Hehe, What a Killing!
The view inside the hall suddenly opened up.
This place is less a palace and more a meticulously curated treasure trove.
The space is far more vast and magnificent than it appears from the outside.
Towering black pillars, each requiring several people to encircle, support the lofty dome.
Inside the hall, rows of display cases, also made of gilded spirit wood and transparent glass, were neatly arranged.
These display cases have a simple and antique design, and their surfaces shimmer with a faint protective glow.
Like giant glass domes, they isolate the treasures inside from the outside world.
A strange mineral, entirely crimson and seemingly with magma flowing within, and a nine-leaf spirit herb, sealed within millennia-old ice, still radiating vibrant life.
A grotesque, menacing magical Law Artifact, its Sha Qi almost palpable, and a top-grade elixir, the size of a longan and with layers of halos, contained in a jade box.
There were even shrunken, alien demon eggs, naturally bearing mysterious patterns; their slightest pulsation would trigger a response from the surrounding energy.
Baoguang emanated from the box, imbued with Spiritual Qi.
The entire hall was illuminated with Flowing Light, like a galaxy fallen to earth.
Ninety-eight percent of these treasures were things Qi Yun had never even heard of, let alone seen.
The Daoist intent and oppressive aura emanating from many things were completely beyond his current understanding.
I'm fucking poor.
In contrast, the old True Person Deng Yin beside him remained as calm and composed as ever.
His murky gaze swept over these treasures, enough to drive any Qi Refining cultivator mad, as if they were just a pile of ordinary stones and rubble.
His face remained completely expressionless.
The difference between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment, and between perspective and needs, is like heaven and earth.
Just as ants cannot comprehend the vastness of human dwellings and the exquisite delicacies they enjoy.
"Teacher," Qi Yun took several deep breaths, then skillfully flipped his hand, instantly producing more than a dozen bulging, Higher Vehicle -quality Storage Bag in his palm, the meaning of which couldn't be clearer.
"We've struck it rich this time!"
This posture clearly indicated that they intended to pack up these gilded glass covers along with the treasures inside and take them away.
"What are you thinking about?" The old True Person glanced at him indifferently, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"Do you want to become mortal enemies with Black Baleful Intent?"
If you empty his treasure trove, he'll hunt you down to the ends of the earth; even my influence might not be of any use.
"Isn't there you, teacher?" Qi Yun blinked, his tone sincere, as if there were a tall person to hold up the sky if it fell.
Upon hearing this, the old True Person gently shook his head, gazing into the distant future, and calmly stated a weighty fact. "Don't forget, I only have forty-odd years left to live."
True Person casually mentioned his impending death, then put his hands behind his back and stopped looking at the dazzling array of treasures around him.
We took our first steps and ventured deeper into this treasure trove.
Come with me.
Although Black Baleful Intent's actions this time were unethical, we can't go too far and create irreconcilable enmity. We must always leave ourselves an out.
He spoke calmly as he walked.
"Perfect timing, you're just a few items short of what you need for Foundation Establishment."
Li Hanyan comes from a wealthy family and has a penchant for collecting all sorts of rare spiritual materials.
He should have some stock here.
"Yes! This disciple understands!"
Upon hearing the old True Person's words, Qi Yun's spirits lifted, and he immediately abandoned his thoughts of sweeping away the enemy, quickly following the old True Person's steps.
The two strolled slowly through the jewel-encrusted, spiritually powerful palace, their gazes sweeping over rows of display cases.
The old True Person would occasionally stop, his gaze lingering on certain treasures for a moment, seemingly identifying and evaluating them.
Suddenly, the old True Person stopped in a seemingly inconspicuous corner.
His gaze fell upon a gilded glass dome that looked no different from the other display cases.
Inside that shield, there was no dazzling Baoguang, no powerful spiritual pressure, only a ball about the size of a fist.
The pure white mist is slowly circulating and changing shape on its own.
The white mist was incredibly pure, without the slightest impurity, giving people a strange feeling of utmost purity and sharpness, yet also carrying a certain connotation of "transformation".
"I've got it." The old True Person's lips curled up slightly, clearly having found his target.
"What is this?" Qi Yun curiously stepped forward, carefully examining the pure white aura.
He boasted that he was well-read and had extensive knowledge of the books in the Inner Mansion library.
But this thing before him, in both its form and aura, completely exceeded his knowledge base; it was utterly...
That's beyond the scope of the curriculum.
The old True Person gazed at the pure white aura and slowly uttered its name: "A Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object of the Metal Element—[Great White Molt]."
The old True Person was decisive and efficient; having found his target, he didn't delay any longer.
A white light emanated from his palm, transforming into a blur that pierced straight through the gilded glass cover. With a gentle probe, he retrieved the pure white, flowing [Great White Molt].
The pure gold energy felt warm and smooth to the touch, yet it subtly emitted a sharp sensation that stung the skin.
Immediately afterwards, the old True Person turned his gaze to another treasure not far away.
It was a cloak, entirely crimson like fire, woven from some kind of spiritual silk.
The surface was embroidered with dense, mysterious talismans and runes in gold thread. These runes seemed to be flowing slowly, emanating powerful Daoist energy.
He reached out and grabbed at it, and the red cloak flew up on its own and landed in his hand.
"This [Fire-Warding Mantle] is also a good item. When you reach the Foundation Establishment, it will increase your chances of victory by 10%." The old True Person spoke calmly, yet he revealed the preciousness of this cloak.
Any treasure that can increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment is a priceless treasure in the eyes of any Qi Refining cultivator!
He handed the two items, [Great White Molt] and [Gold-Patterned Fire-Warding Mantle], to Qi Yun.
"Let's go." The old True Person waved his hand, and the light of his clone seemed to dim slightly.
"Taking too much and causing too much disturbance will alert that greedy person, even if they are in seclusion. Let's stop here."
"Yes, teacher." Qi Yun accepted the two incomparably precious treasures and quickly stored them in the deepest part of his storage Law Artifact.
Although he felt a pang of longing for the treasures that filled the vault, he also knew that what the old True Person said was true.
He unexpectedly acquired two treasures that were crucial to his Foundation Establishment.
One of them is a direct foundation -Foundation Establishment spiritual item for the Metal element.
This is already a tremendous gain; any more greed and trouble will ensue.
After taking one last look at the treasure vault behind him, Qi Yun followed closely behind the old True Person's clone, silently exiting the heavily guarded vault along the still-present light bridge of the [Formless Divine Talisman].
We passed through the dark clouds, gliding past the giant, blue-haired ape that remained asleep and on guard.
Following the path he had come from, under the protection of the remaining power of the [Formless Divine Talisman], Qi Yun quickly returned to the secluded side hall on Black Baleful Intent Peak where he was arranged to wait.
Inside the quiet room of the side hall, everything was as it had been, exactly the same as when he left.
The illusory body, formed by the [Gather Form and Disperse Qi] Divine Ability power, remained seated naturally in the chair, even maintaining the same patience on its face.
Qi Yun's true form merged seamlessly into the false form like ripples on water, achieving a perfect replacement.
He picked up the teacup, pretending to drink tea, but in reality, he used this action to let out a long, silent sigh of stale air.
He raised his hand and casually wiped away a bead of cold sweat that had somehow seeped out and trickled down his forehead with his sleeve.
Right under the nose of a Foundation Establishment True Person, they raided his lair.
Even though Qi Yun prided himself on being incredibly daring and had weathered many storms, recalling the events still made his heart race and sent a chill down his spine.
This is like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth.
Having done such a "guilty thing," Qi Yun's subsequent behavior can be described as "honest" to the extreme.
He managed to suppress the urge to leave immediately.
They patiently waited in this quiet room of the side hall for more than half a month!
During that time, apart from necessary activities, he almost never left the meditation room, holding that pot of spiritual tea Heavenly Capital, drinking cup after cup.
All told, the amount of tea I've drunk in the past two weeks is almost enough to fill a water tank.
It wasn't until Li Chong visited for the third time, his face filled with even greater apology and helplessness than the previous two times, that he informed his master that he was still in a critical period of seclusion and would have to wait for the right time—
Qi Yun rubbed his stomach, his face showing just the right amount of "helplessness" and "exhaustion," and slowly stood up.
"Senior Brother Li," he sighed, his tone carrying a hint of understanding, yet also a subtle, almost imperceptible, disappointment.
"It seems that Uncle Li will probably not be coming out of seclusion anytime soon."
I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I'll head back now.
Seeing this, Li Chong, feeling guilty, couldn't help but show a sincere look of remorse on his face.
"I'm truly sorry to have made you come all this way for nothing and waited for so long, junior brother." Li Chong bowed and apologized sincerely.
"Junior Brother Qi, rest assured, once my master emerges from seclusion, I will inform you immediately to complete the delivery of the [Soul-Cleansing Elixir]."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries, Qi Yun behaved very reasonably, showing no dissatisfaction at all due to the wait.
Finally, under Li Chong's slightly apologetic gaze, Qi Yun leisurely left Black Baleful Intent Peak, a place that had both thrilled and rewarded him.
Only when he was completely away from the Black Baleful Intent Peak and there was no longer any spying or locking on him did Qi Yun's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settle down.
His lips couldn't help but curl upwards, forming a carefree yet sly smile.
Hey-hey!
This is another huge profit!