There Are Plenty of Means

As a rogue cultivator, knowing how to read the room is an essential skill.

Face is something only orthodox cultivators care about; what rogue cultivators value has always been tangible benefits.

If kowtowing could get them resources, every rogue cultivator present would start kowtowing on the spot without hesitation.

Chu Xingchen’s cultivation level here was obviously ridiculously beyond the norm, so even though he spoke in a loud and arrogant tone, no one would actually dare clash with a top-tier blood cultivator like him.

Less trouble is better. If they weren’t allowed to look, they wouldn’t look.

Chu Xingchen swept his gaze across the underground square. Now, truly no one dared meet his eyes. Even the Nascent Soul cultivator behind the counter silently stared at the table in front of him.

“That’s right.” Chu Xingchen grinned, slowly walking toward the counter. “As expected, the ones hanging around here aren’t some fresh meat. They understand how to respect their seniors.”

As he spoke, he pulled a Black Crow Direct Token from his sleeve—one meticulously forged by the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect, a fake that was more authentic than the real thing.

The blood force contained within was deliberately triggered, and everyone sensed the blood aura imbued with the unmistakable style of the Dark Spirit Cult.

Chu Xingchen placed the Black Crow Direct Token on the counter.

The Nascent Soul cultivator behind the counter, who had been silently cursing his bad luck, looked up as the token was pushed gently before him.

One glance was enough for the man to confirm that this Black Crow Direct Token couldn’t be any more real.

Chu Xingchen tapped it lightly with his finger.

“This thing, can it be used?”

“Reporting to senior, it can,” the Nascent Soul cultivator immediately nodded.

In the rogue cultivation world, items like the Black Crow Blood Jade, also produced by the Dark Spirit Cult, were basically as universal as spirit stones. They could genuinely be exchanged for resources among the cult’s followers, and their value was considerable.

What’s more, Chu Xingchen had presented the highest grade—the Black Crow Direct Token, which would only be personally commissioned by the Black Crow Lord. It was equivalent to owning a favor from the Black Crow Lord himself.

This was no longer about what could be exchanged for something. It meant you could command a portion of the Dark Spirit Cult’s forces to act for you.

Naturally, such a token was typically only usable when handed over to the Black Crow Lord directly.

Forging it was extremely difficult because it contained a trace of true intent and blood force from the Black Crow Lord. For those among the cult who practiced the Blood Feeding Art, distinguishing authenticity was second nature. Only Dark Spirit Cult cultivators above the Golden Core could do so.

“Good to know it’s usable.” Chu Xingchen’s tone was casual and light. Then he pulled a second Black Crow Direct Token from his sleeve and placed it on the counter.

This time, the Nascent Soul cultivator behind the counter was completely speechless.

Chu Xingchen glanced back. “These are the deposit. I need people to handle some business. I’ll pay the rest as we make progress.”

The Nascent Soul cultivator stared at the two Black Crow Direct Tokens before him and spoke uneasily:

“Senior, what kind of great endeavor are you planning?”

Chu Xingchen said lazily:

“The North Lan Kingdom, within the Divine Continent of the Southern Province. I intend to refine the entire nation, turning it all into my blood sacrifice.”

The Nascent Soul cultivator was instantly stunned. For a moment, he wanted to ask—Did you say what exactly?

Refine a nation?

These days, rogue cultivators were already biting their tails just to survive.

On the Eastern Divine Continent, rogue cultivators had nearly been broken by the Xiaoyun Hall and the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect working together. Many of them had already fled the Eastern Divine Continent.

And recently, there was news that the Buddhist sect had a Buddha stationed in the Southern Province, vigorously purging rogue cultivators and monsters that harmed human lives. Rumor even had it that the Venerable Buddha Runan was now there as well.

The Eastern Divine Continent was a warning. Trying to refine a nation in the Southern Province was practically asking to die.

Rogue cultivators might strike boldly, but they knew their limits.

Refining a village occasionally to gather strength might only draw an investigation from the Demon Suppression Bureau and nearby sects. That alone was already a huge headache.

But refining an entire nation?

Even if the difficulty of pulling that off was unimaginable, once it succeeded, those investigating wouldn’t just be local Southern Province sects. The iron fist of the Eighteen Immortal Sects would actually come to kill.

Rogue cultivators were greedy, but not suicidal.

“I can only do my best for this matter, senior,” the Nascent Soul cultivator said tactfully, as he dared not outright refuse.

“Doing your best isn’t enough.” Chu Xingchen tapped the Black Crow Direct Token. “I don’t care how you use them. I just want to see the people I need.”

The Nascent Soul cultivator hesitated but still braced himself to whisper:

“Senior, refining a country is no small task. It’s not a matter of numbers; a thorough plan is required to attract more people. Besides, there are rumors that a Buddhist Venerable Buddha is stationed in the Southern Province. Buddha’s way is righteous to its core. Acting hastily may ruin senior’s great plans.”

Chu Xingchen replied calmly:

“How to handle it is my business. Your job is just to find people. No matter the risk, we’ll pay accordingly. Don’t tell me you intend to pry into our plans? Spread the word, and those willing will naturally come.”

“And by now, you should know what kind of people are worth meeting. I’m not looking for cheap nobodies.”

The Nascent Soul cultivator nodded hurriedly and accepted the two Black Crow Direct Tokens displayed on the counter.

“How can I contact you, senior?”

Chu Xingchen gave a dismissive laugh. “Tell them to leave their contact info, and I’ll pick the ones I want.”

“Yes…” The Nascent Soul cultivator nodded immediately.

Chu Xingchen nodded in satisfaction, then turned and left without delay.

Bai Xuanling glanced at him and followed along.

With the two of them gone, the oppressive atmosphere in the underground square instantly eased, but no one spoke just yet.

Only when they were sure the crazy-seeming but terrifyingly powerful blood cultivator was truly gone did people start chatting again.

Some speculated about Chu Xingchen’s identity—about what kind of person would shell out two Black Crow Direct Tokens just as a deposit to summon men.

And then there was the plan to refine an entire country’s blood sacrifice, which sounded absurd from the start.

Whatever the case, it was truly something unique to have witnessed this day.

Outside the assembly hall, Bai Xuanling stared at Chu Xingchen.

“Arranging things like this—is this fishing? Doing so blatantly won’t bring in anyone notable. But knowing you, this is probably just the beginning, right? What other tricks from the underworld do you have up your sleeve? Let me learn a thing or two.”

Chu Xingchen let out a spirited laugh, his face full of righteous energy:

“You can’t rush too much at the start. First, you set up as a rogue cultivator who’s crazy but surprisingly free with his spending.”

“Then, you spread word that an ancient Blood Cultivator Ancestor’s secret realm has appeared—a Blood God Ancestor who almost ascended through tribulation cultivation with meager talent—and that the realm holds the secret to his rise.”

“Get the Heavenly Wraith Sect and the Xuanqing Heavenly Sect to start an ‘investigation,’ building up the hype by looking into those involved.”

“And then our strange but lavish rogue cultivator gets mentioned almost by accident.”

“Sooner or later, some arrogant blood cultivator stuck in a bottleneck will convince themselves they see the truth behind the whole show and come to us for a breakthrough.”

“Black and white working together—I have plenty of tricks.”

Bai Xuanling clicked his tongue:

“You’ve got endurance, you little bastard—and a heart so black it’s almost like Zen.”