Surviving in the Demonic Sect, one begins cultivation by retrieving corpses.

Seeing this, Gu Zhao smiled faintly: "If the supervisor is unwilling, he doesn't have to go. I'll go and tell Commander Gong."

Jiang Xiubao's expression changed, but he quickly put on a smile and said, "Of course I'll go."

Gu Zhao gathered eight people and led them directly to Gong Yuzhou, with the stableman among them.

This time was different from the past, with Gu Zhao leading the way and Jiang Xiubao following behind him.

Upon seeing this, Gong Yuzhou nodded in satisfaction and took the lead in boarding a Zhenhesi official boat.

This ship is of extraordinary design; although it only has two floors, it is quite elegant.

Ma Fang and the others were all boarding the ship for the first time. They saw that the soldiers of the River Guard were standing on both sides of the ship, looking imposing.

The official boat traveled upstream along the Yinshui River, and the corpse-retrieval boats on the river all gave way, not daring to stop it.

The group of corpse retrievers, seeing this spectacle, felt both amazed and secretly proud.

The body retrievers waited on the first floor, while Gong Yuzhou and his two companions went up to the second floor.

"Gu Zhao, you come up here too."

Amidst the envious gazes of the other corpse retrievers, Gu Zhao ascended the stairs.

Jiang Xiubao stared at the boy's retreating figure, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

Inside the cabin on the second floor, Gong Yuzhou and the other two had already taken their seats.

"Gu Zhao, please sit down too."

The slender Yuan Shao was secretly surprised that Senior Brother Gong would treat a corpse retriever with such special regard.

Gu Zhao did not move, but stood quietly to the side.

Upon seeing this, Yang Yueqi, the woman with a mole at the corner of her eye, nodded slightly in approval, thinking that this person was at least sensible.

Does a corpse retriever deserve to sit at the same table as them?

Gong Yuzhou didn't press the matter, and said, "The place we're going to this time is different from the last one."

"It is a lake dam that was washed out by a flood in the upper reaches of the Yinshui River."

"The water there is several times deeper and colder than in ordinary sections of the river."

He changed the subject, looking at Gu Zhao: "What level have you reached now?"

Gu Zhao truthfully replied, "The fetal movements are at four levels."

Yang Yueqi immediately showed disdain, "Two years of training and only four fetal movements?"

"That's really too low."

Yuan Shao also frowned. "It is indeed too low."

All three were cultivators at the Qi Refining Realm.

Yuan Shao and Yang Yueqi broke through to the Qi Refining stage after only three years of training, and Gong Yuzhou reached this level in just one year. Compared to them, Gu Zhao's aptitude seemed far inferior.

Gong Yuzhou took out a magical artifact from his bosom, which was a small chest mirror.

"This is a water-repelling mirror. Place it on your chest to resist the cold and dampness of the Yin River. However, its effect only lasts for seven days, after which it will lose all its spiritual power."

He paused, then said, "The Yin River is extremely strange. Ordinary magical treasures will be corrupted by the river water if they enter it. You should keep them safe."

After saying that, Gong Yuzhou took out another porcelain bottle: "This contains the Fetal Breathing Pill, which is very beneficial to the cultivation of cultivators in the Fetal Movement Realm. There are four pills in the bottle, enough for you to use for a month."

Gu Zhao did not accept it.

Of the two items, the water-repellent mirror was rather ordinary to him.

With the help of the Qian Yuan True Qi within his body, the Yin Water River's chilling coldness could hardly harm him.

However, the Fetal Breathing Pill is no ordinary pill.

Gu Zhao had heard from the stables that this medicine was worth seven hundred coins per pill, and it was always in short supply, selling out as soon as it was released. If one wanted to buy it privately, one would have to pay a huge premium.

One pill can last for nine days, and can strengthen internal energy and accelerate the circulation of meridians.

A cultivator at the embryonic stage can only take a maximum of four pills; any more than that will have no effect.

Gong Yuzhou laughed and said, "Is this considered payment for the next few days?"

"That lake dam can't be cleaned up in just two or three days."

"You can keep it. If your cultivation level is too low, you won't be able to do anything for me."

Gu Zhao hesitated for a moment, then accepted the gift, cupped his hands slightly, and said, "Thank you, Envoy Gong."

Although he didn't want to have anything to do with Gong Yuzhou, this item came at just the right time.

With the help of Qian Yuan True Qi, Gu Zhao's cultivation will progress rapidly.

He estimated that in a few more days, his cultivation would break through to the fifth level of the fetal movement realm.

This Breathing Pill can explain the reason for the successive breakthroughs in cultivation.

However, these pills are too expensive; four pills cost almost four thousand magic coins.

Those who retrieve corpses don't even earn four thousand magic coins a month. With expenses, lodging, and food, they simply can't afford such elixirs.

This Gong Weishi is truly generous!

Yang Yueqi was secretly puzzled. The Water-Avoiding Mirror was understandable; it was a magical artifact needed to descend into the Yin River.

However, Senior Brother Gong, with his Qi Refining Realm, naturally couldn't use this Embryonic Breathing Pill.

It seems to have been prepared specifically for this person?

Why should a lowly corpse retriever deserve such preferential treatment?

Senior Brother Gong had never treated her so well before.

Just as Gong Yuzhou bestowed the two treasures, the Zhenhe Division's large ship arrived at its destination.

This is a natural lake formed by the erosion of the Yinshui River over the years. The large boat slowly sailed into the ferry crossing along a wide waterway.

There are already soldiers from the Zhenhe Division ahead, who have set up checkpoints. You can only enter after your identity has been verified.

Gong Yuzhou stepped forward and revealed his identity.

The large ship was then slowly released and sailed into the lake dam.

Yang Yueqi looked impatient: "Since when has it become necessary for us, the Zhenhe Division, to have our identities checked when we go to our own territory in the Yinshui River?"

Yuan Shao smiled faintly: "Today's situation is different from the past."

Gu Zhao walked down from the second floor, pressed the water-avoiding mirror to his chest, carefully put away the fetal breathing pill, and looked at the lake dam in front of him.

The other body retrievers also craned their necks to look around.

The lake was shrouded in a cold mist, even more chilly than the Yinshui River in the Dingzi area. The water was vast and boundless, much larger than expected.

Gu Zhao finally understood why Gong Yuzhou had said the trip would take several days.

With just these few body retrievers on the boat, it would take them at least a month, let alone a few days, to search this entire lake dam area.

Besides their official boat, there were seven or eight other boats on the lake used for retrieving corpses, and many of the corpse retrievers had already jumped into the water.

The stableman leaned closer and whispered:

"Zhao-ge'er, look, besides the official boats of the Zhenhe Division, there are also the flags of the Xunshan Hall flying over there."

"See that big ship outside...?"

Gu Zhao looked up and saw that the flag was unfamiliar in design, not one he recognized.

Seeing this, the stableman explained in a low voice, "This is no ordinary boat; it's a tower boat from the inner gate."

"Judging from the banner, he should be... someone from the Inner Sect's Heavenly Pillar Prefecture."

Inner Gate Heavenly Pillar?

Gu Zhao had only been in the corpse retrieval room for a short time and did not know much about the internal power structure of the Mingyi Sect, so he looked puzzled upon hearing this.

Ma Fang explained in detail: "Among the inner sect members, only those who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage and rank among the top three in the inner sect competition are qualified to become candidates for the sect's Heavenly Pillar."

"The position of the Inner Sect's Heavenly Pillar is predetermined; a successor will only take over after the previous one has passed away."

"Once you become a Heavenly Pillar, you can establish your own academy and recruit outer disciples."

"This magnificent vessel before us must be the personal vehicle of one of the inner sect's Heavenly Pillars."

Ma Fang concluded, "Tianzhu is already a big figure in the sect, a Foundation Establishment True Person who has gained power."

He couldn't help but sigh softly, "That's a Foundation Establishment cultivator... We menial servants are nothing but ants under their feet in their presence."

Gu Zhao nodded, secretly on guard.

Sure enough, following Gong Yuzhou puts one at the center of the vortex.

The pills in my hand no longer smelled good!

The things in this lake dam are definitely not simple!