Chapter 347 28: Meeting an Old Acquaintance

After several days of travel, Zhu Ju and Dong Yuelan arrived at the Immortal Alliance stronghold.

It was a vast stronghold built among the mountains, containing a bustling city within its walls.

Besides Cultivators, there were also hundreds of thousands of mortals living here. Immortals and mortals coexisted in this place.

"Zhu Ju of the Bright Void Sect, and Dong Yuelan of the Hundred Flowers Sect."

Huang Yunze, a Dao Foundation Cultivator from the Profound Clarity Sect, flew up to greet them.

"With your assistance, we can surely halt the advance of those Demonic Demon People. Please, come in!"

"Fellow Daoist Huang," Dong Yuelan said, clasping her fist in surprise.

"The last time we met was five years ago, wasn't it? I never imagined you would have already advanced to the Late-Stage Dao Foundation."

"Truly worthy of the Profound Clarity Sect..."

"Congratulations!"

Huang Yunze was a Steward Elder of the Profound Clarity Sect. His position in the Sect was not high, but his Cultivation was impressive.

Given his age and Cultivation, he had a real chance of breaking through to the Golden Core Realm.

One could only say, as expected of the Profound Clarity Sect, a top-tier Righteous Immortal Sect. Even a casually encountered member was this formidable.

"Haha..." Huang Yunze laughed heartily.

"Miss Dong, you're too kind. I was fortunate enough to be granted a damaged Demon Core by a sect elder, which is how I managed to advance."

A Demon Core?

Zhu Ju's eyes flickered.

He and Pei Jingque once had the chance to obtain a Demon Core, but unfortunately, they weren't strong enough at the time and failed to secure it.

'If they had succeeded...'

'...Pei Jingque would surely have reached the Late-Stage Dao Foundation by now, perhaps even Dao Foundation Perfection.'

The Profound Clarity Sect had Golden Core and Nascent Soul masters—more than one Golden Core, in fact—so hunting a Tier Three Demon Beast for its Demon Core was not difficult for them.

Meanwhile, Cultivators from other Immortal Sects might go their entire lives without ever seeing what a Tier Three Demon Pill looked like.

This was the disparity.

And as time went on, this gap would only grow wider.

"This way, please!"

After confirming their identities and finding everything in order, Huang Yunze led them inside.

"The situation on the front lines is not good. The Profound Clarity Sect is stretched thin, and the Sect Disciples from all sides are falling back."

"The sectors guarded by the Bright Void Sect and Hundred Flowers Sect have four Dao Foundation cultivators, so there shouldn't be any issues."

"Fellow Daoist," Zhu Ju spoke up, asking:

"What is the current situation?"

"The situation..." Huang Yunze stroked his beard and sighed softly.

"This Demon Dao invasion is primarily led by the Celestial Corpse Sect. Our current intelligence indicates that all four of their Flying Corpses have been deployed. The Netherworld Sect, Blood Demon Sect, and Joyful Sect have each revealed two Golden Core cultivators..."

"In total, twelve Demonic Golden Core masters have appeared on the front lines so far. Every one of them is extraordinarily powerful. What's more, the Six Paths Demon Monarch is hiding somewhere, which is preventing the elders of the Righteous Dao from making any rash moves..."

"The situation is dire!"

Twelve Golden Core masters!

Shock was written all over Zhu Ju's face.

The Demon Dao's strength had grown by leaps and bounds over the years. They could mobilize over a dozen Golden Core masters at a moment's notice.

The number of Golden Core Grandmasters stationed within Dazhou territory was surely even greater.

'It's true what they say... the Dao wanes as the demons' power waxes!'

"Huh?"

Dong Yuelan seemed to have noticed something. She raised an eyebrow and pointed to a long queue down below.

"What are they doing?"

"They..." Huang Yunze's gaze wavered.

"They're from the Star-Picking Tower."

"This stronghold is rich in Fire Phoenix Gold and Earth Flame Iron, producing nearly ten thousand tons annually. The people from the Star-Picking Tower are in charge of purchasing it."

Dong Yuelan nodded in understanding and slowly retracted her gaze.

Among the Righteous Immortal Sects, besides the Profound Clarity Sect and the Celestial Yu Sect, the Star-Picking Tower was the strongest. It was only normal for them to have certain privileges.

After all, the Pavilion Master of Star-Picking Tower, the Star-Picking Ascendant, was one of the three Nascent Soul True Men of the Righteous Dao, and the only Golden Core master to have successfully broken through in the last three hundred years.

"You two."

Huang Yunze led them down to a courtyard.

"You can rest here for the next few days. The people nearby are all fellow Dao Foundation cultivators, so you can exchange Cultivation experiences."

"The stronghold is protected by a Tier Three Array. Even if a Demonic Golden Core master were to attack in person, we have the ability to trap and kill them. You will be safe."

"Mm." Dong Yuelan scanned her surroundings and nodded slowly.

"We appreciate your trouble, Fellow Daoist."

...

After a few more words, Huang Yunze took his leave. Before the two could discuss their next move, there was a knock on the courtyard gate.

CREAK...

Opening the gate revealed a man and a woman.

The man was dressed as a middle-aged scholar, a Jade Pendant at his waist and a folding fan in his hand. He gave the two of them a deep, respectful bow.

"Zheng Xian, the Marquis of the Mountains, greets the two Immortal Masters."

He gestured with his hand.

"This is my sister, Zheng He."

The young woman was about sixteen, with a striking appearance. Her beautiful eyes betrayed a hint of nervousness as she quickly curtsied upon being introduced.

Mortals?

Zhu Ju looked surprised.

The turbid qi in their bodies had not been dispelled; they were mortals who hadn't even become Innate Qi Refiners.

"Marquis of the Mountains?" Dong Yuelan, on the other hand, frowned and reprimanded them sternly.

"What is this nonsense? What are mortals doing here?"

"Well..." Zheng Xian chuckled awkwardly.

"The Immortal Master may not be aware, but this land was originally the Mountain Country. We lived a peaceful life, isolated from the world, until the Immortal Alliance requisitioned it twenty years ago. As nobles of the Mountain Country, we assisted the Immortal Masters by conscripting commoners to excavate mineral veins and set up Arrays."

"In return, we were granted a Cultivation Method. However, my sister and I have mediocre Talent and have made little progress."

"Oh!" Dong Yuelan raised her eyebrows.

"So this place was originally a mortal domain. That makes sense."

The Ten Thousand Mountains were vast, home to scattered Barbarian tribes and mortal kingdoms that built cities for their own protection.

The Mountain Country was likely one such place.

"Young friends."

Zhu Ju took a step forward and spoke slowly.

"Did you need something?"

Compared to Dong Yuelan, who radiated a cold and stern aura, his tone was calm and his attitude gentler. The Zheng siblings couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

"Immortal Master."

Zheng Xian pulled his sister, Zheng He, to her knees and said:

"My sister and I wholeheartedly seek the Dao and wish to become your disciples. We beg you, Immortal Master, to take us away from this place."

"As a show of our sincerity, we wish to present this treasure to you!"

As he spoke, he raised his hands, holding up a glittering golden stone.

"Please, stand up."

Zhu Ju shook his head and waved his sleeve. An Invisible Power lifted the two to their feet. He shook his head again and said:

"I'm afraid I must disappoint you. I have other important business on this trip and cannot take anyone with me, nor do I have any intention of accepting disciples."

"Fire Phoenix Gold!" Dong Yuelan's expression changed, however, and she reached out, pulling the glittering stone into her hand.

"And it's Top-Grade Fire Phoenix Gold!"

Fire Phoenix Gold was a relatively rare type of Heavenly and Earthly Treasure, and the top-grade variety was a material used for refining Magical Treasures.

Its value was considerable.

"Good stuff, but there's too little of it. It would only be useful if I had another eight or ten pieces."

Tossing the Fire Phoenix Gold in her hand, Dong Yuelan asked:

"Do you have any more on you?"

"..." A flicker passed through Zheng Xian's eyes. He shook his head and said:

"Immortal Master, this is the only piece I have. If you need more, I can continue to collect it. I wonder, would the Immortal Master be willing to accept my sister and me?"

He was lying.

Such a lie could not possibly fool the keen perception of a Dao Foundation Cultivator.

"Hmph!" Dong Yuelan snorted, her eyes filled with disdain.

"Ignorant!"

"Forget it. This thing is useful to me, but accepting you as disciples is out of the question. I'll trade you this bottle of Elixirs for it."

She casually tossed out a bottle of Elixirs for Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Essence.

"Don't disturb us if it's nothing important!"

SLAM!

The courtyard gate slammed shut.

Staring at the closed gate, the Zheng siblings wore helpless expressions.

"We failed again."

Zheng He clutched the corner of her clothes, looking dejected.

"Brother, can we really find a famous master, learn Immortal Techniques, and leave this place?"

"We will, we will," Zheng Xian comforted her in a low voice.

"The Immortal Masters living here are all Dao Foundation Elders. If we can become their disciples, we'll surely be taught Immortal Techniques."

"If we're lucky, we might even be taken away like our young uncle, to the legendary Immortal Realm."

"Our young uncle had a natural Dao Body; he was a seed for Cultivation," Zheng He said, shaking her head with a sigh.

"We don't have his Talent. I'm afraid it's impossible for us."

Every time new people arrived, they would come to pay a visit, begging to be taken as disciples.

Unfortunately, they had never once succeeded.

On a good day, like today, they could trade Fire Phoenix Gold for Elixirs or an Innate Martial Skill. On a bad day, the Fire Phoenix Gold they had worked so hard to get would simply be taken from them. The humiliation they suffered was the least of their worries.

"Seeking the Dao is hard! Cultivation is hard!"

"Here in this Mortal Realm, we are honored as nobles, yet before Dao Foundation Immortal Masters, we are casually berated. But we must not forget that merely being able to meet a Dao Foundation Immortal Master is an unattainable dream for most common people."

Zheng Xian said:

"We must seize this opportunity and do everything in our power to enter an Immortal Sect, just as ordinary people strive to become kings and generals."

"By the way."

He asked:

"What are Third Brother and the others up to? I haven't seen them in a while."

"Third Brother?" Zheng He frowned.

"He seems to have given up on trying to curry favor with the Immortal Masters. Lately, he's been hanging out in the mortal district with some shady characters."

"Oh!" Zheng Xian looked confused.

"Third Brother's desire to seek the Dao was as sincere as ours. How could he give up?"

"Never mind!"

"Let's not worry about him. We'll go find some Spiritual Materials to give to Immortal Master Qian and ask him what these Elixirs are."

*

*

*

"Magical Artifacts, big clearance sale!"

"Elixirs, all kinds of Elixirs..."

"Tier One Spirit Talismans, seventeen different kinds of Tier One Spirit Talismans! Fellow Daoists, come take a look, come and buy!"

"..."

The marketplace was bustling with people, and the shouts of vendors were incessant.

Zhu Ju walked through the stronghold's Marketplace, having suppressed his aura to the Qi Refining Realm, and occasionally stopped at the stalls.

This place was close to the front lines, so many Cultivators gathered here, making it a good place to gather information.

He and Dong Yuelan had agreed to go out separately to gather information and figure out the situation on the front lines first.

However, it was the prices in the Marketplace that caught his attention.

"How much for this Flying Sword?"

"Three hundred Low Grade Spirit Stones." The stall owner, who had been feigning sleep with his eyes closed, sat up straight and smiled.

"If you're genuinely interested in buying, Fellow Daoist, I can go a little lower."

"Three hundred Spirit Stones? And you can go lower?" Zhu Ju looked astonished.

"That's much cheaper than in the rear."

"Heh!" The stall owner shook his head.

"That's how it is on the front lines. Aside from a few special items, all Spiritual Objects are cheaper here than in the rear."

"It's a pity!"

"Buying and selling in small amounts is one thing, but only the Profound Clarity Sect and the Star-Picking Tower are allowed to buy and sell in bulk."

"Uh oh..."

"Look at this big mouth of mine. It needs a good slapping."

A disciple wearing the Magical Robe of the Profound Clarity Sect entered the stall owner's line of sight. His expression changed instantly, and he began slapping himself across the face. In just a few slaps, his face was bruised and swollen. He didn't stop until the disciple had walked far away.

"Heh..." Zhu Ju chuckled at the sight and tossed out three Middle Grade Spirit Stones.

"I'll take it."

"Right away!" The stall owner was overjoyed. He quickly packed the Flying Sword into a Jade Box and even threw in a Low Grade Spiritual Artifact as a gift.

Zhu Ju put away the Flying Sword and was about to leave when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

His Physical Body, at the Body Refining Fourth Realm, and the unique methods of Human Immortal Martial Arts gave him perception far beyond that of an ordinary person.

It was a level of perception rarely seen even among Dao Foundation Cultivators.

Just a moment ago, a familiar fragrance had drifted past him, causing a dazed look to flash in his eyes.

'This scent...'

'Impossible!'

'She's one of the Demonic Demon People, what would she be doing here?'

Lowering his head in thought, Zhu Ju began to walk toward the edge of the Marketplace.

In the Mountain Country, immortals and mortals lived together, yet they were clearly separated. Mortals would not easily set foot in a Cultivator's Marketplace, and Cultivators, disdaining the undispersed turbid qi of mortals, would not interact with them unless absolutely necessary.

In a tavern in one of the mortal districts.

Zhu Ju looked up at a figure on the second floor, his expression complex.

"It really is you..."

"Qi Yao!"

Qi Yao was a Cultivator from the Joyful Sect.

Years ago, when Zhu Ju was trapped in the Joyful Sect's Wind Moon Valley, he had been Zhou Yuantong's Furnace Tripod. Back then, Qi Yao had been responsible for supervising them.

Or perhaps...

...it would be more accurate to call her Zhou Yuantong's handmaiden.