63: Flourishing Development and Deadly Dangers

The news of establishing a connection with the Hundred Herbs Pavilion was like a shot in the arm for the burgeoning Mutual Aid Society.

Wen Youyi did not widely publicize it. Instead, he quietly passed the Spiritual Plant acquisition list and the Medicinal Pill discount news among the core members through Wang Wu and Senior Brother Li.

The effect was immediate.

Previously, many Disciples joined the Mutual Aid Society more out of trust in Wen Youyi and curiosity about the collaborative method, with little economic improvement. But now it was different! Although the Spiritual Plants acquired by the Hundred Herbs Pavilion were not of high grade, the demand was stable, and the price was 10% higher than the market! This meant that as long as they were willing to spend time, following the shared collection maps and techniques of the Mutual Aid Society, they could earn a considerable and stable income!

And the discounted Medicinal Pill exchange solved one of the biggest pain points for Low-level Disciples—the cost of injuries and detoxification. In the past, an injury during a mission might not even earn enough contribution points to buy medicine, but now they could save a large sum!

Tangible benefits were more convincing than any slogan.

The cohesion and solidarity of the Mutual Aid Society increased at an unprecedented rate! More and more Low-level Disciples genuinely supported the organization and even began to spontaneously protect its reputation.

The D-7 Courtyard became even livelier, but it was no longer just a place for exchange; it was more like a small mission coordination center and resource distribution hub. Wang Wu and Senior Brother Li were constantly busy, coordinating collection missions, registering Medicinal Pill needs, and handling daily affairs.

Zhao Iron Pillar was responsible for leading some combat-oriented members to undertake suitable hunting and extermination missions, honing their cooperation in practice while also harvesting Yao Beast Materials.

Senior Brother Zhang, meanwhile, buried himself in researching and improving various practical gadgets, such as more durable illumination stones and more concealed warning traps, further enhancing the members' survival capabilities.

The entire Mutual Aid Society operated like a well-oiled machine, efficient and orderly.

Wen Youyi, on the other hand, enjoyed his leisure, delegating daily management. He focused on two things: first, using the Hundred Herbs Pavilion's discounts to exchange a large number of Medicinal Pills, fully repairing the damage to his Meridians, and consolidating his Qi Refining Fourth Layer cultivation; second, continuing to deeply research the star core fragment and Five Elements Formation, attempting to achieve a deeper combination of the "Miniature Five Elements Circulation Field" and the "Star Domain."

He vaguely felt that if the two could be perfectly integrated, it might lead to a qualitative change, forming a more stable, powerful, and comprehensive "Composite Domain."

However, the tree desires tranquility, but the wind will not cease.

The flourishing development of the Mutual Aid Society, especially its connection with the Hundred Herbs Pavilion, completely enraged the vested interest group led by the Five Elements Courtyard.

Previously, they could easily manipulate Low-level Disciples by controlling missions and raising Medicinal Pill prices, forcing them to depend on them or become cheap labor. But now, the Mutual Aid Society not only offered a possibility to break free from control but even began to absorb "resources" (Disciples and contribution points) that originally belonged to them!

That night, the moon was dark and the wind was high.

Several figures, blending into the night, silently infiltrated the vicinity of the D-7 Courtyard. Their auras were restrained, their movements agile, far superior to the previous Shadow Fiends assassins. They were all experts at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer! The leader's aura had even reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer!

They were the "Shadow Guards" secretly cultivated by the Five Elements Courtyard, specifically for handling unsavory tasks that couldn't be entrusted to outsiders.

"Target, Wen Youyi. Regardless of life or death, but you must obtain the Storage Pouch and that strange fragment on him." The Qi Refining Seventh Layer leader's voice was cold, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue. "As for the others, if they dare to resist, kill them without mercy!"

They received a death order: Wen Youyi must be eliminated before he fully matures and before his relationship with the Hundred Herbs Pavilion deepens further!

The Shadow Guards dispersed like phantoms, blocking all possible exits from the courtyard. The leader, like a falling leaf, silently floated towards the window of Wen Youyi's room.

However, just as his finger was about to touch the window frame—

"Buzz!"

An extremely faint, almost invisible, pale silver ripple, centered on Wen Youyi's room, instantly swept across the entire small courtyard!

It was the passive warning of the Star Domain! Although Wen Youyi did not fully expand his Domain, he had left a trace of his mind connected to the star core fragment, and any energy with strong malice approaching would trigger a faint resonance from the fragment!

Inside the room, Wen Youyi, who was meditating, suddenly opened his eyes, a cold light bursting forth!

[Enemy attack! Qi Refining Late Stage! All personnel, be on alert, activate emergency protocol!]

The urgent alarm instantly entered the minds of Zhao Iron Pillar, the other three, and all core members in the courtyard through their communicators!

Almost simultaneously—

"Boom!!"

The window of Wen Youyi's room, along with half of the wall, was shattered by an immense force! The Qi Refining Seventh Layer Captain of the Shadow Guards, like a demon god, broke through the wall. A sharp claw covered in black scales, carrying the terrifying might to tear everything apart, went straight for Wen Youyi's throat!

Fast! Ruthless! Precise!

This strike far surpassed the Shadow Fiends of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer! It was aimed at an instant kill!

(End of Chapter)