Chapter 289 - 250: Mortal Enemy, True Monarch Jin Yun

Chapter 289: Chapter 250: Mortal Enemy, True Monarch Jin Yun

"Please forgive my offense, Senior."

The masked cultivator apologized profusely.

A cultivator at the Late-stage of Core Formation was already considered a True Man, a Great Cultivator.

This was not someone he could afford to offend!

Even their branch of the Celestial Knowledge Tower had to treat a Late-stage Core Formation True Man with the utmost courtesy!

"Please wait a moment, Senior."

The masked cultivator bowed with clasped hands before leaving the private room.

Xu Chang’an remained noncommittal.

Of course, he had altered his appearance.

The Celestial Knowledge Tower’s business was immense, and when it came to intelligence, they placed extreme importance on client confidentiality.

Normally, Xu Chang’an would have no problem buying intelligence!

However...

When information involving a Nascent Soul True Monarch was concerned, one couldn’t be too careful!

’I hope they don’t try any funny business!’

Xu Chang’an thought to himself.

As he was now, he had every right to be this confident!

He didn’t have to wait long before another cultivator, also wearing a mask and robes, walked in.

This cultivator’s mask was adorned with bronze patterns, and his robes were black. His rank was clearly higher than the previous masked cultivator.

However, it was still not enough to block Xu Chang’an’s spiritual probe.

’Mid-stage Core Formation!’

"Fellow Daoist, I am the Vice Tower Master of the Lingyun Celestial Knowledge Tower. My surname is Zong."

The black-robed man greeted Xu Chang’an.

"Tower Master Zong."

Xu Chang’an replied faintly.

"So, you wish to purchase the detailed intelligence on True Monarch Jin Yun of the Lingyun Immortal Sect!"

The black-robed man got straight to the point.

"Mm."

Xu Chang’an nodded.

"True Monarch Jin Yun is a Supreme Elder of the Lingyun Immortal Sect. His status is venerable. Detailed intelligence on him will cost two million Spirit Stones!"

the black-robed man said.

Two million Spirit Stones could buy several Lower-Grade Magical Treasures. It could fund a complete opportunity for Core Formation!

And yet, that was merely the price of a single piece of intelligence!

However, Xu Chang’an knew full well. Sometimes, possessing key information in advance was what decided victory and defeat!

Magical Treasures have a price, but intelligence is priceless!

Even so, Xu Chang’an still frowned.

"Two million Spirit Stones!?"

"That’s right, Fellow Daoist. To completely gather detailed intelligence on a Nascent Soul True Monarch, investigate from multiple angles, and verify its authenticity—the effort involved is immeasurable,"

the black-robed man said with a nod.

"If you feel it’s too expensive, Fellow Daoist, you can purchase the second-tier detailed intelligence; the price will be reduced accordingly. If that’s still too expensive, you can buy the basic intelligence package!"

Hearing this, Xu Chang’an gave the black-robed man a long, hard look but said nothing.

The black-robed man was in no hurry, simply watching Xu Chang’an.

"Two million Spirit Stones it is! I’ll take that one!"

A flicker of joy crossed the black-robed man’s face, but it was perfectly concealed by his mask.

For this branch of the Celestial Knowledge Tower in Lingyun Immortal City, a two-million-Spirit-Stone transaction was, as a single deal, quite a large piece of business.

"One moment, Fellow Daoist!"

With that, the black-robed man left the private room.

Xu Chang’an did not wait long.

After a little while, the black-robed man returned with two Jade Scrolls.

"Fellow Daoist, you may inspect the goods first!"

With that said, the black-robed man handed over one of the Jade Scrolls.

Xu Chang’an accepted the Jade Scroll.

The Jade Scroll recorded a great deal of information about True Monarch Jin Yun.

It included his life experiences, cultivation history, famous battles, Magical Treasures and Divine Techniques, along with some logical speculations and supporting evidence.

The information in the Jade Scroll was extremely comprehensive, but it was only an introduction; the most specific, core details were not included.

Xu Chang’an glanced at the other Jade Scroll in the black-robed man’s hand.

He tossed a Storage Bag over.

"Two million Spirit Stones."

The black-robed man took the Storage Bag and inspected its contents.

After confirming the amount was correct, he handed the Jade Scroll to Xu Chang’an.

Xu Chang’an accepted the Jade Scroll but did not leave immediately.

Instead, he began to examine the information within the Jade Scroll on the spot.

The black-robed man did not rush him, just waited quietly.

’What does this Core Formation Cultivator want with True Monarch Jin Yun’s detailed information? What is he plotting!?’

’The Celestial Knowledge Tower wouldn’t pry, nor would it take any action!’

’Unless...’

’A valued client specifically requests an investigation into his motives!’

’Although the Celestial Knowledge Tower has dealings with numerous Sects and families, it is, in the end, a neutral power.’

The black-robed man waited for a considerable time before Xu Chang’an finally lowered the Jade Scroll in his hand.

He said nothing and walked straight out of the Celestial Knowledge Tower.

"Take care, Fellow Daoist. We hope to see you again!"

the black-robed man said, his tone warm as he saw him off.

...

’No one’s following me.’

Xu Chang’an walked the streets of Lingyun Immortal City, sensing his surroundings.

The Celestial Knowledge Tower hadn’t dispatched any cultivators to tail him.

’So, he’s in seclusion to break through to the Mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm!’

A cold glint flashed in Xu Chang’an’s eyes.

The Jade Scroll contained a great deal of information about True Monarch Jin Yun.

True Monarch Jin Yun, Jin Tianbo.

He had been cultivating for 921 years.

Over a hundred years ago, he broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm.

And in the short span of just over a hundred years, he was already attempting to break through to the Mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm.

It was suspected that he had encountered a great fortuitous opportunity!

That he had obtained a great fortuitous opportunity was the Celestial Knowledge Tower’s speculation.

It was also something any discerning person could easily see.

However, as a Supreme Elder of the Lingyun Immortal Sect and a Great Cultivator in the Nascent Soul Realm, even if True Monarch Jin Yun had obtained a great fortuitous opportunity, his status and power were more than enough to protect it!

Though ordinary cultivators might speculate, no one would dare plot to seize the fortuitous opportunity of a Nascent Soul True Monarch!

’It seems that after killing me in the Earth Palace, your luck has been quite good. You’ve had quite a few fortuitous opportunities!’

’Jin Tianbo! I hope...’

’...your luck is just as good this time around!’

Expressionless, Xu Chang’an moved through the Immortal City.

The Jade Scroll detailed a wealth of information about Jin Tianbo, including the many Divine Techniques and Attack Secret Skills he had displayed.

When Jin Tianbo was in the Core Formation Realm, the Inner Core he had formed was a Golden Core. His combat prowess far surpassed others at the same level!

After entering the Nascent Soul Realm, his combat prowess remained formidable. Over sixty years ago, Jin Tianbo fought against a Supreme Elder from the Liuyun Immortal Sect.

This Supreme Elder from the Liuyun Immortal Sect was also at the Early-stage Nascent Soul Realm, having broken through over five hundred years ago. His accumulated foundation far surpassed Jin Tianbo’s!

Yet in that battle, Jin Tianbo was the one who won!

More than ten years ago, Jin Tianbo fought a Mid-stage Nascent Soul Supreme Elder from the Hengjian Immortal Sect. The Magical Combat lasted for over a thousand rounds and ultimately ended in a draw!

Three years ago, Jin Tianbo announced he would enter seclusion to build up his foundation and attempt a breakthrough to the Mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm!

His place of seclusion was within the Lingyun Immortal Sect itself!

Sect Cultivators are different from Loose Cultivators.

A Loose Cultivator has to search far and wide for a place of seclusion, preparing all manner of protective, isolating, and concealing measures. Only then can they dare to enter seclusion with peace of mind, lest they be disturbed by some clueless cultivator.

Sect Cultivators, however, have no such worries. They need only enter seclusion on sect grounds, where they will be protected by the Sect’s grand array and many of their fellow members!

Seclusion at the Nascent Soul Realm isn’t as brief as in the Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment Realms, which might only take ten days or half a month.

Especially for someone like Jin Tianbo, who was attempting to break through a realm bottleneck, a seclusion of twenty to thirty years would be perfectly normal!

According to the Celestial Knowledge Tower’s intelligence, based on Jin Tianbo’s prior accumulation, attempting to break through to the Mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm would require at least twenty years of seclusion.

If the breakthrough fails, he should emerge from seclusion after twenty years!

If he succeeds, he might need another five to ten years to consolidate his new Realm!

"Lingyun Immortal Sect!"

Xu Chang’an had already returned to his rented immortal’s abode.

He sat cross-legged, a glimmer in his eyes as he continuously analyzed the intelligence within the Jade Scroll.

The power of the Lingyun Immortal Sect was no less than that of the Immortal Mist Sect!

Publicly, they had a Late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator in command. Furthermore, the Lingyun Immortal Sect was protected by a Fourth-rank top-grade array.

With Xu Chang’an’s current strength, killing Jin Tianbo inside the Lingyun Immortal Sect would be extremely difficult!

It was, one might say, almost impossible!

Therefore, the best opportunity to kill Jin Tianbo would be to wait until he was out traveling.

’He could fight a Mid-stage Nascent Soul to a draw while still at the Early-stage! If I wait for him to reach the Mid-stage, even if he’s just newly advanced, his combat prowess will probably rival that of some veteran Mid-stage cultivators! In that case...’

Xu Chang’an mused.

’My Talent Divine Technique, Incarnation of the Great Sun, when unleashed at full power, is enough to slay an ordinary Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator if I catch them off guard!’

’Normally, killing Jin Tianbo shouldn’t be too difficult for me!’

’However, it’s obvious Jin Tianbo gained a great deal in the Earth Palace! Otherwise, it would be impossible for someone who only reached the Nascent Soul Realm a hundred years ago to already be attempting a breakthrough to the Mid-stage!’

’I must be on my guard!’

’I’d better make more preparations!’

He had previously killed four Nascent Soul True Monarchs outside the Cyan Yang Secret Realm.

He still had quite a few Top-Grade Magical Treasures in his possession! Two of them, in fact, were masterpieces even among other Top-Grade Magical Treasures.

’My Demon Body and Spirit has sufficient Attacking Power, but it’s a bit weak when it comes to restrictive abilities and versatility. It’s time to find some suitable Magical Treasures to Nurture and refine!’

’And also...’

Xu Chang’an continuously planned out the details.

When it came to a life-and-death feud, one could never be too cautious!