The Second Elder of Sky Curtain City.
Zhang Ling was taken aback, not expecting this demon cultivator to have such an identity. Then he remembered a rumor that some people in Sky Curtain City said there was no Second Elder. Others said the Second Elder was a mysterious cultivator who had never shown his face.
This rumor was not recent; it had persisted for thousands of years, through several generations of Second Elders. Few people had seen the true face of Sky Curtain City's Second Elder.
It seemed likely that the reason was the demon cultivator.
"Hey, Thunder Kid, I never agreed to be your Second Elder; it sounds awkward. This old man is several thousand years older than you. If you're willing to give up the position of Grand Elder, I might consider it," Fire Old Man glanced at Thunder Radiance Hermit and sarcastically said.
Thunder Radiance Hermit didn't respond, just looked at the Xuan Tortoise and said again, "This mission is special. If Fellow Daoist is willing to help, top-grade water spirit stones will naturally be offered, but they can only be given to you after this battle is over."
Fire Old Man, seeing that Thunder Radiance Hermit ignored him, patted the dust off his body as if sulking, and his gaze also fell on Zhang Ling and the Xuan Tortoise, with fire flashing in his eyes.
"Why is that?" the Xuan Tortoise asked in a deep voice.
"The top-grade water spirit stone has already been taken to enhance the power of Hundred River City's grand formation. It can only be taken down after this battle," Thunder Radiance Hermit said hesitantly.
"That won't do. By then, the top-grade water spirit stone will inevitably consume a lot of spiritual power, and may even become a waste product. What use will it be to me when I get it?" the Xuan Tortoise snorted.
"This, Fellow Daoist, don't worry. This old man never said that my Hundred River City only has one top-grade water spirit stone. I might as well tell you that the exquisite water vein under Heavenly Lake once nurtured three top-grade water spirit stones. One was lost thousands of years ago, and there are currently two left. One of them has consumed too much spiritual power and is being nurtured in the spiritual vein. The remaining one is the one that Fellow Daoist Zhang saw in the Myriad Treasure Pagoda before.
But now, Hundred River City, as our base camp, needs to strengthen its defenses, so we used this spare one to enhance the power of the grand formation. However, this old man can promise that at most one-third of the top-grade water spirit stone's spiritual power will be consumed."
"If that's the case, then it's still usable and worth taking action once, but…" the Xuan Tortoise exchanged a glance with Zhang Ling.
"What other conditions does Fellow Daoist have? Please speak frankly. As long as the Immortal City can do it, we will not refuse," Thunder Radiance Hermit frowned.
Zhang Ling was overjoyed, just waiting for these words.
The Xuan Tortoise didn't beat around the bush and immediately said, "I also need a top-grade wood spirit stone, and a material called Grand Yi Gold Crystal."
"Fellow Daoist's appetite is a bit too big," Thunder Radiance Hermit's lips twitched, and his face darkened.
"I didn't say I would take these two spiritual objects for free. If you have them here, this king can exchange them for things of equal value," the Xuan Tortoise said expressionlessly. "If you really don't have them, then please pay attention to collecting information about them for me. This condition isn't excessive, right?"
Facing an old monster in the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, it's better not to play tricks and be direct. Zhang Ling didn't want to anger Thunder Radiance Hermit.
He had the Xuan Tortoise say this so that he could take the opportunity to mention the missing two materials, and maybe collect them all in one fell swoop.
"Haha, this old man misspoke. It's easy to say that, but the Immortal City's treasure vault also doesn't have a top-grade wood spirit stone. As for Grand Yi Gold Crystal, it's also a top-notch material, hard to find in the world," Thunder Radiance Hermit said, shaking his head.
Zhang Ling couldn't help but sigh in his heart, even a force like the Twelve Immortal Cities didn't have it.
But suddenly, the Fire Old Man next to him spoke, "Thunder Kid, didn't Dong Yangzi find a piece of Grand Yi Gold Crystal in the deep sea a few years ago?"
"Is that so? I didn't know about this," Hearing Fire Old Man speak, Thunder Radiance Hermit was surprised, seemingly genuinely unaware of this news.
Zhang Ling's eyes lit up when he heard this. However, that Dong Yangzi was also a late-stage Nascent Soul realm cultivator. He had never dealt with him before. It wouldn't be easy to exchange for Grand Yi Gold Crystal from this person.
"When I went to Dong Yangzi's Water Spirit Sect a dozen years ago to ask for Water Light Spirit Liquid, I saw a piece of Grand Yi Gold Crystal in his cave, and it wasn't small. When I asked about it, Dong Yangzi vaguely said that he found it accidentally in the deep sea. I don't know if it's still in the old guy's hands now," Fire Old Man explained angrily.
"Grand Yi Gold Crystal isn't an ordinary material, Dong Yangzi wouldn't use it randomly. If it's still in his hands, I can introduce you two after this battle, but I can't guarantee whether you can exchange for this item from him. What do you two think?" Thunder Radiance Hermit smiled and looked at the Xuan Tortoise and Zhang Ling.
The Xuan Tortoise nodded, "Then we'll have to trouble you."
After discussing this matter, the group walked out of the side hall.
At this time, two of the people outside had already left. However, the remaining five had already agreed to carry out the secret mission together after being persuaded by the Council of Elders.
Zhang Ling and the other three came out, attracting the attention of these people. Two people went in, but four came out, and the two extra ones were actually two demon cultivators. Everyone was greatly surprised.
"These two demon clan fellow Daoists were specially invited by our Council of Elders to assist in this battle. Your special mission will also require the assistance of these two," Thunder Radiance Hermit didn't explain much about the identities of Fire Old Man and the Xuan Tortoise, just said this lightly.
"Alright, I'll tell you about the specific target. According to the news returned by an elder of our Council of Elders who is proficient in concealment techniques, the Demon Soul Hall of the Alien Demon Clan has specially moved a demon stone spirit mine this time."
……
The group carefully discussed the specific details of the operation for more than an hour. After agreeing on the time of action, they left the main hall one after another.
Zhang Ling didn't stay in Hundred River City and flew directly towards the sect's camp. Suddenly, a flash of spiritual light appeared in his hand, revealing a red jade bottle with a blood-red pill inside.
This was a Blood Fiend Pill, an ordinary name. But after taking it, one's cultivation would skyrocket by three points in a short period, a special pill to enhance one's strength.
This was a secret pill of the Blood Fiend Sect, a not-small force on the demonic path. It was given to them by the Council of Elders specifically for them to take in case they encountered a strong enemy to enhance their cultivation.
This kind of pill has certain hidden dangers. After taking the Blood Fiend Pill, the spiritual power in the body will become chaotic after half a day, so it's best not to take it unless absolutely necessary.
However, it was a rare pill that could enhance the strength of Nascent Soul cultivators in a short period.
In addition, they also had another special treasure given by the Council of Elders to destroy the demon stone spirit mine.
Putting away the pill, Zhang Ling pondered today's decision expressionlessly during his flight.
