Drawing Blood from the Divine Bird's Eyes

At this point, the matter is quite clear.

Incense Valley believes that with the help of another master who cultivates fire-based techniques, they will have a chance to bring that cave dwelling into reality.

"Good."

Chu Tianshu readily agreed, "I can try to lend a hand."

Shangguan Yunyan looked surprised; she never expected him to agree so readily.

"Fellow Daoist Chu, this matter concerns retrieving treasure, not the peril of our sect requiring righteous friendship and the assistance of fellow Daoists."

"Whenever we're going to retrieve treasure, we should discuss how the treasure will be distributed beforehand."

Shangguan Yunyan explained carefully, "For example, before taking the treasure, my Incense Valley treasury will provide a reward. If an agreement can be reached, you will not be able to take any more treasures from the cave afterward."

"Or, we can agree not to take payment beforehand, but to guess which of the three categories of treasures—cultivation techniques, spiritual herbs, or magical artifacts—are in the cave, and how each category should be distributed. We can then establish a contract, and afterwards everyone can share the treasures in the cave according to the contract to avoid any disputes."

The first method is the most reliable; no matter what's inside the cave, those who help will receive a guaranteed reward.

The latter method is riskier; it may offer higher returns, but it may also yield lower returns.

"That's simple. If it's a cultivation technique, we can all study and comprehend it together. If it's a spiritual medicine, we'll split it 50/50. If it's a magical artifact, I need to borrow it for a while."

11

Chu Tianshu spoke slowly but clearly, explaining the matter in just a few words, his tone resolute.

Even the divine eagle couldn't help but look up, its gaze filled with complex emotions.

It should be understood that even within the Incense Valley, due to the large number of disciples and the closeness or distance between them, different factions are bound to emerge.

Over the past few centuries, Incense Valley has acquired several small spaces, but before retrieving them, it always observes them for a long time using the Mysterious Fire Mirror.

Based on the building's exterior and spatial environment, it's more likely that the type of treasure inside can be guessed.

Then everyone started haggling over the contract, increasing their demands on each other.

For example, when it comes to sharing practice methods, should everyone look through them at the same time, or should one group look at them first, and then another group look at them?

It seems fairest to review them all at the same time, and there is no objection to this.

But some people always feel that it's fairer to let themselves be the first to see, and that other factions should be ranked after their own.

The final contract contained many additional requirements that I couldn't have come up with even if I racked my brains.

When the moment comes, everyone is scrambling and arguing, and inspiration strikes, with all sorts of nonsense being thrown out.

"If it's a magical artifact—"

Shangguan Yunyan hesitated and said, "Just for one trip?"

Chu Tianshu laughed and said, "Oh? Judging from your tone, it seems that based on your observations and deductions, there's a high possibility that there's a powerful magical artifact inside?"

Shangguan Yunyan quickly composed herself, realizing that her fluctuating emotions had given her away, which was a major taboo in negotiations.

But when he looked at the True Fire Divine Eagle again, the eagle hadn't warned him at all.

The Valley Master is always extremely meticulous about the treasure-hunting contract, so why isn't he offering any opinions?

I said I'd borrow it for one trip, and I mean I'll only borrow it for one trip.

Chu Tianshu pondered for a moment, "But if there is a cultivation technique, I want the Heavenly Wolf Sect, Wuchen, Yuchan to also be able to copy and read it."

Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this.

High Person Jade Toad quickly replied, "I cannot accept rewards without merit."

Yue Gude said, "That cave has some connection with the Qingyun Sect, so it's fine for Wuchen to cultivate there, but our Heavenly Wolf Sect..."

Chu Tianshu raised his hand, stopping everyone from speaking.

"We let Wuchen see it because the Qingyun Sect's martial arts are connected to that cave."

"The purpose of showing this to you two families is to leverage your reputation accumulated over the years and your experience in teaching disciples. In the future, when you recruit Rogue Cultivator and take on disciples, you can educate suitable individuals and spread the cultivation technique more widely."

Advanced techniques are dangerous knowledge and should not be spread indiscriminately.

But it should not be monopolized by any one company.

As long as there is no monopoly, there will always be competition, and companies will always make concessions to the public in order to gain support, compete for talent, strengthen their own foundation, and try to surpass others.

However, no trend can be established overnight.

This trip to retrieve the treasure from the cave and share the cultivation techniques, if successful, would set an excellent example.

Shangguan Yunyan pondered for a long time, staring at the divine eagle.

The divine eagle finally nodded, paused briefly, and then let out three soft cries.

"Then it's settled."

Shangguan Yunyan cupped her hands and said, "Fellow Daoist Chu's magnanimity is admirable. Sharing your cultivation technique is truly a blessing for future generations."

"If you only borrow that magical artifact once, it would be too much for us to bear."

"The Valley Master said that you may borrow it three times, and if you have any needs, Incense Valley will certainly not refuse."

Chu Tianshu smiled.

He successfully underwent Returning Light and Rebirth, greatly increasing his strength.

However, in this world, various sects have developed numerous formations, and their strongholds are especially well-defended.

Unless they are ruthlessly outmaneuvered like Tianyin Temple, as long as they hold their ground, they will become even more difficult to deal with.

Chu Tianshu asked himself if he was confident he could break into the Demonic Sect Sect's lair.

This time, I'll do Incense Valley Incense Valley a favor and free up their manpower so we can invite them to join us in attacking the Demonic Sect.

With this, forming a righteous alliance, and borrowing another powerful magic weapon, Chu Tianshu felt much more at ease.

However, if Chu Tianshu could truly achieve a great victory over the Demonic Sect Fortune Bar, he would likely accumulate enough Qi to return home.

If that magical artifact is truly powerful, Chu Tianshu doesn't have enough remaining Fortune to take it with him anyway.

That's why there's the saying "borrow only once".

"Take this."

Chu Tianshu stretched out his right hand and twisted his thumb, index finger, and middle finger together. More than a dozen silk threads formed between his fingertips and stretched straight forward.

He now has complete control over various vital energies, and can even blend colors to create black.

The seven colors of light can combine to form white.

These dozen or so white silk threads were stiff as needles, thin at the front and thick at the back.

When Chu Tianshu broke them, each piece was about three inches long.

"There's no time to lose. I'll head to Incense Valley now. You all stay at the Heavenly Wolf Sect for now."

"These needles are made from my own blood and energy, and they are connected to me. If I want to call you, you can know my location by looking at the direction of the needle tips."

Shangguan Yunyan received a needle and asked in surprise, "I'm staying at the Heavenly Wolf Sect too?"

"The Master of the Hall of Longevity is highly skilled in divination. Now that I have left more traces in this world, I fear that the difficulty of my calculations will decrease. Therefore, I must act quickly and steadily in everything I do, so that they cannot find any flaws."

Chu Tianshu laughed, "I'll go to Incense Valley alone, that'll be fast enough. You'll all be gathered at the Heavenly Wolf Sect, that'll be safe enough."

"If things go well, we can all gather together again, and regardless of whether he still has ulterior motives, we can launch a full-scale counterattack!"

His words stirred a warm feeling in everyone's hearts.

The Demonic Sect's Wilderness Sacred Temple has been located in the Great Marsh Oasis since its founding by the first patriarch, connected to the earth's energy, and has never moved.

Even though the Demonic Sect sect was embroiled in fierce internal strife and split several times, the righteous immortal sects never launched a large-scale attack on that place.

Now that Tianyin Temple has been destroyed, at a time when the righteous path is most shaken, Chu Tianshu actually uttered words like "counterattack."

His performance on the battlefield and his breakthroughs in the valleys made people feel that following him was indeed a viable option.

Even a seasoned veteran like Yue Gude found his breathing a little heavier at this moment.

"Then I wish Fellow Daoist Chu every success."

Yue Gude led the group in bowing respectfully, their expressions solemn.

Shangguan Yunyan suddenly thought of something, "Fellow Daoist Chu, do you know where Incense Valley is?"

Chu Tianshu looked at the divine eagle and smiled slightly.

He spread his right index and middle fingers and pressed them lightly and quickly above the eagle's eyes.

The True Fire Divine Eagle felt its vision go completely black, then a slight coolness washed over it. Before the nictitating membrane in the raptor's eye could even blink, its vision returned to normal.

Chu Tianshu looked at his two fingers, each with a drop of blood on its tip.

Shangguan Yunyan hissed and took half a step back.

Others might not be able to tell, but Shangguan Yunyan understood perfectly well that it was the blood that the Valley Master had touched in the eyes of the True Fire Divine Eagle when he cast the Empathic Blood Curse.

But that blood should have already dissolved into the blood energy in the eyes of the True Fire Divine Eagle.

Chu Tianshu was able to extract it precisely.

"I possess the magic of tracking with a divine needle; these two drops of blood are sufficient."