Chapter 398: Ling Mountain, Wen Prefecture
Su Hao’s swift and decisive killing of the enemy is quite normal; after all, geniuses are like that. Which protagonist in the biography of immortals isn’t described this way?
But as someone who has just entered the Foundation Establishment Realm, almost instantly killing a Golden Core cultivator is an unprecedented shock to Feng Ling’s worldview.
Her understanding of cultivation has begun to collapse.
It’s a widely recognized fact that the Foundation Establishment Realm overwhelms the Qi Induction Realm, and the Golden Core Realm overwhelms the Foundation Establishment Realm. This is almost like a “cultivation axiom” in the cultivation world. Unless using extremely powerful artifacts or setting up formations in advance, there’s only a slight possibility of killing across realms!
But it’s just a slight possibility because it’s generally accepted that the spiritual power quality and quantity of the Foundation Establishment Realm are far inferior to those of the Golden Core Realm. Even with powerful artifacts, it’s not certain they can fully unleash their true power.
It’s like putting batteries from a remote control into a car; it might move a bit, but it’s not ideal.
What confuses Feng Ling is that many of the principles she knows seem to be inapplicable to Feng Wei. His appearance seems to defy common sense.
Feng Ling stares blankly at Su Hao, who is proficiently searching through the bodies nearby. The more she looks, the more out of place it seems. Considering she has been mingling in Ling Mountain, Wen Prefecture with Feng Hua and Feng Feixing for many years, what hasn’t she encountered? Yet, Su Hao, a novice cultivator, is more skilled at searching bodies than her.
“Master, this is a mission scroll found on them,” Su Hao’s voice rings in Feng Ling’s ears. She snaps out of her daze, discarding all her chaotic thoughts and takes the scroll Su Hao hands her.
Su Hao has already checked the scroll. It’s encrypted with a special technique; it can’t be opened normally, and attempting to forcefully open it will trigger a mechanism that destroys the scroll.
However, this doesn’t pose a challenge for Su Hao. He infuses his blood qi, records the scroll into his pinball space, allowing Little Light to simulate and decipher it. Soon, he understands the restrictions within.
Then, he opens it and reads the contents.
Never thought it would have some connection with the Yunzhong Valley.
Feng Ling glances at it briefly, surprised: “This is a scroll artifact used by other immortal sects for communication or task assignments. They usually have special encryption techniques. How did you open it?”
Su Hao: “Maybe it got soaked in seawater? Who knows!”
Then, he points to the content: “Master, shouldn’t the key point be the content here? It seems to have something to do with our Yunzhong Valley.”
Feng Ling turns her attention to it, becoming more serious as she reads: “How did the news of our sect’s rotation come out two months later? These people are actually targeting our Yunzhong Valley?”
The rotation of cultivators in various areas of the sect is highly confidential, with very few leaks occurring. Unexpectedly, the news of the large-scale rotation of the Yunzhong Valley leaked out. How could Feng Ling not be upset? And the key issue is that when it’s her turn to rotate, the news leaks out; this is a disaster.
Su Hao asks, “Is the Six Elements Transformation Gate very powerful? To actually dare target our Yunzhong Valley.”
Feng Ling shakes her head: “The Six Elements Transformation Gate is just an ordinary large sect, nothing particularly powerful. It’s precisely because of this that I feel worried. If it were a top-tier sect targeting us, the Yunzhong Valley, being a top-tier sect itself, wouldn’t be afraid of anyone! But now, the situation is serious; even a large sect like the Six Elements Transformation Gate dares to target us, it’s a problem.”
In the cultivation world, sects are divided into three categories: small sects, large sects, and top-tier sects.
Top-tier sects refer to super sects that dominate a province, followed by large sects with vast influence and complex relationships, and then there are lesser-known small sects.
Su Hao understood: “I see, so even the likes of the Six Elements Transformation Gate dare to target us, indicating that we’re being targeted by many immortal sects at the same time! Everyone wants to take advantage of the situation!”
Feng Ling nodded: “Exactly! The time of sect rotation is the most dangerous. Newly stationed cultivators are unfamiliar with their surroundings and are easily set up to be killed. There must be someone playing tricks behind the scenes. But we don’t know who they are, or what their intentions are.”
Feng Ling put away the small scroll and said, “Feng Wei, we need to set off immediately and report this matter to the sect as soon as possible.”
Su Hao unfolded his Thousand Blade Green Light, enveloping Feng Ling within it, and swiftly flew away from this sea area.
…
After flying for another five days, Su Hao and Feng Ling finally vaguely saw a black line on the horizon where the sea and sky met.
“Finally arrived!” After drifting on the vast sea for more than ten days, amidst the monotonous sea, blue sky, and white clouds, Feng Ling’s eyes almost turned the color of the sea.
Su Hao also felt refreshed and accelerated his speed.
Ahead was another vast continent known as Ling Mountain, Wen Prefecture.
This continent belongs exclusively to cultivators, with very few ordinary people setting foot on it. The natives who used to live freely here disappeared long ago, many years ago.
As Su Hao flew closer, the appearance of Ling Mountain, Wen Prefecture also unfolded before him.
Mountains undulated in the distance, snow-covered peaks piercing the sky, tall trees stretching endlessly down the mountainsides, lush greenery everywhere. Between the mountains and dense forests, many birds circled, their calls faintly echoing, as if calling from ancient times.
This incredibly beautiful continent seemed untouched by human footprints!
Feng Ling gazed at the beautiful land in awe, murmuring, “Every time I come to Ling Mountain, it feels like stepping into a fairyland!”
Initially, Su Hao, like Feng Ling, was focused on the unique beauty of Ling Mountain, Wen Prefecture. However, he quickly noticed something different about it and couldn’t help but be amazed: “The spiritual energy of Ling Mountain, Wen Prefecture is even higher than within the sect?”
This surprised Su Hao. In the entire Annan Hengzhou where the Yunzhong Valley is located, only the plateau basin of the Yunzhong Valley has extremely dense spiritual energy, which can be called a “paradise.” But after leaving the sect, it’s difficult to find another place with such rich spiritual energy in Annan Hengzhou. Su Hao always thought that the waves of spiritual energy in this world were only locally generated, and only powerful sects had the qualifications to occupy a piece of it.
What Su Hao didn’t expect was that as soon as he approached Ling Mountain, Wen Prefecture, he immediately sensed a large amount of spiritual energy waves.
Feng Ling smiled: “Of course, Ling Mountain, Wen Prefecture is called a human fairyland by cultivators! Otherwise, why do you think most cultivators after Foundation Establishment like to come to Ling Mountain, Wen Prefecture?”
“Whoosh—”
Su Hao and Feng Ling turned into a stream of light, swiftly crossing the coastline and flying towards the towering peaks. Despite their fast flying speed, they seemed like tiny dots crawling slowly between heaven and earth, taking a long time to advance a little.
This continent is also exceptionally vast!
Su Hao and Feng Ling spent more than ten days crossing the sea to reach this continent, but they’re still far from their stationed point.
Four days later, Su Hao and Feng Ling landed in a small city built on a mountain peak. The green light dissipated, Su Hao sheathed his long knife, and followed Feng Ling towards a pavilion.
This small city, situated on a mountain peak, looks quite scattered in terms of architecture, with no planning or scale, more like shelters built by cultivators for shelter from the wind and rain.
Feng Ling explained to Su Hao casually: “This place is called Qianfeng Assembly. It’s the only small city within thousands of miles. Cultivators can exchange or sell some materials and elixirs here, like a marketplace for ordinary people. Now, Qianfeng Assembly is under the jurisdiction of our Yunzhong Valley, with a Nascent Soul Ancestor presiding over the surrounding area. Ordinary cultivators dare not cause trouble here. Since we’re here, we’re relatively safe.”
The streets aren’t bustling, but there’s still a steady stream of people coming and going, with most of them dressed plainly. Upon seeing Su Hao and Feng Ling, they subconsciously moved away, giving them a wide berth.
Su Hao soon noticed the anomaly.
Su Hao asked in surprise: “Master, are these all ordinary people?”
Feng Ling nodded: “Yes, I don’t know the specifics, but it’s said that they were bought from other large provinces to work here a long time ago. After a long time, they spontaneously formed villages and towns to live in. Overall, they’re quite fearful of us cultivators!”
Su Hao thought to himself: “Isn’t this just like cultivators keeping slaves?”
