Upon hearing this, Xu Mingxian turned around and said indifferently, "You Fellow Daoists are truly making things difficult for this poor Daoist. Although I cannot identify this formation's origins, it should be a second-rank formation, which is quite troublesome indeed."
Zhang Yanzhi gritted his teeth and said, "If there are more than four items in the storage bag, Fellow Daoist Yunming may choose two first. This is already the limit. Fellow Daoist Chongxu discovered the cave dwelling, so he picks second. I go next, and Fellow Daoist Jinhu goes last."
Xu Mingxian estimated this should be about right.
After all, they had all sworn oaths not to tell others or bring anyone else.
Pushing too hard would only backfire.
"Since you Fellow Daoists have such faith in this poor Daoist's formation skills, then I shall do my best. If I fail, please don't blame me."
Zhang Yanzhi and the others all nodded and cupped their fists, "Naturally."
"If even you fail, Fellow Daoist, then it is simply our fate."
Xu Mingxian nodded, then began studying the formation on the white jade circular platform.
Xu Mingwei had come to the Jade Cold Pool twice, seemingly worried but seeing Xu Chuan remain calm throughout, he knew Xu Mingxian was not in danger for now.
Over ten days later.
One morning, Xu Chuan suddenly sent a divine consciousness transmission, telling him to set off together.
Xu Mingwei immediately stopped his cultivation, his eyes flashing with intensity. After meeting up with Xu Chuan, they headed toward Guangling Commandery.
More than two hours later.
Above a secluded valley in a certain mountain range of Guangling Commandery.
Two figures drifted in gracefully.
"Yunnu and the others are here?" Xu Mingwei surveyed the surroundings and said indifferently, "It really is remote enough. With the thin mist concealing it, whoever discovered this cave dwelling here has quite good luck."
"Find a place outside the cave dwelling to set up an ambush."
"Why not go in directly?" Xu Mingwei asked with slight puzzlement.
"The space inside is cramped, not conducive to utilizing your strengths. Waiting outside will suffice."
"Yes, Father."
On the other side, after spending over ten days, Xu Mingxian finally discovered several weak points in the white jade platform's formation.
He set up formations to break the formation with formations, and had Zhang Yanzhi and the others attack the weak points as well.
At the hour of wei today, the grand array was finally broken.
"Fellow Daoist, as agreed earlier, that green jade slip belongs to you," Zhang Yanzhi said indifferently.
Xu Mingxian nodded slightly. With a raise of his hand, he retrieved the green jade slip and sent his divine sense probing into it.
"I go by the Dao name Qingya, my real name is Lu Xiaoshan. I am a rogue cultivator from Great Liang. I do not know who from later generations will find my cave dwelling, but to be able to break through the White Jade Array, you must either be a fellow practitioner of the array Dao or a senior at late Foundation Establishment or above.
"The green jade slip contains a formation inheritance jade slip I obtained in my early years. After decades of dedicated research, I later gained an opportunity to advance to Foundation Establishment and was eagerly recruited by various great families, allowing me to roam freely across Great Liang.
"Later, I traveled to Great Wei, where I was framed by treacherous people and hunted by the Cao Clan of Great Wei. Though I narrowly escaped, my soul was severely damaged beyond recovery. I hastily left this cave dwelling, only hoping the formations in the jade slip would not be lost.
"I do not ask whoever obtains this jade slip to avenge me. I only hope that if you have the opportunity to visit Great Liang, you might look after my descendants to whatever extent you can."
"It's actually an inheritance jade slip?!" Xu Mingxian's eyes lit up.
Such jade slips only required one to probe with divine sense to receive the inheritance, making them extremely precious. However, the number of times the inheritance could be received was limited.
"Since it hasn't shattered yet, there should be at least one more inheritance opportunity."
With an inheritance jade slip, even someone unfamiliar with the array Dao could gain vast knowledge of formations through the inheritance. With dedicated study and talent in formations, one could quickly become a formation master.
Joy showed between Xu Mingxian's brows, which Daoist Chongxu happened to notice.
As for Zhang Yanzhi, he had little interest in the jade slip. His burning gaze was fixed on the storage bag at the cave dwelling master's waist.
"Fellow Daoist Yunming, since you broke the formation, you should be the one to retrieve the items from the storage bag."
Xu Mingxian put away the jade slip and nodded slightly then only two jade boxes flew out from the storage bag.
"Just two jade boxes? That's all?"
Zhang Yanzhi and Jinhu exchanged glances, their eyes communicating something.
Xu Mingxian opened the two jade boxes in succession. Immediately, a rich spiritual herb fragrance filled the quiet chamber.
"Thousand-year spiritual herbs?!"
Although the formation inheritance jade slip was more precious to Xu Mingxian, for ordinary rogue cultivators, thousand-year spiritual herbs were obviously more valuable.
Rumor had it that using thousand-year spiritual herbs to break through the Foundation Establishment bottleneck could also be effective.
This made those cultivators who had no means to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills and the like pursue thousand-year spiritual herbs even more eagerly.
Even if it only increased their chances by half a percent, it was still better than nothing.
Suddenly, a dark mysterious light shot out from Daoist Chongxu's sleeve like black lightning, piercing through Jinhu's back and emerging from his chest.
Blood violently sprayed from Jinhu's face as an expression of disbelief appeared. Then he collapsed directly to the ground.
Zhang Yanzhi's face turned pale with shock. He leaped away, and two gleaming lights flew from his storage bag. A flying sword was held in his hand while a yellowish-brown turtle-patterned small shield blocked in front of him.
The dark mysterious light that had pierced Jinhu circled in the air before returning to Daoist Chongxu's side. Its form was a black diamond-shaped spike.
When not activated, its aura was extremely concealed, making it perfect for sneak attacks.
"A high-grade magical artifact!"
Xu Mingxian likewise released a middle-grade flying sword and shield, watching Daoist Chongxu warily.
"Daoist Chongxu, you actually dared to kill Fellow Daoist Jinhu." Zhang Yanzhi's eyes burned with fury, though his anger wasn't because of Jinhu's death, but because Chongxu's preemptive strike had foiled his own plan.
Daoist Chongxu stroked his beard, "Why put on such a pretense, Fellow Daoist Zhang? You and Fellow Daoist Jinhu were already planning to keep all the cave dwelling's treasures for yourselves, were you not?"
Zhang Yanzhi didn't respond. He looked toward Xu Mingxian and said, "Fellow Daoist Yunming, you and I are both at the eighth layer of Qi Refining. If we join forces, even if he has a high-grade magical artifact, we can still slay him.
"We'll split the two thousand-year spiritual herbs between us."
"This poor Daoist has no interest and won't be keeping you company." Xu Mingxian's gaze darkened as he spoke coldly. He then leaped to leave the quiet chamber, but Daoist Chongxu formed hand seals and released a spell.
Large quantities of black thorny vines appeared, directly sealing off the quiet chamber's doorway.
Xu Mingxian turned around, his gaze coldly fixed on Daoist Chongxu, "You're courting death!"
Daoist Chongxu was unconcerned. He laughed heartily, "Fellow Daoist Yunming, why be in such a hurry to leave? With thousand-year spiritual herbs right before you, you're actually not tempted? It seems that jade slip is extraordinary. This poor Daoist is quite curious. Might I have a look?"
Xu Mingxian's brows suddenly drew together like two swords clashing, his eyes erupting with killing intent.
"All the formations were broken by this poor Daoist. This should rightfully belong to me."
"Hahaha~"
Daoist Chongxu laughed, "Daoist Yunming... Fellow Daoist, did you think that by disguising yourself as a rogue cultivator, you actually became one?"
"This poor Daoist has seen many people from great families. The demeanor you inadvertently reveal cannot fool me. Moreover, your age is definitely no more than forty. To reach the eighth layer of Qi Refining at such an age, if you're not a scion of a Foundation Establishment family, who would believe it?"
"This poor Daoist is not only curious about that jade slip, but also quite curious about the items in your storage bag."
"Fellow Daoist Yunming..."
Just as Zhang Yanzhi was about to speak, he heard Xu Mingxian say, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, no need for more words. Let's attack together. A mere seventh layer of Qi Refining, what does that amount to?!"
"Very well!"
However, when Zhang Yanzhi formed hand seals to control his flying sword to attack Daoist Chongxu, the sword lights that Xu Mingxian's flying sword slashed out weren't aimed at Daoist Chongxu, but instead cut through the black vines sealing the quiet chamber.
Taking advantage of the two men's battle, he charged straight out of the quiet chamber.
"Interesting. A cunning young man from a great family. I wonder which family raised him. If he doesn't fall, his future prospects are limitless."
"Curse it!" Seeing Xu Mingxian turn and abandon him, Zhang Yanzhi was furious, but at the moment he could only attack Daoist Chongxu with all his might.
A middle-grade defensive magical artifact likewise flew from Daoist Chongxu's storage bag, blocking all of Zhang Yanzhi's flying sword attacks.
"Daoist Chongxu, don't think that just because you have a high-grade magical artifact you're assured of victory. There's still a gap in our cultivation levels. When your magical power is exhausted, that will be the time of your death."
"A gap in magical power? You're right, there is indeed a gap in magical power between us!"
"If Daoist Yunming had stayed, this poor Daoist could have slowly played with you two for a while."
As he spoke, Daoist Chongxu's aura suddenly surged, from early seventh layer of Qi Refining to the eighth layer, then to the ninth layer, finally stopping at the peak of Qi Refining.
"You..."
"This poor Daoist is far more interested in Daoist Yunming than in you, Fellow Daoist Zhang. So please don't waste my time."
Daoist Chongxu's surging magical power at the peak of Qi Refining poured into the black diamond spike, instantly causing it to unleash the power befitting a high-grade magical artifact.
And it wasn't an ordinary high-grade magical artifact, but a premium-grade magical artifact like the Phoenix Furnace in Xu Chuan's possession.
Its speed was like lightning. Zhang Yanzhi managed to block only seven or eight exchanges before being directly killed.
He collected the two men's magical artifacts, tucked their storage bags into his robe, then placed the thousand-year spiritual herbs back into the jade boxes and stored the boxes in his storage bag.
From his battle with Zhang Yanzhi to collecting the spoils, barely more than a dozen breaths had passed.
He believed he could still catch up to Xu Mingxian.
After rushing out of the cave dwelling, he saw Xu Mingxian in the sky about a li away, fleeing into the distance. He immediately shot up into the sky.
However, at that moment, warning bells suddenly rang in his heart.
A dark bolt of lightning shot toward him from the side. Its speed was even more astonishing than the black spike he controlled, as if piercing through space itself.
It had just appeared, and in the next instant it was already before him.
Daoist Chongxu hastily blocked with his shield, but his entire body along with the shield was sent flying backward.
Before he could stabilize himself, another dark gleam came at him.
Daoist Chongxu was also quite experienced in combat. Even under these conditions, he managed to control the black spike to meet the attack.
Boom~
Violent force ravaged the area as the black spike spun back.
Only then did Daoist Chongxu realize the dark gleam was actually an arrow, and judging by its aura, it was merely a low-grade magical artifact.
Before he could be shocked, he saw Xu Mingxian, who had been far away, had already turned back. Controlling a high-grade magical artifact covered in incomparably sharp metal-element sword qi, he stabbed fiercely from behind.
He could only control the turtle-patterned magical artifact to block in front of him.
"A high-grade magical artifact?"
Crack~
Daoist Chongxu's eyes showed horror as he saw with his own eyes that cracks had somehow appeared on the surface of his turtle-patterned magical artifact.
"It was from that first arrow?!"
On another side, suddenly, scorching heat rose as a resonant phoenix cry echoed throughout the entire secluded valley.
That terrifyingly hot aura instantly soaked through his back with sweat.
Daoist Chongxu slapped his storage bag, and two high-grade defensive talismans flew out. After he infused magical power into them, they formed two layers of yellowish-brown light barriers.
Boom~
The Departing Fire Phoenix spread its wings and crashed into the yellowish-brown light barrier. In an instant it broke through one layer, but was stopped by the second barrier, though it too was on the verge of collapse.
"This person has some skill."
In the mountain forest, Xu Mingwei silently nocked three arrows on the Ink Flood Dragon Bow.
Three arrows shot out simultaneously, sealing off all of Daoist Chongxu's escape routes.
Seeing this, Daoist Chongxu hurriedly cast an earth-element spell to protect himself while controlling the black spike to meet the arrows.
However, from the south Xu Mingxian pressed hard with his high-grade magical artifact, from the west the Departing Fire Phoenix raged, and from the other directions three incomparably sharp arrow gleams came at him.
He didn't cultivate the Nine Flames Formula and hadn't reached the realm of multiple thoughts as one.
In the next moment.
The high-grade flying sword, the Departing Fire Phoenix, and the dark arrows, all three attacks landed on him simultaneously.
"My life ends here!"
At this moment, Daoist Chongxu actually felt a sense of grievance rise in his heart. "Was it really necessary to deploy such a grand force against a mere peak Qi Refining cultivator like me?"
"At least give me a chance to end my own life!"
"Which family from Guangling Commandery is this? Hiding to such an extent!"
He thought that since this mountain range was within Guangling Commandery, it must be one of Guangling Commandery's immortal cultivation families.
Boom~
Daoist Chongxu had rushed out of the cave dwelling without uttering a single word before only a charred corpse remained, falling to the ground.
Xu Chuan swept with his divine consciousness and, seeing that all signs of life were gone, transmitted, "He's dead."
Xu Mingwei walked out from the mountain forest with bow in hand. With a leap, swift as the wind, he crossed several li in the blink of an eye and arrived beside Daoist Chongxu's corpse.
The Ink Flood Dragon Bow flashed with light, and all the Ink Flood Dragon Arrows that had been shot flew back. Then the bow and arrows together shrank and were stored in his storage bag.
Xu Chuan and Xu Mingxian also descended from the sky.
"Big Brother, Father." Xu Mingxian spoke first, "If Father hadn't sent a divine consciousness transmission, I would probably have already fled far away."
"Did you think you could outrun a peak Qi Refining cultivator?"
Xu Mingxian smiled awkwardly.
Earlier, when he saw Daoist Chongxu block the quiet chamber doorway and then speak with such confidence, he became certain the man was definitely not simple. That was why he had tricked Zhang Yanzhi so he could take the opportunity to escape.
Just as he exited the cave dwelling, he heard Xu Chuan's transmission telling him to slow down.
And when Xu Mingxian saw that his big brother Xu Mingwei had also arrived, he immediately turned around. Father and sons, the three of them together besieged Daoist Chongxu.
Poor Daoist Chongxu hadn't even had a chance to counterattack before he was battered senseless by the successive powerful attacks.
High-grade talismans, protective spells, premium-grade magical artifacts, he had deployed all manner of means, yet still only lasted a dozen or so breaths before meeting his sudden end.
"Father, this man was truly formidable," Xu Mingwei said with utmost seriousness.
Xu Chuan's lips twitched slightly. The man's already dead, so stop mocking him. I'm afraid he might get so angry he rises from the dead.
"The magical artifact he was controlling just now looked quite high in grade. It should be on the same level as my Phoenix Furnace. You two check his storage bag first while I go look for it."
Divine consciousness could probe a far greater range than divine sense, which was why Xu Chuan volunteered.
"A premium-grade magical artifact, no wonder it could match my full-powered strike."
Xu Mingxian also felt his big brother's words were rather excessive. Earlier, that turtle-patterned magical artifact looked quite good in quality even among middle-grade magical artifacts, yet Xu Mingwei's single arrow had broken through it, shooting cracks into its surface.
That was why his subsequent sword thrust easily pierced through it.
But he also had to admit that Xu Mingwei's attacks were truly ferocious. Any Qi Refining cultivator without a high-grade defensive magical artifact who encountered him would probably have their magical artifact broken through in a few arrows, ultimately dying miserably under his bow.
"Big Brother, fortunately you're not an enemy of our Xu family. Thinking about your bow and arrows, I'm still shaken. I feel like it would only take one or two arrows to take my life."
"Silly boy, why so many hypotheticals? Without the Xu family, without Father, there would be no Xu Mingwei of today." Xu Mingwei's eyes gleamed with intensity. "My bow and arrows will only be aimed at the throats of the Xu family's enemies!"