Chapter 536 - 229: Xenogeneic (Part 2)
The leading elder was dressed in a dark red robe. His face was gaunt, but his eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, and he exuded a heart-stopping Evil Qi and a formidable pressure.
The two young men behind him were richly dressed and carried themselves with a distinguished air, but their faces were now twisted in shock and rage.
"Zhifu!"
"Where is she!?"
The two young men cried out in shock upon seeing the mangled mess of flesh and blood on the ground.
It was obvious from the scene before them that Wang Zhifu had met a terrible end—not even a complete body remained.
"Who!? Who dares kill a member of my Wang Family!?" one of the young men, his face a mask of arrogance, roared, his eyes brimming with murderous intent.
The other young man looked to the elder and asked in a low voice, "Elder Zhu, are there any clues?"
The man they called Elder Zhu didn’t answer right away. Instead, his sharp gaze swept across the area, lingering for a moment on the bloodstains as he sensed the faint aura of True Astral that still hung in the air.
He knelt, dipping a finger into the blood that had yet to congeal on the ground. After carefully sensing the residual Gang Qi fluctuations, his expression changed abruptly.
’This True Astral aura... so condensed and sharp, carrying with it the essence of dying stars... This is Star Essence True Gang!?’
Elder Zhu’s head snapped up. He stared in the direction Chen Qing had fled, his eyes filled with shock and disbelief. "The Circulation Star Essence Technique? It was a master from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect!?"
"The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect!?"
The two young Wang Family men were shaken to the core.
The Circulation Star Essence Technique was a famed Superior Heart Method from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect; its reputation was such that they naturally knew of it.
Though furious, the arrogant young man’s bluster faltered at the mention of the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect. Still, he gritted his teeth. "Even if he’s from the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect, he can’t just kill a direct-line member of our Wang Family for no reason! We can’t let this slide!"
The other one took a deep breath and said, "Wang Zhifu was the Grand Elder’s most beloved niece. Elder Zhu, you must know how serious this is..."
"You don’t need to remind me!" Elder Zhu cut him off, his brows knitting together. His expression was as dark as a thundercloud.
He focused his senses for another moment before shaking his head. "It’s no use. We can’t catch him. His Body Technique is incredibly fast, and he’s an expert at Concealment. His aura completely disappears right here, as if he vanished into thin air."
He mused for a moment before speaking slowly. "The Celestial Treasure Upper Sect... Star Essence True Gang... This person’s identity is certainly not simple. But regardless, we cannot let the murder of a direct-line Wang Family member go. First, we’ll give a detailed report to the Patriarch and the Grand Elder. Simultaneously, we must mobilize the family’s resources to secretly investigate who within the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect cultivates the Circulation Star Essence Technique. Prioritize anyone who might have been near Luoxing Slope!"
"Yes, sir!" Although the two young men were filled with grief and anger, they knew Elder Zhu’s plan was the most prudent course of action for now.
Staring at the gory remains on the ground, they burned the two key phrases into their minds: "Celestial Treasure Upper Sect" and "Star Essence True Gang."
Elder Zhu cast one final glance in the direction Chen Qing had vanished, a cold light glinting in his eyes.
’Involving the Celestial Treasure Upper Sect means this matter requires careful planning and a cautious approach.’
.....
Chen Qing carried the injured Golden Feathered Eagle to a remote, hidden cave he found on the outskirts of Luoxing Slope.
The entrance was obscured by dead vines and jumbled rocks, but the interior was surprisingly dry and spacious.
He settled the Golden Feathered Eagle on a pile of dry grass inside, then took out some fresh water and fed it meat mixed with a specially prepared salve and powdered Bone Strengthening Pill.
Though severely injured and listless, the Golden Feathered Eagle still managed to stretch out its neck and peck at the food upon seeing Chen Qing and smelling the meal. The look of reliance in its eyes deepened.
Chen Qing gently stroked its feathers.
The eagle seemed to understand, letting out a soft "CHIRP." It rested its head against his hand and slowly closed its eyes to rest.
After settling the Golden Feathered Eagle, Chen Qing finally had time to carefully take stock of the items he had looted from the Wang Family members.
There was a considerable amount of silver notes—a thick stack of high-denomination bills totaling over thirty thousand taels of silver.
In addition, there were two pieces of decent-quality Meteorite Iron, which could be exchanged for six hundred Contribution Points.
The other miscellaneous items, like common Elixirs, were of little value to the present-day Chen Qing.
What caught his eye the most was a somewhat antiquated atlas. On its cover, written in an archaic script, were the three words: *Exotic Beast Collection*.
Intrigued, Chen Qing opened the atlas.
The preface stated that this was a compilation of insights from generations of Wang Family masters who had traveled the world and raised Exotic Beasts.
The Xuanming Royal Family was one of Yan Country’s ancient Noble Families, with a heritage spanning a thousand years, placing them on par with the likes of the Nanzhao Huo Family. However, their family’s foundation was not built on common things like Elixirs or mineral wealth, but on the unique art of raising and nurturing Exotic Beasts.
The family raised numerous rare Exotic Beasts. It was rumored they even had a few that had lived for several hundred years, with power comparable to that of Exotic Beasts in the True Essence Realm. Their hidden strength was immeasurable.
This *Exotic Beast Collection* was incredibly thorough. It not only contained illustrations of various Exotic Beasts but also detailed their habits, weaknesses, power levels, and even methods for taming them.
Chen Qing flipped through the pages, seeing Exotic Beasts he was familiar with or had heard of, such as the Stone Lion, the Wind-Splitting Leopard, and the Earth Fire Lizard. The precise descriptions were a revelation.
As he reached the latter half of the atlas, a few pages detailing the Sinking Flood Dragon Abyss and the "Cyan Flood Dragon" caught Chen Qing’s eye.
According to the atlas, the Cyan Flood Dragon’s power was immeasurable, far beyond that of a common beast. Not only could it command wind and thunder, spitting lightning of astonishing power, but there were also records of multiple True Essence Realm masters joining forces to hunt it, only to retreat in utter defeat.
For one, the Cyan Flood Dragon itself was incomparably mighty. Its Flesh Body was extraordinary, and ordinary Weapons could not even pierce its Scale Armor.
Second, the terrain of the Sinking Flood Dragon Abyss was unique. The chasm was deep, the currents were treacherous, and the air was thick with Evil Qi, all of which severely hampered a cultivator’s ability to exert their full power.
Finally, there was an annotation in small script, apparently the speculation of a Wang Family elder. It suggested that the Cyan Flood Dragon wasn’t merely residing in the depths of the Sinking Flood Dragon Abyss, but was more likely guarding some immense, secret treasure.