Record of a Demon's Cultivation Chapter 1247: Gu Master Exchange Conference

Translator: CinderTL

[Senior Bai Wei, please lend this junior a hand, considering I once risked my life to save you.] Song Wen’s plea contained an implicit demand, as if expecting repayment for a past favor.

[Let me consider it. Return now and diligently cultivate your spiritual power. Remember, condensing and purifying your spiritual power will be of great benefit for your advancement to body integration.] Bai Wei did not refuse Song Wen outright, instead offering him pertinent counsel.

Bai Wei’s words brought to Song Wen’s mind the Peak Void Refinement corpse cultivator from Six Fiends Hall whose cultivation he had absorbed.

That cultivator possessed exceptionally pure and profound spiritual power.

Looking back now, Song Wen realized that individual had likely been on the verge of advancing to body integration.

Thank you for your guidance, Senior. This junior shall heed your teachings. However, concerning your insights on breaking through to the Body Integration Stage, I implore you to consider my request. Whatever conditions you set, I will endeavor to meet them.

After concluding his communication with Bai Wei, Song Wen retrieved Mi Man’s Communication Jade Slip.

Fellow Daoist Mi Man, it has been many years since our last encounter. Do you still recall me?

[Lei Yue, you’re still alive! Truly, the Heavenly Dao is blind, sparing only the wicked in this world.] Mi Man’s response was sharp and filled with animosity.

[Fellow Daoist, why do you curse me so? We once shared an intimate connection, after all. Have you found another lover in these years, forgetting me, the one who first captured your heart?] Song Wen’s tone was lighthearted and teasing.

"Lei Yue, you’ve ruined my reputation! How dare you spout such nonsense here?" Mi Man snapped. "What do you want from me today?"

Song Wen responded, "Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand my intentions. Our night together, though initiated as a transaction, has lingered in my thoughts ever since. Your face, your every smile—they haunt me, especially during my secluded cultivation. I often find myself involuntarily thinking of you, which disrupts my focus. On several occasions, I nearly suffered a qi deviation."

"Lei Yue, do you believe a few flattering words can fool me?" Mi Man scoffed. "Xu Mengyu was deeply devoted to you. Yet you vanished for decades, leaving her heartbroken for years. If you could treat Xu Mengyu with such disregard, how can I possibly trust any sincerity from you?"

"It appears that you harbor considerable resentment toward me, Fellow Daoist," Song Wen stated. "There are untold stories between Xu Mengyu and me that outsiders cannot possibly comprehend. Your misunderstanding arises from your ignorance of the truth."

"Lei Yue, I have no patience for your explanations," Mi Man retorted. "Get straight to the point: what is it you want from me?"

"Do you happen to know any Gu Cultivators?" Song Wen inquired, abandoning his pretense. "Preferably those who possess fifth-tier or sixth-tier Gu Insects."

After all, Mi Man still had a vulnerability he could exploit. If necessary, he could simply compel her into compliance.

While coercion was not as desirable as willing cooperation, obtaining the information he required was paramount.

[I happen to know of an exchange conference among Gu Masters, where many have cultivated Fifth-Rank Gu Insects. However, they are reluctant to accept newcomers. If you wish to attend, I can vouch for you, but it will come at a cost... one hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones,] Mi Man stated.

Song Wen’s eyes glinted with slight anticipation. It appeared he could transition from coercion to a more agreeable negotiation.

Fellow Daoist, that is an exorbitant amount. One hundred thousand high-grade spirit stones? I cannot afford such a sum. I am prepared to offer one hundred high-grade spirit stones as compensation for your efforts.

[In the Southern Nether Continent, Gu cultivation is inherently secretive. Gu Masters maintain a high degree of caution. Without a trusted guarantor, no outsider would ever be permitted to attend their exchange conferences. Ninety thousand high-grade spirit stones is my absolute lowest price,] Mi Man insisted.

[Merely for the privilege of attending an exchange conference? That is not worth ninety thousand high-grade spirit stones. Five hundred—that is the highest I am willing to go,] Song Wen countered.

Following a period of negotiation, they ultimately reached an agreement for three thousand high-grade spirit stones.

Furthermore, the next exchange conference was slated to occur in seven days, and Mi Man would accompany Song Wen.

Deep into the night, seven days later, Song Wen, concealing his identity as Lei Yue, arrived at a towering mountain three thousand miles beyond Great Tan City, as arranged.

Mi Man was already in attendance when he arrived.

Clad in a pink robe, she emanated an aura akin to a moonlit orchid—fresh, ethereal, and subtly alluring. She tilted her slender, snow-white neck upward, observing Song Wen’s descent from the sky.

"Lei Yue, you are late. It is already half an hour past the Zi hour we agreed upon."

Song Wen materialized a few paces from Mi Man, his intense gaze raking over her.

"After all these years, Daoist Friend Mi Man has only become more radiant. Your beauty could rival even the Moon Palace Goddess herself."

His delay in arrival was due to his distrust of Mi Man. He had arrived five days prior, positioning himself to observe the surroundings. Upon Mi Man's solitary appearance an hour before, he had remained concealed in the shadows, monitoring her for a time before revealing himself.

Mi Man cast a look of disdain toward Song Wen, her voice laced with contempt.

"I am not Xu Mengyu. Your usual ploys will not work on me."

As she began to ascend slowly into the sky, she added, "Follow me. I will guide you to the exchange conference. Once you settle the spirit stones with me, our accounts will be clear."

Following Mi Man’s lead, the two eventually reached a mountain valley situated ten thousand miles away.

A thick fog enveloped the valley, concealing what lay within, yet it proved no obstacle to Shadow Void’s divine sense.

Inside the valley, numerous cultivators, spanning from the Nascent Soul to the Void Refinement stages, were present, each adorned with a mask and accompanied by at least one Gu insect.

Upon receiving this intelligence from Shadow Void, Song Wen instantly let down his guard.

It appeared to be a genuine exchange conference for Gu Masters, and Mi Man had not misled him.

Standing on a narrow passage between two imposing mountains, Mi Man’s gaze was fixed upon the mist ahead. With a fluid motion of her hand, she produced a mask of white porcelain, as delicate as a cicada’s wing, and fitted it over her face.

"You should also wear a mask," she advised. "To prevent unwanted complications, participants at these gatherings typically conceal their true identities."

"Thank you for the reminder, fellow daoist," Song Wen replied, procuring a mask of jet-black iron and fastening it over his visage. He then followed Mi Man along the path, stepping into the swirling mist.

After traversing the mist, which extended several li in thickness, the scene abruptly opened up.

A vast plaza, stretching several li across, unfolded before them.

Two orderly rows of low tables were arranged throughout the plaza.

Dozens of cultivators were seated at these tables, each with either a gu cauldron or a Gu insect placed directly upon the surface.

Others formed small clusters of three to five, congregating around tables to examine each other’s Gu insects.

Positioned at the plaza’s entrance stood a male cultivator in the early Void Refinement stage, his countenance completely obscured by a golden mask shaped like a human face. Only two circular apertures allowed visibility for a pair of slightly clouded pupils.

The cultivator’s eyes landed on Mi Man’s mask, his gaze brightening subtly.

"Miss Yue, it has been some time. I did not anticipate your presence at the exchange conference today."

Mi Man brought her hands together in a fist salute, offering a slight bow.

"Greetings, Senior Feng Mu."

"Miss Yue, such formalities are unnecessary."

The cultivator, identified as Feng Mu, extended his hand as if to lift Mi Man’s, but she adroitly sidestepped, retreating two paces.

Feng Mu’s hand halted mid-air, a flicker of awkwardness crossing his features. Yet, no anger manifested; he simply shifted his attention to Song Wen.

"This fellow daoist appears to be attending the exchange conference for the first time. May I inquire your name?"

Song Wen clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Junior Feng Xin, greetings, Senior."

Given that Mi Man had adopted the alias "Miss Yue," Song Wen naturally chose a fictitious name as well.

Upon hearing this, Mi Man glanced at Song Wen before interjecting, "Senior Brother Feng Xin is my fellow disciple and possesses a profound interest in the Dao of Gu cultivation. He has accompanied me here to broaden his understanding. Would Senior Feng Mu permit his attendance?"

(End of the Chapter)