HBWnovel Chapter 573: Zhong Qian (I)
Chapter 573: Zhong Qian (I)
Chapter 573: Zhong Qian (I)
After Ning Heyuan finished speaking, the two understood each other's intentions. Li Qinghong then asked about the treasures in the cave dwelling, and Ning Heyuan, hearing her description, replied softly, "I will send someone to investigate right away."
Li Qinghong nodded. Ning Heyuan hesitated for a moment before saying, "Brother-in-law, there is news from the sect."
Li Qinghong, catching the subtle hint, respectfully excused herself and withdrew. Once she was gone, Li Xuanfeng turned his attention to Ning Heyuan, who continued, "The market at Unison Sea has been attacked again by that water ape. Do you want to seize the opportunity and head over there yourself, or should I send someone to take care of it?"
This water ape was an issue that Yuan Su had previously mentioned, and Li Xuanfeng had no intention of letting Ning Heyuan handle it. He replied, "I will enter seclusion for half a month and then depart."
Ning Heyuan had only asked out of courtesy, as he wouldn't dare interfere in the Daoist Master's matters. He nodded and agreed, then accepted the Enduring Tranquility Spirit Pills that Li Xuanfeng handed him, who said quietly, "Exchange these for some pills that also aid Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation."
He cast Ning Heyuan a sharp glance and added in a serious tone, "Make sure they are pure."
Ning Heyuan hesitated briefly, then nodded with lowered eyes. "Understood."
He composed himself, took a small mirror from his sleeve, and handed it to Li Xuanfeng, saying, "The water ape is cunning and adept at concealing itself; it is quite difficult to deal with. This is the Glimmering Inquiry Mirror, a dharma artifact left here by the Daoist Master many years ago, specifically for detecting hidden forms."
Li Xuanfeng examined the mirror. It was a clear blue, about the size of his palm, radiant and crystal-clear, a finely crafted Foundation Establishment Realm artifact that seemed quite extraordinary.
Ning Heyuan explained, "This artifact contains a trace of divine ability, allowing it to detect illusions. Almost all concealment techniques below the Purple Mansion Realm... will be revealed when exposed to this mirror."
Li Xuanfeng studied it carefully and nodded, "A fine artifact."
With a respectful bow, Ning Heyuan retreated, leaving Li Xuanfeng alone in the cave dwelling, holding a jade cup in his hand, silent.
Once the stone door had closed, Li Xuanfeng pondered to himself, "A late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm water ape... to send me such a long way to deal with it... Yuan Su must have more in mind than just this. Is it a test... or an opportunity?"
Lu Xuanfeng speculated, "The Green Pine Temple ruins will open soon... if Yuan Su plans to send someone there, besides Ning Wan, I am likely the strongest among his followers. He would never risk Ning Wan, so it is most likely me..."
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Li Xuanfeng's wounds healed quickly. Although they had initially seemed severe, most of the damage was superficial, caused by physical strain rather than actual harm. With his talisman qi, such injuries were minor.
"Strength to Move Mountains, the progress has been immense over these years," he mused.
As Li Xuanfeng's cultivation advanced, the power of Strength to Move Mountains had also increased significantly. Combined with the treasures he had consumed from the Southern Border, his strength now surpassed even Foundation Establishment Realm demon beasts, allowing him to unleash such terrifying power with his Golden Age Longbow.
After giving Ning Heyuan a few final instructions, he took to the skies on his golden shuttle, heading northeast and riding along a series of water veins. The sea below his feet gradually turned a brilliant blue.
"Unison Sea." Li Xuanfeng muttered absent-mindedly.
Unison Sea lay at the opposite end from Scarlet Pristine Sea and was even larger in scale. It was the domain of the dragon clan, with its waters reflecting a rich azure hue. The sea stretched for thousands of li, with few islands and exceptionally deep waters.
Normally, under the sunlight, Unison Sea was a seamless blend of sea and sky—a striking sight. However, his timing was unfortunate, as an anomaly from the Eastern Sea had cast everything into pitch-black darkness, so thick that one could barely see a hand in front of them.
Li Xuanfeng broke through the darkened sea region and finally spotted a small island. It wasn't large—about the size of a small town—and was fortified with an earthen-colored formation, standing at the ready.
"According to the instructions, this should be the market town," he murmured.
He descended slowly, and sure enough, he saw signs of devastation along the coastline, evidence of considerable destruction. Puzzled, he asked himself, "What has gotten into this water ape? Azure Pond Sect is famous across the seas; it is as if the ape is tired of living..."
Just as he stopped, an elder flew out from the market town, casting a glance at him with a hint of uncertainty. "Are you General Li...?"
It was the first time Li Xuanfeng had been addressed as 'General' outside the Southern Border. He nodded. "That is right."
With a large hand, he touched the black-gold tiger emblem on his belt, producing a white command token. The elder quickly verified it and replied eagerly, "At last, we have been awaiting your arrival, my lord!"