Chapter 683: Unlike Ning Zhuo, You Must Stand Firm

Rock Cave Dwelling.

Yu Weiye sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, cultivating with a calm heart.

Suddenly, his skin flashed with five-colored halos, changing irregularly between red, yellow, green, white, and black, his aura extremely unstable,

sometimes violent, sometimes withered.

His brows furrowed, his whole body sweating, gritting his teeth to stabilize the violent magic power in his body.

Finally, his persistence was rewarded.

With a muffled grunt, he spat out a small mouthful of blood and slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a breath of turbid air.

After adjusting his breath for a long while, someone reported outside the door: "Master, the matter has been handled. That newcomer chose twelve medium-grade spirit stones, and under my urging, moved out of the Stone Spring Cave Dwelling on the spot."

"Hmm." Yu Heya forced himself to lift his qi and nodded slightly, "The Flying Cloud Assembly is imminent, and similar situations may still occur. You are responsible for this matter; don't let any extra idle people rent cave dwellings here. I want to be quiet!"

"Understood, Master." The sound of the Foundation Establishment cultivator's footsteps leaving came from outside the door.

Yu Heya then exhaled a breath of turbid air, his whole person becoming withered and unbearable.

As for who the newcomer he ordered to be expelled was, he didn't care at all.

Being able to rent a cave dwelling here meant there were no connections in the Myriad Phenomena Sect. And a small Foundation Establishment youth, what strength could he have?

Indeed, there were many Foundation Establishment geniuses who could cross levels to fight Golden Cores. But could he encounter such a genius?

This possibility was too low.

Besides, would a genius cultivator bow his head so easily just for these twelve medium-grade spirit stones?

For the vast majority of cultivators, moving out of a cave dwelling could earn a sum of money, so why not do it?

Yu Heya soon threw this trivial matter to the back of his mind.

Drunken Immortal Residence.

Top-floor private room.

The round table made of thousand-year koi wood was as bright as a mirror, faintly emitting a woody fragrance that calmed the mind and spirit.

Shen Xi sat in the main seat, his slender fingers unconsciously rubbing the edge of the warm jade cup. His cousin Su Lingkou looked out the window, her eyes agile, attracted by a large group of flying shuttle races.

It was night, and these flying shuttles carried cultivators, each emitting colorful brilliance, rapidly rounding corners between mountain peaks,

agile and extraordinary.

Sitting opposite the two was a young cultivator.

He wore a dark green long robe with gold thread trim. His facial features were distinct, his eyes peaceful and deep, like a deep valley with ancient trees.

His surname was Lin, and his name was Jinglong.

He glanced out the window and said with a smile: "Still remember that Brother Situ also loved such competitions in his early years. Every time, his flying shuttle rushed to the front, like a meteor piercing the night sky."

Shen Xi was also drawn into memories: "According to the time, Brother Situ is also arriving soon."

"When I was in the Jiugong Xiancheng, I had already corresponded with Fellow Daoist Situ and chatted about the alliance. It happened that you were in seclusion, so now, we can also discuss it first."

Lin Jinglong nodded, and without waiting for Shen Xi to continue, he answered in advance: "This Flying Cloud Assembly, wind and clouds will gather, and all cultivators in the Flying Cloud Kingdom, as long as they have the heart and strength, will gather here to strive for the opportunity to join the Myriad Phenomena Sect at a high position."

"Although we three are talented and outstanding among our peers, if we fight alone, there is a risk."

"Alliance is inevitable!"

Shen Xi smiled; Lin Jinglong's response was not beyond his expectations.

Su Lingkou retracted her gaze and took the opportunity to flatter Lin Jinglong.

Lin Jinglong picked up the jade cup and took a sip of spirit tea: "But to accomplish things, gathering momentum is first. I, you, and Situ Xing can be the core. Besides this, we still need more arms."

"After all, the tasks in the Flying Cloud Assembly are all accumulated by the Myriad Phenomena Sect, which can be described as strange and varied. Uniting more talents will make it more likely to solve the most tasks as soon as possible."

"I came north this time, and there are twenty-eight people following me, all reliable people. Among them, three are in the late Foundation Establishment stage, five in the middle stage, eight in the early stage,

and the rest are also elites at the peak of Qi Condensation."

Shen Xi leaned back in his chair and looked at Su Lingkou sitting beside him: "Lingkou is my closest relative and is willing to follow me. As for others, I didn't bring them."

Lin Jinglong: "Every family has its own difficult scripture to read. The Shen family indeed needs to fully sit in the Jiugong Xiancheng."

Shen Xi tapped his fingertips lightly on the smooth table: "However, I have already noticed a talent. This person is named Unlike Ning Zhuo."

Just at this moment, the door of the private room was pushed open silently, and a youth with an aloof air stepped in.

His silver hair was like a waterfall, his dark blue Dharma robe flashed with starlight, his nose bridge was high, and his eyes were long and narrow: "Brother Shen, Brother Lin, sorry for the wait."

Shen Xi nodded, full of smiles: "It's good that Brother Situ has come."

Situ Xing sat down: "Just outside the door, I heard Brother Shen mention Unlike Ning Zhuo?"

"Ever since you wrote to me, thinking highly of this person and wanting to invite him to join us, I have sent people to investigate him."

"Just this evening, he had just rented a cave dwelling when he was driven out."

"Oh?" A trace of surprise flashed in Shen Xi's eyes.

Situ Xing said: "The Golden Core cultivator Yu Heya of the Rock Cave Dwelling started building his team several years ago to make a big splash in this Flying Cloud Assembly."

"He drove away many cultivators who rented cave dwellings near him, and Unlike Ning Zhuo is the most recent example."

"Yu Heya sent people to give Unlike Ning Zhuo ten medium-grade spirit stones, and he obediently moved away."

"With such a state of mind, how can he be in the same group as us?"

Lin Jinglong remained silent and looked at Shen Xi.

Shen Xi's brows furrowed; this news was beyond his expectations, and he couldn't help but fall into deep thought.

Su Lingkou hurriedly shook the Dharma artifact bell and urged: "Shopkeeper, serve the dishes."

Several attendants immediately filed in and presented the delicacies to the table one by one.

There was Golden Feather Sparrow Tongue Soup.

In the fine white porcelain cup, the soup was clear and golden, like melted sunlight; the sparrow tongues floating in it were as fine and tender as jade; just smelling the fragrance made one feel the spirit power in the body begin to actively grow.

There was Ice Soul Silver Scale Fish.

A strange spirit fish taken from the depths of a ten-thousand-zhang cold pool, its whole body was covered in silver scales, and it was instantly locked in its freshest moment by the most superior ice-system magic technique.

Under the fish body was a hundred-year mysterious ice, and the slices of fish were as thin as cicada wings, crystal clear, and as the cold air swirled, it seemed as if ice crystals were flowing in the texture of the fish meat.

There was also Colorful Spirit Treasure Rice.

The spirit rice itself was divided into three colors—Red Glow Rice, Mysterious Jade Geng, and Green Cloud Grain, each grain as full as a treasure pearl. It was steamed in a special spirit tripod with dozens of types of spirit spring water and topped with steam from top-grade spirit stones. The rice grains were distinct in color, the spirit qi was nitrogen-filled, and colorful mist swirled on it like substance.

Lin Jinglong savored the Colorful Spirit Treasure Rice. The flood of spirit power brought by the spirit food was gentle and massive, continuous. After a long while, he sighed sincerely: "It is worthy of being the Drunken Immortal Residence. This level of spirit food cannot be supported by anything but a top-tier great sect."

Su Lingkou praised the Golden Feather Sparrow Tongue Soup endlessly: "It melts in the mouth, thoughts turn into birds, spiritual sense is like electricity, truly wonderful."

Situ Xing ate the most Ice Soul fish slices. Every slice of fish, as long as it was put into the mouth, the ultimate freshness and coldness exploded on the tip of the tongue instantly,

while bringing the diner an ice-cold and refreshing taste experience, it also increased the soul foundation.

"Ice Soul Silver Fish, cold but not harmful. This plate of spirit food increased my soul foundation by fifteen years!"

Situ Xing looked at Shen Xi: "This time, I have troubled Brother Shen to spend money, haha."

Shen Xi smiled, first said a few polite words, and then mentioned Unlike Ning Zhuo again, expressing: He thought highly of this person, and there might be hidden circumstances.

Situ Xing sneered: "Brother Shen, you know my temperament. I, Situ Xing, hate stupidity the most and look down on weaklings who don't know their own limits the most."

"I started breathing qi at seven, starlight surged between breaths, and I broke through to the third layer of Qi Condensation at nine—at that time, mediocre people were still identifying meridians."

"I only spent one hundred and forty days cultivating the top-tier cultivation technique 'Divine Sea Star Sword Introduction I' to cast the Dao foundation."

"I observed the star tracks at night and refined the essence and soul during the day; by the age of sixteen, spirit and qi merged, and the treasure medicine in the middle Dantian grew like a galaxy spraying!"

"At twenty-one, my divine sea produced the Star-Drawing Talisman of Divine Intent. Now at twenty-eight, I have already become a Void Core."

Situ Xing scanned Su Lingkou, his gaze paused on the faces of Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong: "Only the strong are worthy of standing side by side with me! Only elites are worthy of traveling with me. Some who don't even pass the test of state of mind and can't get on the stage should not come to climb and attach themselves at will, making me feel disgusted."

Shen Xi remained silent, and the atmosphere became awkward again.

This time, Su Lingkou also felt Situ Xing's contempt and couldn't help but be a bit angry.

Lin Jinglong saw this, gave a bitter smile, and took the initiative to interject: "What Brother Situ said is not wrong; Unlike Ning Zhuo's retreat indeed shows weakness. However, this Yu Heya is not an ordinary Golden Core."

"This person has Golden Core late-stage cultivation and specializes in the 'Reverse Five Elements Demon Technique,' with outstanding combat power. Once, he was recognized as the cultivator with the most hope of obtaining the sect's true disciple status."

"Now, his lifespan is about to end, and he has long been accumulating strength, waiting for this Flying Cloud Assembly to strive for the last opportunity of his life."

"Unlike Ning Zhuo is only at Foundation Establishment; facing such an old monster who has accumulated for years, and the other party is using power to suppress people and spirit stones to open the way, not a life-and-death struggle—choosing to temporarily avoid the edge is also within reason."

Situ Xing sneered: "So what if it's Golden Core? So what if it's the 'Reverse Five Elements Demon Technique'? If he dares to occupy it, I dare to draw my sword! Even if I am not his match, I have to try the quality of this Golden Core cultivator! Let him know that Foundation Establishment cultivators are not to be kneaded at will!"

"Without even this bit of courage and blood, how can one compete in the Shura field of the Flying Cloud Assembly? How is he worthy of Brother Shen looking at him differently, and how is he worthy of being in the same group as us?"

Shen Xi shook his head: "Brother Situ is as heroic and sharp as ever. But please forgive me for being blunt, among Foundation Establishment realms, how many can face a late-stage Golden Core head-on?"

"Those who can do this step, like the three of us, which one is not favored by heaven and earth, one in ten thousand?"

Lin Jinglong nodded: "The Jiugong Xiancheng is one of the top five great cities in the Flying Cloud Kingdom, but in the past sixty years, there has only been one such genius as Brother Shen Xi who can fight a Golden Core in the Foundation Establishment stage."

"Cultivators like us are indeed rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns."

Situ Xing sneered and stopped refuting: "Suit yourselves. But if it were the candidate I chose, there would absolutely be no such cowardly act!"

"Also."

"The three of us are joining forces, but we have to distinguish who is superior and who is first."

"In my opinion, after eating this meal, let's take advantage of the night and go to the Martial Arts Hall to have a good competition!"

The attention of Shen Xi and Lin Jinglong was immediately attracted.

Both of them had long been filled with fighting intent.

The three competed until the second morning.

At the time of parting, Lin Jinglong instructed: "According to the conventional rules of the Myriad Phenomena Sect, the three of us joining forces, besides recruiting troops and buying horses, must also establish a mountain head and include all the cave dwellings on this mountain peak."

"Only by showing such strength can we make others have the idea of joining."

"That Yu Heya did exactly this."

Situ Xing nodded: "I will go and scout for mountain peaks and contact you by flying letter in time."

He won the first place in the competition and was in high spirits, his sword light like starlight, piercing through the sky and leaving in an instant.

Lin Jinglong and Shen Xi cupped their fists and said goodbye.

Su Lingkou took her cousin's arm and said indignantly: "It was clearly you who let him, Cousin, and that Situ Xing really thought he won first place? Hmph!"

Shen Xi shook his head: "His combat power in a head-on fight is indeed outstanding. If I want to fully exert my strength, I must set up a formation in advance."

"Losing to him is also my plan."

"I am going to use his sharp sword to cut through thorns and ride the wind and waves."

"Not just me, Lin Jinglong also has this plan. I can also feel that he held back too."

Su Lingkou's eyes lit up: "So, you and Lin Jinglong drawing was also intentional?"

Shen Xi's brows furrowed slightly, sighed, and admitted: "Neither of us wanted the position of leader, but both were interested in the second place."

"After competing, we both found that we had to take out more hole cards to have a chance to win. But in this way, it would be too much."

"So, Lin and I stopped at the same time without prior agreement."

At this time, a flying letter drifted over and fell into Shen Xi's hand.

Shen Xi opened the letter and smiled, then handed it to Su Lingkou: "Let's go, let's go see Fellow Daoist Unlike Ning Zhuo."

Su Lingkou saw the information in the letter, which only mentioned Unlike Ning Zhuo's current position, and asked in confusion: "Cousin, why do you still want to see this outsider? Situ Xing has clearly expressed dissatisfaction with Unlike Ning Zhuo, why do we have to offend our relationship with Situ Xing to recruit an outsider?"

"After all, he is already our leader now."

Shen Xi: "I don't think Unlike Ning Zhuo is a person who retreats easily."

"And do you think that Situ Xing belittling Unlike Ning Zhuo the moment they met was just because he loathed Unlike Ning Zhuo's act of retreating?"

Su Lingkou: "Ah?"

Shen Xi's gaze was deep: "He is using the way of beating Unlike Ning Zhuo to suppress my prestige. After all, in the last confrontation, he didn't break through my siege formation at the agreed time."

"If I give up on Unlike Ning Zhuo easily now, this point is more likely to become a reason for him to suppress me in this temporary alliance in the future."

Su Lingkou said "Ah" again, and couldn't help but be a bit anxious: "Then what should we do?"

Shen Xi showed a smile: "Go, perhaps we can give our friend a little help."

Su Lingkou, after Shen Xi's guidance, already understood the situation.

Where there are people, there is a world.

The alliance between friends must also have high and low distinctions. Moreover, the relationship between Shen, Lin, and Situ was originally based on competition, with friendship as a supplement.

Unlike Ning Zhuo had become a key point in the power game between Situ Xing and Shen Xi.

Su Lingkou said worriedly: "Sigh, I hope Unlike Ning Zhuo can stand firm." ===== CHAPTER 684 =====