"You have a map of Si State?"
Yang An turned to look at the woman.
"I do! But it’s at my ho. This junior begs you, Elder, to escort ho. I will present you with the map of Si State then. Please, Elder, save ."
The woman seed to have summoned all her courage to speak, her words no longer fumbling.
The map wasn’t on her person. The killing intent that had just risen in Yang An’s heart imdiately vanished.
If she had possessed the map and tried to use it to threaten him, he wouldn’t have minded killing her for her belongings.
There are two ways to ask for help: a transaction or a threat.
The woman’s subsequent tone was polite, even pleading. She had clearly chosen the first option.
But Yang An didn’t trust her.
"It’s just a map. Why should I go to the trouble of taking you ho? As long as I can find soone else, I can get a map from them."
That was just one reason.
Since this woman had been abducted by other Cultivators and brought here, she must have gotten into so kind of trouble. In truth, Yang An didn’t want to get involved in such ssy affairs.
"Elder, there’s sothing you may not know. The Black Mountain Plateau spans half of Si State and stretches for a thousand li.
A great war once took place here, leaving the land desolate and sparsely populated. It’s also crawling with Demon Fiends. If you hope to run into anyone else, Elder, I’m afraid it will take a very long ti."
"If you can save my life, Elder, I will offer you more than just the map. My family also has so Spiritual Objects that I can give you."
At this, the woman seed to rember sothing. She pulled out a leather Storage Pouch, then looked at Yang An with so apprehension.
"This junior has so Spiritual Objects here. I can give them to you first. Please, Elder, save ."
Hearing her words, Yang An fell into thought.
’If what this woman says is true, it’ll be difficult to find anyone else. It would really delay my return to the sect.’
He glanced at the Storage Pouch she was holding out and spoke cautiously.
"Open it. Take everything out."
The woman understood what he ant. She imdiately obeyed, taking everything out of the Storage Pouch and dumping it all on the ground.
It was a miscellaneous jumble, but most of it consisted of colorful stones.
Yang An had only given them a casual glance, but his gaze froze when he saw several black stones among the pile.
’Pressure Relief Stones?!’
Those black stones were remarkably similar to the three at Beast Essence Stones he had. There was a high chance they were Pressure Relief Stones.
"What are these?"
Yang An asked nonchalantly, deliberately looking at the colorful stones on the ground.
"These are all Spiritual Objects, also known as Spirit Stones.
The red ones are Gathering Fla Stones, which can be used to preserve embers. The blue ones are River Stones, mainly for carrying large amounts of water. The black ones are Pressure Relief Stones. They’re generally used in Sealing Techniques and can preserve corpses, preventing them from decaying. And the white ones..."
The woman seed very familiar with these stones, rattling off their nas. Seeing Yang An looking at her, she quickly explained.
"The Black Mountain Plateau is rich in ores. This junior’s family mines them here."
Yang An nodded. ’They really are Pressure Relief Stones.’
He had been searching for Pressure Relief Stones for a while without any luck. To think he’d stumble upon them here.
"I’m very interested in these black stones. If I agree to take you ho, how many can you give ?"
’Since it’s a transaction, we’ll do it like one. Settle the paynt first.’
Finding Pressure Relief Stones here was an opportunity Yang An couldn’t miss. It could affect every single one of his future battles.
With Pressure Relief Stones, he could find living creatures, use the Three Vein Beast Transformation Technique to seal them inside, and provide himself with a continuous supply of Mana.
His high Mana consumption was one of his current weaknesses. Having Pressure Relief Stones would be a huge improvent.
"If you only want Pressure Relief Stones, Elder, this junior can give you fifty as a reward."
The woman said slowly. She could tell Yang An was tempted, so she was no longer as fearful or worried as before.
To her, although fifty Pressure Relief Stones were nearly two months’ worth of output from Black River Valley, it was nothing compared to her own safety.
In the end, Yang An agreed. He decided to escort the woman, both for the map of Si State and, more importantly, for the Pressure Relief Stones.
More importantly, now that he knew Pressure Relief Stones could be found here, he considered this a good deed that could lead to future opportunities. He might co back one day.
He learned from the woman that her na was Hei Lanzi, a sowhat strange na.
Black River Valley was two hundred li from their location. Along the way, Yang An indeed saw no signs of any other people, though he did run into so Demon Fiends.
Fortunately, they were all weak, low-level Demon Fiends. The strongest among them was only at the Early Stage Primordial Feeding Realm.
The mont his Buddha’s Radiant Wheel appeared, they were all turned into minceat, which in turn provided Yang An with a good amount of blood and flesh essence.
Nearly two hours later, they finally arrived at Black River Valley. Hei Lanzi kept her promise, giving Yang An the map and the Pressure Relief Stones, along with a series of polite thanks.
However, just before he left, Yang An saw the expressions on so of Hei Lanzi’s family mbers as they looked at him, and he instantly guessed what had happened.
But it had nothing to do with him. Having gotten what he ca for, Yang An quickly left the place called Black River Valley and headed in the direction of Han State, as indicated on the map.
After more than two days of travel, Yang An finally made his way out of the Black Mountain Plateau. He crossed mountains and ridges and eventually returned to Corpse Saliva Valley.
He now had nine Beast Transformation Essence Stones. Besides his original three, the other six were created on his way back. He had encountered so Demon Fiends and used the Three Vein Beast Transformation Technique to seal them inside Pressure Relief Stones.
With the Pressure Relief Stones, he wouldn’t have to worry about Mana consumption for a while.
Gazing at the bleak and desolate Corpse Saliva Valley, shrouded in a blood-red mist that never dispersed, it felt as though he had been away for a long ti. Yang An’s breathing grew a little ragged.
He took a deep breath and flew to the valley entrance.
His Sixth Senior Brother’s coffin was still there at the entrance, unmoved by even an inch.
But as Yang An passed by this ti, the voice of his Sixth Senior Brother, Jin Tong, once again ca from inside the coffin.
"Junior Brother... have you heard of the Great Virtue Temple? The people from the Great Virtue Temple are coming... We’re all going to die!"
"..."
Yang An’s steps faltered.
’Great Virtue Temple?’
The na was familiar.
The old Monk killed by Elder Miao Ye in the Ancient Collection, from whom Yang An had obtained the Great Brightness Buddha Golden Zen Spell, was from the Great Virtue Temple.
He made a ntal note of it but paid it no mind, his expression unchanging as he entered Corpse Saliva Valley. He walked deeper inside and soon disappeared into the blood mist.
"Everyone will die... Everyone will die..."
From within the coffin, the voice gradually faded until it was gone.
Inside the Life Crane Sect, Yang An returned to his residence and imdiately sent Fugui to fetch his Second Senior Brother, Fu Ming.
After a good while, Fu Ming arrived, hobbling, and looked at Yang An with a surprised expression.
"Master returned several days ago and said that you had perished outside, Junior Brother. I never expected you to still be alive."
"..."
’That old coot!’
Yang An cursed inwardly. ’So the old coot really did want to abandon in the Ancient Collection and leave for dead.’
But his master never expected that he would not only survive but also return unscathed.
"Senior Brother, I wish to see Master."
He got straight to the point, stating his purpose. He was desperate to get his chance to use the Visualization Earth Spirit Stele to obtain the subsequent Cultivation Technique and couldn’t delay any longer.
"I will take you to Heavenly Respect Pavilion, Junior Brother."
Fu Ming didn’t say much, just coughed and nodded.
A quarter of an hour later, Yang An arrived outside Heavenly Respect Pavilion and requested an audience with Elder Life Crane. He was promptly summoned inside.
Seeing Yang An back at the Life Crane Sect, safe and sound, He Tou stretched out its long neck and circled him, studying him incessantly as if trying to see sothing on him.
"Little disciple, what fortunate encounter did you have?"
It looked at Yang An with a smile.
"Replying to Master, your disciple does not know. I waited in the Ancient Collection as you instructed, Master. But then, sohow, I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I was already outside the Ancient Collection, so I hurried back."
He couldn’t speak about what happened in the Ancient Collection; he had promised Elder Miao Ye.
Even if he hadn’t promised anyone, Yang An wouldn’t have said anything, lest he reveal too much about himself. So he ca up with an excuse.
"Hehehe, you’re lying!"
He Tou gave Yang An a sinister smile, but it quickly pulled its head back, seemingly not intending to press the matter.
Yang An’s expression remained unchanged, though his heart was pounding. Seeing that He Tou didn’t ask any more questions, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Since you have returned, you will be given your chance with the Contemplation Stele. Your Master always keeps his word."
Elder Life Crane sat in his chair and spoke calmly. He showed no emotional fluctuation at Yang An’s safe return, not even surprise.
"You only have two hours. After that, you will be expelled."
"Thank you, Master."
Yang An bowed, his face full of gratitude.
But when he looked up, a massive, grotesque mouth suddenly appeared before him. Before he could react...
The next mont, Yang An’s vision went black.
...
BUZZ!
In the darkness, an endless, blinding light erupted from Yang An’s body, but by the ti he realized what was happening, it was too late.
He Tou’s speed was simply too fast for him to perceive.
But after activating all his Techniques, Yang An didn’t sense any danger, nor was there any movent around him.
A good while passed, and still, nothing happened. The blinding light gradually faded, leaving only a single, solemn, and holy ray.
The Bone Relic Buddha Radiance manifested behind Yang An, illuminating his surroundings. But surprisingly, the Buddha’s Radiance couldn’t extend very far, as he was completely enveloped in endless darkness.
Yang An looked around in confusion. He rembered being swallowed by He Tou just a mont ago, but the scene before him was not one of guts and flesh.
With him at the center, it was as if he were standing in a profound darkness. The surface beneath his feet reflected his image like a mirror, but all around him was nothing but darkness. He couldn’t see or hear a thing.
’Thinking back to what the old coot said about two hours, it’s unlikely He Tou actually ate . It’s more likely I’ve been transported to where the Earth Spirit Stele is.’
’But... where is the Magic Stele?’
He looked at the surrounding darkness. There was nothing else.
’I only have two hours. Don’t tell I have to find the Earth Spirit Stele first?’
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