Chapter 299 - 283: Courting Death

Chapter 299: Chapter 283: Courting Death

A fifth-rank Spirit Fire is exceedingly difficult to refine. Without a sufficiently strong Divine Sense, one can only look on helplessly, even after obtaining it.

Jiang Zuo’s Divine Sense was formidable, yet it still took him a full half-month to refine it into his Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique.

Thus, his Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique had now refined five kinds of Spirit Fire.

Jiang Zuo activated the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique, and a Fire Wheel composed of the five Spirit Fires slowly rotated behind him.

With a mere thought from Jiang Zuo, the five flames of Spirit Fire separated and began to rapidly revolve around him individually.

Moreover, with a flicker of his Divine Sense, each of these Spirit Fires could shoot out in different directions to strike his enemies.

This was the Spirit Flame Divine Essence Technique, a Magic that could only be cultivated after reaching the fourth layer of the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique.

It allowed the refined Spirit Fires to automatically wreathe around his body, and they would automatically counter-attack when he was assailed by external forces.

Jiang Zuo could also actively command these Spirit Fires to attack, making it a Magic that combined both offense and defense.

Ordinarily, the defensive capabilities of the Spirit Flame Divine Essence Technique were merely average.

But after refining the Silent Spirit Fire, its defensive power had increased dramatically.

When Jiang Zuo tried cultivating the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique again, the speed at which he absorbed Spiritual Qi skyrocketed.

Now, he no longer had to worry about the Nine Flames Reincarnation Technique holding back his progress before he reached the Dao Fruit Realm.

「One month after the auction ended.」

On this day, Jiang Zuo received a message. After a slight frown, he made his way to the Ruyi Restaurant in the Immortal City.

「On the third floor, inside a private room.」

Led by a female attendant, Jiang Zuo entered the room.

"Elder Cold Crow, may I ask for what reason you’ve summoned me?"

Jiang Zuo asked respectfully as he looked at the middle-aged cultivator before him, who seemed quite approachable.

’Having been in Yunyuan Immortal City for over a decade, he had naturally heard a thing or two about the inner workings of the Immortal City. Cold Crow Wanderer was hired by the Immortal City and permanently stationed within its walls. However, Min Rulin had mentioned him before, saying he was something of a hired muscle. Although he was stationed in the Immortal City, he didn’t have much real authority. The upside was that he didn’t have many responsibilities and could spend his years in closed-door cultivation. The downside was that he was just a high-level wage slave, with an income that couldn’t compare to his peers from the major sects.’

"I’m in closed-door cultivation for most of the year, so I was unaware that a figure such as yourself, Master Gu, had emerged in the Immortal City."

"It was only upon emerging from my seclusion this time that I heard of your great name, Master Gu."

"For someone as young as you to possess such skill is truly extraordinary!"

Cold Crow Wanderer laughed heartily.

"You flatter me, Elder. It is only because my fellow cultivators have shown me favor."

Jiang Zuo replied humbly.

Cold Crow Wanderer didn’t state his purpose, and Jiang Zuo wasn’t in a hurry. Unless the man truly just wanted to make his acquaintance, he was bound to bring it up himself sooner or later.

Jiang Zuo sat down and drank wine with Cold Crow Wanderer, and the two chatted animatedly.

During their conversation, Cold Crow Wanderer directly asked about Jiang Zuo’s origins, and Jiang Zuo gave his usual story about being from a Hidden Clan.

After a few rounds of drinks, Cold Crow Wanderer finally got to the point.

"Master Gu, I’ve actually sought you out today to ask for a favor."

Cold Crow Wanderer said with a smile.

"Please speak freely, Elder Cold Crow. If it’s within my power to help, I will certainly spare no effort."

"However, I am merely a cultivator at the early stage of the Three Flowers Realm. I’m afraid I may not be of much help to you."

Jiang Zuo replied readily, but his expression carried a hint of reluctance.

"Haha, not to worry. For you, it’s a trivial matter."

"The truth is, a good friend of mine would like to ask you, Master Gu, to help him tame a fourth-rank Spirit Beast."

"But your slots are already full, and he’s in a hurry to get the Spirit Beast tamed, otherwise there might be a problem with it."

"With no other options, he came to me for help."

"So I had to shamelessly come and ask for your help, Master Gu."

Cold Crow Wanderer chuckled, explaining his reason for coming.

"I see. In that case, you can leave this matter to me."

"It’s a bit of an inconvenience, but I’ll figure something out. I can squeeze in some time to help."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Zuo didn’t refuse and readily agreed.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Master Gu."

Cold Crow Wanderer nodded in satisfaction and handed a Spirit Beast Bag to Jiang Zuo.

Jiang Zuo took the Spirit Beast Bag, glanced at the Spirit Beast inside, and then tucked it away.

After drinking with Cold Crow Wanderer for a while longer, Jiang Zuo took his leave.

From start to finish, neither of them mentioned a word about payment.

’Looks like he’s someone who knows his place. Although his words hinted at displeasure, he still agreed to help. But so what if he was truly unwilling? Unless he wants to stop making a living in the Immortal City, he has to help whether he likes it or not!’

After Jiang Zuo left, only Cold Crow Wanderer remained in the room.

He gazed at Jiang Zuo’s departing figure and thought with a hint of ridicule.

’These so-called Hidden Clans are nothing special in the eyes of the great sects. Especially a Hidden Clan that doesn’t even dare to announce its existence publicly. In the eyes of the great sects, they’re hardly different from Loose Cultivators.’

Having cultivated for so long, Cold Crow Wanderer understood the plight of a Loose Cultivator better than anyone.

Being forced to do things they desperately didn’t want to simply because of pressure from greater powers—this was the fate of countless Loose Cultivators.

’If it were up to him, Cold Crow Wanderer wouldn’t have wanted to provoke Jiang Zuo. After all, he didn’t know Jiang Zuo’s background. If it turned out to be impressive, and Jiang Zuo went to another one of the Immortal City’s elders to file a complaint, he would inevitably be in for some trouble. But the fact that You Changheng had come to him proved that this Master Gu didn’t have any significant backing. Cold Crow Wanderer was just scraping by in the Immortal City. He naturally wouldn’t pass up a rare, low-risk opportunity to make some extra money on the side.’

’This Cold Crow Wanderer... looks like he’s trying to fleece me.’

’Looks like I was a little too high-profile at the auction.’

’Still, this was bound to happen sooner or later.’

’Looks like I’ll be doing this job for free. I just hope there isn’t a next time.’

Meanwhile, Jiang Zuo was perfectly clear on Cold Crow Wanderer’s intentions.