The streets were bustling with crowds.
Initially, the Four Seas Commerce did not attract much attention, until various factions noticed a large number of spies closely monitoring the every move of the commerce cultivators.
Tang Wu’s mouth was slightly agape. Even at the harbor, he had never seen so many Nascent Soul cultivators.
On the surface alone, there were seven or eight of them, not to mention the Nascent Soul Sword Cultivators from the Five Hidden Sword. Could it be that Li Mo actually had the confidence to take on many at once?
Li Mo still maintained his frail old man demeanor, completely indifferent to the scrutinizing gazes, signaling the commerce cultivators to set up a stall at the street corner to sell wine.
After a few moments of stunned hesitation, the commerce cultivators hurriedly began their preparations.
They could only rely on the jurisdiction of the Five Hidden Sword and the deterrence of Feihong to ensure that no faction dared to blatantly break the rules.
A hundred jars of Corpse Wine were piled together, with the Fetal Heart Wine placed prominently at the top.
Tang Wu did not understand Li Mo’s intentions, but considering that the latter had managed to be promoted to the Nascent Soul Stage while outside, it was impossible for him to be reckless in temperament.
Gritting his teeth, he followed Li Mo’s instructions and called out: "The Four Seas Commerce has newly brewed Fetal Heart Wine, which can aid Nascent Soul cultivation."
"Fellow cultivators, just a hundred Mid-grade Spirit Stones per two ounces of Fetal Heart Wine."
Tang Wu opened the jar’s sealing clay, and the rich, intense aroma of the wine spread out instantly.
The town center fell silent in an instant.
All Core Formation cultivators instinctively circulated their Spiritual Power to suppress the sudden, inexplicable intoxication that surged up, their expressions turning incredulous.
"This Four Seas Commerce truly has some nerve, daring to bring Corpse Wine into Five Temples Town."
The greed of the Nascent Soul cultivators surged, and waves of Spiritual Power leaked from their bodies.
The Nascent Souls within them couldn’t help but grow restless, developing an uncontrollable craving for the Fetal Heart Wine, as if trying to escape the confines of their Middle Dantian.
Nascent Soul cultivators who had just entered the stage quickly sealed their noses and mouths, mere moments away from losing control of their Nascent Souls—a single misstep and they could fall into deviation.
For a time, the cries of infants echoed incessantly.
Li Mo nodded secretly.
After arriving at Five Temples Town, he had already noticed the absence of Divine Separation cultivators, and the aroma of the Fetal Heart Wine confirmed his suspicions.
Since all present were Nascent Soul cultivators, Li Mo could plot for the True Word Secret Realm without any reservations.
The Bing You Taoist laughed as he stepped forward, his expression filled with apparent warmth. "I’ve long heard that the Corpse Wine of the Four Seas Commerce is unparalleled. Unfortunately, our Ice Soul Sect, being located in a remote area, has never had the chance to try it. It is only recently that I’ve glimpsed its full splendor."
"Hahaha, just the scent of this wine is enough to awaken cravings in a Nascent Soul. I dare say only Guodan Mountain’s Sitting Forget Fruit can compare."
The Bing You Taoist gestured invitingly toward a shop behind him. "Fellow Daoists of the Four Seas Commerce, please, come into my shop for a gathering so that I may host you properly."
Though outwardly friendly, he was in fact threatening the Four Seas Commerce.
Guodan Mountain, a recently established medium-scale Immortal Sect known for its expertise in alchemy, had virtually monopolized the elixir business in Five Temples Town.
The Four Seas Commerce undoubtedly posed a threat to them.
"It must have taken considerable effort to brew this jar of Corpse Wine. Could it be that you intend to kill three birds with one stone?"
Elder He Guo chuckled. He was one of the four Nascent Soul cultivators stationed at Guodan Mountain. His head was entirely composed of a fleshy, pear-like fruit.
Decades ago, Guodan Mountain was a small Immortal Sect without even a single Nascent Soul cultivator.
But some time back, after the Dan Ghost Sect suffered an attack from Demon Cultivators and erupted in civil strife, Guodan Mountain happened to convene a Nascent Soul Conference.
Among the thirty-five Core Formation cultivators, ten succeeded in breaking their Golden Cores and becoming infants.
According to the tacit agreement between the Daoist and Demon factions, having more than ten Nascent Soul cultivators was barely enough to qualify as a medium-scale Immortal Sect, though this was no blessing.
Once the Dan Ghost Sect resolved its internal strife and external threats, they would undoubtedly make an example of Guodan Mountain.
In Five Temples Town, Guodan Mountain aimed to strengthen its forces through the secret realms’ resources and to curry favor with the Heavenly Sword Sect.
The Bing You Taoist laughed without responding, frost forming faintly on his skin.
A Demon Cultivator draped in beast skin tore at his own head, his nails bloodied and mangled. "I’d wager the production of this so-called Fetal Heart Wine isn’t high. Why not let us of the Devil Sect have it?"
Li Mo recognized the Demon Cultivator—none other than Luo Kai of the Skin Painting Sect, a familiar face he had encountered multiple times.
Luo Kai’s breathing grew heavy, his greedy gaze sweeping over the Four Seas Commerce. But when his eyes landed on the unassuming Li Mo, his heart inexplicably began to race wildly.
For reasons unknown, a sense of impending death enveloped him.
Since leaving the No-Life Sect, Luo Kai had never felt so strange, and he couldn’t help but linger on Li Mo for a few more moments. Yet, he saw nothing unusual.
"Forget I said anything. The Devil Sect isn’t a place for me to stick my neck out."
Luo Kai chuckled awkwardly and retreated back into the crowd under the peculiar gazes of all the cultivators.
Tang Wu resealed the jar, his expression dark. Observing the Daoist and Demon factions’ ravenous gazes, he realized that trouble was now inevitable.
Li Mo remained impassive. No matter how Tang Wu questioned him, there was only one response.
Elder He Guo stepped in to mediate. "How about this? The brewing site for the Corpse Wine isn’t likely within the Sub-Device Sect’s territory. Let our Guodan Mountain take the lead, and we’ll all go take a look at the wine-making process together."
"As for the existing Corpse Wine, how about splitting it evenly—five parts for the Daoists and five for the Demons?"
"Elder He Guo makes a valid point."
A Core Formation cultivator chimed in, shamelessly flattering Elder He Guo.
The cultivators outwardly agreed, but their true focus had shifted to the Corpse Wine itself. If they could obtain the formula, its value would be incalculable.
The Daoist and Demon factions schemed against one another, and all their words revolved around interests.
Li Mo tapped the wall with his hands behind his back, his peripheral vision catching sight of several disciples of the Five Hidden Sword escorting an older Daoist from the end of the street.
The old Daoist’s magic robe hung loose, revealing his chest and a long wound on his abdomen, which oozed blood continuously.
His cultivation had already reached the Nascent Soul Stage, and with his status as an elder of the Five Hidden Sword, all the Nascent Soul cultivators present restrained their auras upon seeing him.
"Fetal Birth Fetus Body."
Li Mo’s eyebrows slightly raised. The elder of the Five Hidden Sword bore traces of the Taoist Body’s Fetal Birth Fetus Body trait. This Taoist Body was born with an innate Parasitic Fetus, capable of nurturing magic artifacts and spirit beasts for cultivators.