Chapter 268: Transaction

“A Life-Stealing Mite in its growth phase can steal life force against a person’s will. It’s a favorite Gu Insect of demonic cultivators who practice the Life-Burning Divine Art, but its numbers are exceedingly rare,” the Mummified Brain chimed in.

The Life-Burning Divine Art?

Interesting! I’ll definitely have to keep an eye out for that in the future.

Chen Luo immediately pricked his index finger, letting a drop of blood slide from the tip.

The blood spread into a crimson membrane, enveloping the Life-Stealing Mite. Unable to move during its evolution, the mite could only allow the blood to seep into its body. Gradually, a strange sensation arose in Chen Luo’s mind.

Age: 52. Remaining lifespan: 448 years (borrowable). Realm: Foundation Establishment Perfection.

He realized he had gained a new perspective, one that clearly displayed his own lifespan.

“Borrowable? I didn’t fucking agree to this!”

Chen Luo snapped back to reality, realizing he had been viewing the world through the Life-Stealing Mite’s perspective.

The spiritual energy dragons are beginning to solidify.

A mental message echoed back from the Cave of White Immortal, signaling his Core Formation process. Chen Luo swiftly focused his mind inward, sensing the changes within his body. The spiritual energy dragons that had been coiling around his Pseudo-Core Seed had now completely solidified, emitting a faint crimson glow. After refining the Life-Stealing Mite, the insect had burrowed into his body and was currently snoring soundly within the solidified spiritual energy.

Not only had the Life-Stealing Mite entered his body, but the Soul-Parasitic Gu had followed as well.

Chen Luo had completely refined these two extraordinary Gu Insects, allowing him to summon them to fight for his life in critical moments, just as the Gu Demon Khan Jiu had done in the past.

The Crimson Pill can now be formed, the Mummified Brain assessed.

Chen Luo hadn’t expected such rapid progress. When he left the Seven Kingdoms region, his cultivation realm was on par with Elder FusionSpirit, a level capable of attracting Heavenly Tribulation. Now, he had clearly surpassed the elder, with his chances of successfully transcending the tribulation having increased by at least thirty percent.

Shortly after resuming his cultivation, a knock sounded at the door.

“Senior Brother, it’s Mei Qin,” her voice called from outside. Over the past few days, Mei Qin had recovered her strength. While her divine soul remained somewhat weakened, her magical energy had been fully replenished.

“What is it?” Chen Luo thought, and the door swung open at his mental command.

Only the three of them remained on the Flying Boat. Zhao Long was at the helm of the Giant Whale Flying Boat, so Mei Qin’s visit must mean she needed something from him.

“Senior Brother isn’t a cultivator from a sect stronghold, is he?” Mei Qin asked, settling into the seat across from Chen Luo.

“What makes you say that?” Chen Luo glanced at her casually.

“At the Qiong Hua Sect, a disciple’s cultivation path is determined very early on. From the moment they join the sect, they receive guidance on their cultivation direction and are taught the critical points of Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul condensation, as well as how each realm influences the next. Senior Brother, your strength is profound, but your aura is completely different from ours. The mark of a rogue cultivator is too strong.”

“Nascent Soul condensation?” Chen Luo paused his cultivation, intrigued by her words, especially her mention of the Nascent Soul process.

He knew little about the Qiong Hua Sect’s location, but he was certain their cultivation heritage was far more comprehensive than that of the Southwest Territory.

“Does the Qiong Hua Sect have many Nascent Soul cultivators?”

“Impossible,” Mei Qin shook her head. “Even True Persons who achieve Core Condensation are treated as elders in the sect. As for Nascent Soul… perhaps there are some, but my position isn’t high enough to know.”

So few Nascent Soul and Core Formation experts? Where’s the legendary sacred land where Nascent Soul cultivators roam freely and Core Formation experts are as common as stray dogs?

“Our Qiong Hua Sect is located in the Southern Heaven Domain. Strictly speaking, this area we’re in now used to be part of the Southern Heaven Domain as well,” Mei Qin began, explaining the location of the Qiong Hua Sect’s Sect Stronghold. The favor she intended to ask of Chen Luo later was related to the Southern Heaven Domain, so she needed to clarify the situation before requesting his assistance.

“Over three thousand years ago, darkness shrouded the heavens for seven days. A massive mountain descended from the upper realm, splitting the Southern Heaven Domain in two. The spiritual energy on either side of the mountain diverged due to its presence. Our side of the Southern Heaven Domain, blessed with high-grade spirit meridians, enjoys a higher overall level of spiritual energy, making cultivation relatively easier than in the Southwest Territory.”

The cataclysm that occurred three thousand years ago.

Chen Luo calculated the time. Could this be related to the Demonic Heart Ancestor’s expedition to the Southwest Territory? Was there a connection between these two events?

“In terms of cultivation techniques, both regions are roughly on par. However, the Southern Heaven Domain’s development has stagnated in recent years, and external resources are dwindling. To alleviate this pressure, the major sects have launched expansion efforts into other territories. The Southwest Territory is where our Qiong Hua Sect has established its Sect Stronghold.”

The resources could no longer sustain their growing numbers.

Chen Luo now understood the situation in the Southern Heaven Domain.

“This is the Sunflower Water True Manual, passed down to me by my master. It allows cultivation up to the early Core Formation stage and contains significant knowledge about tribulation transcendence. I thought Senior Brother might find it interesting,” Mei Qin said.

“What do you want in return?” Chen Luo asked.

Mei Qin handed him a Jade Slip. It was completely transparent, shimmering with a light like flowing scriptures. Beneath the clear, flowing light, characters continuously surfaced and vanished, only to disappear into a smooth, blank surface when one tried to focus on them.

This was the first time Chen Luo had ever seen such an advanced Jade Slip. During his time in the Seven Kingdoms, the Jade Slips he had encountered at the God Lake Immortal Sect were crudely crafted. In the demonic cultivation realm, they used bone scrolls, whose refinement techniques were even worse.

“I would like to request Senior Brother’s assistance in setting up a Formation to protect my family,” Mei Qin replied.

Zhao Long wasn’t the only one who had noticed Chen Luo’s identity as a Formation Master; Mei Qin had also recognized it. Formation Masters, the rarest among the Four Arts of Cultivation, were highly sought-after talents wherever they went, as Formations were needed in many areas.

After accepting the Jade Slip, Chen Luo retrieved several Formation Flags from his Pouch of Holding.

These Formation Flags were casually crafted by Chen Luo during his time at the God Lake Immortal Sect, mostly second-rank formations. They were perfect for placating Mei Qin; he considered it hardly worth the effort to personally set up a formation for her.

“These are my second-rank Black Tortoise Formation Flags. They’re ideal for setting up a defensive formation,” Chen Luo said.

He then took out several Pure Origin Primordial Qi Pills. “The value of a second-rank formation doesn’t quite match that of a Core Formation Technique, so I’ll compensate you with these second-rank pills.”

Mei Qin was stunned for a moment, then her face lit up with delight. She hadn’t expected such a windfall. Formation Masters were already rare, and named Formation Masters within the Qiong Hua Sect were even scarcer. Formations weren’t something one could learn through sheer effort; if you didn’t have the aptitude, you simply couldn’t master them, no matter how hard you tried.

The sect’s Formation Masters were constantly swamped with requests. Even with an official request, getting their attention could take years, and sometimes depended on their mood. Chen Luo not only offered finished Formation Flags but also threw in pills to balance the exchange.

“Thank you, Senior Brother,” Mei Qin said gratefully.

Mei Qin stood up, thanked Chen Luo, and quickly turned to leave, remembering to close the door behind her.

Withdrawing his Divine Sense to confirm her departure, Chen Luo picked up the newly acquired Jade Slip and began reading its contents.

He skimmed through the sections on the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment Realms, focusing instead on the descriptions of Foundation Establishment Perfection and Core Formation. These advanced techniques were exceedingly rare in the Southwest Territory; even after plundering the God Lake Immortal Sect’s Scripture Pavilion, he had only managed to obtain three Core Formation Techniques. Moreover, a significant portion of these techniques consisted of the Immortal Sect Leader’s own deductions and musings.

Two days later, the Flying Boat passed through the Red Stone Forest.

Having thoroughly studied the Sunflower Water True Manual, particularly the section on transitioning from Foundation Establishment Perfection to the Core Formation Realm, Chen Luo gained a clearer understanding of this pivotal stage. As his knowledge deepened, all the “memories” stored in his external Mummified Brain advanced to the next level.

This was the optimal plan devised by the Mummified Brain after Chen Luo obtained the Sunflower Water True Manual.

The sky hung heavy and overcast.

Beyond the Red Stone Forest, the landscape reverted to swampy marshlands. Pools of stagnant, toxic water bubbled beneath the murky surface, emitting plumes of black vapor that shrouded the entire sky in an oppressive gloom.

Within the swamp’s muddy pools, the number of poisonous insects began to multiply, signaling their proximity to Gu Insect Ridge.

Seated cross-legged in his cultivation chamber, Chen Luo was enveloped in swirling wreaths of black gas, resembling an Old Demon shrouded in mist, his aura constantly twisting and distorting. Droplets of dark, watery vapor swirled around the room, mingling with the black energy of his Demonic Heart cultivation.

He was currently practicing an improved version of the Demonic Heart Art.

Having reached this stage, the Demonic Heart Art was nearing its limits. The path beyond Core Formation would require Chen Luo to forge his own way. The emergence of the Sunflower Water True Manual had resolved this dilemma. Over the past two days, guided by the Mummified Brain, Chen Luo had completely revised his cultivation method, resulting in this peculiar phenomenon during his practice.

Through the swirling black miasma, Chen Luo saw Mei Qin meditating cross-legged in the adjacent chamber. It seemed as though a mere wisp of the darkness could infiltrate her mind, plunging her into a Demonic Heart Tribulation. Shifting his gaze, Chen Luo spotted Zhao Long approaching from the edge of the Giant Whale Formation, his face etched with worry.

Through the black miasma, Chen Luo could perceive Zhao Long’s emotions.

A potent emotion called “fear” pulsed within Zhao Long, an emotion Chen Luo realized he could exploit to plant a Demon Seed within him, turning him into fuel for the Demonic Heart Art’s insatiable hunger.

“Senior Brother Chen, we’re almost at Gu Insect Ridge,” Zhao Long called out anxiously. Normally, he wouldn’t have been concerned, but this time, his unease was overwhelming, compelling him to personally warn Chen Luo.

“How much longer?” Chen Luo asked.

“Half an hour at most.”

“Do we have enough spirit essence?”

“Enough to reach the Sect Stronghold.”

Zhao Long’s anxiety was palpable. If another assault occurred, the Giant Whale Flying Boat might not survive the journey to the Sect Stronghold, potentially crashing deep within the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain. Should that happen, their situation would become dire.

While airborne, they only faced three major dangers. But if they were grounded, every corner of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain would become a death trap!

“I understand,” Chen Luo replied, returning to his cultivation.