“Senior Brother, do we have enough?”
“Counting this haul, fifteen mirage cores in total.”
“Only fifteen?”
Inside a secluded cave, a man and a woman spoke in hushed tones.
Upon hearing the number fifteen, a conflicted expression clearly crossed the woman's face.
“Senior Brother, why don't you use this batch of mirage cores first? Try roaming the ocean of origin qi and comprehending origin power!”
“How could I do that? We settled this before entering—we would first gather twenty mirage cores together, and only then begin our respective cultivation. We are still short five cores; how could I start adapting ahead of you? Besides, if anyone should use them first, it ought to be you, Mingyan!” Perfected Longyuan declared.
Seeing that she remained torn, he shook his head and offered words of comfort. “Within the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven, time flows very differently from the outside world. We still have ample time. Furthermore, because of the juniors hunting in the outer perimeter, a vast number of second- and third-rank illusory beasts will be forced into the interior. They will devour and merge with one another, giving birth to even more fourth-rank illusory beasts. We will have plenty of opportunities.”
At this point, Perfected Longyuan could not help but smile.
“If your master-disciple lineage had not shared the secret trick of absorbing mirage cores in concentrated batches, I might have labored a hundred years in this grotto-heaven without anything to show for it.”
Mingyan murmured in agreement. This secret was one that several seniors of their master-disciple lineage had summarized from past trials within the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven.
Unlike the clan lineages, the master-disciple lineage of the Tianyuan Dao Sect had few members and little backing; those participating in the five-hundred-year grand competition often entered the grotto-heaven alone.
Without a Dao Protector standing guard, they dared not absorb mirage cores casually to enter deep cultivation.
One particular senior, wishing to avoid interference, had simply hunted illusory beasts all along the way, stockpiling a massive number of mirage cores through secret arts. Then, after making layered defensive preparations, that senior absorbed them all in one go, finally succeeding in comprehending origin power!
Whether the other clans knew this trick, Mingyan did not know, but this time her master-disciple lineage had entrusted the secret to Perfected Longyuan, who shared an exceptional bond with her and was highly regarded by the lineage's elders.
However, even with the trick, illusory beasts were hard to find!
Born of the mirage dragon's power, these illusory beasts were innately attuned to this world and possessed extraordinary concealment abilities.
In twenty full years of joining hands, the two had managed to harvest only fifteen mirage cores.
They were still five short of their goal of ten cores each!
“I’ve calculated it. The remaining five cores will take at most ten more years, and we can each set a ten-year limit for our cultivation. All told, that is merely fifty years. If we haven't succeeded by then, we will still have another fifty years to gather enough mirage cores for one final attempt!” Perfected Longyuan said with full confidence.
Perfected Mingyan nodded. “Then we shall do as Senior Brother says!”
Just as the two were discussing their plans, Perfected Longyuan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he stepped straight out of the cave.
“Senior Brother, what is it?”
Mingyan hurried after him. The sight that met her eyes caused her lips to part in astonishment.
A white argali sheep, towering like a hill, was plowing through layers of forest and heading eastward.
“A fourth-rank illusory beast!” she exclaimed instinctively.
“Move! Follow it, and find a chance to take its core!”
Perfected Longyuan was extremely decisive. Gripping his longsword, he stood fully prepared to strike at any moment.
Without a second thought, Mingyan followed closely behind him.
***
Atop a mountain peak.
Two figures slowly materialized.
A young man dressed in a sumptuous robe and holding a white jade fan looked down into the abyss below the precipice.
Mists rolled in thick layers, heavy with toxic miasma.
“Old Ghost Qi, are you certain there is a fourth-rank illusory beast down there?”
Beside him, the hunched Qi Xiongcheng carried a purple jade gourd nearly larger than his own body.
He replied in a deep voice, “This old slave has definitely not mistaken it. Three years ago, an avian illusory beast preyed on a vast number of third-rank illusory beasts in the vicinity. After gorging itself, it flew alone into this abyss. From what this old slave could see, its physique was exceptionally imposing; even among fourth-rank illusory beasts, it ranks as a powerhouse. Its mirage core must contain abundant spiritual opportunity!”
Far from being pleased by this answer, Shi Ju showed visible displeasure.
“Since you discovered it, why didn't you hunt and kill it instead of waiting for me to exit seclusion? Don't you know that my purpose in entering this time is not merely to comprehend origin power, but also to use the ample time within the grotto-heaven to cultivate the *Supreme Profound Flame Illumination True Scripture*, so that once the competition ends, I can directly learn the sect's seven great divine abilities?”
His words brimmed with utter certainty regarding the Tianyuan Dao Sect's seven great divine abilities.
Yet experts of every clan knew well that Tianyuan's divine abilities were never imparted lightly. No matter how extraordinary one's aptitude, learning them came with strict prerequisites.
Only Soul Formation patriarchs or Nascent Soul Perfected Persons who had comprehended law true intent in advance were eligible to study them.
In other words, Shi Ju had never doubted whether he could comprehend law true intent; he already treated it as a foregone conclusion.
Qi Xiongcheng lowered his head even further and said softly, “Had it been an ordinary fourth-rank illusory beast, this old slave would have been confident in taking it down. But this one is too formidable, which is why Young Master's assistance is required. If the two of us join hands, it will be well within our grasp.”
“Enough!”
Shi Ju waved a dismissive hand, snapping his fan shut.
“Since I am here, there is no need to speak of joining hands. When the time comes, I shall shatter its form, and you will use the Purple Yang Gourd to collect its mirage core!”
The young master striking in person?
Qi Xiongcheng accepted the plan without hesitation, harboring no doubt regarding Shi Ju's strength.
Among the thirteen true disciples entering the grotto-heaven this time, the young master was an absolute standout, possessing not only exceptional aptitude but also terrifying combat prowess.
Even Liu Yuan, who had trained for years in the Northern Sea, had once been defeated by his hand!
The only thing requiring care was probably activating the Purple Yang Gourd.
This true artifact had been specifically forged by the Shi clan for this grotto-heaven excursion. Aside from powerful defensive capabilities, it possessed suppression and absorption powers tailored specifically against illusory beasts.
However, Qi Xiongcheng himself had not refined it for very long, so he had to exercise great caution when deploying it.
*Huuu...*
The faint sound of Shi Ju exhaling drifted past his ears.
The airflow carried a scorching heat.
Looking at Shi Ju's back, his sleeves billowing as the white fan slowly unfurled, Qi Xiongcheng made his preparations.
Just as Shi Ju was about to make his move, he suddenly asked:
“That Desolate Hermit I had you look into—did you track down his whereabouts?”
A look of hesitation crossed Qi Xiongcheng's face.
Seeing that hesitation, Shi Ju grew displeased.
“Speak!”
Qi Xiongcheng dared not dawdle and quickly replied, “I did indeed learn of him from Yu Xu. He is still within the grotto-heaven.”
“Good that he's still here!” Shi Ju pursed his lips, greed flashing in his eyes.
Qi Xiongcheng kindly advised, “Young Master, that man is exceedingly troublesome. Not only does he possess profound attainments in the soul path, but according to Yu Xu, his magical techniques and physical arts are also exceptionally formidable. I believe it would be best if we do not provoke him...”
“Hm?”
Qi Xiongcheng fell instantly silent as a winter cicada, daring not say another word.
Shi Ju sneered. “Him? I am determined to provoke him! That Heavenly Mechanism Pill personally refined by the Alchemy Saint before his departure—who knows how many mirage cores' worth of vast spiritual opportunity was gathered to produce it? If I obtain it, it will undoubtedly add wings to my comprehension of fire origin power. Perhaps I might even seize the opportunity to comprehend an even more formidable law true intent!”
Origin power was merely the most fundamental form of law true intent, and the easiest for cultivators to perceive.
Above this foundation lay other, far more formidable law true intents.
After all, though the Great Dao of Laws appeared singular, diverse transformations existed within any single law.
If he, Shi Ju, were to comprehend a law true intent during the Nascent Soul stage, he would settle for nothing less than a superior one!
“Step aside and watch how I force out the beast in that abyss!”
Without anyone noticing, the white jade fan had turned crimson, its ribs glowing like heated glazed glass as wisps of ethereal flame flickered along its surface.
Holding the flaming fan, Shi Ju prepared to strike downward.
Right at that moment—
*Skreech!*
A shrill cry pierced their ears.
The next instant, a magnificent eagle shot upward like an arrow loosed from a bowstring.
Billowing clouds trailed behind it, stretching out like a vast tail.
The moment it emerged, it paid no heed to the two people on the peak, soaring westward without the slightest hesitation.
*Snap!*
The fiery fan snapped shut. Shi Ju stared at its departing silhouette with uncertainty and lingering dread. The beast's aura was formidable! Had he struck rashly just now and fallen victim to its trickery through sheer carelessness...
“It seems Young Master's technique has advanced once again, retracting and releasing lethal moves with total ease...”
Before Qi Xiongcheng could finish his flattery, Shi Ju barked in annoyance:
“Why waste breath on nonsense? Pursue it!”
Qi Xiongcheng chuckled sheepishly and gave chase, though a profound helplessness lingered in his eyes.
For so formidable a beast to suddenly abandon its lair, something hazardous had to be taking place.
With his cautious nature honed over years of wandering the world, he had no desire to plunge into such trouble.
Yet what could he do when he was a servant of the Shi clan?
Even if outsiders regarded him with immense prestige as an exalted Perfected Person, before the Shi clan, he could never raise his head.
*Forget it. I will simply protect him as best I can!*
***
If anyone possessed a complete map of the grotto-heaven, they would find that the very center of the Mirage Dragon Grotto-Heaven was none other than Three Rainbows Falls!
No one knew how the Gu clan had discovered that core region.
Regardless, Three Rainbows Falls sat at the center, commanding every direction.
And at that moment, from east, south, west, and north, spanning tens of thousands and even hundreds of thousands of li away, dust billowed and white clouds churned violently.
Illusory beasts of varying strengths were abandoning their nests and charging toward Three Rainbows Falls.
Wherever they passed, vast stretches of forest collapsed. Formidable peaks that spanned the landscape were rammed head-on and shattered by these unreasonable behemoths driven purely by instinct as they tore straight through.
Yet Gu Daosu, the party at the heart of it all, remained completely oblivious.
His Dao Protector, Madame Xu, finally noticed something amiss.
*Boom!*
Ten li from the waterfall.
A chillingly gorgeous woman in a black gown swept her sleeve, repelling a scorpion a hundred zhang in size.
The creature tumbled continuously across the ground like a rolling boulder, testifying to the terrifying power of her single sleeve strike.
Madame Xu's expression remained calm; she assumed the beast had merely been drawn by the epiphany state of her nephew, Gu Daosu.
Such occurrences had been common over the past two or three years.
Slaying them might take some effort, but driving them back was not difficult.
These illusory beasts were cowardly by nature and would flee the moment things turned against them.
Yet once the scorpion stabilized itself, it did not retreat. Instead, it continued glaring hungrily at Madame Xu.
“Still stubborn?”
Madame Xu's brow furrowed.
The next instant, her expression shifted slightly.
Within the range of her divine sense, another illusory beast was charging in from the southeast, its destination undeniably Three Rainbows Falls.
Taking a deep breath, she unleashed a wave of terrifying killing intent and barked at the scorpion before her:
“Begone!”
Having delivered her warning, she hesitated no longer and swiftly retreated to guard Three Rainbows Falls.
After she departed, the scorpion hesitated.
That overwhelming killing intent made it dimly understand that it was no match for this human.
Yet an instinctive impulse overpowered its fear, driven by a yearning for some exquisite delicacy ahead.
To leave? Or to advance?
In its dazed state, the scorpion crept forward cautiously.
One day!
Two days!
Madame Xu appeared frequently within a hundred li of Three Rainbows Falls.
With every appearance, she delivered a thunderous strike, either driving the beasts back or shattering their forms, single-handedly preventing the illusory beasts from approaching Three Rainbows Falls.
Yet gradually, she sensed that something was deeply wrong.
*I clearly laid down the formation bestowed by the clan patriarch to seal away the bulk of the leaking spiritual opportunity. Why are so many illusory beasts still rushing to attack Su'er?*
*One or two might be an accidental intrusion, but the numbers this time are far too great.*
*Could someone be playing foul tricks?*
After ruthlessly shattering yet another fourth-rank illusory beast, the cold beauty flew atop a towering peak.
Pinching an incantation, her aura began to surge.
From the second tier of the Nascent Soul realm, it pushed toward the third tier, only to be suppressed at the critical moment.
Yet her vast divine sense had already spread wide.
When the sensed images returned to her mind, Madame Xu's face paled drastically.
Within her divine sense, centered around Three Rainbows Falls and spanning several thousand li, no fewer than ten fourth-rank illusory beasts had gathered unnoticed!
What was more, far in the distance, even more perilous auras were charging in this direction.
Furthermore...
“Scoundrels, come out!”
She shouted, her clear voice carrying across thousands of li.
Two figures emerged slowly from a mountain ravine.
The leader was a young man, followed closely by a gold-robed middle-aged man who kept step behind him.
“I wondered what commotion had stirred an illusory beast riot. So it is Junior Brother Gu! Well, it figures. He has always possessed extraordinary comprehension, and with an elder brother like Senior Brother Dao Yin to secure a Lanke Black Chess Piece for him, walking ahead of us is truly worthy of congratulations!”
The young man praised as he stepped into the air.
Upon seeing the newcomers—especially the gold-robed man behind him—Madame Xu's pupils contracted.
Gu Yuan!
And his Dao Protector, Gu Chen!
Madame Xu took a deep breath. “Did you orchestrate this?”
Gu Yuan was taken aback. “Was this not drawn by Junior Brother Gu's epiphany?”
Madame Xu sneered. “Su'er has been in an epiphany for three years, and it was never like this before. You still dare claim it is not your doing?”
Gu Yuan's brow furrowed.
Beside him, Gu Chen shook his head as well.
Madame Xu had no desire to waste words, for her divine sense detected even more illusory beasts rushing in from the distance.
Sensing the mounting crisis, she gritted her silver teeth and resumed the unfinished technique from before.
Her cultivation surged violently!
In a single bound, it leaped past the third tier of the Nascent Soul realm and pressed directly toward the mid Nascent Soul stage.
Pulling a hairpin from her hair, she tossed it casually into the air. The jade hairpin hung suspended high above Three Rainbows Falls like a sharp sword, deterring all four directions!
Deterred by this display, the restless illusory beasts were forced to suppress their instincts.
The gold-robed middle-aged man watched the scene and nodded slightly.
“Madame Xu used a secret art to forcibly elevate her cultivation to deter enemies. But such a secret art cannot last, and its backlash is severe. To protect her nephew, she is truly staking her life!”
Listening to this explanation, Gu Yuan nodded in agreement.
Suddenly, he glanced in another direction.
“More fellow disciples have arrived!”
*Whoosh! Whoosh!*
Two streaks of escape light ground to an abrupt halt.
Perfected Longyuan paused a thousand li away, his face grim.
“There are people ahead!”
Mingyan turned slightly pale. “There are beasts on the ground! And... so many of them!”
Perhaps due to the arrival of more Nascent Soul powerhouses, the gathering illusory beasts held back from attacking.
Yet because of their sheer numbers and burning instinct, they refused to retreat.
For a time, an impasse formed.
And amid this standoff...
*Rumble!*
*Rumble!*
More and more illusory beasts arrived from afar.
The Nascent Soul Perfected Persons drawn to the scene multiplied as well.
Every newcomer's attention was seized by Gu Daosu, who remained deep in his epiphany, while their minds fixated upon the massive horde of illusory beasts gathered nearby.
If they could wipe out all these illusory beasts in one fell swoop, it would save decades of painstaking effort!
And if Gu Daosu's epiphany were shattered, they would eliminate one of their greatest rivals in this competition!
Madame Xu understood their thoughts all too well.
It was precisely because she saw through them that her complexion turned ever more unsightly.
*We cannot let this standoff drag on. I must employ thunderous means to kill the chicken and warn the monkeys!*
Just as she prepared to act, her already grim expression suddenly turned ashen.
*Skreech!*
A shrill bird cry resonated between heaven and earth.
A massive white eagle beat its wings, tearing through the sky.
Its terrifying might was not a whit inferior to that of a mid Nascent Soul cultivator.
Without pausing for an instant, it dove straight toward Three Rainbows Falls the moment it arrived, treating the high-hanging jade hairpin as nothing.
Had it been only the eagle, it might have been manageable.
Yet the eagle's arrival acted like a spark dropped into dry kindling.
The high-rank illusory beasts eyeing the waterfall could no longer restrain themselves, charging forward in unison alongside the white eagle!
Standing atop the mountain peak, Madame Xu looked down at the more than a dozen behemoths charging across the earth simultaneously, her eyes filled with despair and her face devoid of color.
Not only her—every Nascent Soul Perfected Person present paled in shock.
At this moment, the tides of offense and defense had reversed!
No longer were cultivators hunting illusory beasts; the illusory beasts were swarming to assault the cultivators!
Chapter 760