Chapter 266

“Hmm?”

As Wang Yu swiftly browsed through the man’s memories, he couldn’t help but let out a surprised sound. The man’s name was Xiong Huan, only a little over three hundred years old, still rather young.

However, he turned out to be an undercover agent of the Nether Mountain Sect, planted within the Yellow Springs Monastery. His mission was to investigate the whereabouts of the supreme-grade spirit stones belonging to the Monastery.

The Dead Silence Desert was indeed the work of the Yellow Springs Monastery. Yet supreme-grade spirit stones could not be produced through formations or manual refinement;

they could only be naturally conceived by heaven and earth.

“Investigate the whereabouts of the supreme-grade spirit stones.”

To be honest, the intelligence was far too incomplete. Wang Yu found it hard to grasp the true purpose of such a task. Moreover, it was a long-term mission—he merely needed to stay hidden and wait.

Other than that piece of information, there was another clue regarding the movements of the experts from Huangbai City.

“The Earth Spirit Fruit Tree!”

Wang Yu’s attention was instantly captured by this revelation.

This ancient spiritual root bore fruit known as the Earth Spirit Fruit. When consumed by a Core Formation cultivator, it could greatly increase one’s mana capacity. It was said to be a “natural alchemy pill.”

[TL Notes:- will translate previous Golden Core spiritual energy as "mana" instead of previously named core power from now on]

It was undoubtedly a third-rank spiritual item. If taken by a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the improvement would be even more astonishing.

If he could seize even one fruit, it would drastically shorten his time needed to reach Core Formation.

The Earth Spirit Fruit Tree had long gone extinct in this realm, a relic from ancient times. Tracing further into the memory, sure enough—

It was excavated from the Ancient Ruins of the Eastern Extreme Capital.

“This really is a blessed land.”

According to the intelligence in the memory, Huangbai City had dispatched three Core Formation peak cultivators. The Earth Spirit Fruit Tree had first been discovered by a rogue cultivator.

That person had picked all the fruits and, unable to wait, consumed one on the spot. However, while refining it, he encountered a team of explorers.

Thus, the news spread.

Wave after wave of cultivators died inside, and it was eventually confirmed that there were sixteen mature Earth Spirit Fruits in total. The Nine Cities of Chasing Moon Prefecture secretly sent their experts to compete for them.

Aside from the fruits themselves, the tree was also a prime target for contention.

Having grasped the situation, Wang Yu couldn’t help feeling tempted. After sweeping his gaze around, he gathered all the spoils of battle and used the two men’s identity tokens to thoroughly ransack the City Lord’s Mansion of Huangbai City.

And indeed.

As the frontline garrison of Chasing Moon Prefecture, the place was stocked with plenty of spiritual materials. Unfortunately, most were first-rank consumables, mainly talismans and pills.

They were stored in boxes within spatial chests. Since spatial items couldn’t be nested inside each other, he transferred everything into his own Sea Heart Ring.

As a top-tier Heaven and Earth Ring, its capacity was more than sufficient.

The higher-grade items had mostly been taken by the Core Formation cultivators, but the spirit stones were still abundant—over five million in total, piled up like a small mountain, all of which he took.

The most valuable items in Huangbai City’s treasury were disposable-type magic weapons, equivalent in level to the Thunder Tribulation Pellet, but they released a divine sense shockwave instead.

They were called Yellow Springs Screech. Each looked like a conical shell and could be used in combination. Wang Yu obtained a small box containing about twenty of them—quite a useful find.

This was clearly standard military equipment, definitely not something allowed to be taken out of the city privately.

Different from high-grade rare treasures.

“Even a small raid can yield so much. Truly worthy of a hegemonic power, they play extravagantly.”

He muttered to himself.

Just as Wang Yu was preparing to leave, he suddenly paused and looked down at the token in his hand. It was the City Lord’s Order, found in Elder Li’s Heaven and Earth Ring.

Its function was similar to Jade Spirit’s token.

If he acted alone, there would surely be survivors, which could expose him. But if the formation itself did the work, it would have nothing to do with him.

“Heh.”

He inserted the token into the formation’s core and poured in over a hundred thousand spirit stones as power supply.

In an instant, a transparent, diamond-glazed barrier enveloped the entire Huangbai City. Many cultivators waiting for news from Elders Li and Xiong began to feel a sense of dread.

“Wuuuuu...”

The ghost flute wailed!

Since they were enemies, there was no need for mercy.

...

...

A few days later.

Having crossed into the territory of Chasing Moon Prefecture and nearing Wanglong City, Wang Yu was frowning as he used his true essence to refine the Ghost-Weeping Flute, a lower-grade magic treasure.

Due to the sudden events in Huangbai City, its ghostly energy had been filled for the first time. The number of Soul-Devouring Shadow Crows had reached three thousand, hitting its limit.

According to its original design, it still had room for one more upgrade.

That would depend on what materials Wang Yu infused into it—this step would require the hand of a master artificer.

At that moment, he looked up. The hundred-meter-high city walls of Wanglong City loomed before him.

“So this is Wanglong City.”

His goal this time was the Earth Spirit Fruit. Considering the difference in strength and the number of forces involved, seizing it alone would be difficult.

He could only borrow another’s power. He remembered that the Wei Clan was equivalent to a first-class force and possessed a Nascent Soul cultivator. Though that elder likely wouldn’t be stationed in Wanglong City, they could still provide several Core Formation-level helpers.

If he truly wished to compete, Wei Hao’s side might offer an opportunity.

Upon entering Wanglong City, Wang Yu did not wear the Earth-Net Ghost Mask.

He moved with his real appearance. This was Exalted Sect territory—no need to hide.

Presenting himself formally, he was soon granted an audience.

Inside the Wanglong City Lord’s Mansion.

“Hahaha, Lord Wang, what brings you to visit me today? I heard you handed Jade Spirit over to a young master from the Zuoqiu family.”

“That’s correct.”

Wei Hao welcomed Wang Yu warmly and invited him to take a seat, yet his expression could not hide his fatigue. Based on what Wang Yu had seen upon entering the city, the cultivators of Wanglong City were all uneasy.

The stalemate that had lasted nearly ten years had been shattered by the incident in the Heavenly Demon Bone Forest. Afterward, the Yellow Spring Monastery’s deliberate retaliation sent waves of terror throughout the region.

After all, six out of nine city lords had perished at once. The fact that Wei Hao and the others did not immediately retreat and abandon the cities of Chasing Moon Prefecture already showed remarkable courage.

When the maidservant finished serving tea and withdrew from the guest hall, Wang Yu went straight to the point.

“Wang had been wandering around You Prefecture and was preparing to head south toward Tao Prefecture, intending to look for some Purple-Gold Peaches to improve his cultivation.

“However, along the way, I heard that another treasure had appeared in the Eastern Extreme Capital. So, I came to ask Brother Wei whether you have any interest in contending for it.”

Upon hearing this, Wei Hao was momentarily stunned.

He wanted to say that the Earth Spirit Fruit was meant for Core Formation cultivators, and since Wang Yu was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, there was no need to be so extravagant.

Moreover, Wanglong City was barely holding itself together. Its stability depended entirely on a fragile truce reached through negotiation.

Even so, many of his fellow sect members had already retreated, unwilling to continue following him in this gamble for fortune amid danger.

Thus, although Wei Hao knew that the Earth Spirit Fruit could help him gain a firm foothold at the Core Formation stage, he had not sent many people to pursue it.

Almost all the forces he could command had been stationed along the You Prefecture border to monitor the movements of reinforcements from the Yellow Spring Monastery.

“Apologies, City Lord Wang.

“The Earth Spirit Fruit is indeed precious, but it is difficult enough for this Wei to protect himself at present. How could I have the luxury of pursuing such a spirit item? I have already reported this matter to Heavenly Corpse Peak.

“If Senior Disciple Jiang’s personal disciples are interested, they will naturally come to compete for it.”

Personal disciples referred to those under Nascent Soul cultivators, officially recognized by the sect, of whom there were only ten.

Figures such as the Little Talisman Master Luo Chen were privately accepted disciples of Nascent Soul Ancestors. Though their status was high, they could not compete for titles such as “Peak Lord” or “Hall Master” and could not receive top-tier resource allocation.

Their Nascent Soul masters had to exchange for resources on their own.

The Earth Spirit Fruit, without question, was one of the most supreme-grade resources.

For the sect, what was truly precious was not the dozen or so fruits that might be consumed, but the Earth Spirit Fruit Tree itself.

The fruit tree was located within the Eastern Extreme Capital, outside of Chasing Moon Prefecture. In this regard, the Blood Reversal Sect held the advantage.

Wei Hao’s decision not to compete showed his clarity, yet Wang Yu could not help but feel disappointed.

If he could not borrow support, would he have to mobilize the Jade Spirit people instead?

Apart from True Personage Qingyang, none of his subordinates were particularly useful. Feeling momentarily disheartened, Wang Yu cupped his hands.

“In that case, This Wang shall take his leave.”

Seeing this, Wei Hao quickly stopped him and summoned a few subordinates to bring a dossier containing intelligence on the Earth Spirit Fruit to Wang Yu.

“The information City Lord Wang provided last time greatly helped Wei. Though I cannot offer significant aid today, a bit of intelligence is no problem.”

“Much appreciated.”

After accepting the information scroll, Wang Yu departed from the City Lord’s Mansion.

Not long after he left, a shadow slipped into the room.

Wei Hao immediately frowned. The newcomer was one of his spies stationed along the You Prefecture border, a Foundation Establishment cultivator skilled in concealment and evasion arts—an elite trained by the Wei clan.

“Young master, a few days ago, Huangbai City, the closest city to Wanglong, was annihilated. All 4,300 cultivators in the city perished without a trace of corpses or souls remaining.

“Based on the traces found, there were no signs of battle. It appeared instead to be large-scale formation slaughter. The victims seemed to have been crushed alive by Huangbai City’s Golden-Iron Glazed Wall Formation.”

Wei Hao fell silent.

The room was quiet for a long time before he finally asked, “Were any suspicious individuals spotted?”

“Not at the moment. However… City Lord Wang Yu also came from that direction.

“He deviated slightly from the direct path. He might have come from within You Prefecture, or perhaps from Huangbai City.”

“Wang Yu?”

Wei Hao thought for a while before firmly denying it.

“You are overthinking. Brother Wang has been at the Foundation Establishment stage for less than a century. How could he have done such a thing? Continue investigating.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Oh, and since Huangbai City has fallen, recall the personnel stationed there and assign them to gather intelligence on the Earth Spirit Fruit.”

“Yes, sir.”

After the exchange, Wei Hao rubbed his chin thoughtfully. Deep down, he felt that Huangbai City’s destruction was most likely the work of Wang Yu. During their meeting earlier, Wang Yu’s body carried a heavy stench of blood, and his gaze still held traces of killing intent—signs of someone who had recently gone through a slaughter.

The reason he had spoken otherwise to his subordinates was simply to prevent the news from spreading.

“If you truly possess such ability, I might as well place my bet on you.”

“Someone! Go, quickly invite City Lord Wang Yu back.”

Moments later.

Wang Yu returned, looking puzzled.

“Brother Wei, what is this about? I was just preparing to head south to Tao Prefecture to seek opportunities.”

“Hahaha, City Lord Wang, please do not take offense.

“After thinking it over, I realized that the Earth Spirit Fruit is indeed a rare treasure. It would be a shame not to compete for such an ancient spiritual object.”

Wang Yu’s expression turned odd.

“But you just said that Wanglong City cannot afford such a risk.”

“Fortune favors the bold. If I feared death, I would not have come to Chasing Moon Prefecture in the first place.”

Wang Yu’s eyes widened. Again with that same line.