Chapter 48: Suspicion

After he left, he secretly notified Huang Kai and Luo Pinghu. He didn't explicitly tell the more ambitious Zhou Tao, but simply transferred control of the Alchemist Society to him.

Naturally, Zhou Tao was overjoyed. Having long harbored ambitions, he immediately colluded with Zhao Shang.

Zhao was also someone who valued money over life. Having served in the Ice and Snow Pavilion for years, the spiritual stones he embezzled far exceeded thirty thousand. However, his daily cultivation and relationship management consumed far more spiritual stones than a solitary cultivator like Wang Yu.

Even accumulating thirty thousand spiritual stones to purchase a high-grade Foundation Establishment Pill was still insufficient.

These two greedy individuals would sooner or later bring about their own downfall.

Withdrawing in time and staying far from the sect's main gate was also Wang Yu's way of avoiding disaster.

But back to the main point.

After setting up this illusion formation, Wang Yu moved into the dilapidated stone house left by previous occupants. The corpse of the Bone Lion had some value; the longest bone spur on its back was a high-grade material for refining magical artifacts.

It was worth at least two hundred spiritual stones. While the rest of the corpse was ordinary, as a peak first-tier creature, even as blood sustenance for captive evil creatures, it was worth over a hundred.

Killing two would yield a high-grade Cold Blood Pill.

Within the sect, this was a difficult income to obtain. To truly earn cultivation resources, one had to venture outside the sect.

Of course, this was also because Xuanwu Mountain was a relatively 'rich' resource point.

All three Xuanwu Mountains had second-tier Yin Veins.

Yin veins were a type of spiritual vein, but the spiritual energy they emitted leaned more towards the Yin attribute. They typically only formed in places with an abundance of death.

Logically, it was more reasonable for Foundation Establishment cultivators to be stationed in such places. Moreover, the cultivators stationed at Xuanwu Mountain during the previous rotation should theoretically have cleared it thoroughly.

It took them three months to arrive, yet the area was quickly re-occupied by Bone Lions and Corrosive Venomous Bee Swarms. This was a suspicious point.

Therefore, even though Wang Yu could easily slay the Bone Lions, he remained cautious, preparing to advance slowly and guard against any subtle changes.

After all, there were still over four months until the blooming season!

Due to variations in harvesting time and growth environment, the Bone Wood bloomed at different intervals. Each year, a portion of the Bone Wood would bloom.

Over four months was enough time for him to secure two levels for his own use.

And so it was.

One month later.

“Ice Coffin Spell: Cold Wind!”

Having perfected the spell, Wang Yu could, in addition to its raw power, also make subtle modifications to its original form.

Just as he did now.

The Ice Coffin Spell, which was originally meant to form a restrictive coffin by shaping six ice crystals, through Wang Yu's subtle manipulation, transformed into six ice walls that surrounded a swarm of Corrosive Venomous Bees.

The ice crystals vibrated ceaselessly, and countless ice shards shot forth from the ice walls. Accompanied by gusts of icy wind, the previously troublesome bee swarm was almost entirely turned into frozen lumps and shattered on the ground.

Their corrosive venom had no effect whatsoever on spiritual power used in spells!

A major problem was easily resolved.

This modification was something Wang Yu couldn't achieve when he fought Xu Jiaojiao. It was a change born from numerous battles and adapting to specific circumstances—this is what is known as combat experience.

Transforming a troublesome conflict into a sweeping victory.

Combat techniques were a crucial factor influencing a cultivator's strength. Wang Yu adapted increasingly well, while others were left in misery.

This was especially true for the Heavenly Corpse Peak disciples under Gu Zhengshun.

The bronze armored corpses they commanded had their corpse qi condensed into mountain ridge copper armor, covering their surfaces. While this appeared to be an innate talent of the armored corpses, it was actually due to disciples with substantial family backgrounds who would purchase Profound Iron to have their armored corpses refine it and merge it with their innate corpse armor, elevating their defensive capabilities.

What was originally a method to enhance the armored corpses, turned disastrous when they encountered the Corrosive Venomous Bee Swarms. Not only did their defense plummet, but their corpse qi armor was also damaged in the process.

After a month, they had only managed to secure three Bone Woods with second-tier Profound Essence Flowers growing. Their efficiency was incredibly slow, which was related to their low cultivation levels.

Of the twenty people, the lowest was at the third level of Qi Condensation, and the highest was only at the sixth level, the same as Gu Zhengshun. Efficiency was hard to achieve.

Wang Yu, on the other hand, had already secured two levels, including nine second-tier Bone Woods with flower buds. He was currently preparing for the third level. With his capabilities, patrolling three levels of territory daily would be sufficient.

In subsequent years, different Bone Woods would sprout flower buds almost annually. He only needed to guard them to reap the harvest!

One day, during his routine cultivation, Gu Zhengshun, however, flew directly towards Wang Yu's level, seated on a coffin lid. Observing the two levels devoid of bee swarms or Bone Lions, he felt a twinge of envy. He called out from a distance,

“Junior Brother Wang, I, Gu, have something to discuss.”

As the blood mist illusion formation revealed a path, Gu Zhengshun walked in without hesitation. In front of the stone house, he saw Wang Yu standing, and came straight to the point.

“We have a problem.”

Wang Yu was also somewhat surprised to hear this.

“Why do you say that?”

“It’s Liu Jinxian.”

Among the three Xuanwu Mountain Masters, Liu Jinxian was the strongest.

She also commanded the most subordinates. In just one month, she had thoroughly cleared her Xuanwu Mountain. With nearly three hundred idle subordinates, she had set her sights on Gu Zhengshun's territory.

“Initially, she merely sent a letter, hoping to have the Corrosive Venomous Bee Swarms from our Xuanwu Mountain captured alive and handed over to her. I declined, citing insufficient manpower. Now she wants her subordinates to help me clear this Xuanwu Mountain. If she takes control, all the captured territory will belong to them…”

Wang Yu frowned deeply. This situation was almost predictable and not surprising. The problem lay with Gu Zhengshun.

“Then what? Did you not prepare any contingencies, or consider balancing power with the other two mountain masters? Did you just come here to be butchered in a different location?”

Gu Zhengshun's face immediately flushed with embarrassment as he explained:

“The Gu family was once a Foundation Establishment clan, but ever since our ancestor's demise, we have fallen to the status of a Qi Condensation clan. The only reason I, Gu, could apprentice under a Foundation Establishment Deacon of Heavenly Corpse Peak's inner sect was because my master owed our ancestor a favor.

“The Gu clan’s foundation is far inferior to that of the Liu clan. If she presses the issue, I can only rely on you.”

“Rely on me?”

Wang Yu couldn't help but sneer, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Gu Zhengshun. “I, Wang, am merely an ordinary fifth-level Qi Condensation cultivator. Brother Gu, if you’re counting on me as your trump card, you’re sorely mistaken.”

“If Liu Jinxian is truly that formidable, what’s wrong with me, Wang, raising a white flag? I’ll just surrender. What’s the big deal?”

Gu Zhengshun replied with a bitter expression.

“If Junior Brother Wang insists, I, Gu, have nothing more to say. Sigh… so be it.”

Watching the other party depart, Wang Yu's expression became unreadable.

His cooperation with this person was primarily coincidental. Furthermore, Gu Zhengshun's strength wasn't high, and Wang Yu was confident he could keep him in check. Thus, by obtaining the Mountain Master token, he could also discreetly conceal his own identity.

He had initially assumed that having a Core Formation grandmaster as a mentor would grant Gu Zhengshun some competence. Who knew he was just a paper tiger.

However, this situation seemed off; giving up so easily wasn't typical of a demonic cultivator.

“Unless… Gu Zhengshun didn't come to Xuanwu Mountain for the Profound Essence Flowers.”

Wang Yu muttered to himself, beginning to scrutinize every move Gu Zhengshun had made since arriving at Xuanwu Mountain.

Inspection, setting up formations, burying corpses, slowly making progress.

None of these actions were problematic; they indicated a steady and cautious approach!