Chapter 17: Rising Prices, and the Xianxia Sect's Heavy Reward!

"However, I still cannot break through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer."

Zhou Sui rubbed his chin.

After half a year of cultivation, coupled with the assistance of pills, the True Essence within his body had increased rapidly, reaching the peak of the Qi Refining Third Layer.

However, the gap between the Qi Refining Third Layer and the Qi Refining Fourth Layer was a minor bottleneck.

For an ordinary cultivator, it would take at least four or five years of being stuck before they could truly break through.

But after he had advanced to an Eighth Grade Spirit Root, he felt that he perhaps did not need four or five years; in just a few months, he would be able to advance to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

By then, he would be a Mid-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

Although this realm did not count for much, at the very least, it could be considered as having left the level of a bottom-tier cultivator.

This also gave him a certain degree of self-preservation ability.

Thinking of this, Zhou Sui stretched, walked toward the courtyard gate, and happened to see a few neighbors.

"Yo, isn't this Daoist Zhou? After marrying a beautiful wife, you finally decided to come out?"

The one speaking was his neighbor, Zhang Cheng, who was a First-grade Low-grade Alchemist.

Previously, he had always assumed that Ji Bingyu wanted to drain Zhou Sui, and he felt that Zhou Sui definitely would not live for more than a few days.

But who could have known? Zhou Sui not only lived for over half a year, but also managed to raise his cultivation to the Qi Refining Third Layer along the way.

He knew Zhou Sui's Spirit Root was a Lower Grade Spirit Root.

Although he did not know exactly what grade it was, it was certainly worse than his own; under normal circumstances, without ten years or more, one shouldn't even think about advancing from the Qi Refining First Layer to the Qi Refining Third Layer.

Yet now, after marrying a beautiful wife at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, he had suddenly struck it rich and raised his cultivation to the Qi Refining Third Layer in one go.

Without a doubt, it must be that this beautiful female cultivator had provided a large amount of pills to assist his cultivation.

Otherwise, his cultivation could absolutely not have improved so quickly.

Thinking that this kid had the backing of parents at the Late Stage of Qi Refining when he was young, living without worry, and then after growing up, he was actually favored by a beautiful female cultivator who gifted him a large amount of cultivation resources.

He was so jealous his guts turned green; why was this kid able to obtain the favor of such a female cultivator? The heavens were truly too unfair.

If it were about that kind of thing, he was actually not bad either; why didn't she take a fancy to him?

"Uncle Zhang is joking. The reason I haven't gone out is simply because my cultivation is low, and I have been hiding at home to cultivate diligently. After all, with my level of cultivation, I dare not wander around outside."

Zhou Sui smiled slightly, looking calm and composed.

"Sigh, you are right to hide at home and cultivate. You might not know yet, but things are very chaotic outside now. It seems that Daoist Liu Dong and the others died in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range half a year ago; it is said they were killed by Robber Cultivators."

"It is a pity that Daoist Liu Dong was already a cultivator at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer and might have had hopes of Foundation Establishment in the future. Who could have thought that his luck would be so poor, dying miserably at the hands of Robber Cultivators."

Zhang Cheng said with great emotion.

"No way, Liu Dong has fallen? Is this news true or false?"

Hearing this, Zhou Sui was also taken aback. Because he had been staying at home cultivating diligently for the past half year, he had not paid much attention to matters concerning Liu Dong.

After all, he had three female cultivators at the Late Stage of Qi Refining backing him; no matter how bold Liu Dong was, he would not dare to come to his house to cause trouble, unless the other party was seeking his own death.

But who could have thought that before he even made a move, he would hear the news of Liu Dong's death.

A mortal enemy had just vanished into thin air like that.

However, his heart felt much lighter; with such an enemy dead, he could not be bothered to waste any more effort dealing with him.

"Of course it is true; this news has already spread among all the neighbors nearby."

Zhang Cheng said in a low voice: "It is said that some people from our area went deep into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range and saw the remains of Liu Dong and the others. Their remains were gnawed beyond recognition; they died very miserably."

He indicated that this matter was absolutely certain.

"If that is the case, then has the murderer been found?"

Zhou Sui asked curiously.

"How could they possibly be found?"

Hearing this, Zhang Cheng laughed immediately: "You don't know what the environment is like now. Because the Xianxia Sect is developing the Cloud Mist Mountain Range on a large scale, they have led a large number of cultivators deep into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, among whom are many Loose Cultivators and cultivator families."

These cultivators are used to acting wildly in other places; every one of them is a notorious Robber Cultivator. It is possible for any of them to have done it, because similar things happen too often in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. A large number of cultivators die every day, and it is impossible to manage them all. Plus, since Liu Dong died in the wilderness, there is even less reason for anyone to care."

Speaking of this, he suddenly whispered: "And I also received a piece of gossip. It is said that when the Xianxia Sect was developing the Red Gold Mine, they suddenly encountered a Second-tier Monster Beast, which resulted in the deaths of a large number of cultivators. Even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was severely wounded and fled in a sorry state, causing a large number of cultivators to flee back."

"A Second-tier Monster Beast actually appeared? Is the Xianxia Sect planning to back down?"

Zhou Sui was very surprised. After all, the power of a Second-tier Monster Beast is comparable to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and its strength is incomparably fierce. If an ordinary cultivator encounters a Second-tier Monster Beast, it is basically certain death.

"How could they possibly back down?"

Zhang Cheng waved his hand: "There is a Red Gold Mine and a Spirit Stone Mine in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. If they can obtain them, it will definitely greatly increase the strength of the Xianxia Sect; it is impossible for them to be willing to give up."

After learning of the existence of that Second-tier Monster Beast, it is said that the Xianxia Sect has dispatched several more Foundation Establishment Elders and has also increased the benefits, even bringing out five Foundation Establishment Pills."

"If anyone can make a great contribution during the development of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, they can obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. After hearing this news, many cultivators are eager to move, wanting to follow the Xianxia Sect into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range."

Foundation Establishment Pill?!

Zhou Sui's pupils contracted; he could fully imagine the madness of the Loose Cultivators now.

After all, if Loose Cultivators want to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, they don't even know how many Spirit Stones it would take, and even if they truly possessed enough Spirit Stones, they would have no channels to purchase a Foundation Establishment Pill.

This is a type of pill that one might not be able to buy even with money.

It can be said that if one obtains a Foundation Establishment Pill, it is equivalent to having the hope of becoming a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

It is no wonder that so many Loose Cultivators are crazy, all wanting to follow the Xianxia Sect cultivators into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

"It is precisely because of this that the prices of pills, talismans, Dharma Artifacts, Spirit Rice, and so on in Miyun City are rising crazily. A large number of Loose Cultivators are accumulating resources to enter the Cloud Mist Mountain Range for a life-or-death struggle."

Zhang Cheng indicated that the prices of various goods in Miyun City during this period have risen crazily, to the point where ordinary cultivators are complaining bitterly. Compared to before, prices have risen by at least double.

Even the rent in Miyun City is rising.

Who knows how many Loose Cultivators want to enter Miyun City to live.

After all, there are simply too many Loose Cultivators; if they live outside the city, they are in danger of being killed by Robber Cultivators at any time.

If they live inside the city, their safety is countless times better.

(End of chapter)