NOVEL NEXT Chapter 153: Cease the Fighting and Withdraw
Chapter 153: Cease the Fighting and Withdraw
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"Junior Sister should still be on Huanglong Mountain, right?" He Yuanwu asked, testing the waters, but Junior Brother Cheng remained silent.
He Yuanwu loosened his grip slightly and glanced at the suspended Fu Dong.
This was an important bargaining chip.
"Cough... Haha! My sister has long since left Huanglong Mountain. If her own brother wasn't here to keep up appearances, how could we deceive the internal spies and the eyes from all sides?" Fu Dong gasped for breath, a proud and smug smile appearing on his face.
"My sister aspires to achieve 'Golden Dan'. Her ambition is to ascend to the level of a Nascent Soul True Monarch. How could she rush to form her core?"
He Yuanwu's mind flinched for a moment before he shook his head. "I don't believe you! You were clearly surprised when I first arrived."
"More than half a month ago, I confirmed Junior Sister's aura and saw with my own eyes as she entered her cave for secluded cultivation. With external forces surrounding Huanglong Mountain and formations enveloping it, under the watchful eyes of the Immortals, she couldn't have easily escaped," He Yuanwu said, while his spiritual sense meticulously probed every corner of the secret chamber.
Soon, he made a discovery.
Beneath where Junior Brother Cheng sat cross-legged, there seemed to be a hidden passage, one that could block out spiritual sense and prevent further probing.
Noticing He Yuanwu's gaze, Junior Brother Cheng tactfully moved aside.
"Did Junior Sister escape through this tunnel?"
He Yuanwu's eyes flickered, but he didn't approach the hidden passage, wary of potential traps.
"Senior Brother He, we are fellow disciples. Why push us to the brink? Let Fu Dong go, and there might still be a chance for reconciliation," Junior Brother Cheng advised.
He Yuanwu responded, "I'll leave Junior Sister a way out. As long as she hands over the 'Crystal Condensation Pill', preventing her from achieving a True-Dan, my goal will be accomplished."
"The Crystal Condensation Pill is already beyond your reach. Junior Sister has taken it with her," Junior Brother Cheng said, knowing that He Yuanwu had an illegitimate child with a lover outside who showed great potential and had hopes of forming a core in the future.
He Yuanwu's betrayal stemmed partly from his own discontent and partly from selfish motives.
"Where is the other Crystal Condensation Pill?" He Yuanwu asked.
"To make the phenomenon of Core Formation more believable, Master gave me an inferior Crystal Condensation Pill to consume. Unfortunately, due to my dull aptitude and old age, I couldn't even form an Inferior Dan with it," Junior Brother Cheng replied bitterly.
He Yuanwu believed most of what Junior Brother Cheng said, but there was still a trace of doubt. He ordered, "Open your storage pouch."
Regaining some color on his face, Junior Brother Cheng removed his storage pouch and unlocked the restriction.
At that moment, sounds of fighting erupted outside.
Eldest Brother Ji Yifeng, along with two Foundation Establishment disciples, was rushing towards them, but they were being held back by a Fake-Dan Immortal from an opposing faction.
"Hurry up!" He Yuanwu commanded impatiently, channeling his Core Power to snatch the storage pouch from Junior Brother Cheng.
A quick inspection revealed no sign of the Crystal Condensation Pill.
He put the storage pouch away and did not return it to Junior Brother Cheng.
"Fu Xuemei! If you don't show yourself, I will dismember your brother right here!" He Yuanwu's voice echoed through the entire cave, penetrating underground.
He knew that Fu Xuemei had a deep bond with her brother, so maybe she hadn't withdrawn yet and would come back to save her brother.
Crack!
He Yuanwu exerted force, crushing Fu Dong's arm.
There was no reaction from the surroundings.
Fu Dong grunted, nearly fainting from the pain, but he stubbornly refused to cry out.
"Senior Brother He, there's no need for such tricks. Junior Sister is likely already forming her core outside," Junior Brother Cheng said with a tinge of reluctance.
"Forming a core requires a third-rank spiritual vein. Even if she has already escaped, it wouldn't be that fast," He Yuanwu knew this much.
The best time for Fu Xuemei to escape was during the moment of core formation when the phenomenon of the heavens and earth were displayed and the Core Formation cultivators were locked in battle.
As the core variable of Huanglong Mountain, she was under constant surveillance, including by the internal spies of Huanglong Mountain.
"Junior Brother Cheng, open the secret passage," He Yuanwu ordered again.
Since the passage was shrouded in a force that blocked spiritual sense, he needed someone to scout it first.
"Yes," Junior Brother Cheng turned and crouched down, moving the floorboards beneath him.
"Don't try anything funny," He Yuanwu warned.
"If you were at your peak, you might have lasted a few moves from me. But in your current state..." He Yuanwu's words trailed off.
Roar!
From above the cave, a heart-shaking dragon roar echoed.
"Huang Dragon Beast! Block it quickly—" The Fake-Dan Immortal of the opposing force shouted in anger.
Boom!
A sixteen-zhang long, scarred yellow-scaled dragon beast charged towards Fu Xuemei's cave, slapping a Fake-Dan Immortal and his magical treasure away with one swipe.
Then, it clawed through the cave and lunged directly at He Yuanwu.
"Not good! I'm being targeted by the Huang Dragon Beast! How does it still have time to assist...?" He Yuanwu felt a chill run down his spine, sensing imminent danger.
The difference between a Fake Dan and a True Dan was vast, and the Huang Dragon Beast at this moment was stronger than an average early-stage Core Formation Immortal.
He Yuanwu, holding Fu Dong, dodged frantically.
He deliberately raised Fu Dong above his head, hoping the Huang Dragon Beast would hesitate.
However, the Huang Dragon Beast didn't care about Fu Dong's life or death. Its massive claws locked onto them both without distinction.
He Yuanwu cursed inwardly, knowing that his master had no fondness for Fu Dong and might even wish for his death in the ensuing chaos.
As he clumsily dodged, a powerful spiritual pressure emanated from behind him, carrying a sense of threat.
Junior Brother Cheng, crouching on the ground, had somehow produced a silver-colored talismanic treasure from somewhere.
Whoosh!
A purple lightning spear leaped from the surface of the talisman, its energy so terrifying that even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be petrified. The spear shot straight at He Yuanwu's back.
With the Huang Dragon Beast pressing from the front, He Yuanwu had little room to maneuver.
Between two evils, he chose the lesser.
He barely managed to channel some of his Core Power to move his shoulder, taking the "Purple Lightning Spear" with his flesh.
Electric arcs crackled, hissing.
Half of He Yuanwu's shoulder went numb, emitting black smoke.
Thud!
While He Yuanwu was momentarily distracted, Fu Dong seized the opportunity to break free, rolling onto the ground.
Boom!
The Huang Dragon Beast's massive claw struck, landing directly in front of He Yuanwu.
He Yuanwu unleashed his Core Power, summoning a magical treasure to take the attack head-on, and his body was sent flying, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
Fortunately, three more Fake-Dan Immortals arrived quickly. Their combined magical treasures struck the Huang Dragon Beast, temporarily holding it at bay.
"The Huang Dragon Beast is wounded. Let's join forces and subdue it," one of the Fake-Dan Immortals shouted.
He Yuanwu wiped away the blood, secretly relieved.
Although the gap between Fake-Dan and True-Dan was significant, with three or more people working together, they could resist an early-stage Core Formation cultivator.
"Go!" Junior Brother Cheng grabbed Fu Dong and dived into the secret passage beneath the floor.
"Don't think you can escape!"
He Yuanwu wouldn't let such an important bargaining chip slip away. If he wanted to kill Fu Dong, he could have just thrown him into the Huang Dragon Beast's claws earlier.
He Yuanwu vaguely guessed that Junior Brother Cheng's purpose was to take Fu Dong away.
Fu Dong's life in Huanglong Mountain was uncertain. Fu Xuemei, forming her core elsewhere, would still be burdened by concerns for him, making it difficult for her to achieve a flawless state of mind.
If Fu Dong were to die, it might be easier for her to let go of this lingering attachment, allowing her to focus on her cultivation without distraction.
However, the best-case scenario was for Fu Dong to return safely to Fu Xuemei as that would allow her to achieve a complete state of mind, and she might even have a small chance of forming a Golden Dan.
The path of cultivation is vast, not solely confined to rational self-interest.
Some cultivators, who are deeply emotional may be able to use their emotional attachment to sublimate their mind and beliefs and reach greater heights.
Of course, such cases are rare.
More often than not, emotional entanglements lead to a lower bottom line.
"He Yuanwu! The one who betrayed the Huanglong Mountain, how can you be so easily allowed to leave!" A refined, white-robed elder flew towards him.
Whoosh!
A fan-shaped magical treasure swept out a massive astral wind of icy feathers, shredding the nearby ruins and blocking He Yuanwu's path.
With the Huang Dragon Beast holding back the several enemy Fake-Dan cultivators, Ji Yifeng, the eldest disciple of Huanglong, finally had a moment to intervene.
"Eldest Senior Brother, the wise know when to bend with the wind. In your advanced years and with such grave injuries, why court unnecessary trouble..." He Yuanwu's face darkened with impatience.
He manipulated a massive black axe, a magical treasure, conjuring a vast storm of dark blades that engulfed the astral wind of the feather fan magical treasure, reversing course towards Ji Yifeng.
...
Lan Chang'an flew back to the inner city center, briefly pausing near the Jin Yun Valley station.
In the vicinity of the sect's residence, safety was guaranteed.
At this moment, chaos reigned in Huanglong Immortal City, with numerous cultivators engaged in fighting and slaughter. Among them were direct disciples of Huanglong Mountain, fleeing amidst the chaos, pursued by killers. Some of the pursuers were even Fake-Dan cultivators.
If he were to fly quickly now, it might arouse suspicion, and being targeted by an Immortal would spell trouble.
Lan Chang'an observed the Core Formation battles high in the sky.
After slaying the Mo Family's True-Dan cultivator, the Huanglong Immortal severely wounded another early-stage Core Formation Immortal.
Three Core Formation cultivators, including Wantie Immortal, chose to defend rather than engage the Huanglong Immortal head-on, fighting while retreating.
During this time, the Huanglong Immortal sent the Huang Dragon Beast to support Huanglong Mountain and eliminate the traitors.
The Huanglong Immortal's aura gradually weakened, with neither side gaining an advantage in the three-on-three battle.
"Hmm, another Core Formation Immortal has arrived?"
Lan Chang'an suddenly sensed something.
A purple streak of light, like a meteor, emanated a powerful True-Dan aura, heading straight for the six battling Core Formation cultivators.
"Esteemed Immortals, for the sake of our 'Flame Departing Palace,' please cease hostilities for now. Whatever grudges or conflicts of interest you have, let's discuss them civilly."
The newcomer was an Immortal in purple Daoist robes, at the mid Core Formation Realm. The Core Power he exuded rivaled that of the Huanglong Immortal at his peak.
Hearing this, both sides tacitly agreed to stop fighting.
The current stalemate meant continuing the battle was pointless. The Huanglong Immortal was weakened, his power having dropped significantly from earlier, with an injured Huang Dragon Beast being restrained by several Fake-Dan cultivators.
Wantie Immortal was unscathed, but his side had a severely wounded Immortal, leaving them at a disadvantage.
With the Flame Departing Palace Immortal's intervention, the Core Formation cultivators of both parties ceased fighting, bringing the chaotic situation in the city under control.
Seeing this, Lan Chang'an unhurriedly flew towards the outskirts of Huanglong Immortal City.
High in the sky, the Core Formation Immortals from both sides seemed to be negotiating something.
The outside world remained unaware of the content of their discussion. The powerful auras of the Core Formation cultivators on both sides had subsided, returning to a calm state, clearly having reached some agreement.
"Now that Fu Xuemei has escaped Huanglong Immortal City, we Core Formation Immortals present will no longer personally intervene in this matter. Out of respect for Fellow Daoist Fei of Flame Departing Palace, this Immortal has no objections to this point," Wantie Immortal transmitted.
"However, Fellow Daoist Huanglong is advanced in years with little lifespan remaining, insufficient to stabilize the vast Huanglong Immortal City. If within a year, the Huanglong Mountain faction fails to produce a True-Dan cultivator, then the ownership of Huanglong Mountain..."
...
Lan Chang'an had just flown to the outer city of Huanglong.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Several Fake-Dan cultivators, along with many more mid and late Foundation Establishment cultivators, flew overhead. Most were heading towards the southern part of the Liang Kingdom.
"The Core Formation Immortals have ceased fighting?"
"Fake-Dan and Foundation Establishment cultivators are being mobilized, and the direction of their pursuit seems to be the central part of the Liang Kingdom, the direction of Liaoyuan Immortal City."
Lan Chang'an pondered, deep in thought.
Even if Fu Xuemei didn't form her Core at Huanglong Mountain, she would still need a third-rank spiritual vein, as without sufficient spiritual pressure, it would affect the chances of forming the core and the quality of it.
With the Huanglong Immortal City being the main attention, the closest, safest, and most suitable neutral force for attempting Core Formation would be Liaoyuan Immortal City.
(End of chapter)