Crow Immortal: I Can Duplicate Infinite Resources

“The Central Heaven Domain is a vast tapestry of power,” the merchant’s avatar began, his tone scholarly. “Countless small sects and clans rise and fall like the tide. Cities, both large and small, are too numerous to list. But if we speak of the true powers—the titans that shape the world—there are the Three Great Demonic Sects and the Six Great Righteous Sects.”

He paused, glancing at Sect Leader Qi, Elder Lü, and Han Yu.

“Do you require a detailed breakdown of these nine behemoths? I must warn you, I have mostly operated within the territory of the Myriad Phenomena Sect. I know them best. As for the other eight, I know their names and reputations, but I lack intimate knowledge of their inner workings.”

Sect Leader Qi leaned forward. “Please, Fellow Daoist. Tell us everything you can.”

The existence of nine massive sects, three of them demonic, was a revelation. The scale of the Central Heaven Domain was far beyond their imagination.

“Very well,” the merchant said. “Let us start with the Myriad Phenomena Sect, also known as the Myriad Phenomena Sky Net Sect. They are… unique.”

He frowned slightly, searching for the right words. “They obsess over profound, inscrutable techniques. Their disciples act with zero predictability. One day, a disciple might gift a stranger a fortune; the next, they might behead a passerby for no apparent reason. It is a sect of absolute chaos masked as profundity.”

Han Yu’s eyes narrowed. Chaotic behavior. Sky Net…

“It sounds somewhat similar to the Little Sky Net Sect here in the Southern Domain,” the merchant mused. “I strongly suspect the Little Sky Net Sect was founded by a branch of descendants from the Myriad Phenomena Sect.”

He continued listing the powers. “The Myriad Phenomena Sect is one of the Six Righteous Sects. The other five are the Heavenly Sound Temple, the Azure Firmament Sect, the Golden Rosy Cloud Temple, the Mystic Sword Sect, and the Sun Moon Sect.”

“As for the Three Great Demonic Sects,” his voice dropped a register, “they are the Saint Sect, the Saint Lotus Sect, and the Joyous Union Sect—colloquially known as the Demonic Sect, the Demonic Lotus Sect, and the Plundering Sect.”

Sect Leader Qi pressed for details on the other factions, but the merchant shook his head.

“The Central Heaven Domain is too vast, Sect Leader. Just maintaining a trade route between one corner of that realm and the Southern Domain takes every ounce of my effort. I dare not recklessly pry into the affairs of unfamiliar territories.”

Seeing that the geographical intelligence had reached its limit, Sect Leader Qi shifted the topic to the path of cultivation.

“Tell me,” Qi asked, his voice low, “what lies beyond the Golden Core?”

The merchant blinked, looking genuinely baffled. “Does your sect not have records of this? Why ask a rogue cultivator? Logic dictates that if a sect doesn’t know, a wanderer like me certainly shouldn’t.”

Sect Leader Qi sighed, a heavy, weary sound. “Our founding ancestors… left us with many peculiar rules and gaps in our history. It is a mystery we have yet to solve.”

Previously, the leadership of Wanchun Valley had simply accepted these gaps. But with the looming threat of the Central Heaven Domain, they had begun to suspect a deliberate design—perhaps a form of protection by ignorance implemented by their forebears.

“A strange coincidence,” the merchant said, scratching his chin. “I happen to know this only because a friend from the Central Heaven Domain once mentioned it while drunk.”

He straightened up, his expression turning grave.

“To shatter the Golden Core and birth the Nascent Soul requires more than just cultivation. One must prepare for the Heavenly Tribulation.”

“The Nascent Soul Tribulation summons nine bolts of Tribulation Lightning,” he explained, holding up nine fingers. “Each bolt is stronger than the last. Without powerful heavenly treasures to act as lightning rods or shields, survival is impossible. You cannot simply ‘tough it out’ with your body.”

“But the lightning is only the physical trial,” he continued, tapping his temple. “There is also the Tribulation of the Mind.”

“Distracting thoughts. Inner demons. Mental chaos. During the breakthrough, a single moment of carelessness, a single stray thought, can drive a cultivator into madness. They might self-destruct, or their cultivation might dissipate entirely. It is terrifying. You need specific soul-protecting treasures to anchor your mind.”

“Furthermore,” he added a final warning, “outsiders cannot interfere. If anyone tries to help, the Heavens will target them too, and the lightning’s power will multiply, ensuring mutual destruction.”

“Only after surviving the lightning and the mind demons does one become a true Nascent Soul cultivator.”

Sect Leader Qi absorbed every word, asking follow-up questions about specific materials and signs. The merchant answered what he could, admitting ignorance when he reached his limit.

Finally, the information dried up.

“Very well,” Sect Leader Qi announced. “The transaction is concluded. Wait here while I retrieve this year’s Hundred-Year Spiritual Wood Heart for the Crown Prince.”

He extended a hand. “Fellow Daoist, please hand over the Qi Refining Spirit Boosting Pill and the five Jade Spirit Berry seeds.”

“As for any private dealings you have with the Prince,” Qi added dryly, “Wanchun Valley will not pry.”

The merchant wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead. “If everyone traded as shrewdly as you, Sect Leader Qi, I’d be out of business.”

Qi ignored the flattery. “If you acquire more intelligence on the Central Heaven Domain in the future—maps, sect details, cultivation lore—record it in a Jade Slip. Wanchun Valley will buy it. The more detailed, the higher the price. We will pay Foundation Establishment-tier prices at a minimum.”

“Are you interested?”

The merchant’s eyes lit up. “Interested? I am ecstatic! It’s a deal. Next time I return, I will bring a library of information!”

“One final warning,” Qi said, his voice hardening. “If you ever collude with anyone to harm my disciples again, there will be no place for you in the Southern Domain. And we do not tolerate the slaughter of innocents here. Do business, make money, but be kind.”

The merchant bowed, smiling broadly. “Naturally! We businessmen value harmony above all else. Fighting and killing is bad for the bottom line!”

The transaction with the Crown Prince was completed quickly. The massive coffin was loaded with a year’s supply of medicine, and the group departed.

As the Green Jade Gourd passed through the protective array of the Wanchun Valley main peak, Sect Leader Qi finally relaxed his posture.

“That man has considerable ability,” Qi murmured, looking back toward the market. “But he is dangerous.”

“Fortunately, his motivation is profit. And since he operates via an avatar controlling puppets, he tends to avoid unnecessary conflict.”

He turned to Han Yu. “Han Yu, you are never to meet him alone. If someone paid him enough to harm us, he would do it without hesitation. He is a mercenary, neither friend nor foe.”

“Yes, Sect Leader. I will remember,” Han Yu replied dutifully.

Elder Lü grunted. “The man is slippery as an eel. We can use him for information, but we cannot trust a word he says. I will have Fang Qi and Bai Kexing deploy more scouts to verify his intelligence.”

Qi nodded.

Back in the main hall, Sect Leader Qi placed the spoils of the trade on the table: five shriveled seeds and a single pill radiating a potent aroma.

“Han Yu,” Qi said gently. “In my opinion, do not consume this Qi Refining Spirit Boosting Pill yet. Let us attempt to cultivate the Jade Spirit Berries first. If we succeed, we may need this pill as a reference to reverse-engineer the recipe.”

“If the berries fail to grow, then you may consume the pill. Is that acceptable?”

“Yes, Sect Leader,” Han Yu agreed.

Qi smiled, picking up the items and handing them to Han Yu. “Here. Take a look. You risked your life for these. It is only right you hold them, even if just for a moment.”

“Afterwards, I will keep them in the sect vault for safekeeping.”

Han Yu reached out. His right hand closed over the pill and the five seeds.

A familiar warmth blossomed in his palm.

Success.

He held them for a few seconds, feigning admiration, then handed them back to Sect Leader Qi.

“If we can grow the Jade Spirit Berries, we will have a steady supply of pills,” Elder Lü sighed, watching Qi store the items away. “A single pill only saves ten days of cultivation. It’s hardly a game-changer on its own.”

“We will wait for Senior Sister Wen to leave seclusion,” Qi said. “Aside from the late Supreme Elder, she is the best herbalist in the sect.”

Mentioning the Supreme Elder cast a shadow over the room.

“He gave his life for the sect,” Qi said softly. “It is a debt we can never repay. But it taught us a hard lesson: without strength, we are nothing.”

After a few more words of reflection, Elder Lü escorted Han Yu back to his courtyard.

Safely inside his room, Han Yu engaged the isolation wards.

He opened his right hand.

He took out the empty jade box that had once held the Thousand-Year Sunkwood Heart. Into it, he placed five perfectly replicated Jade Spirit Berry seeds.

Then, he unclenched his fist to reveal the Qi Refining Spirit Boosting Pill.

He had copied them right under the Sect Leader’s nose.

The process had been twisty and dangerous, involving princes, coffins, and inter-domain merchants, but the result was in his hand.

From now on, Han Yu had everything he needed. He just needed to cultivate.