65: Chapter 65 The Three Kingdoms of Wei, Jin, and Liang: Concealing Their Strength and Remaining Silent!

The contents of the Jade Slip were not extensive.

However, they were enough to keep Shi Jian lying there, pondering for nearly an hour.

The Blood Fiend Sect.

It had quite a significant background.

This Sect was not a power from the Wei State, but originated from another immortal cultivation nation bordering Wei's southwestern frontier: the Jin State!

The Jin State was founded on the Demonic Path, with five major Nascent Soul Sects standing side-by-side within its borders. Known as the "Five Demonic Sects," they stood as equals against the three major Schools of the Wei State.

To the southeast of the Wei State lay another country called the Liang Kingdom. It followed the Noble Righteous Law, with the Four Righteous Sects held in highest esteem.

The three states stood in a tripartite balance, keeping each other in check, with none able to consume the others.

Shi Jian had previously heard snippets of this geopolitical landscape from the Disciples of White Cloud Temple, but never in such detail...

Recorded in the Jade Slip were the notes of an Elder from the Blood Fiend Sect.

The Blood Fiend Sect was not considered a top-tier power in the Jin State; it was merely a Golden Core School protected by a Nascent Soul Demonic Lord.

However, a few years ago, that Nascent Soul Demonic Lord passed away. Having lost its backer, the Blood Fiend Sect was annexed by several other Sects working together...

With the Old Ancestor fallen and the mountain gate destroyed, the Disciples scattered in all directions.

These seven Black-robed Cultivators were remnant Disciples who had fled into the Wei State, relying on Blood Refining Beads to sustain their cultivation and cover their expenses while on the run.

None of that was particularly shocking.

What made Shi Jian's pupils contract slightly was the content in the latter half of the notes.

During its peak, the Blood Fiend Sect had planted a large number of undercover agents within the Wei State.

Some had infiltrated small Sects as Outer Sect Disciples, some operated in markets as Loose Cultivators, and one Golden Core Old Ancestor even lived in seclusion in a certain county of the Wei State under a pseudonym,

secretly gathering intelligence and transporting resources for the Blood Fiend Sect...

The notes listed seven names, three strongholds, and two secret contact lines.

The goal of these seven escaped Disciples was to follow the secret lines, find these sleeper agents, and seek protection...

Shi Jian reviewed the information in the Jade Slip three times. After confirming he hadn't missed anything, he swallowed the Jade Slip into his stomach.

He wasn't excited.

On the contrary, an instinctive alertness spread from his spine to his limbs.

A Golden Core Old Ancestor.

Demonic Path spies.

Numerous secret lines.

Any one of these was not something a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Yao Beast like him should touch; one brush with them would mean death!

Regardless of that secluded Golden Core Old Ancestor's actual combat power, the words "Golden Core" alone were enough to make Shi Jian abandon any thoughts of reckless action.

His current strength might be top-tier within Baiyun Prefecture, but in the context of the entire Wei State cultivation world, he wouldn't even make a splash.

Shi Jian licked his bear paw and did the math in his head.

Report these spies? Hand them over to White Cloud Temple?

Not a chance!

He was just a Yao Beast. If this information leaked and led to some major entanglement, he wouldn't be able to handle the fallout...

One wrong move and he would draw fire to himself, leaving not even ashes behind!

As for utilizing these spies...

There was no rush.

The Blood Fiend Sect was destroyed, so these spies had lost their Foundation. In the short term, they would only hide deeper, fearing their identities would be exposed.

The greatest value of such people did not lie in the present...

But in the future!

When the heat died down, when he was stronger, and when the time was ripe...

These chess pieces hidden in the dark might just come in handy. As the saying goes: things handled slowly reach completion; people who act calmly find peace.

All of this was still too far away for him.

Finding a way to achieve Core Formation honestly was the top priority for the next hundred years.

"Old Ancestor?"

Sun Lin approached, holding various miscellaneous items scavenged from the Black-robed Cultivators.

"Any good stuff?"

"There are three hundred and twenty-seven Spirit Stones, three Blood Beads, and some fragmented Magical Artifacts of low grade. There are also a few Cultivation Technique books, all following the paths of evil and demonic ways."

Sun Lin laid the items out on the ground one by one, then paused and pulled a half-broken Storage Pouch from a corner:

"There are two Spiritual Plants in here that this Junior doesn't quite recognize."

Shi Jian glanced down.

Two Spiritual Plants that were dark red all over, their roots tangled in a clump. A faint blood-colored light shimmered along the edges of the leaves...

Blood Flame Grass, a Tier 1 High Grade Spiritual Plant.

A supplementary material used by demonic cultivators to breed Gu insects and blood-flesh Puppets...

It was useless to him, but if he took it back and tossed it to Sun Caiya to study, she might be able to make something of it. That woman's obsession with Spiritual Plants was extremely rare; this item would likely be of some use to her.

"Pack it all up. Give me the Blood Beads and Spirit Stones; you can have the rest."

Shi Jian swallowed the three Blood Beads one after another. The warm blood Qi dissolved in his body. Though not as stunning as the first bead, it was better than nothing and served as a supplement.

It could also help with healing, which was quite good.

After consuming them, Shi Jian looked at the corpses scattered across the valley and remained silent for two breaths.

"Sun Lin, set a fire."

Sun Lin gave an affirmative "Aye," took out a Fire Talisman, and activated it with spiritual power.

Immediately, a great fire blazed up.

The remains, the Formations, and the large black iron vats in the valley were all consumed by the raging flames. Thick smoke, carrying the smell of charred flesh, rose into the sky and dispersed into a greyish-white haze in the night.

Shi Jian turned and left without looking back.

The firelight behind him reflected off his pitch-black fur, flickering in and out.

"Let's go. Time to go home."

...

Three days later, at the back of the Main Peak.

"Old Ancestor, you've had a long journey."

Sun Boan greeted him with a smile. Seeing this, Shi Jian gave a huff and pushed several jade boxes containing sealed Spiritual Plants and six bags of white crystalline powder toward Sun Boan.

"Thunderglow Grass, Purple Electric Moss, and Thunder Pattern Fungus—all are thunder-attribute Spiritual Plants. Give them to Caiya and have her transplant them into the thunder element fruit orchard to grow alongside the fruit trees."

"This white powder is natural crystallization formed when heavenly thunder strikes. The grade isn't high, but there's plenty of it."

"Once you've researched it thoroughly, we'll decide on the next steps."

Sun Boan took them one by one, his brow twitching slightly when he saw the six heavy Storage Pouches.

"Also, Sun Lin performed well on this trip."

Shi Jian lay back in his usual spot in front of the Immortal Cave, his tone casual: "He has some talent in the Talisman Way. Allocate more resources to him later and let him delve into Formations as well..."

Hearing this, Sun Boan made a mental note.

Over the years, the number of young people who had received personal praise from the Old Ancestor could be counted on one hand.

"Furthermore..."

Shi Jian's voice suddenly dropped an octave: "On my way this time, I ran into a few roaming demonic cultivators. I've already dealt with them."

"Demonic cultivators? Where were they from?"

"Stray dogs fleeing from the Jin State, nothing significant."

"The bodies are burned, and I took their things. I left no loose ends."

As for the list of spies, the Golden Core Old Ancestor, and the transnational secret lines mentioned in the Jade Slip, Shi Jian didn't say a single word...

Some cards are only called trump cards when you hold them in your own hand.

If spoken aloud, they become leverage for others.

Although Sun Boan was a trusted aide, secrets of this level were a weight he couldn't bear, and keeping them was also a way for Shi Jian to leave himself a path of retreat.

Besides, Shi Jian was never the type to be completely open and honest.

He was a Yao.

A Yao's creed was simple: if you can eat alone, never share the meal!

"Alright, you may withdraw for now. I am going into secluded cultivation. I sustained some injuries during this outing; do not disturb me unless there is an urgent matter."

"Yes, Old Ancestor."

Sun Boan bowed and withdrew.

The stone door of the Immortal Cave lowered, and the Formation light screen brightened once more.

Shi Jian lay on the stone bed, eyes closed in feigned sleep.

On the surface of the Yao Dan inside his body, that ring of silver electric arcs was quietly circulating.

With the nourishment of the thunder element fruits, the tempering of the Heavenly Thunder Body Refining, and the consumption of the Thunder Leopard's Yao Dan, this three-pronged approach had firmly planted the Foundation of the thunder lightning Origin within his Demon Essence.

Though weak, it was growing.

Like a seed that had broken through the soil, it was now waiting for sunlight and rain.

Shi Jian sank his consciousness into his Dantian and began to organize all his gains from the past six months; overall, it was a bountiful harvest.

Physical level: Heavenly Thunder Body Refining had polished his Physical Body to its limits, his blood Qi had reached a new level, and his physical form was becoming increasingly powerful!

Demon Essence level: The thunder lightning Origin had preliminarily taken root in his Yao Dan. Although faint, he could now actively guide its circulation.

External layout: Mount Qingfeng had been brought into the Stone Forest's possession, guarded by the Thunder Badger. He could return once a year to undergo the heavenly thunder baptism.

Hidden trump card: The Blood Fiend Sect's list of spies, including the clue to a Golden Core Old Ancestor's hiding place. If exposed, it would certainly draw the attention of a Nascent Soul.

In the darkness, Shi Jian slowly opened his eyes. Deep within his pupils, a sliver of silver light flashed and vanished!

Not enough.

It was far from enough.

The path to the Golden Core was still very long.

But at least he could now see the direction of that path.

The combination of strength and thunder—the perfect fusion of an ultimate Physical Body and violent lightning!

Shi Jian fell into a deep sleep, his breathing gradually becoming long and steady...

Inside the Immortal Cave, all was silent.

Only the silver electric arcs on that Yao Dan continued to rotate, circle after circle, tirelessly in the endless darkness.