"Brother Wang, what is this?"
Wen Jiu was somewhat puzzled.
What matter was so significant that even a partner couldn't be privy to it?
Wang Nian whispered, "There are some things that naturally cannot be heard by others. I learned about it from my second uncle. Technically, I shouldn't tell a disciple, but given our relationship, I have no reason to hide it from you."
Information from the mouth of an alchemist, could it be trivial?
Wen Jiu hurriedly clasped his fists in salute, "Thank you, Brother Wang. I will repay this kindness tenfold, or even a hundredfold, in the future."
Wang Nian continued, "But before I tell you the matter at hand, I need to talk to you about Feixian Peak, and the land beneath our feet. You've become an apprentice disciple of the Night Patrol Department, so there are certain things you need to know, or else your horizon won't be broad enough. I probably can't make it out, but perhaps you can fly out and see."
"I am all ears!"
"Firstly, the land beneath us is called the Southern Domain. According to the stories handed down from a great cultivator, it is vast, spanning a hundred thousand miles from east to west and a hundred thirty thousand miles from south to north. In contrast, this little Feixian Peak is but a drop in the ocean."
Wang Nian spoke with a tone of lamentation.
It was evident that he too wished to see it for himself.
To truly experience the grandeur of that hundred thousand miles of land.
"So vast!"
Even though he had lived two lives, Wen Jiu couldn't help but be surprised.
A hundred thousand miles.
Even Deadman Peak is merely the only Immortal Mountain within five hundred miles, insignificant compared to a hundred thousand miles.
Wang Nian chuckled, "Surprised? I had the same look on my face at the time. Just how many cultivators, how many demons and monsters must there be in those hundred thousand miles? But there's no need to dwell on the Southern Domain; it's too vast, and I only know the basics. Next, I'll tell you about our Feixian Peak, and the main peak of Deadman Peak."
"You should know that Feixian Peak is merely a side peak of Deadman Peak. But you might not have any concept of the main peak. Let me put it this way, the main peak has Foundation Establishment Immortal Masters stationed, it's a powerful existence."
"Foundation Establishment Immortal Master?"
It was the first time Wen Jiu heard of this concept.
"You don't need to know too much about that. Just know that once you reach the tenth level of Qi Cultivation, you can attempt Foundation Establishment. Once you establish your foundation, your lifespan reaches three hundred years, allowing you to witness the vicissitudes of life and ever-changing world. That is a true cultivator!"
When Wang Nian spoke of this, his eyes were filled with longing no less than when he spoke of the Southern Domain, perhaps even more intense.
It made sense.
The Southern Domain was too vast.
So vast that one dared not think too much about it.
But Foundation Establishment was a peak within reach, daring to be desired, even if the hope of establishing it was slim.
Yet it was still more reliable than traversing the entirety of the Southern Domain.
"So Foundation Establishment is above Qi Cultivation." Wen Jiu also expressed a sigh.
Wang Nian continued, "Only by stepping into the main peak can you covet the path of Foundation Establishment. This is also one of the reasons Li Ye painstakingly arranged for his people to enter and become apprentice disciples."
Another reason is that the main peak has decreed that only apprentice disciples within three years of admission and formal disciples within one year can participate in the examination, regardless of spiritual root. Once the examination is completed, they can go to the main peak to cultivate and be taught by the elders."
"Why is that?"
This rule sounds peculiar to some extent.
No old hands?
Only newcomers?
Regardless of spiritual root, even side peaks are selective regarding spiritual roots, yet the main peak disregards them.
"It's strange, isn't it? Everyone finds it peculiar; that's why my second uncle discussed this with me. Clearly, spiritual roots are crucial for cultivation; even low-grade spiritual roots have a hard time entering the side peak, let alone the main peak. But nobody can guess the intention of the main peak. Regardless, entering the main peak is something most side peak disciples dream of but cannot achieve."
"Indeed, it's strange."
Wen Jiu pondered.
But it was like an ant pondering what lies on the head of a giant.
Only by standing on it can one know.
Merely looking or imagining would never reveal the answer.
"Brother, work hard, the examination is in two years, this is your chance! Although the main peak does not care about the quality of spiritual roots, passing the examination with inferior spiritual roots is certainly impossible. However, you have unheard-of heterodox talent!"
"Understood."
Wen Jiu nodded.
Gratefully, he raised his cup.
Two years from now.
He still had time to prepare.
In two years, he should be able to greatly improve his strength.
...
After a few rounds of drinks.
With the dishes five-flavored.
Wen Jiu left.
In the next seven days, Wen Jiu practiced as usual. During the day, after no longer moving corpses, Wen Jiu would concentrate Yin Techniques in the Corpse Eye. He would practice Yin Techniques for three hours a day, and the remaining three hours would be spent seeking Yin Souls and absorbing blood energy.
At night, he would patrol with the disciples of the Night Patrol Department, for three hours each night.
Fortunately, after his cultivation improved, less sleep was not a problem.
Thus, everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.
However, the blood energy on the outskirts of the Corpse Remains Death Land was too little. In less than seven days, Wen Jiu had swept the outskirts clean.
To acquire more blood energy, he had to venture deeper.
But Wen Jiu felt that even the center of the Corpse Remains Death Land would not withstand the voracious absorption of the Corpse Eye.
In a short while, the death land would be devoid of blood energy to absorb.
If the Blood Essence did not recover, Wen Jiu would have to seek other means.
Fortunately, Wen Jiu was lucky. After sweeping the outskirts of blood energy clean, a hint of crimson was condensed in the Corpse Eye - the embryonic form of the Blood Essence.
"It seems the recovery of Blood Essence is faster than I expected." Wen Jiu thought of the fact that at least thousands of cultivators died at the outskirts of the Corpse Remains Death Land. If the blood of thousands of cultivators could not restore it,
it would be too exaggerated.
"I hope that drawing all the blood energy from the Corpse Remains Death Land will form a complete Blood Essence."
Wen Jiu made a wish.
And prayed silently.
Otherwise, he really wouldn't know where to find blood energy.
Demon and monster blood?
Unranked might be fine, but ranked ones are too expensive.
They're not something an apprentice disciple from the Night Patrol Department could afford.
As for hunting demons and such.
Forget it.
He'd rather progress slowly.
What if he encountered a formidable demon and lost his life?
...
At night fall.
Wen Jiu changed into his uniform, ready to meet with other Night Patrol Department disciples.
Unexpectedly, passing by where Fang Zheng and the others resided, he saw Li Ye.
Of course.
Li Ye saw him too.
The two exchanged glances, and Wen Jiu clasped his fist, addressing him as Steward Li, to which Li Ye coldly responded with a nod.
However, it wasn't this that mattered; Wen Jiu didn't care about Li Ye's attitude. What concerned him was seeing another steward of the Night Patrol Department.
Leading a long-nosed spirit beast, slowly roaming around where Fang Zheng and the others lived.
As if sniffing for something.
"Still investigating, it seems,"
"He must suspect it's me."
Wen Jiu felt a chill in his heart.
This Li Ye stubbornly clung to him.
Even though he had already pledged allegiance to Steward Mu Canglong.
Alas.
Encountering such an unyielding, stubborn person was truly troublesome.
Soon.
Wen Jiu departed.
After Wen Jiu left, Li Ye muttered, "I spent a fortune today to bring my master's Jade Spirit Beast. Its nose can detect any lingering scent within ten miles for about a month... If I find any clues, I will definitely destroy you!"
Because of Wen Jiu, Li Ye wanted to place more Li Family members with Wang Nian, but Wang Nian resolutely refused.
So his anger intensified.
Half an hour later.
The Jade Spirit Beast had sniffed all around where Fang Zheng and his fellows lived, yet found no peculiar scents.
Only traces of ghost energy.
But only within the confines of that house.
No similar ghost energy was found within ten miles.
"That's impossible, even if the Ghost Cultivator released Yin Souls there, there should still be residual ghost energy along their path... As for the Yin Soul Ghost Cultivator, it would be evident, as ghost energy would trail behind them the entire way."
The steward of the Night Patrol Department, who meticulously led the Jade Spirit Beast in a search, had a slightly changed expression in disbelief at the results.
Too clean.
So clean it was abnormal.
Li Ye said dully, "Brother Chen, this just further proves that this matter is far from simple murder by a traitor... My intuition must be right!"
"Indeed, I can't believe such a coincidence either, but without evidence, we can't interrogate Wen Jiu. He's now under Steward Mu's protection." The steward, surnamed Chen, let out a deep breath, feeling quite troubled.
Even the Jade Spirit Beast found nothing.
What could be done?
A moment later.
After contemplating, Li Ye spoke, "It seems we must continue interrogating the traitors caught that night, along with those corpse buriers... Brother Chen, take the steward token and bring back all the corpse buriers around Wen Jiu and near Fang Zheng's residence to the Night Patrol Department!"
[Seeking recommendation votes, monthly votes!]