Record of a Demon's Cultivation

Chapter 69: Collusion

Translator: Cinder Translations

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Watching Song Wen, who was tense and ready to erupt at any moment, the many guards outside the pill refining hall were somewhat bewildered.

What's happening today? A Qi Refining Stage 3 outer disciple dares to act so presumptuously outside the hall?

Are all the new disciples this courageous now?

Do they really think the elite guards of our hall are nonexistent?

However, seeing Song Wen's vigilant gaze fixed on Guo Tao, stepping back slowly, the guards quickly realized that this outer disciple was on guard against Guo Tao.

Since it's not directed at the hall, it has nothing to do with them – the guards.

Immediately, the guards adopted a look of anticipation, their eyes shifting back and forth between Guo Tao and Song Wen. Their expressions seemed to say, "Why hasn't someone made a move yet?"

Guo Tao also noticed Song Wen's tension and the guards' amusement. He smiled awkwardly and spoke in as gentle a tone as possible.

"Senior Brother Ji Yin, don't be nervous. I mean no harm. Rest assured, I won't lay a hand on you."

Song Wen, sensing the goodwill from Guo Tao, relaxed slightly but continued to step back cautiously.

"The main hall is protected by formation restrictions. Shall we talk somewhere else?" Guo Tao continued.

Song Wen was aware of the formation restrictions in the main hall. Within the hall, cultivators below the Golden Core stage would be significantly weakened, unable to mobilize their internal energy, use any spells, talismans, or artifacts, and their physical strength would barely exceed that of a slightly healthier mortal.

Song Wen pondered for a moment before speaking.

"Alright, I'll go along with Senior Brother Guo's suggestion. But you'll have to enter the hall first before I do."

"Alright, Junior Brother, please follow me."

After Guo Tao finished speaking, he showed his disciple token and mission token to the guards, smoothly entering the territory of the pill refining hall.

The area of the pill refining hall was vast. Song Wen stood at the gate, and only after seeing Guo Tao truly enter the main hall did he show his own mission token and disciple token to the guards.

He said to the guards, "Senior Brother, I am Outer Disciple Ji Yin. Previously, under the orders of Elder Shen, I went to the Posion Miasma Swamp of the Yan Family to inventory the Rainbow Grass. Please inform him that Ji Yin has completed the mission and has come to report."

After speaking, Song Wen also headed towards the main hall.

There were quite a few people in the main hall, including disciples of the pill refining hall and those who came to purchase pills.

Guo Tao stood alone in a corner, anxiously awaiting Song Wen. When he saw Song Wen step into the hall, Guo Tao's anxious expression finally relaxed somewhat.

He knew that now all his hopes were pinned on Song Wen, undoubtedly a huge gamble.

But the current situation was such that the entire Yan Family was like a fish on the chopping block, ready to be slaughtered, with no other options left.

"Junior Brother Ji Yin, what Ghost Three said is all nonsense. You must not believe Ghost Three's lies. The Yan Family is loyal to the sect and would never betray it."

Guo Tao's voice was low, audible only to the two of them.

Song Wen raised an eyebrow, a smile playing on his lips.

"Oh! Is that so? It doesn't seem like it to me. I think what Ghost Three said is the truth."

Once inside the main hall, Song Wen immediately felt a thick pressure descend upon him, causing the flow of his internal energy to stagnate. He tried to activate the "Blood Refinement of the Corpse King" technique, only to find no response.

He was certain now that within this hall, he couldn't use any cultivation techniques. Thus, he no longer needed to fear Guo Tao.

Seeing Song Wen's calm expression, Guo Tao felt somewhat disappointed, realizing that the other party couldn't be easily deceived. He had to change his approach.

"Junior Brother, you should think this through. Offending the Yan Family won't benefit you in any way."

Song Wen smiled faintly, showing no sign of being threatened by Guo Tao.

"Indeed, there are no benefits. On my way back to report to the sect, I was hunted down by six Yan Family cultivators."

Guo Tao's heart skipped a beat, realizing the situation was dire. Yan Feng and the others had indeed died at Song Wen's hands. These six were truly useless; six Qi Refining Stage mid-level cultivators couldn't even kill one Ji Yin.

Guo Tao panicked, "Misunderstanding! It's all a misunderstanding. They must have mistaken Junior Brother for an accomplice of Ghost Three. Besides, Junior Brother is unharmed now, isn't he? Please forgive the Yan Family this time."

Song Wen chuckled, "Forgive the Yan Family! I dare not. If it weren't for a life-saving treasure on me, I might not have survived multiple attempts on my life."

Guo Tao hesitated, "Compensation, I can compensate on behalf of the Yan Family for Junior Brother."

"How about one thousand spirit stones?"

"Junior Brother isn't satisfied? Then three thousand spirit stones!"

"What about five thousand spirit stones?"

Seeing Song Wen remain silent, Guo Tao continued to raise the offer himself.

Song Wen neither agreed nor disagreed but instead looked at Guo Tao with interest and said, "I'm curious, Senior Brother Guo, what's your relationship with the Yan Family? Why are you so eager to do their bidding?"

Guo Tao smirked, "How could I possibly have a relationship with the Yan Family? I'm just mediating. Junior Brother and the Yan Family's relationship is ambiguous. We all belong to the Corpse Demon Sect; there's no need to turn against each other."

He added, "Five thousand spirit stones. Junior Brother, are you still not satisfied? With this amount, I believe it's enough for Junior Brother to reach the pinnacle of Qi Refining."

Seeing the urgency to offer money, attempting to settle everything, Song Wen casually remarked, "If the sect finds out, it's a capital offense. A mere five thousand spirit stones..."

Song Wen's implication was clear – more money!

"Ten thousand spirit stones. No more, no less," Guo Tao decisively stated.

"Good, it's a deal. When will you give me the spirit stones?" Song Wen confirmed.

Guo Tao took out a storage pouch and handed it to Song Wen, "Here are one thousand spirit stones. The rest will be supplied to Junior Brother later."

Song Wen probed into the storage pouch with his spiritual sense. One thousand spirit stones, neither more nor less. He calmly tucked the pouch into his embrace.

"Just one thousand spirit stones, Senior Brother Guo? Are you going back on your word?"

Guo Tao assured, "Junior Brother, rest assured, I won't."

"You can't be sure. We demon cultivators, we have no credit to speak of."

Guo Tao pulled out another storage pouch from himself, "I still have one thousand spirit stones here. Junior Brother, please take it. I truly have no more spirit stones on me. Any additional ones will have to be given to Junior Brother later."

Song Wen accepted the pouch again, his face now showing greed. His gaze scrutinized Guo Tao.

Seeing Song Wen's greedy expression, Guo Tao cursed inwardly but had no other choice. He gritted his teeth and conjured a small boat the size of a palm, which was his flying vessel.

"I'll gift this flying vessel to Junior Brother. I've already erased the residual spiritual energy on it. Junior Brother can rest assured to refine it."

"In that case, I'll accept it with gratitude," Song Wen said, looking satisfied as he stowed the flying vessel into his storage pouch.

Seeing Song Wen finally showing satisfaction, Guo Tao eagerly asked, "Junior Brother, about the matter with the Yan Family?"

Song Wen replied, "This inventory mission of the Rainbow Grass was originally guided by Senior Brother Guo. Naturally, I'll defer to Senior Brother Guo's judgment in all matters."

(End of the Chapter)