Of course.
Going to find Wang Nian, Wang Nian might not necessarily allow him to move freely during the day.
But if he doesn't go, it definitely won't work.
Many times, opportunities are fought for; many times, opportunities are gained by breaking the rules.
This is also why the old saying goes, honest children don't become great.
The next day.
Wen Jiu returned with the crowd to the Corpse Nourishing Land, but without waiting for Wang Nian, he witnessed a scene that left him quite speechless.
Among the corpse buriers, many people were actively flocking towards those three, with considerable flattery in their words.
Wen Jiu also learned from their boasting that the three had Spirit Roots slightly better than the others, but not by much—Low-Grade Spirit Roots. However, even a slight improvement is a world of difference on the path of cultivation.
There was a fifty percent difference in the speed of absorbing Qi alone!
Immortal cultivation is a long process, and a fifty percent difference in Qi absorption speed amounts to a six-month gap in a year.
A ten-year difference equals five years.
"Does it really require maneuvering to become an apprentice disciple?" Wen Jiu couldn't help but gaze toward Deadman Peak.
By this, it can be seen.
Just how rigorous Deadman Peak is in accepting disciples.
Watching more and more people gather around the three, Wen Jiu stood quietly aside, seemingly oblivious.
Soon.
Wang Nian arrived.
The crowd dispersed.
Wang Nian scanned the surrounding Yin energy, nodded thoughtfully, and said in a deep voice, "The Yin energy is much thinner compared to yesterday, it won't hurt you... Why are you still standing there dumbly? Move!"
The corpse buriers hurriedly pulled their carts towards the Land of Death, but Wen Jiu didn't move, which displeased Wang Nian.
"Are you deaf, boy?"
Wen Jiu spoke, "Senior, I'd like to discuss something with you and make another deal."
Wang Nian seemed slightly displeased, "Do you think that just because you made one deal with me, you're now my associate?"
Wen Jiu spoke quickly, having already prepared a reason, "Last night, while I was nourishing corpses in the Land of Death, I encountered a Yin Soul. According to the Yinzhou Corpse Nourishing Technique, Yin Souls are attracted to life force, and whenever they encounter a living being, they will pounce... Although the Yin Souls hide during the day, if one really hits, even if you provide timely support, we'd at least be bedridden for ten days to half a month."
"Ridiculous, if you encountered a Yin Soul, would you still be alive?" Wang Nian didn't believe a single word.
When ordinary people encounter a Yin Soul, even if it's a newly formed one, it can be fatal.
Wen Jiu spoke again, though nervously inside, he had no choice but to hope for divine favor, "Senior, to be honest, it was the white corpse I raised that saved me."
"White corpse?"
Wang Nian looked skeptical.
It was even more unbelievable.
How long had Wen Jiu been here?
Not even a month.
And he could raise a white corpse that could feed on Yin Souls?
"Please follow me, senior." Wen Jiu quickly led the way to the secluded Corpse Nourishing Land.
Wang Nian followed, still half-believing, "If you're playing with me... don't blame me for not showing even your sister's face any respect."
Wen Jiu remained silent.
Upon reaching the Yin-infused Corpse Nourishing Land, he stomped his foot.
The white corpse immediately let out a couple of roars, revealing its surging corpse energy.
Wang Nian was startled.
His expression froze.
Then he approached and carefully probed with his Divine Sense.
This probing made his expression even more fascinating.
"The corpse energy is so heavy... it's almost a Black Corpse, isn't it?" Though he hadn't practiced in the Heterodox Dao, Deadman Peak wasn't without heterodox cultivators, and Wang Nian had some knowledge, "You, boy..."
For a moment, Wang Nian didn't know what to say.
Feeling more and more satisfied with Wen Jiu the more he looked.
"I didn't expect you to have talent in the Heterodox Dao... Speak, what kind of deal do you want to make with me?"
Hearing this sentence.
Wen Jiu was overjoyed.
Then he bowed respectfully and said, "Senior, Yin Souls are also a great nourishment for the white corpse, can I take some time during the day to seek out Yin Souls in the Land of Death? Yin Souls are weakest during the day, it's an excellent opportunity."
"Okay."
Wang Nian nodded decisively.
This surprised and delighted Wen Jiu.
Wang Nian added, "Yin Souls indeed are troublesome, and I don't want to waste magical power and talismans on them, so if you can handle it, it's up to you... but you can't spend the entire day freely seeking Yin Souls, you still need to spend three hours moving corpses."
"Thank you, senior!"
But having three hours of free activity.
That's enough!
He wasn't greedy.
After speaking, Wen Jiu bowed again.
Sincerely.
Not merely acting.
As someone who had lived two lifetimes, he knew how difficult it was to encounter a benefactor who could truly help him.
...
After Wang Nian gave a few more instructions.
Wen Jiu began to search for the places with heavy Yin energy among the corpses in the Corpse Nourishing Land, doing so for three consecutive hours.
Watching Wen Jiu carry out one remains after another, each emanating a dense Yin energy, Wang Nian's expression was quite satisfied.
"With this kid's help, I can save a lot of talismans," Wang Nian smiled contentedly.
However, the other corpse buriers, upon seeing this,
all showed expressions of surprise.
Feeling the thick Yin energy on those remains, they couldn't help but shiver and stepped back several feet.
If one were to be eroded by such dense Yin energy, wouldn't they be bedridden for days? Over time, their foundation would be destroyed.
"What exactly did Wen Jiu do to offend Steward Wang?" someone whispered in amazement.
Others also started whispering together.
"What else could it be? Because he's practicing the heterodox paths."
"No wonder."
"Abandoning the legitimate Qi cultivation technique, opting for shortcuts through the heterodox Dao, it's only right that he's targeted."
"Acting smart, thinking he could secure a top spot in cultivation a year later through the heterodox Dao, but now... he's stuck moving remains with the most heavy Yin energy, in less than ten days his foundation will be shattered."
For a moment.
Many corpse buriers showed expressions of contempt and ridicule.
Wen Jiu heard them.
But he acted as if he hadn't.
...
Three hours later.
After burying the last cart of remains, Wen Jiu immediately summoned the white corpse and began to delve into the land of death to seek Yin souls.
The deeper he went, the colder it became.
Though it was daytime, a thin layer of frost had formed on the ground, and crunching sounds echoed from beneath his feet. The surrounding remains were also covered with a layer of white frost, giving them a rather eerie appearance.
Yet the white corpse was very excited.
It kept hopping forward.
"Find the Yin soul yourself," Wen Jiu instructed, simply following behind.
At first, Yin souls are weak during the day.
Their movement is slow.
As long as the white corpse found them and locked on, they wouldn't escape.
However, Wen Jiu didn't dare let the white corpse search too deep, because the further he went, the heavier the Yin energy became.
He feared there might be a real Yin soul.
The white corpse couldn't handle a real Yin soul at this moment.
If they encountered one.
The white corpse might not be torn apart, but there's an eight or nine chance it would get injured.
About a hundred feet in, while vigilantly watching the surroundings, Wen Jiu noticed the white corpse suddenly stopped, becoming very excited, unusually, as it jumped around one pile of remains.
"What's wrong?"
Wen Jiu hurriedly approached.
His first thought was there was a Yin soul.
But if there was a Yin soul.
The white corpse would have pounced on it by now.
With suspicion, Wen Jiu's gaze fell onto the remains on the ground, finding broken arms and legs. He picked them up one by one, but the white corpse shook its body, indicating what excited it wasn't these items.
After having the white corpse check all the remains on the ground, Wen Jiu realized what excited the white corpse might be underground.
Wen Jiu immediately started digging.
He dug for about two hours.
About half a foot deep underground.
He still hadn't found anything.
But the white corpse jumped with even more excitement.
Wen Jiu hurriedly accelerated his digging, finally, after a quarter hour, the hoe struck something unusually hard.
Clearing away the solid soil around it, it turned out to be a hand, a hand that was clean despite being underground, moreover, it emitted a faint glow, and after fully uncovering it, he saw the glow covered its entire body.
The glow allowed none of its aura to escape, the only thing that escaped was intense Yin energy.
Through the glow, Wen Jiu noticed its clothing and accessories were markedly different from the remains on the ground.
As he was observing.
A message appeared before him.
[Nameless Male Corpse]
[Bone age fifty-six, Qi Cultivation Great Perfection, Body Refining Seventh Layer in life.]
[Can it be transformed?]
[Cannot transform!]
[No transformation quota!]
"A complete corpse of a Qi Cultivation Great Perfection!" Wen Jiu rejoiced, couldn't help but turn back to look at the white corpse still jumping crazily at the pit's edge.
Good brother!
You've found me a treasure.
With such strength, it's likely top-tier even at Deadman Peak's main peak.
A complete corpse of a Qi Cultivation Great Perfection cultivator, if it transforms into a zombie in the future, how high would it start at?
How high would its upper limit be?
How strong would its power be?
Just as Wen Jiu sighed, the white corpse jumped down abruptly, nearly bumping into Wen Jiu.
The white corpse that jumped down didn't continue its crazy jumping but persistently pointed towards the chest of the Qi Cultivation Great Perfection cultivator's corpse.