Chapter 391 - 389: The Unwelcome Guest Appears

Chapter 391: Chapter 389: The Unwelcome Guest Appears

"Senior Brother Zhou, once the Sect Contribution from this mission is handed out, you should have enough for the Liuu Family’s betrothal gifts, right?"

Several Cultivators helped each other up the treacherous peak. Once at the top, they began to bend down and collect soil and rock samples.

Back at the Sect, the Spirit Field Hall and the Spiritual Ore division would use these to conduct a preliminary analysis and determine if the area was worth developing.

Another two disciples took out a set of Small Banners and, following the trigram positions in an Array Book, carefully planted them.

Once all the Array Banners were set up on the high points, they would form a basic warning Array.

Hearing his junior brother’s question, the horse-faced Cultivator broke into a smile, which made his face look even longer. "Almost. I manage to make fifteen Talismans a month in my spare time. After costs, I still net about twenty Spirit Stones."

"I’ve saved up over four hundred Spirit Stones over the years. Plus, after this mission’s reward, my account should reach a thousand Contribution Points... All in all, that should be enough."

"That’s way too much! The Liuu Family isn’t some great, distinguished clan. How dare they ask for that much!"

a baby-faced disciple said indignantly. His face was still childish; he was barely a teenager.

"The betrothal gift for the senior sister from the Bai Family of Celestial Thunder Cliff was only eight hundred Spirit Stones, and she’s a bona fide clanswoman of Ancestor Bai! The Liuu Family only has a single Foundation Establishment Steward, yet they still put on such airs. They’re just betting on the fact that you won’t marry anyone but Senior Sister Liuu!"

"Being able to marry Junior Sister Liuu is my greatest wish. A few more years of hard work is nothing..."

Senior Brother Zhou’s face was wreathed in smiles, overflowing with happiness.

"Sigh... but if you give away all your savings, what about the resources for you to break through to Late-Stage Qi Refining, Senior Brother?"

The baby-faced junior brother was carrying an iron pick. Every few dozen feet, he would chip off a piece of ore and toss it into the storage pouch at his waist.

"I have my Talisman Making skills. Junior Sister Liuu and I will work hard together, and we’ll definitely both reach the late stage... My aptitude can’t compare to Junior Brother Qiu’s. I have no hope for Foundation Establishment anyway, so breaking through a few years later doesn’t matter."

Senior Brother Zhou’s voice was full of hope for the future, without a hint of regret at giving away his life’s savings.

"Junior Sister Liuu told me she’s saved up a hundred or so Spirit Stones. If we have a child with a Spiritual Root in the future, we’ll start their training early... By then, Junior Brother Qiu will probably be a Foundation Establishment Elder. I’ll be counting on you to guide my descendant’s Cultivation."

"If that day comes, I’ll definitely take your child as my disciple and treat them as my own."

Junior Brother Qiu’s face flushed red. At his age, reaching Mid-Stage Qi Refining was already rare among Outer Sect Disciples.

In this year’s tournament, he had been at a disadvantage due to his small and weak physique, falling in the quarterfinals for the Outer Sect Disciples of the Black Mountain Area.

Next year, once his body was a bit stronger and his Magical Power more refined, reaching the top three would be a certainty.

As long as he could become an Inner Sect Disciple, his future would be completely different.

"Who goes there, Elder? We are all disciples of the Qingfeng Sect... The Demon King in Cold Crow Gorge was slain by our Sect’s Ancestor Bai. This land is now the property of the Qingfeng Sect."

Just as Junior Brother Qiu was blushing, Senior Brother Zhou suddenly shot to his feet, pulling him back and shielding him.

High in the air behind Junior Brother Qiu, a Cultivator had appeared at some unknown time. He had plain features and an indifferent expression, and was dressed in a magnificent robe with numerous Jade Rings hanging from his waist.

"So, it was the Qingfeng Sect that ruined my arrangement. I didn’t expect the outside world to change so much after a single session of seclusion..."

The indifferent Cultivator sighed, his tone desolate.

’I’ve already wasted too much time here. I should go to the Eastern Domain, meet up with the other lineages, and uncover the treasure our Ancestor left behind... Only when the tokens from all five main lineages are gathered, and all bearers have a Core Formation Cultivation, can we enter that place again. Back then, the Ancestor obtained the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword and Holy Beast Essence Blood there. If he left behind two Spiritual Treasures inside, our five lineages working together might just be able to deal with those few rebel factions in the Ten Thousand Stars Islands.’

’Centuries ago, the Profound Clarity Lineage had a Nascent Soul True Monarch, so we naturally held the top spot among the five main lineages and controlled the position of Sect Leader. Now that we’ve lost the Holy Beast Essence Blood, we can’t master the Supreme Divine Technique, the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword. The blame for this will surely fall on our lineage. Seizing the dominant position won’t be so easy. In the end, strength is what matters. I, Li Hansi, possess a Perfect Core Formation Cultivation. I refuse to believe I can’t overpower the Cultivators from the other four lineages!’

As these thoughts raced through Li Hansi’s mind, he felt a surge of confidence. Emerging from his seclusion after having cultivated to Core Formation Perfection had filled him with it.

Even though his rivals were the Saint Heirs and Saintesses from the various lineages of the old Sect, he felt not a shred of fear.

"You ruined my arrangement. In just a few more years, I would have obtained a Top-Grade Magical Treasure Embryo. Damn you!"

Li Hansi flicked his wrist, and several Water Arrows shot out.

Senior Brother Zhou’s expression changed drastically. He had already been clutching a Talisman issued by the Sect, and he subconsciously activated it ahead of time.

An earth wall rose just in time, only to be instantly pierced by the Water Arrows, which then tore through the chests of several Qingfeng Sect disciples on the summit.

Senior Brother Zhou spread his arms to shield Junior Brother Qiu behind him. The arrow skewered them both, and they collapsed to the ground as blood gushed from the wound.

’Only two Foundation Establishment Cultivators. I’ll collect some interest from the Qingfeng Sect first. Once I inherit the Ancestor’s treasure, I’ll come back and settle the score with that person...’

Li Hansi’s face was expressionless. He marked the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and twenty-one Qi Refining Disciples with his Divine Sense.

He curled his finger, and several Water Arrows changed direction, shooting out toward every corner of Cold Crow Gorge.

"Oh no, it’s a Core Formation True Man!"

The fluctuations from the activation of the Tier Two Earth Wall Talisman had alerted the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators to the stranger’s presence high in the sky.

They couldn’t see through his Cultivation, and his mere presence made their bodies go limp and their Magical Power difficult to gather. He could only be a Core Formation Cultivator.

They fired a signal flare. A seven-colored firework exploded high in the sky, visible even in broad daylight, letting fellow sect members within a hundred-li radius know what was happening.

This was the highest-level warning signal they were equipped with. A seven-colored firework signified an enemy at the level of a Core Formation True Man or a Tier Three Demon Beast.

Upon seeing it, any ordinary Cultivators from the Sect within a hundred-li radius would certainly retreat or hide as quickly as possible, waiting for a Core Formation Ancestor to come to the rescue.

But even if one of the Sect’s Ancestors happened to see the firework and rushed over immediately, it would be too late.

For a Core Formation True Man, killing two Early-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators was no different from crushing two slightly tougher ants.

One of them, refusing to give up, activated a Flower Basket Talisman Treasure. The other Foundation Establishment Cultivator simply held up his Defense Spiritual Artifact, seemingly resigned to his fate.

Amidst a chorus of rising and falling screams and wails, the Qi Refining Disciples collapsed one by one, dead.

The Defense Spiritual Artifact was shattered by a Water Arrow, which, its power finally spent, dissipated into a spray of water that sprinkled to the ground.

The Flower Basket Talisman Treasure performed valiantly, catching three Water Arrows in a row.

The flower basket spun back and forth in the air, refusing to release the Water Arrows it held, but the woven vines on its surface began to loosen.

"Oh? It’s actually a True Talisman Treasure."

For the first time, an expression appeared on Li Hansi’s face. The several Water Arrows were just a simple Water Element Magic he had cast casually.

But when used by a Perfect Core Formation Cultivator like him, even the simplest magic possessed immense power. To a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was Earth-Shattering.

A so-called True Talisman Treasure was a special type of Talisman Treasure that possessed over forty percent of a Magical Treasure’s power. Normally, only one could be separated from a single Magical Treasure.

To create such a Talisman Treasure, the Magical Treasure itself would inevitably be damaged, and it would almost certainly drop in Tier.

Unless a Core Formation Cultivator was nearing the end of their life or doing it for a member of their Direct Lineage, they would never be willing to do such a thing.

A Flying Sword, five chi long, landed in his hand. Its middle section was scorched black, while both ends were made of Cyan Silver Bamboo.

Before he even struck, the rumble of thunder echoed around the blade, audible only to the Sword Master and no one else.

Just as Li Hansi was about to draw his sword and finish the two of them, his expression suddenly changed. A trace of solemnity appeared on his usually placid, indifferent face.

A powerful fluctuation was rapidly approaching. From the moment it entered his Divine Sense’s range to a beam of moonlight landing in his line of sight, only an instant had passed.

"You’re the one who killed my Sect’s disciples?"

A refined-looking young man stepped out from the moonlight, his voice as cold as ice.

"Daoist Brother, this must be a misunderstanding... Two disciples from your esteemed Sect attacked me rashly. I only acted to discipline them and uphold the dignity of a Core Formation True Man. I failed to hold back in time and accidentally injured your Sect’s disciples. I am willing to offer compensation."

Li Hansi sensed that the newcomer was at Late-Stage Core Formation, a level below his own, but he would not be an easy opponent.

If a real conflict broke out, the intense Combat might attract that True Monarch Ge Cang from the Qingfeng Sect, which would be disastrous.

He had only arrived in the Liang Country’s Cultivation Realm a century ago, and even though he had spent most of that time in secluded Cultivation on a Spirit Land, the names Ge Cang and Bai Zichen were still as famous as roaring thunder.

Emerging from his seclusion this time, he had even heard that Ge Cang, who was much younger than him, had already reached the Nascent Soul realm.

Li Hansi, on the other hand, was nearing the end of his lifespan. Breaking through to Nascent Soul was an impossibility, and forcing the Tribulation Crossing would only result in his body and soul being obliterated by the Celestial Tribulation.

The True Essence of a Core Formation Perfection cultivator radiated from him, displaying his power.

’In his opinion, no sect would start a conflict with a Perfect Core Formation Cultivator over a few mere Qi Refining Disciples. Besides, he had taken the initiative to apologize, offered compensation, and given them a way out. A bit of laughter, a few pleasantries, and the matter would be resolved.’

"Accidentally injured?"

Bai Zichen’s gaze swept over the corpses of the Qi Refining Disciples, most of whom were Outer Sect Disciples and servant disciples.

"To kill my sect members right in front of me... Excellent... You can stay and properly atone to my Sect’s disciples. Then you can explain what ’accidentally injured’ means."

He had gone out to slay that Tier Three ancient tree. It was the last Tier Three Demon Beast in Black Mountain whose specific location had been confirmed. It was an extremely rare Spirit Plant that had gained sentience. Trapped and unable to move from its spot, it had once made the area a forbidden zone for Qingfeng Sect Cultivators, who feared their disciples would get trapped inside. The ancient tree’s life force was astonishing; it had held on for a full hour under Bai Zichen’s assault. It wasn’t that the ancient tree’s defenses were so incredible, but that its regenerative speed was terrifying. Countless roots and branches were severed, only to grow back in an instant. When he finally killed it completely, its continuous network of roots stretched for dozens of li underground. The severed wood, when piled up, formed a small mountain. Bai Zichen only took the Wood Heart from the very center of the ancient tree, notifying the Sect to come and collect the rest of the wood. Whether for Refining Wood Element Spiritual Artifacts, constructing large palaces, or building warships, it was all excellent Spirit Wood material. He never expected to see the seven-colored firework on his way back, only to rush over and find such a scene.

"What, Daoist Brother, are you really going to fight me over a few Qi Refining Cultivators...?"

Li Hansi held his sword horizontally. The sound of rushing water suddenly came from behind him, as if a Water Dragon was roaring, gathering all the water vapor from the heavens and earth.

"You should know, I am no Loose Cultivator without backing! My heritage and origins surpass your Qingfeng Sect by an unknown degree!"