Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Secret Realm, Immortal Cave Mansion, and Evil Spirits

"Fellow Daoist He, why don’t we split these fifteen acres of Spirit Fields between us? We can harvest and hide the Spirit Rice before the Grain Collection Officer arrives. What do you say?"

Just yesterday evening, on their way back, Miao Chen had discussed this exact matter with He Zhiping.

Neither of them was a fool. If Cultivators at the Qi Refining Third Layer refused to enter that Secret Realm, what good would their meager Realm and amateurish Magic do?

Wasn’t that just a death wish?

Of course, no one was happier about this whole situation than them—the Cultivators at the Qi Refining Second Layer.

If all their peers who used to boss them around died, wouldn’t they automatically become the strongest?

He Zhiping nodded in agreement, though in his mind, he was already scheming how to claim a larger share.

"Sure, but we have to split the field maintenance evenly too!"

"Come on, Fellow Daoist He, your Rainfall Technique is much better than mine!"

The two chatted as they walked, soon arriving at the edge of the Spirit Fields. Just as they were about to step inside, deep in an animated conversation—

Suddenly, two Flaming Palms tore through the air.

In the next instant, the attacks struck them squarely in the chest, sending them flying backward!

Their bodies crushed a patch of Spirit Rice, their backsides sinking half-deep into the mud. The clothes on their chests were entirely incinerated, still smoldering with faint sparks.

Still reeling from the shock, He Zhiping and Miao Chen lay there with wide eyes.

Soon, a figure slowly approached.

Their pupils dilated, eyes brimming with terror.

He Zhiping gulped heavily, not daring to move a muscle.

"Next time you trespass in my Spirit Field, it won’t be as simple as a single palm strike," Chen Mo said, his tone so icy it sent a chilling shudder down their spines.

Miao Chen and He Zhiping couldn’t help but tremble.

Nodding frantically like pecking chickens, they stammered, "Yes, yes, yes."

It wasn’t until Chen Mo had walked far away and completely disappeared from sight that the two Cultivators finally exchanged a look.

"Wasn’t he drafted? How can he disobey Purple Cloud Peak’s orders?"

Suddenly, a terrifying thought crept into their minds.

This seemingly ordinary Spirit Plant Cultivator appeared to have a massive background and formidable backing!

...

Chen Mo’s mere presence served as a greater Deterrence than the two Flaming Palms.

This incident had thoroughly subjugated the duo. Even if they were given liquid courage, they wouldn’t dare push their luck again.

In the days that followed, everything continued as usual.

Performing Rainfall when it was time for Rainfall, Weeding when it was time for Weeding, and Cultivation when it was time for Cultivation...

Having grown accustomed to this ascetic lifestyle, Chen Mo found a certain joy in the relentless grind itself.

Three days later.

While the Spirit Fields remained as peaceful as ever, Ancient Dust Marketplace was engulfed in turmoil.

Over forty Spirit Plant Cultivators at the Qi Refining Third Layer and Fourth Layer were supposedly "led"—but in reality, herded—out of the Marketplace, marching toward the border between Purple Cloud Peak and Yellow Cloud Peak.

This time, even Pavilion Master Niu Youliang personally brought up the rear. For any Cultivator daring enough to attempt an escape, only one outcome awaited them: death!

The group walked for three whole days from the foot of Purple Cloud Peak before reaching the borderland.

Ancient Dust Marketplace was situated in a remote area to begin with, so it had only taken them three days to arrive.

As for the Marketplaces on the other side of the mountain, some had set out half a month ago and were just now arriving alongside them.

There were thirty-seven Marketplaces in total under Purple Cloud Peak, each mobilizing around sixty to seventy people. By the time the group from Ancient Dust Marketplace arrived, more than half of the Cultivators were already waiting there.

There were thousands of them!

If this force were placed in the Mortal Realm, it could easily overthrow an entire nation.

Yet, in the Cultivation Realm, they were nothing more than cannon fodder meant to be sacrificed.

After Niu Youliang herded his group into the main battalion, he handed them over to the disciples of Purple Cloud Peak for centralized management. He then stepped forward to exchange pleasantries with the Pavilion Masters of the other Marketplaces.

These Cultivators had originally been disciples of Purple Cloud Peak as well.

However, burdened by limited talent and lingering worldly attachments, they had unwillingly resorted to using their resources and connections to secure the position of a Marketplace Pavilion Master.

Their status was neither high nor low, constituting a force within Purple Cloud Peak that could not be underestimated.

Here, the Pavilion Masters hovered on their Flying Swords, chatting and laughing. Some even brought out food and wine, exchanging toasts merrily.

Having not seen each other for a long time, these Purple Cloud Peak disciples who once called each other brothers fully indulged in the joy of their reunion.

Meanwhile, down below, the group of Spirit Plant Cultivators—who could practically already foresee their own bitter ends—remained completely silent out of fear, keeping their mouths shut tight.

Once, they believed that securing the status of a Spirit Plant Cultivator meant they had half a foot in the Immortal Sect, and they had naturally paraded around with pride.

They had even flattered themselves into thinking that because they had bled and sweat for the Marketplaces and the Immortal Sect, Purple Cloud Peak would surely treat them well.

But what about now?

Now, they finally realized that the so-called incorporated Spirit Plant Cultivators of the Marketplaces were nothing but a group of insignificant pawns, ready to be sacrificed at a moment’s notice!

Apart from themselves, absolutely no one cared whether they lived or died.

The crowd waited in fear of the unknown for several more days.

Finally, the entire cannon fodder army of Spirit Plant Cultivators from all thirty-seven Marketplaces had assembled.

Li Shangxian, who had been guarding this place for quite some time, lightly pushed off with his toes and arrived before the Elder of Purple Cloud Peak. "Elder Sun! Everyone is here!"

Sun Changyu swept his disdainful gaze over the crowd. A cold sneer curled the corner of his mouth as he ordered, "First, organize twenty of them at the Qi Refining Third Layer to go in!"

"Yes, sir!"

Riding on his Flying Sword, Li Shangxian gave the Spirit Plant Cultivators no opportunity to protest, directly picking twenty people from the crowd.

Soon, he led them to a nearby mountain ravine.

Babbling streams flowed beneath swirling mist.

It looked just like an Immortal Realm on earth.

Li Shangxian pointed at the sheer cliff face ahead and commanded, "Walk in."

"Immortal, this is a wall..."

"I will only say this once. Go in, or die!"

Deterrence was always the simplest and fastest method.

With thousands more waiting behind him, Li Shangxian had no time to waste words on these Spirit Plant Cultivators.

Among the chosen group was Li Fu from Ancient Dust Marketplace. He was one of the first to accept his fate.

At this moment, he swallowed hard, subconsciously clenching his fists before finally taking a step forward.

Just as they approached the cliff, seven or eight figures flashed out of thin air in a split second.

Li Fu focused his eyes for a closer look.

These monsters had multiple pairs of compound eyes and heads the size of elephants, yet their bodies were as withered as dry firewood!

Moving with extreme speed and brandishing razor-sharp claws, they were on the verge of tearing open the Cultivators’ skulls when several streaks of Sword Qi shot out, instantly piercing through the heads of the seven or eight evil entities.

Still reeling from the shock, Li Fu turned to look at Li Shangxian, only to see the man with a cold expression. "Go in!"

Finally, the group braced themselves and stepped up to the sheer cliff.

They slowly reached out their hands, attempting to touch it.

But in the next instant, a massive pulling force instantly dragged them inside.

In the blink of an eye, the twenty Cultivators at the Qi Refining Third Layer vanished into the cliff face.

Witnessing this, Li Shangxian couldn’t help but frown.

"The pulling force on those at the Qi Refining Third Layer is getting stronger. It seems the Restrictions inside have indeed been depleted significantly! At most, after another dozen or so batches, those at the Qi Refining Fourth Layer will be able to enter too!"

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