txolops Chapter 283 The Frustrated Core Formation Realm Master
Chapter 283 The Frustrated Core Formation Realm Master
One day later, in the sky.
The dark silver flying boat did not fly towards the western wilderness, but instead flew deep into the Cloud Mist Mountains.
This puzzled Qu Youkong, who had followed the trail.
According to his thinking, shouldn't Meng Qingyi want to go to Donghua Mountain?
What was she doing in the Cloud and Mist Mountains?
It can't be that they go to the Cloud and Mist Mountains to try and break through to the Core Formation stage.
There are indeed third-order spiritual veins in the Cloud Mist Mountains, but third-order spiritual veins must be inhabited by powerful demonic beasts. Do they have the confidence to kill the demonic beasts in the spiritual veins and thus use the spiritual veins to stimulate the formation of the core?
"No, even if they can kill the demonic beasts within the spiritual vein, the noise from their battle will alert other demonic beasts. When that happens, a massive horde of demonic beasts will surge over, making it difficult to even escape, let alone attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage." Qu Youkong shook his head inwardly.
Quietly following behind the silver flying boat, he pondered how to handle the situation.
The simplest thing to do, of course, is to rush up and kill Meng Qingyi.
However, doing so would inevitably lead to contact with Li Ping and expose their whereabouts.
If he were sued by the Weidao Alliance, he would have botched the whole thing.
As for killing Li Ping as well?
Qu Youkong himself was just a newly promoted early-stage Core Formation cultivator; otherwise, he wouldn't have been sent to carry out this mission.
He was confident that he could defeat a rogue cultivator of the same level.
After all, the rogue cultivator had no sect support, and his foundation and magical treasures were inferior to his. What could he use to fight him?
However, there is one ability among independent cultivators that actually surpasses that of cultivators from sects.
That is the ability to escape!
A rogue cultivator who lacks the means to escape would never have been able to cultivate to the Core Formation stage; they would have died long ago in the various battles and contests for treasures.
Therefore, it would be difficult for him to kill a rogue cultivator of the same level.
This is the real reason why Qu Youkong hesitated and wavered.
It would be difficult for him to keep Li Ping around and ensure that the news of Meng Qingyi's killing was not leaked.
"Let's wait and see what they're planning," Qu Youkong thought to himself. "If they really intend to break through to the Core Formation stage in the Cloud Mist Mountains, then I might not even need to lift a finger."
He immediately continued to secretly follow the silver flying boat.
Of course, to avoid being discovered by Li Ping, he deliberately kept a certain distance.
Qu Youkong knew very well that the range of a cultivator's divine sense in the early stage of Core Formation was about six miles, and he was about ten miles away from Li Ping.
This distance ensures that Li Ping won't notice him, and also allows him to keep track of the other person.
……
After pondering his plan to inherit the third-order array method, Li Ping put the jade slip into his storage bag.
His gaze then fell upon the black-robed female cultivator who was sitting cross-legged, meditating and adjusting her breathing, and he sighed softly.
Because of his naturally powerful divine soul, and because he had also cultivated the secret technique "Myriad Spirits Divine Art" to the third level, Li Ping's spiritual strength when he formed his core was more than twice that of other cultivators of the same level.
It is even several times stronger than the spiritual sense of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator!
With such a vast divine sense spread out, it could easily cover an area of fourteen or fifteen miles. The white-robed, bitter-faced cultivator following behind him had actually been discovered by him long ago.
Because his spiritual power was far superior to that of the white-robed, bitter-faced cultivator, unless he deliberately made the other party aware of it, the other party would remain completely unaware when faced with his spiritual probing.
"This person should be Qu Youkong, a Core Formation cultivator from Ziyun Valley," Li Ping recognized the newcomer.
Last night, after he made a deal with Meng Qingyi, Meng Qingyi gave him a jade slip containing images of Core Formation cultivators from the three sects of Ziyun Valley and told him to pay special attention to a few of them.
Regarding the murder of the Meng family patriarch, Meng Qing also considered these individuals to be the most suspicious.
Qu Youkong is also on this list.
"I didn't expect them to actually follow us." Li Ping shook his head. "It seems Meng Qingyi's guess was correct; the Meng family patriarch really didn't die in an accident."
Li Ping murmured, "Then let's do as we agreed with Meng Qingyi and lead him around in circles."
……
Two days later, Qu Youkong gradually realized that something was wrong.
Because the flying boat that Li Ping and Meng Qing were riding did not intend to find a third-order spiritual vein to stop at, but instead continued to fly slowly towards the depths of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.
"What's going on?" Qu Youkong asked, somewhat puzzled.
He could understand that Meng Qingyi, having reached a dead end, had no choice but to attempt to break through to the Core Formation stage within the Cloud and Mist Mountains.
But doesn't she know the principle that "speed is of the essence in war, and things can change if time drags on"?
How dare they leisurely stroll around in this cloud-shrouded mountain range teeming with monsters? Do they think they're just having fun?
Moreover, the deeper you go into the Cloud Mist Mountains, the denser the monsters become, and the stronger they are overall.
Why don't they seek out a spiritually rich place in the outer regions to attempt the Core Formation? Is it because they feel it's not exciting enough and they don't want to unnecessarily increase the difficulty for themselves?
"Could it be that their purpose in coming here is not to find a spiritual land for Meng Qingyi to form his core? Or perhaps..." Qu Youkong suddenly thought of a possibility, and his pupils contracted sharply.
Whoosh!
He didn't care about being exposed, and his escape light accelerated instantly, chasing directly towards the dark silver flying boat in front.
Li Ping had been keeping him under his divine sense, and seeing his actions now, he knew he couldn't hide it anymore.
Before Qu Youkong could catch up, he calmly said, "Young friend Meng, a Core Formation cultivator is coming after us. If a fight breaks out later, protect yourself."
"Core Formation cultivator."
Upon hearing this, the female cultivator in the black robe trembled involuntarily, her muscles tensed and stiffened, and her breathing became rapid.
Suppressing her fear, she stammered, "Senior...Senior, please rest assured, Wan Jun...Wan Jun understands."
As she spoke, her voice trembled uncontrollably.
Li Ping could feel her heartbeat suddenly accelerate at that moment, as if it was about to jump out of her throat.
Meng Wanjun is a genius cultivator of the new generation of the Meng family.
At no more than thirty years old, he has already successfully established his foundation.
The specific details of the deal between Li Ping and Meng Qingyi not long ago were that Li Ping would take Meng Wanjun, who was in disguise, away from the Immortal City and lure away the Core Formation cultivators from Ziyun Valley.
Meanwhile, Meng Qing also left the city alone at the same time as they left, and secretly headed towards Donghua Mountain.
Meng Qingyi had been planning this for a long time. If Li Ping hadn't appeared, she would have soon sent Meng Wanjun out of the city alone to attract attention for herself.
Li Ping's appearance greatly increased the success rate of the plan.
After all, who could have predicted this?
Meng Qing would also forgo the protection of a Core Formation cultivator and set off alone!
Of course, this plan still has many flaws.
For example, if Ziyun Valley's Core Formation cultivators made their move as soon as Li Ping left the city, Meng Wanjun's identity would be exposed too quickly, and Meng Qingyi would also be doomed.
For example, Ziyun Valley saw through Meng Qingyi's plan, and she walked right into the trap as soon as she left the city.
……
In short, Meng Qingyi's chances of success were not very high, but she was gambling on it, betting that the three sects, including Ziyun Valley, would not dare to openly seize the Immortal City and leave a stain on their reputation within the Defenders Alliance.
In retrospect, she did indeed win the gamble.
Li Ping left the city for three days, and Qu Youkong followed him for three days.
Only now did they realize something was wrong, and they gave Meng Qingyi three days.
Three full days have passed. If nothing unexpected has happened to Meng Qing, he should be tens of thousands of miles away by now.
Even if Qu Youkong had the ability to communicate instantly and directly inform Ziyun Valley about this matter, it would be difficult to intercept her again.
Her plan can be considered a preliminary success!
But this only gives her a chance to break through to the Core Formation stage; it doesn't mean she's guaranteed to succeed.
Aside from cultivators with Heavenly Spiritual Roots, no one can claim to be 100% capable of forming their Core.
……
Li Ping agreed to Meng Qingyi's request mainly because there was no danger involved in the plan.
Even if Qu Youkong saw through Meng Qingyi's plan and discovered that the person beside Li Ping was not Meng Qingyi, the probability of him taking action against Li Ping out of frustration was actually not very high.
After all, Li Ping had only brought a beautiful female cultivator to the Cloud Mist Mountains to search for treasures; he knew nothing about it.
Qu Youkong wouldn't be so unwise as to offend a reckless rogue cultivator to the point of no return just to vent his anger.
Most likely, he will make a mental note of it and then leave silently.
Even if he really lost his mind, as a fellow Core Formation cultivator, Li Ping wasn't afraid of him; he could simply run away.
In this situation, Meng Wanjun would most likely be used by him to vent his anger, and he would be doomed to die.
Thinking of this, Li Ping glanced again at the female cultivator behind him whose body was trembling involuntarily.
Meng Wanjun knew that this trip was dangerous, but she was willing to die for her family and her master.
However, when faced with a Core Formation cultivator and the threat of death, she could not help but feel fear and dread!
"Good luck to you!"
Li Ping sighed inwardly. If Qu Youkong really made a move, he would run away without hesitation.
He had no interest in risking a fight with a fellow cultivator at the same level when he had just entered the Core Formation stage and had a bright future ahead of him.
A moment later, the light that Qu Youkong transformed into swept past the flying boat and blocked its path.
Li Ping brought the flying boat to a stop. To make the act convincing, he looked warily at Qu Youkong: "Who are you, fellow Daoist, and why are you blocking our way?"
Qu Youkong ignored Li Ping and instead focused his gaze on Meng Wanjun, who was wearing a black robe. The black robe had the function of blocking divine sense.
Therefore, he was unable to use his divine sense to see the female cultivator's face under the veil.
His figure was also obscured by the large robe, so it was impossible to see clearly. Only his height was about the same as Meng Qingyi's.
He spoke coldly: "I am Qu Youkong from Ziyun Valley, currently pursuing a fugitive. Tell the cultivators around you to lift their robes."
Li Ping's expression visibly darkened, and he said loudly, "So what if you're a cultivator from Purple Cloud Valley? Do you intend to bully us rogue cultivators by virtue of your power?!"
He emphasized the word "unaffiliated cultivator".
The meaning was very clear: Why would a rogue cultivator who has just reached the Core Formation stage be afraid of Purple Cloud Valley?
If the Crimson Thunder Old Monster can be treated with respect by all the sects in the Western Wilderness, then I, Li Ping, can too!
Of course, Li Ping was just bluffing. If he couldn't intimidate Qu Youkong, then he would let it go.
Seeing Li Ping's appearance, Qu Youkong felt that things were going to get complicated.
Rogue cultivators who have reached the Core Formation stage are just that shameless. If they really put aside their pride and focus on killing low-level cultivators from a certain sect, no sect can withstand them.
It's impossible for every disciple to have a Core Formation cultivator following them around to protect them when they go out.
Core Formation cultivators don't have that much free time.
Thinking of this, Qu Youkong suppressed his impatience and forced a smile: "Fellow Daoist Li misunderstands. I have long heard of your great name and have no intention of being your enemy. If the cultivator beside you lifts his robe and lets me take a look, and if he is not the person I am looking for, I will leave immediately."