Chapter 467: Refining the Treasure Pill, Peak Fourth-Level Divine Consciousness

"So that's how it is," Wang Yu said, pausing and deliberately probing.

"The woman died in the alley last night. This morning, the cultivators responsible for managing mortals came and took the body away. I heard there were no wounds, nor any signs of freezing to death."

"Well..." The teahouse owner fell silent, speaking with difficulty. "Brother, some things are better left unsaid."

Wang Yu, however, said, "The Azure Cloud Sect is one of the Seven Orthodox Sects, isn't it? I hear their disciples are skilled at vanquishing demons, upholding justice, and promoting righteousness. Is this how they've been promoting it all these years?"

"I... I don't know," the teahouse owner replied, wishing to say no more after those few words. He quickly excused himself, citing busy business, and withdrew, unwilling to listen further to Wang Yu's 'heretical' remarks.

However, this allowed Wang Yu to understand the inner workings of the Azure Cloud Sect. The state of other orthodox sects in Taihu was unknown for now, but the Azure Cloud Sect disciples were indeed mediocre.

Judging by the situation, the new charcoal these people delivered should have been relief supplies mandated by the sect. However, while the intentions behind many policies are good, minor officials tasked with implementation often corrupt them. Throughout history, dynastic reforms have often stumbled at the level of minor officials.

Regarding a vast sect, Wang Yu wouldn't generalize, thinking that if the lower ranks were incompetent, the upper echelons would also be rubbish. After all, even among the demonic path, there were figures like Yin Gui. In the upper echelons of the righteous path, there should be many true gentlemen, but they are often undermined by a few bad apples. It is intolerable for good people to do evil. Yet, when bad people turn over a new leaf, they are greatly praised. This is human nature. To evaluate a group, one should always look at how the majority acts, rather than focusing on a few clowns. The world is so varied; it's reasonable that all types of people exist.

After leaving the teahouse, Wang Yu did not take any unnecessary action regarding this matter. To put it broadly, even if all mortals in Shuiyun Immortal Capital and the Taihu Spiritual Domain were to perish, it would have little to do with him. To put it narrowly, this was merely a minor interlude in his quiet cultivation life. While despicable, he wouldn't let a minor issue compromise a greater objective. For now, the priority remained healing his injuries and refining the treasure elixir to transform it into his own power. The sights and events of early winter gradually receded into the depths of Wang Yu's memory.

Days later, as the remaining power of the Sky-Refining Demonic Flame was completely eroded by his mental cultivation method, Wang Yu regained his full strength. Having undergone this trial, his physical body advanced a step further. Estimated by Nascent Soul levels, it had reached at least the fifth level of Nascent Soul, and his immortal spiritual bones were almost fully formed throughout his body.

Next, he only needed to continue refining the power of his immortal spiritual bones and replenish his life force to naturally reach the sixth level of Nascent Soul. After that would come the cultivation of the physical body's divine ability, the Undying Spiritual Body, to complete the integration of bone and flesh, breaking through to the late-stage Fourth Tier Body Refinement. After this, he would enter a long period of accumulation until his cultivation was complete, reaching an insurmountable peak. At that time, he would activate the Blood Abyss Glazed Treasure Elixir's 'break and then establish' effect, directly reaching the Fifth Tier Body Refinement—a realm no pure body refiner had achieved since ancient times.

Wang Yu had a clear plan for the path of body refinement; it could basically be described as smooth sailing.

In contrast, the proper path of spiritual refinement, specifically accumulating demonic essence during the mid-stage Nascent Soul, saw a linear increase in difficulty. Even with Wang Yu's triple placement slots accelerating the process and his innate Demonic Embryo aptitude, it would still take sixty years to break through. One could imagine the immense difficulty for others, and cultivation only became harder the further one progressed. There was a reason why so many people were stuck in the early and mid-stages. Demonic essence, which could be accumulated using heavenly materials and earthly treasures, was comparatively easier to obtain. In this regard, Wang Yu planned to mass-produce Blood Infant Elixirs to effectively get on the fast track.

Cultivating divine sense, on the other hand, was the simplest. The Ancient Soul Art itself was a Fourth-Tier spirit-refining cultivation method, sufficient to support his cultivation to the early Fifth Tier. The deduction opportunity in his placement slots had also not yet been used. Before escaping the cage that was the Ice Prison Realm, there was no need to consider changing cultivation methods. Moreover, he had obtained a mid-grade Fifth-Tier treasure elixir, the Pagoda Illusory Spirit Essence Elixir, from the Longevity Herb Repository! With his injuries now healed, Wang Yu prepared to refine this treasure elixir. As a Fifth-Tier Soul Transformation grade spirit elixir, it was sufficient to assist him in breaking through to Fifth-Tier divine sense. Refining it now would give him divine sense power at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. Then, awaiting the opportunity for the Ancient Soul Art to deduce its advancement would be an excellent time for his divine sense to break through to the Fifth Tier.

The path of divine sense was also clearly laid out. Subsequent directions and breakthrough opportunities were all prepared; it could be said that all was ready, lacking only the opportune moment!

The next day, Wang Yu posted a notice announcing his shop's temporary closure, then changed his appearance and left the city directly for the secret cave dwelling he had prepared earlier. Located three thousand zhang underground, it was heavily reinforced and concealed by multiple layers of array flags and Feng Shui techniques. Unless someone happened to tunnel directly into it, it was impossible for it to be discovered. This seclusion primarily focused on refining the treasure elixir. With various auxiliary methods, and unlike cultivation elixirs that contain immense energy requiring slow refinement, this process would be faster. Therefore, Wang Yu estimated the refinement would take around two to six months, at most not exceeding a year. If all went smoothly, he would emerge from seclusion by the end of this winter.

After closing his shop, Wang Yu left the city without encountering the slightest disturbance along the way.

It wasn't until a month later.

Dou Zhao, accompanied by several Foundation Establishment stage warrior maids, hurried to the wine shop. Upon seeing the 'closed for the winter' notice, her expression almost crumbled. She quickly inquired about the situation from the teahouse owner. The teahouse owner, being shrewd, saw that Dou Zhao and her companions were not mortals. He responded truthfully, answering every question and divulging everything he knew. Unfortunately, Wang Yu had indeed not yet returned. Dou Zhao successively visited the small courtyard Wang Yu had purchased and the homes of his two hired assistants, but she found no information that could lead her to him. Her expression suddenly grew despondent.

Qingshu, a warrior maid, couldn't help but say, "Miss, can that senior truly save the Dou family? With such a grave offense, we shouldn't involve others. Let's just flee."

Dou Zhao shook her head with a sigh. "We can flee, but Xishan cannot. If my mother, father, and so many siblings are truly condemned by the Azure Cloud Sect, where can they go...? Can I really do anything with my meager Qi Refining cultivation?"

Another warrior maid, Qingfang, however, said, "Miss, since you are so sure that Boss Wang can save the Dou family, I will wait here. As soon as he returns, I will convey everything truthfully. You should go ask the Gu family again. The Dou and Gu families have been in-laws for generations and are both esteemed Golden Core clans. Given this kinship, perhaps they will offer assistance."

"Alas..." Dou Zhao sighed. "At this point, we can only try, but the Gu family most likely won't help." Although she said this, Dou Zhao had to admit that Qingfang was right. This was the only option left; they had to try no matter what.

As for the trouble that suddenly befell the Xishan Dou clan, it was actually closely related to this winter. Roughly, the situation was that in early winter, the Nascent Soul demonic cultivators of the Cold Blood Peak from the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect collectively cast large-scale freezing rain spells and drew cold currents from the Endless Ice Plain, continuously blowing them towards Ice River Pass. Unlike Black Mountain and Strange Peak, this pass was built directly on a river, and the river channel behind it served as the optimal conduit for the cold currents. It was like the mouth of a gourd. The cold currents swept straight in, causing great disaster for Shuiyun Province, located directly behind the pass. Temperatures plummeted below zero, and vast stretches of snow blanketed the land and rivers.

In response, the Azure Cloud Sect mainly implemented three countermeasures. First, they invited Nascent Soul Daoists from the Blazing Sun Sect to counteract the cold currents with fire-elemental Daoist techniques, aiming to minimize the massive casualties caused by the low temperatures among mortals. Second, they invited the Fire Crow clan from the Northern Severed Boundary Mountains, for the same purpose as inviting the Blazing Sun Sect Daoists. Third, they mobilized their disciples to deliver charcoal and food to the severely affected areas within the cold current's influence, with Shuiyun Immortal Capital naturally being the top priority.

However, as winter passed and the natural cycle of seasons was about to begin, the cultivators responsible for demographic statistics were appalled to discover a widespread decline in the mortal population. The number of people who simply froze to death approached ten million, a truly horrifying figure. The Azure Cloud Sect's Commander-in-Chief, who believed his response strategy was flawless, could not account for this to the Sect Master, nor could he report such heavy losses to the Sword Sect. He could only furiously order a thorough investigation into what had gone wrong. Among the tens of millions who froze to death, over a hundred thousand were from Shuiyun Immortal Capital alone, standing out starkly in the data submitted from various regions. As winter was ending, even if the demonic cultivators attempted the same maneuver again, without the assistance of favorable celestial timing, they would be utterly incapable of affecting such a large area. The cold current strategy had concluded, but the reckoning had only just begun.

Against this backdrop, the Azure Cloud Sect rushed to shift blame, beginning to 'outsource' responsibility to the local influential clans of Shuiyun Immortal Capital. The Xishan Dou clan was just one of them. There were also several other Golden Core families accused of being 'unjustly wealthy,' 'committing crimes,' 'indulging their offspring,' and 'harming living beings.' Not only were there fresh accusations of embezzling relief supplies, but also records of past transgressions, detailed to the second of their occurrence. As for why these families would embezzle useless coal... their given reason was secret cooperation with demonic cultivators to sell mortal remains. No matter how far-fetched it seemed, as long as it provided an explanation to their superiors and placated the Commander-in-Chief's wrath, it was all deemed worthwhile. As long as it was somewhat plausible, and with the Azure Cloud Sect as the arbiter, any cries of injustice would indeed be futile. Such was the general situation.

Meanwhile, outside Shuiyun Immortal Capital, in an unnamed underground cave dwelling.

Wang Yu, whose eyes were now deeply reserved and whose appearance was indistinguishable from a mortal, stretched. He tugged at the ordinary ornate robe he wore, finding it slightly uncomfortable. After all, sitting for a long time made it truly wrinkle. It was not at all as comfortable as a dharma robe.

At that moment, the Pagoda Illusory Spirit Essence Elixir had been completely refined, and his divine sense had naturally reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. A breakthrough in divine sense, however, could not bring about a leap in life-level, nor could it significantly influence the evolution of the physical body. However, if he could break through to the Fifth Tier, Wang Yu would gain an eighth placement slot, a significance more important than the power it brought. His divine sense continued to lead the way, as always.

After completing this seclusion, Wang Yu planned to return to the city, both to gather intelligence on the Ice River Pass battle and to acclimate for a few days. His next visit would be for mass-producing Longevity Blood Infant Elixirs. When refining these spirit elixirs, he wouldn't need to leave the city, merely silently transforming them into cultivation within his body.

Thus, it was the next day when he appeared at the entrance of his own shop.

Qingfang, who had been waiting anxiously like a 'waiting-for-husband stone,' was overjoyed upon seeing him from afar. She took a step and effortlessly slid onto her knees.

"—Please, Senior, save us!"

Shuiyun Immortal Capital, Dou Clan Manor.

As the local stronghold of an esteemed Golden Core clan, it was located in the inner city, very close to the core district, allowing them to simultaneously draw pure spiritual energy from multiple high-grade Third-Tier spiritual veins. The City Lord's Mansion even permitted them to set up three spirit-gathering arrays, making the cultivation environment quite good. However, compared to the spiritual energy environment Wang Yu experienced at the Rebel Spirit Blood Sect, it had to be said that places with fewer people offered easier access to material benefits. Competition in the demonic path was intense, a matter of life and death. The intense competition in the righteous path, however, was purely due to population 'involution.' The prices of various spiritual items were exorbitant, yet remuneration for tasks was consistently low, one even lower than the last. This was all due to unfair competition and a lack of industry regulation. The more people who possessed a certain skill, the lower its value became. They had truly mastered this.

The Dou clan's true ancestral land was in Xishan, located in the northwestern part of Shuiyun Province, but many clan members lived in the Dou Manor within Shuiyun Immortal Capital. The city also had numerous businesses requiring supervision. Previously, everyone vied to audit accounts, as they could skim off a portion, living lavishly—it was considered a lucrative position.

Now, however, the Dou Manor was in a state of panic. No one could even leave; all four gates—east, west, north, and south—were tightly sealed by City Lord's Mansion personnel. Until the Azure Cloud Sect's decree was issued, no one from the Dou Manor was permitted to leave, nor was anyone allowed to enter. This situation arose after Dou Zhao sought help from the Gu clan. She hadn't even met these 'hospitable' relatives. Forget about 'when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold' or 'the fox mourns the death of the rabbit.' If the Dou family fell, the Gu clan could use their familial ties to gorge themselves. How could they possibly offer help, unless both were powers on the level of the Seven Orthodox Sects? Otherwise, speaking of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold' would be quite laughable. The power to decide their fate always remained in the hands of the Azure Cloud Sect.

Inside the study.

Dou Zhao and her two younger sisters sat in one row, while her father and some uncles sat in another. For cultivating families, whether male or female, as long as they possessed cultivation talent, they were treated equally, holding rights of inheritance and participation in family matters. However, in terms of marital alliances, women still predominated, and live-in sons-in-law were rare. After all, giving birth was something only women could do, and they alone could control the lineage and continuation of the family bloodline.

At this moment, Dou Zhao spoke as calmly as possible, careful not to let her emotions influence her uncles' thoughts. "...The situation is as such: the Gu family will not help. As for the method I mentioned earlier... there's no news yet. Do any of you uncles have any ideas?"

Everyone exchanged glances.

Dou Zhao's second uncle gritted his teeth and said, "If absolutely necessary, I'll find a way to contact Dou Quan of the Sword Sect. He's joined the Righteousness Pavilion and might have some influence."

"Unsuitable," the third uncle said, shaking his head in refusal. "Quan'er doesn't have enough authority to persuade a Nascent Soul elder to help. Since he is cultivating outside, why involve him in this mess? To put it bluntly, if something truly happens, he will be the last remaining sprout of the Xishan Dou clan, and might one day revive the family."

Dou Quan was precisely this third uncle's eldest legitimate son. He was unwilling, and his reasoning was sound; no one else could find fault with it.

"How about this?" Just as Dou Zhao's father was about to speak, a servant's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door: "Master, the Law Enforcement Elder from the City Lord's Mansion has arrived."

"—This is bad!"