Translator: Cinder Translations
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[You claim that Senior Mi He killed the head of my Lei family. Do you have any evidence?] Lei Jun asked.
Suddenly, a recording stone appeared in Song Wen's hand.
[If you want evidence, it is all contained within this.] Song Wen replied.
Lei Jun glanced at the guards standing beside Song Wen.
Song Wen immediately understood, tossing the recording stone to one of the guards.
The guard, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, hurriedly caught the stone with a confused expression.
"Give this to your patriarch." Song Wen instructed.
The guard nodded eagerly, then passed through the formation barrier and entered the city.
Lei Jun took the recording stone from the guard, and with a thought, a faint magical barrier immediately formed around them, isolating their surroundings from both sight and spiritual perception.
Lei Jun activated the recording stone, and the image revealed Mi He using her flying sword to kill Lei Jun and destroy his soul.
Although he had expected this, seeing it with his own eyes made Lei Jun's heart sink.
It was true—Lei Jun had indeed died at Mi He's hands. Lei Jun feared that Mi He would soon lead the Beast Master Sect's people to wipe out the Lei family.
A few breaths later, the barrier dissipated.
[Thank you, sir.] Lei Jun continued the conversation through the jade slip.
[It was nothing.] Song Wen replied, then turned to leave.
[Wait a moment.] Lei Jun called out to Song Wen.
[Is there anything else?] Song Wen asked.
[My son, Lei Tianyu, was killed by you, wasn't he?] Lei Jun asked.
Song Wen rarely showed any openness and admitted, [Yes.]
Lei Jun's gaze was sharp, his eyes fixed firmly on Song Wen.
[Are you looking for revenge, Patriarch Lei? I'm right here, and this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for revenge. You must seize this chance.] As he spoke, Song Wen's lips curled into a meaningful smile.
[How dare I! You are a Nascent Soul cultivator, and I am no match for you.] Lei Jun replied.
From across the formation barrier, Song Wen stared at Lei Jun for a moment, then turned to leave.
Song Wen fled at high speed, covering over a hundred thousand miles, and soon arrived at Qing Cang Mountain.
On Qing Cang Mountain, the vegetation was sparse, with exposed rocks and a few hardy trees growing in the cracks.
Song Wen released his spiritual sense, sweeping across the entire mountain.
Besides a few low-level beasts, Song Wen didn't find anything else of note.
He then released two Shadow Gu, hiding them on the mountain while he himself fled further, traveling a thousand miles to an underground cave where he set up a formation and began to heal and rest.
Three days passed quickly.
On this day, at noon, Mi He's figure appeared at the peak of Qing Cang Mountain right on time.
She had come alone, but she wasn't unprepared. Upon reaching the summit, she had sent her Windscale Beast to carefully search the area around Qing Cang Mountain.
As soon as Mi He landed at the peak, Song Wen's figure appeared in the distance.
Once Song Wen was close enough, Mi He got straight to the point.
"Friend Cui, before we continue, I need to verify the authenticity of the technique."
Song Wen nodded, "Naturally."
With that, Song Wen raised his hand and tossed a jade slip toward her.
Inside the jade slip was the complete cultivation method for "Focused Spirit Stab", though it didn't contain any methods for crafting the Earth, Heaven, or Holy Spirit herbs.
As a Nascent Soul cultivator, Mi He quickly determined that the method was flawless after just a few dozen breaths.
She then tossed a jade slip back to Song Wen.
Song Wen used his spiritual power to catch the jade slip in midair. After examining it with his spiritual sense, he found that the slip recorded thirty three-tier herbs and ten four-tier recipes.
The recipe was complete, but it did not include any alchemical insights.
Song Wen said, "Friend, now you can tell me where the secret realm of the Longevity Palace is located?"
Mi He took out another jade slip and said, "This jade slip contains the alchemy insights you desire, as well as the specific location of the entrance to the Longevity Palace's secret realm. Once you give me the method for crafting the supporting pills for Focused Spirit Stab, this jade slip will be yours."
Song Wen nodded slightly and also took out a jade slip.
"How about we exchange the jade slips at the same time?"
"Agreed."
Mi He readily agreed, then threw the jade slip she held.
Song Wen also threw his jade slip in return.
Mi He caught the jade slip and eagerly inserted her spiritual sense to examine it.
Song Wen, however, took a more cautious approach. He used his magical power to levitate the jade slip and checked it thoroughly before finally taking it into his hands.
After inspecting the jade slips, their reactions were different.
Song Wen showed a satisfied expression and cupped his hands, saying, "Mi He, it was a pleasure doing business."
With that, he turned to leave.
But Mi He's brow furrowed as she quickly called out to Song Wen.
"Cui Huo, wait a moment. The spiritual herbs mentioned in your jade slip—why are most of them ones I've never heard of before?"
Mi He noticed that the names of the spiritual herbs needed to refine the three pills were quite different from the ones used in the current cultivation world.
Fortunately, the jade slip described the appearance of the herbs in detail and even included illustrations. With some time, she could gather most of the herbs.
However, a small portion of the herbs didn't exist in the current cultivation world at all.
Song Wen casually answered, "I found this Focused Spirit Stab cultivation method in an ancient ruin. Some of the herbs may have become extinct by now."
Mi He's sharp gaze scrutinized Song Wen.
"You're not trying to fool me with a fake recipe, are you?"
Song Wen appeared serious, "I can swear on my soul that this recipe is flawless."
Mi He looked skeptical, "Since some of these herbs are extinct, how did you manage to refine the technique?"
Song Wen replied, "In that ruin, I found one of each: the Earth Spirit Pill, the Heavenly Spirit Pill, and the Saintly Spirit Pill."
Upon hearing this, Mi He's expression turned suspicious.
"Your luck is so good? You found the Focused Spirit Stab cultivation method, and coincidentally also found one of each of the three spiritual pills? And they were all just one pill each?"
Song Wen said, "If you've seen the recipes for these three pills, it should be clear that, as a loose cultivator, I couldn't have refined them myself. The only way I could have obtained these herbs is from the ruins."
The Heavenly Spirit Pill and the Saintly Spirit Pill required a large number of soul-forged cultivators, and several third-tier alchemists working together to create them.
Mi He said, "If I can't gather these herbs, I won't be able to refine Focused Spirit Stab. Doesn't that mean this transaction is of no use to me?"
Song Wen replied, "That is something you'll need to consider, friend. The recipe you gave me also requires many rare herbs, which, as a loose cultivator, I too find difficult to gather. Should I also hold you accountable for that?"
Mi He fell silent upon hearing this.
Song Wen's words made sense, and she couldn't find a rebuttal.
Just then, Song Wen spoke again.
"I do have a solution that might help resolve your current dilemma."
Mi He looked up at Song Wen, seeming to doubt his sincerity.
"Please, go ahead, Daoist Cui."
Song Wen said, "You could search more ancient ruins. Perhaps in some of them, you could find the extinct spiritual herbs."
After saying this, Song Wen didn't wait for Mi He's response. He cupped his hands and said, "Farewell."
"Wait a moment."
Mi He called out to Song Wen once again.
(End of the Chapter)
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