Sweeping the Meng Family Sub-Formations

“What should we do next?” Chi Qiu asked, having already steadied her resolve. She rose from her spot and approached Su Hanxing.

As Su Hanxing navigated the warship, he retrieved a map and tossed it to Chi Qiu.

“Our next objective is these nine sub-formations,” he instructed. “With the main formation’s core shattered and its sub-formations crippled, we must destroy them all swiftly. Should any Meng family cultivators be guarding them, show no mercy.”

Chi Qiu caught the map, her gaze falling upon the nine red dots marked across its surface. She nodded subtly.

“Each sub-formation is guarded by God Concealing stage cultivators, but their numbers are significantly fewer than at the main formation’s core,” Su Hanxing explained. “Destroying them individually poses no great challenge, but if those cultivators manage to gather and form a coordinated defense, we’ll find ourselves without recourse.”

He pushed the warship to its maximum speed, sparing no true qi in his haste.

Under Su Hanxing’s relentless pace, a mere two quarters of an hour passed before the pair neared the first sub-formation.

“Little Chi, you take the helm of the warship. I alone am sufficient to dismantle this place.”

As the sub-formation drew ever closer, Su Hanxing’s right hand flashed, summoning his great spear. He turned to give Chi Qiu a final instruction before executing a movement technique, vanishing from the warship’s deck.

Chi Qiu was naturally delighted that Su Hanxing could handle the task himself. She steered the warship, circling the sub-formation. Before she could even complete a full rotation, Su Hanxing returned to the ship, radiating a potent killing intent, his great spear still dripping with blood.

“Good fortune smiled upon us,” Su Hanxing said, a smile gracing his lips as he met Chi Qiu’s gaze. “That God Concealing stage cultivator hadn’t abandoned the sub-formation. I engaged him in several exchanges and successfully slew him.”

Yet, this smile, paired with the blood-streaked great spear he carried, lent him an indescribably sinister aura.

“You should rest and recover your true qi. I’ll take over steering the ship,” Chi Qiu offered. She had experimented with the warship for a while and felt she was becoming quite proficient.

“Excellent. Then our next destination is here,” Su Hanxing agreed with a nod. He moved to Chi Qiu’s side, pointing a finger at the nearest sub-formation on the map.

Chi Qiu nodded, increasing the flow of true qi to propel the warship to its highest speed. Su Hanxing watched Chi Qiu’s back as she steered for a moment, then retrieved a spiritual pill from his storage artifact, placed it in his mouth, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.

Subsequently, Chi Qiu and Su Hanxing replicated their strategy, systematically sweeping through the entire territory under the Meng family’s control. All nine sub-formations were utterly demolished.

As for the cultivators stationed at these sub-formations, any God Concealing stage expert unfortunate enough to cross Su Hanxing’s path met an inevitable demise. However, he couldn’t be bothered with the Heart Scripture Realm cultivators, leaving them to their own fate.

Su Hanxing, having been ambushed by Meng Yutang and subsequently besieged by several Meng family God Concealing stage cultivators, now harbored a boundless resentment. He vowed to eliminate every cultivator involved in that encirclement.

Beyond this vengeance, Su Hanxing pursued another crucial objective: to assert his dominance. Only by demonstrating a strength surpassing that of the entire Meng family stronghold could he effectively quell the covetous gaze of neighboring powers upon this region.

Regrettably, despite their swift actions, several Meng family God Concealing stage cultivators still managed to flee the area, presumably to report back to the main Meng family clan.

As night descended, the blue warship slowly settled beside the now-collapsed green tower. Su Hanxing was the first to disembark. Having spent the entire day rushing and assaulting, he felt utterly drained, his mind and body yearning for a much-needed respite.

Chi Qiu followed behind him. Though she had contributed little to the actual attacks, the arduous journey of steering the warship had left her true qi nearly depleted.

With a sweep of his great spear, Su Hanxing cleared a relatively clean patch of ground. He then put away his weapon and sank onto the earth with a weary sigh. Chi Qiu, on the other hand, drew her sword to chop some firewood, which she then carried to the cleared space. With a surge of true qi, she ignited it.

“Little Chi, what are you doing?” Su Hanxing, who had been resting with his eyes closed, slowly opened them upon hearing Chi Qiu’s activity, only to see her already tending a roaring bonfire.

“Eating.”

Chi Qiu replied without turning her head. She touched her bronze ring, and a dead deer materialized on the ground. With practiced ease, she then retrieved various cooking utensils and began busying herself with preparations.

“When did you hunt this deer?” Su Hanxing asked, his eyes glinting as he watched Chi Qiu butcher the venison. Having spent these past days eating and living together, Su Hanxing knew well Chi Qiu’s fondness for good food, her exceptional cooking skills, and her joy in both consuming and preparing meals.

“While you were busy destroying the last sub-formation, I seized a moment to hunt this deer. I’ve been looking forward to a good meal tonight,” Chi Qiu explained, using her Azure Frost Sword to expertly dissect the small deer before cleaning the cuts.

Before long, Chi Qiu had skewered the venison and set it to roast over the flickering bonfire.

“We’re out of seasonings, so we’ll have to make do,” Chi Qiu announced, clapping her hands together. She then settled opposite Su Hanxing, beginning to turn the venison to ensure it cooked evenly.

“To have such a meal is already excellent. What more could one ask for?” Su Hanxing rubbed his hands together, his face alight with anticipation.

“I’ve already relayed the news of this place back to my sect. They are furious and have pressured the Meng family. It’s highly probable they will abandon their plans to explore the Yinglong Tomb.” Su Hanxing conversed with Chi Qiu as they waited for the venison to finish cooking.

“Won’t your Tianyan Sect send more elders?” Chi Qiu asked, handing one of two skewers of venison to Su Hanxing. “From the look of things, without a Dharma Manifestation Realm expert to escort us, it will be incredibly difficult to enter the Yinglong Tomb.”

“Of course they will,” Su Hanxing replied with a smile, accepting the venison Chi Qiu offered. He spoke without reservation. “My master has already sent word, informing me that he will personally arrive in three days to escort us into the Yinglong Tomb.”

“Only he, an elder, is coming? Won’t that be too few?” Chi Qiu voiced her concern.

“Indeed, only him,” Su Hanxing confirmed, nodding helplessly. He seemed somewhat resigned to his sect’s ways. “My Tianyan Sect has always maintained a detached stance from worldly affairs, and opportunities are largely left for our disciples to secure themselves. If he weren’t concerned about the sect mission remaining unfulfilled, he likely wouldn’t even deign to move.”

“Then it truly wasn’t easy for you to become the champion of the martial arts tournament,” Chi Qiu remarked. She had only ever heard rumors of the Tianyan Sect’s detachment; now, seeing it firsthand, she realized the rumors were indeed true.

“Sect mission… what mission did the Tianyan Sect assign you? If it involves sect secrets, then you needn’t tell me.” Su Hanxing had mentioned the mysterious sect mission several times, and Chi Qiu’s curiosity finally got the better of her. She leaned slightly closer to Su Hanxing, posing the question.

As Chi Qiu’s wide, ice-blue eyes, sparkling brightly in the glow of the bonfire, drew near, Su Hanxing found it difficult to look away. He feigned a moment of contemplation, gazing at Chi Qiu for a beat longer until her expression stiffened slightly. Then, he slowly began to speak.

“This matter… it’s fine to tell you. My mission for this trip is to ascertain who ultimately succeeds in absorbing the True Dragon’s Aura.” This matter held no personal gain, thus there was no need for secrecy. Su Hanxing revealed the truth directly.

“Your Tianyan Sect is truly peculiar. Don’t you possess the art of divination?” Chi Qiu questioned, utterly bewildered. “Why wouldn’t you divine the person who integrated the True Dragon’s Aura instead of dispatching you to investigate? Had you not been fortunate, the Tianyan Sect would have lost an exceptional disciple.”

That the Tianyan Sect would not seek the True Dragon’s Aura aligned with their usual demeanor, but sending their foremost disciple into such peril was truly beyond her comprehension.

“The True Dragon’s Aura cannot be divined, which is precisely why they sent me,” Su Hanxing explained, shaking his head helplessly. “As for my ambush, that was due to my own carelessness, my tendency to trust others too easily.”

Hearing Su Hanxing’s explanation, Chi Qiu suddenly understood. Then, catching additional information from his words, she immediately pressed further. “Has this True Dragon’s Aura appeared before?”

“Naturally. All major sects have records of the True Dragon’s Aura appearing over a dozen times,” Su Hanxing affirmed, nodding. “The most recent occurrence was three hundred years ago, and that truly unleashed a bloody storm…”

“It has appeared so many times! What purpose does this True Dragon’s Aura serve that it compels so many cultivators to fight for it so recklessly?” As a rogue cultivator, Chi Qiu knew nothing of the uses of such worldly treasures. Fortunately, Su Hanxing was knowledgeable enough to enlighten her.

“The greatest benefit of the True Dragon’s Aura is its ability to aid cultivators in condensing a Dharma Manifestation. Relying on it, the success rate for condensing a Dharma Manifestation is approximately seventy percent, and the Dharma Manifestation forged with the True Dragon’s Aura is vastly superior to an ordinary one. Not only that, but Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivators can also integrate the True Dragon’s Aura into their existing Dharma Manifestation to elevate its quality,” Su Hanxing revealed without reservation. “Such a rare treasure is truly scarce in the entire world.”

“So that’s how it is…” Chi Qiu instantly understood why countless cultivators would disregard their lives to contend for it. The chasm between the Dharma Manifestation Realm and the God Concealing stage was immense. Lifespan alone differed by more than tenfold. God Concealing stage cultivators typically lived for a thousand years, while Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivators could easily reach tens of thousands of years. This single advantage was enough to inspire countless cultivators to sacrifice their lives.

“However, my Tianyan Sect does possess a secret record…” Su Hanxing deliberately slowed his speech, piquing Chi Qiu’s interest.

Chi Qiu, eager for such sect secrets, immediately moved closer to Su Hanxing, her eyes shining. She then took a piece of venison and offered it to him. “Tell me, tell me quickly.”

Seeing Chi Qiu eagerly draw near, Su Hanxing felt a surge of happiness. He accepted the venison and began. “According to my Tianyan Sect’s records, all those who successfully integrate the True Dragon’s Aura ultimately meet an unnatural, sudden death.”

“What?!” Chi Qiu gasped in surprise, her face etched with astonishment. She quickly followed up, “Is integrating the True Dragon’s Aura truly so perilous? Then why do so many cultivators still vie for it?”

“No, no, that’s not it. Those cultivators who absorbed the True Dragon’s Aura did not die because of the Aura itself,” Su Hanxing clarified. “Most of them were Dharma Manifestation Realm experts who, after integrating the True Dragon’s Aura into their own Dharma Manifestation, saw their strength surge, becoming renowned figures. But typically, within a century, they would either be hunted down by vengeful enemies or venture into dangerous territories. In any case, they all met sudden, inexplicable deaths. It’s truly puzzling.”

Su Hanxing himself seemed utterly perplexed by the matter. He then added, “However, the number of cultivators who integrate the True Dragon’s Aura is simply too small, and their deaths are diverse and without commonality. There’s a high probability it’s merely a coincidence.”

Chi Qiu nodded. Absorbing the True Dragon’s Aura could cause one’s cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds, easily leading to arrogance. This could result in making enemies everywhere or exploring dangerous forbidden lands, thus bringing about death.

“This True Dragon’s Aura would be of immense use to me, but unfortunately, with my current strength, I cannot yet covet it. When they contend for the True Dragon’s Aura, we can simply observe from the sidelines and reap some benefits.”

Chi Qiu possessed a clear understanding of her own capabilities. She knew that even with Su Hanxing and the Tianyan Sect’s assistance, she would hardly be qualified to contend for the True Dragon’s Aura. Once the Yinglong Tomb opened, she would first scavenge for benefits within it, and then accompany Su Hanxing to complete his sect mission.

“Heavenly and earthly treasures belong to the fated. Since we’ve arrived at the Yinglong Tomb, we must certainly give it a try,” Su Hanxing declared with a smile. As the top contender on the Daqi Heavenly Pride Rankings, he naturally possessed an inherent pride. To retreat without a fight would be an impossibility for him.

“This True Dragon’s Aura is far too precious. Even if I were to obtain it, I wouldn’t be able to keep it and might even forfeit my life,” Chi Qiu stated, seeing that Su Hanxing was unwilling to give up. She nodded, indicating her willingness to assist. “At that time, I will aid you in contending for it.”

“Excellent!” Su Hanxing’s eyes lit up, clearly delighted.