In a crouching position, the Inferno Divine Dragon stared at Qin Yun and Hong Lingtong when it suddenly charged forward.
“Go!” Qin Yun released his Intrinsic Flying Sword immediately.
Instantly, like a moon rising over the river, the moon-like sword beam collided with the Inferno Divine Dragon’s head at an inconceivable speed. Bam! Fire sparks flew but the dragon appeared unharmed. It let out a dragon’s roar as though it was somewhat furious. It resumed its attack while Qin Yun controlled his flying sword to unleash his attacks on it.
Bright Moon Over River attacked the dragon from every conceivable angle!
However, the dragon’s body was redoubtable. Only a tiny portion of sparks dissipated but after dozens of strikes, the flames it comprised of slowly thinned.
“Phew.”
Another moon-like sword beam whistled its impending attack. But when the flying sword struck the dragon’s body, it was as if it was stabbing into empty space. It went straight through it! The dragon’s massive body seemed to ignore Qin Yun’s flying sword and swooped down at Qin Yun.
“No good.” Qin Yun’s expression changed slightly.
“Its body can phase between a corporeal and incorporeal state.” Hong Lingtong was also greatly alarmed. The dragon’s body had been corporeal, and even the flames they encountered during the previous Spirit Pill encounters could be forcibly destroyed. No one expected the dragon to be capable of phasing in and out of existence.
Qin Yun commanded his Intrinsic Flying Sword to rapidly fly back as he released the purple flying sword.
At the moment the purple flying sword flew forward, it began forming the Cyclic Sword Flash barrier.
The Cyclic Sword Flash barrier was a complete defense! Be it physical or not—as long as it possessed a minuscule of energy—even dust could be warded off.
“Boom!!!”
The dragon’s incorporeal body flew over and swiped down with its sharp claws, scratching at the Cyclic Sword Flash barrier. Despite a violent reverberation, the barrier managed to withstand the assault.
“Its attack is much weaker than Ji Lie’s attacks at full force.” Qin Yun heaved a sigh of relief. He was right. Ji Lie was considered extremely powerful among Connate Golden Cores. He also had a first-grade Dharma treasure, the Fiend Annihilation Hand, which could only be defended against by Qin Yun’s strongest Cyclic Sword Flash defenses.
“Boom!!!”
The dragon swooped down a second time. After a swipe of its claws, it thrust its massive tail onto the barrier, which finally disintegrated the Cyclic Sword Flash.
However, with the Intrinsic Flying Sword already prepared, Cyclic Sword Flash was mustered once again, resulting in an impregnable defense.
The might produced by the Intrinsic Flying Sword was incomparable to the might of the purple flying sword. The large Cyclic Sword Flash protected his surroundings and despite the dragon’s maniacal attacks, it failed to split apart the Cyclic Sword Flash.
“Every time it attacks, the flames on it will dissipate.” Hong Lingtong said immediately. “It won’t be able to last long.”
“If it were the ordinary flame plumes, they would have disintegrated simply from striking my Cyclic Sword Flash,” said Qin Yun. “This Inferno Divine Dragon is indeed a lot harder with it phasing in and out of existence. However, it is ultimately a manifestation of the array formation and does not have any intelligence. All it knows is to attack us. I just need to drag it out, and the flames it is made up of will eventually be exhausted.”
The bout continued for a few moments. The dragon’s body turned increasingly dark and thin and finally, its body disintegrated as the flames dissipated.
“It’s done!” Hong Lingtong was delighted as he stared intently at the Fire Cloud Calabash that was placed on the lustrous jade platform.
“This is the strength of a greatly weakened array formation. If the array formation wasn’t weakened, I wonder what sort of state the Inferno Divine Dragon would be? How powerful would it be?” Qin Yun could not help but ponder.
“Thousands of feet long and probably a person at Ji Lie’s level will be instantly decimated?” Hong Lingtong mumbled.
“My flying sword arts will be decimated instantly as well,” said Qin Yun with a laugh.
“That’s why we only dare enter after gathering all six tokens.”
As the duo spoke, they felt their hearts racing.
They were both looking at the Fire Cloud Calabash on the jade platform.
“Brother Qin Yun, take a look and see what’s in it,” said Hong Lingtong eagerly.
“Alright.” Qin Yun waved his hand as a sword beam flew out, and wrapped the Fire Cloud Calabash in air, pulling it over.
The red Fire Cloud Calabash was born of the world and was best at storing pills. At that moment, there were four small and inconspicuous text on the Fire Cloud Calabash—Golden Core Outer Pill.
“Golden Core Outer Pill?” Qin Yun and Hong Lingtong were astonished.
Their expressions changed.
Their hearts raced even faster.
“This, this, this, this is…” Even as calm as he was, Hong Lingtong was so agitated that he was at a loss for words.
“Golden Core Outer Pill! The legendary Golden Core Outer Pill?” Qin Yun looked at the four words on the Fire Cloud Calabash. He found it surreal.
Hong Lingtong could not help but give Qin Yun a glance.
“Will he kill me to snatch the treasure? Or will he not kill me but not give me any?” Hong Lingtong could not help from having chaotic thoughts run through his head. After all, his strength was inferior to Qin Yun’s. “If he doesn’t want to split it with me, he might also be afraid of my divulging the secret. If so, he might even silence me!”
Hong Lingtong felt a myriad of emotions.
It was also impossible for him to infer the future due to his chaotic thoughts.
“Take a look at what’s inside?” asked Hong Lingtong.
“Alright.” Qin Yun nodded and pulled the calabash’s stopper to check it.
Inside, there were six floating golden pills that were spherical in shape. They were scattered within the space and did not interfere with the other.
“Six Golden Core Outer Pills.” Qin Yun’s eyes lit up. Hong Lingtong was equally excited, but he was more worried, worried that Qin Yun would murder him.
“Qin Yun’s character might be fine but treasures can change a person. The most unreliable thing that will succumb to temptations is a person’s character. These are legendary Immortal Pills. They provide sufficient reason for Connate Golden Core cultivators to fall out.” Hong Lingtong felt all sorts of conflicted thoughts.
Hong Lingtong said immediately, “Brother Qin Yun, you have obtained so many treasures on this expedition to the immortal abode. I have received a lot from you while we were along the periphery of the abode. Now, we have obtained so many Spirit Pills. I’m still too weak and with so many treasures… it might be a curse more than a blessing for me! As for these Golden Core Outer Pills, why don’t you just give me one, alright?”
“Are you afraid I’ll silence you?” Qin Yun shot a glance at Hong Lingtong.
Qin Yun had roamed the world from the age of fifteen, and he had seen the dark natures of humans. His survival definitely had luck involved, so how could he not guess at Hong Lingtong’s thoughts?
Hong Lingtong was taken aback.
Qin Yun smiled. “Don’t worry. We agreed on splitting it equally. I will not give you any less. As for silencing you, you are thinking too little of me.”
So what if they were treasures?
In the face of death, treasures were unsubstantial. Back when he was on the battlefields of the northern borders, he walked the tightrope of life and death and eventually knocked open the gate of immortality! He had entrusted his life to his brothers. If he had thrown aside the importance of his life, how could treasures tempt him? Qin Yun and his pals were different from the soldiers that were stationed in the northern borders.
They were there of their own accord! They could leave at any time. Therefore, Qin Yun believed that among all the cultivators he met while traveling the world, the people that were most easygoing and worthy of respect were his pals on the battlefield in the northern borders. All of them wore their hearts on their sleeves.
“But all these treasures truly puts pressure on me.” Hong Lingtong could not help but say. “Besides, I’m afraid of those who are adept at inference. They might be able to infer who received the greatest bounty on this expedition to the immortal abode… I’m afraid that they would infer that it’s me. I’m weak and the easiest to be crushed to death.”
“That can be inferred as well?” Qin Yun was astonished.
“Yes.”
Hong Lingtong nodded. “Powerful Essence Soul immortals who are good at inference can see how providence’s light shifts. They can even see the treasure halos around us! The richer the treasure halos, the more treasure we have. Although I have means of concealing the halo, it is difficult to conceal it when there are so many treasures.”
What Hong Lingtong said was the truth too.
Essence Soul immortals were good at inference. They could see how providence’s light shifted and the treasure halos. That was a fact. For the treasures they had received up to now, Hong Lingtong was still able to barely conceal them even if half had been given to him.
“Treasure halos?” Qin Yun nodded slightly. “I’ve heard of that before too. However, since I agreed on splitting it evenly with you, I’ll do it. If not, I’ll damage my Dao heart, wouldn’t that be the case?”
“That’s true.” Hong Lingtong nodded.
For Qin Yun to grasp sword intent at the Postnatal realm, and reach the sword intent domain at twenty-three, he naturally wished to grasp Sword Dao in the future. How could he mar his Dao heart for Immortal Pills?
Furthermore, going back on his word, killing friends for treasures was something he disdained deep down. Becoming a person he despised was something worse than death to him.
“Let’s do it this way. If you are afraid, I’ll hand you thirty percent of your share. I’ll hand over the remaining seventy percent when you enter the Connate True Core realm,” said Qin Yun with a smile. “When the time comes, you will be stronger too, and you should have more means.”
“Alright.” Hong Lingtong felt his heart warm up.
He truly trusted Qin Yun.
There was no need for Qin Yun to hoax him. If he refused to hand it to him, Hong Lingtong had no other solutions as well.
“Take one Golden Core Outer Pill first.” Qin Yun pulled the calabash’s stopper and a Golden Core Outer Pill flew out.
Hong Lingtong extended his hand to grab it and threw it into his mouth.
“Are you eating it now?” Qin Yun was astonished.
“Haha, it’s naturally best if my strength can increase sooner than later. It will allow me to face danger too. But this is an external power after all. It’s only temporary,” said Hong Lingtong with a smile.
Qin Yun nodded with a smile. “I do not know how to conceal treasure halos. I’ll eat one too.”
Another Golden Core Outer Pill flew out. It was round, golden and shimmering, containing unimaginable power. Qin Yun opened his mouth, and the Golden Core Outer Pill entered it.
“Although it’s a temporary external power, through it, Ji Lie is probably not your match anymore, Brother Qin Yun,” said Hong Lingtong.
“It also brings about many advantages. It benefits for life,” said Qin Yun.