Several Households Battle, Xiangning Obtains a Treasure

The newcomer was a tall man, wearing a bear-demon leather coat, with a weathered yet handsome face.

His expression was hostile as he warned, "I am Ye Qin of the Ye Household. If you insist on coveting Emerald Screen Mountain, my Ye Household will show no mercy!"

Ye Qin's spiritual aura was revealed, indicating Foundation Establishment Middle Stage level, surpassing even Sun Gui of Fortune Star Market. He was probably not far from reaching the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Zhou Ning was utterly bewildered. "I'm doing just fine in Little Willow Marsh, with the Spring of the Spirit Eye by my side. Why would I deign to look down on your lousy second-tier Spirit Vein?"

Zhou Ning is now a prominent Alchemist in the region, a figure of considerable influence, with his own alchemy center and three outstanding subordinates.

His expression was displeased. "I have no interest!"

Ye Qin had heard a little about Zhou Ning's deeds. He had a junior named Ye Menglong, who worked at the Azure Mystic Sect.

He had told him that Zhou Ning had only managed to Foundation Establishment by chance because he had gotten involved with a woman.

Ye Qin was very displeased upon hearing this. He had recently been discovered to have been having an affair with his elder brother's concubine, which forced him to make contributions to the Lineage, otherwise he would have no chance of reaching the Foundation Establishment Late Stage.

Therefore, he felt unbalanced and the visitor was not friendly.

"You'd better do that!" Ye Qin said unhappily. How dare a mere Foundation Establishment Early Stage Rogue Cultivator give him attitude!

If this person weren't a nominal guest elder of the Azure Mystic Sect, he would have slapped him hard across the face!

Zhou Ning didn't bother with it.

"Wait a minute, do you have any True Essence Pill on you?" After Ye Qin was driven away by his elder brother, his spiritual resources were also cut off by the clan elder.

"Business is business," Zhou Ning said, "Five Spirit Stone per bottle."

True Essence Pill are quite difficult to obtain; even for him, the success rate is only around four out of ten. He earns two Spirit Stone for each bottle sold with a heavy heart.

Ye Qin's expression turned ugly. "Five Spirit Stone? How can you sell it for such a high price!"

Zhou Ning said calmly, "The Lei Household destroyed the Jade Countenance Sect, and now they're attacking the Sacred Fire Sect. The price of second-tier pills has gone up everywhere, but mine hasn't."

A bottle of True Essence Pill can increase cultivation speed by about 60%, but it can only last for one month. It costs 60 Spirit Stone a year, which is unaffordable for Foundation Establishment cultivators from ordinary Aristocratic Clan.

Ye Qin looked up and said, "Give me some face, three Spirit Stone, and I'll give you a discount at the Ye Household shop in the future!"

Zhou Ning laughed in exasperation; he had never even been to the Ye Household's shop.

Anyway, this person was arrogant by nature, and he couldn't be bothered to serve him. He said disdainfully, "You're such a pain in the ass. If you can't afford True Essence Pill, then buy Foundation-Fortifying Pill!"

Ye Qin was furious. His Ye Household was Aristocratic Clan of False Core cultivators, and he was even more of False Core seed. When had he ever been humiliated like this by a Rogue Cultivator?

He pointed at Little Willow Marsh: "You'll spend your whole life in this lousy place, won't you? True Essence Pill? They're just for feeding the dogs in my house!"

Zhou Ning could hardly contain himself. He took out a spherical magical Law Artifact, cast a spell, and emitted the same sound as before.

This was something he specially asked Pharmacist Lan to buy after he saw Guo Changying's recording Law Artifact.

Zhou Ning said happily, "I'll definitely go to your Ye Household one day and ask who's taking True Essence Pill."

Ye Qin left with a dark expression.

This young man is a guest elder of the Azure Mystic Sect, and now he has become famous for protecting the Azure Mystic Sect. If he dares to lay a hand on Zhou Ning, the Azure Mystic Sect will probably chop him up and feed him to the dogs.

Zhou Ning landed in the pavilion, where the two women stood neatly side by side.

Jia Tingwan was shocked. "Does their dog eat that well?"

Pharmacist Lan couldn't help but chuckle, "This is the first time I've ever seen someone insult themselves."

"By the way, Senior Zhou, what brings you here?" she asked.

Zhou Ning took out a Storage Bag: "Take this with you to Fortune Star Market and find Sun Gui. Ask him to contact the False Core female cultivator from the Zhao Household and exchange her for a third-tier spirit jade."

The Pharmacist Lan's heart skipped a beat. Were the items in the bag so important? Could they really be exchanged for a third-tier spirit jade?

Immediately, a feeling of gratitude welled up inside her. Zhou Ning trusted her so much; wasn't he afraid she would run away with the belongings?

Zhou Ning said, "There are some life-saving items in the bag. If you encounter danger, don't hesitate to use them."

The Pharmacist Lan accepted the order and went to carry it out.

Two weeks later.

Sun Gui came to Little Willow Marsh and gathered in the pavilion.

He grew a beard. "Alchemist Zhou is amazing! When True Person Yunxiu of the Zhao Household saw the pills you gave him, his expression was priceless; he ate them on the spot!"

As he spoke, he took out a wooden box. Zhou Ning tore off the talisman, revealing a palm-sized jade piece inside. The jade was translucent, and wisps of spiritual mist emanated from it.

"That's right, it's a third-tier spirit jade, but why is there only one?" He asked, puzzled. When the Pharmacist Lan returned and reported that he could exchange it for two pieces.

Sun Gui was slightly ashamed. "True Person Yunxiu said that we can only exchange one piece."

"But when she heard about the Appearance-Preserving Pill, didn't she say she could exchange it for two?" Zhou Ning asked.

Sun Gui sighed and remained silent.

They are False Core True Person, enjoying a lifespan of nearly four hundred years. They are not on the same level as Foundation Establishment cultivators at all.

Moreover, that True Person Yunxiu is a high-level talisman master with a considerable status; otherwise, how could he possess a third-tier spirit jade?

Zhou Ning understood the reason, but he didn't pursue it further; one piece it was, he thought.

He remembered this, and would wait until he was strong enough.

"What are you planning to do with this outfit, Fellow Daoist Sun?" Zhou Ning looked at his martial attire, which exuded the solemn and imposing aura of a scholar-general, a stark contrast to his previous scholarly appearance.

Sun Gui said, "Emerald Screen Mountain is not far from here. Have you heard of it, Alchemist Zhou?"

"Wasn't it taken over by the Ye Household?"

Ye Qin even went to Zhou Ning's house to warn him not to get involved.

Sun Gui looked displeased. "He says it's his Ye Household, but does that mean it's really his Ye Household? That's a second-tier Spirit Vein, and it's said to also produce a small amount of Spirit Stone ore! The Chen Household, the Han Household, the Duan Household, and the Bai Household have all joined the scramble for it."

As for how to snatch it? Well, that's all about skill.

However, the Lei Household is now making moves. Although they are being held back by the Sacred Fire Sect, who knows if they might suddenly send troops to attack Leping Commandery.

Since the various Aristocratic Clan were not willing to mobilize their entire clans, they agreed that each would send one or two cultivators to fight each other, and whoever won would own Emerald Screen Mountain.

Sun Gui was a fierce general sent by the Sun Household, with Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Zhou Ning found it quite interesting and said, "Ye Qin is quite strong, Brother Sun, please be careful."

Sun Gui patted his Storage Bag: "Whether I can win or not is one thing, but I still have all the necessary items to protect myself."

Sun Gui is gone.

Zhou Ning then took out a third-tier spirit jade, summoned the Law Power of [Que Flowing Fire], stripped away the golden energy, and condensed the powerful weapon Jade-Casting True Gold Talisman.

This method truly lives up to its reputation as Secret Method; it can be activated instantly when needed, much faster than talismans.

He pondered, "Although I have now established Immortal Foundation, my foundation is still too weak. It's like having a powerful blank slate all to show for it."

He hasn't mastered a single Movement Method, escape technique, secret technique, Swordsmanship!

When facing an enemy, one simply relies on the uncanny ability to Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils and on the wondrous power of Law Power to carry out the killing.

"Next time, bring another bottle of Ceramic Crystal Sand and ask True Person Lu if he has any powerful Law Technique."

On this day, a small portion of the Jade-Casting True Gold Talisman was successfully refined.

A burly man covered in blood, brandishing a spiked club, came running up from the swamp, shouting, "Alchemist Zhou, save me!"

Zhou Ning put away the spirit jade and flew up. It turned out to be Bai Feihao, the Bai Household cultivator who had attacked Stream Mountain back then.

When Zhou Ning distributed the spoils of war, he gave him more than a dozen Spirit Stone. Thinking about it now, Zhou Ning still felt heartache.

Bai Feihao ran to the front of the island, almost exhausted. Leaning on his spiked club, he roared, "That Ye Qin actually brought a stack of second-tier talismans! He almost beat me to death!"

Zhou Ning glanced at him and saw that his body was covered in hideous wounds, but none of his internal organs had been damaged. He said, "It's alright, he can still be saved."

Bai Feihao breathed a sigh of relief; he had almost thought he was going to die.

Zhou Ning summoned Pharmacist Lan and secretly told her, "She's stupid, but has a lot of money."

The Pharmacist Lan understood, and pretended to administer more than a dozen doses of spirit medicine, then cast more than a dozen healing Law Technique, eventually looking exhausted.

The final charge of two Spirit Stone was well worth it, Bai Feihao thought.

Two days later, Bai Feihao was full of energy again and even caught several spirit fish with his bare hands in the swamp.

After finishing the fish, Bai Feihao set off again to continue representing his Lineage in the competition for Emerald Screen Mountain.

Before leaving, Zhou Ning asked him, "Brother Bai, can you beat Ye Qin?"

Bai Feihao felt a chill run down his spine when he thought of Ye Qin's sharp magical Law Artifact, endless talismans, and insidious and ruthless fighting techniques.

Zhou Ning suddenly asked, "Do you want to become stronger?"

"Who wouldn't want that? The key is that cultivation is a step-by-step process. If I had Ye Qin's cultivation level, what would I have to fear?" Bai Feihao was only considered ordinary in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.

Zhou Ning smiled slightly and immediately took out a crimson pill, "Brother Bai, do you know why I am able to surpass all other cultivators of the same level and even challenge those of higher levels?"

"It was after consuming this Essence Explosion Pill! This substance is refined from numerous spirit medicine such as the Rushing Thunder Flower and the Blazing Flame Ganoderma. After consuming it, one's Law Power surges dramatically in a short period of time, and one's physical strength greatly increases—"

Bai Feihao was immediately tempted. Putting aside everything else, Zhou Ning's consecutive killing of three Foundation Establishment cultivators was the best proof!

How many Spirit Stone?

"Only seven are needed," Zhou Ning said. This was an ancient formula he had found from the He Household's heritage. The refining method was not much different from that of Chen State's pills, and the materials could be gathered in this world. Even if it were exposed, it would not arouse suspicion.

Bai Feihao gasped. "Seven Spirit Stone?"

Zhou Ning tempted, "If you can take over Emerald Screen Mountain for the Lineage, with its second-tier Spirit Vein and small Spirit Stone mine, why worry about this little loss?"

"I'll buy it!" Bai Feihao readily handed over Spirit Stone.

"Oh, by the way, there are some side effects after taking it. Brother Hao can come to Little Willow Marsh for recuperation and to neutralize the drug's toxicity. As long as you come in time, there won't be any harm," Zhou Ning reminded him.

Two days later, at Emerald Screen Mountain, in the canyon.

Sun Gui tapped the token, and countless streams of water gushed forth.

He crushed the talisman, and a flash of spiritual light appeared. The water flowed together and condensed into a giant sword four zhang long.

As soon as the giant sword was formed, it cleaved towards Ye Qin with immense force.

Ye Qin in mid-air, a huge black millstone spinning behind him. He didn't even look at the giant sword, but instead stared at Bai Feihao in front of him.

"You useless piece of trash, you're not even as good as my dog!"

With a wave of his ruler, countless tiny, blade-like shadows rained down on the shirtless Bai Feihao.

Enraged, Bai Feihao swallowed a pill, causing his Law Power to surge. A shield-like aura around him, as if he had taken a powerful tonic, increased in speed, protecting him completely.

Bai Feihao wielded a large club in his right hand and a large axe in his left, and the countless shadowy figures in the sky could not stop him in the slightest!

"What the hell?" Ye Qin's expression changed, and he tried to summon the millstone Law Artifact to resist.

However, the giant water sword was already slashing down from behind. Ye Qin's expression changed drastically. He crushed the talisman and moved sideways to escape.

"Well done!" Sun Gui Guishui moved in response, appearing beside him and suddenly slashing out with his long spear.

Ye Qin felt a chill run down his spine as the long spear grazed his head, slicing him into a receding hairline.

Enraged, Ye Qin pulled out a talisman that gleamed with gold and was engraved with a flag pattern.

Sun Gui's expression changed, filled with surprise and doubt. "Talisman Treasure?"

Seven days later.

Bai Feihao returned, and with tears in his eyes, paid three Spirit Stone to have Pharmacist Lan treat him.

Meanwhile, Sun Gui secretly bought a Essence Explosion Pill.

For some time afterward, the Han Household, Chen Household, and Duan Household took turns buying the Essence Explosion Pill, and then Pharmacist Lan would treat them.

The Chen Household cultivator tried to save Spirit Stone by finding another pharmacist, but he almost died from the illness. He came back crying and begging for help, and Pharmacist Lan, following Zhou Ning's instructions, charged him two extra Spirit Stone.

In the end, even Ye Qin couldn't hold on any longer and humbled himself to come and buy medicine.

The fight lasted three months without a clear winner, but Zhou Ning earned over two hundred Spirit Stone in the process.

After several families tallied it up, they realized they had spent countless amounts of talismans, magical Law Artifact, Spirit Stone, and were practically losing money hand over fist.

Finally, the Azure Mystic Sect could no longer stand by and watch, so they sent an envoy to order the various factions to cease hostilities and jointly mine Spirit Stone. As for the Spirit Vein dojo, it was divided into seven cave abode, which were rented out to the public, with each cave abode receiving five Spirit Stone per year.

In no time, numerous Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivator flocked to the area, and as expected, Zhou Ning would gain many more neighbors.

At this point, several parties announced a ceasefire.

The envoy was none other than Guo Changying, who "casually" passed by Little Willow Marsh on her last day.

"Huh, this place—" Guo Changying exclaimed in surprise. The weeping willows, the shallows, the silver-scaled spirit fish—everything was just as it had always been, except that the Spiritual Qi was much stronger.

It's much thicker now.

Zhou Ning thought to himself, "You haven't been to my room yet, otherwise I'll show you what the Spring of the Spirit Eye is all about."

He said, "The formation master from the Su Household is very skilled."

Guo Changying remained noncommittal.

Zhou Ning took out a Storage Bag: "Please trouble Miss Guo to give this to Gu Xiangning."

"Hmph, are you trying to make me run errands?" Guo Changying had a blood feud with him, how could she—

Fifteen minutes later, she still accepted the Storage Bag: "I'm telling you, this is the only time!"

She bit into a fruit, carried the Canglang Spear on her back, and disappeared into the horizon.

Azure Mystic Sect, Broad Guest Peak, a small peak of the second-order Spirit Vein.

After becoming Foundation Establishment cultivator, Fang Tianyu, True Disciple, understood the importance of Cultivation Resources even more.

Even with the sect's subsidies and his own talisman-carving skills, he still couldn't make ends meet and worried every day about how to get Spirit Stone.

Even so, Fang Tianyu often invited friends from within the sect to small gatherings, where he would entertain them with spiritual fruits and delicacies.

He did not neglect his fellow Qi Refining who had previously cultivated Qi, many of whom had participated in the Azure Ruins Secret Realm and possessed extraordinary potential; who knows, one of them might suddenly succeed in Foundation Establishment.

Of course, he didn't have that much patience for fellow cultivators who failed to Foundation Establishment. Their status and position were different; they were from different worlds.

Ye Menglong was one of them. He had failed to Foundation Establishment and wasted a Foundation Establishment Pill. At this moment, he found the loud conversations of the crowd particularly grating.

The closer to the sect, the fiercer the competition and the stricter the hierarchy.

Fang Tianyu commented, "The Sacred Fire Sect is an old and established sect, with strength comparable to one of our sect's major peaks. The Lei Household is being far too arrogant."

A thin, young man said, "The Lei Household dares to betray my sect! Do they really think Myriad Peace Valley will give them the fortuitous opportunity to Nascent Soul Formation? They're nothing more than useful tools; they're courting their own destruction!"

This person's name is Wei Hui, Foundation Establishment cultivator, and a new friend that Fang Tianyu made after Foundation Establishment.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators expressed their opinions, while the Qi Refining cultivators remained silent.

Young Master Luo, who participated in the entrance selection with Zhou Ning back then, was dressed in fine clothes. He did not participate in the Azure Ruins Secret Realm, so he did not have any Foundation Establishment materials.

He wanted to chime in and befriend Shangxiu.

Suddenly, a female Foundation Establishment cultivator asked, "Junior Sister Xiangning, I heard that Zhou Ning successfully established his Foundation Establishment, even using the Foundation Establishment Foundation Establishment you provided. How come he hasn't given you a reply after all this time?"

Upon hearing this, Young Master Luo's expression changed. If he were given this Foundation Establishment material—

Everyone turned to look at the woman in the corner.

Gu Xiangning was playing with her long hair, her slender white fingers twirling around. She pursed her lips, and a clear, melodious voice floated out. "Why is Senior Sister concerned about matters outside the sect? Did you hear some rumors somewhere?"

Cheng Min smiled faintly, saying kindly, "Isn't your senior sister just afraid you'll be scammed?"

Young Master Luo chuckled dryly, "That's right, I've heard that there's a female disciple on Azure Luan Peak— "

Before she could finish speaking, the clouds parted, revealing a dashing figure in leather armor. Guo Changying, carrying a gun, called out, "Which one of you is Gu Xiangning?"