Chapter 244

Outside Ice Heaven Island.

Fang Qing stood upon the surface of the sea and raised a hand, taking out the Merchant Alliance auction token.

“Mm... there are no hidden tricks embedded within the token itself, but its design is rather interesting.”

After running a quick divination, understanding immediately dawned on him.

“This token points toward the sea region where the top-tier auction will be held, but the location constantly changes... In fact, the specific destination indicated by each token is different.”

“When the auction officially begins, the token will resonate with a massive void-teleportation array. At that point, it will transform into a mobile teleportation array and transport cultivators directly to the auction venue.”

“Once the auction ends, participants will likewise be teleported away at random locations... In theory, this greatly reduces the possibility of cultivators being robbed and killed after revealing their wealth. It can be considered a blessing for lower-level cultivators.”

“The only concern is whether the Merchant Alliance itself might make a move... However, their reputation is their greatest asset. Unless an utterly heaven-defying treasure appears, they would not go that far.”

It could be said that even a spiritual object used for condensing Core Formation could not compare to the reputation the Merchant Alliance had accumulated over countless years.

Of course, if it were an opportunity to advance to Soul Transformation, that would be another matter entirely.

The Merchant Alliance would definitely make a move.

Everyone had their limits, but when the benefits and temptation became great enough, those limits could always be crossed.

Even Shang Yuanxin would be no exception.

“If the value of what I carried were just a little greater, he might not have chosen fair trade. Instead, he would likely have contacted his clan and prepared treasures and arrays capable of sealing the void itself, such is human nature.”

Fang Qing shook his head and put away the token before beginning to calculate the karma surrounding Zhan Hongxiu.

His great opportunity was about to arrive.

...

In an unnamed sea region.

Zhan Hongxiu rode a streak of azure light as she fled for her life.

Behind her pursued another beam of light radiating the mana fluctuations of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator.

'Damn it!'

'I never expected that, before his death, Daoist Wuxin would secretly plant some kind of tracking mark on me through a hidden technique.'

Regret filled Zhan Hongxiu's heart.

When she killed Daoist Wuxin, she should have exercised greater caution.

If Senior Turtle had still been awake at the time, he certainly would not have allowed her to make such a grave mistake.

Then again, as a Child of Destiny, Zhan Hongxiu's journey had been relatively smooth despite encountering occasional setbacks.

Especially after Senior Turtle attached himself to her, she had always enjoyed the support of an old monster capable of covering her blind spots and compensating for her mistakes. Instead, this had dulled her vigilance.

Before his death, Daoist Wuxin had secretly branded her with a tracking mark, ultimately drawing over the mid-stage Core Formation cultivator known as Huanhua Hermit.

Even demonic Core Formation cultivators had a few close friends.

And the treasures on Zhan Hongxiu's person were enough to tempt any cultivator.

After all, she had only recently advanced to Core Formation and had yet to refine her natal dharma treasure or fully master her newfound mana and divine abilities.

The fact that she had managed to kill Daoist Wuxin, who was also at the early Core Formation stage, already demonstrated her immense wealth and extraordinary talent.

But against Huanhua Hermit, whose cultivation realm surpassed her own, she could only flee.

'The key issue is that if he leaks information about me and attracts those old Nascent Soul monsters, I won't have the slightest chance of survival!'

Zhan Hongxiu's divine sense swept across her storage treasure.

'If I stake everything on a single strike, can I kill him quickly enough?'

Inside her storage bag rested a third-rank high-grade Myriad Transformation Thunder Pearl, a treasure whose power rivaled a full-force attack from a late Core Formation great cultivator.

It was the strongest offensive trump card she possessed.

“Fellow Daoist, I bear no ill intentions...”

Behind her, seeing that Zhan Hongxiu showed no signs of slowing down, Huanhua Hermit smiled gently and spoke in a warm voice.

This was a demonic secret art he had cultivated in secret: Soul-Melting Demonic Voice.

It carried the ability to beguile the mind through divine sense. Lower-level cultivators often found it impossible to resist.

Yet Zhan Hongxiu continued fleeing without the slightest hesitation, seemingly completely unaffected.

His brows lifted slightly.

With a wave of his hand, he withdrew a fragrant carriage from his storage bag.

This flying treasure had been obtained long ago when he risked his life exploring an ancient cultivator's cave dwelling. Its speed rivaled that of late Core Formation great cultivators and had become his signature treasure.

As expected, after activating the Eight Treasures Fragrant Carriage, flower petals filled the sky and seven-colored radiance shimmered brilliantly.

Seated within the carriage, Huanhua Hermit's speed surged dramatically, rapidly closing the distance between them.

'Sigh... the Eight Treasures Fragrant Carriage is excellent, but its display is far too extravagant. It tends to attract unwanted attention from passing cultivators...'

Watching the countless flower petals dancing through the air, Huanhua Hermit sighed inwardly.

'Fortunately, this region has always been deserted.'

Just as he finished reassuring himself, a flash of lightning streaked across the horizon.

The clear cry of a sword rang through the heavens.

Whoosh!

A beam of sword light descended, transforming into a white-robed male cultivator with sword-like brows, starry eyes, and an imposing bearing.

“Fellow Daoist, why are you troubling my friend?”

Fang Qing, disguised as Bai Jianfeng, spoke first.

“Hmm? Early Core Formation?”

Huanhua Hermit swept his divine sense over him and immediately relaxed.

Then he let out a cold laugh.

“So it's you. Since we are already acquainted, I can't let you leave alive.”

He raised a hand, and a flower basket-shaped treasure appeared before him. Streams of multicolored light radiated outward as it descended toward Fang Qing.

Knowing full well that his opponent was a sword cultivator, Huanhua Hermit naturally had countermeasures prepared. This flower basket was a rare treasure specifically designed to capture flying swords, flying needles, and similar treasures. If the sword cultivator released his flying sword recklessly, he would suffer a devastating loss.

“Fellow Daoist Bai, join forces with me and kill this man first!”

Zhan Hongxiu abruptly changed the direction of her escape light and returned to the battle. A white jade flying sword appeared in her hand as she spoke with icy resolve.

“Be careful. That flower basket can restrain metal flying swords. Only treasures made of wood or jade can counter it.”

“You wretched woman!”

Huanhua Hermit's expression changed dramatically.

He watched as the sword cultivator merged with his sword, transforming into a streak of sword light like a rainbow piercing the sun. Astonishingly, the multicolored radiance failed to affect him in the slightest.

The sword light slashed straight toward the Eight Treasures Fragrant Carriage.

Its chilling edge surged skyward with overwhelming momentum. In an instant, the flying treasure was cut cleanly in half.

“How dare you destroy my treasure!”

Huanhua Hermit let out an enraged cry and hurriedly recalled the flower basket treasure, but unease had already taken root in his heart.

After all, he was not a late-stage Core Formation grand cultivator. Facing the combined assault of two early Core Formation cultivators, one of whom was a sword cultivator famed for offensive power, he could not help but feel alarmed.

'Forget it. I'll retreat for now. Once I gather three or five friends, killing these two will be easy enough.'

'It's just a pity about the opportunity on that female cultivator...'

Just as thoughts of retreat arose in his mind, Fang Qing had already arrived with another sword strike.

A flash of thunder!

The sword moved with the roar of thunder, condensing into an incomparably fine thread of sword qi that lightly brushed across the Huanhua Hermit's true core barrier.

Crack!

The protective barrier, maintained by his mid-stage Core Formation mana, let out a mournful groan as if it could no longer bear the strain.

“How is this possible?”

Huanhua Hermit rapidly formed hand seals.

A five-colored flower bloomed in midair, enveloping him within its petals.

This was a third-rank spell he had painstakingly cultivated, known as the Lotus Body Protection Art, said to render its user immune to all techniques.

At that moment, the five-colored lotus slowly closed like a flower bud, sealing him safely inside.

Fang Qing responded with a long howl and struck again.

The Sharp Edge Chapter alone had only reached complete Dao Foundation. At best, it barely granted him combat power comparable to an early Core Formation cultivator. In truth, killing a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator should have been beyond his abilities.

But mana was not the only thing he possessed.

He also possessed status.

Empowered by the Duzi divine status, Fang Qing unleashed the peerless sword art known as One Sword Breaks Ten Thousand Laws.

His sword blazed brilliantly.

The Duzi status infused the strike with the clarity of Sword Heart and the overwhelming momentum of Sword Intent.

It descended upon the five-colored lotus.

Whoosh!

A flash of white light.

The five-colored lotus and the true core barrier shattered instantly.

The Huanhua Hermit stood frozen in place.

Then he slowly reached up and touched his neck.

A thin line of blood appeared beneath his fingers.

The sword had been too fast.

So fast that before he could react, the incomparably sharp sword qi and sword intent had already extinguished every trace of life within him.

Nearby, Zhan Hongxiu, who had been preparing to assist, fell silent.

She had only seen Fang Qing swing his sword once.

The Huanhua Hermit, who had previously chased her to the point where there had been no path to heaven and no door into the earth, was now beheaded.

For a moment, she felt as though she were dreaming.

“It has been a long time, Fellow Daoist Zhan. I heard that you were once hunted by several Nascent Soul old monsters. Yet now it seems not only did you survive safely, but you have also successfully formed your core. Allow me to offer my congratulations first.”

Smiling warmly, Fang Qing collected the Huanhua Hermit's storage bag before turning around as though greeting an old friend.

He still did not know whether Zhan Hongxiu had seen through his identity.

But he had already paid the price for her silence before.

For now, he would simply assume she had not exposed him and continue interacting with her under the identity of Bai Jianfeng.

“Zhan Hongxiu thanks Fellow Daoist for saving my life.”

Her expression was complicated as she lowered herself in a graceful bow.

“I also congratulate Fellow Daoist on successfully reaching Core Formation. May your immortal path flourish forever.”

“Enough. This is not a suitable place for conversation. Let us find somewhere else first.”

Fang Qing raised a hand.

Zhan Hongxiu immediately felt an invisible presence being grasped and purified from her body.

Her expression shifted slightly.

“There are two problematic traces on your body. One of them is the floral fragrance planted by this man.”

He merely offered a brief explanation.

A trace of shame appeared on Zhan Hongxiu's face.

Both of them were early Core Formation cultivators, yet whether in experience or combat ability, she lagged far behind him.

Several days later.

On a deserted island.

Inside a temporary cave dwelling.

Zhan Hongxiu personally poured tea and presented it to Fang Qing.

“Fellow Daoist Bai, I have no way to repay the debt of saving my life. Please.”

Fang Qing accepted the cup and took a sip of spirit tea, inwardly finding the situation rather amusing.

'The next line should be something like offering herself in gratitude, shouldn't it?'

'Not happening.'

'Settling a life-saving debt with a single night together? Wouldn't that mean I came out at a loss? Shameless.'

'Besides, women blessed with great fortune always bring endless trouble. Why would I want another burden?'

'If I want women, both cultivation worlds have plenty of them. Why would I hang myself on a single tree?'

“This humble one possesses little of value. I can only offer this as repayment.”

Zhan Hongxiu waved her sleeve.

A jade box specifically designed to store spiritual herbs appeared on the table.

'As expected, Hongxiu is an honest person.'

'It wasn't a waste for me to specifically divine her location and come to save her.'

'Time to happily shear the wool again.'

Fang Qing's mood brightened as he opened the jade box.

Inside lay a section of azure root, though nearly half of it had already been used.

A clear and pure spiritual aura drifted outward.

Merely taking a light breath caused the mana within his body to stir restlessly.

“Could this be... Ten-Thousand-Year Hollow Azure?”

A trace of shock appeared on Fang Qing's face.

“This is far more valuable than any third-rank pill designed to increase cultivation.”

“That is correct.”

Zhan Hongxiu let out a soft sigh.

“It was precisely because of this treasure that I was able to rapidly advance to Foundation Establishment perfection and make preparations for Core Formation.”

Fang Qing calculated silently.

From Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, Zhan Hongxiu had taken only around sixty years.

As expected, the Qi Refining path was all about resources.

With enough resources, everything became possible.