Chapter 184: Acquiring the Golden Core Formation Spirit Herb · Hezhou Incident

Chapter 184: Acquiring the Golden Core Formation Spirit Herb · Hezhou Incident

The Soul-Sealing Smoke had never been breached by a Foundation Building cultivator.

At least for Linghu Sanren, she had never even heard of such a precedent.

This ultimate trump card from the Eastern Territory had saved her countless times, especially when combined with the Five Elements Whirling Blades. Below the Golden Core stage, she had no equal.

But tonight, both her greatest assets failed her in succession.

Yet what shocked her wasn’t limited to this alone—the sky-darkening swarm of Xuan Fire Ravens before her shattered decades of her understanding.

According to her knowledge, the Luotian Xuan Fire Raven could number no more than a thousand.

Even that infamous rogue who terrorized Lihuo Prefecture, Luo Yun Sanren, could summon no more than a thousand Xuan Fire Ravens.

But before her eyes, the Xuan Fire Ravens numbered in the tens of thousands—eight thousand at the very least, even if not quite ten thousand.

This defied all logic. Who exactly was Xiao Chen?

“This is the Luotian Sect’s technique. What relationship do you have with the Luotian Sect?”

Though bound, Linghu Sanren remained calm, even finding time to question him.

Xiao Chen had no patience for banter: “Tell me everything about Huidong Merchant Guild’s dealings with the Divine Flame Cult.”

“Cooperate honestly, and I might show you mercy.”

Linghu Sanren shook her head. “You can’t kill me. I can offer you immense value.”

“Oh?”

This was the first time Xiao Chen had heard such reasoning. “What value?”

Linghu Sanren cast him a flirtatious glance. “How about my body? If Cultivator Xiao desires, I could even practice the seductive arts.”

Xiao Chen rejected her bluntly: “No interest.”

Linghu Sanren shifted tactics. “I have many secret intelligence and know countless hidden truths.”

Xiao Chen’s hand began condensing a Blood Earthworm. “You’re my prisoner now. Guess whether I have ways to pry your mouth open.”

Linghu Sanren’s brows twitched as she recognized the Yellow Spring Secret Technique.

She hastily shouted: “We have strong connections in the Eastern Territory. Through us, you could obtain rare Spirit Herbs from the Eastern Territory.”

“Some things are non-saleable, but we can help you acquire them.”

This condition sounded more like a threat.

Xiao Chen disliked being threatened. He pointed a finger, and the Blood Earthworm burrowed into Linghu Sanren’s body.

Within half a ke (15 minutes), she became far more compliant.

She answered every question truthfully, revealing all the secrets she knew.

As she spoke, Xiao Chen finally understood Huidong Merchant Guild’s current situation.

Unlike ordinary factions, Huidong Merchant Guild was divided into three parts.

In the Southern Domain, there were eastern and western branches, with an outpost in the Eastern Territory for coordination.

The Eastern Territory branch was dominated by several major local families. Behind these families stood the Jin Xia Sect.

The members of the eastern and western branches in the Southern Domain were a mixed lot. Though officially led by solitary cultivators, many had close ties with various clans.

Thus, the guild’s internal factions could roughly be divided into Clan Faction, Solitary Cultivator Faction, and Speculative Faction based on their backgrounds and influences.

After the Divine Flame Cult’s rise, new factions emerged within the merchant guild.

The Anti-Demonic Sect sought to ally with Orthodox Dao to resist demonic cultivators. The Neutral Faction preferred to observe developments. The Trading Faction aimed for deep cooperation with the Divine Flame Cult.

In short, the internal situation was extremely complex.

Linghu Sanren belonged to the Speculative Faction, supporting the Trading Faction’s collaboration with the Divine Flame Cult.

Their confidence stemmed from connections with the Jin Xia Sect, which allowed them to acquire rare treasures even scarce in the Eastern Territory.

The Trading Faction believed that even if the Divine Flame Cult occupied Hezhou, they would still rely on the guild to maintain Eastern Territory connections.

Meanwhile, many Neutral Faction members from solitary cultivator backgrounds were tempted by the Divine Flame Cult’s high rewards.

Capturing a qualified sacrifice earned 300 spirit stones.

For a Foundation Building cultivator, the reward soared to 5,000 spirit stones.

Xiao Chen found this shortsighted. Calling them narrow-minded would be generous.

They dared sell anything for immediate profit, unaware that once the Divine Flame Cult seized Hezhou, they might have to surrender all their ill-gotten gains just to survive.

Of course, Xiao Chen cared more about two other matters.

First, what did the Divine Flame Cult intend to do with so many sacrifices?

Linghu Sanren herself didn’t know. As merely an executor, the true secrets lay with the Huidong Merchant Guild’s leader.

Second, did the guild possess any Spirit Herbs aiding Golden Core Formation, or special secret techniques to increase its success rate?

To Xiao Chen’s surprise, while no such Spirit Herbs or techniques existed, Linghu Sanren had accidentally learned of a Five-Color Jade Coral hidden within the guild.

Documented in the Dong You Ji, this rare treasure could slightly boost Golden Core Formation success rates.

It didn’t need consumption—shattering it during Golden Core Formation would release unique Five Elements mana.

Absorbing this mana increased success rates by about ten percent.

It couldn’t be used with other external aids but didn’t conflict with malevolent qi, false cores, or Golden Core Formation secret techniques.

Better yet, it was stored in Huidong Merchant Guild’s warehouse, guarded by three Late Foundation Building Stage cultivators in rotation.

Originally, Xiao Chen had planned to report Huidong Merchant Guild’s demonic collusion to the Spirit Origin Sect.

But now, he decided to personally eliminate these traitors and retrieve the precious Five-Color Jade Coral.

The sooner, the better—delaying risked complications. If the guild discovered Linghu Sanren’s disappearance, unexpected changes might occur.

Thus, Xiao Chen disposed of Linghu Sanren and turned southeast toward Shouxian Mountain.

Shouxian Mountain was Huidong Merchant Guild’s headquarters, approximately 900 kilometers (1,800 li) away, at the intersection of Wan Hua Valley and Spirit Origin Sect’s territory.

Interestingly, it lay close to the Divine Flame Cult’s current controlled zones.

However, since the area only contained a first-tier spirit vein and no valuable spirit mines, it wasn’t a priority target.

Occasional lone demonic cultivators caused minor disturbances, but the merchant guild’s guards handled them easily.

Previously, people wondered why the guild didn’t relocate. Now it seemed proximity benefited their secret dealings with the Divine Flame Cult.

To conceal his movements, Xiao Chen donned the Cloak of Hidden Tracks again.

This time, he flew along the southern edge of Heiyan Mountains without entering the range itself.

As expected, no passing cultivators intercepted him.

By 3:15 AM (Yin Hour), he reached Shouxian Mountain.

From the mountaintop, Xiao Chen gazed downward at a grand estate sprawling several kilometers across, its lantern-lit halls glowing like fireflies in the night. The central Sub-Academy courtyard still bustled with activity, its paper lanterns casting warm halos over scattered cultivators carrying parcels through the gates. Without the usual flood of supply shipments, however, the compound felt oddly spacious.

Inside Huidong Merchant Guild's headquarters, Guildmaster Li Yongfeng sat motionless in his carved mahogany chair, his wrinkled eyelids shielding eyes that hadn't slept in days. Before him lay intelligence reports from every corner of the realm - maps marked with crimson ink, coded messages wrapped in silk, and hastily scribbled notes stained with tea. In these turbulent times, distinguishing truth from deception had become a Sisyphean task. Yet as the guild's leader, he couldn't afford to overlook even a single whisper that might contain salvation.

Xiao Chen crouched beneath a latticed window, his body cloaked in the Seal Acupoint and Conceal Breath Technique's shadowy veil. His sharp eyes counted seven Foundation-Building cultivators within the compound: one recently departed on a sword beam, one resting in a private chamber, three guarding the northwest warehouse. The seventh now approached Li Yongfeng's chamber, jade token clutched tightly in his fist.

Slipping through the night like a phantom, Xiao Chen had followed this very man to the headquarters. But instead of revealing himself, he chose to lurk in the shadows, his ear pressed to the wooden lattice.

"Guildmaster", the cultivator reported, "urgent news from Yellow Spring Palace's ruins - Divine Flame Cult has seized control."

"Two hours ago, the spiritual energy fluctuations ceased entirely."

"Now a hundred-kilometer radius around it is shrouded in demonic qi, and the contamination spreads daily."

A sharp hiss escaped Xiao Chen's lips. Divine Flame Cult had won? This wasn't just bad news - it was catastrophic. The demonic qi's spread confirmed the report's authenticity. Since obtaining the Yellow Springs Secret Manual, he'd learned demonic qi manifested in two forms: the crimson mist amplifying demonic techniques he'd encountered at Xianghe Bazaar, and the insidious variety permeating Yellow Spring Palace.

This second type crippled cultivators' spiritual senses while systematically draining ambient spiritual energy. Where it seeped into the land, cultivation resources withered, and spirit fields collapsed entirely. Normally, orthodox sects would deploy purification formations immediately. Their inaction meant only one thing - they'd lost control.

"Most Foundation-Building cultivators from Spirit Origin Sect and Wan Hua Valley have retreated to Yuan Ci Peak", the report continued. "Our scouts spotted Gong Lingfeng at the Foot of the Mountain."

"Nothing confirmed about Golden Core Zhenren yet", the man hesitated, "but rumors claim Yao Hua Zhenren of Wan Hua Valley perished."

Li Yongfeng's teacup clattered onto its saucer. "Explain! What happened?"

Xiao Chen leaned closer, every muscle taut.

"Witnesses among solitary cultivators claim her Jin Cu Wan Hua Basket shattered", the voice dropped lower. "Some daring souls even looted fragments of the broken spiritual artifact."

Xiao Chen's breath caught. That legendary flower basket - a house-sized heirloom passed down through Wan Hua Valley's lineage for two millennia - was more than a treasure. It was their very lifeline. If destroyed, Yao Hua Zhenren's fate hung by a thread.

"Double surveillance on Wan Hua Valley", Li Yongfeng commanded. "Focus on purchases of incense and white lanterns at Wan Hua Bazaar - those are mourning supplies. Also, station observers at Luoyan Mountain. If Divine Flame Cult attacks, we must avoid collateral damage."

When asked about postponing their midnight transaction, the guildmaster's reply was decisive. "Proceed as planned. Take the Xu brothers with you. I'll oversee warehouse defenses personally. Use messenger talismans for updates."

As operational details unfolded, Xiao Chen pieced together the guild's fractured loyalties. Neutral factions dominated headquarters, while Trading Faction opportunists scoured the region for sacrificial captives. Anti-Demonic Sect members had scattered to frontline battlegrounds, leaving only empty titles behind. In short - everyone remaining here had no qualms trading with Divine Flame Cult.

Perfect.

No need to distinguish allies from enemies now. A single strike would ensnare them all. Their planned division of forces made things even easier.

Truth be told, Xiao Chen could've stormed in openly. But the recent encounter with Soul-Sealing Smoke reminded him of Huidong Merchant Guild's Eastern Territory connections. With Jin Xia Sect supplying experimental trump cards, they might possess southern domain unknowns - techniques capable of shattering Foundation-Building cultivators like twigs.

Li Yongfeng himself likely carried multiple Soul-Sealing Smokes and stronger safeguards. Hence Xiao Chen's caution - better to lure opponents into the Lesser Trinity Sword Array's deadly dance where no hidden tricks could save them.

The reporting cultivator departed first. Soon after, Li Yongfeng emerged, retrieving his resting subordinate before both vanished westward on sword beams. According to intercepted intelligence, their destination was Heiyan Mountains' new outpost.

Darn. Solo confrontations seemed unlikely now.

The warehouse guards numbered three. Should he pursue Li Yongfeng or secure the Five-Color Jade Coral? Xiao Chen pondered precisely one second before deciding.

The jade coral came first.

Slipping toward the warehouse, he waited until moonlight danced across empty courtyards. Then, with a flick of his wrist, sword arrays erupted left and right, golden melon hammer heavy in his grip as he charged the central figure.

Since mastering Body Cultivation, these hammers had become extensions of his will. The charging cultivator barely raised his magic shield before the hammer shattered both metal and bones.

"Enemy attack!" the man's warning rang out, amplified by spiritual energy.

A swift, desperate defense.

Futile.

The hammer's impact sent him flying backward, blood painting the night air crimson.

"Boom!"

A thunderous explosion.

Then came a sharp crack—the sound of something shattering. The high-grade magic shield in his hand splintered instantly.

Xiao Chen swung his hammer again in a flash.

The opponent had barely drawn a formation flag from his sleeve before it could unfold, and the strike smashed him head-on.

"Smash!"

The flagpole snapped. The hammer crashed into his chest, sending his soul straight to the afterlife.

Only now did Xiao Chen realize this foe was merely at the third layer of Foundation Building.

Unless someone deliberately concealed their aura, cultivators could usually only estimate another’s cultivation stage roughly. The gap had to be significant for precise detection.

Especially since Xiao Chen had intentionally avoided using his truth-seeing spirit eye to avoid alerting them.

He’d prepared himself to face three peak Foundation Building cultivators.

Who knew the Huidong Merchant Guild would assign a mere initial-stage Foundation Builder to guard the warehouse?

Xiao Chen glanced left. The lesser trinity sword array trapped a sixth-layer Foundation Builder, who stubbornly endured blows using his top-grade magic robe.

He turned right. The Binding Immortal Rope had already bound the eighth-layer Foundation Builder so tightly he couldn’t budge.

That was it?

Before attacking, Xiao Chen had braced for a fierce battle.

Yet the enemies crumbled far too easily.

Though, truthfully, it wasn’t that simple.

Theoretically, three Foundation Builders working together with the warehouse’s defense formation could hold off two peak Foundation Builders for at least a two-hour period.

But first, Xiao Chen’s strength far surpassed ordinary peak Foundation Builders.

The three guards hadn’t even begun activating the defense formation before being crushed like dry leaves.

Secondly, the Huidong Merchant Guild was now riddled with internal factions and severely understaffed.

Their recruited cultivators were scarce to begin with—three late-stage Foundation Builders were simply unattainable.

After all, though Hezhou had far more Foundation Builders than Li Zhou, their total numbers were still limited.

The Huidong Merchant Guild wasn’t a powerhouse like the Spirit Origin Sect, with endless Foundation Builders at their disposal.

Xiao Chen quickly pieced this together, chuckling bitterly.

Previously, he’d been stationed at the frontlines of the orthodox versus demonic wars or exploring forbidden realms, surrounded by Foundation Builders. Naturally, he’d felt late-stage Foundation Builders were everywhere.

But upon reflection, if the Huidong Merchant Guild could truly assign three peak Foundation Builders to guard a warehouse, they’d already be Hezhou’s fourth major power.

With the guards eliminated, the warehouse’s residual small-scale defense formation posed no obstacle to Xiao Chen.

"Boom! Boom!..."

Scarlet flame bombs roared, reducing the western wall to ashes.

A sword beam slashed through the flames, carving a path.

Xiao Chen dashed inside, his spiritual sense sweeping the warehouse for Five-Color Jade Coral.

Unexpectedly, the Huidong Merchant Guild had added extra precautions.

On the central rack stood 365 identical storage boxes, each identical.

Each had been specially treated to block spiritual sense detection.

Outside, they were locked—opening them required the matching key.

Moreover, the boxes were forged from hundred-refined gray spirit-iron, making forced entry no easy feat.

Especially since Xiao Chen sought the Five-Color Jade Coral, he couldn’t recklessly smash them with his golden melon thunder hammer.

One careless strike might shatter the coral inside.

The boxes were also fused to the rack’s base, making removal impossible.

Whoever came would have to slice each open carefully with a flying sword, inspecting their contents.

Xiao Chen sliced open over a dozen boxes in a row. Most contained ordinary spirit stones and herbs.

Some were even empty, wasting his time.

A typical cultivator encountering this might abandon the search, grabbing nearby spirit stones and fleeing before the guild’s return.

But Xiao Chen didn’t retreat. Instead, he retrieved formation flags for the yellow wind quicksand formation, deploying them outside the warehouse.

Then, he resumed slicing boxes with his flying sword, hunting for the Five-Color Jade Coral.

Three hours passed. By noon the next day, he finally found it in the 299th box—a radiant, crystalline coral branch glowing with five-colored light.

Sunlight refracted through it, displaying a dazzling spectrum. The Five-Color Jade Coral!

"Finally found it."

Xiao Chen carefully lifted the coral into his storage bag. "I thought I’d have to open every single box."

Thankfully, his luck hadn’t been that terrible.

With his main goal achieved, he abandoned the remaining boxes.

Stepping outside, he retracted the yellow wind quicksand formation, scanning the area.

Besides scattered flames, the Huidong Merchant Guild’s headquarters was utterly deserted.

Xiao Chen frowned. Earlier, many cultivators had fled in all directions, likely spreading news of the attack.

Yet so much time had passed, and no one had returned to stop him.

"Where are the Huidong people?"

Not that Xiao Chen wished for trouble, but anomalies often signaled hidden dangers.

This eerie situation hinted at unexpected variables.

After considering, he abandoned plans to hunt the guild’s remnants in the Heiyan Mountains, returning instead to Xianghe Bazaar.

He hadn’t forgotten the crucial intelligence overheard last night.

Now that the Five-Color Jade Coral was secured, he’d first investigate the current situation.

As everyone knew, the Wan Hua Valley had only two Golden Core Zhenren.

If Yao Hua Zhenren had truly met misfortune, it would drastically shift Hezhou’s balance of power.

Originally a tripartite stalemate, the collapse of one pillar might topple the entire structure.

With the Divine Flame Cult as an external threat, internal conflicts might not erupt immediately.

But who could say for sure?

The Spirit Origin Sect had endured attacks for ages, yet the Wan Hua Valley occasionally intervened, while the Qingxiao Sect remained utterly inactive.

Thinking of this, Xiao Chen felt exasperated.

The Qingxiao Sect isolated everyone equally.

This made infiltrating their main spirit vein to investigate the malevolent qi extremely difficult.

If the malevolent qi had been in the Spirit Origin Sect or Wan Hua Valley, his family connections and current reputation might’ve already secured it.

Unfortunately, such luck never came his way.

Two hours later, Xiao Chen arrived at Xianghe Bazaar.

The entire market was eerily deserted. Not a single Foundation Builder cultivator walked the streets.

Clearly, the impact had been severe.

He approached the Qiu family mansion. Inside, only the clan elder remained as the remaining guard.

"Cultivator Xiao, you’re safe! If I’d known the Yellow Spring Palace was so dangerous, I’d never have urged you to go."

The elder wore a remorseful expression, having been deceived by false intelligence, mistaking peril for opportunity.

"Ah…"

Xiao Chen waved a hand. "Fellow Cultivator Qiu, don’t dwell on it. May I ask where the others have gone?"

Deciding the elder’s information was unreliable, Xiao Chen resolved to seek intelligence elsewhere.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end