Just refining these Wood Pills already consumed a lot of his time.
Of course, during these seven days, Jiang Fan’s cultivation also progressed by leaps and bounds.
The primordial spiritual power within him rapidly increased, drawing him ever closer to the perfection level of the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation.
It was truly a rapid advancement.
And there’s only one bottle of Wood Pills left, which proves his ability to digest elixirs is unmatched by other cultivators.
Thinking of this, he opened the virtual panel on his body.
[Name: Jiang Fan]
[Life Chart: Great Blessings Equal to Heaven, Attribute: Narrow Escapes, Great Fortune After]
[Lifespan: 170]
[Spirit Root: Earth Spirit Root]
[Luck Points: 6000]
[Wealth: 45000 Spirit Stones]
[Cultivation Technique: Soaring Snake Technique (Incomplete), Qi Cultivation Chapter]
[Cultivation Technique: Mixed Element Talisman Scripture, First Layer]
[Life Talisman: Cyan Lotus Earth Fire Talisman (Beginner), Light Body Talisman (Great Success), Conceal Breath Talisman (Great Success), Protective Talisman (Great Success), Golden Light Talisman (Great Success), Body-Stabilizing Talisman (Great Success), Yin Yang Mandarin Duck Talisman (Beginner)]
[Realm: Qi Cultivation Seventh-Layer (90%)]
[Profession: Top-grade Talisman Master (50%)]
Clearly, during these seven days, with the aid of the Wood Pills, his cultivation came closer and closer to the perfection level of the seventh layer of Qi Cultivation.
Once he reached perfection, he would naturally advance to the eighth layer of Qi Cultivation.
For common loose cultivators, this might be a somewhat tricky bottleneck.
But for Jiang Fan, this bottleneck was simply overcome in one fell swoop, hardly a challenge.
It was as smooth as bringing water to a boil, met with no obstacles.
This is the benefit of an Earth Spirit Root talent.
"It’s been so long, things should have temporarily calmed down."
"Go to Cyan Forest Market to gather some information."
Jiang Fan took a deep breath, consolidating his cultivation.
After taking out five cultivators from the Great Sun Sword Sect, he was still a bit worried about the repercussions of this matter.
While he believed he left no flaws or clues, it’s always good to play it safe.
For him, acquiring intelligence is a necessity for peace of mind.
With this in mind, Jiang Fan did not hesitate and headed once more to Cyan Forest Market.
But as soon as he arrived at the shantytown, he found the atmosphere there very tense.
It seemed every now and then, a sect cultivator would appear.
He immediately went to Fan Wei’s home to inquire about what had happened over the past few days.
"Fellow Daoist Jiang, it’s fortunate you didn’t come to the Cyan Forest Market these last few days, or you would surely have gotten into big trouble."
"You wouldn’t believe, seven days ago, someone was selling Detoxification Talismans on the black market on a large scale, making tens of thousands of spirit stones and attracting many cultivators, even those from the Great Sun Sword Sect were drawn in."
"Little did they know, it was a trap aimed at ambushing the Great Sun Sword Sect’s cultivators."
"As you might imagine, five disciples of the Great Sun Sword Sect were slain."
"This incident shocked the entire Great Sun Sword Sect."
"Especially now, as it’s the crucial moment with the Nascent Soul Cave Mansion emerging."
"With five disciples dead, the Foundation Establishment Elders of the Great Sun Sword Sect are furious."
"It’s said that those responsible might be cultivators from the Five Elements Pill Sect."
Fan Wei said solemnly, recounting the events of the past few days in detail.
"Oh, if that’s the case, wouldn’t these two major sects start fighting again?"
Jiang Fan blinked.
He initially thought he would face a lot of trouble, but he didn’t expect the Five Elements Pill Sect to take the fall instead.
Obviously, this too was the result of his good fortune.
Often, a bad situation can turn into a good one.
And it might even unknowingly mislead the enemy so that he remains free from entanglement.
"It nearly escalated into a fight indeed."
"After all, the Five Elements Pill Sect denies any involvement, adamantly refusing to admit anything."
"And the Great Sun Sword Sect lacks conclusive evidence."
"In the end, with the Golden Core Zhenren’s intervention, the matter was left unsettled."
"The two major sects have temporarily eased their tensions."
"To the Golden Core Zhenren, a few dead Qi Cultivation disciples are insignificant; what’s more important is the Nascent Soul Cave Mansion, as it’s an opportunity for enlightenment, so everything else must be set aside."
Fan Wei explained.
"But why do I see so many sect cultivators in the shantytown?"
"And the atmosphere seems very tense. Did something happen?"
Jiang Fan also noticed that the shantytown seemed more chaotic than before.
"Sigh, on the surface, the Five Elements Pill Sect and the Great Sun Sword Sect seem to have settled their dispute."
"But their secret struggles appear to have intensified."
"They cannot fight in the market, so they come to the shantytown instead."
"This place has now become a battleground for sect disciples."
"Battles erupt from time to time, affecting countless loose cultivators."
"To be honest, I’m considering returning to the Nameless Valley."
"If I stay in the shantytown, who knows how long I can last."
Fan Wei said helplessly.
Undoubtedly, the death of Wei Tongheng and others completely ignited the conflict between the two major Golden Core sects.
They had already lost countless friends and family in previous battles.
It’s not possible to reconcile easily.
Even with the suppression by the Golden Core Zhenren, they don’t dare to make obvious moves.
But their secret struggles are very intense.
If they meet in the wild, a deadly fight ensues.
This also causes the cultivators of the two major Golden Core sects to venture out in groups.
They never dare travel alone.
For loose cultivators, it’s like deities fighting, while mortals suffer.
After all, these sect cultivators do not care about places or loose cultivators when fighting.
Even the aftermath of the battles can injure many loose cultivators.
"What about the Nascent Soul Cave Mansion, what’s the situation there?"
Jiang Fan continued to ask.
"Not clear."
"It’s said that some Golden Core Zhenren have already gone to the periphery of the Nascent Soul Cave Mansion."
"They seem to be trying to break the restriction arrays on the periphery."
"Recently, some sects even plan to hire loose cultivators to explore the cave mansion together."
Fan Wei said solemnly.
"Hiring loose cultivators? Isn’t this just looking for cannon fodder?"
Jiang Fan’s expression was peculiar.
Knowing that in the Golden Core sects, if there were benefits, it would never be the turn of loose cultivators to benefit.
The sect cultivators would have already monopolized them.
"Yes, they’re indeed looking for cannon fodder."
"After all, the Nascent Soul Cave Mansion is vast."
"There are restrictions and arrays everywhere."
"Although they are old and in disrepair, many holes have appeared."
"But those sect cultivators don’t dare to touch them lightly."
"If accidentally triggered, they might suffer backlash from the restrictions and arrays, or worse, they might die spiritually."
"So they want to use loose cultivators to test which areas have weak defenses and which restriction arrays have become completely ineffective."
Fan Wei explained.
This is the role of loose cultivators as cannon fodder.
"Would there really be loose cultivators willing to die?"
Jiang Fan frowned.
He felt that no matter how great the benefits, they couldn’t possibly attract loose cultivators.
Compared to one’s life, benefits seem meaningless.
"Indeed, no loose cultivator wants to die."
"So those Golden Core sects seem to be capturing lone loose cultivators."
"It’s rumored that recently, many loose cultivators have disappeared in the wild."
"This also terrifies the loose cultivators in the shantytown."
Fan Wei said with a grave expression.
He was also surprised at how ruthless these so-called righteous sects had become.
Previously, they observed rules more closely.
But now, to break into the Nascent Soul Cave Mansion’s restriction arrays, those cultivators have thrown caution to the wind, behaving almost like demon cultivators.
"Is there really such a thing?"
Hearing this, Jiang Fan squinted his eyes.
Though he knew the Cyan Forest Market could become very dangerous, he didn’t expect the danger to emanate from the Golden Core sects.
If they decide to target loose cultivators, how many can escape?
"Yes, some loose cultivators are already looking to leave Cyan Forest Market."
"It’s heard that recently, arrangements are being made for those wanting to leave."
Fan Wei whispered.
"But without a flying ship, how can one leave?"
Jiang Fan asked.
"Without a flying ship, one can rely on walking."
"If all goes well, crossing 3000 kilometers isn’t impossible."
"Rather than staying here waiting to die, it’s better to leave."
"At least then, one’s life is in their own hands."
Fan Wei said helplessly.