Tiger Fall Cliff, Cultivator's Tribulation

Joy Peak.

After resting for these past few days, Liu Mei's injuries were almost completely healed.

"Without the Tiger King Thorn, this time, let's see what you'll use to fight me!"

In her quiet room, Liu Mei was filled with murderous intent, completely disregarding Lin Zhi Shan, whose cultivation was higher than hers.

No matter what, Lin Zhi Shan was an alchemist. After years of pampered living, his combat ability was no match for his younger days.

A maid rang a bell, waiting patiently.

"A'He, what is it?"

"Reporting to Mistress, Manager Huang from Heavenly Treasure Pavilion sent someone over with a letter for you."

The maid respectfully handed over a letter.

"..."

"Lin Zhi Shan has already left the Sect. His disciple, Su Hao, has a slight acquaintance with our Heavenly Treasure Pavilion. We hope Fairy Liu will spare him."

After a long passage of polite flattery in the letter, the main point was finally stated.

Liu Mei finished reading, and the letter in her hand ignited, turning to ash.

"Lin Zhi Shan has already fled? Damn it... I should have found some senior disciples to deal with him earlier!"

Liu Mei was furious and ashamed.

She had originally planned to take revenge herself, and coupled with some gossip within the Sect, she disliked seeking help from men.

After careful consideration, she never expected Lin Zhi Shan to flee directly instead of seeking help from higher-ups or intermediaries!

"Su Hao?"

Liu Mei muttered the name, almost forgetting about this insignificant pawn.

"Since Lin Zhi Shan didn't take Su Hao with him, he certainly wouldn't have taken those Medicine Slaves."

"I'll absorb the essence from these Medicine Slaves first to recoup some of my losses!"

Her eyes flickered. "As for Su Hao, I'll deal with him later!"

What was this talk of giving face? A mere manager from Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, what face could he possibly have?

"If Senior Brother Qian from Heavenly Treasure Pavilion himself came to plead, I might spare Su Hao. Huang Shanyu? Not qualified!"

Liu Mei sneered.

The so-called Senior Brother Qian was the behind-the-scenes boss of Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

For anyone else to ask her to show mercy was impossible!

After leaving Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, Su Hao made a trip to the Scripture Repository. He spent 20 spirit stones and obtained the Soul Refining Method for the Soul Refining Banner from the attendant, Zhang Ming.

This type of magic artifact was very special, requiring one to refine souls into the artifact manually.

The spell was simple, and Su Hao mastered it in moments.

"Zhao Bai Jiang is truly a waste. He can't even get cultivator souls, stuffing in over a dozen mortal souls as substitutes. What power can that have!"

Su Hao also learned from Zhang Ming about places where it was easier to obtain souls.

For example, the Life and Death Arena, where several disciples died every day.

However, the competition there was fierce, with many disciples using Soul Refining Banners guarding the area.

Other locations, like the Flame Iron Ore Vein or the Ten Thousand Corpse Pit, had many deaths and thus many wandering souls. Alternatively, one could secretly kill fellow Sect disciples there and refine their souls.

"A low-grade Soul Refining Banner can hold a hundred souls. Each soul retains ten percent of its strength from when it was alive. It's also known as the Hundred Soul Banner.

With a perfected Hundred Soul Banner, a hundred souls flying together would make one rarely encounter an opponent in the Outer Sect."

Su Hao's eyes flickered.

This method was one of the fastest and most brutal means available, and it was the most common type of magic artifact in the Golden Light Sect's Outer Sect.

Even those with exceptional talent would fall behind against such a brutal method.

Moreover, this type of artifact resonated with him. This way, he could not only absorb others' talent but also not waste their souls.

It was rumored that there was also a Corpse Refining Method that could turn cultivator corpses into puppets.

If he could obtain that as well, then talent, souls, and corpses would all be utilized to their fullest potential, making it perfect!

Su Hao secretly pondered auxiliary methods that could rapidly increase his strength.

While his main cultivation was the sword path, it didn't mean he would abandon magic artifacts and spells.

Low-level cultivators could easily increase their combat power several times over by relying on external forces.

The journey back to Heavenly Medicine Mountain was a bit long, mainly because he didn't have a flying artifact. He had to detour around three mountain peaks, covering more than ten miles, to reach Heavenly Medicine Mountain.

"The Crimson Flame Sword Art contains a method for sword control, which has requirements for the sword's grade. It needs to be at least a mid-grade magic artifact.

If the Soul Refining Banner has more than 50 souls, it can be used for flight."

Su Hao watched two streaks of spiritual light shoot across the sky like meteors, two figures flying as if using some kind of aerial movement spell.

Heavenly Treasure Pavilion's flying artifacts cost 300 spirit stones each, but aerial movement spells were cheaper, only twenty to thirty spirit stones for low-level ones.

Unnoticed by Su Hao, the two streaks of light returned, circled above for a few rounds, and then landed.

A male and female disciple, smiling brightly, blocked his path.

The woman's demeanor was very much in the style of a female cultivator from Joy Peak.

The man was short and fat, like a Maitreya Buddha with his belly exposed.

Both appeared to be in their thirties.

However, most cultivators looked young.

They might look thirty, but their actual age could be much greater.

"Junior disciple brother, why are you taking the Tiger Fall Cliff path? It's very dangerous here," the woman said, her voice seductive as she appraised Su Hao.

The short, fat man chuckled without speaking.

"Tiger Fall Cliff?" Su Hao glanced at the treacherous mountain path, having never heard of Tiger Fall Cliff.

[Name]: Zhang Jiaojiao
[Realm]: Qi Refining Level 5
[Talent]: Fire Spirit Body (White)
Fire Spirit Body: Affinity with fire spiritual energy, with slight comprehension and cultivation efficiency bonuses for gold-element cultivation methods and spells.

[Name]: Chen Yifeng
[Realm]: Qi Refining Level 5
[Talent]: Martial Artist (Gray), Talent for the Sword Path (White)
Martial Artist: Instincts forged over twenty years of martial arts foundation and combat, with slight bonuses to combat awareness and reaction speed.
Talent for the Sword Path: Possesses some talent in the sword path.

"Hahaha, an Outer Sect disciple has never heard of Tiger Fall Cliff? It seems junior disciple brother doesn't interact much with the senior disciples of the sect," Zhang Jiaojiao said, winking her alluring eyes.

Su Hao frowned.

"Never mind, let's formally introduce ourselves. I am Zhang Jiaojiao."

"I am Chen Yifeng."

"Tiger Fall Cliff is a notorious dangerous place in the Outer Sect. The yin energy here is heavy, affecting one's spiritual sense. Coupled with the dense forest, it's perpetually dim – a perfect place for murder and disposing of bodies. Often, newcomers unfamiliar with the area are ambushed and assassinated here. Their bodies are thrown into the bottom of the cliff, leaving them unidentifiable. There are many fierce beasts from Death Peak at the bottom of the cliff, saving the trouble of even destroying the corpses."

The two introduced themselves one after another, moving closer, subtly forming a pincer formation.

"However, you're lucky to have met us. We two love making friends the most. Competition in the sect is fierce. We low-level cultivators can only band together to find a way to survive," Chen Yifeng said.

"May I ask junior disciple brother's name? You look unfamiliar, which peak's disciple are you?" Zhang Jiaojiao inquired. "Do you have a Master?"

"So it's that dangerous here. Thank you, senior sister and senior brother, for the warning. I'll be going now." Su Hao had already sensed their ill intentions.

"Junior disciple brother, are you looking down on us?" Chen Yifeng snorted unhappily.

Zhang Jiaojiao's expression grew more sorrowful. "We kindly warned you, yet you won't even reveal your background? You should know that for us low-level cultivators facing those stronger than us, the first rule of survival is to leverage connections. For example, knowing a certain senior disciple brother, or having a close relationship with a powerful figure, to climb the social ladder and establish your background!"

"With a powerful backer, those with ill intentions will hesitate to act against you," Chen Yifeng said sinisterly.

Su Hao felt a bit helpless and spread his hands. "I am Su Hao from Heavenly Medicine Mountain. My Master is Lin Zhi Shan."

"Eh? Lin Zhi Shan!" Zhang Jiaojiao and Chen Yifeng exchanged glances, looking incredulous. "Really? What proof do you have? Show us your identity token."

"If I don't prove my identity, you two will kill me?" Su Hao's eyes flickered. He confirmed there was no one else around. Was Tiger Fall Cliff truly such a good place for murder?

"So what? After all, you're only at Qi Refining Level 3!" Zhang Jiaojiao's smile vanished. With a single look, she and Chen Yifeng reached a tacit understanding.

"Sigh..."

Su Hao let out a long sigh and took out the Golden Rock Sword from his storage bag.

The two were stunned again, staring at the sword in Su Hao's hand. They could tell at a glance that it wasn't even a magic artifact, and then burst into laughter. "You don't even have a magic artifact, and you're holding a mere blank, yet you intend to attack us?"