The news of the Ming Family's extermination spread on the second day. Three hundred and twenty-five people died tragically on the spot; their souls, unable to find peace, were all taken into the Banner of Thousand Souls. This matter, as it turned out, was also a result of the Ming Family's own doing.

The Black Soul Sect is going to battle with the Five Elements Sect?

Spy agents of the Black Soul Sect planted in the Great Wilderness heard the overwhelming intelligence and seriously suspected that there was a problem with the information network. As spies planted by our Sect, how could we not know about this? They hurriedly sent messages back to their Sect.

This led to the gathering of Black Soul Sect Cultivators at the Ming Family to find the source of the rumors.

The shocking news of the family's annihilation caused panic to boil over amongst the people, especially the last words left by the exterminated Ming Family:

"This chaos is just as you wished!"

The Loose Cultivators of the Outer City were completely up in arms, either planning to leave with the trade caravans or trying their utmost to get into the Inner City. The casualties of Loose Cultivators in the Outer City being used as cannon fodder in the battle between the Five Elements Sect and Thousand Beasts Mountain were still fresh in everyone's mind; no one wanted to see a similar situation happen again.

Trade caravans, always well-informed, heading for the Great Wilderness Market were all gone. Whether they had been wiped out by Demon Cultivators or had fled ahead of time was unknown.

The Cultivators secretly fueling the turmoil were merely using the rumors to offload goods at high prices, profiting massively from the panic. They were doing this for profit, not wishing for a real war to break out. The war between the Black Soul Sect and the Five Elements Sect seemed to be the result of their actions...

The departure of Cultivators from the Great Wilderness Market decreased, and the panic continued to spread.

"The Ming Family was exterminated by the Black Soul Sect?"

"Is there really going to be a war?"

The freshly released Spirit Rice and Monster Beast Meat were quickly bought up, and the prices continued to rise. Daoist Jia could only snatch up three hundred catties of White Corn. Before he could make a second move, there was no more Spirit Rice available.

The resources I have are enough to last a long time.

Daoist Jia had six Storage Bags filled with Spirit Rice, each packed full. For his sole use, it would last him five years without issue. The limited space in his stone house had an additional small Fish Pond excavated, ten zhang deep, lined with Blue Profound Rock for water retention. The Gather Water Spell filled the Fish Pond, and the hundred Spirit Fish purchased from the Ming Family were all placed into the pond. A large amount of Spirit Attracting Bait was scattered, causing a frenzy among the schools of fish.

With no shortage of fish bait, I can slowly raise the fish. Self-sustaining in fish meat, I can maintain this for a prolonged time. The only thing I need to buy are Elixirs, trying to purchase as many Spirit Enhancement Pills as possible. Once war broke out, the prices of Cultivation Pills would skyrocket, and purchasing the desired Elixirs wouldn't be easy.

In just one day, the price of Spirit Enhancement Pills surged again. Daoist Jia spent thousands of Spirit Stones in a few transactions.

Time to focus on my secluded cultivation. With adequate supplies and the Formation activated, there are no concerns whatsoever.

「...」

"Only scouts from the Black Soul Sect came this time. Chop off every claw they dare to extend!"

In the Great Wilderness Sub-sect Main Hall of the Five Elements Sect, those gathered were at the very least Foundation Establishment Cultivators. This included Sect Masters and Hall Masters from the Main Sect and other Sub-sects; over fifty Foundation Establishment Cultivators, all elites, convened.

"We must secure the Spirit Stone Vein at all costs and protect it well."

The Spirit Stone Mine had not been exhausted in three months. The shallower Spirit Stones were relatively straightforward to mine, but the deeper the mine, the more difficult it became. A lot of Spirit Stones had been mined during this time, and the Five Elements Sect was on the verge of a soaring period. As long as they could utilize the resources well, it wasn't impossible for a few Golden Core Stage Cultivators to emerge from the Five Elements Sect. For hundreds of years, the Five Elements Sect hadn't had a continuous succession of strength. With no new Golden Core Stage Cultivators appearing, their dominance as the overlord of the Barren Extreme Land was unstable and repeatedly challenged. The chance for change was close at hand, and no mistakes could be afforded.

"Have the Black Soul Sect Cultivators gone mad? Daring to attack the Market! What audacity they have!"

Forty or fifty enraged Foundation Establishment Cultivators rushed to the Great Wilderness Market, only to find that they had missed the enemy. The Black Soul Sect had only made a token disturbance and had long since fled.

"No good, this is a ploy of drawing the tiger away from the mountain! Black Soul Sect Cultivators are deep in the Great Wilderness, launching an attack on the Formation protecting the mine."

Why now? Could there be a traitor within our Sect? Otherwise, how could their timing be so perfect?

Just as the Five Elements Sect was about to distribute the Spirit Stones, they faced an attack on both the Market and the Formation protecting the Spirit Stone Mine. This naturally led to suspicions of a spy within the Sect. At that moment, it was the most vulnerable time for the defense of the Spirit Stone Vein.

BOOM!

A streak of Five-Colored Sword Light flew out from the Five Elements Sect. Sword Qi Thunder Sound resonated, reaching the depths of the Great Wilderness in the blink of an eye.

The Black Soul Sect Cultivators were still attacking the protective Formation of the Five Elements Sect without success, for the strength of this Formation was no weaker than... the Sect's Protective Formation.

A Blue-Gold Vein, worthy of such high-level Formation defense? Maintaining such a Formation must be incredibly expensive; the mining profits might not even cover the costs!

Just as they were sending the message out using their Sound Transmission Talismans, the Sword Light swept past them. All Black Soul Sect Cultivators, be they of the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement or Foundation Establishment Stage, were as if caressed by a light breeze, leaving no trace behind. Blood, bones, Storage Bags, and Magic Artifacts were all utterly erased by the sword.

This level of might was certainly not something a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could achieve. A Golden Core Ancestor?!

"The Ancestor's might is invincible!"

"When did the Ancestor arrive in the Great Wilderness?"

"The Ancestor pays close attention to the Great Wilderness and has already come to oversee. Everyone, please rest assured."

The Spirit Stone Vein was of great significance, not to mention that it was a Large Spirit Stone Vein. It was only natural for the Ancestor of Five Elements to personally come and preside over the situation.

A Late Golden Core Stage Cultivator to preside?

The Ancestor of Five Elements is the backbone of the Five Elements Sect, as well as its Sea-Calming Divine Needle. The Black Soul Sect is not to be feared. As long as the Ancestor of Five Elements remains, the Five Elements Sect is the undisputed dominator.

Golden Core Stage powerhouses could cross tens of miles with a single sword strike, causing countless people to panic and feel uneasy.

How could this old immortal show up in the Great Wilderness?

Spies from various sects were panicking and tried every means to send intelligence back to their own sects.

"The Great Wilderness will not tolerate foreign invaders! Demon Cultivators must be executed!"

"Fellow Daoists, please rest assured, the Five Elements Sect will ensure the safety of the Great Wilderness Market!"

Over the Great Wilderness Market, the loud voice echoed unceasingly.

The Ancestor of Five Elements, as the sole Late Golden Core Stage powerhouse in the Barren Extreme Land, is a legendary figure. He transformed the Five Elements Sect from a small sect to the foremost power in the Barren Extreme Land, pressing down on other sects so they could hardly breathe.

"The Golden Core Ancestor has made a move!"

"The Black Soul Sect only has one Early Golden Core Stage powerhouse. Who dares to provoke the Ancestor of Five Elements? They don't even dare to show their face."

"A sect war seems unlikely to break out. With the Ancestor of Five Elements still alive, the other sects have to weigh their own strength."

Frustrating! I purchased a large amount of Spirit Rice at high prices.

Market prices fell, leading to a wave of Loose Cultivators selling off their supplies. Compared to the previous craze of stockpiling, it was a difference like heaven and earth.

Why would the Ancestor of Five Elements appear in the Great Wilderness? Just after damaging the formation of the Five Elements Sect's Spirit Stone Vein, the Ancestor of Five Elements Sect takes action—could it be that this vein is highly valued? Is the Spirit Stone Vein found by the Five Elements Sect extraordinary? Or is it a rare type of ore?

The Five Elements Sect's excessive actions allowed others to perceive something amiss, and the news was consequently passed back to their various sects.

Rare ore types?

Since mining began, the Five Elements Sect has never sold other ore stones to the outside. Ore stones can only be turned into Spirit Stones by forging them into Magic Artifacts or by selling them. Lately, several high-ranking members of the Five Elements Sect have been spending lavishly, visiting other markets to buy high-grade cultivation resources in great quantities.

Without the process of selling, how could wealth appear out of nowhere?

The Ancestor of Five Elements' unusual appearance in the Great Wilderness made it not difficult for others to infer that the vein was indeed a Spirit Stone Vein. In the Cultivation World, many things have traces that can be followed; don't treat others as fools. The fact that the Five Elements Sect could conceal the vein for three months was already quite an achievement.

Every major Sect was speculating about the Spirit Stone Vein. With the power of the Five Elements Sect, a small to medium-sized Spirit Stone Vein would have been mined out in three months.

This is no ordinary Spirit Stone Vein; it must be a Large Spirit Stone Vein!

The news of a Large Spirit Stone Vein excited many sects, as one such vein can bring prosperity to a sect. The Five Elements Sect was struggling in its twilight years; the other great Sects did not wish to see it rise again. Moreover, a Large Spirit Stone Vein was tantalizing, and they too wanted a share of the spoils.

More and more spies headed towards the Great Wilderness Market, seeking to verify the truth of the Spirit Stone Vein. Once a Large Spirit Stone Vein was confirmed, what followed would undoubtedly be a great sect war.

"Lately, there are increasingly many unfamiliar cultivators, with the volume of people doubling from before."

The rumors of the conflict between the Five Elements Sect and the Black Soul Sect had quieted on the surface after half a month, but undercurrents were surging. The Loose Cultivators arriving thereafter who wished to go deeper into the Great Wilderness were blocked by the Five Elements Sect, leading to many conflicts. The Five Elements Sect focused more energy and attention on the Great Wilderness, guarding it with utmost vigilance.

With fewer Enforcement Division Cultivators in the Great Wilderness Market, stability was hard to maintain. Multiple conflicts broke out in the Market that went unresolved. Nighttime was particularly chaotic, with plenty of Loose Cultivators seizing the opportunity to rob stores and plunder wealth. The Five Elements Sect, harried by the major Sects, was overwhelmed, resulting in the collapse of order in the Great Wilderness Market.

It's really troublesome!

Jia Ren reduced his outings and spent most of his time in secluded cultivation, improving his Proficiency Level. His dwelling was also protected by the Yun Luo Illusion Array, so he was not greatly affected.

Preparing his writing brush and ink, Jia Ren skillfully began making Heart-Questioning Charms.

DING!

Just then, a clear bell sound came from the Storage Bag at his waist. Jia Ren pulled himself out of his focused state. Not caring for the Heart-Questioning Charm he was still making, he hastily took out the Mother-Child Resonating Bell. The mother bell was vibrating fiercely, indicating that the Cultivator who possessed the child bell was shaking it vigorously.

Yang Bingzhi?

Jia Ren left his dwelling, his aura shifting. He took out a Sound Transmission Talisman to respond, watching as it flew towards the direction of Grand Wilderness Mountain.

"Daoist Jia, let's meet again at Grand Wilderness Mountain!"

After waiting less than the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Yang Bingzhi's Sound Transmission Talisman arrived. Jia Ren picked up his usual Storage Bag, changed his attire, and departed.

The Great Wilderness Market was not at peace. As he traveled without concealing his Ninth Level of Qi Refinement Cultivation Level, several lurking Bizarre Cultivators felt the fluctuations of Jia Ren's aura and chose to ignore him, letting him go his way without interference.

"Daoist Jia, after several months, I finally see you again."

Not seen for three months, Yang Bingzhi's strength had already advanced to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining.

"Congratulations to Daoist Jia for breaking through to the Ninth Level of Qi Refinement! Truly rapid progress; not even sect disciples can match you. With the aid of a Foundation Establishment Pill, Daoist Jia's Foundation Establishment is just around the corner."

Upon meeting, he first tossed a Storage Bag to Jia Ren, which contained the herbs necessary for the next stage of the Mixed Refining Vajra Body, enough to bring the Dark Gold Body to full completion.

"The alchemy inheritance also has a lead now."

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