Chapter 252

Chapter 252: Recruiting Disciples

Naturally, obtaining a Ninth-Rank Treasure proved no simple task. Fang Lie calculated that even if the entire Mo Sect devoted all its resources, it might require hundreds or thousands of years to fully cultivate such a treasure.

Yet the Mo Sect had countless disciples, each demanding vast resources, making it impossible to allocate everything to this endeavor. Thus, even a Thunder Tribulation Immortal would struggle to nurture it to Ninth-Rank within their lifetime.

But Fang Lie harbored a sliver of hope. He was no ordinary cultivator—as a Great Pill Master wielding Nirvana True Fire, his growing strength allowed him to refine higher-quality spirit pills, yielding greater profits. If he focused entirely on nurturing it, he might actually succeed in elevating it to Ninth-Rank.

Moreover, Fang Lie possessed a hidden advantage: the transformative power of Nirvana True Fire.

After refining the Fire Spirit Peak and integrating it into his Qi Sea, the Dao pattern karp within began seeping into the mountain. As they formed unique Dao Patterns, threads of Nirvana True Fire fused into the structure.

Over time, the Fire Spirit Peak would gradually assimilate Nirvana True Fire, allowing the connected Fire Spirit Gu within to inherit this flame.

Fire Spirit Gu possessed a peculiar trait—they could mutate by absorbing special fires. Should they absorb Nirvana True Fire and mutate, they might develop the ability for Nirvana Rebirth.

Once transformed, these creatures would no longer be disposable tools. They would swarm like fiery clouds to assault enemies, launching terrifying self-detonations.

After perishing, they would undergo Nirvana Rebirth in the Fire Spirit Peak’s lair and reemerge to continue their relentless attacks.

Until the Nirvana True Fire was exhausted, their numbers would become endless—as many as perished, that many would be reborn.

At that stage, the treasure’s power would reach terrifying heights, transitioning from single-use consumable to perpetually reusable weapon—its value multiplying exponentially.

This vision set Fang Lie’s heart aflame. He immediately fed all fire element small spirit pearls obtained from the Four Seas Alliance into the Fire Spirit Peak.

The mountain’s interior now lay barren, with only a few dozen Gu Kings, Mother Gu, and mere hundreds of Fire Spirit Gu tending its halls—a pitifully small population.

Such meager numbers couldn’t sustain even the Mother Gu or Gu Kings.

Fortunately, residual stores of Fire Spirit Liquid could barely maintain them temporarily.

The previous owner had proven miserly, stripping away nearly all surplus Fire Spirit Liquid before selling the peak—leaving only three months’ worth.

With the Fire Spirit Liquid exhausted, starvation loomed unless replenished.

Fang Lie’s small spirit pearls arrived as salvation. Packed with pure Fire Element Spiritual Energy, they perfectly substituted for Fire Spirit Liquid as Mother Gu sustenance—even surpassing it in quality.

Yet for Gu Kings and Gu Emperors, these pearls merely staved off hunger. Their evolution required high-grade Fire Spirit Liquid, far more potent than spirit pearls.

A single small spirit pearl could sustain a Mother Gu for over a year, but Gu Kings devoured one monthly. The three Gu Emperors proved most voracious, consuming a pearl every three days—a manageable drain only due to their limited numbers.

While the pearls preserved the Mother Gu, lower-tier Fire Spirit Gu required simpler fare: fire element spirit stones. Without these, they’d starve.

To accelerate the swarm’s recovery, Fang Lie emptied his stores of fire element spirit stones into the mountain’s chambers.

Recent plundering and trading had made him wealthy. After distribution, each Mother Gu received ample stones to sustain their diminished colonies long-term.

Fang Lie estimated current stone reserves could maintain the existing swarm over a year—or merely three months at full production. By then, Fire Spirit Gu numbers would triple to nearly two million.

Sustaining that horde would demand spirit stones piled into hundred-zhang mountains. Tripling their population would triple the stone requirements—and future needs would only escalate.

Most importantly, to make those Mother Gu self-sufficient, Fang Lie needed additional investments—at least one billion Fire Spirit Gu—to ensure they could survive without relying on fire spirit pearls.

The scale was staggering, requiring an astronomical amount of spirit stones. Fang Lie estimated he’d need several mountains of spirit stones, each thousands of zhang tall, to meet the demand.

Despite his daily earnings, the sheer enormity of this task left Fang Lie feeling helpless. Without other income streams, the growing swarm of Fire Spirit Gu would bankrupt him within a year.

"Looks like I’ve got to find a way to earn more," Fang Lie muttered bitterly.

Instead of acting immediately, he sat down to brainstorm ways to amass wealth quickly.

The simplest method to nurture the Fire Spirit Peak would be to use the Kunlun Sword Token, forcing East Kunlun to provide enough resources to elevate it to Ninth-Rank effortlessly.

But the Kunlun Sword Token’s value was too great to squander on mere resources—it would be a wasted opportunity.

The next best option? Plundering.

The Wanxing Sea teemed with factions, including wealthy outlaws. Though Fang Lie upheld justice, he saw no issue targeting its demons and villains.

Take Immortal Han Xuan, for instance—a slaver whose cruelty was infamous. Killing such a man posed no moral dilemma.

Fang Lie’s last raid on Han Xuan had netted him thousands of small spirit pearls and the Sixth-Rank Treasure Ship Crystal Palace, a priceless asset.

Striking at these villains would satisfy both his conscience and his coffers.

But powerful demons like Han Xuan were formidable. Even with the Demon Sword and Amethyst Silkworm King, Fang Lie couldn’t guarantee victory. Their escape tactics also posed risks—if they fled, he’d gain nothing.

His previous success against Han Xuan had been pure luck, thanks to the fool’s mistake of imprisoning him in a secret chamber. Such chances were rare. To succeed again, Fang Lie needed real strength.

This realization sparked another thought: he’d overlooked recruiting followers.

In the cultivation world, only those with high cultivation, potential, or backing could attract disciples. These followers relied on their patron’s resources for cultivation in exchange for service—a common arrangement among impoverished wanderers lacking resources or advanced Dao magic. Some even joined to evade powerful enemies.

Regardless, followers were essential for any great ambition. The Four Seas Alliance, for example, outwardly had only Four True Immortal alliance leaders but secretly commanded thousands of followers to guard their shops and expand their influence. Their collective strength allowed the alliance’s hidden masters to reap immense profits.

Though Fang Lie couldn’t rival the Four Seas Alliance yet, his Alchemy Skill, Mo Sect backing, and limitless potential made him a viable patron.

But as a newcomer to Wanxing Sea, he had no idea how to recruit. The solution? Leaning on the Four Seas Alliance itself.

Exiting his closed-door training, Fang Lie summoned Little Peach Red and sought out Immortal East Sea.

Since unveiling the Kunlun Sword Token, Fang Lie’s status had skyrocketed. Attendants rushed to serve him, and Immortal East Sea arrived promptly.

Seated in a mountain pavilion, Fang Lie cut to the chase: "Two requests before I depart. First, spread word that I seek followers—Wind Tribulation Immortals or stronger, no demons."

"Consider it done," Immortal East Sea replied. "The message will reach a million li within seven days."

"Second," Fang Lie added, "the Fire Spirit Peak devours fire element spirit stones. Half our future pill transactions must be paid in them."

After a pause, Immortal East Sea nodded. "I’ll gather as many as possible."

"My thanks." With a bow, Fang Lie left.