Chapter 157: Like a Fish in Water (Combined Chapter, Please Subscribe)

"It is just pitting one Golden Core of the Demon Heart Sect, even if a Black Underworld Sect Evil Spirit Cultivator with suspected Golden Core strength is added."

"Yet it also cost the Artifact Heart Sect one of its own Golden Cores... This trade is naturally worthwhile for a righteous sect, but for the Artifact Heart Sect, perhaps not?"

Su Ping was somewhat surprised by this, yet he also knew this was because he knew far too little about the affairs between those large sects in the outside world.

Being able to know that the Demon Heart Sect was a Demonic Path sect that had committed monstrous sins in the Nanhuang region was already the limit.

The internal entanglements and various hidden circumstances were not yet things he, a Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator, could know clearly.

He stopped dwelling on the situation there, and after knowing that this region was still under the control of a normal sect, he set his mind at ease and continued to be his own Nine Leaves Mountain Market Master and Jinque City Inspector.

Of course, he also followed the trend and complied with the requests of the managers below who were uneasy about the Yunshan Market affair.

He allocated some supplies and had a manager take a group of people to the coastal area to set up an estate in preparation for a rainy day.

Although Su Ping also knew in his heart that the coastal area was not safe either, and even the Overseas Islands were plagued by Evil Spirits!

Two days later, the celestial phenomena completely vanished without a trace, and the heavy snow melted on a large scale following the appearance of bright sunshine.

Xiao Mu Zhenren piloted an Immortal Boat to patrol the surroundings and, on the way, came to the Nine Leaves Mountain Market to see Su Ping.

Xiao Mu Zhenren had a rather good impression of the Baihe Zhenren that Su Ping was disguised as.

From the Dharma Artifacts obtained in the previous few exchange meetings, it could be seen that this Baihe Zhenren was a Cultivator with strength and luck!

Crucially, he also understood when to advance or retreat, and was neither greedy nor arrogant.

No matter how one looked at it, he was a Foundation Establishment who could live a long time!

Such a Foundation Establishment, even if his foundation was poor due to his background as a Loose Cultivator and his upper limit was not high.

Was still worth him befriending deeply and giving a hand to.

After all, he was also a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a low upper limit!

Plus, the matter of Mu Zhenren had also changed his mindset a lot.

In his thinking.

Who could say when he himself or his descendants might be helped by this Foundation Establishment at a critical moment?

Xiao Mu Zhenren visited, besides reminiscing and sighing about life over these past few days.

Also presented an invitation.

It was that their Artifact Heart Sect Sect Master had personally arrived at the Yunshan Market, intending to invite fellow Daoists from all directions to gather.

On one hand, the higher-ups of their Artifact Heart Sect also intended to be stationed here permanently, hoping to meet with all parties to get to know each other and set some rules.

On the other hand, it was also to take this opportunity to recruit personnel from small and medium sects or families to fill vacancies.

Xiao Mu Zhenren privately revealed that their Artifact Heart Sect was preparing to move the entire sect to this Jinzi Domain this time.

Furthermore, the Artifact Heart Sect had already obtained the approval of the Chiyuan Immortal Sect, gaining control of the Jinzi Domain as a nominal vassal force.

In this way, the Chiyuan Immortal Sect still appeared to control the complete Central Region, the Artifact Heart Sect could be considered to have a formal status, and the people below would not have to worry about the Immortal Sect settling scores after recovering.

Even if the Immortal Sect wanted to take back control later, it would be the Immortal Sect and the Artifact Heart Sect bargaining and eventually tearing off the mask to go to war, which would leave enough time for the middle and lower levels to remain fence-sitters.

Xiao Mu Zhenren also extended an olive branch.

Hoping that after Baihe Zhenren's divine abilities and cultivation were stabilized, he could come to the Artifact Heart Sect to serve as a Guest Minister.

The treatment for outside Guest Ministers of the Artifact Heart Sect was generous, the requirements were not high, and if one served for fifty full years, they could also help customize a high-grade Dharma Artifact for free.

In the future, if the sect obtained control over more Spirit Veins, Guest Ministers would also have the opportunity to obtain a Spirit Vein as a family foundation.

Su Ping naturally agreed readily, stating that he would definitely give it priority consideration.

Afterwards, Su Ping learned from this Xiao Mu Zhenren the version of the news that the Artifact Heart Sect had likely spread intentionally.

First, their Artifact Heart Sect Sect Master was wise and martial, having long guessed through various clues that the notorious Demon Heart Sect had connections with the Black Underworld Sect.

What was the Black Underworld Sect? That was a line of Evil Spirit Cultivators almost equivalent to Evil Spirits!

Especially the few Blood Sacrifices that were successful in the Mu Zi Yu.

In fact, it had already pierced the heavens.

Whether it was a large sect like the Artifact Heart Sect or the various top Immortal Sects in other regions, all had listed them on the must-kill list.

The Demon Heart Sect getting involved with such a force was naturally also listed as a key target for demon extermination.

Therefore, after the Artifact Heart Sect Sect Master guessed the other party's plan, he performed a "counter-plot."

First, he intentionally let the other party's secret agents know that his own sect's Old Ancestor had gone to an overseas Secret Realm and was unable to attend to them.

Then he let the other side know of some unspeakable importance of the Yunshan Market!

And relying on the help of the Chiyuan Immortal Sect and the Great Golden Light Temple, he used the Yunshan Market as bait, and after luring the enemy deep, activated the Zhou Tian Star Demon-Slaying Array.

Under the array, not a single demon could escape!

Not only was a fake-Golden Core Evil Spirit Cultivator of the Black Underworld Sect killed on the spot!

But the Vice Sect Master of the Demon Heart Sect, who was also that Golden Core Demon Cultivator who was the current Sect Saint Son of the Demon Heart Sect, was captured alive!

Speaking of that Golden Core Demon Cultivator, Xiao Mu Zhenren was beaming and kept emphasizing how powerful this guy was.

This was a peerless genius of the Demonic Path, who had only reached the Golden Core Late Stage this year at the age of one hundred and fifty.

And his combat strength was powerful, and he had also successfully cultivated the Undying Heavenly Demon divine ability, the only one to do so in a thousand years!

Back in Nanhuang, there were righteous and demonic Nascent Soul Old Ancestors who feared his potential and personally took action against him, yet they returned empty-handed after several attempts!

Instead, it caused his prestige to soar!

He was already recognized as the next Sect Master within the Demon Heart Sect!

Even in other Demonic Path sects, his prestige was extremely high, and it was said that the moment he achieved Nascent Soul would be the moment the Demonic Path's Demon Lord reappeared!

Yet, unexpectedly, he was caught by their Artifact Heart Sect in this place far from Nanhuang!

This... was truly a great joyous event for the entire righteous path! It must be widely publicized!

Su Ping finished listening to the other party's story and expressed his respect for the wise and martial Sect Master of the Artifact Heart Sect.

And after presenting a few local specialties as a modest gift to Xiao Mu Zhenren, he sent off this friend.

Then, Su Ping lay back down on the chair, letting the snake women apply the Body Refining ointment to his back at the same time.

He took out the pale red Invitation Letter and smiled lightly.

Judging from the information obtained this time.

Both the Great Golden Light Temple and the Immortal Sect must have put in a great deal of effort.

Otherwise, the rhetoric during the promotion would not have been like this.

As for the Sect Master's brilliant foresight.

It was also highly likely the work of these two top-tier forces.

Otherwise, the Demon Heart Sect should have suffered enough back in Nanhuang.

They wouldn't have been so arrogant, conceited, and domineering at that time!

No matter how you look at it, it didn't seem like they looked down on the Artifact Heart Sect.

However, was it actually a live capture?

Capturing a Golden Core alive, especially one who is at the level of a heaven-gifted genius and whose supernatural powers sound far from inferior.

That must be several times harder than killing them!

Su Ping vaguely suspected that the Great Golden Light Temple and the Immortal Sect had made such large arrangements and investments.

Perhaps what they truly wanted was to capture that Golden Core Demon Cultivator alive.

Colluding with the Black Underworld Sect and Evil Spirits or whatever might just be incidental!

Could it be that the Golden Core Demon Cultivator possessed some extraordinary Saint Body or a great secret?

It wouldn't be a Saint Body similar to the Nether Ghost Body, would it?

After all, the Great Golden Light Temple relied on merit to acquire so many purified Mysterious Remains... a major possibility is to forge a living Buddha to save the world?

Five days later.

Having finished his Fishing quotas at the reservoir and the Linyue Lake fishing spot, Su Ping, in a good mood, prepared to head to the Yunshan Market.

This Fishing session yielded two Green Spirit Fish.

It also brought the Pot Heaven experience to:

【Current Pot Heaven Level: 2 (170/200)】

With two more Green Spirit Fish in hand, the Pot Heaven could be upgraded again.

Several hours later.

Su Ping appeared at the summit of the Yunshan Market.

Su Ping discovered that the entire Yunshan was at least three hundred meters shorter than before.

The surrounding terrain had also changed slightly.

Fortunately, the Artifact Heart Sect's cleanup work was good; traces of the great battle were no longer visible in the surroundings.

Furthermore, many buildings in the style of the Artifact Heart Sect had appeared on the mountaintop.

Looking closely, these buildings had no foundations and were more like large Dharma Artifacts of the tool type.

And in fact, that was the case.

The entire street block, and even the entire Market on Yunshan today.

Were all part of the Artifact Heart Sect's foundation, being Dharma Artifacts and even Spirit Tools refined over many years!

Because the port in the sky was long gone, it couldn't have been repaired so quickly.

A large number of Immortal Boats were suspended high in the air.

Su Ping looked up at the Immortal Boats of varying sizes, and then, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was able to leave the main group with the usher.

He went alone to a private room on the top floor of a beautifully decorated restaurant.

After asking if there were any other requirements, the usher slowly retreated.

Leaving only Su Ping alone to wait in this private room.

Not long after, a Giant Immortal Boat lowered its altitude.

Immortal music sounded all around, and seven-colored light appeared in the sky.

It was also at this moment that Su Ping noticed on the deck of that Immortal Boat.

Besides a few Golden Core cultivators he didn't recognize.

The white-bearded Golden Core cultivator who had been captured by the Evil Spirit was also on the deck.

And he looked to be in normal spirits, not like someone who had suffered a great loss.

"Supernatural power? Secret Technique? Or perhaps some kind of second Avatar technique?"

Su Ping was curious, but it was only curiosity; he wouldn't be foolish enough to run over and ask for the answer.

He just felt in his heart that perhaps this was more in line with the facts; after all, that was a Golden Core!

If a Golden Core Cultivator could just be abandoned, even if they succeeded, the sect team would be hard to lead, right?

The Sect Master of the Artifact Heart Sect, a middle-aged or elderly cultivator who looked like a kind old man, cupped his hands toward the surroundings of the street.

After introducing himself, he formally invited cultivators at the Foundation Establishment level and above to board the ship.

As for those below Foundation Establishment, they would not be treated poorly.

Servants would naturally bring Spirit Wine and Spirit food, and entertainment programs had been arranged.

Su Ping flew through the air and boarded the giant ship.

Having boarded this level of large Immortal Boat for the first time, he was quite curious about it.

At the same time, Su Ping also discovered that he was not the only one who was so curious.

Most of the invited Foundation Establishment cultivators had little opportunity to come into contact with such Immortal Boats.

"This Immortal Boat is a thousand meters long, can float in the air, is integrated for both offense and defense, and has the ability to travel ten thousand miles a day."

"If this were placed on Water Blue Star and covered with a bit of illusion Array, it could completely pass as an alien spaceship landing, right?"

While Su Ping was sighing with emotion, he followed the usher into the massive ship cabin, then sat down in an inconspicuous spot on the periphery.

Su Ping had no objections to this.

He even felt it was exactly what he wanted!

Being able to eat and drink for free while watching the performances of those big shots was quite good.

"This wine is not bad; it seems to be Spirit Wine made from Golden Lotus Spirit Rice?"

Su Ping took a sip of the crystal-clear Spirit Wine and immediately realized this was the best thing he had ever drunk.

There was not a hint of bitterness or spiciness; instead, it was cool, sweet, and easy to swallow.

Furthermore, after drinking it, the Qi and blood within his body had grown by a trace.

Su Ping was already a Foundation Establishment Body Cultivator, and even more so possessed the Big Dipper Saint Body; although it was only at four percent, it was still a Saint Body!

Being able to feel a growth in himself, one had to say this Spirit Wine was of great benefit to Body Cultivators!

Su Ping hurriedly drank the Spirit Wine in the pot and used Secret Language to ask the attendant nearby if he could have more.

After receiving confirmation, he felt no embarrassment at all as he let the other party fill up a pot of Spirit Wine for him...

After the ship cabin was full.

The Sect Master of the Artifact Heart Sect and several Elders appeared together.

At the same time, the Cultivators noticed that in the first circle of VIP seats.

A High Monk from the Great Golden Light Temple had arrived slowly.

He presented a congratulatory gift on behalf of the Great Golden Light Temple.

A scene like this could be completely interpreted as the Great Golden Light Temple endorsing the actions of the Artifact Heart Sect.

Then, the Sect Master of the Artifact Heart Sect took out a scroll and repeated the content that Xiao Mu Zhenren had informed them of in advance.

Those Cultivators from small and medium-sized forces who did not know about this matter changed their expressions one after another.

Some had ugly expressions, worried that their interests would be encroached upon by the Artifact Heart Sect, which had now obtained legitimacy.

Others were prepared to have their entire clan defect to the Artifact Heart Sect as soon as they returned.

After formally declaring their legitimacy over the entire Jinzi Domain.

The Artifact Heart Sect also laid their cards on the table, stating that the current Cultivation World was truly too full of disasters and hardships.

In order to better deal with Evil Cultivators, deal with Evil Spirits, and even the lawless Demonic Path Cultivators.

They were prepared to change the rules of the past.

All mineral veins, Spirit Plantation Gardens, and some sustainably developable Secret Realms in the entire Jinzi Domain.

Must first be centralized by the Artifact Heart Sect, and then distributed!

Of course, those Markets and family residences with Spirit Veins below First Tier High Grade were in principle still allowed to be kept by everyone.

However, as righteous Cultivators, the Artifact Heart Sect, or rather the High Monk of the Great Golden Light Temple, demanded that these righteous Cultivators take responsibility!

From now on, all mortal cities and towns in the entire Jinzi Domain were to be abolished.

All mortals were to be arranged by nearby cultivation forces to live in areas equipped with Array protection.

This requirement caused some Cultivators who liked peace and quiet and could not bear to see the suffering of mortals to frown slightly, yet they dared not refute it.

Su Ping also had no objections to this clause; he had already done so.

Returning this time was just using this as an excuse to have all the people left behind by the remaining families in Jinque City move to the Jiuye Mountain Market.

Su Ping could also guess to some extent that the reason for such a sudden order might be that the High Monks had discovered that mortals in the current Cultivation World were truly dying too quickly and in too great numbers.

It was unfavorable for them to purify the Mysterious Remains.

Sure enough, the Artifact Heart Sect next began to help promote the various benefits of letting mortals perform rituals to purify Sealed Dharma Artifacts.

And they stated that the Great Golden Light Temple intended to set up a Merit Temple in the Yunshan Market.

Additionally, their Artifact Heart Sect was also willing to purchase Sealed Dharma Artifacts from each family in advance, and guaranteed absolute fairness and justice in this matter!

They would definitely not take advantage of anything in this major event of the Cultivation World!

The reason their Artifact Heart Sect had traveled thousands of miles to come to this Jinzi Domain.

Was precisely to help the Immortal Sect maintain the Order of this region and for the great cause of resisting Evil Spirits!

"Well said!"

"The Artifact Heart Sect is indeed a trustworthy great sect!"

"With a sect like the Artifact Heart Sect presiding over the big picture, won't the Order of the Jinzi Domain return just like that!"

"The days ahead are going to get better!"

In the audience, several loud-voiced people immediately stood up and praised loudly.

Consequently, a chorus of praise resounded through the ship cabin.

Su Ping drank his Spirit Wine and followed along with a few words of praise.

Anyway, he had no mineral veins, Spirit Plantation Gardens, nor any Secret Realms.

As for the Pot Heaven? A Dongtian that no one knew about naturally did not exist!

It was certain that there were forces hiding Secret Realms.

The Artifact Heart Sect would likely have their own methods to investigate.

However, no matter how they investigated, Su Ping did not believe they could find his Pot Heaven.

Especially since the opponent's high-level power would never be wasted on a Loose Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage like him!

The ones to bear the pressure first were instead the Cultivator Alliance and those small and medium-sized sects that followed along, as well as local cultivation families that had produced Inner Sect Disciples.

Thanks to his low status.

Su Ping and those Foundation Establishment Cultivators without backgrounds became the first guests to leave the banquet.

On the contrary, those guests with deep backgrounds, suspected of having mineral veins and Secret Realms, were invited by the Artifact Heart Sect to the deeper parts of the ship's cabin for a small meeting.

Su Ping left the Immortal Boat, not in a hurry to depart.

Instead, he went to the Market.

Su Ping discovered that the goods sold in this Market were actually even more complete than those in the previous Market.

It was just that the market price was also slightly higher.

Su Ping was not lacking in Spirit Stones at the moment.

It was just that he was worried that spending too much money would attract attention.

He only spent over a thousand Spirit Stones to buy some materials.

Afterward, he went to the Reward and Punishment Hall of the Artifact Heart Sect, using Superior Pills to exchange for a batch of mid-grade and waste-grade pills for Foundation Establishment use.

Only then did he turn and leave, returning to Jiuye Mountain Market.

…………

Pot Heaven.

Accompanied by a crisp cry.

On the mountain peak where the Burial Ground was located, a phantom of a mysterious turtle appeared, covering the airspace above the summit.

This phantom phenomenon flashed across the sky.

Yet it made Da Hei crawl out of the Spirit Light Fish Pond in a panic, hiding behind Su Ping.

Su Ping looked at the young mysterious turtle that had successfully advanced by eating Foundation Establishment Demon Beasts, and after a stir in his heart.

In the blink of an eye, the young mysterious turtle changed from the size of a palm to the size of a large truck.

At the same time, strange dark mysterious patterns appeared on its body, including its turtle shell.

Looking at the truck-sized mysterious turtle spirit pet before him.

Su Ping felt that its appearance was becoming more and more like an ancient fierce beast.

Its cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment Early Stage realm, but its Dharma Power reserve was at least ten times that of an ordinary Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

Added with the mysterious turtle's talent, if this young mysterious turtle were released, it would likely be able to easily crush a Foundation Establishment opponent of the same realm!

Furthermore, the defensive power of this young mysterious turtle was clearly superior to its attack power.

Su Ping experimented a little.

This mysterious turtle came with its own force field shield and multiple protective light barriers.

Ordinary physical means hitting it would be directly deflected from the direction of force and turned into nothingness.

As for spells, lightning, water, fire, and earth would all be weakened to varying degrees.

In terms of poison, at least none of what Su Ping could produce had any effect on the young mysterious turtle.

Therefore, besides sending it out to bite people, this mysterious turtle could also be shrunk and placed in a sleeve to be used as a defensive Spirit Tool.

To say nothing else, relying on it, one could walk directly through a barrage of ten thousand cannons without a single shell touching one's body.

It was just that, as this fellow successfully broke through to Foundation Establishment.

Eating the meat of Qi Refining Demon Beasts directly had no great effect anymore.

Foundation Establishment Demon Beast meat still had an effect, but it was not large.

If he wanted to let the young mysterious turtle continue to grow rapidly...

He would probably have to go find the remains of large Demon Beasts at the Foundation Establishment Mid-to-late stage or even equivalent to the Jindan stage?

If he didn't go hunting them himself, but bought them instead.

The higher the cultivation of the Demon Beast, the more expensive the meat would be!

Su Ping felt that the Spirit Stones in his Storage Bag probably couldn't satisfy the young mysterious turtle's appetite.

Therefore, this young mysterious turtle should also support itself!

It was just that he didn't know if he could make up for it with quantity.

In the ocean of Water Blue Star, there were a large number of fish that could be eaten.

At the same time, the useful materials discovered during his time in Sakura Country also made Su Ping curious about the ocean of Water Blue Star.

There could be heavenly materials and earthly treasures on land.

With a larger area and being even more mysterious, there was no reason for the ocean not to have them, right?

Su Ping thought for a moment; anyway, there was no place for the young mysterious turtle and Da Hei recently.

Thus, after receiving the Patrol Envoy from Yunshan Market and registering the Spirit Field and the number of Cultivators of Jiuye Mountain Market.

And coordinating with the monks from Small Golden Light Temple, he sent stewards to help them plan the location for the Golden Light Subduing Demon Array in the residential area at the foot of the mountain, and to build a dojo for sacrifices.

After finishing these tasks.

Su Ping then used the excuse of closed-door cultivation and disappeared from the Cultivation World.

Not long after Su Ping left.

A Patrol Envoy arrived again, and upon learning that Baihe Zhenren was in closed-door cultivation, he left a letter and departed quickly.

This Patrol Envoy was an outsider who had joined the Artifact Heart Sect at the Foundation Establishment stage, considered one of the external Guest Ministers.

As soon as he entered Jiuye Mountain Market, he knew that the Loose Cultivator Foundation Establishment was not on the mountain.

However, this was also normal; given the environment of Jiuye Mountain, if it were him, he wouldn't be in closed-door cultivation here either.

Furthermore, which Cultivator who broke through to Foundation Establishment didn't have their own little secrets?

As long as it wasn't evil cultivation methods, everyone would be understanding of each other.

Water Blue Star.

Facing the ocean, Su Ping summoned the mysterious turtle and Da Hei.

And after giving a few instructions on precautions, he handed the pills for replenishing Dharma Power to the mysterious turtle for safekeeping, and after letting the mysterious turtle look after Da Hei.

He then let the Profound Turtle and Da Hei dive into the Dahai together.

Following the ocean currents, they began a journey of eating while exploring.

Once Da Hei entered the Dahai, it was like a fish in water, like a dragon entering the sea.

Although it was slightly unaccustomed to the lack of Spirit Qi.

The sense of familiarity brought by the Dahai made up for all these shortcomings.

As it sank to the seabed, Su Ping could vaguely feel that Da Hei's Divine Soul seemed to be strengthening.

It appeared that the ocean was resonating with the bit of False Dragon Blood within its body.

As for the Profound Turtle, it already possessed Divine Sense after breaking through to Foundation Establishment.

The bit of Divine Soul strengthened by the ocean resonance was insignificant to it.

However... this glutton seemed to be able to eat a bit too much?

Su Ping noticed that after his Profound Turtle encountered a school of fish, it immediately grew in size and then opened its mouth to inhale!

Thousands upon thousands of fish in the school were all sucked into its mouth, becoming its nourishment.

The efficiency... it felt even more exaggerated than those high-tech fishing boats!

Su Ping could not help but quickly give a new command.

He told it to spare those fish fry when eating fish.

After all, the humans of Water Blue Star had already proven through actual practice that overfishing could truly drive fish to extinction.

Draining the pond to catch all the fish is not advisable!

Da Hei was much more refined in this regard.

It had no interest in small fish.

It focused mainly on various large sharks and even whales.

Additionally, from time to time, it would also find one or two giant octopuses on the seabed to spice up its diet.