Chapter 255 - 148: Xiao Chen’s Visit

"Among our peers, only you, Brother Gu, have ever held a slight edge over me..." Xiao Chen then remarked with a sigh.

The two continued to chat for a while. After wetting his throat with a sip of tea, Xiao Chen got straight to the point.

"Brother Gu, I’ve come today to ask for your help with a certain matter."

Gu Yun nodded slightly upon hearing this. Without a change in expression, he lifted his cup of freshly brewed Spirit Tea, drained it in one go, and then slowly said, "Brother Xiao, what might this be about? If it is within my power to help, I will certainly do my part."

Following this, Xiao Chen explained the situation in detail.

It turned out that a year ago, he had accidentally discovered an unusual worldly phenomenon in a mountain range within the Tianqi Mountain Range in the Northern Territory.

After observing it closely, he realized it was the stirring of an expert’s cavern dwelling, which was about to emerge into the world.

He had wanted to explore it, but unfortunately, the dwelling was protected by a Profound Mysterious Array. With his abilities alone, he couldn’t break it in a short time. Moreover, he had urgent matters to attend to, so he had no choice but to leave it be. However, before he left...

...he did the opposite of what one might expect. Using all his power, he concealed the dwelling completely.

After that came the Sect’s grand ceremony and the Inner Sect Grand Competition, which delayed things until now. He was no longer certain if the expert’s dwelling had been discovered by someone else.

"’The Northern Territory... Tianqi Mountain Range...’"

Gu Yun pondered for a moment.

’It seems a bit far. Of course, if I were to go, it would only take a little over half a month. But if this dwelling is just some ordinary ruin, then there’s no reason for me to go at all...’

After a moment of thought, Gu Yun finally spoke slowly, "Brother Xiao, do you know what level of cultivator left this dwelling?"

Hearing Gu Yun’s question, Xiao Chen’s eyes immediately lit up. He replied at once, "Brother Gu, based on my judgment, the dwelling was left behind by a cultivator at Tongxuan Mastery Peak at the very least, perhaps even a Half-Step Harmonization Giant."

Gu Yun’s pupils constricted slightly.

’Half-Step Harmonization...’

"How long would the entire trip take?" Gu Yun finally asked Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen pondered for a moment before saying, "We should be able to return in about two months."

’Two months? Perfect. According to Chu Yin, the Celestial Capital Dynasty in the Northern Territory is Jiang the Dog’s old lair. If I get a chance, it wouldn’t be impossible to wipe out his entire family. Heh heh heh...’ Gu Yun thought to himself.

Besides, the trip was only two months long, which wasn’t even enough time for a single session of secluded cultivation.

So, there was no harm in going with Xiao Chen.

Besides, following this guy might not get me the grand prize, but I’m sure to get some decent spoils.

The benefits were plentiful. After all, Xiao Chen was a truly righteous guy.

’When there’s trouble, he really steps up!’

"No problem, Brother Xiao. When do we leave?" Gu Yun finally asked.

"There’s no time to waste. We leave immediately."

...

「Half a month later.」

In the Eastern Profound Domain, at the edge of the Northern Territory.

Before them stretched an endless mountain range. Vast mountains and rivers rose and fell in succession, like waves upon waves in a surging ocean, one after another, with no end in sight. The sight was truly magnificent and spectacular.

At the same time, the terrain below was rugged and treacherous, undoubtedly making it extremely difficult for ordinary people to travel.

However, for True Martial Realm Cultivators, such rugged mountain paths were no obstacle at all.

Gu Yun and Xiao Chen transformed into streaks of light, soaring over the mountains.

"Brother Xiao, once we cross this mountain range, we’ll reach the Celestial Capital Dynasty, and then the Tianqi Mountain Range, correct?" Gu Yun asked mid-air.

"That’s right. It seems you’re quite knowledgeable, Brother Gu," Xiao Chen said, riding his own streak of light beside him.

After exchanging a few more words, the two sped swiftly through the sky.

On the rugged road below, a merchant caravan of several hundred people, snaking like a long serpent along the winding path, seemed to sense the immense and powerful auras from the sky. They froze in place for a moment, their bodies trembling uncontrollably.

But as the two figures in the sky sped into the distance, the caravan recovered and resumed their slow, steady advance.

Soon, the two had flown to the middle section of the sprawling mountain range. Below, elegant peaks stood in overlapping layers. Tall, lush trees formed a vast sea of forest, covering a large expanse of the mountainside.

Meanwhile, deep within the endless, mist-shrouded mountains, nestled among the layers of clouds, stood several towering palaces.

Inside, a number of exceptionally beautiful mortal women were singing and dancing. However, their eyes were filled with terror, as if a single misstep would send them plunging into an abyss to face a cruel fate.

Clearly, they had all been abducted.

In one of the palaces...

"HUFF!"

"So damn satisfying!" A burly, muscular man with long black hair was venting his frustrations with gusto. As a True Martial Realm Cultivator, his Physique was incredibly powerful—far more than a mere Spiritual Martial Realm female cultivator could handle.

"First Chieftain... I... I can’t take it anymore," the delicate body beneath him trembled, her soft voice shaking.

"Hmph, you can’t?! A woman’s greatest weapon is between her legs. Have you really given it your all?" the burly, black-haired man snorted coldly.

Suddenly, "Big Brother! Big Brother!!" a somewhat urgent voice suddenly called out from a corridor beside the main hall.

"Get lost! I’m busy!" the burly, black-haired man roared in annoyance.

"Big Brother, it’s really important!" the urgent voice insisted.

"You can leave." The burly man frowned, then tossed aside the woman beneath him.

The beautiful woman hastily grabbed her clothes and retreated.

"Come in!" With a grand wave of his hand, the burly man draped a wide black robe over his body. His imposing, tiger-like eyes then fell upon the entrance.

A pale-faced youth dressed in a blood-red robe strode hastily into the hall.

"Second Brother, do you have any idea what you’re doing?!" the burly man barked coldly.

"Come on, Big Brother, what’s the hurry?"

"In the central region of the East Capital Mountain Range, the Array we set up earlier detected two fat sheep."

"The Array’s limit judged them to be no more than True Martial Middle Stage."

"Big Brother, are we taking this job or not?!" the blood-robed youth said, his face alight with excitement.

"The Array’s limit? True Martial Middle Stage?" The burly, black-haired man frowned slightly. "The detection Array’s limit is only True Martial Middle Stage. What if they’re actually True Martial Late Stage?"

"Big Brother, how can there be so many True Martial Late Stage experts in the world? Even in our renowned Dongdu Village, only you, Big Brother, are an expert at the True Martial Seventh Layer or above!" the blood-robed youth immediately argued.

"Are they carrying a lot of treasure?" the burly man asked next.

"Hehe, they must be loaded! If we pull this off, we’ll be set for a good long while," the blood-robed youth said with a strange grin.

After pondering for a moment, the burly man said, "Go get Third, Fourth, and Fifth Brother. And bring the Spiritual Artifact Flying Boat."

The blood-robed youth replied excitedly, "Yes!"

Soon, from deep within the mist-shrouded mountains, a hundred-meter-tall Spiritual Boat slowly ascended. On its deck stood five figures of varying builds, their robes flapping and hair whipping wildly in the wind.

Then, with a SWOOSH, the Spiritual Artifact Flying Boat tore through space and shot across the sky!

「Meanwhile.」

Having just passed the center of the East Capital Mountain Range, Gu Yun and Xiao Chen were streaking through the sky as beams of light.

From a distance, Xiao Chen looked like a shooting star streaking across the firmament, while Gu Yun was like a bolt of Thunder tearing through the heavens—gone in a flash, unbelievably fast!

The mountains below were tall and continuous, like rows of surging waves. Covering them were gigantic, ancient trees that stretched as far as the eye could see, a sea of verdant green.

Beneath these lush, towering ancient trees, thick, arm-like branches twisted and intertwined. The massive leaves blocked out the sun, casting the ground below in a scene of gloomy darkness.

"Hm?!"

Soon, high in the vast azure sky, Gu Yun’s immense Spiritual Sense, powerful enough to cover a radius of a hundred to two hundred li, seemed to detect something amiss. His brow furrowed slightly, and he spoke slowly, "Brother Xiao, it seems we’ve run into a few clueless ants."