Within the Northern Domain of the Eastern Wasteland.
Convinced that Zuo Yang was Fu Fatty, the originally grand and sweeping search operations of the two families came to an abrupt halt. The personnel dispatched were also recalled.
Continuing down that path had already lost its meaning. Perhaps out of spite or revenge, Gu Hanâs bounty suddenly jumped to twenty million. Ten million from each family!
***
In the main hall of the Yang estate.
A dark cloud loomed over Yang Xiong, killing intent blazing in his eyes. The group of elders watched him, not daring to breathe too loud.
Two days ago, Yang Xiong had been severely reprimanded by Yang Tong and almost lost his position as family head.
After a long while, one elder carefully said, âFamily Head, how about we put it behind us? Why donât we wait until the young master exits seclusion before making further plans?â
Yang Xiong smiled ferociously. âForget it? My son is severely injured, my brother was assassinated, and then thereâs that bitch Yu Miao! If I donât take revenge, I wonât be at peace. Increase the bounty again! I donât believe we canât end the life of a mere Essence Gathering cultivator with this amount!â
Unable to do anything about Zuo Yang and Yu Miao, he could only take his anger out on Gu Han.
Everyone exchanged glances.
Twenty million essence crystals?!
Posting a bounty for an Essence Gathering realm cultivator was already a hundred times the premium, but increasing it again?
Another elder tried to persuade him again, âFamily Head, this matterââ
Before he could finish, a commotion suddenly came from outside.
At that moment, a Yang family steward ran in hurriedly, the excitement in his eyes difficult to suppress. âFamily Head, good news! Great news!â
Yang Xiong, already irritated, became even more furious at his interruption. âGood news? Tell me, what good news? If Iâm not satisfied,
hmph!
â
The steward shrank back down. âA Heaven-tier technique has appeared!â
Yang Xiong instantly stood up. âWhat?!â
***
At the Meng estate, Meng Chuan was reeling from shock after hearing the clan memberâs report.
âArt of Returning to Origin and Heart? âUsing the body as a furnace, the soul as the foundation, the qi as nourishment, condensing an indestructible dharma physique, dominating the six directions, reigning supreme over the eight wastelands, invincible and peerless?ââ he recited the opening lines of the technique, his shock growing with every word. âThereâs no doubt about it! This is absolutely a Heaven-tier technique! I must go see Old Ancestor. The Meng family must obtain this technique!â
***
In the Yuqing Sect.
Suppressing his awkwardness, Murong Yuan deliberately put on a serious expression. âI have ascertained the origin of this technique. A rogue cultivator stumbled upon it on an ancient relic site. However, since the site was blocked by multiple barriers, he could only obtain this opening section. The true technique is still deep within the relic site. Presumably, this person returned to find helpers, but the news leaked out. The cultivator himself has mysteriously disappeared. Iâm afraid he met a gruesome end.â
Beside him were Yuqing Sectâs other two supreme elders, Wu De and Duan Ren. Aged beyond recognition, their faces were full of wrinkles, clearly having very little lifespan left.
Duan Ren frowned deeply. âDisappeared? Then the location of the relic site is lost?â
âAccording to rumors, the relic site lies about ten thousand li to the west, though its exact location remains unknown.â Murong Yuan thought for a moment, before sighing with emotions. âThe profoundness of this technique is truly something! Iâve never seen anything like it in my life! Forget the Northern Domain, it would absolutely be a rare treasure anywhere! If one could truly cultivate it to the extreme and condense the dharma physique, our cultivation level would definitely advance another step!â
Murong Yuan was telling the truth. After all, from the moment he got the technique, he had studied it day and night, going over it twenty times already.
Wu De and Duan Renâs breathing quickened. Advancing another step meant the true Transcendent realm. Though separated by only one word, the Half-Step Transcendent and Transcendent realms were divided by a vast chasm. As for lifespan, it was nearly twice as long.
Murong Yuanâs words struck directly at their vital point.
Thinking of this, Wu De could no longer suppress the urgency in his heart. âLetâs go! Weâll go search now! We must find that relic site before anyone else!â
A cold glint flashed in Duan Renâs eyes. âYouâre right! If anyone dares to compete with us, donât blame us for being heartless!â
Murong Yuan deliberately frowned. âWould it be appropriate?â
âWhatâs inappropriate?â
Murong Yuan analyzed, full of worry. âThe exact location of the relic site is unclear. Even if we arrive first, if our luck is bad and someone else finds it first, then...â
Wu De instantly realized. âRight! You make a good point. Then...â
Duan Renâs face twisted. âGather manpower! The Murong family, the Yuqing Sect, all cultivators at Divine Connection realm and aboveâall should go! Let me see, in terms of manpower, who can match our two families?!â
Cultivators at that realm and above had long since cultivated divine sense, which would be a great help to find that relic site.
Murong Yuan nodded with a straight face. âGood idea. I shall return to prepare. Letâs set off immediately!â
The two solemnly cupped their hands. âThank you!â
Although they usually didnât get along well with Murong Yuan, they sincerely cooperated this time. After all, with their numbers, they had a high chance of finding this technique first.
***
The Qixia Courtâs court master, Li Xun, was a middle-aged man, also at the Half-Step Transcendent realm.
In contrast to the impatience of the two from Yuqing Sect, Li Xun appeared completely composed. âEveryone, the exact location of the relic site is unclear. We still need to discuss carefully how to search for it.â
âYes, we must discuss this thoroughly!â
âThe court masterâs thoughts align with mine.â
Everyone also appeared calm, flattering each other profusely. There was no rush as there was still time.
Suddenly, someone ran in from outside in a panic. âCourt Master, n-not good!â
Li Xun waved his hand, not blaming him, and smiled. âElder Wang, what matter causes such alarm? We are just discussing how to explore that relic site. Since youâre here, why donât you offer an idea?â
Elder Wang instantly widened his eyes.
Offer an idea? Court Master, your heart is truly big!
He was full of anxiety. âCourt Master, I just discovered that all experts at Divine Connection realm and above from Yuqing Sect and the Murong family have mobilized. Theyâre all heading to the relic site! A total of fifty or sixty people!â
âWhat?! Those old farts are shameless! Too shameless! Pass on my order!â Li Xunâs expression changed dramatically, and he could no longer remain composed. He waved his hand grandly. âAll cultivators at Divine Connection realm and above from the Qixia Court, follow me! We must get ahead of them and find that relic site!â
He immediately soared into the air.
A rather dull-witted elder was puzzled. âCourt Master, is the discussion over?â
Li Xun almost tumbled back down.
Discuss? Discuss what?! By the time we finish discussing, others would have long obtained the technique!
***
Outside the secret realm of the Yang family, Yang Tongâs gaze swept over the ten elite clan members guarding the secret realm. âAfter I leave, you must stay guard. Remember, kill anyone who dares to approach within half a step of the secret realm without exception! You must also not let anyone know about the things inside, understood?!â
âYes! Old Ancestor!â
Yang Tong waved his hand. âGood! Thenââ
At that moment, Yang Xiong flew over. âOld Ancestor, not good! Yuqing Sect, the Murong family, and Qixia Court have already mobilized ahead of time!â
Yang Tongâs heart dropped. âWhat?! How many?!â
âA total of hundred or more people! They are all cultivators at Divine Connection realm and above!â
Yang Tong fell silent for a moment. âForget it! Two of you, stay behind. The other eight, come with me! This technique is destined to belong to the Yang family. No one can take it away!â
***
At the Meng estate, Old Ancestor Meng Qing, was giving final instructions with a serious face. âRemember, whoever discovers the relic site first, I will reward them!â
âUnderstood!â
***
On the desolate plains, a man clad in white, with somewhat strange features, flew with the wind. He was Ruyi Towerâs tower master, Wei Fang.
His golden pupils suddenly brightened. âHeaven-tier technique? It doesnât matter who gets it, theyâll have to give me a share!â
***
Not far from the black market, inside a rather hidden, simply furnished cave abode, Elder Mu slowly stood up. â
Ah!
Having lived so many years, in the end, I cannot escape the word âgreed.â Forget it, itâs good to go take a look. What if this opportunity also has a share for me?â
He took a step forward, instantly disappearing without a trace.
***
At this moment, the entire Northern Domain was boiling.
âLook, people from the Yuqing Sect!â
âAnd the Qixia Court, the Yang family, the Meng family!â
âDamn! Theyâve mobilized en masse!â
âNonsense, itâs the temptation of a Heaven-tier technique, who can resist? If my cultivation level wasnât low, Iâd go join the excitement too!â
Amid the discussions, a figure quietly left the crowd, instantly heading far away. Judging by the figure, it was Yang Ying. After about a quarter of an hour, he arrived at a small valley. There, Gu Han and the other two were quietly waiting for him.
Murong Yan was extremely dissatisfied. âYouâre so slow! You might as well have let me go!â
The three ignored her.
You go? Weâd be exposed right away!
Gu Han licked his lips. âBrother Yang, how is it?â
Yang Ying took a deep breath. âI saw clearly that the Yang familyâs Divine Connection realm cultivators have almost all mobilized. The ones left are no more than two.â
Gu Han narrowed his eyes. âTwo? It seems Yang Tong is indeed a curious person.â
Murong Yan exclaimed, âOf course! To cooperate with you and not arouse suspicion, Old Ancestor mobilized all the clanâs Divine Connection realm experts. He didnât even leave the hidden guards inside the secret realm.â
Gu Hanâs eyes lit up. âIs that so?! Thereâs really none left?â
Murong Yan was stunned. âBrother Gu, what are you thinking! Donât you go killing familiar faces!â
What Gu Han was thinking was actually another matter. âI wonât! But you all arranged that relic site properly, right?â
Shen Xuanâs mouth twitched. âItâs ready. If they see it, they should be pleasantly surprised.â
Yang Ying agreed. âYes! Extremely surprised!â
Thinking of what Gu Han had instructed them to place inside the relic site, a single word flashed through their minds.
Ruthless!
They had never seen someone so ruthless!
Gu Hanâs spirits lifted. âGood then! Letâs go, we are going to make a huge fortune!â
Shen Xuan and Yang Ying instantly grew fervent. This time, they were really going to make a huge fortune!
Murong Yan was even more excited than them. She didnât care about making a fortune at all. All she wanted was to join the excitement, the more the merrier!
***
The Yang familyâs secret realm was located not far behind the Yang estate, in a quiet small valley.
Four figures quietly approached the outside of the valley. With Yang Yingâs help, they easily avoided all eyes and ears. Of course, to guard against any mishaps, all four wore black clothes and masks.
Yang Ying didnât forget to instruct, âRemember that after itâs done, return the clothes to me. Theyâre very expensive.â
The three looked at him with disdain.
Weâre about to make a huge fortune, yet youâre still so stingy!
âIn a momentââ
Just as Gu Han was about to speak, a faint, almost imperceptible, delicate fragrance suddenly wafted over. His hairs instantly stood on end.
Why did this smell feel so familiar?!
Murong Yan sniffed. â
Huh?
A womanâs scent?â
Immediately after, Liu Yingâs extremely charming, endlessly seductive voice reached their ears. âLittle Brother Gu Han, Iâve finally found you!â
Shit! Not good!
Gu Han turned his head sharply, just in time to see Liu Yingâs alluring figure swaying as she gracefully walked over.
Gu Han instantly drew his sword. âYou were following me?â
Liu Ying laughed, shuddering like a flower branch. âFrom the moment you came out, I have been following you. So you actually had your eye on someoneâs secret realm. What a cunning little guy!â
Murong Yan also stood up, her tone unfriendly. âLittle guy? Youâre close to him?â
Upon seeing Murong Yanâs figure, Liu Ying was visibly taken aback. â
Huh?
Why is this barbarian so tall and mighty?â
After a moment of silence, Murong Yan erupted in fury.
Barbarian?!
âI will hammer you to death!â