Chapter 553

After leaving the wine pool and meat forest, Yan Buji continued on his journey to find spiritual materials. Judging by the components he currently needs to forge his armor, most of the spiritual materials on him do not meet the requirements; he needs to find suitable ones to use.

"There's also going to Youming Jie to find spiritual materials, but that's also troublesome." Yan Buji thought it over; initially, for no reason, a mysterious existence from ancient times took notice of him, and then the high priest of the Asura clan even wanted to put him under house arrest, which Yan Buji could not accept.

However, it's strange that the Asura clan's high priest is already so strong; why didn't he stop him from escaping, but instead watched him tear apart the body concerning that mysterious existence and flee.

So Yan Buji still maintains vigilance toward Youming Jie, worrying that even if he goes down there he might still be captured.

"I don't know whether the West Sand River Basin can yield the spiritual materials I need; if I can't find them, I'll really have to make a trip down there." Yan Buji said helplessly.

After all, the armor design is already finished; replacing the Accumulation Device would take too much time, and he still needs to cultivate, preparing to break through to Nascent Soul in his magical power.

These aren't things that can be done overnight; Yan Buji feels that since the plan is set, there's no need to change it on the fly—just take it step by step.

After a period of time.

"Who are you? How dare you barge into the forbidden area of my imperial city!!" Several Nascent Soul Cultivators warily eyed the black‑robed figure who had appeared before them—this person was Yan Buji.

"I've heard that there is an extremely special spiritual material here, but it's not sold externally, so I've come to make a trade with you all."

"That's your excuse for barging into the forbidden area—how bold!"

"But it's a pity—I've already got it, so I won't keep you any longer. Goodbye!"

Yan Buji threw down a bag of spiritual stones and fled using the Instant Movement Technique!

Huh?

Seeing Yan Buji run, the several Nascent Soul Cultivators sensed the spatial fluctuation and gritted their teeth: "Instant Movement Technique?!"

"Just who is that person?!"

"Master, this bag contains two hundred medium‑grade spiritual stones…"

"Damn it, he still can't just barge into the forbidden area! That damned bastard—isn't this slapping us in the face? Pass the order: we must search for that thief's whereabouts!"

As Yan Buji launched his search for spiritual materials, whether he bought them at the market or took them from others' homes, he always paid. Because he also feared provoking the major powers of the West Sand River Basin into an all‑out pursuit; otherwise, his only recourse would be to flee to Youming Jie.

Naturally, as Yan Buji's visits to others' homes for trade increased, the West Sand River Basin gradually spawned the rumor of the "Shadowless Divine Thief." A cultivator who wielded the Instant Movement Technique of the Void Dao came and went like the wind among the major imperial cities, and for a time many who possessed treasures also heightened their vigilance.

Inside the Northwind Imperial City.

Looking at the bag of spiritual stones on the ground, the City Lord of Northwind Imperial City's face darkened, and he slammed the table in anger: "Damned thief! He actually used spiritual stones to humiliate me!"

The guard beside him swallowed, thinking the Shadowless Divine Thief comes and goes without trace; although losing items wasn't what he had in mind, these guards also bear responsibility for the oversight.

Fearing the City Lord's wrath, the guard spoke up: "City Lord, please calm your anger; this thief possesses the Instant Movement Technique of the Void Dao, so unless we summon the temple's masters to act, we can't catch him. But now the masters are all attending the Hundred Temples Buddhist Law Assembly, and even the resident masters dare not easily leave the mountain gate. I think we should ask others to track down the thief's whereabouts."

"Others? Who?"

"I've heard that in the northern part of the Yellow Heaven Desert there isn't a cultivator who knows the heavenly secrets…"

The City Lord furrowed his brow, obviously having heard of him as well: "That Yellow Heaven Superior? A mere Golden Core cultivator—what could he possibly calculate? It's just baseless rumor."

"No!" the guard immediately explained: "This Yellow Heaven Superior has an extraordinary background; he's not like the cultivators of our West Sand River Basin. Moreover, he lives in seclusion, so few actually know his background. It so happens that, during my travels in the Yellow Heaven Desert years ago, I happened to hear that this Yellow Heaven Superior is actually a disciple of the Zhong Tian Zhi Yu's 'Unreckoned Sect.'"

"The Unreckoned Sect?!" the City Lord's face changed: "Isn't that the sect that claims it can reckon neither heaven nor earth, yet can calculate the origins of all cultivators under heaven?"

"Yes, so asking him to calculate the location of a treasure might not work, but finding a person should be fine."

The City Lord's face grew solemn as he pondered: "Then could he agree to leave his seclusion and assist us?"

"He'll likely name a price, but as long as it's not exorbitant, we can completely get the other imperial city lords who were robbed to share the burden; moreover, if we can't find the thief, we wouldn't have to pay."

"If that's the case, then go and invite him out."

"Yes!!"

The guard set out, heading toward the Yellow Heaven Desert.

The Yellow Heaven Desert lies in the northern part of the West Sand River Basin, bordering the North River Ice Domain; daytime temperatures are extremely high, but nighttime temperatures are quite low, making it utterly unsuitable for any living being to survive.

However, there are also some extremely ferocious demonic beasts in the Yellow Heaven Desert; this time the guard went there, and he also hired a local guide to travel deep into the desert in search of the Yellow Heaven Superior's whereabouts.

This person's reputation is great, because even a Golden Core Cultivator would not choose to dwell in the Yellow Heaven Desert—a place of scarce resources, harsh climate, and considerable danger; although he could suffer a loss, he also wouldn't want to seek out hardship.

"Brother, how much farther to Yellow Peak Slope?"

"Not far, just ahead. By the way, do you know that Yellow Heaven Superior, fellow Daoist?"

"I've heard of him; this time I came also to ask for his help."

"Oh, I see."

Following the guide, the guard soon arrived before a hill.

The harsh climate of the Yellow Heaven Desert made one feel quite uncomfortable; under the blazing sun overhead, the guard flew mid‑air, searching for the Yellow Heaven Superior's trace.

After a while, the guard finally discovered a spell array set up beneath a huge boulder and hurriedly flew down.

Standing in the desert, the guard shouted at the array: "Qi Yuan, commander of the Fire Core Imperial City's guards, I request an audience with the Yellow Heaven Superior."

The array opened a door; Qi Yuan entered, passing through a small bridge over flowing water and a lush garden, arriving before a thatched hut.

Before the thatched hut stood a young man, vigorous and amiable in appearance; he clasped his hands and smiled: "Daoist Qi, my humble abode is simple—I won't invite you inside to sit. What brings you here?"

Qi Yuan clasped his hands and said: "Yellow Heaven Daoist, this time I've come mainly because the West Sand River Basin is not very peaceful; a thief is brazenly looting treasures from many imperial cities. Acting on the City Lord's order, I have come specially to invite you, Daoist, to leave your seclusion and help us capture that thief!"

"Oh?"

The Yellow Heaven Superior's face showed surprise, then he pinched his fingers and calculated: "It seems the opponent's strength isn't that great; he merely has a method that lets others neither find nor catch him, which is why he dares to act so recklessly."

"That's right."

"No." the Yellow Heaven Superior shook his head.

Huh?

Qi Yuan stared at him oddly: "Why do you keep contradicting yourself?"

"He doesn't just have those means; he probably also has a way to ensure sufficient strength to escape even after being discovered and besieged. To deal with such a person, the cost would not be small—have you really considered this?"

"Well, you came here precisely to discuss this matter."

The Yellow Heaven Superior furrowed his brow: "All right, but let me say this first: if you cannot follow my commands and my arrangements cause that person to escape, then whatever happens afterward is none of my concern."

"No problem!" Qi Yuan patted his chest in assurance.

Anyway, it's not up to him to decide; first we'll bring the person over and then talk.