Chapter 19: Reckless Manslayer Attack

This exploitation was quite severe; a full sixty percent of the earnings had to be given away, meaning he would only be left with 200 contribution points.

Even so, there was still a profit to be made. After all, this was only a short-term, six-month mission, whereas missions at the Mission Hall typically started at a minimum of one year, with a standard reward of 300 spirit stones.

The longer the duration, the higher the reward, which also correlated with the mission's difficulty.

Wang Yu valued the opportunity to have half a year of peace. The outer disciples of Cold Blood Peak he had encountered in recent days had been very hostile. As time passed, his status as a "lucky spirit slave" would likely make him a target.

The outer disciples from Cold Blood Peak who had pledged allegiance to True Disciple Su would not give up easily. Their goal was undoubtedly to replace Wang Yu and gain the right to reside in the Ice Snow Pavilion.

Forcing him to withdraw was one method; killing him was another.

At the base of the Nine Peaks, in the Ten Bloodshed Markets, resided the inner and outer disciples of the entire Rebel Spirit Blood Sect. There were also numerous businesses owned by Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators, catering to the disciples' needs.

The number of inner disciples from each peak alone exceeded ten thousand, totaling nearly one hundred thousand across all nine peaks. Including the vast number of outer disciples, the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect had at least several hundred thousand disciples.

Ostensibly, the sect rules prohibited disciples from killing each other, but if no one discovered it, no one cared if a disciple went missing.

If the deed was done cleanly, even the disciples of the Enforcement Hall wouldn't bother investigating.

During this period, Wang Yu tried to avoid isolated or quiet places to prevent any incidents. After bidding farewell to Zhao Shang, he went straight out, intending to visit the Alchemy Hall to purchase classics on spirit herb cultivation and maintenance.

Such classics were relatively inexpensive, and many demonic cultivators engaged in reselling them. Each market belonging to the Nine Peaks had specially designated trading streets for the disciples' use.

Every few years, there was a True Disciple Auction, jointly organized by all Nine Peaks!

Many good items, including high-quality Foundation Establishment Pills, were available there.

However, these were still far beyond Wang Yu's reach; he needed time to accumulate wealth and improve his cultivation realm.

Having spent all his spirit sand, he only managed to buy a classic describing various first-tier spirit herbs and their cultivation methods, titled "Compendium of Materia Medica: Qi Cultivation Chapter."

This book would greatly broaden Wang Yu's horizons, teaching him knowledge of identifying, cultivating, and recognizing medicinal herbs, which would be highly beneficial for his future livelihood.

The Four Arts of Cultivation: Alchemy, Artifact Forging, Talismans, and Formations!

While there was no particular order of importance, alchemy was by far the most expensive to pursue. However, once a certain level of proficiency was achieved, it also offered the fastest way to earn money.

He also favored this skill, as the "placement slot" was perfectly suited for techniques requiring precise handling.

He could grind through it with effort, and without needing to waste many materials for practice. The "placement slot" would even develop muscle memory, as if another version of him had honed the skill in an unknown space.

Placement Slot 2: Compendium of Materia Medica: Qi Cultivation Chapter"Compendium of Materia Medica (0/100): Completes in four days of twelve-hour study."

Indeed, purely knowledge-based subjects could be memorized quickly.

Almost every moment, knowledge flooded his mind, giving him a sense of being strengthened by learning, which was both pleasant and delightful.

After accepting the "Spirit Herb Garden Maintenance" mission, the scroll containing detailed information arrived in his hands. Just as he was about to check the exact location,

A cold gust of wind swept over him.

Wang Yu abruptly looked up, startled to find that he had unknowingly walked into a dark alley.

Had he been bewitched?

A person emerged from both the front and behind him, openly revealing their faces. They were no more than three *zhang* (ten meters) away. A colorful butterfly landed on the shoulder of the cultivator in front.

"Wang Yu, how effective is my Soul-Swaying Butterfly?"

Without answering, Wang Yu began to mobilize his spiritual energy. Judging by their auras, the cultivator behind him was at the third level of Qi Cultivation, while the one controlling the butterfly in front was at the fourth level, making the situation somewhat tricky.

"What do you intend?"

"Heh—"

The opponent suddenly moved, employing Ghost Shadow Steps to instantly appear beside Wang Yu. Their fingers, held like a sword, struck forward with a reverse slash.

The technique was eerily similar to Steward Liu's hand chop that day!

Wang Yu, who had planned to stall for time and launch a sneak attack, was surprised by how decisive and lethal his opponent was. Fortunately, he had prepared in advance.

He lightly tapped the ground with his toes, bending low and sliding backward like an iron board to dodge. Forming a hand seal, he swiftly conjured a hiltless ice sword over eight feet long.

*Swoosh—*

The ice sword collided with the air blade and both dissipated.

The mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator was surprised by Wang Yu's mastery of spell techniques. To cast a spell with a single hand seal was a sign of perfect comprehension. As far as he knew, this spirit slave had only been cultivating for less than half a year, yet possessed such insight.

No wonder he had caught the eye of True Disciple Su. What a pity he had encountered *him*.

He shouted.

"Chen Sanshi, act now!"

The person who responded was the third-level Qi Cultivation outer disciple behind Wang Yu. Wang Yu's dodging posture made it seem as if he was intentionally lunging into this person's embrace.

"Perfect timing."

This person drew a long sword, empowering it with spiritual energy, and brought it down in a cleaving strike. Wang Yu pushed off the ground again, flipping himself over, revealing a dense volley of ice swords, each no longer than a finger, shooting out simultaneously.

There were at least twenty or thirty of them. Chen Sanshi's eyes widened. With danger upon him, his strike's force inevitably weakened significantly. The sword blade struck Wang Yu's back, leaving a bloody wound.

However, Chen Sanshi himself was thoroughly pierced by numerous ice swords, dying with his eyes wide open in disbelief!

His tactic successful, Wang Yu reached out and hooked Chen Sanshi's storage bag into his embrace. With no further obstacles behind him, he could rush out of the dark alley and into the main street at any moment.

The clash with the mid-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator was, in fact, a feint.

His target had always been the cultivator behind him, who was at the same cultivation level. Only by swiftly eliminating one opponent could he secure an unassailable position, capable of both offense and retreat.

"You, a mere spirit slave, dare to slaughter a fellow disciple!"

"Ridiculous."

Wang Yu scoffed disdainfully.

"Am I supposed to just offer my neck and let you livestock slaughter me?!"

After the taunt, Wang Yu squinted, examining the man's face, and spoke chillingly, "I was personally chosen by True Disciple Su to enter the Ice Snow Pavilion. Even if you kill me, what makes you so sure you'll gain residence there?"

The man took a few steps back, glaring at him fiercely.

"I'll get in the same way Su Qingshan did. What concern is that of yours?"

"What concern is that of yours?" Wang Yu was almost provoked into laughter.

As for Su Qingshan, he was another cultivator who had entered the Ice Snow Pavilion as an outer disciple.

The reason for his entry was that, during the previous Grand Competition of Outer Disciples among the Nine Peaks, he had, at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, defeated a disciple at the eighth level of Qi Cultivation.

He was later noticed by True Disciple Su, recruited, and subsequently took up residence in the Ice Snow Pavilion.

The core reason was his combat prowess, which surpassed others at the same cultivation stage!

Wang Yu frowned and said, "You are at the fourth level of Qi Cultivation, and I am at the third. What would killing me prove? You don't even know why I was valued by True Disciple Su, yet you rashly attacked. How do you know you aren't being used by someone else?"

After much thought, Wang Yu concluded that few people had a reason to target him. Duan Ping, the fat man, was one. The missing Steward Liu was another. Zhao Shang's suspicion was relatively low.

Faced with Wang Yu's series of questions, the attacker's expression flickered, clearly deep in thought.