Chapter 56 — Determination

Pei Xu's expression turned grave. "It's not without reason. Third Brother has been complaining for some time that spirit grain prices are soaring—there were signs of it. What do you think?"

For the first time Xin Yan stopped. He nodded: "I think it's real."

"Why?"

"Demon hunting grows harder and harder." Xin Yan said: "On the market, demon beast inner cores grow fewer and fewer, and the price has multiplied several times over."

"I'd forgotten—you also craft artifacts." Pei Xu nodded in agreement. "Fewer and fewer are willing to hunt demons, true enough. Even the Jinwei Sect has turned its direction toward searching out new realms."

As they spoke, worry filled their words. Three thousand years ago, when the cultivators routed the demons and monsters, the surviving demon masters used their own flesh and blood as a lure, the Seven Middle Realms as the axis, and the forty-nine lesser realms as a screen, forging the Dutian Blood Realm. Within the Dutian Blood Realm spiritual power was scarce, greatly to the cultivators' disadvantage, while the demons and monsters were unaffected—which made the Dutian Blood Realm the defense line the demons trusted most.

Yet across those three thousand years the cultivators had never ceased their assaults on the Dutian Blood Realm, and it had become a fixed battlefield where countless cultivators made their names.

Many things about demons and monsters were rare materials for cultivators—for artifact crafting, pill refining, and spirit cooking, all of great use. The fiercer the demon, the higher its value; and so many went straight for the demons. Such activity even had a name of its own: demon hunting.

Yet for a long while now, fewer and fewer cultivators hunted demons. Demon masters kept emerging, and the casualties among demon hunters were grievous. The risk was too high and the returns shrinking, which caused the number of cultivators joining demon hunts to plummet.

And in recent years the cultivators' range of activity in the Dutian Blood Realm had retreated step by step, while demons launching attacks on cultivators of their own initiative had become an occasional occurrence. Every sign indicated that the demons had recovered their strength.

All far-sighted cultivators were full of anxiety.

If the demons once drove the cultivators out of the Dutian Blood Realm, that would mean they could launch attacks on the cultivators at any time!

There was no room for peace talks between cultivators and demons. Three thousand years ago the cultivators had all but slaughtered the demons; only now had they regained their vitality, and the hatred between the two sides was as deep as the sea.

If a great war like that of three thousand years ago broke out again, not a single cultivator could remain untouched.

"He wants to hold a Dongfu Sword Trial? Why would Tian Songzi mention Zuo Jin's name?" Xin Yan asked. "He's only a spirit planter."

In the letter Tian Songzi had sent Pei Xu, he said he intended to hold a sword trial, and in it he had made special mention of Wei Sheng's and Zuo Jin's names.

"I don't know." Pei Xu smiled bitterly. "Probably the business with the Golden Crow Pill has made too much noise lately and caught Tian Songzi's attention. By the way, what do you make of that young man Yu Bai?"

"Quite good. Better than Luo Li."

"And compared to Wei Sheng?"

"Hard to say."

"It seems Tian Songzi's line has successors too." Pei Xu said idly: "I hear Zuo Meitian's disciple is no slouch either. If a Dongfu Sword Trial really is held, it might be interesting."

Xin Yan said nothing and began drinking cup after cup again. After a while he raised his head: "You agreed?"

"No hurry. We must wait for Wei Sheng to come out of the Sword Cave, and the sect trials are close at hand besides." Pei Xu smiled. "Have you heard about the business between Luo Li and Zuo Jin?"

"A win without honor," Xin Yan said, spitting out four words.

"Haha, that's true enough." Pei Xu laughed heartily, and only after a good while said: "Luo Li's talent is fine, but a pity his character falls short. If only he could be like Wei Sheng..."

Xin Yan rolled his eyes. "Don't be greedy."

"Haha..." Pei Xu burst out laughing again.