Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments

Chapter 528: Chapter 229: Before Everyone’s Eyes, Vanishing Without a Trace

While he was studying the route, an inescapable net had already been laid outside the Relic.

Three Nascent Soul True Monarchs guarded the exit.

It all started a day ago.

The Yin Corpse Sect wanted to form a marriage alliance with the Celestial Sound Sect. A major move like this, of course, wouldn’t be limited to the younger generation.

The marriage alliance was ultimately just a pretext; it wasn’t the deciding factor.

In fact, after years of carefully trying to win her over, they had managed to persuade a Supreme Elder of the Celestial Sound Sect—True Monarch Zhiqin.

She had arrived in the Sea of Darkness a day prior to discuss the details of the impending alliance.

The Yin Corpse Sect naturally arranged for the Dai Family’s ancestor, Dai Fei’ang, to receive her, to facilitate communication and make arrangements.

Halfway through their talks, while the two were discussing how to create opportunities for Dai Tianrui and Wen Suruo to meet and develop feelings for each other...

Suddenly, a member of the Dai Family came rushing over.

He wailed as he reported, "Ancestor, terrible news! Young Master Rui’s Life Token... it, it just shattered!"

"What did you say!"

Even as he spoke, Dai Fei’ang’s Divine Sense swept over the family’s ancestral hall. Just as the man had said, he saw his precious grandson’s Life Token lying in pieces.

CRASH!

The sudden, devastating news sent him into a rage. With a sweep of his arm, he sent the cups and teapot on the table to his right crashing to the floor.

Fortunately, he remembered that a guest was present and managed to rein in his emotions somewhat.

He then forced a smile. "Fellow Daoist Zhiqin, something has come up unexpectedly. I must attend to a family matter."

"We can discuss the marriage alliance another time."

True Monarch Zhiqin immediately replied, "Fellow Daoist Liansha, you must be heading to Celestial Star Island. Why don’t we go together?"

True Monarch Liansha was Dai Fei’ang’s Dharma Name.

They both knew their juniors had gone to the new Relic; in fact, it had been part of the plan.

Upon hearing that Dai Tianrui’s Life Token had shattered, True Monarch Zhiqin was concerned for her own sect’s disciple. While Wen Suruo was not her personal apprentice, she was a fellow sect member.

But she was also curious.

’Logically,’ she thought, ’as the marriage candidate chosen by the Dai Family, he should have been carrying more than one life-saving treasure.’

’And with so many Yin Corpse Sect disciples protecting him, how could anything have possibly gone wrong?’

’Could the new Relic be so dangerous that some major catastrophe occurred?’

That was why True Monarch Zhiqin had offered to go with him; she wanted to get a firsthand account of the situation.

At first, Dai Fei’ang had also assumed it was some unforeseen disaster in the Relic.

After all, he knew full well that he had personally sealed a Void Cloud Light Barrier within his great-grandson’s body.

With that Magic alone, he should have been virtually invincible in the Celestial Star Island Relic, which only permitted Golden Core Cultivators to enter.

However, as reports from various sources came in, he couldn’t help but clench his fists.

All five True Inheritors from the Yin Corpse Sect who had Life Tokens in the sect had perished, yet not a single Core Disciple from any other power was harmed.

At this point, even a fool could see that someone was deliberately targeting the Yin Corpse Sect.

.

"No matter who it is, they are courting death!"

Dai Fei’ang’s face was as dark as a thundercloud. "I don’t care how many of them there are. When that Relic opens, I will personally refine every single one of them into a Corpse Puppet."

He fixed his eyes on True Monarch Zhiqin, forcing the words out one by one.

As the dominant local power, the Yin Corpse Sect had the strongest forces inside the Relic.

Therefore, it stood to reason that such a targeted strike must have been a joint attack by several other powers.

It was highly likely that disciples from the Celestial Sound Sect were involved, so he had to state the unpleasant possibilities up front.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Liansha. If any disciple of mine has truly committed such a cruel and treacherous act, I will personally capture her and hand her over to you for judgment."

True Monarch Zhiqin immediately made her stance clear, while inwardly growing more curious as to who could be so audacious.

’It’s not that you can’t team up to ambush someone,’ she thought, ’but you don’t do it on their home turf.’

She glanced at the Sacrificial Bone True Monarch, who had been dispatched from the Yin Corpse Sect and now stood silently nearby, and couldn’t help but shake her head slightly.

Although the Yin Corpse Sect hadn’t said it outright, likely due to the relatively good relations between their sects, his presence was an unmistakable deterrent.

Now, True Monarch Zhiqin could only hope that her sect’s disciples weren’t involved. Otherwise, she feared she would be powerless to help them.

’How did a perfectly good marriage alliance turn into this?’

’It was supposed to be a profitable transaction to acquire Spiritual Objects, but then this catastrophe happened. Could someone be plotting against me?’

At this thought, True Monarch Zhiqin’s expression chilled. Her resolve hardened: even if the Celestial Sound Sect’s disciples were implicated, she would not intervene.

The only reason she remained was to get firsthand intelligence for herself, rather than a questionable version of events filtered by the Yin Corpse Sect.

Night fell quickly. The sea was bathed in the light of countless stars, so bright that the darkness felt distant.

However, no one was in the mood to appreciate the beauty of the scene.

As the constellations shifted, a massive circle of light materialized in the sky above Celestial Star Island, connecting to the Observatory Platform within.

At the same time, the No-Fly Restriction around the Observatory Platform was quietly lifted.

For the next half-hour, any Cultivator near the Observatory Platform would be able to fly straight out.

However, as the exit opened, everyone’s gaze turned toward Xiao Chen.

In their eyes, to go out was to walk into a deathtrap.

But hiding in the Relic wasn’t a solution either. Heaven only knew if there were other Restrictions that prevented people from lingering.

And even if there weren’t, there was no telling when the exit might open again.

Sensing the stares, Xiao Chen put away the Nautical Chart and stretched his limbs.

His expression was relaxed, showing no sign of nervousness as he flew calmly out of the Relic.