In the Floating Cloud Mountains, several Xiaoyao Sect monks wearing gray Taoist robes were standing by the pond where Song Qingming escaped a few months ago, observing the movements inside the pond.
Among them was a white-bearded Taoist holding a whisk and wearing a Taoist bun on his head. Although he looked inconspicuous, he exuded a faint spiritual power from his body from time to time. He was obviously a powerful person who had reached the peak of foundation building.
Behind the Taoist with white beard, there were two Foundation Establishment cultivators, one male and one female, and seven or eight Qi Refining cultivators. They followed him carefully and looked at the center of the calm pool.
After a while, ripples appeared in the center of the pool, and a foundation-building cultivator wearing the same gray Taoist robe slowly emerged from the water. This person was wrapped in a deep blue light shield, and not even a single piece of clothing on his body was touched by the pool water.
The Qi-refining and foundation-building disciples at the lower levels of Xiaoyao Sect wear robes and Taoist robes of uniform colors and styles when they go out. The Qi-refining disciples all wear white robes, while the foundation-building disciples wear gray Taoist robes.
"Brother Tian, we've completed our investigation. There is indeed a second-level, mid-grade black-feathered python in this pool. It's in a cave at the bottom of the pool. However, the passages in this cave are interconnected, so fighting it underwater might be disadvantageous to us. Should we lure it out of the water later before we attack it?"
The foundation-building cultivator in the pool spoke to the leading white-bearded cultivator on the shore with a respectful look on his face. Although he was also a foundation-building cultivator in the Xiaoyao Sect, he had just broken through the foundation-building stage and his cultivation was only at the second level. In front of this long-renowned foundation-building master in the sect, he still kept a low profile.
The Senior Brother Tian in front of him, who was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, was actually named Tian Qinghu. He was a veteran Foundation Establishment cultivator who ranked in the top ten in terms of cultivation and supernatural powers among the more than 200 Foundation Establishment cultivators in Xiaoyao Sect. He was always respected by the lower-level Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining disciples in the sect, and he was also the leader of the sect's mission this time.
The Xiaoyao Sect has dominated the Wei Kingdom for thousands of years. Now, the sect not only has a supreme elder who has advanced to the Nascent Soul stage for many years, but also nine elders in the Golden Core stage, more than two hundred foundation-building masters, and tens of thousands of Qi Refining disciples.
Among cultivators at the peak of the foundation building stage like Tian Qinghu, he is the most powerful one in the sect, except for the supreme elder, the Yuanying ancestor, and the nine Jindan elders in the Xiaoyao Sect.
Tian Qinghu had tried to form a pill twice, but unfortunately he failed both times. Although his magic power had advanced to the false pill realm, the peak of the foundation building stage, for a foundation building cultivator, he was already 190 years old. Although there was still a glimmer of hope to form a pill, his life span was not much. If he could not form a pill within 20 to 30 years, his path would have to stop at the foundation building stage.
"Okay, Junior Brother Wei, you've worked hard."
Tian Qinghu nodded after listening to it. He first turned around and glanced at a Qi Refining disciple not far behind him, then raised his eyebrows at a Foundation Establishment fellow disciple next to him and said indifferently, "Junior Brother Li, what do you think?"
A handsome young cultivator behind Tian Qinghu was obviously dissatisfied with the cautiousness of Junior Brother Wei, who was at the second level of Foundation Establishment, and could not help but say:
"We have a total of four Foundation Establishment cultivators on this mission, and with you, Senior Brother Tian, a peak Foundation Establishment expert, in charge, it's easy to deal with a mere second-level, mid-grade Black Feather Python. Junior Brother Wei, you're worrying too much. Please, fellow disciples, stand guard for me while I go and slay this monster."
This handsome Foundation Establishment cultivator is the direct disciple of Xiaoyao Sect's Golden Core Ancestor. Although he is only at the fifth level of Foundation Establishment, with the two excellent magic weapons bestowed by his master, he is no weaker than the average late Foundation Establishment cultivator in the sect. He does not take a second-level mid-grade monster seriously and does not want other people to help him.
This man's name was Li Yuangong. When he joined Xiaoyao Sect in his early years, he was accepted as a disciple by a Jindan elder within the sect and became a direct disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect. He had outstanding spiritual roots and aptitude. Although he was only in his sixties, he had already reached the fifth level of foundation building.
As a core foundation-building disciple in the Xiaoyao Sect, Li Yungong has always been favored by his master, and his future is limitless. He is one of the few foundation-building disciples in the sect who can reach the Golden Core Realm in the future.
Although he had been building his foundation for some time, Li Yungong had always lacked experience outside. After he became the disciple of the Jindan ancestor, he had never lacked resources for cultivation, from the Qi Refining Stage to the Foundation Building Stage. Under the guidance of his master, he had been practicing smoothly and step by step for decades.
Li Yungong usually practices in seclusion in the sect and rarely goes out to carry out sect missions. This time, he finally asked his master for an opportunity to go out and gain experience. He was also eager to show his abilities in front of several fellow disciples to make his master proud.
The other woman in green beside him saw that Li Yungong was being a bit reckless and was about to speak out to stop him, but unexpectedly, the team leader Tian Qinghu laughed and said to Li Yungong, "Since Junior Brother Li is so determined to make contributions to the sect, I will naturally not hinder him. Junior Brother, go and meet this monster first. If that doesn't work, we will help you."
Li Yungong was secretly delighted when he saw this. He bowed to Tian Qinghu, then took out a white flying sword and plunged it into the pool. Soon, a fierce fighting sound broke out at the bottom of the pool.
The woman in green looked at Tian Qinghu with some concern and said, "Brother Tian, why didn't you stop Junior Brother Li just now? If there were other dangers in this pool, and if Junior Brother Li were to get hurt, how would we explain it to Uncle Jin when we get back?"
"Don't worry, Junior Sister Cheng. We have just explored this pool of water. There is indeed only a black-feathered python underneath. Besides, Junior Brother Li has inherited the true teachings of Uncle Jin. With his magical powers, there can be no other danger. Besides, Uncle Jin also told me before leaving that Junior Brother Li should have more experience. I am only following Uncle Jin's orders." Tian Qinghu said calmly.
"Senior Brother Tian is right. Since someone is doing it for us, we can save energy and avoid people thinking that we are stealing his limelight." After hearing what Tian Qinghu said, the foundation-building cultivator named Wei on the side also began to sneer. It was obvious that Tian Qinghu wanted to watch from the sidelines.
The woman in green looked at Tian Qinghu but said nothing more. She flew over the pool alone, looking thoughtful, wanting to take a closer look at what was happening below.
There was a flash of swords and the shadow of knives below the pool, and from time to time there was the sound of magic weapons colliding.
Half an hour later, Li Yungong stood by the pond with a smug look on his face. He held the huge black head of the black-feathered python in one hand and threw it to the ground. In the pond behind him, a python body of seven or eight feet long was floating in the center of the pond, and the blood was almost dyeing the entire pond red.
Several white-clothed Xiaoyao Sect disciples in the Qi Refining Stage hurried forward to help Li Yungong collect the black-feathered python's head.
Tian Qinghu greeted him with a smile, "Junior Brother Li is worthy of being Uncle Jin's direct disciple. His Skyfire Thunder Art is truly extraordinary. He killed this black-feathered python so quickly and efficiently. You've worked so hard, Junior Brother Li. Next, please ask Junior Sister Cheng to come with us and transplant the water spirit fruit trees."
Tian Qinghu picked up the Qi Refining disciple whom he had glanced at earlier, and led the other three Foundation Establishment cultivators to fly over the pool. They released protective shield light and plunged into the pool.
Soon, they arrived at the monster cave at the bottom of the pond. Tian Qinghu looked at the pile of bones deep in the cave and asked the Qi Refining disciple, "What's your name?"
The disciple in white clothes replied in some panic: "Reporting to Master Tian, I am Du Yucheng."