Chapter 882: Searching for a Place

Tong Wusheng immediately understood; Sima Zhu, like himself, hadn't scrutinized the Foundation Establishment cultivator. His heart sank. Knowing Ye Mo's appearance might have allowed them to utilize their abilities effectively. Without it, how could they possibly find him? The Foundation Establishment cultivator's cultivation essence and spiritual sense were almost imperceptible, a subtlety that now seemed deliberate.

“Such cunning!” Tong Wusheng sneered, then fixed a cold gaze on Sima Zhu. “I only saw he wore a face-changing artifact. I didn't examine his features closely.”

As a Hollow Spirit state master, why would he meticulously study the face of a dying Foundation Establishment cultivator? He'd been focused on battling Sima.

Sima Zhu's expression darkened. A Hollow Spirit state middle-stage master, robbed by a Foundation Establishment insect—a blatant insult!

Sima Zhu sneered, remaining silent. He produced a boat-shaped cultivation artifact and vanished in a black streak.

“A cultivation artifact?” Tong Wusheng's face fell. He hadn't expected Sima Zhu possessed a flying artifact. It was low-grade, but seemingly superior to his own.

So that was the treasure the old man had promised! He'd been manipulated twice. Fortunately, the Foundation Establishment cultivator had stolen it; otherwise, it would be in Sima Zhu's possession. As long as it wasn't Sima's, he still had a chance.

However, another problem immediately arose. He'd obtained his flying cart from auction. How did Sima Zhu possess a black net and a flying boat? Had he discovered an ancient ruin?

He immediately pursued Sima Zhu. Sima Zhu, however, simply returned to Change Fen Hill.

He looked sardonically at Tong Wusheng's approach and scoffed, “Dark-faced fool! You dare to contend with me for ‘Things’? Even without that Foundation Establishment insect, ‘Things’ would never have been yours. So what if he stole my book and evaded my spiritual sense? If I can't handle a Foundation Establishment insect, I've wasted centuries!”

“Interesting! A natural formation… a stone room within.” Sima Zhu paused, surveying his surroundings. “No… unnatural. Someone constructed this. Who? And why?”

Sima Zhu circled, then dashed to the stone wall, retrieving a rock from behind it. He placed the stone in his mouth.

After a moment, he spat it out, staring at the wall in shock. “A Heaven and Earth Rare Fire Seed?! Who concealed it here within a formation?”

“The Abyssal Earth Fire?!” Sima Zhu was shaken. The abundance of yin chi confirmed his suspicion; a perfect environment for the Abyssal Earth Fire.

Sima Zhu excitedly produced an orange flame. His Li Zhe Fire ranked 29th in the cultivation realm. Obtaining the 11th-ranked Abyssal Earth Fire would grant him the potential to reach Pill King!

Pill King! Sima Zhu could barely contain his excitement. He was increasingly intrigued by the Foundation Establishment insect. A Foundation Establishment insect had obtained the Abyssal Earth Flame. If he secured ‘Things’ as well, his future possibilities were limitless.

“Hehehe!” Sima Zhu chuckled grimly. Knowing this, the Foundation Establishment insect's good fortune was at an end.

Just as Sima Zhu was about to depart, he recalled another Rare Fire Seed: the Mist Lotus Heart Fire. It also thrived in areas rich in yin chi, although it also required yang chi to ascend.

Sima Zhu was stunned. If it was the Mist Lotus Heart Fire, he dared not contemplate further.

Given the choice, he would select the Mist Lotus Heart Fire over ‘Things.’ It was a Heaven Fire! It could even propel him to Truth Realization state.

The possibility that the Foundation Establishment cultivator had taken the Mist Lotus Heart Fire sent a jolt through him. His heart pounded as it hadn't in centuries—reminiscent of his youth.

Back then, he'd fallen for a fellow sect member. The first time he'd given her a gift, his heart had raced like this. He'd been of poor talent, unlike his martial sister, who'd become dao partners with a core disciple. Rejected, he'd left the sect to become a lone cultivator, eventually receiving a pill master's inheritance. His power skyrocketed with his improving alchemy skills.

Upon reaching Nascent Soul state, he'd sought revenge. Finding his martial sister at Golden Core, he'd raped her before her husband, who died of rage. He'd never felt such satisfaction.

Yet today, the Mist Lotus Heart Fire ignited that same passion. He would soon claim it from the insect!

Sima Zhu licked his purple lips, eyes gleaming with avarice. He surveyed his surroundings, then ruthlessly destroyed the formation and its contents. He wanted no one else to know of the potential Heaven Fire.

Tong Wusheng arrived shortly after Sima Zhu's departure, finding only ruins.

…

The two cultivators estimated the Foundation Establishment cultivator to be no more than 50,000 kilometers away.

Failing to quickly locate Ye Mo, they surmised he was hiding near Chang Fen Hill, the only explanation for evading their pursuit.

They searched a 50,000-kilometer radius, maiming or killing any cultivators who couldn't provide answers.

Chang Feng Hill soon became a forbidden zone; everyone knew two merciless masters were hunting there. They occasionally encountered each other but remained silent. They were clever; Ye Mo was indeed within their search range.