Hermit Tianyi looked at the two newly arrived Spirit Transformation Cultivators, his brow furrowing.
Yue Long, observing these two, found his expression turning grim.
"How did you find out?"
Old Ghost Star Remains glanced at the numerous Ning Family members in the deep pit below, then chuckled, "Daoist Friend Yue Long, your information network is truly impressive. If it weren't for the secret report from behind saying that Ning Fa suddenly appeared in the Nine Dragons Sea Cultivation World, making me realize this Ning Fa must have something to hide, that brat might have actually fallen into your hands."
"What? That brat is in the Nine Dragons Sea?" Yue Long exclaimed in surprise, inwardly wondering why their Nine Immortals Association spies in the Nine Dragons Sea hadn't reported this news in a timely manner.
He glanced at the two, then snorted, "Now that you two have arrived, it's quite opportune."
He then looked at Hermit Tianyi, "Old Daoist Tianyi, even if you produce this Hunyuan Disk, do you truly believe you can contend against the three of us joining forces? Furthermore, as far as I know, the cost to activate this treasure once is no small matter. Your age is also considerable. I'd like to see just how much power you can unleash from this treasure!"
Just then, another voice echoed, "This place is quite lively. It seems I've arrived a little late."
A sudden ink-wash character flew over, shimmering and transforming into a cultivator resembling a middle-aged scholar. It was Venerable Ling Jun.
He surveyed the situation, standing slightly closer to Hermit Tianyi, but not fully aligned with him, clearly indicating his stance. He then said with a faint smile, "Daoist Friend Tianyi, it seems you possess more information than us. Could you explain to us why you are so determined to protect young friend Ning? If you cannot provide a clear explanation, then this venerable one can only assume that your Tianhong Hall intends to monopolize the secrets young friend Ning possesses."
"Indeed, this old man also has this question," Old Ghost Star Remains chimed in.
The four Spirit Transformation Cultivators all turned their gazes towards Tianyi.
Hermit Tianyi sighed, "Actually, there's nothing that can't be said. Previously, this old daoist divined and learned that young friend Ning carries great destiny. The hope for us Spirit Transformation Cultivators to ascend to the upper realm may fall upon young friend Ning. And now that he has obtained the secret within the Heavenly Pool, it confirms this old daoist's prediction. Do you truly believe such an opportunity can be forcefully seized?"
"Hmph, specious talk! Can your words make us abandon the pursuit of Ning Fa?" Kailandir scoffed.
Yue Long and Old Ghost Star Remains also frowned, clearly unconvinced by these words.
Hermit Tianyi, however, glanced at Kailandir, hinting, "Given your status, you should be aware that our Human Realm may face a great calamity in the future. And the instigator of this calamity is highly likely to be the Sea Race. Do you truly wish to share such a secret with the Sea Race?"
Upon hearing this, Kailandir's expression immediately shifted slightly, while Yue Long and the others fell into thought. The high-grade divination masters in their respective cultivation worlds had indeed received such divinatory omens.
Yue Long said coldly, "Tianyi, stop trying to sow discord at this moment. Even if there is a great calamity, that is a matter for the future. For us now, the most important thing is to capture Ning Fa. If you do not give us a satisfactory explanation, I will kill these Ning Family members today. I must extract a bloodline bead from them!"
Hermit Tianyi stroked his long beard and said slowly, "How about this? Let this old man first go and communicate with young friend Ning, to see if we can persuade him to share what he obtained in the Abyssal Heavenly Pool with us. If he refuses, then I will no longer interfere with whatever you wish to do."
"Are you kidding me? If you go to him first, won't everything he has fall into your hands?" Yue Long immediately snorted.
Hermit Tianyi said indifferently, "To be honest, even if you obtain the bloodline bead and can trace his location, you will most likely be unable to deal with him. Instead, you will undoubtedly incur his mortal enmity. As this old daoist has some acquaintance with young friend Ning, by appealing to reason and emotion, I should still be able to persuade him to share the method of ascension. If you don't believe me, we can sign the Taiyi Divine Contract. If that still doesn't suffice, then this old daoist will have to act. In any case, I will not stand by and watch you harm his clansmen. Heh heh, let me say this upfront, once this old daoist's Hunyuan Disk is activated, it cannot be easily retracted."
Upon hearing this, Yue Long and the others, recalling the rumored unpredictable and formidable power of the Hunyuan Disk, couldn't help but change their expressions.
"Oh, the Taiyi Divine Contract, this venerable one can agree," Venerable Ling Jun said first.
"Then this old man also agrees," Old Ghost Star Remains said, his eyes flashing.
"I have no objections either," Yue Long said finally, looking at the Hunyuan Disk in Hermit Tianyi's hand.
"Alright, then I also…" Kailandir started to say, but Hermit Tianyi interrupted him.
Hermit Tianyi sneered, "Fellow daoists, do you truly wish to share this fortuitous encounter with the Sea Race?"
Kailandir's expression instantly changed.
"This venerable one is the first to disagree," Venerable Ling Jun said in a chilling tone.
Yue Long and Old Ghost Star Remains also looked at Kailandir thoughtfully, dangerous auras beginning to surge from them.
Kailandir's brow furrowed deeply. Then, blue light erupted from his body, and his form transformed into a wave, instantly appearing over a hundred zhang away. With a few flashes, he vanished.
"That's excellent."
Hermit Tianyi chuckled, then produced a simple, ancient scroll.
However, before he could write, Yue Long spoke calmly, "I have one more condition. This timeframe must be within one year. If you cannot obtain the secret from that brat, you are forbidden from blocking us further."
Hermit Tianyi pondered for a moment, then nodded. "Agreed."
He then wrote a passage on the scroll. After reviewing it, several Spirit Transformation Cultivators also signed their names.
The scroll suddenly burst into a spiritual light, releasing several mysterious runes that landed on each person before vanishing.
"Time is tight; I must depart immediately," Hermit Tianyi said with a grin. Before he finished speaking, he disappeared without a trace before the Spirit Transformation Cultivators.
The cultivators were completely unaware, and their expressions shifted slightly.
The Emerald Isles are the third-largest archipelago in the Haoqiong Sea.
Despite its remote location, it is exceptionally prosperous due to the abundance of a highly versatile third-grade spiritual ore—Feibo Star Stone—along with other equally precious associated ores.
As evening approached, near Flying Star City, the main city of the Emerald Isles, the skies were still filled with streaks of light as numerous cultivators headed towards the city.
Among these streaks of light were two figures.
One was a sallow-faced middle-aged man, and the other was a moderately attractive woman in a white dress. They were Ning Fa and Luo Feixuan, in disguise.
Currently, their cultivation realms were only at Mid Foundation Establishment and Early Foundation Establishment, respectively, making them unremarkable amidst the many streams of light.
Ning Fa glanced back, a lingering fear in his heart, his brow furrowed. "How could Yan Jingchen know our whereabouts? And not only did he chase after us himself, but he also brought a Spirit Transformation Cultivator!"
Just two days prior, Ning Fa and Luo Feixuan had used the Heavenly Evolution Sect's cross-sea teleportation array to travel directly to Star Origin Island, the largest island in the Haoqiong Sea.
This was also the location of the mountain gate for the Star Luo Palace, one of the Nine Great Sects of the Tianshu Alliance. The entire Haoqiong Sea was under the control of the Star Luo Palace.
Following this, Ning Fa and Luo Feixuan immediately flew towards the Emerald Isles without delay.
It wasn't that there were no teleportation arrays within the Emerald Isles. Rather, due to the archipelago's unique status, the Star Luo Palace disallowed anyone else from using the teleportation arrays that led directly to it. Even Ning Fa's elder token from the Heavenly Evolution Sect was of no use. Of course, if it were the Taichu Gate or the Pure Sword Sect, the situation might be different.
Originally, this was not a major issue. The critical point was that not long after Ning Fa and Luo Feixuan left Star Origin Island, powerful enemies appeared in pursuit. It was Yan Jingchen, accompanied by an unfamiliar Spirit Transformation Cultivator.
Ning Fa was naturally shocked and enraged. After all, for their trip to the Haoqiong Sea, both he and Luo Feixuan had used disguise techniques and deliberately hidden their tracks. They hadn't expected Yan Jingchen to track them so accurately.
Facing two powerful enemies, he wasn't overly fearful. After all, he was no longer the same as before. Especially with the Source-Crossing Heavenly Book possessing two True Form Imprint runes and so many high-grade Origin Points, he could effectively contend with a Spirit Transformation Cultivator for a while.
However, Luo Feixuan had devised a better plan.
Ning Fa recalled the methods Luo Feixuan had used previously, a hint of astonishment appearing on his face as he looked at her. "Daoist Friend Luo, your methods are truly incredible; you can even easily deceive a Spirit Transformation Cultivator."
It turned out that Luo Feixuan had previously employed a very miraculous divine soul avatar technique, creating a divine soul avatar for each of them. This lured Yan Jingchen and the Spirit Transformation Cultivator in another direction, allowing them to slip away unnoticed and arrive at the Emerald Isles.
Luo Feixuan smiled calmly. "Once your Moon God Heart cultivates to the Lunar Infant Nurturing stage, you'll be able to do the same with ease. Although I haven't fully recovered to that level yet, this is one of the abilities I retained from this reincarnation."
Ning Fa's heart stirred upon hearing this. It seemed the reincarnation method of the Moon God Art was even more mysterious and powerful than he had imagined.
At this moment, Luo Feixuan stared intently at him and suddenly asked, "Is that Yan Jingchen a reincarnation of Yan Yuan Daoist?"
Ning Fa was startled. "You could tell?"
Luo Feixuan replied calmly, "In my previous life, I fought a fierce battle with him. That person's strength was immense, forcing me to use all my abilities. Naturally, I have a deep impression of his divine soul aura; I can recognize him even after reincarnation. And why is he pursuing you so relentlessly, even going so far as to find a Spirit Transformation Cultivator to help him?"
As she spoke, Luo Feixuan's gaze became extremely sharp.
Ning Fa frowned. "Daoist friend, if you have any thoughts, please speak them directly."
"Is that Primordial Realm Pearl on you? Is that why Yan Jingchen won't stop chasing you?" Luo Feixuan asked him directly, her eyes fixed on him.
Ning Fa showed no surprise. Instead, he rubbed his chin, remaining silent for a moment.
At this, Luo Feixuan smiled and continued speaking on her own. "You don't need to be nervous. After my reincarnation, my most important task is still to deal with Shen Cizhou's threat. This Primordial Realm Pearl is secondary. Furthermore, we might be able to cooperate regarding this item. After all, your goal is likely to ascend to the upper realm with its help. Bringing me along shouldn't be too difficult then."
Upon hearing this, Ning Fa's brow furrowed.
Regarding this matter, he had once consulted Si Chenxing, who was currently dormant within his Primordial Realm Pearl. Si Chenxing had confirmed that it was possible to ascend with others using the Primordial Realm Pearl, but the conditions were extremely stringent. If Luo Feixuan could indeed help him meet these conditions, there would be no harm in bringing her along.
Luo Feixuan did not press further. Instead, she glanced at Flying Star City, which was within reach, and asked with some confusion:
"Why must you come to the Emerald Isles? Now that we've discovered a powerful enemy nearby, shouldn't we return to the Five Spirits Sea immediately?"
"I'm here to find someone, and that person is very important to me," Ning Fa said, then walked directly towards the city gate not far away.
Luo Feixuan's eyes flashed, and she also stepped forward to follow.
Not long after, Ning Fa emerged from a seven-story pavilion in the city called the Heavenly Evolution Tower, a hint of joy appearing in his eyes.
The Heavenly Evolution Tower was an industry of the Heavenly Evolution Sect, with branches on all major islands in the Nine Dragons Sea. Besides selling spiritual materials, they also served to gather intelligence.
Ning Fa had just used the Heavenly Evolution Sect's elder token and obtained important intelligence regarding the Emerald Isles in recent times.
One piece of information was particularly crucial: the mysterious Heavenly Treasure Immortal Merchant had recently appeared on Luoxing Island in the Emerald Isles, with two people having already transacted with him there.
This made Ning Fa even more certain that the Heavenly Treasure Immortal Merchant was very likely the savior mentioned by Fairy Yuanxing.
"Let's go, we're heading to Luoxing Island."
Ning Fa said in a low voice, then immediately headed for the city gate.
Meanwhile, on a desolate island thousands of miles away.
Two figures, whose appearances were identical to Ning Fa and Luo Feixuan, vanished like bubbles.
"Damn it, we've been tricked!" Yan Jingchen said, his face ashen.
Beside him was a frail-looking young cultivator, dressed in a dark robe, with delicate features and a frosty demeanor.
Strangely, he had rare vertical pupils, and a spiritual snake pattern resembling clouds and mist adorned his forehead, giving him a somewhat eerie appearance.
Furthermore, his powerful spiritual pressure far surpassed Yan Jingchen's, making him a Spirit Transformation Cultivator.
His vertical pupils revealed surprise: "This divine sense avatar technique can actually deceive even me, it's quite unbelievable. Daoist Yuan Yan, the Ning kid you're chasing is truly unusual. No wonder you had to bring me along."
"I've told you, Daoist Yuan Yan is dead. I am Yan Jingchen now, don't call me that name again," Yan Jingchen frowned and said with dissatisfaction, showing no deference even to the Spirit Transformation Cultivator.
The Spirit Transformation Cultivator didn't seem to mind at all. Instead, he looked Yan Jingchen up and down and sighed: "Even now, I can't believe that the renowned Daoist Yuan Yan actually succeeded in reincarnating. Back then, without your help, our lineage would hardly have escaped the Demon Court, and I wouldn't have appeared. You said back then not to forget your life-saving grace and that our lineage would repay it. It seems you were already planning to reincarnate and prepare for this day. Such foresight truly earns Tu Mou's admiration."