Chapter 549

A few days passed.

Yan Buji and the several monks from Hualuo Temple drank alcohol and ate meat every day, and when the Wine Pool and Meat Forest was about to open, they followed over to check the situation.

In front of a barren desert valley stood many cultivators; Yan Buji stood beside them, looking around and saying: 'Quite a few people have come, even Nascent Soul True Lords have arrived.'

'The Wine Pool and Meat Forest is indeed a good place,' the several Hualuo Temple monks laughed.

Yan Buji looked at several Nascent Soul Phase cultivators standing in mid-air, and among them he saw that person he had encountered before at the Spirit Water Imperial City, stroking his chin as he thought.

To avoid conflict with them, Yan Buji planned to explore the outskirts of the Wine Pool and Meat Forest, and then left.

Mainly, Yan Buji did not want to reveal his identity as a martial cultivator; after inquiring around these past few days, he found that the cultivators of the West Sand River Basin felt both hatred and fear toward martial cultivators.

According to them, as long as someone practices Martial Dao, whether Nascent Soul Phase or Lianqi Phase, if discovered by the Buddhist Sect, they only kill mistakenly, never letting any escape.

This also made Yan Buji realize that what Jianfan said might be true; seeing the Buddhist Sect's attitude toward martial cultivators, it's likely that in the past the Buddhist Sect and martial cultivators also had a large-scale conflict, even a deep bloody feud.

Yan Buji did not want his martial cultivator identity to make it difficult to move an inch in the West Sand River Basin; he still needed to gather resources and inquire about the situation of She Shen Temple.

'By the way, do any of you venerable masters know of a place called She Shen Temple?'

'She Shen Temple?! Where did you hear that?!' The several masters' faces changed, and they asked sternly.

Yan Buji's heart jumped: 'When I was traveling, I encountered a little monk who was almost dying of thirst; I noticed his clothes differed from the other monks, so after arriving here I inquired and learned of this place called She Shen Temple.'

'Then you must not casually claim to have encountered people from She Shen Temple; that bunch has been expelled from Ling Mountain and is now classified as demonic heretics and the like.'

'Ah? That serious? Then I won't also be arrested, will I?' Yan Buji turned pale with fright.

'If you don't talk nonsense, it's naturally fine. She Shen Temple was originally fine, but for some unknown reason its abbot went crazy, insisting on switching to martial cultivation, which angered Ling Mountain. They refused to stop, so Ling Mountain expelled them. After the expulsion, many things happened, and now there are no She Shen Temple monasteries left in the West Sand River Basin.'

'I see.'

So She Shen Temple is knowingly breaking the law, having dug up some ancient martial cultivator treasure? They had to betray the Buddhist Sect in this West Sand River Basin territory?

Yan Buji also didn't understand: if they really had found treasure, couldn't they just relocate the whole sect from the West Sand River Basin at a suitable time? If not possible, they could split off and send some people away; that wouldn't be the worst option, would it?

'It seems things aren't that simple.' Yan Buji guessed the matter might be more complicated than he thought, but since he now knew the situation of She Shen Temple, he no longer needed to deliberately inquire.

Yan Buji had also inquired about this matter along the way; he only now learned these things from those few wine-and-meat monks of Hualuo Temple, which isn't too late.

And at this moment.

In the sky, two more Nascent Soul cultivators flew over and stood beside Lin Yan and the others.

'Isn't this Daoist Friend Lin? Long time no see.'

'So it's Daoist Friend Hu Lai, my apologies. Wasn't Daoist Friend Hu supposed to attend the Hundred Temples Buddhist Law Conference? How did you come back?'

'Alas, it's because of those things happening in Bear City; nowadays few people have the mind to attend the ceremonies.' Hu Lai said.

'That's right.' Lin Yan laughed: 'By the way, the spirit spear accumulation devices made by Bear City are indeed quite interesting.'

'It's not just interesting...'

'You two should first set aside other matters. The Wine Pool and Meat Forest is about to open; why don't we cooperate this time and see how we can get the fermented meat inside?' a male cultivator nearby suddenly said.

Lin Yan and Hu Lai's eyes lit up; this fermented meat is not food for mortals, but a kind of seven-transformation Celestial Material, produced only by the Wine Pool and Meat Forest.

Although this Celestial Material is extremely rare, everyone present knows that the Wine Pool and Meat Forest abundantly produces edible-path Spiritual Material and Celestial Material; this seven-transformation Celestial Material fermented meat is a type of edible-path Celestial Material, and eating it can increase one's mana by a thousand years out of thin air!

For Nascent Soul cultivators, although a thousand years of mana cannot help them break through realms, it can greatly shorten cultivation time. However, the fermented meat lies deep within the Wine Pool and Meat Forest, guarded by formations and strange beasts, so it's not so easy to obtain.

'Fermented meat again?'

'Last time the Wine Pool and Meat Forest opened, no one brought out fermented meat; it must not have been mature yet. After so many years, now that it opens again, surely that fermented meat should have matured!'

'What Daoist Friend Chen Ping says makes sense, but this fermented meat is inherently scarce; what if there isn't enough to go around?'

'If you two help me obtain the fermented meat, I am willing to gift a six-transformation Immortal Accumulation Artifact.' Chen Ping laughed.

Lin Yan and Hu Lai exchanged glances, both nodding: 'If there's enough to share, we naturally wouldn't trade with Daoist Friend; if not enough, we can also agree to Chen Daoist's request.'

'Then thank you both.' Chen Ping bowed with clasped hands and laughed.

Immediately afterward, Lin Yan sent a sound transmission to Hu Lai: 'What does Chen Ping mean? Exchanging seven-transformation Celestial Material for a six-transformation Immortal Accumulation Artifact? Is he out of his mind?'

'Chen Ping is the son of the City Lord of Great Phoenix City; Great Phoenix City is one of the few imperial capitals able to stand independent of the Buddhist Sect, with unfathomable resources. I don't doubt he can produce a six-transformation Immortal Accumulation Artifact, but why would he engage in this loss-making deal?'

Hu Lai and Lin Yan didn't quite understand; although seven-transformation Celestial Material is said to be very precious for Nascent Soul cultivators, the fermented meat belongs to the kind that is useful but not that significant, whereas an Immortal Accumulation Artifact is entirely different. Even if not self-refined, it can exert seventy to eighty percent of its power, which is a genuine boost to combat strength.

When Chen Ping put forward this proposal, the two couldn't help but feel suspicious.

Could it be that Chen Ping has obtained some secret technique that allows him to make effective use of the fermented meat?

But upon further thought, the two of them could hardly kill Chen Ping and seize the secret technique by force; moreover, his background is extraordinary, so unless they no longer wish to stay in the West Sand River Basin, they couldn't possibly commit murder and theft.

Of course, unless the benefit is beyond imagination.

But for now, the two are uncertain why Chen Ping wants the fermented meat, so they naturally won't act rashly. If they help him obtain the fermented meat and also get an Immortal Accumulation Artifact, it would naturally be no loss.

Why take the risk?

Thus, the three formed a temporary alliance.

After a while, suddenly heavenly music and wondrous sounds echoed from within the valley, flowers rained down and golden lotuses surged forth; accompanying the burst of a mountain-shouting, tsunami-like spiritual energy wave from the impoverished, desolate valley, as winds and clouds churned, a spatial gate suddenly appeared in the midst of the valley.

From within the gate came waves of wine and meat fragrance, making people's hearts itch with the urge to rush in and feast heartily.

Although the Wine Pool and Meat Forest is indeed a genuine natural treasure land, it is not entirely without danger.

Many cultivators, upon seeing this scene, also charged in after making full preparations.

The three in mid-air exchanged glances, then all dove downward, entering the Wine Pool and Meat Forest.