Essence Devouring Art

Since he had decided to take the initiative and attack them on their own turf,

he naturally intended to pick them clean. Plundering a century-old Immortal Dao Sect would take a while, and he couldn’t possibly bring back all the spoils by himself.

"Ah, understood!"

Lv Tiezhu nodded. He seemed to have guessed Wu Dao’s intentions, and his eyes lit up. He immediately went with Chen Ergou to gather their men.

"Hall Master, am I not going?"

Seeing that Wu Dao hadn’t given him any orders, Zhao Jianji felt a little ’out of favor.’ He quickly sidled up, looking like a sycophant ready to go through hell and high water for him.

"You don’t need to go this time."

Wu Dao’s mind was meticulous. He gave his instructions, "Go and discuss a business deal with the Black Dragon Commerce Association. This way..."

"Hall Master, you’re brilliant! This way, we’ll have a just cause for our actions."

After hearing the plan, Zhao Jianji immediately gave a thumbs-up and patted his chest to show it was no problem. He then rushed off to carry out the task.

Afterward, Wu Dao thought for a moment, then stripped off Guang Shen’s Bloodstained Daoist Robe and took his Identity Token. He carefully memorized the man’s facial features and the characteristics of his spiritual aura.

Finally, he scrambled the two men’s already chaotic spiritual consciousness into a complete mess, ensuring that even if they woke up, they would be complete idiots. Then he ordered his men to drag them away and lock them up, making sure they weren’t killed.

Once all this was done, Wu Dao found a map, noted the location of Fuguang Mountain, and left the city. He traveled exclusively through the wild mountain forests, rocketing toward Yellow Dragon Temple at supersonic speed.

Evening.

The fiery sunset clouds stained the horizon red.

「Inside the twilight-lit Lancang County City.」

White Whale Martial Arts Hall Headquarters.

KNOCK KNOCK—

Pang Xin, looking hurried, knocked on the door to Qi Canghai’s study.

"Come in~"

Qi Canghai’s gentle voice sounded from within.

CREAK~

Pang Xin pushed the door open, closed it securely behind him, and quickly handed over a letter. "An urgent report from Tan County! Something big has happened!"

Qi Canghai, who had been peacefully meditating on a prayer mat, opened his eyes. He took the letter and scanned its contents, his expression darkening slightly.

"That bastard really killed the people Yellow Dragon Temple sent to demand an explanation? And he’s even gathering his men to attack them on their own turf?"

"It happened in broad daylight. It’s absolutely true!"

Pang Xin said with a solemn expression, "Three Yellow Robed Disciples, all at the Dao Fire Second Layer. One was directly... smashed to pieces. The other two were captured without any resistance."

’Smashed to pieces?’

Qi Canghai’s brow twitched. ’What kind of death is that?’

However, now was not the time to worry about that.

"What’s his power level? Do we have specific intelligence?"

He was most concerned about Wu Dao’s strength.

"Well..."

Pang Xin hesitated for a moment before exhaling deeply. "One punch. With just a single punch, the earth for a hundred meters around buckled and collapsed as if an earth dragon had turned over. Your subordinate suspects that his physical body has already entered the Third Gate of Transverse Cultivation!"

’The Third Gate of Transverse Cultivation?’

HISS...

Qi Canghai was shocked and secretly wiped away a cold sweat.

’Thankfully, I suppressed my appetite a few days ago and didn’t make a move on Wu Dao. Otherwise, my own secret would have definitely been exposed!’

However, it would be a real shame to give up just like that.

’Yellow Dragon Daoist...’

Thinking about Wu Dao’s plan to attack, Qi Canghai’s eyes narrowed. He had made a decision.

"Keep a close eye on the situation. Inform me immediately once there’s a result."

After dismissing Pang Xin, the study fell silent, with plumes of sandalwood incense curling into the air.

Sitting on his prayer mat, Qi Canghai’s face, partially obscured by the incense, took on a slightly fiendish and charming look. The micro-carved fox pattern on the Sandalwood Bead he was fiddling with began to glow.

’What is it?’

A moment later, an incredibly enchanting, charming, and lazy female voice echoed in his mind.

Upon hearing this voice, Qi Canghai’s expression became tinged with reverence. He respectfully projected his thoughts, ’Walker Qi Canghai respectfully greets the Upper Immortal.’

’What is it?!’

The lazy, charming voice now held a hint of impatience.

Qi Canghai’s expression changed, and he quickly responded:

’May I ask if the Upper Immortal can dispatch an expert from the Immortal Family to assist? This lowly one has discovered a Body Treasure Master who has reached the Third Gate of Transverse Cultivation. He would be an absolutely great supplement.’

’...’

The female voice on the other end was silent for a while.

A moment later, it sounded again:

’The masters from Jingzhe have already set their sights on another target. The time is not yet right; we should not expose ourselves.

Handle this matter yourself. If you handle it well, I will personally request a commendation for you from the Mountain Master.’

’This... Your Walker obeys.’

’By the way, the Mountain Master’s appetite is growing. As for the Joyful Forest, you need to put in more effort. Do a good job, and you won’t be treated unfairly.’

The female voice yawned and, having said her piece, cut off the connection.

’Understood. Farewell, Upper Immortal.’

Qi Canghai looked slightly disappointed, but he didn’t dare to displease the female voice. After respectfully sending her off in his mind, his expression flickered with uncertainty.

Relying on himself alone, he wasn’t completely confident he could play the role of the fisherman reaping the rewards.

If he made a mistake and was seriously injured, he would no longer be able to suppress the ’Immortal Family’ within him, and the risk of exposure would increase dramatically.

But to give up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was something he was unwilling to do.

On the path of cultivation, regardless of the road taken, talent and potential were both indispensable.

His Dantian’s potential had been exhausted after he reached the Innate realm.

That was why he had sought an alternative path. Ten years ago, by a stroke of luck, he had chosen to become a Walker for the ’Immortal Family,’ hoping to carve out a new future for himself.

If he could take down Wu Dao and greatly please the Mountain Master, it wouldn’t be impossible for him to advance further.

"Old Huanglong Taoist, don’t disappoint me."

As his thoughts surged, Qi Canghai made his decision. He retrieved a soft leather fox mask from a secret room in his study. Without alerting anyone, he left Lancang County City alone and sped towards Canyun Mountain.

...

The northern border of Guangqing Prefecture.

About five hundred li from Tan County.

Fuguang Mountain!

The morning moon was bright, and the last few stars twinkled faintly.

The primeval forest was vast as an ocean, with a thousand peaks and ten thousand barriers obscuring all traces of passage.

Standing at the foot of Fuguang Mountain, one could see the highest peaks shrouded in a magnificent, unusual glow under the starlight and moonlight. It was as ethereal as an Immortal’s Blessed Land, inspiring infinite longing and aspiration.

That was the Celestial Palace of mortal legend.

It was also the location of the Yellow Dragon Dojo, a place few in the Jianghu knew of.

Yellow Dragon Temple had stood atop the highest peak of the Floating Light Mountain Range for over a century. Below the summit, an Illusionary Grand Array remained active year-round.

If mortals entered, they would inevitably be caught in a dense Illusion Barrier, becoming disoriented and plagued by hallucinations. After wandering in circles, they would find themselves back at the foot of the mountain, unable to glimpse the scenery of the Immortal Realm.

Even accomplished cultivators—Extraordinaries with powerful Spiritual Consciousness—would find it difficult to perceive the Array’s mysteries and find the exit.

To enter the Yellow Dragon Dojo, the most important step was to get past the Array Guard Disciple.

The twilight was now deep.

The illusion-mist array on the mountainside of Yellow Dragon Peak grew even more psychedelic and hazy.

"Which fellow Daoist trespasses upon my Yellow Dragon Dojo?"

From within the dim mist, Guangyuan, who was on duty and meditating, suddenly opened his eyes and shouted. He leaped down from a high rock in the gorge, sword in hand, and stared warily at the churning mist not far away.

But after getting a clear look at the person, his expression changed abruptly. He rushed forward in alarm. "Senior Brother Guang Shen, how did you end up like this? Where are Senior Brother Guang Fa and Senior Brother Guang Li??"

It was no wonder he lost his composure. The ’Guang Shen’ before him looked utterly wretched.

His Daoist Robe was tattered and soaked in blood.

His hair was disheveled, his eyes filled with terror, and his exposed flesh was covered in wounds.

He had completely lost the ethereal, transcendent air he’d had when he descended the mountain a month ago. He looked utterly disheveled, as if he had just barely escaped a chaotic scene with his life.

"Where... Where is Master?"

Faced with Guangyuan’s grieved and indignant question, ’Guang Shen’ mumbled, his tone terrified. He was like a fledgling that had suffered hardship away from the nest, offering no explanation, only desperate to return to the protection of an adult bird’s wings.

"Senior Brother, don’t talk. Heal your injuries first. I’ll open the Array right away. Master should still be in the Daoist Lecture Hall for the evening lesson."

Guangyuan noticed that ’Guang Shen’s’ voice grew weaker with every word. Realizing something terrible had happened, he had no time to consider anything else and quickly stopped him, handing over an Elixir Pill.

"Quickly... hurry..."

’Guang Shen’ swallowed the Elixir Pill, and his complexion improved significantly, but he still urged Guangyuan on, as if the matter was extremely urgent.

Guangyuan didn’t dare to delay. He ran to a stone monument at the mouth of the gorge and began chanting, communicating with the Array.

WENG~

A moment later, the stone monument bloomed with a hazy white light.

The path ahead was no longer chaotic and blurry.

A stone staircase leading straight to the radiant Blessed Land on the summit became clearly visible. In the distance, one could faintly make out a forest of buildings with unique Taoist architectural features within.

WHOOSH~

Just as the Array opened, Guangyuan felt someone appear behind him.

"Do all the disciples attend the evening lesson?"

’Guang Shen’s’ somewhat unfamiliar voice asked.

"Uh, yes,"

Guangyuan replied subconsciously.

Then, before he could react, he felt a gust of wind rush past him. ’Guang Shen’ had already vanished in a hurry up the stairs at the end of his line of sight.

"Strange. Are his injuries that severe?"

Guangyuan frowned as he watched ’Guang Shen’s’ retreating back, but he didn’t dwell on it. He just assumed Guang Shen’s severe injuries had confused his memories.

At the same time, he couldn’t help but worry.

If Guang Shen, who had managed to escape back to the mountain, was so heavily injured,

then what about Guang Fa and Guang Li...

"Sigh. I hope everything is alright."

After a sigh, Guangyuan restored the Illusionary Grand Array. The mist once again became chaotic and ethereal, and he resumed his guard duty.

In recent days, the outside world had not been very peaceful. People with malicious intent often tried to break into the mountain. Therefore, unless it was a major crisis threatening the sect, the Array Guard Disciple could not abandon his post.