CHAPTER 265: CHAPTER 260 SPLIT BIZARRE! EASTERN FOREST MARKET CITY!_1

With the enhancement of an Extraordinary Saint Level Divine Wind Talisman, Jia Ren’s sword-flying speed surpassed even that of Golden Core Cultivators.

Five days later, he left the sea region. Before his eyes was a lush jungle. For many years, he had kept company with ocean waves and Fish Demons, almost becoming an islander. After being away for so long, returning to land and smelling the fresh scent of grass and trees felt like experiencing a different life.

I’m so hungry!

After flying for several hours, Jia Ren’s stomach growled with hunger. After Body Refinement, his physical strength was greater than that of a Top-grade Magic Artifact. The downside was obvious: the daily energy required to maintain his body was astonishing, making him get hungry more easily. A Fasting Pill could keep a normal cultivator from feeling hunger or thirst for three days. However, ordinary Fasting Pills could not satisfy Jia Ren’s needs, as his consumption was more than ten times that of a normal cultivator. He had to swallow three Grandmaster Level Fasting Pills at once to achieve the effect one ordinary pill had on an average cultivator.

The Spiritual Energy here is richer than in the Qunxing Archipelago...

Traveling for a long time at a speed several times that of Sword Qi Thunder Sound consumed an astonishing amount of Spiritual Power. Even the Spiritual Power of someone at Foundation Establishment Peak couldn’t withstand such prolonged use. After flying for a while, he needed to meditate to restore his Spiritual Power.

Jia Ren summoned his Insect External Incarnation and the Corpse Demon Sect Flying Ship, handing control of the vessel to the Incarnation, which continued to carry them both forward. When his Spiritual Power recovered, he would resume using the Sword Control Technique and the Divine Wind Talisman to speed up his journey. This way, he could ensure his condition remained at its peak, traveling continuously at his fastest speed to reach the destination.

The Insect External Incarnation controlled the Flying Ship, using the Demon-Spotting Talisman and Soul Breaking Technique to maintain vigilance in all directions. Sitting on the Flying Ship, Jia Ren held a Medium-grade Spirit Stone in each hand, rapidly recovering his Spiritual Power.

Both of them seemed to sense something and looked off into the distance.

"We are Town Demon Alliance Cultivators, please help us!"

More than a dozen dismembered arms and legs ran as if alive, seemingly possessing their own intelligence as they fled in all directions. Behind them, several heads floated in mid-air, pursuing them with faces full of panic and anger. The scene was exceptionally bizarre and terrifying.

A Split Bizarre?!

Jia Ren had gathered considerable information about Bizarre Demons, and the Split Bizarre was among them. He had collected a lot of intelligence on Split Bizarres by utilizing the Suppressing Specters Hall on Star Pole Island. Split Bizarres were powerful and insidious; their main bodies could divide almost infinitely, with clones scattering everywhere, making them difficult to seal. The slightest carelessness could lead to the Bizarre body splitting into new offspring. As long as this Bizarre Demon could not be completely sealed, the threat of the Split Bizarre would never be resolved. The Split Bizarre was known as one of the most difficult Bizarre Demons to handle. The Town Demon Alliance continually dispatched Evil-Suppressing Envoys and Bizarre-Suppressing Guards, but to this day, they had failed to resolve the Split Bizarre issue.

Should he consider this good luck or bad luck? To unexpectedly encounter a Split Bizarre... should he intervene and seal it?

The running cultivator ’parts,’ including the upper half of a female cultivator’s body, were crashing toward the Flying Ship.

Too malevolent!

More importantly... he could sense several Golden Core Cultivators approaching from afar. Snatching the Split Bizarre from the jaws of Golden Core experts was not an easy task. Jia Ren knew he wouldn’t be able to capture the Split Bizarre unnoticed; conflicts were bound to arise. He still needed to go to the Town Demon Alliance. If a conflict with the Town Demon Alliance arose, his plan to exchange for the Thousand-Year Snow Lotus would fall through. The overall situation was paramount, and advancing to the Golden Core Stage was his utmost priority.

All sorts of thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and he abandoned the idea of seizing the Split Bizarre.

"Fellow Daoist, please save my body..." the female cultivator’s voice was filled with urgency as she watched her upper body hurtling toward the Flying Ship.

An eerie aura approached, and the Evil Warding Talisman lit up with a purple glow. Jia Ren didn’t hesitate to kick out, sending the approaching upper half of the female cultivator flying.

"Don’t thank me!" he said. He always did good deeds without seeking recognition, as the Flying Ship sped away.

Although her body was severed, the female cultivator could still feel her upper half being kicked away. The powerful force had nearly shattered it. The only saving grace was that purple flames erupted from her upper body, keeping it stationary and preventing it from fleeing. The female cultivator stared at the disappearing figures of Jia Ren and the Insect External Incarnation, as if to burn their images into her memory.

Jia Ren breathed a sigh of relief that the Bizarre Demons had not pursued them.

When dealing with Bizarre Demons, the difference between the Foundation Establishment Stage and the Golden Core Stage was vast. Once Jia Ren reached the Golden Core Stage and crafted his life-bound Evil-Repelling Magical Treasure, dealing with Bizarre Demons would be much easier. There was no need to rush things.

「The rest of the journey went smoothly.」

They encountered no other Bizarre Demons. Along the way, they used the Demon-Spotting Talisman and intentionally avoided areas inhabited by powerful Magical Beasts, proceeding safely. Thanks to Jia Ren traveling at top speed, a journey estimated to take a month was completed in just over half a month.

We’re getting closer and closer to the Bizarre-Suppressing Main Alliance...

The further they went, the more cultivators they saw. Foundation Establishment Cultivators were everywhere, and occasionally, they would spot the Escape Light of a few Golden Core Cultivators flying past.

After flying for less than an hour, the sky darkened. In the distance, they could vaguely see a huge, brightly lit Market. The largest Market Jia Ren had seen before was less than a third the size of this one. Cultivators were everywhere, a constant stream coming and going like a tide. Foundation Establishment Cultivators, usually rare, weren’t quite as common as blades of grass, but spotting a few hundred at a glance was no problem.

This was the Eastern Forest Market in the Western Wasteland Domain, one of the largest markets in the region. The Market was under the jurisdiction of the Town Demon Alliance. Behind the Eastern Forest Market was the Bizarre-Suppressing Main Alliance of the Western Wasteland Domain.

The cultivators of the Western Wasteland Domain are indeed numerous and elite.

The minimum requirement for the Town Demon Alliance to recruit Bizarre-Suppressing Guards was the Foundation Establishment Stage, so it was normal for Foundation Establishment Cultivators to gather here. Moreover, a considerable number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Bizarre-Suppressing Main Alliance were out on missions and had not yet returned. While the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators from other branches could not match that of the Bizarre-Suppressing Main Alliance, gathering a thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivators from them would certainly not be an issue.

Jia Ren halted his Escape Light, descended using his Sword Control Technique, paid one Spirit Stone as the city entrance fee, and entered the Eastern Forest Market.

"Senior, is this your first visit to the Eastern Forest Market?" a lean and seemingly shrewd Qi Refining Cultivator approached him. "Where do you need to go? Whatever you’re looking for, I can show you the way."

This person was quite young, not over seventeen, with a hint of downy hair at the corners of his mouth. His cultivation had barely reached the Third Level of Qi Refinement. Many Loose Cultivators relied on guiding others to earn Spirit Stones. This reminded Jia Ren of his time struggling to make a living at the Great Wilderness Market.

"Thank you for your trouble," Jia Ren said, not stingy, as he handed over five Spirit Stones.

"Thank you, Senior! Where would you like to go?"

"The largest shop! A shop where I can buy Alchemy Recipes." If he could buy the Qilong Pill Prescription with Spirit Stones, he could save on Town Demon Alliance contribution points.

"Senior, please follow me."

The youth led the way, with Jia Ren strolling leisurely behind him.

"Brother Ma, why are you here again? Didn’t you just exchange for a Foundation Establishment Pill and decide not to join the Town Demon Alliance to deal with Bizarre Demons anymore?" A conversation nearby caught his attention.

Two elderly Foundation Establishment Cultivators with graying hair seemed like old friends reunited after a long separation, reminiscing. They were over two hundred years old, their faces etched with the signs of their twilight years; their end was not far off.

"Sigh, don’t mention it. My son and grandson both failed in their Foundation Establishment..." The elder’s face was filled with dejection as he spoke of the failure. "I don’t have much lifespan left, and with no new Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the family, I fear our clan won’t survive. As the only Foundation Establishment member of the clan, I can only push these old bones one more time..."

Foundation Establishment Pills were rare and difficult to buy in the market. Occasionally, if one surfaced, it would attract numerous competitors. Without sufficient wealth, acquiring one was nearly impossible. Small families and Loose Cultivators couldn’t buy Foundation Establishment Pills even if they had Spirit Stones. Their best option was to join the Bizarre-Suppressing Guard and fight Bizarre Demons. By resolving Bizarre Demon threats and risking their lives a few times, they could earn enough contribution points for a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Jia Ren walked further away, and the two men’s voices gradually faded. This was a reflection of the future for countless Loose Cultivators and small families. Foundation Establishment Pills were monopolized by large powers, leaving them with limited avenues to obtain one. Joining the Town Demon Alliance was a relatively sound and viable path. The Town Demon Alliance used rare Foundation Establishment Pills and treasures to attract Foundation Establishment Cultivators to fight Bizarre Demons.

Families that eventually produced Foundation Establishment Cultivators would find themselves caught in a cycle. To secure Foundation Establishment Pills for their descendants, they would become Bizarre-Suppressing Guards. This cycle would only break if a generation failed to produce a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Then, new families would take their place.

Break through to the Golden Core Stage and escape it? Human desire is limitless. Golden Core Cultivators still want to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, craving Break Infant Pills. As long as you are within this system and desire the treasures of the Town Demon Alliance, you cannot avoid its influence.

"Senior, this is the largest shop in the Eastern Forest Market, Baoguang Pavilion," the youth said, leading Jia Ren to a splendid-looking establishment.

The shop was three stories high, and Foundation Establishment Cultivators were attended to on the second floor. A middle-aged woman in her forties, still possessing considerable charm, swayed her hips as she walked towards them.

"Does Baoguang Pavilion have the Qilong Pill Prescription?" Jia Ren asked, getting straight to the point.

"Are you an Alchemist, friend?"

"I’m afraid I have to disappoint you. Baoguang Pavilion does not sell Alchemy Recipes. However, if you are a Third Order Alchemist, Baoguang Pavilion is willing to offer you generous terms..."

Jia Ren had no interest in joining any Sect. Bowing and scraping to others was hardly as satisfying as ruling the Qunxing Archipelago.

"Do you have any Qilong Pills?" Jia Ren hadn’t given up on the idea of replicating the Alchemy Recipe; spending Spirit Stones to buy Qilong Pills for experimentation was acceptable.

"Qilong Pills are highly sought after. Baoguang Pavilion is also out of stock..." If Qilong Pills weren’t scarce, the Town Demon Alliance wouldn’t be offering such high prices to acquire them.

Jia Ren inquired about Spiritual Medicines several hundred years old, as well as evil-repelling materials and Magic Artifacts. He managed to buy several dozen several-hundred-year-old Spiritual Medicines, but only acquired one Evil Warding Artifact.

Alchemy Recipes, as a means of production, were always monopolized by Great Sects and major powers, regardless of time or place. The Western Wasteland Domain was still better off than the Barren Extreme Land. At least here, elixirs for the early, middle, and late stages of Foundation Establishment were all available for sale, and one could even buy pills to enhance Golden Core cultivation.

"Are you an Alchemist? Seven Seas Tower is willing to offer a handsome reward for Second Order Alchemists or higher." Jia Ren’s inquiries about the Qilong Pill Prescription and his purchase of several-hundred-year-old Spiritual Medicines had caught Baoguang Pavilion’s attention, prompting them to try and recruit talent for Seven Seas Tower.

"I have no intention of joining a Sect," Jia Ren stated decisively, then left Baoguang Pavilion after ensuring no one was following him.

Afterward, he visited several other large shops, but the result was the same. Neither Qilong Pills nor the Qilong Pill Prescription were for sale. The only exception was the Town Demon Alliance.

Jia Ren hesitated no longer. He left the Eastern Forest Market and headed straight for the Bizarre-Suppressing Main Alliance’s headquarters.