章節 10: Chapter 10: Endure a Moment of Calm Winds and Gentle Waves
The strength of a person, besides their own power, lies in authority and wealth.
There's no need to say much about authority.
Why does Zhao Huayu, the City Lord of Changjun City, manage to sit back and watch Cold Moon Demon Sect, Purgatory Demon Sect, Yellow Sky Sect, and Zhengyi Dao constantly clash?
It is because he controls six thousand elites.
With these six thousand elites, as long as he wishes, wherever his iron hooves venture, he can flatten any Sect's headquarters in the four directions.
Even four Refining God cultivators, banded together, would struggle to escape death when encircled by these six thousand elites.
Six thousand elites is not the same as six thousand in a military formation.
Beyond the basic Body Refining elites, there are also some fierce warriors accomplished in refining the organs, Hundred-man Captains who have undergone a blood exchange, and leaders and generals who are at the Qi Refinement, Gang Condensation, and Hugging Pill Realm.
In battle, they could shatter an army of thirty thousand.
In comparison to Hugging Pill, the increase in total amount of True Qi in Refining God is not significant, solely due to harboring Divine Thought, which allows refined control over oneself and expert manipulation of True Qi, making it possible to exert two or three times the effectiveness from an ounce of energy, thereby securing an absolute advantage in one-on-one combat.
Moving up to the Divinity Transformation Realm merely enhances the Divine Thought stronger, transforming into a Yin God and disrupting an opponent's will, weakening the enemy before securing victory.
However, a battle involving ten thousand soldiers differs from one-on-one combat; it does not value exquisite swordsmanship or nimble movements.
No matter how exquisite the swordsmanship, killing a foot soldier is just one move, instantly eliminating them without weakening them first, as the enemy's numbers overwhelm and exhaust you.
Human strength ultimately has its limits.
Therefore, even the mighty Refining God and Divinity Transformation cultivators, once trapped within an army of thousands, cannot escape their fate.
Only by reaching the realm of Primordial Spirit True Monarch like the Supreme Elders of various Sects, flying on a sword, moving through Qingming, possessing Innate Invincibility, can one disregard thousands of troops as nothing.
Beyond authority, there is wealth.
To do a good job, one must first sharpen one's tools.
The standard for elites is to be clad in Iron Armor, while the fierce warriors additionally bear fifty kilograms of heavy armor—all of which costs money.
Even those in Hugging Pill regard Divine Weapons highly.
For instance, during the fight between Gu Jinlai and Zhang Buxi, had his Treasure Sword been replaced with a Supreme Treasure Sword, a few clashes could have broken Zhang Buxi's sabre and brought him down under his sword.
If protected by a Supreme Treasure Armor, one might even trade injury for life and swiftly secure victory.
Gang Qi is reputed to be indestructible, yet it struggles to tear a Supreme Treasure Armor.
Not to mention, above Treasure Weapons, there are Spiritual Artifacts.
These are Spiritual Treasures, created by a Heavenly Master refining a Demon Spirit, extracting its spiritual essence—empathetic, endlessly changeable, and extraordinarily mysterious.
However, a Divinity Transformation Immortal often exhausts their wealth seeking a Spiritual Flying Sword; such treasures, even at the peak of Gu Jinlai's period, were beyond imagination, let alone now.
Beyond Spiritual Artifacts, there's also talk of spirit beasts and Divine Beasts.
When a Demon Spirit merges with a Fierce Beast, it becomes a Great Demon; but when a Heavenly Master refines a Demon Spirit, extracting its essence to infuse into a Fierce Beast, it can tame it into a Mountain-guarding Spirit Beast.
A Spirit Beast and a cultivator share interconnected minds and True Qi, often capable of exerting a synergistic effect greater than the sum of their parts.
Gu Jinlai entered the Demon Refining Hall with the intention of killing some Great Demons, ideally exchanging them for a Refining God Technique.
At the very least, he would trade for a piece of Treasure Armor; even a Low Grade Treasure Armor would provide an added chance of victory in times of crisis.
...
A secluded small courtyard.
Gu Jinlai examined the map, choosing his next target for hunting while simultaneously allotting part of his thoughts to ponder over a problem.
"Ma Zheng's body bore the weight of Karma like blood, and when I killed him, I acquired a streak of Qingguang."
Had he been able to trade for a Refining God Technique, relying on that Qingguang, he would soon step into Refining God.
Or perhaps develop the Level 8 Wandering Dragon Body Technique, reaching Small Achievement which would allow for flexible advances and retreats.
But...
"Sharpening the axe won't delay the job of chopping wood!"
Resources spent are good resources.
He recalled the perilous and intense battle with Zhang Buxi, his consciousness focused on the Qing Lian.
The next moment, Qingguang twinkled.
His brain operated at an unimaginable speed, and within ten seconds, it was as if he had revisited all the knowledge he had learned in high school and university.
Invisible Sword Qi: Entry → Small Achievement.
The efficiency of Invisible Sword Qi at the Small Achievement stage had improved.
The key was that it could now trigger a secretive Killing Move right from the start.
Metallic reflection combined with Invisible Sword Qi.
"So, I should change my sword to better utilize the trait of Invisible Sword Qi."
Gu Jinlai looked at the sabre in his hand.
After several battles, his Treasure Level Weapon sabre had sustained some damage and needed maintenance.
Maintenance wasn't cheap, so he might as well change the sword.
Gu Jinlai, as an elder, received a yearly salary of sixty thousand taels from the Sect and could gather another forty to fifty thousand from Changjun City, totaling an annual income of one hundred thousand.
But with high income came equally substantial expenses.
Cultivation practices, recruiting subordinates—all required money.
A standard Treasure Sword costing twenty to thirty thousand taels amounted to only thirty percent of his income, yet he suddenly couldn't gather that amount.
"I'll have to wait a bit."
Gu Jinlai shifted his gaze back to the map.
Aligning with the Demon Refining Hall, he had multiple considerations.
A cultivator becomes Red when committing evil acts, but what about Great Demons?
Great Demons feed on souls, and humans are claimed to be the leaders of all spiritual creatures; those Great Demons probably harbor countless human souls.
If Great Demons are all big Reds...
Wouldn't he soar to great heights in the future?
...
"Master,"
At this moment, Su Nanxing came in with a book and a box, "Master, you've always been somewhat solitary. I've been pondering that even if Lin Xiao failed to recruit you and bore some grudge, it shouldn't have led to direct confrontation. But recently, I realized it might relate to an object."
He opened the box, and inside was a blood-pattern jade pendant.
"What is this?"
"Half a year ago, when the disciple was stationed at the Dragon-falling Mountain Mine, a corpse was excavated there, bearing this jade pendant. The disciple couldn't discern the origin of the jade pendant and presented it to the master,"
Su Nanxing explained.
"…"
Gu Jinlai did not know this.
"The disciple recalls that several times people inquired about the corpse at the Dragon-falling Mountain Mine. Half a month ago, I checked some materials,"
Su Nanxing opened the book and pointed to a section, saying, "This object may be a jade scroll."
"A jade scroll?"
Such a strange object was naturally well-known to Gu Jinlai.
Jade scrolls are used to carry information, but their crafting involves the use of a Primordial Spirit.
In other words, this jade scroll was very likely left by a Primordial Spirit True Monarch.
A True Monarch!
That was among the highest existences!
Venerable Daoist Lu Zhanxian, one of the top ten masters of the Demon Path, was a Primordial Spirit True Monarch.
If it was for a jade scroll recording information left by a Primordial Spirit True Monarch, then Lin Xiao's hostility made sense.
"A jade scroll."
Gu Jinlai holding the blood-pattern jade pendant said, "It's a pity that my divine thought has dissipated, and I am unable to access the information within. Otherwise, I could understand what is recorded inside."
A moment later, he seemed to think of something, "It's been several days since I reported my achievement of killing two Hugging Pill practitioners from the Yellow Sky Sect. The Nourishing God Pill should have arrived by now. With the help of the Nourishing God Pill, I have a great chance of recovering my cultivation. By then, reading the jade scroll and receiving the legacy of the True Monarch would bring double joy."
He immediately stood up, "To the Purgatory Sect's stronghold!"
…
Soon Gu Jinlai arrived at the stronghold.
But after less than half an hour, he came out with a sullen expression.
His Nourishing God Pill was gone.
The hope of restoring his Refining God Cultivation was shattered.
"Lin Xiao…"
Lin Xiao was just someone Gu Jinlai had a personal grudge against. Initially, Lin Xiao aggressively put pressure on him, but he, being new, barely and passively responded without really feeling pressured.
But the issue with the Nourishing God Pill truly disgusted him.
"Isn't this Elder Gu?"
At that moment, a voice came from the entrance.
Fang Cai led several disciples who seemed about to leave, "Elder Gu, instead of going to Huayin County to assume your new post, you're loitering in Changjun City. Are you defying orders?"
Gu Jinlai glanced at him and said sternly, "Fang Cai, since when have you dared to talk to me like this?"
"What's wrong with what I said? Since Elder Gu's things are all packed, please set off as soon as possible. The people from the Elder Hall are still waiting to verify Elder Gu's identity,"
Fang Cai said indifferently.
Gu Jinlai looked at this protector who had obeyed him a month ago, "What are you plotting?"
"I don't understand what Elder Gu is saying…"
"Turned into someone's dog so eagerly wanting to perform well in front of your master?"
Gu Jinlai said.
These blunt words caused Fang Cai's expression to change.
However, he soon laughed, "Can't help it. I'm just a lowly Hugging Pill, and in this life, one must prove one's worth. People with no value are like homeless dogs, driven from one hiding place to another, and might be killed in some unknown corner someday."
"Master, he wants to force you to act,"
Su Nanxing whispered to Gu Jinlai.
Gu Jinlai understood this logic as well.
If he truly couldn't control himself and acted, he wouldn't need Zhou Yunyi to take action; three Hugging Pill practitioners and dozens of disciples together would be enough to overpower him.
In the Purgatory Demon Sect, fratricide was a major taboo.
He did not speak, giving Fang Cai a deep look.
A moment of patience can calm the storm.
Now was not the time to flip the table.
"Let's go."
Gu Jinlai said, and quickly left with Su Nanxing.
…
On the way, Gu Jinlai did not speak.
Su Nanxing did the same, but the coldness about him grew stronger.
"Alright, the more unfavorable the situation, the more we need to stay calm. Don't think about going to assassinate tonight. That would just plunge us straight into the enemy's trap,"
Gu Jinlai told Su Nanxing.
Su Nanxing hung his head and said nothing.
"A moment of patience can calm the storm, a step back can open up a new horizon. Your master has already planned since half a month ago to forsake evil and stay away from the strife of the Purgatory Demon Sect,"
Gu Jinlai said.
Su Nanxing still did not speak.
"The transfer order usually has a month's time limit to assume the post. In other words, we are still safe this month. Honestly, it's been a long time since I truly explored Changjun City. I plan to thoroughly enjoy myself this month... I should visit Ru Yu Square at least once,"
Gu Jinlai mused.
Calculating his plans, he stopped, looked at the darkening night sky, and suddenly asked, "Do you think the devils could be hiding in the Purgatory Demon Sect's stronghold?"
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