Chapter 226: If You Dare Kill Me, You Offend Young Master Dai

Chapter 226: If You Dare Kill Me, You Offend Young Master Dai

"Report, the three Travelling Palaces on this side are all empty."

"Captain, mine's empty too. Nothing at all."

"Same here. Just some useless decorations."

Reports quickly poured in. Clearly, these Yin Corpse Sect cultivators had arrived too late.

One sharp-eyed subordinate spotted Xiao Chen, who hadn't left yet.

He hurried forward a few steps and shouted, "Hey, you over there! Did you see anyone take things from the Travelling Palace?"

Naturally, he received no response.

Xiao Chen was busy rearranging items in his Storage Ring to optimize accessibility for future duels. He couldn't be bothered with these clowns.

If they dared approach and provoke him, he'd squash them like bugs.

"Are you fucking deaf? I'm talking to you!" the man snarled, storming closer with his voice rising.

"Acting like a mute, huh?"

"You've got a death wish!"

"I'll skin you alive!"

He drew a Flying Sword but hesitated to attack immediately, instead exchanging glances with two nearby companions.

The other two instantly understood, drawing their weapons and advancing together.

"Who told you to go there? Get back here!" the squad leader suddenly bellowed.

"Skinny Dog, don't think I don't know what you're up to."

"I don't mind you chasing side profits, but pick your timing."

"Our priority is completing Young Master's mission as quickly as possible. No time for your nonsense."

"Everyone, follow me to search the back halls. Move!"

The cultivators immediately complied. The two companions hesitated briefly before turning back.

"Wait, let me explain first."

Skinny Dog argued desperately, "Captain, you're mistaken! I was just trying to investigate clues!"

They'd been inside this Relic for two days without finding a single hair. Now they'd finally encountered a lone cultivator.

"Bullshit!" the leader snapped.

"That's obviously a solitary cultivator without even a spiritual artifact. What clues could he possibly have?"

"Don't waste my time. Delaying Young Master's mission - can you handle the consequences?"

Skinny Dog cast a regretful glance at Xiao Chen meditating dozens of zhang away. He'd wanted to kill this lone cultivator for some spirit stones.

But the captain had invoked Young Master's authority. He had no choice but to comply.

That sect's supreme elder's great-grandson? Few dared provoke him, not even other direct disciples.

Before leaving, he glared back at Xiao Chen.

"Lucky bastard."

But then he saw the white-robed cultivator drawing twin golden maces. "Since you're here, don't bother leaving!" Xiao Chen said coldly, his voice sharp as a blade. "Skinning me? I'll grant your wish."

"Since you're here, don't bother leaving."

"Skinning me? I'll grant your wish."

Actually, Xiao Chen had initially considered letting them go. Nine against one would take effort.

Plus, he wanted to study the core area's treasure bead first without provoking the Yin Corpse Sect.

But suddenly he realized - he'd already offended the Huo Clan. No need for pretense.

He'd gotten too used to hiding his identity. Almost forgot he'd blown his Golden Light Technique "Sanren" alias.

Why hold back?

Kill!

"Boom!"

The golden truncheon slammed into Skinny Dog's chest, blowing out half his lung.

"Wait, that's all you've got? Such a big mouth."

Xiao Chen had wanted to fulfill Skinny Dog's skinning wish, but the man proved pathetically weak, unable to withstand even one strike.

Can't blame me for broken promises when you're this weak.

"Dog Brother!"

Someone cried out, drawing the remaining eight's attention.

The nearest cultivator screamed, "He's a body cultivator! Captain, help!"

Retreating rapidly while shouting for help.

The sect's transmission elder had said - against body cultivators, maintain distance! Neutralize their brute force advantage.

Especially in superior numbers, use spells to kite them. That's orthodox dao. Keep distance and their duel weaknesses show clearly.

Theoretically sound.

Even the leading captain agreed, "Damn it! Everyone, form a crescent! Restrict his movement! Capture him alive!"

Though Xiao Chen had killed Skinny Dog in one move, he remained calm.

Just a flash of irritation. This delayed Young Master's bid for chief position.

But if this white-haired cultivator actually knew clues...

No matter. He wouldn't have this problem much longer.

"Bad! He's still moving! Immobilization spell ineffective!"

"Corrosion vine failed too! Captain, help!"

After losing two more men, the captain realized trouble.

"Use spiritual artifacts! Kill him!"

Futile resistance.

Two more fell. The remaining three watched Xiao Chen emerge unscathed from lotus flames, finally breaking.

Forget formation. Every man fled.

Pointless. Ground running was a body cultivator's specialty.

"You can't kill me!" the captain screamed as his men fell.

"I'm Yin Corpse Sect disciple! Young Master Dai's guard!"

"Kill me and you offend Young Master Dai! Offend..."

His words became two halves.

Xiao Chen didn't care to listen. So what if he offended the Yin Corpse Sect? Using that to threaten him? Laughable.

If he feared trouble, he should've swallowed his pride from the start.

Now that he'd chosen violence, he'd never back down.

"Better head to the core area first."

Xiao Chen efficiently collected Storage Rings. "Nine more rings. Might not have enough time to refine them all."

Problem - Storage Rings couldn't hold other Storage Rings. Same with Storage Bags. No nesting.

Luckily, ten fingers could barely fit all nine rings, though it felt slightly uncomfortable and awkward.

"Ah, this ring's too big. Switch to thumb."

Adjusting rings, "Better oversized than undersized."

Without refinement, rings wouldn't fit cultivators' fingers.

Too many trophies, processing became its own problem.

"This place's huge."

Xiao Chen strode onto the main road, walking nearly a thousand li without reaching the core.

Side buildings vanished, replaced by artificial hills and streams.

Even a 300-zhang stone hill built by human hands.

"What a waste constructing this nonsense."

He'd heard ancient rumors - powerful sects or cultivators built such displays to show off.

Required prime locations with Third/Fourth Stage spirit veins. "Beautiful scenery? I'll just waste it."

Nowadays cultivation world focused on efficiency. Few such displays remained.

After another hundred li over a mountain...

The scene changed. Between peaks stood dozens of small houses.

"What's this place?"

From the summit, Xiao Chen saw dozens of cultivators searching different houses.

Approaching, he found recent houses already looted.

"Interesting. What's hidden here?"

He instantly grew interested, deciding to investigate.

Following the right path, he soon found an unsearched house protected by a sealing formation.

"Good thing I retrieved the Xuanhuang Reverse Formation earlier."

Deploying the array formation blueprint, he bypassed the formation in fifteen minutes. Unlike the Travelling Palace, these small house formations were simple.

He stored the formation disk and entered.

In the center stood a statue wielding shield and saber.

Sensing intrusion, the statue's eyes locked onto Xiao Chen.

A formation detection force swept over him.

Naturally, he failed verification.

Dust fell as the statue activated, "Kill!"

Mana roared from its body, rivaling Golden Core Late Stage.

It moved faster than expected, charging with a glowing saber at Xiao Chen's neck.

"Crack!"

Xiao Chen clamped the saber between his palms.

The statue reacted instantly, slamming its shield into him.

"Boom!"

"Bang!"

Xiao Chen pushed both hands outward - one deflecting the saber, the other crushing the shield strike with superior strength.

"Haa!"

With a mighty push, the statue's stone base shattered, half its body buried in the ground.

A whip-like kick followed, snapping the statue's head.

After decapitation, mechanical joints exposed, the arms still moved.

He had to completely dismantle this mechanical puppet before investigating the house.

"Huh? Strange."

Xiao Chen searched thoroughly, "Nothing?"

The house's sealing formation remained intact. No one should've come.

Rechecking the puppet, he found a token made from special material on its waist, inscribed with ancient characters he couldn't read.

"Hisss... Need tokens?"

Recalling the thousands of houses seen from the summit, Xiao Chen frowned. "This'll be troublesome."

Though many cultivators came, half were eliminated earlier. Most remained at the Travelling Palace's back halls.

Many faced attacks - like Xiao Chen encountering the Huo Clan.

Few remained to collect tokens. A daunting task.

"Open another house."

To verify, Xiao Chen entered another small house. This time, completely empty.

"Alright, you're still playing the game of feints and reality, huh?"

He continued toward the next room.

"Huh? A direct reward?"

Inside this room stood a small, low table carved with swirling pearwood patterns.

On its tray sat a vividly red spirit fruit.

Unfortunately, after lingering for so long, this spirit fruit had withered to nothing but an empty husk.

As the door creaked open, the fruit’s color quickly faded, crumbling into a foul-smelling black pile of rot.

"Wait a second... what exactly is this place?"

Xiao Chen had initially assumed this was another area storing crucial relics, but now it seemed different.

"Quick, look—there are more rooms over there. Shan Shan, take half the team to collect Tianxing Tokens. Don’t rush, and watch out for the puppets here."

Suddenly, a melodious female voice rang out from outside.

A crisp reply followed: "Got it, Rong Jie. Leave it to me."

Tianxing Token?

Xiao Chen immediately recalled that mysterious token earlier. Talk about a straightforward naming style.

By that logic, those spirit pearls might actually be called Tianxing Pearls?

But these could just be temporary nicknames coined by cultivators. After all, names are merely labels.

As long as teammates understand each other during relic exploration, that’s all that matters.

Stepping out of the small room, he faced three female cultivators in flowing skirts approaching side by side.

Each wore a sachet with the same embroidered pattern around their waists—clearly disciples of the Tianyin Sect.

If even they were turning their attention to hunting Tianxing Tokens, there must be some significance to them.

"Who’s there?"

The lead cultivator in a yellow dress immediately sized up Xiao Chen with sharp eyes.

Her vigilance stemmed from the fact that even disciples of major sects sometimes vanished without trace inside relics.

Especially now, when everyone was scattering to gather resources, caution was paramount.

After all, some solitary cultivators possessed formidable strength—this had happened more than once before.

But perhaps because he was alone, the yellow-dressed cultivator relaxed slightly, her expression softening.

She asked gently, "Cultivator, don’t be alarmed. We’re disciples of the Tianyin Sect."

"May I ask—are you alone? Let’s strike a deal?"

Compared to the Yin Corpse Sect, the Tianyin Sect exuded a more orthodox aura.

For instance, introducing themselves upfront carried an unspoken message: We’re orthodox sect disciples, we don’t usually do evil things, so fellow cultivator, relax.

It could also be interpreted as leveraging their sect’s reputation to guarantee the deal.

From another angle, though, it might even be seen as a veiled threat using their sect’s influence—entirely dependent on the listener’s perspective.

Xiao Chen, of course, wasn’t intimidated: "Oh? What kind of deal, fellow cultivator? Do tell."

His gaze swept across the three women before him.

Judging by their attire, they all had fine figures.

Ahem, though that wasn’t the point—cultivators rarely had fat folks anyway.

Occasionally encountering one usually meant some special reason, like cultivating a peculiar manual.

The key was their cultivation realms hovering around the Golden Core Middle Stage—hardly a threat to Xiao Chen.

So why not hear them out?

"It’s simple—we’re searching for Tianxing Tokens, about this size."

The yellow-dressed cultivator pulled out a hand-drawn sketch: "If you’ve seen or possess such a token, we’re willing to pay a high price."

"If you don’t want spirit stones, we can also trade items."

The token in the drawing was identical to the one Xiao Chen had obtained earlier, save for the ancient Ling script.

"What a pity—I’ve never seen such a token."

He shook his head, his voice tinged with just the right amount of regret.

"No problem. These tokens are rare to begin with."

The yellow-dressed cultivator smiled, tucking away the sketch: "If you come across one later, feel free to seek us out again, or approach any of our other sisters."

"We’ll head off to search for tokens now. You may continue with your business, fellow cultivator."

With that, she led her two juniors toward a nearby room, teaming up to crack the sealing formation.

Hmm, just like that?

No attempt at forceful seizure? Xiao Chen felt slightly surprised.

Aren’t the Tianyin Sect supposed to be aggressive?

They don’t seem threatening at all.

Well, a peaceful approach isn’t bad either.

Maintaining a safe distance, Xiao Chen resumed exploring the small rooms.

Since reaching the core area would require backtracking to collect tokens anyway, the Tianxing Tokens and Tianxing Pearls were likely crucial relics.

In that case, he might as well gather the relics here first before heading to the core area, saving himself the trouble of shuttling back.

A day passed in no time.

After opening thirty small rooms, he roughly identified a pattern.

These rooms fell into three categories.

The rarest type, only a few in total, contained a mechanical puppet holding a Tianxing Token.

Excluding the first one, he’d only found a single token across the next thirty-two rooms.

The second type, the most numerous, was completely empty—mere decoys to mislead cultivators.

The third category lay between the two in number, featuring a tray with rewards.

If luck was bad, it might be a spirit fruit or herb—essentially an empty room.

If luck was good, one could obtain a spirit mine or legacy jade slip.

Xiao Chen had acquired a small box of Silver Thread Spirit Soil, a piece of Yuan Ci Jing Jin, and a Yellow Tier Spell titled Red Heaven Sundering Palm.

The Silver Thread Spirit Soil was a Third Stage forging material, often used in defensive spiritual artifacts.

The Yuan Ci Jing Jin was far more significant—a rare Fourth Stage curiosity.

It could craft top-tier spiritual artifacts, power specialized Fourth Stage formations, or even aid in cultivating unique manuals.

Most cultivators here, like Yu Zhenyang, aimed primarily to obtain such Fourth Stage curiosities, transforming them into powerful aces or exchanging them for cultivation resources.

Trading Fourth Stage spirit herbs for Third Stage supplies could even yield Stage Breakthrough spirit pills under favorable circumstances.

This logic was simple: for Foundation Building cultivators, foundation building pills weren’t hard to acquire—sometimes worth just a favor.

But rare spirit herbs could fetch high prices in exchanges.

For Xiao Chen, though, the final spell mattered most.

While Yuan Ci Jing Jin was valuable, it wasn’t immediately useful.

But the Red Heaven Sundering Palm was different—a complete Fourth Stage spell with a full progression.

The key point: complete progression!

Most spells stood alone. Take Xiao Chen’s current True Yang Nine Dragon Dance—it could only be cultivated by Golden Core disciples.

No foundational chapters beforehand, no advanced techniques afterward.

Foundation Building cultivators couldn’t practice it, while Golden Core cultivators looked down on it.

Typically, newly promoted fire-attribute Golden Core cultivators used it temporarily to bolster their reputation.

Under better circumstances, they’d abandon it.

But the Red Heaven Sundering Palm had four versions of heart sutras—from Foundation Building to Golden Core, each linked clearly.

From easy to complex, building step by step.

For example, if Xiao Chen mastered the Golden Core version of Chixiao Palm to the Grand Mastery Realm, he could directly grasp the complete Red Heaven Sundering Palm later.

This would save about thirty percent of the cultivation time in subsequent stages, as many techniques overlapped.

Such a spell, if auctioned outside, would normally fetch a higher price than Yuan Ci Jing Jin.

For many cultivation families, it could become a family legacy.

In this case, the Yellow Tier classification wasn’t a drawback—it was an advantage.

Yellow Rank? Perfect—simple and easy to learn, suitable for any spirit root type.

Even as an additional spell beyond one’s family legacy, it was an excellent choice.

For Xiao Chen, it was a perfect match.

He loved Yellow Tier Spells—higher ranks weren’t even necessary.

"This is a real treasure! After breaking through to Golden Core, I can keep using it. No need to run around searching for spells later."

Though Xiao Chen was still far from the Golden Core stage, preparation was always wise.

This new relic’s opening was truly fortuitous.

"But again, another fire-attribute cultivation manual... am I really a fire cultivator?"

Truthfully, Xiao Chen’s offensive techniques were all fire-based—True Yang Fire Dragon, Qiongtai Fire Lotus for defense, even his Escape Art was Fire Escape Art.

Unless he revealed it himself, no one would guess he was a wood spirit root cultivator.

But then again, with both Yin and Yang fire seals condensed, cultivating fire-attribute spells was naturally faster and stronger.

Perhaps in the future, if he encountered a hex to change his spirit root, he might as well switch to a fire spirit root entirely.

After a few mental grumbles, Xiao Chen settled down, following the jade slip’s instructions to begin cultivating the Chixiao Palm.

With the dual blessings of hex and Yin Fire Seal, learning a new spell wouldn’t take long.

Once he reached the core area, clashes with the Yin Corpse Sect were inevitable.

Might as well test this newly acquired spell in battle to see how effective it was.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end