Crow Immortal: I Can Duplicate Infinite Resources

Chapter 255: Must Be Wary

Han Yu had already decided to make them work for him, but naturally, he wouldn’t agree easily on the surface. He simply had them explain the origins of the Seeking Truth Daoist Temple and the matters they hadn’t inquired about in detail earlier.

As they spoke, the cook of the Seeking Truth Daoist Temple came over again to ask Head Priest Lin if the banquet should commence.

Head Priest Lin cautiously inquired if Han Yu would grace them by partaking in the vegetarian feast, which wouldn’t hinder answering Han Yu’s various questions, serving as a token of their sincerity.

Han Yu had no intention of eating their food, but after hearing the invitation twice, he couldn’t help but ask.

Head Priest Lin promptly had the cook introduce the dishes: Snow Lotus Vegetarian Soup, Ginseng Jade Spring Soup, Seaweed Cloud Cake, Jadeite White Jade Rolls… Each ingredient was meticulously selected. Though vegetarian, each dish was more expensive than meat-based ones. The snow lotus and ginseng had to be sufficiently aged; the seaweed had to be shipped from the Southern Sea Kingdom and specially processed; the Jadeite White Jade Rolls used three-inch-long tender bamboo shoot tips wrapped with golden swiftlet nests, with the outer layer entwined with silk spun by snow silkworms.

Hearing the elaborateness of these vegetarian dishes, Han Yu couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly.

This Seeking Truth Daoist Temple truly indulged in extravagance and knew how to enjoy themselves.

“Just these? Anything else?”

Seeing Han Yu seemed somewhat interested, Head Priest Lin bowed and said, “Food and drink are all similarly refined. If Senior Li desires meat, we can immediately prepare it for Senior Li.”

“There are also beautiful palace maids sent from the Yulin Kingdom, and women gifted by various high officials and nobles, all residing in the Moon Embracing Pavilion. If Senior Li is willing, you may freely choose tonight, each one stunningly beautiful…”

Han Yu impatiently cut him off: “When did I ask about these? I’m asking, since you’re so particular about food and drink, do these dishes contain any Spiritual Qi?”

“This… Those containing Spiritual Qi are our temple’s most crucial cultivation resources. They are awarded as rewards for merits; how could they be used for daily food and drink? Besides, our Seeking Truth Daoist Temple has thirty Cultivators. If we consumed spiritual items daily, we couldn’t sustain it no matter what.” Head Priest Lin answered somewhat awkwardly.

Han Yu immediately lost all curiosity about these “enjoyments.”

Not even spiritual items, just mundane desires for food and pleasure—and they thought they could retain him with such things, confidently claiming he wouldn’t want to leave after one night.

How could these things, useless for cultivation, compare to Han Yu finding a place to cultivate, steadily improving his strength, and refining the newly obtained Heavenly Secret Spindle?

“No need to say more. Continue introducing the Seeking Truth Daoist Temple, the surrounding forces of the Yulin Kingdom, and all the circumstances around the Mystic One Market. Earlier, I only asked how you enter and exit the Mystic One Market and deal with the Mystic One Sect. Now, I want to see how capable you are at serving me…”

Head Priest Lin felt a chill, thinking to himself that this person truly lived up to being a mysterious and profound figure who made Little Sky Net Sect disciples bow down. The petty tricks of their Seeking Truth Daoist Temple didn’t even catch his eye.

As Head Priest Lin explained, Han Yu gained more understanding of the Yulin Kingdom’s surroundings, the Mystic One Market, and the Mystic One Sect’s Spirit Stone mine, though he learned most about matters in the Yulin Kingdom.

The Seeking Truth Daoist Temple in Yulin Kingdom originated two generations ago, initially established by a Foundation Establishment Rogue Cultivator. It later passed to Head Priest Lin’s master. Both generations were honest, reclusive Cultivators who didn’t mingle much with mortals, cultivating quietly in a small mountain temple.

When it came to Head Priest Lin, it was still impoverished at first. After successfully reaching Foundation Establishment, he coincidentally befriended a noble, was introduced to the Yulin Kingdom’s emperor, and thus began enjoying wealth and luxury. The temple gradually expanded to its current state.

The main function of the Seeking Truth Daoist Temple wasn’t to exterminate Demon Beasts, Demonic Cultivators, or vengeful spirits within the territory, nor to compete with the Mystic One Sect for the Yulin Kingdom. Toward a powerful Golden Core major sect like the Mystic One Sect, the Yulin Kingdom and Seeking Truth Daoist Temple had always been respectful, with no thoughts of scheming.

The true role of the Seeking Truth Daoist Temple was to help the Yulin Kingdom’s emperor and crown prince eliminate rivals. They had once killed a prince and a prime minister.

Beyond that, the allure of Cultivation and immortality for everyone from the emperor and nobles down to the common people made the Seeking Truth Daoist Temple increasingly prosperous.

Within the Yulin Kingdom, there were quite a few scattered Rogue Cultivators. The most famous was Qingfeng Mountain, where eight Rogue Cultivators banded together. Many Rogue Cultivators would occasionally go there to trade, like a market. There were also some Demon Beasts occupying places like Shaxing Mountain and Heifeng Mountain, and some vengeful spirits hiding in locations like Liuhe Ferry and Yinyi Town.

Most of these didn’t harm mortals, and the mortals of Yulin Kingdom didn’t go to those dangerous places. Occasionally, when harm occurred more frequently, reporting to the Mystic One Sect might not get a response, and the Seeking Truth Daoist Temple rarely intervened. Since things never escalated too much, the people simply accepted their misfortune.

Han Yu thought: This is different from how Wanchun Valley governs.

Wanchun Valley dispatched stationed disciples to the Nanli Kingdom and Xiyue Kingdom mainly to clean up such threats to mortals, originally not involved in matters like changes of emperors.

Only this time, when the Jiang and Wei royal families caused turmoil and eventually died out, and given the unusual circumstances, did Han Yu propose breaking ancestral rules, having Wanchun Valley disciple Feng Jin become emperor to stabilize the country and ensure steady assistance to Wanchun Valley, unlike the previous disobedient situation.

What concerned Han Yu most about the Mystic One Market was, of course, the Spirit Stone mine that might produce Spirit Stone Marrow Liquid. Head Priest Lin also had some understanding of this.

The Mystic One Sect was considered a reputable orthodox sect in the Southern Region. Mining Spirit Stones couldn’t be done by mortals; only Cultivators could expend Spirit Breath and Magic Power to extract them. So, besides having their own disciples mine, the Mystic One Sect also allowed some carefully vetted individuals to join the mining. After mining enough Spirit Stones, they would receive one Spirit Stone as payment.

“The output of this Spirit Stone mine isn’t high, right?”

Han Yu inquired.

“Naturally not. If it were high, the Mystic One Sect could become the top in the Southern Region just by relying on Spirit Stones,” Head Priest Lin said. “A Cultivator works hard searching and mining Spirit Stones, barely managing two in a day. For every ten Spirit Stones mined, they get one as payment—and that’s after being searched and inspected by the Mystic One Sect, forbidden from bringing Storage Bags, plus the抢夺厮杀 in the mine tunnels. For Rogue Cultivators, mining Spirit Stones might not be worth it.”

Han Yu listened carefully, then looked up at the sky. It was already afternoon.

Although the seven Little Sky Net Sect disciples probably wouldn’t see through his disguise, to be safe, he should leave.

“Since you now serve me, you must handle affairs for me. In a few days, I’ll have Little Sky Net Sect disciples come to inquire about your progress.”

Han Yu stated.

Head Priest Lin, Ma Quan, and the other Seeking Truth Daoist Temple members all solemnly agreed.

If Little Sky Net Sect disciples were coming to inquire, they wouldn’t dare not take things seriously.

“First task: Send two people to the Mystic One Market to investigate all obtainable spiritual items, record them on a Jade Slip, and bring them back to me. Don’t bother with artifacts, Talismans, or the like; only inquire about Pills and spiritual items suitable for the Foundation Establishment realm and above.”

Head Priest Lin thought this task was easy.

As Rogue Cultivators, the number of Foundation Establishment realm and above Pills and spiritual items they could investigate or purchase wouldn’t be high.

“Second task: Investigate the spiritual items that have appeared in the Mystic One Market over the past few years, and all major and minor events that occurred. Record them for me as well.”

This task was also not difficult.

Head Priest Lin thought.

Han Yu continued: “Third task: Open your warehouse and Storage Bags. I want to see if there’s anything I need.”

“Huh?”

All the Seeking Truth Daoist Temple members were stunned. Those with Storage Bags instinctively covered the bags at their waists—was he going to rob our spiritual items?

“Don’t worry, I’ll trade with you, not forcibly take.”

Seeing their alarmed expressions, Han Yu said.

The Seeking Truth Daoist Temple members exchanged glances, hesitated repeatedly, but ultimately, led by Head Priest Lin, presented their Storage Bags and warehouse to Han Yu.

Han Yu looked them over. None of these Seeking Truth Daoist Temple people were involved with Demonic Cultivators, which was their only merit. Of course, it might also be because they enjoyed too many pleasures and didn’t need to risk dealing with blood and flesh.

As for artifacts, Talismans, Pills, and the like, they were far inferior to his own. Among spiritual items, only the Yulin Kingdom’s specialties, Jade Spirit Flower and Spirit Fox Blood, were things Han Yu hadn’t seen before, both being Qi Condensation stage items.

Han Yu secretly duplicated these two unfamiliar items, then returned them.

“Take them all back. You have nothing I need here.”

The Seeking Truth Daoist Temple members were overjoyed, repeatedly expressing gratitude. Senior Li truly had principles, not taking what he didn’t need, not seizing anything at all!

“Do you have any special cultivation techniques or secret arts you can exchange with me for some Pills or spiritual items?” Han Yu asked again.

Seeing he kept his word, they began to believe in the idea of trading.

But after they eagerly mentioned a few cultivation techniques and secret arts, none were novel to Han Yu. He waved his hand: “Alright, it seems you don’t have anything I need either.”

“Do the tasks I assigned earlier well and diligently. If you perform well, I’ll naturally reward you.”

After speaking, Han Yu mounted his flying sword and left.

After going far, he quietly circled back and returned to the Seeking Truth Daoist Temple.

This place was unfamiliar after all, with people’s hearts separated, and it was within the Yulin Kingdom under the Mystic One Sect’s jurisdiction.

He needed to see for himself how the Seeking Truth Daoist Temple members would choose—if they reported to the Mystic One Sect, the next time he came here, he would inevitably fall into an ambush. He must be wary.