Chapter 1343: Treasure Hunter

"What a pity!"

Seeing the thunder flee in terror, Zhang Xuan sighed with regret.

The Heavenly Dao true qi transformed into lightning attribute, indeed capable of absorbing lightning, allowing his cultivation to soar.

His clone, seeing him absorb so happily, also began to absorb... resulting in the scene everyone witnessed: the heavenly tribulation in the sky, frightened by the absorption, turned and fled.

Crossing the heavenly tribulation, causing the tribulation to flee...

Just thinking about it was intoxicating.

However, even if this thing had no intelligence, being able to grow stronger based on one's cultivation, it must also have the ability to seek good fortune and avoid disaster. Seeing him and his clone absorbing more and more fiercely, it naturally became afraid.

"The Heavenly Dao witch soul has only reached the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, not yet the peak; the Heavenly Dao golden body is also not fully trained, the physical body at most comparable to a half-step superior-grade saint artifact..."

Scanning with his divine sense, Zhang Xuan shook his head.

Originally thinking that such a massive tribulation would allow his physical body and soul to reach their peak, he never expected it to run so fast that he couldn't catch up.

"Even so, my combat strength has increased considerably. Now, even without using the Three Swords of Lingxu, I can fight on par with a Saint Domain Sixth Layer Domain Realm peak expert! And I'm not even afraid of a half-step Void Realm cultivator!"

After the regret, he gained a clear understanding of his strength, his heart filled with excitement.

This time out, his true qi cultivation had broken through to the peak of Saint Domain Fifth Layer Nascent Soul realm, his witch soul reached the late Nascent Soul stage, and his physical body was comparable to a half-step superior-grade saint artifact...

The combination of the three had multiplied his combat strength several times over.

Before, without using the Three Swords of Lingxu, he couldn't even pass through the Jiazi Alley, but now, that puppet could be crushed with a single finger, with no ability to resist.

Even if he stood still and let it attack continuously, it wouldn't harm him in the slightest.

Of course, if he used the Lingxu Sword and the Three Swords of Lingxu, he could even fight against a Saint Domain Seventh Layer mid-stage expert!

Facing Luo Xuanqing again, even if he still couldn't win, he wouldn't be as powerless as before.

"I'll rest now. Next time there's such a good opportunity with lightning tribulation, let me know, and I'll come over..."

The clone's voice sounded in his mind.

Knowing he couldn't catch up to the tribulation, and to prevent others from noticing, Zhang Xuan withdrew the clone back into the Thousand Ant Beehive.

"Mm."

Nodding, Zhang Xuan acknowledged.

This tribulation crossing, absorbing countless bolts of lightning, had greatly increased the strength of the main body, but the clone seemed to have gained even more.

It was originally refined from the Nine Heavens Lotus Embryo, indestructible by lightning. After absorbing so much lightning, every move it made contained immense thunderous power, making its combat strength even greater!

Though they hadn't fought, he knew that even now, he was still no match for it...

Others thought he had great talent, but in reality, he was an ordinary person who couldn't beat his disciple, couldn't beat his subordinates, couldn't beat his girlfriend... and couldn't even beat his clone...

Thinking of this, he felt immense heartache.

He felt that all his cultivation so far had been in vain.

"Are you... alright?"

Returning to Luo Xuanqing and the others, he saw them looking at him as if he were a monster.

"I'm fine!"

Zhang Xuan nodded, his face full of indignation: "If that fool hadn't run so fast, I would have taught him a lesson!"

"..."

The others.

"Let me introduce you to these friends!"

Knowing that continuing the conversation would only make him more uncomfortable, Luo Xuanqing pointed to the people beside him: "You already know Bi Hongyin, a super genius from the headquarters of the Music Guild! This tall, stout brother is Yuan Xiao, a genius from the Saint Yuan Clan! And the last one is Yun Lianhai, a genius from the Saint Yun Clan!"

"Zhang Xuan greets you all!"

Zhang Xuan cupped his fists, filled with shock.

Indeed, a person's friends reflect their own status.

The Saint Yuan Clan, the headquarters of the Music Guild... Although he hadn't heard of the Saint Yun Clan before, being able to associate with them meant their status was certainly not low.

"Zhang Xuan, Master Zhang, I met him yesterday during the formation master assessment. After what just happened, I believe you all have recognized him!"

After the introduction, Luo Xuanqing said.

"Of course..."

Everyone nodded simultaneously.

Not only had he shattered Bi Hongyin's formation plate on the spot, but he had also chased the lightning tribulation away... Although they didn't know what secret technique he used, this ability alone commanded respect and prevented any contempt.

"Brother... Luo, why did you ask me to come?"

Seeing their recognition, Zhang Xuan looked at him in confusion.

He had just been registering for the elite class when he was brought here, and after experiencing so much, he still didn't know what was going on.

"Some time ago, I discovered a treasure land where... a [Void Cauldron Gourd] grows!"

Waving his hand, Luo Xuanqing sealed the surrounding space to prevent outsiders from probing, then lowered his voice.

"Void Cauldron Gourd?" Zhang Xuan frowned.

Even with his extensive knowledge, he had never heard of this thing.

"The Void Cauldron Gourd is a treasure born from heaven and earth, using earth veins as vines, absorbing the essence of the sun and moon. It takes ten thousand years to bloom and another ten thousand years to bear fruit... At most, one earth vein can produce only one gourd... Extremely precious! If refined and integrated into the body, it can increase the chance of breaking through to Saint Domain Eighth Layer by at least fifty percent!"

Luo Xuanqing said.

"Fifty percent?"

Zhang Xuan's eyes widened.

When cultivating above Saint Domain Fifth Layer, treasures, though useful, are no longer as effective. More is needed in terms of spiritual understanding of heaven and earth and comprehension of space... An ordinary item that provides a ten or twenty percent boost would already make countless people's hearts race.

Fifty percent was simply unbelievable!

"Yes, but that place is too dangerous. I can't succeed alone, so I found them. Once we obtain it, I'll give you sufficient compensation..."

Luo Xuanqing's eyes flickered.

The Void Cauldron Gourd involved breaking through to Saint Domain Eighth Layer; he had to obtain it and would not be lenient.

Zhang Xuan finally understood.

He had thought they had arranged some kind of trial, but now it seemed otherwise: Luo Xuanqing had invited them to help him obtain this treasure!

"Does that place have very powerful formations?"

His strength was far inferior to theirs; under normal circumstances, he wouldn't have a chance. Being invited was clearly due to his strong understanding of formations.

"Yes, there's an eight-level peak formation, set up by someone unknown. I've been there twice and failed both times!"

Luo Xuanqing nodded.

"As a top clan on the continent, the Luo family should have many formation masters, right? Isn't it simple to find someone to break the formation?" Zhang Xuan asked curiously.

Given the Luo family's status and strength, not to mention an eight-level peak formation, even a ninth-level one could surely find someone to break it. Why come to him?

"It's not that simple... The place I'm going to has special sealing restrictions. Once one's age exceeds forty and cultivation exceeds Saint Domain Eighth Layer, they cannot enter. Forcibly charging in might cause it to collapse directly, and nothing would be obtained."

Luo Xuanqing smiled bitterly.

"Such restrictions exist?"

Startled, Zhang Xuan suddenly thought of something: "Could this be... a man-made relic, not naturally formed?"

Earlier, he had thought it was naturally formed, but with formations and restrictions, it clearly wasn't.

"Of course not! The Void Cauldron Gourd can form naturally, but once it blooms, its aura leaks and is discovered by others; it never waits until maturity!" Luo Xuanqing nodded.

"That's true..."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

Heaven-and-earth-born treasures are extremely precious. Without formations or similar protections, how could they be left for them?

"That's the situation. I'm now inviting you to come along. Whether we succeed or not, I'll give you a top-grade spirit stone and a half-step superior-grade saint artifact as compensation!"

Luo Xuanqing said.

"Top-grade spirit stone?"

Zhang Xuan's eyes lit up.

Not to mention that the other party was his brother-in-law, with a familial relationship between them, even just this one condition—a top-grade spirit stone—would make him agree!

Right now, this was what he needed most.

Obtaining one would eliminate the worry of insufficient spiritual energy, allowing his strength to soar, and breaking through to Saint Domain Sixth and Seventh Layers would be no problem!

"Indeed! However, I don't have it now. I've already applied to the clan, and by the time we return with the Void Cauldron Gourd, we should be able to get it!"

Luo Xuanqing continued.

"Alright, I agree!"

Without much hesitation, Zhang Xuan nodded in agreement.

The top-grade spirit stone was something he couldn't refuse, and there was another aspect: going through a treasure hunt together could quickly build rapport. As long as he won over this brother-in-law, getting him to take him to see Ruoxi would be easy.

Of course, based on past experience, this guy was a sis-con. If the relationship wasn't deep enough, he must never mention Luo Ruoxi's name; otherwise, getting beaten up would not be worth it.

Besides, he had already been brought here, and such confidential information had been shared... He had to go even if he didn't want to!

Otherwise, if the news leaked, even if it wasn't his fault, he would be blamed.

"Good! You're weak, but don't worry, just stay close to me. When we encounter formations that are hard to break, you can step in..."

Seeing his agreement, Luo Xuanqing breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he was very impressive in the Saint Son Hall, he didn't have many friends. He knew some with strong formation skills, but he dared not reveal the matter of the Void Cauldron Gourd to them.

After all, this thing's allure to Saint Domain Seventh Layer cultivators was too great.

If it ended up benefiting someone else, that would be troublesome.

This Zhang Xuan was strong in formations but weak in strength, making him easier to control. That's why he thought of him first.

"Mm."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

With all his methods, he was no worse than the others, but... it was better to keep a low profile.

Otherwise, revealing all his trump cards might be impressive, but it would make others wary, which could be very dangerous for him.

Moreover, his most powerful trump cards were basically unsavory...

The ruthless man, the clone...

"Since we're going together, let me introduce their detailed abilities so we can cooperate better!"

Luo Xuanqing continued: "Bi Hongyin is skilled in music and formations, as you've just experienced, no need to elaborate; Yuan Xiao is defensively invincible, a human meat shield! As for... Yun Lianhai, though his strength is inferior to ours, he is from the Saint Yun Clan, which... specializes in treasure hunting, known to outsiders as treasure hunters!"

"Treasure hunter?"

Zhang Xuan was stunned: "There's such a profession?"