169: Chapter 169 A bounty of ten million spirit stones for a mentally challenged person?

Half a day later.

The bounty from the Taichu Holy Land swept through the entire Central Continent via various major chambers of commerce.

Countless Cultivators were discussing this mysterious, ruthless character.

"Have you heard? Elder Zhao Wuji of the Taichu Holy Land was slaughtered in the street!"

"That's not all! Even the Taichu Saint had his Dantian crippled and has become a useless person!"

"The most ridiculous part is, I heard the person who did it was only at the Early stage of Spirit Severing! And he even escaped from the Clone of the Holy Lord of Taichu!"

"An Early stage of Spirit Severing insta-killing a Half-step Body Integration Stage? And escaping from a Body Integration Stage? Do you think this is a storybook? It's definitely fake news!"

The Saints and Divine Maidens of the top Daoist Inheritances in the Central Continent snorted in disdain when they first heard the rumor.

As the top Prodigies of the cultivation world,

they knew how insurmountable the gap between Realms was.

A Soul Transformation Stage killing an Early Void Refinement Stage across Realms was already a peerless Prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years.

Insta-killing a Half-step Body Integration Stage?

This simply didn't conform to common sense.

"The Taichu Holy Land must have offended some hidden old monster and deliberately fabricated a lie to save face."

However,

the younger generation didn't believe it.

But those Loose Cultivator old monsters, stuck at a Bottleneck and willing to risk their lives for resources, were completely wide-eyed with greed.

They didn't care if the news was true or false.

What they cared about were those ten million Top-Grade Spirit Stones and the Heaven Rank Top-Grade Cultivation Technique!

With these resources, they would have hope of breaking through their Bottlenecks and extending their Lifespans!

For a time, countless hidden old monsters at the Void Refinement Stage or even the Half-step Body Integration Stage emerged from seclusion.

"The Daoist Inheritance Struggle is about to begin, and the Ancient God Ruins will be a mix of dragons and snakes."

"If that kid dares to enter, this Old Ancestor will definitely take his head to exchange for those ten million Spirit Stones!"

Undercurrents surged, and killing intent was everywhere.

...

Meanwhile.

At the top floor of the Treasure Pavilion in Yuheng Province.

Pei Qinglan leaned against a soft couch, her long, fair legs crossed.

A glimpse of spring peeked through the slit of her qipao, but no one was fortunate enough to admire it.

Floating before her was a bronze-colored heavenly observation mirror.

On the mirror's surface, the battle scenes from the long street last night were replaying over and over.

From Cao Kun nonchalantly breaking through the pressure of a Half-step Body Integration Stage,

to a single finger shattering Zhao Wuji's sternum,

then to the Fusion of the chaos remnant sword and a single sword strike decapitating him,

and finally, that arrogant silhouette facing the crack in the sky and raising a middle finger.

In Pei Qinglan's seductive, charming eyes, a strange light flickered repeatedly.

Her breathing involuntarily quickened a bit.

"He really is... a man who makes one go crazy."

Her red lips parted slightly as she let out an extremely alluring murmur.

Having drifted in the sea of commerce for years, she had seen countless so-called talented young men.

But in the face of absolute strength and power, those people always appeared hypocritical and cowardly.

Only this Cao Kun.

Domineering, ruthless, casual, supercilious, and fearless.

That arrogance and roguishness emanating from his bones could truly make a woman surrender.

Pei Qinglan restrained her fluttering mind and took out a specially made transmission Jade Slip.

She recorded the complete footage from the heavenly observation mirror into it.

Then, she sent it to the palace of the Great Yan Dynasty.

...

Northern Territory of Zhongzhou, the palace of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Empress Empress Yue Chan was sitting at her imperial desk, reviewing memorials sent from various places.

She was still wearing that luxurious dark gold palace dress.

The cinnabar mark between her brows was as red as a drop of blood, cold and noble, like a Nine Heavens goddess who could not be profaned.

Upon receiving Pei Qinglan's message,

she casually sent out a wisp of Divine Sense.

After she finished watching the battle scenes recorded in the Jade Slip,

the cold and aloof Empress, who usually remained unfazed even if Mount Tai collapsed before her, suddenly sat up straight.

Her eyes were filled with uncontrollable shock.

"Early stage of Spirit Severing... killing a Half-step Body Integration Stage with one sword strike?"

"Withstanding a blow from a Body Integration Stage Clone and remaining unharmed?"

She had only known before that Cao Kun had killed two Early Void Refinement Stage Cultivators at the border of Qing Province.

She thought that was already his limit.

She didn't expect this kid to be hiding so much!

Now it seemed she had completely underestimated this man!

Empress Yue Chan took several deep breaths before she could barely calm the waves in her heart.

If Cao Kun could participate in the Daoist Inheritance Struggle for the Great Yan Dynasty's camp,

then the Great Yan Dynasty could not only take the opportunity to get rid of Bi Yuntao but might even suppress those super Holy Lands in the Ancient God Ruins, take the top spot, and become the Son of the Plane!

"This person must absolutely not fall into the hands of other forces!"

Empress Yue Chan secretly made up her mind.

No matter the cost, she had to firmly bind this peerless Prodigy to the Great Yan Dynasty's war chariot.

She picked up another Jade Slip and directly connected to Pei Qinglan's transmission.

"Qinglan."

Empress Yue Chan's voice returned to its coldness, but her speaking speed was slightly faster than usual.

"Your Majesty," Pei Qinglan's sultry voice came through.

"Sending a message in the middle of the night, it seems you've been startled by that Young Master Cao?"

Empress Yue Chan ignored her teasing and said in a deep voice, "The Taichu Holy Land has issued a sky-high bounty; they're making a big move."

Pei Qinglan asked back delicately, tentatively saying, "Should we avoid any suspicion?"},{