249: Chapter 249 Those people he's chasing have nothing to do with you, right?

Tianlan Province!

Duanmu Bei locked onto a general location, poured his magic power into the Spiritual Artifact beneath his feet, and gave chase toward the northeast.

However, Duanmu Bei's pursuit was not very smooth from the start.

The aura imprint could only provide a vague direction; he had no idea which specific route the other party had taken, which places they had passed through, or if they had changed direction midway.

Too much time had passed, and with the constant fluctuations in the external Spiritual Qi, the spiritual auras of that group of people were becoming increasingly difficult to perceive.

Moreover, it was inherently inconvenient for a Golden Core Cultivator to travel through a different prefecture.

Every region in every prefecture had its own power structure. An outsider Cultivator at the Late Golden Core Stage frequently appearing in someone else's territory and interrogating people everywhere could easily cause unnecessary trouble; even as a demonic Cultivator, he wasn't completely free from constraints.

It would be different in Taining Province. With his status as a Xuanyin Sect Elder and a Golden Core True Person, he could naturally act as overbearingly as he pleased.

(A quick note here: it's not that one cannot go to other prefectures. Every prefecture has some unclaimed lands where one can move freely. However, if one enters the territory of another power, they cannot act recklessly. These territories have defined boundaries, and those with territory are generally powers at the Golden Core level or above.)

(And most importantly, unless you possess overwhelming strength, you won't act without restraint. Cultivation is for the sake of Immortal Ascension; interests and life come first. One does not mindlessly rush in to kill and fight.)

Duanmu Bei could only search as he flew along.

Following the northeast direction, he passed three small cities, two mining areas, and a gathering point for Loose Cultivators.

Although he guessed the other party was in disguise, Duanmu Bei still produced those seventeen portraits near the gates of every place he reached, asking the guarding Cultivators and traveling Loose Cultivators if they had seen these people.

The answer was always no, for a very simple reason.

Su Chengyuan and his group hadn't passed through these places at all. As soon as they left the valley, they split into two groups and took detours through the wilderness and mountains, staying far away from all inhabited towns and post roads.

Furthermore, the Disguise and Breath-Changing Talismans only expired on their own after they had flown thousands of miles.

By then, Su Chengyuan and the others had already entered a different region, and even when their appearances returned to normal, no one could match them to the portraits.

Duanmu Bei chased for four days, and his direction began to drift.

The northeast direction was too vast; that area spanned the regions of Ningyuan Prefecture, Jiangping Prefecture, and Canglan Prefecture. Towns were scattered like pieces on a chessboard, and thousands of Cultivators moved in and out. Trying to investigate based solely on seventeen fake faces that didn't even exist in the world was no different from searching for a needle in a haystack.

He chased for another two days, still yielding nothing.

By the fifth day, most of Duanmu Bei's patience had been worn away.

He stood atop a desolate stone peak, gazing at the hazy gray horizon to the northeast, his eyes filled with resentment.

A dignified Golden Core Great Cultivator had actually been robbed of an Opportunity by a group of Foundation Establishment ants; it was simply a disgrace.

He had spent fifty years setting up that Formation and consumed over a hundred thousand Spirit Stones' worth of Materials, and now he had even lost the lives of fifteen Disciples.

Now, it was all gone.

Duanmu Bei took a deep breath, suppressing his surging rage. It was impossible for him to just give up like this.

After careful consideration, he took out a communication Jade Slip and sent a message to the Sect's Affairs Peak, reporting the current pursuit and requesting the assistance of the Sect's external scouts in the direction of Tianlan Province to help with the investigation.

After sending the message, he continued flying northeast.

Another three days passed, and he went by seven or eight towns.

Duanmu Bei asked wherever he went, but every answer was that they hadn't seen them.

As the distance grew, his initial fury turned into a grim silence.

The eighth day.

Duanmu Bei arrived at Tongbao City.

In this trading city located at the border between Canglan Prefecture and Ningyuan Prefecture, the flow of people was far greater than in the small towns he had passed through before.

After questioning the guarding Cultivators at the city gate, Duanmu Bei was just about to step into the city when he sensed three spiritual energy fluctuations coming from behind him.

One of them was at the Late Golden Core Stage.

Duanmu Bei paused his steps and turned around.

Three streaks of spiritual light flew from the end of the official road outside the city, restraining their spiritual power as they landed in front of the city gate.

The person in the lead had graying hair and a thin build, followed by two others whose cultivations were at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage and Early Foundation Establishment Stage respectively.

Duanmu Bei's attention fell entirely on the gray-haired old man.

The old man had likewise sensed him. After landing, he turned his head, and the gazes of the two Golden Core Cultivators met at the city gate.

Since they had met here and stopped to sense each other, it would be impolite not to exchange greetings.

Duanmu Bei was the first to cup his hands in greeting, and the old man returned the gesture.

The middle-aged man and the youth followed suit, but neither side announced their names.

This was normal. When Golden Core Cultivators traveled abroad, being polite upon meeting was a matter of etiquette; as for their names or which Sect they belonged to, if one didn't take the initiative to ask, the other wouldn't offer.

Originally, after the greetings, they would have gone their separate ways.

But the youth suddenly took half a step forward, cupped his hands to Duanmu Bei, and said, "Meeting is fate. Since Senior is also entering the city, why don't we walk together for a while?"

Sun Boyong and Zhou Changgeng looked at each other after hearing this. They weren't sure what Su Cheng was up to, but they didn't speak up to stop him, silently acquiescing to his move.

Duanmu Bei glanced at Su Cheng.

A Junior at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage taking the initiative to strike up a conversation—he had quite the nerve.

Su Cheng's mind, of course, was not on walking together.

He felt that with the sudden appearance of a Golden Core Cultivator of unknown origin, his first reaction was: could this be someone from the Tianyang Sect's side?

If he didn't find out clearly, he wouldn't feel at ease.

Duanmu Bei originally didn't want to waste time on such things.

But on second thought, he had been chasing outside for nearly ten days without a clue. This old man before him was a Great Cultivator of the Late Golden Core Stage; if he could get the other party to help keep an eye out, it would be another possible lead.

"Then let us walk together."

The four of them entered the city gate together.

During a few exchanges on the way, Duanmu Bei gave the name of the Xuanyin Sect, and Sun Boyong responded by naming the Tianhai Sect.

As for Su Cheng and Zhou Changgeng, they both held the status of Sun Boyong's Disciples.

When he heard Duanmu Bei say the words 'Xuanyin Sect,' the string of tension in Su Cheng's heart relaxed by more than half. If it wasn't the Tianyang Sect, then it had nothing to do with him.

When they reached a fork in the main street inside the city, Duanmu Bei stated his purpose for coming.

"To be honest, Fellow Daoist, I am currently pursuing a group of people."

He took out those few portraits from his Storage Pouch, and with a pull of spiritual power, seventeen faces appeared in mid-air.

"These people killed fifteen Foundation Establishment Disciples of my Xuanyin Sect at Xuanhuo Ridge on the border of Taining Province, and also took something important of mine. I have chased them all the way here. If Fellow Daoist Sun sees these people on the road in the future, please send a message to inform me. I, Duanmu Bei, will surely offer a heavy reward."

Su Cheng stood behind Sun Boyong, his gaze sweeping across each of the seventeen floating portraits.

He didn't recognize them—not a single one.

The heart that had already relaxed suddenly tightened again when he heard the words 'Xuanhuo Ridge'.

Although the change in Su Cheng's emotions was very subtle, Duanmu Bei's gaze still whipped over instantly.

How sharp was the perception of a Golden Core Cultivator? Su Cheng's momentary change was clearly captured in his eyes.

"Does this little friend recognize these people?"

Su Cheng shook his head, putting on an expression of surprise. "I don't. I just didn't expect someone would actually dare to attack the Disciples of a Golden Core Immortal Master and even snatch Senior's things... This Junior is truly hearing of such a thing for the first time."

Duanmu Bei's scrutiny lingered on Su Cheng's face for two breaths. Seeing nothing more, he withdrew his gaze.

Su Cheng indeed did not recognize these people; he had no idea that his father and the others had disguised themselves like this.

Sun Boyong looked at the portraits, clearly lacking interest, and replied casually, "Very well. If there is news, I will naturally inform Fellow Daoist Duanmu."

Duanmu Bei nodded, took out a communication talisman from his Storage Pouch and handed it to Sun Boyong, then placed a Storage Pouch into his hand.

"Inside are ten thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, as a small token of gratitude for Fellow Daoist Sun's trouble in keeping an eye out. If clues are truly found, there will be another heavy reward afterward."

Sun Boyong took the communication talisman and accepted the Storage Pouch as well; there was no reason to refuse a free gift.

Duanmu Bei cupped his hands. "Many thanks."

After a few words of explanation, the two parties went their separate ways at a certain intersection in the city.

Duanmu Bei walked toward an inn, while Sun Boyong led Zhou Changgeng and Su Cheng in another direction.

After walking over a hundred feet, Zhou Changgeng sent a Divine Sense transmission to Su Cheng: "Those people he's chasing—they don't have anything to do with you, do they?"

Su Cheng did not answer immediately.

Xuanhuo Ridge, seventeen people, fifteen Foundation Establishment Disciples killed.

The team his father had taken to Ten Thousand Snakes Valley—Su Chengyuan himself plus Li Shi, two Protectors, Zhao Shan, and twelve temporary Guards—totaled exactly seventeen people.

And Ten Thousand Snakes Valley was located in the vicinity of Xuanhuo Ridge.

He had given his father many Medicinal Pills at the time, including Disguise Pills and spirit burst pills, so it was hard to say now.

Su Cheng remained silent for a few breaths before responding via Divine Sense: "Probably not."