Chapter 276: Farewell, Golden Core

"Sister Ximen has returned too. Good, I'll head to the law-ship right away." Wang Yu smiled upon hearing this and spoke without hesitation, then bowed and took his leave.

Wan Shan watched Wang Yu's retreating figure and thought this younger brother Wang was truly inscrutable—he'd now even drawn the attention of the Toad Ancestor. Clearly, this leg to cling to must be held tight.

Wang Yu rose into the air and flew low toward a massive law-ship of the Four Symbols Sect, no more than a few li from the encampment.

In moments, he arrived above the law-ship and descended directly onto its forward deck.

Along the deck's perimeter stood rows of armored spearmen—over thirty in total, each broad-shouldered and towering, radiating a cold aura that warned all to keep their distance.

Guardian Force Warriors!

Wang Yu instantly recognized the origin of these towering armored men.

Yet these Guardian Force Warriors seemed to have cultivated only the first or second level of the Black Tiger Breathing Method; most hadn't even managed to absorb the lethal qi into their bodies, and no cultivation energy radiated from them—they appeared to be mere physical cultivators.

But the uniform yellow armor and silver long spears they carried seemed to be notable entry-grade law-artifacts, likely specially forged by the Four Symbols Sect for these Guardian Force Warriors.

Yet where had these warriors come from?

When the sect departed, there had been no such unit accompanying them.

As Wang Yu pondered this, a middle-aged armored warrior approached, sized him up briefly, then asked with a blank expression:

"Who are you? This is the Toad Ancestor's law-ship. No disciple of the sect may approach without the Ancestor's permission."

"I am Wang Yu, summoned here by Sister Ximen," Wang Yu replied, bowing slightly.

The middle-aged warrior's skin bore faint, flickering black patterns—clearly he had absorbed lethal qi, and it was the Four Symbols Sect's other lethal qi: Black Wind Poison.

He must be the commander of these armored men.

"Ah, Brother Wang. The Lady already instructed me: if you came, bring you straight to her," the middle-aged warrior said, finally showing a faint smile.

"Then I am in your hands," Wang Yu said, slightly startled by the title "Lady," yet still bowed in thanks.

The middle-aged armored warrior led the way, heading straight toward a higher level of the law-ship.

Along the way, aside from patrolling armored men, he encountered not a single other cultivator.

Only when Wang Yu was brought before a certain chamber did the middle-aged warrior bow deeply toward the door and say respectfully:

"Lady, Brother Wang has arrived."

"Brother Wang is here? Let him in!" came a young woman's joyful voice from within.

At this, the middle-aged warrior opened the door, stepped back several paces, and bowed slightly.

Wang Yu, seeing this, walked in without ceremony.

A gentle breeze passed, and the door closed on its own.

The middle-aged warrior, seeing this, left without hesitation.

"Sister Ximen, why do you look like this?"

As soon as Wang Yu entered, he saw a young woman half-reclining on the bed, her face as pale as paper, dark veins threading her brow, her entire body weak and haggard.

Before her floated a pale yellow talisman, emitting a greenish aura that enveloped the surrounding space.

"Struck by a third-grade law-artifact? To survive at all thanks to the talisman-grant my ancestor gave me—what more can I ask for?"

"Now I think back, you were wise to leave early, not lingering in that ruin—if you'd met that man, you'd surely be dead." Ximen Mei, upon seeing Wang Yu, studied him briefly before replying with a complex expression.

"Third-grade law-artifact?"

Wang Yu instantly thought of the thunder-ruler in the old monk's hand.

Ximen Mei mistook the reason for his shock and gave a bitter, sorrowful smile before continuing:

"Yes—who could have imagined that a third-grade law-artifact would appear in a secret realm that even Foundation Establishment cultivators were barred from? So surviving this time is already lucky. I owe my life to my ancestor, who immediately borrowed this third-grade talisman from another Golden Core Ancestor—otherwise, my cultivation would have been severely damaged."

"Third-grade law-artifacts are beyond our imagining. Sister, to escape such a blow is truly a stroke of fortune amid misfortune," Wang Yu said, seeing her condition, offering only these few words of comfort.

"I survived this time, but paid a heavy price—even my ancestor's toad… never mind. Regardless, the original goal of this journey has been achieved. Is the box of Blood Essence Mushrooms still with you?"

"The item you entrusted to me, I've guarded carefully—I brought it," Wang Yu replied without hesitation, slapping his waist pouch, producing a box in his hand, and handing it over.

"Thank you, Brother Wang. I won't forget my promise. Come with me now—I'll take you to meet my ancestor."

"While I present the Blood Essence Mushrooms and he's in good spirits, your matter might actually stand a chance." Ximen Mei took the box, glanced inside, and finally wore an excited expression.

"Then I'm in your hands, Sister."

Wang Yu, overjoyed, readily agreed.

Aside from that one time when the Fire Ancestor inexplicably received him via his statue-form, this was his first real chance to meet a third-grade cultivator of this world—his heart thudded with excitement.

Ximen Mei carefully stored the box, then opened her mouth and inhaled the floating third-grade talisman directly into her body. Instantly, her pale face regained some color, her eyes gleamed with vitality, and she rose from the bed as if fully restored.

"Sister, this is…"

Wang Yu, startled, blurted out.

"It's nothing. I used a secret method passed down by my ancestor to temporarily absorb this third-grade talisman into my body—it lets me move normally for now." Ximen Mei gave a brief explanation, then stepped out the door.

Wang Yu followed closely behind, arriving before a grand hall on the highest level of the law-ship.

On either side of the hall's entrance stood two armored warriors each, standing rigidly. Seeing Ximen Mei and Wang Yu approach, they didn't blink, nor did they make any move to block them.

Before Ximen Mei could step through the hall's door, a hoarse voice rang out from within:

"Mei'er, why aren't you resting and healing in your room? Again?"

"That third-grade Regeneration Talisman on your body took me no small effort to beg from that old fool Guangfa."

The Toad Ancestor's voice carried authority, yet faintly held a touch of indulgence toward Ximen Mei.

"Grandfather, the Brother Wang I mentioned before has arrived—and the Blood Essence Mushrooms are intact. I brought him to pay his respects to you." Ximen Mei paused at the threshold, smiled faintly, and replied.

"The Blood Essence Mushrooms are here? Good, very good. Both of you, enter." The Toad Ancestor replied without hesitation.