When Chu Ran opened his eyes again, he saw three people standing before him—a man and two women dressed in white.
All three wore fine white robes, with silver cloud patterns embroidered along the hems. Their attire clearly set them apart from ordinary outer disciples.
Xue Zhi, who had spoken to him, gave off the aura of the fifth level of Qi Refining. The other two behind him, like Chu Ran, were at the fourth level.
He should have addressed Chu Ran as Junior Brother, yet he had called him Fellow Daoist instead.
Chu Ran asked, “Do you know me?”
Xue Zhi shook his head, a genial smile on his face. “No, I don’t. I only heard Lin Zuoyuan call your name just now, so that’s how I learned it.”
The Demon Sect had more than eight thousand outer and servant disciples, and its territory was vast. Normally, only those living in the same area knew one another.
Although they were all outer disciples, it was perfectly normal for them not to know each other.
Chu Ran said indifferently, “What do you want?”
Xue Zhi smiled. “I was deeply impressed by how valiant Fellow Daoist Chu was just now, so I came over to make your acquaintance.”
“No need.”
Chu Ran’s reply remained cold.
In this Demon Sect, he did not trust anyone who walked the demonic path.
Anyone who offered him kindness had either ulterior motives or something to steal.
Xue Zhi was not angered by the rejection. Instead, he said again, “Fellow Daoist Chu, I actually have another matter I’d like to ask of you. It’s just that this isn’t a convenient place to discuss it in detail.”
Chu Ran finally raised his eyelids again. “What matter?”
Xue Zhi leaned close to Chu Ran’s ear and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, “Crimson Profound Fruit.”
Chu Ran’s heart tightened, and he looked at Xue Zhi.
Understanding, Xue Zhi pointed toward a secluded grove with few people nearby. “Fellow Daoist Chu, shall we move somewhere else to discuss this?”
Chu Ran hesitated for a moment but eventually followed the three of them over.
Without beating around the bush, Chu Ran asked directly, “Are you referring to the Crimson Profound Fruit used to refine Qi Condensation Pills?”
“That’s right.” Xue Zhi said, “Several days ago, the three of us passed through a mountain valley and discovered a wild Crimson Profound Fruit tree. We originally intended to harvest the fruit directly, but two Illusionheart Foxes were guarding it. Both had reached the fifth level of Qi Refining.”
He sighed before continuing, “For the past few days, I’ve been looking for suitable candidates. After seeing Fellow Daoist Chu today, I knew you were the one.”
Chu Ran’s gaze swept across the faces of the three people. “The three of you should have no trouble dealing with two fifth-level demonic beasts, should you?”
Although both beasts were at the fifth level of Qi Refining, demonic beasts possessed limited intelligence and knew nothing of combat techniques. With a few tricks, the three of them should not have much difficulty defeating them.
Xue Zhi understood the implication behind Chu Ran’s words. “Fellow Daoist Chu may not know this, but Illusionheart Foxes are different from ordinary demonic beasts.”
“How so?” Chu Ran had indeed never heard of this kind of beast.
Xue Zhi explained, “The cries of an Illusionheart Fox can bewitch the mind. Against cultivators of the same level, the effect is limited, but against cultivators weaker than them, the power is greatly enhanced.”
“Once bewitched, a person may suffer anything from mild disorientation to turning against their own companions. Only those with exceptionally strong wills can resist their enchantment.”
He looked at Chu Ran with sincere eyes. “When I saw how you remained expressionless even with a dagger buried in your chest, I knew you were the natural nemesis of these Illusionheart Foxes.”
After listening, Chu Ran fell silent for a moment.
What Xue Zhi had said sounded reasonable and well-founded. But after struggling for twenty years in the Demon Sect, Chu Ran was no longer an inexperienced fool who blindly believed whatever others told him.
He asked warily, “These Illusionheart Foxes are still at the fifth level of Qi Refining, while I’m only at the fourth level. And I’m injured as well.”
“It’s only a minor injury,” Xue Zhi replied. “Besides, although the Illusionheart Foxes possess the strength of the fifth level, their offensive abilities are extremely weak—so weak that they may not even compare to a fourth-level cultivator.”
“If you can resist their enchantment, even a fourth-level cultivator should be able to hold one of them off for a while.”
Chu Ran nodded slightly, then asked another question.
“If their enchantment poses little threat to fifth-level cultivators, why didn’t you find a senior disciple at the fifth level? Why come to me instead?”
Xue Zhi glanced at the man and woman behind him. “If I found a fifth-level cultivator, these two junior disciples of mine couldn’t participate. In that case, I would have to split the spoils fifty-fifty with that person, and the two of them would get nothing.”
“But if Fellow Daoist Chu joins us, the situation will be different. Your cultivation is at the fourth level, the same as my junior brother and junior sister. The three of you only need to hold off one of the Illusionheart Foxes. Once I finish dealing with the first one, I’ll immediately come to your aid.”
“As for the Crimson Profound Fruit, I’ll take forty percent, and the three of you will each receive twenty percent. How does that sound?”
Chu Ran was genuinely tempted. “How much Crimson Profound Fruit is there?”
“I estimate at least ten jin.”
“Ten jin? That much?”
Each jin of Crimson Profound Fruit was worth ten spirit stones. Twenty percent would amount to twenty spirit stones, which was indeed a huge sum for a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
The reason the Crimson Profound Fruit was so expensive was that it served as the primary ingredient for Qi Condensation Pills.
Qi Condensation Pills were the most commonly used cultivation pills during the Qi Refining stage. Even the lowest-grade Qi Condensation Pill cost one spirit stone each.
There were generally three ways for cultivators to cultivate.
The first was to absorb the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth directly. However, the spiritual energy between Heaven and Earth was thin and impure, making this method highly inefficient.
The second was to absorb the spiritual energy contained within spirit stones. Spirit stones contained an enormous amount of spiritual energy, but if it was not refined in time, much of it would dissipate, resulting in waste. Spirit stones were generally used to replenish spiritual power or power formations.
The third was to use cultivation pills. The medicinal power of pills was gentle and could be steadily converted into spiritual power. They were absorbed quickly and made efficient use of.
Qi Condensation Pills were expensive, and that naturally drove up the price of their primary ingredient as well.
Chu Ran weighed the temptation in his mind for a moment. It was indeed considerable. In the end, he nodded. “When do we leave?”
Seeing that he had agreed, Xue Zhi’s smile grew even wider. “The sooner, the better. We don’t want anyone else to discover the place.”
“How about noon tomorrow?”
“That works.” Xue Zhi clasped his fist. “Then I’ll await Fellow Daoist Chu tomorrow at noon, at Ten-Mile Slope outside the sect.”
Chu Ran returned the gesture. “I’ll be there on time.”
After chatting idly for a few more moments, the two groups parted ways.
Chu Ran returned to the line and continued waiting.
Although he had agreed to Xue Zhi’s proposal, he could not let down his guard.
Even among fellow disciples venturing out together in search of opportunities, acts of murder and treasure snatching were far from uncommon.
Some people left and never returned. The sect did not even bother to investigate.
This was the Demon Sect. The death of an outer disciple or two was no different from the death of an ant.
If this had been Chu Ran half a day ago, he definitely would not have agreed.
But after cultivating the Essence-Burning Art, he was confident that he could deal with the three of them even if Xue Zhi and the others truly harbored malicious intentions.
Once he activated the third level of the Essence-Burning Art, his cultivation would approach the sixth level of Qi Refining. One fifth-level cultivator and two fourth-level cultivators might not necessarily be his match.
If they behaved themselves, everyone could share the Crimson Profound Fruit and walk away happy.
But if they harbored darker intentions…
As time passed, the first glow of dawn appeared on the horizon.
When the first ray of sunlight fell upon the lintel of the Mission Hall, the heavy stone doors released a deep rumble and slowly swung open to either side.
A sonorous voice rang out from within:
“Everyone, form an orderly line. Today’s missions are now open for registration.”