Moreover, itâs a perfect opportunity to find a solitary place for cultivation. If Vice City Lord Lin tries to repeat his old tricks by sending late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, then simply showcasing some strength will suffice. Daoist Wei will likely stand up for him for other matters.
After all, with the wager in place, even if Daoist Wei doesnât want to do it, he will have no choice but to win the wager so that Master Pei has a reason to support him and give him the Left Sectâs crucial artifact.
After all, Daoist Wei doesnât have Golden Core backing.
After Lin Jianxia left, Wen Jiu immediately packed up and moved out of Lengxi Mountain. That same day, he was removed from the Honored Guest Elders and re-entered the Left Sect Hundred Cultivatorsâ Record. This caught everyone by surpriseâHeihe, Gu Qiao, and even Vice City Lord Lin.
The Chen Li couple rushed to see what was happening.
"Brother Li, why is this happening?" Chen Li found Wen Jiu at an inn, utterly perplexed.
Wen Jiu waved his hand, "Itâs nothing, just a title as a Honored Guest Elder, I can do without it. Itâs an opportunity to find a solitary place to cultivate. Fellow Daoist Feng is already a Golden Core True Inheritor, itâs somewhat inappropriate to cultivate together with him in the same land."
"I fear itâs not as simple as Fellow Daoist says?" Chen Li couldnât help but ask, but quickly realized he might have overstepped, hurriedly adding, "Has Fellow Daoist found a new cultivation land? With your strength, finding a new place shouldnât be difficult."
"I have, itâs him."
Wen Jiu held the Left Sect Hundred Cultivatorsâ Record, targeting a Li-named Ghost Cultivator.
Middle stage Foundation Establishment.
Driving him away would also allow him to flex some muscles. Given his record of killing Shen Tu, killing a mid-stage Ghost Cultivator shouldnât be considered high-profile.
"Fellow Daoist Li Ya?" Chen Li was shocked.
Wen Jiu paused, "Acquaintance? If it is, then forget it, Iâll find someone else."
"Not very acquainted, but fellow Daoist Feng Jue mentioned this person once competed with you at Fellow Daoist Li Hunâs grotto in bidding for Blood Corpse Mushroom, seemingly harboring dissatisfaction towards you. Later during the battle with Gu Qiao, several times mocked you openly." Chen Li was generally nice, and wouldnât ordinarily divulge such information, but Li Hun had once injured him and his wife Wang Xin.
"Itâs him, then heâs the one!"
Wen Jiu immediately decided.
...
Three days later.
Enchanting Forest.
Wen Jiu first settled his sister Wen Ya and Mu Changâan, then set up the concealment and isolation arrays he gleaned from Li Yaâs storage bag outside the grotto and further arranged the gathered Yin Array inside the grotto.
Once everything was in place, Mu Changâan continued to turn away those cultivators coming to offer congratulations, letting Wen Jiu quietly cultivate Corpse Nourishing.
On this day, Wen Jiu received a message from Lin Jianxia.
As expected.
Vice City Lord Lin was furious, though not outright stating he would kill him, his murderous intent was impossible to hide during his inquiries with several late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, intending to have them take action, but none dared to respond.
Because Wen Jiu displayed mid-stage Foundation Establishment prowess, the scene of him one-punching Li Ya shocked everyone. Adding the Demon Corpse, regular late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivATORS would find it hard to contend.
"Indeed, itâs better to hit with one decisive strike than face a hundred retaliations. If not yet a Heterodox Golden Core, I truly wish to directly kill Gu Qiao to shock this Vice City Lord Lin." Wen Jiu internally regretted.
Half a month later.
Feng Jue hurriedly arrived at the Enchanting Forest early in the morning. From Dark Evil Godâs Cave Heaven, he learned of the event and after returning to Lengxi Mountain, found Han Li had indeed moved away.
Luckily, after investigating, he discovered Han Li relocated to the Enchanting Forest, not far from Lengxi Mountain, providing Feng Jue some relief, urging him forth. Upon reaching Enchanting Forest, Feng Jue promptly began apologizing.
Feng Jue was aware that it was because Han Li helped him handle Gu Qiao that earned the ire from Vice City Lord Lin.
He understood that Han Li, aversive to trouble, wouldnât hesitate to leave Little Demon Realm if it impeded his cultivation, which was his greatest fear.
"Brother Han, my deepest apologies, if not for me, it wouldnât have come to this." Upon meeting Han Li in the Enchanting Forest, he immediately apologized while presenting five Tier Two Lower Grade Blood Corpse Mushrooms borrowed specifically from Daoist Wei.
"Brother Feng, thereâs no need for such formality." Wen Jiu stored away the five Blood Corpse Mushrooms, growing increasingly fond of Feng Jue. These mushrooms could replace two months of effort in Gathering Yin Poison, also allowing the East Spring Undying Bone to save a hundred days of Corpse Nourishing.
Seeing Wen Jiu accept the Blood Corpse Mushrooms, Feng Jue relaxed, and then from his storage bag produced another item. It was a purple-black Demon Head sealed with a talisman, yet still exuding potent evil and corpse energy.
As a Corpse Nurturer, Wen Jiu instantly recognized the itemâa Demon Head transformed into a Flying Corpse. True Demons are mostly intangible, rarely becoming corpses postmortem, requiring unique cultivation to possibly transform into Demon Corpse, but in Wen Jiuâs view, this Demon Corpse Head brought by Feng Jue wasnât crafted by a Corpse Nurturer.
"I assume you recognized this item at a glance; itâs a Flying Head Demon Corpse encountered within Dark Evil Godâs Cave Heaven, comparable to Tier Two Upper Realm, its strength surpassing Tier Two Upper Realm. Since Brother Han has a Demon Corpse, fully refining it may further enhance the Demon Corpse." Feng Jue placed the Demon Corpse Head on a side table, his eyes fixated on Wen Jiuâs expression.
Wen Jiuâs Divine Sense probed, temporarily undecided on whether to accept, given the itemâs overwhelming demonic and corpse energyâbeneficial if refinED by the Blood Demon Undying Bone.
Yet consistently receiving benefits made him hesitant.
"Then thank you, Brother Feng." Wen Jiu hesitated briefly before accepting it, then continued, "By the way, Fellow Daoist Heihe seems to be getting quite close with Gu Qiao lately, Brother Feng might need to be cautious."
"Heihe..."
Feng Jue nodded, taking mental note, expressed gratitude after narrating experiences from within Dark Evil Godâs Cave Heaven. Normally, he wouldnât disclose such matters, but Feng Jue never considered Han Li an outsider, thus withholding nothing.
Feng Jueâs expedition to Dark Evil Godâs Cave Heaven yielded notable gainsâtwo months equating to ten years of external cultivation, substantial enhancement. The reason was simple: within the cave heaven exists a naturally-formed Yin Spirit Liquid Lake.
The Yin Spirit Liquid amassed over millennia, exceedingly richâa mere handful equals hundreds of middle-grade Yin Spirit Stones. Yet, spiritual qi within Yin Spirit Liquid differs from Yin Spirit Stones; continuous cultivation with stones may weaken oneâs sensitivity to Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi over time, potentially causing blockages.
However, Yin Spirit Liquid, once refined, can consistently augment oneâs cultivation.
In two months, Feng Jue firmly established mid-stage Foundation Establishment, equivalent to arduous cultivation spanning two to three decades at this stage. Such advancement rivals the retributive efforts of Five Ghosts.
"Brother Han, you should definitely visit. With your prowess, obtaining Immortal City Contribution Points wouldnât be challenging." Feng Jue reiterated earnestly, genuinely hoping Han Li would go.
Naturally.
A hint of selfishness.
He wished for Han Li to stay.
Wen Jiu shifted the conversation, gently declining, "Congratulations to Brother Feng for furthering your cultivation, late-stage Foundation Establishment must be near now."
"If I venture a few more times to Dark Evil Godâs Cave Heaven, it should be soon." Knowing Han Li wasnât easily persuaded, Feng Jue ceased self-indulging, intending to depart after a courteous exchange.
Wen Jiu raised a hand to stop him, then transmitted a secret message, "Brother Feng, donât you have thoughts of taking action again?"
"Brother Han?"
Feng Jue hesitated.
Wen Jiu declared, "To be frank, Iâm in dire need of Spirit Stones."
"Brother Han, how many do you need? I have them." Feng Jue promptly reached for his storage bag.
Wen Jiu shook his head, "A substantial amount, what you have wouldnât suffice. Thatâs why I asked when Brother Feng plans to strike again. Do not worry about difficulties, I can assure Brother Feng of inevitable success!"
Indeed.
To elevate the Ghost-faced Butcher to Tier Two Top Grade, improving the efficiency of nurturing Five Ghosts, Wen Jiu decided to send the East Spring Undying Bone on an outing. He earns Spirit Stones, Feng Jue gains Immortal City Contribution Points, though suffering blame, itâs the exact burden Feng Jue desires. Such mutually beneficial collaboration warrants repetition.
[Two Chapters complete.
See you tomorrow.
Normally, expect one Chapter in the afternoon, another in the evening.
Yesterday was an anomaly.
Apologies.]