Chapter 36: Ice Coffin Curse, Illusory Step

He possessed two high-grade spells, both rumored to rival Foundation Establishment spiritual arts once mastered. Such claims, however, were best taken with a grain of salt; only a fool would believe them.

Of the three spells Wang Yu had already mastered, only the Night Concealment Charm was high-grade; the others were mid-grade, yet their mastery had already provided him significant assistance.

Adding two more high-grade spells would further elevate his combat power ceiling, but his current spiritual power cultivation wasn't sufficient to support them.

Two of his spell slots were permanently occupied by cultivation techniques.

He had a three-and-a-half-year window before breaking through to Qi Condensation Layer 5, which was the perfect time to gradually integrate these new spells. His plan was quite practical.

The immediate problem lay with Xu Jiaojiao. He needed to uncover more details about her; otherwise, he would be at a disadvantage, fighting in the open against a hidden opponent.

Su Qingshan, renowned for his combat prowess, was also a significant concern.

Alternatively, he could visit the Enforcement Hall and meet Zhuo Shouqing, which would undoubtedly reveal everything. However, that would mean taking on the role of an informant, and without another Xu Clan's Alchemist Shop, he couldn't easily approach Zhuo.

It was a tacit understanding, a sort of reluctant complicity.

Another option was to accept a mission from the Ice Snow Pavilion, find an assignment under a Foundation Establishment deacon, and lay low for about a year. Once his strength improved further, such caution would no longer be necessary.

With that thought, Wang Yu decisively turned back.

Zhao Shang, who was busy with his accounts, felt a slight tremor in his heart as he saw Wang Yu's face again, and couldn't help but offer a wry smile.

"Big brother, anything else?"

"Help me find a mission that's easy and pays well, preferably similar to the last one where I maintained Deacon Tantai's medicine garden."

Zhao Shang instantly understood his intention: he wanted to avoid trouble!

"Coincidentally, Senior Tantai just posted another medicine garden maintenance mission a few days ago. This one is for a year and offers 400 contribution points."

Wang Yu raised an eyebrow.

"You're still deducting 600 from me? What's the meaning of this?"

They were "grasshoppers on the same rope," so to speak. He could tolerate the exorbitant channel fee before cooperation, but such deductions after the fact would make the cooperation pointless.

"There's really nothing I can do about this."

Zhao Shang spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness.

"These are the Ice Snow Pavilion's rules. I'm truly not pocketing anything. The original price is 1000; half goes to the Pavilion, and 10% is given to the Foundation Establishment cultivator. I, Zhao, can't alter a single bit of it!"

Wang Yu stared at him for a long moment, then nodded once he confirmed there was no deception.

"The familiar is better than the new, and acquaintance is better than a stranger. I'll take this one."

"Here you go. Now, if you'll excuse me."

After seeing Wang Yu off as if he were a plague god, Zhao Shang sighed and resumed his accounting. It was an arduous task, requiring no less effort than cultivation itself.

Any errors or omissions could lead to an early "explosion" of problems, directly tied to his life, so he had to be extremely diligent.

At his residence in Evil God District.

Wang Yu was examining the two newly acquired high-grade spells.

The Ice Coffin Charm and the Phantom Step!

The Ice Coffin Charm was a spell for binding and killing enemies. It allowed the user to conjure an ice coffin out of thin air around a target, trapping them inside. When cultivated to a profound level, it could also generate numerous ice spikes within the coffin, piercing the target into a bloody mess.

Applied flexibly, it could also serve as a 360-degree defense with no blind spots. The ice crystals formed by this spell were incredibly hard, impenetrable by anyone below the Foundation Establishment realm.

Phantom Step was a high-grade movement spell, adept at short-distance evasion and nimble maneuvering. At its peak, it could generate up to nine identical phantom bodies to confuse enemies, though they would dissipate upon being attacked.

If cultivated to mastery, the phantom bodies could withstand an attack from a late Qi Condensation cultivator without dissipating, significantly increasing their utility.

Once these two spells were mastered, Wang Yu's combat capabilities would climb another step, making them well worth the investment.

After circulating his cultivation technique through several grand cycles, he finally fell into a peaceful sleep.

The next day.

At the familiar Tantai Medicine Garden, Wang Yu knocked on the inverted bat bronze ring. After passing the entrance inspection, he entered.

Inside the Wind-Through Hall, draped with light gauze curtains, Tantai Chan was leaning back, idly playing with a jade toad. Upon seeing Wang Yu enter, a thoughtful expression crossed her face.

"Yang Yu?"

"Disciple Wang Yu greets Senior Tantai."

"Oh~"

Unfazed by her mistake, she continued, "Since you're an acquaintance, there's no need for many words. Just follow the previous arrangement."

"This disciple understands."

"This time, I need to go out for a trip to Tianbao City, a thousand li away, to attend an auction. I won't return for a year, so I'm entrusting this medicine garden to you to manage.

"If you still need Nine-Leaf Cold Grass, you may take up to three stalks at market price."

"Many thanks, Senior Tantai."

Wang Yu felt a sense of doubt. Last time, Tantai Chan hadn't been so explicit, nor had she offered any special convenience. This time, her words seemed to carry a hidden meaning, as if they weren't entirely directed at him.

As for the Nine-Leaf Cold Grass, it was one of the main ingredients for the "Cold Blood Pill," a material he had originally prepared for himself, specifically aiming for the highest grade.

He still had two stalks unused, and according to his current plan, their use had been postponed, so he didn't need any more for now.

Despite his numerous doubts, it wasn't appropriate to voice them. After watching Tantai Chan fly off, Wang Yu grabbed a small stool and sat by the entrance.

Just half an hour later, the gate was knocked upon. This time, an elderly Foundation Establishment cultivator stood outside. Seeing that the gate was opened by a mere Qi Condensation outer disciple, he spoke condescendingly.

"Lad, where has Deacon Tantai gone?"

"May I respectfully ask for your esteemed name, Senior?"

The old Foundation Establishment cultivator frowned and snapped.

"Just tell me when asked! Are you saying you won't tell me unless I reveal my name?"

Wang Yu quickly lowered his head.

"Lord Tantai instructed me to act according to orders; Disciple is merely following them."

"A good 'acting according to orders' indeed," the old Foundation Establishment cultivator scoffed. "I am Yang Yunzhi. Now tell me, where has Deacon Tantai gone?"

"Tianbao City!"

As the old geezer left, he briefly suppressed Wang Yu with his aura, seemingly to vent his displeasure, before finally departing.

Wang Yu had added that question on a whim, his purpose being to gauge the situation here.

It was merely the pressure of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. As long as he didn't leave the medicine garden, which was connected to the Evil God District's formation, with the main formation even located at Evil God Peak, no one could harm him. This naturally bolstered his courage.

He noted down Yang Yunzhi's name. Throughout the rest of the day, a total of thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators came seeking Tantai Chan, one after another. He didn't know their specific cultivation layers within the Foundation Establishment realm.

However, they all shared one common characteristic: they were first-generation cultivators!

"First-generation cultivators" specifically referred to commoners who, through fortuitous encounters, ascended to the Foundation Establishment realm without any prior background. After their breakthrough, a small family would begin to form around them.

These families ranged from a dozen to hundreds of members and would continue to expand as the Foundation Establishment cultivator aged. When they could see the end of their own cultivation path, they would place their hopes on the next generation.

They would then begin to seek opportunities far and wide for their descendants.

The Foundation Establishment Pill was paramount among these efforts!

Some succeeded, gradually evolving into Core Formation families over time. Others failed, vanishing into the vast crowd, forcing them to start anew.

Among these thirteen, all but Yang Yunzhi — whose attitude was overbearing and tone interrogative — politely inquired about Tantai Chan's whereabouts.