Xu Hei took out the jade stone and watched the red dot on it rapidly dim. This was a sign of life fading away.
"No! Brother Jian, don't go! Don't leave me!"
Qin Shuang'er knelt in front of Sun Jian, holding his body, tears streaming down like rain.
Sun Jian's lips moved, as if he wanted to say something, but he was too weak to speak.
Xu Hei muttered to himself, "Is he addicted to role-playing? Even at death's door, he's still at it?"
Sun Jian was cold and ruthless, while Qin Shuang'er was indecisive. When Xu Hei first met them, he really thought they were fellow disciples. It turned out they were two puppets controlled by the same person.
This left Xu Hei speechless.
As Sun Jian's life ebbed away, the light in Qin Shuang'er's eyes also gradually faded.
When the master dies, the puppet loses all its vitality as well.
"Dao... Daoist..."
Suddenly, Sun Jian's lips moved slightly, and his head struggled to make a sound, as if he wanted to leave some last words.
"Please... bury us... together..."
Just as Sun Jian was speaking, Xu Hei spat out a flame, burning his head to ashes, not giving him the chance to finish his last words.
"Your last wish means nothing to me."
Xu Hei said coldly, burning his body to ashes as well.
A cultivator must not have a merciful heart. This was something he always said to himself, and now it had come true for him.
As Sun Jian's soul dispersed, the puppet named Shuang'er also completely lost consciousness, becoming utterly motionless.
But at the corners of her eyes, two lines of tears hung, as if she were truly crying.
Xu Hei raised an eyebrow, showing a look of doubt.
He vaguely felt that things were not so simple.
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Sun Jian's last words were incomplete, but Xu Hei could guess that he wanted them to be buried together.
"Xiao Chou, what do you think?" Xu Hei looked at Xiao Chou.
Xiao Chou shrugged and said, "What can I think? Probably another tragic lover like me."
"Yours can't be called a tragic lover, can it?" Xu Hei sneered.
"..."
Xiao Chou's face darkened, and he chose to remain silent.
Xu Hei put away Sun Jian's storage bag and checked it, his eyes widening instantly.
He found that the resources in this person's storage bag could only be described as terrifying. Various pills and treasures were piled up like mountains.
There were also many jade slips, countless magical treasures that hadn't been refined, all brand new.
The number of spirit stones reached two thousand!
The Ye Haichuan he had killed before, who was also at the early Foundation Establishment Stage, only had a tenth of this.
"My God, so rich!" Xu Hei gasped.
This was the most abundant haul Xu Hei had ever gotten from killing and looting.
Xu Hei immediately realized that this person must have fought in a war and plundered the storage bags of Chu Kingdom cultivators, which is why he had such a rich collection.
Killing and looting to get rich, as long as one could survive the war, they could always gain some spoils.
"With such a big harvest, this trip was worth it." Xu Hei thought to himself.
In the storage bag, there was also demonic beast meat, all neatly cut high-quality great demon meat, looking very appetizing. But the quantity was not much, only two hundred pounds.
The Pangolin King had run off, probably hiding deep underground.
The Purple Crystal Thunder Lion was finally killed and put into Xu Hei's storage bag.
As for the purple crystal mine in its cave dwelling, Xu Hei didn't dare to take it. According to the lioness, she had a husband whose cultivation level was unknown, so Xu Hei decided not to provoke him lightly.
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Lion-type demonic beasts practiced polygamy, with one male lion usually leading a pride with multiple lionesses.
It was rare for a lioness to come out alone with her cubs.
Xu Hei guessed that the male lion was probably deep in the Wu Mountain Range and might be extremely powerful.
Lions should have special ways of communicating. After thinking for a moment, Xu Hei cleaned up his traces, collected his spoils, and quickly left the place.
As for the lioness, he decided not to eat her for now. Maybe one day he would encounter her mate, and she might come in handy.
The two demonic beasts and Xu Hei ran all the way back to their cave dwelling.
Back in the cave dwelling with formations set up, they finally felt at ease and breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Bai did not participate in the battle, only eating some poisonous creatures along the way.
Xiao Chou, however, made a great contribution. Although Xu Hei could have caught up eventually, it would have consumed a lot of energy and might have led to unforeseen complications.
For this person, Xu Hei planned to give a reward.
He took out a Foundation Establishment Pill from Sun Jian's storage bag and handed it over.
"Whether you can establish your foundation, it's up to you." Xu Hei said.
"Thank you, Senior, hahaha..."
Xiao Chou laughed wildly, took the Foundation Establishment Pill, and went into the deepest part of the cave dwelling.
There were five more Foundation Establishment Pills in Sun Jian's storage bag, enough for Xu Hei to use.
Xu Hei checked the jade slips, all of which were wood-based spells, which Xu Bai could probably use.
One golden jade slip had a seal on it, seemingly recording the second layer of puppet techniques, but Xu Hei couldn't open it.
Xu Hei sighed and took out Qin Shuang'er's storage bag.
After his inspection, he found that Qin Shuang'er was not a fictional puppet but a real person who had already fallen. This was her storage bag from when she was alive.
Inside were some jade slips recording her experiences.
Through these, Xu Hei understood the sequence of events.
Qin Shuang'er was the daughter of Qin Xuanji, the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Puppet Sect. She and Sun Jian had mutual affection. During a siege, she spared a child, who then detonated a Thunder Tribulation Pearl, severely injuring her.
The child died instantly, and Qin Shuang'er was on the brink of death.
At the last moment, she turned herself into a flesh puppet, preserving a sliver of consciousness in her body.
In this way, she remained by Sun Jian's side, fulfilling their mutual promise.
"Shuang'er, as a cultivator, you must not have a woman's kindness!"
Recalling Sun Jian's words at the time, Xu Hei had a different understanding.
Actually, when Sun Jian and the puppet switched places, Xu Hei wondered why he didn't switch with Qin Shuang'er. That woman was unharmed and might have delayed him a bit.
Instead, he switched with a broken body, which Xu Hei didn't even bother with and directly chased after.
If Qin Shuang'er had held him back, even for a moment, Sun Jian's chances of escaping would have greatly increased.
"People are not plants; who can be without feelings? Sun Jian kept talking about being ruthless, but in the end, he lost because of his feelings."
Xu Hei sighed.
He couldn't help but compare the experiences of these two with Xiao Chou and found that there was no comparison. This was a true partnership, while Xiao Chou's situation was nothing.
He took Sun Jian's ashes and buried them on a hill, then buried Qin Shuang'er's body next to him.
This flesh puppet had the cultivation of the Foundation Establishment Stage and had some value, but Xu Hei had no interest in using it.
With his current strength, he didn't need such a puppet.
"Rest in peace, both of you. Farewell."
Xu Hei said, turning to leave.
Just as Xu Hei turned around, a golden light flashed from Qin Shuang'er's forehead and entered Xu Hei's storage bag.
Xu Hei was stunned and took out the golden jade slip recording the puppet techniques.
He found that the seal on it was gone.
Xu Hei's eyes flashed, and he sent his divine sense into it.
In an instant, the complete steps for cultivating the Puppet Mechanism Technique appeared in Xu Hei's mind.
"Puppet Mechanism Technique, Second Layer, Earth Puppet Technique."
"Can create Foundation Establishment Stage puppets, including three puppet spells: Spirit Thread, Transposition, Hundred Puppet Formation."
///94///
In the process of Xu Hei acquiring the cultivation technique.
Under the mound of earth, Qin Shuang'er lay quietly beside Sun Jian's ashes, a look of relief in her eyes. Suddenly, her body ignited without fire, gradually turning to ashes.
Xu Hei opened his eyes, took a deep look at the mound, and placed a stone tablet in front of it.
He seemed to want to carve something, but felt his talent was insufficient, so he turned and left.
Humans are emotional beings. They may seem heartless, but it's all for survival, for becoming stronger.
Demonic beasts are also emotional beings. A mother beast can risk her life for her cubs.
If there's anything truly heartless, it would be things like stones or lifeless puppets.
Xu Hei didn't know if being heartless would allow one to live longer, but for now, he couldn't do it.
Since Xu Hei began cultivating, his primary belief was that for survival, one could abandon everything. Of course, this belief had not changed to this day.
"I'm going to establish my foundation. This time, I'm fully prepared. I won't come out until I've succeeded."
Xu Hei made up his mind. No matter what happened outside, he wouldn't leave his retreat.
The resources he had prepared were more than enough to reach the Foundation Establishment stage from scratch, let alone now.
......
Chuyang City, Southern Region of Chu Kingdom.
This city was the gateway to the Southern Region of Chu Kingdom. As long as the city stood, the Southern Region would be safe. But if it fell, the entire Southern Region would be accessible, making it the most strategic city.
A hundred miles outside Chuyang City, the Qin Kingdom's army had been stationed there for a month.
The Astrology Bureau had ceded many cities, with almost everyone guarding this place for this crucial battle.
Inside the Qin Kingdom's main tent.
Qin Xuanji suddenly opened his eyes and took out a soul jade, covered in cracks and already shattered.
"Sigh!"
Qin Xuanji was silent for a long time, then let out a sigh.
This was Sun Jian's soul jade.
This young man had average talent, reaching only the early Foundation Establishment stage after fifty years of cultivation. But his determination and ruthlessness were remarkable, and he had developed feelings for Qin Xuanji's daughter, Qin Shuang'er.
As the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Puppet Sect, Qin Xuanji naturally couldn't allow his daughter to follow someone with such mediocre talent, leading to conflicts and even threats to sever ties.
Qin Xuanji hadn't paid much attention to the two, only saying that if they could lead an army to capture a city, he wouldn't stop them.
In the end, the city fell, but Qin Shuang'er perished.
"Forget it. Once we take Chuyang City, I'll bring you both back to the Qin Kingdom for burial."
Qin Xuanji closed his eyes, a pang of sorrow in his heart.
......
Time flew by, and the months passed like a shuttle.
In April, the most crucial battle since the Qin Kingdom's invasion began outside Chuyang City. Over a million troops from both sides clashed in an epic battle.
The southern forests of Chu Kingdom entered a long period of peace.
Without human hunting, the flora and fauna rapidly proliferated, and some rare spirit medicines appeared.
Xu Hei swallowed two Foundation Establishment Pills in succession. After breaking through to the twelfth layer of the Spirit Communion stage, he made a bold move towards the Foundation Establishment stage.
"Boom!!!"
A loud explosion echoed within Xu Hei's body. The spiritual liquid in the Demon God Cauldron boiled, compressing rapidly towards the center, forming a solid, square platform at a slow pace.
At this moment, the spiritual energy within a thirty-mile radius seemed to be drawn in, converging madly towards this place and being absorbed into the cave dwelling.
Even the clouds in the sky above roared in, piling up into mountains and seas of clouds.
From a distance, the sky over this place could only be described as spectacular.
Many spirit-communing demonic beasts looked up in shock at this unprecedented celestial phenomenon.
Fortunately, no humans were around. Otherwise, they would have thought a rare treasure was emerging.
Soon, the spiritual energy within thirty miles was drained, and the energy from beyond thirty miles was also being absorbed, forming a vast vortex of spiritual energy pouring into the cave dwelling.
Despite this, Xu Hei still felt the spiritual energy was coming too slowly.
"Not enough, not enough!"
Xu Hei's heart stirred, and a thousand spirit stones fell from his storage bag, placed all around.
As soon as the spirit stones appeared, the concentration of spiritual energy in the cave dwelling skyrocketed, but it didn't take long for Xu Hei to absorb them all.
The spirit stones quickly lost their color, turning to residue and disintegrating into ashes.
Fortunately, this measure was effective. Under the frenzied devouring of the Demon God Cauldron, Xu Hei's spiritual foundation gradually took shape.
He took out a bottle of Minor Essence Nurturing Pills and swallowed them whole, along with the remaining demonic beast meat, for the final push.
A month later.
The celestial phenomenon in the sky persisted, with rays of light shooting up.
At this moment, the spiritual foundation within Xu Hei's Demon God Cauldron was complete, emitting terrifying spiritual resonance that shot into the sky, scattering light at the horizon.
Initially, the light was white, gradually turning pale blue.
"Pale blue spiritual energy, this is perfect Foundation Establishment."
Xu Hei thought to himself, maintaining his focus and continuing to absorb the remaining spirit stones.
The light in the sky deepened from pale blue to deep blue and continued to transform.
According to Hei Huang, beyond perfect Foundation Establishment, the color would deepen further.
Three days passed, and the light turned pale purple, as if purple energy was coming from the east, a magnificent sight.
Such a phenomenon could be considered a wonder of the world!
Xu Hei didn't know that in ancient times, perfect Foundation Establishment had several levels: pale blue, deep blue, and purple.
Most cultivators achieved only the first level.
Purple spiritual energy was extremely rare even in the peak of ancient times, requiring not only the twelfth layer of the Qi Refining stage at Great Perfection but also top-tier cultivation techniques, supreme spiritual roots, and perfect comprehension.
All these conditions were indispensable!
Such a cultivator, once successfully establishing their foundation, would be a terrifying existence, causing calamities.
If Xu Hei were in that era, achieving purple spiritual energy, or even deep purple, would be easy.
But now, with the scarcity of spiritual energy, even with the most extraordinary talent and powerful techniques, true perfection was unattainable.
Under the purple light, the creatures in this area also benefited, undergoing evolution, an additional boon from the purple energy.
Xu Hei's scales grew rapidly, soon covering his entire body, except for a spot between his eyebrows.
No one knew how much time had passed.
The celestial phenomenon gradually dissipated, the clouds scattered, and the purple energy returned to the cave dwelling.
The vortex of spiritual energy also vanished.
All movements in the world came to a complete halt.
Xu Hei opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of air.
At this moment, he no longer appeared as the previous Black Yin Snake but as a new species covered in Black Gold Scales.
His body was three meters long but could stretch freely, with flexibility beyond imagination, reaching over ten meters.
The spiritual foundation within the Demon God Cauldron was complete, emitting purple spiritual energy that flowed through his meridians, a type of energy Xu Hei had never heard of.
"Now, I am at the early Foundation Establishment stage, but the Flood Dragon hasn't appeared."
Xu Hei pondered.
His divine sense locked onto the Demon God Cauldron, trying to contact the Flood Dragon statue, but there was no response.
This contradicted the previous agreement that once he established his foundation, he would be told the truth.
"Senior, are you playing me?" Xu Hei transmitted.
The Flood Dragon remained silent.
Xu Hei sighed. Since he had already established his foundation, it didn't matter if the Flood Dragon appeared or not.
However, Xu Hei soon discovered a problem.
His cultivation had stagnated.
His mysterious cultivation technique seemed to only allow him to reach the early Foundation Establishment stage, with nothing beyond.
Xu Hei took out a Minor Essence Nurturing Pill, a second-tier pill for Foundation Establishment cultivators.
He swallowed it in one gulp and quickly refined it according to his previous cultivation steps, but his cultivation didn't budge, and his true qi didn't increase at all.
"Indeed, my cultivation has stopped. The previous cultivation technique is now useless," Xu Hei thought.
The Heavenly Puppet Sect's techniques were divided into layers: the first layer, the second layer, the third layer...
Xu Hei's mysterious technique seemed to have only the first layer, a fragment.
It really was missing a crucial piece.
///95///
The Art of Earth Puppetry not only allows one to refine puppets but also includes a comprehensive cultivation technique, detailing every step from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation.
Xu Hei felt a bit unwilling. He knew that his possession of purple True Qi was entirely due to that mysterious cultivation technique, and he didn't want to switch to another.
"Senior, can you give me a response?"
Xu Hei continued to try to make contact, but there was still no response.
"Strange! Such a powerful existence shouldn't deceive me."
Xu Hei's face showed doubt, wondering if he hadn't met the requirements.
At this moment, whether it was his internal spiritual foundation or his external aura, he was undoubtedly at the Foundation Establishment stage.
Compared to other Foundation Establishment cultivators he had seen before, Xu Hei's aura was purer and more robust, and his Divine Sense range had exceeded a thousand meters.
The only thing that didn't match Xu Hei's expectations was his Black Gold Scales, which were still missing one piece.
It was his forehead, still missing the final piece of scale!
"Could it be because of this scale? My cultivation has reached Foundation Establishment, but my physical body is still lacking?" Xu Hei pondered.
In the following days, he tried devouring demonic beast meat, even consuming part of the Purple Crystal Thunder Lion, and took some body-tempering pills.
Xu Hei could feel his physical body growing stronger.
But that last piece of scale remained motionless.
"Strange."
Xu Hei shook his head.
He didn't dwell on it and instead took out his puppets, using the Art of Earth Puppetry to reinforce them all.
As for his own cultivation, if it was stagnant, so be it.
In a few days, he planned to go down the mountain, consult some human sects' classics, and thoroughly study the techniques of the Five Great Sects. Perhaps he could find some clues.
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As for asking Hei Huang, that dog didn't know when it would come out of seclusion, so he couldn't rely on it for now.
Now that he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, Xu Hei felt more confident. With the war between the two countries, as long as Xu Hei was cautious, he would be safe.
Even if he was really unlucky and encountered a Core Formation old monster, he still had the life-saving item given by Hei Huang, which was said to be able to split anything in the world fifty-fifty. Xu Hei was actually eager to try it out.
...
Next, Xu Hei made full preparations.
Besides reinforcing his puppets, Xu Hei also needed to refine two flying swords. At the same time, he needed to update his own magical treasures, talismans, and pills.
He spent five days reinforcing his main puppets to the Foundation Establishment level.
Then, he took out the Ice and Fire Ivory, cut off a part, and spent three days crafting two flying swords.
Thus, Xu Hei now had three ivory flying swords.
Xu Hei named them: Spirit-Breaking Sword, Extreme Frost Sword, and Heaven-Burning Sword.
However, the power of the latter two swords was too great, reaching the peak of the second tier. With Xu Hei's Divine Sense, he could barely control them, far less smoothly than the Spirit-Breaking Sword.
Xu Hei mainly used the Spirit-Breaking Sword.
The leftover materials from the Spirit-Devouring Elephant's ivory were melted down into some Spirit-Breaking Needles for auxiliary use.
After that, he selected a Fire Thunder Seal and a Wind-Stabilizing Pearl from Sun Jian's collection and carried the old ape's iron pot on his back, all of which were mid-grade Spiritual Treasures.
In terms of defense, his entire body was covered in Black Gold Scales, which could basically ignore most attacks.
"It's time to go down the mountain. I want to empty the human Scripture Repository."
Xu Hei thought to himself as he climbed out of his cave dwelling and arrived outside.
Xiao Chou had already successfully reached Foundation Establishment and was lying in the valley, sunbathing in a strange posture.
"Senior, are you going down the mountain?"
Xiao Chou raised his head excitedly when he saw Xu Hei coming out of the cave.
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"That's right." Xu Hei nodded.
"Can I come with you?"
Xiao Chou's face turned serious as he said, "Now that I've reached Foundation Establishment, I have some scores to settle with certain people."
Xu Hei knew what he had been through and nodded without hesitation, "Alright, but you must follow my lead."
"Good!"
Xiao Chou followed, looking a bit excited.
He had waited for this day for far too long. The humiliation of being hunted down and nearly losing his life could finally be washed away! He only hoped those people were still alive and hadn't died too soon!
Thus, one man and one snake left the valley and headed down the mountain.
"By the way, Senior Hei, I encountered a lot of trouble during my Foundation Establishment. I almost died. Let me tell you about it."
Xiao Chou followed behind, chattering excitedly.
Perhaps it had been too long since he had spoken to anyone, Xiao Chou turned into a chatterbox, talking non-stop along the way.
"Senior, you wouldn't believe it. At the critical moment of my Foundation Establishment, the Spiritual Qi around me suddenly disappeared. Within a ten-mile radius, not a drop was left, causing me to fail my breakthrough! It's infuriating. I don't know which bastard did it!"
Xiao Chou cursed.
Xu Hei's mouth twitched, but he chose to remain silent.
"That wasn't the worst part. Later, when I tried to break through again, an extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon appeared nearby, almost scaring me to death!"
Xiao Chou complained again.
Xu Hei was instantly shocked.
An extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon? What was going on?
Cultivators defy the heavens, and during breakthroughs, there is a small chance of attracting an extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, also known as external demonic possession.
But this usually only happens to Core Formation cultivators during their Nascent Soul formation, and only to those with extraordinary talent, one in a million.
For example, the Mountain-moving Patriarch died due to an extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon.
"Damn it! I'm just a small Foundation Establishment cultivator. How could I attract an extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon? It's ridiculous. I suspect they made a mistake." Xiao Chou cursed.
At this point, he fell silent, not speaking for the rest of the journey.
Xu Hei was eagerly waiting to hear more, but Xiao Chou suddenly stopped talking, which made Xu Hei quite annoyed.
He wanted to prompt him to continue, but Xu Hei didn't know how to start.
"And then?"
After holding back for a long time, Xu Hei couldn't help but ask.
"Oh? So you were listening, Senior. I thought you weren't paying attention." Xiao Chou said in surprise.
"I suddenly feel like punching you." Xu Hei said honestly.
"Don't dare, don't dare!" Xiao Chou quickly returned to the main topic and continued, "Later, for some unknown reason, that extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon entered a spatial rift and disappeared. The demon's expression seemed like it had encountered something terrifying."
"Of course, it might have been an illusion caused by a cultivation mishap."
Xiao Chou quickly added, as the whole thing was too outrageous. How could an extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon appear during a Foundation Establishment?
Xu Hei pondered for a moment and also felt it was an illusion. How could an extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon target Xiao Chou?
Xiao Chou had indeed been through a lot, with a difficult and troubled path to Foundation Establishment.
Xu Hei thought for a moment and asked, "After failing twice, how did you finally reach Foundation Establishment?"
"Later, Senior Bai successfully refined a Foundation Establishment Pill and asked me to test it. I couldn't resist and took it." Xiao Chou said.
Xu Hei immediately stopped, staring at Xiao Chou, examining him closely.
"What's wrong?"
Xiao Chou felt a bit uneasy under the scrutiny.
"Are you alright? Any side effects?" Xu Hei asked curiously.
"No, I'm perfectly fine. How could there be any side effects? Senior Bai's other pills might be unreliable, but the Foundation Establishment Pill is absolutely fine!"
Xiao Chou said confidently.
Xu Hei examined him again for a long time but didn't find anything wrong, so he said, "Let's continue on our way."
"Alright!"
Xiao Chou slithered along like a snake, following behind.
//96//
Xu Hei had two choices for his descent from the mountain: the Purple Mist Sect or the Mountain Movers Sect.
In terms of strength, the Purple Mist Sect was undoubtedly the weaker option. With the fall of Patriarch He Luohua, there was no longer a Core Formation Stage expert to hold the fort, significantly increasing the safety factor.
Moreover, Xu Hei had been to the Purple Mist Sect once before and had experience in sneaking around, making him quite familiar with the place.
Xu Hei decided to head to the Purple Mist Sect first to take a look.
However, after spending three days traveling to the Purple Mist Sect, he found the place completely deserted, with not a single disciple in sight.
All the houses and pavilions were empty, and even the medicinal gardens had been thoroughly cleaned out.
Only a few unattended spirit beasts remained, wreaking havoc on the ecosystem.
"Have they... moved?" Xu Hei's face showed a hint of suspicion.
He used the Earth Escape Technique to reach the former location of the Purple Mist Pavilion, only to find that the entire building was gone, undoubtedly moved by someone.
There were no signs of battle or bloodshed, indicating that it was a voluntary relocation.
Xu Hei searched around but only found a few outer disciples on the periphery.
To be cautious, Xu Hei didn't ask anyone and simply turned to leave.
"Senior, aren't you going to ask someone?" Xiao Chou asked in confusion.
"What's there to ask? Without a Core Formation expert, the Purple Mist Sect is vulnerable in these troubled times. Moving to seek protection from the Snake Catchers Sect is quite reasonable."
Xu Hei had figured it out and wasn't surprised.
The head of the Purple Mist Sect had formed a Dao companionship with a significant figure from the Snake Catchers Sect, so such a move was easily arranged.
Unexpected, but reasonable.
Xiao Chou looked disappointed. He had hoped to settle a score with a woman who had humiliated him before.
With no other choice, they turned and headed for the Mountain Movers Sect.
Going to the Mountain Movers Sect had its advantages. Xiao Chou was a disciple there and could use his disciple token to enter openly.
"Aren't you afraid of trouble, showing up like this when you're wanted by the Snake Catchers Sect?" Xu Hei asked.
"That was before. Now that I'm in the Foundation Establishment Stage, who would dare trouble me?" Xiao Chou said proudly.
In the late Qi Refining Stage, he was just an inner disciple. But in the Foundation Establishment Stage, he was at the elder level. Hua Yuntian didn't have the power to make the Mountain Movers Sect hand over an elder.
After a moment of contemplation, Xu Hei decided to go with Xiao Chou to take a look.
The Mountain Movers Sect was one of his backup options anyway.
The Mountain Movers Sect was at the pinnacle of Earth Spiritual Roots research in the Chu Kingdom, making it the best place for Xu Hei to learn Earth Element Spells.
After another two days of travel, they arrived at the Mountain Movers Sect's mountain gate.
Before them stood a towering mountain, its edges steep and its middle flat and expansive. It was said that the Mountain-moving Patriarch had spent many years moving mountains from all over the Chu Kingdom to form this one.
After half a year, Xiao Chou returned to his homeland, feeling a mix of emotions.
"Xiao Chou, why do I feel like there's something off about the way you walk?" Xu Hei couldn't help but ask.
"Hmm? What's off?" Xiao Chou wiggled his hind limbs, slithering forward like a snake.
"Aren't humans supposed to walk upright?"
Xu Hei pointed ahead, where an outer disciple was walking up the mountain.
Xiao Chou was stunned for a full five seconds before he realized.
"Hey, that's right! I walk on two legs!"
He quickly stood up and walked back and forth but felt awkward and continued to crawl on the ground, frowning in thought.
"Strange, why is this happening?"
Xiao Chou couldn't figure it out.
To avoid strange looks, he decided to walk upright, even though it felt awkward.
Xu Hei shrank his body to a meter and was stuffed into a sack by Xiao Chou, who slung it over his shoulder and headed for the mountain gate.
Before long, they reached the entrance halfway up the mountain.
"Stop!"
The gatekeeping disciple glanced at Xiao Chou, looked closely for a while, rubbed his eyes, and his face changed dramatically. "Xiao Chou? Is that you?"
"Is there a problem?" Xiao Chou's face was expressionless.
"You're not dead?" The gatekeeping disciple was shocked.
"What do you mean? Who said I was dead?"
Xiao Chou squinted his eyes, feeling puzzled.
The gatekeeping disciple's face turned strange, and he hesitated to speak.
Feeling the overwhelming pressure from Xiao Chou, the gatekeeping disciple swallowed hard and explained honestly.
"It's like this. Last year, you were wanted by the Snake Catchers Sect and fled into the deep mountains. After being missing for half a year, the sect removed you from the roster and listed you as deceased."
"Your cave dwelling and all your belongings were handed over to your relatives."
The gatekeeping disciple was only in the early Qi Refining Stage and didn't dare offend an inner disciple. He explained everything in detail.
"Relatives? My parents are mortals. What relatives?" Xiao Chou glared, feeling something was off.
"That, I don't know. But it was two female cultivators wearing Purple Mist Sect robes. You can go back and check for yourself," the gatekeeping disciple said hurriedly.
Hearing this, Xiao Chou's eyes immediately flared with anger.
He stepped forward and rushed into the mountain gate at an incredible speed, heading straight for his cave dwelling.
...
Inside the Mountain Movers Sect, the inner disciples' residences were different from those of the Purple Mist Sect. All disciples lived inside the mountain, with cave dwellings allocated based on their cultivation levels.
It was said that the center of the mountain contained half a spiritual vein, making the spiritual energy in the cave dwellings much denser. Many disciples from other sects envied the Mountain Movers Sect for this.
At this moment, inside Xiao Chou's cave dwelling, sat two female disciples from the Purple Mist Sect.
Xu Hei had seen these two before; they lived next to Silver Bell and had constantly mocked and ridiculed Xiao Chou.
A month ago, they had used special means to take over Xiao Chou's cave dwelling.
"Elder Qiu, this is the contract for their Dao companionship. It clearly states that if Xiao Chou dies, all his property belongs to Silver Bell. As her sister, I have the right to inherit it," Xu Mei said with a flirtatious smile.
"Haha, well said. I'll open the cave dwelling and take out that kid's belongings right away."
Elder Qiu of the Mountain Movers Sect laughed heartily, forcibly opened the cave dwelling, and handed it over to Xu Mei.
All the items inside were also given to Xu Mei.
In fact, Xu Mei and Elder Qiu had been secretly involved for a long time, and this was just a natural progression of their relationship.
Elder Qiu would occasionally visit the cave dwelling to meet Xu Mei for illicit activities.
This time, Xu Mei had even brought her good sister along for a threesome.
"Dual cultivating with a Foundation Establishment cultivator is extremely effective. In just a month, I've reached the ninth level of the Qi Refining Stage."
"Haha, I should thank you for letting me benefit as well."
The two chatted happily.
"Boom!!!"
Suddenly, the cave dwelling's door was blasted open with a punch.
Xu Mei and her sister were startled awake and looked outside.
"Who dares to barge into my cave dwelling? Are you tired of living?" Xu Mei shouted in anger after realizing someone had intruded.
At the cave dwelling's entrance, dust rose, and a young figure walked in from outside.
This person had a bundle hanging from his waist, was travel-worn, had dark skin, and an ordinary appearance. His eyes burned with fiery anger—it was Xiao Chou.
"It's you?"
Xu Mei was shocked, thinking she was seeing things.
"You... you're not dead!"
Xu Chun, beside her, widened her eyes in disbelief.
They were very familiar with Xiao Chou, having often mocked and ridiculed him. How could they not recognize him?
Xiao Chou just stared at them silently.
"You've got some nerve! Don't you know Hua Yuntian is looking for you? How dare you come back to court death!" Xu Mei reacted quickly and scolded with a flushed face.
She knew how to deal with such men; she had to be tough.
Xu Chun also threatened, "If you're smart, leave now, and we'll pretend nothing happened. Otherwise, when Young Master Hua arrives, it'll be your death!"
They were smart women. If Xiao Chou wasn't dead, they would likely have to give up the cave dwelling.
Their dual cultivation plans with Elder Qiu would be ruined, which was unacceptable.
So, Xiao Chou had to die!
Given Xiao Chou's cowardly nature, he might just submit to their threats. After all, they had mocked him countless times before, and he never dared to say a word.
Xiao Chou remained expressionless and coldly said, "Do you know what it means to be overbearing?"
Xu Mei sneered, "Oh? A lowly coward dares to resist? Kneel and lick my toes, and maybe I'll spare you..."
"Bang!!"
Her words were cut off by a punch.
Xu Mei's nose bled, her face caved in, and she was sent flying, crashing into the stone wall with a bloody head.
With just one punch, her face was disfigured!
Xu Chun's expression changed drastically, as if she had seen a ghost.
Who was this? Xiao Chou?
How was this possible? Xiao Chou was a coward, a simp who couldn't even speak clearly to women. How could he hit a woman?
"You... you dare hit..." Xu Chun's voice trembled, but she couldn't help but threaten.
"Bang!!"
Another heavy punch landed on Xu Chun's face.
Her teeth flew out, and her head was twisted, nearly breaking her neck, as she crashed into the ceiling.
"Boom!!"
The entire cave dwelling shook, and dust fell.
Both women were knocked down with a single punch.
At this moment, Xiao Chou seemed like a different person.
"I've been honing this punch for five years!"
Xiao Chou clenched his fist, his eyes red, and said through gritted teeth, "But from now on, I'll only endure for five seconds!"
//97//
"Whoosh!!"
Elder Qiu sped towards Xiao Chou's cave dwelling at an incredible speed. Just moments ago, he had received a distress signal from Xu Mei.
Originally, Xu Mei had brought along a sister, planning to dual cultivate together. Elder Qiu had even prepared some pills to enhance the experience, but things had gone awry.
As Elder Qiu neared the cave dwelling, a figure suddenly appeared before him, blocking his path.
"You..."
Seeing the person, Elder Qiu's eyes widened in disbelief. "It's you?"
"That's right, it's me, Xiao Chou," Xiao Chou said with a bright smile.
"You didn't die?" Elder Qiu's eyes narrowed.
"I was hunted down but managed to survive," Xiao Chou replied with a smile.
Ignoring him, Elder Qiu tried to bypass Xiao Chou and head straight for the cave dwelling.
"Elder Qiu, what are you doing? The cave dwelling is my private territory. According to sect rules, no one is allowed to trespass, not even an elder."
Xiao Chou took two steps back, blocking the entrance to his cave dwelling.
"Move aside!"
"No!"
"Do you have a death wish?"
Elder Qiu's gaze turned sinister, and a powerful aura began to press down on Xiao Chou. However, Xiao Chou remained unmoved, a glint of determination in his eyes.
Elder Qiu's gaze turned cold. He raised his hand and launched a fireball, but Xiao Chou caught it effortlessly and flung it aside, where it exploded in mid-air.
This display of skill made Elder Qiu's eyes widen in shock.
He had heard that this young man, when fully unleashed, could fight Hua Yuntian to a standstill and even severely injure him, breaking one of his arms.
Though Xiao Chou was only at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining Stage, his true strength was not to be underestimated.
"As an elder, I'm merely conducting a routine inspection to see if you're harboring any enemies in your cave dwelling. Is there a problem with that?" Elder Qiu's tone softened slightly.
"Fine." Xiao Chou waved his hand, and the door to the cave dwelling opened.
Inside, there was nothing.
Elder Qiu glanced around the entrance. The two women were long gone, likely reduced to bones.
"What a ruthless method..."
Elder Qiu's heart turned cold, but he didn't act out. After all, if this matter were exposed, he would lose face as well.
He had privately given a disciple's cave dwelling to his lover, and even as an elder, he would face severe punishment.
He said nothing more and turned to leave.
Xiao Chou also refrained from acting out. In the Mountain Movers Sect, causing too much trouble wasn't wise. Killing an elder was no small crime.
"Xiao Chou, let me remind you, our four-sect alliance has strict military regulations against killing allies. Don't leave any evidence behind."
Elder Qiu's words were meaningful as he disappeared down the corridor.
Xiao Chou had heard about the four-sect alliance on the way.
The Mountain Movers Sect, Carefree Sect, Purple Mist Sect, and Tai Xuan Sect had formed an alliance, led by the Heavenly Puppet Sect, to attack the Chu Kingdom.
As for the Snake Catchers Sect, they were not participating in the fighting but were providing logistical support.
Allies were forbidden from killing each other, and the consequences of being caught were severe.
"Why didn't you kill him?" Xu Hei asked, puzzled.
"This is the Mountain Movers Sect. If I kill him, it will be hard to escape," Xiao Chou replied helplessly.
Xu Hei said, "Then let's take care of him tonight and then run away."
Xiao Chou was speechless. Why was it necessary to kill a mere Foundation Establishment elder? He wasn't a significant threat.
Xu Hei didn't bother to explain.
He only understood one principle: eliminate any potential threats without mercy.
"Killing him tonight isn't impossible, but the items you need might be hard to obtain," Xiao Chou said.
Xu Hei hesitated.
"Then let's hurry."
"Understood!"
After that, Xiao Chou left Xu Hei in the cave dwelling and went to the sect's main hall to report his successful Foundation Establishment to his master, Shi Longzi.
However, he was informed that his master, Shi Longzi, had gone to the front lines in Chuyang City and wouldn't be back for a while.
"Xiao Chou, if you have any matters, you can report them to me. During the war, I can handle all internal affairs," said the elder in the main hall calmly.
Xiao Chou reported truthfully, "I have successfully established my foundation and seek Foundation Establishment stage cultivation techniques, spells, and the rewards for becoming an elder."
The elder in the main hall was taken aback.
After a thorough examination, confirming Xiao Chou's Foundation Establishment, the elder was filled with surprise. He took a deep breath and nodded heavily.
"Under normal circumstances, the process would take at least half a month. But given the current situation, many steps can be skipped."
"Follow me."
"..."
After a detailed inspection, Xiao Chou successfully received the rewards for becoming a Foundation Establishment elder.
At the same time, Xiao Chou's information was reported to the higher-ups. Within three days, he would likely receive orders to head to the front lines.
"With the war intensifying, all Foundation Establishment cultivators will be assigned to the front lines. If you desert, there will be severe punishments, including the revocation of your elder status and the destruction of your cultivation. Be careful."
The elder reminded him.
"Thank you for the warning!" Xiao Chou cupped his hands in gratitude.
He returned to his cave dwelling and opened his storage bag, stunned by the wealth of resources inside.
Xu Hei was also taken aback.
A thousand spirit stones, three bottles of Pei Yuan Pills, countless recovery pills, two flying swords, and even two spiritual treasures, one for attack and one for defense...
There was also a third-tier talisman capable of defending against a Core Formation stage attack.
As for the jade slips Xu Hei needed, there were too many to count.
"No wonder it's wartime; the resources are abundant!" Xiao Chou exclaimed.
"Are you heading to the battlefield?" Xu Hei asked curiously.
"Yes! If I don't go, I'll be considered a deserter and punished! A few days of delay are fine, but if it's too long and affects the war, my cultivation will be destroyed," Xiao Chou said helplessly.
Xu Hei said no more and began examining the jade slips one by one.
These spell jade slips usually required a large number of contribution points to exchange.
Now, to enhance their combat power, the sects were not holding back.
From these jade slips, Xu Hei learned several powerful spells.
"Mountain Embrace Seal, second-tier advanced."
"Stone Vein Technique, second-tier advanced."
"Falling Stars, second-tier peak."
"..."
Xu Hei's target was only those second-tier advanced spells, which had the power of late Foundation Establishment.
Although Xu Hei had never fought a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, he felt that with his previous methods, he could handle mid-stage opponents. Intermediate spells didn't add much to his power.
To become stronger, he had to learn second-tier advanced spells.
These would be his trump cards against late Foundation Establishment cultivators!
Of course, with Xu Hei's current strength, he believed it would still be difficult to contend with some veteran late Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even within the same realm, the difference in strength could be vast.
Xu Hei had experienced this firsthand.
For example, that old ape, who was only at the Great Perfection of the Spirit Communion Stage, could still injure him, who was at the same stage.
Xu Hei couldn't guarantee that he would win against a late Foundation Establishment cultivator, or even a mid-stage one.
Especially after seeing Xiao Chou obtain a third-tier defensive talisman, this thought grew stronger.
An hour later, Xu Hei had read through all the jade slips, recording the cultivation steps in his mind.
At the same time, he had obtained the main cultivation technique of the Mountain Movers Sect, the second layer of the Mountain Moving and Ridge Shifting Technique.
Although Xu Hei's cultivation hadn't advanced, acquiring this knowledge had rapidly increased his combat methods. With more practice, his strength would be incomparable.
He didn't need to find a place to test; he could directly experiment on people.
"It's time to kill," Xu Hei thought.
Xu Hei locked onto a red dot on the jade slip. That night, he and Xiao Chou stealthily moved towards their target.
......
Mountain Movers Sect, back mountain.
Elder Qiu paced back and forth, his expression anxious.
"Damn it, I've sent the message jade slip all afternoon, why hasn't there been any response?"
//98//
Elder Qiu, whose full name is Qiu Hua, was one of the few who remained loyal to the sect.
Originally, he planned to make things difficult for Xiao Chou, assigning him to deadly positions or finding opportunities to eliminate him secretly.
But when he learned that Xiao Chou had become an elder in the Foundation Establishment Stage, he couldn't sit still.
He immediately sent a message to the alliance, reporting Xiao Chou for killing allies and demanding evidence be submitted.
Killing two allies was no small crime!
Although he himself couldn't escape blame, his extensive connections meant he could easily get away with a minor charge of negligence. But Xiao Chou would be in serious trouble.
Now, with the need for a suicide squad, Xiao Chou's fate would likely be to have his soul imprinted and be sent to the front lines as cannon fodder.
A Foundation Establishment Stage cannon fodder was hard to come by.
"They're here!" Qiu Hua's face lit up with excitement.
In the distance, two figures, a man and a woman, flew in on swords. They were enforcers from the Four Sects Alliance, both in the mid-Foundation Establishment Stage.
"Are you the one who reported someone from the Mountain Movers Sect for killing allied disciples?" The red-haired woman looked down at him coldly.
"That's right, here's what happened..."
Facing the enforcers, he didn't dare hide anything and recounted the events in detail, including his own actions.
A flicker of disgust passed through the red-haired woman's eyes.
While others were fighting and dying on the front lines, this old man was enjoying himself at home, even indulging in secret affairs.
"My actions have shamed the position of elder. I am willing to volunteer for the front lines at Chuyang City to atone for my sins!" Qiu Hua clasped his hands and half-knelt on the ground, eyes full of regret.
His attitude left the red-haired woman momentarily stunned.
"Hehe, Elder Qiu, there's no need for such dramatics. It's a small matter. Those two female cultivators from the Purple Mist Sect were also seeking their own cultivation. What's wrong with mutual benefit?" The middle-aged male enforcer stepped forward and helped Qiu Hua up.
During their interaction, a storage bag was quietly passed from Qiu Hua to the man, who tucked it into his waistband.
"I... I truly feel guilty. If I don't go to the front lines, I won't be able to cultivate in peace!" Qiu Hua spoke with tears and remorse.
The middle-aged male cultivator responded with polite words, both of them seasoned veterans of such situations.
However, the red-haired woman was new and didn't understand the nuances, thinking the old man was genuinely remorseful, and nodded secretly.
Do you really want to die that badly?"
Suddenly, a cold voice echoed.
Xiao Chou appeared behind Qiu Hua, standing like a tower, eyes sharp as lightning, fists clenched.
"Xiao Chou?"
Qiu Hua was startled, then a look of joy flashed in his eyes. This person had walked right into his trap.
The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow and said indifferently, "So, you're Xiao Chou? Perfect timing. We suspect you of murdering allies. Come with us!"
Xiao Chou remained calm, "I didn't kill anyone."
Of course, he hadn't killed anyone; Xu Hei had done it.
"Whether you did or not, we will investigate. Don't make things worse for yourself!" The middle-aged cultivator said coldly.
Seeing Xiao Chou unmoved, the red-haired woman advised, "Xiao Chou, Elder Qiu's evidence isn't enough to convict you. If you're innocent, we will clear your name."
Qiu Hua pointed at him and shouted angrily, "I saw you kill with my own eyes. How can it be false..."
"Thud!!!"
Suddenly, a massive spike shot up from the ground at an incredible speed, striking Qiu Hua from below.
"Boom!!"
A protective barrier shattered, and Qiu Hua, terrified, hurriedly took out a defensive magical artifact. But then, an ivory flying sword slashed across his throat, sending his head flying and blood spurting.
"Stop!" The middle-aged cultivator's face changed drastically, but it was too late. The sudden attack left no time to react.
Qiu Hua's flying head had wide-open eyes, full of disbelief.
He couldn't believe he was killed right under the enforcers' noses.
"No..."
Fear lingered in Qiu Hua's eyes as his head hit the ground, and his headless body collapsed.
This actor, who had played his role all his life, finally met his end at the hands of a brute.
"As you wished, I killed him."
Xiao Chou's cold voice slowly echoed.
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He had understood one thing.
—When someone accuses you of murder, it's best to actually kill.
The two enforcers were stunned. In all their years of enforcing, they had never seen such a brazen act, killing right under their noses.
"Attack!"
Xu Hei gave them no time to think. He immediately cast spells, releasing a giant snake and a huge frog, which lunged at the middle-aged cultivator. Xiao Chou charged at the red-haired woman.
The middle-aged cultivator, experienced in countless battles, reacted swiftly. As an enforcer, he had amassed many magical treasures.
He crushed a golden talisman, forming a protective barrier that blocked the Earth Spike's attack. Simultaneously, he flicked two purple beads from his storage bag, shooting them into the mouths of the giant frog and snake.
Xu Hei reacted quickly, making the puppets retreat and activating the Gravity Technique, suspending the beads in mid-air.
"Explode!"
The middle-aged cultivator shouted, and the beads exploded, lightning flashing and thundering, creating a deep chasm within a hundred feet.
Although the puppets avoided the explosion, they were charred black and lost their combat ability.
"Thunder Tribulation Pearls?"
Xu Hei squinted, then shook his head, "No, just imitations!"
True Thunder Tribulation Pearls absorbed the power of heavenly tribulations, their power comparable to a minor heavenly tribulation, capable of threatening even Core Formation Stage cultivators.
The downside was that they didn't discriminate between friend and foe, potentially killing the user as well.
"Still alive?"
The middle-aged cultivator glanced at Xu Hei in surprise, then shouted at Xiao Chou, "Xiao Chou, attacking enforcers is a serious crime. Surrender now!"
Xiao Chou had already transformed into battle mode, his body like a small mountain, fists thundering as he fought the red-haired woman fiercely, ignoring the man.
"Swish!"
A flying sword flashed like lightning, stabbing at the middle-aged cultivator. The protective barrier around him shattered upon contact, and the spiritual energy dissipated instantly.
This flying sword was Xu Hei's Spirit-Breaking Sword.
"This sword is strange!"
The middle-aged cultivator squinted, taking out a gourd. Opening the gourd's stopper, a powerful suction force erupted, pulling Xu Hei's Spirit-Breaking Sword towards it.
The Sword-Swallowing Gourd, specifically designed to devour flying swords, was the nemesis of all flying swords!
If not for the sword's strong suppression of spiritual energy, it would have been swallowed already.
"Gravity Technique!"
Xu Hei focused, applying the Gravity Technique to the gourd. The middle-aged cultivator used the same technique, resulting in a stalemate.
But then, the middle-aged cultivator was horrified to find that his Gravity Technique couldn't compete with this Foundation Establishment Stage great demon?
The Sword-Swallowing Gourd slowly moved towards Xu Hei.
"How is this possible?"
The middle-aged cultivator was shocked. Not only was his cultivation higher, but the gourd was also refined with his imprint. How could it be forcibly taken?
Even a late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator couldn't achieve this!
Xu Hei realized that his purple True Qi could suppress this person in quality.
This suppression transcended cultivation levels, an upper-level suppression over a lower level!
Though the man's cultivation was higher, his True Qi quality was inferior to Xu Hei's.
However, Xu Hei had just entered the Foundation Establishment Stage, and his True Qi wasn't as deep. Within a few breaths, he had consumed a lot.
Xu Hei didn't continue the stalemate. He quickly swallowed a Rejuvenation Pill and cast the Sandstorm Technique!
"Boom boom boom!!!"
In an instant, winds howled, sand filled the sky, and a massive storm erupted, lifting the ground as if to blow away the entire mountain.
The middle-aged cultivator quickly retrieved the gourd, took out a green pearl, and formed a wind-resistant barrier around him, ignoring the storm.
"Damn! This guy has so many magical treasures!"
Xu Hei cursed inwardly. The people he had killed mainly relied on spells, occasionally using flying swords, but he had never encountered someone with so many magical treasures.
In comparison, Xu Hei had very few magical treasures and rarely used them. He wasn't skilled in their use either.
The middle-aged cultivator was equally shocked. Despite his higher cultivation, he was at a disadvantage, barely able to defend himself.
This was the first time Bai Xiu had encountered such a situation.
"This demon isn't simple. Though it appears to be in the early Foundation Establishment Stage, its True Qi can suppress mine. The situation on the other side isn't good either. I can't drag this out."
Bai Xiu took out a black flag from his storage bag. It quickly expanded into a giant sail in his palm.
Instantly, the sky darkened, and the sound of ghostly wails and howls echoed.
Seeing the giant sail, Xu Hei felt a chill, as if he were in the depths of the underworld.
He retrieved his Spirit-Breaking Sword and the charred puppets, eyes wary.
"This giant sail must be his trump card. I can't give him time to release it."