Ding Zhen's Guidance

"How did Xiang Pichi die?"

"I saw it. A terrifying red lightning blade."

"A Thunder Cultivator!"

The demonic cultivation techniques of Bloodsoul Valley did not belong to the five elements, so ordinary cultivators' spells could not restrain them. They were ghostly and ever-changing, impossible to guard against.

But the lightning spirit root, a strange anomaly born of heaven and earth, did not restrain the five elements—it specialized in restraining evil spirits!

It was the natural nemesis of Bloodsoul Valley's demonic cultivators!

Though the two of them were demonic cultivators at the seventh and eighth layers of Qi Refining, with countless tricks up their sleeves and enough strength to fight even a Great Perfection of Qi Refining cultivator—

A Thunder Cultivator of the same realm would have no trouble taking on both of them.

The fat demonic cultivator had lost his earlier arrogance, his face dark and gloomy.

"Damn Xiang Pichi! How did he provoke a Thunder Cultivator? And he even exposed his identity. We can't go to the Xiang Family of Bluestone County again."

"He died in Demonwind Forest."

"Then we shouldn't go to Demonwind Forest either. What rotten luck!"

"Not so fast. What if he's only a Thunder Cultivator who has just entered the Qi Refining Realm? This is precisely the best time to get rid of him. Helmsman Ding knows quite a bit about the cultivators around Bluestone County. Let's ask him first, then decide."

The thin demonic cultivator spoke with an unruffled expression.

"Let's go! We'll find Old Ding."

"What wind has blown the Fat and Thin Daoists here?" Ding Zhen said blandly, showing none of the warmth one might expect for fellow cultivators.

"Helmsman Ding, you were once responsible for wiping out Bluestone County Market, but failed later due to the interference of powerful cultivators. During the time you lay low there, did you ever see any Thunder Cultivators?"

"Thunder Cultivators in Bluestone County?"

Ding Zhen's expression shifted, then he asked blandly, "Why bring this up all of a sudden?"

"One of our people in the Xiang Family was killed by a Thunder Cultivator. I have his soul imprint here. You know how great a threat Thunder Cultivators are to people like us. If he hasn't grown yet... hehehe~"

The fat demonic cultivator let out a sinister laugh.

"Since the Xiang Family of Bluestone County has been exposed, we can no longer go there for Spirit Food. We might as well bathe Bluestone County in blood and scatter that Rogue Cultivator Market for good. It's been years since anyone from there joined our Bloodsoul Valley."

The thin demonic cultivator was utterly sickened by that orderly Rogue Cultivator Market. Cultivation was originally about seizing the fortune of heaven and earth—how could everyone live in harmony?

If there was no robbing and killing, could it still be called cultivation?

After hearing them out, Ding Zhen recalled the face of a mortal and the sonorous words he had spoken while standing atop a stone table that day.

"Has it always been this way, and therefore it must be right!?"

"Fighting and plundering are a pit no one can ever escape. In the end, no one can profit from it."

"I have a dream!"

"To return the market to its purest original purpose!"

Yes, its purest original purpose. Wasn't that friendly exchange and mutual assistance between fellow cultivators?

If his father had been able to buy pills at Bluestone Market back then, would he still be farming that acre of Spirit Field at home today? Would he still be calling for Ding Zhen to eat more Spirit Rice every day?

"Helmsman Ding?"

Hearing the fat demonic cultivator's voice, Ding Zhen returned from his thoughts.

"Oh, speaking of Thunder Cultivators, I couldn't help recalling the past. Do you know why I didn't act in the end?"

"Why?"

"It was because of this Thunder Cultivator. She was Murong Ziyan, the senior sister among the inner disciples of Blackstone Sect—a Foundation Establishment Realm Thunder Cultivator!"

"Hiss!!!"

Even the thin demonic cultivator, who had remained expressionless all along, could not help drawing in a sharp breath.

Murong Ziyan's name was like thunder rolling through the skies!

Bloodsoul Valley's greatest nemesis!

Over the years, she had slain countless demonic cultivators of their sect.

Forget Qi Refining cultivators—even Bloodsoul Valley's Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment protectors would not dare encounter her.

"Why wasn't she cultivating in Blackstone Sect? Why did she appear in Demonwind Forest beside Bluestone County?"

"That, I do not know. But I do know that Murong Ziyan gave a mortal a Blackstone Walker talisman, capable of summoning Blackstone Sect disciples. You two had best be careful."

"A mere Bluestone County actually has such deep backing. I had always thought only Bai Heyu was guarding that market. If that is the case, then forget it. I'll return and report to the Valley Master. From this day on, we will abandon the Xiang Family's Spirit Fields in Bluestone County."

"It isn't worth staking our lives on it. Thank you, Helmsman Ding, for speaking frankly. Should you ever need the Fat and Thin Daoists' help in the future, we will not refuse."

Seeing the two demonic cultivators about to leave, Ding Zhen suddenly said:

"I see bloodlight swirling around you two, and your cultivation has advanced. I presume... you have just refined quite a few people?"

"Hehe~ Just a small town. A few thousand mortals."

"The two Innate Grandmaster Realm cultivators tasted quite good. Their souls are still struggling within my Soul-Summoning Banner."

At this, a trace of disgust flashed through Ding Zhen's eyes, but he quickly gave a chuckle.

"Mortal souls are still too weak. My men have just discovered several Blackstone Sect disciples gathering herbs together on Medicine King Peak."

"Oh? What cultivation are they?" A gleam flashed in the fat demonic cultivator's eyes.

Cultivators' souls were the true tonic for him. Blackstone Sect disciples, especially, were all wealthy. If they could ambush and kill a few, the gains would far exceed slaughtering an entire Bluestone County!

"The highest is only at the fifth layer of Qi Refining."

"Thanks! The Fat and Thin Daoists owe you a favor."

The two demonic cultivators left in high spirits. Such an opportunity was not easy to come by!

They had no mounts, but their Soul-Summoning Banner formed a mass of black mist beneath their feet. Countless souls seemed to be running within it, and in just a few breaths, it carried them far away.

After they left, Ding Zhen sighed.

"It is a pity Yang Shi is merely a mortal. Otherwise, perhaps he could have become my fellow cultivator. I only hope Bluestone Market can remain like this forever."

Naturally, he knew Bluestone County's Thunder Cultivator was not Murong Ziyan, because she was currently on Medicine King Peak.

Time sped ahead at a furious pace.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day of the Yang Family's ancestral rites.

Your descendant Yang Shi has successfully completed this year's ancestral rite.

Incense Value +10.

You have received offerings from members of the Yang Family: 1,000 jin of Spirit Wheat, 1 Bone-Strengthening Flesh-Regenerating Pill, 1 basket of assorted Spirit Fruits, and 10 boxes of Spiritual Soil.

Will you bestow a reward upon the descendants of the Yang Family?

Yang Genshuo gave Yang Shi a bag of Hybrid Spirit Rice Paddy seeds improved by Cheng Bo, along with this year's 3,000 packs of Fasting Cakes.

"Plant these in that Spirit Field in Demonwind Forest."

Yang Shi acknowledged the order.

Cheng Bo had said these hybrid seeds could increase production, but they also required more fertilizer and nutrients. The Spirit Field beside the spirit lake, with its high spiritual energy concentration, was clearly the most suitable.

These ten large boxes of Spiritual Soil had also been dug from there, with a spiritual energy concentration as high as 5 points!

Absolutely premium nutrient-rich soil.

"These ten boxes of high-concentration Spiritual Soil will speed up the Daoist master's research."

He then took out the small jade bottle containing the Bone-Strengthening Flesh-Regenerating Pill from the offerings. Using a tiny electric drill bit, he bored a small hole through it, then threaded a sturdy red cord through the hole, turning it into a jade-bottle necklace.

Hanging it around his neck greatly increased his sense of security!

"I really like something insurance companies say: You never know whether tomorrow or an accident will come first."

"I'll keep this to save my life."

A first-grade immortal pill, specialized in treating external injuries. Even if a truck smashed him to pieces, it could still save him.

With such an excellent cheat, he did not want to suddenly die at the hands of some drunken animal of a driver.

Munch, munch~

He ate all kinds of small Spirit Fruits borne by the fruit trees around the spirit lake. They were rich in spiritual energy, tender and juicy, with a mellow flavor.

"Those Black Ghosts really know how to enjoy themselves. Every day, they hunt a few wild beasts, pick some fruit, then lie in the sun after eating. Every one of them is fit as a fiddle!"

However, this many ordinary fruit trees could not be kept next year. More than half would have to be uprooted and replaced with higher-yielding, more practical Spirit Rice Paddy and Spirit Wheat.

But there would certainly be no shortage of fruit offered to the ancestor every year.

"Too bad there aren't any high-grade Spirit Fruit trees with attributes, like Magma Fruit."

Those were wonderful things capable of catalyzing wild beasts into developing spiritual intelligence.

"I see there are quite a few fish in that spirit lake too. Before next year's ancestral rites, I'll have Huzi catch a few for me to eat."

Yang Genshuo lounged with one leg crossed over the other, eating fruit.

His body was also being washed by spiritual power, gradually improving.

Just as Yang Genshuo was enjoying his peaceful little life, his phone rang.

It was his mother, Li Xiufeng, shouting anxiously over the phone:

"Genshuo, hurry home! Your father... fell off the roof!"