Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments

Chapter 130 - 127: You Can’t Go, Xiao, It’s Too Dangerous

Having dealt with Ding Silei, Xiao Chen took his Storage Bag but chose not to stop and break into it there.

Instead, he and Huang Haoran continued in their predetermined direction to complete the Investigation mission.

The fact that they had been ambushed by a Demon Cultivator proved they were heading in the right direction.

Xiao Chen reckoned it wouldn’t be long now before he uncovered the conspiracy at play.

Yet, as they walked, they suddenly heard a series of violent explosions in the distance.

"Hm? What’s happening?"

Curious, Xiao Chen found some higher ground and peered toward the northwest.

The Ten Thousand Demons Mountain Range was home to many Demon Beasts. To avoid startling them, he had intentionally used Sword Techniques when fighting Ding Silei.

The goal had been to minimize the sounds of battle and avoid attracting any powerful Demon Beasts that might be passing by.

But the string of explosions in the distance clearly indicated that some Cultivator had been pushed into a corner and was now fighting with all their might, heedless of the consequences.

"That direction... It couldn’t be Elder Liu from the Spirit Medicine Garden, could it?"

Huang Haoran also stood beside him, gazing into the distance. "From the looks of it, that’s a good five miles away."

The commotion from a late-stage Foundation Establishment expert was clearly much greater; it could be detected even from such a great distance.

Huang Haoran was visibly excited. "It looks like Elder Liu has found the Demon Cultivators and is taking them down."

"Xiao, let’s hurry over. We can grab a few of the small fry and earn some Contribution Points."

Elder Liu had reached the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment years ago. He was one of the Li Huo Sect’s top combatants below the Golden Core Realm.

Since it was Elder Liu who had found the Demon Cultivators, Huang Haoran was naturally full of confidence.

Xiao Chen felt the commotion was a little excessive, but he figured Elder Liu had just run into a late-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator and was forced to get serious.

In any case, it wasn’t far. He could go see if he could help; a quick resolution was always for the best.

With this in mind, he immediately changed direction. "No problem. Let’s go."

The two crossed through dense forest and over mountain ridges. Halfway there, they heard the sounds of Magical Combat gradually subside.

"Over so quickly?"

Xiao Chen was puzzled. Less than ten minutes had passed. ’Could a winner have been decided already?’

Huang Haoran was clearly taken aback as well, but his expression was more one of regret. "Sigh. Looks like I won’t be getting many Contribution Points from this mission after all."

"Elder Liu is just too fast. I thought..."

He didn’t even get to finish his sentence before a column of fire erupted into the sky, standing like a great pillar holding up the heavens not far from them.

Xiao Chen looked up. The fiery pillar was at least a thousand feet tall, piercing the distant clouds and making it exceptionally conspicuous.

"Oh no! It’s the Heaven-Reaching Profound Fire Pillar!"

Huang Haoran’s expression changed drastically as he quickly grabbed Xiao Chen’s arm. "Xiao, something’s wrong. Let’s not go over there just yet."

"What is it?" Xiao Chen asked, looking at him with curiosity.

Huang Haoran stared grimly at the pillar of fire and explained, "You may not have seen this before, but it’s a specific use of the Liu Family’s ultimate trump card—a Top Grade Magical Artifact."

"When this appears, it means Elder Liu is losing."

"He’s using the Magical Artifact for Defense, but it’s also a warning and a call for aid. We should hurry back to the sect and get reinforcements for Elder Liu."

’Elder Liu couldn’t win?’

Xiao Chen was also taken aback. ’Is there more than one late-stage Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivator up ahead?’

’Or did he run into an exceptionally powerful foe?’

But he didn’t retreat. Instead, he looked at Huang Haoran. "Junior Brother... Huang, let’s split up."

"You head back to the sect for reinforcements. I’ll go over and see if I can be of any help."

Huang Haoran hurriedly tried to stop him. "You can’t go, Xiao! It’s too dangerous."

"I know you want to help, but in a battle between experts at the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, our presence would be practically meaningless."

"Elder Liu has already deployed his Top Grade Magical Artifact, so he should be able to hold out."

"And if he can’t... then that’s even more reason for us not to go."

His reasoning wasn’t wrong.

The power gap between Cultivators of different Realms is immense.

Getting involved in a High Tier battle without sufficient strength would more likely make you a hindrance than a help.

Furthermore, since it had already reached the point of relying on a Top Grade Magical Artifact for Defense, if Elder Liu could hold on, having one less person to protect would actually reduce the strain on his Defense.

If even a Top Grade Magical Artifact wasn’t enough to hold out, then one more person would be useless. Their only hope then would be for a Golden Core True Man to avenge him later.

Xiao Chen understood his meaning at once.

But he shook his head. "Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing."

As he spoke, he concealed his Cultivation. "I have a Concealing Secret Technique. I’m just going to observe the situation. I’ll be fine."

"Besides, I also have a Top Grade Defensive Spiritual Artifact."

Xiao Chen took out his brocade handkerchief and gestured for Huang Haoran to look closely. "If the situation isn’t as dire as we think, I can help relieve some of the pressure on Elder Liu."

Previously, Ding Silei’s moment of carelessness had allowed him to be defeated by the Sword Light too quickly.

As a result, the Fringed Tassel Brocade Handkerchief hadn’t even had a chance to be used.

Now, Xiao Chen deliberately channeled his Magical Power into the handkerchief, finally revealing the Spiritual Pressure unique to a Top Grade Magical Artifact.

Huang Haoran’s mouth fell open wide enough to stuff a fist inside.

’You have *what* now?’

He was stunned once more. This was a Top Grade Magical Artifact! He had been at the Foundation Establishment Realm for nearly ten years and had never gotten a decent opportunity to acquire one.

’How does Xiao Chen already have a Top Grade Magical Artifact?’

’Is the gap between people really this vast?’

"Junior Brother Huang, time is of the essence. We can’t delay any longer."

Xiao Chen put away the handkerchief. "I’ll go on ahead to check the situation. I’m counting on you to get reinforcements."

Huang Haoran shook his head vigorously to clear it. "Don’t worry. I’ll bring help back as fast as I can."

With that, Xiao Chen steeled himself and, while maintaining his concealment, rushed ahead as quickly as possible.

He arrived before the cave entrance to the Blood Plague Secret Realm.

The battle there had completely devolved into a one-sided confrontation of offense versus Defense.

Elder Liu had abandoned all offense. He was now relying on the Heaven-Reaching Profound Fire Pillar, desperately holding his ground as he manipulated a Shield in each hand.

To keep the commotion down, Ding Sanlei had also stopped using Magic.

Instead, he relentlessly activated his Sword Technique, launching wave after wave of attacks.

Since Elder Liu had given up on offense entirely to focus on parrying, he ironically presented almost no openings.

For the moment, Ding Sanlei could do nothing to him.

Seeing this, he continued his assault, steadily draining Elder Liu’s Magical Power.

At the same time, he began applying psychological pressure. "Liu Zhishui, you were already afflicted by my Yellow Springs Hungry Ghosts, and on top of that, you’ve used so much Magic."

"Triple the Magical Power consumption... that can’t feel good, can it?"

"How much Magical Power do you have left? How much longer can you hold on?"

Hearing this, Xiao Chen looked toward Elder Liu and, sure enough, saw a spectral imp clinging to his back.

Elder Liu remained silent, concentrating on defending against the incoming Flying Swords.

Ding Sanlei didn’t forget to add a bit of temptation. "I advise you to surrender without a fight. As long as you’re willing to renounce the darkness and embrace the light by submitting to my Divine Fire Sect..."

"Not only will I guarantee you your life, but after we topple the Li Huo Sect, I can even recommend you to the Lord Divine Monarch."

Xiao Chen, who was listening from the side, was left dumbfounded.

’Renounce the darkness and embrace the light? What the fuck? Are you even allowed to use those words?’