"Wang-ge, what's going on?"

Wen Jiu was a little confused.

What could be so serious that even one's pillow mate couldn't hear it?

Wang Nian lowered his voice. "Some things simply cannot be overheard. I learned this from my second uncle. Technically, I shouldn't even be telling a disciple about it, but given our relationship, there's no need for me to keep it from you."

If even an alchemist let slip some news, could it be insignificant?

Wen Jiu immediately clasped his hands in salute. "Thank you, Wang-ge. I will repay this kindness tenfold, a hundredfold, in the future."

Wang Nian continued, "But before I tell you about that matter, I need to talk to you about Feixian Peak and the land beneath our feet. Now that you've become a probationary disciple of the Night Patrol Division, there are things you must understand. Otherwise, your vision will remain limited... I most likely won't make it out of here, but you might just be able to spread your wings and see the world."

"I'm all ears!"

"First, let's talk about this land beneath us. It's called the Southern Territory. According to rumors passed down by a certain great cultivator, it stretches a hundred thousand li from east to west and a hundred and thirty thousand li from south to north. It's vast. Compared to that, our little Feixian Peak is nothing more than a drop in the ocean."

As Wang Nian spoke, his tone was filled with longing.

It was clear that he, too, wanted to see the world.

To truly witness the magnificence of that hundred-thousand-li expanse.

"That vast?"

Even after living two lives, Wen Jiu couldn't help but be shocked.

A hundred thousand li...

Even Deadman Peak was only the sole immortal mountain within a five-hundred-li radius. Compared to a hundred thousand li, it was indeed minuscule.

Wang Nian chuckled. "Surprised? I had the same expression when I first heard about it. Just imagine how many cultivators and how many demons must exist within this vast land… But there's no need to dwell too much on the Southern Territory. It's simply too big. I only have a rough idea of it myself. What I really want to tell you about is our Feixian Peak and the main peak of Deadman Peak."

"You should know that Feixian Peak is just a side peak of Deadman Peak, but you probably have no real concept of the main peak. Let me put it this way: the main peak is a powerful force, guarded by Foundation Establishment Immortals."

"Foundation Establishment Immortals?"

This was the first time Wen Jiu had heard this term.

"You don't need to understand too much just yet. Just know this—once a cultivator reaches the tenth level of Qi Refining, they can attempt to establish their foundation. The moment they succeed, their lifespan extends to three hundred years. They can witness the changing tides, the passing centuries. That is what it truly means to be an immortal cultivator."

As Wang Nian spoke, the yearning in his eyes was no less intense than when he had spoken of the Southern Territory—perhaps even stronger.

It made sense.

The Southern Territory was too vast, too distant.

So vast that it was beyond reach, making it impossible to even dream about.

But Foundation Establishment was a peak that was close at hand.

It was something one could dare to dream of, something one could strive for—even if the chances of success were slim.

It was still far more attainable than traversing the entire Southern Territory.

"So after Qi Refining comes Foundation Establishment," Wen Jiu murmured, feeling the weight of it.

Wang Nian continued, "Only by stepping onto the main peak do you have a chance to pursue the path of Foundation Establishment. That's also why Li Ye went to such lengths to send people in, arranging for his own men to become probationary disciples.

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There's another reason as well—the main peak has a rule: only probationary disciples who have been in the sect for three years or less, and formal disciples who have been in the sect for one year, are eligible to take the assessment. And the assessment doesn't take spiritual roots into account.

Once you pass the assessment, you can go to the main peak to cultivate and receive direct teachings from the elders."

"Why is that?"

The rule sounded somewhat unusual.

Rejecting the old?

Only accepting the new?

And disregarding spiritual roots? Clearly, even the side peaks were particular about spiritual roots when accepting disciples. Yet the main peak, the most powerful of them all, wasn't?

"Strange, right? Everyone finds it strange. That's why my second uncle brought it up with me. Spiritual roots are the very foundation of cultivation. Those with inferior spiritual roots struggle to even gain entry to a side peak, let alone the main peak. But no one can guess what the main peak's true intentions are.

Still, one thing is certain—being able to enter the main peak is something most side peak disciples can only dream of."

"It really is strange."

Wen Jiu tried to think it through.

But it was like an ant trying to ponder what lay atop a giant's head.

Only by climbing up there could one see for themselves.

Trying to understand from the ground, through speculation alone, was impossible.

"Brother, keep pushing forward. The assessment is in two years. This is your chance! The main peak may not care about the quality of your spiritual roots, but passing the test with poor spiritual roots is still impossible… But you have an unheard-of, unconventional talent!"

"I understand."

Wen Jiu nodded.

Gratefully, he raised his cup.

Two years, huh?

That meant he still had time to prepare.

Two years—he should be able to improve significantly.

...

Three rounds of wine.

Five flavors of dishes.

Wen Jiu left.

For the next seven days, he followed his usual cultivation routine. Since he no longer had to move corpses during the day, he spent that time channeling Yin techniques into the Corpse Eye. Every day, he dedicated three hours to this, while the remaining three were spent searching for wandering souls and absorbing blood energy.

At night, he patrolled with the Night Watch Division disciples.

Three hours a day.

Fortunately, as his cultivation advanced, he needed less sleep.

Everything proceeded in an orderly manner.

However, the blood energy in the outer perimeter of the Wasteland of Mangled Corpses was too scarce. In less than seven days, Wen Jiu had drained it completely.

If he wanted more, he had to venture deeper.

But even the central area of the Wasteland likely wouldn't withstand the Corpse Eye's relentless absorption.

Soon, there would be no blood left to take.

If the Blood Essence didn't regenerate, Wen Jiu would have to find another way.

Luckily, fortune was on his side. After exhausting the outer perimeter, a streak of crimson condensed within the Corpse Eye—an early form of Blood Essence.

"It seems the Blood Essence regenerates faster than I expected." Wen Jiu thought about the thousands of cultivators who had perished in the outer perimeter. If even their combined blood couldn't restore the Blood Essence, that would be absurd.

"I hope that once I drain the entire Wasteland, a complete Blood Essence will form."

Wen Jiu silently wished for this outcome.

If not, he had no idea where else to gather blood energy.

Demon blood? Monster blood?

Non-ranked ones were fine, but anything ranked was far too expensive.

A mere trainee in the Night Watch Division like him could never afford it.

As for hunting demons himself...

Forget it.

He'd rather progress more slowly.

If he encountered a powerful demon or monster, what then? Get himself killed?

—

Night fell.

Wen Jiu changed into his uniform and prepared to join the other Night Watch disciples.

But as he passed by the residence of Fang Zheng and his two companions, he unexpectedly spotted Li Ye.

And, of course—

Li Ye saw him too.

Their eyes met. Wen Jiu cupped his fists and greeted him, "Steward Li."

Li Ye responded with a cold "Hmm."

That didn't bother Wen Jiu. He couldn't care less about Li Ye's attitude.

What did catch his attention was another Night Watch steward nearby, leading a long-nosed spirit beast, slowly circling Fang Zheng's residence—sniffing.

"They're still investigating?"

"So, he really suspects me."

Wen Jiu's heart turned cold.

Li Ye just wouldn't let this go.

Even after he had pledged allegiance to Deacon Mu Canglong.

Ugh.

Dealing with rigid, stubborn people like this was such a headache.

Without hesitation, Wen Jiu left.

Shortly after he was gone, Li Ye murmured, "I spent a fortune to bring my master's Bi-Ling Beast today. Its nose can detect any lingering scent within a ten-mile radius for up to a month... If I find even the slightest clue, I'll make sure you die for it!"

Because of Wen Jiu, Li Ye had tried to push more of the Li family's people into Wang Nian's ranks, but Wang Nian had rejected them outright.

This only fueled Li Ye's anger.

Half an hour later.

The Bi-Ling Beast finished sniffing every inch of Fang Zheng's residence—

Yet, it found nothing unusual.

Only ghostly energy.

And only within the confines of that house.

There wasn't a single trace of similar ghostly energy within ten miles.

"This is impossible," the Night Watch steward leading the Bi-Ling Beast muttered, his expression shifting. "Even if a ghost cultivator summoned spirits here, there should still be some residual energy along the path they traveled… As for ghostly soul cultivators, they'd definitely leave traces of ghostly energy along the way."

He scoured the area again, growing more uneasy.

It was too clean.

Suspiciously clean.

Li Ye's voice darkened. "Brother Chen, this only proves that this isn't as simple as a spy killing them… My instincts are never wrong!"

"Agreed. I don't believe in coincidences like this either," Steward Chen sighed deeply, troubled. "But without evidence, we can't interrogate Wen Jiu. He belongs to Deacon Mu now."

Even the Bi-Ling Beast couldn't find anything.

What else could they do?

A moment of silence passed.

Then, Li Ye spoke again. "Looks like we'll have to keep questioning the spy we caught that night… and the gravekeepers."

"Brother Chen, take the Deacon's token and bring in all the gravekeepers stationed around Wen Jiu's quarters and Fang Zheng's residence. Bring them to the Night Watch Division for questioning!"