Chapter 151

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Chapter 151: Confrontation on a Narrow Path

The Divine Feather Vulture King, also called the Vulture King, was nearly untouchable to other disciples. As a peak ninth-level beast with strength rivaling the fifth level of the Qi refining stage and intelligence on the verge of awakening, facing it meant almost certain death. Most fled rather than provoke it.

The Divine Feather Vulture King’s lair lay at the heart of Tian Zhu Peak, the highest mountain in the region. Its mist-shrouded summit was visible from afar.

The dense woods where Ye Yun’s group stood were merely a dozen miles from the peak—a trivial distance for cultivators like them.

“Brother Ye, should we go now?” Yu Minghong asked urgently, his eagerness palpable.

“Not yet. The entire Tian Zhu Peak spans only dozens of miles. If we strike now, we’ll draw unwanted attention. Let others fight for tokens and weaken themselves first,” Duan Chenfeng cut in, a cold smirk twisting his lips.

“Must we… kill each other?” Yu Minghong murmured hesitantly.

“You’re from the Great Qin Empire! Since when did you grow a soft heart? Our feud with Zhen Huacheng is beyond reconciliation!” Duan Chenfeng snapped, smacking the back of Yu Minghong’s head.

“I—” Yu Minghong faltered, words failing him.

“Enough. We’ll confront the Divine Feather Vulture King within ten days. For now, we avoid conflict unless provoked. Find a safe spot to cultivate and recover,” Ye Yun ordered, his gaze lingering briefly on Yu Minghong.

To most outer disciples, the Vulture King’s territory was the deadliest zone in Tian Zhu Peak—a place to avoid at all costs.

Ye Yun’s plan defied logic. By approaching the peak now, he aimed to cultivate undisturbed for two days. If he could break through to the Qi refining stage, Zhen Huacheng would pose no threat.

Though Tian Zhu Peak referred broadly to this part of Demonic Beast Valley, only the Vulture King’s mountain truly deserved the name. Recently, locals had taken to calling it Sacred Vulture Peak.

The mountain rose like a jagged sword, its upper half vanishing into clouds. Halfway up the mist-cloaked slope hid a platform carved into the rock, invisible from a distance.

There, Ye Yun’s trio sat meditating. While Duan Chenfeng and Yu Minghong focused on cultivation, Ye Yun remained vigilant, scanning their surroundings.

Cultivating together here was too risky. Attempting the Qi refining breakthrough required absolute focus—interruptions could waste years of effort or destroy one’s cultivation entirely.

Ye Yun let the other two attempt their breakthroughs first. If they succeeded, their combined strength might overwhelm Zhen Huacheng.

As for himself, Ye Yun felt no urgency. Even without reaching the Qi refining stage, he could match Zhen Huacheng in combat. With clever use of his spiritual weapon, victory was possible.

After all, Zhen Huacheng paled next to Luo Wencheng, that seventh-level Qi refining stage inner disciple. Trapped by the Nine Hells Spirit Settling mirror, Luo Wencheng’s true qi had frozen, leaving him vulnerable to Ye Yun’s physical strength. Though Luo had regained his power, his injuries doomed him.

If the mirror caught Zhen Huacheng, Ye Yun doubted he’d survive until the artifact’s effect faded.

Learning that Jin Kingdom was merely a vassal of the Great Qin Empire had expanded Ye Yun’s horizons. Petty squabbles meant little now. Securing a token for the inner disciple assessment would be effortless at his current level.

Ye Yun surveyed the misty slopes calmly. Since returning from the great tomb, he’d neglected to consolidate his rapid gains. Though his spiritual power brimmed at its limit, unstable foundations might be delaying his breakthrough.

He reviewed his progress. In half a month, he’d leapt from the fifth stage of body refinement to the peak of Body Refinement Stage Seven of the Comprehending Qi Stage—a pace even prodigies would envy.

Too fast. Far too fast.

The realization struck him: he’d raced through stages without solidifying each step.

Suddenly, his mind stilled. All urgency dissolved. The world around him seemed to empty, leaving only unity with the heavens and earth.

Unconsciously, his eyes closed. Spiritual power stirred within him, shifting subtly. The dense energy at his core began thinning, hinting at transformation.

Less than an incense stick’s burning time later, Duan Chenfeng’s eyes flew open. A sharp glint shot from his pupils, slicing through a nearby pine.

*Crack!* The tree split cleanly, its cross-section smooth as polished glass.

Qi Refining Stage!

This was the power of the Qi refining stage, where true qi could be projected externally.

Duan Chenfeng gaped at the bowl-thick pine tree. After a long pause, he suddenly roared, his voice reverberating across the wilderness.

His excitement abruptly faded as he turned to observe Ye Yun and Yu Minghong, who remained meditating with closed eyes.

"That guy Ye Yun promised to guard us. Why’s he cultivating instead? How unreliable." Duan Chenfeng grumbled before his enthusiastic grin returned.

He lifted his right hand and flicked a finger. A transparent light and shadow shot from his fingertip, striking the stone ahead.

Thud!

Stone fragments scattered, leaving a half-foot hole in the rock.

True qi projection, penetrating three zhang.

This was the true Qi refining stage!

Duan Chenfeng thrilled at the surging true qi within him, feeling unprecedented power.

"My strength increased tenfold! The Qi refining stage’s unbelievable. If I fought Zhen Huacheng now, I’d scatter him like a rat!" Arrogance returned to his bearing.

"Little Yu’s nearly there. But Ye Yun, the strongest among us, shows no breakthrough signs." Duan Chenfeng frowned at the two cultivators.

He knew Ye Yun’s capabilities firsthand – how he’d confronted Luo Wencheng at Qi refining stage level seven in the great tomb, neutralizing their spiritual power with artifacts before crushing the opponent through sheer physical might.

Yet now, Yu Minghong’s teal-hued aura flickered with breakthrough potential, while Ye Yun displayed nothing.

"Ye Yun’s cultivation’s too abnormal. Even if Little Yu and I both break through, we couldn’t match him." Duan Chenfeng smiled wryly.

Suddenly he whirled, eyes gleaming as he peered through mountain mist.

Seven or eight disciples climbed slowly toward the peak.

"Who’s that? Looks familiar…" Duan Chenfeng squinted before smirking. "Zhong Ying? The fourth level Qi refiner. Let’s test his mettle."

Though moving slowly by cultivator standards, Zhong Ying’s group crossed the hundred zhang swiftly, emerging onto the mist-veiled platform.

"People arrived first?" A black-robed disciple exclaimed.

"Who’s there?" Zhong Ying’s cold voice cut through.

Duan Chenfeng sauntered forward. "Heading to bother the Vulture King?"

"Duan Chenfeng? Ye Yun and Yu Minghong? Hiding here to cultivate?" Zhong Ying’s gaze swept over them.

During two days of token battles across Tian Zhu Peak, thirty disciples had activated life-saving talismans while two met death and disappearance of the spirit. Yet these three had vanished – until now.

"With your Exceptional Cultivation Level, how could we compete? We had to hide and improve." Duan Chenfeng’s smile dripped sarcasm.

Zhong Ying’s face darkened at the mockery. "Fools who can’t measure heaven’s height. I’ll expel you personally!"

At his signal, seven black-robed disciples encircled the trio.

Duan Chenfeng surveyed them and laughed.