Chapter 312: Peak

Heavenly Venerable Jiang, Hou Feng, Tong Ming, Mo Shan, and the others watched the Biyou Immortal Market from afar as it continuously emitted immortal light. Their moods were rather gloomy.

Tong Ming could not avenge a true disciple of the heavenly lineage and thus could not defend the lineage’s dignity.

Hou Feng could not obtain the reward Heavenly Venerable Jiang had promised him.

As for Heavenly Venerable Jiang... His desire to kill Yaoguang was no longer merely because he had lost face and needed to vent his hatred. Instead, there was now a hidden trace of fear.

Although he did not reveal the slightest hint, deep inside, he had indeed been shocked by Yaoguang’s growth.

During the Heavenly Dao Sect's disciple assessment, Yaoguang had displayed combat strength no weaker than that of an Azure Golden Core cultivator, nearly becoming a true disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect in one go and gaining protection from the Heavenly Dao Sect.

Afterward, he had killed two Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals and two Azure Golden Core cultivators from the Xi family in Haizhou of the Great Shang.

That kind of combat strength was truly scary.

The deaths of the Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals could still be explained as Yaoguang having planned for it long ago, obtaining the frequencies of their Primordial Voids.

But killing two Azure Golden Core cultivators was an ironclad fact.

Once he found out that Xuan Shuang, the thirty-fourth-ranked true disciple of the Heavenly Dao Sect, was also suspected to have died at Yaoguang’s hands, the sense of crisis in Heavenly Venerable Jiang’s heart had already reached its peak.

Although Xuan Shuang’s strength was inferior to his, dealing with him would still require some effort. If Xuan Shuang had been determined to flee, Heavenly Venerable Jiang might not have been able to kill him.

Yet he had fallen at Yaoguang’s hands...

Most importantly, Yaoguang had been growing too quickly. This growth was what truly shocked and frightened him.

Right now, Yaoguang already has strength comparable to true disciples ranked in the top twenty of the Heavenly Dao Sect, or perhaps even the top ten.

Given another ten years, wouldn't he be able to enter the Void-Piercing Realm Candidate Rankings? And with another decade or so, wouldn't he even advance to the Void-Piercing Realm faster than me?

At this thought, Heavenly Venerable Jiang said heavily, "This child absolutely cannot be allowed to live!"

"What can we do? He is hidden inside the Biyou Immortal Market. Who dares to take action at the risk of offending the Penglai Immortal Sect behind the Biyou Immortal Market?" Tong Ming said irritably.

For some minor matters, he was willing to give Heavenly Venerable Jiang, a Void-Shattering Realm cultivator's true disciple, some face. But if it involved danger to his life, Heavenly Venerable Jiang’s face was far from enough.

Tu Shan said, "Everyone, I have already found the person. Apprehending the suspect for interrogation is a matter for your lineage, so I will take my leave first."

After saying this, he immediately left. He clearly had no intention of staying with these people any longer.

Tong Ming and Hou Feng opened their mouths, wanting to persuade him to stay, but since the other party was also at the Void-Piercing Realm and refused to give them face, there was nothing they could do.

"I’m afraid I will have to report this matter to the lineage leader." Tong Ming had also sensed that something was not right.

Hou Feng’s enthusiasm and Heavenly Venerable Jiang’s determination to fight to the death clearly involved other factors.

Perhaps it had something to do with how Yaoguang had managed to form an Azure Golden Core so quickly.

An opportunity? An inheritance? Or perhaps a Dao Artifact?!

If it had been before, he would have thought it was the former. But along the way, as they chased Yaoguang without being able to catch up to him, he started suspecting that Yaoguang might have a Dao Artifact related to void traversal.

A matter involving a Dao Artifact as well as a supreme direct disciple of the Taiyi Immortal Sect. It was both an opportunity and a risk!

Hou Feng had chosen to view it as an opportunity. But Tong Ming... Before reaching the Void-Refining Realm, he clearly had no intention of becoming involved in a messy situation that was also related to a Dao Artifact.

"Report it to the lineage leader? Lineage Leader Xiang has countless affairs to handle every day. There’s no need to trouble him over such a small matter, is there?" Hou Feng hurriedly said.

If Xiang Zhenlong, the heavenly lineage’s lineage leader, also interfered in this matter, the fact that Yaoguang possessed a Dao Artifact might be exposed.

"Yaoguang, the murderer who killed a true disciple of our heavenly lineage, has hidden inside the Biyou Immortal Market and refuses to come out. We must have the higher ups of the Heavenly Dao Sect come forward to negotiate before the Penglai Immortal Sect will make concessions. Otherwise, if he keeps hiding inside and never comes out, where will the Heavenly Dao Sect’s dignity go?" Tong Ming said.

"Actually, there may be a way," Mo Shan said. "We do not dare to act because we have a lot to lose. We fear that one careless move will enrage the Penglai Immortal Sect and bring enormous risk upon us. But if the person who acts does not fear the Penglai Immortal Sect, all problems will be resolved."

"A person who does not fear the Penglai Immortal Sect? How could anyone not fear the Penglai Immortal Sect? A Dao Lord?" Tong Ming said with a frown.

"There is no need for a Dao Lord. Someone who has already disregarded life and death will suffice, such as a Void-Piercing Realm battle immortal," Mo Shan said.

"A Void-Piercing Realm battle immortal?" Tong Ming and Hou Feng’s hearts stirred at the same time.

Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals were all people who might die at any time. They truly did not value life too highly.

As long as there were sufficient benefits to be gained, or their conviction was strong enough, a Void-Piercing Realm battle immortal wouldn't mind sacrificing himself.

"Of course, at least two Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals must take action. In fact, to ensure everything goes perfectly, it would be best for three or four Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals to act," Mo Shan quickly said. "Two of them will lure Lu Li away. The Penglai Immortal Sect has always lacked manpower. Aside from guarding the Biyou Immortal Market, Lu Li is also responsible for rescuing true disciples in danger nearby. As long as a true disciple is used as bait, luring him away will not be difficult. We can use this opportunity to have the Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals act, charge straight into the Biyou Immortal Market, and seize Yaoguang, taking him away. In a worst-case scenario, they can even kill him on the spot."

"Three or four Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals..." Hou Feng said. "Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals can also be considered famous figures. Whoever is willing to become a Void-Piercing Realm battle immortal has done so to protect the force behind them. They may not care about their own deaths, but once they anger the Penglai Immortal Sect, the force behind them might be at risk..."

"That is why we need three or four Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals who are completely unknown on the North Sea Star." Mo Shan glanced at Heavenly Venerable Jiang. "It may not be easy for other forces to gather three or four Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals who cannot be traced on the North Sea Star, but the Cangwu lineage is different. This lineage has entered the North Sea Star for less than a hundred years, and it has taken the battle immortal path. It must have hidden Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals. If you can persuade the Cangwu lineage to send out three or four of them, capturing and killing Su Yaoguang won't be a problem any longer."

"The battle immortals of the Cangwu lineage..." Heavenly Venerable Jiang’s expression changed.

"True Disciple Jiang, this is also the perfect chance to see the Cangwu lineage’s attitude, isn’t it?" Mo Shan said with a smile.

Heavenly Venerable Jiang did not answer immediately.

When Hou Feng heard this, he immediately urged, "This method is indeed the most appropriate. Heavenly Venerable Jiang, we have been running around for your sake. You cannot be thinking of letting us come away empty-handed, can you?"

His tone even grew slightly serious.

Although Heavenly Venerable Jiang had hopes of reaching the Void-Piercing Realm in the future, he had ultimately not yet become a true Void-Piercing Realm cultivator. If he truly offended Hou Feng, he would gain a Void-Piercing Realm opponent, and his reputation would also suffer.

If people helped you and gained no benefits, who would help you in the future?

"I understand. I will contact the Cangwu lineage now and have them arrange for a few Void-Piercing Realm battle immortals to come over," Heavenly Venerable Jiang said in a deep voice.

"Good." Hou Feng nodded with a smile. "We will keep watch outside the Biyou Immortal Market and prevent Yaoguang from escaping during this period."

***

Inside the Biyou Immortal Market, in a cave dwelling several kilometers in diameter, Yaoguang used an array to watch streams of light flash past on the outside from time to time.

They were traces left behind by cultivators as they swept through the void.

"So beautiful," Yaoguang spoke from the heart.

Without coming to this world, he probably would not have seen this dazzling scene in his entire life.

"If mortals were the ones living on these floating islands, it would be tormenting for them. Going up and down the mountains would be life-threatening. But to cultivators, this floating mountain range spanning thousands of kilometers is a playground."

He turned his gaze to a towering mountain peak not far away, as well as the waterfall cascading down the mountain...

"And no matter what they want to transform the mountains and terrain into, it can be done with a single thought. Every corner of this floating mountain range could be called a wonder of heaven and earth."

How carefree. How unfettered.

This was already close to the life he had dreamed of.

Yet someone kept disturbing him, refusing to let him properly enjoy it and insisting on placing him in danger.

As long as his life was threatened, even the best delicacies would taste like wax. And he wouldn't be able to enjoy these wonders of heaven and earth.

Fortunately, he was now inside the cave dwelling, and he would be safe for the next ten years. And ten years...

"Ten years are enough."

Yaoguang turned around and arrived at the cultivation area.

On a plaza spanning a thousand meters in every direction, he sat cross-legged and scattered the Pure Yang Grand Pills around him. The Heaven-Devouring Kunpeng Technique circulated, continuously devouring them.

The process was extremely fast!

In less than a year, his Azure Golden Core had completed its second transformation, and its mass had reached a new high!

Its massive volume meant that even though it had not transformed into a Primordial Void, the power radiating from it still distorted the surrounding void. Even the array enveloping this plaza could barely seal away his aura.

That amount of power naturally drew the attention of the cultivators in the surrounding cave dwellings.

"What a powerful aura. Is this a Golden Core expert at the peak of the ninth realm on the verge of breaking through?"

"Even a Golden Core expert at the peak of the ninth realm may not be enough to describe this... Is it someone from the Void-Piercing Realm Candidate Rankings?"

"I once had the fortune to meet True Disciple Ling Xi of the Heavenly Dao Sect, who ranked thirty-third on the Void-Piercing Realm Candidate Rankings. Even her aura did not reach this level."

All kinds of discussions came from the surroundings.

However, after that brief moment during which his aura leaked, Yaoguang had restrained it and stabilized his condition.

Half a month later, the Azure Golden Core in his body circulated smoothly, causing no discomfort.

"Finally... The middle stage of the Azure Golden Core Realm," Yaoguang said.

The middle stage of the Azure Golden Core Realm was not the final form of an Azure Golden Core for others. To ensure a higher chance of breaking through to the Void-Piercing Realm, many people would continue polishing it until the Azure Golden Core reached its absolute limit, arriving at a point where it could no longer rise any further.

But for Yaoguang, this was enough.

"I can advance to the Void-Piercing Realm now," Yaoguang said.

Just then, he seemed to sense something and turned around in shock.

At some unknown point, a woman in a white robe, with long hair reaching all the way to her feet, had appeared on the plaza where he was cultivating.

And as for how she had arrived, or how long she had been there, Yaoguang had not noticed the slightest thing.