Chapter 177: Trouble at Black Wind Ridge

The cyan lotus phantom appeared above the Danyuan for a full hour before it slowly vanished.

At this moment, Xu Chen also had two crimson, jade-like Spirit Pills in his hand.

According to the formula, these were two top-grade first-tier Spirit Pills, but the Spirit Qi they radiated and the hazy white light swirling on their surfaces made it clear to him that these pills had reached at least the mid-to-high level of the second tier.

The infusion of white mist into the pills was not as simple as merely refining Spirit Medicine; it could also greatly enhance the potential and grade of the pills.

Although he could not yet judge whether these two Spirit Pills truly achieved the effect of Heqi Pills, judging by their aura, they were several times stronger than the first furnace of Guiyuan Pills; even if they were not quite as good as genuine Heqi Pills, he believed they were not far off, and if an ordinary cultivator used them for Foundation Establishment, there was still a sixty or seventy percent chance of success.

This level of Foundation Establishment Pill was something that even Yuqing Hall could absolutely not produce at the moment.

This was no longer a matter of pill-refining technique, but a matter of method.

Others could not learn it even if they wanted to; in the whole world, perhaps he was the only one who knew how.

With these two Heqi Pills, the hope for Thirteenth Senior Sister to achieve Foundation Establishment should be much greater.

Xu Chen put away the Spirit Pills and the Pill Furnace, shook his head with a faint, bitter smile, and stood up.

Even now, he still held great doubts about whether Zhao Xuan could successfully achieve Foundation Establishment.

Because the body transformed by the white mist had been strengthened to a degree that even he had no mental preparation for.

Zhao Xuan's physical strength was at least three times higher than those in the same realm, so the difficulty during the breakthrough process would also be at least three times greater; even with genuine Heqi Pills, with these factors offsetting each other, the success rate of this Foundation Establishment was reduced to only about ten or twenty percent.

But regardless, this was the greatest effort he could make at the moment.

Whether it succeeds or not, everything depends on luck.

Xu Chen instructed Su Zhao to look after the Danyuan, then went to the Dao Courtyard of his Master, Xuanhe Zhenren, to report the situation of refining the two furnaces of Foundation Establishment Pills today.

After seeing the two furnaces of pills, Xuanhe Zhenren was both surprised and delighted, sighing with emotion: "That you could refine Spirit Pills of such quality truly surprises this Daoist. It seems that when the Third Elder took you into the Danyuan, he truly did not misjudge your aptitude. With the Danyuan handed over to you in the future, I can finally be completely at ease."

Xu Chen could not help but smile bitterly: "Master, this disciple does not wish to stay in the Danyuan refining pills every day."

Xuanhe Zhenren laughed: "At your age, it is indeed a bit difficult for you. However, the Taiyuan Sect has no manpower at the moment, so you can only hold the fort for now. When the Third Elder achieves Golden Core and leaves seclusion, I will remind him to recruit a few good seedlings from the foot of the mountain to cultivate; after a few years, you will be able to be much more relaxed."

Xu Chen could only nod in agreement, then said: "Master, Su Zhao was brought to the sect after I discovered him by chance while descending the mountain. He has not yet apprenticed to any Senior Brother or Senior Sister, and leaving him to his own devices like this is not ideal. Today, he wishes to take me as his master, so this disciple has come to ask for Master's instruction on how to arrange this matter."

Xuanhe Zhenren waved his hand indifferently: "You are already in the Zhenyuan Realm now, so make your own decisions regarding taking on disciples. However, since he has entered our sect, some sect rules must still be followed. Although Su Zhao's aptitude is ordinary, his nature is simple and he is quite clever; you should guide him with more care in your daily life, and he will be a helper if he stays in the Danyuan."

Xu Chen then breathed a sigh of relief and said: "Then this disciple will wait until Thirteenth Senior Sister achieves Foundation Establishment before bringing him to pay respects to Master, to establish the master-disciple relationship first. If there is anything I cannot teach well in the future, I ask Master for more guidance."

Xuanhe Zhenren laughed heartily: "You are already thinking of being lazy before even taking on a disciple. Very well, once the master-disciple relationship is established, I will naturally help you keep an eye on him."

Speaking of this, Xuanhe Zhenren also seemed to have his old face flush slightly.

Xu Chen's achievements today actually had basically nothing to do with him as a master.

Even his own success in achieving Golden Core was largely thanks to this cheap disciple he had picked up at random.

Thus, this serendipity is everywhere; every drink and every peck has its cause and effect.

It seems that this is the true rule of the Heavenly Dao.

Therefore, while blushing, Xuanhe Zhenren felt his own state of mind suddenly gain a trace of clarity and enlightenment.

Afterward, Xu Chen went to Zhao Xuan's Dao Courtyard to give her the two newly refined Heqi Pills. However, just as Xu Chen was carefully explaining the points to note during the Foundation Establishment process to her, two streaks of Escape Light arrived almost simultaneously and landed in the courtyard.

The arrivals were two "transparent" Senior Brother and Senior Sister of the Taiyuan Sect.

Eighth Senior Brother Fang Yun and Tenth Senior Sister Lin Yuyao.

Compared to the other Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who were usually quite active and often had exchanges and interactions with Xu Chen, the personalities of the Eighth Senior Brother and Tenth Senior Sister were much more indifferent, even to the point of being taciturn. They were like two shadows of the Taiyuan Sect, spending most of their time alone, and their figures were rarely seen.

In fact, the Taiyuan Sect had an even more eccentric fellow, which was the Twelfth Senior Brother Zhu Shengbai, who was completely like a ghost. He only appeared during major sect events or lively group activities; on ordinary days, the chances of Xu Chen seeing him were simply few and far between.

"Eighth Senior Brother, Tenth Senior Sister, why have you come?" Xu Chen and Zhao Xuan were both surprised and stood up to greet them.

Eighth Senior Brother's face turned a bit red, and he stammered for a moment before saying: "Little Junior Brother is now in charge of the Danyuan, and Tenth Junior Sister and I have both recently felt that we are about to achieve Foundation Establishment, so... so we have come to ask Junior Brother to help refine two Foundation Establishment Pills."

Upon hearing this, Xu Chen immediately laughed: "It just so happens that I was preparing to visit Senior Brother and Senior Sister in a while. I just refined two furnaces of Foundation Establishment Pills in the Danyuan, but the success rate was not high, yielding only five pills; you both happen to have some."

As he spoke, Xu Chen took out a pill bottle, poured out two enhanced Guiyuan Pills, gave one to each, and handed the remaining one, along with the bottle, to Eighth Senior Brother, saying: "There is still one left in the bottle; I trouble Eighth Senior Brother to help me deliver it to Twelfth Senior Brother. I haven't seen him for a long time."

The two were overjoyed to see the rich-aura Spirit Pills, but they were not good with words, so they stood there with red faces for a long time before bowing together and saying: "Many thanks, Junior Brother! This kindness will never be forgotten!"

Xu Chen hurriedly waved his hand: "We are all our own people, why the need for thanks? I hope these two Spirit Pills can help Senior Brother and Senior Sister successfully achieve Foundation Establishment. That way, all our Taiyuan Sect peers will have successfully advanced, and we will have more confidence when we go out to rob others in the future."

Zhao Xuan chuckled and covered her mouth, chiding: "You only think about robbing every day; are you trying to turn everyone into bandits?"

Xu Chen said righteously: "Isn't that the case? I was such a pure person before; it was all Senior Sister and Jiu Shixiong who corrupted me."

Zhao Xuan lightly punched him and said: "Nonsense, I was corrupted by Jiu Shixiong myself."

Just as the two were joking and laughing, a Divine Sense suddenly swept across. A moment later, a streak of Escape Light crashed into the courtyard with a boom. Jiu Shixiong, with disheveled hair, rushed in as if being chased by dogs and said urgently: "It's bad, hurry to Black Wind Ridge, something has happened."

All four were shocked, and Xu Chen asked urgently: "What happened?"

"The Five Elements Array at Black Wind Ridge suddenly vibrated and spewed out a large amount of Black Mist. A large group of Soul Beasts rushed out, causing many casualties among the cultivators due to the lack of preparation. Yiyun Zhenren has been severely injured, and seven or eight outer sect disciples from Wild Wolf Valley, including Song Qingshi, have gone missing..."

"Truly?!" Xu Chen was so surprised he almost jumped up.

Jiu Shixiong said urgently: "What time is it now? Would I joke with you? You few go first, I still have to report to the Sect Leader!"

After saying this, Jiu Shixiong turned and rushed out of the room, soaring into the sky toward the Dao Courtyard of Xuanhe Zhenren.

Zhao Xuan and the others hurried to leave, but Xu Chen stopped them and said: "Senior Brother and Senior Sister, do not be anxious. You are both only in the Kaiyuan Realm, and you are at the critical juncture of Foundation Establishment, so do not go for now. I will ride the Spirit Sparrow to take a look first."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Xuan stopped and said: "That is fine. Our current realm is indeed a bit low, and we wouldn't be of much help if we went. Little Junior Brother, go first; if there is a need, send a message to me immediately!"

"Good!" Xu Chen did not delay, nodded, and walked to the center of the courtyard, raising his hand to release a Spirit Talisman. Not long after, a long bird cry came from afar, and in a moment, a giant seven-colored bird flew above the Dao Courtyard.

Xu Chen soared into the sky, threw a Spirit Pill into the bird's open beak, and then the man and bird vanished in the blink of an eye.

Not long after, Xuanhe Zhenren also flew on his sword toward Black Wind Ridge, and at the same time, a voice sounded in the ears of all inner and outer sect disciples of the Taiyuan Sect: "A change has occurred at Black Wind Ridge. All disciples are to remain at the sect and must not leave lightly."

From the Taiyuan Sect to Black Wind Ridge, the straight-line distance is nearly four hundred miles.

If it were before, it would have taken Xu Chen about two hours to arrive, but now, riding the Third-Tier Spirit Sparrow and flying at full speed with wings spread, he arrived in one hour.

At this moment, the core area of Black Wind Ridge was constantly shaking, and a large amount of Black Mist was crazily spewing out from the opening of the Five Elements Array. Within a hundred miles, the light and shadow of the array were constantly trembling and shaking, and the fluctuations of Spirit Qi stirred up sounds like mountain-toppling waves.

A large number of Soul Beasts, mixed in the Black Wind, were continuously rushing out from the opening, roaring and rampaging within the array. There were all kinds of strange shapes, and surprisingly, the number of flying Soul Beasts was quite large, accounting for at least one-third of the scale.

These flying Soul Beasts were the most difficult variety of all Soul Beasts to kill.

"Roar-ang~~"

In the center of the great array, amidst the churning Black Wind, a low roar was extremely distinct, causing one's mind and spirit to tremble upon hearing it.

And the location from which the roar came was also the area where the great array vibrated most noticeably; it was clearly a Soul Beast of extremely formidable strength.

At this moment, inside the great array, streaks of Escape Light were flying rapidly outward everywhere; some cultivators were suddenly attacked by Soul Beasts appearing from the black mist while flying, those with high strength could still protect themselves, fighting with all their might to repel the Soul Beasts and finally escape the great array successfully, but there were still some with weak strength who were directly entangled by Soul Beasts, and after a few booms and flashes of spiritual light, they completely vanished without a trace.

"Help!"

"Run!"

"Ah~ Senior Brother, save me!"

Inside and outside the Black Wind Ridge great array, streaks of Escape Light and successive screams and cries for help could be seen and heard everywhere, and the scene was in complete chaos.

A group of Disciples from Yuqing Hall were at this moment carrying the heavily wounded Yiyun Zhenren and retreating in a panic toward the outer perimeter of the great array, while the entire great array shook violently amidst the tremors and whistling, looking precarious and on the verge of collapse at any moment.

When Xu Chen arrived at Black Wind Ridge, the scene was already completely out of control.

A large number of cultivators had already fled to dozens of miles beyond the edge of the great array, each one pale-faced and terrified, while many others had torn Daoist robes and disheveled hair, and some had even lost their Magic Treasure, all gazing toward the center of the great array like startled birds and beasts.

(End of this chapter)