Chapter 86: Chapter 86 - 73: Bountiful Harvest, Changes After Returning to the Peak
Then he pursued in another direction.
He could sense the frantic depletion of Mu Yuanlong’s life force through the corpse qi mark left by the Three Evil Corpses.
A hundred breaths of time.
Three-tenths had already been lost.
It was still depleting crazily.
After chasing for a quarter of an hour, Mu Yuanlong finally stopped, and his life force became even more sparse.
Wen Jiu followed, staying distant as he observed Mu Yuanlong fall into a small village in the mountains, leaning against a wooden house, desperately gulping down elixirs, bottle after bottle, handful after handful.
However.
The life force continued to drain away.
The awakened villagers and yellow dog, terrified, did not dare approach and quickly fled.
Wen Jiu hid quietly, watching as Mu Yuanlong’s breath grew weaker until the last bit of life force entirely vanished.
Yet Wen Jiu still did not advance.
After waiting another quarter hour, Wen Jiu used the Three Rivers Ghost Concealment to approach Mu Yuanlong’s corpse, first taking his storage bag, then extracting his blood and capturing his soul, and finally taking the corpse away.
After all, it’s a Late Stage of Qi Cultivation corpse. What if, when the Corpse Nurturer reaches level 2, it opens two more alteration slots?
...
Meanwhile.
Ye Chen retraced his steps to where the old woman had died.
He initially intended just to check for other Celestial Left Alliance folks, but upon arrival saw the shriveled body— a sign that’s blood was drained.
A sweep with his Divine Sense revealed the soul gone too, the soul extracting technique strikingly similar to the one who killed Gong Chi.
"Could that guy have been lurking in the shadows all along?" Ye Chen’s expression tensed, then he returned to the scene of another’s demise.
Upon arrival, the other body had vanished, leaving only scattered blood.
Ye Chen glanced around, a strange gleam flashing in his eyes, "Truly not a wasted trip to Feixian Peak; this small peak hides an insider of Celestial Left Alliance plus a mysterious Late Stage of Qi Cultivation fellow lurking in darkness... It seems Deadman Peak’s Cultivation Realm is about to get chaotic again."
After speaking.
Ye Chen departed on a Flying Spiritual Artifact.
As for that hidden Late Stage of Qi Cultivation person, Ye Chen didn’t dwell on it further.
In his view, since the person didn’t wish to reveal himself, seeking would be in vain, better to wait quietly.
Since he hid in Feixian Peak.
There must be some reason.
However, it is certain he’s not with Celestial Left Alliance, otherwise, he wouldn’t have hidden in shadows nor used Three Thousand Blood Inks’ corpse as bait, making Celestial Left Alliance a pawn.
...
Elsewhere.
Wen Jiu didn’t rush to soul-capture the two bodies, since it consumes ten percent corpse qi each time.
Then Wen Jiu changed direction, detouring through the mundane world back to Feixian Peak, though by the return sky was dawning, and the battle at Feixian Peak had completely concluded.
Upon return to Feixian Peak, disciples were clearing the battlefield, each speaking with excitement about the battle last night, especially discussing Inspector Hall Main Peak Elder Ye Chen, their expressions lively.
It was clear.
Ye Chen had already returned.
And brought back news of slaying Mu Yuanlong and three others to Feixian Peak.
Wen Jiu ignored these voices, heading straight to the Loose Cultivator Trading Market outside Feixian Peak, having previously sent his sister Wen Ya there for safety, she was staying at an inn in the market.
After bringing his sister safely back home at Feixian Peak, Wen Jiu prepared to head to the Night Patrol Department.
Unexpectedly, upon stepping out, he encountered Wang Nian and Wang Sao, both carrying numerous gifts heading towards his home.
Additionally, disciples living around Feixian Peak also gradually came by, all bearing modest presents.
"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Wen, on advancing to the Qi Cultivation Third Layer, and setting remarkable feats for both Night Patrol Department and Demon-slaying Department last night."
"Congratulations to Steward Wen!"
"Congratulations to Steward Wen!"
Many had already started to change their address.
It was clear.
They were unaware of Gong Chi’s demise, so they naturally assumed Wen Jiu was poised to be promoted to Night Patrol Department Steward.
The look in their eyes had changed again from the times of the initial assessment announcement.
Back then, Wen Jiu had kept to himself, rejecting all friendly overtures, their outward composure belied by the annoyance visible to Wen Jiu, which made them stop trying to be amiable.
But now, Wen Jiu could only see attempts to flatter and respect in their eyes, the matter of Heterodox Dao not bothering them anymore.
Wen Jiu did not accept, offering only a simple thanks, yet accepted Wang Nian’s gift outright.
After all, his relationship with Wang Nian was different.
Receiving the gift laid groundwork for future interactions.
Wang Nian was pleased to see this new address but was gently nudged by Wen Jiu who said, "Saozi, we should hurry and buy an Exorcism Talisman, a Tier One Middle Grade one. It seems my Brother Wang has been possessed by a Fierce Ghost!"
Wang Sao was momentarily stunned, then realized, covering her mouth and laughing nonstop.
Wang Nian came to his senses, quickly changing his address again, feeling warmth overflow, "Younger Brother Wen, it’s me, your Brother Wang! How could I be possessed by a Fierce Ghost..."
"That’s my Brother Wang alright."
Wen Jiu laughed heartily, no longer pushing Wang Nian.
Wang Nian laughed heartily too, struggling to decide on addressing Wen Jiu, contemplating whether continuing to call him Younger Brother Wen was still appropriate; thus he thought about changing it, but didn’t expect Wen Jiu’s unchanged heart.
This younger brother.
Absolutely worth having helped back in the day!
This younger brother.
A lifetime worthwhile friendship!
Just then, a voice from outside called; it was a disciple from the Night Patrol Department.
"Fellow Daoist Wen, Steward Mu requests you immediately." Though the address hadn’t changed, the respect was evident.
Wen Jiu’s smile receded, understanding that they likely needed to discuss Gong Chi, promptly cupping a fist to Wang Nian, "Brother Wang, won’t entertain you longer today. Tonight, let’s have both families drink at Mountain View Tower."
"Sure, hurry along now."
Wang Nian nodded.
The smile lingered on his face long after Wen Jiu left.
Wang Sao couldn’t bear it anymore and said helplessly, "Alright, I get you’ve made a good brother, but you’ve smiled so foolishly for this long. If others see, they might think you’ve struck it rich."
After she spoke.
Wang Nian was thrilled again.
"Isn’t having such a brother more delightful than striking it rich?"
[Second update at 10 pm.
If earlier, it means I’m not a stickler; if delayed, it means I haven’t finished writing.
Ha ha ha ha.]