According to what Wen Jiu knows.
Deadman Peak is divided into the main peak and side peaks.
There is only one main peak.
But there are over a hundred side peaks.
The place he resides in, as well as the Corpse Remains Death Land and this Market, all belong to the area under the jurisdiction of Lianwu Mountain.
However, even though they are all under Lianwu Mountain, neither Corpse Buriers nor ordinary servants are usually allowed to freely enter the Cultivators' Market. Therefore, when Wen Jiu arrived at the market, all he could see were Cultivators.
There were male cultivators flying with sword control.
There were female cultivators riding beasts leisurely.
And various spirit beasts resting around the market perimeter.
It was as if the place where Wen Jiu lived and that corpse remains death land were two entirely different worlds.
"It's not like what the TV series depicted." Wen Jiu looked around excitedly, even finding novelty in seeing a blade of grass.
Very soon.
Under the guidance of the middle-aged steward, over a hundred corpse buriers were led from a small path beside the main road to the market entrance.
Once they got closer, Wen Jiu noticed that outside the giant three-zhang high archway of the market, grain after grain of golden mysterious script continuously rose from the ground, flying orderly into the sky, and converging into a huge pale-colored protective shield.
From afar, it was invisible to the naked eye, only when in close proximity could it be clearly seen. Just when Wen Jiu was puzzled about what it was, the middle-aged steward sternly said, "This is the Market Protection Killing Array. Without a disciple's token, entering means death! If you don't want to die, stand properly... anyone who moves recklessly, don't blame me for canceling your cultivation qualification."
With those words.
After seeing the malicious gaze of the middle-aged steward, no one dared to glance around wildly, but Wen Jiu saw on the faces of some of the corpus buriers an expression of expectation, rather than the shock and ecstasy of others when they heard about the cultivation qualification.
Clearly.
Some people already knew.
"Corpse buriers can actually cultivate?" Wen Jiu's heart began to flutter with excitement.
But there was also some doubt.
Without seeing it with his own eyes, he could not believe it.
Can one who is not a disciple of the Immortal Mountain cultivate Immortal Techniques?
A moment later.
At the edge of the market, the three-story Ancient Tower named Dharma Transmission Tower slowly opened its doors, and an elderly man with white hair and a long robe walked out. When he appeared, the middle-aged steward suddenly altered his usual fierce demeanor.
He even approached him with extreme flattery, bowing slightly and respectfully said, "Elder Chen, the corpse buriers under my command have all arrived."
"Mm." The white-haired elder nodded, glanced indifferently at the crowd, then turned around and went back inside, "Bring them in quickly, choose and leave promptly... Don't disturb my seclusion."
"Yes, Elder Chen."
The middle-aged steward nodded.
When he looked back at the group of corpse buriers, he resumed his menacing look.
"Follow me inside in an orderly manner, you have three hundred breaths to select a basic cultivation technique... I believe many among you already have a target in mind and know the rules, but I must still warn you, techniques are not to be carelessly passed on, if the cultivation techniques in your hands leak out, you will bear the consequences."
After issuing the warning, the middle-aged steward slowly entered, and those corpse buriers who were already filled with yearning and anticipation hurriedly followed.
Wen Jiu was overjoyed, promptly following in.
At this moment, he finally understood why his sister told him to work hard.
Being a corpse burier is hard work, staying in the Land of Death all year round. If heavily eroded by yin and death energy, it's fatal.
Why work hard then?
Being in the Land of Death, shouldn't one be more cautious?
Turns out, corpse buriers can cultivate!
...
After entering the tower.
What came into view were bookshelves filled with books, each three zhang high, reaching the ceiling.
There were at least ten thousand copies.
Once everyone was inside and settled, the middle-aged steward said sternly, "You have three hundred breaths to choose."
The white-haired elder added, "What kind of cultivation technique you choose here is your destiny and cannot be changed. At the same time, I must remind you, the top three in cultivation after a year can become apprentices in advance and enter my Deadman Peak, so consider carefully what cultivation technique you choose."
Hearing this, the crowd was overjoyed.
To become an apprentice disciple in advance.
This not only means suffering nine years less of hardship, but it also means getting nurtured by Deadman Peak earlier.
Being able to become an Immortal Master sooner.
This was their wish when they signed a sell-body contract to become corpse buriers, and now there was hope to realize it earlier.
How could they not be excited?
After the white-haired elder nodded, the crowd surged towards the bookshelves like a tidal wave.
Wen Jiu didn't immediately follow.
Because he wasn't interested in the bookshelves marked with basic Qi Cultivation techniques; he wanted to find in the tower the cultivation techniques for Corpse Nurturers. The daily settlement panel made him a Corpse Nurturer, granted him a secret technique.
But it didn't give him a comprehensive cultivation method.
So he had to find everything himself.
But blindly searching wouldn't work.
He needed to consult the white-haired elder.
There would be no harm in asking.
But if he got an answer, it would save a lot of trouble.
Hence, Wen Jiu thick-facedly, respectfully walked to the white-haired elder, and respectfully said, "Greetings, Immortal Master."
"You only have three hundred breaths."
The white-haired elder said indifferently.
Wen Jiu asked, "Junior wishes to seek cultivation techniques related to Corpse Refining and Corpse Nourishing, please guide me, Immortal Master."
"Corpse Refining techniques? Coming to my Dharma Transmission Tower, you want to learn Heterodox Techniques!" The white-haired elder was somewhat surprised, also somewhat displeased, but still pointed Wen Jiu in a direction, "Keep walking forward, the Dusty Place has Heterodox Techniques."
"Thank you, Immortal Master."
Wen Jiu cupped his hands.
He also saluted the middle-aged steward.
Then swiftly passed the myriad of books and ran towards the bookshelves at the end of the corridor the white-haired elder pointed to.
A moment later.
Wen Jiu finally found that Dusty Place.
Corpse Nourishing, Corpse Refining, and Gu Cultivation techniques of the Heterodox path were piled there, but the dust was as thick as book seals.
Clearly, they had not been touched for a long time.
Wen Jiu quickly flipped through one book after another, eventually finding a relatively comprehensive Yinzhou Corpse Refining Record.
It not only contained Corpse Refining and Corpse Nourishing techniques.
But also the cultivation techniques for Corpse Nurturers.
The two aspects combined.
It was exactly what Wen Jiu needed the most right now.
However, after getting what he wanted, Wen Jiu didn't rush to leave, instead continued to read other booklets.
Every bit he could read, every bit he could remember.
In the blink of an eye, three hundred breaths had passed, followed by the deep voice of the white-haired elder, and only then did Wen Jiu retreat.
Yet when leaving the ancient tower, the white-haired elder paused his gaze on him for a few breaths and sneered, saying, "Opportunist, choosing to cultivate Heterodox Techniques over the bright and proper Qi Cultivation Techniques!"
Wen Jiu pretended not to hear.
But as he passed by, the elder said, "Boy, although the Heterodox Techniques allow you to progress quickly, you are in the Land of Death, suffering daily erosion from yin energy, practicing Corpse Nourishing techniques, accompanied by yin and death energy, I fear the day you succeed will also be the day of your demise... So even if you are the top in cultivation after a year, no one will choose you as an apprentice disciple at Deadman Peak."
Hearing this, Wen Jiu was taken aback.
But just as he regained his senses, the white-haired elder yawned and turned away, not giving Wen Jiu a chance to speak.