The wealth of the Foundation Establishment Realm is just poverty at the Golden Core Realm.

Let alone that Wei Tu had spent a huge amount of his savings just to form his core.

Wei Tu slightly nodded at these words. He knew his own situation well. Right now, he really didn’t have the means to claim he was “well-off.”

Bribing a powerful Golden Core cultivator—even before forming his core, he didn’t have that kind of wealth.

“Daoist Wei, now that you’ve reached the Golden Core Realm, you’re more than capable of protecting yourself in the face of the demonic invasion. There’s no need to worry too much.”

Tao Chongzhou offered a word of comfort.

A Golden Core True Lord wasn’t a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator. In the chaos of Zheng Kingdom, there were still plenty of options available to him, and the chances of falling were not high.

If it weren’t for that, when the smuggling route was still open, he, the Tao Clan’s old patriarch, would have fled long before his juniors.

But Wei Tu’s thoughts weren’t aligned with Tao Chongzhou’s.

First, unlike Tao Chongzhou, he had no ancestral home to defend. Going to Kang Kingdom, where cultivation conditions were more stable, made more sense for him.

When you’re alone, you only have to feed yourself.

Second, times had changed. The crisis facing Zheng Kingdom’s cultivation world was grim—far worse than Tao Chongzhou imagined.

When Jing Kingdom fell.

Its cultivators could still retreat to Zheng Kingdom. There was a way out.

But if Zheng Kingdom fell.

The cultivators of Zheng Kingdom wouldn’t have the same luxury as those from Jing Kingdom. There would be no options left.

Because the three border kingdoms had already been abandoned by the Seven Kingdoms Righteous Alliance.

“Daoist Tao, does the Tao Clan have any information on the ‘Black Blood Marsh’?”

A thought came to Wei Tu. He considered another smuggling option.

Other than bribing the cultivators stationed at Chishui Pass for a safer route, he could also risk passing through the dangerous borderland of Black Blood Marsh to enter Kang Kingdom.

—Chishui Pass was built right along this dangerous Black Blood Marsh, straddling the border between Zheng and Kang Kingdoms.

In theory, a Golden Core cultivator would have the power to cross the Black Blood Marsh.

Of course, with Golden Core strength, flying high through the sky wasn’t impossible. But doing so would easily turn him into a “flying target.”

That wouldn’t be smuggling—it would be a direct assault.

However—

What Tao Chongzhou said next completely shattered Wei Tu’s hopes.

He said, “Daoist Wei, the Black Blood Marsh now isn’t the same Black Blood Marsh recorded in the ancient books.”

“The Seven Kingdoms Righteous Alliance, to build the first line of defense against the demonic cultivators, not only constructed border passes like Chishui Pass in Kang Kingdom, but also fortified areas like Black Blood Marsh, turning them into even deadlier places.”

“Anti-flight formations, poisons, puppets, spirit beasts—these have all been laid out.”

“In other words, these deadly zones are far more dangerous than what’s written in the ancient texts.”

“Probably only top-tier Golden Core cultivators could manage to cross Black Blood Marsh.” Thᴇ link to the origɪn of this information rᴇsts ɪn novel⟡fire.net

Tao Chongzhou spoke slowly.

Hearing this, Wei Tu was left speechless and stayed silent for a long while.

Now he finally understood why Zhao Jiangwu told him about a secret passage out of the righteous-demonic battlefield, instead of suggesting he cross Black Blood Marsh.

But that secret passage wasn’t entirely safe either. It carried its own risks.

Otherwise, Wei Tu wouldn’t have even considered the idea of crossing Black Blood Marsh.

“If Daoist Wei truly wants to stay far from the battlefield, why not go to Liang Kingdom? You could find another way from there to smuggle into Kang Kingdom.”

Tao Chongzhou suggested.

“Liang Kingdom?” Wei Tu shook his head, hinting, “Liang Kingdom now is probably not much different from Zheng Kingdom.”

“Daoist Tao, staying holed up in Hanshan isn’t a good idea. It might be better to find a way out early, and leave the battlefield behind.”

Wei Tu steadied his mind, thought for a bit, and gave Tao Chongzhou a subtle warning.

“Daoist Wei, do you know something more?” Tao Chongzhou, an old and cunning man, caught something in Wei Tu’s words.

Wei Tu shook his head and explained, “It’s just a feeling I have. A storm is coming. Now that patrols at Chishui Pass are tightening, there might be some changes on the battlefield.”

Before any great upheaval, there were always clever people who could foresee the shifts. His explanation was reasonable enough not to arouse suspicion.

The reason Wei Tu gave this reminder to the Hanshan Tao Clan was because his dealings with them had been smooth, with no petty schemes.

Of course, if they expected him to share specific intelligence, that wasn’t happening.

Whether or not the Tao Clan believed him was up to them. He had done his part.

“I see.” Tao Chongzhou breathed a sigh of relief. He had thought Wei Tu knew some secret information.

Turns out, it was just Wei Tu’s own guess.

“But what Daoist Wei said does make sense. The changes at Chishui Pass aren’t normal. I should be on guard as well.”

Tao Chongzhou thought to himself.

Since the Hanshan Tao Clan’s smuggling route was already shut down, there was no point in Wei Tu staying any longer. After a brief exchange with the Tao Clan, he took his leave.

After leaving Hanshan.

Wei Tu first made a trip to the Baishi Lake Marketplace. He found Kou Hongying and passed along this piece of information, then returned to Red River Mountain.

“In three years, leave the cave, go to the Che residence, and remind Che Gongwei.”

Inside the cave, Wei Tu took out the “Sword Puppet” and infused it with a restriction, setting a timer.

This early Second-Grade puppet’s intelligence was about that of a seven or eight-year-old child. Under Wei Tu’s orders, it could carry out some simple tasks.

On the way back to Red River Mountain Marketplace, Wei Tu had already made up his mind. No matter what, he had to try the secret passage Zhao Jiangwu had given him and find a way out.

After all, compared to the demonic invasion, this secret passage was the lesser danger.

Now that he had decided, Wei Tu had returned to Red River Mountain Marketplace for two things.

First, to collect his belongings from the cave.

Second, to use the puppet to pass Zhao Jiangwu’s information to his teacher, Che Gongwei, after he left, as a way to repay the favor of his teachings.

Soon after.

Wei Tu had packed everything.

He hung a wooden plaque with the words “In Closed Cultivation” at the cave entrance and was about to use the same trick to leave Red River Mountain Marketplace quietly.

The last time he left, he had specifically left behind a Seven-Colored Phantom Moth.

With the moth watching, he saw everything was normal. Du Wenshu and the other maids in the residence hadn’t noticed his movements or gone anywhere to report him.

But just as Wei Tu was about to leave.

A message talisman landed in front of him.

“Bao Siyan?” Wei Tu saw the signature on the talisman and slightly frowned.

He stopped, reached out, and took the talisman, then read it through.

After reading, he looked thoughtful. After pondering for a while, he decided to meet Bao Siyan.

This time, Bao Siyan’s tone in the letter was much better than last time. She revealed a good deal of information about an ancient cultivator’s cave.

What surprised Wei Tu was that the location of this ancient cave mentioned by Bao Siyan seemed to overlap with the location of the “secret passage” Zhao Jiangwu had told him about.

However, Wei Tu couldn’t be sure whether these two places were actually the same.

After all, the location Bao Siyan gave him was just a general area.

Besides that.

Bao Siyan also promised to pass on two of the three great secret techniques to Wei Tu before heading to the ancient cave.

Just these two secret techniques.

Wei Tu thought, were worth delaying his journey to see her once.

…

A short while later.

Bao residence, Yangxin Pavilion.

After nearly forty years, Wei Tu once again saw Bao Siyan in Yangxin Pavilion, still wearing her white bamboo hat.

“Master Bao.” Entering the pavilion, Wei Tu calmly saluted her, then sat down.

“Daoist Wei is now a Golden Core cultivator. There’s no need to call me master anymore. Just address me normally.” Bao Siyan, beneath her white hat, lightly covered her lips and smiled.

Wei Tu accepted this suggestion with ease.

Unlike Che Gongwei teaching him talisman arts, Bao Siyan’s instruction was for her own ends—a transaction. Calling her master now would be insincere.

After they agreed to call each other Daoist, they got straight to business.

“This ancient cave, I explored it once with my husband two hundred years ago, but sadly, my husband died inside that cave.”

“This time, I want to enter again, not only to gain the treasures and inheritances inside but also to collect my late husband’s remains and let him rest in peace.”

As she spoke, a trace of sadness appeared in Bao Siyan’s eyes.

With that expression and her charming beauty, any normal man would feel pity.

But Wei Tu, sitting nearby, felt nothing of the sort. His face was calm.

“I don’t understand, why did Daoist Bao choose me? In the Loose Immortal Alliance, my strength is average, not outstanding at all.”

Wei Tu spoke calmly.

“Daoist Wei, you should understand how dangerous the cultivation world is. My strength is also average among the alliance. If I called others, I might not only lose the treasures but could be killed for them.” Bao Siyan showed a bitter smile.

“Besides, this ancient cave has a barrier that needs to be broken by a Third-Grade Talisman Master.”

“After thinking it over, only Daoist Wei fits the bill.”

Bao Siyan added.

After these words, Wei Tu’s expression eased a bit.

Weak strength.

High talisman skill.

He knew these were likely the only reasons Bao Siyan valued him.

“Bao Siyan’s cultivation may be stronger than mine, but only slightly. She should be at the peak of early Golden Core Realm… if she wanted to ambush me, she wouldn’t have the means.” Wei Tu weighed the pros and cons, thinking it through.

Just like Bao Siyan’s reasoning.

If someone like Qi Chengchu or other Golden Core experts invited him to explore an ancient cave, he wouldn’t dare to go so easily, afraid of getting caught in danger.

But Bao Siyan was different.

Bao Siyan saw Wei Tu’s “weakness,” and now Wei Tu saw Bao Siyan’s “weakness.”

The two of them had a gap in strength, but were still within the same minor realm. Unless one had some special trick, it would be hard for either to truly harm the other.

Besides, Wei Tu didn’t think Bao Siyan had any intention of harming him or luring him out to be robbed.

He had just broken through to Golden Core.

Logically, his wealth wouldn’t even match that of some established Foundation Establishment cultivators—he was just a “poor ghost.”

“Are there any other dangers in this ancient cave? If so, I hope Daoist Bao will be honest about them now,” Wei Tu continued asking.

“There’s no danger before the ‘Talisman Barrier,’ but after that, I can’t promise anything. After all, I’ve never gone past it myself,” Bao Siyan answered sincerely.

“As long as Daoist Wei agrees to this, I will pass on all three secret arts of the Divine Wood Origin Technique to you.”

After speaking, Bao Siyan saw a flicker in Wei Tu’s eyes, as if he was tempted, and quickly pressed on.

“This matter…” Wei Tu hesitated for a moment, then agreed.

Just now, through their conversation, he had roughly confirmed the exact area of the ancient cave—it was indeed within the same region as the “secret passage” Zhao Jiangwu had mentioned.

The two places were about one hundred li apart.

Since it was along the way, Wei Tu didn’t mind taking a detour to explore this ancient cave before heading to the secret passage.

After all, the presence of a “Talisman Barrier” meant it was very likely the legacy of a high-level talisman master.

Back then, Alchemist Shu had gained a legacy from an ancient cave and went from being an unknown rogue cultivator to a false Golden Core True Lord.

“These are the two secret arts of the Divine Wood Origin Technique that I promised Daoist Wei. As for the third, once we reach the ancient cave together, I will hand it over as agreed,” Bao Siyan took out a green jade slip, infused it with her mana, and sent it to Wei Tu.

She wasn’t worried about Wei Tu breaking his promise.

After all, these two secret arts weren’t that valuable to her.

Besides, this ancient cave would benefit Wei Tu too.

“When Daoist Wei becomes a Third-Grade Talisman Master, come find me again to discuss this,” Bao Siyan reminded him as he accepted the jade slip.

“Of course.”

Wei Tu nodded.

Becoming a Third-Grade Talisman Master wasn’t too difficult for him. After all, he had already drawn top-quality “Wood Thunder Talismans” and “Water Thunder Talismans.”

You had to know, among Second-Grade top-quality talismans, “top-grade talismans” were harder to draw than even some lower Third-Grade ones.

The real challenge in Third-Grade talismans compared to Second-Grade wasn’t skill but “Golden Core mana.”

…

Time flew by.

Two and a half years later.

Wei Tu and Bao Siyan secretly left Red River Mountain Marketplace together, flying toward the ancient cave.

A month later, they arrived at the “Southern Desolate Wastes,” where Zheng Kingdom, Jing Kingdom, and Liang Kingdom met.

Wei Tu wasn’t unfamiliar with the Southern Desolate Wastes.

The Yunze Secret Realm of the Heshan Huang Clan was located here. Back then, he had come once, riding on Huang Xinglie’s “Cloud Crowned Crane.”

After arriving at the Southern Desolate Wastes.

Bao Siyan and Wei Tu found their bearings and came to a gray-yellow hillside.

There, Bao Siyan took out three gray formation flags from her storage bag and planted them into the ground.

Then she took out a white jade formation plate and channeled several waves of mana into it.

Soon, the formation plate emitted several beams of light, which fell between the gray flags.

As the formation activated, Wei Tu quickly sensed an underground palace passage beneath the hillside.

At that moment, through the vision of his Wind-Cleaving Eagle, Wei Tu also saw a cliff over one hundred zhang tall, about one hundred li away.

On the cliff face, a dark cave entrance could be vaguely seen.

That cave held the secret passage Zhao Jiangwu had shown him.

The secret passage wasn’t as dangerous as the “Black Blood Swamp,” but the route still passed through several perilous areas, with at least two of them home to Third-Grade spirit beasts.

“Let’s explore this ancient cave first.” Wei Tu focused his mind and recalled the Wind-Cleaving Eagle.

However—

Just as the underground palace opened.

Wei Tu suddenly sensed a trace of the Seven-Colored Phantom Moth he had released over forty years ago.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep