### **Chapter 76: Lan Ji**
He couldn't understand it.
Gu Zhengshun claimed the underground palace was a trap set by a Golden Core demonic cultivator, designed for seizing a body to be reborn, and it couldn't have been more than eight hundred years old.
But the Nascent Soul inheritance [Lunar Nether Pupils] in his hands was real. He had clearly reaped tangible benefits. How could it be a trap? There must have been some other variable.
It seemed they had no plans for a second expedition.
After all, the gains from the first entry were too meager, completely unworthy of the legacy one would expect from an ancient sect ruin. Only Liu Jinxian had obtained a second-grade seal artifact.
The costs outweighed the benefits, they hadn't invested too much initially, and coupled with the high death toll, naturally, no one felt like developing it further. There just wasn't enough to gain.
Since that was the case, Wang Yu had nothing more to say.
He just secretly resolved to make a solo trip back after he had achieved greater cultivation prowess. That stele covered in blood runes definitely held other secrets.
And so, three months later.
Nine magnificent, spiraling, and distorted mountain peaks came into view. After five long years, he had finally returned to the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect's mountain gate. Rich spiritual energy washed over him.
It was refreshing and uplifting, prompting sighs of admiration for this immortal's paradise. However, the figures flitting across the sky above were each and every one sinister—shrouded in blood light, riding white bones, accompanied by paper effigies, flying coffins, wicked swords...
Beneath the beautiful scenery lay a demon's den awash in a sea of blood.
"Finally back. Wang Yu, meet me under the big locust tree at the edge of the Nourishing Corpse Grounds in five days."
"No. Let's meet at the Eight Treasures Restaurant in the Evil God Market this time."
"Fine."
Gu Zhengshun smiled indifferently, dropped him off in the Coldblood Market of the Ten Reverse Blood Markets, and then eagerly hurried back to the Corpse Peak. His trip could be considered a failed gamble; he only gained the benefit of the Profound Essence Flowers, almost making the journey for nothing.
Consequently, he was very eager for the Foundation Establishment corpse in Wang Yu's possession and was in a hurry to return and prepare the items for the trade.
They bid each other farewell.
...
...
Located at the base of the nine peaks, directly beneath the main Blood Demon Hall, the Ten Reverse Blood Markets housed over a hundred thousand outer and inner sect disciples. Supply and demand were handled internally, making it quite bustling.
As long as one avoided the dark corners and deserted alleys, there was generally no life-threatening danger.
The matters related to the Profound Bone Mountain mission would be handled by Gu Zhengshun. The Bonewood that needed to be submitted had been handed over. He just needed to wait five days for the trade and then collect his mission reward.
For now, he needed to make a trip to the Ice and Snow Pavilion.
Zhao Shang was both an enemy and a cooperative partner. The large number of artifacts, miscellaneous items, corpses... etc., he had acquired on this trip all needed Zhao Shang to handle, to convert them into spirit stones for him.
Therefore, they could maintain peace for a while longer.
Provided the other party didn't venture out. If Wang Yu caught him alone, he would kill him without hesitation. After all, Zhao Shang was the one who sent Su Qingshan to Profound Bone Mountain. If not for Wang Yu's skills being up to par,
he might have died. Such a person naturally needed to be eliminated. Both sides held leverage over each other; eventually, one had to die.
Wang Yu calculated as he walked.
Zhao Shang, Duan Ping, and Steward Liu—these were the remaining enemies he had. Steward Liu had severed one of his arms; this debt must be repaid. It's just that the man had been missing for a long time.
He had already been judged as a sect traitor. The Mission Hall had a task to hunt him down, which had been taken up long ago, but there had been no news since.
As for Duan Ping, he had repeatedly schemed against Wang Yu, gone back on his word, and nearly gotten him killed—he deserved death!
It was just not convenient to move against him yet. No rush.
Thinking carefully, Wang Yu was startled to realize he basically had no other enemies left. His work on eliminating grudges was quite good. He couldn't help but encourage himself to keep up the good work.
He pushed open the door to the Ice and Snow Pavilion.
An unfamiliar, slender figure had taken Zhao Shang's place, standing behind the counter, reading an account book.
Wang Yu's brow furrowed as he recalled the rumors before he left. After a moment's hesitation, he still walked up.
"Excuse me, is Zhao Shang here?"
The slender woman gave him a rather flirtatious glance, inclined her body slightly, and said, "This humble one is Lan Ji. I took over the manager position at the Ice and Snow Pavilion three years ago. And you are..."
"I am Wang Yu, personally promoted to sect entry by True Disciple Su. I've been away on a long journey and just returned."
"I've heard of you. You want to ask about the Essence Qi Room, right?"
Lan Ji held a round fan, gently fanning herself. A few strands of her dark hair fluttered, accompanied by a charming and captivating demeanor that drew attention. A faint, subtle orchid fragrance drifted into his nostrils.
It sent a shiver through Wang Yu's body.
Even his body, influenced by the Corpse Demon Secret Art, actually showed signs of stirring. What terrifying seduction art or demonic technique was this? After all, to some extent, one could consider him a corpse.
Yet Lan Ji could play a game of 'awakening the dragon' with a corpse.
—How terrifying!
Truly worthy of being True Disciple Su's concubine. The True Disciple's strict selection indeed had some skill.
Wang Yu couldn't help but take a few steps back. Seeing the snow-white, rounded objects had a tendency to press closer, he quickly spoke up:
"What happened to the previous Ice and Snow Pavilion manager, Zhao Shang?"
"Zhao Shang?~ He's dead, of course."
"Dead?" Wang Yu's pupils constricted, and the thought of fleeing immediately arose. But upon hearing Lan Ji's next words, he dismissed the idea.
"Three years ago, an alchemist named Zhou Tao actively approached me, wanting me to expose Zhao Shang for embezzling the Ice and Snow Pavilion's profits. He even proactively handed over four thousand spirit stones in illicit gains."
"Tsk tsk—"
"Such people are rare in the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect."
Four thousand spirit stones were not a small sum. The amount Zhou Tao produced far exceeded what he had earned from selling pills with Wang Yu. It could be said he exhausted his family wealth.
Wang Yu estimated that after he left, Zhou Tao probably wanted to take over the Alchemist Association business. Zhao Shang wasn't easy to get along with; the chances of Zhou Tao getting the same terms as Wang Yu were almost zero.
The other party also wouldn't admit to privately undermining the pill industry monopoly and embezzling resources from the Ice and Snow Pavilion.
Most likely, they parted on bad terms.
And the rumors about Lan Ji and True Disciple Su weren't groundless; they were widespread. If Zhou Tao acted ruthlessly and tried to deal with Zhao Shang through Lan Ji, it was somewhat possible.
However, he found it hard to believe that someone as shrewd as Zhao Shang was just dead. Moreover, it would implicate a large number of people; at the very least, the several Foundation Establishment cultivators supported by the Ice and Snow Pavilion wouldn't be able to escape involvement.
He couldn't take her words entirely at face value; he needed to inquire through other channels.
"In that case, I shall take my leave. I will visit Manager Lan Ji another time."
"Wait."
Lan Ji stretched out her jade-like arm, blocking Wang Yu with her fan.
"Aren't you part of the Ice and Snow Pavilion? I've kept the Essence Qi Room for you. Why would you need to go elsewhere?"
"I originated from a spirit slave background and am not particularly favored. The Essence Qi Room was already sold by Zhao Shang to an inner sect disciple. It would be inappropriate for Manager Lan Ji to privately assign it to me now."
With that, he quickly left the Ice and Snow Pavilion, not giving the woman another chance to detain him.
Without a suitable channel, the messy and numerous low-grade artifacts, pills, corpses... etc., on him could only be sold at low prices.
If Zhao Shang were still here, he definitely could have offered a high price, allowing them to fleece the Ice and Snow Pavilion together. What a pity.
And those low-grade storage pouches—there were too many of them. They weren't as capacious as a single high-grade storage pouch. They all needed to be streamlined.
And so.
Five days later.
**(End of Chapter)**