Chapter 266: Chapter 265: Snatching the Treasure (Congratulations to the Silver Alliance!)_1
It was another day with the high sun shining brightly.
Zhong Hongyu looked up at the sun, her eyes somewhat bewildered, "A third-grade Array, manipulating void space, can it really be like this?"
Though the sun and the stars could clearly be seen, no one could actually leave. No matter if one tried to move upwards, sideways, or even burrow into the ground, after leaving the vicinity of Dragon Fish Island, they would encounter an ’invisible barrier’ impossible to cross.
She was even more aware that, to the Immortal Cultivators outside, the entire Dragon Fish Island appeared to be shrouded in darkness, as if covered by a large black bowl.
This method of void transformation was simply unbelievable.
"If you can thoroughly comprehend it, you’ll be a third-grade Array Master..."
An Escape Light fell beside Zhong Hongyu; it was Taishu Hong, who looked much more mature and composed than before, "Today is the ’Treasure-snatching Conference.’ Didn’t all those Qi Refining Cultivators wait here for ten years just for this?"
"Yes..."
Zhong Hongyu murmured softly, "I wonder how the Island Master is doing..."
After sealing off Dragon Fish Island, Fang Xi occasionally made appearances for a while but then had retreated into closed-door cultivation, not even the likes of his maids, such as Yan Ying, had any news of his whereabouts.
He had even handed over all the island’s affairs to the three of them at the Foundation Establishment stage to manage, and was too lazy to even preside over the already scheduled ’Treasure-snatching Conference.’
The two’s Escape Light fell onto a field, where a high platform had already been set up, surrounded by many Immortal Cultivators. Several low-grade Array Masters were reinforcing the platform with Array Flags and Array Disks to prevent any casualties from spell battles.
As the sun moved gradually to its midday peak, an even more powerful Escape Light flew in, stopping mid-air.
The fluctuations of Magic Power that were characteristic of late Foundation Establishment stage immediately swept across the entire field.
"Mr. Hong’s Magic Power, it’s almost reached Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, hasn’t it?"
Taishu Hong stepped forward, smiling as he greeted.
"Hardly, hardly... I am but at the eighth layer of Foundation Establishment..."
Yuan Feihong waved his hand in a display of humility.
His cultivation followed a new method, with nine layers to Foundation Establishment, but in reality, the division of stages wasn’t much different from the old method.
After reaching Foundation Establishment, the realm was still delineated by the quantity of liquid Magic Power, just with a bit more refinement.
’If I continue to cultivate painstakingly for a few more years... perhaps I can breakthrough to the ninth layer?’
Yuan Feihong mused inwardly.
He was cultivating a top-tier technique. When reaching Great Perfection in Foundation Establishment, one would have over three hundred drops of liquid Magic Power, requiring more time and spiritual energy to consume than a Cultivator of the same rank practicing standard techniques!
It was said that some ordinary techniques, famous for the ease with which one could increase their Magic Power, might not even reach two hundred and fifty drops at Great Perfection. Even though these Cultivators achieved Great Perfection, Yuan Feihong wasn’t too anxious about them and even felt confident in defeating them.
"Mr. Hong, have you collected that stream of Evil Qi?"
Zhong Hongyu, however, asked another critical question.
Fang Xi had entrusted Yuan Feihong with the task of guarding the Ground Evil Lake and collecting the Black Wind Evil Qi, and she had brooded over this in secret for some time.
She always felt as though the Island Master didn’t trust her as he did others, though of course... this was just a misconception.
"Fortunately, I have not failed my duty,"
Yuan Feihong replied with a slight smile, fluttering his sleeve to send a white jade bottle floating toward the center of the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators using a stream of Magic Power.
Within the white jade bottle was a layer of ink-black liquid, which was actually the essence of the Black Wind Evil Qi!
After refinement by the Magic Power of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it had become purer and more effective.
Seeing this item, the Qi Refining Cultivators below were dazzled with greed.
"Base-building Spiritual Objects!"
"The Base-building Spiritual Objects will definitely be mine!"
"Haha, how can you forget the geniuses from Zhong Family and the Top Three Families? Those families back them with Foundation Establishment powerhouses... Just a little guidance or a gift of some powerful magic weapon, how can we have a share?"
"I don’t believe the Conference wouldn’t regulate this in some way... After all, there’s Mr. Hong, a grandmaster at the late stage of Foundation Establishment! He’s one of us Individual Cultivators!"
...
"So many people..."
Long Qin, a younger girl from the Long Family who had fled with her Family, looked around at the Immortal Cultivators with a trace of curiosity, "Could it be... all the Qi Refining Cultivators from Dragon Fish Island have come?"
"After all, it’s a struggle for the chance of Foundation Establishment..."
Long Feng was clad in strong attire, and an aura of Evil Qi lingered about him.
His Cultivation had also reached around the ninth layer of Qi Refining. Among the many Qi Refining Cultivators present, he was considered a formidable expert.
"Brother Feng Tang... don’t push yourself too hard... Although taking the ’Gale Pill’ is beneficial for breakthroughs, it destabilizes the foundation and has its risks,"
Long Qin expressed her worries.
She and Brother Feng Tang led many of the Long Family juniors to settle on Dragon Fish Island, initially living without worries.
Although the three countries were in turmoil outside, Dragon Fish Island had always been as serene as a Peach Blossom Spring, peaceful and untroubled.
Until that night...
The words of the Core Formation Master resounded like thunder, causing her to uncontrollably spit blood.
At that time, she and Long Feng almost thought that everyone would perish here.
Fortunately, not long after, a more shocking news spread—Supreme Elder You Kun of Yiling Valley had fallen in battle!
Dragon Fish Island immediately fell into a bizarre silence, followed by numerous Individual Cultivators crazily wanting to pledge allegiance under the command of Dragon Fish Island’s Lord Master.
Mr. Feng Tang had made the same decision.
Before participating in the Treasure-snatching Conference, he had told Long Qin—’The Treasure-snatching Conference will be filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and there might even be Qi Refining Great Perfection masters. I do not seek to win the championship; I only hope to perform brilliantly and catch the attention of those on the island who have reached Foundation Establishment or even the venerated eyes of the old Dragon Fish ancestor...’
For this purpose, Long Feng did not hesitate to consume the ’Gale Pill’ to forcefully break through to the ninth level of Qi Refining, even at the expense of damaging some of his meridians.
"Now is the time to strive!"
Long Feng shook his head, "You know the situation in our Family, although we were lucky to survive the great battle, but with the Foundation Establishment elder fallen... the situation is really not good... If I can show some remarkable performance, not to mention seizing Base-building Spiritual Objects, even just truly joining Dragon Fish Island would be greatly beneficial for the Family... After all, Dragon Fish Island’s Lord Master is a figure comparable to one at Core Formation stage!"
’Perhaps... this old elder is about to reach Core Formation!’ Long Feng added another sentence in his heart.
"Eh?"
It was then that Long Qin’s eyes shifted and spotted someone—his features were honest and simple. She couldn’t help but beckon, "Brother Da Niu!"
"Hmm? It’s the Long siblings..."
Hai Danaiu approached with a smile and saluted with cupped hands, "Long time no see..."
Ever since he set foot on the island, he followed the orders of Peach Blossom Island’s Family and had been at Dragon Fish Island waiting to be dispatched by the Island Master.
By now, his cultivation had made another breakthrough, entering the state of Qi Refining tenth level Great Perfection!
"Congratulations, Brother Da Niu, for your breakthrough in cultivation..."
Long Qin offered a smiling salute then speculated, "Brother Da Niu has come here, could it be for the Treasure-snatching Conference as well?"
"Of course!"
Hai Danaiu replied, "But I’m just here to accompany others... Mo Guanfeng and several other Qi Refining Family experts are the ones carrying the high hopes..."
"It just so happens my elder brother is also participating in the conference. Brother Da Niu, why don’t you tell us about these formidable characters so my elder brother can know when to retreat to avoid serious injury from a hard fight..."
Upon hearing this, Long Qin immediately stepped forward, gently tugging at Hai Danaiu’s sleeve, pleading.
"That... of course, there’s no problem."
Hai Danaiu scratched the back of his head and laughed honestly, "I don’t know much about many of the Cultivators on Dragon Fish Island... First of all, there’s my good friend Mo Guanfeng, whose wind attribute cultivation technique is truly elusive and unpredictable, hard to guard against... Additionally, among the Individual Cultivators, there is one called ’Na Yunzi’, whose cultivation may only be at the ninth level of Qi Refining, but he possesses an Exotic Treasure—’Cloud Moon Hook’, which is said to be as powerful as a top-grade magical artifact."
"Besides that, the one to pay most attention to is Xiahou Lie from the Top Three Families. These Top Three Families are remnants from the powers of the Thirty Six Island Alliance era long ago. Although they were once destroyed, they have risen anew... There were even rumors that the Earthly Evil Qi in Ground Evil Lake was prepared for the genius of the Top Three Families..."
Hai Danaiu nodded his head towards Taishu Hong in the air and lowered his voice, "But later on, things changed, leading to the Treasure-snatching Conference. The Top Three Families also made it clear they were determined to win this time, even putting forward Xiahou Lie... Although he is not as unmatched as the other one, he also possesses dual mid-grade Spiritual Roots of gold and water, and with a lot of pills and Talismans support, his combat abilities are truly not weak..."
"In addition, there’s Zhong Lingxiu from the Zhong Family... Talking about them is quite interesting. The two major powers that once dominated Thousand Island Lake are now also making a name for themselves on Dragon Fish Island and continue to stand against each other... This Zhong Lingxiu is someone from Zhong Family, naturally intelligent. If it weren’t for the fact that the Island Master has been in seclusion for the past few years, she might also have been sent to Evergreen Pavilion and ascended in one step... It is said that her Spiritual Root aptitude is of high class, and with Elder Hong Yu supporting from behind, she has a great chance of winning the championship as well..."
Hai Danaiu mentioned a few more people who either had cultivated their basic techniques to the tenth level Great Perfection or had cultivated powerful spells, making Long Qin’s expression change repeatedly.
Compared to them, Long Feng truly didn’t stand out at all, without any advantage.
"Thank you, Brother Da Niu..."
Upon hearing this, Long Feng’s expression remained unchanged, his determination subtly growing even firmer.
Dong!
At that moment, a gong resounded.
Three Foundation Establishment Escape Lights fell onto the platform as Yuan Feihong stepped forward, his voice resonating in the ears of every Qi Refining Cultivator, "The Dragon Fish Island Treasure-snatching Conference now officially begins! I will announce a few rules..."
"First, fight on the platform, no resentment in life or death!"
"Second, the use of second-order Talismans and high-powered disposable magical artifacts is forbidden!"
"Third..."
Yuan Feihong’s words rang in every Qi Refining Cultivator’s ears, revealing his incredibly profound cultivation of Magic Power.
After stating the rules, he took a step back.
Taishu Hong stepped forward, his gaze icy, scanning the whole crowd:
"Now... the two whose names I call will take the stage first. Tusla, Zhong Hongding!"
Two Qi Refining Cultivators promptly took to the stage.
Among them, Tusla was a thirty-something Individual Cultivator with a cultivation likely between the seventh and eighth levels of Qi Refining.
Zhong Hongding also belonged to the Zhong Family, offering a flattering smile to the referee Zhong Hongyu, eliciting a frosty expression from her: "Begin the combat!"
Shortly after, Zhong Hongding was blasted off the stage.
If not for Tusla holding back, the injuries might have been much more severe.
"The victor—Tusla!"
Zhong Hongyu announced the result with an expressionless face, then called up the next pair of competitors.
This time, it was Yuan Feihong who acted as the referee...