Mortal: I, Zhang Tie, started by joining forces with Han Li to kill a strategist.

Although he knew he had gained a lot this time, he was still surprised when Zhang Tie counted the time.

There are over ten thousand pieces of raw spirit stone ore, which, after purification, are worth approximately one thousand spirit stones.

Xie Duanfeng's storage bag contained over three hundred spirit stones, several pills, a high-grade magic weapon, the Flowing Light Sword, and two mid-grade low-grade talismans.

Xie Yunhe's storage bag contained over four hundred spirit stones, several pills, a top-grade magic weapon, the Coiled Serpent Halberd, and a complete set of the Xie family's secret manual for cultivating blood lions.

Of the two members of the Earthly Fiend Stronghold, Night Owl, who was killed without uttering a single word, was rewarded with over two hundred spirit stones, a number of pills, a high-grade magic weapon, the Shadow Claw, and dozens of talismans, though most were low-grade talismans, with only one mid-grade talisman.

The Mad Blade, who is in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, is different. This guy has two storage bags, one of which clearly contains the spirit stones used in this transaction, totaling nine hundred!

In addition, there were more than 400 spirit stones in another storage bag, the blood-red longsword was also a top-grade magic weapon, and the black flag was a high-grade magic weapon. There were also many strange and unusual pills and spiritual herbs.

Just counting spirit stones, plus Zhang Tie's previous savings, he now has more than three thousand spirit stones in his possession!

At the same time, after killing four people and one beast, his karma value also increased to more than three thousand.

"I'm rich!" Zhang Tie murmured, unable to suppress the smile on his lips.

But what satisfied him most was that the whole process left almost no trace. Who would suspect that he was a nobody who came from a rogue cultivator background and had only broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage five or six years ago?

The presence of the Demon-Slaying Golden Qi was a huge surprise to him; Zhang Tie hadn't expected its power to be so great.

The mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, Kuang Dao, had no time to react before being killed by the Shattering Golden Qi!

However, with his current strength at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, it seems that he has reached a bottleneck in condensing the six paths of the Demon-Slaying Golden Qi. The Earthly Fiend Qi in the black gourd has run out. If he wants the Golden Embryo to continue to improve, he still needs to keep an eye on the news of Earthly Fiend Qi.

Although he successfully killed four Foundation Establishment cultivators, Zhang Tie also realized the shortcomings of the Six Harmonies Sealing Formation. It was enough to deal with early Foundation Establishment cultivators, but it was almost useless against Mad Blade, who was in the middle Foundation Establishment stage, let alone late Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After returning, first use the causal value to deduce and see if you can deduce a better array book, so as to improve your trump card.

At the same time, the condensation of the evil-dispelling golden energy must not stop!

However, we must complete the task at hand now, put on a convincing act, and minimize the risks.

...

Zhang Tie made no attempt to conceal his movements and headed straight for the mission location.

The task I picked up on this casually was also very simple, with no fixed time limit.

A flock of black crows has appeared on Qixia Mountain north of Moyu City. The leader of the black crows has reached level two and requires a Foundation Establishment cultivator to go and wipe them out. The contribution value is not high, only two hundred points.

Moyu City is just a small city. The city walls are mostly built with waste materials from the nearby Moyu mine, hence the name Moyu. However, the Moyu mine has long been exhausted. The city is not big, but because it is located at a transportation hub, cultivators would stop and rest, making it quite lively.

When Zhang Tie's flying boat landed at the city gate, the Qi Refining cultivators stationed there rushed over without stopping and bowed respectfully.

"This junior is Zhou De, an outer disciple stationed in Moyu City. I greet my senior uncle!" Zhou De, who was in his forties, introduced himself as a junior without changing his expression, while secretly sizing up this senior uncle from the sect.

Zhang Tie leaped off the flying boat and waved his hand, "No need for formalities. I've come for the flock of black crows. Explain the situation here in detail!"

Zhou De quickly led Zhang Tie to the city lord's mansion, explaining things as they went.

"Uncle-Master, the black jade mine is located at the foot of Qixia Mountain, but it was abandoned more than ten years ago. This flock of black crows flew in from somewhere and has been roosting there ever since!"

"Previously, these black crows were only level one, occasionally coming down the mountain to steal livestock and crops. The cultivators in the city could handle them. But a few months ago, the leader of the black crows suddenly broke through to level two and began to harass Moyu City with more than a dozen black crows. Last month, they even rushed into the Zhao family's spirit fields and destroyed all the spirit herbs. Several members of the Zhao family were also killed or injured..."

Zhang Tie frowned immediately. As far as he knew, low-level spirit birds like the Black Crow could only reach level one at most. That Black Crow was able to break through to level two, so there must be something strange about it!

"What's so special about that leader of the black crows?" Zhang Tie asked.

Zhou De thought for a moment: "Special... I can't quite put my finger on it, but that black crow was quite large, with a wingspan of nearly two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), and that fellow was incredibly clever, never landing!"

Zhang Tie's heart skipped a beat. It was nearly two zhang long, almost comparable to a fierce bird or spirit beast!

Moyu City is not large, only about ten miles in length. The buildings in the city are arranged along a main street, and the best location at the end of the main street is the so-called City Lord's Mansion, which is also the residence of the garrisoned disciples.

Zhou De led Zhang Tie to the best room to rest.

"Uncle-Master, several clan leaders in the city have heard of your arrival and wish to pay you a visit. What do you think?" Zhou De said cautiously.

Zhang Tie originally wanted to refuse outright, but after thinking about it, he nodded instead.

Although these local families in the city were insignificant in his eyes, they had been rooted in Moyu City for many years and should be more aware of the situation in Qixia Mountain.

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the heads of the three families in the city arrived.

There are three fairly large cultivation families in Moyu City: the Li, Wang, and Zhao families. Some of them have produced Foundation Establishment cultivators, but the lineage has obviously ended. Apart from Zhou De, who is at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, there is only one other person at the tenth level of Qi Refining in the city.

After receiving permission, the three family heads were led into the city lord's mansion by Zhou De.

The youngest of the Li family patriarchs was in his early thirties or forties, with a Qi Refining level nine cultivation. He was dressed in brocade robes and carrying a box. The Wang family patriarch looked like a farmer with dark skin, also at the Qi Refining level nine. The Zhao family patriarch had the highest cultivation, second only to Zhou De in Moyu City, at the Qi Refining level ten. However, he was old and his Qi and blood had declined significantly, so there was no hope for him to improve his cultivation further.

The three knelt down as soon as they entered, their attitude exceptionally respectful.

"This junior pays respects to the senior from Spirit Beast Mountain!"

Zhang Tie, seated in the main seat of the council chamber, raised his hand and said, "Rise, no need for formalities!"

Only then did the three dare to stand up. The Li family patriarch took a step forward, opened the brocade box in his hand, and inside was a twenty-year-old Blood Ganoderma. The Wang family patriarch was not to be outdone and offered a piece of spirit ore of good quality.

The Zhao family patriarch was the most practical, offering fifty spirit stones: "Senior came from afar to exorcise the demon for me; this is just a small token of my appreciation!"

Zhang Tie glanced at them; these things were insignificant compared to his wealth, but he didn't refuse. Only by accepting the gifts would these people feel at ease.

Seeing that Zhang Tie had accepted the gifts, the three clan leaders breathed a sigh of relief and felt much more relaxed.

"How much do you know about the black crows of Qixia Mountain?" Zhang Tie asked bluntly.

The Zhao family patriarch, being the oldest and most powerful, was clearly the leader. Upon hearing Zhang Tie's question, he quickly replied, "Senior, these black crows have been roosting there since the Upper Sect withdrew from the black jade mine over a decade ago. Although they occasionally steal crops and livestock, they have lived peacefully together. However, a year ago, a member of my Zhao family in the spirit fields near Qixia Mountain reported that a blood-red light was emanating from the mountain. Since then, the leader of the black crows has broken through to the second level. I suspect that a spiritual creature has been born in the mountain..."

Zhang Tie's heart stirred, but his face remained expressionless.