Chapter 257: Chapter 204: Defeat of the Winter Hunt

What is Winter Hunting Zhenren talking about?

Pharmacist’s Wish almost thought she misheard; a Fourth-Turn Winter Hunting Zhenren was provoking a Fifth-Turn Lock Dragon Bodhisattva? How is this different from a little cat hissing at a tiger?

When Qi Shenwu, Zhou Taizu, and Liang Taizu secured the Central Plains with their Sixth-Turn cultivation, single-handedly knitting together the chaos of three hundred years, all the Foundation Establishment families submitted. Now, even if the Lock Dragon Bodhisattva wasn’t comparable to the founding Taizus, he also couldn’t be matched by a Fourth-Turn, can he?

But Winter Hunting Zhenren wasn’t just speaking; he took steps in the air, shifting his position seven times, firing twenty-one arrows in succession, each arrow instantly exploding into dozens of scattering arrows as soon as shot, within seconds creating an all-encompassing rain of arrows, even obscuring the sun.

Although Winter Hunting Zhenren mainly targeted Yao Shi Yue and the big and small girls, the entire mountain fortress was within his range of focus, hundreds to thousands of arrows raining down like countless thunders striking, causing Pharmacist’s Wish to feel as though her world was collapsing.

When she came back to her senses, the mountains had been flattened several feet by the arrow rain, half of Shu Dao Mountain had collapsed, countless rocks and boulders crashing down, triggering avalanches below!

A single strike changing the terrain, a single strike destroying mountains, such mighty power, akin to doomsday!

If it weren’t for Yao Shi Yue, relying solely on themselves to resist would certainly have turned them to dust beneath the arrow rain, not a trace left!

Pharmacist’s Wish suddenly recalled a phrase her father once told her — the country is the nation of Foundation Establishment, but Foundation Establishment is not the foundation of the country.

Indeed, facing such power, one person against a country, one person like an army, one person being the might of ten thousand arrows, even ten million troops are but weeds easily extinguished, the sole purpose of the nation becomes serving Foundation Establishment!

True Man of Locking Dragon lost his footing, fixing himself by inserting two Golden Locks into the rockface, while the big and small girls also fell, like prey swinging below them bound by spider webs.

"Yao Shi Yue, I feared you slightly when you were at Fourth Transformation Perfection, but now that you’ve reached Fifth Transition, you dare challenge me for Si Wuxie’s legacy without refining water and fire again? Hand them over, and I’ll let you leave; otherwise, stay here with me!"

Winter Hunting Zhenren’s tone was excited, like a hunter discovering an injured beast, his hunting desire soaring unprecedentedly high. It seems Winter Hunting Zhenren wasn’t joking; he genuinely wished to teach Yao Shi Yue a lesson, perhaps even eradicate the last Foundation Establishment of the Yao Family at what he perceived as her weak ’post-Fifth Transition’ time.

"How is this possible..." Pharmacist’s Wish was utterly shocked: "Why is Lock Dragon Bodhisattva being overwhelmed by Winter Hunting Zhenren? She clearly is the stronger Fifth-Turn!"

"What’s strange?" a familiar voice sounded beside her: "Isn’t your sister the best example? When she was Second-Turn, she could fight Third-Turn, and when she was Third-Turn, she could defeat Fake Foundation Establishment."

Pharmacist’s Wish turned and found Beiyou also bound by Golden Locks, though while they were bound at the body, Beiyou was bound by the legs, hanging upside down in mid-air, with fresh wounds from the recent Extinction Wind still bleeding at the corner of his eye, looking utterly miserable.

Comparing herself with him, Pharmacist’s Wish suddenly felt their situation wasn’t as bad; at least they weren’t hanging upside down.

"The battle of the Messenger is ultimately a battle of artifacts." Beiyou calmly said: "So even the Helan Family and Prajna are no match for Star Rain Heroine, who possesses Bingzi Pepper Forest and Hand of Melting Hundred Forms. This is also true for Foundation Establishment Messengers; without powerful artifacts, even the most mysterious Divine Techniques are merely illusions."

Clearly bound by Foundation Establishment Messengers, merely watching the Foundation Establishment battle above, regardless of who wins or loses, he was like fish meat awaiting slaughter. Yet Beiyou’s tone was so certain, it seemed he truly understood Foundation Establishment matters.

Pharmacist’s Wish did not believe he spoke empty words, especially since Beiyou had taken the Dao Foundation Explanation that Si Wuxie had left in the Central Courtyard, perhaps glimpsing the tip of the iceberg of the Messenger World from it.

At this moment, she saw the Rabbit Heroine turn her head, although her face was still pale and weak, her sister seemed out of danger, listening to their conversation with interest, apparently having things she didn’t know either.

"Is Lock Dragon Bodhisattva’s artifact inferior to Winter Hunting Zhenren’s?" Pharmacist’s Wish asked in puzzlement: "But the Yao Family’s ancestors were Sixth-Turn Foundation Establishment Zhou Taizu, and for a long time, they had two Foundation Establishments in one family; plus, Lock Dragon Bodhisattva is Fifth-Turn..."

Beiyou shook his head: "If True Man of Locking Dragon was still at Fourth Transformation Perfection, Winter Hunting Zhenren would probably turn and leave without a word; but because True Man of Locking Dragon is Fifth-Turn, Winter Hunting Zhenren feels assured of victory."

The opponent is Fourth Transformation Perfection and I submit; the opponent is Fifth-Turn and I strike hard? Although this concept was hard to grasp, incorporating Winter Hunting Zhenren’s actions and Beiyou’s previous remarks, Pharmacist’s Wish soon connected a possibility: "Does advancing to Fifth Transition mean losing artifacts?"

"More accurately, in order to forge the second Divine Technique, Fourth-Turn Foundation Establishment must sacrifice their strongest two artifacts." Beiyou explained: "The process of sacrifice is also the process of mastery; so-called Fourth Transformation Perfection means fully refining two artifacts, achieving seamless control. This is Foundation Establishment Messenger’s most potent weapon; if an unsacrificed artifact is rare, a fully refined artifact is akin to a legend."

"Winter Hunting Zhenren claims Fourth Transformation Perfection, so he likely holds two completely refined artifacts, theoretically capable of Fifth Transition now."

"But he’s afraid," even while bound upside down, Beiyou candidly critiqued the lofty Foundation Establishment without reservation: "Though there are other reasons, the foremost is the price of forging the second Divine Technique means completely losing his refined artifacts, equivalent to severing two arms!"

"Winter Hunting Zhenren assuring his victory makes sense, as Zhou Taizu once slew a Fifth-Turn with a Fourth-Turn; Foundation Establishment just achieving Fifth Transition is the most vulnerable stage, far weaker than Fourth Transformation Perfection!"

Sacrifice artifacts to forge Divine Technique!

Pharmacist’s Wish never imagined that the path after Foundation Establishment was so mystical. No wonder Winter Hunting Zhenren was so confident; the battle systems of the vast majority of messengers are built around their core tokens. The sacred refining token of a Foundation Establishment Messenger is inevitably the core token. Losing two sacred refining tokens is like losing the Bright King Armor for her - cultivation goes up, but combat power plummets!

Of course, there’s also a method of refining weaker tokens to avoid a drop in power after the Fifth Transition, but anyone with sense would realize that this approach is simply sacrificing the essentials for the trifles.

The strength of divine techniques is undoubtedly closely linked to the sacred refining tokens. Refining inferior tokens will naturally lead to inferior divine techniques, not helping one’s strength at all and might even prevent one from surviving to the Fifth Transition. After all, if everyone else is refining the strongest tokens and you have such a flaw, wouldn’t other Foundation Establishment Messengers harbor ill intentions if you’re exposed in a battle of techniques? Even if just for safety, a Fourth-Turn Foundation Establishment will refine their strongest token. However, this will also increase the risk in the Fifth Transition accordingly.

The path of pursuing Dao is fraught with hardships. Pondering over it, one realizes that remaining at a standstill is the safest approach. Like Winter Hunting Zhenren, staying honestly at Fourth Transformation Perfection keeps one in a peak state. Pharmacist’s Wish herself is the same; if she hadn’t sought Foundation Establishment and obediently sided with other nations, how would she end up in such a situation?

But the fate of the weak is always powerless. Pharmacist’s Wish looked at the Rabbit Heroine beside her, sniffed lightly, and murmured, "I want to establish a Foundation."

"I believe," Rabbit Heroine softly said, "Sister, you definitely can establish a Foundation."

So, there will never be a next time. Pharmacist’s Wish said in her heart, as long as I establish a Foundation, no one will ever bully you again... There will never be a next time!

"I think you’d better pray that the old aunt above can win first," Beiyou leisurely said, "Otherwise, even if you seek Immortal Ascension, it’s useless."

Just as Beiyou finished speaking, the Golden Lock binding him jerked forcefully, flinging him towards the adjacent cliffside, crashing hard into the rocks. Pharmacist’s Wish stared blankly, vaguely realizing something.

"Little brother, decades have passed, and you still have only these few tricks." True Man of Locking Dragon chuckled, "If you can’t come up with new tricks, auntie is going to spank you."

"Why? Just because of this broken chain?" Winter Hunting Zhenren sneered coldly, "If I’m not mistaken, your current chain isn’t even considered rare; its speed and strength are far inferior to the Fourth-Turned Legendary Dragon-locking Chain that Zhou Taizu gifted you, and it holds not a shred of divine power."

"Even if you have a second divine technique, so what? My Hunting Frenzy re-refined five times within a century, melding three pairs of Celestial Spirits and Earthly Fiends. Without the Dragon-locking Chain, how can you compete with me? For the last time, hand them over, and I’ll let you go, otherwise... don’t blame Helan for being ruthless!"

Facing the provocation from Winter Hunting Zhenren, Yao Shi Yue showed no anger, merely shrugged helplessly, "You, you, always so impatient like before. I’ve never seen as impatient a hunter as you. It seems today I can only punish you on behalf of Treasure Vase Zhenren."

"Stubborn fool!" Winter Hunting Zhenren sneered in rage, "You can’t even protect yourself and yet dare to threaten with empty words? If you truly had means, why waste your Spiritual Essence resisting the Annihilation Arrow Rain? Even if your second divine technique excels in defense, your Spiritual Essence must be nearly exhausted now?! Even if you replenish it now, you can’t outlast me... unless you let go of those two burdens!"

"So you’re waiting for my Spiritual Essence to deplete? Then little brother, do you know what auntie is waiting for?"

"Hmm?"

"Auntie is waiting to finish this painting of you."

Yao Shi Yue smiled radiantly, pulling out a scroll of ink and wash painting with her right hand as if printed on invisible paper, materializing in mid-air!

Winter Hunting Zhenren’s expression turned grim. At the moment he saw the painting, goosebumps rose all over his body as if confronted by a natural enemy, with even the divine technique [Drawing Dungeon] frantically warning him! He indeed noticed Yao Shi Yue’s right hand moving all along, assuming she was manipulating chains, thus paying it no mind... only now realizing that her hand concealed a brush.

A brush that never runs dry with ink!

But he couldn’t escape!

The ink painting flew towards Winter Hunting Zhenren, rapidly expanding along the way, eventually aligning perfectly with him. The figure within the painting was bound by six chains, making Winter Hunting Zhenren bound by six suddenly appearing golden locks!

Break! Break! Break!

Winter Hunting Zhenren roared in his heart. His [Drawing Dungeon], not only a confining divine technique but also capable of turning oneself into a fortress, repelling all external invasions! But he immediately realized his struggles were futile, displaying a horrified expression: "Your [Dragon-locking Well] can suppress my [Drawing Dungeon]?! This isn’t something an ordinary core token can achieve unless you’ve already re-refined Water and Fire.... It’s the heritage of Pharmacist Changqiu! But her token wouldn’t suit you, unless she was refining it on your behalf in the first place!"

"Correct." Yao Shi Yue chirped cheerfully, "But still deserving of a beating."

She reached out her left hand towards Winter Hunting Zhenren, instantly releasing countless golden locks that engulfed him. With a speed akin to landslide and tsunami, they layered and covered him, forming a colossal coffin made of golden chains within mere breaths, with Winter Hunting Zhenren trapped at its very core.

"Lock, Dragon."

Yao Shi Yue clenched her left fist, and the golden coffin instantly compressed inward, emanating a rustling sound from the friction of innumerable chains. At that moment, all the chains tightened, the sonic boom resounding as if countless firecrackers exploded, and the howling gales swept the surroundings, forcing even the distant ancient beech trees to bow.

Forget about humans, even if a dragon were inside, it would be crushed to bloody pulp!