Ten Thousand Miles of Mountains and Rivers

"Brother Wang, what's this?"

Wen Jiu was a little confused.

What could possibly be so important that even his closest confidante couldn't hear about it?

Wang Nian lowered his voice, "Some things are naturally not meant to be heard. I learned about this from my second uncle. He wasn't supposed to tell any disciples, but given our relationship, I have no reason to hide it from you."

Could information revealed by an Alchemist be insignificant?

Wen Jiu quickly clasped his fists in salute, "Thank you, Brother Wang. I will definitely repay this kindness tenfold, a hundredfold, in the future."

Wang Nian continued, "But before I tell you about that, I need to talk to you about Flying Immortal Peak, about this land beneath our feet. You're now a probationary disciple of the Night Patrol Division, so there are things you need to know. Otherwise, your perspective will be too limited... I'll likely never be able to leave, but you might be able to fly out and see."

"I'm all ears!"

"First, this land beneath us, its name is the Southern Domain. According to information passed down by a certain great cultivator, it stretches for a hundred thousand li from east to west and a hundred and thirty thousand li from south to north. It's incredibly vast. Compared to it, this small Flying Immortal Peak is merely a drop in the ocean."

Wang Nian spoke with emotion.

It was clear he also longed to go out and see.

To truly appreciate the grandeur of that hundred thousand li of territory.

"So vast!"

Even with two lifetimes under his belt, Wen Jiu couldn't help but be astonished.

A hundred thousand li.

Even Corpse Peak was merely the only Immortal Mountain within five hundred li. Compared to a hundred thousand li, it was truly minuscule.

Wang Nian chuckled, "Surprised, aren't you? I had the same expression when I first heard. How many cultivators must there be in this hundred thousand li of mountains and rivers? How many demons... But there's no need to say more about the Southern Domain; it's too big, and I only know the general outline. What I'm going to tell you next is about our Flying Immortal Peak, and the main peak of Corpse Peak."

"You should know that Flying Immortal Peak is just a side peak of Corpse Peak, but you probably have no concept of the main peak. Let me put it this way: the main peak is a powerful entity guarded by a Foundation Establishment Immortal Master."

"Foundation Establishment Immortal Master?"

This was the first time Wen Jiu had heard of such a concept.

"You don't need to know too much about this. Just know that once Qi Cultivation reaches the tenth level, you can attempt Foundation Establishment. Once established, your lifespan will be three hundred years, and you'll witness the passage of time, the constant changes. That's what a true cultivator is!"

As Wang Nian spoke, the longing in his eyes was no less than when he mentioned the Southern Domain earlier, perhaps even greater.

It made sense.

The Southern Domain was too vast, too vast.

So vast that it couldn't contain his ambitions, and thus he dared not think too much about it.

But Foundation Establishment was a peak within reach, something he could dare to think about, even if the hope of achieving it was extremely slim.

Yet, it was ultimately more reliable than trying to comprehend the entire Southern Domain.

"So, above Qi Cultivation is Foundation Establishment," Wen Jiu also sighed.

Wang Nian continued, "Only by stepping onto the main peak can you have a chance to pursue the path of Foundation Establishment. This is also one of the reasons why Li Ye schemed to send people in and arrange for his own people to become probationary disciples.

Another reason is that the main peak has issued an order: only probationary disciples who have been admitted for less than three years and formal disciples who have been admitted for less than one year can participate in the assessment, regardless of their Spiritual Root. Once the assessment is completed, they can go to the main peak to cultivate and receive teachings from the elders."

"Why is that?"

These rules sounded rather peculiar.

They didn't want the older disciples?

Only new ones?

And they didn't care about Spiritual Roots, even though even side peaks were quite particular about Spiritual Roots when accepting disciples, yet the main peak didn't?

"It's strange, isn't it? Everyone finds it strange, which is also why my second uncle talked to me about it. Spiritual Roots are crucial for cultivation; even with a lower-grade Spiritual Root, one struggles to get into a side peak, let alone the main peak. However, no one can fathom the intentions of the main peak. But regardless, being able to enter the main peak is something most side peak disciples dream of but can't achieve."

"It is indeed strange."

Wen Jiu tried to ponder it.

But it was like an ant trying to figure out what was on top of a giant's head.

Only by standing there could one know.

By looking or imagining, one would never know.

"Little brother, keep at it! The assessment is in two years, and this is your chance! Although the main peak doesn't require a good Spiritual Root, it's definitely impossible to pass the assessment with a subpar Spiritual Root... But you have an unheard-of talent for the Unorthodox Path!"

"Understood."

Wen Jiu nodded.

He raised his cup in gratitude.

Two years from now.

He still had time to prepare.

In two years, he should be able to improve his strength considerably.

After three rounds of drinks.

After the meal.

Wen Jiu departed.

Over the next seven days, Wen Jiu continued his cultivation as usual. No longer moving corpses during the day, he focused on channeling Yin Mana into the corpse eyes. He spent three hours daily channeling mana, and the remaining three hours searching for Yin Souls and absorbing blood energy.

As for the nights, he patrolled with the other Night Patrol Division disciples.

Three hours each day.

Fortunately, with his cultivation improving, losing a little sleep was no longer an issue.

Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion.

However, the blood energy around the outer edges of the Dead Corpse Land was too scarce. In less than seven days, Wen Jiu had stripped the outer areas clean.

To obtain more blood energy, he would have to venture deeper.

Still, Wen Jiu felt that even the central regions of the Dead Corpse Land couldn't withstand the ravenous absorption of the corpse eyes.

In a short time, the Dead Corpse Land would have no more blood to absorb.

If his blood essence didn't recover, Wen Jiu would have to find another way.

Fortunately, Wen Jiu was lucky. After draining the outer blood energy, a crimson glow condensed within the corpse eyes—his blood essence was beginning to take shape.

"It seems the recovery of my blood essence is faster than I imagined," Wen Jiu thought. He considered that at least several thousand cultivators had died around the Dead Corpse Land. If their combined blood wasn't enough to restore it, that would be truly astonishing.

"I hope that by draining all the blood energy from the Dead Corpse Land, I can condense a complete blood essence."

Wen Jiu made this wish.

He prayed inwardly.

Otherwise, he truly didn't know where else he could get blood energy.

The blood of demons or monsters?

Those below a certain rank were fine, but ranked ones were far too expensive.

They were simply beyond the means of a probationary disciple of the Night Patrol Division.

As for hunting monsters…

Forget it.

He'd rather upgrade at a slower pace.

What if he encountered a powerful demon or monster and ended up as its meal?

Night fell.

Wen Jiu changed his clothes, preparing to meet the other Night Patrol Division disciples.

But as he passed by the area where Fang Zheng and the other two resided, he unexpectedly saw Li Ye.

Of course.

Li Ye also saw him.

They exchanged glances. Wen Jiu clasped his fists and greeted him as "Manager Li," to which Li Ye responded with a cold "Mm."

However, Li Ye's attitude didn't matter to Wen Jiu. What caught his attention was another manager from the Night Patrol Division.

This manager was leading a spirit beast with a long snout, slowly circling the area around where Fang Zheng and the other two lived. It seemed to be sniffing for something.

"They're still investigating."

"It seems he suspects me."

A chill ran down Wen Jiu's spine.

Li Ye was relentless, refusing to let go.

Even though he had already pledged his allegiance to Steward Mu Canglong.

Sigh.

Dealing with someone so inflexible and stubborn was truly troublesome.

Soon.

Wen Jiu departed.

After Wen Jiu left, Li Ye muttered, "I paid a hefty price today to invite my master's Jade Spirit Beast. Its nose can detect any residual scent within a ten-mile radius for about a month… If I find any clues, I'll make sure you pay!"

Because of Wen Jiu, Li Ye's attempt to place more of his family members under Wang Nian had been firmly rejected.

This only fueled his anger further.

About half an hour later.

The Jade Spirit Beast had thoroughly sniffed the area where Fang Zheng and the other two lived. However, it detected no unusual scents.

Only ghost qi.

But it was only present within the confines of this room.

Within a ten-mile radius, there was no similar ghost qi.

"This is impossible. Even if a Ghost Cultivator released their Yin Soul here, there should be some residual ghost qi along their path... As for a Yin Soul Ghost Cultivator, that would be obvious; they would definitely leave ghost qi all the way."

The Night Patrol Division Manager, who had been carefully searching with the Jade Spirit Beast, changed his expression, unable to believe the result.

It was too clean.

So clean it was abnormal.

Li Ye said in a deep voice, "Brother Chen, this further proves that this matter is by no means as simple as a spy killing someone... My intuition is definitely not wrong!"

"Indeed, I don't believe such coincidences exist in this world, but we have no evidence and cannot interrogate Wen Jiu at all. He is Steward Mu's man now." The manager surnamed Chen let out a deep sigh, finding the situation quite troublesome.

Even the Jade Spirit Beast couldn't help.

What else could be done?

A moment later.

After deep thought, Li Ye spoke, "It seems we can only continue to interrogate the spies caught that night, as well as those Corpse Buriers... Brother Chen, take the Steward's token and bring all the Corpse Buriers around Wen Jiu's residence and Fang Zheng's residence back to the Night Patrol Division!" [Seeking recommendation tickets, monthly tickets!]