“No.” Dongfang Xiaotian answered without the slightest hesitation.
If a siscon hands his sister over to you in such a joking tone, don’t even think about it—eight times out of ten, it’s just a test!
Dongfang Xiaotian felt that if he agreed, Xiao Yuanqing might go straight into phase two right on the spot.
“If we don’t deal with the mastermind behind the scenes, anything else we say is pointless.”
Saying this, Dongfang Xiaotian shot Xiao Yuanqing a glare.
“No, I can barely feed myself and my junior disciple, don’t give me more trouble.”
Not to mention that he’d ruined Xiao Yuanqing’s plans and dragged him back into his original predicament, there was also the wolfish ambition of the Li family. No one could
guarantee that the Grand Elder of the Xiao Clan, that root of all evil, wouldn’t stir up more trouble.
Once he broke through to mid-Stage Golden Core, what he coveted would likely be far more than just the Xiao Clan.
Most importantly… if Xiao Yuanqing couldn’t reclaim the Young Master of Xiao Clan’s position, who was going to pay him back for the hundreds of third-grade talismans he’d burned through like water?
Those were the talismans he’d painstakingly drawn through sleepless nights, and his entire livelihood depended on them!
Xiao Yuanqing could only shrug helplessly, forcing a bitter smile. “Looks like my little sister isn’t fated for it after all.”
“So I must ask Young Master Xiao to be serious, and not waste any more time on such unrealistic matters.”
Beichen Yue said blandly, “We should be focusing on how to work together to deal with Li Shiwen. Only by taking care of him can we solve all our problems. By the way—”
Dongfang Xiaotian fiddled with the token in his hand and asked, “How do we completely destroy this formation? This thing needs to be dismantled right away. Something like this can’t be left behind, better to wipe it out altogether if possible.”
More importantly, the Array Core of such a supermassive formation—just the material capable of withstanding such a huge influx and outflow of spiritual power—Dongfang Xiaotian knew without even thinking that it was worth a fortune.
Xiao Yuanqing said, “Inject spiritual energy into the token, open the hidden compartment at the top, and press the switch.”
Following Xiao Yuanqing’s instructions, Dongfang Xiaotian began channeling his spiritual energy.
Sure enough, with the sound of mechanical clicks, the massive stone pillar that Xiao Yuanqing had just been shielding unfolded, revealing—
A moment later, a golden core appeared at the center of the huge mechanism.
Xiao Yuanqing looked at the core and said, “Remove the Array Core. While the scattered minor arrays will have to be dismantled by hand, the formation covering this entire Miasma Forest will be rendered permanently inactive.”
Dongfang Xiaotian could tell at a glance that the gleaming, round Array Core was a valuable item. He braced his knee and staggered to his feet, just reaching out for it—
When another hand grabbed his.
Tracing the arm, Dongfang Xiaotian saw that it belonged to a masked middle-aged man. With a casual flick, the man flung Dongfang Xiaotian several meters away in an instant.
Dongfang Xiaotian twisted in midair and managed to land without falling.
“Take this!”
Seeing the stranger suddenly appear and strike at Dongfang Xiaotian, Beichen Yue immediately raised her sword and lunged at the intruder!
But the man merely lifted two fingers and effortlessly pinched the blade. With a pulse of spiritual power, he sent a shockwave through Beichen Yue’s sword, making her lose her grip.
Shifting his feet, the tremendous force blasted Beichen Yue back beside Dongfang Xiaotian.
Give it back!
“Return my sword!”
As a sword cultivator, how could Beichen Yue tolerate the shame of having her sword taken with two fingers? She charged forward again!
“Don’t go!”
Relying on his experience, Dongfang Xiaotian activated a Vajra Bodyguard Talisman for defense before the stranger could act, shoving Beichen Yue aside at the same time.
Beichen Yue only saw herself pushed away, then a shield appeared.
A stream of light shattered the shield, slicing a bloody line across Dongfang Xiaotian’s face, and a long sword nailed itself straight into the stone pillar behind them.
Only now did Beichen Yue feel a chill run down her spine—a single strike had broken the defense of a third-grade Vajra Bodyguard Talisman!
There was no doubt—the man before them was at least at Golden Core Realm!
“So this is the missing piece…”
The uninvited guest ignored the on-guard duo, using his spiritual power to extract the Array Core. After examining it, he put it away in his spatial ring, only then looking at Dongfang Xiaotian and Xiao Yuanqing.
The man turned to Xiao Yuanqing. “Do you need me to kill them for you?”
Propping himself up, Xiao Yuanqing gritted his teeth. “If you dare, [Wise One], I swear I’ll never let you go!”
“Wise One?”
Beichen Yue’s beautiful eyes widened, barely restraining her rage, biting her lip. “You’re the [Wise One], one of the leaders of the Heretic God Cult!”
Dongfang Xiaotian shook his head, sweat already beading on his forehead. He clung tightly to this young lady’s hand, terrified she’d do something reckless.
After all, it was the [Wise One]’s schemes that had nearly wiped out Beichen Yue’s family years ago, bringing disaster upon the Beichen Clan.
“But don’t do anything rash.”
With his innate pupil technique, Dongfang Xiaotian could see that the spiritual power of the man called [Wise One] was on an entirely different level from Xiao Yuanqing and Beichen Yue, who were only at the Foundation Establishment stage!
Dongfang Xiaotian couldn’t help but grumble inwardly—bosses who show up after everyone else is exhausted to snatch the prize are always the toughest to deal with!
Still, when such bosses appear, they usually either instantly kill someone, or take something from the battlefield and vanish, rarely slaughtering the whole protagonist group while they’re down.
[Wise One], in the face of their wariness and Xiao Yuanqing’s threat, showed little reaction—just nodded. “Alright.”
After that simple response, he turned his gaze to Dongfang Xiaotian and said, “But in exchange, I need to know a few things.”
With a flick of his sword finger, the Earth-Walking Talisman Dongfang Xiaotian had just handed to Beichen Yue flew into [Wise One]’s hand.
He said blandly, “Thousand Swords, Thousand Talismans, Thousand Mechanisms—your use of the Thousand Talismans Art and your talisman-making skill must come from that person of Saint Hua, though it’s only the surface.”
[Wise One] then glanced at the sword marks on the ground, musing, “This swordplay borrows from another’s blade technique—similar in appearance, utterly different at its core… You know the forms, seek the essence, walk your own path: the Grand Dream Sutra.”
Dongfang Xiaotian’s brows creased. “How do you know the Grand Dream Sutra?”
The Grand Dream Sutra was hardly some common cultivation technique—there were, at most, only two people in the world who could use it.
Himself, and his master.
“The Grand Dream Sutra isn’t a secret among those who know the truth of the world.”
[Wise One]’s calm reply stunned everyone present, including Dongfang Xiaotian.
Beichen Yue and Xiao Yuanqing cared most about the phrase “truth of the world.” The term itself sounded impressive and mysterious, and they couldn’t help but turn their gazes to Dongfang Xiaotian.
Beichen Yue marveled inwardly—so Young Master Dongfang is actually connected to the “truth of the world” that [Wise One] spoke of?
As expected of the Azure Dragon Sword Immortal who’s roamed the land!
Dongfang Xiaotian, for his part, was frozen because he hadn’t expected an actual answer.
He’d blurted out his question in shock, assuming the other party would retort with something like, “Who gave you permission to speak?”
But [Wise One] had answered honestly. Could he really ask questions after all?
[Wise One] continued, “You’re versed in formations, aren’t you?”
“I know a little.”
Dongfang Xiaotian replied cautiously. Judging by the direction things were going, either this man had some old grudge with his master, or there was some deeper connection.
He swallowed, mustering his courage. “What is your Heretic God Cult’s real objective this time?”
“Studying a certain ruin, and cleaning house.” [Wise One] answered calmly.
Dongfang Xiaotian couldn’t help but lose his composure. “Studying ruins?”
What kind of gang boss talks like that?
This doesn’t match the style of a cultivation world at all!
Beichen Yue only looked at Dongfang Xiaotian with even greater admiration. Even [Wise One] has to answer Young Master Dongfang’s questions… Truly, Young Master Dongfang’s charisma is terrifying!
[Wise One] seemed unconcerned with Dongfang Xiaotian’s startled expression, assuming he was merely curious.
“This ruin was designed to mass-produce Golden Core cultivators. There’s not a soul alive who wouldn’t be interested in a site that can create such experts in batches.”
After finishing, [Wise One] didn’t give Dongfang Xiaotian a chance to ask further. “Last question: are you skilled in medicine?”
This time, [Wise One]’s tone was clearly less calm—this was no longer just asking, but interrogating.
“Never studied it,” Dongfang Xiaotian replied blandly.
“Yan, is he lying?”
[Wise One] addressed the air, and after a moment, seemed to receive the answer he wanted.
Dongfang Xiaotian broke out in cold sweat—what the heck, even asking questions comes with a lie detector now? This is too much!
[Wise One] looked at Dongfang Xiaotian again and sighed deeply, muttering to himself, “So he really isn’t here… But since her disciple is, then she… Yan, withdraw the team for now.”
He then glanced at Xiao Yuanqing, and in a movement too fast for Dongfang Xiaotian’s naked eye, appeared right in front of Xiao Yuanqing.
“What are you doing?!”
Xiao Yuanqing instantly gripped his sword, but [Wise One] was faster. With a tap to Xiao Yuanqing’s forehead, Xiao Yuanqing immediately fell unconscious.
“Brother Xiao!”
Just as Dongfang Xiaotian was about to rush forward, [Wise One] slung Xiao Yuanqing over his shoulder and soared out of the main hall, showing just how terrifying his speed was.
“Damn it!”
Watching the two disappear, Dongfang Xiaotian felt as if ten thousand grass mud horses were galloping through his heart. At the very least, let Xiao Yuanqing pay me back for all the talismans I used up!!
Dongfang Xiaotian pounded the ground in frustration, looking at the now-empty space where [Wise One] and Xiao Yuanqing had vanished. “If only I were stronger…”
At the very least, he could have gotten Xiao Yuanqing to write him an IOU first!
Seeing Dongfang Xiaotian so vexed, Beichen Yue could only pat him on the back. “Don’t worry, Young Master Xiao has heaven’s protection. He’ll be just fine.”
***
Above the clouds, ten thousand meters over Lingtian City, a black immortal airship hovered among the clouds.
Xiao Yuanqing’s consciousness was muddled. He vaguely heard the voices of a man and a woman conversing.
[Wise One]: “I’ve brought the item. I also brought back our collaborator.”
Maiden: “There’s just one piece left in the formation’s analysis. Quick, let me see what the core is made of?”
[Wise One]: “It seems to be a combination of formation and mechanism arts…”
Maiden: “But array analysis isn’t really my specialty. Next time, bring it to Grandfather [Prophet]—he knows way more than I do.”
[Wise One]: “[Prophet] is still recovering from serious injuries. Other than him and me, you’re the most proficient with formations.”
Maiden: “I only learned the basics, though. At most, I might be able to give you a few half-finished answers…”
[Wise One]: “As long as it achieves the desired effect.”
The girl’s voice was clear and melodious like silver bells. Suddenly, she moved closer to Xiao Yuanqing. “Oh? Young Master, you’re awake? How does Saint Hua greet someone who just woke up?”
Opening his eyes, Xiao Yuanqing realized there was no point pretending to sleep any longer. He looked at the two conversing people.
The girl’s face was exquisite, with delicate brows, a slender waist, and lips red as vermilion jade.
Her attire was ornate, though unlike that of a Saint Hua Woman—at a glance, she was clearly a foreign beauty in a flowing dress. Still, her bearing was every bit as elegant as a Saint Hua noble.
Yet despite this, it couldn’t conceal the fact that her legs were immobile, and she could only sit in a wheelchair.
Xiao Yuanqing rose, frowning at the two of them. “Out with it—what do you want from me?”
[Wise One] crossed his arms. “It’s [Doctor] who seeks you. I’ll let you two talk.”
With that, he left the room, leaving just the two of them.
“Doctor?”
Xiao Yuanqing was stunned. Though he didn’t understand the word “doctor,” he could tell from the tone that, like [Wise One], it was a codename. In other words… this was another leader of the Heretic God Cult!
[Wise One], Yan (The Eye), [Doctor]… What could possibly be hidden in this ruin to bring out all three leaders of the Heretic God Cult?!
Brother Dongfang was right after all—the Heretic God Cult’s plot this time is enormous.
[Doctor] wheeled herself to the table and poured him a cup of tea. “No need to be nervous, Young Master. I was the one who stitched your wounds. I mean you no harm.”
“Just tell me what you want. When the Heretic God Cult claims it has no ill intentions, it’s as ridiculous as you trying to hide your demonic race identity.”
Xiao Yuanqing held no fondness for the Heretic God Cult, who only ever sought mutual exploitation. Not to mention, the person before him was an enemy of the spirit race. “Racial prejudice isn’t a good look.”
[Doctor] was neither angry nor annoyed, smiling sweetly as she continued, “Then I’ll get straight to the point. I used up quite a few of my research test subjects this time. And since I felt sympathy for your plight, I’d like to propose a deeper cooperation with you, Young Master Xiao.”
[Doctor] rolled her wheelchair closer, placing the steaming cup of tea before Xiao Yuanqing.
Xiao Yuanqing had no intention of accepting. He gently pushed the cup aside. “Lingtian City does not engage in the slave trade. If you want slaves, go to Warrior Slave City or somewhere else.”
“I’m opposed to the slave trade as well. That’s why, for this experiment, I can only invite you alone, Young Master.”
A glint of madness flashed in [Doctor]’s eyes as she said calmly, “The name of the experiment is ‘Human-Made Golden Core Implant.’ Simply put, I can help you break through to Golden Core Realm in a short time. How about it?”
Human-Made Golden Core, breakthrough in a short time!
At first glance, those words sounded tempting, but when paired with the Heretic God Cult, they instantly made his skin crawl.
Xiao Yuanqing took a deep breath, recalling his father and mother, recalling his younger sister…
Slowly, Xiao Yuanqing lifted the cup of tea poured by [Doctor] and drained it in one gulp. “Deal!”