Chapter 5172 — Asking for Secret Manuals
The Blossom Guardian · Page 2 of 2
Still, even though they had broken through to Foundation Establishment one after another, compared with those Primordial Alliance disciples their strength still bordered on the bottom. The situation remained less than optimistic. Fortunately, they had closed the qualitative gap, and so there was, at last, a glimmer of a chance.
"Are you really sure?" Lin Dongfang asked.
"I'm sure." Wei Zhao nodded and said gravely, "After you told me those things, I've had a sense of urgency I can't shake. It's not just that I need to raise my own strength; everyone around me must find a way to raise theirs as well. This Primordial Trial is a rare opportunity, and I don't want them to miss it."
Before this, Wei Zhao's attitude toward their participation in the Primordial Trial had been ambiguous. But now things were different. Having learned of the Center, that omnipresent and formidable threat, he simply had no sense of security unless he raised the others' strength as quickly as possible.
"In that case, you'd better put some real thought into this Trial Grand Tournament. Otherwise, if they have to rely on themselves, it'll be rough going," Lin Dongfang said, arching an eyebrow.
"True. But if that item I asked for arrives in time, it would save a great deal of trouble," Wei Zhao said, smiling as he looked Lin Dongfang up and down.
"Don't waste your effort. You can handle this little mess yourself. Stop trying to conscript an old man like me. Besides, in a few days I have to go back to West Star Mountain Village," Lin Dongfang said hastily.
"How did you know I wanted to conscript you? You guessed it spot on!" Wei Zhao said with a look of astonishment.
"Nonsense. With you, I can tell what you're going to do the moment you wiggle your backside. As if I'd need to guess," Lin Dongfang said with a snort of contempt.
On Cloud Terrace Island, Tian Chan and the others finally received Wei Zhao's reply. Learning that all was well with him, they were overjoyed, one and all, and the hearts that had been hanging in suspense for months could at last be set at ease. As for the matter he had asked them to handle in his letter, Wei Shenjin stepped forward to see to it at once. He was thoroughly familiar with every inch of the Central Isle, and with the black market as well; so long as one had enough spirit jade, there was nothing that could not be bought.
Sure enough, in just half a day Wei Shenjin had obtained twenty-one copies of entry-level cultivation methods from various sects. Three days later, that number had grown to thirty-two. Though still far short of the number of sects on Cloud Terrace Island, it was already quite respectable.
These thirty-two entry-level cultivation methods came chiefly from the various sects of the Central and North Isles; those of the other isles were not among them.
The South Isle was the territory of the spirit beast clan, where there was no such thing as cultivation methods at all. The West Isle was a solid, impenetrable bloc, and far from the Central Isle besides, so its entry-level methods naturally would not find their way to the Central Isle's black market. As for the East Continent, needless to say, ordinary people could not obtain them in the first place, and even if they did, they would not dare sell them on the black market. After all, the East Continent's deterrent power was nothing to be trifled with.
Yet even so, this was still only half the total number of sects across the Central and North Isles combined, a far cry from the figure Wei Zhao had in mind. Wei Shenjin then doubled the prices outright, using lavish sums to tempt the black market brokers into taking risks with those sects that kept the tightest lids on their secrets. Only thus did the number climb a few more notches, to thirty-six. (To be continued.)