Chapter 772 - 717: Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand

Chapter 772: Chapter 717: Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand

The Qingyun Conference had entered its second day. Whether it was at the Golden Core stage, Nascent Soul, or Divinity Transformation level, there had already been several intense battles. Aside from the expected prodigies who did not disappoint, there were also many newcomers who stood out and amazed the onlookers.

For the trials of Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators, the rules were the same. Unlike Jiang Yuebai’s unconventional investigation methods, the group of Golden Core disciples led by Kong Jingyan proceeded steadily and surely. ℯℯ𝘭.

Kong Jingyan only had Yun Shang and Qii Yue release some spiritual insects and Cloud Lark Puppets for reconnaissance. Meanwhile, everyone stayed on the floating island, working on a pile of chaotic materials under the command of Shi Xiaowu and Song Zhi’ang, without understanding what they were doing.

The crowd, unable to comprehend, shifted their attention to the exciting battles happening elsewhere.

On the Divinity Transformation side, due to the smaller number of participants, matches were held in the form of duels. The crowd eagerly anticipated the performance of the Divinity Transformation cultivators from the Heavenly Interence Sect because of the stellar display by Jiang Yuebai’s group.

Unfortunately, the people from the Heavenly Interence Sect had yet to take the stage.

Iron Palm Master originally also had a chance to participate in the Qingyun Conference. However, the scandal from his past in the Nine Rivers Realm somehow spread back to the Loujin Realm, alleging unclear relations between him and his subordinate Ghost Slave Dongyue. The Fang Family was ridiculed as a result.

To avoid bringing further unwanted attention to the Fang Family, Iron Palm Master was disqualified. The Fang Family’s Refining Void Ancestor advised him to keep a low profile.

Iron Palm Master was vexed because the rewards of the Qingyun Conference included the opportunity to cultivate in the Five Luminaries Realm. Every so often, Mahayana Immortal Monarchs would engage in Daoist cultivation there, where the spiritual energy density was said to be among the best in the Upper Realm. It was reputed to be the closest place to the Immortal Realm, where one could experience Immortal Spirit Qi.

The Five Luminaries Realm also housed the Observatory, a place where Mahayana Immortal Monarchs of past generations left their insights and experiences. Having the chance to comprehend some of it could significantly increase his hopes of entering the Refining Void Stage.

If fortunate, one might even acquire an Ancient Treasure, an Innate Spiritual Treasure, or even a Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure from the Observatory, paving a smooth road ahead!

Previous top three winners of various levels from past Qingyun Conferences had all gained benefits from the Observatory. Some even caught the attention of Mahayana Immortal Monarchs, became their protectors during tribulation crossing, and were groomed, eventually becoming the next in line for Mahayana status.

Thinking about this, Iron Palm Master wished to skin the rumor-spreading Chenzhou Wanderer alive. Unable to find the wanderer, he redirected his ire onto Jiang Yuebai and the Heavenly Interence Sect.

Ever since encountering Jiang Yuebai, he’d had nothing but bad luck. He even suspected secret ties between Chenzhou Wanderer, Jiang Yuebai, and the Heavenly Interence Sect, but he had no evidence.

Originally, everything had been set up to deliver a major blow to the Heavenly Interence Sect at the onset of the Qingyun Conference, but the Xiong Family and the Heavenly Star Sect had screwed up, leaving Iron Palm Master with no outlet for his anger.

Observing the Heavenly Interence Sect’s members stealing the spotlight, he was tempted to enter and crush those arrogant little bastards himself.

Frustrated, Iron Palm Master wandered aimlessly among the mountains. Spotting three Demon Clan members searching for something, he silently followed them.

After trailing for half a day, he learned from their occasional cryptic conversations that the Three Demons were looking for a particular demon with unique abilities, who was previously guarded in the Demon Realm.

This demon had suddenly been abducted, and they had chased from the Demon Clan across many realms, finally arriving in the Qingyun Realm.

As Iron Palm Master continued his pursuit, he suddenly noticed Jiang Yuebai leading three people, charging aggressively towards the Fang Family’s garrisoned floating island.

Iron Palm Master’s heart skipped a beat as he clenched his fist.

"Do they even intend to annihilate the Fang Family? Arrogant fools, utterly reckless. I’ll see how capable you really are!"

Iron Palm Master intently focused on the Qingyun Realm, while the Three Demons quickly vanished into the mountain forest.

Not far away, a man materialized ghost-like on a tree, glancing at the direction where the Three Demons disappeared before fixing his gaze on Jiang Yuebai in the Qingyun Realm.

*

In the Qingyun Realm, Jiang Yuebai traced the aura of Cloud Mushroom to locate the Fang Family’s floating island.

The floating island was plagued by sandy winds and bizarre rocks, covered in barren red stones. The intense heat beneath made the surrounding area exceedingly hot.

The location was over two hundred miles from their base. On their way, they encountered many cultivators out gathering intelligence, among whom were even some loose cultivators Jiang Yuebai knew.

One was Xingchou, whom she’d met in the Nine Dragon Ruins of the Green Dragon Realm. Xingchou had revealed herself as an Extraordinary Person of the Heavenly Witch Clan, a Zhangwei Mountain survivor with Candle Dragon Bloodline.

The male cultivator with Xingchou was Chu Xin, whom Jiang Yuebai had met in the Doumu Realm. Having absorbed the power of a Snow Demon and Ten Thousand Years Stalactite, he qualified as an Acquired Extraordinary Person.

It wasn’t surprising for them to be together; loose cultivators had joined the Qingyun Conference through the Independent Cultivator Alliance, with at least three to five hundred such cultivators at the Nascent Soul level.

Jiang Yuebai spotted them, but they failed to notice her. Focused on confronting the Fang Family, Jiang Yuebai avoided them.

"Up ahead is the floating island where the Fang Family from the Loujin Realm is based; they’re the same Fang Family affiliated with the Earth Spiritual Realm in the Upper Realm."

The group paused at a small, deserted floating island to secretly observe.

Since the Fang Family dared to plot against the Heavenly Interence Sect, Jiang Yuebai would not give them the chance.

"Senior Sister Jiang, if the Fang Family’s Jade Token Totem doesn’t match ours, we don’t have to confront them," Fang Yuxing whispered.

Yuu Qiuqi and Ge Yuchan were equally puzzled as to why Jiang Yuebai insisted on taking on the Fang Family.

Jiang Yuebai explained, "I’m preemptively dealing with possible threats. In the opening stage, if Anan and I hadn’t acted swiftly, the Xiong Family and the Heavenly Star Sect would’ve wiped us out, and behind them, all was the Fang Family’s manipulation. In short, the feud between the Fang Family and the Heavenly Interence Sect is irreconcilable."

"Then I’ll join you," Ge Yuchan stated decisively.

Jiang Yuebai smiled, "No need. I’ve fought Iron Palm Master before; the Fang Family is no pushover. To be safe, I’ll go in alone. You all stay outside, and if you see anyone severely injured trying to escape, eliminate them. If..."

Jiang Yuebai paused, "If I don’t return by day’s end, you should head back first."

Hearing this, Yuu Qiuqi was about to protest, but Jiang Yuebai interrupted.

"Don’t worry, I still want to contend for a top-three spot. I won’t let myself fall here. I’m simply concerned about unexpected issues that might cause delays," Jiang Yuebai assured.

Thus, the trio could only nod in agreement, reminding Jiang Yuebai to be cautious.

Jiang Yuebai left behind the toothless Jixiang, saying, "Its danger perception is more acute than that of most cultivators. If it alerts, you all should leave at once."

Jixiang covered its mouth with tiny paws, gazing tearfully at Jiang Yuebai—not out of reluctance to part but from feeling wronged that even without teeth, it was made to work. Heartless!

Jiang Yuebai placed Jixiang in Yuu Qiuqi’s arms, ruffling its head. "Don’t worry, when we’re back, I’ll craft you a pair of top-tier Spiritual Artifact-level fangs."

With that, Jiang Yuebai activated the Michen Seal, vanishing before their eyes.

At the center of the lava-laden floating island, two male and one female Nascent Soul cultivators of the Fang Family, assisting four severely injured cultivators from the Xiong Family and the Heavenly Star Sect, suddenly sensed a fluctuation in the Great Array Barrier.

Soon afterward, a white figure appeared out of nowhere on the river of lava, holding a flower basket.

Startled, they turned around. Recognizing Jiang Yuebai’s face, they were astonished and panic-stricken.

Jiang Yuebai hugged the flower basket with a raised brow, "Oh, it’s just you guys here. Then, I’ll start by killing you first!"

As she spoke, the spiritual energy inside the four severely injured cultivators from the Xiong Family and the Heavenly Star Sect suddenly flared. Their bodies uncontrollably swelled as white Cloud Mushrooms burst through their skin, growing rapidly, and then...

Bang!

All four exploded at once!

The three members of the Fang Family were caught off guard, flung away by the massive force, crashing into various rocky cliffs.

Watching the four vanish amid the blue afterglow, Jiang Yuebai lamented internally at the lost opportunity.

Once the parasitic Little Demon Technique took hold within an opponent, the longer it lay dormant, the stronger its effect becomes. She’d waited an entire day, but alas, without the expected special effects of blood mist—it was disappointing!

Playing with the flower basket in her hands, Jiang Yuebai’s cold, blade-like eyes fearlessly met theirs.

"Now, summon all your Fang Family members back, or the three of you won’t be nearly enough for me to kill!"