Chapter Fourteen: Continuing the Mission

Although Zhang Xiao managed to kill the old monster Carolus, he was thoroughly shaken. The power of that last crimson beam Carolus shot was beyond imagination; even with the Five-Colored Cloud Banner for protection, he could never have withstood it. Zhang Xiao dared not take it head-on. Fortunately, at that critical moment, Zi Yan outside the Rolling Stone Formation saw what was happening and immediately manipulated the array, pulling Zhang Xiao out, allowing him to narrowly escape.

“Ding!” As Zhang Xiao gazed at Carolus’s corpse on the ground, a notification suddenly sounded from his wrist. He opened it to see the message: “You have completely slain Level 10 Spatial Mage Carolus, earning 3,000 battle merits. Battle merits can be redeemed for rewards upon completion of the Nation Founding Quest. All items in Carolus’s possession now belong to you.”

Three thousand battle merits! Zhang Xiao was utterly astonished. Although he did not know the exact value of these merits, Carolus, a Level 10 mage, was only worth 3,000—surely the merits were extraordinarily precious. Thinking this, Zhang Xiao’s eyes flickered as he recalled there were still two other old monsters yet to be dealt with.

But Zhang Xiao was in no rush. He searched Carolus from head to toe, not missing a single item, and after a thorough inspection, finally left the Rolling Stone Formation in great satisfaction.

“Congratulations, Young Master. You must have acquired quite a few treasures, haven’t you?” Zi Yan greeted Zhang Xiao with a smile, clearly seeing his delight.

Indeed, Zhang Xiao was very pleased. Carolus’s strength aside, as president of the Tenth District Branch of the Mage Guild, he naturally possessed many valuable things. Zhang Xiao took out Carolus’s spatial ring, which was filled with all kinds of top-grade materials, as well as various staves, magical ornaments, and even Carolus’s cultivation insights—everything was there. Though his wealth could not rival the Xuantian Grotto, it was enough to make anyone’s jaw drop.

The most precious item was the Fire Dragon’s Wrath, which Carolus had revealed at the end. Holding it in his hand, Zhang Xiao saw its attributes:

Fire Dragon’s Wrath, Supreme Divine Artifact. Usage requirements: none! Each shot releases a Fire Dragon Arrow equivalent to a full-power strike from a Level 10 Flame Mage. After three arrows, a year’s recharge is required. (2/3 remaining)

What a treasure! Zhang Xiao’s heart overflowed with joy. Unlike Eastern relics, Western treasures did not require any refining—one could use them immediately without diminishing their power. The value of this Fire Dragon’s Wrath was on par with the greatest artifacts; its effect might be singular, but for Zhang Xiao at the moment, nothing could be more suitable.

After putting away the Fire Dragon’s Wrath, Zhang Xiao turned to Zi Yan and smiled, “Let’s go see how the other fellow is doing.”

But just as Zhang Xiao prepared to take the opportunity to slay Han Meng as well, a sudden notification sounded from his attribute panel. He opened it and his expression grew heavy. He said to Zi Yan, “Yan’er, activate all restrictions and formations in the grotto. We have to leave for a while.”

Zi Yan was curious but followed his instructions, activating all the defensive arrays and restrictions in the Xuantian Grotto. Only then did she ask, “Young Master, aren’t you going to kill the other foreigner?”

Zhang Xiao could only sigh inwardly. Of course, he wanted nothing more than to kill the remaining two old monsters, but he’d just received a notification—the Nation Founding Quest must immediately proceed to the second phase. The reason was unclear, but Zhang Xiao dared not delay any longer. He had already spent nearly a month here; in any case, everything here belonged to him and couldn’t be taken by anyone else, and the remaining old monsters had no hope of escape.

Given that, Zhang Xiao could only let the two old monsters live a little longer. Taking out the Xuantian Grotto’s command token, he smiled at Zi Yan, “Alright, Yan’er, we’ll deal with those two old monsters when we return—they can’t run anyway. For now, let’s focus on the main task. Go back into the token, just in case something happens during the teleportation.”

Obediently, Zi Yan transformed into a beam of green light and returned to the token. Zhang Xiao put the token away, then opened the second phase of the Nation Founding Quest from his attribute panel. Instantly, a portal appeared before him. With a stride, he stepped into the teleportation array.

“Young Master, look at these beautiful flowers! I’ve never seen anything like them before!” Zi Yan pointed at the cherry blossoms all around, smiling.

Wa Country! As soon as Zhang Xiao emerged from the portal and saw the cherry blossoms surrounding him, he began to suspect he was in Wa Country. Along the path, it was cherry blossoms and more cherry blossoms—no sign of monsters anywhere.

This second phase of the Nation Founding Quest was, like the first, a search for the nation’s artifact. This time, the treasure was called the Emperor’s Cauldron, a bronze ancient vessel. As before, as soon as he came within a kilometer of the cauldron, he would sense its location. Reflecting on the first phase, Zhang Xiao’s mood was heavy. Though his face was relaxed, his heart was clouded with worry.

Watching Zi Yan in her azure dress dancing among the cherry blossoms, her jade feet lightly touching the petals—a vision so ethereal it was as if a fairy had descended into the mortal world—even Zhang Xiao, usually steadfast, found himself momentarily entranced.

Noticing Zhang Xiao’s gaze, Zi Yan’s cheeks flushed. “Young Master, why are you staring at me like that?” Her delicate voice, soft as goose down, seemed to stroke his heart again and again. Her tender, almost translucent face and bright, watery eyes made Zhang Xiao’s core burn with desire.

Fortunately, at that moment, his spiritual avatar sitting in his sea of consciousness recited a Buddhist chant, fingers flicking the Heavenly Sound Bell. A clear, resonant chime rang out, jolting Zhang Xiao back from the brink. Swallowing hard, he quickly averted his gaze from Zi Yan’s face and instead looked at the cherry blossoms around him, eyes suddenly glinting coldly. Without warning, he summoned the Crystal Demon-Subduing Staff and struck at a nearby cherry tree.

With a thunderous crash, his immense force uprooted the tree. “Hmph! Show yourself, you audacious demon! How dare you try to sneak up on me?” Although Zi Yan was lovely, Zhang Xiao’s heart was as steady as Mount Tai; he would not lose composure so easily. Scanning the area with his spiritual sense, he discovered that a cherry blossom sprite was hiding nearby. Angered, he watched as the tree he’d struck transformed into a stunning woman, who cast him a resentful look.

“You heartless man,” she complained, “you harbor wicked thoughts, and I was willing to fulfill your desires, yet you treat me so harshly!”

Zi Yan, only now realizing what had happened, blushed furiously and vanished into the token in a flash of spiritual light. Seeing the sprite still attempting to sow discord, Zhang Xiao sneered, “Oh? I think you tried to cloud my mind and steal my essence!”

At his words, the cherry blossom sprite’s face fell. Suddenly, roots erupted from the ground around Zhang Xiao, trying to ensnare him. Zhang Xiao narrowed his eyes. The sprite’s strength was only equivalent to a typical Golden Core cultivator, yet she dared attack him. Instantly, he activated Divine Footwork, flashing behind her.

With the Crystal Demon-Subduing Staff in hand, flames of Buddhist power blazing, he struck down at the sprite. She vanished just in time, his blow missing. “Ha ha ha! You’re quite impatient, aren’t you? Come find me!” In a blink, the cherry forest was filled with her images.

Zhang Xiao’s keen gaze swept the area, instantly discerning that the cherry forest was composed of the sprite’s branches. Unless he found her main body, burning the entire forest would be useless. Yet, he was in no hurry. Instead, he smiled and summoned a towering, monstrous figure—a Bronze-Armored Corpse.

He had not used this creature in a long time—not because he didn’t wish to, but because all his recent foes were top experts. The Bronze-Armored Corpse was formidable, but only suitable for dealing with ordinary Golden Core cultivators. Against truly powerful enemies, it was of little use. Zhang Xiao had considered evolving it into a Silver-Armored Corpse, but the requirements were too steep: a place of absolute yin and five spirits at the late Golden Core stage for it to devour. If he had not been expelled from Mount Mao, it might have been possible—there was such a place in the sect’s back mountains—but the five spirits were another matter; he hadn’t found even one at the Foundation Establishment level.

So the Bronze-Armored Corpse’s upgrade had been delayed. But now, facing a wood-element spirit, it was the perfect weapon. At Zhang Xiao’s command, the corpse slammed the ground, causing the entire cherry forest to quake. Stones jutted up, toppling countless cherry trees, some reduced to splinters.

“Aah!” A piercing scream sounded nearby. Smiling, Zhang Xiao recalled the corpse and instantly appeared at the source—a gigantic cherry tree, its roots surging from the earth to brace the ground. This was the sprite’s true form.

Without hesitation, Zhang Xiao attacked with the Crystal Demon-Subduing Staff. The sprite frantically used her branches to block, but with a dull thud, his blow shattered them. Blood-like sap oozed from the wound.

Dear readers, if you are enjoying this work, I sincerely ask for your support. Please consider adding it to your collection—it only takes a moment, and your support is the dawn that keeps me going.