Chapter 2712 - 2704: Tales of the Past

Chapter 2712: Chapter 2704: Tales of the Past

The hunters slowed down after realizing the robbers’ reaction, curious about the significance of White Pebble Beach.

After all, White Pebble Beach offered a bounty to protect their reputation, but now that they’ve saved face, will they stop there?

Feng Jun didn’t believe any of this explanation—not even for a second. Wouldn’t you check who owns the item before you steal it?

It’s different if you’re robbing fifteen pieces of Spirit Stone or mid-grade ones, but these are fifteen top-grade Spirited Stones! Are they just something you can casually grab?

Street thugs have no qualms snatching mobiles or necklaces, but would they have the guts to rob a bank?

Ultimately, it seems these robbers simply disregarded Feng Jun, or perhaps they thought Feng Jun was just another self-centered Cultivator who wouldn’t stand up for unrelated issues.

They surely didn’t expect White Pebble Beach to not only intervene but also post a hefty bounty—honestly, only the top-ranked Clans would display such brazen behavior.

Even the Seven Gates Eighteen Paths wouldn’t take such an obviously unprofitable move—it’s only an unfinished transaction with a client.

So Feng Jun made it clear that he’d continue to chase, "The authority of White Pebble Beach cannot be violated. If apologies worked, what would we need constables for?"

However, reaching this stage left further investigation stymied. The culprits’ whereabouts were unpredictable—there were several instances of almost catching them, but they always managed to slip away mysteriously.

The disciples of Taixu Sect couldn’t take it anymore—not because they couldn’t bear the pressure but because they were increasingly frantic. During their prior incursion into the Beast King’s lair, they expended many Talismans, with some sustaining minor injuries.

They requested Wu Xiu to convey a message to Feng Jun, hoping Mountain Master Feng could come and divine their path—or have True Immortal Yi Jue do so.

In return for these two intervening, they were willing to forgo the bounty. The discontent of Taixu Sect members was palpable.

Feng Jun looked at True Immortal Wu Xiu, a bit puzzled, "Aren’t there many diviners among Taixu Sect’s ranks?"

"I’ve heard there’s something strange about this matter," Wu Xiu replied, unwilling to admit that their own people’s divination fell short, while having gathered some intel, "Apparently even the Ji Family had a True Sage Emergence Stage diviner weigh in, but the heavens’ secrets are exceptionally obscure."

When it comes to divining heaven’s secrets, consulting Qian Zhong is ideal. Feng Jun approached her to gain clarity on this matter.

Qian Zhong lightly tapped her fingers together, her brow furrowing slightly, "This matter is unusual. Even for me, breaking the illusion means finding the other’s aura before predicting... besides, you’re not the right person to go."

"I’m not the right person?" Feng Jun was a bit startled. He hadn’t used a Substitute Soul Puppet, so naturally, he couldn’t foresee his own future, but he hadn’t felt any threat himself. "I was even considering a personal visit... haven’t sensed any crisis."

"Disguising the heavens also allows them to obscure awareness," Qian Zhong commented lightly, but given her usual language, this statement was rather significant. "Even I wouldn’t trust my perception completely... downfall often results from arrogance."

"Point taken," Feng Jun cupped his hand in respect, then asked, "So there’s a significant figure behind them?"

"Significant... depends how you define it," Qian Zhong spoke amiably whenever not confronting Xuanyuan, even offering patient explanations, "Their cultivation level might not be so high, but the secret technique is uncertain. After all, beyond one person lies another, beyond one heaven another. Perhaps it’s a True Treasure."

"True Treasure..." Feng Jun muttered softly. True Treasures suit the use of Emergence Stage True Sages—for instance, the Fish Basket of True Sage Diao Sou. But a True Treasure specifically for cloaking heaven’s secrets must be remarkably effective; he couldn’t help recalling the Sun-Mirroring Glass.

"Perhaps it’s a secret technique," spoke Jing Ling, unusually intervening in Feng Jun’s sea of consciousness, "What does a mere Divine Spirit practitioner understand? Truly effective secret techniques can triumph across realms... they aren’t closely related to cultivation level alone."

Feng Jun found this reasoning agreeable; he also believed theoretically speaking, if a secret technique is relatively ingenious and unique, overcoming a higher rank isn’t impossible. However, is it entirely detached from cultivation? "Are there secret techniques that can triumph over two major realms?"

"Yes, in ’Investiture of the Gods’ the Nails of Seven Arrows Book does precisely that—though Lu Ya has some connections with you," Jing Ling surprisingly expressed a hint of schadenfreude. "Xiao Sheng’s Falling Treasure Money itself is a secret technique—the coins are merely a guise."

"Wow, is ’Investiture of the Gods’ really trustworthy?" Feng Jun was startled. Then he asked a question that he’d been meaning to ask for some time, "So this Yin-Yang Mirror... is it really Chi Jingzi’s Magical Treasure?"

"What do you mean Chi Jingzi!" Jing Ling replied contemptuously, though clearly not keen to delve deeply into the topic, "Investiture of the Gods is just mythology, fabricated tales, Xiao Sheng casting the Falling Treasure Money? That’s nonsense, it was initiated by Cao Bao!"

Still, Feng Jun was intrigued by the topic, having never sorted out the character relations in the novel, and now treading the path of Cultivation, naturally he wished to know more details, "Is the Primordial Golden Censer really just a chamber pot?"

"Watch your tongue!" Jing Ling, usually quite philosophical, was infuriated by this remark, "If it hadn’t fallen, how could it allow that Guardian to wreak havoc? Just a single glare... and that creature would flee to the ends of the earth!"

Feng Jun felt a bit uncomfortable hearing it talk about the Guardians. After all, everyone has their stance, and Guardians surely have their flaws, but they’ve always treated him well.

However, his curiosity interrupted that tangled feeling, "Primordial Golden Censer and Yin-Yang Mirror... They should belong to opposing factions, right?"

"That’s why I said you shouldn’t believe that Investiture of the Gods," Jing Ling expressed with discontent, "Ancient events are hardly as simple as Investiture. My Yin-Yang Mirror is still around, albeit a bit down, but Investiture... heh, where are the Six Paths?"

The content of this answer was rather impressive, yet Feng Jun couldn’t contain his curiosity, "The Six Paths indeed are gone, but the Guardians remain... Are they mentioned in Investiture as well?"

"They’re on the same level as me, how could Investiture not mention them?" Jing Ling replied without hesitation, "But don’t probe further, you can ask them yourself... I’ll warn you, that Divine Spirit Junior’s saying is correct. You are in potential danger."

"Potential danger?" Feng Jun paused before asking, "Are you referring to me deducing the bandits?"

"Of course, that’s the matter," Jing Ling answered without hesitation, "If you don’t believe it, you can have Yi Jue deduce it. Her level isn’t bad, and unlike you, her senses aren’t clouded."

Proximity to ink makes one black, perhaps it wasn’t aware, but Feng Jun keenly sensed it, and even felt a bit thrilled — you call Qian Zhong a "Divine Spirit Junior," but you know Yi Jue’s name?

Yan Zhou’s teaching yielded some results, Jing Ling finally made some progress.

Qian Zhong noticed his long silence and grew curious. On the surface, she seemed carefree, but her gossip interest was particularly strong — she just maintained an aloof demeanor, unbeknownst to others usually.

Then she sensed it and was startled, "You’re chatting with... that one? I truly wasn’t doing it on purpose!"

Feng Jun already knew her nature and didn’t care to argue, but he internally sighed — the fact that Qian Zhong could detect Jing Ling’s communication with him also showed some exceptional level, "This deserves a penalty of some Extreme Spirit."

"I’ll deduce for you," Qian Zhong offered without hesitation, "This truly isn’t your manor, to punish without teaching is cruelty... You’re intentionally setting me up; my Yao family’s Extreme Spirit isn’t plenty."

She’s been close to Feng Jun lately and understands ideas like "setting up" as well.

"Are you willing to leave White Pebble Beach?" Feng Jun laughed upon hearing it, he knew that both Qian Zhong and Xuanyuan Bu Qi had been guarding White Pebble Beach — their goal wasn’t just waiting for him to open the next secret treasure?

Or perhaps their aim isn’t the treasure itself, no one really knows how much good stuff is inside, it may be plentiful or sparse, and what you consider treasure may not appeal to others.

Many Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators also create secret treasures — anyway, lacking promising heirs at home, they leave one behind for fate.

However, the secret treasure unveiled by Feng Jun... the contents are unknown, but just the unearthing formation clearly indicates it’s not a Golden Core secret treasure. Calling it a Nascent Soul secret treasure is a stretch; it should at least be an Emergence Stage treasure.

Since ancient times, wealth has stirred people’s hearts, but Xuanyuan Bu Qi and Qian Zhong are acutely aware that other Emergence Stage treasures can be snatched, but stealing Feng Jun’s treasure really risks death — possibly even implicating their Clan!

So from a realistic viewpoint, these two Honored Lords target one thing — the Soul Exit Pill he promised.

Since they’re already Divine Spirit True Lords, their lifespan is long; waiting a decade or eight years at White Pebble Beach for a Soul Exit Pill is no big deal, even a hundred or eighty years isn’t a problem.

"Reluctant but necessary," Qian Zhong made a "dejected" expression, but for someone accustomed to being carefree, this expression appeared oddly quirky, "I’m even more unwilling to part with my Extreme Spirit."

Feng Jun smiled on hearing this; every Divine Spirit Honored Lord isn’t simple. Xuanyuan Bu Qi appears rash but is extremely shrewd, while Qian Zhong seems calm but can effortlessly catch people’s tactics, "Consider it a half opportunity this time."

Both Honored Lords can obtain a Soul Exit Pill after three opportunities. Last time, the opportunity was split equally, considered as half, with this half combined, Qian Zhong then has once whole opportunity, needing to act two more times to qualify.

"This is unfair!" Xuanyuan Bu Qi’s voice arrived with his presence, "Feng Xiaoyou, irrespective of cause and effect, I’ve at least helped suppress the Xiong Clan’s compliance with rules while she gains half an opportunity through snooping addiction; that’s not how things should be handled."

Uncharacteristically, Qian Zhong did not retort this time, merely casting a slight glance at him, "I excel at divination."

"So what?" Xuanyuan Bu Qi replied dismissively, "Feng Xiaoyou also excels in divination, I can protect him in it... um, and Junior Yi Jue as well."

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