Chapter 669 453: New Vortex

So, these nine Golden Core Sects were a considerable asset. First, they were all of the same status, which fostered a greater sense of trust. Second, one day ascending White Mountain to break through to the Nascent Soul realm was a fate none of them could escape. If they didn't seize this opportunity to understand the situation, they would have even less courage to ask about such matters in the future.

For these two simple reasons, Fang Qingyuan decided to wade into these muddy waters. 'After all,' he thought, 'no matter how tyrannical Star-Picking Pavilion is, would they really dare to kill the Golden Core Cultivators who have come demanding an explanation?'

With that, Fang Qingyuan made up his mind. He would follow along to test the waters first. If anything seemed amiss, he could simply withdraw. Of course, that was predicated on securing an escape route beforehand.

Thus, Fang Qingyuan first went to where Bear Wind was meditating and consulted with him briefly. Then, he personally penned a letter and had a disciple deliver it to a small shop in the Marketplace at the foot of the mountain. This was one of Black Wind Valley's businesses on White Mountain, so they would naturally forward the letter to Tu Dai'Er.

Once Tu Dai'Er read the letter, it meant Tu Wuzhao would know as well. Having reported to his powerful backer, Fang Qingyuan felt much more secure.

For Jinbao's sake, Tu Wuzhao wouldn't stand by and watch him leap into a fiery pit. If he really ran into a deadly trap, she could get him out with a single word.

With his preliminary preparations complete, Fang Qingyuan summoned Liu Xun and had him assemble an honor guard.

Yan Nanxing was dead, so it was only natural for the Qingyuan Sect to afford him the proper dignity and ceremony. Thus, Fang Qingyuan was going this time ostensibly to offer condolences, and the display had to be impressive enough.

"Select one hundred Qi Cultivation Disciples and ten Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The sect and the alliance will each contribute half. They will be compensated at the B-plus-rank mission rate. Also, prepare a condolence gift from the sect's inner vault."

Liu Xun blinked and asked in a faint voice,

"Isn't the pay for a B-plus-rank mission a bit too high? We're just going to offer condolences, after all."

Fang Qingyuan pursed his lips and replied,

"I want people who can pick a fight, who are fierce, and ideally, who are good at being completely unreasonable. More importantly, they must be prepared to take a beating. With that in mind, does a B-plus rating still seem too high?"

Hearing this, Liu Xun said no more and went to make the arrangements.

By the time Liu Xun had hastily assembled the personnel, Fang Qingyuan and Yan Muyun had arrived at the sect's Flying Ship Pier.

Yan Muyun gazed at the most eye-catching flying shuttle docked there, his eyes filled with nostalgia.

This shuttle was the very same Qingyun Gangfeng Shuttle that Yan Nanxing had gifted to Fang Qingyuan years ago. Seeing it brought the man to mind, and Yan Muyun's emotions were plain to see.

And seeing the grand procession Fang Qingyuan had put together, Yan Muyun was moved even more deeply.

"There's no time to waste. Let's depart. How did you all get here? Oh, a small flying shuttle? That must be cramped. Just come back with us; it'll be faster."

Fang Qingyuan beckoned for Yan Muyun to join them. Yan Muyun looked at the Qingyun Gangfeng Shuttle, his face full of gratitude, never having imagined he would one day ride this shuttle again.

He started walking toward the Qingyun Gangfeng Shuttle, but after only a few steps, Fang Qingyuan stopped him.

"Not that shuttle. It can only carry a handful of people. What about my hundred or so Cultivators?"

"If not the shuttle, then what?"

Yan Muyun glanced around but saw no mode of transport larger than the Qingyun Gangfeng Shuttle.

Just then, Fang Qingyuan looked calmly toward the back of the mountain. From that direction, a behemoth was approaching with the speed of lightning, accompanied by the ROAR of rushing wind.

HISS!

It wasn't just Yan Muyun and his party; even the Qingyuan Sect's own disciples couldn't help but gasp when they saw Yinbao.

There was no other reason for it. The sight was simply too stunning.

When a giant creature half the size of an aircraft carrier hurtled toward you at lightning speed, even for worldly Cultivators, the instinctive reaction was a deep-seated panic.

Fang Qingyuan had deliberately positioned Yinbao on the back mountain just moments before for a more conventional entrance. A beast fifty-some zhang in size could no longer be concealed by the Ten Thousand Beasts Qiankun Banner in his possession.

Otherwise, if Fang Qingyuan had summoned a beast of Yinbao's immense size with a mere wave of his hand, the Qingyuan Sect would probably be hosting a dozen Nascent Soul Cultivators from the Beast Taming Sect by the next day, all of them desperate to learn the Secret Technique for shrinking and storing such a behemoth.

As Yinbao, with two enormous deer antlers sprouting from its head, landed before the crowd, everyone got a true sense of the beast's awesome power.

Combined, the hundred-plus Cultivators from the Qingyuan Sect and the contingent from Yan Gui Sect couldn't even occupy half of Yinbao's back.

RUMBLE.

Yinbao's belly settled onto the ground, causing the earth to shudder. Then, before the astonished, envious, and jealous eyes of the crowd, Yinbao gently nudged Fang Qingyuan's hand with its forehead in a show of gentleness.

Fang Qingyuan patted Yinbao's head, then stepped onto its crown, planting his feet firmly between the two giant antlers. He then announced in a booming voice,

"Yinbao achieved its Golden Core a few days ago and has been stabilizing its realm since, which is why I am only letting you all know now. Time is short. Everyone, get on."

At Fang Qingyuan's summons, the crowd mustered their courage and flew onto Yinbao's back. Standing upon its vast expanse, many wore expressions of vicarious pride, their backs straightening instinctively.

"Hold on tight! We're off!"

At Fang Qingyuan's command, Yinbao's colossal form shot up, soaring straight into the sky.

One thousand zhang, two thousand zhang... ten thousand zhang, thirty thousand zhang!

Finally, Yinbao reached an altitude of fifty thousand zhang. Here, life was scarce and all was deathly still, save for the howling astral winds that carried a cold instantly fatal to any mortal.

Although they were all Cultivators, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not reach such a height. Golden Core Cultivators, for their part, would not casually fly so high, as the astral winds grew more violent with altitude. Above them, primordial magnetic auroras would erupt unpredictably, and even a single strike would be a painful ordeal for a Golden Core Cultivator.

Gazing at the sun blazing even hotter above them, with specks of stars visible alongside it, some of the Low-tier Cultivators, who had never witnessed such a vista in their entire lives, were moved to tears.

Seeing some of the Cultivators shivering violently from the cold, Fang Qingyuan patted Yinbao on the head. The beast understood and raised a transparent Protective Shield. This was its 'Torrent of Life'.

As warmth returned to their bodies, Yan Muyun wore a complicated expression. He was deeply envious of how Fang Qingyuan had quietly produced yet another Golden Core Companion Beast.

'What's more, this Golden Core Companion Beast isn't even his main War Beast. That Black and White Bear Beast hasn't been seen in a long time either... could it also be in the process of a breakthrough?'

Yan Muyun stood close behind Fang Qingyuan, but he felt that the gulf between them was vast—so vast that he could hardly make out Fang Qingyuan's back anymore.

"Mu Yun, be straight with me. Of the other eight Golden Core Sects, how many are supporting you this time?"

Fang Qingyuan's voice suddenly sounded in his ear, making Yan Muyun flinch. He realized Fang Qingyuan had already figured it out, so he decided not to hide it any longer.

"All eight of them. If we don't act now, while we have the Great Zhou Academy's protection, we'll lose our nerve completely."

Fang Qingyuan nodded lightly, his back still turned to Yan Muyun. He gazed at the scenery ahead as he asked,

"How are they supporting you? By shouting encouragement from the back? You're the one being pushed to the forefront. That won't work without unwavering support."

"Actually, detaining the Golden Core Cultivator from Star-Picking Pavilion was a joint decision. The Yan Gui Sect alone wouldn't have been able to hold a Golden Core Cultivator with a Star Lifebound. The other sect leaders are all at my sect now, waiting for us to return."

Fang Qingyuan's expression remained unchanged as he said in a solemn voice,

"I knew it couldn't be that simple. But with nine Golden Core Sects united in purpose, plus my own quasi-Nascent Soul Sect, we have enough backing to demand an explanation from Star-Picking Pavilion. Brother Yan cannot have died for nothing. At the very least, they must tell us the real story. Star-Picking Pavilion has been arrogant for far too long!"

With just a few short sentences, Fang Qingyuan and Yan Muyun reached a tacit understanding. Fang Qingyuan had shown he was willing to back them, and in return, the nine sects would have to make it worth his while.

A short while later, a journey that would normally have taken one or two days was completed in less than an hour, thanks to Yinbao's unrestrained flight.

Below, at the main gate of the Yan Gui Sect, a crowd of Cultivators in assorted robes had gathered.

"It's time to make our entrance. Yinbao, dive! Give them a taste of the Qingyuan Sect's might!"