Sect Leader Is Under Great Pressure CH 074 The World Is Vast, Why Cherish Material Things
Ten days later, the flying peaks landed in a valley in the Ghost Ruins of the Qingqiu Domain. Nearly a hundred massive peaks silently settled down. The ground was uneven, but several talisman formations at the base of the flying peaks shifted, and in just a few breaths, the soil conformed perfectly to the terrain below, securely anchoring it.
As they landed, a strange black fog enveloped the area. The Ghost Ruins, a battlefield between the Great Xuan Dynasty and the spirit demon clans centuries ago, was one of the most poisonous places on earth, extremely dangerous. Almost immediately upon landing, the various eerie, blood-colored plants on the dark ground began to spread towards the flying peaks, but were blocked by a faint talisman light emanating from the peaks.
One of the peaks bore a black flag with white patterns resembling a jellyfish. It functioned like an exhaust fan, opening four vents in the mountain, sucking in the black fog like a whale swallowing water, and then expelling clean air as if it were exhaust. In less than an hour, the surrounding black fog had significantly thinned.
On Zhuiyun Peak, many people stood at the exit, waiting for the poisonous fog to dissipate so they could leave the peak.
"This Peach Blossom Mountain ghost fog is the most toxic and troublesome. Only Juedu Peak likes to refine its essence. In a few hours, the ghost fog within hundreds of miles will be sucked dry by them, and then we can go down and find some good stuff," said a burly, honest-looking cultivator to Yan Ling.
Around them were many cultivators, not dressed in the standard Kun-Lai attire and carrying various old and new weapons, clearly not official Kun-Lai disciples. On the flying peaks, such cultivators were collectively referred to as unaffiliated cultivators.
They came from all over: some had not been able to pass the outer sect, others were from small sects that had migrated from the Central Continent, and still others were cultivators from other continents hoping to strike it rich.
But they all knew that flying peak expeditions were extremely dangerous, and the cost of joining was very high, so they usually traveled in groups, led by someone experienced.
Without a Dao Disc, Yan Ling had to join an unaffiliated cultivator team and sleep in the cheapest, most basic dormitories on the flying peak, which greatly displeased him, being used to elite treatment.
"Brother Zhou, are you sure this is safe?" a young cultivator looked nervously at the black smoke outside, which gathered and dispersed like evil spirits.
"See over there? We'll follow them," the burly cultivator, Brother Zhou, pointed to another exit where Kun-Lai disciples were gathered, organizing into small teams and discussing their plans, looking relaxed and unconcerned, completely different from the fear and anxiety exhibited by unaffiliated cultivators. "These flying peaks have powerful Synthesis cultivators; strong poisonous beasts wouldn't dare come near. They also have many good defensive items. We'll just follow behind and pick up what they don't want, and that'll be enough for us to make a profit."
"Why should we only take what they don't want?" Yan Ling frowned slightly. "Spiritual treasures are formed by nature and belong to whoever can seize them."
At his words, the surrounding unaffiliated cultivators instinctively stepped back a few paces.
"Brother Yan," Brother Zhou whispered, "don't forget we're on their flying peak. If we upset them, they could throw us off, and that's no joke."
A look of disdain flashed in Yan Ling's eyes, but he said nothing more.
A few hours later, the black fog had completely dissipated, revealing a clear sky. The eerie, toxic plants on the ground seemed to hate the sunlight and began to retreat into the shadows. At this moment, the protective formation at the nearby exit opened, and a team of Kun-Lai disciples in blue robes left the peak.
Their blue robes had patterns of immortal grass at the hems, clearly marking them as disciples of Qingnu Peak. Yan Ling's group followed them from a distance.
"Pick the herbs with gold-threaded gloves on to avoid poisoning. Watch out for bugs... Don't kill black centipedes; Yushou Peak likes those and they sell for a good price," the leader of the blue-robed disciples instructed, as they all had cloth wrapped around their heads and brought out various jars and boxes. They moved through the area like it was their own orchard, effortlessly collecting valuable items.
"Don't stray too far, keep a proper distance. We've got plenty of time," the leader continued, calmly explaining the uses and identification of the collected items, "The Ghost Ruins have many treasures, but the most valuable is the Ghost Fog Grass. Its medicinal properties aren't determined by age; the ones with black threads in the leaves are the best. They grow in the densest Yin energy areas and are great for countering deadly curses and have remarkable effects on Golden Core Formation."
Brother Zhou listened intently, admiringly, and began picking the herbs, of course he could only use a gold steel talisman for protection. The other unaffiliated cultivators also started picking up what the Kun-Lai disciples occasionally missed.
By the end, although they were only scavenging, they had gathered quite a decent haul, each person ending up with three or four plants.
As the black fog thickened, the leader of the blue-robed disciples looked around and ordered his team to return.
"Brother Zhou..." a young unaffiliated cultivator pointed to a lush patch of grass not far away in the black fog. The ground was covered with short grass with three purple-green leaves, each with three white spots resembling twisted ghost faces. The veins in the leaves were thick black lines, indicating top-quality Ghost Fog Grass. "We should go pick those."
"No!" Brother Zhou's face changed, "If they didn't take it, it's definitely dangerous. We shouldn't touch it. Remember, the biggest taboo on flying peak expeditions is greed..."
"It's so close; it won't be a problem. If we get this, we'll strike it rich." The young unaffiliated cultivator, unable to let go, moved closer.
"Come back—" Before Brother Zhou could finish, a shadow flashed in the black fog, and the young unaffiliated cultivator was swept away without even a scream.
The surrounding unaffiliated cultivators all turned pale.
Yan Ling was also startled. He hadn't noticed the snake shadow at all, and he was a Nascent Soul cultivator, far above the Foundation Establishment unaffiliated cultivators.
"That's a ghost snake, a local beast demon hiding in the black fog. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator can hardly detect it. It's highly venomous; one bite requires ten antidote pills and immediate treatment by the Qingnu Peak elders," the leader of the blue-robed disciples turned back upon hearing the commotion, warning his rookie team, "Only the Juedu Peak folks can enter the black fog. They're more poisonous than the ghost snakes; a bite from them would kill the snake. Besides, there's a big boss in there, a demon king. Juedu Peak extracts venom from it once every hundred years. We should avoid conflicts with the local beast demons. Understand?"
The rookies quickly nodded.
Then the blue-robed disciples continued on their way back.
Brother Zhou sighed and led the unaffiliated cultivators back as well.
Still shaken by the eerie environment, Yan Ling saw a group of black-robed cultivators with white patterns walk into the black fog, chatting and laughing. The leader held a jade gourd with black runes absorbing the surrounding fog, creating a clear path.
"Senior Brother, if you absorb the fog, we can't catch the snakes," a black-robed cultivator protested.
"The fog is the most toxic thing here, not the snakes. Besides, Juedu Peak has enough snakes. Say, wouldn't it be great for our peak to set up here; there's plenty of good materials," the leader mused.
"But there's no internet here," a young black-robed girl pointed out.
"...Good point." The leader immediately dropped the idea. "Let's go; the venomous toad is calling. There's a big one over there..."
Their voices faded into the fog, leaving Yan Ling feeling like his worldview was being challenged.
At this time, the night began to fall, and he was practically pulled away in a daze by the unaffiliated cultivators.
Back on the flying peak, it was dinner time. The mountain had a special hall providing spiritual food, but unaffiliated cultivators could only buy spiritual wheat bran buns.
Though Yan Ling, being a Nascent Soul cultivator, didn't need to eat, he saw spiritual wine being sold. It could help balance the hostility in his cultivation method, so he tried to buy some.
But the cultivator serving drinks refused. "Sorry, this isn't sold to unaffiliated cultivators."
Yan Ling glared coldly at him, as if wanting to devour him.
"Don't bother; this is top-grade wine, not for sale. The cheap stuff is over there," the server pointed to a corner and then attended to the next Kun-Lai disciple.
Yan Ling memorized his appearance, planning to devour his blood and essence next time he was out. Though he was only a Golden Core Formation cultivator, this insult had to be repaid.
Nearby, Brother Zhou, eating his spiritual wheat bran bun, tugged Yan Ling's sleeve. "Brother Yan, this is Kun-Lai's rule. Good stuff goes to their own first. We can't do anything about it, and besides, we can't afford it. Don't get angry."
"Hmph." Yan Ling coldly surveyed the hall, trying to remember the faces of the Kun-Lai disciples.
At that moment, a familiar graceful figure appeared, chatting happily with a young man. Yan Ling thought for a moment and shrank back into the crowd of unaffiliated cultivators.
Qingnu and Feng Qingxiu patrolled around, breathing a slight sigh of relief. "Thankfully, no casualties today."
"Some of those unaffiliated cultivators seem to be missing," Feng Qingxiu frowned slightly. "It's only the first time we've landed."
"It's already quite good. The Outlands are full of dangers. Even Kun-Lai disciples, with all their experience, often face casualties. If half of the unaffiliated cultivators make it back, that's considered fortunate." Qingnu shook her head and then took out a ledger. "You have a half investment in Zhuiyun Peak. Today's income from all the peaks will be taxed at twenty percent for the peak masters, so ten percent of today's income is yours. Check it over."
Feng Qingxiu took the ledger and examined it carefully, then asked with some confusion, "An income of 120,000 spiritual stones in one day—isn't that a bit too high?"
Could it be that today’s total income reached a million spiritual stones? That’s too…
"It’s not high at all. For example, Ghost Mist Grass only grows in the Ghost Ruins. Without Juedu Peak removing the poisonous mist, the Synthesis cultivators scaring off the great spirit demons and our experience, even Nascent Soul cultivators might lose their lives collecting a single plant. A box of Return Soul Incense made from a single plant sells easily for a thousand spiritual stones in the Central Continent, and they still think it’s cheap. Besides, we won’t be back here for at least a hundred years, so we can sell it slowly." Qingnu smiled. "Not only the human realms but the outer realms have shamanic clans skilled in curse arts. Many spirit demon clans suffer from this too, so selling to them is even more profitable."
Feng Qingxiu nodded, thinking about the dozen boxes of grass they collected today. He started to understand why Kun-Lai's prices were so high.
After reviewing the accounts, Feng Qingxiu returned the ledger to Qingnu. After some pleasantries, she left.
Only then did Feng Qingxiu return to his quarters and start writing a letter to his master. He first reported recent events, then expressed his longing for his master, and finally, knowing his master’s desire to explore, added, "Now that I've ventured into the Outlands, I truly realize how vast the world is. If possible, I would love to share these endless landscapes with you, Master."
He hit send.
It didn’t go through.
He tried several more times before it finally went through.
Was the network too distant?
He then took out the unresponsive paper figure of his master. Suddenly inspired, he used his sword energy to craft a simple black robe and carefully dressed the paper figure in it.
How could just a piece of paper represent his master? This made his master’s figure more imposing!
He squeezed the paper figure's arm and was about to touch it again when he sensed a disturbance in the flying peak’s great spiritual ward.
Transforming into light, he landed on the peak top and saw countless specks of light rushing towards the flying peaks in the distant night.
Almost simultaneously, warning signals from the various peaks sounded.