Chapter 548: Joining Five Elder Mountain, True Spirit Ancestral Blood
When traveling abroad, one’s identity was self-made.
The bandit title “Kang Mountain’s Den of Ghosts” didn’t sound as refined or elegant as a Daoist name like “Daoist So-and-So” or “Master This-and-That,” but its deterrence to ordinary forces was far stronger than some obscure Daoist title.
“Kang Mountain” hinted at their origin from the Kang Kingdom, which wasn’t important.
But “Den of Ghosts” was different.
It showed their group wasn’t righteous cultivators, but leaned toward the demonic side, with a more sinister edge.
Wei Tu and his companions deliberately “tainted” themselves for a reason.
First, with Fu Zhizhou being a demonic cultivator, even if they wanted to pose as righteous cultivators, it would be hard to pull off.
Second, compared to righteous cultivators, rogue and demonic cultivators found it easier to be recruited by new factions.
After all, over 90% of the top experts in the righteous path came from established sects. Rogue cultivators, lacking resources, had neither the confidence nor the wealth to play “kindhearted heroes.”
“Kang Mountain’s Den of Ghosts?”
Hearing this, the broker frowned slightly. In his memory, the Red Algae Sea had no rogue faction by that name.
Still, he didn’t doubt the three much. With the sheer number of rogue cultivators in the Guixu Sea cultivation world, new groups appearing now and then was perfectly normal.
Wei Tu and the others had no need to lie to him about something so trivial.
At least, from his own observation, all three had clean identities and no records of being wanted by major factions.
That was enough for him. The rest—background checks and investigations—would be the responsibility of whichever faction accepted the “Kang Mountain’s Den of Ghosts.”
“Three seniors, the place I mentioned is called Five Elder Mountain. It was founded a thousand years ago by five Nascent Soul seniors. On Yunyang Island, it is considered a first-class power…”
“In recent years, the Great Mountain Lord of Five Elder Mountain passed away due to his lifespan ending. The Second Mountain Lord, a hero of the same era, is nearing the end of his years as well… so Five Elder Mountain is in desperate need of Nascent Soul guest elders.”
“As long as the sect accepts the three of you, the cave estates you requested will naturally be arranged.”
The broker clasped his fists respectfully, his tone humble.
Compared to earning a commission from renting caves, recommending Nascent Soul guest elders to a major faction brought him far greater profit.
“Five Elder Mountain?” Wei Tu’s brows drew together slightly, but he didn’t answer at once.
Over 50 years ago, when he was on Yuanjun Island, he had already heard of this faction.
They straddled the line between righteous and demonic. Their methods were domineering, and they had a notorious reputation in the Red Algae Sea for bloody conflicts with other factions.
Still, because all five Mountain Lords had high cultivation and formidable strength, the faction had lived freely for many years.
But now, with their strongest Great Mountain Lord gone, and the Second Mountain Lord soon to follow…
It was clear that before long, the sect would be shaken and trouble would come knocking.
If they joined Five Elder Mountain now, they might be drawn into these troubles.
“Other than Five Elder Mountain, are there any alternatives?”
Wei Tu thought for a moment, then handed the broker a supreme-grade spirit stone.
The broker didn’t accept it. With a bitter smile, he shook his head. “This junior is only at the Golden Core stage. While I would benefit by introducing you to Five Elder Mountain, I wouldn’t dare deceive you.”
“Right now, Five Elder Mountain truly is the only faction on Yunyang Island able to take in the three of you.”
Hearing this, Wei Tu nodded. That made sense.
No broker would risk cheating Nascent Soul ancestors—it would be a death wish.
So what he said was most likely true.
Still, Wei Tu didn’t blindly believe him.
He locked the broker in his divine sense to prevent any secret tricks, then sent Cao Mi and Fu Zhizhou to inquire at other brokers under different trading firms.
Half a day later, Cao Mi and Fu Zhizhou returned and delivered the information they had gathered.
“Their words all match. It seems Five Elder Mountain really is the most suitable faction for us to join right now.”
After reading the jade slips, Wei Tu thought quietly to himself.
There were indeed other major factions on Yunyang Island that could accept them, but those factions were in stable phases of growth and had no urgent need for new Nascent Soul guest elders.
Only a faction in decline like Five Elder Mountain would be eager enough to recruit the three of them as Nascent Soul guest elders.
“Five Elder Mountain…”
Wei Tu thought for a while, then glanced at Cao Mi and Fu Zhizhou to hear their opinions.
The troubles of Five Elder Mountain didn’t mean much to him as a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator.
Even if things went badly, he was confident he could walk away unscathed.
So whether they joined or not depended on Cao Mi and Fu Zhizhou—whether they had the courage to face such risks.
“I have no objections.”
Cao Mi smiled lightly as she spoke.
After sharing the spoils of their last battle alongside Wei Tu, her cultivation and strength had already reached the level of an old-generation Nascent Soul cultivator.
As long as their opponent wasn’t someone on the level of Lüqiu Jinyuan, she could protect herself.
“I’ve got no objections either.”
Fu Zhizhou grinned, his words carrying another intent. “Since Five Elder Mountain urgently needs Nascent Soul guest elders, I imagine… they won’t mind lending me a Nascent Transformation Pill.”
Crisis always came with opportunity.
The more chaotic Five Elder Mountain became, the more chances he’d have to seize resources.
Seeing that both Cao Mi and Fu Zhizhou agreed, Wei Tu turned his gaze to the broker and instructed him to make contact with Five Elder Mountain on their behalf.
…
Not long after, the Third Mountain Lord of Five Elder Mountain arrived.
He was a burly man wearing a tiger-head mask.
The mask was etched with red runes, and the character “three” was engraved at the forehead, marking his identity.
Appearing with a mask wasn’t unusual in the cultivation world.
In loose organizations of rogue cultivators, it was even more common.
So, having already heard this detail, the three weren’t surprised.
“You three Fellow Daoists, you’re the ones who wish to join my Five Elder Mountain?” The burly man laughed a few times and sat casually on a sandalwood chair to the side.
His manner showed no urgency at all, as if handling a trivial matter.
“Correct.”
Wei Tu wasn’t annoyed. He simply nodded, sipped his tea, and then released a trace of his Nascent Soul mid-stage aura.
Of course, the aura wasn’t his own—it was that of “Liu Yu Daoist.”
Even his appearance was disguised.
After all, in the Red Algae Sea, he had once joined Yuanjun Island’s Blood Flood Dragon Merchant Guild under his true identity.
“What? Nascent Soul mid-stage?”
Sensing this aura, the Third Mountain Lord’s expression shifted slightly, his demeanor turning far more serious.
A Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator was rare even in the Guixu Sea cultivation world.
At its peak, Five Elder Mountain had only two such experts—the Great Mountain Lord and the Second Mountain Lord.
If only two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators joined, it would strengthen Five Elder Mountain but not transform its standing.
But if a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator joined, along with another early-stage one, the situation was entirely different.
It meant Five Elder Mountain could not only recover its former peak but also expand its strength significantly.
“Still… why would someone of this level seek out our Five Elder Mountain?” The Third Mountain Lord frowned, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
A Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator had the power to start a faction of his own. There was no need to serve under another force.
“We three siblings are from the Southern Yan Sea Region. We offended a Nascent Soul great cultivator, so we were forced to flee into the Red Algae Sea…”
Wei Tu sighed lightly and sent the words by transmission, as if explaining the doubt he saw in the man’s eyes.
Hearing this, the Third Mountain Lord remained cautious, but much like Nangong Zhe before him, he believed most of it.
After all, Nascent Soul mid-stage experts didn’t just appear out of nowhere.
The only plausible explanation was that they came from outside the Red Algae Sea.
“But… a Nascent Soul great cultivator…”
The Third Mountain Lord hesitated. Recruiting them might also provoke this great cultivator.
Yet thinking further, since Wei Tu and his companions had escaped, it suggested the enmity wasn’t absolute.
That cultivator wasn’t determined to kill them at all costs.
There was no life-or-death blood feud involved.
Wei Tu and his companions claimed they had only fled to the Red Algae Sea because they feared a Nascent Soul great cultivator.
Otherwise, how could they have even survived?
It was entirely possible that the great cultivator didn’t even know that some minor cultivators had accidentally offended him.
Such things weren’t rare in the cultivation world—they happened all the time.
Thinking this through, the Third Mountain Lord finally let out a sigh of relief.
“This matter is serious. I’ll need to consult my second brother. Fellow Daoist Fu, please wait a while.”
The Third Mountain Lord didn’t give an immediate answer. After much thought, he gave this reply.
“That’s only natural.”
Wei Tu smiled lightly in return.
His lie wasn’t only to give a reasonable origin for himself, Cao Mi, and Fu Zhizhou. It was also to test Five Elder Mountain’s bottom line.
The deeper their investment in him, the greater their value in his eyes.
And if Five Elder Mountain refused?
Then the three of them could simply find another place.
After all, Yunyang Island wasn’t the entirety of the Guixu Sea cultivation world.
…
Half a day later, the Third Mountain Lord returned, this time bringing the Second Mountain Lord.
The man wore a bull-head mask with the character “two” engraved at the forehead.
He was an old man in a plain robe, skin wrinkled, hair white as a crane’s, his whole body radiating decay—clearly with little life left.
“Fellow Daoist Fu, I represent Five Elder Mountain. We are willing to take you three into our ranks.”
The Second Mountain Lord wasted no words. After a short greeting, he went straight to the point.
Five Elder Mountain had already fallen into decline. Without his support, the sect would have long been devoured by others, not even bones left behind.
Now, if they didn’t accept Wei Tu, collapse was inevitable.
But if they did accept him, even at the risk of offending that great Nascent Soul cultivator, there would still be hope for survival.
Perhaps, they might even become stronger.
“Many thanks, Second Mountain Lord.”
Wei Tu, Cao Mi, and Fu Zhizhou rose together, offering their gratitude.
…
A few days later, inside Five Elder Mountain, after signing the spiritual contract and swearing the soul oath, the three officially moved into the sect’s arranged caves.
At the same time, Wei Tu and Cao Mi were each given the titles of Sixth and Seventh Mountain Lords.
As for Fu Zhizhou…
Five Elder Mountain half-gifted and half-traded him a Nascent Transformation Pill, then allowed him to cultivate peacefully in the Infant-Forming Cave without assigning him a position.
The intent was clear.
If Fu Zhizhou succeeded in forming a Nascent Soul, he would become the Eighth Mountain Lord.
If he failed, then nothing more needed to be said.
With Wei Tu, a mid-stage Nascent Soul expert, many of the open troubles facing Five Elder Mountain were quickly resolved.
As for hidden dangers…
According to both Wei Tu and the Second Mountain Lord, until others tested the true depth of his cultivation, those troubles wouldn’t break out.
In other words, before the crises erupted, Five Elder Mountain would enjoy a stable period of growth.
During that time, aside from daily cultivation, Wei Tu followed his plan and began nurturing the Yin-Yang Demon Corpses together with Cao Mi.
“Besides that…”
“It’s time to contact Lüqiu Qingfeng as well.”
Inside his cave dwelling, Wei Tu narrowed his eyes and tapped the table, remembering this “old acquaintance” from Yuanjun Island.
Previously, Lüqiu Qingfeng had tried to recruit him by leveraging the plan to destroy the Spider Heart Sect.
But Wei Tu had flatly refused.
His reason was simple—he didn’t believe Lüqiu Qingfeng had what it took to surpass Lüqiu Jinyuan.
But now, things had changed.
Lüqiu Jinyuan had already become his mortal enemy.
And his own cultivation had advanced to Nascent Soul mid-stage. He now had the strength to work as Lüqiu Qingfeng’s partner.
Partner and subordinate—these two were completely different.
What’s more, he was now a Mountain Lord of Five Elder Mountain.
Even if he didn’t fully control the sect, it could serve as a bargaining chip, raising his weight in Lüqiu Qingfeng’s eyes.
“If the talks succeed, I may even gain the chance to advance my body cultivation to the mid-stage of the fourth tier.”
Wei Tu thought to himself.
As royalty of the Donghua Demon Kingdom, Lüqiu Qingfeng’s resources far surpassed those of ordinary cultivators.
From what Wei Tu knew, true spirit clans like the Lüqiu family generally kept “ancestral blood” to strengthen their descendants’ bloodlines.
And this ancestral blood was precisely the rarest treasure body cultivators needed.
He was certain that as the Ninth Princess of the Lüqiu clan, Lüqiu Qingfeng held a considerable amount of it for her own use.