99: Chapter 99 Golden Core True Person

Zhou Tong remained silent, meticulously recording everything and reporting it punctually every day.

At the Prefecture City headquarters, Fang Zhenhai's expression grew increasingly solemn as he looked at the incoming intelligence reports.

Although he didn't understand Formations, he knew that anything requiring such serious attention from over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators was definitely more than just a Disciple trial.

"It seems the master's premonition is about to come true," he muttered to himself, a grave expression appearing on his face.

And on this very day, a figure appeared in Zhou Tong's Sky-Peeking Mirror that he would never forget.

It was an old man in a fiery red robe, who appeared out of thin air above the valley without any warning.

A terrifying pressure emanated from him, causing even Zhou Tong, who was more than ten li away, to feel a tremor originating from his Soul.

Golden Core True Person!

One of Blazing Fire Sect's Grand Elders, True Person Chiyan!

True Person Chiyan floated in the air, his Divine Sense sweeping around.

He detected the presence of Zhou Tong and his group, but they were disguised as Loose Cultivators, and the highest among them was only Early Foundation Establishment Stage, so they didn't attract his attention.

Although the Sky-Peeking Mirror was still observing, its stealth effect was excellent, and there were no spiritual Qi fluctuations.

True Person Chiyan merely swept his Divine Sense once more, detecting nothing.

He paused in the air, glanced with satisfaction at the nearly completed Formation below, nodded, and then descended into the valley to converse in low voices with the Foundation Establishment Elders.

"G-Golden Core..." The subordinate next to Zhou Tong swallowed, his legs trembling. This feeling was too terrifying.

Zhou Tong's heart also leaped into his throat.

He immediately realized that the situation had exceeded their ability to handle.

The appearance of a Golden Core True Person meant that Blazing Fire Sect's scheme was far grander than they had imagined!

Fortunately, they had made some disguises during the surveillance, acting in a way consistent with Loose Cultivators. Otherwise, it would have been hard to say.

He hesitated for a moment, initially wanting to leave with his men directly, but he worried that if they left as soon as the Golden Core True Person arrived, it might arouse suspicion. Yet, this news had to be sent out immediately.

He gritted his teeth and discreetly had two of his men leave first, pretending to go on patrol for supplies.

He himself waited for several hours, guessing that the Golden Core True Person would no longer be paying attention to this place, then secretly took out a communication talisman, preparing to report this astonishing discovery.

But he never expected that he had still underestimated the power of a Golden Core Cultivator. The moment he injected spiritual Qi into the communication talisman, a sudden change occurred!

Inside the valley, True Person Chiyan seemed to sense something, abruptly turned his head, and his Divine Sense swiftly locked onto Zhou Tong's direction!

Confirming that Zhou Tong was using a communication talisman, regardless of what the other party intended to do, this action was courting death.

"You rat, you're courting death!"

A furious roar echoed in Zhou Tong's ears.

The next moment, a giant hand formed of flames appeared out of thin air, spanning over ten li, carrying the might to incinerate mountains and boil seas, and clawed towards Zhou Tong's location!

Fast! Too fast! Powerful! Too powerful!

A Golden Core True Person's attack was something he, an Early Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator, couldn't possibly react to.

The shadow of death instantly enveloped the entire squad.

"It's over!" Only these two words remained in Zhou Tong's mind.

But he was, after all, an experienced veteran who had climbed out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood. At the critical moment between life and death, he made an almost instinctive reaction.

He didn't choose to flee, nor did he attempt to defend, because he knew both would be futile.

He frantically poured all his spiritual Qi into the communication talisman in his hand that was about to be activated, while simultaneously roaring with his Divine Sense, compressing all the information into a single word!

"Boom!"

The giant flame hand descended, and the entire mountaintop instantly turned into a sea of fire, with more than half of the mountain itself melting away.

Zhou Tong and the remaining few team members didn't even have time to let out a scream before they were burned into oblivion by the terrifying high temperature.

However, in the instant before their demise, a streak of spiritual light successfully pierced through the gaps between the fingers of the giant flame hand, vanished into the Void Realm, and disappeared.

Inside the valley, True Person Chiyan snorted coldly, swept his Divine Sense again, and only after confirming there were no survivors did he slowly retract his palm.

"Grand Elder, did you discover anything?" a Foundation Establishment Elder stepped forward and asked respectfully.

"Just a few flies that didn't know their place," True Person Chiyan waved his hand dismissively. "Pass down the order, accelerate the Formation construction. The distinguished guests from Pingling Prefecture can't wait too long."

Tianlan Province City, Four Seas Chamber of Commerce headquarters.

Fang Zhenhai, who was handling affairs, suddenly saw a jade talisman at his waist shatter without warning.

His expression changed. This meant that the captain of one of the small teams he had sent out had died!

Immediately after, another intact jade talisman flashed, and a weak and urgent Divine Sense message sounded.

The message contained only one word.

"Golden!"

Fang Zhenhai sprang up from his chair, instantly understanding the meaning of that single word.

Golden Core!

Blazing Fire Sect's operation in that mysterious valley actually involved a Golden Core True Person!

"Something big has happened!" Fang Zhenhai dared not delay, and immediately sent the message to Su Chengyuan.

When Su Cheng heard his father's retelling, his expression also grew solemn.

"An incident involving a Golden Core True Person, hundreds of Qi Refining Cultivators, and over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators, all trying to keep it hidden..." Su Cheng paced back and forth in the room, his mind rapidly connecting the clues.

"Sealing the mountain, trials, Foundation Establishment Elders, a Golden Core True Person... What exactly are they doing?" Su Chengyuan's brows were tightly furrowed.

Su Cheng's footsteps suddenly halted. An incredible, yet the only logical answer, surfaced in his mind.

"Father, for so long there has been no movement from Pingling Prefecture or others in the Monster Beast Mountain Range. Do you think we guessed wrong before? Did Blazing Fire Sect really just accept their fate?"

"If Blazing Fire Sect hadn't made such a move, and there was no activity from the Monster Beast Mountain Range, perhaps I would have believed it. But now, it's impossible!"

"Indeed, Blazing Fire Sect's actions must involve some illicit scheme. With such a large operation and no movement from Pingling Prefecture, it's too illogical. The only possibility is 'to repair the plank roads by day while secretly passing through the old passage at night'!"

"To transfer a large army into our Qinghe Prefecture without anyone knowing, there's probably only one possibility!"

"Teleportation Array!" Su Cheng's heart trembled, his brows furrowed deeply as he said, "They must be building an ultra-long-distance Teleportation Array!"

Upon hearing this, Su Chengyuan also gasped.

Although this deduction was bold, it perfectly explained everything!

Only the construction of such a strategic-level facility, capable of changing the war's landscape, would require so many Cultivators and warrant a Golden Core True Person personally overseeing it and eliminating threats!

"Their goal is to lead Pingling Prefecture's army to directly airdrop into the heartland of Qinghe Prefecture!" Su Chengyuan grew more and more shocked as he spoke. Blazing Fire Sect was too audacious.

After some deliberation, Su Cheng thought of a countermeasure. He looked at Su Chengyuan and said, "Father, Vice President Liu is still in Qinghe Prefecture, right?"

"Yes, he is."

"You must immediately send him a message," Su Cheng said quickly. "Tell him to go see Chen Tai and Deacon Lin of Tiangang Sect.