Iridescent Clouds Palace, Ash Parasol Mountain.
An old man in scarlet robes flew through the air without relying on any external objects, descending slowly in front of a cave abode on the middle of a mountain.
The sect badge on his waist indicated that he was from True Fire Sect.
This was Sima Zhi, a Golden Core of True Fire Sect.
A towering ancient tree stood in front of the cave abode with a stone table beneath it. A man in azure blue robes sat solemnly on a stone stool, his long, narrow eyes shimmering coldly.
âBrother Cang Lang, why have you called for me so urgently?â
Sima Zhi asked the moment he landed.
The azure-robed man was Perfected Being Cang Lang of Iridescent Clouds Palace!
Perfected Being Cang Lang had a calm expression and took a sip of tea unhurriedly, only speaking after he put down the teacup, âBrother Sima, you donât even know that youâre at deathâs door?!â
âAh?
Sima Zhi was startled. However, he composed himself in the blink of an eye and shook his head, laughing. âCang Lang, what kind of joke is this?â
âThat Su Zimo is at Extreme Foundation Establishment. Given his vengeful nature, do you think heâs going to let us off once he enters Golden Core realm?â Perfected Being Cang Lang snorted coldly.
Sima Zhiâs expression darkened and he kept quiet for a brief moment. âTo be honest, I did think about this after the fight at Ethereal Peak. However, our sect has already sent people to reconcile with Ethereal Peak, so thereâs nothing I can do about it either.â
âI canât possibly head over to Ethereal Peak singlehandedly, right? Whatâs the difference between committing suicide if I did that?â
After pausing for a moment, Sima Zhi continued, âFurthermore, Sima Zhi is at Extreme Foundation Establishment. Whoever lays a hand on him will have to suffer the wrath of Ethereal Peak!â
âOthers might have their considerations but you and I? Weâre different,â
Perfected Being Cang Lang said with a deep voice, âThe situation is extremely clear right now. Itâs either Su Zimo or the both of us who dies! We only have a shot at this and we have to be quick about it! Otherwise, there will be a lot more things to account for once that lad makes a breakthrough to Golden Core realm.â
Sima Zhiâs gaze shimmered and he took in a deep breath of air after a moment. âBrother Cang Lang, what do you think we should do then?â
âThereâs no hurry. Iâve already invited three helpers and they should be arriving soon.â
Perfected Being Cang Lang gestured for Sima Zhi to take a seat and calm down.
Not long after, three Golden Cores arrived through the air. In the middle was a skinny middle-aged man with thin lips and a cold expression.
On the left was a Golden Core holding a long cloth. His face was plump and he was all smiles.
The one on the right was dressed in a martial arts outfit and looked sturdy with muscles bulging like rocks. There was a ferocious aura coming from him.
Perfected Being Cang Lang welcomed them.
Pointing to the Golden Core with a long cloth on the left, Perfected Being Cang Lang introduced, âThis is the most famous Formation Master of the Tianhuang Mainland North Region, Perfected Being Tan Hao.â
âThis is Fellow Daoist Gao Hu, heâs at late-stage Golden Core and specializes in body tempering,â
The martial arts man nodded towards Sima Zhi.
Finally, Perfected Being Cang Lang looked towards the skinny man in the middle and smiled. âThis is the renowned Fellow Daoist Liang Heng of the North Region. At perfected Golden Core, he entered the intermediate ancient battlefield 80 years ago and contested for the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking!â
Sima Zhiâs heartt skipped a beat.
Within the territory of Great Zhou, there were no sects or factions that had the capabilities to break through the barrier of the intermediate ancient battlefield and send cultivators in.
Sima Zhi and the others did not have a chance to witness the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking, let alone compete for a spot on it with other cultivators.
Liang Heng waved it off and pretended to be humble. âItâs nothing much. After all, I did not manage to obtain a spot on it.â
âThe Unusual Phenomenon Ranking isnât something that can be compared with us. The fact that youâre even qualified to compete for a spot on it proves your strength, fellow Daoist,â Sima Zhi praised hurriedly.
Perfected Being Cang Lang said with a smile as well, âFellow Daoist Liang Heng missed leaving his name on the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking by just a little 80 years ago. For the next Unusual Phenomenon Ranking, youâll definitely be able to rank within the top ten!â
âYes.â
Liang Heng nodded, pleased with their flattery.
He did not have much ties with Perfected Being Cang Lang. The reason he came this time round was mainly because he heard that Su Zimo had a connate spirit weapon!
If he could obtain that connate spirit weapon, he would definitely be able to obtain a spot on the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking the next time he entered the ancient battlefield!n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
Of course, it was a foolâs dream to want to obtain a top ten spot.
The top ten of the Unusual Phenomenon Ranking were one more terrifying than the other!
Sima Zhi asked, âRight now, Su Zimo should be in seclusion within Ethereal Peak and would most likely not appear before he formed a core. Do we have any way of luring him out?â
âIâve got a female disciple called Shen Mengqi. She was childhood sweethearts with that kid,â
Perfected Being Cang Lang declared confidently with narrowed eyes, âIf he hears that her life is in danger, heâll definitely come forth!â
Sima Zhiâs eyes lit up and he nodded in agreement.
The Formation Master at the side, Tan Hao, pondered for a moment before saying with a smile, âIâve got three questions. First, you said that they were childhood sweethearts. Would he come forth just for someone thatâs about to die?â
âDefinitely!â
Perfected Being Cang Langâs tone was confident.
âAlright, second question,â
Tan Hao continued, âWe canât set the location at Iridescent Clouds Palace. Otherwise, that lad might not take the bait.â
âOf course, Iâve already taken that into account and planned things,â Perfected Being Cang Lang asserted.
Tan Hao nodded before adding, âThe third question is that even if he takes the bait, how do we kill him down? The fight at Ethereal Peak, ha, had quite an impact in the cultivation world. I heard that this Su Zimo lad is at Extreme Foundation Establishment realm and has the capabilities to kill Golden Cores beyond his level.â
âWith the five of us Golden Cores attacking together, do we have to fear a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator?â Gao Hu asked darkly.
Tan Hao remarked, âItâs not about fear, Iâm worried about accidents. If he manages to escape, we wonât get a second chance.â
âHis death is certain with me around!â Liang Heng declared coldly.
âEveryone, please listen to me,â
Perfected Being Cang Lang said with a dark tone, âThis kid is at Extreme Foundation Establishment realm and has many trump cards up his sleeves. He possesses a pair of spirit wings and even has an extremely terrifying secret skill that can go against my Golden Core phenomenon!â
Liang Heng, Gao Hu and Tan Haoâs expressions changed slightly upon hearing that.
The rumors were real.
A secret skill released by a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could truly go against a Golden Core phenomenon!
Even though Perfected Being Cang Langâs Golden Core phenomenon was not considered to be strong, it was still a shocking fact.
âEven a lion uses its full might to chase down a rabbit. Since I chose to make a move, I wonât underestimate my opponent, even if the kid is only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!â
Perfected Being Cang Lang said darkly, âFellow Daoist Tan Hao, you have to set up your array formations before hand to ensure that this lad doesnât escape!â
âNo problem,â
Tan Hao replied with a smile, âWith me setting up the formations personally, even Golden Cores wonât be able to escape!â
Perfected Being Cang Lang narrowed his eyes and said coldly, âEveryone, take a look at what Iâve truly prepared for this kid!â
With that said, he withdrew a jade bottle from his storage bag. There was a scarlet flower that resembled an orchid in the middle of it, giving off a faint fragrance.
The other few Golden Cores swept their gazes across and their expressions changed as they retreated one after another.
âSpirit Lock Flower!â
Liang Heng frowned and asked, âThis fiend flower has already gone extinct in the ancient era. How did you get your hands on it?â
The Spirit Lock Flower would not cause any direct harm to a cultivator.
However, its fragrance had a fiendish power that could lock a cultivatorâs spirit energy; even Golden Cores could not defend against it!
The Spirit Lock Flower was one of the most famous fiend flowers of the ancient era!