Chapter 422: Chapter 203: Crossing the Sea Under Deception: Arrival at Hundred Herbs City

Meanwhile, after Xiao Chen had shaken off Zhao Hongwen’s pursuit, he immediately changed direction, heading back to the Imperial Capital and making a beeline for the Ten Thousand Immortals Tower.

’If I just wanted to evade the search, my Mystic Sect’s Synchronization Secret Technique would have been enough. But to get through the checkpoints smoothly, I’ll need to cultivate a Disguise Secret Technique.’

To the astonishment of the manager at the Ten Thousand Immortals Tower, Xiao Chen ignored the Celestial-level Secret Technique and passed over the Earth-level one.

Instead, he picked the only Yellow-level Disguise Secret Technique in the shop—the *Mystic Sect Illusion Technique*.

"Are you sure you want to choose this Yellow-level Technique?"

The manager stressed the words "Yellow Level," unable to resist reminding him, "Ordinarily, it’s not my place to say, but a Disguise Secret Technique is different from other kinds of Magic."

"Even against an Investigation Skill of the same level, there’s a risk of being exposed."

In truth, this *Mystic Sect Illusion Technique* was only on display to nominally complete the four tiers—Heaven, Earth, Profound, and Yellow. It was just a placeholder.

It, along with two other Profound-level Disguise Techniques, had been sitting on the shelf since the day the tower was built, completely ignored.

’The manager really couldn’t figure it out. The gentleman before him clearly wasn’t short on cash, so why was he being so cheap when it came to Magic?’

Xiao Chen, however, simply waved a hand, set down ten thousand Spirit Stones, and walked straight out.

And then, it was time to witness a miracle.

Two days passed in a flash. In a small gully three hundred li north of the Imperial Capital.

A middle-aged man with a square face, broad forehead, thick eyebrows, and large eyes stood before a small stream, observing his new appearance.

"Good heavens. I can’t even recognize myself. Who would ever believe this was the same person?"

Xiao Chen gazed at his reflection in the water and nodded, satisfied.

Thanks to the empowerment of his Augment, he had successfully reached the entry-level of the technique in just one day.

He then spent another full day adjusting his physical form and appearance, striving for a transformation so lifelike it was indistinguishable from the real thing.

Now, even if everyone from the Li Huo Sect were summoned, none of them would recognize him, to say nothing of the three great families from the Jingkong Sea.

"Mystic Sect Edict: Lock!"

With a soft cry, Xiao Chen locked the appearance in place.

A Yellow-level Technique could fix one humanoid form and one object form.

The humanoid form meant taking on another person’s appearance, while the object form meant turning into an inanimate object like a flower, a tree, a rock, or a vase.

From now on, all he had to do was activate the Magic Formulas to instantly switch to this appearance, with no need to spend time on adjustments.

However, to be on the safe side, Xiao Chen didn’t leave immediately.

Instead, he resumed cultivating the *Mystic Sect’s Synchronization Secret Technique* to adjust the fluctuations of his Divine Sense.

This was an extra precaution.

Although his illusion was enhanced a hundredfold, giving it a ninety-nine percent chance of not being discovered, the Cultivation Realm was full of surprises. If the Yellow-level Disguise Technique failed, the *Mystic Sect’s Synchronization Secret Technique* could still mask his Divine Sense and help him evade pursuit.

While Xiao Chen was hard at work cultivating...

...several large Flying Boats were lined up along the eastern border of Xilai Country, just a few dozen yards from violating its airspace.

King Dingjiang, Meng Chengze, one of the eight kings of Xilai Country tasked with guarding the border, floated before the Flying Boats. He wielded a Yellow Lattice Crescent Halberd and was flanked by his two tamed River Patrol Pythons, blocking the fleet’s path.

"Fellow cultivators, to what do we owe the pleasure of your visit today?"

"Daoist Meng, we have received intelligence that a high-priority fugitive has escaped into the territory of Xilai Country. We ask that you accommodate us."

Zhao Chenghan shouted, and in response, dozens of powerful auras erupted from the Flying Boats.

The Zhao Family hadn’t come alone precisely because they feared being stopped like this.

With the Three Great Clans gathered, no ordinary Cultivator would dare stand in their way, giving them the opening they needed to launch a surprise raid on the Imperial Capital.

Despite this show of force, Meng Chengze refused flatly. "My apologies. Without a direct order from the Sect, large-scale Flying Boats are forbidden from entering."

Two years ago, he would never have dared to be so defiant.

But that was then, and this is now. The Golden Dawn Sect’s power had grown immensely, giving them the confidence to stand against the Three Great Clans.

’For them to mobilize such a large force... it must be related to that widely rumored million-spirit-stone bounty. It’s no secret in the upper echelons that a Foundation Establishment Cultivator named Chen Xiao had allegedly made off with the true inheritance from the Immortal Palace. If that’s the case, the Golden Dawn Sect should at least get a piece of the pie.’

Soon, a flock of Sky Crossing Birds appeared, carrying over twenty Golden Core True Men. As the riders opened their Spirit Beast Bags, more than thirty different Spirit Beasts emerged, all of them having reached Tier Three.

Aboard the central Spiritual Boat, the Patriarchs of the Three Great Clans exchanged a look, their expressions turning grave.

’They hadn’t expected the Golden Dawn Sect to have raised so many Spirit Beasts. Thankfully, the Profound Celestial Immortal Palace had opened ahead of schedule two years prior, allowing a large number of their juniors to comprehend the Dao and break through to the Golden Core realm. Otherwise, the balance of power would have shifted, and they might have lost a great deal of resources as a result. And even though they had the True Monarch of the Treasure Tower backing them, they couldn’t trouble him with every little thing.’

At the same time, Master Yuanxia, the Sect Leader of the Golden Dawn Sect, felt his heart clench as he sensed the waves of incomparably powerful auras rolling off the opposing fleet.

’The Three Great Clans are brimming with talent. To think they’ve quietly nurtured so many Golden Core Cultivators. Thankfully, our beast-taming techniques had a major breakthrough two years ago, allowing us to acquire numerous Tier Three Spirit Beasts. Otherwise, we might be facing the destruction of our nation. After all, in years past, there were five other Sects in the Jingkong Sea besides the Three Great Clans. But now, those Sects have all become history, either annexed or wiped out entirely.’

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