Chapter 208: Golden Core Divine Sense, Nowhere to Hide

Not long after entering the territory of the New Nation.

Ten thousand miles of overcast clouds covered the sky, and swirling snowflakes fell; at the same time, Bai Qianfeng and Qin Ruoning, who were flying at high altitude, also discovered a border city.

Because the map obtained from the Sha'e interpreter was marked in Sha'e script, Bai Qianfeng was just about to descend to ask for directions again, but was stopped by Qin Ruoning:

"Fellow Daoist Bai, let me go instead."

Although Bai Qianfeng did not agree, he still smiled and said:

"Very well, as Fellow Daoist Qin says, I will wait for you here."

Qin Ruoning nodded, then concealed her figure and descended from the high altitude.

At this moment, it was the dead of winter, the weather was freezing cold, and swirling snowflakes fell from the sky.

Outside this city, border troops were stationed, and from time to time, sounds of dense explosions rang out. Qin Ruoning, who had intended to descend into the city, was immediately attracted by this commotion, and she paused above the military camp, scanning with her gaze.

Immediately, she saw that in an open space outside the military camp, many wooden targets were set up far away, and dozens of soldiers were lined up holding firearms more than a hundred paces away, conducting live-fire training.

Bang bang bang bang bang—

Squads of soldiers stepped forward one after another, aiming their firearms, and then flames burst from the muzzles; amidst the dense gunfire, holes suddenly burst open in the wooden targets in the distance.

In the current era, firearms were far superior to the past in terms of rate of fire, range, and accuracy, and the old single-shot antiques of the past had long been completely eliminated; what were used now were all more perfected machine guns, and even the firepower of a single person with a single gun appeared very fierce.

When the shooting was finished, soldiers ran over to retrieve the wooden targets and record the scores. Among the records, some of the soldiers below were clearly performing poorly and were dejected, while others were high-spirited and arrogant. Qin Ruoning frowned as she looked at the weapons in their hands, lost in thought.

At this time, high in the sky, Bai Qianfeng also heard the commotion and used a technique to conceal his figure, descending to Qin Ruoning's side, clicking his tongue in wonder:

"Interesting, this should be firearms, right? But I observe that their firearms are clearly far more formidable than the firearms of mortals in the Upper Realm; this power looks like it is enough to pose a threat to Qi Refining stage cultivators."

No sooner had he finished speaking than earth-shattering loud noises and roars came from another direction in the distance. The two of them raised their eyebrows in unison and flew over, and immediately discovered that the loud noises just now came from a mine.

They saw many people in the mine wearing helmets, busily setting up something, and as they finished setting it up and lit the fuse, the mountain body of the mine suddenly collapsed with a roar, which could be called a landslide and ground rupture.

"The things they set up can actually blow up a mountain peak; this is already the power of a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator striking with all their might."

Qin Ruoning's expression became even more solemn:

"With this kind of power, let alone Qi Refining stage, even a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator would be seriously injured or perish if they were not careful. So, can mundane gunpowder also have such power?"

Bai Qianfeng's eyes flickered slightly:

"The power of their firearms is indeed somewhat beyond expectations. The key is that it requires no cultivation at all, and mortals can make and use them. If the method of making their firearms and gunpowder were passed to the Upper Realm, perhaps it could be of no small help in resisting the Corpse Tide."

In the Upper Realm, Yuanling Heaven, there naturally existed gunpowder and firearms, and these also came from the inventions of mortals.

However, because Qi Refiners ruled the world, the gunpowder and firearms among the mortals were relatively primitive and backward, and their power and destructive force could not be compared to what they were seeing now in any aspect.

This was also the reason why two dignified Golden Core Real Persons both felt a little surprised.

"Fellow Daoist Bai is right. If we have this method of making gunpowder and firearms, the pressure on the Immortal Cities in each region to resist the Corpse Tide will surely be reduced significantly."

"After we see that Lu Yuan, we can ask for this method and pass it to the Upper Realm."

Qin Ruoning felt that this trip was not in vain, and as she spoke, she turned back to the military camp outside the city, and with a little effort, she found a map.

According to the markings on the map, they were only three or four thousand miles away from Tianjing. The two of them traversed the sky, and after only an hour, they saw a particularly magnificent and grand city sitting on the vast earth.

It was indeed Tianjing.

They already knew that Lu Yuan was cultivating on Xiantai Mountain outside Tianjing City, so they did not enter the city, but went straight to the sky above the Dao Palace on Xiantai Mountain, looking down from afar.

Looking down at the Dao Palace below, Bai Qianfeng said with a playful expression:

"In the Upper Realm, one must at least reach the Golden Core cultivation level to be qualified to establish a sect, yet this Lu Yuan, a mere Foundation Establishment stage, can be supported by a whole world in this Lower Realm; his days are truly too comfortable. Compared to him, although we are Golden Core Real Persons, we have to patrol various places and resist the Corpse Tide, often facing various dangers, and if we are not careful, we face the danger of perishing. How arduous it is."

"Indeed."

Qin Ruoning said with a calm expression:

"However, Fellow Daoist Bai, although this person is a Lower Realm cultivator, he is also a fellow practitioner. We should prioritize a gentle approach and try our best not to stir up conflict. What do you think?"

Bai Qianfeng laughed dismissively:

"That depends on whether this person is sensible and cooperative."

As his voice fell, his figure was the first to fly straight down, landing in front of the Dao Palace without any concealment.

At this moment, there were scattered disciples and servants on the mountain doing the work of clearing snow. When they discovered light descending from the high sky, they thought it was Lu Yuan, who had been missing for several years, returning, and immediately shouted excitedly:

"The Heavenly Master has returned, the Heavenly Master has returned!!"

Chen Zhantang, who was meditating in the side hall, opened his eyes abruptly upon hearing the commotion and rushed out of the hall. As a result, at a glance, he saw two rays of immortal light descending one after another onto the Dao Palace square. After identifying them slightly, he was shocked in his heart:

"Who are you?"

Qin Ruoning spoke first, her voice clear and moving:

"We are fellow practitioners of Fellow Daoist Lu Yuan. We have come here today specifically to pay a visit. I wonder if he is currently here?"

Fellow practitioners?

Although the two people in front of him had restrained auras, their temperament and the way they had just descended from the sky clearly indicated that they were cultivators just like his master, Lu Yuan.

oc〇

Even looking at the two, Chen Zhantang vaguely felt that their auras were thicker than high mountains and deeper than the sea, which could be called unfathomable!

Like a sheep facing a lion or tiger, the alarm bells in Chen Zhantang's heart rang. Although he was full of suspicion, he said calmly on the surface:

"My master has left the Dao Palace since four years ago, traveling the world to experience the mortal realm, and has not yet returned. You two claim to be fellow practitioners of my master; may I ask where you come from?"

"You are his disciple?"

Bai Qianfeng looked down at Chen Zhantang from a high position and frowned:

"Mid-stage Qi Refining, so-so. We come from the same place as him, and we have come to visit with important matters to discuss. Do you know where he is now?"

The same place?

Lu Yuan's origin was a mystery, and even Chen Zhantang did not know much. Seeing Bai Qianfeng say this, he immediately felt confused:

"I do not know where my master is either, but before he left, he once said that he would return within three to five years at most. I wonder what important matters you two are referring to?"

Although these two people who appeared out of thin air were filled with an aura of mystery inside and out, he did not think in the direction of the Ladder to Heaven or the Qi Refiners of the Upper Realm.

After all, Lu Yuan had once said that the Heavenly Ladder would take a hundred years to repair, and half a year ago, he had checked the Great Evolution Mending Heaven Array and it was as usual, so based on the two's claims, he really thought the other party had some secret connection with Lu Yuan.

Qin Ruoning said softly, "We are not at liberty to disclose the specific important matter before we have seen your Master. Besides waiting, did your Master not leave you any Communication Artifacts like Sound Transmission Talismans?"

"Sound Transmission Talismans, Communication Artifacts?"

Chen Zhantang shook his head repeatedly:

"Master never left such things behind. Would the two of you like to stay in the guest rooms at the foot of the mountain for now and wait for him to return?" Bai Qianfeng and Qin Ruoning frowned slightly; on the surface they were considering, but in reality, they were communicating via Divine Sense:

"This person's words do not seem feigned. Waiting for that Lu Yuan to return would take a year or half a year, which seems somewhat troublesome. After all, this world is an Absolute Spirit World; you and I can only rely on Pills to replenish our Dharma Power. Waiting too long might lead to complications."

"How does Fellow Daoist Bai suggest we proceed?"

"Waiting idly will likely not work. Since this person is traveling the world, why not employ some methods to force him to return sooner?"

"I wonder what methods Fellow Daoist Bai intends to employ?"

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Qin will know in a few days."

The two's exchange of Divine Sense took only a blink or two, and then they looked at Chen Zhantang:

"Very well, since that is the case, we shall impose upon you for a while at the foot of the mountain until your Master returns."

Chen Zhantang immediately cupped his hands and performed the etiquette of a junior:

"I shall make arrangements for the two seniors right away."

Immediately, he summoned the chore disciples, personally led the two down the mountain, and arranged for them to stay in the two best guest rooms with courtyards.

Once the arrangements were settled, Chen Zhantang respectfully took his leave and returned to the mountain, where several disciples he had personally taught greeted him with faces full of wonder:

"Senior Brother, who were those two people, and how were they able to fly?"

"Could it be that they are also disciples Master took in while outside?"

"That's not right, they look older than Master, and how could newly accepted disciples learn to fly so quickly?"

Facing the curious questions of his junior brothers and sisters, Chen Zhantang darkened his face and flicked his sleeve:

"Have you finished your lessons? Making such a racket here! Those two are Master's guests; you are not to discuss them recklessly. Everyone, go back and cultivate!"

Chen Zhantang's authority on Xiantai Mountain was second only to Lu Yuan; under his reprimand, the junior brothers and sisters immediately shrank their necks and scattered in a flurry.

Afterward, Chen Zhantang looked toward the guest rooms at the foot of the mountain, frowned, and then went to a small room in the side hall of the Dao Palace and dialed the Telephone on the desk.

That's right, although it felt somewhat incongruous, it was indeed a wired Dial Telephone.

As early as twenty-some years ago, the Telephone had already come into existence, but at that time, what the Western Powers used was the Hand-cranked Telephone.

But as of today, the New Nation was changing with each passing day, developing prosperously, and countless talents had emerged. They not only understood the technical principles of the Telephone but also innovated, improving the Hand-cranked Telephone into the Dial Telephone, making connections faster and more convenient.

Although the Telephone was still a rare item and had not yet become common in every household, networks had been laid between the Council and various local government agencies. Even many wealthy families in various places were following the trend, spending huge sums of money to install Telephones in their own homes to show off their status.

The one in the Dao Palace on Xiantai Mountain was installed to facilitate direct communication between the Dao Palace, the Heavenly Master Mansion, and the Council.

Seeing Chen Zhantang dial the phone, he then spoke:

"Shuhua, has your Heavenly Master Mansion received any news of Master recently?"

On the phone, Zhao Shuhua's voice sounded quite surprised:

"No. Ever since Master appeared in Jinjin four years ago, no one has seen him. The old man might be at some remote corner of the world where no human tracks are found. Why do you ask?"

Chen Zhantang said in a deep voice: "Just now, two mysterious figures came to Xiantai Mountain looking for Master. They are also Qi Refining cultivators, and their cultivation might not be lower than Master's."

"What?"

Zhao Shuhua's voice became extremely astonished:

"How is that possible? In the land of Shenzhou and even the whole world, Master is the only living Immortal. How could two figures comparable to him suddenly emerge?"

Chen Zhantang said: "The facts are as such. These two claim to be fellow practitioners from the same place as Master. I cannot determine if what they say is true or false, or if they have malicious intent, so I wanted to notify Master in advance so he can be prepared."

Zhao Shuhua replied gravely:

"Very well, I will mobilize the disciples of the Heavenly Master Mansion now and notify the local governments to search for Master's tracks. I will notify you the moment there is news!"

Chen Zhantang: "Then I leave it to you."

At the same time the two were talking.

Far away in the courtyard of the guest rooms at the foot of the mountain.

Bai Qianfeng and Qin Ruoning sat in a pavilion drinking tea and admiring the snow, yet playful smiles appeared on their faces:

"Without using any Dharma Power, relying only on a strange machine to talk to people far away—this method is not much different from the Sound Transmission Talismans we cultivators use. The wisdom of these mortals in the lower realm is truly becoming more and more surprising."

"Indeed."

Qin Ruoning also said faintly:

"It is now certain that not only this Chen Zhantang, but others also do not know Lu Yuan's whereabouts. It seems we can only wait for a while."

As Golden Core Cultivators, although it was difficult to replenish Dharma Power in this Absolute Spirit World and casting spells would be subject to various influences, their formidable Divine Sense was almost unrestricted.

The Divine Sense of a Golden Core Stage cultivator is powerful; even at the early Golden Core Stage, one can scan a radius of ten miles in an instant, and every movement is as clear as looking at the palm of one's hand.

Therefore, even at the foot of the mountain, with just a movement of their Divine Sense, they could monitor the entire Xiantai Mountain, including Chen Zhantang in the side hall communicating with the Heavenly Master Mansion via Telephone, all completely exposed to their Divine Sense investigation without him knowing.

However, Chen Zhantang, with his one or two hundred wisps of Dharma Power cultivation, was equivalent to a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator in their eyes; the gap in levels between the two sides was vast, so naturally, he could not sense their Divine Sense investigation.

"Also."

Bai Qianfeng narrowed his eyes again and said:

"Has Fellow Daoist Qin noticed that Chen Zhantang's Dharma Power aura seems different from ours? And in the quiet room, the Breathing and Meditation Technique practiced by those young disciples looks clearly very profound, distinct from the techniques we practice; it must also have been taught by that Lu Yuan."

Upon hearing this, Qin Ruoning's gaze shifted. Under her Divine Sense search, she instantly swept over the few young disciples in the quiet room who were in Zen Meditation Sitting and practicing breathing, then said in astonishment:

"This Breathing and Meditation Technique...?"