Chapter 58: Invited to Explore a Ruin Cave Abode; Killing and Arson Bring Golden Belts

"Explore a ruin Cave Abode?"

Zhou Sui narrowed his eyes and looked at his neighbor, Xu Tianze: "Daoist Xu, I am merely a Qi Refining Fourth Layer Cultivator. What virtue or ability do I have to explore a Cave Abode with you? You are overestimating me."

He circulated the Phantom Demon Transformation Technique, displaying only the cultivation level of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer to the outside world.

Given the profound nature of this technique, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would not be able to see through his true strength.

"Daoist Zhou is being too modest. Although your cultivation is currently only at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, in time, you will surely become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. You are merely a dragon currently stranded in the shallows."

Xu Tianze flattered him: "Given your current strength, Daoist Zhou, it would naturally be difficult to explore a Foundation Establishment Cave Abode, but your two Dao Companions have extraordinary cultivation, both being Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivators; they certainly have the strength."

"Of course, I haven't just invited you, Daoist Zhou. I have sent invitations to other neighbors as well. If everyone agrees, then this operation will surely be foolproof."

He indicated that what he had his eye on was the strength of Zhou Sui's two Dao Companions at the Qi Refining Late Stage.

"So that's how it is. I am very grateful for your kind intentions, Daoist Xu, but we have no great interest in exploring ruin Cave Abodes. You will have to ask someone more capable, Daoist Xu."

Zhou Sui refused flatly.

Setting aside whether the other party's invitation was well-intentioned or malicious, even if it were well-intentioned, he would not agree.

After all, he was not lacking in resources or techniques right now; he only lacked time.

Why would he foolishly go out into the wilderness to take risks?

Who knew what dangers might lie within that Foundation Establishment Cave Abode? One moment of carelessness and one could die and have their soul extinguished, with years of cultivation destroyed in an instant.

Over so many years, who knows how many cultivators have explored ruin Cave Abodes, but how many have actually gained anything? The success rate is simply too low.

"Daoist Zhou, do not refuse just yet. Exploring this ruin Cave Abode is actually not as dangerous as you imagine. For this operation, I have prepared over a dozen High-grade Talismans, all of which can be given to everyone to use for free. I believe that with the assistance of High-grade Talismans, even if we encounter a Second-tier Monster Beast, we will be able to escape with our lives."

Xu Tianze played his trump card, indicating that he had prepared a large number of talismans and could certainly guarantee the safety of those accompanying him.

"If that is the case, then please find other cultivators, Daoist Xu. I believe others will be extremely willing; we, however, do not have the fortune to enjoy this," Zhou Sui said with a smile, unmoved.

"Very well. Since that is your choice, Daoist Zhou, then I can only wait for the next opportunity."

Seeing Zhou Sui's firm attitude, Xu Tianze knew that saying more would be useless. If he continued to persuade him, it would border on coercion, which did not fit his persona at all.

He could only choose to give up for now and leave.

"Husband, what did this Daoist Xu come here to do?"

Seeing Zhou Sui return from outside the door, Ji Bingyu asked curiously.

"He wanted to invite us to explore some Foundation Establishment Cave Abode, but I felt it was too dangerous, so I refused him outright," Zhou Sui said in a deep voice, recounting what had just happened.

"It is indeed dangerous. Those who offer favors without cause are either treacherous or thieving."

Xia Jingyan also nodded, fully agreeing with Zhou Sui's words.

"That's right. What are Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects worth? What we want to obtain are Foundation Establishment Pills, and with the spring auction approaching, we have absolutely no need to take risks."

Mu Ziyan also agreed with this point.

"Ignore him. We shall just stay in the city and cultivate with peace of mind."

Xia Chuan immediately cast the matter to the back of his mind and entered the quiet room, beginning to earnestly study the inherited knowledge of a First-tier Alchemist. Recently, he had become obsessed with the feeling of rapidly comprehending such knowledge.

This made him feel the passage of time, like water flowing away.

…………

In the distance, Xu Tianze returned to his room with a gloomy expression.

"How did it go? Did that brat agree to go explore with us?"

A black-robed Cultivator asked.

"He has already refused."

Xu Tianze gritted his teeth: "A mere ant at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, yet he dares to refuse my invitation time and again. It is truly damnable! If it weren't for the fact that he climbed up to two female cultivators at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer and has someone backing him, would this brat dare to speak to me like this, dare to show me, Xu Tianze, such disrespect?!"

He was currently filled with rage.

The gentle and refined demeanor he had shown earlier was merely a facade he had put on.

In fact, he was a sinister, vicious, and vengeful demonic Cultivator.

If they were in the wilderness, if that Qi Refining Fourth Layer Loose Cultivator dared to speak to him like that, he would have long since chopped off his head with a single sword strike.

He wouldn't have dared to give him any attitude.

But this was inside Miyun City, and he could only endure it for the time being.

"He actually refused? Could it be they don't want to obtain the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects? Or is it that they noticed something?"

A black-robed Cultivator narrowed his eyes, revealing a dangerous glint.

"He shouldn't have noticed our identities. After all, we have been very well-behaved these past few months and haven't revealed any flaws. It's impossible for the other party to have detected our identities. I estimate that the brat is timid as a mouse and simply doesn't dare to leave the city."

"As far as I know, that brat's parents died in an exploration in the wilderness, leaving him all alone. Perhaps having that precedent is what makes him so cautious, not daring to leave Miyun City easily."

Xu Tianze took a deep breath, suppressing the anger in his heart, and began to analyze calmly.

"Hmph, a timid coward. I thought he had sensed something; I didn't expect him to be such a rat."

Hearing this, the black-robed Cultivator sneered with great disdain: "Cultivators like us should be brave and diligent. Always hiding at home, even if an opportunity descends, it is impossible for him to obtain it."

"With poor talent and no willingness to risk his life, he will only ever be a bottom-tier Cultivator in this life. How could he ever improve his cultivation? If this pretty boy hadn't climbed up to a high branch, I'm afraid he would still be a piece of trash at the Qi Refining First Layer."

He looked down upon people like Zhou Sui immensely. For such a person, let alone succeeding in Foundation Establishment, even becoming a Qi Refining Late Stage Cultivator was likely impossible.

Yet, he just happened to have good luck and was good at pleasing female cultivators.

He was also extremely jealous of such pretty boys.

"Senior Brother, what should we do then?"

Xu Tianze asked.

"Forget it. Since that brat is timid as a mouse, it's not good to force an invitation. Forcing it might instead cause us to reveal flaws."

"In any case, we have invited quite a few Loose Cultivators this time, which is already enough for us to have a full meal."

"Since that brat is staying in Miyun City, it's not easy for us to make a move."

"Plus, there are three female cultivators at the Qi Refining Late Stage; it would be easy to alert the enemy. Let's spare that brat's life for now."

A glimmer of cruelty appeared in the eyes of that black-robed Cultivator, making one's blood run cold.

"Yes, Senior Brother."

Xu Tianze was also impatient.

It is said that killing and arson bring golden belts, while building bridges and repairing roads leave no remains.

That is how they, the Demonic path Cultivators, are; they often engage in no-capital businesses, luring other Cultivators to ambush and kill them in the wilderness.

Only by doing so can one get rich overnight and harvest a large amount of cultivation resources.

Otherwise, relying on making Talismans oneself, when would one ever earn enough money to buy a Foundation Establishment Pill?

(End of this chapter)