“Tell me,” Wen Li said, turning her head.
Xie Tinglan continued, “While we were eating at the inn this afternoon, we heard people mentioning that the Beast Taming Sect’s Demon Tide Tournament would involve the Qisu Kingdom. I went to investigate undercover and discovered that the Beast Taming Sect has always set the location for this tournament at the Qisu Kingdom’s border. It’s scheduled to take place in a month. At that time, a large portion of the Beast Taming Sect’s disciples will be deployed near the Qisu Kingdom to capture demon beasts. It serves as a trial phase for their Foundation Establishment and Golden Core disciples.”
How was that any different from taking a dump right on someone’s doorstep as a provocation?
As soon as these words were uttered, Wen Li’s eyes widened, and the others were equally stunned.
Yao Dai felt that the Beast Taming Sect was far too arrogant. “Wait, this is the Beast Taming Sect we’re talking about. They tame demon beasts, yet they set the competition right at the demon beasts’ home? That’s really pushing it.”
Capturing demon beasts right in front of them... how was that different from a human trafficker kidnapping a child right in front of their parents?
Xie Tinglan nodded.
“That’s why I find it strange. The demon cultivators of the Qisu Kingdom shouldn't just stand by and watch as low-level demon beasts are captured and hunted by humans. Yet, the Beast Taming Sect has continued this practice for three hundred years, holding it once every fifty years. The demon cultivators of the Qisu Kingdom know about it and might curse a few times at most, but they never actually move against the Beast Taming Sect.”
Everyone fell silent.
This suggested that there might be some form of profit-sharing or arrangement between the Beast Taming Sect and the Qisu Kingdom.
Otherwise, brute force alone might not be enough to make the Qisu Kingdom so patient.
Wen Li leaned back in her chair, lost in thought. “We came to the Qisu Kingdom for only two reasons. First, to enter the Ancient Phoenix clan’s sacred grounds to repair the artifact soul of Old Four’s Moon Soul Arrow. Second... to snatch a magical artifact buried deep in the Dragon clan’s territory. If other matters don’t interfere with these two, we won’t bother with them.”
“Currently, the Dragon clan is planning a marriage alliance with the Nine-Tailed Fox clan. That might be our point of entry. We can't delay the matter with the Phoenix clan either, so this time, we’ll split into two teams.”
The others looked up.
Zongzheng Huangyue asked first, “The Dragon clan’s artifact... what is it?”
“The Dragon-Slaying Halberd.”
Wen Li thought for a moment, trying to find a subtle way to put it. “...It’s a Life Dharma Treasure left behind by the Demon King of the Ten Thousand Demon Valley in Central Province. It should be... a Supreme Grade Rank 1 artifact.”
Central Province? The Demon King of Ten Thousand Demon Valley? Who was that?
The six disciples’ eyes shifted slightly. This wasn't the first time they had heard the term 'Central Province,' but it was the first time they were coming into contact with an item from there.
To dare call oneself a Demon King in Central Province...
Zongzheng Huangyue asked quietly, “Master, what was that Demon King’s cultivation level?”
Having the critical point brought up by her, Wen Li cleared her throat and avoided her gaze. “It was alright. When she left the Dragon-Slaying Halberd in the Southern Province, she was merely at Peak Soul Formation...”
“What!”
Yao Dai let out a startled cry. “Peak Soul Formation!”
That was a powerhouse who could trample half of the Southern Province underfoot, and Master said 'merely'!
Even Xie Tinglan’s eyelids twitched. As the currently 'strongest' among the seven of them, he didn’t dare speak, fearing his Master would actually send him to snatch the Life Dharma Treasure of a Peak Soul Formation cultivator. Though he was arrogant, he still had self-awareness.
Hua Cishu remained silent as well.
The others were as quiet as mice, some staring at the ceiling and others looking at their shoes.
For the first time, everyone was in perfect sync.
“Tsk, look at how pathetic you all are.”
Seeing them frightened, Wen Li quickly explained, “She’s no longer here, so what is there to fear? Right now, the Dragon clan just has an Early-Stage Soul Formation expert sitting guard. That is a Supreme Grade Rank 1 artifact, you know. Don’t you want to try for it?”
Yao Dai shook her head like a rattle.
“I’m afraid I won’t have the life to snatch it, let alone use it.”
Gu Linshu stammered, “Master, you... you know that my parents aren't in the Southern Province.”
Even if he met a Soul Formation cultivator and announced his family name, the other party wouldn’t recognize it.
Hua Cishu nodded. “I only want the fan. There’s no need for a Dragon-Slaying Halberd.”
Zongzheng Huangyue remained silent for a moment before asking, “Master, you aren't intending to use this for yourself, are you?”
Xie Tinglan looked up at Wen Li.
“Yeah, this weapon is suitable for Old Second.” Wen Li didn't hide it. “I’m going to find a suitable artifact for each of you. Now, we’re just missing ones for Old Second, Old Five, and Old Six.”
Hua Cishu looked up. “Master, I already have the Cloud-Porcelain Kunxu Fan. I don’t need anything else. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Wen Li rolled her eyes. “The person told you that you need to help him find his identity and memories; only then will the fan be yours. Have you found them yet? No? Then it isn't yours yet.”
“It doesn’t matter. Once something is in my hands, there is no way it’s going back.” Hua Cishu toyed with the fan in his hand, clearly fond of it.
“Do you really want that thing?” Wen Li asked seriously.
Hua Cishu nodded. “Yes, really.”
“Fine then, this trip will get you an artifact too.” Wen Li let him be; after all, that fan was quite powerful.
Xin Jiuxian spoke up calmly, “I don’t need a new one. My Life Dharma Treasure is the Yulan Floating Light Zither.”
Wen Li arched an eyebrow. “When the opportunity arises, I’ll re-refine and upgrade your zither to ensure it’s no worse than theirs.”
“Okay.” Xin Jiuxian’s eyes brightened slightly.
Xie Tinglan, the person directly concerned, spoke up. “That Dragon-Slaying Halberd... has it actually slain dragons?”
Wen Li leaned back in her chair with one leg crossed over the other, her tone airy. “More or less. The Dragon-Slaying Halberd was refined from the tendons of ninety-nine dragons pulled out by the Demon King. It carries an extremely heavy baleful aura. Later, when the Demon King failed her tribulation in the Southern Province and went to Central Province, the Dragon-Slaying Halberd was damaged while resisting the Heavenly Tribulation. She left it buried a hundred li deep beneath the Dragon clan’s sacred grounds.”
Ninety-nine dragon tendons...
Damaged while resisting the Heavenly Tribulation of a Peak Soul Formation cultivator...
“...” Look at me and tell me—is it easier to pull out a snake's tendons or a dragon's?
Xie Tinglan, who originally had some thoughts about the heist, fell silent before suddenly being driven to a fit of laughter.
“Heh.”
He rarely laughed, and this sudden, half-crazed chuckle gave Yao Dai and Wen Li a fright.
“What? Are you so surprised by the badass artifact I chose for you?”
Wen Li arched her eyebrows, her eyes full of pride.
“...Master.”
Xie Tinglan looked up, his eyes vacant. “If you want me dead, just say so. I can actually just stab myself. If that isn't enough, I’ll go pull out ninety-nine of my own snake tendons to refine a Snake-Slaying Halberd.”
“Pfft.”
Yao Dai shook with laughter, relieved it wasn't her own artifact.
The others remained silent, merely gloating. After all, they already had their own artifacts.
Wen Li was speechless. “No, why wouldn’t you want a ready-made one? Don’t worry. When I was investigating that Demon King’s memories, I found that she specifically placed a grand array restriction to prevent the Dragon clan and other cultivators from finding it. Only she can retrieve that Dragon-Slaying Halberd without being harmed.”
“Otherwise, even a Nascent Soul cultivator would be killed by the Dragon-Slaying Halberd’s baleful aura the moment they touched it.”
Xie Tinglan sighed. “Master, I’m only at Golden Core Great Perfection. I...”
His words were cut short by a burst of intense light. Wen Li pulled out a box, and the moment she opened it, it emitted a brilliant golden radiance.
Everyone instinctively squinted, shielding their eyes from the piercing light.
Rate on N.U.
