Ice Coffin Spell, Illusionary Steps (Seeking Follow-up Reading, Seeking Votes)

He held two High-grade spells in his hands. They were said to rival Foundation Establishment spirit arts once cultivated to perfection—but such claims were best taken with a grain of salt. Anyone who believed them was an idiot.

Of the three spell techniques Wang Yu had mastered to perfection, only the Night Concealment Spell was a High-grade spell. The rest were merely mid-grade, yet cultivating them to perfection had already given him tremendous help.

If he added another two High-grade spells, the upper limit of his combat strength could rise even further. The problem was that his spiritual power cultivation was no longer enough.

As for the Placement Slots, two had long been occupied by cultivation techniques.

Before breaking through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, he had a three-and-a-half-year gap. It was precisely the right time to place these spell techniques there. There was no need to rush; his plans were quite practical.

The current issue was Xu Jiao Jiao. He had to investigate more details, or else the enemy would remain hidden while he stood exposed, leaving him poorly positioned to respond.

Then there was Su Qing Shan, renowned for his prowess in combat—a major headache.

He could visit the Law Enforcement Hall and meet Zhuo Shouqing. Then he would naturally learn everything. The price, however, was that he would have to fulfill the duties of an "informant." Until he found another Xu's Pill Shop, he was in no position to seek him out.

It was also a kind of tacit understanding between wolves in the same den.

Alternatively, he could take an Ice Snow Tower assignment, find a job under a Foundation Establishment Steward, and hide for a year or so. Once his strength advanced further, he naturally would not need to be so cautious.

With that thought, Wang Yu decisively turned back.

Zhao Shang, who was working on the accounts, felt his heart tremble when he saw Wang Yu's face again. He could not help but force a bitter smile.

"Big Brother, is there something else?"

"Help me find a task with little work and good pay. Preferably something like the Tantai Steward's Medicine Garden maintenance assignment I took last time."

Zhao Shang instantly understood what he was thinking. He wanted to avoid trouble!

"Perfect timing. Senior Tantai issued another Medicine Garden care assignment a few days ago. This time, it's for one year and pays four hundred Contribution Points."

Wang Yu raised a brow.

"You're still deducting six hundred from me? What does that mean?"

They were grasshoppers tied to the same boat. A steep brokerage fee before cooperating was one thing, but to keep taking such a cut after they had begun working together—what was the point of cooperating at all?

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

Zhao Shang spread his hands in a helpless gesture.

"These are Ice Snow Tower rules. I truly haven't skimmed anything from you. The original price is one thousand—half goes to the tower, and ten percent goes to the Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Zhao cannot touch a single bit of it!"

Wang Yu stared at him for quite a while. Only after confirming that he was not lying did he nod.

"The new cannot compare to the old, and strangers cannot compare to those familiar. This one, then."

"Take it. No need to see you out."

As though sending off a plague god, Zhao Shang saw Wang Yu away. Then, sighing repeatedly, he returned to his accounts. It was a miserable task, requiring no less effort than cultivation.

If any errors or omissions appeared, disaster might erupt ahead of time. It was closely related to his very life, so he could only devote more Mind Power to it.

Evil God Ward residence.

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

[Ice Coffin Spell] and [Illusionary Steps]!

The Ice Coffin Spell was a spell technique for binding and killing enemies. It could condense an Ice Coffin out of thin air beside a target, trapping the enemy within. At profound levels of cultivation, it could even generate countless Ice Spikes inside the coffin, skewering the target into a bloody gourd.

If applied flexibly, it could also serve as a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree defense without blind spots. The ice crystals condensed by this technique possessed extraordinarily high hardness; unless one was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, one could not break them.

Illusionary Steps was a High-grade movement spell technique, skilled at short-range darting, shifting, and evasive maneuvers. At most, it could Split Out nine phantom bodies, each identical to the true body, to confuse enemies. They would dissipate upon being struck.

If cultivated to perfection, the phantom bodies could withstand an attack from a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator without dissipating, greatly increasing its practicality.

Once these two spell techniques reached perfection, Wang Yu's actual combat ability would rise another level. They were well worth the price.

After circulating his cultivation technique through several more Great Circulations, he finally went to sleep peacefully.

The next day.

Before the familiar Tantai Medicine Garden, Wang Yu knocked the Bat-Reversal Copper Ring. Only after passing the inspection at the entrance did he enter.

Within Wind Piercing Hall, where thin gauze hung as curtains, Tantai Chan reclined in her seat, toying with a jade toad in her hand. When she saw Wang Yu enter, a thoughtful look appeared on her face.

"Yang Yu?"

"This disciple is Wang Yu. Greetings, Senior Tantai."

"Oh~"

Though she had called him by the wrong name, she showed no embarrassment and continued, "Since you are an acquaintance, there is no need to say more. Just follow the same terms as last time."

"This disciple understands."

"This Seat must travel elsewhere this time. I am going to Heaven Treasure City, a thousand li away, to attend an auction. I will not return until a year from now, so this Medicine Garden will be entrusted to your care.

"If you need Cold Ice Nine Leaf Grass, you may take three stalks as you please, at market price."

"Many thanks, Senior Tantai."

Wang Yu was puzzled. Tantai Chan had not explained things so clearly last time, nor had she offered him any conveniences. This time, there was a sense that she meant something more—as if those words had not been intended for him.

As for the Cold Ice Nine Leaf Grass, it was one of the main ingredients for the Cold Blood Pill. He had originally prepared it for himself, aiming for the top-grade tier.

He still had two stalks in hand that he had not used. Since his plans had now been delayed, he did not need any more for the moment.

Though he had many doubts, it was not appropriate to voice them. After watching Tantai Chan soar into the sky and depart, Wang Yu fetched a small stool and sat by the entrance.

He waited!

Only half an hour passed before someone knocked on the gate. This time, it was an elderly Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Seeing that the one who opened the gate was merely an Outer Sect Qi Refining disciple, he spoke loftily.

"Boy, where has Steward Tantai gone?"

"May I ask Senior's name?"

The Foundation Establishment Elder frowned and barked, "When I ask you a question, you answer it. If this old man does not tell you his name, then you will not speak?"

Wang Yu promptly lowered his head.

"Lord Tantai instructed this disciple to act only according to orders."

"What fine obedience to orders." The Foundation Establishment Elder snorted coldly. "This old man is Yang Yunzhi. Speak—where has Steward Tantai gone?"

"Heaven Treasure City!"

"Hmph."

As the Old Geezer left, he pressed Wang Yu with his aura, seemingly venting his dissatisfaction before departing.

Wang Yu had added that question on a whim, intending to Figure Out the situation here.

It was merely Foundation Establishment pressure. So long as he did not step beyond the Medicine Garden gate, this place was connected to the formation of Evil God Ward, whose main Formation was established on Evil God Peak. No one could harm him, so naturally he had greater courage.

He memorized Yang Yunzhi's name. Over the rest of that day, Foundation Establishment Cultivators came one after another to seek her out. There were thirteen in total, though he did not know precisely which Foundation Establishment layers they occupied.

Yet they all shared one thing in common: they were first-generation cultivators!

So-called "first-generation cultivators" referred specifically to grassroots cultivators without backing. After relying on fortunate opportunities to advance to Foundation Establishment, they would also gain a small family behind them.

Some families had only a dozen or so people, while others had over a hundred. They would continue expanding as the Foundation Establishment Cultivator aged. When their own Dao Path had reached a point where its end could be seen at a glance, they would place their hopes upon the next generation.

They would begin running about everywhere, seeking opportunities for their descendants.

Foundation Establishment Pills were the highest priority!

Some succeeded, gradually evolving into Golden Core Families as Time Passes. Others failed and vanished into the vast sea of people, forcing everything to begin anew.

Among these thirteen, aside from Yang Yunzhi, whose manner had been domineering and whose words carried the tone of an interrogation, the rest had all politely asked where Tantai Chan had gone.