Chapter 898: Current Situation of the Spirit Realm's Lower Levels

At that time, he was distracted by the Void Beast and didn't notice what was happening with that young man.

Now, thinking back carefully, his cultivation was crippled, and his divine sense was lost... That person might have been an ascender, only injured by a spatial storm.

The Flying Spirit Platform has seen countless ascenders. Although most arrive safely, some encounter accidents and end up elsewhere.

Every ascender is a Void Shattering Stage cultivator, ascending step by step from the mortal realm. The hardships they endure are far beyond what native Spirit Realm cultivators experience.

With a bit of polishing and some Spirit Realm magical treasures and advanced cultivation techniques, they can definitely become the backbone of any major power, sought after by all sides!

Therefore, ascenders hold great value and potential, which is why the Flying Spirit Platform searches for them everywhere!

Finding an ascender brings unimaginable rewards.

"So, that young man might be an ascender! And the white snake on him is in a similar situation..."

The elder in the green robe waved his hand, and the scene from that day reappeared before him.

Xu Hei's shadow was perfectly simulated, showing utmost respect to the elder, his demeanor and voice perfectly recreated.

After a moment of contemplation, the middle-aged man in the green robe's eyes flashed brightly, "It's quite possible! After we acted, did this person die?"

"Not sure, our attention was entirely on the Void Beast, who would care about such an ant?" the elder replied.

Given the situation at the time, if it were just an ordinary passing cultivator, they would have been obliterated by the aftermath of their battle.

The more they thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.

"This matter must be thoroughly investigated, but the urgent task is to deal with the Void Beast first. If it escapes, all our efforts these days will be in vain!" the elder in the green robe said.

…………

Tiandou City, Gu Family.

As a renowned artifact refining family in Tiandou City, the Gu Family's annual need for refining materials is astronomical.

Thus, the Gu Family often hires external forces to help collect refining materials. The refined gold ore collected by the Qingshan Sect is one of the basic materials.

"Why only 120 spirit stones? Wasn't it agreed to be 300?"

Xu Yanran looked at the storage bag handed over, her eyes full of anger.

"Three hundred spirit stones were for the agreed time. You delayed by three whole days! Can you bear the losses?"

"One hundred and twenty spirit stones is already generous! Don't be ungrateful!"

The steward opposite, with a mocking expression, had a sharp mouth and monkey-like cheeks, his eyes slanted, not even looking straight at people.

Everyone's faces turned grim.

Their expenses for this trip amounted to eighty spirit stones, and fighting the sandworms wore down their formation flags, requiring spirit stones to repair. It was a loss, a wasted trip!

Xu Hei stood at the back, silently observing, not saying a word.

Gu Qianqian said, "We are willing to bear some losses for the three-day delay, but cutting more than half is unacceptable. The Gu Family, as a prestigious family, is really losing face by making things difficult for a group of ordinary cultivators."

"How dare you! Where did this lowly person come from, daring to speak ill of our Gu Family!"

Suddenly, a voice shouted angrily from afar, and a knife-wielding guard strode over, standing before them with an arrogant demeanor.

"Delayed three days, disrupted the young master's artifact refining, and it's good we didn't ask you for compensation. You still have the nerve to haggle? If you don't want it, get lost!"

The knife-wielding guard pointed at Gu Qianqian's nose, cursing, and the aura of Great Perfection of the Core Formation stage spread out, making everyone's faces pale and breathing difficult.

Gu Qianqian wanted to say more but was stopped by Ling Yun.

"Say more, and even the 120 spirit stones won't be safe." Ling Yun whispered.

Facing the unreasonable Gu Family, they had no choice but to swallow their grievances.

Xu Yanran said, "We'll remember today's matter, farewell!"

"Get lost, you lowly people, thinking you're something! If you don't do it, others will!" the sharp-mouthed steward cursed.

"If you have the guts, don't come back, hmph!"

Amidst the insults, the cultivators of the Qingshan Sect could only leave in anger.

"Heh, in Tiandou City, what we lack the least are these cattle and horses, yet they remain oblivious."

"Next time, lower the price for collecting ores. Three hundred spirit stones are still too high; many people are eager to do it."

The two pointed at the departing group, their eyes full of disdain.

The knife-wielding guard whispered, "Steward Liu, if I may ask, what price does the young master offer for the ores?"

"How would I know? Deacon Ma gave me five hundred spirit stones, and we made a net profit of four hundred, which we split." Steward Liu laughed.

"Haha, Steward Liu is indeed wise!" the knife-wielding guard laughed heartily.

…………

Back at the Qingshan Sect's base.

It was a small courtyard with three pavilions and eight houses. In the distance, there was a barren medicinal field and a dried-up spirit spring.

It was evident that the Qingshan Sect once had some strength.

Xu Hei received his reward for the trip—eight spirit stones.

Hei Huang also received five spirit stones as a reward.

This is the benefit of strength; if they were injured, they wouldn't even get a reward and would be in debt, forced to work as laborers to repay it.

"A huge loss! If I had known, I wouldn't have cooperated with the Gu Family!"

"If not them, then who? Last time we collected herbs for the Wang Family, several brothers died, and the Wang Family refused compensation, claiming we acted without authorization."

"Each family is more ruthless than the last; what can we do?"

Everyone complained with furrowed brows.

Xu Hei thought for a moment and hesitated, "Elder Gu Qianqian's pill refining skills are good, why not try selling pills?"

Hearing this, everyone laughed in exasperation.

"Sell pills? The entire city's pill market is controlled by the Wang Family. Without their permission, selling pills privately would get your legs broken." Xu Yanran said irritably.

Xu Hei was left speechless.

It seems that life for the lower-level cultivators in the Spirit Realm is equally tough.

Even though they are all at the Foundation Establishment Stage, when everyone is at that stage, it becomes worthless.

The Spirit Realm's environment is indeed advantageous, but only the top cultivators can enjoy the resources. Most people are just exploited.

No matter where you are, the pyramid rule applies.

If given a chance to descend to the mortal realm, many would probably take it.

…………

At night, the Sect Master of Qingshan Sect returned.

He was a middle-aged man with a haggard appearance, looking exhausted, panting heavily, with bruises all over his body.

However, his legs were exceptionally strong, with a metallic sheen, indicating he was agile and well-suited for running away.