Chapter 157: Harvest, the Crisis of Character: Liyang Zhenren City

157. Chapter 157 Harvest, the Crisis of Character: Liyang Zhenren City

The Puppet Evil Lord's treasures are numerous and varied, covering almost every category, and there are many strange and exotic items; Xiao Zhangqing doesn't recognize their names, but can sense that they contain considerable spirit.

It seems this is related to his raiding and plundering while doing forced cultivation.

But Xiao Zhangqing roughly inventoryed the items he knows.

He found that the total value of the treasures on this person was almost three hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones!

It should be noted that the vast majority of Fake Core cultivators and early Nascent Core cultivators who have accumulated for years cannot even produce two hundred thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones.

For example, at the once‑every‑ten‑years auction in Character: Liyang Zhenren City, many treasures that are hugely beneficial to early Nascent Core cultivators appeared, and their auction prices generally stayed at a few tens of thousands of Low-grade Spirit Stones.

Even the "Three‑pattern Jade Dew Pill", a "Treasure" that has a significant effect on breaking through the mid Nascent Core stage, was finally obtained by Blood Crow True Person for only one hundred ninety‑five thousand Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

So.

Putting aside various expenses and cultivation, a Fake Core True Person or an early Nascent Core True Person usually does not have a net worth exceeding two hundred thousand.

What about this Puppet Evil Lord?

According to Gu Zongyuan's intel, the time since he was promoted to a Fake Core cultivator hasn't been long, at most the past five years.

With such a short time yet such a rich net worth, he is considered a billionaire among early Nascent Core cultivators; one can imagine how many murderous smuggling deeds he has committed.

On Xiao Zhangqing's way to Character: Liyang Zhenren City, he killed one of the Five Fiends' leaders, the Moon Old Demon, in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range; this person possessed near Foundation Establishment completion strength, had a long record of evil, and his net worth was only half that of the Puppet Evil Lord.

The only regret is that Xiao Zhangqing did not loot from the Puppet Evil Lord any treasure, other than the "Puppet Inheritance", that the system could extract a divine technique from.

For example, the Puppet Evil Lord's third‑tier Water‑type Banner Magic Treasure; Xiao Zhangqing sensed it upon handling, and it was quite good, with a high system rating, its main material forged from the essence blood, hide, and bones of a large Water‑type demon.

After equipping it, one can obtain a High‑grade Water Spirit Root and a "Water Escape Technique" at the early third tier.

If it had been earlier, this equipment would naturally have been very useful to Xiao Zhangqing.

The High‑grade Water Spirit Root adds +1 to Xiao Zhangqing's Spirit Root aptitude, making it an Earth Spirit Root aptitude, which the early Xiao Zhangqing had dreamed of.

But now his Spirit Roots have already risen to the Heavenly Spirit Root level, so the equipment's Spirit Root bonus is completely unnecessary.

As for the early third‑tier Water Escape Technique, for Xiao Zhangqing it is somewhat useless, but better than nothing.

According to the system's skill description, this Water Escape Technique can be used without a water source, but its effect is discounted, so the escape speed likely won't reach third tier.

Only in great rivers, lakes, or even seas can this technique exert its full effect.

The escape speed can almost reach mid third tier.

In other words, once in a water area, Xiao Zhangqing can use this technique to move freely among Nascent Core cultivators, making it impossible to catch him.

Even a late Nascent Core senior cultivator who is not adept at Water spells would likely escape.

But the problem is that Da Yu Cultivation World is not coastal; it has some rivers and lakes, yet opportunities for Xiao Zhangqing to use it are too few.

Moreover.

With Xiao Zhangqing's current strength, when facing mid Nascent Core cultivators, there's simply no need to run…

But to be fair, it's only the name that's wrong, not the title.

The Puppet Evil Lord's puppet skills are indeed impressive; after checking his storage bag, Xiao Zhangqing, who is also interested in puppets, was not disappointed.

……

Blood Crow True Person also has many treasures, and their value is not insignificant.

Compared with the Puppet Evil Lord, they are somewhat inferior.

A rough estimate puts the value of his treasures at around 220,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

As a Nascent Core True Person who has been famous for nearly a century, and who has various ways to make money in Character: Liyang Zhenren City, having so few treasures is actually unreasonable.

But thinking carefully, it does make sense.

First, Blood Crow True Person spent 195,000 Low‑grade Spirit Stones two months ago to purchase the "Three‑pattern Jade Dew Pill".

Second, the most valuable Magic Treasure he looted, the Blood‑colored Blade, is actually an ordinary third‑tier Magic Treasure with a low price, far less than the Puppet Evil Lord's Banner Magic Treasure.

His true "Destiny Magic Treasure" Bloodthirsty Crow was specially forged by him, and it is fundamentally different from other Nascent Core cultivators' destiny treasures.

When he fell, the Bloodthirsty Crow vanished with him, making it impossible to loot the corpse.

If the Bloodthirsty Crow could be looted from the corpse, its value would certainly not be less than one hundred thousand Low‑grade Spirit Stones.

Therefore, comparatively, even if Blood Crow True Person is not a forced cultivator or openly involved in murder and smuggling, after a hundred years of wealth accumulation he is still far richer than the Puppet Evil Lord.

"Puppet Inheritance…"

"Third‑tier Water Escape Technique…"

"Over five hundred thousand Low‑grade Spirit Stones…"

"This outing was worth it! It wasn't in vain to take such a big risk… Well, the risk actually wasn't that great."

"In short, it was worth it! And I also conveniently eliminated Blood Crow True Person, a major internal threat."

Xiao Zhangqing felt his mood quite pleasant as he patted the two storage bags. Accompanying Gu Zongyuan to raid the out‑of‑town bandits this time was not in vain.

If such an opportunity arises again, Xiao Zhangqing wouldn't mind joining.

"By the way, Brother Gu, what will be done with the Song family next?"

Xiao Zhangqing suddenly thought of a question.

The biggest hidden threat, Blood Crow True Person, has been dealt with, but the Song family remains unresolved.

Compared to that, the Song family's hatred toward Xiao Zhangqing should be stronger.

Even without Blood Crow True Person, the Song family only has its head, Song Wentian, a Fake Core True Person, who poses little threat to Xiao Zhangqing, yet being constantly 'kept in mind' remains a lingering concern.

"Brother Bai, rest assured. Although in Character: Liyang Zhenren City the Character: Liyang Guard must follow regulations, given the Song family's ties with Blood Crow True Person, they can't escape! I will use open and righteous means to expel the Song family from Character: Liyang Zhenren City!" Gu Zongyuan shared the same hatred.

Today he almost died in this desolate wilderness; even though the mastermind Blood Crow True Person has already been executed, Gu Zongyuan still harbors a lot of resentment.

As the Song family is in the same camp as Blood Crow True Person, he will not let them off.

"Hmm. That's good." Xiao Zhangqing nodded, then curiously asked: "Character: Liyang Zhenren, is he really not in the Immortal City lately?"

"Um…" Gu Zongyuan's mood grew even more complicated upon hearing the question.

Think carefully.

In fact, this is a huge hidden danger, even larger than the danger that Blood Crow Real Person is still alive! Because if Blood Crow Real Person had not been told by someone else, he would certainly not know that his master, Blood Crow Real Person, has gone out.

In other words, in this conspiracy against him, Blood Crow Real Person is not the ultimate mastermind behind it.

It is highly likely that Blood Crow Real Person, like the Puppet Evil Lord, is just a pawn! Only Blood Crow Real Person is a relatively larger pawn.

There are stronger individuals and stronger forces who have tracked his master's movements, then relayed the information to Blood Crow Real Person, giving him a chance to eliminate him.

Gu Zongyuan has some conjectures about who the real culprit behind this is, and there are several suspects.

But whichever it is, it is not good news for him, for his master Character: Liyang Real Person, nor for Character: Liyang Immortal City.

Seeing Gu Zongyuan looking thoughtful, Xiao Zhangqing thought he hadn't figured it out, so he hinted indirectly: "I didn't expect Blood Crow Real Person's cultivation to have advanced to the mid‑stage of the Golden Core. Yet even a cultivator at that stage would never dare to risk being hunted by your master to assassinate you, Brother Gu. The risk is too great, the reward too low; it doesn't make sense…"

"You all return to the city first. Captain Bai and I will survey the nearby area again to see if we can find any clues. Moreover, this matter is of great importance; after you go back, you must keep your mouths shut and not disclose anything externally. Wait until I have investigated fully before making any public announcement." Gu Zongyuan did not answer immediately, but ordered the eighteen wounded Character: Liyang Guard subordinates to return first.

"Yes!"

After the eighteen received their orders and left, Gu Zongyuan reluctantly said, "Brother Bai, I caught the implication in your words… Blood Crow Real Person's intel is correct; my master has indeed not been in Character: Liyang Immortal City recently. About half a month ago, a Golden Core Real Person from Xingyue Palace and the Seven Star Sword Sect came to Character: Liyang Immortal City on urgent business with my master. I don't know the exact matter, only that it is roughly related to the war in the Southwest Region involving Demon Sect Evil Cultivators…"

"Regarding my master's departure, even if we are brothers, only a handful of people know. Under normal circumstances, Blood Crow Real Person could never have known; someone must have leaked the information to him, revealing my master's whereabouts."

"So I thought about it; Blood Crow Real Person's plan to kill me this time is unlikely to be merely because of the Liu and Song families' feud or our own conflicting interests. Someone who informed him of my master's whereabouts must have promised him extra benefits, prompting him to take such a reckless risk."

"Who could offer terms that would tempt a mid‑stage Golden Core cultivator? Who could make him risk being hunted by my master?"

"And the one who knows my master's movements…"

"In my view, the answer is already looming. It must be one of the two great Nascent Soul sects: Xingyue Palace or the Seven Star Sword Sect!"

Xiao Zhangqing was also a bit surprised by the words.

He guessed that today's affair was certainly not planned solely by Blood Crow Real Person; there must be accomplices behind him.

He just didn't expect it to be one of the two great Nascent Soul forces!

If this is true, and the Seven Star Sword Sect or Xingyue Palace intends to move against Character: Liyang Immortal City—the first scattered‑cultivator city of Da Yu in the Cultivation World—then Character: Liyang Immortal City's days will likely become difficult.

At the very least, it will be hard for visitors from all directions to come as before, and for the city to remain peaceful and prosperous.

"What is the relationship between Character: Liyang Immortal City and these two great sects? Do they hold any grudges?" Xiao Zhangqing asked.

Gu Zongyuan shook his head and said, "Character: Liyang Immortal City has always been neutral; even ordinary Golden Core sects would not offend it. How could it risk the great injustice of the world by offending a Nascent Soul sect?"

There is no clear choice.

That makes it even more troublesome.

"Is it possible… that the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace jointly plotted today's events?" Xiao Zhangqing asked a soul‑touching question.

Gu Zongyuan was also troubled by the question and fell silent.

After a long while, he said with a hint of grievance, "Brother Gu, you really know how to make people anxious."

He sighed and added, "Whether it's one of the two great Nascent Soul sects or both joining forces to trouble Character: Liyang Immortal City, I cannot make this public now. Without my master, the old man, Character: Liyang Immortal City is just a piece of fat meat at the mouths of those two sects, ready to be devoured at any time. Brother Bai, please refrain from publicizing this for the time being."

Xiao Zhangqing waved his hand, "I certainly won't speak about it publicly."

Gu Zongyuan nodded.

Until his master returns, he cannot simply sit and wait for death regarding this matter.

After returning to the city, he will first discuss with Brother Guang Qin and carry out some precautionary measures.

In any case, with his master absent, although he is the commander of the Character: Liyang Guard, the only one who can truly represent Character: Liyang Immortal City, take charge, and command the people is the sole Golden Core cultivator among their brothers, Master Guang Qin. (End of chapter)