Over a dozen days later.
Through the Wind-Cleaving Eagle’s sight, Wei Tu saw the towering border fortress between Zheng and Kang Kingdoms—Chishui Pass.
This pass stretched for several hundred li, entirely crystal yellow, like a giant dragon coiled along the land, shining brightly under the sun and stars.
Chishui Pass wasn’t just the border between Zheng and Kang—it was also the only path through the perilous “Black Blood Marsh” at the frontier of both kingdoms.
In the Dacang Immortal Realm, the righteous and demonic sides used the Demon Wolf Mountain Range as their dividing line.
Zheng Kingdom, Jing Kingdom, and a few others were all near that range.
Among these righteous territories, the borders between kingdoms were usually defined by dangerous lands or spiritless zones.
Normally, these border passes were open and unchecked.
But during the righteous-demonic wars, these borders were closed to all cultivators.
Zheng Kingdom’s cultivators could avoid these passes and flee to neighboring kingdoms, but they’d have to traverse perilous lands like the Black Blood Marsh and carve out a path themselves.However, surviving these dangers wasn’t something even a Golden Core True Lord could guarantee.
It was exactly because of these natural defenses and fortified borders that the righteous sects of the Dacang Immortal Realm had withstood wave after wave of demonic invasions.
"They’ve entered Chishui Pass."
"Now, I just need to wait for Yan’er’s letter."
After watching the Wind-Cleaving Eagle’s memory, Wei Tu breathed a sigh of relief and began to patiently wait at the Tao family for good news from the smuggling party.
Two months later.
The Tao family elder leading the group, Tao Fangde, returned safely and delivered Wei Yan’s letter to Wei Tu.
Wei Tu carefully opened it and read the hidden message inside. After reading it, he finally felt a heavy burden lifted.
"After arriving in Kang Kingdom, I settled Wei Daoist’s family along with our Tao family cultivators in the Zama Tribe."
"Zama Tribe is inland in Kang, quite a distance from Chishui Pass."
After Wei Tu finished reading, Tao Fangde stroked his beard and smiled.
Every ten li the dialect changes, every hundred li customs shift.
The customs in Kang Kingdom were vastly different from those in Zheng. Other than the farming areas near the border, the rest of Kang Kingdom was dominated by nomadic tribal communities.
Zama Tribe was one of those tribal powers.
Hearing this, Wei Tu immediately expressed his gratitude and, without hesitation, took out the agreed five thousand spirit stones and handed them to Tao Fangde.
Seeing how straightforward Wei Tu was, Tao Fangde and the Tao family cultivators nodded in approval, respecting his trustworthiness a bit more.
After all, Wei Tu’s family was already safely out of Zheng Kingdom. If he’d chosen to go back on his word, the Tao family would’ve had no way to retaliate.
To the Immortal Sects, the Loose Immortal Alliance was a small power, but to the Tao family, it was something they couldn’t afford to offend.
"The remaining two spots—so long as my Tao family’s smuggling route to Kang Kingdom stands, Wei Daoist can come arrange them anytime."
Tao Shisheng raised his hand and swore to the heavens.
Smuggling routes were no trivial matter. One mistake could doom an entire clan.
So, the Tao family hadn’t signed any spirit contracts with Wei Tu over this, leaving no weaknesses exposed.
That’s why his oath of assurance now was so necessary.
"The other two spots?" Wei Tu’s heart stirred, his gaze drifting into the distance.
Fu Zhizhou had parted ways with him.
Wei Fei and Kou Hongying, tied by family and sect, couldn’t easily leave either to smuggle into Kang.
Those two spots—he didn’t know when he’d use them.
...
Now that he had Wei Yan’s letter.
Wei Tu had no more reason to stay with the Tao family.
"With my family gone, I’ve got nothing holding me back in Zheng Kingdom. It’s time to focus everything on advancing my cultivation and breaking through to Golden Core."
Back at Cloudsmoke Residence, Wei Tu began counting his assets, preparing for Core Formation.
Now, his cultivation had reached Foundation Establishment Late Stage at Major Accomplishment. Reaching the peak was just a matter of time.
With some pills, that time could even be cut in half.
So now, it was time to prepare for Core Formation.
In half a day.
Wei Tu finished sorting through all his possessions.
He had seventeen thousand spirit stones left.
Over two hundred second-grade talismans—about thirty were low-grade, fifty mid-grade, and the rest high-grade.
"As for treasures, Alchemist Shu’s been dead for nearly twenty years. Other than his signature items, the rest of his low-grade stuff can be sold off..."
Wei Tu calculated.
In the time he had left to push his cultivation to the peak of Foundation Establishment, he planned to buy some pills for boosting his cultivation and do everything he could to gather "body refinement treasures" to form the third Blood Pellet for the Hundred Veins Blood Tempering Art.
...
This time, for his Core Formation preparations, Wei Tu had two main trading options: Mirror Water Pavilion, where Kou Hongying was based, and the reputable Jiu Yun Merchant Guild.
As for the official channels of the Loose Immortal Alliance, Wei Tu didn’t plan to use them—he couldn’t risk exposing his cultivation progress just yet.
Right now, Red River Mountain Marketplace was one of the largest markets in Zheng Kingdom, and Jiu Yun Merchant Guild had a branch there.
Wei Tu was the kind to act decisively. Once he made up his mind, he didn’t hesitate. He immediately set off for the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild’s branch in Red River Mountain.
This time, the cultivator who received him was a shopkeeper from the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild, surnamed Ji.
"Wei Daoist wants to gather rare body refinement treasures? That’s no easy task."
"The righteous-demonic war has lasted for so many years. Not only have the prices of spiritual items in Zheng Kingdom skyrocketed, but their numbers have also become increasingly scarce."
"If you had come a few decades earlier, the situation would’ve been completely different."
Shopkeeper Ji shook his head like a rattle drum, looking troubled as he took a sip of spirit tea after hearing Wei Tu’s request.
Afraid that Wei Tu might not believe him, he explained, "Wei Daoist, have you heard of cornering the market? Under normal conditions, ten parts of goods can be sold to ten buyers. But after the war, not only has the demand for spiritual items grown daily, but many cultivators have been stockpiling as well..."
"In other words, now those ten parts of goods can only be sold to three buyers at most—sometimes even just one."
"The rest has been hoarded by sects, clans, and big merchant guilds."
Wei Tu nodded slightly at these words, not doubting Shopkeeper Ji’s explanation.
Just like him—if it weren’t for the war throwing everything into chaos, he wouldn’t be rushing to prepare for Core Formation now.
He might’ve delayed it a few more decades.
With troubled times already here, most cultivators, not being misers, would do everything they could to increase their strength.
So, over time, the supply and demand in Zheng Kingdom naturally became unbalanced.
Still, Wei Tu knew that Shopkeeper Ji was mostly trying to raise the price of the body refinement treasures.
"From what Shopkeeper Ji is saying, the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild does have body refinement treasures? Please, name your price. As long as it’s reasonable, I do have some wealth to spare," Wei Tu said, cupping his hands sincerely.
Unexpectedly, Shopkeeper Ji shook his head and didn’t name a price.
He said, "If Wei Daoist wants to buy other spiritual items, spirit stones will do. But for body refinement treasures, it’s different."
"You should know how valuable body refinement is on the battlefield."
"Then, what exactly are you suggesting?" Wei Tu was stunned, not knowing what game Shopkeeper Ji was playing.
"Body refinement treasures must be paid for with high-grade talismans," Shopkeeper Ji smiled, taking another sip of tea, his eyes fixed on Wei Tu.
The Jiu Yun Merchant Guild had been eyeing Wei Tu, a second-grade high-grade talisman master, for a long time.
If he hadn’t been conscripted to Cicada Cry Cliff, they would’ve roped him in as a permanent supplier more than ten years ago.
As soon as the words fell.
Wei Tu breathed a sigh of relief.
He thought the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild was going to make some harsh demands, but it turned out they just wanted a barter—trading body refinement treasures for his high-grade talismans.
Second-grade high-grade talismans were hard for others, but for him, they were quite simple.
"High-grade talismans aren’t easy to draw, and I don’t have many on hand," Wei Tu kept a low profile, planning to release them gradually.
Unlike spirit stones, second-grade high-grade talismans were strategic resources. If he sold too many at once, not only would it arouse suspicion, but it might also attract unwanted attention.
Over the years, Wei Tu had heard of peers being imprisoned by powerful forces, forced to become ‘talisman slaves.’
If it weren’t for his decent connections.
He might’ve ended up like that too.
Several hours later.
Wei Tu traded forty second-grade talismans and added one thousand spirit stones to receive two body refinement treasures from the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild.
At the same time.
Wei Tu was secretly amazed at the current strength of the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild.
Decades ago, “Earth Dragon Flesh” was one of their underground auction items.
But now, the guild could casually produce two body refinement treasures from one of its branches.
A power on the verge of becoming a Golden Core force wouldn’t normally have such wealth.
After leaving the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild, Wei Tu gave it some thought and quietly asked around.
But Wei Tu didn’t want to wait decades.
His wealth was enough to support buying more body refinement treasures.
Then, Wei Tu stood up, reaching for a talisman letter marked with "Mirror Water Pavilion."
Three years ago, on his way to purchase body refinement treasures from the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild, he had also sent a letter to Kou Hongying, asking her to help contact fellow disciples in Mirror Water Pavilion to buy cultivation-enhancing pills and body refinement treasures.
Not long after.
Kou Hongying replied.
She told Wei Tu that body refinement treasures were controlled spiritual items within Mirror Water Pavilion, and no sect cultivators dared to exchange them and sell them outside.
Of course, pills for enhancing Foundation Establishment cultivation were also considered controlled items now.
However, Mirror Water Pavilion was an old sect with reliable pill quality and a large external demand, so quite a few sect cultivators risked selling them outside.
After all, the law cannot punish the masses.
...
A few days later.
Wei Tu arrived at Baishi Lake Marketplace and bought two "White Dew Pills" and two "Phoenix Blood Pills" from Kou Hongying’s senior sister.
These two types of pills were both specifically for boosting late Foundation Establishment cultivation.
"Rest assured, Uncle Wei, I kept an eye on her while she exchanged them at the pill hall. No one else handled them, there’s no mistake."
Kou Hongying secretly sent a voice transmission.
She knew Wei Tu was still wary about Shen Yunqiu’s attempt to harm her master with a Mortal Shedding Pill.
Hearing this, Wei Tu quietly relaxed, nodded, and took the pills.
"Hongying, I have one more favor to ask. It’s about body refinement treasures..."
After Kou Hongying’s senior sister left, Wei Tu chose his words carefully and spoke.
He had already bought two body refinement treasures from the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild. Buying more himself would draw too much attention.
So, he planned to have Kou Hongying go to the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild or other guilds on his behalf to purchase more body refinement treasures.
As an experienced cultivator.
Wei Tu knew well that some guilds might seem like competitors, but were actually under the same control.
If he bought too many body refinement treasures at once, someone might notice. After all, these treasures were now controlled items across major guilds.
"It’s no trouble at all." Kou Hongying smiled and agreed.
"Avoid using talismans for the trade."
Wei Tu reminded her, handing over a pouch of spirit stones.
"Eight thousand spirit stones? That much?" Kou Hongying was startled as she looked inside.
In her mind, Wei Tu had always seemed like a kind and modest man.
A second-grade talisman master having eight thousand spirit stones was reasonable... but adding the cost of those pills just now, it didn’t quite add up...
And clearly, Wei Tu’s wealth didn’t stop at just eight thousand.
Still, Kou Hongying didn’t question Wei Tu about the source of his "huge wealth," just like she didn’t ask why he needed late Foundation Establishment pills... She quietly nodded, disguised herself as the "Jade Rakshasa," and left Baishi Lake Marketplace.
Wei Tu stayed at Kou Hongying’s residence in the marketplace, waiting for her news.
A few days later.
Kou Hongying returned.
"Luckily, I didn’t fail you, Uncle Wei. I managed to buy a piece of 'Jade Marrow Gold'." Kou Hongying smiled as she handed over a jade box about seven feet long and a pouch of spirit stones.
Jade Marrow Gold was a grade higher than "Earth Dragon Flesh" as a body refinement treasure.
"Four thousand two hundred spirit stones left?"
Wei Tu counted the remaining stones in the pouch and gained a clear understanding of Kou Hongying’s status as a sect Golden Core disciple.
He remembered how, when he approached the Jiu Yun Merchant Guild, they had only agreed to exchange body refinement treasures for second-grade high-grade talismans.
"This Jade Marrow Gold came from the Yunlai Merchant Guild." Kou Hongying paused and explained, "The Yunlai Merchant Guild is run by the family of one of my junior sisters... she did me a favor."
"I see."
Wei Tu nodded.
Sect cultivators not only had stronger foundations and techniques than rogue cultivators but also had connections far beyond what most could hope for.
"Oh right, Uncle Wei, one of my junior sisters wants to meet you. A few days ago, I left in a hurry and forgot to mention it."
Suddenly, Kou Hongying seemed to remember something, looking at Wei Tu as she spoke.