Immortality and Cultivation: I Have Too Many Talents

Chapter 598 Expedition to Yan (Seeking Subscriptions)

The next day.

Starry Immortal City, Heavenly Class Room.

Shen Xuan put on his robe, stood up, and stood by the window, looking down at the Starry Immortal City below with a deep gaze.

The Demon Lord Wanmeng leaned lazily against the soft bed, her robe half-undone, a strand of black hair twirling between her fingers, her eyes sparkling, charming and alluring, possessing a unique charm.

"Shen Lang, is your body-refining technique about to break through?"

A hint of amazement appeared in Wanmeng Demon Lord's voice.

"Not that fast."

Shen Xuan said calmly, "I need a large amount of high-grade divine dragon descendant inner core essence blood reverse scale to break through the bottleneck."

At times like this, there's no need to lie.

Many elixirs and demonic pills that help break through bottlenecks are made from the essence of demonic beasts.

"that's it!"

With a wave of her hand, Demon Lord Wanmeng displayed five jade boxes on the table.

Shen Xuan scanned the area with his divine sense.

The essence of the dragon contained in these Demon Pills is relatively weak.

It should be a common third-tier low-grade demonic dragon.

"What do you want to change?"

"Let's switch to the Blood Demon Pill."

Demon Lord Wanmeng giggled, "Shen Lang, you have so many Blood Demon Pills, why don't you exchange a few more for someone else!"

“A deal is a deal.”

Shen Xuan said seriously.

He made a mental estimate.

"Two inner cores and three reverse scales. A total of twenty-one Blood Demon Pills. Shall we trade?"

"Change!"

"Wanmeng Demon Lord said angrily."

She still made a profit from this transaction.

Shen Xuan didn't say much, but pointed out twenty-one Blood Demon Pills and made a deal with Demon Lord Wanmeng.

The transaction was completed, and the atmosphere was subtle, a mixture of romance and estrangement.

Demon Lord Wanmeng stood up, straightened her clothes, and prepared to leave.

Shen Xuan expressionlessly took out a stack of ice talismans and pushed them in front of Demon Lord Wanmeng.

"What kind of talisman is this?"

"Ice Soul Flying Sword Talisman".

Shen Xuan said calmly, "A mid-grade third-tier ice talisman, each one is equivalent to a full-force attack from an early-stage True Core cultivator."

"I have re-refined these nine Ice Soul Flying Sword Talismans with my own spiritual energy and set them up as a small talisman array. They can be activated simultaneously, and their power is comparable to a full-force attack from a late-stage True Core cultivator."

"what!"

Upon hearing this, Demon Lord Wanmeng was somewhat surprised.

Comparable to a full-force attack from a late-stage True Core cultivator, the power of this ice sword rune array exceeded her expectations.

Back then, in the Demon Realm, if we had these nine Ice Soul Flying Sword Talismans, we might have been able to break through the Flaming Firebird's Flame Array and escape.

"Wanmeng, you must be tired from this trip to Yan. This is a gift to you as compensation."

Shen Xuan remained calm and composed.

Nine Ice Sword Talismans are available for sale, fetching at least two million spirit stones.

It's not much less valuable than a demon dragon's core.

Shen Xuan gave it away as soon as he said he would.

This touched Wanmeng, the Demon Lord.

This nemesis was cold and indifferent to her; being with her meant nothing more than physical pleasure and trading treasures.

This time, they actually gave her a level 3 ice talisman for protection for free.

The slight dissatisfaction from a moment ago vanished instantly.

"Thank you, Shen Lang!"

Demon Lord Wanmeng embraced Shen Xuan and kissed him affectionately.

After she finished kissing him, Shen Xuan gently pushed her away.

"Wanmeng, the demonic tide is surging in Yan Kingdom. The sects of the four kingdoms have reached an agreement, and I am about to launch an expedition to Yan Kingdom."

"The Liang Kingdom will also send experts to the Yan Kingdom. While you are in the Liang Kingdom, help me acquire the core essence and blood of third-tier demonic creatures with water and fire attributes."

"No matter what price you offer to acquire it, I'll pay you a 20% commission, how about that?"

"it is good!"

Demon Lord Wanmeng readily agreed.

Although the essence and blood of third-tier magical beasts are precious, they are also heavily imbued with demonic energy, making them relatively limited in use for human spiritual cultivators. Consequently, their market price is far lower than that of the essence and blood of third-tier magical beasts.

While demonic cultivators can use it, they must first strip away the demonic energy within it. They also need corresponding demonic sect secret techniques or evil demonic weapons to refine and use it.

Logically speaking, Shen Xuan is a spiritual cultivator and shouldn't need the essence and blood of a third-tier demon.

Demon Lord Wanmeng was a smart person, so she naturally wouldn't ask any more questions.

She smiled charmingly, her beauty captivating: "Don't worry, Shen Lang, Wanmeng is always reliable in her work. Shall we still use the Blood Demon Pill for the transaction?"

"There are only twenty Blood Demon Pills left. Spirit stones, demon stones, demon weapons, ice talismans, longevity pills, and gold-transforming pills are all available for you to choose from."

"Okay. Wanmeng trusts Shen Lang."

She had no doubt about Shen Xuan's wealth and character.

Under his rule, Starshine Immortal City flourished and became a prosperous and thriving place.

Moreover, he also engaged in large-scale trade with the demon race of the desolate wilderness, making a fortune.

"Just do your best, and be careful about your own safety."

Shen Xuan gave instructions.

Demonic cultivators have no regard for morality or integrity.

The higher the level of the treasure being traded, the more dangerous it is.

For demonic cultivators, double-crossing is commonplace.

This is also why Shen Xuan was willing to pay a 20% commission.

Wanmeng is an elite demon lord of the Hehuan Sect, with a Saint Pill Master behind her. Ordinary demon lords dare not lay a hand on her.

The two lingered for a while.

Demon Lord Wanmeng uttered many beautiful love words.

Shen Xuan dismissed her as rambling nonsense, letting it go in one ear and out the other.

Finally, after Shen Xuan pushed it away once more, Demon Lord Wanmeng stomped her foot and flew towards the city gate.

"Two demon cores and three reverse scales should be enough to sustain us for about three years."

Shen Xuan thought to himself, then transformed into a streak of azure light and flew back to the Ice Cave.

……

"I never imagined that we could assemble an expeditionary force in just two months!"

Inside the icy cave, Shen Xuan pondered as he read the secret message sent by the Mysterious Immortal.

Previously, the Mysterious Master had communicated with him.

The demonic tide is surging in the Yan Kingdom, and the war is in dire straits.

The Yan state sought help from the neighboring states of Liang, Song, and Lu.

After repeated discussions, the major sects of the Three Kingdoms finally decided to send troops.

It also delineated the routes for each country to send troops and the geographical areas for eliminating the monsters.

The mission assigned to the Qingyun Sect involved three prefectures within the Yan Kingdom, close to the sphere of influence of the Baiqiao Sect. After several rounds of negotiations, the Qingyun Sect formed an expeditionary force, with Tianlei Zhenren as the central army, Lingxiao Zhenren as the left army, and Xuanbing Zhenren as the right army.

The three routes advance simultaneously and support each other.

Master Tianfeng led his disciples as the overall coordinator, responsible for relaying messages and supplying provisions.

By dispatching four Golden Core cultivators at once, the Qingyun Sect planned to complete the demon-slaying mission swiftly and decisively, minimizing losses as much as possible.

This time, the Yan Kingdom's expeditionary force only managed to obtain monster materials as loot.

The Yan state sects will not make any special compensation for the losses.

For the cultivators of the Qingyun Sect, it would definitely be a losing proposition.

"In the right flank of the cultivator army, besides myself, the Golden Core cultivator leading the team, we also need several deputies, a number of Foundation Establishment cultivators, and to recruit over a thousand late-stage Qi Refining cultivators."

Shen Xuan pondered in his heart.

According to custom, he should have traveled with Hanyu Zhenren and Gufeng Zhenren.

However, one of them had a fiery temper, while the other was not good at fighting.

Shen Xuan directly rejected both of his masters.

He has better candidates.

"When fighting monsters, the Howling Moon Fox and the Three-Tailed Cat are more useful."

"Besides that, we don't need too many Foundation Establishment cultivators."

Junior Sister Wen Luoying of Xiaogu Peak, Junior Sister Fang Huixue of Hanyu Peak, Lü Sihao of the Lü family, Ding Lingchong of the Ding family, Shangguan Cheng of the Shangguan family, Tie Xinye, son of Tie Wendao, Wen Yinfeng, grandson-in-law of Lin Zhongyue, and Chu Wenhai, son-in-law of Chu Duanlang.

Joining the expeditionary force was both an obligation and an opportunity.

Like Wen Luoying, who had long since achieved perfect foundation building, she had been constantly refining herself.

A few years ago, her senior sister Yun Chixin failed to form her core, which made Wen Luoying hesitant to attempt it herself and she was still refining her technique repeatedly.

In Shen Xuan's view, it was very necessary for Wen Luoying to go to the front line and fight a real battle in order to strengthen her Dao heart and consolidate her Dao foundation.

Fang Huixue and others are the same.

These are all newly established Foundation Establishment cultivators, and they have been well protected since childhood.

With the support of sects and families, resources are abundant, the path is smooth, and the foundation for the Dao is laid.

However, if you want to go further on your path...

They must participate in battles, comprehend the great principles in life-or-death struggles, and elevate their state of mind.

In the world of cultivators, strength is paramount, and combat power is the best standard for selecting the strongest.

Under the pressure of life and death, it is easier to unleash one's potential.

Various spells must also be tested in actual combat.

Working in isolation won't work.

If one feels fear and wants to retreat when faced with a strong enemy, one is prone to developing inner demons, which can affect one's Daoist heart.

In Shen Xuan's view, a cultivator's practice is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind.

Selecting these newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivators is actually for their own good.

With him leading the troops, these people are much safer.

The real danger lies with the more than a thousand Qi Refining stage cultivators.

Some of them were disciples of sects.

Most of them are cultivators who are affiliated with cultivation families.

Their purpose in joining the expeditionary force was simple.

The purpose is to earn sect merits, exchange them for a Foundation Establishment Pill, and then attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Whether within the Qingyun Sect or its vassal families, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators is controlled behind the scenes by an invisible hand.

The Qingyun Sect has only so much territory, and the number of spiritual lands is limited.

The number and structure of monks should be kept in good shape.

Therefore, the Qingyun Sect has always controlled key spiritual items such as Foundation Establishment Pills.

This is also a common practice among all major sects.

Of the more than a thousand Qi Refining cultivators, at most a dozen or so were able to establish their Dao Foundation.

It's not that I don't have the qualifications.

Rather, they lack the financial resources to gather the necessary foundation-building pills, foundation-building spirit items, and other essential foundation-building materials.

……

Somewhere in the Demon Realm.

On a huge jade platform carved from jade.

A handsome man with golden skin and a beautiful young woman with delicate features sat in the middle.

Several strangely-looking servants and delicate, pretty maids stood beside him.

Beneath the jade platform, tens of thousands of demon soldiers stood in dense formation.

These demon soldiers had strange appearances, some bearing traces of demonic beasts, with scales, claws, and varying numbers of hands and feet. They had blank expressions and emitted a strong, fishy stench.

Behind the jade platform, there is a lotus-shaped passage with a huge vortex flowing around it, surrounded by complex and eerie symbols.

If Shen Xuan were here, he would recognize him at a glance.

This is the entrance to the Demon Realm.

The handsome man was none other than Jin Lijian, the young master of the Jinling Clan.

At this moment, a large stack of dark, high-grade magic stones was piled up in the lotus passage.

"Brother, are you going to drive these demon soldiers into the Xuan Yuan Realm?"

Jin Lijian's voice was as cold as ice: "These demon soldiers are all trash. Let them go to the Xuan Yuan Realm to scout ahead."

He pointed.

A golden light split into ten thousand points of golden rays, which fell upon each of the demon soldiers.

"These are all worthless things, perfect for testing the mettle of cultivators from the Xuan Yuan Realm."

Then, Jin Lijian shouted, "Niu Dali!"

Among the attendants beside him, a nine-foot-tall bull-headed demon general stepped forward in response.

"You are about to break through and advance to a higher level. It's a good time for you to go down to the lower realm to gain experience."

"Yes, my lord."

Niu Dali responded loudly.

Ding Chunhua.

A slender, alluring phantom emerged from the shadows.

"My subordinate is here."

"You go with Ding Dali."

"Yes, my lord."

At that moment, the charming young girl waved her hand.

The pretty maid beside him bent down.

"Yanting, you go with them to take a look. You don't need to do anything; just give a detailed report on the situation in the lower realm."

"Yes, ma'am."

The maid's body became ethereal, transforming into a demon soldier with scales, armor, and sharp claws, just like many of the demon soldiers below the stage.

It turns out that this maid named Hua Yanting is also a Phantom Demon, and has already condensed her demon core.

Phantoms can blend into the shadows and are naturally skilled in disguise, stealth, and assassination.

"You guys watch carefully."

Jin Lijian pointed a finger into the void.

A golden light flashed in the air, and a figure materialized, which was none other than Shen Xuan.

(End of this chapter)