Crisis (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

Not strangers, nor devilish cultivators.

Wu Tao's heart completely relaxed. He didn't dare to delay and immediately opened the door.

Seeing the door open, before the cultivator from the Demon Slaying Hall could speak, a cultivator from the patrol squad said with an unhappy tone, "Why did it take so long to open the door? Do you know we have many other things to do?"

Wu Tao's face stiffened, but thinking of their identities, he could only apologize with a smile, "I'm sorry, sirs. I was cultivating just now and might have been a little slow. Please forgive me!"

The patrol squad member was about to say more when he heard the Demon Slaying Hall cultivator let out a cold snort. He immediately became sheepish and didn't dare to say anything further.

The Demon Slaying Hall cultivator said to Wu Tao, "Fellow Daoist, we are searching for devilish cultivators. Please show us your rental contract or any other proof of your identity."

This is the difference between official staff and temporary workers... Wu Tao grumbled in his heart and quickly said, "Okay, please wait a moment, sir."

After speaking, he hurried to get the rental contract signed with the agency. After thinking for a moment, he also brought out his Artifact Refiner Certificate from the Five Spring Artifact Refining Hall and handed them over for the Demon Slaying Hall cultivator to inspect.

The Demon Slaying Hall cultivator saw the rental contract from the agency and confirmed it was in order. Upon seeing the Artifact Refiner Certificate, the sternness on his face seemed to soften. He returned both certificates to Wu Tao and said to him, "Fellow Daoist Li, hold onto these. Ling Tian, Zhu Quan, let's get to work..."

Wu Tao took them back.

Zhu Quan, the patrol squad member who had given Wu Tao a hard time, felt that the Demon Slaying Hall cultivator's attitude towards Wu Tao had improved slightly. He was surprised, but he was called to start working, so he could only begin.

Zhu Quan took out the Evil-Expelling Treasure Mirror and scanned Wu Tao from head to toe, then scanned his room. After coming out, he said to the Demon Slaying Hall cultivator, "Sir, everything is normal."

Ling Tian walked up to Wu Tao, cupped his hands, and said, "Fellow Daoist Li, I apologize."

Then he extended his hand. Wu Tao was startled and almost activated the Disposable Storage Talisman at his waist to draw his weapon. However, he saw Ling Tian merely gently pinch his cheek, nose, and chin with his hand before letting go. Ling Tian then said to the Demon Slaying Hall cultivator, "Sir, there is no disguise, nor any spells concealing his appearance."

Wu Tao breathed a sigh of relief in his heart, thinking, Nonsense, this is my original face, I haven't had any plastic surgery.

Seeing that there was nothing amiss, the Demon Slaying Hall cultivator looked at Wu Tao and said, "Alright, Fellow Daoist Li, you can go back to your room. For the time being, if there's nothing important, please refrain from leaving the West Outer City."

Wu Tao's good impression of this Demon Slaying Hall cultivator increased by one. He cupped his hands and thanked him, "Thank you for your guidance, sir."

Immediately, the Demon Slaying Hall cultivator left with the two patrol squad members.

Wu Tao did not watch them leave. He went straight back into his room and muttered, "Logically speaking, I only have a First-Rank Junior Artifact Refiner Certificate, and I'm a First-Rank Loose Cultivator Artifact Refiner. The Demon Slaying Hall is the orthodox sect of Five Spring Mountain, and even ordinary disciples are not as noble as the Demon Slaying Hall. Why did that Demon Slaying Hall cultivator's attitude suddenly improve after seeing my Artifact Refiner Certificate, and why did he subtly advise me when leaving?"

Unable to figure it out, Wu Tao decided not to think about it anymore. However, the actions of the Demon Slaying Hall undoubtedly confirmed the tense situation between the Five Spring Mountain and the Ghost Dao Sect.

The Ghost Dao Sect was skilled in stealth and had certainly planted many spies in Five Spring Mountain. Five Spirits Cultivation City, as an important cultivation city of Five Spring Mountain and a cash cow for harvesting loose cultivators, was naturally something the Ghost Dao Sect would not let go of.

With the war imminent, the people of the Demon Slaying Hall had to intensify their efforts to find hidden Ghost Dao Sect devilish cultivators to prevent any internal trouble.

Ten days later.

Wu Tao stayed at home for ten days and did not step out of his door.

He had agreed with Shopkeeper Yu to deliver a batch of goods to his shop in ten days. Today was the day for delivery.

In these ten days, his strength had also improved slightly.

[Cultivation Technique: Three Yang Technique: Qi Refining Chapter (Third Level): 5%]

[Secondary Profession Cultivator: Dragon Spear Body Tempering Art: Flesh Refining (57%), Dragon Spear Sweep Proficiency (38%), Dragon Spear and Thunder Proficiency (49%)]

The Three Yang Technique had progressed by 3% in ten days. In a month, that would be 9% progress. This meant that in another year, he could break through to the Fourth Level of Qi Refining.

As the Body Tempering Art progressed further, the absorption of Spiritual Power would also become faster.

He had previously calculated three years per cultivation level, but because the Body Tempering Art had improved his physique, he could now break through one level per year.

Calculating it this way, "I'll reach Foundation Establishment at 32!"

Wu Tao felt his confidence soar.

Each day's Medicinal Bath could advance the Body Tempering Art by one progress point, and Fire Sweep and Wind and Thunder were also steadily improving.

"If only there wasn't a war, how wonderful that would be!"

Wu Tao sighed, put on his Magic Robe, and went out.

As soon as he stepped outside, he found the world had changed dramatically.

Loose Cultivators passing by were all in a hurry, their faces filled with nervousness. Moreover, at the street entrance, there were Patrol Squad members guarding it. Every Loose Cultivator passing by had to show their rental contract.

Only those with a contract were allowed to pass; those without would be taken away by the Patrol Squad.

The wind whispered like the cry of cranes.

"The storm is coming!"

Wu Tao sighed inwardly, took his rental contract from the Patrol Squad, and headed towards the market.

Along the way, he encountered three more groups checking rental contract credentials.

Upon entering the market entrance, it wasn't just the Patrol Squad checking, but also Cultivators in Demon Slaying Hall uniforms standing nearby. The people in line were deathly silent, not daring to breathe loudly.

After entering the market, Wu Tao passed by some stalls, and his expression immediately turned grim.

He had long anticipated that prices would rise, but the speed at which they had doubled in just ten days still made him gasp.

"Unlike the previous life where there were regulations, here, every Wuquan Mountain Disciple wants to get rich themselves. Those who have supply chains and dare to raise prices, which of them don't have the shadow of Wuquan Mountain behind them?"

Ruled by immortal sects, human lives were like grass!

Wu Tao walked on, unaware that behind him, someone saw his retreating figure, a flicker of an unusual look in their eyes, before they quickly turned and disappeared.

This Loose Cultivator, dressed in disguise, quickly arrived at a courtyard and gently knocked on the door.

After a moment, a short cultivator opened the door.

"President Fang."

"Come in and talk."

"President Fang, that Li Mo, he's out!"

"Finally out? Ten days, I thought you'd stay holed up like a turtle forever... Hmph, the market is in chaos now. Someone died in New Virtue Alley last time, said to be killed by a Devilish Cultivator."

"The Patrol Squad and the Demon Slaying Hall investigated for a long time but found no trace of the Devilish Cultivator."

Fang Ming's face turned cold, his eyes filled with killing intent.

"Artifact Master Li, you're here!" Shopkeeper Yu saw Wu Tao and immediately welcomed him in with a smile.

Wu Tao glanced at Shopkeeper Yu's shelves. They were filled with Magic Tools, and hired Loose Cultivators were selling them. The cultivators buying the Magic Tools had bitter expressions, forced to buy at exorbitant prices.

Wu Tao looked at the prices. Good heavens, a First-Rank Level 4 Magic Tool that was originally One Mid-Grade Spirit Stone was priced at Two Mid-Grade Spirit Stones.

This heart is truly black.

He withdrew his gaze and said to Shopkeeper Yu, "Shopkeeper Yu, I'm here to deliver the goods."

"Ten Spirit-Absorbing Robes, ten Small Spirit Shield Robes, all tested. Please check them carefully." Wu Tao placed the robes on the table and said to Shopkeeper Yu.

Shopkeeper Yu smiled, "No need, I trust Artifact Master Li."

Wu Tao had already received an advance of Fifteen Mid-Grade Spirit Stones from Shopkeeper Yu. After this batch of goods was delivered, Wu Tao still owed Shopkeeper Yu eighty Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

After the robes were delivered, the chaos outside had already begun to show. Although Five Spring Mountain and Ghost Dao Sect hadn't truly started fighting, the calm before the storm was enough to suffocate any low-level Loose Cultivator.

Therefore, Wu Tao didn't linger and asked to leave.

Shopkeeper Yu stopped him, "Fellow Daoist Li, wait. It's starting to get chaotic outside, and it's not very safe. I'll have someone escort you back."

Soon, Shopkeeper Yu called a middle-aged cultivator and introduced him, "This is Fellow Daoist Jin, Qi Refining Layer 7 cultivation. Fellow Daoist Jin, please escort Artifact Master Li home."

Fellow Daoist Jin nodded, "Leave it to me. I'll safely escort Artifact Master Li home."

"Thank you, Shopkeeper Yu." Wu Tao sincerely thanked Shopkeeper Yu, and then thanked the cultivator surnamed Jin:

"Thank you for your trouble, Senior Jin."

Thanks to Dada Tu Zi for the 600 Origin Coin reward. Thanks to Wen Lan Ben for the monthly ticket. We are in a recommendation period, so please follow along. Last time, we almost missed the recommendation, short by a dozen followers. Fortunately, we made a single-chapter plea, and all the book friends and big shots gave face and made up the numbers, leading to a client recommendation. This book isn't a brain-burning story and has a fast pace, so its advantages aren't significant. Therefore, I beg everyone not to wait and accumulate chapters... I'm begging!