However, the question arose.
How could a disciple from a First-rate Sect end up in this desolate place where birds don't even bother to nest?
Moreover, the reputation of Ghost Cultivators is not very good.
They are only slightly better than the chaotic and bloodthirsty mad Demonic Cultivators.
The appearance of Ghost Cultivators is often accompanied by conspiracies and schemes.
Terms like 'bewitched,' 'sneakily,' and 'Ghostly and Sun-dazzling' (Ugly)...
are not just adjectives.
They are true descriptions of Ghost Cultivators!
As if sensing the confusion and worry of the others.
The Cultivator from the Heavenly Corpse Dao smiled faintly and said dismissively:
"Relax, I am merely out for experience and happened to pass through here."
"A mere low-level Market Town holds nothing worth plotting for."
"These pure Yang and pure Yin virgin boys and girls are strictly controlled near my Sect."
"For me, they are rather good cultivation resources."
"They are just right for extracting certain components to strengthen my Iron Corpse body."
Hearing his explanation, which sounded reasonable, the assembled Cultivators all breathed a sigh of relief.
Once they knew the other party's background, no matter how cruel he was,
no one was willing to speak up for the children anymore.
The Dog Demon Cultivator even said with a fawning smile:
"Since Daoist Friend needs them, I won't take what others desire."
"If Daoist Friend has time, you can visit us at Black Dragon Ridge."
"I believe the Great Kings will certainly give you a warm welcome."
As the host family, the head of the You Family stood up and cupped his hands:
"It is the greatest honor for our You Family that Daoist Friend has come to our humble Market Town."
"As one of the host families, all of Daoist Friend's expenses will be free."
"These twenty children are a gift I present to Daoist Friend."
The pale-faced Cultivator finally retracted the pervasive Corpse Fiend Qi.
He still snorted coldly:
"It seems you know your place."
"But I don't need to be a guest."
"I am traveling and it is inconvenient for me to stay in one place for long."
...
Following this interlude with the Ghost Cultivator,
the subsequent Auction became uneventful, lacking much excitement.
All the Cultivators suddenly became placid, and the competition for bids was not intense.
Several items even sold for the starting price.
Only the final three Foundation Establishment Pills generated a bit more liveliness.
The most expensive one sold for over ten thousand Spirit Stones.
Although it was simple for Du Tianle to reach Foundation Establishment,
he was an exception.
His Foundation Establishment was built by forcibly piling up Lifespan.
In reality, the people who could come to this Market Town generally had poor cultivation aptitude.
Without the aid of a Foundation Establishment Pill,
reaching the Foundation Establishment Stage was incredibly difficult.
Even those with relatively high Innate Talent
usually needed it to increase the probability of successful Foundation Establishment.
Therefore, among low-level Cultivators, the Foundation Establishment Pill
was a harder hard currency than Spirit Stones.
It was only natural for the price to be high.
...
Du Tianle did not stay until the end.
Compared to the Foundation Establishment Pill,
he was more interested in that Five Elements Foundation Establishment Essentials.
So, as soon as he saw the Cultivator surnamed Wang leaving early,
he also followed him out.
After tailing him for a while,
when the timing was right, he jumped out.
He blocked the path of the Cultivator surnamed Wang and his group, saying with a smile:
"Daoist Friend, please stay a moment."
The Cultivator surnamed Wang and his five companions immediately became wary upon seeing this.
Du Tianle saw their posture suggesting they were about to fight and smiled, shaking his head.
Then he formed a hand seal for a Sword Art.
The Gilded Light Splitting Sword flashed past,
leaving a long trail of Illusionary Shadow in the air.
A nearby towering tree was cut off at the base.
Then, like falling dominoes,
it scattered into dozens of pieces.
This meant that in that single flash,
the Gilded Light Splitting Sword had attacked dozens of times.
Truly terrifying!
The few people opposite couldn't help but touch their necks and swallow hard.
The Cultivator surnamed Wang’s expression turned ugly as he cupped his hands:
"May I ask why Daoist Friend has stopped us."
Seeing that his intimidation was effective, Du Tianle recalled his Flying Sword and cupped his hands with a smile:
"To let Daoist Friend know."
"You obtained the Five Elements Foundation Establishment Essentials at the Auction just now."
"This item has fate with me, so please part with it."
The Cultivator surnamed Wang: ...
The others: ...
The Cultivator surnamed Wang said with difficulty:
"Daoist Friend, we are from the Wang Family of the Qi Kingdom's cultivation world."
"We were ordered to come here to procure supplies."
"Could you perhaps consider the Wang Family's standing..."
Before he could finish, he heard Du Tianle snort coldly:
"I only want the item, I am not taking your lives."
"That is already showing great respect."
"Do you really want me to chop off your heads and search your bodies myself?"
Cold sweat immediately broke out on the Cultivator surnamed Wang’s face, and he stammered:
"This will be very difficult for us to explain to the Family Head..."
Du Tianle suddenly realized:
"Oh, that's simple."
Saying this, he extended a finger.
Several streams of Thunder Sword Light rushed out.
They not only sliced off the topknot of the Cultivator surnamed Wang,
but also pierced several holes in his Daoist Robe.
He immediately looked utterly disheveled.
The Cultivator surnamed Wang, who was also at the Foundation Establishment Stage, didn't react at all.
It wasn't until the falling hair drifted onto the back of his hand
that he looked at Du Tianle in horror.
The others behind him, whose strength was lower, were filled with terror.
Du Tianle asked with a smile:
"This way, will it be enough to explain to your Family Head?"
The Cultivator surnamed Wang swallowed hard with difficulty.
He quickly took out the Jade Slip containing the Five Elements Foundation Establishment Essentials.
He threw it over without hesitation.
Du Tianle caught the Jade Slip and briefly examined it.
He nodded in satisfaction.
Then he summoned his Sword Light and flew away.
Seeing the other party fly far away,
the Cultivator surnamed Wang’s body went limp, and he collapsed onto the ground.
The others thought he had been struck by a hidden attack and rushed forward to check on him.
The Cultivator surnamed Wang gasped for a moment, then waved his hand:
"I'm fine, my legs just went weak."
One of the women said:
"Third Steward, aren't you also at the Foundation Establishment Stage? Why were you so terrified?"
The Cultivator surnamed Wang said with a bitter smile:
"You didn't face him directly; you don't know how formidable this person is."
"It's already good that I didn't lose my composure on the spot."
"The path of cultivation is vast and profound; huge disparities within the same Realm are very normal."
"But this person is frighteningly powerful."
"If it weren't for the unique Dao Rhyme characteristic of the Foundation Establishment Realm, I truly wouldn't believe he was only at Foundation Establishment."
Another person whispered:
"But how do we explain this to the Family Head when we return?"
"That we were scared off before even fighting?"
The Third Steward waved his hand:
"Just report exactly what happened."
Saying this, he pointed to his hair and clothes, then continued:
"When the Family Head sees the residual Sword Qi on these, he will naturally understand."
...
The useful Cultivation Method was finally obtained.
Du Tianle did not rush to cultivate it.
Instead, he summoned his Sword Light and immediately went to find that Dog Demon from the Auction.
He planned to kill it to accumulate more Lifespan.
Then he could cultivate several more layers of the Cultivation Method upon returning.
However, after flying around for a circle,
he didn't see the Dog Demon, but instead saw Zhang Liang, the County Lieutenant of Qing River, and that Ghost Cultivator from the Heavenly Corpse Dao.
From afar, he heard Zhang Liang shouting loudly:
"Daoist Friend, please show mercy!"
"These twenty-plus children represent twenty-plus families."
"Their parents wait day and night for their children to return..."
Before he could finish, he was interrupted by the Ghost Cultivator's cold voice:
"Hmph, anyone can dare to stand in the way of this Daoist!"
"If I don't teach you a lesson,"
"do you really think this Daoist is kind-hearted?!"
After speaking, he moved his arm.
Of the four figures standing behind him, one of them hopped and rushed straight toward Zhang Liang.
It was clearly a refined Zombie!
Although Zhang Liang had cultivated for a few years,
his aptitude was truly too poor.
He was at most only at the second or third layer of Qi Refining.
How could he possibly be a match for a Zombie refined by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator?
In just a few exchanges, he was forced to dodge in a sorry state.
Just as he was about to be seized by the Zombie's long claws and meet his end on the spot...
...