Immortal Venerable of the Beast Race
Chapter 1140 - 1044 Cultivation Retreat to Break Through to Golden Immortal

Chapter 1140: 1044 Cultivation Retreat to Break Through to Golden Immortal

Tianyue Marketplace, Qingyun Garden.

Ye Qingli and Shen Long were seated in a green stone pavilion, engaged in conversation.

"Taoist Friend Shen, you’ve helped me greatly this time. Thank you so much."

Ye Qingli expressed his gratitude.

"It was just a small effort. Taoist Friend Ye, you’ve helped me plenty in the past. Oh, by the way, Taoist Friend Ye, you didn’t mention this matter to anyone else, did you?"

Shen Long casually asked.

"No, I didn’t."

Ye Qingli shook his head.

"Taoist Friend Ye, I hope you won’t spread word of this. If the Heavenly Ghost Sect finds out that I eliminated their spies, they might come after me, and I won’t be able to handle that."

Shen Long’s gaze was sincere.

He didn’t want others to know he had recently been to Nine Stars Island. If the Xuanming Clan learned that Shen Long had been there, they would undoubtedly become suspicious of him.

The Xuanming Clan was one of the Seven Great Powers in the Glazed Sea Domain, with Taiyi Golden Immortals overseeing them. If they suspected him, they wouldn’t need proof — they could just send someone to eliminate him.

The Tianyue Sect wouldn’t risk clashing with the Xuanming Clan for Shen Long, especially since he wasn’t a disciple of their sect.

"Of course, Taoist Friend Shen, rest assured, I won’t let it slip."

Ye Qingli agreed without hesitation.

He hadn’t connected the matter to the Xuanming Clan, but Shen Long’s concern was reasonable. The Heavenly Ghost Sect could crush Shen Long effortlessly if they wished.

After chatting a while longer, Shen Long bade farewell and left.

Upon returning to Myriad Beasts Island, Shen Long headed straight to the Myriad Beasts Garden. There, he found Chu Buyu and Shen Yuqing seated in a stone pavilion, sipping tea and making idle conversation.

Having focused on secluded cultivation for years, Chu Buyu had also advanced to True Immortal Great Perfection.

"Father, you’re back."

Shen Yuqing greeted him.

"It’s nothing urgent. You should return to your cultivation."

Shen Long dismissed Shen Yuqing.

"Husband, did something happen?"

Chu Buyu’s expression grew serious.

Having been together for many years, she knew Shen Long’s temperament well. Something major had undoubtedly occurred.

Shen Long didn’t hide anything and told her the truth.

"I’m planning to retreat into secluded cultivation and focus on breaking through to the Golden Immortal Phase. Otherwise, if the Xuanming Clan ever sends a Golden Immortal cultivator after me, I’ll be in deep trouble."

Shen Long spoke gravely.

"That alone isn’t enough. High-ranking diviners can deduce the whereabouts of a deceased person’s life-bound immortal artifact or remains. Shen Jiu devoured the body, but we can’t leave the enemy’s life-bound immortal artifact untouched. Dispose of their belongings, too. I suggest setting up an ancient cultivator’s cave dwelling for the Tianyue Sect or Heavenly Ghost Sect disciples to discover. If the Xuanming Clan investigates, they’ll struggle to trace it back to us."

Chu Buyu proposed thoughtfully.

"The Heavenly Ghost Sect and the Xuanming Clan are allies. The Xuanming Clan could easily uncover the truth. It’s better to let the Tianyue Sect disciples find that ancient cave dwelling. Before leaving Nine Stars Island, I had Shen Chan set up an ancient cultivator’s cave dwelling and placed the belongings of Xuan Hao and his group there, destroying their identity tokens in the process."

Shen Long explained.

Given the situation’s ties to the Xuanming Clan, Shen Long couldn’t afford to be careless.

"Leave the rest to me. Husband, focus on your cultivation with peace of mind."

Chu Buyu assured him.

Shen Long nodded. After talking for a while, he stepped into a practice room and entered the Myriad Beasts Tower, heading to the ninth level — the Myriad Beasts Hall.

Inside the practice room, he sat cross-legged on a red meditation cushion and lit a stick of Soul-Soothing Incense, placing it into a censer.

The Soul-Soothing Incense nourished the divine soul and allowed True Immortal cultivators to quickly enter a cultivation state.

After a little less than half an hour, Shen Long opened his eyes, took out a Peacock Pill, and swallowed it.

The elixir melted upon entering, releasing a surge of immense energy in his abdomen. Shen Long immediately cultivated to refine the energy, a five-colored spiritual light emanating from his body.

······

On Xuanming Island, inside a secluded estate, Xuan Yu and Xuan Hong were sitting in a green stone pavilion, discussing something.

"Their life-bound immortal artifacts are on Nine Stars Island?"

Xuan Hong said darkly.

"Correct. The results from three True Immortal diviners all confirmed this. Their remains are gone, so the enemy likely knew their identities and didn’t dare take their belongings, leaving them on Nine Stars Island. I’ve already sent a True Immortal cultivator to retrieve their items. I hope we can find useful clues. Additionally, I’ve sent people to investigate which cultivators have recently entered Nine Stars Island. Anyone who’s been there is a suspect."

Xuan Yu spoke calmly.

"The crime scene might not be Nine Stars Island. It could be elsewhere, with Nine Stars Island merely being where the bodies were disposed of."

Xuan Hong pointed out.

"That’s possible. I’ve also sent people to search for witnesses. With Xuan Hao’s strength, few True Immortal cultivators could be his match unless a Golden Immortal was involved."

Xuan Yu replied thoughtfully.

"Whoever did this, we can’t let it slide. First, retrieve their belongings as a warning, and ensure no other elites venture out alone."

Xuan Hong’s tone was stern.

If Xuan Hao had matured, he would have undoubtedly been a cornerstone of the Xuanming Clan.

"Understood, Clan Leader."

Xuan Yu agreed readily.

······

Back in Tianyue Marketplace, inside a secluded estate, a dozen True Immortal cultivators were gathered in a green stone pavilion, sipping tea and discussing Dao.

"It’s been a while since we’ve seen each other, Taoist Friend Xu. You’ve advanced to the True Immortal Late Stage! Congratulations!"

A plump woman in a green dress offered her felicitations.

"I just recently ascended to the True Immortal Late Stage."

A tall, slender man in a green robe replied with a laugh.

Xu He, a disciple of the Tianyue Sect.

He turned to a medium-built man in a blue shirt and said, "Junior Brother Liu, the sect’s grand competition isn’t far off. Senior Sister Liu should perform quite well, don’t you think?"

"Hard to say. My cousin is in seclusion, preparing for the competition."

The man in the blue shirt responded.

Liu Yuhai, at the True Immortal Middle Stage, was Liu Yuqian’s cousin.

After chatting for nearly an hour, the cultivators departed one by one, leaving only the plump woman, Xu He, and Liu Yuhai behind.

"Taoist Friend Liu, I have something very important to discuss with you."

The plump woman’s expression turned serious.

"I’ll excuse myself, Junior Brother Liu. You two can talk at ease."

Xu He rose to leave but was stopped by Liu Yuhai.

"Madam Lin, just speak directly. Senior Brother Xu isn’t an outsider."

Liu Yuhai dismissed her hesitation.

Madam Lin was merely a Loose Immortal, so he didn’t think she would know anything truly significant.

"On Nine Stars Island, I discovered a Zouhua Cave, suspected to be left by a Golden Immortal cultivator. Even five True Immortal cultivators working together couldn’t break through the restriction. I want to trade this information with Taoist Friend Liu for some resources. What do you think?"

The plump woman said as she handed a green beast hide to Liu Yuhai.

"A Golden Immortal’s Zouhua Cave? How can you prove it? What about the True Immortal cultivators who partnered with you? Why don’t you invite more Taoist friends to breach the restriction?"

Liu Yuhai asked skeptically.

"We couldn’t agree, and things turned violent. I only managed to escape after merging with my Life-Bound Spirit Beast. If I don’t trade this information for resources, they’ll claim the treasures inside for themselves."

The plump woman explained.

Liu Yuhai nodded in understanding. An internal conflict — that made sense.

"Words alone aren’t enough proof. How do I know you’re telling the truth? Here, I’ll give you five hundred Immortal Yuan Stones as a deposit. If this really is a Golden Immortal’s Zouhua Cave, I’ll reward you handsomely."

Liu Yuhai offered.

"Could you exchange the Yuan Stones for an Immortal Pill to heal divine soul injuries? My Life-Bound Spirit Beast was wounded, and its divine soul is damaged."

The plump woman pleaded.

After a moment’s thought, Liu Yuhai agreed, producing a golden jade box and handing it to her.

Opening the box, the plump woman saw three golden pills gleaming inside and smiled widely.

After chatting a while longer, the plump woman excused herself and left.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Liu! Your opportunity has arrived."

Xu He congratulated him.

"Senior Brother Xu, why don’t we go treasure hunting together?"

Liu Yuhai suggested.

"This is your opportunity, not mine. I’ll pass. Be careful though. I plan on retreating for cultivation to prepare for the competition."

Xu He politely declined before taking his leave.

"Very well. I hope it is truly a Golden Immortal’s Zouhua Cave."

Liu Yuhai grinned with anticipation.