Battle

After paying his taxes and leaving, Wu Tao's good mood of making over nine hundred low-grade spirit stones a month vanished by more than half.

Rogue cultivators had it truly too bitter, with neither cultivation resources nor territory, and could only struggle to survive under the nose of Five Spring Mountain, bitterly working for an immortal Dao great sect like them.

Only places with spiritual power were suitable for cultivators to live.

If it were a place without spirit veins, which meant a mortal realm, spiritual power would be extremely thin and cultivation extremely difficult. Once one experienced cultivation, they would no longer want to return to the mortal realm.

Moreover, the mortal realm had scarce traces of immortals, and very few people possessed immortal affinity. Most of the cultivation city consisted of indigenous rogue cultivators, generation after generation.

Only very few were found from the mortal realm, hoping for longevity.

Sigh, regardless of past or present life, without means of production, one is ultimately exploited and oppressed at will. Even if I embark on the path of an artifact refiner among the Four Arts of Cultivation, I am merely a senior hired laborer! Wu Tao sighed in his heart.

For a rogue cultivator to want to break through this situation and overthrow the other party was impossible. The other party had resources and exploited people like them, so as time went on, one would only feel increasingly desperate.

In this cultivation world where strength was supreme and the great might of heaven and earth belonged to oneself, how could you expect to make a comeback?

Only by becoming stronger oneself and gaining the qualifications to join the other party's camp was this the only way to change one's destiny.

I am fortunate; I have a game system, and I will surely change my destiny. Wu Tao roused himself. After rousing himself, he couldn't help but recall what had just happened at the Delightful Immortal Restaurant.

I rejected the other party. Judging by that Fang Ming's attitude, he must be annoyed. However, since they are not members of the demonic Dao, they dare not act recklessly, and everything must proceed according to the rules set by Five Spring Mountain...

Even so, I still need to be a little careful.

If it truly comes to that point... A trace of ruthlessness flashed through Wu Tao's gaze.

He did not proactively stir up trouble, but neither did he fear it.

However, he still needed to make thorough preparations. Originally, he had saved spirit stones to purchase a storage bag, but he no longer planned to save them. Instead, he would first increase the frequency of his medicinal baths to raise his strength before talking.

Thinking of this, he headed toward the apothecary to purchase the medicinal herbs required for the medicinal baths.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, I have already said it several times. Your association's goodwill is appreciated in my heart, but right now I truly do not wish to join any association."

Wu Tao looked at Wu Zhongxing opposite him, feeling quite helpless.

Over this past month, every single time he went out, he would inevitably run into Wu Zhongxing by chance, and then Wu Zhongxing would persuade him to join the Artifact Refiner Association.

Neither threatening nor using force, he simply issued good-natured invitations. With this approach, one couldn't even get angry.

It caused Wu Tao to basically not go out for an entire month, staying at home to practice the Sanyang Technique to temper his body. Today was the day to set up his stall, so he had to go out, and sure enough, this Wu Zhongxing entangled him once again like a dog-skin plaster.

Wu Zhongxing cupped his fists, a tireless and pleasant smile on his face as he said, "Fellow Daoist Li, for us rogue cultivators to rely solely on individual capability is still too difficult. Joining the association has a hundred benefits and not a single harm for Fellow Daoist Li, you see."

Your reasoning is valid for any rogue cultivator artifact refiner, but it specifically has no effect on me... Wu Tao ignored him further and concentrated on dealing with the rogue cultivators stepping forward to purchase magic robes.

Wu Zhongxing was not discouraged and actually began helping Wu Tao hustle guests.

Upon seeing this, Wu Tao quickly said, "Fellow Daoist Wu, I certainly have no spirit stones to hire you, so whatever work you do will be in vain."

Wu Zhongxing smiled. "Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Li, this is of my own accord, and I don't want your wages."

"As you like!"

When the market closed and he finished selling his magic robes, Wu Tao quickly packed up his stall. Taking advantage of the moment when Wu Zhongxing still wanted to say something, he hastily spat out a farewell and bolted away.

Wu Zhongxing looked at Wu Tao's retreating figure and muttered, "Fellow Daoist Li, I'm sorry!"

At that moment, a voice appeared by Wu Zhongxing's ear, teasingly saying, "Little Wu, I already said that this Li Mo is impervious to all persuasion, and you won't be able to talk him round. Leave it to me."

Wu Zhongxing's expression shifted, and he said, "Vice President Fang, President Xie said that since Fellow Daoist Li hasn't joined any other association, he cannot be touched. Besides, I can definitely persuade Fellow Daoist Li."

Fang Ming let out a cold snort and turned to leave.

Wu Zhongxing tightly clenched his fists, his face full of regret.

Wu Tao shook off Wu Zhongxing and went straight to pay his taxes. This month, he had refined a few more spirit-absorbing robes, and after paying taxes, he could still earn a monthly income of over eleven hundred low-grade spirit stones.

Afterward, he arrived at Shopkeeper Yu's spiritual materials shop.

Shopkeeper Yu invited him to have a cup of tea.

This was actually the first time. He wondered what medicine Shopkeeper Yu was selling in his gourd.

The tea room had a serene environment, with green trees visible outside the window. Anyone capable of opening a shop in the marketplace was no simple figure. After Shopkeeper Yu poured a cup of tea, Wu Tao took a gentle sip and praised, "Good tea, Spring Rain Emerald Tea."

Shopkeeper Yu smiled. "I didn't expect Artifact Master Li to also be someone who understands tea."

Bah, what do I understand? The only time I ever drank it was this Spring Rain Emerald Tea... Wu Tao inwardly complained, but out loud he asked, "I wonder what matter Shopkeeper Yu called me here to discuss?"

Shopkeeper Yu's expression carried a trace of joy. He leaned his body forward a bit and said in a low voice, "Five Spring Mountain and the Ghost Dao Sect are likely going to go to war."

"Five Spring Mountain and the Ghost Dao Sect are going to go to war?" Hearing this news, Wu Tao's expression shifted slightly. "Shopkeeper Yu isn't saying this just for a laugh, is he?"

Shopkeeper Yu said earnestly, "Artifact Master Li, how could I deceive you? Yesterday, when I went to procure spiritual materials, there were quite a few varieties that I could no longer get my hands on, and all of them are spiritual materials essential for wartime. After I probed around sideways, I dug up this news from the other party's mouth."

"Perhaps in a few days, Artifact Master Li will be able to see some signs of it right here in the West Outer City."

He was telling Wu Tao this important news as a gesture of goodwill toward Wu Tao—step-by-step goodwill so that the previous Filth Crystal matter could slowly fade away. This was Shopkeeper Yu's abacus.

Seeing Shopkeeper Yu's serious expression, Wu Tao's heart slowly sank.

Once the war between Five Spring Mountain and the Ghost Dao Sect broke out, the days for them as rogue cultivators would become even harder. It wouldn't just be skyrocketing prices; if Five Spring Mountain lost and the Ghost Dao Sect arrived, with the demonic Dao's inhumane methods, rogue cultivators would definitely end up as materials for them to refine artifacts.

When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact!

Wu Tao felt incomparably stifled at this feeling of life being beyond one's own control.

Seeing Wu Tao lost in thought, Shopkeeper Yu reminded him, "Artifact Master Li, once the war breaks out, Artifact Master Li will still need to make more preparations. If there is anything you need help with, as long as it is within Yu's power, I will definitely lend a hand."

Wu Tao snapped back to his senses, cupping his fists solemnly toward Shopkeeper Yu to express his profound gratitude. "Shopkeeper Yu, this news of yours is far too important to me. This favor, I, Li, will engrave in my heart. As for other assistance, there is none to speak of."

Shopkeeper Yu was very satisfied with Wu Tao's attitude, laughing heartily. "You flatter me, you flatter me. Artifact Master Li, let's cut the small talk. Actually, this is a great opportunity for us to make a fortune. Taking advantage of the fact that prices haven't risen yet, we can hoard some good items for preserving our lives, and once the war breaks out, sell them at high prices..."

Wu Tao nodded in agreement. "What Shopkeeper Yu says is true..."

Once war broke out, rogue cultivators would lose all sense of security, wishing nothing more than to convert the spirit stones in their hands entirely into items that could preserve their lives.

Small Spirit Shield Robes and spirit-absorbing robes were precisely such life-preserving items.

Wu Tao decided to use this opportunity to make a windfall, or else he would fail to live up to Shopkeeper Yu sharing this news with him.

No wonder Shopkeeper Yu wore a look of joy at the prospect of Five Spring Mountain and the Ghost Dao Sect going to war. Once war struck, a businessman like him with tact and no conscience deserved to make a massive fortune.

The ones who always got hurt were merely the bottom-tier rogue cultivators.