114: Chapter 73 Exorcising Demons

It was not just one.

Two more claws reached out from the rift, tearing the dome open even wider.

A gargantuan beast crawled in through the rift, its body covered in cyan scales, with two horns on its head and eyes like copper bells.

Its aura was overwhelming, pressing down so heavily that the Qi Refining Cultivators in the venue could barely stand.

Its claws grabbed the ascension spirit liquid on the auction stage, but the moment the claws closed, a layer of light barrier repelled them.

The display stand for the ascension spirit liquid was protected by a Golden Core Formation; it was not something that could be taken away so easily.

The Yao Beast roared, and the force on its claws increased, causing cracks to appear on the light barrier.

Just then, five Golden Core auras rose simultaneously.

Master Liu Yun flew out from a third-floor private box, his white hair fluttering; the long sword in his hand transformed into a thousand strands of Sword Qi, slashing toward the Yao Beast.

The other four Golden Core Masters also attacked from different directions, their five Divine Abilities striking the Yao Beast simultaneously.

The Yao Beast cried out in pain, letting out an earth-shattering roar.

Its body began to shrink, its scales faded away, and its form shifted, transforming into a man clad in cyan armor.

The man had a handsome face, but his eyes were as cold as a snake's.

"Human Race Golden Core Masters, five against one—what a grand display."

Master Liu Yun sneered, his long sword not pausing for a moment.

"There is no need to observe rules when dealing with beasts like you."

The man in cyan armor's expression changed, and his body swelled violently, attempting to transform back into his Yao Beast form.

But the five Divine Abilities had already suppressed him firmly; he could not transform back.

A golden light descended from the rift, landing beside the man in cyan armor.

As the golden light dissipated, it revealed a golden Buddha statue.

The Buddha statue only had an upper body, its lower body missing; its face was compassionate, with a smile on its lips.

Maitreya.

The Buddha statue opened its eyes, and a blood-red light swept across the entire venue.

"Five Golden Core Masters dealing with a junior—isn't that going a bit too far?"

Master Liu Yun frowned, and the Sword Qi turned toward the Buddha statue.

The Buddha statue raised its hand; there was a blood-red eye in its palm, which shot out countless blood-red threads, entangling the Sword Qi.

The Sword Qi and the threads entangled, emitting a hissing sound of corrosion.

Cracks began to appear on the Buddha statue's body, but it did not retreat; instead, it smiled even more compassionately.

"ascension spirit liquid—something not even found in the Central Plains—is actually here in your Southern Region."

"Such a treasure should not fall into your hands."

Master Liu Yun didn't waste any words; he changed his sword technique, and the thousand strands of Sword Qi merged into one.

This strike condensed four hundred years of his cultivation.

The Sword Qi slashed onto the Buddha statue, creating a deep fissure in its body.

Blood-red light seeped from the fissure, and the Buddha statue's smile finally froze.

Taking this opportunity, the man in cyan armor broke free from the suppression of the four Golden Core Masters and transformed into a streak of cyan light, rushing toward the rift.

The Buddha statue also turned into golden light, following behind him.

Master Liu Yun did not pursue.

His gaze fell upon the auction stage; the ascension spirit liquid was still there, and although the light barrier was covered in cracks, it had not shattered.

Two Golden Core Yao Beasts and one Maitreya Incarnation had only snatched a few ordinary auction items; the ascension spirit liquid was not lost.

But Chen Xuan knew that this was not their true objective.

Their true objective was to test.

To test the strength of the The Three Sects' Golden Core Masters, to test the authenticity of the ascension spirit liquid, and to test the defenses of the Southern Region.

This time, although they had not succeeded, they had not returned empty-handed.

The auction venue was in shambles, and the Cultivators were still shaken.

Master Liu Yun landed on the auction stage, raised his hand to cast a beam of spiritual light, and repaired the light barrier.

Then he turned and looked at the other four Golden Core Masters.

"Everyone, you have seen it."

"The Yao Race and Maitreya have already joined forces."

"If they dare to come and snatch today, they will dare to come and attack tomorrow."

The four Golden Core Masters remained silent.

An elderly Golden Core Master from the Fusheng Sect spoke up.

"Master Chonghe, what are you trying to say?"

Master Liu Yun's voice was cold.

"Attack."

"Attack the northern part of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, take down a third-tier Spiritual Vein there, and establish a Human Race immortal city."

"The The Three Sects will take turns sending Golden Core Masters to guard it, pushing the front line three thousand miles to the north."

The four Golden Core Masters looked at each other.

After a long while, the Golden Core Master from the Qingcang Sect spoke.

"Master Chonghe, do you know how many Golden Core Great Yao are in the northern part of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range?"

Master Liu Yun nodded.

"I know."

"But we have already killed one."

He took a head out from his Storage Pouch and threw it onto the ground.

It was a snow-white eagle head, its eyes tightly closed, with a trace of blood still hanging from the corner of its beak.

Snow-Winged Eagle.

The Golden Core Yao Beast that had killed Chen Xuan's two Senior Brothers and one Senior Sister back then.

Chen Xuan's breathing suddenly hitched.

He recognized that head.

He would never forget those eyes.

Finally, Master Liu Yun had killed it.

Seeing Chen Xuan's expression, Liu Lili asked softly.

"Junior Brother, do you recognize that Yao Beast?"

Chen Xuan nodded and said nothing more.

His gaze lingered on the head, unable to move away for a long time.

Two Senior Brothers, one Senior Sister.

Their revenge had finally been avenged by someone.

But it was not avenged by his own hands.

Chen Xuan clenched his fists.

He must kill the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle with his own hands.

The appearance of that head made the four Golden Core Masters fall silent.

They finally understood that Master Liu Yun was not discussing, but notifying them.

He was determined to have that third-tier Spiritual Vein in the northern part of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range.

The elderly Golden Core Master of the Fusheng Sect sighed.

"Since Master Chonghe has made up his mind, the Fusheng Sect is willing to send one Golden Core Master."

The Golden Core Master of the Qingcang Sect also nodded.

"The Qingcang Sect is also willing."

The other two Golden Core Masters did not hesitate and expressed their agreement one after another.

Five against one, they could kill the Snow-Winged Eagle.

Five against five, they would not necessarily lose.

Master Liu Yun put away his long sword, his white hair fluttering in the wind.

"Assemble in three days; target: the northern part of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, the third-tier Spiritual Vein."

"After taking it down, we will establish an immortal city, and the The Three Sects will take turns guarding it."

"I, Master Liu Yun, will be among the first batch of Golden Core Masters to guard it."

After saying this, he turned and looked toward the third-floor private box.

His gaze landed on Chen Xuan.

"Yun Qi, you will come with me."

Chen Xuan's heart trembled; he bowed and saluted.

"Yes, Revered Master."

He knew what this meant.

To go on an expedition with the Golden Core Masters was both a trial and a test.

If he returned alive, his Dao Heart would be firmer, and his Dao foundation would be more solid.

If he died there, then that was fate.

The auction ended hastily, and the Cultivators left one after another.

Chen Xuan stood beneath the shattered dome, looking at the sky above.

The sky was very blue, the clouds were very white, as if nothing had happened.

But the Snow-Winged Eagle's head was still on the auction stage, and the blood had not yet dried.

Senior Sister Wen Yao walked to his side and also looked up at the sky.

"Junior Brother, what are you thinking about?"

"I am thinking, what Realm is above the Golden Core?"

Senior Sister Wen Yao was silent for a moment.

"Nascent Soul."

"Revered Master has said that Golden Core is power, and Nascent Soul is longevity."

"Only by achieving the Nascent Soul can one truly be free in this world."

Chen Xuan nodded.

Golden Core is power, Nascent Soul is longevity.

He wanted both.

Liu Lili walked over and tugged on his sleeve.

"Junior Brother, can you not go to the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range?"

Chen Xuan looked down at her; her eyes were filled with worry.

"I can."

"But I will not stay behind."

Liu Lili bit her lip, her eyes slightly red.

"Then promise me you will return alive."

Chen Xuan reached out and flicked her forehead gently.

"I promise you."

Liu Lili then let go of his sleeve and wiped the corners of her eyes.

Senior Sister Wen Yao looked at the two of them and revealed a rare smile.

"Let's go, let's go back and prepare."

The expedition is in three days; there is not much time.

The three of them walked out of the auction venue and headed back along the Central Street.

The people on the street did not yet know what had happened, and it was still bustling.

The peddler selling spiritual fruits was shouting, and the stall owner selling Magical Artifacts was haggling with a customer.

Everything was just as it usually was.

But Chen Xuan knew that everything was different.

In three days, the The Three Sects' Golden Core Masters would push three thousand miles to the north.

Three thousand miles away was the territory of the Yao Race, the lair of the Golden Core Great Yao, and the hinterland of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range.

There lay the traces of his enemy.

Cloud-Swallowing Eagle.

Just you wait.

Chen Xuan looked up and gazed toward the north.

There was a cloud on the horizon that looked like a bird spreading its wings.

He stared at that cloud for a long time, until Liu Lili pulled him.

"Junior Brother, let's go."

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze and followed his Senior Sisters toward the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce.

Behind him, the sound of craftsmen repairing the dome came from the direction of the auction venue.

Clang, clang, clang—it sounded like the prelude to the coming war.