Chapter 950: A Step of Progress

Although Ye Mo wished to immediately join Song Yangzhu and the others, he resisted the urge. His wounds were unhealed; recovery was paramount. Pei Hai City lay outside North Far State, tens of millions of kilometers from River State City. Unplanned travel would be slow and risk detection by the Ghost Immortal Sect.

He needed to remain calm. While China Pharmaceuticals' destruction wasn't directly linked to the Ghost Immortal Sect—they hadn't been present—Li Yuqian and the others wouldn't have escaped a Ghost Immortal Sect attack, even with their teleportation formation.

Regarding the Immortal Treasure Tower, he'd even aided them, so their hostility puzzled him. However, he suspected the attacks from the All Pill Tower and Immortal Treasure Tower originated from lower-ranking members, not higher-ups. Their deployment of nascent soul state cultivators explained the prolonged search for his flying sword.

The Ghost Immortal Sect posed a different threat. As a five-star sect, they could locate his teleportation formation's remnants. While they didn't speak Chinese, finding a translator among the numerous cultivators from the small world was entirely feasible.

This realization frightened Ye Mo. He'd need to warn Song Yangzhu. Fortunately, he'd arrived first; otherwise, their location would have been compromised.

Ye Mo consulted a map of North Far State, locating Pei Hai City in the south and Xia Shan City, a major city near the Heartless Sea, in the west. He copied Song Yangzhu's message onto a jade card, altering the destination to Xia Shan City. He then placed the card where he'd found Yangzhu's, adding a hidden surveillance formation.

However, he soon realized a flaw. A skilled formation master accompanying the Ghost Immortal Sect would detect this. He retrieved a camera—a gift from Huang Mei during the Northern Sand King hunt—placed it discreetly, added a surveillance formation, and departed. Even highly skilled opponents wouldn't suspect a camera or probe it with spiritual sense.

He found a secluded valley, entered the earth, and accessed the golden page world to recover. Prioritizing his health, he planned to explore the All Herb Mountain Ranges before proceeding to Pei Hai City.

Only upon careful examination did the severity of his wounds become apparent. He'd suppressed them with cultivation essence, but bleak chi had begun invading his meridians, unbeknownst to him. Continuing to Pei Hai City risked irreversible damage, transforming him into an emotionless puppet.

He immersed himself in the spirit marrow pond, utilizing two spirit crystals. A spirit chi whirlpool formed, refining the bleak chi. Winter's Arrival, absorbing the resulting white mist, became even colder.

This surprised Ye Mo; Winter's Arrival had been largely unused since obtaining the Mist Lotus Heart Fire. He discovered its ability to consume bleak chi.

After several days, the bleak chi was eradicated. His cultivation reached peak golden core state level one, thanks to the absorbed spirit chi. He consumed two more spirit crystals to break through. His wounds healed, spirit chi converted into cultivation essence.

With a crack, his cultivation essence surged, reaching golden core state level two. He'd achieved this remarkable advancement in just two months.

While celebrating his rapid progress, he noted the considerable depletion of the spirit marrow pond. His cultivation's voracious consumption of resources was unsustainable even for a nine-star sect. He doubted he could advance from golden core state level three to four in a century using ordinary spirit chi, even after exhausting his current resources.

Yet, the vast spirit range within the golden page world offered solace. Power was paramount; slow progress was his greatest fear. He needed strength to reach the nine-star sects for Luo Ying, Ning Qingxue, and the others; to protect Song Yangzhu and Ye Ling; and to confront the two hollow spirit state masters, the Ghost Immortal Sect, and the spirit range's original owner.

Instead of continuing his cultivation in the spirit marrow pond, he moved to the spirit range, activating the spirit gathering formation. He wouldn't return after Pei Hai City, intending to relocate Song Yangzhu and the others to South Peace State. He planned to investigate the All Herb Mountain Ranges and its ancient ruins before leaving.

Suddenly, two nascent soul state cultivators appeared within his surveillance formation—a tall one and a short one. Their attire identified them as members of the Ghost Immortal Sect.

"So close," Ye Mo muttered.

The tall cultivator, upon finding the jade card, asked, "He hasn't been here yet. Wait, or go to Xia Shan City?"

The short cultivator replied, "No need to wait. He's just a golden core state level one cultivator. He'll need at least half a month without a teleportation formation. Zhi Hong said he's meticulous and cunning. He might not come even if we wait. Let's go to Xia Shan City. Leave the jade card."

The tall cultivator agreed, "Good idea. We'll wait for him there. If he doesn't come, we'll capture Yangzhu, and he'll surely follow."