Tracking and Counterattack

"How did Fellow Daoist Wei end up clashing with Wanyan Fu?" Xu Xuan asked as he poured tea for the two of them.

"You misunderstand," Ling Ziwei replied. "Wanyan Fu was actually targeting me. Fellow Daoist Wei was simply caught in the crossfire." She then recounted the incident.

Xu Xuan sighed. "Wanyan Fu is not to be trifled with. He's a disciple of Daoist Ruowu of the Shadowmoon Sect and possesses an Earth Spirit Root, a rare aptitude found in only one in ten thousand. He's heavily favored and notoriously combative, never holding back in combat. Those who fall to him invariably suffer grievous injuries. He already has a bad reputation in Cloud Prefecture City, and it's even worse here in Luochuan Prefecture." He shook his head. "While he's certainly aggressive, it's unlikely he would pursue an Immortal Maiden for months over a mere grudge. His motives must be far more complex."

Ling Ziwei, being astute, naturally understood his unspoken implication.

Sensing the awkward silence, Wei Zhong quickly changed the subject. "Fellow Daoist Xu Xuan, is there any news regarding the two spiritual treasures I requested?"

Xu Xuan replied, "Golden Thunder Bamboo, a rare spiritual treasure of heaven and earth, remains elusive. We still have no news about it. However, we recently received a response from a fellow Daoist regarding the Spirit Silkworm Silk. They haven't provided a price yet; you'll need to negotiate the details in person."

Wei Zhong's face lit up with delight. "The meeting will be held here at the Cloud Gathering Pavilion on the same day next month. I'd be grateful if you could relay the message, Fellow Daoist Xu Xuan."

Xu Xuan nodded, then glanced at Wei Zhong. "Are you two leaving now?"

Wei Zhong rubbed his nose sheepishly. "We appreciate your help, Fellow Daoist Xu Xuan!"

"It's no trouble at all," Xu Xuan replied. "However, I urge you to be cautious around Wanyan Fu. He's not someone to be trifled with, even in Cloud Prefecture City, let alone here in Luochuan Prefecture. Be wary of him acting rashly. Fellow Daoist Wei, in particular, should be careful. His cultivation level is still a tier below his, and while he excels in Pill Refinement Techniques, he lacks combat prowess. If he were to attack him, he might struggle to defend himself."

"Thank you for your kind advice, Fellow Daoist!" Wei Zhong bowed gratefully before leading Ling Ziwei out through the private passage Xu Xuan had provided.

As they departed, Wei Zhong fully activated his Aura Concealment Technique, completely suppressing his presence.

Ling Ziwei took out a light veil and draped it over herself.

The veil resembled the one she had gifted Xie Linghua, but this one possessed the ability to conceal her aura.

After leaving the city, the two headed straight for the Dongting Secret Realm.

"I'm truly sorry for dragging you into this, Fellow Daoist Wei," Ling Ziwei said apologetically.

"Not at all. It was Wanyan Fu who was harassing the Immortal Maiden and obstructing my quest for the spiritual treasure. Immortal Maiden Ling, please don't trouble yourself over it.

Instead of worrying about that, let's focus on how to obtain the Golden Thunder Bamboo. I've already secured information about the Spirit Silkworm Silk. If you can retrieve the bamboo from the Secret Realm, we'll have gathered all the spiritual materials needed to refine the Seven-Colored Golden Bamboo Umbrella.

Furthermore, once you reach Core Formation, you'll naturally be free of that man's influence."

Ling Ziwei nodded.

The two flew onward until they entered the Dongting Secret Realm, heading straight for the Autumn Maple Forest.

Along the way, Wei Zhong deliberately lagged a step behind Ling Ziwei and secretly released Golden Eyebrow.

"Stay in the Autumn Maple Forest," he instructed the monkey telepathically. "If anyone approaches, drive them away."

Wei Zhong feared Wanyan Fu might have some means of tracking them, so he left Golden Eyebrow behind as a deterrent.

Wei Zhong and Ling Ziwei crossed the mountain peaks and descended into a mist-shrouded valley, where they ascended a stone staircase leading to the Sect Ruins.

Outside the Autumn Maple Forest, Golden Eyebrow, left behind, entered the forest carrying a jar of spirit wine.

Sensing a familiar presence, a troop of White-Eyebrow Spirit Monkeys gathered from the depths of the forest, their roars echoing like a royal welcome.

As Wei Zhong and Ling Ziwei departed the city, Wanyan Fu sat in a pavilion on the first floor, a golden Spirit Talisman before him.

This Shadow Tracing Talisman contained a wisp of Ling Ziwei's aura, collected during their brief encounter. He hadn't managed to gather Wei Zhong's aura due to the fleeting interaction.

The talisman required at least one hundred breaths of conversation to fully capture a person's aura. Moreover, once imprinted, it couldn't be changed, and it self-destructed after half an hour—a precious, single-use talisman.

The talisman flipped and spun before finally pointing in the direction Wei Zhong and Ling Ziwei had fled.

"Did they leave the city?"

Wanyan Fu closely followed their escape light.

Once outside the city walls, he summoned a Third-Tier Spirit Boat, stepped aboard, and propelled it with his spiritual energy. Guided by the Shadow Tracing Talisman, he set course in the indicated direction.

The Spirit Boat pierced through the air with a sonic boom, vanishing from sight in an instant.

Upon reaching a waterfall where the duo's trail led, the Shadow Tracing Talisman began to act erratically, its pointer spinning wildly as if lost.

"A Secret Realm?"

Wanyan Fu observed the bustling entrance to the Secret Realm, filled with cultivators coming and going. As he stepped inside, the previously malfunctioning Shadow Tracing Talisman sprang back to life, pointing steadily in a new direction.

They must have deliberately avoided him to enter this Secret Realm. They must have discovered some hidden opportunity here.

A thrill of anticipation coursed through Wanyan Fu as he quickened his pace, determined to follow.

Within the Sect Ruins, Wei Zhong and Ling Ziwei, having met with Ling Hua, proceeded to investigate the Cyan-Gold Spirit Bamboo that had revealed its presence.

Through the shimmering spiritual light of the formation, they could faintly discern the cyan-golden bamboo.

"It's indeed Golden Thunder Bamboo!" Wei Zhong exclaimed, his face lighting up. He turned to Ling Ziwei. "Immortal Maiden Ling, how confident are you in dismantling this formation?"

Ling Ziwei nodded. "This formation shares the same foundation as the ones I've broken before, though with some variations. It should take about three months."

Wei Zhong produced a small golden cone. "If we use this, could we speed up the process?"

"A Third-Tier Restriction-Breaking Cone? Fellow Daoist Wei, you truly are a man of means!"

Ling Ziwei accepted the small golden cone from Wei Zhong, saying, "With this, I'm confident I can halve the time it takes to break the formation."

"Then, Immortal Maiden, please begin dismantling the formation. This Daoist will observe from the side."

Ling Ziwei nodded, approached the formation, and tossed out several Formation Plates. These were clearly the tools she would use to dismantle it.

Wei Zhong activated his Spirit-Seeking Art. Amidst the swirling chaos before him, hundreds of brightly colored points of light materialized.

These must be the Formation Nodes, he thought.

The positions of the Formation Nodes in Wei Zhong's vision weren't fixed; they were constantly shifting and moving.

Is this what she meant by "the formation's transformations"? Wei Zhong stroked his chin thoughtfully.

"Master Wei, you also understand formations?" Shang Mengchun sidled up beside him. As a Second-Tier Formation Master eager for experience, observing Ling Ziwei's dismantling process would be highly beneficial.

Wei Zhong smiled and shook his head. "I'm merely taking a casual look."

Though Wei Zhong had studied the Path of Formations for years, his progress had been slow, still lingering at the First-Tier.

As he chatted with Shang Mengchun, an idea suddenly struck him. "I wouldn't want to disturb Fellow Daoist Shang's observation any longer. I'll take my leave now."

After bidding farewell, Wei Zhong hurried toward the mountain gate, then soared over the peak, heading straight for the Autumn Maple Forest.

"A Third-Tier Spirit Monkey?"

Wanyan Fu was both surprised and delighted when a Spirit Monkey suddenly blocked his path.

Just moments before, as he approached this location, the Shadow Tracing Talisman had abruptly lost its guidance. Wanyan Fu surmised that Ling Ziwei must have entered a sealed ruin. Coincidentally, the Spirit Monkey appeared at that moment, prompting him to stop and disembark from his Flying Boat.

A Third-Tier Spirit Monkey might be a tier above him, but it's not insurmountable, Wanyan Fu thought, already considering it his future spirit pet.

The Spirit Monkey hurled a rock enveloped in red flames. Wanyan Fu produced a golden talisman treasure. With a flash of spiritual light, it transformed into a shimmering, translucent phantom of a Golden Bell before him. The rock struck the bell's surface, causing it to sway slightly.

Hiding behind the Golden Bell, Wanyan Fu released a black Spirit Snake. The serpent was thirty feet long, as thick as an adult's waist, and its body bore numerous scars and wounds. A dark golden collar, inlaid with a blood-red thread that coiled into a single crimson eye, constricted its neck.

The Spirit Snake, only at the late-stage of the Second-Tier, hissed in terror at the Third-Tier Spirit Monkey and tried to retreat. But Wanyan Fu grunted softly, channeling hidden energy. The crimson eye on the collar abruptly glowed with a hazy blood-red light, engulfing the snake's head before fading away.

Fueled by a surge of courage, the Spirit Snake's eyes instantly turned bloodshot. It lunged at Golden Eyebrow with newfound boldness.

Incensed that even a lowly Second-Tier Spirit Snake dared to challenge him, Golden Eyebrow casually tossed aside the massive boulder in his hand and charged forward.

Clenching his fists into massive hammers, he slammed them down on the snake's skull, sending stars bursting before its eyes.

Just as Golden Eyebrow was about to pry open the snake's jaws and tear it apart with brute force, the thick serpent suddenly coiled around him. Golden Eyebrow braced his arms outward, stubbornly maintaining his grip on the snake's head.

The Spirit Snake opened its mouth and spat a cloud of purple venomous mist at Golden Eyebrow's face.

This toxic vapor, derived from the snake's internal venom, possessed far greater penetrative power than its liquid form. Even a trace could instantly corrode the flesh of a Second-Tier Demonic Beast.

But Golden Eyebrow was a Third-Tier Demonic Beast. The moment the venomous mist erupted, his fur ignited with crimson flames. The intense heat instantly vaporized the poison into harmless blue smoke.

The flames even scorched the snake's body, which was still coiled tightly around Golden Eyebrow.

In agony, the Spirit Snake released its grip.

A furry arm shot out from the snake's body, seized its tail, and swung it violently through the air before slamming it down.

The Spirit Snake was hurled upward, its head and body crashing against the ground with each downward arc of Golden Eyebrow's arm.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The snake's body slammed against the earth with thunderous force. Wanyan Fu watched the spectacle with detached amusement from his vantage point in the air, showing no intention of aiding his spirit pet.

Finally, the Spirit Snake's resistance crumbled under Golden Eyebrow's relentless assault, its body reduced to spasmodic twitches.

The flame-wreathed Spirit Monkey leaped onto the snake's head, gripped its upper jaw with both hands, and tore it apart with a violent rip.

Rip!

The snake's resilient muscles tore apart as half its head detached from its body, blood gushing forth.

The Second-Tier Spirit Snake had met its end.

The moment the Spirit Snake perished, the dark golden ring detached itself.

Wanyan Fu smiled, extended his hand, and flicked his fingers. The ring levitated from the ground and shot toward Golden Eyebrow.

Golden Eyebrow sensed the danger instantly and scrambled backward, but the ring's speed far outstripped his maneuverability in the confined space.

With a furious roar, Golden Eyebrow hurled a flame-wreathed fist at the ring.

Suddenly, a blood-red light erupted from the ring, as if Golden Eyebrow had glimpsed something utterly terrifying. His arm went limp, and the flames flickering around his fist sputtered and died.

Boom!

The punch had no effect on the ring. Instead, the massive recoil sent Golden Eyebrow flying backward.

The ring rapidly expanded, threatening to engulf him completely.

A muffled groan echoed from the sky: "Insolent brat! Dare you steal my spirit pet?"

A beam of black light shot down, striking the ring and sending it flying. Wei Zhong had arrived.

Seeing Golden Eyebrow helpless against the dark golden ring, Wei Zhong recognized it as a specialized Secret Treasure designed to target spirit beasts. He swiftly deployed the Flying Throwing Technique, rescuing Golden Eyebrow from imminent danger.

The black sphere sent the ring flying. A crack appeared on its surface, but it remained intact. Wei Zhong retrieved the sphere, casually absorbing the damaged ring into it.

Wanyan Fu watched helplessly as his prize, a Third-Tier Spirit Monkey, slipped through his fingers due to this unexpected intervention. A Core Formation cultivator in black robes had appeared. This Spirit Monkey already has an owner, he thought bitterly.

Seeing Wanyan Fu attempt to seize his Spirit Control Ring, Wei Zhong flicked his fingers, ready to recall it.

But suddenly, a jolt ran through his divine sense, and he could no longer feel the connection to the ring.

He erased my mark that quickly?

Wanyan Fu immediately recalled the secret technique the cultivator had just used, understanding dawning in his eyes.

This man must be a Core Formation cultivator who has diligently cultivated his divine sense. I can't defeat him through force.

"Senior," Wanyan Fu began, "I am Wanyan Fu, a True Inheritance disciple of the Shadowmoon Sect. What happened just now was a misunderstanding. I assumed the Spirit Monkey was unclaimed, hence my attempt to take it. I never imagined it was your spirit pet.

I apologize for my reckless behavior. I humbly request the return of my Spirit Control Ring, which was bestowed upon me by my master, Daoist Ruowu, a Nascent Soul elder of our sect. Seizing it would undoubtedly bring you grave consequences."

Though couched as polite advice, the veiled threat hung heavy in the air.

"Hmph, you dare injure my spirit pet and then threaten me? You have a death wish."

Wanyan Fu tracked us here—there's no way he didn't have ulterior motives. By wounding Golden Eyebrow, he gave Wei Zhong the perfect excuse to strike. Why wait any longer to teach him a lesson?

Without waiting for a response, Wei Zhong unleashed another Flying Throwing Technique. With a light tap of his foot, he transformed into a blurry shadow and charged toward Wanyan Fu.

Wanyan Fu was shaken to see that the Core Formation cultivator remained unfazed by his words and even dared to attack him. His heart trembled as he hastily activated the Golden Bell to intercept the incoming strike, while retreating into the Flying Boat to escape.

The black sphere smashed into the Golden Bell's illusory projection, shattering it with a single blow.

Panic surged through Wanyan Fu as his talisman treasure crumbled with such ease. Frantically pouring spiritual energy into the Spirit Boat, he fled at top speed.

This man is no ordinary Core Formation cultivator. My usual methods are useless against him. The only way...

Boom!

Wei Zhong, having cast the Soaring Technique, had already overtaken the Spirit Boat. A massive hand formed from spiritual energy slammed down, instantly dispersing the vessel's protective spiritual light.

Even a Third-Tier Spirit Boat could only unleash a fraction of its power when piloted by a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Moreover, Wei Zhong, though only at the Early Core Formation stage, possessed spiritual energy comparable to a Mid-Stage Core Formation cultivator, thanks to his mastery of the Spring and Autumn Water Refinement Manual.

The sudden impact inside the Spirit Boat threw Wanyan Fu off balance, sending him reeling violently. To make matters worse, a searing pain erupted in his Sea of Consciousness at the same moment.

Seizing the advantage, Wei Zhong delivered another palm strike, sending the Spirit Boat crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust.

As the smoke and dust settled, Wanyan Fu emerged, looking utterly disheveled. His fiery red Daoist robe appeared as if it had just been dragged out of the mud, filthy and tattered.

Even more alarming was the blood trickling from his nose and mouth, punctuated by frequent hacking coughs.

"Senior, is this your way of declaring war on the Shadowmoon Sect?" Wei Zhong hovered above, gazing down at him. "This Daoist would never dare provoke a Nascent Soul powerhouse. But a disrespectful whelp like you deserves a proper punishment for disrespecting your elders."

Hearing the venom in Wei Zhong's voice, Wanyan Fu knew his opponent wouldn't let him off easily.

Seeing a dark orb of energy erupt from Wei Zhong's hand, Wanyan Fu reluctantly activated another talisman treasure.

Foundation Establishment cultivators possessed meager spiritual energy, insufficient to unleash the full power of magic treasures. Only through these talisman treasures could they hope to withstand the might of a Core Formation expert.

Simultaneously, he clutched a special talisman covered in silver talismanic patterns, pouring his spiritual energy into it.

The dark orb pierced through a phantom wooden shield before striking Wanyan Fu's body.

Spiritual light flowed across his red Daoist robe as the defensive spells inscribed within activated.

As the two forces clashed, a silver light flashed around Wanyan Fu, and he vanished without a trace.

The dark orb continued its trajectory, crashing into the ground and kicking up clouds of dust.

Wei Zhong retrieved his energy, his brow furrowing.

A teleportation talisman?

He had seen such talismans used by Mou Yuanfeng, but Wanyan Fu's version was clearly far more potent. Mou Yuanfeng's talisman only allowed him to teleport a few feet, while Wanyan Fu had vanished dozens of miles away, far beyond the range of Wei Zhong's divine sense.

That's enough, Wei Zhong thought. Severely injuring him should suffice. His grievous wounds will require extensive healing, preventing him from interfering with my preparations for Core Formation.

As for whether Wanyan Fu would return to his sect and incite his Nascent Soul Master to seek revenge, Wei Zhong couldn't predict. He had concealed his identity during the battle, and Wanyan Fu hadn't managed to mark him with a divine sense imprint during the Core Formation scan. His true identity should remain hidden.

After clearing the battlefield, Wei Zhong flew toward the Autumn Maple Forest.

Dozens of miles away, a flash of silver light pierced the sky, revealing Wanyan Fu's battered form. He spat out a mouthful of blood, and strands of blood-soaked hair clung to his forehead. Wanyan Fu tried to brush the hair aside with his right hand but found it useless. Both his arms were broken, hanging limply at his sides.

"Damn it!" he cursed.

Wanyan Fu was consumed by rage, his eyes practically spitting flames. A frenzied surge of Fire Spiritual Power erupted from his body.

How many years has it been since I suffered such humiliation? he thought. Since joining the Shadowmoon Sect and becoming the disciple of a Nascent Soul cultivator, everyone has treated me with utmost deference. Even Core Formation cultivators, awed by his Master's prestige, address him as "Young Friend." But this Core Formation cultivator—this mere Core Formation cultivator—dared to attack him! He shouldn't have fled! He should have used the Life-Preserving Command Sword his Master bestowed upon him to slay him!

He glanced around, realizing he had no idea where the Minor Teleportation Talisman had taken him. Even if he tried to return to seek revenge, the attacker would likely have fled long ago.

"Damn him! Damn him! Damn him!" Wanyan Fu roared in fury, his Fire Spiritual Power igniting with his rage. The land within thirty feet of him instantly turned to scorched earth.

Wei Zhong returned to the Autumn Maple Forest, stored Golden Eyebrow within his Grotto-Heaven, and resumed his original appearance before heading back to the Sect Ruins.

Ling Yunsheng, the gatekeeper stationed on the stone steps, noticed Wei Zhong's return and asked curiously:

"Senior Wei, what exactly happened on the other side of the mountain?" Ling Yunsheng asked.

"I'm not entirely sure," Wei Zhong replied. "I just heard several beast roars and felt the ground shaking violently. It sounded like two Third-Tier cultivators were battling..."

Just then, Ling Hua and his group descended the stone steps, clearly having received Ling Yunsheng's message and come to investigate. After another round of questioning, Wei Zhong repeated his earlier account.

"Beast roars... could it be that Third-Tier Spirit Monkey?" Lan Fangyi suddenly interjected.

Wei Zhong turned his head curiously.

Lan Fangyi explained, "Master Wei may not be aware, but a Golden-Eyebrowed Red Monkey of the Third-Tier realm once resided in the Autumn Maple Forest beyond this mountain. It vanished mysteriously several years ago. Could it have returned?"

Ling Hua's expression turned grave. Addressing Lan Fangyi, he said, "Fellow Daoist Lan, would you mind guarding these stone steps with Yun Sheng while I investigate the situation outside?"

Lan Fangyi hesitated briefly before replying, "As you command, Senior. However, if I encounter that Third-Tier Spirit Monkey, I can only retreat. I hope the Clan Head will understand."

Ling Hua waved his hand dismissively. "Of course. As long as you fulfill your duty to remain vigilant, prioritize your escape. Don't worry about anything else."

He turned to Ling Yunsheng. "Yun Sheng, the same applies to you."

Ling Yunsheng nodded.

"As for Brother Wei, you should retreat to safety. My younger sister shouldn't take too long to break the formation."

Wei Zhong cupped his fists in a salute. "As you wish, Brother Ling. Please be careful during your investigation."

Ling Hua returned the gesture before transforming into a streak of yellow escape light and soaring into the misty clouds above.

Wei Zhong bid farewell to the two companions beside him and began climbing the stone steps.

I've thoroughly concealed all traces of the earlier battle. Even if Ling Hua investigates, he won't find much information.

Upon returning to the Spirit Medicine Garden, Wei Zhong observed that Ling Ziwei's progress in deciphering the formation remained minimal. It seemed this formation wasn't as straightforward as she had claimed.

Wei Zhong settled down beside Shang Mengchun to watch him work on the formation.

Though he didn't fully understand the intricacies, witnessing the process firsthand would still enrich his own understanding of the Path of Formations.