Chapter 1011: Truth and Lies

“Brother Ye, this top-grade flying spirit artifact costs at least 200,000 top-grade spirit stones, right? It’s pretty, but the defensive capabilities are a bit weak,” Cheng Yugeng said with a smile.

200,000 top-grade spirit stones? Ye Mo stared at Cheng Yugeng in shock. He’d only ever dreamed of affording such a vessel. He’d traded a spirit crystal and a crisp green vine for this—a transaction worth at least 1 million spirit stones. He knew he’d overpaid.

Fu Rong examined the ship, nodding. “Brother Ye’s flying ship is indeed worth around 200,000 spirit stones, though it does have a simple defensive formation.”

Ye Mo nodded speechlessly. “You’re right. How much did you pay for yours?”

Fu Rong replied cheerfully, “It was worth 120,000 top-grade spirit stones, but I got it for 100,000.”

Cheng Yugeng sighed. “Forgery masters are incredibly wealthy. A single spirit artifact can be worth 100,000 spirit stones! I’d have to work my entire life to earn that much. 500,000 spirit stones from Yu Baisheng qian bei’s ruins would allow me to prepare for the Nascent Soul state. A low-grade dao artifact would make me ecstatic.”

Ye Mo remained dubious but refrained from further inquiry. Top-grade spirit artifacts seemed far cheaper here than in the North Far State, yet earning spirit stones remained equally difficult. The only difference was the significantly denser spirit chi. This explained their mild surprise at his top-grade flying spirit artifact. He’d initially considered them wealthy upon seeing their middle-grade vessels, but that perception had clearly shifted.

Fu Rong and the others weren't particularly wealthy among Golden Core cultivators, but they were far better off than their counterparts in the North Far State. Honestly, Ye Mo didn’t care about 500,000 spirit stones; he possessed nearly 100 million within his small world.

…

Fu Rong had described their destination as the deep sea, and it was profoundly so. A week after departing the city, they finally reached a coral island with a 1000-kilometer circumference. The island teemed with oddly shaped corals, and a few low-level spirit herbs were occasionally visible.

The spirit chi wasn't abundant. Why would a Hollow Spirit state forgery grandmaster choose to build a cultivation home here? Ye Mo deployed his spirit sense, detecting no stealth formations.

His spirit sense, already stronger than that of ordinary cultivators and honed through dedicated cultivation, now encompassed the entire island. He found no stealth or defensive formations, as Fu Rong had described, but remained silent, following Fu Rong's lead.

Cheng Yugeng and Zheng Yidao showed no suspicion, following closely behind Fu Rong. Ye Mo brought up the rear.

Fu Rong halted them on the island beach.

“Is this it?” Cheng Yugeng asked.

Fu Rong nodded. “Yes, it's here.”

Ye Mo found this strange. As a level five formation master, he'd detected no stealth formations.

Fu Rong suddenly produced a formation flag. Upon landing on the beach, waves of spirit chi emanated.

“It’s here! I sense the formation!” Cheng Yugeng exclaimed joyfully.

Ye Mo was startled. The formation had been absent moments before; now, after Fu Rong's flag, it appeared. His skill surpassed his own. The flag was likely the activation flag for a stealth formation.

Wait. Ye Mo suddenly recalled Fu Rong mentioning expertise in certain formations.

Fu Rong, merely a formation master, not yet a grandmaster, couldn't easily locate a level five stealth formation that even he couldn't find. There were undoubtedly more skilled individuals, but Ye Mo didn't underestimate himself. He doubted Fu Rong's superiority. How could Fu Rong find something he couldn't?

While he'd previously felt unconcerned about facing the three of them, Fu Rong's hidden resources now demanded greater caution. He inquired cautiously, “Brother Fu, I also possess some understanding of formations. This stealth formation lacked any markings. Even a level four formation master would struggle to find it. How did you locate it?”

Ye Mo’s suspicion was clear. Following his question, Cheng Yugeng and Zheng Yidao remained silent but clearly shared his curiosity.

Fu Rong recognized the necessity of an explanation. After a pause, he said, “A year ago, I witnessed two individuals fighting here—a woman at Golden Core level eight and a man at Golden Core level nine. I was not yet at the Golden Core peak stage at the time, so I hid.

The woman appeared about to lose. She looked familiar, prompting me to consider intervention. However, she was resolute, choosing to self-destruct her Golden Core to take the man with her. I arrived too late. Upon searching their remains, I realized the woman was Yu Baisheng qian bei's daughter. No wonder she was familiar—she resembled Yu Baisheng qian bei.”

“Brother Fu, you discovered this formation because of her?” Cheng Yugeng asked.

Fu Rong nodded. “Precisely. The formation flag I threw is one left behind by Yu Baisheng qian bei. Only his flag could reveal the stealth formation. It's a magical artifact. When I initially discovered the stealth formation, I couldn't break it. I studied formations diligently ever since, finally devising a solution using four Golden Core cultivators a year ago.”

Ye Mo sneered. His experience, though not extensive, was considerable. Fu Rong's explanation, while seemingly flawless, held inconsistencies.

He found it unbelievable that a year of study yielded a solution. Even with his Three Birth Chant, years of study within his small world had been required to attain ordinary formation mastery.

Ye Mo suspected the cultivator who fought Yu Baisheng's daughter was Fu Rong himself, who had found her searching for Yu Baisheng's ruins. He'd attempted to kill her and claim the ruins, but she'd resisted, choosing self-destruction. Fu Rong had likely been severely injured and spent the year recovering. This was mere speculation, of course.

“No wonder I haven't heard from Brother Fu for a year,” Cheng Yugeng nodded.

“While the stealth formation is revealed, it remains undeciphered. Only upon solving it can we expose the defense formation. Brother Fu, explain how to proceed,” Zheng Yidao said.

Fu Rong nodded. “I can solve the stealth formation. When I attack, attack with me at full power. We'll unlock it within half a day. The defense formation will be more challenging, but I believe I have a solution.”

Fu Rong’s words reminded Ye Mo of Old Man Luo from the six-star hall, who used the essence blood and cultivation essence of others to solve formations. If Fu Rong dared to employ such a method, Ye Mo would kill him immediately.