Chapter 421 - 202: The Million Spirit Stones in Hand Are Trying to Run Away!

Chapter 421: Chapter 202: The Million Spirit Stones in Hand Are Trying to Run Away!

It was a well-known fact that some Spiritual Artifacts were designed with two forms to compensate for a cultivator’s limited True Essence.

The Cloud-Piercing Spirit Shuttle he was piloting was a prime example of such a Spiritual Artifact.

Its fully activated Spirit Ascension Form could match the speed of a Great Perfection Golden Core Cultivator who had mastered their Escape Techniques.

Initially, to conserve his True Essence for suppressing any potential resistance from Chen Xiao, Zhao Hongwen had only used its standard form.

But now, watching the million-Spirit-Stone bounty slip further and further away, he could no longer restrain himself.

He decisively activated the Cloud-Piercing Spirit Shuttle’s Spirit Ascension Form, determined to claim the prize.

Hm?

’Are Eastern Domain Cultivators’ Escape Techniques this formidable?’

’Or am I just unlucky enough to have run into an expert in Escape Techniques?’

Xiao Chen’s Divine Sense perceived the white light behind him accelerating again, and his brow furrowed slightly.

’But either way, this can’t continue. It looks like I can’t hide my strength any longer.’

So, no longer holding back, he pushed his Escape Techniques to their limit and vanished over the horizon in an instant.

He left Zhao Hongwen in his wake, completely flabbergasted.

’Fucking hell! Am I seeing things?’

’No, that’s impossible. How can a Golden Core Cultivator fly faster than the Cloud-Piercing Spirit Shuttle?’

’If a cultivator can reach that speed, what’s the point of the Cloud-Piercing Spirit Shuttle even existing?’

Since the Cloud-Piercing Spirit Shuttle was invented, a situation like this had never been heard of.

Before today, if anyone had told Zhao Hongwen that a person could outrun the Spirit Shuttle, he would have thought they were insane.

But now, he was the one who felt like he was going insane. "My one million! Aaaargh!"

The feeling of losing a million Spirit Stones was sickening.

Zhao Hongwen stood stunned for a long moment before it dawned on him. ’Right! There’s still the hundred-thousand-Spirit-Stone reward for the lead!’

By now, he was completely certain that the person who had just escaped was Chen Xiao.

Once he calmed down and thought about it, the truth wasn’t hard to deduce.

Only a supreme secret teaching from the Profound Celestial Immortal Palace could grant a Golden Core Cultivator such incredible Escape Speed. That was the only plausible explanation.

There could be no other way.

And how long had it been since the Profound Celestial Immortal Palace opened?

The man had already broken through to the Golden Core realm. It had to be connected to the Immortal Palace Secret Technique; in fact, it was most likely a direct result of it.

At this realization, a fervent glint flashed in Zhao Hongwen’s eyes.

’If only I could obtain the Immortal Palace’s legacy! I could break through to the Nascent Soul realm, become a True Monarch, and command the entire Jingkong Sea. How glorious would that be!’

’Still, there was a chance.’

’As long as I help the family capture Chen Xiao, it’s not impossible that I’ll get some guidance in the future.’

As Zhao Hongwen reveled in this fantasy, he took out a specially crafted Sound Transmission Spirit Sword.

Sound Transmission Spirit Swords were special Spiritual Artifacts created to solve the problem of long-distance communication between cultivators.

They could fly to a designated location or automatically find a pre-selected person within a hundred-mile radius.

The Spirit Sword could carry a recorded voice message from a cultivator, and high-end versions could even transmit a short image formed from Spiritual Power.

Furthermore, this method of communication was exceptionally secure.

Without the specific Secret Technique, no one could decipher the message within, even if the sword was intercepted.

The only drawback was their exorbitant price; the average Loose Cultivator couldn’t possibly afford one.

Zhao Hongwen sent out three Sound Transmission Spirit Swords in quick succession, relaying the intelligence to his family’s Old Ancestor, the Patriarch, and his second uncle.

This was both a precaution against interception and a way to secure his claim as the one who found him first.

Before long, both recipients had received the message, with the exception of the Zhao Family’s Old Ancestor, who was in closed-door cultivation.

The Zhao Family Patriarch, Zhao Chenghan, immediately summoned the clan elders for a meeting.

Learning that Chen Xiao’s location had finally been exposed, the members of the Zhao Family were ecstatic.

"Hahaha! Heaven rewards the persistent! I knew a grown man like him couldn’t stay hidden forever."

"Excellent! Now that we know his location, what are we waiting for? Let’s go grab him!"

"Hold on. He’s been hiding within the Golden Dawn Sect’s territory for two years without a trace. It’s highly likely he has a protector. If we rush in recklessly, capturing him won’t be so easy."

"Indeed!"

Zhao Chenghan nodded. "This opportunity is of the utmost importance. What’s more, it can serve as a tribute to the True Monarch. All that matters is that our Zhao Family takes the lead credit."

"I propose we contact the Chu and Wen Families. We can gather our forces and pressure the Golden Dawn Sect together. What are your thoughts on this matter?"

The elders below exchanged glances, then declared in unison, "The Patriarch is wise!"

Soon, the three families reached an agreement. They gathered their forces and set out together.