252: Chapter 252 What kind of opportunity is this kid hiding?

"Dad, that Golden Core Elder from the Xuanyin Sect... is his name Duanmu Bei?"

Su Chengyuan was stunned for a moment. "How would I know his name? I was too busy running. How do you know about such a person?"

"I've seen him."

Su Chengyuan's hand, which was holding a communication Jade Slip, froze in mid-air.

"I ran into him the day I entered the city, right at the city gate," Su Cheng said. "He exchanged a few pleasantries with Senior Sun and took out seventeen portraits for us to help look out for. He even posted a bounty throughout the city."

A chill ran down Su Chengyuan's spine.

"The portraits should be of your faces after using a disguise. At the time, I thought it was a bit strange, since you were the ones who went to Xuanhuo Territory, and there just happened to be seventeen of you." Su Cheng gave a soft smile. Even at a time like this, he remained composed. "I didn't expect them to actually be looking for you."

Upon hearing this, Su Chengyuan didn't know what to say for a moment.

He had gone to Xuanhuo Ridge to look for a Heavenly Flame, ended up killing Xuanyin Sect Disciples and taking their treasures, and now his son was unknowingly coming to meet him and even chatting with his enemy.

If Su Chengyuan's team had arrived early and entered the city after contacting Su Cheng, if they accidentally bumped into each other in Tongbao City, a team of seventeen would undoubtedly...

"But don't panic too much." Su Cheng's tone on the other end stabilized. "Duanmu Bei left Tongbao City two days ago and continued northeast, likely heading toward Tianlan Prefecture City."

"But I estimate he won't enter the city. Although he's powerful, with so many Golden Core and Nascent Soul forces in the Prefecture City, he wouldn't dare to do anything."

"As someone from a Demonic Sect, he probably wouldn't go looking for trouble."

"In the Prefecture City, it's perfectly normal for Nascent Soul forces to suppress Golden Cores. But for an outside force to try and act high and mighty within the core area of Tianlan Province, they would truly be seeking death."

(To explain this setting: you can think of a province here like a modern province. A powerful Dragon cannot suppress a local snake. The provinces are balanced with each other; it's not a case where one province is stronger than another, so one gets to ride over another's head.)

Su Chengyuan let out half a breath of relief, but then his tension rose again.

After all, they were also returning to Tianlan Prefecture City, and Duanmu Bei was right ahead of them. Even if they stopped moving forward, Duanmu Bei would still loop back later.

"Father, let's not talk over the communication Magical Artifact anymore," Su Cheng continued. "Bring your people into Tongbao City, but don't enter as seventeen people together. Split into four or five teams, three or four people per team, and set off one after another with half a day's journey between each."

"Once you reach Tongbao City, stay at the Yongchang Inn on South Street. If anyone asks about your background, just say you are Loose Cultivators. After checking in, don't go anywhere and wait for my arrangements."

Su Chengyuan gave an affirmative response and cut off the communication.

He looked up; Li Shi and Zhao Shan were both watching him with various expressions.

"Pack your things. We're splitting into teams to enter Tongbao City."

Su Cheng put away the communication talisman and sat on the bed, looking slightly dazed.

His father and the others splitting up to enter the city was only the first step; the road ahead was the truly difficult part.

It was at least sixty to seventy thousand miles from Tongbao City to Tianlan Prefecture City. A dozen or so Foundation Establishment Cultivators traveling in four or five groups seemed like a smaller target, but thinking carefully...

Duanmu Bei was a Late Golden Core Stage Elder of a Nascent Soul Sect. Who could guarantee that such a person didn't have some tracking methods?

After all, his father and the others had killed a Personal Disciple of a Nascent Soul Great Sect, and a Demonic Sect at that. It was hard to guarantee there wouldn't be some kind of Blood Qi or Divine Soul Curse. Though this was just a guess, it was better to be safe than sorry.

If Duanmu Bei doubled back and caught one of the teams at some point along the way, even if it was only three or four people, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Soul-searching secret techniques are not uncommon in the cultivation world. It wouldn't be too difficult for a Golden Core Cultivator to strip memories from the Divine Soul of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

At that point, it wouldn't just be a matter for one team, but for everyone.

Right now, whether they traveled separately or together, neither seemed very safe.

So, they certainly couldn't rely on themselves for this; Foundation Establishment Cultivators have no margin of safety in front of a Golden Core.

The only reliable way was to ask Senior Sun to escort them.

With a Late Golden Core Stage great Cultivator accompanying them, even if Duanmu Bei ran into them, he wouldn't dare act rashly.

Su Cheng got up from the bed, pushed open the door, walked to the end of the corridor, stopped in front of a door three rooms away, and knocked twice.

He was staying in the same inn as Sun Boyong and Zhou Changgeng.

After the three of them arrived at Tongbao City, Sun Boyong was originally going to continue his journey back to the Tianhai Sect. However, Su Cheng said he wanted to stay in the city for a few days to inquire about the Tianyang Sect's movements, so Sun Boyong didn't rush and stayed behind with Zhou Changgeng.

Simply put, since Sun Boyong had already agreed to give Su Cheng a ride along the way, he might as well see it through to the end; three or five days made no difference.

Moreover, the wine in Tongbao City was good and the stay was comfortable, so it served as a nice rest stop.

The door opened from the inside. Zhou Changgeng stood at the doorway, still holding a volume of Artifact refining notes. He looked at Su Cheng and said:

"Looking for Revered Master? Come in."

After Su Cheng entered the room, he closed the door behind him.

"Senior, my father and the others will arrive in Tongbao City today."

"Oh? Wasn't that the purpose of your trip? What, are you here to say goodbye?"

"I'm ashamed to say, but something happened to my father and his group. I've come to ask for your help, Senior." Su Cheng paused. "However, for now, all I can offer is a promise. If you have any requests in the future, Senior, just say the word, and I, Su Cheng, will certainly assist you."

"Particularly in the path of Alchemy. Regardless of what Medicinal Pill it is, as long as you can provide the Pill Formula and Spirit Medicine, I am confident I can refine it."

Sun Boyong's heart jolted upon hearing this. How could this Su boy talk so big?

"Regardless of what Medicinal Pill? As long as there is a Pill Formula, he is confident he can refine it?"

Even if these words came from a Tier 3 Alchemy Great Master, they would be considered a boast.

"Tier 4 Grandmaster? Those old monsters might have that kind of confidence, but even they wouldn't make such a promise to an Artifact Refiner's face."

There are tens of thousands of Pill Formulas with vast differences in grade and difficulty. Which serious alchemist would dare speak so absolutely?

Yet this kid in front of him, only at the Early Foundation Establishment Stage, dared to make such a bold claim.

Sun Boyong had lived for centuries and seen all sorts of people. It wasn't like he hadn't seen young and arrogant people bragging before.

But when Su Cheng said those words, his tone was so calm, as if he were merely stating an established fact.

What kind of Opportunity is this kid hiding?

Sun Boyong recalled his feeling when he first met Su Cheng.

Then there was that inexplicable Spiritual Qi in the wanbao mirror that connected to the core Five Elements; it was gentle and restrained, yet all-encompassing.

He had noticed it when he was modifying the wanbao mirror. That kind of Spiritual Qi had a natural affinity for Artifact Refining Array Inscriptionss. Since it was useful for Artifact Refining, wouldn't it also be for Alchemy..."

But Sun Boyong did not press further.

Having lived for centuries, he was very sharp. The two of them were now on very good terms; why bother about how he did it? He just needed to wait and see the results.

Besides, even if he used force, he might not be able to interrogate the truth out of him. Opportunities in the cultivation world are far too mysterious, with many things that cannot be put into words.

There was no need to ruin a person who might be able to help him for the sake of something uncertain.