179: Chapter 179 Making a fortune off the dead is the shortcut to instant wealth

The last darkness before dawn was dispelled by the blood-colored mist rising from the bottom of Soul-Falling Valley.

Gu Yan squatted beside the two halves of the corpse, holding a dark red storage ring in his hand.

This was the most valuable item on Saint Son Li Tianxing, and the Golden Core Stage Divine Sense imprint originally attached to it had become as fragile as a layer of window paper following his tragic death.

"Pop."

His Divine Sense was like a needle, easily piercing through that barrier.

Gu Yan did not rush to check the contents inside; instead, he first grabbed the broken "Ten Thousand Soul Banner."

Although this Demonic Path malevolent weapon was ruined, the flagpole was made from the spine of a deep-sea Dragon, and the banner surface was woven from "Soul Silk" made of thousands of living souls.

If thrown into the System's [Bloodline Furnace], it could at least refine a ball of pure Soul Power essence.

"System, get to work."

[Alright! The cleaner is online!]

Gu Yan placed his hand on Saint Son Li Tianxing's corpse.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—

That once arrogant Golden Core Physical Body shriveled and weathered at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Its essence blood, bones, and even the remaining Spirit Stone energy were all drained by the System's bottomless furnace, transforming into a string of frantically jumping numbers on Gu Yan's attribute panel.

[Recycling complete.]

[Obtained Bloodline Points: 5000 points.]

[Obtained Special Materials: Blood Demon Bone (can be used to strengthen the asura armguard).]

[Site cleanup rate: 100%. Not even an ant could smell that someone died here.]

Gu Yan stood up and brushed the dust off his hands.

Only then did he probe his Divine Sense into that storage ring.

After just one glance, Gu Yan's breathing stalled for a moment.

"So rich."

The space inside the ring was as large as half a basketball court.

In the corner, there was a mountain-like pile of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, roughly estimated to be no less than three hundred thousand.

Beside it were dozens of jade boxes with Seal talismans attached, all filled with Demonic Path Medicinal Pills used to improve cultivation.

The most conspicuous item was a blood-colored Jade Slip floating in the center.

Gu Yan took out the Jade Slip and pressed it against his forehead.

"Blood River True Scripture: Golden Core Volume."

This was the Blood River Sect's secret, never to be passed on, and it was also the fundamental reason why Saint Son Li Tianxing was able to cultivate to the Golden Core Mid-Stage at this age.

"It's a pity that I am a Body Cultivator and do not cultivate Devilish Qi."

Gu Yan shook his head and casually tossed the Jade Slip back into the ring: "However, it's not bad to use for drawing inferences or feeding it to the blood river bead as nourishment."

The thing that truly moved him was the last item.

It was a box carved from ten-thousand-year mysterious ice.

Opening the lid, a thick, almost viscous surge of life essence Qi rushed toward him.

Inside lay three red crystals the size of longan fruit, identical to the "blood crystal" he had previously dug out of Saint Son Li Tianxing's body, but of higher quality and deeper color.

"blood-condensing divine crystal."

The name of this item automatically surfaced in Gu Yan's mind.

This was a divine object for assisting Core Formation, refined by the Blood River Sect using special secret techniques to compress the essence blood of countless Cultivators.

A single one could increase the chance of Core Formation by thirty percent and could significantly strengthen the Physical Body.

"Four."

Gu Yan gripped the box in his hand tightly, feeling that immense energy pulsing in his palm.

With this item, combined with his monstrous Physical Body foundation, the threshold of the Golden Core Stage was no longer a chasm for him, but a layer of window paper that could be pierced at any time.

"This haul is a massive profit."

Gu Yan put away all the spoils of war and took one last look at the empty valley bottom.

Except for that large pit, nothing was left here.

"Time to go."

His figure shot up from the ground, turning into a stream of light, and he sped off toward Baifeng City against the rising morning sun.

...

Baifeng City, atop the city wall.

The battle had already ended.

Those Yao Beasts that had lost their control fled back into the deep mountains with their tails between their legs after leaving behind hundreds of corpses.

And the aftermath of the Ten Thousand Soul Banner, which had been drained of fierce ghosts by the "Spirit-Swallowing Formation," also dissipated with the death of Saint Son Li Tianxing.

But the atmosphere on the city wall was not relaxed.

Thirty "Blood Corpse Death Soldiers" were currently lying in pools of blood in disarray.

They had completed the mission, even exceeding it.

But the side effects of the "secondary blood marrow" had also erupted.

Their originally purple-red skin was festering, and the bones throughout their bodies were shattering inch by inch because they could not withstand the overdrawn power.

Most of them were already unconscious, and those who were occasionally awake only let out painful whimpers in their throats.

Leng Yuechan knelt beside a Death Soldier with a broken leg, holding hemostatic powder in her hand, but she did not know where to sprinkle it.

Because blood was seeping out of every pore on this Death Soldier's body.

"It's useless."

Jin Feiyan stood to the side, her eyes red, clutching a handful of Spirit Stones she hadn't managed to give away: "Their Meridians are all severed, and their internal organs are cooked.

Unless a Grand Unity Golden Immortal descends to the Mortal world, otherwise..."

"Who said it's useless?"

A black shadow descended from the sky, landing heavily on the city wall.

Gu Yan.

The Killing Intent on his body had not yet dissipated, and there were even bits of Saint Son Li Tianxing's flesh hanging on the asura armguard on his left arm.

"Patriarch!"

The surrounding guards knelt down one after another, their eyes filled with fanaticism.

Gu Yan ignored them and walked straight into the middle of the group of Death Soldiers.

He looked at these men who had fought until they were completely exhausted for the Gu Family, and took out the mysterious ice box containing the "blood-condensing divine crystal" from his embrace.

"Boss, this..." Jin Feiyan recognized the extraordinary nature of that item and opened her mouth wide in surprise.

"I have said that as long as I do not nod, not even the King of Hell can take my people."

Gu Yan took out a divine crystal and applied force with his fingers.

Snap.

The incredibly hard divine crystal was crushed into powder by him.

"Open your mouth."

Gu Yan walked up to the most severely injured Death Soldier, pried open his jaw, and poured the red powder inside.

Immediately after, the second, the third...

A priceless blood-condensing divine crystal, enough to make Foundation Establishment Peak Cultivators fight to the death over it, was distributed by Gu Yan to these thirty dying Mortals just like sprinkling pepper.

"This is the Blood River Sect's supreme treasure, containing immense vitality and the power to reshape the Physical Body."

Gu Yan brushed the residue off his hands, his voice calm: "For ordinary Cultivators, this is an Opportunity for Core Formation.

For them, this is a potent medicine to extend their lives."

"If they can survive it, they will turn misfortune into a blessing, their Physical Bodies will be recast, and they will become true 'Blood River Guards.' If they can't..."

Gu Yan paused, looking at those Death Soldiers who began to twitch violently because of the medicinal power entering their bodies, and new flesh began to grow from their festering wounds:

"Then that is fate."

"Ugh ah—!!!"

A Death Soldier suddenly let out a roar and sat up abruptly.

The originally broken bones in his body were crackling, his skin was peeling off, revealing the newly grown, tough skin underneath with faint dark red patterns.

He survived.

Not only did he survive, but his aura was also a notch stronger than before.

"Many thanks to the Patriarch for the grace of rebirth!" The Death Soldier turned over and knelt down, his forehead hitting the city bricks heavily, leaving a bloody mark.

Immediately after, the second, the third...

Although five people died suddenly because their bodies were too weak to withstand the medicinal power, the remaining twenty-five all miraculously survived.

Watching this scene, Leng Yuechan and Jin Feiyan looked at each other, both seeing shock in each other's eyes.

That was a Core Formation spiritual object!

Was it just used like that?

"Don't feel bad."

Gu Yan seemed to have seen through Jin Feiyan's thoughts and casually tossed her a Storage Pouch—that was Saint Son Li Tianxing's private stash.

"Take it. This is the loot from this time."

Jin Feiyan took it subconsciously, and after a sweep of her Divine Sense, she almost fainted from happiness.

The Spirit Stones inside were piled into a mountain, ten times more than all her previous investments combined!

"Give the brothers who died ten times the pension, and give the living heavy rewards."

Gu Yan turned around and looked at the rising sun outside the city, as well as the Yao Beast corpses covering the ground.

In this battle, Baifeng City not only did not collapse, but because of this baptism of blood, it firmly established its footing.

"Clean up."

Gu Yan took out a head preserved in quicklime from the storage ring—Saint Son Li Tianxing's head, whose eyes were still wide open in death.

"I have to go back to the Sect."

He held that head, and a playful smile curled at the corners of his mouth:

"With such a great credit, wouldn't it be a pity if no one claimed it?"