Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation Chapter 76

He did not understand.

Gu Zhengshun said that the underground palace was a trap set by a Core Formation demonic cultivator, with the goal of seizing a body to be reborn, and that it would not last more than eight hundred years.

Yet the Nascent Soul inheritance in his hands, the Taiyin Nether Eye, could not be fake. The tangible benefits he had obtained were real. How could this be a trap? There must have been other variables.

It seemed they were not planning to develop it a second time.

After all, the first expedition had yielded too little, completely unworthy of an ancient sect ruin’s foundation. Only Liu Jinxian had obtained a second-rank seal-type magic tool.

With gains not matching the cost, little investment, and heavy casualties, naturally no one had the thought for a second development. There was no profit to be made.

Since that was the case, Wang Yu had nothing more to say.

He simply decided in secret that when his cultivation was successful in the future, he would go there alone. That stone stele covered in blood talisman characters must hide other secrets.

Three months later.

It was refreshing and uplifting, making one inevitably praise this as an immortal blessed land. However, the figures flying through the sky all appeared grim and sinister: blood light, white bones, paper effigies, flying coffins, evil swords.

Beneath the beautiful landscape was a demonic abyss where a boundless sea of blood surged.

“Finally back, Wang Yu. Five days later, meet me under the great locust tree at the edge of the Corpse Breeding Grounds.”

“No. This time, go to the Eight Treasures Pavilion in Evil God Market.”

“Fine.”

Gu Zhengshun smiled indifferently, dropped him off at Cold Blood Market in the Ten Reversal Blood Markets, and hurried back to Heavenly Corpse Peak. His trip had been a complete loss, except for the benefit of obtaining a Xuan Essence Flower. He had nearly wasted his journey.

He was also envious of the Foundation Establishment corpse in Wang Yu’s possession, eager to return and prepare a bargaining chip for trade.

They parted ways.

……

……

At the base center of the nine peaks, directly beneath the Blood Demon Hall, lay the Ten Reversal Blood Markets. More than one hundred thousand outer sect and inner sect disciples lived there. All supply and demand was handled internally, so it was actually quite bustling.

As long as one did not wander into shadowy corners or deserted alleys, there was generally no danger to life.

The Blackbone Mountain mission would be handled by Gu Zhengshun’s side. The bonewood that needed to be handed in had been delivered, and in five days, once the trade was done, he could collect the mission reward.

For now, he needed to make a trip to Ice and Snow Pavilion.

Zhao Shang was both an enemy and a business partner. The large amount of magic tools, miscellaneous items, corpses, and so on gained during this trip all needed him to process and convert into spirit stones.

Thus, they could maintain peace for a while.

The premise was that the other party did not go out. If Wang Yu caught him alone, he would still kill him without hesitation. After all, Zhao Shang had sent Su Qingshan to Blackbone Mountain. If Wang Yu’s methods had not been up to standard, Su Qingshan might have died. Such a person must be eliminated as soon as possible. Both sides held leverage over each other, and one of them was bound to die eventually.

Wang Yu walked and calculated in his mind.

Zhao Shang, Duan Ping, and Steward Liu were his remaining enemies. Steward Liu had severed his arm, a grudge that must be avenged, but the man had been missing for a long time.

He had already been deemed a sect traitor. The Mission Hall had issued a bounty for his capture, which had long been accepted by someone, but there had been no news since.

As for Duan Ping, he had repeatedly tricked him, gone back on his word, and nearly caused his death. Such a man deserved to die. It was just not convenient to deal with him yet, so there was no rush.

Upon careful calculation, Wang Yu was surprised to find that he had almost no enemies left. His efforts at removing hatred had been quite successful. Inwardly, he encouraged himself to keep up the good work.

He pushed open the large doors of Ice and Snow Pavilion.

A graceful yet unfamiliar figure had replaced Zhao Shang, standing behind the counter with a ledger in her hands.

Wang Yu’s brows furrowed. He recalled the rumor he had heard before leaving, hesitated for a moment, then still walked forward.

"May I ask if Zhao Shang is here?"

The graceful woman gave him a slightly flirtatious glance, inclined her body slightly, and said, "This concubine is Lan Ji. I took over as the steward of Ice Snow Pavilion three years ago. And you are..."

"I am Wang Yu, personally promoted into the sect by True Disciple Su. I had been away on a trip and have only just returned."

"I have heard of you. You must be here to ask about the Qi Essence Chamber, right?"

Lan Ji held a round fan, gently fanning the air. A few strands of her black hair brushed past her cheeks, her enchanting demeanor drawing attention, while a faint orchid fragrance drifted into his nose.

Wang Yu’s whole body trembled.

Even with his body affected by the Corpse Demon Secret Technique, he still felt a certain… reaction. Such a frighteningly powerful charm technique and demonic art, enough to make someone nearly regard him as a corpse — and yet she could still make a corpse "raise its head."

Terrifying indeed. No wonder she was the concubine of True Disciple Su. The True Disciple’s careful selection was indeed impressive.

Wang Yu instinctively stepped back a few paces. Seeing that the snowy, rounded curves seemed to be leaning closer, he quickly spoke:

"The previous steward of Ice Snow Pavilion, Zhao Shang. where has he gone?"

"Zhao Shang? Naturally, he is dead."

"Dead?" Wang Yu’s pupils contracted, and he immediately thought of leaving. But upon hearing Lan Ji’s next words, he gave up on that thought.

"Three years ago, an alchemist named Zhou Tao came to me of his own accord, wanting me to expose Zhao Shang for embezzling Ice and Snow Pavilion’s profits. He even voluntarily turned in four thousand spirit stones as stolen goods.

"Tsk tsk.

"Such people are rare even in the Blood Reversal Sect."

Four thousand spirit stones was no small amount. The sum Zhou Tao offered far exceeded the profit he had earned from selling pills with Wang Yu, likely exhausting his entire fortune.

Wang Yu guessed that after he left, Zhou Tao had wanted to take over the business of the alchemist association. But Zhao Shang was not easy to get along with, and securing the same favorable terms Wang Yu had enjoyed was nearly impossible.

The man would certainly never admit to privately sabotaging the monopoly in the pill trade or stealing resources from Ice and Snow Pavilion.

Most likely, they had parted ways on bad terms.

And the gossip about Lan Ji and True Disciple Su was not unfounded, the rumors were widely spread. If Zhou Tao decided to act ruthlessly, targeting Zhao Shang through Lan Ji was not impossible.

However, for someone as shrewd as Zhao Shang to simply die like that was hard to believe. It would also implicate a large number of people, at the very least those Foundation Establishment cultivators under Ice and Snow Pavilion’s patronage would not be able to escape blame.

Her words could not be fully trusted. He would need to inquire through other channels.

"In that case, I shall take my leave. I will pay Steward Lan Ji another visit next time."

"Wait."

Lan Ji raised her slender arm, blocking Wang Yu with her round fan.

"Aren’t you part of Ice and Snow Pavilion? I have kept the Qi Essence Chamber for you. Why would you still want to leave?"

"I am of Spirit Slave origin, not well-regarded. The Qi Essence Chamber was already sold by Zhao Shang to an inner-sect disciple. If Steward Lan Ji were to grant it to me privately, it would be inappropriate."

Saying this, he quickly left Ice and Snow Pavilion, giving her no chance to persuade him further.

Without proper channels, all the messy and numerous low-grade magic tools, pills, corpses, and other items on his person could only be sold at low prices.

If Zhao Shang were still here, he could certainly have offered a high price, and they could have worked together to milk Ice and Snow Pavilion for all it was worth. A real pity.

As for those low-grade storage pouches, there were simply too many. One high-grade storage pouch could hold far more and would be much more convenient, so he would have to streamline his inventory.

Thus.

Five days later.