Chapter 256: The Summons

Gazing at the handsome youth in the mirror, True Person Miaoyin kept her expression unreadable, yet her mind raced with thoughts, preparing to counter the questions coming from the other side.

After all, this 【Suo Huan True Person】 was no ordinary mortal.

Strictly speaking, he was a cultivator from beyond the heavens, only that the realm-heaven he belonged to had already been destroyed, shattered by the various True Lords, and completely merged into this world.

He was the only one who escaped.

If Lu Yang were here right now, he would certainly recognize the other, for in the past he and Master Chongguang had discussed this matter; it was an accident during a battle for the Dao.

The Yushu Jiange, the Holy Sect, the Dao Court, and the Pure Land—True Lords from these four powers joined hands to capture the realm-heaven; Foundation Establishment True Persons descended, and after a great battle they finally seized the realm-heaven. That realm-heaven had even nearly condensed a Fruit of Destiny before being severed by the True Lords; only the Child of Destiny chosen by the realm-heaven managed to escape.

And that Child of Destiny was 【Suo Huan】.

Since then, he had wandered the seas, constantly hunting disciples from the four great powers who ventured overseas; most believed he was attempting revenge.

Yet True Person Miaoyin knew the truth was otherwise.

This cultivator from beyond the heavens sought something far greater; hunting the disciples of the four great powers was not for revenge, but for 【Harvesting Qi】! For ascending the throne and seeking Gold!

After all, if one speaks of the essence of this world, the disciples of the four great powers certainly rank among the best; especially the Foundation Establishment True Persons of the four great powers—even a lone cultivator like Senior Wu Cang could not deny possessed some talent, making them perfectly suitable targets for 【Harvesting Qi】.

If Senior Wu Cang was already like this, let alone Lu Yang.

After all, the name of 【Duanmu Yuan Tu】 was now somewhat famous overseas, and the infamy of publicly surpassing the Yushu Jiange Immortal Maiden was spreading rapidly.

Therefore, Suo Huan quickly reacted.

Yet he showed no sign of being swayed; instead, his face wore an expression of wariness:

"You mean that True Person Yuan Tu? He previously caused quite a stir overseas; I almost went over there. This one is not to be touched."

The "stir" Suo Huan mentioned naturally referred to Lu Yang's fishing expedition overseas; under the influence of the world's killing intent, Suo Huan, who was also overseas at the time, almost went over. Since there was no karmic entanglement between him and Lu Yang, he did not truly enter the fray; otherwise, he would have perished by now.

"Rest assured."

Seeing this, True Person Miaoyin hurriedly said, "You saw the previous battle among the True Lords. True Person Feixue suffered grave injuries and is about to seal his cave heaven to recuperate."

"By then, he will have no True Lord backing him."

"Besides, the greater the risk, the higher the reward."

Speaking thus, True Person Miaoyin's tone gained a touch of temptation:

"Killing just one person, Yuan Tu, will surely allow your 【Spirit Ruins Blessed Land】 to complete the Harvesting of Qi. At that time, when you seek Gold, there will be hope for reviving your realm-heaven!"

"..."

True Person Miaoyin's words plunged Suo Huan on the other side of the mirror into deep thought; the 【Spirit Ruins Blessed Land】 she mentioned was his greatest reliance while roaming the seas.

This was because the 【Spirit Ruins Blessed Land】 was the seed condensed by the realm-heaven he once belonged to just before its death; it was the embryo of the realm-heaven's Fruit of Destiny. Since escaping with his life, he had always sought to use the method of Harvesting Qi to help the 【Spirit Ruins Blessed Land】 swallow a Fruit of Destiny from this world.

In this way, not only would his former realm-heaven, his homeland, be revived.

His cultivation would also rise accordingly; not only would he achieve the position of True Lord, but he would also gain a realm-heaven as his Dao field, leaping to become a leader among True Lords.

"This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity; you should understand."

True Person Miaoyin felt she knew Suo Huan's thoughts well; after all, Suo Huan had killed so many inland cultivators, and the spiritual materials and treasures he obtained had to be fenced if he could not use them.

And she was one of Suo Huan's fencing channels.

Thus, the two had been dealing with each other secretly for a long time and knew each other inside out; otherwise, True Person Miaoyin would not have chosen to approach him.

"How about it?"

True Person Miaoyin spoke again; this time, Suo Huan finally responded: "When kindness is offered without cause, it is either treachery or theft. Daoist Friend Miaoyin, what do you want this time?"

"I want you to protect me during my Tribulation Crossing!"

True Person Miaoyin said in a deep voice: "I have already reached the peak of the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment; I have found the Cheng Tian Gang and the Earthly Fiends; I only lack certainty in the final step of crossing the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation."

"I only ask you to open the 【Spirit Ruins】 Blessed Land to let me cross the tribulation within it, thereby weakening the power of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation. As for the damage to your Blessed Land, I will naturally compensate you with Yuan Tu afterward. With his talent, the Qi harvested after striking him down will be enough to make up for all your losses."

"Moreover, if I break through, I can join you in killing Yuan Tu."

True Person Miaoyin presented her bargaining chips; Suo Huan heard this and pondered for a moment, then shook his head: "..." "Kill Yuan Tu first, then you may enter the Blessed Land."

"Agreed!"

This was also within True Person Miaoyin's expectations, so she nodded decisively: "Then we shall kill Yuan Tu first, but I require you to sign a Heart-Syncing Dao Pact with me."

"Only thus can we ensure no one will break the vow."

"As it should be."

Suo Huan nodded without refusing; only then did True Person Miaoyin show a relaxed expression. She shifted the topic, and a bright smile appeared on her face:

"Speaking of transactions... how much longer must we wait for our previous transaction?"

"A single 【Heavenly Water Kan-Union Treasure Pill】; the corresponding spiritual materials are not easy to find. I entrusted you to seek them for me overseas. After so many years, do you have any leads?"

Hearing this, Suo Huan also smiled: "How coincidental."

"Daoist Friend's letter this time could not have been more timely. I have been watching a target for a long time; he fits your requirements perfectly. Calculating the time, he should be entering the trap soon."

"Oh?"

True Person Miaoyin was stunned by her words; the next second, the other side of the mirror suddenly became violently blurred, clearly waves caused by a burst of spiritual energy.

"..." "Indeed, he has come!"

Soon, Suo Huan's slightly cheerful laughter came from the mirror; the next second, Suo Huan turned the mirror, revealing a magnificent formation whose light shot straight into the sky.

The formation resembled a glaring cover, suppressing a vast sea area entirely beneath it. The originally surging seawater, once caught within it, instantly became as solid as earth and stone; even the greatest divine arts could hardly stir up waves. Truly, it was a formation specifically designed to counter the Water element.

The next second—

"Aaaah!"

A surging dragon's roar rose from beneath the sea surface; then, waves exploded, and from them leaped the towering, mountain-like body of a True Dragon.

That True Dragon was none other than the mid-stage Foundation Establishment Dragon King, Chui Ying, who had previously been attracted by Master Chongguang's 【Cave Sun Blessed Land】, thus traveling far inland. Previously, it had joined hands with Lu Yang to repel Ye Guyue, and in doing so, had taken half a portion of 【Yin Yin Long Shui】 from Lu Yang's hands.

But now, its appearance was utterly wretched.

It had thought that by going inland this time, seizing half of the 【Yin Yin Long Shui】, and refining it into pills, its cultivation and Dao attainment would surely improve greatly.

Who would have expected the result to be falling into a trap.

Thinking this, Chong Ying immediately opened his bloodied maw and let out a thunderous roar:

"Suo Huan! You dare set an array to trap me!?"

Upon hearing this, Suo Huan smiled faintly, holding his treasure mirror to transmit live imagery to True Person Miao Yin, while lightly flicking his sleeve and stepping into the great array.

"Friend Chong Ying, you are mistaken."

"I have dwelled here beyond the seas for over six hundred years; you have met me many times. Could it be you still do not know my ways?"

"What do I dare not do?"

His smiling words carried a chilling dread that even Chong Ying's furious roar faltered, sensing the icy killing intent in Suo Huan's tone.

(End of Chapter)