Chapter Twenty-Nine: Return to Kaoshan Town

The wounds of the Venomous Scaled Python were clearly not something that could heal in just a day or two. Xiao Wenzi, having comfortably consumed the nectar of century-old spirit flowers and herbs, managed to break through from the mid-stage to the peak of the Second Heaven without ever seeing the python reappear.

By his reckoning, nearly twenty days had passed, and Xiao Wenzi decided it was best to quit while ahead and leave. Over the past two days, he’d sensed movement at the mouth of the valley—perhaps the Venomous Scaled Python was about to exit seclusion. Moreover, the Purple Swallow Grass and Cloud-Loving Flowers here were showing signs of flagging spiritual vitality, no longer suitable for him to continue feeding on.

Besides, breaking through the bottleneck to the Third Heaven was no easy feat; he would first need to exchange for the corresponding cultivation technique.

Departing the forest, Xiao Wenzi made his way toward the outskirts of the Southern Skies Mountains. His goal was simple—having reached a bottleneck in cultivation, he hoped to find a few novice cultivators of the First or Second Heaven to drain, so he could exchange for new techniques and resources.

Unfortunately, several days ago, the cultivators of the Fourth and Fifth Heaven who had searched in vain had already returned to Southern Mountain City. As for novices like Qiu Fu, those of lower cultivation wouldn’t dare stroll through these mountains.

Xiao Wenzi flew out of the Southern Skies Mountains, and from afar he saw the small town by the foothills, yet still hadn’t achieved his aim.

He decided to try his luck in Hillfoot Town. If fortune favored him and he encountered a young Second Heaven cultivator, all the better; if not, he’d have to risk another trip to Southern Mountain City.

After stepping into the peak of the Second Heaven, Xiao Wenzi had grown larger, and the total amount of demonic spiritual energy within him had more than doubled compared to the mid-stage. As a result, his speed soared.

It wasn’t long before he neared Hillfoot Town, which he’d hurriedly left last time.

The Blood Spirit Grand Technique was a peerless ancient method, emphasizing the refinement of demonic awareness—otherwise, it would be impossible for one to cultivate such spiritual sense at the Second Heaven.

Having advanced to the peak of the Second Heaven, Xiao Wenzi’s spiritual awareness now matched that of ordinary Fourth Heaven cultivators. Avoiding bystanders and sneaking into town was a trivial affair.

Furthermore, demonic spirit dew was still effective for him, and ordinary mortals posed no threat at all. If it weren’t for the fact it was still daytime, and he didn’t wish to expose himself before confirming if there were cultivators in town, many would have already met a grim fate.

“Hmm, there really are cultivators here. I only wonder what stage they’re at?”

To gather information, the best place was where travelers congregated—teahouses and taverns. Xiao Wenzi had just slipped into a tavern with a sign reading “Drunken Immortal Pavilion” when a conversation in a second-floor private room caught his attention.

“Brother Zheng, for low-level rogue cultivators like us, earning spirit stones or pills is just too difficult. If I hadn’t reacted quickly today, I’d probably have ended up as food for that beast…”

Inside the private room, two men sat drinking. The young man on the left, his face still pale with lingering fear, set down his cup and spoke with a sigh.

“You’re absolutely right. The Southern Skies Mountains are vast, but there aren’t many suitable tasks for low-level Qi Refining cultivators like us. If only we could run into one of those spirit mosquitos worth twenty spirit stones…”

Unlike sect disciples who at least received a small monthly stipend of stones and pills, rogue cultivators had to either train bitterly or risk their lives gathering herbs or hunting beasts to advance.

Hearing of the youth’s near-death experience picking a spirit flower, the man in blue nodded empathetically.

“Are you talking about the task posted over twenty days ago by Manager Xu of Treasure Pavilion?”

“It’s strange, really. That spirit mosquito, which could only bite beginners like Qiu Fu, managed to vanish without a trace despite hundreds searching for it…”

The bounty of twenty spirit stones had been specially raised by Manager Xu to spur the enthusiasm of many young cultivators. For high-level cultivators, it was nothing, but for ordinary Qi Refining rogues, it was a fortune. Hearing Zheng mention it, the youth’s interest was piqued.

“Damn, so there was a bounty on my head, and it even set hundreds of cultivators searching for me.

Damn it, if I hadn’t chanced upon this conversation, barging into Southern Mountain City to feed might have ended with me captured.”

The news was so shocking that Xiao Wenzi, eavesdropping outside the window, felt his heart race. He quickly suppressed his aura and silently drifted away.

The two inside, absorbed in their wine and conversation, hadn’t spread out their senses at all. Even after Xiao Wenzi left the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, they remained oblivious.

Though he didn’t know their precise cultivation, Xiao Wenzi could tell from their talk that both were at least above the Fifth Heaven—opponents he couldn’t afford to provoke right now. Thus, he chose to withdraw for the time being.

What should he do?

Coming to rest in the deserted backyard of a home, Xiao Wenzi pondered his options.

The problem before him was that he absolutely needed the fresh blood of Second Heaven cultivators, otherwise his progress would halt. The trouble was, most of the low-level novices would never dare risk venturing out.

Even if he revealed himself in Hillfoot Town to lure some in, the only ones likely to come would be experts like that Zheng fellow or his companion—far too strong for him to handle.

One or two low-level Fourth or Fifth Heaven Qi Refining cultivators he didn’t much fear; if worst came to worst, he could always escape.

But if he were surrounded by hundreds, even with the system granting him revival through red hearts, it would be hard to avoid capture.

Worse yet, if his secret of endless resurrection were exposed, even Foundation Establishment masters might take an interest, which would spell even greater trouble.

“Forget it. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. There’s no better way—I’ll just have to risk another trip to Southern Mountain City.”

After racking his brains, Xiao Wenzi found no foolproof solution. In the end, he decided to wait for nightfall and search every guesthouse and inn in town.

If luck was with him and he found a Second Heaven novice here, perfect; if not, he’d hitch a ride back to Southern Mountain City tomorrow and sneak in through the drainage tunnels to hunt for low-level targets.

As long as he had enough First or Second Heaven system coins, he could exchange for talismans like Concealing Demon or Gale Run, which would give him a good chance to escape intact.

With his plan set, Xiao Wenzi didn’t leave the house, but instead found a safe, secluded spot to cultivate with the Blood Spirit Grand Technique.

After all, to deal with the bee swarm before, he’d exchanged for dozens of portions of demonic spirit dew, nearly exhausting his stash of one or two thousand ordinary system coins.

Flying out of the mountains had drained him further; with daylight still left, he preferred to save his spirit dew if possible.

Time slipped by like a white colt crossing a gap, and night soon fell. Fully restored, Xiao Wenzi left the house and flew toward the West Tower Inn of Hillfoot Town.

“No, still nothing. Even those two have left—looks like I really do have to go to Southern Mountain City.”

Hillfoot Town only had a dozen or so inns, but Xiao Wenzi’s demonic awareness matched that of a Fourth Heaven cultivator, so he quickly scouted them all.