Living as a Mortal: Grinding Experience Starting from the Underworld

The trip to Miaoyin Sect was very fruitful.

Two protective amulets and one protective magic item were somewhat beyond Zhang Feng's expectations.

To be honest, Zhang Feng really liked the Purple Spirit Sect Master's plan to use someone else's flower to present to Buddha.

Having taken the items, I'm afraid I'll have to do a lot of work in the future.

After leaving the Wonderful Sound Gate, Zhang Feng first returned to his cave to rest, taking with him two Horned Star Frogs and other items.

They then proceeded to the outer sea teleportation array, where the Sixth Elder of the Fengle Merchant Alliance was already waiting on Ningcui Island.

Zhang Feng must go and meet him as soon as possible, and then together they will attack Qin Man of Jiyin Island.

……

On Ningcui Island, Zhang Feng looked at the island's shops, whose decorations had remained unchanged for decades, and couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Zhang, you've finally arrived! We were just waiting for you!"

A white-haired monk, dressed in a slightly luxurious blue silk robe, stepped forward to greet them.

Zhang Feng bowed in return, his divine sense sweeping over the cultivator, who was in the early stage of Core Formation and had a gray, precious light emanating from him.

Even if they haven't refined their own natal magic weapon, they still possess other magic weapons and should not be underestimated.

The fact that they were waiting for Zhang Feng probably means they already knew he was coming.

"Let me introduce myself. I am Feng Qing, the fifth elder of the Fengle Business Alliance, and the initiator of this demon-slaying operation."

"This is Tao Heng from the Tao Zhu Business Alliance, that is Feng Hua from the Hong Yuan Business Alliance, and the last one is Wan Chong from the Wan Xing Business Alliance."

Feng Qing introduced the three people around him one by one.

"My name is Zhang Feng, and I greet you fellow Daoists."

Zhang Feng bowed to the group and simultaneously used his divine sense to investigate. He found that all three of them were in the early stage of Core Formation.

They all appeared to be middle-aged or elderly, in their fifties or sixties, dressed in splendid attire, each with a radiant glow emanating from their bodies.

The others looked at Zhang Feng, who was dressed in a light blue cloth robe, his clothes were simple and without accessories, but they did not look down on him.

After exchanging pleasantries, Feng Qing led them to the "Hao Ke Lai" inn, which Zhang Feng was familiar with.

Five people sat upright in a private room on the second floor of the inn.

"Fellow Daoists, Qin Man has long served as the captain of the demon-hunting team in the outer sea. Especially after Wu Chou returned to Ji Yin Island to take charge of affairs, he became the sole ruler."

"Before this person formed his core, he had been harassing the demon-hunting cultivators on Ningcui and Fengzhu Islands."

"One of my managers from the Fengle Business Alliance died at his hands."

"Since this fiend formed its core, it has become even more rampant. Before, it would only target individuals, but now it dares to raid strongholds directly."

"Our four major business alliances, including the Miaoyin Sect, have all suffered heavy losses."

Feng Qing recounted Qin Man's many evil deeds.

Zhang Feng listened attentively from the side. He never expected that Qin Man would successfully form his core by relying on the relics of the two managers of the Merchant Alliance and the materials from one-third of the level-four demonic beasts he had hunted.

Having plundered the open sea for so many years, their storage bags must be very rich.

"Please look, everyone. This is the outpost of the demon-hunting team off the coast of Jiyin Island."

"There are twenty people in total: two early Core Formation cultivators, five peak Foundation Establishment cultivators, and thirteen late Foundation Establishment cultivators."

……

Without any hesitation, Fengqing introduced the purpose of the trip and the plan for the expedition to everyone, and agreed to take action three days later.

After parting ways with the others, Zhang Feng strolled around Ningcui Island.

His eyes casually scanned the shopkeepers of various stores and businesses.

This drew angry glares from the crowd, but upon realizing Zhang Feng's Core Formation stage cultivation, they all acted as if nothing had happened, continuing with their own tasks.

When your cultivation level is higher, coming to this place feels truly different.

After wandering around for a while, Zhang Feng found a shop that specialized in selling formations.

His purpose in this trip was not just to punish Qin Man.

There is another, even more important task: to find the high-level spiritual veins on Biling Island.

He needs a formation to conceal his aura and hide his spiritual energy.

Once found, an array was set up to conceal the spiritual energy phenomena generated by high-grade spiritual ore during mining.

The monsters of the outer sea are very sensitive to the aura of high-grade spirit ore.

……

Three days later, Zhang Feng followed Feng Qing and the other three to Wuxing Island, where Qin Man and the others were located.

"Gentlemen, I have received information that there are only half the manpower left on this island at the moment, and the other half have not yet returned from their looting in the open sea."

"Let's take this place first, then lie in wait and wait for another group of people."

"Brother, break the formation. We will act immediately after the formation is broken."

"Note: First, behead the Core Formation cultivators. The rest can disperse on their own. We will hunt them down one by one later."

Feng Qing assigned tasks: two people to provide protection, and three people to launch a strong attack.

Zhang Feng was the one providing protection.

Logically speaking, it would be too much to forcefully attack an island that someone else has set up a formation on.

However, each of the elders of the business alliance has their own unique skills.

Especially the elders of the Hongyuan Merchant Alliance, who specialize in the trade of array formations and talismans, from Fenghua.

"Fellow Daoists, I have found the core of this formation, which can suppress the formation for half an hour."

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, protect me! Go and behead him immediately!"

Before long, Fenghua's voice came through, and Zhang Feng summoned the Seven Star Silver Bottle to protect him.

"good!"

The other three responded, no longer concealing their auras, and transformed into three streaks of light, flying towards the center of Wuxing Island.

"Enemy attack!"

A moment later, the sound of a cultivator's warning came from inside the island, but it quickly turned into screams.

Two quarters of an hour later, Feng Qing and his two companions arrived beside the two men, carrying a head.

"This man is not Qin Man. Qin Man has gone to plunder the outer seas. We will wait here."

"I went to check, and the goods from the four major merchant alliances and the Miaoyin Sect are all on this island. This batch of goods has not yet been shipped out."

Feng Qing skillfully relayed the information.

Zhang Feng looked at this decisive and fast-working team.

I'm quite impressed. As expected of an elder of one of the four major business alliances, he's truly formidable.

The operation proceeded without any mishaps.

If we just wait for Qin Man to take the bait, we can successfully complete the mission.

"Fellow Daoists are indeed powerful; I have learned a great deal."

While cleaning up the mess, Zhang Feng couldn't help but sigh, a sense of vigilance rising within him.

Why call on him when these people can do it themselves?

"Fellow Daoist Zhang comes from the Inner Sea, so naturally he is unaware of the terror of these outer sea monsters!"

"If we hadn't worked together so closely, how could we have established ourselves in this open sea?"

"After this operation is successful, I would like to ask Fellow Daoist Zhang to put in a good word for the four of us before the Sect Master of Miaoyin Sect."

"The four of us have been stationed here for nearly a hundred years, and we truly miss the scenery of the inland sea!"

As Feng Qing spoke, he discreetly handed Zhang Feng a storage bag.

"Yes, Fellow Daoist Zhang, you must put in a good word for us."

"Life at sea is indeed tough!"

The other three spoke up, and three more storage bags were brought to Zhang Feng.

In an instant, Zhang Feng understood why these people were so friendly to him, a young cultivator; they needed his help.

No wonder only five Core Formation cultivators participated in this trip.

Rumor has it that the four major business alliances are controlled by the Star Palace, and the two Saints of the Star Palace have been in seclusion for a long time. In recent years, the affairs of the Star Palace have been overseen by the Grand Elder Jin Kui.

The sect leader of Miaoyin Sect, Ziling, was close to Jin Kui and worked for him.

The four planned to use Qin Man's plunder of Miaoyin Sect's goods to contact the sect leader, Jin Kui, and ultimately achieve their goal of being transferred away from the outer star sea, or perhaps to gain the Grand Elder's attention.

The steps are interconnected, and the thought process is quite profound.

He could think of it, and Zi Ling, with her intelligence, could certainly think of it too.

In an instant, Zhang Feng realized why Zi Ling insisted on sending him over; she was waiting for him here.

Compared to Elders Zhao and Fu, she trusted Zhang Feng, whom she had personally recruited, more and wanted to recruit him to work for her.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Zhang, there's no need to be so polite. These are for you. The ones from the Miaoyin Sect are still on the island."

Seeing Zhang Feng freeze for a moment, Feng Qing laughed and explained.

Having figured it out, Zhang Feng didn't hesitate; he wouldn't refuse a spirit stone offered to him.

But he still sincerely exclaimed, "Zi Ling is so meticulous!"

She's used a combination of getting something for nothing and offering something for free to others, she's really got it all figured out.

Such a skill in winning over subordinates!

It's just a pity that his cultivation level is too low, otherwise the Miaoyin Sect would definitely have flourished under his leadership.