Chapter 1553: The Divine Blood Gate's Lair
The two emerged from Fallen Demon Valley just as night fell.
A pitch-black curtain of darkness enveloped the entire land.
Yet, having escaped the Yin Energy-saturated depths of Fallen Demon Valley and now basking in the omnipresent Spiritual Qi of the world, both felt a wave of relief.
“Fellow Daoist Gu Huang, what are your plans now?” Rong Shao asked.
“I intend to travel to Azure Wutong Province,” Song Wen replied.
Having reached the peak of the Body Integration Stage, he was now preparing to break through to the Great Ascension Realm.
Azure Wutong Province, the Divine Blood Gate’s lair, not only housed the mystic realm’s most advanced Corpse Dao traditions and secret arts but also possessed countless rare spiritual materials unobtainable elsewhere.
Gu Que had mentioned several unique spiritual materials specifically beneficial for corpse dao cultivators seeking to reach the Great Ascension Realm, materials Song Wen had yet to acquire. Traveling to Azure Wutong Province to gather them was the obvious choice.
“Azure Wutong Province… I wouldn’t dare go there.”
A bitter smile flashed across Rong Shao’s face.
As a rare treasure for longevity extension in the eyes of the Divine Blood Gate’s higher echelons, venturing into Azure Wutong Province would be like a lamb walking into a tiger’s den.
“When do you plan to switch to another cultivation technique, fellow daoist?” Song Wen asked.
“After I break through to the Great Ascension Realm,” Rong Shao replied.
Switching cultivation techniques now would cause his cultivation level to plummet to the Early Body Integration Stage.
Now merely a rogue cultivator without the Rong Clan’s resources, reaching the peak body integration stage again would be no easy task.
“I plan to head to the Northern Region of Yu Territory to evade the Rong Clan. If I ever truly advance to Great Ascension, I’ll return to settle the blood debt with Rong Luan and the Rong Clan,” Rong Shao said, his eyes burning with undisguised killing intent.
After escaping Rong Luan and Yu Bi, Song Wen and Rong Shao had gathered intelligence and learned that both Rong Luan and Yu Bi had perished, while they themselves were still alive and well.
“Then I wish you success in achieving your goals soon, fellow daoist,” Song Wen replied.
Rong Shao’s desire to trouble the Rong Clan aligned perfectly with Song Wen’s own intentions. The more chaos they could sow within the Rong Clan, the better.
“Fellow Daoist Gu Huang, I owe you a great debt of gratitude, which I will never forget. If there ever comes a time when I can repay you, please seek me out in the Northern Region of Yu Territory. Even if it means braving fire and water, I will not hesitate to assist you,” Rong Shao vowed.
“You flatter me, fellow daoist,” Song Wen replied.
“If the opportunity arises during my journey to the Northern Region, I will certainly look after Little Friend Yan for you,” Rong Shao offered.
“Then I thank you in advance on behalf of Fellow Daoist Yan,” Song Wen said with a smile. “The mountains and rivers stretch far between us, Fellow Daoist Rong. Farewell for now.”
“Fellow Daoist Gu Huang, until we meet again.”
Thirteen years later.
Evil Cloud Mountain Range.
Blood Brilliance City.
Song Wen had been in this city for two months.
After parting ways with Rong Shao, he first found a secluded place to cultivate in seclusion for many years, honing his cultivation. After stabilizing his realm, he traveled to this city.
Blood Brilliance City was the Divine Blood Gate’s foremost stronghold and the largest cultivator city in Azure Wutong Province.
Within its walls, palaces and pavilions stood in orderly rows, while countless escape lights crisscrossed the sky like a celestial river, weaving through the streets below. Rare treasures from every corner of the mystic realm converged here, creating a grand spectacle of ten thousand cultivators paying homage, a scene of overwhelming majesty.
Though the Divine Blood Gate was founded on the Corpse Dao, Blood Brilliance City naturally attracted a large number of corpse dao cultivators.
Yet beyond corpse cultivators, ghost cultivators, blood cultivator, poison cultivators, and other demonic path practitioners were also ubiquitous.
Surprisingly, many orthodox cultivators also frequented the city. However, these individuals invariably carried traces of corpse qi, ghost qi, or other sinister energies, revealing that while they primarily practiced orthodox cultivation techniques, they had also dabbled in certain demonic path secret arts.
Song Wen entered a shop called “Immortal Herb Hut,” acting as if he were a regular customer. He approached an elderly man behind the counter.
“Steward Wang, has the Blood Jade Ginseng I ordered arrived?” Song Wen asked.
Hearing the voice, the old man looked up at Song Wen, his shrewd eyes immediately lighting up with enthusiasm.
“Ah, it’s Alchemist Ye Hua visiting us!”
Steward Wang’s name was Wang Qi, and he was a cultivator in the late divine transformation stage.
Song Wen, using the alias “Ye Hua,” had taken on the guise of a sixth-tier pill refiner in the mid-void refinement stage.
Wang Qi hurried out from behind the counter and approached Song Wen.
He retrieved a jade box and presented it to Song Wen.
“Alchemist Ye, please inspect it.”
Song Wen accepted the jade box and gently opened the lid.
Inside lay a crimson-red spiritual ginseng, over two feet long.
“Alchemist Ye, this Blood Jade Ginseng is over 3,200 years old. You specifically requested one over 3,000 years old, so this should meet your exact specifications,” Wang Qi explained.
With a snap, the jade box closed and vanished from Song Wen’s hand.
Song Wen produced a storage pouch and handed it to Wang Qi.
“Here are the remaining spirit stones. Please count them, Steward Wang.”
“Alchemist Ye has always been trustworthy. How could this humble old man possibly doubt a senior like you? There’s no need to count them,” Wang Qi replied with a warm yet insincere smile.
“In business, it’s best to settle accounts clearly,” Song Wen said. “Steward Wang, it would be wise to count the spirit stones in person.”
“Very well! This old man will count them now.”
Wang Qi’s divine sense probed the storage pouch before he added, “The spirit stone count is correct.”
“Steward Wang,” Song Wen continued, “about the Sky-Blue Glazed Fruit and Taiyin Netherfire I inquired about last time—is there truly no way to obtain them?”
“While our sect possesses both items, they are strictly controlled forbidden substances. As a mere outer sect steward, I lack the authority to grant such permissions…” Wang Qi’s expression turned troubled, and his voice unconsciously lowered.
The “sect” he referred to was the Divine Blood Gate.
The Immortal Herb Hut was a direct subsidiary of the Divine Blood Gate, a massive spirit herb store that generated substantial spirit stone revenue for the sect.
“These two items are of vital importance to me,” Song Wen said, deliberately transmitting his words through divine sense. “I implore you to exert some extra effort. You will certainly be rewarded handsomely afterward.”
He then produced four jade bottles and handed them to Wang Qi.
“These are Spirit-Melting Pills and Heaven-Returning Pills I’ve refined recently. Would your store be interested in purchasing them?”
“Naturally!” Wang Qi’s smile brightened considerably. “Shall we maintain the usual prices?”
“Mm,” Song Wen replied.
Wang Qi counted out over ten thousand high-grade spirit stones and handed them to Song Wen.
Both types of medicinal pills were sixth-grade pills. The former was used for cultivation, while the latter was for healing injuries. They were quite rare on the market and never lacked buyers.
Moreover, Ye Hua’s prices were low, allowing Wang Qi to earn a substantial profit from these four bottles of pills.
This was why he was so enthusiastic toward Song Wen.
Maintaining a good relationship with Ye Hua meant a steady stream of wealth.
On Song Wen’s end, he also needed Wang Qi to search for some rare spiritual objects, especially those tightly controlled by the Divine Blood Gate.
This was why he had gone to the trouble of refining pills he had no personal use for.
“Steward Wang, please keep an eye out for the Sky-Blue Glazed Fruit and Taiyin Netherfire. If any fellow daoist from your sect is willing to part with them, spirit stones are no object,” Song Wen said.
“Of course, this old one will do everything in his power. I’ll inform you immediately if I hear any rumors,” Wang Qi replied.
“Thank you for your efforts, Steward Wang. Farewell.” Song Wen cupped his hands in farewell, turned, and walked out.
Song Wen paid little attention to Steward Wang’s promises.
The other party’s words couldn’t be taken seriously.
In business, regardless of whether a deal could be made, it was always best to agree first and figure out the details later. After all, Steward Wang wouldn’t be risking anything by doing so.
Still, it was a potential avenue worth Song Wen’s time to explore.
“Safe travels, Alchemist Ye,” Wang Qi said, his face crinkling into a smile as warm as an autumn chrysanthemum.
(End of the Chapter)