Chapter 32: Cooperation

Chapter 32: Cooperation

The Bone-Replacing Vine grew on the cliff ahead, one of the spiritual herbs needed for refining the Foundation Building Pill. Its flowers and leaves resembled those of an orchid, but the part used in medicine was actually its vine, as white as bone. It was rooted in the crevices of the cliff, swaying in the wind, appearing very fragile.

The inner sect herb garden of the Taiyuan Sect actually had Bone-Replacing Vine, and inner sect disciples could buy it, but the sect didn't sell the older ones.

The quality of a pill was closely tied to the age of the spiritual herb. The Bone-Replacing Vine before them was a full century old, having survived at least three rounds of cultivators stripping it—truly a hidden gem.

No wonder it had been targeted.

Shang Yunduo shut the booklet. "Senior, we’re only going for the Bone-Replacing Vine, right?"

Pei Jie: "Grab whatever else you want yourself."

Shang Yunduo: "..."

All he wanted was peace.

Love and peace.

But sadly, peace was obviously not happening here.

There was only one Bone-Replacing Vine, and the people could be split into four groups just by robe color.

Taiyuan Sect, Feishi Peak, Su Ziyuan and her clan, and a few in blue training uniforms—disciples from some unknown sect.

Each group fended for themselves, locked in a chaotic struggle.

These people didn’t just seem intent on snatching the Bone-Replacing Vine—they also seemed to want to kill people along the way.

Shang Yunduo pulled his mask tighter to avoid being recognized by the Taiyuan Sect disciples, draped the Mirage Lizard Gauze over himself, and quietly moved toward the cliff.

He remembered that in the novel, Xiao Chi and Su Ziyuan got chased by a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. In their desperation, they joined forces to overcome the enemy, forging a life-and-death bond and becoming friends. Later, during the scramble for the Floating Cloud Flower, Xiao Chi helped Su Ziyuan break the illusion, and she helped him pick the flower. You could call it love at first sight, or love that grew from working together—however you looked at it, they had a great first impression of each other.

But... now...

Xiao Chi and Su Ziyuan were locked in combat, with sparks flying and moves dazzling.

Shang Yunduo: "..."

Speechless.

Why don’t you guys take out that Foundation Establishment cultivator first!

Shang Yunduo was also confused—how did Feishi Peak have a Foundation Establishment cultivator here?

Was there something in the Ancient Source Secret Realm that attracted Foundation Establishment cultivators?

Inside the battlefield, seeing the Taiyuan Sect disciples retreating step by step before the Feishi Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, Xiao Chi said, "Miss, when the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits. Why don’t we cooperate to drive away the strong enemy?"

Su Ziyuan: "And then? So you can kill us afterward?"

Xiao Chi: "This Bone-Replacing Vine is enough for both our sects to share. It’s better to get part of it than to die here, body and Dao destroyed, don’t you think?"

Su Ziyuan: "Hah. You’re just at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining. Can you make that decision?"

Xiao Chi: "..."

He really couldn’t.

The senior brother who could make the call was already coughing up blood.

Xiao Chi wanted to help, but Su Ziyuan had him pinned down.

Xiao Chi: "I’ll convince my senior brother."

That senior brother responded amidst the melee: "I agree!"

Whatever numbers advantage the Taiyuan Sect had was already wiped out by the gap in cultivation.

Only three among them could even tangle with this Foundation Establishment cultivator. Two junior brothers were already dead or severely injured. If he fell, they’d have to rely solely on Xiao Chi.

Rather than forcing Xiao Chi to join forces with that Su woman when it was too late, it was better to ally now.

"Fine!" Su Ziyuan agreed without hesitation.

But her voice had barely faded, and she hadn’t even fully withdrawn her moves, when the Foundation Establishment cultivator struck first, aiming straight for her vital points.

Su Ziyuan tried to dodge, but it was too late.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator said, "Why don’t I help you first eliminate these annoying minnows?"

The Taiyuan Sect crowd was momentarily stunned. The Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator fighting him instinctively wanted to intervene, but then thought—his goal was just to free up Xiao Chi. Whether Xiao Chi allied with Su Ziyuan to kill Feishi Peak or with Feishi Peak to kill Su Ziyuan, it made no difference in essence.

But Xiao Chi had already drawn his sword and charged forward, intercepting the cultivator’s full-powered strike before it reached Su Ziyuan. He and his sword crashed into the cliff wall with a thunderous boom.

Everyone’s expressions shifted.

Shang Yunduo clenched his fist slightly.

This was why he really liked Xiao Chi, both as the novel’s protagonist and as a fellow sect junior—loyal to his word and faithful to his promises: the type of person he most liked to be friends with.

In the midst of the battle, after a split second of surprise, Su Ziyuan deployed several array flags. Her Kunlei Sword flew out, the flags fluttered without wind, connecting with the sword through arcs of lightning to form a massive net of thunder that struck at the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Everyone’s expressions changed again.

Even Su Ziyuan’s own clan member exclaimed, "Miss!"

The Foundation Establishment cultivator tried to flee, but the descending thunder still threw him into disarray.

Only then did Shang Yunduo realize.

This thunder array was likely Su Ziyuan’s trump card, originally meant for the final stage of the treasure grab.

If the Taiyuan Sect had joined her to kill the Foundation Establishment cultivator, that thunder array might have been turned on them.

Xiao Chi and the Taiyuan Sect’s leading disciple had obviously caught on too.

The latter’s face went dark, and when he looked at his naive junior brother, the shock on Xiao Chi’s face was still obvious.

Shang Yunduo remembered Pei Jie’s words: "In the cultivation world, there’s no man or woman—only strength." He couldn’t help shivering.

"Are you gonna help or not?" Su Ziyuan called out to the stunned Xiao Chi.

Xiao Chi bit his lip and charged forward, sword in hand.

No matter what Su Ziyuan had originally planned, the moment she used her trump card, their alliance was a done deal.

Though Xiao Chi was only at the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, he was widely regarded as the strongest sword cultivator at that cultivation level. He used a heavy sword, attacking with overwhelming force and wide sweeps. Teaming up with Su Ziyuan's lightning, he held his own against the Foundation Establishment cultivator and gained the upper hand in the battle.

Unfortunately, the weapons were too poor.

Several opportunities arose, but none managed to severely wound the opponent.

Shang Yunduo sighed in regret, wanting to just throw the Giant Sword from his storage pouch to Xiao Chi.

Yet the advantage still lay with Xiao Chi and his group.

Other disciples of Feishi Peak wanted to help, but the Taiyuan Sect and the Su family were not idle either.

Shang Yunduo thought to himself, 'We can win!'

But at that moment, a flying sword broke through the air, disrupting the situation.

A surge of spiritual power, stronger than anyone present, suddenly appeared—the enemy's reinforcements had arrived.

Another Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Xiao Chi dodged hastily, his sword clashing with the other.

His weathered sword snapped.

Shang Yunduo also got a clear look at the new Foundation Establishment cultivator's face—

It was the same Feishi Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator who had chased him for a whole day.

He clicked his tongue and cursed under his breath, 'Relentless pest.'

"Why are you so late?!" The besieged Foundation Establishment cultivator finally broke free from Xiao Chi and Su Ziyuan's attacks, escaping the lightning zone. He gasped, "Did you find Junior Sister?"

Zhou Jiao said, "Junior Sister Zhang is probably dead already."

"What?!"

Zhou Jiao: "I only found the Gale Ape's corpse; its claws, teeth, and fur had all been stripped off."

"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Senior Brother Zhou, you've got to be joking!"

Zhou Jiao: "I saw it myself."

"I don't believe it!"

Zhou Jiao: "You think I want to believe it?"

The first Foundation Establishment cultivator frowned hard. "Master will have our heads."

The Zhou surnamed Foundation Establishment cultivator said nothing.

He knew that all too well.

To protect their junior sister, Master sent the two of them together, and even gave them the Gale Ape. It should've been completely foolproof.

He can't understand what in the Guyuan Secret Realm could've killed the Gale Ape.

Could it be a demon beast? Or did other sects have Foundation Establishment cultivators sneak in too?

He paused, then pointed his sword at Su Ziyuan, pressing, "Little girl, I heard my junior sister went missing while chasing you. Got anything to say for yourself?"

Su Ziyuan said coldly, "What junior sister? I don't know, I don't recognize her."

"Then we'll have to take you back and do a soul search!" Only by catching the culprit could they somewhat calm their master's anger. "Junior Brother Zhao, attack!"

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators struck together. Su Ziyuan finally changed her expression, swallowed two Qi Recovery Pills, and activated the lightning net again.

This was a private feud between Feishi Peak and Su Ziyuan. Seeing that Xiao Chi hadn't moved, the Taiyuan Sect's managing disciple quickly called out, "Junior Brother Xiao!"

Xiao Chi didn't leave. He threw away his broken sword and swapped it for a sect-issued one, standing in front of Su Ziyuan and the Taiyuan Sect disciples. "Get out of here, quick!"

"No one leaves!" The two Foundation Establishment cultivators roared. "Form the formation!"

If they formed that formation, it'd be too late!

Shang Yunduo couldn't stay hidden any longer. He swung his giant sword and slammed it down among the Feishi Peak disciples. "Once they're dead, you're next! Help out!"

The disciples of Taiyuan Sect and the Su family snapped out of it and raised their weapons against the Feishi Peak disciples.

Those in blue training uniforms from other sects shouted quickly, "Back out!"

Whatever these three groups did to each other, what was it to them?

Zhou Jiao barely dodged being hit by the sword. Recognizing the familiar giant sword, he angrily said, "So it's you, you little brat!"

Xiao Chi thought the voice sounded familiar, but Shang Yunduo had his head wrapped, leaving only his eyes visible; he wasn't wearing Taiyuan Sect clothes, and even the weapon he used was unfamiliar. He was half a beat late, just about to say "Mas...", when he heard Su Ziyuan exclaim in surprise, "Senior Brother!"

Xiao Chi: "?"

Shang Yunduo put away the Mirage Lizard Gauze to avoid damaging it further. He caught the giant sword as it flew back and tossed it to Xiao Chi, still arguing with Zhou Jiao. "I was about to ask you! Why is it always you? Like a leech, chasing after me endlessly!"

Zhou Jiao was fuming. Who's chasing him? Shang Yunduo's the shameless one hiding and skulking everywhere.

Last time, he hid behind a rock to spy, and this time, he was still spying!

Xiao Chi, interrupted and hesitant for a moment, confirmed Shang Yunduo's identity again and respectfully said, "Master..."

Shang Yunduo: "Master what master! I don't know you!"

Xiao Chi: "???"

Then he sent a message to Xiao Chi, "No time to explain, just act like you don't know me for now."

Xiao Chi was completely baffled.

Without waiting for Xiao Chi's answer, Shang Yunduo sneered at Zhou Jiao, "Everyone stay back. I have a personal grudge against him too. Hey, you treasure-killing Foundation Establishment cultivator, dare to find an open space to fight me?"

Zhou Jiao, cursed to his face, was fuming. Isn't he just relying on a bunch of turtle-shell defenses? Who'd want to fight him! "If you've got the guts, take off your belt and rings, and then I'll oblige!"

Shang Yunduo: "What nonsense! Why not disable your own spiritual power first? Take this!"

With that, he shot forward like an arrow, swinging his fist at his old acquaintance.

Su Ziyuan didn't hold back either. "Senior Brother, I'll help you with lightning!"

Xiao Chi: "???"

The Feishi Peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, Zhao, also said, "Senior Brother, I'll back you up!"

Xiao Chi: "..."

Shang Yunduo immediately went from one-on-one to one-on-two. Xiao Chi had no time to think about anything else; silently gripping his sword, he chased after them.

The chaotic battle resumed, and Shang Yunduo got into his groove even faster than before.

He was unsure when fighting others, but against an old opponent, he was much more adept.

Last time, with injured meridians, he hadn't lost. This time, with his injuries mostly healed, what was there to fear?

Having learned from being fooled last time, Zhou Jiao no longer took him lightly. The moment they clashed, he immediately used a killing move with full force.

Shang Yunduo was startled. Steadying himself, he tried to close in, but Zhou Jiao deliberately kept his distance. Though it seemed Shang Yunduo could not get the better of Zhou Jiao, it looked as if he were chasing this Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Seeing this, Su Ziyuan immediately set up a lightning array, with continuous thunderbolts that both hindered Zhou Jiao from flying far and blocked the other cultivator from approaching. Shang Yunduo's eyes lit up—perfect timing!

Xiao Chi followed closely behind. In an instant, the four of them became a chaotic chase: Shang Yunduo chasing Zhou Jiao, the Zhao-surnamed Foundation Establishment cultivator chasing Shang Yunduo, and Xiao Chi chasing that Zhao-surnamed cultivator. An ignorant observer might think that Qi Refining stage cultivators could fight Foundation Establishment ones.

Su Ziyuan stayed close on the flank to prevent them from flying out of the lightning net. Within a few breaths, the five of them had already made two passes through the valley.

The two Foundation Establishment cultivators were entangled by three Qi Refining cultivators, growing both angry and anxious. Zhou Jiao especially—he was locked onto by Shang Yunduo, and though he caught Shang Yunduo's flaws several times, he was helpless against his array of magical artifacts. The lightning and thunder slowed him down and hindered his flying sword. Whenever Shang Yunduo seized an opening, he would slyly attack with punches and kicks.

From their last fight, Zhou Jiao still hadn't fully recovered from his injuries, while Shang Yunduo looked completely fine, seemingly even stronger in spiritual power. Who was the Foundation Establishment cultivator here?

He tried several times to switch opponents with his junior brother, who was better at Body Techniques, but that Eighth Layer Qi Refining kid from the Taiyuan Sect was equally troublesome, each time swinging his sword to block and interrupt his attempt.

Zhou Jiao was restricted at every turn, while Shang Yunduo, having gained allies, fought more and more smoothly.

Su Ziyuan's lightning array suppressed the two cultivators' advantage in cultivation. Xiao Chi's sharp eyes and solid cultivation compensated for Shang Yunduo's experience gaps, allowing him to fully leverage his artifact advantages and fully unleash his Body Techniques and Flame Control. For a moment, silver-white lightning and raging fire intertwined, with thunder, explosions, and the clash of weapons filling the valley with commotion.

Just then, someone shouted loudly: "Bone-Replacing Vine!"

Shang Yunduo suddenly remembered why he had come here.

Out of the corner of his eye, beyond the fire and lightning, a figure stood on the cliff. The spot where the Bone-Replacing Vine had grown was now empty.

As the thunder and lightning faded, Shang Yunduo saw clearly the man standing on the cliff with his hands behind his back—Pei Jie.

When had he arrived?

How long had he been here?

A wave of guilt washed over Shang Yunduo. With a whoosh, he darted away from between Xiao Chi and Su Ziyuan.

Xiao Chi: "?"

Su Ziyuan: "?"

Author's note:

Yunduo: Scatter, scatter. The temporary small alliance is over. I'm on the same side as my Senior, I shouldn't be standing here.