Cultivation Starting from Full Talent-Chapter 174 - 172: The Changing Situation at Xiyu Pavilion
Chapter 174: Chapter 172: The Changing Situation at Xiyu Pavilion
Small Qingxin Building.
Chen Ping’er asked about the cause of the dispute, and Ning Daoran told her the truth.
“Humph, that Master Yan Long relies on a Third-tier Early Stage Spiritual Beast and being Sister Xingtong’s grand uncle, indeed he has long treated Xiyu Pavilion as his private property.”
She pursed her red lips and smiled, “Actually, he’s just an old man with peculiar habits. Fellow Daoist need not take him too seriously. However, the fact that you were able to fight a Golden Core Expert for so long is truly admirable.”
“You jest, Fellow Daoist.”
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Ning Daoran frowned and said, “Several times, I was nearly killed by that old brute’s Magical Treasure. If I had not bought so many Divine Speed Talismans from you, I might have died behind your Xiyu Pavilion today.”
“Alas…”
Chen Ping’er sighed, knowing that Ning Daoran held some resentment in his heart—it was only human nature.
Afterward, she comforted him, which was no trouble at all.
…
The next day.
Chen Ping’er arrived early, bringing several maids to serve breakfast.
The breakfast at Xiyu Pavilion was extraordinarily refined, and after a night of cultivation, Ning Daoran’s anger had dissolved, allowing him to eat and drink heartily.
After eating, he followed Chen Ping’er to a suspended loft built between two mountain peaks, enjoying the unique scenery.
“Young Friend Ning.”
An old man brimming with Golden Core aura arose, wearing a white robe and exuding an Immortal Charm. From any angle, he appeared to be a kindly senior with great power.
But he was Supreme Elder Zhangsun Wang, the Golden Core Expert who treated Fairy Yun Lan as a cultivation cauldron and attempted Dual Cultivation with Lady Xingtong.
Zhangsun Wang smiled and said, “It’s rare for Young Friend Ning to visit us personally, making our Xiyu Pavilion shine!”
“You flatter me, senior!”
After the two exchanged pleasantries, they moved on to the main topic.
“Senior, may I first take a look at that Third-tier True Feather?”
“Of course.”
Zhangsun Wang turned and commanded, “Someone, bring the Third-tier True Feather here.”
“Yes, Ancestor!”
Shortly after, several Foundation Establishment Cultivators arrived flying, the leader holding an embroidered box sealed with Prohibition. When the box was opened, a snow-white True Feather lay within.
The Heavenly Phoenix True Feather, the last primary ingredient missing for the Third-tier Middle-grade White Feather Flowing Sound Array!
Ning Daoran felt a slight thrill and asked, “May I inquire the price for this item, senior?”
“Sixty thousand Spirit Stones.”
Zhangsun Wang put forth a steep price with a smile, “Otherwise, Young Friend Ning can also trade with a Spiritual Artifact plus Spirit Stones.”
“Okay.”
Ning Daoran lightly tapped his Storage Bag, and a series of strong aura emitted Spiritual Artifacts floated out one after another—thirteen in total, including four Top-grade Spiritual Artifacts, with the rest being Top-grade and Mid-grade.
He showed his sincerity, not offering any Low Grade Spiritual Artifacts.
Of course, this treasure collection avoided Lay Practitioner Bai Ming’s legacy, mostly originating from Old Monster Jinxia and previous explorations of Secret Realms, to avoid unnecessary trouble.
“Young Friend Ning actually has such resources…”
Zhangsun Wang’s eyes gleamed as he asked, “Where did you get so many Spiritual Artifacts?”
“I collected them from fellow disciples.”
Ning Daoran replied, “My standing within the Sect is quite good, and I’ve made a fair amount selling Third-tier Spirit Rice over the years. I traded for these Spiritual Artifacts with the Spirit Stones I got selling the rice. Senior, please tell me if there’s any shortage?”
“Hmm!”
Zhangsun Wang joyfully said, “The value of your collection is roughly thirty thousand Spirit Stones. Since you are a distinguished guest of our Xiyu Pavilion and considering last night’s events…”
He smiled meaningfully, “I heard that in your fight with Master Yan Long, there was no winner in a short while, which is truly impressive. So for that reason, if you can cover the difference of two-thousand Spirit Stones, you may take the True Feather. What do you think?”
“Good, senior is generous!”
Ning Daoran immediately took out a Storage Bag containing exactly twenty thousand Spirit Stones.
The deal was done.
Ning Daoran stored the Third-tier True Feather in his Storage Bag and bade farewell to Zhangsun Wang with a clenched fist.
…
Between the green mountains, on a long corridor.
“Fellow Daoist Ning…”
Chen Ping’er, dressed in a white gown and holding a long sword with a delicate Spirit Light mark on her forehead, sent a telepathic message, “Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ning…”
“Why thank me, Fellow Daoist?”
“Thank you for making such a big deal with Xiyu Pavilion.”
Chen Ping’er spoke frankly, “It’s because of the deal you made with Ning Daoran that I, Chen Ping’er, have value to Xiyu Pavilion, and have the confidence to refuse becoming the Supreme Elder’s concubine.”
“I see.”
Ning Daoran placed one hand behind his back and smiled as he looked towards the cranes in the mountains, “Fellow Daoist Chen is too polite. I needed this Lifebound True Feather myself; our exchange was mutually beneficial. I didn’t do all this specifically for you.”
“I understand.”
Chen Ping’er covered her mouth and chuckled, “But indeed, this has greatly helped me, so there’s no need for you to be so modest.”
“Very well.”
Ning Daoran said, “Now that the transaction is complete, I will return to the Chaotic Sect immediately. Fellow Daoist Chen, I’ll see you again at Yellow Dragon Square.”
“Oh?”
Chen Ping’er was slightly startled. “Are you not returning with our flying boat?”
“No, it’s more comfortable being alone.”
“Very well.”
Chen Ping’er smiled and said, “Then Ping’er won’t keep you any longer, Fellow Daoist. We shall meet again at Yellow Dragon Square.”
“Farewell!”
…
Ning Daoran transformed into a streak of tunneling light and left Xiyu Pavilion directly.
Among the mountains, a gentle breeze blew, and spiritual cranes gathered in flocks.
Besides Ning Daoran, several spirit boats from Xiyu Pavilion were traveling up and down the mountain paths, and on the mountain trails, ordinary porters busied themselves, carrying necessities for life up the mountain.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Ning Daoran became alert.
He quickly twisted his body, operating the Unmoving Ming King Divine Technique at the Return to Nature Level, and his entire aura and mana fluctuations vanished instantly. At the same time, he used the Invisibility Technique, Sound Absorption Technique, and Wood Escape Technique, lightly landing beside an ancient tree among the mountain rocks.
Several strong auras were flying in, mixed with the crowd of low-level cultivators, passing through Xiyu Pavilion’s Mountain Protection Array!
Among them, there was even the aura of a Golden Core Mid-stage cultivator!
Ning Daoran narrowed his eyes and pushed his Pupil Technique to its peak; he looked into the distance and saw an elder wearing a white robe with his hands clasped behind his back, lightly sweeping into the mountain gate.
Then, more and more auras stopped concealing themselves.
Dozens of Foundation Establishment auras erupted simultaneously, heading up the mountain.
Moreover, in the space outside the mountain, flying boats spanned the skies, with Jiuyun Sect’s battle flags on them—a clear sign of an army laying siege.
And there were Golden Cores too!
Ning Daoran operated his robust Divine Sense to scan the surroundings, capturing another Golden Core aura that flashed briefly, seemingly deliberately concealing itself.
And that was the aura of someone in the Golden Core Late Stage!
Jiuyun Shangren?!
Ning Daoran was dumbfounded. Could it be that even the Supreme Elder from Jiuyun Sect had come?
It seemed that, after brewing for twenty years, Jiuyun Sect had finally decided to make a move again, and this time they were heading straight for Xiyu Pavilion’s Main Altar, likely aiming to completely eradicate Xiyu Pavilion.
Ning Daoran had no intention of getting involved in the dispute between Jiuyun Sect and Xiyu Pavilion.
Although he had some acquaintance with Chen Ping’er, he still couldn’t justify offending Jiuyun Sect for Chen Ping’er’s sake—it would be very unwise.
…
“I, Jiuyun Sect, formally declare war on Xiyu Pavilion!”
Outside the mountain, atop a gigantic spirit boat, a Golden Core Cultivator let out a thunderous roar: “All those of Xiyu Pavilion who surrender the treasure and give themselves up will be spared death! Those who stubbornly resist will be killed without mercy!”
In an instant, numerous cultivators from Jiuyun Sect brought forth treasures.
Xiyu Pavilion’s Mountain Protection Array was divided into two layers, inner and outer, but the outer array lasted less than thirty minutes before it was breached.
Even more fatal was that Golden Core cultivators from Jiuyun Sect had already entered the Inner Mountain, going straight for the heart.
“Swish!”
Ning Daoran gracefully stepped out of the ancient tree and sent out several Second-class Paperfolk that burrowed into the earth or used Wood Escape, quickly vanishing from sight.
Sending out the Paperfolk served two purposes: one was to gather information, and the other was to find out the whereabouts of Chen Ping’er and Yin Muxue. If he could save the two women using Paperfolk—a no-risk endeavor—he would certainly do it if he could.
After that, Ning Daoran moved to a new location, using Wood Escape to enter a patch of mountain thorns, once again hiding without a trace.
Not long after.
A Paperfolk found an extremely important piece of information.
One of Jiuyun Sect’s Supreme Elders, Daoist Yun Yan, with Golden Core Mid-stage Cultivation, entered Xiyu Pavilion’s Main Altar and within tens of rounds had killed Changsun Wang; then, he had a bloody fight with Master Yan Long, the Guest Elder of Xiyu Pavilion, in a valley.
Master Yan Long was staunch in nature and fought the formidable enemy with the Earth Rock Dragon, swearing to live and die with Xiyu Pavilion.
After the battle, neither he nor the beast could withstand the enemy.
Daoist Yun Yan’s methods of slaughter were extremely ruthless, especially since he had constructed six Third-tier Middle-grade Yimu Flying Swords. These six flying swords, combined with Wood Attribute Sword formulas, were incredibly terrifying, severely wounding Master Yan Long.
According to that secretive Second-class Paperfolk’s Divine Soul perception, Ning Daoran could only see some vague images of the fight.
After Master Yan Long was seriously injured, the Earth Rock Dragon attacked furiously as if gone mad, even at the cost of damaging its own body, swallowing three Yimu Flying Swords in a single gulp.
In the end, the severely wounded Master Yan Long and the Earth Rock Dragon retreated into the Inner Mountain Array with the help of several Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Lady Xingtong personally manned the array, continuing to fend off Jiuyun Sect’s fierce attacks.
…
Half a day later.
A Paperfolk using Wood Escape into several broken Cave Mansions found two corpses.
One was Fairy Yun Lan, and the other was Chen Ping’er’s disciple, Yin Muxue.
Before their deaths, both women had struggled desperately; their bodies were battered by Jiuyun Sect cultivators. However, there was no trace of Chen Ping’er—it was as if she had vanished into thin air.
Ning Daoran disguised himself as a young cultivator, sneaked down the mountain, and stayed in a workshop below that was already under Jiuyun Sect’s control.
Two days later.
Rumors circulated in the workshop that Master Yan Long had succumbed to his severe injuries and passed away. Before his death, he handed over the powerful Third-tier Early-stage Earth Rock Dragon to Lady Xingtong.
After the Earth Rock Dragon recognized Lady Xingtong as its master, she became the true leader of Xiyu Pavilion. She then activated the prohibitions of the Mountain Protection Array and called back all Xiyu Pavilion cultivators, ready to fight Jiuyun Sect to the bitter end!
