Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 115 - 110: Hunter and Prey

"I do know a little insider information..."

Chen Qingju said, pausing for a moment, then inquired:

"By the way, after all this talk, I still don’t know how to address you."

Zhang Yao maintained his usual demeanor and replied:

"I am Zhang Qing."

"So it’s Fellow Daoist Zhang."

Chen Qingju nodded slightly in acknowledgment, lowered his voice, and said:

"I’ve heard that the recent growth of Tribulation Cultivator gangs over the past decades is a result of intentional indulgence by several Golden Core influences in the Da Li Cultivation Realm."

"Intentional indulgence?"

Zhang Yao was intrigued, and his mind started to race with thoughts.

"Yes."

Chen Qingju nodded and continued:

"Tribulation Cultivator gangs at the Da Li border have existed since ancient times, seemingly impossible to eradicate completely."

"As long as there are cultivators from the Southwest Countries continuously attempting to head north into Da Li, there will always be those willing to take risks, betting their lives for a path to immortality."

"In the past, several Golden Core influences in Da Li, despite their reluctance to deal with border issues, would occasionally take action."

"But in the past century or two, they have almost stopped taking action against border Tribulation Cultivators, and there are even rumors from decades ago that they secretly support some Tribulation Cultivator gangs..."

Zhang Yao furrowed his brows slightly, squinted his eyes, and asked:

"Is there any evidence of this?"

In fact, he didn’t care whether there was evidence.

What does having evidence matter?

Could mere Qi Refining level Loose Cultivators dare oppose Golden Core Ancestors?

But he suspected that Chen Qingju approaching him might have ulterior motives, prompting him to probe with the question.

"Evidence?"

Chen Qingju laughed, spread his hands, and said:

"Does evidence matter to people like us?"

"In three days, the northbound team will depart. The pressing task now is to ensure our safety, so we don’t end up dead in the Desolate Zone."

Zhang Yao pondered for a moment and asked calmly:

"Then what clever plan does Fellow Daoist Chen propose?"

"It’s very simple."

Chen Qingju eloquently explained:

"I was among the earliest of this batch of cultivators to arrive. I’ve observed over a hundred registered cultivators."

"Besides you and me, there are three other Qi Refining Perfection cultivators, and I’ve visited them all, persuading them to join forces."

"If the five of us team up and act together, we can ensure absolute safety while crossing the Desolate Zone!"

"Join forces?"

Hearing this, Zhang Yao immediately waved his hand and said:

"That won’t be necessary."

"I appreciate Fellow Daoist Chen’s kindness, but I am used to being alone and not really sociable."

At first glance, Chen Qingju’s proposal seemed quite reasonable.

If a lone Qi Refining Perfection Cultivator faced the risk of being besieged, then five collaborating would unlikely encounter danger.

Even a large Tribulation Cultivator gang would wisely choose to back off when faced with such formidable opponents, rather than seek trouble.

But Zhang Yao suspected that she had ulterior motives, so he certainly wouldn’t invite trouble.

With his strength, having the cover of a larger party guaranteed, crossing the Desolate Zone was a certainty.

"This..."

Chen Qingju was taken aback, seemingly not expecting Zhang Yao’s outright refusal.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang!"

She couldn’t help but urge once more:

"If acting alone, a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator does indeed have a survival rate of seventy to eighty percent."

"But if there’s a surety, why take the risk? After all, once we reach Da Li, we can go our separate ways..."

"No need to say more."

Zhang Yao shook his head slowly and said calmly:

"My mind is made up."

Chen Qingju’s expression shifted slightly. Seeing Zhang Yao’s firm stance, she no longer persuaded him and soon took her leave.

After she left, Zhang Yao returned to the Mang Mountain Marketplace, chose an unoccupied cave residence on the upper cliff face, and settled in.

"Hah!"

With a sweep of his sleeve, nine array banners, one large and eight small, fell and formed a complete array that protected the entire cliff’s cave residence.

"I did not expect that behind the Tribulation Cultivator gangs, there might be support from the Da Li Golden Core influence..."

Zhang Yao pondered silently, thoughts surging within.

This journey to Da Li, besides seeking Thousand Year Jade Marrow, he also aimed to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.

The probability of a Qi Refining Perfection Cultivator successfully establishing foundation is affected by spirit root aptitude, cultivation technique grade, age, divine soul strength... and other factors.

His conditions were almost without flaw. Once he mastered the ’Celestial Profound Bright Jade Array’ and reached Qi Refining Perfection, he had a ninety-five percent chance of succeeding in Foundation Establishment on the first try.

The Foundation Establishment Pill was merely an extra safeguard, just in case.

This spirit pill has been refined by sages through the ages and is considered the best in its class for supporting Foundation Establishment, increasing breakthrough chances by thirty percent while protecting the qi veins from being severed.

If the qi veins were to be severed, he would instantly become a cripple.

Therefore, even though a Foundation Establishment Pill is not essential for breaking through the Foundation Establishment Realm, anyone with the ability and connections to obtain one wouldn’t pass up the chance.

Zhang Yao certainly wouldn’t let go of such an opportunity either.

He began to secretly plan:

"I remember hearing from Old Qi that at the Celestial Treasure Tower’s grand auction held once every ten years, a Foundation Establishment Pill is always up for auction."

"This is also the only open channel to get a Foundation Establishment Pill in the Da Li Cultivation Realm, though it’s very expensive..."

The Foundation Establishment Pill is a second grade spirit pill and a specially controlled resource, produced long-term and stably only by a few Golden Core influences.

At the grand auction, each Foundation Establishment Pill usually sells for around fifty to sixty thousand spirit stones, a huge sum for many Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

"In Mang Mountain Marketplace, I’ve earned nearly thirteen thousand spirit stones over twenty years."

"After purchasing the Vortex Shield, Celestial Thunder Spike, and cultivation technique scriptures, and accounting for some additional expenses, I have about seven thousand spirit stones left. There’s a substantial gap to buy the Thousand Year Jade Marrow and bid for a Foundation Establishment Pill..."

Zhang Yao pondered for a moment, gradually forming a plan:

"First, go to Da Li, establish a foothold in the Cultivation Realm, and then continue earning or look for other opportunities."

"As for this northbound team, it seems to be a good opportunity too..."

There certainly aren’t any Foundation Establishment Cultivators among these Tribulation Cultivator gangs.

If there were, even just once, the Loose Cultivators gathered at the Lu Kingdom border would have scattered, and the Tribulation Cultivator gangs would be dispersed.

Since it’s confirmed there are no Foundation Establishment Cultivators, with his current level of Qi Refining Perfection, as long as he’s cautious, he could easily turn the Tribulation Cultivators into prey and hunt them.

"Those Tribulation Cultivator gangs allegedly have backing, so going after them directly wouldn’t work."

"But taking this chance to strike back and target a few Qi Refining Perfection Tribulation Cultivator Leaders for a little bit of backstabbery is entirely feasible."

Zhang Yao stroked his chin, eyes gleaming:

"Who is the prey, and who is the hunter? That’s hard to say for sure..."