Chapter 298: Bounty

Yaoguang crossed the Chaotic Sea, but he did not immediately return to the Nine Heavens Sect. Instead, he went straight to the capital of Haizhou, one of the states of the Great Shang, and specifically to the Demon Hunting Hall, the branch of the Great Shang Immortal Dynasty responsible for issuing bounties and organizing resistance against hostile forces.

By now, he had changed into the robes given to him as an inner sect disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect, and he was also openly revealing his cultivation as a Blazing White Golden Core.

His cultivation placed him among the strongest in the state capital.

Other than the state guardian envoy, a handful of Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals, and a few Azure Golden Core cultivators, he already stood at the very top.

As a result, the moment he entered the Demon Hunting Hall, cultivators quickly stepped forward to receive him. After learning his purpose, they immediately notified the hall master.

***

Haizhou's Demon Hunting Hall had always been under the control of the Xi family.

The Xi family was a top-tier family, whose ancestor was a Void-Piercing Realm expert currently serving as a second-rank high official in the imperial capital.

Beyond that Void-Piercing Realm ancestor, the family also had five Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals, along with a host of talented disciples at the Azure, Blazing White, and Radiant Golden Core Realms.

They were a force on the same level as the Chi family in the Heavenly Dao Sect.

Part of their clan followed their ancestor in the imperial capital, consolidating the family’s authority, while the rest remained in Haizhou’s capital.

The one currently overseeing the Demon Hunting Hall was the ninth uncle of the Xi family's head, Xi Hai, a figure who had reached the Azure Golden Core Realm.

When a cultivator at the Blazing White Golden Core Realm attempted to break through to the Void-Piercing Realm, the success rate was less than ten percent. To quantify it, the odds generally started at around five percent upon first entering that realm, then gradually climbed to eight percent. Depending on one’s talent, cultivation art, and foundation, their chances might further rise to nine or ten percent.

But once the Golden Core reached its critical mass, evolving into the Azure Golden Core's supergiant form, the success rate immediately rose to roughly twenty percent.

From there, each subsequent transformation—middle stage, late stage, and perfection—could increase the success rate by another four or five percent, depending on the cultivator’s foundation and talent.

Thirty-five percent was essentially the upper limit an Azure Golden Core cultivator could reach through personal cultivation alone when attempting to advance to the Void-Piercing Realm.

Beyond that, if protected by a top expert, the success rate could rise another three to ten percent, depending on whether that protector stood at the Void-Refining Realm or Void-Shattering Realm.

Or, if one possessed extraordinary fortune and obtained a heaven-defying natural treasure capable of changing destiny, the success rate might increase by anywhere from one percent to a full hundred percent.

Of course, there was an even more effective method. If a Dao Lord personally safeguarded the breakthrough, not only would the success rate greatly increase, but even if the breakthrough failed, the Dao Lord could maintain control over the destabilizing Golden Core, reverse its unstable state, allow the cultivator time to recover, and let them attempt the breakthrough again.

They could continue until they succeeded.

But with the Xi family’s foundation... Let alone asking a Dao Lord to protect their path, they might not even be able to gather truly worthwhile natural treasures.

Even hiring a Void-Refining Realm expert as protector was a price they would be reluctant to pay.

In any faction, the strongest figures consumed more than ninety percent of the resources.

If they had resources to spend on an Azure Golden Core junior, they would rather invest them in their ancestor, helping him reach the Void-Refining Realm sooner.

Under such circumstances, if an Azure Golden Core member of the family wanted to improve their chances, they could only rely on cultivation.

They would first have to cultivate to the peak of the Azure Golden Core Realm, raising the success rate from twenty percent to thirty percent, or even thirty-five percent.

That was tangible progress, real and measurable.

And cultivation required resources. To advance from a newly formed Azure Golden Core to its peak required an investment of tens of millions of Pure Yang Grand Pills.

For that reason, Xi Hai had spent years racking his brains for profit. Big money or little money, as long as the risk remained controllable, he refused to let even the slightest opportunity slip away.

So when his capable subordinate and disciple, Fang Lang, came to report that someone had arrived to claim the bounty on the Black Dragon Pirates, the eyes of the Demon Hunting Hall’s master immediately lit up.

"The Black Dragon Pirates? Tong Yan?!" Xi Hai quickly said. "If I remembered correctly, his bounty was worth 300,000 Pure Yang Grand Pills!"

"It’s 400,000 now. Not long ago, the Yellow Springs Sect raised the reward by another 100,000," Fang Lang quickly said. "And not just Tong Yan. The person claiming the bounty also intended to collect rewards for several of the Black Dragon Pirates’ other masters. Altogether, those additional bounties amounted to another 64,100 Pure Yang Grand Pills."

"464,100 Pure Yang Grand Pills!" Xi Hai drew in a sharp breath.

That amount was enough to raise between three and five Radiant Sun Golden Core cultivators. Even for someone sitting in the position of Demon Hunting Hall's master, it was equivalent to over a decade of income.

"Who was the claimant?" Xi Hai asked quickly.

"An inner sect disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect."

"An inner sect disciple?" Xi Hai froze for a moment. Then his pitch suddenly rose. "Just an inner sect disciple?!"

"Yes, just an inner sect disciple." Fang Lang nodded excitedly.

"An inner sect disciple actually dares to come claim the Black Dragon Pirates’ bounty?!" Disbelief filled Xi Hai’s face.

"Yes. And he came alone." Fang Lang emphasized each word.

"Alone..." Xi Hai was stunned.

Why had so many bounties issued by the Great Shang and the major sects remained unresolved for so long?

Partly because the targets were cunning and powerful, and partly because top experts simply looked down on such reward sums.

But there was another hidden reason. Payout problems.

Though the chances of something going wrong weren't high, incidents happened every so often.

Because of that, those who truly completed bounty missions usually made sure to avoid any trouble by showing their status and backing.

If they lacked status, those with connections would ask a major figure they could rely on to claim the reward on their behalf, then split the proceeds afterward.

That had long since become an unspoken rule in the bounty world.

Under such circumstances, for a Heavenly Dao Sect inner sect disciple to dare claim a bounty, and one worth 460,000 Pure Yang Grand Pills from the Black Dragon Pirates at that...

"He has absolute confidence in his strength! No! If he truly had absolute confidence, he would have already become a true disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect. He would not still be an inner sect disciple. Is this a bait? That’s not right either! Everyone knows that the Xi family stands behind the Demon Hunting Hall. Who would casually make an enemy of a family like ours? At the very least, it would require someone at the Void-Piercing Realm, and a Void-Piercing Realm expert would never resort to such low methods! Does he have backing? If he did, those people would have already contacted our Xi family in advance..." Xi Hai’s thoughts raced at astonishing speed.

In the end, he arrived at a conclusion that was difficult to believe, yet the only plausible explanation. "He has neither strength nor connections, but he desperately needs this bounty, so he’s gambling everything on one attempt... No, that’s not quite right. He should still have some strength. Otherwise, how could the Black Dragon Pirates have fallen to him? Even if he relied on ambushes, assassination, or similar methods, his combat strength among Blazing White Golden Core cultivators should rank at the very top. Still, that level should not yet have reached the standard of a major sect’s true disciple, which is around 500,000 combat power."

"He desperately needs this bounty..." Fang Lang pondered for a moment, then quickly guessed the reason. "His cultivation should already be at the peak of the Blazing White Golden Core Realm. Once he receives these 460,000 Pure Yang Grand Pills, he can break through the limit in quality in one stroke, advance into the Azure Golden Core Realm, and become a true disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect in one leap..."

Xi Hai nodded. "In the past, bounties like this were sometimes pocketed immediately. Other times, the reward would be paid to the recipient first—but with the reward tampered with—then, once they left the jurisdiction of the state capital, they would be hunted down and robbed. He’s gambling on the second possibility. I can guarantee that if we hand him these 460,000 Pure Yang Grand Pills, he will immediately consume them and attempt to break through to the Azure Golden Core Realm at the fastest speed possible..."

At that point, a faint smile curved at the corner of his lips. "But I have no intention of giving him that chance."

He rose directly to his feet. "Come. I want to meet this Golden Core cultivator in person. If it really is what we suspect... I want those 460,000 Pure Yang Grand Pills, and I’m also very interested in the method he used to kill the Black Dragon Pirates."

"Yes," Fang Lang responded at once.

"Oh, right. To be safe, bring me the Heavenly Dao Sect’s latest disciple roster. I want to see whether he is a notable figure," Xi Hai said.

"I already prepared it for you, Master." Fang Lang, clearly experienced, respectfully handed over a jade talisman.

Xi Hai checked it as he walked toward the VIP hall.

Upon entering, he saw the Heavenly Dao Sect disciple seated inside, served by maids. He compared him against the disciple roster he had just reviewed...

Not any notable figure. Most likely one of those silent cultivators who train in obscurity while dreaming of shocking the world in a single move. Perfect. He thought.

Inside the VIP hall, Yaoguang waited calmly.

An inner sect disciple... Will my status be enough to keep Haizhou’s Demon Hunting Hall in check?

As he pondered, a man who appeared to have been cultivating for five or six hundred years walked in, accompanied by a young man.

From what Yaoguang had learned beforehand, this was indeed the Demon Hunting Hall's master, Xi Hai.

"Are you here to claim the bounty on the Black Dragon Pirates? Do you have proof?" The hall master carried himself with an upright, incorruptible bearing. Even the way he handled matters was direct and decisive, swift and forceful.

"Naturally." Yaoguang took out the Recording Stone. "This contains the footage of me killing the Black Dragon Pirates."

Xi Hai accepted the recording stone and swept it with his psychic thought. A trace of surprise flashed across his brows.

The Divine Crimson Refinement Fire Lightning?! This killing weapon is very valuable. If sold, it could likely fetch 300,000 to 400,000 Pure Yang Grand Pills. He thought.

But from the footage, he now understood how Yaoguang had managed to kill the Black Dragon Pirates.

The Divine Crimson Refinement Fire Lightning was activated with terrifying speed. Once it struck, killing an ordinary Azure Golden Core cultivator was no difficult feat. Of course, if an Azure Golden Core cultivator were prepared, they could still evade the attack.

The footage recorded in the stone was limited, so Xi Hai could not determine whether Yaoguang’s use of the Divine Crimson Refinement Fire Lightning had simply been too exquisite, leaving Tong Yan no time to react, or whether he had seized the moment when Tong Yan and the others were distracted by someone else, then unleashed the treasure for a killing blow.

But that was not the key issue.

"Is this all? Where is Tong Yan’s head? Or his life-bound spirit treasure?" Xi Hai asked in a strictly businesslike tone.

Yaoguang frowned, but still answered patiently. "Hall Master, you have already seen the Recording Stone. They were struck by the Divine Crimson Refinement Fire Lightning; none of the Black Dragon Pirates’ higher-ups survived."

"You don’t have them?" Xi Hai feigned slight hesitation, then continued, "How should I address you? Where do you come from? What is your cultivation level?"

Then he added, "You only have this Recording Stone, and Tong Yan’s bounty involves several hundred thousand Pure Yang Grand Pills. For a high-level bounty of this scale, we must verify everything carefully to prevent false claims. If we offended you, I hope you will forgive us."

But after hearing those words, Yaoguang’s mood sank.

After a long moment, he finally said, "I have heard of the Demon Hunting Hall’s unspoken rules. However, dealing with the Black Dragon Pirates was effortless for me. My background is unimportant. Within three years, I will certainly become a true disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect. So I ask that you grant me this bounty. When my true disciple banquet is held, I will personally invite you and raise a cup in thanks."

Within three years? A true disciple banquet?Just as expected. Xi Hai secretly smiled, feeling even more at ease.

Yet on the surface, he still wore a righteous expression. Solemnly, he handed over a jade talisman. "I do not know what you are talking about. Please register your information. This concerns several hundred thousand Pure Yang Grand Pills, assets belonging to the Great Shang. If your information is incomplete, we cannot release the bounty to you."