Chapter 116: Xiao Chen: Could You Possibly Be Talking About Me?

Chapter 116: Xiao Chen: Could You Possibly Be Talking About Me?

Sect Hall.

Almost all Foundation Building cultivators within the sect had been summoned to the grand hall.

After a brief pause to confirm everyone's arrival, Mei Yong spoke, "I've gathered you all here today because there are two extremely critical pieces of intelligence to share."

"The first concerns Qianzhu Bazaar."

"According to reliable sources, the Purple Fire Marrow Pill brought back ten years ago by Zhenren of Qianzhu Bazaar has been stolen by Gu Lihui."

A third-tier spirit pill, the Purple Fire Marrow Pill's greatest virtue lay in its ability to increase a cultivator's golden core formation success rate by one to two tenths.

While this might seem insignificant at first glance, when it came to golden core formation, even half a percentile carried incalculable value.

The elders and managers in attendance grew restless.

"Gu Lihui? You mean the Foundation Building solitary cultivator known as the Moonlight Saber eighty years ago?"

"But how could it be him? I thought he was already 160 years old this year?"

"Didn't that Purple Fire Marrow Pill have a shelf life of fifty years? Why would he use it now?"

Though unfamiliar with this elder, Xiao Chen pieced together context from the murmurs around him. The Moonlight Saber had once been renowned across Lizhou for his exquisite blade techniques before joining Qianzhu Bazaar.

Speaking of Qianzhu Bazaar, one must first mention Zhenren of Qianzhu.

This Golden Core cultivator didn't belong to any of Lizhou's Three Great Sects. A rare solitary cultivator who had achieved Golden Core alone, he'd established Qianzhu Bazaar independently.

If Lizhou were roughly divided into four quadrants on a map:

The upper left belonged to Lihuo Sect, lower left to Cangyan Sect.

Upper right housed Sihai Sect, while the lower right corner was Qianzhu Bazaar.

Of course, Qianzhu Bazaar occupied only about one-ninth of the region.

Strictly neutral, it welcomed solitary cultivators without affiliations to any sect.

"To still harbor such ambition at his age..." An elder guest elder muttered wistfully, comparing himself to the cultivator. "The older we grow, the slimmer our chances of major breakthroughs become."

Many elder cultivators chose to abandon their pursuits, opting instead to enjoy their remaining years or leave cultivation resources for descendants.

Mei Yong allowed time for the information to settle before continuing, "Reportedly, Gu Lihui has diligently handled Qianzhu Bazaar affairs in recent years, accumulating contributions he never spent."

"Zhenren of Qianzhu has kept his word, delivering the Purple Fire Marrow Pill while issuing prohibitions to protect Gu Lihui during his cultivation."

"Whether he succeeds or fails should become clear within the coming month. Prepare yourselves accordingly."

Xiao Chen quietly asked Chen Tianfeng, "Senior, how does this concern us?"

Chen Tianfeng explained, "If Gu Lihui truly forms his golden core, we local cultivators must attend his Golden Core Ceremony."

"Essentially just presenting gifts. Better to attend and be forgotten than skip and be remembered."

Xiao Chen grimaced. "So even strangers must bring gifts?"

"But Chen Tianfeng makes sense. If everyone attends except me, I'd certainly be remembered."

Mortal courtesies remained unavoidable even for cultivators.

Xiao Chen tried finding silver linings - like the mountain of gifts he'd receive at his own ceremony someday.

"Besides", he thought optimistically, "out of all these Foundation Buildings here, probably only one or two will ever form golden cores anyway. The rest will just waste their gifts."

Thankfully, with his hex system, he felt confident about his own prospects.

He asked, "Senior, how many spirit stones should the gift be worth?"

Chen Tianfeng raised one finger.

"One hundred?" Xiao Chen guessed. Too little.

"Ten thousand?" Perhaps excessive.

"A thousand?"

"At least a thousand. Better to be generous."

Chen Tianfeng advised, "Choose common gifts so value isn't questioned. Don't worry about duplicates - no one cares. But if you wish to stand out, bring something exceptional."

"If funds are tight, I can advance you the ice sword payment. Don't skimp here."

Xiao Chen waved him off, "No need. I'm managing fine."

Chen Tianfeng narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. For a newly promoted Foundation Building, Xiao Chen seemed unusually wealthy. But in the vast cultivation world, every rising talent had their lucky breaks. Better not pry if he didn't volunteer information.

After another pause, Mei Yong continued, "The second urgent intelligence: Yesterday at Huangfeng Valley's black bazaar, two mysterious cultivators clashed during a transaction."

"Both appeared to be outsiders, escaping using different concealment techniques."

"The first used Sword Division Art."

"We've confirmed it was an upper-tier magic artifact - a wind-type Flying Sword. Likely a sword cultivator around mid-stage Foundation Building."

"Exercise caution if encountering unknown wind sword cultivators."

Two portraits were distributed - full and side profiles of Wen Shishi and Xiao Chen.

Of course, veils and Cloaks of Hidden Tracks obscured their features.

"The first sword cultivator isn't our main concern. The second is critical."

Mei Yong held up Xiao Chen's portrait, emphasizing, "According to witnesses, this person possesses an extremely fast Golden Light Technique, surpassing even Grand Mastery-level Flying Sword Techniques."

"This individual is extremely dangerous, apparently hot-tempered. After a transaction dispute, they directly hunted down the seller."

Xiao Chen stared at the portrait in his hand.

"Could this extremely dangerous person you're describing... possibly be me?"

The grand elder asked, "No information on their cultivation realm?"

Mei Yong shook his head, "Little intelligence exists beyond their Golden Escape Art."

"Externally, they're called the Golden Light Technique Hermit."

"The only confirmed clue: they possess vast spirit stones. They spent twelve thousand spirit stones at Huangfeng Valley purchasing various spirit herbs."

Hearing this amount, the assembly grew serious.

Speculation erupted:

"Such massive spending suggests no lowly realm cultivator."

"Typically, magic artifacts define one's survival. They likely possess either a top-tier magic artifact or multiple upper-tier ones."

"Daring to kill immediately upon arrival, likely a Foundation Building peak unafraid of challenges below Golden Core."

Several guest elders worried aloud:

"Clashing with such a cultivator would be troublesome."

"Indeed. If they flee, we cannot pursue. If we lose, we won't escape at all."

"Mastery of Golden Light Technique at this level is unheard of. Could this be some hidden sect elder?"

"Senior's words hold truth. To surpass Grand Mastery Flying Sword Techniques, their Golden Core Formation must also be Grand Mastery. Without decades of cultivation, how could one reach such mastery?"

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end