Chapter 518 - 471: The 4th Time

Chapter 518: Chapter 471: The 4th Time

"Seniors, this way, please."

Upon entering the pavilion, several graceful maids immediately came forward to welcome them, leading the way respectfully.

The three of them seemed to know the way, following the maid to a stone gate in the southwest corner of the pavilion before stopping.

The maid pushed open the stone gate and gestured for them to enter with a respectful hand.

The trio stepped inside. The stone gate closed automatically, blending seamlessly with the surrounding wall, leaving no trace of its existence.

Beyond the stone gate was a stone path leading deep underground.

The stone blocks were pure white, made of a common Spirit Jade. Lamps emitting a faint fluorescent glow hung high on both sides of the passage. At a glance, the path didn’t feel narrow or oppressive at all; on the contrary, it was quite spacious and bright.

Even Wangcai’s ten-foot-tall demon body didn’t make the space feel crowded. The Corpse Puppet shrank to the height of a normal person, its form concealed by a black robe, and followed beside Chu Mu with Wangcai as they walked down the passage.

"Come to think of it, in the last few months, this must be the third time, right?"

He Fengshan turned to Chu Mu and Chi Shan, his tone somber.

Chi Shan’s expression was grave. "It should be the fourth time."

"Have you forgotten? Half a year ago, after the Celestial Star Alliance killed a Chen Family Nascent Soul, the Chen Family’s Punishment Hall Master, Celestial Punishment True Master, immediately informed the three of us, hoping we would accept positions as Honored Guest Elders of the Punishment Hall."

He Fengshan shook his head, a hint of anticipation in his voice. "I wonder what great rewards the Chen Family will promise this time..."

"There’s no such thing as a free lunch."

Chi Shan sneered. "In the current situation, the Chen Family’s benefits aren’t so easy to accept!"

"If you take their rewards, you’ll have to risk your life for them!"

"The North Sea, the Ordinary Realm, Celestial Cloud, Lu Feng... all over, there are ambitious people who want to overthrow the Chen Family..."

"We’re stationed here, and while the Beast Tide is ferocious, they are mostly just mindless beasts. If things get too bad, we can retreat into the Grand Array. We have its protection, plus a Chen Family Nascent Soul holding the fort..."

"But to really fight against those ambitious people... Hmph, hmph..."

At this moment, Chu Mu, who had been silent for a long time, finally spoke up. "Profit stirs the heart. Someone will always be willing."

Chi Shan paused, glanced at He Fengshan, and shook his head with a wry smile, saying no more.

After all, the truth was quite clear.

It was simple: cultivators not from the Chen Family had gathered here to fight Demon Beasts, risking life and limb.

Either they were conscripted and had no choice...

...or they were enticed by profit.

The Earthly Fiend 72 Paths, over a hundred Golden Core cultivators not from the Chen Family—even the Chen Family would find it difficult to suppress such a force with sheer power.

The world bustles for profit; the world scurries for gain.

They were all lured here by profit, driven by profit to serve the Chen Family’s ends.

Whether they were driven to fight Demon Beasts on the Demon Suppression Islands or driven by profit to fight the ambitious factions opposing the Chen Family within the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World, there was, in essence, no difference between the two.

This point was undoubtedly clear to everyone—the Chen Family, the ambitious factions in the Vast Sea, and the many non-Chen Family Golden Core cultivators still stationed on the Demon Suppression Islands.

The only difference was that the first two were setting the price, while the latter were, for the most part, waiting for the highest bid.

’Compared to the pure intentions of others who were simply waiting for the best offer, Chu Mu was undoubtedly more conflicted.’

’He... was still the Ninth True Inheritor of the Longevity Sect. Although he hadn’t willingly accepted this imposed identity, he still had some feelings about the Longevity Sect.’

’It would be foolish not to take a benefit that comes knocking at his door.’

’But if he did take it, as a Longevity True Inheritor, he obviously couldn’t stand on the side opposing the Longevity Sect.’

’But alas, profit stirs the heart!’

During his several years on the Demon Suppression Islands, the Chen Family had shown extreme reverence for him, a top Alchemy Master and Artifact Refining Master in the Vast Sea. They granted almost every request he made.

Over the past half-year, they had courted him even more frequently, promising all sorts of benefits that were almost impossible to refuse.

’If not for his concerns about his identity as the Ninth True Inheritor, he would have likely already accepted the Chen Family’s generous offers and willingly pledged his life to them for a time.’

’After all, with his status as a master of Alchemy and Artifact Refining, the Chen Family wouldn’t possibly send him into the fray to battle others.’

’The impact of him casually refining a single Magical Treasure, a Puppet, or even a furnace of Elixirs would be far greater than fighting on the front lines.’

’On these Demon Suppression Islands, if he hadn’t been so wary and unwilling to get too deeply entangled with the Chen Family, he would probably still be on Celestial Secret Island right now, leisurely overseeing matters of Pills and Artifacts.’

As his thoughts swirled, the three of them reached the end of the passage.

Before another wide stone gate stood a figure veiled in fluttering thin gauze.

The woman’s skin was like flawless white jade. Her emerald-green gauze dress drifted like ribbons, offering tantalizing glimpses of her long, slender legs.

Seeing Chu Mu and the others arrive, the woman’s eyes lit up. A wide smile spread across her face as she came to greet them. "Fellow Daoists, please."

He Fengshan asked, "Fellow Daoist, you seem unfamiliar."

Chu Mu also looked at the woman with interest. A Tier Three Female Cultivator was not a common sight.

On the Demon Suppression Islands, there were over a hundred Golden Core Cultivators, but only a dozen or so were women, and he had dealt with all of them.

This female cultivator before him didn’t seem to be one of them.

"You have a sharp eye, Fellow Daoist. This humble one is Qing Ling. I was previously in seclusion with my clan, focusing on Core Formation. I was only stationed at the islands after my recent breakthrough in cultivation."

"I have heard much about you esteemed Fellow Daoists."

"HAHAHA, what reputation could we possibly have!"

"Fellow Daoist He’s Spiritual Eye Divine Techniques are renowned, Fellow Daoist Chi’s Corpse Cultivation Skills are unmatched in the Vast Sea, and Fellow Daoist Chu is a master of both Pills and Artifacts..."

The woman listed their achievements as if she were counting family treasures; she had clearly done her homework.

After some pleasantries and laughter, the three men entered the stone gate, led by Qing Ling.

Beyond the stone gate was a bright and spacious hall. Dozens of Golden Core Cultivators were already seated inside in small groups. When they saw Chu Mu and his companions enter, another round of greetings and cheerful conversation broke out.

A moment later, the three found an empty spot in the hall and sat down.

Strands of Telepathy intertwined. In addition to the open conversations, there were plenty of secret exchanges as well.

Chu Mu’s dual proficiency in Pills and Artifacts was famous throughout the Vast Sea, making him a central figure in this gathering of Golden Core cultivators. The telepathic messages directed at him were ceaseless.

It took him a while to deal with the constant stream of messages before they finally died down.

Meanwhile, as more Golden Core cultivators continued to arrive, the once-quiet hall grew more boisterous.

Chu Mu sat calmly, occasionally exchanging a few words with He Fengshan and Chi Shan. His Corpse Puppet stood behind him, still as a statue, as always. Wangcai, on the other hand, was restlessly looking around.

Time ticked by, and the number of Golden Core Cultivators gathered in the hall continued to grow.

The din in the hall only subsided when an aura transcending the Golden Core Realm erupted from the high platform. All eyes immediately fixed on the figure that had suddenly appeared there.

"Greetings, Senior!"

Everyone rose to their feet and bowed towards the platform.

"Everyone, there is no need for such formalities."

The voice was ancient and weathered. An invisible force lifted the bowing crowd back to their feet.

Only then did Chu Mu get a clear look at the figure on the platform.

He was an old man in a gray robe with a weathered face and white hair at his temples, looking like a common mortal elder. But on closer inspection, his eyes, though murky, were not clouded by age and decay; they were as deep as a starry cosmos.

Just a sidelong glance was enough to evoke an inexplicable terror, a feeling of being pulled into their depths.

Chu Mu’s heart trembled, and he quickly averted his gaze. He exchanged a knowing look with He Fengshan and Chi Shan, and in the corners of their eyes, he could see the same deep confusion and alarm.

After all, the previous few gatherings had been hosted by an ordinary Chen Family Nascent Soul Cultivator, but this old man...

Judging by the aura of his cultivation, he had far surpassed any Nascent Soul Cultivator Chu Mu had ever seen.

Even the most terrifying Sword Dao Nascent Soul he remembered, a cultivator at the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul, seemed to have a weaker cultivation aura than the old man before them...

’Middle Stage of Nascent Soul? A Late Stage Great Cultivator?’

’For a Great Power of this caliber to personally descend and host this meeting...’

Chu Mu pressed his lips together, his heart growing heavy...