258: Chapter 258 is so outrageous

Duanmu Bei's expression remained unchanged. "Fellow Daoist Sun, I know this request is somewhat abrupt."

"But the blood debt of my Disciples cannot go unavenged. That jade talisman was refined by my Junior Brother using the residual Soul Blood of fifteen Disciples; it can track those who had contact with them before they died."

"Just now, the tracking power sensed something. I dare not say which of you it was; I only wish to verify. The innocent have nothing to fear."

"Fellow Daoist Duanmu." Sun Boyong's tone remained calm, his Dharmic Power Barrier still shielding Su Chengyuan. "I cannot say whether your jade talisman is reliable or not, but this person is no ordinary Loose Cultivator."

Duanmu Bei raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that?"

"He is a Core Disciple of the Danding Sect. It is inconvenient for him to reveal his identity while traveling abroad, so he wears a Loose Cultivator's robe." Sun Boyong spoke without blinking, pointing a finger toward Su Chengyuan. "Fellow Daoist Duanmu should know what kind of place the Danding Sect is."

"A Core Disciple of a Nascent Soul Great Sect, subjected to a body search and verification by a Golden Core Elder from another province using some random jade talisman... if word of this reached the Danding Sect, what do you think they would think?"

Duanmu Bei's Face darkened.

The name of the Danding Sect was a prestigious brand in Tianlan Province and even the surrounding provinces. Behind it stood several Nascent Soul Old Ancestors, and its foundations were so deep that even the major Nascent Soul Sects of Taining Province had to give them some Face.

After all, the Danding Sect's mastery of Alchemy was profound. Although these other Sects had their own Alchemy Peaks, they were far inferior in the Dao of Alchemy, so they occasionally had to seek help from the Danding Sect.

If the person before him really was a Core Disciple of the Danding Sect, for him, a Golden Core Elder of the Xuanyin Sect, to conduct a forced search would be equivalent to slapping the Danding Sect's Face.

But the question was, did he believe it?

A Core Disciple of the Danding Sect with an Early Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, wearing a Loose Cultivator's robe and running a trade route? Needing to hitch a ride on an Artifact Refiner's spirit boat? Nothing about it seemed right.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, the identity of a Danding Sect Core Disciple isn't something that can be accepted just by saying it." Duanmu Bei stared at Su Chengyuan. "Does he have a Danding Sect Disciple token on him?"

Sun Boyong rolled his eyes.

"It's inconvenient to reveal his identity while traveling; do you not understand? Of course the token is put away. Would he hang it on his waist for you to inspect?"

"Fellow Daoist Duanmu, whether you believe it or not, I have said my piece."

"This person is with me, and the Danding Sect has already been notified. If you want to investigate him, I will not allow it."

Duanmu Bei's lips thinned into a line.

He certainly didn't believe it. There were many holes in this explanation, and it wasn't even a clever fabrication.

But with Sun Boyong placing the Danding Sect's Face on the line, it was difficult for him to force the issue. What if it were true?

He was already frustrated enough at not finding those damn culprits; if he offended the Danding Sect on top of that, it would truly be a disaster.

"Fellow Daoist Sun..."

"Fellow Daoist Duanmu." Sun Boyong interrupted him, his tone no longer polite as before. "If you want to investigate, go back to Taining Province. Come back to argue once you have solid evidence. This matter ends here today. I am traveling and will not keep you company."

After saying this, he turned around and placed his hand back on the Array Inscriptions hub. As he funneled in Dharmic power, the spirit boat's Wind-traveling Stones began to hum, signaling his intent to leave.

Having reached this point, his politeness had come to an end.

Duanmu Bei was silent for a few breaths. The dark red light of the jade talisman in his palm flickered twice before he finally withdrew it into his sleeve.

But he did not leave. A fifty-year plan was at stake for his future. Now that he had a lead, how could he let it go? Even if he offended them... then so be it.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, this matter is of great importance to me. Fifty years of effort and the lives of fifteen Disciples—I must give an account to the Sect, to myself, and to my Junior Brother. If you insist on obstructing me..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was laid bare on the table.

Sun Boyong looked at him for three breaths, then suddenly turned his head and said something to Zhou Changgeng.

"Changgeng, take them into the cabin."

Without a word, Zhou Changgeng stood up and gave Su Cheng and Su Chengyuan a look.

Su Cheng pulled Su Chengyuan toward the front cabin. Su Chengyuan did not hesitate, and the three figures quickly disappeared behind the front cabin door, which was locked from the inside.

Only Sun Boyong remained on the deck.

He stood by the control console, facing Duanmu Bei with his hands behind his back, his posture relaxed.

The spirit boat hovered motionless at an altitude of sixty thousand feet.

"Fellow Daoist Duanmu, use whatever means you have; I shall receive them."

Duanmu Bei's expression finally changed.

He stared at Sun Boyong for several breaths, confirming that the other party was not joking.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, do you truly intend to fall out with me over a mere Foundation Establishment junior?"

"If you want to touch my person, then you are the one falling out with me first." Every word Sun Boyong spoke carried weight. "I, Sun Boyong, have cultivated in the Tianhai Sect for hundreds of years; I have my own rules for how I conduct myself. I am responsible for bringing back the people I brought out; that is the bottom line."

"If you want to investigate, you can do so after I have sent him back to Tianlan Prefecture City and returned to the Tianhai Sect. For now, do not try any tricks in front of me."

Duanmu Bei's Dharmic power circulated through his body once, and the hem of his ink-colored Daoist robe moved without wind.

He did not want to fight Sun Boyong.

A direct confrontation between two Late Golden Core Stage Cultivators would be a grueling affair regardless of who won or lost. Fighting at this altitude in the wilderness, the commotion could spread for hundreds of miles. If other nearby Golden Core Forces noticed and rushed over, things would only get more complicated.

He was an Elder of an out-of-province Sect; if the other party really was a Danding Sect Disciple, then this...

But he couldn't just leave like this.

The tracking power clearly pointed to someone on this spirit boat. If he let them go today, it would likely be impossible to find any clues again.

"Fine, fine. I will ask you one last time." Duanmu Bei had made his decision. No matter how much he deliberated, if the other party did not agree, they would have to have a match. "Will you step aside or not?"

Sun Boyong took out a three-foot-wide Spirit Silver Shield from his Storage Pouch.

The surface of the shield was covered in Array Inscriptionss, emitting a soft yet thick spiritual light—it was a Treasure Artifact.

Sun Boyong held the shield in front of him and funneled in spiritual energy. The Array Inscriptionss on the shield lit up one by one, and a pale golden protective barrier expanded outward from the edge of the shield, enveloping the entire spirit boat.

Then he took a second item out of his Storage Pouch.

A short hammer, its body entirely dark green. A fist-sized Spirit Stone was embedded on each side of the hammerhead, and Array Inscriptionss climbed up the handle—it was also a Treasure Artifact.

And then a third item.

A folding fan with ribs made of Spirit Silver and a leaf made from a third-rank snake slough. Once unfolded, sixteen miniature Array Inscriptions circuits appeared on the fan's surface—yet another Treasure Artifact.

Three Treasure Artifacts.

Duanmu Bei watched as Sun Boyong pulled them out one by one, his expression changing repeatedly.

He knew Sun Boyong was an Artifact Refiner; he had known that since their last meeting in Tongbao City.

But knowing the other party was an Artifact Refiner and seeing him pull out three Treasure Artifacts with his own eyes were two different things.

The wealth of a top-tier Artifact Refining Great Master was just that ridiculous.

For other Late Golden Core Stage Cultivators, having one Treasure Artifact was considered a rich inheritance; having two was rare.

To manifest three Treasure Artifacts at once was no longer a matter of being wealthy—it was an overwhelming suppression.

Duanmu Bei reached into his Storage Pouch and felt for his one and only Treasure Artifact.