Chapter 88

Leaving Heiyan City, Lin Xuan did not choose the fastest official post road, but instead, according to the map provided by Yue Qingtian, chose a relatively remote route that could pass through several places where special spirit materials or ruins might exist. He needed time to settle the gains from this trip to the Southern Wasteland, and at the same time, he wanted to understand this vast Tianyuan Imperial Dynasty more deeply.

He still maintained a low profile, his aura restrained at the early-stage Soul Formation, and his appearance was slightly adjusted to become more ordinary, like an ordinary rogue Soul Formation cultivator traveling the world. The technique he used under his feet was not the spirit-consuming "Earth-Shrinking Inch," but the more simple Wind-Riding Technique, his speed neither fast nor slow, enough for him to calmly observe the mountains, rivers, and landscapes along the way, as well as the local customs.

The territory of the Tianyuan Imperial Dynasty was vast, stretching millions of miles from east to west and north to south, with nine provinces and a hundred counties under its jurisdiction. "Yunhuang Province," where Heiyan City was located, was in the west of the Imperial Dynasty, adjacent to the Southern Wasteland, with a fierce folk style, many mountains and dense forests, and relatively violent and thin spiritual energy. And the further east one went, closer to the "Central Province" where the Imperial Capital "Tianyuan City" was located, the terrain became flatter and more open, the spiritual energy became more concentrated and pure, and towns and villages were scattered like stars, with a clearly more prosperous cultivation civilization.

Along the way, Lin Xuan saw scenes completely different from the western frontier. Huge spirit boats traveled between the clouds like floating cities, shuttling between major cities; one could often see cultivator sects occupying spiritual mountains and blessed lands, deploying mountain-protecting arrays that covered dozens of miles, with ten thousand rays of rosy light; some prosperous cultivator gathering points were even larger and more lively than Heiyan City.

He also heard more rumors about "Jin Shisan" and "Lin Xuan." There were many versions, and the more they were spread, the more mysterious they became. Some said Jin Shisan was the reincarnation of an ancient great power, with three heads and six arms, spitting out Chaos energy; some said Lin Xuan was the successor of some hidden holy land, entering the world to train under his master's orders, specializing in killing demons; even more bizarrely, some confused the two and wove even more strange stories. To this, Lin Xuan just smiled and dismissed it.

On this day, he traveled to an area called "Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley" at the junction of Yunhuang Province and the adjacent "Qingmu Province." This place was named after a small monster beast called the "Illusion Light Butterfly," whose scales were an important material for making high-rank illusion talismans. The scenery in the valley was beautiful, with murmuring streams and strange flowers and grasses everywhere, full of spiritual energy, forming a sharp contrast with the ruggedness of the western Cangmang Mountain Range.

Lin Xuan slowed down, just admiring this rare beautiful scenery, when his spiritual sense suddenly moved, and he noticed a violent fluctuation of spiritual power coming from dozens of miles ahead, accompanied by a woman's sharp scolding and the roar of a monster beast.

He originally did not want to meddle in other people's business, but his spiritual sense swept over and found that among the two sides fighting, the side being besieged seemed to be a team of human cultivators, and their situation was precarious. The ones besieging them were not Illusion Light Butterflies, but a group of fierce monster beasts with dark golden fur, shaped like leopards, with a single horn on their foreheads—"Gold-Splitting Leopards," and the leader among them had an aura that had reached the peak of the Fifth Rank (equivalent to late-stage Soul Formation)!

The highest cultivation base in this team was only mid-stage Soul Formation, and they all seemed to be injured, besieged by dozens of Gold-Splitting Leopards that were at least Fourth Rank (Golden Core Stage), and they were already in danger.

Lin Xuan frowned slightly. Gold-Splitting Leopards usually lived near mineral veins rich in metal-attribute spiritual energy. Although they were fierce, they generally would not leave their territory to attack human cultivators on such a large scale and in an organized manner, especially in this Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley, which was dominated by wood-attribute spiritual energy. There must be something strange when things go wrong.

With a thought, his figure approached the battlefield silently.

Deep in the Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley, on a messy open space.

Five cultivators stood back-to-back in a small circle, struggling to resist the tide-like attacks of the Gold-Splitting Leopard group. These five people were three women and two men. Looking at their uniform blue-green tight-fitting clothes, with a sword-shaped logo embroidered on the cuffs with green vines wrapped around it, they should be disciples of some sect.

The leader was a woman with a clear and beautiful face and a cold temperament, holding a long sword like autumn water. The sword light flowed with a chilling coldness, and her cultivation was at the mid-stage Soul Formation. It was she who was facing the Fifth Rank peak Gold-Splitting Leopard King head-on, but she was clearly at a disadvantage. A trace of blood had already overflowed from the corner of her mouth, and the clothes on her left shoulder were torn, leaving several claw marks deep to the bone, and the wound was lingering with the Gold-Shattering Qi that destroyed vitality.

The other two women, one used dual short blades, her movement was agile, and one played a zither, the sound waves disturbing the enemy, their cultivation was at the late-stage Golden Core. The two men, one held a giant shield, the defense was solid, and one pulled a long bow, the arrows like meteors, their cultivation were both peak Golden Core.

They cooperated quite tacitly, obviously acting together for many years, but under the gap of absolute strength and quantity, the protective light shield was already crumbling, and the man holding the shield was even more pale, and the giant shield was covered with deep claw marks.

"Senior Sister! This won't work! This Leopard King is too strong, and these beasts seem to be crazy!" The woman using the dual short blades shouted anxiously, and she also added several wounds on her body.

The cold woman, named Su Lingxue, was an inner-gate elite disciple of the "Qingmu Sword Sect." She gritted her teeth and swung her sword, forcing back a pounce of the Leopard King, her voice carrying a trace of exhaustion and determination: "It was my misjudgment, I didn't expect that there was a Gold-Splitting Leopard King about to break through to the Sixth Rank hidden here! I will hold it back, you find a chance to break out!"

"No! Senior Sister, if we die, we die together!" The woman playing the zither had tears in her eyes, the zither sound suddenly became impassioned, and sound blades slashed toward the surrounding leopard group, but with little effect.

The Gold-Splitting Leopard King seemed to have not low intelligence, seeing that Su Lingxue was the core, it roared, and the dark golden hair all over its body stood up, like metal spikes, the golden light of the single horn condensed to the extreme, and it suddenly shot out a highly condensed golden beam of light that could pierce mountains, heading straight for Su Lingxue's heart!

This strike was fast! Ruthless! Accurate! It contained the Leopard King's lifelong Gold-Shattering Demon Power!

Su Lingxue's face changed suddenly, she could feel the horror of this strike, and in her current state, she would definitely die if she took it head-on! She struggled to block with her sword, and the sword body shone brightly!

"Ice Lotus Protection!"

A huge ice crystal lotus bloomed in front of her.

However, the golden beam of light instantly tore through the ice lotus and slammed into the sword body!

"Clang——!"

A harsh sound of gold and iron clashing rang out, the long sword in Su Lingxue's hand wailed and flew out of her hand, and her whole person was hit hard, spraying a large mouthful of blood, flying backward, and her aura instantly withered.

"Senior Sister!"

The other four disciples were heartbroken and wanted to rescue, but they were tightly entangled by more Gold-Splitting Leopards, and could only watch as the Leopard King's eyes flashed with a cruel light, pouncing on Su Lingxue who had no power to resist again!

Su Lingxue looked at the bloody mouth and sharp claws that were getting closer and closer, and a trace of despair and unwillingness flashed in her eyes.

Just at this critical moment!

A green figure, like a ghost, appeared silently between Su Lingxue and the Leopard King.

The person who came was naturally Lin Xuan.

He didn't even look at the Leopard King that was pouncing, just raised his right hand casually, stretched out his index finger, and pointed lightly at the forehead of the fierce Leopard King.

There was no earth-shattering momentum, no dazzling spiritual light.

Just such a simple, plain finger.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

The Gold-Splitting Leopard King that was pouncing with ten thousand jun of force suddenly froze in mid-air, and its cruel and bloodthirsty eyes were instantly filled with boundless fear and disbelief. It felt that a "Nirvana" force that it could not understand, could not resist, and seemed to originate from the origin of heaven and earth, invaded its head along that finger, instantly annihilated its demon soul, and shattered its vitality!

"Puff..."

A light sound, like a ripe fruit falling to the ground.

The incomparably fierce Gold-Splitting Leopard King, its head harder than refined gold, shattered inch by inch from the inside out like weathered rock, and finally turned into a puff of dark golden dust, drifting in the air. Its huge headless body maintained the posture of pouncing forward, slamming heavily to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Quiet!

Deathly silence!

Not only was the remaining Gold-Splitting Leopard group scared by this weird and terrifying scene to stop attacking, crawling on the ground, making fearful whimpers. Even the four disciples of the Qingmu Sword Sect were all frozen in place, their mouths wide open, looking at the green-robed figure who appeared suddenly and killed the Fifth Rank peak Leopard King with one finger like seeing a ghost.

Su Lingxue sat on the ground, clutching her chest, staring blankly at the back that was not tall but seemed to be able to support the sky, the daze of surviving a disaster and the extreme shock intertwined, making her speechless for a while.

Lin Xuan slowly withdrew his finger, his gaze sweeping calmly over the trembling Gold-Splitting Leopard group. He didn't even release any pressure, but those Gold-Splitting Leopards seemed to have met their natural enemy, whimpering, tucking their tails, and retreating rapidly like a tide, disappearing into the depths of the dense forest in the blink of an eye.

The crisis was thus resolved.

Only then did the four Qingmu Sword Sect disciples come back to their senses, hurriedly rushing to Su Lingxue's side, helping her up, and feeding her elixir to heal her wounds. Their gazes, however, glanced at Lin Xuan with awe from time to time.

Su Lingxue suppressed her churning blood, and with the help of her junior sister, walked to Lin Xuan, bowed deeply, her voice weak but full of gratitude: "Junior Su Lingxue of the Qingmu Sword Sect, many thanks to Senior for your life-saving grace! I don't know Senior's honorable name, we will definitely repay you heavily!"

Lin Xuan turned around, looked at her, and said indifferently: "Just passing by, no need to be polite. Why did you attract the Gold-Splitting Leopard group to besiege you? This place is not where they usually live."

Su Lingxue hurriedly replied: "Returning to Senior, we accepted a sect mission to come here to collect the pupae of the 'Illusion Light Butterfly King.' Unexpectedly, near the nest of the Butterfly King, we discovered a small 'Geng Metal Spirit Marrow' vein that had just been revealed, presumably caused by the movement of the earth vein. Just as we were about to collect it, we disturbed the Gold-Splitting Leopard group that relied on this vein to cultivate..."

Geng Metal Spirit Marrow? Lin Xuan's heart moved. This was a top-grade metal-attribute refining material, which had a miraculous effect on tempering flying swords and improving sharpness. Although it was of no use to him, if the quantity was sufficient, it would be good to exchange for other resources or use it to improve the natal flying sword embryo he obtained from the Mystical Realm that had not been fully refined.

"So that's it." Lin Xuan nodded, "Your injuries are not light, this place is not suitable for staying long, leave as soon as possible."

Su Lingxue hesitated for a moment, but still said: "Senior's life-saving grace, nothing can repay. That Geng Metal Spirit Marrow vein, if it weren't for Senior, we would not only be unable to get it, but I'm afraid our lives would also... Junior is willing to share the information of the vein with Senior, and offer the part of the spirit marrow already collected, to express our heart." She could see that Lin Xuan's strength was unfathomable, and befriending him would definitely be beneficial and harmless.

Lin Xuan looked at her, and was somewhat appreciative of this woman's knowledge of advance and retreat. "Okay. Lead the way."

Under Su Lingxue's guidance, the group soon arrived in front of a hidden mountain wall deep in the Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley. There was a newly cracked gap under the mountain wall, and rich Geng Metal Qi emanated from it. The inside of the gap was not large, but it was indeed pregnant with dozens of drops of Geng Metal Spirit Marrow like liquid gold, flashing with sharp light.

Su Lingxue put the dozen or so drops of spirit marrow they had already collected into a jade bottle, respectfully handed it to Lin Xuan, and detailed the location of the remaining vein.

Lin Xuan was not polite, accepted the jade bottle, swept his spiritual sense over the vein, and remembered its location. These spirit marrows were enough for him to initially temper that natal flying sword embryo.

"Many thanks for this." Lin Xuan said to Su Lingxue, "You should return to the sect to heal your wounds quickly."

"Senior..." Su Lingxue seemed to want to say something else.

Lin Xuan waved his hand, his figure flickered, and he had turned into a green rainbow, disappearing into the distant horizon, coming suddenly and leaving freely.

Su Lingxue looked at the direction he disappeared, lost in thought for a long time, before she withdrew her gaze under the reminder of her junior sister, deeply imprinting that green-robed back in her heart.

"Senior Sister, that Senior is so amazing! What is his name?" The young girl using the dual short blades asked curiously.

Su Lingxue shook her head, a trace of brilliance flashing in her eyes: "I don't know his name, but looking at his demeanor and bearing, he is definitely not a creature of the pond. Perhaps... in the near future, we will hear his name again in the Imperial Capital."

She had a premonition that the light of this mysterious Senior she met today would definitely not be buried in this Yunhuang frontier.

Leaving the Ten Thousand Butterfly Valley, Lin Xuan continued eastward. He found a quiet valley, opened a temporary cave dwelling, and took out the dozen or so drops of Geng Metal Spirit Marrow and the natal flying sword embryo he obtained from the inheritance of the Five Elements Rogue, which he had been nourishing with Chaos spiritual power but had never really refined.

This sword embryo was gray all over, looking unremarkable, but it contained Chaos and could accommodate ten thousand laws. Lin Xuan urged the Chaos Dao Fire to temper and integrate the Geng Metal Spirit Marrow into the sword embryo bit by bit. I saw that on the gray sword embryo, fine golden lines gradually emerged, flowing like blood vessels, the sword body trembled slightly, making a pleasant light sound, the sharp aura was restrained, but it appeared more deep and heavy.

The initial tempering was completed, and the quality of the flying sword was improved by a large margin. Although it had not reached the level of a spirit treasure, it was far superior to ordinary magic treasures. Lin Xuan put it into his dantian and continued to nourish it with the Chaos Dao Seed.

After doing all this, he set off again.

The closer he got to the hinterland of Qingmu Province, the more cultivators he encountered, and the news about the Imperial Capital became more informed. He heard that the Imperial Capital did not seem to be peaceful recently, and the major forces were surging in the dark, seemingly preparing for an upcoming grand event. At the same time, the discussion about "Jin Shisan" and "Lin Xuan" became more intense, and some people even opened a market to bet on whether these two were the same person, and what kind of waves he would stir up if he reached the Imperial Capital.

On this day, he was flying over a vast primeval forest, when suddenly, from the sky far ahead, came a clear and incomparable bird cry that pierced gold and cracked stone!

Immediately after, a terrifying aura that was incomparably hot, as if it could burn everything, swept over like a storm! The distant sky was dyed a gorgeous and dangerous crimson!

Lin Xuan's pupils shrank, he stopped his figure and looked at the crimson sky.

I saw a huge divine bird, extraordinary and spirited, with wings covering the sky, burning with raging green flames all over its body, unfolding an earth-shattering battle with a figure shrouded in hazy starlight!

That divine bird... its shape was like a phoenix, its sound like a flute, and green flames burned the sky!

"Qingluan?!" Lin Xuan was shocked. This was a top-level divine bird with the bloodline of the true spirit phoenix. An adult Qingluan had strength comparable to a Spirit Transformation cultivator!

And the figure fighting with the Qingluan, although shrouded in starlight, could not be seen clearly, but the supernatural powers he/she displayed, inducing the power of the stars in the sky, turned into countless star chains and destructive light beams, with earth-shattering power, actually able to fight the Qingluan to a standstill!

"Star power... such a pure Star Dao..." Lin Xuan's gaze condensed, feeling the Dao rhyme emitted by the starlight figure, which actually felt somewhat homologous to the "Zhou Tian Star Art" he cultivated, but it seemed more complete and more majestic!

This sudden battle, which took place over Qingmu Province and was comparable to the Spirit Transformation level, instantly attracted the attention of all powerful cultivators within a radius of ten thousand miles!

Lin Xuan stood in the void, his sleeves fluttering in the energy storm coming from afar, he stared at the spectacular scene of the collision between the starry sky and the green flames, his eyes deep.

The road to the Imperial Capital, it seems, is much more exciting than he expected.