118: Returning to the northern border

In the City Lord's study at the Northern Border Frontier garrison.

Bei Batian held the jade bottle containing the "purple ginseng jade marrow," his fingertips trembling slightly.

The warm, moist Aura emanating from the jade marrow left him intoxicated, as if the Bottleneck of the Late Golden Core Stage was within reach, and even the ethereal Nascent Soul Stage no longer seemed like a mirage.

He was completely immersed in the ecstasy of power being within his grasp, utterly unaware that the wrath of the Xihua Sect was about to descend.

"Senior Yue."

Bei Batian's face was filled with a fawning smile as he asked cautiously:

"I wonder when your noble sect plans to dispatch the first group of merchants? What will they be trading? This Junior would like to make early preparations to ensure everything goes perfectly!"

He was impatient to finalize this "cooperation" and exchange it for more benefits.

Elder Yue picked up his teacup and slowly blew on it, a trace of imperceptible contempt flickering deep within his cloudy old eyes.

This Bei Batian had ambition but no shrewdness; with greed written all over his face, he was truly a useful pawn.

"City Lord Bei, there is no need to be impatient."

Elder Yue set down the teacup, his voice flat and emotionless:

"Someone will deliver the business list later. However, before that, my sect has a small matter that requires City Lord Bei's assistance."

"Oh? Please speak, Senior! As long as it is within my power, I, Bei Batian, will not hesitate!"

Bei Batian patted his chest in assurance.

"My sect has a batch of special 'Spirit Plants' that temporarily need an absolutely safe place with abundant spiritual energy and low visibility to be planted for a period of time."

Elder Yue stared into Bei Batian's eyes:

"I have heard that there is an Elementary spirit stone vein within the jurisdiction of Northern Border City, I wonder..."

The smile on Bei Batian's face froze instantly!

A spirit stone vein!

That was one of the Foundations of the Tianqi Dynasty and the resource Bei Batian used to nurture Cultivators, regarded as his trump card for future Breakthroughs!

Not only was it the source of half the Dynasty's Spirit Stones, but it was also his only source of income! The Xuan Yin Sect actually specified they wanted to plant Spirit Plants there?

A chill instantly shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!

This was by no means a normal "cooperation" request! The Xuan Yin Sect was asking for his life!

"This... Senior..."

Bei Batian's forehead broke out in a cold sweat, his voice dry:

"That vein has been mined for a long time, and its spiritual energy is mixed and unstable. I'm afraid... I'm afraid it's not suitable for planting Spirit Medicine..."

"Whether it is suitable or not, my sect will judge for itself."

Elder Yue's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an unquestionable pressure. His Late Golden Core Stage Aura was like an invisible mountain, instantly making Bei Batian unable to breathe, his face turning pale:

"City Lord Bei only needs to tell me, is it 'can' or 'cannot'?"

The air in the study seemed to solidify.

The candlelight flickered wildly under the invisible pressure, elongating Bei Batian's terrified and distorted shadow.

He felt fear and killing intent! Elder Yue was warning him!

Just as Bei Batian's mind was reeling, nearly crushed by this double pressure and on the verge of surrendering—

"Boom—!!!"

A deafening roar, not thunder, but an explosion of pure power!

The sturdy study door of the Temporary City Lord's Mansion, inscribed with defensive runes, was blasted into dust from the outside by an overwhelming force as if it were made of paper!

Violent air currents, carrying wood chips and rubble, swept in like a storm!

Most of the candles were instantly extinguished, and the study fell into dark chaos!

"Who is it?!"

The two Mid Golden Core Stage Guards behind Elder Yue reacted extremely quickly, shouting sharply as their majestic spiritual power erupted. They protected Elder Yue, their Magic Treasures glowing as they vigilantly locked onto the dust-filled doorway.

Bei Batian was even more terrified, his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering as he slumped to the ground, the jade box in his hand nearly flying out!

He looked at the doorway in sheer terror, with only one thought in his mind:

It's over! Is it someone sent by Zhuang Xian to clean house?! Or... Zhuang Lei?!

The dust slowly settled.

A tall, straight figure, like a sharp sword tearing through the darkness, slowly stepped into the study.

Dressed in black and travel-worn, he wore a black mask on his face, with night dew from his rapid journey still clinging to the tips of his hair. Yet, the Aura radiating from his body caused the space in the entire study to twist and stagnate!

That was not the pressure of the Late Golden Core Stage!

It was a higher level, more vast, and more terrifying power that carried the rhythm of the Heavenly Dao's Power of Law!

Yet it faintly fell short of the level of the Power of Law.

"Half-step Nascent Soul Stage!"

"The Xihua Sect Special Envoy who took Mei Shuang away!"

Although he was only wearing a mask this time, Bei Batian still recognized the "Special Envoy" from his back.

Bei Batian's scalp tingled.

Situ Jun's gaze was like lightning, coldly scanning the slumped and pale Bei Batian, passing over the Xuan Yin Sect Guards who were as if facing a great enemy with their pupils shrinking violently, and finally landing on Elder Yue, who remained seated but whose cloudy old eyes showed true solemnity for the first time.

"Planting Spirit Plants?"

Situ Jun's voice was not loud, but it possessed a strange penetrating power, like ice rubbing together, clearly reaching everyone's ears, and carrying an indifference like looking down at ants:

"The Xuan Yin Sect's reach is a bit too long. Northern Border City is not a place for you to dictate terms."

His gaze finally fixed on Bei Batian, his eyes bone-chillingly cold, with no trace of past friendship left, only naked scrutiny and control.

"Bei Batian, it seems that because my Xihua Sect didn't send anyone here, you found yourself a 'new path'?"

No joy or anger could be heard in Situ Jun's voice, yet it made Bei Batian feel as if he had fallen into an ice cellar, his blood seemingly frozen!

He could clearly feel his Soul trembling; it was the fear of death!

"Spe... Special Envoy..."

Bei Batian's teeth chattered, unable to utter a complete sentence, as massive fear completely overwhelmed him.

Not only had the "Special Envoy" returned, but... the Cultivation he displayed had actually reached the Half-step Nascent Soul Stage!

How is this possible?!

He was only at the Late Golden Core Stage a few days ago! Unless the Special Envoy had hidden his cultivation then.

"Half-step Nascent Soul?!"

Elder Yue was finally unable to maintain his composure and cried out in alarm, his withered fingers suddenly tightening on the armrest of his chair.

He stared fixedly at Situ Jun, his cloudy old eyes filled with disbelief and deep wariness!

A serious intelligence failure!

This so-called "Special Envoy" had crossed that chasm that countless Golden Core Cultivators could never cross in their entire lives?! Although it was only half a step, this half-step was something others could never bridge in a lifetime.

Yet this person sounded so young; he must be a Disciple heavily nurtured by the Xihua Sect!

Elder Yue made a firm judgment in his heart.

Situ Jun's expression behind the mask was indifferent as he slowly scanned the room.

He had rushed back day and night, and under the continuous strain on his spiritual power, his cultivation, which had already reached the peak of the Late Golden Core Stage, broke through to the Half-step Nascent Soul Stage.

Upon the cracks on the surface of his Golden Core, the Power of Law of the Heavenly Dao lingered, as if in the next moment, he could break the core and form a Nascent Soul, entering the next major Realm.