Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race

Sun Huowang checked the wolf skin and claws, nodded, and said, "One hundred and eighty spirit stones, how does that sound?"

The price was slightly higher than the market value, so he readily agreed.

Sun Huowang took out one hundred and eighty spirit stones, and Shen Long put them into his storage bag.

"By the way, recently a Five Poisons Sect has emerged, causing quite a stir. I've heard they have harmed many cultivators, so be careful when you go into the mountains to hunt monster beasts."

Sun Huowang cautioned.

"The Five Poisons Sect? What kind of strength?"

Shen Long asked curiously.

"It's said that their leader is a Foundation Establishment Cultivator who has tamed a second-rank Purple Patterned Fire Centipede. This evil cult organization has already been eradicated by the Spirit Control Sect, but the leader, the Five Poisons Hermit, remains at large."

Sun Huowang spoke, recalling something before adding, "Now that I think about it, over a hundred years ago, there was another evil cult organization that was also eradicated by the Spirit Control Sect."

"Thank you for the reminder, shopkeeper. I will be careful."

Shen Long thanked him.

After some casual conversation, Shen Long left.

Back at his place, Shen Long activated the soundproofing array and entered the Spirt Control Tower, releasing the Iron Tail Scorpion.

The Iron Tail Scorpion's stinger swung left and right, making a series of sharp, screeching noises.

Shen Long took out a corpse of a Galewind Wolf, extracted the Xuan Water Knife, skinned the wolf, and let the Iron Tail Scorpion feast on the flesh.

"Enjoy to your heart's content!"

After saying this, Shen Long exited the Spirt Control Tower.

He took out a red storage bag, shook it upside down, and after a sweep of red light passed, a pile of items appeared on the stone bed.

After counting, there were one hundred and forty-seven spirit stones, two mid-grade magic artifacts, three jade slips, and two stalks of thirty-year-old Fire Cloud Grass.

He picked up a blue jade slip and his divine sense penetrated into it.

The three jade slips recorded the Earth Spirit Technique, Qin Country Anecdotes, and Hundred Herbs Record respectively. The Earth Spirit Technique was a cultivation method that could be practiced up to the eighth level of Qi Refinement. Qin Country Anecdotes documented various oddities and interesting events within the cultivation realm of the Qin Country, some of which overlapped with the content in Travels of Master Qingyun. As for the Hundred Herbs Record, it documented the appearance, effects, and growing conditions of over a hundred types of spiritual medicine.

Shen Long put away these items. This time, the haul was considerable, having acquired two mid-grade magic artifacts, and both the first-rank talisman and the Iron Tail Scorpion had been quite helpful.

He ate a jar of spirit rice meal, sat cross-legged, and started cultivating.

The day passed quickly, and Shen Long strolled the streets, planning to visit the plaza where loose cultivators set up their stalls.

When he passed an intersection, Shen Long saw Xu Lei, Sun Yang, Ye Yuqing, and Ye Yutang approaching.

"Taoist Friend Xu, Taoist Friend Sun, Fairy Ye, you're back,"

Shen Long greeted them with a smile.

"Taoist Friend Shen, where are Taoist Friend Qin and the others?"

Xu Lei asked.

"Not sure, I haven't run into them yet."

Shen Long responded truthfully.

"Let's talk back at my place!"

Xu Lei suggested.

The five of them arrived at Qingzhu Courtyard and gathered in the Stone Pavilion.

"Taoist Friend Xu, did you kill Chen Xiong?"

Shen Long inquired.

"With Fairy Ye's help, Chen Xiong has been executed. However, Li Yue has escaped. Since you killed her brother, she might seek revenge against you, but you don't have to worry too much. With Chen Xiong gone, Li Yue probably won't dare to stay here. Just don't go into the mountains alone."

Xu Lei explained.

"Li Yue fled."

Shen Long frowned and nodded.

After a bit of small talk, Shen Long and the two Ye sisters took their leave, while Sun Yang stayed behind.

"Shen Long actually managed to kill a Qi Refinement sixth level cultivator, this youngster is not as simple as he seems."

Sun Yang said gravely.

Shen Long's strength was formidable, indirectly posing a threat to Sun Yang's status. If Shen Long advanced to the seventh level of Qi Refinement, he would soon be on equal footing with Xu Lei.

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"He spends several hours every day practicing spells, and might well cultivate multiple first-level spells to great perfection. For now, he seems approachable and hasn't been confrontational with us,"

Xu Lei said.

His bottleneck had not yet been resolved, and this time, in eradicating Chen Xiong, Ye Yutang and Ye Yuqing played a significant role.

"Ultimately, it all comes down to strength. I hope you overcome your bottleneck soon!"

Sun Yang said.

After chatting for a while, Sun Yang took his leave.

In a vast azure stone plaza, there were numerous small stalls, and Shen Long strolled around to take a look.

Shen Long saw Chen Yishan walking with a beautiful girl in a white dress, who had a purple maple leaf pattern on her clothes.

This was the emblem of the Chu Family from Purple Maple Valley, which had a Core Formation cultivator in residence and backed by the Xuanyang Sect, making their strength formidable.

"Fairy Chu, you must be tired after walking around for so long. Let's go to the teahouse for some tea and rest,"

said Chen Yishan with a smile on his face.

"No need, I'm a bit tired. Maybe another day!"

the girl in the white dress declined.

"Then let me escort you back,"

Chen Yishan offered warmly.

"No need, it's not far from where I'm staying. I can go back by myself; you go ahead with your business, Taoist Friend Chen!"

The girl in the white dress refused politely.

Chen Yishan smiled slightly and agreed.

After wandering around the plaza without much luck, Shen Long returned to his residence.

He activated the soundproofing array, sat cross-legged on the stone bed, and began cultivating.

In a secluded courtyard with grey tiles, there was a three-story green tower and a green bamboo pavilion.

A scholarly man in white robes was sitting in the pavilion, and the girl in the white dress was reporting to him.

"Uncle Ba, Chen Yishan is so annoying, like a plaster that won't come off. Wherever I go, he follows, and I can't find a chance to gather information about Blood Blade Hermit,"

complained the girl in the white dress.

"Yannan, be patient with your tasks. If he's bothering you, can't you find a way to shake him off? This isn't the only family around,"

suggested the man in white robes.

"Shaking him off wouldn't be difficult, but did Blood Blade Hermit really come here?"

The girl in the white dress wondered.

Their true purpose for coming to Qianzhu Valley was to search for Blood Blade Hermit, a Core Formation cultivator who was active more than two hundred years ago.

"According to Uncle Shi Ba's investigation, he showed up in Qingzhou. As for whether he came to Qianzhu Valley, it's hard to say. We only know that he had a Blood Jade Toad and that Blood Jade Toads have been seen in the Qianzhu Mountain Range, which is why I brought you here,"

the man in white robes explained.

Chu Wenbin, at the middle stage of Foundation Establishment.

"The Blood Jade Toad is a strange bug listed on the Heaven and Earth Exotic Insect List, and its appearance in the Qianzhu Mountain Range is indeed odd, but that doesn't necessarily mean Blood Blade Hermit was in Qingzhou, does it?"

Chu Yannan questioned.

"That's true, but given that there's a lead, we ought to investigate. Hopefully, we can find some trace of him. If we could obtain that item, that would be ideal,"

Chu Wenbin said, his face showing a hint of longing.

From his words, it seemed that item was something very precious.

"We've been here for quite a while now and haven't found any clues. The spiritual energy here is meager, and cultivation resources are pitifully scarce. There are quite a few swindlers, too. Some even dare to pass off Fire Cloud Millipede eggs as Purple Patterned Fire Centipede eggs, only fooling those who are inexperienced."

Chu Yannan said scornfully.

"Stay for a while longer. If we don't find any more clues, we'll leave. This trip won't have been in vain either since you've at least acquired a Snow Cloud Fox,"

Chu Wenbin chuckled.

"Yes, Uncle Ba!"

Chu Yannan was overjoyed and agreed wholeheartedly.

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