746: Treasure Hunt Fever

Lin Yang nodded in agreement with Cheng Fu's statement.

If the treasures in Baichi City were truly that astonishing, holding onto them would be like holding a hot potato.

He wouldn't be able to keep them at all.

But he genuinely hadn't heard any rumors about treasures or secret realm ruins in or around Baichi City.

However, he quickly thought of something and said:

"Although I haven't heard any information about treasures in Baichi City, there was a Time when a group of people gathered here, reportedly searching for something. Thinking about it now, they must have been treasure hunting."

When he was still in Baichi City, there was a period when many people from other places appeared there. At that Time, Yun Bu had specifically reminded him to be careful in the city, as those strangers were not to be provoked.

He hadn't paid much attention to it then.

Thinking about it now, it's highly likely that they were also looking for the treasure the Ancient Night Clan wanted to find.

Cheng Fu became slightly interested upon hearing this: "That happened?"

"Yes, but that was a long Time ago. And those people didn't stay in Baichi City or its surrounding areas for too long before they all left."

Lin Yang nodded:

"As for news of the treasure itself, there was absolutely none."

Cheng Fu frowned: "That shouldn't be the case. Since so many people went searching, how could not a single piece of news leak out? It shouldn't be possible to keep it completely airtight."

"I don't know about that. Anyway, no related news about the treasure was heard. Many people in Baichi City know this; you can find out by asking around," Lin Yang said.

Cheng Fu immediately shook his head: "Why would I ask around? I was just curious and asked casually. I have no intention of getting involved, or I might die without knowing how."

Lin Yang agreed, then asked: "Why didn't the Ancient Night Clan send more powerful beings to infiltrate?"

He was quite curious about this point.

Although the Nie Kong Realm is considered a peak powerhouse in Baichi City and even the entire Jidong Prefecture, it does not possess overwhelming power.

If they had sent a few stronger individuals, both the treasure hunt and the evacuation should have been more secure.

Cheng Fu smiled: "Do you think they didn't want to? It's because the cost of infiltrating stronger individuals is much higher. Not only is the cost of transporting them great, but if they are accidentally lost, the damage is even more severe."

"So, generally, the Nie Kong Realm is sufficient. Of course, it doesn't rule out other reasons, but that's roughly the case."

"Oh..." Lin Yang looked thoughtful.

Cheng Fu stayed for a while longer, preparing to leave.

As he was leaving, Lin Yang said: "Should we find a chance to visit Xiao Shuang at the Huan Yin Sect?"

Cheng Fu stopped and slowly said: "I also want to see Little Xia Shuang, but the Huan Yin Sect is in the Zheng Mu Prefecture. Although it borders the Jidong Prefecture, the distance is quite vast. With our current cultivation levels, it's not impossible to go, but if we encounter any accident along the way, it could be a complete disaster."

Lin Yang sighed: "That is true. We'll wait until we have a chance later."

On the Primal Ancient Continent, it is very difficult for ordinary cultivators to travel far.

If they travel on their own, they are likely to encounter Jì, making it unsafe.

Taking a Teleportation Array is also very expensive, and most people cannot afford it.

Therefore, many cultivators remain active within a relatively fixed area.

Things only improve significantly once they reach the Nie Kong Realm.

Firstly, their strength is enhanced, allowing them to cope if they encounter Jì, because in most regions, the power of the vast majority of Jì is within the Dao Fire Realm range, and Nie Kong Realm Jì are not common.

After reaching the Nie Kong Realm, as long as they don't encounter multiple Nie Kong Realm Jì simultaneously, they can handle themselves.

Secondly, after reaching the Nie Kong Realm, their status and position are vastly different, and their ability and speed in earning money increase exponentially, allowing them to afford the cost of using a Teleportation Array relatively easily.

In this way, whether they travel on their own or use a Teleportation Array, they have many options.

Lin Yang and Cheng Fu's cultivation levels are still far from the Nie Kong Realm, making inter-prefecture travel extremely dangerous right now.

As for using the Teleportation Array, the cost for two people for a round trip is astonishing; it would be better spent on improving their cultivation.

"My current true combat power is comparable to the late stage of the Dao Fire Realm. I only need my fighting strength to reach the level comparable to the Nie Kong Realm, and I can travel even if my cultivation hasn't reached the Nie Kong Realm."

Lin Yang pondered.

His comprehensive combat power is very strong; he only needs to advance one or two more levels to be equivalent to the Nie Kong Realm.

Reaching the late stage of the Dao Fire Realm should be enough.

"Continue cultivating!"

Lin Yang saw Cheng Fu off and immediately went back into seclusion.

He was not far from the middle stage of the Dao Fire Realm. Once he reached the middle stage of the Dao Fire Realm, his combat power would rise another level.

He estimated it would be equivalent to the peak of the Dao Fire Realm.

This would make him a standout even among the Prefecture Army of the Jidong Prefecture.

Li Rui, the captain of their small team, is currently only at the peak of the Dao Fire Realm... Time flew by; a thousand years passed in a flash.

On this day, Lin Yang ended his seclusion.

"I finally reached the middle stage of the Dao Fire Realm."

The advancement in the Dao Fire Realm came naturally for Lin Yang, without encountering any obstacles.

He then roughly tested his power, and as he expected, it had reached a level comparable to the peak of the Dao Fire Realm.

"One step! I only need to take one more step forward, and I will have the power to protect myself against the Nie Kong Realm!"

Lin Yang's eyes flashed.

According to his current rate of advancement, if everything went smoothly and he remained fully focused in seclusion, it would take about twenty to thirty thousand years to steadily advance to the late stage of the Dao Fire Realm.

This speed could be considered very fast.

However, the problem is that he needs to undertake missions at any Time and cannot have thirty thousand years of peaceful seclusion.

The reason he was able to rest for so long this Time was mainly due to the great battle against the Ancient Night Clan infiltrators in Baichi City previously.

Normally, being able to rest for a hundred years, or at most a few hundred years, between mission rotations is considered good.

Lin Yang suddenly entertained the idea of resigning, wanting to focus solely on seclusion.

However, once he left the Prefecture Army, without a stable source of income, cultivation would become a problem.

The resources he currently possessed were insufficient to support his full cultivation for thirty thousand years.

"It's difficult to have the best of both worlds."

Lin Yang sighed lightly and dismissed the thought of resigning.

His identity as a member of the Prefecture Army was still very useful right now.

Just as he was sighing, Li Rui's communication arrived, telling him to be prepared to take on a mission at any Time soon.

Not long after the communication, Cheng Fu came again. He originally intended to invite Lin Yang for a drink, but the moment he saw Lin Yang, he paused slightly and then said:

"You broke through to the middle stage of the Dao Fire Realm?"

Lin Yang nodded: "Yes."

He didn't hide this fact.

Cheng Fu couldn't help but say: "Congratulations! Your advancement speed isn't slow at all; you reached the middle stage so quickly."

As he spoke, he became even happier:

"We must have a few extra drinks today!"

Lin Yang was speechless but didn't say anything.

Cheng Fu, guy, could always find various excuses to eat and drink.

"Right, Lin Yang, I've been keeping an eye on the situation in Baichi City these past years."

Cheng Fu took a sip of wine and leisurely said:

"Since the Ancient Night Clan members were exposed last Time, and with the spread of some rumors and gossip, many people have flooded over there, all seeking treasure."

"Now, even the higher-ups can't keep it a secret. Baichi City is very lively right now."

Lin Yang raised an eyebrow: "That makes sense. They must all be cultivators from nearby cities?"

"Yes, those too far away can't make it. Those who can go to Baichi City are usually people from neighboring areas, or cultivators who have powerful backgrounds and traveled a long distance. Those people are not to be provoked."

Cheng Fu said:

"The situation in Baichi City is quite complex now; all sorts of people are there."

At this point, he paused, glanced at Lin Yang, and continued:

"And according to some of the gossip I've heard, our team's next mission is highly likely to be back in Baichi City."

"Hmm? Back to Baichi City? Could it be that more Ancient Night Clan members have infiltrated?" Lin Yang frowned.

Cheng Fu waved his hand: "That's not it. It's because the situation in Baichi City is complex now, and the Prefecture Army is needed to maintain order and respond to emergencies. Our team has a high probability of being sent there."

"..." Lin Yang was silent.

"Ahem, don't worry too much. Last Time, we had to act secretly, which is why we were intercepted by the Tiankun Sect members outside the city."

Cheng Fu looked at Lin Yang's expression and comforted him softly:

"But if we go again this Time, it will be different. We will be carrying out the mission openly and legitimately. The people from the Tiankun Sect wouldn't dare to act as brazenly as they did last Time."

Lin Yang's eyes flashed: "I'm not worried, I just think it's too much of a coincidence that our team is going again."

Cheng Fu laughed: "I was just saying; it might not necessarily be our team."

Lin Yang said nothing more, nor did he ask where the information came from.

The internal situation of the Prefecture Army is also very complicated; sometimes, it's not strange for mission arrangements to be leaked in advance.

As the two chatted, Lin Yang was curious about Cheng Fu, guy, who seemed to spend all day eating and drinking without cultivating.

In response, Cheng Fu sighed: "My talent is average, and I don't have great ambitions. At best, I can barely break through to the Nie Kong Realm. Since I'm already at the late stage of the Dao Fire Realm, my progress is slow, so a little extra Time won't make a difference. Eating and drinking are more tangible."

Lin Yang had no retort for that.

Cheng Fu chuckled again: "But I'm not just eating and drinking for nothing; I've gained some subtle insights. Perhaps my future path lies in eating and drinking."

"..." Lin Yang looked strange.

He could gain enlightenment just by eating and drinking?

He could only lament how marvelous this world was.

As they talked, both men's expressions shifted simultaneously.

The new mission had been issued.

"It really is Baichi City."

Lin Yang gave a helpless smile.

Cheng Fu's prediction came true; the new mission was for their team to return to Baichi City for maintenance.

The next second, Li Rui's communication followed immediately, telling them to gather and depart.

Lin Yang and Cheng Fu immediately got up and went over.

At the gathering point, Li Rui looked at Lin Yang, and the other team members were also looking at him.

"Lin Yang, this mission requires us to go to Baichi City again. You don't have any issues with that, right?" Li Rui asked.

He also felt a little unsure of what to say.

Lin Yang had enemies in Baichi City, and yet their team was the one assigned to go.

"None," Lin Yang shook his head.

In fact, even if he did, it wouldn't change anything.

Li Rui was just being polite.

"Then let's depart," Li Rui announced with a wave of his hand.

Cheng Fu muttered: "If I had known, I would have just stayed in Baichi City the whole Time. Going back and forth, even using the Teleportation Array, is exhausting."

...Baichi City.

When he returned here again, Lin Yang felt complicated.

It was as if a curse bound him to Baichi City, making it impossible to separate from it.

Fortunately, this mission no longer required secrecy; it was a completely public operation.

They wore unified Prefecture Army uniforms, with their tokens hanging from their waists.

Other Prefecture Army teams were also carrying out missions here.

If anyone dared to attack the Prefecture Army again, it would be a provocation against the official authorities of the Jidong Prefecture.

Coupled with his improved cultivation, Lin Yang truly wasn't very worried anymore.

Walking through the city, Lin Yang felt the current vibrancy of Baichi City.

Only a little over a thousand years had passed since the last attack by the Ancient Night Clan members, and not only had the city recovered completely, but it even seemed to surpass its former prosperity.

This was mainly because there were many more people inside Baichi City.

Just as Cheng Fu had said, a large number of outsiders were gathered in Baichi City now.

They were all cultivators attempting to find treasure in Baichi City.

This also led to some local Baichi City forces earning huge profits.

With more people, there was naturally more consumption. Local great families like the Yun Family took the opportunity to make a huge fortune.

It felt very much like misfortune turning into a blessing.

Although the Ancient Night Clan infiltrators killed many people and destroyed many things in Baichi City last Time.

But the current treasure hunting fever brought even more wealth to Baichi City.

"They are all guy trying to change their fate," Cheng Fu muttered softly, following Lin Yang.

In his opinion, most of the people here were unwise.

Not only was there still not a single shred of news about the Baichi City treasure.

Even if there was, it wouldn't be accessible to these ordinary cultivators.

Even if they took ten thousand steps back and miraculously obtained the treasure, they would likely have it instantly snatched away.

Lin Yang said nothing.

That was the logic, but for ordinary cultivators, if there was even a shred of hope, they had to fight for it.

Otherwise, they would never have a chance to rise.

He could understand these people.

Although ninety-nine percent of them were destined to be cannon fodder.

"Right, does our mission this Time have a deadline?" Lin Yang suddenly asked.

"Deadline?" Cheng Fu didn't know and looked at Li Rui.

Li Rui said: "We haven't been notified yet, but I estimate it's a long-term mission."

Lin Yang was speechless.

Li Rui laughed: "What's with that expression? Although this mission currently has no deadline, it's easy—easier than guarding the reception point, and unlike last Time, we don't need to be constantly vigilant."

"Captain, it's easy, but I can't focus on cultivating," Lin Yang spoke his mind.

"Oh, I see. You want to go into seclusion, right?" Li Rui suddenly realized.

Lin Yang nodded.

"Well... let me think. Although theoretically, we need to be on standby at all Times, it's not impossible to maneuver things." Li Rui stroked his chin.

Lin Yang's eyes lit up: "Captain, do you mean you can create conditions for us to go into seclusion?"

"Not right now. Let me think about it. After all, we are executing a mission, and prolonged seclusion during a mission period would definitely be hard to explain," Li Rui mused.