Chapter 861: Red River’s Experience (17,000 Monthly Ticket Extra Chapter)

After Zhu Jun left, Rogue Cultivator Yuji walked up to a fish tank filled with water, then dropped a talisman into it. The water's surface rippled, reflecting a blurred human face.

“Master,” she said, “everything is proceeding according to plan.”

The blurred face nodded upon hearing this, then disappeared.

The next day.

Hong He arrived at the venue for the trade fair.

It was a very ordinary second-tier cultivation cave dwelling in Beiyuan City. Upon entering, he saw Rogue Cultivator Yuji seated at the center, surrounded by six Foundation Establishment cultivators.

All of them were seated on meditation cushions, and when they saw Hong He, they regarded him with scrutinizing and curious gazes.

“This is Fellow Daoist Chisha,” Rogue Cultivator Yuji said with a smile, “a reclusive master from the southern region of Yunmeng Marsh, near the Barren Ruins. His cultivation is no less than mine.”

Rogue Cultivator Yuji was a charming and beautiful woman, seemingly content with her life in Beiyuan City over the years. As she spoke, her cherry lips curved slightly, and her posture was relaxed.

“Greetings, Fellow Daoist,” the other six Foundation Establishment cultivators politely greeted Hong He. He nodded in response to each of them, then chose an empty meditation cushion and sat down.

Soon after, more Foundation Establishment cultivators entered in twos and threes, and Rogue Cultivator Yuji introduced each of them.

Hong He, meanwhile, observed carefully from the periphery.

After leaving the Eastern Wilderness, he went to Yunmeng Marsh in Eastern Wu.

Freed from sectarian constraints, he initially acted recklessly for a while. As Eastern Wu was close to water, there were many rogue cultivators practicing the Azure Water Art. Relying on his profound cultivation, he captured many and absorbed their power using the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art.

During that time, he naturally dealt with many forces in Eastern Wu, and even encountered true demonic cultivators.

Also, due to his powerful cultivation, he was introduced to and hired by a family in Eastern Wu to replace their Foundation Establishment ancestor and join the allied army formed by the Sun family.

That was how he met Rogue Cultivator Yuji.

Whenever the demonic beasts in Yunmeng Marsh showed a tendency to form a great tide, the Sun family would directly apportion how many people each cultivation family had to contribute.

The Zhou family, where Zhou Ye belonged, had their old ancestor lead the family disciples to join the allied army. They suffered heavy losses in battle after battle, with cultivators continuously falling in combat. When they finally ran out of manpower, they were instead deemed defiant by the Sun family, made an example of, and their entire clan was annihilated.

However, whenever the Sun family formed an allied army, as long as the required personnel were present, who they were did not matter. This led to the practice of hiring.

Hong He, on behalf of Rogue Cultivator Yuji, led her family's people and participated in the Eastern Wu allied army twice.

These two experiences involved multiple life-and-death situations, but also brought immense gains. Coupled with the Heaven Swallowing Demonic Art, Hong He quickly reached the realm of Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Subsequently, Hong He traveled through the Barren Ruins to Jinwu Immortal City in the Eastern Yi region, where he rented a third-tier cultivation cave dwelling to attempt Core Formation.

Unfortunately, without any Core Formation spiritual medicine, his attempt naturally ended in failure. Fortunately, he had previously been a core disciple of the Divine Wood Sect and had already obtained a secret art to preserve his life after a failed Core Formation.

It was precisely because his Core Formation attempt failed, causing him to lose some cultivation and damage his origin, that he had not yet fully recovered.

Soon, all thirteen Foundation Establishment cultivators invited by Rogue Cultivator Yuji had arrived.

Six of them were family heads of cultivation families who had fled from Eastern Wu, three were rogue cultivators from Eastern Wu like Hong He, and the remaining three were local Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Eastern Wilderness.

Everyone started speaking, taking out their items. Almost all were third-tier spiritual materials, or even valuable items like millennium spiritual herbs.

After the items were displayed, cultivators who desired them communicated what they could offer via sound transmission. Some reached agreements and exchanged items after immediate verification.

Others, however, looked regretful.

Hong He also successfully used a large amount of spirit stones and a cultivation method he didn't need to exchange for the pills he required.

Soon, the trade fair approached its end.

Everyone's gaze turned to Rogue Cultivator Yuji. She smiled faintly, took out a jade bottle, and poured its contents into a porcelain bowl. A pool of blue, chilling spiritual liquid entered everyone's sight.

“It really is Spirit Ice Profound Liquid!”

After two Foundation Establishment alchemists examined it, they spoke in astonishment.

Soon, the breathing of the Foundation Establishment cultivators present quickened.

This was a pill produced by the Daoist Virtue Sect, and also a pill useful for cultivators' Core Formation in Eastern Continent. It could help cultivators harmonize their essence, qi, and spirit, solidifying liquid spiritual power into a Golden Core.

This item was as renowned as the "Heavenly Sun Fire Liquid" extracted by the Sunbath Sea from the fifth-tier Solar Divine Tree, making them the two great Core Formation spiritual medicines of Eastern Continent.

It was precisely because Rogue Cultivator Yuji claimed to possess this item that she was able to attract so many Foundation Establishment cultivators to participate.

Everyone quickly sent sound transmissions, telling Rogue Cultivator Yuji their conditions. But the one who ultimately acquired the Spirit Ice Profound Liquid was the head of another family from Eastern Wu.

Faced with everyone's covetous gazes, this family head calmly put the Spirit Ice Profound Liquid back into the jade bottle and placed it into his storage bag.

If it were in the past, he would certainly have worn a mask to such a trade fair and fled immediately after obtaining the item.

But now, he had no such fears.

This was Beiyuan City!

Anyone daring to act as a rogue cultivator here had already become a corpse.

After the Spirit Ice Profound Liquid transaction was completed, the remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators rose with expressions of regret, preparing to bid farewell and leave.

But at this moment, Rogue Cultivator Yuji suddenly spoke: “Do all of you know where I obtained this Spirit Ice Profound Liquid?”

Hearing her words, everyone stopped their movements and looked at her with blazing eyes.

“Does Fellow Daoist have a channel in the Eastern Lands, through which this Spirit Ice Profound Liquid can be purchased long-term?”

This Spirit Ice Profound Liquid was only occasionally put up for sale by the Thatched Hut of the Daoist Virtue Sect in the Eastern Lands. Even major sects native to the Eastern Lands might not be able to acquire it.

“If I had such a channel,” Rogue Cultivator Yuji said playfully, “I would have given it to the Five Elements Sect long ago. Perhaps now I would also be an honored guest of two Nascent Soul Supremes.” Everyone chuckled along.

Currently, all major families and rogue cultivators in the Eastern Wilderness took pride in joining the Five Elements Sect. This was because Five Elements Sect disciples, as long as they had contributions, could read tens of thousands of Daoist texts and jade slips in the library, and even exchange for Core Formation spiritual medicines from the Spirit Treasure Pavilion.

The news of Ouyun, Zhou Wang, Shen Ning, and Leshan's successful Core Formation had recently spread throughout the Eastern Wilderness.

Even if all other attempts in the Five Elements Sect failed, a 30% success rate was enough to make all Foundation Establishment cultivators envious.

Unfortunately, the Five Elements Sect had already passed its stage of blind expansion. To join, besides having a clear background, one also needed to first pass through one of their academies.

Although the policy of guaranteed admission for school district residents was still in place, it strictly limited the age of cultivators joining the Five Elements Sect.

After the establishment of the six academies, cultivators over thirty years old would not be accepted, unless their spiritual root aptitude was exceptionally heaven-defying.

This made the Foundation Establishment ancestors of various families who wished to join the Five Elements Sect sigh with regret.

But even so, the sharing of Core Formation insights was enough to make these Foundation Establishment cultivators feel heartfelt reverence for the Five Elements Sect.

In the past, if any of these Foundation Establishment cultivators dared to even glance at such insights, their clans would be annihilated by a major sect the next day.

However, people are never satisfied. With Core Formation insights, they then desired Core Formation spiritual medicine.

Therefore, Rogue Cultivator Yuji's next words made everyone's eyes light up.

“This bottle of Spirit Ice Profound Liquid,” she began, “was discovered by me in a mysterious water mansion deep within Yunmeng Marsh. That place is filled with powerful restrictions. However, due to the erosion of time and water, some crevices have appeared.”

“My friend, Fellow Daoist Chisha, inadvertently discovered the place when he led my family's disciples to join the Eastern Wu allied army last time. After sacrificing a considerable number of people, they barely managed to explore a passage leading in.”

“Some time ago, with the help of a senior, I re-entered it and obtained this bottle of Spirit Ice Profound Liquid. However, we have only explored one or two tenths of the water mansion, and I believe there should be even more valuable resources in the untouched areas.”

“It's just that the restrictions there are extremely powerful, so I need to borrow your strength. We can work together to practice a battle formation, and if we succeed, I am willing to share the contents within equally with all of you.”

After Rogue Cultivator Yuji finished speaking, everyone repeatedly asked questions: where was the water mansion located, what were the attributes of the restrictions, what was the battle formation for, and so on.

Cultivators here loved exploring cave dwellings the most.

In fact, the ancestors of many cultivation families had founded their fortunes this way.

“This is a map of the water mansion's location,” Rogue Cultivator Yuji said. “However, before viewing it, I need all of you to swear not to disclose this matter to anyone outside of this place.”

Rogue Cultivator Yuji placed a folded silk book beside her. After hearing this, several people showed hesitation.

“May I ask if Fellow Daoist can guarantee there is enough Spirit Ice Profound Liquid inside?” one of the local Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Eastern Wilderness asked.

“How can I guarantee that?” Rogue Cultivator Yuji immediately shook her head. This bottle of Spirit Ice Profound Liquid had, in fact, been given to her by Zhu Jun.

“In that case,” the cultivator said, “it's very likely we'll make a trip for nothing, and since it requires so many Foundation Establishment cultivators, the risk is clearly not small.”

After saying this, this Foundation Establishment cultivator shook his head, indicating that he would not participate.

As soon as he withdrew, another Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Eastern Wilderness also rose to bid farewell.

“If the two of you are leaving, please swear not to disclose what happened here,” Rogue Cultivator Yuji requested, still smiling.

Rogue Cultivator Yuji inwardly cursed these Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Eastern Wilderness, thinking that with the Five Elements Sect's protection, they had lost all their boldness for seeking wealth in danger. But on the surface, she still made the request with a smile.

As the two left, they glanced at the last Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Eastern Wilderness. However, the latter's age was clearly very advanced. After hesitating for a moment, he sighed, cupped his fists towards them, and remained.

“Fellow Daoists, you are still young and can wait for the Five Elements Sect's benevolence,” he said. “I am old, and this might be my last hope for Core Formation.” Hearing his words, the two also nodded in understanding.

After the two, the Foundation Establishment cultivator who had acquired the Spirit Ice Profound Liquid also left.

The remaining people, faced with the temptation of the Core Formation spiritual medicine, all nodded in agreement, including Hong He.

Everyone agreed to practice the battle formation for half a month, and then go to Yunmeng Marsh together.

Soon, only Rogue Cultivator Yuji remained in the cave dwelling.

But when night fell, Hong He arrived.

“Junior Brother, is the teleportation array arranged?” Rogue Cultivator Yuji asked when she saw Hong He. He gently nodded.

“After this is done,” she said, “I will have Master teach you the true Grand Demonic Dao Art. It's thousands of times more powerful than your rudimentary Heaven Swallowing Art. Do a good job, and don't disappoint me.”

Hong He listened to Rogue Cultivator Yuji's words and nodded blankly.

When he was a rogue cultivator in Eastern Wu, he was once careless and fell into the hands of a powerful demonic cultivator. Fortunately, because he cultivated demonic arts, he was taken as a disciple.

However, disciples of the Demonic Dao were merely slaves, and all had a 'life-and-death thought' restriction planted within them.

It was precisely for this reason that when Hong He faced Chen Mo, he could not speak of that nominal master.

But he still subtly mentioned Rogue Cultivator Yuji.

He hoped the Sect Master would understand!

As Hong He left the cave dwelling, he thought to himself.