Chapter 86: The Maddening Golden Radiance

Soon after, as footsteps approached, a group from the Litou Sect emerged from the jungle and arrived at the mountain basin. There were eight of them in total, all wearing black robes embroidered with blood-red suns. The robes had an eerie color, and a distinctly chilling aura emanated from their bodies. Especially beneath their head-covering black robes, the indifferent gazes they occasionally revealed as they walked held no emotional fluctuations, as if life in this place held no meaning in the eyes of the Litou Sect members.

That sense of apathy towards death made the rogue cultivators and non-human races in the basin intensely wary. Even the Sea Ghost organization, known for its cruelty, was now extremely apprehensive of them. Because cruelty is also part of human nature, but these people from the Litou Sect were nothing but emotionless killing machines. As they approached, a chilling aura spread with them, permeating the entire basin. Many rogue cultivators' expressions changed, and they ultimately chose to leave.

The Litou Sect members didn't even glance at the departing rogue cultivators. After arriving, they sat down cross-legged, perfectly still. Xu Qing's gaze swept over the Litou Sect members. He didn't see the little girl's brother from the scavenger camp, so he withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes to meditate.

As for Old Man Banquan Lu, he didn't return. He found a spot nearby to sit cross-legged, away from the poisonous gas, wary of both Xu Qing and the other cultivators around him, while also muttering to himself. "This kid agreed so quickly," he thought. "I feel like something's off; he's up to no good."

And so, ten days passed in the solidified atmosphere of the mountaintop basin. During these ten days, no sea lizards arrived. This phenomenon gave the cultivators here a subtle premonition, and the surrounding sea gradually became less turbulent, growing calmer. It was as if a storm was brewing, incredibly oppressive.

The sea was like this, and so was the basin. Everyone was silent. Only the large snake beside the old man often looked at Xu Qing, making gurgling sounds. Xu Qing didn't understand, and paid it no mind. Instead, he focused on keeping himself in peak condition at all times. He had wiped his dagger clean and sharpened his iron skewer to a more ferocious point. As for the alliance, it was just a casual agreement; Xu Qing didn't trust the old man, and he knew the old man didn't trust him either.

The oppressive atmosphere here changed at dusk on the eleventh day. The sea roared at that moment. After ten days of calm, the waves seemed to awaken from slumber, stirring up violent surges. Waves of terrifying aura surged from the sea, spreading in all directions and permeating the entire island. Xu Qing saw several whirlpools appear on the distant sea surface, rapidly approaching the island.

Many cultivators noticed this scene. Most remained silent, but their cultivation bases were all circulating, enabling them to strike like lightning at any moment. Soon, the first whirlpool approached the shore. As the sea roared and splashed, a massive creature, fifty zhang in size and purplish-black all over, suddenly emerged from the sea and stepped onto the beach.

Under the afterglow, its body seemed to be draped in a precious armor that emitted a deep black light. It appeared incredibly tough, and an oppressive aura far exceeding that of a Qi Condensation realm cultivator burst forth from it. Its powerful aura caused the surrounding sand and soil to fly and spread in all directions. It was a Foundation Establishment Sea Lizard!

Whether it was the precious armor on its body, its sharp claws on all fours, or its vertical pupils, everything about this sea lizard exuded boundless lethality. Moreover, it clearly possessed intelligence. After coming ashore, it shook its body, lifted its head, and its cold gaze swept across the island, finally looking towards the mountaintop basin with a hint of disdain in its eyes. Then, it strode forward with thunderous steps. Its overwhelming presence caused all cultivators on the island's mountains to tremble inwardly and gasp for breath upon sensing it, their faces instantly paling, feeling a sense of suppression.

And it wasn't just one Foundation Establishment Sea Lizard that arrived. After the first sea lizard, as the whirlpools continued to approach, a second Foundation Establishment Sea Lizard also came ashore and strode into the jungle. Then came the third. This third one had an even stronger aura, its body reaching a hundred zhang. As it walked onto the beach, it let out a heavenward roar, instantly causing a storm to appear around it, sweeping in all directions and making the trees in the jungle shake violently. Even the cultivators in the basin, from such a distance, felt a foul wind blow across their faces. The sense of suppression from their cultivation base was even stronger now.

Even Xu Qing's pupils rapidly constricted as he felt the terror of these three Foundation Establishment Sea Lizards. In his perception, the first two were already very strong, but the last one made his eyes sting faintly just by looking at it. This made Xu Qing take a breath. His mind rapidly compared them to the old ancestor of the Vajra Sect. The answer after comparison was that even the two relatively weaker sea lizards could each tear the old ancestor of the Vajra Sect to shreds.

"Two at Foundation Establishment mid-stage, and the last one is actually late-stage Foundation Establishment!" Old Man Banquan Lu gasped in surprise, his eyes lighting up as he spoke rapidly. "The first two together are worth tens of thousands of spirit stones, and the last one... it could easily sell for fifteen or sixteen thousand spirit stones! Xu Qing, let's really form an alliance this time!"

Similarly, the cultivators around the basin, whether Sea Ghosts or other non-human races, were all overcome with greed at this moment. The temptation of tens of thousands of spirit stones was too great, considering the prices in this ruined world and for cultivators like themselves. Xu Qing also had a solemn expression. Looking at the three Foundation Establishment Sea Lizards walking one after another on the beach, he felt an intense danger. The hairs on his entire body stood on end at that moment, and his skin even trembled slightly. This was partly caused by the aura's suppression, and also his body telling Xu Qing that it was ready to strike.

"If I can get a Foundation Establishment Sea Lizard's shed skin on this expedition," Xu Qing thought, "I can return with a full harvest, and it will be enough to support the advancement of my magic boat and my own cultivation. I won't have to worry about spirit stones for a short while!" A cold glint appeared in Xu Qing's eyes. The sea lizard skins he had obtained before were worth about two thousand spirit stones combined. Including the items from the people he killed and Senior Sister Ding's curious inquiries along the way, his current earnings had reached about four thousand spirit stones. "Get one Foundation Establishment Sea Lizard skin, then leave this place!"

The moment Xu Qing made up his mind, a thunderous roar came from below the mountain. The three Foundation Establishment Sea Lizards were already nearing the mountaintop. They did not choose to fly, but instead charged directly, using the snapping of large trees to facilitate their shedding. They now charged directly onto the mountaintop, ignoring everyone, and with thunderous strides, entered the basin. Because of their enormous size, the three of them together in the basin instantly occupied more than half of it. To observe Foundation Establishment creatures at such close range made all cultivators present feel as if their breathing would stop.

Not to mention, they soon let out heavenward roars. The roars from the three Foundation Establishment Sea Lizards inherently possessed destructive power. As they rang out, it was as if heaven and earth roared, and the shockwave formed by the sound swept directly in all directions. Some cultivators with insufficient physical strength couldn't avoid it in time; their bodies violently shook, and they spat out large mouthfuls of blood, directly injured. The surrounding trees were even more vulnerable, all shattering into dust in this sound wave. From a distance, the sounds formed by the roars of the three Foundation Establishment Sea Lizards continuously spread outwards, affecting the nearby mountains in the same way. Trees were destroyed, and some weaker cultivators had no chance to escape, falling down one after another with screams.

Xu Qing's body also vibrated intensely, but his physical body was strong enough that he wasn't greatly affected by the sound wave at this moment. However, the tree canopy beneath him turned to ashes. Xu Qing landed. He didn't care about the destruction of the tree canopy. His eyes, like a hawk's, stared at the basin, waiting for the moment the shedding was complete. Old Man Banquan Lu was also fully concentrated. The surrounding Sea Ghosts and the other non-human cultivators who had endured the sound wave were all the same.

And so, amidst everyone's anticipation, the time it takes for an incense stick to burn passed. Among the three Foundation Establishment Sea Lizards in the basin, the two mid-stage Foundation Establishment ones struggled and completed their shedding. The moment the shed skins fell, they each turned back and took a bite, to everyone's dismay, biting off a large chunk of their own shed skin and swallowing it. Only then did they leap powerfully, directly ascending from the basin, letting out low roars in the sky. Although a large chunk of their shed skin was missing, it was full of oddities. It actually shrunk on its own, becoming palm-sized in the blink of an eye.

At this very instant, more than ten Sea Ghosts all charged out. The other rogue cultivators and non-human races around them did the same. At this moment, no one cared about the Sea Ghosts' past threats. The immense profit was enough to make too many people's eyes red with greed. Old Man Banquan Lu was no exception; he surged forward. Xu Qing's speed was even faster. In an instant, except for the Litou Sect who remained still, all the cultivators present rushed forward. There were two Foundation Establishment Sea Lizard skins, and more than a dozen people were fighting over each one.

Xu Qing chose the one closest to him. Old Man Banquan Lu did the same. Although they disliked each other, they still chose to form a limited alliance at this moment. Of course, their guard remained up. The two instantly approached, and killing intent erupted from them towards the contenders. Xu Qing circulated his full cultivation. With a wave of his hand, water droplets permeated around him, whistling in all directions. He also drew his dagger, wielding it with a cold gleam, and directly engaged in combat with a non-human cultivator from the Sea Ghost organization.

This Sea Ghost cultivator, at the Great Circle of Qi Condensation, was very powerful. But Xu Qing was even stronger. He clenched his left fist and directly punched the opponent's chest, while behind him, the Ba (drought demon) shadow roared out, suppressing the opponent. The non-human cultivator growled and immediately retaliated, even pulling out a talisman treasure. But under Xu Qing's attack, blood still spurted out, the talisman treasure nearly crumbled, and his body was sent staggering seven or eight zhang away.

Old Man Banquan Lu was equally ferocious. Ropes suddenly appeared from around his body. All the rogue cultivators and non-human races contending with him had their necks instantly snared by the ropes, and some even rapidly spread towards Xu Qing. Xu Qing consecutively repelled several opponents. Just as he was about to grab the shed skin, ropes suddenly appeared around him, instantly coiling around him. But Xu Qing was prepared; he let out a cold snort, and his entire body's qi and blood violently spread outwards.

With a roar, all the ropes around him shattered. Just as his hand was about to grasp the shed skin, four Sea Ghost cultivators, their eyes red, suddenly charged towards him, forming spells with hand signs and unleashing killing intent. Old Man Banquan Lu was in a similar situation, besieged and blocked by rogue cultivators. Furthermore, two Sea Ghost cultivators rushed straight for the shed skin, seemingly about to seize it. But then, the void next to the shed skin suddenly twisted, and a massive snake head materialized from mid-air, moving to bite the shed skin, and actually just held it in its mouth.

Its expression seemed to carry excitement. The big snake looked at Xu Qing and the old man. With a sway, it was about to go help Xu Qing... But the old man's eyes lit up, and he burst into laughter. A talisman treasure's light appeared around his body, pushing back the crowd as he rushed straight for the big snake. After grabbing it, the old man's face was full of excitement. "Good heavens, well done," he praised.

Behind Xu Qing, the Ba shadow manifested. The shadow roared, and a sea of flames scattered, causing the Sea Ghost cultivators around him to scream, spurt blood, and retreat. Xu Qing paid them no mind. He turned to look at the old man, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, just about to charge.

But just at this moment, the hundred-zhang sea lizard in the basin, which everyone had avoided disturbing, let out a heavenward roar. The shed skin on its body directly shattered. Its newly formed body suddenly emerged. It seemed to have no time to devour its own shed skin; the moment it appeared, it shot straight into the sky. Its qi and blood continuously expanded, seemingly about to surpass Foundation Establishment!

The aftershocks of its roar spread like a violent wind, causing the minds of everyone present to tremble. Many even bled from their seven orifices from the shock. At that moment, the shattered shed skin of the late-stage Foundation Establishment sea lizard suddenly shrunk, turning into three pieces that scattered. The aura emanating from these three pieces of shed skin was incredibly astonishing, far surpassing the previous two. Moreover, a faint golden glow actually shimmered on them. The moment this golden glow appeared, all directions roared. Even the clouds churned on their own. A sense of divinity spread out, giving Xu Qing a feeling similar to the pressure test of divine creature blood he faced when he first joined the Seven Blood Eyes Sect!

"This... I misjudged it!" Old Man Banquan Lu gasped in surprise, his eyes wide. "This late-stage Foundation Establishment lizard actually has a trace of divinity within it! This shed skin contains the aura of divinity; its value has soared!!" The Litou Sect members nearby all opened their eyes at this instant, revealing cold gazes. This was what they had been waiting for!