Living as a Mortal: Grinding Experience Starting from the Underworld

Upon hearing this, Zhang Feng was momentarily stunned.

From his past life to the present, he has always been a person who values ​​loyalty and affection, believing that living is the continuation of loyalty and affection.

But once they entered the world of cultivation, everything seemed to change. For low-level cultivators, loyalty and camaraderie seemed to be a deadly poison.

One wrong move and you're gone without a trace.

But is loyalty and affection wrong?

The father died fighting the beast tide for the sake of loyalty and righteousness;

The mother died of depression because of her deep sense of loyalty and affection.

The master sacrificed his life for loyalty and righteousness;

He wanted to fight the beast tide together out of loyalty and camaraderie.

There's nothing wrong with loyalty and righteousness!

The only mistake was that my cultivation level was too low!

"Senior Wan, are you confident you can quell this beast tide?"

Zhang Feng looked calmly at Wan Qing.

"Oh, you're thinking of me?"

"I do have the ability to quell the beast tide, but why should I help you?"

Wan Qing also glanced at Zhang Feng and noticed a slight difference in him; he seemed less like the mature person he had been pretending to be.

"What would you like, senior?"

"Netherworld Beast Crystals, a large quantity of Netherworld Beast Crystals, and Submerged Water!"

A mysterious smile flickered across Wan Qing's lips.

Zhang Feng remained silent and took out the last remaining Yin Shen Water from his storage bag.

"Consider these murky waters as a deposit!"

"I'll retrieve the rest for you from the underworld!"

Upon hearing this, even Wan Qing was stunned for a moment before beaming with joy.

"What ambition!"

"I promise you, I can help!"

"As for the amount of beast crystals, with your strength at the late stage of the second-order body refinement, you should be able to hunt at least a level three Yinming Beast."

"I won't ask for much, just twenty second-tier beast crystals, or two third-tier beast crystals."

"As for the submerged water, just bring back the same amount."

Wan Qing stated his conditions word by word.

"No, we can't go! Steward Wan, we've already made arrangements."

Zhang Guihe, who was standing nearby, suddenly interrupted. Although she did not know where the Yinming Land the two were talking about was, her instinct told her that it was a dangerous place.

"Ha, Fellow Daoist Zhang, between the two agreements, I prefer the one with the higher price."

Wan Qing's smile widened even more.

"you……"

Zhang Guihe wanted to curse, but fearing the other's cultivation level, he couldn't bring himself to speak.

"Hahaha, this is hilarious! No wonder young friend Zhang values ​​loyalty so much; it turns out he came from Master's side!"

Wan Qing couldn't help but laugh, letting out a hearty laugh, a hint of envy flashing in her narrowed eyes.

"Feng'er, you can't go! Listen to your master!"

Zhang Guihe then turned to Zhang Feng for advice.

"Master, I am already a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. I have my own judgment on what to do and why to do it."

"Besides, when I was caught in the ghostly mist last time, I had already entered the Netherworld once, but I didn't tell you the details."

"If I can overcome this challenge the first time with first-tier body refinement, I can overcome it the second time with second-tier body refinement!"

Zhang Feng spoke firmly, for this trip was actually a good opportunity to find the complete version of the "Underworld King's Manual." However, without the techniques, the power of body tempering was still too weak.

"Alright, you two don't need to argue anymore! Since I've already agreed to help you deal with this beast tide, I will do as agreed."

"On the day the beast tide arrives, I will personally verify the Zhang family's records spanning hundreds of years."

"Here's a concoction I made to counteract the mist of Storm Mountain; consider it a donation!"

Wan Qing interrupted their conversation, turned around and tossed a package to Zhang Feng.

This trip will not only verify the controllability of the natural disaster and ghost fog, but also obtain resources from the Netherworld, truly killing two birds with one stone.

Zhang Feng reached out and took it, opened it, and saw three bottles of bluish-red pills and a dark blue bead.

"That azure bead is one of the Twin Beads, an item bestowed by the Ancestor. This item has the ability to locate space, ensuring your return to the vicinity of the Chaotic Star Sea."

"Remember, bring enough supplies. There will be a reward for extra supplies, but if you're short, I won't tolerate it!"

Wan Qing left behind his last words, then transformed into a streak of light and vanished from the cave.

"Sigh~"

Zhang Guihe sighed softly.

"This person is a deacon of the Reverse Star Alliance. Once you get involved with her, it'll be difficult to get rid of her!"

"You should behave yourself from now on."

"Regarding the beast tide, we cannot completely trust her words. Your master will organize manpower to defend against it."

After a pause, Zhang Guihe continued:

"I can no longer guide you on your path to enlightenment, but you should not interfere with the path I ultimately choose."

"We each follow our own path; that is true cultivation."

"As for Feng Zhengxing and his son Feng Xianghan, they will definitely betray us again this time, but it doesn't matter."

"They waver between the Star Palace and the Reverse Star Alliance, and are unable to shoulder the responsibilities of the island lord. I'm afraid neither the Star Palace nor the Reverse Star Alliance will let these two go."

"Now that the Grand Elder of the Star Palace has subdued the Extreme Yin Island and reigns supreme over the Chaotic Star Sea, the islands of the Inner Sea are all under his influence and deterrence. The power of the Star Palace is bound to expand!"

"Suihan Island was already weak, so it would be easy for them to take it over."

"But it's all for the best. It's better that Suihan Island can be restored to order under the governance of the Star Palace than in the hands of greedy and insatiable rogue cultivators."

Zhang Feng listened carefully to Zhang Guihe's analysis. His master did understand the pros and cons, but he still chose his own path.

No matter who governs Suihan Island, independent cultivators will never have a comfortable life.

The Chaotic Star Sea is a place where the strong prey on the weak. If I successfully return from the Netherworld this time, I must hurry up and form my core.

Only those with the cultivation level of Core Formation can have the power to make and be made demands of various forces.

What was originally just a normal beast tide that occurs once every few decades on Suihan Island has unexpectedly escalated into a struggle between individuals and forces.

……

Above the protective formation of Suihan Island, Feng Xianghan stood in mid-air, while Feng Zhengxing stood beside him on a flying sword.

"Father, the Star Palace hasn't sent anyone to Suihan Island for many years. Why are they suddenly sending more people today? There's even a cultivator at the mid-stage of Core Formation!"

Feng Zhengxing glanced at the formation behind him and then transmitted his voice to his father.

"Fool, can't you see? Hoshimiya is planning to take over Suihan Island!"

"Damn it, why aren't the people from the Reverse Star Alliance replying to our messages?"

Feng Xianghan's face was ashen. He had occupied Suihan Island for decades, and apart from the teleportation array, he could not find a trace of the Star Palace.

Now, a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator has suddenly appeared, not only to collect taxes but also to force the island lord to defend against the beast tide with all his might.

Behind them, dozens of cultivators dressed in Star Palace attire stood atop Cold Mountain, silently watching the battlefield ahead.

"Deacon A, are we just going to watch like this?"

"Otherwise what? The Zhang family of Suihan Island's centuries-old records about the Ghost Mist were stolen by thieves from the Reverse Star Alliance. If it weren't for the fact that they could still contact the only remaining descendants of the Zhang family..."

"The secret of this ghostly mist will likely be discovered and exploited by the Reverse Star Alliance."

Fortunately, the younger member of the Zhang family was sensible and voluntarily handed over the records.

"Now, we can use this opportunity to mobilize these independent cultivators to resist the beast tide, and incidentally, help us verify the Ghost Mist!"

"If the Ghost Mist can truly be utilized, I will gain another great achievement."

"Perhaps I can also obtain a share of the resources for Nascent Soul formation."

……

Outside the formation, Zhang Guihe organized dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators to set up a protective formation in preparation for the first attack of the beast tide.

Zhang Feng looked at the dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators with completely white hair and beards and aged faces.

He felt a pang of unease, realizing that these people were all cultivators who had fought alongside him forty years ago.

With the death of these cultivators who cherished Suihan Island, Suihan Island is now truly left with only ordinary rogue cultivators.

"Old friends, I am overjoyed! We were deeply indebted to the former island lord, and today we are finally able to repay his kindness. How delightful!"

Zhang Guihe's aged voice rang out, drawing a chorus of responses.

"Haha, old ghost, I'm already content to have lived so many more years and raised my children!"

"Even at the very end, he could still have a clear mind, repaying his debt of gratitude before dying—how gratifying!"

"It's just a pity that my cultivation level is too low to kill the Feng family father and son with my own hands!"

"Heh heh, nothing to regret. Didn't see anyone from the Star Palace arrive! That father and son will die right behind us!"

"Hahaha~"

Amidst a burst of hearty laughter, a dark current suddenly descended from the distant sky, obscuring the sun!