"However, I still haven't managed to break through to the Qi Cultivation fourth Layer."
Zhou Sui stroked his chin.
After half a year of diligent cultivation, supported by the assistance of pills, the power of his True Yuan surged, reaching the peak of the Qi Condensation Third Level.
However, the transition from the third to fourth level of Qi Cultivation is a small but significant threshold.
For a typical cultivator, it usually takes around four to five years to truly breakthrough.
But after he advanced to the Eight Stage Spiritual Root, he believed that he might not need that much time, likely only requiring several months to advance to the Qi Cultivation fourth Layer.
Once there, he would be a cultivator at the mid-stage of Qi Cultivation.
Though this realm isn't particularly impressive, it at least puts him above those at the low-level of cultivation.
Moreover, this would grant him a certain degree of self-protection.
Thinking about this, Zhou Sui stretched in his courtyard and walked towards the entrance, running into a few neighbors.
"Oh, isn't this Friend Zhou? Married to a beautiful woman, have you finally mustered the courage to leave your house?"
The speaker was his neighbor Zhang Cheng, who was a Lower First-grade Pill Master.
He previously thought that Ji Bingyu wanted to drain Zhou Sui, assuming Zhou Sui wouldn't last more than a couple of days.
But to his surprise, Zhou Sui not only did survive for half a year but also raised his cultivation to the Qi Condensation Third Level.
He knew Zhou Sui's Spiritual Root was a Lower Grade one.
Although he didn't know the specific grade, he was sure it was worse than his own. Under normal circumstances, one could not possibly advance from the first layer of Qi Cultivation to the third without more than a decade.
However, after marrying Ji Bingyu, who was at the peak stage of Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, Zhou Sui seemed to have suddenly struck gold and advanced to the third Qi Cultivation level.
Undoubtedly, it was surely the result of the large amount of pills provided by Ji Bingyu to assist in his cultivation.
Without this support, his cultivation wouldn't have advanced so rapidly.
Just thinking about how this kid had late-stage Qi Cultivation parents supporting him when he was young, leading a worry-free luxurious life, and then being preferred by such a beautiful cultivator with abundant cultivation resources after growing up, Zhang Cheng was consumed with envy. Life was simply too unfair.
If beautifying her life was her purpose, he also wasn't too shabby, but she still wasn't interested in him.
"Uncle Zhang, you jest. I seldom go out just because am at a low level of cultivation, and I prefer to practice diligently at home. After all, with my current cultivation, it's not prudent to venture outside."
Zhou Sui smiled slightly, appearing calm and composed.
"Ah, staying home and practicing diligently is indeed a wise choice. Perhaps you are unaware of the chaos outside. Half a year ago, Liu Dong and a few others seemed to have died in the Yunwu Mountain Range. It is rumored they were killed by rogue cultivators."
"Poor Liu Dong was a Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer cultivator. He might have harbored hopes of establishing his foundation, but who would have imagined that he would suffer such ill-fated tragedy and perish at the hands of those cultivators?" Zhang Cheng said with great emotion.
"No way, Liu Dong is dead? Is this news true or false?"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Sui was shocked. He had been practicing diligently at home for the past six months and hadn't paid much attention to the matter involving Liu Dong.
Considering that he had the backing of three late-stage Qi Cultivation female cultivators at his place, even if Liu Dong was supremely audacious, he wouldn't dare to make a fuss at Zhou Sui's house unless he was seeking his death.
But who could have predicted that Liu Dong, without Zhou Sui doing anything, had already met his end.
One major adversary suddenly vanished just like that.
Still, this development also eased his heart quite a bit. With this enemy gone, he wouldn't have to bother making schemes against him any longer.
"Of course it's true! This news has already spread among all the neighbors."
Zhang Cheng said in a heavy tone, " It's said that someone around here ventured deep into the Yunwu Mountain Range and spotted the corpses of Liu Dong and others. Their bodies were mangled beyond recognition. They died a tragic death."
He insisted that the incident was hundred percent true.
"If that is the case, was the murderer identified?" Zhou Sui inquired curiously.
"How could it be possible to find the murderer?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Cheng chuckled, "You are unaware of the current circumstances. The Immortal Mist Sect is vigorously developing the Yunwu Mountain Range and has brought a large number of cultivators into the mountains, most of whom are ruthless and vicious Loose Cultivators or cultivators from various families, any of whom could potentially kill others."
Similar incidents have become far too common in the Yunwu Mountain Range, with countless cultivators dying each day. It's impossible to manage. And given that Liu Dong died in the wilderness, even less attention was paid."
Saying this, he suddenly lowered his voice, "And I've also received another piece of insider news. It's said that while the Immortal Mist Sect was developing the Red Gold Mine, they suddenly encountered a second-stage monster beast, resulting in numerous cultivator casualties, and even a Foundation Establishment cultivator was seriously injured and fled in disgrace. This event triggered a large-scale retreat of cultivators."
"A second-stage monster beast appeared? Has the Immortal Mist Sect given up?" Zhou Sui was quite shocked. After all, a second-stage monster beast is as powerful as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. It's extraordinarily formidable. Ordinary cultivators face certain death at its hand.
"How could they possibly give up?"
Zhang Cheng waved his hand, "Yunwu Mountain Range harbors the Red Gold and Spirit Stone mines. If one can attain them, it would undeniably enhance the power of the Immortal Mist Sect. They are definitely not willing to give up.
After learning about the existence of the second-stage beast, the Immortal Mist Sect reportedly dispatched several Foundation Establishment elders to the location, additionally increased the benefits, and even took out five Foundation Pills."
Whoever makes a significant contribution during the development of the Yunwu Mountain Range can earn a Foundation Pill. Hearing this news, many cultivators are eager to follow the Immortal Mist Sect into the Yunwu Mountain Range."
A Foundation Pill?!
Upon hearing this, Zhou Sui's pupils constricted. He could also fully imagine the frenzy among all the Loose Cultivators.
After all, for a Loose Cultivator to attain a Foundation Pill, they wouldn't know how many Spirit Stones it would cost them. Even if they had sufficient Spirit Stones, there was no channel to buy Foundation Pills.
This was an elixir that money couldn't necessarily buy.
It could be argued that whoever possesses the Foundation Pill could look forward to becoming a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
No wonder so many Loose Cultivators are mad with greed, all wanting to follow the cultivators from the Immortal Mist Sect into the Yunwu Mountain Range.
"Because of this, the prices of pills, talismans, magic artifacts, Spirit Rice, etc., in Misty Cloud City are skyrocketing. A lot of Loose Cultivators are accumulating resources to have a deadly fight in Yunwu Mountain Range."
Zhang Cheng stated that the prices of all kinds of things in Misty Cloud City have been crazy recently. The inflation is provoking the dissatisfaction of ordinary cultivators. The prices have at least doubled compared to before and even the rent for houses in Misty Cloud City is rising.
Countless Loose Cultivators are yearning to live in Misty Cloud City.
After all, there are too many Loose Cultivators. If they live outside the city, they run the risk of being killed by rogue cultivators at any time.
If they live in the city, their safety increases manifold.