Living as a Mortal: Grinding Experience Starting from the Underworld

Oh no! We've been discovered.

The person in front of him was Zhang Tie, Han Li's avatar, who was at the Core Formation stage.

Zhang Feng forcibly suppressed the slight panic in his heart, calmed down, and thought about how to deal with it.

Han Li's figure did not appear in the divine sense, which means that Han Li himself was hiding in the distance, and only Zhang Tie showed up.

This doesn't look like a posture that suggests an impending attack.

Moreover, the two have no conflict of interest or any grudges or entanglements.

Based on Han Tianzun's personality, Zhang Feng should not be in any immediate danger.

Therefore, all that's needed is to handle it carefully.

"May I ask what brings you here, senior?"

Zhang Feng stood on the Lingyun Boat, bowed to Zhang Tie, and inquired.

Beyond Zhang Feng's divine sense probing, Han Li, dressed in a blue martial arts outfit, stood on the rock, his eyes flashing with spiritual light.

He had been watching Zhang Feng's recent actions closely.

This person was indeed cautious, which reminded him of the days at the Tainan Small Meeting.

As a rogue cultivator with no background or resources, one must be cautious and weigh every action.

For no reason, Han Li thought of Senior Brother Ma from the Hundred Herbs Garden...

"I have observed you for a long time and you know when to advance and when to retreat. Since I am about to return to the Inner Sea, I would like to offer you a small gift."

Han Li controlled Zhang Tie, left behind a sentence, and then transformed into a streak of light and disappeared into the distance.

Zhang Feng was left standing there, stunned.

What he thought was a secret had actually been discovered by Han Tianzun long ago.

If there were a conflict of interest, he would have already started fleeing.

And what's with all this "gift" stuff? Has Han Tianzun suddenly become incredibly kind?

Coming to his senses, Zhang Feng turned around and bowed in the direction Zhang Tie had left.

A moment later, Zhang Feng arrived at Red Coral Island and discovered what Han Li had left behind.

Three bottles of pills, and a message left by divine consciousness.

"This is a Demon-Attracting Pill that I refined using Demon-Attracting Grass. It corresponds to level three, level four, and level five demon beasts respectively. Although it is not as effective as the Demon-Attracting Grass itself, it is still sufficient for use."

The path of independent cultivation is extremely difficult; I urge you, young friend, to use this method with caution, act prudently, and never lose your aspiration for advancement.

Zhang Feng held the pill, his expression somewhat complicated.

This is the first time I have received such a gift since I began my spiritual practice.

Venerable Han, Zhang Feng will remember this kindness and will repay it in the future.

Zhang Feng did not linger and steered the Lingyun Boat towards Ningcui Island.

The storage bag is full of level-two demon beast materials. It's time to sell them to exchange for spirit stones and improve my cultivation.

……

"Pah! You stinking outsider, hurry up and hand over the spirit stones and monster materials, or you'll regret it!"

Before even arriving at Ningcui Island, Zhang Feng heard the familiar accents of the Ningcui Island cultivators.

"Hey, it's always us from Jiyin Island who rob others, but who would have thought we'd be robbed by others in the open sea!"

The two groups of cultivators faced off on the outskirts of Ningcui Island.

One team flew the flag of Jiyin Island, and the other team flew the flag of the Merchant Alliance.

Seeing that the two sides were about to start a fight, Zhang Feng, whose storage bag was full of demon beast materials, hurriedly turned the ship around. A dozen other cultivators who were preparing to enter the island also chose to turn around.

They all returned with a bountiful harvest, and they couldn't let it be stolen just before they went to the island to sell it.

"Damn it, what started as a small-scale, clandestine robbery has now escalated into a conflict between two factions?"

A dozen or so people were traveling together, and the man made no attempt to hide it, communicating with his companions in whispers.

"Damn it, they're all stinking outsiders. Those vixens from Miaoyin have joined forces with the four major merchant alliances of Tianxing City to launch a punitive attack on Jiyin Island."

"This has hindered the trade of Jiyin Island in the inner sea, so they have begun to set their sights on the outer sea. The young master of Jiyin Island, Wu Chou, has personally led a team to try to open up trade routes in the outer sea."

"But the outer sea is not as stable as the inner sea. Which cultivator who goes to the outer sea is not a master at hunting demonic beasts? How could they tolerate other forces taking away the demonic beast business in the outer sea?"

"Look, the Fengle Merchant Alliance, based on our Ningcui Island, is the first to object, and they've already started fighting with the cultivators from Jiyin Island!"

An elderly man in fine clothes, riding a flying sword, explained to the dozen or so people.

"Hey~ Fellow Daoist, your information network is so impressive?"

Some people have raised questions.

"Haha, my name is Tao Xiangqian, one of the resident managers of the Tao Zhu Merchant Alliance on Fengzhu Island. You've all returned from hunting demons in the outer seas, I imagine you've reaped a bountiful harvest. How about selling your spoils to me? I guarantee a fair price, no cheating on anyone, young or old!"

Tao Xiangqian stopped everyone and explained with a smile.

Zhang Feng had already put away the Lingyun Boat and, stepping on the Feiying, followed the crowd.

"Hey, you old man Tao, why aren't you staying on Fengzhu Island? Why are you coming to Ningcui Island to steal business from my Fengle Merchant Alliance?"

Another person caught up from behind, also dressed in finery, but with an old face.

"Hey~ Fellow Daoist Huang Ci, how can this be called robbery? Your Ningcui Island has been unsettled lately, so fellow demon hunters will naturally choose the more peaceful Fengzhu Island!"

Tao Xiangqian stepped aside to block Huang Ci of the Fengle Business Alliance.

Zhang Feng secretly probed with his divine sense and found that both of them were at the peak of the late Foundation Establishment stage, or even at the Pseudo-Core stage.

No wonder he became the resident manager of the business alliance.

It seems that the sanctions imposed on Jiyin Island by Miaoyin Sect in conjunction with the four major business alliances have hit Jiyin Island where it hurts.

Otherwise, why would Wu Chou, a Core Formation stage cultivator, lead a team to the outer sea to steal business from the four major merchant alliances?

Furthermore, these four major merchant alliances, though called alliances, are probably competing with each other to seize resources from the monsters in the outer seas.

Zhang Feng quietly broke away from his group.

Zhang Feng was not alone in having such thoughts; the group of more than a dozen people quickly dispersed.

"Oh dear, Fellow Daoist Huang, you've caused me a huge loss! These dozen or so people were all skilled demon hunters, poised to return laden with their spoils, earning at least several hundred spirit stones!"

Tao Xiangqian watched as the crowd dispersed, then slapped his thigh and sighed.

"Haha, alright, old ghost Tao, these are all cultivators from my Ningcui Island. When they want to sell demon beast materials, they'll first consider my Fengle Merchant Alliance. How dare you interfere?"

Huang Ci was in a great mood. With these dozen or so people returning to Ningcui Island to sell their hunting spoils, his performance this year would look even better.

"Heh heh, the disciples of Extreme Yin Island have been robbing and plundering, disrupting business on the high seas. You'd better start thinking about how to deal with them!"

Tao Xiangqian sneered and turned to look for another group of customers.

"Hmph, you old scoundrel, don't be so smug. We'll be at your Phoenix Tree Island soon. Once the six elders of my Merchant Alliance arrive, the demonic cultivators of Extreme Yin Island will flee. Then you'll see if I don't try to steal your business!"

Huang Ci also left behind a harsh remark before turning back to Ningcui Island.

Zhang Feng circled Ningcui Island twice and found that the two groups of people were just facing each other, as if they had agreed beforehand, and neither of them made a move easily.

Finding a secluded spot, Zhang Feng ascended Ningcui Island and headed straight for the commercial street.

The flags of the Fengle Business Alliance were planted next to the rows of stone houses.

Even the "Haokelai" inn is now displaying the banner of the Fengle Business Alliance.

It seems that the commerce of Ningcui Island is under the control of the Fengle Merchant Alliance. No wonder the island is relatively peaceful and there are very few troublemaking cultivators.

But with the invasion of the Yin Island, this place will soon be in turmoil.

Zhang Feng knew perfectly well that although Wu Chou looked easy to bully and had no strength at all in the anime.

But that's in comparison to Han Li and the Xuan Gu Old Demon.

In fact, he was a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, a backbone of the Extreme Yin Island, and also had a Nascent Soul stage ancestor.

Ordinary cultivators would not dare to provoke them easily; it is only because the Myriad Sounds Sect has the backing of the Star Palace that they dare to take action.

If it were just the Fengle Business Alliance alone, it probably wouldn't have such a great capability.

Therefore, it would be effortless for Wu Chou to take over Ningcui Island; it would be more than enough.

So, Zhang Feng decided to sell all the level-two demon beast materials, exchange them for some cultivation resources, and then hurry back to his cave to pack his things and run away!