32: Promoted to mid-grade, underground living creature?

Wangchuan Market.

After Shi Chuan purchased some talismans and spirit ink, he returned to his Immortal Cave in the market.

This rented Immortal Cave was paid for daily, and he could leave at any time.

Although the ticking time bomb that was Jiang Yuheng had been dealt with, Shi Chuan still felt a subtle unease in his heart.

“I’ll stay for a few more days, and then leave once the Earth Vein Teleportation Talisman’s Realm grade is elevated to Second Grade Medium Grade.”

“During these few days, I can also see if there are any hidden dangers near Corpse Refining Peak after the zi shi (11 pm - 1 am) intelligence has been re-organized.”

Inside the Immortal Cave, Shi Chuan held a talisman brush and quickly made a decision.

The Earth Vein Teleportation Talisman was a life-saving trump card that needed to be solid and secure.

After all, the quality of the Earth Qi Talismans drawn in the Immortal Cave beneath the market was slightly higher than those drawn in Corpse Refining Cave.

After deciding, Shi Chuan began to draw Earth Qi Talismans with flowing movements.

He could now draw about forty Earth Qi Talismans daily, a stable efficiency that other First Grade Medium Grade Talisman Masters wouldn't even dare to dream of.

However, only Shi Chuan could achieve this, thanks to the dual blessings of the Nine Nether Demonic Fiend Vine and the Profound Yin Banner.

Once the Earth Qi Talismans were drawn, they were all used to nourish the Earth Vein Teleportation Talisman!

In a flash, zi shi (11 pm - 1 am) arrived.

【zi shi (11 pm - 1 am) has arrived】

【Received one green intelligence report】

【Green intelligence report: After Jiang Yuheng was afflicted by a Heart Demon Talisman, he lost control of his emotions and went on a killing spree in Nine Bend Market, severely injuring Cultivators of the same Realm. He then, with only a sliver of rationality remaining, wounded Yu Jiao, a Jiao Demon hidden in the market!】

【Before his Heart Demon erupted, Jiang Yuheng seemed to have left an unknown Magical Artifact in the Qiao Family Artifact Refining Shop, hidden three hundred zhang deep underground, which no Cultivator has retrieved yet!】

…

“He hid something three hundred zhang deep underground?”

Shi Chuan’s Divine Thought partially withdrew from his Cultivation state.

His expression held a hint of apprehension; something left behind by a Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivator was very likely not a good thing.

However, Shi Chuan could try to investigate.

The High Grade Horned Python Demon Soul within the Profound Yin Banner could burrow through the earth.

…

In a blink of an eye, another day passed.

【zi shi (11 pm - 1 am) has arrived】

【Received one white intelligence report】

【White intelligence report: Outer Sect Disciple Yu Jiao of Corpse Refining Peak, after suffering severe injuries, is unable to perform her talisman-drawing duties in the Talisman Hall. Her status as a Talisman Master has been temporarily revoked, and she has been ordered to recuperate in the market for one or two years.】

“This Yu Jiao is seriously injured.”

“This is a good opportunity to make a move. I can make her an informant, just like Qin Zhizhi.”

With the tentacles of the Demonic Fiend Vine for control, combined with several other control techniques, at least Golden Core Demonic Cultivators and below wouldn’t be able to break the Restriction.

The more informants he had, the better. This way, he could have more control over the situation outside the Sect.

Given how arrogant the Jiao Demon and Purple Cloud Second Sect were now, the Yellow Springs Demon Sect, currently at a disadvantage, would certainly not sit idly by.

When the snipe and clam fight, he, the small fisherman, could benefit from the chaos.

…

【zi shi (11 pm - 1 am) has arrived】

【Received one green intelligence report】

【Green intelligence report: Kong Ran of the Main Peak secretly entered the dungeon late at night and left in a hurry several hours later. The two seem to have reached some kind of cooperation, and Kong Ran appears to have received benefits promised by Jiang Yuheng.】

“The cooperation of these two old foxes.”

In these past few days, Shi Chuan had been diligently drawing talismans, increasing his daily output of Earth Qi Talismans to about fifty.

It was almost second nature to him now.

His talisman-drawing skill had improved significantly.

After a few more days,

Once the Earth Vein Teleportation Talisman was promoted to Second Grade Medium Grade, he even wanted to try First Grade High Grade spirit talismans.

Although Medium Grade and High Grade were only one minor rank apart, their status was different. The power of a High Grade spirit talisman was comparable to the spell attacks of a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

Inner Sect Disciples in the Sect were very willing to befriend High Grade Talisman Masters.

The price of Spirit Stones was also different from before.

Once a Talisman Master broke through to High Grade spirit talismans, he could stop and focus his energy on the Corpse Puppet Dao.

The Demonic Fiend Vine in his body, besides being able to control living beings, also seemed to have control over inanimate objects like Corpse Puppets.

Shi Chuan would be able to try it out properly once he returned to Corpse Refining Cave.

Later, he would definitely need to visit the Corpse Mound on Corpse Refining Peak; the corpse mound token in his Storage Pouch had not yet been used.

…

【zi shi (11 pm - 1 am) has arrived】

【Received one white intelligence report】

【White intelligence report: In the Gu Refining Hall of Corpse Refining Peak, Outer Sect Disciple Ge Chaoqun cultivated a mutated Purple Centipede. After its Bloodline mutated, it seems to have awakened a remarkable innate Divine Ability!】

…

【zi shi (11 pm - 1 am) has arrived】

【Received one green intelligence report】

【Green intelligence report: Kong Ran, the Vice Sect Leader of Yellow Springs Demon Sect, quietly returned after being injured outside and immediately announced his seclusion. He also sent his Disciple to the dungeon where Jiang Yuheng was imprisoned.】

…

【zi shi (11 pm - 1 am) has arrived】

【Received one green intelligence report】

【Green intelligence report: The item Jiang Yuheng left beneath the Qiao Family Artifact Refining Shop seems to have undergone some changes over the past few days; something is being conceived and born.】

…

In a daze, seven days had passed.

On the table in front of Shi Chuan, the Earth Vein Teleportation Talisman, after consuming hundreds of Earth Qi Talismans, had its grade restored to Second Grade Medium Grade.

The warm, jade-like talisman felt warm to the touch, and the powerful Earth Vein Qi it contained had at least doubled compared to when it was Second Grade Low Grade.

This would further increase the safety of his escape.

The purchased talismans, spirit ink, and the beast bones of the earth-elemental Yao Beast were all used up.

Afterward, he could purchase more talismans and continue drawing Earth Qi Talismans.

Shi Chuan could feel that the grade of this Earth Vein Teleportation Talisman could still be improved by at least one minor rank, given the base material of the jade talisman.

A Second Grade High Grade Earth Vein Teleportation Talisman would make him worry-free.

It would still require considerable time, daily, to feed it Earth Qi Talismans.

During these seven days,

Although he had the blessings of the Demonic Fiend Vine and the Profound Yin Banner, he was mentally exhausted. It was time to leave Wangchuan Market.

After Shi Chuan filtered out some irrelevant white intelligence reports from the re-organized intelligence of the past seven days,

Only Ge Chaoqun of the Gu Refining Hall and his refined mutated Purple Centipede remained.

The Purple Centipede was originally just an ordinary First Grade Medium Grade Bloodline, with a growth limit of First Grade Medium Grade. Now, after mutation,

It would be at least First Grade High Grade, and there was even a possibility of Awakening a hint of potential to advance to a Foundation Establishment Gu worm.

If it could possess the Bloodline to advance to a Foundation Establishment Gu worm, then he could try to take action and control it himself.

There was also the transaction between Kong Ran and Jiang Yuheng, and the intelligence from these few days showed that something was being conceived and born beneath the Qiao Family Artifact Refining Shop.

The item Jiang Yuheng buried deep underground was clearly a living creature!

Jiang Yuheng had been the Punishment Hall Master for so many years, and countless Cultivators had died by his hand; he certainly had life-saving countermeasures.

Yu Jiao, the Outer Sect spy, would surely be terrified every day after learning that Jiang Yuheng was not dead.

“Go!”

“Move back to Corpse Refining Cave!”

Shi Chuan opened the door to Qin Zhizhi’s Cultivation room and instructed her.

“Yes, Master!”

Qin Zhizhi felt helpless inside, but on the surface, she respectfully bowed.

Corpse Refining Cave was not a good place for Cultivation.

It couldn't compare to Wangchuan Market, which was rich in Spiritual Qi, and where the Yin Sha Corpse Poison was very sparse, so it wouldn't affect one's Cultivation at all.