Inner Core

Medicine King Mountain cave abode.

Fang Yu took out Night Sha's corpse, his eyes shining.

With a thought, the Flowing Flame True Fire Sword appeared in his hand. He withdrew its Flowing Flame True Fire, revealing the blade, then cut open the corpse and took out an Inner Core the size of a longan.

A faint stream of dark yellow Qi flowed over the core, and the indistinct silhouette of a bat flickered within it.

"Is this a second-tier Demon Beast's Inner Core?"

Fang Yu carefully examined the Celestial Person runes flowing over the core. Quite a few of them were runes he already knew.

These runes had originally been learned from the living creatures of heaven and earth, and the Inner Cores within Demon Beasts were one of their sources.

Such Inner Cores were extremely valuable. Whether used for cultivation or pill refinement, their effects were top-notch.

"I've heard that the main ingredient in a Foundation Establishment Pill is the Inner Core of a second-tier Demon Beast. Eating one raw also helps with Foundation Establishment, so it counts as a spiritual item for Foundation Establishment."

Fang Yu murmured to himself and put the Inner Core away. Then he cut other materials from the Demon Beast's corpse.

The skin, flesh, claws, and bones of a second-tier Demon Beast were all fine materials for crafting artifacts. As a master of the External Alchemy Technique, he naturally couldn't let them go to waste.

After finishing with the Demon Beast's corpse, Fang Yu held out his hand and counted on his fingers to divine his own fortune in the days ahead:

[Peril. Fortune or misfortune undetermined]

"Hm? Why is it still fortune or misfortune undetermined?"

Fang Yu frowned deeply. That had been the result near Autumn Moon Mountain Market, but he had already gone far away. He had run all the way to Medicine King Mountain, thousands of miles away, so why was the result still the same?

Could it be that the Chu Kingdom's cultivation world is about to fall into great chaos?

Fang Yu then performed a divination for leaving the Chu Kingdom's cultivation world:

[Fortune]

Hmm, if I leave the Chu Kingdom's cultivation world, it's fortune. If I don't, fortune or misfortune remains undetermined.

From the looks of it, the Chu Kingdom's cultivation world is bound to fall into great chaos. That's why I'm sensing this.

Fang Yu turned his hand over and took out a map of the Chu Kingdom, his gaze settling on the place where the Chu Kingdom, Yue Kingdom, and Tang Kingdom met.

"Since the Chu Kingdom is about to fall into chaos, I'd better hurry and leave this troubled place."

It was said that a cultivation city stood where the three kingdoms met. Named Mosquito Immortal City, it had been built by a Golden Core Rogue Cultivator after he slew a late third-tier Demon Beast, the Crimson Mosquito. It was very welcoming to Rogue Cultivators and was hailed as a sacred land for them.

To have established itself in this lawless region, Mosquito Immortal City must have some foundation. It can provide me with a stable cultivation environment, and a great city like that must have more abundant resources. I have a million Spirit Stones on hand now. Once I get there, I should be able to cultivate in peace. I might even be able to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill outright.

With that thought, Fang Yu put away the map and turned into a streak of light, heading for Mosquito Immortal City.

Autumn Moon Mountain Market.

"Hurry up and open the grand formation! Let us out!"

"Why won't you let anyone leave?"

"Your Spirit Cloud Sect is being far too overbearing!"

"..."

The many cultivators in the market hadn't paid much attention when the grand formation suddenly sealed it off, but as time passed, they all sensed that something was wrong.

They gathered at the market's exit.

"Fellow Daoists, there's no need to be alarmed. The grand formation has only been sealed to hunt down a Bandit Cultivator. Once he is captured and brought to justice, you will naturally be allowed to leave."

The voice of a cultivator from the market's Law Enforcement Team rang through the air as he tried to reassure the many Rogue Cultivators.

But as time passed, more and more people gathered at the exit.

Inside the formation's control hub, a Law Enforcement disciple looked cautiously at Elder Tianxing, who sat in the seat of honor with his eyes closed, resting.

"Elder, more and more Rogue Cultivators are gathering. At least twenty Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators in the market have already assembled. I'm afraid it won't be long before trouble breaks out!"

"Hmph!" Elder Tianxing snorted coldly. "It's of no consequence. How could this second-tier grand formation be so easily breached? If anyone truly dares to take the lead in causing trouble, I will surely..."

At that point, he suddenly opened his eyes and laughed. "Ancestor Qingluo has arrived! Why aren't you coming with me to welcome the Ancestor?"

The Law Enforcement disciples were all jolted. The sect's Golden Core Ancestor had actually come in person. What exactly had Elder Tianxing discovered in the mine?

It had actually brought the Golden Core Ancestor here in person. The last time the Ancestor had come, it had been to contend with the Yue Kingdom's Black Sand Sect for this Spirit Stone mine. Now the Ancestor had come again. Could the Black Sand Sect be about to attack once more?

Outside the market, enormous warships came tearing through the sky, and Cloud Spirit Sect disciples descended into the market like meteors.

The many Rogue Cultivators in the market were greatly alarmed.

"That's a third-tier warship of the Cloud Spirit Sect. It's mainly used to withstand attacks from Golden Core cultivators."

"Why are there so many Cloud Spirit Sect disciples? Have they come out in full force?"

"What on earth happened?"

"Ah... that's... that's Ancestor Qingluo..."

"..."

At some unknown point, a figure dressed in robes of green gauze had appeared, standing in the air. A vast pressure descended, slowing the circulation of Law Power in the many Qi Refining cultivators below. Those in the early and middle stages were forced directly to their knees, unable to move. Only some of those at the Qi Refining Late Stage could barely remain standing, but even their backs were slowly bending.

At that moment, Elder Tianxing came to Ancestor Qingluo's side and said respectfully, "Ancestor, all the Rogue Cultivators of Autumn Moon Mountain Market are inside. Not one has left!"

"You've done well!" Ancestor Qingluo praised him, then said calmly, "A mid-grade Spirit Stone mine requires a great many mining slaves. The Rogue Cultivators in the market will do nicely. Don't take their lives; just place restrictions on them!"

"Yes!" Elder Tianxing answered respectfully, then descended into the market.

In an instant, the market fell into chaos as the Cloud Spirit Sect disciples began seizing the Rogue Cultivators one by one.

"Ahhh..."

"What are you doing?"

"This is bad! Run..."

"Damn the Cloud Spirit Sect! What on earth are you trying to do..."

"..."

Several months later.

Traveling in fits and starts, Fang Yu made his way to the outskirts of Ten Thousand Demon Mountain, where Mosquito Immortal City was located. The place appeared utterly deserted and was steeped in a savage atmosphere. No mortals lived nearby.

That was only natural, however. Though this was the outskirts of Ten Thousand Demon Mountain, Demon Beasts still frequently emerged from the mountains, making it extremely dangerous for mortals.

Fang Yu flew over a mountain peak, and the view ahead opened wide. A vast immortal city came into sight.

The city stretched as far as the eye could see, disappearing into the clouds and mist. Streaks of light in every color could be seen flying out from time to time, along with enormous flying boats coming and going.

As Fang Yu flew closer, a tremendous pressure made him lower his altitude involuntarily and head toward the main gate.

"This should be Mosquito Immortal City's legendary peak third-tier grand formation, which can briefly withstand a Nascent Soul cultivator."

Such a grand formation could already draw upon the earth's veins and merge directly with a Spirit Vein, making it immensely powerful. Breaking through it from outside was difficult unless the Spirit Vein was exhausted, and this was also Mosquito Immortal City's greatest safeguard in establishing itself here.

Fang Yu soon arrived near the main gate. The permitted flying altitude here was less than a hundred meters, just enough to land in the enormous city gate plaza.

Many cultivators were lined up in the plaza, waiting to enter the city. Fang Yu chose a line, and soon it was his turn.

"Fellow Daoist, what should I call you?"

In answer to the gate guard's question, Fang Yu gave his new stage name without hesitation. "I am Lü Bu."

"The entry fee is one Spirit Stone. You may stay in the city for seven days. Once the time is up, if you have no fixed residence, you'll be expelled from the city!"

As he spoke, the guard handed Fang Yu a jade token.

"Many thanks!"

Fang Yu took it and passed through the massive city gate into the city.