"Yuan Qu, what is the situation?"
In the darkness, a cultivator with an aura at the Foundation Establishment stage was coldly staring at City Lord Yuan, making him break out in a cold sweat.
"Sir, it likely isn't a Sword Sect Roamer. But we haven't found the specific perpetrator yet. Should we contact the Black Mountain Pass side to confirm the number of people in this batch?"
"Waste—"
The black figure's aura suddenly surged, all its pressure bearing down on Yuan Qu, forcing him to his knees, his entire body trembling.
"Do not ask questions about matters you shouldn't."
"Y... Yes, sir!"
If it weren't for the fact that the matters concerning the spirit slaves and the young women couldn't proceed without Yuan Qu's help, someone of his cultivation level should never have known about these things. In fact, he only knew that these demonic cultivators came through Black Mountain Pass via Old Man Ning, responsible for transporting two batches of "people" each year. Where they went, what they did, what they were used for—he didn't know. He only knew that the young women involved in the deeper plan could bring him vast cultivation resources, while the spirit slave business was purely his private enterprise.
They were using this layer of trade to conceal the deeper plan, hiding it even from their collaborators within the righteous path, like the garrison at Black Mountain Pass... Yuan Qu could guess some of it, but he dared not speak of it.
"Hmph—"
"This year's delivery is already nearly three months late. Prepare to depart tomorrow at midnight. Use tunnel number four."
"Yuan Qu understands."
After the brief conversation, the black Foundation Establishment figure flickered and disappeared from the City Lord's residence. No one knew where he went.
Yuan Qu, still kneeling, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, feeling anxious. Due to his fear these past three months that a Sword Sect Roamer was hiding in the shadows, waiting, he had only marked some names after the spirit root testing day. This included suitable female cultivators and mortal girls in the city; he hadn't yet moved to capture them.
The Foundation Establishment expert from the Lingsong Sect was in too much of a hurry; they wanted them taken away tomorrow at midnight. He either had to act tonight or tomorrow night. Acting during the day was definitely not possible; it was too easy to be discovered.
As for the spirit slave business, with Old Man Ning missing, the seedlings marked as spirit slaves could be captured next year; there was no rush.
Judging the right timing for capturing the young women was tricky. His manpower was insufficient, mostly at the early Qi Refining stage, and the number to capture exceeded five hundred. He needed to call in some favors.
Yuan Qu looked at the night sky, thinking to himself, *'The problem I encountered this time is too big. Perhaps I should go to the Clear Spring Bamboo Hut to seek advice from Third Uncle. He's retired there partly to help me strategize.'*
*'An old man in the house is like a treasure. I'll go ask now!'*
Clearly, he didn't yet know that the old City Lord had already met a gruesome end at the hands of a certain Wang. He could only blame himself for not diligently maintaining the relationship and not truly providing for the old City Lord in his retirement. The old man had been entrenched in Stone Lake City for decades and had connections and networks. Simply transferring the authority of the City Lord's residence wasn't enough for a smooth succession. For instance, the loose cultivators nearby or the cultivation families were potential sources of support. Yuan Qu hadn't been here long, was poor, and was far from putting down roots.
Meanwhile, at the Wang Residence.
Wang Wu, who hadn't returned for some time, arrived back in Stone Lake City with his master and a few late Qi Refining fellow disciples, also here to harvest resources. Although the Wang family had only recently touched the cultivation world, having risen to prominence only three generations ago, they still held significant power among mortals. The nearby mountains and forests, influenced by the spiritual vein, had a chance of producing low-grade spiritual herbs. The Wang family's rise was built on medicinal herbs and medical expertise; he could gain considerable benefits from this, at least enough to supply his resources during the early Qi Refining stage.
With his Dual Spiritual Root aptitude and the Lingsong Sect's training—having拜 (acknowledged as master) a Foundation Establishment teacher upon entry—Wang Wu's strength increased rapidly. Not yet forty years old, he had already reached the peak of the seventh level of Qi Refining. Within a year at most, or a few months at least, he would breakthrough.
In the cultivation world, a Three Spiritual Root cultivator, without taking any pills or relying on rare treasures, relying solely on a Qi Refining method, could reach Qi Refining Great Perfection before the age of one hundred. A Dual Spiritual Root was even faster on this basis. With the aid of various resources, if Wang Wu had拜 (acknowledged as master) in a Nascent Soul orthodoxy and worked harder, he might even be at the ninth level of Qi Refining by now. For Wang Yu to catch up to his speed, and even surpass it, was truly not easy.
Familiar with the route, Wang Wu returned to the Wang Residence without alerting many people and went directly to his two nephews' room.
"Qiu Yi, Qiu Shi."
The two boys, around eleven or twelve years old, woke with a start. Realizing it was Wang Wu, they quickly rolled out of bed and knelt on one knee.
"We pay our respects to the Family Head."
After a long silence, Wang Wu revealed a satisfied smile and helped them up. Although these two had low aptitude and had been forcibly pushed into the first level of Qi Refining using a demonic path technique—meaning they would likely peak at the third level of Qi Refining—they were, for him, the only subordinates he could trust and utilize.
"No need for such formality when there are no outsiders. Tell me about the spiritual materials collected during this period."
"Yes—"
......
......
At the bottom of Stone Lake.
Wang Yu, who had been cultivating in silence for three months, slowly opened his eyes. A silvery-white divine light shimmered in his pupils, like a crescent moon piercing through the void as he looked into the distance.
He felt it. He felt that familiar yet陌生的 (unfamiliar) aura, which had triggered the spiritual sense mark he left on the two Wang boys.
"Wang Wu!"
The anger accumulated over this period彻底 (completely) erupted. Beneath Wang Yu's calm expression surged turbulent emotions.
To be honest, even after cultivating the demonic path, he still found the idea of 'devouring' people distasteful. Refining it into the purest essence of heaven and earth would be more to his liking.
Furthermore, when he arrived, the Profound Origin Demon Embryo Secret Curse still needed four years to reach full completion. This period was actually a probationary period he had given himself for observation.
The result, needless to say, was clear.
He would not kill Wang Wu before the Demon Embryo Secret Curse was perfected. But he needed to get this person under his control in advance, waiting only for the right moment to immediately seize his spiritual root!
During these three months, he had temporarily removed the Profound Yin Hand from Slot 4 and placed the high-grade art **[Thousand-Mile Divine Movement]** until it reached perfection, adding a method for long-distance travel. Now, the **[Turtle Breathing Secret Technique]** was placed. This secret technique was relatively simple, requiring only nine months to perfect—less than some first-tier arts—but it could be applied at critical moments.
Now, Wang Yu set out from Stone Lake, activating the Thousand-Mile Divine Movement art. This art primarily enhanced his legs, as if a wave-like gust of wind constantly pushed him forward. It was not only effort-saving but also had low spiritual power consumption. When occasionally fatigued, it even brought a comfortable sensation of riding the wind.
He rested while running. His speed surpassed that of the Phantom Step, growing faster the more he ran.
Combined with the Night Concealment Charm, it took Wang Yu less than half an incense stick's time to enter the city limits from a corner of the city wall.
Since Wang Wu had returned from the Lingsong Sect, he must have brought attendants. Wang Yu also hadn't forgotten the commotion he caused in the city some time ago. Caution was paramount in everything.
After traveling dozens of *li* under the cover of night, Wang Yu cautiously returned to the Wang Residence. Cloaked in the night, like a moving shadow, he gradually heard the sounds coming from a room ahead.
**(End of Chapter)**