Chapter 4077 — The Cultivators' Guild

Hong Zhong was an ally bound to him on the same line; the better Hong Zhong fared, the greater the help he would naturally be in days to come. But as things stood, even Hong Zhong himself had no idea how to break free of his predicament. Wei Zhao, a mere honorary vice-chairman and half an outsider within the Hong Clan Merchants' Guild, was in an even poorer position to be of any help for the time being—all they could do was wait and see what the future brought.

Still, Hong Zhong's return to North Island was no bad thing for Wei Zhao. Here was a reliable man of his own; if he wanted to get his hands on some rare treasure from the Hong Clan Merchants' Guild, it would be far more convenient now.

After the meal, Wei Zhao spoke up. "Elder Hong, I'm in need of a spirit medicine called the Life-Form Mushroom. I placed an order for it here before—have you heard any news?"

"Young Hero Lin, I'll have someone look into it." A moment later, Hong Zhong, having received the report, shook his head. "No word yet. I've used the Life-Form Mushroom myself in the past, so I know a little about it. Not only is it exceedingly scarce, but once plucked it wilts and spoils very quickly. That's why precious few trial-takers ever go out of their way to gather it—even with an order placed in advance, it's very hard to get hold of any within a short time."

"Is that so? Then I'll just have to wait." Wei Zhao could not help feeling somewhat disappointed.

"No need to fret, Young Hero Lin. I'll have the bounty raised over there—it shouldn't take too long." Hong Zhong smiled in consolation. "Those who take up missions to gather spirit medicine are gone for many days at a stretch; it's only natural that there's no word for a while. Few people make a special trip just for the Life-Form Mushroom—it wastes effort and cost, and it doesn't fetch a high price. But a hefty reward will always draw a bold man. Once I raise the bounty on my end, someone is bound to be tempted. At the very least, when they're out gathering medicine, they'll keep a sharper eye out for the Life-Form Mushroom, and the odds of finding it will be a little better."

At these words, something stirred in Wei Zhao's heart. "Elder Hong, those people you mentioned—where exactly do they gather medicine? Could it be the back mountain of the Triple-Stack Pavilion? Might I go there myself?"

Wei Zhao did not know how long Ragamuffin Wang could hold out on his side, but it was always better to get these supplementary materials in hand sooner rather than later. Rather than begging help from others, he preferred to rely on himself—that had always been Wei Zhao's way.

"Hmm... I'd quite forgotten. Though you're still a newcomer at the Welcome Pavilion, Young Hero Lin, when it comes to strength you already surpass the vast majority of Triple-Stack Pavilion disciples." Hong Zhong paused, then caught himself and explained, "The gathering grounds aren't in the back mountain, as it happens—that's the Triple-Stack Pavilion's private domain. Only disciples who've been granted permission may enter; it isn't generally open to outsiders. And many rare spirit medicine resources, even when found, must be turned over to the Triple-Stack Pavilion—they're not permitted to flow out."

Wei Zhao reflected that this made sense. It was just like their newcomer trials: the spirit medicines gathered in the course of them all had to be turned over to the Back Mountain Hall in the end—there was no carrying them out privately.

"Not the back mountain, then—where is it?" Wei Zhao pressed.

"The back mountain is rich in resources, true, but it isn't the only place on North Island where spirit medicine can be gathered. You can go elsewhere as well. However, Young Hero Lin, if you truly mean to go in person, you'll first need to register an account with the North Island Cultivators' Guild," Hong Zhong advised.

"The North Island Cultivators' Guild?" Having been on Cloud Terrace Island for the better part of a year, this was the first time Wei Zhao had heard the name.

Hong Zhong nodded. "That's right. It's a guild organization that in theory encompasses every cultivator on North Island. The Triple-Stack Pavilion leads it, and the various other powers and humble independent cultivators all register and gather there as well. Every day it posts all manner of bounty trial missions, and only cultivators who have registered there may take on missions and collect the bounties."

"Oh? So I can go too, then?" Wei Zhao's eyes lit up.

"Of course. Triple-Stack Pavilion disciples are the main crowd there. I imagine you've heard as much, Young Hero Lin—after a newcomer's one-year term at the Welcome Pavilion ends and they enter the Triple-Stack Pavilion, they become formal outer disciples. Unless one becomes a Golden Core core disciple, or takes a master among the pavilion's elders and other high-ranking figures, cultivation resources remain very limited. To advance quickly, one must rely on oneself and keep taking trial missions for rewards." Hong Zhong explained it carefully.

"But I've heard people say the Triple-Stack Pavilion posts missions of its own as well?" Wei Zhao asked, puzzled.

"That's right. But the missions the Triple-Stack Pavilion posts are generally high-risk, high-bounty affairs. They're prepared specifically for Triple-Stack Pavilion disciples, yet without sufficient strength an ordinary outer disciple simply can't handle them. By contrast, the bounty missions posted daily by the North Island Cultivators' Guild are far lower in difficulty. For the vast majority of Triple-Stack Pavilion outer disciples, that's the shortcut to gaining experience and earning spirit jade at the same time. That Heart-Eating Linglong Grass you had me purchase before—it came from a bounty mission posted over there," Hong Zhong revealed.

Wei Zhao's interest was thoroughly roused, and he itched to try. "Elder Hong, are there any threshold requirements for registering at the Cultivators' Guild?"

"No threshold to speak of—so long as your strength reaches Foundation Establishment or above, that's enough. Your Welcome Pavilion generally doesn't encourage newcomers to take trial missions there, so they never mention it to you at all. But given your strength, Young Hero Lin, that's another matter entirely." Hong Zhong smiled faintly.

"Good. Then I'll go and give it a try." Wei Zhao decided on the spot.

Before the words had faded, Shangguan Lan'er and Ning Xuefei suddenly spoke as one: "Wonderful! We're coming too!"

Wei Zhao's face instantly darkened, but before he could object, Hong Zhong had already spoken on his behalf: "You may not. That place is incomparably dangerous. If the two of you went, you'd not only be of no help to Young Hero Lin—you'd bring trouble down on him. It's been only a few days—have you already forgotten Si Haitao?"

"Grandpa Hong, it's not as though we're certain to run into that old scoundrel..." Shangguan Lan'er said weakly.

Hong Zhong shook his head helplessly. "What I mean is, in the cultivation world, scum like him are hardly one or two in number. Female cultivators of your looks are the center of attention wherever you go—it's all too easy to stir up trouble. And the trial grounds lie entirely outside the control of the Triple-Stack Pavilion and West Island. If something happened, there'd be no time to save you."

"Well then, I suppose Junior Brother will have to go alone." Shangguan Lan'er and Ning Xuefei stuck out their tongues. Flighty as they were, they were not without sense; if going would only bring Wei Zhao trouble, then better not to go at all. R1152