“This Little Junior is really clever. In fact, we found some ruins near Zhong Province, but only Qi Refining Cultivators can enter, so I wonder if you'd be interested in cooperating with me?” asked the middle-aged cultivator tentatively.
“Zhong Province's ruins?” Yun Jiuge's pupils constricted. She did not know if this was the same site that the Liu Sisters mentioned.
If it was the same Secret Realm, then didn't it mean that they were running around in vain?
“Has Junior also heard of the Zhong Province's ruins?” The middle-aged swordsman raised his brows.
“No, I just find it a little weird that since this site is so important, why did the cultivators of Zhong Provincial Alliance not organize a party themselves, but use us Lone Cultivators instead?” Zhong Province was still under administrative control, even though its futile land was divided into two sects, the Righteous Sect and the Black Magic sect.
“Naturally, the Zhong Provincial Alliance would have sent people out, but this site is just too humongous and they could not handle it all by themselves. Thus it benefits us. I've several vacant places here, and if you're interested, I can sign a contract with you. Whatever you find, I'll just take a thirty percent cut of it,” the middle-aged cultivator explained patiently.
“I've to discuss this with my companions first,” Yun Jiuge commented as she expressed her dilemma.
“Alright then, I shall wait for your good news.” In a gentlemanly manner, the middle-aged swordsman gave her a Communication Talisman and left.
Not wanting to stay there any longer, Yun Jiuge accepted the Communication Talisman and went back upstairs to her room.
“How did this site become known to everyone?” Yun Jiuge was extremely frustrated.
“Just wait for those two girls to return, then we'll know for sure.” Zi Shang was not even perplexed.
Yun Jiuge looked at the time and realized she would not be waiting for long.
After a while, there was a knock on the door.
“Who is it?” Yun Jiuge asked.
“Me.” Liu Mei'er's voice rang out.
Yun Jiuge opened the doors and was taken aback for a moment.
Standing in front of her were two indescribably thin and ugly dark-skinned women with pockmarked faces. They had squinting eyes, a garlic-shaped nose and sausage-shaped mouths. This was the Liu Sisters' disguised look.
But what really took her by surprise was the das.h.i.+ngly handsome young man dressed in black standing behind them, who turned out to be none other than Wanli Mingxuan.
“How did you guys get together?” Yun Jiuge croaked in a broken voice.
“Junior Yun Jiu, please don't misunderstand, the Liu Sisters and I are innocent.” Wanli Mingxuan said as he frantically waved his hands in protest. Even though he was from the Black Magic sect, he still placed a high value on his reputation.
“We lowly people have no place in Senior Wanli's eyes.” Liu Tian'er touched her pockmarked face and tossed a seductive look at Wanli Mingxuan.
“The fallen flowers yearn for love, but the heartless brook ripples on!” Liu Mei'er joined in the teasing, as if they were very familiar with Wanli Mingxuan.
A woman's heart was indeed like the bottom of the sea, completely unfathomable. Who would have guessed that just ten days ago, the two sisters were so eager to kill Wanli Mingxuan.
“The Liu Sisters can really joke.” Wanli Mingxuan was aloof to the teasing of the Liu Sisters.
“Come in and talk!” Yun Jiuge sinisterly beckoned.
After the sisters entered the room, they both sat in front of Wanli Mingxuan and explained how they made their acquaintances.
As they were making their way here, they ran into trouble with a middle stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
While on the run, Wanli Mingxuan came to their rescue and that's how they ended up traveling together.
“It's all thanks to Senior Wanli for taking such good care of us throughout the whole journey. It really saved us a lot of trouble,” the Liu Sisters said righteously.
“Liu Sisters, you over-praise me.” Wanli Mingxuan shook his head.
“Let's leave this for later. Have you heard of the Zhong Province's Ruins?” Yun Jiuge briefly narrated what had happened to her earlier downstairs, then placed the middle-aged cultivator's Communication Talisman on the table and said, “There's definitely something strange going on here.”
“Shortly after we arrived in Zhong Province, we heard that the Ruins had been discovered and the Zhong Provincial Alliance recruited quite a number of Foundation Establishment cultivators, giving each of them three positions to find a minimum of three Qi Refining cultivators. This is an entry requirement for the Secret Realm. Senior Wanli has already acquired an amulet.” The Liu Sisters were also taken aback when they heard this news and were at a loss. Luckily Wanli Mingxuan was around, otherwise they would have had to return empty-handed.
“Three years ago, I heard that the Zhong Province's Ruins would officially open this year. The Liu Sister's father also received the news at that time so the Zhong Provincial Alliance had probably already planned this three years ago.” Wanli Mingxuan explained the situation in detail.
Yun Jiuge involuntarily tapped her fingers gently on the table.
It was obvious that the news of the Ruins was released on purpose by the Zhong Provincial Alliance, but why did they require so many Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators?
“Senior Yun Jiu, do we still stay here?” Although the Liu Sisters had gotten closer to Wanli Mingxuan, they still trusted Yun Jiuge the most.
If Yun Jiuge said that they needed to leave, they definitely would not stay.
“Senior Wanli, what do you think?” Yun Jiuge looked at Wanli Mingxuan.
“As a cultivator who fights against the heavens and other humans, when an opportunity presents itself to me, I will not retreat so easily.” Wanli Mingxuan shook his head. He still owed a huge debt and was waiting to strike it big.
“But earlier on that middle aged cultivator said Foundation Establishment cultivators can't enter.” Yun Jiuge commented.
“Don't listen to his nonsense.” Wanli Mingxuan gave a look of disdain. If Foundation Establishment cultivators could not enter, then why were they still so eager to help a.s.semble Qi Refining cultivators for the Zhong Provincial Alliance?
Yun Jiuge pondered for a moment, then looked at the invisible Zi Shang who sat beside her.
The Liu Sisters followed her gaze involuntarily. Even though they could not see anything, deep down they still felt a little nervous.
“Go.” Zi Shang nodded.
“Alright. In that case we shall stay put and a.s.sess the situation first!” With Zi Shang around, what was there to be afraid of?
“That's great.” The Liu Sisters nodded their heads in exhilaration.
Although the sisters spoke confidently, truthfully they would definitely be unwilling to leave the place just like that.
“In three days' time, it will be the a.s.sembly of the Zhong Provincial Alliance. Just follow me when that time comes.” Wanli Mingxuan had already inquired about the news.
He felt that he was very fortunate to have met these three people, otherwise he would have to spend a lot of effort entering the ruins.
For the next three days, whenever Yun Jiuge and the Liu Sisters went out to gather information, they would always b.u.mp into Foundation Establishment cultivators trying to hire them to go to the site.
Some were easier to refuse, like that well-mannered swordsman.
Others were overbearing and directly threatened them with all kinds of persecution. Wanli Mingxuan would then help them out at those moments.
Fortunately, fighting was forbidden in the Building Complex, otherwise, there would be countless loss of lives.
Besides gathering information, the three also went searching for treasures in the Zhong Province Building Complex.
Many Foundation Establishment cultivators who robbed or picked up things that they didn't want, would sell them at the free market in the west of Zhong Province, which was much cheaper than at Ze Yun Street.
Of course, there was a high possibility of encountering fakes during a treasure hunt. But Yun Jiuge had extraordinary judgment which could always spot a genuine or fake treasure at a single glance.
For example, the string of coral earrings that Liu Mei'er held in her hand was said to have been worn by a succubus, which could increase the ability of one's seduction technique…