Chapter 232: Ambushing Xiao Yunhong
"This Jade Scroll was something I acquired from the Marketplace during the chaos of the last great battle. I didn’t create or Imprint it myself, and I don’t know its specific origins."
"If you don’t believe me, Grandmaster, you can use a Soul Search or other similar techniques on me..."
Guanhai Mountain quickly explained.
"That won’t be necessary. This is a Foundation Establishment Pill that I refined myself. I’ll trade it directly for your fifty thousand Spirit Stones. This way, you won’t have to wait in line at the Sect. Are you willing?"
Using his powerful Divine Soul Perception, which was comparable to that of a Nascent Soul expert, Zhang Chi sensed that the other man wasn’t lying. He didn’t press the matter further and immediately took out a Foundation Establishment Pill, tossing it to Guanhai Mountain.
Although the Foundation Establishment Pill was precious, it was no longer of much consequence to him.
Besides this one, he had a few others, all casually refined from leftover materials from his past Explorations.
He had even used a long-term preservation Secret Technique mentioned in the Celestial True Monarch’s Alchemy Insights, so there was no issue with them expiring.
This also saved him a lot of trouble. Of course, this was also because the price of Foundation Establishment Pills had risen; otherwise, it wouldn’t have been worth fifty thousand Spirit Stones within the Sect.
"This disciple is willing! Thank you, Grandmaster!"
Guanhai Mountain was overjoyed. He quickly accepted the pill, kowtowed in gratitude, and then left in a hurry.
He had the Spirit Stones, so getting the Elixir wasn’t difficult, but it was impossible to get one so quickly. More importantly, the quality of Zhang Chi’s Pill was better, making it an even greater bargain.
Meanwhile, Zhang Chi continued to examine the contents of the Jade Scroll and found it quite interesting.
It even contained a legend stating that the depths of the Demon Abyss held a passage to other worlds—and that these other worlds included, but were not limited to, the Demon Realm.
If other Cultivators had seen this, they might have scoffed, but Zhang Chi was somewhat inclined to believe it.
Because he himself was a visitor from beyond the heavens.
Qin Susu was also very curious about these legends and discussed them in depth with Zhang Chi.
After Qin Susu left to continue her Cultivation, Zhang Chi took out a tortoise shell and performed a divination on the spot.
He first divined about the matter of the Golden Core Dao Patterns and discovered that the legend of the Nine Patterns Golden Pill was indeed true.
He then tried to divine about the Grotto Heaven Secret Realm and the other worlds, but this time, he received no results.
Because secrets of this Level were already beyond the scope of his divination abilities, and he also knew too little information.
However, the fact that he couldn’t get a result, rather than getting a false one, suggested that it was very likely true.
But after letting his imagination wander for a moment, Zhang Chi quickly tossed the Jade Scroll into his Storage Ring and stopped wasting time.
After all, true or not, these matters were too remote and ethereal for him to worry about.
For example, even if the Golden Core Dao Patterns were real, there was nothing he could do to change anything now.
Three months passed quickly. The outcome of Guanhai Mountain’s attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment was already decided: his luck wasn’t very good, and he had failed.
In addition, the great battle had officially begun during these three months, though the intensity was not yet very high.
However, some of the prodigies from the Foundation Establishment and Golden Core Realms had already begun to make a name for themselves.
Chen Bufan, Chen Ling’Er, Zhong Yu, and others, for instance, had all achieved good rankings on the Foundation Establishment Realm’s Battle Merit List.
On the bounty list, the rankings of Xiao Yunhong and Lan Xuan had also risen noticeably.
This was especially true for Xiao Yunhong, who had already slain several expert Foundation Establishment Cultivators from Yuan South. It was said that he was accumulating merits to exchange for Core Formation Spiritual Objects.
Apparently, even though he was the Young Master of the Profound Yin Sect, the Sect couldn’t just directly prepare all the Core Formation Spiritual Objects for him.
’It’s time to find Xiao Yunhong. Otherwise, once he solidifies his Golden Core, not only will it be more troublesome, but I’ll also lose some bargaining chips.’
On this day, Zhang Chi finally decided to make a trip.
He had originally obtained four sets of Medicinal Materials for refining the Dust Condensing Pill, all of which he had long since processed.
In total, he had produced ten Dust Condensing Pills, and with the one leftover from helping Shangguan Hui, he had eleven in total.
He also had some Inferior Dust Condensing Pills, but they were few in number and had long since been sold off at a high price.
As for the standard-quality Dust Condensing Pills, he and his Spirit Beast had consumed a total of seven for their Core Formations, leaving him with four.
This time, he planned to use one of them as a bargaining chip for his cooperation with Xiao Yunhong.
He was confident the other man wouldn’t be able to refuse.
So, Zhang Chi informed Qin Susu that he was entering seclusion, then quietly left the Sect and flew directly toward the former location of the Golden Sun Sect.
—
"Damn it! That Qin Shaobo, the Nascent Soul Seed from the Golden Sun Sect, is going too far! He already has a Golden Core Cultivation, yet he still insists on competing with me, your Young Master, for Core Formation Spiritual Objects! Once I solidify my Core, I will not let him off!"
At this moment, outside Golden Crow City, a small, black Magical Treasure Flying Boat was speeding through the sky. Standing on its deck were two Black-robed Cultivators wearing Conical Hats and masks.
The one in the lead was currently shouting in anger.
This person’s voice was relatively young, and his Cultivation was at the Foundation Establishment Peak. It was none other than the Young Master Profound Yin, Xiao Yunhong.
"Young Master is absolutely right. If this weren’t Golden Crow City, territory of the Yuan South Cultivators, this old servant would have struck down that Qin Shaobo just now. The Golden Sun Sect doesn’t even have its gates anymore, yet he’s still so arrogant. Sooner or later, he’ll bring disaster upon himself for it."
The Cultivator behind him quickly agreed.
This Cultivator’s voice was old, but his aura was incredibly powerful. He was, shockingly, a Golden Core Late Stage expert.
At the same time, he was also an Elder of the Profound Yin Sect, currently tasked with protecting Xiao Yunhong.
He was also the one piloting the Magical Treasure Flying Boat.
After all, Golden Crow City was now the encampment for the remnants of the Golden Sun Sect. Even if Xiao Yunhong’s Combat Power could be considered the Peak of the Same Tier, it would be extremely dangerous for him to be exposed in enemy territory.
Especially since Xiao Yunhong had the past experience of being captured and forced to work as a Mining Slave, the Profound Yin Sect would naturally not allow him to venture out alone again.
In fact, even this Golden Core Late Stage Elder from the Profound Yin Sect kept a low profile in the Yuan South Cultivators’ territory.
With his Cultivation, he could easily break through the defensive lines and sneak in, but if his presence were discovered, he would surely attract a siege from the Yuan South Golden Core experts, and the consequences would be unimaginable.
Xiao Yunhong cursed and grumbled for a while longer before calming down, and the Flying Boat continued on its way.
BOOM!
But just then, the surrounding space suddenly fluctuated, and the scenery instantly changed.
Even the Profound Yin Sect Elder could only see white clouds and mist all around him, unable to distinguish north from south, east from west.
Even Xiao Yunhong, who had been right beside him a moment ago, had suddenly vanished.
"This is bad!"
Both of them were greatly alarmed. Not only could they not see or hear each other, but even the Magical Treasure Flying Boat was nowhere to be found.
The Profound Yin Sect Elder immediately summoned his Magical Treasure and tried to break the formation, but it was completely ineffective in the short term.
SWISH!
Xiao Yunhong, on the other hand, was relatively calm. He immediately took out a Tier Three Forbidden-Breaking Talisman, preparing to use it.
But at that very moment, a tall and imposing Black-robed Cultivator suddenly appeared before him.
This Cultivator, like him, also wore a mask and a Conical Hat, but the Spiritual Power fluctuations from his body were so faint they were almost non-existent, making it impossible for Xiao Yunhong to determine his true Realm.
At the same time, he felt as if he were being stared down by an Ancient Fierce Beast; if he made the slightest move, he would be torn to shreds.
Because of this, even with the Forbidden-Breaking Talisman in his hand, he didn’t dare to use it.
Using the Spirit Talisman might break the formation, but that single moment would be more than enough for the other party to kill him.
’I’m screwed. I can’t believe I, your Young Master, have been ambushed. Someone must have sold me out and exposed my location.’
’If I make it back alive, I’ll find that traitor and tear them to a million pieces!’
Countless thoughts flashed through Xiao Yunhong’s mind in an instant.