272: Seven major forces, nine independent cultivators

Waiter: "Don't let their small numbers fool you; each one possesses formidable cultivation."

"As the name suggests, Ice Fortress is perpetually covered in ice and snow, rich in various ice-attribute Spirit Medicines and spiritual materials."

"All its disciples Cultivate ice-attribute techniques, and the common ice-attribute Spirit Medicines and materials on the market are monopolized by Ice Fortress."

"Then, to the southeast near the plains, there is a Blood Saber Sect."

"Don't be fooled by its seemingly casual name; it is an evil Cultivator Sect."

"Every member of the entire Sect Cultivates Blood Path techniques; murder and robbery are commonplace!"

"They often hunt innocent Cultivators for their cultivation practices."

"They were once jointly boycotted by other major powers, but no one was willing to confront the Blood Saber Ancestor."

"That is their Nascent Soul Ancestor; a single blood saber wielded by him with god-like skill."

"It is said that blood saber has already reached the level of a Spirit Treasure and may be advancing towards an even higher Rank."

"The Blood Saber Ancestor is also intentionally or unintentionally nurturing that blood saber of his."

"Once his blood saber is drawn, low-level Cultivators are all doomed, their blood completely drained."

"Even high-level Cultivators, if they get injured carelessly, will have a portion of their blood devoured by that blood saber!"

"That's why ordinary people fear him!"

Gu Changan paused while picking up a piece of fish: "So, ordinary people can't handle him!"

"And those Nascent Soul Ancestors who could handle him don't want to get injured themselves."

"So they just left him hanging here like this?"

The Waiter's eyes sparkled slightly: "Yes! Yes! Yes!"

"Exactly the situation Senior described!"

"So I advise Senior to stay as far away from that area as possible!"

Gu Changan nodded and swallowed a piece of fish: "Continue!"

Waiter: "North of the Blood Saber Sect is the Buddhist-Daoist Monastery."

"Their ancestor is Golden Cicada, said to possess heaven-reaching Buddhist Dharma!"

"The Buddhist-Daoist Monastery gathers all the Cultivators in the world who practice Buddhism."

"Of course, there are also some Mortals who travel thousands of miles to seek immortals and worship Buddha!"

"These Mortals pass by the Blood Saber Sect on their long journeys, and most are slaughtered."

"Thus, the Buddhist-Daoist Monastery came into conflict with the Blood Saber Sect."

"The Buddhist-Daoist Monastery needs Mortals to provide Power Of Will and seeds for Buddhist Cultivators."

"But the Blood Saber Sect intercepts them halfway, treating them merely as blood sacrifices."

"Thus, friction between the two powers is common!"

"East of the Zen Monastery is Iron Bone Ridge."

"It is said their ancestor is the Ironbone Demonic Lord, who actually cultivated Body Refining to the Nascent Soul Stage!"

"Moreover, Iron Bone Ridge is vast, containing various mineral veins."

"The Cultivators here mine year-round, engaging in the smelting and processing of ores."

"Naturally, due to constant mining, most Cultivators here practice Body Refining methods."

"So never underestimate them based on their Realm; their Body Refining might have reached the Foundation Establishment Stage or even the Golden Core Stage!~"

Gu Changan raised an eyebrow; who would know without being told?

The result? You attack but can't break their defense?

Gu Changan took another sip of Hundred Flowers Brew: "Anything else?"

The Waiter thought for a moment: "Iron Bone Ridge is rich in various mineral deposits, which are refined, processed, and forged into various Magical Artifacts or Magic Treasures."

"Thus, the most prosperous place for Artifact Refining is Iron Bone Ridge!"

"The most prosperous place for Alchemy is Spirit Medicine Valley!"

"In the northeast, there is also a Starfall Valley, but no power occupies it."

Gu Changan nodded: "What about the powerful figures among the Nascent Soul Stage Loose Cultivators?"

The Waiter scratched his head: "There are many!"

"However, most are rumors; how much is true information, Senior will need to judge for yourself."

Gu Changan scooped a spoonful of something white and fluffy into his mouth.

"You speak first! I will form my own judgment!"

The Waiter thought for a moment: "Let me start with the top nine Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators!"

"Xue Wuhen, comes without a trace, leaves without a shadow."

"It is said all who offended him have died."

"Those who didn't die simply couldn't recognize Xue Wuhen."

"Unless he proactively introduces himself!"

Gu Changan smacked his lips; that's the information?

How am I supposed to judge from that?

Can only say such a person exists!

"Then what does he wear? Any distinctive features?"

The Waiter thought: "Distinctive feature? Definitely wearing all white, right?"

"And he comes with the snow, leaves with the snow."

"Rumored his technique is related to ice and snow!~"

Gu Changan thought about it; pointless question!

What's the difference from not knowing?

"Continue!"

Waiter: "Another with a fierce reputation is Ice Heart Lady."

"It is said Ice Heart Lady once had a husband; the two were inseparable."

"They cultivated together from the Qi Refining Stage all the way to Foundation Establishment, then Golden Core Stage."

"But at the Golden Core Stage, her husband, to obtain an opportunity for advancement to Nascent Soul,"

"betrayed her. The specifics of the betrayal are unknown!"

"But she didn't die; in the end, she actually managed to form a Nascent Soul."

"The following story is familiar; she killed her husband."

"But after revenge, she wasn't satisfied."

"She resents all couples in the world who end up together!"

"She can't stand others being happy; whenever she sees a couple, she will break them apart."

"Utterly unreasonable. If it's a married couple, she will kill the man."

"Freezing that man's heart into a lump of ice."

"That's the origin of the name Ice Heart Lady!"

Gu Changan shook his head inwardly; is this person's fate bitter?

Or just unable to let go?

Why be so fixated on this!

The world is vast; do what you enjoy!

Perhaps what she enjoys is revenge!

Waiter: "I don't know much about the other Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators."

"For example, Cold Plum Recluse, who enjoys gardening and tending plants."

"It is said he owns a plum garden!"

"And there's Crimson Silk Fairy, who Cultivates the Crimson Silk Demonic Technique."

"Powerful and with unpredictable moods!"

"And Crippled Sword Elder, hunchbacked, carrying a broken sword on his back."

"If you see someone dressed like that, leave immediately!"

"And the legendary Mad Daoist, always in a shabby robe, mood unpredictable."

"Murder, robbery, destroying buildings, yet no one dares offend him!"

"And Dragon Taming Immortal Master, a Nascent Soul Stage Cultivator skilled in beast taming."

"Possesses a green flood dragon; alone, he has the combat power of two Nascent Soul Stages!"

"Ah, I remembered."

"There are two more you must not offend!"

"One is an Insect Cultivator; his body is covered in all kinds of insects."

"When fighting, the insects blot out the sky."

"The other is the Blood Dao Ancestor, proficient in various Blood Path techniques; his disciples and followers are also Blood Cultivators."

"The Blood Dao Ancestor operates as a Family clan, somewhat different from the Blood Saber Ancestor's Blood Saber Sect."

"All these Loose Cultivators mentioned above must not be offended."

"If you see them, run quickly!~"

After listening, Gu Changan felt giving the other party 10 Spirit Stones was too little.

He then gave him another 100 Spirit Stones.

"So, these Seven Major Powers and nine Loose Cultivators must not be offended."

"Do these nine Loose Cultivators have specific abodes?"

"Do they stay there year-round?"