Dark Currents Stirring

"Long trapped in muddy depths, I waited for the dawn wind; with one beat of my wings, I soared into the boundless sky. Don't say the Way of Heaven is too high to reach; we shall climb the highest peak!"

Life flourished throughout the Cave Abode. Chen Zhuo opened his eyes. Though he had said last time that he would stop reciting poetry, this time he still couldn't resist reciting a poem.

After his breakthrough, Chen Zhuo was brimming with energy. Even the magic power circulating within him felt different.

Qi Refining Fifth Layer!

Chen Zhuo had cultivated for little more than half a year, yet he had already reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

Of course, the bottleneck in Early Qi Refinement was simple, while the one in Middle Qi Refinement was moderately difficult.

But in Late Qi Refinement, beyond the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, every breakthrough was as daunting as crossing a chasm.

That was not something Chen Zhuo needed to worry about now. All he knew was that after using one Azure Dragon and cultivating for a dozen or so days, he had broken through to the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. He was now an honorable fifth-layer cultivator!

"At this pace, with a steady supply of injections, I should reach the Qi Refining Ninth Layer in about five years and be able to attempt Foundation Establishment."

Chen Zhuo considered this silently.

There were thirteen layers in Qi Refinement.

Once a cultivator reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer and built up sufficient magic power, he was qualified to attempt Foundation Establishment.

All he needed was a powerful medicinal boost, or a Foundation Establishment Spirit Object to assist him.

For the former, the Ancient Immortal Realm had the Foundation Establishment Pill; the Immortal Estate world had the Foundation Establishment Injection Fluid.

As for the latter, a Foundation Establishment Spirit Object was a cruder, more primitive choice.

It affected whether the foundation one established would be complete.

In the Ancient Immortal Realm, if a cultivator using a Foundation Establishment Spirit Object failed, the object bore most of the loss. The cultivator could even absorb what remained, improve his magic power, advance to the Qi Refining Tenth or Eleventh Layer, and plan his next attempt.

And after a successful breakthrough, the spirit object made the cultivator's magic power more refined and sharpened his perception of spiritual energy. His own spiritual energy might even take on the object's properties and become more resilient.

That was why Foundation Establishment Spirit Objects were exceptionally rare in the Ancient Immortal Realm, far beyond anything Foundation Establishment Pills could compare with.

Chen Zhuo settled his mind and circulated Spiritual Qi, clearing every blockage in his body. In high spirits, he resumed his cultivation technique to stabilize his realm.

He had barely completed one Greater Celestial Circuit when a knock sounded at the door.

It was faint—a single knock, then silence.

"Hm?"

Chen Zhuo grew wary.

Of all the people Chen Zhuo had met in this world, only Li Changqing could be counted as an ally. The rest were no kind souls.

Why would someone come looking for him now?

With that thought, Chen Zhuo betrayed no reaction. He tapped his Storage Bag, put on his Protective Goggles, and switched to the Mystic-Arts Reconnaissance Drone's surveillance feed.

He had mounted the Mystic-Arts Reconnaissance Drone above the entrance to serve as a camera.

The drone was excellent. It gave off no spiritual energy fluctuations and ran entirely on electricity; Chen Zhuo only had to take it back for a charge every few days.

In the Ancient Immortal Realm, a device that could record clear images without any Spiritual Qi fluctuations was unheard of. If people sensed no Spiritual Qi from it, no one would imagine the Mystic-Arts Reconnaissance Drone was surveillance equipment.

Even a Nascent Soul Cultivator would see nothing suspicious.

After all, the difference here was not cultivation. It was technology.

When he returned, perhaps he could buy a few more Mystic-Arts Reconnaissance Drones and place cameras throughout the market. Then even the faintest clue would come to his attention in advance...

As he considered this, the feed showed him a short, sturdily built man with dark skin. Dressed in a Daoist robe, the man stood outside Chen Zhuo's Cave Abode, wearing a guileless smile. Even his small eyes seemed to radiate simple honesty.

His cultivation...

[Spiritual Qi target detected. Estimated cultivation: approximately Qi Refining Sixth Layer, within Middle Qi Refinement.]

The Mystic-Arts Reconnaissance Drone supplied its assessment.

Chen Zhuo ignored it.

The basic drone's Spiritual Qi detection topped out at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.

Every target above that would also register as Qi Refining Sixth Layer. Even if the ruling Divine Lord of the Immortal Estate knocked on his door today, the drone would show the same result.

Still, it meant the visitor was at least at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer!

Chen Zhuo remained alert. Without opening the door, he asked through the stone slab in a low voice, "Who is it?"

"Fellow Daoist, I'm Liu Lou, your neighbor in Cave Abode No. Yi 35. Your breakthrough caused quite a stir just now, so I came to pay you a visit. I also have a tremendous opportunity to share. Might you do me the honor of meeting me?"

The short man outside spoke with a cheerful smile and cupped his hands, looking thoroughly courteous.

"What opportunity?"

Chen Zhuo's cold reply was decidedly rude.

In the Ancient Immortal Realm, one could not afford to be warmhearted.

Act too agreeable, and others would take you for a sheep.

So Chen Zhuo always wore a cold expression in the Ancient Immortal Realm.

Even with Li Changqing, Chen Zhuo had never shown much warmth. He kept the same frosty manner with him.

Decisive and ruthless, with his wits about him!

Of course, people who advertised themselves as "decisive and ruthless, with their wits about them" were usually murderous brutes who killed at the slightest disagreement. But that was precisely the impression Chen Zhuo wanted to give!

Seeing this, Liu Lou said at once, "I came to invite you to join our Monster Hunting Team."

"We lost quite a few people recently, but while pursuing a demonic beast, we stumbled upon a mountain stream full of Snake-Scale Fruit. Unfortunately, a beast comparable to a Late Qi Refinement cultivator guards the place. We haven't the strength to deal with it."

Liu Lou smiled. "I sensed the purity of your Spiritual Qi from my Cave Abode just now, which is why I came to invite you. Between those fruits and killing that wretched beast, an equal split would earn each of us at least seven or eight hundred Spirit Stones! Whether you want to raise your cultivation and enter the Sword Gate or keep cultivating as a Rogue Cultivator, the path ahead would be wide open!"

Heh.

Did he take me for a fool?

"Find someone else, fellow Daoist," Chen Zhuo said coolly. "I've just broken through and need to consolidate my realm."

Liu Lou did not take offense. He merely cupped his hands and smiled faintly. "Do think it over. I'll be in Cave Abode No. Yi 35. If you're interested, come find me anytime within the next three months."

With that, Liu Lou left with an easy stride, looking entirely untroubled.

Chen Zhuo did not believe him for a second.

A windfall like that, dropping straight into his lap?

In his dreams!

Chen Zhuo was a cultivator who often read historical novels in the Immortal Estate world!

Robber Cultivators' tricks? I know them inside out!

"Go!"

Chen Zhuo immediately directed the Mystic-Arts Reconnaissance Drone to follow Liu Lou in secret.

Before long, Liu Lou reached a tea stall. He went straight to a table crowded with cultivators, took a casual sip of Spirit Tea, and said, "The one next door to me should be a fat sheep. He's pretty cautious, so keep a close eye on him. The moment he leaves the market, do him in."

"I've sorted things out on my end too. Some idiot agreed to go monster hunting with us tomorrow. He's at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer."

A burly man at the same table spoke in a booming voice. "So many unfamiliar fat sheep have come to the market lately!"

"The Sword Gate opens its gates once every ten years. Rogue Cultivators are coming from all over Xu Kingdom, and from the neighboring Wei Kingdom, Guo Kingdom, and even Southern Mountain Kingdom. There's bound to be no shortage of greenhorn sheep. This is our chance. If we can just lure a few more..."

Liu Lou chuckled, but before he could finish, his brow furrowed.

Suddenly, he looked toward the Mystic-Arts Reconnaissance Drone. "What's that? A bird?"

A sinister-looking young man at the table glanced in the direction Liu Lou indicated and swept it with his Divine Sense. "No Spiritual Qi fluctuations. Don't worry, Brother Liu."

"Come, come, let's keep drinking! The Spirit Tea here has a sweet aftertaste. Truly, for cultivation..."

"..."

"......" Back in the Cave Abode, Chen Zhuo quietly guided the Mystic-Arts Reconnaissance Drone home.

"Looks like the Qiwu Sword Sect opening its gates to recruit disciples has brought out all the demons and devils."

Chen Zhuo rubbed his chin. "For the next three months, I'm not going anywhere. I'll just buy medicine in the Immortal Estate every day and cultivate here in Cloudford Market."

"Better to steer carefully and sail for ten thousand years. I'll lie low until this passes!"