While he enjoyed peace and quiet, steadily improving his strength, the situation elsewhere was far worse.
On the second night after Wang Yu left Stone Lake City, the Foundation Establishment Envoy sent by the Lingsong Sect was still puzzled by his disciple's disappearance. After searching all day without success, he returned to the City Lord's residence only to find Yuan Qu also missing. He was furious.
Fortunately, he found a large number of abducted young women at the entrance of Tunnel Four, around eight hundred of them—more than half the usual number from previous years—which satisfied him. He casually grabbed a Qi Refining cultivator and asked, "Where is your City Lord Yuan?"
This subordinate happened to be the same third-level Qi Refining cultivator from earlier. Suddenly grabbed by a Foundation Establishment expert, he quickly bowed respectfully and answered, "City Lord Yuan went to the bamboo cottage outside the city to find the old City Lord after giving the orders during the day."
The Envoy's brow furrowed,敏锐地 (keenly) sensing a problem.
"During the day? These people were captured during the day?"
"Yes..."
"Bastard! I told you to help find Wang Wu! How dare you capture people during the day?!"
The nearby cultivators who heard this were at a loss. Someone ventured boldly, "Sir, they are just lowly commoners. Capturing them won't cause any waves. Nothing to worry about."
Hearing this, the Foundation Establishment Envoy grew so angry his face turned red and his neck thick, panting heavily like an ox.
"Fools! You have no idea how powerful the Heavenly Void Sword Sect's network of informants is! Damn it... You're on your own!"
With a fierce sweep of his sleeve, he summoned a flight light and shot straight out of the city. He wasn't sticking around.
"Yuan Qu, you dare mess with me, running so fast... The incident from three months ago probably never truly ended. This infuriates me!"
Due to information disparity and one fool, the people in Stone Lake City fell into disarray, each fleeing for their own safety when disaster struck.
Unfortunately, having been out for too long during the day, he had wasted time. It was too late to run now. Less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn after leaving Stone Lake City, a moon-white sword light descended from the sky, aiming straight for him.
The Foundation Establishment Envoy's expression turned serious. He quickly deployed his True Qi Armor for emergency defense and slapped the spirit beast pouch at his waist. A vulture with a featherless neck appeared mid-air. Its aura was powerful, its body over six meters long, its feathers a mottled mix of gray, white, and black. It let out an unpleasant cry. Its strength had actually reached the third level of Foundation Establishment—not to be underestimated.
This was the heritage of the Lingsong Sect. Their founder had subdued the **[Spirit Vulture Clan]**, and they steadily formed contracts with disciples, making them half Beast Taming Path cultivators. Their strength within the same realm wasn't weak.
Man and beast combined their efforts, barely managing to block the sword light.
"A mere fifth-level Foundation Establishment cultivator and a third-level Foundation Establishment spirit beast dare to violate the rules set by the Sword Sect? Tired of living!"
A voice, wildly arrogant and contrasting with her appearance, echoed from all directions. The Envoy looked up and saw a graceful figure stepping on moonlight as she飘然而至 (drifted down elegantly). Though her face was unclear, she was undoubtedly a woman of exceptional beauty.
He was actually momentarily mesmerized.
*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—*
The sound of swords filled the air as countless moon-white sword lights绞杀 (intertwined and attacked) towards him. The Envoy finally snapped out of it, as if remembering something, and cried out in horror, "Moon Shadow Flowing Light Sword! You're from Mount-Stead City—the Moonlight Fairy..."
"Heh."
A sound of contempt rang out. From then on, no matter what artifacts or exquisite spell arts the Envoy used, he couldn't break through the绞杀 (encircling attack) of the flowing light sword energies. In less than twenty exchanges, his limbs were pierced by sword energy, and he fell powerless to the ground. The Spirit Vulture was pierced through its body in the first encounter, stretching its neck like a pig awaiting slaughter.
*Ding~*
The sword's hum ceased, signaling the end of hostilities. The gorgeous moon-white longsword rested on the Envoy's neck. Only then did the exquisitely beautiful figure fully reveal herself, her aura unmistakably at the peak of Foundation Establishment. No wonder he was defeated so quickly.
Swallowing hard, the Envoy forced a smile.
"Moonlight Fairy, spare my life! I'll tell you everything!"
"Foolish. Kill you, take your soul. Everything you know will still be revealed."
The Envoy grew desperate.
"You're a righteous path cultivator! How can you perform soul searches?! My soul will be shattered! Won't you even leave me a chance for reincarnation?"
"You should have thought of this day when you committed these acts."
A flash of the sword, and a fine head tumbled to the ground.
The Moonlight Fairy slightly frowned, raised her hand to extract the soul, stored it in a jade vial, and collected all the spoils.
She still had much to do.
......
......
Black Mountain Demon Lands.
Half a year had passed since Wang Yu began his seclusion. He occasionally whipped Wang Wu to keep him... lively. The supply of top-grade healing pills never stopped, so his vitality remained旺盛 (vigorous). It was just his mind that had developed some issues; he would tremble uncontrollably upon seeing Wang Yu, a conditioned reflex.
Wang Yu, on the other hand, was relaxed. Besides daily cultivation, he played with the fox, soaked in the hot spring, and found open spaces to practice spells.
Slot 4 was once again assigned to the Profound Yin Hand. This high second-tier spell art had been placed intermittently for some time, coupled with his own diligent practice. It had currently reached the Minor Accomplishment stage, allowing him to manifest two Profound Yin Hands attached to his arms. This was his most powerful trump card. However, there was still a long way to go before Major Accomplishment, so there was no need to keep it placed. Having such a trump card at the Qi Refining stage was sufficient. Continuing to strengthen it would only exacerbate his insufficient spiritual power reserves.
Therefore, Wang Yu chose to reassign the **"Flood Dragon Strength"** body refining technique to Slot 4. This body refining technique was an inheritance from a force in the Chaotic Ancient Sea. He had long since placed it to perfection, and his realm had broken through to the seventh layer some time ago. Continuing to place it would involve deriving it towards a second-tier body refining technique, feeding back body refining cultivation to him daily. Combined with the dragon blood secret medicine he possessed, he aimed to push his physique to its peak before attempting Qi Refining Foundation Establishment, to compensate for the insufficient vital energy and blood caused by his severed limb.
The dragon blood secret medicine he had was absolutely enough to see him through to the ninth layer. By then, he could use the Foundation Establishment treasure 'Vajra Liquid' to first break through to Body Refining Foundation Establishment. At that point, no matter what, the vital energy barrier definitely couldn't stop him. His powerful physique might even help further increase his success rate for Qi Refining Foundation Establishment.
However, plans were just plans. Whether they could be achieved in sequence remained unknown.
Calculating the time, it had been over a year since he left the sect. It was also the first year and first month of his Inner Sect life.
On this day, Wang Yu prepared to go out and explore the vicinity.
"To make rapid progress in body refining, honing oneself through combat is also an excellent cultivation method. The medicinal potency沉积 (accumulated) in the body can also be quickly digested through constant fighting."
Qi Refining cultivators had a limited number of major circulation cycles they could perform daily, constrained by meridian strength and mental energy. They had plenty of free time each day. This limitation decreased with higher cultivation realms. After breaking through to Foundation Establishment, this restriction vanished entirely; one could cultivate all day, resting for a few days periodically. It was at this level that the concept of secluded, arduous cultivation truly applied. It was common for people to meditate for years on end; one should not underestimate a cultivator's perseverance and determination.
"Without venturing deep into the inner periphery of the Black Mountain Demon Lands, one typically wouldn't encounter Core Formation great demons. But there are quite a few second-tier demon beasts in this border area. Perhaps I can give it a try."
For his first attempt, Wang Yu directly set his sights on a second-tier demon beast.
**(End of Chapter)**