Su Yi opened the package delivered by the Swift Sparrow and was momentarily stunned when he saw the treasures inside.
There were piles of colorful spirit stones, all of them fourth-grade, totaling fifty-five pieces.
There were thirty-three different types of spiritual herbs, with twenty-five of them being of the fourth rank and eight of them being of the fifth rank.
In addition, there were more than forty varieties of precious spiritual materials...
These treasures were enough to make any innate Martial Ancestor in the mortal world salivate with envy.
And this was only ninety percent of the treasures obtained by the Ten Directions Pavilion from selling information about Su Yi's whereabouts.
From this glimpse, one could imagine the astonishing means by which the Ten Directions Pavilion, known for collecting and selling information in the three great nations of Da Zhou, Da Wei, and Da Qin, amassed its wealth!
The Swift Sparrow also brought a note.
On it was written a sentence: "Beware of Lv Dongliu from the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect."
After reading it, Su Yi casually crushed the note.
Lv Dongliu?
This was an unfamiliar name, and Su Yi had no knowledge of his cultivation, origins, or identity, nor did he care.
He only needed to remember that Lv Dongliu was from the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect.
...
Two days later, on the eighth day of the fourth month.
Jinliu City, Lingyan Tavern.
On the third floor, near the window.
"Are the Buddhist cultivators from your 'Shanglin Temple' in Great Qin also going to the Baocha Demon Mountain this time?"
Ning Yuhuo furrowed her eyebrows.
Sitting across from her was a woman with a face so exquisitely beautiful that it seemed carved by a sharp knife.
This woman wore gray clothes, her skin as fair as snow. She tied up her long hair with a pale white jade hairpin, her neck slender, and emitted an aura of nobility and coldness. Sitting there casually, she was the center of attention.
It was Lan Suo, who had been saved by Su Yi from the "Ancient Spirit Demon Gu" poison.
She was a beautiful woman from the Eastern Hua Sword Sect in Great Qin.
"Not going, they have already set off for the depths of the Baocha Demon Mountain three days ago," Lan Suo took out a confidential letter and handed it to Ning Yuhuo. "I received this news yesterday, take a look for yourself."
Ning Yuhuo briefly scanned the confidential letter and saw the following written on it:
"On the twenty-seventh day of the third month, Elder Jinghe of the Falling Dragon Hall of Shanglin Temple, along with eighteen monks from the Arhat Hall, rode the 'Golden Light Eagle' to the Baocha Demon Mountain in Da Zhou..."
Seeing this, Ning Yuhuo asked, "What level of expert is this Elder Jinghe?"
"Twenty years ago, this person had already reached the realm of Innate Martial Ancestor and practiced the 'Great Luo Demon Subduing Scripture.' He is proficient in secret Buddhist mantras and possesses an extremely terrifying background. He is completely incomparable to any innate Martial Ancestor in the mortal world," Lan Suo said with a serious tone, her beautiful eyes fixed on Ning Yuhuo. "In my opinion, even if you make a move, it would be difficult to defeat him."
Ning Yuhuo was taken aback for a moment and said, "If that's the case, this Jinghe is indeed someone we must take seriously."
Great Qin had three major cultivation forces: Eastern Hua Sword Sect, Shanglin Temple, and Xuan Yue.
The three major forces, including the Shanglin Temple, were considered to have a profound background, surpassing even the Hidden Dragon Sword Sect of Da Zhou.
Especially the Shanglin Temple, renowned as the "Holy Land of Buddhist Cultivation" in Great Qin, had many followers even within the royal family of Great Qin.
And now, Elder Jinghe of the Falling Dragon Hall from the Shanglin Temple, along with eighteen monks from the Arhat Hall, had come to the Baocha Demon Mountain in Da Zhou. It was difficult not to take them seriously.
After giving it some thought, Ning Yuhuo asked again, "What is their purpose for coming to the Baocha Demon Mountain?"
"I'm not sure, but they should be here for the same reason as us, to explore opportunities," Lan Suo said softly. "After all, deep within the Baocha Demon Mountain, there is a mysterious and abnormal ruined monastery that is suspected to be related to Buddhism. It naturally catches the attention of the Shanglin Temple, a Buddhist force."
"Ning Gongzhu, has Su Gongzi not arrived yet?"
At that moment, King Zhenyue, Mu Xi, ascended the stairs of the tavern. He wore a jade robe, a crown on his head, and had handsome features with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes.
Speaking, Mu Xi sat beside Ning Yuhuo and Lan Suo.
"No, he hasn't," Ning Yuhuo shook her head.
Mu Xi pondered for a moment and then lowered his voice, "I just took a walk near the Baocha Demon Mountain and inquired about the news in the city. It is said that recently, many people have been heading to the depths of the Baocha Demon Mountain, seemingly all going for that mysterious ruined monastery."
Ning Yuhuo exclaimed, "Could it be that something unusual has happened in that ruined monastery?"
Mu Xi said, "That is unclear."
The three of them chatted for a while longer.
Footsteps could be heard from the stairway, followed by the appearance of a tall and upright figure.
Dressed in a jade-like green robe, he exuded an ethereal and tranquil aura.
It was Su Yi.
"Friend, you've finally arrived," Ning Yuhuo greeted him with a smile, getting up to meet him.
Upon seeing Su Yi, Lan Suo felt a bit embarrassed and uneasy, her gaze evasive.
How could she forget the scenes when Su Yi had saved her from the demonic poison, almost to the point of being undressed? The memories still made her feel awkward.
Mu Xi exclaimed, "Su Gongzi, it has only been a few days, and you have already reached the Second Level of the Master Realm?"
Upon this reminder, Ning Yuhuo keenly sensed that there had indeed been a change in Su Yi's aura. It was evident that his cultivation had made another breakthrough.
This also surprised her secretly.
To achieve such progress in just a few days, advancing through a small realm, it was truly astonishing and extraordinary!
"It's just a small breakthrough, not worth mentioning," Su Yi said, glancing at Lan Suo, who also seemed taken aback. "Is she also going to the Baocha Demon Mountain?"
He naturally wouldn't forget the woman with an incredibly stunning figure who had shed her clothes before him.
Lan Suo stood up, meeting Su Yi's gaze, and said, "Don't you welcome me, Gongzi?"
She exuded an air of noble and cold temperament, with a perfect physique and a commanding presence in every move.
Ning Yuhuo explained from the side, "Su Gongzi, Lan Suo has innate martial arts talent and is from the Donghua Sword Sect..."
Su Yi interrupted with indifference, "As long as she's not a burden."
Lan Suo was momentarily stunned, her pride seemingly deeply stung by the word "burden." She earnestly said, "Su Gongzi, rest assured, even if I, Lan Suo, am inadequate, I can take care of myself and won't cause trouble for you."
Her voice carried a hint of cold displeasure.
Su Yi acknowledged with a sound of acknowledgment, not paying much attention to the trace of dissatisfaction in the woman's tone. He looked at Ning Yuhuo and Mu Xi and asked, "Are you both prepared?"
Both of them nodded.
"Then let's set off now."
Su Yi immediately made the decision.
...
The Baocha Demon Mountain was located dozens of miles away from Jinliu City, stretching for nearly a hundred miles, majestic and imposing.
Since ancient times, this mountain range has been regarded as an ominous place.
Inside, demons and beasts ran rampant, poisonous miasma pervaded the area, and there were also some evil spirits breeding within. Even accomplished martial practitioners would not dare to venture in rashly, let alone ordinary people.
When Su Yi and his group arrived at the outskirts of the Baocha Demon Mountain, it was already dusk.
They saw dense dark clouds covering the sky above the Baocha Demon Mountain, obscuring the sunlight like blocks of lead, adding a sense of oppressing atmosphere to the mountains and rivers.
Seeing this scene from a distance, Su Yi's eyes couldn't help but narrow slightly. The demonic energy soared, and the sinister fog obscured the sky. There was indeed something strange about this place!
"Friend, if nothing unexpected happens on the way, we should be able to reach the ruins of the monastery deep within the Baocha Demon Mountain in half a day," Ning Yuhuo said softly. "However, according to the information we received, there are also powerful individuals from the Shanglin Temple in Great Qin who are going to explore that ruined monastery."
"Buddhist experts?" Su Yi raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Ning Yuhuo quickly relayed the information about Elder Jinghe from the Falling Dragon Hall of the Shanglin Temple.
"I see," Su Yi nodded. Then he remembered something and looked at Lan Suo, asking, "Since you come from Great Qin, have you heard of the 'Hidden Sky Sect'?"
Lan Suo's beautiful eyes suddenly froze, seemingly greatly surprised. She asked, "How do you know about this force?"
Su Yi didn't conceal anything and said, "A few days ago, I killed a remnant soul belonging to a spiritual cultivator. It was said that this person was called 'Liuhuo True Sovereign' and came from the Hidden Sky Sect."
"Liuhuo True Sovereign!?" Lan Suo exclaimed, her beautiful and delicate face filled with astonishment. "With your strength, how could you possibly kill the divine soul fragment of Liuhuo True Sovereign?"
Su Yi didn't respond, but from the woman's reaction, he seemed to understand that she was familiar with Liuhuo True Sovereign. This surprised him.
Undoubtedly, just as Ning Yuhuo had mentioned earlier, Lan Suo's identity was indeed not simple. Otherwise, an ordinary person would never have the chance to learn about a spiritual cultivator's news.
Unable to hold back, Ning Yuhuo asked, "Lan Suo, what's the connection between Liuhuo True Sovereign and the Hidden Sky Sect? Why have I never heard of them before?"
Lan Suo took a deep breath, steadying her mind, and whispered, "I've also heard it mentioned by an elder. They said that within the Great Qin Empire, there is a mysterious figure who goes by the name 'Liuhuo True Sovereign,' with an unfathomable cultivation in the spiritual path. It is highly likely that they are a spiritual cultivator from the Great Xia Kingdom."
Pausing for a moment, she continued, "However, I only know these limited details. But my elder once warned me that if I encounter practitioners claiming to be from the 'Hidden Sky Sect,' I should stay as far away as possible, or else I might attract unforeseen troubles."
"This..." Ning Yuhuo couldn't help but be shocked as well.
She knew very well how esteemed Lan Suo's status was in Great Qin. But she never expected that even when Lan Suo mentioned the Hidden Sky Sect and Liuhuo True Sovereign, she would be filled with fear and have little knowledge about them!
Mu Xi was also surprised and couldn't help but say, "If this Liuhuo True Sovereign is indeed a spiritual cultivator from Great Xia, does that mean the Hidden Sky Sect is a cultivation force within Great Xia?"
"Most likely..." Lan Suo couldn't be sure, but from this moment on, when she looked at Su Yi, there was a trace of astonishment and doubt in her eyes.
This guy actually killed a remnant soul fragment of Liuhuo True Sovereign!!
Isn't he too bold?
Not only Lan Suo, but Ning Yuhuo and Mu Xi were also shocked. They never expected that Su Yi had accomplished such a feat.
"Let's go."
Su Yi didn't say much and headed straight into the Baocha Demon Mountain.
Ning Yuhuo and the others quickly followed.
Soon, their figures disappeared from sight.
Half an hour later.
A fierce bird with snow-white wings flew across the sky and landed where Su Yi and the others had stood.
Immediately after, four people walked down from the fierce bird.
The man in the lead, wearing a long robe, had a slight white beard and a stern face like stone.
It was Elder Lü Dongliu, the Elder of the Transmission Pavilion from the Qianlong Sword Sect!