Chapter 69 Gentlemen's Agreement

Chen Li changed direction once again.

Chen Songxiao stared intently at the signal strength of the star fixing plate. Discovering that the signal direction hadn't changed after going 150 kilometers deep, he felt slightly relieved.

Chen Li flew on his sword, his Divine Sense already extended five li away. If the incident of the Foundation Establishment being trapped hadn't occurred, 1,500 kilometers wouldn't be too dangerous for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. However, the current environment of the Boundless Forest was truly unpredictable, making it unwise to take too many risks.

Chen Li silently calculated the distance. Suddenly, Chen Songxiao noticed the signal getting stronger and said in surprise, "Father, the signal is getting stronger!"

A strengthening signal meant they weren't far from the target. The uncertainty of the Pulse Seeking Technique lay in the fact that luck played a significant role.

The final result would depend on the direction of the first Pulse Seeking Art performed at the initial location, as well as the weather and wind direction at that time, all of which would influence the outcome.

This explained why some Spiritual Veins, despite being very close, had remained undetected for so many years; there were many influencing factors.

Chen Li and Chen Songxiao consumed over a dozen bottles of vitality replenishing pills. This wasn't because their Spiritual Qi was depleted, but rather to keep their Spiritual Qi running at a high level at all times.

Chen Li flew for another half-hour, having now ventured 1,400 kilometers deep into the Boundless Forest. Chen Li asked, "Songxiao, how's the signal strength?"

Chen Songxiao replied, "The signal strength of the star fixing plate is still increasing!"

Chen Li understood and continued flying, indicating they were close.

At this moment, with his Divine Sense extended, Chen Li suddenly noticed something was wrong. Two people were also flying towards that same direction. Four li away, these two were heading in the same direction as them, and judging by their movement speed, they also seemed to be Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Chen Li warned, "Old Fourth, there are two people four li away moving in the same direction as us."

"Understood, Father!" Chen Songxiao immediately heightened his alertness.

After flying another twenty kilometers, the star fixing plate emitted an even stronger signal. "Father, it's within these ten kilometers!"

Chen Songxiao said with a hint of excitement in his voice.

Chen Li grunted in response and slowed down his flight, also keeping an eye on the pair of Cultivators four li away who were traveling in the same direction. The other party also seemed to have slowed down.

Chen Li restrained his aura and flew another four kilometers. Chen Songxiao stared at the signal of the star fixing plate, which pointed strongly toward a mountain ahead.

"Father, it's at that mountain!"

Chen Li nodded and warned once more, "Those two Cultivators aren't far from us, only two li away!"

Chen Li slowly approached the mountain. After flying for a while, the other pair of Cultivators also discovered Chen Li and his son.

When Chen Li reached the mountain, the two Cultivators also caught up. Now two hundred meters away, the two Cultivators looked at Chen Li and Songxiao, while Chen Li also looked back, sizing them up.

Chen Li observed that one was at the Seventh Level of Qi Refining and the other at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining. However, the movement speed he had sensed from four li away didn't seem like that of a Qi Refining Cultivator; the other party might be hiding their cultivation.

The two of them also sized up Chen Li, seeing two middle-aged-looking Cultivators—one at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and the other at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining—and didn't dare to make any rash moves.

After sizing each other up for a few minutes, the one at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining asked, "Fellow Daoist, are you also here for Pulse Seeking?"

Chen Li nodded and said, "Yes, Fellow Daoist. What of it?"

The Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator fell silent for a moment. "Fellow Daoist, how about we have a fight? A Gentleman's Agreement: the loser leaves."

Chen Li sent a voice transmission to Chen Songxiao: "Watch out for that Seventh Level of Qi Refining Cultivator. Stay on your guard!"

Chen Songxiao indicated he understood. Chen Li replied, "Very well, a Gentleman's Agreement: the loser leaves!"

The other two also exchanged some words via voice transmission.

Chen Li pulled out the frost condensing sword. The opponent took out two iron hammers, which also seemed to be third-grade Magical Artifacts.

Chen Li released the aura of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Peak. The opponent didn't seem flustered, so Chen Li knew the other person must be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. He fully opened his Divine Sense; the Seventh Level of Qi Refining Cultivator next to the opponent wasn't hiding his cultivation.

The opponent's Divine Sense also came to probe him. Chen Li observed that the strength of the opponent's Divine Sense should be that of an Early Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator. Under the suppression of Chen Li's Divine Sense, the opponent didn't notice anything unusual.

The opponent stepped forward with dual hammers, and Chen Li also stepped forward with his sword. At this moment, the opponent also released a cultivation level of the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Peak.

Chen Li dashed forward first. The cold air released by the frost condensing sword instantly swept toward the opponent. Seeing Chen Li approach, the man's dual hammers also released the heat of a blazing sun to resist the cold air Chen Li emitted.

Chen Li swung his sword at the opponent, who parried with the dual hammers. Chen Li shifted positions, and the opponent parried again. Chen Li began to increase his speed, causing the opponent to frown, sensing Chen Li's sharp Sword Intent.

After a while, Chen Li unleashed the complete form of the Profound Shadow Ice Art. With the speed and cold air of Chen Li's sword, the opponent had no way to resist and was forced into passive defense, with no chance to attack at all.

The contest lasted only a few minutes before the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator was sent flying backward, his expression extremely grim.

He said to Chen Li, "I admit defeat and will leave now!"

"I admire your grace, Fellow Daoist. I hope you will abide by our Gentleman's Agreement!"

The Seventh Level of Qi Refining Cultivator nearby had a look of reluctance in his eyes, but the one who appeared to be at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining remained silent and flew away after a few breaths.

Chen Li watched the two fly away but did not lower his guard, keeping his Divine Sense alert at all times.

Two li away, the Seventh Level of Qi Refining Cultivator said to the one at the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, "Patriarch, we're just leaving like this? Does the opponent have a hidden cultivation?"

The Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator smiled. "No, the opponent is just a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator. My test just now was to find his true cultivation. When I fully opened my Divine Sense earlier, he indeed appeared to be a Ninth Layer of Qi Refining Cultivator."

"Then Patriarch, why... didn't we just kill them?"

"It's not that we won't kill them, but rather a slow kill, a strategic kill, a kill after creating the right conditions! That man's Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation is very solid. If we let them escape and spread the word, we won't be able to keep this vein for ourselves!"

The Seventh Level of Qi Refining Cultivator asked in confusion, "Then Patriarch, what should we do?"

The two of them began to plot right there.

...

On Chen Li's side, his Divine Sense saw that the pair of Cultivators had stopped two li away. Chen Li smiled knowingly; he knew his Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation had deceived them.

He said to Chen Songxiao, "Songxiao, go into the mountain and investigate what kind of vein it is. I'll set up some things on the perimeter."

Chen Songxiao took another shovel out of his Storage Pouch and nodded. "Alright, Father, I'm going!"

Thirty sets of third-grade Spirit Trapping Formations floated out of Chen Li's Storage Pouch. Chen Li placed them in every blind spot around the mountain's perimeter and took out a comprehensive combined Formation Plate to operate these thirty sets of third-grade Spirit Trapping Formations.

Then, he set up another simple second-grade Defensive Formation Array around the mountain!

The moment it was activated, Chen Li also entered the mountain, waiting for them to come up...