Vampire Cultivation Notes

"Wangzuki Valley?!"

The assembled rogue cultivators all sighed, but their faces showed little surprise.

The story of the treasure hidden in Wangyue Valley has been circulating in Taipingfang Market for almost two hundred years.

Today, finally, I saw something tangible.

"Indeed, it's in Wangyue Valley." Li Jieqing's gaze swept around, and seeing that the North Street area had already been occupied by many late-stage Qi Refining cultivators who had come after hearing the news, he nodded inwardly and said on the surface, "A few days ago, I went to Wangyue Valley to collect herbs and refine pills, and I happened to encounter a surviving white tiger. This pure spiritual energy was collected from its dwelling."

"But the White Tiger demon horde from that beast tide? There are still remnants?!"

"How is the White Tiger?!"

"Please don't be anxious, everyone," Li Jieqing said. "That white tiger is a peak-level old demon, and I was no match for it. I had to return in haste. Now, that white tiger is probably still wandering in Wangyue Valley."

"Was it something that happened a few days ago? I do remember..."

The monk who saw Li Jieqing enter the market that night was also here.

Those who were crowding on the periphery heard this and immediately told those around them about their encounter with Li Jieqing.

That's good, the two corroborate each other, making the atmosphere even more agitated.

Cultivators have always been obsessed with treasures, and now that they could only smell the fragrant spiritual energy but not see the actual items, their whole being was instantly captivated.

This is exactly the result Li Jieqing wanted to see.

He couldn't defeat the White Tiger alone, nor could he search the entire vast Wangyue Valley. Even if there were no demonic beasts causing trouble, he still wouldn't be able to find the hidden cave treasure land even if he went alone for another two hundred years.

However, the treasure was so captivating that it mobilized all the independent cultivators of Taipingfang to search the mountains and seas, with the obvious purpose in mind.

As for who will find that precious cave first, the chances are slim.

Firstly, there is an information asymmetry. Apart from Li Jieqing, no one in the community knows about the Wangyue Valley cave. Secondly, by bringing that white tiger into the open, all the independent cultivators in the community are rushing to the white tiger, basically helping to clear the minefield.

Secondly, Li Jieqing possessed the legacy of Jiang Wei and his wife, and thus had a vague understanding of the situation inside the cave. He only lacked the help of independent cultivators to find the entrance to the cave where Jiang Wei and his wife had hidden.

All of these factors indicate that the advantage lies with us.

In this situation, if anyone were to find the cave first, and even faster than Jiang Wei and his wife, who had been exploring its interior for countless years, and even faster than Li Jieqing, who already knew much about the cave's interior, they would be able to take away more treasures from the cave in a short time.

That.

Li Jieqing could only say it was that person's luck.

Consider it the price I paid for using the Taipingfang Market's independent repair shops.

The information about the treasure land was obtained from Jiang Wei and his wife, and they had already benefited greatly from it.

If you spread the news while concealing the true course, and still manage to lose even when you're leading every step of the way.

What's wrong with leaving this glimmer of hope for independent cultivators in the community?

"I am different from those despicable people. Although I am using you all now, there are hidden benefits to be gained. If this were not the case, who among us would have any hope of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Looking at the fervent gazes of Old Liu, the One-Horned Taoist, the Yu Brothers, and others around him, Li Jieqing nodded to himself.

"I am truly a sage who preaches the Way!"

Anyway, he had already eaten one Qinglianzi, which not only relieved his physical discomfort but also allowed him to break through to a higher realm. He also had a magic book at home that Jiang Wei had obtained from the cave but had not yet studied.

Li Jieqing's remaining demands were, most importantly, to obtain the method that might be hidden in that cave—a method to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage—even if it meant sharing it with others.

Only then can one wait for a treasure like the Green Lotus Seed.

When Li Jieqing came to North Street to share the pure and spiritual energy, he had already made up his mind.

Having achieved immortality, one might profit greatly, or perhaps less, but will never lose...

"Look! Why is the head steward here?"

On North Street, a cultivator gathered there looked up and saw a dark yellow figure in the sky curve and descend towards them.

The cultivators looked up and quickly stepped aside to make room.

The head steward of Taiping Market is the senior disciple of Master Baozhou, named Chengming. He has been in charge of the market's operation for nearly thirty years and is quite authoritative.

As soon as Steward Chengming landed, seeing the silence around him, he smiled and said, "This humble Taoist bows. May I ask what has caused this commotion among you all?"

Upon seeing this, someone went up to report and whispered in their ear to explain.

Manager Chengming nodded repeatedly, and finally, his gaze fell on Li Jieqing, who was hiding at the back of the crowd.

That's rather unlucky.

Li Jieqing had originally thought that since the Flying Express had restarted today, the Ruyi Sect market officials of the Baozhou lineage were too busy to come and ask the independent cultivators for help, but he was unexpectedly caught in the act.

The Ruyi Sect has extremely strict control over upper-level resources, even keeping the method for breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage a closely guarded secret. If they were to find out that Wangyue Valley has legitimate benefits, what would happen?

Li Jieqing was confident that he could obtain the benefits of that cave dwelling before the rogue cultivators, but he couldn't compete with the Taipingfang City government itself.

"So it's Master Zhao here. I've heard of your reputation. I wonder if you still have the spiritual energy you gathered from Moon Gazing Valley?"

Steward Chengming laughed and said, "I have read some classic texts of the Shang Dynasty, so I might be able to help you identify them."

"To be honest, Steward, there's really none left."

Li Jieqing did not refuse and took out the jade bottle from earlier and handed it over.

Steward Chengming took the jade bottle and smelled the mouth of the bottle.

He arrived too late and was not fortunate enough to enjoy this pure and ethereal energy. Now, upon smelling it, he found that the medicinal effects were completely gone.

"Is it really gone?" he asked.

"It's really gone," Li Jieqing said.

"Fine."

Steward Chengming casually put away the jade bottle and said to his attendants, "There is a rumor that there is a treasure in Wangyue Valley. Fellow cultivators should make a careful judgment and must not let this interfere with their cultivation and make their lives difficult in the city."

Everyone immediately agreed.

Within a quarter or two minutes, under the watchful eyes of Steward Chengming, the scattered cultivators who had gathered there gradually dispersed.

Seeing this, Steward Chengming was satisfied and took flight again, heading to the other side.

"Tsk, the majesty of the upper sect."

Li Jieqing flicked his sleeve, but didn't leave in a hurry. Instead, he shook his head and sat down behind Old Liu's stall, saying, "It's a pity he flew too high and doesn't know the hardships of a wandering cultivator."

Steward Chengming only talked a big game and showed off his power, but he didn't really take the day's events seriously, which made things convenient for him.

Not long after.

After circling around the stall, Old Liu quietly led several people back over and sat down together behind the stall.

The old Taoist priest with the unicorn horn, the two heroes of the Yu family, and the scorpion lady were all there.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, we have discussed this and intend to act according to your instructions. Therefore, please describe the situation in Wangyue Valley in detail: where is the White Tiger, and what is its cultivation level?"

The old Taoist priest with the unicorn horn spoke first, willing to humble himself for the sake of the treasure.

Li Jieqing said, "It's easy. In the central stone forest of Wangyue Valley, there is a collapsed stone mountain in the southeast. The white tiger lived in the mountain at that time. It was an old demon at the peak of the first level. When it fought with me, it destroyed its lair."

"Peak of Tier 1?!"

The two Yu brothers beside him spoke up in surprise, saying that such a demonic beast was not easy to deal with.

Old Liu's tone became even more polite, and he carefully asked, "Then may I ask what your cultivation level is, Master Zhao? So that we can make a comparison."

"That's easy to say. I am at the peak of the mid-stage Qi Refining realm, comparable to the early stage of the seventh level of the half-step Qi Refining realm."

"..."

The crowd fell silent for a moment, for they were simply ignorant and did not understand the division of realms.

However, after hearing that the white tiger couldn't even kill Li Jieqing, who was in the mid-stage of Qi Refining, they relaxed a little.