Cultivation: I Have Studied Abroad in the Modern World
Chapter 189 - 89 Cooperation

Chapter 189: Chapter 89 Cooperation

Inside the secret realm of the Great Freedom Demon Sect.

Lin Yangtian, leading his remnant forces, returned in a state of disarray; his clothes were shredded by Heavenly Thunder, exposing patches of blackened and raw skin.

He turned back to look at his followers, feeling even more aggrieved.

Of the roughly forty disciples who had set out together, less than ten were able to return to the secret realm, and each of them was wounded.

Most of those who died were under his command.

Although the lives of Holy Sect disciples were not considered valuable, these subordinates of his were the result of many years of his guidance—regardless of their strength, they at least conformed to his preferences.

To have lost so many subordinates in such a short time, he couldn’t help feeling a pang in his heart.

Beside him, that Golden Core fellow sect member who was brimming with confidence before did not seem much better. His mouth was stained with a smear of fresh blood—not his own, but from a Holy Sect Foundation Establishment disciple who dared to block his escape path at the entrance of the secret realm, and so he cleaved the disciple in half.

Even Lin Yangtian had to admit that it was precisely because this senior’s actions were so decisive that they were able to make all those impertinent Foundation Establishment disciples clear the way, allowing them to escape the overwhelming thunder.

"What should we do now?"

The two exchanged glances, both appearing somewhat dejected.

The Jiushan Sect’s audacity to block the entrance had caught them off guard.

What was even more crucial was that they couldn’t escape!

"These Jiushan Sect people... are too cunning!" A fellow sect member next to them said through clenched teeth.

If it were just the Thunder Pool, despite their suppressed strength, they were not afraid of that group of Jiushan Sect disciples due to their numerical superiority.

But the entrance to the secret realm had restrictions to prevent external enemies.

This actually gave those fewer Jiushan Sect disciples the advantage of facing fewer enemies.

Without the Thunder Pool, a secret realm gate could not have stopped them.

Not even needing a Nascent Soul from their own sect to make a move, the two Golden Cores alone could have obliterated that group of enemies at most of Foundation Establishment...

But the combination of both had left them feeling totally helpless.

The two looked at each other but had no idea what to do at this moment.

"What’s happening?"

During their moment of helplessness, an elderly voice came from above.

The group looked up to see an elder with black and white mixed hair and a withered face floating above them, his expression grim and unsatisfied: "The sect has commanded you to attack Jiushan Sect, why have you not yet set forth?"

"Master Chi!"

Lin Yangtian and his companion promptly paid their respects—evidently, the newcomer’s cultivation was above theirs, likely being a Nascent Soul true person.

They explained the situation at hand with long faces.

"Jiushan Sect..." Upon hearing this, Master Chi’s eyes flashed with a mysterious symbol as he looked towards the gate: "Such audacity! A bunch of Foundation Establishment cultivators daring to bully our Holy Sect!"

The rest of the people nodded in agreement.

If it were any of the Xuanwei Five Sects, it would be one thing to be blocked, but what was Jiushan Sect after all!

"Send more people out! I want to see what they are relying on!"

Master Chi suddenly said.

Lin Yangtian and his companion looked at each other, then at their nearby subordinates, whose faces were full of fear.

"What’s the matter? Don’t want to? How about you two go?"

Chills ran down Lin Yangtian’s spine, and he picked two subordinates, gesturing for them to go out.

Their complexions were pale, but they did not dare to defy the order, and they walked out of the secret realm gate with trembling steps.

The moment the two of them stepped outside the gate.

The next instant, countless Thunder Talismans fell like rain.

The demise of these two was swift and neat, even possessing a sort of humanitarian beauty.

"Soul Stab Talisman, Soul-shocking Talisman, Soul Extinguishing Talisman..." Master Chi muttered to himself, frowning deeply: "Each of them must have been hit with at least three or four dozen Spirit Talismans, all of them Xuan-grade, is Jiushan Sect so wealthy?"

Lin Yangtian and his companion exchanged glances.

They too were puzzled.

They understood the prices of things as well; this downpour of talismans was worth at least dozens of Spirit Stones.

Pure burning of money.

...

Zheng Fa looked at the two corpses lying at the entrance of the secret realm, noting that no one seemed to be coming out from inside the realm anymore, he signaled two senior brothers nearby to drag the bodies over and transport them to the "weapon production factory" behind.

"Zheng, I didn’t expect the art of talisman crafting to be so effective here!"

Sun Daoyu exclaimed.

"A Xuan-grade talisman can only be made at a rate of three to five per day by ourselves, and it also consumes Spiritual Power and Divine Soul," a senior brother nearby nodded: "Buying them isn’t cheap either."

"Yes, one Spirit Stone only gets you three to five," Sun Daoyu sighed, then calculated the cost of talisman crafting in his heart: "But this talisman crafting method for Xuan-grade talismans, aside from being fast, is even cheaper in cost—just the price of talisman paper and Spirit Ink! By this calculation, they are actually cheaper than yellow-grade talismans!"

Zheng Fa shook his head slightly.

It wasn’t exactly calculated that way—

At least the lives of Great Freedom Demon Sect disciples could also be considered a cost.

But indeed it proved immensely effective here.

Sending out thirty to fifty Xuan-grade talismans could obtain a Demon Sect member who heroically sacrificed themselves for the talisman cause.

Round it up, it’s practically free.

Furthermore, the production process does not consume the Spiritual Power and Divine Soul of these senior brothers, which made it extremely practical on the battlefield.

It could be called the nemesis of the Great Freedom Demon Sect.

...

"Are they actually using our Holy Sect disciples to make Spirit Talismans?" Inside the gate, Master Chi seemed to see Zheng Fa and their actions, seething with fury.

Lin Yangtian suddenly realized: "So that’s why the Thunder Pool workshop wanted to buy the blood of our Holy Sect disciples?"

"... "

The people exchanged glances, expressions showing a sense of complication.

"This Jiushan Sect... their methods, why do they seem somewhat familiar?"

Lin Yangtian heard one of his subordinates murmur, and he couldn’t help but feel a sense of agreement in his heart.

Play with corpses, blood-refine magical treasures, they were experts in these fields!

Currently, however, they found themselves blocked within their own doors by the imitators of the Jiushan Sect.

"Master Pang, if we send someone out now, not only will we fail to kill these thieves, but it will also give them even more Spirit Talismans."

That Master Pang fell silent as well.

After a long while, he suddenly burst out angrily, "Damn it, why is the Jiushan Sect so infuriating!"

"..."

"Now I understand why everyone is out to get our Holy Sect!"

Lin Yangtian was stunned, and couldn’t help but feel like nodding in agreement.

Think about it, when we used to disgust those of the Righteous Path, they didn’t feel much.

Now that the roles have changed...

Even they felt they had gone too far in the past.

...

Zheng Fa looked at the Secret Realm Gate of the Great Freedom Demon Sect; it seemed they had also discovered the matter of the talismans and no longer dared to show themselves.

It seemed as if they truly had the Great Freedom Demon Sect trapped within the Secret Realm.

"Zheng, we’ve now seriously offended the Great Freedom Demon Sect."

Sun Daoyu seemed to have also noticed this and couldn’t help but voice his concern.

"Brother, whether we’ve offended them or not... we... had no choice."

Zheng Fa certainly knew that once the matter of the talismans was exposed, there would be an almost irreconcilable feud between Jiushan Sect and the Great Freedom Demon Sect.

But the problem was that the other party was already sharpening their knives.

The current talismans were only targeting the Great Freedom Demon Sect. Although the methods were a bit sinister, others wouldn’t care too much—the most they would do is demand a share.

As for completely setting up the Great Freedom Demon Sect.

Still the same saying, unless Jiushan Sect was willing to give up the Thunder Pool, surrender the Spirit Vein of the Jiushan Sect and, in addition, sacrifice Zhang’s life.

Otherwise, there was no way for them to reconcile with the Great Freedom Demon Sect.

Seeing that Sun Daoyu still frowned, Zheng Fa shook his head and said:

"Brother Sun, the art of talismans is a good thing. If it weren’t for this, we wouldn’t have been able to stop those Demon Sect disciples."

"Yeah! What are you brooding over?"

An excited voice came through.

Zheng Fa turned his head and saw that it was Yan Wushuang and his two companions.

"Mr. Yan?"

Yan Wushuang gave Zheng Fa a salutatory gesture, but his gaze was fixed on Li Nuo and the others as he spoke, "Is this why your workshops have been buying Demon Blood?"

"Yes."

Since it had been witnessed, Zheng Fa saw no point in concealing it.

"No wonder... no wonder..." Yan Wushuang sighed twice and said, "Your Jiushan Sect has struck it rich!"

"Li Nuo truly has exceptional ideas."

"No no no, I’m talking about wealth, the wealth in riches!"

Yan Wushuang’s eyes shone brightly, speaking with great excitement: "Mr. Zheng, can I have a share of this business?"

Zheng Fa suddenly remembered, this person had mentioned before... he was poor...

"This..."

The matter of the talismans was firstly a secret of Jiushan Sect.

Secondly, Yan Wushuang couldn’t be of much help with it.

Zheng Fa didn’t have a bad impression of the man, but also felt there was no necessity.

Yan Wushuang seemed to perceive his hesitation and added:

"I won’t just earn off you for nothing, first, I can supply you with talisman paper and Spirit Ink."

Upon hearing this, Zheng Fa swallowed the words of refusal he was about to say.

Talisman paper and Spirit Ink were now the biggest costs for the talismans—although not much in value, but with the production capacity of the talismans, this aspect was already nearing shortage.

But to be honest, that was a minor detail.

After a long silence, Zheng Fa finally spoke: "Mr. Yan, it’s not that I don’t want to cooperate with you, but—just these alone, they are not enough."

Yan Wushuang was someone with an extraordinary background, and even somewhat mysterious.

But after all, he was just a True Inheritor of the Tianhe Sect.

Seemingly just a Golden Core cultivator.

Partnering with him didn’t seem promising.

Yan Wushuang seemed to see Zheng Fa’s refusal, he glanced at Zheng Fa and said: "Are you trying to prevent the people from the Great Freedom Demon Sect from leaving, to ensure Zhang Wuyi successfully forms her Nascent Soul?"

"...Yes."

"Then you’re too late."

Zheng Fa was startled and then looked towards the direction of the Five Dragons Heavenly Palace.

"Guessed right, the Nascent Souls of the Great Freedom Demon Sect have already left the Thunder Pool a few days ago, prepared to take action against your Master Pang."

"..."

Zheng Fa frowned deeply but was not surprised.

Zhang’s phenomenon of forming her Nascent Soul had persisted for many days, the Great Freedom Demon Sect would not have remained inactive—

They had been too late in blocking the way.

The Five Dragons Heavenly Palace was already dangerous, Zheng Fa could only take these low-ranking disciples out, reducing some of the burden for Master Pang.

But he could not conceive of a way to ensure Master Pang’s safety.

Nascent Souls within the Thunder Pool would be even more dangerous, and that level of battle was out of his reach to intervene.

"Mr. Yan, are you implying..."

"I’ll save your Master Pang, and in return... count me in for a share of the business."

Zheng Fa turned and saw Sun Daoyu open his mouth, seemingly wanting to say something.

Half of the disciples here were Master Pang’s people; they all looked at Zheng Fa, waiting for his decision.

"Mr. Yan, if my Master Pang is unharmed, I agree to your request."