121: Golden Elixir War

Beside the giant red pine tree on the mountaintop, in an Immortal Cave entwined with tree roots, a middle-aged man with a languid aura sat cross-legged in the center.

This person was Wang Qiao, a Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivator and a Disciple of the Golden Core True Person Xiao Changfeng.

His originally jet-black hair instantly turned gray, and the color drained from his face, making him look like a floating corpse that had been dead for three days.

Breaking through to Golden Core was extremely perilous; even with a Soul Revival Pill, it could only preserve his life, not completely protect his Divine Soul from injury.

Wang Qiao was already over two hundred and seventy years old, with only twenty years left until his Lifespan limit.

Failing to forcefully Breakthrough to Golden Core resulted in dual damage to his Divine Soul and Physical Body, making it difficult for him to live even ten more years now.

There is great terror between life and death; even powerful Cultivators with Lifespans of hundreds or thousands of years find it hard to calmly face death.

Without life-saving Medicinal Pills, a large number of Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators didn't even have the courage to attempt to Breakthrough the Golden Core Bottleneck, dragging it out until their Lifespan limit was near before making a final gamble.

However, the longer they delayed, the lower the probability of a Breakthrough, and these individuals often met the fate of their bodies perishing and their Dao disappearing.

"Revered Master, Disciple has disappointed you!"

Wang Qiao looked up and said to a Black-robed Man who had suddenly appeared at the entrance of the Immortal Cave.

The Black-robed Man looked young, around thirty years old, with sword-like eyebrows and thin lips. His expression was stern but not sharp. His deep black robe had exquisite dark red patterns, giving him an extremely noble aura, like a Young Master untouched by the mundane world.

"Rest and recover well. You can try again before your Lifespan limit!"

A calm and gentle voice rang out, devoid of joy or sorrow. Xiao Changfeng had no intention of blaming Wang Qiao.

Having paid such a high price, planned for several years, and even gambled the future of the Xiao Family, it all came to naught, yet Xiao Changfeng seemed not to care much.

"Yes!"

Wang Qiao took a Medicinal Pill from his Storage Pouch and consumed it. In a moment, the color returned to his face, and his gray hair turned black again.

From his appearance alone, he had reverted to the look of a middle-aged man around forty years old.

However, the fundamental injuries had not recovered at all. Without several years of careful recuperation, it would be impossible for him to fully recover.

"Your talent is good, and your Comprehension Ability in the Dao of the Sword is decent, but unfortunately..."

"Hmm?"

Xiao Changfeng was about to instruct his Disciple Wang Qiao when he suddenly sensed a Golden Core True Person visiting.

Taking a step, Xiao Changfeng appeared under the red pine tree on the mountaintop. The Sect Grand Formation had already hidden itself, allowing him to directly see a Golden Core True Person, who looked like a young man, flying towards the mountaintop through the air.

Li Xuanxuan stopped not far opposite Xiao Changfeng, cupped his hands, and bowed, saying, "I am Li Xuanxuan. Greetings, Fellow Daoist Xiao."

Xiao Changfeng observed him for a moment and calmly asked, "Fellow Daoist Li, is something the matter?"

Seeing Xiao Changfeng's directness, Li Xuanxuan no longer beat around the bush. "My presumptuous visit this time is to help Fellow Daoist resolve your worries."

"Your Disciple failed to Breakthrough to Golden Core, and there is no one else in your Sect capable of Breaking through to Golden Core."

"Your concern is nothing more than having no one to look after the Xiao Family after your Lifespan limit. I can help you with that."

Xiao Changfeng finally showed a slight change in expression, and his gaze towards Li Xuanxuan showed a hint of interest.

"I only have a few decades of Lifespan left. Why is Fellow Daoist in such a hurry?"

The position of Sect Master for a subordinate Sect like the Red Pine Sect was not something top Golden Core True Persons of the Heavenly Sword Sect would covet. However, for some newly advanced Golden Core True Persons without deep backgrounds, it was much more comfortable than staying in the Heavenly Sword Sect.

It was equivalent to being a feudal lord, enjoying the offerings of the common people within a radius of several thousand li, and being able to do as he pleased.

However, the number of subordinate Sect Master positions was limited. Only when the original Golden Core True Person died would Golden Core True Persons like Li Xuanxuan have an opportunity.

"I can certainly wait a few decades, as long as Fellow Daoist can maintain the Red Pine Sect in its current state. Once I take over as Sect Master, I will definitely ensure the Xiao Family's peace for a hundred years," Li Xuanxuan said.

Li Xuanxuan had already made arrangements with the Sect. As soon as Xiao Changfeng died, he could immediately become the Revered Master of the Red Pine Sect.

He had only Breakthrough to Golden Core a hundred years ago and was just over three hundred years old, so he could certainly wait a few decades.

However, his concern was that Xiao Changfeng might harm his soon-to-be territory before his death.

Just like a few years ago, Xiao Changfeng raised taxes, confiscated property, and exterminated local families, using the collected resources to help his Disciple Wang Qiao achieve Core Formation.

In Li Xuanxuan's view, all these resources were his, and Xiao Changfeng's actions were simply wasting his resources.

"Oh?"

"Does Fellow Daoist mean that if I don't do as you say, you will harm my Xiao Family?"

Li Xuanxuan frowned slightly. He heard a hint of... excitement in Xiao Changfeng's calm tone.

Regarding his implied threat, he didn't seem angry or enraged; instead, it was as if he had heard something interesting.

"Fellow Daoist can also understand it that way. The Sect strictly forbids draining the pond to catch all the fish. If you plunder excessively, the Elders of the Sword Pavilion will not let you or the Xiao Family off."

"Using the Sect's Sword Pavilion to pressure me?"

Xiao Changfeng smiled slightly, "When this Revered Master was cultivating in the Sword Pavilion back then, your grandfather probably hadn't even been born yet!"

"What do you mean?"

Li Xuanxuan's expression suddenly changed.

"Nothing. I'm just testing if you are qualified to threaten this Revered Master!"

As Xiao Changfeng's words fell, the Sect Grand Formation activated instantly. The red pine tree on the mountaintop grew wildly, its blood-red branches and roots covering the sky in the blink of an eye, shrouding the entire heavens in a bloody hue.

All the Disciples of the Red Pine Sect suddenly smelled an intensely strong scent of blood. The twisted branches and roots writhing above the Formation moved like snakes, making it seem as if they had arrived in a sea of blood and Hell.

"Xiao Changfeng! You really dare to attack me? Have you considered the consequences?" Li Xuanxuan panicked and roared.

Responding to him was a blood-colored sword light, and a terrifying aura of slaughter permeated the entire Red Pine Sect.

Escape! He must escape immediately, or he might perish here today.

This thought instantly flashed through Li Xuanxuan's mind.

Xiao Changfeng's strength far exceeded his imagination. He was no match at all, and moreover, this was within the opponent's Sect Grand Formation. A single mistake could truly lead to death.

"Break!"

A top-grade Tier 3 Barrier-Breaking Talisman instantly activated, transforming into a black light that struck the Formation barrier. Li Xuanxuan simultaneously swung his sword in front of him, forming a giant green sword shield.

"Sizzle sizzle~"

The green sword shield silently dissolved. The blood-colored sword light pierced through Li Xuanxuan's protective Divine Light, finally being blocked by a green longsword.

"Pfft~"

A mouthful of blood mist sprayed out. The green longsword's Spiritual Qi and spiritual light dimmed, and even several tiny cracks appeared on it.

Ignoring his injuries, Li Xuanxuan forcefully activated a forbidden secret escape technique, sacrificing his Golden Core Origin for a sudden surge in speed, and quickly fled through the opening created by the Barrier-Breaking Talisman.

Xiao Changfeng looked at the opening where Li Xuanxuan had escaped and said calmly, "He indeed has some skill in escaping, no wonder he dared to come and threaten me!"

He did not pursue, letting the opponent escape. Once outside the Sect Grand Formation, it would be almost impossible for Xiao Changfeng to kill him.

Although his strength was great, he had been injured in his early years, and his Lifespan was nearing its limit. Excessive action would only damage his Origin and even further deplete his remaining, limited Lifespan.

The blood-red color receded, and the red pine tree shrunk back to its original appearance. In a moment, the Red Pine Sect returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.