Chapter 085
Chapter 85: A Phenomenon Descends
The instant the heavenly phenomenon appeared over Treasure Blossom Range, numerous streaks of light immediately flew toward the heart of the mountains. Cultivators from the entire western region must have seen that soaring pillar of brilliance.
Sheng Yu Hong’s group, resting inside their formation, also gazed toward the source of the phenomenon, their expressions varying from amazement to worry.
Du Yu Ling was the first to speak up, asking with wide eyes, “Senior Brother Sheng, could this mean a rare treasure has appeared?”
Yun Xi also shifted her gaze toward Sheng Yu Hong. This was her first time witnessing such an event herself. Although she had once read of similar occurrences in the travel records at the Treasure Pavilion, she felt certain a heavenly phenomenon this grand must signify a major event.
Sheng Yu Hong frowned deeply and replied cautiously, “I’m not certain myself. But I’m sure the Nascent Soul True Lords from Treasure Blossom City have already gone to investigate. For now, we should inform our sect and await their instructions.”
He was confident the Divine Transformation Ancestor of their sect was already rushing here.
Yun Xi wholeheartedly agreed with Sheng Yu Hong’s decision. Clearly, this event was beyond ordinary circumstances. With Nascent Soul True Lords involved, Foundation Establishment small fry like themselves should absolutely not meddle. [If we got involved, we’d never even know how we died!]
After all, the beings living deep within Treasure Blossom Range were fifth-tier demon beasts—creatures equivalent to human cultivators at the Divine Transformation stage, true apex beings within the Lofty Cosmos realm.
Mu Ning Zhu then added her voice, “Senior Brother Sheng, with this anomaly in Treasure Blossom Range, cultivators will soon flood into the area. It’s best to gather all our Grand Righteous Sect disciples together quickly, lest we become stepping stones for others.”
Mu Ning Zhu was particularly concerned for Qin Tong Shuang and Zhang Yan, whose cultivations were merely at Qi Refining stage. If something happened to them, it would weigh heavily upon her conscience, as she had brought them along.
Sheng Yu Hong swiftly sent a flying sword message, waved his hand to retrieve his formation disk, and then commanded firmly, “Let’s leave Treasure Blossom Range first. We’ll reunite with our fellow disciples before deciding anything further.”
“Yes, Senior Brother Sheng!” came the unanimous response from all six disciples as they quickened their pace toward the exit. Their group met face-to-face with countless cultivators flooding in, eager for treasures.
By nightfall, under Sheng Yu Hong’s vigilant protection, the eight of them finally reached the entrance to Treasure Blossom Range.
Sharp-eyed Yun Xi spotted Qin Tong Shuang and Long Dao Yu chatting quietly together, likely discussing the strange phenomenon deep in the mountains.
Long Dao Yu lifted his gaze and suddenly exclaimed, “Oh! It’s Senior Uncle Sheng and Junior Sister Wei!” His eyes first locked onto his idol, Sheng Yu Hong.
Qin Tong Shuang waved excitedly toward Mu Ning Zhu and Yun Xi, calling cheerfully, “Senior Aunt Mu, Yun Xi, we’re over here!”
The two teams merged smoothly, and all Qi Refining disciples from the Grand Righteous Sect who had entered Treasure Blossom Range now gathered at the entrance. Seeing Sheng Yu Hong’s arrival, they immediately crowded around him.
Sheng Yu Hong motioned for quiet before instructing seriously, “Everyone, the situation deep inside Treasure Blossom Range remains unclear. With your current cultivation levels, do not recklessly venture inside. Return to our sect’s station in Treasure Blossom City first.”
“Yes, Senior Uncle Sheng,” the disciples answered respectfully.
“Everyone, double-check carefully,” Sheng Yu Hong added. “Confirm all disciples who entered have safely exited. Send message talismans to anyone still missing, lest they get caught up in something dangerous or become pawns for others. Treasure Blossom Range will surely be chaotic for some time, and troublemakers will undoubtedly take advantage.”
The disciples nodded earnestly, immediately contacting anyone absent. After receiving confirmation, the gathered disciples followed behind Sheng Yu Hong, returning toward Treasure Blossom City.
Long Dao Yu stared at Yun Xi with disbelief, suddenly exclaiming, “Junior Uncle Wei, we only separated seven days ago! You already broke through to Foundation Establishment?”
Qin Tong Shuang’s bright eyes also gleamed with curiosity, clearly intrigued by Yun Xi’s adventures after their separation.
Yun Xi laughed lightly and waved her hand dismissively, “You should still just call me Yun Xi; I’m not comfortable being called Senior Uncle. It was simply good luck.” She humorously indicated a tiny gap with her pinky finger.
Long Dao Yu immediately pressed closer and asked eagerly, “Yun Xi, can you tell us in detail?”
The surrounding Qi Refining disciples perked up their ears, eagerly listening while they walked, their curiosity piqued.
Yun Xi sighed dramatically, “Well, when that cave collapsed, I panicked and crushed a random teleportation talisman in a hurry, and ended up dropping myself right into a Crimson Beaked Falcon’s nest…”
Yun Xi was a gifted storyteller. Her vivid narration depicted a harrowing escape, full of twists and narrow misses. She skillfully painted herself as narrowly surviving countless dangers until she was finally rescued by Sheng Yu Hong’s group and safely escorted from Treasure Blossom Range.
Naturally, she tactfully omitted mentioning how she had personally fought alongside the Foundation Establishment cultivators. She understood such discretion well. At the front of the line, Sheng Yu Hong’s group overheard and nodded approvingly at her clever choice of words.
After hearing her tale, Long Dao Yu sighed emotionally, “Look, that’s what I call luck! Choosing to team up with me and entering Treasure Blossom Range was definitely your best decision. You broke through to Foundation Establishment shortly after we separated—that’s truly a blessing in disguise!”
Yun Xi nodded vigorously, agreeing readily, “Exactly! You’re absolutely right. It seems I must leave the sect more often for training.”
Qin Tong Shuang smiled, her eyes sparkling. “That’s wonderful! Once I break through to Foundation Establishment too, we can officially team up for missions.”
Eagerly, Long Dao Yu chimed in, “Me too! Don’t forget me!”
Their conversation soon shifted to the mysterious heavenly phenomenon at Treasure Blossom Range.
By the time the group reached the Grand Righteous Sect’s station in Treasure Blossom City, darkness had fully settled. Despite this, the city itself was brightly illuminated. Above, the towering column of light from the mountains shone more brilliantly than ever, with occasional flashes of powerful cultivators racing toward it.
After their initial excitement, the disciples retreated into their respective rooms, each quietly setting up isolation formations to process the day’s turbulent events.
Yun Xi not only activated the room’s barrier but also placed her own third-tier formation disk at maximum defensive power. Only then did she begin inspecting the spoils she had collected in Treasure Blossom Range. Her heart was too restless to settle into meditation anyway.
She had gained three storage pouches: two from the rogue cultivators who chased her, one from the Foundation Establishment cultivator she had helped eliminate, and even a storage ring from the Three-Headed Serpent’s cave. Her harvest was indeed abundant.
Yun Xi chuckled gleefully to herself for a moment, then began carefully tallying her haul.
The three storage pouches alone brought her nearly ten thousand mid-grade spirit stones, far exceeding her expectations. The two rogue cultivators had been gathering resources to buy Foundation Establishment pills, while the slain Foundation Establishment cultivator had been saving for his eventual breakthrough to Golden Core. Their life savings were conveniently collected in their bags—only to ultimately enrich Yun Xi.
She sighed appreciatively, “Indeed, horses won’t grow fat without night grass, and people won’t prosper without unexpected fortunes! Now I finally understand why righteous cultivators so frequently kill for treasure.”
After her cheerful reflection, she quickly stuffed the spirit stones into her own pouch. Then she methodically sorted through the other items—magical tools, talismans, and pills, setting aside any unknown objects separately.
Once finished, Yun Xi resolved to sell everything aside from the spirit stones. Since most of these items were likely stolen by rogue cultivators, she didn’t dare risk using them and possibly drawing unwanted attention to herself.