Chapter 746: Chapter 284: Aren’t You Afraid of Angering Lady Golden Simurgh?

The Evil Qi in Zhiyi Cave was too dispersed, so Xiao Chen had stayed for several extra days.

’Just one last batch to collect, and I should be done.’

Evil Qi had all but stopped seeping from the rock walls.

Xiao Chen decided he would clear out the last of it lingering outside and then leave immediately.

He lifted the gourd and glanced inside. ’Hmm, it’s only about a fifth full. Looks like I can use this gourd to collect other kinds of Evil Qi in the future.’

While using it, he discovered that the Xin Jin Treasure Gourd held a world within.

Not only did it have a huge storage capacity, but it also came with a built-in Restriction that could partition the Evil Qi stored inside.

This meant that if Xiao Chen encountered other types of Evil Qi in the future, he wouldn’t need to worry about a lack of space or the different types being incompatible.

He had to admit that while a custom-made Spiritual Artifact like this had no other functions,

it was exceptionally well-designed for its specific purpose.

However, just as he was moving upward from the bottom of the cave, collecting the last of the Evil Qi as he prepared to leave,

he suddenly heard footsteps echoing through the cave—and they weren’t his.

STEP... STEP... STEP!

The footsteps drew nearer, the sound growing louder.

A moment later, a tall, slender figure emerged from around a bend.

The figure wore high-top boots with auspicious patterns and red soles, and a long, jet-black linen robe. Crowning the ensemble was a perfectly square Bronze Mask.

In his left hand, he held a copper lamp that, to Xiao Chen’s surprise, repelled the surrounding Evil Qi.

In his right hand, however, he brandished a Flying Sword, which he instantly leveled at Xiao Chen.

"Who are you!"

The newcomer barked, Spiritual Power faintly rippling around him. Then, the immense pressure of the Great Perfection of the Golden Core Realm washed over Xiao Chen.

From his stance, it was clear he would strike the moment anything seemed amiss.

Yet before Xiao Chen could reply, the man froze.

He then took the initiative to retract his aura, subtly shifting his stance. "You’re... Xiao?"

His gaze fell upon the Xin Jin Treasure Gourd.

A peculiar glint appeared in his eyes.

Xiao Chen, for his part, was also rather taken aback by the sudden appearance of the man in the Bronze Mask.

’Wait, so the Sea Race really did send someone else to collect the Evil Qi.’

’It’s a good thing I rushed here the moment I heard. If I’d been delayed at all, I might not have made it in time.’

’And Pudu Temple is completely unreliable.’

’They supposedly set up a blockade outside, but someone still managed to sneak in this easily.’

’Then again, didn’t I sneak in too?’

’Never mind, then.’

"Hahaha!"

The man looked Xiao Chen up and down and let out a booming laugh, his tone laced with scorn. "Xiao, everyone out there says you’re a Hidden Sect Inheritor, yet no one can seem to pin down your origins."

"I never would have guessed... that you’ve also thrown your lot in with the Sea Race!"

"If I’d known Lady Golden Simurgh had made arrangements for a backup, I wouldn’t have been in such a rush."

He had heard of Xiao Chen’s reputation before and was quite curious about this rising star.

The Compassion Sea wasn’t exactly small, but it wasn’t vast, either.

It didn’t make sense for some unknown faction to be hiding in its midst, capable of producing such a powerful Cultivator.

He wasn’t the only one puzzled by this; many of the major powers couldn’t make sense of it either.

But now, he had finally discovered the ’truth’—it was all thanks to the backing of the Sea Race!

’Hmph. Some peerless prodigy? He’s just a traitor, same as me.’

’To put it bluntly, we’re all just lackeys for the Sea Race. Xiao Chen just happened to be chosen and get more support. There’s no fundamental difference between us.’

’Besides, he’d also heard that after integrating the Sea Race bloodline,’

’although you gain power far exceeding that of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator, you forever lose the hope of breaking through to a higher Realm.’

’From that perspective, Xiao Chen was nothing more than cannon fodder.’

’A far cry from his own limitless potential.’

’Hmm?’

Xiao Chen was taken aback by the man’s words. He glanced down at the Xin Jin Treasure Gourd in his hand.

It immediately clicked: the man had mistaken his identity.

Realizing this, he decided to play along and try to get some information. "What’s so strange about it? As they say, a fine bird chooses a fine tree to nest in."

"Were you, by chance, also given a mission and told to rush here to collect the Evil Qi?"

"That Spiritual Artifact you have there seems handy. Not like the Secret Technique they gave me, which I had to practice at the last minute."

When the man heard Xiao Chen mention being rushed there and using a Secret Technique, he was put completely at ease, as it mirrored his own situation perfectly.

He lowered his guard considerably.

He began to ponder how he could use this information to his advantage while replying casually, "But of course. This Spiritual Artifact of mine was excavated from some Ancient Ruins."

"It renders one impervious to all poisons and repels all evil spirits wherever its Spiritual Light shines."

"Across the entire Compassion Sea, you’d be hard-pressed to find a finer treasure."

Xiao Chen, however, felt a pang of disappointment at this description.

’If those were its only two functions, it was rather useless to him.’

’He had hoped he might acquire a new, useful Spiritual Artifact. Now, he was already thinking about sending it to an auction house to sell for Spirit Stones.’

"Is that so? You’re quite capable indeed."

Xiao Chen deliberately changed the subject. "Well, I’ve already collected most of the Evil Qi here. I was just about to leave, in fact. I never expected to run into a kindred spirit."

"It’s not often I meet someone on the same path. This must be fate."

"I wonder what you’ve been busy with lately? Is there anything I can help with?"

However, the other man didn’t respond.

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