Both spells in his hands were high-grade techniques. It was said that, when mastered to perfection, they could rival Foundation Establishnt-level spiritual arts. Of course, such claims were better left unheard, anyone who believed them would be a fool. Among the three perfected spells that Wang Yu had mastered, only the Night Concealnt Mantra was a high-grade spell; the rest were mid-grade. Even so, perfecting them had already brought him significant combat support.
If he could add two more high-grade spells, his combat potential would be raised further. However, his spiritual energy reserves would once again beco insufficient.
As for the Idle Slots, two of them had long been occupied by cultivation thods.
Before breaking through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining, there had been a three-and-a-half-year window of ti—perfect for placing spells into Idle Slots for passive cultivation. He had planned this quite realistically.
The current problem was with Xu Jiaojiao. He needed to investigate more details. Otherwise, with the enemy hidden and himself exposed, he would be at a disadvantage.
And then there was Su Qingshan, known for his prowess in spell duels—another major headache.
He considered visiting the Hall of Law Enforcent to see Zhuo Shouqing. Doing so would naturally reveal everything. The price, however, would be having to serve as an "informant." Without a second Xu Family pill shop to act as cover, it would not be a good ti to go.
It was a kind of unspoken collusion between rogues.
Alternatively, he could take on a mission from the Ice and Snow Pavilion, find a Foundation Establishnt deacon to assign him so nial task, and lay low for a year or two. Once his strength advanced further, he wouldn't need to be so cautious.
With that thought, Wang Yu decisively turned back.
Zhao Shang, who was balancing the books, suddenly felt a jolt in his heart. When he looked up and saw Wang Yu’s face, he couldn’t help but give a bitter smile.
"Brother Wang, is there sothing else?"
"Help find a mission with little work and good pay. Preferably sothing like the last one—maintaining Deacon Tantai’s herb garden."
Zhao Shang instantly understood his intent: to avoid trouble.
"Just in ti. Senior Tantai posted another herb garden maintenance task a few days ago. This ti, it’s a one-year assignnt—four hundred contribution points."
Wang Yu raised an eyebrow.
"And yet you charged six hundred? What’s that about?"
They were in the sa boat. Charging high commission fees before the collaboration was one thing, but continuing to take cuts afterward—what was the point of working together, then?
"I really can’t help it."
Zhao Shang spread his hands in a helpless gesture.
"This is Ice and Snow Pavilion's rule. I didn’t skim anything from you. The original pay is one thousand—half goes to the Pavilion, and the rest to the Foundation Establishnt cultivator. I can’t touch a single point!"
Wang Yu stared at him for a while, confird he was telling the truth, then finally nodded.
"New isn’t as good as old, and unfamiliar isn’t as good as familiar—this one will do."
"Here, take it. I won’t see you off."
Like sending off the god of plague, Zhao Shang watched Wang Yu leave, sighing as he resud bookkeeping. It was a tough job that took no less effort than cultivation.
One mistake, and he could trigger a premature explosion—his very life was at stake. So he had no choice but to be ticulous.
………
………
Residence at Evil God District.
Wang Yu was inspecting the two newly acquired high-grade spells.
Ice Coffin Curse and Illusory Step.
Ice Coffin Curse was a binding and offensive spell. It could summon an ice coffin out of thin air around a target, trapping the enemy inside. When cultivated to a high level, it could generate countless ice spikes within the coffin, skewering the enemy into a bloody gourd.
With clever use, it could even serve as a 360-degree impenetrable defense. The ice crystals ford by the spell were incredibly hard—only Foundation Establishnt cultivators could break them.
Illusory Step was a top-grade movent technique, excellent for short-distance dashes and dodges. At its peak, it could create up to nine illusory clones identical to the user, used to confuse the enemy. These illusions would vanish upon taking damage.
When perfected, the clones could withstand a single strike from a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator without disappearing, greatly increasing the spell’s practicality.
Once these two spells were cultivated to perfection, Wang Yu’s actual combat strength would rise to another level. They were well worth the investnt.
After running a few cycles of his cultivation technique, he finally fell asleep in peace.
The next day.
In front of the familiar Tantai Herb Garden, Wang Yu knocked on the inverted bat-shaped copper ring. After passing the entrance inspection, he was allowed inside.
Within the Wind-Piercing Hall, draped with light gauze curtains, Dantai Chan sat leaning on a couch, playing with a jade toad in her hand. When she saw Wang Yu enter, a thoughtful look appeared on her face.
“Yang Yu?”
“Disciple Wang Yu greets Senior Tantai.”
“Oh.”
She didn’t seem embarrassed about calling the wrong na and continued speaking. “Since you’re soone familiar, there’s no need for extra words. Just follow the sa arrangent as last ti.”
“Disciple understands.”
“This ti I need to leave for a while and travel a thousand li away to Tianbao City to attend an auction. I won’t be back for a year. I’ll leave this herb garden in your care.
“If you still need Cold Ice Nine-Leaf Grass, you may take up to three stalks at market price.”
“Many thanks, Senior Tantai.”
Wang Yu felt puzzled. Last ti, Tantai Chan hadn’t explained things so clearly, nor had she offered any such convenience. This ti, her words carried a sense of implication, as if they weren’t really ant for him.
As for the Cold Ice Nine-Leaf Grass, that was one of the main ingredients for the Cold Blood Pill. It was originally a material he had prepared for himself, aiming for supre-grade quality.
He still had two stalks left unused, and with his current plans being postponed, he did not need any more for now.
Though doubts filled his heart, it wasn’t the right ti to ask. After watching Tantai Chan fly off, Wang Yu pulled over a small stool and sat at the doorway.
He waited.
Only half an hour later, the front door was knocked again. This ti, it was an old Foundation Establishnt cultivator. Seeing that the one opening the door was rely an outer sect Qi Refining disciple, he spoke loftily.
“Boy, where has Tantai Steward gone?”
“May I ask Senior’s na?”
The Foundation Establishnt elder frowned and scolded.
“You’ll only answer if I tell you my na? Is that it?”
Wang Yu quickly lowered his head.
“Tantai Elder left orders. I am only following instructions.”
“Such a good little order-follower.” The elder coldly snorted. “This old one is Yang Yunzhi. Speak. Where has Deacon Tantai gone?”
“Tianbao City.”
“Hmph.”
As he left, the old man exerted his aura to pressure Wang Yu, as if to vent his dissatisfaction, then departed.
Adding this question was sothing Wang Yu did on a whim, his purpose being to get a feel for the situation here.
A re Foundation Establishnt pressure was nothing. As long as he did not leave the herb garden, this place was linked to the formation of the Evil God Square, with the core formation set on Evil God Peak. No one could harm him here, so his courage naturally grew.
He noted down the na Yang Yunzhi.
Later that day, Foundation Establishnt cultivators ca one after another, a total of thirteen in all. As for which level of Foundation Establishnt they were at, Wang Yu didn’t know.
But they all had one thing in common, they were first-generation cultivators.
The term first-generation cultivator specifically referred to those grassroots individuals with no background. After ascending to Foundation Establishnt by their own opportunities, a small family would usually rise behind them.
So had just over a dozen people, others over a hundred. These families would continue to grow with the cultivator’s age. When they saw no further hope in their own path to the Dao, they would place all their hopes on the next generation.
They began running around seeking opportunities for their descendants.
Foundation Establishnt Pills were absolutely critical.
So succeeded and gradually evolved into Golden Core families over ti. Others failed and vanished into the vast sea of people, forced to start over.
Among these thirteen, aside from Yang Yunzhi’s overbearing tone and interrogative manner, the others were quite polite when inquiring about Tantai Chan’s whereabouts.
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