Chapter 381 272: Nowhere to Hide

The Foundation Establishment Realm was vast and boundless, filled with emergent mysteries.

It contained infinite phenomena of cosmic creation and the harmonious union of heaven and earth.

In the void, auspicious, colorful clouds formed a canopy as rainbows of light flowed and a bright radiance shimmered.

Several simple, ancient stone platforms hung high in the air, each with a figure seated upon it.

The young Daoist on the left wore a golden crown and a red-gold magical robe, his body faintly emanating the light of a solar halo.

His brow was furrowed and his expression displeased as he became the first to speak:

"The successor to Shao Yang has not been seen since he entered Juku Continent. I have activated the Dongming Bell several times, but I haven't found a single clue."

On the right was a handsome youth with a jade-like face, barely of capping age, wearing a crane-feather cloak and a starry crown.

He smiled faintly at those words, his voice clear and bright:

"That Jiang boy is the Daoist of the Innate Sect of Nanzhan Continent. Do you have any idea how much karma and luck he's tied to?

For that Sect Leader Qin to dare let him out, he must have all sorts of methods to ensure his safety.

The Dongming Bell may be a profound Magical Artifact from the Tai Yang Path with supreme revealing power, but trying to use it to spy on a True Monarch-level being is simply overestimating your abilities."

The young Daoist's expression darkened, and he snorted coldly:

"Jun Jiusi, I've heard that after you entered Juku Continent and arrived in this spirit world, you've done nothing but drink all day, completely idle.

Are you slacking off because you're afraid to face this Shao Yang?"

The youth in the crane-feather cloak and starry crown scoffed. 'These noble scions from the great houses of the Tai Yang Path,' he thought, 'they really do love to throw around accusations and flaunt their authority.'

"Cao Qiu, are you this desperate to find Shao Yang because you want to take the Jiang boy's head and claim credit for it in White Jade City?

What a pity. With that proxy Foundation Establishment body of yours, I doubt you've even cultivated a proper Tai Yang technique.

If that Jiang boy truly ascended to the spirit world and became a Foundation Establishment True Master, how could you possibly kill him?"

The young Daoist flew into a rage. Two specks of golden light shot from his eyes as a majestic, unparalleled aura of Yang Flame erupted behind him.

"You dare insult me?!"

Jun Jiusi, however, simply turned his face away, looking completely unconcerned.

The Tai Yang Path held sway over the Dongsheng Continent, and all Cultivators of the Immortal Dao showed them great reverence.

But someone like Cao Qiu, who was not of the main family line and only had a ridiculously distant connection to the high Gate Valve Cao clan in White Jade City, had not even cultivated the Tai Yang techniques.

There was no way Jun Jiusi would let him put on such airs!

"Both of you, that's enough. Take a step back."

The figure in the center spoke, his voice like rolling thunder that made the surroundings hum. This man was clearly an orthodox Thunder Core Cultivator.

"In my opinion, that Shao Yang must have descended to the mortal realm. With the world's membrane providing insulation, Brother Cao, your Dongming Bell will not be able to locate him."

Cao Qiu's gaze sharpened as he turned to the central figure and sneered:

"A spineless coward! Has the Shao Yang Golden Position gone blind, to actually fix its gaze on such a worthless character!"

He then continued:

"Brother Xiaoyun, can you use your Zhenlei Drum to pierce the world's membrane and allow us to descend to the lower realm to surround and kill that Jiang boy?"

The central figure was named Qin Xiaoyun. Unlike Cao Qiu from the Tai Yang Path and Jun Jiusi from the Jade Void Path...

He was a Disciple of Shenxiao Thunder City, studying in the "Hall of All Thunder," which was part of the direct lineage of True Monarch Yingyuan Sijie.

"Brother Cao, don't be hasty. Let me finish."

Qin Xiaoyun remained composed, his voice steady:

"Just a short while ago, the Zhenlei Drum showed a faint reaction. It must have been caused by the Shao Yang's Foundation Establishment, which triggered a Sympathy.

However, this person is cautious. He didn't release his Perfect Dao Foundation to resonate with heaven and earth and elicit a celebration from the Great Dao... I believe he must be hiding in the Southern Domain."

Jun Jiusi's eyelids twitched. The spirit world was divided into the Five Domains. Of these, Ancient Demon Cultivators occupied three, Demons occupied one, and the remaining northern territory served as a refuge for the descendants of Immortal Cultivators.

Juku Continent was originally the main body of a shattered landmass that had been refined by a Daoist Monarch.

Back then, both the Immortal and Demon Daoist Lineages gained a foothold and established connections, which is how the mountains and rivers of the Five Domains, nearly identical to those of the Yanfu Vast Land, came to be.

"Brother Qin, do you have a clever plan to lure that Jiang boy out?"

The Female Cultivator, who had been silent until now, finally asked.

She wore a simple white dress, her features as beautiful as a painting. A faint mist of clouds swirled around her, obscuring her face.

"Of course."

Qin Xiaoyun's eyes glinted as the energies of wind and thunder circled him, condensing into streams of Daoist light:

"We are all using proxy Foundation Establishment bodies, relying on our life-bound items to maintain a foothold in the Foundation Establishment Realm. Trying to find a trace of the Jiang boy from here would be next to impossible.

We can only start with the Lower Cultivators. I have already ordered Thunderclap Manor to advance into the Southern Domain, attack the Mingjiao, and seize their cities and lands.

Since that Jiang boy is hiding in the Southern Domain, we just need to join forces and turn the place upside down until he has nowhere left to hide."

Cao Qiu nodded, thinking it an excellent plan.

Jun Jiusi also nodded.

The righteous factions in the spirit world were all descendants of Immortal Cultivators, and their various legacies all originated from the Immortal Dao.

Therefore, with a single word, Qin Xiaoyun could command the members of Thunderclap Manor to fight to the death for him.

"Excellent. Although this world has an 'All-Qi Distortion' Spiritual Aura that suppresses the Thunder Core, the Blood Qi and Yin Fiend energy are not impossible to overcome."

The Female Cultivator parted her cherry-like lips and smiled faintly. "With Brother Cao from the Tai Yang Path displaying his skills, and with the addition of Brother Jun from the Jade Void lineage, we will surely crush the Mingjiao Demon Cultivators!"

...

Cyan Sheep Mountain, the Li Family Ancestral Home.

Li Conglong stood in the main hall with his hands behind his back, listening to a report from the men he had sent out.

"Family Head, we've finished our investigation. The Resource Land is at the northern foot of Floating Cloud Mountain, and the Luo Family hasn't posted any guards there."

Li Conglong's brow furrowed slightly as his fingers tapped lightly on the table.

'The Luo Family didn't post any guards?'

'That's unexpected.'

The Resource Land was adjacent to Floating Cloud Mountain; logically, the Luo Family shouldn't have been so negligent.

'Either the Luo Family hasn't discovered it yet, or... it's a trap.'

"Any movement from the Xu Family's side?"

"Reporting, Family Head. The Xu Family has already sent three Qi Cultivation Cultivators, and they're heading to the Resource Land now."

Li Conglong fell silent for a long moment before waving a hand to dismiss his subordinate.

He sat alone in the hall, the flickering candlelight casting his face in shifting light and shadow.

'Cooperating with the Xu Family to share the Resource Land is undoubtedly an opportunity for the Li Family to rise.'

'But the risk is also enormous. If we anger the Luo Family, with our current strength, we can't possibly withstand their wrath.'

"Only by breaking through to the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer will I be able to handle this situation deftly and with ease."

Li Conglong muttered to himself.

He knew his own Dao Wisdom was average and his aptitude mediocre. His smooth progress to the Great Perfection of the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer over the years was all thanks to that Daoist mirror and that particular Qi Cultivation technique.

"'The Heaven-Nurtured Truth-Preserving Art of Pointing to the Profound'... Only by refining a Wood Element Spiritual Object can I swiftly break through this bottleneck..."

'But Wood Element Spiritual Objects aren't easy to find. My father stumbling upon that piece of lightning-struck wood was already a stroke of immense luck... to find another one? Easier said than done.'

He pondered for a long time before finally making up his mind.

'I have to make a secret trip to the Marketplace.'

Li Conglong took half of the Spirit Stones and Spiritual Materials the clan had accumulated and put them into a storage pouch.

These resources were originally set aside for Li Conglin's Opening of the Primordial Gate, but the situation was urgent, and he couldn't afford to be concerned with that now.

He instructed Li Conglin to look after family affairs, then rode a clear breeze under the cover of night, hurrying toward the Pingde Marketplace by Luoyue Lake.

Pingde Marketplace was the largest cultivation Marketplace in the Luoyue Lake area, and it was controlled by Wanxiang Hall.

It was a melting pot of all sorts of people, but as long as you didn't break Wanxiang Hall's rules, no one cared about your background.

Li Conglong changed into ordinary robes, suppressed his aura to appear as a common Loose Cultivator, and began to search around the Marketplace.

He visited several shops one after another, asking about Wood Element Spiritual Objects, but came up empty-handed every time.

Under the rule of the Mingjiao, Blood Qi flourished, making Wood Element Spiritual Objects naturally rare. The high-grade one he needed was even more difficult to find.

'Are the heavens determined to destroy my Li Family?'

Li Conglong grew anxious but dared not let it show on his face.

He made a few more rounds through the Marketplace but still came up with nothing. With a sigh, he prepared to leave.

However, just as he turned to leave, he caught sight of a corner from the corner of his eye.

An inconspicuous little stall was set up there, its owner a scruffy old man dozing against the base of a wall.

The stall was cluttered with a few battered Magical Artifacts, some tattered books, and an assortment of pots and jars, all of which looked like worthless junk.

But Li Conglong's gaze was riveted to a small green bottle among the items.

It was a palm-sized Jade Bottle, green throughout. Faint, intricate patterns, like the natural veins of a leaf, were visible on its surface.

The 'Heaven-Nurtured Truth-Preserving Art of Pointing to the Profound' that Li Conglong cultivated instantly began to stir within him!