Chapter Eighty-Two: The Kind-Hearted Cultivator

“What happened after that?” Gou Jianren raised a finger, pointing upward toward the ceiling of the secret chamber.

Everyone immediately understood, and exclaimed in hushed voices, “The Upper Realm?”

So it was a mighty figure from the Upper Realm!

Gou Jianren nodded, then shook his head.

“The invasion of the Soul Devouring Tribe on this continent was due to the failure of the Upper Realm’s defenses!”

“The Upper Realm couldn’t hold?” Everyone was shocked.

How vast was the Upper Realm? How many powerful cultivators did it have? They had never been there, but had certainly heard its legend. If even the Upper Realm could not withstand the assault, how dire must the situation have been?

Suddenly, Gou Jianren brightened, “Fortunately, our Central Continent produced a great cultivator! At the critical moment, he descended from the heavens, and with a wave of his hand, wiped out swathes of the Soul Devouring Tribe. In the end, he led the surviving cultivators to annihilate all the invaders!”

“Excellent!”

“He was truly from our Central Continent?” Excitement surged through the crowd.

Gou Jianren nodded resolutely, “This mighty figure left Central Continent, forged a renowned name in the Upper Realm, and ultimately saved the continent just in time. Sadly, however, everything imbued with spiritual energy had already been consumed by the Soul Devouring Tribe! No spiritual energy left for cultivation!”

“No wonder spiritual stones are so rare!”

“Thankfully, that great cultivator buried the bodies of the Soul Devouring Tribe throughout the continent, transforming them into the mystic stones we now use for cultivation! He even rebuilt the cultivation system, allowing both humans and demons to cultivate using mystic stones!”

In the silent chamber, one could hear a pin drop.

Mystic stones, born from the remains of the Soul Devouring Tribe!

“What became of that mighty figure in the end?”

“He led all cultivators from both the Upper and Lower Realms beyond the heavens, pursuing the Soul Devouring Tribe!”

Gou Jianren’s tale stopped there, but everyone was deeply immersed in that history.

What a fierce, life-and-death struggle it must have been! What a peerless cultivator!

“Ahem!” Gou Jianren reminded them, “Because that mighty figure was human, human cultivators came to occupy Central and Northwestern Continents, while the demon clan was driven into the deep sea and forests, never to return!”

Everyone immediately understood.

The past was gone, but the tragic lessons of history must never be repeated.

Those who are not of our kind must harbor different intentions! Though humans and demons once allied against a common foe, the demon clan would always have its own motives.

“But they’ve come ashore!” Gou Jianren said. “And they’ve infiltrated among the humans, even bribed human cultivators. Among the demons, there are high demon lords!”

Breaths grew tense.

Indeed, there were powerful demon lords! Where once the demon clan acted openly, now they could disguise themselves, they could bribe. Among billions of cultivators, who knew where they hid? They could be right beside you!

“Of course, we won’t be afraid!” Gou Jianren declared firmly. “In the whole Huanglong Prefecture, sixteen cities, over a billion cultivators, more than a hundred major factions—together, we will drive the deep-sea demon cultivators back!”

The spirits in the chamber rallied all at once...

Su Yizhao stepped out of the teleportation array.

He glanced at his empty storage ring and sighed, “Mystic stones are truly in short supply!”

Three days outside, a year and a half inside.

His appearance was unchanged, but his spirit was vastly improved. His eyes narrowed slightly, and the brilliance within faded.

After a year and a half, his soul power had finally reached the middle stage of the sixth realm—the Split Soul Realm.

To cultivate the Mystic Qi Manual, mystic stones were required; to cultivate the Mystic Soul Manual, one needed soul-enhancing pills.

Thus, the Snow Mountain Ice Essence was exhausted, and over three million soul pills had been consumed as well.

Still, it was well worth it.

The chaotic cultivation system had finally been corrected. From now on, his three forms of cultivation would advance in tandem, and he was eager to experience the sense of simultaneous breakthrough and enlightenment.

This session had actually only achieved his second goal.

The first goal had been to refine the golden scale.

But it disappointed him! While it was certainly tough, it could not be refined! Not only was it useless, it might even attract danger. Better to sell it!

Su Yizhao left the basement and saw a cultivator.

A stunningly beautiful cultivator dressed in a low-cut red Daoist robe.

He was surprised, “Fellow Qin, you’ve been waiting for me here?”

The female cultivator was Qin Hongyi.

For a cultivator, waiting three days meant little.

She stared at Su Yizhao, equally surprised, “Fellow Su, did something go wrong with your cultivation?”

Three days here meant a year and a half inside, yet his cultivation level hadn’t changed—still firmly at the mid-stage of the Six Divine Realm!

For an average family cultivator, that was decent. But for someone of his status and talent, it was a bit low!

Su Yizhao didn’t answer, simply smiled, “Is there something you need from me, Fellow Qin?”

Qin Hongyi felt a bit anxious, and spoke softly, “Fellow Su, I still owe you an apology!”

Su Yizhao waved it off, “It doesn’t matter to me!”

Though she was stunning, she simply wasn’t his type!

Besides, he was flat broke now; how could he have time for her?

Qin Hongyi relaxed, “Well, perhaps some other time then. I see you’re busy—I’ll take my leave.”

Su Yizhao nodded, watching her quietly as she walked away.

He needed to return to Kaoshan City.

Though the Kaoshan City Auction House had recommended him, to receive a nomination from Huanglong Prefecture, he had to participate in the city’s competition.

After all, the auction house was powerful, but there were other factions in Kaoshan City as well.

All cultivators recommended by the various factions had to compete.

In the end, only the top five would be recommended to Huanglong Prefecture City.

Leaving the auction house, he suddenly spotted Ning Yuhe.

Su Yizhao was taken aback. Was Ning Yuhe also waiting for him on purpose?

“Fellow Su, you’ve finally come out!” Ning Yuhe’s face was still plastered with a smile.

Su Yizhao disliked people who wore such forced smiles.

It was difficult to make a move against them!

He couldn’t be bothered to reply, and walked straight toward the teleportation array.

Ning Yuhe’s smile froze, but he quickly spoke with genuine earnestness, “Fellow Su, Fellow Qin Hongyi is in danger—could you help?”

Su Yizhao stopped in his tracks.

Qin Hongyi was in danger? He had just seen her—how could she be in peril? Besides, who in Huanglong Prefecture City would dare harm someone from the auction house?

He resumed walking.

“Qin Hongyi borrowed many mystic stones to save her brother. Though she’s working hard to earn them, she still can’t repay her debt!” Ning Yuhe, seeing Su Yizhao leaving, quickened his pace to catch up.

Fragments of Qin Hongyi’s delicate figure flashed through Su Yizhao’s mind—her struggle to survive, her beautiful face pleading in bitter misery, begging for more time.

He felt a pang of compassion.

He had neither mystic stones nor spare time.

Yet, having encountered this situation, he felt compelled to ask.

The world of cultivators was cold and merciless.

If one couldn’t even show kindness to acquaintances, life was truly dull.

“Where is she?” Su Yizhao asked.

Ning Yuhe smiled!

He hurried ahead, saying, “Follow me!”

As Ning Yuhe walked past him, Su Yizhao felt a subtle stir in his heart.

Ning Yuhe’s smile seemed different this time! He’d always worn a forced grin, but now it looked genuinely joyful.

Why was he so happy?

Su Yizhao pondered as he followed Ning Yuhe, hastening away...