After the Night Patrol Department left.
The corpse buriers felt relieved.
Although the matter was unrelated to them, facing so many inquiries from Night Patrol Department disciples had, in a way, exerted considerable pressure.
After all, they were merely the lowest-ranking corpse buriers; if wrongly accused or forced to confess, it would be a dead end.
"Everyone, disperse."
Wang Nian spoke.
The crowd felt relief and gradually dispersed.
Afterward, Wang Nian patted Wen Jiu on the shoulder, "Wen, don't worry... You think he's the only one who can play dirty? I have connections too. Steward Wang Qing, in charge of the Alchemy Room on the side peak, is my second uncle! Push me, and I'll cut off next month's elixir pill supply, then we'll see who's tougher."
Upon hearing this.
Wen Jiu was stunned.
Good heavens.
Turns out he's also a third-generation cultivator.
Usually, you wouldn't see it.
"Thanks, Brother Wang," Wen Jiu thanked again, meanwhile solidifying his intention to cling tightly to Wang Nian's support.
Though not deeply involved in the world, Wen Ping knew that cultivation encompassed many arts: talisman masters, artifact refiners, and alchemy masters, among others.
In fact, corpse nurturing technique was also included among the various arts.
But it was classified as a heterodox Dao.
Thus, corpse nurturing technique held a very low status among the various arts, while artifact refiners and alchemy masters were different.
Both were necessary for cultivators, unless you wished to fall tomorrow, otherwise, you'd never bypass an alchemy master.
Wang Nian's second uncle was a steward in the Alchemy Room, presumably holding a high position; if one wished to climb higher from a heterodox identity, borrowing a bit of this influence might truly be necessary.
If he could help advocate, Wen Jiu's apprentice status would be stable.
It seems, one has to show a bit more.
Otherwise, he wouldn't catch an alchemy master's eye.
Especially when his identity was of a heterodox Dao.
"Alright, go back and take this Signal Talisman... If Li Ye bothers you again, crush it immediately, and I'll be able to sense your location." Wang Nian took a cloth bag containing thirty pounds of demon beast flesh from his storage pouch and also retrieved a talisman.
"Thank you, Brother Wang."
Wen Jiu clasped his fists in salutation.
Then carefully stored the talisman away.
...
In the blink of an eye, several days passed.
The Night Patrol Department continued investigating the deaths of Fang Zheng and the other two, and started collecting clues about ghost cultivators in the side peak.
It's highly probable that Yin Soul Ghost Cultivators dared not approach within five miles of the side peak, due to the many cultivators present and the dominance of yin over yang. Ordinary Yin Souls wouldn't be here to hunt; they were more likely to head to the Mortal Land.
Thus, the Night Patrol Department judged that the one who killed Fang Zheng and the Night Patrol Department disciples was most likely a ghost cultivator.
However.
They failed to gather any leads.
Even with a bounty, it was useless.
Meanwhile, in a Hua Mansion within the Trading Market at the side peak, Li Ye was listening to the report from his subordinates.
His face grew increasingly angry as he listened.
"Alright, get out!"
After sending his subordinates away, Li Ye slammed his palm onto the stone table beside him, shattering it and startling the slim and beautiful madam next to him.
But soon the beautiful madam hurriedly approached, gently caressing Li Ye's chest with her delicate and slender hands.
"Husband... Don't, don't harm your body with anger; it's not worth it. My brother, perhaps it's destiny beyond his reach..."
Li Ye glanced at the fair skin of the beautiful madam's chest, his expression relaxing somewhat, yet still somewhat unhappy, "Who on earth? Someone happened to ruin my plan, letting Wen Jiu, who practices a heterodox Dao, benefit for nothing."
He couldn't fathom.
Truly couldn't fathom.
Why was it so coincidental!
Could it really be that his brother-in-law was simply destined to lack fate?
No.
He didn't believe it.
He must continue investigating Wen Jiu!
"No way, I can't let that guy benefit for nothing, I have to visit my mentor; if he opposes, Wen Jiu can't enter the side peak... the heterodox Dao, even my mentor dislikes it!"
With that.
Li Ye grasped the hands of the beautiful madam.
A sinister smile gradually spread across his face; once Wen Jiu is pressured, he can arrange for his own people again.
...
Xu Family.
News that Wen Ya had ties with Ju Yitang had already reached the mansion.
In the evening, as Wen Ya returned from delivering food, several beautiful women from the mansion approached; their figures were indeed appealing, yet the ridicule and schadenfreude on their faces were utterly unattractive, causing disgust at the sight.
But no one dared show it.
Because these three were the concubines of Steward Xu.
In the Xu Mansion.
They were like gods.
The three blocked Wen Ya's path.
Faces of the surrounding servants changed in worry.
Sure enough, one beautiful woman blocked Wen Ya and sneered, "Xiaoya, as a maid wishing to ascend and become a phoenix, at least open your eyes a bit wider. Our Xu Family has a blood feud with Ju Yitang... yet you dare to contact Ju Yitang; if the matron knows, she'll be furious!"
The other women followed with a cold, malicious smirk.
Wen Ya's expression wavered slightly, but she dared not retort against the trio's ridicule, as the disparity in status was evident.
She also felt it wasn't worth responding.
Her only wish now was to quickly go find the matron and explain.
It's too late.
The consequences could be unimaginable.
However, when Wen Ya wanted to leave, she was stopped by someone, "No need to go, the old lady doesn't want to hear your explanation right now."
But, at this moment.
Mrs. Xu's cheerful voice sent off guests from the nearby corridor, "Fellow Daoist Wang, do visit often."
Wang Nian clasped his hands, "Certainly, certainly."
"Today's matter was a great help from Fellow Daoist Wang. Without your personal explanation, I might have wrongly blamed that girl Xiaoya."
"Even without me, you'd have found out on your own." Wang Nian clasped his hands again and then took his leave from Mrs. Xu.
Once Wang Nian left.
Mrs. Xu's expression turned solemn, her gaze fell on Wen Ya not far away, with a sliver of surprise in her eyes.
She had thought Wen Ya was alone and unsupported on Deadman Peak.
Unexpectedly, Wang Nian personally came to speak on her behalf today.
Who is Wang Nian?
He's the grandnephew of Alchemy Room's Master Wang.
"Xiaoya, come over... I've brewed some entry-grade Xue Lan, nourishing for yin and beautifying, come keep me company for a drink."
With those words.
Several of the beautiful women had their expressions tighten.
Wen Ya also looked startled, with some amazement.
What is going on?
...
Corpse Remains Death Land.
Wen Jiu was refining his body while awaiting the daily settlement.
Because after today's reward distribution, the Black Corpse could enter the Middle Realm.
He wondered if he could acquire a ghost technique, as he found a Yin Soul equivalent to Qi Cultivation Second Layer during the day. The previous Yin Soul hadn't empowered the Black Corpse with new ghost techniques.
If this one still doesn't work.
Then it would prove the Black Corpse can't acquire ghost techniques from Yin Souls, but only from Ghost Cultivators or Yin Soul Ghost Cultivators.
Soon enough.
Midnight arrived.
The daily settlement began.
[Daily Settlement Panel Lv2 (21/1000)]
[Today's Settlement!]
[Chanted the Corpse Nourishing Spell for two hours, Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Spell experience +20.]
[Buried corpses in the Land of Death for three hours, sought Yin Souls for three hours, constantly inhaled corpse gas and death energy, panel experience +1, corpse gas +12, death energy +12]
[Nourished corpses in the Corpse Nourishing Land for twelve hours with yin energy and ample cultivator blood, devoured a Tier One Lower-class Yin Soul Ghost Cultivator, panel experience +1, corpse transformation experience +36, +60, Corpse Nurturer experience +2, Blood Transformation Body experience +24, death energy +300.]
[Used two bowls of inferior spirit rice, two pounds of non-tiered demon beast flesh, refined the body with earthly evil yin qi for two hours, body refining experience +40]
"Did not acquire a ghost technique."
"Seems my judgment was correct."
However.
The amount of death energy acquired was considerable.
After settlement doubling, it amounted to a full 300 points.
Truly considerable.
Wen Jiu immediately glanced at the death energy balance.
300 death energy points plus the 100 death energy from the Yin Soul last time, totaling four hundred, along with daily gains from the past few days.
The remaining death energy was beyond Wen Jiu's expectations.
[Death Energy Balance: 956]
He also glanced at the experience progress of the Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Technique.
[Technique: Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Technique (First Layer 61/1000) +]
"If possible."
"I can immediately enter Qi Cultivation Second Layer!"
Wen Jiu was overjoyed.
Truth be told.
Wen Jiu wanted to immediately click the plus sign.
But hesitated.
Would such progress be too conspicuous?
But considering that Li Ye was eyeing him, to earn the appreciation of Wang Nian's second uncle quickly and join Deadman Peak.
Perhaps only advancing to Qi Cultivation Second Layer would suffice.
Thinking of this.
Wen Jiu clicked the plus sign without hesitation!
Instantly entering Qi Cultivation Second Layer.
[Technique: Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Technique (Second Layer 0/2000)]
[Death Energy Balance: 17]
But at this moment.
Wen Jiu suddenly sensed a mystical disturbance from the Corpse Remains Death Land, someone had unearthed the Black Corpse's burial site!
[Hahaha.
Everyone's so enthusiastic, the recommendation votes suddenly increased by over sixty, how amazing!
Thank you all, fellow Daoists!
Two updates completed.
See you tomorrow.]