Chapter 2: Reverse Spirit Blood Sect

"Rob people? This price is already quite generous," the Stone Lake City lord retorted.

"So what if they're worthless spiritual roots? Just give them a quick-to-learn demonic cultivation technique, exploit them for twenty years, and the value they create will be at least a thousand spirit stones. If you can't afford it, don't buy. Plenty of demonic sects want them."

Hearing this, the black-robed figure suddenly revealed a fawning smile.

"Don't be hasty, City Lord. It's the first transaction—got to test the waters on pricing.

How about this: five spirit stones for worthless spiritual roots, forty spirit stones for mixed spiritual roots. I'll take however many Stone Lake City has. How's that sound?"

The Stone Lake City lord hesitated for a moment before nodding.

"Fine, but you need to sell me one of your Reverse Spirit Blood Sect's Reverse Blood Pills."

"No problem. If the City Lord can pay the price, I'll bring one next time."

"What's it going for?"

"Five thousand spirit stones."

"We'll trade again at next year's spirit root testing."

The Stone Lake City lord was a late-stage Qi Refinement cultivator. If Stone Lake City didn't have a first-grade inferior spirit vein, it wouldn't be his turn to be the city lord. Qi Refinement cultivators lived for one hundred and fifty years.

He was already over ninety. If he waited past one hundred to seek Foundation Establishment, he'd have virtually no hope of a breakthrough.

For Qi Refinement cultivators wanting to break through to Foundation Establishment, they needed the help of a Foundation Establishment Pill. The highest-grade Foundation Establishment Pills cost over ten thousand spirit stones, were priceless when available, and almost never fell into the hands of someone like him.

The Reverse Blood Pill was also a type of Foundation Establishment Pill, but it was of lower grade and provided much less assistance, at most a twenty percent chance. If it failed, the result would be death and the dissipation of one's cultivation.

He wanted to give it one more shot.

Of course, without a Foundation Establishment Pill, cultivators could also attempt to break through on their own, but successful cases were extremely rare. Over time, anyone with the means would get a Foundation Establishment Pill to assist them.

After the two reached their deal, over a dozen Qi Refinement cultivators from the city lord's mansion came out in force, capturing all of today's spirit root candidates who met the trading conditions.

---

Night.

The wheels rolled over uneven, muddy ground, making the prison cart shake violently. When it rolled over stones, it nearly toppled over. The iron-cast railings had extremely small gaps—just enough for fingers to slip through.

Listening to the chirping of cicadas and frogs, and the chattering sounds of insects and kingfishers, Wang Yu awakened from unconsciousness. He vaguely remembered that after leaving the Wang family, he had been stopped at the city gate. A black shadow had blown something at him, and then he'd lost consciousness.

"This—"

Wang Wu? No, the spirit root testing hadn't even finished yet. How could he possibly command cultivators from the Spirit Vulture Sect?

Looking around, under the moonlight, Wang Yu discovered that several others who had participated in the spirit root testing during the day were beside him—worthless spiritual roots, mixed spiritual roots, all of them were here.

Ten prison carts in total, over a hundred people imprisoned, all weak and powerless, as if drugged.

The scenery outside was very familiar to him—it was the namesake of Stone Lake City: Stone Lake.

A favorite spot for the city's noble families to go on outings.

The prison cart convoy was connected by iron chains, with a black-robed figure at the very front using a demonic horse with scales and horns to pull the carts.

When they reached the lakeside, a special whistle sounded—three long notes, one short. In the blink of an eye, over ten black-robed figures leaped out from underwater, instantly surrounding the prison carts.

Some people who had awakened, like Wang Yu, spoke with trembling voices, clearly afraid.

"Who are you people? This is Spirit Vulture Sect territory—kidnapping cultivation prospects is illegal!"

"Hahaha, idiot."

"Fallen into the hands of our Reverse Spirit Blood Sect and still trying to threaten us with the Spirit Vulture Sect—utterly stupid."

Wang Yu's heart stirred. From what he knew, the Spirit Vulture Sect was located in the Great Lake Spirit Domain, where waterways were well-developed, fertile soil abundant, and mortals numbered in the billions.

The entire Great Lake Spirit Domain was righteous sect territory, ruled by sects that planned their territories around spirit veins.

The demonic path occupied an adjacent domain called the Red Kite Demon Domain. Despite its ominous-sounding name, it was actually a fine place with mountains, water, and fertile soil stretching endlessly.

Beyond that lay territories he couldn't learn about just from reading books.

From its name alone, you could tell the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect was a demonic sect. Why had they kidnapped this batch of people—who knew? Surely not to recruit them as disciples.

Two words: unworthy!

Even demonic sects wouldn't cultivate worthless spiritual root practitioners. He saw this point very clearly.

No one spoke again. After these black-robed demonic cultivators assembled, they all brought out flying artifacts—black cloth pieces that rapidly expanded under the enhancement of spiritual power, lifting all the prison carts into the air.

The sudden change made many cry out in alarm, shrinking together like frightened rabbits, shivering.

This was the Great Lake Spirit Domain, full of righteous cultivators everywhere. Flying so conspicuously overhead was like dropping a drop of black ink on white paper.

Between the two domains lay barrier zones of border passes and dangerous areas that were difficult for most cultivators to cross. Flying directly like this would definitely be impossible to get through.

The Spirit Vulture Sect was located at the eastern edge of the Great Lake Spirit Domain, right next to the Red Kite Demon Domain. The nearest border pass was called Black Mountain Pass.

On the left lay the dangerous area Withered Leaf Swamp.

On the right lay the demon territory Black Mountain Demon Forest.

The cultivators responsible for guarding Black Mountain Pass came from various righteous sects throughout the eastern Great Lake region. The Spirit Vulture Sect was just the most inconspicuous part of them.

There were also many first-tier powers: Thunder Fire Observatory, Azure Cloud Sect, and Moon Gazing Palace—three powerful sects with Nascent Soul True Lords.

Core Formation True Persons were permanently stationed within the border pass.

However, the prisoners witnessed an extremely shocking scene. Among this group of Reverse Spirit Blood Sect demonic cultivators, the leading black-robed figure was only at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement.

After being stopped by Black Mountain Pass's Foundation Establishment cultivators, he cheerfully produced a token and offered up a bag of spirit stones. All the stationed personnel acted as if they couldn't see anything.

They just let them through!

Let them through!

Through!

No matter how the little lambs cried and screamed, there was no reaction. Wang Yu's mood grew heavy, feeling like "the wind whistles cold as brave warriors depart."

The past sixteen years hadn't been exactly smooth sailing, but there had often been pleasant moments. Now, being kidnapped to the Red Kite Demon Domain, he didn't know what fate awaited him. He could only pray he wouldn't become food reserves for evil creatures.

Ever since leaving Black Mountain Pass and completely entering the Red Kite Demon Domain, everyone fell silent, their moods extremely heavy, with nothing to say.

The demonic cultivators responsible for escorting them distributed three large flatbreads and a bag of water daily, ensuring they wouldn't starve to death. When they stopped to recover spiritual power, biological needs were handled under supervision.

They couldn't leave the line of sight. A few people tried to escape midway but had their legs broken and were thrown back into the prison carts, never to get out again.

They could only relieve themselves in the carts. Seeing this, Wang Yu helplessly abandoned his own small schemes. They flew like this for a full month.

Reverse Spirit Blood Sect—they'd arrived!

Wang Yu had never heard of this sect's reputation, but just looking at the scale of this mountain gate, his heart was already half-frozen. Nine giant mountains twisted like old tree roots, continuously undulating as they shot straight into the clouds.

Between each mountain were large spatial intervals, connected by walkways, iron cables, and cloud bridges. Pavilions, waterside gazebos, towers, and halls were scattered in orderly fashion throughout various locations on the twisted peaks.

The center of the nine peaks was hollow, with some giant ritual-like object suspended within.