Chapter 51 Sold Out

A barren mountain rose sharply, and halfway up its slope yawned a wide stone cavern.

At this moment, Su Yizhao and his companions were seated in meditation within the cave.

After two years, they had finally reached this place without mishap.

According to Chi Xiangdong, arriving here meant they had nearly traversed the entire Ghostshade Domain.

Su Yizhao gazed out toward the bleak, rolling mountains beyond the cave, unable to sense the slightest trace of vitality.

Over the past two years, his cultivation had barely advanced—he remained at the later stage of the Five Divine Realm. Yet his strength had grown considerably.

Most precious of all was his mastery of soul arts, which had reached its peak.

Of course, his “Mystic Soul Codex” was still at the pinnacle of the Soul Transformation Phase, but with a Fifth Realm technique, he could instantly break through to the Fifth Realm, the Divine Soul Stage.

Within his Purple Palace, the soul avatar remained five feet tall, yet its body, forged of soul power, was nearly tangible—muscles and even the lines of his arm were clearly visible when his small hand clenched.

His command of various soul arts was now second nature. After all, surviving hundreds of soul attacks over two years was no trivial matter.

Now, if he faced the version of himself from two years ago, he was confident he could kill him in an instant.

With perfect mastery of the “Ghostshade Thorn” and the “Earth Sword Art,” even a cultivator at the Sixth Divine Realm would struggle to withstand a blow.

Lost in thought, Su Yizhao cast a sidelong glance at Chi Xiangdong.

This scene had repeated itself eleven times.

Over two years, they had crossed eleven storm zones and rested together eleven times.

Chi Xiangdong’s cultivation was undoubtedly the highest here.

Though Su Yizhao did not fear him, he remained secretly on guard.

The closer they drew to the end, the more his heart pounded with anxiety.

Chi Xiangdong’s greatest trump card was the simultaneous cultivation of Qi, body, and soul—all at the Sixth Realm.

There were truly cultivators who cultivated all three paths at once!

Over their journey, Chi Xiangdong’s formidable strength had gradually revealed itself.

It was this very strength that had safeguarded all eleven of them through eleven storm zones—not a single loss.

“Fellow Daoist Su, what are you thinking about?” Chi Xiangdong, noticing his glance, took the initiative to ask.

Su Yizhao’s face betrayed nothing. “Naturally, I’m wondering when this ordeal will end!”

Though these days were tense and fulfilling, he truly wished to be done with them.

There was much he needed to do.

Advancing his cultivation, for instance—or experiencing the grand world, meeting the continent’s geniuses.

“Haha, it won’t be long now. Cross these mountains, and you’ll see a great forest. Enter the forest, and you’ve left the Ghostshade Domain behind!”

“A forest? What is it like?”

In the southwestern frontier, aside from endless stretches of barren mystical stone veins or deepwaters, where could there be any forest?

“Forests, marshes, hidden realms—there are all kinds. What grows there are rare treasures of heaven and earth, which can greatly boost your cultivation in a short time. You’ll see for yourselves!” Chi Xiangdong’s words brimmed with enticement.

The group’s eyes grew feverish. The half-million premium mystical stones spent for this journey were well worth it; the past two years were worth it.

Su Yizhao’s gaze was equally fervent, but he harbored a vague sense of unease.

Before entering the forest, there would surely be a trial of life and death.

A hundred miles away, at the mountain’s foot, ten cultivators sat in a row, meditating.

“Beyond that mountain, you’ll see a forest!” one pointed ahead. “Cross the forest, and you’ll reach the prosperous eastern lands!”

“Brother Shi, it seems you’re well suited for the ‘Mystic Soul Codex.’ In two years, you’ve reached the Fourth Realm!”

“Brother Shi also excels at the ‘Body Refinement Art’—already at the peak of the Third Realm, only hindered by lack of time to cultivate!”

Shi Feichen gazed ahead, silently musing, “Junior Brother Su, I hope we never meet again. Because I truly do not wish to hurt you!”

Su Yizhao rose and looked out from the cave.

“What is it? Grown impatient?” Chi Xiangdong stood as well. “Let’s go, then!”

With a gust of wind, Chi Xiangdong leapt out of the cave.

Su Yizhao immediately followed.

A forest!

A boundless forest now stretched before them.

Beyond the woods lay the bustling world of the east.

But Chi Xiangdong paused at the forest’s edge, muttering, “Why aren’t they here yet?”

“Who hasn’t arrived?” a cultivator asked.

“Our escort hasn’t arrived!” Chi Xiangdong replied.

Su Yizhao’s heart stirred.

An escort?

There was an escort waiting here?

Just then, another cultivator spoke up, “From what I’ve heard, there’s nothing dangerous in this forest. Fellow Daoist Chi, can we go on?”

Chi Xiangdong turned and smiled, “Nothing dangerous? How could that be! You must have heard wrong.”

“Hmph! There are no monster cultivators or wild beasts in these woods—what danger could there be?”

“Fellow Daoist Wang, people are the greatest danger of all! Look—they’re here!”

Chi Xiangdong’s body shot into the air, streaking toward the forest.

The others looked up in shock.

A flying ship, forty or fifty yards long, sped through the sky, reaching Chi Xiangdong in a breath, and hung above their heads.

“A ship like this—no wonder! Crossing the Ghostshade Domain, Fellow Daoist Chi, you truly had the greatest chance of success!” one cultivator exclaimed with delight.

The airship descended, and seventeen or eighteen cultivators in brocade robes flew out.

Brocade robes.

Su Yizhao harbored little fondness for such people.

“Fellow Daoist Chi, well done! This time there’s one more than expected! Here!” A burly cultivator tossed a storage pouch to Chi Xiangdong.

Chi Xiangdong caught it and replied graciously, “Fellow Daoist Tang, you’re too kind!” Sweeping the pouch with his divine sense, he broke into a satisfied grin.

But then he spoke again, “Fellow Daoist Tang, I’m afraid you’ll need to pay double this time.”

The burly cultivator asked in surprise, “Has the price gone up?”

“No, the price is the same. But there’s a gold token in here.”

In a few words, all became clear.

They had been sold out by Chi Xiangdong.

In an instant, seeing the seventeen or eighteen early Sixth Divine Realm cultivators before them, the group seethed with anger and resentment.

To watch oneself become mere merchandise was bitter enough.

But to have the price counted before their eyes—nothing could be more galling.

Yes, people truly are the greatest predators.

“What kind of gold token commands such a price?”

“A token that grants entry to the Xuantian Sect in Vastcity!” Chi Xiangdong said with a smile, looking at Su Yizhao.

Su Yizhao returned his smile, calm and unperturbed.

He offered no retort.

Since these people were courting death, he might as well oblige them.

To fulfill another’s wish is a virtue in the cultivation world.

Every cultivator is obliged to uphold this virtue.

Seeing Su Yizhao still able to smile, Chi Xiangdong’s eyes flashed with a trace of gloom.

“Is this true?” the burly Tang asked in delight.

All those disembarking from the ship wore expressions of joy, while the cultivators beside Su Yizhao seemed unsurprised.

Su Yizhao pondered a moment, and guessed this must be the scheme of that woman Cheng Jiaojiao.

Of course, she was Xiu Yue’s master, and a woman besides—he could not be bothered to bicker with her.

“Haha, very well—let’s see if it’s real!” the burly cultivator laughed, and barked, “Boy, hand it over yourself!”