Chapter 368 - 189: Li State Civil War - Obtaining a Cultivation Technique (3)
Chapter 368: Chapter 189: Li State Civil War - Obtaining a Cultivation Technique (3)
Xiao Chen’s eyes glinted. He landed on the ground and, cloaked by the night, approached Qi Yun Peak from the other side.
He still carried the steward’s Token from the Demon Extermination Hall, so approaching the Array would only trigger a warning, not a direct attack.
Besides, with the Ghost-Faced Profound Light Shield and the Blade of Night, he didn’t need to be overly cautious; that would just be a pointless waste of time.
Inside Qi Yun Peak, Master Ming Yan was monitoring the Array, taking what time he could to heal his injuries.
He hadn’t been seriously injured at the time, and thanks to the Spiritual Objects he’d saved up, he was now almost fully recovered.
However, his mood had not improved. On the contrary, his face was etched with worry.
Years ago, Yunxiang Daoist had damaged her foundation deep within the Ten Thousand Demons Mountain Range. The sect had been claiming she was in seclusion for a breakthrough, but in reality, she was simply recuperating.
This matter had been kept secret. As long as Yunxiang Daoist showed her face every few years, other sects wouldn’t dare get any ideas.
But now, it was becoming impossible to hide.
For half a month, Master Ming Yan had been the only one to counter the harassing raids from the Azure Flame Sect’s Golden Core Cultivators. Their opponents weren’t fools; they were bound to suspect something was amiss.
Sure enough, yesterday three Golden Core True Men had attacked at once. If not for the third-tier Talisman Treasure left by Daoist Feihong, the Array would likely have been broken.
The problem was, even when the situation grew that critical, Yunxiang Daoist still hadn’t appeared.
This might have already confirmed the enemy’s suspicions.
’If all three of them attack together again tomorrow, what am I going to do?’
Forcing Yunxiang Daoist to fight while injured wasn’t a long-term solution, for one thing.
And for another, Master Ming Yan had no idea how he could even bring himself to ask her.
Master Ming Yan let out a long sigh, wondering when Hezhou would finally send someone to mediate.
His only hope now was that the Lingyuan Sect, considering the greater good, would persuade the Azure Flame Sect to retreat.
Just then, the Warning Array before him suddenly flashed red. It had detected a Golden Core Cultivator approaching Qi Yun Peak.
’A night raid!’
Master Ming Yan was stunned. ’Has the Azure Flame Sect lost its patience? Are they launching an all-out assault?’
Fortunately, a closer look revealed that only one person seemed to be approaching.
Immediately after, the Defensive Array reported the Token’s information: Demon Extermination Hall Steward.
’Demon Extermination Hall? Who could it be?’
Master Ming Yan frowned. He, too, had noticed that the Azure Flame Sect seemed to be secretly coercing the Five Great Clans into defecting.
But in the preceding days, those clans had remained docile, and none had made a move.
’It seems someone couldn’t hold back any longer.’
’Hmph. I’d like to see who’s seeking death.’
Even if he was no match for the Azure Flame Sect in the end, he was more than capable of dealing with these traitors first.
So, Master Ming Yan deliberately kept the Array from activating and went to wait at the foot of the mountain himself. He wanted to see exactly who was colluding with the Azure Flame Sect.
Before long, he saw a handsome, jade-faced youth.
"Xiao Chen? You’re actually... You’re alright?"
Master Ming Yan’s expression was one of astonishment. He swallowed the word "dead" that was on the tip of his tongue and blinked, finding it hard to believe.
.
「In the rear hall of the sect.」
The two of them sat facing each other, drinking tea.
Yet even after a full Quarter Hour had passed, Master Ming Yan was still in a daze.
His surprise wasn’t that Xiao Chen was still alive.
It wasn’t impossible for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to survive a single blow from a Golden Core True Man.
’But the question is, how did he form a Golden Core?’
’It makes no sense at all!’
’Setting aside his low-grade Wood Spirit Root, Core Formation itself requires a Tier Breakthrough Spirit Medicine and a Core Formation Secret Technique, doesn’t it?’
’Where in the world did Xiao Chen get all of that?’
’Why haven’t I heard even a whisper about this?’
’And another thing, this disciple only reached Foundation Establishment a few years ago. How could he possibly have achieved Core Formation so quickly?’
Countless questions swirled in Master Ming Yan’s mind, leaving him utterly at a loss for words.
"This tea of yours is truly exceptional, Senior Brother Ming Yan. I feel as if I’ve condensed a new strand of True Essence."
Xiao Chen drained the last of the tea in his cup. He could feel that he hadn’t just gained one new strand of True Essence—he was on the verge of forming a second.
And this was just from drinking a single cup of tea, without even using a Cultivation Technique to practice.
"Xiao... Junior Brother Xiao, you’re too kind. This Strengthening Tea is only really effective the first time you drink it. It’s nothing special."
Master Ming Yan looked at Xiao Chen, opened his mouth to speak, but then simply sighed. "For you to return now, Junior Brother... It seems Heaven has not yet forsaken the Li Huo Sect."
It would be a lie to say he wasn’t curious about the secret to such rapid cultivation.
But with the Li Huo Sect in such a precarious state, its very survival hanging by a thread, it was no time for internal conflict.
If the two of them were to clash, the only one to benefit would be the Azure Flame Sect.
That being the case, some things were better left unsaid. At least that way, they could preserve the fellowship they shared as sect brothers.
Master Ming Yan deliberately mentioned the Li Huo Sect to steer the conversation in that direction.
After all, Xiao Chen had grown and matured within the Li Huo Sect.
He was so young; surely he wouldn’t just stand by and watch the sect be annihilated.
With an additional powerhouse like him, their Defense would be much easier.
It gave them a better chance of holding out until the Lingyuan Sect sent someone to mediate.
"I was just about to ask you, Senior Brother, what exactly is going on outside?"
Hearing this, Xiao Chen asked with curiosity, "Also, what exactly happened back at the Yellow Springs Traveling Palace that day? How did things end up like this?"
A Quarter Hour later, he finally had a general understanding of the situation.
He also learned of the Li Huo Sect’s current predicament.
"Junior Brother Xiao, your ascension to the Golden Core realm is something we should be celebrating properly."
After explaining the situation, Master Ming Yan’s tone shifted. "Unfortunately, with the Azure Flame Sect at our gates, it’s hardly the time."
"Furthermore, given the sect’s internal situation, we can’t help you acquire new Spiritual Artifacts for the time being. I’m afraid you’ll have to make do for a while."
Normally, when a cultivator reached the Golden Core realm, the sect’s senior Golden Core members would offer their support.