19: The Great Opportunity of Huang Tianzhen

Purple Gold Mountain.

The Disciples of the Hunyuan Sect began to clean up the battlefield, seizing the centuries of accumulation from the State Preceptors Mansion—Medicinal Pills, Materials, Cultivation Technique Jade Slips, Magical Artifacts... Of course, in the end, there wasn't actually anything good.

After all, it was the age of decadence. Small sects and schools dotted the surrounding ten thousand miles, and no Dao Foundation Cultivator had appeared for two hundred years. The most valuable thing was likely the Spiritual Vein beneath their feet.

"Swish~"

A streak of black light descended from the sky.

It was Venerable Yuan Hao returning, his expression terrifyingly dark.

In his hand, he carried Venerable Zhi Jin, whose life or death was uncertain.

He was covered in blood, with scorched black wounds everywhere; even the fingers on both hands were completely crushed, revealing pale bone fragments.

Clearly, he had suffered inhuman torture.

"Sect Master, you've returned?"

"Sect Master, this—"

Several Late Stage Qi Refining Elders of the Hunyuan Sect gathered around.

"Did you find the yu king sword?"

Everyone's expression froze. After exchanging glances, they all shook their heads.

Venerable Xuan Ling asked, "Sect Master, is it not on him?"

"No!"

Venerable Yuan Hao snorted coldly and threw the nearly unrecognizable Venerable Zhi Jin onto the ground. The intense pain caused the man, who was already unable to speak, to twitch uncontrollably.

"This fellow only says it's lost, and he doesn't even know where it went."

"Impossible!"

"Does he take us for fools?"

No one believed it. Venerable Feng Xi even volunteered with a sinister grin, "Sect Master, leave him to me. I'll interrogate him thoroughly and guarantee he spits out the yu king sword!"

Hearing this, Venerable Yuan Hao waved his hand dismissively and said with a sour face, "Take him if you want to ask."

"But looking at his expression, he doesn't seem to be lying. It's possible it really is lost; otherwise, he wouldn't have hidden it and refused to use it even at the cost of his life!"

"Ah, this—"

Everyone looked at each other, momentarily speechless.

The Hunyuan Sect had coveted the yu king sword for a long time.

After all, it was a sword-path Magical Artifact. In terms of pure killing power, it was a level above even the demon-quelling golden bell.

Today, if Venerable Zhi Jin had the yu king sword in hand, the battle would never have been so easy.

In fact, the possibility of Venerable Zhi Jin escaping with his life would have been much higher; after all, using the yu king sword for sword-flight would have made him much faster.

Because of this, before setting out, Venerable Yuan Hao had mentally prepared for a difficult and bitter struggle, even expecting to lose one or two Late Stage Qi Refining Elders during the siege.

But now, while the State Preceptors Mansion was destroyed and things had gone incredibly smoothly, the yu king sword was nowhere to be found... Suddenly, Venerable Yuan Hao seemed to notice something.

His gaze, like a venomous snake, turned toward True Man Huang Tian, who was standing silently in a corner of the mountain peak, his eyes flashing with undisguised killing intent.

There was also some surprise.

"Fellow Daoist Huang Tian, you actually still dare to remain here?"

True Man Huang Tian spread his hands and chuckled, "Why wouldn't I dare? According to our original agreement, this Purple Gold Mountain belongs to me!"

"Hahaha~"

As soon as those words were spoken, everyone around burst into laughter.

"Fellow Daoist Huang Tian, are you truly stupid or just pretending?"

"I think he's truly stupid!"

Venerable Feng Xi looked around with an exaggerated expression and laughed arrogantly, "Look at you, a lone Wild Cultivator. Do you really expect to occupy this Purple Gold Mountain Spiritual Vein? Who gave you the courage?"

According to the prior agreement between the two parties, the Yu Kingdom's territory and the Purple Gold Mountain Spiritual Vein would belong to the Yellow Heaven Cult.

Meanwhile, the resources plundered from the State Preceptors Mansion would go to the Hunyuan Sect.

But now that the State Preceptors Mansion was destroyed, True Man Huang Tian was isolated and without aid, while the Hunyuan Sect had suffered no losses... This blessed land of Purple Gold Mountain, along with the wealth the Yellow Heaven Cult might have hidden, held a certain allure.

However, True Man Huang Tian's expression remained unchanged, seemingly unbothered by their threats.

He calmly looked at Venerable Yuan Hao and said, "So, Sect Master Yuan Hao intends to go back on his word?"

"Your Excellency should think carefully. If not for my information, how could your Hunyuan Sect have had today's harvest?"

Venerable Yuan Hao narrowed his eyes. He didn't speak immediately, his pupils fixed intently on True Man Huang Tian.

Could this person still have some hidden card?

A fake, skin-deep smile appeared on his face as he spoke in a bone-chilling tone, "That's not the way to put it."

"Fellow Daoist Huang Tian, the agreement you mentioned was a private matter between you and Elder Feng Xi of my sect. It never received the permission of this Sect Master, so naturally, it doesn't count."

Saying this, Venerable Yuan Hao even turned to look at Venerable Feng Xi, feigning displeasure as he scolded:

"Elder Feng Xi, you actually dared to form a private alliance with another? You simply don't show any respect for this Sect Master. I shall punish you accordingly upon our return to the sect!"

"Yes, yes, yes."

Venerable Feng Xi smiled and casually played along, "The Sect Master is right. I was arrogant; I accept my punishment!"

Putting on such a double act to his face clearly showed they did not take True Man Huang Tian seriously.

"It seems Sect Master Yuan is determined not to hand over Purple Gold Mountain to me?"

A cold sneer suddenly tugged at the corner of True Man Huang Tian's mouth.

It was exactly as he had expected.

"No, no, no. Now, I have changed my mind."

Venerable Yuan Hao's tone shifted as his killing intent became fully exposed. "Not just this Purple Gold Mountain, but also the Opportunity of you, a mountain-dwelling Loose Cultivator—I want it all!"

His blatant intent to kill for treasure was plain for all to see!

However, facing this sudden attack and death trap, not a hint of panic appeared on True Man Huang Tian's face. He simply straightened his golden Dragon robe and slowly raised his hand.

"Buzz—!!!"

A pressure far more powerful than Late Stage Qi Refining instantly erupted, like a slumbering beast awakening, booming forth from within his body!

Peak Qi Refining!

Moreover, the depth of his aura was faintly on par with Venerable Yuan Hao's!

"Sect Master Yuan Hao!"

True Man Huang Tian's voice was flat and calm, yet it carried a strong confidence. "Burning bridges and killing the donkey once the grinding is done—isn't this a bit too hasty? And... doesn't it show too little respect for this Cult Leader?"

"Peak Qi Refining!"

The smiles of the Hunyuan Sect cultivators froze instantly, and Venerable Yuan Hao's face darkened. "You certainly hid yourself well!"

"However, if this is the source of your confidence, you still won't escape death today!"

"Attack!!!"

Since they had already fallen out, they might as well go all the way!

He had a Second-tier Magical Artifact for protection, and many Elders of the Hunyuan Sect were present. Even Venerable Zhi Jin was dead; what did it matter if they killed one more Peak Qi Refining cultivator?

However, at the very moment Venerable Yuan Hao was about to strike first, a Talisman suddenly appeared in True Man Huang Tian's hand.

The moment he sensed the fluctuations of magical power from this Talisman, Venerable Yuan Hao's expression changed wildly. His entire body twisted backward in a quite bizarre posture as he retreated frantically.

"Wait?!"

"Hmm?"

Everyone's gaze immediately converged there.

Although they were surprised, when they saw their own Sect Master running faster than anyone else, they realized the severity of the situation and all began to retreat frantically.

"Run!"

A hundred feet away.

Venerable Yuan Hao finally stopped. Looking at True Man Huang Tian's Talisman, he spoke through gritted teeth, word by word:

"A! Second! Tier! Talisman!"