Raise a sword!

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Jiang Peng went into the cultivation room and pondered the images in her mind for a long time. In the end, she had no choice but to confirm that the pills corresponding to the new images in her mind were not ones that she could use to extort money.

However, this alchemy scene is not entirely useless.

With his in-depth study of Danyangzi's alchemy heritage, Jiang Peng's alchemy skills have become increasingly profound, and he has gained a deeper understanding of the essence of second-tier pills.

"It would be worthwhile to try to use the images in my mind to work backwards from the simplification process of the Purple Cloud Pill, and thus develop a pill that is even more effective than the Purple Cloud Pill," Jiang Peng thought to himself.

Once a cultivator reaches the Foundation Establishment stage, the cultivation resources they need naturally become more expensive.

For example, the cost of the raw materials for this batch of Purple Cloud Pills that was just refined was close to two hundred spirit stones. There were three pills in one batch. If they were sold as finished pills, these three pills would sell for at least a thousand spirit stones.

The price difference is the fee for a second-tier alchemist's skill.

Jiang Peng is an alchemist herself, so she can save money on this skill.

However, Foundation Establishment cultivators do not only need pills.

Second-tier talismans, magical artifacts, and the like are all significantly more expensive than first-tier ones.

"And the advancement of the magic sword... My ability to reach the peak of Qi Refining so quickly is inseparable from my early refinement of the Xuanyuan Sword into a first-class top-grade item."

Jiang Peng summarized her goals for the future.

First is the second-tier technique.

This is the foundation of cultivation.

Jiang Peng has now clearly felt that his cultivation progress is being hampered by the level of his cultivation technique, so this matter is of utmost importance.

Jiang Peng was even considering that if there was no further development of the "Golden Flame Technique," he would switch to cultivating other fire-based techniques if all else failed.

The second is the advancement of the magic sword.

This is crucial to the path of ancient sword cultivators. Jiang Peng is also counting on the advancement of his magic sword to accelerate his cultivation, so he must keep this matter in mind.

Finally, there are new sources of revenue.

The small business guild they co-founded with Sun Yinxi and others was enough to provide resources for Qi Refining cultivators, but it was not enough in the eyes of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Thanks to the income from the Biwu Peak business, Jiang Peng wouldn't be too strapped for cash, but he also wouldn't be too well-off.

Since her last trip to the Jade Pavilion Market and witnessing the auctions of the cultivation world, Jiang Peng realized that truly good things are usually bought at a premium.

"These are probably the three most important things... Although these three things are in order of priority, it's hard to know how to get started."

For a moment, Jiang Peng felt a sense of helplessness, something she hadn't experienced in a long time.

...

Late at night, at the main peak of Cangshan Mountain.

Chu Chun'an held a jade slip in his hand and was examining the information inside with his divine sense.

After a long while, he looked up, his expression solemn.

With a wave of his hand, two beams of spiritual light flew out from his sleeves and landed on different peaks within the sect.

After waiting for a moment, two figures descended from the sky and arrived outside the sect's main hall.

The first to arrive was a woman wearing a loose Taoist robe, with a young face but a sallow complexion.

Even from those weak eyes, one could still vaguely see a remnant of his original handsome features.

The person who arrived was none other than Wei Zhilan, the peak master of Luoyun Peak.

Following closely behind Wei Zhilan was Wang Biao, an elder of the sect's Enforcement Hall.

As soon as Wang Biao appeared, he said in a cold tone, "Why are you so unkempt again? If the disciples see you like this, they'll think all the elders of my sect are like this."

Wei Zhilan, her eyes blurry with drunkenness, was about to say something after hearing Wang Biao's advice, but she couldn't help but let out a hiccup as soon as she opened her mouth.

Wang Biao's expression turned even uglier.

The two entered the sect's main hall one after the other.

Sect Master Chu Chun'an nodded slightly to Wang Biao as a greeting, then his gaze fell on Wei Zhilan.

He naturally noticed Wei Zhilan's rudeness, or rather, there was nothing about this woman that was proper.

But Chu Chun'an ignored her and said softly, "Junior Sister Wei, tell me about your trip to Nanlu last time."

Wei Zhilan was confused for a moment, then casually replied, "Nanlu? They cheated me out of my underwear. My thousand years of cultivation has met with a ten-thousand-year-old bastard. I've been caught off guard and lost everything."

Wang Biao, who was standing next to him, couldn't help but let out a soft snort.

Chu Chun'an shook his head helplessly and then said, "The matter of Feiyan Tower."

Upon hearing this, Wei Zhilan shook her head, slightly dispelling some of the effects of the alcohol.

"The gambling den that cheated my mother was run by Feiyanlou. They told me that Feiyanlou has been getting very close to the Chen family in recent years. I heard that the Chen family's patriarch once secretly visited the Feiyanlou headquarters."

"As for where their headquarters is, I have no idea. I'm an elder of a reputable sect now, and I don't associate with these vermin anymore."

Chu Chun'an looked at Wang Biao beside him.

"Elder Wang, just two hours ago, our sect was attacked by a group of cultivators near the western side of the mountain range. It has been confirmed that the attackers were cultivators from the Chen Kingdom."

As expected, Chu Chun'an narrowed his eyes slightly, a terrifying light flashing within them.

He, who had always been kind and gentle, revealed a truly ruthless side that he hadn't shown in a long time.

"Chen Guotai is getting restless." Chu Chun'an's tone was calm, but it made Wang Biao's eyes tremble slightly and also sobered Wei Zhilan up a lot.

"What does the sect leader mean?"

"I know that the Chen Kingdom has long been seeking expansion. They dare not look south, and their eyes are only on the north. Therefore, our Cangshan Sect is the first to be affected."

Chu Chun'an walked to the entrance of the main hall with his hands behind his back, looking at the crescent moon in the sky.

"Over the years, there have been conflicts between the sect and the Chen Kingdom, with losses on both sides, but they have generally been restrained... However, this time, the people of the Chen Kingdom have gone too far. Among the cultivators who attacked the sect's spiritual fields, there was a Foundation Establishment cultivator hidden among them."

"Heh, thinking that Foundation Establishment cultivators can hide their identities and remain undetected? What a cowardly fool... More than ten sect disciples were killed or injured, and most of that spirit field was destroyed."

"Chen Guo has probably joined forces with Fei Yan Lou. If we do a simple calculation, if these two sides go all out, they will have four Golden Core cultivators on the surface, and their forces will be no weaker than Cang Shan Sect."

At this point, a mocking smile appeared on Chu Chun'an's face.

"This is their plan. If the sect is truly hesitant to act because of this, it will only continue to be slowly devoured by them, and ultimately it will not end well."

"I..."

Chu Chun'an paused, then shook his head slightly.

"This sect leader intends to instigate a great war."

Wang Biao's pupils contracted, and Wei Zhilan quickly put away the gourd she had secretly brought to her lips to drink.

Chu Chun'an turned around and looked at the two of them.

"Only by destroying the Chen Kingdom and severing all of Feiyan Tower's reach towards the northern foothills can the sect find peace."

Wang Biao took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, "What do you two masters say?"

"Master Shen said that to destroy the Chen Kingdom, we need to bring in the other two sects of the Three Sects of the Northern Foothills."

"Where is Master Lü?"

"Lu Zhenren claimed to be compassionate, saying that Heaven cherishes life... He only wanted to kill all the male members of the Chen family, but spare the lives of the women, selling them to brothels would be a way for them to survive."