Chapter 1329: Chapter 688: Yong’an (Part 2)

Gu Sheng revealed a bitter smile.

"Even if you’re cultivating the Sun Cultivation Path, I can’t give it to you. That thing will dissipate at most three months after leaving Golden Crow Mountain. Recreate a Golden Crow Mountain? Unless you have the resources and Array Masters like Qinghe Holy Land."

While the two were speaking, a sudden intense tremor came from afar, causing the entire cave to shake, rocks incessantly falling from the ceiling.

"Not good! They’ve discovered us!"

Gu Sheng’s expression changed dramatically.

"Let’s go quickly!"

Meanwhile, several hundred miles away by a swift river, three Taoists were standing on the bank talking.

The elder in the lead held a Green Bamboo Fishing Pole, the fishing line extending deep into the rushing river water, motionless.

"Brother Yong’an, do you really not know about those two disciples?"

Luomu Taoist asked with a frown, eyes full of puzzlement.

Daoist Yong’an did not turn his head, his voice flat.

"I never gave them any Magical Treasures, nor do I know how they could enter the depths of Golden Crow Mountain to cultivate. Did you make a mistake?"

Hong Yun couldn’t help but interject.

"Uncle, those two claimed to be your disciples, holding your Token to enter the core area of Golden Crow Mountain. This matter has already spread throughout the whole Holy Land."

Daoist Yong’an then turned around, revealing a wrinkled yet vibrant face.

"Oh? When did I take these two disciples?"

Luomu Taoist and Hong Yun exchanged a glance, the former spoke.

"According to Hong Yun, these two have never been seen in the Holy Land and are quite unfamiliar."

"New disciples, it’s normal for you to not recognize them."

Daoist Yong’an said casually, refocusing on the fishing pole.

Hong Yun’s eyes bore a peculiar look.

"Uncle, new disciples are usually under thirty years old. But that Gu Sheng looks just twenty, yet his cultivation has already reached the Heavenly Palace Realm, which is extremely rare among new disciples."

Daoist Yong’an’s hand with the fishing pole paused slightly.

"Heavenly Palace Realm? You must be mistaken. I personally inspected their cultivation, and it’s merely the Earth Palace Stage."

"Disciple saw with his own eyes, there’s no mistake."

Hong Yun spoke emphatically.

"When Gu Sheng made a move, his presence was overwhelming, Spiritual Power solid like mercury, definitely of Heavenly Palace Realm cultivation. That Ling Xiao is not simple either; although I haven’t seen him make a move, being able to enter the depths of Golden Crow Mountain to cultivate, he can’t be ordinary."

Daoist Yong’an finally put down the fishing pole, turned to face the two, and furrowed his brows.

"This is indeed strange. If it is as you say, how did they evade my investigation?"

Luomu Taoist pondered.

"Unless... they possess an Exotic Treasure that conceals their cultivation, or..."

"Or their cultivation far exceeds brother’s imagination."

Hong Yun interjected with a glow of excitement in his eyes.

"Uncle, disciple believes this matter is no small matter. Those two could sneak into the core of Golden Crow Mountain unnoticed and disguise their cultivation to evade your discerning eye, they must harbor astonishing secrets!"

Daoist Yong’an was silent for a moment, suddenly asked.

"Are they still at Golden Crow Mountain?"

Hong Yun nodded.

"Should be still there. Before leaving, I specially instructed the guards to keep an eye on their movements."

"Let’s go, take a look at Golden Crow Mountain."

Daoist Yong’an gathered up the fishing pole, eyes gleaming with light.

"If it is truly as you say, these two may not have good intentions."

Hong Yun couldn’t hide his excitement.

"Uncle is wise! I have a hunch that we might be fishing a big catch this time!"

Luomu Taoist, however, showed a worried look.

"Brother, should we inform the Sect Leader and other elders first? Just in case..."

"No need."

Daoist Yong’an waved his hand.

"Understand the situation first before making decisions. If it’s truly a misunderstanding, causing a commotion would be counterproductive."

The three transformed into three streams of light, rushing toward Golden Crow Mountain.

At the top of Golden Crow Mountain, the rolling heat waves of magma suddenly lessened a bit.

Mi Yingzong was sitting cross-legged on a reddish rock, his brows tightly furrowed.

The Nine Yang Body Tempering Technique he was cultivating had reached a critical juncture, his pores all over greedily absorbing the unique Ultimate Yang Qi of Golden Crow Mountain.

Yet today, for some unknown reason, the usually surging Yang Qi had become thin.

"Strange..."

Mi Yingzong ended his cultivation and stood up.

He reached out to touch the rock wall that was originally hot enough to burn ordinary cultivators, now its temperature had dropped by more than thirty percent.

In the distance, several fellow disciples also ceased their cultivation and stared at each other in confusion.

"Senior brother Mi, did you notice an anomaly with the Yang Qi?"

A tall and thin disciple wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked.

Mi Yingzong did not respond immediately, but closed his eyes to sense for a moment, and suddenly his face changed drastically.

"Something’s wrong! The fluctuation of Yang Qi at the core of Golden Crow Mountain has weakened by at least fifty percent!"

Upon hearing this, the surrounding disciples were in an uproar.

Golden Crow Mountain, as one of the three major cultivation grounds in Qinghe Holy Land, relies entirely on the Supreme Treasure "Heavenly Fire Red Lotus Pearl" buried at the mountain’s base for maintenance.

This pearl is an Emperor-level Magical Artifact brought out by the Holy Master from the Nine Nether Secret Realm three hundred years ago. It contains Pure Yang Origin and, combined with the top Array Masters of the Holy Land who laid down a great Array, has created this Body Refining Holy Land.

Mi Yingzong could not bother to explain, his figure transformed into a crimson rainbow, heading straight for the depths of the mountain’s belly.

The deeper he went, the more dense and complex the Array patterns on the rock walls became, but these patterns that used to glow with a golden-red light were now dimmed somewhat.

"Indeed, there’s a problem!"

Passing through the last natural magma barrier, Mi Yingzong arrived at a hemispherical cave.

The temperature here was astonishingly high, and ordinary cultivators approaching would be reduced to ashes, but even he felt the temperature was not like before.

In the center of the cave, a lotus-shaped stone platform stood silently. Mi Yingzong’s heart raced like a drum, he dashed forward to the stone platform—

The central groove of the stone platform was empty!

"The Heavenly Fire Red Lotus Pearl... is gone?!"

Mi Yingzong’s legs went weak, and he almost fell to his knees.

He forced himself to examine it closely and found several fresh sword marks on the edge of the groove, clearly marks from being pried with a sharp tool.

"It’s over... all over..."

Mi Yingzong’s face turned ashen, rushing out of the cave.

...

Inside the Elder Hall, beneath the dome supported by twelve Dragon Coiling Pillars, seven elders were discussing the sect’s grand competition for next month.

Suddenly, the hall doors were violently flung open.

"Report, report to the elders!"

Mi Yingzong stumbled in, his voice trembling terribly.

"Golden Crow Mountain... the Heavenly Fire Red Lotus Pearl... is gone!"

"What?!"

The Second Elder abruptly stood up from his seat, the jade scroll in his hand shattered into powder.

This elder, with hair and beard as white as snow, emanated a terrifying pressure that caused the entire hall to tremble.

"Speak clearly!"

Mi Yingzong was pressed down by the pressure, kneeling on the cold floor tiles.

"Disciple, disciple discovered the Yang Qi anomaly at Golden Crow Mountain and went to investigate... discovered the groove holding the Red Lotus Pearl was empty, with sword marks on the edge..."

"Bastard!"

The Second Elder was furious, his sleeves moving without wind.

The other six elders’ expressions also changed, three of them directly transformed into flowing lights and dashed out of the hall.

Within less than half a quarter of an hour, the entire Qinghe Holy Land was stirred.

Dozens of powerful auras rose from various locations, flying together toward Golden Crow Mountain. The Mountain Protection Array automatically activated, prohibiting anyone from entering or exiting.

Inside the cave at Golden Crow Mountain, the Second Elder’s face was dark as water.

He lightly touched the sword marks on the groove’s edge with his fingertips, cold light flashing in his eyes.

"This was done by a Sword Cultivator, and... they used the Green Blade Sword Technique of Qinghe Holy Land."

"How is that possible?"

The Third Elder exclaimed.

"Apart from us old guys, the only others who can enter here are..."

"Investigate! Who has visited Golden Crow Mountain recently?"

The Second Elder barked sharply.

Mi Yingzong nervously stepped forward.

"Reporting to Elder, in the past half-month, only... only Daoist Yong’an’s disciple Gu Sheng has been here.

He just left yesterday, in a... in a hurry."

The atmosphere in the hall instantly froze.

"Yong’an..."

The Second Elder squinted his eyes.

"Issue a command!"

The Second Elder’s voice was as cold as eternal ice.

"Immediately recall Daoist Yong’an! Also, seal all exits, activate the Heaven and Earth Net Array; not a single fly is allowed to escape!"

...

Three thousand miles away, above a nameless mountain range.

Daoist Yong’an wielded a sword with one arm, his Divine Sense sweeping over the forests below.

His expression was stern, but his eyes held a hint of anxiety.

"Where could that little bastard be hiding..."

Suddenly, the jade pendant at his waist emitted a dazzling red light.

Daoist Yong’an’s expression changed, he crushed the jade pendant, and the urgent voice of a deacon from the Spirit Communication Hall was heard from within.