Chapter 34

In the Fuyun Mountain Range, several Xiaoyao Sect cultivators dressed in gray Daoist robes were standing by the side of the pool where Song Qingming had escaped several months ago, observing the movement inside the pool.

Among them, a white-bearded Daoist holding a horsetail whisk with his hair coiled in a Daoist bun looked unremarkable in appearance, yet his body occasionally emitted a faint pressure of spiritual power. He was impressively a powerhouse whose cultivation had already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment.

Behind the white-bearded Daoist, there were two Foundation Establishment cultivators—one man and one woman—and seven or eight Qi Refining stage cultivators who had been carefully following behind him, looking at the center of the calm pool.

Before long, at a spot in the center of the pool, ripples of water surged, and a Foundation Establishment cultivator dressed in the same gray Daoist robe slowly surfaced from the water. His entire body was wrapped in a deep blue light shield, and not even a single thread of his clothing had been touched by the pool water.

The magic robes and Daoist robes worn by the low-level Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect when they went out had a unified color and style. Qi Refining disciples were all in white, while Foundation Establishment disciples wore gray Daoist robes.

"Tian Zhong, the investigation is complete. There is indeed a second-tier mid-quality Black-Feathered Python in this pool, right in the cave at the bottom of the pool. However, the passages inside this cave extend in all directions, and fighting underwater might be somewhat disadvantageous for us. Should we lure it up later before we make a move?"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator in the pool said respectfully to the leading white-bearded cultivator on the shore. Although he was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator within the Xiaoyao Sect, he had only broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage not long ago, and his cultivation was only at the second layer of Foundation Establishment. In front of this Foundation Establishment expert who had been famous in the sect for a long time, he still kept a very low profile.

This Tian Zhong at the peak of Foundation Establishment before him, whose real name was Tian Qinghu, was one of the veteran Foundation Establishment cultivators whose cultivation and divine abilities ranked in the top ten among the more than two hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Xiaoyao Sect. He had always been deeply respected by the low-level Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples within the sect and was also the leader of this sect mission.

The Xiaoyao Sect had dominated the State of Wei for thousands of years. Now, the sect not only possessed a Supreme Elder who had already advanced to the Nascent Soul stage many years ago, but also nine Jin Dan Elders, over two hundred Foundation Establishment powerhouses, and the number of Qi Refining disciples was as high as ten thousand.

Cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment like Tian Qinghu were among the most powerful people in the sect, apart from the Nascent Soul ancestor and the nine Jin Dan Elders.

Tian Qinghu had attempted to form a core twice in succession, but unfortunately, both failed. Although his magic power and cultivation had advanced to the False Core realm at the peak of Foundation Establishment, for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he was already at the advanced age of one hundred and ninety. Although there was still a glimmer of hope for forming a core, his remaining lifespan was not much. If he couldn't form a core within twenty or thirty years, his path of cultivation would only be able to stop at the Foundation Establishment realm.

"Very well, Junior Brother Wei, you've worked hard."

Tian Qinghu nodded after hearing this. He first turned around and glanced at a Qi Refining disciple not far behind him, then said with a faint expression to a Foundation Establishment fellow disciple beside him: "Junior Brother Li, what do you think?"

A handsome young cultivator behind Tian Qinghu was clearly somewhat dissatisfied with the caution of the second-layer Foundation Establishment Junior Brother Wei just now, and couldn't help but speak up:

"For this mission, we have a total of four Foundation Establishment cultivators, and with Tian Zhong, a powerhouse at the peak of Foundation Establishment, presiding over us, dealing with a mere second-tier mid-quality Black-Feathered Python is not something that can be easily taken? Junior Brother Wei is somewhat overthinking it. I ask several fellow brothers to help me guard the formation while I go and slay this monster."

This handsome Foundation Establishment cultivator was a personal disciple of a Jin Dan ancestor of the Xiaoyao Sect. Although he was only at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment, relying on the two refined magic tools bestowed by his master, he was already no weaker than an average late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator within the sect. Dealing with a second-tier mid-quality monster beast was not something he took seriously, nor did he want others to help.

This person's name was Li Yungong. Early on, as soon as he joined the Xiaoyao Sect, he was taken under the tutelage of a Jin Dan Elder in the sect and became a direct-line disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect. His spiritual root aptitude was very outstanding, and he was only sixty-something years old, yet he was already at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment.

As a core Foundation Establishment disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect, Li Yungong had always been deeply favored by his master, and his future path of cultivation was limitless. He could be considered one of the few Foundation Establishment disciples in the sect who could impact the Jin Dan realm in the future.

Although he had been at the Foundation Establishment stage for some time, Li Yungong had always lacked experience in going out to gain experience. Since he was taken under the tutelage of that Jin Dan ancestor, from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment, he had never lacked cultivation resources. Under his master's guidance, he had been cultivating smoothly and step-by-step for decades.

In the sect, Li Yungong usually spent most of his time in closed-door cultivation and rarely went out to execute sect missions. This time, having finally begged his master for an opportunity to go out and gain experience, he was somewhat eager to show off his abilities in front of several fellow disciples, so as to gain some face for his master.

A green-clad woman beside him saw that Li Yungong was somewhat reckless and was just about to speak out to stop him, but unexpectedly, the leader Tian Qinghu laughed out loud and said to Li Yungong: "Since Junior Brother Li has the heart to perform meritorious service for the sect, I, as your Senior Brother, will naturally not hinder you. Junior Brother, go and meet this monster first. If it doesn't work out, we will naturally take action to assist."

Seeing this, Li Yungong was secretly delighted. He bowed to Tian Qinghu, then revealed a white flying sword and plunged into the pool. Before long, a violent sound of magic fighting erupted from the bottom of the pool.

The green-clad woman looked at Tian Qinghu and said with some worry: "Tian Zhong, why didn't you stop Junior Brother Li just now? If there are other dangers in this pool, and something happens to Junior Brother Li, how will we explain it to Uncle-Master Jin when we go back?"

"Junior Sister Cheng, rest assured. I have already investigated this pool just now. There is indeed only one Black-Feathered Python down there. Moreover, Junior Brother Li has deeply inherited the true teachings of Uncle-Master Jin. With his divine abilities, what other dangers could there be? Besides, before we set off, Uncle-Master Jin also gave me instructions to let Junior Brother Li gain more experience. I am also acting in accordance with Uncle-Master's orders." Tian Qinghu said with a faint expression.

"Tian Zhong is right. Since someone is doing the work for us, we might as well save our strength, so as not to make people feel that we are stealing his limelight." The Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Wei beside them also began to mock after hearing Tian Qinghu's words, clearly seeing that Tian Qinghu had the intention of wanting to watch from the sidelines.

The green-clad woman looked at Tian Qinghu but didn't say anything else. She flew alone to the top of the pool, somewhat lost in thought, wanting to take a closer look at the movement below the pool.

Below the pool, there was a flash of swords and shadows, and from time to time, there came the sound of magic tools colliding.

Half an hour later, by the pool, Li Yungong stood by the pool with a look of pride, holding the huge black head of the Black-Feathered Python in one hand and throwing it to the ground. In the pool behind him, a seven or eight-zhang-long python body was floating in the center of the pool, and the blood had almost dyed the entire pool red.

Several white-clad Qi Refining Xiaoyao Sect disciples by the pool hurriedly stepped forward to help Li Yungong collect the python head.

Tian Qinghu greeted him with a smile, "Junior Brother Li is worthy of being a personal disciple of Uncle-Master Jin. The Heavenly Fire Startling Thunder Art divine ability is indeed extraordinary. To slay this Black-Feathered Python so cleanly and neatly, you have truly worked hard, Junior Brother Li. Next, I ask Junior Sister Cheng to go down with us to transplant the Water Spirit Fruit tree."

Tian Qinghu rolled up the Qi Refining disciple he had glanced at earlier, led the other three Foundation Establishment cultivators, flew into the air above the pool, and several of them released their protective shield light and plunged into the pool.

Before long, the group arrived at the monster beast cave at the bottom of the pool. Tian Qinghu looked at the pile of white bones deep in the cave and asked the Qi Refining disciple: "What is your name again?"

That white-clad disciple replied somewhat fearfully: "Reporting to Senior Uncle Tian, dis... disciple, Du Yucheng."

(End of chapter)