822: desire

"A True Monarch's Immortal Cave."

Mo Xuan followed the two to the depths of the mountain range and looked toward the fluctuations of spiritual energy ahead.

It was merely a point in space-time within history; with his current strength, he could not discern much.

True Immortal Xuan Yi and Zhou Lingjun quietly merged into the crowd of Cultivators gathered there.

In the air, several Cultivators stood waiting for the Xu Yuns Hidden Mansion to fully open.

"There really is a Restriction; what a great opportunity."

Within the crowd.

Looking at the mountain peak in the distance radiating streaks of rosy light, True Immortal Xuan Yi's eyes lit up.

“Lingjun, wait until the abode appears.”

“When they enter the Restriction, we'll try using the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle to see if we can get inside ahead of them.”

True Immortal Xuan Yi quietly sent a voice transmission to Zhou Lingjun.

This treasure he had obtained by chance was not only incredibly fast but could also directly break through some Restrictions.

However, with his current strength, he could only use it about twice.

That would be enough.

Zhou Lingjun nodded slowly, his expression solemn as he continuously analyzed the situation.

Snatching food from a tiger's mouth required absolute caution.

"It's open!"

Just then.

The mountain peak ahead rumbled, the mountainside cracked, boulders tumbled down, and a massive residence emerged from within the mountain.

"Go!"

The leading Golden Core True Persons' eyes lit up, and they were the first to charge, each using their own methods to rush into the rosy light.

Following them, the gathered Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining Cultivators were no exception.

All wanted a share of the spoils.

Boom!

But as the crowd entered the range of the rosy light...

The light flickered, shredding into pieces those Cultivators who couldn't dodge in time or withstand it.

Even the Golden Core True Persons slowed down momentarily, analyzing the changes in the light and resisting the attacks from the Restriction.

"Cloud-Piercing Shuttle!"

Seeing no one around, True Immortal Xuan Yi reached out, and a small, cyan shuttle-shaped boat floated above his palm.

Buzz~

The Cloud-Piercing Shuttle grew in size.

True Immortal Xuan Yi and Zhou Lingjun flew onto it.

"Go!"

True Immortal Xuan Yi performed a hand seal, his expression solemn.

With a whoosh, the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle carried the two through the rosy light, completely unimpeded by it.

The expressions of several Golden Core Cultivators changed, and they one after another used their trump cards to approach the residence.

Only one Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator with a gloomy expression thought for a moment and actually stopped moving forward, withdrawing from the rosy light, performing a technique, and vanishing into the Void Realm.

Moments later, from within the residence inside the light, a roar echoed: "Brat, how dare you!"

But the only response they got was a streak of light.

The Cloud-Piercing Shuttle broke through the light again and vanished outside the residence.

"Phew..."

In a forest far away from the Xu Yuns Hidden Mansion.

The Cloud-Piercing Shuttle stopped; True Immortal Xuan Yi was pale and panting heavily as he put the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle back into his Storage Pouch.

Zhou Lingjun also breathed a sigh of relief.

Between the two of them, True Immortal Xuan Yi was responsible for operating the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle, while he was responsible for collecting the treasures within the Xu Yuns Hidden Mansion.

Although time was limited, they had still managed to obtain many treasures.

These treasures were enough for them to cultivate until the Golden Core Stage.

Furthermore, there was a treasure box that had been offered beneath the portrait of True Monarch Xuyun; he didn't know what was inside, but he had taken that as well.

Since True Monarch Xuyun valued it so much, it must be a fine treasure.

“Lingjun, a great harvest...”

True Immortal Xuan Yi swallowed a Spirit Pill and sat cross-legged to adjust his breath, speaking with a smile, but he hadn't finished his sentence.

“Watch out!”

“Quick, activate the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle!”

Zhou Lingjun's expression changed drastically; he blurred and blocked the space above True Immortal Xuan Yi, his cultivation running at full power, layers of Talismans lighting up on his body to form barriers, and a circular spirit shield appeared before him, transforming abruptly as he poured his power into it.

In an instant, he wanted to perform another technique, but it was already too late; a Flying Sword flew in from the distant sky.

Carrying the might of a Golden Core, it fell violently from the high heavens.

This was a strike from a Golden Core!

Although the distance was very far.

He couldn't block it.

But he couldn't dodge.

The two worked in perfect harmony; upon hearing Zhou Lingjun's warning, True Immortal Xuan Yi took out the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle again and spat out a mouthful of essence blood.

It took time to activate the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle, but now there was no time.

He could only use essence blood to force its activation.

True Immortal Xuan Yi's reaction was undeniably decisive.

But the Golden Core True Person's Flying Sword was faster.

Just as the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle was about to be activated.

The Flying Sword fell.

Boom!

Before Zhou Lingjun, that circular shield was torn apart by a single sword strike.

Then, the barriers formed by those second-rank spirit Talismans shattered one after another.

The Golden Core power was unstoppable.

The Flying Sword pierced through the barriers, through the second-rank treasure garment on Zhou Lingjun's body, and plunged deep into his chest.

It slammed Zhou Lingjun's body onto the Cloud-Piercing Boat that had just finished its transformation.

“Quick, go...”

True Immortal Xuan Yi's eyes turned red as he activated the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle to tear through the air and depart.

In the distant sky.

The Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator with the gloomy expression saw that his natal Flying Sword was about to exceed his range of control.

Out of necessity, he could only recall the Flying Sword.

Allowing those two Foundation Establishment Stage brats to flee.

“Damn it!”

The expression of the gloomy Golden Core Cultivator became even more unsightly.

He had noticed these two entering the residence while ignoring the Restrictions.

He had planned to hide outside quietly and strike to intercept them once they emerged with the treasures.

Who would have thought that the spirit boat beneath their feet not only had the miraculous effect of breaking Restrictions.

But its speed was also exceptionally startling.

If he hadn't possessed a secret technique.

He might have truly been shaken off by them.

Thus, upon sensing the two stop, he immediately struck, wanting to kill them to prevent any accidents.

If he succeeded, he could not only obtain what these two had harvested from the Xu Yuns Hidden Mansion.

But also obtain that spirit boat.

It would be killing two birds with one stone.

Who would have thought that his full-power strike would actually be blocked for a moment by that Late Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator.

Buying them time to escape.

“Damn it!”

Holding the returned Flying Sword in his hand, he casually flicked off the bloodstains.

The gloomy Golden Core Cultivator cursed once more.

This time, it was truly like trying to scoop water with a wicker basket—all for nothing.

“Damn it!”

Boom!

Amidst the barren mountains.

A spirit boat crashed down from the sky.

True Immortal Xuan Yi's aura was weak, and his body was covered in blood.

A small portion of this blood was his, but the majority belonged to Zhou Lingjun.

He didn't have time to attend to his own injuries; even the Cloud-Piercing Shuttle was forgotten by his side.

True Immortal Xuan Yi stared blankly at Zhou Lingjun, who lay at his feet with little life left; for a moment, his mind was a total blank.

“Brother True Immortal Xuan Yi, to have known you... I have no regrets in this life.”

“You must, you must... carry our shared wish... and keep going.”

A faint smile touched the corners of Zhou Lingjun's mouth as he used his last bit of strength to finish these two sentences.

Then, with great difficulty, he pressed the Storage Pouch at his waist into the hands of the blank-minded True Immortal Xuan Yi.

And so, he quietly fell silent in these barren mountains... for a long, long time.

On the nameless barren mountain, a new grave appeared.

Before the new grave, a man in black clothes sat in silence.

Like an old Buddha, he did not move for a long time.

Not until the barren mountain bloomed with flowers for the third time.

The man in black before the grave slowly stood up.

He bowed toward the grave, and then his gaze gradually became resolute.

He wanted to reach the peak of the Immortal Realm.

To break the current state where various Immortals were divided and governed, treating all living beings in the Immortal Realm as mere grass.

He wanted to establish a new order.

This was their shared wish.

The hometowns of both had been destroyed in the catastrophe where Immortals from above the Thirty-Three Heavens showered down flowing fire, using the spiritual energy of an entire region to refine Immortal Pills.

True Immortal Xuan Yi opened the Storage Pouch left by Zhou Lingjun.

He took out the treasure box obtained from the True Immortal Xuyun's residence, which had been offered beneath the portrait, and slowly opened it.

An irregularly shaped stone the size of a fist lay quietly inside, dim and lusterless.

"karma divine stone."

In the air, Mo Xuan, who was quietly watching from below, recognized the stone at a glance; it was precisely one of the five innate supreme treasures, the karma divine stone.