276: Chapter 276 Only Three Moves!

And...

"Only three moves?"

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande confirmed the investigation results again, his face turning a terrifying shade of ashen-blue.

According to the results deduced from the Source-Tracing Shadow Technique, this battle had actually lasted for less than three moves!

Three moves!

His grandson, a Late Foundation Establishment Stage Sword Cultivator who possessed the Earth Rank Medium Grade Cultivation Technique, the "Qingyun Sword Manual," and carried numerous protective treasures, had combat power comparable to a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection existence—

He actually hadn't even lasted three moves?!

"Impossible... This is absolutely impossible!"

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande muttered to himself, his voice trembling slightly.

He activated his Divine Sense again, meticulously searching every inch of land within a several-mile radius.

Finally, in a pile of rubble, he discovered a trace of flesh and blood residue so faint it was almost undetectable.

That was... the remains of a human body after being shattered by immense force.

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande stared at that trace of flesh and blood residue, remaining silent for a long time.

Then, he slowly closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Xiao Lang..."

He whispered softly, his voice filled with sorrow.

---

After a long while, Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande opened his eyes.

He forced himself to calm down and began a rational analysis.

He knew his grandson's strength better than anyone.

Late Foundation Establishment, Sword Cultivator.

The "Qingyun Sword Manual" was an Earth Rank Medium Grade Cultivation Technique; its sword momentum was sharp and its killing was decisive, making him almost peerless among Cultivators of the same rank.

Add to that the protective treasures he usually bestowed—

Defensive Spiritual Artifacts, escape Talismans, and even a life-saving Sword Intent he had shamelessly begged for back then while listening to a sermon under a Core Formation True Person...

With such a foundation, even a Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Cultivator would have to steer clear upon seeing him!

Let alone being able to kill him!

And... it was within three moves!

"The opponent's cultivation..."

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande's eyes flickered as he quickly analyzed various possibilities in his mind.

A moment later, he reached a conclusion that made his heart turn cold—

The opponent's cultivation was highly likely to be the same as his, a False Core True Person!

Or...

Directly a Core Formation True Person!

Thinking of this, the anger and grief on Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande's face were instantly replaced by deep wariness and powerlessness.

He slowly slumped to the ground, as if he had suddenly aged ten years.

A False Core True Person...

If the opponent was a False Core True Person, he wouldn't be completely without the power to fight.

But the problem was—

He was currently the only False Core Old Ancestor of the Meng Family; the entire Family relied on him as their pillar of support!

If something were to happen to him, the vast Meng Family would likely be carved up and devoured by covetous rival forces within a few years!

The children in the Family, the industries, the foundation built up over hundreds of years of management...

All of it would vanish into nothing!

He couldn't afford to gamble.

Nor did he dare to gamble.

Furthermore...

"What if it's a Core Formation True Person..."

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande muttered to himself, a flash of deep powerlessness in his eyes.

Although he was honored as a "Senior" in this region, he knew very well in his heart—

False Core and Core Formation might only be one step apart, but they were worlds apart!

A False Core was merely barely condensing an incomplete "Pseudo-Core" after Foundation Establishment Great Perfection; although much stronger than a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, one had ultimately not stepped into the true realm of a "True Person."

A Core Formation True Person, however, had already broken through the chasm between Foundation Establishment and Core Formation, condensing a true Golden Core, an existence whose every movement carried the power of heaven and earth!

Even if the opponent had condensed the worst Ninth-Grade Golden Core, five of himself added together wouldn't be enough for the opponent to beat!

This was the gap!

A real, insurmountable gap!

"Besides..."

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande gave a bitter smile, casting his gaze toward the distant Lingxiao Market.

"The Core Formation True Persons in this region are basically all Peak Masters or Elders of the Lingxiao Sect..."

"How could they possibly take action against a Disciple of their own Sect?"

"And with this place being so close to the market, if someone from within the Sect really did it, wouldn't that be seeking their own death?"

He paused, a shadow of gloom crossing his eyes.

"Unless..."

"It's a Demonic Cultivator!"

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande suddenly stood up, his expression shifting between light and dark.

He was naturally aware of the recent undercurrents between the Zhao State and the Yu Kingdom.

In the battle of Qingxuan Immortal City, three Core Formation Demonic Cultivators died; the news had long since spread throughout the entire Zhao State Cultivation World.

Demonic Cultivators sneaking into Zhao State territory, disguising themselves as ordinary Cultivators, and seeking opportunities to sabotage or assassinate Righteous Path Cultivators—

This kind of thing had been happening quite a bit lately!

"Xiao Lang... could he have encountered a Demonic Cultivator?"

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande muttered to himself, the more he thought about it, the more he felt it was a possibility.

If it really was the work of a Demonic Cultivator, then the opponent's cultivation was at least at the False Core Stage, or even the Core Formation Stage!

Otherwise, it would be impossible to kill his grandson within three moves!

"But if it's a Demonic Cultivator... then I..."

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande stood in place, silent for a long time.

He slowly raised his head, looking at the grey sky, his eyes turning slightly red.

"Xiao Lang, Grandfather... probably has no way to help you get revenge."

His voice was hoarse and low, carrying deep guilt and helplessness.

A False Core True Person, against the backdrop of a Great War between Righteous and Demonic paths, simply couldn't stir up any waves.

If he rashly went to seek revenge on a Demonic Cultivator, never mind whether he could find them, even if he did, it would likely just be throwing his life away for nothing.

When that time came, the Meng Family would truly be finished.

"Xiao Lang... don't blame Grandfather."

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande closed his eyes, and two lines of muddy tears slid down his wrinkled cheeks.

---

After being dazed in place for a long time, Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande suddenly remembered something and snapped his eyes open.

"No!"

He whispered to himself, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"I might not be able to go seek revenge on the opponent myself, but Xiao Lang is also an Inner Sect Disciple of the Lingxiao Sect!"

"How many resources did the Sect invest to Cultivate a Late Foundation Establishment Inner Sect Disciple?"

"Now that Xiao Lang has been killed, how can the Sect sit idly by and ignore it?!"

This was the benefit of joining a major Sect!

Your life isn't just your life; it's the property of the Sect!

Anyone who dares to touch an Inner Sect Disciple of the Sect is slapping the Sect's face!

To maintain its own prestige and to deter small-time troublemakers, the Sect will definitely investigate to the end!

"Right... right!"

The more Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande thought about it, the more feasible it seemed, and the dejection on his face swept away.

"Moreover, when Xiao Lang went out, he once told me that he was going to Lingxiao Market to rent a top-tier Immortal Cave for cultivation..."

"There are all sorts of people there; perhaps someone saw him and knows who he had contact with!"

Thinking of this, Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande no longer hesitated.

His figure flickered, turning into a streak of light as he sped off in the direction of Lingxiao Market.

---

Lingxiao Market.

This was a market directly under the Lingxiao Sect; how could its scale be anything less than ten times larger than White Bird Market?

Shops lined the market, and Cultivators were rubbing shoulders in a bustling, extraordinary scene.

And the core area of the market was the Immortal Cave rental office—

A towering three-story pavilion named "Lingyuan Pavilion," specifically responsible for managing the Spiritual Vein Immortal Caves around the market.

Outer Sect Elder Meng Tiande landed in front of the Lingyuan Pavilion and walked inside with large strides.