"I heard from Marquis Ziyi that you wish to purchase my Hundred Poisons Body Refinement Technique?"
Without hesitation, Luo Chen answered immediately, "Indeed. I have a profound fondness for the path of body refinement, and I never pass up relevant arts. I wonder what price Heavenly Master asks for it?"
Heavenly Master Li waved his hand dismissively.
"The price is of little consequence. Before we discuss price, you should take a look at the overview first."
As he spoke, he nodded toward Marquis Ziyi beside him.
With a flick of Marquis Ziyi's wrist, a jade slip materialized before them.
Luo Chen raised his brows and took it, sweeping his divine sense directly inside.
The Hundred Poisons Body Refinement Technique was precisely the high-tier body refinement method Cave Master Minglei had mentioned before.
However, while Cave Master Minglei had been denied even a glimpse back then, Luo Chen was granted an opportunity to browse through it upon his very first request.
It was clear that the difference in cultivation and strength garnered entirely different treatment.
Luo Chen felt a spark of joy within.
Yet, as he browsed the unsealed initial portion, his heart gradually sank.
"This cultivation technique is truly a bit..."
He hardly knew where to begin. Amid his hesitation, he caught the smiling glint in Heavenly Master Li's eyes.
With a thought, Luo Chen tightened his grip on the jade slip.
"I want it!"
Heavenly Master Li blinked, and even Marquis Ziyi nearby was greatly startled.
Marquis Ziyi advised, "This body refinement art is no ordinary method. One must take a King Gu into one's body and refine a hundred poisons, allowing them to erode the flesh, sinews, and bones day and night. The agony goes without saying. Yet those of us who have achieved the Nascent Soul realm can more or less endure physical pain. The true danger lies in the fact that, at your current level of body refinement, any poison capable of affecting your physique must be an extraordinarily potent, exotic toxin. One slight misstep, and you will plunge into eternal doom..."
"Fellow Daoist, there is no need to dissuade me!" Luo Chen waved his hand. "Though I possess some attainment in body refinement, the deeper one cultivates, the greater the obstacles one encounters. Therefore, I urgently require related techniques to draw upon and break through my bottleneck. Since such an extraordinary art is before me, how could I shrink back merely because it is difficult?"
Marquis Ziyi parted his lips, but in the end could only let out a sigh of deep admiration and press the matter no further.
He, too, had read the full text of the Hundred Poisons Body Refinement Technique and understood the terrifying power it commanded upon reaching great completion.
To describe it as 'immune to a hundred poisons, untouched by water or fire' was an understatement.
Had it not been for its numerous taboos and grueling cultivation path, he would have taken it up long ago.
Now that Qi Tian was eager to try, further dissuasion would only make him look like a villain.
Luo Chen turned his attention to the technique's true creator. "Heavenly Master Li, please state your price! As long as it is within my power to grant, anything I possess may be traded."
Heavenly Master Li smiled faintly and countered, "In your estimation, what is this art worth?"
Luo Chen's brow furrowed slightly.
Recalling the short unsealed section he had just read, he said hesitantly, "Strictly speaking, the technique itself is not particularly profound; it merely circulates toxins to temper the flesh, sinews, and bones. What is truly precious is the accompanying Hundred Poisons King Gu."
"Spot on!"
Heavenly Master Li nodded with a chuckle.
"I created this technique myself, so it indeed cannot be called profound. In truth, I only devised it to complement the Hundred Poisons King Gu I refined back then. Rather than saying you are buying a technique from me, it is more accurate to say you are buying the Hundred Poisons King Gu. And that gu insect is my proudest masterpiece. As for its value..."
Heavenly Master Li scrutinized Luo Chen up and down until Luo Chen began to feel uneasy, before suddenly naming his price.
"If you are willing to take action on my behalf once, I will freely bestow both this gu and the accompanying technique upon you."
"Hm?"
A look of doubt crossed Luo Chen's face.
With Heavenly Master Li's exalted status in the Southern Border, he was comparable to Luo Chen's standing in the Eastern Desolation.
With a single call, countless experts would scramble to run his errands.
Just as Luo Chen had once launched the opening war under the banner of an Alchemy Grandmaster in the Eastern Desolation, drawing an immense following of factions and Nascent Soul experts, could someone like this truly need his help?
Moreover, Heavenly Master Li was a late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator whose personal strength was already formidable. Why would he need the aid of a 'strange' expert like him?
This 'free of charge' offer was likely the steepest price of all!
Luo Chen said coolly, "Please speak plainly, Senior. What kind of matter could possibly require my intervention?"
Heavenly Master Li made no pretense and laid out the whole story.
Ever since embarking upon the path of a Gu Master, his ultimate dream had been to refine a divine gu transcending the mundane realm!
A Rank 5 Divine Gu!
Yet as everyone knew, in all of Southern Border's history, there had only ever been three Rank 5 Divine Gu, and a fourth had never emerged.
Even those three legendary gu had gradually become fragmented and incomplete with the passage of time.
The Shared Life and Death Gu had been destroyed, degenerating into numerous lower-grade gu insects like the Lingxi, Demonic Heart, and Qi-Consuming Gu.
The Tribulation Gu had vanished, rumored to have attached itself to a pinnacle expert and departed the Southern Border.
Only the Fortune Gu remained preserved within the Gate of Life and Death.
After painstakingly studying various gu insects and gathering numerous clues, Heavenly Master Li had gradually uncovered the existence of an ancient remnant secret realm.
Within it, there was an extremely high probability that the original gu recipe for the Shared Life and Death Gu remained preserved!
However, that secret realm was perilous in the extreme; even Nascent Soul cultivators had to tread on thin ice within.
To ensure complete success, Heavenly Master Li intended to assemble a team to explore it.
He demanded absolute perfection in the composition of this exploratory group.
Talents in all other disciplines had already been recruited.
The only missing piece was a body refinement expert.
Originally, he had pinned his hopes on Marquis Ziyi, but...
Marquis Ziyi offered a wry, easygoing smile. "Though I consider my body refinement attainments respectable, Heavenly Master Li still felt somewhat uneasy. That was why he brought out the Hundred Poisons Body Refinement Technique, hoping to lure out some hidden body refinement experts from the Southern Border."
Luo Chen arched an eyebrow. "So I am the big fish caught on the hook?"
Marquis Ziyi glanced at Heavenly Master Li, who made no effort to deny it.
"To suppress the Demonic Buddha Ning Yuzhuo with body refinement alone, leaving one of the Shadow Reflection Sect's two Nascent Soul True Persons dead and the other wounded—with such attainments, I fear no contemporary body cultivator in the Southern Border can surpass you."
"Heavenly Master's intelligence network is truly extraordinary!"
Luo Chen gave an ambiguous compliment, then fell silent.
He had always steered clear of exploring secret realms whenever possible.
Had it not been to form his Nascent Soul, he would never have set foot in the Land of the Fallen Demon.
Now that the other party had opened with an invitation to explore an ancient secret realm, how could he not be cautious?
Heavenly Master Li and Marquis Ziyi exchanged a glance, feeling slightly surprised.
This Baxiu Qi Tian was rumored to act with bold, overwhelming swagger, yet his current demeanor was unexpectedly prudent.
*True enough. Without caution, how could he have reached his present height?*
Heavenly Master Li reflected silently before sweetening the offer.
"Cultivating the Hundred Poisons Body Refinement Technique requires not only the Hundred Poisons King Gu as its core, but also all manner of formidable poisons as consumable materials."
"Though you have the Wind Thunder Gorge behind you, most of its inhabitants are disorganized rogue cultivators who can hardly assist you in gathering poison resources."
"If you are willing to help, I can mobilize the might of the Fierce Peak Zombie Alliance to procure the corresponding poisons for you on a grand scale. I can even seek out rare, exotic poison gu for your use."
This was indeed no empty boast.
From Luo Chen's brief glance earlier, he had already seen the wide array of recommended toxins recorded in the jade slip.
Their grades varied widely, listing thousands of varieties spanning from introductory Rank 1 poisons all the way to Rank 4 toxins.
They might not be outrageously expensive, but relying on himself alone, gathering them all would be nearly impossible.
Luo Chen asked in a low voice, "Heavenly Master Li, can you truly mobilize the manpower and resources of the Fierce Peak Zombie Alliance?"
Heavenly Master Li smiled faintly. "Brother Qi, do not underestimate my influence within the Zombie Alliance!"
"If that is the case..." Luo Chen made up his mind and opened his mouth wide. "I also wish to join the Fierce Peak Zombie Alliance. I must ask you, Senior, to act as my sponsor."
"A minor matter."
"Furthermore, I wish to use the alliance's intelligence network to investigate a reclusive expert who vanished from the Southern Border many years ago."
"Easily done. State the name, and with the intricate network of factions within the alliance, we can surely turn up some clues."
"The Demonic Heart Gu Emperor!"
The moment those words left his lips, Luo Chen fixed an unblinking gaze on the two men before him.
Heavenly Master Li's expression darkened with anger, while Marquis Ziyi's countenance shifted, showing blatant disgust.
Luo Chen probed, "Do the two of you know anything about this Demonic Heart Gu Emperor?"
Marquis Ziyi sneered, "A scoundrel who reaps without sowing."
Heavenly Master Li's anger gradually receded, leaving behind a sigh.
"A perfectly fine Demonic Heart Gu, reduced to a mere tool for plundering cultivation—what an absolute waste. Since you wish to find this person, I do not mind making inquiries on your behalf. However, you must be mentally prepared. His movements are extraordinarily secretive, and he has not shown his face in many years. I fear the search may end in nothing."
"Your agreement is enough." Luo Chen did not press further. He had not been in the Southern Border for long and was in no rush.
Heavenly Master Li nodded. "And regarding the matter I proposed?"
Luo Chen smiled faintly. "I accept. When the time comes, simply send word, and I will be ready to set out at any moment."
"No rush, no rush. Before the Fierce Peak Zombie Alliance assaults the Gate of Life and Death, we have ample time to prepare." Heavenly Master Li breathed a sigh of relief as though a weight had been lifted. With a wave of his broad sleeve, he cast several hand seals. Instantly, the restrictions upon the jade slip in Luo Chen's hand unraveled, laying bare the full text. "As for the matching Hundred Poisons King Gu, I will have someone deliver it to you as soon as possible. Some basic poisons will also be gifted to you free of charge."
Now, it was Luo Chen's turn to be surprised.
"You are granting the compensation before the deed is even done?"
Heavenly Master Li burst into hearty laughter, radiating supreme confidence.
"In this Southern Border, no one has ever managed to take advantage of me for nothing. What harm is there in giving you the payment in advance?"
Luo Chen's mind stirred, and he cupped his hands. "Then many thanks!"
This scene felt remarkably similar to when he had concocted pills for Lingfengzi in the past.
He had never feared the other party running off with the pills.
And as for the outcome, had Lingfengzi not eventually joined the Luotian Sect?
"Marquis Ziyi, I have a few trivial matters to attend to, so I must trouble you to host Brother Qi on my behalf."
"Please attend to your affairs, Heavenly Master. Brother Qi will be well cared for with me here."
Once Heavenly Master Li hurried away, Marquis Ziyi gave Luo Chen a meaningful wink, looking thoroughly eager for action.
Luo Chen shook his head helplessly. "There is no hurry for a spar. I still wish to observe the rest of this ten-day gathering."
"Haha, fair enough!" Marquis Ziyi laughed heartily and escorted Luo Chen back into the main hall.
...
From beginning to end, this exchange meeting involving over half the Southern Border's Nascent Soul True Persons remained far from tranquil.
The sermons by the experts were merely routine.
Aside from Heavenly Master Li sharing genuine insights at the very start, the subsequent lectures were mostly rehashed common knowledge.
This was only natural. None of them were close confidants, so who would willingly share their valuable cultivation insights for free?
The gathering's true significance lay in two aspects:
Exchanging resources to fulfill each other's needs, and joining the Fierce Peak Zombie Alliance!
Especially the latter; over the following few days, another ten Nascent Soul cultivators joined the Fierce Peak Zombie Alliance in succession.
Only a handful, such as the Luo Cult Left Emissary Bei Puti and Wind Thunder Gorge's Cave Master Minglei, hesitated without committing.
Late one night.
Inside the Rank 4 immortal cave arranged for him by the Fierce Peak Zombie Alliance, Luo Chen was taking stock of the resources he had obtained through daytime trades.
"Metal-Corroding Vine, Immortal-Corrupting Miasma, Nether Dew..."
Various bottles and jars were laid out before him, each covered in sealing restrictions that inspired dread.
Every single one contained virulent poisons!
For instance, that Immortal-Corrupting Miasma was a lethal mist extracted from the Wilds of Mist; if even a trace leaked out, any cultivator below the Golden Core stage would perish upon contact.
Another example was the Nether Dew, rumored to be refined from deep within ley lines, in foul places where spiritual energy pooled and festered. A single drop was enough to stagnate a Golden Core cultivator's dharmic powers, turning them into cattle on a chopping block, helpless to resist slaughter.
These were exceedingly rare items. Even if their grades were not particularly high, they seldom circulated on the open market.
Had Luo Chen not offered a vast batch of medicinal herbs gathered from the Alchemy Saint Blessed Land and the Five Elements Divine Sect, acquiring them would have been exceedingly difficult.
Even so, Luo Chen did not immediately begin cultivating the Hundred Poisons Body Refinement Technique.
The art was practiced step-by-step, progressing from low to high.
He still lacked some of the most fundamental poisons required as cultivation materials.
It was laughable in a sense: at his current level, his circle was so elevated that the most basic resources were actually the hardest to quickly amass.
"It seems I can only rely on Heavenly Master Li's side for those."
After completing his inventory, Luo Chen sorted the items according to rank and toxicity, stowing them away neatly.
From outside the cave, a disturbance sounded.
With a thought, Luo Chen released the cave's array.
Cave Master Minglei walked in.
He glanced around and clicked his tongue in admiration. "Others who enter the Fierce Peak Zombie Alliance must pass Alliance Leader Songyang's trial first. Your treatment is entirely different, Brother Qi. Not only did you enter directly, but you were even arranged such a fine immortal cave."
"Is it that good?" Luo Chen asked offhandedly.
"At least it's better than my Wind Thunder Gorge," Cave Master Minglei replied earnestly.
Luo Chen said nonchalantly, "Given the current cultivation environment of the Southern Border, wouldn't a superior cave only pose greater harm to us?"
Cave Master Minglei paused; there was indeed truth in that.
He waved his hand and turned to the main reason for his visit.
"In a short while, I will be departing Mount Mijie."
Luo Chen asked curiously, "Tomorrow is the final day of the gathering. From what Heavenly Master Li hinted, an important figure is set to appear. Won't you stay to see?"
"No matter how important they are, what does that have to do with me?" Cave Master Minglei countered, then lowered his voice. "Leaving early is wise, lest Ning Yuzhuo comes looking for trouble."
Luo Chen understood.
"Then I wish you a smooth journey, Fellow Daoist!"
Cave Master Minglei smiled faintly. His trip had certainly not been in vain.
Not only had he made the acquaintance of more pinnacle experts of the Southern Border, but he had also traded for many useful resources.
Once he returned, he would reorganize the Wind Thunder Gorge and establish his own faction, formally standing as a regional lord.
Before departing, however, he still had a piece of advice for Luo Chen.
"Beware of Old Man Zangsheng!"
"Hm?" Luo Chen looked puzzled.
Cave Master Minglei transmitted his voice: "That man's movements are secretive and his methods ruthless. There is a high chance he is the Demonic Heart Gu Emperor you seek. If you can avoid dealing with him, so be it; but if you must interact, tread with the utmost caution."
Luo Chen's lips pressed into a tight line as the intelligence regarding Old Man Zangsheng surfaced in his mind.
The man hailed from Zangsheng Valley, claiming to be its valley lord.
Yet unlike normal sects, Zangsheng Valley had very few disciples.
If he truly were the Demonic Heart Gu Emperor, it would indeed align with the rumored behavioral patterns.
"This is all I could dig up. There might be errors within, so weigh it critically, Brother Qi, and do not place blind faith in my words. That is all I have to say. Farewell!"
With that, Cave Master Minglei lingered no longer, drifting away from Mount Mijie.
In the darkness of the night, Luo Chen watched his receding back, murmuring the name of Old Man Zangsheng to himself.
*Could he be the one I am looking for?*
The following day.
Inside the grand palace atop the summit of Mount Mijie, Luo Chen saw Old Man Zangsheng, who had rarely shown himself.
Four Great Cultivators sat together at the dais, solemn and arrayed in full readiness.
When Luo Chen entered the hall, Perfected Songyang cast him a glance, his expression devoid of joy or sorrow.
Heavenly Master Li smiled in greeting, unspoken understanding flowing between them.
As for Old Man Zangsheng, his features were utterly ordinary, bearing nothing distinctive.
Facing Luo Chen's gaze, he merely returned a glance without any reaction.
Luo Chen took a seat beside Marquis Ziyi, feeling a subtle intrigue stir within him.
If even Cave Master Minglei could link the Demonic Heart Gu Emperor to Old Man Zangsheng, why hadn't Marquis Ziyi or Heavenly Master Li mentioned this possibility to him?
Moreover, with such a grand formation today, were they preparing to welcome someone?
The important figure Heavenly Master Li had hinted at earlier?
Right at that moment!
From the entrance, an imposing, formidable aura surged inward without the slightest restraint.
"Zhan Bingtao of the Tianyuan Dao Sect has come to pay respects to the mountain!"
Chapter 949