《Daily Settlement Panel: Starting By Raising Corpses》


 Chapter 1: Daily Settlement

    The year was 13,772 of the Great Cang Calendar. It was March, the beginning of spring.


    The grass had just begun to reach the height of a horse''s hoof, and withered trees were experiencing their first taste of spring.


    However¡ª


    What should have been a flourishing landscape of mountain plains was instead a scene of carnage. The air was thick with the cold stench of blood, spreading for miles, and broken corpses lay strewn across the land.


    On the blood-soaked mud, a group of young men carefully dragged the mutilated remains, moving them through the suffocating aura of blood and death, loading them piece by piece onto dark red carts.


    Before long, one cart was filled to the brim.


    Wen Jiu was among them. His face was wrapped in tattered cloth, and he casually tossed a severed arm onto the cart¡ªa hand with only two fingers remaining, its exposed bones gleaming white.


    Smack!


    "Phew¡ª"


    He exhaled deeply and tightened his face covering.


    But the nauseating stench of blood still forced its way into his nose, making him want to retch. Yet his stomach was already empty, leaving only the bitter taste of bile.


    "This is only the first day. How the hell am I supposed to endure the next ten years¡­? The timing of this reincarnation is absolute garbage."


    Reborn in a world of cultivation¡ª


    That was the good news.


    The bad news? He had become a low-ranking corpse handler for a sect, tasked with dealing with battlefield remains. He was bound to this graveyard of the dead, forced to move corpses for ten years.


    And today was only his first day.


    In his past life, even when his job was exhausting, at least the work environment was bearable. His boss was an idiot, his coworkers were all men, but at least he got paid a decent salary at the end of the month. It was a life, however mundane.


    But as a corpse handler, he had signed himself away¡ªthere was no quitting, no escape. He had to endure it for a full decade before he could be free.


    The worst part?


    The bastard who signed the contract died yesterday.


    Leaving Wen Jiu, the reincarnator, to take his place.


    "You couldn''t have died just one day earlier?" Wen Jiu muttered, speechless. If the guy had died before signing, he could have at least chosen to be a menial laborer instead.


    As he was lost in thought, an angry shout suddenly rang out.


    Wen Jiu turned his head and saw a young man collapse beside a cart, his face pale¡ªhe had inhaled too much of the blood-drenched, death-tainted air.


    Before the young man could recover, a supervisor in the distance immediately started cursing at him.


    But shouting wasn''t enough. The supervisor drew a thick leather whip from his waist and snapped it through the air with a sharp crack!


    The second lash landed directly on the young man''s back.


    Smack!


    "Aah¡ª!"


    The young man screamed in agony as his back split open, blood oozing from the wound.


    The supervisor, a burly middle-aged man, spat, "Your job is to clear every last corpse from this area today! If you don''t finish, I''ll gut you myself! If you''re still breathing, you better keep moving!"


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    "I-I''ll get back to work¡ªright now!"


    The injured youth scrambled to his feet, his face filled with terror. He didn''t dare hesitate, enduring the burning pain on his back as he dug into the mud and continued moving bodies.


    The other corpse handlers averted their gazes, anger hidden deep in their hearts, and silently focused on their own tasks.


    This was the status of corpse handlers.


    Even the lowest-ranking menial workers of Dead Man''s Peak had power over their lives.


    A whipping like this? That was just a minor punishment.


    Killing one of them wouldn''t even be considered a big deal.


    If not for the constant demand for labor, these indentured corpse handlers would be no different from livestock in the cultivation world.


    The previous owner of Wen Jiu''s body had refused to accept such treatment. He had cursed at a supervisor once¡ªand for that, he was struck dead with a single palm strike.


    "Move faster, all of you! This entire area needs to be cleared today! If we delay another two days, the corpses will start to rot, and death energy and resentment will fester! If you don''t want to die, get to work!"


    The supervisor barked out more orders before finally putting away his whip and strolling back to his resting area.


    Over a hundred corpse handlers bowed their heads and picked up the pace.


    Just then, the young man who had been whipped trembled, his body giving out as he collapsed into the blood-soaked mud once more.


    Everyone turned to look.


    The young man scrambled to get up, his face full of fear, mumbling desperate pleas while hurriedly lifting another broken body onto the cart.


    He didn''t even have time to spit out the bloodied mud in his mouth.


    Wen Jiu sighed.


    Dead Man''s Peak was the only immortal sect within five hundred miles. It housed tens of thousands of cultivators¡ªand among them, ten thousand mortals.


    Of these mortals, corpse handlers ranked the lowest.


    Even menial workers had more status. And once a person signed the indentured contract, there was no turning back.


    Of course, after ten years, a corpse handler could become an apprentice disciple of Dead Man''s Peak, outranking ordinary laborers.


    But surviving those ten years¡­ was an entirely different matter.


    First, there was the matter of ten years'' wages. Without taking a single day off, the monthly pay was three taels. Though it was more than what one could earn working in a mortal city, life here was expensive. Three taels were barely enough to scrape by.


    If that were the only issue, it might still be bearable¡ªenduring hardship was nothing new. But the real problem lay in the fact that this place, filled with the bodies of those who had died in battle, was saturated with yin energy, blood energy, death energy, and corpse energy.


    Any one of these, if absorbed in excess, could claim a person''s life within ten or twenty years.


    Even if one managed to endure for a decade and became an apprentice disciple, they would likely have little time left before succumbing to the corruption of these energies.


    It might actually be better to remain a menial laborer on Dead Man''s Peak for life.


    Wen Jiu couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. "Aren''t web novels always saying that reincarnation comes with a golden cheat?"


    It had been an entire day since he was reborn.


    Where was that familiar ding?


    Damn it!


    Those web novel authors were frauds!


    Delete!


    If he ever got the chance to be reborn again, he''d make sure to delete all those novels!


    Shaking off his thoughts, Wen Jiu didn''t dare delay. Forcing himself to endure the discomfort, he continued moving corpses.


    He stayed busy until the hour of You (5-7 PM) before he was finally allowed to rest.


    Back in his wooden hut, Wen Jiu was starving. If there had been an entire cow in front of him, he might have been able to finish it. But the putrid stench swirling inside his body made it impossible for him to swallow even a single bite.


    With no other choice, he forced himself to gulp down a few mouthfuls of cold water before collapsing onto the wooden bed to rest.


    Too tired.


    Far too tired.


    "Damn it, it''s only the first day!"


    Wen Jiu cursed under his breath.


    Then, he drifted into deep sleep.


    At midnight, he was suddenly awakened by a voice.


    [Daily Settlement Panel Lv1 (1/100)]


    [Today''s Settlement!]


    [Moved corpses for eight hours in the land of death, continuously absorbing corpse energy and death energy. Panel EXP +1, Corpse Energy +8, Death Energy +8]


    [Wen Jiu]


    [Age: 23]


    [Lifespan: 23/73]


    [Lv1 Corpse Keeper (0/100)]


    [A Corpse Keeper is immune to the erosion of death energy and corpse energy. Instead, these lethal forces become nourishment for them.]


    [Death Energy Reserve: 8 (Can be applied to cultivation once training begins)]


    [Corpse Energy Reserve: 8 (Can be applied to corpses once corpse-raising begins)]


    [Secret Art: Corpse Mutation (Lv1 Corpse Keeper secret art. Upon activation, any corpse can rapidly and effortlessly mutate into a zombie, bypassing corpse selection, corpse storage, corpse bathing, corpse cultivation site selection, corpse refinement, and corpse awakening¡ªCurrent number of corpses that can be mutated: 1)]


    [PS: Keep working hard tomorrow! You got this!]


    "Daily Settlement Panel!"


    "Corpse Keeper!"


    "Corpse Mutation!"


    So those web novel authors hadn''t lied after all!


    Sure enough, transmigration always came with a golden cheat!


    What ten years of burying corpses?


    What apprentice disciple promotion?


    Ha!


    With the Daily Settlement Panel¡ª


    I''ll become an immortal!


    I''ll achieve eternal life!


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 2: Mutated Undead

    Back in his room.


    After repeatedly opening and closing the daily settlement panel for nearly fifteen minutes, Wen Jiu''s excitement finally subsided like the ebbing tide. Sleepiness crept in again, pulling him back into slumber.


    Early the next morning, before dawn had even broken, Wen Jiu suddenly jolted awake from his wooden bed. The first thing he did upon waking was open the daily settlement panel. Seeing that it was indeed still there, he let out a deep sigh of relief.


    "Thank goodness it wasn''t just a dream."


    Lifting his gaze, he noticed a faint white glow in the sky outside the window. Almost simultaneously, an intense hunger surged through him.


    Just as he was about to gulp down some water to ease the emptiness in his stomach before searching for food, a knock on the door was accompanied by a woman''s voice.


    "You lazy brat, get up already."


    "Open the door for me."


    Her voice carried both warmth and a touch of sharpness¡ªfamiliar, unmistakable.


    Wen Jiu hurried to open the door, revealing a woman dressed in a simple cyan cloth dress.


    Though her attire was plain, her features were striking¡ªdelicate eyebrows, almond-shaped eyes, and skin as fair as snow.


    The moment he saw her, memories of her flooded his mind.


    Wen Ya.


    His sister.


    "How are you feeling after resting for a night? Is your body any better?" Wen Ya stepped inside, placing a sea-blue porcelain bowl covered with a lotus leaf onto the wooden table. As she lifted the leaf, she spoke again.


    Wen Jiu knew what she was asking about. As he answered, his eyes were already drawn to the fragrant contents of the bowl. "I''m alright¡­ I think I can eat now. Sis, what is this? It smells amazing."


    When the lotus leaf was fully removed¡ª


    It was a bowl of rice.


    It seemed that he was truly starving, because even a simple bowl of plain white rice smelled so delicious that it made his mouth water uncontrollably.


    "Smells good, doesn''t it? This is a bowl of spirit rice. It''s low-grade, but it''s still something that immortals eat!"


    As she spoke, Wen Ya handed him the bowl and a pair of chopsticks.


    But Wen Jiu didn''t take them. His face was full of doubt. "Sis, how did you get your hands on spirit rice?"


    According to his memories¡ª


    He had signed a contract to sell himself as a gravedigger.


    His sister, on the other hand, worked as a menial laborer on the Dead Man''s Peak.


    Although her wages were three to five taels more than his, there was no way she could afford even low-grade spirit rice.


    Wen Ya forced a small smile. "One of the immortal overseers in charge of the gravediggers appreciates how diligent I am, so he let me work as his servant girl¡­ Hurry up and eat. Even low-grade spirit rice can cleanse impurities from your body and protect your internal organs from the corrosion of blood energy, corpse energy, death energy, and yin energy."


    "Sis, you didn''t agree to this just for the spirit rice, did you?" Having lived two lives and worked in the real world for seven or eight years, Wen Jiu could easily see through her forced smile. Things weren''t as simple as she made them out to be.


    Wen Ya quickly shook her head. "No, no! Why are you asking so many questions? Just eat. If you wait too long, you''ll have to go bury corpses again. If you don''t eat, where will you get the strength to dig graves?"


    With that¡ª


    She gave him no chance to speak further. She stood up and turned to leave, but before stepping out, she left him with one final sentence.


    "Do your work properly, and never forget¡­ The only reason we can stay on this immortal mountain is because our parents paid for it with their lives."


    Bang!


    The wooden door shut tightly.


    Wen Jiu stood frozen for a few moments, but he didn''t chase after her. Instead, he picked up the bowl and began eating in big, hungry mouthfuls.


    At this point¡ª


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    There was nothing he could do.


    Nothing he could change.


    The only thing left was to eat his fill and use the daily settlement panel to grow stronger, step by step.


    ¡­


    Soon, Wen Jiu found himself back at the land of mangled corpses.


    Compared to the previous day, the air here was even colder. The moment he stepped within a hundred feet of the site, a bone-piercing chill enveloped him. Around him, the other gravediggers instinctively pulled their clothes tighter, but it did little to shield them from the cold.


    Yet unlike yesterday, Wen Jiu felt completely at ease among the scattered remains.


    The so-called cold¡ª


    The so-called death energy, corpse energy¡ª


    All of it felt incredibly comfortable to him.


    If not for the need to conceal his abnormality, he would have stripped off his outer robe, removed his mask, and taken deep, greedy breaths of the surrounding death and corpse energy.


    "Get moving! We''re finishing early today. If anyone dares slack off, don''t blame me for using my whip!"


    After the middle-aged overseer barked his warning, Wen Jiu grabbed a shovel and started turning over the blood-soaked earth, loading the dismembered corpses onto the cart.


    As far as the eye could see, the sight of scattered corpses and severed limbs was no longer as terrifying as before. Instead, it made Wen Jiu develop the thought of fully assimilating them, turning them into something he could use.


    However, considering that he had only managed to transform one corpse so far and combining that with the information provided by the system about a Level 1 Corpse Nurturer, Wen Jiu decided to take his time finding a complete corpse. After all, a fully intact corpse would be far stronger after transformation than a fragmented one.


    Yet, after searching for half a day, he still couldn''t find a single intact corpse. The other corpse buriers around him faced the same predicament. The most complete body Wen Jiu had come across was that of a middle-aged male cultivator, but even he only had his upper torso remaining.


    Although he hadn''t found a suitable corpse, listening to the conversations around him gave him a profound understanding of the cruel reality of the cultivation world. It turned out that the ones who had died here were not ordinary mortals but powerful, high-ranking cultivators.


    Not a single commoner among them.


    Wen Jiu couldn''t determine the exact number of fallen cultivators in this vast land of death, but he estimated that at least ten thousand had perished here.


    Ten thousand cultivators left to rot in the wilderness.


    After death, their only fate was to be buried in the nameless hills by corpse buriers.


    How tragic. How pitiful.


    "Mortals dream of becoming immortals, just like the original body''s parents, who willingly served cultivators and even sacrificed their lives, all for the chance to have their children remain on an immortal mountain... But do any of them truly understand the brutality of the cultivation world?"


    Wen Jiu couldn''t help but sigh internally.


    Just as he was lost in thought, his eyes fell upon a kneeling corpse. The man''s face was frozen in an expression of resentment and fury, his chest hollowed out as if some monstrous beast had torn it open. As Wen Jiu stepped closer, he could feel that the corpse exuded a much heavier aura of yin energy compared to the surroundings¡ªby at least threefold.


    Though threefold might not seem like much, to anyone other than a Corpse Nurturer like himself, exposure to such intense yin energy would be enough to either kill them or leave them bedridden for days.


    "You''ll do."


    Wen Jiu slowly walked toward the corpse.


    As he approached, a simple status panel for the body appeared before his eyes.


    [Unnamed Male Corpse]


    [Bone Age: Thirty-five | Cultivation Before Death: Body Refinement, First Level]


    [Proceed with Transformation?]


    After scanning the area and confirming there were no fully intact corpses in sight, Wen Jiu decisively chose "Yes."


    The moment he made his choice, he discreetly bit his finger, allowing three drops of blood to fall onto the corpse¡ªone on its forehead and one on each of its shoulders. In an instant, the body absorbed his blood with a sudden force.


    As his blood merged with the corpse, the surrounding yin energy surged even further. Fortunately, the middle-aged overseer was far enough away not to notice the abnormality.


    Wen Jiu knew that the transformation had begun.


    Now, all he had to do was place the corpse near the death grounds and let it naturally absorb the surrounding yin and death energy.


    With time, it would evolve into a White Ghoul.


    Unlike traditional corpse-nurturing techniques, which required selecting, storing, bathing, and refining the corpse, this method only required choosing the right place for the process to take place.


    But what were these traditional steps?


    Selecting a corpse meant choosing a suitable body¡ªone that had an inherently yin-aligned fate and had died during an eclipse or at an hour of extreme darkness.


    Storing the corpse involved placing it in a designated location for five to seven days. If it resisted decay and its yin energy continued to grow, like this cultivator''s corpse, then it was deemed qualified.


    Bathing and refining were even more complicated.


    The bathing process cleansed the corpse of its past life, erasing all traces of its former humanity. Refining, on the other hand, was a lengthy ritual¡ªat minimum, it took forty-nine days, requiring the corpse to be doused in fresh animal blood three times a day while being subjected to Corpse Nurturing Incantations.


    But thanks to the secret technique of corpse transformation, Wen Jiu could skip all these steps.


    All he had to do was bury the body in a death-saturated land, feed it his blood daily, and let it absorb the ambient yin and death energy.


    Once it had absorbed enough, it would naturally transform, sprouting white fur all over its body¡ªbecoming a White Ghoul.


    However, White Ghouls feared sunlight, fire, water, chickens, dogs, and¡ªabove all¡ªhumans.


    It wouldn''t be ready for use just yet.


    It would have to continue evolving.


    Only when the White Ghoul shed its fur and turned into a Black Ghoul would the process be complete.


    At that point, it would become a weapon at Wen Jiu''s disposal, a true offensive force under his command.


    When that day arrived...


    He would become a true Corpse Nurturer.


    A true cultivator.


    Without wasting time, Wen Jiu struggled to drag the corpse toward the burial ground, finally placing it beneath three feet of yellow earth on the nameless green hill.


    After finishing his work, he returned to the land of death and resumed transporting corpses, continuing to absorb yin and death energy into his body.


    Corpse energy could be infused into bodies.


    Death energy could be used for cultivation.


    Although he had yet to begin his cultivation journey, there was no harm in accumulating death energy in advance.


    ...


    By the time Shen hour arrived¡ªbefore sunset¡ªthe middle-aged overseer suddenly ordered everyone to stop.


    It seemed there was an urgent matter at hand.


    Without explanation, he quickly led the entire group back.


    However, instead of allowing them to return to their wooden huts, he gathered all one hundred corpse buriers and led them three miles away¡ªtoward a marketplace where cultivators resided.

 Chapter 3: Unorthodox Practices

    As far as Wen Jiu knew, the Dead Man''s Peak was divided into a main peak and numerous side peaks. There was only one main peak, but the side peaks numbered in the hundreds. The place where he lived, the Land of Remnant Corpses, and this marketplace all belonged to one of the side peaks under the jurisdiction of Lianwu Mountain.


    However, despite all being under Lianwu Mountain, ordinary corpse buriers and mortal laborers were not allowed to enter a cultivator''s marketplace at will. So when Wen Jiu arrived at the market, everywhere he looked, all he saw were cultivators.


    There were male cultivators soaring through the air on swords.


    Female cultivators strolling leisurely on spirit beasts.


    Various mystical creatures resting around the market.


    It was a world entirely different from where Wen Jiu lived¡ªthe bleak land of remnant corpses.


    "This isn''t like how they show it in dramas." Wen Jiu gazed around excitedly, finding even a single blade of grass fascinating.


    Soon, under the lead of a middle-aged steward, more than a hundred corpse buriers were guided from a small side path along the main road to the entrance of the marketplace.


    As they got closer, Wen Jiu noticed that outside the towering archway, nearly three zhang high, golden mystical runes continuously surged from the ground, rising in an orderly fashion into the sky, merging into a massive, faintly glowing barrier.


    From afar, it was invisible to the naked eye, only becoming clear up close. Just as Wen Jiu was wondering what it was, the middle-aged steward spoke in a deep voice, "This is the Market Protection Killing Array. Without a disciple''s token, stepping inside means death! If you don''t want to die, stand still and behave yourselves¡­ Anyone who moves recklessly, don''t blame me for revoking your qualification for cultivation."


    As soon as he said this, the group immediately stiffened, not daring to glance around anymore. But Wen Jiu noticed that while most people were either stunned or ecstatic at the words "qualification for cultivation," some of the corpse buriers had an expression of eager anticipation rather than surprise.


    Clearly¡­ some of them already knew.


    "Corpse buriers can cultivate?" Wen Jiu felt a surge of excitement.


    But also some doubt.


    He wouldn''t believe it unless he saw it with his own eyes.


    Could someone who wasn''t a disciple of an immortal sect still practice cultivation?


    Moments later, the three-story ancient building at the edge of the market, known as the Law Transmission Pavilion, slowly opened its doors. From within, an elderly man with white hair and a long robe stepped out. As soon as he appeared, the once-fierce middle-aged steward suddenly abandoned his usual harsh demeanor.


    He even fawned over the old man, lowering himself respectfully. "Elder Chen, I''ve brought all the corpse buriers under my charge."


    "Mm." The white-haired elder gave a slight nod, his gaze indifferent as he swept over the group before turning back toward the building. "Bring them in. Let them choose quickly and leave¡­ Don''t disturb my cultivation."


    "Yes, Elder Chen."


    The middle-aged steward bowed his head, but the moment he turned back to the group, his expression once again became fierce and menacing.


    "Follow me inside in an orderly fashion. You have three hundred breaths of time to choose a foundational cultivation method¡­ I know that many of you have already made up your minds and know the rules, but I''ll remind you again¡ªcultivation methods are not to be shared lightly. If the technique in your hands is leaked, you will bear the consequences."


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    With that warning, the middle-aged steward stepped into the building. Those who had long yearned for this opportunity hurried to follow.


    Wen Jiu was overjoyed and quickly trailed after them.


    At last, he understood why his sister had told him to do his job well.


    Being a corpse burier was grueling work. Spending years in the land of death, if one was too heavily tainted by its yin and death energy, they would inevitably perish.


    So why did she tell him to do it well?


    Wouldn''t it be wiser to avoid danger in such a place?


    Now, he finally understood¡ªcorpse buriers could cultivate!


    ¡­


    After entering the building¡ª


    The towering bookshelves came into view, each filled with countless volumes, reaching a height of thirty feet and stretching all the way to the ceiling. There were at least ten thousand books, if not more.


    Once everyone had entered and stood in place, the middle-aged steward spoke in a deep voice, "You have three hundred breaths to make your selection."


    The white-haired elder then added, "What cultivation method you choose here is your own fate and cannot be changed. Also, let me remind you¡ªone year from now, the top three in cultivation will be allowed to become apprentices ahead of schedule and join Dead Man''s Peak. So, consider your choice carefully."


    Upon hearing this, the crowd of over a hundred erupted in joy.


    Becoming an apprentice ahead of time¡ªthis didn''t just mean escaping nine years of hardship, it also meant receiving the peak''s guidance and training much earlier.


    It was a chance to become an immortal master sooner.


    This was precisely the dream that had driven them to sign the indenture contract and become corpse buriers. Now that there was hope of realizing it ahead of schedule, how could they not be excited?


    Once the white-haired elder nodded, the crowd surged forward like a tidal wave, rushing toward the bookshelves.


    But Wen Jiu didn''t immediately follow.


    He had no interest in the bookshelves labeled with basic Qi refining techniques. Instead, he wanted to find a method specifically for corpse caretakers. His daily settlement panel had granted him the role of a corpse caretaker and given him secret techniques.


    But it hadn''t provided him with a complete cultivation method.


    He had to find that himself.


    Yet searching blindly was pointless.


    He needed to ask the white-haired elder.


    If he got no answer, he wouldn''t lose anything.


    But if he did, it would save him a lot of trouble.


    So, with a thick skin, Wen Jiu respectfully stepped forward and said, "Greetings, venerable immortal master."


    "You have only three hundred breaths," the white-haired elder said coldly.


    Wen Jiu asked, "This junior wishes to find cultivation methods related to corpse refinement and corpse caretaking. I humbly seek your guidance, immortal master."


    "Corpse refinement?" The elder looked surprised, and a trace of displeasure flickered across his face. "You come to my Transmission Hall only to seek heretical paths?" Still, after a moment of thought, he pointed the way. "Go straight ahead. In the dusty area, you''ll find the heretical techniques."


    "Many thanks, immortal master."


    Wen Jiu cupped his fists in gratitude, also bowing to the middle-aged steward before swiftly bypassing the dazzling array of books and running toward the bookshelves at the end of the corridor, as the elder had directed.


    Moments later, he reached the dusty area.


    Piled there were books on corpse caretaking, corpse refinement, and even gu cultivation¡ªvarious heretical techniques. The dust was as thick as the book covers themselves.


    Clearly, no one had touched them for a long time.


    Wen Jiu immediately began flipping through book after book, eventually finding a comprehensive volume: The Yinzhou Corpse Refinement Record.


    Not only did it contain methods for refining and caring for corpses, but it also included cultivation techniques specifically for corpse caretakers.


    The two combined¡ªexactly what Wen Jiu needed most at the moment.


    But even after securing what he wanted, Wen Jiu didn''t rush to leave. Instead, he continued browsing other books.


    The more he could read, the better.


    The more he could remember, the better.


    In the blink of an eye, three hundred breaths had passed. The deep voice of the white-haired elder rang out, and only then did Wen Jiu step back.


    However, just as he was about to leave the ancient hall, the elder''s gaze lingered on him for a few moments before he sneered, "A shortcut seeker. Ignoring the grand and righteous path of Qi refinement, yet choosing the heretical ways instead!"


    Wen Jiu pretended not to hear.


    But as he passed by the elder, the old man spoke again, "Boy, heretical cultivation may bring rapid progress, but you live in a land of death, exposed daily to the invasion of Yin energy. Now you seek to cultivate corpse caretaking techniques, constantly surrounded by Yin and deathly energy. I fear that the day you achieve mastery will also be the day you meet your end¡­ So even if you rank first in cultivation a year from now, no one will choose you as an apprentice of Dead Man''s Peak."


    Hearing this, Wen Jiu was momentarily stunned.


    But before he could react, the white-haired elder yawned, turned around, and walked away, giving him no chance to respond.

 Chapter 4: No Wonder He Has a Short Life

    After leaving the Transmission Pavilion, the group of gravekeepers gathered together, their faces filled with satisfaction and anticipation. The hardship and exhaustion of spending the past two days in a land of death¡ªsurrounded by blood-soaked mud, lingering yin energy, and scattered corpses¡ªwere completely swept away in this moment. Many even began to feel fortunate for choosing to be gravekeepers rather than spending a lifetime as ordinary laborers.


    However, Wen Jiu noticed that when others saw the Yinzhou Corpse Refining Manual in his hands, a faint trace of disdain flickered in their eyes, as if they found it repulsive. Seeing this, Wen Jiu silently tucked the manual into his robe and left the marketplace with the others, saying nothing.


    Whether or not he could become an apprentice disciple of the Peak of the Dead wasn''t really important to him at the moment. What mattered most was increasing his strength. If he ultimately couldn''t become an apprentice disciple, then he would find another path. There was always a way.


    As for leaving the Peak of the Dead to become a rogue cultivator? Wen Jiu wasn''t that foolish. Here, he had backing. He had a place to belong. Why would he choose the life of a lone wanderer? He would rather remain a gravekeeper than become a rogue cultivator.


    Besides, seeing how these Qi Refining cultivators looked down on unorthodox methods, Wen Jiu suspected that being a rogue cultivator might be too dangerous. What if some so-called "righteous" faction decided to eliminate him just because of his chosen path?


    ¡ª


    That night, after having a bowl of plain noodles at the marketplace to satisfy his hunger, Wen Jiu hurried home and began cultivating the techniques recorded in the Yinzhou Corpse Refining Manual¡ªstarting with the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art.


    Strictly speaking, the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art was also a Qi Refining technique. It could lead to the Qi Refining stage, but instead of drawing upon normal spiritual energy, it required absorbing yin spiritual energy¡ªa mixture of yin energy and spiritual energy¡ªat yin-rich locations and during yin-heavy hours.


    None of this posed a challenge for Wen Jiu. After all, he lived right next to the land of the dead.


    Notably, the first page of the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art contained a warning written in blood by its author:


    "Do not rush. Haste leads to failure. If you recklessly pursue speed in cultivation, you will be harmed by yin spiritual energy and lose years of your lifespan!"


    This was the only major caution when practicing the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art.


    Seeing this, Wen Jiu better understood why the white-haired elder had said that no one would choose him as an apprentice disciple. But as a corpse nurturer, Wen Jiu was naturally immune to the corrosive effects of death energy, yin energy, and corpse energy. Instead, these energies served as nourishment for him.


    So he wasn''t worried at all.


    Suddenly, a translucent prompt appeared before his eyes:


    [Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art]


    [Rank: Qi Refining Technique (Two Levels, Can Be Cultivated to Qi Refining Level Two)]


    [Would you like to cultivate this technique?]


    "Yes!"


    Wen Jiu was delighted. If he could directly choose to cultivate it, did that mean he didn''t need to worry about finding a yin-rich location or waiting for yin-heavy hours?


    In the next moment, his personal status panel appeared:


    [Wen Jiu]


    [Age: 23]


    [Lifespan: 23/73]


    [Realm: None]


    [Techniques: Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art (Level 1, 0/1000)]+


    This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.


    [Lv1 Corpse Nurturer (0/100)]


    [Secret Arts: Mutated Undead]


    [Undead¡ªUndergoing Mutation (0/100)]+


    [Death Energy Remaining: 8]


    [Corpse Energy Remaining: 8]


    "The Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art and the mutated undead both have a plus sign."


    Noticing this, Wen Jiu tapped the plus sign next to the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art.


    [Technique: Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art¡ªBeginner (1/1000)]+


    [Death Energy Remaining: 7]


    "I can use death energy to directly improve the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art?" Wen Jiu was thrilled. Without hesitation, he used up the remaining seven points.


    When the experience value of the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art reached 7 points, Wen Jiu immediately felt a few wisps of cold energy forming and circulating in his dantian. This must be the yin spiritual energy described in the manual.


    "Once yin spiritual energy begins accumulating in the dantian, it means the cultivation process has begun!" A smile spread across Wen Jiu''s face. "If I reach 1000 experience points, will that mean I''ve stepped into Qi Refining Level One?"


    If that''s the case, then this is way too fast.


    After all, these eight points of death energy were accumulated from burying corpses in the Death Grounds over the past eight hours. Today, though he hadn''t worked a full eight-hour shift, he''d still managed six.


    If he could gain six points of death energy per day, that meant he''d only need 166 days to reach the first level of Qi Refining?


    As far as he knew, normal cultivators required at least a year to reach that stage. Only those with exceptional talent could shorten the time.


    No wonder this was considered an unorthodox path.


    It really was fast!


    Without hesitation, Wen Jiu invested another eight points of corpse energy into the evolving dead body.


    [Corpse ¨C Mutating (8/100)]+


    If a full 100 points meant a successful mutation, then in less than ten days, he''d officially become a corpse-raiser!


    ¡­


    Midnight arrived before long.


    [Daily Settlement Panel Lv1 (3/100)]


    [Daily Settlement!]


    [Burying corpses in the Death Grounds for six hours: continuously absorbing corpse energy and death energy. Panel EXP +1, corpse energy +6, death energy +6.]


    [Raising corpses in an extremely Yin environment for eight hours: panel EXP +1, corpse mutation EXP +6, corpse-raiser EXP +1.]


    Wen Jiu hadn''t expected that after the daily settlement, the corpse''s mutation progress would jump straight to 14 points.


    And he still had six points of death energy left over.


    "Burying corpses in the Death Grounds grants death energy, while raising corpses in an extremely Yin environment provides experience. With this double boost, wouldn''t that mean a corpse could fully mutate into a White Jiangshi in just five days?"


    Realizing this, Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    Although White Jiangshi had many weaknesses and their exact strength was unclear, this speed was truly astonishing.


    So this was the power of unorthodox cultivation?


    It was fast¡ªalmost frighteningly so.


    At this pace, it was no wonder most practitioners of this path had short lifespans.


    Thankfully, his corpse-raiser trait made him immune to the corrosion of Yin energy, death energy, and corpse energy.


    ¡­


    The next morning.


    Just as the sky began to brighten, a knock sounded at his door once more.


    "It''s me!"


    It was his sister, Wen Ya.


    Wen Jiu quickly got up and opened the door.


    As soon as he did, he saw her holding a large ceramic bowl again, covered with a lotus leaf like before. But this time, the leaf struggled to fully cover the contents¡ªit was slightly raised, and besides the usual spirit rice, a faint aroma of meat wafted out.


    The scent was strange.


    Unusual.


    At the very least, Wen Jiu had no memory of it.


    With a bright smile, Wen Ya lifted the lotus leaf and said excitedly, "Hurry up and eat! There''s meat today... Let me tell you, this is beast meat! It''s incredibly nourishing, strengthens the body, and even speeds up cultivation. In this first year, we definitely won''t be able to compete for the top three spots, but we have to make sure we don''t fall behind!"


    "Sis, isn''t beast meat more expensive than spirit rice?"


    In his memories, there was no mention of beast meat.


    But the fact that it could both enhance physical strength and accelerate cultivation meant it had to be more valuable than low-grade spirit rice.


    In Wen Jiu''s mind, obtaining something always required giving something in return.


    For this bowl of spirit rice and a piece of beast meat¡­


    What had his sister given up?


    Had she really just taken a servant job?


    Wen Ya shook her head, seeming unwilling to elaborate. "It''s just a little more expensive¡­ Now eat up, or you''ll be late for work again."


    "Sis, if you don''t tell me, I won''t eat." Wen Jiu''s tone was firm.


    Seeing his determination, Wen Ya sighed helplessly. "It''s fine, don''t worry about me. Someone like me, a menial servant, has no future anyway. The fact that a cultivator''s steward even took notice of me is already the best possible outcome¡­ Besides, this way, I can bring you food and help you build up your strength. And maybe, when that cultivator''s steward returns in a few days, he can even help you get an apprentice disciple position."


    Hearing this, Wen Jiu understood.


    Not a servant.


    Most likely¡­ a concubine.


    Looking at his sister, who still wore a bright smile, Wen Jiu suddenly felt a deep ache in his chest. After a long silence, he decided not to press the matter further.


    He only asked one thing:


    "Sis, who is he?"


    Since things had already come to this, there was no changing them.


    At the very least, he needed to know who that man was.


    He would make some discreet inquiries later.


    If she was just a concubine, then fine. For a servant, becoming the concubine of a cultivator''s steward was actually a decent path¡ªthis wasn''t Blue Star, where people still talked about love and romance.


    But if that man was an old cultivator looking for a human furnace¡­

 Chapter 5: Blood of the Four Yin

    Yang Ye.


    That was the name of the immortal steward.


    After his sister left, Wen Jiu silently committed that name to memory.


    In the days that followed, due to the increasing presence of Yin energy in the Dead Grounds, the middle-aged overseer did not have the corpse buriers work for too long each day¡ªthough they still labored for around six hours daily.


    At sunrise, they went out.


    At sunset, they returned.


    Perhaps because his sister had brought him low-grade spirit rice and beast meat, Wen Jiu noticed a slight increase in his daily experience gains. A single bowl of low-grade spirit rice and a piece of low-rank beast meat granted him an additional 0.1 points of Body Refining experience.


    However, reaching the first level of Body Refining required 1,000 experience points.


    It was better than nothing.


    At the very least, the spirit rice and beast meat fully replenished his energy and stamina each day.


    In the blink of an eye, five days passed.


    And tonight was the night the corpse would undergo its transformation.


    At the stroke of midnight, the daily settlement began.


    [Daily Settlement Panel Lv1 (18/100)]


    [Today''s Settlement!]


    [Cultivated the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Technique for two hours: Panel Experience +1, Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Technique Experience +2]


    [Buried corpses in the Dead Grounds for six hours, continuously absorbing corpse energy and death energy: Panel Experience +1, Corpse Energy +6, Death Energy +6]


    [Nurtured a corpse in an extremely Yin-infused environment for twelve hours: Panel Experience +1, Corpse Mutation Experience +12, Corpse Nurturer Experience +1]


    [Consumed one bowl of low-grade spirit rice and one piece of low-rank beast meat: Body Refining Experience +0.1]


    Immediately after, Wen Jiu opened his personal information panel.


    The day before, he had been just 8 points away from completing the corpse mutation. With today''s settlement granting him 12 points, the transformation should have succeeded.


    As expected.


    Looking at the Corpse Nurturer panel again, the "Corpse Mutation Experience" had changed.


    [White Ghoul¡ªIn Nurturing (0/200)]


    However, the extra 4 experience points did not carry over. Wen Jiu had anticipated this.


    Once a corpse transformed into a ghoul, it entered a completely different stage. At that point, merely absorbing Yin energy was no longer enough for rapid growth. The Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Record had detailed notes on this.


    A corpse that mutates into a ghoul must undergo further transformation. After becoming a White Ghoul, it would begin the process of evolving into a Black Ghoul. This required the corpse nurturer to chant a corpse-nurturing incantation for an hour every night at the Hour of the Boar (9 PM to 11 PM), drawing upon Earthly Fiend Yin energy to nourish the White Ghoul.


    This process was called Spiritual Awakening.


    Earthly Fiend Yin energy nurtured a corpse''s spirit. Once a corpse spirit was formed, the corpse nurturer could establish a connection with the ghoul, controlling it at will.


    However, forming a corpse spirit was only the first step in the transformation into a Black Ghoul¡ªits physical body also had to be nurtured.


    The Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Record stated that at least 100 drops of human blood had to be placed in the White Ghoul''s resting ground every day for it to feed upon. Furthermore, this blood could not be ordinary¡ªit had to come from a person born under the Four Yin Signs: a Yin year, Yin month, Yin day, and Yin hour.


    The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    With enough of this special blood, the White Ghoul could develop an impervious body, resistant to both weapons and spells.


    As for how long this process would take¡ª


    There was no definite answer.


    If one had an abundant supply of blood, the transformation would be swift.


    If only 100 drops were available each day, then the duration would be uncertain.


    "Where am I supposed to find blood from someone born under the Four Yin Signs? I can''t just go around killing people, can I?" Wen Jiu fell into deep thought. Now he understood why the dark arts were so despised¡ªif a mere Black Ghoul already required human blood, what would the later stages demand?


    Then, an idea struck him.


    He calculated his own birth date and Eight Characters of Fate.


    After a careful analysis, he realized that he himself was a Four Yin individual.


    Using his own blood would work.


    But if he had to bury corpses every day and perform heavy labor, would offering 100 drops of blood daily eventually drain him to death?


    "I wonder if a cultivator''s blood could serve as a substitute?" While the blood of a Four Yin individual was undoubtedly special, the blood of cultivators was also highly potent. If it could be used instead, he could relocate the White Ghoul back to the Dead Grounds.


    The earth there had long been soaked in blood.


    It could drink freely.


    ¡ª


    The next morning.


    As usual, his sister Wen Ya brought him a bowl of spirit rice and a piece of beast meat.


    Wen Jiu ate every last bite.


    Ever since he had asked for the immortal steward''s name, he had refrained from asking further questions¡ªbecause asking wouldn''t change anything.


    It would only make his sister feel worse.


    After his sister left, Wen Jiu once again headed to the Dead Grounds to bury corpses. But just as he was about to begin, the middle-aged steward unexpectedly halted the work and, in a rare moment, introduced himself to everyone.


    "The name''s Wang Nian, you little brats. You better remember it!"


    Wang Nian swept his fierce gaze over the crowd.


    Then, he continued, "According to the rules, I''m not just in charge of overseeing your burial work¡ªI''m also responsible for your cultivation. There were things I should''ve told you the day you entered the Scripture Hall, but I was in a bad mood at the time."


    Wen Jiu was at a loss for words.


    This overseer was really straightforward.


    What else was he going to say?


    As Wen Jiu waited in anticipation, Wang Nian continued, "First, you should know that before coming to Deadman''s Peak, you were all tested for spiritual roots. Aside from three of you, the rest possess inferior spiritual roots¡ªthe lowest of the low. Hard work is your only way forward."


    "Under normal circumstances, if you persist in cultivation, even with inferior spiritual roots, you should reach the first level of Qi Refining within three years."


    "As long as you maintain this pace, the ever-growing Yin energy won''t damage your foundation too much."


    "But if anyone slacks off and disrupts this rhythm¡­ don''t blame me for killing you early. Either way, if your foundation is eroded by Yin energy, you won''t make it far. You won''t live long."


    Every word Wang Nian spoke carried weight, like a warning before a killing blow. But to Wen Jiu, it sounded different.


    Though this man''s words were harsh, every sentence was for their own good.


    It seemed he was someone who was cold on the outside but warm on the inside.


    Wait a minute!


    Wen Jiu suddenly realized something.


    Most of the grave diggers had inferior spiritual roots, but three of them didn''t?


    They didn''t need to spend three years just to reach the first level of Qi Refining.


    Didn''t that mean the top three cultivators a year from now would inevitably be those three?


    Why did this feel so suspicious?


    Three people, exactly.


    And a year from now, there were exactly three slots.


    A rigged system¡­ Damn.


    Wen Jiu was speechless.


    He quickly scanned his surroundings and noticed three figures huddled together in the corner of the crowd, barely suppressing smug smiles.


    One of them was the same person who had looked down on him outside the Scripture Pavilion when he was reading The Yin Province Corpse Cultivation Record.


    Looks like¡­


    There was a high chance it was these three!


    Wen Jiu glanced at Wang Nian again. This usually fierce and ruthless overseer seemed different today. "He brought this up in front of everyone¡ªwas he dissatisfied with them?"


    ¡­


    Dusk approached.


    Wang Nian left, and the others gradually dispersed.


    Wen Jiu found an excuse to return to the burial grounds and dug up the white stiff corpse.


    Upon seeing the male cultivator''s corpse again, Wen Jiu noticed that not only was it covered in thick white fur, but its eyes had turned a deep red, like blood pearls. Its claws had grown to an inch long, razor-sharp. But what terrified Wen Jiu the most were its two fangs.


    Just like in those Uncle Ying horror films¡ªpale white, stained with blood, grotesque and terrifying. If that thing bit someone¡­


    "Jump on your own."


    Though the white stiff hadn''t developed intelligence, it could still understand simple commands and move normally.


    Moments later, the white stiff hopped into the Dead Grounds.


    Wen Jiu had it stand watch while he chose a spot where the blood-soaked earth was thickest and dug a pit.


    "Get in."


    Once the white stiff lay inside, Wen Jiu immediately buried it in the blood-soaked soil. Then, just before the Hour of the Boar (9¨C11 PM), he returned under the cover of night and chanted the Corpse Nurturing Mantra over the burial site for an entire hour. If not for the white stiff keeping him company, he wouldn''t have dared come at night¡ªwho knew if ghosts were lurking around?


    After finishing the mantra, Wen Jiu quickly left.


    Now, all that was left was to wait for the daily progress report.


    If his experience points increased, it would prove that a cultivator''s blood could substitute for the blood of a Four-Yin person.


    That would be incredible news for him¡ªafter all, in the Dead Grounds, the one thing he''d never run out of was cultivators'' blood.


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 6: Public Performance

    Night fell.


    Daily settlement.


    [Daily Settlement Panel Lv1 (20/100)]


    [Daily Settlement!]


    [Chanted the Corpse-Nurturing Incantation for one hour, practiced the Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Technique for one hour¡ªPanel Experience +1, Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Incantation Experience +10, Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Technique Experience +1]


    [Buried corpses in the land of death for six hours, continuously absorbing corpse energy and death energy¡ªPanel Experience +1, Corpse Energy +6, Death Energy +6]


    [Drew in Earth Fiend Yin Energy, supplemented with a large amount of cultivators'' fresh blood to nurture corpses for two hours¡ªPanel Experience +1, Mutated Corpse Experience +6, +1, Corpse Nurturer Experience +1, Blood Transformation Body Experience +1]


    [Consumed one bowl of inferior spiritual rice and one piece of non-ranked demon beast meat¡ªBody Refinement Experience +0.1]


    "Not bad!"


    Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    Two hours for 1 point of experience.


    That meant six points in twelve hours.


    Adding the six points from chanting the Corpse-Nurturing Incantation, that was twelve points a day.


    In less than twenty days, his White Jiangshi would evolve into a Black Jiangshi!


    At that point, he would truly step into the world of cultivation¡ªbecause according to the Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Records, a Black Jiangshi could rival a cultivator.


    After his excitement settled, Wen Jiu noticed something new in the daily settlement: the term "Blood Transformation Body."


    "What is this Blood Transformation Body?"


    Muttering to himself, Wen Jiu immediately opened his personal status panel.


    [Wen Jiu]


    [Age: 23]


    [Lifespan: 23/73]


    [Realm: None]


    [Techniques: Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Technique (First Layer 55/1000)]+


    [Lv1 Corpse Nurturer (6/100)]


    [Secret Arts: Mutated Corpse]


    [White Jiangshi¡ªIn Nurturing (7/200)]+


    [White Jiangshi Skills: Blood Transformation Body (Beginner 1/100)]+


    [Remaining Death Energy: 0]


    [Remaining Corpse Energy: 6]


    "So this is a corpse body technique?" Wen Jiu noticed a plus sign next to "Blood Transformation Body" and tapped it experimentally.


    Corpse Energy -1.


    Blood Transformation Body Experience +1.


    "If it only takes 100 experience points to complete, I should focus on upgrading it first." Without hesitation, Wen Jiu allocated the remaining five points.


    Blood Transformation Body Experience immediately rose to 7.


    ¡ª


    The next day.


    Wen Jiu continued burying corpses.


    No matter how exhausting or tedious it was, he didn''t care. He saw those three disciples¡ªeach with talent far superior to his, practically guaranteed to become apprentices¡ªand yet, he felt nothing.


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    This world was never fair to begin with.


    A little favoritism? Perfectly normal.


    Just one night, and his mindset had completely changed.


    So what if they had talent?


    So what if they had connections?


    He walked the path of the unorthodox.


    No matter how fast they progressed, could they be faster than him?


    Wen Jiu had figured it out. If he wanted to rise and become an apprentice, his best bet was to make an impression on Wang Nian. After all, Wang Nian had made his displeasure with those three quite clear yesterday.


    Perhaps he could bypass the one-year assessment altogether.


    After careful consideration, Wen Jiu decided to take the route of strategic display.


    Hiding one''s strength was necessary.


    In the cultivation world, concealing one''s abilities was a survival instinct.


    But if he wanted to climb within the sect, if he wanted to secure a powerful backer, he couldn''t just focus on staying hidden¡ªat the right moment, he had to show his worth.


    It was all about balance.


    With this understanding, Wen Jiu began waiting for the right opportunity.


    The opportunity never came. Instead, what arrived was a sudden surge of Yin energy.


    Yesterday, when they were clearing away the remains of the corpses, the Yin energy in the area was only as faint as a thin mist¡ªinsignificant for ordinary people. But overnight, it had intensified by forty to fifty percent.


    At this level, if the Yin energy entered one''s body, the mildest consequence would be days of discomfort, while in severe cases, it could lead to a serious illness.


    "Nobody move forward."


    Wang Nian halted the group, his expression grave as he stepped ahead. Wherever he passed, the Yin energy seemed to instinctively retreat, as if something was blocking it. Wen Jiu looked carefully and saw that a swirling aura of spiritual energy surrounded Wang Nian, shielding him from the Yin energy.


    A few breaths later, Wang Nian walked out of the denser Yin energy and reached into his robe, pulling out a small black cloth bag. Though no larger than a fist, he retrieved a long silver sword from within.


    "Is this one of those legendary storage pouches that contain a miniature space and can hold countless items?" Wen Jiu stared in fascination.


    If he could bring one of these to Blue Star for logistics¡­ wouldn''t that be an absolute goldmine?


    As he was lost in thought, Wang Nian suddenly unsheathed the sword and tossed it into the air. With a single-handed gesture, the sword seemed to come alive, flying and dancing in midair.


    Then, he took out a yellow talisman from the storage pouch and flicked it upward. The talisman landed precisely on the sword''s blade. The next moment, the sword let out a resonant hum and, carrying the talisman, plunged into the Yin energy.


    Boom!


    A loud explosion erupted.


    A wave of golden energy surged through the Yin mist, dispersing it completely within a thirty-zhang radius.


    Watching this, Wen Jiu couldn''t help but feel a storm of emotions¡ªwas this the power of cultivators?


    "That was a damn waste of one of my Yin-Dissipating Talismans¡­" Wang Nian muttered irritably as he retrieved the sword back into his pouch. He then moved away as usual, unwilling to stay near, his face full of displeasure. "What are you all standing around for? Get to work!"


    With that, the group hurried forward, fearing his wrath.


    Wen Jiu followed slowly behind, sensing how the Yin energy had thinned significantly due to the talisman''s effect. He couldn''t help but feel a little regret.


    But just then, a thought struck him. Without hesitation, he began sifting through the corpses, deliberately moving closer to the areas where the Yin energy was thickest.


    Before long, he had cleared the section in front of him.


    Taking advantage of Wang Nian''s seated meditation, he quietly moved further into the dense Yin energy and continued working. In just a short while, he had cleared another area.


    At that moment, Wang Nian emerged from his meditation.


    He had initially intended to hurry the corpse collectors along, but as his gaze swept the scene, he suddenly noticed that someone had ventured into the area of heavy Yin energy.


    "That fool?"


    Wang Nian stood up immediately, his first instinct to reprimand.


    But just as he was about to shout, he saw Wen Jiu effortlessly pushing a cart filled with corpse fragments out from the thick Yin mist.


    For a brief moment, Wang Nian was stunned.


    Then, his gaze shifted back to the dense Yin area, where Wen Jiu had actually managed to clear a sizable section. And yet, he himself showed no signs of discomfort¡ªhis face was still as vibrant as a young man''s, his energy levels even surpassing that of the other corpse collectors.


    Recognition dawned on Wang Nian. "I remember now¡­ this is the kid who chose to cultivate an unorthodox path that day."


    With that realization, Wang Nian chose to silently observe from a distance as if nothing had happened.


    And so, the hours passed.


    By dusk, Wen Jiu had spent an entire half-day working in the thick Yin energy. Yet, there wasn''t a single abnormality on his face.


    Wang Nian couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. This kid may have a low-grade spiritual root, but he actually has a talent for the unorthodox path¡­


    In just a few days, he had already reached a point where he was unaffected by Yin energy.


    For the other corpse collectors, working in such conditions for half a day would guarantee at least two days of illness.


    But Wen Jiu showed no reaction whatsoever.


    Such an aptitude for unorthodox cultivation was exceedingly rare.


    This kid¡­ he might actually make something of himself in the unorthodox arts, Wang Nian mused.


    Corpse-keepers may be part of an unorthodox path, but they were still cultivators.


    And if one could achieve mastery¡­


    At the very least, it would make Wang Nian''s job a lot easier.


    After all, the sudden surges in Yin energy were always caused by the corpses of cultivators who had been powerful in life.


    If he could locate those bodies and have someone unaffected by Yin energy retrieve them, he wouldn''t have to waste his Yin-Dissipating Talismans.


    Each talisman cost a whole low-grade spirit stone.


    Yet, his job as a corpse collector supervisor only paid thirty low-grade spirit stones a month.


    Every single use of a talisman pained him.


    But he had no choice.

 Chapter 7: First Formation of a Yin Soul

    If not used.


    These grave diggers were constantly getting sick due to the heavy Yin energy around them¡ªten or more falling ill each day. As the overseer, who was he supposed to command? He couldn''t possibly be expected to handle the corpses himself, could he? Forget it.


    Even just smelling the stench of blood and death made him uncomfortable. Every time he returned home, he had to cleanse himself three times with purification talismans.


    Let alone touching the corpses.


    "Something''s not right."


    Wang Nian froze.


    As he pondered, he suddenly noticed that when Wen Jiu was pushing the cart to bury the corpses, the dense Yin energy surrounding him was actually dissipating bit by bit¡ªas if something was devouring it. This was completely unnatural!


    Even a Qi Refining cultivator needed specialized talismans to fully purge Yin energy from their body.


    This was precisely why exposure to Yin energy often led to severe illness among ordinary people¡ªbecause they had no means to remove it, and it would continue to harm them over time.


    For regular martial artists or common folk, avoiding it was already near impossible, let alone eliminating it.


    Yet Wen Jiu could effortlessly cleanse it.


    No. That''s not it!


    Taking a closer look, Wang Nian gradually noticed the truth.


    The Yin energy wasn''t simply vanishing¡ªit was being absorbed into Wen Jiu''s body.


    "This kid... could he have already made some progress?"


    The thought flashed through Wang Nian''s mind, leaving him in disbelief.


    This brat¡ª


    His talent for these unorthodox techniques was actually this terrifying?


    It had only been a few days.


    And he had already entered the path.


    Not only that¡ªhe had begun absorbing Yin energy to cultivate.


    To confirm his suspicion, Wang Nian deliberately stopped Wen Jiu as everyone was leaving.


    "Kid, what technique are you cultivating?"


    "The Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Art," Wen Jiu answered truthfully, inwardly pleased.


    It seemed his little display had worked.


    Wang Nian asked again, "Have you entered the first stage?"


    "Mhmm." Wen Jiu nodded.


    For a brief moment, Wang Nian''s face betrayed his surprise and astonishment, though he quickly suppressed it.


    In the next instant, his usual fierce and unapproachable demeanor returned. He simply waved his hand, muttered "Not bad," and turned to leave.


    ¡ª


    Back home, Wen Jiu was quite satisfied with today''s outcome.


    Wang Nian had taken notice of him. From here on, all he had to do was wait and observe.


    Having lived two lifetimes, Wen Jiu deeply understood that nothing should be rushed. Pushing too hard would only backfire.


    For the next few days, Wen Jiu remained low-key, continuing his grave digger duties as if his conversation with Wang Nian had never happened. Wang Nian, too, never approached him again, maintaining the same cold indifference as before.


    Just like that¡ª


    Several more days passed.


    His cultivation of the Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Art progressed at a steady pace. He could only train for an hour daily, gaining a mere 1 experience point each time. However, he could also acquire 6 points of Death Qi per day, allowing him to advance at a slow but consistent rate of 7 experience points per day.


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    Compared to the growth speed of the White Ghoul, however, this was practically a snail''s crawl.


    At his current rate, it would take another 135 days to reach the first level of Qi Refining.


    Meanwhile, the White Ghoul gained 12 experience points per day and would transform into a Black Ghoul in just 16 days, reaching a level equivalent to a Qi Refining cultivator.


    "This is probably why unorthodox techniques are so despised..."


    Wen Jiu couldn''t help but sigh.


    For orthodox cultivators, reaching the first level of Qi Refining took years of grueling effort.


    Yet a White Ghoul could transform into a Black Ghoul in a matter of days and rival them in power.


    If it were him, he wouldn''t be able to accept it either.


    ¡ª


    Before he knew it, eight days had passed since he had subtly demonstrated his abilities to Wang Nian.


    And on this very day, after completing his daily calculations, he found that his Blood-Transformed Body was just 3 experience points away from reaching full capacity.


    Allocate points!


    Corpse Qi -3!


    In an instant, the panel for Blood-Transformed Body changed dramatically.


    [White Ghoul Skill: Blood-Transformed Body ¨C First Level (0/500)]


    [Unaffected by common weapons, immune to ordinary fire and water. Forged with the blood of cultivators, the Blood-Transformed Body can regenerate severed limbs as long as the corpse spirit remains intact.]


    "So this is the Blood-Transformed Body?"


    Reading the description, Wen Jiu couldn''t help but marvel.


    Regenerating severed limbs.


    Utterly absurd.


    If news of this skill got out, wouldn''t Qi Refining cultivators be driven mad with envy?


    Everyone would be cursing the same thing¡ª


    "Damn these unorthodox arts!"


    The next night, as usual, Wen Jiu arrived at the burial ground at the hour of Hai to chant the Corpse-Nurturing Mantra.


    But this time, something felt different.


    The air was noticeably heavier with yin energy.


    Even though corpse nurturers were naturally resistant to its effects, the chilling atmosphere still made Wen Jiu''s hair stand on end.


    And he couldn''t shake the feeling that something was lurking in the darkness.


    "An illusion?"


    He glanced around the pitch-black surroundings, swallowed hard, and, reminding himself that there was a white ghoul buried beneath his feet, mustered the courage to start chanting the mantra.


    Yet, as he chanted, an unsettling sensation crept up on him. No matter how intense the yin energy in this burial ground had been before, it had never made his body react this way. But just now, he felt as if he had plunged into an icy abyss¡ª


    Bone-chilling cold.


    A sudden, overwhelming frost.


    It carried a thick aura of death, surging toward him like crashing waves¡ªsomething he had never encountered before.


    And as the seconds passed, the yin energy and deathly aura seemed to tighten around his throat like an invisible hand, squeezing harder and harder, making it difficult to breathe. Yet, when he reached up to his neck, there was nothing there.


    At that very moment, the white ghoul burst out of the ground!


    Hah¡ª


    Standing tall after breaking through the soil, the white ghoul exhaled a breath of eerie, pale mist.


    Its fangs, stained with fresh blood, glistened in the dim light as if it had just fed.


    Its face was twisted into a terrifying, feral expression.


    Even though Wen Jiu had mentally prepared himself, he still flinched in shock.


    Sensing the overwhelming aggression radiating from the white ghoul, Wen Jiu felt a mix of surprise and unease. "What''s wrong?"


    The moment he spoke¡ª


    The white ghoul lunged at him.


    Startled, Wen Jiu instinctively backed away.


    But the creature moved with terrifying speed, leaping forward and snapping its jaws at him. Just as Wen Jiu was about to kick it away, a chilling scream erupted behind him, sending a wave of terror from his head to his toes.


    Aaaah¡ª


    Whipping around, Wen Jiu saw the white ghoul leap past him, sinking its teeth into something unseen. Then, with a fierce motion, it devoured the entity whole.


    In the next instant¡ª


    The surrounding yin energy plummeted.


    A wave of warmth washed over him.


    The suffocating pressure vanished without a trace.


    Gradually, the white ghoul''s hostility faded, and for the first time, a flicker of satisfaction appeared in its gaze. The yin energy surrounding its body surged, visibly increasing in intensity.


    Seeing this, Wen Jiu immediately realized what had happened.


    A yin soul.


    A spirit lingering after death.


    A being formed from consuming vast amounts of yin energy and deathly aura.


    Shapeless. Formless.


    The natural enemy of corpses¡ª


    But also the ultimate nourishment!


    "Shit, I really ran into a ghost."


    Wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, Wen Jiu looked at the terrifyingly fierce white ghoul¡ª


    And suddenly, a sense of security welled up within him.


    "Good brother!"


    "I''ll find you a mutated wife in the future!"


    With that, Wen Jiu instructed the white ghoul to return to its burial site and resumed chanting the Corpse-Nurturing Mantra.


    Later, at midnight, when he checked his daily progress, the new settlement data filled him with excitement.


    A new entry had appeared in the log:


    [Devoured an early-stage Yin Soul¡ªWhite Ghoul EXP +10, undigested death energy converted to reserves: Death Energy +50!]


    Not only did the white ghoul gain +10 EXP, but he himself received 50 points of death energy.


    50 points!


    That was the equivalent of eight full days of accumulated death energy, plus the gains from his regular cultivation.


    "If this continues, my cultivation and the white ghoul''s growth will speed up even more!"


    Realizing this, Wen Jiu was both thrilled and astonished.


    Without hesitation, he flipped through the Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Scripture, searching for information on Yin Souls.


    And what he found shocked him.


    When a cultivator dies, if their soul remains intact, a Yin Soul is inevitably formed.


    And in places where mass deaths occur, Yin Souls are produced at an extremely high rate.


    Mass death sites?


    No¡ª


    Treasure troves!


    "I love unorthodox cultivation!"


    Wen Jiu grinned with excitement.


    Ordinary Qi refinement?


    Not even dogs would bother with that!

 Chapter 8: Steward of the Side Peak

    The next morning, a steady drizzle fell, and the gloomy aura of the Dead Ground thickened once more.


    For Wen Jiu, this was a good thing¡ªthe heavier the yin energy, the better.


    But for Wang Nian, it was a source of frustration. With a deep frown, he was forced to use another Yin-Dissipating Talisman to disperse the surrounding yin energy.


    This time, Wang Nian was even more irritable, scaring the corpse buriers so much that they didn''t dare to breathe too loudly.


    "You, kid¡­ come here!" Wang Nian waved his hand, then pointed directly. "Yes, you!"


    Wen Jiu, who had been singled out, quickly set down his cart and approached respectfully. "Senior, what do you need?"


    "What''s your name?"


    "Wen Jiu."


    "Old Wen''s son?"


    "Mhm."


    Wen Jiu nodded.


    The name "Old Wen" was exactly the nickname his father had in the Dead Man''s Peak.


    "Come with me."


    Wang Nian strode away from the field of mangled corpses, and Wen Jiu followed closely behind, waiting in silence for what was to come.


    After walking about a hundred paces, Wang Nian stopped with his hands behind his back and got straight to the point. "Do you still remember what Elder Chen said in the Law Transmission Hall? That those who practice unorthodox paths will harm their bodies, shorten their lives, and even if they become the strongest in cultivation, nine out of ten will never be admitted as an apprentice."


    With those words, Wang Nian examined Wen Jiu from head to toe.


    Wen Jiu nodded, his face betraying no extra emotion¡ªneither disappointment nor distress.


    "I remember."


    Wang Nian narrowed his eyes in surprise at Wen Jiu''s reaction. "You don''t want to be an apprentice at Dead Man''s Peak?"


    "I do." Wen Jiu answered without hesitation.


    Wang Nian grew even more puzzled. "Then why do you look like you don''t care at all?"


    Wen Jiu replied calmly, "If I obtain it, it is my fortune; if I lose it, it is my fate."


    Wang Nian was momentarily taken aback, repeating the phrase in his mouth, savoring it. The more he thought about it, the more profound it seemed.


    He couldn''t help but reevaluate Wen Jiu.


    "A kid with a strong mindset¡­" Wang Nian praised before continuing, "How about we make a deal?"


    "A deal?"


    This time, it was Wen Jiu''s turn to be surprised.


    Deals were made between equals.


    But he and Wang Nian were not equals.


    He had thought that merely showing some talent and gaining Wang Nian''s favor would already be fortunate enough.


    Wang Nian waved a hand dismissively. "If it weren''t for your sister, do you think you''d even be qualified to make a deal with me?"


    "My sister?"


    Wen Jiu was stunned.


    But before he could ask further, Wang Nian continued, "In a few days, you''ll help me clear the corpses in the Dead Ground that have absorbed too much yin energy, reducing the overall yin accumulation. In return, I''ll give you a non-ranked Corpse-Nurturing Pearl. This pearl is an excellent aid for corpse cultivators, and even though it''s non-ranked, with your status, you''d never be able to buy one¡­ Help me with this, and I''ll give you the pearl today."


    "Deal!"


    Wen Jiu nodded immediately, without hesitation.


    Wang Nian, seeing this, nodded in satisfaction.


    Just as he was about to add a few more instructions, Wen Jiu spoke up. "Senior, why did you mention my sister earlier?"


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    Wang Nian didn''t bother to be cryptic and answered frankly, "You''re lucky. You have a sister who''s good-looking, has a decent personality, and knows how to behave. A few days ago, while she was working as a menial servant, she caught the eye of the old lady of the Xu family. She''s planning to bring her into the Xu household as a concubine for her son¡­ Once Steward Xu returns, your sister''s status will change completely. Even I will have to address her as Madam Xu Sixteen."


    Wang Nian''s words contained a lot of information, and Wen Jiu felt a surge of joy. He wanted to ask more about this Xu steward''s character and temperament, but he knew it would be inappropriate to ask Wang Nian to speak ill of someone behind their back. Instead, he chose a different question.


    "Senior, may I ask what cultivation method Steward Xu practices?"


    Hearing this, Wang Nian''s face showed a trace of approval. "Didn''t expect that your first reaction wasn''t joy or excitement, but to inquire about his cultivation method. You''re not bad. Rest assured, Steward Xu is one of the side-peak stewards, at the mid-stage of Qi Refinement, and he practices a standard Qi Refinement method¡­"


    Wang Nian hesitated for a moment.


    Wen Jiu immediately pressed on, "Senior, please speak frankly. I swear to keep it secret, and I will be forever grateful."


    "It''s only because you seem like a loyal and righteous kid that I''m telling you this. If it were anyone else, I wouldn''t bother." Wang Nian sighed before continuing, "The Qi Refinement method is standard, yes, but Steward Xu himself is¡­ unpredictable. He''s greedy, lustful, and temperamental. It''s been just one year since he became a side-peak steward, yet he''s already taken seventeen wives¡­"


    Wang Nian paused for a beat before adding, "You''re probably wondering why your sister is called Madam Sixteen, right? That''s because two of them are already dead. It''s said that they displeased him, so he killed them with a single palm strike."


    "This¡­"


    Wen Jiu''s heart tightened.


    If his sister married such a man, wouldn''t that be like stepping into a pit of fire?


    "Thank you for telling me this, Senior." Wen Jiu quickly collected himself and expressed his gratitude, while secretly making a firm decision in his heart.


    No. I must quickly improve my cultivation and find a way to stop my sister from getting married.


    With that in mind, Wen Jiu hurriedly asked, "Senior, besides ranking in the top three in cultivation a year from now to qualify as an apprentice, is there any other way?"


    "There is, of course, but it''s not something just anyone can accomplish. I advise you not to think about it."


    Wang Nian seemed unwilling to discuss the matter further.


    Wen Jiu bowed again, this time at a full ninety degrees, demonstrating the utmost respect. "Please enlighten me, Senior."


    "You brat¡­ Fine, it won''t hurt to tell you. You''ll give up once you hear it anyway. The other way is to kill a disciple from a rival sect¡ªone at least at the second level of Qi Refinement. Even though unorthodox cultivation methods are faster than regular Qi Refinement, to kill a second-level Qi Refinement cultivator, you''d need to reach the peak of the second level yourself. And that¡­ would take you five or six years at the very least."


    With that, Wang Nian said no more.


    He waved his hand, signaling Wen Jiu to leave.


    Wen Jiu bowed respectfully and departed.


    As he walked away, he made up his mind¡ªif the first path was impossible, he would take the second.


    Qi Refinement, second level?


    Fine.


    I''ll remember that.


    ¡ª


    By evening, Wang Nian handed the Corpse-Nurturing Pearl to Wen Jiu.


    The night before, Wen Jiu had thoroughly researched the pearl, and just as Wang Nian had said, it was indeed an exceptional auxiliary treasure for corpse cultivators. Even an ungraded Corpse-Nurturing Pearl had immense value.


    Its first function: Gathering Yin energy. As long as the White Ghoul corpse held the pearl in its mouth, Yin energy within a thousand feet would automatically converge around it.


    Its second function: Purification. The White Ghoul had a limited absorption rate for Yin energy, but the pearl could refine it, effectively increasing the amount the corpse could take in within the same timeframe.


    The moment Wen Jiu obtained it, he immediately compared the daily experience gains, and the results were surprisingly significant.


    [Channeling Earthly Fiend Yin Energy, supplemented with large amounts of cultivator blood, corpse-nurturing with Yin energy for twelve hours¡ªPanel experience +1, Corpse-Nurturing experience +6, +13.5, Corpse Cultivator experience +1, Blood Transformation Body experience +12]


    "I gave the pearl to the White Ghoul right away¡­ and by midnight, three hours had passed."


    An extra 1.5 experience points in just three hours!


    That meant an additional six experience points over twelve hours.


    The efficiency of corpse-nurturing had increased by a staggering fifty percent!


    "As expected, revealing a glimpse of my abilities was the right choice." Seeing the results, Wen Jiu was extremely pleased with his decision.


    If he hadn''t demonstrated his skills, would Wang Nian have agreed to trade with him?


    Would he have gotten the Corpse-Nurturing Pearl?


    Maybe he could have bought one in the future.


    But that would only happen after he became an apprentice.


    And how long would that take?


    Three to five years, at best.


    But obtaining the pearl in advance meant reducing the time needed to become an apprentice.


    Of course, becoming an apprentice wasn''t the goal.


    Wen Jiu''s real objective was to climb higher, to gain access to greater resources¡ªhe had lived two lifetimes and understood all too well that resources were always concentrated in the hands of a select few.


    Moreover, practicing an unorthodox path meant he had to rise to the top and find someone powerful to rely on. Only then could he avoid being labeled as a heretic and eliminated by the so-called "righteous" sects.


    "But if I want to stop my sister from marrying that Steward Xu, this cultivation speed still isn''t fast enough."


    Wen Jiu''s expression turned serious.


    He decided to visit Wang Nian again tomorrow.


    He needed Yin Souls.


    But at night, Yin Souls were too strong¡ªtoo dangerous.


    Yin Souls belonged to the Yin element.


    And nighttime had the densest Yin energy.


    Yin Souls formed in death-ridden places, and they became even fiercer at night.


    Letting the White Ghoul search for them at night, or going with it himself, wasn''t the best plan.


    What if the White Ghoul got torn apart by a powerful Yin Soul?


    Raising another one would take too long.


    So he had to hunt for Yin Souls during the day.


    In daylight, Yin Souls were weaker.


    They hid in dark places.


    Ordinary people couldn''t find them, but the White Ghoul could.


    Although the White Ghoul feared sunlight, death-ridden lands were shrouded in Yin energy, death energy, and blood energy, preventing sunlight from penetrating.


    So hunting in the daytime was the best option.

 Chapter 9: Qi Refinement Perfection

    Of course.


    Going to find Wang Nian meant that he might not necessarily allow him to move freely during the day. But if he didn''t go, it would be absolutely impossible.


    Many times, opportunities were fought for; many times, chances were only gained by breaking the rules.


    This was also why people often said that honest children rarely achieved great things.


    The next day.


    Wen Jiu followed the others back to the burial grounds. Before Wang Nian arrived, he witnessed a scene that left him speechless.


    Among the corpse buriers, quite a few were actively gathering around those three men, their words filled with flattery.


    From their self-aggrandizing boasts, Wen Jiu learned that the three had slightly better spiritual roots than the rest¡ªbut not by much. They only had lower-grade spiritual roots. However, even just a slight advantage made a world of difference in the path of cultivation.


    Their rate of absorbing spiritual energy was 50% faster!


    Cultivation was an incredibly long process, and a 50% difference in absorption speed meant that after a year, one would be half a year ahead of the other.


    After ten years, the gap would be five years.


    "Even becoming a mere apprentice disciple requires maneuvering like this?" Wen Jiu couldn''t help but glance toward Dead Man''s Peak.


    It was clear¡ª


    Dead Man''s Peak had extremely strict disciple selection.


    Watching more and more people flock toward the three men, Wen Jiu remained still, standing silently to the side as if he hadn''t noticed anything.


    Before long¡ª


    Wang Nian arrived.


    Only then did the crowd disperse.


    Sweeping his gaze across the area, Wang Nian nodded thoughtfully and said in a deep voice, "The yin energy is much thinner than yesterday. It won''t harm you... What are you all standing around for? Get moving!"


    The corpse buriers quickly grabbed their carts and headed toward the death zone. But Wen Jiu didn''t move, which drew Wang Nian''s displeasure.


    "Are you deaf, kid?"


    Wen Jiu spoke up, "Senior, I''d like to discuss something with you¡ªI want to make another deal."


    Wang Nian frowned slightly. "Do you think that just because you made one deal with me, you''re now under my wing?"


    Wen Jiu had already prepared his reasoning and responded without hesitation, "Last night, when I came to the death zone to cultivate corpses, I encountered a yin spirit. According to the Yin Province Corpse Cultivation Manual, yin spirits are drawn to life force and will always attack the living upon contact. While they usually hide during the day, if we were to run into one, even if you came to our aid in time, we''d either be dead or bedridden for ten days to half a month."


    "Nonsense. If you had really encountered a yin spirit, would you still be alive?" Wang Nian didn''t believe a single word.


    For an ordinary person, encountering even a newly-formed yin spirit meant certain death.


    Wen Jiu spoke again, though even he felt uncertain in his heart. But there was no turning back now¡ªhe could only pray for some divine favor. "Senior, to be honest, I was saved by the white stiff I''ve been cultivating."


    "A white stiff?"


    Wang Nian''s expression turned skeptical.


    That was even more unbelievable.


    It was more absurd than surviving an encounter with a yin spirit.


    Wen Jiu had only been here for less than a month.


    And he had already cultivated a white stiff capable of devouring yin spirits?


    "Senior, please come with me." Wen Jiu quickly led the way toward the hidden corpse cultivation site.


    Wang Nian followed, half-believing, half-doubting. "If you''re playing games with me¡­ don''t blame me for not giving your sister any face."


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    Wen Jiu remained silent.


    Upon reaching the corpse cultivation site, where yin energy swirled thickly, he stomped his foot.


    The white stiff immediately let out two roars, releasing a surge of powerful corpse energy.


    Wang Nian was stunned.


    His face froze on the spot.


    Then, he stepped closer and carefully examined it with his spiritual sense.


    Upon closer inspection, his expression became even more intriguing.


    "The corpse energy is this strong¡­? This thing is almost a black stiff already, isn''t it?" Though Wang Nian had never practiced unorthodox arts himself, Dead Man''s Peak certainly had practitioners of such methods. He had enough knowledge to judge. "You, kid¡­"


    For a moment, Wang Nian didn''t know what to say.


    The more he looked at Wen Jiu, the more satisfied he felt.


    "Didn''t expect you to have such talent in unorthodox cultivation¡­ Speak. What kind of deal do you want?"


    Hearing this, Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    He then bowed deeply and said, "Senior, yin spirits are a great supplement for white stiffs. May I have some time during the day to search for them in the death zone? Yin spirits are weakest during the day¡ªit''s the perfect opportunity."


    "Fine."


    Wang Nian agreed without hesitation.


    This both surprised and delighted Wen Jiu.


    Wang Nian continued, "Yin spirits are indeed a nuisance, and I don''t want to waste my energy and talismans on them. If you can deal with them, then I''ll leave it to you¡­ But you still have to spend three hours a day moving corpses."


    "Many thanks, Senior!"


    Three hours of free movement during the day.


    That was enough!


    He wasn''t greedy.


    After expressing his gratitude once more, Wen Jiu bowed deeply.


    This time, it was sincere.


    Not just an act.


    Having lived two lives, he understood how rare it was to encounter someone who could truly help him.


    After Wang Nian finished giving his instructions, Wen Jiu began searching for heavily yin-infused remains in the corpse-nurturing grounds. He continued like this for three whole hours. As Wen Jiu dragged out one corpse after another, each exuding dense yin energy, Wang Nian''s expression showed deep satisfaction.


    "With this kid helping, I''ll be saving a lot of talismans." Wang Nian chuckled contentedly.


    However, the other corpse buriers were visibly shocked. Feeling the intense yin energy radiating from those remains, they instinctively shuddered and backed away several feet.


    "If someone were to be so deeply eroded by such strong yin energy, wouldn''t they fall seriously ill for days? If this goes on, their foundation will be completely ruined."


    "What did Wen Jiu do to offend Manager Wang?" someone murmured in amazement.


    The others joined in the hushed discussion.


    "What else? He''s practicing an unorthodox cultivation method, obviously."


    "That explains it."


    "Instead of following the proper path of Qi refinement, he chose shortcuts through an unorthodox path. No wonder he''s being targeted."


    "He thought he was being clever, assuming he could rely on tricks to place in the top three in cultivation rankings next year. And now? He''s stuck hauling the most yin-infested corpses. In ten days, maybe half a month, his foundation will be ruined."


    For a moment, the corpse buriers sneered and scoffed at Wen Jiu.


    Wen Jiu heard them.


    But he acted as if he hadn''t.


    ...


    Three hours later, after burying the last cartload of corpses, Wen Jiu immediately summoned the white ghoul and ventured deeper into the land of the dead, searching for wandering spirits.


    The further in he went, the colder it became.


    Though it was broad daylight, a thin layer of frost had formed on the ground, crunching beneath his feet with every step. Even the scattered remains around him were coated in white frost, giving the entire place an eerie atmosphere.


    But the white ghoul was thrilled, bouncing forward eagerly.


    "Find the spirits on your own," Wen Jiu instructed, following behind.


    Newborn spirits were weak in daylight.


    They moved slowly.


    As long as the white ghoul found them and locked on, they wouldn''t escape.


    However, Wen Jiu didn''t dare let the white ghoul stray too far. The further in they went, the stronger the yin energy became.


    He feared encountering a true spirit.


    Right now, the white ghoul wasn''t strong enough to handle a real wandering soul.


    If they ran into one, while the white ghoul wouldn''t be torn apart, it would almost certainly be injured.


    After advancing about a hundred feet, Wen Jiu remained on high alert, scanning his surroundings when he suddenly noticed the white ghoul stopping abruptly. Its excitement grew visibly stronger, behaving unusually as it hopped around a pile of remains in a frenzy.


    "What is it?"


    Wen Jiu quickly approached.


    His first thought was that there was a wandering spirit.


    But if that were the case, the white ghoul would have pounced already.


    Frowning in doubt, Wen Jiu turned his gaze to the remains on the ground. It was nothing but broken arms and severed legs. One by one, he picked them up, but the white ghoul shook its body each time, signaling that none of them were what excited it.


    After checking every piece, Wen Jiu realized that whatever had stirred the white ghoul was beneath the ground.


    Without hesitation, he started digging.


    Two hours passed.


    He had dug about three feet deep.


    Still, there was nothing.


    But the white ghoul was getting even more excited.


    Wen Jiu hurriedly sped up his digging. Finally, after another fifteen minutes, his hoe struck something unusually hard.


    Clearing away the packed earth around it, he saw a hand¡ªa hand buried in the soil yet completely spotless. It even emitted a faint glow.


    Once he dug out the entire body, he found that the glow covered it entirely.


    That glow concealed every trace of its presence, revealing only an overwhelming aura of yin energy.


    Through the glow, Wen Jiu noticed that the clothing and accessories on the corpse were vastly different from those of the other remains scattered aboveground.


    As he was studying it, a message appeared before his eyes:


    [Unnamed Male Corpse]


    [Bone Age: Fifty-six. Cultivation Before Death: Qi Refinement Perfection, Body Refining Stage Seven.]


    [Mutate?]


    [Mutation Failed!]


    [No Available Mutation Slots!]


    "A complete corpse of a Qi Refinement Perfection cultivator!" Wen Jiu was overjoyed. He couldn''t help but glance at the white ghoul, still frantically bouncing at the edge of the pit.


    Good brother!


    You''ve found me a real treasure.


    A cultivator of this level would have been among the strongest even on the main peak of Dead Man''s Summit.


    If this corpse were to mutate into a ghoul in the future, how strong would it start?


    How high would its potential reach?


    How terrifying would its power be?


    Just as Wen Jiu was marveling at his find, the white ghoul suddenly leapt down, nearly crashing into him.


    It had stopped its wild hopping, but now, it repeatedly pointed at the chest of the Qi Refinement Perfection cultivator''s corpse.

 Chapter 10: A Treasure Brings Disaster

    When Wen Jiu took a closer look, he saw a golden talisman on the corpse''s chest. It emitted a faint glow, sealing off all traces of energy from escaping. Clearly, this talisman was extraordinary¡ªits value immeasurable. But Wen Jiu didn''t dare take it outright.


    "Why did he do this?" Wen Jiu fell into deep thought. Why would this man go to such lengths to prevent anyone from finding his body, even in death? If it hadn''t been for the white ghoul tracking the lingering yin energy, no burial worker would have ever suspected there was a corpse hidden beneath untouched soil. If even the burial workers couldn''t find it, then other cultivators certainly wouldn''t.


    The environment of this forsaken graveyard was so repulsive that even Wang Nian still hesitated to approach, let alone other cultivators.


    With that in mind, Wen Jiu didn''t touch the talisman. Instead, he began searching the corpse, hoping to scavenge some valuables. The battlefield above had already been cleared out, but perhaps this corpse, buried underground, had been overlooked.


    After a thorough search, he found nothing.


    Just as he was feeling disappointed, the white ghoul suddenly became anxious, rocking back and forth like a tumbler doll before forcefully prying open the corpse''s mouth. The next moment, a blood-colored bead, saturated with death energy, was revealed.


    In an instant, Wen Jiu recognized what kind of blood it contained¡ªthe blood of cultivators.


    Having buried corpses in this forsaken land for so long, he was all too familiar with it. But judging by the sheer amount of blood within the bead and the density of its death energy, it wasn''t just from a few people, or even a few dozen.


    It had to be from hundreds¡ªperhaps even more.


    Its value was beyond estimation.


    "So this is why he used the talisman to seal off his aura?" Wen Jiu held the blood bead in his hand. Glancing at the excited white ghoul beside him, he examined the bead carefully. Finding no immediate clues, he simply stuffed it into the white ghoul''s mouth.


    Such an immense amount of cultivator blood and death energy would provide an unprecedented boost to the white ghoul. But Wen Jiu had a nagging feeling that things weren''t so simple.


    However, now wasn''t the time for further research.


    For now, he would let the white ghoul consume it. He could investigate it later.


    Next, Wen Jiu turned his attention to the corpse on the ground. After some thought, he decided to rebury it. He left the talisman untouched, allowing the body to remain hidden underground. He would come back for it once he had an available slot for further ghoul refinement.


    The burial workers wouldn''t dig up a sealed corpse, and no cultivator would venture into this forsaken land. Under normal circumstances, no one would ever find it.


    ¡ª


    By evening, after burying the white ghoul, Wen Jiu prepared to return with the others.


    While waiting for the rest of the burial workers to finish, Wang Nian approached him, asking about his harvest. Wen Jiu shook his head, claiming he hadn''t even found a single newly-formed ghost.


    "No rush. If it were that easy to find ghosts, I wouldn''t need your help. But listen, don''t go too deep just for the sake of finding them," Wang Nian cautioned.


    He didn''t want such a promising talent in unorthodox cultivation to ruin himself by being too eager for results. If Wen Jiu got himself killed, Wang Nian would have to take care of things himself¡ªsomething he''d rather avoid.


    "Thank you for your guidance, senior," Wen Jiu clasped his hands in respect.


    Wang Nian nodded and said no more.


    Soon after, Wen Jiu returned home.


    To his surprise, his sister, Wen Ya, was waiting at the door.


    She held a large ceramic bowl, its top covered with a lotus leaf. Before Wen Jiu could say anything, Wen Ya frowned and spoke with displeasure.


    "I heard you didn''t pick a proper Qi cultivation method and instead chose an unorthodox corpse refinement technique?"


    Wen Jiu nodded.


    Facing his sister''s angry gaze, he actually felt a hint of fear¡ªthough he wasn''t even afraid of ghouls.


    Was this the pressure of bloodline suppression?


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    Once inside, Wen Ya''s anger flared again.


    "Do you even realize that practicing unorthodox arts damages your lifespan and body? Even if you manage to achieve something, you won''t live long... And people won''t respect you!"


    Wen Jiu ignored her words and focused on the bowl instead. He had no idea how to respond¡ªhe obviously couldn''t tell her the truth.


    Wen Ya, still fuming, removed the lotus leaf.


    "You really don''t let me rest easy. Do you know that even if you become the top disciple using unorthodox arts, there''s a high chance you won''t even qualify for an apprenticeship?"


    "I know, sis¡­ Don''t worry. I have my own plans." Wen Jiu braced himself and spoke.


    Wen Ya let out a helpless sigh. Then, she pulled out a book from her sleeve. The cover bore three words: Changchun Gong (Everlasting Spring Technique).


    It was a proper, orthodox Qi cultivation technique.


    But Wen Jiu was curious¡ªwhere did she get it?


    As far as he knew, servant-class disciples weren''t allowed to cultivate. More importantly, each person was only allowed to take one cultivation method, and it was strictly forbidden to share it.


    Those who secretly shared cultivation techniques¡ª


    Would die!


    Those who practiced unauthorized techniques¡ª


    Would also die!


    "Sis? Where did you get this?" Wen Jiu asked immediately.


    Wen Ya quickly reassured him. "Don''t worry. This was a reward from Granny Xu. It''s the Xu family''s Qi cultivation technique. They''re allowed to pass it down within their family, so it''s not restricted by sect rules."


    "Sis, we can''t accept this."


    Wen Jiu understood all too well.


    If he cultivated this technique, leaving in the future wouldn''t be so simple.


    Receiving guidance from another creates a karmic bond. In cultivation, karma dictates that every cause has an effect. If one wishes to walk away unscathed, they must repay this debt of gratitude; otherwise, barriers will form in their cultivation path. However, repaying such a profound kindness is no simple matter.


    Yet, Wen Ya''s concerns were different. She only knew that this was her younger brother''s only chance to obtain a Qi cultivation method. "Take it¡ªthis is your only opportunity to learn how to cultivate Qi!"


    Wen Jiu firmly refused. "Sister, I can''t accept this. I already spoke to Steward Wang Nian¡ªthere are other ways to become an apprentice disciple. I have confidence that I can succeed through those means. Please trust me!"


    As his words fell, Wen Ya wanted to say more, but Wen Jiu resolutely pushed the manual back into her hands and added, "Sister, you can''t cultivate this Changchun Art either. Find a way to return it."


    "You¡­" Wen Ya was at a loss for words. She understood her younger brother''s reasoning, but in a place like Dead Man''s Peak, ordinary mortals like them had no choices. Just having a path forward was already a blessing.


    She wanted to argue further, but Wen Jiu interrupted her. "Sister, when will Deacon Xu return?"


    Wen Ya replied, "The old woman said he was sent on an external sect mission¡­ at the shortest, a year; at the longest, three to five years."


    A year at the earliest. Three to five years at the latest. That meant there was still time. Wen Jiu set aside his thoughts and picked up a large bowl, eating in big mouthfuls.


    Wen Ya watched him and couldn''t help but smile warmly. After a moment of consideration, she took out some broken silver and placed it on the table. "If this isn''t enough, buy yourself some more food."


    Wen Jiu did not refuse the silver. After all, as a gravekeeper, he only earned three taels per month¡ªbarely enough for an ordinary person to survive, let alone someone like him.


    ¡ª


    Night fell.


    After Wen Ya left, Wen Jiu resumed his usual cultivation. At the hour of Hai (9¨C11 PM), he recited the Corpse-Nurturing Mantra as usual.


    Unfortunately, there were no wandering spirits tonight.


    When he returned home, his daily status panel appeared again.


    This time, the gains were significant!


    [Daily Status Panel Lv1 (51/100)]


    [Daily Summary]


    ¡ª Recited Corpse-Nurturing Mantra for one hour, cultivated Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Technique for one hour: +1 panel experience, +10 Corpse-Nurturing Mantra experience, +1 Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Technique experience.


    ¡ª Buried corpses for three hours, searched for wandering spirits for three hours, continuously absorbed corpse energy and death energy: +1 panel experience, +6 corpse energy, +6 death energy.


    ¡ª Drew upon Earth Fiend Yin Qi, assisted corpse-nurturing with large amounts of cultivators'' fresh blood for twelve hours, fed a first-grade superior magic artifact¡ªthe damaged Soul-Devouring Pearl¡ªcontaining the refined blood essence of 276 cultivators: +1 panel experience, +6 corpse mutation experience, +18 corpse-nurturing experience, +1 corpse-keeper experience, +50 blood transformation experience (reached daily absorption limit), +1330 cultivator blood essence, +828 death energy.


    ¡ª Consumed two bowls of inferior spiritual rice, ate two portions of non-ranked demonic beast meat: +0.2 body-refinement experience.


    The next moment, his personal status panel popped up.


    Wen Jiu immediately noticed three key pieces of information:


    [Remaining Death Energy: 834]


    [Remaining Cultivator Blood Essence: 1330]


    And most importantly¡ª


    That blood pearl was actually a first-grade superior magic artifact!


    Although damaged, it was still first-grade superior.


    He had overheard bits and pieces about magic artifact rankings from others. While he couldn''t confirm the accuracy, it served as a useful reference.


    For ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators, affording a first-grade inferior magic artifact was already difficult. Even someone like Deacon Xu from the side peak would struggle to acquire a first-grade mid-tier artifact.


    A first-grade superior magic artifact?


    Even late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators couldn''t necessarily afford one.


    This was an item worth a fortune!


    Even though the Soul-Devouring Pearl was damaged, its value remained astonishing.


    Wen Jiu was overjoyed. But after the excitement faded, a deep fear crept in.


    A common man is innocent, but treasuring a jade may bring disaster!


    If anyone found out he possessed a first-grade superior artifact, he wouldn''t even need to worry about outsiders¡ªWang Nian would be the first to make a move against him.


    "This is a hot potato¡­ No, I need to put it back in the corpse''s mouth and use that talisman to conceal its aura."


    With this thought, Wen Jiu set out immediately.


    Bringing the White Ghoul with him, he rushed toward the burial grounds.


    The cold night? The presence of wandering spirits? None of that mattered now.


    Once he placed the now-empty Soul-Devouring Pearl back in the corpse''s mouth, Wen Jiu finally felt at ease and returned home.


    Yet even after arriving back, he remained restless, unable to fall asleep for a long time.


    A vague sense of helplessness lingered.


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 11: Attitude Shift

    During his anxious waiting, Wen Jiu''s mind raced with countless thoughts. What if, at any moment, a cultivator kicked open the door, stormed in with a blade flashing in and out of its sheath, and interrogated him about the whereabouts of the Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl? In short, the excitement of obtaining the pearl was matched only by his unease.


    Sometimes, having an overactive imagination was pure torment.


    After a long while, Wen Jiu finally calmed down. Once he did, he immediately reopened his personal status panel, staring blankly at the remaining reserves of death energy and cultivator blood essence. He wasn''t sure exactly how much blood essence the white ghoul had absorbed to reach its limit, but one thing was certain¡ªthis surplus of over a thousand units of cultivator blood essence would be more than enough to upgrade his Blood Metamorphosis Body to the second tier. After all, it only required 500 experience points to reach full capacity.


    Next, his gaze landed on the Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Art, intending to test whether he, too, had an absorption limit.


    Add!


    Add!


    Add!


    [Technique: Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Art (Tier 1 ¨C 300/1000)]+


    [Technique: Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Art (Tier 1 ¨C 999/1000)]+


    Thanks to the passive ability of corpse nurturers, Wen Jiu had no daily absorption limit.


    He immediately allocated all 834 points of death energy into the Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Art, pushing the experience of the first tier to its maximum.


    The technique panel changed accordingly.


    [Technique: Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Art (Tier 2 ¨C 4/2000)]+


    Along with this change, his dantian also underwent a transformation. A massive surge of yin spiritual energy rushed into it, instantly filling the once-empty space. A bone-chilling cold followed, but rather than discomfort, Wen Jiu felt an indescribable sense of pleasure and satisfaction.


    Soon after, the yin spiritual energy began a silent transformation¡ªthis was the process of converting yin spiritual energy into true mana.


    Once the transformation was complete, he would officially step into the first stage of Qi Refinement.


    Moments later, all the yin spiritual energy had been successfully converted, everything falling into place seamlessly. A hundred strands of mana now resided within his dantian.


    With the emergence of mana, Wen Jiu''s body and perception also began to change.


    Physically, the difference was subtle¡ªhis body felt lighter, and his strength increased slightly.


    The most noticeable change, however, was in his perception. Previously, he could only feel the wind brushing against him. Now, his senses expanded outward.


    Within a range of ten feet¡ª


    Every blade of grass, every tree¡ª


    Even with his eyes closed, it was as if they were right in front of him.


    At the same time, he could clearly sense the spiritual energy around him¡ªyin energy, and various other auras.


    "So this is divine sense?" Wen Jiu immediately recalled the concept of spiritual perception described in the Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Art.


    The effect and sensation matched perfectly.


    At this moment, he was immensely grateful for his earlier decision to return the Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl to the corpse''s mouth under the cover of night.


    Had he left it inside the white ghoul''s body, even Wang Nian''s divine sense might have detected it.


    Once his relief passed, excitement took over.


    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    After all, he was now officially a cultivator.


    A side-path cultivator, sure¡ªbut who said soy sauce wasn''t still sauce?


    However, a new problem arose. While it wasn''t an urgent or life-threatening issue, it was still a problem nonetheless¡ªhe only had the first two tiers of the Yinzhou Corpse-Nurturing Art, and nothing beyond that.


    Buy it? He couldn''t afford it.


    Find someone selling it? No one had it for sale.


    Without the third tier of the technique, he would be stuck at the second stage of Qi Refinement, unable to advance.


    "The only solution I can think of right now is to focus on cultivating a black ghoul. If I can use it to take down an enemy, I might be able to become a probationary disciple ahead of schedule."


    Once he became an official disciple, he would likely gain access to the higher tiers of the technique.


    In his previous life, he had never even killed a chicken.


    Yet now, he felt no hesitation at the thought of taking a life.


    Perhaps it was the influence of the original body''s memories.


    ¡ª¡ª


    The next morning, Wen Jiu gathered with the others at the Dead Grounds.


    They stood in small groups of three or five, though most people clustered around three particular individuals, treating them as their leaders.


    Those three stood with an air of arrogance, as if they truly saw the other corpse buriers as their underlings, with themselves as the bosses.


    Watching this scene, Wen Jiu sighed and shook his head.


    What a bunch of idiots.


    This wasn''t the martial world¡ªit was the cultivation world.


    What was the point of playing these petty power games?


    Wouldn''t it be better to spend their time studying cultivation techniques instead?


    Very quickly, Wang Nian arrived.


    With the surrounding yin energy thin and sparse, Wang Nian didn''t even bother to look around before shouting angrily, "Hurry up and get to work!"


    As soon as he spoke, the corpse buriers immediately sprang into action.


    But just as Wang Nian''s gaze swept over Wen Jiu, who was about to leave, his eyes froze. He stared at Wen Jiu in disbelief.


    "Wen brat!"


    Wen Jiu stopped in his tracks.


    Wang Nian hurriedly waved him over. "Come here, come here¡­"


    Wen Jiu didn''t understand what was going on but still walked over. He followed Wang Nian as they moved to a more secluded spot.


    "You''ve stepped into the first level of Qi Refinement?" Wang Nian asked, despite having already confirmed it several times with his divine sense. He still found it hard to believe.


    Wen Jiu was startled for a moment.


    He felt even more fortunate about his decision last night.


    If Wang Nian could sense his cultivation level this quickly, then the Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl would have been even more obvious.


    "Just a stroke of luck," Wen Jiu replied.


    Wang Nian grinned from ear to ear. "Humble, aren''t you! Reaching the first level of Qi Refinement in just a month¡ªif that''s luck, then what does it say about me, taking two years to reach the same level?"


    Wen Jiu quickly explained, "Senior, I practice an unconventional method, so it''s naturally faster."


    "Not this fast, though."


    Wang Nian sighed again, rifling through his memory for the fastest cultivator he had ever heard of reaching Qi Refinement.


    Ten years ago, there was a direct disciple of the elders on Deadman''s Peak.


    A superior-grade wood spirit root.


    Reached the first level of Qi Refinement in two months!


    And yet, that was still a full month slower than Wen Jiu.


    Wen Jiu fell silent, realizing that no matter how he explained it, it wouldn''t make a difference. He couldn''t help but wonder if he had been too high-profile this time. But before he could reach a conclusion, Wang Nian suddenly invited him, "Wen brat, don''t call me ''senior'' in private anymore¡­ I''m only ten or so years older than you. Just call me Brother Wang when it''s just us."


    "Hm?"


    Wen Jiu was taken aback by the sudden change in attitude.


    But he quickly understood the reason.


    It was definitely because of his cultivation speed.


    He let out a wry chuckle in his heart.


    How realistic.


    ...


    Three hours later, Wen Jiu led the white ghoul in search of wandering spirits.


    With his divine sense active, he could perceive every movement within three meters, significantly improving their efficiency in tracking down yin souls.


    Before long, Wen Jiu''s divine sense caught a trace of a wandering spirit.


    This was the first time he had truly and clearly perceived the presence of a yin soul¡ªit was cold, carrying a tinge of resentment. Within the resentment was a faint aura of death, and within the deathly aura were traces of negative emotions.


    "There!"


    Wen Jiu immediately pointed the white ghoul in the right direction.


    The soul-attracting force had drawn the yin soul into a small burrow ahead.


    With a fierce roar, the white ghoul lunged forward. In mere moments, the feeble yin soul, weak under the daylight, had been devoured whole.


    As it swallowed the spirit, the white ghoul''s aura grew stronger.


    Wen Jiu watched with satisfaction, feeling an unexpected sense of joy and accomplishment¡ªlike watching his own "child" grow stronger step by step.


    "Raising a corpse¡­ The more I do it, the more it feels like raising a pet," Wen Jiu chuckled to himself and continued his search for more yin souls.


    Unfortunately, he couldn''t find another newly formed spirit.


    As dusk approached, Wen Jiu withdrew from the Dead Ground.


    Seeing the dirt smudged on Wen Jiu''s face, Wang Nian casually tossed him a handkerchief.


    "How did it go?"


    Wen Jiu answered truthfully as he caught the handkerchief and wiped his face without hesitation. "Senior, I got one."


    Since this was a business deal, he couldn''t keep claiming he found nothing.


    Hearing that, Wang Nian nodded in satisfaction.


    Once the burial team had mostly finished their work, Wang Nian was the first to leave.


    Wen Jiu was about to depart as well.


    But unexpectedly, three figures stepped in front of him, blocking his way.


    It was none other than the Black Veil Trio!

 Chapter 12: Negotiating with a Tiger

    "Fellow Daoist, please wait."


    The one who spoke was a sturdy young man. His demeanor and movements were completely different from the simple and unassuming nature of the other gravekeepers. There was an air of nobility between his brows, so even though his clothes were neither luxurious nor clean, he did not appear disheveled.


    Wen Jiu had no interest in responding, but the man, along with another, directly blocked his path.


    The young man spoke again, his gaze falling on the handkerchief given by Wang Nian. "I am Fang Zheng. My brother-in-law is Li Liang, a night patrol supervisor on the side peak of Dead Man''s Summit... May I ask what your relationship with Supervisor Wang is?"


    "Do you need something?"


    Wen Jiu did not bother explaining.


    Because there was no need to.


    Not just anyone could question him, nor did he have to answer every inquiry.


    That would be too low.


    Fang Zheng continued, "Since you have connections in Dead Man''s Summit, why not join our Justice Hall? Whether you remain a gravekeeper or become an apprentice in the future, we can all look out for each other."


    "Not interested." Wen Jiu shook his head and stepped forward, intending to walk past them.


    Fang Zheng was persistent. His final words were deliberately emphasized, as if afraid others would not hear them. "If you''re willing to join, Justice Hall can offer you a managerial position in a business firm, with a monthly salary of one hundred taels of silver¡­ That''s equivalent to three years'' wages as a gravekeeper!"


    "Our Justice Hall has business spanning a hundred miles around the side peak and collaborates with many cultivation families. Once you join, you''ll never lack connections. When you become an apprentice, we can support each other and ensure you aren''t bullied by fellow disciples."


    The man beside Fang Zheng also spoke, his tone filled with pride.


    Clearly.


    Justice Hall was not a small organization.


    But Wen Jiu was still uninterested. Before fully understanding the situation on this side peak, he had no intention of joining any group.


    He did not want to be used as a pawn.


    "Step aside."


    As Wen Jiu passed by the two, he noticed that the surrounding gravekeepers were all looking at him with envy.


    It was obvious that they wished to join Justice Hall but were either unqualified or had not received an invitation.


    This piqued Wen Jiu''s curiosity.


    What exactly was this Justice Hall?


    It was impossible for them to openly poach people from Dead Man''s Summit. Most likely, it was an organization formed by the summit''s own disciples.


    As Wen Jiu leisurely walked away, the third man¡ªwho had remained silent until now and seemed to be their leader¡ªsuddenly spoke.


    His tone was deep and carried the weight of experience, as if he were offering well-meaning advice. It was as though refusing to join Justice Hall meant Wen Jiu was shortsighted.


    "Fellow Daoist¡­ Walking the cultivation path alone will not take you far. Without friends, even side-path cultivators won''t be accepted anywhere. I can give you time to think and even arrange for you to learn more about Justice Hall. If you reconsider, come find us."


    Wen Jiu acted as though he hadn''t heard a word.


    He continued walking.


    ¡­


    A mile or two later.


    Wang Nian suddenly descended beside Wen Jiu on his flying sword, as if he had been following him all along.


    Sure enough, as soon as he spoke, it was about what had just happened. "Wen brat, do you know? Justice Hall was established by multiple supervisors of the side peak. Their business spans a hundred miles, and they collaborate with no fewer than eight or ten cultivation families. In the side peak, they are quite a force to be reckoned with. Once you join, you''ll have backing."


    Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    "Brother Wang followed me all this way just to tell me that?"


    To be honest, even if Wang Nian nodded, Wen Jiu would not believe it.


    Wang Nian chuckled. "Of course not. I just wanted to remind you¡­ Do not bargain with tigers. With your talent in side-path cultivation, Dead Man''s Summit already has a proper path for you to rise through the ranks. It may be harder than for orthodox Qi Refinement cultivators, but you don''t need to rely on those who conspire in the shadows."


    "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Wang."


    Wen Jiu bowed in gratitude.


    Even if Wang Nian had not warned him, he would not have made rash choices.


    But the fact that Wang Nian cared enough to remind him¡­


    He appreciated it.


    It showed that Wang Nian was a good person.


    In an unfamiliar world, meeting a senior willing to offer guidance was a stroke of luck.


    ¡­


    Soon, Wen Jiu returned home.


    That night, as usual, he recited the Corpse-Nurturing Incantation for the white ghoul. Perhaps due to the increasing accumulation of corpse remains in the dead zone, his chanting unexpectedly attracted a newly formed wandering soul.


    But it merely became the white ghoul''s meal.


    That was the end of the day.


    The White Ghoul gained 20 experience points. Wen Jiu received 100 points of Death Energy¡ªequivalent to sixteen days of cultivation plus his daily accumulation.


    It was worth noting that, perhaps due to the influence of a cultivator''s blood essence, when the White Ghoul attacked the wandering souls, a faint crimson glow flickered across its corpse. This was something that had never appeared when it first stepped into the initial stage of Blood Transformation.


    Moreover, when the blood glow emerged, the ghoul exuded a mix of blood energy and corpse energy so intense that even Wen Jiu felt a shiver down his spine.


    This was despite the fact that he had already reached the first level of Qi Refinement.


    And the White Ghoul was still just a White Ghoul.


    So, Wen Jiu decided to test its strength.


    At first, he didn''t dare to go all out. Even though he hadn''t cultivated any spells yet, the raw release of Qi Refinement-level energy could still be quite destructive.


    But to his surprise, even when he struck with full force, he failed to harm the White Ghoul''s Blood Transformation body.


    He couldn''t even shake it.


    Yet, according to the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Record, a corpse''s strength should not be this overwhelming. Even after evolving into a Black Ghoul, it was only supposed to be comparable to a first-stage Body Refining cultivator at best.


    A first-stage Body Refining cultivator couldn''t possibly withstand a full-powered strike from a Qi Refinement cultivator without taking damage. At most, if hit by a spell, they would reduce a severe wound to a minor injury¡ªbut they would still be injured. No matter how strong they were, this rule held true.


    And yet, the White Ghoul''s body completely defied the principles and rules stated in the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Record.


    "It must be because of the cultivator''s blood essence... But if its corpse is already this strong, just how powerful will it become once it evolves into a Black Ghoul?"


    Wen Jiu murmured to himself, then buried the White Ghoul once more.


    Back home, he fell into a deep sleep.


    That night, he slept soundly.


    No longer did he feel the anxiety of being a stranger in a foreign land.


    Perhaps it was because he had stepped into the first level of Qi Refinement.


    Perhaps it was because he had witnessed the terrifying power of the White Ghoul''s Blood Transformation.


    By the time he set out again the next morning to bury corpses in the Dead Grounds, his mindset had undergone a dramatic shift.


    A bold thought arose in his mind.


    I want to live forever!


    I want to become an immortal!


    Gotta admit¡­


    That was one hell of an ambitious thought.


    But when he arrived at the Dead Grounds, he immediately sensed that something was off. The atmosphere was different today, and there were more people around than usual. Even Wang Nian, who was usually slow and sluggish, had arrived earlier than most.


    From a distance, Wen Jiu saw Wang Nian engaged in serious conversation with a group of cultivators clad in black armor. With every word spoken, Wang Nian''s brows furrowed deeper.


    A few moments later, Wang Nian walked toward him.


    "Wen kid, were you here in the Dead Grounds last night?"


    Wen Jiu nodded.


    There was no point in hiding it.


    Anyone at home could have heard him leaving¡ªhis door creaking open and shut.


    Besides, when he displayed the White Ghoul before, proving its value for another transaction, he had already mentioned that he would come to the Dead Grounds at night to cultivate his corpse.


    Hearing Wen Jiu''s response, Wang Nian gestured for him to follow. "They''ll ask you some questions later. Just answer honestly¡­ Don''t worry, it''s got nothing to do with you. They just want information."


    "Alright." Wen Jiu nodded.


    As they approached the black-armored cultivators, Wen Jiu felt a chilling aura radiating from them. His heart skipped a beat.


    Their sheer presence exuded a suffocating killing intent.


    Even their spiritual energy fluctuations startled him.


    Three of them had auras similar to Wang Nian''s.


    Likely all at the third level of Qi Refinement.


    But one of them¡­


    His aura surpassed Wang Nian''s.


    Mid-stage Qi Refinement?


    What the hell happened last night to bring in a mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator?


    "You''re Wen Jiu?"


    One of the black-armored cultivators spoke, his voice cold and emotionless.


    It made Wen Jiu worry that if he answered wrong, the man might cut him down on the spot.


    He nodded.


    The black-armored cultivator continued, "Why were you in the Severed Corpses Dead Grounds last night?"


    "I was cultivating my corpse. I practice the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Record, so I need to come to burial sites at the Hour of the Boar to recite the Corpse Nurturing Chant."


    Wen Jiu answered truthfully.


    The black-armored cultivator glanced at Wang Nian. Wang Nian quickly nodded and confirmed that he had indeed seen the White Ghoul before.


    Seeing this, the black-armored cultivator didn''t seem suspicious. Instead, he continued questioning:


    "Did you hear anything unusual last night?"


    "Unusual? No." Wen Jiu shook his head.


    The black-armored cultivator''s expression darkened. He clearly didn''t believe him.


    Coldly, he warned, "Think carefully. If we find out later that you''ve hidden or lied about anything¡­ The Night Patrol Division has full authority to execute you on the spot."

 Chapter 13: Lingering Thoughts

    The moment those words were spoken, Wen Jiu''s heart skipped a beat. Even after living two lives, he couldn''t help but feel a wave of panic and tension.


    "Senior, let me think again..." He immediately started racking his brain, instinctively recalling the corpse and the Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl. His anxiety deepened, but he forced himself to shake his head. "Senior, there really hasn''t been any movement. I only perform the Corpse-Nurturing Chant at the Hour of the Boar, and during that time, there was absolutely nothing unusual."


    As soon as he finished speaking, his heart pounded in his chest. Could it really have something to do with that corpse?


    However, the black-armored cultivator didn''t seem willing to believe him, and his eyes remained cold and piercing.


    The next moment, he turned to a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator in black armor. "Steward Mu, should we bring him back to the Night Patrol Division for a thorough interrogation? He was the only person at the scene of the dismembered corpse last night. He must know something."


    At these words, Wen Jiu''s expression changed dramatically. Wang Nian, who stood beside him, also stiffened.


    Wasting no time, Wang Nian stepped forward and explained, "Steward Mu, this boy''s elder sister is the concubine of Steward Xu, and his parents died in service to Dead Peak. If he had seen or heard anything, he would surely speak without reservation. He wouldn''t dare to hide the truth."


    "Steward Xu''s brother-in-law?" The mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator scrutinized Wen Jiu for a few moments before waving his hand dismissively. "Forget it. Let''s give Steward Xu some face."


    The black-armored cultivator who had been pressing the issue clenched his fists, but in the end, he backed down. Still, his gaze toward Wen Jiu remained icy.


    Seeing this, Wang Nian quickly shot Wen Jiu a meaningful look and said, "Many thanks, Steward Mu."


    Wen Jiu immediately followed suit, bowing deeply. "This junior is grateful to Steward Mu."


    Steward Mu simply waved his hand, allowing Wang Nian to take Wen Jiu away. "Next."


    As he was led away, Wen Jiu''s heart kept pounding uncontrollably, and he struggled to calm himself.


    Before long, all the corpse buriers had been questioned.


    To Wen Jiu''s surprise, the black-armored cultivator who had singled him out didn''t trouble anyone else. He had only targeted Wen Jiu.


    Once the cultivators of the Night Patrol Division departed, Wen Jiu felt a wave of relief wash over him. He quickly turned to Wang Nian and thanked him sincerely.


    At the same time, he couldn''t help but smile bitterly. He never thought it would be Steward Xu''s name that saved him. For a moment, he didn''t even know what to say.


    But then, something suddenly clicked in his mind¡ªwhy had that black-armored cultivator only targeted him? Was it because of his unorthodox cultivation methods?


    Unorthodox cultivation¡­ was it really so distrusted?


    As he was lost in thought, Wang Nian spoke.


    "Don''t worry. This has nothing to do with you. Just focus on your work. As long as I''m here, you''re safe in the Dismembered Corpse Wasteland."


    "Thank you, Senior Wang," Wen Jiu said, but noticing there were others around, he quickly corrected himself.


    Then he asked, "Senior, what exactly happened? Why did the Night Patrol Division personally come to investigate?"


    The moment Wen Jiu voiced the question, the other corpse buriers also looked over curiously.


    "Last night, during the Hour of the Ox, three disciples of the Night Patrol Division were killed while patrolling near the Dismembered Corpse Wasteland." Wang Nian sighed, his eyes clouded with worry. But in the next moment, his expression turned impatient. "Get back to work. Knowing too much won''t do you any good. This has nothing to do with you all."


    The corpse buriers were startled and quickly dispersed.


    But just as Wen Jiu was about to leave, Wang Nian suddenly turned, his impatience replaced by a much gentler demeanor. "You should get back to work too. If the Night Patrol Division looks for you again, have someone come find me."


    This tale has been unlawfully lifted without the author''s consent. Report any appearances on Amazon.


    "Many thanks, Senior." Wen Jiu bowed once more in gratitude.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Above the Dismembered Corpse Wasteland, four cultivators of the Night Patrol Division hovered midair on their swords. At the front, Steward Mu''s sharp eyes scanned the land below as if searching for something.


    After a long silence, the Qi Refining third-layer cultivator in black armor spoke up again. "Steward Mu, should we send more people to conduct a thorough search of the wasteland? Those traitors risked attacking our Night Patrol Division disciples here. They must be looking for something in this place!"


    Steward Mu shook his head. "Back when we first cleaned up the battlefield, the disciples of the Side Peak searched it three or four times. Our Night Patrol Division brothers also searched the entire night yesterday. Searching again would be pointless."


    "Then¡­"


    "There are corpse buriers working here during the day, and Wang Nian is overseeing them. The traitors wouldn''t dare make a move now. For the time being, we''ll just have to strengthen our patrols at night and hope those bastards haven''t found what they''re looking for yet."


    As he finished speaking, Steward Mu withdrew his gaze and turned to the black-armored cultivator. "That corpse burier, Wen Jiu¡ªdid he offend your Li family?"


    "N-No¡­" The black-armored cultivator''s face stiffened, and he quickly shook his head.


    Steward Mu shot him another glance but said no more.


    Then, he flew away on his sword.


    Over the next few days, the atmosphere in the Forsaken Corpse Wasteland was tense. News had already spread that three second-layer Qi Refinement disciples from the Night Patrol Division had been killed.


    Some speculated that remnants of the Blood-Clad Tower were taking revenge. Others believed there was a hidden traitor within the sect''s side peaks. In short, rumors were flying everywhere.


    For several nights in a row, when Wen Jiu went to recite the Corpse-Nurturing Incantation and tend to his corpse, he ran into disciples from the Night Patrol Division. Fortunately, Wang Nian had already put in a word for him, so when they saw that Wen Jiu was genuinely there to nurture corpses, they didn''t give him any trouble.


    Still, Wen Jiu couldn''t shake his unease for several days. His mind kept replaying the image of that male cultivator''s corpse, which had reached the peak of Qi Refinement, and that first-grade superior-quality Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl.


    The fact that the man had hidden his own body underground and used talismans to conceal its aura was already suspicious. And now, with people from the Night Patrol Division being killed in the Forsaken Corpse Wasteland, it seemed even more unusual.


    Two oddities combined¡ªWen Jiu didn''t believe it was just a coincidence. There had to be a connection.


    "Could it be that there''s something else on that corpse, or something inside the Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl, that I haven''t discovered yet?"


    He speculated boldly, unable to suppress his curiosity.


    But no matter how intrigued he was, he didn''t dare investigate. Even when searching for wandering spirits during the day, he made sure to steer clear of the burial site. He avoided it as much as possible¡ªwho knew if someone from the Night Patrol Division was watching?


    Just like that, a few more days passed.


    After ten days and the consumption of over four hundred units of cultivator blood essence, his white ghoul''s Blood Transformation Body had finally advanced to the second stage.


    [Black Ghoul Skill: Blood Transformation Body, Stage Two (0/1000)]


    Wen Jiu tested it by using a bit of cultivator blood essence.


    It still increased the experience by one point.


    But he didn''t continue using it.


    He only had 890 units of cultivator blood essence left, so he decided to conserve it. There was no rush¡ªit would always be available when needed.


    At the same time, after successfully hunting down three newly-formed wandering spirits, his white ghoul had finally undergone its first real transformation into a black ghoul.


    A true evolution.


    While it still feared sunlight, it no longer had many of the previous weaknesses. Moreover, with the Blood Transformation Body ability, sunlight''s damage to it was significantly reduced. At most, exposure to sunlight would suppress thirty percent of its combat strength.


    But that was no big deal.


    After all, the Forsaken Corpse Wasteland was mostly shrouded in darkness.


    At this point, Wen Jiu had officially become a corpse nurturer.


    A true practitioner of the heretical path!


    At the same time, his black ghoul''s status panel had undergone some changes. It was no longer as simple as before.


    [Wen Jiu]


    [Age: 23]


    [Lifespan: 23/73]


    [Realm: Qi Refinement, First Layer]


    [Cultivation Method: Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Technique (Second Layer, 61/1000)]+


    [Spells: Corpse-Nurturing Incantation (Beginner, 210/500)]


    [Body Training: Strength and Vitality (1.7/1000)]


    [Lv1 Corpse Nurturer (16/100)]


    [Secret Technique: Aberrant Corpse Transformation]


    [Black Ghoul ¨C In Nurturing (Newly Formed, 0/500) PS: Black ghouls have three stages¡ªNewly Formed, Mid-Tier, and High-Tier. Upon reaching the High-Tier stage, they can evolve into Walking Corpses, gaining mobility and immunity to sunlight.]+


    [Black Ghoul Skill: Blood Transformation Body, Stage Two (1/1000)]+


    [Death Energy Reserve: 210]


    [Corpse Energy Reserve: 60]


    [Cultivator Blood Essence Reserve: 890]


    However¡­


    Neither the black ghoul''s evolution nor the Blood Transformation Body reaching the second stage truly excited Wen Jiu. His mind remained fixated on that male cultivator''s corpse and the Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl.


    He had a strong intuition¡ª


    There was still something undiscovered.


    Or rather, the Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl was far from ordinary.


    Three days later, Wen Jiu finally got his chance. The number of Night Patrol Division disciples patrolling the Forsaken Corpse Wasteland at night had decreased. Even so, he remained cautious and waited another four days.


    For four nights straight, he saw no sign of the Night Patrol Division.


    Then, he sought confirmation from Wang Nian and learned that the Night Patrol Division had been dispatched to handle other recent murder cases.


    Only then, on the night of the fourth day, did Wen Jiu quietly return to the Forsaken Corpse Wasteland with his black ghoul, heading toward the burial site.

 Chapter 14: Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body

    The previous traces had long been buried under the chilling frost of Yin energy.


    After nightfall, the Yin energy thickened, making it difficult to spot any marks on the ground.


    Fortunately, Wen Jiu had left a special mark, so after searching for a short while, he managed to find the burial site.


    Digging a deep pit, Wen Jiu once again saw the male corpse. He began searching it thoroughly, running his hands over the body and even lifting the clothes to check the still uncorrupted skin. Yet, he found nothing.


    At the same time, he used his divine sense to probe the corpse''s body.


    Still, nothing unusual.


    "That leaves only this talisman and the Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl." Wen Jiu didn''t bother studying the talisman¡ªhe lacked the knowledge to decipher its mysteries. He simply scanned it with his divine sense.


    After confirming there was nothing strange about it, he turned his attention to the Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl.


    And the moment his divine sense touched it¡ª


    A flood of information surged into his mind like leeches latching onto flesh.


    Though startled, Wen Jiu was not overwhelmed. He had already experienced something similar once before when the memories of his predecessor poured into his mind.


    As the new information gradually unfolded, his expression darkened under the suffocating Yin aura.


    "The Ancient Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body!"


    "Created in the 37,223rd year of the Yuan Yang calendar by the Yin Fiend Daoist, this is a heretical body-refining technique. It consists of thirteen levels and requires a combination of cultivators'' blood essence and vast amounts of Earth Yin energy for cultivation. Once perfected, there is a 70% chance of successfully forming a Foundation Establishment, a probability comparable to those with supreme spiritual roots!"


    Wen Jiu was deeply shocked.


    Though he had no clear concept of a 70% Foundation Establishment success rate, he did understand the significance of supreme spiritual roots.


    With mid-tier spiritual roots, one could directly enter Dead Man''s Peak as a disciple.


    With high-tier spiritual roots, even the elders of Dead Man''s Peak would take notice and personally accept them as disciples.


    As for supreme spiritual roots¡ª


    He had never heard of anyone possessing them.


    They existed only in myths and rumors.


    "So that''s what they were after!"


    Muttering to himself, Wen Jiu immediately set to work reburying the corpse, resolving never to return to this burial site again.


    Fifteen minutes later¡ª


    The corpse was once again buried.


    He tossed a few other remains on top, waiting for the Yin frost to settle and erase any signs of disturbance.


    After finishing, Wen Jiu swiftly departed.


    He walked leisurely back to his residence, yet his heart was both anxious and elated.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Though he knew little about the world of cultivation, just looking at Dead Man''s Peak alone was enough to understand how difficult it was to acquire a cultivation method.


    Right now, he couldn''t even obtain the third level of Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Art, let alone a supreme body-refining technique like the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body, which reached thirteen levels of refinement.


    Compared to this, even a first-tier high-grade magical artifact like the Soul-Devouring Blood Pearl seemed insignificant.


    "They must have been after this, without a doubt."


    Wen Jiu reread the details of the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body several times, gaining a comprehensive understanding of it.


    The more he read, the more excited he became.


    Cultivating this technique required a large amount of cultivator blood essence, but in truth, Earth Yin energy was the real key.


    However, Earth Yin energy damaged lifespan upon entry into the body, which was why the technique''s creator substituted it with large amounts of cultivator blood essence.


    You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.


    But Wen Jiu wasn''t afraid.


    He could cultivate primarily using Earth Yin energy.


    And supplement it with cultivator blood essence.


    He still had plenty left.


    "It''s as if this technique was tailor-made for a corpse nurturer like me."


    Wen Jiu was ecstatic.


    But he quickly calmed down, forcibly suppressing his urge to start cultivating.


    He couldn''t practice it.


    At least, not yet.


    If he did, it would bring about his death.


    After all, someone was already searching for it!


    "I may not be able to cultivate the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body yet, but I can still use Earth Yin energy for body refinement. That way, I''ll achieve similar effects."


    Every day, he chanted the Corpse Nurturing Mantra to draw in Earth Yin energy and nourish the corpses.


    Now, he could absorb a portion of that energy himself for body refinement.


    Lay a solid foundation first.


    Then, in the future, when the time was right, he could cultivate it properly.


    ¡ª¡ª


    The next day.


    With an anxious heart, Wen Jiu returned to the land of corpses.


    Everything was as usual.


    There was no sign of the Night Patrol Division.


    Only then did Wen Jiu finally relax.


    After nightfall¡ª


    He decided to give it a try.


    As he chanted the Corpse Nurturing Mantra to draw in Earth Yin energy for the corpses, he sat cross-legged atop the burial ground, competing with the Black Ghouls for the Earth Yin energy.


    Following the method recorded in the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body, he guided the Earth Yin energy into his flesh.


    This process was painful.


    But Wen Jiu could endure it.


    After the hour of Hai passed, Wen Jiu was drenched in sweat, his body aching and numb beyond belief.


    Dragging his exhausted and sore body home, he gulped down several mouthfuls of cold water, only for an overwhelming hunger to crash over him.


    But even with money, there was nowhere to buy food at this hour.


    With no other choice, Wen Jiu had to endure the hunger and wait for the daily settlement, planning to see the results before forcing himself to sleep.


    [Daily Settlement Panel Lv1 (81/100)]


    [Today''s Settlement!]


    [Chanting the Corpse Nourishing Incantation for one hour, cultivating the Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Technique for one hour: Panel EXP +1, Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Incantation EXP +10, Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Technique EXP +1]


    [Burying corpses in a death zone for three hours, seeking Yin souls for three hours, continuously absorbing corpse energy and death energy: Panel EXP +1, Corpse Energy +6, Death Energy +6]


    [Guiding Earth Fiend Yin Energy, using a large amount of fresh cultivator blood to nourish corpses in a corpse cultivation ground for twelve hours: Panel EXP +1, Undead Mutation EXP +3, +18, Corpse Cultivator EXP +1]


    [Consuming two bowls of inferior spirit rice, one piece of non-ranked demonic beast meat, and refining the body with Earth Fiend Yin Energy for one hour: Body Refining EXP +10.1]


    "Undead Mutation dropped by 3 points, but Body Refining EXP increased by 10! Just one hour had such an effect!"


    After the initial surprise, Wen Jiu drank a few more gulps of cold water.


    "This is worse than not eating for days."


    Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to sleep.


    The next morning, when his sister Wen Ya brought him food, Wen Jiu devoured a bowl of rice in three bites, swallowing the demonic beast meat in one gulp.


    Yet he was still hungry.


    With no other option, after his sister left, he ate three more bowls of coarse noodles before he finally felt somewhat full.


    But it was just enough to stave off hunger.


    The soreness and weakness in his body remained.


    "Could it be that body refining requires a large amount of spirit rice and demonic beast meat?"


    Wen Jiu''s expression changed.


    There was no way he could afford that.


    His monthly wages were only three taels.


    ...


    When he arrived at the corpse disposal site again, Wen Jiu originally planned to ask Wang Nian if there were any other ways to make money. If not, he''d have to put body refining on hold.


    But instead of Wang Nian, he ran into Fang Zheng and his two companions.


    This time, the three of them were noticeably more polite, their attitudes much improved.


    "Fellow Daoist, have you given it more thought? If you still find it unappealing, we can personally guarantee to double the monthly payment we promised earlier."


    Double.


    That meant two hundred taels.


    To be honest, that was tempting.


    But Wen Jiu had no interest in getting involved with them just for money.


    If he couldn''t afford body refining, he would just put it on hold.


    No big deal.


    "Not interested," Wen Jiu said, shaking his head.


    Fang Zheng smirked and continued, "Fellow Daoist, we''ve done our research. Your sister hasn''t officially married yet¡ªshe''s not even Steward Xu''s concubine. If Steward Xu returns and decides not to take her in, to be blunt... you won''t have a single person backing you on Dead Man''s Peak."


    Wen Jiu shot him a cold glance, not even bothering to respond.


    Seeing this, Fang Zheng almost lost his temper, but remembering that his brother-in-law had said Wen Jiu had already stepped into the first layer of Qi Refining, he wisely unclenched his fist.


    Though the three of them said nothing more, their eyes turned completely indifferent.


    The other corpse buriers also started looking at Wen Jiu differently.


    Wen Jiu didn''t care.


    So what if they ostracized him?


    It made no difference.


    He had never intended to waste time on pointless socializing or maintaining meaningless connections.


    Just then, Wang Nian arrived.


    The corpse buriers immediately got to work.


    "Wen kid, hold up."


    Wen Jiu stopped, then heard Wang Nian speaking in a low voice once the others had moved away.


    "For the time being, stop coming to the corpse disposal site at night to cultivate corpses."


    "Why?"


    Wen Jiu was momentarily stunned.


    What had happened now?


    Wang Nian continued in a hushed tone, "Fang Zheng''s brother-in-law is that same Night Patrol officer who gave you trouble the other day. He knows you''ve stepped into the first layer of Qi Refining. Now that you''ve refused Fang Zheng''s offer again, the people from Juyi Hall will likely start targeting you. That much isn''t a big deal¡ªwith me around, they won''t dare go too far. But that Night Patrol officer, Li Ye, is narrow-minded and ruthless. He''ll probably try to ensure Fang Zheng and his group secure the top three spots, even if it means having someone eliminate you in the shadows."


    Saying this, Wang Nian stomped the ground beneath him.


    "If they take you out in secret here¡­ they could easily pin it on that spy who killed over a dozen disciples from Dead Man''s Peak."


    "Thanks for the warning, Brother Wang."


    Wen Jiu quietly memorized the name Li Ye.


    No wonder he was singled out that day.


    So it had nothing to do with his unconventional cultivation path.


    But if he couldn''t come at night to chant the Corpse Nourishing Incantation, his daily settlement would lose a significant amount of experience.


    That was really frustrating.

 Chapter 15: Mana Turns to Yin

    Sensing the displeasure in Wen Jiu''s expression, Wang Nian spoke again. "You should endure when necessary¡ªI don''t need to explain that to you. And the reason you shouldn''t come to the Land of Mangled Corpses at night isn''t just because of Li Ye."


    "Then what else?" Wen Jiu asked, confused.


    Wang Nian glanced around cautiously, as if afraid someone might overhear. "Lately, the number of Night Patrol disciples being killed has been increasing. They''re always attacked and murdered at night. At first, the Night Patrol suspected that something in the Land of Mangled Corpses was responsible, but now disciples are dying all over the various peaks. We suspect it might be a long-planned act of revenge. If you act alone, you could easily become a target."


    "Revenge?" Wen Jiu wanted to ask more, but Wang Nian cut him off.


    "No need to ask further¡ªthere are too many grudges involved. Death Peak has stood for a thousand years, and many things remain unclear and unresolved. Just be careful." Wang Nian let out a deep sigh, his tone helpless. "I hope this isn''t just the dark clouds before a storm¡­ We''ve only had a few months of peace."


    Wen Jiu didn''t press the matter, but he could see the worry in Wang Nian''s eyes, revealing more than words alone.


    After some thought, Wen Jiu decided to put his plan to cultivate a Black Ghoul on hold. Losing some experience was better than taking unnecessary risks.


    Wang Nian suddenly patted Wen Jiu''s shoulder. "Since you can''t come here at night to raise corpses, handle it during the day as you see fit. If necessary, shorten the corpse-moving time by an hour or two. I''ll take responsibility."


    Wen Jiu was momentarily stunned by this, then quickly bowed in gratitude. A warmth spread through his heart. "Brother Wang!"


    He knew that, at first, Wang Nian had been kind to him because of his extraordinary talent in unorthodox techniques.


    But now, it seemed that wasn''t the only reason.


    Wang Nian truly saw him as one of his own.


    After all, burying corpses was a task assigned by the Peak Lord of the Side Peak. Even the overseers only had the authority to supervise and manage the work. If the Side Peak deacons found out about this leniency, Wang Nian wouldn''t get any benefits from it¡ªhe''d probably be in trouble instead.


    "Go on, get to work."


    With that, Wang Nian gave him a smile and walked away from the Land of Mangled Corpses.


    Wen Jiu watched his departing figure, feeling deeply grateful.


    But the feeling didn''t last long.


    As soon as he stepped into the Land of Mangled Corpses to move bodies, a doubt quickly filled his mind.


    Was it really a long-planned revenge?


    If he hadn''t obtained the Yin Fiend Bloodcurse Body, he would have believed Wang Nian''s speculation without question.


    But now that he had it, Wen Jiu didn''t believe it.


    Such a method of revenge¡­


    Only an idiot would do something so reckless.


    Clearly, there was another agenda at play.


    "The Land of Mangled Corpses¡­ I absolutely can''t come here at night."


    Wen Jiu made up his mind on the spot.


    A sense of unease crept into him.


    Fortunately, avoiding the Land of Mangled Corpses at night would only slow down his Black Ghoul''s cultivation; it wouldn''t affect his body-refining practice too much. After all, the Yin Earth Qi wasn''t exclusive to this place¡ªit was present everywhere. The only difference was that the Land of Mangled Corpses had it in greater abundance.


    The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.


    Time passed quickly.


    By the end of the day, before heading home, Wen Jiu sought out Wang Nian again. He wanted to borrow some money to buy spiritual rice or beast meat to aid his body refinement.


    Ordinary human food no longer provided him with the energy he needed to replenish the Yin Earth Qi consumed in his training.


    Wang Nian wasn''t stingy. He generously lent Wen Jiu a hundred taels. When he learned that Wen Jiu wanted to buy beast meat for cultivation, he even offered to purchase it for him¡ªsince Wen Jiu couldn''t enter the trading market himself.


    A hundred taels could buy twenty jin of low-tier beast meat.


    Enough for half a month.


    ¡ª


    In the following days, Wen Jiu dug a pit where he lived. It was half a zhang deep, allowing him to better channel the Yin Earth Qi when chanting the corpse-nurturing incantation.


    Each day, he supplemented his training with one jin of low-tier beast meat. By the end of the day, he could consistently gain twenty points of body-refining experience.


    The progress was astonishing.


    But there was one thing Wen Jiu hadn''t expected.


    After just a few days of refining his body with Yin Earth Qi, he could feel his body gradually becoming colder.


    Even under the blazing sun, when he touched his own skin, he could sense the chill seeping from within.


    Not freezing, but definitely cool.


    If anyone were to touch him and notice this unnatural temperature¡­


    They would immediately brand him as a practitioner of unorthodox arts.


    By the fifth day of refining his body with the Earth Fiend Yin Energy, the changes in the mana stored in his dantian left Wen Jiu both shocked and delighted. Not only did he accept the fact that his body was growing colder, but he even started to look forward to truly cultivating the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body.


    Sitting cross-legged in the pit, Wen Jiu chanted the Corpse Nourishing Mantra. The strands of mana within his dantian quickly softened as they fused with the Earth Fiend Yin Energy, eventually turning into a pool of sludge¡ªdark, cold, and utterly abnormal.


    But his total mana had increased by ten percent!


    Its purity had also improved significantly!


    The transformation was astonishing.


    Following this, Wen Jiu tested his Finger Flick spell, releasing a burst of mana from his fingertip to attack an object.


    A normal Finger Flick spell would cause the mana to shoot out like a water balloon, exploding upon impact with the ground.


    But Wen Jiu''s wasn''t like that.


    When his Yin-infused mana struck an object, it didn''t just impact¡ªit erased. And wherever the Yin energy landed, it continued to spread and corrode.


    It couldn''t be cleaned up.


    It would keep spreading.


    Only when Wen Jiu actively reabsorbed it would it disappear.


    "If I use this in combat after further cultivation, it''ll be terrifying..." Wen Jiu couldn''t help but be secretly alarmed.


    At the same time, his resolve to climb higher in power only strengthened.


    If he were just a lone wanderer cultivating this Yin Art, the so-called righteous cultivators would surely treat him like a pariah.


    After all, a normal Finger Flick spell simply exploded.


    Why does yours have corrosion and a spreading effect?


    You''re clearly practicing some demonic, unorthodox technique!


    You deserve to die!


    As for his body growing cold, Wen Jiu didn''t care. Perhaps this was just part of walking the unorthodox path.


    As long as he remained on Dead Man''s Peak, surely there were others who had even turned against their own sect brothers over such matters.


    If he climbed even higher in rank...


    Heh.


    Then he wouldn''t be called an outcast.


    Then he wouldn''t be considered an aberration.


    Then he wouldn''t be some damned "unorthodox cultivator."


    He would be a true master of the Left-Hand Path.


    But...


    The climb wouldn''t be easy.


    Take Li Ye, for example.


    ¡ª


    The next day, at dawn.


    As usual, Wen Jiu arrived at the Land of Broken Corpses.


    He immediately noticed that Wang Nian had arrived before them once again. This time, there were also several disciples from the Night Patrol Division, as well as Li Ye. Above the Land of Broken Corpses, cultivators soared through the sky on their swords, seemingly searching for something.


    "Could it really be what I think it is?"


    A thought surfaced in Wen Jiu''s mind, making his heart tighten.


    The patrolling cultivators were visibly tense, some even looking lost.


    If something were to happen again, and they got caught in the crossfire, their lowly status wouldn''t save them.


    Time passed, minute by minute.


    Sunlight had already spread across the Land of Broken Corpses. On any other day, they would have started collecting and burying the bodies by now.


    But today, no one moved.


    Another hour passed.


    Finally, Wang Nian walked over, his expression severe, seemingly displeased. He even shot an extra glance at Wen Jiu.


    "Last night, several disciples from the Night Patrol Division died here again. For your safety, from now on, the Night Patrol disciples, as well as Supervisor Li Ye, will be assisting me in overseeing this place."


    The moment he finished speaking¡ª


    Fang Zheng and his two companions beamed with joy, their grins practically splitting their faces.


    The rest of the corpse buriers, however, were filled with unease. Another death in the Night Patrol Division? That was no small matter.


    Wen Jiu felt the same.


    But his concern was more about Li Ye.


    With both Li Ye and Wang Nian in charge...


    Would the trade he worked so hard to establish be taken away?


    Or worse¡ª


    Would Li Ye deliberately make things difficult for him?


    Wen Jiu didn''t know what Li Ye would do. But he had a bad feeling about this. No wonder Wang Nian seemed irritated and had given him that extra look earlier.


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 16: The Hidden Ghosts of Sanchuan

    Very soon.


    After Wang Nian finished speaking, Li Ye approached as well, his expression shifting from the seriousness he had shown earlier. Compared to Wang Nian''s usual fierceness, his demeanor now was the complete opposite. "All of you will be part of my branch in the future. I may be a steward of the Night Patrol Division, but I won''t put on airs¡­ During my tenure, if you have any cultivation-related questions, you can come to me."


    As soon as he said this, the corpse buriers were overjoyed.


    No one had ever spoken to them like this before, nor had anyone treated them with such familiarity.


    Seeing this, Wen Jiu couldn''t help but sigh inwardly¡ªthis guy really knew how to win people over.


    With just a single sentence, these hundred or so corpse buriers would likely become completely loyal to him, following his every command without hesitation.


    Then, Li Ye continued speaking and waved his hand, signaling everyone to disperse. "You can all work with confidence. With me and the Night Patrol Division here, I guarantee your safety in the land of broken corpses!"


    In the next moment, over a hundred corpse buriers bowed deeply.


    "Thank you, Senior!"


    "Thank you, Steward Li!"


    Wang Nian, despite his displeasure, said nothing.


    Just as the corpse buriers were about to leave, Li Ye suddenly called out, "That Wen family boy, come here."


    Hearing his name, Wen Jiu stopped.


    Fang Zheng and his two companions smirked coldly, their faces full of gloating.


    The other corpse buriers also looked on with the expressions of people watching a show.


    Wang Nian immediately stepped forward. "Li Ye, what are you trying to do?"


    Li Ye''s expression darkened. "Wang, this is a matter of the Night Patrol Division. Are you trying to interfere?"


    "Don''t go too far!"


    Wang Nian''s brows furrowed in anger.


    Seeing this, Wen Jiu quickly spoke up to avoid conflict. "Brother Wang, it''s fine¡­ I''ll be right back."


    Only then did Wang Nian hold back his words, though the anger in his expression did not fade.


    Li Ye chuckled, clasped his hands behind his back, and walked away.


    Wen Jiu followed immediately.


    After they had walked ten zhang away, Li Ye, still facing forward, said, "Boy, don''t participate in the year-end assessment. Ten years from now, I''ll secure a position for you in the Night Patrol Division¡­ What do you think?"


    His voice was cold, carrying an undercurrent of killing intent.


    It sounded like a question, but to Wen Jiu, it was anything but a negotiation.


    "Whatever Senior says." Wen Jiu dared not refuse¡ªhe was afraid that Li Ye might kill him on the spot.


    He was just a mere corpse burier.


    Li Ye, on the other hand, was a steward of the Night Patrol Division.


    If he were to strike him down, he wouldn''t have to bear any consequences.


    "You''re quite perceptive." Li Ye nodded in satisfaction, his cold aura dissipating slightly before he continued, "To be frank, Steward Xu won''t be returning within a year. Without his endorsement, no matter how strong your talent in unconventional arts may be, you will still remain an outsider¡­ No one will select you as a candidate for apprenticeship."


    "I understand."


    Wen Jiu nodded.


    "Ten years from now, I will keep my word. You will be part of the Night Patrol Division." Li Ye turned around, looking at Wen Jiu with satisfaction.


    Wen Jiu cupped his hands in a salute.


    "Thank you, Senior."


    Li Ye smiled faintly, then turned and left.


    The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.


    Wen Jiu stood still for a long time.


    Ten years?


    Heh.


    Suppressing the killing intent in his heart, he quickly turned and walked away.


    As he made his way back, he saw the smug smiles on Fang Zheng and his two companions¡ªtheir expressions filled with mockery.


    ¡­


    Back at the land of broken corpses, Wen Jiu remained silent, focusing on his work.


    What he hadn''t expected was that Wang Nian, who usually despised this place, would take the initiative to enter and find him.


    "I heard everything!"


    Wen Jiu could sense Wang Nian''s anger.


    "Brother Wang, it''s fine¡­ But I''m curious¡ªwhy would he personally step in to stop me from participating in the assessment?"


    Wang Nian lowered his voice. "This was supposed to be a secret, something you weren''t meant to know. But I can''t stand that bastard¡­ This year''s apprentice disciples can be promoted directly and will have the chance to participate in the once-in-three-years newcomer assessment. As long as they pass, they can enter the main peak for cultivation and receive teachings from the elders."


    "So that''s how it is."


    Wen Jiu suddenly understood.


    Passing the assessment meant entering the main peak.


    Receiving teachings from the elders.


    No wonder Li Ye went out of his way for Fang Zheng and his group.


    Wang Nian continued, "Focus on your cultivation. I''ll try to find a way for you."


    "Thank you, Brother Wang."


    Wen Jiu bowed in gratitude.


    If Wang Nian could find a way, that would be ideal.


    If not¡­


    Then he would take matters into his own hands.


    Li Ye.


    Qi Refinement third layer, is it?


    ¡­


    Several days passed in the blink of an eye.


    The Night Patrol of the Land of Remnants was still around.


    Not only that, but many patrol members had ventured deep into the area, searching over and over, as if looking for something.


    To be honest, Wen Jiu was worried they would find the corpse.


    A fully cultivated Qi Refinement male cultivator''s body, along with a damaged top-grade first-tier magical artifact¡ªhe didn''t want to lose either.


    But there was nothing he could do.


    All he could do was pray.


    Fortunately, after searching for several days, they stopped.


    Wen Jiu let out a deep sigh of relief.


    The next day, he took the black ghoul with him to hunt for wandering souls in the Land of Remnants, hoping to make up for the lost experience. He meticulously searched using his divine sense, not hesitating to delve deeper.


    Perhaps due to the time of day, it wasn''t long before he found a newly formed wandering soul lurking in the crevices of a pile of rubble.


    The black ghoul, ravenous, pounced on it immediately, devouring it without hesitation.


    However, just as this happened, a voice emerged from the mist-like yin energy¡ªweak and elderly.


    "Little friend¡­"


    "Little friend¡­"


    Wen Jiu''s heart tensed.


    He instinctively took a few steps back, positioning himself behind the black ghoul.


    The source of the voice was unclear.


    But his divine sense detected an overwhelming wave of yin energy¡ªseveral times colder than the surrounding atmosphere, ten times stronger than the wandering soul just now¡ªcarrying an undeniable aura of danger.


    At that moment, a kindly, elderly figure slowly drifted out from the cracks between the corpses.


    "Little friend, are you a gravekeeper from Dead Man''s Peak?"


    Wen Jiu stiffened.


    A true wandering soul!


    Even in daylight, its aura surpassed his, sending a chill down his spine.


    It was likely as strong as a second-layer Qi Refinement cultivator.


    Sensing Wen Jiu''s wariness, the old soul quickly reassured him, "Fear not, young one. I am Sikong Ming, a Night Patrol deacon of Qianye Peak. I perished here months ago and struggled immensely to leave behind this spectral form¡­ Could you help me deliver a message to Qianye Peak? Have the Night Patrol come for me, and I will reward you handsomely!"


    "How handsomely?" Wen Jiu asked.


    The old soul eagerly responded, "I can have my old friend take you as his disciple! That way, you can become an official member of Dead Man''s Peak and be rid of this gravekeeper''s labor. If you have any other requests, feel free to ask!"


    "Deal!" Wen Jiu''s face lit up with delight.


    "Senior, wait here. I''ll go fetch them now."


    With that, he turned to leave.


    But the moment he turned his back, the old soul lunged at him like a starving beast, its kind and gentle demeanor vanishing in an instant, replaced by savage ferocity!


    A surge of yin energy exploded like a tidal wave, and in the blink of an eye, it had vanished from its original spot¡ªreappearing right behind Wen Jiu.


    Its speed was terrifying.


    "Die, brat!"


    Just as the old soul pounced, the black ghoul intervened, blocking Wen Jiu and sinking its teeth deep into the ghostly figure. A bloody glow erupted from its body as its powerful arms locked the old soul in place. No matter how much it struggled, it was useless.


    Wen Jiu swiftly retreated ten steps, then turned around and coldly watched as the black ghoul swallowed the old soul piece by piece.


    The ghostly elder pleaded desperately, offering to pass on his life''s knowledge to Wen Jiu, but Wen Jiu didn''t even blink.


    Only after the black ghoul completely devoured the wandering soul did Wen Jiu finally move, letting out a relieved breath.


    "Good thing it''s daytime, and the black ghoul''s Blood Transformation Body has reached the second stage¡­ I never expected to encounter a wandering soul as strong as a second-layer Qi Refinement cultivator."


    If it had been nighttime, things would have been far more difficult.


    Even with the black ghoul''s second-stage Blood Transformation Body.


    "Having devoured such a powerful wandering soul, I wonder how much experience and death energy it''ll yield."


    Wen Jiu couldn''t help but look forward to the night''s settlement.


    Midnight arrived swiftly.


    The daily settlement began.


    [Daily Settlement Panel Lv2 (1/1000)]


    [Today''s Settlement!]


    [Chanted the Corpse-Nurturing Mantra for an hour: Corpse-Nurturing Mantra (Yin Prefecture) experience +10.]


    [Buried corpses in the Land of Remnants for three hours, searched for wandering souls for another three hours, continuously absorbing corpse energy and death energy: Panel experience +1, Corpse Energy +6, Death Energy +6.]


    [Raised a corpse in a corpse-nurturing ground for twelve hours using yin energy and a large amount of cultivator blood, devoured a first-tier lower wandering soul ghost cultivator: Panel experience +1, Corpse Mutation experience +18, +40, Corpse Nurturer experience +1, Blood Transformation Body experience +12, Death Energy +200, black ghoul acquired a new ghostly technique from devouring the lower wandering soul ghost cultivator: Three Rivers Ghost Concealment.]


    [Consumed two bowls of inferior spiritual rice, one pound of non-tiered demonic beast meat, and tempered the body using Earth Fiend Yin Energy for two hours: Body Tempering experience +20.]


    [P.S.: Daily panel upgrade¡ªstarting tomorrow, all experience gains will be doubled!]

 Chapter 17: Panel Upgrade

    Panel upgrade!


    Starting tomorrow, all experience gained will be doubled!


    With daily settlements granting double experience, wouldn''t this unorthodox method of his skyrocket his progress even further?


    Currently, without using the Corpse-Nurturing Curse to cultivate the black ghoul and relying solely on the Corpse-Nurturing Pearl, the black ghoul gains 18 experience points per day. Over the past ten days, combined with capturing wandering souls, its experience has already reached 250/500.


    Under normal circumstances, the remaining 250 experience points would take about thirteen more days to accumulate. But with experience doubled...


    Not even seven days!


    In less than seven days, the black ghoul would advance from its initial stage to the mid-stage.


    At that point, with the black ghoul enhanced by the second layer of Blood-Refining Body, even encountering ghost cultivators at night would no longer be a concern.


    Take today''s spoils as an example¡ª


    Even when the night was at its peak, the black ghoul was able to subdue enemies with ease.


    Moreover, with double experience, Blood-Refining Body could also advance rapidly. Currently, its experience was at 120/1000.


    To reach the third layer without using a cultivator''s refined blood, it would normally take around seventy-three more days.


    But with double experience, only about thirty-six days!


    Thirty-six days.


    And the Blood-Refining Body would step into the third layer!


    Just thinking about it sent chills down Wen Jiu''s spine.


    Based on its current effectiveness against wandering souls, the second layer of Blood-Refining Body was already enough to break through the defenses of typical Qi Refining Stage 2 ghosts. Once it reached the third layer, even ghost cultivators comparable to Qi Refining Stage 3 would likely be powerless against it.


    Looking at it on a larger scale¡ª


    Qi Refining Stage 3 cultivators, like Li Ye and Wang Nian, might not even be able to inflict substantial damage on the black ghoul.


    Of course¡ª


    That was assuming they didn''t use specialized techniques or talismans designed to counter ghouls.


    Though Wen Jiu wasn''t yet certain whether such techniques or talismans could suppress the black ghoul''s Blood-Refining Body, he chose to assume that they could.


    That way¡ª


    He wouldn''t get reckless.


    He wouldn''t underestimate his enemies.


    Cultivating immortality¡ª


    Required caution.


    Practicing unorthodox methods¡ª


    Demanded even greater caution!


    ¡­


    Wen Jiu''s gaze fell on his personal panel, where the black ghoul had unexpectedly acquired a new skill.


    [Black Ghoul Skills: Blood-Refining Body (Second Layer) (120/1000) + Ghost Art: Three Rivers Ghost Veil (Beginner) (0/100) +]


    A description followed:


    [Three Rivers Ghost Veil - Ghost Art]


    [A corpse and a ghost walk different paths; their techniques are incompatible. However, the black ghoul, having undergone mutation, is no ordinary ghoul. It can transform corpse energy and yin energy into ghost energy, allowing it to perform ghost arts. Three Rivers Ghost Veil has three layers. Upon reaching the third layer, the user can remain hidden for extended periods in darkness and daylight alike¡ªconcealing their aura, altering their energy signature, and silencing their presence. Ordinary cultivators cannot detect it, and only techniques or talismans designed to break stealth can reveal it.]


    "Ghost arts!"


    Wen Jiu stared at the panel in a daze.


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    He hadn''t expected that devouring a wandering soul and a ghost cultivator would grant him such an unexpected reward.


    It seemed his strategy of seeking out wandering souls during the day while feigning weakness was absolutely correct¡ªotherwise, the prey might have escaped.


    Then, he noticed the "+" symbol next to the skill.


    It could still be upgraded.


    Wen Jiu tapped it immediately.


    Corpse Energy -1


    [Remaining Corpse Energy: 119]


    "Good thing I have a habit of stockpiling."


    Wen Jiu instantly allocated 100 experience points to the skill.


    Three Rivers Ghost Veil advanced to the first layer.


    [Black Ghoul Skills: Blood-Refining Body (Second Layer) (120/1000) + Ghost Art: Three Rivers Ghost Veil (First Layer) (0/500) +]


    ¡­


    The next day.


    Wen Jiu eagerly led the black ghoul deep into a land of corpses to test out Three Rivers Ghost Veil.


    With just a thought, surging corpse energy instantly transformed into eerie black ghost energy, shrouding the black ghoul in invisibility.


    Even at close range¡ª


    If not for his spiritual connection with it¡ª


    Wen Jiu wouldn''t have been able to sense its presence. Even scanning the area with his divine sense revealed nothing.


    Absolutely absurd.


    The most terrifying part was that after using the ghost art, the black ghoul''s entire corpse energy had converted into ghost energy¡ª


    Completely enveloping it.


    Its form was obscured.


    As if standing before him wasn''t a ghoul at all, but a true ghost cultivator.


    "Perhaps¡­ this technique could prove invaluable at a critical moment."


    Wen Jiu made up his mind¡ª


    This ability must never be exposed.


    Then¡ª


    He began testing how long Three Rivers Ghost Veil could remain active.


    As expected.


    It didn''t take long.


    Just fifty short breaths.


    But that was enough.


    ¡­


    Evening.


    The sky was painted with hues of red as the sun began to set.


    From the distant mountains, the cries of celestial cranes and the roars of strange beasts echoed endlessly.


    Above, in the sea of clouds, cultivators could be seen flying past¡ªsome riding swords, others aboard flying vessels.


    If one were to look only at this scene, they might believe this was a land of immortals, a paradise that countless people dreamed of¡ªa place to pursue the path of cultivation.


    On the dusty yellow dirt road, Wen Ya carried a large porcelain bowl with both hands, carefully making her way toward where Wen Jiu lived. Her face was full of anticipation and warmth.


    She passed wooden huts one after another.


    She walked through narrow winding paths.


    It was then that three figures¡ªFang Zheng and his two companions¡ªhappened to be on their way home and crossed paths with Wen Ya. After walking just a few steps past her, they stopped.


    The three exchanged glances.


    They had recognized her¡ªWen Jiu''s elder sister.


    "Our chance has come," Fang Zheng spoke.


    The other two nodded.


    Then, together, they approached Wen Ya.


    "Wen Ya-jie?"


    Fang Zheng called out to her.


    Wen Ya froze for a moment. She turned to look at Fang Zheng and saw him walking toward her. Instinctively, she took a step back.


    "So it really is you, Wen Ya-jie¡­ Wen Dao-you often talks about you. He says he has a wonderful elder sister who brings him food every day. I never thought we''d actually run into you."


    Fang Zheng smiled brightly, stopping at a respectful half-zhang distance from her.


    Not too close.


    But not too far either.


    Just enough to lower Wen Ya''s guard.


    "It''s nothing, really," Wen Ya responded with a smile.


    But before she could say more, Fang Zheng''s expression suddenly grew serious, and he spoke again.


    "Since you''re Wen Dao-you''s older sister, there''s something I''m not sure if I should say¡­ It concerns him."


    "Go on!" The moment she heard it was about her younger brother, Wen Ya immediately urged him to continue.


    Fang Zheng exchanged glances with his companions before lowering his voice.


    "Wen Dao-you refused to listen to our advice and insisted on choosing a path of unorthodox cultivation¡­ I recently heard that Steward Xu absolutely detests those who follow unorthodox paths¡ªbecause his father was killed by one!"


    "What?!"


    Wen Ya''s face turned pale.


    She suddenly recalled the look of utter loathing on Old Lady Xu''s face whenever she mentioned unorthodox cultivation.


    Fang Zheng sighed, shaking his head.


    "That''s not all. I also heard that the Juyi Hall has taken an interest in Wen Dao-you. But he refuses to join¡­ I really don''t understand what he''s thinking. Juyi Hall was founded by an official from the Night Patrol Division, and it has a powerful steward backing it. If he joined, he''d have strong support."


    Wen Ya''s expression changed again.


    "That brat¡­"


    She wanted to say something but hesitated.


    A hint of suspicion crept into her mind.


    Why were they telling her this?


    "I''ll talk to him," Wen Ya replied vaguely, intending to leave.


    But Fang Zheng quickly stepped in front of her.


    "Wen Ya-jie, actually, I have a solution."


    "What solution?"


    Wen Ya stopped moving.


    She instinctively took two steps back.


    "It''s simple. If you join Juyi Hall, I refuse to believe that Wen Dao-you would still refuse after that."


    Fang Zheng finished speaking, a sly smile forming in his heart.


    He was only waiting for Wen Ya to agree.


    "I can''t¡­ I''m just a lowly servant¡­"


    Wen Ya quickly shook her head.


    But Fang Zheng insisted, "Wen Ya-jie, I have connections."


    "This¡­"


    Wen Ya hesitated.


    She didn''t dare to leave just yet.


    After all, at the end of the day, she was just a servant.


    And these three carried themselves with confidence. They were clearly from a powerful background.


    Seeing this, Fang Zheng didn''t press further. Instead, he smiled and said, "No worries, Wen Ya-jie. You can think about it¡­ But you''d best not tell Wen Dao-you about this. If he finds out, he''ll definitely try to stop you."


    "¡­Alright."


    Wen Ya nodded.


    After exchanging a few more polite words, she quickly left.


    Once she was gone, Fang Zheng and his companions exchanged glances.


    One of them, looking uneasy, spoke up.


    "Brother Fang, I feel like she didn''t believe us. She''ll probably turn around and tell him everything."


    Fang Zheng smirked.


    "Believe or not, tell or not¡ªit doesn''t matter. Juyi Hall has a grudge against Steward Xu. As long as I spread the word that Wen Ya has been in contact with Juyi Hall, the Xu family will almost certainly be enraged¡­ Do you really think a mere servant girl could still secure her place as a concubine?


    And once that happens¡­ Wen Jiu will be left with nowhere to go.


    He''ll be completely at our mercy."


    A cunning grin spread across Fang Zheng''s face.


    Recruit Wen Jiu?


    No.


    He wanted to force Wen Jiu into a dead end.


    An unorthodox cultivator.


    First-layer Qi Refinement?


    You don''t want to join?


    Well, I wouldn''t take you even if you begged.

 Chapter 18: Midnight Sleeplessness

    The wooden house.


    Wen Jiu lifted the lotus leaf covering the bowl as usual and started eating. But as he ate, he couldn''t shake the feeling that his sister, Wen Ya, seemed distracted today.


    "Jie, how are things at the Xu family?"


    No response.


    Only when Wen Jiu called her again did Wen Ya snap out of her daze as if waking from a dream. "Ah¡­ What did you say?"


    Seeing her reaction, Wen Jiu put down his chopsticks and pressed further. "Jie, are they bullying you at the Xu family?"


    "No, no," Wen Ya quickly shook her head and forced a smile, but the thoughts in her mind only felt more unsettling the more she dwelled on them. Those three people were probably not her brother''s friends at all¡ªmore likely, they were his enemies.


    "Jie, if you don''t tell me... then I won''t eat." Wen Jiu spoke firmly.


    Wen Ya hesitated, debating whether to tell him or not. But Wen Jiu, watching her intently, asked warily, "Jie, if it''s not the Xu family, then is it someone else? The Night Patrol Division? Or¡­ the corpse buriers?"


    The moment those six words¡ªNight Patrol Division, corpse buriers¡ªwere spoken, Wen Jiu got the answer he was looking for.


    Because at that moment, a flicker of surprise flashed across Wen Ya''s face.


    Subtle.


    Fleeting.


    But he caught it.


    Wen Ya realized that her brother had noticed and nodded hurriedly, confirming her suspicions.


    It seemed those three were up to no good.


    Not good people at all.


    Without delay, Wen Ya told Wen Jiu everything that had happened earlier outside, along with her concerns about those three''s intentions.


    Wen Jiu suddenly understood.


    A chill settled in his heart.


    They dared to lay a hand on his sister.


    Courting death.


    "Jie, don''t worry. I''ll take care of it." Wen Jiu reassured the slightly anxious Wen Ya.


    "Don''t act recklessly."


    Wen Ya warned him.


    Wen Jiu nodded.


    Reckless?


    Of course not.


    But some troubles, if left unresolved, will always remain troubles.


    ¡ª


    Early the next morning, Wen Jiu arrived at the Land of Dismembered Corpses.


    He had planned to act as if nothing had happened, lying in wait for the right moment. But the moment he arrived, people surrounded him, greeting him warmly as if the events of the past few days had never occurred.


    Just as he was about to ask about it, Wang Nian arrived in a hurry and pulled him aside.


    "You brat¡­ Why didn''t you listen? Are you really planning to join Juyi Hall?"


    Wen Jiu was confused. "Brother Wang, when did I ever say I wanted to join Juyi Hall?"


    Wang Nian''s expression darkened. "The rumor going around is that your sister is planning to join Juyi Hall. The Xu family steward has a grudge against Juyi Hall¡ªif this reaches the Xu family, your sister''s situation might¡­"


    "That''s absolute nonsense."


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    Wen Jiu''s face turned cold.


    But he didn''t immediately turn to confront Fang Zheng and his group.


    It seemed they were trying to force him into a dead end. If this rumor spread to the Xu family, there was no telling how they would react.


    But at the very least, his sister wouldn''t escape punishment.


    Hearing Wen Jiu''s response, Wang Nian also realized what was happening. "Looks like the Juyi Hall people did this on purpose¡­ Be careful. I''ve already reached out to a senior, and I plan to visit him in a few days. If he''s willing to speak on your behalf, even though you practice an unorthodox path, you could still become a disciple-in-training. As for your sister, I''ll go explain the situation to the Xu family matriarch."


    "Thank you, Brother Wang."


    Wen Jiu didn''t ask further.


    But he was deeply grateful.


    This favor¡ªhe would repay it tenfold.


    "Go on, then."


    With that, Wang Nian prepared to leave.


    Wen Jiu quickly spoke up, "Brother Wang, could you lend me a bit more silver? I want to buy twenty or thirty jin of beast meat."


    Since he already owed a favor, he might as well owe a little more.


    He needed to quickly enhance his body refinement.


    Once he became a disciple of Dead Man Peak, repaying the debt wouldn''t be too late.


    ¡ª


    Midnight.


    Wen Jiu lay awake, unable to sleep.


    Frustration churned in his chest.


    "I can''t sleep¡ªno way I can sleep!"


    He got up at once, stepping into the night, heading straight for the Land of Dismembered Corpses.


    Moments later.


    One man, one ghoul.


    Vanished into the darkness.


    Like a ghostly figure, he rushed straight toward the wooden houses.


    But he wasn''t heading home.


    Instead, he moved toward the other end of the area, closer to the market.


    That was where Fang Zheng and his two companions lived.


    He rode the wind as he traveled, moving so swiftly that even the gravedigger relieving himself at midnight failed to notice anything unusual.


    Before long, Wen Jiu saw their residence.


    Unlike the ordinary wooden huts the gravediggers lived in, Fang Zheng and his companions resided in a small courtyard with blue-tiled roofs and red-painted doors.


    Though not spacious, it had everything one could need.


    Standing beneath the courtyard wall, Wen Jiu could hear the three discussing their cultivation. With the concealment effect of the Three Rivers Ghost Veil, he looked up and saw them sitting in the courtyard under the glow of a lantern, engrossed in their discussion.


    "I''m absorbing Qi too slowly. It takes me a whole night just to gather a sliver of spiritual energy in my dantian. How about you two?"


    "Same here. I''m slightly better, but not by much¡­ At this rate, even after a year, we might not reach the first level of Qi Refining. Thinking back, that bastard Wen Jiu really had a terrifying talent for those heretical techniques¡ªhe reached the first level in just a month."


    "So what if he''s fast? Those who follow heretical paths die just as quickly¡­ But speaking of his sister, she''s got quite the figure. If I could enjoy her for a night¡­ Hahaha!"


    Upon hearing this, Wen Jiu''s killing intent surged.


    You little bastard¡­ you''re courting death!


    Wen Jiu shot a glance at the black ghoul beside him. In the next moment, the black ghoul revealed its true form, shrouded in thick, swirling ghostly energy, and charged into the courtyard.


    Killing three ordinary people? That was child''s play for a black ghoul.


    However, the moment it crossed the courtyard walls, a yellow talisman hanging from the eaves suddenly radiated golden light.


    Boom¡ª


    A wave of golden light erupted, crashing down upon the black ghoul.


    The three men were startled.


    "A ghost!"


    Fang Zheng immediately retreated.


    The other two followed suit, shouting, "Brother Li! Brother Li!"


    As their voices echoed, the door of a nearby house swung open with force.


    A disciple of the Night Patrol Division, already at the first level of Qi Refining, rushed out.


    But the instant he appeared, the black ghoul had already struck. One of the three was sent flying, and another was crushed underfoot as the ghoul leapt high, stomping him into the ground.


    Fang Zheng tried to escape, but the swirling ghostly energy engulfed him before he could get far.


    "Aaaah¡ª!"


    His agonized scream tore through the night. In an instant, his body was drained dry, reduced to a shriveled husk.


    All three were dead.


    The Night Patrol disciple saw that the situation was dire and immediately tried to flee.


    But Wen Jiu had no intention of letting him escape.


    The black ghoul lunged forward.


    First, it used Blood Transformation to block an incoming spell. Then, with a fierce movement, it delivered a Black Tiger Heart Strike, piercing the man''s chest and tearing out his heart.


    With everything settled, Wen Jiu didn''t bother looting the corpses.


    Under the cover of the Three Rivers Ghost Veil, he swiftly departed.


    The black ghoul returned to its lair among the remains of the dead.


    He, on the other hand, went home.


    One man, one ghoul.


    Vanishing into the night.


    All that remained were four corpses¡ª


    And an overwhelming aura of ghostly energy.


    A short while later, candles and lanterns flickered to life in every household.


    People gathered, making their way toward Fang Zheng''s residence.


    The Night Patrol Division quickly arrived.


    When they saw the four corpses and the dense ghostly energy lingering in the air, their expressions turned grim.


    Because the presence of ghost cultivators near Side Peak Market was no trivial matter.


    Meanwhile¡ª


    Wen Jiu lay on his bed, unable to calm his thoughts for a long time.


    To be honest¡ª


    If Fang Zheng and his friends hadn''t set their sights on his sister, he wouldn''t have wanted to deal with them so soon.


    Even though the Three Rivers Ghost Veil could disguise the black ghoul as a ghost cultivator, their deaths would undoubtedly prompt Li Ye''s investigation.


    No matter what¡ª


    He would be scrutinized.


    But Wen Jiu didn''t regret it.


    As he always said¡ª


    If trouble isn''t dealt with, it remains trouble.


    Besides, those three had already begun spreading rumors. If he had waited any longer, who knew what other problems might have arisen?


    "Whatever, time to sleep."


    "Tomorrow is going to be lively."


    Muttering to himself, Wen Jiu closed his eyes and drifted into deep slumber.


    The trouble was gone.


    And sleep had never felt better.

 Chapter 19: Brotherhood

    In the middle of his sleep, a sudden knocking sound erupted from outside the door. No¡ª to be precise, it was more like someone was pounding on it.


    "Wake up! Get out here, now!"


    Wen Jiu jolted awake, his heart tightening. But when he heard the same pounding on the doors of the neighboring rooms, he let out a quiet sigh of relief.


    Before long, all the corpse buriers were gathered together. A dozen or so Night Patrol Division disciples questioned them one by one. Wen Jiu was among those questioned, but the questions were simple¡ª


    "Did you hear anything unusual last night?"


    "Did you see any strangers?"


    As for suspicions, none of them were under any. A group of corpse buriers who had just begun their cultivation wouldn''t have been able to kill Fang Zheng and the other two, let alone take down a Qi Refining Stage disciple from the Night Patrol Division. Besides, based on the scene, the killer was either a vengeful spirit that had turned into a ghost cultivator or a ghost cultivator outright.


    None of the corpse buriers fit that profile.


    So, after a brief round of questioning, they were dismissed. However, after all that commotion, most people had lost any hope of going back to sleep. They gathered together, speculating about what exactly had happened.


    Wen Jiu, on the other hand, went straight back to his room and fell asleep until morning.


    It wasn''t until his sister, Wen Ya, brought him breakfast that he finally got up.


    As he ate, his mind wandered¡ª


    Just as he''d predicted, since the San Chuan Ghost Veil was a ghost technique, no one had even considered him a suspect.


    The only one who might suspect him... was probably Li Ye.


    Wen Ya looked at him with concern. "When I got here, I heard someone died in your area. And not just anyone¡ª a Night Patrol Division disciple!"


    "Don''t worry, sis. Now that this happened, the Night Patrol Division will definitely tighten their patrols. Nothing else will happen." Wen Jiu reassured her.


    He couldn''t help but take another look at his sister.


    Hah.


    At some point, he''d truly come to see her as his real sister.


    His first time killing someone was partly because of her. Maybe it was because they spent so much time together, or maybe because she had always treated him so well, giving him her whole heart without holding back.


    Alone in a foreign place, having such a sister by his side¡­ it wasn''t bad at all.


    ¡ª


    When they arrived at the burial site, everyone was still discussing the night''s events. And when they noticed Fang Zheng and the other two were missing, they were all certain¡ª the three had been killed.


    For once, Wang Nian showed up early. He looked happier about the situation than Wen Jiu himself, who was the one who had secretly dealt with them.


    "Wen kid, you sure are lucky," Wang Nian said, grinning. "I went to buy meat today and just happened to come across a demon butcher selling non-ranked flower drake meat. That stuff is a major tonic¡ªit strengthens the body and nourishes the mind!


    "I got you thirty pounds of it. Come find me when you''re done here¡­ I might forget if I get too caught up in training."


    Wen Jiu cupped his hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Brother Wang."


    With Fang Zheng and the other two dead, Wen Jiu no longer had to keep up his act.


    Wang Nian laughed again. "Now that those three are gone, no one''s left to stand in your way¡­ Who else could compete with you now?"


    Wen Jiu smiled and nodded but didn''t reply.


    Because Wang Nian''s words reminded him¡ª


    No one left to compete with him.


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    That was both a good thing and a bad thing.


    Would Li Ye let him have his way? Probably not.


    Sure enough, the people who used to cluster around Fang Zheng now started gravitating toward Wen Jiu, following the flow of power.


    Some of them even stepped up, eager to call him "Big Brother," but Wen Jiu ignored them. He simply grabbed his cart and made his way toward the corpse disposal site. Some tried to help him, but Wang Nian barked at them, sending them scattering in fear.


    After entering the disposal site, Wen Jiu didn''t start moving bodies right away. Instead, he sought out the black ghoul buried in the area and led it to hunt for wandering spirits.


    Last night, when he had been lying awake, a thought had crossed his mind¡ª


    His ghost technique had come from the black ghoul devouring an evil spirit that had become a ghost cultivator.


    So what if it devoured more?


    Could he obtain more ghost techniques that way?


    Would the techniques be compatible?


    Ghost arts.


    Corpse arts.


    The two are fundamentally incompatible in terms of rules.


    Fusion or compatibility is practically impossible to some extent, which is precisely why no one had come looking for him.


    If he could obtain more ghost arts and let the black ghoul cultivate, as long as he didn''t expose the ghost arts on the black ghoul, no one would ever suspect anything.


    Using the black ghoul to kill, he could retreat without leaving a trace.


    No one would ever link it back to him.


    Mixing in with a sect was different from being a rogue cultivator. A rogue cultivator was like a rootless weed¡ªif they killed someone and got into trouble, they could always just run.


    But in a sect? Running wasn''t an option. Once you ran, you might as well be a rogue cultivator.


    That was why the black ghoul''s ghost arts were crucial.


    With anticipation, Wen Jiu began searching for wandering spirits in the Land of Broken Corpses. He searched for one to two hours but found nothing. Just as he reached a small valley, he suddenly heard ghostly wails and wolf howls, and a cold wind swept around him.


    If it had been an ordinary person, they would have been scared out of their wits.


    But Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    He charged in with the black ghoul without hesitation, fearing that if he was even a step too slow, the wandering spirits would escape.


    Sure enough¡ª


    The moment Wen Jiu rushed in, the wails stopped, and the eerie wind dissipated.


    A ghostly figure suddenly emerged from the forest and fled toward the depths of the valley. The black ghoul immediately leaped forward, trailing a thick corpse aura as it chased after the spirit. Within moments, it caught up to the wandering spirit.


    However, today''s wandering spirit was nowhere near as powerful as the old cultivator from last time.


    At most, it was equivalent to a first-stage Qi Refinement cultivator.


    After the black ghoul devoured it in one bite, it found it tasteless and immediately started searching the valley frantically.


    Yet¡ª


    There was nothing else.


    As dusk approached, Wen Jiu reburied the black ghoul and reluctantly left the Land of Broken Corpses.


    But the moment he stepped out¡ª


    He saw a group of Night Patrol Division members gathered outside, interrogating people one by one.


    With a single glance, Wen Jiu spotted Li Ye.


    Li Ye also saw him immediately, his cold eyes locking onto Wen Jiu as he ordered a nearby Night Patrol disciple, "Bring him over."


    "Senior, what''s going on?"


    Wen Jiu walked forward, feigning confusion.


    If Li Ye had solid evidence, he wouldn''t be met with just cold glares¡ªhe would already be facing a blade.


    So Wen Jiu remained unfazed.


    As he stepped closer, Li Ye turned to the two Night Patrol officers beside him and said, "Everyone, this is Wen Jiu, the one who practices unorthodox cultivation and has a known grudge against Fang Zheng and his group."


    The implication was obvious.


    He was trying to pin the blame on Wen Jiu.


    Feigning panic, Wen Jiu exclaimed, "Senior, it''s true that I don''t get along with Fang Zheng and the others, but even if you gave me ten times the courage, I wouldn''t dare to kill them! Besides, although I''ve reached the first stage of Qi Refinement, I have yet to learn any spells."


    "Then why did the murderer target only Fang Zheng''s group, kill them, and flee? How do you explain that? And with them dead, you, as an unorthodox cultivator, are the most likely candidate to be chosen as an apprentice, making you the biggest beneficiary! If it wasn''t you, then who else could it be?!" Li Ye''s icy gaze bore down on Wen Jiu, exuding a murderous aura in an attempt to break his composure.


    Wen Jiu sneered inwardly.


    Trying to shake me?


    Hoping I''ll slip up?


    Not a chance.


    "Senior, I may practice unorthodox methods, but before my parents sacrificed themselves for the Side Peak, they always taught me¡­ fellow disciples are brothers, and brothers are family¡­" Wen Jiu said with a trembling voice, casting a fearful look at the other two Night Patrol officers.


    Just as Li Ye, enraged, was about to press further, Wang Nian suddenly interrupted, his tone sharp, "Li Daoyou, I suggest you not go too far. The one who killed Fang Zheng''s group and our fellow Night Patrol disciple was either a ghostly cultivator or a wandering spirit. Wen Jiu practices the Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Art¡ªwhat he cultivates are ghouls. Besides, if Wen Jiu could reach Qi Refinement stage one in a month, then in a year, he could very well reach stage two. Even if it''s an unorthodox path, with that kind of talent, he would naturally be considered for apprenticeship. There''s no need for him to kill those three useless schemers who only knew how to play dirty tricks."


    The moment he said that¡ª


    Li Ye''s face twisted in fury, and his gaze snapped toward Wang Nian. But before he could lash out, the two Night Patrol officers beside him spoke up.


    "Li Daoyou, we understand your urgency in finding the killer, but if you''re using this as an excuse for personal revenge, don''t blame us for reporting it truthfully to the supervisor."


    "That saying wasn''t wrong¡ªfellow disciples are brothers, and brothers are family. Li Daoyou, enough is enough."


    With that, the two officers prepared to leave with their subordinates.


    As for further questioning, they had lost interest.


    They simply felt that staying here any longer was a waste of time.


    Left with no choice, Li Ye could only swallow his anger. But before he left, he shot Wen Jiu a murderous glare.


    It was clear¡ª


    He wasn''t going to let Wen Jiu off.


    Wen Jiu met his gaze head-on.


    A silent decision formed in his heart.


    Li Ye.


    You have to die.

 Chapter 20: Qi Refinement Level Two

    As soon as the Night Patrol Division left, the group of grave diggers breathed a sigh of relief.


    Although the incident had nothing to do with them, being interrogated by so many disciples of the Night Patrol Division still brought them immense pressure. After all, they were mere grave diggers at the bottom rung of society¡ªif they were wrongfully accused or forced into a confession, it would be a dead end for them.


    "Alright, everyone, disperse," Wang Nian spoke.


    The crowd, feeling relieved, gradually scattered.


    Then, Wang Nian patted Wen Jiu on the shoulder. "Kid, don''t worry... You think he''s the only one who knows how to play dirty? I''ve got my own backing too! My second uncle is Wang Qing, the steward of the Alchemy Hall under the jurisdiction of the Side Peak! If I really push it, I can cut off his supply of pills next month. Let''s see who''s tougher then."


    Hearing this, Wen Jiu was momentarily stunned.


    Good heavens.


    So this guy was a privileged cultivator too.


    He had never noticed it before.


    "Thank you, Brother Wang," Wen Jiu expressed his gratitude once again, strengthening his resolve to cling tightly to Wang Nian''s support.


    Though he was still inexperienced in the ways of the world, Wen Ping understood that the path of cultivation involved many different crafts¡ªTalisman Masters, Artifact Forgers, Alchemists, and more.


    Corpse Nurturing was also considered one of these arts, but it was classified as an unorthodox practice.


    As a result, it had an extremely low status among the various cultivation arts. Alchemists and Artifact Forgers, on the other hand, were different.


    Both were essential to cultivators. Unless one expected to perish the next day, they would never be able to avoid relying on an Alchemist.


    Since Wang Nian''s second uncle held a high position in the Alchemy Hall, it seemed that if Wen Jiu wanted to climb up despite his unorthodox background, he would need to take advantage of this opportunity.


    With his help, securing Wen Jiu''s apprentice status would be much easier.


    Looks like it was time to showcase some skills again.


    Otherwise, an Alchemist wouldn''t even spare him a glance.


    Especially since he was walking an unorthodox path.


    "Alright, head back. Here, take this signal talisman¡­ If that brat Li Ye comes looking for you again, crush it immediately, and I''ll be able to sense your location." Wang Nian pulled out a cloth bag containing thirty pounds of demon beast meat from his storage pouch, along with a talisman.


    "Many thanks, Brother Wang."


    Wen Jiu cupped his fists in gratitude, carefully storing away the talisman.


    ¡­


    Several days passed in the blink of an eye.


    The Night Patrol Division was still investigating the deaths of Fang Zheng and the others, and they had begun collecting information on ghost cultivators within the Side Peak.


    Ghost cultivators who manipulated yin spirits generally didn''t dare approach within five miles of the Side Peak, as the area was densely populated with cultivators, creating a strong yang presence. Ordinary yin spirits wouldn''t come here to feed; they were more likely to target mortal lands.


    Therefore, the Night Patrol Division concluded that the culprit behind the deaths of Fang Zheng, the other two, and their own disciples was likely a ghost cultivator.


    However¡­


    They found no leads.


    Even increasing the bounty yielded no results.


    Meanwhile, inside a luxurious residence within the Side Peak''s trading market, Li Ye was listening to his subordinate''s report.


    As he listened, his expression grew darker with anger.


    "Enough, leave!"


    Once he dismissed his men, he slammed his palm down, shattering the stone table beside him. The sudden noise startled the beautiful woman in thin clothing next to him.


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    But in the next moment, she quickly pressed herself against him, her delicate hands stroking his chest.


    "Husband¡­ don''t be angry. If you harm your health over this, it won''t be worth it. Perhaps my brother was simply not fated for this path¡­"


    Li Ye glanced down at the fair skin of the woman before him, and his expression softened slightly. However, his irritation didn''t fade. "Who was it? Who just happened to ruin my plan, letting that unorthodox cultivator Wen Jiu benefit for nothing?"


    He couldn''t understand it.


    It was too much of a coincidence!


    Could it really be that his brother-in-law was simply not destined for this opportunity?


    No.


    He refused to believe it.


    He had to continue investigating Wen Jiu!


    "This won''t do. I can''t let that brat take advantage of this for nothing. I need to visit my master. If he speaks against Wen Jiu, that kid will never set foot in the Side Peak¡­ Master despises unorthodox cultivators."


    With that, Li Ye grabbed the woman''s hand.


    His smile gradually turned sinister. As long as he suppressed Wen Jiu, he could arrange for his own people to take the spot instead.


    ¡­


    Xu Family Residence.


    The news that Wen Ya had connections with the Justice Hall had already spread throughout the household.


    That evening, when Wen Ya returned after delivering meals, several elegantly dressed noblewomen approached her.


    Their figures were indeed graceful, but the ridicule and gloating on their faces made them look ugly, enough to evoke disgust.


    No one dared show it, though.


    Because these three women were concubines of Steward Xu.


    In the Xu Family Residence, they were as good as royalty.


    They blocked Wen Ya''s path.


    The nearby servants turned pale, looking on with concern.


    Sure enough, one of the women sneered, "Xiao Ya, if a mere servant girl like you wants to climb the social ladder, at least keep your eyes open. Our Xu family has a blood feud with the Justice Hall¡­ and yet you dare to associate with them? The madam was furious when she found out!"


    The other women joined in, snickering with schadenfreude.


    Wen Ya''s face changed slightly, but she didn''t dare retort. The difference in status was too vast.


    At the same time, she couldn''t be bothered to argue back. Right now, all she wanted was to find the old madam and explain everything as soon as possible. If she was late, the consequences might be unimaginable.


    However, just as Wen Ya was about to leave, someone blocked her path. "No need to go. The old madam doesn''t want to hear your explanation right now."


    But at that moment, the voice of the Xu family''s old madam could be heard from the nearby corridor as she bid farewell to a guest. "Daoist Wang, do visit when you have time."


    Wang Nian cupped his hands in salute. "Certainly, certainly."


    "Thank you for your trouble today, Daoist Wang. If you hadn''t personally come to explain, I might have wrongly blamed Xiao Ya."


    "Even without me, I''m sure you would have figured it out," Wang Nian responded with a respectful gesture before taking his leave.


    As soon as he left, the old madam''s expression shifted slightly, her gaze landing on Wen Ya in the distance, carrying a hint of surprise in her eyes.


    She had thought Wen Ya was completely alone at Deadman''s Peak.


    She hadn''t expected Wang Nian to personally step in to speak on her behalf.


    And who was Wang Nian?


    He was none other than the grandnephew of Master Wang, an esteemed alchemist of the pill refining hall.


    "Xiao Ya, come here¡­ I''ve just brewed some Snow Orchid tea, a nourishing tonic that enhances beauty. Join me for a cup."


    Upon hearing this, the expressions of several noblewomen around her shifted slightly.


    Wen Ya, too, was taken aback, her face full of astonishment and confusion.


    What was going on?


    ...


    In the Forsaken Corpse Grounds, Wen Jiu was training his body while waiting for the daily settlement.


    Once today''s rewards were distributed, the Black Ghoul would reach the mid-stage.


    What he was particularly curious about was whether he could obtain a ghost technique. Earlier in the day, he had come across a wandering wraith, one equivalent to a second-layer Qi Refining cultivator. However, the previous wraith he had captured hadn''t granted the Black Ghoul any new ghost abilities.


    If this one also failed, then it would prove that the Black Ghoul couldn''t acquire ghost techniques from ordinary wraiths¡ªit had to be from ghost cultivators or higher-level spectral beings.


    Before long, midnight arrived.


    The daily settlement began.


    [Daily Settlement Panel Lv2 (21/1000)]


    [Today''s Settlement!]


    [Chanting the Corpse Nurturing Mantra for two hours¡ªYinzhou Corpse Nurturing Mantra experience +20.]


    [Burying corpses for three hours, searching for wraiths for three hours, continuously absorbing corpse energy and death aura¡ªPanel experience +1, Corpse Energy +12, Death Aura +12.]


    [Using Yin energy and a large amount of fresh cultivator blood to nurture the corpse for twelve hours, devouring a first-rank lower-tier ghost cultivator¡ªPanel experience +1, Corpse Mutation experience +36, +60, Corpse Nurturer experience +2, Blood Transformation Body experience +24, Death Aura +300.]


    [Consuming two bowls of low-grade spiritual rice and two pounds of non-ranked demonic beast meat while using Earth Fiend Yin Energy to temper the body for two hours¡ªBody Refinement experience +40.]


    "I didn''t obtain a ghost technique."


    "Looks like my theory was correct."


    However, the amount of Death Aura gained was substantial.


    After the settlement bonus, it totaled an impressive three hundred points.


    That was quite a lot.


    Wen Jiu quickly checked his remaining Death Aura.


    With today''s three hundred points, plus the one hundred gained from the previous wraith, and the accumulation from the past few days, the total amount exceeded his expectations.


    [Death Aura Balance: 956]


    Next, he glanced at the experience progress of the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art.


    [Technique: Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art (First Layer 61/1000) +]


    "If I wanted to¡­"


    "I could immediately break through to the second layer of Qi Refining!"


    Wen Jiu was thrilled.


    To be honest, he was tempted to press the [+] button right away.


    But he hesitated.


    Would advancing too quickly attract unwanted attention?


    Then again, with Li Ye watching him like a predator and the need to gain the recognition of Wang Nian''s second uncle to secure a place at Deadman''s Peak¡­


    Perhaps breaking through to the second layer of Qi Refining was the best course of action.


    With that thought, Wen Jiu made up his mind and decisively pressed the upgrade button!


    In an instant, he stepped into the second layer of Qi Refining.


    [Technique: Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art (Second Layer 0/2000)]


    [Death Aura Balance: 17]


    But just as the breakthrough completed, Wen Jiu suddenly sensed a strange disturbance from the Forsaken Corpse Grounds¡ªsomeone was digging up the Black Ghoul''s burial site!


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 21: Pursuit in the Night

    In the land of the forsaken corpses, beneath a dense mist filled with eerie yin energy, three figures¡ªtwo men and one woman¡ªmoved cautiously through the darkness. They were clad in the black night patrol robes of the Night Watch Division. One held a talisman to repel the bone-chilling yin energy surrounding them, another gripped an exorcism charm to ward off vengeful spirits, and the woman carried a black ghost head in her hand.


    The black ghost head continuously released spectral energy, spreading downward like tendrils across the ground, searching for something unseen.


    Before long, the woman halted abruptly. Under the dim moonlight, her cold and stern face lit up with a trace of excitement. The two men beside her immediately focused on her, unable to contain their anticipation.


    "Did you find what the Tower Master wants?"


    "No," the woman replied, causing brief disappointment to flicker across their faces. But her next words reignited their excitement. "Though I didn''t find what the Tower Master is looking for, I did discover a newly formed ghoul. Its corpse energy is incredibly dense and thick¡ªan extremely rare find. It seems the corpse breeder put in a great deal of effort. If we take it, we can sell it for at least fifty low-grade spirit stones. A huge profit!"


    "Fifty spirit stones¡­" The two men exchanged glances.


    They were tempted.


    Even with their positions in the Night Watch Division and their additional tasks for the Tower Master, they only earned five low-grade spirit stones per month. After covering daily cultivation expenses and renting a cave dwelling, there was barely anything left¡ªlife was tight.


    Seeing them hesitate, the woman quickly added, "I have a ghost technique¡ªSpirit Banishment. It specifically counters corpse breeders and can sever their spiritual link with the ghoul. This one may have exceptionally dense corpse energy, but it''s still just newly formed, barely equivalent to the first level of Qi Refining. As long as the corpse breeder isn''t nearby, a few suppression talismans will be enough to handle it."


    As she spoke, she pulled out three corpse suppression talismans.


    The two men glanced at each other and immediately began digging.


    "Dig it up, then we leave."


    "Agreed."


    Suddenly, an enraged roar erupted from beneath the ground.


    The ghoul!


    Just as the two men dug a foot deep and the corpse became visible, the ghoul surged out of the burial pit, unleashing a wave of violent corpse energy.


    Its aura skyrocketed.


    From newly formed to mid-tier¡ª


    In an instant!


    "How did it suddenly reach mid-tier?!" The woman hastily threw out the three suppression talismans, but the ghoul''s corpse energy shattered them instantly.


    The other two men''s expressions changed as they instinctively retreated.


    "Don''t run!" the woman snapped. "A mid-tier ghoul is worth at least a hundred spirit stones! We''ve struck gold! I still have a top-grade first-tier suppression talisman, but you''ll have to compensate me for the cost later!"


    Their eyes widened.


    A hundred low-grade spirit stones!


    This was a fortune!


    ¡ª


    At the same time, Wen Jiu could clearly sense that his spiritual connection with the ghoul was being blocked by a thick layer of spectral energy, like dark clouds obscuring the moon.


    Fortunately, this was no ordinary ghoul¡ªit was an aberrant ghoul, bound to his corpse-breeding interface. So, despite the interference, Wen Jiu could still feel its presence.


    He could also sense those around it.


    Three people.


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    Two men, one woman.


    All at the second level of Qi Refining.


    Two were normal Qi Refining cultivators.


    The other was a ghost cultivator.


    "Three of them¡­" As soon as the ghoul was immobilized by a suppression talisman, Wen Jiu didn''t hesitate¡ªhe crushed a signal talisman instantly and rushed toward the nearest Night Watch Division outpost.


    Although the ghoul could escape using the Three Rivers Ghost Veil technique, Wen Jiu wouldn''t let it resort to that unless absolutely necessary.


    By the time he explained the situation, Wang Nian had already arrived in a hurry¡ªhis clothes disheveled, clearly having been roused from sleep by Wen Jiu''s signal talisman.


    Before Wang Nian could even ask, Wen Jiu quickly said, "Brother Wang, someone is searching for something in the land of forsaken corpses in the middle of the night."


    "Mm!" Wang Nian was startled. Two words immediately popped into his mind¡ªspy! He quickly asked, "How do you know?"


    "My black ghoul, buried in the Land of Dismembered Corpses, discovered them," Wen Jiu rephrased the theft of his black ghoul. If his black ghoul was stolen and he sought the Night Patrol Division for help, he would owe them a favor. But if he personally discovered infiltrators with ulterior motives, then to the Night Patrol Division, this would be a great merit on his part.


    Wang Nian''s expression shifted slightly. "Could it be the spies that have been causing such a stir lately? Let''s go check it out!"


    A nearby Night Patrol disciple quickly added, "I''ll send a transmission right away to call for reinforcements from the nearest patrol members."


    Soon, Wang Nian took to the skies on his sword, bringing the two of them toward the Land of Dismembered Corpses.


    As they neared their destination, seven or eight dark figures emerged from the night. Their auras were restrained yet profoundly strong.


    They were disciples of the Night Patrol Division.


    Among them was a steward at the third level of Qi Refining.


    His name was unknown, but people called him Steward Liu.


    His aura far surpassed Wang Nian''s.


    Wen Jiu recognized him¡ªsome days ago, he had come to the Land of Dismembered Corpses to question them. He was not on the same side as Li Ye.


    "I''ve already been informed of the situation¡­ Can you still sense them through your black ghoul?" Steward Liu''s gaze landed on Wen Jiu.


    He was slightly surprised when he saw Wen Jiu.


    He had heard about Wen Jiu from some Night Patrol disciples recently.


    A practitioner of unorthodox cultivation.


    Yet within a month, he had reached the first level of Qi Refining.


    But Steward Liu didn''t find it particularly impressive. Practicing unorthodox techniques meant sacrificing lifespan, foundation, and future potential in exchange for cultivation progress.


    Reaching the first level of Qi Refining in a month was nothing remarkable.


    On the contrary, it was short-sighted.


    His future prospects were bleak.


    Still, he hadn''t expected that the spy they had been unable to track down would end up being found by this kid, purely by chance.


    Wen Jiu nodded. "I can!"


    "Lead the way!" Steward Liu barely gave him an approving look, though he remained steadfast in his belief that unorthodox cultivation was shortsighted. But in the next moment, as he examined Wen Jiu more closely, his expression suddenly changed.


    "Second level of Qi Refining!"


    Wang Nian noticed Steward Liu''s surprise and asked in confusion, "Daoist Liu, what do you mean by second level of Qi Refining?"


    Seeing that Steward Liu was staring at Wen Jiu, Wang Nian also turned his gaze toward him and extended his spiritual sense.


    Second level of Qi Refining!


    Holy crap!


    He was talking about Wen Jiu.


    "Wen, when did this happen?" Damn, this kid had broken through to the second level of Qi Refining so fast.


    This was a new record for Side Peak.


    No wonder he had caught Wang Nian''s eye!


    Wen Jiu quickly replied, "I was lucky enough to break through tonight."


    But he had no time to bask in their praise. He urgently pointed to the left. "Brother Wang, that way! They''re trying to escape through Dead Man''s Valley!"


    "Beyond Dead Man''s Valley lies a dense forest stretching a hundred miles. If they escape into it, finding them again will be nearly impossible."


    Wang Nian had no time to dwell on his shock and excitement¡ªhe immediately took off on his sword in pursuit.


    The Night Patrol disciples quickly followed.


    But they couldn''t help but glance at Wen Jiu.


    Second level of Qi Refining.


    Damn.


    He hadn''t even become a probationary disciple yet, and he was already at the second level of Qi Refining.


    Even the steward of the Night Patrol Division was only at the third level of Qi Refining!


    This was unprecedented for Side Peak.


    Even though it was unorthodox cultivation, it was still shocking. After all, Side Peak had seen its share of unorthodox cultivators in the past.


    Meanwhile, three figures were racing through the dense yin energy. They could already hear the sound of swords breaking through the night sky.


    The pursuers were closing in.


    "What''s going on?"


    "Their spiritual senses shouldn''t be able to reach this far. They shouldn''t be able to track us like this¡ªwhy are they chasing us so persistently?"


    The female cultivator was equally bewildered. She instinctively glanced at the black ghoul carried by the male cultivator, then shook her head.


    Impossible.


    He had already used ghostly techniques to sever the connection between the corpse-raiser and the black ghoul.


    There shouldn''t be any way to sense it anymore.


    But if it wasn''t the black ghoul¡ª


    Then what was it?


    "Forget it, give me the black ghoul. We''ll split up and run!" The female cultivator reached for the black ghoul on the male cultivator''s back.


    The two exchanged a glance before ultimately deciding to hand it over to her. After all, neither of them had cultivated techniques to suppress black ghouls.


    If the black ghoul broke free from its corpse-sealing talisman, they would be doomed.


    The female cultivator added, "Move fast¡ªgo through Dead Man''s Valley and into the mountains!"


    With that, she hoisted the black ghoul onto her shoulder and sprinted off in another direction.


    Sensing this, Wen Jiu''s expression tensed. Just as he was about to speak, a thought flashed through his mind.


    Maybe tonight was an opportunity.


    An opportunity to become a probationary disciple ahead of time!

 Chapter 22: Solo Battle Against the Ghost Cultivator

    He had already reached the second level of Qi Refining.


    Regardless of anything else, just for the sake of cultivation, Wen Jiu needed to become a probationary disciple to obtain the subsequent techniques of the Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Art. He had already figured it out¡ªsince he had decided to make a display of his abilities, he might as well go all out.


    This was an opportunity¡ªone that came once in a lifetime.


    The Land of Dismembered Corpses stretched for ten miles, and after nightfall, the Yin energy became extremely intense, making it impossible for spiritual senses to fully extend within. Beyond that lay a dense forest spanning a hundred miles¡ªonce the enemy disappeared into it, finding them would be like searching for a needle in the ocean.


    If it weren''t for the trio''s greed for the Black Ghoul, this kind of opportunity would have never arisen, and even if it had, they wouldn''t have been able to seize it.


    "Brother Wang, they''ve split up."


    Making up his mind, Wen Jiu spoke.


    The moment his words fell, before Wang Nian could respond, Steward Liu impatiently asked, "Can you still sense their locations?"


    As he spoke, he had already pulled out several Dispersing Yin Talismans¡ªfar superior to the ones Wang Nian had used earlier to dispel Yin energy.


    "They split up in that mountain ravine three breaths ago." Wen Jiu quickly pointed toward the ravine, shrouded in dense Yin energy.


    The moment he finished speaking, Steward Liu flew off on his sword, throwing Dispersing Yin Talismans one after another toward the area where the three had separated.


    Boom! Boom!


    The talismans activated one after another, instantly scattering the Yin energy for hundreds of feet around.


    "Killed over a dozen of my Night Patrol Division disciples, and now they want to run?" Steward Liu tossed out more talismans as if they were worthless, his murderous intent growing stronger with each passing moment. Even Wang Nian, standing beside him, felt a chill down his spine.


    After throwing down more than ten talismans, two figures were finally exposed before them.


    Seeing that the two were wearing the robes of the Night Patrol Division, Steward Liu''s rage intensified. Without hesitation, he charged at them on his sword, intent on killing them.


    The rest of the Night Patrol Division disciples immediately followed.


    Wang Nian was about to move when Wen Jiu stopped him. "Brother Wang, let''s go after the other one. I can sense her position."


    "Let''s go!"


    Wang Nian was overjoyed.


    After glancing back at the Night Patrol Division, he asked again, "Wen kid, are you sure she''s alone?"


    "Mm-hmm." Wen Jiu nodded and pointed toward the other side of the Land of Dismembered Corpses.


    Wang Nian immediately flew off on his sword, already pulling out several Dispersing Yin Talismans¡ªeach of the same quality as Steward Liu''s, but instead of his usual frugality, he pulled out four or five at once.


    Before Wen Jiu could say anything, Wang Nian spoke hurriedly, "Wen kid, this is your chance¡ªan opportunity that comes once in a lifetime. With your breakthrough to the second level of Qi Refining, becoming a probationary disciple, or even a full-fledged disciple, would normally be more than enough¡­ but the problem is that your cultivation method belongs to the unorthodox path. There aren''t many officers who outright detest it, but there are always some who do. That''s why you need proof¡ªproof that your breakthrough wasn''t achieved by harming your lifespan, damaging your foundation, or recklessly burning your potential."


    He continued, "This lone spy is the best proof! But keep in mind¡ªshe''s a disciple of the Night Patrol Division, so she likely has many techniques and other means at her disposal. And you''ll have to face her alone. If I help, it won''t count¡­ So, it''s up to you how you want to handle it."


    Wang Nian''s expression was serious. He genuinely wanted to help Wen Jiu become a probationary disciple and join Dead Man Peak, but rules were rules. There was nothing he could do¡ªit was all up to Wen Jiu himself.


    Looking at Wang Nian, who was serious yet concerned for him, Wen Jiu felt warmth in his heart. Without hesitation, he responded, "Brother Wang, leave her to me."


    Wang Nian nodded, clapped Wen Jiu''s shoulder firmly, and said in a deep voice, "Good! Then I''ll stay to the side and record everything with a Recording Talisman¡­ Don''t worry, if she has some trump card you can''t handle, I''ll step in immediately."


    "Thank you, Brother Wang."


    Wen Jiu clasped his hands in gratitude.


    When he turned back, his eyes were locked onto the ghost cultivator speeding through the Yin mist. Without hesitation, he leaped down.


    Wang Nian wasted no words, immediately tossing out five top-tier first-grade Dispersing Yin Talismans, worth a total of thirty low-grade spirit stones.


    But if they could help Wen Jiu, they were worth every bit!


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    Boom!


    The five talismans detonated in unison, instantly dispersing the Yin mist for hundreds of feet.


    The female cultivator''s expression changed drastically. She immediately raised a Ghost Head in defense. But when she realized it was just a Dispersing Yin Talisman, she let out a sigh of relief.


    Then, seeing that only Wen Jiu, clad in plain cloth, had jumped down¡ªand that the Qi Refining third-level steward was merely observing from above¡ªshe immediately understood.


    "So you bastards want to use me as a stepping stone?!"


    As she spoke, she hurled the Ghost Head toward Wen Jiu.


    The Ghost Head instantly transformed into an eight-foot-tall ghostly entity, surging forward with rising power.


    It completely overpowered Wen Jiu!


    Seeing this, Wang Nian''s expression shifted.


    This was an elite Yin spirit, nearly at the peak of the second level of Qi Refining!


    Just as Wang Nian hesitated over whether to intervene, a sudden explosion rang out¡ªbehind the female cultivator, her Black Ghoul erupted with a surge of blood and corpse energy, shattering the Corpse Suppression Talisman that bound it.


    Before she could react, the Black Ghoul''s razor-sharp claws were already lunging toward her.


    She was utterly horrified. "Impossible! That Corpse Suppression Talisman was enough to restrain a high-tier Black Ghoul¡ªhow could it fail¡­?"


    Her voice was abruptly cut off.


    The Black Ghoul had already pounced!


    In desperation, she hastily summoned a black mirror artifact and spewed a mouthful of dense blood essence onto it. The mirror turned crimson, and a surge of blood-red ghostly energy erupted, engulfing the Black Ghoul.


    At the same time, the ghostly entity she had summoned turned to attack the Black Ghoul as well.


    Despite being enveloped in blood-red light, the Black Ghoul showed no signs of retreat. Instead, its own body began to glow with a crimson sheen.


    "Hmph, as expected of a Night Patrol Division disciple¡ªyou actually have a ghost artifact!"


    But seeing the ghost artifact, Wen Jiu didn''t panic at all.


    Instead of making his Black Ghoul retreat, he commanded it to charge forward!


    Wen Jiu raised his hand and unleashed a dark technique, which shot into the ghoul''s body, enhancing its corpse energy to its peak.


    Watching this unfold, Wang Nian''s heart pounded wildly.


    Was this really just the combat prowess of someone at the second level of Qi Refinement? Even if he were to step in, he wasn''t sure he''d gain any advantage.


    And that ghoul¡ªhe clearly remembered that Wen Jiu had only recently cultivated it.


    Yet now, it was strong enough to go head-to-head against a ghost artifact and an evil spirit? This kid''s talent in unorthodox arts was absolutely monstrous! No wonder he had his eyes on him!


    But now wasn''t the time to celebrate.


    Wang Nian retrieved his own magic weapon, preparing to provide support at any moment. After all, Wen Jiu had only just stepped into the second level of Qi Refinement tonight.


    He might be strong.


    But there had to be a limit.


    In the next moment, the ghoul lunged at the evil spirit, sinking its teeth into its body and swallowing it mouthful by mouthful. No matter how the spirit roared and attacked, the ghoul remained unmoved.


    It stood like an unshakable mountain.


    Even the surging, blood-colored ghost energy was devoured without hesitation. Watching this, the female cultivator''s expression changed drastically.


    She tried to retreat.


    But after being bitten by the ghoul, she realized she couldn''t break free.


    Even her ghost artifact couldn''t be withdrawn.


    "Just how powerful was this ghoul when it was alive?!"


    In her understanding, the stronger a body was before death, the stronger the ghoul would be after being refined.


    For this mid-tier ghoul to suppress both her ghost artifact and her evil spirit, wouldn''t that mean it had to have been cultivated from the corpse of a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator?


    "No! I can''t let this continue!" Seeing that she had completely lost control of the situation, the female cultivator decisively abandoned her ghost artifact and evil spirit.


    She pulled out several talismans, ready to throw them.


    This was her last chance to escape.


    However¡ª


    A barrage of dark techniques shot toward her from Wen Jiu''s fingertips.


    She hastily released her ghost energy and threw out talismans to block them, but after a few attempts, she noticed something was off.


    Wherever the dark techniques landed, they spread¡ª


    Corroding her ghost energy!


    And the one that touched her arm seeped into her flesh, writhing through her veins like venomous worms.


    It was spreading¡ªfaster and faster.


    When she tried to use her ghost arts, she found that the moment she attempted to mobilize her ghost energy, it was immediately corroded and devoured by the dark technique.


    "You''re not from Deadman Peak!" the female cultivator shrieked in terror. In a panic, she hurled every talisman she had accumulated over the years.


    Then, she turned and fled.


    But¡ª


    She didn''t get far before she collapsed with a heavy thud.


    Lifeless.


    Watching this unfold, Wang Nian was utterly shocked. But at the same time, he was overjoyed, as if he had been the one to personally kill the female cultivator.


    "Wen kid, well done!"


    A fresh Qi Refinement second-layer cultivator.


    Yet he had slain a Night Patrol Division spy at the same level.


    What kind of achievement was this?


    How many official disciples could pull that off?


    However, when the still-dumbfounded Wang Nian stepped closer and got a clear look at the female cultivator''s corpse, he was startled by the gruesome state of the body, which had been corroded by the dark technique.


    He swallowed hard as he glanced at Wen Jiu.


    Good thing this kid was from Deadman Peak.


    And not an enemy.


    ¡­


    Before long, a large number of Night Patrol Division disciples arrived.


    As for the other two spies, one had been slain by Steward Liu with a single sword strike, while the other had his legs severed and was dragged to the Night Patrol Division''s dungeon.


    When the patrol members reached Wen Jiu''s location and saw the female cultivator''s horrific corpse, their faces paled.


    This was far worse than having one''s legs cut off.


    And when they heard from Wang Nian that Wen Jiu had killed her alone, their shock deepened.


    Their gazes toward Wen Jiu were no longer the same as before.


    Just as Wen Jiu was about to clean up and leave, someone appeared, drawing everyone''s attention.


    "Deacon Mu!"


    "Deacon Mu!"


    It was the very Night Patrol Division deacon they had met before.


    Besides him¡ª


    Li Ye and several other stewards had also arrived.


    When Li Ye saw that Wen Jiu had reached the second level of Qi Refinement and sensed the presence of the ghoul behind him¡ªan existence even stronger than Wen Jiu himself¡ªhe was stunned.


    How was this possible?


    It had only been a short time¡ª


    Yet Wen Jiu had managed to reach Qi Refinement Level Two through the Yinzhou corpse-nurturing method and had even cultivated a ghoul stronger than himself?


    How was this possible?


    Even with a talent for unorthodox arts, he shouldn''t be this strong!


    His spiritual root was clearly just a low-grade one!


    While he was still in shock, Deacon Mu of the Night Patrol Division carefully examined the female corpse and the ghoul before speaking.


    "Not bad. Very impressive. You''ve reached the second level of Qi Refinement in just two months using the Yinzhou corpse-nurturing method¡ªyour talent in unorthodox arts is remarkable. Your spiritual root may be poor, but your gift for corpse cultivation is undeniable. And now, you''ve single-handedly taken down a Night Patrol Division traitor. Would you be willing to serve under Mu Canglong?"


    As soon as these words fell¡ª


    The expressions of the Night Patrol Division disciples stiffened.


    Wang Nian was no exception.


    But the most shocked of all were Li Ye and the other stewards.

 Chapter 23: Struggle Among the Three Divisions

    Getting recruited by a deacon¡ªnow that would be a straight shot to the top. Ordinary apprentices and regular disciples were on a completely different level compared to disciples under a deacon. It wasn''t just about status; there were other privileges too. For one, regular overseers couldn''t order around a deacon''s disciples¡ªbecause they belonged to the deacon. Trying to command them would be overstepping boundaries.


    At this moment, Li Ye felt like he''d been slapped across the face. However, just as everyone expected Wen Jiu to accept the offer without hesitation, he merely bowed and expressed his gratitude.


    "Many thanks for Deacon Mu''s appreciation."


    Having lived two lives, Wen Jiu knew one thing very well: if you were going to follow someone, you had to pick the right person. In the cultivation world, choosing the wrong backer didn''t just make life difficult¡ªit could bring endless trouble. And worse, it could cost you your life. That was no small matter.


    So instinctively, Wen Jiu glanced at Wang Nian. As a third-generation immortal, Wang Nian had access to knowledge most people didn''t. Take Deacon Mu Canglong, for example¡ªWen Jiu knew nothing about him, but Wang Nian certainly did.


    Noticing Wen Jiu looking at him, Wang Nian felt a surge of joy. The few Soul-Calming Talismans he had spent weren''t wasted after all. He grinned and said, "Hold on, kid. Let me ask my second uncle later and see if he needs more people."


    The moment those words fell, Mu Canglong''s expression darkened. He knew exactly who Wang Nian''s second uncle was and understood the hidden message behind Wang Nian''s words.


    "In that case, I''ll return tomorrow."


    With that, Mu Canglong waved his hand, taking the female cultivator''s corpse with him. All he left behind was a flash of dazzling sword light.


    Before long, the crowd dispersed. Wang Nian led Wen Jiu back, flying on his sword while explaining along the way.


    "Kid, don''t get the wrong idea¡ªI can''t actually get you into the Alchemy Hall. That place has strict requirements. First off, you need a wood-attribute lower-grade spiritual root."


    Realization dawned on Wen Jiu. "I get it now, Brother Wang."


    "Talking to a smart guy saves me so much effort. Listen, Feixian Peak has seven divisions: Night Patrol Division, Alchemy Hall, Talisman Room, Weapon Refining Tower, Spirit Farmer Division, Demon Slayer Division, and Demon Suppression Division. Once word spreads that you killed a Qi Refining second-layer spy, they''ll come recruiting you. What we need to do now is wait¡ªsee who offers the best deal."


    Wang Nian flashed a sly grin, looking unusually excited, almost as if he were the one being recruited.


    Meanwhile, Wen Jiu replayed Wang Nian''s words in his mind. He hadn''t realized Feixian Peak had so many branches. Alchemy Hall and Talisman Room made sense, but Demon Slayer Division? Demon Suppression Division? Were they specifically tasked with handling demons?


    Setting aside his thoughts, Wen Jiu quickly expressed his gratitude. Having a good elder brother who could help bridge information gaps was invaluable. Without Wang Nian, he would have accepted the offer on the spot earlier.


    "Thanks, Brother Wang."


    "No need to be polite. You earned this. A mere apprentice breaking into Qi Refining second-layer and slaying an intruder all on his own? That hasn''t happened in fifty years!" Wang Nian''s tone was full of admiration and excitement.


    ¡ª


    The next morning, Wen Ya brought food again¡ªthis time, a much more luxurious meal than usual.


    It was actually lower-grade spiritual rice, an expensive delicacy costing a hundred silver taels per jin. Regular people couldn''t afford it; even true disciples of Dead Man''s Peak could only barely manage to eat it.


    As soon as she stepped into the house, Wen Ya eagerly shared the sudden improvements in their family''s situation within the Xu Clan, particularly emphasizing the overseer who had spoken up on their behalf.


    She had no idea who it was or why they had helped.


    Wen Jiu, however, simply smiled without explaining.


    This was one of his motivations for climbing higher¡ªto give his family a better life.


    Feeling grateful to Wang Nian, Wen Jiu dug into the spiritual rice with large bites. He had to admit, even lower-grade spiritual rice was rich in spiritual energy and had an incredibly smooth texture.


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    ¡ª


    Back at the land of corpses.


    The grave diggers seemed unaware of what had happened the previous night. Though they regarded Wen Jiu with some respect, it hadn''t reached the level of outright flattery.


    Once Wang Nian arrived and finished counting the numbers, he quickly dismissed the workers and dragged Wen Jiu away in a hurry.


    "Let me tell you, what you did last night has spread across the entire side peak. Even though you have an inferior spiritual root and practice an unorthodox path, someone has still taken an interest in you!" Wang Nian spoke, emphasizing six words heavily¡ª"Demon Suppression Division, Monster Slayer Division!"


    "Come on, come on, they''re all waiting for you!"


    With that, Wang Nian took to his sword and flew off, bringing Wen Jiu with him toward the administrative hall.


    Before Wen Jiu could ask more questions, he was already hurriedly dragged inside.


    Inside the hall, three people were waiting.


    One of them was Steward Mu from the previous night.


    The other two¡ªone had wide, glaring eyes, a towering, muscular build, and wore a heavy crimson battle armor. Just one look at him was enough to instill fear.


    The other was dressed in a blue robe, much smaller in stature, yet the faint aura he exuded was just as intimidating.


    If Wen Jiu hadn''t lived two lives and seen his share of grand occasions, just the sheer presence of these two men would have made him drop to his knees on the spot.


    "Not bad. Your aura is stable and restrained. It seems that practicing the Corpse Cultivation Technique hasn''t drained too much of your lifespan or foundation." Before Wen Jiu could even bow in greeting, the burly man with glaring eyes spoke first. Then, he added, "Kid, how about joining my Demon Suppression Division? I''ll personally teach you a top-tier Qi-cultivation technique¡ªDemon Suppression Art¡ªand grant you one year of training in the Infernal Flame Cavern!"


    "You sure are generous..." The blue-robed cultivator followed up, unwilling to fall behind. "I am Li Qing, an enforcer of the Monster Slayer Division, here on its behalf. If you join us, I''ll teach you the top-tier Monster Slaying Art and grant you three years of training in the Spirit Pool¡ªperfect for compensating for the damage caused by your unorthodox cultivation."


    As soon as he finished speaking, the two men locked eyes.


    Tension sparked between them.


    Wen Jiu gave a helpless smile, quickly cupping his fists in gratitude. "Thank you both for your kind offers. I am deeply honored... but I have one question. What exactly do the Demon Suppression Division and Monster Slayer Division do?"


    "Slay monsters!" Li Qing answered immediately.


    The burly man with glaring eyes followed proudly, "Eradicate demons, eliminate heretical cultivators, and maintain peace across the land and within Fei Xian Peak!"


    Wen Jiu cupped his fists again.


    Then, his gaze landed on Mu Canglong, the ever-silent enforcer from the Night Patrol Division.


    To be honest¡ªhe didn''t want to join either faction.


    He had no idea how valuable the rewards they offered were or how beneficial the Infernal Flame Cavern and Spirit Pool were for cultivation.


    But monster slaying? Demon suppression? He had absolutely no interest.


    He just wanted to quietly raise his corpses.


    And peacefully wait for his daily settlement rewards.


    Mu Canglong noticed his gaze, the coldness on his face softening slightly. The corners of his mouth even curled into a faint smile. "I can''t offer you a prime training ground like the Infernal Flame Cavern¡ªour Night Patrol Division has no such place... but I can grant you the advanced techniques of the Yinzhou Corpse Cultivation Method, along with a lower-grade corpse weapon and a lower-grade corpse-nurturing bead."


    Before Wen Jiu could respond, Li Qing scoffed, "Mu, you won''t even offer him the Night Wind Art from your division?"


    The burly man also chimed in, "Stingy bastard!"


    Mu Canglong shot them both a cold glare. "You two might be generous, but what does it matter? His talent lies in unorthodox cultivation, yet you want him to abandon it. Don''t forget, he has an inferior spiritual root¡­ If you''re recruiting disciples, you should at least know how to teach them accordingly!"


    The next moment¡ª


    The three began arguing.


    Wang Nian quickly pulled Wen Jiu aside, away from the battlefield.


    A quarter of an hour later, their faces were red from shouting before they finally stopped.


    Seizing the moment, Wen Jiu interjected, "Steward Mu, may I ask one thing? Can I continue staying in the Corpse Wasteland?"


    "You want to keep raising corpses?" Mu Canglong asked, still red-faced.


    Wen Jiu nodded.


    Mu Canglong immediately agreed. "Of course. As long as you want, you''re free to go anywhere within Fei Xian Peak!"


    "Many thanks, Steward Mu." Wen Jiu bowed deeply, then turned to the other two and continued, "I greatly appreciate your recognition, but I understand my own limits. I can only cultivate through an unorthodox path, so I choose the Night Patrol Division!"


    The other two still wanted to argue.


    But Mu Canglong swiftly cut them off, taking control of the conversation and forcibly ushering them out, leaving no room for debate.


    Left with no choice, Li Qing and the burly man could only leave.


    After seeing them off, Mu Canglong left Wen Jiu with a parting remark before taking his leave as well. "Come to the Night Patrol Division tomorrow."


    As soon as Mu Canglong departed¡ª


    Wang Nian excitedly patted Wen Jiu''s shoulder, brimming with joy.


    Yet, he was also confused.


    "Do you even know how precious the Infernal Flame Cavern and Spirit Pool are? Regular disciples have to make huge contributions just to get in, yet you outright refused!"


    Wen Jiu said nothing.


    But at this moment, his resolve only strengthened.


    In a sect¡ª


    One must stand out when needed.


    To climb higher.


    To gain more resources.


    To secure a better position.


    To change one''s circumstances.


    But when it was time to cultivate steadily, one must choose stability.


    Standing out was for rising up.


    Stability was for survival.


    The Demon Suppression Division and Monster Slayer Division undoubtedly offered great benefits, but slaying demons and monsters surely came with heavy casualties.


    Cultivation, the path to immortality¡ª


    Wasn''t survival the key to becoming immortal?


    With his daily settlement rewards, why take unnecessary risks?

 Chapter 24: Joining the Night Patrol Division

    After returning to the Land of Mangled Corpses, Wang Nian no longer had Wen Jiu doing any work, as if he had completely forgotten their previous deal. His tone also changed accordingly, shifting from calling him "Wen kid" to "Brother Wen" instead. Before, although Wang Nian had treated him well and politely, there was always a hint of superiority in his demeanor. But now, that sense of condescension was completely gone.


    Honestly, Wen Jiu had to admire this ability to adapt. Unfortunately, this was the cultivation world, not the workplace. Otherwise, with Wang Nian''s emotional intelligence, he would undoubtedly thrive. Even if he lacked ability, he could still secure a leadership position with ease.


    Wen Jiu didn''t say much about it. No matter how Wang Nian changed, he would always remember his kindness. He would also keep their previous deal in mind. However, he definitely wouldn''t be moving corpses anymore¡ªotherwise, climbing upward would be meaningless. But capturing vengeful spirits was another matter. That was a mutually beneficial task, and one of the reasons he had stayed here.


    Meanwhile, when the other corpse buriers heard from Wang Nian that Wen Jiu had officially become a Night Patrol Division trainee, they were filled with both shock and envy. None of them knew how long they would have to endure before getting such an opportunity. One year? Three years? Ten? Many of them couldn''t help but sigh. The unconventional path they had once looked down upon had now left them far behind.


    Unaware of their thoughts, Wen Jiu took his black ghoul and once again plunged into the Land of Mangled Corpses. This time, his mindset was completely different.


    "Now that I''ve reached the second level of Qi Refinement, and my black ghoul has advanced to the mid-tier, plus my Blood Transformation Body is at the second level, I should be able to venture deeper into this place."


    Last night, after observing the Land of Mangled Corpses from a high vantage point, Wen Jiu had already memorized the area where the Yin energy was densest. That was the true core of this land¡ªthe epicenter of the ancient battle. Those who perished there were all powerful cultivators, both enemies of Dead Man Peak and disciples of Dead Man Peak alike.


    However, he wasn''t in a hurry to go there just yet.


    First, he would sweep through the outer perimeter. Once the vengeful spirits were cleared out, he could proceed at ease. Letting the spirits in that area cultivate a little longer wouldn''t hurt either.


    ¡ª


    The next morning, before dawn, Wang Nian was already outside Wen Jiu''s wooden hut.


    Knock, knock, knock!


    "Brother Wen, hurry up and get up! Today is your first day reporting to the Night Patrol Division¡ªit''s best to be early rather than late!"


    Wen Jiu quickly opened the door. Truth be told, he hadn''t slept much all night, feeling a slight sense of excitement.


    The moment he opened the door, Wang Nian pulled out a Cleansing Talisman, activated it with a wave of his hand, and instantly purified Wen Jiu from head to toe. Then, he took out a set of slightly better-quality clothes and urged Wen Jiu to change.


    "This was made by my wife. You and I have similar builds, so just wear it for now. Later, you can buy something better¡­ You can''t go to the Night Patrol Division looking too shabby, or you''ll invite disdain."


    "Oh, and if you run into people who look down on you for taking an unconventional path, ignore them. You are the first corpse burier in fifty years to be promoted through battle."


    Hearing Wang Nian''s advice, Wen Jiu smiled and nodded.


    After changing clothes and leaving a note for his sister, Wen Jiu followed Wang Nian toward the Night Patrol Division.


    Through forests and across mountains, they passed the marketplace Wen Jiu had seen before and headed straight for Flying Immortal Peak, five miles away.


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    Although it was only seven or eight miles apart, the difference was like night and day. The burial grounds of the corpse buriers couldn''t compare at all in terms of spiritual energy. Flying Immortal Peak, on the other hand, was lush with vegetation¡ªevery blade of grass and tree seemed imbued with spiritual energy.


    After Wang Nian presented his identity token, the two of them ascended the stone-paved stairs, encountering cultivators all along the way. Most were at the first level of Qi Refinement, while quite a few were at the second level. Occasionally, someone would fly past overhead on a sword.


    Before long, Wang Nian led Wen Jiu to the mountainside, where several towering ancient brown buildings came into view. Next to them stood an enormous stone monument engraved with the words Night Patrol Division.


    When Wang Nian revealed his identity to the disciple guarding the entrance, the disciple immediately turned his gaze toward Wen Jiu. His expression was neutral as he sized him up from head to toe.


    "Follow me."


    Wen Jiu was just about to step forward when Wang Nian stopped moving. Instead, he said, "Go on in. I can''t accompany you any further¡ªthis is restricted to Night Patrol Division members only."


    "Thank you, Brother Wang!"


    Wen Jiu bowed in gratitude, then turned and followed the Night Patrol Division disciple inside.


    Passing through corridors and halls, he finally stopped in front of an ancient building guarded by a fierce, crouching tiger. Wen Jiu glanced at it and his expression changed abruptly¡ªthe aura of this massive tiger was actually no weaker than Wang Nian''s.


    So this is a spirit beast? Wen Jiu mused, not daring to act recklessly.


    Soon, a man walked out from the ancient building¡ªit was none other than Manager Liu of the Night Patrol Division, whom he had met last time.


    "Come in. Steward Mu is waiting for you."


    With that, Manager Liu turned and entered the building. Wen Jiu quickly followed, making sure to walk on the side opposite the crouching tiger.


    Upon entering, Wen Jiu was led up to the fifth floor, where he finally met Mu Canglong.


    "Your robes and identity token have been prepared. From today onward, you are an apprentice disciple of the Night Patrol Division."


    "Many thanks, Steward Mu!" Wen Jiu promptly bowed in gratitude.


    Mu Canglong continued, "Since you''ve chosen to stay in the Land of Restless Corpses, you will accompany Manager Liu Xiao on night patrols around the perimeter. He will handle your assignments. If you need anything in the future, you can come here directly."


    Wen Jiu nodded. "Understood."


    Night patrol in the Land of Restless Corpses¡­ In theory, it shouldn''t be too dangerous now. After all, they had already killed two infiltrators and captured another¡ªanyone else seeking the Yin Fiend Blood Curse would have to be an utter fool not to lay low.


    Mu Canglong added, "As for your stipend, although you''re only an apprentice, I''ll grant you the pay of a second-layer Qi Refining disciple¡ªthree low-grade spirit stones per month. Additionally, you may choose any location outside Feixian Peak to settle in, and labor disciples will construct a residence for you."


    "Thank you, Steward!" Wen Jiu responded promptly.


    Mu Canglong said no more. As promised, he handed over the next part of the Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Method to Wen Jiu.


    Opening it, Wen Jiu found that the technique had a total of five layers. The portion he had just received covered the third to the fifth layers¡ªif he mastered it fully, he could reach the sixth layer of Qi Refining.


    Delighted, Wen Jiu carefully examined the manual.


    This version contained far more than just corpse-nurturing techniques¡ªit also included methods for refining corpses. Compared to the incomplete version he had obtained from the Transmission Hall, the difference was like night and day.


    "You can retrieve a corpse tool and a corpse-nurturing pearl from the vault with Manager Liu Xiao," Mu Canglong said before leaving the room. He neither gave any additional instructions nor left any warnings.


    After Mu Canglong departed, Liu Xiao spoke up, "Kid, the Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Method is ultimately an unorthodox path. You must not rush your cultivation or try to force progress. If you reach the fourth layer of Qi Refining, it''s best that you transition to a proper Qi Refining technique instead. The art of corpse nurturing is not a lasting path¡ªit harms both the spiritual body and lifespan."


    With that warning, Liu Xiao said no more and simply led the way.


    From his perspective, Wen Jiu''s talent for unorthodox cultivation was indeed impressive, but such methods were ultimately not sustainable. While they might not cause much harm at his current level, the risks would only grow as he advanced. Worse, this path could easily give rise to inner demons.


    Liu Xiao had seen many unorthodox cultivators lose themselves to madness or die sudden, violent deaths. He didn''t want Wen Jiu to follow in their footsteps¡ªafter all, Wen Jiu was the first Burial Disciple in fifty years to be promoted through combat.


    Had he not chosen an unorthodox path, the other divisions would have fought tooth and nail to recruit him.


    Still, Liu Xiao wasn''t about to push the issue.


    Everyone had their own fate.


    If Wen Jiu chose not to change his path, then so be it.


    "Follow me. You may choose any first-grade, low-tier corpse tool and a low-grade corpse-nurturing pearl from the Night Patrol Division''s vault. However, be cautious¡ªmost corpse tools were confiscated from demonic cultivators, so choose wisely."


    With that, Liu Xiao strode forward, leading the way.

 Chapter 25: Corpse Eye and Corpse Artifact

    "Thank you for the reminder, sir!" Wen Jiu expressed his gratitude, then immediately asked, "May I ask why I need to be so careful in choosing?"


    Liu Xiao kept walking, his expression briefly turning serious. "Because those who cultivate in unorthodox paths often practice heretical sorcery, curses are not uncommon. If you choose a corpse weapon that has been cursed, it could backfire on you¡­ However, the power of a curse is easy to identify. Just examine it carefully with your spiritual sense."


    "Thank you for the guidance."


    With a mix of nervousness and anticipation, Wen Jiu quickly followed along.


    Before long, they arrived at the Night Patrol Division''s treasury.


    It was beyond Wen Jiu''s expectations¡ªthe treasury was actually underground, and along the way, stone statues of axe-wielding guardians stood watch. With his spiritual sense, Wen Jiu could tell at a glance that these statues were anything but ordinary.


    Stone Golems!


    Creations of puppet masters, one of the many arts within cultivation.


    Each of these stone golems exuded an aura on par with a black ghoul.


    Utterly absurd.


    After passing over a hundred stone golems, Liu Xiao finally stopped in front of a massive stone door with Wen Jiu.


    A chubby disciple of the Night Patrol Division, who had been lounging beside the entrance, quickly got up and greeted Liu Xiao with a fawning smile.


    "Uncle, what brings you here?"


    "Cut the nonsense," Liu Xiao reprimanded, though he didn''t seem truly annoyed. Then, shifting the topic, he ordered, "Open Treasury B¨«ngz¨«. I''m bringing Wen Jiu in to select a weapon."


    "Wen Jiu?"


    The chubby disciple''s expression immediately showed his surprise upon hearing the name.


    "Uncle, is this the first Gravekeeper in fifty years to be promoted by killing enemies? And he cultivates an unorthodox path, that one?" As he spoke, he couldn''t help but size Wen Jiu up, clicking his tongue in amazement.


    Indeed, an unorthodox path.


    Even his body was colder than normal.


    Wen Jiu simply cupped his fists in a polite gesture without saying much. He also didn''t take offense¡ªafter all, there was no contempt in the other disciple''s gaze when he mentioned the "unorthodox path."


    The next moment, Liu Xiao scolded impatiently, "Why are you running your mouth?"


    The chubby disciple immediately stopped talking and hurried to open the door.


    The stone door rumbled open.


    Liu Xiao led Wen Jiu inside.


    They passed several storerooms before finally stopping at the tenth one at the very end, its stone door covered with talismans.


    As soon as the door to the tenth room opened, an overwhelming mix of energies surged out, making even Wen Jiu¡ªa corpse-raiser¡ªfeel uneasy. Corpse energy, blood energy, demonic energy, and even a strange black aura.


    Now he understood why the door was covered in talismans.


    For an ordinary person, just being exposed to this for a few moments would be unbearable, and if they were corrupted by it¡­


    That would be a disaster.


    But for Wen Jiu?


    It was nothing more than a gentle breeze.


    Warm, even.


    Liu Xiao shielded himself with spiritual power and stepped inside. Wen Jiu followed, taking in the sight of the weapons neatly arranged throughout the room.


    Each one had a bizarre shape, vastly different from the standard swords and sabers used by orthodox Qi Refining cultivators.


    There were weapons shaped like hands.


    Weapons shaped like bones.


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    Even weapons shaped like eyeballs.


    With such grotesque designs, was it any wonder they weren''t well received?


    Sigh.


    No wonder the reputation of unorthodox cultivators was so bad.


    The moment you pulled out one of these weapons, people would immediately slap a "villain" label on you.


    Suddenly¡ª


    Wen Jiu''s attention was drawn to a withered, hand-shaped artifact at the center of the display. The aura it emitted unsettled even him.


    "That is the Lifeless Hand, a top-tier Grade-1 mid-rank demonic artifact¡­ It was forged by an unorthodox Qi Refining cultivator at the sixth level who slaughtered a hundred thousand mortals in the process. The sheer resentment it carries is overwhelming¡ªjust looking at it is enough to make people uneasy," Liu Xiao explained.


    His words snapped Wen Jiu out of his trance.


    Hearing the phrase "slaughtered a hundred thousand mortals" sent chills down Wen Jiu''s spine¡ªstaying in the sect was definitely the right decision!


    A hundred thousand.


    Even if it were a hundred thousand pigs, that scene would be beyond gruesome.


    Let alone human beings.


    These damn unorthodox cultivators!


    Wen Jiu quickly averted his gaze.


    Liu Xiao pointed to a stone rack displaying over a dozen corpse weapons, each with a unique shape.


    "These are all Grade-1 low-rank corpse weapons. Pick one freely, but don''t bother with anything else¡­ nothing here is good news."


    Wen Jiu nodded, his excitement skyrocketing as his gaze landed on the rack.


    Without hesitation, he extended his spiritual sense, carefully inspecting the dozen or so Grade-1 low-rank corpse weapons.


    From what he knew¡ª


    Even the cheapest Grade-1 low-rank artifact cost at least dozens of low-grade spirit stones.


    Some ranged from seventy or eighty stones, while others exceeded a hundred.


    Considering that his monthly salary was only three low-grade spirit stones, it would take him thirty or forty months to afford one.


    But now he could get one for free¡ªhow could he not be thrilled?


    This proved it¡ª


    In a sect, when it was time to prove yourself, you had to do it.


    Otherwise, where would opportunities like this come from?


    "You take your time looking. I''ll go find you a Corpse-Nurturing Pearl," Liu Xiao said before heading deeper into the treasury.


    "Thank you, Manager." Wen Jiu expressed his gratitude. His divine sense swept over the first bell-shaped magical artifact¡ªCorpse-Control Bell¡ªbefore his gaze fell on the description beneath it.


    Corpse-Control Bell.


    A low-grade Tier 1 corpse artifact, capable of commanding a hundred corpses and temporarily transforming dead bodies into White Ghouls for a corpse cultivator''s use.


    "It''s about quality, not quantity."


    Wen Jiu skipped over the Corpse-Control Bell.


    As he examined item after item, he felt the cursed energy that Liu Xiao had mentioned. Even just a brief sweep of his senses made his heart uneasy. Though he was a corpse cultivator, Wen Jiu instinctively felt that these things were best left untouched.


    However¡ª


    Even after scanning through all the items, he couldn''t find one he was satisfied with. But when Liu Xiao returned with the Corpse-Nurturing Pearl, Wen Jiu suddenly noticed something on the highest shelf¡ªa corpse artifact emanating an intense aura of blood energy.


    It was a blood-red, round eyeball.


    Palm-sized.


    No description.


    Only a talisman was pasted on it, sealing it in place.


    Yet even the talisman couldn''t suppress the surging blood energy within.


    Liu Xiao noticed Wen Jiu''s gaze and explained, "That''s a Corpse Eye. No one knows who refined it, but it can absorb blood energy from its surroundings and transform it into refined blood. It can even draw blood out of thin air. If placed in a city of mortals, it could drain an entire city dry within an hour¡­ From what I know, this belonged to a late-stage Qi Refining corpse cultivator."


    "Hmm?" Wen Jiu''s eyes flickered with intrigue.


    His Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body required vast amounts of refined blood.


    And now, right here in this treasury, there was a Corpse Eye that could absorb blood energy.


    Could it be related to that person?


    "Additionally, it contains Yin-based techniques, making it a powerful weapon in battle. They say that when its original owner was killed, three Demon-Slaying Bureau officials perished under its power!" Liu Xiao continued, then added, "I advise you not to covet it. While I trust that our Night Patrol Division won''t allow you to use it for mass slaughter, it''s still a damaged mid-grade Tier 1 artifact. Its rank fell to low-grade because of its damage¡­ It''s not within your selection range!"


    Hearing this¡ª


    Wen Jiu understood immediately.


    And at the same time, he made up his mind. He wanted that Corpse Eye.


    "Brother Liu!"


    "If there''s ever anything within my power to help with, just ask!"


    Rules were rigid.


    But people were flexible.


    Since Liu Xiao was willing to explain, that meant there was room for negotiation.


    Sure enough, just as Wen Jiu expected, Liu Xiao suddenly chuckled. "You''re a clever one¡­ Rules are dead, but people are alive. If I say it falls within the rules, then it does."


    "Many thanks, Brother Liu!"


    Wen Jiu got the message instantly.


    Because he understood¡ª


    He made the offer within his capabilities.


    If something was beyond his reach or too dangerous, then he couldn''t be blamed.


    "Take it."


    Liu Xiao handed it over.


    Then, he also gave Wen Jiu the low-grade Tier 1 Corpse-Nurturing Pearl.


    With both items in hand, Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    If he had to purchase them himself, who knew how long it would take to save up enough spirit stones?


    But after showing his strength just once, he got them both.


    "Thank you, Brother Liu!" Wen Jiu expressed his gratitude once again before following Liu Xiao out of the treasury.


    Afterward¡ª


    Liu Xiao took the time to familiarize Wen Jiu with the Night Patrol Division.


    He explained everything that needed to be said.


    It wasn''t until noon that Wen Jiu was finally able to leave.


    Returning home¡ª


    The first thing Wen Jiu did was eagerly replace the unranked Corpse-Nurturing Pearl in his Black Ghoul''s mouth with the low-grade Tier 1 version.


    Then, he patiently waited for the daily settlement to assess the efficiency of corpse nurturing.


    At the same time¡ª


    Wen Jiu began refining the Corpse Eye.


    By nightfall¡ª


    He finally succeeded.


    From this moment on, the Corpse Eye was his.


    However¡ª


    After refining it, Wen Jiu realized something.


    The Corpse Eye wasn''t as simple as Liu Xiao had described.


    It had another, unknown ability.


    But due to its damage¡ª


    It was currently unusable.


    Even so, Wen Jiu understood¡ª


    This was the true core ability of the Blood Eye.


    That ability was¡ªBlood Nurturing!


    Had it not been for the detailed annotation in his daily settlement panel, he might never have known.


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 26: Nurturing Corpse Blood

    [Daily Settlement Panel Lv2 (30/1000)]


    [Today''s Settlement!]


    [Chanted the Corpse-Nurturing Mantra for two hours, Yin Province Corpse-Nurturing Mantra experience +20.]


    [Searched for wandering souls in the Land of Broken Corpses for three hours, continuously absorbing corpse energy and death energy. Panel experience +1, corpse energy +6, death energy +6.]


    [Used yin energy, supplemented with a large amount of cultivator blood, and a low-grade Tier-1 Corpse-Nurturing Pearl to nurture a corpse in the corpse-nurturing ground for a total of twelve hours. Panel experience +1, corpse mutation experience +24, +12, corpse nurturer experience +2, blood transformation body experience +24.]


    [Consumed a bowl of inferior spirit rice and two pounds of non-tiered demonic beast meat, then tempered the body with Earth Fiend Yin Energy for two hours. Body tempering experience +40.]


    [Refined a damaged mid-grade Tier-1 corpse artifact: Corpse Eye (due to the destruction of its blood essence, it has fallen to low-grade Tier-1). Obtained residual blood essence +103, residual corpse energy +77.]


    [Corpse Eye]


    [Grade: Low-Grade Tier-1 Artifact (Can be restored to Mid-Grade Tier-1 upon condensing blood essence)]


    [Abilities: Spell Infusion, Blood Absorption, Blood Nurturing (currently unavailable).]


    [PS:


    Spell Infusion: Can store yin-based spells within the artifact, allowing for instant release in critical moments.


    Blood Absorption: Can extract all blood energy within a hundred-zhang radius. If mortals are within range, their blood can be drawn directly from a distance. The stronger the user, the higher the absorption efficiency. Once a sufficient amount of blood energy is gathered, blood essence can be condensed.


    Blood Nurturing: By offering yin-based spells, demon and devil blood, and flesh, the blood essence can be cultivated to produce corpse blood for nurturing ghouls. Ghouls raised with corpse blood become fiercer and stronger. However, if a ghoul surpasses its master in strength, there is a high risk of losing control over it.]


    [PS: Ghouls mutated through the secret corpse-nurturing techniques are bound to the panel and will never go out of control!]


    "Simply absorbing blood energy is enough to condense blood essence and restore the Corpse Eye''s grade¡­ After that, I can use its Blood Nurturing ability."


    Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    In that case, wouldn''t he have essentially obtained a mid-grade Tier-1 corpse artifact?


    As for blood energy¡­


    There were still plenty of remains scattered throughout the Land of Broken Corpses.


    Perhaps he could gather enough to condense blood essence.


    "And the Spell Infusion ability is also quite useful."


    Wen Jiu''s philosophy was to cultivate steadily whenever possible, but when it was time to act, he would strike decisively. The Corpse Eye fit perfectly with his cultivation style.


    He wouldn''t need to use it daily¡ªjust continuously store yin-based spells within it.


    Keep storing.


    Keep storing.


    Then, when the moment came, he could unleash a devastating attack far beyond his usual strength, securing victory in a single blow!


    There was no doubt¡ªthe rogue cultivator who refined the Corpse Eye must have been someone who valued survival above all else. Otherwise, how could they have come up with such a brilliant idea?


    Next, Wen Jiu turned his attention to the black ghoul''s experience settlement.


    It had been about six hours since he gave the black ghoul a low-grade Tier-1 Corpse-Nurturing Pearl.


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    Yet, the settlement showed a gain of 12 experience points.


    Which meant¡­


    In twelve hours, it could gain 24 points.


    Compared to the previous non-tiered Corpse-Nurturing Pearl, the effect had doubled.


    Wen Jiu immediately checked his panel for the black ghoul''s progress.


    [Black Ghoul¡ªMid-Level Corpse-Nurturing (Mid-Stage 108/1000)]


    "At a rate of 48 points per day, in just under nineteen days, the black ghoul will reach the upper stage."


    Doing the calculations, Wen Jiu was thrilled.


    He couldn''t help but sigh in admiration once again.


    Such efficiency¡­


    No wonder rogue cultivators outside often lost themselves in their pursuit of power, turning into madmen obsessed with forbidden arts.


    After all, who could resist the allure of rapid growth?


    Who wouldn''t be tempted?


    ¡­


    The next morning.


    When Wen Ya came to deliver food again, Wen Jiu truthfully informed her that he had become a probationary disciple of the Night Patrol Division and was preparing to move.


    Yesterday morning, he had been out because he went to report to the Night Patrol Division.


    However, he didn''t mention anything about killing enemies or getting promoted.


    Upon hearing the news, Wen Ya was so overjoyed that she burst into tears. She was so happy that she couldn''t even form a complete sentence.


    Seeing his sister''s heartfelt joy, Wen Jiu felt a warmth in his heart.


    This feeling was even more satisfying than joining the Night Patrol Division itself.


    "Hurry up and eat. After that, let''s go pay our respects to our parents¡­ If they knew you had become a probationary disciple of the Night Patrol Division, they would be so happy."


    As she spoke, Wen Ya left to buy incense and offerings.


    Clearly, she was preparing for the ritual.


    Wen Jiu picked up the large bowl and ate in big bites, all the while pondering how to get his sister a cultivation technique.


    Cultivators had long lifespans.


    And he wanted to keep this family bond for as long as possible.


    Even if he couldn''t have it forever, having more time was still great, and he had no intention of becoming a wandering cultivator. There was no need to cut off everything. But from what he currently knew, there was no information about buying or selling cultivation techniques. Maybe he needed to ask Wang Nian.


    Before long, Wen Ya returned, bringing incense, offerings, and even a small string of firecrackers. After they ate, Wen Jiu followed her to their parents'' grave. Since they had died on Dead Man''s Peak, they were buried near Flying Immortal Peak. Wen Jiu paid his respects to them, not for any grand reason¡ªjust for the love they had shown their children.


    After the ritual, on their way back, Wen Ya was in high spirits, reminiscing about the past while Wen Jiu quietly listened. He couldn''t help but smile wryly. Anyone who didn''t know better would think he had already achieved great success¡ªhe was actually starting to look back on old times.


    But after chatting for a while, Wen Ya mentioned a name¡ªLi Ye. The moment Wen Jiu heard it, and learned that Li Ye had sought her out to ask about something, his heart tightened.


    "Big Sis, what did he ask you?"


    "He asked if you practiced ghost arts. The Night Patrol Division happens to have an open position that requires ghost techniques." Wen Ya noticed Wen Jiu''s nervous expression and quickly added, "Don''t worry. You think I can''t tell he had ulterior motives? In this world, nothing comes without a price, so I didn''t say anything."


    "Good."


    Wen Jiu''s eyes grew sharp.


    As expected, Li Ye wasn''t going to let this go so easily. It seemed he was determined to keep a hold on him.


    "Big Sis, from now on, try to stay at the Xu family''s place and don''t go anywhere else."


    Although Wen Jiu didn''t have any fondness for the Xu family, it was indeed a place that could offer Wen Ya some protection. This was a debt he would repay in the future.


    Wen Ya quickly nodded, her smile fading. She had obviously realized that Li Ye was an enemy of her younger brother. The thought that Li Ye was a steward of the Night Patrol Division made it impossible for her to feel at ease.


    After sending Wen Ya off, Wen Jiu didn''t immediately look for a new place to stay. Instead, he went straight to the Forsaken Corpse Graveyard. When the corpse buriers saw the Night Patrol Division uniform on him, they all greeted him respectfully, calling him "Immortal Master."


    To be honest, Wen Jiu wasn''t quite used to it yet.


    After exchanging a few words with Wang Nian, he entered the graveyard.


    After a day of searching, he hadn''t found any wandering spirits, but he had absorbed a considerable amount of blood energy through the Corpse Eye.


    A hundred feet of blood energy.


    In just an hour, Wen Jiu had drained it all.


    By the end of the day, within a thousand feet, all the blood energy had been completely absorbed.


    The speed was terrifying.


    At this rate, the entire Forsaken Corpse Graveyard wouldn''t last long before the Corpse Eye drained it dry.


    This left Wen Jiu feeling somewhat helpless. After all, if the graveyard lost all its blood energy, he would have no place to cultivate the Blood Transformation of his Black Ghoul.


    Fortunately, after a full day of absorption, a faint trace of crimson had appeared within the Corpse Eye.


    That was the beginning of blood essence condensation!


    Once the blood essence fully formed, he could refine it.


    He could cultivate corpse blood!


    Satisfied, Wen Jiu put away the Corpse Eye and left the graveyard. He was planning to head straight home but was stopped by Wang Nian.


    Without giving him a choice, Wang Nian dragged him to his house, where Wen Jiu finally met the "sister-in-law" he had only heard about before.


    Wang Nian was in his thirties.


    His wife, however, was only nineteen.


    She had an exceptional appearance and figure, almost as beautiful as his own sister, Wen Ya.


    Wen Jiu could only comment¡ªwhat good fortune!


    However, when they sat down for a meal, Wang Nian didn''t let his wife eat with them. Instead, he had her leave and stand guard outside.


    Even then, Wang Nian still wasn''t at ease.


    He even used a soundproofing talisman.


    It seemed like he was about to talk about something so secret that even his own wife couldn''t know.

 Chapter 27: A Hundred Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers

    "Wang-ge, what''s going on?"


    Wen Jiu was a little confused.


    What could be so serious that even one''s pillow mate couldn''t hear it?


    Wang Nian lowered his voice. "Some things simply cannot be overheard. I learned this from my second uncle. Technically, I shouldn''t even be telling a disciple about it, but given our relationship, there''s no need for me to keep it from you."


    If even an alchemist let slip some news, could it be insignificant?


    Wen Jiu immediately clasped his hands in salute. "Thank you, Wang-ge. I will repay this kindness tenfold, a hundredfold, in the future."


    Wang Nian continued, "But before I tell you about that matter, I need to talk to you about Feixian Peak and the land beneath our feet. Now that you''ve become a probationary disciple of the Night Patrol Division, there are things you must understand. Otherwise, your vision will remain limited... I most likely won''t make it out of here, but you might just be able to spread your wings and see the world."


    "I''m all ears!"


    "First, let''s talk about this land beneath us. It''s called the Southern Territory. According to rumors passed down by a certain great cultivator, it stretches a hundred thousand li from east to west and a hundred and thirty thousand li from south to north. It''s vast. Compared to that, our little Feixian Peak is nothing more than a drop in the ocean."


    As Wang Nian spoke, his tone was filled with longing.


    It was clear that he, too, wanted to see the world.


    To truly witness the magnificence of that hundred-thousand-li expanse.


    "That vast?"


    Even after living two lives, Wen Jiu couldn''t help but be shocked.


    A hundred thousand li...


    Even Deadman Peak was only the sole immortal mountain within a five-hundred-li radius. Compared to a hundred thousand li, it was indeed minuscule.


    Wang Nian chuckled. "Surprised? I had the same expression when I first heard about it. Just imagine how many cultivators and how many demons must exist within this vast land¡­ But there''s no need to dwell too much on the Southern Territory. It''s simply too big. I only have a rough idea of it myself. What I really want to tell you about is our Feixian Peak and the main peak of Deadman Peak."


    "You should know that Feixian Peak is just a side peak of Deadman Peak, but you probably have no real concept of the main peak. Let me put it this way: the main peak is a powerful force, guarded by Foundation Establishment Immortals."


    "Foundation Establishment Immortals?"


    This was the first time Wen Jiu had heard this term.


    "You don''t need to understand too much just yet. Just know this¡ªonce a cultivator reaches the tenth level of Qi Refining, they can attempt to establish their foundation. The moment they succeed, their lifespan extends to three hundred years. They can witness the changing tides, the passing centuries. That is what it truly means to be an immortal cultivator."


    As Wang Nian spoke, the yearning in his eyes was no less intense than when he had spoken of the Southern Territory¡ªperhaps even stronger.


    It made sense.


    The Southern Territory was too vast, too distant.


    So vast that it was beyond reach, making it impossible to even dream about.


    But Foundation Establishment was a peak that was close at hand.


    It was something one could dare to dream of, something one could strive for¡ªeven if the chances of success were slim.


    It was still far more attainable than traversing the entire Southern Territory.


    "So after Qi Refining comes Foundation Establishment," Wen Jiu murmured, feeling the weight of it.


    Wang Nian continued, "Only by stepping onto the main peak do you have a chance to pursue the path of Foundation Establishment. That''s also why Li Ye went to such lengths to send people in, arranging for his own men to become probationary disciples.


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    There''s another reason as well¡ªthe main peak has a rule: only probationary disciples who have been in the sect for three years or less, and formal disciples who have been in the sect for one year, are eligible to take the assessment. And the assessment doesn''t take spiritual roots into account.


    Once you pass the assessment, you can go to the main peak to cultivate and receive direct teachings from the elders."


    "Why is that?"


    The rule sounded somewhat unusual.


    Rejecting the old?


    Only accepting the new?


    And disregarding spiritual roots? Clearly, even the side peaks were particular about spiritual roots when accepting disciples. Yet the main peak, the most powerful of them all, wasn''t?


    "Strange, right? Everyone finds it strange. That''s why my second uncle brought it up with me. Spiritual roots are the very foundation of cultivation. Those with inferior spiritual roots struggle to even gain entry to a side peak, let alone the main peak. But no one can guess what the main peak''s true intentions are.


    Still, one thing is certain¡ªbeing able to enter the main peak is something most side peak disciples can only dream of."


    "It really is strange."


    Wen Jiu tried to think it through.


    But it was like an ant trying to ponder what lay atop a giant''s head.


    Only by climbing up there could one see for themselves.


    Trying to understand from the ground, through speculation alone, was impossible.


    "Brother, keep pushing forward. The assessment is in two years. This is your chance! The main peak may not care about the quality of your spiritual roots, but passing the test with poor spiritual roots is still impossible¡­ But you have an unheard-of, unconventional talent!"


    "I understand."


    Wen Jiu nodded.


    Gratefully, he raised his cup.


    Two years, huh?


    That meant he still had time to prepare.


    Two years¡ªhe should be able to improve significantly.


    ...


    Three rounds of wine.


    Five flavors of dishes.


    Wen Jiu left.


    For the next seven days, he followed his usual cultivation routine. Since he no longer had to move corpses during the day, he spent that time channeling Yin techniques into the Corpse Eye. Every day, he dedicated three hours to this, while the remaining three were spent searching for wandering souls and absorbing blood energy.


    At night, he patrolled with the Night Watch Division disciples.


    Three hours a day.


    Fortunately, as his cultivation advanced, he needed less sleep.


    Everything proceeded in an orderly manner.


    However, the blood energy in the outer perimeter of the Wasteland of Mangled Corpses was too scarce. In less than seven days, Wen Jiu had drained it completely.


    If he wanted more, he had to venture deeper.


    But even the central area of the Wasteland likely wouldn''t withstand the Corpse Eye''s relentless absorption.


    Soon, there would be no blood left to take.


    If the Blood Essence didn''t regenerate, Wen Jiu would have to find another way.


    Luckily, fortune was on his side. After exhausting the outer perimeter, a streak of crimson condensed within the Corpse Eye¡ªan early form of Blood Essence.


    "It seems the Blood Essence regenerates faster than I expected." Wen Jiu thought about the thousands of cultivators who had perished in the outer perimeter. If even their combined blood couldn''t restore the Blood Essence, that would be absurd.


    "I hope that once I drain the entire Wasteland, a complete Blood Essence will form."


    Wen Jiu silently wished for this outcome.


    If not, he had no idea where else to gather blood energy.


    Demon blood? Monster blood?


    Non-ranked ones were fine, but anything ranked was far too expensive.


    A mere trainee in the Night Watch Division like him could never afford it.


    As for hunting demons himself...


    Forget it.


    He''d rather progress more slowly.


    If he encountered a powerful demon or monster, what then? Get himself killed?


    ¡ª


    Night fell.


    Wen Jiu changed into his uniform and prepared to join the other Night Watch disciples.


    But as he passed by the residence of Fang Zheng and his two companions, he unexpectedly spotted Li Ye.


    And, of course¡ª


    Li Ye saw him too.


    Their eyes met. Wen Jiu cupped his fists and greeted him, "Steward Li."


    Li Ye responded with a cold "Hmm."


    That didn''t bother Wen Jiu. He couldn''t care less about Li Ye''s attitude.


    What did catch his attention was another Night Watch steward nearby, leading a long-nosed spirit beast, slowly circling Fang Zheng''s residence¡ªsniffing.


    "They''re still investigating?"


    "So, he really suspects me."


    Wen Jiu''s heart turned cold.


    Li Ye just wouldn''t let this go.


    Even after he had pledged allegiance to Deacon Mu Canglong.


    Ugh.


    Dealing with rigid, stubborn people like this was such a headache.


    Without hesitation, Wen Jiu left.


    Shortly after he was gone, Li Ye murmured, "I spent a fortune to bring my master''s Bi-Ling Beast today. Its nose can detect any lingering scent within a ten-mile radius for up to a month... If I find even the slightest clue, I''ll make sure you die for it!"


    Because of Wen Jiu, Li Ye had tried to push more of the Li family''s people into Wang Nian''s ranks, but Wang Nian had rejected them outright.


    This only fueled Li Ye''s anger.


    Half an hour later.


    The Bi-Ling Beast finished sniffing every inch of Fang Zheng''s residence¡ª


    Yet, it found nothing unusual.


    Only ghostly energy.


    And only within the confines of that house.


    There wasn''t a single trace of similar ghostly energy within ten miles.


    "This is impossible," the Night Watch steward leading the Bi-Ling Beast muttered, his expression shifting. "Even if a ghost cultivator summoned spirits here, there should still be some residual energy along the path they traveled¡­ As for ghostly soul cultivators, they''d definitely leave traces of ghostly energy along the way."


    He scoured the area again, growing more uneasy.


    It was too clean.


    Suspiciously clean.


    Li Ye''s voice darkened. "Brother Chen, this only proves that this isn''t as simple as a spy killing them¡­ My instincts are never wrong!"


    "Agreed. I don''t believe in coincidences like this either," Steward Chen sighed deeply, troubled. "But without evidence, we can''t interrogate Wen Jiu. He belongs to Deacon Mu now."


    Even the Bi-Ling Beast couldn''t find anything.


    What else could they do?


    A moment of silence passed.


    Then, Li Ye spoke again. "Looks like we''ll have to keep questioning the spy we caught that night¡­ and the gravekeepers."


    "Brother Chen, take the Deacon''s token and bring in all the gravekeepers stationed around Wen Jiu''s quarters and Fang Zheng''s residence. Bring them to the Night Watch Division for questioning!"

 Chapter 28: Corpse Eye Rebirth

    Not long after, more than a dozen gravediggers were taken overnight to the Night Patrol Division''s prison. Wang Nian rushed over upon hearing the commotion, trying to intervene. However, Li Ye and his companion carried the Night Patrol officer''s command token, leaving him with no authority to interfere. Once the gravediggers were locked up, Li Ye and his companion immediately conducted an overnight interrogation. Initially, they planned to extract confessions through torture, but Wang Nian arrived just in time to stop them.


    "Li Ye, if you dare to use torture, I''ll take this straight to the elders of the Night Patrol Division! Then you can handle burying the bodies in the Land of Mangled Corpses yourself!"


    Left with no choice, Li Ye had to give up on the idea.


    "Brother Chen, let''s use the Illusion Pill instead."


    The Illusion Pill¡ªa low-grade, first-tier elixir¡ªwas specifically designed to cloud a prisoner''s mind and coax them into revealing the truth. Since they couldn''t use force, this was the best alternative.


    Manager Chen sighed. "One Illusion Pill costs a low-grade spirit stone each, Li Ye. You''re really willing to spend that much?"


    "I refuse to believe they didn''t hear anything unusual that night," Li Ye said, gritting his teeth as he paid for the dozen or so pills.


    However, despite the questioning, they learned very little. The only information they could gather was that those living near Fang Zheng had heard sounds of a struggle for just a few seconds before everything went silent. Other than that, there was nothing unusual.


    As for those living near Wen Jiu, they did hear him leaving his residence, but that was nothing out of the ordinary¡ªWen Jiu went out every night to tend to corpses. It was common knowledge. Even Wang Nian was aware of this. There were only a few rare nights when he didn''t go.


    Manager Chen shook his head, clearly troubled. "Even if he did go out at night, that''s hardly a reason to interrogate him. There''s no way to explain this to Officer Mu. Besides, corpse nurturing and ghost arts contradict each other. The only corpse-nurturing method he''s ever learned is the Yin Province Corpse-Nurturing Technique from the Law Transmission Hall¡­ Brother Li, maybe we should just drop this."


    At this point, Manager Chen was starting to believe that finding and killing spies was more reliable than trying to prove Wen Jiu had murdered Fang Zheng''s group.


    Although he didn''t believe it was just a coincidence that Fang Zheng and his men had targeted Wen Jiu one day, only to die the next, he couldn''t deny that, despite his suspicions, the facts seemed to line up that way.


    Li Ye remained silent, lost in deep thought.


    At that moment, a disciple of the Night Patrol Division rushed into the prison, looking flustered.


    "Manager Li, Manager Chen¡ªOfficer Sikong has come out of seclusion. He''s very dissatisfied with the progress on the spy investigation, so he''s decided to personally perform a soul-search on the spy we captured that night!"


    As soon as they heard this, both men''s expressions changed.


    They had spent so much time trying to connect Wen Jiu to Fang Zheng''s death that they had neglected the primary mission¡ªhunting down spies. Now, they had drawn Officer Sikong''s ire.


    "Release the gravediggers immediately!" Manager Chen ordered the nearby Night Patrol disciples.


    Though unwilling, Li Ye didn''t dare to hesitate. Right now, eliminating spies was the top priority.


    In recent days, the number of Night Patrol Division disciples killed by these spies had reached nearly thirty.


    ¡ª


    The next day, Wen Jiu learned of what had happened the previous night from Wang Nian. He also found out that Li Ye had taken the gravediggers who lived near him.


    But he remained unfazed.


    Ghost arts and corpse nurturing were fundamentally incompatible¡ªthis was simply a fact. Li Ye was the only one who would even think to suspect him.


    Yet no matter how much Li Ye tried to connect the dots or how much he targeted him, Wen Jiu knew he wouldn''t dare to take direct action. After all, he now had someone backing him.


    He was no longer just a gravedigger that could be easily controlled.


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    Shaking off those thoughts, Wen Jiu stepped into the Land of Mangled Corpses. Today, he planned to venture deeper into its core.


    That was the true battlefield.


    The cultivators who had perished there had been of much higher realms, meaning the lingering Yin energy and blood essence were purer.


    It was also where vengeful spirits were more likely to manifest.


    As he stepped into the core of the Land of Mangled Corpses, accompanied by the black ghoul, the surrounding Yin energy thickened, growing colder with every step. Though it was broad daylight, the air was as frigid as the dead of winter. A pale, eerie whiteness stretched as far as the eye could see.


    Corpses littered the ground in all directions.


    Unlike the outskirts, where bodies were shredded beyond recognition, here, there were occasional corpses that were mostly intact¡ªsome missing only an arm or a leg.


    But Wen Jiu didn''t go any further. After advancing about a hundred meters, he stopped and activated his corpse eye, beginning to absorb the blood essence.


    As soon as the corpse eye opened, an immense surge of blood energy erupted from the ground beneath him, rushing toward the eye like a tidal wave.


    The sheer volume of it was three to four times greater than what he had found on the outskirts.


    Its purity was several times higher than that of the surrounding area. As the blood energy surged in, the originally faint crimson blood essence rapidly took shape at a speed visible to the naked eye. In less than an hour, it condensed into a small blood droplet, about the size of a fingernail.


    Even so, the moment the blood droplet formed, the aura of the Corpse Eye changed drastically. The originally solemn-looking eye became laced with sinister blood veins, and as they spread, the speed at which it absorbed blood energy increased exponentially.


    At this moment, the Corpse Eye resembled a ravenous ghoul, endlessly devouring blood energy as if it wished to consume everything around it.


    The Black Ghoul stood to the side, feeling the surging blood energy and growing restless, but Wen Jiu firmly suppressed it.


    A single feast was better than sporadic meals¡ªWen Jiu understood that well.


    If he let the Black Ghoul snatch the blood energy now and later found himself short on it, leading to a failure in condensing blood essence, the loss would be immense.


    After all, cultivating the Blood Transformation Body required an enormous amount of blood.


    But he couldn''t exactly go out and slaughter cultivators or mortals for it.


    Time passed quickly.


    Several hours later, after completely absorbing all the blood energy within a two-to-three-hundred-zhang radius underground, the blood droplet increased by nearly a third in size and became even purer.


    Wen Jiu wasn''t sure if this counted as true blood essence or just highly purified blood, but regardless, he could clearly sense that its presence had elevated both the quality and abilities of the Corpse Eye to an entirely new level.


    Just then, the condensed blood essence suddenly released a massive surge of blood energy, which Wen Jiu had no control over. The energy rushed straight into the Black Ghoul''s body.


    The aura of the Black Ghoul''s Blood Transformation Body began to rise rapidly!


    For a full fifteen minutes, Wen Jiu could do nothing but stand by and watch as the transformation unfolded.


    When the process finally settled, the aura of the Black Ghoul''s Blood Transformation Body had reached an unprecedented peak.


    It was as if it had spent dozens of days absorbing blood energy in a land of corpses.


    In fact¡ª


    Wen Jiu could sense the clear signs of an impending breakthrough in the Black Ghoul''s Blood Transformation Body.


    "What the¡­"


    His eyes immediately turned to the Corpse Eye, only breathing a sigh of relief when he confirmed that the blood essence within it had not disappeared.


    As long as the blood essence remained, all was well.


    But what exactly had just happened?


    "Looks like I''ll have to wait for the daily settlement to fully understand this."


    After burying the Black Ghoul underground, Wen Jiu swiftly departed.


    When midnight arrived, the answer finally became clear.


    A new entry had appeared in the daily settlement log:


    [A large amount of blood energy has been absorbed to replenish the Corpse Eye. The blood essence within the Corpse Eye has been fully restored and is currently fusing with the Corpse Eye''s vessel. In ten days, it will return to first-tier mid-grade quality.]


    [Corpse Eye''s restoration has provided feedback: Cultivator Blood Essence +1375, Black Ghoul''s Blood Transformation Body EXP +300 (daily absorption limit reached).]


    [Black Ghoul Skill: Blood Transformation Body ¨C Second Stage (828/1000).]


    "So it worked!"


    The surprise came so suddenly that Wen Jiu was caught off guard.


    It was a stroke of luck that this happened in the land of corpses.


    Had it been anywhere else, who knew how long the restoration would have taken?


    "So the strange phenomenon earlier was due to the feedback process¡­"


    Another wave of excitement washed over Wen Jiu.


    It seemed that restoring the Corpse Eye only required replenishing its blood essence rather than absorbing an entire supply of fresh blood.


    "828 EXP... If I don''t tap into the reserved Cultivator Blood Essence, I''ll only need seven more days to reach the third stage of the Blood Transformation Body."


    Wen Jiu fell into thought.


    Should he wait seven days?


    Or use the Cultivator Blood Essence reserve to accelerate the process?


    After considering for a moment, Wen Jiu decided not to use it.


    The Cultivator Blood Essence should be saved whenever possible¡ªhe would need it later to cultivate the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body.


    Corpse blood was definitely useless for that particular cultivation method.


    With this in mind, Wen Jiu checked his blood essence reserves.


    [Cultivator Blood Essence Reserve: 2368.]


    "I''ll keep storing it."


    Once the situation calms down, I''ll start using this blood essence to cultivate the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body.


    With his plan set, Wen Jiu closed his personal status panel.


    Time passed quickly.


    Seven days later, the Blood Transformation Body successfully advanced to the third stage.


    [Black Ghoul Skill: Blood Transformation Body ¨C Third Stage (0/2000).]


    But what Wen Jiu hadn''t expected was that upon reaching the third stage, the Blood Transformation Body had actually developed a new skill.


    [Black Ghoul Skill: Blood Corpse Escape.]

 Chapter 29: Soul-Seizing Yin Talisman

    [Black Ghoul Skill: Blood Corpse Escape (Beginner 0/100) +]


    [Blood Corpse Escape ¡¤ Awakening Corpse Arts]


    [There are many paths in the cultivation of corpse arts¡ªsome focus on offense, some on defense, while escape techniques prioritize survival. When perfected, three-tenths of the corpse energy can be harnessed for an explosive use of Blood Corpse Escape, allowing travel up to a thousand miles in an instant. If a corpse energy imprint is left behind, one can escape directly to that location. After escaping, no traces of corpse energy or aura will be left along the way. For every additional person taken along, corpse energy consumption increases by ten percent, except for corpse nurturers. (Current escape distance: two miles.)]


    "So the Blood Transformation Body can actually awaken corpse arts?"


    Wen Jiu muttered in amazement.


    He carefully studied Blood Corpse Escape. The more he read, the more shocked he became¡ªand the more he liked it.


    With Three Rivers Ghost Concealment and now Blood Corpse Escape, there was no need to say anything else. In terms of retreat and survival, no one in the same realm could compare.


    Wen Jiu recalled an old saying: before learning how to fight, one must first learn how to take a hit. The idea was simple¡ªif you couldn''t withstand attacks, you weren''t qualified to engage in battle. Cultivation was the same; at the very least, one had to stay alive to keep cultivating.


    If you couldn''t even survive, everything else was meaningless.


    "Once the Black Ghoul advances to the upper realm, combined with the triple-layered Blood Transformation Body, Three Rivers Ghost Concealment, and Blood Corpse Escape..."


    Wen Jiu froze for a moment.


    He didn''t even dare to imagine.


    How powerful would the Black Ghoul become?


    "But two miles isn''t enough. At this range, any Qi Refinement cultivator at the third level who can ride a flying sword could catch up in no time." Without hesitation, Wen Jiu immediately upgraded Blood Corpse Escape to the first level.


    At times like this, the benefits of accumulating corpse energy became evident.


    The upgrade cost one hundred corpse energy, yet he still had 221 remaining.


    [Corpse Energy Balance: 221]


    [Black Ghoul Skill: Blood Corpse Escape (First Level 0/500) +]


    He checked the skill description again¡ªhis escape distance had increased from two miles to five miles.


    Closing the panel, Wen Jiu was pleased but also pragmatic.


    The Black Ghoul was indeed powerful, but he himself was still weak.


    What if the Black Ghoul was restrained?


    Trapped?


    What if someone tried to take him down first to gain control over the ghoul?


    With these concerns in mind, Wen Jiu opened the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Manual.


    After days of studying, he had memorized all its contents. Besides the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Technique and corpse-nurturing methods, he had also discovered a wealth of corpse-related arts and unconventional spells¡ªvast and complex.


    Even with the daily settlement panel to aid him, time was limited. He simply didn''t have the capacity to master everything at once.


    After careful deliberation, Wen Jiu chose the Yin Talisman Arts.


    What were the Yin Talisman Arts?


    In simple terms, they were talisman techniques¡ªbut different from normal talismans.


    Regular talisman masters created things like Ghost-Repelling Talismans and Fire Talismans, which were classified as Yang Talismans, used by proper Qi Refinement cultivators. The Yin Talisman Arts, however, could only be drawn by practitioners of unorthodox paths¡ªthose who cultivated Yin-based methods.


    And Wen Jiu met that requirement.


    Of course, he didn''t choose this technique just because he qualified. It aligned perfectly with his approach¡ªaccumulation.


    Once again, it was about accumulating power.


    Just like Corpse Eyes, which stored Yin energy to be unleashed at critical moments, the Yin Talisman Arts stored Yin talismans. If he lacked spirit stones, he could sell them; if he had enough resources, he could stockpile them.


    They could serve as his foundation!


    However, Yin Talismans weren''t unlimited in use. Even if he had a thousand of them, it wasn''t possible to throw them all at once.


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    Activating a Yin Talisman, much like activating a Yang Talisman, required spiritual and magical energy. Otherwise, how could the descendants of major cultivation clans even compete with one another?


    Still, using a talisman required far less magical energy than casting a spell of the same power¡ªprobably less than one-tenth of the cost.


    "I have enough life-saving techniques already, so I''ll use the Yin Talisman Arts for offense!" Wen Jiu immediately flipped open the Yin Talisman Record.


    From low-grade, to entry-level, to top-tier first-grade Yin Talismans¡ªthere were over a hundred different types, all with detailed instructions on how to draw them.


    "If I hadn''t joined the Night Patrol Division, who knows when I''d have gotten my hands on this?" Wen Jiu sighed in admiration.


    After careful consideration, he selected a Yin Talisman from the record¡ªone described in great detail and boasting the highest destructive power.


    It all starts with the practice of Yin Talisman techniques. But drawing those symbols might not give him the best reputation. Oh well. Reputation be damned. As long as it doesn''t interfere with his cultivation plans, that''s all that matters. It''s not like many of his fellow disciples care for a corpse-raiser like him anyway.


    The next morning, Wen Jiu sought out Wang Nian.


    Since he needed spirit stones to buy talisman-drawing tools and didn''t have a single one to his name, he had no choice but to borrow from Wang Nian.


    Wang Nian was a bit surprised when he heard that Wen Jiu wanted to borrow spirit stones. "Old Brother Wen, what''s with the sudden need for spirit stones?"


    For Wen Jiu, he was more than willing. However much he needed, Wang Nian would lend it. But he was curious.


    Wen Jiu didn''t hide anything¡ªafter all, Wang Nian was his creditor. "I''m planning to start practicing Yin Talisman techniques."


    "I see." Wang Nian wasn''t shocked at all, as if he had already expected it. "Among all the corpse-raising methods in Yinzou, the most famous is the Yin Talisman technique. Choosing it makes sense, and once you master it, you can even earn spirit stones as a talisman master."


    "No wonder the Yinzou Corpse-Raising Manual that Steward Mu gave me has the largest section dedicated to Yin Talisman techniques." Wen Jiu suddenly understood.


    Wang Nian added, "I''ll go with you. It''s your first time buying talisman tools in the market¡ªyou''re bound to run into people trying to rip you off."


    With that, Wang Nian turned around and gave the gravekeepers half a day off.


    This made the gravekeepers hold Wen Jiu in high regard¡ªnot just out of respect for his status as before, but genuine admiration.


    Before long, Wang Nian led Wen Jiu to the trading market.


    They found a small talisman shop and bought a set of talisman-drawing tools from an old talisman master inside. The original price was five low-grade spirit stones, but Wang Nian haggled it down to four. A pack of talisman paper that originally held thirty sheets per spirit stone was bargained up to thirty-five sheets. The old talisman master was so furious he was practically spitting fire, cursing Wang Nian as they left¡ª


    "No wonder you still haven''t entered the Talisman Dao, you little bastard!"


    Wang Nian didn''t take it to heart. He just grinned shamelessly¡ªclearly, he and the old man had known each other for years.


    After returning, Wang Nian even helped Wen Jiu move into the courtyard next to his own. Turns out, he had bought it.


    As a gift to celebrate Wen Jiu joining the Night Patrol Division.


    It didn''t cost much¡ªjust a few hundred taels¡ªso Wen Jiu gladly accepted without hesitation.


    Still, he understood.


    His debt to Wang Nian was only growing.


    But it was fine. He would be able to repay it in the future.


    At the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), Wen Jiu returned from his night patrol.


    He took out a non-ranked beast blood talisman brush and non-ranked beast blood, then laid out ordinary talisman paper.


    As his Yin techniques gradually infused into the talisman brush, he began to draw, stroke by stroke¡ªcreating what was called a Soul-Seizing Talisman.


    This talisman ranked among the top three deadliest in the Yin Talisman Manual, with the highest direct offensive power.


    At its peak, it could reach top-tier First Rank.


    It could kill a peak Qi Refining third-layer cultivator outright.


    Even a fourth-layer Qi Refining cultivator would have to retreat three steps.


    Because the Soul-Seizing Talisman did exactly what its name implied¡ªseized the enemy''s soul. One talisman could rip out and shatter the opponent''s spirit. It was an extremely ruthless Yin talisman.


    No spell technique could block it unless it specifically countered Yin techniques. No magical artifact could defend against it unless it restrained Yin techniques. Anyone weaker hit by it would die instantly.


    This was exactly why Wen Jiu''s already questionable reputation would only get worse.


    But there was no denying it¡ª


    Its power was insane.


    And Wen Jiu really wanted it.


    To his surprise, he had assumed drawing Yin talismans would be difficult.


    But it was going much more smoothly than expected.


    Stroke by stroke¡ª


    Everything just flowed effortlessly.


    The old talisman master and Wang Nian had both mentioned that beginners struggle to maintain their spiritual energy while drawing talisman patterns, let alone control the details. But Wen Jiu didn''t feel that struggle at all. As his Yin techniques merged with the beast blood and landed on the talisman paper, everything felt¡­ natural.


    "Could it be that I was born for the dark arts¡­?" Wen Jiu chuckled wryly.


    A genius, perhaps¡ª


    But a dark path genius.


    "I suppose it has something to do with the Yin techniques in my dantian as well." Wen Jiu analyzed carefully and came to a conclusion.


    Because, as the old talisman master had said, and as the Yin Talisman Manual also recorded¡ª


    Yin techniques typically resist merging with talisman patterns.


    But for him, it wasn''t just merging.


    His Yin energy devoured the talisman patterns.


    If they didn''t want to merge?


    Too bad. They had to.


    At that thought, Wen Jiu let out a small laugh.


    The next morning¡ª


    Wang Nian knocked on Wen Jiu''s door bright and early, holding a set of notes¡ªhis personal insights from years of talisman practice.


    "Old Brother Wen, this is my experience from the past two years, including the mistakes I made. If you go through it, I''m sure it''ll help you¡ª" Wang Nian stopped mid-sentence.


    Because when the door opened, he saw¡ª


    On the table inside, more than a dozen successfully drawn Yin talismans.


    They weren''t even ranked.


    But they were real talismans.


    "I¡­" Wang Nian looked down at the notes he had spent the entire night compiling.


    Suddenly, he didn''t know what to do.


    It seemed like this kid didn''t need them at all.


    Fuck.


    How the hell was Wen Jiu''s dark path talent this ridiculous?


    Two years¡ªWang Nian had spent two years without breaking through.


    This kid?


    One night.


    Just one night, and he had stepped into the path!


    "Brother Wang." Wen Jiu walked up to greet him, reaching out to take the notes, but Wang Nian pulled them back.


    With a helpless sigh, Wang Nian said, "My notes probably aren''t enough for you anymore¡­ Listen to me¡ªgo hang around Steward Mu Canglong. Show off a little. Try to get your hands on their talisman insights."


    "Hm?"


    Wen Jiu was puzzled.


    Wang Nian didn''t explain directly, as if he couldn''t. "Just trust me on this. If I tell you to show off, then do it¡­ Some things are taboo¡ªif I say too much, I''ll get myself into trouble."

 Chapter 30: The Peak Masters Order

    "Forbidden?"


    Hearing this word, Wen Jiu became even more curious.


    But as an adult, he knew there were things he shouldn''t ask¡ªhis curiosity shouldn''t bring trouble to others.


    Clasping his hands in thanks, he said, "Many thanks, Brother Wang."


    "Thank me for what? I didn''t say anything." Wang Nian quickly feigned ignorance.


    Wen Jiu understood the hint.


    After putting away the things in his hands, Wang Nian changed the topic and asked, "Brother Wen, what kind of talisman are you drawing here?"


    As he spoke, he picked up a piece and examined it carefully.


    The more he looked, the more uneasy he felt, a faint sense of dread creeping up on him.


    Wen Jiu responded, "A Soul-Reaping Talisman."


    "Shit!"


    Wang Nian immediately tossed the talisman away, unwilling to hold it any longer.


    "You¡­ you went straight for the most sinister one?" Among the various Yin Talismans used by Yin Talisman Masters, the Soul-Reaping Talisman was infamous for its ruthlessness. To early-stage Qi Refinement cultivators, it was considered the most feared and cruelest of talismans.


    One talisman, one stolen soul.


    A forbidden technique among Qi Refinement cultivators.


    Countless early-stage cultivators had perished at the hands of rogue cultivators wielding Soul-Reaping Talismans.


    "Good thing you''re not a rogue cultivator and have Mu Canglong as your backer," Wang Nian sighed. "If you were a rogue cultivator, just possessing this talisman alone would make you a target¡ªwho knows how many people would want you dead."


    Wen Jiu completely agreed with Wang Nian''s words. He quickly added, "Brother Wang, once I manage to draw a top-tier Grade-One inferior Soul-Reaping Talisman, I''ll give you a few."


    Wang Nian nodded, clearly looking forward to it.


    The Soul-Reaping Talisman had a fearsome reputation.


    But there was no denying its power.


    Yet, Dead Man''s Peak didn''t sell them.


    Only rogue cultivators and those who dabbled in forbidden arts had them.


    If he could carry a few Soul-Reaping Talismans with him, then should he ever encounter a heretic, he could let them taste their own medicine!


    "But be careful¡ªdon''t let anyone else know you can draw these talismans. Only display your skill in front of Steward Mu." Wang Nian warned him again.


    ¡­


    A short while later, Wang Nian left.


    Now that Wen Jiu had officially become an apprentice disciple, his sister, Wen Ya, no longer brought him food.


    After all, he wouldn''t lack low-grade spirit rice or low-tier beast meat anymore.


    Originally, Wen Jiu planned to head to the Land of Mangled Corpses for training. However, just as he was about to leave, a Night Patrol Division disciple hurriedly arrived, seemingly with urgent news.


    "Daoist Wen, Steward Liu has ordered us to gather at the Night Patrol Division¡ªthere''s an important mission."


    An important mission?


    Wen Jiu''s heart tightened.


    After changing his clothes, he headed straight for the Night Patrol Division at Feixian Peak.


    When he reached the foot of the mountain, he saw that many Night Patrol disciples had gathered¡ªat least a hundred, possibly two hundred.


    All seventeen of Liu Xiao''s direct subordinates were also present.


    The air in the Night Patrol Division was filled with tension.


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    Few spoke, and those who did kept their voices low, as if afraid of disturbing something¡ªor someone.


    This made Wen Jiu even more curious.


    Did another murder occur?


    While waiting, he noticed many people glancing at him with curious expressions.


    However, unlike before, no one mocked him for practicing a forbidden path.


    Even so, he could feel their distance.


    During casual conversations in small groups, no one included him.


    Only those who regularly patrolled with him would occasionally say a word or two¡ªbut never much.


    This sense of isolation made Wen Jiu feel like he was being deliberately excluded.


    If he were a young, inexperienced cultivator, he might have found this unbearable.


    But having lived two lives, Wen Jiu didn''t care.


    He didn''t even feel the slightest ripple in his heart.


    Moments later, the grand doors of the ancient building ahead slowly opened.


    It seemed as though people had been waiting inside all along¡ªone after another, twelve stewards of the Night Patrol Division stepped out.


    On the second-floor balcony, two figures emerged.


    One of them was Mu Canglong.


    The other had an aura slightly weaker than Mu Canglong''s, but his eyes were piercing, as if they could see through a person''s soul.


    His gaze swept across the nearly two hundred Night Patrol disciples gathered below, and Wen Jiu was no exception.


    When their eyes met, Wen Jiu felt as if he were being watched by some kind of demon.


    At that moment, Mu Canglong spoke.


    "The Peak Lord has ordered that from today onward, night patrols will be strengthened. The Demon-Slaying Division and the Devil-Suppressing Division will also be joining us. They will patrol during the day; we will patrol at night. We must ensure that the recent treacherous murders do not happen again. Mark my words¡ªif it happens even once more, all salaries within the Night Patrol Division will be suspended for a year!"


    Mu Canglong''s voice carried an unquestionable authority, sending a shock through the gathered disciples.


    Suspended for a year?


    That was no small matter.


    And now, even the Demon-Slaying and Devil-Suppressing Divisions were getting involved?


    This left them even more bewildered.


    Why was this happening so suddenly? Wen Jiu was just as curious, wondering if the Night Patrol Division had obtained some crucial information from the captives they caught that night. Could it be that even after what happened last time, those people were still unwilling to give up and continued to fixate on the Forsaken Corpse Grounds?


    As Wen Jiu pondered whether he should find a more hidden place to store the corpse, the steward beside Mu Canglong suddenly spoke¡ªhis words shocking everyone, including Mu Canglong himself.


    "No one is allowed to leave. There is still one more matter to handle!"


    As soon as he spoke, the formations around the Night Patrol Division activated, cutting off all possible escape routes and trapping the disciples in front of the ancient building. Wen Jiu could feel the intense killing intent within the formations¡ªhe suspected that taking even a single step outside would trigger them.


    "Si Kongbai, what are you doing?" Mu Canglong asked in surprise, his voice carrying both shock and suspicion.


    Si Kongbai responded frankly, "Daoist Mu, please forgive me. I received a secret order from the Peak Lord and had no choice but to keep this matter under wraps¡­ Once everything is settled, I will personally offer you wine to apologize."


    His tone was full of regret, yet in the very next moment, he spoke with a firm and commanding voice. "Li Ye, bring out all the Illusionary Pills. It''s time to begin."


    Mu Canglong''s expression darkened, and a cold killing intent spread from him. "You still haven''t answered my question!"


    Si Kongbai''s face stiffened for a brief moment before he forced a smile. "Daoist Mu, please calm your anger. I am simply following a confidential directive from the Peak Lord. In order to root out the traitor within our ranks, everyone here must consume an Illusionary Pill for interrogation. Anyone who refuses or resists¡ªwill die!"


    The way he emphasized "will die" made it sound almost deliberate.


    Mu Canglong''s expression remained grim, but he said no more. As the First Steward of the Night Patrol Division, he technically had the authority, but Si Kongbai was acting under direct orders from the Peak Lord¡ªhe had no choice but to comply.


    What he couldn''t understand was why the Peak Lord had bypassed the elder in charge of the Night Patrol Division and given the order directly to Si Kongbai.


    Could it be that Si Kongbai had discovered something shocking when he used Soul Searching on the traitor?


    Something unspeakable?


    Or had the revelation made the Peak Lord distrust both the elder and even himself?


    Seeing that Mu Canglong no longer objected, a smug smile appeared at the corner of Si Kongbai''s lips. He then gave Li Ye a meaningful look.


    Immediately, Li Ye and his men began distributing the Illusionary Pills.


    Each pill was a top-tier Grade One Illusionary Pill¡ªexceptionally expensive.


    When Li Ye handed one to Wen Jiu, his gaze carried a sharp, malicious glint.


    That sent a wave of unease through Wen Jiu.


    From the hushed murmurs of those around him, he soon understood the pill''s purpose.


    A tool for interrogation.


    Once consumed, the person would answer any question truthfully.


    If there was a traitor among them, the pill would expose them instantly.


    Resisting the effects of the Illusionary Pill was nearly impossible¡ªmost low-level Qi Refining cultivators didn''t have strong enough mental strength to do so.


    Hearing this, Wen Jiu instantly realized what that look in Li Ye''s eyes meant.


    That bastard wanted to take this chance to force him to reveal information about Fang Zheng and the others!


    This son of a bitch!


    If I make it through today, the moment I reach Qi Refining Third Layer, I''ll kill you!


    At that moment, Si Kongbai''s cold voice rang out.


    "Swallow it!"


    One by one, the disciples of the Night Patrol Division consumed their pills.


    As the effects took hold, their gazes became unfocused, their expressions dull and vacant.


    Wen Jiu held the pill in his fingers, hesitating.


    Anxious.


    Seeing his hesitation, Li Ye''s eyes gleamed with delight.


    Meeting Li Ye''s gloating stare, Wen Jiu finally swallowed the pill¡ªhe wanted to test whether his soul, having lived two lifetimes, could resist its effects.


    However, the instant the pill entered his stomach, the Yin Law within his body suddenly erupted.


    As if it had encountered a mortal enemy, it lunged at the pill and instantly corroded it¡ªdestroying it before it could take effect.


    What the hell just happened?


    Wen Jiu was stunned.


    Baffled.


    But there was no time to dwell on it now. Slowly, he imitated the others, pretending to fall into a dazed and sluggish state.


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 31: The Giant Azure Sword

    Wen Jiu noticed that someone hadn''t eaten.


    In the brief moment of hesitation, the formation covering the ancient building suddenly descended, unleashing countless streaks of golden light.


    Although he didn''t see exactly what it was, the next moment, he heard the screams of three or four people, followed by the sounds of bodies collapsing to the ground.


    Dead?


    Or just unconscious?


    "Take them away. Ask nothing. Wait for me to perform a soul search," Sikong Bai''s cold voice followed.


    Soul search!


    Hearing those words, Wen Jiu''s heart trembled.


    As a corpse keeper, how could he not know of this infamous sorcery? A notorious and sinister dark art¡ªvicious, ruthless.


    He wasn''t sure of its exact effects, but one thing he knew: those subjected to a soul search would lose all sanity and become mindless fools.


    A fate worse than death.


    Just a moment of hesitation could lead to such a cruel punishment. It seemed the Peak Lord of Feixian Peak was desperate to uncover something.


    Wen Jiu couldn''t help but feel relieved that he hadn''t hesitated earlier.


    Soon, the interrogation began.


    Under Sikong Bai''s command and Mu Canglong''s approval, twelve Night Patrol officers started questioning all Night Patrol disciples.


    The questions were simple.


    Two of them.


    Do you harbor any disloyalty toward Feixian Peak?


    Over the past year, has anyone from Feixian Peak¡ªor outside of it¡ªever instructed you to do something beyond the duties of the Night Patrol?


    Clearly, the suspects weren''t limited to just the Night Patrol disciples.


    As Wen Jiu continued feigning ignorance, a sudden, muffled explosion rang out.


    Immediately after, he saw shattered flesh fly past his eyes, splattering onto the right side of his face and body.


    The officers stirred in alarm.


    "Stay calm. It''s just a silencing spell¡ªanother dark art," Sikong Bai''s voice was steady, keeping them in check.


    Mu Canglong followed with a cold voice. "Doing this will only kill them. You won''t get anything useful out of it."


    Sikong Bai''s smile was thin and insincere. "Mu Daoyou, this is the Peak Lord''s order¡ªI''m merely following instructions. Oh, by the way, once this matter is settled, we must also head to Feixian Peak''s main hall for questioning. You might want to watch out¡­ in case someone under your command gets exposed."


    "What are you implying?"


    Mu Canglong''s gaze turned icy.


    Sikong Bai didn''t answer, simply shifting his gaze downward.


    At that moment, Li Ye stepped up to Wen Jiu, his smirk growing even more sinister.


    Let''s see how you get out of this one!


    "Do you harbor any disloyalty toward Feixian Peak?" Li Ye asked coldly.


    Wen Jiu imitated the nearby gravekeeper, slowly answering, "No."


    Li Ye continued, "Over the past year, has anyone from Feixian Peak¡ªor outside of it¡ªever instructed you to do something beyond the duties of the Night Patrol?"


    "Yes¡­ I used to work under Supervisor Wang Nian as a gravekeeper¡­ moving and burying corpses every day¡­ My sister also had me visit our deceased parents'' graves¡­ And Supervisor Li Ye of the Night Patrol told me not to take the gravekeepers'' year-end assessment. He said that in ten years, he would arrange a job for me in the Night Patrol."


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    The moment those words fell, Li Ye''s expression changed.


    Shit.


    How did that come up in questioning?


    Mu Canglong sneered. "No wonder he''s one of yours. A dignified Night Patrol supervisor, resorting to such shameless threats to keep a lowly gravekeeper from taking his assessment."


    Sikong Bai''s face darkened, momentarily speechless.


    But the look he gave Li Ye was now sharp as a blade.


    Sensing danger, Li Ye quickly moved on. "Were you the one responsible for the deaths of Fang Zheng and the others?"


    Then, without waiting for an answer, he added, "Have you used corpse-rearing techniques for anything¡­ inappropriate?"


    Nearby, Liu Xiao, who had been questioning another disciple, turned and scowled. "Li Ye, what are you trying to do? I warn you¡ªdon''t go too far. If you''re using this as an excuse for personal revenge, don''t blame me for giving you a taste of your own medicine."


    Li Ye immediately turned and cupped his fists. "Supervisor Liu, my apologies! I¡­ I lost my train of thought for a moment. My mistake, truly!"


    Saying that, he took a step back.


    But in reality, he was listening intently to Wen Jiu''s next response.


    He refused to believe Wen Jiu wasn''t behind it!


    The next moment, Wen Jiu drowsily mumbled, "It wasn''t me¡­ I just have my black ghoul carry corpses while I slack off on the side¡­"


    Hearing this, Li Ye''s face stiffened, doubt filling his mind.


    Not him?


    How could it not be him?


    But before he could react, Liu Xiao had already turned to one of Li Ye''s trusted men, his expression dark.


    "You people from Justice Hall¡­ what kind of dirty dealings have you been up to?"


    The moment those words were spoken, Li Ye and the other stewards'' expressions changed drastically. Even Sikong Bai, who was on the second floor, reacted the same way.


    "Shut up!"


    In his urgency, Sikong Bai leaped down in an instant and struck the interrogated disciple with a slap, sending him flying as if he feared even one more word from him.


    Liu Xiao, seeing this, took several steps back. He then followed Li Ye''s lead and apologized, "Steward Sikong, I apologize... I lost control for a moment and asked things I shouldn''t have... My apologies, truly."


    Sikong Bai''s expression was dark and murderous.


    Yet Liu Xiao did not retreat a single step, standing tall and unwavering, as if silently telling him: Wen Jiu is not without backing. If you dare to probe any further, I will expose you.


    "You''re seeking death!" Sikong Bai''s voice was ice-cold, his anger evident.


    Just then, Mu Canglong''s deep voice rang out, and at some point, a sword had appeared behind him¡ªan enormous, azure greatsword that hovered and spun slowly around him. Though its movements were unhurried, the sword intent it exuded surged violently.


    Even from five or six zhang away, Wen Jiu could feel the oppressive and suffocating sword aura.


    Sikong Bai felt it as well. His eyes flickered with apprehension when they swept over the azure greatsword. Though he was furious, he didn''t linger but instead turned away and waved his hand, signaling Li Ye to continue.


    "Li Ye, if you utter one more useless word, I''ll have you guarding the Feixian Peak gate for the rest of your life!"


    Li Ye trembled in fear and responded immediately, "Yes!"


    Hearing this, Mu Canglong slowly retracted the azure greatsword. "Sikong Bai, the disgraceful deeds your Juyi Hall has done¡ªI don''t even need to ask to know. But I can''t be bothered with your affairs. However, for today''s matter, if you don''t give me a proper explanation, you''d better think carefully about the consequences."


    With those words, Sikong Bai''s expression grew even uglier.


    Yet, recalling that azure greatsword, he could only suppress his rage and say through clenched teeth, "Mu Daoyou, I will certainly give you an explanation."


    As soon as he said that, Li Ye''s face turned pale.


    ¡­


    A quarter of an hour later, Wen Jiu followed the others in regaining consciousness, his body weak as he collapsed to the ground. Only with help from those nearby did he manage to stand up slowly.


    Once on his feet, Wen Jiu bowed to Mu Canglong, Steward Liu, and the others before moving to stand with the rest.


    Before long, the interrogation of all the Night Patrol Division disciples was complete.


    Apart from the initial spy they had uncovered, no more were found.


    Following that, Mu Canglong and his companion proceeded to examine all the stewards in front of the gathered disciples.


    Still, nothing.


    Just as Sikong Bai, his face darkened, was about to dismiss the crowd, Mu Canglong suddenly interrupted him.


    "Wen Jiu!"


    Wen Jiu immediately stepped forward and saluted.


    "Steward Mu!"


    Mu Canglong said coldly, "That Li Ye¡ªonce you reach the third level of Qi Refinement, if you don''t give him a proper beating, don''t ever claim to be one of my people again!"


    "Yes!" Wen Jiu nodded firmly.


    At that moment, Sikong Bai''s expression changed, and so did Li Ye''s.


    Wen Jiu felt a surge of excitement.


    So this is what it feels like to have backing?


    Feels amazing!


    But even if Mu Canglong hadn''t said it, he had already planned to kill Li Ye.


    After what had happened today, someone like Li Ye might not dare to provoke him in the near future, but who could say for sure about the future?


    So when the time came, he would deal with him.


    Qi Refinement third level, huh?


    He wasn''t far from being able to kill someone at that level.


    "Dismissed!"


    Sikong Bai barely restrained his fury as he ordered everyone to disperse.


    Wen Jiu left with the crowd.


    As he walked away, he couldn''t help but think about that corpse.


    Though only a few spies had been caught this time, if they searched their memories through soul-reading and discovered anything¡­


    Would they end up scouring the Remnant Corpse Deadlands over and over again?


    No.


    I have to move the body to a new hiding place as soon as possible.


    As for that damaged first-grade high-quality artifact, he would keep it with him¡ªnow that he had bought a storage pouch, he could block any divine sense from detecting it.

 Chapter 32: Forbidden Death Grounds

    After leaving Feixian Peak, Wen Jiu headed straight for the Forsaken Corpse Burial Grounds. He found an excuse, claiming he had discovered a corpse heavily infused with yin energy, and managed to borrow a cart. After digging up the corpse, he went straight to the center of the burial grounds, where he found a pile of corpses brimming with yin energy and buried it beneath them. Then, he made his way toward the distant Green Mountain Burial Grounds.


    Of course, he didn''t take back the talisman. He let it continue masking the corpse''s aura. The burial workers didn''t think much of it¡ªif anything, they were grateful when they saw the heavily yin-infused corpse on Wen Jiu''s cart. After all, Wen Jiu was no longer one of them, yet he was still willing to help dispose of such dangerous corpses, which was a huge favor. If they had been the ones to move it, the yin energy would have likely seeped into their bodies, leaving them bedridden for ten days to half a month.


    After burying the corpse, Wen Jiu stayed in the burial grounds as usual, searching for wandering spirits until dusk.


    What he hadn''t expected was that just as he was preparing to leave, Liu Xiao arrived with twenty or thirty Night Patrol Division disciples.


    And they weren''t here for him.


    They were here for the Forsaken Corpse Burial Grounds!


    Along with them were disciples from the Demon-Slaying Division and the Devil-Suppressing Division, bringing the total to nearly a hundred people.


    The moment they arrived, they immediately granted the burial workers an extended leave and sealed off the entire area.


    "From this day forth, no one is allowed to enter or leave the Forsaken Corpse Burial Grounds at will!"


    Upon hearing this, Wen Jiu''s expression darkened.


    Good thing he had moved the corpse earlier.


    Otherwise, it would''ve definitely been dug up. Unlike spies, who feared making big moves, the Night Patrol Division, the Demon-Slaying Division, and the Devil-Suppressing Division had no such scruples¡ªthey wouldn''t hesitate to turn over every inch of soil in this place.


    Still, even though the corpse was safe, how was he supposed to gather corpse energy and yin energy in the future?


    "Forget it. At least I managed to save the corpse. I''ll just have to figure out another way to cultivate." Wen Jiu consoled himself, but his expression remained grim.


    Liu Xiao noticed and asked, "What''s wrong with you, kid?"


    Wen Jiu hesitated before cautiously probing, "Brother Liu, I''m a corpse cultivator. Now that the burial grounds are sealed off, how am I supposed to cultivate? And what about my Black Ghoul?"


    "The order to seal the area came from the Peak Master. Even Night Patrol Division disciples aren''t allowed inside anymore¡­ But as for your Black Ghoul, you can leave it buried inside. I''ll go with you to mark its location, and I''ll make sure to report it to Deacon Mu. As long as nothing suspicious is found beneath it, I''ll keep an eye on it for you."


    "Thank you, Brother Liu."


    Hearing that the order came from the Peak Master, Wen Jiu immediately expressed his gratitude and didn''t press further.


    As for his cultivation¡ªwhile he couldn''t personally enter the burial grounds to search for yin spirits, at least his Black Ghoul could remain inside to continue absorbing corpse energy. This wouldn''t delay its advancement to the Superior Realm.


    If necessary, he could even use remote spirit communication to control the Black Ghoul and have it hunt for yin spirits on its own.


    But realistically, that probably wouldn''t work. The burial grounds were now a heavily restricted area¡ªthere was no way they''d allow a ghoul to roam freely.


    ¡­


    For the next few days, Wen Jiu spent his days at home drawing Soul-Seizing Talismans.


    During his night patrols, he secretly observed the burial grounds and noticed that only high-ranking officials were permitted entry.


    Deacons.


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    Even an elder from Feixian Peak''s fifth Qi Refinement layer had shown up.


    As for his Black Ghoul, it remained safely buried under Liu Xiao''s watch, though it had initially been dug up for inspection.


    Judging by the situation, the burial grounds wouldn''t be reopening anytime soon.


    With no other choice, Wen Jiu focused on diligently refining his Yin Talisman Arts. Since he couldn''t cultivate by absorbing corpse energy and death energy, he decided to use this time to advance his talisman proficiency¡ªit was something he''d need to master eventually anyway.


    For three days straight, Wen Jiu practiced drawing talismans for five hours each day, pushing himself to the limit. He also borrowed six lower-grade spirit stones from Wang Nian.


    Thanks to smooth progress and the daily accumulation of experience, he reached the threshold of entry-level mastery in Yin Talisman Arts within those three days.


    And he successfully advanced to the Minor Achievement stage.


    [Soul-Seizing Talisman (Minor Achievement 0/200)]


    At this level, Wen Jiu could now draw non-ranked Soul-Seizing Talismans with a 100% success rate.


    Ten in a row. Wen Jiu succeeded in all of them. However, soul-stealing talismans that weren''t at the entry level couldn''t help him gain experience beyond minor proficiency¡ªit was clear that he had to draw entry-level ones to progress.


    "Great, time to borrow spirit stones from Wang Nian again." Wen Jiu sighed. His debt in spirit stones was piling up.


    Counting the silver he already owed, he was now short by nearly eleven lower-grade spirit stones.


    If he relied on his salary from the Night Patrol Division to pay it back, he''d have to go half a year without eating or drinking.


    "I''ll borrow some more, then sell the non-entry-level talismans at the market. That should help me recover at least a little."


    With that, Wen Jiu stepped out and headed straight for Wang Nian''s house.


    As soon as the door opened, Wang Nian asked, "You''ve been holed up at home lately. What have you been up to?"


    "Drawing talismans," Wen Jiu answered.


    Glancing inside the courtyard, he noticed that Wang Nian''s stone table was covered in talisman paper¡ªmost of them failures.


    Seeing this, Wang Nian quickly ran over to gather up the discarded talismans, afraid that Wen Jiu would get a good look. He forced an awkward laugh. "I''m trying to break through to a first-tier talisman master, so I''ve been failing quite a lot."


    If Wen Jiu found out that he was still drawing non-entry-level talismans and only succeeding once every thirty attempts¡­


    He''d die of embarrassment.


    Wen Jiu chuckled helplessly.


    A non-entry-level talisman brush.


    Non-entry-level demon blood talisman ink.


    And this was his setup for drawing entry-level talismans?


    Still, Wen Jiu decided not to call him out on it and instead played along. "That''s our Brother Wang for you!"


    Wang Nian gave an awkward laugh, then quickly changed the topic. "So, what brings you here today?"


    "Borrowing spirit stones."


    "Again¡­ I''m not saying I won''t lend them to you, don''t get me wrong. I''m just curious¡ªwhy are you always short on spirit stones? What are you buying this time?"


    As he spoke, Wang Nian gestured for his wife, who was tidying up the stone table, to fetch the storage pouch.


    Wen Jiu answered bluntly, "I want to try drawing first-tier lower-grade soul-stealing talismans."


    "Wen, my brother, I don''t mind lending you spirit stones¡ªyou don''t even have to pay me back if it comes to that¡ªbut I need to warn you: don''t rush things. The cost of a first-tier lower-grade Yin talisman isn''t cheap. Just ten attempts will set you back an entire lower-grade spirit stone. Wait until you can successfully draw non-entry-level soul-stealing talismans more than half the time before you attempt it. Otherwise, it''s too much of a waste."


    Wang Nian took the storage pouch from his wife and started pulling out spirit stones. Then, as if on instinct, he asked, "What''s your success rate right now?"


    "Ten out of ten."


    Wen Jiu''s words fell, and Wang Nian froze.


    The hand reaching for the spirit stones stopped mid-motion.


    Then, he swallowed dryly, suddenly at a loss for words.


    "Ten out of ten¡­" he murmured. After a long pause, he pulled out twenty to thirty lower-grade spirit stones and started calculating the cost of talisman brushes and other materials.


    In the end, he realized he was still short and reluctantly took out another five stones, making it a total of thirty lower-grade spirit stones.


    "You little freak¡­ Ten out of ten¡­ If you were drawing Yang talismans instead, the old masters in the Talisman Hall would be trampling down your door." Wang Nian sighed, then thought of his own talent for talisman crafting.


    He suddenly felt like crying.


    "Thanks, Brother Wang."


    Wen Jiu accepted the spirit stones and bowed in gratitude. Truth be told, owing this much in one go made him uneasy. Fortunately, if he could successfully draw first-tier soul-stealing talismans, he could sell them to earn back the spirit stones and repay his debt.


    "Don''t mention it. We''re brothers¡­ Forget it, I''ll take you to buy a talisman brush. We''ll go to the usual old talisman master. I can haggle there¡ªworst case, I''ll just get called shameless a few times."


    Wang Nian grinned and led Wen Jiu toward the marketplace.


    After buying all the necessary materials, Wang Nian even asked the old talisman master for tips on drawing first-tier talismans.


    The master only said one thing¡ª


    "Focus on intent, method, and stability, but don''t be obsessed with form!"


    In other words, talisman patterns had a form, but they weren''t fixed. Minor deviations didn''t matter. In fact, many deviations were acceptable.


    It was like the difference between cursive script and regular script.


    For a skilled calligrapher, whether in cursive or regular script, a character remained the same character.


    The form might change, but its meaning wouldn''t.


    Back home, Wen Jiu didn''t rush to draw the soul-stealing talisman.


    For non-entry-level ones, the requirements weren''t strict. But for entry-level soul-stealing talismans, they had to be drawn after midnight.


    If he tried during the day, none would succeed.


    "If I can successfully draw a first-tier soul-stealing talisman, I''ll have a new foundation. Whether I sell it or keep it, it''ll be a huge gain¡­ And I can also try showing it to Manager Mu. Wang Nian wouldn''t lie¡ªthere''s a good chance I''ll get a surprise reward!"

 Chapter 33: First-Grade Soul Seizing

    Night fell. The time had come.


    Wen Jiu carefully arranged his entry-level talisman brush, the ink made from the blood of an entry-level ghost fish, and the gray talisman paper crafted from the skin of an entry-level demon.


    As the dark energy flowed through the brush onto the talisman paper, he followed the technique recorded in the Yin Talisman Codex to carefully inscribe the rune patterns. Since this was his first attempt, Wen Jiu prioritized stability and precision over speed.


    At the same time, he focused on grasping the "weight of intent" that the old talisman master had spoken of.


    What was the weight of intent?


    It was the sensation one experienced while inscribing the runes¡ªsomething that could only be understood through practice, not mere explanation.


    During this process, Wen Jiu channeled the majority of his mental strength into controlling the flow of dark energy.


    This was the weight of method.


    And the weight of stability.


    Because the inscription of a rune had to be completed in one seamless stroke¡ªany hesitation or pause could lead to failure.


    Moments later, the first rune was successfully drawn.


    Wen Jiu quickly lifted his brush and gasped for air, realizing he had been holding his breath the entire time to maintain his control.


    Seeing that he had taken the first step, a smile spread across his face.


    "Fortunately, my previous body tempering with Earthly Fiend Yin Qi has made my hands incredibly steady. And thanks to my past life, my mental strength is far greater than that of an ordinary person. Not to mention, my dark energy carries a natural corrosive effect¡­"


    With a quiet sigh, Wen Jiu steadied his breathing, took a deep breath, held it, and resumed inscribing the runes with slow, deliberate strokes.


    A basic entry-level Soul-Seizing Talisman required at least seventeen rune patterns of various sizes and shapes.


    The further he progressed, the harder it became.


    So, if he could avoid breathing, he would.


    However¡ª


    When he reached the third rune, a brief lapse in focus caused him to release just a fraction too much dark energy.


    It was only a tiny mistake, and he adjusted immediately, but when the third rune was completed, the talisman had already failed. The dark energy failed to circulate properly and could not connect or resonate with the previous two runes.


    "Again!"


    Wen Jiu crumpled the failed talisman paper and tossed it behind him, then picked up his brush and held his breath, starting anew.


    Yet¡ª


    Two entire hours passed.


    Twenty talisman papers.


    Not a single success.


    His best attempt reached only the sixth rune.


    Taking a deep breath, Wen Jiu finally stopped.


    After maintaining such intense concentration for so long, his head throbbed, and his mind felt sluggish.


    He rested for about half an hour.


    Until midnight.


    At the stroke of midnight, the system tallied the day''s progress.


    The Black Ghoul continued to gain the same amount of experience from scavenging in the Land of Dismembered Corpses¡ª48 points per day. In seven days, it would advance to the next stage.


    Ignoring everything else, Wen Jiu focused on the experience gained from his attempts at crafting the Soul-Seizing Talisman.


    [After nightfall, you inscribed twenty entry-level Soul-Seizing Talismans, all of which failed. Panel experience +1, Soul-Seizing Talisman experience +4.]


    "One experience point for every five failed attempts."


    This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.


    He was quite satisfied with this outcome.


    His biggest concern was that failure might yield no experience at all.


    "There are still thirty talisman papers left. Even if they all fail, I can still gain six more experience points." Wen Jiu glanced at the gray talisman papers stacked neatly on the table.


    Closing the experience panel, he continued his work.


    As for his duties with the Night Patrol Division, Wen Jiu had already taken a sick leave.


    After much consideration over the past few days, he knew that the stewards and elders of Fei Xian Peak were currently searching for something in the Land of Dismembered Corpses.


    If the hidden traitor within Fei Xian Peak feared that the item would be discovered and decided to act recklessly, then Wen Jiu¡ªjust a mere second-layer Qi Refinement cultivator¡ªwould be in grave danger if he were present.


    So, he was more than willing to forgo his salary.


    Better to stay far away from trouble.


    ¡ª


    Over the following days¡ª


    Wen Jiu continued crafting talismans.


    He maintained a pace of thirty per night, stopping only when the strain on his mind became unbearable.


    His debt to Wang Nian had already reached forty low-grade spirit stones. To be honest, Wen Jiu was starting to feel embarrassed about borrowing more.


    But surprisingly, Wang Nian took the initiative to ask if he needed more.


    ¡ª


    Then, on a particular morning¡ª


    While Wen Jiu had yet to recover from his overexertion, Liu Xiao unexpectedly appeared at his doorstep.


    At that moment, Wang Nian happened to be delivering a bowl of bone broth for him.


    "Wen, my dear brother! Hurry and wake up for some soup. My wife simmered these bones for ten whole hours¡ª"


    Liu Xiao glanced at the bowl in Wang Nian''s hands, then at the overly attentive expression on his face.


    His brow furrowed.


    "Fellow Daoist Wang," Liu Xiao asked urgently, "Wen Jiu¡­ he hasn''t been afflicted by Yin Qi Devourment, has he?"


    "No, he''s fine."


    Wang Nian freed up one hand and knocked on the door.


    Liu Xiao became even more puzzled. "Then why?"


    Since when did a steward personally deliver food to an apprentice disciple? That didn''t seem right. Not only had he never seen such a thing happen, but he had never even heard of it before.


    However, Wang Nian didn''t explain anything¡ªhe simply smiled.


    Soon, Wen Jiu got up, opened the door, and after bowing to both of them, he thanked them while taking the soup bowl from Wang Nian''s hands.


    "As long as you''re alright," Liu Xiao said, giving Wen Jiu a quick once-over. He had been worried that practicing the Yin Province Corpse-Nurturing Technique might have caused Wen Jiu''s body to be invaded by Yin energy. But seeing that Wen Jiu was fine, he was relieved.


    Then, Liu Xiao changed the subject. "Steward Mu asked me to relay a message¡ªLi Ye has been sent to Lianwu Mountain."


    "Lianwu Mountain?"


    "A small mountain fifty miles from Feixian Peak. There''s a loose cultivator marketplace there, and Feixian Peak has some businesses in that area. From now on, he''ll be the steward there. As for when he can return¡­ definitely not within the next three years."


    Three years. That was already the shortest possible timeframe. After all, Li Ye still had a mentor who was an official of the talisman chamber.


    Liu Xiao continued, "After three years, when Li Ye returns, how you deal with him will be up to you. Just remember what Steward Mu told you!"


    "Thank you, Brother Liu!" Wen Jiu quickly bowed in gratitude.


    "Steward Mu also asked me to remind you¡ªif you''re practicing Yin arts, don''t rush it. The Yin Province Corpse-Nurturing Technique takes a serious toll on the body.


    Don''t ruin your future for the sake of temporary gains."


    With that, before Wen Jiu could even nod, Liu Xiao swiftly took off on his sword, as if he was in a great hurry.


    His destination¡ª


    The Forsaken Corpse Grounds.


    The moment Liu Xiao left, Wang Nian urged Wen Jiu to try the soup. "Go on, have a taste. My wife specially made this for you."


    "Thank you, Brother Wang! And thank you, Sister-in-law!" Wen Jiu said gratefully, though his mind was still on the Forsaken Corpse Grounds.


    Because just yesterday, Wang Nian had told him that aside from himself, all the other gravekeepers had been interrogated in detail once again.


    And today, Liu Xiao had rushed off in such a hurry.


    What was going on?


    Before he could dwell on it any further, Wang Nian suddenly spoke, pulling him out of his thoughts. "Brother Wen, do you still have enough talisman paper?"


    "I do, I do," Wen Jiu quickly nodded, smiling helplessly.


    After all, just yesterday, Wang Nian had bought him a hundred sheets in one go.


    ¡­


    A few days passed in the blink of an eye.


    That night¡ª


    After his Soul-Reaping Talisman proficiency reached thirty-five, and after failing one hundred seventy-five times in a row, Wen Jiu finally succeeded in drawing his first entry-level Soul-Reaping Talisman.


    Although it was only the most basic first-tier, lower-grade version¡ªbarely strong enough to kill a second-layer Qi Refinement cultivator¡ªit was still an exciting breakthrough for Wen Jiu.


    Because Wang Nian had once told him that the most talented first-tier talisman master in Feixian Peak had taken five whole years to achieve this.


    And yet, he¡ª


    Had walked the same five- or even ten-year path in just seven days.


    Encouraged, Wen Jiu drew five more talismans.


    Four failed.


    One succeeded.


    A success rate of twenty percent¡ªnot high, but each successful Soul-Reaping Talisman granted 5 experience points in his daily calculations.


    Right now, his proficiency had reached 40 points in the "Minor Accomplishment" stage. That meant if he succeeded thirty-two more times, he would reach "Major Accomplishment."


    Once he achieved that, his success rate would surely improve significantly.


    The quality of his Soul-Reaping Talismans would also rise.


    By then¡ª


    He would have a new foundation of strength.


    In battle, if someone tried to take him down by "capturing the leader first," he''d simply fling ten or so Soul-Reaping Talismans their way.


    Who cares about Li Ye?


    Who cares about a third-layer Qi Refinement cultivator?


    Dead, without question.


    Even an official steward? He wouldn''t fear them either.


    At worst, he''d just throw more talismans.


    "Still, the fact that I can draw Soul-Reaping Talismans must be kept secret. Advancing to an entry-level talisman master so quickly might not necessarily be a good thing."


    Showing off was fine, but overexposing his skills could backfire.


    After thinking it over, Wen Jiu decided to continue keeping it under wraps.


    As for talisman paper¡ª


    He decided he would keep borrowing it in the future.


    But not too much. His plan was to use borrowed spirit stones as a cover, creating a false image. Once his Black Ghoul reached the Upper Realm and the Forsaken Corpse Grounds incident blew over, then he would reveal to Wang Nian and Mu Canglong that he had become a first-tier Yin Talisman Master.


    Until then, he needed to grind out more experience.


    Show three, hide seven.

 Chapter 34: Three Thousand Blood Inks

    Now, the spirit stones needed to buy experience-boosting talismans could already be earned by selling low-tier Soul Reaping Talismans. These low-tier talismans weren''t worth much¡ªabout a hundred taels per piece, meaning ten of them were only worth a single low-grade spirit stone. However, their production cost was minimal. One low-grade spirit stone could buy thirty sheets of talisman paper, and even factoring in the cost of demonic beast blood ink, a single spirit stone could still yield twenty completed talismans. With a perfect success rate, these twenty talismans would reliably bring in a profit of one spirit stone. The only downside was that they weren''t easy to sell.


    There weren''t many mortals on Feixian Peak, and Death Peak outright forbade transactions with mortals. Even if they had money, they couldn''t buy them. The only viable customers were the offspring of cultivators¡ªthose who had money and were willing to spend it on such talismans.


    ¡­


    The next morning, Wen Jiu carried his batch of talismans to the marketplace, found a quiet corner, and set up his stall while casually listening to the gossip around him.


    To be honest, after hearing bits and pieces a few times, he found himself enjoying the chatter.


    The market stalls were mostly run by old cultivators¡ªaverage talent, mediocre cultivation, but they had lived long, seen much, and made plenty of connections. They always knew things Wen Jiu didn''t.


    "Have you heard? Manager Zhao from the Demon Suppression Division hasn''t been seen for a while now."


    "Who?"


    "Zhao Three-Blades."


    "You mean that Manager Zhao, the one who could slay a demon in just three strikes? Maybe he''s just out on a mission."


    "But the division has no record of him taking a mission. There''s no sign of him in the Corpse Remnants Deadland either. My nephew works at the division, so I suspect he was a traitor and has already been secretly dealt with by the Peak Lord!"


    "Damn, those bastards actually infiltrated the ranks of the division''s managers?!"


    Listening to the hushed conversation between the old cultivators, Wen Jiu wasn''t surprised.


    The Night Patrol Division operated the same way¡ªif someone was suspected, they were taken away on the spot, never to be seen again.


    "So, who exactly are these people after corpses and the Yin Blood Curse Body?" Wen Jiu was extremely interested in cultivating the Yin Blood Curse Body.


    If he had it, he wouldn''t even need to practice Yin-based talisman techniques¡ªhe wouldn''t have to worry about enemies targeting him directly.


    But for now, he didn''t dare to cultivate it.


    Even so, the idea itched at him.


    And he was curious¡ªwho were these people?


    After staying at the market for an hour or two, he successfully sold all forty of his low-tier Soul Reaping Talismans. He then bought twenty sheets of higher-tier talisman paper from a nearby stall and returned home.


    He continued refining his body with Earth Fiend Yin energy while also infusing spells into his Corpse Eye. Over the past ten or so days, he had accumulated a vast amount of Yin techniques within it¡ªover ten times the amount stored in his dantian.


    Yet, it had only filled half the Corpse Eye''s capacity.


    If he could fill it to the brim, he had no idea just how powerful he would become when unleashing its full force.


    Would he be able to instantly kill a third-layer Qi Refining cultivator?


    ¡­


    He trained until dusk.


    As night fell, Wen Jiu suddenly sensed an immense surge of Yin energy and corpse qi erupting outward.


    Like ripples on water, it spread across twenty to thirty miles.


    Ordinary cultivators might not be sensitive enough to notice¡ªit would just feel like a sudden cold breeze. Only those knowledgeable about corpse qi and Yin energy could recognize it for what it was.


    A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.


    To Wen Jiu, however¡­


    It felt as normal as drinking water.


    The moment it spread, he sensed it.


    "With so much Yin energy and corpse qi bursting out at once¡­ If my Black Ghoul absorbed all this, wouldn''t it be overwhelmed and explode?"


    But after his moment of amusement, Wen Jiu grew suspicious.


    What exactly had happened?


    He thought about investigating, but as soon as he opened his door, he saw groups of sword-riding cultivators streaking through the sky.


    There were even flying artifacts shaped like boats.


    One after another, they passed overhead¡ªover a hundred of them in total.


    At that moment, Wen Jiu instantly abandoned the idea of investigating.


    Half an hour later, Wang Nian suddenly returned, hurriedly calling Wen Jiu to his room the moment he arrived.


    "Big news! Huge news!"


    Wang Nian shut the door behind him and immediately activated a soundproofing talisman.


    Wen Jiu quickly asked, "Brother Wang, what happened?"


    Wang Nian took a gulp of water, his eyes filled with excitement.


    "The Peak Lord and his people were exploring the Corpse Remnants Deadland and found the corpse of Xue Mo Qian, the master of the Blood Robe Tower, hidden in an underground cave!"


    "Blood Robe Tower? Xue Mo Qian?"


    Wen Jiu looked confused.


    But from Wang Nian''s expression, he could tell this was a big deal.


    Wang Nian stood up, eyes alight with excitement.


    "Blood Robe Tower¡ªfive years ago, they terrorized three mortal kingdoms surrounding Death Peak. Their members infiltrated everything from county offices to the emperor''s court. Even Death Peak had trouble dealing with them¡­ The Corpse Remnants Deadland? That''s where the final battle between Blood Robe Tower and our Death Peak cultivators took place!"


    "Ah, I see."


    Wen Jiu straightened his posture, listening intently.


    Through Wang Nian''s explanation, Wen Jiu learned about the Bloodclad Tower¡ªan infamous heretical sect that, at its peak, boasted seven thousand Qi Refinement cultivators, five hundred thousand mortal followers, and a terrifying leader at the pinnacle of Qi Refinement.


    Back in the great battle at Fei Xian Peak, had the Peak Lord of Deadman''s Peak not broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage just before his final moments, the thousands of corpses scattered across the battlefield would have belonged to Deadman''s Peak disciples, not members of the Bloodclad Tower.


    Even so, after the battle, the remaining disciples of Deadman''s Peak scoured the battlefield seven or eight times. Their spiritual senses searched the area more than a dozen times, yet they never found the corpse of the Bloodclad Tower''s master¡ªXue Mo Qian.


    Many had seen Xue Mo Qian suffer a spiritual attack from Deadman''s Peak''s newly ascended Foundation Establishment cultivator.


    Many had watched as Xue Mo Qian, gravely wounded, plummeted into the depths.


    But without a body, no one dared to confirm his death. After all, heretical cultivators always had ways to cling to life.


    Who could have expected that, due to a traitor''s actions within Fei Xian Peak, a subterranean cave would be unearthed¡ªrevealing Xue Mo Qian''s corpse, now transformed into a ghoul? It was precisely for this reason that the traitor had infiltrated Fei Xian Peak.


    Because in Xue Mo Qian''s possession was the Bloodclad Tower''s most powerful secret technique¡ªthe very technique that had allowed him to reach peak Qi Refinement at the astonishing age of fifty-six.


    Fifty-six years old and already at the peak of Qi Refinement.


    That was eight years faster than Deadman''s Peak''s most legendary ancestor from three hundred years ago!


    One could only imagine how formidable that secret technique was.


    "Brother Wang, was Xue Mo Qian really at peak Qi Refinement at fifty-six?" Wen Jiu asked.


    If he remembered correctly, the corpse they found had bone age markings indicating fifty-six years.


    And its cultivation level had indeed been peak Qi Refinement.


    Wang Nian nodded. "Impressive, isn''t it? Kid, you may have talent in the heretical arts, but compared to him, you''re still far behind."


    "Was Xue Mo Qian the only one at peak Qi Refinement in the Bloodclad Tower?" Wen Jiu asked again.


    Wang Nian found the question odd. "Of course! Do you think reaching peak Qi Refinement is that easy? Even after all the chaos with the Bloodclad Tower, Deadman''s Peak has only managed to cultivate two peak Qi Refinement disciples so far."


    Hearing Wang Nian''s answer, Wen Jiu immediately understood.


    The rumors were likely false.


    And that so-called corpse was probably fake as well.


    If the Bloodclad Tower had no other peak Qi Refinement cultivator, then the body buried underground had to be Xue Mo Qian''s.


    Wang Nian spoke again. "Now that Xue Mo Qian''s corpse has been dug up, I bet the entire Deadman''s Peak will be in an uproar."


    Wen Jiu remained silent, listening.


    To be honest, he smelled a conspiracy.


    First, the overwhelming surge of corpse energy and yin energy that had spread through the sky.


    Now, the news of Xue Mo Qian''s body being unearthed was spreading so quickly that even Wang Nian knew about it.


    How could this not be intentional?


    Wang Nian continued, speaking enthusiastically about the Bloodclad Tower¡ªsometimes in awe, sometimes in anger.


    Wen Jiu listened quietly.


    But in his mind, all he could think about was Xue Mo Qian.


    That secret technique¡­ it had to be the Blood Curse of Yin Fiend Body.


    At the thought of this, Wen Jiu subconsciously touched the storage pouch at his chest¡ªbecause that very technique was inside.


    Good thing he hadn''t rushed to cultivate it.


    Otherwise, he would have been the first to die.


    "Looks like things won''t be peaceful in the coming days." Fei Xian Peak''s sect master had orchestrated such a spectacle¡ªit was obvious he was plotting something big.


    Wen Jiu sighed inwardly but felt a small sense of relief.


    At least, for now, he was just a trial disciple.


    At the very bottom of Fei Xian Peak.


    Not involved.


    And not qualified to be involved.


    ¡ª


    In the following three days, discussions about the Bloodclad Tower spread like wildfire. Even the lowly laborers had heard about Xue Mo Qian''s unearthed corpse.


    At the same time, the Land of Scattered Corpses had its seal lifted.


    The gravekeepers could resume their work.


    And Wen Jiu could once again enter to cultivate.


    Unfortunately, the core area of the Land of Scattered Corpses was now sealed by a formation, preventing him from absorbing its blood energy.


    But on this very day¡ª


    His Black Ghoul experience bar maxed out.


    Breakthrough!

 Chapter 35: Upper-Realm Black Jiangshi

    [Black Ghoul¡ªCorpse Nurturing (Upper Realm 0/2000)]


    Upon reaching the Upper Realm, Wen Jiu could clearly sense the surge of corpse energy from the Black Ghoul through their bond, even from outside the Dead Land of Remnant Corpses. The surrounding yin energy of the burial site also skyrocketed along with it.


    In an instant, within a hundred feet of where the Black Ghoul lay, the yin energy reached its peak¡ªcomparable to the very center of the Dead Land of Remnant Corpses.


    A single ghoul was equivalent to hundreds, if not thousands, of ordinary remnant corpses!


    Fortunately, this was happening within the Dead Land of Remnant Corpses, where no Night Patrol disciples were stationed. Had it occurred elsewhere, the overwhelming aura spreading outward would have alarmed the Night Patrol cultivators, forcing them to draw their swords and activate their talismans.


    But then¡ªsomething completely unexpected happened.


    The terrifying corpse energy and yin aura, which had initially spread like ripples, were suddenly sucked back into the Black Ghoul''s body in one swift motion.


    Within a hundred feet, all traces of its energy vanished.


    "Is this concealment?"


    He had only heard of Qi Refining cultivators being able to suppress their aura and hide their presence. If a cultivator of the same realm¡ªor even one slightly above¡ªdid not deliberately probe with their divine sense, they would be unable to detect the concealed individual''s location or true cultivation level.


    He hadn''t expected the Black Ghoul to instinctively master this ability after advancing to the Upper Realm.


    This was a good thing.


    It meant he could nurture the ghoul in secret.


    Hide it away without attracting attention.


    "Now that it has reached the Upper Realm, the next step is to cultivate it into a Walking Ghoul." Wen Jiu''s mind swiftly recalled the Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Method.


    For a Black Ghoul, nurturing only required the right environment. But transforming it into a Walking Ghoul was far from simple.


    It was like a cultivator breaking through from the third to the fourth layer of Qi Refining. Though it seemed like just a single step, the leap from early-stage to mid-stage was significant. This breakthrough was often more difficult than all the previous advancements combined.


    That was why, despite the Night Patrol having more than a dozen supervisors, only three had the rank of steward.


    According to the Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Method, transforming a Black Ghoul into a Walking Ghoul required two critical elements: an immense amount of blood and a vast supply of Earth-Fiend Yin Energy.


    Blood nurtured the corpse spirit.


    Once the corpse spirit reached a certain level, it could form a soul. However, unlike a true soul, a corpse soul did not grant intelligence. Instead, it allowed the Walking Ghoul to mimic human movements¡ªwalking, running, crouching¡ªgiving it a semblance of life.


    Earth-Fiend Yin Energy, on the other hand, stabilized the soul.


    Since a corpse soul was artificially created and lacked intelligence, it was far more fragile than a human soul. Without Earth-Fiend Yin Energy to reinforce it, a cultivator''s divine sense attack could easily shatter it.


    Fortunately, Earth-Fiend Yin Energy could be drawn using the Corpse Nurturing Mantra.


    If he needed a larger supply, he simply had to improve his mastery of the technique. Wen Jiu glanced at his current progress.


    [Technique: Corpse Nurturing Mantra (Entry Level 484/500)]


    "In two days, I should reach Minor Achievement."


    Once he achieved Minor Achievement, he could draw in even more Earth-Fiend Yin Energy.


    But the blood¡ªnow that was a real problem.


    He wasn''t a heretical cultivator, so slaughtering mortals was out of the question. And the core region of the Dead Land of Remnant Corpses was currently sealed off by a formation. If he wanted a steady supply of blood, his only option was to cultivate corpse blood himself.


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    He had already set aside some of his own refined blood essence for cultivating the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body, so that was off-limits.


    "For now, I''ll see how much experience I gain after tomorrow''s daily settlement¡­" If the experience growth was satisfactory, he would postpone the corpse blood cultivation.


    After all, he didn''t have enough spirit stones to buy demonic beast or demon blood and refine corpse blood using the Corpse Eye.


    Even entry-level demonic beast or demon flesh cost one low-grade spirit stone per pound.


    He simply couldn''t afford it.


    ¡­


    The next morning.


    After half a month of absence, Wen Ya suddenly appeared, bustling in with a bundle of food. She had brought a special type of leaf-wrapped rice ball, filled with various meat and vegetable stuffings¡ªsomething similar to zongzi.


    Only after asking did Wen Jiu realize that today was a festival.


    Fei Xian Peak did not observe it.


    But mortals did.


    Spring had passed, and summer was approaching. In the mortal world, today was known as the Summer Solstice, a time to eat green dumplings to welcome the new season.


    It was a symbol of good fortune.


    A wish for a bountiful harvest.


    "Sis, have some too." Seeing his sister immediately start cleaning his house upon entering, Wen Jiu quickly tried to stop her.


    Wen Ya ignored him. "Look at this mess¡ªthings thrown everywhere¡­ You didn''t even fold your blanket!"


    Hearing this, Wen Jiu felt a warmth rise in his heart.


    This kind of nagging¡ªsomething he thought he would never hear again, being far from home.


    "Sis, you keep cleaning. I''ll bring some to Brother Wang next door." After tasting one green dumpling, Wen Jiu grabbed a handful and stepped out.


    Just as he expected¡ª


    Cultivators didn''t celebrate the Summer Solstice.


    And that made sense.


    Cultivators don''t need to follow mortal customs like seeking good omens or praying for a bountiful harvest.


    When Wen Jiu returned after delivering the green rice cakes, Wen Ya had already tidied up the house. The clothes Wen Jiu had left scattered on the bed were now neatly stored in the wardrobe.


    Seeing Wen Jiu enter, Wen Ya quickly said, "Looks like I''ll have to help you find a wife. Otherwise, how can this place ever feel like a home?"


    "A marriage push?"


    Wen Jiu chuckled in surprise.


    But then, Wen Ya''s tone shifted, and her expression changed along with it. "By the way, Old Madam Xu wants to invite you over for a home-cooked meal. She''s probably trying to win you over. Are you going or not?"


    "I''m not going. Maybe another time," Wen Jiu shook his head without hesitation. "Just tell her that my duties at the Night Patrol Division and my cultivation are keeping me busy. Once I have some free time, I''ll personally visit."


    Right now, if he went, he wouldn''t have the qualifications to negotiate on equal footing.


    If he even hinted at wanting to take his sister away, it would undoubtedly offend the Xu family.


    So, he had to wait until he was in a position where they could talk as equals.


    When that time came, he could use his status as an Enforcer under Mu Canglong to take his sister out of the Xu household.


    "Mm-hmm."


    Wen Ya nodded, saying nothing more.


    She had a good guess as to what her brother meant by "another time."


    ¡­


    After seeing his sister off, Wen Jiu started drawing low-tier Soul-Seizing Talismans. Once he had finished thirty, he headed to the trade market.


    This visit to the market surprised him¡ªit was noticeably more chaotic and noisy than usual.


    After sitting down and listening for a while, he learned that a subsidiary cultivation family under Fei Xian Peak had been attacked the previous night. Out of over three hundred people, only three to five had survived. The rest had all been devoured by Gu worms.


    The deaths were gruesome beyond words.


    "Could this be connected to the Blood Garment Tower?"


    "Almost certainly. Besides those remnants, who else would dare target Fei Xian Peak''s vassal forces?"


    "Ordinary rogue cultivators or demonic practitioners might kill a few people at most, but who would go as far as exterminating an entire clan?"


    "Fei Xian Peak has already sent a number of disciples over, but I bet the attackers have long since fled. Going there now is pointless."


    Hearing these discussions, Wen Jiu felt a chill tighten around his heart.


    Great.


    Things were getting more chaotic.


    How long had it been since life had felt stable?


    Fortunately, as an apprentice disciple, he wasn''t required to take on missions. Otherwise, he might have already found himself caught in the crossfire.


    "This is probably just the beginning¡­" Wen Jiu thought grimly. After selling off his Soul-Seizing Talismans, he left.


    Back home, he started working on mid-tier Soul-Seizing Talismans, determined to stockpile a few for emergencies.


    Whether to sell or use them himself¡ªhe wanted the flexibility to choose.


    The worst thing would be needing them and not having any.


    Time passed quickly.


    Midnight arrived.


    Time to check his progress.


    As Wen Jiu had expected, now that his black ghoul had reached the upper stage, even with a low-grade Rank-One Corpse-Nurturing Pearl and a Level 2 panel, spending twelve hours in the corpse-nurturing ground had only earned him six experience points. At this rate¡­


    Gaining two thousand experience points would take nearly four hundred days.


    On its own, that wouldn''t be too bad. Compared to regular Qi Refinement cultivators¡ªwho might take years or even decades to advance from the third to the fourth level¡ªfour hundred days wasn''t much at all.


    But given the current situation at Fei Xian Peak, he didn''t have the luxury of time.


    Moving slowly meant living with constant anxiety.


    What if something unexpected happened?


    A cultivation family of over three hundred had just been wiped out overnight. Among them, there had undoubtedly been Qi Refinement second-layer cultivators like him.


    "Looks like I need to find a way to sell these mid-tier Soul-Seizing Talismans." Wen Jiu was still contemplating this when he suddenly heard knocking at the door.


    At midnight.


    Someone was knocking?


    Knock, knock, knock!


    Wen Jiu instinctively tightened his grip on his Corpse Eye.


    The next moment, a voice called out¡ª


    "Daoist Wen, Enforcer Mu has ordered me to summon you to the Night Patrol Division."


    Hearing that it was Mu Canglong''s order, Wen Jiu put away his Corpse Eye, ready to dress and open the door. But before he could move, Wang Nian had already opened it and greeted the visitor.


    Seeing Wang Nian casually chatting with the messenger, Wen Jiu finally relaxed.


    For that, he was deeply grateful.


    Wang Nian was clearly making sure the visitor was legitimate before letting him respond.


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 36: Midnight Inquiry

    When he arrived at the Night Patrol Division of Fei Xian Peak, the entire place was eerily silent. With all the candles extinguished, only a few night watch disciples could be vaguely seen standing in the darkness, along with the occasional strange beastly roars echoing from an unknown distance.


    As Wen Jiu entered, they merely cast a glance at him before resuming their rigid, statue-like stance.


    Led by an unfamiliar disciple of the Night Patrol Division, Wen Jiu traversed through stone alleys and passed ancient buildings before finally reaching the highest point of the division.


    Before him stood a stone hall, massive and imposing, like a great beast crouched in the mountainside beneath the night sky.


    "Follow me inside."


    At the entrance of the hall, Mu Canglong was already waiting. His voice was low and steady as he turned and walked into the hall without hesitation.


    Wen Jiu quickly followed.


    He had intended to ask what this was all about, but just as he was about to speak, Mu Canglong raised a hand, cutting him off.


    Before long, Wen Jiu was led to the third floor.


    They walked down a long corridor before stopping at a dimly lit room where candlelight flickered.


    "Go in. The Elder wants to see you."


    The Elder? Wen Jiu''s heart tensed.


    The Elder who oversaw the Night Patrol Division?


    With a mix of uncertainty and apprehension, Wen Jiu knocked on the door. When it opened, he saw an old man with a full head of white hair standing in front of a square table. His face was deeply wrinkled with age, but his eyes were sharp and full of life. He was in the middle of writing something under the candlelight, but upon Wen Jiu''s entrance, his brush abruptly stopped.


    Then, with a slow and deliberate motion, he stepped away from the table and approached Wen Jiu. His steps were unhurried, yet his mere presence exuded a suffocating pressure, making Wen Jiu feel as though he were standing before a terrifying beast.


    A chill ran down Wen Jiu''s spine as an alarming thought crossed his mind¡ªthis man could crush him to death with a mere flick of his finger!


    "Elder!"


    Instinctively, Wen Jiu took a step back to escape the invisible pressure before bowing respectfully.


    The white-haired elder remained silent, hands clasped behind his back, looking down at Wen Jiu with an emotionless gaze. Only after a few tense moments did he finally speak in a cold tone.


    "You have spent a long time raising corpses in the Land of Remnant Corpses. Have you ever ventured into the central region?"


    Before Wen Jiu could reply, the elder''s voice turned even colder.


    "Answer truthfully. If your answer satisfies me, you will become a formal disciple. If not, you and your black ghoul will be buried there together."


    At those words, Wen Jiu''s heart sank.


    Without hesitation, he quickly answered with utmost sincerity.


    "I''ve only been there once or twice, but I never dared to go deep. I only lingered around the edges because, at that time, I was only at the first level of Qi Refinement. My body couldn''t withstand the intense Yin energy of the central region."


    "Come here."


    The elder suddenly barked the order.


    Wen Jiu took two cautious steps forward before the old man abruptly seized his wrist. The grip was like the talons of a monstrous beast, clamping down with terrifying force.


    Immediately, Wen Jiu felt a powerful spiritual sense scanning his entire body, sweeping through him from head to toe without missing a single detail.


    In that moment, Wen Jiu''s mind raced frantically, searching for a way out.


    How could he escape?


    What could he do?


    But as soon as he recalled that this man was an Elder of the Night Patrol Division, someone even his black ghoul wouldn''t be able to defeat, he forced himself to remain calm.


    The feeling of having his life held in someone else''s hands, of being at their mercy, was utterly infuriating.


    Absolutely loathsome.


    Fortunately, after a few moments, the white-haired elder released his grip. Wen Jiu looked down to find that his wrist had turned slightly blue from the force, a sharp sting lingering on his skin.


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    "No wonder you advanced to the second level of Qi Refinement so quickly. The Yin energy in your body has already become quite severe."


    The elder''s voice remained cold as he continued.


    "Those who cultivate the unorthodox Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Technique¡­ some have managed to live until the sixth level of Qi Refinement. But you? You''re only at the second level, yet the Yin energy has already invaded your organs and flesh so extensively. I doubt you''ll even make it to the fourth level before it kills you."


    Hearing this, Wen Jiu immediately realized that the elder had mistaken his Earth Fiend Yin Energy Body Refinement for excessive Yin energy invasion.


    This was an opportunity.


    Seizing the chance, he quickly played along, adopting a distressed expression as he pleaded.


    "Elder, please¡­ save my life!"


    At this, the white-haired elder let out a cold chuckle.


    "You do have some wits about you. But whether you live or not depends on whether you can survive reaching the third level of Qi Refinement. For now, tell me everything you know about the Land of Remnant Corpses."


    "Yes, Elder!"


    Wen Jiu bowed his head and obediently recounted everything¡ªthe layout of the Land of Remnant Corpses, the conditions of the area, and his methods of raising corpses. However, he carefully avoided mentioning the three thousand blood-ink corpses or the black ghoul''s Blood Transformation Body.


    The elder, however, seemed far more concerned with the central region. He continued pressing Wen Jiu with questions about it.


    Wen Jiu answered as truthfully as he could without revealing anything dangerous.


    Eventually, when the elder could extract no further useful information, he finally relented. But Wen Jiu could sense his dissatisfaction.


    Perhaps even irritation.


    Just then, a sudden knock came from the door.


    "Elder."


    Hearing Mu Canglong''s voice, the elder''s displeased expression shifted slightly. With a wave of his hand, he signaled for Wen Jiu to leave.


    ¡­


    Stepping out of the room, Wen Jiu finally let out a breath of relief.


    It felt like he had just walked through a mountain of blades, and all he wanted was to get as far away from the Night Patrol Division as possible.


    But things rarely go as planned. As Mu Canglong entered the room, he secretly used a voice transmission technique to tell him not to leave just yet.


    A moment later, Mu Canglong stepped out of the hall.


    His expression remained unchanged, giving nothing away, as if nothing had happened at all.


    "The elder questioned you, but don''t tell me what he asked." As soon as he came out, Mu Canglong spoke immediately. "The elder mentioned that the Yin energy in your body is extremely severe¡ªit has already invaded your internal organs, your flesh, and blood?"


    As he spoke, Mu Canglong took out a jade bottle from his storage pouch, inside which a dozen or so pills could be seen.


    "These are Body-Nurturing Pills. They help nourish the body, dispel Yin energy, and invigorate the blood. They''re not exactly top-tier pills, but for you, they''ll be quite useful."


    Wen Jiu respectfully accepted the bottle.


    "Thank you, Steward Mu."


    As they walked, Mu Canglong continued, "Side paths and unorthodox techniques may allow for rapid progress, but they also damage the body tremendously. Slow down your cultivation speed a little¡­ The longest-living cultivator of the Yin Province Corpse-Nurturing Technique only made it to fifty-seven years old, at Qi Refinement Level Six. If you want to live longer, ease up a bit."


    "I understand."


    Wen Jiu nodded, saying nothing more.


    Because if anyone found out that not only was he unafraid of Yin energy, but that he was actually using Earth Fiend Yin energy to temper his body, they might just cut him open for research.


    "Alright, go. Don''t mention what happened today to anyone¡­ or even I won''t be able to protect you."


    Leaving those words behind, Mu Canglong turned and walked back into the hall.


    Wen Jiu took one last deep look at the stone hall, a chill creeping up his spine. The face of that Night Patrol Division elder lingered in his mind, making him quicken his pace to leave.


    Even after returning home, Wen Jiu still felt uneasy.


    That elder had unsettled him too much.


    And with it came a deep sense of loathing.


    Loathing for his own weakness.


    That feeling of being completely at someone else''s mercy, as if they could crush him with just a flick of their fingers, was unbearable.


    ¡­


    Inside the stone hall.


    Mu Canglong returned, acting as if nothing had happened. He respectfully addressed the white-haired elder, "Elder Gong, I''ve received word¡ªwhat remains of the Blood-Clad Tower has joined forces with some unorthodox cultivators and rogue cultivators to wipe out the vassal families under Feixian Peak¡­ Should we make a move?"


    "You didn''t see the Peak Lord today?" the white-haired elder asked in a deep voice.


    Mu Canglong nodded. "The peak is now restricted¡ªonly the Peak Lord''s most trusted followers are allowed in."


    "The remnants of the Blood-Clad Tower and those unorthodox cultivators are obviously after the corpse of Xue Mo Sanqian. The so-called purge of the vassal families is just a diversion to split our focus and weaken our forces."


    The white-haired elder stated it plainly. Then, he carefully folded a document he had written earlier and handed it over to Mu Canglong.


    Mu Canglong received it respectfully but didn''t open it. Instead, he continued, "If we don''t act, in the future, no immortal cultivation family will dare to pay tribute to us."


    The elder''s face darkened. "Then we act. The Peak Lord is likely studying that corpse right now, trying to uncover the secret techniques of Xue Mo Sanqian¡­ A method that allows one to reach the peak of Qi Refinement at fifty-six years old¡ªwho wouldn''t be tempted?"


    Mu Canglong glanced up but said nothing.


    The white-haired elder waved a hand dismissively.


    Without hesitation, Mu Canglong turned and left, leading the Night Patrol Division disciples away from Feixian Peak that very night.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile.


    Wen Jiu sat on his bed, deep in thought.


    Thinking about what exactly was going on at Feixian Peak.


    But no matter how he pondered, he couldn''t figure it out.


    So he shifted his focus to the sales channels for Soul-Seizing Talismans.


    Selling them at Feixian Peak was obviously unrealistic. If he wanted to sell them, he''d need to find a trading market where no one knew him.


    With that in mind, Wen Jiu pulled out the map he had previously obtained of the area surrounding Feixian Peak and started scanning it. His eyes landed on the rogue cultivator market at Lianwu Mountain.


    Li Ye was there.


    If he went, he might be able to kill him.


    But that would also attract an investigation.


    Forget it.


    Better to pick another location.


    His gaze shifted to the other side of the map.


    Fifty miles east of Feixian Peak was a rogue cultivator trading market called Baihua Mountain Market.


    According to the map''s notes, this place was always bustling with three to five thousand cultivators¡ªrogue cultivators, rogue warriors, disciples from subsidiary peaks, and even main peak disciples from major sects.


    Selling Soul-Seizing Talismans there should be easy.

 Chapter 37: Sudden Change in the Dead of Night

    However, making the trip just to sell a few talismans wouldn''t be worth it. He needed to stock up more.


    With that thought, Wen Jiu took a short nap before getting up to continue drawing talismans, determined to produce a batch of entry-level Soul-Seizing Talismans.


    For the next few days, he repeated the same cycle¡ªselling lower-tier Soul-Seizing Talismans to earn spirit stones, then using those spirit stones to buy higher-quality talisman paper.


    Selling sixty lower-tier Soul-Seizing Talismans.


    Buying thirty sheets of entry-level talisman paper.


    Although it took longer to sell sixty talismans, as long as he could sell them, Wen Jiu didn''t mind.


    And so, after seven days of continuous effort, with a daily success rate of four completed talismans and around sixteen failures, he managed to accumulate thirty-seven entry-level Soul-Seizing Talismans. Unexpectedly, two of them were of exceptional quality¡ªrare enough to be considered high-grade.


    They were strong enough to injure a second-layer Qi Refinement cultivator.


    If the target was not in peak condition, the talisman might even be lethal.


    For Wen Jiu, they weren''t of much personal use, but they could certainly fetch a good price.


    At the same time, his proficiency with Soul-Seizing Talismans increased, advancing to the level of mastery.


    [Soul-Seizing Talisman (Mastery 0/500)]


    Just as Wen Jiu was preparing to visit the White Birch Mountain rogue cultivator marketplace, Wang Nian suddenly pushed open his door and stepped in.


    He asked Wen Jiu if he wanted to join him in taking on a sect mission. With him there, they would definitely complete it smoothly.


    Even the simplest sect mission could earn them at least a few lower-grade spirit stones.


    Of course, Wang Nian''s true intention was to get Wen Jiu out for some real-world experience.


    After all, a sharpened blade must go through grinding.


    Wen Jiu refused.


    But he was curious¡ªwhat had happened to make Wang Nian suddenly eager to take on missions outside the sect?


    "Over the past few days, two more vassal families have been wiped out. One of them didn''t have a single survivor¡ªeveryone was killed, even those who weren''t at home at the time!" Wang Nian spoke grimly, then added, "Because of this, Feixian Peak has issued several missions to hunt down those responsible. The rewards are generous¡ªeven the simplest mission is worth two to three months of your night patrol earnings."


    Wen Jiu''s expression changed. He wasn''t concerned about the rewards, but rather the cause behind the attacks. "Was it the remnants of the Blood-Clad Tower again?"


    "How do you know?" Wang Nian was surprised.


    Wen Jiu wasn''t the type to step foot outside.


    Wen Jiu answered honestly, "I overheard some veteran cultivators talking about it when I was selling talismans at the market."


    Wang Nian nodded in understanding and continued, "Are you sure you don''t want to come? With me there, I can cover for you."


    "No, no."


    Wen Jiu shook his head in firm refusal.


    He suddenly felt that this wasn''t the right time to leave Feixian Peak, so he put aside the thought of visiting the rogue cultivator market.


    Might as well wait a little longer.


    That way, he could sell everything in one go later.


    Besides, with Three Rivers Ghost Concealment and Blood Corpse Escape, he wasn''t afraid of being targeted by rogue cultivators.


    Seeing Wen Jiu refuse again, Wang Nian didn''t press the issue and simply left, leaving behind one final sentence: "If you don''t take this step today, one day you will still have to face a fight. Without battle experience, you''ll already be at a disadvantage before the fight even begins!"


    ¡­


    Three days after Wen Jiu refused Wang Nian''s offer and continued his peaceful cultivation at home, he suddenly sensed that people had entered the Forsaken Corpse Grounds.


    And quite a few of them.


    Because the black ghoul had detected the presence of a large number of living beings.


    Just as Wen Jiu was feeling surprised, a deafening explosion suddenly erupted from the center of the Forsaken Corpse Grounds.


    Boom¡ª


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    A purple-black fire lotus bloomed in an instant.


    It dispersed the lingering yin energy, shattering the silence of the night.


    In that moment, Feixian Peak, which had settled into the quiet of late night, was instantly awakened. The disciples of the Night Patrol Division sprang into action.


    Wen Jiu quickly climbed up a tree to get a better view of the situation. What he saw made his heart tighten¡ªthe formation sealing the central area of the Forsaken Corpse Grounds had been forcibly broken apart by the massive fire lotus. The disciples of the Night Patrol Division who had rushed over were swallowed up by the spreading flames.


    The scale of the devastation was immense.


    Without hesitation, Wen Jiu summoned the black ghoul from underground. With a single Blood Corpse Escape, he immediately returned to his residence.


    "Good thing I was prepared and left corpse aura markers all over Feixian Peak to deal with sudden situations like this."


    Without delay, he swept all his valuable belongings into his storage pouch, grabbed the black ghoul, and pushed open the door.


    As soon as he stepped out, he saw Wang Nian''s wife peeking outside from her doorway, her face full of worry.


    Wen Jiu didn''t think twice and immediately spoke, "Sister-in-law, come with me. We''re too close to the Forsaken Corpse Grounds¡ªwe need to leave now."


    Wang Nian had always treated him well. How could he just leave his wife behind in danger?


    Hearing his words, Wang Nian''s wife nodded without hesitation and stepped out.


    Unlike Wen Jiu, who even took the time to pack his lower-tier talisman brush, she left without a second thought.


    And just like that, Wen Jiu led her away, sprinting toward the heart of Feixian Peak.


    As soon as Wen Jiu reached the foot of Feixian Peak, he finally felt at ease.


    The next moment, the sounds of battle erupted around the Forsaken Corpse Grounds, with spells continuously exploding in the dark of night.


    The darkness was illuminated.


    And more disciples of Feixian Peak were drawn toward the commotion.


    Looking up and witnessing the scene, Wen Jiu said nothing¡ªhe simply watched in silence.


    As more and more Feixian Peak disciples rushed to the site, the battle at the Forsaken Corpse Grounds grew fiercer. However, as the stewards and deacons arrived in large numbers, the sudden chaos seemed to be nearing its end.


    Yet, at that very moment, a thunderous explosion erupted from the summit of Feixian Peak.


    Then, a massive lotus, dark purple in color, bloomed abruptly.


    The disturbance was even greater than at the Forsaken Corpse Grounds.


    "Damn¡­ Sis-in-law, we gotta go!"


    Wen Jiu''s expression tensed, and he immediately sprang into action.


    He swiftly distanced himself from Feixian Peak.


    By the time he had retreated four or five miles, he turned back and saw two figures locked in battle above Feixian Peak.


    Even from a distance, he could feel the surging spiritual power¡ªit was no longer at the level of an early-stage Qi Refining cultivator.


    Qi Refining fourth stage?


    Qi Refining fifth stage?


    No.


    Wen Jiu sensed that it had to be at least the Qi Refining sixth stage.


    "This isn''t good, I need to get even farther. When immortals fight, mortals suffer." Wen Jiu glanced at the panic-stricken Wang Sao beside him.


    Retreat!


    As Wen Jiu continued to back away, talismans and spells clashed repeatedly in the sky. However, the battle seemed to favor the black-clad cultivator whose spiritual power glowed dark purple. After a brief exchange, he struck his opponent down into the mountain forests with a single palm.


    Immediately afterward, eerie laughter rang out across the night sky.


    Yet, instead of pressing his advantage, the black-clad cultivator suddenly transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the Forsaken Corpse Grounds.


    A hundred breaths later.


    The Forsaken Corpse Grounds, which had begun to settle down, erupted once more with the deafening roars of spells and talismans.


    The commotion lasted for nearly fifteen minutes before gradually fading.


    But Wen Jiu remained where he was, watching from afar, unmoving.


    Fifteen minutes.


    Half an hour.


    A full hour.


    Only when he was sure that everything had returned to silence did Wen Jiu finally take Wang Sao home.


    "Sis-in-law, if anything happens, just call for me." After escorting Wang Sao back, Wen Jiu quickly returned to his own place.


    His black ghoul stood guard at the door.


    He cultivated throughout the night.


    Planning to wait until morning to check the situation.


    To be honest, he still hadn''t fully processed what had happened¡ªeverything at Feixian Peak had changed so suddenly in the dead of night.


    What exactly had transpired?


    ...


    The next morning.


    Wen Jiu made his way to the Forsaken Corpse Grounds.


    When he arrived, he saw many corpses laid out around the perimeter¡ªsome were ordinary Feixian Peak disciples, while others belonged to members of the Night Patrol Division and the Demon Slayers Division.


    No fewer than a hundred bodies.


    In addition, there were two or three hundred corpses of black-clad cultivators who had launched the night attack on the Forsaken Corpse Grounds.


    Wen Jiu was used to seeing the Forsaken Corpse Grounds, but for new disciples, witnessing such a scene would likely leave them sleepless for several nights.


    After all, knowing the cruelty of the cultivation world was one thing¡ªseeing it with one''s own eyes was another.


    Liu Xiao saw Wen Jiu approaching and gave him a quick once-over. Seeing that he was unharmed, he said nothing.


    After helping with the burial of the corpses, Wen Jiu went up Feixian Peak to take a look. He discovered that half the peak was now sealed under a formation.


    Ordinary disciples were strictly forbidden from entering.


    It was only two days later that he finally learned the truth¡ªon that fateful night, the peak lord had fought a fierce battle against the remnants of the Bloodrobe Tower who had attacked Feixian Peak. Unfortunately, he had suffered serious injuries, and to make matters worse, the corpse of Xuem¨° S¨¡nqi¨¡n had been stolen.


    Because of this, the entire Feixian Peak was in low spirits. It felt as though their former pride had been mercilessly trampled underfoot.


    But to Wen Jiu¡ª


    Something didn''t add up.


    Something was very wrong.


    Because the corpse of Xuem¨° S¨¡nqi¨¡n had been in his hands all along.


    He had even stolen a quick glance at it while burying bodies earlier.


    So, what exactly had the Bloodrobe Tower remnants stolen?


    Had they taken nothing but thin air?


    That same day, Wang Nian rushed back.


    After hearing what had happened that night, he couldn''t help but sigh. "I knew I wasn''t wrong to trust you, kid!"


    Wen Jiu nodded.


    But he refused Wang Nian''s invitation to drink in celebration.


    Because he had a feeling that the Bloodrobe Tower''s troubles were only just beginning.


    And sure enough¡ª


    Four days later, the peak lord of Feixian Peak suddenly appeared again.


    But his presence no longer carried the same imposing aura as before¡ªjust as the rumors suggested, he truly seemed to be seriously injured from that night.


    With his arrival, two massive flying boats took to the skies.


    And with them, an order was issued.


    All Feixian Peak disciples at Qi Refining stage two or above¡ª


    Board the flying boats immediately!


    We set off at once to exact revenge on the Bloodrobe Tower remnants!


    At that moment, Wen Jiu saw the truth behind many things.


    The stolen corpse was a lie.


    The peak lord''s injuries were likely also a lie.


    But¡ª


    Why did they need even Qi Refining stage two disciples to join?


    "Damn, there''s no escaping this." Wen Jiu was utterly resigned.


    Can''t I just peacefully stay at the Forsaken Corpse Grounds? Is that too much to ask?

 Chapter 38: Boarding the Flying Boat

    As soon as the order was given, it was like a spark landing on dry wood, igniting the spirits of the Feixian Peak disciples who had been feeling down for days. More and more people began heading toward the peak, preparing to board the flying boats, yet Wen Jiu remained hesitant, unwilling to move. To be honest, he really didn''t want to go.


    This was exactly why¡ªwhile a sect could provide opportunities unattainable for rogue cultivators even after a lifetime of struggle, it also required sacrifices. And sometimes, that sacrifice might just be one''s own life.


    Meanwhile, Wang Nian hurried home, gave his wife a few quick instructions, then turned and made his way to Wen Jiu''s residence. Seeing that Wen Jiu still hadn''t moved, only standing in his courtyard gazing into the distance, Wang Nian quickly called out, "Brother Wen, it''s time to go¡­ Don''t tell me you''re too scared?"


    That night, Wang Nian had learned about how Wen Jiu had taken his wife and avoided the battle. It only made him see Wen Jiu more clearly¡ªthat this guy put on a tough front, but deep down, he was actually timid. Even so, since he had been willing to help take care of his wife despite his fear, this was a brother worth keeping.


    Wen Jiu smiled helplessly. Did Wang Nian really take him for a coward? Well, that was fine too. It gave him a reasonable excuse to stay in the background. As for how others saw him, he didn''t care. He was already walking the so-called "deviant path"¡ªwhat did it matter if he added a cowardly reputation to the mix?


    "Just follow me when the time comes, don''t worry, your big brother''s got your back!" Wang Nian said before grabbing Wen Jiu and heading straight for Feixian Peak.


    Which was exactly what Wen Jiu wanted. Stick to someone strong. Let them charge ahead.


    Before long, the first flying boat was filled to capacity and took off. Wen Jiu boarded the second one. Together, the two flying boats carried at least seven or eight hundred people.


    Seizing the opportunity, Wen Jiu glanced into the distance, focusing on the Feixian Peak Master¡ªthe one orchestrating all of this.


    Chi-haired Mu Yan, though his aura seemed somewhat unstable, was still significantly stronger than the white-haired elder of the Night Patrol Division. Upon closer inspection, his face looked pale, as if he hadn''t fully recovered from severe injuries.


    But in Wen Jiu''s opinion, that might just be a ruse. After all, the corpse they had seen before had been fake.


    Next, Wen Jiu''s gaze shifted to the seven individuals beneath the Peak Master, clearly the leaders of Feixian Peak''s various divisions¡ª


    Demon Slayers, Demon Suppressors, Night Patrol, and so on.


    Each of the seven was incredibly powerful. Even without using divine sense, their cultivation levels were obvious¡ªQi Refining, fifth stage. Not a single exception.


    All of them were elders.


    The youngest among them were the two female cultivators, appearing to be in their early thirties at most, but Wen Jiu wasn''t convinced. He had heard of something called Beauty Retaining Pills from old cultivators at the marketplace.


    No wonder the "deviant path" was despised¡­ That was probably one of the reasons.


    Others spent half a lifetime struggling to reach the fifth stage of Qi Refining.


    While the "deviant path" could reach the second stage in just two months.


    Who could accept that?


    Finally, Wen Jiu''s eyes fell on Mu Canglong and the twenty-one Feixian Peak deacons, as well as the eighty stewards. Most of them were unfamiliar, and he hadn''t expected there to be so many.


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    If just Feixian Peak alone had such numbers, then how many did the entire "Corpse Peak" have?


    And just how powerful had the Blood Robe Tower been back when it could rival them?


    As those thoughts passed through his mind, the flying boat ascended.


    The moment it took off, a massive formation suddenly activated, enveloping the entire Feixian Peak. Then, with a low hum from the formation on the flying boat, they swiftly soared toward the sea of clouds.


    Into the clouds.


    Past the forests.


    In just moments, Feixian Peak had shrunk to the size of a fist.


    However¡ª


    Just as Wen Jiu was about to enjoy the view, he found himself becoming the center of attention instead.


    Because the black ghoul beside him was far too conspicuous. Even though it was covered with cloth, its sinister, dangling hand was still clearly visible.


    "So this is Wen Jiu, the Night Patrol Division''s apprentice disciple who practices the deviant path?"


    "Rather than cultivate the Night Wind Technique of the Night Patrol Division, he chose to practice the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Method. I really don''t get it."


    "Deviant techniques attract those seeking quick success. If not for such methods, would he have been the first gravekeeper in fifty years to advance through battle? But deviant techniques all shorten one''s lifespan¡ªno matter how strong one becomes, it''s just a fleeting moment of glory. Cultivation is about longevity."


    Hearing the discussions around him, Wen Jiu simply shook his head in resignation.


    He turned away and quietly admired the scenery.


    As long as no one came looking for trouble, they could talk all they wanted.


    But just then, Wang Nian suddenly leaped down from the ancient building at the rear of the flying boat and headed toward Wen Jiu.


    He had heard the criticisms directed at Wen Jiu and was worried he wouldn''t be able to handle it.


    "Brother Wen, come over here!" Wang Nian called out, drawing the attention of two or three hundred people. But he didn''t care and continued, "Brother Wen, hurry up! What''s so interesting about standing there alone, staring at the scenery?" Wen Jiu chuckled silently at the situation and walked over with his black ghoul. Though Wang Nian''s actions made him stand out even more, they also shut down the murmurs behind his back and even sparked some envious looks.


    Who was Wang Nian? He was from the Wang family. Plenty of people wanted to get close to him but never got the chance.


    "I didn''t expect him to have this kind of connection with Steward Wang," someone whispered among the crowd.


    Wen Jiu followed Wang Nian up the ancient building, standing on the corridor overlooking the front of the flying boat. The two to three hundred disciples below were all in clear view.


    As the flying boat pressed forward, Wen Jiu gradually noticed the anticipation and fervor in the disciples'' eyes. Wang Nian lowered his voice. "You don''t understand why they''re so excited, do you? It''s not just about revenge or restoring Fei Xian Peak''s honor¡ªit''s about making money. Fei Xian Peak has a rule: whatever spoils you plunder, you keep."


    "No wonder." Wen Jiu suddenly understood.


    Of course. Only personal gain could make people forget about life and death.


    He had been wondering¡ªwere these people really so eager for revenge, so loyal to their sect? Some of them, maybe. But all of them? That would be ridiculous.


    "When the time comes, just follow me into battle. I''ll do the killing, you loot the bodies!" Wang Nian said excitedly.


    Wen Jiu quickly shook his head. "No way. I''m only at Qi Refinement Level Two¡­ I''d just hold you back and distract you."


    Was he joking? Wang Nian was at Qi Refinement Level Three. Their enemies were also at Level Three. What was a mere Level Two like him going to do¡ªdie faster?


    "You coward! Risk comes with reward! If we kill just one Level Three cultivator, it''ll be worth years of hard work¡­ That''s more than ten years of your Night Patrol salary!" Wang Nian looked at him with frustration.


    This brat didn''t hesitate when killing that spy the other night. So why was he chickening out when there was big money to be made?


    "Still not interested." Wen Jiu shook his head again.


    Seeing this, Wang Nian didn''t push any further. People couldn''t be forced into things, after all.


    ...


    Suddenly, the flying boat changed direction, diving downward. A vast forest of crimson maple trees stretched beneath them.


    Within the red maple forest stood a sizable cultivation family.


    "The Chen family''s territory!" Wang Nian exclaimed in surprise as the flying boat swooped toward it. He seemed puzzled. "Why would the remnants of the Blood Robe Tower be here? The Chen family was the former Peak Lord''s clan."


    As far as he knew, the Chen family had always been Fei Xian Peak''s most loyal vassal. Even though they had declined after the previous Peak Lord was killed by the Blood Robe Tower, they should have hated the Blood Robe Tower¡ªnot harbored its remnants.


    At that moment, the Peak Lord on the other flying boat suddenly spoke.


    "The remnants of the Blood Robe Tower are hiding in the Chen family! The Chen family has colluded with them, murdering our Fei Xian Peak disciples. Kill a Chen clansman, and you''ll be rewarded with twenty low-grade spirit stones! Kill a Blood Robe Tower remnant, and you''ll receive a hundred!"


    The moment those words fell, the disciples aboard the flying boat erupted in excitement.

 Chapter 39: Chaos in the Chen Family

    "Form the hand seals!"


    The master of Feixian Peak gave the order once again.


    On the flying boat, the disciples immediately began forming hand seals and casting spells. Shadows of swords and fireballs materialized one after another, ready to be unleashed.


    Wen Jiu mimicked them, pretending to form seals as well, but the only spell he actually knew was Mana Finger Flick. So, he simply prepared to fire off two shots downward.


    In mere moments, as the flying boat descended further, the master of Feixian Peak commanded again. Instantly, over eight hundred spells rained down like a storm, engulfing the Chen Clan''s estate nestled within the crimson maple forest.


    Houses exploded in an instant. A maidservant, who had just been carrying a tray of fruits, was immediately consumed by the flames.


    Yet, at the very heart of the Chen estate, a formation suddenly emerged, blocking the onslaught of spells.


    Observing from a distance, Wen Jiu saw numerous people rushing out of the buildings. When they spotted the Feixian Peak flying boat, their faces were filled with shock¡ªsome were panicked, others simply stunned, as if they couldn''t believe Feixian Peak had actually come to attack.


    At that very moment, the master of Feixian Peak took the lead, controlling his sword as hundreds of sword shadows roared through the air toward the Chen estate. The seven elders followed closely behind, sending the entire Chen Clan into chaos.


    Just then, a figure emerged from within the Chen estate. The moment he appeared, it was as if an anchor had been dropped amidst turbulent waves¡ªthe panic within the Chen Clan instantly subsided. The man was wrapped in a sinister, ghostly aura that surged forward like a tidal wave.


    A chilling laugh rang out.


    With just a glance, Wen Jiu recognized him¡ªit was the Bloodclad Tower expert who had injured the master of Feixian Peak that night.


    "You actually tracked me down? Looks like the layers of restrictions I placed on the corpse weren''t enough to erase the spiritual imprint you left behind... But you dare to come here even after being struck by my Soul Devour Curse? How utterly reckless!"


    As his voice fell, the Bloodclad Tower survivor raised his hand and hurled out a ghastly, demonic head. The head rapidly swelled, then morphed into a massive lotus, dark purple and black, just like that night. It surged menacingly toward the master of Feixian Peak¡ªJi Qiubai.


    The moment the dark lotus appeared, the people of the Chen Clan steadied themselves and charged toward the seven elders of Feixian Peak.


    But just as the battle was about to erupt, Ji Qiubai''s aura suddenly skyrocketed.


    In an instant, there was no sign of his previous injuries.


    Instead, his energy had reached an unprecedented peak¡ªso overwhelming that it completely crushed his opponent''s presence.


    Then, with a wave of his hand, he summoned a massive sword. With a deafening rumble, it ascended into the sky at breakneck speed and came slashing down upon the black lotus.


    Boom!


    With a single strike, the ghostly head and black lotus shattered completely. The once-arrogant Bloodclad Tower survivor, who had been untouchable that night, was sent crashing into the depths of the Chen estate.


    "Retreat!"


    "It''s a trap!"


    Coughing up mouthfuls of blood, the Bloodclad Tower survivor instantly realized the truth.


    Without hesitation, he stomped down, shattering the stone tiles beneath his feet, revealing a massive underground passage.


    He darted inside at once. The others, no longer as composed as before, snapped back to reality. Panic overtook them as they scrambled to follow.


    "After them!"


    Ji Qiubai sneered, sword in hand, and led the charge into the underground passage.


    The Feixian Peak disciples, who had yet to jump down from the flying boat, were momentarily stunned. But then their spirits soared.


    So everything had been part of the master''s plan all along!


    He wasn''t injured!


    It had all been a deception!


    Yet, while the other disciples were filled with awe, Wen Jiu remained unimpressed. After hopping off the flying boat, he didn''t rush into the underground passage like the others, who were brimming with battle fervor and eager to exterminate every last member of the Bloodclad Tower and the Chen Clan.


    But Wang Nian did.


    He was the first to charge forward¡ªfaster than anyone else.


    As he ran, he shouted excitedly, "We''re gonna strike it rich! We''re gonna strike it rich!"


    Wen Jiu had no choice but to let him go. He himself, however, deliberately held back, staying at the rear of the group.


    He couldn''t shake the feeling that the enemy might also be acting.


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    Truth and falsehood.


    Illusions within illusions.


    Who could truly tell what was real?


    So, Wen Jiu decided to stay outside and deal with the Chen Clan members alongside the Night Patrol Division disciples. After all, killing one Chen Clan member earned him twenty lower-grade spirit stones.


    He wasn''t looking to hit the jackpot.


    Just wanted a steady profit.


    "Old Black, go!"


    Wen Jiu commanded his black ghoul and stormed into the burning Chen estate.


    Any Chen Clan member that dared charge at him was effortlessly taken down with a single Mana Finger Flick. He then severed their right thumb as proof for claiming his reward.


    "Twenty!"


    "Twenty!"


    "Twenty!"


    In just moments, he had earned a hundred lower-grade spirit stones.


    This was the benefit of being in a sect.


    A rogue cultivator wouldn''t get such perks for killing enemies.


    But despite the easy profit, one question nagged at him.


    Why was the Chen Clan involved with the Bloodclad Tower survivors?


    As Wang Nian had mentioned, the Bloodclad Tower and the Chen Clan had a grudge. Even if they weren''t fighting to the death, they should at least be enemies on sight.


    Clearly, only one thing could explain it.


    Profit.


    What kind of benefit could possibly make someone forget their family feud and instead collude with their enemy?


    As this thought crossed his mind, Liu Xiao''s voice exploded in midair: "Night Patrol Division disciples, swiftly eliminate all members of the Chen family! Then search the surroundings for any other exits¡ªdo not let a single remnant of the Blood Robe Tower escape!"


    Following the sound, one could see Liu Xiao standing with his spear, steady in midair above the blazing buildings. But before him knelt an elderly member of the Chen family, face covered in tears. He, too, was at the third level of Qi Refinement. It was clear Liu Xiao had spoken those words for him to hear.


    The old man was visibly enraged by Liu Xiao''s words. His eyes, filled with unwillingness and sorrow, burned with fury as he roared, "Fei Xian Peak... Damn you, Fei Xian Peak! The Chen family is finished! Our three-hundred-year foundation has been completely destroyed!"


    Liu Xiao''s voice remained ice-cold: "Chen Feng, the moment you betrayed Fei Xian Peak, you should have been prepared for this outcome. Not only will I kill you, but I will also wipe out your entire Chen family! Even your clansmen who are outside will not be spared!"


    Chen Feng let out a furious roar, his entire body erupting with blood energy. "Then today, you will die with me!"


    With that, he shot forward like a meteor.


    As he raised his hand, a crimson ghostly claw materialized and slashed viciously at Liu Xiao. Liu Xiao met it head-on with his spear.


    The moment they clashed¡ª


    Liu Xiao was sent flying backward, retreating a full ten zhang before stabilizing himself.


    His expression changed instantly.


    "To think that the mighty head of the Chen family, the eldest grandson of the former Peak Lord, has fallen to the path of demonic cultivation¡ªpracticing with blood, cultivating the Blood Ghost Claw of the Blood Robe Tower!"


    Chen Feng howled in defiance. "To restore the Chen family''s former glory, to no longer be trampled under Fei Xian Peak''s feet¡ªwhat demonic path? Strength alone determines the righteous path! It''s just a pity... my Blood Ghost Claw has only reached the third stage before you came..."


    As he finished speaking, he lunged at Liu Xiao again.


    Wen Jiu watched all this unfold, yet made no move to intervene.


    He could sense that the atmosphere of the Chen family estate was shifting. Blood energy was rising into the air, growing denser by the second.


    Perhaps an even greater problem was about to emerge.


    And sure enough¡ª


    The next moment, beneath the burning ruins, a horde of fiends burst forth from the ground, attacking both Night Patrol disciples and members of the Chen family alike. They slaughtered everyone in their path.


    Just thirty zhang away, several Night Patrol disciples and Chen family members, still locked in battle, barely had time to react before they were pounced on by multiple fiends. Sharp teeth sank into their necks.


    With a violent shake of their heads, the fiends ripped their victims apart, sending heads and limbs flying. The sight sent many Night Patrol disciples retreating in terror. A single fiend wasn''t a threat¡ªbut dozens? That was a nightmare.


    Wen Jiu backed away as well.


    It wasn''t just the sheer number of fiends¡ªthey were also incredibly strong. Each one had a body as tough as a second-stage Body Refinement cultivator.


    Even a third-stage Qi Refinement cultivator would struggle to handle them, let alone the ordinary second-stage Night Patrol disciples.


    And around him, there were at least five or six of them!


    Fortunately, he had his Black Ghoul.


    Not a single fiend could get near him.


    Yet Wen Jiu felt no relief.


    "So my guess was right¡ªthe remnants of the Blood Robe Tower weren''t entirely unprepared."


    Perhaps they had foreseen this day long ago.


    At that moment, Wen Jiu noticed something¡ªwhen the Black Ghoul''s claws tore through a fiend, thick, concentrated blood energy seeped out from its wounds.


    That immediately reminded him of something.


    Blood energy.


    Demonic flesh and blood.


    And refining Corpse Blood required demonic flesh and blood.


    Wasn''t this the perfect source?


    Ranked fiends weren''t easy to find.


    And they were expensive.


    Just a single jin of demonic flesh cost a lower-grade spirit stone.


    But these beast-shaped fiends¡ªeach weighed at least a hundred jin!


    Realizing this, Wen Jiu immediately commanded the Black Ghoul to go all out in slaughtering the fiends.


    A high-rank Black Ghoul, combined with a third-stage Blood Transformation Body, made tearing apart ordinary ranked fiends effortless. Each one that approached was instantly shredded.


    In just a short moment, three fiends had fallen at the hands of the Black Ghoul.


    That was nearly three hundred lower-grade spirit stones saved.


    And saving was earning.


    He had basically just gained three hundred lower-grade spirit stones.


    At that moment, Wen Jiu no longer regretted coming here. It was dangerous, yes¡ªbut in just this brief time, he had earned over ten years'' worth of salary.


    Raising his hand, he used his Corpse Eye to absorb and devour the demonic essence, then continued leading the Black Ghoul to hunt.


    However¡ª


    The more they killed, the more fiends appeared.


    Wen Jiu finally noticed something. Beneath the Chen family estate, fiends kept emerging as if there was a nest underground.


    "A fiend nest?"


    Wen Jiu was stunned.


    Instinctively, he glanced down at the ground beneath him.


    Could there really be one?


    The fiends kept coming. Their numbers had already surpassed a hundred, chasing and tearing into both the Chen family members and the Night Patrol disciples.


    In an instant, Wen Jiu understood¡ªthis was the Blood Robe Tower''s final gambit. They had indeed anticipated this day.


    Savage.


    Truly ruthless.


    "I need to retreat."


    The Black Ghoul was powerful, but even it couldn''t hold off a dozen fiends attacking at once.


    Rather than let its corpse energy be drained in a futile battle, it was better to withdraw.


    With that thought, Wen Jiu glanced at Liu Xiao¡ªwho now had an ally and was beginning to gain the upper hand¡ªconfirmed that he didn''t need help, then fended off a few incoming fiends before slowly retreating.


    He moved beyond the Chen family estate.


    Into the crimson maple forest.


    After cutting down the three fiends that had pursued him, Wen Jiu climbed to a higher vantage point and silently observed the battle at the Chen estate.


    It was then that he saw¡ª


    Chen Feng suddenly produced a talisman.


    A palm-sized blood talisman, made from fiendskin.


    Even from a li away, Wen Jiu could sense its extraordinary nature.


    A blood talisman.


    An even more sinister method than Yin talismans.


    Yin talismans were at least drawn through conventional means¡ªbut blood talismans? They were forged using the blood essence of cultivators.


    A single blood talisman required the sacrifice of multiple cultivators.


    And the more powerful the talisman, the stronger the cultivators that had to be slain.

 Chapter 40: The Powerful Black Jiangshi

    The "Earth Yin Blood Talisman!"


    Liu Xiao and another Night Patrol Division officer immediately recognized the talisman¡ªit had an infamous reputation. Even after all these years, it remained a nightmare for many Qi Refining cultivators.


    The number of Dead Peak disciples who perished under this talisman wasn''t just a thousand¡ªit could''ve been three thousand. Many others suffered lifelong disabilities because of it.


    What made it terrifying was that even though it was only a low-grade Rank One talisman, it could still threaten a Qi Refining fourth-layer cultivator, while those at the third layer were almost guaranteed to die upon contact. Neither Yang Talismans nor Yin Talismans could compare to this.


    The reason was simple¡ªit consumed lifespan.


    Activating one could cost as little as a year or two.


    Or as much as eight to ten years.


    For an old man like Chen Feng, even using just one talisman might mean he wouldn''t have much time left to live.


    So when Chen Feng pulled out the Earth Yin Blood Talisman, Liu Xiao and his companion instantly realized¡ªChen Feng was planning to die with them!


    "Retreat!"


    Liu Xiao swung his spear backward, using the force to propel himself away, while the other officer immediately followed.


    But Chen Feng sneered and gave chase, unwilling to let them escape. He clenched the talisman tightly, and in the next moment, a massive surge of fresh blood gushed from his palm into the talisman.


    In just a blink, he looked seven or eight years older.


    Liu Xiao and his companion''s expressions changed dramatically. The instant they saw Chen Feng throw the Earth Yin Blood Talisman, their faces twisted in horror¡ªthey instantly tossed out their magic weapons and frantically activated seven or eight defensive talismans from their storage bags.


    Then¡ª


    A deafening explosion tore through the sky.


    BOOM!


    A violent surge of Earth Yin energy and blood essence erupted from the talisman, expanding outward in a crimson shockwave.


    Wherever the blood-colored wave passed¡ªwhether it was demons, members of the Chen family, or disciples of the Night Patrol Division¡ª


    They all turned to dust in an instant.


    They didn''t even have time to react.


    When the crimson wave finally dissipated, everything within a hundred meters had vanished¡ªwiped out by the explosion.


    Aside from Liu Xiao and his companion, nothing remained.


    Though the two had survived, the cost was immense¡ªthey had to self-destruct their magic weapons, completely depleting their defensive talismans. Their bodies had taken a severe hit, leaving them with less than thirty percent of their strength, barely hanging on and teetering on the brink of severe injury.


    "What a shame¡­ it was only a mid-grade, low-rank Earth Yin Blood Talisman¡­" Chen Feng muttered regretfully when he saw that Liu Xiao and his companion were still alive.


    The moment he spoke¡ª


    Blood spewed from his mouth.


    His aura grew even weaker, but his expression turned even more manic and ferocious.


    Then¡ª


    Chen Feng suddenly turned and, using a flying artifact, fled from the Chen family estate.


    His speed was astonishing¡ªclearly, he had used another talisman to enhance it.


    Liu Xiao wanted to give chase, but the Night Patrol officer beside him stopped him. "Don''t! If we pursue him, he''ll likely drag us down with him. We need to deal with the demons first¡ªif we delay any longer, more people will die!"


    Liu Xiao glanced at the Night Patrol disciples still locked in fierce battle with the demons. He could also feel his own disrupted qi and his nearly-crippled body. With no other choice, he gave up the pursuit, allowing Chen Feng to escape.


    The other Night Patrol officers, witnessing the scene, also refrained from chasing. They focused on handling the demons instead.


    A strong enemy wasn''t scary.


    What was terrifying was an enemy who didn''t care about their own life.


    What if he had another Earth Yin Blood Talisman?


    With no higher-ranking officer present, whoever chased him would be dead for sure.


    However¡ª


    In the Red Maple Forest, Wen Jiu was dumbfounded as he watched everything unfold.


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    Sh*t!


    He was coming straight at him!


    "What kind of rotten luck is this?!"


    He had only hidden in the Red Maple Forest to avoid the chaos for a bit.


    How the hell did the strongest, most insane member of the Chen family end up charging straight toward him?


    Without a second thought, Wen Jiu activated Three Rivers Ghost Veil to conceal himself. He just wanted to lay low and let Chen Feng pass¡ªafter all, that Earth Yin Blood Talisman had been terrifying. Even he felt a deep fear lingering in his heart.


    However¡ª


    Chen Feng barely made it a few steps into the forest before he suddenly collapsed. Clearly, he could no longer sustain his flight.


    As he hit the ground, his body curled inward, and another mouthful of blood splattered out. The crazed, bloodthirsty aura from before was now almost completely gone.


    Wen Jiu watched as Chen Feng fumbled in his storage bag, pulling out several speed-boosting talismans.


    Instinctively, Wen Jiu glanced at the Black Ghoul beside him.


    Right now¡ª


    He, the Black Ghoul, and Chen Feng were only three meters apart.


    A sneak attack might work.


    And if not, he could always use the Blood Corpse Escape technique to flee.


    The Black Ghoul instantly understood his intent. Without hesitation, it surged forward, wreathed in eerie ghostly energy, lunging at Chen Feng.


    "A ghoul?!"


    Chen Feng''s face twisted in shock.


    But at such close range, and given the Black Ghoul''s Three Rivers Ghost Veil-enhanced speed, there was no time for him to cast a spell to block it.


    In his desperation, Chen Feng yanked out a talisman¡ªnot a blood talisman, but a standard low-grade Rank One Yin Talisman.


    However, it was of the highest quality!


    The moment the Yin Talisman activated, a massive, sinister ghost face materialized and lunged toward the incoming Black Ghoul.


    In an instant, the ghostly face bit down on the Black Ghoul.


    Chen Feng''s face lit up with joy.


    But a split second later, his expression changed drastically.


    The Black Ghoul effortlessly tore the ghostly face apart with a single claw¡ªlike ripping through thin paper.


    In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of him.


    Squelch¡ª


    Two ghostly, deathly cold hands plunged into Chen Feng''s chest. He was already at his limit, so drained that he couldn''t even activate another protective talisman. He could only stare in disbelief as the black ghoul tore him apart.


    Seeing this, Wen Jiu couldn''t help but be shocked¡ªso this is the power of a peak-stage black ghoul, combined with the Blood Transformation Body and the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment! A top-tier, low-grade first-rank Yin talisman, which could match the full-force strike of a third-layer Qi Refining rogue cultivator, was torn apart just like that.


    "If it evolves into a Jiangshi... just how strong will it be?"


    A glimmer of anticipation rose in Wen Jiu''s heart. Could it tear apart a fourth-layer Qi Refining cultivator by hand?


    Shaking off these thoughts, Wen Jiu instinctively glanced outside the red maple forest. The commotion had already drawn the attention of the Night Patrol Division''s overseers.


    Without hesitation, he swept the area with his spiritual sense, grabbed the storage pouch, and swiftly disappeared into the woods with the black ghoul.


    All that remained was a shredded corpse and an eerie, lingering ghostly aura.


    Just like when he had killed Fang Zheng and the others before.


    ...


    A few dozen breaths later.


    Wen Jiu was already deep within a dense forest three miles away.


    It was silent.


    Not even the chirping of birds or the rustling of insects.


    From the direction of the Chen family estate, the muffled roars of spells and magical artifacts colliding could still be heard from underground.


    Originally, Wen Jiu had planned to find a quiet place to compose himself and check his spoils. But just as he stopped, he felt an overwhelming surge of blood energy erupting from the direction of the Chen family estate.


    He turned his head¡ª


    A crimson beam of light shot skyward from the underground cavern.


    The sheer intensity and density of that blood energy made Wen Jiu momentarily dazed. Even the black ghoul beside him became visibly excited.


    Two thoughts surfaced in his mind.


    Just how much blood energy is down there?


    Why does it feel even richer than the Dead Remains Blood Field?


    Despite his excitement, Wen Jiu forced himself to stay rational. A sudden eruption of blood energy like this was far from normal.


    "What''s happening down there¡­?"


    After some thought, he decided to wait and descend with the main group to assess the situation.


    If things got dangerous, he could always use Blood Corpse Evasion to escape.


    No matter how deep the underground cavern was, it couldn''t possibly stretch twenty miles.


    Blood Corpse Evasion covered five miles per use.


    With the abundant corpse energy currently stored in the black ghoul''s body, he could use it three more times.


    By the time Wen Jiu circled around the Chen family''s rear mountain and returned to the battlefield from another direction, the demons had already been wiped out. When he saw Mu Canglong and Sikong Bai standing within the Chen family''s ancestral grounds, he immediately understood the situation.


    The moment he appeared, Mu Canglong, Sikong Bai, and Liu Xiao all turned their eyes toward him.


    Mu Canglong''s grave expression softened slightly upon seeing Wen Jiu, perhaps because he had assumed Wen Jiu was dead. Sikong Bai, however, remained cold, with a faint hint of hostility in his gaze.


    It was obvious.


    He still hadn''t forgotten about Li Ye.


    And he held a grudge.


    Wen Jiu didn''t care.


    As long as Mu Canglong was here, Sikong Bai wouldn''t dare to make a move.


    As he approached, Liu Xiao, who had been sitting and tending to his wounds, stood up in surprise. "Wen Jiu!"


    "Brother Liu."


    Wen Jiu walked forward at a steady pace, gripping the severed thumbs of several Chen family disciples in his hand. As he saluted Mu Canglong and Sikong Bai, Liu Xiao stepped closer and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Not bad, not bad. You not only survived but even killed a few of them."


    "Just luck," Wen Jiu replied humbly.


    His eyes swept across the battlefield.


    There were many demon corpses.


    But there were also many bodies of Night Patrol Division disciples.


    Their corpses had already been arranged neatly in an open space¡ªover thirty in total.


    The sight left Wen Jiu with a mix of emotions.


    At the same time, Mu Canglong examined Wen Jiu with a satisfied look, though his gaze eventually settled on the black ghoul beside him. Something felt off. He probed it with his spiritual sense¡ªstill off. But he couldn''t quite pinpoint why.


    Yet, his intuition told him¡ª


    The black ghoul had grown stronger.


    It was likely close to breaking through.


    This kid¡­!


    This kid''s talent in the unorthodox path is terrifying!


    He might even surpass the one who originally created the Yin Province Corpse Cultivation Method!


    Mu Canglong looked at Wen Jiu, his expression a mix of surprise and other complex emotions. But he didn''t voice them aloud.


    "Alright, take what you can. Leave behind what you can''t. As long as I''m here, no one will dare to steal from my Night Patrol Division!" Mu Canglong declared, then turned toward the bottomless cavern behind him.


    "All units."


    "Prepare to descend!"


    With that, Wen Jiu shifted his gaze from the corpses to the blood-filled cavern.


    At this close distance, the blood energy leaking from within was already as dense as the very heart of the Dead Remains Blood Field.


    If they ventured deeper¡­


    He couldn''t even imagine how much there would be.


    This only made him even more curious.


    Just what exactly were the remnants of the Blood-robed Tower doing down there?


    ****


    ****


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 Chapter 41: Tremendous Gains

    Boom! Boom! Boom! Wen Jiu followed the other Night Patrol Division disciples as they leaped into the tunnel.


    The moment they landed, a thick, death-tainted scent of blood rushed toward them. For ordinary Qi Refinement cultivators, this would be suffocating, making it nearly impossible to breathe. But for Wen Jiu, this was paradise.


    Every breath of blood-filled air filled him with joy.


    It was as if he were standing in the middle of a vast grassland.


    He glanced at the black ghoul beside him. It was so excited that it kept bouncing up and down, drawing attention from those around them.


    There was no helping it.


    Wen Jiu had to press it down.


    Stop jumping! There''ll be plenty for you to eat later!


    Following the others'' gazes, Wen Jiu looked ahead. The tunnel stretched forward in a bottomless expanse of deep red. It was about ten feet wide and ten feet high, with claw marks from demons and fiends gouged deep into the walls.


    A hundred feet in, the corpses of Blood Garment Tower remnants began to appear. Within just thirty feet, there were already three to five dozen bodies.


    Seeing these Blood Garment Tower remnants lying in pools of blood, the expressions of the Night Patrol Division disciples turned grim.


    A heavy silence settled over them.


    Walking at the back, Wen Jiu felt his fingers twitch at the sight.


    Blood! Cultivator blood!


    It would be such a waste not to absorb it all and use it to nourish the corpses.


    With that thought, Wen Jiu slowed his steps, deliberately lagging behind while letting the black ghoul absorb the blood covering the ground.


    Some of the disciples noticed, their gazes turning complicated, even slightly disgusted. But they knew that Wen Jiu belonged to Mu Canglong and Steward Liu, so they dared not say anything.


    Instead, they quickened their pace, wanting to leave him behind.


    Wen Jiu simply stopped.


    Once they had gone far enough, he took out the Corpse Eye and absorbed the blood in earnest. Within a hundred breaths, every drop was drained.


    The amount of blood he collected was comparable to half an hour''s worth of absorption at the heart of the Corpse Remains Deadland.


    Fresh blood¡ªjust recently spilled.


    Moving forward again, Wen Jiu found no sign of the other Night Patrol Division disciples, only seven or eight branching paths ahead.


    At the crossroads, there were more corpses¡ªBlood Garment Tower remnants and Feixian Peak disciples alike. Wen Jiu took everything.


    Then, he chose the path farthest to the left¡ªbecause he could sense that the strongest concentration of blood aura was seeping from there. The other paths also carried traces of blood, but only this one continuously exuded thick death energy.


    Death energy.


    The key to advancing the Yin Province Corpse-Nurturing Art.


    Wen Jiu wasn''t about to let that go to waste.


    After a thousand steps, he came across more Blood Garment Tower corpses, though fewer than before.


    He absorbed them and pressed on. Soon, another dozen paths appeared, but he continued following the flow of death energy.


    As he went deeper, the tunnel grew narrower¡ªbarely wide enough for one or two people to pass at a time. And there were no more Blood Garment Tower bodies.


    Instead, he started finding terrifying remains of Feixian Peak disciples.


    Some had been eaten alive by some kind of burrowing insect, their entire bodies rotted through.


    Others had been ripped apart by something far more vicious¡ªeven worse than what had happened to Chen Feng.


    Wen Jiu absorbed them all and moved forward.


    After nearly fifteen minutes, the surroundings became eerily silent. Only the howling of ghostly wind could be heard, but the blood aura and death energy had reached an astonishing intensity.


    By now¡ª


    The concentration of blood aura was already several times stronger than in the heart of the Corpse Remains Deadland!


    Excitement surged through Wen Jiu as he hurried forward, staying alert for any dangers lurking in the branching tunnels.


    At last, after passing through seven or eight more junctions, he arrived before a stone wall.


    A massive crack ran through it.


    Thick blood aura and death energy seeped from within.


    Examining the crack closely, Wen Jiu determined it had been caused by a cultivator''s artifact¡ªbut not from the outside. It had been broken from within.


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    For safety, he immediately activated the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment technique.


    Silently, he approached the crack.


    He could hear movement beyond it¡ªsomeone shifting things around, as if packing up supplies.


    Peering inside¡ª


    Three Blood Garment Tower remnants.


    All at the third level of Qi Refinement.


    Not weak.


    Then, his eyes fell to the center of the stone chamber¡ªand his expression froze.


    A massive blood pool.


    Blood churned within it, releasing an overwhelming flood of blood aura and death energy¡ªfar beyond what was escaping into the tunnel.


    Just one glance and Wen Jiu''s craving exploded.


    Compared to this, the Corpse Remains Deadland''s blood aura was utterly insignificant.


    If he could absorb the entire pool, he didn''t dare imagine how strong the black ghoul could become.


    And the death energy¡ªwhat heights could he reach with it?


    "What the hell are these Blood Garment Tower remnants trying to do?"


    "How many people did they have to kill to gather this much blood essence?"


    Wen Jiu was shocked.


    He had planned to wait for them to leave before using Blood Corpse Escape to slip in, but unexpectedly, after finishing their preparations, the three took out bottle-like artifacts and began collecting the blood.


    They were planning to take it all away.


    Wen Jiu''s expression darkened.


    Don''t touch that. That''s mine.


    Without hesitation, he commanded the black ghoul to smash through the crack, charging straight into the stone chamber. At the same time, he activated Three Rivers Ghost Concealment to launch a surprise attack on the nearest Blood Garment Tower remnant.


    Boom!


    The crack shattered with a thunderous sound.


    The three remnants looked up in alarm, but before they could react, the black ghoul was already upon one of them.


    His face twisted in panic. He fumbled to put away the blood-collecting bottle and hastily drew his artifact to defend himself.


    But the black ghoul¡ªempowered by Three Rivers Ghost Concealment¡ªwas too fast.


    Its claws tore straight through his torso.


    Blood sprayed as he was ripped apart on the spot.


    "A ghoul!"


    "How is there a ghoul here?!"


    The other two turned pale, hurriedly stowing their artifacts while activating talismans, retreating while launching attacks at the black ghoul.


    But Wen Jiu had already circled behind them.


    He activated the Corpse Eye.


    The Yin Arts he had accumulated over time erupted.


    A tide of gray Yin energy burst forth, engulfing the two of them in an instant.


    In that brief moment¡ª


    Their activated talismans were completely dispelled.


    Their bodies began to rot at a terrifying speed, flesh withering as blood spurted uncontrollably from their skin.


    The sight was so gruesome that even Wen Jiu felt a chill.


    In just three breaths'' time, as all the Yin techniques poured out, the two figures had already dissolved into a rotting pool of blood and flesh.


    "This..."


    The destructive power of the Corpse Eye after being infused with spells was indeed impressive.


    But this method of killing¡ªhonestly, it was frustrating.


    It was even more horrifying than the bloodthirsty remnants of the Blood Robe Tower. If anyone saw this, wouldn''t they immediately brand him as one of them?


    This was just... truly exasperating.


    And at the same time, deeply troubling.


    Shaking off his thoughts, Wen Jiu quickly commanded the Corpse Eye and the Black Ghoul to absorb the vast reserves of blood essence within the blood pool.


    A mere hundred breaths.


    That was equivalent to an entire day''s worth of blood absorption in the central region of the Forsaken Corpse Land.


    Fifteen minutes passed.


    The Black Ghoul could absorb no more.


    Its Blood Transformation Body had reached its limit, yet it still desired more, forcing Wen Jiu to drag it away.


    He was afraid it might explode from overconsumption.


    Fortunately, the Corpse Eye could still continue absorbing.


    At the same time, Wen Jiu retrieved the three bottled artifacts and controlled them along with a fourth, directing them all to extract more blood essence.


    To be honest, handling four artifacts simultaneously was something he wouldn''t even dare to consider on a normal day¡ªhis divine sense was already feeling like it was being torn apart.


    But he gritted his teeth and endured.


    The longer he persisted, the more blood essence he could obtain.


    This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity¡ªthere was no way he was going to let it slip away!


    However¡ª


    Just as he managed to endure for another fifteen minutes, Wen Jiu suddenly sensed someone rapidly approaching.


    It was the Blood Robe Tower expert who had been battling the master of Feixian Peak!


    And close behind him were the Feixian Peak master and several other powerful figures.


    "You''ve got to be kidding me..."


    Wen Jiu was unwilling, reluctant¡ªbut he had no choice. He immediately stopped absorbing and fled through the fissure.


    Damn it!


    He had only managed to absorb half of the blood essence in that pool!


    Only half!


    Mere moments after he escaped, a voice echoed through the air¡ªit was the Blood Robe Tower expert.


    "Ji Qiubai, stop running... Your body has already been completely corroded by my Shadow''s End Poison. You''re nearing collapse."


    Wen Jiu immediately cast the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment technique again.


    He dared not move.


    He didn''t even dare to breathe.


    "The peak master... lost?!"


    Wen Jiu''s heart clenched in shock.


    Then he heard Feixian Peak Master Ji Qiubai''s cold, weakening voice, "I never expected your Blood Robe Tower to have planted so many hidden pieces... Even among my Feixian Peak elders, there were spies from your faction..."


    Hearing this, Wen Jiu''s heart skipped a beat.


    Shit.


    He had overheard something he definitely wasn''t supposed to.


    Suddenly¡ª


    A voice he found oddly familiar rang out, its tone filled with chilling malice.


    "Not expecting it is exactly why it worked."


    The moment Wen Jiu heard this voice, his mind buzzed, and a face he had glimpsed for just a few seconds in the past flashed before his eyes. But he couldn''t be sure¡ªif it really was that person, it would be utterly absurd.


    Not long after, a dull thud sounded.


    Ji Qiubai had collapsed.


    The moment he fell, three distinct bursts of laughter followed.


    Wen Jiu froze.


    There was a third person?!


    Another elder of Feixian Peak was a traitor?!


    But before he could dwell on it, that familiar voice suddenly spoke again.


    "A battle just took place here... And half of the blood essence in the pool is gone! No¡ªsomeone was just here, stealing it!"


    The moment those words fell¡ª


    The Blood Robe Tower expert''s gaze instantly locked onto the nearby fissure.


    "There!"


    As soon as that word was spoken¡ª


    Wen Jiu''s expression shifted dramatically. Without hesitation, he activated Blood Corpse Evasion, vanishing in an instant and reappearing in a cave five miles away.


    Though he could no longer hear anything from behind him, he didn''t stop¡ªhe kept using Blood Corpse Evasion until he returned to the mark he had left with corpse energy.


    Once he was out of the underground cave, Wen Jiu collapsed onto the ground, his back drenched in cold sweat.


    He had almost been discovered!


    "Thank the heavens I had Blood Corpse Evasion!"


    He let out a breath of relief, no longer dwelling on the regret of only absorbing half the blood essence.


    ...


    At the same time¡ª


    The Blood Robe Tower expert shot out of the fissure, sweeping his gaze around and sending his divine sense frantically probing the surroundings.


    He even threw out a Yin talisman¡ª


    But it captured nothing.


    Only then did he return to the cave.


    "The bastard was fast¡ªand his presence is completely undetectable!"


    The Blood Robe Tower expert''s expression was dark.


    Whoever it was had likely overheard their conversation.


    If this got out...


    "It was a ghost cultivator... And this aura¡ªit feels familiar. I believe I''ve encountered it at Feixian Peak before..."


    A robed elder, his face concealed, knelt down and carefully examined the torn corpses.


    "How can you be sure?"


    "Someone once used our name to kill at Feixian Peak. I secretly went to investigate."


    "Then he''s your problem now! You must find him. That bastard stole half the blood essence meant for our alliance leader, which means we''ll have to slaughter another fifty thousand mortals to make up for it... Find him so we don''t have to take that risk."


    "Understood."


    The elder responded with an eerie chill in his voice.

 Chapter 42: The Peak Masters Disappearance

    Boom! The mountain trembled violently, as if an earthquake had struck. Wen Jiu turned his head and saw the red maple forest collapsing in multiple places. Everything happened so suddenly that he was caught off guard. Only the area around the Chen family''s ancestral land remained untouched. Without hesitation, Wen Jiu led the black ghoul toward that safe zone, and soon after, sword-riding cultivators began emerging from the cave in rapid succession.


    It was the Night Patrol Division.


    "Move, move, move!"


    Mu Canglong was the first to fly out, carrying a few disciples who were at the second level of Qi Refinement and unable to fly on their own. After dropping them off, he quickly turned back to rescue more.


    Following him, the rest of the Night Patrol Division disciples came rushing out, along with the disciples of Feixian Peak. Once they reached solid ground, everyone let out a sigh of relief, though their faces were still pale with lingering fear. After all, if they had been a little slower, they would have been buried underground. Even as cultivators, they wouldn''t have been able to withstand the sheer force of the collapsing earth and stone.


    As the cave continued to crumble, more and more Feixian Peak disciples emerged.


    In less than a hundred breaths'' time, four to five hundred people had escaped.


    Soon, Wen Jiu spotted Wang Nian.


    Wang Nian still looked shaken, but he couldn''t hide the grin on his face¡ªclearly, this trip had been very rewarding for him. When he saw Wen Jiu in the crowd, he immediately came over.


    "Brother, I struck gold!" Wang Nian slapped Wen Jiu''s shoulder excitedly. "I took down three Qi Refinement second-layer remnants from the Blood-Clad Tower, plus one at the third layer. Just from them, I looted over a hundred low-grade spirit stones! And that''s not even counting the Peak Lord''s reward¡ªhalf a day''s work, and I made a year''s worth of spirit stones!"


    "Congratulations, Brother Wang," Wen Jiu responded, though his mind was preoccupied.


    Wang Nian''s smile stiffened. "What''s wrong? You don''t look right."


    "It''s nothing." Wen Jiu quickly adjusted his expression. If even Wang Nian could notice something was off, how could the spies hiding in Feixian Peak not? "I only managed to kill a few members of the Chen family¡ªnot nearly as much profit as you."


    "I told you to stick with me, but you wouldn''t dare... Listen, this is how cultivation works¡ªcowards starve, but the bold feast!" Wang Nian chuckled, completely ignoring the fact that the forest around the Chen family''s land was still collapsing.


    Before Wen Jiu could reply, Wang Nian continued, "If it weren''t for those damn Blood-Clad Tower bastards suddenly shutting down the formation and causing the cave-in, I could''ve killed even more!" His voice was full of excitement, as if he still hadn''t had enough.


    Seeing Wen Jiu remain silent, Wang Nian eventually calmed down as well.


    Not long after, Liu Xiao, Mu Canglong, and the others arrived.


    The seven elders emerged from the cave one after another, three of them looking severely weakened, clearly having suffered serious injuries. Among them was Gong Chi, an elder from the Night Patrol Division.


    Seeing their elders wounded, the stewards rushed forward, retrieving healing pills from their storage pouches.


    "I''m fine, I can still hold on," Gong Chi said. The moment he spoke, Wen Jiu felt as if his mind exploded.


    It''s him!


    It had to be him!


    The voice was slightly different from what he remembered, but the tone and way of speaking were unmistakable. Wen Jiu knew it too well¡ªbecause that night had been unforgettable. The feeling of being weak and insignificant in Gong Chi''s grasp was something he would never forget for the rest of his life.


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    But there was someone else.


    Who was it?


    Wen Jiu''s eyes swept over the remaining six elders, but he didn''t dare linger too long. He quickly withdrew his gaze and turned to Wang Nian. "Brother Wang, you okay?"


    "I''m fine. Actually, I''m thinking of heading home to have a kid!" Wang Nian announced matter-of-factly, then chuckled. "I want a daughter..."


    Wen Jiu nodded, smiling on the surface, but his mind was in turmoil.


    A sense of unease crept in.


    But then he thought about the descriptions of Three Rivers Ghost Concealment and Blood Corpse Evasion on his daily summary panel. He knew that no one could trace anything back to him¡ªat most, they''d only detect traces of ghostly energy. That realization reassured him.


    ¡­


    A short while later, the collapse finally stopped.


    Under Mu Canglong''s orders, Wen Jiu began clearing the battlefield, collecting the corpses of demons and remnants of the Chen family.


    The busy work helped him regain some composure, shifting his thoughts from his unease to his gains from this mission.


    The blood essence alone was already significant.


    Even though he had only obtained half of the blood pool''s contents, the sheer quantity was staggering. He wouldn''t know the exact amount until his daily summary, but one thing was certain¡ªwhether it was for cultivating the black ghoul or advancing his Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body, he wouldn''t be running out of blood essence anytime soon.


    Moreover, the blood essence contained a considerable amount of death energy.


    Perhaps¡­ it might even push his cultivation to the next level.


    At the third level of Qi Refinement? Most likely!


    Aside from that, he also obtained Chen Feng''s storage pouch, along with the storage pouches of the three Bloodrobe Tower members. As he cleaned up the battlefield and probed inside with his divine sense, Wen Jiu discovered 473 spirit stones.


    Three low-grade tier-one magical artifacts.


    Thirty-seven low-grade tier-one talismans.


    Pills and other items worth at least a hundred low-grade spirit stones.


    There were also some cultivation techniques and spells, likely of considerable value.


    Among them, what stood out the most was a rather unorthodox technique inside Chen Feng''s storage pouch¡ªBlood Ghost Hand.


    Originating from Bloodrobe Tower, it had a total of six levels.


    This was the very technique Chen Feng had used to force Liu Xiao back in a single move, far superior to all the corpse-controlling arts of the Yinzhou Corpse Cultivation Method. The reason was simple¡ªit was created by the previous master of Bloodrobe Tower, Xue Moqian.


    One of the three great forbidden techniques of Bloodrobe Tower!


    "Whether for personal cultivation or selling it, this is an excellent find," Wen Jiu thought to himself.


    Aside from these treasures, Wen Jiu also discovered a peculiar-looking token made of an extraordinary material. On it were just two words¡ª"Tian Zuo."


    Although he had no idea what it was for, Wen Jiu didn''t dare take it out for a closer look. The storage pouch had the ability to block external divine senses. If someone had left a spiritual imprint on the token, taking it out would instantly expose him.


    It would be best to hide it somewhere untraceable within Fei Xian Peak when no one was around, ensuring no connection to himself.


    He could dig it up later once he figured out its purpose.


    ...


    A quarter of an hour later, the entire Chen family estate had been thoroughly cleaned out¡ªnothing was left behind.


    But just as the battlefield was cleared, a shocking piece of news began spreading among the disciples of Fei Xian Peak.


    The peak master had yet to return!


    Even the stewards who had been sent out to search had come back, yet there was still no sign of him.


    A thought instantly surfaced in everyone''s mind.


    But at the same time, they all found it impossible to believe.


    "Those Bloodrobe Tower remnants couldn''t even withstand a single move from the peak master. How could they possibly have killed him?"


    "The peak master is from the main peak and is a direct disciple under a main peak elder. His techniques are all top-tier, and he must have been given life-saving treasures by the elder. There''s no way something happened to him!"


    "Stop talking nonsense. Maybe the peak master was just delayed by something. He''ll be fine."


    As murmurs of speculation spread, Gong Chi stepped forward with a grave expression, suddenly coughing up a mouthful of blood. The people around him hurried to support him, but he pushed them away, resolutely saying, "All patrol officers and deacons, follow me into the cave immediately to search for the peak master!"


    With Gong Chi''s command, the other elders in charge quickly followed suit.


    A group consisting of Qi Refinement third and fourth-level cultivators, along with seven elders, once again plunged into the collapsed underground cave.


    Wen Jiu watched the scene unfold.


    How ironic.


    That Elder Gong Chi was quite the actor.


    With such a vivid performance, no one would ever suspect that the peak master''s death had anything to do with him.


    "No. I have to take that assessment... I need to cultivate at the main peak. I can''t stay at Fei Xian Peak any longer."


    Wen Jiu made up his mind on the spot.


    As for exposing Gong Chi?


    Forget it.


    Not to mention the other mysterious person involved, even if he knew their identity, he wasn''t about to gamble his life on it.

 Chapter 43: The Fall of the Peak Master

    As soon as all the senior officials had entered the underground chamber, the disciples of Feixian Peak immediately dispersed to search for their Peak Master.


    They firmly believed that the Peak Master must have been injured and was now recovering somewhere in secret.


    Not a single person believed that he had perished.


    Wen Jiu also scattered with the crowd, moving through the forest in search of any trace of him.


    However, deep down, he was certain that Ji Qiubai, the Peak Master of Feixian Peak, had almost no chance of survival. He didn''t know exactly what kind of poison the "Shadow''s End" was, but he was sure that the remnants of the Blood-Clad Tower, along with Gong Chi and the others, would never leave things to chance.


    Not finishing the job¡ªthat was something that only happened in stories, where the plot bent in favor of the protagonist. Gong Chi and his companions would never make such a mistake. Otherwise, they would never have been able to stay hidden by Ji Qiubai''s side for so long without being exposed. That said, Ji Qiubai must have had his own suspicions.


    Otherwise, he wouldn''t have been so cautious of Gong Chi back at Feixian Peak, nor would Gong Chi have summoned him for questioning in the dead of night.


    But in the end, Ji Qiubai had still miscalculated.


    "I''m going to need to grow eight hundred more eyes if I want to survive in the future," Wen Jiu silently vowed to himself.


    He had worked too hard for too long to end up with nothing.


    Suddenly¡ª


    Barely two hours had passed when the signal flare for regrouping shot up into the sky.


    When Wen Jiu returned to the Chen family''s territory, he found that Gong Chi and the others had already made it back. It seemed that they had found Ji Qiubai''s body. Most people wore expressions of sorrow, bitterness, and a hint of disbelief.


    "We''re bringing the Peak Master home!" Gong Chi stood atop the flying boat and declared with a voice full of grief and determination.


    The setting sun dyed half the sky crimson.


    As Gong Chi''s hoarse and solemn voice echoed through the air, the disciples of Feixian Peak fell into silence. Their gazes locked onto the flying boat ahead, where a body wrapped in thick white cloth was being carried aboard.


    No one wanted to believe it.


    The Peak Master was truly gone.


    Nor could they believe that the mere remnants of the Blood-Clad Tower had been capable of killing Ji Qiubai.


    Ji Qiubai was a direct disciple of the main peak''s elders, a cultivator who had mastered top-tier secret arts. How could a mere group of Blood-Clad Tower survivors¡ªwho had always been running for their lives and couldn''t even withstand a single strike from the Peak Master¡ªturn the tables and kill him?


    But no matter how much they doubted, Ji Qiubai''s body lay right before them.


    Before long, everyone boarded the flying boat.


    Each step was slow and heavy, weighed down by sorrow.


    The joy of victory and the satisfaction of their spoils had evaporated. With the final casualty count confirmed¡ªover two hundred disciples lost¡ªany sense of triumph had completely disappeared. Looking back now, friends who had been standing beside them just yesterday were now reduced to scattered bones.


    Wang Nian felt the same way. After boarding the flying boat, he quietly walked to Wen Jiu''s side and sighed.


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    "How could the Peak Master die at the hands of those Blood-Clad Tower remnants? That guy was only at the sixth level of Qi Refinement... Even if he was hiding his strength, the Peak Master had learned the main peak''s secret techniques. Even if he couldn''t win, he should have been able to escape."


    Wen Jiu replied, "Perhaps that''s just how unpredictable life is."


    "Unpredictable, huh¡­? You''ve got a point." Wang Nian let out a long sigh. "If someone as powerful as the Peak Master can fall, then for people like us¡­ who knows how long we can survive in this world of cultivation?"


    His mood grew heavier.


    The thrill of acquiring spirit stones had long since faded.


    Another sigh. A trace of helplessness. "We made it out alive this time, but what if next time¡­ it''s me?"


    Wen Jiu hadn''t planned on saying anything.


    He just wanted to quietly watch the sunset, to lose himself in the twilight hues.


    But as the atmosphere grew increasingly bleak, he finally spoke.


    "The moon waxes and wanes, just as fortune ebbs and flows. None of us know how far we''ll walk on this path, how long we''ll survive in this world. But every step we take, every extra day we live, lets us see more of the vast lands before us. It brings us closer to immortality¡­ Even if we fall halfway, it will not have been a wasted life."


    "I don''t ask for an easy road to immortality¡ªonly that, after the storm, I may see the rainbow."


    His words fell.


    Wang Nian froze for a moment.


    Even Liu Xiao, who had been silent all this time, couldn''t help but turn to look at Wen Jiu. Then, suddenly, he clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Well said, kid!"


    ...


    Night fell.


    The flying boat landed at the main peak.


    The disciples of Feixian Peak slowly dispersed, while news of the Peak Master''s death began to spread beyond the main peak.


    This night was destined to be anything but peaceful.


    "Kid, come have a drink at my place," Wang Nian called out to Wen Jiu as soon as they disembarked.


    After Wen Jiu''s words of comfort, Wang Nian''s gloomy mood had lifted considerably. He hadn''t sighed once along the way, so in Wen Jiu''s eyes, this drinking session was definitely not just about drinking.


    Sure enough.


    When they arrived at Wang Nian''s home, he shut the door behind them.


    As soon as he picked up his cup, Wang Nian spoke in a low voice, "Brother Wen, once the funeral for the Peak Lord is over, Fei Xian Peak is going to undergo a drastic change. You chose to follow Mu Canglong, but whether that will be a blessing or a curse is uncertain."


    "Why?"


    Although Wen Jiu asked, he had already guessed part of the answer.


    It was just like a company where the boss suddenly left¡ªwouldn''t the deputy leaders fight tooth and nail for the top position?


    Wang Nian continued, "Mu Canglong is under Elder Gong Chi of the Night Patrol Division, but Elder Gong Chi was never Peak Lord Ji''s confidant¡ªhe was loyal to the previous Peak Lord. So, if Ji''s faction wants to take power, they''ll definitely suppress Gong Chi, and that means suppressing his people as well¡­ How about I go talk to my second uncle and have you transferred to the alchemy room? Even just tending the fire would be safer."


    "Thanks, Brother Wang, but no need. I like raising corpses in the Land of Remnants." Wen Jiu shook his head and declined.


    Wang Nian tried persuading him again, but Wen Jiu still refused.


    Seeing no way to convince him, Wang Nian had to give up.


    He just couldn''t understand why Wen Jiu was so fixated on the Land of Remnants. If it weren''t for spirit stones, he wouldn''t go there himself.


    Soon, after three rounds of drinking, Wen Jiu, slightly tipsy, took his leave. He first went to the Land of Remnants to re-bury the black ghoul in the corpse-nurturing ground, then cultivated there for a while. The corpse energy and death aura helped him find inner peace.


    Late at night, as he was preparing to return, the sudden tolling of a bell echoed across Fei Xian Peak. It was summoning the disciples to assemble.


    "What now?"


    Wen Jiu was puzzled.


    With doubt in his heart, he hurried toward Fei Xian Peak, following the crowd of disciples to the summit¡ªwhere he witnessed an unforgettable scene.


    In front of the main hall at the peak, three massive spirit beasts with twin wings stood proudly. The spiritual energy and aura they exuded were no weaker than any of the elders of Fei Xian Peak.


    Even more imposing were the three golden-robed cultivators standing before the beasts, who clearly surpassed Gong Chi and the others in strength¡ªsecond only to Peak Lord Ji Qiubai.


    Even if they weren''t at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, they had at least reached the peak of the fifth level.


    The other golden-robed cultivators accompanying them were slightly weaker but still formidable. There were as many as thirty of them, all at the third level of Qi Refinement. While they were not as powerful overall as Fei Xian Peak''s forces, their overwhelming presence still suppressed everyone at the peak.


    At that moment, the eldest of the three golden-robed cultivators, a long-bearded old man, spoke coldly, "By order of the Discipline Hall, all elders, stewards, and officials of Fei Xian Peak are to be detained in the main hall!"


    At his words, every disciple on Fei Xian Peak turned pale.


    A female elder of Fei Xian Peak tried to argue, but the long-bearded old man cut her off icily, silencing everyone in fear.


    "The Peak Lord was killed by remnants of the Blood-Clad Tower! This has nothing to do with us¡ª"


    "Anyone who questions this order," the long-bearded elder interrupted coldly, "will be executed¡ªby command of the Hall Master himself!"


    At that moment, Gong Chi stepped forward, taking the lead and walking calmly into the main hall. "I trust the three Inspectors will uncover the truth. Until that happens, I shall remain here."

 Chapter 44: Fifty Thousand Mortals

    "Elder!"


    "Elder Gong!"


    "Elder Gong, you''re seriously injured. If you don''t treat your wounds immediately, your condition will only worsen."


    Several disciples of the Night Patrol Division spoke up anxiously.


    Gong Chi''s expression darkened as he swept a cold gaze over Mu Canglong and the others who tried to stop him. "Do you fools not understand the gravity of the situation? Compared to the death of our Peak Lord, what are my injuries worth? Follow me inside, now!"


    His words were filled with anger.


    If Wen Jiu didn''t already know Gong Chi''s true nature, he might have mistaken him for a model cultivator of Feixian Peak¡ªa figure to look up to.


    And, in fact, many disciples of Feixian Peak were moved by his words, showing him great respect. Some even began pleading with the members of the Oversight Hall, begging them to allow Elder Gong to tend to his wounds first.


    But the three Overseers remained as cold as ever. The one in the lead cast an icy glance at the disciple who had spoken up, making the young man hastily step back in fear.


    Then, in an even colder voice, the Overseer warned, "Anyone who dares to speak out again will be dealt with as remnants of the Bloodclad Tower!"


    The chilling threat silenced the Feixian Peak disciples, leaving them too scared to even breathe too loudly. The elders and stewards had no choice but to obediently step into the main hall.


    A vague sense of unease began to creep over the gathered disciples. They had heard of the Oversight Hall before, but never had they seen its enforcers in person. Now, at their first encounter, these Overseers had revealed themselves to be utterly ruthless.


    And their next words only made the anxiety in the disciples'' hearts grow stronger.


    "From this moment on, no Feixian Peak disciple is permitted to leave the mountain. Anyone who does so without authorization will be treated as a traitor to the sect!"


    With that declaration, the three Overseers entered the main hall.


    The thirty golden-robed cultivators accompanying them moved to the front, beginning their interrogation of the Feixian Peak disciples one by one. Each of them held a small golden beetle-like spirit beast.


    With every answer a disciple gave, the golden-robed cultivators would glance at their beetles, as if using them to verify the truth. It was clear that these creatures had some kind of lie-detecting ability, though how it worked was a mystery.


    Realizing this, Wen Jiu immediately held his breath, focusing intently.


    He carefully observed how the golden beetles reacted to other disciples'' answers while preparing his own responses in his mind.


    Soon, it was his turn.


    The golden-robed cultivator in front of him asked only one question.


    "Where were you before and after Peak Lord Ji''s accident?"


    Wen Jiu answered truthfully. "When the Peak Lord was hunting down the remnants of the Bloodclad Tower, I was with the Night Patrol Division, clearing out the Chen family. After we finished, I followed the others inside. But later, I got scared and left early. Not long after I came out, the underground cavern collapsed."


    "You were scared?"


    The cultivator frowned and immediately glanced at his golden beetle.


    Seeing that the creature remained still, the cultivator''s expression darkened with displeasure.


    Clearly, he was unhappy with Wen Jiu''s claim of fear.


    But Wen Jiu didn''t care.


    Let him think whatever he wants.


    As long as the beetle didn''t react, that was all that mattered. And it was true¡ªhe really had been afraid. The moment he heard Gong Chi''s voice, he had feared being discovered. Otherwise, he wouldn''t have used his Blood Corpse Escape technique twice in a row.


    The golden-robed cultivator spoke coldly. "You may go. But do not leave Feixian Peak. Be ready for questioning at any time."


    "Understood. Thank you, Senior."


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    Wen Jiu cupped his hands in salute, then slowly walked away from the crowd.


    Before leaving, he turned back to glance at the main hall.


    He hoped these Overseers from the main peak''s Oversight Hall would actually find something.


    Even if they didn''t¡­


    At the very least, he hoped they would stir up some trouble for a while.


    After all, there was still some time before the assessment for Feixian Peak''s trainee disciples.


    ¡­


    Back home, Wen Jiu stood outside his door and truthfully informed Wang Nian''s wife about how Wang Nian was being questioned in the main hall, so she wouldn''t worry.


    There was no way he was stepping inside to say it in person.


    He still had boundaries.


    After passing on the message, Wen Jiu went inside his own home, pushing aside the earlier events and focusing on his usual routine¡ªdrawing talismans while waiting for midnight to arrive.


    Midnight came quickly.


    Daily settlement began!


    The moment the settlement panel appeared, Wen Jiu''s eyes immediately locked onto the information about the Corpse Eye collecting blood essence.


    [Through the Corpse Eye, you have absorbed a large amount of cultivator blood essence, as well as the blood essence of 50,000 mortals. Panel experience +1, Blood Essence +173, +5000, Death Energy +2000.]


    But what truly made Wen Jiu''s face change wasn''t the 5000 Blood Essence.


    Nor was it the 2000 Death Energy.


    It was the fifty thousand mortals.


    The remnants of the Blood-Clad Tower actually slaughtered over a hundred thousand mortals just for that pool of refined blood! What were they trying to do? A hundred thousand¡­ That was easily the population of an entire county in the mortal realm of this world. In other words, the people of the Blood-Clad Tower had massacred an entire county just for blood.


    "This..."


    To be honest, Wen Jiu was shaken to his core. He was speechless for a long time.


    At this moment, he truly understood why Qi Refining cultivators despised demonic cultivators of the heretical path.


    Were mortal lives really as insignificant as weeds, to be harvested at will?


    He instinctively glanced at his personal panel, checking his reserves of refined blood and death energy.


    [Death Energy Reserve: 57+2000]


    [Corpse Energy Reserve: 341]


    [Cultivator''s Refined Blood Reserve: 2368+5173]


    His death energy reserve had reached 2057, enough for him to step directly into the third level of Qi Refining. His refined blood reserve had skyrocketed to a terrifying 7541. If he wanted to cultivate the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body, he could likely push it straight to the fourth level, allowing his physical body to withstand spells from third-level Qi Refining cultivators head-on.


    At that point, no third-level Qi Refining steward on Fei Xian Peak would be his match.


    But Wen Jiu couldn''t bring himself to feel happy about it. Even though he had never considered himself a good person, knowing that those five thousand refined blood reserves equated to the lives of fifty thousand mortals left him feeling unsettled.


    If he were to absorb the refined blood of cultivators¡ªeven his own people¡ªhe wouldn''t hesitate for a second, as long as they were already dead. There wouldn''t be the slightest burden on his conscience.


    But mortals?


    Especially fifty thousand mortals?


    That was different.


    He remained silent for a long time before finally calming himself down, forcing the thoughts aside. Yet deep in his heart, he made a firm decision¡ªonce he had the strength, he would kill every last remnant of the Blood-Clad Tower he encountered, showing them no mercy.


    He then shifted his focus to another update on his panel¡ªit was about the Blood Ghoul Hand.


    Previously, he had only skimmed through it, not expecting that his daily settlement panel would directly count it as his own technique.


    His techniques list now had an addition¡ªBlood Ghoul Hand.


    [Technique: Blood Ghoul Hand (Beginner) (0/100)]+


    He could directly enhance it using refined blood.


    But when he saw the plus sign, Wen Jiu hesitated for a few moments.


    He couldn''t cultivate the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body right now, nor could he afford to use his refined blood reserves to nurture the Black Ghoul.


    Rather than hoarding his reserves, perhaps it would be wiser to develop a new trump card first.


    The Blood Ghoul Hand seemed like a solid choice.


    After all, his Corpse Eye could only be used once, and he still couldn''t draw top-quality first-rank Soul Seizing Talismans.


    "If I master this Blood Ghoul Hand, even if someone finds out, I can just claim it as spoils of war." Wen Jiu muttered to himself before making up his mind¡ªhe immediately started adding experience points.


    In an instant, Blood Ghoul Hand advanced to the first level.


    [Technique: Blood Ghoul Hand (First Level) (0/500)]+


    He continued.


    Blood Ghoul Hand reached the second level.


    [Technique: Blood Ghoul Hand (Second Level) (0/1000)]+


    And then the third.


    [Technique: Blood Ghoul Hand (Third Level) (0/2000)]


    Once it reached the third level, Wen Jiu chose to stop. He had already spent 1600 refined blood reserves across three consecutive advancements. Even if he wanted to push further, it wasn''t possible.


    Because while Blood Ghoul Hand didn''t place heavy demands on body refinement in its early stages, that only applied up to the third level.


    To advance to the fourth level, he would need a refined physique¡ªotherwise, he simply wouldn''t be able to withstand the backlash of the technique. It was indeed powerful, but everything had its price.


    Wen Jiu glanced at his refined blood reserves.


    [Cultivator''s Refined Blood Reserve: 5941]


    "I''ll hold onto it for now. I''ll decide later whether to use it on Blood Ghoul Hand or the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body."


    With that thought, his gaze shifted to his death energy reserve.


    If he wanted to, he could step into the third level of Qi Refining at any time.


    But right now, advancing wasn''t the best choice.


    "Forget it. I''ll think about it later. I can break through whenever I want anyway."


    With his decision made, Wen Jiu closed his personal information panel and sat cross-legged on the bed, beginning to use his Yin techniques to nurture corpse blood.


    His Corpse Eye had absorbed the remains of six demonic creatures¡ªhe had no idea how much corpse blood it would produce.


    Since he wasn''t going to immediately advance his Qi Refining realm, his priority was nurturing the Black Ghoul, hastening its transformation into a Corpse Walker.


    During this mission, he had discovered that once the Black Ghoul concealed its aura, even a fourth-level Qi Refining cultivator couldn''t discern its true strength.


    That was an incredibly valuable discovery.


    It meant he could now cultivate the Black Ghoul in secret.


    The stronger the Black Ghoul became...


    The more inconspicuous it could be.


    The more inconspicuous it was...


    The stronger he himself would become.


    Perfect!

 Chapter 45: Heir to the Legacy

    As a surge of Yin energy poured into the Corpse Eye, it began refining the demonic corpses stored within.


    Though he couldn''t see it with his own eyes, his spiritual sense clearly perceived the gradual disappearance of the demon bodies and the birth of corpse blood. The process itself was nothing extraordinary, but the demonic flesh, after being refined through blood essence and then further processed by the Corpse Eye, had undeniably transformed into something entirely different¡ªdark, inky corpse blood.


    In just a short while, half a demon corpse had been completely refined, leaving behind half a jin of corpse blood in the Corpse Eye''s storage space.


    The moment his spiritual sense probed it, he was overwhelmed by a frenzied and violent aura of corpse energy and blood. Even a brief touch of it made his mind waver, his emotions surging with irritability¡ªcompletely unlike what he had encountered before.


    "So this is corpse blood?"


    Only now did Wen Jiu truly understand why ghouls nurtured with corpse blood were so prone to breaking free from their master''s control.


    Retracting his spiritual sense, he continued using the Corpse Eye to refine more blood. However, by the time he had exhausted all the Yin energy in his dantian, he had only managed to refine a single demon corpse. Still, gaining a full jin of corpse blood was a satisfactory outcome, so he remained patient.


    The next morning, Wen Jiu set off for the Land of Shattered Corpses, retrieving the dark corpse blood from the Corpse Eye and feeding it to the ghoul.


    The moment the ghoul saw the corpse blood, it reacted as if a cat had caught the scent of catnip¡ªletting out low, guttural growls as it frantically devoured the blood.


    If Wen Jiu hadn''t restrained it, the ghoul might have swallowed the entire Corpse Eye itself.


    At that moment, Wen Jiu caught sight of a single drop of corpse blood slipping from the ghoul''s mouth and falling to the ground.


    The instant it hit the earth, it spread like his own corrosive Yin arts¡ªexcept even more aggressive. In just a few breaths, it had polluted and corroded an entire zhang of land around it. If more of this were spilled, it could very well contaminate the whole Land of Shattered Corpses.


    "Looks like I can''t let anyone find out about this corpse blood¡­ Otherwise, I''ll just be giving people another reason to label me a heretical demon cultivator."


    Wen Jiu chuckled helplessly.


    ¡ª


    Shortly after midnight.


    Wen Jiu finally saw how much experience a single jin of corpse blood could provide.


    Previously, even after nurturing corpses for a full twelve hours in the heart of the Land of Shattered Corpses, he had only gained six experience points. His mastery of the Corpse Nurturing Incantation allowed him to squeeze out an additional three points, but altogether, he could only earn nine experience points per day.


    But now, just one jin of corpse blood had granted him fifty experience points, while his Blood Transformation Body had improved by another twenty points.


    The increase was staggering.


    Still, considering that a single demon corpse typically weighed at least a hundred jin and was valued at over a hundred low-grade spirit stones, it made sense that its refined corpse blood could yield seventy experience points. It wasn''t an unreasonable trade.


    For the next few days, Wen Jiu continued refining both corpse blood and nurturing his ghoul. In six days, he had fully processed six demon corpses, yielding three hundred experience points for the ghoul and a hundred and twenty points for Blood Transformation Body.


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    The ghoul''s experience had now surpassed four hundred.


    [Ghoul ¡ª In Nurturing (Upper Realm 426/2000)]


    Meanwhile, Blood Transformation Body had reached six hundred experience points.


    [Ghoul Skill: Blood Transformation Body, Third Layer (600/2000)]


    At this rate, with the current daily experience gain of nine points from regular corpse nurturing, the ghoul would need approximately one hundred and eighty-five days to fully mature, while Blood Transformation Body would take nearly sixty days to reach its fourth layer.


    Under normal circumstances, Wen Jiu would have been quite satisfied with this pace.


    But the growing tensions at Fei Xian Peak were putting him under pressure. The sooner he could evolve the ghoul into a fully-fledged walking corpse, the better.


    As things stood, one jin of demon blood accelerated the process by five and a half days and boosted Blood Transformation Body by an entire day. The cost? Nearly a hundred low-grade spirit stones. But it was worth it.


    After all, he was now earning spirit stones by selling Soul-Seizing Talismans.


    Ever since his proficiency in crafting them had reached mastery, his success rate was no longer a mere twenty percent. Over the past few days, he had been testing himself.


    Now, he could achieve a success rate of forty or even fifty percent.


    Not only that, but the quality of his talismans had also improved. What used to be a rare stroke of luck¡ªcreating high-grade talismans¡ªhad now become a regular occurrence. A well-crafted Soul-Seizing Talisman capable of injuring a second-layer Qi Refinement cultivator could easily sell for four or five low-grade spirit stones per piece.


    Wen Jiu could now produce eight or nine talismans per day. If he was in peak condition, he could successfully craft ten. Before long, he would be able to sustain his corpse blood production solely through selling talismans.


    The only downside? Now that he had reached mastery, each successful talisman only granted a single point of experience.


    Failure means no more experience points. The Soul-Seizing Talisman requires 500 experience points to reach full capacity. Over the past few days, Wen Jiu successfully crafted a total of fifty-one talismans.


    [Soul-Seizing Talisman (Mastery: 51/500)]


    ¡­


    Early the next morning, the lockdown on Feixian Peak was finally lifted.


    The investigators from the Supervision Hall had interrogated Feixian Peak''s stewards, deacons, and elders for a full six days. One could only imagine how meticulous their questioning was¡ªit was likely that they had even resorted to some special means.


    However, in the end, it seemed they had found nothing. None of the seven elders had been imprisoned or apprehended by the Supervision Hall.


    On this very day, Wen Jiu was summoned to the Night Patrol Division once more for a private meeting with Liu Xiao and Mu Canglong.


    After seven days of relentless interrogation, both men looked utterly exhausted.


    "Brother Liu, Deacon Mu¡­"


    Wen Jiu retrieved two bottles of pills from his storage pouch¡ªmedicinal pills that replenished stamina and vital energy. He had acquired them after killing Chen Feng.


    But Mu Canglong didn''t accept them. Instead, he asked, "Do you know why we called you here alone?"


    "I do not," Wen Jiu answered honestly.


    Mu Canglong continued, "The investigators from the Supervision Hall will not be leaving. In fact, they will be intensifying their efforts to uncover the true cause of the Peak Lord''s death. Elder Gong volunteered to assign us to their command, meaning that we will be leaving Feixian Peak for a while¡­ perhaps for a month, maybe even two."


    "This¡­" Wen Jiu''s expression tensed.


    One or two months would be more than enough time for him to cultivate his Blood Transformation Body to the fourth level.


    Liu Xiao added, "Don''t worry. We know you don''t want to leave the sect, so Deacon Mu won''t involve the apprentice disciples in this mission. The reason we called you here is for something else¡ªboth Deacon Mu and I believe that this journey is fraught with danger, so before he departs, Deacon Mu wants to take on a disciple to pass down his teachings."


    "I am willing!"


    With such a clear hint, Wen Jiu would have to be an absolute fool not to understand.


    He wasn''t sure if Mu Canglong was connected to the Bloodrobe Tower, but he did know one thing¡ªthe man was genuinely good to him.


    Becoming his disciple would be no bad thing.


    Besides, Wang Nian had once told him to showcase his talent for Yin talismans in front of Mu Canglong. There had to be a reason for that.


    "You''re quite sharp." Mu Canglong smiled with satisfaction before shifting the conversation. "But I won''t be taking you as my own disciple. Instead, I will pass down these teachings on behalf of my father¡ªthe creator of the Yinzhou Corpse Cultivation Method."


    "Master Mu''s father?"


    Wen Jiu''s expression changed slightly.


    He had heard of Mu Canglong''s father¡ªhe had passed away more than ten years ago.


    Could it be that the man Mu Canglong had once mentioned, the one who only lived to the age of fifty-seven and was at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, was his father?


    Mu Canglong continued, "I had originally planned to wait until you reached the third level of Qi Refinement before teaching you. But after witnessing your exceptional talent in corpse cultivation, combined with the uncertainty of whether I will survive this mission, I have decided to teach you the complete Yinzhou Corpse Cultivation Method now."


    Upon hearing this, Wen Jiu immediately knelt.


    To be granted such a profound inheritance¡ª


    This was a debt of immense gratitude.


    He had to bow in respect!


    ****


    ****


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 Chapter 46: Three-Fiend Walking Corpses

    "Get up."


    "This entire Fei Xian Peak¡­ aside from you, I can''t think of anyone else who could inherit the Yinzhou Corpse Cultivation Method."


    Mu Canglong spoke teasingly, then retrieved a black wooden box from his storage pouch. With just one glance, Wen Jiu could tell it was extraordinary. Though there wasn''t much corpse energy seeping from the box, what little there was felt incredibly dense.


    This wasn''t just the body of an ordinary black ghoul.


    Its intensity, and the fact that it had remained undispersed after so many years, meant that it undoubtedly came from a powerful walking corpse.


    Previously, Mu Canglong had given Wen Jiu the Yinzhou Corpse Cultivation Method, which included teachings on cultivating walking corpses, but it lacked a mid-tier Rank One Yin Talisman Method and a mid-stage Qi Refining Yin Method. Wen Jiu speculated that these were likely inside the box.


    Perhaps it even contained techniques for after he reached the sixth level of Qi Refining. If that were the case, it would save him the trouble of searching for them later.


    Mu Canglong''s expression turned serious as he spoke. "Boy, remember my words¡ªnever be too hasty, and always know when to cut your losses. The techniques of the unorthodox path drain lifespan too quickly and will never sustain you in the long run."


    "I understand!"


    Wen Jiu nodded.


    As always, he kept his words brief.


    His greatest secret was his lack of fear toward yin energy, death energy, and corpse energy.


    Even though he was indebted to Mu Canglong for passing on these teachings, he had no intention of revealing this secret.


    "Inside, there''s also a secret Yin Talisman technique my father acquired in his early years, called the True Meaning of Yin Talismans. Open it and take a look." Mu Canglong gave a signal, and Liu Xiao immediately stepped forward, took the box, and handed it to Wen Jiu.


    As soon as Wen Jiu opened the wooden box, he saw two black booklets¡ªand a brush.


    A talisman brush.


    But it was different from ordinary talisman brushes, which were usually thick like calligraphy brushes. This one was slender.


    It resembled a painting brush, with a very fine tip.


    The material was equally unusual¡ªthe shaft was a thin black bone. Not human, not from a spirit beast¡­ more like some kind of demon. It emitted an eerie energy, as sinister as corpse energy, making it impossible to distinguish between the two.


    The bristles were just as extraordinary. Each strand of hair seemed almost alive, faintly shifting on its own. The aura it exuded was so strange that Wen Jiu couldn''t discern its nature at all.


    "This is a mid-tier Rank One Yin Talisman Brush, an integral part of the True Meaning of Yin Talismans. My father always said that only by using this brush can one draw true Yin Talismans." Mu Canglong gazed at the brush, his expression tinged with nostalgia.


    Wen Jiu couldn''t resist picking it up. The moment he held it, he immediately sensed how different it was from a normal talisman brush.


    A regular talisman brush was just a medium. When drawing talismans, one had to channel yin energy from the dantian into the brush, guiding it to the tip before carefully inscribing each stroke.


    But the Yin Talisman Brush was different. The moment it touched his hand, it began absorbing his yin energy¡ªlike a leech. After absorbing the energy, it stored it within, meaning that when he held the brush later, he wouldn''t need to channel energy from his dantian or waste mental effort carefully controlling the output. All he had to do was focus entirely on guiding the brush.


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    It might seem like just one less step, but in talisman-making, this was a game-changer. He could devote all his focus to controlling the brush, drastically increasing his success rate.


    Dividing one''s attention would never compare to giving something one''s full focus.


    "Many thanks, Deacon Mu!"


    Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    With this brush, his success rate in talisman-making would undoubtedly reach new heights.


    If nothing else, this brush alone was reason enough for him to pay his respects at the late Elder Mu''s grave.


    Seeing how ecstatic Wen Jiu was, Mu Canglong immediately realized something. "You brat¡­ have you already started drawing Yin Talismans?"


    Following his principle of revealing only a little while keeping much hidden, Wen Jiu responded, "Reporting to Deacon Mu, yes. At present, I can barely manage to draw a low-tier Rank One Soul-Stealing Talisman, but my success rate is low¡ªI only succeed occasionally."


    The moment those words were spoken, Mu Canglong and Liu Xiao''s expressions changed dramatically. Damn. How long had it been? This kid had already raised a corpse, advanced to the second level of Qi Refinement, and now he had even become a First-Grade Yin Talisman Master.


    Talisman Masters were different from Qi Refinement cultivators. In Qi Refinement, even those with inferior spiritual roots could enter the path of cultivation. Though their potential was limited, they could still progress slowly over time. But for Talisman Masters, it was another story entirely. Talent, intuition, and comprehension were all essential¡ªwithout them, one simply couldn''t succeed. No amount of time could make up for a lack of these qualities.


    "You really do have an astonishing talent for the Left Path¡­ It''s a pity you weren''t born in a better era," Mu Canglong sighed. "If you had been born fifty years earlier, you would have been a rising star of the Left Path lineage on Dead Man''s Peak. Unfortunately, though the Left Path still has some inheritance there, after the betrayal and defection of the Left Path faction and the chaos caused by the Blood-Robed Tower, the current generation of Dead Man''s Peak cultivators despises those who walk the Left Path. After all, almost every surviving cultivator here has lost at least three to five family members at the hands of Left Path heretics."


    "I see." Wen Jiu suddenly understood, though he couldn''t help but feel somewhat helpless.


    Mu Canglong reassured him, "Still, no matter what, Dead Man''s Peak can tolerate your existence. You don''t need to worry about that. And now that you''ve become a First-Grade Yin Talisman Master, this Black Bone Yin Talisman Brush will be the perfect addition to your arsenal."


    "Thank you, Steward Mu!" Wen Jiu cupped his hands in gratitude.


    Then, Mu Canglong shifted the conversation. "Aside from that, I also have a secret corpse-nurturing technique, which my father acquired by chance. It''s called the ''Three Malice Corpse Nurturing Method.'' My father once mentioned that by using a specially crafted corpse-nurturing coffin in combination with this technique, the results would be greatly enhanced. The corpses raised through this method are far stronger than ordinary walking corpses and can be called ''Three Malice Walking Corpses.'' Even at the mid-stage of Qi Refinement, they are formidable. This technique is probably the most suitable for you¡ªyour talent in corpse nurturing surpasses even my father''s."


    "You flatter me, Steward Mu," Wen Jiu responded humbly.


    His gaze then fell upon a black-covered manual, the four characters "Three Malice Corpse Nurturing" written on its surface.


    The moment he opened it and skimmed through a few lines, he was completely captivated by the profound and powerful corpse-nurturing techniques within. Compared to this, the methods he had used in the Land of Broken Corpses were nothing short of crude.


    Mu Canglong gave a bitter smile. "Take it. This mission to hunt down the remnants of the Blood-Robed Tower and investigate the Peak Lord''s death¡­ I don''t even know if I''ll make it back alive to see how far you progress. But I hope that you''ll carry forward the Yinzhou corpse-nurturing techniques so that they won''t die out."


    Wen Jiu carefully placed the manual into his storage pouch and spoke thoughtfully, "Steward Mu and Brother Liu are bound to be blessed with great fortune. Not only will you return safely, but you will also uncover the truth and rise to greater heights."


    "Haha, I''ll take that as a good omen," Mu Canglong chuckled in satisfaction.


    Then he added, "However, I didn''t give you any cultivation techniques beyond the sixth level of Qi Refinement. If one day you reach that stage and seek to advance further, you must go to the main peak of Dead Man''s Peak and find a manual called the Yinzhou Left Path Record."


    "The Yinzhou Left Path Record?"


    "Yes. My father''s inspiration for creating the Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Art came from that very manual. It is a true Left Path Foundation Establishment technique, with corpse nurturing being only a minor branch of it."


    Mu Canglong explained, though he intentionally left out one crucial detail¡ªthe fact that no one had successfully cultivated the Yinzhou Left Path Record in the past hundred and fifty years. After all, almost no Left Path cultivator had ever lived long enough to reach Qi Refinement Perfection and attempt Foundation Establishment.


    The Left Path was fast, but its price was a short lifespan.


    Mu Canglong chose not to mention this because he knew Wen Jiu would never abandon the Left Path. Perhaps, with his talent, he might be able to find his own path within the Yinzhou Left Path Record, just like his father once did.


    As for Foundation Establishment¡­


    To be honest, Mu Canglong didn''t dare to hope.


    In his opinion, if Wen Jiu could reach the late stage of Qi Refinement, that would already be an impressive achievement.


    Because even though Wen Jiu was extraordinarily talented in the Left Path, he still only possessed inferior spiritual roots.

 Chapter 47: Gong Chi鈥檚 Scheme

    "Thank you, Deacon Mu!"


    Wen Jiu silently committed the Yinzhou Left-Hand Path Record to memory.


    "Alright, go back and cultivate, but don''t ask for leave again. After the two of us leave, if you continue to slack off, Sikong Bai will surely make things difficult for you." Mu Canglong reminded him again before waving him away.


    Wen Jiu cupped his fists in salute, exchanged a few more polite words, then walked away at a steady pace¡ªhis steps swift, his heart eager to return.


    Once Wen Jiu had left, Mu Canglong was about to give Liu Xiao a few more instructions when a frivolous voice rang out from outside the door. Just hearing it made Mu Canglong''s eyes fill with disdain.


    He had no desire to deal with Sikong Bai and was about to leave directly, but unfortunately, Sikong Bai had come bearing an oral decree from Elder Gong Chi.


    As always, Sikong Bai wore a smile, but this time, there was a hint of schadenfreude in it. "Daoist Mu, Elder Gong has instructed that the two of us are to head to the Night Patrol Division''s main hall immediately."


    "What for?" Mu Canglong asked.


    Sikong Bai''s smile stiffened. "It seems Daoist Mu is quite displeased about Elder Gong having you leave Feixian Peak. Does Elder Gong really need to explain why he''s summoning us? Why do you suddenly seem so¡ª"


    He trailed off.


    Mu Canglong couldn''t be bothered to argue with him and simply strode towards the main hall.


    Sikong Bai followed closely behind.


    Soon, they arrived.


    Pushing open the doors, they saw Elder Gong Chi seated in the main hall''s central position, his face pale and weak. Beside him stood a masked man in black¡ªNightfall, the Night Patrol Division''s elusive third deacon, rarely seen by anyone.


    Mu Canglong cast him a thoughtful glance before stepping forward and bowing. "Subordinate greets Elder Gong!"


    Sikong Bai also saluted.


    Gong Chi spoke slowly, his expression cold. "Just now, Nightfall informed me that the Spirit Farmers'' Division, the Talisman Hall, the Alchemy Chamber, the Refining Tower, and the Demon-Slaying Division are conspiring to suppress us¡ªand they have their eyes on the position of Peak Lord."


    "Elder Gong, if I leave Feixian Peak now, isn''t that exactly what they want?" Mu Canglong exclaimed in shock.


    But Gong Chi shook his head, seemingly unconcerned. "No matter. I never intended to compete for the Peak Lord position anyway. If they want it, let them fight for it. The reason I summoned you here is for two matters."


    "First, from today onwards, Sikong Bai will have full authority over the Night Patrol Division. You will focus solely on leading your men to assist the Supervision Hall in tracking down the remnants of the Blood-Clad Tower. Your main objective is to uncover the truth behind the Peak Lord''s death¡ªfind out who the real culprit is."


    "The second matter is a gift¡ªthis is a mid-grade artifact that has accompanied me for many years: the Woodleaf Throwing Knife." With that, Gong Chi retrieved a wooden box from his storage pouch and handed it over.


    "This¡ª!"


    The Woodleaf Throwing Knife.


    Elder Gong''s signature weapon.


    For a moment, Mu Canglong was taken aback, unable to grasp the elder''s true intentions. But he had no time to overthink¡ªhe quickly bowed in gratitude and carefully accepted it with both hands.


    "You''re out there alone¡ªdon''t bring disgrace to our Night Patrol Division!" Gong Chi gave one final reminder before waving him away.


    Mu Canglong stowed the artifact and took his leave.


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    All the way home, his mind was occupied with the Woodleaf Throwing Knife. Something about it felt off.


    But he couldn''t put his finger on what.


    Meanwhile, after Mu Canglong had departed, Gong Chi gave Sikong Bai a few more instructions and finalized his plan to enter seclusion for recovery.


    Sikong Bai''s expression tightened. "Elder Gong, are we really not fighting for the Peak Lord position?"


    "We''re not."


    With that, Gong Chi waved him away.


    Sikong Bai dared not press further, but his face brimmed with delight.


    Whether Elder Gong fought for it or not¡ª


    From now on, the Night Patrol Division was his to command.


    He had been waiting for this day for a long time, even to the point where he had considered killing Mu Canglong. But he simply wasn''t strong enough to defeat him. So that thought had ultimately come to nothing.


    ¡­


    When only two people remained in the hall, a figure in black, who had been standing in the darkness all along, slowly emerged.


    "Daoist Friend Gong, what is the meaning of this? First, you gifted the Wooden Leaf Throwing Knife, then you announced that you were going into seclusion to heal, refusing to compete for the position of Peak Master. You should know¡ªthis is the closest we''ve ever been to securing that position!"


    There was a trace of displeasure in his tone.


    But Gong Chi didn''t mind. A sly smile appeared on his face. "No need to worry. Not fighting for it is exactly how we win. Before that Blood-Robed Bastard left the Chen Clan''s territory, he gave me a high-grade Tier-One Violet Dew Pill. If I can use this pill to break through to the late stage of Qi Refinement... then whether I fight or not, the Peak Master position will be mine!"


    "So that''s your plan."


    The black-clad man remained in the shadows, and the irritation in his voice lessened.


    Gong Chi then coldly continued, "As for that Wooden Leaf Throwing Knife, it was just a show for the Inspectors from the Supervision Hall, as well as the Peak Elder of the Supervision Hall. Think about it¡ªmy most trusted subordinate takes my most treasured artifact, and then I suddenly refuse to compete for Peak Master. How could they possibly suspect me?"


    "So you had it all planned out, Daoist Friend Gong. It seems I was too hasty." The man in black let out a dry chuckle before adding, "But what about the one who stole the blood? That was the essence blood we painstakingly collected over three years, and it was meant for a mission personally assigned by the Alliance Leader."


    "That''s none of your concern. Just focus on staying hidden and don''t come looking for me unless absolutely necessary."


    Gong Chi spoke with confidence, then stood up, preparing to leave with Ye Luo.


    The black-clad man gradually faded back into the darkness, disappearing completely.


    ¡­


    After leaving the Night Patrol Division, Wen Jiu headed straight for the Land of Mangled Corpses.


    Once there, he carefully examined his newly acquired knowledge, focusing on True Meaning of Yin Talismans and Three Fiends Corpse Cultivation.


    He started with True Meaning of Yin Talismans. Aside from the Black Bone Yin Talisman Brush, this text introduced three unconventional talisman-drawing techniques.


    First, Yin Talisman Paper¡ªit required soaking ordinary demon-skin talisman paper in Earth Fiend Yin Qi for three hours.


    Second, Yin Land Talisman Drawing¡ªit wasn''t just restricted to nighttime; the location also mattered. The talisman had to be drawn in a place of true death.


    The Land of Mangled Corpses was a perfect fit.


    Third, Talisman Ink¡ªit had to be mixed with corpse blood and demon blood ink. However, under normal circumstances, a black ghoul wouldn''t produce corpse blood. It only had corpse energy flowing through its body. Only a walking corpse could generate corpse blood.


    But strictly speaking, even that wasn''t real blood¡ªit was just corpse energy so dense that it merged with the blood it absorbed over time.


    Without a walking corpse, True Meaning of Yin Talismans was impossible to use.


    Fortunately, his Corpse Eye had the ability to cultivate corpse blood.


    He just wasn''t sure if it would work.


    Once he had everything prepared, Wen Jiu waited for nightfall, then had his black ghoul hold a lantern while he began drawing talismans in the Land of Mangled Corpses.


    The moment his brush touched the paper, he was pleasantly surprised. Every stroke flowed smoothly, as if guided by instinct. His spiritual sense consumption was also drastically reduced¡ªhe could now draw ten talismans with the same effort it used to take for one.


    And after drawing ten in a row, six were successful. Two were of excellent quality, and one was of supreme quality.


    A true Soul-Reaping Talisman¡ªcapable of killing a third-layer Qi Refinement cultivator!


    "This¡­"


    The unexpected success left Wen Jiu momentarily at a loss.


    If he sold just one Soul-Reaping Talisman, it would be worth at least twenty to thirty low-grade spirit stones.


    Yet the cost to make one?


    A single grain of spirit sand.


    Only one-tenth of a low-grade spirit stone.


    "At this rate, not only will I have enough spirit stones to cultivate corpse blood, but I can also invest in Three Fiends Corpse Cultivation for my black ghoul, turning it into a Three Fiends Walking Corpse."


    A Three Fiends Walking Corpse¡ªcapable of tearing apart a mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivator with its bare hands.


    Wen Jiu was determined to cultivate one, no matter how many spirit stones it took.


    A Three Fiends Walking Corpse, combined with Three Rivers Ghost Concealment and Blood Transformation, would become his greatest trump card.


    Its strength would be terrifying. If he could raise it to the upper tier, even a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator wouldn''t be impossible to kill.


    And if he could kill a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, then on Dead Man''s Peak, he would finally have a solid foothold.


    Thinking of this, Wen Jiu couldn''t help but smile in satisfaction.


    After fantasizing for a moment, he quickly set aside his thoughts and decided to visit the rogue cultivator market in a few days to sell talismans and earn more spirit stones.

 Chapter 48: The Three-Fiend Relics

    At the moment, Wen Jiu had accumulated a total of ninety-four entry-level Soul-Seizing Talismans, one of which was of top quality. Naturally, he kept the top-quality one for himself and had no intention of selling it, but the remaining ninety-three could easily fetch at least two hundred low-grade spirit stones. Before obtaining the Three Malicious Corpse-Nurturing Technique, Wen Jiu might have considered two hundred spirit stones a considerable amount, but after acquiring this technique, he realized that two hundred spirit stones were far from enough.


    The Three Malicious Corpse-Nurturing Technique not only required the crafting of a specialized corpse-nurturing coffin but also the preparation of three malicious materials. The coffin itself had to be of at least first-tier low-grade quality, and the higher the quality, the better¡ªideally, a first-tier mid-grade artifact. Typically, a standard first-tier low-grade artifact would cost around a hundred low-grade spirit stones, with slightly better ones going for two or three hundred. First-tier mid-grade artifacts were even more expensive, with the cheapest ones costing four to five hundred spirit stones, and if custom-made, the price would be even steeper. The corpse-nurturing coffin had to be custom-made, and if Wen Jiu wanted one of first-tier mid-grade quality, it would likely cost around five to six hundred low-grade spirit stones.


    Had he not previously made a fortune at the Chen family''s estate, he wouldn''t have dared to attempt the Three Malicious Corpse-Nurturing Technique so recklessly. Fortunately, after that windfall, his storage bag now contained over five hundred spirit stones, and the other items he had accumulated were worth several hundred more.


    Aside from the corpse-nurturing coffin, the technique also required three malicious materials. The first, Earth Malice Yin Qi, could be obtained for free through the Corpse-Nurturing Curse. However, the other two had to be purchased.


    The first of these was Blood Malice Crystal, an entry-level spiritual material found in the Blood Malice Abyss. Wen Jiu had no idea where the Blood Malice Abyss was, but the Three Malicious Corpse-Nurturing Technique provided information on its price and where to buy it. One crystal cost ten low-grade spirit stones. The number of Blood Malice Crystals required for nurturing a Three Malicious Ghoul depended on the corpse itself¡ªthe stronger the corpse, the more crystals were needed. Judging by the case of a Black Ghoul, it was highly likely that he would need the maximum amount.


    The second required material was Heavenly Malice Water, another entry-level spiritual material that could only be refined by experienced ghost cultivators. The refining process was unknown, but like the Blood Malice Crystal, the technique provided details on where to purchase it. Both materials could be bought in a place called Tianyin City, a mortal city that hosted an underground marketplace for rogue cultivators. This market only opened once a month and lasted for three days. Only rogue cultivators were allowed entry, and first-time visitors had to be guided in by someone familiar with the place; otherwise, they wouldn''t be permitted inside.


    However, Wen Jiu didn''t immediately consider going to Tianyin City. Instead, he first checked the marketplace at Feixian Peak, only to confirm that neither of the two materials was available. Even though some ghost cultivators set up stalls there, they were only low-level Qi Refinement cultivators, usually at the first or second level. Let alone refining Heavenly Malice Water¡ªthey hadn''t even mastered the basics of nurturing vengeful spirits.


    Over the next few days, Wen Jiu had originally planned to visit the marketplace for rogue cultivators, but after Sikong Bai took over the Night Patrol Division, he not only refused to grant Wen Jiu any more leave but also assigned him an overwhelming number of night patrol duties. Every night, he had to patrol the Land of Mangled Corpses from nightfall until early morning, for a total of six hours, and he was the only one assigned to this task. If anything went wrong, he would be the first to be held responsible.


    Of course, it wasn''t Sikong Bai himself who was deliberately making things difficult for him¡ªit was the people under him. Many of them knew that Li Ye had been transferred away from Feixian Peak because of Wen Jiu, and they held a grudge against him. Wen Jiu had no choice but to endure their hostility.


    Did they really think Mu Canglong wouldn''t be returning anytime soon? Or were they certain that he was never coming back?


    When Wang Nian heard about this, he was furious. That very day, he sought out Wen Jiu and asked, "Kid Wen, how''s your talisman drawing going? When do you think you''ll be able to make first-tier talismans?"


    "Brother Wang, why do you ask?"


    "I just can''t stand how the Night Patrol Division is treating you. Who the hell does Sikong Bai think he is? Back when Mu Canglong was around, did he even dare to fart in his presence? Now that Mu Canglong is out on a mission, he''s already started oppressing his own people."


    "It''s fine, Brother Wang. I don''t mind patrolling the Land of Mangled Corpses. It''s actually good for my cultivation." To Wen Jiu, patrolling that area was no different from regular cultivation, and besides, as long as he was careful, he could slack off a bit at night without anyone noticing.


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    "Good? You think it''s good? They''ve assigned you to patrol that place alone at night, and if anything happens, you''ll be the one held responsible. Do you realize what that means for your assessment? If you''re found guilty of negligence, you won''t even be allowed to take the assessment!"


    "The Discipline Hall is stationed at Feixian Peak. Nothing major should happen." From Wen Jiu''s perspective, after what had happened last time, if the Blood-Clad Tower still dared to operate in the Land of Mangled Corpses, they''d have to be complete idiots. Besides, just as he said, the Discipline Hall was actively hunting down members of the Blood-Clad Tower, leading large-scale search operations outside.


    At this moment, how could the people from Bloodrobe Tower dare to show themselves? They weren''t capable of doing so at their peak, and now, even less so.


    Wang Nian shook his head helplessly and then said, "Kid, how are you so optimistic? But with your brother Wang here, don''t worry¡ªyour qualification for the assessment won''t be lost¡­ I''ll go find my second uncle and see if I can get you into the Talisman Hall as an apprentice. There must still be some First-Tier Talisman Masters looking for disciples."


    "Brother Wang, let''s just go with the flow. Steward Mu and the others will surely be back soon," Wen Jiu quickly stopped him.


    If he really went to the Talisman Hall, what would happen to the Yin energy, death aura, and blood energy at the core of the Land of Remnants and Death?


    Wang Nian had no choice but to let Wen Jiu push him back into his chair, though he was still visibly frustrated. Seeing this, Wen Jiu quickly changed the subject. "Brother Wang, aside from the assessment, is there any other way to reach the main peak?"


    "Of course, but you definitely don''t qualify."


    "Why?"


    "You''d need a mid-grade single-attribute spiritual root. Do you have one?"


    "...Alright."


    "There''s another way¡ªyou could be personally chosen by one of the elders from the main peak. If that happens, you won''t even need to take the assessment, and you could directly become an elder''s disciple. But being noticed by an elder from the main peak is even harder than having a mid-grade single-attribute spiritual root."


    "Why?"


    "Because the elders on the main peak are all in the late-stage Qi Refining realm. Their strength is extraordinary, and countless geniuses want to become their disciples. Among them are even those with high-grade spiritual roots, high-grade single-attribute spiritual roots¡­ Those with mid-grade spiritual roots don''t even have the qualifications to be considered."


    "...Alright."


    Wen Jiu smiled helplessly.


    It seemed that passing the assessment was the only way.


    After chatting a bit more, Wen Jiu got up to see Wang Nian off. Since Wen Jiu was so insistent, Wang Nian had no choice but to give him some signal talismans, instructing him to crush one if anything happened that night.


    Naturally, Wen Jiu accepted them all without hesitation.


    As he escorted Wang Nian to the door, he suddenly heard the voices of two women outside.


    They sounded familiar.


    One was Sister-in-law Wang.


    The other was his own sister, Wen Ya.


    When he opened the door, he found the two of them chatting happily outside Wang Nian''s house. Wen Ya seemed a bit reserved due to her status, but Sister-in-law Wang didn''t mind at all. Instead, she warmly pulled Wen Ya inside.


    "Sister, no need to be so formal. Your younger brother isn''t an outsider to our family. Stay and have dinner with us tonight."


    Sister-in-law Wang was extremely enthusiastic.


    Seeing this, Wen Jiu exchanged a glance with Wang Nian and smiled.


    He didn''t object¡ªletting his sister get to know Sister-in-law Wang would help expand her connections.


    If he ever had to leave the sect, she''d have someone to rely on.


    "Sis¡­ Sister-in-law." Wen Jiu followed Wang Nian inside and greeted them.


    As soon as Wen Ya heard his voice and looked up, she immediately saw Wang Nian.


    She hurriedly stood up and bowed, not daring to delay.


    "I greet Steward Wang!"


    Wang Nian chuckled. "No need to be so formal, have a seat."


    "Thank you, Steward Wang¡ª" As Wen Ya bowed, she suddenly noticed that Wang Nian and her brother were walking side by side.


    Their relationship seemed quite close.


    At that moment, she suddenly understood a lot.


    All the doubts she had been harboring in her heart were instantly resolved.


    So Steward Wang had helped her before because of Wen Jiu!


    Wang Nian, noticing her reaction, simply walked toward the kitchen. "You two siblings can chat¡ªI''ll go help my wife with dinner."


    "Thank you, Brother Wang."


    Wen Jiu responded casually and sat down, ready to enjoy the meal.


    Between him and Wang Nian, being overly polite would only create distance.


    To maintain their good relationship, he had to act naturally. True brothers weren''t formal with each other¡ªonly ordinary friends maintained a respectful distance.


    During their conversation, Wen Jiu didn''t hide anything and directly told Wen Ya about his friendship with Wang Nian.


    Wen Ya was both shocked and delighted, momentarily at a loss for words.


    She was secretly astonished¡ªhow did her brother earn such fortune to be on brotherly terms with Steward Wang?


    Back when Steward Wang visited the Xu family, they had treated him with nothing but respect ever since, never daring to make trouble.


    This showed just how influential Steward Wang was.


    Wen Jiu didn''t elaborate on the matter, though. In his mind, he was already making plans¡ªwhen Steward Mu Canglong returned, he''d find an opportunity to break into the third level of Qi Refining. Then, he could finally make a trip to the Xu family.


    Before long¡­


    After three rounds of drinks, five plates of dishes, and a hearty meal, Wen Jiu prepared to escort his sister home.


    Before they left, Sister-in-law Wang gave Wen Ya a few finely made, valuable pieces of clothing, as well as a token from Wang Nian. With it, she would be free to move around Feixian Peak as she pleased.


    Wen Jiu silently took note of this gesture.


    But just as they were on their way back to the Xu family, he suddenly saw a cultivator flying overhead on a sword, passing right above them.


    With just one glance, Wen Jiu immediately recognized him.


    There was no way he could ever forget that face.


    It was Li Ye.


    "Is he returning for some task, or has he been reassigned to the Night Patrol Division?"


    If it was the latter, that was definitely not good news.


    After what had happened last time, Li Ye would surely hate him even more than before.

 Chapter 49: Spirit Stones Surpass a Thousand

    The Night Patrol Division.


    Li Ye sheathed his sword and landed lightly on the ground, his mood elated.


    As he walked, disciples of the Night Patrol Division passed by, greeting him one after another. He ignored them all and headed straight to where Sikong Bai was.


    Upon seeing Sikong Bai, he immediately bowed with a flattering smile. "Subordinate greets Deacon Sikong. Congratulations, my lord, on finally achieving your long-cherished wish and taking full control of the Night Patrol Division!"


    "Once you step out of this door, don''t repeat such words," Sikong Bai warned, though his face was full of satisfaction.


    Clearly, this flattery had hit the mark.


    Li Ye simply smiled in response, a silent understanding passing between them.


    Sikong Bai continued, "I''ve called you back today for something important. You must get to the bottom of it."


    "I will give it my all!" Li Ye answered resolutely.


    Sikong Bai got straight to the point. "Take your men and find the ghost cultivator who killed Fang Zheng and the other two that day. There aren''t many ghost cultivators on Feixian Peak. Question each and every one of them¡ªleave no stone unturned."


    "My lord, didn''t you forbid me from investigating this before?" Li Ye asked, puzzled. Why would Sikong Bai suddenly care about Fang Zheng and the other two?


    In his eyes, those three should have been as insignificant as dust.


    Forget about valuing them¡ªif they had died right in front of him, he likely wouldn''t have spared them a glance.


    Sikong Bai''s voice deepened. "I told you to investigate, so do it. No more useless questions. Remember, this is an order from the elders. You are to find the culprit at all costs. If you fail, think carefully about what consequences might follow."


    "Understood!"


    At the mention of the elders, Li Ye''s expression hardened.


    Curiosity rose in his heart, but no matter how he tried to piece things together, he couldn''t figure it out. His thoughts quickly drifted back to Wen Jiu.


    Sikong Bai seemed to notice Li Ye''s distraction and immediately warned, "Finding the truth is your priority. If you use this as an excuse to settle personal grudges and waste time spying on Wen Jiu, then go find a tree on Feixian Peak and hang yourself."


    "I understand," Li Ye hurriedly replied with an apologetic smile.


    Even if he was unwilling, he had no choice but to obey.


    Wen Jiu¡­


    Looks like you got lucky this time!


    ¡ª


    At the same time, Wen Jiu had escorted his sister back to the Xu family.


    This trip was intentional¡ªhe wanted to make an appearance and let the Xu family know that his sister wasn''t without support.


    But he didn''t go inside.


    Not yet.


    He would wait until he could speak to the Xu family as an equal.


    Before leaving, Wen Jiu handed his sister, Wen Ya, a Qi cultivation manual he had taken from the Chen family, along with ten low-grade spirit stones.


    The Chen family''s Qi cultivation manual was decent, and under normal circumstances, it was restricted by Feixian Peak''s regulations¡ªoutsiders were not allowed to practice it. The reasons were many, but the main one was to protect the Chen family''s interests. However, after their clan was wiped out, their cultivation techniques had become fair game. As long as they weren''t traded to mortals, they could be given away or sold freely.


    Like him, Wen Ya had an inferior spiritual root.


    No¡ªstrictly speaking, every mortal who made it to Feixian Peak had at least an inferior spiritual root.


    Those without spiritual roots weren''t even qualified to be servants here.


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    So at the very least, Wen Ya could practice basic cultivation, though her progress would be slow. Even with spirit stones to aid her, she would need at least two years. But if she could reach the first level of Qi refinement, she would have a chance to rise above her status as a mere servant.


    Of course¡­


    Technically speaking, servants were forbidden from cultivating.


    Unless, like him, they had a direct relative who was a Feixian Peak disciple¡ªor at least an apprentice. Otherwise, cultivating was a serious crime.


    At the same time, Wen Jiu deliberately had his sister, Wen Ya, carry the clothes inside, with Wang Nian''s identity token placed on top. It was essentially borrowing authority to intimidate others, but this tactic would be quite effective.


    Just as Wen Jiu expected, Wen Ya quickly ran into members of the Xu family after entering their residence. The sight of Wang Nian''s token immediately caught their attention. As a result, the Xu family members¡ªwho usually couldn''t be bothered to acknowledge Wen Ya¡ªsuddenly went out of their way to assist her with the clothes, displaying an unusual level of enthusiasm.


    ¡­


    A few more days passed in the blink of an eye.


    After accumulating another forty to fifty introductory-level Soul-Seizing Talismans, Wen Jiu set off early in the morning for the Birch Mountain rogue cultivator market.


    Fifty miles of mountain road¡ªneither too far nor too close. If there were no dense forests or demonic beasts along the way, using a few Swift Movement Talismans would get him there in half an hour. However, since the forest was teeming with beasts and potentially even lurking demons, it took him a full hour to arrive.


    Upon reaching the market, Wen Jiu changed into a different set of clothes and dressed his black ghoul in a black robe to conceal its presence.


    As he had previously seen on the map, the Birch Mountain trading market was a chaotic yet structured place, with rogue cultivators, murderous bandits, and disciples from Fei Xian Peak and other sects all mingling together.


    One notable difference from Fei Xian Peak was the sheer number of mortals present in the market. Though there were only about three to five thousand cultivators, the number of mortals was several times that¡ªthough all of them were without spiritual roots.


    Some were ordinary people clinging to dreams of cultivation, while others, having once glimpsed the world of immortals, could no longer return to a mundane existence. Unwilling to accept their fates yet still holding onto a sliver of hope, they lingered in the market, willingly serving cultivators in the process.


    Stepping into the market, Wen Jiu immediately sensed the stark contrast between sect cultivators and rogue cultivators.


    Sect cultivators were too easy to recognize, even if they disguised themselves. Their eyes were too clear.


    Even those with some level of cunning paled in comparison to the rogue cultivators and bandits, whose sharp, ruthless gazes hinted at countless hidden schemes. By contrast, sect cultivators seemed as pure as white lotuses. That said, their auras were generally much stronger than those of rogue cultivators.


    After all, top-tier cultivation methods, spells, resources, spiritual veins, and mines were all controlled by the sects.


    Rogue cultivators, on the other hand, struggled to survive beneath the sects, often possessing inferior spiritual roots. Many of them spent their entire lives just to reach the first or second layer of Qi Refining.


    Before long, Wen Jiu spotted something familiar.


    The Gathering Hall!


    Among the most prestigious businesses in the Birch Mountain market, the Gathering Hall stood out, with a constant stream of rogue cultivators coming and going.


    Unlike in the sects, where it was just another organization, the Gathering Hall here wielded immense influence, resembling a major power in its own right. The rogue cultivators passing through its doors treated it with utmost respect.


    Wen Jiu casually approached a mortal to gather information about the market before deciding to sell all his Soul-Seizing Talismans at a merchant house that opposed the Gathering Hall.


    With Blood Corpse Escape and Three Rivers Ghost Concealment, Wen Jiu wasn''t afraid of being targeted. He entered the shop and sold all his talismans.


    In total, he had amassed over 130 introductory-level Soul-Seizing Talismans, which fetched him 283 lower-grade spirit stones¡ªan impressive sum.


    With this, Wen Jiu had finally secured a means of livelihood in the cultivation world. From now on, he no longer needed to borrow spirit stones from others.


    Before leaving, the merchant house owner repeatedly tried to recruit him¡ªafter all, yin talisman masters capable of drawing Soul-Seizing Talismans were extremely rare.


    And a rogue cultivator who could do it? That was practically unheard of.


    To Wen Jiu''s surprise, the manager of the merchant house even offered him an astonishing monthly salary of 30 lower-grade spirit stones¡ªfifteen times the pay of a Night Patrol Division officer!


    On top of that, they promised him ten concubines¡ªeach possessing spiritual roots and exceptional beauty.


    To be honest, it was tempting.


    But Wen Jiu knew all too well¡ªif a merchant house was willing to offer so much, they must expect to profit ten or even a hundred times over.


    If he couldn''t generate enough value, today''s flattery would turn into cold, ruthless exploitation.


    So, he refused without hesitation.


    Immediately after, Wen Jiu made his way to the Gathering Hall, where he sold the three lower-tier first-grade magical artifacts he had obtained earlier, along with some basic Qi Refining techniques and spells. Altogether, he earned 376 lower-grade spirit stones.


    With that, the spirit stones in Wen Jiu''s storage bag officially surpassed a thousand, totaling more than 1,100.


    Not only was this enough to craft a mid-tier first-grade corpse-nurturing coffin, but he could also afford to purchase demonic materials and Three Calamity items to begin cultivating a Three Calamities Corpse.


    After wandering around the Birch Mountain market for a bit longer, Wen Jiu inquired about Blood Fiend Crystals and Heavenly Fiend Water, but upon learning that neither was available, he decided to check out Tianyin City instead.


    Tianyin City was just a hundred miles from the Birch Mountain market¡ªnot too far.


    As expected, Wen Jiu''s recent transactions had drawn a lot of unwanted attention.


    The moment he left the market, over a dozen bandit cultivators started tailing him.


    Wen Jiu couldn''t be bothered to deal with them. Activating Blood Corpse Escape, he vanished instantly, then used a Swift Movement Talisman to rush toward Tianyin City.


    According to the records of the Three Calamities Corpse-Nurturing Method, today was the second day that the trading site was open. It would close at midnight tomorrow.

 Chapter 50: The Underground Black Market

    Tianyin City.


    A county town with a population of seventy to eighty thousand.


    The streets were bustling with people, filled with a tranquility and a lively, down-to-earth atmosphere that didn''t exist in the cultivation world, making Wen Jiu feel a sense of reality.


    Mortal folk worked from sunrise to sunset.


    There were street vendors.


    There were hawkers calling out their wares.


    Children ran and played in the streets.


    There were also performers and acrobats showcasing their skills by the roadside.


    Before long, Wen Jiu followed the information recorded in the Three Fiends Corpse-Nurturing Method and arrived in the northern part of the city.


    The northern district was filled with gambling dens, brothels, and other illicit businesses. The moment Wen Jiu stepped in, he could feel eyes secretly watching him from the shadows.


    A quick sweep with his divine sense confirmed they were all ordinary mortals, so he couldn''t be bothered to pay them any attention. Instead, he turned and stepped into a deserted alley.


    At first, the alley was utterly silent, but as he walked deeper, it gradually widened. Before long, Wen Jiu saw numerous practitioners of the demonic path coming and going.


    There were ghost cultivators, corpse refiners, and all manner of heretical cultivators. Many brushed past him, exuding an eerie and sinister aura far more intense than any demonic cultivators within sects.


    Compared to these, the so-called demonic cultivators in righteous sects were nothing more than surface-level pretenders.


    Before long, Wen Jiu encountered a middle-aged demonic cultivator at the first level of Qi Refining. Despite his low cultivation level, his body was thick with deathly energy.


    It was clear¡ª


    He had killed a lot of people.


    The death aura clung to him, impossible to dispel.


    Wen Jiu stopped him immediately, his voice cold. "Fellow Daoist, how many spirit stones to lead me to the trading grounds?"


    The middle-aged cultivator sized Wen Jiu up warily and took two steps back. Though he made no overt movements, his gaze carried a distinct killing intent. However, when his divine sense swept over the black ghoul beside Wen Jiu, some of the wariness faded from his eyes.


    "Ten!"


    The middle-aged cultivator asked an outrageous price.


    Wen Jiu''s expression darkened. He was displeased. "One."


    "Impossible! One is too little!"


    The middle-aged cultivator shook his head vigorously.


    Wen Jiu had no interest in wasting words. He wasn''t going to add even a single grain of spirit sand to the offer. If he wanted to play the role of a true heretical cultivator, he couldn''t be too easygoing. "Forget it, then¡­ If you don''t want it, someone else will."


    "Alright, alright! Deal!"


    Seeing that Wen Jiu was about to leave, the middle-aged cultivator rushed to stop him.


    Wen Jiu didn''t hesitate. He pulled out a low-grade spirit stone and tossed it over.


    The middle-aged cultivator caught it with a sinister grin and led Wen Jiu deeper into the alley. Wen Jiu remained on high alert, constantly scanning his surroundings with his divine sense, ready to use Blood Corpse Evasion if anyone attempted an ambush.


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    Soon enough¡ª


    They arrived at a pitch-black wall.


    "Go on in." The middle-aged cultivator took out a wooden token and stepped directly into the wall.


    Immediately, four words flashed through Wen Jiu''s mind¡ªConcealment Array.


    He took a step forward.


    The world before him shifted abruptly.


    Beyond the wall lay an underground marketplace.


    Everyone here was a heretical cultivator. The moment Wen Jiu stepped in, he saw numerous young women locked in cages like merchandise, waiting to be selected and bought. Some were mortals, while others were rogue cultivators.


    Wen Jiu only gave them a glance before looking away, further solidifying his understanding of demonic cultivators.


    "Here, take this Black Street Token. With it, you can come and go as you please in the future." The middle-aged cultivator tossed a black wooden token over.


    Wen Jiu caught it and scrutinized it with his divine sense. Confirming there was nothing wrong with it, he put it away.


    Once the middle-aged cultivator left, Wen Jiu continued walking through the underground market, soon noticing that there were many stalls selling people.


    Some were from cultivator families.


    There were even infants and newborn babies.


    "No wonder they have to hide."


    "If they weren''t concealed within a mortal city, it wouldn''t be long before the disciples of Dead Man Peak wiped them out."


    Wen Jiu withdrew his gaze.


    He had no interest in meddling.


    And even if he did, there was nothing he could do.


    He continued forward, passing numerous stalls selling rare herbs and treasures. The vendors were all eerie and abnormal¡ªso much so that, even after spending so much time in the Land of Mangled Corpses, Wen Jiu still felt a chill under their scrutinizing gazes.


    After searching around, Wen Jiu spotted a stall displaying items that closely resembled Blood Fiend Crystals and Heavenly Fiend Water. The vendor was an old cultivator with a scarred face, reclining lazily while a tattered ghostly figure kneaded his shoulders.


    As Wen Jiu approached, the old cultivator squinted his cloudy eyes and spoke in a hoarse, gravelly voice, like sandpaper rubbing together.


    "Little friend, what do you need?"


    Wen Jiu examined the Blood Fiend Crystals and Heavenly Fiend Water, sensing their aura carefully before saying, "I want Blood Fiend Crystals and Heavenly Fiend Water."


    "Blood Fiend Crystals, twenty each. Heavenly Fiend Water... fifty per jug," the old man stated without hesitation.


    Wen Jiu turned and left immediately, not even bothering to say a word.


    The old cultivator chuckled, quickly sitting up and calling out, "Fellow Daoist, if it''s not your first time here, you should''ve said so earlier! Blood Fiend Crystals, eleven each. Heavenly Fiend Water, twenty per jug. If you buy in bulk, I can offer a discount, but only for fifth-grade or higher."


    Hearing a more reasonable price at last, Wen Jiu turned back. "Ten Blood Fiend Crystals¡ªwill you sell them?"


    "Ten? No way... You know how dangerous the Blood Fiend Abyss has been lately. Blood Fiend Crystals aren''t easy to get." The old cultivator shook his head.


    Wen Jiu glanced at the stall''s stock¡ªfive Blood Fiend Crystals and six jugs of Heavenly Fiend Water. "I''ll take all of them."


    "Fifty-five... one twenty... You can have them all for one seventy," the old cultivator offered.


    Wen Jiu carefully scanned the goods with his divine sense, confirming their authenticity before storing them in his pouch. He then handed over 170 low-grade spirit stones and asked, "What''s been happening at the Blood Fiend Abyss lately?"


    "You haven''t been there recently, huh? That''s probably for the best¡ªyou''d just run into those bastards. The Bloodied Garment Tower''s people have been stirring up trouble inside, making the demons and fiends unusually violent." The old cultivator grumbled in frustration.


    Wen Jiu didn''t press further. Instead, he continued browsing the stall and purchased a few other rare materials, spending over eighty more low-grade spirit stones¡ªall essential for crafting a corpse-nurturing coffin.


    Afterward, he wandered through the market a few more times. To his surprise, he managed to gather all the materials needed for the coffin.


    As expected, for left-hand path cultivation, it was always faster to buy from other left-hand path cultivators.


    It seemed he''d have to visit Tianyin City more often in the future.


    But just as he was about to leave, Wen Jiu noticed he was being followed again.


    Even after leaving Tianyin City, his pursuer still trailed behind.


    He considered using Blood Corpse Escape to shake them off, but suddenly, a divine sense transmission reached him¡ªit was from Mu Canglong.


    "Kid, keep walking. Lure him out of the city!"


    Wen Jiu was momentarily stunned.


    Mu Canglong was here?


    Well, it made sense. If they were investigating the Bloodied Garment Tower, this black market was the best place to start.


    Others might not know about this trade hub, but as the descendant of the creator of Yinzou''s corpse-nurturing techniques, how could he not?


    So Wen Jiu continued walking, leading the pursuer out of the city. About ten miles from the gates, the stalker finally made a move¡ªit was none other than the scarred old cultivator.


    The moment he appeared, he unleashed his ghostly servants with a sinister grin, confident that he had Wen Jiu trapped.


    But just then, Mu Canglong and Liu Xiao burst out of the dense forest, riding their swords. More than a dozen talismans rained down instantly, obliterating the ghostly creatures and knocking the old cultivator unconscious in the blink of an eye.


    Everything happened in a flash.


    With the matter swiftly handled, Mu Canglong grabbed Wen Jiu and the unconscious old cultivator, flying another ten miles before stopping.


    "Brother Liu, Steward Mu!"


    As soon as they landed, Wen Jiu cupped his hands in greeting.


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 51: Customizing a Mid-Grade Item

    It had only been a few days since he last saw Mu Canglong and Liu Xiao, yet they seemed entirely different from their usual selves within the sect. Not only were they dressed in simple cloth garments, but they had also concealed their auras so well that one could only sense their presence when standing directly in front of them.


    Such a level of concealment could be achieved with mid-grade first-tier talismans or possibly some kind of mid-grade pill. However, this detail wasn''t worth delving into.


    What truly mattered was that he needed to be more cautious in the future. If the heretical cultivators also possessed similar talismans or pills, they could launch a surprise attack at any moment. While he wouldn''t end up like that scar-faced old cultivator at the third level of Qi Refinement, there was still a chance he might get injured. And with how heretical cultivators frequently used poisons, there was no telling what kind of strange toxins he might get exposed to.


    Liu Xiao removed the hood covering his face and asked, "What are you doing here, kid?"


    "Buying some corpse-nurturing materials."


    Wen Jiu didn''t hide his intentions.


    Both Mu Canglong and Liu Xiao had treated him well, so there was no need to lie over such a trivial matter and create unnecessary misunderstandings.


    Mu Canglong immediately understood because he had studied the Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Method and was even more familiar with the Three Fiends Corpse Nurturing Technique.


    If he remembered correctly, cultivating a Three Fiends Corpse could only begin once a Black Ghoul reached the upper realm.


    Since Wen Jiu had come to this secret black market of heretical cultivators, he was undoubtedly searching for Three Fiends materials or resources to craft a Corpse Nurturing Coffin.


    After all, such heretical items were extremely scarce at Feixian Peak. While it was possible to find lower-grade resources with some luck, materials for crafting a Corpse Nurturing Coffin and Three Fiends components were nearly impossible to obtain there, regardless of price.


    "You''re preparing to craft a Corpse Nurturing Coffin?" Mu Canglong didn''t press further but speculated that Wen Jiu''s Black Ghoul must be close to reaching the upper realm; otherwise, he wouldn''t be preparing for this so soon.


    Wen Jiu nodded. "I made some spirit stones at the Chen Family''s ancestral grounds, and my Black Ghoul is on the verge of breaking through, so I figured I''d get started on the coffin early."


    "Seems like you made quite a profit, kid." Mu Canglong teased. He had heard someone mention Wen Jiu''s battle at the Chen Family grounds, saying he had been timid and hesitant to fight. But now, it seemed there might have been other reasons.


    As for what those reasons were, Mu Canglong wasn''t interested in digging deeper. After all, everyone had their own secrets. He was no exception.


    With that, Mu Canglong casually raised his hand and shattered the heart of the unconscious heretical cultivator before searching through the man''s storage pouch. Finding nothing of particular value, he simply tossed the pouch to Wen Jiu.


    "You lured this heretical cultivator out, so the storage pouch is yours."


    Wen Jiu caught it joyfully. "Many thanks, Steward Mu!"


    This was one of the advantages of cultivating within a sect¡ªfinding a strong backer.


    He hadn''t even needed to lift a finger yet still reaped the rewards.


    Of course, this was also due to his own efforts. Only by demonstrating sufficient value could he earn the favor and support of others.


    These things were always mutual.


    Mu Canglong spoke again, handing over a token. "Take this and head to the Artifact Refining Tower. You can find a refiner there to craft your Corpse Nurturing Coffin¡­ What grade are you aiming for?"


    "Mid-grade," Wen Jiu answered honestly.


    Mu Canglong was stunned.


    Liu Xiao was also taken aback.


    Damn.


    This kid must have made a fortune at the Chen Family grounds.


    After a brief moment of thought, Mu Canglong withdrew the token and instead took out an ordinary-looking piece of green jade, clearly a personal belonging. "There aren''t many mid-grade refiners at Feixian Peak, but the most skilled one is Steward Lu Shi. Take this to him¡ªhe owes me a favor, so he''ll help you no matter what."


    "This¡­"


    Wen Jiu hadn''t expected that merely revealing a glimpse of his true situation would earn him such generous assistance from Mu Canglong.


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    However, he wasn''t the type to be overly polite. The higher the quality of the Corpse Nurturing Coffin, the better. He could always repay the favor later.


    With that thought, Wen Jiu changed the way he addressed him.


    "Many thanks, Brother Mu!"


    Mu Canglong smiled approvingly and waved him off. "Hurry back. It''s getting late."


    Wen Jiu nodded, but just as he was about to leave, he suddenly recalled something the scar-faced old cultivator had mentioned earlier.


    "Oh, right¡ªBrother Mu, that scar-faced old man mentioned something. He said people from Bloodrobe Tower have been spotted in the Blood Fiend Abyss recently. No one knows what they''re up to, but whatever it is, it''s making the demons and fiends in the abyss extremely restless."


    "For real?"


    Mu Canglong''s expression hardened, but rather than concern, a look of excitement flashed across his face.


    Then, he patted Wen Jiu on the shoulder. "Good job, kid¡ªI''ll count this as a merit to your name!"


    "Then I wish you and Brother Liu the best of luck."


    With that, Wen Jiu activated a Swift Talisman and disappeared into the night.


    As soon as he left, Liu Xiao couldn''t help but remark, "Wen Jiu''s talent in heretical cultivation is truly terrifying. He''s calm, steady, never reckless, and completely ignores others'' criticisms¡­ With such a temperament and talent in the heretical path, his future achievements will be immense. He might even carve out a place for himself on the main peak."


    Mu Canglong glanced at Liu Xiao and said in a low voice, "I recall you used to think the heretical path was beneath you. Didn''t you always say it lacked refinement?"


    Then, his tone turned serious.


    "Besides, is now really the time for this? Hurry up and find a place to Soul Search this guy. If we can confirm his words are true, that kid has just done us a huge favor."


    These past few days, he had captured several rogue cultivators and searched their souls, but he still hadn''t found any clues. Who would''ve thought that as soon as this kid arrived, he''d bring good luck?


    "Among these left-hand path cultivators, this kid is the only one worth anything. And the more I look at him, the more I like him!" Liu Xiao chuckled, then swiftly hoisted the corpse of the scar-faced old cultivator onto his shoulder.


    ...


    After leaving, Wen Jiu first used his Blood Corpse Escape technique to travel five miles away, then activated a Swift Talisman to head toward Fei Xian Peak.


    On his way home, Wen Jiu inspected the storage pouch of the scar-faced old cultivator.


    There were plenty of spirit stones inside. In addition to the 250 or so that were his earnings, he had over 100 more low-grade spirit stones.


    Besides that, there was a first-grade low-tier magical weapon, several yin-based techniques, and even some ghost cultivation manuals.


    All of it was quite valuable.


    Yet Mu Canglong had simply handed it over to him without a second thought.


    Wen Jiu made a mental note of this generosity and debt of gratitude¡ªone that he would surely repay in the future!


    But what delighted him the most was that the storage pouch contained a complete formula for refining Heavenly Fiend Water, along with a journal of insights on the process.


    As for whether he could successfully refine it¡ªhe wasn''t worried in the slightest. With his daily progress summary panel, all he needed was enough experience, and it would happen naturally.


    If it was difficult? At most, it would just take more time.


    Now that he could handle both Earth Fiend Yin Energy and Heavenly Fiend Water on his own, he could save himself a lot of trouble¡ªno more running around searching for resources.


    Before long, Wen Jiu arrived back at Fei Xian Peak.


    The journey was smooth and uneventful.


    After returning, the first thing he did was bury the black ghoul in the corpse-rearing grounds. Then, without delay, he headed for the Artifact Refining Tower on the northern side of Fei Xian Peak.


    The Artifact Refining Tower was home to the peak''s artifact refiners. It was worth noting that the status of artifact refiners was on par with alchemists¡ªperhaps even slightly higher. The reason lay in the fundamental difference between their crafts.


    That difference was time.


    An alchemist could refine a batch of pills in just two or three days at most, and a single batch would typically yield ten or more pills. Only the rarest of pills would come out in single quantities.


    But artifact refinement was different. Creating a single magical weapon took at least ten days to half a month. Some took months, even years.


    Thus, cultivating an artifact refiner was significantly harder than an alchemist. This made mass production of magical weapons impossible, ensuring that the status of artifact refiners remained high.


    Before long, Wen Jiu arrived at the Artifact Refining Tower.


    After speaking with the guards at the entrance, he gained an even deeper understanding of Lu Shi''s formidable status within the tower.


    The strongest beneath the elders.


    A top-tier first-grade mid-tier artifact refiner.


    However, three years ago, he had stopped refining weapons for sect disciples, focusing entirely on advancing to first-grade high-tier. No amount of spirit stones could change his mind.


    So, Wen Jiu took out the jade token Mu Canglong had given him. He trusted that Mu Canglong had given it to him for a reason.


    Sure enough, after presenting the jade token, one of Lu Shi''s disciples quickly escorted him up to the sixth floor of the tower.


    As he ascended, he felt the intense heat of the furnaces and heard the rhythmic clang of metal being forged.


    Upon reaching the sixth floor, he saw Lu Shi¡ªa man with a broad, muscular frame, his burly physique strangely at odds with the stark white hair on his head.


    "So, Mu actually gave you this jade token¡­ It seems your relationship with him is rather special." Lu Shi didn''t elaborate on the token''s origin; he simply took it and stored it in his pouch.


    Wen Jiu respectfully bowed before retrieving a set of blueprints and materials, handing them over to one of Lu Shi''s disciples. In front of others, he referred to Mu Canglong as "Brother Mu."


    "I am a probationary disciple under Brother Mu... I''ll be troubling you, Steward Lu."


    Lu Shi nodded. Upon hearing Wen Jiu call Mu Canglong "Brother Mu," his gaze became more serious. He took the blueprints and studied them carefully. After a long silence, he finally spoke.


    "No wonder he sent you to me. Back in the day, his father''s corpse-rearing coffin was crafted by my master. I assisted with the process. Right now, throughout Fei Xian Peak¡ªand even Dead Man Peak¡ªI''m the only one most familiar with corpse-rearing coffins."


    Hearing this, Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    Lu Shi continued, "But let me make one thing clear¡ªI can''t guarantee top-tier quality. At best, I can ensure it''s a standard first-grade mid-tier item. When my master made the original, I was only an assistant."


    "I''ll be counting on you, Steward Lu."


    Wen Jiu never expected top-tier quality in the first place.


    If he got it, great.


    If not, a first-grade mid-tier coffin was already enough.


    Even an average first-grade mid-tier one would last him a long time¡ªat least until his corpse puppet reached a higher stage.

 Chapter 52: Completion of the Corpse-Nurturing Coffin

    Very quickly, Lu Shi settled on a date after careful consideration¡ªseven days later, which was much sooner than Wen Jiu had anticipated. Based on Wen Jiu''s understanding, crafting a mid-grade first-tier magical artifact typically took at least half a month. However, the creation of a Corpse-Nurturing Coffin was an unconventional process. The fire used in the forging couldn''t be ordinary yang fire but required yin fire instead. On top of that, there were numerous other details to consider, which meant the process could take over a month. But now, it would only take seven days.


    This was undoubtedly great news for Wen Jiu, as it meant the cultivation of the Three Fiend Walking Corpses could be expedited. Good thing I met Brother Mu on this trip, he thought to himself. Without Brother Mu''s favor, if he had asked an ordinary mid-grade first-tier artifact refiner from the sect to craft the Corpse-Nurturing Coffin, there was no telling how much longer it would have taken.


    After confirming some final details, Wen Jiu left behind two hundred low-grade spirit stones and departed from the Artifact Refining Tower. A favor was still a favor¡ªwhile Lu Shi did not ask for compensation, Wen Jiu could not simply take advantage of him. In a sect, proper etiquette had to be observed. Doing so would also pave the way for future interactions. After all, even if he eventually made it to the main peak, that didn''t mean they would never meet again. And with Lu Shi''s skills, it was only a matter of time before he became a top-tier first-grade artifact refiner. By leaving spirit stones now, it would make it easier to approach him in the future.


    No matter what, securing his help in refining an artifact was far better than seeking assistance from strangers within the sect.


    After leaving the Artifact Refining Tower, Wen Jiu made a trip to the trade market, where he spent two hundred low-grade spirit stones to purchase two first-tier demon corpses. He also bought some talisman paper and demon blood ink before finally returning home.


    By evening, Wang Nian had returned. Wen Jiu immediately went to visit him, intending to repay a portion of the fifty spirit stones he had borrowed earlier. However, he didn''t plan to pay it all back at once.


    "Brother Wang, here are forty-nine of the spirit stones I borrowed. I still owe you one, but I''ll make sure to return it once I have more on hand." As he spoke, Wen Jiu retrieved three bottles of medicinal pills from his storage pouch.


    He deliberately chose not to repay the full amount. In the world of cultivation, karma mattered¡ªevery cause had its effect, and there was no escaping it. If he left this one spirit stone unpaid, his Dao heart would never be truly complete. In the future, it could even become an obstacle to his advancement. This was Wen Jiu''s way of reminding himself that what he owed Wang Nian wasn''t just spirit stones.


    A favor when in dire need, the kindness of being recognized¡ªthese things couldn''t be measured in spirit stones. After all, many people spent their entire lives struggling through hardship without ever meeting a benefactor.


    "This one spirit stone¡­"


    Wang Nian was about to dismiss it as unnecessary between the two of them, but when he saw the three bottles of first-tier Qi-nourishing pills, he immediately understood Wen Jiu''s intentions. At that moment, he felt that this brother of his was worth knowing.


    The cultivation world was full of scheming and betrayal¡ªhe had seen countless examples over the years. But those who truly repaid kindness were far too rare.


    He had taken a gamble, and now he realized he had won.


    "Brother Wen, there''s no need to be so formal! You didn''t have to bring gifts." Wang Nian chuckled as he accepted the bottles, genuinely pleased. However, it wasn''t the gifts that made him happy¡ªit was having a brother like Wen Jiu.


    After exchanging a few more words, Wen Jiu was about to take his leave. But just as he was about to step out, Wang Nian suddenly handed him two talismans with a mysterious smile. Judging by their magical aura, they were clearly not of any official tier. However, knowing Wang Nian''s character, he wouldn''t give out something worthless.


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    At first, Wen Jiu didn''t think much of them. But upon closer inspection, he realized that he had never seen this type of talisman before.


    Wang Nian smirked and leaned in, speaking in a low voice. "These are Golden Spear Talismans. Your brother here spent the past two years researching them. They may not be of any tier, but once activated, they''ll make sure you stay as firm as a golden spear¡ªlasting at least half an hour!"


    "Brother Wang, you¡ª"


    Wen Jiu felt utterly helpless.


    He scrutinized the talisman closely. The runes on it were completely unfamiliar¡ªhe had never seen them before, nor had he ever heard any old cultivator mention them in the marketplace. If such a talisman existed, those veteran cultivators would have definitely talked about it.


    So, without a doubt, this was Wang Nian''s original creation.


    Wen Jiu had nothing to say about that.


    You could argue that Wang Nian had no talent for drawing talismans¡ªafter all, he had taken forever just to get the basics down. But then again, he had managed to create this Golden Spear Talisman out of nowhere.


    "Brother Wang, you''d better save that energy for making babies." Wen Jiu refused to take it. Though he dabbled in unorthodox techniques, he had no real interest in dual cultivation.


    With that, he turned to leave.


    Wang Nian quickly stuffed the talisman back into his storage pouch, afraid that his wife might find it. He muttered under his breath, "You don''t know what you''re missing."


    Did Wen Jiu have any idea how popular this talisman could be if it went into circulation?


    Old cultivators would be lining up overnight just to get their hands on it!


    ¡ª


    Back at home, Wen Jiu began cultivating Corpse Eye Blood Nourishment.


    After draining his dantian of yin energy, he carefully studied the Heaven''s Fiend Water formula he had obtained from the scar-faced cultivator.


    Strictly speaking, refining Heaven''s Fiend Water wasn''t difficult. The required materials weren''t expensive or rare, and the scar-faced cultivator had already detailed the perfect proportions and usage in his notes.


    The key ingredients¡ªthree-year-old Shadow Crow hearts, ten-year Corpse Fungus, Heaven''s Yin Water, and various other yin-natured spiritual materials¡ªwere all things Wen Jiu had seen in the trading markets of Fei Xian Peak.


    The only real challenge was the fusion process, which required a highly specific environment.


    First, the location had to be a place of extreme yin, saturated with death energy and ghostly miasma. The Land of Scattered Corpses fit this requirement perfectly.


    Second, while the mixture was left to fuse in this environment, continuous infusion of Yin Soul Crystals was necessary. This meant he needed a steady supply of yin souls.


    The scar-faced cultivator had even included a method for cultivating yin souls in his notes. Wen Jiu only took one glance before his expression turned ice-cold.


    The method? Killing people.


    Torturing them to death.


    Even better, slaughtering their loved ones in front of them¡ªdriving them into despair before using a Soul Nurturing Curse to transform them into malicious spirits. If the process succeeded, a single vengeful ghost could provide a large amount of Yin Soul Crystals.


    "That bastard!"


    Wen Jiu was furious.


    Just how many innocent people had this old monster tortured and murdered to fill this thick book with his experiences?


    And no one had stopped him?


    Were mortals just left to be slaughtered by these demonic cultivators?


    The Blood-Clad Tower alone had killed a hundred thousand people. Even if those murders didn''t happen overnight, wasn''t that far too many? Hadn''t anyone stepped in to stop it?


    He didn''t understand.


    Wen Jiu simply couldn''t comprehend it.


    But even if he didn''t understand, there was nothing he could do about it.


    Suppressing his anger, Wen Jiu headed to the trading market. After some effort, he gathered all the materials needed for refining Heaven''s Fiend Water. The cost? Thirty low-grade spirit stones¡ªnot much, considering it was enough to produce ten bottles of the stuff.


    That night, under the cover of darkness, Wen Jiu made his way to the Land of Scattered Corpses and began refining Heaven''s Fiend Water during his night patrols.


    Meanwhile, his Black Ghoul hunted for yin souls.


    But Wen Jiu had to keep a close eye on it. If he looked away for even a moment, the Black Ghoul might devour the souls outright.


    It had already happened once¡ªhe had let his guard down, and the Black Ghoul swallowed a yin soul equivalent to a second-layer Qi Refinement cultivator.


    Not that it mattered much anymore. At this point, the experience it gained from consuming such spirits had dwindled significantly.


    Several days passed.


    After capturing five or six yin souls, Wen Jiu successfully produced five bottles of unfinished Heaven''s Fiend Water. Now, all that remained was to place them in an extreme yin environment at midnight each night, infusing them with Yin Soul Crystals refined through yin arts.


    In seven days, the Heaven''s Fiend Water would be complete.


    ¡ª


    However, before that could happen, early the next morning, Wen Jiu received a message from a disciple of Lu Shi.


    The Corpse Nurturing Coffin was finished.


    And judging from the eager expression on Lu Shi''s disciple, this wasn''t just some ordinary mid-grade Rank 1 coffin.

 Chapter 53: Gaining Another Trump Card

    On the way to Fei Xian Peak, everyone they encountered, everyone they saw, had their expressions change in an instant. Everyone knew that Wen Jiu rarely stepped out of his home and had little interaction with others. No one was willing to befriend him, and in all of Fei Xian Peak, he had only one friend¡ªWang Nian.


    Yet now, Lu Shi''s personal disciple was chatting with Wen Jiu, laughing and talking animatedly. This naturally shocked those around them.


    Had this practitioner of the dark arts actually managed to form a connection with Lu Shi?


    Lu Shi was second only to the elders of the Artifact Refining Tower. In fact, his talent and skill in refining were even slightly superior to some elders. Although he had stopped refining artifacts in recent years, even the Peak Lord had praised him, saying that he was certain to become a first-tier high-grade refiner in the future.


    Today, he served as an overseer of Fei Xian Peak, but if he truly became a high-grade artifact refiner, he would likely be summoned to the main peak.


    Because of this, his personal disciple also held a significant status within Fei Xian Peak.


    For Wen Jiu to be so close to Lu Shi''s personal disciple was something that no one had expected¡ªone could even say it was astonishing.


    Before long, Wen Jiu arrived at the Artifact Refining Tower.


    During the journey, he had already learned why Lu Shi''s disciple had been so excited.


    Lu Shi, by crafting a "Corpse-Nurturing Coffin," had managed to touch upon the threshold of high-grade refinement. As a result, this particular coffin''s quality had reached an exceptionally high level, ranking among the top three artifacts Lu Shi had refined in the past decade.


    With great anticipation, Wen Jiu entered Lu Shi''s refining chamber, stepping through the door as if into another world.


    Outside, the heat from the furnace was like the blazing sun.


    Inside, though the yin fire had been extinguished, the chamber''s temperature was as frigid as midwinter.


    On the metal forging platform, a massive black corpse coffin, six feet long and two feet wide, lay in eerie stillness. Its surface was covered with intricate artifact patterns, interwoven to depict a chilling scene of a hundred corpses marching in the night.


    The entire coffin exuded a heavy aura of yin energy. While it did not possess the sinister evil of a black ghoul, it was still intensely cold¡ªso much so that even from a distance of ten feet, one could feel the bone-chilling frost creeping into their skin.


    Wen Jiu remained unaffected, but Lu Shi''s disciple beside him instinctively tightened his robes.


    After carefully examining the coffin, Wen Jiu retracted his gaze and quickly bowed to the exhausted Lu Shi, who was reclining to the side. "Many thanks, Overseer Lu¡­ If I''m not mistaken, this Corpse-Nurturing Coffin is of the highest-tier quality?"


    Though Wen Jiu lacked the professional eye of an artifact refiner, he could tell that this artifact far surpassed his previous "Corpse-Eye" in quality.


    Lu Shi squinted and smiled, though his expression was filled with exhaustion. "You''re not wrong. If not for the limitations of your materials, this might have been a first-tier high-grade artifact¡­ Who would''ve thought that I, Lu Shi, would touch the threshold of high-grade refinement by crafting a tool of the dark arts? If word of this spreads, it''ll be quite the joke."


    Wen Jiu was overjoyed and quickly reassured him, "Master Lu, regardless of whether it''s the path of the dark arts or the orthodox path of cultivation, it is still the Dao. What truly matters is how it is used. I, Wen Jiu, swear that I will never use this Corpse-Nurturing Coffin to indiscriminately slaughter the innocent or commit acts of demonic heresy."


    Hearing this, the helplessness in Lu Shi''s eyes diminished slightly. "Kid, for you to say such words shows your character. Enough talking¡ªlisten carefully as I explain this Corpse-Nurturing Coffin to you."


    "I will listen with utmost attention," Wen Jiu said, standing upright with his hands clasped in respect.


    Lu Shi stood up and ran his hand fondly over the coffin, saying, "Though this Corpse-Nurturing Coffin is six feet long, it can expand and shrink freely¡ªsmall enough to fit in your palm, yet large enough to remain six feet and suppress an entire area¡­ As for its corpse-nurturing effects, I won''t go into detail; you should already know."


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    "I do," Wen Jiu replied.


    "The key feature that makes this a top-tier first-tier artifact is its versatility in both offense and defense. If you trap someone inside, even a body-refining cultivator will be reduced to nothing but blood within an hour, their bones completely dissolved. For defense, once you reach the fifth layer of Qi Refining, an ordinary cultivator at the sixth layer won''t be able to break through its protection with brute force."


    Wen Jiu''s joy deepened.


    He understood why Lu Shi had mentioned reaching the fifth layer of Qi Refining.


    After all, force is mutual. While the artifact itself might be able to withstand an attack from a sixth-layer cultivator, that didn''t mean the user could endure the impact.


    If someone at the third layer of Qi Refining used this artifact to block an attack from someone at the sixth layer, the artifact would remain intact, but the user would be shattered by the force.


    However, if one reached the third layer and used it to block an attack from the fourth layer, the effect would be top-tier. As long as the user''s body could withstand the impact and they had enough spiritual energy to sustain the artifact, they could use it like a turtle shell¡ªunyielding and indestructible.


    "Many thanks, Overseer Lu!" Wen Jiu immediately dropped to one knee in gratitude. The higher the artifact''s quality, the better its corpse-nurturing effects.


    Looking at it now, the two hundred low-grade spirit stones he had paid for the refinement were far from enough to repay Lu Shi''s efforts.


    Had he commissioned someone else, even achieving an ordinary first-tier mid-grade artifact would have been difficult.


    There was absolutely no way he could have gotten such high quality for such a low price!


    If he were to buy a ready-made artifact, an ordinary top-tier first-tier item would cost at least a thousand spirit stones, and even then, it might not be available for purchase.


    After all, artifact refiners needed to cultivate as well. They couldn''t spend all 365 days of the year crafting tools for others.


    A custom-made top-tier first-tier artifact? That would cost at least another three to five hundred low-grade spirit stones on top of the base price.


    Lu Shi nodded in satisfaction. "Just don''t spread word of this, and there''s no need to thank me¡­ But if you ever make a name for yourself on the main peak, feel free to say that this artifact was made by me!"


    "Definitely!" Wen Jiu nodded with a smile. A thought suddenly came to him¡ªwhatever talk of repaying kindness, if trouble arises in the future, just don''t say I was your master.


    After expressing his gratitude once more, Wen Jiu refined the Corpse-Nurturing Coffin, shrank it down, and stored it in his spatial pouch. With this, he could now place the black ghoul inside the coffin and carry it with him, no longer needing to have it hopping around at his side and drawing unnecessary attention.


    Upon leaving the Artifact Refining Tower, Wen Jiu immediately headed to the land of scattered corpses. He placed the black ghoul inside and then retrieved the three baleful objects, sealing them in the coffin along with the ghoul. Then, he used the Corpse-Nurturing Curse to draw upon the Earthly Fiend Yin energy and supplemented it with Yin-based techniques to activate the coffin¡ªthus beginning the process of nurturing the ghoul with the Three Baleful Energies.


    However, just as Wen Jiu exhausted his Yin energy and buried the black ghoul back in the nurturing ground, the main hall suddenly rang with the chime of a bell. It was brief and faint, but its sound carried across twenty to thirty miles. This bell signified an important new announcement from the sect.


    Wen Jiu didn''t rush to check it. He continued his work, figuring he could ask other disciples about it later. Though he had few friends on Feixian Peak, they were still fellow disciples, and most wouldn''t mind answering a few questions.


    Before he could even inquire, Wang Nian arrived, looking serious as he relayed the news. "The people from the Discipline Hall have announced the exact time for the assessment. For some unknown reason, it has been suddenly moved up to just one month from now."


    "It''s been pushed up that much?" Wen Jiu was surprised¡ªbut also pleased.


    Pleased because it meant he could leave Feixian Peak sooner. Given the current situation on the peak, he had no desire to stay any longer. Two high-ranking spies within the upper echelon were enough to make anyone uneasy.


    Wang Nian continued, "The assessment rules were announced as well. The main peak is only accepting twenty disciples this time¡ªten apprentice disciples who have joined within the last three years, and ten formal disciples who have joined within the last year. With a normal assessment, you should have no problem. Among the apprentice disciples, who could possibly defeat you? But..."


    He hesitated.


    Wen Jiu understood what Wang Nian meant. "It''s fine, Brother Wang."


    Though he said that, Wen Jiu had already made up his mind¡ªLi Ye had to be eliminated.


    The turmoil on Feixian Peak had nothing to do with a mere apprentice disciple like him. The only one who would actively try to suppress him was Li Ye. If he got rid of Li Ye, then no matter how turbulent Feixian Peak became, he could at least spend the next month in peace.


    "This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If something were to go wrong, it would be a real shame." Wang Nian sighed, both helpless and frustrated, because he had no way of dealing with Li Ye.


    "A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?" Wen Jiu was puzzled by the weight of his words.


    Wang Nian explained, "Because the elders of the Discipline Hall''s main peak will be personally attending. Their main goal is to investigate the peak lord''s death and find the culprit, but they will undoubtedly observe the assessment as well. If you can catch their eye, you might soar to the heavens in one leap. Becoming an ordinary disciple on the main peak and becoming a direct disciple of an elder¡ªthose are two entirely different worlds."


    As he spoke, Wang Nian''s expression showed his longing. Then, with a sigh, he added, "If only Steward Mu were still in the sect at this time, Li Ye wouldn''t dare mess with you."


    Wen Jiu remained silent, deep in thought, already calculating his next steps.


    Killing Li Ye wouldn''t be difficult given his current strength and foundation. The challenge lay in doing it discreetly¡ªwithout alerting others, ensuring his own escape, and keeping his identity hidden.


    "Hey, Wen, do you think if I gave him a thousand Golden Spear Talismans, he''d be willing to make peace?" Wang Nian suddenly asked, catching Wen Jiu off guard.

 Chapter 54: Divine Abilities of the Corpse Dao

    "Maybe."


    Wen Jiu forced a smile.


    But deep down, two words surfaced¡ª"No way."


    If the main peak assessment hadn''t been moved up so much, if the elder of the main peak from the Hall of Supervision wasn''t personally coming to Fei Xian Peak, there might still be room to maneuver.


    But now, with the assessment rescheduled earlier and a main peak elder overseeing it personally, Li Ye would definitely feel threatened. No matter how much he looked down on unorthodox methods, he couldn''t deny Wen Jiu''s talent in them.


    With all these factors piling up, plus the fact that Wen Jiu was currently the top-ranked apprentice disciple, Li Ye was probably already sharpening his blade.


    Of course, Wen Jiu couldn''t say any of this to Wang Nian. Even though Wang Nian treated him well, some things just couldn''t be shared. It wasn''t a matter of trust¡ªit was simply that Wen Jiu didn''t want to take risks on something so critical just to test human nature.


    So he reassured Wang Nian again. "Brother Wang, don''t worry. If anything really happens, I''ll break the signal talisman immediately."


    "Alright then."


    Wang Nian sighed and nodded, feeling helpless. If he had any talent in alchemy and could follow Second Master to become an alchemist, Li Ye would have no choice but to show him some respect. Unfortunately, reality was cruel¡ªhe was far too ordinary.


    Lately, because of Wen Jiu''s unorthodox talent, he had managed to create the Golden Spear Talisman. But this wasn''t something he could brag about. If word got out, people would only mock him¡ªit was, after all, an item associated with the art of pleasure.


    So even if he wanted to help Wen Jiu reach the main peak safely, there was nothing he could do.


    After exchanging a few more words, Wang Nian left reluctantly.


    Wen Jiu returned home, but no sooner had he stepped through the door than a few familiar faces from the Night Patrol Division came by to congratulate him.


    There was only one reason¡ª


    He was now the number one apprentice disciple.


    Even though his path was unorthodox, an official announcement made all the difference.


    The indifference of the past had suddenly turned into enthusiasm.


    Perhaps in their eyes, even if Wen Jiu, as an unorthodox cultivator, wouldn''t live long, as long as he became a disciple of the main peak, he was worth befriending.


    Having a friend in the main peak would make life much easier once they left Fei Xian Peak.


    Wen Jiu found their attitude incredibly realistic.


    But he had no intention of associating with such people. After a few perfunctory responses, he shut his door and refused to see anyone else.


    It didn''t matter who came knocking.


    ¡­


    Meanwhile.


    At the Night Patrol Division.


    Li Ye was interrogating several ghost cultivators from the same sect.


    Lately, nearly all ghost cultivators on Fei Xian Peak had been rounded up and locked in the Night Patrol Division. Those he couldn''t arrest, he was investigating in secret.


    But no matter how much he dug, he found nothing. No one had any motive to kill Fang Zheng and the others¡ªnot even under the influence of Illusion Pills.


    With the division officers urging him for results and the unexpected announcement from the Hall of Supervision, Li Ye was growing more and more agitated.


    "Are you going to talk or not?"


    Irritated and angry, he struck a Qi Condensation First Stage ghost cultivator square in the chest.


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    Bang!


    The ghost cultivator was sent flying, crashing against the stone wall and spitting out blood, his face filled with terror.


    A nearby officer quickly stepped forward to check on him and pulled Li Ye out of the cell. He initially wanted to reprimand him, but seeing Li Ye''s foul mood, he could only sigh. "Who would''ve thought fate would favor that brat so much? With his current strength, passing the assessment and entering the main peak is practically guaranteed¡­ Brother Li, maybe we should just take a step back. Why not bury the hatchet and make peace?"


    "Bury the hatchet? Impossible! If I let him go to the main peak, it won''t be long before he''s stepping all over me. And when that happens, if he wants to crush me, what can I do?"


    Li Ye couldn''t take that risk.


    He wouldn''t gamble his life on Wen Jiu''s mercy.


    So Wen Jiu had to die.


    That''s right.


    He had to die.


    Mu Canglong and the others protected Wen Jiu only because of his unorthodox talent. But if Wen Jiu was dead¡ª


    What would they protect then?


    Would they really go after him just for a dead man? Everyone had a backer¡ªwhy would they take that risk?


    "We need to take him out while he''s still weak," Li Ye transmitted via divine sense.


    The officer beside him stiffened but wasn''t surprised¡ªhe knew Li Ye would make this decision.


    Li Ye then transmitted a message through divine sense, "However, we must find the right opportunity to kill him. It''s best to do it outside the sect. But if I take him outside, he definitely won''t go. Fellow Daoist Mu¡­ would you be willing to lend me a hand?"


    "Sure, for a low-grade magical artifact."


    "You really dare to ask for that."


    "He may be weak now, but who knows what he''ll become in the future."


    "Fine, one first-tier low-grade magical artifact."


    Li Ye nodded, murderous intent surging in his eyes.


    ¡­


    Midnight.


    Wen Jiu checked his daily settlement panel.


    Previously, raising corpses in the Land of Dismembered Corpses, even with a second-level settlement panel, only yielded six experience points every twelve hours.


    With the Corpse Nurturing Curse, he could gain an extra three points.


    That totaled nine points per day.


    But now, after using the Corpse Nurturing Coffin along with the Three Fiends Corpse Nurturing Method for six hours, the black ghoul gained twelve extra experience points in a single day.


    It wasn''t an overwhelming amount, but the personal information panel on the black ghoul suddenly changed¡ªshowing a new evolution path.


    Before, it was just a wandering corpse.


    Now, it had become a Three Fiends Wandering Corpse.


    [Black Ghoul ¨C Corpse Nurturing in Progress (Upper Realm 489/2000) PS: Evolution Path ¨C Three Fiends Wandering Corpse. The Three Fiends Wandering Corpse is a postnatal fiend corpse, immensely powerful, fearing nothing and restrained by nothing. It can even awaken innate corpse law divine abilities.]


    "It can awaken innate corpse law divine abilities?!"


    Although he wasn''t sure how these innate corpse law divine abilities compared to normal corpse techniques, the term "divine abilities" clearly signified their extraordinary nature.


    Divine abilities.


    Was that a term that should even appear at this stage?


    At that moment, Wen Jiu finally understood the true value of the Three Fiends Corpse Nurturing Method and why a mid-stage Three Fiends Corpse could tear apart a sixth-layer Qi Refining cultivator with its bare hands.


    It must be because of those innate corpse law divine abilities.


    "There''s no way this technique was created by Deacon Mu''s father. He couldn''t possibly have developed a corpse-nurturing method that grants divine abilities¡­ It must have originated from that ''Yinzhou Corpse Nurturing Record.''" Wen Jiu was filled with yearning.


    The main peak.


    He had to go!


    "Using the Three Fiends Corpse Nurturing Method, I can gain twelve extra experience points per day¡­ In just seventy-one days, the black ghoul will evolve into a Three Fiends Wandering Corpse!"


    Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    However, despite his excitement, the Three Fiends Corpse Nurturing Method consumed a great deal of resources. In six hours, the Corpse Nurturing Coffin had used up three Blood Fiend Crystals and two bottles of Heaven Fiend Water¡ªequivalent to sixty-two spirit stones.


    That was the same as a Night Patrol Division disciple''s salary for thirty-one months.


    "Good thing I had foresight and learned the Yin Talisman Technique." Wen Jiu sighed in relief, feeling immensely satisfied.


    The next night.


    Wen Jiu checked the Heaven Fiend Water he had brewed. As expected, all five bottles were successfully refined.


    No wonder yesterday''s settlement didn''t even grant experience points.


    Turns out, it wasn''t that difficult.


    But in the end, it was all thanks to the Land of Dismembered Corpses. After all, gathering yin spirits outside wouldn''t have been so easy.


    Without a yin-rich location like the Land of Dismembered Corpses, refining Heaven Fiend Water would have required killing people to cultivate yin spirits¡ªjust like the scar-faced old cultivator had recorded in his notes.


    This realization suddenly made Wen Jiu reluctant to part with the Land of Dismembered Corpses.


    No.


    Before heading to the main peak, he had to harvest all the blood energy and yin spirits here.


    If he wasted even a little, he''d regret it so much that he''d wake up in the middle of the night slapping himself.


    And so,


    A few more days passed.


    Everything remained calm.


    Gong Chi was still in seclusion, recovering from his injuries.


    Meanwhile, the elders of the other six peaks held an elaborate funeral for the peak master. Every cultivation family under Feixian Peak sent representatives, as did the subsidiary peaks surrounding Feixian Peak. The funeral lasted for seven days and seven nights before finally concluding.


    The day after the funeral, a Night Patrol Division disciple suddenly came looking for Wen Jiu, summoning him to the division.


    There was a mission assignment.


    This made Wen Jiu uneasy, so he didn''t immediately follow.


    He wanted to visit the Land of Dismembered Corpses first and bring the black ghoul along. However, the disciple who summoned him insisted the matter was urgent.


    It seemed as though he didn''t want Wen Jiu out of his sight.


    With no other choice, Wen Jiu used his connection with the black ghoul to cast Blood Corpse Escape and return to his room.


    Something about this mission felt off.


    Without the black ghoul by his side, he was worried about unforeseen dangers.

 Chapter 55: Open Plot and Hidden Schemes

    "Daoist friend, is something wrong?"


    Wen Jiu asked tentatively, wanting to gauge the other party''s reaction.


    But unexpectedly, the Night Patrol Division disciple was well-prepared. "These past few days, people from our Fei Xian Peak who traveled to the Loose Cultivator Market near Lianwu Mountain have been attacked by vengeful spirits on the way. Four disciples from the Spiritual Agriculture Division have already died. The steward knows that you are a corpse-raiser and might understand ghost-tracking methods better than us, so he sent you to join this mission¡­ Don''t worry, whether we find anything or not, you''ll still be rewarded with spirit stones."


    "How many?"


    Wen Jiu deliberately pressed further.


    The Night Patrol Division disciple''s lips curled into a smile. "At least three to five. Steward Mu never treats his own people poorly."


    "That''s quite a lot."


    Wen Jiu replied with a smile while an image of the so-called Steward Mu surfaced in his mind.


    There weren''t many stewards in the Night Patrol Division, making it hard to forget them. If he recalled correctly, Steward Mu''s full name was Mu Ye¡ªone of Sikong Bai''s people, and he had a close relationship with Li Ye. Back when the Night Patrol Division used Illusion Pills to interrogate their own disciples, Mu Ye and Li Ye had stood together.


    Could this matter be related to Li Ye?


    Was he already losing his patience?


    If Wen Jiu really followed them to search for vengeful spirits near the Loose Cultivator Market, there was a high chance Li Ye would make his move there.


    A blatant scheme.


    Not even a conspiracy¡ªjust an open trap.


    If he refused to go, he would be accused of defying orders. If Deacon Mu were present, such an accusation wouldn''t mean much. But if he wasn''t, it could become a reason to revoke his examination eligibility.


    The journey was silent.


    Wen Jiu arrived at the Night Patrol Division.


    By the time he got there, seven Night Patrol Division disciples, all at the second level of Qi Refinement, were already gathered, fully geared and ready to set out.


    Leading the team was none other than Mu Ye.


    Li Ye was nowhere to be seen¡ªnot in the group nor lurking nearby.


    Mu Ye, his face radiating friendliness, glanced at Wen Jiu and smiled. "Little Wen, just use your divine sense to detect yin energy and ghostly aura when the time comes. Even if we don''t find that damned vengeful spirit, I guarantee you won''t walk away empty-handed."


    "Thank you, Steward Mu."


    Wen Jiu returned the smile.


    But in his heart, a murderous intent was already surging.


    Li Ye.


    Since you want to kill me¡­


    Then I might as well give you a little surprise.


    Wen Jiu was certain¡ªright now, Li Ye was hiding somewhere, secretly watching him. He could feel a faint yet undeniable gaze on him.


    It was the intuition of a corpse-raiser.


    A sense honed in lands filled with mangled corpses, while searching for vengeful spirits.


    Because vengeful spirits loved to lurk in the dark, silently observing their prey, just like lone wolves stalking in the dead of night.


    Mu Ye nodded and didn''t say much more. "Let''s move out!"


    The group set off.


    Along the way, Mu Ye seriously explained the recent murders of the Spiritual Agriculture Division disciples. The other Night Patrol Division members had also gathered intelligence¡ªthere were detailed reports on the locations and strength of the vengeful spirits.


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    Over the past half-month, two first-level Qi Refinement disciples and two second-level Qi Refinement disciples from the Spiritual Agriculture Division had been killed while delivering spirit rice. The incidents occurred at three locations: Cold Night Forest, Little Bamboo Peak, and the Exotic Beast Slope. Their yang energy was completely drained, and their internal organs were hollowed out¡ªa clear sign that a vengeful spirit was trying to become a ghost cultivator through murder.


    The three locations were no more than ten miles apart, and the most recent victim, a second-level Qi Refinement disciple, had died just yesterday.


    Everything seemed real.


    Everything seemed normal.


    It was just an ordinary Night Patrol Division field mission.


    But the more normal it appeared, the more suspicious Wen Jiu felt.


    And sure enough¡ª


    Upon reaching Lianwu Mountain, Mu Ye distributed a first-tier low-grade signal talisman to everyone. Unlike the one Wang Nian had given him, this type of talisman was immune to ghostly concealment techniques and had a transmission range of thirty miles.


    In addition, Mu Ye also handed out two first-tier low-grade ghost-repelling talismans of exceptional quality, which could effectively block vengeful spirit attacks.


    Once everything was set, Mu Ye instructed everyone to spread out. "If you find anything, crush the signal talisman immediately. I''ll rush over on my sword."


    "Understood!"


    "Understood!"


    The group gradually dispersed.


    With the signal talismans in hand, along with top-tier first-grade Ghost-Repelling Talismans, they had nothing to fear even if they encountered vengeful spirits.


    Wen Jiu also moved away with the others.


    By now, he was completely certain¡ªthis was a trap set specifically for him. The problem lay with the first-grade signal talisman he had received.


    Before becoming a first-grade Yin Talisman Master, he wouldn''t have noticed anything amiss. But now, having mastered the ability to craft top-tier first-grade Soul-Reaping Talismans, a single sweep of his divine sense immediately revealed the flaw in the signal talisman.


    One of the talisman''s runes had an abnormal flow of spiritual energy. It was subtle, yet clearly not a mistake made during its creation¡ªotherwise, the talisman wouldn''t have qualified as a first-grade item at all.


    This meant the issue had been introduced afterward.


    A flaw that minor was enough to render the signal talisman completely useless. Even if he crushed it, it would never send out a signal.


    Next, Wen Jiu scanned the Ghost-Repelling Talisman with his divine sense.


    As expected.


    It had the same issue.


    Not only did it have the same flaw as the signal talisman, but it also contained a hidden trace of divine sense¡ªsomeone had left a mark on it.


    "They really put effort into this. These tricks¡­ only a top-tier first-grade Talisman Master could pull off."


    A cold glint flashed in Wen Jiu''s eyes. Killing intent surged within him.


    But he quickly calmed down.


    Killing Li Ye wasn''t difficult¡ªnot with his current power and resources. The challenge was making sure he could do it without being implicated.


    After traveling about five or six miles, Wen Jiu stopped at the edge of a secluded forest pond.


    He had sensed something unusual.


    There was a strange, lingering Yin energy in the air, along with faint traces of ghostly aura. Yet when he probed the depths of the pond with his divine sense, he found nothing¡ªjust a cold, dark bottom.


    Still, it reminded him of something.


    He thought of Heavenly Fiend Water.


    This substance wasn''t just used for nurturing corpse puppets in the Three-Fiend Corpse Refinement Method¡ªit could also be used to feed vengeful spirits. That was why only Ghost Cultivators ever prepared it. After all, under normal circumstances, only spirits needed Heavenly Fiend Water.


    If he used it to lure spirits¡­


    If that murderous vengeful spirit¡ªone as strong as a third-level Qi Refiner¡ªwas still lurking somewhere in Lianwu Mountain, it would surely be drawn to the Heavenly Fiend Water.


    Even in broad daylight.


    Wen Jiu had encountered this effect before. Back in the Land of Dismembered Corpses, simply uncorking a vial of Heavenly Fiend Water and letting its aura spread had been enough to attract two or three vengeful spirits within ten breaths.


    At the end of the day, spirits weren''t human.


    Unless they transformed into Ghost Cultivators, their intelligence remained low.


    Resisting the lure of Heavenly Fiend Water? That was like asking a starving pervert to push away a woman throwing herself into his arms¡ªit just wouldn''t happen.


    As long as he could draw it out¡­


    Then maybe¡ª


    It could be useful.


    Wen Jiu''s lips curled into a cold smile.


    "You want me to die here in this mountain?" he muttered to himself. "Then perhaps¡­ it can become the reason your death makes perfect sense."


    With that, he took out three vials of Heavenly Fiend Water. After a quick glance around, he uncorked them one by one and poured them into the cold pond.


    Three whole bottles.


    Good thing he could refine it himself now¡ªotherwise, this would''ve been a painful expense.


    Each vial cost twenty lower-grade spirit stones.


    Once he was done, Wen Jiu withdrew into the dense forest and waited silently.


    He didn''t bother using concealment talismans to mask his presence. His second-level Qi Refining aura might even add to the bait.


    ¡ª


    Meanwhile, deep within another part of the forest.


    Mu Ye crushed a signal talisman.


    Before long, a shadowy figure arrived, moving swiftly and silently through the foliage. They left no footprints, no sound¡ªcompletely shrouded in black robes, their face hidden behind a mask.


    "The artifact?" Mu Ye stretched out his hand the moment they met.


    "The target?"


    "In the mountain. I summoned him under the authority of a Night Patrol Division officer. He didn''t even have time to bring his Ghoul Puppet with him."


    "Good work," Li Ye''s voice came from behind the mask, slow and measured. "But I''ll hand over the artifact after the job is done. For now, keep watch for me."


    "Such a hassle¡­ I knew earning a single lower-grade artifact wouldn''t be easy," Mu Ye sighed, but he didn''t argue.


    With Li Ye''s abilities, killing a reckless second-level Qi Refiner without his Ghoul Puppet was effortless.


    Keeping watch wouldn''t take long.


    It made no difference whether he got the artifact now or a little later.


    ****


    ****


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 Chapter 56: Fierce Battle in the Forest

    "Where is he?" Li Ye asked again.


    Mu ye chuckled nonchalantly. "Just follow me. I planted a spiritual imprint in that kid''s ghost-repelling talisman. He''s only just begun practicing the Yin Talisman Arts¡ªhe won''t notice my imprint. Right now, he''s probably still desperately searching for wandering spirits, all for the spirit stones I promised him."


    With a flicker, Mu ye slipped into the forest.


    Li Ye swiftly followed.


    Their movements remained silent as they passed through the dense woods, making their way toward the cold pond where Wen Jiu was.


    As they drew closer, the murderous intent in Li Ye''s eyes grew stronger.


    The likes of you, treading the crooked path...


    You deserve nothing but a miserable end.


    The Main Peak...


    Is not a place you should set foot on!


    At the edge of the cold pond, Wen Jiu crouched among the treetops, about ten zhang from the water. The black ghoul had concealed its presence and lay in wait nearby. Without using spiritual perception to probe carefully, no one would detect their existence¡ªone man, one corpse.


    As for the signal talisman and ghost-repelling talisman, Wen Jiu had tossed them into the pond, wrapping them with Yin energy and hanging them by the water''s edge.


    But as he waited, the surrounding air suddenly turned eerily cold. A chill, as piercing as the frigid aura of a corpse-ridden battlefield, seeped through his clothes and into his skin.


    This abrupt cold meant little to Wen Jiu, yet it made him sense something unusual.


    Even corpse pits weren''t this bone-chilling.


    Let alone the remote Wushan Mountains.


    As he pondered, a sinister wind began to stir through the trees.


    Then came a faint rustling.


    Wen Jiu''s expression sharpened. Without hesitation, he ordered the black ghoul to activate the "Three Rivers Ghost Veil," fully concealing their presence.


    It was here.


    The wandering spirit had arrived.


    But the Night Patrol''s intel was wrong.


    This spirit wasn''t merely at the third level of Qi Refining. Even after being weakened by daylight, its malice and eerie aura were unlike anything Wen Jiu had ever encountered.


    The next instant¡ª


    A gust of ghostly wind swept past him, surging straight toward the cold pond.


    Ripples spread across the water''s surface, accompanied by a sinister, chilling whistle that sent shivers down one''s spine.


    Wen Jiu quickly focused his Yin vision, preparing to glimpse the spirit''s true form¡ª


    But before he could, he sensed movement in the forest.


    Through the narrow gaps in the leaves, he caught sight of two figures swiftly approaching.


    Mu ye.


    And behind him, a man in black, at the third level of Qi Refining. His face was obscured, but his build left no doubt¡ªLi Ye.


    "Perfect timing."


    A flicker of delight crossed Wen Jiu''s face. Without hesitation, he pulled out a low-grade warding talisman he had scavenged long ago and hurled it toward the spirit by the pond.


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    It wasn''t high-quality¡ª


    Just barely first-grade, low-tier.


    But more than enough to enrage the spirit.


    Boom¡ª


    The talisman streaked through the air like a shooting star, detonating at the pond''s edge.


    The half-faced spirit, in the midst of absorbing the pond''s sinister energy, instantly flew into a rage. Its remaining eye darted about wildly, scanning for whoever had dared to disturb it¡ª


    And then, it spotted Mu ye and Li Ye, who were approaching.


    Even in broad daylight, the half-faced spirit erupted with a torrent of ghostly energy, its presence surging to the fourth level of Qi Refining.


    "Die!"


    With a furious snarl, the spirit lunged at them.


    At that moment, the explosion of the talisman made Li Ye and Mu ye pause. Before they could even react, a wave of ghostly energy swept toward them¡ª


    Reaching them in the blink of an eye.


    "A ghost!"


    "Qi Refining, fourth level!"


    As they walked ahead, Mu Ye''s expression changed first. Without hesitation, he quickly retrieved several high-quality ghost-repelling talismans from his storage pouch. However, when he threw them out, they only managed to slow down the movements of the half-faced wraith rather than fully suppress it.


    Seeing this, both of their expressions darkened instantly. There was no time to think about what was happening¡ªthey had to retreat immediately.


    This wraith was far stronger than they had anticipated.


    For it to withstand multiple ghost-repelling talismans in broad daylight, its strength was undeniable.


    "What the hell? How did such a vicious wraith suddenly appear?" Li Ye quickly drew his longsword, activating his sword technique while retreating. He continuously struck at the half-faced wraith, but despite his efforts, the entity kept closing in on them.


    Left with no choice, he swiftly formed a hand seal and unleashed one of the Night Patrol Division''s top ten sword techniques¡ªthe Whirlwind Sword Art.


    Golden sword light erupted as the flying sword danced through the air, finally forcing the wraith back temporarily. But it was just that¡ªtemporary.


    Seeing this, Mu Ye also sprang into action. He pulled out a hammer-shaped magical weapon and activated his strongest technique¡ªHundred Gold Hammer. This was another one of the top ten techniques of the Night Patrol Division, one that only managers with more than five years of experience could cultivate.


    Boom!


    Mu Ye charged forward with his hammer, coordinating with the Whirlwind Sword to strike at the wraith, smashing through waves of sinister ghostly energy. Only then did they manage to fully suppress it. But whether it was the Whirlwind Sword Art or the Hundred Gold Hammer, neither was the most effective method against this wraith. No matter how fiercely they attacked, the half-faced wraith remained overwhelmingly powerful.


    "This thing must be the vengeful spirit of that murdered Lingnong Division disciple!" Mu Ye said gravely, his grip on the hammer unwavering.


    "You think I don''t know that?!" Li Ye snapped, irritated.


    He was worried that this whole ordeal would ruin their plan to kill Wen Jiu today. If they missed this chance, finding another opportunity wouldn''t be easy. Ever since the public announcement, more and more people had started paying attention to Wen Jiu.


    Even those high-ranking officials who once looked down on unorthodox cultivators were now considering recruiting him. After all, no matter how one looked at it, Wen Jiu was guaranteed a place in the main peak.


    Mu Ye was equally anxious. He could feel that his Hundred Gold Hammer wasn''t having the desired effect.


    If this dragged on any longer and they exhausted too much of their spiritual energy, they''d be in serious trouble.


    "Damn it! How is this wraith so powerful in broad daylight?"


    "Go all out!"


    As they spoke, a faint smile of excitement appeared at the corner of Wen Jiu''s lips.


    This wraith was strong¡ªjust as he had hoped!


    In the next moment, a black ghoul emerged, unleashing a surge of fierce ghostly energy. Within just a few breaths, it had reached the two of them, bypassing the half-faced wraith entirely and charging straight for Li Ye, who was maneuvering through the forest while controlling his sword.


    Li Ye''s face changed drastically. But in the very next instant, his expression froze.


    He was shocked at first¡ª


    Another one?!


    But then, his expression stiffened completely because he recognized the eerie ghostly aura¡ª


    This was the creature that had killed Fang Zheng and the others!


    "It''s it!" Li Ye exclaimed in both shock and excitement.


    This was exactly the culprit that the elders were looking for.


    However¡ª


    Before his excitement could even settle, it was abruptly cut short.


    The black ghoul lunged at him. Even though Li Ye hastily recalled his sword and placed it in front of him, attempting to use the Whirlwind Sword Art to fend it off, the moment his weapon struck the ghoul, he felt it¡ªthis thing''s body was far tougher than the half-faced wraith.


    No matter how much he attacked, his sword could not halt the ghoul''s advance.


    Seeing the ghoul suddenly release an explosive surge of ghostly energy, pouncing at him with terrifying force, Li Ye frantically moved his sword in front of him and shattered several protective talismans.


    Boom!


    With a deafening crash, the black ghoul smashed through the protective barrier effortlessly.


    Boom!


    Li Ye, along with his longsword, was sent flying. He only stopped when he slammed into the trunk of a massive tree.


    Pfft¡ª


    Just as he tried to get up, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, his body trembling.


    Then, a chilling realization dawned on him.


    Strong.


    This ghoul was unbelievably strong.


    Its physical body was even tougher than the half-faced wraith, which was already equivalent to a fourth-layer Qi Refining cultivator.

 Chapter 57: Two Lives Lost

    Even a spirit comparable to the fourth level of Qi Refinement, its ghostly body is technically on par with a fourth-level Body Refinement cultivator. Even in broad daylight, though weakened, it would still remain within the range of a fourth-level Body Refinement entity.


    This was precisely why, despite a century of trials conducted by the Night Patrol Division, the top ten techniques¡ªincluding the Wind-Piercing Sword Art and the Hundred Gold Hammer¡ªfailed to repel it even when combined. At best, they could hold it off. After all, it was daytime.


    But the ghostly entity before them, even under daylight, effortlessly shattered the Wind-Piercing Sword Art and a high-quality first-grade protective talisman in a single strike.


    "Damn it!"


    Li Ye''s expression darkened. He hastily pulled out a palm-sized golden bell artifact and threw it forward.


    The moment the golden bell flew out, it rapidly expanded to over a person''s height before slamming down toward the oncoming black ghoul.


    This bell was called the Earthly Gold Bell¡ªhis master''s life-saving treasure.


    Though only a first-grade lower-tier artifact, its defensive capabilities were formidable, and it had a restraining effect on ghostly beings.


    Two years ago, he had used it to kill a spirit comparable to the third level of Qi Refinement. But he didn''t expect it to kill this ghost; he only hoped to trap it for a moment, buying time to escape.


    As for Mu Ye¡­


    He could only fend for himself.


    Dong!


    The golden bell vibrated, its sound spreading for hundreds of meters.


    The moment the black ghoul was enveloped by the bell, a loud tremor rang out, followed by a sharp cracking sound.


    "As expected, it can''t harm it!"


    Feeling the overwhelming power of the ghostly entity once again, Li Ye finally understood why even Elder Gong Chi was after it.


    Without hesitation, he turned to retreat.


    Mu Ye, seeing this, shouted anxiously.


    "Brother Li!"


    "Li-ge! Help me!"


    But in that split second of distraction, the half-faced ghost tore a large chunk of flesh from Mu Ye''s chest. The agony made him wail uncontrollably, leaving him no time to call for help.


    Li Ye acted as if he hadn''t heard him. Crushing a Swift Talisman, he turned and dashed away.


    But just then¡ª


    A massive blood-red ghostly hand materialized out of thin air and lunged at him.


    At such close range, he had no chance to evade.


    The Blood Ghoul Hand of the Blood Robe Tower!


    Seeing the ghostly hand, Li Ye''s expression changed drastically.


    But before he could react, the hand had already seized him. No matter how he chanted incantations or activated his flying sword artifact, he couldn''t budge it in the slightest. Instead, the grip of the Blood Ghoul Hand only tightened, sending a suffocating pressure through his body.


    "Die."


    A voice suddenly rang out.


    The moment he heard it, Li Ye''s pupils shrank, shock filling his eyes.


    It was Wen Jiu!


    That was Wen Jiu''s voice!


    But how could it be him?


    The blood energy in this Blood Ghoul Hand was so rich¡ªit had at least reached the third level of cultivation. The amount of blood essence and time needed to cultivate it wasn''t something achievable in just a few days. But Wen Jiu had only recently stepped into the second level of Qi Refinement!


    Crack!


    With a sickening crunch, Li Ye''s doubts were silenced forever.


    Blood gushed from his seven orifices, his bones shattered completely as the Blood Ghoul Hand crushed him.


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    The next moment¡ª


    Boom!


    With a loud explosion, the black ghoul shattered the golden bell artifact and lunged at Li Ye.


    But seeing that he was already dead, it abruptly halted¡ª


    As if unwilling.


    As if furious.


    Clearly, it had wanted to kill Li Ye itself.


    Sensing the ghoul''s emotions, Wen Jiu was secretly startled. This had never happened before. Was it due to the Three Fiends Corpse-Nurturing Technique?


    "There''s still one more."


    Wen Jiu had no time to ponder further. He quickly reminded the black ghoul.


    Although Mu Ye was already cornered by the half-faced ghost, as long as he was alive, Wen Jiu wouldn''t be able to rest easy.


    The black ghoul let out a furious roar and turned toward Mu Ye.


    Seeing this, Mu Ye''s fear deepened¡ªfar more than when he had seen Wen Jiu''s Blood Ghoul Hand.


    The ghost was listening to Wen Jiu!


    Had Wen Jiu not been searching for spirits all this time, but instead been lying in wait for him and Li Ye?


    Was the half-faced ghost appearing in daylight also Wen Jiu''s doing?


    Doubt crept into his mind, and he could no longer remain calm.


    In that instant¡ª


    Mu Ye''s survival instinct surged.


    He had to escape.


    If he didn''t die at the hands of the ghosts, he would die at Wen Jiu''s hands.


    Boom!


    His hammer-shaped artifact flew out first, detonating in midair.


    Then the second¡ª


    Then the third¡ª


    Boom! Boom! Three magical artifacts exploded simultaneously, not only forcing the half-faced ghost to retreat but also making Wen Jiu take cover behind the black ghoul.


    "You''re really willing to pay the price just to survive." The self-destruction of a single magical artifact was far stronger than a full-force attack from a third-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, but the cost was at least a hundred spirit stones.


    Mu Ye''s artifacts were certainly not of ordinary quality.


    Which meant they were even more expensive.


    Three exploding at once¡ªat least four hundred lower-grade spirit stones!


    For a rogue cultivator at the third layer of Qi Refinement, that was likely the savings of twenty or thirty years, gone in an instant.


    But Mu Ye was already at the end of his rope.


    With the speed of the black ghoul, there was no way he could escape. Self-destructing those artifacts was nothing more than a desperate struggle before death.


    In the next moment, the black ghoul leaped into the air, charging toward Mu Ye, who was flying low with the aid of a non-ranked magical artifact.


    The half-faced ghost let out a furious growl and chased after him as well.


    A ghost.


    A corpse.


    Perfectly in sync.


    The half-faced ghost cultivator didn''t even realize that the creature beside him¡ªhis supposed ally¡ªwas actually his mortal enemy: a zombie.


    Meanwhile, Wen Jiu remained where he was, absorbing Li Ye''s corpse into the Corpse-Nurturing Coffin, planning to refine it later so that the Night Patrol Division wouldn''t be able to trace a thing.


    "Didn''t expect the Corpse-Nurturing Coffin to have a corpse-disposal function as well."


    As long as there was no body left behind, the Night Patrol Division wouldn''t even have a chance to search his soul for the truth.


    After dealing with Li Ye''s body, Wen Jiu didn''t put the coffin away immediately¡ªthere was still that half-faced ghost to deal with.


    A Yin soul comparable to a fourth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator was a tremendous source of nourishment for the black ghoul. Such things were impossible to find in the Wasteland of Broken Corpses. He had already used up all the Yin techniques stored in his Corpse Eye, so now, his only option was the Corpse-Nurturing Coffin.


    Before long, Wen Jiu caught up to the black ghoul.


    What he hadn''t expected was that the black ghoul was already fighting the half-faced Yin soul¡ªbecause they were fighting over Mu Ye''s corpse.


    The half-faced Yin soul had wrapped ghostly energy around Mu Ye''s lower half, while the black ghoul held a firm grip on his throat.


    With a gruesome tearing sound, Mu Ye was ripped in two. Blood, organs, and intestines spilled all over the ground. He died instantly, unable to even let out a scream. His soul was immediately pulled out and swallowed whole by the half-faced ghost.


    But Wen Jiu had no time to care about that.


    The Three Rivers Ghost Veil was about to wear off.


    Once it ended, the black ghoul would start leaking corpse energy.


    And once that happened¡ªhe would be exposed.


    "Restrain it!"


    Wen Jiu commanded without hesitation, activating the Corpse-Nurturing Coffin with Yin energy, trying to pull the half-faced Yin soul inside.


    The black ghoul understood immediately. It lunged forward, clamping down on the Yin soul with all its strength, its four fangs sinking deep into the ghost''s body, greedily sucking in the ghostly energy.


    At the same time, Wen Jiu opened the coffin.


    A powerful suction force erupted from within, pulling at the half-faced Yin soul, trying to drag it inside.


    However¡ª


    The ghost''s resistance was far stronger than Wen Jiu had anticipated. Its ghostly energy raged and surged before suddenly exploding in a violent tide of spectral power, sending the black ghoul¡ªdespite its three-layer Blood Transformation Body¡ªflying backward.


    Wen Jiu was taken aback.


    So it hadn''t been fighting at full strength earlier!


    By the time the black ghoul tried to pounce again, it was already too late¡ªthe half-faced Yin soul had abandoned Mu Ye''s corpse and was charging straight at Wen Jiu.


    A torrent of ghostly energy and murderous intent surged forward.


    Wen Jiu hastily raised the Corpse-Nurturing Coffin as a shield.


    With a thunderous boom, a terrifying force slammed into him.


    Even with the coffin protecting him, he was still sent staggering back over ten steps before crashing into the trunk of a massive tree, finally coming to a stop.


    In the next instant, the half-faced Yin soul suddenly retreated into the distance and spoke in a chilling voice.


    "Yinzhou¡­ Corpse-Nurturing¡­ I will remember this!"


    After spitting out these eerie words, the half-faced ghost immediately activated a spectral technique and vanished into the dense forest, disappearing without a trace.


    Wen Jiu wanted to pursue, but the Three Rivers Ghost Veil was about to end. He had no choice but to order the black ghoul back into the coffin immediately.


    "What a pity."


    He sighed as he watched the ghost vanish.


    A Yin soul comparable to a fourth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator¡­ It had even hidden its trump cards.


    Good thing it was daytime.


    If it had been nighttime¡ª


    He would have been the one running for his life.


    Retracting his gaze, Wen Jiu looked down at Mu Ye''s corpse.


    His storage pouch was still hanging at his waist, but Wen Jiu didn''t search him.


    Ghosts didn''t loot corpses.


    Regrettable, but he had no choice.


    He swept the area with his divine sense, making sure he hadn''t left any traces behind. Then, crushing a Swift Talisman, he swiftly departed.


    But as he fled further away, he couldn''t stop thinking about what the Yin soul had said before leaving.


    "What was that half-faced ghost, exactly? It actually saw through the black ghoul''s true form beneath the Three Rivers Ghost Veil¡­"

 Chapter 58: Ghost-Faced Strange Flower

    Wen Jiu quickly figured it out. That ghostly entity hadn''t seen through the "Three Rivers Ghost Concealment" at first; otherwise, it would have immediately attacked the black ghoul. After all, corpses and ghosts were natural enemies. It must have only noticed after stirring up that surge of ghostly energy. The fact that it could send a black ghoul, enhanced with a triple-layered blood refinement body, flying backward showed just how extraordinary its ghostly techniques were. Perhaps that ghostly technique was the key.


    "No, I have to find it."


    Making up his mind, Wen Jiu changed direction and pursued the ghostly entity. If he didn''t go after it now, then when? If the Night Patrol Division arrived, they would scour the entire mountain, forcing that half-faced ghost to flee far away. Ghosts could fly¡ªnot very high, but far enough to escape Dead Man''s Peak overnight. If it got away, tracking it down again across thousands of miles of mountains and rivers would be like finding a needle in a haystack.


    More than that, if he could devour it and allow the black ghoul to learn its ghostly technique, its combat power would increase significantly. Even if he remained at Qi Refinement Level Two for now, having the black ghoul at his side meant he didn''t need to worry about unforeseen dangers.


    However¡ª


    After pursuing it for five miles, the ghostly energy suddenly vanished by a forest stream, as if it had disappeared into thin air. He continued for another mile but still couldn''t pick up any traces of ghostly energy. Left with no choice, Wen Jiu summoned the black ghoul and forced it to burn ten percent of its corpse energy to once again activate "Three Rivers Ghost Concealment" and help him search.


    The moment the black ghoul emerged, it immediately turned back and retraced its steps to the forest stream, then followed the water upstream. Wen Jiu instantly realized¡ªperhaps the ghost had escaped upstream, and the flowing water had washed away its ghostly energy, making it impossible to track.


    Sure enough, as they followed the stream, the forest grew denser. Where there had once been scattered patches of light filtering through, there was now only darkness. But after traveling another hundred feet upstream, a massive, frigid pool emerged before them, its surface churning with thick, ominous energy. It was clear¡ªthe half-faced ghost was hiding beneath it.


    Wen Jiu attempted to probe it with his spiritual sense, but he could only extend it three feet before it was blocked. Even so, he could feel the increasingly sinister energy emanating from below.


    "Go!"


    After a few moments of thought, he decided to explore with the black ghoul. With the Blood Corpse Escape technique at the ready, he could retreat at any time. Activating his ghostly defensive arts, Wen Jiu dove into the frigid pool with the black ghoul. As they descended, the ghostly energy grew denser, but Wen Jiu quickly realized¡ªthis wasn''t the energy of the half-faced ghost.


    It was something else.


    Because the ghostly energy surrounding him was thick enough to be semi-liquid. Though just thin, wispy strands, this alone was extraordinary. Take corpse energy, for example¡ªmere walking corpses could never reach this level. Whether beings above them could or not was unknown, but one thing was certain: whatever lay beneath this pool was far from ordinary.


    Before long, the pool''s bottom came into view.


    The underwater space wasn''t vast, allowing him to take in everything at a glance. And there it was¡ªa grotesque ghost-faced flower blooming beneath the water, exuding wisps of liquefied ghostly energy.


    The moment his spiritual sense touched it, Wen Jiu''s expression hardened. The ghostly energy it released made his heart pound with fear. If it had been anything more than just a flower, he would have immediately activated Blood Corpse Escape to flee.


    This overwhelming energy far surpassed that of Ji Qiubai, the Peak Master of Flying Immortal Peak.


    Seeing the black ghoul beside him nearly trembling with excitement, Wen Jiu didn''t hesitate. He used his ghost arts to pluck the flower while preparing to escape, in case of any unexpected danger. But fortunately, even after taking the ghost-faced flower, nothing unusual happened.


    To prevent its ghostly energy from leaking, he didn''t store it in his spatial pouch but placed it inside his corpse-nurturing coffin instead. While primarily used to cultivate corpses, the coffin was also an excellent tool for storing bodies and special items.


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    As for what exactly the flower was, Wen Jiu wasn''t in a rush to find out. He could simply check its details during his daily settlement.


    Scanning his surroundings and finding no trace of the half-faced ghost, Wen Jiu suddenly had a feeling¡ªif that ghost discovered that he had taken the flower, trouble would follow.


    Down here, the half-faced ghost was likely at full strength, possibly even stronger than before. With that thought, Wen Jiu activated Blood Corpse Escape and swiftly left.


    It was a shame, but there was no other choice.


    Yet, not long after he departed, the half-faced ghost, weakened, slipped into the frigid pool. As it absorbed the ghostly energy from the water, its presence rapidly strengthened¡ªmultiplying to several times its previous peak.


    Then, it rushed toward where the ghost-faced flower had been.


    But when it found nothing but an empty pool bottom, a furious howl erupted, shaking the waters into a boiling frenzy.


    Yet after venting its rage, the half-faced ghost wasted no time. It immediately left the frigid pool, transforming into a black shadow and fleeing beyond Dead Man''s Peak.


    "Yinzhou Corpse Cultivation¡­ I will remember this¡­"


    This time¡ª


    The ghostly voice it left behind was filled with boundless hatred.


    And it was far more than just an empty threat.


    At the same time, Wen Jiu landed five miles away. The moment he stored the black stiff corpse into his corpse-nurturing coffin, several signal talismans lit up in the sky, flashing urgently. Seeing this, Wen Jiu immediately understood¡ªMu Ye''s body must have been discovered. However, he didn''t rush. Instead, he moved leisurely toward the signal talismans, carefully considering how he would explain things.


    He wasn''t afraid of the Illusion Pill because normal pills wouldn''t work on him¡ªhis Yin cultivation rejected them. In other words, even regular healing pills were useless to Wen Jiu. The best remedy for his injuries was death energy, Yin energy, or any kind of sinister aura. In this regard, he was even more extreme than some heretical cultivators. At least those people could still rely on medicine¡ªhe couldn''t.


    By the time he arrived at the scene, numerous Night Patrol Division disciples, as well as disciples from Feixian Peak within Lianwu Mountain''s market, had already gathered. Wen Jiu blended into the crowd, mimicking their solemn expressions.


    Half an hour later, Sikong Bai arrived with his Night Patrol Division disciples and began a meticulous investigation. The death of a division officer was no trivial matter.


    Before long, members of the Demon-Slaying Division and the Devil-Suppressing Division also arrived. Surprisingly, it was the same two individuals who had previously tried to recruit him¡ªLi Qing in green robes and the burly man with a fierce gaze.


    Wen Jiu, along with the other Night Patrol Division disciples, was interrogated three or four times, but suspicion never fell on them. While the investigation unfolded, he simply stood by in silence.


    Li Qing carefully examined the surroundings multiple times with his divine sense before giving his assessment. "Daoist Sikong, if I''m not mistaken, your officer was slain by a ghostly entity. The method of tearing the body apart and the traces of soul extraction all point to ghosts."


    The fierce-eyed burly man from the Devil-Suppressing Division crouched beside Li Ye''s bloodstains and spoke in a deep voice. "I can also sense the presence of the Blood Ghoul Hand, along with another person''s blood¡­ This suggests that there was at least one more individual present. Moreover, there are traces of your Night Patrol Division''s Whirlwind Sword Technique here."


    As soon as he said this, Sikong Bai''s expression darkened.


    He had noticed these details as well but had been reluctant to dwell on them. The Blood Ghoul Hand, the Whirlwind Sword Technique, and another person''s blood¡­ His first instinct was unsettling¡ªcould there be a Blood Garment Tower spy within the Night Patrol Division?


    As for the idea that Blood Garment Tower remnants had committed the murder, that seemed highly unlikely. Right now, the Night Patrol Division and the Hall of Supervision were scouring the outside world for Blood Garment Tower survivors. Why would they dare return to Lianwu Mountain just to kill Mu Ye?


    "Daoist Sikong, we''ve seen what we needed to see. It''s neither a demon nor a devil. From here on, this matter is yours to handle."


    "The Hall of Supervision is currently investigating Yan¡­ That main peak elder is also about to arrive. You''d best wrap this up quickly. Otherwise, just the presence of the Blood Ghoul Hand alone could stir up another major storm."


    After saying this, Li Qing and the burly man left with their subordinates. However, before departing, both of them glanced in Wen Jiu''s direction and gave him a slight, friendly smile.


    Sikong Bai didn''t notice this exchange. He was standing there with a grim expression, staring at Mu Ye''s corpse, his mood growing darker.


    The Hall of Supervision''s main peak elder was about to arrive, yet this incident had occurred.


    Leaving aside the identity of the third person present, just the presence of the Whirlwind Sword Technique and the Blood Ghoul Hand was enough to turn the Night Patrol Division into a target of scrutiny.


    Moreover, he had also sensed a familiar ghostly aura.


    But with Li Qing and the burly man present, he hadn''t dared to mention it.


    It was the same ghostly cultivator from Feixian Peak who had killed Fang Zheng and the others¡ªthe one Elder Gong had suddenly declared must be found.


    "This situation is getting more complicated."


    "I should never have let that guy bring people to Lianwu Mountain¡­ All this over a few dead Spirit Farming Division disciples!"


    Sikong Bai pinched the bridge of his nose, lost in thought.

 Chapter 59: Ghost-Faced Pagoda

    Very soon, Wushan was completely sealed off. Sikong Bai warned every Night Patrol disciple¡ªWen Jiu included¡ªthat this matter was absolutely not to be leaked.


    As Wen Jiu had predicted, Sikong Bai immediately deployed dozens of people to search the mountain, leaving no corner unchecked. Wen Jiu had no way to escape and had to follow the main search party. The search lasted for three full days.


    As for that cold pool¡ªwhen Wen Jiu returned to check, there was nothing unusual anymore. Though some remnants of ghostly energy lingered, the Night Patrol members were unable to uncover anything.


    At the same time, during the daily settlement that took place after midnight, Wen Jiu finally learned the true name and purpose of that eerie ghost-faced flower.


    Its name was Ghost-Faced Pagoda.


    A rare and extraordinary treasure of heaven and earth.


    Not only was it classified as a top-grade Tier-One resource, but it was also a unique ghostly entity that only grew in the Blood Fiend Abyss. Just making it bloom required the life force of at least a hundred cultivators. And for it to form that sinister ghostly face, it needed even more time and an immense amount of original ghost energy. In other words, the one cultivating it had to nourish the flower with their own body for no less than ten years.


    However, to ordinary people, it was completely useless¡ªit couldn''t be refined into pills or forged into weapons. In fact, it was essentially a lethal poison.


    Not to mention consuming it¡ªmerely staying near it for too long could allow its ghostly energy to invade one''s spiritual body, leading to corruption. Those afflicted would neither be human nor ghost, eventually becoming ghost puppets¡ªmere nourishment for the Ghost-Faced Pagoda.


    But for ghostly beings and ghost cultivators, this was nothing less than a divine medicine. Once the ghostly face turned crimson, it meant the flower was bearing fruit. And when it did, its fruit had the power to restore flesh to bones and bring the dead back to life. For an incorporeal soul, it provided a chance at rebirth.


    In other words, for ghosts and ghost cultivators, the Ghost-Faced Pagoda was a second life.


    Its value was self-evident.


    Lastly, the daily settlement revealed another crucial detail¡ªno Ghost-Faced Pagoda had appeared in the past three hundred years.


    That only made its rarity even more pronounced.


    "By stealing this Ghost-Faced Pagoda, I''ve essentially robbed him of a chance to resurrect. Next time we cross paths, he''ll probably stop at nothing to kill me." Wen Jiu sighed with a wry smile.


    Unknowingly, he had made yet another enemy.


    But Wen Jiu wasn''t worried¡ªby the time they met again, the Black Ghoul would have evolved into a Three-Fiend Corpse Walker. Killing that ghost would be as easy as snapping his fingers.


    To be honest¡ªhe was actually looking forward to their next encounter.


    The ghostly techniques alone, coupled with the Ghost-Faced Pagoda, were enough to prove that this wandering soul harbored an extraordinary secret.


    As for what to do with the Ghost-Faced Pagoda...


    Wen Jiu hadn''t quite decided yet.


    Selling it?


    He could probably fetch an astronomical price.


    But nine times out of ten, that would only invite a disaster upon himself.


    Letting the Black Ghoul devour it directly?


    He felt reluctant. The Ghost-Faced Pagoda was simply too valuable for ghost cultivators and specters.


    If the Black Ghoul consumed it, it would indeed gain a massive surge in experience, but¡­ it still felt like a bit of a waste.


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    ¡ª


    Night Patrol Division.


    Main Hall.


    Sikong Bai lightly knocked on the door of Gong Chi''s secluded chamber, not daring to speak. He simply waited in silence outside.


    A moment later.


    A cold voice rang from within.


    "What is it?"


    Sikong Bai spoke nervously, "Elder Gong, Mu ye is dead."


    "You disturb my cultivation for something so trivial?" Gong Chi''s voice carried clear displeasure, with a hidden trace of killing intent.


    Sikong Bai hurried to explain, "Elder Gong, on the surface, it looks like Mu ye was killed by a wandering ghost. But at the scene of his death, we not only found traces of the Whirlwind Sword Art, but also an extremely dense Blood Fiend Hand¡ªat least at the third level!"


    "So you suspect¡­ that there are Bloodrobe Tower agents among us?" Gong Chi immediately deduced his meaning.


    However, as an undercover agent of the Bloodrobe Tower himself, he knew for a fact that there were no other spies within the Night Patrol Division.


    Still, the discovery intrigued him. If there were no infiltrators, then where had that third-level Blood Fiend Hand come from?


    Sikong Bai continued, "Whoever it is, they know the Whirlwind Sword Art and possess an extremely strong Blood Fiend Hand. That means they''re likely among the stewards¡­ perhaps even the deacons. Moreover, the very ghostly energy you ordered us to track¡ªalso appeared at the crime scene!"


    BANG¡ª


    The door was suddenly flung open.


    A forceful aura surged out, far stronger than before. But even so, Gong Chi had yet to step into the sixth stage of Qi Refining.


    "Did you soul-search Mu ye?"


    "Impossible. His soul was forcibly extracted by the ghost¡­ But the Whirlwind Sword Art is only taught to stewards and deacons¡ªthere aren''t many who practice it."


    As soon as he appeared again, Gong Chi let out a cold laugh. "I didn''t expect you to leave so many traces this time. Immediately investigate all the stewards and deacons of the Night Patrol Division who have practiced the Wind-Piercing Sword Technique over the years!"


    Hide?


    You little thing.


    Since you''re on Fei Xian Peak, where can you possibly hide?


    Si Kongbai didn''t dare meet Gong Chi''s gaze and only asked in a low voice, "Elder Gong, what about the Supervision Hall?"


    "Erase all traces... Publicly announce that Mu Ye was killed by the Yin Soul. Make sure the investigation is conducted without a sound."


    The elder of the main peak''s Supervision Hall would be arriving soon.


    Before his arrival, that person had to be found.


    ...


    Back home.


    After dealing with Li Ye, Wen Jiu felt completely at ease.


    From now on, there was no one left on Fei Xian Peak who bore a grudge against him.


    No one could stop him from heading to the main peak.


    As for those who had targeted him because of Li Ye, now that Li Ye was dead, they wouldn''t be foolish enough to continue. After all, given his strength, it was inevitable that he would pass the assessment and enter the main peak.


    Who would risk offending a future main peak disciple over a dead man?


    Those people might not be too bright, but they weren''t outright stupid.


    As soon as he got home and let out a breath of relief, visitors started showing up one after another. Even though Wen Jiu refused to entertain guests, it didn''t stop them from coming. What surprised him even more was that people were now trying to befriend his sister, Wen Ya.


    The Xu family even had Wen Ya prepare a gift for him¡ª


    A generous one, worth about twenty or thirty low-grade spirit stones.


    "Being in a sect really is different. As long as your status is rising, even if you were ignored before, people will start flocking to you."


    Even though he didn''t accept the gift, Wen Jiu was still quite pleased.


    If he were a rogue cultivator, the faster he improved, the more people would want him dead.


    A rogue cultivator?


    He would never be one in this lifetime.


    After that, Wen Jiu checked Li Ye''s storage bag.


    Over a hundred spirit stones.


    A golden bell-type magical artifact, plus a flying sword artifact¡ªboth of which Wen Jiu had seen before. Their combined value was close to three hundred low-grade spirit stones.


    Several pills and talismans, worth at least another fifty or sixty spirit stones.


    As for the rest, most of it wasn''t worth much. The Wind-Piercing Sword Technique, for instance¡ªhe couldn''t sell it.


    Even if he dared to sell it, no one would dare to buy it.


    If anyone was caught practicing it, they were as good as dead.


    After storing away his spoils, Wen Jiu planned to visit Fei Xian Peak''s library to see if there were any records on the Ghost-Faced Pagoda.


    The daily settlement only provided basic information, but Wen Jiu refused to believe that the Ghost-Faced Pagoda had just one function.


    Something capable of granting a second life to Yin Souls and ghost cultivators couldn''t possibly be that simple.


    But just as he was about to send the black ghoul to the Land of Broken Corpses, a knock came at his door.


    Wen Jiu had no intention of responding¡ªuntil the person outside spoke.


    "I am Chen Daoqing, eldest grandson of an Elder from the Demon Slayer Division. I have come to invite Fellow Daoist Wen to a banquet. May I have the pleasure of meeting you?"


    The eldest grandson of a Demon Slayer Division elder.


    A high-status figure.


    A proper third-generation immortal.


    On Fei Xian Peak, someone like him could do whatever he wanted.


    "This announcement really has changed my situation overnight." Wen Jiu chuckled to himself.


    If the third generation of immortals had arrived, the first generation wouldn''t be far behind.


    Had it been anyone else, Wen Jiu might have brushed them off. But Chen Daoqing was different¡ªhe was a third-generation immortal.


    For a rogue cultivator like Wen Jiu, who had decided to stick with the sect, having connections like this could only be beneficial.

 Chapter 60: Soul Guiding and Soul Nurturing

    Pushing open the door.


    A young man, around seventeen or eighteen years old, came into view. His face still carried a hint of youthful sharpness. Unlike the other ordinary disciples of Fei Xian Peak, Chen Daoqing''s gaze toward Wen Jiu was not filled with flattery¡ªonly a sense of goodwill.


    But that was enough. After all, Chen Daoqing was a third-generation immortal.


    "Daoist Chen."


    Wen Jiu calmly clasped his fists in greeting, showing neither excessive enthusiasm nor deference due to Chen Daoqing''s status.


    Chen Daoqing returned the greeting before getting straight to the point. "Daoist Wen, three days from now, we''re having a small gathering. It''ll be attended by some of the more outstanding apprentice disciples and official disciples of Fei Xian Peak."


    "You must come."


    Chen Daoqing didn''t spell things out explicitly, but Wen Jiu understood his meaning.


    The assessment was approaching, and it was only natural to establish some familiarity in advance. That way, they could stick together on the main peak, avoiding isolation or bullying.


    Even a minor Night Patrol Division had factions¡ªhow much more so would the main peak?


    Chen Daoqing nodded and then added with a touch of praise, "Daoist Wen, your talent in unorthodox cultivation is truly rare. Among our group, only two others can compare to you. One is the granddaughter of the elder in charge of the alchemy room, and the other is Peak Master Ji''s youngest disciple. Both have access to abundant resources. Were it not for their exceptional backgrounds, they might not even be your match."


    "Daoist Chen flatters me."


    Wen Jiu was well aware.


    Such praise was always a precursor to the real topic.


    As expected, Chen Daoqing handed over an invitation¡ªit was from the Chen family. The intent to recruit him was unmistakable.


    Wen Jiu wasn''t surprised.


    He was willing to interact with his peers and build relationships. Over time, repeated contact could develop into useful connections.


    But if he accepted the Chen family''s offer, it wouldn''t be a network¡ªit would be a restraint.


    Families always sought profit. Someone like Wen Jiu, who only wanted to stay in the land of corpses and the dead, would never be acceptable to the Chen family. To avoid entanglement, it was best not to accept their favors.


    "Daoist Chen, I''m used to walking my own path," Wen Jiu said, directly rejecting the invitation.


    He had expected some reaction¡ªperhaps a mocking remark. But to his surprise, Chen Daoqing simply took the invitation back without hesitation. "I knew you''d say that. If I''d realized sooner, I wouldn''t have wasted my time thinking of ways to compliment you along the way¡­ I''m not even the type to give compliments!"


    With that, the refined image Chen Daoqing had been maintaining collapsed in an instant.


    So, he really was just a young man at heart.


    Straightforward. Honest.


    To be honest, dealing with people like this was much more comfortable.


    After a bit more conversation, Wen Jiu saw Chen Daoqing off, promising to attend the banquet at Wangshan Tower in the trading district three days later.


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    Once Chen Daoqing left, Wen Jiu headed straight for Fei Xian Peak''s library. After inquiring, he found the section on ghostly treasures. He hadn''t expected much, but to his surprise, he actually found something.


    The book detailing the Ghost-Face Pagoda Fruit was an old, dust-covered manuscript¡ªfifty years old, judging by its age.


    Flipping through it carefully, Wen Jiu found many ghost-related treasures, each more sinister than the last. There were descriptions of their cultivation methods and cultivation insights, but the methods were just as eerie.


    Glancing over the pages, Wen Jiu focused on the annotations about the Ghost-Face Pagoda Fruit. The information was far more detailed than what he had previously seen in the system''s daily reports, but it still did not confirm whether it could bring the dead back to life.


    Apparently, fifty years ago, only one person had ever attempted it¡ªand he ended up neither human nor ghost due to his failure.


    Skipping the unnecessary details, Wen Jiu''s gaze landed on another effect of the Ghost-Face Pagoda Fruit.


    Soul Attraction.


    Simply put, it lured wandering spirits.


    The dense ghostly aura it emitted was irresistibly tempting to spirits.


    Additionally, it could be used to cultivate Soul Puppets. If a spirit absorbed enough of the fruit''s ghostly energy, it would lose its self-awareness and become a puppet under the cultivator''s control.


    However, raising Soul Puppets rapidly consumed the Ghost-Face Pagoda Fruit''s ghostly energy, preventing it from bearing fruit. Even if one created an army of Soul Puppets for battle, their value would still not compare to a single ripe fruit.


    A mature Ghost-Face Pagoda Fruit was a top-tier first-grade heavenly treasure.


    Due to its rarity and unique properties, it was even more valuable to ghost cultivators than an ordinary second-grade heavenly treasure.


    Thus, the original author of the manuscript advocated for cultivating the fruit rather than using it for Soul Puppets. The recommended cultivation method? Absorbing the life force of cultivators.


    "In that case, its greatest use for me is attracting spirits and raising Soul Puppets... and I happen to need a large number of spirits to nurture my black ghoul."


    Wen Jiu carefully examined the effective range of Soul Attraction. The author hadn''t provided an exact figure, but at minimum, it covered fifty miles. If the fruit developed a grotesque ghost face, the range extended to at least a hundred miles.


    Seeing the words "a hundred miles," Wen Jiu couldn''t help but feel pleased. With this, he could lie in wait for spirits to come to him instead of searching for them.


    No more exhausting trips.


    For Wen Jiu, this was the best possible news. It meant he could cultivate quietly, without wandering from place to place.


    What made him even happier was the fact that ordinary cultivators couldn''t sense the Ghost-Face Pagoda Fruit''s spiritual pull.


    Only ghouls can.


    "Perfect!"


    Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    Low profile.


    That was exactly what he needed.


    After returning from the library to the land of mangled corpses, Wen Jiu immediately went to the burial grounds, opened the corpse-nurturing coffin, and revealed the Ghost Face Pagoda. Then, he had the black ghoul use the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment technique, silently lying in wait.


    Ten breaths.


    Just ten breaths.


    Three wandering souls greedily drifted over.


    Two had just formed, while one was comparable to the first layer of Qi Refinement.


    The black ghoul, upon seeing them, was immediately eager to pounce, but Wen Jiu pressed it down with one hand.


    No.


    They had to be fattened up before being slaughtered.


    At their current state, these three wandering souls wouldn''t provide much benefit to the black ghoul¡ªbarely enough to be used for refining Heavenly Fiend Water.


    But wandering souls were scarce, not an endless resource. The black ghoul couldn''t just devour them recklessly.


    Soon.


    As the three wandering souls greedily absorbed the ghostly aura leaking from the Ghost Face Pagoda, two more attracted souls drifted over.


    Then came the sixth, the seventh¡­


    In less than a hundred breaths¡ªten wandering souls.


    "This isn''t just waiting for rabbits to come to a trap¡­ this is waiting for an entire herd!" Wen Jiu was both excited and satisfied.


    Soon.


    After a dozen breaths of feeding on the Ghost Face Pagoda, the ten wandering souls transformed into soul puppets, recognizing Wen Jiu as their master.


    Completely obedient.


    Utterly expressionless.


    To Wen Jiu''s delight, a few of the newly formed souls, after absorbing the dense ghostly aura for less than a hundred breaths, had already evolved into true wandering souls. The ones comparable to the first layer of Qi Refinement even showed signs of breaking through.


    As expected.


    The black ghoul grew even more excited.


    Had it been capable of speech, Wen Jiu had no doubt it would have burst into laughter.


    Three days passed in the blink of an eye.


    Chen Daoqing came knocking once more.


    This time, for a small gathering.


    His purpose was to give Wen Jiu some reminders¡ªmostly about people''s preferences, what they liked to hear, what they didn''t. But Wen Jiu didn''t really care.


    He was only attending this banquet to make an appearance. He had no illusions about building friendships on a first meeting.


    Nor did he believe that a single gathering would change how those people saw him¡ªa corpse nurturer.


    People''s prejudices were like mountains.


    They could be concealed.


    But rarely changed.


    Wen Jiu understood this all too well.


    ****


    ****


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 Chapter 61: A Small Gathering at the Tavern

    As they made their way toward the trading market, Chen Daoqing proved to be quite talkative. He could chat about anything and was refreshingly straightforward. Even though he had just met Wen Jiu, he was already reminiscing about childhood memories with him, occasionally poking fun at himself, as if he didn''t care about his status as a third-generation cultivator.


    During their conversation, Chen Daoqing mentioned the organizer of this gathering¡ªit was none other than the youngest disciple of Peak Lord Ji. His name was Du Feng. Like Wen Jiu, he came from a mortal nation. Though he was an orphan, his spiritual root was extraordinarily high-quality. He possessed a top-grade single-attribute fire spiritual root, one of the strongest for combat among all elements. Because of this, two years ago, as soon as he entered Feixian Peak, Peak Lord Ji Qiubai secretly accepted him as a personal disciple.


    It wasn''t until Ji Qiubai''s death that Du Feng gradually stepped into the public eye. Only then did people learn of this prodigy¡ªwho had reached Qi Refinement Level 1 in just six months and Qi Refinement Level 2 in another year and a half. While his rapid progress was undoubtedly aided by resources, his talent was undeniable. So even though Peak Lord Ji had fallen, Du Feng''s strength, aptitude, and the support of a Grand Elder from the main peak made him a natural choice to organize this gathering.


    "Qi Refinement Level 2 in just two years... so this is the power of a top-grade single-attribute spiritual root?" Wen Jiu couldn''t help but marvel inwardly. Compared to inferior spiritual roots, which could take three years just to reach Qi Refinement Level 1¡ªand for some, even Qi Refinement Level 2 might be their lifelong limit¡ªthis level of talent truly promised a bright future. If he remembered correctly, those with top-grade single-attribute spiritual roots were qualified to take a master from the main peak, weren''t they?


    After some contemplation, Chen Daoqing and Wen Jiu arrived at the best restaurant in the trading market¡ªWangshan Tower. They made their way upstairs, led by a working disciple from Feixian Peak, and stopped outside an elegantly decorated private room on the third floor.


    Pushing the door open, they found more than a dozen people already seated inside. The moment they entered, the group stood up to greet them with polite enthusiasm. Chen Daoqing then began introducing Wen Jiu to the others¡ªnew disciples of Feixian Peak, all of whom had a high chance of passing the assessment and becoming main peak disciples.


    But as soon as the introductions began, Wen Jiu found himself at a loss for words.


    Everyone here was either second or third-generation cultivators.


    Not a single ordinary person among them.


    But that made sense. If not for Wang Nian''s guidance, Wen Jiu would never have even known about this inside information¡ªthat newly inducted disciples who passed the assessment could enter the main peak. Ordinary people had no way of knowing this.


    The fathers of these second- and third-generation cultivators had likely been planning for this moment ever since they learned of the opportunity. Carefully timing their children''s entry into the sect to align with this crucial period.


    Wen Jiu couldn''t help but sigh inwardly. Just this one barrier of information was enough to completely cut off any upward path for ordinary people in cultivation. And yet, some ordinary disciples still looked down on unconventional paths. That made it even more frustrating.


    With mediocre talent and no willingness to pursue alternative methods, how could they ever hope to rise?


    No wonder organizations like the Bloodied Garment Tower existed.


    Suddenly, Wen Jiu understood.


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    After all the introductions, Chen Daoqing led Wen Jiu to the main table. Wen Jiu had initially intended to find a quiet corner to sit in, but he couldn''t escape Chen Daoqing''s insistence. However, as the conversations carried on, Wen Jiu simply listened in silence.


    He didn''t interrupt.


    He didn''t initiate any conversation.


    At most, he occasionally responded with a brief remark.


    The reason was simple¡ªalmost everyone here had ambitious goals, discussing grand plans for when they entered the main peak. From there, the conversation naturally turned into mutual flattery and exaggerated boasts.


    They were just one step away from singing a brotherhood anthem and toasting each other.


    At that moment, Wen Jiu started to regret coming. He would''ve been better off cultivating in a land of corpses and decay.


    Before long, the core figure of the gathering, Du Feng, finally arrived¡ªfashionably late.


    Wen Jiu observed him for a moment. He was indeed an outstanding young talent, exuding a confidence that set him apart from ordinary disciples. Du Feng also glanced at Wen Jiu briefly, but his expression remained unreadable.


    After some polite greetings, Du Feng revealed the true purpose of this gathering¡ªforming an alliance.


    Or, to put it bluntly¡ª


    "You hold onto my leg."


    "I''ll guarantee your safety."


    It might seem selfless, but having lived two lifetimes, how could Wen Jiu not see through Du Feng''s little schemes? He wanted to use the strength of the crowd to propel himself to new heights. After all, Ji Qiubai was already dead, and his greatest backer was gone. Even his grandmaster''s situation was uncertain. So by tying these second- and third-generation immortals to himself, he would gain more resources.


    Wen Jiu saw through it but didn''t call it out.


    During the banquet, he didn''t follow the others in pledging support, but Du Feng didn''t seem to mind. He simply clinked glasses symbolically, exchanging a few sips of wine and a nod, forming a casual acquaintance. Afterward, Wen Jiu focused on eating, and once he was full, he left Wangshan Tower with the others.


    As they departed, Chen Daoqing noticed that Wen Jiu didn''t seem eager to integrate into the group, so he didn''t push further. He only left him with a parting remark, "Daoist Wen, see you at the assessment in a few days."


    Back at his residence, Wen Jiu headed straight to the land of corpses.


    The moment the dense yin energy, death aura, and blood stench hit him, he felt an unprecedented sense of comfort.


    "This is more like it," Wen Jiu muttered before diving in, taking out his corpse-nurturing coffin and beginning the process of soul attraction and cultivation.


    To his delight, the fledgling yin souls he had captured and sealed in the coffin had all leveled up. The ones that were originally at the equivalent of Qi Refining Stage One had, in just three days, advanced to Qi Refining Stage Two. The efficiency was terrifying.


    However, as the Ghost Face Pagoda continued to release its spectral energy, its ghostly essence had weakened¡ªit was no longer in liquid form as before.


    This made Wen Jiu realize something¡ªcould he use the Ghost Face Pagoda to cultivate a soul puppet army? These soul puppets would be entirely under his command, and over time, they would essentially become a private legion of death warriors.


    After the banquet, Wen Jiu had come to understand one truth: networking wasn''t as simple as it seemed.


    If you sought something from someone, they would undoubtedly seek something from you in return.


    When push came to shove, no one could truly rely on anyone else.


    So, why not cultivate a soul puppet army instead?


    For now, however, the plan was unfeasible. The Ghost Face Pagoda required a massive amount of cultivator vitality¡ªessentially, blood energy¡ªto grow. But at least this path was now a possibility.


    Wen Jiu then fed all thirteen newly cultivated yin souls to his black ghoul. Its aura surged instantly. When the daily progress was calculated, its experience had increased by a full 160 points¡ª100 from ten yin souls at Qi Refining Stage One and 60 from three at Qi Refining Stage Two.


    That was equivalent to seven or eight days of corpse cultivation in a single session.


    "If this pace continues, I can evolve the black ghoul into a Three-Fiend Corpse before the assessment."


    Wen Jiu was elated.


    Normally, he preferred to keep a low profile.


    But when it came to the assessment, he had to shine.


    Of course, he would still conceal seven-tenths of his true strength and reveal only three-tenths.


    Even so, the stronger his performance, the more likely he was to attract the favor of high-ranking figures. He had already tested and proven this strategy.


    However, what excited him more than anything was the innate corpse technique that the black ghoul would awaken upon transforming into a Three-Fiend Corpse.


    Would it be able to rip apart a Qi Refining Stage Five cultivator with sheer brute force the moment it stepped into the realm of animated corpses?


    After all, that was the power of a divine ability.

 Chapter 62: The Ruthless Iron Mask

    Night fell. Silence engulfed the world.


    The long-bearded inspector was reviewing the latest intelligence reports from the Watchtower and the Night Patrol Division when he suddenly heard footsteps echoing from the corridor outside his window.


    But ever since Ji Qiubai''s death, the main peak had been placed under strict lockdown by his orders¡ªno one, except the three inspectors, was permitted to enter without authorization.


    Yet now, someone was walking outside his window.


    The footsteps were light.


    But steady.


    Moreover, when he extended his spiritual sense outward, he couldn''t detect anyone in the corridor at all.


    The long-bearded elder''s expression changed drastically. He swiftly formed a hand seal and activated a talisman, his voice cold and firm. "Friend, since you''ve come, why not show yourself?"


    "A friend? What makes you think I am one?" A deep, steady, and eerily familiar voice responded from the corridor outside.


    The elder''s face tensed. Panic flashed across his eyes as he hurriedly retracted his talisman, stood up, and opened the door with a respectful bow.


    "Welcome, Elder Ye!"


    Standing in the corridor was an elder dressed in black, his crimson hair flowing behind him. Hands clasped behind his back, his emotionless gaze swept across Fei Xian Peak. Yet, if one looked closely, they would see the chilling aura of death and killing intent hidden deep within his eyes.


    This man was none other than Ye Chen¡ªthe emotionless, iron-faced elder of the Watchtower, a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator from Dead Man''s Peak.


    Ye Chen did not turn to look at him. His voice remained as cold as ever. "Have you found out who killed that unfortunate disciple of mine?"


    "Preliminary findings suggest it was Bai Changxin, the current leader of the Bloodclad Tower. However, given that Bai Changxin has only just reached the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, his strength should not have been sufficient to kill Peak Master Ji," the long-bearded elder replied respectfully, his heart pounding.


    The title "Emotionless Iron Face" was not an empty one. As a member of the Watchtower, he knew all too well the cruelty and ruthlessness hidden beneath Ye Chen''s calm exterior¡ªhe had lost count of the number of heretical cultivators, demonic practitioners, and rogue cultivators Ye Chen had slain.


    Ye Chen still did not turn around. "What about the investigation on the people of Fei Xian Peak?"


    "We''ve checked almost everyone, Elder. So far, nothing unusual has been found." The long-bearded elder answered truthfully.


    Ye Chen then asked, "I''ve heard that the Night Patrol Elder of Fei Xian Peak, Gong Chi, is a man of integrity. Have you investigated him thoroughly?"


    "Elder Gong has indeed shown himself to be responsible and impartial. He is known for his fair and just nature and does not get along with most of the other elders on Fei Xian Peak. Since Peak Master Ji''s death, he has remained in seclusion to recover from his injuries¡­ Not only has he refrained from seizing power, but he even dispatched his trusted subordinates to assist our Watchtower in finding the true culprit."


    As he spoke, admiration could be heard in the long-bearded elder''s tone. People like Gong Chi were rare nowadays.


    Extremely rare.


    Take the recent disciple entrance trials, for example. Gong Chi had been the only elder who did not attempt to manipulate the system to secure spots for his own people.


    His integrity was evident.


    But upon hearing this, Ye Chen''s expression darkened. He finally turned around, his icy gaze sending a chill down the long-bearded elder''s spine. "Feng Xuan, is this how you conduct investigations? Allowing your personal biases to cloud your judgment?"


    Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.


    Judging people based on personal preference.


    A grave mistake.


    "I was wrong, Elder!"


    Feng Xuan immediately dropped to one knee.


    He dared not lift his head.


    Ye Chen remained silent, staring at him coldly for several long breaths. To Feng Xuan, every second felt like an eternity.


    Only when Ye Chen finally spoke again did he feel a sliver of relief.


    "Send someone to investigate the situation at the Bloodfiend Abyss in secret. Lately, the Bloodclad Tower has been making quite a stir there¡­ As for you, stay on Fei Xian Peak and continue your investigation¡ªfocus on Gong Chi. I refuse to believe that someone like him truly exists in this world."


    "Understood!" Feng Xuan nodded hastily. Then, as if by reflex, he asked, "Elder, what do you plan to do next?"


    The moment the words left his mouth, he realized his mistake.


    Sure enough¡ª


    As soon as he lifted his head, he was met with Ye Chen''s icy gaze.


    Feng Xuan immediately shut his mouth, not daring to utter another word.


    ...


    Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.


    As the date of the entrance examination drew closer, Fei Xian Peak gradually recovered from the shock of Ji Qiubai''s death.


    The entire sect was abuzz with discussions about the upcoming trials. Some had even set up gambling pools, betting on which twenty disciples would qualify to train at the Main Peak.


    Wen Jiu, out of curiosity, glanced at the odds for himself.


    One to one.


    The only other people with the same betting odds as him were Du Feng and the acting Peak Master''s granddaughter, who was also the granddaughter of the Elder from the Spirit Farming Division.


    The former had a superior-grade single-attribute spiritual root.


    The latter, though only possessing a mid-grade spiritual root, had already reached the second level of Qi Refinement.


    There were indeed some apprentice disciples or official disciples capable of competing with these three, but among the newcomers, there were none.


    Of course, Li Ye''s disappearance had drawn quite a bit of attention.


    Si Kongbai had even ordered people to search for Li Ye''s whereabouts, but they found nothing.


    As Wen Jiu had expected, Li Ye hadn''t told anyone except Mu Ye about his actions that day.


    Even the disciple who had called him to the Night Patrol Division only knew that Mu Ye had taken Wen Jiu to Lianwu Mountain to hunt for Yin souls as part of a test against Wen Jiu. There had been no other apparent motive.


    No one had linked Li Ye''s disappearance to Wen Jiu¡ªnot even Wang Nian from next door.


    After all, Wen Jiu was publicly known to be only at the second level of Qi Refinement.


    But Li Ye was a seasoned third-level Qi Refinement cultivator.


    Even thinking with one''s feet, it was impossible to associate Li Ye''s disappearance with Wen Jiu.


    Regarding this, Wen Jiu was quite satisfied with his previous decision¡ª


    Not breaking through to the third level of Qi Refinement immediately.


    "Once the Grand Elder of the Main Peak appears, that will be the perfect time to break through." At that point, it wouldn''t matter even if Gong Chi became suspicious or started paying attention to him.


    After all, he was about to head to the Main Peak.


    And Gong Chi''s influence didn''t reach that far.


    ¡­


    A few more days passed.


    Wen Jiu continued his cultivation as usual¡ªnurturing corpses, nourishing souls, guiding spirits¡ªwhile also tagging along with his sister, Wen Ya, to eat at Wang Nian''s house.


    Once he left for the Main Peak, his sister would have to stay behind on Feixian Peak. The closer she was to Wang Nian''s family, the better. Plus, with his status as a disciple of the Main Peak, Wen Ya would be able to live peacefully on Feixian Peak.


    As for bringing his sister to the Main Peak, Wen Jiu had never considered it¡ª


    And he didn''t dare to.


    Cultivation wasn''t child''s play, and his current strength didn''t allow him to bring family along.


    Then, on that day, a figure crashed down at the foot of Feixian Peak while flying on a sword, causing an uproar across the entire mountain.


    That person was Liu Xiao.


    When Wen Jiu heard the news, he immediately rushed to the Spirit Farming Division.


    Because the Spirit Farming Division didn''t only have spirit farmers¡ªit also had healers.


    However, when he arrived, the news he received was that Liu Xiao was in critical condition.


    His left arm had been torn apart, his dantian shattered, and his chest suffered severe wounds. It was already a miracle that he had managed to survive long enough to return to Feixian Peak.


    Who had inflicted such grievous injuries? How had it happened? Wen Jiu couldn''t find out, as the infirmary had already been sealed off by the Disciplinary Hall.


    But the first thing the Disciplinary Officer did after emerging was ring the bell.


    Again.


    This time, it was to summon all cultivators at the third level of Qi Refinement or higher while activating Feixian Peak''s protective formation.


    After the people from the Disciplinary Hall and the elders hurriedly left the sect, Wen Jiu remained outside the infirmary, waiting for Liu Xiao to regain consciousness.


    After all, he owed Liu Xiao a favor.


    If it weren''t for the Corpse Eye technique, he wouldn''t have been able to obtain so much fresh blood at the Chen Family''s estate.


    Before long, Liu Xiao''s family arrived in a hurry.


    His wife and two children stood outside with Wen Jiu, eyes filled with tears.


    Wen Jiu noticed that Liu Xiao''s youngest daughter was still an infant, just learning to call for her father.


    The oldest was only thirteen or fourteen.


    Watching this scene, Wen Jiu felt a mix of emotions swell within him.

 Chapter 63: Devouring Yin Insects

    The most helpless thing for Wen Jiu was that his wife kept tightly embracing their two children, forcing herself to remain calm. From the look in her eyes, Wen Jiu guessed that she had long known this day would come.


    However¡ª


    For two consecutive days, Liu Xiao remained on the brink of death. Even after consuming seven or eight bottles of mid-grade healing pills, his condition barely improved.


    Fortunately, this was within the sect, where all medical expenses were covered. If he were a rogue cultivator, he would have died long ago. Each bottle of first-tier mid-grade pills cost at least a hundred low-grade spirit stones¡ªan astronomical price.


    Seven or eight bottles amounted to the entire fortune of two Qi Refinement third-layer cultivators. Rogue cultivators couldn''t afford such luxury; they wouldn''t even dare to dream of it.


    It wasn''t until the third day that Liu Xiao finally stabilized. His wife, who had waited outside without rest for three days, burst into tears of joy¡ªthe first tears she had shed after her long vigil.


    Wen Jiu had been checking in over the past few days, keeping an eye on the situation outside Fei Xian Peak. Fortunately, everything remained peaceful.


    As for the elders who had left the sect, there was still no news. The only thing unchanged was that the protective formation of the peak remained fully activated.


    When Wen Jiu arrived at the infirmary, he overheard the old physician discussing Liu Xiao''s condition. "Fellow Daoist Liu''s life has been saved for now, but his dantian has been corroded by dark arts. His cultivation will continue to deteriorate, and within a month, he will fall below the Qi Refinement stage."


    Falling below Qi Refinement meant becoming a mortal.


    Even if he had mastered martial arts and reached the level of a grandmaster, he would still be no more than an ordinary human¡ªunable to withstand even a single Fireball Spell.


    For Liu Xiao and his wife and children, this was hardly good news. But at least it was better than death.


    "As long as he''s alive, that''s enough."


    Liu Xiao''s wife didn''t care about the loss of his cultivation.


    To her, all that mattered was that he survived.


    But Liu Xiao, upon waking, did not share this sentiment. Life was precious, but losing his dantian and becoming a mortal was far worse than death for a cultivator.


    And dantian damage wasn''t something a first-tier mid-grade pill could heal¡ªit required at least a first-tier high-grade pill.


    The cheapest one cost two to three thousand low-grade spirit stones. Pills specifically designed to repair dantian damage were even rarer and at least two to three times more expensive.


    Not to mention a Qi Refinement third-layer cultivator¡ªeven sect elders might struggle to afford such a thing. Only a peak lord would have that kind of wealth.


    Wen Jiu could only offer a few words of consolation: as long as he was alive, there was still hope.


    Thankfully, Liu Xiao had already mentally prepared himself for the worst. With his wife and children constantly by his side, he was able to adjust after a brief period of despair. But whenever Wen Jiu visited the infirmary, Liu Xiao would immediately ask about the elders.


    Taking the opportunity, Wen Jiu asked him what exactly had happened.


    "When we received your message, we went to investigate the Blood Fiend Abyss. That''s when we discovered those bastards from the Blood Robe Tower stirring up trouble. They were trying to trigger an eruption of the Fiendflame Volcano to drive tens of thousands of demons and fiends out of the abyss, unleashing them upon the entire Deadman Peak cultivation world."


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Liu Xiao''s pale face was filled with rage.


    He continued, "We were about to call for reinforcements when we were ambushed. A group of demonic cultivators was secretly helping them. We were driven deep into the abyss and forced to split up. The Disciplinary Hall members were scattered as well. I only managed to escape because a demon ambushed them at the right moment."


    "Liu Xiao, what about your injuries?"


    "A Qi Refinement fourth-layer dark cultivator chased me all the way back to the Deadman Peak territory before finally giving up." Liu Xiao sighed, relieved that the enemy had not dared to set foot inside Deadman Peak.


    But Wen Jiu sensed something was off.


    If Liu Xiao''s report was accurate, what was the true motive behind Blood Robe Tower''s actions? Why would they want to throw the Deadman Peak cultivation world into chaos, turning it into a bloodbath?


    Based on previous encounters, Blood Robe Tower''s people were ruthless and insane, but they weren''t fools.


    They wouldn''t engage in such a self-destructive scheme. When they launched a full-scale assault on Fei Xian Peak, it was at least for the corpse of Blood Ink Three Thousand.


    There had to be more to this than met the eye.


    It shouldn''t have been difficult for that fourth-layer Qi Refining heretic to completely kill Liu Xiao.


    So why did he let Liu Xiao escape? Was he certain Liu Xiao would die anyway?


    Or was it really as Liu Xiao said¡ªhe didn''t dare pursue too deeply?


    Wen Jiu felt like it was neither. He had a vague suspicion that letting Liu Xiao return alive was intentional.


    That thought made Wen Jiu''s expression darken.


    Because the corpse of Xue Mo Qian was still at Fei Xian Peak.


    Would those lunatics take this opportunity to double back for another attack?


    Anyone else might not think so, but Wen Jiu had the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body. He understood its terrifying potential¡ªif cultivated to perfection, it gave a seventy percent chance of forming a foundation, on par with a top-tier spiritual root.


    Would the people of Blood Robe Tower simply give up on that?


    Impossible.


    "I just hope I''m overthinking this. After all, the elder of the main peak is about to arrive¡ªthey shouldn''t dare act recklessly."


    Wen Jiu muttered to himself, setting the thought aside, but he still remained cautious. Once night fell, he would need to stay with a black ghoul in the land of scattered corpses.


    Liu Xiao had little to say about it.


    Over the next few days, after news spread that Liu Xiao''s dantian was damaged, the number of visitors dwindled to almost none.


    After all, Liu Xiao''s wife was just a mortal with no background. Now that he had been reduced to a mere mortal himself, the Liu family had no future.


    This did not surprise Wen Jiu.


    People abandon the fallen¡ªsuch is the way of the world.


    Still, Wen Jiu came to visit Liu Xiao every day. And in front of others, he always addressed him as "Brother Liu." He also brought gifts each time and even had his sister, Wen Ya, visit once.


    Liu Xiao noticed. He remembered.


    He understood why Wen Jiu was doing this.


    That simple "Brother Liu" meant that even if Steward Mu had not been lucky enough to return alive, Liu Xiao, by staying in the sect, might still receive some help. It would spare him from much rejection and cruelty. Perhaps one day, for Wen Jiu''s sake, someone might even lend a hand to his children.


    "At least turning a blind eye back then wasn''t for nothing." That night, Liu Xiao found comfort in the thought.


    Grateful people were rare, but those willing to repay kindness when someone was at their lowest were even rarer.


    The next morning, Liu Xiao''s cultivation dropped to the second level of Qi Refining.


    The decline was happening faster than expected.


    But he had already accepted reality¡ªbeing alive was a blessing. With a brother like Wen Jiu by his side, he had no regrets.


    If Wen Jiu soared in the future, maybe he would help his children. That alone would make his life worthwhile.


    That day, Wen Jiu used his divine sense to examine Liu Xiao''s dantian. He lingered longer than usual, and in doing so, he noticed something strange. Others might not see it, but as a heretical cultivator, Wen Jiu saw it all too clearly.


    To be precise, Liu Xiao''s dantian wasn''t damaged¡ªit was corroded by an Yin-based technique, one formed by an extremely minuscule type of gu insect.


    Though its corrosive power wasn''t as strong as Wen Jiu''s own techniques, it was deeply sinister. If it fully consumed Liu Xiao''s dantian, then there would truly be no hope. But if the gu-formed Yin technique could be eradicated, there might still be a sliver of chance.


    Wen Jiu discreetly brought this up with the old doctor at the medical hall.


    To his surprise, the old man had already noticed.


    And he even identified the exact name of the gu insect¡ªDevourer Yin Worm, a highly insidious gu-cultivation method.


    It nurtured gu within the body.


    It condensed spells through gu.


    Once someone was afflicted by its Yin technique, there was no known cure. The only outcome was waiting for all their spiritual energy to be consumed, leaving them a mere mortal.

 Chapter 64: Unexpected Gains

    If external elixirs or magical intervention were used, they would only accelerate the parasite''s reproduction and corrosion.


    Many physicians from the side peaks had previously attempted to find ways to counter the Soul-Devouring Parasite, but without exception, they all failed. There was even one case where a physician accidentally came into contact with the parasite and was reduced to an ordinary mortal.


    Since then, ordinary physicians no longer dared to handle the Soul-Devouring Parasite. Fortunately, it could be repelled using spells and talismans. As long as it didn''t invade the body through an open wound and enter the meridians, there wouldn''t be any major issues.


    Similarly, there were no records of the Soul-Devouring Parasite on Flying Immortal Peak or any of the other side peaks. In fact, before a few years ago, it had never been seen in the cultivation world of Dead Man''s Peak. This made it highly likely that the parasite was introduced through an external method¡ªlikely an exotic technique of Gu cultivation.


    The person controlling it was an evil rogue cultivator known as Daoist Gu, who was at the fourth level of Qi Refinement. Previously, his name was obscure, but ever since he gained control over the Soul-Devouring Parasite, he had become a notorious figure in the cultivation world of Dead Man''s Peak.


    However, upon learning this information, Wen Jiu''s first thought wasn''t about how fearsome or sinister the parasite was.


    Instead, he immediately realized that Liu Xiao''s return had to have been intentional.


    "Kid, don''t dwell on it too much. These past few days, I''ve seen that you are someone who values loyalty and relationships, but some things are simply destined by fate," the old physician said with a sigh. Having saved lives for so many years, he had long grown accustomed to such matters.


    Wen Jiu nodded and said nothing more.


    He was not the sentimental type. He might occasionally feel a fleeting sense of emotion, but it would pass quickly.


    Now that he had learned more about the Soul-Devouring Parasite, he had no delusions about trying to save Liu Xiao. That would be foolish.


    However, he did develop a strong interest in the parasite itself.


    If he could cultivate these parasites himself, merely spreading his reputation as their master would be enough to make nine out of ten enemies hesitate. Those who were evenly matched with him wouldn''t dare challenge him or provoke any conflict.


    As for the label of a heretical cultivator?


    As long as he remained within the sect and didn''t harm his fellow disciples, it wouldn''t matter.


    After all, in the cultivation world of Dead Man''s Peak, the ones in control were those of Dead Man''s Peak¡ªnot the rogue cultivators or the evil sects.


    "I should get my hands on some Soul-Devouring Parasites and experiment with them first," Wen Jiu decided, then sought out Liu Xiao once again.


    Of course, he had to discuss this matter with Liu Xiao beforehand. Infusing Yin magic into Liu Xiao''s body required Liu Xiao''s full cooperation¡ªotherwise, it could end up harming him while yielding nothing in return.


    After explaining the situation in detail, Liu Xiao agreed readily, without hesitation.


    To Liu Xiao, being able to help Wen Jiu at this moment was a good thing¡ªit would deepen their bond and repay their past camaraderie.


    That night, Wen Jiu quietly arrived at Liu Xiao''s recovery site. Once he confirmed no one was around, he began channeling a wisp of Yin magic into Liu Xiao''s body. The Yin energy cautiously flowed through his meridians, making its way toward his dantian.


    Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.


    Then, something unexpected happened¡ªsomething that delighted Wen Jiu.


    The Soul-Devouring Parasite did not consume his Yin energy.


    Not only that, but as soon as the parasites sensed the arrival of his Yin magic, they started dodging it, as if they were afraid of it.


    This was a completely unforeseen stroke of luck.


    Encouraged by this discovery, Wen Jiu attempted to forcibly merge his Yin magic with the Soul-Devouring Parasite. However, the result was not ideal¡ªthey did not fuse together.


    Still, there was good news.


    His Yin magic was capable of capturing the parasites without harming himself.


    This meant he could continue experimenting until he discovered the perfect method to fuse Yin magic with the Soul-Devouring Parasite.


    Next, Wen Jiu attempted to feed the parasites with his Yin energy, but they showed no interest in it.


    So, he force-fed them instead.


    He forcibly extracted the parasites from Liu Xiao''s dantian and immersed them in his Yin energy.


    At first, they still refused to consume it.


    But after a short while, they began to take small bites.


    As soon as they started consuming his Yin magic, the parasites changed. They no longer darted around aimlessly like headless flies but instead began to follow Wen Jiu''s spiritual command. Although they had not yet fully fused with his Yin energy, it felt as though that moment wasn''t far off.


    Seeing this, Wen Jiu was overjoyed.


    "This way, I can not only help Brother Liu completely rid himself of the parasites but also gain the favor of Corpse Eye."


    However, Wen Jiu did not intend to act immediately. While he could slowly extract the parasites using his Yin magic, doing so would inevitably draw the attention of Daoist Gu, making himself an obvious target.


    More importantly, there was still Gong Chi and that unknown traitor lurking in the shadows.


    They would undoubtedly try to eliminate him at the first opportunity.


    And he couldn''t stay hidden within the sect forever.


    So, the best course of action was to keep this discovery a secret.


    Although Wen Jiu remembered Liu Xiao''s kindness, he knew that people''s hearts were unpredictable. He didn''t want to take any risks. If he was going to go through with this, he had to cast a silencing spell on Liu Xiao first to eliminate any possibility of this matter being leaked. Once he had completed his cultivation, he could lift the spell.


    If Liu Xiao wasn''t willing, then so be it. He would have to find another way to repay the favor of the Corpse Eye.


    ...


    He wasted no time.


    The next morning, Wen Jiu went straight to the Law Transmission Hall to cultivate the silencing spell.


    The spell itself wasn''t difficult to learn.


    In essence, it was more of a contract than a spell. Both parties had to activate it simultaneously¡ªWen Jiu would dictate the restricted content, and Liu Xiao only needed to nod in agreement. Once cast, if Liu Xiao ever spoke about this matter to anyone else, his body would explode on the spot.


    Not even a soul-searching technique could override it.


    Whoever invented this spell was undoubtedly a genius¡ªthough likely forced into it by the endless deceit and scheming between people.


    After arriving at Liu Xiao''s recovery quarters and explaining the situation, Liu Xiao agreed without hesitation. However, Wen Jiu didn''t tell him what he intended to do with the Devouring Spell Parasite. He simply said that he would help remove it, but he didn''t want anyone to know it was him.


    "Wen, my brother, you''ve given me a chance to keep living! What''s a little silencing spell? Go ahead, do whatever you need to, as long as it doesn''t take my life!" Liu Xiao''s eyes gleamed as he readily agreed.


    In these past days, he had come to terms with his fate.


    But it was a resignation born from despair.


    He still had family.


    He still had children.


    What choice did he have but to accept reality?


    And deep down, he still longed to cultivate¡ªeven if he spent his whole life stuck at the third level of Qi Refinement, it didn''t matter.


    He just wanted to try.


    "Liu, I''ll begin now," Wen Jiu said.


    He immediately activated the silencing spell.


    Moments later, the spell was complete.


    From this point on, Liu Xiao could never reveal that it was Wen Jiu who removed the Devouring Spell Parasite.


    Nor could he tell anyone that Wen Jiu had any connection to the parasite.


    Now truly at ease, Wen Jiu began using his Yin techniques to extract and separate the Soul-Devouring Parasites from Liu Xiao''s dantian. But the parasites moved too quickly, so he decided to deal with them all in one go.


    Since he was going to help, he might as well do it thoroughly.


    No need to make Liu Xiao suffer for months while recovering from his dantian''s injuries.


    However, Wen Jiu couldn''t store all the parasites in his own body for now¡ªmost of them weren''t under his spiritual control, making them unpredictable and potentially dangerous.


    So he decided to temporarily house them inside his Black Ghoul, allowing them to be nurtured there. Once they fully merged with his Yin techniques, he would absorb them into himself.


    But Wen Jiu hadn''t expected that when he summoned the Black Ghoul, Liu Xiao, sensing its aura up close, would suddenly ask a question that caught him completely off guard.


    "Wen, be honest¡­ Is this Black Ghoul stronger than me?"


    At such a close distance, Liu Xiao could feel an overwhelming pressure radiating from the ghoul.


    The same kind of oppressive feeling he had when facing Mu Canglong or that Gu Daoist.

 Chapter 65: Summoned by Gong Chi

    "Liu-ge, you''re joking."


    Wen Jiu replied without a change in expression, his face calm and unflustered.


    But inwardly, he was quite surprised. He hadn''t completely concealed the aura of the black ghoul¡ªdoing so would be too conspicuous, like deliberately drawing attention to oneself. Instead, he had released a portion of its aura, just enough to present the level of a mid-tier black ghoul. Yet even with this careful control, Liu Xiao had still noticed something.


    Of course, admitting it was out of the question.


    But this also served as a reminder¡ªhe needed to avoid letting the black ghoul appear in public whenever possible. No matter how well he concealed it, there would always be experienced cultivators who could sense something off. Even if they couldn''t be certain, suspicion alone was enough.


    And once someone became suspicious, half the effort of concealing his aura would be wasted¡ªbecause suspicion leads to vigilance.


    Liu Xiao saw that Wen Jiu wasn''t admitting anything, but he didn''t press further. He trusted his instincts. After years of battling wits and strength with rogue cultivators and marauders in the Night Patrol Division, his keen intuition was the only reason he was still alive.


    After scrutinizing the black ghoul a few more times, Liu Xiao couldn''t help but sigh inwardly¡ªwhy hadn''t he noticed this before?


    Still, he knew what to say and what not to say. So, he simply turned away and put the matter out of his mind.


    As the last of the mana-devouring parasites was extracted from Liu Xiao''s dantian, and his spiritual power finally stopped being consumed and drained away, he was overwhelmed with joy¡ªso much so that he almost burst into tears. He silently celebrated his decision to befriend Wen Jiu back then.


    If not for that, he would never have been "reborn" today.


    "Liu-ge, take some time to recover. Although I''ve removed the mana-devouring parasites, your dantian won''t fully heal for at least a month or two." After a few words of advice, Wen Jiu prepared to leave with the black ghoul.


    "Thank you, Brother Wen." Liu Xiao carefully felt the restored flow of spiritual energy in his dantian, and the gloom of the past days instantly dissipated.


    He wanted nothing more than to laugh out loud in celebration¡ªbut that would be too high-profile, so he held back.


    Wen Jiu nodded and said nothing more, then took the black ghoul and returned to the Land of Dismembered Corpses.


    He believed Liu Xiao was smart enough not to spread the news immediately, even without the restriction of a Silence Technique.


    In the days that followed, Wen Jiu stuck to his usual cultivation routine, occasionally observing the mana-devouring parasites inside the black ghoul''s body.


    For the first two days, nothing changed.


    But Wen Jiu was in no hurry¡ªhe was waiting.


    Waiting for the daily system settlement to recognize the act of nourishing the mana-devouring parasites as an event, thus granting him experience points. If that happened, successful fusion would be inevitable.


    And sure enough, on the third day, an unexpected surprise appeared.


    The mana-devouring parasites didn''t fuse with his dark arts as he had initially speculated. Instead, just as he had hoped, a new event was added to the daily settlement log.


    [Fed the mana-devouring parasites with Yin-based techniques for twelve hours. Panel experience +1, Mana-devouring Parasite Mutation Experience +12.]


    [Parasite: Mana-devouring Parasite (12/100) PS: Currently, these parasites can enter a host''s body through open wounds, devour spiritual energy, and damage the dantian. Once mutation is complete, they will be strengthened and evolve.]


    "They''re actually starting to mutate."


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    Wen Jiu was pleased.


    In less than ten days, the experience points would reach their maximum, and by then, the mana-devouring parasites would be his to command¡ªstronger and more powerful than ever.


    Judging from the current situation, it seemed their level could be increased further. Otherwise, the daily system settlement wouldn''t have started tracking it as an event. After all, when he first practiced the Silence Technique, he hadn''t even gained proficiency experience.


    But then, Wen Jiu suddenly had a realization.


    "Maybe it''s not that I didn''t gain any experience back then... Perhaps, like the mana-devouring parasites, it simply wasn''t immediately recognized as an event for settlement."


    If he maxed out the proficiency of the Silence Technique¡ª


    What would happen?


    As far as he knew, the Silence Technique was a one-time-use spell. Any Qi Condensation cultivator could learn it instantly, and even with continued practice, its effects wouldn''t improve.


    But what if the daily settlement panel could change that?


    With that thought, Wen Jiu decided to test it out when he had time¡ªto see if there was anything to gain.


    ¡­


    While Wen Jiu was focused on cultivating the black ghoul and evolving the mana-devouring parasites, news finally arrived from the elders who had gone out on a support mission.


    However, the message wasn''t sent to Feixian Peak directly. Instead, it came from several side peaks, because the Inspector from the Hall of Supervision had urgently summoned cultivators from twenty or thirty side peaks¡ªanyone at or above Qi Condensation Stage Three¡ªto head to the Bloodfiend Abyss for reinforcement.


    Since the Shayan Volcano had been activated by the remnants of the Blood-Clad Tower, it was now in a state of imminent eruption.


    If left unchecked, although the eruption wouldn''t spread beyond the Abyss of Blood Fiends, the demons and monsters escaping from it would wreak havoc, affecting at least half of the Dead Man''s Peak territory. The consequences would be dire.


    Upon learning this, Wen Jiu couldn''t help but feel a jolt of shock. With such a massive disturbance, twenty to thirty side peaks had already been drawn away¡ªdid this mean the Blood-Clad Tower''s remnants were about to strike Feixian Peak next?


    With this in mind, when his elder sister, Wen Ya, visited again that day, Wen Jiu simply kept her from returning to the Xu family for the time being.


    This would make it easier for him to take her away from Feixian Peak when necessary. The Blood Corpse Evasion technique allowed him to bring others along¡ªit just consumed about ten percent more corpse energy, nothing too significant.


    Afterward, he also made some inquiries about Mu Canglong''s whereabouts, but there was no news. His fate remained unknown.


    Chances were, he hadn''t survived.


    Mu Canglong had once bestowed upon him the grace of teaching, so Wen Jiu naturally hoped he would return alive, though he feared things might not go as he wished.


    After all, the world was unpredictable.


    What Wen Jiu hadn''t expected was that, on this very day, Gong Chi suddenly sent someone to summon him to the Night Patrol Division.


    The moment he received the order, Wen Jiu''s expression changed dramatically.


    Gong Chi hadn''t gone to the Abyss of Blood Fiends!


    And now, he was suddenly calling for him by name!


    "This¡­"


    Without hesitation, Wen Jiu rushed to the Land of Mangled Corpses to retrieve the Black Ghoul¡ªjust in case.


    Upon arriving at the Night Patrol Division and seeing the "still not fully recovered" Gong Chi, Wen Jiu took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm.


    With the Blood Corpse Evasion technique at his disposal¡­


    Even if he couldn''t win, he could at least escape, right?


    "Elder Gong."


    Wen Jiu bowed respectfully, keeping his head lowered like the other Night Patrol Division disciples, not daring to look directly at Gong Chi''s face.


    Gong Chi waved a hand, dismissing the other disciples, then coughed heavily twice before speaking bluntly: "I''ve heard that you''ve been making quite a name for yourself on Feixian Peak lately? Even being compared to Du Feng?"


    "Elder Gong overpraises me¡ªit''s just an empty reputation." Wen Jiu responded while trying to guess Gong Chi''s true intentions behind bringing this up.


    To his surprise, Gong Chi actually praised him again, saying, "Though your cultivation method damages your foundation, among the apprentice disciples, you do stand out. You are indeed worthy of such recognition."


    "Thank you for your praise, Elder."


    But Wen Jiu''s heart sank.


    This praise felt off.


    Something unusual was definitely going on!


    Sure enough, Gong Chi let out a sigh and spoke again: "Unfortunately, your spiritual root is merely of inferior grade. The third level of Qi Refinement may very well be your limit. Even if you push yourself at the cost of your own foundation, you might only reach the fourth level at best. Going any further would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens."


    With that, Gong Chi gazed at Wen Jiu with a look of regret.


    Wen Jiu didn''t lift his head, but he had already pieced together some clues.


    This was both praise and criticism¡ªsomething was definitely wrong.


    Was he planning to keep him on Feixian Peak?


    With that suspicion in mind, Wen Jiu quickly considered his response, choosing not to confront Gong Chi directly but instead probing for his true purpose. "I am slow-witted. Elder Gong, please enlighten me."


    Gong Chi didn''t bother hiding his intentions and spoke outright: "With your spiritual root and the Yinzhou Corpse Cultivation Method, you won''t get far on the main peak. The main peak would never nurture someone on the demonic path and risk repeating past tragedies¡­ So, why not stay on Feixian Peak as my disciple? With my elixirs to nourish your body, breaking into the fourth level of Qi Refinement should be no issue. And once you do, the position of First Deacon of the Night Patrol Division will be yours."


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 66: The Grudge of Roadblockers

    Hearing those words, Wen Jiu''s expression froze.


    It was exactly as he had suspected¡ªGong Chi intended to keep him at Feixian Peak and even take him as a disciple.


    Before Wen Jiu could speak, Gong Chi continued, giving him no time to hesitate. "On the main peak, the discrimination against the Left Path is far worse than here at Feixian Peak. With your mere second-layer Qi Refinement cultivation, even if you pass the assessment, you won''t be valued more than an ordinary first-layer Qi Refinement disciple. In these past days, you''ve encountered the Bloodcloak Tower and heard about the Blood Fiend Abyss. Liu Xiao is crippled, Mu Canglong''s life and death remain unknown, and as for the other Night Patrol disciples, there''s no need to even mention them. You should understand by now why the Left Path is unwelcome."


    "I understand." Wen Jiu nodded.


    But inwardly, he found it amusing. If anyone else had said this, he might have believed it was heartfelt¡ªbut what right did Gong Chi have to say such things?


    He was definitely going to the main peak. A wise man does not stand beneath a crumbling wall.


    Feixian Peak only had seven elders, yet two were undercover agents, and the remnants of the Bloodcloak Tower were still keeping a close watch on the place.


    This was no place for him to stay. Even if the Land of Mangled Corpses allowed him to steadily absorb death energy and yin energy, it still wasn''t worth the risk.


    Besides, he had already absorbed most of the blood energy from the Land of Mangled Corpses. If he stayed, he would only be able to gather death and yin energy¡ªbut where would he find the blood energy needed to cultivate the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body and the Blood Ghoul Hand?


    Yet from what Gong Chi was saying, it seemed he neither wanted Wen Jiu to participate in the assessment nor go to the main peak to cultivate.


    As for his true motives, Wen Jiu wasn''t sure yet, but one thing was certain¡ªhe was trying to pull him into the depths.


    His Left Path talents might earn him special cultivation at Feixian Peak, but they would also attract the attention of true Left Path heretics.


    Seeing Wen Jiu nod, Gong Chi smiled in satisfaction. "As long as you understand. It''s not that I''m unwilling to let you go to the main peak, but rather that it isn''t the most suitable place for you. I don''t want to see you go there and be buried. As the saying goes, ''Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix''¡ªyou''ve heard this before, haven''t you?"


    "I have," Wen Jiu replied, "and I understand your meaning, Elder Gong. But to suddenly take me as your disciple¡ªI feel rather uneasy."


    He neither accepted nor refused outright.


    If he agreed too quickly, it would seem fake, and Gong Chi might not believe him.


    If he refused outright, who knew how Gong Chi would react?


    Delaying was the best option.


    In just ten days, the Black Ghoul would complete its transformation into a Three-Fiend Walking Corpse. He could deal with Gong Chi then. If the elder truly insisted on blocking his path, he would have to resort to drastic measures.


    It wasn''t as if he had no trump cards.


    He wouldn''t play that card easily, but if he did, a mere side-peak elder like Gong Chi wouldn''t be able to handle it.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    "You have ten days to give me an answer." Gong Chi, however, was not so easily fooled. In ten days, the assessment would begin.


    If Wen Jiu hadn''t given him a definite answer by then, Gong Chi would likely take action.


    Wen Jiu cupped his fists in salute, deliberately revealing a complex expression. After all, his persona was that of an inexperienced young cultivator¡ªbeing too calm would seem unnatural. "I will think it over carefully and not disappoint your kindness, Elder Gong."


    "Go."


    Gong Chi waved his hand.


    Wen Jiu turned and left.


    But even long after he was gone, Gong Chi''s eyes remained fixed on his departing figure.


    A moment later, Gong Chi slowly withdrew his gaze, murmuring to himself,


    "A Left Path genius like this... It would be a waste to send him to the main peak. If I could bring him into the Heaven''s Left Alliance, that would be a great merit¡­"


    Rushing all the way home, Wen Jiu gulped down two cups of water as soon as he arrived. The noise drew his sister, Wen Ya, over, her face filled with confusion and a hint of concern.


    "What''s wrong?"


    Wen Jiu shook his head. "It''s nothing. I was just thinking about an important decision in life."


    Worried that someone might be listening through the walls, he didn''t say anything more. If Gong Chi had heard this, it would have been the perfect answer.


    Seeing his reaction, Wen Ya didn''t press further. She simply reassured him with a gentle smile, "It''s okay. Just choose boldly. If you make the wrong choice, your sister will always be here for you!"


    "Mm-hmm."


    Wen Jiu nodded, gazing deeply at his sister.


    In that moment, he made up his mind.


    He had to go to the main peak.


    Anyone who stood in his way¡ªwould die.


    Shaking off his thoughts, Wen Jiu immediately rushed to the land of scattered corpses and began absorbing the blood energy from the heart of the site using his Corpse Eye. He needed it to cultivate both the Ghostface Pagoda and the Blood Transformation Body of his Black Ghoul.


    His goal was to evolve the Black Ghoul into a Three-Fiend Walking Corpse as fast as possible while also pushing the Blood Transformation Body to the fourth level.


    And so, for the next few days, Wen Jiu buried himself in the land of scattered corpses. In just five days, he gathered five to six hundred drops of refined blood, bringing his total reserves to an astonishing 6,500. However, he left 6,000 untouched, using only the surplus to cultivate the Ghostface Pagoda. Even then, the results were impressive¡ªit allowed him to steadily raise ghostly spirits from the first layer of Qi Refinement to the second.


    The only downside was that the number of lingering souls in the land of scattered corpses was dwindling. The souls he attracted now were mostly wandering spirits from outside Feixian Peak, far inferior in quality.


    This meant nurturing them consumed more ghostly energy.


    But Wen Jiu didn''t care.


    He was determined to drain every last drop from this place before leaving forever.


    At the same time, he occasionally sneaked over to the trade market in Baihua Mountain to sell Soul-Seizing Talismans. Unlike before, when he would only visit every six or seven days, he now went once every three days, even selling top-tier Grade-1 lower-rank talismans.


    Once his Black Ghoul evolved into a Three-Fiend Walking Corpse and his Blood Transformation Body broke through to the third layer, those lower-rank talismans would be of little use to him. Instead of hoarding them, it was better to convert them into resources for corpse cultivation.


    Unfortunately, even if he pushed his spiritual power to the limit, he could only craft around twenty talismans a day, with only one or two reaching top-tier quality.


    If he wanted to rely on them alone to advance his Blood Transformation Body to the fourth level within ten days, it simply wasn''t financially feasible. In the end, he would still have to dip into his reserves of refined blood.


    Not too much, though¡ªprobably just four or five hundred drops.


    Since he couldn''t yet cultivate the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body, it wasn''t a big deal to use that amount now. He could always find a way to replenish it later.


    This was the advantage of stockpiling resources.


    If he hadn''t saved up refined blood before, he would be struggling now.


    Days passed in the blink of an eye.


    As the assessment date drew near, the elders of the Monitors'' Hall and Feixian Peak had yet to return.


    The only good news was that the formation had been established, and the Fiendflame Volcano was gradually stabilizing.


    They would likely return in a few days.


    Even if the assessment was delayed, it wouldn''t be for long.


    However, there was still no news of Mu Canglong. Whether he was dead or alive remained unknown, which left Wen Jiu puzzled.


    What confused him even more was that the Blood Robe Tower had shown no signs of movement.


    Had they really gone through all the trouble of stirring up chaos in the Blood Fiend Abyss just to trigger the Fiendflame eruption? Was that all there was to it?


    Just as Wen Jiu was racking his brain over this mystery, his Devourer Yin Insect reached full experience, successfully mutating and merging with his Yin Arts.


    Another trump card in his hand.

 Chapter 67: Mutated Yin Insects

    After merging with the Yin Law, the Devouring Yin Insects began frantically consuming it, reproducing rapidly through its power, and then outputting more Yin Law through their reproduction. This created a perfect cycle. However, the Yin Law processed by these insects was no longer the same as before. Previously, when Wen Jiu released his Yin Law, it was sinister yet still a form of magical energy. But now, under his divine sense, it appeared like a writhing, viscous sludge from a swamp filled with decaying corpses.


    Just a single glance sent chills down his spine. A closer inspection with divine sense made his skin crawl even more. Because within the Yin Law, countless Devouring Soul Insects were squirming and surging endlessly. Even with Wen Jiu''s extensive experience in demonic cultivation, he still felt uneasy at the sight. So, instead of immediately absorbing it into his body, he turned his attention to the description of the Devouring Yin Insects on his daily settlement panel.


    [Gu Insect: Mutated Devouring Yin Insect (Rank 1 - Lower Tier) (0/3000)]


    Capable of invading the human body through the air, rapidly corroding the meridians and dantian, ultimately reducing the infected to mere mortals. However, once outside the host, the Devouring Yin Insect can only survive for fifteen minutes. Additionally, the stronger the invaded individual, the greater their magical resistance against the mutated Devouring Yin Insects.


    Wen Jiu wasn''t surprised that the Devouring Yin Insects could level up, as this was another one of the terrifying aspects of the daily settlement panel. If he lacked a way to improve something, the panel would automatically provide him with the simplest path to growth.


    Take talisman crafting, for example. Even without a teacher or formal training, he could still improve simply by grinding experience. In other words, he didn''t need to practice any Gu cultivation techniques¡ªhe could still nurture these insects to Rank 1 Mid-Tier, Rank 1 High-Tier, or even grind his way to a Rank 2 existence.


    Rank 2¡ªequivalent to the Foundation Establishment stage.


    Regaining his focus, Wen Jiu turned his gaze back to the settlement panel. What truly caught him off guard was that after their mutation, the Devouring Yin Insects had gained the ability to spread through the air.


    Even though they would die within fifteen minutes outside a host, this ability was still terrifying¡ªafter all, cultivators needed to breathe. Even if someone used breath control techniques, a single open wound was enough for the Devouring Yin Insects to invade. There was no real way to avoid them.


    But the most dangerous aspect wasn''t just their airborne transmission. It was the potential for large-scale warfare. If Wen Jiu had enough Yin Law stored in his dantian, he could unleash the insects upon an opposing army. The devastation would be catastrophic.


    In the cultivation world, the fall of low-level cultivators alone might not determine the outcome of a great battle, but it could shift the balance. For sects, this ability alone was enough to be considered a trump card.


    If news of this spread to Death Valley, Wen Jiu would undoubtedly become a secret priority for Dead Peak''s elite training program¡ªhe might not even have to undergo any assessments. But if this power became widely known, he would also attract the attention of hostile forces. Those who couldn''t obtain it would inevitably try to destroy it.


    "This mutated Devouring Yin Insect is a double-edged sword. Used correctly, it could become my ultimate trump card. Used carelessly, it could bring disaster upon me¡­ Fortunately, besides Brother Liu, no one knows I possess them. As long as I use them wisely, I can always shift the blame onto the Gu Daoist."


    With that thought, Wen Jiu made a firm decision. He would not use them recklessly unless absolutely necessary.


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    In the next moment, he absorbed all the Devouring Yin Insects from the Black Ghoul into his body, feeling them merge with his Yin Law under his divine sense''s control. They circulated endlessly through his meridians.


    To be honest, the thought of countless parasitic insects residing within his body left him with an indescribable feeling. Just by cultivating them within himself, he was already more sinister than ninety-nine percent of demonic cultivators and evil practitioners.


    An hour later, the fusion between his Yin Law and the Devouring Yin Insects was complete. To his surprise, his dantian''s Yin Law had doubled as a result. Breaking through from Qi Refinement Level 2 to Level 3 wasn''t much different from this.


    If he advanced to Qi Refinement Level 3 now, his Yin Law reserves would surpass all other cultivators at that stage¡ªperhaps even rivaling those at Level 4.


    However, Wen Jiu chose not to break through just yet. He was waiting for an opportunity. And that opportunity was coming soon.


    ¡ª


    Early the next morning, Wen Jiu prepared for his final push: cultivating five Qi Refinement Level 2 Yin Souls at once to help his Black Ghoul advance to the Three-Fiend Corpse stage.


    Once the Black Ghoul evolved, awakening its innate Corpse Dao divine ability, Wen Jiu would finally have some real standing in Feixian Peak.


    Gong Chi was not someone to be taken lightly.


    But before anything could be finalized, Gong Chi summoned him over. It was clear¡ªGong Chi had run out of patience.


    However, the place Gong Chi wanted him to go was not the Night Patrol Division''s main hall but rather Liu Xiao''s recovery quarters.


    When Wen Jiu arrived, Gong Chi was inquiring about Liu Xiao''s injuries. He took out a bottle of mid-grade first-tier Blood Replenishing Pills, which could help fully restore internal wounds. While they couldn''t regenerate a severed limb, they could minimize the long-term impact of the injury.


    Beyond that, Gong Chi was also arranging Liu Xiao''s future. Even if Liu Xiao had become a cripple, he could still manage part of Fei Xian Peak''s business, and his children would be directly accepted as apprentice disciples of the sect.


    But what Wen Jiu hadn''t expected was that his sister, Wen Ya, was also there. After learning about her identity, Gong Chi began inquiring about her well-being, even discussing the possibility of promoting her to a disciple.


    To Wen Jiu, however, all of this felt less like kindness and more like a threat.


    Because if he refused today, this so-called kindness could easily turn into a killing intent.


    Steadying himself, Wen Jiu walked in and respectfully greeted them one by one, "Elder Gong, Steward Liu, Sis."


    Elder Gong nodded, then asked, "Well? Have you considered becoming my disciple?"


    At these words, Liu Xiao, who had just been deeply grateful to Elder Gong, suddenly tensed.


    Although Wen Ya didn''t know what was going on, she could read the change in Liu Xiao''s expression and immediately sensed that something was wrong.


    Without hesitation, Wen Jiu bowed and said, "Master!"


    He understood¡ªGong Chi''s polite inquiry was not a request.


    It was an ultimatum.


    Becoming his disciple was the only acceptable answer.


    But since Gong Chi wanted this outcome, then he would give it to him.


    Besides, as a rogue cultivator of the Left Path, going back on his word later wouldn''t be unreasonable, would it?


    "Good!"


    Gong Chi smiled in satisfaction.


    But in that moment, everyone in the room felt a chill run down their spine.


    ...


    After Gong Chi left, Liu Xiao remained silent for a long while before finally speaking.


    "How did this happen? Why would Elder Gong suddenly want to take you as a disciple?"


    On any other day, this would be an incredible opportunity.


    But with the entrance assessment approaching, Wen Jiu was certain to be admitted to the main peak for training.


    Now that he had been taken in as a disciple, his path to the main peak was effectively cut off.


    Wen Jiu smiled and said, "It''s fine, Brother Liu. Honestly, someone like me, a Left Path cultivator, might not be well-received at the main peak anyway. Following Elder Gong''s guidance might actually be better¡­ With his mentorship, I could gain more than I would at the main peak."


    "This¡­"


    Liu Xiao was momentarily at a loss for words.


    He couldn''t tell if Wen Jiu''s smile and words were sincere or not.


    At that moment, high above Fei Xian Peak, Gong Chi looked down in Wen Jiu''s direction, stroking his beard with a satisfied smile.


    The boy knew how to adapt.


    And he understood his own position.


    Had Wen Jiu refused today or shown any signs of disloyalty, Gong Chi would have had no choice but to eliminate him.


    A Left Path genius like him could not be allowed to go to the main peak¡ªafter all, there were certainly some old figures there who appreciated Left Path techniques.

 Chapter 68: Corpse Energy Awakens

    Elder Ye Chen of the Supervision Hall''s main peak, Ji Qiubai''s master, was a neutral figure. He never discriminated against unorthodox cultivation methods, and among his disciples were both Qi Refining cultivators and practitioners of the Left-Hand Path. In fact, he himself practiced some Left-Hand techniques. If Wen Jiu were to catch his eye, he might actually gain his favor. After all, though Wen Jiu only had an inferior spiritual root, his talent in unorthodox cultivation was undeniable. Among the corpse-nurturing lineage of Yinzou, no one had progressed as swiftly as he had¡ªnot even Mu Canglong''s father.


    Before long, Gong Chi returned to the main hall of the Night Patrol Division.


    But just as he stepped inside, a figure silently emerged from the shadows beside the hall, following him at an unhurried pace. His footsteps made no sound, and his presence seemed nonexistent. As he passed through the darkness, he vanished completely, like a ghostly specter. Yet, he wore the attire of a Night Patrol Division deacon¡ªnone other than the division''s most mysterious third deacon, Ye Luo.


    Sensing his presence, Gong Chi''s steps faltered briefly. He glanced back before hastening his pace, striding quickly into the main hall and heading straight for the small attic on the top floor.


    He shut the door. Activated the formation. Everything was done seamlessly.


    As soon as he entered, Ye Luo spoke first.


    "The Alliance Leader sent me to inform you that Senior Yinyang Chen has divined using life arts. The corpse of Blood Ink Three Thousand is still on Feixian Peak, as is the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body¡­ They have never left Feixian Peak!"


    Gong Chi''s expression turned grave upon hearing this.


    Even though he had doubts, the mere mention of "Senior Yinyang Chen" left him with no choice but to believe it.


    "But I''ve already searched every place I should have on Feixian Peak, using my divine sense to dig three feet into the ground, yet I''ve found nothing."


    Feixian Peak wasn''t large.


    Where could they be hidden?


    Over the past few days, he had meticulously scoured an area spanning thirty miles from the base to the peak of Feixian Peak at least five times. Yet, he had uncovered nothing.


    Ye Luo replied, "Senior Yinyang Chen''s divinations have never been wrong. He says the corpse of Blood Ink Three Thousand is there¡­ Perhaps some kind of talisman is obstructing your divine sense."


    "That''s not impossible," Gong Chi conceded. "Then I will search again more carefully. Go back and tell the Alliance Leader that I will find the corpse before the assessment deadline."


    "You don''t have that much time," Ye Luo said.


    Gong Chi''s face darkened. "Why?"


    "The Alliance Leader is furious. He''s already beginning to question your loyalty." Ye Luo''s black eyes locked onto him, filled with suspicion.


    "My loyalty to Tianzuo is as clear as the sun and moon," Gong Chi declared solemnly. "Tell the Alliance Leader that if I fail to find it, I will personally go to Tianzuo to receive my punishment." His voice was firm, and only then did Ye Luo''s sharp gaze ease slightly.


    What Ye Luo didn''t know was that Gong Chi spoke with confidence because he had a backup plan.


    That backup plan was Wen Jiu.


    He hadn''t found Blood Ink Three Thousand''s corpse, but he had discovered a top-tier unorthodox talent for Tianzuo Alliance. Not only would the Alliance Leader not blame him, but he might even reward him instead.


    Yet, at that moment, Ye Luo sat down rather than leaving. He picked up a pot of cold tea and took a sip, showing no intention of departing.


    "I can''t return yet. Tianzuo received word that the Merciless Iron Mask, Ye Chen, has been away from the main peak for half a month now, and he''s still missing. I suspect he''s watching from the shadows."


    Gong Chi''s brows furrowed even deeper.


    He was well aware that Ye Chen had returned. That was why he had deliberately injured himself, so he could remain on Feixian Peak.


    His plan was to use Ji Qiubai''s death to draw the main peak''s attention to Feixian Peak and earn merit to offset his previous failures.


    For safety, he had even instructed Bai Changxin, the master of the Blood-Clad Tower, to stir up trouble in the Blood Fiend Abyss, hoping to divert Ye Chen''s attention. But to his surprise, Ye Chen seemed completely uninterested in the Blood Fiend Abyss.


    And now, he still hadn''t appeared.


    That was the most unsettling part.


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    "However, there''s no need to worry. The Alliance Leader has already taken additional measures in the Blood Fiend Abyss to buy us time to find the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body." As Ye Luo spoke, he slowly retrieved ten black talismans from his storage pouch.


    At first glance, their extraordinary quality was evident.


    Gong Chi took a closer look, and his expression turned to delight.


    Dispelling Talismans.


    First-tier, high-grade.


    Drawn personally by Senior Yinyang Chen.


    They could break through any formations or talismanic obstructions below the second tier.


    Each talisman was worth over a thousand low-grade spirit stones, but compared to the value of the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body, it was nothing.


    "Five for each of us. You search the main peak, I''ll search outside the main peak¡­ We start tonight."


    "Agreed."


    ¡ª


    Corpse Remnants Wasteland.


    Back at the Corpse Remnants Wasteland, Wen Jiu wasted no time. He used the Ghost Face Pagoda to cultivate Yin Souls until they reached the second level of Qi Refining. By nightfall, he succeeded. Once done, he eagerly had his Black Ghoul devour them.


    Now, he just had to wait for midnight''s settlement.


    In the meantime, Wen Jiu focused on crafting talismans.


    A single top-quality first-tier low-grade Soul-Seizing Talisman might not be a trump card, but in large quantities, it could become a deadly weapon.


    Quantity could bring quality.


    After all, Soul-Seizing Talismans weren''t as easy to guard against as conventional spells or formations. At critical moments, they could prove extremely useful.


    More importantly, they helped conceal his identity. Who would suspect that a beginner Yin Talisman Master could produce top-tier low-grade Soul-Seizing Talismans?


    After exhausting his spiritual power, Wen Jiu had crafted a total of thirty talismans¡ªten more than usual.


    Among them, three were of top-tier quality.


    That was when he realized that ever since he started nurturing Gu within himself, his spiritual power had increased significantly.


    A pleasant surprise.


    Midnight arrived.


    The settlement began.


    [Daily Settlement Panel Lv2 (165/1000)]


    [Daily Settlement!]


    [Chanted the Corpse-Nurturing Mantra for three hours: +30 Corpse-Nurturing experience.]


    [Spent ten hours in the Corpse Remnants Wasteland, absorbing corpse energy and death energy: +1 Panel Experience, +20 Corpse Energy, +20 Death Energy.]


    [Devoured five second-level Qi Refining Yin Souls, one jin of corpse blood, cultivated corpses for twelve hours using the Corpse-Nurturing Mantra, supplemented with fresh cultivator blood, low-grade Corpse-Nurturing Beads, and the Three-Fiend Corpse Coffin for six hours: +1 Panel Experience, +100 Corpse-Nurturing Experience, +50, +3, +6, +12, +2 Corpse-Nurturer Experience, +24 Blood Transformation Experience, +20.]


    [Crafted thirty first-tier low-grade Soul-Seizing Talismans: +1 Panel Experience, +30 Soul-Seizing Proficiency Experience.]


    [Self-Nurtured Gu for twelve hours: +1 Panel Experience, +24 Gu Experience.]


    In the next instant¡ª


    His personal panel flashed, and the Black Ghoul''s experience bar filled up completely.


    The upgrade panel shifted dramatically.


    [Three-Fiend Ghoul¡ªCorpse-Nurturing (Lower Realm 0/3000)]


    [A Three-Fiend Ghoul is a postnatal fiendish corpse, exceptionally powerful, fearing nothing and being countered by nothing. It can also awaken unique corpse-based divine abilities.]


    Then¡ª


    A notification popped up.


    [Undergoing Transformation¡­]


    [Awakening¡­]


    At that moment, Wen Jiu sensed something stirring inside the Corpse-Nurturing Coffin¡ªhis Black Ghoul was¡­


    No. Or rather, it should be called a Three-Fiend Ghoul.


    At this moment, the corpse energy within the Three-Fiend Ghoul erupted suddenly, reaching an unprecedented level. Even a first-grade mid-tier Corpse Nurturing Coffin struggled to contain it, as if the energy could burst out at any moment.


    "I underestimated the commotion caused by its transformation into a Three-Fiend Ghoul," Wen Jiu thought. He had originally assumed that using the Corpse Nurturing Coffin would be sufficient.


    But from the looks of it, that wasn''t the case.


    Realizing this, Wen Jiu immediately activated a Swift Talisman and rushed out of Fei Xian Peak, distancing himself as much as possible.


    As he moved, the corpse energy inside the coffin grew denser. Then, after running twenty miles in one breath, it suddenly exploded.


    In an instant, the overwhelming corpse energy engulfed a hundred meters around him. Its sinister aura spread several miles, causing livestock to panic and flee. Those that couldn''t escape wailed in despair.


    Then, right before Wen Jiu''s eyes, the Three-Fiend Ghoul began moving¡ªits arms and legs twitched freely. Its entire body contorted unnaturally, emitting unsettling cracks and pops, like a sinister entity that had slumbered underground for centuries.


    The next moment¡ª


    The Three-Fiend Ghoul leaped into the air, dragging a dense trail of corpse energy behind it. In an instant, it carried Wen Jiu a hundred meters away.


    And during this flight, Wen Jiu could feel it still undergoing transformation.


    No.


    It was awakening.


    Its color began to change¡ªdark skin became etched with intricate, indistinct patterns formed from condensed fiendish energy. Though their meaning was unclear, they exuded a powerful, ominous presence. When these patterns covered its entire body, its eyes abruptly shifted¡ªan overwhelming force of fiendish and corpse energy erupted from them.


    Even at close range, Wen Jiu felt his heart pound in terror. The pressure from those corpse eyes exceeded even Gong Chi''s presence.


    It was comparable to Ji Qiubai during their battle back then!


    "An innate corpse mystic ability?"


    The thought leaped into Wen Jiu''s mind. Otherwise, he couldn''t fathom what else could exert such immense pressure on him.


    After all, even when a Black Ghoul transformed into a Three-Fiend Ghoul, no matter how sinister or fierce it became, it had never given him this kind of oppressive feeling before.


    As soon as this thought formed, the fiendish and corpse energy that had just erupted was abruptly reabsorbed into the ghoul''s corpse eyes.


    At the same time¡ª


    All surrounding corpse energy and fiendish aura were sucked into its eyes as well, along with the frightened souls of the beasts fleeing in the forest below.


    Then, as Wen Jiu glanced downward, a skill panel for the Three-Fiend Ghoul surfaced before him.


    [Three-Fiend Ghoul Skills: Blood Refining Body, Third Stage (1520/2000) Ghost Arts¡¤Three Rivers Concealment, First Stage (0/500) Innate Corpse Mystic Ability¡¤Law-Avoiding Soul Capture, First Stage (0/1000)]


    [Law-Avoiding Soul Capture]


    [An innate corpse mystic ability. Upon awakening, the ghoul gains a Law-Avoiding Corpse Body¡ªany five-element spells, yin arts, or special corpse-suppressing techniques used against it will automatically be weakened by thirty percent. Additionally, its Soul-Capturing Eyes can consume ten percent of its corpse energy to extend a hundred-meter radius, seizing the souls of those within range. These souls can be devoured for nourishment or probed for their deepest memories, extracting information useful to the corpse nurturer.]

 Chapter 69: The Soul-Capturing Gaze

    "Law-Avoiding... Soul Capture..."


    Wen Jiu was stunned.


    As expected of a mystic ability.


    It allowed a mid-tier Three-Fiend Ghoul to tear apart a Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivator with its bare hands.


    Take the Law-Avoiding Corpse Body, for example¡ªany attack involving five-element spells, yin arts, or corpse-countering techniques would be inherently weakened by thirty percent.


    That meant every opponent would essentially be afflicted with a debuff, reducing their overall strength by thirty percent.


    And the skill panel didn''t mention any diminishing returns on this effect.


    In other words¡ª


    No matter how powerful the enemy was, they would still be weakened by thirty percent.


    Wen Jiu had only two words for this:


    Tyrannical!


    It was truly worthy of being a mystic ability.


    Of course, if the enemy was overwhelmingly strong, then whether they were weakened or not wouldn''t matter much¡ªif they could one-shot him before, they still could.


    But against a Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivator?


    That thirty percent reduction was a massive advantage.


    And then there was the Soul-Capturing Eyes.


    Consuming ten percent corpse energy to seize souls within a hundred meters¡ªthis was far more domineering than a Soul-Grabbing Talisman. Its effect was similar to a Soul-Searching Art, except that technique could only search a single soul at a time.


    What surprised Wen Jiu the most wasn''t even the range, but rather¡ªthe ability to read memories.


    This essentially meant that as long as he wanted, he could extract someone''s soul and instantly obtain everything they had ever learned in their lifetime.


    "This..."


    The more Wen Jiu thought about it, the more shocked he became.


    This was leagues above a mere Soul-Grabbing technique.


    "I just don''t know what the current limits of the Soul-Capturing Eyes are..."


    "Can they affect a Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivator''s soul?"


    Honestly¡ª


    He really wanted to kill Gong Chi.


    That kind of deep-seated hatred that kept him up at night.


    But no matter how badly he wanted it, he wouldn''t act recklessly. His Blood Refining Body hadn''t yet reached the fourth stage.


    Once he attained the fourth stage, combined with Law-Avoiding Soul Capture and his Soul-Devouring Insect, then he''d have a solid, triple-layered assault.


    And he still needed to wait for the right opportunity.


    "Just a few more days," Wen Jiu muttered to himself.


    He suppressed his thoughts, had the Three-Fiend Ghoul retract its aura, and then returned to the vicinity of Fei Xian Peak. Using a Blood Corpse Escape technique, he slipped back home unnoticed.


    After staying inside for a while and confirming that there were no unusual movements outside, Wen Jiu finally relaxed.


    ¡­


    The next morning.


    News of Wen Jiu becoming Gong Chi''s disciple spread.


    Overnight, it had become common knowledge throughout Fei Xian Peak.


    Wen Jiu wasn''t surprised. It would have been strange if no one had deliberately spread the news.


    Upon hearing this, Chen Daoqing immediately rushed over, looking anxious. "Wen Daoist, are you out of your mind?"


    With the assessment coming up¡ª


    Wen Jiu had chosen to become Elder Gong''s disciple?


    Wasn''t this cutting off his own path to advancement?


    Wen Jiu simply smiled as if unconcerned. "Daoist Chen, being personally accepted by Elder Gong is a great fortune for me. Besides, someone like me, a left-path cultivator, might not even be welcomed on the main peak."


    "Foolish! Absolutely foolish!"


    Chen Daoqing looked exasperated, like iron that refused to become steel.


    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.


    Though Wen Jiu didn''t know why Chen Daoqing was so agitated, he maintained his calm smile, revealing nothing.


    Whether Chen Daoqing was genuinely concerned or had ulterior motives, Wen Jiu chose to play along.


    The assessment had already been postponed.


    He still had time.


    Now, he just had to wait¡ªfor Blood Robe Tower to make a move on Fei Xian Peak.


    After all¡ª


    He didn''t believe that Blood Robe Tower had stirred up such chaos in the Blood Fiend Abyss just to irritate Dead Man Peak.


    After Chen Daoqing left, Wen Jiu headed straight for the Wretched Corpse Wasteland¡ªnot just to get away from Fei Xian Peak, but also to distance himself from Gong Chi.


    That very night¡ª


    While lazily drawing talismans in the Wretched Corpse Wasteland, Wen Jiu suddenly noticed the Three-Fiend Ghoul staring into the darkness.


    Yet when he scanned the area with his divine sense, he detected nothing.


    But the ghoul continued staring intently.


    Through its developing sentience, Wen Jiu received a message¡ªsomeone was searching for something in the wasteland.


    A Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivator!


    "They''re here."


    "Finally!"


    Though Wen Jiu didn''t know why these people were so certain that Fei Xian Peak or the Wretched Corpse Wasteland contained Blood Ink Three Thousand''s corpse¡ª


    He did know one thing.


    His chance had come.


    This was likely the enemy''s vanguard¡ªscouts probing the way ahead.


    However, after carefully sensing through the Three-Fiend Walking Corpse, Wen Jiu couldn''t help but grow cautious.


    Because under the perception of the Three-Fiend Walking Corpse, while the other party had the vitality of a living person, their presence was as erratic as a ghost¡ªflickering in and out, appearing here one moment and somewhere else the next, unnervingly strange.


    In their hand, they also held a Yin Talisman¡ªan extremely high-quality one, no less. Its grade was no lower than the one found on the Blood-Ink Three Thousand Corpses.


    Although Wen Jiu had become a Yin Talisman Master, he still couldn''t determine the exact quality of such a high-grade talisman just by sensing it. But he could make an educated guess¡ªthere was no way this was merely a mid-tier first-grade talisman.


    It was likely a top-tier first-grade talisman!


    "Goodness, they''re really spending big to track down the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body." A top-tier first-grade talisman¡ªjust a single one could rival the attack of a late-stage artifact refiner, with a value no less than a thousand low-grade spirit stones.


    A thousand low-grade spirit stones...


    That was an entire fortune for a fourth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, probably their entire net worth¡ªassuming they were part of a sect.


    Or a robber cultivator.


    For the struggling rogue cultivators, even scraping together three to five hundred low-grade spirit stones would be a challenge.


    Sensing the presence of a top-tier first-grade talisman, Wen Jiu immediately stowed away his Black Bone Talisman Brush, activated the Three-River Ghost Concealment technique, and slowly approached while remaining ready to use Blood Corpse Escape at a moment''s notice.


    Why get closer?


    Simple¡ªcuriosity.


    He wanted to see exactly what kind of cultivator this person was.


    There was no trace of yin energy on them, yet their movements resembled those of a ghost cultivator¡ªeven more elusive than an ordinary one.


    However, upon nearing, Wen Jiu only took a single glance before instantly using Blood Corpse Escape to leave the land of mutilated corpses.


    At the exact moment Wen Jiu vanished, the hooded and masked Ye Luo suddenly lifted his head, gazing in the direction of Wen Jiu''s disappearance.


    In the next instant¡ª


    His divine sense swept outward.


    But he caught nothing.


    Yet Ye Luo didn''t stop. His divine sense continued probing the surroundings, only retracting after confirming there was truly nothing there.


    "A single main peak elder, Ye Chen, has me this on edge..." Ye Luo thought to himself, shaking his head with a wry smile.


    At the same time, Wen Jiu returned to his residence. But the first thing he did was not sleep or resume cultivation indifferently. Instead, he had the Three-Fiend Walking Corpse keep watch over the burial ground.


    Fortunately, the night passed without the mysterious figure making a move.


    Still, Wen Jiu couldn''t shake the impression left by that person.


    He hadn''t seen their face, yet their presence¡ªor rather, their near absence of presence¡ªwas deeply imprinted in his memory.


    A living person... whose aura was as faint as a wandering ghost?


    Truly unheard of.


    And then, at dawn, shocking news spread across Feixian Peak.


    No¡ª


    To be precise, it rapidly swept through the twenty to thirty subsidiary peaks near the Blood Fiend Abyss. Feixian Peak was just one of them.


    As soon as the news arrived, Feixian Peak was thrown into an uproar, an undercurrent of unease spreading rapidly.


    The formation sealing the Blood Fiend Abyss had been broken.


    The Fiendflame Volcano had erupted last night.


    As of this morning, over a thousand demons and monsters had escaped the Blood Fiend Abyss and were now sweeping toward their territory.


    If they weren''t stopped, countless spirit fields would be trampled, and who knew how many cultivators would die under the claws of these fiends.


    But upon hearing the news, the first thing that came to Wen Jiu''s mind was Blood Robe Tower¡ª


    Gong Chi.


    And that mysterious figure from last night.


    It seemed the real storm was coming.


    Yet, for now, the Blood-Ink Three Thousand Corpses were still buried in the graveyard, undiscovered.


    If the enemy used this opportunity to invade Feixian Peak again, it would mean they had a special method of locating the corpses¡ªmost likely lacking only a precise coordinate.


    "If that''s the case, then no matter where I hide or move the Blood-Ink Three Thousand Corpses, they''ll track me. And if I move them, the risk of exposure increases."


    "But if I don''t move them, they''ll tear Feixian Peak apart searching for them. They won''t stop until they find them."


    Wen Jiu fell into deep thought.


    To be honest¡ª


    He was reluctant to part with the Blood-Ink Three Thousand Corpses.


    Qi Refinement Perfection corpses¡ªif refined into zombies, they would be unimaginably powerful.


    But if he kept hiding them...


    It was only a matter of time before they were discovered.


    If he took them and left, his own exposure would only be a matter of time as well.


    After a brief moment of contemplation¡ª


    Wen Jiu made a decision.


    For now, abandon the corpses!


    When a sacrifice was necessary, hesitation was not an option!


    At the same time, just at the break of dawn, in the top floor of the Night Patrol Division''s main hall, Gong Chi and Ye Luo reunited. Their expressions and demeanor were far from pleasant.


    Gong Chi spoke coldly, "The main peak has been thoroughly investigated. There are no traces of talismans or formations concealing anything."


    "We''ve almost finished searching the area around Feixian Peak as well. The only place left unchecked is the Remnant Corpses'' Dead Zone."


    Despite saying this, Ye Luo didn''t seem hopeful. That area had already been searched countless times. Thinking of this, he couldn''t help but sigh before speaking again.


    "I''m afraid we won''t escape punishment from the Alliance Leader."


    Gong Chi remained silent.


    Ye Luo suddenly smirked coldly, as if recalling something. "I almost forgot¡ªyou just recruited a genius from the Left Path. Are you planning to offer him to the Alliance Leader to win favor and avoid punishment?"


    "I merely appreciate talent," Gong Chi responded unhappily, then warned in a grave tone, "I advise you not to set your sights on Wen Jiu. Otherwise, don''t blame me for turning hostile¡ªeven if it means disregarding your brother''s face."


    "Old Gong, why so hasty?" Ye Luo chuckled darkly.


    The more anxious Gong Chi became, the more it confirmed Ye Luo''s suspicions.


    "Relax, I won''t."


    Seeing the murderous intent in Gong Chi''s eyes, Ye Luo quickly assured him.


    Only then did Gong Chi drop the matter.

 Chapter 70: A Hidden Opportunity

    That afternoon, Wen Jiu bought some wine and food under the pretense of visiting Liu Xiao, who was recovering from his injuries.


    He needed to borrow Liu Xiao''s influence.


    Some things would be difficult for him to accomplish personally, but if Liu Xiao were to do them, it would be just right.


    Given Liu Xiao''s status and the fact that he had nearly sacrificed his life for the sect, no one would ever question his loyalty. His words could easily bring the Inspectors of the Supervision Hall back to Feixian Peak immediately.


    "Brother Liu, I need a favor from you." Wen Jiu transmitted his voice via divine sense. "If you help me, I''ll owe you one."


    He didn''t offer material compensation.


    Instead, he promised a favor.


    Because while spirit stones have a set value, a favor''s worth can be immeasurable.


    Wang Nian''s expression turned serious as he noticed something unusual in Wen Jiu''s demeanor.


    "Tell me."


    "But I''ll need you to endure a silence spell again¡­ If you mind, I''ll find another way."


    Wen Jiu didn''t want Liu Xiao to feel used¡ªafter all, Liu Xiao was a genuinely good person, someone worthy of friendship.


    Liu Xiao smiled and shook his head, replying through divine sense, "No problem, it''s not like this is the first time¡­ Besides, I must hold onto your favor¡ªif you rise to power one day, its value will be extraordinary."


    After the jest, Liu Xiao asked, "What do you need?"


    "Brother Liu, I need you to secretly report the discovery of Xue mo san qian''s corpse to the Inspector."


    "Xue mo san qian!"


    Liu Xiao''s expression changed drastically.


    He finally understood why the silence spell was necessary.


    The matter Wen Jiu entrusted to him actually involved Xuemosanqian''s corpse.


    Could it be that the corpse that both Blood Robe Tower and Dead Man''s Peak were searching for was actually in Wen Jiu''s possession?


    This¡­


    Liu Xiao was so shocked he was momentarily speechless.


    He had always found Wen Jiu extraordinary, but he hadn''t expected him to be this formidable, concealing himself so deeply.


    Sensing Liu Xiao''s astonishment, Wen Jiu didn''t explain. Instead, he continued transmitting his voice, "But you must claim that you stumbled upon it. No matter who asks, it was something you ''found.'' However, you should also add that you suspect someone did it intentionally."


    Having said that, Wen Jiu prepared to send another Devouring Law Yin Insect into Liu Xiao''s body. This would prevent anyone from using illusion pills to manipulate him. Although the possibility was low, Wen Jiu had to be cautious.


    "Understood."


    Liu Xiao nodded.


    He agreed without further questions.


    But at that moment, his gaze toward Wen Jiu had completely changed.


    Now, he was even more certain of his suspicion¡ªthe strength of Wen Jiu''s corpse puppet had undoubtedly surpassed what he had been at his peak.


    Wen Jiu had only recently joined the sect, yet his corpse refinement had progressed so rapidly. This couldn''t be due to talent alone¡ªhe must have had a fortuitous encounter.


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    But Liu Xiao wasn''t too surprised.


    He had heard of such things happening before.


    Even he had once obtained a fortunate opportunity, though clearly not as significant as Wen Jiu''s.


    Soon, Wen Jiu cast the silence spell again.


    He also reintroduced a few Devouring Law Yin Insects into Liu Xiao''s body, controlling them with Yin techniques to ensure they wouldn''t harm him.


    That very afternoon, Liu Xiao quietly left Feixian Peak, dragging his injured body away unnoticed. No one paid attention to his departure.


    After all, in others'' eyes, Liu Xiao was already a cripple.


    Not worth maintaining ties with.


    Not worth wasting time on.


    That night, after Liu Xiao''s departure, Wen Jiu secretly dug up Xuemosanqian''s corpse and hid it inside a corpse-refining coffin. He planned to discard it at Liu Xiao''s doorstep the moment the Supervision Hall''s inspectors returned.


    ¡ª


    Outside the Blood Fiend Abyss, all the elders and stewards of the various peaks had already retreated.


    The inspectors from the Supervision Hall had also withdrawn.


    Everyone stood aboard their flying ships, staring grimly at the demonic horde below, which was desperately fleeing.


    They had attempted to stop them.


    But the fiends from the Blood Fiend Abyss were exceptionally powerful¡ªany one of them, even at the third level of Qi Refinement, was enough to be formidable. And now, with tens of thousands surging out of the abyss, there was no way they could hold them back.


    "Return to your respective peaks immediately, organize the disciples, and construct formations to defend against the demons!" Feng Xuan ordered without hesitation.


    As soon as he spoke, the flying boats dispersed.


    At that moment, Mu Canglong suddenly stepped forward, holding a mid-grade Tier-1 transmission talisman. This talisman came in a pair¡ªone in his hand and the other with Liu Xiao. Within a fifty-mile radius, they could communicate at any time.


    When Mu Canglong heard Liu Xiao''s voice, he was overwhelmed with excitement. He had thought Liu Xiao was dead countless times before. But when he heard the news Liu Xiao relayed, he became even more agitated and rushed to find Inspector Feng Xuan.


    "Reporting to the Inspector! Liu Xiao, the surviving steward of our Feixian Peak Night Patrol Division, just sent me a transmission. He has found the corpse of Xuemosanqian on Feixian Peak! It seems someone deliberately threw it to him!"


    As soon as these words were spoken, everyone from the Inspection Hall aboard the flying boats, along with the elders and stewards of Feixian Peak, had their expressions turn grim.


    "Return immediately!"


    Feng Xuan shouted the order without hesitation.


    The corpse of Xuemosanqian was no trivial matter. Regardless of whether Liu Xiao''s claim was true or false, or what intentions the one who discarded Xuemosanqian''s body might have had, he had to go back at once to verify its authenticity.


    If it was real...


    Feng Xuan''s expression grew even more serious.


    Originally, the journey by flying boat would have taken two hours, but under Feng Xuan''s constant urging, they arrived within one.


    At the same time, upon spotting the flying boats in the sky, Wen Jiu immediately moved Xuemosanqian''s corpse into Liu Xiao''s room and removed the sealing talisman.


    The moment the talisman was lifted, an overwhelming wave of corpse energy, baleful energy, and bloodlust burst forth.


    It was far more intense than any corpse Wen Jiu had ever encountered, even more exaggerated than the blood pool in the Chen family''s ancestral grounds.


    After putting away the talisman, Wen Jiu swiftly used Blood Corpse Escape to leave the scene, returning to his room to continue drawing talismans as if nothing had happened.


    At that moment, as Feng Xuan and his people descended from the flying boat, they too sensed the intense aura emanating from Xuemosanqian''s corpse.


    Before the flying boat had even fully landed, Feng Xuan led his men in flying swords straight toward the source of the aura, kicking the door open.


    The sight before them was shocking¡ªLiu Xiao lying on the bed, and next to him, the corpse of Xuemosanqian.


    At a glance, Feng Xuan recognized the body.


    It was him!


    It was truly him!


    Back when Feng Xuan was only at the fourth level of Qi Refinement, he had witnessed Xuemosanqian''s ruthless massacre. That scene had haunted him for a lifetime.


    "Immediately send word to the main peak! Xuemosanqian''s corpse has been found¡­ No matter what the one who delivered the body intended, it must be sent to the main peak at once!" Feng Xuan ordered decisively.


    He then proceeded to interrogate Liu Xiao in detail.


    While questioning him, he also examined Liu Xiao''s injuries. But when he sensed that Liu Xiao''s dantian had already been mostly corroded by Soul-Devouring Yin Worms, he no longer doubted him.


    At the same time, Gong Chi and Ye Luo, who were stationed at the Night Patrol Division, also sensed the aura of Xuemosanqian. However, their first reaction was not to assume it was his corpse. Only when Mu Canglong returned and relayed the news to them did their expressions suddenly change.


    Who could it be?!


    Who had actually delivered Xuemosanqian''s corpse¡ªand why had the Inspection Hall been the first to receive it?!


    "It must be him!"


    Gong Chi thought to himself.


    It had to be that elusive ghost cultivator hiding within Feixian Peak!


    But why had he done this?


    Ye Luo had no time to ponder such questions now. His only concern was sending this information out as soon as possible.


    Once Xuemosanqian''s corpse reached the main peak, the Tianzuo Alliance would have no chance of obtaining it.


    With a Foundation Establishment cultivator overseeing Deadman Peak, even the Alliance Leader himself would likely not dare to set foot there lightly.


    Although Ye Luo knew that leaving Feixian Peak at this moment would undoubtedly expose him, he had no other choice.


    After sending Mu Canglong away, Ye Luo immediately rushed to the Forsaken Corpse Grounds, preparing to flee Feixian Peak through that route.


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 71: The Heretic鈥檚 Mark

    Just as Ye Luo left the desolate battlefield of mangled corpses, the next moment, Feixian Peak was sealed off by the Disciplinary Hall.


    Massive flying boats hovered over Feixian Peak, one in each direction¡ªeast, west, south, and north. In addition, a hundred stewards, deacons, and elders from nearby peaks were urgently summoned, each piloting their own flying boats to guard the outer perimeter of the peak.


    Even a single bird attempting to leave would be under surveillance.


    Wen Jiu stood in the courtyard of his home, gazing up at the scene with countless thoughts running through his mind. But what occupied him the most was the corpse of Xue Mo Sanqian and Gong Chi. He was pondering how to retrieve the body.


    Or rather, how to steal it.


    Perhaps, his only chance would be when the Bloodclad Tower and that group of organized heretical cultivators came to snatch it.


    Fortunately, he had the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment technique and the Blood Corpse Escape method.


    That was precisely why Wen Jiu dared to play this hidden card.


    At that moment, his sister, Wen Ya, arrived at his residence, and shortly after, Wang Nian returned from Feixian Peak.


    "I heard something big happened?"


    Wen Ya had clearly gathered some information from the Xu family, but they, too, were unaware of the details.


    Which made sense.


    Deacon Xu had yet to return.


    Such confidential matters wouldn''t be known by the Xu family.


    Even if they did know, they certainly wouldn''t be able to talk about it¡ªthere was no way he could use a silence spell on his own sister.


    "Don''t worry, Sis. Just stay here with me... If things really go south, we run."


    Wen Ya nodded immediately. "Mhm, mhm, if something happens, I''ll run."


    In her eyes, no matter what was unfolding on Feixian Peak, it had nothing to do with the two of them.


    Her little brother was only at the second level of Qi Refinement.


    Getting involved would be a death sentence.


    It was better to run.


    Honestly, she was only worried that her brother might feel too loyal to the sect and rush in if something happened.


    "Sis, get some rest at home first. I''m going to see Brother Wang." Wen Jiu left those words behind and turned toward the Wang family''s residence.


    The moment Wang Nian saw Wen Jiu enter, he struggled to his feet despite his exhaustion and pulled him into a tight hug. "Little brother, I barely made it back this time. That damn Elder of the Spiritual Farming Division¡ªturns out that bastard was a traitor!"


    "Brother Wang, are you alright?"


    Wen Jiu''s heart skipped a beat.


    So he was the other traitor?


    The Elder of the Spiritual Farming Division¡ªformerly the acting peak master and a trusted confidant of Ji Qiubai. He was the other traitor.


    Now everything made sense.


    No wonder Ji Qiubai had been poisoned at the Chen family''s estate, despite his formidable strength. Someone who had reached the sixth level of Qi Refinement should have had countless battle experiences, yet he still fell for it. It was because the betrayal came from his closest aide.


    Wait a minute.


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    If that was the case, then Ji Qiubai''s entire plan back on the main peak¡ªthe staged corpse, the bait for the Bloodclad Tower¡ªwas actually orchestrated right under someone else''s nose.


    Something was off.


    If that were true, why had the Bloodclad Tower fallen for it?


    The reactions of the Chen family weren''t fake. Neither were those of the Bloodclad Tower''s people. If Ji Qiubai had merely been using them against each other, he wouldn''t have lured the Feixian Peak forces to the Chen family estate, nor would he have led them into the land where blood essence was stored.


    Unless...


    A sudden thought struck Wen Jiu¡ªthat token engraved with the words ''Tian Zuo''.


    Could it be that the Bloodclad Tower and the Elder of the Spiritual Farming Division weren''t actually on the same side? That the Bloodclad Tower was merely a pawn in a larger scheme?


    With that realization, everything suddenly clicked.


    The incident at the Blood Fiend Abyss¡ªthat had been orchestrated by the faction behind the Elder of the Spiritual Farming Division, while the Bloodclad Tower was just another piece in their game.


    "Good thing I played my trump card." Wen Jiu felt a surge of satisfaction. His desire to head to the main peak grew exponentially.


    The Elder of the Spiritual Farming Division and his group wouldn''t dare to openly challenge the main peak. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have resorted to such underhanded tactics. That meant the main peak was a safe zone. As long as he stayed within the sect, it didn''t matter what happened outside.


    Shaking off his thoughts, Wen Jiu turned his gaze toward Wang Nian, who was lifting his robe to show his injuries. Quickly, Wen Jiu handed him two bottles of healing pills.


    Wang Nian''s injuries weren''t severe¡ªjust surface-level wounds.


    His main problem was mana depletion and sheer exhaustion, making him look like he had just barely survived a calamity.


    "Wait¡­ Brother Wang, if I remember correctly, the Elder of the Spiritual Farming Division''s granddaughter is one of the top candidates in this year''s assessment, right?"


    That thought flashed through Wen Jiu''s mind.


    Wang Nian nodded. "Of course. She has a mid-grade spiritual root and reached the second level of Qi Refinement before turning twenty¡­ But after this, forget the assessment¡ªshe''ll be lucky to keep her life."


    "This¡­"


    Wen Jiu didn''t find that rule unreasonable.


    If you don''t remove the weeds at the root, they''ll grow back with the spring breeze.


    But if her family was truly innocent, then¡­ still, there were "heretical cultivators" even among Qi Refinement disciples.


    An entire family.


    All just pieces in a game of deception.


    Right now, the elder''s wife and child were probably drowning in despair.


    Wang Nian sighed as well. "If I were that old bastard''s son, I think I''d go insane."


    Wen Jiu nodded.


    He had no reason to doubt Wang Nian''s words.


    Then, shifting the topic, Wen Jiu asked about the Blood Fiend Abyss, and the first thing Wang Nian said immediately confirmed Wen Jiu''s suspicions.


    "Those bastards from the Bloodclad Tower¡ªwe were already killing them off, chasing them down. Even the Infernal Flame Mountain had been stabilized with formations. But then, out of nowhere, an even stronger group of heretical cultivators appeared. They pulled out three top-tier first-grade talismans¡ªnot only did they break the formation, but they also reignited the Infernal Flame Mountain."


    When this was brought up, Wang Nian couldn''t help but feel enraged. With the demons of the Blood Fiend Abyss now roaming free, the days ahead would be anything but peaceful. And who knew how many lives would be lost? Killing a single demon could earn him a considerable amount of spirit stones, but he''d rather not take that risk¡ªafter all, there was a high chance he''d end up dead before ever spending them. Even the weakest of these demons were comparable to a second-layer Qi Refinement cultivator, and those with slightly higher strength were already at his level. Not to mention the ones even stronger than that. He had even glimpsed a certain demon whose aura rivaled that of Ji Qiubai, the Peak Lord. If he were to encounter such a creature, death would be his only fate.


    "It seems that there really is such a group, and ''Tian Zuo'' might be part of their organization''s name," Wen Jiu said slowly, taking out the token engraved with the characters "Tian Zuo" and carefully examining it.


    Wang Nian immediately leaned in for a closer look. "Where did you get this?"


    "I picked it up at the Chen family estate."


    The token had actually come from Chen Feng''s storage pouch, but if he told the truth, it would expose the fact that he had killed Chen Feng. Though it wasn''t a huge matter, and even if it were revealed, it wouldn''t be a big deal, Wen Jiu still preferred to keep it hidden.


    Wang Nian took the token, his expression shifting as he fell into deep thought. Moments later, his eyes lit up with surprise. "I remember now! I once overheard those heretical cultivators mentioning the words ''Tian Zuo Alliance.''"


    "Tian Zuo Alliance!"


    Wen Jiu''s expression turned serious as he committed the name to memory.


    "Keep it," Wang Nian said, handing the token back to Wen Jiu. "The people at the main peak surely know about the existence of the Tian Zuo Alliance. Handing in this token won''t earn you any merit, so you might as well keep it¡ªwho knows, it might come in handy someday."


    Wen Jiu said nothing and put the token away. Then, all of a sudden, he felt like he had forgotten something. Slapping his forehead, he finally remembered¡ªhe had completely forgotten to ask about Mu Canglong.


    "What''s wrong?" Wang Nian asked, puzzled.


    Wen Jiu quickly inquired, "How is Steward Mu doing?"


    Wang Nian chuckled. "I thought it was something serious. Don''t worry, he''s fine. Steward Mu is one of Elder Gong Chi''s most trusted aides and has cultivated the Night Patrol Division''s secret arts¡ªhe''s not just some ordinary expert. Although he did face a life-threatening situation, the people from the Supervision Hall arrived in time to help him escape."


    "Brother Wang, then you get some rest. I''m going to check on Steward Mu." Wen Jiu nodded in response.

 Chapter 72: Ghostly Imprints

    He didn''t know if Mu Canglong was a traitor, but considering the kindness Mu had shown him by passing on techniques, even if he were a traitor, Wen Jiu felt he still owed him a debt of gratitude. However, judging by the current situation, Mu Canglong was likely just another pawn of Gong Chi¡ªmuch like the Elder of the Spirit Farmer Division. That elder had been a traitor, yet those under him had all been "loyal subjects."


    After exchanging a few more words, Wen Jiu headed straight for the Night Patrol Division, while also having his Three Fiends Walking Corpse keep a close watch on the remains of Xuemosanqian inside the Corpse Nourishing Coffin.


    Among Xuemosanqian''s remains, Wen Jiu had left behind a ghostly imprint that had no direct connection to him. It was incredibly well-hidden. Since it hadn''t been erased yet, it meant that not even the Supervisors of the Supervision Hall had discovered it. Under the perception of his Three Fiends Walking Corpse, Xuemosanqian''s body was still at the main peak and hadn''t been moved.


    ¡­


    Before long, Wen Jiu arrived at the Night Patrol Division.


    He hadn''t originally planned on coming here, as he didn''t want to see Gong Chi for the time being. But he had no choice. He owed too much to Mu Canglong.


    Upon inquiring, he learned that Mu Canglong was recovering at Liu Xiao''s residence. Without hesitation, Wen Jiu rushed over.


    When he finally saw Mu Canglong again, his aura was no longer as fierce and dominant as before, but it was still stable. Clearly, he hadn''t suffered any severe injuries.


    "Brother Mu."


    Wen Jiu stepped inside and respectfully saluted.


    Mu Canglong''s expression, which had been tense, softened the moment he saw Wen Jiu. A faint smile flickered across his lips, but it quickly faded as he sighed. "You brat¡­ why did you suddenly take Elder Gong as your master?"


    "It''s nothing, Brother Mu. Following Elder Gong''s teachings might even make me stronger than those at the main peak," Wen Jiu replied with the same prepared response.


    But Mu Canglong didn''t believe him. "Elder Gong isn''t a heretical cultivator¡ªhow could he possibly teach you? And do you really think joining the main peak is as simple as acknowledging a master? You cultivate the Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Method. If you want to live longer, the only path is to go to the main peak. My father regretted countless times not staying at the main peak as a disciple and instead choosing to be an elder at a side peak¡­ If he had stayed at the main peak as a disciple, he wouldn''t have died still stuck in the mid-stage of Qi Refinement."


    With those words, Mu Canglong made up his mind to go to the Night Patrol Division.


    No matter what, he had to make Elder Gong give up on accepting Wen Jiu as his disciple. Fortunately, the official apprenticeship ceremony hadn''t been held yet, so everything was still reversible.


    Just as he was about to leave, Wen Jiu raised a hand to stop him and transmitted a message through divine sense, revealing part of the truth while mixing in some falsehoods. "I appreciate your concern, Brother Mu, but sometimes, life doesn''t leave us with many choices¡­ Besides, staying in the Night Patrol Division isn''t so bad. Maybe in the future, I can even become a steward or something."


    Mu Canglong halted mid-step.


    He understood the meaning behind Wen Jiu''s words and found himself momentarily at a loss. He had previously heard that Wen Jiu had voluntarily sought out Elder Gong to become his disciple.


    At this moment, Liu Xiao also sent a voice transmission: "Elder Gong asked him directly in front of us and his sister, Wen Ya."


    The implication was clear¡ªit had been a threat.


    Mu Canglong froze.


    He glanced at Wen Jiu, then at Liu Xiao, and suddenly, his perception of Elder Gong changed completely.


    He couldn''t understand why Elder Gong would force Wen Jiu to become his disciple, cutting off his path to the main peak. Such suppression¡ªsuch behavior¡ªwas simply too cruel.


    "Brother Mu, don''t worry. I just came to check on you. Now that I see you''re fine, I can rest easy."


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    Wen Jiu cupped his hands in farewell, preparing to leave.


    He still had to get ready for what was coming next. The so-called Tian Zuo Alliance and the Blood Robe Tower would surely make their move soon. There was no way they would allow Xuemosanqian''s remains to be sent to the main peak¡ªotherwise, all their previous schemes would be ruined. They were bound to strike before the main peak''s people arrived.


    Mu Canglong wanted to say more, but Liu Xiao stopped him.


    Mu Canglong might not fully grasp Wen Jiu''s situation, but Liu Xiao understood it well. Wen Jiu had deliberately released Xuemosanqian''s body¡ªhe must have had a plan. He had a gut feeling that Feixian Peak wouldn''t be able to contain Wen Jiu, this hidden dragon.


    Wen Jiu was destined to make a name for himself at the main peak.


    But as for what Wen Jiu was plotting exactly, Liu Xiao had no idea. His mind simply wasn''t sharp enough to figure it out.


    Right now, his only concern was asking Mu Canglong for some spirit stones. After all, he had lost an arm for the Night Patrol Division.


    As for his damaged dantian, that was a different story.


    Wen Jiu had already helped him take care of that.


    But for his severed arm? He was definitely getting some compensation.


    ¡­


    By evening, within the main hall.


    Gong Chi stood with his back straight, bowing slightly. In front of him stood three Inspectors from the Hall of Supervision.


    "I have failed in my judgment of people and my ability to discern loyalty. I am unfit to hold the position of Elder in the Night Patrol Division. I request the three Inspectors to administer severe punishment as deemed necessary." As he spoke, Gong Chi''s expression darkened. He bowed again, then slowly removed his elder''s robe.


    Feng Xuan exchanged glances with the other two, momentarily unsure of how to proceed¡ªbecause they had found nothing incriminating.


    Gong Chi''s background was clean.


    His rise to his current position was well-documented, and he had always been diligent and impartial. He had even earned great merit in the battle against the Blood-Clad Tower. No matter how they investigated, Gong Chi did not resemble the Elder of the Spirit Farmer Division.


    As for the matter of Ye Luo¡­


    It hardly seemed fair to blame him.


    However, there had indeed been a traitor among his subordinates, one who had leaked the news of the three thousand Blood Ink corpses from Fei Xian Peak.


    For that, Gong Chi could not evade responsibility.


    "Elder Gong, under these circumstances, we have no choice but to temporarily confine you. Rest assured, justice will be served in the end," said Elder Ye Chen. Though he did not trust Gong Chi, Feng Xuan found little reason to suspect him.


    In truth, he even admired Gong Chi.


    Gong Chi let out a bitter chuckle and replied, "Honorable Inspectors, my failure to recognize deception is my own fault. Any punishment is well deserved¡ªthere is no question of injustice here."


    Feng Xuan nodded in satisfaction, then signaled to the disciples of the Hall of Supervision standing nearby. "Take Gong Chi to the Night Patrol Division''s dungeon. We will await the Elder''s decision upon his arrival."


    "Yes!"


    "Yes!"


    All four of them bowed in unison.


    However, before the three guards could step forward, Gong Chi turned and walked away on his own, leaving behind his elder''s token and robe.


    And just as he turned, a faint, sinister smile curled at the corner of his lips¡ªan expression of success.


    Now, he had cleared himself. The matter of Ye Luo would not implicate him. And as for the position of Night Patrol Elder? It would still be his in the future.


    After all, he had no intention of taking action in the struggle for the three thousand Blood Ink corpses.


    As long as he did not act, who could accuse him of being the traitor?


    Yet even in his moment of triumph, his thoughts drifted to the mysterious ghost cultivator lurking within Fei Xian Peak.


    Senior Yin Yang Chen''s fate-arts should not be wrong. That meant the ghost cultivator had to be someone from Fei Xian Peak.


    But why had they suddenly revealed the existence of the three thousand Blood Ink corpses?


    It made no sense.


    They could have continued hiding it.


    Wait.


    Could it be that the body they revealed was merely an empty corpse¡ªwithout the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body?


    The realization struck Gong Chi like a thunderclap.


    And he knew that if the Alliance Leader learned of this, he would come to the same conclusion. Yet the Alliance Leader and his people would not dare to gamble on it.


    They had no choice but to assume that the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Body was still present.


    After all, this was their last chance.


    "This is a conspiracy¡­ against the Blood-Clad Tower. Against the Tianzuo Alliance!"


    A storm of realization roiled in Gong Chi''s mind.


    Who was this mysterious ghost cultivator?


    How deep did their schemes run?


    ¡ª¡ª


    Not long after Gong Chi departed, a shadowy figure appeared in the corridor outside the building.


    Sensing their presence, Feng Xuan immediately dismissed everyone else.


    Opening the door at the edge of the corridor, he was met with the sight of Ye Chen.


    Feng Xuan bowed at once, a sigh of relief escaping his lips. "Elder, you''ve finally arrived."


    With Elder Ye Chen here, his worries were put to rest. Even if Ye Luo had carried the news to the Tianzuo Alliance, it would be too late. With Ye Chen present, they would not have time to gather forces and reach Fei Xian Peak.


    By the time they arrived, Elder Ye Chen would likely have already returned to the Main Peak.


    Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, Ye Chen gazed at Fei Xian Peak with interest. He showed no intention of taking the three thousand Blood Ink corpses away. "Continue gathering forces from the surrounding subsidiary peaks. Act as though I was never here."


    Feng Xuan''s expression hardened at those words.


    Impatiently, Ye Chen explained, "I don''t have time to meddle in your affairs. Since I''m already here, I may as well deal with everything at once. Let them come. However many arrive, I will kill that many."


    "Understood!"


    Feng Xuan nodded, deeply shaken.

 Chapter 73: A New Power Unleashed

    For the next two or three days, Wen Jiu tirelessly moved between trade markets, all while refining his Blood Transformation Body.


    However, even after absorbing all the remaining blood energy in the Land of Broken Corpses, he had only gained 130 experience points.


    He was still short of breaking through to the fourth level.


    [Blood Transformation Body Level Three (1648/2000)]


    Without hesitation, Wen Jiu spent 352 blood essence points to push it to the fourth level.


    At the same time, he glanced at his remaining blood essence and death energy.


    Blood essence: 5,648 points.


    Death energy: 2,777 points.


    After returning from the Chen Clan''s ancestral grounds, he had 2,057 points. Over the past month, he had accumulated another 720.


    This time, Wen Jiu did not wait. He spent 2,000 points of death energy to break through to the third level of the Yinzou Corpse Cultivation Art.


    [Technique: Yinzou Corpse Cultivation Art (Level Three 0/3000)]


    [Death Energy Remaining: 777]


    Upon reaching the third level of Qi Refinement, Wen Jiu felt a sudden surge of dark energy in his dantian¡ªit had at least doubled in intensity. His spiritual awareness also grew significantly stronger.


    Next, he turned his attention to his Three-Fiend Walking Corpse, which now possessed a fourth-level Blood Transformation Body.


    Crimson streaks interwove with the black miasma patterns on its body. With each pulse of red light, its corpse-strength reached terrifying new heights.


    A single sweep of his spiritual sense confirmed his suspicion¡ªits durability now rivaled a mid-grade Tier-One defensive artifact.


    Even when scanning its corpse eyes, he had never sensed such resilience before.


    A Blood Transformation Body as tough as a mid-grade Tier-One defensive artifact, coupled with the innate abilities of the Three-Fiend Walking Corpse¡ªits Deflecting Law Corpse Body¡­


    Wen Jiu could not help but smile in satisfaction. At last, he had carved out a foothold for himself in Fei Xian Peak.


    Now, he only needed to take advantage of the coming chaos to kill Gong Chi and steal back the three thousand Blood Ink corpses.


    Then, he could focus on the examination and head to the Main Peak.


    That very night, just as Wen Jiu prepared to return to the Land of Broken Corpses, the sound of a bell rang through the darkness.


    Dong¡ª


    Dong¡ª


    Twelve times in total.


    The once-peaceful night was shattered. Twelve chimes signaled a full-scale assembly¡ªthe call to arms against an external enemy, the order to fight to the death.


    Without hesitation, Wen Jiu gathered his Three-Fiend Walking Corpse and rushed toward Fei Xian Peak.


    By the time he arrived at its base, over a thousand people had already gathered, with more disciples arriving by the moment.


    But from the mountainside to the peak, the entire area remained shrouded in an array, concealing what lay above.


    Yet Wen Jiu knew that the Hall of Supervision had a plan.


    That was evident from the movements he had sensed during his night patrols¡ªfigures of at least the fifth level of Qi Refinement had been sneaking toward Fei Xian Peak.


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    This meant one thing¡ªthe Blood Ink corpses had not been moved because they were waiting for the Blood-Clad Tower and the Tianzuo Alliance to arrive.


    And now, the battle was about to begin.Otherwise, how could he have reached the third level of Qi Refinement so quickly? For someone with an inferior spiritual root, wouldn''t it normally take twenty or thirty years to get there?


    As the members of the Night Patrol Division all turned to look at Wen Jiu, Mu Canglong immediately pulled him aside, carefully using his divine sense to examine his body. Only after confirming that the yin energy within Wen Jiu hadn''t significantly increased compared to when he was at the second level of Qi Refinement did Mu Canglong finally relax.


    He wanted to ask how Wen Jiu had cultivated so fast or what price he had paid to achieve such speed.


    But now wasn''t the time for that. Mu Canglong simply warned, "You''ve just stepped into the third level of Qi Refinement, and your foundation is unstable. Don''t charge ahead recklessly later¡ªstaying alive is the most important thing!"


    "Thank you, Brother Mu."


    Wen Jiu clasped his fists in gratitude, then ignored the gazes of those around him, closed his eyes, and stood in quiet meditation, waiting for the enemy''s arrival.


    Half a quarter-hour later.


    In the dense forest of Fei Xian Peak, all kinds of venomous creatures began emerging¡ªcentipedes, poisonous snakes, and deadly insects, swarming toward Fei Xian Peak like an unstoppable tide at an alarming speed.


    "Fireball Spell!"


    "Quick, use Fireball Spell!"


    Mu Canglong and Sikong Bai shouted in succession.


    Similar cries echoed from the path leading up the mountain, where the Demon Slayer Division was stationed.


    Clearly, they were also under attack by these creatures.


    Following Mu Canglong''s command, most of the Night Patrol Division disciples hurriedly formed hand seals to summon flames. Despite their shock, one fireball after another was hurled toward the incoming tide of venomous creatures.


    Boom¡ª


    Boom¡ª


    One fireball after another exploded on the ground, instantly incinerating countless poisonous creatures into charred remains.


    The initially terrifying tide of venomous creatures was forcefully held back by the Fireball Spell, but in the next moment, even more of them appeared.


    With no other choice, Mu Canglong directly threw out a mid-grade first-tier Fire Talisman, raising a wall of flames three zhang away. Hundreds, even thousands, of venomous creatures ignited the moment they touched the fire wall, turning to ash within seconds.


    Meanwhile, Wen Jiu continued using Finger of Arcane Power, perceiving the surroundings through the senses of the Three Fiends Walking Corpse.


    The number of people on their side wasn''t large¡ªonly about twenty or thirty in this area. The enemies coming up the other paths were similar in number.


    But combined, that made nearly a hundred Gu Masters.


    This gave Wen Jiu an idea. Was that Gu Daoist here? If he could quietly eliminate him and obtain his method of cultivating Devouring Yin Gu, then his own Devouring Yin Gu might become even stronger.


    After all, it was through a similar process that the black ghoul corpse had evolved into the Three Fiends Walking Corpse.


    Alright. Another target added to the list.


    However, when Wen Jiu swept his senses outward through the Three Fiends Walking Corpse, he didn''t detect any Gu Masters at the fourth level of Qi Refinement.


    Everyone outside Fei Xian Peak was at the third level.


    But just as he continued searching, he suddenly noticed that the Gu worms burned by the Fire Spell were releasing wisps of black smoke. At first glance, it seemed unremarkable, but upon closer inspection, the smoke was subtly gathering in the darkness above.


    Wen Jiu decided to test it and shot a Yin Arcane Art at the black smoke.


    As expected.


    The Yin Arcane Art wasn''t able to pierce straight through¡ªit instead melded into the smoke, becoming entangled within its wisps. Even though he hadn''t infused Devouring Soul Yin Gu into that attack, the Yin Arcane Art still had corrosive properties.


    That corrosion immediately allowed Wen Jiu to sense something unusual about the black smoke.


    It was poison.


    His expression darkened.


    "Brother Mu, it''s poison!"


    He transmitted the message to Mu Canglong through divine sense while firing several more Yin Arcane Arts into the black smoke¡ªjust to make sure Mu Canglong saw it clearly.


    Mu Canglong quickly looked up, scanning with his divine sense, and his face immediately changed. Then they all noticed¡ªmore and more Gu worms were rushing into the flames as if on purpose, making the black smoke overhead grow even thicker.


    "Disperse!"


    "It''s Wushan Poison Gu Technique!"


    Mu Canglong recognized it at a glance.


    He didn''t know where the Wushan Poison Gu Technique originated, but he was aware that a group of rogue Gu Masters practiced this art.


    Many rogue cultivators and family sects had fallen to them, yet they had never openly clashed with disciples of Deadman Peak. Who would have thought they were actually part of the so-called Tian Zuo Alliance mentioned by the Hall of Supervision?


    Hearing this, Sikong Bai''s face changed, and he immediately transmitted a message to a nearby Demon Slayer Division deacon.


    However.


    A chilling, eerie laugh suddenly echoed from the forest.


    "Enjoying the burn?"


    More and more laughter followed, sounding like ghosts whispering in the darkness.


    Boom¡ª


    The next instant.


    The black smoke exploded, rapidly spreading in all directions and instantly engulfing Wen Jiu and the others.


    Mu Canglong''s expression tightened as he activated his protective talisman, only to realize that the poisonous black smoke could penetrate it.


    "Damn it!"


    His face darkened.


    With no other options, he ordered everyone to hold their breath and retreat.


    However.


    The black smoke seemed to have a will of its own, relentlessly pursuing them.

 Chapter 74: A Test of Survival

    Wen Jiu, on the other hand, was unfazed. He had already tested the smoke with Yin Arcane Arts and found that its toxicity was nowhere near half as potent as his own Yin Arts. Even if he inhaled it, his Yin Arts would devour and refine it as nourishment.


    But the other Night Patrol Division disciples weren''t as lucky. Even though they held their breath, the smoke still corroded their skin and eyes.


    It wasn''t immediately fatal, but it threw them into panic. What unsettled them the most was that their protective talismans were completely ineffective.


    Even Mu Canglong and Sikong Bai had no solution.


    This scene made Wen Jiu truly recognize the power of heretical arts. Weren''t they far more formidable than Qi Refinement techniques?


    Unfortunately.


    Those Gu Masters looked like they were on the verge of death¡ªweak, their bodies thoroughly corroded by their own Gu arts, with barely a single intact patch of flesh. That alone killed any desire Wen Jiu had to cultivate their methods.


    Setting his thoughts aside, Wen Jiu retreated to the back of the group. Just as he considered whether to help, a realization struck him.


    This might just be a test.


    A probe to gauge the people on Fei Xian Peak.


    Perhaps this was his chance to make an impression¡ªnot revealing too much, but just enough for those on Fei Xian Peak to take notice.


    As long as he didn''t directly kill anyone, it shouldn''t be a problem.


    But he had to disguise himself¡ªsomething that his acquaintances would recognize, but outsiders wouldn''t be able to see through.


    This way.


    He could display his ability to those above.


    Without attracting the attention of the Gu Masters.


    "You all keep retreating." Wen Jiu immediately covered his face with a black cloth and, in a low voice, instructed.


    Mu Canglong turned to look, about to tell him not to act recklessly, when he saw Wen Jiu suddenly taking huge gulps of the black poisonous smoke.


    The disciples were overjoyed and rushed toward Wen Jiu.


    As he inhaled, Wen Jiu spoke in a hushed voice, "Prepare some spirit stones for me¡ªI need them to replenish my mana while refining this poison¡­ If my mana runs out, the poison will accumulate in my body."


    Of course, he was also pretending a little to avoid drawing too much attention. Plus, he could earn some spirit stones to buy talisman paper.


    "Hurry, hurry!"


    "Everyone, get out your spirit stones!"


    Seeing more and more black smoke being inhaled by Wen Jiu, the disciples frantically retrieved spirit stones from their storage bags.


    Mu Canglong also took out some spirit stones and then glanced at the grim-faced Sikong Bai.


    "I''m not an ungrateful person!" Sikong Bai scoffed and immediately produced ten low-grade spirit stones.Mu Canglong immediately snatched it over and walked to Wen Jiu''s side. Wen Jiu took it and placed it in his embrace.


    "Just keep it close. I''ll refine it slowly," Wen Jiu said as he continued absorbing the black poisonous smoke.


    As the smoke gradually dissipated, the fear on the faces of the Night Patrol Division disciples also faded, replaced by overwhelming joy. The way they looked at Wen Jiu had completely changed.


    Before, they had flattered him only because of the assessment, but deep down, most of them did not approve of left-path techniques. Many had lost friends and family to such methods, further deepening their aversion.


    But now, watching Wen Jiu risk himself to rid them of the black poisonous smoke, they realized their bias.


    There were trustworthy cultivators even among those who practiced the left-path techniques!


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    At that moment, deep within the forest behind Feixian Peak, an old Gu Master at the fifth level of Qi Refining¡ªhalf of her face covered with festering flesh being gnawed by parasitic Gu worms¡ªsuddenly tensed, her gaze turning increasingly cold.


    "Feixian Peak actually has someone highly proficient in left-path techniques?"


    The order she had received was to probe the strength of those on Feixian Peak. She had guaranteed success, yet now, their strongest advantage had been broken by a mere Night Patrol Division steward at the third level of Qi Refining.


    There was nothing left to test!


    If she returned to the Tianzuo Alliance after tonight, wouldn''t her Wushan Gu Poison technique become a laughingstock?


    "What kind of left-path technique is this brat cultivating, that he can directly swallow Wushan Gu Poison Smoke?" The old woman''s expression darkened as she searched her memory, but she found nothing resembling this technique among the known left-path methods.


    One thing was certain¡ªthis brat''s left-path cultivation method was undoubtedly top-tier.


    Even within the Tianzuo Alliance, such techniques were rare.


    After all, not many within the alliance would dare to claim they could directly consume Wushan Gu Poison Smoke.


    "Grandmother, what should we do next?" A middle-aged Gu Master at the fourth level of Qi Refining asked from behind her.


    The old woman suppressed her thoughts and responded coldly, showing no excessive surprise.


    After all, to her, the opponent was merely at the third level of Qi Refining.


    In the grand battle that was about to unfold, a mere third-level Qi Refining cultivator was nothing more than cannon fodder.


    "We strike together and force the people on the mountain to reveal themselves. No matter how advanced his left-path technique is, he''s still only at the third level of Qi Refining."


    "Understood!"


    ¡­


    Meanwhile, in the main hall atop Feixian Peak, Ye Chen hid in the darkness, his presence almost nonexistent. He narrowed his eyes as he silently observed the scene, his somber expression curling into a faint smile.


    "Interesting¡­ I didn''t expect an unexpected harvest from this trip."


    With that, Ye Chen''s gaze shifted to the forest.


    A bunch of clowns.


    What are they waiting for?


    Are they that afraid of me?


    ¡­


    At the same time, after Wen Jiu had absorbed all the poisonous smoke threatening the Night Patrol Division, he pretended to be in pain, then retreated behind the crowd, feigning the process of refining the poison. Seeing this, Demon Slayers Division deacon Li Qing hesitated, wanting to say something but holding back.


    However, as the black smoke surrounding them caused several Demon Slayers Division disciples to collapse, he had no choice but to call out urgently, "Brother Mu, I need support here¡­ No, never mind you, just send that kid over. I have spirit stones! Plenty of them!"


    Mu Canglong''s face darkened as he glanced at Wen Jiu, then at the Demon Slayers Division. He tentatively asked, "Can you still manage?"


    If Wen Jiu said no, he wouldn''t insist.


    After all, Wen Jiu had just reached the third level of Qi Refining, and it was already remarkable that he had handled the poison here.


    "I can still go on!" Wen Jiu said with effort as he stood up.


    "If you can''t, stop immediately," Mu Canglong reminded him and tossed him a mid-grade first-rank protective talisman.


    Li Qing rushed forward, pulling a small pouch from his storage bag¡ªnearly a hundred spirit stones inside.


    Wen Jiu sighed internally.


    He had only wanted to make an impression and attract the attention of those atop Feixian Peak. How did it suddenly turn into a business deal?


    Forget it.


    Might as well take the profit.


    After this, those Gu Masters likely wouldn''t dare to use the same trick again.


    "Are you sure you can still go on?" Li Qing asked urgently.


    Wen Jiu nodded and immediately began absorbing the black smoke clinging to Li Qing''s surroundings. Then, under Li Qing''s escort, he reached the Demon Slayers Division''s area. While pretending to refine the spirit stones, he continued drawing in the poison.


    This time, however, Wen Jiu did not rush. He selectively absorbed the poison clinging to the Demon Slayers Division disciples.


    As for the rest, he decided to take his time.


    Because after this, he no longer intended to act. Once the time was right, he would head to the dungeon and take care of Gong Chi.


    What he hadn''t expected was that the Demon Slayers Division disciples'' gazes toward him had also changed. Most were filled with gratitude.


    But Li Qing and the other Demon Slayers Division members were more concerned with something else.


    Wen Jiu''s cultivation had reached the third level of Qi Refining.


    Their faces froze.


    Third level!


    This brat had broken through to the third level of Qi Refining so quickly!


    What kind of heaven-defying left-path talent was this?


    "If I had known, I would''ve offered a higher price earlier!" Li Qing secretly regretted it but quickly refocused, remembering the looming threat.


    At that moment, as Wen Jiu was quietly absorbing the poison in the back, a chilling voice echoed from the forest.


    "You''re lucky¡­ but do you think Wushan Gu Poison techniques end here?"


    As the words fell, a faint drumming sound emerged from the forest, followed by an ominous buzzing.


    It grew louder.


    And louder.


    The next moment, a surge of black smoke burst from the forest¡ªnot the same poisonous smoke as before, but a writhing mass resembling a giant python. A deeper probe with divine sense would reveal that this "smoke" was actually composed of countless flying insects.


    As they poured out of the forest, they dispersed instantly, forming a massive, sky-darkening swarm that surged toward Feixian Peak.


    "Blackheart Gu!"


    "It''s the Blackheart Gu!"


    This time, many recognized it.


    Its infamy was widespread.


    Not because it was particularly powerful, but because any cultivator bitten by it would die with a blackened, rotting heart. And unless the venom was neutralized within fifteen minutes, death was inevitable.


    Moreover, the only known antidote was another Gu worm¡ªShrinking Yang Gu. Consuming it rendered a man impotent. Only cultivators of immense strength could resist its effects with pure spiritual power.


    But just how powerful would one have to be?


    No one knew.


    The only recorded case was a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining who had managed to resist it.

 Chapter 75: Unseen Threats

    "Activate the formation!" Mu Canglong immediately ordered. The stewards beside him responded instantly, summoning several array disks. After retreating three steps, they activated them. As soon as the formations were triggered, a shimmering barrier enveloped the Night Patrol Division disciples. The swarm of Blackheart Gu surged forward like a tidal wave, crashing against the barrier. Fortunately, unlike the poisonous smoke from before, no matter how ferocious the incoming Gu were, the formation held them back.


    Only then did the disciples of the Night Patrol Division breathe a sigh of relief. After all, while Blackheart Gu could be repelled with talismans or spells, getting bitten was a different story¡ªwhere would they find Shrinking Yang Gu to counteract the venom? There wasn''t a single Gu master on all of Feixian Peak!


    But blocking the threat didn''t mean they were safe. Even though the Night Patrol Division had prepared in advance, the formation had its limits. Mu Canglong clearly understood this. After holding out for a while, he summoned a curved blade artifact and sent it flying. In an instant, the blade split into a dozen smaller curved daggers, swirling around him in a lethal storm, shredding every Blackheart Gu within a three-meter radius. Not a single one survived.


    But he didn''t stop there. With a leap, Mu Canglong sent the daggers soaring once more. They doubled, then quadrupled, transforming into razor-sharp spikes that pierced through the Gu swarm, cutting a path toward the dense forest beyond. Wherever they passed, the Blackheart Gu perished in droves.


    Watching this, Wen Jiu was somewhat surprised. A single Blackheart Gu wasn''t particularly strong, but when thousands gathered and attacked together, their destructive power far exceeded that of an ordinary fifth-layer Qi Refining spell. The way Sikong Bai''s face darkened, how he remained fearful even within a mid-grade first-tier defensive formation, made that abundantly clear.


    Yet Mu Canglong not only charged out but also struck back with overwhelming force, aiming to attack the Gu master hidden in the forest. Though he didn''t manage to break through, his sheer power gave Wen Jiu a much clearer understanding of the man''s strength. No wonder he was the chief deacon of the Night Patrol Division.


    On the other side, the Demon Slaying Division had also activated their formation. Unlike the Night Patrol Division, however, they used an offensive array¡ªblades of energy shot out in waves, each strike cutting down swaths of Blackheart Gu. Deacon Li Qing, following Mu Canglong''s example, charged into the swarm, slaying them in droves. Though he too failed to breach the forest and capture the enemy leader, he still inflicted heavy losses, causing the Blackheart Gu to scatter and die in large numbers.


    Meanwhile, the disciples of both divisions, protected by the formations and unscathed by the poisonous smoke, focused their efforts on casting spells. The once-feared Blackheart Gu, unable to even approach the disciples, let alone threaten Feixian Peak, was now being crushed under their combined might. Wen Jiu finally understood why, after he had swallowed the poison, the disciples of both divisions had looked at him so differently.


    Seeing the battle stabilize, Wen Jiu merely maintained his protective Yin techniques, silently absorbing the lingering poison in the air from behind the group. From this point on, he only wanted to be an observer. He knew the Tianzuo Alliance''s current assault was likely just a probing attack, meant to stir things up and see who would react. Of course, there was a chance it was a feint, but that was unlikely. The body of Xuem¨° Sanqian was on the mountain. If they wanted to feint, they would attack a different peak rather than make a ruckus at the base.


    Before long, Wen Jiu heard the sounds of battle erupting from other directions around Feixian Peak. Flames blazed in the night sky, signaling that combat had broken out all across the mountain''s base. Yet, no peak lord-level powerhouses had made a move¡ªso far, it was all low-level skirmishes.


    But then, the enemy''s probing attacks intensified. Following the Gu masters, ghost cultivators now joined the battle. From within the dense forest, sinister presences emerged¡ªcorpse puppets of the Three Fiends Sect, and more alarmingly, several powerful auras.


    Fifth-layer Qi Refining ghost cultivators.


    They weren''t just summoning vicious wraiths and malevolent spirits; the leader among them had a crimson-haired fiend standing at his side. Its aura was even stronger than his own, nearly reaching the sixth layer of Qi Refining.


    ¡ª¡ª


    If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.


    Deep in the forest, the old crone scowled at the arrival of the ghost cultivators.


    "Daoist Ding, what are you doing here?" she snapped. "You wouldn''t volunteer earlier, but now you want to steal my credit?"


    The middle-aged man beside the crimson-haired fiend sneered, his expression cold. "Daoist Yu, don''t compare me to yourself. You failed twice already¡ªElder Mu is losing patience. Do you really think I came here willingly to help a venomous old hag like you?"


    The old woman''s eyes flashed with malice. "If I find out later that this wasn''t Elder Mu''s order, you''d best start picking burial sites for your whole family!"


    She was furious. Her hard-earned opportunity for merit was now being shared. She wanted to kill someone just to vent her frustration.


    Her gaze shifted toward Wen Jiu, who stood behind the Demon Slaying Division''s forces. She took note of him.


    To her, if it weren''t for Wen Jiu swallowing the poison, neither the Night Patrol Division nor the Demon Slaying Division would have lasted this long. The poison should have crippled them, allowing the Blackheart Gu to break through. If not for him, Elder Mu wouldn''t have been forced to send in ghost cultivators like Yu Yan.


    "Boy, you''d better pray we never cross paths," she muttered to herself. "If I catch you¡­ I''ll turn you into a living blood Gu. Then you''ll know the agony of your flesh rotting away, of parasites burrowing into your bones, eating you from the inside out."


    As she spoke, the half-decayed side of her face, crawling with wriggling Gu insects, twitched hideously.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Wen Jiu''s expression hardened.


    He immediately turned his gaze toward the forest, his instincts screaming at him.


    A piercing killing intent had locked onto him.


    But it wasn''t from the ghosts or wraiths.


    It was something else.


    "The Gu master?" Wen Jiu muttered, glancing up at Feixian Peak. He might need to retreat toward the mountain''s defensive formations.


    At that moment, a massive horde of spectral entities burst from the forest¡ªvicious wraiths, ghostly apparitions, and at least a few powerful malevolent spirits on par with fifth-layer Qi Refining cultivators. Among them was the crimson-haired fiend.


    Mu Canglong''s face darkened. He quickly retreated, and Li Qing followed suit.


    Because they had recognized them.


    These ghosts belonged to a notorious family of ghost cultivators.


    Wusheng Mountain!


    Its reputation was well-known among ghost cultivators, and its unique ghost-rearing techniques had made a name for themselves throughout the entire Dead Peak cultivation world. However, what stood out the most was their identity¡ªthey were actually a branch of Dead Peak itself.


    Back when Dead Peak was embroiled in the Left Dao Rebellion, they had been one of the factions involved.


    "No wonder we couldn''t find them no matter how hard we searched. So they''ve sided with the Tianzuo Alliance!" Mu Canglong''s expression turned cold. Not daring to be careless, he quickly retreated into a mid-grade first-tier defensive formation.


    At the same time, Wen Jiu also witnessed the scene up close and felt the extraordinary presence of those fierce ghostly spirits.


    Compared to the ghostly entities cultivated by the Ghost Face Pagoda, their ghostly aura was slightly weaker, yet still quite peculiar. Wen Jiu could sense that something existed within them¡ªsomething that was the source of their greater power compared to ordinary spirits.


    However, with his own perception, he could barely detect anything. Fortunately, by using the senses of his Three-Fiend Corpse, he was able to grasp their strange nature.


    What he found stunned him.


    It was a heart.


    A beating heart.


    What was going on?


    Yet upon closer inspection through the Three-Fiend Corpse''s senses, Wen Jiu realized that this heart was unlike a human heart. Though it pulsed, its beats were slow, and from within, an unceasing flow of ghostly energy poured outward.


    "This heart¡­ it''s like a dantian for a Qi Refinement cultivator," Wen Jiu murmured in surprise.


    Now he understood why these spirits were stronger than ordinary ones¡ªit was because they could accumulate ghostly energy far better than usual spirits.


    Although he wasn''t particularly interested in their ghost-rearing techniques, now that he had encountered them, his curiosity was piqued.


    Perhaps he could even learn a thing or two.


    After all, he needed spirits to nourish his Three-Fiend Corpse in the future, and the stronger the spirits, the better.


    "I wonder¡­ can I obtain their ghost-rearing method simply by devouring their spirits?" A unique thought surfaced in Wen Jiu''s mind. Using the Three-Fiend Corpse to directly seize souls was too conspicuous.


    Revealing his trump card, the Blood Ink Three Thousand, was meant to resolve major troubles and perhaps reap some benefits on the side, but he absolutely couldn''t draw too much attention to himself or invite unnecessary trouble.


    Just then, Mu Canglong suddenly shouted, "Daoist Li, help me send Wen Jiu up to Feixian Peak! He''s still refining the poison smoke¡ªif he stays here, not only will he be of no help, but he''ll also become a burden."


    Li Qing glanced back at Wen Jiu, who was still seated on the ground. Without hesitation, he grabbed him and swiftly flew toward Feixian Peak.


    Wen Jiu did not resist.


    He had wanted to go up the mountain anyway.


    Gong Chi was imprisoned in the Night Patrol Division''s dungeon halfway up the mountain. The matter of ghost-rearing could wait, but Gong Chi had to die first.


    "Kid, thanks."


    Li Qing dropped Wen Jiu at the edge of the formation, where a disciple of the Discipline Hall stepped forward with a command token to receive him.


    After expressing his gratitude, Li Qing immediately rushed back into battle.


    ****


    ****


    [ Read 50 Chapters ahead at patreon.com/DaoistMist ]

 Chapter 76: The Weight of Sacrifice

    At that moment, several figures slowly emerged from within the formation. They were unfamiliar faces, but each of them exuded the aura of a fifth-layer Qi Refinement cultivator. Clearly, these were stewards from other subsidiary peaks hiding on Feixian Peak.


    There were only ten of them in total.


    Just enough to handle the ghostly entities and ghost cultivators.


    "They''re still probing each other," Wen Jiu thought to himself with some frustration. Then, supported by the Discipline Hall disciple, he stepped into the formation.


    The moment he entered, he was met with a sight that would be etched in his memory forever.


    Hundreds of cultivators stood at the mountainside where the Night Patrol Division and Demon-Slaying Division were stationed. Every single one of them was at least at the third layer of Qi Refinement.


    A single glance was all it took for Wen Jiu to spot several figures at the mountain''s peak¡ªall of them at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, on par with Ji Qiubai.


    "When did all these people arrive at Feixian Peak?" Wen Jiu was shocked but quickly withdrew his gaze and gave a polite nod of thanks.


    His arrival naturally drew some attention, but rather than suspicion, many gazes held admiration. Even the Discipline Hall''s overseer, Feng Xuan, nodded at him approvingly.


    Wen Jiu knew very well¡ªthis was the result of his earlier display: absorbing the poison smoke and revealing his Qi Refinement third-layer cultivation.


    Sure enough.


    In a sect, one had to show some worth now and then.


    Just based on his earlier performance, even if he did nothing else, he might already be on the radar of the main peak.


    Once Gong Chi was dead, there would be nothing stopping him from heading to the main peak.


    "A Left Dao cultivator, yet the first to step forward when fellow sect members are in danger¡­ quite commendable," Feng Xuan suddenly remarked in praise, tossing him a mid-grade first-tier healing pill.


    At the same time, his gaze toward Wen Jiu grew even more approving.


    He had just investigated Wen Jiu¡ªthis youth had only joined the sect a little over three months ago, yet he had already stepped into the third layer of Qi Refinement.


    And he did so with inferior spiritual roots.


    This alone proved his terrifying talent in the Left Dao.


    Across the entire Dead Peak cultivation world¡ªbe it subsidiary peaks, rogue cultivators, or demonic cultivators¡ªnot a single person could match this youth''s aptitude.


    It was only a shame that he had taken Gong Chi as his master. According to sect rules, that meant he could never advance to the main peak.


    Another unfortunate aspect was the cost of Left Dao cultivation¡ªprogress always came with a price. For Wen Jiu to reach the third layer of Qi Refinement so quickly, who knew what he had sacrificed?


    If it had cost him ten or twenty years of lifespan, then his incredible Left Dao potential would be wasted. After all, even mid-stage Qi Refinement cultivators only lived up to a hundred years at most¡ªnot much longer than an ordinary mortal.


    Wen Jiu feigned difficulty as he slowly cupped his hands in salute. "Subordinate Wen Jiu, many thanks to the esteemed Overseer!"


    Feng Xuan nodded and said no more.


    His attention returned to the battlefield, ready to send reinforcements whenever necessary.


    In the end, no matter how many forces the Tianzuo Alliance sent, he would deploy just enough to suppress them¡ªno more, no less. He would keep waiting until a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator appeared.


    Time was on his side. Reinforcements from other subsidiary peaks were on their way to Feixian Peak. He could afford to take his time.


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    But he didn''t believe that the Tianzuo Alliance would be willing to drag things out like this.


    Meanwhile, Wen Jiu withdrew to the back, out of sight, quietly refining the poison smoke and waiting for the battle to break out. That would be the moment to kill Gong Chi.


    Time passed, minute by minute.


    More and more reinforcements from other subsidiary peaks arrived, steadily maintaining the upper hand over the Tianzuo Alliance.


    Yet so far, the strongest combatants in the fight remained at the fifth layer of Qi Refinement. Not a single peak master had appeared.


    But as time dragged on, the Tianzuo Alliance seemed to be growing impatient. More and more demonic cultivators and Left Dao rogues joined the fray, turning the foot of Feixian Peak into utter chaos.


    Even so, Feixian Peak still held the advantage.


    The Tianzuo Alliance relied on sinister and deceitful techniques to barely hold on, but if things continued this way, their defeat was only a matter of time.


    Still, Wen Jiu refused to believe this was all the Tianzuo Alliance had prepared. If this was the extent of their strength, would they dare to steal the Blood Ink Three Thousand corpse? Would they dare to covet the Yin Fiend Blood Curse Physique?


    The night grew deeper.


    The area surrounding Feixian Peak had been completely reduced to scorched earth.


    Finally, Wen Jiu saw a blood-red pillar of light suddenly rise into the sky.


    A dense wave of blood energy spread instantly, accompanied by a familiar presence and an even more familiar face, rapidly approaching Feixian Peak. Behind him loomed a massive, blood-red, winged demon.


    Upon witnessing this scene, Wen Jiu clearly heard Feng Xuan speak, "So they''re finally getting serious."


    At that moment, a side peak master at the sixth level of Qi Refinement slowly descended, landing beside Feng Xuan. His gaze grew increasingly grave as he looked at the enormous, blood-red demon. "That''s a Bloodborn Fiend¡ªthe guardian demon of Bloodrobe Tower. It''s a descendant of the otherworldly fiends that once swept through the entire Godfall Mountain Range a thousand years ago. While this one isn''t nearly as powerful as the one that devastated the cultivation world of Deadman Peak back then, it is still far stronger than an ordinary cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Refinement."


    Feng Xuan''s expression also became heavier. "So that''s why they''ve been holding back¡ªnot just to test us, but to break the seal on the Bloodborn Fiend¡­ Get ready. Now that the Bloodborn Fiend has emerged, the Tianzuo Alliance and Bloodrobe Tower will be coming at us with full force!"


    With that, Feng Xuan glanced toward the main peak.


    The thought of Elder Ye Chen''s presence reassured him.


    ¡ª


    Meanwhile, atop the main hall.


    Ye Chen silently observed the unfolding events, his gaze locked onto the Bloodborn Fiend and the Bloodrobe Tower remnant, Bai Changxin. As they drew closer, the killing intent in his eyes grew sharper and more intense.


    His disciple, though lacking in talent and unlikely to ever reach the late stages of Qi Refinement, was still his disciple.


    A teacher for a day, a father for life.


    And as a father, he would never allow his child to die in vain.


    Yet Ye Chen remained motionless, merely exhaling a slow breath. "Come on, give me more¡­ This isn''t nearly enough¡­ What a pity¡ªthe Jiangzuo Alliance leader doesn''t even dare to show himself, only sending an old man with one foot in the grave."


    ¡ª


    Boom!


    The Bloodborn Fiend crashed down onto the battlefield.


    A violent surge of blood energy erupted, sending all Tianzuo Alliance cultivators and Feixian Peak disciples within a hundred feet flying backward. Even a side peak steward at the fourth level of Qi Refinement was unable to withstand the shockwave.


    In the next moment, Bai Changxin led the Bloodrobe Tower forces forward, accompanied by six cultivators at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, preparing to storm the Feixian Peak battlefield.


    But just then, eight side peak masters at the sixth level of Qi Refinement shot out from Feixian Peak''s formation.


    Bai Changxin, as if expecting this, chuckled. Blood energy surged around him, his aura climbing rapidly. "Only eight peak masters? That''s barely enough to feed the Bloodborn Fiend."


    At his words, the six cultivators beside him all let out amused laughs.


    At that moment, Feng Xuan''s voice rang out from the mountainside. "The victor is still undecided. Bai Changxin, you killed our side peak master Ji Qiubai¡ªtoday, you and your Bloodborn Fiend will be buried here!"


    With that, Feixian Peak''s protective formation was reactivated.


    This time, it was a killing array!


    Although Deadman Peak''s side peaks were only equipped with mid-grade first-tier formations, they were top-tier within that grade.


    After the last Bloodrobe Tower rebellion, this formation had been personally constructed by a top-grade first-tier spirit array master from the main peak. It could defend against and even kill any opponent below the late stages of Qi Refinement.


    Buzz!


    The formation lines trembled.


    Blades of sword light erupted from the ground, rising like a torrential downpour into the sky before plummeting toward the Bloodborn Fiend.


    The fiend let out a furious roar, blood energy surging violently. Rather than retreating, it charged forward to meet the attack head-on.


    Boom!


    The rain of swords descended.


    The Bloodborn Fiend¡ªso confidently relied upon by Bai Changxin¡ªwas instantly blasted backward, sent flying ten meters. The overwhelming blood energy surrounding it was forcibly torn apart by the sword rain.


    Though the fiend remained uninjured, this sight reignited the fighting spirit of the Feixian Peak cultivators.


    Bai Changxin''s expression darkened, rage twisting his features.


    "Kill!"


    With that, he was the first to charge toward a side peak master.


    At the same time, Wen Jiu, seeing that no one was paying attention to the mountainside, quietly withdrew.


    He retreated to a concealed location and immediately activated the Three Rivers Ghost Veil.


    His target¡ªthe Nightwatch Division''s dungeon.


    The battle was now in full swing.


    Next up was dealing with Gong Chi.

 Chapter 77: The Souls Price

    The Night Patrol Division Dungeon.


    Gong Chi listened to the commotion outside, sitting quietly with a faint smile on his lips while flipping through a copy of The Carefree Chronicles.


    He had heard the activation of the killing array. Once it was triggered, the defensive formation protecting Fei Xian Peak would weaken significantly, creating an opening for others to exploit. Feng Xuan, oh Feng Xuan, you''re still too inexperienced.


    Do you know that the Tianzuo Alliance possesses a technique called the Yin Five Elements Ghost Art? Though not as complete as the foundational techniques of your main peak, it is still a top-tier ghost cultivation method acquired from ancient ruins. Practitioners of this art can enter Fei Xian Peak silently and undetected.


    Formation.


    Divine Sense.


    None of them can detect it.


    "This short essay is well-written. The author vividly portrays a family that dominated their region for thirty years, only to realize, upon stepping beyond their city, that they were nothing more than frogs at the bottom of a well." Gong Chi praised the writer of The Carefree Chronicles with satisfaction.


    But wasn''t this passage also a veiled insult?


    Unfortunately, in order to maintain his deception, he had been forced to injure himself, rendering the elixirs Bai Changxin had given him useless in breaking through to the sixth level of Qi Refinement. Otherwise, once this battle concluded, the position of Fei Xian Peak''s master would have been his for the taking.


    No matter¡ªonce he presented Wen Jiu to the Alliance Leader and received his rewards, achieving the sixth level of Qi Refinement would be inevitable.


    After reaching that stage, coupled with the resources of a peak, all he would need was ten more years.


    The late stage of Qi Refinement would be within his grasp.


    By then, he would be only eighty years old. Upon stepping into the late stage of Qi Refinement, his lifespan would extend to 150 years, leaving him with nearly sixty years¡ªenough time to pursue the pinnacle of Qi Refinement.


    Perhaps even Foundation Establishment.


    Steady progress.


    A slow and methodical approach.


    That was his path.


    ¡­


    After the black ghoul evolved into a Three-Fiend Walking Corpse, although it had not advanced to the next level of the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment, Wen Jiu was surprised to find that both its concealment duration and effectiveness had significantly improved¡ªpractically doubled.


    Moving undetected, he reached the Night Patrol Division, where silence reigned. Only a few stone golems stood guard, allowing him to head straight for the dungeon.


    The Night Patrol Division Dungeon was located within Fei Xian Peak''s mountain body, primarily used to imprison disciples who violated sect rules. There was only one entrance, typically guarded by numerous stone golems and a steward overseeing security.


    But now, only the stone golems remained.


    First-rank stone golems could not detect Wen Jiu''s presence. However, upon entering, he had to pass through a series of stone doors.


    Opening them would create noise.


    This would inevitably alert Gong Chi.


    Thus, Wen Jiu first used the Three-Fiend Walking Corpse''s senses to probe ahead. Skipping over the upper levels where Fei Xian Peak''s disciples were imprisoned, he quickly locked onto Gong Chi¡ªthe Night Patrol Division elder, detained at the lowest level.


    But at that moment, Gong Chi''s expression suddenly hardened. He had sensed something watching him.


    "Who''s there?"


    He put down The Carefree Chronicles and immediately stood up.


    Something was spying on him, yet his divine sense detected nothing.


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    Clearly.


    The intruder''s divine sense was stronger than his.


    Could it be¡­ a main peak elder?


    The thought made Gong Chi''s face change slightly. Then, he heard the heavy stone doors opening one after another.


    Boom¡ª


    Boom¡ª


    Here it comes¡ªthe stone door leading to his cell was opening as well.


    However.


    There was nothing there.


    Not even his divine sense could detect anything.


    "Who''s there?"


    Gong Chi''s expression darkened further.


    A sense of unease surged within him.


    Since no one responded, he could only guess¡ªwas it someone from the Tianzuo Alliance? But why would they come for him?


    Were they insane?


    He had worked so hard to remain hidden until now.


    The next moment, a surge of ghostly energy erupted behind him. At the very instant it appeared, Gong Chi felt an overwhelming sense of danger. He instinctively attempted to use an artifact to propel himself out of the cell, but in the blink of an eye, a force of deadly energy and corpse qi exploded around him, binding his limbs.


    He found himself utterly unable to move.


    And in that same instant, an immense suction force descended upon him.


    Terror gripped his soul.


    A primal fear of death surged within him as he struggled to break free, but his body felt as if it was being held in an unrelenting grasp. Then, a pain like his very soul being torn apart erupted through him.


    His soul was being ripped away¡ªextracted!


    The words "Soul Extraction" flashed through his mind, bringing an even deeper sense of horror.


    He had never even heard of such a technique in the Tianzuo Alliance. A forbidden art capable of forcibly consuming a living person''s soul? He had only come across it in ancient legends.


    How could such a forbidden technique exist in this minor, death-ridden cultivation realm?


    Who was trying to kill him?


    A main peak elder?


    Impossible.


    If they wanted him dead, they wouldn''t need to resort to an ambush.


    The Tianzuo Alliance?


    Even less likely.


    He was a crucial chess piece for them in the Death Peak region.


    Then who?


    "I¡­ I can''t¡­ die here¡­" Gong Chi gritted his teeth, blood seeping from his lips. Suddenly, an unfamiliar energy surged within him¡ªan icy force entirely opposite to his own nature.


    At that moment, his skin and features rapidly aged, as if he had aged ten or twenty years in an instant. Yet, at the same time, his aura peaked to an unprecedented level.


    Boom¡ª


    With a thunderous roar, a wave of chilling energy erupted from his body.


    Gong Chi broke free. In that instant, he summoned a mid-grade first-rank artifact¡ªa flaming sphere¡ªthat shielded him. Simultaneously, he formed a hand seal, unleashing a move he had spent twenty years cultivating.


    Three Yang Finger.


    A technique bestowed by the Tianzuo Alliance Leader, acquired from a secret realm outside Death Peak. In its complete form, it was a Foundation Establishment-level technique. Even though he had only learned a fragment, it remained one of the most formidable Qi Refinement techniques.


    On par with the main peak''s most closely guarded secrets.


    One strike.


    Capable of slaying a Qi Refinement sixth-level cultivator.


    A move that transcended realms to kill!


    "Die!"


    He turned and struck¡ªa golden light flashed, its intricate patterns nearly imperceptible. A golden beam, as thick as a bowl''s rim, burst forth, its terrifying energy radiating through Fei Xian Peak.


    In that instant, Gong Chi finally saw his attacker.


    A ghostly being?


    It''s him!


    Memories flooded Gong Chi''s mind¡ªthis was the same ghost cultivator who had stolen half of the Chen family''s blood essence!


    The mastermind behind the battle for the Blood Ink Three Thousand!


    Why was he trying to kill him?


    At that realization, all of Gong Chi''s previous madness vanished. He turned and fled¡ªhe wasn''t sure if his attack could kill this foe.


    As he spun around, the golden beam streaked past, but the ghostly figure had already vanished.


    Turning around¡ª


    It was right in front of him.


    The sheer speed of it made Gong Chi sink into despair.


    As he felt that force once again pulling at him, tearing at his soul, he could no longer maintain control over his magical artifact. He wanted to use the secret life-burning technique one more time, but if he did, even if the enemy spared him, he would have only a few years left to live.


    No different from being dead.


    But anything was better than dying now.


    At that moment, Gong Chi prepared to unleash his secret technique again. However, just as he attempted to mobilize his spiritual power, he found himself completely unable to do so. Inwardly scanning his body, his eyes widened in horror¡ªhis meridians and dantian were teeming with countless Devour-Spirit Yin Worms.


    The sheer number made his scalp tingle.


    "How could there be Devour-Spirit Yin¡ª" Before he could finish, his soul was forcibly ripped out of his body by the Three-Fiend Corpse.


    And just as his consciousness began to fade, Wen Jiu''s figure gradually came into view¡ªbefore both he and the ghostly entity vanished from the dungeon in an instant.


    Gong Chi''s pupils dilated.


    Wen Jiu?!


    How could it be him?!


    ¡ª¡ª


    At the very moment Wen Jiu used the Blood Corpse Escape to flee, a figure appeared inside the collapsing dungeon.


    Ye Chen.


    His divine sense swept the area, but there was no one left. All he could detect were remnants of ghostly energy, fiendish aura, corpse qi, and the lifeless body of Gong Chi.


    As his senses probed further, he immediately noticed the massive number of Devour-Spirit Yin Worms within Gong Chi''s body, and his brows furrowed.


    Ghostly energy? Fiendish aura? Corpse qi? And Devour-Spirit Yin Worms?


    Such a chaotic mix.


    "To have killed Gong Chi within ten breaths, leaving not even his soul behind¡­ It must have been someone at the late-stage Qi Refining realm." But what shocked Ye Chen the most was that the killer had vanished without leaving the slightest trace of their presence.


    Before he could dwell on it further, the dungeon had begun collapsing on a massive scale. With no time to waste, Ye Chen grabbed Gong Chi''s body and retreated.


    Not long after, Feng Xuan and the other two arrived, drawn by the disturbance.


    They had seen the golden light piercing through the mountains and sensed the terrifying aura it emitted.


    At first, they thought someone from the Tianzuo Alliance had infiltrated Fei Xian Peak, but upon arrival, all they saw was Elder Ye Chen and Gong Chi''s corpse.

 Chapter 78: The Three Yang Finger

    Just as Feng Xuan was about to speak, Ye Chen raised a hand, signaling them to be silent. "There is a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator on Fei Xian Peak with immense power¡ªso strong that even I could not detect their presence¡­ But they are likely not from the Tianzuo Alliance."


    "Huh?"


    Feng Xuan and the others were stunned.


    Ye Chen continued, "If they were from the Tianzuo Alliance, they wouldn''t have snuck onto the mountain just to kill Gong Chi. I, too, could kill Gong Chi within a few breaths, but I definitely couldn''t extract his soul and escape so silently."


    "Elder, what should we do?" Feng Xuan''s expression changed. The sudden appearance of an unknown late-stage Qi Refining cultivator was a serious complication.


    This unpredictable factor could completely derail their plans.


    Especially since Ye Chen had admitted he wasn''t even a match for this person. Feng Xuan grew even more anxious.


    But Ye Chen was no longer concerned with that¡ªhis priority was identifying this mysterious individual.


    Why did they want Gong Chi dead?


    With such strength, they could have killed him at any time.


    Why choose now?


    "Return to the frontlines and remain stationed there. Since the attacker left immediately, it means they weren''t after the Blood Ink Three Thousand Corpses. If anything happens, I will handle it. No need to worry." Leaving those words behind, Ye Chen took Gong Chi''s corpse back to the main hall and began a thorough examination.


    Feng Xuan and the others exchanged glances. Though unease churned in their hearts, there was no turning back now.


    All they could do was hope that the mysterious late-stage Qi Refining cultivator was not an ally of the Tianzuo Alliance.


    If they were¡­


    Tonight''s outcome would be uncertain.


    ¡ª¡ª


    Beyond Fei Xian Peak, in a dense forest five miles away¡ª


    Wen Jiu landed, finally breathing a sigh of relief. He scanned his surroundings to confirm he was alone, then quickly stored the Three-Fiend Corpse back into his Corpse Nurturing Coffin. Without hesitation, he activated a Swift Talisman and put more distance between himself and Fei Xian Peak.


    Why flee?


    Because he had just made the Three-Fiend Corpse use Blood Corpse Escape three times and perform two postnatal corpse arts.


    Although the consumption had decreased since the Black Ghoul evolved into a Three-Fiend Corpse, each Blood Corpse Escape still required 15% of its corpse qi.


    Three uses amounted to 45%.


    Two Soul Capture techniques cost another 20%.


    A total of 65% had been depleted.


    He needed to find a place to replenish the corpse qi.


    As for the battle on Fei Xian Peak? He had no concerns at all.


    Moments before he left, the Three-Fiend Corpse''s perception detected a formidable expert arriving from the main peak¡ª


    A late-stage Qi Refining cultivator!


    The Three-Fiend Corpse couldn''t even gauge their exact level, meaning they were definitely no ordinary late-stage cultivator.


    Wen Jiu quickly swapped out his Night Patrol uniform for the loose robes of a rogue cultivator, the same outfit he had worn when visiting the scattered cultivator marketplace.


    To be honest¡ª


    He was both anxious and exhilarated.


    Excited because he hadn''t expected the combination of Blood Corpse Escape and Soul Capture to be so devastating in a sneak attack.


    Gong Chi had been caught completely off guard by the Soul Capture Eye, and its power had exceeded Wen Jiu''s expectations. Initially, he had only wanted to injure Gong Chi and weaken him with the Devour-Spirit Yin Worms before finishing him off in close combat with the Three-Fiend Corpse¡ªafter all, Gong Chi was a Qi cultivator, not a body cultivator.


    But he hadn''t anticipated that the Soul Capture Eye would be so lethal, forcing Gong Chi to burn his lifespan just to break free.


    And the Devour-Spirit Yin Worms¡ª


    They had worked even better than he''d hoped. It had been worth it to implant nearly all the ones he''d cultivated into Gong Chi''s body. In the crucial moment, they had completely crippled Gong Chi''s final counterattack.


    Everything had gone perfectly.


    The only downside was that he had left a trace of corpse qi at the scene. Fortunately, it wasn''t the aura of a Black Ghoul, but rather that of the Three-Fiend Corpse, which had fused with the Blood Transformation technique.


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    As long as the Three-Fiend Corpse remained hidden and avoided exposure, no one would suspect him.


    After all, the victim was a highly experienced elder at Qi Refining Fifth Layer, with decades of cultivation.


    And he¡ª


    Was merely a newly promoted Qi Refining Third Layer apprentice disciple, who had barely made the breakthrough after much struggle.


    A disciple who only knew how to cast basic mana bullets.


    After circling around carefully, Wen Jiu stealthily returned to the heart of the Forsaken Deadlands, watching the battle unfold below Fei Xian Peak from a distance. Meanwhile, inside the Corpse Nurturing Coffin, the Three-Fiend Corpse was voraciously absorbing the dense corpse qi and yin energy of the Forsaken Deadlands.


    At the same time, Wen Jiu extended his divine sense into Gong Chi''s storage pouch, inventorying his spoils of war.


    One glance¡ªand he was stunned.


    No wonder he was a main peak elder.


    Just in spirit stones alone, there were over a thousand¡ª1,362 in total.


    On top of that, there were three mid-tier Rank One magical artifacts, including that fireball-shaped artifact.


    Any one of them could sell for at least four or five hundred lower-grade spirit stones. One of them was even of top-tier quality.


    The price had increased by at least two or three hundred lower-grade spirit stones.


    Just from these items alone, Wen Jiu had already amassed nearly three thousand spirit stones¡ªan instant fortune.


    No wonder they say that murder and arson lead to a golden belt.


    Besides these, there were also some pills and talismans, all of mid-grade tier-one quality. Lower-grade tier-one items were rarely seen. Their value wasn''t low either¡ªafter all, mid-grade tier-one quality was still mid-grade, and even the worst ones were worth forty to fifty lower-grade spirit stones.


    Apart from that, there were also some spell techniques and cultivation methods. These things weren''t particularly valuable and couldn''t be freely traded either.


    So Wen Jiu didn''t bother with the storage bags. Instead, he used his spiritual connection to access the memories of Gong Chi''s soul, which had been devoured by his Three Fiend Walking Corpse.


    With just a glance.


    Gong Chi''s entire life played out before Wen Jiu''s eyes, as if he were watching an extremely long documentary. Every memory that Gong Chi had was now imprinted in Wen Jiu''s mind.


    However, having such a massive flood of memories surge into his consciousness all at once made Wen Jiu feel extremely unwell. Fortunately, the Three Fiend Walking Corpse promptly channeled a stream of fiendish energy into him, gradually alleviating the overwhelming discomfort.


    A moment later.


    Wen Jiu had finished sifting through the bleak and miserable first half of Gong Chi''s life and the hypocritical, self-serving existence he led after joining the Tianzuo Alliance.


    But none of that was important. What truly mattered was a particular memory¡ªthe technique Gong Chi had used right before his death.


    Three Yang Finger.


    A broken Foundation Establishment technique, originating from a hidden realm outside Dead Man''s Peak.


    Its power rivaled even the secret arts of Dead Man''s Peak.


    A single strike could slay an enemy across cultivation stages.


    At the fifth level of Qi Refinement, one could shake an opponent at the sixth level.


    Since arriving at Feixian Peak, Wen Jiu had already learned a great deal about the common knowledge of the cultivation world¡ªparticularly the principles of spell techniques. Normally, while techniques could enhance a cultivator''s strength, they couldn''t compensate for the fundamental gap between cultivation stages.


    No matter how many techniques you mastered, it was useless.


    Likewise, even if you supplemented your strength with magical artifacts and talismans, the difference remained insurmountable¡ªbecause artifacts and talismans had their own limitations in usage.


    Thus, defeating an opponent across cultivation realms was essentially impossible.


    Which meant that any technique capable of doing so was exceedingly rare. Even the weakest of such techniques could be considered a sect-defining treasure on the main peak of Dead Man''s Peak.


    Just the acquisition of the Three Yang Finger alone was worth more than everything inside Gong Chi''s storage bag combined.


    "Compared to the contents of the storage bag, these memories are the real treasure. Plus, by seeing how Gong Chi cultivated this technique, I can avoid making unnecessary mistakes."


    At that moment, Wen Jiu further realized just how terrifyingly powerful the latent abilities of the Houtian Corpse Dao''s Soul-Seizing Art were.


    It also made him even more curious¡ªwhere exactly had Elder Mu Canglong''s father obtained the Three Fiend Corpse Nurturing Method? Just the ability to awaken the innate corpse Dao''s divine abilities was already invaluable beyond measure.


    At that moment.


    Wen Jiu decided that he would question Mu Canglong about it someday. Perhaps his father had mentioned it to him before.


    Shortly after, Wen Jiu noticed another memory¡ªGong Chi''s final desperate act before dying.


    It turned out to be a secret technique of the Tianzuo Alliance¡ªThe Earth Yin Life-Burning Art.


    However, this technique wasn''t something Gong Chi had cultivated himself; rather, it was cultivated by the leader of the Tianzuo Alliance.


    A wisp of extremely concealed Yin energy had been planted inside Gong Chi''s body. Under normal circumstances, it remained dormant, showing no signs of its presence.


    But the moment Gong Chi activated it with his spiritual consciousness, it instantly devoured ten years of his lifespan, unleashing a surge of power far beyond his usual limits.


    Beyond this, there were no other techniques in Gong Chi''s memories that interested Wen Jiu. However, there was something else¡ªthe knowledge and understanding Gong Chi had of Dead Man''s Peak.


    Dead Man''s Peak.


    Undeniably the only immortal mountain within a five-hundred-mile radius.


    But that was only in the context of the Divine Ruin Mountain Range.


    Dead Man''s Peak sat on the edge of the vast, ten-thousand-mile-long Divine Ruin Mountain Range. Beyond its borders lay an extensive expanse of mortal territories¡ªnot ten thousand miles wide, but at least three to five thousand.


    The blood essence of one hundred thousand people had been gathered through the slaughter of entire cities¡ªcarried out by the Bloodrobe Tower, far beyond the reach of sect authority.


    That was a land beyond the governance of cultivation sects¡ªa place they had no interest in controlling.


    Because the Divine Ruin Mountain Range stretched endlessly, all cultivation sects focused their attention inward, on the mountain range itself, rather than what lay beyond its borders.


    That was the true world of cultivators.


    Although Wen Jiu found all of this fascinating, he had no desire to go out and explore. He just wanted to stay within Dead Man''s Peak and quietly accumulate his daily earnings.


    At least until he reached the Foundation Establishment stage.


    However.


    Just as Wen Jiu continued sifting through Gong Chi''s memories, while the corpse aura of the Three Fiend Walking Corpse recovered to around seventy or eighty percent¡ª


    An incredibly powerful yet unfamiliar aura suddenly burst forth from Feixian Peak.


    And it wasn''t the same one Wen Jiu had sensed before.


    Moments later, the late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator that Wen Jiu had previously sensed on Feixian Peak rushed out in pursuit.


    Wen Jiu had no intention of getting involved¡ªafter all, this was a matter between late-stage Qi Refinement cultivators.


    But then, the Three Fiend Walking Corpse abruptly detected that Blood Ink Three Thousand''s corpse was also moving rapidly¡ªcarried by the very cultivator who had first burst out of Feixian Peak!


    "My damn corpse!"


    Wen Jiu cursed furiously in his heart.

 Chapter 79: Corpse Chase

    Daily corpse cultivation grants experience to a Corpse Keeper, and after nearly three months of accumulation, Wen Jiu was on the verge of reaching level 2. He wasn''t sure what benefits this level-up would bring, but it was highly likely that he would gain another slot for mutating a corpse. His original plan had been to cultivate Xue Mo San Qian''s corpse into his second Three-Fiend Walking Corpse. Two such corpses would grant him two postnatal corpse techniques, significantly increasing his strength.


    However, the person who had stolen Xue Mo San Qian''s corpse was at the late-stage Qi Refining realm. The elder who gave chase was also at late-stage Qi Refining. Moreover, he had noticed that both of them were flying on magical artifacts. If he relied solely on corpse control to pursue them, there was no way he could catch up in this lifetime.


    The only fortunate thing was that the corpse aura mark left by his Three-Fiend Walking Corpse, as long as it wasn''t used for Blood Corpse Escape teleportation, had an extremely wide sensing range. Though the further the distance, the blurrier the perception, he could still vaguely track it¡ªmore than enough to follow their trail.


    With that in mind, Wen Jiu prepared to set off with his Three-Fiend Walking Corpse in pursuit. However, just as he turned around, he noticed that the people from the Tianzuo Alliance and the Blood-Clothed Tower were also scattering in all directions, as if this had all been prearranged.


    "So the attack at the base of the mountain was just a feint. The real target was him!" The fact that this person had managed to infiltrate Feixian Peak unnoticed and snatch Xue Mo San Qian''s corpse right under the nose of the main peak elder was proof of extraordinary strength.


    Thinking quickly, Wen Jiu started leaving corpse aura marks along his path to facilitate Blood Corpse Escape teleportation. He placed a mark every four or five li.


    Before long, he had chased over twenty to thirty li, but under the cover of night, there was still no sign of the two.


    Through the Three-Fiend Walking Corpse''s perception, he could tell that Xue Mo San Qian''s corpse was moving farther and farther away at an astonishing speed. Determined to reclaim it, he pressed on. But just as he was about to continue the pursuit, the Three-Fiend Walking Corpse sensed that the stolen corpse had suddenly stopped moving.


    Wen Jiu immediately picked up speed, closing the distance while remaining cautious not to get too close.


    The direction they were heading was beyond Dead Man''s Peak¡ªinto the world of ordinary mortals.


    As he drew nearer, he finally caught sight of the person who had taken Xue Mo San Qian''s corpse, as well as the main peak elder. But he only dared to observe from a distance, prepared to use Blood Corpse Escape at any moment to flee.


    Because at that moment, in the mountainous terrain, besides the thief who had taken the corpse, there were two other late-stage Qi Refining cultivators. The three of them had formed a triangular formation, encircling the main peak elder.


    A trap?


    Wen Jiu''s expression shifted slightly.


    But he did not leave immediately.


    His Three-Fiend Walking Corpse still had about eighty percent of its corpse aura left, meaning he could use Blood Corpse Escape multiple times. This was what gave him the confidence to stay and watch.


    If chaos broke out, he might just have a chance to snatch back Xue Mo San Qian''s corpse.


    ¡ª


    In the mountains, birds and beasts scattered in alarm.


    Ye Chen stood calmly atop a needle-leaf-shaped flying artifact, scanning the three opponents as if he did not regard them as a threat.


    Of the three, the leader was the one who had stolen Xue Mo San Qian''s corpse.


    He wore black robes so dark that even moonlight failed to illuminate them, and beneath his face-covering veil, a pair of murky yet sharp eyes gleamed.


    However, he did not strike immediately. Instead, he spoke in a slow, measured tone.


    "Tianzuo Alliance, Dao Protector of the Shan lineage¡ªMu Yuanlong. I have long heard of the infamous ''Iron-Faced Executioner'' Ye Chen, known for his unparalleled skill and unyielding justice, a pillar of the Supervisory Hall. But meeting you today¡­ I must say, I am greatly disappointed."


    "Daoist Mu, you are mistaken," said the one-eyed old crone to Ye Chen''s left with a sinister smile. "Those who are strong in force are often weak in thought. Our dear Ye Daoist here has been relying on the reputation of Dead Man''s Peak to run rampant for quite some time. It''s only natural that he has become a little¡­ oblivious."


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    Her cultivation level was fully revealed¡ªlate-stage Qi Refining, seventh layer.


    The burly man beside her, draped in a giant serpent whose human-like head stared forward with eerie intelligence, grew impatient.


    "What''s the point of all this talk? Kill him, and our names will spread throughout the entire cultivation world of Dead Man''s Peak!"


    His cultivation, too, was blatantly displayed¡ªnot for intimidation, but because he was ready to attack.


    Ye Chen swept his gaze over the three of them, his expression as cold and indifferent as ever.


    "Tianzuo Alliance, Shan lineage¡ªthree Dao Protectors."


    His words were cut off.


    Because in the very next moment, he lunged forward.


    With a flick of his hand, he summoned a magic treasure¡ªan axe on one side, a hammer on the other. The moment the weapon appeared, the killing intent around him became tangible, transforming into a blood-red aura that moved in sync with his strikes.


    The sheer pressure of his murderous intent instantly suppressed the three opponents, making Wen Jiu, who was watching from afar, secretly alarmed. He even glanced back, wondering if he should retreat a little more.


    As Wen Jiu stepped backward, Mu Yuanlong suddenly summoned two ghostly figures¡ªone white, one black¡ªshrouded in eerie Yin energy.


    "Well then, let us experience firsthand the legendary Thousand-Jin Overlord Axe that has made you famous in the Dead Man''s Peak cultivation world."


    At his words, the battle erupted.


    The old crone tossed out a swarm of golden poisonous insects, which devoured the incoming waves of killing intent. The burly man, meanwhile, clenched his fists and, along with his giant serpent, charged straight at Ye Chen, seemingly intending to take the blow head-on.


    The three of them clashed in an instant.


    What surprised Wen Jiu was that Ye Chen, even facing all three of them at once, did not falter in the slightest. His axe and hammer moved in perfect harmony, effortlessly blocking their attacks¡ªhe even seemed somewhat at ease.


    As the fight continued, Mu Yuanlong and his companions grew increasingly grim.


    They had known that Ye Chen''s Thousand-Jin Overlord Axe was infamous, with nearly ten late-stage Qi Refining cultivators having died by his hand. But they hadn''t expected that even with their combined strength, they would still struggle this much against him.


    Mu Yuanlong''s Black-White Twin Fiends¡ªboth powerful ghost entities at late-stage Qi Refining¡ªcouldn''t even withstand a single strike from Ye Chen''s axe.


    They were all at the seventh layer of Qi Refining. So why was the gap this vast?


    "Stop holding back!"


    Mu Yuanlong''s voice was sharp as he swiftly pulled out an object from his storage pouch¡ªa black Yin talisman.


    The moment it appeared, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and an overwhelming chill swept through the battlefield, enough to make even a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator shudder.


    Seeing the talisman, both the old crone and the burly man hesitated for a brief moment before instinctively beginning to retreat while fighting.


    The Tianyin Talisman. A first-grade high-quality talisman. Its power rivals that of a cultivator at the peak of the Qi Refinement stage. Its value is self-evident¡ªpriceless and unattainable¡ªbecause, at present, the entire cultivation world of Dead Man''s Peak lacks a talisman master of this caliber. Clearly, it was obtained from a secret realm.


    However, just as the old woman and the burly man were about to retreat, Ye Chen pressed forward, his Thousand-Jin Overlord Axe striking down relentlessly. The two of them scrambled to defend themselves, attempting to create distance but failing miserably. Anxiety gripped their hearts.


    Seeing this, Mu Yuanlong immediately commanded the Black and White Twin Fiends to join the fray, hoping to entangle Ye Chen and buy time for the other two to retreat.


    "Ridiculous!"


    Ye Chen sneered coldly. His Thousand-Jin Overlord Axe surged with killing intent, and with a single swing, he cleaved an approaching ghostly wraith in half. Mu Yuanlong, startled by the display of power, hastily recalled the remaining wraith.


    Witnessing this, Wen Jiu couldn''t help but feel a wave of shock. His understanding of this Main Peak Elder from the Overseer''s Hall deepened. He didn''t know how powerful the other Main Peak Elders were, but judging from Ye Chen alone, it was clear that even mid-grade spiritual roots didn''t qualify one to enter their ranks. Only those with top-grade, single-attribute spiritual roots¡ªlike Du Feng¡ªwere worthy of their attention.


    Fortunately, Wen Jiu had no illusions about being taken as a disciple by an elder. As long as he could reach the Main Peak and become an official disciple, gaining access to advanced resources would be enough.


    As Wen Jiu''s thoughts wandered, a chilling scream rang out. The old woman, enveloped by a swarm of venomous insects, had been struck by Ye Chen''s axe. Her body was split in half at the waist, and she plummeted from her flying artifact. The poisonous insects instantly lost their control, scattering like headless flies in all directions.


    Mu Yuanlong and his companion''s expressions changed drastically. Their will to fight shattered, and they immediately steered their flying artifacts away in a desperate retreat.


    But Ye Chen refused to let them escape.


    His focus remained locked on Mu Yuanlong¡ªbecause Mu Yuanlong carried the corpse of Xue Moqian.


    As the three figures disappeared, Wen Jiu swiftly activated the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment technique and approached. Unfortunately, the storage bag had already been taken by Ye Chen, but Wen Jiu didn''t mind. To him, the most valuable things weren''t material possessions¡ªit was the old woman''s soul and blood essence.


    After using Soul Capture and Blood Absorption, Wen Jiu resumed his pursuit. However, he didn''t immediately sift through the old woman''s memories. As he pressed forward, he quickly faced the growing depletion of his Yin techniques and corpse energy. Since the mortal world lacked spiritual energy, he had no choice but to consume spirit stones frantically to replenish his Yin techniques, though his corpse energy remained irrecoverable.


    Fortunately, under the guidance of the Three Fiendish Walking Corpses, he sensed that Xue Moqian''s corpse had stopped moving after fleeing for about fifteen minutes.


    Wen Jiu hurried to the scene, only to witness an unforgettable sight.


    The burly man, a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, was frozen in place by a talisman. Ye Chen leaped high into the air and brought his axe down, splitting him in half. Even the massive python beside him was severed, along with the high-grade first-rank artifact protecting him.


    If Wen Jiu recalled correctly, this burly man had previously been able to withstand Ye Chen''s attacks with his sheer physical strength¡ªclearly a body cultivator.


    Yet he had died so abruptly.


    The conclusion was obvious.


    Ye Chen had been holding back earlier.

 Chapter 80: The Thousand-Jin Overlord Axe

    Fighting three opponents at once, yet still reserving his strength¡ªthis Main Peak Elder from the Overseer''s Hall was truly terrifying.


    Mu Yuanlong was visibly horrified, but Ye Chen''s Thousand-Jin Overlord Axe had already come crashing down.


    With a single swing, Mu Yuanlong''s artifact and protective talismans were all shattered. A massive wound split his body from shoulder to abdomen, and dark blood gushed forth uncontrollably.


    "No!"


    Mu Yuanlong let out a desperate cry before his body suddenly transformed into dozens of ghostly mists, dispersing in all directions.


    Ye Chen''s expression hardened. His divine sense swept through the escaping ghost mists, and he immediately chased one down, cleaving it apart with his axe.


    But he had struck the wrong one.


    Without hesitation, Ye Chen pursued another.


    However, there were simply too many ghost mists, all moving at incredible speed.


    In the span of ten breaths, though Ye Chen had managed to destroy more than a dozen of them, he lost track of another twenty or thirty.


    "So this is the Yin Five-Element Ghost Technique that the Tianzuo Alliance obtained from the ruins?" Ye Chen''s face darkened. "Useless in a fight, but excellent for escaping. Too bad¡ªyou still took a hit from my Thousand-Jin Overlord Axe!"


    Ye Chen did not continue his pursuit.


    He was confident that a seventh-layer Qi Refinement cultivator couldn''t survive a direct hit from his axe. No one could save him.


    As for Xue Moqian''s corpse, he had already examined it thoroughly. The Yin Fiend Blood Curse was not present.


    Clearly, the mastermind who had released Xue Moqian''s corpse had already taken the curse.


    There was no point in further pursuit.


    "I don''t know what your real goal was in releasing Xue Moqian''s corpse, but indirectly, you helped me kill three guardians of the Three-Headed Mountain faction... I suppose I should thank you."


    A faint smile curled at Ye Chen''s lips, though it lasted only a moment.


    Being used as a pawn left a sour taste in his mouth.


    After looting the corpses, Ye Chen departed swiftly.


    Hidden in the dense forest under the concealment of Three Rivers Ghost Concealment, Wen Jiu waited for Ye Chen to leave before retrieving the burly man''s corpse and storing it in his storage bag. Then, he continued his pursuit in another direction.


    Through the lingering corpse energy imprinted by the Three Fiendish Walking Corpses, he could sense Mu Yuanlong''s rapidly dwindling vitality.


    In just a hundred breaths, he had lost thirty percent of his life force.


    And it was still draining rapidly.


    After another fifteen minutes of tracking, Mu Yuanlong finally came to a stop¡ªhis vitality now dangerously thin.


    Wen Jiu approached but did not act immediately. From a distance, he observed Mu Yuanlong stumbling into a small village nestled in the mountains. The wounded man leaned against a wooden hut, desperately swallowing pill after pill¡ªbottle after bottle, handful after handful.


    Yet his vitality continued to drain away.


    The startled villagers and their barking dogs dared not approach, fleeing in fear.


    Wen Jiu remained hidden, silently watching as Mu Yuanlong''s aura grew weaker and weaker until, at last, his life force was completely extinguished.


    Even then, Wen Jiu did not immediately act.


    He waited for another fifteen minutes before using Three Rivers Ghost Concealment to approach the corpse. First, he collected the storage bag, then absorbed the remaining blood essence and soul. Finally, he stored the body away.


    After all, it was the corpse of a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator. What if, upon reaching Level 2, the Corpse Nurturer could unlock two additional mutation slots?


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    ¡­


    Meanwhile.


    Ye Chen retraced his steps back to the place where the old woman had died.


    Originally, he had only intended to check if there were any other members of the Tianzuo Alliance nearby. However, as soon as he arrived, he saw the old woman''s shriveled corpse¡ªclear evidence that her blood essence had been completely drained.


    Sweeping the area with his divine sense, he found no trace of her soul either. The method used to extract it was strikingly similar to the one that had killed Gong Chi.


    "Could that person have been hiding in the shadows all along?" Ye Chen''s expression darkened. Without hesitation, he turned and headed toward the site where the other person had fallen.


    By the time he arrived, the other corpse was already gone, leaving only bloodstains scattered across the ground.


    Ye Chen surveyed the surroundings, a glint of intrigue flashing through his eyes. "This trip to Feixian Peak has truly been worthwhile. Such a small mountain, yet it harbors a spy from the Tianzuo Alliance¡­ and an unidentified late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator who prefers to lurk in the darkness. Looks like the cultivation world of Dead Man''s Peak is about to be thrown into chaos again."


    With that, Ye Chen rode his flying artifact and departed.


    As for the hidden late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator, Ye Chen chose not to dwell on it.


    In his view, since the person clearly did not wish to reveal themselves, searching for them would be futile. It was better to wait and see.


    If they were hiding on Feixian Peak, there had to be a reason.


    One thing was certain, however¡ªthis person likely wasn''t part of the Tianzuo Alliance. Otherwise, they wouldn''t have remained concealed just now, nor would they have used Xuemosanqian''s corpse as bait to turn the Tianzuo Alliance into a pawn.


    ¡­


    Elsewhere.


    Wen Jiu did not immediately extract the souls from the two corpses. After all, soul extraction required consuming ten percent of his corpse energy each time.


    Instead, he took a detour through the mortal realm before making his way back to Feixian Peak. By the time he arrived, the sky had already begun to lighten, and the battle at Feixian Peak had officially come to an end.


    Upon returning, he saw that the disciples of Feixian Peak were already cleaning up the battlefield, all of them brimming with excitement as they discussed the battle from the previous night. In particular, whenever the name of Ye Chen, the elder of the Supervisory Hall''s main peak, was mentioned, their faces lit up with enthusiasm.


    Clearly, Ye Chen had already returned and brought news of his victory over Mu Yuanlong and the other two.


    Ignoring the chatter around him, Wen Jiu headed straight for the rogue cultivators'' trading market outside Feixian Peak. For safety reasons, he had sent his sister, Wen Ya, there earlier, arranging for her to stay in an inn.


    After safely escorting his sister back home on Feixian Peak, Wen Jiu was about to set off for the Night Patrol Division.


    But just as he stepped out the door, he ran into Wang Nian and his wife, who were carrying several gifts on their way to his home.


    In addition to them, other nearby disciples of Feixian Peak also arrived one after another, each bringing small congratulatory gifts.


    "Congratulations, Daoist Wen! You''ve advanced to the third level of Qi Refinement and even made great contributions to both the Night Patrol Division and the Demon Slayer Division last night!"


    "Congratulations, Steward Wen!"


    "Congratulations, Steward Wen!"


    Many had already changed how they addressed him.


    Clearly, they were unaware that Gong Chi had died, so they naturally assumed that Wen Jiu was about to be promoted to a managerial position in the Night Patrol Division.


    Their gazes toward him were completely different from when the assessment results had just been announced.


    Back then, when the results came out, Wen Jiu had shut his doors and declined all attempts at befriending him. Though they hadn''t voiced any complaints, Wen Jiu had noticed the displeasure in their eyes. Afterward, they no longer tried to curry favor with him.


    But now, their eyes reflected nothing but flattery and respect, no longer concerned with whether his cultivation path was orthodox or not.


    Wen Jiu did not accept their gifts, only offering a simple word of thanks. However, he did accept Wang Nian''s gift.


    After all, his relationship with Wang Nian was different.


    Accepting the gift was merely paving the way for future interactions.


    Seeing this, Wang Nian grinned but had already adjusted how he addressed Wen Jiu. "Congratulations, Daoist Wen!"


    Wen Jiu was momentarily taken aback before pushing Wang Nian toward the door. As he did, he called out, "Sister-in-law, we need to go buy a talisman to ward off evil spirits¡ªone of mid-grade Tier 1. My brother Wang here seems to have been possessed by a ghost!"


    Wang''s wife was stunned for a moment before realizing what he meant. Covering her mouth, she burst into laughter.


    Wang Nian quickly caught on as well, his heart warming. "Wen, my brother! It''s me! Your Brother Wang! What do you mean, possessed by a ghost¡­?"


    "That''s more like it!"


    Wen Jiu laughed heartily and stopped pushing him.


    Wang Nian also laughed. On his way here, he had been pondering how to address Wen Jiu, feeling that calling him "brother" might no longer be appropriate. He had considered changing his manner of address, but he hadn''t expected Wen Jiu to remain the same as always.


    This brother¡ª


    Was truly worth helping all those times!


    This brother¡ª


    Was truly worth keeping for a lifetime!


    Just then, a voice called out from outside¡ªit was a disciple from the Night Patrol Division.


    "Daoist Wen, Deacon Mu requests your presence immediately." Although the disciple hadn''t changed how he addressed Wen Jiu, he had already started using the respectful "you" in his speech.


    Wen Jiu''s smile faded. He knew they were likely summoning him regarding Gong Chi''s death. He immediately cupped his fists toward Wang Nian. "Brother Wang, I won''t be able to entertain you for now. Let''s get together with our families at Wangshan Tower for a drink tonight."


    "Alright, go on."


    Wang Nian nodded.


    Even long after Wen Jiu had left, the smile on his face remained.


    His wife couldn''t stand it anymore and sighed. "Alright, I get it¡ªyou made a good friend. But you''ve been grinning like an idiot for too long. If someone sees you, they might think you just struck it rich."


    Hearing that, Wang Nian''s smile widened.


    "Having a brother like him¡ªisn''t that better than getting rich?"


    ****


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