The Tongshan Dao Lineage, a group of four, returned to the sect.
Demon-slaying Peak
Inside the grand hall
Zhang Jian recounted a portion of the encounter in the Xiyue Grotto Heaven and left behind a map of its exploration.
The core Immortal Palace of the Xiyue Grotto Heaven had already been taken by him, but many secret places still held significant exploration value.
"I didn't expect your exploration to yield such great results!"
Tie Xin Daoist listened from the side, his heart also yearning.
Especially upon learning that True Monarch Zijing had obtained the Heaven-Reaching Wood Spirit Vine, his eyes were filled with envy.
True Monarch Zhanmo's keen eyes fell on Zhang Jian, with an expression as if smiling yet not, for she understood Zhang Jian well and suspected he had concealed many gains in this exploration.
It was certainly not just a Tier Two Immortal Treasure as he claimed.
After a moment of thought, True Monarch Zhanmo asked.
"Then, how do you plan to deal with those demon gods?"
Zhang Jian slightly smiled and replied, "I heard the Mountain and Sea Tower and the Treasure Tower are willing to buy live Divine Beasts, and these demon gods are live Divine Beasts, so they should fetch a decent price!"
A gleam of sharpness appeared in Zhang Jian's eyes.
These demon gods had ambushed and robbed cultivators, leading to the downfall of several sects' Primordial Spirit Masters. Now that he had captured them all, it was a case of giving them a taste of their own medicine.
True Monarch Zhanmo pondered before saying.
"Selling to those middlemen might lead to price suppression. Have you considered selling to the sect instead? The sect currently lacks strong figures, and controlling these demon gods can fill the void left by the absence of some sect Primordial Spirit Masters!"
"Oh, the sect is also willing to take them?"
A gleam appeared in Zhang Jian's eyes.
True Monarch Zhanmo smiled and said, "Of course, most of these demon gods have the bodies of Divine Beasts or Ancient Fierce Beasts. Their essence blood is a treasure, and for sect cultivators who practice Divine Beast Primordial Spirits, these can't be bought!"
Zhang Jian thought for a moment and said, "In that case, I'll hand them over to the sect, but Master, please secure a good price for your disciple. I now have a large family and business, desperately needing spirit crystals!"
True Monarch Zhanmo laughed.
"Rest assured, as your master I will certainly get you a good price!"
Zhang Jian felt at ease, knowing with True Monarch Zhanmo's involvement, these Divine Beasts wouldn't go to waste.
He added, "By the way, Master, the sect should have a dedicated place for Alchemy. I wish to request the sect's alchemist to refine a batch of elixirs. Could you recommend someone?"
True Monarch Zhanmo glanced at Zhang Jian with bright eyes and couldn't help but inquire.
"Ah Yu, what kind of elixirs do you wish to refine?"
Zhang Jian thought for a moment and said, "Master, during the exploration, I acquired several Taiyin Star Souls and wish to refine some Taiyin Golden Cores. These elixirs are of the Heaven and Earth Divine Object level, likely needing a top-tier alchemist to refine..."
The Taiyin Star Soul is a Heaven and Earth Divine Object level material; it can fortify a cultivator's soul, Yin Spirit, and even Primordial Spirit Origin. This material is exceptionally pure with no side effects.
Zhang Jian hoped to refine it into Taiyin Golden Cores.
From the Xiyue Sword Sect's legacy, he knew these Taiyin Golden Cores not only enhance the power of the Primordial Spirit but also improve one's affinity with the Taiyin Attribute and Profound Ice Attribute, making them the best auxiliary elixirs for cultivating the Taiyin Dao Body and Ice Attribute Dao Body.
Zhang Jian also considered Empress Bai.
True Monarch Zhanmo's eyes brightened.
"How many Taiyin Star Souls do you have?"
Facing True Monarch Zhanmo's shining eyes, Zhang Jian immediately felt a headache. He held up two fingers.
"Twenty pieces!"
"So many?"
True Monarch Zhanmo's voice showed surprise. Realizing her lapse, she gazed at Zhang Jian with cold, surprised eyes.
"Did you find a Taiyin Star Soul ore vein?"
Zhang Jian shook his head repeatedly, modestly saying.
"Master, it was all luck!"
Not only did he find a Taiyin Star Soul ore vein.
Under the Taiyin Treasure Tree, there were countless Taiyin Star Souls piled up, at least several hundred. Adding the Immortal Palace's reserves, there were over a thousand.
Zhang Jian maintained a modest demeanor, though he thought that saying twenty might have been too much.
True Monarch Zhanmo scrutinized Zhang Jian, then gave a cold snort.
"You wicked disciple, still hiding things from your master!"
Zhang Jian laughed and said, "Master, it truly was good luck!"
True Monarch Zhanmo glanced at him and said, "Not a single truthful word from your mouth!"
She thought for a moment and then said, "Fine, leave the Taiyin Star Souls. I'll find an alchemist for you, but sect alchemists usually take a cut, generally two to three percent commission, which is better than the four or five percent outside. Keep this in mind!"
Zhang Jian was taken aback and said, "Alchemy is indeed lucrative!"
True Monarch Zhanmo coolly replied, "Alchemy burns money, so commissions are needed. Otherwise, why would anyone spend cultivation time on refining elixirs for you? Stop dreaming!"
Zhang Jian nodded in agreement.
However, he resolved in his mind that the Great Xia Dynasty should also try to cultivate its own alchemists and artifact refiners.
But cultivating alchemists and artifact refiners requires burning money and establishing large areas of spirit fields and medicinal fields, otherwise, it wouldn't be sustainable for them.
With a wave of his hand, twenty jade boxes appeared in mid-air, which he then moved in front of True Monarch Zhanmo.
True Monarch Zhanmo casually took them. After opening a few and giving them a quick scan, a hint of surprise flashed deep in her eyes, and she said.
"Come to the sect in three months to collect the elixirs!"
…
After making arrangements with True Monarch Zhanmo, Zhang Jian handed over the twelve captured demon gods to her, then returned to Haojing City with the Taiyin Fairy.