Inside a palace in Soul-Repelling City.
Venerable Golden Swan strolled in with another old man. The two chatted and laughed, utterly at ease, and only upon entering the main hall did their expressions turn solemn as they bowed to the man seated above.
The man was none other than Sage Lord Chen Yuan, who presided over Soul-Repelling City. This time, his usual haughty expression had vanished, replaced by utter solemnity.
"This trip to the Wildlands Continent is important. Neither of you must let your guard down!" Although Sage Lord Chen Yuan disliked Venerable Golden Swan, he still saw things clearly when matters of true consequence were at stake.
The treasures they were going to trade for concerned Soul-Destroying Saint Lord's tribulation. Had he not been unable to leave his post at Soul-Repelling City, he would have gone himself.
"Rest assured, Martial Uncle. We will proceed with utmost caution and return safely." Venerable Golden Swan was at the Void Refinement Middle Stage, while the man beside him had reached the void refinement late stage, and his dharma manifestation was no ordinary one.
They were also carrying the Astral Mystery Sect's sole pseudo-Saint Puppet.
This pseudo-Saint Puppet had come from the former Celestial Pivot Ye Family. Its combat strength rivaled peak void refinement, and it could even hold an ordinary body integration cultivator at bay for a while.
Together with the might of the Ancient Wilderness Ark, they were confident about this journey.
"Martial Uncle, has the matter with the Painting Spirit Race still not been resolved?" Venerable Golden Swan then seemed to remember something and immediately asked.
"No. We still haven't found that treasure belonging to the Painting Spirit Race. This time, we will take entirely new routes, both going and returning, so have those aboard the Ancient Wilderness Ark make