The Ghostwind Slash, enhanced by the Nine Nether Gale, had its power increased by more than 30%.
However, the two Purple Mansion-level beasts were only mid- and early-stage. Against Elian, they were no match. The Heavenly Twin Swords tore through the air, and one raptor was instantly killed, its divine ability shattered. (I repeat, the Heavenly Twin Swords are the Fiery Void Sword and the Heavenly River Deep Water Sword, his natal artifacts)
The other raptor attempted to flee, but a formless sword intent flashed through the air, severing its head.
In mere moments, Elian capitalized on the opportunity to slay both beasts. The Clear Moon Riding Wind Escape technique enveloped the Purple blood Boat, allowing it to vanish into the horizon.
Unfortunately, in their haste, Elian only managed to retrieve one of the beasts' cores. The other was swept away by the Nine Nether Gale.
While this series of events appeared swift and decisive, it involved Elian using the Jade Spirit Eye divine ability, the Heavenly Twin Swords, and the Formless Sword.
The synergy of these three killing techniques, combined with the beasts' recklessness and the speed of the Purple blood Boat, brought about this outcome.
Moments later, the Purple blood Boat broke through the encirclement. Yu Qingyan, her face pale, let out a long breath of relief.
She looked at Elian with amazement, her eyes gleaming. After a long pause, she couldn't help but say, "To slay two Purple Mansion beasts in one breath, your methods are truly extraordinary."
"You flatter me," Elian replied with a slight smile.
"I relied on the sharpness of my swords and the element of surprise with the Formless Sword."
"You're too modest," Yu Qingyan said, catching her breath.
"To seize the right moment and achieve such results in an instant—your combat experience surpasses even that of many Golden Core elders."
Elian didn't dwell on the compliment and urged the Purple blood Boat forward.
Fortunately, they didn't encounter another large swarm of beasts. After a month of travel, they finally emerged from Ghostwind Ridge.
Once past Ghostwind Ridge, they were close to Tianlu Continent. Another ten days of flight, covering 700,000 to 800,000 miles, brought them to its edge.
Reaching the continent's border, both of them sighed in relief.
Having worked together to cross Ghostwind Ridge, they now shared a bond forged through mutual adversity.
Looking at Elian, Yu Qingyan smiled and asked, "What brings you to Tianlu Continent, fellow Daoist?"
"To be honest," Elian replied, "I've come to purchase a Sun Crystal." (I changed Fire Crystal to Sun Crystal because now that I think about it, the mc will use this treasure to develop the ability Solar True Aura, so Solar -> Sun)
Yu Qingyan's eyes flickered at the mention, and she nodded. "It's true that Sun Crystals are difficult to find in Ji Continent, but they are occasionally available here in Tianlu Continent. You should be able to acquire one."
"I hope so," Elian said with a nod.
"And what about you, Fairy Yu? What brings you to Tianlu Continent?"
"I'm here to visit a close friend," Yu Qingyan said with a smile. After a pause, she added, "I don't believe I know where you're from. Perhaps I could visit you someday?"
"I hail from the Chen family of Chu Kingdom in Ji Continent," Elian replied politely.
"It would be an honor to host you."
Yu Qingyan chuckled lightly, teasing him.
"I'm just a rogue cultivator without even a third-rank spiritual vein. If your family's grounds are as picturesque as I imagine, I might never want to leave."
Elian's eyes flickered, and he replied calmly, "That might not work—my wife would be upset."
"..."
Yu Qingyan seemed a bit disappointed but quickly changed the subject.
"My friend is Fairy Qingyan, who lives with her husband, Daoist Qingci, in Peach Blossom Mountain in Yuan Kingdom.
"After this trip, I plan to stay there for some years. If you need me, you can find me there."
Parting ways with Yu Qingyan, Elian flew into Tianlu Continent.
Once there, he stopped at a small cultivation marketplace and quickly gathered information about the general state of the continent.
Unlike Ji Continent, Tianlu Continent was home to only two nations: Lu Kingdom and Yuan Kingdom.
Despite being just two nations, both were vast, with each one several times the size of Chu Kingdom.
Of the two, Lu Kingdom was the stronger, dominated by the Tianlu Sect, once the continent's sole Nascent Soul sect.
The Tianlu Sect was a Nascent Soul sect with considerable strength, though its power had waned in recent years due to the deaths of two Nascent Soul cultivators.
Closer to Ji Continent was Yuan Kingdom, ruled by the Qin family, a newly risen Nascent Soul clan in Tianlu Continent.
Around 300 years ago, the Qin family produced its first Nascent Soul cultivator, and decades later, a second Nascent Soul cultivator emerged.
For a newly ascended Nascent Soul clan to produce two Nascent Soul cultivators within such a short time was a rarity across the Eastern Wilderness.
New Nascent Soul clans typically couldn't compare to established ones in terms of resources, cultivation techniques, or talent pools.
Many attributed the Qin family's success to sheer luck, saying their ancestors must have been blessed, producing two prodigies by chance.
"Could the Qin family be connected to that person?"
Elian's gaze turned contemplative as he observed the Qin family's grounds from a distance.
Though he investigated extensively, he couldn't confirm any ties between the Qin family and the individual he was searching for.
The Qin family had a good reputation. They were humble despite their status and often led efforts to slay demons and protect humanity.
Their Nascent Soul cultivators even ventured into the Heavenly Spine Mountain Range to negotiate treaties between humans and demons, showing no signs of malevolence.
"Could it not be them?"
Seated in a pavilion in the Qinyuan Market, Elian stared at the Qin family's domain, his expression heavy with thought.
There was a way to confirm the person's identity—using the Soul-Chasing Resentment Art. However, Nascent Soul cultivators had extraordinary senses. If Elian used the technique, they would detect him immediately.
"A hundred years ago, my mother's bloodline was drained to refine a treasure pill.
"Decades ago, he broke through to Nascent Soul. The timing is too coincidental."
Elian's eyes turned cold, but he suppressed the urge to use the Soul-Chasing Resentment Art.
At that moment, a nearby Purple Mansion cultivator asked, "Daoist Wei, what are you thinking about?"
This person was the steward of a Qin family shop. For this investigation, Elian had assumed the alias Wei Chongyang and visited the shop to gather information. (Wei Chongyang was the person Elian killed to revenge the Chen Family, he was an elder of the destroyed Qingyang Sect)
Elian smiled faintly and replied calmly, "Pardon my rudeness. It's my first time seeing the grandeur of a Nascent Soul clan. I was momentarily distracted."
"Hahaha."
The Purple Mansion cultivator laughed heartily and said, "Daoist Wei, to reach the Purple Mansion stage at such a young age, you surely have a chance at becoming a Nascent Soul cultivator in the future."
"You flatter me," Elian said, shaking his head modestly.
"I've heard that high-level Nascent Soul cultivators often have innate Dao constitutions. How could my meager talent compare?"
With some admiration, he asked, "I suppose the two True Monarchs of your esteemed clan are among those with such exceptional Dao constitutions?"
"Of course," the steward replied with pride, stroking his beard.
"Both of our Qin family's True Monarchs possess innate Dao constitutions and are celebrated as peerless prodigies of their time."
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D