CHAPTER 339: CHAPTER 85: WE CAN REPLACE THEM

When the movement of the Toad Poison Beast began to show signs of slowing, the first to notice was neither Li Mo nor the Four Seas Commerce.

Instead, it was the independent cultivator forces scattered throughout the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop.

They keenly detected the anomaly and understood that the Toad Poison Beast was approaching the Blessed Land Cave Heaven, symbolizing an inexhaustible source of resource acquisition.

The various factions were still somewhat restrained, as the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop had recently undergone shifts in authority.

They immediately informed Han Cai, who did not prevent the independent forces from pursuing profit but merely required them to act according to established customs.

To participate in the excavation of the Blessed Land Cave Heaven, one must at least provide a certain number of mortals.

Moreover, since Beast Cultivators are orthodox to the Taoist sects, the entry requirement for the Mountain Demon Gu Poison Scripture mandates bodies unscarred by severe Death Disease infections.

Thus, the mortals provided must be young adults.

These forces did not need to forcibly recruit mortals. Simply releasing the news of becoming an Immortal would attract numerous mortals hopeful to encounter Immortal Law.

In this world where one can neither freely survive nor escape death, the allure of becoming an Immortal burns brightly.

Han Cai stood in the bustling town, his expression radiant with excitement.

"With Poison Beasts supplying Spiritual Energy, mortals entering the path of cultivation require no resource expenditure. If the Heart Beast Sect can seize this opportunity, its foundations will soar dramatically."

Yet every opportunity conceals hidden dangers within.

Although Han Cai had not yet disclosed information about the Heart Beast Sect, news of it was certain to spread eventually.

The Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop, harboring countless minor factions, might naturally wish to ally with the Heart Beast Sect. But that would inevitably make the Sect a chaotic mix of entities.

To maintain purity comes at the cost of limitation in growth.

The benefit of recruiting independent practitioner families lies in their generational nurturing of offspring, providing fresh blood to the Heart Beast Sect.

Han Cai discussed this matter with Tian Changwen: the Sect’s development must embrace the strategy of driving wolves to devour tigers.

With Li Mo overseeing affairs and the colossal support of the Sub-Device Sect behind them, if they cannot dominate Cultivation Families, the centuries of effort building this stable foundation will be wasted.

"Heart Beast Sect..."

Han Cai’s thoughts ran deep as the slowing movements of the Poison Beast further affirmed his conjectures, suggesting the Blessed Land Cave Heaven lay within a thousand miles.

No need for him to spell it out—various factions had already begun preparations.

Caravans laid out their routes, heading toward the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop’s destination.

Meanwhile, independent cultivators hurriedly set off.

They aimed to partake in the division of resources when the Poison Beast stopped or trade spiritual materials at the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop.

Among the twelve Qinghong Workshops, the Spider Poison Sect previously held the weakest position in the Poison Clothes division.

Yet the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop’s reputation within the Cultivation World far exceeded that of the other workshops, attracting low-level independent practitioners like moths to a flame.

Even mortals, upon hearing the news, migrated their entire families toward the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop.

Rumor had it that mere entry into the city offered a chance at becoming Immortal—the most accessible path for mortals to encounter cultivation.

......

When the Toad Poison Beast moved, the earth shook violently, and its echoes could be heard even a hundred miles away.

For those paying attention, predicting the location of the Blessed Land Cave Heaven was not difficult.

In mid-air.

Thousands of peculiar Qi Cultivators soared, their destination unmistakably the Blessed Land Cave Heaven.

Most of them had Cultivation at the Weak Crown Period, interspersed with seven or eight Core Formation practitioners, while the leading Qi Cultivator projected spiritual power characteristic of the initial entry into the Nascent Soul Stage.

The wind howled.

Their skin and flesh seemed detached, lending them the flexibility of kites.

Bulging sacs on their backs, riddled with holes, were marks of their peculiar Qi Cultivation lineage—they converted Spiritual Power into gaseous forms to sustain prolonged flight.

"Increase speed; we must lay ambushes before the Poison Beast arrives."

The Nascent Soul Qi Cultivator commanded.

The other Qi Cultivators promptly complied, their sacs swelling as though blending into the mountain peaks, vanishing in an instant.

"Sect Leader Gao, disciples within the Spider Poison Sect’s mountain gate have scattered like birds and beasts, most choosing betrayal, while the Outer Elder offers no resistance."

"Just as expected."

A greedy gleam lit up Gao Cai’s face, an expression brimming with fervent desire.

"The Spider Poison Sect must have encountered some catastrophe in Qinghong Workshop. If we seize it, Qinghong Workshop will change hands. Heh heh heh heh."

The fame of Qinghong Workshop had long enticed numerous small sects. Yet restrained by fear of the enigmatic mastermind behind the scenes, they dared not wrest control.

Now, with the near-collapse of the Spider Poison division, the Breath Sealing Sect was the first to take notice.

This was mainly because Sect Leader Gao Cai had a past connection with He Du Daoist, which gave him knowledge of the hidden location of the Spider Poison Sect deep within the forests.

Gao Cai turned and instructed, "Transmit the orders to the disciples of the Law Enforcement Hall—don’t hold back. Exterminate the entire Spider Poison Sect."

"Understood... Sect Leader."

Liu Lintu swallowed nervously.

Years ago, Gao Cai had referred to He Du Daoist as a brother.

Gao Cai muttered, "He Du, how could someone like you meddle in Qinghong Workshop? Not even a Nascent Soul practitioner—your downfall was inevitable."

His breathing grew heavy.

He recalled the Spider Poison Sect, during its time within Qinghong Workshop, expanding its power nearly tenfold, with He Du Daoist seemingly one step away from Core Formation to Nascent Soul transformation.

"Sect Leader Gao, the mountain environment has changed."

A disciple reminded him, pulling Gao Cai’s attention to the landscape.

Around them stood desolate hills, now thickly laced with spider silk; between the grass and wood crawled eerie poisonous bugs, with almost no birds or beasts to be found.

Among banyan trees, trunks entwined in gray-black vine-like growth cast sinister shapes, their twisted branches emanating ghastly moans when swaying in the mountain breeze.

Gao Cai scanned the area with careful intent. "Indeed, Blessed Lands Cave Heavens are often formed over the graves of high-level practitioners, buried for centuries underground."

"Hah."

"Since ancient times, opportunities belong to those who seize them."

The Qi Cultivators laughed approvingly as their sacs contracted slightly, causing their flight elevation to gradually drop.

Gao Cai’s constant murmuring betrayed the tremor in his heart.

They continued northward for twenty miles until they saw a low mountain ridge shrouded in extremely dense Poisonous Spirit Energy.

The mountain, shaped like an ant nest, was barren and out of place amid its surroundings.

Circling the mountain, Gao Cai found caves infested with hordes of spiders, signaling potential dangers within the Blessed Land Cave Heaven.

"Do not approach the Blessed Land Cave Heaven for now. Prioritize the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop."

"Set up the array."

Gao Cai pointed to a flat clearing southwest of the ridge, and the disciples hurried down.

From exchanges with He Du Daoist, Gao Cai had gleaned key information, including the Toad Poison Beast’s behavioral patterns.

Gao Cai understood that while the Beast’s power rivaled the Nascent Soul stage, its Spiritual Wisdom was pitiably low.

When stationary, the Toad Poison Beast instinctively released dense poisonous smoke, reminiscent of ordinary beasts marking territory with urine.

Before the smoke diluted was the prime opportunity.

Gao Cai’s schemes required the array to be only ninety percent complete, remaining undetectable even by Divine Sense.

Besides, who within the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop had reached Nascent Soul stage?

Two days later, all was ready.

All Qi Cultivators concealed themselves in various spots aside from Liu Lintu, who specialized in the Concealing Breath spell and hovered alone high above, observing the sprawling mountains.

The tremors caused by the Toad Poison Beast grew progressively violent, drawing closer and closer.

Through the surveillance set along the route, Gao Cai confirmed the presence of independent cultivator forces, though still 300–400 miles from the Blessed Land Cave Heaven.

"Act swiftly—prolonged delays breed chaos."

What Gao Cai prized most within the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop was its ability to use independent cultivator forces to compensate for their staffing shortages.

Without that, the Breath Sealing Sect alone couldn’t extract the resources of the Blessed Land Cave Heaven.

Gao Cai sought to maintain the status quo of Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop, maximizing its benefits.

In his view, the downfall of the Spider Poison Sect likely stemmed from He Du Daoist’s inability to command respect with his Core Formation stage cultivation.

Taking over Qinghong Workshop should prove straightforward.

"It’s here."

Gao Cai’s expression turned manic, his eyes locked on the Poison Beast striding across the mountains.

Sure enough, as expected, the posture of the Toad Poison Beast suggested it was most likely to land on the southwest clearing near the Blessed Land Cave Heaven.

"Mine at last! My ascension to Nascent Soul stage won’t be just talk! Haha!"

"Something’s wrong, Sect Leader Gao."

Liu Lintu suddenly interrupted him, his tone carrying disbelief. "Sect Leader...the Poison Smoke has obscured Qinghong Workshop’s condition, but atop the Beast’s head..."

He broke into silence, leaving Gao Cai seething, "Enough with the nonsense!"

"Sect Leader Gao, I don’t know if I saw it wrong, but someone is standing atop the Beast’s head."

"What kind of nonsense is that?!"

Gao Cai transmitted his fury, while Liu Lintu wisely chose not to elaborate further.

Liu Lintu himself found it implausible.

Every step of the Poison Beast covered miles, and the facing Gang Wind could rend flesh from bone—a challenge even for Nascent Soul practitioners, whose physical bodies couldn’t endure such force.

Relying on Magic Artifacts would be even less realistic.

After all, the Toad Poison Beast had been moving for hundreds of days, and even top-grade defensive artifacts couldn’t withstand its winds, let alone allow practitioners to recover Spiritual Energy amidst them.

Perhaps Divine Separation practitioners utilizing Externalized Dharma Bodies could survive unscathed.

But why would a Divine Separation practitioner take any interest in the Poison Clothes Qinghong Workshop? Unthinkable.

"Liu Lintu, I warn you: slack off any further, and I’ll strip you of your cultivation."

Gao Cai’s hysteria left his eyes bloodshot, daring anyone to blockade his path to the Qinghong Workshop and his pursuit of Immortal Path.

"Understood."

Liu Lintu swallowed hard, driving his Magic Artifact to its limits.

The Toad Poison Beast’s figure sharpened into view.

Liu Lintu’s jaw dropped.

Sure enough, at the apex of the Poison Beast’s head stood a man—eyes closed and motionless, as if savoring the ravages of the Gang Wind.

"What kind of monstrosity is this?"

The man seemed to sense Liu Lintu and tilted his head toward the clouds in a gesture of acknowledgment.

Liu Lintu’s 300 years of cultivation had never exposed him to such bizarre phenomena, leaving him utterly perplexed.

To inform Gao Cai seemed meaningless; the disbelief would be instantaneous.

He simply couldn’t fathom how anyone could remain composed before the Gang Wind.

Was it human—or ghost?!!

As Liu Lintu was still contemplating, the Toad Poison Beast heavily landed on the clearing, releasing dense poisonous smoke, as the man on top gradually vanished into its mists.

"It’s fine—the Poison Smoke is deadly even to Nascent Soul Poison Cultivators. That person is doomed to die."

"It must be some sort of Taoist Body capable of using Gang Winds for cultivation. Yes, it has to be an Innate Taoist Body—now dissolved into nothing but pus within the Poison Smoke."

Liu Lintu tried to convince himself, while the Qi Cultivators were already on the move.