Founding a sect was too time-consuming and effort-intensive. He was only doing it for fun and was unwilling to invest much time and energy into it. His plan was to take the benefits and leave.

The Western Wasteland Domain wasn't surrounded by seas like Star Pole Island, which had no external enemies and was thus less vulnerable.

Any sect that wanted to develop had to snatch food from the tiger's mouth and dare to contend.

It wasn't just about grabbing resources; even mortals had to be snatched.

Setting up a sect could easily lead to attachments. Once one's blood ran hot with the desire to expand and strengthen the sect, it was hard to guarantee that no variables would arise.

Jia Ren hesitated for a moment but still chose to look for a sect in the Tianxing Sect's territory, for the convenience of attaching himself to one.

With his mind made up, he wouldn't stay in the Qunxing Archipelago any longer.

He concealed his aura and quietly arrived at Qingzhu Island.

Qingzhu Island was set up with many Formations. The Caves of Star Pole Island served as a distraction, and the attention of Thousand Mountains Sect was not drawn to the remote Qingzhu Island.

Jia Ren first went to the fish pond, where dozens of large Phoenix Flame Tail Fish swam back and forth. The majority had reached the peak of Second Order and were on the verge of breaking through to Third Rank.

Once they successfully broke through to Third Rank, they would become one of the important materials for the Demon-Sealing Tower Treasure.

Leaving the fish pond, he proceeded to the Insect Breeding Room and the Spirit Beast Nest.

Seven Thunder Rhino Beasts had reached the mid-phase of Second Order, making good progress, and the Spirit Insects had improved significantly.

The population of Puppet Demon Insects had surged, and controlling tens of thousands of Corpse Refiners would be no problem.

The large number of Corpse Refiners, previously treated as mere decorations, finally had a use.

The last stop was the Medicinal Garden. It occupied the area of Qingzhu Island richest in Spiritual Energy, with Spiritual Medicine planted all around.

Not far away, several bulging River Mountain Bags contained harvested Spiritual Medicines that had matured.

New Spiritual Medicines were planted in the spots where others had been harvested, in an endless cycle.

Jia Ren picked a few kinds of Spiritual Medicine necessary for Alchemy from the garden, taking the rest with him.

"Are you leaving the Qunxing Archipelago?"

Zhang Peng Peng, who had observed the conflict, was worried. She wanted to go out but feared exposing Qingzhu Island.

Decades of groundwork were laid here, cultivating a great quantity of Spiritual Medicine. The consequences of exposure would be unthinkable.

"This place is my foundation; I cannot give up Qingzhu Island. You continue as the Star Pole Island Talisman Hall Master, and I'll have someone else take over as Island Master."

As long as he left, taking the attention of others with him, the Qunxing Archipelago would be relatively safe.

"I want to go with you…" Zhang Peng Peng quickly spoke up.

She was accustomed to moving. The Qunxing Archipelago was where she had lived the longest, and parting with it wasn't easy...

"Guard the Medicinal Garden for me and cultivate in peace."

"I'll return after a few years away."

Jia Ren didn't plan to take Zhang Peng Peng with him. The Star Pole Island Talisman Hall Master's sudden disappearance would make it too easy for others to suspect her as one of his close confidants. They could then potentially use Zhang Peng Peng to track him down.

Traveling with her to the Western Wasteland Domain would be inconvenient.

It was better to leave her to continue guarding Qingzhu Island and the Medicinal Garden.

Jia Ren left a batch of Elixirs for Zhang Peng Peng's cultivation as compensation for managing the garden.

Unfortunately, the space in the Mountain and River Pearl is not enough.

As his foundation grew larger, one Mountain and River Pearl was far from sufficient. He needed to either find more White Jade Pearls to refine into Mountain and River Pearls or to create a Cave-Heaven Magical Treasure.

If his second Life-bound Magic Treasure were a Cave-Heaven Magical Treasure, its space would expand continuously as he refined it, offering an enormous mobile Cave.

This meant… his second Life-bound Magic Treasure wouldn't greatly enhance his combat power.

Enhance combat power?

Jia Ren's goal was longevity, not to engage in fierce battles; Spells and offensive Magical Treasures were merely means of self-protection and defending his path.

A mobile Cave that made farming, breeding, beast taming, and carrying things around convenient was what he truly desired.

Not having a protective Life-bound Magic Treasure that grew with him was, ultimately, a significant regret...

Could both be combined into one? Creating an offensive Cave-Heaven Magical Treasure?

Knocking on people's heads with a 'Cave'?!

Indeed, it was impossible at the Magic Artifact stage, but for Magical Treasures… the possibility was not entirely out of reach.

Jia Ren's heart surged with excitement, and a myriad of thoughts filled his mind.

In addition to refining the Demon-Suppressing Tower Treasure, he also had to consider if there was a method to craft a second Life-bound Magic Treasure.

It seemed he had thought of something as he opened the Town Demon Alliance's exchange list, searching for methods to craft Magical Treasures.

The Town Demon Alliance shared only a few methods for crafting Magical Treasures. Besides the much-desired Demon-Sealing Tower, there were also methods for crafting the Suppressing Ghost Exterminating Evil Sword and the Merit Golden Bell.

All three were Magical Treasures designed for dealing with Bizarre Demons, corresponding to suppression, extermination and suppression, and protection, respectively.

The intention of the Town Demon Alliance was evident. They only wanted the Great Sects to combat Bizarre Demons, hence they provided crafting methods for these types of Magical Treasures.

Methods for crafting other types of Magical Treasures?

The Town Demon Alliance did not provide those.

There were no shortcuts to crafting Cave-Heaven Magical Treasures, and the two Inscriptions of Magical Treasures he possessed were probably not enough to support an entire Magical Treasure.

He would have to take things one step at a time, prioritizing the crafting of his first Life-bound Magic Treasure.

Jia Ren stored the Spirit Fish into the Mountain and River Pearl, and the Magical Beasts and Spirit Insects into a River Mountain Bag, then quickly disappeared.

"Sect Master, you can't go!"

The three Deputy Island Masters, upon hearing that Xu Yi was leaving and leaving behind the Town Demon League Command Token, were filled with a mix of happiness and concern.

They were happy because their positions as Deputy Island Masters could become official, allowing them to rightfully control both the Qunxing Archipelago and Star Pole Island.

They were concerned because the situation with the Corpse Demon Sect was unknown. With the Island Master and five Corpse Refiners absent, how could Star Pole Island confront the Corpse Demon Sect?

The thriving Star Pole Island could soon become an insignificant sect.

"If you three are unwilling to become the Sect Master, I can offer the position to someone else."

The Insect External Incarnation couldn't be bothered to address the three. If you don't want the position of Island Master of Star Pole Island, there are plenty of others who would fight tooth and nail for it.

With that matter quickly dealt with, he left the Qunxing Archipelago in front of everyone.

Not long after the Insect External Incarnation took flight, he saw his original body waiting from afar. He transformed into a hundred Sonic-Thief Mosquito Kings and flew into the Mountain and River Bag in his sleeve, disappearing.

"It's time to leave!"

Jia Ren departed on his sword, disappearing with a Sword Qi Thunder Sound.

After reaching the Golden Core Stage, his strength was incomparably greater than before. Without the aid of the Divine Wind Talisman, he could attain the speed of Sword Qi Thunder Sound purely by relying on his Extraordinary Saint Level Sword Control Technique.

Combined with the Divine Wind Talisman, his speed could increase by more than three times.

He made his way swiftly toward the southwest of the Western Wasteland Domain.

...

"Hehe, get out! This Green Gold Ore Vein is Yunluo Manor's!" A group of dozens of Cultivators gathered, most of them Qi Refining Cultivators, led by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Hmph, does Yunluo Manor think it can compete with Qi Qiao Pavilion for a Spirit Stone Vein? Are you worthy?"

The Cultivators from Qi Qiao Pavilion were slightly fewer in number, putting them at a disadvantage.

With a wave of their hands, hundreds of human-shaped and beast-shaped puppets appeared, securing a numerical superiority.

Who would win and who would lose still remained to be determined through battle.

Just at that moment, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators from both sides seemed to sense something. They lifted their heads to the sky, their expressions changing slightly.

A handsome youth wearing a cyan Taoist robe stopped his sword, his gaze sweeping over the Cultivators from both sides, "Is this Starfall Mountain?"

No sooner had he spoken than a thunderous noise came from behind him.

Sword Qi Thunder Sound!

The person arrived first, the sound followed.

This showed the individual's fearsome speed.

If he had intended to kill, they wouldn't have been able to react before their deaths.

A Golden Core Sword Cultivator?!

Is this person from the Sword Washing Pavilion or the Profound Heaven Sword Sect?!

"Reporting to Senior, this is indeed Starfall Mountain," the Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Yunluo Manor hastily replied, his attitude respectful.

Finally arrived!

The newcomer was Jia Ren, who had been traveling via sword flight for nearly half a month from the Qunxing Archipelago to Starfall Mountain.

Starfall Mountain had belonged to Tianxing Sect. After its collapse, various powers, large and small, vied for its territory. It was currently unclear which power controlled it.

"Are you from Qi Qiao Pavilion and Yunluo Manor?"

The Golden Core Cultivator, with his keen hearing and sharp eyes, had clearly heard every word of the standoff.

He had never heard of Qi Qiao Pavilion or Yunluo Manor before; they must be insignificant minor sects, lacking even a Town Demon League Command Token.

"Are your two sects recruiting?!"

It didn't matter that they lacked a Town Demon League Command Token. As long as he could become the Sect Master, and the sect had a Golden Core Cultivator, they should be able to receive a Town Demon League Command Token from the Town Demon Alliance.

"Does Senior wish to send his younger kin to join? Yunluo Manor would be willing!"

Understanding the unspoken implications, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Yunluo Manor didn't mind forming a connection with a Golden Core Cultivator, hoping to cultivate some goodwill.

"Qi Qiao Pavilion is not weak and specializes in the art of mechanisms! Yunluo Manor is broad but not deep; Senior should not lead his descendants astray."

Qi Qiao Pavilion didn't want to miss this opportunity and pointed out Yunluo Manor's shortcomings.

"Qi Qiao Pavilion deals in ingenious contraptions and artifice, which are ultimately external aids. One's own cultivation is what truly matters. Yunluo Manor has numerous Cultivation Techniques, both diverse and profound; that is the true path."

The two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, competing to recruit the Golden Core Cultivator's kin, launched into verbal assaults, their exchange quickly becoming a heated argument.

"Ahem, pardon the interruption, but I'm not looking to have my kin join a sect. Rather… is your sect perhaps lacking a Sect Master?"

"I could join your sect and become the Sect Master."

The Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Yunluo Manor and Qi Qiao Pavilion stood dumbfounded, falling into a prolonged silence. They looked at Jia Ren with complex and strange expressions.

If a Golden Core Cultivator wished to be an honored guest within their sect, not meddling in internal affairs and only willing to act as a capable enforcer, both sects would naturally be more than willing.

But to casually hand over the position of Sect Master to a stranger?

Who knew if it would be like inviting a wolf into the fold, potentially leading to the sect's destruction?!

This was a risk no one dared to take.

"We will immediately contact… the Sect Master and give you a response."

Two Sound Transmission Talismans flew into the distance and disappeared.

The two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, usually skilled in debate, fell silent, and an awkward silence ensued.

Before long, the Sound Transmission Talismans returned. Both men showed embarrassed yet polite smiles, "We must disappoint Senior. Our Sect Master still intends to expand the sect and has no plans to change leadership."

"Senior might want to try other sects…"

Indeed, the addition of a Golden Core powerhouse was tempting, but no one would willingly hand over a sect they had painstakingly managed for hundreds of years to someone else.

They would become eternal traitors to their sect!

Even minor sects lacking any Golden Core Cultivators would be unwilling to simply hand over leadership to him. Trying to take over a sect that already possessed Golden Core Cultivators would face even greater resistance.

Taking over a sect was not an easy task.

You can't force things; if the disciples' hearts aren't in it, the sect will fall apart.

If one place doesn't want me, another will!

Jia Ren refused to believe he wouldn't find a sect willing to let him be the Sect Master!

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