter brought Wang Hong a pot of Spirit Tea. He took a sip and frowned slightly; the Spirit Tea was nd andcked the rich Spirit Qi he had hoped for. Nevertheless, he chose not toin. Given the current circumstances, there was no need to be too particr.


    If he wanted good wine and fine tea, he had plenty in his Spatial Storage. He could enjoy them at his leisure once he returned.


    At that moment, a burly man in the tavern spoke up, "I wonder if we can hold out this time. I''ve heard that the Demonic Beasts from the Eastern Sea Demon n and the Western Demon Tribe have both converged on our Azure Void City."


    "Ah! What''s even more infuriating is the actions of those Treasure Hunters earlier. They disrupted everything. If not for them, the East Zhou Cultivation Realm wouldn''t have ended up like this," another cultivatormented.


    "Not just that, the depletion of resources is also due inrge part to the havoc caused by those Treasure Hunters."


    As the cultivators in the tavern continued to chat after having a few drinks, they seemed to possess an extensive knowledge of the Cultivation World. They discussed every aspect of current events as if they were experts.


    Sipping on subpar alcohol and discussing matters that concerned the entire Cultivation World, they appeared to be burdened with a sense of responsibility despite not having a single Spirit Stone to their name.


    "I heard that all the cultivators who went to the first defense line to repel the Demonic Beasts didn''t make it back alive. Not a single one survived."


    "I happen to know a thing or two about this. My second cousin''s elder brother is a disciple of the Qingxu Sect. At least one team managed to return this time. There were only around a thousand of them, but they broke through the Beast Tide''s blockade and fought their way out of the tens of thousands of Demonic Beasts, eventually reaching the second defense line," a cultivator said, his face flushing with pride as if he had aplished the feat himself.


    "Such powerful individuals! Even Golden Core cultivators would find it difficult to break through, right? Do you know who led them?" the initial cultivator inquired.


    The first cultivator took a look around and saw that the others were paying attention. He then spoke in a mysterious tone, "I happen to know this as well. The leader this time was a senior cultivator surnamed Qi. He is a descendant of the Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Qingxu Sect. My cousin''s elder brother was just a menial servant for Senior Qi, so that''s how I got to know about it. Senior Qi led from the front, covered in blood, and endured countless injuries, yet he continued to fight until the very end. Without Senior Qi''s efforts, it would have been almost impossible to break through the blockade and reach the second defense line. But please, let''s not mention this to others."


    Wang Hong was taken aback upon hearing this. How did the leader of this mission be Qi Shaoqing? He wondered if this lower-tier cultivator was spreading baseless rumors or if Qi Shaoqing had deliberately released this information.


    For now, he had no intention of arguing with the lower-tier cultivator, as it was just hearsay. Besides, it was better not to attract unnecessary attention.


    "Your information might be incorrect. I heard that the main force and the leader of the mission were different individuals. This was witnessed by many cultivators on the second defense line and is easy to confirm," another cultivator at a nearby table interjected.


    The cultivator who had spoken earlier felt slighted by the contradiction and heatedly replied, "I got my information from a reliable source. Why would you doubt me?"


    The dispute escted quickly, with both cultivators turning red and nearlying to blows.


    Wang Hong didn''t hear anything valuable from the argument and decided to leave the tavern. He headed to his East Zhou Trading House, and as he approached, he noticed a long queue stretching all the way outside.


    Walking into the shop, he inadvertently gave the impression that he was cutting the line, causing some of the cultivators waiting to be anxious. A few even prepared to confront him.


    Inside the shop, however, it was surprisingly calm. The shopkeeper and the assistants were all idle.


    "East Master! East Master has returned!" one of the assistants eximed with excitement upon seeing Wang Hong, rushing upstairs to inform Xu Lun.


    The cultivators who had been waiting outside heard that Wang Hong was the East Master of the shop and breathed a sigh of relief. Some even regretted their earlier aggressive stance, grateful that they hadn''t taken action against the young man.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 370: The Difficulty of Shadow Kill

    Chapter 370: The Difficulty of Shadow Kill


    After Wang Hong entered the East Zhou Trading Company, he noticed that most of the shelves inside the store were empty.


    What was even more peculiar was the line of people leading out onto the main street, and they weren''t conducting any business transactions. They were simply standing there, staring at each other with wide eyes.


    Seeing this scene left Wang Hong feeling perplexed. He distinctly remembered leaving a significant amount of supplies with Liu Changsheng before departing, so they shouldn''t have been depleted so quickly.


    "East Master! It''s a relief to see you return safely atst," Xu Lun said, beaming with joy. When Wang Hong had been dyed in returning, especially after hearing that the first defense line of cultivators had been wiped out, the remaining cultivators here had been on edge.


    "I''ve always said that East Master is blessed and lives as long as the heavens. What can a mere Demonic Beast do against East Master?" Ma Zhong and Ma Yi, the two brothers, chimed in as they joined Wang Hong. They bowed respectfully, adopting a servile attitude.


    "Is that so? But weren''t you two the ones who used to be so scared that you went out every day to gather information about the situation?" Xu Lun taunted the two, reminding them that they had signed a Blood Contract with Wang Hong, and if anything were to happen to him, they would be affected immediately.


    "We were merely concerned for East Master''s safety. Our loyalty to East Master is something you can''t understand," the loyal duo said firmly.


    The scene of the four of them chatting in the main hall caught the attention of the cultivators waiting in line, and they were taken aback.


    Xu Lun and the Ma Brothers had always been figures they admired from a distance.Xu Lun, as the manager of a prominent tradingpany, had control over countless resources, and that was well-known.


    The Ma Brothers, renowned as second-tier Alchemists in Azure Void City, were the subject of admiration and attempts at recruitment by numerous cultivators. However, they had always remained aloof and uninterested.


    But at this moment, these two suddenly appeared in a ttering and submissive manner, abandoning their previous proud and haughty demeanor.


    While they conversed, they entered a quiet room, and it was then that Wang Hong asked, "I noticed that all the shelves in the store are empty. Have we run out of goods in our tradingpany?"


    "We do have some goods left, but given the current situation, no matter how much we put out, it''s quickly swept up. So, we can only release a batch of Spiritual Objects every once in a while, which inevitably leads to frenzied buying," Xu Lun exined. "Right now, all the stores in the city are out of stock, including Myriad Treasures Tower. We are one of the few who release goods every few days. Many stores have been closed for a month now. Even if we release more, we can''t save the entire city from its current crisis, and releasing too much will also lead to confiscation."


    "In the past few days, one shop imported arge quantity of goods from the Immortal Way Trading Company and then sold them extensively. But the City Lord''s Mansion dispatched a team to seize most of the Spiritual Objects," Xu Lun continued. "Although they provided somepensation during confiscation, the profits were naturally much lesspared to selling them in the store."


    After listening to Xu Lun''s exnation, Wang Hong began to understand the situation better. They had been in continuous warfare with the Demon n for over a decade, depleting their resources significantly. Previously, at least the entire Cultivation World had joined forces against the Demon n, making it a bit easier to bear.


    Now, it seemed that only six major sects remained in the entire Cultivation World, with all other regions lost, resulting in a shortage of resources. Moreover, the routes between these six major sects were controlled by the Demon n, making it impossible for resources to flow freely between regions.


    "Have you not noticed that even Myriad Treasures Tower, which is so powerful, has run out of goods? That''s because they have goods elsewhere, but they can''t be transported here," Xu Lun added.


    However, despite the scarcity of goods in the city, Wang Hong suspected that many people and factions were hoarding supplies. When something bes scarce, people tend to stockpile it, making the shortage even worse. Many of these factions had been in operation for decades, if not centuries, and their reserves of resources shouldn''t have been depleted so quickly.


    "What about the people waiting outside?" Wang Hong inquired.


    Seeing that Wang Hong had been engrossed in conversation with Xu Lun, the Ma Brothers felt somewhat overlooked. They seized the opportunity to answer Wang Hong''s question, with Ma Zhong eagerly taking the lead.


    "The cultivators waiting outside are all here to purchase Spirit Wine. We only supply a batch of Spirit Wine every five days. It''s only after we''ve acquired the stock that we put the next batch up for sale. These people have been waiting here early, with some of them queuing for over ten days."


    "If you think this is a long line, East Master, you should see the one over at Skinny Monkey''s ce. There, the line is even longer. Spirit Wine is often sold out as soon as it''s released. Just a few days ago, I saw the head of a small n trying to force his daughter into Skinny Monkey''s ce. Skinny Monkey boasts a lot, but when ites down to it, he even got scared off at a critical moment," Ma Yi said with a smile.


    "By the way, how''s your Alchemy proficiency these days?" Wang Hong shifted the topic.


    "Rest assured, East Master, my brother and I have never cked in Alchemy. Currently, our Pill Sess Rate is above seventy percent, and we produce high-quality pills with every furnace," Ma Zhong confidently stated. He was referring to the Pill Sess Rate when refining multiple sets of materials simultaneously in one furnace. If they refined only one set at a time, the Pill Sess Rate would be even higher.


    While they might not be skilled inbat, they had some talent for Alchemy, and their hard work had paid off. Their Alchemy proficiency was quite good, and they were considered among the upper-tier second-tier Alchemists.


    "Good! Well done!" Wang Hong praised them.


    The Ma Brothers were overjoyed to receive Wang Hong''s praise, and it felt sweeter than honey. They had ttered him so much before without receiving anypliments, so they realized how rare and precious this praise was. They resolved to put more effort into ttering him in the future.


    After chatting with Xu Lun for a while, Wang Hong left the East Zhou Trading Company without making anyments about the current business situation, leaving it as it was.


    He then visited Zhao Ning''s Zhao''s Pill Shop and Skinny Monkey''s distillery, only to find that both were struggling due to shortages.


    While at Skinny Monkey''s distillery, he even witnessed a cultivator inquiring about Skinny Monkey''s whereabouts, apanied by a beautiful young girl.


    Having checked these businesses, Wang Hong left Azure Void City alone, heading towards Liu Changsheng''s base of operations. He traveled without any disguise, as he had been vignt about whether Shadow Kill would send someone to assassinate him.


    Therefore, he remained cautious throughout the journey, prepared to strike down any cultivator who approached him with lethal force. However, to his disappointment, no one attempted to attack him from start to finish, not even those who were willing to give him a second nce.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 371: Forging the Golden Core

    Chapter 371: Forging the Golden Core


    After Wang Hong arrived at the base where Liu Changsheng was stationed, he led Liu Changsheng to inspect the Devilish Vine and Red Powder Skull Flower he had nted around the base.


    These two Spirit nts were thriving exceptionally well here, perhaps due to the rich nutrients. As Wang Hong explored the Devilish Vines, he discovered more Storage Bags hidden among them.


    Analyzing the items inside these Storage Bags, it was evident that the deceased were Foundation Building cultivators, numbering over thirty in total.


    It seemed that Liu Changsheng''s activities had attracted the attention of others or rival factions. Their consistent supply of resources to the outside world, especially during the current resource shortage, made them vulnerable to covetous eyes.


    "Many cultivators have been probing our vicinitytely, but those who attempted to invade have all perished," Liu Changsheng whispered from a safe distance behind Wang Hong. Due to the Devilish Vine''s presence, he dared not approach too closely. He couldn''t fathom why these Devilish Vines never attacked Wang Hong.


    "What''s our overall strength now?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "We currently have ny Foundation Building cultivators and a hundred Qi Cultivationte-stage cultivators, with fifty of them having reached the pinnacle," Liu Changsheng reported.


    With this number of Foundation Building cultivators, they could contend with a Golden Core cultivator. However, the Immortal Way Trading Company had drawn significant attention, making their manpower somewhat unreliable.


    Moreover, after this battle, Liu Changsheng contemted altering their development strategy. Most of the casualties in this recent conflict were Qi Cultivation cultivators.If he could provide more Foundation Establishment Pills, giving his Qi Cultivation cultivators a chance to advance to Foundation Building, the casualties in future battles would be greatly reduced.


    He had previously hesitated because of the potential risks associated with an excess of Foundation Establishment Pills, but after years of covert development, he had umted considerable strength. Now, aside from major powers like the Qingxu Sect, even if other medium-sized factions had one or two Golden Core cultivators, he had the ability to resist.


    Furthermore, if he dispatched another batch of Foundation Establishment Pills, the strength of his subordinates would undergo another significant surge.


    "Compile a list of these pinnacle Qi Cultivation cultivators for me," Wang Hong instructed Liu Changsheng. He had thoroughly contemted this decision on his way back.


    Wang Hong returned to a secluded room within the base and summoned each of the pinnacle Qi Cultivation cultivators individually.


    Each cultivator emerged from his chamber wearing a smile, then swiftly left to continue their closed-door cultivation. The same process repeated for the next cultivator.


    A monthter, the base had added fifty more Foundation Building cultivators, bringing Liu Changsheng''s faction to a total of one hundred and forty Foundation Building cultivators.


    "With our current strength, can we simultaneously engage two Golden Core cultivators without issues?" Wang Hong asked Liu Changsheng in a quiet room, seeking his expertise in the faction''sbat strategy.


    "If our aim is merely to engage two Golden Core cultivators, it can be done. However, these individuals excel at covert operations, assassinations, and gathering intelligence. Theyck a distinct advantage in directbat," Liu Changsheng exined, believing that it would be a waste to employ his trained operatives in straightforward battles.


    "Ah, in the future, let''s try to avoid having them engage in directbat. However, now that the Immortal Way Trading Company has attracted attention, future battles may be unavoidable. As for the fifty new Foundation Building cultivators, we must keep their presence outside a secret for the time being," Wang Hong advised.


    "Rest assured, East Master, these fifty individuals will not set foot outside the base for the time being," Liu Changsheng assured.


    "Also, you''ve been at thete Foundation Building stage for quite some years now. Do you have a chance to form a Golden Core?" Wang Hong inquired. Liu Changsheng had been at thete Foundation Building stage when he started following Wang Hong, and now, after many more years, he was only a step away from reaching the pinnacle of Foundation Building.


    To Wang Hong, this was merely a matter of obtaining a Green Spirit Peach, but he had never heard Liu Changsheng mention the Core Formation process. It seemed as though Liu Changsheng had given up on forming a Golden Core.


    Liu Changsheng''s expression turned somewhat mncholic as he responded, "While it is true that reaching the Foundation Building stage can be challenging, the main difficulty lies in the absence of Foundation Establishment Pills. However, the leap from Foundation Building to Golden Core is many times more challenging."


    "Oh, can you tell me more about it? I have no knowledge of this process," Wang Hong inquired, intrigued by Liu Changsheng''s tone, which suggested he had some understanding of Core Formation.


    "I don''t know much myself. The so-called Foundation Building stage is all about establishing a solid foundation for your future cultivation. If the foundation isn''t strong enough, you won''t be able to form a Golden Core. Even if you manage to force it through some special method, you will only be the weakest type of Golden Core cultivator, and your Realm will forever remain at the early stage, with no further progress."


    "Are there special Core Formation methods?" Wang Hong asked curiously.


    "I''ve heard of such methods, but I''ve never had the opportunity to learn them. East Master, you are a natural talent, and there''s no need for you to resort to such methods."


    Wang Hong had kept his Spiritual Roots level a secret from everyone, so in the eyes of many, he was undoubtedly a genius. Nevertheless, it was just out of curiosity, as he believed that with the assistance of his Space, he wouldn''t need to resort to such measures.


    He continued to inquire, "What are the key aspects one needs to establish a strong foundation during the Foundation Building stage? What level of attainment is required to form a Foundation?"


    "As far as I know, it primarily involves the breadth of one''s dantian sea and the purity of Spiritual Power," Liu Changsheng exined.


    Wang Hong was relieved to hear that these were the main aspects. His dantian sea had been significantlyrger than that of an ordinary cultivator since its formation, and he had also cultivated Blue Beauty Grass in his Space, a Spirit Herb known for enhancing the dantian sea.


    In addition to that, his Spiritual Power had experienced rapid growth due to the frequent consumption of Pills and various Spiritual Objects, which sometimes caused instability in his Realm. However, he owned a vast white crystal fruit orchard in his Space, covering several acres. He often couldn''t consume all the white crystal fruits, so he had them fermented into Spirit Wine. Both fresh white crystal fruits and white crystal fruit wine had a purifying effect on Spiritual Power.


    With these considerations, Wang Hong felt that he had already seeded in half of what was required for Core Formation, which brought a smile to his face.


    "However, to form a Pill, you''ll need many Spiritual Objects as assistance. Among them, the most famous one is the Golden Core Pill. It has the widest range of use and the best effect. It''s said that taking one can increase the sess rate by two or three times. However, forming a Golden Core is even more challenging than creating Foundation Establishment Pills. The main ingredient for forming a Golden Core must be at least a thousand years old. Besides the Golden Core Pill, there are other Spiritual Herbs that can assist in Core Formation, with varying effectiveness, ranging from half-finished to one or two percent."


    "I see," Wang Hong mused. "No wonder Golden Core cultivators are so rare in the Cultivation World."


    "Do you happen to have some of these assisting Spiritual Herbs prepared?" Wang Hong wanted to see what they looked like, and if possible, he might even extract some roots orponents.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 372: Liang Tan

    Chapter 372: Liang Tan


    When Wang Hong asked if Liu Changsheng had collected any Spiritual Objects that could assist in Core formation, Liu Changsheng looked embarrassed.


    "I have been searching for Spiritual Objects that can assist in Core formation for years, but I haven''t obtained a single one," he admitted.


    Although he knew what Spiritual Objects could aid in forming a Golden Core, it was of no use to him. Up until now, he hadn''t even seen what these Spiritual Objects looked like.


    "However, I have gathered some information about other Spiritual Objects," he continued.


    Firstly, the Spiritual Herbs required for Refinement to form a Golden Core are cultivated by many factions. However, these Spiritual Herbs are not easy to cultivate, and their numbers are limited. Moreover, the main herbs require a medicinal age of over a thousand years.


    Because the over one hundred types of Spiritual Herbs needed for Golden Core formation have different environmental requirements, no sect, including the Qingxu Sect, has been able to assemble aplete set of them on their own.


    In the past, when refining a Golden Core, it was necessary to trade with other sects to gather aplete set of Spiritual Herbs.


    Qingxu Sect, being a major Alchemy faction, has the mostprehensive collection of Spiritual Wines needed for Golden Core formation, but they still only possess two-thirds of theplete set."


    Wang Hong hadn''t previously inquired about this information and was now realizing the difficulties involved in Refinement to form a Golden Core.At this moment, he became aware of a significant problem. It seemed that there were only a few major factions left in the Cultivation World. The others had either been wiped out by Demonic Beasts or had voluntarily relocated.


    Moreover, due to the blockade by Demonic Beasts, the major factions were currently not interacting with each other. In such circumstances, where would one obtain the necessary resources for Golden Core formation in the future?


    "Do you know if there are any nearby sects that possess these Spiritual Herbs?" Wang Hong asked.


    Liu Changsheng thought for a moment and then replied, "Among all the sects near Qingxu Sect, only three sects have cultivated Spiritual Herbs for Golden Core formation."


    "These three sects are Chuyun Sect, Spiritual Herb Valley, and Hundred Grass Sect. Chuyun Sect has already been wiped out by Demonic Beasts."


    "Spiritual Herb Valley and Hundred Grass Sect are both affiliated with Qingxu Sect and specialize in cultivating Spiritual Herbs. They escaped extinction because the entire faction moved near Qingxu Sect."


    "Where are the current locations of Spiritual Herb Valley and Hundred Grass Sect?" Wang Hong nned to visit them personally if possible.


    "I''ve heard about the locations of these two sects," Liu Changsheng replied. "However, both of them have Golden Core cultivators in charge, so I haven''t dared to contact them for trade, fearing that I might not return once I go."


    "You can give me the addresses, and I will visit them when I have the time. Besides Golden Core formation, do you have any information about other Spiritual Objects?"


    "I''ve also gathered some information about other Spiritual Objects," Liu Changsheng continued. "For example, Qingxu Sect''s Five-Colored Spirit Jujube can increase the chances of sessfully forming a Golden Core by half."


    When Wang Hong listened to Liu Changsheng''s words, he realized that all these Spiritual Objects were controlled by the six major sects, and no other factions possessed them.


    However, with a bit of thought, he understood that besides these major sects, other factions might have these Spiritual Objects hidden away, making it impossible for outsiders to know.


    If they revealed the possession of such Spiritual Objects, they would eventually fall into the hands of the major sects. For these powerful sects, acquiring such items would likely not be difficult.


    Liu Changsheng recorded the locations of the two sects that possessed the Spiritual Herbs on a Jade Scroll and handed it to Wang Hong.


    Taking it, Wang Hong retrieved a sealed Jade Box and gave it to Liu Changsheng.


    "This is for you; it might be of help," Wang Hong said.


    Liu Changsheng epted the Jade Box, opened the talisman affixed to it, and his pupils contracted in surprise. "Is this... the Five-Colored Spirit Jujube from Qingxu Sect?"


    "Exactly, that''s it! Keep it for now. When the timees, gather more Pill-assisting Spiritual Objects and prepare for the Golden Core formation."


    With Wang Hong''s confirmation, Liu Changsheng immediately bowed deeply and said, "Thank you, East Master, for your great kindness."


    "No need to be so polite. In some time, go to the Mortal Realm and recruit some children with Spiritual Roots. We don''t know what the future holds, so let''s make some preparations in advance."


    Currently, the area around Qingxu Sect was surrounded by Demonic Beasts, but within this encirclement, there were still some secr worlds where children with Spiritual Roots might be found.


    With continuous battles against the Demon n, in thest battle alone, he had lost dozens of his subordinates. If this continued, he feared he wouldn''tst much longer and might be amander without an army.


    In a mansion within Azure Void City, a Foundation Building cultivator hurriedly made his way to a secluded cultivation room.


    Once inside, he greeted an old man who was meditating in the room and said, "Reporting to Senior, we have investigated the background of that immortal way tradingpany."


    The old man, named Liang Tan, was a renowned Golden Core cultivator in Azure Void City and the patriarch of the Liang family. The Liang family was one of the leading noble families in Azure Void City, operating several shops in the city. One of theirrgest shops was even part of the Azure Void City Ten Store Alliance.


    However, in recent times, all their shops, including those of other families, were facing closure due to a shortage of supplies. The Liang family''s shops were no exception. Although they had some savings, continuousck of ie could eventually lead to financial difficulties.


    During this challenging period, there was one shop named the East Zhou Trading Company that stood out. It managed to maintain a steady supply of goods while other shops were struggling.


    Upon investigation, it was discovered that over a dozen shops in the city were able to find suppliers at a time when resources were scarce everywhere else. They suspected there was a secret tradingpany behind this.


    The Liang family decided not to approach the immortal way tradingpany for supplies right away. Instead, they aimed to investigate its background first. If thepany turned out to be weak, they could consider a takeover. If it was strong, they could negotiate cooperation in the future.


    This was themon mindset of major powers in the Cultivation World. They would only consider cooperation when both parties were of roughly equal strength.


    Liang Tan squinted his eyes and asked, "What''s the oue of the investigation?"


    "Senior, it is said that this immortal way tradingpany is a secretiverge trading business specializing in supplying various shops in Azure Void City, including goods for the East Zhou Trading Company. The highest-ranking member of thepany in Azure Void City is only at thete Foundation Building cultivation level, and there are a total of over ten Foundation Building cultivators in Azure Void City associated with them."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 373: Defeating the Enemy

    Chapter 373: Defeating the Enemy


    After Liang Tan listened to the report, he pondered for a moment and made a decision.


    He believed that with his own strength, he couldpletely defeat the Immortal Way Trading Company.


    Regardless of how much power the other party had in other cities, due to the currentck ofmunication between major factions, even if he were to eliminate them, they wouldn''t be able to receive reinforcements.


    Moreover, as a Golden Core cultivator, he had never heard of such a tradingpany before. It was unlikely to be a truly prominent establishment.


    Unfortunately, most of the disciples from his n had been sent to the front lines to battle Demonic Beasts, leaving only a few Foundation Building cultivators in the n.


    "It seems I''ll have to take matters into my own hands," Liang Tan sighed.


    As Liang Tan prepared to attack the Immortal Way Trading Company''s base outside Azure Void City, somehow, the news had leaked.


    Many who had previously considered dealing with the Immortal Way Trading Company became aware of it, including Liu Changsheng''s side.


    Therefore, when Liang Tan departed from Azure Void City, a group of cultivators secretly followed him.These individuals only possessed Foundation Building cultivation levels, but they hoped to benefit from the situation by trailing behind and potentially gaining something.


    Liang Tan paid little attention to these cultivators following him. After all, he believed that when the time came, no one would dare topete with him for the spoils.


    Furthermore, having this group of followers might prove useful in unexpected ways.


    Upon arriving at the Immortal Way Trading Company''s base, Liang Tan saw that therge formation here had already been activated. He flew directly above the formation and released a formidable aura of a Golden Core cultivator. He shouted down below, "Listen up, Immortal Way Trading Company members below! I give you three breaths to surrender, or when the formation breaks, I''ll leave none of you alive."


    In response from below, a few arrows were shot in Liang Tan''s direction, but by the time the arrows reached him, they were no longer a threat. Liang Tan casually brushed them aside with his sleeves.


    "Hmph, you know not your ce!" Liang Tan snorted and descended, preparing to attack therge formation.


    However, as hended at the edge of the formation, countless ck vines suddenly lunged towards him simultaneously.


    These vines ranged from the thickness of a water bucket to the size of a thumb, and they were covered in long, menacing thorns.


    "Petty tricks!" Liang Tan sneered and opened his mouth, from which a tiny, gleaming dagger flew out.


    The small dagger instantly erged to a three-foot length and danced around him, slicing through numerous thin vines.


    The Foundation Building cultivators who had followed him from behind involuntarily moved farther away when they saw the dagger flying out. Although they enjoyed watching a spectacle, they didn''t want to identally harm themselves. The power of a magic weapon was beyond their capabilities in the Foundation Building stage.


    Some more experienced cultivators among them acted asmentators, exining, "This is Liang n''s founder''s renowned magic weapon, the Frostde. It can cut through metal and jade like it''s nothing, and it''s exceptionally sharp. Even other magic weapons can be severed easily. Breaking through this formation should be effortless for him."


    "If I were a cultivator in that base, I would have surrendered by now and offered all my possessions. Maybe there would still be a chance to survive," one of the spectators among the cultivatorsmented, seizing the opportunity to tter the Golden Core cultivator, leaving a favorable impression. All it took was for the Golden Core cultivator to be in a good mood, and perhaps they might benefit.


    "Yes, the might of a Golden Core cultivator is beyond the reach of Foundation Building cultivators," another cultivator chimed in, agreeing.


    At this very moment, however, the spectators from afar noticed that Liang Tan suddenly froze, as if lost in thought and distracted.


    "Liang n''s founder is truly confident, even now he''s lost in thought, as if he doesn''t take his opponent seriously... Wait?"


    Before this cultivator could finish his sentence, he saw that Liang Tan had been tightly bound by the vines due to his momentary distraction.


    What was going on? This cultivator had barely finished ttering Liang Tan, and he was already ensnared. Couldn''t the old man have held out a bit longer so that the ttery could continue?


    When Liang Tan awakened from his momentarypse, countless vines had wrapped around him inyers, both inside and out. Numerous thorns on the vines had pierced his muscles and were greedily absorbing his Spiritual Power.


    Liang Tan was furious!


    As a distinguished Golden Core patriarch, he had been caught off guard by a junior. If news of this spread, how could he maintain his reputation among fellow cultivators of his level?


    He immediately summoned his Frostde, intending to cut down all the Devilish Vines entwining him.


    With each passing moment the vines clung to him, he felt a deeper sense of shame.


    At that moment, dozens of Spiritual Weapons shot out from the formation below, all aimed at the Frostde.


    However, the Frostde was indeed incredibly sharp, effortlessly slicing through the Spiritual Weapons attempting to block it into two halves.


    This sight made the onlooking cultivators wince in pain. These were all valuable Spiritual Weapons. Each one, when severed, represented the loss of tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. Even if one owned a Spirit Stone mine, such extravagance was ill-advised.


    However, some among the spectators noticed another aspect of the situation. "They''ve summoned dozens of Spiritual Weapons. That means there must be at least dozens of Foundation Building cultivators inside!"


    "How deviously cunning. Despite having dozens of Foundation Building cultivators, they often appear as if there are only a dozen or so."


    Among the onlookers were those who had once contemted attacking this base and rallying some forces to do so. Now, witnessing this spectacle, they were silently grateful for not taking the risk.


    Although the Frostde was sharp, slicing through Spiritual Weapons wasn''t as effortless as cutting through tofu. Currently, it was greatly hampered by the encirclement of dozens of Spiritual Weapons, significantly slowing down its efforts.


    Meanwhile, Liang Tan was bing more tightly entangled by the vines. After absorbing his Spiritual Power, the vines seemed to gain newfound strength.


    Furthermore, the toxins from the thorns were seeping into his body, causing his Spiritual Power to be increasingly obstructed, and his body less responsive.


    Consequently, the Frostde, which was attempting to cleave through the Spiritual Weapons, slowed down even further. Gradually, it found itselfpletely ensnared by a group of Spiritual Weapons.


    With a shortage of Spiritual Weapons, dozens more Spirit Weapons wereunched from the base below, willingly sacrificing themselves to surround the Frostde.


    Wang Hong had intentionally nted numerous Devilish Vines around the base in anticipation of a formidable enemy. These vines were all ancient third-tier Devilish Vines, and their strength was exceptional.


    Initially, Liang Tan could be seen struggling against the entwining vines, but as time passed, his struggles grew less frequent.


    The movements of the Frostde also became increasingly sluggish, like an elderly person in twilight.


    The Foundation Building cultivators watching from a distance had no idea why the oue had turned out this way. A distinguished Golden Core cultivator, and yet, without even seeing the enemy, he had already been defeated.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 374: The Harvest

    Chapter 374: The Harvest


    At this moment, Liang Tan, entangledyer byyer by the Devilish Vine, was filled with despair. It seemed like his luck had taken a turn for the worse this time.


    He tried to muster his Spiritual Power several times, preparing to resist, but his Spiritual Power inside was increasingly uncooperative. Every time he managed to activate a bit of his Spiritual Power, it was quickly absorbed by the wooden thorns embedded in his flesh. As a result, he couldn''t even conjure a protective barrier anymore.


    He felt his essence blood and Spiritual Power being sucked away by the thorns, and his body grew heavier with each passing moment.


    Meanwhile, the cultivators who had been watching from a distance, ready to intervene or take advantage of the situation, began to retreat upon realizing that Liang Tan had no chance of survival. They were relieved they hadn''t acted earlier.


    "What kind of Spiritual Objects were those just now? They were so powerful that even a Golden Core cultivator couldn''t break free," one of the cultivators asked hispanion.


    "If I''m not mistaken, those were Devilish Vines," thepanion replied.


    "Aren''t Devilish Vines considered second-tier Spiritual Objects?" Although he hadn''t seen Devilish Vines before, he had heard of them as rare Spirit nts.


    "Devilish Vines are indeed second-tier Spiritual Objects, but those thickest ones must have been at least a thousand or two years old. Devilish Vines that have grown for a thousand years or more have naturally mutated into third-tier Spiritual Objects. Even a Golden Core cultivator would have a hard time dealing with a third-tier Devilish Vine. Liang Tan, caught off guard, flew into the territory of several third-tier Devilish Vines, so it''s almost impossible for him to survive."


    Seeing these cultivators voluntarily withdraw, Wang Hong and Liu Changsheng had no intention of causing trouble for them. After all, they belonged to different factions. Even if they had the strength to eliminate them now, it wouldn''t bring any benefits and would only antagonize multiple factions.After the Devilish Vine entangling Liang Tan showed no more activity, Wang Hong waited for another two hours before walking alone towards the Devilish Vine.


    As he approached, the Devilish Vines that had previously refused to spare any living beings now retreated to both sides, creating a path for him. These Devilish Vines were deliberately nted by Wang Hong to wee the Golden Core ancestor and could be controlled by him.


    He first went to where Liang Tan''s magic weapon had fallen and picked up a small knife that was only a few inches long, shining with a cold light. When he held the knife in his hand, it felt icy cold and incredibly sharp. With just a light touch of his finger, he cut a small gash in his hand. Luckily, he retracted his hand quickly; otherwise, he might have lost a finger.


    Wang Hong didn''t y with it for too long. He put it away and walked towards Liang Tan''s corpse.


    When he got close, the Devilish Vines entwining Liang Tan voluntarily retreatedyer byyer. Wang Hong remained cautious, just in case there was anyst-ditch effort from Liang Tan.


    After the vines retreated, the withered remains of Liang Tan were revealed, nothing but wrinkled skin covering a skeleton. Wang Hong didn''t approach immediately. Instead, he summoned his Flying Sword and severed the head from the corpse with a swift stroke.


    Suddenly, a plume of ck smoke rose from the severed head and lunged towards him. Wang Hong attempted to cut through the smoke with his Flying Sword, but it had no effect. As the ck smoke neared him, desperation set in. In his palm, a ball of mes emerged, ready to confront the approaching darkness.


    When the mes met the ck smoke, there was a sudden burst, as if pouring oil on a fire. The mes burned intensely, engulfing the entire ck smoke.


    The fire emitted piercing screams as its shape constantly twisted and changed. At times, it resembled the form of Liang Tan, and at other times, it reverted to its normal me shape.


    After several moments, the fire gradually diminished, leaving only a quiet flickering me in front of Wang Hong.


    He carefully observed the me for any abnormalities and, finding none apart from its increased size, he calmly collected it.


    Wang Hong thought to himself, "That was close! The ck smoke just now was likely the manifestation of Liang Tan''s soul. Golden Core cultivators possess powerful Nascent Souls, and even after death, their souls can be formidable."


    After a Golden Core cultivator dies, their soul can linger for a considerable time. They can either be reincarnated, losing all their power and memories, essentially bing a new life. Alternatively, they can choose to possess another being, retaining some of their power and most of their memories.


    Liang Tan had probably intended to possess Wang Hong. He had been waiting for Wang Hong to approach before making his move. However, Liang Tan didn''t anticipate Wang Hong''s cautiousness, and when faced with a lifeless corpse, Wang Hong still chose to attack with his Spiritual Weapon from a distance. This forced Liang Tan to reveal himself prematurely.


    After destroying Liang Tan''s soul, Wang Hong cautiously approached his remains. He removed the Storage Bag hanging from Liang Tan''s skeletal body and then set the corpse on fire, reducing it to ashes.


    Returning to his cave mansion, Wang Hong emptied Liang Tan''s Storage Bag. The various treasures inside the cave dazzled Wang Hong. It was evident that a Golden Core cultivator''s wealth was substantial.


    The quantity of mid-grade Spirit Stones alone numbered five hundred, equivalent to five million low-grade Spirit Stones. There were also three million low-grade Spirit Stones. Wang Hong was content with this harvest of Spirit Stones.


    Among the items, Wang Hong found a Jade Box. Upon opening it, he discovered a three-tier Spiritual Herb named "Nine-leaf Purple Grass" with a medicinal age of nine hundred years. This herb was required for refining third-tier Pills known as True Essence Pills.


    "Excellent! Excellent!" Wang Hong eximed. True Essence Pills were used by Golden Core cultivators to enhance their power. The Spiritual Herb needed for refining True Essence Pills was extremely rare, often requiring cultivators to search for many years.


    To his surprise, he had obtained one without any effort. Wang Hong was satisfied and nted the Spiritual Herb in his personal space, where it would produce seeds in another hundred years.


    Continuing his search, he found several bundles of silk, likely spun by unknown spiritual silkworms. When he tested them, the silk was soft and tough, suitable for refining robes or armor.


    Unfortunately, there wasn''t a substantial quantity of silk, just enough for a few handkerchiefs. Wang Hong pondered why a grown man would need handkerchiefs.


    He collected the silk bundles and continued searching, discovering several excellent refining materials for tools.


    In one wooden box, he found many tiny eggs, oval-shaped and slightlyrger than sesame seeds. Although Wang Hong was knowledgeable and well-read, he couldn''t immediately identify the type of eggs or what creature they belonged to. He could only guess that they were some kind of insect eggs.


    He moved all the eggs to his personal space but took precautions by surrounding them with a spiritual energy barrier. Just in case these eggs hatched into harmful pests, with the elerated time within his personal space, he could be dealing with a daily pest problem in no time.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 375: Magic Weapon

    Chapter 375: Magic Weapon


    Wang Hong carefully organized all of Liang Tan''s belongings. In total, he acquired two Tier-Three Spiritual Herbs, a piece of Tier-Three refining tool metal, and some high-quality Spiritual Weapons.


    Those few strands of silk, after Wang Hong''s appraisal, also appeared to be Tier-Three materials, albeit in limited quantity.


    Although the remaining items were only Tier-Two, they were all exceptional within the Tier-Two category.


    At this moment, Wang Hong took out Liang Tan''s small dagger once again. This was his first Magic Weapon, and he had heard from the onlookers that it was called the Frostlight Dagger.


    He had heard that only Golden Core cultivators could wield Magic Weapons, and Foundation Building cultivators were unable to use them.


    However, since he now possessed a Magic Weapon, how could he rest without personally giving it a try?


    He held the small dagger in his hand and infused it with Spiritual Power. However, this few-inch-long dagger seemed to have an insatiable appetite for Spiritual Power, absorbing it like a bottomless pit.


    Wang Hong continued to channel his Spiritual Power into it. The small dagger appeared to have a thirst for Spiritual Power, gradually actively absorbing it and even generating some suction.


    This suction force grew stronger over time, to the point where his Spiritual Power inside his body involuntarily flowed toward the dagger.His internal Spiritual Power rapidly dwindled, and as it approached exhaustion, the dagger still showed no response.


    He quickly took out a bottle of Spirit Wine and drank more than half of it in one gulp. Once the Spirit Wine entered his stomach, it rapidly replenished the Spiritual Power he had consumed.


    However, as soon as he replenished a bit, the dagger would absorb it again, and the replenishment couldn''t keep up with the consumption.


    At this point, Wang Hong gritted his teeth and took out a bottle of Tier-Three Spirit Wine, taking a small sip. As the Tier-Three Spirit Wine entered his stomach, the massive Spiritual Energy quickly transformed into Spiritual Power and erupted within him.


    The immense Spiritual Power surged through his meridians and dantian. Fortunately, he had already depleted his internal Spiritual Power, so the impact of the Spiritual Energy was somewhat reduced.


    Then, the dagger quickly absorbed this Spiritual Power as well. When the Spiritual Power converted from a sip of Tier-Three Spirit Wine was also mostly absorbed, the dagger finally floated up, growing to a size of three feet.


    With a light point towards a stone bed inside the cave mansion, the Frostlight Dagger swiftly flew out. With a single stroke, it cleaved the stone bed in half, as though cutting through tofu.


    After just one strike, Wang Hong quickly retrieved the Frostlight Dagger, and it returned to its small dagger form in his hand.


    Although he could barely use the Magic Weapon with the help of Tier-Three Spirit Wine, the consumption was simply too great.


    The sip of Tier-Three Spirit Wine he had just consumed would be enough to replenish the entire Spiritual Power of a Golden Core cultivator.


    However, after only using it for a moment, his internal Spiritual Power was almost depleted.


    Based on this experiment, Wang Hong spected that the main reason why it was said that Foundation Building cultivators couldn''t use Magic Weapons was because their Spiritual Power was insufficient to activate them.


    The richness of his Spiritual Power was unmatched among Foundation Building cultivators, even surpassing mostte-stage Foundation Building cultivators.


    However, he still needed to drink a sip of Tier-Three Spirit Wine to activate it. Tier-Three Spirit Wine was a rarity, not something that everyone, even among Golden Core cultivators, possessed.


    Wang Hong put away the Frostlight Dagger, which still bore Liang Tan''s imprint. Although most of the imprint had dissipated after Liang Tan''s death, the remaining part would need to be gradually removed in the future.


    And then, he would need to refine them, a process that would take a very long time.


    After collecting all these items, he once again entered the Space.


    The insect eggs he had ced inside during his previous visit had not yet hatched, but he could sense that their life force had grown stronger. They were likely close to hatching.


    After checking on the eggs, he scattered most of the low-grade Spirit Stones he had obtained this time into the Space, increasing its size by another twenty mu.


    Currently, the total area of the Space was two hundred and ny-five mu, with time passing at a rate of three hundred and twenty-four times faster than the outside world. This meant that while only a little over a day passed outside, a whole year had already gone by within the Space.


    Wang Hong nned to use the newly added twenty mu ofnd to cultivate Tier-Two Spiritual Herbs. The number of Foundation Building cultivators under hismand had been steadily increasing, and they required a substantial amount of Tier-Two Spiritual Herbs.


    Once he had nted all twenty mu with Spiritual Herbs, he went to check on the insect eggs and found that most of them had turned ck.


    He picked up one of the ckened eggs and carefully examined it with his Divine Sense. Inside, a small ck insect had formed, and its shape gave him some clues.


    He decided to stay within the Space because the time difference was too significant. In the time it took him to go out for a meal, several dozen days could have passed within the Space, and the newly hatched insects might have already starved to death.


    During his time in the Space, he read books, asionally checked on the Spirit nts he had nted, or went to the pond where the Ink Jade Spirit Lotus grew to admire the lotus flowers and the fish swimming in the pond.


    He had sessfully cultivated a whole pond of Ink Jade Spirit Lotus, with the lotus flowers and mature lotus pods intermingling beautifully.


    If someone were to see this entire pond of Ink Jade Spirit Lotus, they would likely be astounded.


    After spending more than a month in the Space, Wang Hong finally witnessed the hatching of the insect eggs.


    These insects were entirely ck and slightlyrger than a pinhead. Wang Hong used a twig to pick up one and examined it closely.


    As he had suspected, they were a type of Spirit Silkworm. However, there were many different species of Spirit Silkworms, and at this size, it was impossible to determine their specific variety.


    Since he had found some Tier-Three silkworm silk in Liang Tan''s Storage Bag earlier, he suspected that these might be Tier-Three Spirit Silkworms.


    Spirit Silkworms were valuable creatures. The silk they produced could be used to make inner armor or robes, and their excrement, known as Silkworm Sand, could be used as a Spiritual Herb.


    Even if they identally died, the dead Spirit Silkworms could still be used as a Spiritual Herb called White Stiff Silkworm.


    Wang Hong had been wanting to raise some for a while, but he had nevere across the right silkworm species.


    He picked some mulberry leaves from the Purple Cloud Mulberry tree, shredded them, and fed them to the baby silkworms.


    In the following days, he would need to regrly care for the newly hatched Spirit Silkworms within the Space, providing fresh mulberry leaves when needed.


    After three years of growth in the Space, the ck baby silkworms went through their first molt. Their deep ck color turned into gray, and their size increased more than tenfold.


    Now, he no longer needed to watch over them every day.


    He picked some mulberry leaves from the Purple Cloud Mulberry tree and threw them to the Spirit Silkworms before exiting the Space.


    Once outside, Wang Hong instructed Liu Changsheng to recruit some new members to replenish their fresh blood. Since thest battle with Liang Tan, the Immortal Way Trading Company was no longer a secret organization but had be widely known.


    Now, countless people wanted to visit Liu Changsheng, primarily to obtain resources from him.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 376: The Trade

    Chapter 376: The Trade


    Among the visitors who came to pay their respects to Liu Changsheng was Yin Ze, the one appointed by Wang Hong to oversee Mountain Valley.


    Yin Ze never expected that Liu Changsheng would personally receive him, which left him pleasantly surprised. It was well known that many cultivators wanted to visit, and while Liu Changsheng didn''t turn anyone away, he usually had his subordinates handle such meetings, making it quite rare to meet him in person.


    In a reception room at this moment, Liu Changsheng and Yin Ze took their seats, with Liu Changsheng as the host.


    "Fellow Daoist Liu, on behalf of Hua Xue Valley, I''vee to visit with the hope of engaging in some trade with your business," Yin Ze said after sipping some Spirit Tea.


    Due to the rtionship with the East Zhou Trading Company, there had been ongoing trade between Mountain Valley and the Immortal Way Trading Company. This time, it was Wang Hong who sent word for him toe and negotiate some transactions.


    "Oh, I wonder what items you wish to trade this time," Liu Changsheng inquired.


    "I primarily seek to trade for some Spiritual Herbs," Yin Ze replied, as per Wang Hong''s instructions.


    "I''ll provide you with a catalog of Spiritual Herbs, and you can make your selections," Liu Changsheng said, handing Yin Ze a Jade Scroll.


    Yin Ze received the Jade Scroll and began carefully selecting from the various Spiritual Herbs. Suddenly, his hand trembled as he noticed the catalog listing Foundation Establishment Pills, with the number "fifty" written beside it.There were so many Foundation Establishment Pills listed, and it was the first time Yin Ze had ever seen such a substantial quantity of these highly coveted pills.


    "Fellow Daoist Liu, I also hope to trade for some Foundation Establishment Pills," Yin Ze said,cking confidence in his own request, as they had just recentlypleted a transaction for two Foundation Establishment Pills.


    After all, a single Foundation Establishment Pill, when properly utilized, could produce a Foundation Building cultivator. Many factions hoarded these pills and were reluctant to sell them.


    Yin Ze suspected that Liu Changsheng might not agree, but since he had brought it up, he couldn''t easily back down.


    "Do you have a specific quantity of Foundation Establishment Pills in mind for this trade?" Liu Changsheng asked, squinting his eyes and smiling.


    Yin Ze hadn''t expected Liu Changsheng to respond without rejecting the request outright. After hesitating for a while, he finally bit the bullet and boldly stated, "Fifty pills!"


    When he uttered this number, Yin Ze had little confidence that Liu Changsheng would agree. Nevertheless, he decided to put the number out there, intending to negotiate further in a moment.


    Liu Changsheng, after a brief moment of thought, said, "Fifty pills is eptable, but I have some additional conditions."


    Yin Ze''s heart leaped with joy. He had initially thought that securing even a few pills would be a great achievement, but now the other party had readily agreed. However, he suspected that the additional conditions wouldn''t be simple.


    With determination in his heart, Yin Ze focused and asked, "Fellow Daoist Liu, what are your conditions? If it''s within our capabilities, Hua Xue Valley will do everything in our power to fulfill them."


    "My conditions are not too difficult, to begin with, for this trade, I need everything to be conducted in exchange for Spiritual Weapons. As you''re aware, in the recent battle, we suffered significant losses in our Spiritual Weapons and urgently need to replenish them."


    "Furthermore, I hope that in the future, our two parties can cooperate closely."


    Yin Ze paused for a moment, finding these conditions to be quite reasonable, and then asked, "Fellow Daoist Liu, how do you envision our cooperation?"


    "Well," Liu Changsheng exined, "our Immortal Way Trading Company possesses a vast quantity of raw materials, such as Spiritual Herbs, and I understand that your valley has many Alchemists and Refining Masters."


    "So, I propose that in the future, I''ll supply you with the raw materials, and you can handle the refinement process. Once the products are ready, they can be sold through my Immortal Way Trading Company. How does Fellow Daoist Yin feel about this arrangement?"


    Upon hearing Liu Changsheng''s proposal for cooperation, Yin Ze felt that this would be highly advantageous for Mountain Valley without any drawbacks.


    Within Mountain Valley, they had numerous skilled cultivators, many of whom had reached the second tier of cultivation. Currently, they were depleting the resources from severalrge warehouses, but with the absence of Treasure Hunters in the future, these materials were bound to run out.


    In the current Cultivation World, daily battles with Demonic Beasts were ongoing, and these low-tier Demonic Beasts didn''t possess much wealth, so their ie from hunting them was not as lucrative as from Treasure Hunters.


    So, the opportunity to establish this cooperative arrangement with the Immortal Way Trading Company was something Yin Ze had been hoping for, especially since it included the fifty Foundation Establishment Pills.


    With enthusiasm, Yin Ze agreed to the proposal, and the two of them worked out the details of their cooperation.


    As Yin Ze left Liu Changsheng''s base, he still felt like he was in a dream. Fifty Foundation Establishment Pills! Perhaps this could increase the number of Foundation Building cultivators in Mountain Valley by over forty in one go.


    However, when he returned to report to Wang Hong, he discovered that Wang Hong had only stayed in Mountain Valley for a day before leaving again.


    At that moment, Wang Hong was a guest in the Spiritual Herb Valley, being received by one of the hall masters responsible for external affairs.


    "I wonder, Fellow Daoist Wang, what brings you here from afar?" the hall master asked.


    "I''vee this time to trade for some Spiritual Herbs or other Spiritual Objects," Wang Hong replied after sipping some tea.


    "I see. What kind of Spiritual Herbs are you interested in trading for, and what do you intend to offer in exchange?"


    The hall master was not surprised by Wang Hong''s purpose, as their Spiritual Herb Valley primarily focused on nting Spiritual Herbs, and most of the visiting cultivators came for trading in Spiritual Herbs.


    "I wish to trade for Golden Core level Spiritual Herbs, and as for what I have to offer, it''s this," Wang Hong said, taking out a wooden box. Upon opening it, he revealed two multicolored Spirit Jujubes inside.


    He had presented these two Spirit Jujubes right away to demonstrate his sincerity and prevent any reluctance on the part of the Spiritual Herb Valley to trade.


    "Multicolored Spirit Jujubes!" the hall master eximed. Multicolored Spirit Jujubes could increase the chances of sessfully forming a Core by half, making them more than sufficient for trading with the various Spiritual Herbs cultivated in the valley.


    "Fellow Daoist''s Spirit Jujubes are indeed impressive. Unfortunately, you''ve arrived a step toote. All the mature Spiritual Herbs in the valley have already been taken by the Qingxu Sect."


    "Now, all that remains are some immature seedlings," the hall master said, looking somewhat embarrassed.


    "Is that so? Not a single mature one left?" Wang Hong wore a disappointed expression as he spoke.


    It seemed that the Qingxu Sect had been aware of the increasing difficulty of collecting Spiritual Herbs in the future and had acted preemptively.


    "That''s correct. However, I have a suggestion. I can help Fellow Daoist select some young seedlings that will mature in the future. Fellow Daoist can cultivate them on your own, and in a few decades, they will be ready for use. Whether you use them personally or for trade, it will be a very profitable endeavor."


    The hall master was keen on making sure the multicolored Spirit Jujubes didn''t slip away. He offered this suggestion to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong, showing a hint of hesitation, asked, "I''ve never engaged in cultivation before. Are these Spiritual Herbs easy to grow? I''m not certain if I can sessfully nurture them."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 379: Designing the Flying Boat Blueprint

    Chapter 379: Designing the Flying Boat Blueprint


    During the time Wang Hong was secluded for cultivation, the battle on the second defense line intensified.


    The Demon n gradually gathered more Demonic Beasts, leading to attacks that weren''t extremely fierce but rather a slow drain on the strength of the Human n cultivators.


    Recently, it seemed that they had gathered enough, and their attack frequency suddenly increased.


    Originally, they attacked once a day, but now it had turned into relentless day and night assaults, leaving the defending Human n cultivators exhausted.


    Continuous battles had led to massive consumption of various Spiritual Objects, revealing the true resources of various major powers.


    Now, these powerful forces, rallied by Qingxu Sect''s call, began to contribute their umted Spiritual Objects to support the fight against the Demon n on the second defense line.


    This move made Wang Hong view these forces in a new light. They were more reliablepared to the Treasure Hunters he had recruited initially.


    At this critical moment, they were not backstabbing each other and actively contributing to the Cultivation World''s cause.


    In fact, the current battle against the Demon n differed from the previous struggles between major powers. It was a battle of races, and if they were defeated, the entire survival space of the Human n would be at stake. No one could hope to escape the consequences.Wang Hong also sent arge supply of Spirit Wine and Pills to the second defense line.


    At this moment, in the Mountain Valley, Wang Hong gathered a few of his subordinates for a meeting.


    "Luo Zhongjie, how did your recruitment of new members go this time? How many people did you manage to recruit?" He had arranged for Luo Zhongjie to recruit more people because he had lost too many in the previous battle and needed reinforcements quickly.


    Luo Zhongjie looked a bit embarrassed as he replied, "I''m ashamed to say that we only managed to recruit a little over a dozen people this time."


    It was challenging to find children with Spiritual Roots within the small area surrounded by Demonic Beasts'' siege. In the current situation, major Sects were too busy to recruit from the Mortal Realm. Otherwise, the areas around Qingxu Sect would have already been thoroughly scoured, and they wouldn''t have found anyone.


    "It''s alright. We''ll look for more in the mortal realm once the Demonic Beasts retreat," Wang Hong reassured him. He had already anticipated this situation, as he had heard the report from Liu Changsheng. Their situation was even worse; they had recruited only a few people.


    "s, the Demonic Beasts'' attacks are getting fiercer and fiercer. I wonder if we can hold on," Yin Ze sighed with a hint of pessimism.


    Having experienced several major battles where cities like Jin''an City and Boundary City were breached, he knew what failure meant. Once the Demon n won, their treatment of the Human n would be as merciless as humans treating their livestock.


    "Regardless of whether we can hold on or not, we must prepare for the worst," Wang Hong said. In truth, he didn''t have much confidence in the second defense line, and he believed that the Qingxu Sect''s higher-ups shared the same sentiment.


    The reason they were still holding the second defense line was to buy time for the third defense line. The first defense line was hastily built andcked significant defensive capabilities.


    Due to the sessful defense of the first defense line, the second defense line quickly constructed a tall wall in a very short time.


    However, these walls had not yet been equipped with formations, so they could only slightly impede the attacks of the Demonic Beasts.


    Meanwhile, the third defense line was in a hurry and had already built a fifty-zhang tall city wall. Currently, they were busy setting up formations on it.


    Xu Lun, upon hearing Wang Hong''s words, was certain that he already had a n in mind. "East Master, what are your arrangements?"


    "I do have a n," Wang Hong began. "First, Yin Ze, make another trip to the Immortal Way Trading Company''s base. Deliver the refined Spiritual Weapon Pills and check if they have any Foundation Establishment Pills left. If they do, get them all."


    Yin Ze, upon hearing this, couldn''t help but feel a bit puzzled. Foundation Establishment Pills were extremely precious, and they had already delivered fifty in one go. It seemed unlikely that there would be any left.


    Wang Hong seemed to have read Yin Ze''s thoughts and said, "Just inquire; you never know, they might still have some."


    As for whether Liu Changsheng had Foundation Establishment Pills or how many, that was something Wang Hong could figure out with a thought.


    "Let''s put the matter of Foundation Establishment Pills aside for now. Today, I''d like to discuss another matter with all of you. I want to organize all the refining tool masters in the valley to collectively refine a medium-sized Flying Boat."


    This statement surprised everyone present because refining a Flying Boat, especially a medium-sized one, was not a simple task like refining ordinary tools.


    First and foremost, to create a medium-sized Flying Boat, they needed a Flying Boat Refinement blueprint.


    Then, ording to the blueprint, they would need to refine hundreds or even thousands of Spiritual Weapons, which wouldter need to bebined into a single entity.


    This was just the challenge on the refining tool aspect. There were also formations on the Flying Boat, and the most basic requirement was to use formations to connect all the Spiritual Weapons on the Flying Boat into a cohesive whole.


    Furthermore, there were various formations on the Flying Boat, such as levitation arrays, flight arrays, defense arrays, and eleration arrays, among others.


    Apart from the technical difficulties of refining tools and formations, there were also the numerous materials required for refining a Flying Boat. Without significant umtion, it would be impossible to gather such a wide variety and quantity of materials.


    Therefore, those who could refine a medium-sized Flying Boat were undoubtedly among the top talents within medium-sized factions.


    Wang Hong''s decision to refine a Flying Boat himself was a carefully considered one. With arge number of people at their disposal, varying in strength and speed, a Flying Boat would greatly assist them in bothbat and escape.


    Now, during wartime, it was almost impossible to purchase a Flying Boat, so they had no choice but to refine one themselves.


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''s inquiry, Yin Ze quickly replied, "We currently have fourteen second-tier refining tool masters in the Inner Valley and three in the Outer Valley."


    Wang Hong nodded and said, "Although the numbers are a bit low, it should be enough for the refinement. In theing days, I''ll find a way to create the Refinement blueprint. Once it''s ready, we can work together to gather the materials for refining."


    Everyone was taken aback when they heard that Wang Hong was nning to create the Refinement blueprint for the Flying Boat himself. They needed a moment to process the information.


    Creating a new blueprint, even for a regr Spiritual Weapon, was a rare skill. Creating one for aplex structure like a Flying Boat was even rarer.


    Wang Hong, however, didn''t seem concerned. Over the years, despite having many subordinates who could do the work for him, he had never neglected his own studies.


    Skills like Alchemy, refining tools, Talisman Making, formations, and more, he had continuously delved into them without pause.


    Especially with his possession of Space, a divine item that allowed him to have hundreds of times more time than others. With such a vast amount of time at his disposal, he couldn''t afford to waste it all on cultivation. So, whenever he had some free time, he would enter his Space to not only inspect his various Spiritual Objects but also to dedicate the remaining time to learning and improving his skills.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 377: Outstanding Acting Skills

    Chapter 377: Outstanding Acting Skills


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''s question, the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall didn''t hesitate and spoke up:


    "It''s okay if you haven''t cultivated Spiritual Herbs before. Nobody is born with that knowledge. We can provide aplete set of nting techniques, guaranteeing that you''ll learn it quickly.


    Apart from the Spiritual Herbs required for forming a Golden Core, our Spiritual Herb Valley also has many rare Spiritual Herb seedlings for Fellow Daoists to choose from.


    As you may know, various types of Spirit Wine are scarce nowadays, and their prices keep rising. Cultivating Spiritual Herbs is a highly profitable endeavor. Look at our Spiritual Herb Valley, with thousands of cultivators, and even a few Golden Core ancestors, all making a living through Spiritual Herb cultivation.


    ...


    I believe in Fellow Daoist''s wisdom; you must have already recognized this tremendous opportunity."


    The head of the Foreign Affairs Hall had rehearsed this set of arguments thoroughly and had probably used the same words with many other cultivators.


    After the relocation of the Spiritual Herb Valley, they had dug up some precious Spiritual Herbs from the original spirit fields. However, their current residencecked suitable spirit fields for cultivation.


    Finding Spirit Veins for cultivation was challenging, not to mention nurturing those delicate Spiritual Herbs. If they were nted here, most likely, they would wither.But they couldn''t keep these seedlings forever, as their vitality would gradually fade, rendering them unntable. So, for now, they were convincing one cultivator after another, selling these rare Spiritual Herb seedlings to recover some costs.


    During this time, quite a few cultivators were enticed by the bright prospects described by the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall and bought many seedlings to cultivate at home.


    After listening to this persuasive introduction by the hall master (or rather, con artist), Wang Hong''s eyes sparkled, his face flushed with excitement, as if he could already see a pile of Spirit Stones beckoning him.


    The head of the Foreign Affairs Hall felt there was hope and quickly added, "Due to the increasing number of cultivators entering the Spiritual Herb cultivation industry, our supply of Spiritual Herb seedlings is running low. Fellow Daoist, if you''re interested, please make your decision promptly."


    The head of the Foreign Affairs Hall stopped speaking at this point, sipping his tea and waiting for the fish to bite the bait. It''s best not to say too much when someone''s enthusiasm is running high.


    Seeing Wang Hong hesitating and struggling for a moment, he finally made up his mind and said resolutely, "I''ll take all of them."


    "Fellow Daoist truly possesses exceptional talent and courage. However, if you want all the seedlings, these two Five-Colored Spirit Jujubes you''ve offered are far from sufficient."


    The head of the Foreign Affairs Hall seized the opportunity to praise Wang Hong. When someone''s head was heated with excitement, they appreciatedpliments the most.


    At this point, Wang Hong had to admit, "Fellow Daoist, I''ve already spent most of my fortune to acquire these two Five-Colored Spirit Jujubes. Could I owe you some of the payment?"


    The head of the Foreign Affairs Hall''s expression turned serious as he said, "In business, the Spiritual Herb Valley does not extend credit."


    With no other option, Wang Hong searched through his Storage Bag for a while and found a middle-grade Spirit Stone and a second-tier Ore.


    The head of the Foreign Affairs Hall nced at them and realized he couldn''t squeeze much more out of him. He said with a gentle tone, "Fellow Daoist, don''t be disheartened. These Spiritual Objects can also exchange for quite a few Spiritual Herb seedlings. Just be patient and cultivate them for a few decades, and your wealth will increase several times over."


    "This is a catalog of various Spiritual Herbs. You can choose the ones you want," said the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall as he handed Wang Hong a Jade Scroll.


    After receiving it, Wang Hong examined it closely. He realized that the Spiritual Herb Valley was indeed a professional force in cultivating Spiritual Herbs. The catalog contained a wide variety of Spiritual Herbs, including many rare species that Wang Hong didn''t have.


    The catalog also included over a dozen seedlings of third-tier Spiritual Herbs. Wang Hong chose one or two of each type and then selected one seedling for each of the twenty or so Spiritual Herbs required for refining a Golden Core. He calcted that the price should be approximately right.


    Wang Hong handed over the selected items and their quantities to the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall.


    The head of the Foreign Affairs Hall was fair in pricing, and the final calcted price was close to Wang Hong''s estimation.


    However, when they handed over the Spiritual Herb seedlings, Wang Hong noticed that each one looked feeble and on the brink of death.


    As Wang Hong left the Spiritual Herb Valley, he felt exceptionally cheerful on his way back. He couldn''t help but hum a tune.


    His harvest this time was enormous. He not only obtained over twenty types of Spiritual Herbs required for forming a Golden Core but also secured more than a dozen third-tier Spiritual Herb seedlings. What''s more, these were all things people had eagerly requested from him, and he had merely yed along in this act.


    If these Spiritual Herbs had fallen into someone else''s hands, they would most likely have died. The higher the tier of the Spiritual Herb, the more challenging it was to cultivate. They required high-tier spirit fields, and each Spiritual Herb needed a specific growth environment to thrive.


    Wang Hong nced at the Jade Scroll given to him by the head of the Foreign Affairs Hall, which contained some nting methods, but they were all basic techniques and not particrly useful.


    On his way, Wang Hong found a secluded spot, dug a mountain cave, and entered it. Then, he essed his personal space and nted all the acquired Spiritual Herbs. He even designated a separate area for cultivating the Spiritual Herbs required for forming a Golden Core.


    After nting the Spiritual Herbs, he went to gather some mulberry leaves for his spirit silkworms. By now, his spirit silkworms had grown to the size of chopsticks and were about to undergo their second skin shedding.


    As Wang Hong returned to the Mountain Valley, Yin Ze immediately approached him with some good news. He reported that they had traded for fifty Foundation Establishment Pills from the Immortal Way Trading Company and had sessfully negotiated a cooperation with Liu Changsheng. Wang Hong expressed surprise at the news and instructed him to add the Foundation Establishment Pills to the contribution points exchange list.


    Within their organization, exchanging for Foundation Establishment Pills was very affordable. Any cultivator who had made contributions to the Mountain Valley or the tradingpany could easily umte enough contribution points to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills.


    However, Wang Hong had set a rule that Foundation Building cultivators couldn''t exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills, and Qi Cultivation cultivators could generally only exchange for one pill at a time. Those with poorer aptitudes who wanted to exchange for two pills at once required special approval.


    This rule prevented internal members from obtaining Foundation Establishment Pills at a low cost and then selling them for a higher price outside. While his subordinates were loyal to him, they were not saints, and some degree of self-interest was inevitable.


    Wang Hong believed that it was better to put preventive measures in ce ahead of time rather than punishing them after they made mistakes.


    Regarding Liu Changsheng''s and Yin Ze''s trade, Wang Hong had arranged it in advance. He had already nned to cultivate all the Qi Cultivation stage subordinates from the Inner Valley to the Foundation Building stage.


    After the previous major battle, Wang Hong had been constantly reflecting on the fact that his Qi Cultivation stage subordinates had died unjustly. He believed that if he had been willing to invest Foundation Establishment Pills to cultivate them all to the Foundation Building stage, their deaths might have been avoided.


    The reason he sent Yin Ze to make this trade was to shift the me to the Immortal Way Trading Company. If the tradingpany couldn''t handle it, he could simply dissolve it.


    For now, he needed to strengthen these two forces under hismand as much as possible to withstand greater pressure in the future.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 378: Strengthening the Body

    Chapter 378: Strengthening the Body


    The Foundation Establishment Pills that Yin Ze had obtained through a trade were divided into two parts.


    Forty-five pills were handed over to the members of the Inner Valley for exchange, while the remaining five pills were distributed to the people of the Outer Valley.


    The Inner Valley had fewer members, but they were extremely loyal to him and would go to great lengths for him in critical moments.


    On the other hand, the Outer Valley had arge number of cultivators who were bound together by their interests, but their loyalty was not as assured.


    Although he had only allocated five Foundation Establishment Pills to the Outer Valley, it was still a significant improvementpared to many other factions. This gave the Outer Valley cultivators a glimmer of hope.


    After trading for dozens of Spiritual Herbs in the Spiritual Herb Valley, Wang Hong tasted sess and set off for the Hundred Grass Sect.


    The current Hundred Grass Sect, after relocating their sect, was not doing very well. The spiritual energy within the sect was not as abundant as Wang Hong''s Mountain Valley.


    Upon arriving at the Mountain Gate, Wang Hong exined his purpose, and one of the Foundation Building elders of the Hundred Grass Sect warmly received him.


    "Fellow Daoist Yang, I have two Qingxu Sect''s five-colored Spirit Jujubes here, and I hope to exchange them for Golden Core-stage Spiritual Herbs from your esteemed sect."Wang Hong had prepared two five-colored Spirit Jujubes for this trade.


    Seeing Wang Hong''s offer of five-colored Spirit Jujubes, Elder Yang readily agreed to Wang Hong''s request for the trade. However, their situation was simr to that of the Spiritual Herb Valley. The mature Spiritual Herbs had already been harvested by the Qingxu Sect, so all they could offer were some immature seedlings.


    Wang Hong managed to acquire over twenty types of Golden Core-stage Spiritual Herbs from the Hundred Grass Sect, including two third-tier Spiritual Herbs, though they all appeared somewhat withered.


    These twenty-plus types partially ovepped with what he already possessed. At this point, Wang Hong had umted a little over thirty types of Golden Core-stage Spiritual Herbs.


    This was the result of him parting with four five-colored Spirit Jujubes. It was worth noting that the entire Cultivation World only had one Qingxu Sect''s five-colored Spirit Jujube Tree before this.


    Afterpleting the trade, Wang Hong politely declined Elder Yang''s warm invitation and left the Hundred Grass Sect without lingering.


    However, when he had traveled more than a hundred miles away from the Hundred Grass Sect, the previously mentioned Elder Yang suddenly caught up with him from behind.


    "Fellow Daoist Wang, please wait for a moment!"


    Upon hearing the call from behind, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Wang Hong''s mouth. He turned around and waited in his tracks.


    "Elder Yang, may I ask what brings you here?"


    As Elder Yang rapidly approached, he said, "Fellow Daoist, you dropped a valuable item earlier, and I happened to find it, so I''vee to return it to you."


    "Oh? I must thank you, Fellow Daoist, as I seemed to have forgotten about it. What is this item?" Wang Hong asked with a polite smile.


    "Fellow Daoist, you really are forgetful!" With these words, Elder Yang reached into his Storage Bag, pulling out a white pearl.


    He then sent the white pearl flying towards Wang Hong.


    Before the white pearl had even reached him, Wang Hong caught a whiff of a pleasant fragrance and hurriedly held his breath.


    "What is the meaning of this, Fellow Daoist?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "Fellow Daoist, do you only realize it now? Isn''t it a bit toote? You have already been afflicted by my Ten Fragrance Powder. For the next six hours, you won''t be able to activate any Spiritual Power. Be sensible, hand over your Storage Bag, and I''ll give you a quick death. Otherwise, I''ll make you beg for life without granting it or beg for death without receiving it."


    Elder Yang, at this moment, dropped his previously amiable demeanor and wore a menacing expression on his face.


    "I have no grievances or enmities with you, Fellow Daoist. Why are you doing this?" Wang Hong innocently asked.


    "me can only be ced on you for producing the five-colored Spirit Jujube I needed. By killing you and covering it up, I can keep those two five-colored Spirit Jujubes for myself," Elder Yang stated as he approached Wang Hong.


    "You came alone? No reinforcements?" Wang Hong inquired as he backed away.


    "Hahaha! I''m a Foundation Building Ninth Layer cultivator, and I''m dealing with a Foundation Building Third Layer junior like you. Do you really think I need reinforcements?" Elder Yangughed confidently.


    Elder Yang had now caught up to Wang Hong and reached out to grab him. He was quite confident in the Ten Fragrance Powder he had prepared. As long as the target was below the Golden Core stage, no one could escape its effects.


    "Only one person, huh? That''s reassuring!" Wang Hong said with a smile. In an instant, his figure blurred, and Elder Yang felt a sharp pain in his neck. He suddenly found himself flying into the air, and from that high vantage point, he could see a familiar figure below him, blood gushing from his neck.


    Wang Hong had long noticed that Elder Yang had ced a tracking mark on him, so he had been cautious all along the way. He had expected some significant move from Elder Yang, but it turned out to be just one person.


    He took Elder Yang''s Storage Bag, and with a wave of his hand, he burned it to ashes. Then, he summoned Little Peng and headed back to his Mountain Valley.


    While on the way, he sat on Little Peng''s broad back and examined Elder Yang''s belongings. First, there was the white pearl, a Spiritual Weapon specifically used for administering poison. Wang Hong tested it briefly and found it quite effective.


    Next, he retrieved the two five-colored Spirit Jujubes he had traded for. These Spirit Jujubes were incredibly precious to other Foundation Building cultivators and often led to fierce battles.


    Elder Yang had lost his life over these two Spirit Jujubes.


    Inside the Storage Bag, Wang Hong found only fifty thousand low-grade Spirit Stones, not a single medium-grade Spirit Stone. There were a few inexpensive Spiritual Herbs, a flying sword, and not even one piece of defensive Spiritual Weapon.


    It seemed that Elder Yang was quite poor, which might have driven him to resort to robbery and murder.


    Upon returning to his Mountain Valley, Wang Hong secluded himself and focused on his cultivation. During this period, he sessfully mastered the second level of the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique," advancing to the entry-level stage of the third level, focused on strengthening the muscles and tendons.


    With this aplishment, his skin and flesh became extremely resilient, making it nearly impossible for ordinary Spiritual Weapons to harm him. His physical strength had also reached an astonishing fifty thousand jin (catty).


    With this level of power, even Demonic Beasts known for their physical prowess couldn''t match him.


    Furthermore, based on the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique," he could now change his appearance at will by altering his muscles and skin. Changing his appearance was as easy as a thought.


    The fifty Foundation Establishment Pills that Yin Ze had traded for brought an additional forty-one Foundation Building cultivators to the Mountain Valley. Among them, nine failed to sessfully cultivate into Foundation Building, which was still a rtively high sess rate.


    Thirty-eight new members joined the Inner Valley, and three joined the Outer Valley.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 380: Return to the Sect

    Chapter 380: Return to the Sect


    In the following period, Wang Hong announced his seclusion as he embarked on a personal project¡ªto design a Flying Boat from scratch.


    He had already be proficient in refining tools and formations, and the key to crafting a Flying Boat was integrating these two skills seamlessly.


    Currently, there were few who could independently design and refine a medium-sized flying vessel, and the design blueprints for their Flying Boats were closely guarded secrets.


    Even the Qingxu Sect was no exception. Wang Hong had nevere across any Flying Boat refinement blueprints in the Scripture Tower.


    After entering his personal space, he first fed some mulberry leaves to the Spirit Silkworm.


    Having shed its skin twice, the Spirit Silkworm was now pure white, with only a few faint blue patterns on its head.


    Wang Hong could now recognize it as a Blue-Patterned Snow Silkworm, a type of third-tier spiritual creature. It possessed nobat abilities, but the silk it produced was exceptional material for third-tier refining tools.


    After feeding the silkworm, Wang Hong cleared a space in his space and retrieved the Flying Boat he had purchased at an auction long ago. He carefully analyzed its structure.


    This medium-sized Flying Boat was quite old, rumored to have been in use for several hundred years, showing signs of numerous repairs.The boat consisted of nearly a thousandponents, with over three hundred being primary Spiritual Weapons, while the remaining parts were of the Magical Weapon grade.


    A monthter, Wang Hong felt that he had a good understanding of the Flying Boat. To better reference it, he decided to dismantle it.


    More than a month passed in his space, and when he looked at the pile of disassembled parts, he didn''t know where to start with the assembly. He found himself facing difficulties, especially when he realized that there were a few extra parts he couldn''t figure out where to fit. It seemed he had overestimated his abilities earlier.


    With no other option, he set the parts aside and revisited various books and references he had collected, spending a year studying them thoroughly.


    Then, he floated in the air, lost in thought for another year.


    It was only after this period that he returned to the pile of parts, picked up a few, and started assembling them.


    The assembly process was not swift, and at times, he had to pause and contemte.


    After more than a month, he finally sessfully reassembled the Flying Boat. At this point, he was intimately familiar with every aspect of the Flying Boat''s structure.


    Now he could begin crafting blueprints and designing the Flying Boat he needed.


    After approximately fifty years in his space, he finally emerged from seclusion.


    "East Master, didn''t you just go into seclusion? Howe you''re out after only two months?" Luo Zhongjie asked curiously. In his subconscious, designing a Flying Boat from scratch, even for a genius, should have taken at least a year.


    "Oh, I''m already done with my seclusion," Wang Hong replied casually.


    "It''s alright; we''re not in a hurry. Take your time. East Master, do you need any specific materials or information? I can help gather them," Luo Zhongjie offered, thinking that Wang Hong had encountered some difficulties and had temporarily ended his seclusion, intending tofort him.


    "Refinement blueprints are already designed. Here''s a list; we all need to find refining tool materials," Wang Hong said, tossing a Jade Scroll to Luo Zhongjie before walking away.


    Luo Zhongjie held the Jade Scroll, momentarily stunned by how quickly Wang Hong hadpleted the task. He had no doubt about the quality of a Flying Boat personally designed by the East Master.


    Wang Hong had already prepared a detailed list, documenting all the materials required for refining the Flying Boat.


    Creating a medium-sized Flying Boat required a vast array of materials, each diverse and numerous. Fortunately, his previous encounters with Treasure Hunters had yielded a substantial collection of materials. Nevertheless, he was still missing hundreds of types of materials.


    Among the various required materials, the demand for spirit wood was the highest. Luckily, his personal space contained an abundance of spirit wood, solving this particr challenge.


    However, he couldn''t simply bring out so much spirit wood, especially now that he had more people under hismand, including Outer Valley cultivators. There was a risk of information leaking out.


    He listed all these refining tool materials on the scroll and distributed a copy to each of his subordinates, instructing them to search for the materials separately.


    Additionally, he cut some third-tier Golden Ironwood from his space and ced it in Liu Changsheng''s store. It was likely that someone would inquire about it, and he could respond ordingly. Afterward, he returned to Azure Void City to search for refining tool materials.


    In the current state of Azure Void City, the streets were eerily empty, most shops had closed down, and the few pedestrians that could be seen were hurried and anxious.


    Wang Hong visited several shops that were still open, but the results left him disappointed. These shops were open in name only; they had very few goods on disy, and the prices were exorbitantly high.


    If the battles with the Demon n continued like this, even if they weren''t defeated, the Cultivation World would gradually weaken and deteriorate.


    The Demon n, on the other hand, had no such concerns. Firstly, they had already prated deep into the East Zhou territory, and the destruction caused was borne solely by the East Zhou. They felt no remorse.


    Furthermore, they could sustain their war efforts with the resources of the East Zhou, using them to nurture their Demonic Beasts. Over time, the Demon n grew stronger, while the Human n weakened.


    Especially the Demon n in the East Sea, which supposedly had vast territories and abundant resources. It was puzzling why they were putting so much effort into invading the East Zhou Cultivation Realm.


    Wang Hong roamed Azure Void City but failed to find the necessary items. Consequently, he left the city and headed back to the sect, where he could exchange some materials using his contribution points.


    Returning to his cave mansion in the sect, he found that Chen Nian had sessfully reached Foundation Building after taking the Foundation Establishment Pill he had provided. Chen Nian had been sent to the battlefield by the sect.


    Now, the cave mansion was unattended, with spirit fields overrun by various weeds. In the deeper areas, even wild boars could hide.


    In ces with abundant Spirit Qi, not only were they suitable for cultivating spiritual nts but also weeds, which grew rapidly. Therefore, managing spirit fields required constant weeding and was not an easy task. Wang Hong was grateful that there were no weeds in his personal space, or he might have gone crazy.


    At the moment, Wang Hong didn''t have the time to take care of the spirit fields, so he left them as they were and went to check the exchange hall.


    He left his cave and headed toward the Heavenly Authority Peak. Although the sect had tens of thousands of members, most of them had been dispatched to the front lines to defend against Demonic Beasts. The sect, which was usually bustling, now appeared unusually quiet.


    Wang Hongnded on the Heavenly Authority Peak and was about to make his way to the exchange hall when he heard a melodious voice calling him from behind.


    Turning around, he saw Shui Ruo''er, his junior sister whom he hadn''t seen for a long time, smiling and waving at him.


    "Wang Senior Brother! It''s been so long!" Shui Ruo''er greeted him warmly.


    "Yeah, it has! Where are you heading, junior sister?" Wang Hong replied, knowing that Shui Ruo''er had stopped working at the Task Hall after reaching Foundation Building.


    "I''ll be stationed at the frontlines tomorrow, so today, I want to exchange for some useful Spiritual Objects at the Task Hall," Shui Ruo''er exined.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 381: Offering

    Chapter 381: Offering


    It was rumored that Shui Ruo''er had alsoe to the Task Hall. She said, "Oh! So, Junior Sister is heading to the Exchange Hall as well? I''m nning to exchange for some Spiritual Objects."


    "Ah, that''s quite a coincidence! How about we go together?" Shui Ruo''er''s round face flushed with excitement as she suggested.


    "Sure, let''s go!"


    When the two of them arrived at the Exchange Hall, they found that the entire sect was deserted, except for the bustling Exchange Hall.


    Currently, there were manybat missions avable, and anyone who survived could earn a substantial number of contribution points.


    At present, the war with the Demon n was far from over, so everyone was eager to convert their contribution points into personal power to increase their chances of survival.


    Upon entering the hall, they joined the queue behind the crowd.


    "Wang Senior Brother, I heard that you went to the first defense linest time, and when the first defense line was breached, I asked many fellow disciples, but no one had news of you. It wasn''t until Senior Brother Qi Shaoqing returned that I learned you were safe," Shui Ruo''er spoke calmly, but Wang Hong could sense the concern in her voice, and he felt touched.


    "Thank you, Junior Sister! I won''t talk too much about my own matters. Where are you going to be stationed this time?" Wang Hong changed the topic."I''m going to the east of the third defense line this time. I don''t know when I''ll be back."


    The two of them continued chatting, and soon it was Shui Ruo''er''s turn.


    "What items would you like to exchange?" The disciple in charge of the exchange was a thin Foundation Building Disciple, who asked Shui Ruo''er.


    "I''d like to exchange for some second-tier Spirit Wine and Healing Pills," Shui Ruo''er stepped forward and said.


    "We''ve run out of second-tier Spirit Wine a while ago. As for Healing Pills, we only have Blood-Replenishing Pills left. Would you like those?"


    This disciple had answered the same question numerous times in recent days, as almost everyone who came to exchange wanted one of these two items. As a result, his tone sounded mechanical.


    Most of the second-tier Spirit Wine had been sent to the front lines, and the Blood-Replenishing Pills were just amon healing medicine. They could only treat minor injuries that weren''t life-threatening and were essentially ineffective for severe, life-threatening injuries.


    As a result, these Pills seemed somewhat redundant. If it was a minor injury that wouldn''t be fatal, why waste Spirit Stones on them? When facing genuinely life-threatening injuries, they were of little use.


    After thinking for a moment, Shui Ruo''er decided it was better to have them than not. She said, "Then I''ll take ten Blood-Replenishing Pills."


    "Alright, ten Blood-Replenishing Pills, that''s a total of one hundred contribution points."


    The thin disciple took Shui Ruo''er''s token, deducted one hundred contribution points, and handed her a bottle of Pills.


    "Wang Senior Brother, it''s your turn now!" After receiving the Pills, Shui Ruo''er didn''t immediately leave but stood to the side, waiting for Wang Hong.


    "I''d like to exchange for some refining materials," Wang Hong stepped forward and said.


    After waiting in line for a while, he noticed that most people were exchanging for Spirit Wine, Pills, or, at the very least, Spiritual Weapons. Those exchanging for refining materials were in the minority at this point.


    "Here are all the refining materials. You can look for them yourself." The thin disciple eyed Wang Hong curiously for a moment before allowing him to choose.


    Wang Hong found over twenty different items he needed on the list of exchangeable materials. After exchanging for these materials, he had depleted all the contribution points he had umted over the years. It seemed he would need to take on more tasks to earn more contribution points to exchange for books at the Scripture Tower.


    Shui Ruo''er waited for Wang Hong, and then the two of them left the Exchange Hall together.


    "Wang Senior Brother, after this, who knows if we''ll ever see each other again," Shui Ruo''er said with a touch of sadness. Given the current situation, no one could guarantee their safe return.


    Today''s parting might be a farewell forever.


    "Junior Sister, take care on your journey. I''m sure you''ll make it back safely!" Wang Hong said, handing Shui Ruo''er a Storage Bag. "I have some things to give you that mighte in handy."


    "Wang Senior Brother! I..." Shui Ruo''er wanted to say more, but Wang Hong interrupted, "Stay safe!"


    With that, he turned and quickly walked away.


    Shui Ruo''er stood there, clutching the Storage Bag tightly in her hands, lost in thought.


    After a while, she finally opened the Storage Bag. To her, the items Wang Hong had given her held more significance than their actual value. Even if the bag had contained just a simple stone, she would have considered it extraordinary.


    However, when she saw the contents of the Storage Bag, her face lit up with surprise and joy, shining like a Three Yang Melon Seeds flower basking in the sun.


    Inside were five bottles of second-tier Spirit Wine and a pill bottlebeled "Hanyu Pill," with a piece of paper attached exining its uses.


    She had tried to exchange for these two items at the Exchange Hall but couldn''t get them. She hadn''t expected Wang Senior Brother to give them to her directly.


    She took the pill bottle in her hand, opened it, and found ten pills inside. She had never seen this type of pill before and didn''t know its effects.


    After leaving Shui Ruo''er, Wang Hong went to the Marketce at the Heavenly Authority Peak to browse for more refining materials. He had a sense of Shui Ruo''er''s thoughts, though he hadn''t experienced them firsthand. However, he understood the situation.


    At this moment, he didn''t want to establish close rtionships with others as it might expose his secrets. Still, he had a favorable impression of Shui Ruo''er, and she was one of his few friends in the Qingxu Sect.


    Since she was heading to the front lines, he wanted to help in any way he could by giving her some Spirit Wine and Healing Pills, which might increase her chances of survival.


    Although the Marketce beneath the Heavenly Authority Peak was quieter than usual, it was still much busier than Azure Void City. Many major sects had sent their peripheral members to the front lines before dispatching their own disciples, leaving Azure Void City deserted but the sect''s Marketce still bustling.


    Among the people strolling through the Marketce, Wang Hong was also there, moving between various shops, searching for the items he needed.


    After exploring all the shops in this Marketce, he managed to find several items he needed. It seemed like this trip had been worthwhile.


    He nned to stay in the sect for a few days, taking on Alchemy tasks to earn more contribution points, which he could then use to exchange for books at the Scripture Tower.


    The primary reason he was able to design the Flying Boat Refinement blueprint on his own was due to the extensive knowledge he had umted over the years.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 382: Insights into Alchemy

    Chapter 382: Insights into Alchemy


    The war between the Human n and the Demon n had not yet reached Pill Hall''s Alchemists, but they were slightly busier than before.


    The conflict had not escted to the point where Alchemists needed to take the battlefield. However, if it did reach that stage, Qingxu Sect''s demise seemed imminent.


    Initially, he could have hidden within the confines of Pill Hall. However, his true strength was exposed, making the Sect aware that he possessedbat abilities alongside his Alchemy skills.


    Moreover, even if he could hide, he had numerous subordinates who couldn''t evade the conflict. If he didn''t step forward to lead, they might even be used as cannon fodder.


    "Senior Brother Xu, how have you beentely?" Wang Hong spotted Xu Zhiguang from a distance, with his white beard and hair.


    Wang Hong admired Xu Zhiguang''s dedication to Pill Recipe. Xu Zhiguang had forsaken everything else in pursuit of perfecting his Alchemy skills, including his ownbat prowess.


    Though Wang Hong admired him, he had no intention of following suit. Some things were better kept under one''s control, likebat abilities.


    "It''s Junior Brother Wang! It''s been a while, Junior Brother Wang. I was just thinking about looking for you to exchange Alchemy experiences," Xu Zhiguang said upon seeing Wang Hong. His conversations always revolved around Alchemy, seemingly unaffected by the battles happening in the Cultivation World. Alchemy was his sole focus.


    As they were conversing, Yuan Yong, an attendant from Pill Hall, approached Wang Hong."Junior Brother Wang, Master Mei requests your presence."


    "Thank you, Senior Brother Yuan." Wang Hong expressed his gratitude and headed towards where Master Mei was located in the building.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays respects to Master Mei," Wang Hong greeted as he entered the room.


    "No need for formalities, please have a seat." Master Mei seemed to have a great fondness for the art of tea. Every time Wang Hong visited, he would find her brewing tea. Unfortunately, her favorite Qiu Long Tea, of which only one nt remained, had been taken by Wang Hong.


    Master Mei had an easygoing temperament and disliked unnecessary formalities. After her instruction, Wang Hong obediently took a seat at the Tea Table.


    "I heard you were stationed at the first defense line recently?" Master Mei personally poured a cup of tea and handed it to Wang Hong.


    "Yes, Master. That''s correct." Wang Hong epted the Spirit Tea and took a sip, noticing that its quality had declined significantly due to the ongoing battles that even affected the lives of Golden Core cultivators.


    "In the future, whether you go or not, it''s your choice, and you don''t need my permission. As an Alchemist, the foundation of Qingxu Sect rests upon us, the core of Pill Hall. You can choose to decline participation in battles," Master Mei calmly stated.


    "Thank you for your understanding, Master." Wang Hong stood up, bowed deeply to Master Mei, and expressed his gratitude. With her support, he would have the autonomy to decide whether or not to participate in battles. He could also refuse tasks that he deemed too dangerous.


    After expressing his gratitude, Wang Hong took the opportunity to seek guidance from Master Mei on some challenging aspects of Pill Recipe refinement. He had already started collecting the Spiritual Herbs required to build a Golden Core, which fell into the third-tier Pill category. Wang Hong was currently preparing to refine a third-tier Pill, and since hecked experience in this area, he cherished the chance to learn from Master Mei.


    After Master Mei answered several of his questions, she could tell from his inquiries that Wang Hong was nning something specific.


    "With your current level of skill, you''ve already mastered second-tier Pills to perfection. However, refining third-tier Pills at the Foundation Building cultivation level is almost unheard of. Firstly, the materials for third-tier Alchemy are extremely rare, and no one would be willing to provide them for your refinement. The risks are too high.


    Furthermore, the mes required for refining third-tier Pills were best obtained from the true fire of Golden Core cultivators, as it could be controlled from the heart. Using third-tier spiritual charcoal or earthfire was also an option, but these mes were harder to control, and a slight mistake could lead to the destruction of an entire batch of Pills.


    I have an Alchemy insight on third-tier Pills here. You can take it and study it," Master Mei said, producing a Jade Scroll. Wang Hong epted the Jade Scroll with gratitude, fully aware of the immense value of Master Mei''s personal Alchemy insights, which had umted over hundreds of years.


    He took a sip of Spirit Tea, feeling a slight sense of guilt, and then said, "I happen to have a batch of Spirit Tea in my shop. The quality is quite good. I would like Master Mei to taste it."


    Apart from Qiu Long Tea, Wang Hong also cultivated a type of Jadedream Spirit Tea in his Space, which had slightly inferior quality but was suitable for entertaining guests and selling through his business. Qiu Long Tea was too precious to serve to just anyone.


    Wang Hong retrieved a wooden box from his Storage Bag, which contained half a pound of Jade Green Silk Tea. He presented it to Master Mei with both hands.


    He wanted to offer Qiu Long Tea, but Master Mei was already familiar with it, and he couldn''t exin its source.


    Master Mei epted the tea box and said, "I happened to run out of Spirit Tea recently, but I won''t take advantage of you. There are fifteen high-grade Spirit Stones here; consider them payment for the tea."


    Wang Hong couldn''t refuse her, so he reluctantly epted the high-grade Spirit Stones, turning his gift into a transaction.


    "Alright, if you have no other business, you may leave."


    As Wang Hong exited Pill Hall, he was loaded with a pile of Alchemy tasks. Even for other cultivators working tirelessly, it would take several months to refine the Pills.


    Meanwhile, at a t terrain behind the Demon n''s camp, beyond the second defense line, various peculiar Demonic Beasts had gathered. Some wererge, some small, some stood upright, othersy on the ground, some coiled around massive rocks, and a few even hung upside down from trees.


    Despite their differences in appearance and habits, they all shared onemon trait: they radiated immensely powerful auras.


    Surprisingly, every single one of these Demonic Beasts was of the third-tier, numbering at least a couple hundred.


    In contrast, even if all the surrounding cultivators of Qingxu Sect were assembled, the number of Golden Core cultivators on their side was only around a hundred.


    At this moment, a grey giant eagle perched on a rock took the lead in speaking with a human voice.


    "Hu Meier, our East Sea n has all arrived. Have all of your West Zhou Demon Realm members gathered? It seems like you haven''t dispatched many Demonic Beasts for battle. Shouldn''t we unite at this critical time and stop hiding things?"


    Surprisingly, this Demonic Beast was speaking in the Human nnguage. Each Demon n had its own unique animalnguage, but thisplicatedmunication between different ns.


    However, none of the races wanted to use another race''snguage, as it would be seen as a great humiliation. Eventually, they resorted to using the Human nnguage when they needed tomunicate across racial boundaries.


    Hu Meier, the Demonic Beast in question, was a white fox with three tails.


    Upon hearing the grey eagle''s inquiry, a wave of sadness welled up inside her.


    Not long ago, a Flying Boat organized by the Human n had invaded the West Zhou Demon Realm, causing heavy casualties to their Western Demon Tribe, with one-third of their numbers lost. This included her Fox n, which had also suffered severe losses, leading to the disappearance of several subgroups.


    Hu Meier nced at the surrounding Demonic Beasts and replied, "We have all gathered."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 383: Gift

    Chapter 383: Gift


    It was rumored that this gray peng possessed a trace of the bloodline of the golden-winged peng, giving it a special status within the Demon n. It was evidently the temporary leader of the East Sea Demon n.


    At this moment, it proposed to the gathered Demon n members, "ording to the agreement between our respective ancestors, starting from today, we willunch a full-scale assault on the Human n''s defenses. Our gathering here today is to discuss and establish a set of regtions."


    "We have gathered most of our forces to besiege the Qingxu Sect for several months now. The Human n defenders must be exhausted by now. Taking it down should be a matter of time," said a demonic monkey hanging from a tree.


    "After capturing Qingxu Sect, we will move southward along the way, break through Thousand Crafts Pavilion, wipe out Beast Spirit Sect, andpletely upy the East Zhou Cultivation Realm. Victory is within our grasp!" eximed a tiger, already dreaming of the future. They had assembled several times the strength of Qingxu Sect and were ready to eliminate various factions in the East Zhou one by one.


    "I hope that after upying these territories, the East Sea Demon n can assign Qingxu Sect to our West Zhou Demon Realm, while Putuo Temple to the east will be under the jurisdiction of the East Sea," Hu Meier suggested. Qingxu Sect was closest to the West Zhou Demon Realm and served as the gateway for the Western Demon Tribe to enter the East Zhou, making it a crucial target.


    While the final allocation would be decided by the three-tiered Demon ns on both sides, she wanted to propose this in advance.


    "I will report this to our n ancestors truthfully and try my best to advocate for Fellow Daoist''s request."


    With everything seemingly in their favor, the Demon ns began discussing the division of spoils after the impending victory.


    Wang Hong had sessfullypleted his Pill Refinement task and turned it in, receiving a substantial amount of contribution points in return. Over the years, he had exchanged for at least half of the books in the Scripture Tower, covering various aspects of cultivation. Even if he hadn''t had the time to fullyprehend some of the contents, he could store them forter digestion.As he entered the Scripture Tower, the cultivators stationed there were already familiar with him and greeted him warmly.


    Once he entered, the cultivators outside began to exchange messages with each other.


    "This Wang Senior Brother truly lives up to his reputation as a Jade Scroll collector. Doesn''t he use his contribution points for other cultivation resources?"


    "I heard he''s a core Alchemist in the Pill Hall, constantly taking on arge number of alchemy tasks, almost dedicating all his time to alchemy and then exchanging it for contribution points."


    "Even if he doesn''t do alchemy or cultivate, if he spends day and night contemting Jade Scrolls, he still wouldn''t have the time. I guess it''s just a peculiar hobby or some form of vanity."


    It was normal for some cultivators in the Cultivation World to have peculiar hobbies. Some enjoyed collecting various scrolls and books, only to use them as decorations without ever reading them. Therefore, people didn''t pay much attention to it, regarding it as a topic of idle conversation.


    Wang Hong exchanged all his contribution points for Jade Scrolls and left the library. Afterward, he made time to visit his Elder Brother, who was recovering at home. His Elder Brother from Kaiyang Peak had lost both his legs in a battle against Demonic Beasts in their previous encounter.


    During hisst visit, his Elder Brother had been quite disheartened due to the sudden loss of his legs.


    This time when Elder Brother saw Wang Hong, he immediately invited him to have a drink, seeming quite cheerful. Seeing his Elder Brother recovering his spirits brought joy to Wang Hong as well.


    "Elder Brother, I''ve prepared a gift for you this time. I hope you''ll like it," Wang Hong said as he retrieved a wooden chair from his Storage Bag and ced it in front of Elder Brother.


    "Haha! Junior Brother Wang, you''ve really thought this through. Thank you!" Elder Brother eximed happily as he sat on the wooden chair. He then infused some Spiritual Power into it, causing the chair to levitate off the ground.


    "Not bad! Not bad!" Elder Brother skillfully maneuvered the chair around the room. After losing both his legs, flying with spiritual tools had be inconvenient for him. Most Spiritual Weapons were designed forbat or long-distance travel and weren''t suitable for moving around in confined spaces. The wooden chair Wang Hong had crafted was specifically designed for Elder Brother''s mobility needs.


    Furthermore, besides serving as a means of transportation, the chair also doubled as a defensive Spiritual Weapon, possessing decent defensive capabilities.


    "Thank you, Junior Brother Wang!" Elder Brother expressed his gratitude once again.


    Since losing his legs, many of his former friends had drifted away. Most of those who had previously befriended him did so because he was a direct descendant of the Kaiyang Peak Master. Given his current condition, making progress in cultivation was exceedingly difficult. Those who still addressed him sincerely as Elder Brother were few, and most did so in jest.


    In times of crisis, true friendships shone brightly, and Wang Hong''s genuine gesture touched Elder Brother deeply.


    After sharing a drink and some conversation with Elder Brother, Wang Hong bid farewell and didn''t linger at the sect for too long before leaving.


    Back at the Mountain Valley base, Luo Zhongjie and the others had collected a significant amount of materials. Even though most of the shops in Azure Void City had closed down, during these special times, offering Spirit Wine and healing pills could still secure them many resources that were usually hard to obtain.


    They took these Spiritual Herbs and materials, going directly to various factions to seek trades.


    In this period of scarcity for Spiritual Objects, they were warmly received by the different factions, who brought out hidden treasures for trade.


    "East Master, I bought over sixty Golden Ironwood logs from the Immortal Way Trading Company, and five of them have reached the third tier," Yin Ze reported excitedly. Originally, they thought that gathering so much spirit wood at once would be the most challenging part. However, it turned out to be surprisingly easy. Especially those five third-tier Golden Ironwood logs, if used for the main structure of the Flying Boat, would greatly enhance its performance.


    "Oh, that''s great news. I was worried about the spirit wood situation," Wang Hong praised Yin Ze for his efforts.


    After sorting andpiling the various items, Wang Hong realized that they had gathered most of the materials they needed but were still missing three specific ones.


    "With the front lines bing more intense, we may be called to participate in the battle at any time. Therefore, we need to refine the Flying Boat as soon as possible," Wang Hong addressed his subordinates.


    "Yin Ze, organize all the refining tool experts in Mountain Valley to start refining the variousponents of the Flying Boat from now on. We''ll continue searching for the remaining materials."


    Wang Hong had already created the refinement blueprints for the Flying Boat, so the refining tool experts only needed to follow the blueprints for the refinement.


    He felt a sense of urgency; hecked confidence in the uing battle and could only prepare as much as possible.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 384: The Second Line of Defense Falls

    Chapter 384: The Second Line of Defense Falls


    Inside Azure Void City, there were several ck Markets where illicit transactions of items best kept hidden took ce regrly.


    In these ck Markets, one could not only trade in person but also submitmissions.


    All that was needed was to hand over the items one wished to sell and the items one wanted to purchase to the ck Market organizers. Then, their trade conditions would appear on a stone tablet within the ck Market.


    If anyone found the trade conditions appealing, they could approach the ck Market organizers to make the deal.


    At this moment, Wang Hong had transformed his appearance into that of an elderly woman and entered one of the ck Markets. He sought out the manager of this particr ck Market.


    "Fellow Daoist, please present yourmission voucher," said an old man in a ck robe to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong retrieved a ck Wooden que from his Storage Bag and handed it to the old man.


    The old man carefully inspected the Wooden que, confirmed its authenticity, and then took out a wooden box, handing it over to Wang Hong.


    While Wang Hong was examining the contents of the box, the old man spoke to him, "Fellow Daoist, do you happen to have any second-tier Spirit Wine? I can offer other Spiritual Objects in exchange."As the manager of the ck Market, he naturally knew that Wang Hong had submitted hismission with ten catties of second-tier Spirit Wine, which far exceeded the value of the refining tool material. This was the reason why themission had quickly found a taker.


    The elderlydy that Wang Hong had transformed into narrowed her eyes, and a cold gleam shed within them as she stared at the old man. "Are you trying to break the rules?"


    "I dare not! I dare not! I was impolite," the old man repeatedly apologized. The rules of the ck Market were clear: they were only meant for facilitating trades, and no one was allowed to inquire about any information beyond the transactions.


    With a disdainful snort, Wang Hong put the wooden box into his Storage Bag, and with a flick of his sleeve, he intended to leave the ck Market.


    However, at that moment, a middle-aged cultivator covered in blood rushed into the ck Market. On his back, he carried an unconscious fellow cultivator.


    "In urgent need of a second-tier healing Pill, the price is negotiable!" the middle-aged cultivator shouted as soon as he entered. But the passersby and the other cultivators at the stalls merely looked on coldly, showing no interest in trading with him.


    Currently, countless people were getting injured on the front lines every day, and the supply of healing Spiritual Herbs was insufficient. It was going to be a long time before this situation could improve. No one could guarantee that they wouldn''t need it themselves in the future, so naturally, no one was willing to trade.


    The middle-aged cultivator looked around, and in the eyes of those who met his gaze, all he saw was indifference. Who cared about the life or death of a total stranger?


    "I have thetest information from the front lines, just in exchange for one healing Pill!" the middle-aged cultivator shouted repeatedly, but still, no one responded.


    While firsthand information from the front lines did have some value, it was something that would bemon knowledge soon enough. Why waste a precious Pill when you could wait a little longer?


    At that moment, Wang Hong happened to walk out from the inner chambers of the ck Market. Upon seeing this scene, he spoke up, "I happen to have a healing Pill right here. Let''s make the trade!"


    The middle-aged cultivator, upon hearing Wang Hong''s words, felt as if he had found a savior. His spirits lifted, and he approached Wang Hong.


    "Many thanks, Fellow Daoist, for your assistance!"


    "It''s just a trade, Fellow Daoist. No need for formalities."


    Wang Hong took out a Hanyu Pill and handed it to the injured cultivator. He couldn''t help but admire the middle-aged man, who, despite having his own injuries, was running around to help others. Though Wang Hong wasn''t sure if he could do the same, he respected the cultivator''s selflessness.


    The middle-aged man gently ced the person on his back on the ground and epted the Pill, then handed Wang Hong a Jade Scroll.


    After examining the Pill, the middle-aged man realized he didn''t recognize it and asked, "Fellow Daoist, what kind of Pill is this? I''ve never seen one like it before."


    "This is a Pill I happened to acquire. Its healing effects are slightly better than ordinary second-tier Pills," Wang Hong exined.


    The middle-aged man carefully scraped a bit of powder from the Pill and tasted it to ensure it was safe. He then fed it to his unconsciouspanion.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong began to examine the contents of the Jade Scroll. However, his expression changed slightly, but he quickly regained hisposure.


    A nearby cultivator noticed Wang Hong''s expression and, being quite friendly, asked, "Is something unusual happening on the front lines?"


    "Do you want to know? Give me two mid-grade Spirit Stones, and I''ll tell you," Wang Hong replied with a slight grin. He wasn''t one to let others take advantage of him easily.


    The other cultivator felt discouraged by Wang Hong''s response and cast a resentful nce before walking away.


    After obtaining the information from the front lines, Wang Hong quickly left the ck Market and hurried back to Mountain Valley.


    He couldn''t afford to waste time; the second line of defense had already been breached. ording to the middle-aged cultivator, the Demon n had been relentlessly attacking the defense line day and night for over a dozen days, leaving the defending cultivators exhausted and their supply of Spirit Wine, which helped replenish their Spiritual Power, depleted.


    Just yesterday, a group consisting of nearly a hundred third-tier Demonic Beasts and several hundred second-tier Demonic Beasts had broken through the second line of defense, creating a breach. Consequently, the entire line had copsed. Although many cultivators guarding the second line suffered heavy casualties, some managed to escape.


    The middle-aged cultivator was likely one of the faster escapees, and many more cultivators would probably make their way back soon, rendering this piece of news less valuable.


    Upon returning to Mountain Valley, Wang Hong gathered everyone together.


    "Prepare yourselves for battle. The second line of defense has fallen, and in just a day or two, the Demonic Beasts will likely reach the first line of defense."


    "I didn''t expect the second line to fall so quickly. East Master, what should we do now?" someone asked.


    "This is thest line of defense on the outskirts of Qingxu Sect. They will undoubtedly summon us to join the battle. Fortunately, I have obtained thest three materials needed for the Flying Boat Refinement. We are close topleting it; it''s just a matter of time."


    "Yin Ze, how''s the progress on refining the Flying Boatponents?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "If I may report, East Master, we havepleted more than half of the refinement process. However, the remaining parts will take at least another ten days to finish," Yin Ze replied.


    He understood how valuable a Flying Boat could be in battle, but he had already mobilized all the refining tool cultivators in Mountain Valley. Unfortunately, time was running short.


    "We might not have enough time. People wille to conscript us in the next few days. Let''s hurry and refine all theponents as quickly as possible. When it''s time to join the defense line, we''ll bring theponents and materials with us and refine them during any avable downtime," Wang Hong concluded. Time was against them, and this was the best they could do for now.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 385: Meeting with Chu Elder Again

    Chapter 385: Meeting with Chu Elder Again


    "In addition, I''ve just obtained another batch of Foundation Establishment Pills. I want all of you topile a list of individuals in the Inner Valley who have achieved the peak of Qi Cultivation," Wang Hong instructed.


    "Hu Jian and Liu Wenlie, the two of you should also tally up the cultivators in the Outer Valley."


    With the imminent threat to their existence, he needed to bolster the strength of his subordinates. In the event that the Qingxu Sect fell, having more capable individuals amidst the lurking Demonic Beasts would increase their chances of survival.


    "Reporting, East Master," Hu Jian began, "Currently, there are over two thousand cultivators in the Outer Valley. Among them, there are twelve Foundation Building stage cultivators, and more than five hundred in theter stages of Qi Cultivation. Moreover, there are one hundred and six individuals who have reached the pinnacle of Qi Cultivation."


    Hu Jian was responsible for overseeing all matters in the Outer Valley, and he promptly provided the statistics for all cultivators there.


    Wang Hong was surprised to learn that he had gathered so many followers in the Outer Valley. Initially, there were only slightly over five hundred who had defected from the ckstone Valley Market. Subsequently, numerous cultivators, who found it difficult to survive on their own, had joined him one after another. Furthermore, many who had followed Wang Hong during his breakthrough from the first defensive line had also pledged allegiance to him. These individuals had been assigned to the Outer Valley.


    "In the Inner Valley, there are currently only one hundred and eighty-nine individuals. Among them, fourteen are at the Qi Cultivation stage, and they have all reached the pinnacle of that realm," reported Yin Ze after Hu Jian''s update.


    Originally, the Inner Valley had more than two hundred members, but they had suffered casualties in the previous battle. Wang Hong had initially nned for them to recruit new members from the Mortal Realm, but the poption within the third defensive line was scarce, and the likelihood of finding individuals with Spiritual Roots was low. They had managed to recruit only a dozen or so people.


    In addition, some of his subordinates, such as Xu Lun and Skinny Monkey, were still managing businesses in Azure Void City and were not included in these figures."Very well. All members of the Inner Valley must advance to the Foundation Building stage, and this time, we can select twenty individuals from the Outer Valley. However, whether in the Inner or Outer Valley, everyone must exchange Foundation Establishment Pills using their contribution points," Wang Hong dered.


    Although they urgently needed manpower, he was determined not to distribute Foundation Establishment Pills for free. Otherwise, it would be unfair to those who had previously exchanged their contribution points for the pills.


    "Furthermore, Luo Zhongjie, go inform everyone in Azure Void City to assemble at Mountain Valley."


    "What about the shops in Azure Void City?" Luo Zhongjie asked with uncertainty.


    "For now, they should all suspend operations. There aren''t many people left in Azure Void City, and in the midst of this great battle, they will surely be conscripted as well. It''s better for them to return to Mountain Valley and join the fight together."


    "Understood. Is there anything else you would like me to do, East Master?"


    "When you go, check on our oldrades who left with us back then. If they can be of help, lend them a hand. If any of them have descendants who wish to join us, bring them in and settle them in the Outer Valley."


    Wang Hong remembered that before he entered Azure Void City, several dozen people had chosen to leave, seeking to forge their own paths. However, these individuals had no background, and as mere Mortals, they struggled to make ends meet, often living in dire conditions. Wang Hong had previously instructed Xu Lun to provide them with some assistance, such as offering them jobs in Skinny Monkey''s tavern to ensure their basic needs were met. Now that Xu Lun and the others were withdrawing from Azure Void City, Wang Hong was willing to ept a few more of these individuals if they were willing to join his cause.


    As for why they had left him in the first ce, Wang Hong understood it better than anyone else. He had initially led a group of Mortals into the Cultivation World.


    The number of people was toorge, and Wang Hong feared that he wouldn''t be able to handle it all. He was also concerned about the potential leakage of his secrets. So, at that time, he used a highly tempting tone to persuade some individuals to leave, ensuring that those who remained were absolutely loyal and reliable.


    If he had to do it all over again, Wang Hong would still make the same choices. He would tempt those whose loyalty was not strong enough to leave. At that time, he was too weak, and anyone could have easily eliminated him.


    In fact, the forty-five people who had chosen to stay after the temptation had not disappointed him. For instance, when he first entered Azure Void City, he always had various Spiritual Herbs readily avable, even though he imed to have purchased them.


    However, among the forty-plus people under him, none were fools. It was impossible for them not to notice something fishy. Yet, they all chose to y the role of fools, believing it to be genuine, never expressing doubt, and never leaking any information.


    In his early days, he had to rely entirely on the loyalty of his subordinates. Now that he had the power, he could establish an Immortal Way Trading Company to handle things externally.


    "Very well, I''ll go now!" Luo Zhongjie received his orders and left in high spirits.


    "This Immortal Way Trading Company has helped us a lot, especially by providing us with so many Foundation Establishment Pills. When we''re on the battlefield, we can support each other," Wang Hong instructed the remaining individuals with some specific tasks before adjourning the meeting. He then joined the refinement process of the Flying Boat.


    Seven dayster, a streak of green light descended just outside Mountain Valley, revealing a cultivator dressed in a green Daoist Robe.


    However, this cultivator had unkempt hair, looked disheveled, and seemed rather sloppy. As soon as he stopped just outside Mountain Valley, several flies flew towards him, buzzing around him closely, appearing strangely friendly.


    The sloppy cultivator suddenly emitted a powerful aura of Golden Core cultivation. The immense pressure caused a few light cracks as all the flies around him fell to the ground and were crushed to pieces.


    At that moment, several cultivators emerged from the Marketce, witnessing this scene. They were too terrified to move, as the might of a Golden Core cultivator was beyond their imagination.


    Seeing the cultivator''s ruthless treatment of the flies, they dared not make any noise or movements.


    The Golden Core cultivator did not pay attention to the other cultivators and expanded his pressure, instantly spreading it throughout Mountain Valley.


    "The one in charge of Mountain Valley,e out and see me!" the sloppy cultivator shouted loudly toward Mountain Valley.


    After a short while, Wang Hong hurriedly emerged from Mountain Valley upon hearing the call. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the old Daoist.


    After paying his respects, Wang Hong said, "Senior Chu, your presence here is an honor. I apologize for noting to greet you earlier."


    The sloppy old Daoist looked somewhat surprised and asked, "Why are you here?"


    "Senior Chu, I am the one in charge of Mountain Valley," Wang Hong replied with a smile.


    Now it was the old Daoist''s turn to be even more surprised. He had known that Wang Hong had some wealth and heard that he managed a shop in Azure Void City. However, he hadn''t expected this young man to directly own Mountain Valley and a Marketce. Judging from the situation, it seemed like the business at the Marketce was doing quite well.


    "I didn''t expect you to have such abilities. I must have underestimated you," the sloppy old Daoist praised, regretting that he hadn''t extorted more wine from Wang Hong when he had the chance.


    "Please, Senior,e inside so that I can extend my hospitality as the host," Wang Hong invited.


    "Today, I''ll pass. I have important matters to attend to. I came here to deliver a message. Instruct the cultivators in the valley to prepare, and by noon tomorrow, they must depart for the third defensive line for battle," the old man said, casting a nce at Wang Hong before exining, "This is an order from the sect, and everyone must obey."


    Having delivered his message, the sloppy old Daoist transformed into a streak of green light and flew away.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 386: A Formidable Team

    Chapter 386: A Formidable Team


    On the second day, Mountain Valley was left with only a dozen or so defenders, while the rest of the two thousand-plus were ready for action.


    Before noon, Sloppy Old Daoist had already arrived at Mountain Valley, leading a group of people.


    Following behind Old Daoist were more than a thousand cultivators, representing a diverse array of factions.


    As these people approached Mountain Valley, they witnessed a scene that left them utterly shocked.


    At the valley entrance stood over two thousand people, and the sheer number alone exceeded their own forces by more than twofold.


    However, what struck them the most was not just the sheer number of people here; they had encountered gatherings of thousands or tens of thousands of cultivators before. What truly set this group apart was the unique aura that emanated from the two thousand-plus individuals, an aura that was distinctly different from any cultivator they had ever encountered in the Cultivation World.


    Particrly striking were the more than two hundred Foundation Building cultivators at the forefront. They stood there silently, in perfect formation, exuding an air of solemnity, resembling a pack of crouching tigers.


    All two hundred-plus Foundation Building cultivators were d in uniform leather armor, and judging from the fluctuations of their Spiritual Energy, they wielded at least medium-grade Spiritual Weapons.


    The uniform style of their Spiritual Weapons hinted at the scale and power of their backing.Moreover, aside from Qingxu Sect, there were very few factions that could boast over two hundred Foundation Building cultivators.


    Sloppy Old Daoist approached Wang Hong, casting an appraising gaze over him, his expression tinged with surprise.


    Just yesterday, he had thought of Wang Hong as merely wealthy, but seeing this kind of formation today, it was clear that wealth alone could not describe it.


    "Wang nephew, it seems I''ve underestimated you! Let''s set out!" Sloppy Old Daoist addressed Wang Hong with unprecedented gravity.


    "Yes, Master!" Wang Hong replied before turning and shouting to those behind him, "Let''s move out!"


    "Move out!"


    The two thousand cultivators behind them echoed in unison, theirbined voices creating a deafening sound that sent nearby rocks tumbling down the slopes.


    Sloppy Old Daoist led the way at the front, with the two thousand-plus people following in disciplined ranks, followed by the scattered one thousand-plus.


    They would gather additional groups along the way, amassing a force of over four thousand as they marched towards the frontline battlefield.


    Due to the Qi Cultivation cultivators in their group, their progress was slowed, and it took them three days to reach the battlefield.


    When they finally arrived, the battle on the city walls was intense. Without a word, Sloppy Old Daoist led his troops to join the fray.


    With the addition of fresh reinforcements, it took just an hour to repel the Demon n''s assault.


    As they cleaned up the battlefield, a Golden Core cultivator who had been stationed there approached Sloppy Old Daoist.


    "Senior Brother Chu, thanks to your timely arrival, we were on the brink of copse. We''ve been battling these Demonic Beasts for an entire day before your arrival."


    This Golden Core cultivator was also from Qingxu Sect, and they were quite familiar with each other, so there was no need for formalities.


    "Junior Brother Gu, you look energetic, not a hint of fatigue. If you want to ck off, just say so," Sloppy Old Daoist teased.


    "Well, these young ones have indeed been fighting for a full day. If the battle had gone on any longer, they might not have been able to hold out."


    "Senior Brother Chu, where did you find this group of fierce fighters? They seem quite formidable!"


    Gu Yuan pointed at Wang Hong''s group, who were currently collecting spoils of war beneath the city wall, and asked Sloppy Old Daoist, "What about those people down there?"


    He had been deeply impressed by theirbat prowess during the recent battle. Judging from their attire, they were not Qingxu Sect disciples, yet theirbat abilities surpassed those of Qingxu Sect disciples.


    Moreover, these two thousand-plus individuals seemed to have practiced together countless times, splitting into numerous small teams during battle, each consisting of fifty to a hundred members.


    Within each team, they coordinated seamlessly, disying a well-bnced offense and defense. After a battle, they had only a few lightly injured individuals, with no severe casualties or fatalities. It was a rare sight, as most battles would inevitably result in some casualties, even in victory.


    Gu Yuan was increasingly intrigued by this group''s performance.


    "Do you see that young man down there? He''s the one leading this group. Honestly, when I first saw this troop of people, I was taken aback," Sloppy Old Daoist replied, his expression carrying a touch of pride.


    "Oh, is he affiliated with any particr faction now?" Gu Yuan asked, visibly interested because Wang Hong was not wearing Qingxu Sect''s standard purple robes at the moment.


    "Are you thinking about recruiting him?" Sloppy Old Daoist teased with a grin.


    "Well, this young man is indeed impressive. If he''s willing to join Qingxu Sect, I could take him as my disciple," Gu Yuan admitted openly.


    "Hahaha! If you really do that, be prepared for Gu Qingyang toe knocking on your door for a fight," Sloppy Old Daoistughed.


    "Has Gu Qingyang alreadyid im to him?"


    "Hehe! I''ll tell you the truth; this young man has been a formal disciple of mine in Qingxu Sect for several decades now. He was the fifth disciple Gu Qingyang took under his wing."


    "What a pity! What a pity! With Gu Qingyang''s wooden head, he won''t be able to properly mentor such an outstanding disciple. It''s a waste to have such talent fall into his hands," Gu Yuanmented, shaking his head.


    "You make it sound like you''re better than Gu Qingyang. He has a beautiful Dao Companion, and you''re still a single man. He has a silly son, and you''re still single. He has five decent disciples, and you''re still a lonemander," Sloppy Old Daoist retorted, delivering a series of blows that left Gu Yuan red-faced and speechless.


    Gu Yuan wanted to retort that Sloppy Old Daoist was also single, but he suppressed the urge. He knew that bringing up this topic was a sensitive issue for Sloppy Old Daoist.


    Just then, Wang Hong and his group had finished collecting the spoils and returned to the city. They approached Gu Yuan and greeted him.


    "Starting today, you will be under ourmand for the defense of this section of the city wall, directly under my and Elder Chu''s orders. With your addition, we now have a total of ten thousand cultivators. The wall section you need to defend spans two li (about one kilometer). I will divide you into three groups, and you will take turns on duty."


    While making these arrangements, Gu Yuan was quite confident about holding this section of the city wall. With ten thousand people, each of them would only need to guard a few inches of the wall. Furthermore, it would be impossible to fit all these people on the wall at once.


    Most importantly, the reinforcements brought by Sloppy Old Man were quite impressive. Among Wang Hong''s group alone, there were over two hundred Foundation Building cultivators, almost reaching three hundred. This was a remarkably high ratio.


    In addition to their two Golden Core elders, it should be quite secure to defend this section of the city wall.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 387: Nourishing Battle through Battle

    Chapter 387: Nourishing Battle through Battle


    Gu Yuan assigned Wang Hong a section of the city wall spanning over a hundred zhang, along with more than two thousand soldiers under hismand.


    With the defensive perimeter of the third line now significantly reduced and the Qingxu Sect mustering all their forces to defend, they currently had an adequate number of troops.


    After assigning this section of the city wall to Wang Hong, Gu Yuan allowed him to arrange his troops independently. Gu Yuan did not interfere but made it clear that Wang Hong had to hold the wall on his own. There would be no reinforcements unless facing a Tier-Three Demonic Beast on the opposing side.


    Wang Hong had no objections to this arrangement. With over two thousand soldiers, including more than two hundred Foundation Building cultivators, guarding this section of the wall should be rtively easy.


    "Luo Zhongjie, organize the manpower here, and the defense of this area is in your hands," Wang Hong instructed as he turned to Luo Zhongjie, giving him full authority to allocate personnel.


    "East Master, rest assured, leave this matter to me. I guarantee that these Demonic Beasts won''t stand a chance," Luo Zhongjie replied confidently.


    "Yin Ze, while the current battle is not too intense, organize the refining experts to continue refining Flying Boatponents. The Spirit Meal experts should process all the Tier-Two Demonic Beast meat we''ve collected into Spirit Meals and sell them to nearby stationed cultivators. During this time, we will surely gather arge amount of Demonic Beast materials, especially the Demonic Beast hides suitable for direct refinement into talisman papers. Have the Talisman experts refine all of them into Talismans. As for the refining materials we receive, once the Flying Boat isplete, refine them all into Magical Weapons. None of these personnel should participate in the battle for now, just focus on refining. The finished products can be sold directly to nearby stationed cultivators."


    With an ample number of personnel at his disposal, Wang Hong decided to allocate some of them specifically for processing future spoils of war. He would then distribute these resources on the battlefield, essentially using the enemy''s resources against them and earning some Spirit Stones in the process.


    Yin Ze selected the necessary manpower, while the remaining troops were divided into three groups by Luo Zhongjie, eachprising over six hundred people responsible for a shift in the defense task.These three groups were led by Wen Lan, Skinny Monkey, and Zhao Ning, respectively.


    With this arrangement, as long as the battle wasn''t too intense, a group of over six hundred people should be sufficient to handle the onught of Demonic Beasts during their shift.


    Each group would defend for four hours, followed by eight hours of rest, providing ample recovery time for Spiritual Power and reducing the consumption of Spirit Wine.


    After Luo Zhongjie took over the defense task, only two hours had passed when the Demonic Beastsunched another attack on the city wall.


    Under Luo Zhongjie''smand, the more than six hundred team members defended the city wall in an organized and disciplined manner.


    One hundred individuals piloted a Flying Boat each to intercept flying Demonic Beasts in the air, while the remaining five hundred plus personnel defended against crawling Demonic Beasts on the city wall.


    This was the advantage of having Flying Boats. With them, even Qi Cultivation cultivators could fly into the air and y flying Demonic Beasts. There was no need to worry about being surrounded by flying Demonic Beasts as long as they couldn''t break through the defensive barrier on the Flying Boat, ensuring the safety of the cultivators inside.


    The spiritual energy cannons on the Flying Boats unleashed wide-range ice and fire attacks with a single shot, capable of wiping outrge numbers of low-tier Demonic Beasts in one go.


    This scene left the nearby sect cultivators extremely envious.


    Gu Yuan had also acquired a Flying Boat from within the sect, positioned in the airspace over the defensive line. However, this Flying Boat had a broader range of responsibilities and sometimes couldn''t provide support in time.


    Flying Demonic Beasts often managed to break through the aerial blockade set up by the airborne cultivators,unching attacks on the cultivators diligently defending the city wall. Consequently, with the help of these flying Demonic Beasts, asional casualties urred on the city wall.


    In situations where it was possible, Luo Zhongjie would also have the Flying Boats assist the cultivators on both sides. This indirectly benefited the defense cultivators positioned adjacent to them, resulting in significantly reduced casualties.


    Although Wang Hong had two Flying Boats at his disposal, after each battle, they required maintenance to repair any damage sustained inbat. Therefore, Luo Zhongjie was currently rotating between the two Flying Boats to ensure they could be promptly repaired.


    The Flying Boat that Gu Yuan had obtained from the sect, despite participating in the battle for only a few days, already bore several scars, which hadn''t been repaired yet.


    The battle continued for three hours before the Demon n gradually retreated. Both sides suffered casualties, but overall, the Demon n, as the attacking force, had a greater number of casualties.


    After the battle, there were designated individuals responsible for recording the achievements. These achievements were simr to contribution points within the sect and could be exchanged for various resources from the Qingxu Sect. This time, Qingxu Sect had spared no expense, and it was rumored that as long as one''s achievements were sufficient, even rare pills like the Foundation Establishment Pill or the Golden Core Pill could be obtained.


    Achievements were measured based on the number of Demonic Beasts in. Killing ten Tier-One low-grade Demonic Beasts earned one achievement point, while killing five Tier-One mid-grade Demonic Beasts also earned one point. Killing a Tier-One high-grade Demonic Beast required only one to earn a point.


    As for Tier-Two Demonic Beasts, killing one Tier-Two low-grade Demonic Beast earned fifty achievement points, a Tier-Two mid-grade Demonic Beast earned one hundred points, and a Tier-Two high-grade Demonic Beast earned one hundred and fifty points.


    As for ying a Tier-Three low-grade Demonic Beast, it could fetch one thousand achievement points...


    Since they were responsible for an entire section of the city wall as a group, the cultivator responsible for recordingbined all their achievements.


    In this battle, although they had in many Demonic Beasts, most were of the lower tiers. They had umted over nine hundred contribution points in total.


    After collecting the spoils of war, Yin Ze led a group to gather the abandoned Demonic Beast corpses beneath the city wall. This scene piqued the curiosity of many cultivators, but when they inquired, Yin Ze simply smiled without revealing anything.


    Yin Ze brought these items back to the camp, organized manpower to ssify and sort them, and then handed various items over to specialists for processing.


    Over the next few days, the Demon n attacked at least once or twice every day, and there was even one continuous day of battle. Wang Hong, leading the East Zhou Trading Company, had already amassed seven thousand achievement points, and in terms of casualties, their section of the city wall was the least affected.


    So far, only one person had died, and two were seriously injured but had managed to save their lives by promptly consuming healing pills.


    Moreover, the cultivators defending the city wall were all eager to defend the segments adjacent to the East Zhou Trading Company. By now, everyone knew that being neighbors with the East Zhou Trading Company brought numerous benefits, at least in terms of significantly reduced mortality rates.


    However, what puzzled everyone was the East Zhou Trading Company''s practice of seizing everything in sight during the collection of spoils, regardless of its usefulness. It wasn''t until several dayster that the cultivators of the East Zhou Trading Company started selling various items to everyone, and it suddenly became clear why they had gathered all those resources.


    It turned out the East Zhou Trading Company had processed these items into finished products and was now selling them. This exined their abundant resources and high-quality equipment during battles. They preferred Spiritual Weapons to Magical Weapons, and if it was top-tier, they wouldn''t settle for anything less.


    Unfortunately, while envy was natural, they couldn''t replicate this strategy. Firstly, theycked the necessary skills, and even if someone asionally possessed them, they still needed to engage inbat with Demonic Beasts on the city wall. Their spare time was limited and required rapid meditation for recovery.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 388: Operation

    Chapter 388: Operation


    In the current camp of the East Zhou Trading Company, Yan Ran had transformed it into a small-scale marketce, bing the favorite ce for all cultivators to visit in their leisure moments between battles.


    "Come and take a look, everyone! This is a broth made from the meat of a top-tier Demonic Beast,bined with thirty rare Spiritual Herbs. It takes a whole day to brew."


    Drinking it can replenish your strength, assist in cultivation, enhance physical prowess, and even aid in recovering spent Spiritual Energy.


    Exclusive recipe! Rare opportunity! Act fast!"


    Shi Yang stood in front of a tent, loudly promoting the goods. Since joining forces with Wang Hong during thest breakout, he had be a member of the Outer Valley.


    Due to his quick wit, he had caught the eye of Hu Jian, who enlisted his help with various tasks. This time, Yin Ze had summoned him to help sell the broth.


    Before himy a heap of sealed earthen jars, with only the lids of the top few jars opened, revealing the creamy soup inside, emitting a tantalizing aroma that attracted the passing cultivators, some of whom even discreetly swallowed a few mouthfuls of saliva.


    "How much for a jar of this soup?" asked a red-faced cultivator from the crowd.


    "Ten Spirit Stones for one jar, all jars are only ten Spirit Stones each. For just ten Spirit Stones, you can take a jar of this spirit broth home," Shi Yang replied loudly."Ten Spirit Stones are too expensive; a Condensing Qi Pill is also ten Spirit Stones. How can thispare to a Condensing Qi Pill? I''ll buy a jar for eight Spirit Stones, how about that?"


    "Can you still buy a Condensing Qi Pill for ten Spirit Stones now? Those prices are from several years ago. Besides, this broth was carefully crafted by our East Master over several years, and it contains over thirty types of Spiritual Herbs. Its effects are no worse than a Condensing Qi Pill."


    Shi Yang said confidently. He knew that regardless of the quality of the product, he had to exude confidence to make people believe in it, even though he was feeling a bit uncertain himself. He wasn''t lying about the thirty-plus types of Spiritual Herbs, but they weren''t particrly valuable, and the quantity added was minimal.


    "Um... can I taste some? Just a small sip."


    "Of course."


    Shi Yang took out many simple-looking bamboo bowls, arranged them in a row, and said, "Come,e,e! You''re all wee to taste it for free..."


    This was just a corner of the camp, and in the East Zhou Trading Company''s camp, there were many ces dedicated to selling various items.


    There were talismans made from animal hides, as well as various types of Spiritual Weapons and Magical Weapons crafted from Demonic Beast materials. These were all essential items in warfare, prone to quick wear and tear, which made their businesses extremely profitable.


    When East Zhou Trading Company sold these items, their prices were reasonable, without taking advantage of the situation.


    What impressed the cultivators the most was that East Zhou Trading Company epted Spirit Stones of the following grades for all their goods, making it incredibly convenient for the majority of cultivators. Otherwise, many of them might not have been able to afford these items.


    At the same time, East Zhou Trading Company also purchased Demonic Beast materials from the outside, providing great convenience to many stationed cultivators.


    Many cultivators, upon seeing the lively atmosphere in the East Zhou Trading Company camp, decided to set up their own stalls nearby, disying items they no longer needed. This attracted even more nearby cultivators, making this area increasingly resemble a bustling marketce.


    Regarding the actions of the East Zhou Trading Company, both Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist observed but didn''t say anything, silently approving of their actions.


    Meanwhile, Wang Hong had been busy these days, not participating in battles but rather working diligently on refining the Flying Boat.


    The refinement of the Flying Boat was now in its final stages, with just a fewponents left toplete the process. Unfortunately, Wang Hong had yet to master the refinement of the Spirit Energy Cannon. The Spirit Energy Cannon was a rare item that only a few factions could refine, and the refinement methods were closely guarded secrets.


    Wang Hong had searched the entire Scripture Tower but had only found fragments of information without grasping the full picture. He knew that the Spirit Energy Cannon was the result ofbining refining tools and formations. With his current knowledge of refining tools and formations, if he devoted himself to studying it within his secluded space, he might be able to replicate it. However, he had many responsibilities at the moment andcked the time for such research, so he would have to revisit itter.


    Just as Wang Hong had sessfully refined aponent of the Flying Boat, he received a Transmission Talisman. Surprisingly, it was from Sloppy Old Daoist and Gu Yuan, both of whom wereing to see him.


    Naturally, he couldn''t afford to dy and quickly made his way to a reception hall.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays his respects to the two Senior Martial Uncles!"


    "Rise, young man! We heard that your business is thriving!" Gu Yuan scrutinized Wang Hong with a half-smile.


    Wang Hong didn''t quite understand the intentions of the two Golden Core Elders, so he responded, "You overestimate me, Senior Martial Uncles. Everything I do is for the great cause of our Human n''s resistance against the Demon n. Leading my fellow cultivators, day and night, collecting various Demonic Beast materials and processing them¡ªmy only goal is to strengthen our Human n''s meager power. In these dire times, every cultivator has the responsibility to defend our homnd against the demons and shed every drop of blood if needed."


    Wang Hong''s words were filled with righteousness, and even the two crafty Golden Core-stage elders were almost convinced.


    "Enough with the act, young man. We just wanted to have a meal with you," Sloppy Old Daoist chimed in.


    Wang Hong didn''t feel embarrassed by being exposed and quickly changed his tune, saying, "I see! Senior Martial Uncles, please rest assured that I will serve the finest food and wine to satisfy you both."


    "Young man, you indeed have a knack for business. You''ve only been here for a few days, and you''ve already made quite a name for yourself. On this point, I truly admire you," Gu Yuan said in a more rxed tone, revealing that their previous intimidation was intentional.


    Wang Hong then fetched several bottles of Spirit Wine from his Storage Bag and some exquisite spirit dishes. "Please, Senior Martial Uncles!"


    The two elders didn''t stand on ceremony and started enjoying the food and wine. Wang Hong joined them in drinking some Spirit Wine.


    He had brought out bottles of one-tier Spirit Wine that had been aged for over a hundred years. With various resources in short supply, he didn''t dare to use better Spirit Wine. He rarely drank this kind of Spirit Wine himself, usually preferring thousand-year-old fine wines. Suddenly switching to this type of wine made it taste quite unpleasant to him.


    However, the two Golden Core Elders were savoring it, thoroughly enjoying the drink. They saw Wang Hong sipping the wine in small sips and thought he was being frugal.


    "Excellent! This is good wine! I can''t remember thest time I had Spirit Wine of this quality," Sloppy Old Daoist eximed after taking a sip.


    "It is indeed a fine wine. Wang nephew, the reason we came today is to discuss something with you," Gu Yuan said after finishing a ss.


    "I am at your service, Senior Martial Uncles. What can I do for you? Your presence is an honor," Wang Hong knew that these two were not here just for a meal.


    "Well, you see, we noticed that you have two Flying Boats that you alternate using. We would like to borrow them for a few days each month. As you have observed, our Flying Boat has already sustained considerable damage after just a few days of use and is in urgent need of repair. Of course, we won''t interfere with your own use; we only require them for a few days each month," Gu Yuan exined.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 389: Offering the Pill Recipe

    Chapter 389: Offering the Pill Recipe


    "Of course! If Senior Uncle Gu Yuan asks, there''s no issue at all. We''re all working hard to fight against the Demon n," Wang Hong readily agreed. It wasn''t a big deal, and even the Golden Core Elders had offered their help. Refusing would be impolite.


    "Rest assured, we won''t let you be at a loss. If you have any requests, feel free to ask," Gu Yuan said.


    Wang Hong pondered for a moment before speaking, "Disciple happens to have a request. Disciple needs arge quantity of Demonic Beast materials. If the two Senior Uncles have any to spare, I hope we can trade."


    "That''s not a problem. We happen to have an abundance of Demonic Beast materials piled up, and we''ve been wondering how to deal with them," they both replied.


    As Golden Core Elders stationed here, they had amassed a considerable amount of loot, and most of it was of high quality.


    "Later, you can bring people to my temporary cave mansion for the trade. There''s too much stuff here, and it''s a good opportunity to clear it out," Gu Yuan ordered after taking a sip of wine.


    At this moment, Sloppy Old Daoist seemed to suddenly think of something and asked Wang Hong, "By the way, Wang, I suddenly have a question. I noticed you''ve collected so many Demonic Beast corpses, but not all of them can be used to make Spirit Meals, right? Some of the Demonic Beast corpses you''ve collected are inedible. What''s your purpose for them?"


    Sloppy Old Daoist, being a seasoned food lover, was naturally well-acquainted with which Demonic Beasts were edible and which were not. This had puzzled him because Wang Hong''s East Zhou tradingpany had practically taken all the Demonic Beast corpses they encountered.


    Wang Hong didn''t find Sloppy Old Daoist''s question strange. This matter was bound to attract attention sooner orter."Disciple picks up Demonic Beast corpses for a different purpose. Senior Uncles, please take a look at this," Wang Hong said. He then retrieved a bottle of pills from his storage bag and poured out two pills for them to examine.


    They each took a pill, inspected it closely, and even scraped off some powder to taste.


    "If you trust Disciple, you can try one pill each, and you''ll understand its effects," Wang Hong suggested.


    Most cultivators were cautious when it came to pills they didn''t recognize, as consuming them without care could be deadly. However, these two were both experienced and daring. After Wang Hong''s suggestion, they directly swallowed the pills.


    Afterward, they squinted their eyes, allowing the pills to dissolve in their bodies. After about fifteen minutes, they opened their eyes.


    "Not bad! This pill can replenish essence blood, especially in terms of enhancing physical strength. Its effects are outstanding. Could this pill have been refined from Demonic Beast bodies?" Gu Yuan''s face had a hint of excitement as he was well aware of the value of such a pill.


    If they could collect the corpses of the in Demonic Beasts and refine them into pills, it would weaken the Demon n while simultaneously strengthening the Human n''s power.


    Currently, in battles, the physical strength of Human n cultivatorsgs far behind that of the Demon n. Once they get close to the Demon n, Human n cultivators will end up being on the receiving end of the beating.


    If they can refine arge quantity of these pills, with the bnce tilting in their favor over time, they will undoubtedly be able to ovee the Demon n.


    "This pill is called the Essence Core Pill, and it''s a pill recipe concocted by Disciple. It is primarily refined using Demonic Beast corpses," Wang Hong replied.


    Sloppy Old Daoist, with a demeanor quite unlike his usual self, suddenly stood up and bowed to Wang Hong, saying, "Wang nephew! I have an unreasonable request. It''s a bit unconventional, but it concerns the rise and fall of the Human n, so I have to swallow my pride and ask you. Wang nephew, can you promote this Pill Recipe so that all Alchemists can use Demonic Beast corpses to refine this kind of pill?"


    In the Cultivation World, it was a well-established convention that when a cultivator developed a Pill Recipe, it became their exclusive property, even their sect couldn''t forcibly demand the Pill Recipe.


    "Revealing the Pill Recipe is not a problem, but during the refinement process, we also require a specific type of Spiritual Object. The quantity of this Spiritual Object is not veryrge, but for now, we can''t refine arge quantity," Wang Hong exined with a somewhat hesitant expression.


    At this point, he was already prepared to disclose the secret of the Essence Core Pill. With so many people under hismand taking it, almost everyone was undergoing body refinement. Sooner orter, someone would discover it. Being secretly investigated and uncovering things he didn''t want to expose were less desirable than voluntarily disclosing the information, which would appear more straightforward and wouldn''t raise suspicions. As long as he didn''t reveal the secret of the Space, he could let go of other minor secrets.


    Just a Pill Recipe was not too difficult for him to give up.


    "Oh! What kind of Spiritual Object is it?" Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist, now in high spirits after Wang Hong agreed to contribute the Pill Recipe, were interested and believed that no matter how challenging the task was, they could ovee it to help the Human n gain an advantage in the battle.


    Wang Hong reached into a Spirit Beast bag and took out arge spirit wood. The roots of the spirit wood were nted in a huge flowerpot, and it had severalrge cocoons wrapped around its branches.


    After taking out the spirit wood, it swung the remaining branches towards the three of them. In the presence of the two Golden Core cultivators, the spirit wood naturally couldn''t disy hostility.


    "I vaguely remember this item. It''s said to grow in a secret realm, but I''ve never had the chance to see it with my own eyes. Is this what you mean by ''Spiritual Objects''?" Sloppy Old Daoist, relying on his Golden Core stage vision, could naturally see what was wrapped in the cocoons on the tree.


    "I don''t know the exact name of this kind of spirit wood, so I call it the ''demon-hunting tree.'' I obtained it from a secret ce years ago and carefully cultivated it. If you feed it with Demonic Beast corpses, it grows quite rapidly. After absorbing the Demonic Beast flesh, it can produce golden seeds. I used the seeds from this tree as the main ingredient to refine the Essence Core Pill," Wang Hong exined.


    At this moment, Gu Yuan had already thrown a Demonic Beast corpse towards the spirit tree. While the beast''s corpse was still in the air, it was entangled by countless branches and wrapped up into a cocoon within moments.


    "Do you have more of this spirit wood? And how do you cultivate it?" Gu Yuan inquired.


    "I do have a few of these spirit trees left. As for cultivation, you just need to nt the seeds directly. They can thrive as long as the location has sufficient Spiritual Energy," Wang Hong replied. He had tried nting the seeds outside previously, and they did indeed sprout and grow, although the growth rate was slower when there were no Demonic Beasts to hunt.


    "Wang nephew, can you sell one of these spirit trees to me?" Gu Yuan now urgently wanted to acquire one of these trees for observation and research.


    "Of course! How about this one? What would you like in exchange?" Wang Hong asked, not having a specific item in mind.


    "That''s excellent! Wang nephew, what would you like in exchange?" Gu Yuan asked enthusiastically. He hadn''t expected Wang Hong to agree so readily. These trees were almost like money trees.


    At this point, Wang Hong hadn''t decided what he wanted in exchange, so he said, "Senior Uncle Gu, you can decide what to give in return."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 390: The Crafting of the Flying Boat

    Chapter 390: The Crafting of the Flying Boat


    "Just now, I saw that you needed Demonic Beast materials. I happened to have killed a Tier-3 Horned Cow a few days ago, so I''ll exchange the corpse of this Tier-3 Horned Cow with you," proposed Gu Yuan. This demon-hunting tree was at most Tier-2, but what mattered most was its rarity. In any case, exchanging it for the flesh of his Tier-3 Demonic Beast was a profitable deal.


    "Furthermore, how would you like to exchange your Pill Recipe? You can propose it, and if I don''t have it, I can help you apply to the Sect."


    Wang Hong contributed the Pill Recipe this time, not just for himself but for the entire Sect, and it could even be considered a contribution to the entire Cultivation World.


    With the Sect as his backing, Wang Hong naturally couldn''t be at a loss. Most of his requests could be met.


    "I heard that the Sect has Spiritual Herbs for refining Golden Cores. I want a portion of the Spiritual Herbs produced by the Sect."


    He wanted a whole portion, but that wasn''t very realistic. After all, many of the Spiritual Herbs required for Golden Core formation had to be thousands of years old. Those grown within the Qingxu Sect were rtively better, but the ones obtained from other Sects were exceptionally rare.


    Gu Yuan''s response didn''t surprise Wang Hong. For Foundation Building cultivators, the most important thing was breaking through to Golden Core formation.


    "I don''t have these Spiritual Herbs on me either, but I can help you apply to the Sect. You can wait for my message."


    Gu Yuan readily agreed. He believed that exchanging several dozens of Spiritual Herbs for this Pill Recipe would likely be approved by the Sect.Once the deal was settled between the two, Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist had initiallye to borrow the Flying Boat, but unexpectedly, their casual inquiry led to something far more valuable than the Flying Boat.


    Afterward, Wang Hong traded arge quantity of Demonic Beast materials with the two Golden Core cultivators, most of which were Tier-2, with a few Tier-3 materials among them.


    In this trade, Wang Hong obtained the flesh of several dozen Tier-2 Demonic Beasts, and notably, the entire body of a Tier-3 Horned Cow. Tier-3 Demonic Beast flesh was not something easily obtained.


    Of course, Wang Hong only asked for items that he could immediately put to use in this trade. Items that he couldn''t use at the moment would only take up space. Moreover, Demonic Beast materials were not very valuable at the moment. If they were kept and not used immediately, there was a risk of losing value in the future.


    Wang Hong instructed Yin Ze to lead a group of people to process the Tier-2 Demonic Beast flesh into various types of Spirit Meals.


    Due to the constant need to deal with warfare, there wasn''t much time avable. Therefore, Wang Hong requested that the Spirit Meals be primarily convenient for consumption.


    Yin Ze led a group of Spirit Meal craftsmen and transformed the Demonic Beast flesh into various forms, including dense soups in earthen jars, sealed sausages in wooden boxes, dried meat, smoked meat, and pickled meat, among other varieties.


    Once all the Tier-2 Demonic Beast flesh had been refined into Spirit Meals, some were distributed to Wang Hong''s subordinates, while the rest were sold.


    While the Spirit Meal craftsmen were busy with their refining, the refining tool craftsmen finallypleted the refinement of all theponents of the Flying Boat.


    Wang Hong collected theseponents and entered his Space, where he began assembling them himself.


    Now, he could manipte some of the Spiritual Energy within the Space, making the assembly of theseponents in the Space much easier.


    Under his mental control, numerousponents floated in the empty space in front of him. Then, following his thoughts, theseponents gradually assembled, piece by piece.


    In the end, under his precise control, theseponents formed the shape of a Flying Boat.


    He then manipted the Spiritual Energy, connecting all the formations on the Flying Boat to form a cohesive whole.


    This medium-sized Flying Boat had been designed with great care, and its most prominent feature was its incredible speed, making it an excellent tool for escaping.


    Using his knowledge of formations, Wang Hong had added fiveyers of speed-enhancing formations to this Flying Boat, maximizing its speed capabilities.


    With the assemblyplete, it was time for a test flight. There was nowhere else to go at the moment, so they could only find a t area near the camp for the trial.


    Wang Hong gathered all the refining tool craftsmen, and together they boarded the Flying Boat.


    As the Flying Boat slowly ascended and was then activated, it shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.


    The refining tool craftsmen standing on the Flying Boat couldn''t believe their eyes. They had never seen a Flying Boat move at such incredible speed, especially one they had yed a role in crafting.


    At its current speed, few Foundation Building cultivators should be able to match it. Moreover, it hadn''t even reached its maximum speed; activating the eleration mode would double its velocity.


    As Wang Hong and his group tested the new Flying Boat, themotion attracted the attention of many cultivators who had gathered to watch, pointing and discussing among themselves.


    "East Zhou Trading Company is really wealthy. They''ve just lent one Flying Boat, and now another one pops up."


    "It seems like a newly refined Flying Boat is currently undergoing a test flight."


    "But the speed is simply astonishing!"


    Gu Yuan also noticed the scene. He couldn''t help but feel a bit helpless. He was a Golden Core Elder, yet he couldn''tpare to a Foundation Building Disciple. He had put a lot of effort into obtaining a Flying Boat from the Sect, but this Foundation Building Disciple had two Flying Boats.


    Just as they had borrowed one, he had immediately refined another.


    Wang Hong paid little attention to the crowd''s reactions. They had only tested the Flying Boat''s performance, and as long as it could fly properly, that was all that mattered.


    The Demon n''s attacks continued, with theming every day and leaving behind piles of corpses.


    Most of these Demonic Beast corpses had be inexpensive resources for the East Zhou Trading Company. Some had been refined into Spirit Meals and sold to the stationed cultivators. The rest of the inedible Demonic Beast corpses were left for the demon-hunting tree to absorb.


    Currently, Spirit Meals refined by the East Zhou Trading Company had be essential for nearly every stationed cultivator in the vicinity. Eating a few bites during breaks, while not as good as Spirit Wine, greatly aided in stamina recovery.


    In addition to Spirit Meals, the East Zhou Trading Company''s refined magical weapons, talismans, and other items had also spread in poprity in the area.


    Cultivators patrolling within several dozen miles of the defense line woulde to the East Zhou Trading Company to buy various items when they had the opportunity.


    When these cultivators bought items, they discovered that the East Zhou Trading Company also purchased a wide range of Demonic Beast materials, a fact that delighted them as they sold their own Demonic Beast materials to thepany in exchange for resources to use on the battlefield.


    Furthermore, they learned that the East Zhou Trading Company epted Demonic Beast corpses of all categories in exchange for resources.


    As a result, the area under the city walls was thoroughly cleaned of Demonic Beast corpses.


    The Demon n had originally nned to use cannon fodder to gradually wear down the strength and resources of the defending cultivators beforeunching a full-scale attack. However, they had recently noticed an unexpected surge in resistance in this particr area, where the defenders had suddenly be exceptionally courageous and fierce.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 391: Caravans Journey

    Chapter 391: Caravan''s Journey


    After sessfully refining the new Flying Boat, Wang Hong took the initiative to approach Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist to discuss their next steps.


    With the consent of the two Golden Core Elders, the East Zhou Trading Company could dispatch a caravan, ensuring the security of their defenses, to engage in trade with other stationed cultivators along the third defense line.


    Due to their previous trading experiences, the two Golden Core Elders did not oppose Wang Hong''s proposal.


    Furthermore, Wang Hong''s actions could be seen as a favorable move in defending against the Demon n.


    Once they obtained approval, Yin Ze led a group of individuals from the tradingpany, including Alchemists, Refining Masters, Talisman Makers, Spirit Meal Masters, and others, to set out on a Flying Boat.


    The items they brought for trade this time were crafted from materials obtained from Demonic Beasts on the battlefield. Additionally, they could gather local resources wherever they went.


    Several miles away at a campsite, some Immortal Cultivators suddenly noticed a Flying Boat approaching their location.


    Then, two formidable figures emerged from the campsite, heading towards the Flying Boat.


    "Who goes there? Halt at once!"As the guardians of the campsite, they would not allow unrted individuals toe and go freely. Who could be certain whether the neers were friend or foe?


    At this moment, Yin Ze stepped out of the Flying Boat and stood on the deck. After paying his respects, he spoke, "We are a caravan from the East Zhou Trading Company, dispatched by Elder Gu of the Qingxu Sect and Elder Chu, to trade with stationed cultivators all along the defense line and provide some conveniences. Here are tokens from the two elders; please examine them."


    Yin Ze presented two tokens, which he held up using Spiritual Power, to the two Golden Core cultivators.


    The two epted the tokens and carefully inspected them. The tokens emitted the unmistakable Spiritual Power aura of the two Golden Core cultivators, making them impossible to counterfeit.


    "These are indeed tokens from the two elders. What is the purpose of your visit?" one of the Golden Core cultivators inquired with a somewhat eased expression as he returned the tokens to Yin Ze.


    "Respected seniors, our purpose ining here is to bring a substantial amount of strategic resources for trade, and we will patrol along the entire defense line. Additionally, we will provide services such as repairing Magical Weapons for the stationed cultivators."


    Upon hearing this, the two Golden Core cultivators became more amiable.


    Resources in their stationed area had be scarce, even though the Qingxu Sect still sent some supplies; they were barely enough to make a difference. Many cultivators'' weapons were damaged, some beyond repair, and some in need of repair. With their daily battle duties, they didn''t have enough manpower to handle these tasks.


    The arrival of this caravan was like a long-awaited rain in a drought.


    The two Golden Core cultivators were unaware of how Gu Yuan managed to spare the manpower for this endeavor, but that was not their immediate concern. Right now, they desperately needed these resources.


    However, they did not let their guard down. Both of them boarded the Flying Boat and carefully inspected it before allowing it tond in the campsite.


    News of the caravan''s arrival quickly spread among the cultivators, and those who had the time hurried to the docking area for the Flying Boat.


    Yin Ze organized his team and had just started unloading the cargo from the hold of the ship when they were quickly surrounded by a crowd.


    "Everyone, please form a queue! Form a queue! No pushing, everyone will have a chance to make a purchase!" Yin Ze shouted loudly.


    However, his shouts went unheard as the people scrambled over one another, fearing they might miss out on buying what they needed. They resembled a group of hungry individuals who, upon seeing a feast, could see nothing else and hear nothing else.


    In the end, it was a stationed Golden Core cultivator who couldn''t bear it any longer. He shouted loudly, releasing his Golden Core pressure, which finally calmed the chaotic crowd.


    With the caravan''s guidance, everyone was organized into several queues based on the type of items they wished to purchase.


    The variety of items avable for sale was not extensive; there were only a few major categories.


    Among these categories, only Spirit Meal was refined from Demonic Beast meat, and the raw materials were abundant and could be supplied without limitation.


    On the other hand, items like Talismans, Magical Weapons, Spiritual Weapons, and Pills were also refined using Demonic Beast materials, but the quantity of these materials was limited, so they could only be supplied in limited quantities.


    Otherwise, items like Talismans and Pills, which were consumable Spiritual Objects, would likely be sold out quickly.


    Additionally, the caravan would also purchase some Demonic Beast materials from the stationed cultivators.


    "Why won''t you take my fire crow ws when you''re epting those useless Demonic Beast carcasses? These can be used as refining tool materials!" A dissatisfied cultivator asked, having been rejected.


    "Fellow Daoist, we purchase these Demonic Beast carcasses based on weight, at a rate of ten thousand jin for one low-grade Spirit Stone. If you''re willing to sell your fire crow ws at this price, we would be happy to buy them."


    "Can these two bepared? My fire crow ws can be refined into Magical Weapons, whereas the useful parts on those beast carcasses have already been taken by others. You can easily find them lying around beneath the city walls," the cultivator argued persistently.


    "Fellow Daoist, you are wee to pick up materials beneath the city walls. We will buy everything as listed. However, I must be honest with you; even if you were to give me these fire crow ws for free, I wouldn''t take them. There is currently an oversupply of low-tier refining tool materials, and even if they are refined into Magical Weapons, they cannot be sold."


    The cultivator had no choice but to give up. His items were not in demand, and hecked the power to force a sale. Those waiting in line behind him were already growing impatient.


    The caravan stayed at this campsite for over ten days, during which they processed the collected materials. They transformed animal skins into Talismans, inscribed Talismans, refined demon cores into Pills, and prepared some edible Demonic Beast meat into Spirit Meals.


    Once everything was ready, the caravan, loaded with goods, continued its journey to the next stationed campsite.


    A month after the caravan''s departure, Wang Hong received dozens of mature Spiritual Herbs from Gu Yuan. These Spiritual Herbs were specifically used for refining Golden Cores, and Wang Hong was surprised that the sect had actually given them to him in their mature form.


    He brought these Spiritual Herbs into his Space, but there was no avable space in the garden to nt them. Thus, he had to invest over a million Spirit Stones to expand his Space by another ten acres.


    Currently, his Space covered a total of 305 acres, and time inside flowed 334 times faster than in the outside world.


    Wang Hong used the additional ten acres to nt several Spiritual Herbs for refining Golden Cores, consolidating the ones he had collected earlier in one ce for easier management.


    Upon counting them, he realized that he was still missing two main herbs toplete a full recipe.


    He subtly inquired Sloppy Old Daoist about it, but the sect had not nted these two main herbs as theycked suitable growth conditions within the sect.


    Wang Hong could only think of a solution for this issueter. Searching for these two herbs would require venturing through the Demon Beast blockade, which was not an easy task.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 392: Delving into the Craft

    Chapter 392: Delving into the Craft


    After Wang Hong had sessfully nted all the Spiritual Herbs needed for Golden Core cultivation, he took a few turns within his Space.


    Currently, most of what he was nting in the Space were second-tier Spiritual Objects. This was due to therge number of disciples he had gathered during his Foundation Building stage, resulting in a high demand.


    Of course, among them were several millennia-old Spiritual Objects.


    The spiritual silkworms he was nurturing had already grown to the size of a thumb, and in a few more years within the Space, they should be able to produce silk.


    The region where the Poisonous Bees thrived was filled with various toxic flowers and nts.


    In particr, the Red Powder Skull Flower was the most abundant. After Wang Hong had experienced the benefits of using the Red Powder Skull Flower''s pollen a few times, he deliberately increased its cultivation.


    He now controlled the area with Poisonous Bees by forming walls of Spiritual Energy, trapping those inside from escaping and preventing outsiders from entering.


    Thanks to the improvement in the Bee Queen''s bloodline, the overall strength of the bee colony had also increased. Many of the Poisonous Bees had naturally grown to the level of a top-tier variety.


    After ying around in the Space for a while, Wang Hong began to read. He had collected some information and intended to study the Refinement methods of the Spirit Energy Cannon.For this purpose, he dismantled a Spirit Energy Cannon from his Flying Boat to use as a reference.


    Without any surprises, hepletely disassembled the Spirit Energy Cannon, rendering it impossible to restore to its original state. It was essentially a wasted cannon.


    However, Wang Hong paid no mind to this loss. As long as he could master the Refinement method for the Spirit Energy Cannon, he would be able to create numerous Spirit Energy Cannons.


    In the days that followed, whenever he had some free time, he delved into the Space to study the Refinement of the Spirit Energy Cannon.


    If others were to learn of this, they would surely think he had gone mad. After all, refining a tool like the Spirit Energy Cannon without the necessary blueprints and the guidance of predecessors was considered an impossible dream.


    However, Wang Hong never thought this way. He believed that all Cultivation Techniques, secrets, Magical Weapons, and Talismans were not gifts from the heavens. These were all creations of the Human n, developed over countless years of umted knowledge by their ancestors.


    Since their forebears could create these things, Wang Hong saw no reason why theter generations, building upon the foundation of their predecessors, couldn''t surpass them.


    Believing that the present was inferior to the past was nothing more than a self-imposed limitation.


    He had now grasped the principles behind the Spirit Energy Cannon. In essence, it was a fusion of refining tools and formations, with its functionality somewhat simr to that of a Talisman.


    A Talisman converted a Magical Art into a formation, preserving it on a piece of paper. When used, it only required a slight activation of Spiritual Power.


    On the other hand, the Spirit Energy Cannon utilized Spirit Stones as a foundation for Spiritual Energy, internally mimicking the Spiritual Energy cirction of a Magical Art through a formation. It then converted this Spiritual Energy into a Magical Art''s explosive force.


    Now that he had unraveled the intricacies, Wang Hong wasted no time and got to work.


    Fortunately, he had collected a sufficient amount of materials beforehand. In no time, he found several suitable pieces and began the Refinement process.


    At this point, neither refining tools nor formations posed significant challenges to him.


    In just three days, he sessfully Refinemented a Spirit Energy Cannon.


    The cannon barrel of this artillery piece was thick and long, exuding a fearsome and imposing presence that would startle even the timid.


    Wang Hong prepared to test-fire the cannon to gauge its effectiveness. He quietly found a secluded spot where no one was around and took out the artillery piece.


    With practiced ease, he loaded Spirit Stones into it and ced his hand on a slight protrusion. Injecting a small amount of Spiritual Power, he activated it.


    Soon, he saw the Spirit Energy Cannon emitting fluctuations of Spiritual Energy and a faint glow.


    "Boom!" A deafening roar erupted, rming all the cultivators in the camp. They thought it was a Demonic Beast attack and rushed out of their respective buildings, brandishing their weapons.


    In the Demon n, there were also individuals with unique talents, and sometimes they would breach the defenses,unching surprise attacks from behind on Human n cultivators. This had happened several times at the defense line.


    At this moment, no one dared to becent. When they reached the source of the sound, they saw a dark figure trying to get up from the ground.


    Though they couldn''t discern the exact type of Demonic Beast it was, it bore some resemnce to a human. There were humanoid Demonic Beasts in the Demon n, so it didn''t seem too surprising to them.


    Theirbat instincts were highly developed. Without hesitation, they wielded their Magical Weapons, ready to strike at the dark figure.


    "Evil creature! Daring to attack our camp alone!"


    "Eat this!"


    "Die!"


    ...


    Just as all the Magical Weapons were about to strike, seemingly about to reduce the figure to ashes, the shadowy figure suddenly blurred and turned into a streak of afterimage, swiftly moving out of the range of their attacks.


    Only a few Spiritual Weapons managed to hit the figure, but this Demonic Beast was resilient. Despite taking hits from multiple Spiritual Weapons simultaneously, it only staggered back a step before regaining its bnce.


    As the crowd prepared to realign their Magical Weapons and aim again, the humanoid figure unexpectedly spoke in the Human n''snguage, "Stop, everyone! It''s me!"


    "Hmm? Looks like a person!"


    "Did we make a mistake?"


    "What''s going on with you?"


    Many questions crossed their minds, and although they retracted their wielded Magical Weapons, they remained vignt. There were many in the Demon n who couldmunicate in the Human n''snguage.


    Skinny Monkey in the crowd had already recognized the voice and eximed in astonishment, "East Master! What are you doing here? Everyone, stop! This is our East Master!"


    Wang Hong took this opportunity to wipe his face clean, removing ayer of ck soot, revealing his facial features faintly. Many in the crowd recognized him at this point, and they finally ceased their actions.


    "Very sorry for the disturbance, fellow cultivators. I was testing the power of a Spiritual Weapon, and it made a bit too much noise," he said while repeatedly apologizing.


    Gradually, the others dispersed, but they were left with lingering confusion. They couldn''t fathom what kind of Spiritual Weapon could be so terrifying that it even injured its wielder.


    Wang Hong had ignited the Spirit Energy Cannon moments ago, intending to fire it, but to his surprise, the entire Spirit Energy Cannon suddenly exploded.


    Since the explosion urred right next to him and he was caught off guard, he had absorbed the full force of the explosion.


    The explosion''s power was no less than a full-force strike from ate Foundation Building stage cultivator. Fortunately, his body refinement had reached a certain level; otherwise, he might have been reduced to a pile of flesh.


    "East Master, were you nning to go out with a bang?" Skinny Monkey, seeing that Wang Hong seemed unharmed, teased him.


    Wang Hong had no time to deal with him; he was lost in thought, pondering the cause of his recent failure.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 393: The Elite Team

    Chapter 393: The Elite Team


    Wang Hong gave some brief instructions to his subordinates and then retreated into his seclusion chamber.


    After much contemtion, he believed he had identified the cause of his previous failure. He began selecting materials once again and started refining the Spirit Energy Cannon.


    Over a dozen dayster, another loud explosion resounded through the camp. Despite the mishap from the previous incident, nobody dared to let their guard down. Everyone rushed to the scene, wielding their magical weapons.


    Upon arriving at the scene, they saw Wang Hong conjure a defensive shield while standing in front of arge crater in the ground.


    Seeing this scene, everyone had already guessed what had happened. They were all furious ¨C after all, they were busy with their own tasks.


    "I''m truly sorry! I''ve caused trouble once again. I promise to be more careful in the future," Wang Hong apologized to the crowd with a remorseful expression.


    As the saying goes, you shouldn''t bite the hand that feeds you, especially when East Zhou Trading Company''s influence was not to be underestimated.


    Although anger simmered within them, they ultimately let it go. After all, Wang Hong possessed power and resources.


    After this incident, Wang Hong learned a valuable lesson. Some things should not be repeated, and there is a limit to how many times one can make mistakes. If he were to repeat such an incident, it might provoke the resident cultivators in this area.After two consecutive failures, he couldn''t guarantee sess next time. Often, when he was confident and believed sess was certain, there were hidden ws that he couldn''t see, lurking in the shadows.


    He returned to his cultivation room and decided to make some modifications to it. He nned to conduct his experiments inside the cultivation room from now on.


    He then brought out arge quantity of materials and began arranging various formations in the cultivation room, including defensive, soundproofing, and shock-absorbing formations. Heyered them more than ten times.


    Now, even if two Foundation Building cultivators engaged in a fierce battle within the cultivation room, no one outside would notice a thing.


    Satisfied with his preparations, he once again entered his space to contemte and analyze the reasons for his past failures while focused on refining the Spirit Energy Cannon.


    Meanwhile, high-ranking members of the Qingxu Sect were studying the demon-hunting tree and the Pill Recipe for the Essence Core Pill that Wang Hong had provided.


    The Pill Recipe was only a second-tier recipe and not overlyplex, but their primary focus was on researching the reproduction of the demon-hunting tree.


    The biggest bottleneck they faced was the severe shortage of demon-hunting trees. In front of the third defense line, countless Demonic Beasts fell in battle every day. If they were to convert and absorb all of them using demon-hunting trees, an enormous quantity would be required.


    Currently, the sect''s leaders were organizing cultivators skilled in Spirit nt cultivation to expedite the breeding of demon-hunting trees.


    A small portion of Essence Core Pills had already been refined and was being tested by a select few individuals.


    The potent effects of the Essence Core Pill left the participants in the trials highly satisfied.


    Many of the Golden Core Elders believed that acquiring arge number of demon-hunting trees at this time could be a crucial turning point in the war.


    Although they had managed to cultivate several demon-hunting tree saplings during this period, it would be a while before these saplings could have any significant impact.


    In the end, after extensive discussions among the high-ranking members of the Qingxu Sect, they decided to take a risk. Although they had only one demon-hunting tree in their possession, there were many more within a secret realm.


    They nned to send an elite team to open the secret realm and transnt the demon-hunting trees from there. Despite the danger posed by the Demon n''s encirclement, they realized that without additional resources, even if they managed to hold the third defense line temporarily, the Human n would eventually decline.


    With a sufficient number of demon-hunting trees, they could turn the Demon n into a resource for the Human n, providing a continuous supply of resources.


    Currently, they could refine some pills from demon cores, such as the pills sold by the East Zhou caravan, aside from the Essence Core Pill, all other pills were produced through refining demon cores obtained through purchases.


    However, demon cores were only found in second-tier Demonic Beasts, and just like the Human n, the majority of the Demon n consisted of low-tier first-tier Demonic Beasts. These low-tier Demonic Beasts did not possess demon cores, and their bodies didn''t contain valuable materials. Their flesh was also not necessarily edible.


    Yet, these low-tier Demonic Beasts formed the cannon fodder in the Beast Tide, and the Demon n often relied on them to deplete the Human n''s resources and manpower.


    The team sent on this mission was small, but its members were elite. They needed to break through the siege of Demonic Beasts and navigate through areas teeming with them.


    One day in Wang Hong''s area, arge Flying Boat appeared in the sky, capturing the attention of numerous resident cultivators. When the Flying Boat reached the sky above, a Golden Core cultivator, none other than Wang Hong''s master, Gu Qingyang, emerged from it.


    This time, since Wang Hong had provided the demon-hunting tree, the higher-ups had unanimously decided to have him participate in this mission to expedite the search for the demon-hunting tree.


    Although Gu Qingyang was not in favor of risking his disciple''s participation in this dangerous mission, his objections were futile.


    As the Flying Boat arrived, it had already alerted the two Golden Core cultivators stationed here, Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist. They swiftly flew out of their cave mansions to wee Gu Qingyang.


    "Senior Brother Chu! Junior Brother Gu!"


    "Valley kid!"


    Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist ushered Gu Qingyang into the reception hall, and they discussed the purpose of his visit.


    At this moment, Wang Hong was in his cultivation room, standing in front of a newly refined Spirit Energy Cannon. This was already the twenty-first Spirit Energy Cannon he had refined. The previous twenty had all been scrapped for various reasons.


    Just as he was about to test the new one, a Transmission Talisman flew in from outside. He caught it with a wave of his hand.


    "Wang Hong, my disciple, I''m waiting for you in the reception hall."


    Wang Hong was surprised to hear Gu Qingyang''s voiceing from the Transmission Talisman. He hadn''t seen his master in a long time.


    Without testing the Spirit Energy Cannon, he stored it in his storage bag and quickly left his room.


    In the reception hall, he saw Gu Qingyang, Gu Yuan, and Sloppy Old Daoist engaged in conversation.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays respects to Master!"


    Upon entering, Wang Hong greeted Gu Qingyang with a bow.


    "Wang Hong, my disciple, I have heard of your recent achievements. I am greatly pleased," Gu Qingyang said with a smile.


    "I havee to find you because I hope you will join us in a mission."


    Wang Hong was a bit surprised and didn''t know what the mission entailed, requiring Gu Qingyang toe all this way to find him.


    "Do you know what this mission entails, Master?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "This time, we have assembled an elite team to break through and reach a secret realm," Gu Qingyang exined. By now, Wang Hong had a rough idea that they wanted him to lead the team to transnt demon-hunting trees.


    Considering the current situation, he realized he would likely have to agree.


    "Very well, when do we depart?"


    "In that case, I will give you one hour. We will depart in one hour."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 394: Arrival at the Secret Realm

    Chapter 394: Arrival at the Secret Realm


    After returning to the camp, Wang Hong made some arrangements for his absence.


    Then, Gu Qingyang took him aboard arge Flying Boat capable of carrying up to three hundred people.


    Once he boarded the Flying Boat, Wang Hong realized that none of the over three hundred people on board were in the Qi Cultivation stage, not even those responsible for piloting the Flying Boat, who were in the Foundation Building stage.


    What surprised him even more was that nine formidable cultivators were seated in the center of the Flying Boat, and they were all Golden Core cultivators.


    Wang Hong hadn''t expected that Qingxu Sect had mobilized ten Golden Core cultivators for the purpose of digging up a few demon-hunting trees. To put this into perspective, Qingxu Sect had only a few dozen Golden Core cultivators in total, and when you included other smaller factions, there were no more than a hundred of them.


    Moreover, this operation was rtively secretive and promised great benefits upon sess, so they certainly wouldn''t allow other factions to participate.


    "These are my fellow Senior Brothers; please take care of my fifth Disciple, Wang Hong, in the future," Gu Qingyang introduced Wang Hong to the other nine Golden Core Elders after they boarded the Flying Boat.


    "Disciple Wang Hong pays his respects to the Seniors," Wang Hong hurriedly bowed after Gu Qingyang''s introduction.


    "Hahaha! Wang Junior, no need for excessive courtesy. I''ve long heard of your name. A core Alchemist of Pill Hall, and the Vice Hall Master of the Blue Dragon Hall at such a young age. Your future prospects are limitless! Junior Brother Gu is truly fortunate to have such a good Disciple," a white-haired Golden Core Elder chuckled. He was the leader of this mission, Chen Zhuo, and the other nine Golden Core cultivators followed hismands.The other cultivators on the Flying Boat shifted their attention to Wang Hong upon hearing Chen Zhuo''s praise, appraising him with curious gazes.


    "Your praise is too kind. This disciple''s achievements are merely a stroke of luck," Wang Hong replied humbly.


    To ensure that their Flying Boat could break through without attracting the attention of the Demon n, the other cultivators from different regions hadunched a fierce assault on the Demonic Beasts outside the city walls.


    In the process, none of the ten Golden Core Elders on the Flying Boat had to take action. Therge Flying Boat, carrying over three hundred Foundation Building cultivators, sessfully broke through the weak points and headed straight for the secret realm.


    Along the way, they encountered rtively few Demonic Beasts, as they had likely been driven away to join the battle elsewhere. They reached the entrance to the secret realm with ease.


    Returning to this ce after several decades, Wang Hong couldn''t help but feel a sense of nostalgia mixed with the realization that everything had changed.


    Originally, the six secret realms were shared by the Cultivation World, and they were constantly guarded to prevent unauthorized ess and the destruction of Spiritual Objects within. But now, this territory had fallen into the hands of the Demon n, and there were no longer any guards. It seemed that the Demon n had just taken over and hadn''t yet deployed Demonic Beasts to guard the area.


    They arrived at the same entrance they had used on their previous visit, and Chen Zhuo stepped forward, addressing the group:


    "This secret realm can only be entered by those with a cultivation level below Foundation Building. I will distribute a Talisman to each of you. Wearing it will suppress your cultivation level to the Qi Cultivation stage. However, this Talisman can only suppress your true level for one month. Once it expires, revealing your Foundation Building cultivation level will trigger the Large Formation within the secret realm to erase you. Remember this, it''s crucial! You have one month to return, and we will reopen the entrance at that time."


    Furthermore, this jade token has a tethering effect, allowing you to stay together when entering the secret realm," Chen Zhuo instructed the group of Foundation Building cultivators, arranging for each person to receive a jade token.


    Wang Hong hadn''t expected that they could remain together during the teleportation process. Otherwise, they would have been scattered all over the secret realm, and given its vastness, it would have taken nearly half a month just to reach their destination, leaving little time to dig the demon-hunting trees.


    It seemed that Qingxu Sect had made thorough preparations for this mission.


    Everyone hung the jade tokens around their necks, and upon activation, their cultivation levels gradually decreased, ultimately stopping at the Qi Cultivation stage.


    After receiving his jade token, Wang Hong also suppressed his cultivation level to thete Qi Cultivation stage. He noticed that once his cultivation level was suppressed to the Qi Cultivation stage, the amount of Spiritual Power he could harness was limited to Qi Cultivation levels.


    At this moment, the ten Golden Core cultivators ascended into the air, each inscribing a rune in the sky. These ten runesbined to form a new rune, which floated slowly toward the entrance.


    The entrance''s light gate opened once again, appearing in front of everyone.


    The three hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators split into two teams and headed towards the entrance.


    Their tasks were different. One team, consisting of two hundred people, was responsible for digging up the demon-hunting trees, which was the primary objective of this mission. The other team, consisting of one hundred people, was tasked with collecting various Spiritual Herb resources within the secret realm, especially the Foundation Establishment Pill Spiritual Herbs. Obtaining these herbs would be extremely challenging in this Demon n-controlled territory.


    This secret realm had remained unopened for several decades, and there were likely many mature Spiritual Herbs inside. They decided to seize this opportunity to gather as much as they could.


    Due to Wang Hong''s role in providing information, he was naturally assigned to the demon-hunting tree excavation team.


    Upon entering the secret realm and feeling the rich Spiritual Qi, everyone''s faces lit up with delight.


    Leading their team was a cultivator named Sun Qiuxing. After identifying the direction using a map, he turned to Wang Hong and said, "Junior Brother Wang, you are most familiar with this ce. Please lead the way for us."


    "Senior Brother Sun, your praise is too kind. The entrance is not far from here; we should be able to reach it quickly by heading east," Wang Hong replied.


    During his previous visit, he had been transported directly into the forest and had taken note of the direction when leaving the secret realm, which allowed him to locate the forest.


    He felt that even without his guidance, Sun Qiuxing could lead them to the forest with the help of the map. Including him was just an added measure for extra assurance.


    With Wang Hong confirming the direction, Sun Qiuxing led the way to the east.


    "Follow me, everyone. After we reach our destination, we will split into twenty groups of ten, and each group will begin digging," Sun Qiuxing instructed.


    They had been walking east for over a day when they could already see a vast forest ahead.


    Before entering the forest, Sun Qiuxing organized the teams and roughly nned the route for each group on the map, along with the designated search areas.


    Wang Hong had only crossed through the forest once before and it had taken him several days. Searching the entire forest again wouldn''t be an easy task.


    Their ten teams scattered and advanced from east to west, searching forward in parallel. They nned to meet up again at the west side after exploring.


    Wang Hong and the nine cultivators chose a route and ventured deeper into the forest. Now that each team had designated routes and areas to search, finding what they needed wasn''t too difficult.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 395: Tree Digging

    Chapter 395: Tree Digging


    In this mission, the cultivators participating will be rewarded generously by the Sect based on their harvest. However, while the rewards may be bountiful, it is not always a desirable oue. Within this secret realm, where no one supervises, the darker aspects of human nature tend to magnify.


    If fellow disciples resort to killing each other over Spiritual Herbs, it will not only weaken the overall strength of Qingxu Sect but also diminish the efficiency of this operation.


    If there is no effective way to prevent such incidents, they are bound to happen. Because within this secret realm, even if rules are vited, and fellow disciples are in, as long as one can cover their tracks and ensure secrecy, they can evade consequences.


    However, the higher-ups of Qingxu Sect have devised a clever solution. To prevent fellow disciples from killing each other over treasures, including the cultivators gathering Spiritual Herbs, they have organized the participants into groups.


    Each group consists of ten individuals who act collectively. Temporary alliances among these ten individuals are difficult to reach quickly, which makes it less likely for hidden agendas to surface.


    Furthermore, in the presence of others, it is not easy to harbor sinister intentions. Simultaneously, attempting to exterminate an entire group of ten individuals without leaving survivors is a challenging task.


    Since they are conducting the operation in groups, the final credit will also be recorded as a unit.


    Wang Hong and his group of ten are currently advancing in their search. asionally, they encounter Demonic Beasts, but these Demonic Beasts in the vicinity are all at the first-tier cultivation level. Facing them is akin to inviting trouble upon themselves.


    Though they can only utilize Qi Cultivation cultivation level at the moment, they are not easily bullied by these first-tier Demonic Beasts.When they find the first demon-hunting tree, they discover that several types of Demonic Beasts are guarding its surroundings. These beasts are patiently waiting for the demon-hunting tree seeds to ripen.


    Despite their annoyance at the arrival of another group of two-legged monsters, they do not pay much attention. They have already established a routine of peaceful coexistence until the demon-hunting tree seeds appear, at which point they willpete.


    Several cultivators prepare to unleash their Magical Weapons andunch an attack.


    "Hold on!" Wang Hong quietly stops everyone. "Let''s approach them directly; these Demonic Beasts won''t attack. We can strike when we get closer."


    Wang Hong serves as the temporary leader of the group, so his words are heeded by the others.


    This group of Demonic Beasts consists of over a dozen members. Although they cannot advance to the second-tier, their bodies are robust due to prolonged consumption of demon-hunting tree seeds, making them a bit challenging to deal with.


    As they cautiously approach as Wang Hong suggested, the Demonic Beasts indeed show no reaction. Wang Hong, sneaking up to a Demon Wolf, seizes the opportunity to strike with a powerful punch to its head, causing the skull to shatter, and the Demon Wolf copses.


    While his cultivation level is limited, his physical strength remains unaffected.


    Other members also act covertly at this moment,unching surprise attacks on the Demonic Beasts.


    Some seed in their sneak attacks, while others are evaded by the Demonic Beasts. After a few roars, the remaining eight Demonic Beasts charge at them.


    Since the sneak attacks fail, all ten individuals have no choice but to employ their Magical Weapons and initiate a fierce assault.


    At this moment, they realize that these Demonic Beasts are different from typical first-tier ones; their physical strength is formidable. Ordinary Magical Weapons barely inflict any damage on them, and even if they use Spiritual Weapons, the intensity of their Spiritual Power cannot exceed the Qi Cultivation level range.


    This situation perplexes the group, but just then, they notice that Wang Hong is wielding a Long Spear and charging directly into the midst of the Demonic Beasts.


    "He''s not valuing his life, is he?"


    "Do you think he deliberately rushed in, knowing these Demonic Beasts have formidable physical bodies?"


    "Even for a Foundation Building cultivator, it''s impossible to match the strength of these first-tier Demonic Beasts."


    However, at that moment, Wang Hong, wielding a spear, charged into the group of beasts. A ck ape was the first to pounce on him, but Wang Hong swiftly swept it with his Long Spear, cleaving it into two at the chest.


    Continuing forward, his Long Spear pierced through the skull of an iron-headed beast.


    It was only then that the other nine members of the team realized that Wang Hong was a body refinement cultivator, capable of overpowering these Demonic Beasts with his physical strength.


    After Wang Hong had in the remaining eight Demonic Beasts, they finally had the opportunity to carefully examine the demon-hunting tree.


    The trunk of this demon-hunting tree had a diameter of a bit over a foot, with dense branches and some cocoons formed by winding branches around them.


    Beforeing here, the Human n cultivators were well aware of the characteristics of this tree and knew that its branches would attack any nearby living beings.


    "Wang Fellow Daoist, what should we do next?"


    In truth, Human n cultivators had methods to deal with demon-hunting trees. For instance, they could wield Magical Weapons from a safe distance outside the range of the branches'' attacks, slowly whittling away the branches until they were all gone.


    However, Qingxu Sect needed to preserve the branches as much as possible this time, avoiding excessive harm to the demon-hunting tree. Because they would need the tree once they dug it up; if they cut off all the branches, nting a tree stump would serve no purpose.


    Therefore, this mission required them to maintain the demon-hunting tree''s integrity. When calcting their contributionster, it would take into ount not only the number of demon-hunting trees but also thepleteness of their tree form.


    At this moment, a cultivator picked up one of the Demonic Beasts they had killed earlier and tentatively tossed it toward the demon-hunting tree.


    Almost immediately, the formerly quiet branches of the demon-hunting tree came to life, wrapping around the Demonic Beast as if it had been resurrected.


    In just a few moments, the Demonic Beast''s corpse was entwined into arge cocoon.


    Seeing this, no one dared to make any reckless moves.


    To dig it out now, they would need to excavate at the tree''s roots. However, they might be carried away by the branches before even reaching the roots.


    "I wonder if any of you Fellow Daoists have a good n?" Wang Hong inquired, realizing he hade unprepared in his haste.


    However, the surrounding nine individuals exchanged uncertain nces, clearlycking any viable solutions.


    "If all else fails, why don''t we use Flying Swords from a distance to cut off all the branches?" one cultivator reluctantly suggested after racking his brains.


    "Although that approach is feasible, it should be ourst resort because it will take a long time for the cut branches to grow back. Let me try something else first and see if it works."


    Wang Hong contemted for a moment and then retrieved a from his Storage Bag. It was a product of a previous failed refinement, merely a low-grade Spiritual Weapon, but it would suffice for the task at hand. With his current limited Spiritual Energy, he couldn''t handle a higher-tier Spiritual Weapon.


    After inputting Spiritual Power into the Spirit, it instantly expanded and enveloped the demon-hunting tree overhead. Sensing the approachingrge, the demon-hunting tree lifted its branches to counter, but they were all ensnared by the.


    Then, the contracted, tightly binding the demon-hunting tree, rendering it immobile.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 396: Mission Accomplished

    Chapter 396: Mission Aplished


    The demon-hunting tree, bound tightly in a massive web, was rendered immobile. Wang Hong took charge of manipting the Spirit, while the other nine individuals were responsible for extracting the demon-hunting tree.


    In a surprisingly short amount of time, they had sessfully excavated an entire demon-hunting tree.


    Carefully, they ced it into a Storage Bag, and only then did Wang Hong remove the Spirit and sit down to recover.


    Despite his current suppressed strength, controlling this subpar Spiritual Weapon was still somewhat challenging for him.


    After an hour, the group set out once more, continuing their search forward.


    Meanwhile, in a Demon n camp, Ashen Roc was gathered with dozens of Demonic Beasts, apparently in the midst of a discussion.


    At that moment, a Roc Bird resembling Ashen Roc in size spoke up.


    "Big brother! After some investigation, that Human n Flying Boat went into a secret realm, and it seems like all of them went inside, with only a few remaining outside. Our subordinate little demons couldn''t get too close, so our view was somewhat limited. Should I lead a group of demons to go and exterminate them now?"


    Ashen Roc pped his wings and replied, "Not for now. If my guess is correct, they must be in the secret realm collecting Spiritual Herbs. I''ve heard of the six major secret realms in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm. They are said to be heavily guarded by powerful Large Formations, which we won''t be able to breach in a short time. We shouldn''t disturb them at the moment. Instead, let''s feign ignorance and allow these Human n individuals to gather all the Spiritual Herbs inside peacefully. We''ll gather some elite Demonic Beasts quietly and set up an ambush nearby. Once they alle out, we can eliminate them in one fell swoop and collect the Spiritual Herbs from the secret realm as well."Although Demon n mightg in Pill Recipe refinement, they were equally eager for Spiritual Herbs. Thanks to their robust physique, they often didn''t require refinement and could directly consume them for good results.


    "Ashen Roc Fellow Daoist truly excels in strategic nning. Leading our East Sea Demon n under Ashen Roc Fellow Daoist''s guidance is a great honor for us!"


    "To be able to follow Ashen Roc Fellow Daoist and conquer the East Zhou Human n in our lifetime is a tremendous glory!"


    After Ashen Roc finished speaking, several Demonic Beasts praised him continuously.


    Not all Demonic Beasts possessed enough intelligence, varying depending on their species and cultivation level. Hence, in the Demon n, individuals like Ashen Roc, possessing both strength and wisdom, were easily distinguished.


    For instance, among avian-type demons, Wang Hong''s Little Peng had only average intelligence. Even if it reached the third tier of strength one day, it would still be challenging to attain the level of wisdom that Ashen Roc disyed, relegating it to a cannon fodder role among the Demon n.


    Ashen Roc turned to the Roc Bird resembling him.


    "Third brother! Lead some of the East Sea Demon n to set up an ambush nearby. Don''t alert them prematurely. Wait until they are about to leave, then strike and seize all the Spiritual Herbs."


    "Don''t worry, big brother. I guarantee that not a single Human n member will escape. Should I bring back a few Golden Core cultivators from the Human n as appetizers for you?"


    The Roc Bird exuded confidence. It and Ashen Roc were blood brothers, with the former being the third-born. There was also a middle sibling, but unfortunately, it was hunted down by Human n cultivators before reaching adulthood. Consequently, the siblings held a deep-seated grudge against the Human n.


    "Just bring me two or three, but make sure they are alive. Dead ones aren''t fresh and don''t taste good."


    Ashen Roc casually remarked that just as the Human n regarded the Demon n as food, they would do the same with the Human n, amon sentiment within the Demon n.


    Inside the secret realm, after nearly twenty days of traversing from west to east, Wang Hong and his team finally emerged from the forest.


    During these twenty days, they meticulously searched the entire route assigned to them, extracting all the demon-hunting trees they encountered. Thanks to Wang Hong''s Spirit, which had a considerable advantage against the demon-hunting trees, their extraction process had been remarkably smooth.


    Their team had progressed rtively smoothly and was the first to exit the forest. Now, they could only wait at the designated rendezvous point for the other teams to join them.


    Two dayster, another team emerged from the forest. They appeared exhausted, likely having encountered numerous battles.


    Over the following days, various teams gradually exited the forest, though none seemed to have had it as easy as Wang Hong''s team. Some team members were even injured. Surprisingly, two teams had suffered casualties, the nature of which remained unknown.


    Sun Qiuxing''s team, who led the expedition, had also made their way out. They seemed quite excited, presumably indicating a fruitful harvest.


    "Fellow disciples, the excavation mission has been sessfullypleted, and we still have four days left until the one-month deadline. Let''s take a detour and return to the entrance!" Sun Qiuxing announced as all the teams converged.


    As they began the journey back, the group shed their earlier fatigue and started engaging in casual conversation.


    "Ah, as Foundation Building cultivators, it''s embarrassing to be suppressed and find it so difficult to battle some tier-one Demonic Beasts."


    One cultivator sighed, still bearing some wounds that hadn''tpletely healed even after a day of rest.


    "Indeed! Those Demonic Beasts surrounding the demon-hunting trees had incredibly robust bodies, making them challenging opponents."


    "It''s not just the Demonic Beasts; even those demon-hunting trees were tough to deal with!"


    "You guys had it rtively easy. We had to engage in battles with Demonic Beasts every time we reached a location. After continuous fighting, our team even suffered a loss."


    "I heard Captain Sun''s team had the easiest time, and they managed to extract all the demon-hunting trees on their route."


    "It looks like Sun Captain''s team is the frontrunner for this mission."


    Wang Hong overheard their discussions and learned that many teams hadn''t managed to search and extract all the demon-hunting trees in their designated areas due to extendedbat encounters.


    One cultivator from Wang Hong''s team couldn''t resist chiming in, "Was it really that hard to search and extract all the trees in your assigned area? Our team extracted them all, and it felt pretty straightforward."


    Unfortunately, his tone didn''t sit well with others, and many lost interest in continuing the conversation. It seemed that any further discussion would only involve him boasting about his achievements.


    The cultivator from Wang Hong''s team, eager for attention, had hoped others would ask him for details, allowing him to bask in the limelight. However, the fellow cultivators around him appeared focused on the journey, paying him no heed.


    As the group approached the entrance, they noticed another team of a hundred individuals responsible for searching for Spiritual Herbs waiting at the exit.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 397: Ambushed

    Chapter 397: Ambushed


    When Wang Hong was transported outside through the exit, he saw that the Flying Boat he had arrived on had already taken off and was hovering in a state ready to flee at any moment.


    "Hurry! Quickly board the Flying Boat!" shouted a Golden Core Elder standing by the exit.


    Wang Hong didn''t hesitate upon hearing themand. He immediately summoned a Flying Sword and soared onto therge Flying Boat.


    Over a hundred people were already on the Flying Boat, and at this moment, they were all infected by the tense atmosphere, remaining silent and on high alert.


    After all, the current situation was different from the past; this entire area was now under the control of the Demon n. If the Demon n discovered them and mobilized arge number of Demonic Beasts to surround them, even with ten Golden Core cultivators, there was no guarantee they could escape unscathed.


    At this moment, the cultivators who hade out of the secret realm quickly boarded the Flying Boat. In just a moment, they had all returned to the Flying Boat.


    "Depart!"


    With a loudmand from Chen Zhuo, the Flying Boat headed toward the direction of Qingxu Sect at its fastest speed.


    Wang Hong quietly asked Gu Qingyang, "Master, did they discover the Demonic Beasts?""Yes, there''s arge group of Demonic Beasts that have been hiding in this vicinity for several days, and their target should be us. They probably want to ambush us," Gu Qingyang said with some concern.


    Just as Wang Hong was about to ask Gu Qingyang a few more questions, Chen Zhuo, the leader of this mission, began to speak.


    "Fellow disciples, I believe you all know the importance of this mission. The sess or failure of this mission will directly affect the oue of the future war between humans and demons. That''s why we are taking such risks.


    However, we are now surrounded. We discovered this beast horde ten days ago, and they are now closing in on us.


    If we fail in this battle, we will be food for the Demon n, and our Human n allies will lose a chance for aeback.


    Therefore, for whatever reason, we must win this battle. At this moment, I hope you all won''t hold back and will use your most powerful techniques to fight the Demonic Beasts with all your might."


    Chen Zhuo gave an impassioned pre-battle speech, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. In group battles like this, there were always some individuals who preferred to hold back their strength. But if they were defeated, even if one or two people saved some tricks, it would be extremely difficult to escape from this horde of Demonic Beasts.


    At that very moment, countless ck dots appeared in the surrounding sky, and they were all flying Demonic Beasts.


    Seeing this dense horde of Demonic Beasts approaching like a tidal wave, everyone on the Flying Boat, including the Golden Core cultivators, couldn''t help but turn pale.


    Leading the Demonic Beast horde was a massive Roc Bird with an imposing presence.


    "Hahaha! You puny humans of the Human n! You didn''t expect that you''ve long been within our encirclement.


    Don''t say I never gave you a chance; surrender now, and I might spare your lives. Perhaps there''s still a chance for you to dine with the big shots of our Demon n in the future," the Roc Bird at the forefront arrogantly shouted toward the Flying Boat.


    It remembered its older brother saying that live prey was fresher and more delicious, so it was willing to put in some effort to persuade them. It hoped to bring back some live ingredients.


    It had experience in handling such ingredients before. It would have the captured prey help prepare the side dishes and then set up a fire pit. When everything was ready, it would kill the ingredients.


    Therefore, it often marveled at how easy it was to deceive these intelligent Human n members, because it was their intelligence that made them greedy and fearful.


    The flying Demonic Beasts drew closer, rapidly approaching the attack range.


    On the Flying Boat, a few cultivators had uncertain expressions. Seeing the Demon n''s approach, their chances of survival seemed bleak.


    Surrendering now might offer a slim chance of survival, and some were willing to endure humiliation to live on. However, the words of the Demon n weren''t very trustworthy, which was why they hesitated. With ulterior motives in mind, they looked around, their gazes unfocused.


    "I''ll give you one chance. Surrender or die!" The Roc Bird on the frontlines of the Demon n shouted loudly when there was no response from the Flying Boat.


    Just then, three Daoist Masters suddenly flew out from the Flying Boat, heading rapidly toward the Demon n and shouting, "I surrender!"


    Simultaneously, three beams of light shot out from the Flying Boat, piercing through the bodies of the three who had surrendered.


    "Dare to surrender in the midst of battle! There''s no mercy!" Chen Zhuo shouted loudly after killing the three.


    At this moment, a small group of individuals on the Flying Boat with ulterior motives had no choice but to abandon their thoughts.


    "Attack!"


    With Chen Zhuo''smand, all the cultivators on the Flying Boat summoned their prepared Spiritual Weapons.


    Wang Hong took out a wooden bow and a chubby-looking arrow, cing it on the bowstring. After nocking the arrow, he used Spiritual Power to shoot it toward the Demonic Beasts.


    When his arrow reached the horde of beasts, it exploded with a resounding bang. However, the surrounding Demonic Beasts remained unharmed, at most startled by the explosion.


    The Demonic Beasts around only hesitated for a moment before continuing their advance.


    Wang Hong paid no attention to this and nocked another arrow, firing it in another direction, but it also merely exploded with a loud noise, producing no smoke or damage.


    One after another, Wang Hong shot arrows in different directions, but the results were the same ¨C not a single Demonic Beast''s fur was harmed.


    A fellow cultivator standing beside him couldn''t help but ask, "Senior Brother Wang, is your Spiritual Weapon designed to merely startle the Demonic Beasts and disrupt their fighting?"


    Wang Hong seemed oblivious to the sarcasm in the question.


    "In less than a quarter of an hour, we''ll see the results."


    Wang Hong continued to fire these arrows into the Demonic Beast horde. When these arrows exploded, they released a highly toxic substance. Inside them was Wang Hong''s refined Devouring Spirit Poison, which had even stronger toxicity than before and was more than enough to deal with Tier One Demonic Beasts.


    The Flying Boat, besieged by numerous Demonic Beasts, continued to move slowly in the direction of Azure Void City, unable to pick up speed as if stuck in a quagmire.


    Eight Golden Core cultivators stood at the front of the Flying Boat, using their magic weapons to create openings in the Demonic Beast horde, allowing the Flying Boat to advance.


    Towards the rear of the Flying Boat, there was a bit of relief, with only two Golden Core Elders remaining on guard.


    However, the Tier Three Demonic Beasts from the Demon n had yet to make an appearance, including the previously arrogant Roc Bird, whose whereabouts were unknown.


    After approximately another quarter of an hour of fighting, many Demonic Beasts in the horde began to fall from the sky.


    At first, most didn''t pay much attention to this development, but as the number of falling Demonic Beasts increased, even a blind person could guess that something unexpected had urred within the Demonic Beast horde.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 398: Net Gained

    Chapter 398: Net Gained


    Wang Hong fired arge number of arrows towards the surroundings of the Flying Boat, covering the area with Devouring Spirit Poison.


    Due to the activated defensive shield on the Flying Boat, the cultivators inside were unaffected by the poison.


    At this moment, Demonic Beasts swarmed and fell like rain around the Flying Boat.


    The cultivator who had previously taunted Wang Hong and tried to scare the Demonic Beasts found his Flying Sword about to strike a Demonic Bird, but the bird suddenly fluttered its wings and fell.


    He redirected his Flying Sword and attempted to strike another Demonic Bird, but it too fluttered its wings and fell.


    He then looked ahead at arge area that had cleared out, leaving only a few Demonic Beasts hesitantly hanging around.


    He was not the only one feeling perplexed. All the cultivators on the Flying Boat were equally bewildered. They had prepared themselves for a heroic battle against the Demonic Beasts, even thinking of theirst words before possible sacrifice.


    However, as soon as the battle started, they realized that all the low-tier Demonic Beasts in the vicinity had been wiped out. The dramatic and tragic atmosphere they had expected had suddenly vanished.


    It was only at this moment that someone remembered that someone had been frantically shooting seemingly harmless arrows around the Flying Boat. All eyes turned to Wang Hong for an exnation.Gu Qingyang knew that Wang Hong was skilled in poison techniques, and he had noticed Wang Hong''s unusual behavior earlier. He asked, "Was it your arrows that caused this?"


    "Just a minor trick, Master," Wang Hong modestly replied.


    Upon hearing Wang Hong''s response, the others felt uneasy. If this method, which had exterminated arge number of Demonic Beasts, was considered a minor trick, then there might not be more powerful methods at their disposal.


    Even for Golden Core cultivators, achieving a clean sweep against arge number of low-tier Demonic Beasts was not an easy task.


    While the first-tier Demonic Beasts were weaker, they were numerous and sumbed quickly to the poison. Now, the remaining Demonic Beasts were all second-tier, and though they were also poisoned, their reactions were slower.


    Furthermore, there were still many low-tier Demonic Beasts behind the main group. They had escaped earlier due to their distance but were now closing in on the Flying Boat once again, driven by the third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    The Great Roc Bird saw that all the cannon fodder in front had died in an instant. Instead of feeling fear, it ignited its anger.


    With a fierce cry, it led the third-tier Demonic Beasts from the rear and charged towards the Flying Boat.


    Although it didn''t know what Daoist Master Wang had done to cause such massive casualties among the cannon fodder in front, it possessed intelligence on par with humans and was not a reckless creature.


    A quick nce revealed that only the first-tier Demonic Beasts had perished, and even the second-tier ones were unharmed. There was no reason for this third-tier Demonic Beast to be afraid.


    As the Demon n unleashed all their Demonic Beasts to encircle the Flying Boat, the people on board didn''t hesitate any longer. They all summoned their Spiritual Weapons and engaged inbat with the approaching Demonic Beasts.


    With the defensive shield of the Flying Boat still intact, those on board didn''t need to worry about defense. They focused on killing any Demonic Beasts they deemed a threat.


    Their spirits were lifted after the recent events, and they no longer felt despair.


    The Golden Core cultivators on the Flying Boat also joined the battle, each wielding their Magic Weapons to defend against the attacks of the third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    There were more than twenty third-tier Demonic Beasts approaching, and if they were allowed to attack the protective shield of the Flying Boat, it wouldn''t hold for long.


    Unfortunately, the Flying Boat had only ten Golden Core cultivators, and they couldn''t stop all the third-tier Demonic Beasts. Several Demonic Beasts still managed to break through the defenses and attack the Flying Boat''s protective shield.


    Facing Wang Hong now was a massive third-tier Roc Bird with wingspan at least ten yards wide, its cold eyes fixed on the Flying Boat.


    The Roc Bird wielded a beak-shaped Magic weapon and bombarded the Flying Boat. Each strike caused severe fluctuations in the defensive shield.


    The Devouring Spirit Poison released around the Flying Boat a moment ago hadn''t dissipated yet, but it would take some time to take effect.


    Wang Hong retrieved a differently shaped, pink-colored arrow from his Storage Bag and aimed it at therge Roc Bird, releasing it.


    Before the arrow even reached its target, the Roc Bird''s wings swept, shattering the arrow.


    The Roc Bird sneered inwardly, considering the humans beneath it to be insignificant. Despite the numerous Spiritual Weapons flying from the Flying Boat, only this single arrow dared to target it directly.


    As the Roc Bird''s thoughts passed, it caught a whiff of a sweet fragrance, reminding it of a ck-feathered bird it had encountered in the Eastern Sea, with its melodious chirping...


    Seeing the Roc Bird momentarily enter a dazed state, Wang Hong, who had secretly summoned a massive Spirit, had already positioned it above the Roc Bird.


    Sudden feelings of danger jolted the Roc Bird out of its reverie, but the brief moment of confusion had already cost it the initiative.


    By the time it reacted and tried to evade, it found itself ensnared by therge.


    This infuriated the Roc Bird. Due to its rtionship with its elder sibling, it held a certain status within the entire Eastern Sea Demon n.


    It couldn''t believe that it had been sessfully ambushed by a human it considered beneath its notice. Its wings were entangled in the, preventing it from exerting any strength, so it had to recall its primary Magic weapon, the bird beak.


    "Hmph! You think mere Spiritual Weapons can trap me!"


    Its bird beak Magic weapon was incredibly sharp and had taken countless years to refine from its own beak.


    It lightly pecked at one of the ropes on the Spirit, but the rope didn''t break.


    It didn''t know that these ropes were formed through over two thousand years of Devilish Vine Refinement and could withstand the Refinement of Magic weapons, something it couldn''t easily destroy.


    Fuming, the Roc Bird used all its might to peck at the Spirit again, this time breaking one of the ropes, then moved on to the next.


    Wang Hong saw that his ambush had seeded, but the wooden thorns on the Spirit were blocked by the Roc Bird''s tough feathers, unable to prate its body.


    Having learned from the previous encounter when a demon core had injured him, he quickly shot several arrows at the Roc Bird, each one containing various types of poison.


    Some made the Roc Bird sluggish and slowed its movements, while others were intestinal toxins or hindered the flow of Spiritual Energy.


    Although these diverse toxins had a limited effect on a third-tier Demonic Beast, they weren''t entirely ineffective. Wang Hong had used them sessfully several times before and was quite experienced in this regard.


    Now, with various toxins acting within the Roc Bird''s body, its movements grew slower, and the spiritual light in its eyes dimmed.


    Just as it had finally managed to create arge gap in the Spirit to escape through, another identical descended from above, trapping it once more, rendering itpletely immobilized.


    Wang Hong had quite a few Devilish Vines in his Space, and since he didn''t want to sell them for Spirit Stones, he had taken the opportunity to refine several mores when he had the time.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 399: Slaying a Three-tier Beast

    Chapter 399: ying a Three-tier Beast


    As the second Spirit Net once again ensnared the Roc Bird, Wang Hong had nearly exhausted all the poison he had at his disposal.


    At this moment, he drew a seemingly ordinary wooden arrow, nocked it onto his bow, and aimed it at the Roc Bird.


    With a swift motion, the arrow reached the Roc Bird, only to be deflected by its beak, a magical weapon in its own right.


    Wang Hong continued to shoot arrows at the Roc Bird one after another, but they were all blocked, unable to harm it in the slightest.


    Meanwhile, arge number of demonic birds, poisoned, began to plummet to their deaths.


    The remaining Demon n attacks intensified, particrly the relentless assaults from the third-tier Demonic Beasts, causing the spiritual light shield on the Flying Boat to dim, as if it could shatter at any moment.


    At this point, there were only a little over six hundred second-tier Demonic Beasts and twenty third-tier Demonic Beasts left among the besieging Demonic Beasts. One of the third-tier Demonic Beasts was still caught in a Spirit Net.


    The Demon n had twice the numbers of the Human n, but the Humans had one advantage¡ªthey were not poisoned.


    In contrast, every member of the Demon n had been affected by Wang Hong''s Devouring Spirit Poison, and theirbat capabilities were gradually diminishing, though they remained unaware of it.The Roc Bird ensnared by Wang Hong realized that the arrows he shot were only leaving minor dents on itsrge body, which were akin to scratches for a creature of its size. Eventually, it gave up resisting and paid little attention to Wang Hong''s attacks.


    It focused solely on using its beak, a magical weapon, to peck through the Spirit Net, hoping to break free as soon as possible.


    Being trapped by such a small creature for so long had already damaged its pride. How could it face other birds in the future? How would they look at it?


    Unfortunately, due to the effects of the poison, its mind wasn''t functioning at its best, and it often injured itself due to imprecise control while pecking at the Spirit Net.


    Finally, it managed to create another opening in the Spirit Net. It could now extend its head and neck outside the.


    With newfound freedom, it turned its neck, its eyes ring menacingly at Wang Hong. It vowed to exact a heavy price, no matter what it took, and reduce this mere ant to a shattered corpse.


    Just at that moment, it saw a golden light approaching with great momentum. Due to its slowed reaction time, by the time it realized it, the golden Flying Sword was already close.


    Since it hadn''t taken Wang Hong''s previous attacks seriously, its beak, a magical weapon, was still focused on pecking at the Spirit Net.


    Now, it was toote to try to control the magical weapon to block the oing Flying Sword. The sword was already aimed at its eye.


    The Roc Bird saw a golden wooden sword rapidly erging in its field of vision, and then its eye stung, followed by a sensation of chaos inside its head. There was no afterward.


    Just as Wang Hong finally managed to y a third-tier Demonic Beast, the defensive shield on the Flying Boat couldn''t bear the strain any longer and was shattered.


    The remaining five to six hundred Demonic Beasts went berserk, rushing toward the Flying Boat. The Human n cultivators had no other choice but to face them head-on.


    Everyone had long been mentally prepared for this. Wang Hong''s poisoning of arge number of low-tier Demonic Beasts had given them a glimmer of hope.


    After ying the demon, Wang Hong swiftly collected the corpse of the third-tier demonic bird.


    At the same time, many Demonic Beasts, upon seeing the Roc Bird being in and its body taken away, roared in fury and charged toward Wang Hong.


    The Roc Bird was the leader of this siege on the beast horde and was also the younger brother of the Ashen Roc. With the Roc Bird dead, they would face severe punishment upon returning.


    Therefore, Wang Hong attracted four third-tier Demonic Beasts and arge number of second-tier Demonic Beasts, all of them targeting him and closing in for the kill.


    Seeing the situation, Wang Hong didn''t dare to engage in battle. He immediately controlled a Flying Sword and turned to escape.


    The Flying Boat was too confined, and it was easy to draw enemies toward his fellow sect members, posing a threat to them. In a situation where there was no grudge, he didn''t intend to do so.


    He flew directly out of the Flying Boat, where the space was broader. His agility thrived in this vast expanse, allowing him to maneuver more effectively.


    At this moment, the Demonic Beasts chasing him included four third-tier ones and around fifty to sixty second-tier ones. Unbeknownst to him, he had indirectly relieved pressure from hispanions by drawing thisrge group of enemies away.


    Currently, there were fourteen third-tier Demonic Beasts and approximately over four hundred second-tier Demonic Beasts still fighting his fellow sect members on the Flying Boat.


    Wang Hong pushed forward as fast as he could, asionally using the shifting positions technique to increase his speed or change direction. Whenever he used the shifting positions repeatedly, not even the third-tier Demonic Beasts could catch up.


    He could only run in circles around the Flying Boat to avoid being surrounded by the Demonic Beasts. Once truly surrounded, he would have no chance of survival.


    At this point, he could only ce his hope in his fellow sect members, hoping they would finish off their opponents, and he could then escape.


    The Demonic Beasts'' speeds were not coordinated, preventing them frompletely encircling him.


    There were several close calls where he almost got trapped by a few third-tier Demonic Beasts, but he managed to escape using the shifting positions technique.


    While fleeing, Wang Hong released his Poisonous Bees. However, he didn''t have them stay close to him for assistance inbat. The Poisonous Bees couldn''t keep up with his escape pace.


    Instead, he directed the Poisonous Bees to the Flying Boat to help his fellow sect members attack the second-tier Demonic Beasts. With over ten thousand Poisonous Bees attacking simultaneously, no second-tier Demonic Beast could withstand them.


    Even as he fled, Wang Hong couldn''t stay entirely passive.


    Gu Qingyang was rtively lucky, with only one third-tier Demonic Beast as his opponent, and he had a slight advantage in the fight. However, it still wouldn''t be easy to y the opponent.


    In a battle between equals, defeating one''s opponent was no simple task.


    At this moment, Wang Hong used shifting positions and suddenly appeared several yards behind the Demonic Beast. He tossed a few pills toward it and didn''t even look at the oue before using shifting positions again to escape.


    The pills he threw were all poison pills, but before they could get close to the Demonic Beast, they were shattered by the intense spiritual energy fluctuations generated by the battle between them.


    However, some of the shattered poison pills still drifted toward the Demonic Beast, while the remaining fragments scattered in all directions.


    After noticing this situation, Wang Hong dared not casually release more poison pills, fearing he might identally harm his fellow sect members.


    He once again activated shifting positions to move away. When he reappeared, hended on the back of a third-tier demonic bird.


    This demonic bird was engaged in a fierce battle with a Golden Core Elder from the Qingxu Sect and the two were evenly matched.


    Without hesitation, Wang Hong, armed with a Long Spear, thrust it directly into the back of the demonic bird.


    After this thrust, Wang Hong immediately used shifting positions to escape to a safe distance, causing the demonic bird to roar furiously.


    Seeing the demonic bird distracted, the cultivator fighting it took the opportunity to inflict a grievous wound on the creature.


    Wang Hong continued to maintain his high-speed movements, creating trouble for the Demonic Beasts in the ongoing battle as he fled.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 400: Assistance

    Chapter 400: Assistance


    At this moment on the battlefield, the human side was generally at a disadvantage. However, due to Wang Hong''s distraction, along with the assistance of the Poisonous Bees he released, they could still hold on for the time being.


    As long as they could barely hold out now, the toxins within these Demonic Beasts'' bodies would gradually take effect, providing hope for a reversal of the situation on the Human n''s side.


    Wang Hong was running away while evading the pursuit of four third-tier Demonic Beasts and dozens of second-tier Demonic Beasts. He was gulping down Spirit Wine.


    He used the Shifting Positions technique, which allowed him to move extremely fast within a short distance, making him agile inbat. However, it was ultimately a dodging technique in battle and consumed a considerable amount of energy, not suitable for prolonged travel.


    If it weren''t for his robust physical body and the ample supply of Spirit Wine replenishing his Spiritual Power, with his level of Spiritual Power, he could only use it three to five times consecutively.


    When he passed by Gu Qingyang again, the Demonic Beast that had been fighting with Gu Qingyang saw the person who had just attacked it earlier approaching once more. It became enraged and shed a few feathers, which shot toward Wang Hong.


    Startled, Wang Hong quickly turned and used the Shifting Positions technique to evade at a distance. Fortunately, the feather attack was just a casual strike and didn''t have too much power, so he managed to escape unharmed.


    Gu Qingyang seized the opportunity when the Demonic Beast''s attention was diverted by the feather attack and shed at its wing with his sword, causing a deep wound that disrupted its flight stability.


    After escaping the feather attack, arge group of Demonic Beasts from behind caught up to Wang Hong. In a hurry, he repeatedly used the Shifting Positions technique to escape their attacks.Once he had distanced himself safely, Wang Hong halted and once again drew his bow, shooting an arrow at a three-tier Demonic Cow charging ahead. Whether he could harm it or not, the provocative gesture had to be made to keep them from diverting their attention to other cultivators.


    The Demonic Cow lightly flicked the arrow away with its horn, roared in anger, and elerated its pursuit of Wang Hong.


    These Demonic Beasts had initially chased Wang Hong because he had killed the Roc Bird, hoping to capture him for credit. However, in the process of pursuing him, they had been continuously provoked, causing them to forget their original intent. Now, they only wanted to catch Wang Hong and tear him apart.


    Wang Hong, upon seeing this, immediately turned to flee. He had no intention of confronting them head-on and wanted to live a few more days.


    With a group of Demonic Beasts circling around the Flying Boat and making arge detour, they returned to the vicinity of Gu Qingyang. Wang Hong appeared to have the intention of getting closer for a surprise attack.


    The Demonic Beast, which had been distracted by Wang Hong earlier and suffered a loss, saw Wang Hong approaching again. It nced at him, ignoring himpletely. The same trick wouldn''t work twice on me; I''m not that foolish.


    Instead, it focused on dealing with Gu Qingyang. It was already at a disadvantage, and if it were to divert its attention to deal with others, it would be too dangerous.


    A mere Foundation Building Human n, what could you possibly do to me?


    Just as the Demonic Beast was nning to ignore Wang Hong, a Binding Spirit Rope, like a snake, wrapped around it. Starting from its tail feathers and entwining around its wings and ws.


    Under normal circumstances, a mere top-quality Spiritual Weapon wouldn''t be worth its attention. But in the midst of this battle, especially when they were at a disadvantage, even a slight hindrance to its agility and a dyed reaction could cost it its life.


    Gu Qingyang seized the opportunity and a dazzling sword light beheaded the Demonic Beast.


    However, Wang Hong had no time to share in Gu Qingyang''s victory. Instead, he handed a porcin bottle to Gu Qingyang and sent a Message Transmission, saying, "Antidote!"


    Without further exnation, he turned and fled once more, with the pursuing Demonic Beasts closing in from behind.


    Previously, Wang Hong had scattered Devouring Spirit Poison around the Flying Boat. While everyone had the Flying Boat''s defensive shield protecting them before, it had now been shattered, leaving everyone exposed to the poison. Given enough time, the poison would take its toll.


    The Human n members, however, had been poisonedter than the Demon n, so if anyone were to die, it would be the Demon n members first.


    Gu Qingyang epted the porcin bottle and instantly understood what had happened when he thought of the Demonic Beasts that had died from poisoning earlier. However, instead of immediately consuming the antidote, he controlled his Flying Sword to strike at a three-tier Demonic Beast that was pursuing Wang Hong.


    As Wang Hong ran, he noticed that the number of Demonic Beasts chasing him was gradually decreasing. asionally, he looked back, and at this point, some second-tier Demonic Beasts were flying erratically, as if they were intoxicated, and some even fell down.


    The battles of the other Foundation Building cultivators were now considerably easier. Previously, they had to deal with double the number of strong opponents, but now it had be almost one-on-one.


    After leveling the ying field at the Foundation Building tier, the situation gradually improved as the number of second-tier Demonic Beasts decreased.


    However, at the Golden Core level, they were still at a disadvantage. Apart from the three three-tier Demonic Beasts pursuing Wang Hong, there were fourteen others remaining, while only eight Golden Core cultivators were left.


    One Golden Core cultivator was torn apart by two Demonic Beasts, and another was severely injured. Seeing no hope of survival, thetter chose to self-detonate their Golden Core. It exploded on the spot, killing one three-tier Demonic Beast and severely injuring another before other cultivators took the opportunity to finish it off.


    Wang Hong led the group of Demonic Beasts in a brief escape and noticed that there were no more second-tier Demonic Beasts on the battlefield.


    The three hundred Foundation Building cultivators had dwindled to just over two hundred. They were now far away and summoning their Spiritual Weapons, seeking opportunities to attack the remaining three-tier Demonic Beasts on the battlefield.


    The three-tier Demonic Beasts on the battlefield were now at their weakest, as the Devouring Spirit Poison they had been affected by earlier was rapidly devouring their demonic energy.


    The battle had been going on for nearly an hour, and these three-tier Demonic Beasts had not paid attention to it earlier, taking no measures.


    At this point, they had very little demonic energy left, and they were too busy with the poison in their bodies during the battle.


    As a result, although the Demon n had the numerical advantage, they hadn''t gained any significant advantage in the battle. The two sides were now evenly matched.


    The three-tier Demonic Beasts that had been pursuing Wang Hong finally realized the situation and stopped chasing him alone.


    No matter how Wang Hong taunted them, they paid him no more attention. Instead, they rushed into the crowd of Foundation Building cultivators, wreaking havoc.


    Faced with the massacre by the three three-tier Demonic Beasts, the two hundred cultivators had no choice but to scatter and flee.


    Wang Hong''s over ten thousand Poisonous Bees, after all the second-tier Demonic Beasts had died, remained quietly in the air without Wang Hong''smand.


    With no Demonic Beasts pursuing him at the moment, Wang Hong led this swarm of Poisonous Bees towards the battlefield of the Golden Core cultivators.


    Although many Foundation Building fellow cultivators were being ughtered, with many of them emitting desperate screams, Wang Hong himself was only at the Foundation Building cultivation level and couldn''t be of much help.


    It was better to provide some assistance to the Golden Core cultivators; the Golden Core battlefield was the key to changing the tide of the battle.


    He hadn''t participated in the disadvantaged battles earlier because he couldn''t single-handedly change the situation.


    He chose the battles where they already had the upper hand, so by joining them, he could be the final straw that broke the camel''s back.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 401: Detoxification

    Chapter 401: Detoxification


    Currently, most of the Golden Core cultivators are paired off in one against two battles, and in some cases, Chen Zhuo even fights against three opponents simultaneously.


    Only three Golden Core cultivators engage in one-on-onebat, and among them is Gu Qingyang. He had previously chosen his opponent, naturally opting for the weakest Demonic Beast.


    At the moment, he held the upper hand, and the Demonic Beast he was battling cried out in pain, with multiple wounds inflicted by him.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong naturally decided to assist his Master. Hemanded over ten thousand Poisonous Bees to swarm the three-tier Demonic Beast.


    The buzzing swarm of over ten thousand Poisonous Bees surrounded the three-tier Demonic Beast, but with a p of its wings, it scattered arge portion of them. Unfortunately for the Demonic Beast, more Poisonous Bees swarmed in, causing it great annoyance.


    Furthermore, in the heat of battle, it didn''t have the luxury of time to keep pping its wings. Gu Qingyang seized the opportunity and struck it with another sword.


    Soon, the Poisonous Bees had crawled all over the Demonic Beast''s body. However, with the sturdy flesh of a three-tier Demonic Beast, the Poisonous Bees were unable to harm it.


    This gave the Demonic Beast some relief, and it focused on countering its formidable adversary.


    But after a while, it felt excruciating pain emanating from its wounds. The Poisonous Bees couldn''t break its skin, but they could enter through the wounds.This Demonic Beast was resilient, enduring the pain even though it was constantly in agony. It continued to fight Gu Qingyang.


    After some time, the pain in its wounds subsided because the Poisonous Bees had injected a significant amount of toxins, causing numbness in the wounded areas. Gradually, this numbness spread to its surroundings.


    Before this numbness reached its neck, it felt a sharp pain there ¨C its head had been severed.


    In its dying moments, it wondered if waiting a bit longer would have made the pain more bearable.


    After the two of them had cooperated to y this Demonic Beast, they moved on to the next one.


    Half an hourter, the battle finally came to an end.


    In this battle, there were ten Golden Core cultivators from the Human n, three hundred Foundation Building cultivators, facing twenty three-tier Demonic Beasts, six to seven hundred two-tier Demonic Beasts, and countless one-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Initially, they believed it was a hopeless situation, and everyone had prepared for defeat and the annihtion of their entire army. However, they unexpectedly achieved victory as if by a miracle.


    Thinking about this, a shadow crossed their minds, and they shivered involuntarily. This was because they were all poisoned, and only one person had the antidote.


    At this moment, Chen Zhuo stood beside Wang Hong and praised him, saying, "Wang Hong, you are truly promising. You single-handedly turned the tide in this battle. When we return, I will definitely report your achievements to the Sect and ensure you are rewarded."


    "Yes! We owe this victory to Wang Hong!"


    "Hahaha! I had originally nned to sacrifice myself with a couple of Demonic Beasts. I owe you a favor, Wang Hong."


    "I owe you a favor as well!"


    At this moment, the group of Golden Core cultivators expressed their gratitude to Wang Hong, and some even made public promises.


    "You senior disciples are too kind. These are the duties of a disciple," Wang Hong replied modestly.


    Although Wang Hong was being enthusiastically praised by everyone, he felt no excitement in his heart. Now that everyone was poisoned by his bees, any misstep on his part could lead to his dismemberment by the others.


    Chen Zhuo stood by his side, showering him withpliments, but he could also control him at any moment.


    When one possessed the power to threaten others, regardless of whether they harbored ill intentions or not, they would naturally arouse suspicion. Few people would willingly ce their lives and fortunes in someone else''s hands.


    At this moment, he had be the hypothetical adversary in everyone''s subconscious minds.


    This had nothing to do with good or evil; it was purely a natural response ingrained in the subconscious, aimed at protecting one''s own life.


    Fortunately, Gu Qingyang had always stood by his side, giving him some courage and making others hesitate to act against him too easily.


    After the battle, Gu Qingyang examined the antidote provided by Wang Hong. The toxins in his body had now been neutralized, and the Devouring Spirit Poison had been converted back into Spiritual Power within him.


    With the toxins cleared from his system, his thoughts naturally shifted, and he felt light and free from poison.


    "Disciple acted recklessly, causing harm to fellow senior disciples and Senior Brother. I feel deeply guilty. This is my specially crafted Detoxification Pill. Please, everyone, take it as soon as possible," Wang Hong said, taking out arge pill bottle from his Storage Bag and pouring out a pill, which he swallowed first.


    He had already taken a Detoxification Pill earlier, but now he pretended to take another to make the others trust him. The others received the pills, and seeing Wang Hong take one first, they were reassured and swallowed them as well.


    After taking the pills, they all sat down where they were, focusing on their cultivation to slowly break down the toxins within their bodies.


    In this battle, nearly two hundred Foundation Building cultivators had lost their lives, leaving only a hundred and five survivors. Among the Golden Core cultivators, two had also fallen, leaving six.


    However, alongside the heavy casualties, they had achieved remarkable results. All the one-tier and two-tier Demonic Beasts had been in, fifteen three-tier Demonic Beasts had been killed, and only five had managed to escape.


    After such arge-scale battle, everyone had sustained injuries, and their Spiritual Power had beenpletely depleted. But now, still within the Demon n''s territory, they couldn''t afford to rest. They briefly cleaned up the battlefield and hastily departed.


    On their return journey on the Flying Boat, the inside felt empty since over half of their group was gone.


    Wang Hong sat on the deck, taking out the Roc Bird he had killed and extracting its essence blood from its heart.


    The essence blood of this three-tier Roc Bird was golden in color, filling up an entirerge bottle.


    He collected this essence blood, intending to extract its bloodline power to help Little Peng advance to the next tier. Little Peng had already reached the level of a high-grade two-tier Demonic Beast but was unable to progress further due to its bloodline limitations.


    These three-tier Demonic Beasts and Little Peng were all avian-type Demonic Beasts, so the essence blood should provide some assistance.


    Wang Hong carefully stored therge bottle of essence blood and also kept the Demonic Beast''s body to be dissectedter. It wasn''t convenient to do so on the Flying Boat with more than a hundred pairs of eyes watching.


    For a Foundation Building cultivator to possess an intact three-tier Demonic Beast body was an unimaginable treasure.


    At this moment, while these hundred-plus individuals were envious, no one dared to make a move against Wang Hong.


    They may not have a clear impression of hisbat abilities, but his poisonous methods made him unpredictable. Who would dare to provoke him?


    After putting away the Demonic Beast''s corpse, Wang Hong walked over to Gu Qingyang.


    "Master, I have a request," Wang Hong said.


    "What is it? Feel free to ask," Gu Qingyang replied, currently busy with handling the corpse of a three-tier Demonic Beast.


    "I would like to request that Master trade me the essence blood from the heart of the three-tier Demonic Beast," Wang Hong requested.


    Hearing this, Gu Qingyang took out a bottle from his side and handed it to Wang Hong without hesitation. "Take it, it''s yours!"


    Gu Qingyang didn''t inquire about the purpose of the essence blood and simply gave it to him. At the same time, he took out another bottle from his Storage Bag and handed it to Wang Hong.


    Today, Gu Qingyang had killed two three-tier Demonic Beasts, so he had two bottles of essence blood to spare.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 402: The Return Journey

    Chapter 402: The Return Journey


    Upon seeing Gu Qingyang directly handing over the essence blood of the third-tier Demonic Beast to Wang Hong, several other Golden Core cultivators also held a portion and presented it to Wang Hong.


    There were two reasons for this. First, they had just received assistance from Wang Hong, so it was a way to repay the favor. Second, they believed in Wang Hong''s potential and wanted to establish a good rtionship in advance, considering it an investment.


    Anyway, this material wasn''t that crucial for these Golden Core cultivators, so they preferred to build goodwill.


    The secret realm was still several days'' journey away from the Qingxu Sect, and to avoid any further attacks from the Demon n, the Flying Boat continued to speedily head back day and night. On board, everyone focused on healing their injuries and replenishing their Spiritual Power.


    asionally, they encountered groups of Demonic Beasts along the way, and when possible, they avoided them. If confrontation was inevitable, they swiftly dealt with them using their formidable skills.


    With six Golden Core cultivators and a hundred Foundation Building cultivators on the Flying Boat, dealing with ordinary Demonic Beast groups was rtively easy.


    When they were just a day''s distance away from the third defensive line, they established contact with the cultivators responsible for receiving them using long-rangemunication magic tools. They discussed the timing, location, and other details of their arrival.


    The Foundation Building cultivators on the boat felt relieved when they saw how well the sect had prepared. Given their current strength, breaking through the Demon n''s encirclement from the outside would have been extremely difficult.


    At the same time, in the Demon n''s rear camp, five third-tier Demonic Beasts that had been defeated and fled finally returned to the Demon n''s camp.These five Demonic Beasts had been poisoned with a strange toxin, and they had to stop midway to purge the poison from their bodies, which caused a dy.


    Ashen Roc was currently enjoying some wine with a group of Demonic Beasts while watching a lively disy of frogs below.


    Arge group of frog-like Demonic Beasts moved agilely, jumping around with "plip-plop" sounds, asionally emitting "croak! croak!" cries.


    "Hmm! Their voices are short and resonant, like heavenly music, quite nice!" A white-feathered demonic bird at the headmented when it heard the wonderful frog calls.


    "Hehe! The dance troupe sent from the West Zhou Demon Realm is indeed impressive. Not only is their dance skill high, but I heard the taste is also excellent," another beast, part-bird and part-beast, licked its lips and praised from another angle.


    "Fellow Daoist, don''t be impatient. These low-tier Demonic Beasts aren''t worth eating. Before long, my third brother will bring back a batch of fresh Human n Golden Cores. I guarantee they''ll be a delicious feast! " Ashen Roc said confidently at this moment, full of assurance about bringing back a tasty meal.


    "Yes, we almost forgot about that. With Peng Ge''s help, we''ll definitely catch a few live ones."


    "Right! Right! Let''s save room in our bellies, we''ll be enjoying a feast soon."


    The group of Demonic Beasts below quicklyplimented each other. At that moment, five disheveled Demonic Beasts rushed into the camp in a state of panic.


    "You''vee back just in time! Bring the captured Human n Golden Cores up here, let everyone enjoy them first, and we''ll have a barbecueter!" Ashen Roc, who was currently enjoying a massage from a plump and sturdy beauty, didn''t notice the anxious demeanor of the five Demonic Beasts.


    "Report... Report to General Ashen Roc... They''re... They''re all gone!" one of the Demonic Beasts responded nervously.


    Only then did Ashen Roc sense that something was amiss. He abruptly sat up straight, his imposing figure, and demanded in a stern voice, "What about the others? Where is my third brother?"


    "They... they''re all dead! Only the five of us managed to escape."


    "What''s going on? This can''t be!" Ashen Roc roared, pping his wings and turning the beautiful woman beside him into a pile of flesh.


    The frogs, which had been happily jumping around just moments ago, now cowered in fear in the corners.


    The five Demonic Beasts who had returned recounted the whole story in detail, inevitably adding some embellishments, highlighting their bravery in battle and portraying the enemy as despicable.


    Though they exaggerated a bit, they still conveyed the general course of events urately.


    "Spread mymand! Order all East Sea Demon n to pursue this Human n team with all their might. Not a single survivor should be left. Whoever helps me take revenge, my Peng n is willing to offer a 6,000-year-old Moonflower Grass as a reward."


    After Ashen Roc issued the order, all the Demonic Beasts began to act, converging on the route taken by the Human n cultivators.


    A 6,000-year-old Moonflower Grass was especially enticing and could drive all the Demonic Beasts to madness. Moonflower Grass absorbed the essence of the moon and had significant benefits for both Human n and Demon n cultivators. It greatly aided Human n cultivators in breaking through from Golden Core to Nascent Soul, and it was rumored to be effective for Demon n''s tier advancement as well. A Moonflower Grass with a 6,000-year history was exceptionally rare.


    Unaware of the chain reaction their battle had set off, Wang Hong and the others continued to rush back along their established route with all their might.


    When they returned to the outskirts of the defensive line, the entire battlefront had be chaotic. The cultivators responsible for the reception had initiated an attack on the Demon n to disrupt their formation.


    However, as soon as Wang Hong''s Flying Boat appeared, the battlefield erupted as if it were boiling. Demonic Beasts who were previously engaged inbat unexpectedly abandoned their opponents and rushed towards the Flying Boat, leaving a group of bewildered cultivators behind.


    Although the Golden Core cultivators who came to assist didn''t know what had happened, many Demonic Beasts had turned their backs, exposing themselves to the cultivators.


    How could they miss such an opportunity? Without hesitation, the cultivators directed their forces to chase after the Demonic Beasts.


    Facing the sudden and intense siege, Wang Hong and his group were taken aback. They had no idea why these Demonic Beasts were acting as if they held a deep-seated grudge against them.


    While they continued to defend themselves, the protective shield of the Flying Boat was quickly shattered once again.


    Countless Demonic Beasts surged toward them, including numerous second-tier Demonic Beasts and dozens of third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Wang Hong seized an opportunity when the Demonic Beasts had not fully surrounded them. His figure shed forward by several yards, but he found himself blocked by two second-tier Demonic Beasts. With a sweep of his Long Spear, the heads of the two Demonic Beasts flew out over ten yards, blood gushing like fountains.


    He had nned this position in advance. In this direction, there were only these two second-tier Demonic Beasts, and behind them was arge open area, suitable for his next escape.


    After killing two second-tier Demonic Beasts with a single strike, his figure disappeared once again. When he reappeared, he was already several yards away, leaving behind a shower of blood. Then, his figure vanished once more.


    At this moment, nobody had the time to worry about others. They all used their most potent escape techniques, fleeing towards the direction of the city wall.


    Just as Wang Hong had in a first-tier Demonic Beast and prepared to move forward again, he saw a third-tier Rat Demon directly in front of him, waiting for him to fall into its trap.


    Terrified, he quickly changed direction, dodging to the other side. A second-tier Demonic Beast tried to block his path but was sent flying by Wang Hong''s figure as he brushed past it.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 403: Returning to the Base

    Chapter 403: Returning to the Base


    Wang Hong had just dashed past this Demonic Beast, and another three-tiered Yao rat came charging at him, crashing into it with sheer force, ending the beast''s life without it ever understanding how it met its demise.


    This Demonic Beast failed to obstruct Wang Hong but managed to buy him some time.


    Wang Hong continued to navigate through the group of Demonic Beasts, using his agile footwork to evade various attacks. As he maneuvered through twists and turns, he gradually approached the group of Human n cultivatorsing to his aid.


    After a brief escape, he noticed something strange. For some reason, these three-tiered Demonic Beasts seemed unusually persistent, always chasing after him.


    In this short span of time, several three-tiered Demonic Beasts had started pursuing him.


    Among the over a hundred cultivators present, many were bulkier than him, and bullying Golden Core cultivators would have been more satisfying than relentlessly chasing him.


    He didn''t dare to stop and inquire about the Demonic Beasts'' intentions. Instead, he employed all his skills to flee for his life.


    The cultivators waiting for him ahead were now in sight, and with a final burst of effort, he would soon reach them.


    At this moment, six Golden Core cultivators had escaped from the group and rejoined the team of cultivatorsing to his aid.Seeing this, Wang Hong grew even more frustrated. These three-tiered Demonic Beasts behind him seemed to ignore the opportunity to catch muchrger prey and were fixated on chasing him.


    If it weren''t for his nimble footwork, he wouldn''t even know how many times he''d have died by now.


    As he was about to merge with the cultivators ahead, he noticed a three-tiered Demonic Beast standing right in his path, waiting for him to collide with it.


    He quickly estimated that he could make it through this obstacle if he charged forward, as he didn''t want to take any more detours.


    He reached for a handful of Talismans and held them in his hand. With his cultivation level, he could currently activate ten second-tier Talismans simultaneously.


    He threw ten second-tier Talismans ahead, which soared toward the three-tiered Demonic Beast, equivalent to thebined power of ten Foundation Building cultivators attacking at once.


    Seeing the barrage of Talismansing towards it, the Demonic Beast couldn''t risk taking them head-on. It raised its scales as a defensive measure against the Talisman onught.


    Seizing this opportunity, Wang Hong swiftly passed by the beast.


    By the time the Demonic Beast reacted, Wang Hong had already returned to the group of cultivators ahead. The beast was infuriated and turned towards the Human n cultivators, charging at them.


    Once Wang Hong was back among the crowd, he noticed that Sloppy Old Daoist was also present. He immediately flew behind him and shouted, "Uncle Chu, save me!"


    At this moment, Sloppy Old Daoist summoned his Lifebound Magical Treasure, a massive ck cauldron.


    Wang Hong had only seen Old Daoist use this cauldron for cooking and hadn''t thought much of it. However, he was astonished to discover that this giant ck cauldron was incredibly powerful in battle.


    The three-tiered Demonic Beast, which had been chasing Wang Hong in a rage, had barely covered a few steps when it was suddenly enclosed by the descending ck cauldron.


    The Demonic Beast struggled within the cauldron, but to no avail.


    The cauldron gradually shrank and was pulled back by the old man. When he flipped it over, the three-tiered Demonic Beast inside had shrunk countless times and was frantically spinning.


    "Hahaha! A three-tiered Mountain-Piercing Scaled Fruit, what a rare delicacy.


    Remove the scales, clean the innards, cut it into small pieces, stew it with three-tier Spirit Fire for five hours, and it will be ready to serve."


    Sloppy Old Daoist eximed joyfully, having already nned out the recipe upon seeing the Demonic Beast.


    Furthermore, the Demonic Beast inside the cauldron could hear Sloppy Old Daoist''s voice, and by now, it was trembling with fear.


    At this point, therge Flying Boat that Wang Hong and the others had been riding had been shattered by the horde of Demonic Beasts.


    Out of the over a hundred cultivators who had returned, only a little more than thirty had survived, and they had now merged with the group of cultivators responsible for their rescue.


    The Demonic Beast horde had shifted its focus and was nowunching attacks against the group of rescuers.


    "Retreat!" shouted a Golden Core cultivator from within the crowd.


    As they defended against the Demon n and slowly retreated towards the city wall, they eventually reached safety. It was only then that Wang Hong could finally breathe a sigh of relief.


    After a frenzy of attacks by the Demonic Beasts beneath the city wall, they slowly withdrew.


    Upon returning to the city wall, the Golden Core cultivators took possession of all the demon-hunting trees and Spiritual Herbs brought back from the secret realm.


    In this operation, Qingxu Sect had gained a bountiful harvest of Spiritual Objects from the secret realm. However, it hade at a steep cost, with over two hundred Foundation Building cultivators and five Golden Core cultivators lost, along with arge Flying Boat.


    Most of the Spiritual Objects brought out from the secret realm had been lost during the battle.


    Considering the oues and consequences of this operation, Qingxu Sect held discussions and analysis, ultimatelying to a consensus that there must have been a traitor within the Human n leaking information.


    The Demon n had be aware of the main objectives of the Human n''s operation, which led to their fanatical assault on the Flying Boat.


    Surprisingly, during the investigation within the Human n, more than ten traitors were indeed apprehended.


    During interrogation, these traitors remained stubborn and denied leaking specific information about the operation. However, after severe torture, they eventually confessed to their involvement in conveying information to the Demon n.


    The entire process of gathering information and secretly passing it to the Demon n was revealed.


    Indeed, with sufficient coercion, one could extract confessions even for actions the used initially denied. Those who didn''t confess only indicated that the torture hadn''t been intense enough.


    The results of the interrogation left even the high-ranking members of Qingxu Sect impressed by the cunning nature of these traitors.


    After dealing with the traitor issue, it was time to reward the participants of the operation. Despite the substantial losses suffered in the mission, contributions had to be rewarded.


    ording to the original n, the Disciples who had entered the secret realm would have been selected into the two best-performing teams for rewards. However, with only a little over thirty Foundation Building cultivators returning, there wasn''t much to select from.


    In the end, they decided to grant significant rewards to all the surviving Foundation Building cultivators. Many rewards were also distributed for their contributions in the battle.


    Wang Hong received the rewards provided by the sect, which turned out to be various types of Pills and a precious bottle of second-tier Spirit Wine. In the current resource-scarce period, these items were indeed invaluable.


    If given to other cultivators, they would have locked themselves in and celebrated for days after receiving such a substantial supply of resources. Unfortunately, Wang Hong had no need for these items, especially the Spirit Wine, as his Space was already filled with it.


    Fortunately, he also received twenty thousand points of merit, which could be directly exchanged for valuable items, including those needed to attain the Golden Core realm.


    Word had it that someone had set up a merit ranking list, although it was unclear where that person had obtained the specific information.


    Since Wang Hong and the others returned, the Demon n had intensified their attacks on the defensive line. They seemed to have sent their main forces now.


    The Demon n was relentlessly assaulting the city wall day and night, leaving many defending cultivators with no time to catch their breath before meeting their demise.


    This led to increasingly challenging defense of the city wall, first due to resource shortages and then a shortage of manpower.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 404: The Harvest

    Chapter 404: The Harvest


    At a time when the entire third defense line was running low on resources, a caravan had be the hope of the stationed cultivators scattered across various bases.


    On a segment of the city wall of the third defense line, a cultivator was wrapped in severalyers of white bandages, and faint traces of blood could be seen seeping through the fabric.


    It wasn''t that he was physically disabled orcking in determination, but rather that the other cultivators around him were also carrying various degrees of injuries.


    "Sigh! I just went to see Senior Disciple Jing moments ago, hoping to get some healing pills. I heard that it will be more than half a month before the next batch of supplies arrives from the Sect. I''m afraid I won''tst until then," the bandaged cultivator said with a touch of despair.


    "Due to the continuousrge-scale battles, the Sect''s supplies are dwindling rapidly. Even with our reserves, we can''t sustain this prolonged consumption. They used to send supplies every five days, then every ten days, and now it''s been a month since thest trickle of provisions," a pale-faced cultivator nearby added, clearly not in good shape either.


    "Previously, we had a supply of Spirit Wine, but now it''s hard toe by even a middle-grade Spirit Stone. Every time we deplete our Spiritual Power in battle, we can''t replenish it. Fortunately, I had saved one middle-grade Spirit Stone from before, and I''m too afraid to use it unless it''s a life-or-death situation," another cultivator chimed in.


    "But I heard there''s an East Zhou caravan making trades along the third defense line. If they coulde our way, that would be a relief. I''ve umted quite a few Demonic Beast materials myself. I have three second-tier demon cores alone, which should fetch us a good amount of supplies," the bandaged cultivator continued.


    "Yeah, I''ve heard of this caravan too. It''s probably the only caravan along the entire defense line, and I bet everyone is eagerly awaiting their arrival," added another cultivator.


    As the two conversed, a medium-sized Flying Boat approached from the distance, bearing the g of the East Zhou caravan."The caravan is here!" eximed joyous cries from the camp.


    Many cultivators rushed out of their barracks, crowding around the justnded Flying Boat.


    Yin Ze disembarked from the Flying Boat, ustomed to being surrounded like this.


    "Fellow Daoists, please remain calm! We will be staying here for a few days, and everyone will have a chance to trade. Please form a queue and do not push!" Yin Ze''s words brought a momentary calm to the crowd.


    Then, someone shouted from the back of the crowd, "Fellow Daoists, could you please let me through? My Junior Brother is critically injured, and he''s relying on me to buy healing pills to save his life!"


    Most people silently made way upon hearing such a request, as long as it didn''t significantly affect them. They chose to show theirpassionate side.


    "Thank you! Thank you, Fellow Daoists!" the cultivator expressed his gratitude as he made his way through.


    "Fellow Daoists, please show some understanding. My Dao Companion is also bleeding profusely. Can you let me through as well?" a young male cultivator from the rear said, seizing the opportunity.


    The people surrounding the Flying Boat quietly shuffled around, ensuring that no one else could squeeze through.


    After returning to the camp, Wang Hong sorted through his recent spoils.


    First and foremost, he valued the essence blood of third-tier Demonic Beasts. He had collected over a dozen of them, intending to use these to help Little Peng enhance its bloodline, allowing it to reach a higher realm.


    Additionally, he had single-handedly in a third-tier Demonic Beast, and apart from its essence blood, he also acquired a Lifebound Magical Treasure refined from the beast''s beak.


    When Demonic Beasts reach the third tier, they use a unique nurturing method to transform a part of their body into something akin to a Human n''s Lifebound Magical Treasure. They typically choose the strongest part of their body to nurture, resulting in a Lifebound Magical Treasure that retains its original functions and bes even more potent.


    The beak was originally the toughest and sharpest part of this Roc Bird''s body. After nurturing it into a Lifebound Magical Treasure, its performance had increased several-fold. Wang Hong nned to refine it into a magic weapon in the future, which should work out nicely.


    There was also a third-tier demon core, which contained the lifelong cultivation level of the Demonic Beast and held immense demonic power. However, it couldn''t be directly absorbed by members of the Human n; it had to be refined into a pill before consumption.


    In the East Zhou Cultivation Realm, alchemy primarily relied on spirit herbs and spirit fruit, and although demon core alchemy existed, it wasn''t the mainstream practice.


    On this journey of the East Zhou caravan, they had brought along an alchemist specifically for collecting demon cores and refining them into pills for sale.


    Each type of Demonic Beast had different properties in their demon cores, and some even contained toxins. The caravan had the alchemists with them to refine these cores and gain experience.


    Apart from the third-tier demon core, there were other materials from this third-tier Demonic Beast: a pair of ws, a set of wings, third-tier Demonic Beast blood, and a pair of eyeballs.


    This particr Demonic Beast had been poisoned, and it was uncertain if its meat was safe to eat.


    Additionally, Wang Hong had gathered over ten second-tier demon cores and materials from second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    The bodies of the in second-tier Demonic Beasts were also taken away because he dared not process them into Spirit Meals due to the poison. However, they could be fed to the demon-hunting tree.


    The demon-hunting tree seemed to be immune to poisons. It had absorbed many poisonous Demonic Beast remains, and if necessary, there were also Devilish Vine and Red Powder Skull Flower that could digest Demonic Beast corpses.


    Although the situation on the defense line was tense, their section, thanks to the strength of the East Zhou Trading Company, bore a significant portion of the pressure. Overall, their segment was rtively rxed.


    Luo Zhongjie took charge of matters on the defense line, while Wang Hong remained in the camp, concentrating on extracting the essence blood from over ten third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    After extracting the bloodline power, he realized that the Roc Bird he had killed seemed to have inherited some powerful bloodline. The quantity of essence blood from this one was actually greater than the total from the other ten.


    It appeared that the creature he had identally killed was a natural talent among the Demon n, and with its bloodline, it had a significant chance of evolving into a fourth-tier Demonic Beast.


    Little did he know that he had unwittingly in a future fourth-tier Demonic Beast.


    After refining the essence blood from these ten or so creatures, Little Peng had been pacing outside his room for quite some time.


    Wang Hong beckoned, and the door of the quiet room opened slowly. It was only partially open when Little Peng couldn''t wait any longer and rushed inside.


    "Back off! Don''t smear your drool on me!"


    Wang Hong pushed away Little Peng, who was eagerly trying to cuddle and please him, with saliva flowing.


    After being pushed aside, Little Peng disyed a pitiful look, standing beside him with a foot-long strand of saliva hanging from its beak, refusing to leave.


    Wang Hong tossed a jade vial toward Little Peng, which it caught in its beak and promptly swallowed, vial included.


    "Look at you, so pathetic. Do you think I can transform into a Demonic Beast by eating it myself? Why did I end up with such a foolish bird? I hope you get smarter after swallowing all that."


    After Little Peng ingested all the bloodline power, it didn''t take long for it to stretch its wings and legs, theny back on a stone, falling asleep under the open sky, looking like a lifeless bird.


    "If Uncle Chu sees you, he''ll probably pick you up and make a stew out of you," Wang Hong muttered to himself as he ced Little Peng into a Spirit Beast pouch.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 405: Little Pengs Advancement

    Chapter 405: Little Peng''s Advancement


    Little Peng had been in a deep slumber for nearly ten days before finally awakening. As soon as it stirred, it transmitted a clear message to Wang Hong¡ªa message of hunger.


    Wang Hong promptly released the creature and handed it a sizable piece of Demonic Beast meat, which Little Peng devoured in just a few bites.


    "Hungry! Very hungry! Might starve!" it eximed.


    Even after finishing the meat, Little Peng continued to convey its extreme hunger to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong tried offering it various other foods, but Little Peng only took a few bites before refusing to eat more. Nheless, it persisted in expressing its hunger to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong was momentarily puzzled by the behavior of this seemingly foolish bird.


    Little Peng, however, began rummaging through its Storage Bag and produced a pill, which it consumed, followed by several second-tier spirit fruits.


    Watching the creature eat, Wang Hong discerned a pattern. It seemed that Little Peng exclusively consumed items rich in Spiritual Energy, indicating a need to replenish its Spiritual Energy.


    With this realization, he led Little Peng into a quiet room and activated a formation. He then handed a Green Spirit Peach to Little Peng, which it promptly devoured in one gulp, eagerly eyeing him for more.Wang Hong proceeded to feed it a few more Green Spirit Peaches, but it still couldn''t satisfy Little Peng''s cravings.


    After some contemtion, Wang Hong retrieved a three-tier Jade Ginseng Fruit from his Space. This fruit bore a slight resemnce to ginseng, with a jade-like appearance and an enticing fragrance.


    To avoid overfeeding, he carefully sliced the Jade Ginseng Fruit into smaller pieces. The Spiritual Energy contained in a three-tier spirit fruit was far from ordinary.


    Wang Hong tried a small piece himself. The Jade Ginseng Fruit had a refreshing aroma, a crisp texture, and was free from any impurities. It melted into a pure essence that flowed smoothly down his throat.


    "Mmm! Delicious!" Wang Hong eximed before tossing another piece into his mouth and then feeding a piece to Little Peng.


    Thus, the two of them shared the fruit, each taking turns.


    When Wang Hong had eaten only one-third of the fruit, he felt a surge of Spiritual Energy coursing through his body, making it challenging to control. Helplessly, he watched as Little Peng consumed the remainder of the fruit.


    After finishing the Jade Ginseng Fruit, Little Peng no longerined of hunger. Instead, it appeared somewhat lethargic and curled up on a nearby rock to sleep.


    Wang Hong once again ced it inside his Spirit Beast bag, suspecting that Little Peng might be undergoing an advancement.


    He had already read through a significant portion of the Sect Scripture Tower''s books and had some knowledge about the Demon n''s advancements.


    Whether a member of the Demon n could advancergely depended on their innate bloodline level. If their bloodline was noble enough and they reached a certain realm, supplementing with sufficient Spiritual Energy could naturally facilitate an advancement.


    Compared to the Human n, the Demon n found advancements much easier to achieve. While Humans could also advance without pills, it required consuming a substantial quantity of Spiritual Objects.


    Little Peng had long reached the pinnacle of the second-tier, umting substantial power. However, its inherent bloodline had held it back. Now, it had finally encountered an opportunity to break through its bloodline limitations.


    Moreover, it had consumed a significant amount of Spiritual Objects from Wang Hong, especially the three-tier Jade Ginseng Fruit, which provided substantial assistance to its advancement.


    Several more than twenty days passed, and suddenly, Little Peng awakened. After releasing it, Wang Hong sensed that the surrounding Spirit Qi was converging toward Little Peng.


    He quickly prepared a quiet room for Little Peng and ced it inside, standing guard at the entrance.


    Wang Hong felt the surrounding Spirit Qi slowly gathering towards the quiet room behind him, and its speed continued to increase.


    First, it affected the Spirit Qi within several yards, then gradually expanded outward¡ªten yards, a hundred yards, a mile, two miles, three miles...


    From a distance, one could see the Spirit Qi forming a vortex around the central point, which was Little Peng''s quiet room.


    Themotion in the camp had already attracted the attention of others.


    Defensive cultivators on the city walls observed this rare phenomenon with amazement.


    "My goodness, look at that! What''s happening?" eximed a young cultivator in astonishment.


    The middle-aged cultivator beside him, who had witnessed such an anomaly before, said, "Junior Brother, you''re still too young. I''ve had the fortune of witnessing such a phenomenon once before. This should be someone breaking through to the Core Realm."


    "Yes, and I wonder who''s lucky enough to be forming a Golden Core," the young man gazed at the spiraling Spirit Qi with envy.


    "Indeed, once you form a Core, you officially step into the ranks of high-tier cultivators, considered among the top few in the Cultivation World."


    The middle-aged cultivator sighed, "You should know that Qingxu Sect has tens of thousands of cultivators, yet we only have a few dozen Golden Core Elders. And since Qingxu Sect is one of the six major sects, it recruits even more talent and possesses more resources. Whether in terms of Foundation Building ratios or Core ratios, it''s rtively high in the Cultivation World."


    Meanwhile, Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist were also alerted by the disturbance and came out to observe the phenomenon.


    "Senior Brother Chu, do you know who''s forming the Core? I have a feeling that this Core phenomenon is a bit unusual," Gu Yuan furrowed his brow, sensing that there was something different about it.


    "Because it''s not a human Core, of course, it''s different," Sloppy Old Daoist chuckled, seeming to have guessed something.


    "Ah! Not human? Could it be... a Demonic Beast?" Gu Yuan was surprised.


    "More precisely, it should be a Spirit Beast. I see that the center of this Spirit Qi vortex is right above the East Zhou Trading Company''s residence. Wang Hong happens to be raising a Spirit Beast that seems to have already reached the upper second-tier."


    Sloppy Old Daoist and Wang Hong shared amon interest, and they had a good rapport. Sometimes, the two of them would cook and enjoy food together, so he was quite familiar with Little Peng.


    "I''ve seen the Spirit Beast he''s raising; it''s just an ordinary Rock Sand Carver with average aptitude. It should be quite difficult for it to advance," Gu Yuan expressed his doubts.


    "I heard that he obtained the essence blood of more than ten third-tier Demonic Beasts some time ago. It seems he used them on that silly bird of his."


    "Using over ten essence blood from third-tier creatures on such an ordinary Spiritual Beast? He must be quite generous."


    "Materials are meant to be used to realize their value in the end," Sloppy Old Daoist admired this approach.


    At this moment, above the Spirit Qi vortex, the image of a Golden-Winged Roc emerged. As the Spirit Qi converged, this image gradually solidified, transforming from an illusion into a tangible form.


    "He''s quite lucky to have obtained the bloodline of a Golden-Winged Roc."


    "Moreover, judging from the range of the Spirit Qi waves and the degree of solidification of the Golden-Winged Roc, this Spiritual Beast must have umted a profound foundation."


    Around the quiet room, the Spirit Qi became increasingly dense. Wang Hong, sitting at the entrance, was covered in ayer of mist. This was the result of extremely concentrated Spirit Qi, forming a liquid-like state.


    Inside the quiet room, Little Peng was currently enduring the pain of Spirit Qi infusion. Due to absorbing too much Spirit Qi, cracks had formed all over its body, only to slowly heal and strengthen its muscles and bones with each cycle.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 406: Little Pengs Awakening

    Chapter 406: Little Peng''s Awakening


    Inside Little Peng''s body, the demon core spun rapidly, greedily absorbing the surrounding Spirit Qi. With each rotation, the demon core shone brighter.


    As it reached its limit, a faint cracking sound echoed from within the demon core, and cracks appeared on its surface, emitting brilliant rays of light. The outeryer of the demon core began to break apart along these cracks, revealing a radiant golden demon core inside.


    The newly formed demon core continued to absorb the nearby Spirit Qi, rapidly increasing in size. With its growing volume, its absorption rate of Spirit Qi also elerated. The swirling vortex formed by the gathering Spirit Qi was entirely drawn into Little Peng''s body, as if this small Golden Core were a bottomless pit.


    This area was originally not abundant in Spirit Qi,cking even a small Spirit Vein. Many cultivators came here daily to absorb Spirit Qi, making it rtively sparse.


    Now, the surrounding spiritual energy converged here, quickly turning it into a vacuum devoid of Spirit Qi.


    Wang Hong, sitting at the entrance, felt the rapid decline in the concentration of Spirit Qi around him. The existing Spirit Qi was unlikely to support Little Peng''s smooth advancement.


    Long ago, Wang Hong had mastered a formation that could convert Spirit Stones into Spirit Qi. Later, as he became a formation master, he made some improvements to this simple formation.


    He swiftly retrieved various materials for the formation from his Storage Bag and inscribed Runes on the ground. Due to the insufficient supply of Spirit Qi, Little Peng''s newly expanded demon core began to lose its form, dimming, and shrinking slowly.


    Within a quarter of an hour, Wang Hong hadpleted the formation and then took out a hundred thousand low-grade Spirit Stones to install into it. The dense Spirit Qi produced by these Spirit Stones was instantly absorbed by Little Peng. The demon core, which had shriveled just moments ago, began to expand once again.Wang Hong watched as the Spirit Stones in the Transmutation Array gradually lost their luster and turned into ordinary stones. He immediately added another half a million Spirit Stones.


    At this moment, the phantom of the Golden-Winged Roc in the sky had already taken shape. It dived down into the Spirit Qi vortex, merging with it and entering Little Peng''s demon core. Inside the demon core, a very small Golden-Winged Roc phantom appeared, seeminglying to life, soaring within its demon core.


    With the Golden-Winged Roc phantom inside the demon core, the external Spirit Qi gradually began to stabilize.


    "Senior Brother Chu, do all Demon n members have such a grand ceremony when advancing to the third tier?" Gu Yuan asked Sloppy Old Daoist. He had witnessed several Human n cultivators advancing to the Golden Core stage, and the extent of Spirit Qi disturbance was smaller than what he saw here.


    "It''s not the case for all Demon n members. Generally, it''s simr to our Human n. This Spirit Beast should have better bloodlines or a deeper foundation," Sloppy Old Daoist replied.


    "Let''s disperse! Nothing more to see here," Sloppy Old Daoist announced to the onlookers below and then returned to his cave mansion.


    Other cultivators, seeing the dissipating Spirit Qi, also dispersed to their respective homes. However, excitement filled their hearts as they dreamed of one day forming their own Golden Core.


    No one knew which member of the East Zhou Trading Company had advanced to the Golden Core stage, but it was time to prepare some gifts for a visit.


    Many silently rejoiced that they had maintained a good rtionship with the East Zhou Trading Company.


    After more than ten days, Little Peng''s demon core had stabilized. When he emerged from his meditation room, he saw Wang Hong guarding the entrance, and with outstretched wings, Little Peng flew towards Wang Hong.


    Then, spreading its wings, Little Peng embraced Wang Hong in one swift motion, and its beak opened and closed repeatedly.


    "Ah, ah, um, um, oh..."


    Little Peng struggled to produce various sybles from its beak, resembling the babbling of a baby learning to speak.


    After some time adapting to vocalizing, it seemed that Little Peng gradually mastered the technique of pronunciation.


    "Mom! Mom!"


    Surprisingly, the first sentence Little Peng learned to say was this. Wang Hong was at a loss and turned his head aside, pretending not to hear, hoping that Little Peng was just learning to make sounds and was randomly calling out.


    "Mom! Mom!"


    Little Peng turned and continued to call out.


    Wang Hong''sst hope was shattered, and he hoped that no one had heard this.


    "Don''t call me ''Mom''! I''m not your mother!" Wang Hong corrected.


    Little Peng fell silent for a long time, seemingly deep in thought. After a while, it turned its head.


    "Dad! Dad!"


    Apparently, after thinking for a long time, this was the answer it came up with.


    "I''m not your dad either. You weren''t born to me. Haven''t you noticed that you don''t look like me? I found you." Wang Hong exined, fearing that Little Peng mighte up with some strange names.


    It seemed that even though Little Peng had advanced, its intelligence hadn''t improved much. Wasn''t it said that Demonic Beasts would gain sentience when they reached the third tier? Why wasn''t it showing any signs of intelligence?


    Oh well, Wang Hong thought, there was nothing he could do about it. At least now Little Peng had the strength of a Golden Core, and in the future, it couldmunicate with other Golden Core cultivators, even if its vocabry was limited.


    At that moment, a Transmission Talisman arrived from outside the door, and it turned out to be Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoisting to visit.


    Naturally, they hade to congratte Little Peng on reaching the third tier. Now that Wang Hong had a third-tier Spirit Beast, his strength was not far behind the Golden Core Elders, granting him equal status among them.


    Since it was a congrattory visit, they couldn''te empty-handed, and each brought a gift of third-tier materials.


    Wang Hong personally prepared a Spirit Meal and some Spirit Wine to entertain them.


    After the two Golden Core Elders left, it was the turn of Foundation Building cultivators toe with their gifts and congrattions. Almost the entire camp, everyone who could walk, came to congratte Wang Hong.


    After receiving the gifts, Wang Hong decided to host a banquet for all these cultivators.


    The cultivators didn''t hold back and took advantage of this opportunity to enjoy Wang Hong''s generous hospitality. After all, at Wang Hong''s banquet, there were various Spirit Meals, Spirit Wine, and Spirit Fruit, all of which were now difficult to obtain even with Spirit Stones.


    Two dayster, all these matters were finally settled, and Wang Hong rode Little Peng out of the camp. He wanted to find a ce to test Little Peng''s current strength.


    Sitting on Little Peng''s back, he felt the surrounding scenery rapidly receding. At this speed, there were currently no Spiritual Weapons in his possession that could match Little Peng''s speed.


    With Little Peng by his side, escaping danger would be much easier in the future. However, with a third-tier Demonic Beast as his fightingpanion, why would he need to run?


    Little Peng carried Wang Hong into a secluded, uninhabited forest, where it spread its wings to both sides, sweeping away trees and boulders.


    Then, this man and bird found a remote spot to practice.


    Two hourster, the man and bird took flight from the forest and headed back to the camp. However, the person on Little Peng''s back was already covered in injuries.


    Wang Hong noticed that after Little Peng advanced, two golden feathers had appeared on its wings. These two feathers could be used for long-range attacks and had quite formidable power.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 407: New Changes in Space

    Chapter 407: New Changes in Space


    On this day, the caravan led by Yin Ze finallypleted a circuit along the third defense line and returned to their starting point.


    Their most significant gains from this trading journey were various Spirit Stones. They collected over thirty million low-grade Spirit Stones, but not a single mid-grade Spirit Stone.


    Although over twenty million low-grade Spirit Stones might seem like a substantial amount, in reality, it was roughly equivalent to just over three thousand mid-grade Spirit Stones.


    At present, there were nearly ten thousand cultivators stationed along the entire third defense line, but only their caravan operated there. On average, they had earned a little more than thirty low-grade Spirit Stones per person.


    Apart from Spirit Stones, they also gathered a substantial amount of Demonic Beast materials, all of which could be converted into items such as Spiritual Weapons, Talismans, and Pills in the future.


    After Yin Ze handed over the ounts for inspection to Wang Hong, he briefly recounted what he had observed along the way.


    Wang Hong inquired, "Did you encounter any cultivators from the Immortal Way Trading Company on the road? How are they faring now?"


    "We did encounter them," Yin Ze replied. "In fact, we engaged in several significant trades with their caravan. I heard there''s a ranking for the achievements of cultivators defending the third defense line. It includes both individual and collective rankings. Our East Zhou Trading House ranks first on the collective list, while the Immortal Way Trading Company is second."


    Yin Ze added with a touch of pride, "By the way, we met Zhang Chunfeng from the Qingxu Sect on a section of the city wall. He has been assigned to a specific wall section and is leading ten Foundation Building cultivators under him. He asked me to deliver a letter to you."As he spoke, Yin Ze retrieved a Jade Scroll from his Storage Bag and handed it to Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong took a look at the scroll, finding nothing particrly important. It mainly contained information about Zhang Chunfeng''s location for easier contact and inquired if Wang Hong had any arrangements for him.


    After perusing the Jade Scroll, Wang Hong asked, "During your journey along the entire defense line, how is the defensive situation in various areas?"


    "East Master, currently, Demonic Beasts areunching continuous day and night attacks in various areas, and the defending cultivators have long been exhausted. Various resources, including Spiritual Objects, are nearly depleted. While our trading house has alleviated some of the immediate concerns, it''s but a drop in the bucket. I fear we can''t hold out for much longer," Yin Ze replied, wearing a concerned expression. The recent upheaval in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm was unprecedented in tens of thousands of years, leaving everyone feeling uncertain.


    In the past, the Human n had engaged in conflicts with the Demon n, but it was always a one-sided battle, either in the east or the west. Never before had there been a situation where they had to contend with both sides simultaneously, and neither of these two forces was weaker than the human race.


    Wang Hong harbored deep concerns as well. If the third defense line were to fall again, he had no idea how much strength the Qingxu Sect would have left to resist the Demon n. Even if they managed to barely hold Azure Void City and the Qingxu Sect''s Mountain Gate, enduring a prolonged siege would be challenging.


    After seeing off Yin Ze, Wang Hong entered his spatial domain. This time, he had obtained over thirty million Spirit Stones, and he scattered ten million of them throughout his spatialnd.


    As the Spirit Stones were absorbed by the spatialnd, its area gradually expanded, and the flow of time within it elerated.


    The original size of the spatialnd was three hundred and five acres, and time flowed at a rate of three hundred and thirty-four times that of the outside world.


    As the area of Space continued to expand, the speed of time passing increased to 365 times the normal rate, then suddenly halted. Although thend area continued to grow, the rate of time passing remained constant.


    However, when thend area reached 365 acres, it also stopped growing. Yet, the millions of Spirit Stones he had scattered on thend were still gradually disappearing.


    Until all the remaining Spirit Stones had been absorbed, Space showed no sign of growth or change, even the concentration of Spirit Qi remained unchanged.


    It was distressing for Wang Hong to see millions of Spirit Stones vanish without any noticeable effect.


    It seemed like Space had a particr fondness for the number 365, as both thend area and time passage remained fixed at that number.


    Since he had no power to change this, Wang Hong decided to enjoy the benefits that Space had to offer. He added an additional forty-five acres ofnd in Space, nting them with second-tier and third-tier Spiritual Herbs.


    Now, one day outside equated to one year within Space, significantly speeding up the cultivation of these Spiritual Herbs.


    Typically, it took just one year in the outside world from nting second-tier Spiritual Herbs to harvesting them.


    With this elerated growth rate, Wang Hong could allocate more space for nting third-tier Spiritual Objects, which would be useful for Little Peng and himself in the future.


    In reality, over three hundred acres ofnd was quite substantial for the Mortal Realm, equivalent to all thend in a small vige.


    The Wang family vige, where Wang Hong originally lived, had a total of only five hundred acres of farnd.


    The Spiritual Herbs and spirit wood in Space had been growing for approximately five thousand years, and if released into the outside world, even Golden Core cultivators would vie for them.


    Some of the Spirit Fruits trees that Wang Hong initially nted had experienced thousands of years of growth in Space, growing into towering trees. In the outside world, many Spiritual Herbs and spirit wood had a limited lifespan, but in Wang Hong''s Space, the situation was different.


    Many first-tier Spiritual Herbs in his Space, even after reaching their lifespan limit, didn''t die but continued to grow, umting medicinal power. When they reached a critical point, they naturally advanced to be second-tier Spiritual Herbs.


    Simrly, some second-tier Spiritual Herbs had naturally advanced to third-tier Spiritual Herbs.


    As for third-tier Spiritual Herbs, this phenomenon had not yet urred, likely because they hadn''t reached the required age.


    However, there was one small green tree in Space that had been growing for thousands of years and was still only about the height of a person. This tree neither bore flowers nor fruits, and aside from being incredibly resilient, its purpose remained a mystery.


    Wang Hong wondered if it would ever produce some top-tier spirit fruit in the future, allowing him to enjoy a luxurious treat.


    The spirit silkworms he raised in Space were now spinning silk, and Wang Hong had collected hundreds of bundles of spirit silkworm silk. He intended to use it to craft a close-fitting armor for himself.


    After busywork in Space, Wang Hong settled on a fruit tree and concentrated his thoughts on a golden circle within his Nascent Soul''s body.


    This golden circle was simr to a Blood Contract and had been signed when he first achieved Foundation Building during his registration in the Sect. Now, he discovered that there was a simr golden circle within his Nascent Soul.


    Wang Hong had previously attempted to remove this golden circle through his thoughts but hadn''t seeded. Now, with the Qingxu Sect''s future looking uncertain, he didn''t want to leave any potential liabilities for the Sect.


    So, he slowly moved the golden circle within his body using his thoughts.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 408: Retreat

    Chapter 408: Retreat


    Wang Hong had lost track of time while in Space when suddenly he felt a strange sensation, as if his physical body outside was sensing something.


    He exited Space and found that dozens of Transmission Talismans were floating around in his quiet chamber, each one touching a small formation in front of him.


    With a wave of his hand, one Transmission Talisman flew into his grasp, and Luo Zhongjie''s anxious voice echoed from within.


    "East Master! The defenses in the north and west sides have copsed, and the two Golden Core Elders have ordered a retreat!"


    He stood up abruptly, pulling all the other Transmission Talismans to him, each one carrying the worried voices of his subordinates.


    "East Master! Hurry out! It''s getting toote!"


    "East Master, others have already started retreating; everyone is waiting outside for you."


    "The Demonic Beasts have breached the defenses!"


    Wang Hong didn''t have time to tidy up his chamber. His figure shed as he burst through the chamber door.Outside his temporary residence, he found all his subordinates waiting silently.


    The city walls were now left unguarded, and many Demonic Beasts were scaling the walls and heading toward them.


    "Retreat! All those in the Qi Cultivation stage, cram into the Flying Boats. Those in the Foundation Building stage, use your artifacts to fly. Let''s go!"


    Wang Hong didn''t waste time on idle chatter; he immediately organized the retreat.


    They only had three Flying Boats left, and while some in the Qi Cultivation stage had fallen in battle, there were still nearly two thousand people. Crowding into these three Flying Boats exceeded their capacity by tenfold, but no matter how cramped it was inside, it should be faster than trying to escape on foot.


    However, in such tight quarters, theirbat effectiveness was severelypromised.


    The three Flying Boats were already airborne, hovering above. Luo Zhongjie arranged for people to board while forcibly squeezing them in.


    Once all those in the Qi Cultivation stage were inside, there was hardly any room to move, even lifting one''s feet wouldn''t make them fall to the ground.


    Maintainingbat effectiveness in such a crowded space was nearly impossible.


    The three Flying Boats quickly ascended into the sky, heading in the direction of Qingxu Sect, with over two hundred Foundation Building cultivators surrounding them.


    Wang Hong rode on Little Peng''s back, flying above the others.


    Little Peng pped its wings gently, keeping pace with the Flying Boats below.


    Their departure from the East Zhou Trading Company was slightly dyed due to Wang Hong''s presence.


    The two senior elders, Gu and Chu, had already led other cultivators in an earlier retreat, leaving a message for him, hoping he would catch up quickly.


    "East Master! How about I go back and take care of those small Demonic Beasts behind us? I can just use a few ps to kill them. All you need to do is reward me with one of those fruits we hadst time, the Jade Ginseng Fruit."


    Little Peng had been craving the taste of the Jade Ginseng Fruit ever since theyst had it and wanted a chance to impress and hopefully get another one.


    "Sure, you''ve improved your endurance. But do you realize there are probably millions of Demonic Beasts behind us? Will you be okay?"


    Although their current location wasn''t the primary target of the Demonic Beasts, there were still likely hundreds of thousands pursuing them from behind.


    Noticing that Little Peng''s intellectual level was roughly equivalent to that of a child, Wang Hong added, "Little Peng, there are tens of thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands behind us."


    Seeing that even figures like Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist, both in the Golden Core stage, didn''t dare to stay behind and hold the line, but instead chose to follow the group, it was clear how dire the situation was.


    Based on recentmunications, it seemed that Little Peng had little grasp of such numbers. Wang Hong continued, "Little Peng, go and give it a try, but be careful. If you manage to handle them, I''ll reward you with a Jade Ginseng Fruit likest time."


    "More numerous than the hairs on your body, and some of them are as strong as Chu Elder. Are you still going?" Little Peng realized it had exaggerated and shrunk its neck.


    "Hahaha! I was just joking!"


    They continued their flight forward, asionally encountering flying Demonic Beasts from behind, all of which were swiftly dealt with by Little Peng.


    Most of the cultivators defending the third line of defense were in the Qi Cultivation stage, and they had to rely on the Wind Control Technique to keep up with the group on the ground.


    With Wang Hong''s group''s speed, they quickly caught up with the main force ahead.


    Sloppy Old Daoist saw Wang Hong and his group approaching and weed them.


    "Nephew Wang, your timing is perfect. I would like to ask you to help us and do your best to ensure that these Qi Cultivation stage disciples make it back alive."


    They were currently in a retreat, not yet in full-scale escape mode. If everyone only looked out for themselves and left these slower Qi Cultivation stage disciples behind, they would surely be killed by the pursuing Demonic Beasts.


    Wang Hong agreed, as he didn''t want to see these lower-tier disciples perish at the hands of the Demonic Beasts if he had the ability to help.


    They then slowed down to match the pace of the main force.


    They still had several days of travel ahead to reach Azure Void City. After a full day of continuous travel, even Foundation Building cultivators couldn''t endure it. As they stopped to rest, they immediately went into meditation to recover.


    The cramped Flying Boats held two thousand Qi Cultivation cultivators, and this rest allowed them all to stretch their limbs.


    The other cultivators in the vicinity were perplexed by the peculiar sight of people intermittentlying out of these rtively small Flying Boats. They couldn''t fathom how these boats could amodate so many individuals.


    After a brief rest, during which they only managed to recover some of their Spiritual Power, they set off again. Time was of the essence, and they couldn''t afford any dys.


    After several days of continuous travel, they were now nearing Azure Void City. They encountered more and more Demonic Beasts along the way.


    Suddenly, a violent surge of Spiritual Qi ahead of them grew stronger and closer. There seemed to be arge-scale battle urring in the direction of Azure Void City.


    "Everyone, elerate!" Gu Yuan shouted, and everyone rushed toward the source of the disturbance.


    Wang Hong, riding Little Peng, led the way, and soon they arrived at the battlefield. There, a group of cultivators was being pursued by Demonic Beasts. This group consisted of approximately three to five hundred Foundation Building cultivators.


    The Demonic Beasts behind them were numerous and formidable, and they had already encircled the group, forcing them to fight desperately to break free.


    Wang Hong could see that many of these Foundation Building cultivators were covered in blood, indicating that they had been in a fierce battle for a long time.


    Among them, there was only one Golden Core cultivator, who appeared severely injured but was still bravely fending off attacks from two third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Without hesitation, Wang Hong joined the battle on Little Peng''s back, while Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist also charged forward.


    In the midst of the encirclement, a robed cultivator with torn clothes exhibited a numb expression as he squeezed out hisst reserves of Spiritual Power. He struggled to control a trident, which he swung towards one of the Demonic Beasts.


    The trident emitted a faint blue lightning, but perhaps due to exhaustion, it only managed to strike one of the third-tier Demonic Beast''s front limbs.


    While it didn''tnd a fatal blow, the lightning on the trident still numbed the entire body of the third-tier Demonic Beast, causing it to lose control of its bodily functions.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 409: The Shattering of Azure Void City

    Chapter 409: The Shattering of Azure Void City


    After delivering that strike, it seemed that the young man had no more strength left. He could only watch helplessly as a w was about to tear him apart.


    In this fleeting moment, as he faced impending death, the young man''s thoughts turned to many things. He remembered his Master, who had raised him from childhood. He thought of all his fellow disciples who had already passed away, as well as the memories of his life shing before his eyes.


    He couldn''t ept this fate! He possessed Thunder Spiritual Roots, originally destined for a bright future, but now, he could only meet his end in bitterness.


    Just as the w was mere inches from him, a sudden arrow flew in from a distance.


    With great force, the arrow sent the Demonic Beast flying backward.


    He looked towards the direction from which the arrow came. A giant bird, several zhang in size, was flying towards them, with a young man standing on its back.


    The young man had a calm expression, holding arge bow, continuously shooting arrows. Each arrow struck down a Demonic Beast.


    To Jia Liang, who had just been pulled back from the brink of death, this scene felt like a divine being descending from the heavens, filling him with immense awe.


    Wang Hong, riding on Little Peng, approached the circle of Demonic Beasts and opened a wide path from the outside.With Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist already engaging the two three-tier Demonic Beasts, the remaining Demonic Beasts were unable to stop this man and his bird.


    Momentster, other cultivators caught up and joined the battle, shing directly with the group of Demonic Beasts.


    The battlested only the time it took to burn a stick of incense, and the group of Demonic Beasts was driven back.


    "Thank you for saving my life!" After the battle, Jia Liang rushed over to express his gratitude to Wang Hong without taking a break.


    "Well, don''t mention it. I just did it on a whim," Wang Hong recalled that he had indeed saved someone just now.


    "I have no way to repay your kindness, but in the future, if you have any instructions, I will follow them without hesitation," Jia Liang thanked Wang Hong once again.


    "East Master, does he find you ugly?" At this moment, Little Peng asked in a puzzled tone.


    "Shut up! What does a silly bird like you know about beauty and ugliness?" Wang Hong scolded Little Peng and then quickly exined to avoid any misunderstanding, "Your grace is like that of a celestial being, and I dare not show any disrespect."


    "Butst time when I was drinking, Skinny Monkey said that usually, when repaying a life-saving favor, it involves giving oneself unless the person is too ugly, then they might say something else," Little Peng continued earnestly.


    Wang Hong''s forehead was covered in ck lines. He decided that once things settled down, he would have to get some nice shoes for Skinny Monkey.


    "In the future, don''t listen to Skinny Monkey''s nonsense. Look, I''m a man, and he''s a man too, so we can''t just give ourselves away like that."


    Wang Hong gave a serious lesson, wondering why his own Demonic Beast had to be educated before understanding.


    "East Master, I understand now. I''ll talk about it when we save a woman next time."


    Then Little Peng turned to Jia Liang with a bit of apology, "So, you''re a man, huh? Human appearances all look the same to me, and I couldn''t tell when you were wearing clothes."


    "Shut your bird beak and go y by yourself," Wang Hong didn''t want Little Peng to continue speaking, as he wasn''t sure what else it might say. Teaching Little Peng to speak was turning out to be quite a handful.


    "Spiritual Beasts can be a bit naive and tend to speak out of turn. Fellow Daoist, please don''t take offense."


    "I don''t mind at all!" Jia Liang quickly responded. Would he dare to have any objections to a three-tier Spiritual Beast?


    "By the way, I have a question. Why did you withdraw from the direction of Azure Void City?"


    This was the aspect that puzzled Wang Hong the most. At this time, everyone should be retreating towards Azure Void City, which should be safer.


    "Oh, Fellow Daoist is not aware of it? Azure Void City has already fallen."


    "What? Azure Void City has fallen so quickly?" This news sent shockwaves through Wang Hong''s heart.


    It had only been a few days, and Azure Void City had already fallen. How could the Demon n advance so rapidly?


    "Azure Void City didn''t have many resident cultivators to begin with. After the Demonic Beasts breached the third defense line a few days ago, they didn''t wait for a full-scale breakthrough. A group of Demonic Beasts charged straight into Azure Void City when it was vulnerable. At that time, Azure Void City was practically empty, and it was quickly taken over by the Demonic Beasts. When we returned to Azure Void City, we found that it had changed hands, and we were then chased and ambushed by these Demonic Beasts."


    Jia Liang recounted the sequence of events.


    "Although the rear of Qingxu Sect is rtively weak, there are two Nascent Soul Elders guarding it, right? Did they note out?" Wang Hong had heard Sloppy Old Daoist talk about this. Qingxu Sect had been prepared, and to prevent a Demon n surprise attack, two Nascent Soul cultivators were stationed at the rear.


    "I''ve heard about that. It turns out that among the Demonic Beasts in this attack, there were three four-tier Demonic Beasts. Both of our Nascent Soul Elders intervened, but they couldn''t deal with those three four-tier Demonic Beasts and suffered some injuries."


    It wasn''t ack of preparation; it was simply a matter of being outmatched by the Demons.


    At that moment, a cultivator approached and said, "Senior Brother Wang, Elder Gu and Uncle Chu invite you to join them for a discussion."


    "Thank you for passing on the message; I''ll go right away."


    Thinking that the two Golden Core Elders were probably aware of the situation by now, Wang Hong guessed that their group had initially intended to return to Azure Void City, but that was likely no longer possible.


    Wang Hong entered a makeshift tent where a dozen or so people were gathered.


    Seated at the head were Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist, along with another Golden Core cultivator with a paleplexion, likely the Golden Core cultivator they had rescued earlier.


    The others seated below were leaders of smaller factions, and after Wang Hong entered, he found a ce to sit among them.


    Seeing that everyone had arrived, Gu Yuan began to speak, "I assume you''ve all heard that Azure Void City has fallen. The purpose of gathering everyone here is to discuss our next steps."


    "We have no objections, and we are willing to follow the lead of the three seniors!" A leader of a smaller faction quickly voiced their support. After all, their group, with just a few dozen members and Qi Cultivation stage cultivators, was safest following therger group.


    He set the example, and other cultivators also hurriedly expressed their agreement, stating that they had no objections.


    "Fellow Daoists, there''s no need to rush. If you have any opinions or suggestions, feel free to voice them. Wang nephew, do you have any thoughts?"


    Gu Yuan noticed that Wang Hong had remained silent and asked for his opinion. He knew that Wang Hong''s input should be taken seriously because Wang Hong not only had a three-tier Spiritual Beast but alsomanded over two thousand people under the East Zhou Trading Company, including over two hundred highly coordinated and powerful Foundation Building cultivators.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 410: Decision

    Chapter 410: Decision


    Upon hearing Gu Yuan''s inquiry, Wang Hong paused for a moment before responding, "Now that Azure Void City has fallen, the next target for the Demon n will undoubtedly be Qingxu Sect."


    As per the opinion of our two senior masters, facing the full-scale siege of the Demon n, can Qingxu Sect sessfully defend itself this time?"


    Wang Hong''s question cast a shadow over the faces of everyone present, including the two Golden Core Elders, who wore grave expressions.


    In truth, everyone should have thought of this already, but they had subconsciously avoided thinking in that direction.


    With the Demon n gathering their full might and the Human n divided into six major sects fighting independently, how could Qingxu Sect alone hope to withstand them?


    When they breached Qingxu Sect, the Demon n unleashed three Fourth-Tier Demonic Beasts in a single assault, and that was only a part of their forces. Behind them, there were surely more Fourth-Tier Demonic Beasts guarding, but for regr battles, they didn''t need to reveal themselves.


    From this, it was evident that the Demon n''s strength assembled here far surpassed Qingxu Sect.


    Everyone had be ustomed to seeking refuge under the Qingxu Sect''s umbre. If this tree were to fall now, considering the current situation, they had no idea how they would survive without its protection.


    Gu Yuan pondered for a moment, sighed, and said, "At present, we are outnumbered, and even with the Large Formation protecting Qingxu Sect, it may not hold up against the Demon n''s constant attacks. However, we, as Qingxu Sect disciples, cannot escape our duty during this critical time. If Qingxu Sect were truly to be destroyed by the Demon n, I am willing to fight to the death at the Mountain Gate!"As Gu Yuan spoke these words, his tone was resolute, his eyes bloodshot, and his hair standing on end without any breeze. His robes fluttered on their own.


    For generations, his family had been born in Qingxu Sect, and he had grown up within its walls. Qingxu Sect was the ultimate sanctuary in his heart.


    He had this mindset, and it wasmendable, but others might not necessarily feel the same. Who would willingly choose death when given the chance to survive?


    At this moment, more than ten leaders of minor factions seated below were secretlymenting their choices. They regretted being too eager to curry favor, as going to Qingxu Sect now was like jumping into a fire pit, surrounded by millions of Demonic Beasts. How confident were they of surviving?


    But they didn''t have much power to begin with, and there were some things beyond their control.


    Wang Hong understood Gu Yuan''s emotions and admired his character, but he didn''t want to perish with Qingxu Sect at this moment.


    Even if he were willing, he had thousands of subordinates, and they were not Qingxu Sect disciples. He couldn''t drag all of them into this. He needed to find a way for his subordinates to survive, considering their loyalty to him.


    He had gained much from Qingxu Sect as well, but he was currently just a humble Foundation Building cultivator. Throwing himself into the Beast Tide would, at most, create a few small ripples, making no significant impact on the overall situation.


    He could only wait for the future when he had the strength to repay this debt of gratitude.


    But Gu Yuan''s words were about the greater good, and he couldn''t outright oppose them. After some thought, he said, "I believe that even though the Demon n is formidable, it should be impossible for them topletely annihte our Qingxu Sect cultivators. When the timees, we should be able to break through!"


    "This is natural. Regardless of the circumstances, our Qingxu Sect still has tens of thousands of cultivators and two Nascent Soul ancestors. At the very least, we can protect a portion of our people and break out of the encirclement," Gu Yuan affirmed.


    "In that case, I have a suggestion. Even if we return to the sect now, facing the siege of millions of Demon n members would not be of much help. Instead, we could temporarily station ourselves on the outskirts and, when the battle begins,unch attacks from the rear against the Demon n. Our impact would be greater than if we were to stay and defend. In case Qingxu Sect is defeated, when the cultivators attempt to break out, we canunch a pincer attack from inside and outside to assist them in escaping," Wang Hong analyzed, and in terms of interests, this approach would be most advantageous for Qingxu Sect.


    "Excellent! Wang Junior, you truly possess the potential to stand out among the crowd. This n is quite ingenious!" The injured Golden Core cultivator, who was not from Qingxu Sect, enthusiastically agreed. At this moment, he naturally didn''t want to get involved further.


    Taking refuge in the rear might be dangerous, but at least they had room to maneuver and didn''t have to engage Demonic Beasts head-on most of the time.


    The leaders of other minor factions seized this opportunity to nod in agreement, praising the effectiveness of this method.


    Gu Yuan was not naive and could discern the mindset of those present. He turned to Sloppy Old Daoist and asked, "Senior Brother Chu, what''s your opinion?"


    Sloppy Old Daoist looked at Gu Yuan and said, "Junior Brother Gu, I understand your sentiments, but Wang Junior''s proposed n is indeed the most advantageous for Qingxu Sect. If we can help a portion of our elite cultivators break out, we can easily provide support from the outside. In the future, even if we have to reestablish Qingxu Sect''s Mountain Gate elsewhere, we can ensure the sect''s legacy continues."


    "Very well! Let''s proceed with this n. However, for now, we need to find a suitable ce to stay," Gu Yuan said. Their current location was clearly unsuitable, as they were at risk of discovery by the Demon n, and theycked any defensive measures.


    However, finding a suitable ce on such short notice was proving to be a challenge, leaving everyone in a temporary state of calm.


    "The junior has a Mountain Valley not too far from Azure Void City. It''s rtively hidden, and I''ve made some simple preparations. Perhaps we could go there to see if it''s suitable?" Seeing that no one had any immediate ideas, Wang Hong suggested. After all, his Mountain Valley would be difficult to maintain in the future, so it might as well serve as a hiding ce now.


    Sloppy Old Daoist had been to Wang Hong''s Mountain Valley before and nodded in agreement.


    After the decision was made, they quickly gathered everyone and changed their direction, heading towards Wang Hong''s Hua Xue Valley.


    On their way back, they encountered several instances of Human n members being pursued by Demonic Beasts. They rescued them, which further bolstered their group.


    Soon, they safely arrived at Wang Hong''s Mountain Valley. After their arduous journey, suddenly finding themselves in a secure area allowed them to rx a bit.


    Especially for the two thousand Qi Cultivation cultivators under Wang Hong, they had been crammed inside the Flying Boat due to the possibility of emergencies during the journey. Now, they could finally step out of the Flying Boat, and for the first time, they realized how enjoyable it was to walk on their own legs.


    "Wang Junior, I never knew you had such a hidden paradise. It makes me feel inadequate," remarked the Golden Core cultivator they had previously rescued, named Yi Huai. He was an elder from a medium-sized sect, but due to the Demon n''s invasion, they had to relocate and had settled in a mountainous area with only a small Spirit Vein.


    If he had known about this ce earlier, he might have considered taking it for himself, but now, there was no need for such thoughts.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 411: Selling Spiritual Herb

    Chapter 411: Selling Spiritual Herb


    Yi Huai observed everything in Mountain Valley, where several small Spirit Veins intertwined, and in the midst of it all, there was a Spirit Spring, and hundreds of acres of spiritual fields.


    Various types of Spirit nts thrived in these fields, with one particr patch standing out prominently.


    This particr area covered over a hundred acres, and the Spiritual Objects nted within resembled Spirit Grain but were much taller than regr Spirit Grain.


    He had never seen Spirit Grain stalks over ten feet tall before, and the grains on them were farrger than usual.


    Those grains were the size of fists, and he hadn''t even heard of them, let alone seen them.


    "Friend Wang, forgive my ignorance, but are these Spirit Grain?" Yi Huai inquired of Wang Hong, who stood beside him.


    "Indeed, they are Spirit Grain. I happened to obtain a few seeds and decided to try nting them. Although they weren''t easy to cultivate, I eventually seeded, and now they''ve proliferated into this vast field," Wang Hong replied. At the same time, he plucked a few stalks of grain. "Today, I''ll cook some Spirit Rice made from these grains to treat our esteemed seniors."


    While Yi Huai toured Mountain Valley, Gu Yuan and Sloppy Old Daoist were patrolling the area, familiarizing themselves with the surroundings to prepare for future battles with Demonic Beasts.


    "The formation in this Mountain Valley, I wonder who the masterful formation expert behind it is. Despite being a second-tier formation, it''s arranged incredibly cleverly," Sloppy Old Daoist praised."However, the defense of this formation around Mountain Valley seems a bit weak. Come, Senior Gu, follow me to take a look," they said in unison.


    As they flew towards the peak surrounding Mountain Valley and prepared to cross over from the summit, Sloppy Old Daoist suddenly shouted, "Senior Gu, be careful!"


    At that moment, several thick vines began to coil around them, some as thick as water buckets, and others as thin as fingers, all covered in menacing wooden thorns.


    Fortunately, both of them were seasoned Golden Core cultivators with agility, so they quickly evaded the vines, preventing any harm.


    After retreating to a safe distance, Gu Yuan frowned as he gazed at the multitude of Devilish Vines before them.


    "Why are there so many Devilish Vines?"


    "Heh! It''s not just Devilish Vines. Senior Gu, use your Divine Sense to look beyond those rocks," Sloppy Old Daoist chuckled.


    Following Sloppy Old Daoist''s guidance, Gu Yuan extended his Divine Sense forward and spotted some vibrant and captivating flowers.


    "These flowers... Red Powder Skull Flowers?" Gu Yuan said with a hint of uncertainty, as he wasn''t very familiar with this type of flower.


    "Yes, precisely these. The pollen from these flowers can ensnare humans or Demonic Beasts in illusions, rendering them defenseless, and then the Devilish Vines entangle and kill them," Sloppy Old Daoist exined.


    "Quite a poisonous tactic!" Gu Yuan eximed.


    "Regardless of the means, as long as they''re effective against enemies, they are good tactics. It seems we don''t have to worry much as long as the iing Demonic Beasts aren''t too numerous. We''ve seen enough; let''s head back," Sloppy Old Daoist said.


    Upon their return to Mountain Valley, Wang Hong had already prepared food and drinks to wee everyone and provide them with a break.


    "Nephew Wang, you even have Golden Spotted Bamboo Shoots here! We''ve been eating Demonic Beast meat every day for some time now, and it''s be quite monotonous."


    Sloppy Old Daoist took a small sip of Spirit Wine and savored the crisp bamboo shoots, feeling immensely delighted.


    "Ah, it''s just a pity for all my high-quality ingredients," Sloppy Old Daoist thought, remembering the premium ingredients he had grown in his cave mansion, feeling a twinge of regret.


    Wang Hong had prepared food for over ten thousand people this time, as a gesture of hospitality to all the neers, extending his generosity as the host.


    For the Immortal Cultivators, the meal was entirelyprised of Spirit Meals. One delicious feast after another helped numerous cultivators, who had grown weary due to continuous warfare, to rx both their bodies and minds.


    "It''s embarrassing to admit, but this is my first time ever having a Spirit Meal. I never thought Spirit Meals would be so delicious!" remarked a seemingly destitute Qi Cultivation cultivator.


    "Who would have thought we could even have Spirit Rice here? In these times of constant conflict, it''s hard toe by anything spiritual, even if you''re willing to spend Spirit Stones."


    "Spirit Rice is nothing; I heard that the senior Foundation Building cultivators get to enjoy Spirit Wine at their tables. Spirit Wine has be a strategic resource now."


    "Have you not seen the hundreds of acres of spirit fields in this Mountain Valley, especially the central area with second-tier Spiritual Herbs? Just plucking one would save you decades of effort."


    Therge group of cultivators discussed everything they had seen in Mountain Valley while indulging in their meal.


    With Wang Hong''s current wealth, treating over ten thousand people to a meal was not a problem. However, he only intended to offer this meal for free, and they would have to fend for themselves afterward.


    "Wang, may I inquire about the price of these Spirit Grains? I''d like to purchase all of them if possible," Yi Huai asked Wang Hong during the banquet.


    "Yi Fellow Daoist, you can''t hog all the good things. If Nephew Wang is willing to part with them, I''d like to buy them all as well," Gu Yuan chimed in without reservation.


    They had already tasted the difference between these Spirit Grains and the regr ones. The Spirit Qi within them was more than ten times denser, and if consumed by cultivators below the Foundation Building stage, it could even aid in increasing their cultivation levels.


    For cultivators like them, items that could benefit their cultivation levels were scarce.


    Sloppy Old Daoist, on the other hand, remained calm. He had been injured in the past, and his cultivation level had long stopped growing, leading to his current self-indulgent lifestyle.


    At this point, Wang Hong had to make a decision, allowing each person to purchase a maximum of fifty acres of Spirit Grains.


    Moreover, Wang Hong needed refining materials right now, and he prioritized this as the payment method. Yi Huai and Gu Yuan had no choice but toply with Wang Hong''s terms.


    The banquet had just ended, and many cultivators approached Wang Hong, eager to purchase the Spiritual Herbs from Mountain Valley.


    In the midst of ongoing conflicts in various regions, many Spiritual Herb fields had already been destroyed, making Spiritual Herbs exceedingly rare.


    Upon entering Mountain Valley and witnessing these vast Spiritual Herb fields, their eyes lit up with green envy.


    If not for the over two thousand cultivators in the valley closely watching, they might have rushed into the spirit fields to fight for them.


    For the purchasing needs of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Building stage cultivators, Wang Hong entrusted Yin Ze to handle them. He had no intention of keeping the Spiritual Herbs from Mountain Valley and was eager to sell them at a high price, which suited his purpose perfectly.


    The trade conditions still favored refining materials. Wang Hong had an urgent need for such materials and intended to use them to craft more medium-sized Flying Boats.


    Currently, two thousand people were crammed into three Flying Boats, making them utterly crowded andckingbat capability.


    They would undoubtedly need to move again in the future, and having a few more Flying Boats would prove highly convenient.


    Furthermore, the Spirit Energy Cannon he had developed himself had already seeded. He needed to refine several Spirit Energy Cannons to install on the Flying Boats, enhancing theirbat capabilities.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 412: Nascent Soul Takes Action

    Chapter 412: Nascent Soul Takes Action


    In the days following their return to Mountain Valley, Yin Ze, Xu Lun, and the others were tirelessly upied. Their tasks included overseeing the harvesting of mature Spirit Grains and Spiritual Herbs within the valley, which would then be traded for various refining tool materials with fellow cultivators from different sects.


    Currently, due to consecutiverge-scale battles, apart from Demonic Beasts, cultivators had no other sources of ie, and most were depleting their reserves. To secure resources within Mountain Valley, many werepelled to part with items they had been reluctant to trade previously.


    For some, if these possessions couldn''t be used to enhance their strength in the short term, it made more sense to exchange them for items that could be immediately utilized. Consequently, this trade turned out to be quite lucrative for Mountain Valley, yielding a substantial amount of high-quality materials.


    Of particr interest were the fortunes of two Golden Core cultivators, which left Wang Hong envious. If it weren''t for the fact that he couldn''t overpower them, he would have considered seizing their wealth directly. Nevertheless, he managed to acquire valuable items from them in exchange for Spirit Grains.


    Once all the transactions were concluded, Wang Hong tabted all the materials. Whenbined with the remaining resources from before, he estimated that he could refine three medium-sized Flying Boats. This would bring his total to six small-sized Flying Boats, making future migrations or escapes considerably more convenient.


    In truth, the most significant resource consumed in refining Flying Boats was spirit wood, and Wang Hong had an abundance of it.


    As Wang Hong and his team of refining tool experts began working on the spirit wood, the Demon n had already assembled all their Demonic Beasts andunched an attack on the Qingxu Sect.


    Hua Xue Valley was currently situated behind the bulk of the Demonic Beasts, with some of these creatures passing by their vicinity daily. Those Demonic Beasts that attempted to enter Mountain Valley were swiftly dispatched by the Red Powder Skull Flower and Devilish Vine formations outside the valley, requiring no intervention from the cultivators within.


    As for the Demonic Beasts that passed by directly, the group refrained from disturbing them. After all, they didn''t want to alert the enemy prematurely. They preferred to remain hidden until the time was right.Due to Yi Huai''s severe injuries and theck of suitable healing pills, he could only recuperate within Mountain Valley.


    Gu Yuan and the Sloppy Old Daoist, along with a group of individuals, discreetly infiltrated the rear of the Demon n''s army. They assassinated Demonic Beasts with stealth, taking advantage of any opportunities and then promptly withdrawing. The Demon n''s higher-ups were aware of this troublesome group operating in their rear, but every time they sent a swarm of Demonic Beasts to encircle them, the group would vanish without a trace.


    In reality, this elusive team would return to Mountain Valley and deliver the corpses of the in Demonic Beasts, which were then distributed to the Devilish Vines surrounding Mountain Valley. The Devilish Vines absorbed these Demonic Beast remains, elerating their growth significantly.


    Wang Hong also transnted all the Devilish Vine seedlings he had previously cultivated within Mountain Valley to its surroundings. His original n had been to sell these Devilish Vines as guardians for Mountain Gates to various factions, but now that many of those smaller factions had disappeared, he decided to invest in their growth.


    Nurtured by the abundant blood and flesh of the Demonic Beasts, these Devilish Vine seedlings rapidly thrived. As a result, the area surrounding Mountain Valley had be a death zone, and even the exit was overrun with countless Devilish Vines.


    To enter or exit Mountain Valley, there was only one winding path. Straying from this route would incur the wrath of the Devilish Vines.


    After more than five months of diligent effort, all the refining tool experts from the East Zhou Trading Company within Mountain Valley sessfullypleted the refinement of three medium-sized Flying Boats.


    These three new additions followed the blueprints designed by Wang Hong himself. Combined with the previous one, he now possessed four Flying Boats of the same design. With the addition of the two others, he had a total of six.


    While his two thousand followers would still find them a bit cramped,pared to before, this situation was much morefortable.


    At present, out of the six Flying Boats, only one is equipped with a Spirit Energy Cannon. Wang Hong ns to install Spirit Energy Cannons on all of them.


    During the past five months of refining the Flying Boats, Wang Hong also apanied two Golden Core cultivators to harass the Demon n''s rear. Simultaneously, he hoped to trace the whereabouts of Liu Changsheng and his group.


    Since the retreat from the third defense line, there had been no news from Liu Changsheng and hispanions. Through their Blood Contract connection, Wang Hong could sense that they were still alive.


    When they retreated, Liu Changsheng and his group from the Immortal Way Trading Company were reluctantly led into the Qingxu Sect by two Golden Core cultivators to help defend it. Though they were highly unwilling, they had no choice due to the circumstances and could only participate reluctantly.


    Currently, Liu Changsheng, along with over two hundred members of the Immortal Way Trading Company, guarded a formation together.


    Countless Demonic Beasts were relentlessly attacking the Sect''s protective Large Formation. These cultivators, sheltered within the formation, didn''t need to focus on defense. Their role was to wield their Spiritual Weapons and y the Demonic Beasts before them.


    For the Demon n to break through the Qingxu Sect, they would first have to breach the protective Large Formation. Qingxu Sect had been established for tens of thousands of years, and their Large Formation had been reinforced repeatedly, with the support of arge-scale Spirit Vein. The Demon n''s attempts to break it would only result in heavy casualties.


    After nearly half a year of continuous attacks, the corpses of Demonic Beasts outside the Large Formation had been cleared numerous times. Thend beyond the Sect''s formation had turnedpletely red, perhaps due to the excessive absorption of blood, with even the surrounding trees gradually taking on a crimson hue.


    The Demon n had expended considerable effort, and the protective Large Formation now appeared significantly dimmer. Some areas disyed minor cracks under the relentless assault, but these were swiftly repaired by the replenishing Spirit Qi.


    Liu Changsheng had just in a second-tier Demonic Beast and was meditating to restore his Spiritual Power. He couldn''t help but feel that the Spirit Qi here had been slowly declining.


    Having lost Wang Hong''s supply for this period, their provisions were running low, and Liu Changsheng only had a bottle of second-tier Spirit Wine left. He decided not to use it unless it was an emergency.


    Just then, over two hundred colossal third-tier Demonic Beasts suddenly charged forth from the Demon Beast camp ahead.


    Before reaching the Large Formation, these two hundred-plus third-tier Demonic Beasts simultaneously unleashed their most potent attacks¡ªfireballs, wind des, massive stones, and beast bones¡ªcarrying immense power as they bombarded the Sect''s protective Large Formation.


    After a thunderous roar, a gap over twenty feet wide appeared in the Large Formation. Demonic Beasts from outside the formation surged through the breach.


    The cultivators guarding the formation immediately rushed to block the newly arrived Demonic Beasts, temporarily ignoring those still pouring in. Meanwhile, the two hundred-plus third-tier Demonic Beasts continued to bombard the formation, attempting to widen the gap.


    At this critical moment, a streak of yellow light shot from the direction of Heavenly Authority Peak and arrived within moments.


    This yellow light transformed to it''s peak as it reached outside the Large Formation and crashed down toward the group of third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Some Demonic Beasts, realizing the imminent danger when they saw the yellow light, began to flee. However, a few with more aggressive personalities roared andunched attacks toward the yellow light.


    By the time theyprehended their mistake and attempted to escape, it was toote. The light crashed down, instantly reducing over a dozen third-tier Demonic Beasts to a pulp, while the rest suffered severe injuries.


    Even the cultivators within the formation felt a moment of suffocation. It took Liu Changsheng quite a while to regain his breath.


    At this moment, even a fool could tell that only a Nascent Soul ancestor could possess such terrifying power.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 413: Elite of the Sect

    Chapter 413: Elite of the Sect


    As the yellow-d Peak executed a strike and prepared to strike at another Demonic Beast, a burly figure flew out from the midst of the beast horde, delivering a powerful punch directly towards the Peak.


    Although this figure appeared robust, it was dwarfed inparison to the enormous Peak, much like the difference between an ant and an elephant.


    But to everyone''s astonishment, this Daoist Master figure actuallypletely withstood the pressure from the Peak.


    "Is this a fourth-tier Demonic Beast?"


    "It is said that fourth-tier Demonic Beasts can transform into human forms and cultivate at a faster rate."


    Just as people were discussing, two more figures flew out from the Demonic Beast group, evidently also fourth-tier Demonic Beasts.


    These two fourth-tier Demonic Beasts didn''t engage inbat but insteadunched an attack directly towards the protective sect formation.


    "You beasts! How dare you!"


    Facing the full force of the Demon n, two figures flew out from the direction of the Heavenly Authority Peak, emitting a powerful aura that enveloped the entire area.Two Nascent Soul ancestors emerged from the sect''s formation, engaging in a fierce battle with the three fourth-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Meanwhile, on top of the Heavenly Authority Peak, in a grand hall, arge gathering of cultivators had assembled.


    "Now, our Qingxu Sect is on the brink of danger. Each of you is an elite of the Qingxu Sect, bearing the heavy responsibility of revitalizing our sect''s millennia-old heritage."


    The Sect Leader of Qingxu Sect spoke with a deep and solemn tone. Qingxu Sect had established a secret base in the treacherousnds of the Southern Region over twenty thousand years ago.


    The Southern Region, also known as the Southern Continent, had a hostile environment, with various forces such as demonic sects, rogue cultivators, and ghostly factions vying for control.


    A venerable sect like Qingxu Sect would not easily relinquish its territory and had already quietly extended its influence there. This time, they nned to relocate all their elite members to the Southern Region and quietly develop their strength. When the time was ripe, they would return to reim their lost territory.


    "Now, let''s call the roll." A Golden Core Elder stepped forward, holding a register.


    "Qi Shaoqing!"


    "Here!"


    "Zhou Leshan!"


    "Here!"


    ...


    "Zhang Chunfeng!"


    "Here!"


    "Wang Hong!"


    ...


    "Wang Hong?"


    ...


    "Is Wang Hong present?"


    There was still no response. The Elder made a note beneath Wang Hong''s name. Most of those who hadn''t arrived were in grave danger.


    Zhang Chunfeng wanted to say something but hesitated. Since the retreat, he hadn''t received any news about Wang Hong. He had inquired about Wang Hong''s whereabouts from Liu Changsheng, who, although unaware of Wang Hong''s situation, had assured him that Wang Hong was safe.


    All he could do was hope that Liu Changsheng''s words were true and that Wang Hong was unharmed.


    After going through the entire list of names, the Sect Leader of Qingxu Sect said, "Junior Brother Zhou, the future of Qingxu Sect is now in your hands. We hope that one day, you all can reim the East Zhou!"


    "Master, are you truly not nning to leave with us?" Zhou Shiqi asked with a solemn tone.


    "Qingxu Sect''s millennia-old heritage has been lost under my watch. I feel indebted to the ancestors of Qingxu Sect. Only through death can I repay this debt. Moreover, sacrifices must be made to ensure your safe escape. As the current Sect Leader, it is my duty," Qingxu Sect''s leader said calmly.


    "Master!"


    Tears welled up in Zhou Shiqi''s eyes as he prostrated himself on the ground, and the other cultivators in the hall followed suit.


    In the past, they might havepeted and jockeyed for power for their own interests, but at this moment, their hearts were filled with nothing but Qingxu Sect.


    From a Storage Bag, Qingxu Sect''s leader took out several Jade Boxes and handed them to Zhou Shiqi, saying, "Over there, there are only a few medium-grade spiritual viens, not as good as what we have here. These were extracted from Qingxu Sect''s Spirit Vein during this time. Take these with you and cultivate them when you reach the new settlement."


    After receiving the Jade Boxes, Zhou Shiqi was instructed once more, "Once the Large Formation is breached, two Nascent Soul ancestors will engage the enemy''s fourth-tier Demonic Beasts, and I will lead a team to break through and create an escape route for you. After defeating the enemy''s three-tier Demonic Beasts, the two Nascent Soul ancestors will also join you."


    Wang Hong and their group were two days away from Qingxu Sect''s location. Just a day ago, they had received information from scouts that the Demon n had intensified its attack, seemingly preparing to breach the protective sect formation. Upon hearing this news, they had quickly gathered their forces and set out quietly towards Qingxu Sect.


    Their group consisted of ten thousand people, with two and a half Golden Core cultivators. Yi Huai, who was injured and had reducedbat capabilities, counted as half. In addition, they had a three-tier demonic bird and several hundred Foundation Building cultivators, making them a formidable force.


    While they were on their way to Qingxu Sect, they suddenly sensed a significant Spiritual Qi disturbance ahead, which should be at Qingxu Sect''s location. Even though they were a day''s journey away, they could sense such a strong Spiritual Qi disturbance, indicating that Nascent Soul cultivators were involved.


    "Everyone, increase your speed. I''ll go ahead!" Gu Yuan shouted, using his escape technique to turn into a streak of light and lead the way to Qingxu Sect. The rest of the group followed suit, rushing towards the battlefield.


    In just half a day, they reached their destination. They hid in a distant mountain and observed the battlefield at Qingxu Sect. At this moment, Qingxu Sect''s protective formation had been breached, and humans and Demonic Beasts were entangled in fiercebat.


    In the sky, two Nascent Soul cultivators were locked in battle with three fourth-tier Demonic Beasts. Despite being at a disadvantage, the two Nascent Soul cultivators didn''t back down.


    The shockwaves of their shes asionally swept over the battlefield below, causing casualties on both sides, without distinguishing between friend and foe.


    In addition, a figure floated in the high sky, a woman with a normal face and limbs, but with a furry tail growing from her back, swaying leisurely. This Demonic Beast hovered in the high sky, closely monitoring the Nascent Soul cultivators'' battlefield and the one below, ready to intervene at any moment.


    Sloppy Old Daoist instructed everyone to meditate on the spot to recover their energy. They had just rushed here at full speed, which had drained their strength, and they didn''t have any Spirit Wine for recovery. Joining the battle at this moment would be ineffective, so it was better to conserve their strength and wait for the right opportunity.


    An hourter, a group of cultivators suddenly charged out from the direction of the Heavenly Authority Peak. Leading the charge were three Golden Core cultivators, and their advance was swift. Anyone who tried to stop them was swiftly cut down.


    In the center of this group, they protected around a hundred elite cultivators, including both Foundation Building and Golden Core cultivators. Among them, Wang Hong recognized several familiar faces.


    The three leading cultivators at the forefront were Qingxu Sect''s leader, the Blue Dragon Hall Master, and the White Tiger Hall Master, all Golden Core cultivators. There were also the Vermilion Bird Hall Master, the ck Tortoise Hall Master, and over ten Golden Core cultivators surrounding them.


    Among the protected cultivators, Wang Hong saw Pill Hall''s Master Mei and some young Golden Core Elders, including Qi Shaoqing and Zhang Chunfeng.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 414: Loyalty and Betrayal

    Chapter 414: Loyalty and Betrayal


    Amidst them, there were tworge Flying Boats and ten medium-sized Flying Boats flying together with cultivators.


    At this moment, the Spirit Energy Cannons on these Flying Boats were firing relentlessly towards the densely packed Demonic Beasts ahead, clearing arge area of lower-tier Demonic Beasts obstructing their path.


    Relying on this formidable power, the team led by the Qingxu Sect quickly carved out a path through the chaotic battlefield, rapidly pushing towards the outer perimeter.


    Wang Hong and his group finally spotted Liu Changsheng and hispanions in the distance, locked inbat with Demonic Beasts.


    However, they were still too far apart tomunicate directly. Wang Hong could only use the power of their Blood Contract to send a faint sense of presence.


    In the midst of battle, Liu Changsheng suddenly felt a sharp pain in his heart, causing him to tremble, nearly letting the nearby Demonic Beast approach.


    He looked up and saw Wang Hong riding on the back of Little Peng, flying in a particr direction. When he saw Liu Changsheng looking, Wang Hong pointed in that direction.


    Understanding the signal, Liu Changsheng turned to hispanions from the Immortal Way Trading Company and shouted, "Follow me this way!"


    Then, he led them in the direction Wang Hong was heading, with the members of the Immortal Way Trading Company following closely behind.While they didn''t organize themselves in formations like the cultivators on the other side of the Mountain Valley, their coordinated efforts in ying Demonic Beasts were equally effective.


    The team led by the Qingxu Sect continued their powerful charge, seeing that they were just a little over two miles away from breaking through the encirclement and escaping.


    At this moment, the four-tier Demonic Beast that had been hovering in the air made its move. It extended a furry, fleshy w from the void, reaching down below.


    The Qingxu Sect leader, Blue Dragon Hall master, and White Tiger Hall master all leaped into the air, wielding their own magic weapons to counter the descending w.


    After a thunderous collision in mid-air, all three of their magic weapons suffered varying degrees of damage.


    The Qingxu Sect leader wiped away a trace of blood from the corner of his mouth and shouted down, "Hurry and break through! I''ll hold off this Demonic Beast for you."


    "Hahaha! Ridiculous! You think you can hold me back?" The four-tier Demonic Beast in the air chuckled and raised its w once more, swiping down.


    Once again, the three of them activated their magic weapons and shed with the beast''s w in mid-air. After a loud rumble, two of the magic weapons shattered into pieces.


    Only the Qingxu Sect leader''s magic weapon remained barely usable, but it was covered in cracks.


    Among the Qingxu Sect members, the three of them were among the most prominent cultivators in the same tier. They should have represented the pinnacle of Golden Core cultivators in the East Zhou Immortal Realm.


    For them tost a few exchanges against a four-tier Demonic Beast would have been enough to make them famous throughout the Cultivation World. However, after this battle, the entire East Zhou Cultivation Realm was in ruins, and there was no one left to sing their praises.


    "Junior Brothers, please assist me in holding this beast back for a moment!" The Qingxu Sect leader shouted as he took out a sealed jade box from his storage bag.


    Though reluctant, he wasted no time in opening the jade box to reveal a yellow talisman inside.


    This talisman had been crafted by a Nascent Soulte-stage ancestor of the Qingxu Sect nearly eight thousand years ago when his life was nearing its end. It could unleash about one-third of the power of a magic weapon, but it would take some time to activate it with their current strength.


    "Fear not, Senior Brother! Leave it to me!" The Blue Dragon Hall master understood what needed to be done upon seeing the talisman. Without looking back, he soared into the air to confront the descending w once more.


    The collision between them resulted in the initial shattering of the flying knife wielded by the Blue Dragon Hall master, followed by the destruction of the golden bell surrounding him.


    As the beast''s w broke through all barriers and was about to descend upon him, the Blue Dragon Hall masterughed madly and lunged towards the w.


    The four-tier Demonic Beast in the air noticed the change in the situation and attempted to retract its w, but it was toote.


    With a deafening roar, the force was no less than the distant battle between Nascent Soul cultivators. In a crucial moment, the Blue Dragon Hall master chose to detonate his Golden Core.


    Although Golden Core cultivators could self-destruct their Golden Cores, it required tremendous courage and unwavering conviction.


    Generally, as long as a cultivator had not taken theirst breath, they still held onto a glimmer of hope, believing that they could be saved. How many people could make such a resolute decision before facing death?


    "Senior Brother!"


    "Master!"


    "Dad!"


    "Grandfather!"


    ...


    Upon witnessing the Blue Dragon Hall master''s self-destruction, cries of sorrow echoed from the battlefield below.


    However, the battle did not pause for a moment due to this sacrifice.


    The furry beast w had been severely damaged by the impact and was now charred and missing a nail.


    "Damn you all!" The four-tier Demonic Beast in the air, realizing it had been injured by a mere Golden Core, became furious. It swung its w once more, imbued with boundless pressure, and brought it down.


    At this moment, the White Tiger Hall master, standing nearby, cast a deep, affectionate nce at the battlefield and then decisively soared into the air...


    A momentter, the battlefield reverberated with another loud explosion as the White Tiger Hall master also self-destructed.


    Meanwhile, in Qingxu Sect leader''s hands, the Talisman finally emitted a dazzling light, transforming into a ck hammer that flew towards the four-tier Demonic Beast in the sky.


    The beast''s w was ttened by the ck hammer with a resounding crash, and the four-tier Demonic Beast let out a pained cry in the air.


    Although it retained only a third of its power, this was a Lifebound Magical Treasure of a Nascent Soulte-stage cultivator. It was not something an ordinary four-tier Demonic Beast could contend with.


    After ttening the w, the ck hammer, carrying the Qingxu Sect leader''s burning rage, continued to hammer at the four-tier Demonic Beast in the sky.


    The four-tier Demonic Beast didn''t dare to be careless. Its body rapidly grew, its originally well-proportioned features shifting rapidly until it transformed into a green fox.


    The green fox, unexpectedly, had not faced any disadvantages in its battles against other demons or Nascent Soul cultivators. Yet, when dealing with a few Golden Core cultivators, it suffered consecutive setbacks.


    Currently, it controlled one of its ttened ws and engaged in a fierce battle with the hammer.


    As the two battled fiercely in the air, Vermilion Bird Hall master and ck Tortoise Hall master stepped forward to take the ce of the Qingxu Sect leader and the others, continuing to pave the way forward.


    Vermilion Bird Hall master wielded a red feather fan, and with each p, it spewed out mes several yards long, causing the Demonic Beasts ahead to scream in agony.


    ck Tortoise Hall master, on the other hand, excelled in defense. He wielded arge shield to protect Vermilion Bird Hall master and the others from various attacks.


    Just as Vermilion Bird Hall master had sessfully in a three-tier Demonic Beast and was feeling triumphant, he suddenly felt a chill in his heart. He swiftly pounced forward, but it was still a fraction toote as a flying sword pierced through his chest.


    It wasn''t due to hisck of strength but rather because this attack came from behind.


    "Why?" Vermilion Bird Hall master roared in anger.


    ck Tortoise Hall master spoke calmly, "Senior Brother Zhu, I''m sorry, but the Demon n is far stronger than us, and we can''t win. If that''s the case, it''s better to surrender to the Demon n now, to preserve our strength and hope for a future resurgence."


    The sudden turn of events left many people momentarily stunned. Just as they were at a loss, two more Golden Core cultivators leaped out from the group.


    "Listen, everyone. Breaking through is hopeless now. Surrendering to the Demon n is the only way to survive. The four-tier Demon n Patriarch has promised that as long as we surrender sincerely, we can still live freely here."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 415: Gu Qingyangs Death

    Chapter 415: Gu Qingyang''s Death


    "Traitors! You were nurtured and cultivated by the Sect to reach the cultivation level you have today. At this critical moment of life and death, you choose to betray the Sect," Zhou Shiqi angrily scolded, brandishing his magical weapon and unleashing a fierce attack. "Fellow disciples, join me in eliminating these traitors!"


    Several Golden Core cultivators responded with determination, preparing tounch attacks against the ck Tortoise Hall Master, vowing to cleanse the Sect.


    However, there were also a few who remained silent, clearly moved by the words spoken earlier.


    At this moment, the ck Tortoise Hall Master spoke again, "Senior Brother Zhou, we were all part of the same sect, and I didn''t want to make things difficult for you either. However, among this group, most are the Sect''s finest Alchemists and experts in refining tools, Talisman Making, formations, and various other fields. Our leader has already made a decision and hopes to keep you here. I have no choice but to offend you."


    With that, he gestured, and, along with two other Golden Core cultivators, charged towards the crowd. Some Foundation Building cultivators in their group even turned against Zhou Shiqi and his followers.


    Before they could sessfully break through, infighting broke out within the Human n, causing the Demonic Beasts to hesitate and not immediately encircle them. Only a few unruly young Demonic Beasts rushed into the fray, indiscriminately attacking both sides.


    After a short battle, the ck Tortoise Hall Master and his group gradually found themselves at a disadvantage. After all, those willing to surrender were in the minority.


    The third-tier Demonic Beasts from the Demon n had no intention of helping either side, so the ck Tortoise Hall Master could only order a retreat, leading a group of people away from the battlefield.


    For Zhou Shiqi and his group, the immediate priority was to break free from the encirclement. They had no energy to pursue the traitors, so they could only watch them leave.After the ck Tortoise Hall Master''s group departed, other Demonic Beasts closed in on them.


    Now, their strength had significantly diminished, and nearly half of their group were not skilled inbat, including Master Mei from the Pill Hall. They had never needed to engage in battles before, despite their high cultivation levels.


    At this point, Gu Qingyang and another Golden Core cultivator led the way, with the protection of a dozen or so Flying Boats, maintaining a steady pace forward.


    Wang Hong and the others had also arrived, joining Gu Yuan, who had arrived earlier, and they pushed their way from the outer periphery towards the center.


    Although their group consisted of only a little over ten thousand people, their strength was considerable. They had three Golden Core cultivators, several hundred Foundation Building cultivators, and seven medium-sized Flying Boats flying above.


    Sloppy Old Daoist and Gu Yuan took the lead in clearing the way, while Yi Huai was responsible for the surroundings, gradually approaching the Qingxu Sect''s group in the front.


    The Qingxu Sect cultivators, upon seeing reinforcements, regained their spirits and pushed forward with renewed determination.


    After about two quarters of an hour, the two groups finally reunited and advanced towards the outer periphery once more.


    However, as they had just advanced a short distance, a massive group of imposing figures appeared before them. There were hundreds of third-tier Demonic Beasts, specifically here to intercept them. How were they going to deal with this?


    Facing hundreds of third-tier Demonic Beasts, even a Nascent Soul ancestor would feel uneasy. But at this point, there was no turning back. Even if they were frightened, it wouldn''t change the situation. They could only grit their teeth and charge forward, for there was no retreat.


    Gu Yuan was the first to charge ahead against the hundred Demonic Beasts, followed by Gu Qingyang and Sloppy Old Daoist, all taking on dozens of Demonic Beasts at once.


    Despite their fiery determination, the trio''s strength couldn''t be denied. Gu Yuan, Gu Qingyang, and Sloppy Old Daoist hadn''t repelled the Demonic Beasts in the slightest; instead, they suffered numerous injuries.


    "Senior Brothers, step back!" Gu Yuan shouted loudly, his Spiritual Power erupting as he charged toward the densest cluster of third-tier Demonic Beasts ahead.


    Seeing this, Gu Qingyang and Sloppy Old Daoist quickly withdrew. Just as they retreated, a loud explosion rang out ahead ¨C Gu Yuan had self-detonated!


    More than ten of the foremost third-tier Demonic Beasts were sent flying by the explosion. Gu Qingyang and Sloppy Old Daoist wasted no time and rushed forward to finish off the injured third-tier Demonic Beasts, ensuring that Gu Yuan''s sacrifice wasn''t in vain.


    Seizing this opportunity, the group managed to push forward a short distance, but Gu Qingyang and Sloppy Old Daoist sustained even more injuries.


    Soon, they found themselves unable to advance further and were gradually surrounded by the group of third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Wang Hong wanted to help alongside Little Peng, but thetter was hesitant, fearing the nearly hundred same-tier Demonic Beasts.


    They could only ride around the perimeter of the group, and the two of them, the human and the demon, joined forces to kill several of the approaching third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    However, the situation ahead was bing increasingly grim. They were on the verge of being overwhelmed by the approaching horde of third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Gu Qingyang, dragging his severely injured body, gave a bitter smile. "Junior Brother Gu, I''ming too."


    Then, Gu Qingyang charged towards the mass of beasts in front of them, and another explosion resounded as he sent countless Demonic Beasts flying.


    "Father! Father!" Gu Wei cried out from the rear of the group.


    "Master!" Wang Hong, riding on Little Peng''s back, had a mixture of emotions within him. Although Gu Qingyang wasn''t particrly close to him, their time together had formed a bond, and Gu Qingyang had provided him with much guidance.


    "Master, rest assured and go on. I will take care of Junior Brother Gu, and I will remember your grievances."


    Wang Hong silently thought in his heart while taking out a Jade vial from his Storage Bag. He opened the bottle cap, and a strong aroma of wine filled the air.


    "Ah! What a fragrant wine! East Master, this isn''t right. I''m fighting for my life here, and you''re sitting on my back, secretly drinking. You didn''t even share it with me!"


    Little Peng, upon catching a whiff of the wine, had saliva dripping from its mouth uncontrobly, unable to hold it back.


    This caused the cultivators below to be showered with saliva, and they thought it was some kind of venomous attack, which frightened them.


    "Really unlucky, you actually found out. Alright, I''ll let you have this bottle."


    Wang Hong said as he poured the Spirit Wine into Little Peng''s mouth.


    After finishing the bottle of Spirit Wine, Little Peng suddenly felt a surge of determination, as if it had the strength to face a thousand enemies alone.


    As Little Peng pped its wings, preparing to charge forward, it noticed that Sloppy Old Daoist''s aura had changed, emitting a pressure that was only present in Nascent Soul stage cultivators.


    Then, his Lifebound Magical Treasure, arge ck cauldron, was unleashed and smashed down upon the Demonic Beasts below, instantly killing several third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Therge ck cauldron moved freely among the Demonic Beast group, each strike iming the lives of multiple third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Sloppy Old Daoist quickly cleared a path ahead, and the rest of the group followed suit.


    When they were about a hundred feet away from breaking free from the encirclement, Sloppy Old Daoist could no longer support his weakened body and copsed to the ground.


    The Demonic Beasts that had just been attacking him all turned back, preparing to tear Sloppy Old Daoist apart to vent their anger.


    Upon seeing this scene from Little Peng''s back, Wang Hong''s figure shed and appeared beside Sloppy Old Daoist. He grabbed him, and in an instant, they both disappeared from their original location.


    After bringing Sloppy Old Daoist onto Little Peng''s back, Wang Hong hurriedly fed him a Jade Marrow Pill.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 416: Farewell

    Chapter 416: Farewell


    SloppyOld Daoist''s Golden Core within his body had shattered, and the essence within him had beenpletely depleted. Thebination of various injuries within his body was causing his life force to rapidly diminish.


    After losing SloppyOld Daoist, dozens of third-tier Demonic Beasts ahead began to close in on Zhou Shiqi and the others. They struggled to hold their ground but could no longer advance.


    Casualties in the group continued to grow, including among Wang Hong''s subordinates.


    After feeding SloppyOld Daoist a Jade Marrow Pill, Wang Hong ced him on a Flying Boat. They were on the verge of breaking through the encirclement. No matter what, they had to make their escape first.


    At this moment, countless Poisonous Bees flew out from his sleeves, swarming together like an endless ck cloud and pressing toward the oing Demonic Beasts.


    Previously, to maintain his spatial contract, Wang Hong had only kept a little over ten thousand Poisonous Bees. However, this time, he had bred more than a hundred thousand Poisonous Bees in advance, all of which possessed at least mid-grade tier one strength.


    The Poisonous Bee king couldy hundreds of eggs every day, and with the eleration of time in his space, he could easily use these Poisonous Bees as cannon fodder.


    Concentrating more than a hundred thousand cannon fodders in a small area had a powerful effect.


    Although these third-tier Demonic Beasts had strong physical bodies and tough skin, it was still possible to find their vulnerable spots when covered by a swarm of tier-one Poisonous Bees.For example, their eyes, nose, ears, or rear end ¨C there was always a weak point that the bees could breach.


    "Luo Zhongjie, organize the formation and catch up!" Wang Hong ordered Luo Zhongjie, then rode Little Peng towards the front.


    Little Peng, under the influence of alcohol, faced dozens of third-tier Demonic Beasts with no fear at all and charged into the midst of the group.


    In its current state, even if a fourth-tier Demonic Beast stood before it, Little Peng would charge without hesitation.


    They say alcohol emboldens timid souls, and it seemed this saying applied to birds like Little Peng too.


    With bloodshot eyes, Little Peng flew into the beast pack, pped its wings, and knocked down one of the Demonic Beasts.


    Following behind, Luo Zhongjie led over two thousand of Wang Hong''s men, while in the front were over two hundred Foundation Building cultivators.


    Half of them wielded defensive Spiritual Weapons, blocking attacks from all directions, while the remaining hundred-plus Foundation Building cultivators used offensive Spiritual Weapons.


    The Demonic Beast that had just been knocked down by Little Peng attempted to get up and retaliate but was simultaneously bombarded by more than a hundred Spiritual Weapons from behind, all striking its head.


    Over a hundred Spiritual Weapons simultaneously hitting one spot left the Demonic Beast unconscious before it even understood what was happening.


    It was then efficiently stored in a Storage Bag by one of Luo Zhongjie''s team members, responsible for collecting the bodies.


    These two hundred-plus individuals, working together, were no less formidable than a powerful Golden Core cultivator.


    Behind them, the two thousand Qi Cultivation stage cultivators, who would normally serve as cannon fodder in such a battle, had now formed a formation and possessed some means of self-defense. They also coordinated with the Flying Boat to help clear out some of the lower-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Little Peng, in its current frenzied state, charged into the beast pack, crashing into them recklessly. Despite having just advanced to the third tier, its physical strength had long surpassed its realm.


    Many Demonic Beasts of the same tier were knocked down or sent flying by its attacks.


    Simultaneously, it endured countless attacks, but fortunately, its feathers acted as a protective armor, mitigating most of the damage. Little Peng''s body could still withstand the remaining force, at least for the time being.


    As they broke through to the outside, Liu Changsheng led over two hundred Foundation Building cultivators who were not particrly skilled in directbat. They were now harassing the outer perimeter of the Demonic Beasts.


    Under thebined efforts of several forces, they managed to y over twenty third-tier Demonic Beasts, with nearly ten of them being taken down with the assistance of Luo Zhongjie and Little Peng.


    Wang Hong''s Poisonous Bees also eliminated several third-tier Demonic Beasts, while the rest were dealt with by several Golden Core cultivators led by Zhou Shiqi.


    However, this achievement came at a cost. One Golden Core cultivator self-detonated after suffering severe injuries, and Yi Huai was torn in half by two third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Others were also wounded to varying degrees. Little Peng had lost most of its feathers, had several bleeding wounds, and multiple patches of skin torn away.


    The excruciating pain had sobered it up, and the courage it had felt earlier had mostly disappeared.


    They had now broken through to the outskirts of the battlefield. However, the Demonic Beasts showed no intention of giving up and continued to relentlessly pursue them.


    At this point, both the Golden Core cultivators in the group and Little Peng were too exhausted to continue fighting.


    Only Wang Hong''s Poisonous Bees remained rtively unharmed, attacking the third-tier Demonic Beasts tirelessly. They could either disrupt the enemy when scattered or concentrate their attacks to kill.


    Currently, these Poisonous Bees were scattered, causing confusion among the pursuing Demonic Beasts. However, relying solely on them was clearly insufficient, and at the speed of most cultivators, escape was nearly impossible.


    With each fallen cultivator, despair filled the hearts of those remaining.


    But then, a streak of rainbow light descended near them, and to everyone''s surprise, it was the Sect Master of Qingxu Sect.


    "Sect Master, are you alright?" they asked.


    It turned out that the fourth-tier Demonic Beast had indeed been defeated by the Qingxu Sect Master''s Talisman, but he now appeared pale, indicating that he had paid a considerable price.


    "Quickly retreat, and I will hold them off!" the Qingxu Sect Master ordered.


    The Talisman he controlled had dimmed, but it should still be effective against some third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Controlling the Talisman, the Qingxu Sect Master easily dispatched a third-tier Demonic Beast with a single strike.


    "Senior Brother, take care!" Zhou Shiqi said before walking past him. He then shouted to the others, "Everyone, move quickly! Don''t waste the time the Sect Master has bought us."


    Hearing this, the group squeezed everyst bit of their Spiritual Power, hastening forward.


    They ran for a long distance until they no longer sensed the Spiritual Power fluctuations from the battlefield before daring to stop and rest.


    However, the Qingxu Sect Master did not reappear.


    They did not dare to rest for too long and resumed their journey once their Spiritual Power had somewhat recovered.


    They traveled for two more days without any Demonic Beasts pursuing them from behind, suggesting that they were finally safe.


    Wang Hong found Zhou Shiqi and asked, "Master Zhou, may I ask where this journey is taking us?"


    "You are Wang Hong, correct? Thanks to your assistance, I owe you a debt of gratitude. Once we reach the Southern Region, I will reward you."


    Zhou Shiqi was covered in numerous wounds, looking weakened and pale as he spoke.


    "Thank you for your kind words, Master Zhou, but I''vee to bid you farewell," Wang Hong said.


    "Why? Aren''t you going to apany us to the Southern Region?" Zhou Shiqi''s expression soured. If possible, he didn''t want Wang Hong to leave. Wang Hong''s group had provided significant assistance to their team, possessing a third-tier demonic beast, over two hundred Foundation Building cultivators, and six Flying Boats. Their help was crucial for the team''s smooth journey to the Southern Region, but even there, peace was far from guaranteed.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 417: Rest and Recovery

    Chapter 417: Rest and Recovery


    Wang Hong rode on Little Peng''s back, leading six Flying Boats filled to capacity with Qi Cultivation practitioners. Alongside the Flying Boats, hundreds of Foundation Building cultivators controlled their flying vessels.


    Earlier, he had bid farewell to Zhou Shiqi. Zhou Shiqi, being a Qingxu Sect Disciple and now holding the position of Qingxu Sect''s leader, initially refused. However, after a friendly negotiation, Zhou Shiqi eventually relented under the condition that Wang Hong provided resources in return.


    These resources included tier-one and tier-two Spirit Wine and some healing Pills, which were currently considered scarce strategic resources throughout East Zhou. With the assistance of these supplies, many of the injured members in their group could receive proper treatment. The replenishment of Spirit Wine during battles could double theirbat effectiveness.


    Though Zhou Shiqi didn''t want to let them go, considering their current situation, he couldn''t dare to stop Wang Hong if he insisted on leaving. Since effective opposition was not an option and Wang Hong willingly offered strategic resources, Zhou Shiqi chose to part amicably, hoping for potential future encounters.


    Before departing, Wang Hong paid a visit to Master Mei of the Pill Hall. Wang Hong''s Master had already perished, and his senior sister was missing. Among the few elders he was close to, only Master Mei remained.


    While Master Mei wasn''t skilled inbat, she had bravely fought on the front lines during previous battles, resulting in severe injuries. She had taken Qingxu Sect''s specially crafted healing Pills, but the effects were not very pronounced. During their meeting, Wang Hong discreetly handed her a Jade Box containing a Jade Marrow Pill.


    Among the fellow Qingxu Sect cultivators of the same generation, Wang Hong didn''t have many friends. However, within this team, he recognized Senior Brother Luo Yuxuan, Junior Brother Gu Wei, and Elder Brother Wu Tingchang of Kaiyang Peak.


    The main reason Wang Hong chose not to leave with Qingxu Sect was that he had a brother still here whom he couldn''t abandon. He intended to personally visit Taihao Sect to check on Wang Yi''s well-being.


    Additionally, he noticed that there were no Qi Cultivation practitioners in this group. He had brought his subordinates, who were in the Foundation Building stage, with him. In times of danger, his subordinates might be expendable if he joined Qingxu Sect''s team.Furthermore, if he joined Qingxu Sect''s team, he would need to consider how to handle his subordinates. Directly incorporating them all into Qingxu Sect wouldn''t be suitable. He had invested significant resources and effort in cultivating these subordinates and building his own influence, and he wasn''t willing to give it all up.


    More than ten thousand cultivators hade to participate in this battle, and some had died while others were injured. The three leading Golden Core cultivators had either perished or been injured. Most of the remaining individuals had chosen to depart East Zhou with Qingxu Sect. Despite Qingxu Sect''s current predicament, it still seemed more reliable than Wang Hong''s small Mountain Valley.


    Gu Wei had forsaken the journey to the Southern Region to follow Wang Hong, and Zhang Chunfeng had also taken this opportunity to return to Wang Hong''s side.


    What surprised him, however, was that Jia Liang, whom he had once saved, chose to follow Wang Hong back to the small Mountain Valley despite being recruited by Qingxu Sect. He remembered that this person had Lightning Spiritual Roots, a rare type of Spiritual Roots, just slightly less prestigious than Heavenly Spirit Roots.


    As for Liu Changsheng and his group, they had no affiliations with Qingxu Sect. When Wang Hong''s group left, they naturally followed suit. Among this group, except for Liu Changsheng, the others were still unaware that Wang Hong was their highly revered East Master.


    Dealing with Wang Hong''s subordinates now was an icy affair. They kept their distance and remained as distant as ciers.


    When they had arrived, there were more than ten thousand of them, but now, only two thousand remained. However, most of these were Wang Hong''s original subordinates, and even the neers who had willingly followed him back to the Mountain Valley were mostly trustworthy.


    It took them several days to bypass most of the Demonic Beasts, and they finally returned to the Mountain Valley.


    Their first order of business upon returning to the Mountain Valley was rest, as there were still many injured from the recent battle.


    Liu Changsheng''s group, in particr, had suffered the most injuries since they had entered the battle early and weren''t particrly skilled in direct confrontations. Little Peng had also sustained significant injuries, but thanks to the Jade Marrow Pill, which had proven effective even against Demonic Beasts, he had made a substantial recovery over the past few days.


    Additionally, Wang Hong had forgotten to hand over Sloppy, who had been left to recuperate on the Flying Boat, to Zhou Shiqi when they left. After all, Sloppy was a member of Qingxu Sect. Sloppy''s injuries were severe, as his Golden Core had shattered due to the use of some mysterious technique, depleting his corepletely. Normally, this condition would have been fatal, but with the help of a Jade Marrow Pill, Sloppy could survive, though he had be a cripple. Unless he was willing to start over from the Qi Cultivation stage, there was no hope for his recovery.


    After more than a month, most of them had recovered from their injuries. Liu Changsheng and his group, consisting of over two hundred people, left after their injuries had healed, returning to their previous camp.


    However, their previous location wasn''t well-hidden, so Wang Hong suggested they find a nearby Peak and hollow out its interior. This way, they could both hide and maintain a lookout. After they had set up their new base, Wang Hong would assist them in setting up formations.


    "Yin Ze, since we sold all the Spiritual Herbs and resources in the valley some time ago, and now that we''ve returned, we''ll definitely hide here for a while. Arrange for some people to rent all the spirit fields in the Mountain Valley," Wang Hong instructed.


    While Wang Hong had ess to his personal space, he still found it wasteful to see the spirit fields in the Mountain Valley abandoned. He wanted to cultivate something to make good use of thend.


    "East Master! What type of Spiritual Objects should we nt?" Yin Ze inquired.


    After some thought, Wang Hong replied, "We can''t be sure how long we''ll stay here, so let''s nt Spirit Grain. It has a faster harvest rate. Continue nting tier-two Spirit Grain where it was originally grown, and use regr Spirit Grain in other areas."


    "Understood! I''ll take care of it!" Yin Ze acknowledged before departing. Wang Hong then entered his Cultivation Room.


    Inside the Cultivation Room, Wang Hong held a ripe Green Spirit Peach in his hand, first taking a moment to savor its fragrant aroma. Then, he took arge bite of the peach, and as he finished it, he felt a surge of Spiritual Power within him. He quickly began to execute his Cultivation Techniques.


    His dantian''s spiritual sea appeared as a downpour of Spiritual Power gathered there. At this moment, the water level in his dantian''s spiritual sea gradually descended, a result of his dantian expanding once more.


    Concerned that his Spiritual Power might not be enough, Wang Hong promptly took out another Green Spirit Peach and began eating it.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 418: Forming a Team

    Chapter 418: Forming a Team


    After Wang Hong sessfully refined both of these Green Spirit Peaches, his Realm ascended once more, reaching the seventh level of Foundation Building.


    He had finally be ate Foundation Building cultivator. The expanse of his dantian sea had expanded by another two feet, now measuring one zhang and eight chi (six meters).


    With the ergement of his dantian sea, his Spiritual Power had be even more robust.


    Following his promotion, he quietly recuperated for over a month before emerging from seclusion.


    Within the Mountain Valley, Yin Ze and his team had already nted Spirit Grain throughout the spirit fields, and the young shoots were just beginning to sprout.


    Wang Hong walked amidst the spirit fields, inspecting the tender sprouts. Suddenly, he noticed a figure lying ahead on the ground, soundly asleep.


    Wasn''t that Sloppy Old Daoist? Though Old Daoist''s life had been saved by the Jade Marrow Pill, he now remained at the Qi Cultivation level.


    As Wang Hong approached, he woke Sloppy Old Daoist, who groggily climbed to his feet. Upon seeing Wang Hong, Sloppy Old Daoist hesitated for a moment, uncertain of how to address him.


    ording to the customs of the Cultivation World, now that he was only at the Qi Cultivation level, he should refer to Wang Hong as "senior" and even perform a formal greeting."Uncle Chu, why are you sleeping here?" Wang Hong took the initiative to greet him, relieving Sloppy Old Daoist of his awkwardness.


    "Oh! It''s cool here!" Sloppy Old Daoist chuckled. Since losing his cultivation level, he had also lost the nourishment of Spiritual Power, and his body was rapidly aging. He had at most two or three years left.


    If he could elevate his cultivation level to Foundation Building within these two or three years, he could extend his lifespan by another ten to twenty years.


    Staying in his original Qingxu Sect would naturally provide enough Spiritual Objects to help him recover some of his cultivation level quickly. However, it was a different story now. Although his Storage Bag contained some Spiritual Objects, they were not suitable for his current situation.


    Even if he managed to obtain some ordinary Condensing Qi Pills, they wouldn''t allow him to rapidly recover to the Foundation Building level within a short period. So, he had epted his current circumstances.


    Wang Hong looked at Sloppy Old Daoist''s aging appearance and said, "Uncle Chu, did you see the peach tree next to the Spirit Spring?"


    Sloppy Old Daoist followed Wang Hong''s pointing finger and looked toward the peach tree growing next to the spring, with dozens of green Spirit Peaches hanging from its branches.


    He had noticed the peach tree long ago but was not entirely clear about its specific properties.


    "What''s special about that peach tree?" Sloppy Old Daoist inquired.


    "Uncle Chu, why don''t you go over there and pick one to taste it for yourself?"


    This Green Spirit Peach had been nted when the Mountain Valley was initially developed, but it grew much slower outside. As a result, it had never been harvested.


    Upon hearing this, Sloppy Old Daoist walked over and plucked one of the green peaches from the tree. He examined it briefly, feeling that it was not yet fully ripe.


    With a mixture of doubt and curiosity, he took a bite. The taste was quite ordinary, with a slightly astringent texture.


    However, after swallowing that mouthful of peach, Sloppy Old Daoist suddenly felt the remarkable power of this spiritual peach.


    Once he finished eating the green peach, he was astonished to find that his Realm had directly ascended from the third level of Qi Cultivation to the fourth level.


    Sloppy Old Daoist seemed to have found hope at this moment. His eyes sparkled, and hisplexion turned slightly flushed as he eximed excitedly:


    "Nephew Wang! How about selling me these spirit peaches? We can discuss the termster."


    "No need to be polite, Uncle Chu. In the future, you can freely take as many of the peaches from this tree as you like. Consider it a gesture of my goodwill," Wang Hong generously replied. These immature Green Spirit Peaches were only effective for Qi Cultivation cultivators and wouldn''t fetch many Spirit Stones if sold, so offering a favor was more meaningful.


    "Thank you very much, Nephew Wang! Great kindness needs no words. If there''s ever a ce where this old bones of mine can be of help, feel free to ask!" Sloppy Old Daoist expressed his gratitude. Previously, it was Wang Hong who had saved his life while he was unconscious. He didn''t know what kind of pill had been administered to him, but it not only saved his life but also healed his previous hidden injuries.


    Now, with the gift of Green Spirit Peaches, Wang Hong had once again shown him great favor.


    In the past, he had been a Golden Core cultivator. Now, to regain his cultivation level, he just needed to find enough Spiritual Objects. The Green Spirit Peach had given him hope.


    After some more conversation with Sloppy Old Daoist, Wang Hong took his leave.


    Currently, in the Mountain Valley, there were over a thousand subordinates, including more than two hundred Foundation Building cultivators.


    With their current strength, they could only use the Devilish Vine at the periphery as cover and remain hidden in the Mountain Valley without venturing out to avoid attracting attention from outside Demonic Beasts.


    Otherwise, if they were to draw arge group of Demonic Beasts, it would be challenging for them to defend this ce.


    Fortunately, Wang Hong''s Space contained an abundance of second-tier Spiritual Herbs, making them self-sufficient. They had enough to sustain themselves within the Mountain Valley for decades.


    In the future, what they wouldck the most was Spirit Stones. The growth of Spiritual Objects in the Space required a significant amount of Spiritual Energy, which needed constant replenishment. If not managed well, they could run out.


    Additionally, theycked various types of ore materials, which the Space couldn''t produce. These materials were essential for refining tools and setting up formations.


    Of course, with their current reserves, they could sustain themselves for some time.


    As long as they could dy and be self-sufficient for a period, they could eventually venture outside the Mountain Valley to act. After all, once the Demon n conquered the Qingxu Sect, they wouldn''t all stay here.


    At this moment, Wang Hong gathered several of his subordinates to discuss their future ns.


    Yin Ze reported to Wang Hong with a ledger in hand, saying, "We currently have 1,700 people within the valley, but there are only a little over 200 Inner Valley cultivators, all of them at the Foundation Building level."


    "Outer Valley has 1,500 cultivators, with 50 at the Foundation Building level, and the majority possessingte Qi Cultivation strength. We obtained twenty corpses of third-tier Demonic Beasts from the recent battle, which are currently being dissected and processed. The valley''s warehouse still holds 100 high-grade Spirit Stones, 3 million low-grade Spirit Stones, Nourishing Essence Pills..."


    After hearing Yin Ze''s report, Wang Hongmented, "Our overall strength is still too weak at the moment, and it needs improvement. However, Inner Valley has only 200 people, while Outer Valley has 1,500. If we raise the strength of Outer Valley as well, it could easily be unwieldy over time. It''s better to form separate teams from Outer Valley, with each team consisting of 100 members and including Inner Valley members as the core."


    "I volunteer! I think I can lead a team!" Skinny Monkey was the first to respond.


    "I want to lead a team too!" Wen Lan said.


    "East Master, count me in!" Hu Jian, responsible for Outer Valley affairs, also expressed his desire to lead a team.


    Then, Xu Lun, Zhao Ning, Ling Shuai, He Yuan, and others also stepped forward, eager to lead their own teams.


    "I''m currently nning to recruit five squads, led by Skinny Monkey, Zhao Ning, He Yuan, Ling Shuai, and Wen Lan. Hu Jian, you''ll continue managing Outer Valley, and Xu Lun, you''ll handle logistics. Zhang Chunfeng will be the overall instructor andmander for these 500 people."


    Since Zhang Chunfeng had returned, it was only fitting to assign him some responsibilities.


    "During training, observe the performance of your subordinates carefully. If anyone doesn''t meet the standards, they can be eliminated, and we can recruit recements from Outer Valley."


    Wang Hong intended to train all of these individuals to be Foundation Building cultivators. However, he would not waste his efforts on those with exceptionally low character or potential.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 419: Replicating the Jade Scroll

    Chapter 419: Replicating the Jade Scroll


    "East Master, how should we treat the new recruits of five hundred?" Xu Lun, having been assigned to oversee logistics, immediately took on his role.


    "These five hundred should receive slightly better treatment than those in the Outer Valley. However, when ites to exchanging battle merits, they should be on par with the Inner Valley cultivators."


    It''s worth noting that the treatment for Inner Valley cultivators is quite high. Wang Hong possesses arge number of Spiritual Objects that aren''t convenient to distribute freely. Inner Valley cultivators can exchange a significant amount of cultivation resources every month using contribution points.


    So, while the talents of Inner Valley subordinates may not be particrly outstanding, their progress in cultivation is rtively rapid. Those who don''t know the details might think they all have exceptional potential.


    "After you have trained these five hundred people, I will lead everyone to attack a mountain peak," Wang Hong said after pausing for a moment.


    "What? We''re going there?" Everyone was a bit surprised, as the current situation didn''t seem conducive to major actions.


    "I am preparing Spiritual Herbs for refining into a Golden Core. I have already collected most of them, but I''m still missing three types of Spiritual Herbs. I have obtained information that these three Spiritual Herbs are being cultivated in the Chuyun Sect. However, Chuyun Sect has already been wiped out by Demonic Beasts, and now their old site is upied by a group of Purple me Lions. After some time, we will prepare to attack the old site of Chuyun Sect to search for the Spiritual Herbs."


    Refining into a Golden Core is of significant importance, and although it carries some risks, it''s something he must do.


    "During this time, you should all work on strengthening your abilities as much as possible. I will provide another batch of Green Spirit Peach, and I''ll also bring out all the Essence Core Pills from our stock for everyone to exchange and use."After Wang Hong finished speaking, he disbanded the meeting, and everyone had their tasks to attend to.


    Xu Lun had to prepare supplies, while Zhang Chunfeng and the others were nning to recruit personnel from the Outer Valley.


    After the meeting, Wang Hong went to the warehouse and retrieved arge pile of nk Jade Scrolls. These nk Jade Scrolls were made from jade stones imbued with Spiritual Qi and refined using special techniques to create them.


    Back in his cultivation chamber, he entered the spatial realm with these Jade Scrolls.


    He nned to replicate all the knowledge he had learned in the Qingxu Sect for his subordinates to study. Although they had a library before, it was rtively small, and the materials they could collect were allmon knowledge. Even a fool knew that the cultivation techniques and secret manuals readily avable outside couldn''t be of much value.


    This was one of Wang Hong''s original goals when he wanted to join the Sect. Without bing a Sect Disciple, there was no chance to ess those profound secret manuals.


    Therefore, during his years in the Qingxu Sect, he treasured this opportunity for learning, using the passage of time in the spatial realm to solidify his theoretical foundation in every aspect of cultivation.


    Before, he dared not easily disseminate Sect knowledge, but now that even the Qingxu Sect was no more, he no longer feared being traced.


    He also slowly removed the golden ring left by the Blood Contract in his Nascent Soul. He was no longer afraid of the Blood Contract bacsh.


    With these Jade Scrolls, he believed that his power would truly begin to grow.


    Inside the spatial realm, Wang Hong painstakingly duplicated each Jade Scroll using his Divine Sense. When he got tired, he rested for a while within the spatial realm, and if he couldn''t endure it any longer, he would step out and have a cup of Qiu Long Tea.


    Perhaps it was due to the aging process or the mutation of this kind of Spirit Tea, but he felt that the current Qiu Long Tea was different from before.


    The current Qiu Long Tea had greatly improved effects on recovering Divine Sense.


    After his Divine Sense had recovered, he continued to replicate the Jade Scrolls.


    Unfortunately, most of the Jade Scrolls Wang Hong replicated from the Sect Scripture Tower bear his imprint, making them unreadable to others. They would need to be replicated again individually.


    It took Wang Hong over a month to replicate only one-third of the scrolls. For now, he decided to store these in the library. To amodate the growing collection, he had Yin Ze build a tall tower for housing the scrolls. The Qingxu Sect''s library had umted knowledge for tens of thousands of years, so one can imagine the sheer volume of materials.


    During the time Wang Hong was replicating the Jade Scrolls, Zhang Chunfeng and others had already sessfully recruited personnel. They had recruited more than thirty Foundation Building cultivators in total, with the rest being in the Qi Cultivation stage. Most of them were individuals who had originally sought refuge when retreating from the first defensive line.


    These people were ustomed to this style of training, having practiced it before, and now that they were reorganized, their progress was rtively swift.


    Wang Hong personally inspected their progress and found that, at the very least, they understood discipline and cooperation, and they could follow orders.


    Satisfied with their progress, he bid them farewell and left the Mountain Valley.


    The residence where Liu Changsheng was located had been transformed, and from the outside, it appeared uninhabited. The surroundings were filled with Devilish Vine and Red Powder Skull Flowers.


    "East Master! ording to intelligence reports, during the recent major battle with Qingxu Sect, two Nascent Soul ancestors were injured and fled, while the Sect''s leader died in battle. Most of Qingxu Sect''s several hundred thousand cultivators were ughtered by Demonic Beasts, except for those who managed to break free from the encirclement. There are scattered survivors among the cultivators, some of whom have disappeared, but the majority have gone into hiding in this area. The death toll from this battle is estimated to be Ninth Layer or higher."


    Liu Changsheng paused after delivering this information. Although he was not a Qingxu Sect Disciple and had no emotional attachment to the sect, the tragic fate of his fellow cultivators stirred a sense of empathy within him.


    "What is the current situation with the Demon n?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "About ten days ago, the main forces of these Demonic Beast groups started moving southward. Currently, the old Qingxu Sect site is jointly guarded by several Demonic Beast factions from the West Zhou Demon Realm. Due to the inability to approach and observe closely, the exact number is unknown," Liu Changsheng reported.


    "Alright, as long as we know that the main forces of the Demonic Beasts have left, we can learn more about the situation around the old Qingxu Sect siteter. There''s no rush; safetyes first."


    Wang Hong had never considered the idea of attacking the old Qingxu Sect site. Since the Demon n had worked so hard to take it over, they wouldn''t give it up easily and would undoubtedly station many high-tier Demonic Beasts there.


    What he was concerned about was that once the main force of the beast horde left, the density of Demonic Beasts in the vicinity would decrease, making travel safer.


    "What about the intelligence on the old Chuyun Sect site?" he asked.


    "ording to the investigation, within that old site, there is a three-tier Purple me Lion and over a hundred second-tier Purple me Lions, along with... Do you need our assistance?" Liu Changsheng asked.


    "No, your primary task is still to collect various types of information."


    Since Liu Changsheng excelled at gathering information, assassinations, and covert operations, using him for directbat would be a waste of his talents. Additionally, keeping the immortal way tradingpany at a certain distance from Mountain Valley would maintain an air of mystery, making it easier for Wang Hong to deflect me.


    Wang Hong helped them adjust and reinforce the formations in this area and left them with ample resources before departing.


    Back in Mountain Valley, he took out a hundred Foundation Establishment Pills. He intended to select a hundred individuals from the training teams and grant them Foundation Establishment Pills to help them reach the Foundation Building stage.


    This announcement stirred most of the people in the mountain. Those who received the Foundation Establishment Pills were naturally thrilled, while those who didn''t couldn''t help but feel envy and jealousy, sparking various emotions.


    In secret, most of them redoubled their efforts in training, hoping to have their chance next time.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 420: Equipment

    Chapter 420: Equipment


    After undergoing half a year of rigorous training, the newly formed team had eliminated some of the unfit individuals in the process, leaving a total of four hundred members.


    However, these four hundred individuals were all cultivators at the Foundation Building stage. Wang Hong named them the "Revival Vanguard," distinguishing them from the Inner Valley cultivators, who were led by Zhang Chunfeng and had previously served as guards for the East Zhou Trading Company. With thepany''s decline, Wang Hong renamed the Inner Valley team the "East Zhou Vanguard," which now consisted of only two hundred members under the leadership of Luo Zhongjie.


    To equip the newly added four hundred members of the Revival Vanguard with Refinement Spiritual Weapons, they exhausted all the refining materials in the Mountain Valley''s inventory. Among these four hundred members, three hundred sets of high-quality Spiritual Weapon bows and arrows were distributed for long-range attacks, along with four hundred high-quality Spiritual Weapon wooden shields and four hundred Flying Swords.


    Additionally, they used the captured hides of third-tier Demonic Beasts to create fifty sets of leather armor, which could effectively withstand most Spiritual Weapon attacks. Twenty of these sets were allocated to the Revival Vanguard, while the remaining ones went to the East Zhou Vanguard in the Inner Valley.


    The entire set of equipment was so extensive that it nearly emptied the resources of even some medium-sized factions, let alonerger ones.


    "You''re quite generous. Even the Qingxu Sect, with its vast resources, never equipped a team like this before,"mented the Sloppy Old Daoist as he watched the training of the Revival Vanguard. Over the past period, he had made significant progress in his cultivation, reaching theter stages of Qi Cultivation with the assistance of the Green Spirit Peach.


    "I''ve emptied all our resources to provide this equipment. Look at my warehouses; they''re all empty now," Wang Hong replied.


    In truth, the Sloppy Old Daoist hadn''t mentioned something crucial. This wasn''t just about generosity; even if they emptied their resources, there were very few factions capable of acquiring such equipment. Moreover, the sudden addition of nearly four hundred Foundation Building cultivators required a substantial quantity of Foundation Establishment Pills. How many factions could afford such an expense?


    As one of the six major sects, the Qingxu Sect had maintained only slightly over three thousand Foundation Building cultivators throughout the years. Now, there were already over seven hundred Foundation Building cultivators in the Mountain Valley.Rumors circted in Mountain Valley that Wang Hong had obtained a substantial supply of Foundation Establishment Pills from the Immortal Way Trading Company. However, the origin of this mysterious Immortal Way Trading Company and how they acquired such arge quantity of Foundation Establishment Pills remained shrouded in mystery.


    Some individuals even subtly suggested raiding the Immortal Way Trading Company, but Wang Hong swiftly suppressed such thoughts, emphasizing the importance of integrity and friendship with their business partners.


    Several dayster, the two teams of over six hundred people quietly slipped out of Mountain Valley. The external territory was now under the control of the Demon n, and they didn''t want to draw too much attention.


    Upon leaving Mountain Valley, Wang Hong handed a map to Luo Zhongjie, saying, "Luo Zhongjie, lead your team along this route."


    Luo Zhongjie took the map and was surprised to find that it marked all the gathering points of Demonic Beasts along the way. It also featured a winding path that avoided all the Demonic Beast groups, leading directly to the former location of the Chuyun Sect.


    Though he had some doubts, Luo Zhongjie decided to follow the route indicated on the map. The more than six hundred members cautiously followed the path on the map and miraculously encountered no other Demonic Beast groups along the way.


    At this moment, atop the ruins of the former Chuyun Sect, the original structures had fallen into disrepair, no longer resembling their former shapes.


    Inside one of the rtively intact grand halls, a group of Demonic Beasts had gathered, merrily indulging themselves in drinking fromrge bowls. On the table in front of them were some meat dishes that appeared eerily simr to those meant for humans.


    Seated at the head of the table was a Purple me Lion, while below sat four other Demonic Beasts: another Purple me Lion, an Ice Wind Lion, a Demon Monkey, and a ck Jiao.


    At this moment, the four Demonic Beasts below the head table were engaged in lively conversation, each trying to showcase their martial prowess. The Purple me Lion at the head of the table leisurely sampled fine wine while observing the performance of the lower-ranking Demonic Beasts.


    The Purple me Lion was renowned among the Western Demon Tribe for its striking beauty. Its fur glistened like silk, its muscles were well-defined, and its tusks emitted a chilling gleam.


    Currently in its mating season, the four Demonic Beasts below were all its followers, and they eagerly came to the mountaintop daily, striving to stand out and secure its favor.


    In truth, the Purple me Lion found all four of them appealing and contemted taking them all as its own. Unfortunately, these four Demonic Beasts were rather stubborn and always sought to im exclusivity, constantly jostling and even fighting among themselves behind the scenes.


    This puzzled the mother Purple me Lion, as she couldn''t understand why they were sopetitive. Wasn''t happiness something meant to be shared?


    At this moment, as these Demonic Beasts were boasting about their exploits, they suddenly heard the sounds of a skirmish and the enraged roars of young lionsing from the base of the mountain.


    The mother lion furrowed her brow and swiftly left the grand hall, standing on arge rock to look down. She witnessed a group of human cultivators ughtering her offspring and descendants.


    Upon seeing this, the other four Demonic Beasts from the grand hall also emerged. Witnessing the scene below, they realized that an opportunity to showcase their abilities had arrived.


    Among them, the male Purple me Lion reacted the quickest. With a mighty roar, he charged down towards the human cultivators. He hadn''t expected that humans would dare to attack them, the Demonic Beasts.


    This Purple me Lion moved with grace and unparalleled strength, exuding an overwhelming aura as it descended towards the base of the mountain.


    "Human scum! Face your death!"


    As the Purple me Lion approached, it let out a bellow and spewed a purple me from its mouth. The mes, carrying scorching heat, descended upon the human cultivators below.


    Even before the mes reached them, the Foundation Building cultivators in the group could feel an intense heat radiating from them, causing the air around them to distort.


    Immediately, over two hundred shields were raised within the group, forming a protective barrier that blocked the attack of the purple mes.


    Simultaneously, four hundred Flying Swords were released from different directions within the group, all shing towards the Purple me Lion.


    Faced with the onught of over four hundred Spiritual Weapons from various directions, the Purple me Lion realized it had no way topletely evade the attacks and could only brace itself for a portion of them.


    In the end, it managed to dodge some of the attacks, but more than two hundred Spiritual Weapons struck its body. Despite its third-tier Demonic Beast physique, it was cut and wounded, with flesh and blood mangled.


    However, as it narrowly avoided some of the Flying Swords, they circled back and struck it while it was injured.


    This third-tier Purple me Lion felt a moment of excruciating pain and then lost consciousness.


    The remaining mother lion, Ice Wind Lion, Demon Monkey, and ck Jiao all reached the base of the mountain.


    None of them had expected that in just this brief moment, the first Purple me Lion to charge down had been in.


    They couldn''t help but assess the human cultivators before them, realizing that not a single Golden Core cultivator was among them. They were all merely Foundation Building cultivators. It seemed that the Purple me Lion''s luck had been ill-fated.


    The two remaining lions, the monkey, and the Jiao, the four third-tier Demonic Beasts, simultaneously roared angrily and pounced towards the group of human cultivators.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 421: The Old Site

    Chapter 421: The Old Site


    Wang Hong had never anticipated that the location where the intelligence had indicated the presence of only one third-tier Demonic Beast would unexpectedly yield five of them.


    Although they had managed to take advantage of the element of surprise and focus their efforts to y one of them, four still remained, and they were not foes that could be easily dealt with.


    Facing the Purple me Lion as it unleashed a zing torrent towards them, Luo Zhongjie led the East Zhou squad in invoking their defensive Spiritual Weapons to shield themselves.


    The entire East Zhou team had formed a defensive formation, restraining the continued assault of the remaining Purple me Lion.


    Meanwhile, Zhang Chunfeng led the Revival Battle Team to confront the Demon Monkey.


    The majority of them were still at the Foundation Building stage, all in the early stages of Foundation Building cultivation. This was their first battle at this cultivation level, and they hadn''t yet fully tapped into their own strengths. Despite having more members, they weren''t gaining any significant advantages.


    The remaining Demonic Beasts, an Ice Wind Lion and a ck Jiao, were left for Wang Hong and Little Peng to deal with.


    Little Peng confronted the ck Jiao, as Roc Birds naturally had an advantage against snake-like creatures like the Jiao.


    At this moment, an Ice Wind Lion across from Wang Hong continuously spat out ice orbs towards him, forcing Wang Hong to evade by using his Shifting Positions technique repeatedly.He had no spare energy to retaliate against the creature. While evading, he released his Poisonous Bees from his sleeves. Due to limited space, he maintained a poption of just over ten thousand Poisonous Bees. Now, all these Poisonous Bees swarmed around the Ice Wind Lion.


    However, when these Poisonous Bees crawled onto the Ice Wind Lion, they were slowed down by the extreme cold, moving sluggishly on the beast''s body.


    With a shake of its body, the Ice Wind Lion dislodged them all.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong realized that the Poisonous Bees had met their natural enemy, and he would need to cultivate and strengthen them through special means in the future. For now, he had no choice but to recall them and give them a brief respite before sending them to support other teams.


    He needed toe up with a different strategy. Wang Hong carefully observed while evading the ice orbs that whizzed past him. These ice orbs made him shiver uncontrobly, and he had been hit a few times, damaging several pieces of his defensive Spiritual Weapon.


    He watched the Ice Wind Lion as it opened its huge mouth, spewing out ice orbs one after another.


    An idea crossed his mind, and though it might not directly kill the beast, it could certainly affect its ability to fight.


    Using the power of Space, he transported numerous poisonous substances directly around the three-tier Ice Wind Lion.


    Items from his Space could appear anywhere within his Divine Sense range when taken out. In previous battles, he had been cautious not to reveal his secrets to higher-tier cultivators, but now the chances of encountering one in the vicinity were close to zero, and he no longer had such concerns.


    Whenever an opportunity presented itself, he would inject some highly toxic substances into the Ice Wind Lion''s mouth.


    The Ice Wind Lion was now poisoned, and all they had to do was keep it engaged until the poison took effect.


    Meanwhile, the Revival Battle Team was facing trouble of its own. Their opponent was the Demon Monkey, an incredibly fast and agile adversary that seemed to appear and disappear at will.


    Despite their greater numbers, they couldn''t eveny a finger on it, and they were finding it increasingly difficult tobat the creature. Sometimes, it would infiltrate their ranks and injure their members.


    Already, three of their team had fallen, and several others were wounded.


    Just moments ago, when they had spotted the Demon Monkey ahead, everyone had summoned their Flying Swords and attacked, but by the time their des reached their target, the Demon Monkey had already vanished without a trace.


    Zhao Ning led a small squad,unching a full-scale attack. However, at the same time, the Demon Monkey''s figure suddenly appeared beside them, breaking through their outer defenses and lunging at Zhao Ning.


    The Demon Monkey extended its ws and grabbed Zhao Ning, catching him off guard. It tore arge chunk of flesh from his abdominal armor in a single swipe.


    As the Demon Monkey withdrew from its initial strike, it carried away a sizable portion of Zhao Ning''s flesh.


    But just a few steps after the Demon Monkey''s attack, countless lightning bolts descended upon its vicinity.


    Remarkably, the Demon Monkey managed to evade the majority of the dense lightning strikes, with only one-third of them hitting its body.


    While this one-third of the lightning caused minimal harm to the third-tier Demonic Beast, it left its limbs numb, slowing down its speed.


    The Demon Monkey''s greatest asset was its incredible speed, and any pause in its movements exposed it to numerous attacks.


    "Jia, quickly! Use lightning to keep striking it! Avenge Captain Zhao!" urged one of Jia Liang''s teammates.


    Jia Liang had been surprised by the effectiveness of his previous attack and promptly unleashed another lightning-based Magical Art, aiming it at the Demon Monkey.


    The Demon Monkey, now realizing that it had narrowly escaped a dire situation, attempted to flee the area rapidly. However, it found itself surrounded by many Spiritual Weapons and couldn''t escape.


    It lunged to the side, its ws piercing through the body of a Foundation Building cultivator.


    At that very moment, another barrage of lightning struck the Demon Monkey, causing its recently recovered body to go numb once again.


    The entire battlefield had been divided into four sections, with the unexpected oue of Little Peng being the first to defeat his opponent.


    The ck Jiao nowy lifeless on the ground, with Little Peng pecking at it fiercely to ensure it was truly dead.


    After confirming the ck Jiao''s demise, Little Peng took flight and headed towards Wang Hong''s location.


    With Little Peng''s assistance, it didn''t take long for Wang Hong to defeat his adversary, the Ice Wind Lion. They then used their numerical advantage to help deal with the remaining two Demonic Beasts.


    After they joined forces to defeat the Purple me Lion, the remaining Demon Monkey made a direct escape.


    They chose not to pursue it, as there was a risk of being ambushed again,plicating matters further.


    With the five third-tier Demonic Beasts defeated, the smaller Demonic Beasts posed no significant challenge and were swiftly dispatched.


    After clearing the battlefield, they began their ascent towards the peak.


    Along the way, they encountered several spirit fields that had be overgrown with weeds, with the asional low-tier Spiritual Herb still surviving.


    Most Demonic Beasts did not cultivate spirit fields. They relied on their long lifespans, innate bloodlines, or foraging for a few Spiritual Herbs in the wild, which they devoured directly.


    As they climbed towards the peak, the quality of the spirit fields they encountered improved significantly, but they were all abandoned and in disarray.


    Wang Hong couldn''t help but feel a sense of regret as he looked at these neglected spirit fields.


    "East Master, there are so many spirit fields here, and the Spirit Qi is excellent. Shouldn''t we consider relocating here?" Skinny Monkey suggested.


    "No, this won''t work, at least not for now. This ce is too conspicuous; it''s likely to be discovered by Demonic Beasts," Wang Hong replied, vetoing the idea. While he was tempted by the Spirit Qi and the quality of the spirit fields, he knew that it would only be a matter of time before the Demon n found this ce, and they would be left waiting to be besieged by Demonic Beasts.


    When they finally reached the mountaintop, they were greeted by a vast expanse of dpidated buildings.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 422: The Medicinal Garden

    Chapter 422: The Medicinal Garden


    "Let''s split up and search. There might be something worthwhile," someone suggested.


    The Chuyun Sect was once a medium-sized sect with Golden Core cultivators in charge. This was the former site of the Chuyun Sect, and despite being overrun by the Demon n, there might still be some valuable items hidden away.


    The group divided into several teams and began their search.


    At this moment, Wang Hong walked alone towards a dpidated hall.


    The first building he encountered was the Chuyun Sect''s reception hall. It was obvious that no one would store precious items in a ce where people came and went regrly.


    The current reception hall was littered with leftover food scraps from Demonic Beasts, some of which had already rotted.


    After passing through the reception hall, Wang Hong found himself in a courtyard paved with jade stones. Weeds grew vigorously between the cracks.


    Several small paths extended from the courtyard, and Wang Hong randomly chose one to follow.


    In the past, a ce of such importance in the sect would have been protected by various formation traps. Even Golden Core cultivators would be in danger if they didn''t know how to disarm them.But now, there was no need to worry. This ce had been upied by the Demon n for a long time, and any dangerous formations should have been dismantled by these Demonic Beasts long ago.


    On both sides of this path were spirit fields. Wang Hong entered one of them and found some Spiritual Herbs among the weeds.


    However, there were no exceptionally rare Spiritual Herbs here. It seemed that the Demonic Beasts had already consumed the valuable ones, so he didn''t waste much time on these.


    After walking for about five or six miles along this path, Wang Hong was surprised to find a small, intact spirit field ahead, filled with an abundance of Spiritual Herbs.


    What surprised him even more was that there were three human cultivatorsboring in this field.


    These three individuals were only at the Qi Cultivation stage, dressed in tattered robes and wearing numb expressions. Their faces were marked with scars. When they saw Wang Hong approaching, one of them said, "Are you new here? Come help us weed!"


    That was all the person said before continuing to work, wielding a spirit hoe with extreme care, afraid of damaging a single leaf of the Spiritual Herb.


    Wang Hong had no intention of engaging in idle chatter. Instead, he directly used his Spiritual Power to summon arge hand, grabbing the three people and cing them in front of him.


    Once on the ground, the three realized that Wang Hong was a high-level cultivator at the Foundation Building stage. They hastily begged for mercy, saying, "Senior, spare us! We were captured by the Demon n and forced intobor."


    They had sensed the battle at the foot of the mountain earlier and now, upon seeing Wang Hong, they could guess what was happening and hoped for a chance at rescue.


    Wang Hong inquired about their situation and learned that these three were former disciples of the Chuyun Sect. After the sect fell, they were taken captive by Demonic Beasts.


    These captives were being kept by the Demonic Beasts, either as a food source or asborers.


    They hadn''t signed any Blood Contracts, seemingly not deemed valuable enough to warrant one.


    Normally, a second-tier Demonic Beast guarded this ce, but it had left during the earlier fight at the base of the mountain and hadn''t returned since.


    Leaving the three to wait in the courtyard, Wang Hong entered the spirit fields alone.


    This spirit field was about five acres in size, and the lowest-tier Spiritual Herbs nted here were at the second tier.


    What caught Wang Hong''s attention the most were over ten nts in the center. They stood over a foot tall with purple leaves that shimmered with silver starlight.


    "Purple Star Orchid! Hahaha! What luck!"


    The Purple Star Orchid was a type of third-tier Spiritual Herb,monly used by cultivators in the Golden Core stage. It took a thousand years to mature.


    In the vicinity of these ten third-tier Purple Star Orchids, there was a patch ofnd containing over an acre of various Spiritual Herbs required for Refinement and Golden Core cultivation. There were more than thirty different varieties, and all three of the Spiritual Herbs Wang Hongcked were found here.


    He walked over and began digging up these Spiritual Herbs one by one, tossing them directly into his spatial storage.


    While others might have to be careful when transnting these Spiritual Herbs to ensure sess, Wang Hong faced no such difficulty.


    After he had gathered all these Spiritual Herbs, he stared at a massive boulder within the spirit fields, wearing a thoughtful expression.


    After a while, he began forming hand seals and drew out a series of runes in the air. Under Wang Hong''s control, these runesbined to form new ones, which then entered the boulder.


    Momentster, the boulder slowly split open to reveal a passage two feet wide.


    Wang Hong didn''t rush inside. Instead, he released a few Spirit Bees to fly in first. After waiting outside for a while, the Spirit Bees safely returned.


    Only then did he proceed down the passage. It wasn''t long, about a hundred yards, before he reached the end of the passage, leading to arge cave-like space.


    In the center of the space, there was a Spirit Spring next to which two Spiritual Herbs grew in istion.


    "Intermittent Spirit Fruit! Dark Night Flower!"


    Wang Hong''s face lit up upon seeing these two Spiritual Herbs.


    The Intermittent Spirit Fruit was a small nt, only a little over two feet tall, with three white spirit fruits the size of pigeon eggs hanging from it.


    It was a fourth-tier spirit fruit and a healing Spiritual Herb. Its most significant effect was the ability to refine Intermittent Regeneration Pills, which could regenerate severed limbs.


    During battles among Immortal Cultivators, limbs or other body parts were sometimes unintentionally severed. If they couldn''t be reattached in time, the cultivator would be left permanently disabled.


    Only cultivators who reached the Nascent Soul stage had a chance to regenerate limbs, but it still required a substantial amount of time and Spiritual Power.


    Therefore, such pills, capable of regenerating limbs, were in demand from the Qi Cultivation stage to the Nascent Soul stage.


    As for the Dark Night Flower, it was a Spiritual Herb that needed to grow in dark ces and served as an aid for Golden Core cultivators to advance to the Nascent Soul stage.


    In the eyes of Golden Core cultivators, this Spiritual Herb was considered invaluable.


    No wonder the Chuyun Sect had hidden these two Spiritual Herbs so deeply. If others found out, the sect would likely be in perpetual danger.


    Wang Hong transferred both of these Spiritual Herbs into his spatial storage and searched the underground cave for a while. However, he didn''t find anything else of significant value. He then sealed the passage and sent a Transmission Talisman to inform the others toe and gather the second-tier Spiritual Herbs from the spirit fields.


    He had an abundance of these second-tier Spiritual Herbs in his spatial storage and didn''t want to spend too much effort on them.


    When a team of ten people arrived at the medicinal garden, they were ecstatic to discover thisrge patch of second-tier Spiritual Herbs. Given the scarcity of Spiritual Herbs in the Cultivation World after the recent chaos and destruction, this find was an incredible treasure.


    Even the Demon n, who didn''t usually cultivate Spiritual Herbs, would find a way to preserve them due to their immense value.


    Wang Hong didn''t pay any further attention to the medicinal garden and continued to explore other areas on his own.


    Meanwhile, Skinny Monkey and his group had found the Chuyun Sect''s library.


    When the Chuyun Sect fell to the Demon n, they didn''t have time to relocate, so many things, especially the library, were well-preserved.


    After the Demon n took over this ce, they didn''t ce much importance on the library, as many of their abilities were innate and didn''t require learning. Their Realm levels were determined by their bloodline and didn''t require cultivation. Therefore, the cultivation techniques and books from the Human n were of little use to them.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 423: Rescue

    Chapter 423: Rescue


    Skinny Monkey led a group of people to roam over to this side, and when they saw the sign for the Library, they excitedly led the group inside.


    However, as soon as they walked in, a foul stench assaulted their senses. Many Demonic Beasts had taken it as theirir, and the ce was filled with nests constructed by these creatures, each one containing various oddities.


    There were leftover bones, some misceneous ores, and even the excrement left behind by these Demonic Beasts outside their nests.


    Upon entering, there was not a single clean spot to set foot.


    What was even more infuriating was that these Demonic Beasts engaged in battles and scratching within this Library on a regr basis, causing the wooden shelves inside to copse in disarray.


    Jade Scrolls were scattered all around, mingling with the filth on the floor.


    "Let''s gather all the Jade Scrolls from the ground first and clean them upter when we return," Skinny Monkey instructed the team members beside him before heading upstairs.


    The situation on the second floor was no better, with most of the Jade Scrolls scattered on the floor. The same held true for the third and fourth floors.


    There was no other choice but to endure the disgust and collect everything before cleaning up.Near the Chuyun Sect, several Demon n groups resided, and staying here for too long could lead to discovery by the Demon n.


    Apart from Wang Hong and Skinny Monkey, the other ces had also yielded some gains, albeit to varying degrees.


    It seemed that Wang Hong''s earlier stroke of luck had run out, as he spent the better part of a day wandering around the old Chuyun Sect site, finding nothing of value.


    One dayter, all the participants in this mission gathered in the square, each one brimming with excitement.


    "We found the Chuyun Sect Alchemy chamber, and inside, there''s a gigantic Alchemy Furnace! They say it''s of the highest-grade Spiritual Weapon level," someone eximed.


    "What''s thatpared to what we found in the refining tool room? We discovered several Spiritual Weapons!"


    "Hahaha! You guys don''t need to brag. Your gains couldn''t possibly surpass ours. We stumbled upon the treasure room directly. Inside, there''s an abundance of materials, Pills, Spiritual Weapons, Spirit Wine ¨C everything piled up like small hills."


    "You must be exaggerating. Chuyun Sect has been under the upation of the Demon n for so long; how could the Sect''s treasury still be intact?"


    "I''m not kidding, because even after the Demon n took over, they continued to treat this ce like a treasure trove. So, besides the items left behind by the Chuyun Sect, there are also various resources collected by Demonic Beasts, all stored here. We got lucky."


    "Our team didn''t find any valuable Spiritual Objects, but we did rescue hundreds of people. They were kept inrge iron cages by Demonic Beasts, without clothing, treated like livestock," a cultivator said with a somewhat despondent tone.


    "These Demonic Beasts deserve to die! During our search, we also saw many leftover human bones," the cultivator added angrily.


    By this time, everyone had returned to the square and began registering their respective spoils of war. The cultivator in charge of registration converted these spoils into contribution points, which could then be used to exchange for various items.


    In addition to their various spoils of war, this mission also resulted in the rescue of over five hundred Qi Cultivation cultivators.These people had been kept captive by the Demon n as a source of food, enduring years of fear, nervousness, and despair.


    Now, having been rescued, they all knelt in the square to express their gratitude to Wang Hong and his group.


    "It was just a coincidence that I saved you all; there''s no need to be overly grateful. For now, I''ll give each of you ten Spirit Stones, and you can find a secluded ce to hide on your own," Wang Hong said to the rescued cultivators. Being fellow members of the Human n, he was willing to lend a helping hand in such circumstances.


    "Kind sir! We are indebted to your life-saving grace and are willing to serve you in any way, even to the ends of the earth!"


    "Yes! We are ready to work tirelessly for you."


    One cultivator spoke, and others echoed simr sentiments.


    They wanted to join Wang Hong''s group partly to show their gratitude and partly because, after experiencing years of captivity, they had little sense of security. They felt safer sticking with Wang Hong''s team.


    Moreover, in their current situation, surviving as Qi Cultivation cultivators was no easy task.


    Wang Hong thought for a moment. The cultivators from Mountain Valley had suffered losses in the recent battles, and these new additions would help replenish their numbers.


    "Very well! Since you are determined, let me make it clear. Anyone who joins must obey orders. Disobedience will be met with severe consequences. If anyone wishes to back out, you can do so now."


    After Wang Hong spoke, he waited in silence for a moment, but no one chose to leave at this critical juncture.


    "Since no one is leaving, wee to the team! We''ll return to the valley together."


    He then turned to Xu Lun and said, "Select some Magical Weapons from the spoils of war and distribute one to each of them."


    With over five hundred additional Qi Cultivation cultivators, their traveling speed would be slower, and the chances of encountering Demonic Beasts on the way would increase. Therefore, it was necessary to provide them with some preparation, ensuring that each of them had a Magical Weapon was better than going unarmed.


    Afterwards, he assigned Zhang Chunfeng to organize and divide the new recruits into teams and groups, making it less likely for confusion to ur during battles.


    It took them several hours to deal with these administrative matters before they quietly retraced their steps along the route they hade from.


    They couldn''t help but admire the scouting team led by Liu Changsheng for finding such an easily traversable path. Despite theirrger group and slower pace on the return journey, they did not encounter anyrge groups of Demonic Beasts and safely made it back to Mountain Valley.


    Upon their return, the responsibility for managing the new recruits was handed over to Hu Jian.


    The gains from the attack on the Chuyun Sect''s old site were quite impressive. Their primary objective had been to find the three rare Spiritual Herbs needed for Golden Core Formation, and they had seeded in finding them. Additionally, some of these herbs were mature and could be directly used for Pill refinement.


    Together with the Spiritual Herbs previously nted in the Space, a portion of which had now matured, Wang Hong had enough materials to craft three sets of Alchemy ingredients.


    However, Golden Core Formation Pills were considered third-tier Pills, and Wang Hong was currently only a second-tier Alchemist. He had never refined a third-tier Pill before.


    Furthermore, he did not have any other third-tier Pill materials in his Space. Third-tier Spiritual Herbs were extremely rare and invaluable.


    In the end, he had no other choice but to use the Golden Core Formation materials to refine Pills.


    If other major Cultivation sects were to find out that Wang Hong had used Golden Core Formation materials for Pill refinement, it would undoubtedly provoke outrage and condemnation.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 424: Three-tier Alchemist

    Chapter 424: Three-tier Alchemist


    Wang Hong carefully prepared three sets of materials for Golden Core formation in advance, grinding what needed grinding and tempering what required tempering.


    Then, he entered seclusion in his spatial chamber for a year, taking out the Pill Recipe for forming the Golden Core and scrutinizing it meticulously. He meticulously examined each step and detail of the alchemical process.


    Combining this with his prior experience in alchemy, he felt he had already mastered the Golden Core Pill Recipe skillfully. Only then did he prepare for the refinement process.


    After all, this was his first attempt at refining a three-tier Pill, and he currently possessed only these three sets of materials; he couldn''t afford to waste them.


    Inside the alchemy room, a massive alchemy furnace emitted wisps of green smoke, with several three-tier spirit charcoals burning brightly beneath it.


    Wang Hong controlled the spiritual herbs within the alchemy furnace with his Divine Sense, asionally using various techniques, which the furnace absorbed and then integrated into the spiritual herbs.


    Under the influence of his Divine Sense and techniques, the liquid in the alchemy furnace slowly condensed into pill-like forms.


    At this point, Wang Hong''s hands moved rapidly, using a variety of techniques so swiftly that only afterimages remained.


    Countless techniques formed runes, which merged into the alchemy furnace.This situation persisted for a quarter of an hour, and Wang Hong''s hands gradually came to a halt. At this moment, his entire body was soaked in sweat.


    He paid no mind to his physical fatigue and opened the alchemy furnace''s lid. Insidey seven pills, though five of them were gray-ck waste pills, while the remaining two were golden, emitting a faint halo.


    These two pills were the coveted Golden Core pills of the Cultivation World.


    For his first attempt at refining a three-tier pill, achieving a Pill Sess Rate of two out of seven was already a remarkable feat, all thanks to his profound foundation.


    He put away the two sessful pills without immediately starting another refinement. He needed some rest to recover because, after all, refining a three-tier pill as a Foundation Building cultivator was still quite challenging.


    After resting and recuperating his spirit, he spent another two hours reflecting on the gains and losses of the previous refinement.


    Two hourster, he extended a single hand, manifesting a fist-sized me in his palm. The me danced continuously, exuding a remarkable agility.


    During his previous pill refinement, Wang Hong felt that he had encountered some issues with controlling the fire using the three-tier spirit charcoal, perhaps due to limitations in his strength. He couldn''t manipte it as precisely as he wished.


    Therefore, he decided to try using his internal Spirit Fire. Controlling Spirit Fire required only a single thought.


    With a mentalmand, the Spirit Fire appeared at the bottom of the alchemy furnace. As he increased his Spiritual Power input, the mes expanded, enveloping the entire bottom of the alchemy furnace.


    As the refinement continued, Wang Hong found that using his own Spirit Fire for alchemy was indeed more convenient and easier to control.


    Afterpleting this round of refinement, the Pill Sess Rate had indeed increased, yielding three Golden Core pills.


    Then, the third round of pill refinement also yielded three Golden Core pills. In total, he now possessed eight Golden Core pills.


    If luck favored him, he could potentially cultivate eight Golden Core cultivators. However, this was highly unlikely, as not everyone who obtained a Golden Core could advance to the Golden Core tier sessfully. There was a significant failure rate, influenced by factors such as an individual''s aptitude, cultivation technique, preparation of spiritual objects, the depth of their foundational knowledge, and even luck.Furthermore, the purpose of the Foundation Building stage is toy the groundwork for future cultivation. If one''s foundation in the Foundation Building stage is solid, then the Core formation will proceed more smoothly, and the achievements one can attain in the future will be greater.


    Therefore, many cultivators who have achieved perfection in the Foundation Building stage do not rush into Core formation but continue to cultivate and expand their dantian sea.


    Unfortunately, Foundation Building cultivators only have a lifespan of a little over two hundred years and cannot spend too much time on this stage. Otherwise, when their bodies age too much, they won''t be able to form a Core.


    Although he had obtained eight Golden Core pills, among his subordinates, only Ling Shuai and Liu Changsheng had reached the state of perfection in Foundation Building and were eligible for Core formation.


    Among the others, some were in thete Foundation Building stage, but they had not yet achieved perfection in that realm.


    The majority of his Foundation Building subordinates were still in the early stages, as they had been cultivating for a rtively short time. Many of them were still basking in the joy of just having reached the Foundation Building stage.


    After some contemtion, Wang Hong sent out a Transmission Talisman, and before long, Ling Shuai walked in from outside.


    "Master East, did you summon me?" After bowing, Ling Shuai inquired.


    "Well, Ling Shuai, I recall that you have been in the perfection stage of Foundation Building for quite some time. Are you prepared for Core formation?" Wang Hong asked Ling Shuai.


    "I am prepared, but unfortunately, Core Spiritual Objects are hard toe by. Right now, I am working on strengthening my foundation while searching for Core-rted items. However, the current turmoil in the East Zhou region makes it nearly impossible to find these Core Spiritual Objects," Ling Shuai replied with a hint of frustration.


    "In truth, during our recent expedition to the Chuyun Sect''s old site, we came across several Spiritual Herbs for Golden Core formation, along with some I had previously collected. We managed to refine a few Golden Core pills," Wang Hong revealed, causing a wave of astonishment in Ling Shuai''s heart.


    Ling Shuai had been searching tirelessly for Core Spiritual Objects and had almost given up hope given the current circumstances. The sudden stroke of good luck took him by surprise and left him a bit dazed.


    "I n to allocate one Golden Core pill to you. Have you found any other Core Spiritual Objects? If we use them together, it may increase the chances of sess," Wang Hong inquired.


    "Regrettably, I have been searching for years but have not found a single Core Spiritual Object," Ling Shuai admitted with some embarrassment.


    "In that case, I will also give you a Five-Colored Spirit Jujube, which should further increase your chances," Wang Hong offered.


    "Thank you, Master East!" Ling Shuai expressed his gratitude through repeated bows. Since he had started following Wang Hong, he had gained ess to various resources, and his cultivation level had grown rapidly. Ling Shuai couldn''t help but think how fortunate he was to have met Wang Hong.


    Furthermore, Wang Hong had not yet formed his own Golden Core but was willing to provide Ling Shuai with Core Spiritual Objects.


    "Additionally, before you attempt Core formation, you can go and check the contribution points exchange list with Yin Ze. There have been some new items added recently, and they might be useful to you," Wang Hong added with a smile, leaving Ling Shuai to discover the specifics on his own.


    After leaving Wang Hong''s presence, Ling Shuai went directly to find Yin Ze and requested the list of exchangeable items. He quickly scrolled to the end of the list and found a new entry: "Foundation Pill - strengthens the foundation and widens the dantian sea. Exchange requires five thousand contribution points per pill."


    Ling Shuai''s pupils contracted as he realized the incredible value of this item. The Foundation Pill was highly coveted by all Foundation Building cultivators and exceedingly rare ¨C a treasure that was more a stroke of luck than something one could actively seek out.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 425: The New Poisonous Bees

    Chapter 425: The New Poisonous Bees


    Ling Shuai converted all the contribution points he earned from this battle into Foundation Pills in one go.


    However, he wasn''t entirely satisfied and sought ways to earn more contribution points.


    In Mountain Valley, there were various methods to earn contribution points, such as Alchemy, refining tools, Talisman Making, and more.


    Participating in battles, military achievements, and collecting loot from Demonic Beasts outside the valley could also be exchanged for contribution points.


    Lacking these skills, Ling Shuai could only apply to hunt Demonic Beasts outside the valley. In any case, he needed to acquire more Foundation Pills, which were crucial for a Foundation Building cultivator.


    Back when Wang Hong received the Blue Beauty Grass from Elder Brother at Kaiyang Peak, he knew it could enhance his dantian sea.


    By using the Blue Beauty Grass as the primary ingredient, one could refine potent Foundation Pills with even greater effects.


    However, the recipe for these pills was hard toe by, and Wang Hong had only recently cultivated all the required Spiritual Herbs.


    A few days ago, he had already refined a portion of these pills and stored them in the warehouse for his fellow cultivators to exchange.After forming a Golden Core contract with Ling Shuai, Wang Hong left Mountain Valley and gave Liu Changsheng the materials for cultivating a Core, leaving them with some Foundation Pills as well.


    With the Core materials delivered, all that was left was to patiently await good news.


    Wang Hong could easily guess that the two of them would definitely consume the Foundation Pills. However, after taking the pills, their dantian seas would expand, and they would need to cultivate their original Spiritual Power to fill them, which would take a considerable amount of time.


    While waiting for Ling Shuai and Liu Changsheng to advance in their Foundation Building, Wang Hong extracted the essence and blood of Demonic Beasts he had acquired in previous battles, refining all the bloodline power within.


    All this bloodline power was fed to the Poisonous bees queen within his Space, hoping to further enhance its abilities.


    Due to therge number of Demonic Beasts killed during the recent battles, Wang Hong had obtained an abundance of essence blood from them through his caravan''s acquisitions.


    He had a substantial bottle of refined bloodline power, and for this purpose, he had specifically bred a new Bee Queen within his Space. Every day, he meticulously nurtured it with bloodline power and Spirit Bee Royal Jelly.


    It took Poisonous bees queen a full century to consume all the bloodline power. After finishing its meal, it once again fell into a deep slumber.


    This was the fourth time Poisonous bees queen had entered such a state of hibernation. Each time it awoke, it underwent significant changes due to absorbing the bloodlines of numerous Demonic Beasts.


    This time, after sleeping for two years in the Space, the Poisonous bees queen''s appearance had undergone a tremendous transformation. At a casual nce, one might not even recognize it as a Poisonous Bees.


    The current Poisonous bees queen was about the size of a child''s fist, and its body bore simrities to various Demonic Beasts.


    Presumably, it had absorbed the characteristics of other Demonic Beasts due to consuming so much bloodline power. For example, it had grown a pair of sharp tusks, and even the Bee Queen, which had previously only consumed Royal Jelly, had now begun to eat meat.


    Its long bee legs even had small ws that could puncture skin.


    Currently, the Poisonous Bees'' Realm had reached the mid-tier of the second stage and was steadily progressing upward.


    In the end, Wang Hong had the new Poisonous bees queen take over the role of the old Bee Queen. When the old and new Bee Queens met, they engaged in a fierce battle, with the newly cultivated Poisonous bees queen emerging victorious, biting and consuming the old Bee Queen.After assuming the position of the Bee Queen, it began mating andying eggs. Wang Hong noticed that although the Bee Queen had grown considerablyrger, the size of the eggs itid remained simr to the previous ones.


    However, their physical appearance resembled that of the Bee Queen. Wang Hong tested it by offering a piece of meat, and to his surprise, these Poisonous Bees also consumed meat.


    In the Space, these Poisonous Bees'' eggs hatched in just one year.


    The newly hatched Poisonous Bees had only slightly increased in sizepared to the original ones.


    To nurture these newly added Poisonous Bees, Wang Hong fed the group daily with the spiritual liquid he prepared from Spiritual Herbs.


    After several decades in the Space, the strength of these Poisonous Bees had reached the limit of their bloodline.


    Surprisingly, some of the Poisonous Bees had even reached the second-tier stage, although there were only a few. This showed promising signs for their development.


    The rest of the Poisonous Bees had mostly reached the high-tier first stage, doubling the overall strength of the Poisonous Bees group.


    One day, Wang Hong received a Transmission Talisman and left Mountain Valley. It turned out that Liu Changsheng was preparing to advance to the Core stage.


    Their current base, like Wang Hong''s Mountain Valley, was a hidden secret location.


    If Liu Changsheng were to advance to the Core stage within the base, the fluctuations of Spiritual Energy generated during the process could potentially be detected by the Demon n, exposing their location.


    Moreover, the concentration of Spiritual Qi in their current location was not sufficient. It would be better to find a ce with higher Spiritual Qi density.


    Wang Hong arrived at Liu Changsheng''s base and found him.


    "Have you found a suitable ce for your Core advancement?" Wang Hong asked. They frequently scouted the area and should be familiar with the surroundings.


    "Yes, we have found one. It''s the old Chuyun Sect site, which hasn''t been upied by any third-tier Demonic Beasts since the recent battle," Liu Changsheng replied.


    "No third-tier Demonic Beasts have imed it yet, only a small group of second-tier Demonic Beasts currently reside there."


    After some thought, Wang Hong found this idea suitable and said, "Let''s go!"


    Outside the base, Wang Hong released Little Peng. Both of them followed Little Peng along a path that had been scouted earlier.


    When they arrived at the old Chuyun Sect site again, the small Demonic Beasts that used to y around there noticed them climbing the mountain and gathered around, making noise.


    Little Peng unleashed its third-tier pressure, frightening these small Demonic Beasts into fleeing.


    On the mountaintop of Chuyun Sect, they found a node of the Spirit Vein. Liu Changsheng dug a mountain cave at random and entered it.


    When Liu Changsheng started his Core advancement, it would create significant disturbances that would attract many Demonic Beasts from the surrounding area to watch.


    At this moment, a third-tier ck Tiger flew to the scene.


    "Stop right there!" Little Peng shouted at the approaching ck Tiger.


    "I don''t know your name?" the ck Tiger stopped at a distance and inquired.


    "I am called Little Peng. One of mypanions is about to advance to the Core stage here, so please refrain from causing any disturbances," Little Peng replied.


    This had been prearranged among them. Little Peng had already reached the third-tier, making it almost invulnerable to any challenges from the Demonic Beasts in the area.


    Wang Hong and Liu Changsheng posed as Little Peng''spanions, which was amon practice among the Demon n.


    Upon hearing Little Peng''s words, the ck Tiger had no intention of offending them and asked out of curiosity, "You''ve actually raised a Spirit Pet to the Golden Core stage?"


    The ck Tiger knew that Daoist Master lineage Demons required a significant amount of resources to advance to the Golden Core stage, so very few Demons would do such a thing.


    "Haha! It''s nothing. It''s just a Spirit Pet I happened to pick up a few days ago. It has its own pills and such," Little Peng replied with augh.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 426: Poisonous Intent

    Chapter 426: Poisonous Intent


    Liu Changsheng''s unusual presence had caught the attention of nearby Demonic Beasts. By now, around six of the third-tier Demonic Beasts had hurried over, forming a circle around the scene.


    Little Peng, at this moment, was engaged in animated conversation with these third-tier Demonic Beasts, as if they were long-lost brothers. The atmosphere was incredibly lively.


    "Little Peng, my friend, I''m not familiar with the location of your cave mansion. I don''t recall ever seeing it before," a Qing Fox inquired.


    "I reside to the west from here, at a ce called Zixu Mountain. On the mountain, there is a cave known as Wuyou Cave, and that''s where my cave mansion is located," Little Peng replied.


    After advancing in cultivation and receiving guidance from Wang Hong, Little Peng''s intelligence had greatly improved. As a result, interacting with these Demonic Beasts was not too challenging for him.


    "Come, let''s have a drink! Today, meeting fellow cultivators like all of you is a stroke of luck for Little Peng," he raised his ss and changed the subject, then turned to Wang Hong, urging him, "Hurry up ande pour the wine!"


    Wang Hong, clutching a jug of wine, timidly filled the Demonic Beasts'' cups.


    While Wang Hong was pouring the wine, a Bear Demon took advantage of the moment to pinch Wang Hong and a wicked gleam appeared in its eyes.


    "Little Peng, my friend, look at us just drinking wine, but there''s no suitable snack to go with it. How about we ughter your human pet and roast it for a tasty side dish? Based on my years of experience, I believe it would taste quite good, with plenty of chewiness," the Bear Demon suggested, sticking out its tongue and licking its lips, revealing sharp white teeth.Hearing this, Little Peng was taken aback, nearly dropping the wine ss he held between his wings. He hurriedly responded, "I apologize, Bear Brother. My human pet has other uses, and I cannot use it as a side dish for you today."


    "A mere Foundation Building stage human pet, and you still can''t bear to part with it, Little Peng?" the Bear Demon, with its third-tier top-notch cultivation level, squinted its eyes in displeasure.


    Among the Demonic Beasts present, it was the most powerful, and there were not many who would dare challenge it in this region. The Demonic Beast before it had recently advanced in cultivation and would be easy to defeat.


    At their level of cultivation, the differences in strength between early-stage, mid-stage, andte-stage within the same tier of cultivators were vast.


    "It''s not that I can''t bear to, but it has other uses. Please understand," Little Peng said, receiving instructions from Wang Hong not to provoke a conflict at this moment.


    Liu Changsheng''s Foundation Building was not yetplete, and it was not wise to create unnecessaryplications at this time.


    "We''ve always regarded you as a brother, Little Peng. We didn''t expect you to be so attached to a mere human pet," another Demonic Beast chimed in.


    These Demonic Beasts were familiar with each other, as they all resided in the vicinity. When a neer like Little Peng arrived, they naturally wanted to test him.


    The Demon n was not known for being peaceful; on the contrary, it could be quite savage and cruel. Moreover, they were quite interested in Human n cultivators who were currently at the Core stage. A Golden Core cultivator from the Human n was a valuable delicacy for them.


    If possible, they wouldn''t mind teaming up to keep Little Peng here.


    "We appreciate your respect, my esteemed brothers. Apart from these two human pets, I''ve actually brought quite a few delicacies for all of you to enjoy," Little Peng said in a conciliatory tone. He then turned to Wang Hong and said, "Hurry up and bring out all the delicacies I''ve been hoarding, or I might just roast you and serve you as a dish."Wang Hong, while secretlymunicating with Little Peng, skillfully presented various delicacies. Due to their unique connection, their Divine Sensemunication was exceptionally discreet and difficult for ordinary individuals to detect.


    At this moment, the unusual aura emanating from Liu Changsheng''s Core was nearing its conclusion, and the vortex formed by the surrounding Spirit Qi was rapidly pouring into Liu Changsheng''s body.


    Within his dantian, a golden Golden Core slowly rotated, absorbing the surging Spirit Qi. The shape of the Golden Core gradually stabilized.


    Not far away, a group of third-tier Demonic Beasts was enjoying their drinks and appeared to be in high spirits. Wang Hong, being treated as a pet, was diligently attending to their needs.


    These Demonic Beasts had been indulging themselves with food and drink for quite some time, consuming countless Spiritual Objects.


    However, at this moment, the Demonic Beast with the highest cultivation level, the Bear Demon, suddenly sensed something was amiss. It pped its paw on the table, knocking over all the food and drinks in front of it.


    "How dare you attempt treachery against me!"


    With a thunderous shout from the Bear Demon, the other Demonic Beasts were also jolted awake. Only now did they realize that they had been poisoned.


    Within their demon cores, a ck Spiritual Energy had emerged, vigorously devouring the demonic power within.


    Enraged, the six Demonic Beasts leaped to their feet and lunged toward Little Peng.


    Facing six Demonic Beasts, some of them even stronger than him, Little Peng dared not confront them head-on. He had already prepared for this situation and swiftly retreated.


    Wang Hong also moved with agility, maintaining a distance from these Demonic Beasts.


    As the six Demonic Beasts charged toward them in a fit of anger, a swarm of ck insects suddenly flew out from Wang Hong''s sleeve.


    The Demonic Beasts couldn''t identify these peculiar creatures. They resembled neither bees nor beasts. These insects had wings and stingers like Spirit Bees, but their mouthparts featured two pairs of teeth found only in Demonic Beasts. They also had a fineyer of scales on their bodies.


    In an instant, the swarm of Poisonous Bees reached them. The six Demonic Beasts swatted their ws or wings at the approaching Poisonous Bees in an attempt to drive them away.


    Many Poisonous Bees were killed in the process, and their lifeless bodies quickly littered the ground. However, with over ten thousand Poisonous Bees in the swarm, they were agile in flight and couldn''t be eliminated easily.


    The Poisonous Bees thatnded on the Demonic Beasts began to bite and gradually created small wounds on their skin.


    Seemingly ineffective against the Poisonous Bees, the Demonic Beasts charged directly at Wang Hong and Little Peng.


    Wang Hong adjusted the tactics of the Poisonous Bees. Since their numbers were limited, it was challenging to deal with six third-tier Demonic Beasts simultaneously. He directed the Poisonous Bees to focus their attacks on two of the Demonic Beasts.


    The two Demonic Beasts were soon covered in Poisonous Bees. These Poisonous Bees, after their mutation, had more than just stingers as a means of attack. They now also possessed tusks, which they used to tear at the Demonic Beasts'' flesh and then consumed the torn flesh.


    The two Demonic Beasts, overwhelmed by the swarm of Poisonous Bees, were finally held back. Meanwhile, the remaining four third-tier Demonic Beasts elerated their charge toward Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong didn''t dare to confront these Demonic Beasts head-on, especially since they outnumbered him. He quickly turned and fled, leaving Little Peng to deal with the four pursuing Demonic Beasts.


    Facing four Demonic Beasts of the same tier, Little Peng was not too afraid. He disyed agility and skill inbat, putting up a formidable fight.


    These four Demonic Beasts had already been poisoned earlier, and now, in the midst of the intense battle, the toxins within their bodies were rapidly spreading.


    Simultaneously, the two Demonic Beasts surrounded by Poisonous Bees were being gnawed at relentlessly, revealing their bony skeletons as they suffered.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 427: Departure

    Chapter 427: Departure


    As time passed, the two Demonic Beasts attacked by the Poisonous Bees had turned into white bones, and the four Demonic Beasts chasing Little Peng were growing weaker by the moment.


    When Wang Hong summoned the Poisonous Bees and trapped the two Demonic Beasts again, the situation finally began to change in their favor.


    At this moment, Little Peng was single-handedly facing two poisoned third-tier Demonic Beasts, and it didn''t seem too difficult for him, considering these Demonic Beasts were already weakened by poison.


    Wang Hong saw this and joined the battle, deploying arge to ensnare one of the Qing Foxes.


    The Qing Fox was quite cunning. It had already escaped the range of Wang Hong''s Spirit before it could reach, and then it swung its front paw forward, sending a wind de towards Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong summoned a wooden shield to block this attack from the third-tier Demonic Beast.


    "It seems that this Demonic Beast''s strength has significantly decreased after being poisoned," Wang Hong thought to himself. After all, facing an attack from a third-tier Demonic Beast was not an easy task.


    Seeing the Demonic Beast''s reduced strength, he felt more at ease battling it. He knew that if he persisted for a little longer, he could secure victory.


    One hourter, when Liu Changsheng sessfully advanced and emerged from his temporary cave mansion for cultivation, he found Wang Hong dealing with a pile of Demonic Beast corpses."East Master, I''ve done it! I''ve finally formed a Golden Core," Liu Changsheng said with deep respect, his excitement restrained.


    After forming a Golden Core, not only did one''s strength increase, but one''s lifespan also extended. Many cultivators pursued Cultivation for longevity, even if true immortality was out of reach. To gain an additional hundred years of life was a cherished goal.


    With Wang Hong''s assistance, Liu Changsheng had finallypleted his path to the Golden Core.


    "Good! Stop standing there ande help me clean up these Demonic Beast corpses," Wang Hong said, waving his bloodstained hand.


    "Yes... of course, I''ming," Liu Changsheng hurriedly walked towards the pile of Demonic Beast corpses. When he got closer, he realized that all six of the bodies on the ground were third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    He hadn''t expected that in such a short time, there had been a fierce battle here. Wang Hong and Little Peng, just one person and one bird, had already in six third-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Even at his current Core level, he could only fight evenly with one third-tier Demonic Beast at most.


    At this moment, Wang Hong was troubled about the bear paws he held in his hands. Bear paws were a rare delicacy, especially when they came from a third-tier Demonic Beast, making them even more precious.


    Unfortunately, the bear had died with poison in its system, which meant its paws were likely toxic as well. How could he eat them?


    He had a good reason for keeping them, though. After all, that bear had tried to kill him for a barbecue.


    Now that it was in his possession, he intended to reim his meal, even if it was potentially poisoned. He had an antidote, after all.


    In total, they had in six third-tier Demonic Beasts, harvested six Golden Cores, and collected a substantial amount of materials from other Demonic Beasts.


    These Demonic Beasts more thanpensated for what they had consumed earlier, like a form of retribution.


    Wang Hong collected all the bodies and items, then rode on Little Peng''s back and flew back. He felt that Ling Shuai coulde here next time for Core cultivation.


    The Spirit Qi here was dense, and he had learned that there were only a few Demonic Beasts rtively close to this area. Most of them hade today and had been killed.


    For a long time, this area should be the safest and most suitable ce for Core cultivation.


    After dropping off Liu Changsheng at their base, Wang Hong returned to Mountain Valley.


    A monthter, Wang Hong quietly left Mountain Valley with Ling Shuai, heading towards the former site of the Chuyun Sect.


    Up until now, there were not many Demonic Beasts upying this Peak. There were only a few second-tier Demonic Beasts, and as soon as Little Peng arrived, they all fled in fear.


    After arranging Ling Shuai in the same temporary cave mansion as before, Wang Hong, like before, stood guard outside.


    "It seems that there are no more Demonic Beastsing to cause trouble this time. It looks like we really did kill off their leadersst time," Wang Hong murmured to himself.


    Although there was no disturbance this time, unfortunately, Ling Shuai still failed to form his Core.


    Both of them had to return, and after Ling Shuai rested for two months, Wang Hong gave him another chance to form a Golden Core and apanied him during the process.


    This time, Ling Shuai finally seeded in forming his Core.


    From then on, he had one Golden Core subordinate in Liu Changsheng''s and one under his, which gave him a bit of self-defense capability.


    In a conference room in Mountain Valley, Wang Hong was joined by some of his subordinates.


    "In theing period, I will be leaving alone for a while. During my absence, each of you must fulfill your responsibilities," Wang Hong began.


    "Huh?"


    "Huh..."


    Many of them were quite surprised, wondering why Wang Hong was suddenly leaving.


    "Don''t be too surprised. I''ve been thinking about this for a long time. You may all know that I have a brother who is currently in the Taihao Sect. With the ongoing turmoil everywhere, I can''t help but worry," Wang Hong exined.


    "So, I n to visit the Taihao Sect for a while."


    "East Master, it''s easy to get tired and bored traveling alone. Why not take me with you?" Skinny Monkey suggested with a grin.


    "Yeah! East Master, why not bring a team along? In case there are dangers on the way, it would be good to have some support," Zhang Chunfeng added, feeling a bit concerned. After all, the outside world was now dominated by Demonic Beasts.


    "No need! I have my own reasons for this, and having more people can actually make things moreplicated," Wang Hong rejected. He felt that being alone would give him greater freedom to act in case of danger.


    Seeing that their persuasion was ineffective and knowing Wang Hong''s character, they stopped trying to convince him.


    The next day, Wang Hong packed his belongings and quietly left Mountain Valley, heading north. His departure was kept secret, known only to a select few core members.


    After putting some distance between himself and Mountain Valley, Wang Hong released Little Peng from his Spirit Beast bag.


    Then, riding on Little Peng''s back, they flew northward.


    On the way to Taihao Sect, they had to pass through several Mortal kingdoms.


    Wang Hong observed that the once bustling Mortal cities had lost their vitality. Only a few scattered individuals roamed the streets.


    In some cities, the poption had simply vanished, leaving behind ghost towns.


    On the road, he even witnessed Demonic Beasts charging into human gathering ces and feasting on the spot.


    When Wang Hong arrived at these locations and slew the Demonic Beasts, rescuing the frightened humans, they were already trembling with fear.


    However, even though he saved them this time, they would likely be captured by Demonic Beasts again in the future because these areas now belonged to the Demonic Beasts.


    Currently, ordinary Mortals in East Zhou were all under the shadow of the Demon n, like vegetables in a garden, ripe for the picking whenever the Demonic Beasts desired.


    Throughout his journey, Wang Hong encountered several Mortal kingdoms, and without exception, they had all be gardens for the Demon n.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 428: Rescuing Lives

    Chapter 428: Rescuing Lives


    On this particr day, Wang Hong was riding on Little Peng''s back, flying forward through the skies, passing by a Mortal City nearby.


    At this moment, the city''s residents had formed long queues, heading towards a northwestern direction outside the city. The human procession stretched for miles, seemingly endless.


    On both sides of the crowd, some Demonic Beasts were escorting them, keeping a vignt eye on the people.


    These low-tier Demonic Beasts were not highly intelligent. Whenever they spotted someonegging behind, they would approach and bite or swipe at them, paying no heed to whether these ordinary Mortals could endure the pain.


    Among the crowd, there was a woman with a furrowed brow. Her face was ashen, and she carried a sizable belly. She also held the hand of a four or five-year-old girl, struggling to keep pace with the procession.


    The little girl curiously examined the Demonic Beasts nearby. At her tender age, she was unaware of the fearsomeness of these creatures.


    At that moment, the little girl felt her mother''s hand turning icy cold and trembling. She turned to see her mother''s face contorted in pain.


    "Mom! Are you hungry? I still have half a piece of cake for you to eat. It''s really delicious!" The little girl offered with a hopeful smile.


    The woman managed to force a stiff smile and said, "Mom''s not hungry, dear. Keep the cake for yourself."As she spoke, the pain on the woman''s face grew more pronounced, and some translucent liquid began to trickle down her legs.


    The woman endured the intense pain in her abdomen and continued to move forward. After a few steps, she finally couldn''t hold on any longer, and her legs gave way, causing her to copse to the ground.


    "Mom! What''s wrong with you?" The little girl saw her mother fall and tried to pull her up, but her young age made her efforts futile.


    Passersby who witnessed the scene considered stepping in to help, but a nce at the Demonic Beasts nearby made them hesitate, and they quickly moved away.


    "Mom! What''s happening to you? Please get up!" The little girl was now crying in distress.


    Just then, a massive w covered in scales reached out and grabbed the pregnant woman with incredible strength, lifting her away.


    The anxious little girl was left behind and fell to the ground. She turned to witness a horrifying scene that would haunt her forever.


    Her mother''s upper body had been devoured by one of the Demonic Beasts, leaving only her waist and legs wriggling outside.


    "Mom! Let go of my mom!" The little girl let out a piercing scream and ran towards the Demonic Beast, but her tender age left her unable to outrun even one of the Demonic Beast''s legs.


    "Ah! Let go of my mom!" The little girl could only desperately pound the Demonic Beast''s leg with her fists. Her small hands struck the tough scales, causing her hands to bleed profusely.


    The Demonic Beast, irritated by the interruption during its meal, impatiently extended a w toward the girl on the ground.


    A shadow loomed overhead, and it seemed the girl was about to meet her end under the beast''s w.


    "Whoosh!"


    An arrow shot from a distance, carrying formidable force, pierced through the Demonic Beast''s head. The creature''s body was propelled backward by the arrow''s force.


    The sudden attack on the Demonic Beast caused amotion, alerting nearby Demonic Beasts. They began roaring in anger.


    "Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"


    In response, numerous arrows flew from the sky, fast and urate. These arrows struck down countless Demonic Beasts.


    Soon, arge number of the escorting Demonic Beastsy dead.


    Finally, they spotted their adversary. In the distant sky, a greyish-yellow eagle soared, carrying a person on its back. The individual wielded a bow and arrow, continuously firing towards the direction of the battle.Upon witnessing this scene, the Demonic Beasts no longer paid any attention to the Mortals and swiftly turned to flee. It wasn''t that they were afraid of Wang Hong; the leading Demonic Beast was also a mere second-tier creature. However, Wang Hong''s mount, Little Peng, seemed to unsettle them.


    Wang Hongnded on the ground while many had already knelt down in gratitude.


    "Thank you, Immortal Master, for saving our lives!"


    "Thank you, Immortal Master!"


    Wang Hong approached the first Demonic Beast that had been shot down earlier.


    Meanwhile, the little girl continued to cry and tried to reach into the Demonic Beast''s mouth to find her mother.


    "Let me help you." Wang Hong approached and gently patted the girl''s back.


    "Please, save my mom!" The little girl wiped her tears and snot with her sleeve and obediently stepped aside.


    With a Flying Sword, Wang Hong carefully cut open the abdomen of the Demonic Beast, and the body of a woman rolled out.


    "Mom!" The little girl was about to rush towards the lifeless body when Wang Hong restrained her. The woman''s body was covered in the viscous fluid from inside the Demonic Beast, which was highly toxic to Mortals.


    With a flick of his wrist, Wang Hong used a Water Element Magical Art to wash away the fluid from the woman''s body before releasing the girl.


    "I am Kou Shiqi, representing the people of Jingnan City. We are deeply grateful for Immortal Master''s great kindness!"


    A middle-aged man hurried forward and performed three kowtows and nine kowtows, expressing his gratitude for Wang Hong''s life-saving grace.


    "Are you the city lord of this city? Where are you all being taken?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "I have failed to maintain peace in this region as the city lord, and as for our destination, I suspect it''s the Yunxia Mountain, about two hundred miles northwest from here. We have sent soldiers to investigate before, and these Demonic Beasts have been upying Yunxia Mountain. They frequently descend to capture Mortals, and the nearby viges have all been deserted. We''ve organized armies to resist them, but it''s proven futile. Just a few dozen of these Demonic Beasts can rout tens of thousands of soldiers."


    Kou Shiqi briefly recounted this information.


    "Well, you should all return for now. I will investigate, and if possible, I will help you deal with them. However, I can''t guarantee anything, so you must rely on your own fortune."


    Wang Hong turned around, stood on Little Peng''s back again, and flew toward the northwest.


    In truth, he knew that even if he helped them deal with these Demonic Beasts this time, another group would likely emerge shortly. The current situation in East Zhou was beyond his personal capabilities to change. Such incidents happened all the time, and it was simply a stroke of luck that the residents of Jingnan City encountered him this time, leading to their rescue.


    Wang Hong and Little Peng soon arrived near Yunxia Mountain and descended from the sky to continue on foot. They scouted the area around Yunxia Mountain to assess the enemy''s strength.


    After capturing several Demonic Beasts for interrogation, they found that these creatures had very low intelligence and were difficult tomunicate with. Little Peng also didn''t understand theirnguage, so they didn''t yield much information.


    Just as they were considering other options, a semi-humanoid Demonic Beast descended from the mountain. They immediately began following it since such human-shaped Demonic Beasts usually had higher intelligence and sometimes even understood the Human n''snguage.


    Eventually, they obtained valuable information from this Demonic Beast.


    On the mountain, there was only one third-tier Demonic Beast, with a cultivation level roughly in the middle of the third tier. Additionally, there were over ten second-tier Demonic Beasts and several hundred first-tier Demonic Beasts.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 429: Slaying the Enemy

    Chapter 429: ying the Enemy


    After understanding the opponent''s strength, he carefully assessed both sides'' capabilities and felt there was a reasonable chance of victory.


    Dealing with that mid-tier three-star Demonic Beast might pose a bit of a challenge for Little Peng. While it had managed to withstand the attacks of several three-star Demonic Beasts during their encounter at the Chuyun Sect''s old site, it was a unique situation where the opponents had already been poisoned for several hours.


    If they were to face a Demonic Beast one tier higher, it would depend on the opponent''s level, which wasn''t entirely secure.


    However, he could deploy some Poisonous Bees to assist Little Peng in restraining the opponent, and that should suffice.


    After making his decision, Wang Hong released the Poisonous Bees. The Poisonous Bees buzzed and flew toward the mountain, leading the way.


    With the Poisonous Bees in the front, they encountered Demonic Beasts along the way, and the bees would swarm and bite the opponents, swiftly dispatching them.


    These Poisonous Bees had undergone mutations, resolving the previous issue of being unable to prate the defenses of Demonic Beasts. They only needed to break through the outer flesh of the Demonic Beasts and inject their venom with their stingers.


    This Bee Poison would paralyze the opponent, rendering them unable to move, allowing the Poisonous Bees to take over from there.


    As they charged halfway up the mountain, they finally alerted a three-star Demonic Beast on the mountain."Roar! Roar!"


    A four-legged lizard crawled out of a mountain cave at the peak, measuring ten feet long and covered in ck scales.


    "Little Peng, I''ll leave this little snake to you!" Wang Hong said to Little Peng, jumping down from Little Peng''s back.


    "East Master, rest assured, I''ll bring it back for you to enjoy with your wine," Little Peng replied before pouncing towards the lizard.


    "No need, this thing''s meat is tough and sour, not worth eating!" Wang Hong shouted from behind. Although he loved food, he had no appetite for this creature''s appearance.


    Although the three-star lizard couldn''t speak, it didn''t mean it couldn''t understand. Even before the battle began, they were already discussing whether its meat was ptable or not.


    Feeling disrespected by the two, the lizard decided it didn''t want to talk anymore. It roared and charged towards Wang Hong and Little Peng.


    After Little Peng finished his joke about cows, he wasted no time engaging the Demonic Beast, quickly entangling with it.


    Upon the lizard''s roar, it summoned all the Demonic Beasts on the mountain.


    At this point, Wang Hong divided the released Poisonous Bees into two groups, with half assisting Little Peng against the lizard and the other half dealing with the Demonic Beasts surrounding them.


    Wang Hong no longer held back and soared into the sky, heading for a second-tier flying Demonic Beast.


    In the air, he focused on dealing with these second-tier Demonic Beasts.


    As for the hundreds of first-tier Demonic Beasts, they were helpless because none of them could fly, making it impossible for them to provide any assistance.


    In battles between cultivators and Demonic Beasts below the Golden Core stage, human cultivators had a slight advantage. Foundation Building cultivators could already control flying weapons, making it a straightforward task to deal with Demonic Beasts of the same tier that couldn''t fly.


    At this moment, across from Wang Hong, there were only five flying Demonic Beasts, while the rest were left helplessly on the ground.


    Wang Hong had no intention of wasting too much time. His figure shed in mid-air, appearing behind one of the flying creatures.


    In an instant, he thrust his Long Spear downward, and with a single strike, he pierced through the creature from front to back, killing it.


    Before the creature couldprehend what had happened, it was already dead.


    Wang Hong''s figure continued to flicker, and soon, all the flying Demonic Beasts in the sky had been in.At this moment, several Demonic Beasts gathered below in the direction of his feet, roaring angrily at him.


    Wang Hong couldn''t be bothered to pay them any attention. He took out a Spirit from his Storage Bag, activated it, and cast it over arge area before tossing it downward.


    Due to their dense numbers, when the descended, it not only trapped a second-tier Demonic Beast but also several first-tier ones in the process.


    The wooden thorns on the Spirit pierced the flesh of these Demonic Beasts, absorbing Spiritual Energy and essence blood while injecting poison into them.


    Wang Hong didn''t have time to wait for these Demonic Beasts to slowly die. He needed to resolve this quickly and provide support for Little Peng.


    At this point, mes appeared in his hands, and he pointed his finger. The mes attached themselves to the Spirit and descended upon a group of Demonic Beasts within.


    The Demonic Beasts within the howled, quickly reduced to ashes by the mes.


    He lifted the Spirit and cast it towards another group of Demonic Beasts.


    While Wang Hong had the upper hand in his battle, Little Peng, assisted by the Poisonous Bees, was finally holding his own against the three-tier Demonic Beast.


    Wang Hong decided to redirect all the Poisonous Bees to assist Little Peng in dealing with the three-tier Demonic Beast.


    As the remaining Poisonous Bees swarmed around the Demonic Beast, they vigorously gnawed at its scales. However, these scales were exceptionally tough and not easily prated.


    But with the assistance of so many Poisonous Bees, Little Peng finally gained the upper hand.


    In contrast, Wang Hong''s battle seemed rather mundane at this point.


    He flew in the air, casting his time and again, capturing varying numbers of Demonic Beasts and then using Spirit Fire to burn them to death.


    Afterpleting this cycle, he repeated the process.


    These Demonic Beasts had rtively low intelligence, and because they couldn''t reach Wang Hong, they dared not flee too far due to themands of the three-tier Demonic Beast.


    Wang Hong idly yed with the Demonic Beasts he hadted. Suddenly, he realized that all the Demonic Beasts below him had been killed, and the remaining few had fled.


    He didn''t have the time to pursue them, as they posed no significant threat.


    Hastily controlling the Spirit, he headed toward Little Peng.


    Before he arrived, he dropped the Spirit onto the three-tier Demonic Beast.


    This Demonic Beast, previously retreating under thebined assault of Little Peng and the Poisonous Bees, was now additionally ensnared in a massive.


    After about a stick of incense time, Wang Hong watched as the three-tier Demonic Beast trapped in the took itsst breath, feeling a sense of aplishment.


    However, he recalled thest time when he had been seriously injured due to a demon core explosion, narrowly escaping death.


    This time, he didn''t dare to approach it. Instead, he ced Spirit Fire on the Spirit, causing the Demonic Beast to howl in agony.


    Soon, the Demonic Beast breathed itsst, but they still didn''t dare to approach it too quickly, mindful of any potential surprises it might have left.


    Wang Hong decided to leave it there for a while. Even if the fire couldn''t kill it, the thorns on the Spirit would slowly drain its life.


    Since the spoils of war were immobile for now, he decided to explore the surroundings.


    He found that the Spirit Qi on the Yunxia Mountain was quite rich, suggesting the presence of several medium-sized Spirit Veins.


    He first entered the cave mansion of the three-tier Demonic Beast. However, he felt somewhat disappointed upon entering; this Demonic Beast had indeed been rather destitute.


    The items disyed in the cave mansion were of little value, but there were many spirit ores, which piqued Wang Hong''s curiosity. Generally, Demonic Beasts didn''t refine tools and rarely collected materials like spirit ore.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 430: The Vein

    Chapter 430: The Vein


    Wang Hong walked around the cave mansion of this mere third-tier Demonic Beast, Wang Hong, but he didn''t find anything particrly valuable.


    Most of the Demon n members were rtively poor,cking substantial wealth. Even their collections, if they had any, were mostly based on personal preferences and not necessarily valuable items.


    Perhaps it was because the perspectives of the Human n and the Demon n were somewhat different.


    At this moment, he shifted his gaze to a corner where he noticed a stone-carved box. Surprisingly, this box could shield Divine Sense detection.


    He approached the stone box and opened its lid, revealing countless Storage Bags inside. He randomly picked up one Storage Bag and found it filled with Copper Essence Ore.


    Opening another Storage Bag, he found more Copper Essence Ore.


    After inspecting all the Storage Bags in this box, he discovered various types of ore, primarily Copper Essence Ore, along with some Iron Mother ore and Silver Essence ore.


    It was astonishing that this third-tier Demonic Beast had hidden so much ore. Judging by this, it was possible that it all came from the same vein.


    Seeing this pile of ore, he spected that this third-tier Demonic Beast might have either looted a vein or taken control of one.Wang Hong stored all the items in the mountain cave into his Space. These ores were all materials for refining second-tier tools.


    Ever since he had refined the Flying Boat and equipped over four hundred Foundation Building subordinates, his inventory of various refining materials had long been depleted. Now was the perfect opportunity to replenish it ¨C a fortunate windfall.


    After leaving this mountain cave, he continued to search around the peak.


    After a while, he noticed another mountain cave on a nearby mountainside, where he could see signs of activity at the entrance.


    He guided his vessel tond at that cave entrance, and immediately, a humanoid Demonic Beast covered in scales emerged, shouting, "Halt, intruder!"


    Wang Hong had no patience for idle chatter with this Demonic Beast. He summoned a Spirit, casting it over the creature.


    The Demonic Beast, upon seeing that the neer attacked without hesitation, attempted to retaliate but was too slow, quickly bing securely bound by therge.


    "What is inside this mountain cave?" Wang Hong already had some suspicions, but he still asked.


    "Hmph! You won''t get any information from me! The Patriarch will arrive soon, and then you''ll have no ce to bury yourself," the Demonic Beast responded defiantly. Although it had heard the sounds of battle from the neighboring mountain, it believed that the Patriarch''s strength would swiftly eliminate the enemy.


    "If you''re not willing to talk, then I''ll grant your wish," Wang Hong said, holding his Long Spear, and with one strike, he shattered the Demonic Beast''s skull, instantly ending its consciousness.


    Wang Hong had only asked casually, as he was going to investigate anyway.


    Moreover, his Divine Sense had already detected the cave entrance and several Human n Qi Cultivation cultivators guarding it.


    The three guards at the entrance had witnessed the recent battle and now, with the fight over, they hurriedly approached, prostrating themselves on the ground."Junior Zhang You, Ren Du, and Deng Qingguang pay our respects to the seniors. We thank the seniors for saving our lives!"


    "Please rise," Wang Hong said coldly. "Why are you here?"


    "We are nearby loose cultivators," one of them replied honestly. "Half a year ago, we were captured by Demonic Beasts and forced to guard this mining site. Originally, there were over ten of us, but the other people were killed by the Demonic Beasts for various reasons."


    "Ah, is this indeed a mining site? What kind of ore does this vein produce?" Wang Hong inquired.


    "Senior, this ce mainly produces Profound Iron Ore and Red Copper ore, with asional yields of rare spirit ores like Copper Essence and Iron Mother."


    "Wait here for now; I''ll go inside and take a look," Wang Hong said, waving his hand to suppress the three men''s Spiritual Energy within their bodies. Then, he proceeded alone toward the mining cave.


    Inside the cave, numerous mortal miners toiled, their faces withered, their eyes vacant. They mechanically chipped away at the hard rocks on the cave walls.


    The rocks in this vein were exceptionally tough, far from something a mortal could easily break.


    Every time they swung their pickaxes with all their might, they could only create a small dent in the rock, but they continued their monotonous work.


    Wang Hong approached one section of the wall, made a few strokes with his Flying Sword, and effortlessly cleaved off severalrge chunks of Red Copper Ore.


    Themotion drew awestruck looks from nearby miners, but none dared to approach him or speak.


    Wang Hong sheathed his Flying Sword and, seeing that the miners were all staring at him, he dered loudly, "I dere that from today onwards, you are all free and no longer need to mine. Go back to where you came from."


    However, his words did not elicit cheers from the miners.


    In their eyes, one could only see numbness, suspicion, fear, and a range of other emotions.


    They had been oppressed here for so long, their hearts had already grown numb. Even if Wang Hong freed them now, they couldn''t immediately adapt and couldn''t believe that this was real.


    After a while, one of them timidly stepped out of the crowd and asked, "Immortal Master, are you saying we can go home? We don''t have to mine anymore?"


    "Of course, why would I lie to you? The Demonic Beasts outside have already been dealt with. You are free to leave," Wang Hong said affirmatively.


    "Thank you, Immortal Master, for saving our lives!" The group of miners instantly knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly, ignoring the fact that they were scraping their foreheads on the rocky ground.


    "Alright, get up and leave this ce quickly," Wang Hong said, and he led the way out of the cave. The miners hurried to inform those who were unaware of the news. After all, this mining site was vast, with numerous tunnels, and only a small portion of the miners were gathered here.


    Once outside the cave, Wang Hong removed the restrictions on the three Qi Cultivation cultivators and let them go.


    For these Qi Cultivation stage cultivators, the Demon n wouldn''t even spend a Blood Contract to im them, as they weren''t considered valuable. As for the mining site, Wang Hong had no immediate solution to it, as he couldn''t single-handedly mine and transport the resources.


    It was a shame since this ce was a prime location with a medium-sized Spirit Vein on the mountain and abundant Spirit Qi, coupled with the mining vein.


    Judging from the environment on the mountaintop, there used to be a power here in the past. However, it had either left or been wiped out, allowing this group of Demonic Beasts to im the territory.


    Returning to the area of the previous battle, Wang Hong approached the third-tier Demonic Beast that had been bound by the Spirit. Confirming that it was truly dead, he released the.


    He then proceeded to dismember the Demonic Beast''s body and stored the various materials separately.


    The bodies of the other Demonic Beasts were all directly collected into his Space. Afterward, he mounted Little Peng and departed from the area.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 431: The Fall of Taihao Sect

    Chapter 431: The Fall of Taihao Sect


    The Taihao Sect, under relentless assault by hordes of Demonic Beasts, bravely defended their ancestral protection formation. In response, brilliant and radiant sword lights met the charging beasts head-on.


    These sword lights were incredibly sharp, instantly tearing apart the Demonic Beasts that surged forward. Before the protection formation, a gruesome pile of severed limbs and remains had already umted, resembling a small mountain.


    Blood flowed down the hillside into the river, staining the entire waterway crimson.


    As the foremost and mightiest sect in the Eastern Zhou region, Taihao Sect boasted unrivaled strength. The Demon n''s attempt to conquer it came at a tremendous cost.


    Within the protection formation, Wang Yi wielded a dazzling Flying Sword that traversed the battlefield outside the formation. Each strike of his sword was a lethal blow, and no Demonic Beast below the third tier could withstand a single attack.


    This was the power of a true sword cultivator, a life devoted solely to the sword with no distractions. Such unwavering dedication formed the foundation of their unparalleledbat prowess.


    However, Wang Yi''s current state didn''t quite match the brilliance of his sword technique. After all, he had only recently advanced to the Golden Core stage, and his Spiritual Power was not yet fully stable.


    He had been stationed here, continuously battling for five days. While the depletion of his Spiritual Power could be supplemented with some Spiritual Objects, the mental fatigue was beyond relief.


    Suddenly, the sky was graced by six enormous figures, radiating immense pressure. Even the Demonic Beasts currently assaulting Taihao Sect hesitated and dared not advance.As these six fourth-tier Demonic Beasts appeared, three formidable figures emerged from within Taihao Sect''s protection formation to confront them in the sky.


    There was no room for words between them. They swiftly engaged in battle, having shed multiple times during the Demon n''s siege.


    Although sword cultivators were unrivaled inbat, the higher the tier, the narrower the gap between individuals, be it human or Demonic Beast. Those who reached this realm were truly exceptional, and none were ordinary.


    Taihao Sect''s Nascent Soul cultivators, despite fighting two against one, did not gain much advantage, and one of them had even sustained injuries in a previous battle. However, this Nascent Soul ancestor seemed unaffected and continued to participate in subsequent skirmishes.


    Meanwhile, on the ground within the Demonic Beast ranks, hundreds of third-tier Demonic Beasts charged forward, aiming to breach the protection formation.


    At the same time, Taihao Sect cultivators inside the protection formation swiftly mobilized nearly a hundred Golden Core cultivators to reinforce the defenses.


    After this period ofbat, they had be ustomed to the Demon n''s tactics and had already prepared contingency ns. For a sect of Taihao Sect''s strength, assembling over a hundred Golden Core cultivators was not a difficult feat.


    As their Golden Core cultivators engaged the third-tier Demonic Beasts, two fourth-tier Demonic Beasts suddenly burst forth from the beast horde. Taking advantage of the Nascent Soul cultivators being upied in the sky, theyunched a surprise attack on the protective formation.


    With resounding booms, ripples spread across Taihao Sect''s protection formation.


    "Damnable creatures! How dare you!"


    In the skies, the Nascent Soul cultivators engaged inbat naturally noticed the unfolding events. However, they were entangled by six Demonic Beasts of the same tier and couldn''t break free.


    These two fourth-tier Demonic Beasts had only recently arrived in this area, patiently biding their time until this opportune moment.


    Now that they had made their move, their intention was clear: to break through the Taihao Sect''s Large Formation this time. Once the Large Formation was breached, no matter how resilient Taihao Sect was, they wouldn''t be able to hold out for long.


    It was astonishing that the Demon n had assembled eight fourth-tier Demonic Beasts just to attack Taihao Sect. Keep in mind that there were only twenty Nascent Soul cultivators in the entire East Zhou Cultivation Realm.


    Under the assault of these two fourth-tier Demonic Beasts and countless lower-tier Demonic Beasts, Taihao Sect''s Large Formation was finally shattered.


    However, even with their Large Formation breached, Taihao Sect''s disciples did not lose heart. They continued to resist the surging Demonic Beasts with unwavering determination.


    They wielded their Flying Swords and relentlessly struck down Demonic Beasts that greatly outnumbered them.


    In the forefront of the battle, both in the air and on the ground, human and Demon n corpses fell in clusters.


    Despite their previous enmity, in death, all were piled together.


    Facing several times their number in first, second, and third-tier Demonic Beasts, they could still fight with their strength, courage, and sheer willpower.


    However, when it came to the two fourth-tier Demonic Beasts, everyone despaired, as they had no means to defend against them.


    Just then, the Sect Master of Taihao Sect led the nine strongest Golden Core cultivators of the sect to the scene.


    "All Taihao Sect disciples, follow mymand and break through to the north!"


    The Sect Master of Taihao Sect shouted loudly, his voice transmitted far through the use of Spiritual Power.


    At this point, they had no other option. If the enemy didn''t have these two fourth-tier Demonic Beasts, they might have stood a chance. Now, their only choice was for the entire sect to break through and conserve their strength as much as possible, giving them a chance for aeback in the future.


    After giving the order, the Sect Master of Taihao Sect and the nine others formed a mysterious formation.


    They each summoned a Flying Sword, intricately inscribed withplex runes. As they infused them with their Spiritual Power, the runes on these ten Flying Swords lit up.


    There seemed to be a mysterious connection between the runes on these ten Flying Swords. Guided by the runes, the ten Flying Swords gradually drew together in the air, eventually merging into a colossal Flying Sword, approximately three zhang long and nine chi wide.


    The Sect Master of Taihao Sect pointed towards one of the fourth-tier Demonic Beasts, and the enormous Flying Sword, known as the "Ten Absolute Sword Formation," followed hismand and shed towards the target.


    This Ten Absolute Sword Formation was a genuine cooperative formation of Taihao Sect, capable of unleashing power equivalent to that of Nascent Soul cultivators when executed by ten Golden Core cultivators together.


    One of the fourth-tier Demonic Beasts, currently brutalizing Taihao Sect''s disciples, suddenly found a formidable Flying Sword appearing before it.


    Quickly attempting to evade, it was a moment toote as the Flying Sword passed by, severing one of its front limbs.


    Enraged by the attack, the fourth-tier Demonic Beast charged forward to confront the colossal Flying Sword.


    Upon hearing the order to break northward, Wang Yi, in the midst of battle, had to abandon the fight and swiftly moved along the edge of the shattered Large Formation.


    "Feng Junior Sister,e with me!"


    Wang Yi located a fellow disciple on the battlefield and pulled her along as they headed north.


    At this moment, the entire Taihao Sect was attempting to break through to the north. Their method of escape differed from that of the Qingxu Sect. Qingxu Sect had chosen to leave a portion of their members to hold back the Demonic Beasts, allowing some elite disciples to escape.


    Taihao Sect, on the other hand, was attempting aplete exodus, a much more difficult strategy, but perhaps it would preserve more of their manpower.


    Apanied by Feng Ai, Wang Yi followed his fellow sect members in their northern escape. His Flying Sword circled and danced around him, rendering any second-tier Demonic Beast incapable of opposing him.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 432: Face-to-Face on the Battlefield

    Chapter 432: Face-to-Face on the Battlefield


    When Wang Hong arrived at Taihao Sect, the sect was already besieged by Demonic Beasts on all sides.


    He circled the perimeter but couldn''t find a way to infiltrate Taihao Sect. With his individual strength, he couldn''t break through the heavy blockade set up by the Demon n.


    Helpless and worried about Wang Yi''s safety, he had no choice but to wait patiently outside. Even if he brought all his subordinates, they wouldn''t make much of a difference in such a massive battle.


    He waited outside Taihao Sect for over ten days, during which Nascent Soul cultivators engaged in battles more than ten times.


    On this day, like the ones before it, Nascent Soul cultivators from Qingxu Sect shed fiercely with fourth-tier Demonic Beasts from the Demon n in the high skies.


    The power unleashed by Nascent Soul cultivators duringbat made Wang Hong, who was watching from afar, feel an urge to turn and flee.


    However, before long, Taihao Sect''s Large Formation was breached under the assault of two fourth-tier Demonic Beasts.


    Upon seeing that Taihao Sect was breaking northward, Wang Hong immediately steered Little Peng in that direction.


    When they reached the northern edge of the Demonic Beast encirclement, Wang Hong found a secluded spot. He removed his Daoist Robe, revealing his upper body.He activated the "Body Strengthening Invincible Golden Body Technique" Cultivation Technique, causing his skin to change color. First, it turned red, but upon looking at himself in the mirror, he realized he didn''t resemble a Demonic Beast.


    Then he turned his skin ck, still feeling unsatisfied. After some consideration, he changed his skin to green.


    As he looked at himself in the mirror with a smile, his appearance took on a sinister and eerie aspect. He could probably terrify children without a doubt.


    Still not entirely satisfied, he manipted the muscles all over his body and raised tworge bumps on his forehead, resembling horns.


    He further altered his facial skin, allowing localized skin to stretch and form deep wrinkles on both sides of his cheeks, giving the impression of gills, somewhat resembling a fish.


    After this transformation, he doubted anyone would recognize him.


    However, Human n cultivates Spiritual Power, while Demon n cultivates demonic energy. He had to conceal his own aura; otherwise, using Spiritual Power would quickly give him away.


    Upon seeing Wang Hong''s new appearance, Little Peng circled around him several times. Fortunately, it had witnessed Wang Hong''s transformation, or else it wouldn''t have recognized him at all.


    "East Master, what kind of Demonic Beast are you now? I''ve never seen this species before."


    "I don''t know either. Don''t worry about the details. As long as we can deceive most of the Demonic Beasts."


    Wang Hong didn''t know if there were such species within the Demon n, but many hybrid Demonic Beasts looked strange and different anyway.


    After preparing everything, he exposed his upper body, carried a wooden stick, and stood on Little Peng''s back. Then he ordered Little Peng to mingle with the attacking group of Demonic Beasts.


    This was a n he had considered for a while. The Demonic Beast group consisted of many different races, and they might not necessarily recognize each other.


    As Little Peng and Wang Hong mingled within the group, they didn''t attract much attention. Everyone''s focus was on the ongoing battle ahead.


    Wang Hong instructed Little Peng to push forward swiftly towards the frontline of the battle.


    "Kill! Charge! I''ll fight for the glory of my Demon n!" Little Peng shouted while pushing forward, following the slogans Wang Hong had taught it.


    This tactic indeed proved effective and didn''t arouse suspicion from other Demonic Beasts. They quickly reached the frontlines.


    In front of Little Peng now was a massive third-tier White Rhino. This White Rhino was currently locked in a fierce battle with a Golden Core cultivator from Taihao Sect.


    Wang Hong stood at the rear, wielding arge wooden staff. He half-heartedly parried an iing medium-grade Spiritual Weapon from an opponent while his eyes and Divine Sense searched for Wang Yi''s figure.


    Wang Yi was currently amidst his fellow sect members, fiercely ying the oing Demonic Beasts. Although his sword techniques were sharp and unstoppable, after days of continuousbat against what seemed like an endless horde of Demonic Beasts, he was growing increasingly fatigued, and the power of his sword strikes waned.


    He retrieved a bottle from his Storage Bag and, with one hand, removed the bottle cap, pouring thest drop of Spirit Wine into his mouth. This was the Spirit Wine his brother had brought for him years ago, and it was now depleted after continuous battles.


    He couldn''t help but think about his brother. Back when Qingxu Sect was besieged by Demonic Beasts, Taihao Sword Sect had sent reinforcements, but they were intercepted and attacked by Demonic Beasts on their way.


    The rescue attempt failed, and a significant number of their forces were lost. Wang Yi had been severely injured during that mission and had barely managed to escape back to the sect.


    After that, Taihao Sect was also besieged by the Demon n, cutting off allmunication with the outside world. Wang Yi had no idea about the current status of Qingxu Sect.


    "Second Brother!"


    Just as Wang Yi was thinking about his brother, a familiar voice and address resounded in his mind. He instinctively responded, "Brother!"


    It was a habit he had developed since childhood. Whenever he heard that address, he would respond ordingly. However, after responding, he became puzzled. How could his brother possibly be here when they were currently surrounded on all sides?


    "Senior Brother! What are you saying?" Feng Ai, a female cultivator who was close to him, seemed to have overheard Wang Yi talking and asked.


    "It''s nothing. You might have misheard," Wang Yi replied, trying to dismiss the matter. He continued to focus on fighting the Demonic Beasts in front of him. After taking a sip of Spirit Wine, his sword''s power increased slightly.


    However, he cast a suspicious nce around, wondering if he had just experienced an illusion.


    "Second Brother! It''s me, in front of you!"


    This time, the voice was clearer, and Wang Yi was certain it was his brother. He immediately looked toward the opposite side. However, all he could see were Demonic Beasts. Where was his brother?


    Then, he noticed a peculiar-looking Demonic Beast standing on the back of arge eagle. It was entirely green from head to toe, wielding arge wooden staff, and staring at him with a somewhat arrogant expression.


    He instinctively prepared to use his Flying Sword to pierce through this Demonic Beast, daring it to challenge him.


    "Stop! It''s me! The green one is me! I''m your brother!"


    Wang Hong, seeing that Wang Yi seemed about to attack him, hastily transmitted a Message to halt him. He was genuinely concerned that Wang Yi might unleash an attack on him.


    Wang Hong had already realized that Wang Yi was now a Core cultivator, and his attacks were relentless. Nearly every sword strike could y a Demonic Beast. He wasn''t sure if he could withstand such an assault.


    Fortunately, Divine Sense Message Transmission was fast, requiring only a single thought to convey a message.


    Wang Yi''s sword aura veered off from its original target, striking a different Demonic Beast, as he sent a telepathic message to the green Demonic Beast, "Who are you?"


    "It''s me! Your brother! Er Gou Zi!" Wang Hong transmitted his reply.


    Hearing the response from the other side, Wang Yi finally confirmed that it was indeed his brother. In the entire Cultivation World, there shouldn''t be more than a few who knew their nicknames, "Three Dogs" and "Second Brother."


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 433: Breaking Through the Siege

    Chapter 433: Breaking Through the Siege


    "Brother! How did you turn green?" Wang Yi, still in the midst of battle, couldn''t help but ask curiously.


    "This is a long story, I''ll exinter. Where are you nning to break through, and do you need my help?" Wang Hong inquired of Wang Yi.


    "We''re nning to break through to the north. How can you assist?"


    Wang Yi asked with some confusion. After all, there was only his brother on the opposite side, and throwing him into the midst of the beastly horde wouldn''t make a significant difference.


    "I can poison them, just like you''ve seen before!"


    Wang Yi remembered the invisible and insidious poison his brother had used back in the secret realm. It was a poison that was nearly impossible to guard against.


    He recalled how Wang Hong had used it to persuade him, demonstrating its potency with a dose of poison.


    Now that Wang Hong was inside the Demon n''s camp, it was indeed convenient for him to poison these Demonic Beasts.


    "Alright, go ahead and poison them, but be careful!""Sure, don''t worry. Just wait for good news."


    Wang Hong had two types of poison suitable for widespread use in such situations. One was the pollen from the Red Powder Skull Flower, which was hard to collect, and he had limited stock of it. The other was the Devouring Spirit Poison, a rtively inexpensive poison. However, he only used poison with a thousand-year age to enhance its effectiveness.


    After informing Wang Yi, Wang Hong quietly retreated from the battlefield.


    "Roar! No mercy for those who retreat!"


    He hadn''t retreated far when a three-tier Demonic Beast suddenly roared and bellowed at him.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong could only take a few steps forward. In this battle, retreat was not an option.


    Wang Hong pretended to advance,unching a few feigned attacks andmunicating in secret with Wang Yi. Then, he moved back toward the same three-tier Demonic Beast.


    The Demonic Beast, ready to roar again as the green Demonic Beast approached, suddenly detected a strange floral scent and fell into an illusion.


    At that moment, a sword aura streaked like a white rainbow from a distance, directly piercing the Demonic Beast''s head.


    Taking advantage of the split-second distraction caused by the Demonic Beast''s death, Wang Hong swiftly slipped away.


    He continued to move through the Demonic Beast horde, stealthily spreading the Devouring Spirit Poison.


    This poison now worked quickly on one-tier Demonic Beasts, almost guaranteeing their death. Two-tier Demonic Beasts, once poisoned, could hold on for a while. As for three-tier Demonic Beasts, given some time, they could expel the poison from their bodies.


    In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the northern group of one-tier Demonic Beasts began dying inexplicably, while the strength of the two-tier Demonic Beasts gradually diminished without their awareness.


    As these one-tier Demonic Beasts died inrge numbers, the pressure on the Taihao Sword Sect cultivators breaking through the siege was significantly reduced, and their escape speed increased.


    "Fellow sect members, seize this opportunity and break through the siege!" shouted a dark-faced cultivator, heavily wounded, as he rushed into the horde of Demonic Beasts and self-detonated his Golden Core.


    With a deafening explosion, the self-detonation of the Golden Core cleared a substantial safe zone within the Demonic Beast horde. The following cultivators quickly rushed forward to fill the area devoid of Demonic Beasts.


    As the Taihao Sect cultivators broke through the siege, the sounds of Golden Cores self-detonating frequently echoed, significantly increasing their speed of escape.


    Hearing these sts, Wang Hong couldn''t help but feel that Taihao Sect truly lived up to its reputation as the top sect in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm. Their courage alone deserved everyone''s admiration.


    However, he worried about Wang Yi potentially doing something reckless. So, he returned to the vicinity to search for Wang Yi''s presence.


    After a while, he breathed a sigh of relief when he finally spotted Wang Yi in one piece, fiercely battling Demonic Beasts.


    At this point, he stopped wandering around and stationed himself amidst the Demonic Beast horde opposite Wang Yi.


    This way, it was safer. Wang Yi certainly wouldn''t attack him, and the Demonic Beasts here paid him no mind.


    In the midst of the horde, he could asionally sneakily kill one or two Demonic Beasts, which was better than directly engaging in battle.


    As the battle continued, the poisoned Demonic Beasts gradually weakened in strength. Combined with the valorous charge of the Taihao Sect cultivators, they slowly began to break free from the encirclement.


    Wang Hong no longer needed to disguise himself as a Demonic Beast. After ambushing a three-tier Demonic Beast, he revealed his true form.


    Several nearby Demonic Beasts, upon seeing Wang Hong''s true form as a human, were momentarily puzzled. They immediatelyunched an attack, but by then, he had already escaped to the other side.


    After Wang Hong returned to his human form, he rushed over to Wang Yi. Although others were somewhat puzzled, they noticed that he and Wang Yi appeared to be very familiar with each other and didn''t inquire further. After all, they were still in the midst of battle.


    The Taihao Sect cultivators formed several groups: an advance party that acted like a sharp de, cutting a gap through the Demonic Beast encirclement during their breakout. Wang Yi was part of this advance party, and after breaking through, their primary task was to keep charging ahead.


    In the rear, there were cultivators designated for rearguard duty. However, in this situation, only Nascent Soul cultivators had a chance of surviving, as others were at high risk of being killed. Sacrifices were unavoidable; otherwise, they would all perish.


    As they charged forward, they heard the continuous rumble of battles behind them.


    They continued to run for five days until the battles in the rear gradually subsided.


    Exhausted, they all copsed onto a grassy field, their survival instincts the only thing keeping them going, allowing them to ovee various challenges.


    On this day, they finally managed to shake off the Demonic Beasts in the rear. When they learned that it was temporarily safe, they suddenly copsed, as if they had lost all their strength.


    Wang Yiy on the ground, feeling every muscle in his body ache with fatigue.


    All the cultivatorsy sprawled on the grass,pletely drained, except for Wang Hong, who stood upright as if he were not tired at all.


    As for why he wasn''t exhausted after such a long run, a nce at Little Peng lying on the grass like a dead dog exined it all.


    While others only had to worry about themselves while fleeing, Little Peng had to carry a person on its back.


    At this moment, Wang Hong walked over to Little Peng, took out a bottle of Spirit Wine, and poured arge gulp into its mouth.


    Then, he approached Wang Yi and produced another bottle of Spirit Wine, giving Wang Yi a generous sip.


    With a sip of Spirit Wine replenishing him, Wang Yi felt a thread of Spiritual Power rise within him, flowing through his limbs and dispelling the fatigue in his muscles.


    Although his Spiritual Power had recovered, he still didn''t want to move and didn''t even want to lift a finger.


    However, he onlyy down for a short while before he forced himself to get up.


    "Brother! Is there more Spirit Wine?" Wang Yi asked Wang Hong.


    Wang Hong handed him another bottle of Spirit Wine.


    Taking the bottle, he got up and walked over to Feng Ai, a female cultivator lying nearby like the rest.


    "Sister Feng, have some Spirit Wine to replenish your energy," Wang Yi said as he helped her up and gave her a sip of Spirit Wine.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 434: Choices

    Chapter 434: Choices


    The female cultivator named Feng Ai, after sipping from the Spirit Wine while leaning against Wang Yi, managed to regain some of her strength.


    Noticing Wang Hong standing nearby, curiously sizing them up, her face turned red, and she moved away from Wang Yi''s shoulder.


    "Feng Ai greets Senior Brother Wang!" She said politely.


    Wang Yi had often mentioned his brother in the past, and they used to have regr correspondences via letters when Wang Hong was still at Qingxu Sect.


    Wang Hong took a look at Feng Ai, who was at the mid-stage of Foundation Building cultivation. She had a slightly plump figure, which could be described as curvaceous. Wang Yi seemed to have a preference for this type, perhaps due to his love for meat since childhood.


    "Hahaha! No need to be so formal, my dear sister. Since it''s our first meeting, consider these items a gift," Wang Hong said with a smile.


    He pulled out a Storage Bag embroidered with golden thread and handed it to Feng Ai. Inside were a Resplendent Visage Elixir, a cask of Spirit Wine, and five ripe Green Spirit Peaches.


    He had prepared these items while escaping on Little Peng''s back. Since they were now one family, he felt obliged to make a gesture as the elder brother.


    "Thank you, Senior Brother!" Feng Ai epted the Storage Bag. Though Wang Hong had addressed her as "dear sister" directly, she blushed slightly. Feeling recognized and excited, she smiled, her cheeks reddening."Brother, how did you arrive here? What happened to Qingxu Sect?" Wang Yi interjected.


    "Ah, Qingxu Sect has been gone for a long time. The cultivators who managed to break free have migrated to the Southern Region for development," Wang Hong exined, sharing the upheaval at Qingxu Sect and some of his own experiences.


    Listening to Wang Hong''s ount, Wang Yi couldn''t help but marvel. He had been worried about Wang Hong''sckluster talent for cultivation. Now, he saw that Wang Hong had reached theter stage of Foundation Building and had even developed his own formidable force.


    Wang Yi then shared his own situation. He and Feng Ai had known each other since childhood. She was the daughter of his master, and they had been together for quite some time. Within Taihao Sect, he received significant attention from the senior members and was well cared for. As a Heavenly Spirit Root cultivator, he had formed his Golden Core over a month ago without taking any supplemental pills. However, due to the recent battles, his realm had not yet fully stabilized.


    While they were chatting, fourrge Flying Boats and over ten medium-sized Flying Boats, all bearing the Taihao Sect insignia, flew in their direction.


    "The rearguard team is back!" Wang Yi eximed happily. Meanwhile, the Taihao Sect members resting there turned to look in the direction of the approaching Flying Boats.


    Most of these Flying Boats were already damaged, with some even showing signs of being heavily battered, making their flight somewhat unstable.


    Before the Flying Boats arrived, a Golden Core cultivator leaped out and shouted to the group below, "We haven''t escaped danger yet. The three Nascent Soul ancestors are risking their lives to hold back all the Demonic Beasts in the rear. Everyone, continue moving forward!"


    Originally, everyone had rtives or friends participating in the rearguard, wanting to inquire about the situation. Now, however, they couldn''t afford to wait and could only set off once again. They needed to get far away and not let the efforts of the three Nascent Soul ancestors go to waste.


    They had only rested for two hours this time, and their bodies had only slightly recovered. Their fatigue had not been effectively alleviated, and they all looked listless. They could only reluctantly mobilize the little bit of Spiritual Power they had umted and continue their journey forward.


    Wang Yi and Feng Ai had just replenished their Spiritual Power with the Spirit Wine, but their mental fatigue couldn''t be relieved in a short time, no matter how much Spirit Wine they drank.


    Seeing their somewhat distressed state, Wang Hong took out a Jade vial and tossed it to Wang Yi. "Inside the vial, there are pills that can eliminate fatigue and restore Divine Sense."


    While flying, Wang Yi caught the Jade vial and poured out a green pill, following Wang Hong''s instructions. As soon as the pill entered his mouth, it emitted a refreshing aroma of herbs and vegetation. Even his exhaled breath carried this fragrance. It made him feel refreshed and gradually eliminated the sense of weariness.


    He immediately poured out another pill and handed it to Feng Ai. After she took the green pill, her eyes sparkled with a strange light.


    This kind of pill was entirely new to her, as it seemed to function simrly to rejuvenating Divine Sense. Most cultivators typically had to rely on time to recover from excessive Divine Sense fatigue. If they had ess to such pills during prolonged battles, it would make a significant difference.


    This green pill was Wang Hong''stest creation, primarily made from Qiu Long Tea found in Space. Qiu Long Tea had excellent effects in dispelling Divine Sense fatigue, and its efficacy appeared to be improving recently.


    While Qiu Long Tea was indeed effective in alleviating fatigue, in the midst of battle, there was hardly time to sit down and brew a pot of tea. Most enemies would not grant such a luxury.


    One day, while enjoying his tea, Wang Hong had a sudden idea. Since that was the case, why not refine it into pills for more convenient use?


    He conducted numerous experiments and faced multiple failures before finally seeding in refining these pills from Qiu Long Tea. They were effective in refreshing the mind, eliminating fatigue, and were incredibly convenient to use.


    The group continued to flee to the north for another three days. Finally, the three Nascent Soul ancestors of Taihao Sect caught up with them.


    However, only two of the three returned, and even they seemed to be in poor condition, indicating they had been heavily injured. Still, the three ancestors had paid a great price, but they had managed to repel the pursuit of the Demon n. For the time being, they were safe.


    After they stopped, Wang Yi and Feng Ai rushed to the Flying Boat without a moment''s rest. Wang Hong had heard that Wang Yi''s master was among the rearguard team, and their fate was still unknown.


    Previously, during their escape, there was no opportunity to board the Flying Boat and find people. Now that they had finally stopped, many others had the same idea. They all hurried toward the docked Flying Boat.


    Wang Yi took a long time to return, looking somewhat anxious. "Brother, do you have any healing pills left, like the ones you gave mest time?"


    "What happened? Have you used up all the ones I gave youst time? How badly are you injured?"


    Wang Hong asked. He had entrusted Zhang Chunfeng to bring a substantial number of pills, including healing pills like the Hanyu Pill and Jade Marrow Pill, as a precaution.


    Hearing Wang Hong''s inquiry, Wang Yi felt a bit embarrassed and replied, "Well, there have been quite a few battles recently!"


    Then, with determination in his tone, he continued, "We sword cultivators must forge ahead courageously, challenge formidable enemies, and keep moving forward in battle. It''s natural to sustain some injuries along the way!"


    Hearing Wang Yi speak with such determination, Wang Hong couldn''t help but worry deeply. He was concerned that one day, Wang Yi might push himself too far and put his life in danger.


    It was clear that Wang Yi had experienced countless brutal battles over the years. Achieving his current cultivation level required oveing numerous challenges. However, Wang Hong, no longer the impulsive youth he once was, understood that these were the methods of a sword cultivator. Without enduring numerous hardships, how could they reach the pinnacle of sword cultivation, bing unparalleled warriors?


    Despite his concerns, Wang Hong realized that these were Wang Yi''s choices. As his closest family member, he had no right to interfere. Everyone had their own path and choices to make. All he could do was provide assistance when needed.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 435: Healing Pill

    Chapter 435: Healing Pill


    Wang Hong noticed the deep concern in Wang Yi''s eyes, clearly worried about his Master. It seemed that their rtionship with his Master, who also happened to be Wang Yi''s father-inw, was quite close.


    "I have a Jade Marrow Pill here that can heal all external injuries for Golden Core stage cultivators. Take it and use it for your Master," Wang Hong said.


    "But... do you have enough for yourself?" Wang Yi hesitated when Wang Hong handed him the Jade Marrow Pill.


    Wang Yi understood the esteemed status of the Jade Marrow Pill in the Cultivation World. It was a sacred medicine for healing that many Golden Core cultivators could only dream of obtaining. If he took it now, what if Wang Hong got injuredter? Would he indirectly harm his brother?


    "Don''t worry! I''m not the type to engage in fierce battles recklessly. I usually try to resolve conflicts through diplomacy, reason, and ethical persuasion. It''s been ten years, and I haven''t been injured once," Wang Hong assured him.


    "Go save your Master, and I still have some spare healing pills in my possession," Wang Hong added, waving his hand, urging Wang Yi to hurry.


    Wang Yi rushed towards a nearby Flying Boat where his Master was, critically injured. Without this pill, his Master might notst much longer.


    Inside the Flying Boat, Feng Ji''splexion was ashen, and his eyes had lost their luster. He held Feng Ai''s hand tightly, imparting some final instructions.


    "Ai''er, after I''m gone, stay with Wang Yi. I can see that he truly cares for you. Besides, given his age and aptitude, there''s a good chance he''ll achieve the Nascent Soul stage in the future."Feng Ai was now in tears, "Father, don''t scare me! You''ll be fine!"


    Just then, Wang Yi entered the Flying Boat, holding a sparkling jade-like pill. He said, "Master, don''t worry. Your disciple promises you won''t die."


    With determination, he ced the pill into Feng Ji''s mouth.


    As the pill entered his abdomen, it transformed into a stream of energy, rising within him and coursing throughout his body. With each pass, it began to mend the injuries it encountered.


    Feng Ji could feel his body gradually recovering, dispelling the imminent threat to his life. He rxed, focusing on assimting the medicinal power and guiding it to mend his injuries.


    Several hourster, Feng Ji''s injuries stabilized, and his life was no longer in jeopardy.


    However, originally gravely wounded and on the verge of death, the fact that Feng Ji had been saved from the brink of death did not go unnoticed by others. This naturally garnered a lot of attention, especially considering they had just experienced a desperate breakout battle, resulting in numerous severely injured individuals. There were too many heavily injured people, and only a very small fraction of them could receive effective treatment.


    After all, their numbers were substantial, and the resources for such treatments had been depleted during the prolonged battles. The news of Feng Ji''s miraculous recovery piqued the interest of many, and in a world where secrets seldom stayed hidden, some soon began connecting the dots to Wang Hong.


    At that moment, Wang Hong was with Wang Yi, setting up a campfire in an open space where a plump demon sheep was being roasted.


    "Hurry up! Sprinkle that seasoning on it! Make sure it''s evenly spread!" Wang Hong adjusted the mes below while flipping the entire roasted sheep. He kept directing Wang Yi to assist him.


    "You''re a Golden Core expert, and you don''t even know how to barbecue?" Wang Hong joked.


    "I''m a sword cultivator, not a barbecue master," Wang Yi quipped in response.


    Feng Ai stood nearby, watching with a smile. She rarely saw this carefree and lively side of Wang Yi. These few days had revealed a different facet of himpared to his usual serious and reserved demeanor, likely stemming from his lonely childhood when he entered the sect alone.


    Just then, a middle-aged Golden Core cultivator approached them. Feng Ai quickly bowed in greeting.


    "Feng Ai greets Sect Master Han!"


    Sect Master Han had recently taken office as the new sect leader. The former leader had formed a ten-person Golden Core formation during the breakout battle, defending the rear and sessfully blocking two fourth-tier Demonic Beasts. However, the former leader had ultimately perished.


    "Haha! No need to be so formal, young Feng Ai. I just came for a visit," Sect Master Han said with a warm smile.


    "Wee, Sect Master Han! Would you like some roastedmb leg?" Wang Yi asked with a smile. He was now a Golden Core cultivator himself and had no reason to fear Sect Master Han, so he spoke more casually.


    "Junior Wang Hong pays respects to Senior Han," Wang Hong also greeted and bowed respectfully, as he was still one realm lower than Sect Master Han.


    "No need for so much courtesy! I came here with an important matter to discuss," Sect Master Han said as he nced at Wang Yi and then turned to Wang Hong.


    "Wang, I heard youe from Qingxu Sect? How is the situation over there?" Wang Hong proceeded to recount the events of Qingxu Sect''s resistance against the Demonic Beasts and their ultimate defeat.


    "Ah! I never thought that the East Zhou Cultivation Realm would meet its end at the hands of the Demon n," Sect Master Han sighed, feeling powerless. The overall strength of the East Zhou Cultivation Realm was on par with the West Zhou Demon Realm, but this time, they had to face not only the West Zhou Demon Realm but also the formidable East Sea Demon n. With its vast territory and countless powerful cultivators, the East Sea Demon n surpassed both the East Zhou and West Zhou in terms of overall strength.


    "Wang, I''vee to you because of a request," Sect Master Han said after taking a moment to collect his thoughts. He had deduced from various clues that the healing pill used to save Feng Ji might be from Wang Hong.


    Taihao Sect had a multitude of injured disciples, and without proper healing and treatment, many of them might sumb to their injuries. As the new sect leader, Sect Master Han was deeply concerned butcked effective solutions.


    Now that he had learned that Wang Hong might possess healing pills, he hade here seeking help. If he could acquire even one more healing pill, it could mean saving the life of a Golden Core or Foundation Building disciple.


    If it weren''t for the fact that Wang Yi was Wang Hong''s brother, Sect Master Han might have considered taking the pills by force. However, he didn''t want to create hostilities with Wang Yi, a newly promoted Golden Core elder. Therefore, he opted for a more diplomatic approach.


    "I do have some healing pills in my possession, and I can offer them to you," Wang Hong responded. He had considered that since these cultivators had already identified him, it might be best to offer some pills for sale. This way, he could also obtain some materials for refining tools and other items.


    "Ah! How many do you have?" Sect Master Han''s pupils contracted, surprised by the unexpected gain.


    "I have three Jade Marrow Pills and one hundred Hanyu Pills," Wang Hong replied.


    "Wang, please forgive my ignorance, but what are Hanyu Pills?" Sect Master Han inquired. Despite his extensive knowledge, he had never heard of Hanyu Pills.


    "These Hanyu Pills are a type of pill I personally developed. Their healing effects are superior to most second-tier pills," Wang Hong exined.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 436: Mysterious Seed

    Chapter 436: Mysterious Seed


    Upon hearing these words, Sect Master Han couldn''t help but sigh inwardly, "The Qingxu Sect truly lives up to its reputation as a top-notch Alchemy Sect. Even a Foundation Building Disciple from their sect can create their Pill Recipe at will."


    However, he doesn''t seem confident in this Pill created by a Foundation Building Disciple.


    Then he continued, "Wang, my young friend, you are truly exceptional. You''ve already managed to create your own Pill Recipe. I assume the effects of this Pill are quite impressive. Would it be possible for me to examine one?"


    Wang Hong anticipated the request and replied, "Of course, that can be arranged." He understood that a new, untested Pill would naturally raise curiosity.


    Without hesitation, he took out a translucent Hanyu Pill and handed it to Sect Master Han.


    Sect Master Han, as a seasoned Golden Core cultivator, had broad knowledge, and though he was not an alchemist, his ability to discern the quality of items was decent. After examining the Pill for a while, he was confident in its effectiveness and asked, "I wonder, Wang, how do you intend to make the trade?"


    Wang Hong pondered for a moment before responding, "I would like to exchange three Jade Marrow Pills for two Golden Dewspirit fruits. Additionally, I''d request five other Spiritual Objects of equal value, such as spirit fruits, spirit wood, or refining tool materials."


    "Very well! I can agree to that. However, can the Golden Dewspirit fruits be substituted with other Spiritual Objects? Our sect had to retreat in haste and didn''t have time to gather them," Sect Master Han inquired.


    "I currently have a great need for Golden Dewspirit fruits. If they are not included, I''m afraid I won''t be able to proceed with the exchange," Wang Hong replied firmly. He simply couldn''t believe that Sect Master Han''s sect didn''t possess any Golden Dewspirit fruits.Golden Dewspirit fruits were a specialty of the Taihao Sect, with effects simr to the Qingxu Sect''s Five-Color Spirit Jujube. Both could assist in Core cultivation and increase the sess rate. It was inconceivable that they would leave such a valuable resource behind during their retreat.


    While Golden Dewspirit fruits had their uses, Wang Hong''s Jade Marrow Pill could directly save the life of a Golden Core cultivator. Considering their rtive value, the Jade Marrow Pill was naturally more precious.


    "Perhaps some of the other elders in our sect have Golden Dewspirit fruits. I will inquire and get back to you," Sect Master Han conceded, recognizing Wang Hong''s determination.


    "Very well, I will await Sect Master Han''s response," Wang Hong replied, confident that the trade would eventually be epted since his offer was reasonable considering the value of the Jade Marrow Pill.


    "Let''s put the matter of the Jade Marrow Pill aside for now. How do you intend to trade your Hanyu Pills?" Sect Master Han inquired.


    "As for the trade of Hanyu Pills, if we settle for medium-grade Spirit Stones, I propose fifteen medium-grade Spirit Stones per pill. If we use lower-grade Spirit Stones for payment, it would be twenty thousand Spirit Stones per pill, or equivalent refining tool materials of the second tier. What do you prefer?" Wang Hong presented a fair price, with no intention to take advantage, as his younger brother was still a disciple of the Taihao Sect, and he wanted to maintain a good rtionship.


    Without hesitation, Sect Master Han responded, "We''ll use lower-grade Spirit Stones for payment."


    Lower-grade Spirit Stones were primarily used as a lower-tier resource, suitable for Qi Cultivation disciples, often serving as currency. On the other hand, medium-grade Spirit Stones were essential for Foundation Building disciples, especially during battles when Spiritual Power needed replenishing.


    Wang Hong had already anticipated Sect Master Han''s choice, which aligned with his preference. He needed to continuously cultivate numerous Spiritual Objects within his Space, requiring a steady supply of Spiritual Energy. Dying replenishment could potentially shrink the Space, making lower-grade Spirit Stones a more cost-effective choice for him. Thus, he hoped to proceed with the trade using lower-grade Spirit Stones.


    After the two had negotiated the prices, Sect Master Han hurriedly left to make preparations, aiming toplete the trade as soon as possible. Many people were eagerly waiting for healing Pills that could save lives.


    During the trade between Wang Hong and Sect Master Han, Wang Yi sat silently on the side, observing their interactions but refraining from interjecting. However, his presence was the basis for the fair trade agreement between Taihao Sect and Wang Hong. If not for this rtionship, Taihao Sect might have simply captured Wang Hong and eliminated any witnesses, which would have been much simpler.


    As they had not finished eating the roasted demonic goat, Sect Master Han returned once more. He casually set up a barrier to prevent prying eyes.


    The first item he presented was a wooden box, and upon opening it, two shining golden spirit fruits were revealed. They glistened with tiny dewdrops, which had turned golden due to the fruits.


    "Wang, my young friend, these are two Golden Dewspirit fruits. Please examine them," Sect Master Han said.


    Wang Hong confirmed their authenticity with a nod and then presented his three Jade Marrow Pills for Sect Master Han''s inspection.


    After examining them, Sect Master Han disyed five more items, arranging them neatly in front of him. Among them were three refining tool materials of the third tier, a Spirit Herb, and a seed.


    "Wang Hong, these three refining tool materials are Geng Essence, Celestial Fallen Iron, and Sea Gold Sand, all of which are rare materials for refining magic weapons."


    As Sect Master Han mentioned this, he surreptitiously observed Wang Yi, who appeared to be growing increasingly excited.


    Wang Hong, as a refining tool master, was well aware of the value of these materials and nodded in agreement.


    "This Spirit Herb is Rainbow Light Grass, another rare third-tier Spiritual Herb. As an Alchemist, I believe you understand its worth without further exnation. As for this seed, it was obtained by a senior Nascent Soul cultivator from our sect within an ancient relic. However, we haven''t found the right nting method for it. Rest assured, this item is far from ordinary, and you''ll see for yourself," Sect Master Han exined.


    Wang Hong epted the seed with mixed feelings. To his surprise, it felt surprisingly heavy for its small size. When he probed it with his Divine Sense, he sensed a vast vitality within.


    Although he couldn''t identify the seed''s species from various examinations, he could still sense its extraordinary nature.


    "Sect Master Han, although this item appears remarkable, if it cannot sprout, it may not be of much use to me, right?" Wang Hong pretended to be somewhat dissatisfied, though he was already quite intrigued. He believed that with the mystical capabilities of his Space, it should be possible to make it sprout, making it worth a try.


    "Wang, my young friend, you are mistaken. This item is not incapable of sprouting; we simply haven''t discovered the correct nting method yet. If Taihao Sect seeds in nting it, its value will far exceed what you currently see," Sect Master Han assured him.


    Ultimately, Wang Hong reluctantly agreed to this trade condition, and both parties were satisfied with the deal.


    After Sect Master Han''s departure, Wang Hong asked Wang Yi, "You seemed a bit unusual earlier. Is there anything wrong with these items?"


    Wang Yi scratched his head and said somewhat awkwardly, "There''s nothing wrong with these items themselves, but these three refining tool materials are more suitable for sword cultivators. If they are incorporated into a sword embryo, it would greatly enhance the power of a Flying Sword."


    "In that case, you can have these three refining tool materials; I don''t need them at the moment," Wang Hong said. He realized that Sect Master Han had likely nned this from the beginning. He had traded the items to Wang Hong, only to have them return to the hands of his Taihao Sect disciple, ensuring that no benefits would flow to outsiders.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 437: Departure

    Chapter 437: Departure


    The members of the Taihao Sect continued their journey northward. Wang Yi mentioned that Taihao Sect once had a territory in the north, but now it had be a retreat.


    However, the current situation was not as urgent as before, and they appeared much moreposed.


    Wang Hong blended in with this group as they traveled northward. Due to the life-saving Pill he had provided to many members of the Taihao Sect, he was given a seat on the Flying Boat originally meant for the wounded.


    At this moment, Wang Yi''s Master, Feng Ji, showed signs of improvement in his injuries. He had now moved to the Flying Boat where Wang Hong was seated to express his gratitude.


    "Junior Wang, thanks to your Pill, I still have my life intact. I owe you a great favor for this."


    Feng Ji had a straightforward personality, showing no airs of a Golden Core cultivator.


    "Senior Feng, your praise is too kind! I became a disciple of the Taihao Sect, and during my time here, I''ve received your care. It''s only right for me to express my gratitude."


    Wang Hong spoke sincerely, having heard from Wang Yi that his Master had been good to him. Now that they had met in person, Wang Hong had no doubts, especially since Feng Ji had even given his daughter to Wang Yi.


    He couldn''t help but wonder why Gu Qingyang didn''t have a daughter."Wang Yi is my disciple, of course, I must take care of him! We''re all one family now, so there''s no need for you to be so formal with me, hahaha!"


    Clearly, Feng Ji had already epted Wang Yi and Feng Ai''s rtionship.


    "Yes, yes, one family!" Wang Hong quickly agreed.


    Just then, another Golden Core cultivator entered the Flying Boat and approached Wang Hong directly.


    "Are you Wang Hong?" the Golden Core cultivator asked as he stood in front of Wang Hong.


    "I am indeed. May I ask what brings you here, Senior?"


    "I''vee to find you for a specific request. I hope you can sell me a Jade Marrow Pill."


    His words seemed polite, but his tone and demeanorcked any hint of pleading, carrying an underlying sense of intimidation.


    "I apologize. I only have three Jade Marrow Pills in total, and they have all been traded to Sect Master Han. If you have a need, you should inquire with Sect Master Han," Wang Hong replied, despite disliking the man''s attitude.


    "How could you not have any left? Don''t tell me you didn''t n to keep one or two for yourself?" The Golden Core cultivator was bing more assertive.


    "Don''t push too far. Whether he kept the Jade Marrow Pills or not is not your concern. As long as it''s within the Taihao Sect''s domain, no one should try to force him," Feng Ji stepped in, knowing that this situation had arisen because of him.


    "I was merely asking him for a favor, Senior Brother Feng," Xing Zhuo said with a smile, not expecting Feng Ji to be so firm. He didn''t want to escte the situation here.


    "Senior Xing, I truly have no Jade Marrow Pills left. I obtained a few while refining them, but I''ve kept them unused," Wang Hong exined, grateful for Feng Ji''s support.


    With Wang Hong''s assurance, Xing Zhuo changed his tone immediately. "If you really don''t have any, then so be it. If youe across such Pills in the future, remember to sell one to me."


    "Of course! I won''t forget, Senior, when the timees," Wang Hong replied with a smile.


    After Xing Zhuo left, Feng Ji spoke, "I''m sorry for involving you in this, but as long as you''re within the Taihao Sect''s territory, no one will dare to harm you."


    Within Taihao Sect''s territory, there were very few people willing to openly offend Wang Yi, and Feng Ji had just made his stance clear, making it unlikely that anyone would trouble him.


    As they continued their journey northward, the weather gradually grew colder, and they could already see snow umting on some mountaintops.


    Fortunately, they were all Immortal Cultivators and not afraid of extreme temperatures. It was said that in the far north, even Immortal Cultivators couldn''t withstand the intense cold. This was why the Demon n in the northern region had lived in peace with the Human n. The Human n couldn''t adapt to the extreme cold, and the northern Demonic Beasts would likely perish from the heat when brought to the East Zhou region.


    Although the new residence of Taihao Sect seemed to be covered in white, it was actually situated on the outskirts of the northern region, where humans could still survive.


    "I''ve decided to return tomorrow. Are you really not nning toe with me?" Wang Hong asked Wang Yi again. If it weren''t for his intention to "abduct" Wang Yi, he would have left Taihao Sect long ago and returned to his own base.


    "Brother, I really don''t want to leave just yet. The sect is in a phase of revival and needs many hands. I owe a debt to the sect for nurturing me, and I can''t just leave at a time like this."


    Wang Yi had joined Taihao Sect when he was less than ten years old, and under the sect''s guidance, he had remained loyal to Taihao Sect.


    Wang Hong understood the situation, even though he couldn''t do much about it.


    Luckily, Wang Yi had outstanding talent and a promising future. He wouldn''t be used as cannon fodder. Otherwise, Wang Hong would resort to any means, even kidnapping Wang Yi.


    "Also, this ce is the best for practicing swordsmanship. Sword cultivators from all over the Cultivation World gather here to learn from each other. If we go elsewhere, progress in swordsmanship might be difficult."


    "Brother, why don''t you consider staying here? This ce is excellent, and Alchemists are highly regarded here. With me looking out for you, no one would dare to bully you."


    Wang Yi tried to persuade Wang Hong to stay in Taihao Sect.


    "Alright, let''s not persuade each other anymore."


    In the end, Wang Hong gave in. He thought Wang Yi''s choice was the right one. Staying in Taihao Sect meant having a Master to guide him and fellow disciples to spar with.


    "Since I''m leaving, I''ll leave you with some things. Don''t open this Storage Bag for at least a month."


    Wang Hong tossed arge Storage Bag to him, filled to the brim with supplies. This would sustain Wang Yi in his absence.


    It might be many years before they saw each other again, so Wang Hong wanted to leave him with more than enough.


    The contents of the Storage Bag were so valuable that even raiding a medium-sized faction wouldn''t yield as much precious resources. It included two thousand pounds of third-tier Spirit Wine, which was measured by weight instead of by the bottle, unlike what other Golden Core cultivators would fight over. Wang Hong also left a hundred Jade Marrow Pills, enough to heal him a hundred times. Wang Yi shouldn''t run into misfortune of that magnitude.


    Besides healing pills, there were various cultivation resources, including Jade Ginseng Fruit, Dragon Scale Fruit, and Ink Jade Spirit Lotus. Additionally, there were many different kinds of spiritual objects. Even with exceptional talent, progress in cultivation could slow down without them, especially in the Golden Core stage.


    After leaving these items, Wang Hong repeatedly reminded Wang Yi to keep them a secret, not even mentioning them to a Dao Companion, as it could bring about unwanted troubles.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 438: Pursuit

    Chapter 438: Pursuit


    After bidding farewell to Wang Hong, he once again headed south, preparing to return to his own Mountain Valley.


    Now, both brothers had their own pursuits and goals, and it was impossible to force them to stay together; it wouldn''t be good for either of them.


    Traveling alone, he became much more cautious, especially since Demonic Beasts were everywhere now.


    Wang Hong, who was resting on Little Peng''s back, suddenly opened his eyes. He saw a streak of rainbow light approaching rapidly from a distance.


    Wang Hong instructed Little Peng to halt temporarily and remained alert.


    "Hahaha! Wang Xiaoyou, you''re quite fast. I almost couldn''t catch up," a voice rang out as the streak of light came to a stop, revealing the figure of a cultivator. It was Xing Zhuo from Taihao Sect. He had failed to obtain the Jade Marrow Pill from Wang Hong earlier, was rebuffed by Feng Ji, but had ultimately caught up.


    "Hahaha! It''s such a coincidence! I never expected to meet you here, senior!" Wang Hong seemed unaware of Xing Zhuo''s intentions and wore a pleasing expression as he approached Xing Zhuo.


    With his body refining cultivation level, he wasn''t afraid of facing even a Golden Core cultivator in closebat.


    Seeing Wang Hong approaching, Xing Zhuo only furrowed his brow slightly but made no move to stop him, allowing Wang Hong to get closer."Let''s not beat around the bush. Hand over all your storage items, and I''ll spare your life," Xing Zhuo said directly. He had limited patience and didn''t intend to waste too much time here.


    "If that''s the case, I''ll willingly offer them," Wang Hong replied. At that moment, Wang Hong had reached a distance of about ten feet from Xing Zhuo. Before Xing Zhuo could react, Wang Hong''s figure blurred, and he darted towards Xing Zhuo.


    In an instant, Wang Hong appeared right in front of Xing Zhuo, his fist clenched and aimed at Xing Zhuo.


    This punch carried the force of hundreds of thousands of pounds and produced a faint sonic boom. Wang Hong believed that this punch alone would shatter Xing Zhuo''s body into pieces.


    However, just as the punch was about tond, Xing Zhuo seemed well-prepared. A white light suddenly radiated around him.


    The force of the punch, with its hundreds of thousands of pounds of power, struck thisyer of white light, which appeared like a shield of swords. Apart from its defensive capabilities, it also had a counterattack feature.


    "Hehe! Trying to sneak attack me? When I was already renowned in the Cultivation World, your grandfather was still ying in the mud wearing open-crotch pants!" Xing Zhuo sneered. He was hovering in the air with his hands behind his back, showing a look of disdain.


    At the same time, a hazy white Flying Sword flew out from his body. Its exact shape was unclear, but it shot towards Wang Hong like a white rainbow.


    The white rainbow was incredibly fast, and Wang Hong had no way to dodge it. He didn''t seem to have any Spiritual Weapons capable of withstanding such a fierce attack either.


    Just at that moment, a golden light streaked in from behind and collided with the white rainbow in front of Wang Hong. The collision of the two created a shockwave of Spiritual Energy that pushed Wang Hong back several steps.


    Wang Hong thought he was lucky; if it weren''t for Little Peng''s timely rescue, he wasn''t sure if he could have survived this encounter.


    In the air, one of Little Peng''s golden feathers was locked in a fierce battle with the white Flying Sword.


    Taking advantage of this opportunity, Wang Hong released a swarm of Poisonous Bees. Under Wang Hong''smand, the Poisonous Bees buzzed toward Xing Zhuo.


    These Poisonous Bees, under Wang Hong''s control, first targeted the white light shield protecting Xing Zhuo. However, as soon as they made contact, many of the Poisonous Bees fell like raindrops.


    These Poisonous Bees were unexpectedly cut down by the white light in an instant, significantly reducing their numbers. Even the previously unstoppable Poisonous Bees were now helpless against the white light. Wang Hong had no choice but to recall them.


    As the battle between Little Peng and Xing Zhuo continued, Little Peng gradually found itself at a disadvantage. Its golden feathers were now riddled with gaps.


    Little Peng had only recently advanced to the third tier, and its primary feather had been tempered for too short a time. There was still a considerable gap between it and a sword cultivator''s primary Flying Sword.


    Moreover, Xing Zhuo was a mid-Golden Core cultivator, one Realm higher than Little Peng. Combined with the fact that sword cultivators generally had superiorbat abilities, it seemed that Little Peng would ultimately be defeated.


    Seeing this, Wang Hong extended his hand, conjuring a ball of Spirit Fire. With his current strength, this Spirit Fire was the only thing that posed a threat to Xing Zhuo.


    He had considered using poison, but the white light shield around Xing Zhuo prevented toxins from prating.


    The ball of Spirit Fire flew towards Xing Zhuo andnded on theyer of protective light around him. The Spirit Fire burned intensely, causing the white light to flicker and waver.


    "Hmph! Do you really think you can participate in a battle against a Golden Core cultivator?" Xing Zhuo sneered. Then he pointed a finger at Wang Hong. Within the radiant glow of the Flying Sword engaged in battle with Little Peng, a sword qi was released and shot rapidly towards Wang Hong.


    Although it was just a separated sword qi, its power was extraordinary. Wang Hong quickly summoned a wooden shield to block it.


    Upon contact, the wooden shield lost its radiance and eventually dissipated the sword qi.


    On Little Peng''s side, as Xing Zhuo divided his attention to deal with Wang Hong, the situation had slightly improved, and it was no longer inplete retreat.


    As for the primary feather on Little Peng''s body, which had too many wounds, it was retracted, and another primary feather was used in its ce.


    The battle between the two sides continued in this manner. Although Little Peng and Wang Hong were not as powerful as Xing Zhuo, with Wang Hong''s efforts to hold him back, Little Peng managed to maintain a tenuous advantage.


    This kind of battle persisted for three hours. After such prolongedbat, all three parties showed signs of fatigue.


    Wang Hong had replenished his Spiritual Power several times using Spirit Wine. Even Little Peng, being a demonic beast, had replenished its Spiritual Power with Spirit Wine twice by now.


    Xing Zhuo was the one suffering the most. He hadn''t expected that this human and beast pair would resort to such tricks.


    Wang Hong''s use of Spirit Wine to restore Spiritual Power wasn''t a big deal, as Tier 2 Spirit Wine, though rare, could still be collected in small quantities. However, this clown was using Tier 3 Spirit Wine, an extremely rare and valuable item. He had only gathered half a catty of it before, and it was all depleted during his battles with the Demon n.


    This made him even more determined to kill Wang Hong and find out what secrets this Foundation Building cultivator was hiding.


    After the previous battles, Wang Hong realized that even whenbined with Little Peng, they were not a match for Xing Zhuo in a direct confrontation. However, they couldpete in terms of resources. If they could just maintain their defensive stance, pile up resources, and endure, they might eventually oust Xing Zhuo.


    Realizing this, Wang Hong continuously attacked Xing Zhuo with everything he had, throwing various Talismans at him, even though they couldn''t prate the white light shield. His goal was to deplete Xing Zhuo''s Spiritual Power.


    With his vast experience, Xing Zhuo had naturally noticed this tactic and knew that it wouldn''t be in his favor if the battle continued like this for too long.


    So, he made a resolute decision. The radiance of the Flying Sword in the air surged, and he swung it down towards Little Peng''s golden feather. With a crisp sound, Little Peng''s primary feather snapped in two.


    The Flying Sword didn''t stop there; it continued its trajectory and shed across one of Little Peng''s wings, causing blood to stter.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 439: "Heaven and Earth Sword Technique"

    Chapter 439: "Heaven and Earth Sword Technique"


    After Little Peng''s wings were injured, they hung limply, devoid of strength. Fortunately, it had already reached the third-tier as a Demonic Beast, allowing it to continue flying in the air even without wings.


    At this moment, it could only once again summon the damaged lifebound feather it had just used to fend off the enemy.


    Xing Zhuo, frustrated by his earlier failed attempt to y Little Peng with a single strike, prepared to harness his remaining Spiritual Power for another attempt.


    However, Wang Hong unleashed three second-tier Talismans in rapid session, sending them hurtling toward Xing Zhuo. The explosive force created fluctuating waves of energy around him.


    Before the power of these three Talismans could dissipate, another three followed, and then yet another three.


    This relentless barrage of three Talismans at a time made it impossible for Xing Zhuo to unleash his previous powerful move.


    Under this continuous assault, Xing Zhuo''s internal Spiritual Power dwindled rapidly, and gradually, even his Protective Sword Aura surrounding his body became unsustainable.


    At this moment, Xing Zhuo realized that there was no hope of defeating Wang Hong this time. He retracted his Flying Sword and prepared to make his escape.


    But havinge this far in their battle, Wang Hong was not about to let him leave willingly. In an instant, he cast arge.Xing Zhuo hadn''t had a chance to flee before he found himself ensnared within the.


    Once his opponent was caught in the, Wang Hong retrieved an ancient Magic weapon he had acquired long ago, a chilling de, and began infusing it with an overwhelming amount of Spiritual Power.


    Activating a Magic weapon with Foundation Building cultivation level was exceedingly difficult, nearly an impossible task. Wang Hong resorted to drawingrge quantities of Spirit Wine from his Spatial storage and directly channeling it with his Divine Sense into the weapon.


    "Hmph! Thinking you can trap me with a mere Spirit? That''s wishful thinking!" Xing Zhuo dered defiantly.


    He quickly used his Flying Sword to create an opening in the Spirit, allowing his head and half of his shoulder to escape.


    Just as he was in the midst of cutting through the sturdy Spirit with his Flying Sword, a chilling light shot towards him. Xing Zhuo hadn''t even fully escaped the when his head was severed and rolled on the ground a few times.


    In his final moments, he realized that his opponent had been waiting for him to expose himself, allowing for an easier strike. His earlier confidence had been unfounded.


    After ying Xing Zhuo, Wang Hong wasted no time. He removed Xing Zhuo''s Storage Bag and stowed his corpse inside it. He then fed a Jade Marrow Pill to Little Peng, beckoning it into a Spirit Beast pouch. After a quick survey of the battlefield revealed no overlooked items, he swiftly departed the scene.


    Half an hourter, a Golden Core cultivator arrived at the battleground where the recent skirmish had urred. After searching the area, he sighed and said, "I arrived a step toote. I wonder if that fellow disciple of mine already took advantage? If only I hadn''t taken the wrong direction, I might not have missed this opportunity."


    After finding nothing of value, the cultivator shook his head in disappointment and left.


    Once Wang Hong had left the battlefield, he found a secluded spot, opened up a hidden mountain cave, and took refuge inside. He intended to wait until Little Peng had fully recovered from its injuries before resuming his journey.


    "Phew, that was a close call. I almost got struck down by his sword earlier!" Little Peng eximed as it emerged from the Spirit Beast pouch, still shaken by how close it hade to death.


    "Focus on healing quickly. If you want to survive, there will be even more perilous battles ahead," Wang Hong replied, sensing that Little Peng had experienced too few major battles.


    After ensuring Little Peng was settled, he took out Xing Zhuo''s corpse and Storage Bag, conducting a thorough search of his belongings.


    Indeed, as expected of a Golden Core cultivator from a major sect, he was considerably wealthypared to the average Demonic Beast.


    Xing Zhuo''s Daoist Robe was a Spiritual Weapon, possessing the ability to resist both water and fire. It also had formations that enhanced the wearer''s elegance and charm. Wang Hong had a feeling that this Daoist Robe could fetch a good price.


    After stowing away the Daoist Robe, he set a fire and burned Xing Zhuo''s corpse to ashes.


    As he emptied the contents of Xing Zhuo''s Storage Bag, he realized that the items inside were not as abundant as he had hoped. It seemed that Taihao Sect had exhausted most of their supplies during the prolonged conflict, and even a Golden Core cultivator''s Storage Bag held limited resources.


    Nevertheless, there were still thirty-two middle-grade Spirit Stones and a million low-grade Spirit Stones in the bag. Other items like Spirit Wine and Pills were nowhere to be found. Clearly, Taihao Sect had been in dire straits, exining their attempted robbery. Unfortunately for them, things hadn''t gone their way.


    There were several materials from third-tier Demonic Beasts inside, likely the ones Xing Zhuo had in, as well as a few pieces of Spiritual Weapons.


    In addition to these, there were several Jade Scrolls in the Storage Bag. Wang Hong took them out, attempting to read their contents. However, as soon as his Divine Sense touched them, the Jade Scrolls shattered into powder.


    He knew that these were likely copies of Jade Scrolls from Taihao Sect, and they had restrictive enchantments that allowed only their owners to read them.


    When he reached another Jade Scroll, something unexpected happened. His eyes lit up as the Jade Scroll in his hand remained intact. He began to read its detailed contents, "Heaven and Earth Sword Technique, Qian as Heaven, representing yang, representing male, Kun as Earth, representing yin, representing female..."


    After briefly perusing the content, Wang Hong realized that it was a sword technique, and it appeared to be quite profound. However, he had never specialized in sword cultivation, even though he had used a Flying Sword before.


    From the description of the "Heaven and Earth Sword Technique," it could be practiced with a minimum of one Flying Sword and a maximum of sixty-four Flying Swords. Judging from Xing Zhuo''s situation, he likely had only one Flying Sword due to financial constraints.


    Refining a Lifebound Magical Treasure as a Golden Core cultivator was no easy feat. Some cultivators spent decades without sessfully refining one. Attempting to refine multiple Magical Weapons simultaneously was even less practical.


    Wang Hong stored away the "Heaven and Earth Sword Technique" Scroll and continued searching through the items. However, he couldn''t find Xing Zhuo''s used Flying Sword; only damaged fragments remained. He recalled reading in some ancient texts that sword cultivators often used unique methods to refine their Lifebound Flying Swords. When a sword cultivator died, their Flying Sword would also suffer damage, which seemed to be the case here.


    Apart from this, he found various materials for refining tools, including both second-tier and third-tier materials.


    After organizing and storing these items, he began to recover his strength.


    Two monthster, Wang Hong and Little Peng finally returned safely to the Mountain Valley.


    During his absence, nothing major had urred in the Mountain Valley. The main force of the Demonic Beasts had moved south, so the density of Demonic Beasts in their region remained low. In this vast area, the rtively small number of Demonic Beasts posed no immediate threat to their Mountain Valley. After all, this ce was considered a deathtrap in the eyes of Demonic Beasts, and with their increased territorial control, there was no need to venture into the Mountain Valley and seek their own demise.


    Wang Hong keenly felt the inadequacy of his own strength after this solitary journey. Upon his return to the Mountain Valley, he immediately went into seclusion to further enhance his cultivation.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 440: Eight Years

    Chapter 440: Eight Years


    After returning from the Taihao Sect, Wang Hong secluded himself in Mountain Valley, focusing entirely on cultivation.


    Initially, he had some concerns about the insufficient Spirit Stones to sustain the operation of his Space. However, this time, he had traded for two million low-grade Spirit Stones from the Taihao Sect, which would be sufficient for a long time.


    He extracted the core of the Golden Dewspirit fruit he had obtained from the Taihao Sect and nted it within his Space.


    As expected, the Mysterious Seed he received from the Taihao Sect sprouted within his Space. Although it grew rather slowly, as long as it survived, time was not a concern within the Space.


    While Wang Hong continued his own cultivation, he distributed arge quantity of Green Spirit Peaches to his subordinates, enabling them to rapidly improve their cultivation levels.


    They remained concealed within Mountain Valley, only asionally sneaking out to hunt down some Demonic Beasts.


    Their actions were always cautious, ensuring that the Demon n, which had taken over the Qingxu Sect''s territory, remained oblivious to the presence of so many people hiding under their noses.


    Time passed swiftly while they dedicated themselves to cultivation, and eight years went by in this manner.


    It took Wang Hong five years to finally reach the pinnacle of Foundation Building cultivation.Over the next three years, he continuously consumed Foundation Pills to expand the vastness of his dantian sea.


    Initially, his dantian sea had already surpassed that of most Foundation Building cultivators. With the constant expansion brought about by the Foundation Pills, his dantian sea reached an unprecedented size of twenty zhang.


    Eventually, even the consumption of Foundation Pills ceased to have any effect on him, as these pills had their limitations. No one had ever reached this limit before, making the Blue Beauty Grass a rare and sought-after resource. The ability to refine one or two pills, expanding one''s dantian sea by a few feet or a zhang, was considered a tremendous achievement.


    In preparation for Core Formation, most cultivators aimed to reach a dantian sea size of two zhang. In these eight years, Wang Hong had cultivated 1,800 Foundation Building cultivators among his subordinates.


    His Revival Battle Team had expanded to a thousand members, and the Inner Valley had also grown to five hundred individuals.


    Nearly three hundred loyal and reasonably talented individuals were added to the Inner Valley, ensuring the overall quality of the neers.


    In its prime, the Qingxu Sect had only boasted a little over three thousand Foundation Building cultivators within its sect, excluding peripheral members. Wang Hong had already reached half of that number within the Foundation Building realm.


    As for the substantial supply of Foundation Establishment Pills, Wang Hong shifted the responsibility to Liu Changsheng''s Immortal Way Trading Company, further shrouding it in mystery.


    However, with over two thousand people confined in a single Mountain Valley, their resources were quickly depleting. Even with all the spirit fields opened up, there was only enoughnd to support a thousand mu, far from sufficient for their needs.


    Especially with the addition of the 1,800 Foundation Building cultivators, the consumption of various resources had increased significantly. To sustain their needs, they had to hunt Demonic Beasts and trade their materials at the Immortal Way Trading Company.


    Yet, at this point, their resources were stretched thin, and the newly recruited Foundation Building cultivatorscked even a single Spiritual Weapon. This considerably hampered theirbat capabilities.


    Equipping over a thousand individuals with Spiritual Weapons would require raiding a major faction''s warehouse. Although Wang Hong''s Space could cultivate spirit wood and refine tools, some auxiliary materials were still indispensable.


    For instance, crafting a set of bows and arrows would require materials like animal tendons for bowstrings and metal for arrowheads. Even if they managed to avoid using metal, they still needed feathers for the arrow fletching.


    In a hidden chamber, Wang Hong and Liu Changsheng were in deep discussion.


    "I need to prepare for Core Formation. Do you have any suitable rmendations?" Wang Hong inquired of Liu Changsheng.


    Over these eight years, the cultivators within Mountain Valley had steadily increased their strength, and Liu Changsheng''s team from the Immortal Way Trading Company had not been idle either.


    Their members excelled at remaining covert and were tasked with gathering intelligence, providing Wang Hong with invaluable information.


    To empower them further, Wang Hong had even contributed five Golden Core pills and five Five-Color Spirit Jujubes, but only two individuals had sessfully formed their cores. Wang Hong wasn''t disappointed by this; in fact, he was quite pleased with the oue.


    Because this was already a high sess rate, having a Golden Core pill didn''t guarantee a sessful Core formation.


    "Congrattions, East Master! However, the former Chuyun Sect''s old location is no longer suitable. A group of Demonic Beasts has taken over that hilltop. These Demonic Beasts are quite formidable and not easy to deal with.


    If we were to forcefully take control, it''s possible, but it would create too muchmotion, take too much time, and attract other nearby Demonic Beasts. The area surrounding that hilltop is already upied by numerous Demonic Beasts, and it wouldn''t be easy to handle the aftermath.


    On the other hand, there''s another location, a medium-sized Spirit Vein. Currently, only a Tier Three low-grade Demonic Beast upies it, but it''s a Qing Fox, and that could be problematic."


    Liu Changsheng hesitated as he spoke, not because the Qing Fox was particrly powerful, but because of its ancestry.


    Now, eight years had passed, and the situation in the East Zhou Cultivation Realm had solidified. The West Zhou and the Eastern Sea Demon ns had united to wipe out the major Human n forces in East Zhou and divided the region among themselves.


    As the war ended, the Demonic Beasts that had previously gathered had dispersed, each taking control of different Spirit Veins. Encounters with Demonic Beasts had be much moremon when venturing outside.


    Even around his Mountain Valley, there had been an increase in Demonic Beasts curiously inspecting the area. Some had even attempted to intrude, only to be ensnared by the Devilish Vine.


    The former Qingxu Sect''s old site was the most resource-rich area in this region, and it was now under the control of the Qing Fox n.


    If they were to kill important members of the Qing Fox n while under their watchful eyes, it could lead to a major conflict. The Qing Fox n possessed absolute power in this area, and just one Tier Four Demonic Beast in their ranks could easily level Wang Hong''s Mountain Valley.


    After some consideration, Wang Hong realized that creating a Core would attract too much attention, making it unsuitable for Mountain Valley and risking exposure.


    Of the two alternative locations, he leaned toward attacking the Qing Fox n, taking over the Spirit Vein, and leaving after forming his Core.


    "I n to attack the Qing Fox n. In addition, can you send someone to investigate a certain ce for me?" Wang Hong asked as he handed Liu Changsheng an address. It was the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, a ce he had passed through on his way to the Taihao Sect during hisst journey.


    Back then, he had saved a city of mortals, but he suspected that it might have fallen victim to other Demonic Beasts by now. Ordinary people had no means to protect themselves against Demonic Beasts.


    He contemted the possibility of moving his subordinates to the Cloud Mist Mountain Range in the future. It not only had a Spirit Vein but also spirit ore that could be mined to supplement their resources. Most importantly, the Cloud Mist Mountain Range was rtively distant from major powers, reducing the risk.


    Meanwhile, Mountain Valley was too close to the former Qingxu Sect''s location and not suitable for long-term development. If they stayed there for an extended period, they would eventually be discovered by Demonic Beasts¡ªit was only a matter of time.


    After making arrangements with Liu Changsheng, Wang Hong returned to Mountain Valley to prepare for his Core formation.


    He first entered his Space. Despite eight years passing in the outside world, nearly three thousand years had psed within his Space. During this time, he had spent most of it nting Spiritual Herbs, and the consumption by over two thousand people had been significant.


    He had already harvested two batches of Golden Core Spiritual Herbs, refining them into Golden Core Pills in secret. The quantity ofpleted Golden Core Pills was staggering.


    The Mysterious Seed he had obtained from the Taihao Sect had grown into a Spirit Vine over these three thousand years, sprawling across the ground, covering almost half an acre, and still expanding.


    Wang Hong approached the Golden Dewspirit fruit tree, which hadn''t fully matured yet, bearing only five fruits, with just one being ripe.


    He plucked the ripe Golden Jadespirit fruit and another Five-Color Spirit Jujube. Both of these spirit fruits could increase the sess rate of Core formation by half, bringing it up to one-tenth. Coupled with his unique dantian, he could further increase the Core formation sess rate.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]

 Chapter 441: Reunion

    Chapter 441: Reunion


    On this particr day, Little Peng, bearing Wang Hong on his back, arrived at a Peak enveloped in mist and clouds.


    "Zixu Mountain''s entric Little Peng, here to pay respects to Fellow Daoist!" Little Peng stopped before the Peak and loudly proimed. He continued to shout several times, his voice resounding loudly, startling some small animals into fleeing for their lives.


    After a while, a massive Qing Fox emerged from the mist.


    "What demon is causing thismotion?" Qing Fox flew out, clearly displeased with Little Peng''s behavior. It had been in the midst of discussing Cultivation Techniques with a vixen when Little Peng''s shouting interrupted, causing both its body and mind to be disrupted.


    "Qing Fox Fellow Daoist, I am Little Peng, the entric of Zixu Mountain''s Wuyou Cave, here to visit!" Little Peng hastily greeted and simultaneously produced a Jade Box, offering it with both hands.


    "As a neer, I bring a humble gift and hope you will ept it," Little Peng said.


    Qing Fox hesitated slightly as it extended a w, imbuing it with ayer of demonic energy before taking the Jade Box. Without reason, someoneing to give gifts could be a malevolent demon, and caution was necessary.


    After taking the Jade Box, Qing Fox opened it with its w, revealing a nine-inch tall Spirit Herb with a red spirit fruit at its apex, emanating an enticing fragrance.


    Even Little Peng, who hade to deliver the gift, couldn''t help but salivate."Moonflower Grass!" Qing Fox eximed. Moonflower Grass was a tier-three Spiritual Herb, and mature Moonflower Grass held great benefits for the Demon n.


    "Little Peng Fellow Daoist, what brings you here? Please speak your mind," it asked. Qing Fox knew that if someone was willing to give such a valuable gift, there must be a request in return.


    "I have some Spiritual Objects in my possession and wish to trade with the fox n, but I have not been able to gain entry. That''s why I sought out Fellow Daoist for assistance, hoping you could introduce me," Little Peng recited the reason prepared by Wang Hong.


    "Alright, but what exactly do you wish to trade, Fellow Daoist?" Qing Fox found Little Peng''s request eptable and was willing to help.


    Nervously ncing around, Little Peng then spoke in a hushed tone, "Right here?"


    "Cough... Haha! I have been impolite," Qing Fox chuckled awkwardly. After all, they had just received a generous gift, and it felt that every demon who gave it a gift deserved its kindness.


    "Please, Fellow Daoist, let''s discuss this in my cave mansion!" Qing Fox then led Little Peng towards the mountain.


    Qing Fox''s cave mansion was located at the peak of this mountain, where it had dug out a spacious mountain cave.


    Now, Qing Fox led Little Peng and Wang Hong into a secret chamber within the cave mansion and activated a formation.


    "Fear not, Little Peng Fellow Daoist. Once this formation is activated, even if a fight were to break out inside, no one outside would notice. Do you have the valuable items for trade ready?" Qing Fox asked confidently, its formation being acquired from a sect and possessing great power.


    "Oh! I''d like to give it a try!" Little Peng said, extending a wing that, with the flow of demonic energy, began to emit a faint glow as it headed towards the formation.


    At that very moment, three ck silhouettes appeared beside Qing Fox, each holding a nine-inch ck knife in their hands.


    As soon as the three Daoist Master shadows materialized, they simultaneously thrust their ck knives at Qing Fox from different angles.


    By the time Qing Fox noticed, it was already toote. The angles of the three knives were extremely tricky, leaving it with no escape.


    There was only a slight opening in one direction, and it took a hit in a non-lethal spot, narrowly escaping from the clutches of the three assants.


    However, before it could breathe a sigh of relief, a massive wing came swooping down, striking it solidly.


    This dy allowed the three knives to attack again, and this time, Qing Fox was not as fortunate. One knife pierced its chest, another struck its abdomen, and the third beheaded it.


    At this point, the three ck shadows fully revealed themselves, and they turned out to be Liu Changsheng apanied by two Golden Core cultivators from the Immortal Way Trading Company.


    They had been lurking around Little Peng all along, and they followed him into this secret chamber.


    With theirbined efforts, they easily assassinated the Qing Fox, making minimal noise, especially with the formation blocking any external detection.


    Wang Hong nced at the Qing Fox''s lifeless body, then collected it. He turned to the group and said, "Let''s go. I took a quick look inside when I entered, and it seems there are several rooms here. Let''s thoroughly search all of them."


    They all exited the secret chamber and proceeded to explore the other rooms.


    Sure enough, in the first room, they found a vixen with only a second-tier cultivation level, her fur shimmering.


    With a single stroke of his de, Liu Changsheng swiftly severed the vixen into two.


    They continued to check the remaining rooms one by one, mercilessly ying any Demonic Beasts they encountered.


    In the process, they found a treasure room where they discovered numerous Spiritual Objects and many items clearly crafted by Human n cultivators, some still stained with blood.


    As they arrived at the door of thest room, they found that it was hewn from a massive stone and sealed by a formation. Without a specific technique, it was impossible to open this door.


    The rooms they had explored before were equipped with simple formations, and Wang Hong could easily break them with a nce, as the Demon n did not excel in the art of formations.


    However, the formation in this room was rather special, hinting at something unique inside.


    Wang Hong scrutinized the formation; with his skill level, breaking it wouldn''t be a problem, though it would take some time.


    "Break it!" Wang Hong dered, sometimes a direct and forceful approach was the most effective.


    The three Golden Core cultivators, along with Little Peng, a Spirit Beast,unched a collective attack on the formation. It took only fifteen minutes to shatter it.


    Then, Liu Changsheng approached the stone door, channeling his Spiritual Power into both arms, and slowly pushed it open while the others remained on guard.


    After a muffled sound, the true nature of the room was revealed.


    Inside, dozens of Human n cultivators were crammed together, all dressed in Qingxu Sect Daoist Robes, which came in various shades of dark and purple.


    "Senior Brother Wang! Did youe to rescue me specifically? I knew you woulde to save me!" The moment the door opened, a voice of surprise echoed from the crowd.


    Although the voice contained anxiety, joy, nervousness, fear, and other emotions, it was still remarkably melodious.


    Simultaneously, the owner of the voice pushed through the crowd and hurried towards Wang Hong.


    Upon hearing the voice, Wang Hong instantly recognized who it was. Other than Shui Ruo''er, he hadn''t heard anyone with such an enchanting voice.


    Perhaps due to prolonged distress, Shui Ruo''er, now suddenly rescued and overwhelmed with joy, lost control of her emotions. She swiftly walked up to Wang Hong and embraced him around his waist.


    "Sob... You finally came. I thought I would die here, never to see you again! Sob..." Shui Ruo''er leaned her head on Wang Hong''s shoulder, tears and mucus smearing onto his shoulder.


    [Read at /shanefreak, and heartfelt thankyou for your support!]


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