Possessing a Jade, Committing a Crime

Wen Jiu focused his gaze.

On the chest was a golden talisman, which was emitting the fluorescent light, preventing all the male corpse's aura from leaking out.

It was obvious.

It was extraordinary.

And very valuable.

But Wen Jiu dared not take it directly.

"Why would he do this?"

Wen Jiu fell into thought.

Why would he not want anyone to find his body, even after death?

If it weren't for the White Zombie finding it through the Yin Qi it emitted, other Corpse Buriers would never have thought that a corpse was hidden in the ground that hadn't been disturbed. If the Corpse Buriers couldn't find it, then other cultivators certainly wouldn't.

The environment of the residual corpse dead land was something Wang Nian still disliked to this day, not daring to get too close, let alone other cultivators.

Thinking of this, Wen Jiu didn't touch the talisman. Instead, he began to search the body, trying to loot the corpse for treasures.

The battlefield above had been cleaned up, but this corpse hidden underground might not have been.

After a search.

He found nothing.

Just as Wen Jiu was quite disappointed, the White Zombie, to the point of anxiety, transformed into a roly-poly toy and bent down to forcefully pry open the corpse's mouth. The next moment, a blood bead, filled with blood energy and extremely dense Death Qi, came into view.

In an instant, Wen Jiu could feel what kind of blood it was—it was cultivator's blood.

Having been buried in the dead land for so long.

He knew too well.

But upon carefully sensing the quantity and the density of the Death Qi, it was probably not the blood of a few people, or even a few dozen.

It was hundreds of people or more!

Its value.

Was immeasurable!

"Is this why he used the talisman to isolate the aura's emission?"

Wen Jiu took the blood bead in his hand, then glanced at the excited White Zombie beside him. After carefully examining it again and finding no clues, he simply stuffed it into the White Zombie's mouth.

Such a large amount of cultivator's blood, along with Death Qi, would undoubtedly bring unprecedented improvement to the White Zombie.

But he always felt it wasn't that simple.

However, now was not the time for careful study.

He would put it in the White Zombie's belly first and study it carefully later.

Following that, Wen Jiu looked at the residual corpse on the ground. After some thought, he decided to bury it again.

He would not take the talisman.

He would let it continue to be hidden underground.

He would retrieve it later when he had the mutation quota.

Corpse Buriers would not dig for corpses, and cultivators would not come to the dead land. Under normal circumstances, it would not be discovered by others.

Evening.

After Wen Jiu buried the White Zombie, he prepared to return with the others.

While waiting for the other Corpse Buriers to finish burying their corpses, Wang Nian asked him about his gains. Wen Jiu shook his head, stating that he hadn't found even a single nascent Yin Soul.

"No rush. If Yin Souls were that easy to find, would I need your help? Right, don't venture too deep in search of Yin Souls."

Wang Nian cautioned him.

He didn't want such a promising seedling of an unorthodox path to run into trouble due to haste and greed.

After all, if Wen Jiu got into trouble.

He would have to do many things himself.

"Thank you, Senior." Wen Jiu cupped his fists.

Wang Nian nodded.

He said no more.

Soon.

Wen Jiu returned home.

Unexpectedly, his sister, Wen Ya, was waiting at the door this time.

Holding a large bowl, still covered with lotus leaves, before Wen Jiu could speak, Wen Ya said busily, with a hint of displeasure between her brows, "I heard you didn't choose a proper Qi Refining Method, but instead chose the unorthodox path of corpse nurturing?"

Wen Jiu nodded.

Looking at his sister's angry gaze, he actually felt a little scared.

But he wasn't even afraid of zombies.

Was this bloodline suppression?

After opening the door and entering the house, Wen Ya said angrily again, "Do you know that unorthodox path techniques damage your lifespan and body? Even if you achieve some success in the future, you won't live long... and you won't be well-liked."

"Smells good."

Wen Jiu didn't engage, only focusing on the large bowl, as he really didn't know how to respond. He couldn't exactly tell her the truth, could he?

Wen Ya spoke with anger while uncovering the lotus leaf, "You really don't make me worry less. Do you know that even if you take first place in cultivation through unorthodox path techniques, you most likely won't be able to become an apprentice?"

"I know, sis... You don't have to worry, I have my own considerations," Wen Jiu said, bracing himself.

Wen Ya sighed helplessly, then took out a book from her embrace. It was inscribed with the words "Evergreen Skill."

Very obviously.

It was a legitimate Qi Refining Method.

But Wen Jiu was very curious. Why did his sister have it?

As far as he knew, handyman disciples couldn't cultivate. Each person could only take one cultivation method, and it couldn't be passed on.

Those who passed it on without authorization.

Died!

Those who cultivated it randomly without authorization.

Also had to die!

"Sis? Where did you get this?" Wen Jiu quickly asked.

Wen Ya quickly replied, "Don't worry, this was a gift from Old Madam Xu. This is the Xu Family's Qi Refining cultivation method. Xu family members can freely teach it to their own family members and are not restricted by the sect."

"Sis, we can't accept this."

Wen Jiu knew very well.

If he cultivated this technique, it wouldn't be so simple to walk away unscathed in the future.

Accepting a method passed down from someone.

Created karma.

Cultivation emphasized that every cause has an effect.

If he wanted to leave unscathed, he would have to repay this kindness, otherwise, there would be barriers hindering his cultivation in the future.

But such a tremendous kindness as receiving a cultivation method.

Was not easy to repay.

However, Wen Ya's considerations were different. She only knew this was her brother's only chance to obtain a Qi Refining Method, "Take it, this is your only opportunity to obtain a Qi Refining Method right now!"

Wen Jiu insisted, "Sis, I can't accept it. I've already asked Steward Wang Nian, and there are other channels to become an apprentice disciple. I'm confident I can become an apprentice through other channels... Believe me!"

As he finished speaking.

Wen Ya wanted to say more.

Wen Jiu resolutely pushed it back.

And told Wen Ya, "Sis, you can't cultivate this Evergreen Skill either. Find an opportunity to return it."

"You..."

Wen Ya was speechless.

She knew her brother's thoughts.

But being on Corpse Peak, people like them, ordinary mortals, had no choice.

Having a way out.

Was already a blessing.

She wanted to say more, but Wen Jiu interrupted her, "Sis, when is Steward Xu coming back?"

Wen Ya replied, "Old Madam Xu said he's on a sect-assigned mission... it'll take at least a year, or three to five years."

At least a year.

Or three to five years.

Then he still had time.

Wen Jiu put away his thoughts, picked up the large bowl, and began to eat heartily.

Wen Ya watched this scene beside him, a gentle smile appearing on her face. After some thought, she didn't continue the previous topic and instead took out some silver fragments and placed them on the table.

"If it's not enough, go buy more to eat."

Regarding the silver fragments.

Wen Jiu did not refuse.

After all, the Corpse Burier only earned a few taels a month, barely enough for ordinary people to eat, but it was far from enough for him.

Night fell.

After Wen Ya left.

Wen Jiu practiced as usual, and at Hai Shi (9-11 PM), he recited the Corpse Nurturing Incantation.

Unfortunately.

He didn't encounter any Yin Souls again.

Upon returning home, the daily settlement panel reappeared.

This time.

The gains were not small!

[Daily Settlement Panel Lv1 (51/100)]

[Today's Settlement!]

[Recited Corpse Nurturing Incantation for one hour, practiced Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Art for one hour, Panel EXP +1, Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Incantation EXP +10, Yin Province Corpse Nurturing Art EXP +1]

[Buried corpses in a dead land for three hours, searched for Yin Souls for three hours, continuously inhaled Corpse Qi and Death Qi, Panel EXP +1, Corpse Qi +6, Death Qi +6]

[Gathered Earth Fiend Yin Qi, nurtured corpses in the corpse nurturing ground with a large amount of cultivator fresh blood for twelve hours, fed a first-grade high-grade magical artifact containing the essence and blood of two hundred and seventy-six cultivators—Soul Devouring Orb (damaged), Panel EXP +1, Corpse Mutation EXP +6, +18, Corpse Nurturer EXP +1, Blood Transformation Body EXP +50 (reached daily absorption limit), Cultivator Essence and Blood +1330, Death Qi +828.]

[Used two bowls of inferior Spirit Rice, two pieces of unranked Monster Beast Meat, Body Refining EXP +0.2]

The next moment.

The personal panel popped up.

Wen Jiu immediately noticed three pieces of information.

[Death Qi Balance: 834]

[Cultivator Essence and Blood Balance: 1330]

And one more thing.

That blood bead was actually a first-grade high-grade magical artifact.

Even though it was damaged.

It was still first-grade high-grade.

He had learned some information about the grades of magical artifacts from others. Although he didn't know if it was accurate, it could serve as a reference.

For ordinary Qi Refining Cultivators, it was difficult to afford even a first-grade low-grade artifact.

For someone like Steward Xu on the side peak, buying a first-grade mid-grade artifact would be a struggle.

A first-grade high-grade magical artifact.

Even a late-stage Qi Refining Cultivator might not be able to afford it.

Priceless!

Although the Soul Devouring Orb was damaged, it was still first-grade high-grade.

Wen Jiu was overjoyed.

However, after the joy came fear.

Innocent people have no fault.

Possessing treasures invites disaster!

If others found out he had a first-grade high-grade magical artifact, he wouldn't have to wait for anyone else; Wang Nian would be the first to attack him.

"This is a hot potato... No, I have to put it back into the corpse's mouth and use that talisman to conceal its aura."

Thinking this.

Wen Jiu went out overnight.

He quickly rushed to the burial ground with the White Zombie.

Chilling?

Yin Souls?

He couldn't care about any of that.

After placing the now empty Soul Devouring Orb back into the corpse's mouth, Wen Jiu finally returned home with a sense of relief.

However, upon returning home.

He was still uneasy.

He couldn't fall asleep for a long time.

He also felt somewhat lost.