Chapter 604: First Do This, Then Do That

Chapter 604: Chapter 604: First Do This, Then Do That

If he missed this storm, how could the other Golden Core True Monarchs just sit by and watch a new True Monarch rise?

They would surely do everything in their power to obstruct him when he performed the Ritual. That would be a true path to certain death.

Even with the Attribute Panel and the Divine Soul Exchange technique that allowed him to transfer to his clone, Han Shi, he would have to start everything all over again.

Unless it was a last resort, Xu Yunfan would naturally not choose this method.

With this in mind, Xu Yunfan hesitated no longer. He said decisively, "Thank you for your generous favor, True Monarch, and thank you for your support, Senior Brother! Xu Yunfan will definitely do his utmost to investigate the situation in this World Heaven for the Primordial Sect!"

This mission was not only a crucial step for him to acquire resources, but also an opportunity to prove his worth and loyalty to True Monarch Qing Yuan.

After all, this World Heaven was something True Monarch Qing Yuan had specifically granted him for his distinguished service in being the first to break into the Celestial Realm’s World Heaven.

Seeing him be so decisive, a satisfied smile appeared on Lu Chuan’s face.

True Monarch Qing Yuan had no shortage of ferocious cultivators with formidable combat power under his command, but there were truly few who knew how to adapt to circumstances, understood their place, and possessed genuine talent in the Array Dao and Artifact Refining.

Xu Yunfan’s performance had undoubtedly increased his importance in the True Monarch’s eyes.

’Needless to say, the True Monarch is watching from above.’

"However,"

Lu Chuan’s tone suddenly shifted. He smiled gently and said, "Before we officially explore the realm, there is one lingering concern that must be dealt with first."

Xu Yunfan’s eyes narrowed. "Oh? Please enlighten me, Senior Brother."

"Although intercepting the coordinates hasn’t alerted the Wansheng Sword Sect for now, that Female Sword Cultivator is not without connections."

Lu Chuan explained, "Her clan uncle, an Elder of the Ye Family of Wansheng Sword Sect’s Phecda Peak, Ye Yuan, is connected to her by blood and has already noticed that her aura has been strangely cut off."

Ye Yuan.

Xu Yunfan understood.

He was somewhat familiar with this, as his clone, Han Shi, was in the Wansheng Sword Sect, so he had a general understanding of the family factions within the Sword Sect.

To become an Elder of a peak in the Wansheng Sword Sect, a position no less than a Peak Master in the Primordial Sect, one would undoubtedly be a Great Daoist Master at Foundation Establishment Perfection. Furthermore, specializing in the Sword Dao, his killing power was far beyond what an ordinary Great Daoist Master at Foundation Establishment Perfection could compare to.

"Ye Yuan is currently sparing no expense to use the Phecda Looming Sword Technique to trace her."

Lu Chuan’s tone was grave. "To prevent him from finding any clues and interfering with our subsequent plans to explore the realm, and more importantly, to prevent the coordinates of the New Boundary Heaven from being exposed to the Wansheng Sword Sect, we must completely eliminate him before he can truly lock onto his target!"

He looked at Xu Yunfan with a burning gaze.

"This matter must be dealt with swiftly and decisively. We will lay a Heaven and Earth Net, allowing no room for error. Junior Brother Xu, your mastery of arrays is profound, and you especially excel at trapping, killing, and blockading. You can instantly connect to the Earth Veins to lay down an Absolute Array. For this assassination, your skills are key to sealing off this person’s escape routes. I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble you."

Assassinating a Sword Cultivator at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Even though Xu Yunfan was at Late-Stage Foundation Establishment, possessed the Divine Sky Scripture at Perfection, held a Fake Gold Position, and had trump cards like his Array Dao, his heart couldn’t help but tighten upon hearing this.

The Sword Cultivators of the Wansheng Sword Sect had always been number one in combat and killing among those of the same realm.

If word leaked out and the Celestial Secret wasn’t concealed, it could very well attract a Sword Sect True Monarch to send a slash of Sword Intent from afar to annihilate them. Their entire team would likely be buried here.

’No wonder they’ve been waiting for me.’

Only Xu Yunfan could lay an array to conceal the Celestial Secret and use a Cause and Effect Secret Technique, amplified by the array, to throw cause and effect into disarray, temporarily turning an area into chaos.

Naturally, he had no thoughts of backing down.

’Honestly, even if the enemy cuts through us like melons and vegetables, I’m confident I can escape.’

After all, his main role was to use arrays for sealing. If things looked bad, his top priority would be to flee.

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother. Leave the sealing to me. I will not leave a sliver of a chance for escape."

This was precisely why True Monarch Qing Yuan had sent him to participate in such a core mission—to utilize the value of his Array Dao.

If he were to shirk even this responsibility, his bold declarations back in Pure Source Hall would become a joke.

Lu Chuan nodded with satisfaction. "Good! I’ve already arranged for several other Daoist Masters to join us. The person responsible for concealing the Female Sword Cultivator’s aura is among them..."

He paused, his tone carrying a barely perceptible hint. "It is Daoist Master Zhang Qiaoluo. She has been using a Secret Treasure to provide concealment for you for a full three years."

"Now that you’ve come out of seclusion today... she has wasted three years on her end. It’s inevitable that her temper might be a bit frayed. You should be a little careful when you meet her."

Xu Yunfan understood perfectly.

Relationships in the Primordial Sect were cold. Taking on someone’s duty for three years for no reason, not to mention the expenditure of Magical Power and Heart and Spirit, also meant bearing the risk of being injured by Ye Yuan’s Sword Intent or even being implicated.

’It’s only natural for this Senior Sister Leng to hold a grudge.’

"Yunfan understands. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

Xu Yunfan acknowledged solemnly.

"There’s no time to lose. We will meet in three days at 7:00 AM, three thousand miles outside Cold Crow Pass at Chaotic Wind Gorge. Ye Xuan has been placed there."

Xu Yunfan was well aware that such a dirty deed couldn’t be done within the Primordial Sect’s territory, not even in the Eastern Continent. The best location was on the border of the Three Sects.

’If they were even more audacious, choosing a spot inside the Puchen Pure Land wouldn’t be out of the question, either.’

「Three days passed in a flash.」

Cold Crow Pass, a major stronghold of the Primordial Sect on the Eastern Wilderness Border, was filled with a chaotic mix of Spiritual Qi, the stench of blood, and the clamor of various Marketplaces.

Xu Yunfan concealed his presence, retracting his aura to the absolute limit. Like a silent bolt of lightning, he shot out from Divine Sky Peak, broke through the clouds and mist, and silently streaked over Cold Crow Pass, heading straight for the more desolate Chaotic Wind Gorge.

Just as its name suggested, Chaotic Wind Gorge was flanked by towering, jagged, and steep reddish-brown cliffs that pierced the clouds.

Inside the gorge, the Gang Wind howled like a razor, letting out sharp, ghost-like shrieks that never ceased throughout the year. It was the best natural place for concealment and ambushes.

Xu Yunfan landed quietly before the appointed hour, his Divine Thought spreading out like gentle ripples.

Four people were already there.

The one in the lead was none other than Lu Chuan.

He was dressed in blue robes, his aura as deep and stable as the sea. The majestic Daoist presence of his Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivation was still enough to make one’s heart palpitate.

A woman stood beside Lu Chuan.

She wore a black palace-style dress, her face cold and detached like a crescent moon in winter frost. The Cinnabar mole between her brows was a piercing red.

A desolate, still aura coiled around her—formless and intangible, yet it sent a chilling, piercing pain deep into one’s Divine Soul, as if she herself were a black hole that devoured living souls.

This was a Great Daoist Master at Foundation Establishment Perfection, Zhang Qiaoluo.

The moment Xu Yunfan landed, her eyes, as cold as an Ice Abyss, swept over him. She said nothing, but her silent scrutiny and displeasure were practically overflowing.

Even with Xu Yunfan’s firm Dao Heart, he felt a chill run through his body.

’No need to even ask. This woman was definitely the one who had covered for me for three years.’

"Junior Brother Xu has arrived."

Lu Chuan spoke up at the right moment, introducing her to Xu Yunfan in a calm tone, "This is Senior Sister Zhang Qiaoluo. The fact that we have been able to temporarily hide this matter from the Wansheng Sword Sect’s investigation is all thanks to Senior Sister Leng using the Secret Technique from the Profound Vagina Transformation of Ghost Soul Sutra to sever the bloodline connection. Her efforts have been immense."

Xu Yunfan understood the hint and immediately took a step forward, bowing deeply.

"Xu Yunfan greets Senior Sister Zhang. I’ve troubled you, Senior Sister, to put in so much effort to conceal the threads of cause and effect for the Sect’s grand plan for three whole years. This junior brother has only just emerged from seclusion and was a step too late to thank you in person. It was a great discourtesy. I hope Senior Sister can forgive me!"