Starting at the Nascent Soul stage, a rogue cultivator is incredibly poor.

Back on the island, a few more days passed.

That evening, a thick fog enveloped the area. Even with the eyesight of a Nascent Soul cultivator, the outline of the moon could be clearly seen through the fog, hazy and indistinct, as if seen through a thin veil.

Qingyouzi arrived at the backyard.

He planted a crimson flame tree here, as tall as three people, and now its branches are crawling with thousands of crimson fire demon insects. The insects are dark red with shimmering carapaces, and they cling to the crimson leaves, almost blending into one with them.

At dusk, from a distance, the whole tree looks like a burning flame, with specks of red light flashing on the leaves, like shooting stars.

Qingyouzi stepped forward.

He took out a Water Condensation Fruit and a Crimson Flame Fruit from his storage bag. With a gentle lift of his magic, the two spiritual fruits slowly floated to the side of the tree.

"Which one is the Crimson Flame Fruit?"

The fiery insects on the tree instantly became agitated.

The sound of their wings fluttering was like a drizzle as the swarm of insects rushed toward the Crimson Flame Fruit. In no time, the flesh was devoured, leaving only the pit.

Steamed clams.

Qingyouzi muttered to himself, then took out dozens of Crimson Flame Fruits from his storage bag and casually tossed them into the tree canopy.

The swarm of insects surged like a red cloud, and the spiritual fruit vanished in the blink of an eye.

He turned and walked towards the front of the courtyard.

Since there is no war, it is better to meditate quietly. After taking only a few steps, I heard a whooshing sound outside, which seemed to indicate some activity.

Qingyouzi arrived at the door.

A streak of light flashed past him; it was a Golden Core cultivator. Qing Youzi raised his hand, his magical power forming a net, and intercepted it.

"Young friend, what brings you in such a hurry?"

Upon seeing that it was Qing Youzi, the Golden Core cultivator immediately stopped and respectfully bowed.

"Senior! You've emerged from seclusion?"

"Hmm." Qingyouzi looked the other person over. "What's this outside?"

"Senior, we just received news that a small group of demonic beasts is attacking our direction."

"A demonic beast?" Qing Youzi's eyes brightened slightly, but she quickly suppressed her expression and coughed lightly. "If a demonic beast has attacked, why didn't you inform me?"

The Golden Core cultivator looked troubled:

"This was just a small-scale disturbance, easily handled by one or two Golden Core cultivators. We dare not disturb your peaceful cultivation, senior..."

"Foolish!"

Qingyouzi's expression turned serious, and his brows furrowed.

"Any attack by monsters, regardless of size, must be reported immediately. How do you know this isn't a smokescreen? Outpost observations may have oversights. If we underestimate the enemy and misjudge the situation, resulting in the loss of our comrades' lives, can you bear that responsibility?"

He stood with his hands behind his back, his tone serious.

"Moreover, demonic beasts are cunning and often hide their strength. If a third-tier demonic beast is mixed in among them and suddenly attacks, and you don't have time to defend yourself, the loss of a Golden Core cultivator will weaken our combat power, which is no small matter."

He paused, his voice softening, yet becoming even more solemn.

"Since I am stationed on this island, I must fulfill my duty to protect it. The lives of you cultivators are more important than quiet cultivation and meditation. From now on, whenever there is any movement of demonic beasts, regardless of their strength, you must report to me using a communication jade slip. I will take action to ensure your safety."

The Golden Core cultivator was stunned.

The Nascent Soul cultivators he had met or heard of mostly secluded themselves for arduous cultivation, detached from worldly affairs. How could this Senior Qingyou be so dedicated?

A surge of admiration welled up in his heart, and he bowed deeply.

"I understand! Thank you for your guidance, senior!"

"Go." Qingyouzi waved her hand.

Only after the Golden Core cultivator had gone far away did Qing Youzi raise an eyebrow slightly.

"Oh dear, it would be best if this wave of monsters contained more Tier 3 monsters, and more battle merits."

He naturally wanted to be like other Nascent Soul cultivators, detached from worldly affairs and focused on cultivation. However, he was short of money, lacked resources, and had no battle merits—where would he find the sustenance for cultivation?

I previously browsed through the communication jade slip and saw that the Heavenly Immortal City was selling ten-thousand-year-old spirit jade. This item can help Nascent Soul cultivators improve their magical power. Only ten pieces are available, each costing thirty thousand battle merits.

He had been envious for a long time.

"I'm poor..."

With a soft sigh, his figure vanished from the spot.

Dark clouds loomed over the coastline.

Dozens of demonic beasts broke through the waves and arrived, most of them at the second tier, with the leader of the three beasts already at the peak of the second tier. The cultivators on the island had already formed a battle formation to meet the enemy, their swords flashing and talismans intertwining.

Qingyouzi appeared in mid-air.

Before the cultivators below could react, a burst of blue light erupted from his sleeve.

Thousands of threads poured down like a torrential rain!

Thin, hair-like blue threads pierced through the waves, precisely striking the heads of each demonic beast. A muffled thud followed, the beasts stiffened, then collapsed, their blood staining the sea.

The battle was nearing its end before the cultivators in the formation had even made a move.

"There's one more."

Qingyouzi's gaze was fixed on a certain spot on the seabed.

A dark figure was fleeing rapidly, its demonic aura already at the early stage of the third rank, concealed remarkably well. With a flick of his finger, the blue hair in the sea suddenly converged, transforming into a giant net that caught and lifted the dark figure.

It's an Ironback Shark.

The demonic shark struggled, its fangs tearing at the blue net, but it couldn't budge it an inch. Qingyouzi pointed a finger, and the blue silk tightened, instantly crushing its skull.

The demon shark was killed.

From the moment it appeared until the moment it ended, it lasted no more than half an incense stick's time.

The cultivators below looked up and saw Qing Youzi standing in mid-air, his flowing black hair cascading back into his sleeves, the sea surface littered with floating corpses. The Nascent Soul cultivator's attack was swift and decisive, almost a crushing defeat.

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

Even if it wasn't the first time I'd seen it, such methods are still chilling.

Qingyouzi landed, put the corpse of the hunted monster into his storage bag, and then walked towards the camp on the shore.

Mo Xuanjun was already waiting.

"Senior." He bowed respectfully.

Qingyouzi handed over the storage bag: "Let's take inventory."

Mo Xuanjun took it, probed it with his divine sense for a moment, and took out a jade book to record it. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, he looked up and said:

"A total of three thousand battle merits. Adding the seventeen thousand you accumulated before, it's now exactly twenty thousand."

Qingyouzi nodded, but sighed softly in his heart.

Too little.

"Damn you demonic sharks! Don't you usually act in groups? Why did only one come this time? How dare you block my path to immortality! I'll kill every single one I see from now on!"

He doesn't need the Nine Revolutions Spirit Pool for now; it's something for breaking through the bottleneck of the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, which he's still far from achieving. But the Nascent Soul Condensation Pill is extremely useful. It can solidify the origin of the Nascent Soul, increasing its power and speed when the Nascent Soul leaves the body in the future.

The only thing needed is the war effort...

While he was pondering, Mo Xuanjun spoke again:

"Senior, Heavenly Immortal City just issued a wanted notice. Have you seen it?"

"An arrest warrant?"

Qingyouzi took out the communication jade slip and probed it with his divine sense.

Sure enough, Tianxian City issued an arrest warrant, and the wanted person was none other than [name omitted].

Daohe.

The jade slip states: Daohe Zhenren has been secretly colluding with the Northern Pavilion Continent, releasing demonic beasts into the formation. The evidence is conclusive, and a reward is offered for his capture, life or death. The reward is for his merit...

"Sir! Sixty thousand! Wow! He's worth more than a mid-stage fourth-tier demonic beast. And the island he guards is right next to the one I guard."

Qingyouzi's hand holding the jade slip trembled slightly, then he immediately coughed twice, his face serious.

"Daohe, humph, I hate traitors like him more than anything in my life! If I have the chance, I will kill him with my own hands."

Qingyouzi put away the jade slip.

"The Celestial City investigation is quite swift."

He said it casually.

Mo Xuanjun shook his head:

"It wasn't discovered by the Celestial Immortal City. It was the Celestial Mystery Elder who divined it using his divination skills. He has divined countless things over the centuries and has never been wrong. Both the righteous and demonic paths respect him. This time, the traitor was caught entirely thanks to his intervention."

"The Old Man of Heavenly Secrets..."

Qingyouzi noted down this name.

The art of deduction is profound and unfathomable; those who can glimpse the secrets of heaven are no ordinary people. Since this person is revered by both righteous and demonic forces, his methods must be extraordinary.

"With the arrest warrant issued, Daohe can't have gone far," Mo Xuanjun said in a low voice. "I just don't know if there's anyone else behind him..."

Qingyouzi looked out at the sea.

As dusk deepened, the setting sun, like blood, painted the sea a crimson hue. The floating corpses had been cleared away, and the waves continued to surge, as if the attack had never happened.

Monsters, traitors, warriors, teleportation arrays...

Numerous clues intertwined in my mind.

He remained silent for a moment, then turned and left.

"Let me know if you have any news."

The voice faded, and the person had already disappeared outside the tent.

Mo Xuanjun bowed to see him off, and when he looked up, a thoughtful look flashed in his eyes.

This Senior Qingyou seems to be quite different from other Nascent Soul elders...

Qingyouzi returned to the courtyard.

Even with eyes closed and mind focused, it's difficult to calm down.

The Great Teleportation Token glowed faintly in his storage bag, as if reminding him of that promise. The Forbidden-Breaking Cone, the Ancient Teleportation Array, the other side of the Boundless Sea…

And then there's the Nascent Soul Pill.

He opened his eyes, took out the communication jade slip, and checked the items for sale in Tianxian City again.

The Ten-Thousand-Year Spirit Jade hangs at the top of the list, priced at 30,000 Battle Coins. Below it are several other treasures needed by Nascent Soul cultivators, all with astronomical prices.

"I'm poor..."

He sighed again.

This time, however, he wore a smile.

At least, there's a way to go.

"Daohe... my dear old friend, where are you now? I suddenly miss you."

He put away the jade slip, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his internal energy. Azure threads appeared and disappeared around his body, moving as if they were alive, exuding a chilling killing intent.