Chapter 137: Foundation Establishment Ambush, Treasure Bone Emerges!

The sky stretched high and clear, as if it had been washed.

A black Iron Feather Eagle and a white-feathered, impressive Crain flew swiftly through the sky.

Standing on the Iron Feather Eagle and the Crane were a handsome young man and a cold-faced, graceful woman.

They were Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue, who had left Ruyi County City heading to the Hongye Valley Marketplace.

Lu Changsheng, watching Xiao Xiyue in moon-white dress gracefully standing on the Crane, felt bored.

Her serene and detached face was like the bright moon in the sky, exuding celestial aura.

As the wind blew, her long black dress and skirt fluttered, occasionally revealing a pure white limb like jade.

This sight reminded Lu Changsheng of her appearances during her study sessions over the days.

“Indeed, the deepest desire of a man is to subdue an untouchable immortal under him and relish,” Lu Changsheng thought.

He let out a light sigh, calming his restless thoughts.

For Xiao Xiyue, these days were for cultivation.

For him, it was no less a discipline.

“Comrade Xiao, about two more days and we will reach the Hongye Valley Marketplace.”

Lu Changsheng spotted a landmark mountain range and relayed his knowledge to Xiao Xiyue via sound transmission.

“Alright.”

Xiao Xiyue replied.

Whether cultivating or not, she was usually silent, speaking little.

However, if given a topic, Xiao Xiyue would always reply.

During these days, Lu Changsheng asked Xiao Xiyue many questions.

Even when the questions were quite personal, she would respond.

The Iron Feather Eagle and Crane soared rapidly.

At that moment.

“Watch out!”

Xiao Xiyue suddenly warned.

She quickly turned her gaze to the right and an ancient zither appeared automatically in her hand.

“Huh!?”

Lu Changsheng was startled and turned his head to look as well.

He immediately saw a brilliant light streaking across the distant sky, rapidly approaching them.

“This little girl truly isn’t simple, being able to notice me. As expected from Disciple of Caiyun Zhenren.”

In the next moment, the light appeared a few meters from them.

A young man, twenty-seven or twenty-eight, appeared. His face was sinisterly handsome, wearing a red brocade robe.

He stood on a black cloud, emanating a formidable spiritual pressure.

The Iron Feather Eagle beneath Lu Changsheng began to tremble, flapping its wings nervously.

“Foundation Establishment cultivator!”

Lu Changsheng’s pupils contracted, his eyes narrowed.

From the speed and spiritual pressure of the newcomer, he immediately confirmed that this was a formidable Foundation Establishment cultivator.

And judging from the looks, this cultivator didn’t come with good intentions.

“Senior, you know my master? What’s the matter?”

Xiao Xiyue spoke to the young man, her voice steady.

With her white hand on the ancient zither, she was clearly ready to act at any moment.

“I came specifically for you. As for the reason, you will know in time.”

The Red-Robed Youth stood with hands behind his back, a dark red gleam in his eyes.

As soon as he finished speaking, dark red qi materialized, forming a ferocious snake towards Xiao Xiyue with a loud roar.

“Zheng!”

Prepared, Xiao Xiyue plucked the strings of her zither, releasing a deafening sound, creating a whirlwind.

Waves of sonic ripples emanated from Xiao Xiyue, spreading out.

They resembled sharp edges slicing at the malicious red snake, shattering it.

Yet in the next instant, the dispersed qi reformed like mist, charging towards them once again.

Seeing this, Xiao Xiyue knew clearly that this Foundation Establishment cultivator was hostile.

Even with her exceptional talent, she couldn’t possibly match a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Moreover, this wasn’t an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Immediately, she pulled out a blue Second-Tier talisman from her storage bag and activated it.

A terrifying frost wind rose, threatening to freeze everything and forming a massive ice wall.

“Run!”

Without another glance, Xiao Xiyue called out to Lu Changsheng.

In her words, she had already retracted the Crane, took out a cloud shuttle, and got ready to flee.

Her white dress swirled as she pulled Lu Changsheng onto the cloud shuttle, transforming into a ray of light to escape.

“Trying to flee!”

The Red-Robed Youth sneered.

His voice was full of scorn and disdain.

He, a dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator, ambushing a Qi Refining novice, would hardly let them escape.

Though seeing an extra Qi Refining runt, Lu Changsheng didn’t register as worthy to him.

“Die!”

The Red-Robed Youth summoned his celestial implement, the ‘Red Luan Pearl’, from his dantian, suspending it overhead, shining with blinding red light.

The beam shot out, paralyzing Xiao Xiyue on the fleeing cloud shuttle.

In the next instant, a haunting white sword materialized, brimming with sharp sword qi, aimed at Xiao Xiyue.

“No!”

Knowing the sword’s lethal intent, Xiao Xiyue understood escape was unlikely.

She took out a multicolored sword pill.

The sword pill rotated madly, radiating dreadful sword light, as if it could slice through anything.

“Go!”

Xiao Xiyue’s hands formed a seal, commanding the pill to attack the Red-Robed Youth.

Lu Changsheng was impressed by Xiao Xiyue’s fierce tactics.

He didn’t expect such decisiveness and magical combat proficiency.

She didn’t seem like someone on her first expedition.

He mused that the disciples trained by the Spirit Sect were indeed different.

Not only engrossed in cultivation but outshining many loose cultivators in combat techniques.

Moreover, the cloud shuttle, the shell, and sword pill were clearly top-grade Artifacts.

Despite his astonishment, Lu Changsheng didn’t simply watch.

He brought out a stack of talismans, both mid and high-grade, throwing more than ten at once.

It’s pretty normal, after all, for a Talisman Master to carry some for self-defence.

“Whoosh—”

Talismans transformed into flames, snakes, ice spikes, wind blades, lightning strikes pouring forth.

“Clang, clang, clang!”

The white sword clashed with the five-colored shell, vibrating as torrents of sword qi surged like a tidal wave, cracking the shell.

Seeing the colorful sword pill and talismans coming, the young man sneered coldly.

He raised a glittering hand, seizing the pill deftly.

“Crunch.”

The sharp pill emitted a cringing ‘crack’ in his jewel-like hand.

A malicious snake countered Lu Changsheng’s attack, nullifying it.

“This isn’t some ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator!”

Lu Changsheng realized immediately.

His talisman stack didn’t matter, but Xiao Xiyue’s shell and pill were undeniably exceptional.

Yet, with a mere grip, the shell cracked, and the pill was held.

Though his hand seemed empowered by inevitable magic, it deeply startled him.

Understanding the Red-Robed Youth wasn’t an ordinary Foundation Establishment, far above the Lu Family Patriarch, Chen Family Ancestor, Bai Family Ancestor, and even Meng Xiaochan.

“Hmph.”

After Xiao Xiyue’s two Artifacts were broken, she groaned softly, her face paling.

She handed a silver talisman to Lu Changsheng.

Quickly, she transmitted to him, “Comrade Lu, this issue surrounds me. He might be tracking me with some technique.”

“This is a Hundred Miles Teleportation Talisman. I’ll delay him while you escape.”

Xiao Xiyue urged.

Practicing the Supreme Forgetting Emotions Technique kept her calm in crises.

Knowing the Red-Robed Youth aimed at her.

This wasn’t a coincidence.

Most likely, he had some secret technique to locate her.

Making it practically impossible to escape from a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Her intention was to not involve Lu Changsheng at this moment.

Lu Changsheng didn’t take the talisman.

He also had Second-Tier teleportation talismans.

If he wanted to flee, he could’ve done so during the initial fighting interval.

But faced with this, abandoning Xiao Xiyue to escape seemed hard to him.

“Ah, my temperament just doesn’t fit in this Cultivation World, in these times.”

“Still, to enjoy sweet and then savory, given she’s possibly the mother of future children, this is impossible to ignore,”

Lu Changsheng thought.

Trying to act recklessly for once.

See if he could save Xiao Xiyue.

His dare was not empty bravado.

He had confidence.

He felt he could slay a Foundation Establishment if he went all out.

This one seemed exceptionally strong.

In any case, even if defeated, he still had a Substitute Life Charm for survival.

In the blink of an eye, he reached a decision, slipping his hands into his sleeves.

One hand grasping talisman, the other holding the Golden Light Brick.

“Hurry.”

Xiao Xiyue, urged seeing Lu Changsheng.

Offering the talisman, she asked him to flee.

“Comrade Xiao, how can I abandon you in this situation?”

Lu Changsheng chuckled.

“In this moment, you still flirt?”

“But you won’t become a pair of outlaw lovers!”

The Red-Robed Youth shouted fiercely.

His eyes blazed with red lights, like an abyss, drawing in comprehension.

In the next moment, Lu Changsheng felt the Peach Blossom Gu in his brow howl.

A sensation like being struck in the head left him dizzy; grunting.

The pendant Artifact around his neck released a soothing coolness.

“Pfft!”

Beside him, Xiao Xiyue’s face went white, vomiting blood and clutching her forehead.

“Hmm? You’re able to resist my Divine Sense attack?”

The youth noted this, surprised.

His secret art of Divine Sense had no effect on Lu Changsheng, except a grunt.

Typically, anyone hit suffered like Xiao Xiyue.

Also, Lu Changsheng didn’t seem to even be a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Merely a Qi Refining one.

A young Qi Refining could withstand his Divine Sense secret art, indicating some treasure protection.

Greed flashed in his eyes.

A treasure protecting the sense domain is rare.

“Whatever treasure you have is now mine!”

Laughing, he conjured his Red Luan Pearl, shining a light upon Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue.

The white sword pierced the five-colored shell, darting towards Lu Changsheng.

Caught by the light, Lu Changsheng felt his body stiffen, everything around sealed.

Innards, spiritual force lagged behind.

Understanding the gap between Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment.

He dared not delay, slapped his storage bag.

Thus, a two-meter-tall black puppet appeared, wielding a blade and shield with five black javelins on its back.

His Second-Tier Puppet, previously left untouched in his storage bag!

“Clang!”

Confronting the white sword, the puppet raised its shield, creating a golden note amidst the sparks.

Then its black blade swung violently, hacking at the sword, generating another deafening note.

“A Second-Tier Puppet. Apparently, you’re not simple either,”

The youth noticed with a smirk, unimpressed.

Yet suddenly.

“Huh! A Talisman Treasure!”

Lu Changsheng emitted a powerful burst.

A golden object shot forth, expanding in the air, shocking the youth.

Though a Foundation Establishment, facing such an Artifact gave him pause.

“Evidently, you’re scoffing at me! Die now!”

Realizing the dangerous situation, he quit toying.

He conjured dark red serpents aimed at Lu Changsheng, intending a speedy finish.

A pale, blood-oozing Xiao Xiyue couldn’t believe Lu Changsheng’s skills.

Her face was disbelieving.

With such close connections, she realized he wasn’t what he appeared.

Surely, there were secrets.

Yet she didn’t pry nor care.

Most cultivators carry secrets and luck.

But she never expected his concealment was so deep.

Producing a Second-Tier Puppet and a Talisman Treasure.

Especially activating the golden brick, his spiritual force surged.

She perceived that Lu Changsheng’s cultivation was akin to hers, at Qi Refining perfection.

Seeing his strength, despite having the chance to flee, he chose to fight, stirred her heart.

Yet she didn’t think of it, fetching a golden talisman paper.

“Buzz!”

Xiao Xiyue, pouring spiritual force into the paper, roused a golden sword, emitting a frightening power.

A Talisman Treasure.

“Another Talisman Treasure!?”

Seeing it, the youth’s eyes flickered, looking grim.

He suspected they carried self-defense treasures.

But faced with a new complication, two Qi Refiners both owning Talisman Treasures.

“But they are mere Qi Refiners, unable to unleash full power!”

He scoffed, summoning black armour onto himself.

Despite his words, if both treasures activated, an oversight could harm him.

“Roar!”

Meanwhile, nine serpents charged Lu Changsheng.

Lu Changsheng focused on the Talisman Treasure while activating a Thunder Light Talisman.

Simultaneously using the golden brick and Second-Tier Puppet limited his use of Second-Tier talismans.

In his Puppet Control Technique, confronting the white sword, the puppet’s five spikes rose.

“Whoosh!”

Like lightning, streaking to the nine serpents with power.

“Boom!”

Each spear struck with the Foundation strength, clashing with the serpents, roaring.

In this destruction, Lu Changsheng sensed his puppet’s core Spirit Stone dwindling.

“It must end quickly!”

Seeing that dragging on was impossible.

A strike drained his resources.

Floating the golden brick like a mountain, Lu Changsheng decided.

He threw his full focus and force into controlling the Artifact.

“Boom!”

The dense golden brick crushing towards the Red-Robed Youth.

“Die!”

Facing its crashing pressure, he shouted.

Poised behind, Red Luan Pearl blazed, the sky red like a fire, rising against the falling brick.

“Boom!”

Two Artifacts collided, locking gold against red.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xiyue’s golden sword lunged forth.

Her sword pushed to its limits, brandishing ferociously before the youth.

As they battled, the youth summoned a tiger-shaped puppet.

“Psst!”

The golden sword instantly penetrated, shredding its core.

Yet in that moment, he called a blood-red scissors, clashing with the sword.

“Clang-clang!”

Sword and dragon clashed.

At this point, despite two Artifacts, the youth concentrated fiercely.

He noted Xiao Xiyue’s desperate state.

Her initial charges and psychic assaults weakened her.

Now pushing her Talisman Treasure exhausted her spirit and force.

Planning to handle her and then Lu Changsheng.

The white sword switched targets, stabbing at Xiao Xiyue.

“Comrade Xiao, watch out!”

Lu Changsheng warned.

Directing the puppet to intercept the sword.

The necro-serpents reformed despite defeat.

“Puff!”

Xiao Xiyue paled; a gentle bite drew blood upon her zither.

“Zheng!”

Bloodied strings played themselves, emitting military melodies, dispatching sonic blades.

“Clang, clang!”

White sword collided with the zither as Xiao Xiyue weakened.

“Comrade Lu, escape now!”

Xiao Xiyue urged.

Perceiving Lu Changsheng had hidden power, even with puppet and Artifact.

Yet the Foundation cultivator was remarkably stronger.

Couldn’t withstand forever.

She requested he flees, revealing a chance.

The sword slashed a deep scar on the dragon.

Returning to scissors, it fell.

Although the golden sword dimmed, it struck at the youth.

“Hmph!”

Seeing his harmed Artifact, the youth grunted, unleashing a seal.

Donning black armour, his red light clashed with the sword.

Yet the dragon dulled too.

Lu Changsheng gauged his foe’s might.

Realizing he lacked strength.

Using the Talisman Treasure with full power, puppet attacks.

His frontal bone ready.

His final ace!

“Damn!”

The youth grimaced as the puppet charged.

Though their strength was Qi Refining, the Artifacts were powerful.

Imprisoned by the golden brick, consuming his divine power.

He bit tightly, enchanting with a secret.

Dividing his spirit, conjuring Artifacts.

“Ring, ring!”

A purple bell appeared, vigorously shaking.

Its sound disoriented Lu Changsheng and Xiao Xiyue, confusing their minds.

Seeing their distraction, he aimed to attack.

“Pfft!”

A barrage from the Second-Tier puppet.

Untrained in body arts, youth avoided close melee.

His armour’s shield absorbed it.

Bell’s chime agitated Xiao Xiyue, making her faint.

“Now!”

Lu Changsheng, aware of extreme risk as Xiao Xiyue collapsed.

Her help gone, he couldn’t delay.

Turning his spirit bag, he called forth the Six-Winged Golden Silkworm.

This silkworm nurtured for around two years.

But its stature remained unchanged since.

Still an infant.

Yet, if effective, it mattered.

As he harnessed the golden brick, Lu Changsheng unleashed the treasure bone kept by the Black Dragon Pearl.

“Roar!”

Suddenly, a dragon’s roar filled the space.

Black light spewed from Lu Changsheng’s chest, rolling like rivers, frighteningly strong.

“What trick is this? How’s there Golden Core aura!?”

“This boy, with Qi Refining, how can he unleash such might?”

The youth shrieked, scared and surprised.

“Boom!”

In a flash, a black-draped dragon spirit erupted from Lu Changsheng’s chest.

“What on earth is this, when he’s a mere Qi Refining novice!”

Dumbfounded, the youth faced the beast.

Struggling to understand how such an aura emanated while controlling a high-tier Artifact.

“Roar!”

Before rationalizing, black mist blanketed him, feeling his body stiffen, his spirit clouded.

The initial Black Dragon Pearl effusion stunned physical bodies and darkened spirits.

Naturally, the spirit harboured this effect.

Trapped and weary, he absorbed the dark beast’s shadow and consumed it.