Treasure Hunt Invitation

"This must be Fellow Daoist Shen! I've long heard of Fellow Daoist Shen great name, and seeing you today, I can confirm it truly lives up to your reputation."

A refined-looking scholar in a yellow robe spoke up, his voice booming.

"Fellow Daoist Xu is too kind. If we're talking about names, who doesn't know the name of True Monarch Haoran?"

Shen Long said modestly.

The scholar in yellow robes is True Monarch Haoran, whose real name is Xu Qingshu. He is Nascent Soul Middle Stage cultivator and the vice sect leader of the Holy Spirit Sect.

Xu Qingshu gestured for Shen Long to sit down, and everyone introduced themselves one by one.

"Madam Chen comes from the Heavenly Sound Sect!"

Shen Long was somewhat surprised, his gaze falling on a voluptuous Purple-Skirted Woman.

The Purple-Skirted Woman Chen Yue, and she came from the Heavenly Sound Sect.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, is there something wrong?"

Chen Yue asked, puzzled.

"No, that's not it. I just didn't expect Fairy Chen to come all this way to attend the Holy Spirit Dharma Assembly."

Shen Long said.

"I didn't come here to attend the Holy Spirit Dharma Assembly; I just happened to run into it. My senior brother was traveling in the Western Desert Cultivation World when he was killed by someone, so I came here specifically to investigate."

Chen Yue explained.

"Chen Xianzi's senior brother was murdered in the Western Desert Cultivation World? What a coincidence."

"A portly old man in a golden robe exclaimed in surprise."

"What! Fellow Daoist Wu also had relatives or fellow disciples who were murdered in the Western Desert Cultivation World?"

Chen Yue asked, puzzled.

The old man in the golden robe nodded and said, "My descendant went to the Western Desert Cultivation World for a trip, but died and his cultivation dissipated. The cause of death has not yet been determined."

"Why are so many fellow cultivators being murdered in the Western Desert Cultivation World? Has Divine Ability Evil Cultivator appeared in the Western Desert?"

Shen Long asked, puzzled.

During their visit to the Zhou Clan, Chu Buyu mentioned that a Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Sun and Moon Palace had died in the Western Desert Cultivation World, and Chu Buyu and Xu Xin needed to find out the cause of death.

"More than two hundred years ago, a Evil Cultivator cultivator named Blood Blade Devil Lord, who was at the Nascent Soul Middle Stage stage, appeared in the Western Desert. He destroyed many forces, and more than a dozen Nascent Soul Cultivator died at his hands. Fellow Daoist Xu, I heard that your Holy Spirit Sect's Great Elder personally led a team to capture this person. What was the result?"

Qian Xin said.

"This person was severely injured by Senior Brother Lin and fled into Heavenly Sand Ruins. His whereabouts are unknown. Could it be that he's the one causing trouble?"

Xu Qingshu said.

"That possibility cannot be ruled out. The Blood Blade Devil Lord Divine Ability extraordinary abilities and a Fourth-Order Spirit Flame. Ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator are no match for him. He is on par with Nascent Soul Late Stage, and his strength is exceptional."

Lu Tong echoed.

"Even if the Blood Blade Devil Lord is still alive, it doesn't necessarily mean that all the fellow cultivators who died in the Western Desert Cultivation World were killed by Blood Blade Devil Lord. Perhaps they were killed by other cultivators, or perhaps they entered the Heavenly Sand Ruins to search for treasures and perished."

Qian Xin analyzed.

Xu Qingshu nodded and said, "Fellow Daoist Qian is right. However, these fellow Daoists serve as a warning. Fellow Daoists, please be extra careful when you go out."

After chatting for more than an hour, Xu Qingshu suggested exchanging cultivation resources, and no one objected.

Shen Long traded Blood Mushroom Pill for a fourth-tier early-stage Amethyst Flying Scorpion's Demon Core, as well as more than twenty thousand -Millennial Spirit Herb. Zen Master Xinkong took out a section of two-thousand-year-old Golden Thunder Bamboo, wanting to exchange it for Six Roots Purity Bamboo, but failed.

The Six Roots Purity Bamboo is one of the Ten Great Spirit Woods and a superior material for refining Buddhist treasures.

Qian Xin took out more than a dozen fourth-tier Demon Core and exchanged them for fire-attribute refining materials, obtaining a considerable amount of the materials he needed.

About half an hour later, the exchange ended, and the cultivators left one after another to return home.

Back at his residence, Shen Long sat cross-legged on Cattail Mat, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Judging from the conversation at the gathering, Qian Xin does not practice ghost Cultivation Method, nor does he raise Ghost Creature. As a result, the strong ghost aura around him suggests that he possesses a ghost-related Spirit Treasure, such as the Hundred Ghost Umbrella.

······

In a Blue-tiled Courtyard, Lu Tong, Qian Xin, and Gan Shuo sat around Zhang Qing stone table, talking about something.

"Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode! Five Elements Spirit-Guarding Restriction!"

Lu Tong frowned slightly, a look of interest appearing on his face.

"We've tried, but the restriction is very strong. It would take five Nascent Soul Cultivator working together to have a chance of breaking it. Fellow Daoist Lu, Daoist Qian, what do you think?"

Qian Xin asked.

Lu Tong pondered for a moment, then said, "Fellow Daoist Qian, how about we consider this for a few days?"

"No problem, but don't take too long to think about it. I'll give you three days. If you're not willing, then forget it, we'll find someone else."

Qian Xin said seriously.

"Okay, I will definitely give you an answer within three days."

Lu Tong agreed.

Qian Xin got up, said goodbye, and left.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, did Fellow Daoist Qian invite you to go treasure hunting?"

Gan Shuo asked.

"When I Golden Core Realm, I went treasure hunting with him. I was saved thanks to his help. You heard at the gathering just now that several fellow cultivators were killed in the Western Desert. We still need to be careful."

Lu Tong said in a deep voice.

Gan Shuo nodded, expressing his deep agreement.

······

Seven days have passed, Holy Spirit Garden.

Xu Qingshu, Wu Yuan, Chen Yue, Shen Long, and more than ten other Nascent Soul Cultivator gathered in the Cyan Bamboo Pavilion, enjoying tea and chatting.

A tall man in a blue robe strode in, bowed, and said to Xu Qingshu, "Uncle Master Xu, we've found the remains and belongings of Senior Wu."

"Where?"

A portly old man in a golden robe pressed for an answer.

The man in the green robe took out a Blue Storage Bag and handed it to the old man in the golden robe with both hands.

The old man in the golden robe scanned the items with his Divine Sense, nodded, and said, "Many of these things are indeed Yu'er's personal belongings. Where did you find them? How do you know they are relics of my descendants?"

"Reporting to Senior Wu, we found it in Heavenly Sand Ruins. Among the relics was a Shadow-Returning Crystal, left behind by Fairy Wu. She entered Heavenly Sand Ruins in search of the Golden Soul Fruit and encountered a Late Fourth Rank Earth-Splitting Rhinoceros. Oh, and she also encountered two Nascent Soul Cultivator, one of whom was Senior Lin, whom Senior Chen is looking for."

The man in the blue shirt explained.

"What! We've run into Senior Brother Lin? Fellow Daoist Wu, could you please show me the Shadow-Returning Crystal?"

Chen Yue said.

The old man in the golden robe nodded, took out a blue crystal ball from his Storage Bag, and infused it with Law Power. The Shadow-Returning Crystal lit up with a dazzling blue light, and emitted a beam of blue light that transformed into the phantom of a pale-faced Female Phantom in a blue dress.

The Female Phantom left arm was missing, and she appeared to be severely injured.

"If anyone sees the image of the Shadow-Returning Crystal, I'm sure I'm gone too. You can have all the valuables. Please go find my grandfather, Wu Shan, and tell him that I received news that there's a Golden Soul Fruit Tree somewhere in Heavenly Sand Ruins. I went into Heavenly Sand Ruins to find the Golden Soul Fruit and encountered two Nascent Soul Cultivator on the way..."

The Female Phantom spoke slowly.

Wu Yu entered the Heavenly Sand Ruins in search of the Golden Soul Fruit. On the way, she encountered several Nascent Soul Cultivator, exchanged a brief glance, and then went about her business. Deep within the Heavenly Sand Ruins, she encountered Late Fourth Rank Earth-Splitting Rhinoceros, who was severely injured. Before dying, the rhinoceros recorded Shadow-Returning Crystal, hoping that someone destined to find the relic would be able to notify Wu Shan.

"No wonder I couldn't find Yu'er; it turns out she died in Heavenly Sand Ruins."

Wu Shan sighed, his expression filled with grief.

"Young friend Liu, didn't you go looking for the Golden Soul Fruit?"

Shen Long asked curiously.

The Shadow-Returning Crystal mentioned the Golden Soul Fruit Tree; wouldn't the cultivators of the Holy Spirit Sect be tempted?

"We went to the place that Fairy Wu mentioned, but we didn't find the Golden Soul Fruit; someone else beat us to it."

The man in the blue robe spoke with a regretful tone.

Wu Shan nodded. "It's been over a hundred years since Yu'er was murdered. In such a long time, the Golden Soul Fruit Tree has probably been discovered by other cultivators. Once we find out the cause of her death, I can finally put my mind at ease."

"I knew it! The missing fellow Daoist might not have been killed by the Blood Blade Devil Lord. There are indeed many good things in the Heavenly Sand Ruins, but the Heavenly Sand Ruins can be a place where Spirit-Severing Qi is depleted. If you enter the Heavenly Sand Ruins to search for treasures and encounter Spirit-Severing Qi depletion, even the greatest Divine Ability will not be able to escape death."

Gan Xin said.

"Who can argue with that! In that case, Madam Chen, Fellow Daoist Lin may have died in Heavenly Sand Ruins."

Wu Shan said.

Chen Yue nodded, sighed, and said, "That should be the case. If we could find Senior Brother Lin's remains or belongings, that would be wonderful."

"Don't worry, Madam Chen, we will keep an eye out for you."

Xu Qingshu promised.

"Then I'll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Xu."

Chen Yue expressed her gratitude.

After chatting for most of the hour, the cultivators gradually left.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, please wait."

Lu Tong called out to Shen Long, and he and Gan Shuo chased after them.

"Is there something you need, Fellow Daoist Lu?"

Shen Long asked.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, we have something to discuss with you. How about we talk at your residence?"

Lu Tong said politely.

Shen Long agreed and led them to his residence, activating the protective barriers there.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, Daoist Qian, just say what you have to say!"

Shen Long said.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, we would like to invite you to join us on a treasure hunt! Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode has been sealed with Five Elements Spirit-Guarding Restriction, which requires five Nascent Soul Cultivator to work together to open. We are one person short. Are you interested?"

Lu Tong said slowly.

"Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode? The Five Elements Spirit-Guarding Restriction? Do you know whose Ascension Cave Abode it was when they passed away?"

Shen Long was somewhat tempted.

"It's probably the Ascension Cave Abode of the Blood Blade Devil Lord, located on the outskirts of Heavenly Sand Ruins. The chances of it erupting with aura of Spirit-Severing Qi are very low."

Lu Tong said.

"The Blood Blade Devil Lord has killed many fellow cultivators and possesses a considerable amount of valuable items, including at least four Spirit Treasure. I've also heard that he has a flying Spirit Treasure."

Gan Shuo added.

"Could it be that the other two fellow cultivators are Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivators?"

Shen Long frowned and said.

"No, one Nascent Soul Early Stage, and the other is in the Nascent Soul Middle Stage. If you agree, I'll contact them immediately and have them come over. If you don't agree, then forget it and just pretend you never heard of it."

Lu Tong said.

Shen Long pondered for a moment, then agreed.

Lu Tong took out Communication Disk that was flashing with yellow light, entered a spell, and made a series of gestures.

A quarter of an hour later, a Sound Transmission Talisman flew in.

Lu Tong opened the courtyard gate and invited Wu Shan and Qian Xin in.

"Fellow Daoist Qian, Fellow Daoist Wu, it's you two."

Shen Long was somewhat surprised.

"What? Fellow Daoist Shen is surprised to see us?"

Qian Xin said with a smile.

"I didn't expect that the other two fellow Daoists Fellow Daoist Lu mentioned were you two."

Shen Long said with a smile, thinking to himself, "I have to be careful of Qian Xin; he might have Spirit Treasure like the Hundred Ghost Umbrella."

"Now that everyone's here, let's get going! Let's agree on this first: after breaking the Formation, Fellow Daoist Qian and I will pick one item each, and the rest will be divided equally among us. After all, we've discovered Ancient Cultivator Cave Abode."

Wu Shan said in a deep voice.

Shen Long and the other two had no objections and agreed. The five of them then left the Marketplace.