Chapter 994: No Right to Go
Mo Qianli raged. How dare Ye Mo ambush him again with that infernal thing? Another ambush, and he wouldn't be called Mo Qianli. Even without his evil soul strands, he wasn't a pushover. Yet, the thought sparked another searing pain in his spirit sense.
That cursed spirit sense attack! How many tricks did this level-five Golden Core cultivator possess? He was almost preposterously powerful, but in that agonizing moment, Shadowless invaded his meridians once more. Simultaneously, Zi Xu unleashed a storm of sword rays, encircling Mo Qianli.
Mo Qianli had already deployed a protective shield, but the spirit sense attack hampered its effectiveness. Worse, Shadowless had begun consuming his life essence.
Two purple sword rays pierced Mo Qianli's body, freezing him in place. He was helpless against the combined assault of Shadowless and Ye Mo. Only now did he fully grasp the purple sword rays' true power. He'd underestimated them before, realizing now that Ye Mo hadn't fully activated them initially.
As the purple sword rays tore into him, he felt his cultivation essence rapidly draining away.
"I, Mo Qianli, have dominated my entire life, yet I die here... unsatisfied..." Mo Qianli fell, eyes filled with boundless hatred and resentment.
Ye Mo retrieved the three storage rings without hesitation, incinerated Mo Qianli's body, dismantled the formation, and swiftly departed.
Mo Qianli had killed Ao Qilong during the battle—a calculated move to lure Ao Qilong's master. His swiftness and ability to dispel spirit sense marks ensured his safety, even if his killer appeared. Ye Mo, however, was less fortunate.
Shortly after Ye Mo's departure, a man in his fifties arrived. Gazing at the corpses of Ao Qilong and Tong Zhong, fury consumed him. He roared, "No matter who you are, I will tear you apart for killing my son!"
After several days, Ye Mo returned to Pei Hai City. He was shocked to find a significant increase in high-level cultivators, most above Hollow Spirit state. This filled him with apprehension.
He immediately returned to Mo Yue. Upon his arrival, he summoned everyone, intending to inquire about events during his absence. However, they had already assembled, only Su Jingwen remaining in secluded cultivation. Song Yangzhu excitedly grasped Ye Mo's hand.
The Mo Yue he returned to was vastly different. They no longer had just two pill masters; they now boasted three level-six and one level-seven pill masters. Li Jingwen had reached Golden Core level nine, clearly benefiting greatly from the Blue Wen Pill. Zhen Xiaoshan had regained his Golden Core level three cultivation. Ye Ling and Song Yangzhu were both at the peak of Foundation Establishment, a single step from Golden Core, hindered only by a lack of the necessary cultivation-enhancing pills.
This rapid advancement in less than two years was attributable to both their exceptional spirit roots and Ye Mo's generous provision of Spirit Range Pills – resources unavailable even to eight-star and nine-star sects, yet freely given by Ye Mo to Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even Su Yue and Sheng Yizhong had reached Chi Gathering level eight, while Yu Qiyang was at Foundation Establishment level five.
Most astonishing was Su Jingwen's achievement: reaching Foundation Establishment without a Foundation Establishment Pill. Awakening her hidden spirit root had spurred incredible progress, further enhanced by her dedicated cultivation.
Li Yuqian's progress was the least impressive, remaining at Nascent Soul level one. Ye Mo understood this was expected; her Nascent Soul breakthrough had been forced, and advancement at that level was inherently difficult.
"Sister Li, I heard that the Yang Hai Merchant Association had ill intentions towards us, and a Disaster Transformation cultivator aided us? Is that cultivator still in Pei Hai?" Ye Mo asked. "If so, I must visit them."
Li Yuqian nodded. "Yes, that cultivator is Ji Ling, a Disaster Transformation state formation master from South Peace State. He sought you out repeatedly, showing keen interest in our defensive and offensive formations. He studied them extensively each visit. However, a month and a half ago, the teleportation formation between South Peace and North Far States was completed, and he departed Pei Hai, leaving behind a jade card indicating he could be found in South Peace State."
"He left?" Ye Mo expressed regret, but then his tone shifted to joyous surprise. "Sister Li, did you say the teleportation formation between South Peace and North Far States is complete?"
"Yes, it's finished. Brother, do you wish to visit Sister Luo Ying and Qingxue there?" Ye Ling inquired.
Ye Mo nodded. "Yes, I've received news of their presence. If the teleportation formation is open, let's go together. The spiritual energy there is far superior, ideal for cultivation."
But Li Yuqian shook her head. "I know you've longed to go, and I inquired with Ji Ling. That teleportation formation isn't for ordinary individuals; it's for cultivators at Hollow Spirit state and above, under 300 years of age. Ji Ling said that even your status as a formation master couldn't exempt you from this rule."
This dashed Ye Mo's enthusiasm. The teleportation array was ready, but inaccessible to him.
Witnessing Ye Mo's disappointment, Li Yuqian added, "That's just the first criterion. The second is a million top-grade spirit stones per person."
Ye Mo fell silent. The cost was trivial, but reaching Hollow Spirit state—even if possible—would take considerable time. Could he afford to wait?
"Just those two criteria?" Ye Mo asked.
Li Yuqian shook her head. "No, two more. One can be waived with a referral from a North Far State Disaster Transformation cultivator or by being a level-three or higher Pill King."
Ye Mo had already advanced to level-four Pill King, but revealing that would be disastrous; his current power wouldn't protect him from abduction by powerful sects. Level three might have been safer, but his level-four status, without backing, left him vulnerable.
His only hope lay in a referral from a Disaster Transformation cultivator, but were there any in North Far State?
"Are there any Disaster Transformation cultivators in North Far State?" Ye Mo asked. Those reaching that level typically went to South Peace State to pursue Truth Realization. Who would remain here?
Li Yuqian nodded. "Yes, to my knowledge, there are three in North Far State. You've likely met one. I've inquired with Ji Ling; the teleportation formation is controlled by three Disaster Transformation and eight Cauldron Filling state cultivators."
"I've met one?"
Li Yuqian smiled. "Certainly, but you don't know it. Every time the Herb Plain opens, Qian Bei Ling Zhongtian attends, so you must have seen him."
"Ling Zhongtian? He's a Disaster Transformation cultivator?" Ye Mo asked, astounded.
Li Yuqian nodded. "Yes, Ling Zhongtian is one of the three. The other two are from the two eight-star sects in North Far State: Shan Di from the Moon Seeking Sect, and Tang Mengrao from the Virgin Sect."