129: Chapter 88 Returning to the Clan, Dividing the Spoils

The flying ship of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce landed on Qingming Peak.

Chen Xuan jumped off the flying ship, his feet landing on the bluestone slabs, and a wave of weakness surged from within his body.

This was the aftereffect of depleting his spiritual power multiple times.

At this moment, the meridians within his body were still throbbing with pain, and the wound on his left arm was still seeping blood; the healing effects of the Medicinal Pill could not immediately dispel that stubborn Golden Core Yao Beast energy.

He did not go to the Medicine Hall immediately, but instead turned and stood by the air harbor, waiting for the people behind him to come down one by one.

Liu Lili came down first.

Her complexion was still pale, but she was already able to walk on her own, though she had to bite her lip with every step she took.

Chen Xuan reached out to support her arm; she looked at him and nodded.

Wang Ling came down second.

His footsteps were steady; although his aura of the Late Stage Foundation Establishment was weak due to the depletion of spiritual power, his back remained straight.

He stood still in front of Chen Xuan, cupped his hands, and said, "Master Yun, the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle is dead, and the Golden Core beasts in the north have been completely wiped out. There are no longer any obstacles to the The Three Sects' layout in the north. The credit for this battle should go primarily to you, Master Yun."

Chen Xuan shook his head, "Without you all, I would have already died on the cliff top. The credit belongs to everyone; I will not claim it all for myself."

Wang Quan jumped off the flying ship and stumbled upon landing, but Wang Qingfeng reached out to steady him.

Wang Quan waved his hand to signal that he was fine, but his gaze landed on Chen Xuan, "Master Yun, we are not here to steal the credit. President Wang left a final testament before he passed; almost everyone in the Wang family signed a Dao Contract, so this is all something we ought to do."

Chen Xuan looked at Wang Quan's face, which bore quite a resemblance to his own in his second life, and remained silent for a moment.

"Debts have a time when they are fully repaid, but sentiments do not. The life-saving grace you all showed today, I, Yun Qi, will remember."

Chen Xuanji was the last one to walk down.

She did not look at Chen Xuan, but instead crouched by the edge of the air harbor, looking down at her sword.

There was blood from the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle on the sword, dark red and already dried.

She wiped it clean bit by bit with her sleeve, her movements slow and meticulous.

After wiping it clean, she stood up, walked over to Chen Xuan, cupped her hands, and said nothing.

Chen Xuan looked at her.

This child had loved to talk since she was little; it seemed his departure had dealt her a great blow.

"Let's go, to the Conquest Hall." Chen Xuan turned and walked up the bluestone steps, "The Revered Master needs to decide on the corpse of the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle; what needs to be divided should be divided, and what needs to be accounted for should be accounted for."

The rear hall of the Conquest Hall was brightly lit.

Master Liu Yun sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, his white hair disheveled, and his left sleeve hanging empty at his side.

The corpse of the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle was laid out in the center of the main hall; its ten-zhang-long body filled the entire rear hall, and its feathers shimmered with a greenish-gray luster under the candlelight.

The inner core had already been extracted by Master Liu Yun; it was the size of a fist, hovering in mid-air, slowly rotating, and emitting a green light.

Chen Xuan walked into the rear hall, with Liu Lili following behind him. Wang Ling, Wang Quan, Wang Qingfeng, and Chen Xuanji entered one after another and stood still in the hall.

Master Liu Yun opened his eyes and swept his gaze over everyone.

"The Cloud-Swallowing Eagle, Middle Stage Golden Core, wind-element Yao Beast, has occupied the northern part of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range for over three hundred years, killing countless Disciples of our The Three Sects. Its execution today is a joyous occasion."

He raised his hand, and the inner core slowly flew in front of Chen Xuan, "Yun Qi, this is yours."

Chen Xuan did not take it.

He looked at Master Liu Yun, then at Wang Ling and the others, and shook his head.

"Revered Master, I did not kill the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle alone. Without Fellow Daoist Wang Ling presiding over the Demon-Trapping Array, without Fellow Daoist Wang Quan piercing its left wing, without Fellow Daoist Wang Qingfeng severing its neck, and without Fellow Daoist Chen Xuanji pinning down its spine, I would not have even had the chance to get close to it. I dare not take this inner core."

Wang Ling cupped his hands and said, "Master Yun, we came to help, not to divide things."

"Helping is one thing, and dividing spoils is another." Chen Xuan's tone was calm, "They are two different matters."

He walked to the corpse of the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle, took out a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch, and began to inventory items one by one.

"Cloud-Swallowing Eagle, Middle Stage Golden Core. One hundred twenty-three thousand feathers, enough to refine at least thirty sets of Peerless Grade Spiritual Artifact robes. The skeleton is intact; the spine, wing bones, and leg bones can be used to refine fifteen Spiritual Artifact-grade Magical Artifacts. Four sets of claws and teeth can be used to refine eight Spiritual Artifact-grade offensive Magical Artifacts. Three barrels of blood can be used to refine third-tier healing Medicinal Pills. And one Golden Core-level Yao Beast core."

He raised his head and looked at Wang Ling.

"Fellow Daoist Wang Ling presided over the array eye and withstood two direct impacts from the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle's inner core, damaging your Origin. Without you, the Demon-Trapping Array would not have lasted until the end. I suggest the inner core should go to you."

The rear hall was silent for a moment.

This was an Opportunity for a False Core! A Peerless Grade item that many cultivation families dreamed of.

Wang Ling's pupils contracted slightly, Wang Quan's brows furrowed, Wang Qingfeng suddenly looked up at Chen Xuan, and Chen Xuanji's hand holding the sword trembled slightly.

An inner core of a Golden Core Yao Beast. After a Foundation Establishment Cultivator refines it, even if they cannot achieve a true Golden Core, they can achieve a False Core.

A False Core is also a Golden Core; it possesses Golden Core spiritual power and a thousand-year Lifespan.

This was an Opportunity that many Foundation Establishment Cultivators dared not even dream of.

Wang Ling took a deep breath, his voice somewhat hoarse, "Master Yun, this inner core is too valuable. I only did what was my duty; I am unworthy of receiving it."

"You are worthy of it." Chen Xuan looked at him, his gaze calm, "During the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle's first inner core impact, the Demon-Trapping Array cracked, and you alone bore all the backlash. I saw it clearly from outside the array; your Origin has been damaged for at least three years. Three years of stagnant cultivation in exchange for a Golden Core inner core—you tell me if it's worth it."

Wang Ling was silent.

Wang Quan walked to his side and whispered, "Big Brother, Master Yun is right. Your injury may not heal in three years. With this inner core, you can attempt to form a False Core. Once the False Core is formed, you will have a thousand-year Lifespan, and the Wang family will have an additional Golden Core combatant. Father's spirit in heaven would also agree."

Wang Ling closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, there was determination in his eyes. He walked to Chen Xuan, received the inner core with both hands, and bowed deeply.

"Master Yun, there is no need to thank you for such great kindness. In the future, should you have any commands, Wang Ling will not refuse even if it means death."

Chen Xuan nodded and turned to look at Wang Quan.

"Fellow Daoist Wang Quan, that sword strike of yours that pierced the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle's left wing happened after its second inner core impact, when the Demon-Trapping Array shattered for the second time. You were injured by the backlash, and you jumped up while blood was still flowing from the corner of your mouth. That strike cut off the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle's last hope of escape."

He took out fifty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, ten bottles of second-tier Qi Gathering Pills, five bottles of second-tier healing pills, and three second-tier Talismans from his Storage Pouch, and then took out a Jade Slip.

"The Jade Slip contains the complete Legacy of the second-tier Cultivation Technique 'Canglan Sword Art,' which is compatible with the water-element Cultivation Technique you practice. These things are a token of my appreciation."

Wang Quan looked at the pile of items, his lips moving.

Fifty Mid-Grade Spirit Stones equaled five thousand Spirit Stones; ten bottles of Qi Gathering Pills had a market price of three hundred Spirit Stones per bottle. Combined with the Cultivation Technique Legacy, the total value exceeded ten thousand.

He cupped his hands and said, "Master Yun, this is a generous gift; Wang Quan accepts it with humility."

Chen Xuan looked at Wang Qingfeng again.