Chapter 177: The Gathering of Golden Core Experts, Forming Arrays Around the Barbarian Tribe

With her Golden Core cultivation, Li Shuxian’s Illusory Formation was so well-concealed that even most cultivators of the same level would struggle to detect it—let alone wild beasts or birds.

Thus, with one person in the tree and the other below it, neither she nor Yu Xian was disturbed at all.

Unknowingly, a whole day passed.

Just as the bright moon was rising in the east, Li Shuxian suddenly opened her eyes and looked toward the horizon.

A middle-aged Daoist with hands clasped behind his back rode in on an auspicious cloud, followed by a young man.

Though Yu Xian hadn’t sensed their approach at all, Li Shuxian had detected them from over ten miles away.

It wasn’t until they were within a few dozen meters that Yu Xian suddenly frowned and opened his eyes to look over.

At just one glance, Yu Xian’s gaze paused slightly.

That middle-aged Daoist—he wasn’t a stranger. He was one of the eight Golden Core experts Yu Xian had once seen on the fourth floor of the Golden Scale Pavilion.

His name… seemed to be Kong Xiao.

Seeing a Golden Core cultivator arrive, Yu Xian immediately leapt down from the tree and swiftly came to Li Shuxian’s side.

“Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Li, you sure arrived early,” Kong Xiao laughed heartily as he walked forward. His gaze soon landed on Yu Xian, revealing a hint of surprise.

This little alchemy master—why was he here?

And even more puzzling, why was he with Li Shuxian?

Weren’t the two of them somewhat at odds before?

Kong Xiao was indeed a little confused.

But he only pondered it briefly before that trace of surprise disappeared from his eyes, replaced by his usual warm smile.

Li Shuxian chuckled. “Arriving a few days early is good for making preparations. Didn’t you also arrive early? I believe the others won’t be far behind.”

Kong Xiao nodded. “Indeed, the earlier we come, the better. Although this is a forbidden zone of heaven and earth and the ten-thousand monsters slumber, the barbarian tribe guards a powerful demon. Even if it hasn’t fully manifested, it won’t be easy to handle.”

As he said this, he glanced at Li Shuxian again, eyes gleaming. “You know, it’s only been a year, but you seem even more beautiful than before.”

Li Shuxian laughed lightly and waved him off. “Fellow Daoist jests. How could I possibly become more beautiful in just a year?”

“I speak no falsehood. It seems you are on the verge of a breakthrough. Let me offer my congratulations in advance.”

“You flatter me, but you, Fellow Daoist, look radiant—clearly the one on the verge of a breakthrough.”

As they exchanged pleasantries, the young man behind Kong Xiao suddenly spoke, “Master, look.”

Yu Xian, who had been quietly watching their back-and-forth, turned to look where the youth pointed.

Li Shuxian and Kong Xiao also raised their heads.

In the southeast, a dark dot streaked through the sky like a meteor.

Though Yu Xian couldn’t make out the figure at such a distance, Kong Xiao smiled and said, “Ah, Fellow Daoist Fei has arrived.”

Fei Xingchen?

Yu Xian’s heart stirred. Could it be the same Golden Core cultivator named Fei Xingchen he had encountered before?

The figure drew closer rapidly—Golden Core cultivators moved with astonishing speed. Within moments, he was just a few dozen miles away.

Yu Xian’s gaze sharpened, and soon he could make out a man riding on a long blade, followed by a younger cultivator. Wind howled around them as they approached.

Indeed, it was Fei Xingchen.

He gracefully landed, shrinking his blade and tucking it away before approaching with his companion.

“Fellow Daoist Li, Fellow Daoist Kong—you two arrived early,” Fei Xingchen greeted them with a smile. Then, spotting Yu Xian, he said, “Oh? So Fellow Daoist Fang is here too? Where is he?”

“Fellow Daoist Fang has not arrived,” Kong Xiao replied. “This young friend Yu came with Fellow Daoist Li.”

Fei Xingchen raised a brow, intrigued.

Yu Xian, with Li Shuxian?

Hadn’t she previously forced him to pay a hefty price for a rare piece of wood?

Could she have… seduced him?

It would explain why she looked even more youthful and stunning than before.

Fei Xingchen gave a knowing smile and nodded, his expression full of unspoken understanding.

Yu Xian noticed the look and frowned slightly—it made him uncomfortable.

Li Shuxian’s expression remained unchanged. Still smiling, she said, “Young Friend Yu and I are fated. I happened to have no Foundation Establishment disciples available, so I brought him. As for Fellow Daoist Fang, he has plenty of disciples from the Mo Clan. He doesn’t lack a Foundation Establishment tagalong.”

Yu Xian turned to look at her in surprise. Was she really bringing him for his benefit?

He found that hard to believe.

A gentle voice suddenly rang in his ears—it was Li Shuxian’s voice, transmitted directly via sound-thread technique, a sign of her Golden Core prowess.

“What are you looking at? You still doubt me? If you hadn’t successfully refined that pill for me, helped me save face, and flattered me, you think I’d bring you? Fang Jue wouldn’t have brought you from the Golden Scale Pavilion. Remember my favor.”

Yu Xian lowered his eyes, thoughtful.

More cultivators arrived soon after. In just an hour, another figure approached from the skies—it was Fang Jue, riding a painted fan. Behind him was a young woman: Mo Yao.

Yu Xian recognized her—she was the Mo Clan descendant who’d asked Yue Pingfeng to refine the Seven-Glow Robe, and the granddaughter of the Nascent Soul expert, Mo Long—known as the True Dragon Sage.

She wasn’t particularly beautiful, but the radiant treasure robe made her appear almost as attractive as Li Shuxian.

One after another, the remaining Golden Core cultivators arrived: Zhou Qin, Wang An, and Lin Feng. Each brought their own disciples or juniors.

Now only one remained absent—He Butong.

“Fellow Daoist He won’t be coming,” Wang An explained. “He sensed a breakthrough half a year ago and has sealed himself in seclusion, attempting to reach mid-Golden Core.”

Everyone was momentarily surprised, then nodded. A breakthrough always took precedence.

Soon after, the seven Golden Core experts surrounded the barbarian settlement and began setting up arrays.

Ten miles ahead, nestled deep in the forest, was the Yang Barbarian Tribe—30,000 strong, living in makeshift huts, tree nests, and thorn palisades. In the center stood a scorched, thunder-struck tree stump—their sacred site.

As they observed from afar, Fang Jue explained to the gathered juniors: ten years ago, Li Shuxian had stumbled upon this barbarian tribe and discovered a powerful, mindless demon-beast living in the stump—empowered by Nascent Soul fragments.

Such fragments were precious and rare.

The seven had agreed to wait for the once-in-a-year weakening event known as the “Heaven-Earth Great Restriction,” when demonic forces would be at their weakest.

They now laid down killing and trapping arrays in all four directions.

As Fang Jue deployed two major formations on his own, sweat beaded on his forehead from the burden.

“Uncle Fang, do you need help?” Mo Yao asked.

“It’s nothing,” Fang Jue smiled.

After half a stick of incense, all seven formations were complete.

“In six days, when the restriction descends, we strike,” Fang Jue declared, eyes sharp with anticipation.

“Nascent Soul fragments…” the others muttered with visible excitement.

But then, Yu Xian softly spoke up, “Senior cultivators… when we attack, won’t the barbarians defend their so-called deity?”

“What deity? Just a monster,” Wang An scoffed. “As for the barbarians—they’re nothing. If they try to stop us, we kill them.”

Li Shuxian also dismissed the concern. “They’re mortals, barely cultivators. They won’t matter.”

Yu Xian said nothing more, only lowered his gaze and muttered under his breath, “In times of great danger… who would truly sacrifice their life to protect what once protected them?”

His words vanished into the wind.