What Shan Yue Sought
[I need your help to hunt down a Tidal Demon!] came the message from Shan Yue.
[There are many cultivators from the Xing Family here. Is it really necessary for you, Madam, to ask me for help with such a trivial matter?]
Song Wen's response carried a clear sense of rejection.
[Hunting the Tidal Demon and refining the Earth Spirit Pill. Within the Xing Family, this is a trial of the Lineage's strength and character, and must not be undertaken by Lineage cultivators.]
Shan Yue seemed unable to find a suitable person to help her hunt down the Tidal Demon, so she sent a message to Song Wen to explain.
Song Wen did not directly answer Shan Yue's question, but instead asked her a question in return.
[Does your young master intend to cultivate the first level of the <Soul-Concentrating Spike>?]
"[It's not the eldest son, it's my own desire to cultivate <Soul-Concentrating Spike>," Shan Yue replied.
Upon seeing this message, Song Wen couldn't help but look puzzled.
Has Shan Yue suddenly realized something?!
Do you realize that in the Cultivation World, only your own strength is the foundation for survival?
Having learned my lesson, I'm determined to train hard and improve my strength.
Previously, she had placed all her hopes on Xing Chang. Had she discovered Xing Chang had been spoiled and given up on Xing Chang?
[Madam Xing, the Outer Sea are inhabited by Demon Beast. Forgive my meager strength; I am powerless to assist you in hunting down the Tidal Demon.]
Song Wen could not determine whether Shan Yue's statement was true or false.
He didn't know if the other party genuinely wanted him to hunt down the Tidal Demon, or if there was some conspiracy behind it.
He simply refused the Shan Yue offer outright.
[I already possess definitive information about a Tidal Demon. With your strength, slaying this demon is a piece of cake. Afterwards, I will pay you a substantial reward.]
Shan Yue did not give up easily and continued to send messages.
[One hundred thousand Spirit Stone! I can pay one hundred thousand Spirit Stone if you can bring back the Essence Blood and soul of the Tidal Demon.]
Although 100,000 Spirit Stone is a considerable sum, Song Wen would not risk his life for such a small Spirit Stone.
[Madam Xing, there's no need to discuss this further. I will not easily venture into the Outer Seas.]
[This demon inhabits Inner Sea area, some distance from the Outer Sea.]
The message was replied to in Shan Yue.
After waiting a while, and still not receiving a reply from Song Wen, Shan Yue sent another message.
[If you think 100,000 Spirit Stone is too little, I can increase the reward.]
How about 150,000 Spirit Stone?
[Alternatively, I can pay you with Superior Spirit Stones.]
[Fifteen Superior Spirit Stones.]
[Eighteen pieces.]
[Twenty pieces!]
Seeing that she received no response from Song Wen, Shan Yue finally had no choice but to give up.
Song Wen thought the matter would just end there.
Unexpectedly, a little over a month later, he received another Shan Yue summons.
[Fellow Daoist, the reward last time may not have satisfied you, but this time, you certainly won't refuse it.]
When Song Wen received this message, he couldn't help but feel curious, wondering where the other party got their confidence from.
[Oh? I wonder what treasure it is that gives you such confidence, Madam?]
[It's not a treasure, but a piece of intelligence.]
[Intelligence? What kind of intelligence would make it worthwhile to venture to the edge of the Inner Sea?]
[Information regarding the Heavenly Spirit Pill. Having obtained the second level of the <Soul-Concentrating Spike> Cultivation Method, you must know that it's difficult for you to refine the Heavenly Spirit Pill your own. However, I know where to find it. I imagine you'd be quite interested in this.]
As predicted in Shan Yue, Song Wen was in high spirits.
Is this really true?
[Absolutely true.]
"Where is the Heavenly Spirit Pill?" Song Wen asked via telegram.
[Fellow Daoist, do you think I would be so foolish as to tell you this only after seeing the Essence Blood and soul of the Tidal Demon?] Shan Yue said.
[How can I trust you? What if your intelligence says the Xing Family Treasury contains the Heavenly Spirit Pill? What use would it be to me? Am I supposed to break into the Xing Family Treasury?]
[As far as I know, the Xing Family Treasury does not contain Heavenly Spirit Pill. The places I know of that possess Heavenly Spirit Pill are neither in the Xing Family nor in the hands of any major power. I imagine you are quite interested in this information, fellow Daoist.] Shan Yue transmitted.
Song Wen pondered for a moment, then returned to the passage.
[I am indeed somewhat interested, but how can you convince me that you truly possess information about the Heavenly Spirit Pill?]
[I can reveal some information to you; you can make your own judgment, fellow Daoist.] Shan Yue transmitted.
[I am all ears.]
[The Xing Family's plan for the Spell Arts Tournament, ostensibly to promote exchanges among cultivators and enhance the Xing Family's prestige, actually harbors sinister intentions. The Xing Family's true purpose is to find cultivators with Soul Source Bodies to refine Holy Spirit Pill.] Shan Yue said.
"What is the Holy Spirit Pill?" Song Wen asked.
[The Holy Spirit Pill is the elixir required for cultivating the third level of the <Soul-Concentrating Spike> technique.]
After explaining things to Song Wen, Shan Yue continued to send messages.
Xing Liren wanted to take advantage of the Spell Arts Tournament to gather nine Qi Refining Stage cultivators with Soul Source Body to refine the Heavenly Spirit Pill. However, all the third-level Alchemist in the Xing Family were busy refining the Holy Spirit Pill and could not spare any extra manpower to help Xing Liren Alchemy.
However, refining the Heavenly Spirit Pill requires the human medicine to be alive and have a full soul; this means that after capturing the human medicine, it is necessary to start Alchemy the pill as soon as possible. Therefore, Xing Liren searched everywhere for a third-level Alchemist.
However, third-tier Alchemist are hard to find, so Xing Liren had no choice but to seek help from his uncle. His uncle was from the Jing Family, and it seemed Xing Liren paid a price that harmed the Xing Family's interests to get his help. Fearing exposure and the stigma of 'colluding with outsiders and being disloyal to the Xing Family,' Xing Liren dared not Alchemy the clan and deliberately chose a location outside the Xing Family.
Song Wen read the message several times but still couldn't find any flaws, which made him more confident in Shan Yue's abilities.
[How did Madam Xing learn of such a confidential matter?] Song Wen asked, voicing his doubts.
[Last night, when I went to serve Xing Gaohan in bed, he inadvertently revealed this. Xing Gaohan showed no displeasure at Xing Liren's actions of using the interests of the Xing Family to seek personal gain. However, since this was facilitated by Jing Feiyao, Xing Gaohan had some reservations about her.]
After this message was exchanged, both sides fell into a brief silence.
Song Wen needs time to carefully consider the truth of the matter and the risks involved.
After waiting for about an incense stick's time, another message arrived in the Shan Yue.
[Fellow Daoist, what have you thought? Are you willing to agree to this deal?]
[Okay, I promise you. I'll pass on the information about the Tidal Demon.] Song Wen replied.
A moment later.
Shan Yue relayed the information about the Tidal Demon.
This Tidal Demon only possessed the strength of the late-stage second tier. Just as Shan Yue said, killing this demon would be a piece of cake for Song Wen.
The only problem is that the person who provided the intelligence didn't find the Tidal Demon's lair; he only discovered traces of the Tidal Demon's activity.
On the Inner Sea, the island is devoid of Spiritual Qi, but the land is fertile, so mortals live and multiply here.
These mortals were unfortunate enough to be discovered by a Tidal Demon.
The Tidal Demon come to the island to prey on animals every so often.
The frequency of Tidal Demon appearances is not fixed; sometimes they appear monthly, and sometimes only once every year or two.
It doesn't kill many people at a time, usually leaving after consuming a dozen or so. It seems to regard these mortals as a stable source of food.