The Demonic Cultivator In Zombie World

Chapter 187: Kindness of These Three Couriers

"Ah? It seems much livelier indeed."

Chu Xuan stepped out of his cave abode and strolled along the east-west main road of Righteous Dao City. He immediately noticed a visible increase in the number of cultivators on the streets.

Most were undoubtedly attracted by the news of a rare treasure emerging. Among them were many elderly cultivators, their hair white as frost, hoping to make a final attempt at glory before their ultimate limits approached.

Chu Xuan also saw numerous cultivators returning from outside the city, extracting the carcasses of ancient beasts from their storage bags to exchange for contribution points with the three great families.

Many cultivators had to venture out daily to clear remains like those of the Nether Crocodile. This was indeed the primary task for the majority entering the extraterritorial battlefield.

If not regularly cleared, the accumulating carcasses of ancient beasts on the battlefield could increase continuously, ultimately risking collapse.

Why these remains could cause the collapse of the battlefield was beyond Chu Xuan's knowledge, though he knew that many such battlefields had indeed collapsed because of this issue.

The Reincarnation Divine Church had expended great efforts to transport so many people to the battlefield, not out of goodwill to offer them a chance to reach higher realms but rather to have them perform labor.

If one's contribution points did not increase over time, or even worse, started to decrease, they could be denied entry into the cities of the battlefield—an ominous prospect.

The horrors of the battlefield's nights were something Chu Xuan had witnessed on his first night in Righteous Dao City. Although he had enough Yin Thunder Seeds to not fear the Nether Crocodile, it did not mean other cultivators possessed the means to deal with it.

Of course, as a cultivator at the lowest tier of the Golden Core realm in the extraterritorial battlefield, Chu Xuan naturally also had to go out and clear the carcasses of ancient beasts to accumulate contribution points in his battle token. However, there was still time.

Before coming, Wan Wuying had told him that if contribution points remained stagnant for five years, one might be expelled from the city. Having arrived in Righteous Dao City not long ago, he had no immediate concerns about this.

Chu Xuan continued his leisurely stroll. Many of the cultivators on the street had only recently arrived in Righteous Dao City, and few recognized him.

However, some had been residents of Righteous Dao City for many years. Upon seeing Chu Xuan, they immediately recalled events from over a year ago.

Huikong of Golden Dragon Temple, who had been on good terms with Duan Que of the Duan family, had ultimately not become an honorary elder for the Duan family.

Instead, Yuanming from Celestial Sound Zen Temple and Xiao Fengxian, a Golden Core period talisman master, both became honorary elders of the Duan family.

After this news spread, the other two families of Righteous Dao City, the Bai and Qin families, dared not invite Huikong to become an honorary elder, fearing Yuanming's dissatisfaction.

However, more than a year had passed since then. Yuanming of Celestial Sound Zen Temple had not troubled Huikong, seeming indifferent to the situation.

Yet, the Bai and Qin families still had no intention of recruiting Huikong, especially since, a few months ago, three individuals of significant merit had arrived in Righteous Dao City. One of them possessed a Merit Golden Wheel that was no less impressive than Yuanming's.

The resources of the Bai and Qin families were now devoted to courting these three individuals. There were simply no extra resources left to recruit Huikong of Golden Dragon Temple.

As Chu Xuan meandered, he found himself at a section of the street where cultivators had set up makeshift stalls.

Typically, those seated directly on the ground were early-stage Golden Core cultivators. Those with a bit more strength and status usually conducted their transactions within the trading halls operated by the three great families, where a negligible tax was extracted from each transaction.

Some Golden Core cultivators, short on funds, opted not to enter these trading halls, choosing instead to set up their stalls right on the street.

Chu Xuan browsed these outdoor stalls, shaking his head inwardly. Finding hidden treasures seemed to be an adventure reserved only for fated protagonists. Despite his thorough search, he discerned nothing of value.

"Merit, oh merit, why don't you show some usefulness!" he muttered to himself, disappointed.

Resigned, Chu Xuan strode into the trading hall, deciding to follow the more conventional route. When he emerged again, his storage bag was considerably heavier, now filled with Star Spirit Ore and Amber Crystals.

The former was urgently needed for upgrading his Evil Soul Chain, while the latter was essential for advancing his Blood Beehive. Both materials were exceedingly costly.

Amber Crystals were somewhat affordable, costing ten thousand small spiritual stones per jin. Star Spirit Ore, on the other hand, was priced similarly to Heavenly Thunder Crystals, with a fist-sized piece costing over twenty thousand small spiritual stones.

As for other materials needed to upgrade his magic treasures, such as Yin Evil Steel, Chu Xuan's storage bag was nearly overflowing, almost forming a small mountain.

Nevertheless, the quantities of Star Spirit Ore and Amber Crystals he had purchased were still insufficient.

Chu Xuan didn't plan to buy everything in one go under the identity of Huikong. It was common knowledge among demonic cultivators to make purchases in small, repeated transactions—a crucial point worth noting.

Chu Xuan found a secluded corner and changed his appearance with a wave of his hand. After transforming into a middle-aged man and then a composed elder, he completed the acquisition of the necessary Star Spirit Ore and Amber Crystals.

"Really, they're tracking me?"

Chu Xuan noticed someone following him and couldn't help but scoff internally. He had made three separate purchases, with the identity of Huikong accounting for more than two-thirds of the total. The remaining one-third was split between the last two transactions. Yet, he was still being targeted.

"Well, if you insist on delivering a gift to my doorstep," he mused, accepting the inevitable confrontation.

Assuming the guise of the composed elder, Chu Xuan glanced around several times before quickly exiting Righteous Dao City and heading towards a distant location. The person shadowing him promptly followed.

To Chu Xuan's surprise, two more cultivators emerged from outside the city, seemingly having received a signal, and joined the chase towards him.

"Delivering right to my doorstep, fearful that their customer might refuse—three servings at once. Such enthusiasm, truly moving."

Chu Xuan couldn't ignore the goodwill of these three "couriers." The three bandit cultivators followed him out of the city.

Chu Xuan continued onward, with his pursuers sprinting relentlessly behind him.

Eventually, a vast and profound chasm appeared before them—the "Great Chasm" that had emerged over four hundred years ago. It was due to this chasm that Chu Xuan, originally intending to go to Lei Family City, had ended up in Righteous Dao City by mistake.

"Why aren't you running now?" the lead bandit cultivator snorted coldly.

"Old man, you sure can move fast! Quite spry for your age!" mocked another from the left.

"Damn, nearly made me run out of breath, old man. I'm going to have a good time processing you!" the third added menacingly from the right. "You probably don't want to know what it's like to have your soul extracted and turned into a fierce ghost!"

The trio burst into laughter.

Chu Xuan turned to face them, his expression bizarre as he fixed his gaze on the third man.

"What it's like to have one's soul extracted and refined into a fierce ghost—I truly don't know," he said coolly. "But I've done it many times."

The expressions of the three bandit cultivators shifted slightly, and after exchanging a look, they each pulled out their respective weapons—a ghost commander, a corpse commander, and a swarm of gu insects. These were classic demonic cultivator tactics.

"This old man is fishy, he might have baited us instead," one murmured.

"Impossible, we three brothers are so strong, how could he possibly fish for us?" another dismissed the concern.

"Together, then! Even if he has hidden tricks, could he possibly stand against the three of us?!" they resolved, readying for an all-out attack.