Outside Moonlight Palace

"How dare you, you lowly servant!" Yuan Feng's hair came undone, and she spat out a mouthful of hot blood. The short halberd in her hand glowed with a mysterious light, and she flicked it above her head, deflecting the two thunder swords that were attacking her.

The short halberd is famous, named "Slaughter and Extermination". It is a top-grade Spirit Artifact that Yuan Buwen carefully crafted for himself after he first achieved False Core. Its grade is so high that it is almost Law Treasure.

However, Yuan Buwen was ambitious. Although he had formed False Core, he was unwilling to always lag behind the Golden Core. After searching diligently for many years, he had a new fortuitous opportunity and obtained a low-grade Law Treasure. He then entrusted the "Slaughter and Extermination" to his clan for use by talented disciples like Yuan Feng.

As a direct descendant of the Jingnan Yuan Household, Yuan Feng cultivated for forty years with Single Spirit Root aptitude. Before the age of sixty, he achieved the Ice Leaf Foundation Establishment without taking any elixirs, making him an unprecedented genius in the Jingnan Yuan Clan.

Even compared to the Golden Core seeds of Golden Core sects like Hongyi Sect, Yuan Feng is no less impressive.

Furthermore, he had previously cultivated under a Rogue Cultivator Golden Core cultivator in Tengwen Prefecture, the capital of Shannan Circuit, which naturally made him highly valued by the clan. Entrusting this top-grade magic Law Artifact to him was beyond reproach.

Even so, Yuan Feng still found it difficult to gain the upper hand in his battle against the so-called "Number One Female Cultivator of Cloud Horn Prefecture".

Yuan Feng was furious. He took several more pills, and the dark light on the short halberd intensified. The murderous Sha Qi emanating from the Spirit Artifact was almost solidified.

If I had known this woman was so difficult to deal with, I would have just left those pampered children of her clan alone. A few illegitimate sons might as well have died; why should I have bothered with them? Damn it!

There are so many women in the world, why bother provoking them! But since I've already offended her, and this woman seems to have enough lifespan to last for two more cycles of sixty years, even if she can't achieve the Golden Core Elixir, it's hard to say whether she can even False Core. It's better to settle this with some price for such a formidable enemy!

Chu Yanran wielded two thunder swords, crackling with lightning, to disperse some of the mystical light on the short halberd. This, in turn, caused the remaining mystical light to become even more solid and intimidating.

Since entering Mountain-Viewing Cave, the beautiful woman has still not found Qi Buxiu's whereabouts, causing her great anxiety.

At this critical moment, Yuan Feng tried to stop her; how could she not be angry?

Yuan Feng picked up the "Art of War by the Halberd Bearer of the Wood Palace Star Lord" and slammed it heavily onto the Thunder Sword, causing it to vibrate and hum incessantly, giving him the upper hand.

The halberd technique that the sixteenth young master of the Yuan Household learned was of an extraordinary grade, but it was severely incomplete.

According to Yuan Buwen, the current ancestor of the Yuan Household family, this incomplete halberd technique manual, which was obtained by the Yuan Household's ancestors from a sect's dojo that had been sealed for thousands of years, has a very significant origin, and perhaps only a fraction of the original's exquisite essence has been preserved.

When the Yuan Household's ancestor first obtained the Golden Core Elixir, he couldn't even recite it properly, let alone perfect it. At first, every word he recited felt like his tongue was being chopped off with a knife or axe, causing his thoughts to falter and his soul to tremble, making it impossible for him to cultivate.

Later, it was only through the painstaking research and inheritance of the manuscripts and calculation Jade Slip slips by the Yuan Household for more than ten generations that we were able to get a glimpse of the halberd technique.

When Yuan Buwen took over the family business, he went through countless hardships to obtain a Hong Grade Supreme Grade manual called "The Brush-Casting Art." After spending two Jiazi (60 years) of hard work to perfect it, he cut off his tongue three times and repaired it three times before he finally learned how to recite it.

Yuan Buwen then spent many more years on this method, only gaining a superficial understanding before finally establishing a great reputation. As a result, he once befriended a peer of those who cultivated the Golden Core False Core cultivator.

The Yuan family of Jingnan has a shallow foundation; in the past, even a fake alchemist might not be able to produce one in every generation. The reason why they were able to stand on equal footing with the Yue family of Hancheng was largely due to their current ancestor, Yuan Buwen.

If it were a common False Core, Yue Lin wouldn't have been so easy to talk to when he was in White Sand County. The Jingnan Yuan Household certainly wouldn't just give up White Sand County.

Therefore, to be honest, Yuan Buwen's aptitude for cultivation was slightly inferior to Yuan Feng's, but he was still a rare genius in the history of the Yuan Household.

The reason he failed to achieve the Golden Core in his early years was not only due to external interference, but also because he devoted too much effort to the "Brush-Casting Art," which delayed his cultivation.

Yuan Feng was the most outstanding among the rising stars of the Jingnan Yuan Clan, and Yuan Buwen loved him dearly. Yuan Xiyue also had the potential to obtain the Golden Core fortuitous opportunity, but her status in the Yuan Household family was far inferior to that of Yuan Feng.

In order to enable Yuan Feng, the prodigy of the Yuan Household, to learn the "Military Strategy Taught by the Halberd-Holder of the Wood Palace Star Lord" as soon as possible, Yuan Buwen spent a great deal of effort and time modifying the method before imparting all his knowledge to him.

Unfortunately, the magic method is selective. Even though Yuan Feng was exceptionally talented and had been immersed in it for nearly a hundred years since childhood, he could only barely grasp the basics of the halberd technique after practicing it with Yuan Buwen's modified version tailored to his individual needs. He rarely received the True Disciple.

Even so, it was enough for him to gain a fearsome reputation among those who Foundation Establishment in Mountain South.

As Yuan Feng raised his halberd, it seemed as if the sky before him had been cleaved open. The halberd's blade, carrying a large amount of black flame, and bearing two thunder swords with a few strands of lightning, slashed fiercely towards Chu Yanran, the leader of the Six Yangs.

But then, a Six-Sided Color-Embroidered Bamboo-Frame Golden-Thread Lamp hung in front of Chu Yanran, who was opposite Yuan Feng. The beautiful woman saw that the two thunder swords that had been repelled had lost some of their power, but her expression remained unchanged. She simply stretched out her slender, white index finger and gently touched the six-sided palace lantern.

Lei Jian returned to the palace lantern and landed on one of the colorful embroidered paintings.

With another gentle turn of the palace lantern, a Purifying Fire Blade shone through the colorful embroidered painting on the other side, slashing Yuan Feng's short halberd, which had just gained momentum, causing it to lose its mysterious light and fall to the ground.

The "Slaughter and Extermination" in Yuan Feng's hand hummed incessantly. In the hands of the Yuan Household patriarch, it was an extraordinary and ferocious weapon that had slain countless immortals and mortals. It was Spirit Artifact that many False Core and top-tier Foundation Establishment cultivators could not obtain.

But today, Yuan Feng has it in his hands, which makes Chu Yanran's Six-Sided Color-Embroidered Bamboo-Frame Golden-Thread Lamp look less impressive, so he's unwilling to do it.

The short halberd carried Yuan Feng forward again. Before the latter could even cry out, the Sha Qi emanating from the halberd tip seemed to roar out loud. Accompanied by endless black flames Purifying Fire Blade was almost extinguished, and could only be tightly enveloped and bound by the black flames, making it difficult to do anything.

But then Chu Yanran murmured something to herself, and with a flick of her fingers, she shouted, "Dispel evil!"

One after another, bright white lanterns rose up, numbering as many as the Heavenly Gang, each forming Twelve Earthly Branches Formation connected end to end. The fire of the departing yang gathered in one place and crashed down on "Slaughter and Extermination" with a thunderous roar.

Yuan Feng cried out in surprise, abandoning the "Slaughter and Extermination" and dodging, cursing inwardly, "Law Treasure!"

The black flames emanating from the short halberd were completely consumed by the blazing white flames from the thirty-six bright white lanterns, and the boundless fire waves suppressed the "Slaughter and Extermination," a deadly weapon, preventing it from ever displaying its power again.

The Purifying Fire Blade was also freed from its restraints, and flames gradually ignited on its blade. Startled, Yuan Feng pinched his fingers into a sword and produced six talismans, each one a masterpiece. These formed rows of stone walls and golden shields that protected him, finally managing to block the Purifying Fire Blade.

Chu Yanran's beautiful eyes widened slightly, she made a hand gesture, placed her hand in front of her lips and blew hard.

The Purifying Fire Blade in front of Yuan Feng split into six, and the six protective walls formed by talismans in front of him were instantly shattered one by one, scattering into spiritual light that fell in all directions. Yuan Household Jiazhilan was shocked on the spot. Before she could use any means, she saw the Purifying Fire Blade condense into one again, with even greater momentum, and it came down on her head.

Yuan Feng had only a moment to calculate. He didn't have time to think much. The golden Spirit Artifact on his right earlobe flew out and swelled to the size of a round table, blocking his way.

This superior Law Artifact possessed outstanding defensive capabilities, but unexpectedly, upon colliding with the Purifying Fire Blade, its magical light dimmed, and it flew backward, unable to fight any longer. Chu Yanran's previous actions were actually a show of weakness; the power of this Purifying Fire Blade far surpassed that of the previous two Thunder Swords.

Yuan Feng suffered a silent loss; the golden earring on his right ear, a Spirit Artifact connected to his Essence Blood, was broken, causing him to cough up blood with a loud "waa".

However, the momentum of the Purifying Fire Blade did not diminish, which provoked Yuan Feng to shake his cloak. This young master of a prominent family was now also fierce and no longer cared about the fundamental nature of his Law Artifact.

Countless white-gold fluffy hairs, enveloped in spiritual light, shot into the sky, slightly suppressing the mystic fire on the Purifying Fire Blade. In just a moment, golden characters appeared, and the densely packed, obscure characters instantly condensed together, forming a Golden Light chain as thick as a child's arm.

After a few strikes, the flames on the Purifying Fire Blade scattered, and then there was a sound like whimpering as it retreated repeatedly.

Chu Yanran remained calm, her fingertips flicking repeatedly, and several more Spirit Artifact shone from the palace lantern. None of them were ordinary; each carried a mysterious light, and they clashed with the Golden Light chains.

In an instant, Golden Light lights clashed and collided, the Golden Light dimmed, and the dark light became even brighter.

Yuan Feng's eyes were gloomy, and the Sanskrit silver ring on his left earlobe suddenly lit up. Chu Yanran knew something was wrong. She saw her several Law Artifact suddenly freeze in mid-air, and the Golden Light chains instantly increased in power, sweeping away many of her enemies in one fell swoop. They then turned and brought a golden glow to cover Chu Yanran.

The metallic aura corroded the surrounding air, filling it with a chilling atmosphere. This caused faint cracks to appear on Chu Yanran's smooth face, and a drop of blood slid down her delicate skin, leaving a shallow, lychee-colored mark.

Seeing that the golden clouds all over the sky were about to cover it up, the pretty lady put her five fingers together in her cloud sleeves, and spit out the word "Emperor" from her small mouth.

Before the jade-like sound had even faded, a spark suddenly ignited inside the palace lantern. With a roar, a raging inferno shot up, overwhelming the Golden Light chains. They were shattered into pieces of gold dust and melted away intermittently, eventually turning into a pool of molten gold that fell to the ground.

The golden aura filling the sky was instantly swept away by the surging wave of fire, and the several Law Artifacts that had fallen to the ground also perked up.

The Golden Light chains were an accessory attached to Yuan Feng's cloak. Once broken, the spiritual light on this excellent Law Artifact completely dimmed. It had also protected Yuan Feng from several Law Artifacts, but it was now fundamentally damaged and beyond repair, no longer of any use.

The young master had no time to feel sorry for himself. Seeing countless sparks approaching, streaking past his eyes, so dense they brought tears to his eyes, and the acrid smell of his cloak filling his nostrils, he felt a pang of regret. "If only I had stolen the ancestor's talisman from Manniang!"

"You lowly servant!" Yuan Feng cursed again, but his heart sank. He had thought that his cultivation had improved and that dealing with this little-known rogue Rogue Cultivator would be a piece of cake.

Unexpectedly, Chu Yanran's methods were so ruthless. With just this palace lantern Law Treasure, she probably had enough influence to say a few words to her own False Core Ancestor Yuan Buwen.

This female cultivator is definitely not as baseless as the rumors suggest. Ordinary Law Treasure are difficult to use without True-Grade Golden Core, and even False Core cannot be Chu Yanran.

Therefore, before the death of Golden Core cultivator, one must find Third Tier talisman master to tan the hides of Third Tier Demon Beast into Higher Vehicle talisman paper. Then, one must mix cinnabar with the blood of the third feather of one of the twelve types of Second Tier spirit birds (six yin and six yang). Finally, one must inlay Third Tier spirit-refining Spirit Stone into the cultivator's magic Law Treasure to remove the Law Treasure's spiritual restrictions. Only in this way can one waste the precious materials and turn the Law Treasure into a talisman to be passed down to future generations.

The power of the Six-Sided Color-Embroidered Bamboo-Frame Golden-Thread Lamp in Chu Yanran's hand is obviously not comparable to ordinary talismans. This must be Law Treasure passed down by a cultivator who expended his own lifespan and used the Essence Blood from the root of his nose, the tip of his heart, and the tip of his tongue to form a spiritual array.

The Golden Core cultivator enjoys a lifespan of eight Jiazi (60 years), with a lifespan of nearly 500 years. To create such a treasured Law Treasure would violate Heavenly Dao laws of nature and would require at least two Jiazi of one's lifespan!

Such rare inherited magical Law Treasure are probably few and far between in the entire Shannan Circuit, and even the Dao disciples of the Star-Picking Pavilion might not have many of them.

How could Chu Yanran, a rootless and Rogue Cultivator, possibly obtain such a treasure?

"Hints are always worth a thousand pieces of gold, "Yuan Feng thought to himself, "I should have waited for my helpers to arrive before taking action!"

Or perhaps he would wait until he found the Toad Dew and Osmanthus Fragrance that had once appeared in the Mountain-Viewing Cave, and then use the Hunyi Mystic Union Method of Primordial Oneness, a low-grade dual Cosmos Rank, Lower Grade that he had obtained with great difficulty, to completely absorb the essence of Yuan Xiyue and the furnace cauldron that he had nurtured for nearly twenty years.

At that time, with his hundred meridians brimming with spiritual energy and his nine palaces shining brightly, what would he have to fear even if it were just an ordinary False Core? Even if Chu Yanran joined forces with the Daoist Black Shoes and two other top Foundation Establishment cultivators, he would still be invincible!

Just then, Yuan Feng saw Yue Lan's sword light rise half a foot high and fly towards him, and he hurriedly exclaimed, "Fellow Daoist Yue, why are you so late!"

"Fellow Daoist, don't panic. Yanran was just joking with you." A glint of light flashed in Yue Lan's eyes, a fleeting look of joy before he reverted to his ruthless swordsman demeanor.

Chu Yanran frowned. When did these two become allies?! Or was it just a quarrel they had outside Mountain-Viewing Cave over the matter of the minor sect, a ploy to lull her into a false sense of security?!

Before Chu Yanran could remain stunned for long, the Two Instruments Sect Battle Hall Elder, who had just landed, showed no mercy to the woman he admired.

Yue Lan raised his hand and flicked his sleeve, from which a foot-long, mottled snake emerged. It happily bit the blue flame on the flying sword beneath Yue Lan's feet.

Immediately, the colorful little snake saw what its master pointed to, and saw the sky ablaze with fire on the sea of clouds. Overjoyed, it shook its body, opened its mouth, and revealed its tongue. The fleshy membrane on the tongue rolled, and soon a hole the size of a pinhole appeared.

Yue Lan's Spirit Root aptitude is not as good as Yuan Feng's; he only has Dual Spirit Root, which is only considered above average among Foundation Establishment True Cultivator.

However, the Han City Yue Household was not comparable to the Jingnan Yuan Household, which lacked a strong foundation. The Two Instruments Sect would not allow them to grow unchecked. Under normal circumstances, every ten years, a group of outstanding disciples would be selected by the Two Instruments Sect and separated from the Yue Household.

Among these clansmen, Yue Lan's family background and aptitude were not considered top-notch. The reason he was able to stand out was because, in his early years, he had a chance encounter with a Fire-Phase Half-Chi recognized him as its master.

It was only by relying on this Half-Chi with its superior bloodline that Yue Lan was able to sit in the Two Instruments Sect's Battle Hall Elder position in recent years—a position that theoretically only those with False Core could achieve—and gradually become the representative of the Yue Household members within the Two Instruments Sect.

Despite the fact that the Fire-Phase Half-Chi in his hand is still young and its grade is far inferior to many Foundation Establishment present, it is precisely the nemesis of Chu Yanran's Six-Sided Color-Embroidered Bamboo-Frame Golden-Thread Lamp!

The latter felt as if the lights he had released with all his might had become a hundred birds flocking to the phoenix, surging endlessly into Yue Lan's little snake mouth.

Chu Yanran looked closely and saw that the fleshy hole was no bigger than the eye of a pin, yet it had absorbed almost all of the magnificent lights in the room in an instant.

The little snake, with its colorful markings, seemed to still have an unsatisfied appetite, its eyes fixed on the golden sparks within the palace lantern in Chu Yanran's hand.

Yuan Feng survived the fire, but Chu Yanran's expression was unpleasant. Ignoring Yuan Feng, she spoke softly to Yue Lan, "Yue Lan! Do you really think a mere Half-Chi can take me down?"

"Yanran, what makes you say that? You clearly know that Yue Lan is devoted to you, so how could Yue Lan bear to be your enemy?! It's just that this time, Fellow Daoist Yuan and I are of the same mind as you, Yanran, and we came specifically to search for treasures in Mountain-Viewing Cave! The Moonlight Palace hasn't even opened yet, and if we fight to the death, wouldn't we become a laughing stock?"

"How hypocritical and disgusting!" Chu Yanran glared at him and muttered a curse.

If it weren't for Yue Lan's interference, she wouldn't have needed to share the profits with the Daoist Black Shoes to form an alliance.

Of those who entered the cave this time, apart from the Fire-Phase Half-Chi in Yue Lan's hands, which she couldn't do anything about, the only other people were the Daoist Black Shoes and Lang Yi. Chu Yanran wasn't afraid of them at all!

In contrast to Chu Yanran, Yuan Feng's eyes lit up when he saw Yue Lan's actions.

The price I paid—sharing the Toad and Osmanthus Fragrant Dew the Mystic Union Method of Primordial Oneness of the Unity of Heaven and Earth with this fellow—was to gain an ally of such formidable strength in return. It wasn't a bad deal!

Just as the two sides were deadlocked, the Daoist Black Shoes and Lang Yi heard the commotion and came over together.

The scene was not difficult to discern. The Daoist Black Shoes quietly moved to Chu Yanran's side, without saying a word, but simply glanced at Yuan Feng and Yue Lan while holding his sword.

Lang Yi stood far away outside, probably hoping that all four people in the arena would perish together. Without any vested interest, this old Xiu wouldn't be foolish enough to get involved in this mess.

Yuan Feng gradually calmed down, his anger turning slightly red, and he looked at Chu Yanran and the Daoist Black Shoes in silence.

Yue Lan looked at the handsome, scruffy Daoist with some uncertainty. If it were just Chu Yanran, he could be invincible, but with this Daoist Black Shoes added to the mix...

I can't figure this person out!

The Two Instruments Sect's Battle Hall immediately had a thought, "This Daoist priest seems to be even more skilled than Lang Yi, and he's likely capable of escaping with his life from ordinary False Core. How can I possibly ignore Yuan Feng and Yanran?"

"Madam Qi, let's not argue here," the Daoist Black Shoes on the other end advised Chu Yanran telepathically. Chu Yanran's beautiful eyes narrowed, then she seemed to think of something and said nothing more.

The four people on both sides were frozen in place, and Lang Yi, even standing to the side, could not gain any advantage.

The stalemate was broken by the distant, majestic sound of bells from the Moonlight Palace, its ancient tones both hazy and desolate.

"The Moonlit Bell!" The four of them realized something, and even Chu Yanran temporarily put aside her concern for Qi Buxiu. They unanimously abandoned their argument, each using their magic to transform into low streaks of light and head straight for the Moonlight Palace.

(The workshop manager resigned, and Lao Bai went to have a farewell dinner. If he doesn't get drunk tonight, he'll come back and write another chapter. Thank you all for your support!)