Chapter 341 The Powerful Du Huaiyuan
Ji An shook his head and said:
"This matter is quite significant, and the sect will definitely take a huge cut."
What happens to the abandoned family members if it's discovered that the fleeing family has done something shady?
The sect will not tolerate any treacherous behavior from these families; such incidents always result in a bloody massacre.
A sect that grows from a weak and vulnerable place into a behemoth must have gone through countless mergers and battles to reach its current status. How could it not have blood on its hands?
"It is said that those who remain are all mediocre early-stage Qi Refining cultivators and mortals. The cultivators have been sent to the mines to work as miners, and they can forget about coming out alive in this lifetime."
As for ordinary people, their lives will not be in danger; they will simply be dispersed and distributed to towns directly under the sect's jurisdiction.
Many cultivators from sects with poor aptitude and short lifespans choose to move to these towns with their families.
The Taoist academies in these immortal cities are a very important source of disciples for sects.
Liu Yu paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:
"I'm quite curious, what exactly did these families do?"
Since establishing its dominance in the Western Continent, the sect has not been strict with external rules, and has even adopted a somewhat lenient approach.
Even if those families commit serious mistakes and infringe upon the interests of the sect, they are only punished with more resources.
These people would rather abandon their foundation and flee, which he considered a heinous crime of slaughtering their clan and exterminating their families.
Ji An took out some dried mulberries from his storage bag and said:
"The sect will handle it; we don't need to worry about it."
By the way, does Senior Brother know that the Chen family of Puyun Mountain is on the escape list?
When he took up residence at Crimson Flame Peak, he was attacked, and it is highly likely that the Chen family was behind it.
True independent cultivators wouldn't dare to attack and kill sect disciples within the sect's territory; Chen had a motive for doing so.
After breaking through to the Chaoyuan stage, he wanted to find an opportunity to investigate what happened back then.
He wasn't a demonic cultivator after all, and he couldn't do something like arresting someone and searching their soul based on mere suspicion.
"Yes, the Chen family has two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and several disciples who remain in the sect. Their family was the first to be discovered to have lost high-ranking members."
Liu Yu raised an eyebrow slightly and lowered his voice:
"Junior brother specifically asked Chen Shi, is there some kind of grudge between you and them?"
This junior brother always stayed quietly on Crimson Flame Peak and didn't have much contact with his fellow disciples. He couldn't imagine how the two could have any connection.
"I guess so. Before I chose Crimson Flame Peak as my cave dwelling, it was rented by the Chen family."
The disciples of the Chen family even approached me at the time, saying they were willing to pay a price to make me give up choosing Crimson Flame Peak as my cave dwelling.
I did not agree, and the matter ended unhappily, leading to several frictions later on.
It's said that Crimson Flame Peak provides the Chen family with a considerable income every year; this is probably the reason.
Ji An concealed the fact that Crimson Flame Peak had erupted, and only gave a brief account.
Liu Yu felt that Chen must have pressured his junior brother back then, otherwise the other party wouldn't still hold a grudge.
“Cutting off someone’s source of income will naturally provoke resentment. Even though Crimson Flame Peak was originally the territory of a sect, these families will selectively forget about it.”
I'll go to Yingri Peak and contact Brother Li Yuangong through the Enforcement Hall to ask him to pay close attention to the Chen family's situation.
I will let you know immediately if there is any news.
Ji An cupped his hands and smiled:
"Thank you, senior brother."
"It was just a small favor."
Liu Yu waved his hand and said again:
"I have a question for you. How long did it take you, Junior Brother, to establish your Wood Element Divine Palace?"
He wanted to use this as a basis to estimate the time it would take him to establish the Fire Palace.
"About three months."
Liu Yu nodded slightly and said:
"I can only receive three Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pills from the sect every three years. Even with the two extra pills I exchange, the shortage of pills is still enormous."
I need my junior brother's support to provide some mid-grade second-tier fire elemental spirit fruits. I also have three demon beast inner cores, six beast hides, and some demon beast essence blood, all of which are materials for the late Foundation Establishment stage.
In addition, there are two three-foot square pieces of Chaoyuan-stage demon beast hide, several bottles of essence blood, and some fire-element demon beast fur that can be used to make talisman brushes. These materials can be exchanged with my junior brother.
The growth of high-grade spiritual herbs takes time, and the spiritual farmers in the sect are not very powerful, so the supply of pills is limited.
He heard from his senior brother Jia Yu that most of the extra pills he exchanged came from transactions with Falling Maple Valley.
Ji An readily agreed, saying:
"Okay, we'll use the exchange rate from the Treasure Pavilion as the basis, how about that?"
After the transaction is completed, I will give my senior brother two more spirit fruits.
After breaking through to the Chaoyuan stage, he began to stockpile mid-grade fire-elemental spiritual fruits, with his cave's secret storehouse containing as many as four hundred spiritual peaches and eight hundred spiritual apricots.
As new mid-grade spiritual plants are continuously cultivated, it wouldn't hurt to exchange some for them.
"Thank you very much, junior brother, you've helped me a lot."
Liu Yu smiled. Without the other party's help, he could only accumulate resources and wait for the arrival of the merchant ships of the cultivators from the Central Continent.
He took out animal hides and other resources and placed them on the table.
Ji An took out the exchange jade slip from the treasure pavilion and placed it on his forehead to appraise the value of the supplies:
"A piece of animal hide from the Chaoyuan period, in perfect condition, can be cut into forty talismans, which can be exchanged for four thousand minor merits."
"A piece of animal hide from the Chaoyuan period, quite damaged, can be cut into thirty talismans, which can be exchanged for three thousand minor merits."
All materials can be exchanged for a total of 9,600 minor merit points.
He handed over the jade slip, saying, "Senior brother, please check it again to see if anything is missing."
Liu Yu didn't stand on ceremony and picked up the jade slip to check it:
"no problem."
Ji An scratched his head and said:
"I will deliver the spiritual fruit to my senior brother over three years."
He had never noticed before that the hides of animals from the Chaoyuan stage were so expensive. If he exchanged all his spiritual fruits for the other party, he would be short of money for himself.
"Of course, I actually benefited from it."
Apart from Crimson Flame Peak, nowhere else can meet my requirements.
"I'm glad you understand, Senior Brother. Each mid-grade spirit peach is worth twenty-five small merits, and each mid-grade spirit apricot is worth five small merits. If we calculate the ratio equally, I need to give you three hundred and twenty of each."
Ji An walked to the window, estimated the position of the sun, and said:
"We can leave in half an hour. Then we will return to Crimson Flame Peak together and give the first batch of spiritual fruits to our senior brother."
Liu Yu's smile became even gentler, and he said:
"That's excellent."
The two ate and chatted, and before they knew it, the light had dimmed.
Liu Yu stepped out of the teleportation array and exclaimed:
"The sect really values its junior brother. It's so convenient after they built the teleportation array."
Ji An activated the sealing array with a hand seal and smiled:
"This is only suitable for cultivators like me who spend most of their time in the sect and rarely go out. Senior brother, please!"
He lives a very sedentary life, going back and forth between home and work every day.
The main reason is that he can meet his cultivation needs by quietly staying at home and doing planting, without having to go out to seek opportunities.
After welcoming the person into the living room, Ji An said:
"Senior brother, please wait a moment while I go to my cave to fetch the spiritual fruit."
He walked out of the room and gave the instructions:
"Songtao, tell Cuihua to prepare dinner tonight. My senior brother and I want to have a few drinks, and some bamboo tube wine."
Liu Yu has not yet opened his divine palace, so he cannot abstain from grains and still needs to eat food.
"Understood," Wei Songtao said, jogging away.
Ji An rode a cloud to the cave, took out enough spiritual fruits, and returned to the living room.
He placed the storage bag on the table and pushed it in front of Liu Yu, saying:
"122 mid-grade second-tier spirit peaches and spirit apricots. Senior brother, please count them. We will pay you 100 more each year for the next two years."
Shortly after the transaction was completed, Wei Songtao brought out the prepared cold dishes and spirit wine.
The two drank together, reminiscing about the past. The moonlight, like water, shone through the window and blended with the brilliance of the luminous pearl.
The wine glass shimmered, holding half a bright moon.
After the guests and hosts had enjoyed themselves to the fullest, Liu Yu rode away on his fiery golden wheel.
When Ji An returned to his cave, it was nearly midnight. He went to the quiet room, sat cross-legged, and began to refine the spiritual food.
Spiritual energy flowed through the immortal veins, and the Wood Element Divine Palace was as clear as jade. Strands of spiritual liquid flowed into the Fire Element Divine Palace, and its heart emitted a bright light like a furnace fire.
With the support of the Mu family, the speed of cultivation improvement would be much faster, a fact that Ji An deeply felt.
After all the spiritual energy in the food and wine had been refined, he took out a Vermilion Bird Flame Grass Pill.
Nighttime is not suitable for practicing the Fire Palace chapter of the Five Elements Revolving Scripture, but it's a different story if you have elixirs to help you.
The golden veins of the Fire Palace changed from bright to dark, and then gradually brightened again, repeating this cycle repeatedly.
The fire element energy within the elixir was rapidly extracted, causing the core of the divine palace and the heart to beat in sync, continuously growing stronger.
Within the acupoint, two Fire Pathogen seeds shone brightly.
A month has passed.
Du Huaiyuan sped along in the flying shuttle, his hair a mess like a bird's nest, with dark circles under his eyes, but his face was flushed with excitement.
Her eyes sparkled like stars in the sky.
The golden-red misty peaks were right in front of him. He slowed down slightly and saw the golden communication sword, like a swimming fish, nimbly weaving through the mist and entering the Crimson Flame Peak.
The flying shuttle followed closely behind. Du Huaiyuan looked down at the spiritual plant shimmering in the sunlight and exclaimed:
"Every time I come here, I have different feelings. In just a few years, I will be able to brew a mid-grade second-tier spirit peach wine!"
He now realizes how vast the gap can be between cultivators; Junior Brother Ji alone is enough to support a family at the Chaoyuan stage.
Ji An, who was cultivating, sensed the approach of the golden sword that transmitted messages. He slowly stopped his cultivation and checked the information inside.
The golden sword came from Liu Yu, who said that after the sect dug three feet into the ground, they found out the reason why those families had fled.
It turns out that these families had all been involved in abducting rogue cultivators, and judging from the burnt remains unearthed, there were clear signs of bestiality.
Similar discoveries were made not only in the Jinling Sect, but also in the jurisdictions of the other two sects.
The three sect leaders speculated that these families had been unknowingly controlled by the demon cultivators. From the result to the deduction process, many things could be explained logically.
Furthermore, the reason why demonic cultivation techniques have been repeatedly banned but still persist has been found: it's all the work of these demonic cultivators.
The leaders of each sect personally went out to investigate the forces of other families. If everything went smoothly, the problems of demon cultivators and evil cultivators could be basically resolved, and the human race would be stable.
"That's great news."
Ji An said softly, "Once the internal situation is stable, the external threat of the demon calamity will not be so terrible."
The monsters also suffered heavy losses, and it is unlikely that they will be able to cause a major monster disaster again for decades, unless the demon kings are willing to personally intervene and stir up trouble.
However, given the warning of the deaths of demon cultivators at the ninth level of the Golden Core stage, the demon kings also had to think twice.
A pale blue flame shot out from his hand, and the golden communication sword was instantly incinerated.
Just as Ji An was about to continue his cultivation, he inadvertently caught sight of the descending shuttle and the people on it. Seeing that a guest had arrived, he got up and rode a cloud towards the cold pool.
Upon seeing Du Huaiyuan's appearance, a bright smile appeared on his lips, and he cupped his hands in greeting:
"It seems that my senior brother must have brought good news."
"Haha, junior brother's judgment is spot on!"
Du Huaiyuan proudly presented two jars of spirit wine, as if presenting a treasure:
"I have successfully completed the task. The second-grade mid-level spirit wine has been brewed. I took a few sips and felt that the spiritual energy was extremely rich, which was able to quickly restore my mana."
I'm not sure if this will work for cultivators in the Chaoyuan stage; please verify it, junior brother.
Some of these mysteries are beyond the comprehension of cultivators who haven't established their divine palaces. This is why craftsmen like alchemists and brewers need a certain level of cultivation.
"Among the brewers in the sect, Senior Brother is undoubtedly the best!"
At this moment, Zhang Cuihua had already taken out a wine glass and filled it. Just as Ji An raised his glass to drink, he was stopped.
Du Huaiyuan scratched his hair, and said somewhat awkwardly:
"Although I have tried my best to improve the taste, the flavor of the spirit wine is still not satisfactory. Junior brother, you should be prepared."
The Biluo fruit has a strange smell that human cultivators don't like, and it has always been used as food for demon beasts.
Ji An nodded slightly, gazing at the shimmering emerald-green spirit wine in his cup, and took a small sip.
The drink was quite bitter and astringent, reminding him of the Chinese medicine he had to swallow while holding his nose in his previous life.
After swallowing the wine, he sat down cross-legged and began circulating the Five Elements Wheel Scripture in the Wood Palace Chapter. The veins in his liver glowed slightly, and he refined them in the blink of an eye.
Ji An suddenly opened his eyes, used his object manipulation technique to grab the wine jar, tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, as if he were drinking sweet spring water rather than bitter wine.
Du Huaiyuan was even more delighted to see his actions, which showed that wine also had a good effect on cultivators in the Chaoyuan stage.
After refining a jar of spirit wine, Ji An laughed loudly:
"Senior brother, the spirit wine was a great success, the effect is excellent!"
Ever since he heard that Han Yan's research on the elixir formula had been thwarted, he had given up hope that Du Huaiyuan would achieve anything.
That's how things can take a turn; the less you expect, the more likely you are to be pleasantly surprised.
The effect of the spirit wine in restoring his magical power was secondary; he sensed that it actually contained wood element energy!
The wood element energy contained in a jar of spiritual wine is roughly equivalent to 130 to 140 strands of food energy.
Ji An grinned, a hint of bitterness in his eyes:
"If you had developed this spiritual wine ten years earlier, my cultivation level would have improved even faster!"
His master always praised him for his good fortune; he must never have foreseen this situation.
His Wood Element Divine Palace was already perfected, so he no longer had much need for this kind of spiritual wine. Its greatest use was as a pill to quickly replenish his mana.
It's like doing all the work for others in the sect; those fellow disciples who are currently focused on expanding the Mu Mansion are in luck.
Du Huaiyuan chuckled, then quickly patted his chest and said:
"Junior brother, you should speak with a conscience!"
How many years has it been since you commissioned me to brew the spirit wine using Biluo fruit? Less than eight years!
"Why didn't you entrust it to me twenty years in advance?"
Ji An could only smile wryly. It was all a matter of timing and fate. Twenty years earlier, there wouldn't have been a second-tier mid-grade Azure Vine Tree on Crimson Flame Peak! He could only say that his destiny hadn't arrived yet.
(End of this chapter)
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