Chapter 153: Chapter 147: [Wind-Still Pill] (2)

This treasure had only one function.

Its only function was to be used when a cultivator attempted to break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm—the moment they drew upon the Power of Heaven and Earth and endured the assault of the Xun Wind, a force powerful enough to scatter the soul and shatter the Dao Foundation.

It weakens the power of the Xun Wind, greatly increasing the success rate of Foundation Establishment!

What was even more incredible was that even if the breakthrough failed, the pill’s protection could keep the Dao Foundation from dissipating.

This gave a cultivator a second chance to attempt the breakthrough, preventing their path from being severed and saving them from the annihilation of both body and soul.

It could be said that this Wind-Still Pill was even more precious than a suitable Foundation Establishment Object!

A Foundation Establishment Object determined the quality of one’s Dao Foundation, but the Wind-Still Pill was an unparalleled treasure that could save one’s life and preserve their path at the most critical juncture.

Only a True Monarch could refine such a thing. The materials were difficult to find, and the process was arduous.

Even the direct heir of a Master couldn’t necessarily secure a single one.

With such a divine item as the reward, Qi Yun couldn’t help but be tempted.

This was practically a critical insurance policy for his future breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

Just as the elation from such a high reward began to surface, his rational mind swiftly suppressed it.

’Something’s not right... The Holy Sect is no charity. To offer a reward like the Wind-Still Pill, the danger of seizing the Earth Temple’s core must be far beyond what I can imagine!’

Qi Yun’s mind raced, and the fervor that had just stirred within him quickly cooled.

He fell silent again, weighing his options, and didn’t agree right away.

On the other end of their connection in his Sea of Consciousness, Qian Xin Master sensed Qi Yun’s hesitation and couldn’t help but click his tongue in silent exasperation.

’This kid... he’s far too steady and cautious!’

’Faced with a temptation like the Wind-Still Pill, he can still stay calm and weigh the pros and cons?’

’With a temperament like that, how has his cultivation advanced so quickly? It’s quite a contradiction.’

’Or is it... that this boy is truly just exceptionally talented?’

Seeing that Qi Yun was still weighing the risks and rewards despite the incredible lure, Qian Xin Master knew it was time to bring out the "heavy hitters."

He shook his head with silent resignation, then threw down his final, heavy-hitting bargaining chip—one that was sure to crush all of Qi Yun’s hesitation:

"Besides the Wind-Still Pill..." Qian Xin Master’s voice took on a spirited tone.

"Your Foundation Establishment Method...

...the Holy Sect will provide it!"

BOOM!

Those words were the final straw, utterly tipping the scales in Qi Yun’s mind!

The Innate Qi Heart Method he currently possessed.

Only allowed him to cultivate up to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

The subsequent method for Foundation Establishment wasn’t something just anyone could obtain.

It couldn’t even be purchased or exchanged with Holy Essence.

It was a treasure that only true "insiders" of the Holy Sect could obtain.

And now, this opportunity was right in front of him.

"I, Qi Yun, am willing to serve the Holy Sect to the death! I will not disappoint the high hopes of you, Master, and the Sect!!"

The very instant Qian Xin Master finished speaking, Qi Yun’s previously hesitant and resistant Divine Thought became firm and righteous as he agreed unequivocally!

The sincerity of his tone and the firmness of his attitude were a world apart from the person who had been making excuses just moments ago!

On the other end of the connection in the Sea of Consciousness, Qian Xin Master fell silent for a moment.

Then, his placid voice finally carried a nearly imperceptible hint of speechlessness and awe:

"Excellent.

Truly worthy of being a disciple of our Holy Sect... That shamelessness, that adaptability... Hmm, very good."

"Since you’ve agreed, prepare yourself. The sealing is about to begin.

The situation inside the Earth Temple is unknown. Everything... is up to you."

With that final instruction, Qian Xin Master’s Divine Thought retreated like the tide, leaving Qi Yun with a heart both surging with excitement and weighed down by gravity.

Qi Yun took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement and tension in his heart.

His gaze fell upon the distant rift of the Yin Ruins, which gaped like the maw of a great beast, and the faint outline of the Earth Temple visible within.

The Wind-Still Pill, the Foundation Establishment Method...

This overwhelming fortune... he, Qi Yun, would take it!

...

「Half a day later」

While the disciples of the Four Sects on the outskirts of the Earth Temple were still diligently absorbing the Earth Evil Qi to open the apertures in their bodies, a sudden change occurred!

The entire Pot Valley Yin Ruins shook violently!

The tremor didn’t come from underground. It was as if this entire expanse of Heaven and Earth was being forcibly sealed from within by some invisible power!

A powerful pressure swept across the entire stretch of Dao Soil.

HUMMM—!

A hazy but immensely heavy, dark-gray curtain of light seeped out of the void at a speed visible to the naked eye. Like a giant inverted bowl, it instantly enveloped the entire Pot Valley Yin Ruins, along with all the cultivators and the Earth Temple rift within!

Across the curtain of light, countless twisted, hideous Annihilation Talismans flowed unceasingly, emitting a sealing, isolating power that made one’s Divine Soul tremble!

In an instant, all connection between the inside and outside of the Yin Ruins was completely severed!

All Communication Talismans failed. Even probing with Divine Sense resulted in it being violently repelled by the dark-gray light curtain!

"What’s going on?!"

"A seal! It’s a Sealing Array!"

"Who did this?!"

Inside the Yin Ruins, all the cultivating disciples from the Four Sects were startled. They rose to their feet and stared up in shock and confusion at the giant light curtain that had suddenly appeared, their faces full of bewilderment.

Outside the Yin Ruins, the huge temporary Marketplace instantly erupted into chaos!

Every cultivator craning their neck to watch or waiting for a chance to enter witnessed this shocking scene.

"It’s a seal! Pot Valley has been sealed!"

"Are the Four Major Sects trying to monopolize the Earth Temple?!"

"By what right? How could they be so tyrannical!"

Shouts of alarm, speculation, and angry curses rose like a tide.

The entire outer area descended into chaos.

At the same time, from the camps of the Four Major Sects stationed outside Pot Valley, several incomparably powerful auras of the Foundation Establishment Realm erupted instantly!

"WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!"

Seven or eight brilliant streams of multicolored light shot up from the camps of the Four Major Sects like meteors, hovering outside the dark-gray light curtain.

They were none other than the Foundation Establishment Masters from the various sects stationed there!

The Masters from the Yellow Springs Netherworld, the Cyan Sect, and Fengduo all wore grave expressions, their gazes as sharp as knives as their Divine Senses swept over the enormous sealing curtain like a storm.

They were trying to find its source and a way to break it.

"What a bizarre seal! To be able to form instantly and completely isolate the inside from the out!"

"The energy source seems to be inside the Yin Ruins... Was this a trap laid in advance?"

"Who on earth is responsible for this?!"

The few Masters exchanged glances, each seeing shock and a hint of gravity in the others’ eyes.

The seal had appeared too abruptly, and the method was extremely sophisticated.

For a moment, none of them could make heads or tails of it.

Just as they were all focusing their full attention on investigating...

A black-robed Master with a sinister face, his body wreathed in chilling Ghost Qi, stared at the twisted, ghostly script flowing across the light curtain. The more he looked, the more horrified he became!

’This... the way these sealing Magic Patterns are circulating... How... how does it look so similar to my sect’s Great Ghost Gate Sealing Technique?’

The thought was like a splash of ice water, sending a chill through his entire body!

’Is someone deliberately trying to frame us?’

’No, I can’t let them notice.’

His brow furrowed, and the black-robed Master was just about to open his mouth and divert the blame elsewhere.

But as he looked up, his gaze met that of a Master from the Holy Sect opposite him—one who was perfectly composed, a faint, almost imperceptible smile playing on his lips.

It was none other than Qian Xin Master, the very person who had been communicating with Qi Yun earlier!

At that moment, Qian Xin Master was "intently" "studying" the light curtain, his gaze sweeping—as if by chance—over the Yellow Springs Netherworld Master’s face, catching the horror and guilt that he hadn’t yet managed to conceal.

’This is bad!’

The Yellow Springs Netherworld Master’s heart skipped a beat; he knew this was not good.

Before he could speak first to muddy the waters, Qian Xin Master clapped his hands and laughed. His voice was clear, laced with a deliberately exaggerated "surprise."

"Oh? Fellow Daoists, look quickly!

This Forbidden Skill that’s sealed the Pot Valley Yin Ruins...

...the more I look at it, the more familiar it seems, wouldn’t you say~?"

He deliberately dragged out the last word, his gaze fixed like a nail on the Yellow Springs Netherworld Master, whose expression had instantly turned foul.

His words struck like a thunderclap on a clear day!

SWISH!

The gazes of the Masters from the Cyan Sect and Fengduo instantly sharpened, focusing in unison on the Master from the Yellow Springs Netherworld.

An extremely oppressive and suspicious atmosphere filled the air.

The situation instantly shifted from a joint investigation...

...to a three-on-one interrogation!

The Yellow Springs Netherworld Master’s face went pale, then red. He opened his mouth, but his throat was dry, and for a moment, he didn’t know how to defend himself.

With just that one lighthearted sentence, Qian Xin Master had thrown the entire Yellow Springs Netherworld onto the fire!

’Damn it!’

’I’ve been tricked again!’

...