SPMT : Chapter 157

Qiao Xiang and Luo Yuting walked together. Luo Yuting squatted down, applying some medicinal powder to her injured leg, looking aggrieved, “This secret realm is too dangerous.”

Qiao Xiang nodded, “Yes.”

Qiao Xiang had entered the secret realm full of ambition, hoping to find great opportunities. Instead, he had been chased by cultivators from other sects as soon as he arrived, barely escaping.

Later, he accidentally met Luo Yuting, and they decided to act together. They found a cave and thought they had discovered a great opportunity, only to be scared off by a tiger-headed, snake-tailed beast inside. Luo Yuting was injured during the escape.

“Senior brother, I heard from a Foundation Establishment cultivator hired by Chen Lifeng that Chen Xu’s Lingxi Bead is unresponsive. He might be in trouble.” Luo Yuting had met one of the cultivators Chen Lifeng had hired. Hearing about Chen Xu’s potential trouble, she felt secretly delighted. The plot that had led to Chen Xu being captured by the Demon Blood Sect was her design. When Chen Lifeng personally came to question Qiao Xiang, Luo Yuting was extremely nervous, fearing the sect might suspect her.

Fortunately, no one knew about her involvement with Qiao Xiang, so Chen Lifeng hadn’t interrogated her. Still, she had been very worried.

“I heard it too, but Chen Xu should be fine. He probably discarded the Lingxi Bead on purpose,” Qiao Xiang said.

“Why would he do that?” Luo Yuting asked, puzzled.

“Because one of the Foundation Establishment cultivators hired by Chen Lifeng betrayed him. Chen Xu must be worried others might do the same, so he discarded the Lingxi Bead to stay safe,” Qiao Xiang explained.

Luo Yuting was surprised, “Someone betrayed Chen Xu?”

Qiao Xiang nodded, “Yes.” He thought: Chen Xu is a useless second-generation cultivator with no brains. It’s normal for people not to want to listen to him in this life-threatening place.

Luo Yuting nodded, “That’s true. But Chen Xu was too impulsive, discarding the Lingxi Bead because of one betrayal. How can he survive alone in this place? Poor Chen Lifeng’s efforts were wasted, and the other protectors must be very worried.”

“Enough about him,” Qiao Xiang said irritably.

Luo Yuting nodded, “Okay. Senior brother, have you heard? Someone spent two thousand mid-grade spirit stones to enter the Time Cultivation Chamber.”

Qiao Xiang snorted, “That must be a rich, spendthrift young master. Two thousand mid-grade spirit stones could buy more than ten longevity fruits.” His sect provided decent benefits, but he only received a few dozen mid-grade spirit stones a month.

“Yes, that’s two thousand mid-grade spirit stones,” Luo Yuting said.

“I heard that person killed many from the Yin Gui Sect. Now the Yin Gui Sect is determined to take revenge,” Qiao Xiang said with schadenfreude.

Luo Yuting mused, “The place where that person first appeared was Fenghua Forest. Could they be from our Yunzhou?”

Although the locations were random, certain places like Fenghua Forest had a higher probability for Yunzhou cultivators.

Qiao Xiang shook his head, “I don’t think so. I haven’t heard of any ruthless cultivators from Yunzhou. Besides, the person had countless treasures, implying they had a powerful Nascent Soul stage backer. I haven’t heard of any Nascent Soul cultivators with such a descendant here.”

Luo Yuting nodded, “You’re right.”

“The Yin Gui Sect is offering three top-grade spirit stones to capture that person. They’re quite serious,” Qiao Xiang said.

Top-grade spirit stones were said to increase the chances of forming a Golden Core by twenty percent. Luo Yuting was very tempted, but getting those stones wouldn’t be easy.

“I heard someone has been helping that killer, ambushing Yin Gui Sect members,” Luo Yuting said.

Qiao Xiang nodded, “I heard that too. The Yin Gui Sect has lost many members, angering their young master greatly.” The young master of the Yin Gui Sect was rumored to be half-human, half-ghost, having crawled out of his mother’s belly a few days after her death. He was known for being ruthless and terrifyingly powerful.

…

Xiao Xiaodong and Chen Xu hid cautiously in the forest. Chen Xu wore a protective garment from Chen Lifeng that could perfectly conceal his aura. He shared a set with Xiao Xiaodong.

“Someone’s coming,” Xiao Xiaodong transmitted to Chen Xu.

Chen Xu held his breath, his eyes shining with excitement. After some time, he had grown to love these ambush missions. Although he was a delicate male, he was still a boy at heart, full of adventurous spirit.

“They’re here. Activate.”

Xiao Xiaodong and Chen Xu simultaneously triggered the traps, reducing the approaching cultivators to charred remains.

Chen Xu stood up excitedly, “Another one down.”

The small flower chicken leapt down from the tree. Chen Xu patted its head, “Hua Hua, you’re amazing.”

The small flower chicken puffed up proudly.

Setting up traps and luring other cultivators into them was a challenge for most. However, for Xiao Xiaodong, it was not a problem. His small flower chicken’s illusions were powerful enough to guide the cultivators into the traps.

“Alright, let’s go. Mother is waiting for us,” Xiao Xiaodong said.

Chen Xu nodded, “Okay.” Over the past three months, Chen Xu had matured significantly, shedding much of his childishness.

…

Three months, or nine years in the Time Cultivation Chamber, passed quickly. Xiao Jingting’s cultivation reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, and his spiritual power and physical strength improved significantly.

As soon as Xiao Jingting was teleported out, he felt the presence of over a hundred spiritual senses locked onto him. Without hesitation, he activated a teleportation talisman. The feeling of being watched didn’t disappear, so he used another teleportation talisman.

Xiao Xiaodong watched from afar as the person emerged and teleported away, breathing a sigh of relief.

Xu Mu’an looked at Xiao Xiaodong and Chen Xu, “No hope for the three top-grade spirit stones. Let’s go.”

Xiao Xiaodong nodded, “Alright.”

Xiao Jingting used three teleportation talismans in quick succession to escape the feeling of being watched. Even then, he didn’t dare relax and used three more before finally stopping.

Before leaving the Time Cultivation Chamber, Xiao Jingting had guessed his lavish spending might attract attention. However, the reality of being targeted by hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators was far more terrifying than he had anticipated.

Having anticipated some ambushes, he hadn’t expected such a large number of people waiting for him.

Xiao Jingting changed his appearance to look like an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator and left the area.

Once Xiao Jingting left, the crowd outside the Time Cultivation Chamber began to disperse.

“Mother, should we leave?” Xiao Xiaodong asked.

Xu Mu’an thought for a moment, “Let’s wait a bit longer.”

He thought: Xiao Jingting used a teleportation talisman to leave. Many people would have chased after him. For now, he didn’t know where Xiao Jingting was, but once the Lingxi Bead responded, Xiao Jingting might return in a few days.

The most dangerous place was often the safest. If Xiao Jingting did return, not many would expect it.

Half a month later, with fewer people around the Time Cultivation Chamber, Xiao Jingting finally reunited with Xu Mu’an and the others.

“Father, you’re at the late Foundation Establishment stage!” Xiao Xiaodong exclaimed enviously.

Xiao Jingting patted Xiao Xiaodong’s shoulder, “Yes. You need to work hard and reach the late Foundation Establishment stage soon.”

Xiao Xiaodong nodded, “I will.”

Xu Mu’an asked, “How many spirit stones do you have left?”

Xiao Jingting felt a bit stifled, “About ten mid-grade spirit stones.” It was unavoidable. Cultivating required spirit stones, and so did the plants in the jade pendant space. To save spirit stones, Xiao Jingting had turned many spiritual plants into pills. His top priority now was to sell these pills.

Xiao Xiaodong blinked, “Father, really?”

Xiao Jingting patted his shoulder, “I didn’t want to, but I’ve been very frugal.”

“I have some,” Xu Mu’an said, taking out a space ring.

Xiao Jingting scanned it quickly, finding several hundred mid-grade spirit stones. He thought: I’ve really married a capable wife. Xu Mu’an must have done a lot of looting during this time.

“Father, Mother was very worried about you and dealt with many people. But you have too many enemies, so there are still a lot left. Luckily, you reacted quickly and used the talismans to escape,” Xiao Xiaodong said.

“Your old man is someone who’s clever and resourceful!” Xiao Jingting said proudly.

Xu Mu’an smiled and said, “Indeed, you are very smart.”

Xiao Jingting felt a bit sheepish after Xu Mu’an’s praise. Although the spirit stones Xu Mu’an provided had alleviated the immediate crisis, they were still not enough. The Thunder Flame walnuts were very useful, but to save spirit stones, he had stopped nurturing the tree.

“We need to figure out how to earn more spirit stones; we’re running low,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xiao Xiaodong, resting his chin on his hand, said, “There are two fastest ways to earn spirit stones right now.”

“What are they?” Xiao Jingting asked eagerly.

“One is to catch a murderer wanted by the Yin Gui Sect, with a reward of three top-grade spirit stones,” Xiao Xiaodong said.

Xiao Jingting rolled his eyes, thinking: Xiao Xiaodong is indeed a filial son, even thinking of selling his own father. But three top-grade spirit stones are indeed tempting.

“Let’s rule out the first option. What’s the second?” Xiao Jingting asked.

“The second is that the young master of the Lingbao Pavilion has been bitten by a Golden-Topped Red-Tailed Scorpion in the secret realm and urgently needs an antidote. Anyone who can cure him will receive a top-grade spirit stone,” Xiao Xiaodong said.

Xiao Jingting thought, “…What a situation! Is my worth even higher than that of the young master of the Lingbao Pavilion? With such a high bounty, I almost want to turn myself in.”

Chen Xu pondered and said, “Actually, the Yin Gui Sect has a bad reputation. Even if someone catches the murderer, they may not get the three top-grade spirit stones. Even if they do, they might soon be targeted and robbed by the Yin Gui Sect.”

Xiao Jingting nodded, thinking: Indeed, no one knows the nature of the Yin Gui Sect better than I do. They are unreliable. We should prioritize the unlucky young master instead.

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