Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

Many of these Demons and Demon Beasts were at Tier Two. In such large numbers, even the Spirit Snake and Corpse Puppet would be doomed if surrounded.

Seeing that the situation had turned grim, the hunting Spirit Snake and Corpse Puppet killed a few more Demonized Beasts before immediately retreating into the passage. They used the narrow terrain to continue holding the line.

At the same time, the Spirit Snake sent a warning to Zhang Chi through their master-servant Divine Soul connection.

SWOOSH...

With a flash of movement, Zhang Chi transformed into a streak of Escape Light, flying deep into the back-mountain passage and opening the Stone Gate.

The Corpse Puppet and Spirit Snake quickly scrambled inside.

The Demons and Demon Beasts outside battered the Stone Gate furiously. After a good while, seeing their efforts were fruitless, they finally gave up.

Zhang Chi, however, had already led the Corpse Puppet and Spirit Snake away from the passage and returned, confident that the sturdy, well-hidden tunnel and Stone Gate would hold.

"Quick, the Demon Tide is coming! Everyone, prepare for battle!"

Meanwhile, countless cultivators on the front lines all across Azure Dragon Ridge were already on edge.

Another defensive battle had begun.

Although the fighting wasn’t as fierce as the previous night, everyone had an ominous premonition.

This kind of thing rarely happened during the daytime.

Night soon fell, and their worries became reality.

More and stronger Demons and Demon Beasts appeared, roaring as they furiously assaulted the Azure Dragon Ridge defensive line.

It wasn’t just Azure Dragon Ridge. The entire border of the Demon Abyss, from Yuan South to Yuan North, was being battered by the Demon Tide. This one was more ferocious and relentless than any that had come before.

The assault didn’t stop even at daybreak, though the situation became slightly less dire than it had been at night.

Over at Azure Dragon Ridge, even the Azure Dragon Master personally led numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators from Azure Dragon City to the front lines.

At the same time, the Azure Dragon Master used a Tier Three Communication Spirit Talisman to report the situation directly to the Cangwu Sect headquarters.

Tier Three Communication Talismans had a much greater range and transmitted messages faster. The Communication Jade Talisman Zhang Chi had used to help Xiao Yunhong request aid from the Profound Yin Sect had been a Tier Three talisman.

But even though the situation outside was severe, Divine Needle Peak, where Zhang Chi resided, remained unaffected for the time being.

Still, just to be safe, Zhang Chi partially activated his defensive Array and stationed his Tier Two Peak Tiger-shaped Puppet and Phantom Beetles at the mouth of the valley in front of Divine Needle Peak.

As it turned out, no Demon Beasts or Demons slipped through to reach them.

With the arrival of the Azure Dragon Master and the numerous Foundation Establishment cultivators, the situation on the front lines quickly stabilized.

Zhang Chi relaxed slightly and sent Corpse Puppet No.1 and the Spirit Snake back to the passage entrance on the edge of the Demon Abyss to continue hunting, using the terrain to their advantage.

This would, on one hand, relieve some of the pressure on Azure Dragon Ridge.

On the other hand, he could also seize the opportunity to kill some Tier Two Demon Beasts and Demons, helping to offset the losses from his now-defunct smuggling business.

’That’s right,’ he thought. ’The smuggling business will be difficult to revive.’

’From now on, I’ll have to rely on hunting and the Hundred Skills of Immortal Cultivation to earn Spirit Stones.’

’Fortunately, with the war effort in full swing, Spirit Talismans, Magical Artifacts, Elixirs, and even Puppets will be in higher demand, while materials should become relatively cheaper and more plentiful. It should be enough to sustain my cultivation.’

’Besides, while I don’t know what’s happening over in Yuan North, the connection from the Blood Curse Technique between me and Lan Xuan is still intact. She’s a well-connected prodigy of the Spirit Control Sect, so she’s surely fine.’

「Three months passed in the blink of an eye.」

Zhang Chi received a letter from Lan Xuan, confirming she was safe. However, she reported that the situation in Yuan North was far more severe than his, and that their smuggling business would definitely be impossible to continue next year.

Zhang Chi wrote back to let her know he was also safe.

Early the next morning, Shangguan Hui, Li Ruohai, and Yan Tengfei arrived at the Demon Abyss and made their way to Divine Needle Peak.

Even Zhong Yu had come along with them.

"Junior Brother, do you really have an Element Condensing Fruit?"

After some pleasantries were exchanged, Shangguan Hui impatiently pulled Zhang Chi aside to ask him privately.

Zhong Yu and the others tactfully gave them space, heading outside the cave residence on the pretext of admiring the scenery of Divine Needle Peak.

"That’s right. See for yourself!"

Zhang Chi nodded slightly and took out a Jade Box containing the Element Condensing Fruit.

This was the very same Element Condensing Fruit he had obtained from Song Youdao.

However, these kinds of Core Formation Spiritual Objects all looked quite similar, and he had long since swapped out the original packaging. No one would be able to recognize its origin, least of all Shangguan Hui.

"It’s real, and the quality is excellent! This is wonderful. Junior Brother, sell this fruit to me. I can pay you in Spirit Stones, or I can find another one to give you after I succeed in my Core Formation. And regardless of how we trade, I’ll owe you a favor. What do you say?"

Even though Shangguan Hui had expected it, she couldn’t help the flush of excitement that reddened her cheeks upon seeing the fruit with her own eyes.

"Just give me the Spirit Stones. I happen to need them to speed up my cultivation. As for the favor, that won’t be necessary. I actually have something I’d like to ask you for help with, Senior Sister. I was hoping you could refine some Puppets and let me sell them for you."

"Of course, I won’t let you take a loss, Senior Sister. I’m just looking to earn a small commission. If there are suitable materials for making Puppets here, I can also procure them for you!"

Zhang Chi smiled, having already made his decision.

Clearly, this was something he had thought through well in advance.

’The Demon Abyss is more dangerous now, but it’s not yet at the point where I need to evacuate.’

’So, I plan to stay and continue my Cultivation in Seclusion.’

’Without the smuggling business, selling the Element Condensing Fruit is a perfect way to get some more funds.’

’As for the puppet-selling business, that’s just a pretext.’

’With these "distribution rights," I can sell the Puppets I make myself in large quantities right here at Azure Dragon Ridge, without having to travel all the way to Shifang Immortal City.’

’Besides, no one will know how many Puppets Shangguan Hui actually gave me. She’s definitely going back to the Sect for a long period of closed-door cultivation to attempt her Core Formation. During that time, she won’t have the mental energy to pay attention to any of this.’

’Not to mention, the Demon Abyss is extremely far from the Sect, so there’s a natural delay in communication.’

"That’s a great idea! I’ve been wanting to do something like that myself. However, I definitely won’t have the time or energy to refine any more Puppets until after I achieve the Golden Core stage. So I can only give you my current stock to sell."

"Also, this is just a business partnership. It doesn’t count as my ’help,’ so I still owe you a favor. You’re not allowed to refuse!"

Shangguan Hui didn’t overthink it. She readily agreed and, on the spot, took out a large quantity of Spirit Stones and Puppets, handing them all to Zhang Chi.

"Junior Brother, see if that’s enough Spirit Stones. If not, I have more. And if that’s still not enough, I can borrow some from our other senior brothers and sisters!" Shangguan Hui said, sounding slightly nervous.

She had prepared the Spirit Stones long in advance, offering a sum well above the market price. But the Element Condensing Fruit was so precious that its market price was merely a reference.

Especially in her situation, she couldn’t find an Element Condensing Fruit for sale even if she had the Spirit Stones, so whatever price Zhang Chi set was the one that mattered.

"Six thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones? That’s more than enough!" Zhang Chi saw the amount and readily agreed.

Six thousand Middle Grade Spirit Stones were equivalent to six hundred thousand Low Grade Spirit Stones, which was considerably more than the prices he was aware of.

He had originally planned on giving her a discount, but he never expected her to offer him more instead.

There were also a good number of Puppets, which pleased him.

He could refine these Puppets himself, but those made by different cultivators were clearly not identical, so they held significant value for research and comparison.

Moreover, his Senior Sister had given him the Puppets directly, without asking for a deposit in Spirit Stones or even negotiating a price first, which spoke volumes of her trust in him.