The Truth

"Roar!"

A clear dragon roar echoed through the mountains and forests. A silver-white treasure fish, an arm's length long, darted through the mountains like a skipping stone.

"Quick, chase it!"

"Fellow Daoists, my Li Family has been waiting here for over half a month. Could you please give me, Li Han Song, a little face? I would be eternally grateful…"

"What Li Han Song? You're only a First Ascension cultivator at your age. How much is your face worth? Get lost!"

"The Wu Family of Red Crow City is here! Our family head is a Second Ascension cultivator!"

"…"

Twenty to thirty figures appeared from around Small Stone Lake, scrambling and chasing after that silver streak like madmen.

Chen Xuan's luck wasn't great, as the Over Mountain Treasure Fish was quite far from the lake where he was.

"Bang!"

A young Qi Refiner who happened to be in the treasure fish's path pounced on it in ecstasy. The next moment, his hands exploded directly, a bloody mess. He screamed and fell to the ground.

"A Red Qi cultivator, his body is as fragile as paper. Why is he joining the fun!"

Other Qi Refiners ran past him. Someone sneered, "The fish only has three thoughts, as small as a grain of rice. Its intelligence is shallow. Burning it with Red Qi makes no difference!"

Chen Xuan's speed was like lightning. The White Qi surged within him, and a layer of golden-white radiance enveloped his body. He quickly caught up, becoming one of the foremost pursuers.

He was cautious by nature. Having been here for several days, he had already estimated the strength of the Qi Refiners in the area.

Only two were Second Ascension cultivators: the head of the Wu family from Red Crow City, who cultivated Red Qi, and an old Daoist priest from a certain Daoist temple, who cultivated Water Virtue Black Qi.

"Swish!"

After chasing for more than three miles, the old Daoist priest in the lead finally approached the treasure fish. With a wave of his large sleeve, several chain-like streams of water flew out, binding the treasure fish in the air.

"Roar!"

The treasure fish shrieked, trying to break free, but suddenly its body stiffened. Blood surged in its gem-like eyes, and not only that, but streaks of blood also seeped from between its scales.

Blood is also water!

"Boom!"

A ball of fire suddenly rushed from behind the old Daoist priest, knocking him flying. An old man in his fifties or sixties, with fire spewing from his eyes and flames flickering on his palms, was none other than the Wu family head. He shouted:

"You old Daoist priest, you abstain from meat and lust, why are you snatching the treasure fish? I'll eat it!"

He cultivated Red Qi, making it difficult to catch the treasure fish, but he could deal with the person who caught it!

The old Daoist priest's back was charred black, and he grimaced in pain. He jumped up and cursed loudly, "What the hell do you know? Abstain from meat and lust? The Rain Master Dao has no taboos! All the female Daoist priests in the temple are my Daoist companions!"

While cursing, the old Daoist priest desperately attacked the Wu family head.

"Old Daoist, stop! The treasure fish has been snatched!" The Wu family head roared, because he saw out of the corner of his eye that the Over Mountain Treasure Fish had suddenly been snatched by a young man with a strong and upright physique.

"A mantis stalking a cicada, huh? I won't fight for the treasure fish anymore, I just want to beat you up."

The old Daoist priest's beard and hair stood on end in anger. He even used a trick. Green water surged, and the phantom of a black-scaled python swallowed clouds and spat mist, pressing down all at once.

He could give up the opportunity, but if he was sneak attacked, he had to get revenge!!

"You cultivate Water Virtue Black Qi, why is your temper even more explosive than mine?" The Wu family head's head was as big as a bucket, and he was forced to use a trick to defend himself.

Water Virtue Black Qi.

What is sought is "Edict of Time, Talisman to Ascend to Divinity" (Edict of Time, Talisman to Ascend to Divinity).

Black Qi cultivators like to plan before acting and never do anything without benefit.

But this old Daoist priest was clearly beyond the Wu family head's expectations. The old Daoist priest shouted, "Giving you a good beating and getting my way is the benefit this old Daoist wants right now!"

Chen Xuan was dumbfounded, but it was good that these two Second Ascension cultivators were fighting. No one was paying attention to him anymore.

"Swish!"

Chen Xuan held the lifeless treasure fish, kicked his legs, and ran, disappearing into the darkness in a few breaths.

This was his second time stepping onto the Ascension path, and he was in urgent need of heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

Deep in the Southern Wilderness.

On a thousand-zhang high mountain, ripples spread across a deep pool.

The elderly white turtle, completely white, was startled. Its white jade bean-like eyes rolled a few times, and it slowly closed its "Dragon Gate" mouth.

"The old man's food has been snatched again?"

He was unhappy because it had been snatched just a few days ago.

The nest of treasure fish in Small Stone Lake was raised by him. It took a long time for a treasure fish to mature, but recently they had been snatched one after another.

The elderly white turtle stood up from the pool, its cloudy eyes overlooking the undulating mountains in the distant night.

"Gurgle..."

The hot water in the pot boiled, cooking an Over Mountain Treasure Fish.

Chen Xuan sat cross-legged nearby, a golden tea leaf in his mouth, already beginning to cultivate the first chapter of the Yellow Millet True Scripture.

The leaves of the Buddha-Heart Tea Tree from Hanging Temple, a single leaf could only increase strength by about a hundred catties, but the advantage was in their quantity. Chen Xuan had already eaten nearly half of them in the past few days. He estimated that if he ate all of them, he could increase his strength by about three thousand catties in total.

"Tsk, it's really fragrant. Humans are different, they know how to enjoy."

Suddenly, an old, kind voice sounded in Chen Xuan's ear, startling him.

Chen Xuan instantly stood up from the ground, a layer of cold sweat seeping from his forehead.

After killing Wang Chan, when he was cooking the Treasure Fish, he had vaguely heard a "hmph," and the voice was exactly the same.

This Over Mountain Treasure Fish from Small Stone Lake also had an owner!

An elderly turtle, completely snow-white, with the Taiji Bagua pattern on its shell constantly rotating. It was nearly as tall as a person, stretching its neck to sniff the fishy aroma in the pot. Then, its head, which looked like it was molded from clay, turned to look at Chen Xuan, a look of helplessness on its face:

"Little thief, you're addicted to stealing this old man's food, aren't you?"

Chen Xuan was terrified because he hadn't sensed anything beforehand, and this elderly white turtle had suddenly appeared in front of him.

This was too terrifying. The old turtle's strength far exceeded his imagination.

Chen Xuan swallowed, then immediately said in a deep voice, "Senior, I don't want the Treasure Fish anymore. I'll leave now."

He was very decisive, believing that the elderly turtle was not someone he could handle at his level.

It was too absurd. Behind ordinary flesh and blood treasure medicines like the Treasure Fish in the outer area of the Southern Wilderness, such terrifying ghosts were hidden. It was unbelievable.

One had to know that countless Qi Refiners had recently poured into the Southern Wilderness, and heavenly materials and earthly treasures were discovered every day. The ghosts they encountered were all at the Ascension level.

As for the truly dangerous depths of the Southern Wilderness, no one would even go in to explore.

The elderly white turtle shook its head and said, "No need. This is your opportunity... A Treasure Fish that can be caught by a Qi Refiner is not qualified to enter my belly."

"Ah?"

Chen Xuan was stunned, not expecting this old turtle to be so reasonable, not pursuing his offense at all.

The elderly white turtle clasped its hands behind its back, like an old man on the verge of death, slowly circling Chen Xuan. Its gaze scrutinized him up and down, as if appreciating a delicious meal, making Chen Xuan's scalp tingle.

Chen Xuan's expression was solemn. He didn't understand what the elderly white turtle meant and asked, "Senior, what are you looking at?"

The elderly white turtle smiled and said, "Your bone structure is good, and your personality suits my taste. I thought so when I saw you last time."

Then, he said something that made Chen Xuan feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

"Qing Yazi of Green Deer Mountain was also present. You ruined his important matter. I think he must have had killing intent towards you at that time..."

Qing Yazi!

Chen Xuan was horrified in his heart. Immediately, an uncontrollable chill surged up, and an unexpectedly vast gloom enveloped him.

"I've become a chess piece!"

At this moment, this terrifying thought arose in his mind.