Chapter 1002: Coming to the Door

News of a Hollow Spirit state cultivator's theft from a Golden Core cultivator spread rapidly. However, the thief, after entering Mo Yue, neither refuted the accusations nor reappeared. The reason was obvious: Mo Yue had silently eliminated him.

No faction dared underestimate an entity capable of such a feat, especially considering the thief had been accompanied by five Nascent Soul state cultivators. Speculation regarding Mo Yue's true strength soared, fueling widespread fear. While Hollow Spirit cultivators held little sway in the South Peace State, they reigned supreme in the North Far State.

“Are you certain he never left Mo Yue?” a middle-aged man at the city lord's estate inquired of a manager-like cultivator.

The manager replied respectfully, “Yes, my lord. Upon his arrival, Mo Yue's representatives sought our assistance. I informed them of your instructions to remain uninvolved. They offered no objection and departed immediately.”

“Interesting,” the middle-aged man murmured, his eyes narrowing. This marked the second time he'd used that word regarding the Golden Core cultivator.

The manager cautiously asked, “Should we investigate Mo Yue's situation, my lord?”

The middle-aged man remained silent for a moment before asking, “You confirmed the robbery was documented, and that the conditions imposed on the Yang Hai Merchant Association—departure from Pei Hai City and a hundred million top-grade spirit stones in compensation—were recorded?”

“Yes, my lord,” the manager affirmed.

The middle-aged man nodded. “Then we need not rush. A Golden Core cultivator slaying a Hollow Spirit cultivator with formations is impressive, but not enough to warrant a personal visit. Let us observe the Yang Hai Merchant Association's response.”

As he spoke, an alluring woman entered, announcing, “City Lord, Manager Wang, representatives from the Yang Hai Merchant Association request an audience.”

The middle-aged man chuckled. “Inform them of our previous message to Mo Yue.” Pausing, he addressed Manager Wang, “Investigate this Ye Mo. The name rings a bell.”

The Yang Hai Merchant Association's arrival, however, was not for vengeance; they rejected Mo Yue's terms.

Ye Mo refrained from demanding reparations, aware of the Yang Hai Merchant Association's remaining two Nascent Soul cultivators—a level three and a level two. He would wait until Li Jingwen and Li Yuqian reached Nascent Soul levels two and three; with their soul essence and blue carrot pills, this wouldn't take long.

The situation largely reverted to its previous state, the only significant change being the Yang Hai Merchant Association's dwindling business, while Mo Yue remained unchanged.

Ye Mo resumed solitary cultivation, this time focusing on a breakthrough rather than pill concoction. Possessing nine Heaven Glory Pills, he aimed to reach the Golden Core peak stage swiftly.

Mo Qianli's storage ring held a Heaven-grade evil soul strand cultivation method and several high-grade materials, yet lacked even a million top-grade spirit stones.

Ye Mo perused the cultivation method, a horrifying practice involving the cultivation of live souls. Each soul strand was formed from countless innocent lives—a testament to Mo Qianli's cruelty. Ye Mo, abhorring such methods, reduced the text to dust, cursing Mo Qianli's poverty.

Ao Qilong's storage ring, however, proved significantly more lucrative, containing over two million top-grade spirit stones and a vast quantity of pills. "This young master of the Ao Cheng Merchant Association was quite wealthy," Ye Mo mused.

The Hollow Spirit cultivator's storage ring, however, dwarfed Ao Qilong's, containing over fifty million top-grade spirit stones. Ye Mo surmised it held the majority of the Yang Hai Merchant Association's assets, much like Chi Hong's.

He also discovered a level seven fire dragon rune, a significant find capable of slaying primary Nascent Soul cultivators and defending against tertiary ones. The accompanying spirit herbs were of levels five and six.

After organizing his newfound wealth, Ye Mo began consuming the Heaven Glory Pills. He immediately felt the difference from his spirit crystal pills—a smoother, more potent flow of spiritual energy without the volatility and side effects.

A month later, Ye Mo reached Golden Core level six. After consolidating his power, he received word of a visitor. Knowing the visitor's importance, given his earlier instructions to avoid disturbances, he received the guest.

In the reception room sat a man in his sixties, emanating immense pressure.

“You are Ye Mo?” the old man asked plainly, a hint of disappointment in his expression.

Ye Mo recognized a Hollow Spirit cultivator, though far stronger than the one from the Yang Hai Merchant Association—at least a tertiary, possibly peak-stage cultivator.

“Indeed, I am Ye Mo. What is your business, senior?” Ye Mo responded calmly.

The old man nodded. “You are the new Pill Concoction Hall of Fame's number one, the pill master who refined the Spirit Weaving Pill by incorporating Spirit Attraction Grass?”

Ye Mo calmly sat, his composure unwavering in the face of the Hollow Spirit cultivator. The old man's disappointment lessened.

“Remarkable. To utilize spirit chi whirlpools to incorporate Spirit Attraction Grass into the Spirit Weaving Pill at your age is extraordinary,” the old man conceded, producing a herb and placing it before Ye Mo. “Do you recognize this spirit herb?”

“Level seven Spirit Recovery Vine,” Ye Mo identified immediately. The main ingredient for the Spirit Recovery Pill, notoriously difficult to integrate. Its presence clearly signaled a request for Ye Mo's services.