Isn't This a Game? Why Are You All Cultivating for Real!

Chapter 113: Chapter 113: Who Exactly is Doomed?

Both of them had ulterior motives, so they didn’t mind that Song Jiulai didn’t take out a Magic Treasure.

Only after Song Jiulai struck the same spot three times with lightning did the scent of something burning rise from the Nine Netherworld Spider’s back.

Its cries became shrill and piercing. It lowered its body, and the razor-sharp hairs on its back transformed into a dense barrage of silk threads that shot toward the three Cultivators.

As Song Jiulai dodged, she shrieked internally at her system, ’Damn, this thing’s hide is tough! It took three strikes just to barely break its defense!’

Those three Palm Thunder strikes had consumed most of her Spiritual Energy.

The system replied, "It’s good enough. You haven’t even started practicing the Middle Stage techniques, and you haven’t fully mastered the Initial Stage ones yet. If you had, your attacks would be even more powerful."

Meanwhile, Lü Rufeng used his Snake Shadow Flying Wheel to slash through most of the silk threads as he dodged, while Yi Tianhe hid behind him, launching Fireballs to help burn them away.

A single type of Cultivation Technique had little effect on the silk, so Song Jiulai also cast Fireballs as she ran, burning the threads away.

The silk threads were densely packed, regenerating the instant they were severed.

Song Jiulai vaguely recalled that the Nine Netherworld Spider’s silk could infest a Cultivator on contact.

Her scalp tingled at the thought.

While Song Jiulai scrambled to dodge, Lü Rufeng and Yi Tianhe still managed to spare a glance in her direction.

Yi Tianhe whispered, "Which Sect is he from, anyway?"

The Fireballs looked to be about the same size, but Yi Tianhe couldn’t shake the feeling that Song Jiulai was burning through the silk threads faster than she was.

"Hard to say. Either the Blood Prison Sect or the Heavenly Crane Sect," Lü Rufeng guessed carelessly, his expression grave. "It’ll probably take some effort to deal with him later. Should we keep wasting time here? What if we run into those people from the Extreme Saint Sect..."

Yi Tianhe gritted her teeth. "We’ve already started. We can’t give up halfway. We’re taking both the demon beast and the Spirit Grass."

This Secret Realm had one feature that set it apart from others—a particularly nasty rule.

There was a limit to the number of Elixir Pills that could be carried in a Jiezidai.

Otherwise, the Major Sects could just brute-force their way through by bringing a massive supply.

Yi Tianhe and her partner had brought plenty of Elixir Pills, but they needed to save most of them for potential fights against Cultivators from other Sects.

They had only "cooperated" with Song Jiulai because he was alone, and they figured their odds in a two-on-one fight were excellent.

That’s right—the two of them never had any intention of splitting the spoils with Song Jiulai.

Once he was sufficiently worn down, they would team up and knock him out of the Secret Realm.

’This is a Secret Realm, after all. It’s all about snatching things. As long as they’re not from your own Sect, even lethal force is fine. They’ll just be rescued and sent out anyway.’

Just then, they saw Song Jiulai burn an opening through the silk threads. The Nine Netherworld Spider, that damn beast, saw that Song Jiulai was a tough target and turned more of its silk attacks toward them instead.

The pressure on Yi Tianhe instantly doubled.

Since the pair hadn’t intended to use their full strength, they were now feeling the strain.

Lü Rufeng’s eyes darkened. He shouted, "Song, a little help! Can you draw its attention? I have a plan."

Song Jiulai glanced over and replied in a clear voice, "Alright!"

With that, she moved toward them and sent two large Fireballs their way, drastically reducing the pressure on Lü Rufeng.

Yi Tianhe was a little surprised.

’Is this Cultivator really so straightforward?’

As her eyes darted about, she felt a rare pang of guilt.

’If we make a mortal enemy out of him...’

’But Secret Realms have always been like this. It would be better to just let the Nine Netherworld Spider get him eliminated.’

Meanwhile, Song Jiulai was already having her players buy Fourth Rank medicinal pills for her.

The system also prompted her: "It seems this Secret Realm limits the number of Elixir Pills you can carry. You should list some of your Second Rank ones for sale."

Song Jiulai was currently carrying a large number of Second-tier Elixir Pills.

But with her cultivation level on the rise, Second-tier Elixir Pills weren’t as effective as they used to be; she needed to stock up on Third Rank ones.

However, Third Rank pills were terribly expensive.

Previously, Song Jiulai had been frugal, painstakingly saving up just a couple of them. But now that she’d just come into a fortune, and with no telling how long the Secret Realm event would last, she was ready to spend whatever was necessary. It was time to splurge on Elixir Pills.

A single Fourth-rank Blood Replenishing Pill already cost one Mid-grade Spirit Stone, and a Qi Replenishing Pill was double that—two Mid-grade Spirit Stones.

A single pill could instantly restore her to peak condition.

Even if taking multiple pills resulted in wasted overflow, it would still keep her energy completely full.

The cost was irrelevant. For her current Late-stage Qi Refining cultivation, the effects were top-tier. They were even considered a luxury for Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Besides...

She had a feeling that shifty-eyed pair was up to no good.

Don’t ask why she felt that way; she was just always on her guard.

’It would be best if they didn’t try anything. But if they did...’

The moment the players saw their Sect Master needed a large supply of medicinal pills, they knew she was probably in a fight. Since they were right next to Wang’an County, they bought some Third-stage Qi Replenishing Pills and a few Fourth-rank Qi Replenishing Pills. Han Tian bought a few more for her from near the Taohua Sect.

The staff at the Medicine Workshop in Wang’an County weren’t without their suspicions. The owner remarked with a casual smile, "Your Sect’s business seems to be doing well lately. You can even afford Fourth-rank Elixirs now."

Fan Guzhou, who had come to buy the pills, wore a matter-of-fact expression. "Of course. Many of our Sect Disciples have gone to First Mountain for training, and my Spiritual Wine is selling all the way in Liu Xian City."

Upon hearing this, the Medicine Workshop owner’s suspicions vanished.

’No wonder.’

Fan Guzhou’s Spiritual Wine business was indeed booming. The owner had been around long enough to know just how wealthy he was.

Rumor had it that his sales had even reached the Taohua Sect.

Still, he commented, "Second and Third Rank pills are sufficient for your Qi Refining Middle Stage. Buying Fourth Rank is a bit of a waste."

Fan Guzhou didn’t even blink. "We’re planning a long training expedition to Demon Cave Valley. We need to hire a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to help."

The owner’s eyes lit up in understanding.

’The Longevity Sect really knows how to do business.’

’But using Fourth-rank Elixirs to hire a Cultivator is so extravagant.’

’Then again, that’s how you create a virtuous cycle.’

’Look at their Sect Disciples, so bold.’

Many Loose Cultivators wouldn’t dare to be as ambitious as the Longevity Sect.

’Still, these disciples were always a bit odd.’

The Medicine Workshop owner narrowed his eyes. He was just a Loose Cultivator running a branch shop in Wang’an County; his life was what it was. It was best not to say too much.

Song Jiulai now had eight Fourth-rank Elixirs and over a dozen Third Rank ones in her bag.

She finally felt a little more at ease.

Her teamwork with Lü Rufeng and Yi Tianhe was still effective. They were all experienced demon beast hunters. The Nine Netherworld Spider was fast, but as long as they could react in time, they could fight it.

After unleashing two consecutive waves of silk, the Nine Netherworld Spider’s strength had clearly waned. Song Jiulai swallowed a Third-stage Qi Replenishing Pill to restore her own depleted Spiritual Energy.

Lü Rufeng and Yi Tianhe, however, had no intention of taking any.

They had to save their Elixir Pills; for now, they would conserve every last one they could.

Seeing Song Jiulai casually take an Elixir Pill, the pair grew even more wary of him.

Though they didn’t know who he really was, the Fourth-rank Spiritual Grass and the Nine Netherworld Spider’s corpse were both valuable treasures. There was no way they were going to pass them up.

Meanwhile, outside the Secret Realm, the fight between the Blood Prison Sect and the Extreme Saint Sect shown on the Water Mirror finally ended. A disciple from each sect was kicked out, spitting blood, and promptly hauled away by men at the behest of a grim-faced elder.

The Water Mirror immediately shifted its view to Song Jiulai’s location.

Seeing the scene of three people working together to fight a Third-stage Demon Beast, some in the crowd gasped.

"Hey, isn’t that Lü Rufeng and Yi Tianhe?"

"That infamous couple from the Supreme Mysterious Sect?"

"...And isn’t the Cultivator with them that ugly fellow we saw earlier?"

"Three Cultivators against one Nine Netherworld Spider... oh, and a Fourth-rank Spiritual Grass is there too. How are they going to split that?"

"What Sect is that Cultivator from? Teaming up with those two... isn’t he completely screwed?"