57: Chapter 57: Intercepted and Killed

These four guys appeared to be at Qi Refining Stage 7 and Qi Refining Stage 8 on the surface, but their confidence when speaking and that calm attitude of "We have killed Qi Condensation 9th Layer Cultivators" definitely had a problem.

He concentrated and listened carefully, gradually seeing through the clues from the subtle traces of the four people's breathing rhythms and spiritual power fluctuations.

These four were all at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9!

Moreover, their concealment techniques were quite clever—if he did not possess Divine Sense comparable to the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage, he wouldn't have been able to discover them at all.

"No wonder they dare to waylay Cultivators of the Qi Condensation 9th Layer." Xiao Yuan sneered in his heart, "Turns out they are peers who pretend to be a pig to eat the tiger."

However...

So what if they were at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9?

He was at the 11th layer of Qi Condensation, cultivating the Five Elements simultaneously, and his total spiritual power even surpassed the Early Foundation Establishment Stage. If they really fought, with all four of them coming at once, it would just be a matter of hacking a few more sword strikes.

Xiao Yuan continued to listen.

The thin man said excitedly: "I heard that this time the Six Sects are jointly opening the Secret Realm and recruiting Loose Cultivators to go in. The reward is a foundation establishment pill! If we can sneak in and come out alive, Foundation Establishment will be within reach!"

The bald, robust man, however, was somewhat worried: "Come out alive? Boss, although we are at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9, all those sent into the Secret Realm by the Six Sects are Cultivators of the Foundation Establishment Stage. Why are the Six Sects recruiting Loose Cultivators? Isn't it just to make us cannon fodder?"

The short man unconvincedly retorted: "That might not be the case! With the four of us joining forces, as long as we don't provoke those ruthless people at the Peak of the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, walk around carefully, and specifically look for Spirit Medicine and spiritual ores, we might just make a fortune!"

The female Cultivator pondered and said: "Shorty makes sense. Wealth and honor are sought through danger. We have mingled among the Loose Cultivators for so many years, and how many years have we been stuck at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9? Without a foundation establishment pill, don't even think about Foundation Establishment in this lifetime."

She paused, a fierce look flashing in her eyes: "This time is an opportunity. Even if it is dangerous, we must give it a try!"

The thin man nodded repeatedly: "Right, right, right! And I heard there are many good things in the Secret Realm! The main ingredients for the foundation establishment pill are hard to find outside for a thousand gold, but they are everywhere inside! There are also Materials that can be used in the Golden Core Stage..."

The female Cultivator interrupted him: "Alright, stop daydreaming. Whether we can come out alive is another matter; let's handle the current job first."

She lowered her voice further and exhorted: "Remember, although that kid looks like he is at the Qi Condensation 9th Layer on the surface, we must not be careless either. When we make a move, go all out and don't give him a chance to breathe!"

The four of them responded in unison.

Xiao Yuan withdrew his Divine Sense, a gleam of contemplation flashing in his eyes.

Tianyuan Secret Realm? Jointly opened by the Six Sects? Recruiting Loose Cultivators as cannon fodder with a foundation establishment pill as the reward?

This news came just in time!

He was just worrying about where to get cultivation resources for the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Spirit Medicine was everywhere in the Secret Realm, spiritual ores were abundant, and there were even Materials useful for the Golden Core Stage—wasn't this the "buffet" he had been dreaming of?

As for danger...

The corners of Xiao Yuan's mouth curled into a sneer.

So what about Foundation Establishment Cultivators?

He was at the 11th layer of Qi Condensation, cultivating the Five Elements simultaneously, and his total spiritual power and density surpassed the Early Foundation Establishment Stage.

Coupled with Divine Sense comparable to the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage, a formidable Physical Body, as well as the Gale Shadow-Chasing Sword Art and various Spells!

If they really fought, it wasn't certain who would be whose cannon fodder!

He had heard about the Tianyuan Secret Realm before; the Secret Realm had a Restriction, and a long time ago, only Cultivators in the Qi Condensation Stage were allowed to enter.

Although over the years, through the efforts of the Six Sects, a small portion of the Restriction had been cracked, it still only allowed Cultivators of the Early Foundation Establishment Stage to enter.

If one's cultivation Realm reached the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage, even if they managed to enter the Secret Realm, once they displayed the Realm of the Middle Stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage, they would be teleported out by the Secret Realm.

To him, this was definitely an excellent opportunity.

More importantly, enter the Secret Realm using the identity of a Sect Disciple?

He would definitely be targeted upon coming out.

Chen Yin, Zhao Tianlei, and those people had always been watching him in the dark. If they knew he came out of the Secret Realm alive with Qi Condensation cultivation—

They would probably be even more vigilant against him, and how could he continue to pretend to be a pig to eat the tiger?

But entering with the identity of a Loose Cultivator, changing his disguise, who would know him?

Making a fortune in a low profile, making Breakthroughs quietly, how wonderful!

The more Xiao Yuan thought about it, the more feasible he felt it was.

He glanced towards the stern of the boat, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes.

Four Loose Cultivators at the Peak of Qi Refining Level 9 wanted to waylay him?

The spirit boat continued forward, piercing through the clouds and mist.

Four days later, the Imperial Capital of Jing was right ahead.

The spirit boat slowly descended and steadily parked at the exclusive mooring place of the Gu Family Firm.

The cabin door opened, and the passengers walked down one after another.

Xiao Yuan mingled in the crowd and unobtrusively glanced behind him—those four guys were indeed following closely neither too far nor too near, their eyes pretending to be casual, but their perception was always locked onto him.

"So professional." In his heart, Xiao Yuan gave a passing grade to their tracking technique.

He looked around.

The mooring place was located on the north side of the Imperial Capital, which was a vast flat land.

People were coming and going around, mostly Loose Cultivators in the Qi Condensation Stage, in groups of three or five, looking excited, and what they were discussing in their mouths was—

"Have you heard about the Tianyuan Secret Realm?"

"Of course! I came specifically for this!"

"I heard the Six Sects are recruiting Loose Cultivators, and the reward is a foundation establishment pill!"

"Stop daydreaming, that's just making us go as cannon fodder..."

Listening to these discussions, Xiao Yuan became even more certain of his previous judgment.

It seemed that this wave of Loose Cultivators was all attracted by the Tianyuan Secret Realm.

He continued walking forward, intentionally or unintentionally deviating from the main road, heading towards a remote riverside of the city.

The eyes of the four people behind him lit up, and they followed more closely.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, the surroundings gradually became desolate.

On the left was the inner moat of the imperial city, with river water flowing slowly; on the right was a dense forest with lush branches and leaves that blocked out the sky. Front, back, left, and right, within a radius of several hundred meters, there wasn't a single human figure.

Xiao Yuan stopped in his tracks and turned around.

Those four just happened to drill out of the forest, and seeing his posture of "waiting respectfully for a long time," they were all momentarily stunned.

"Yo, still know how to wait for us?" The bald, robust man reacted first, grinning, "What, knowing you can't run away, you're ready to proactively offer your treasures?"

The sharp-mouthed, monkey-cheeked short man also sneered: "Consider yourself sensible. Hand over the Storage Pouch, and we will give you a painless way to die."

The female Cultivator didn't speak, but had already quietly circled to Xiao Yuan's side and back, sealing off his retreat.

The thin man rubbed his hands with an excited face: "Boss, this kid is quite sensible, saving us the trouble of chasing."

Xiao Yuan looked at them and suddenly smiled.

"You four," he spoke leisurely, "do you think you've got me in the bag?"

The female Cultivator frowned, feeling that this tone wasn't quite right.

But the bald, robust man already laughed out loud: "Otherwise? You, a Loose Cultivator at the Qi Condensation 9th Layer, and the four of us at Qi Refining Stage 8..."

He stopped halfway through his sentence.

Because the smile on Xiao Yuan's face became more and more playful.

"Qi Refining Stage 8?" Xiao Yuan raised an eyebrow, "Are you sure?"

The expressions of the four changed simultaneously.

Xiao Yuan didn't talk nonsense either, directly releasing his aura—

Qi Condensation 9th Layer? No, that was a disguise. The true aura was like an abyss and a sea, majestic and vast, suppressing the four of them until their breathing hitched!

"Half-step Foundation Establishment?!" The thin man exclaimed in shock.

Xiao Yuan chuckled inwardly. Half-step Foundation Establishment? Laozi is at the 11th layer of Qi Condensation, much higher than Half-step Foundation Establishment. But there was no need to explain.