Translator: AnubisTL
Having obtained fifteen Gold Fire Marks, Fan Tong had accomplished his mission.
Before leaving, he asked a question that puzzled the two pavilion elders: "If I had come alone today, would you have been willing to trade these Gold Fire Marks with me?"
The elders of the Western Heaven Pavilion were utterly bewildered, unsure of the question's meaning.
However, with the black mist man present, they forced a strained smile and replied, "Of course we would. These marks hold little significance for us; they're useless just sitting in the treasure vault."
Though Fan Tong had only recently undergone his transformation, he had witnessed enough of the world through his time with Li Qing to know this was highly unlikely.
While the elders might have agreed to trade the Gold Fire Marks with him, if he had come alone, they would undoubtedly have demanded an exorbitant price.
Meanwhile, the black mist man had already stored away the Five Elements Primordial Return Mountain. Using a clever secret technique, he managed to take it with him without fully refining it.
"Now that we have what we came for, let's leave," the black mist man said.
With that, he summoned a swirling vortex of dark mist, enveloping Fan Tong, and vanished from the Western Heaven Pavilion's mountain gate in an instant.
The two pavilion elders stood drenched in cold sweat, their faces pale with lingering fear.
"Terrifying... is this the power of a Divine Transformation Great Power? Just being near him felt like an unbearable weight pressing down on me," Yin Nanhai said, wiping cold sweat from his forehead.
Great Elder Gu Shun let out a long sigh of relief. "Though we lost some treasures, at least we kept our lives. Compared to that, material possessions are insignificant."
Yin Nanhai, who had initially felt a pang of regret, nodded in agreement. "You're right. Whether it's the Five Elements Primordial Return Mountain or those strange Flame Gold Marks, we couldn't unravel their secrets anyway. It's just a pity about the Millennial Spirit Tree Heart."
"I had planned to refine a magic treasure with it. If only I'd taken it from the treasure vault sooner."
"We've truly suffered a stroke of bad luck," one of the pavilion elders lamented. "Who knows where this Divine Transformation Great Power suddenly came from, taking an interest in our Western Heaven Pavilion?"
Great Elder Gu Shun shook his head. "Let's not investigate this matter further. Let it end here. That Divine Transformation Great Power is likely preparing for ascension and was searching for weak spatial nodes."
The two pavilion elders, having narrowly escaped with their lives, ultimately refrained from dwelling on the incident. They sealed their mountain gate and rarely ventured out into the world again.
After leaving the Western Heaven Pavilion, Fan Tong followed the black mist man as they wandered throughout the Cloud Marsh Domain.
They spent over half a year thoroughly investigating the locations where the demon realm's rifts had opened, then confirmed several other suspected weak spatial nodes.
Unfortunately, none proved suitable as Ascension Nodes. Choosing to ascend from any of these locations would likely lead to disastrous consequences.
Throughout their journey, Fan Tong remained anxious about his big brother, who was still recuperating at the Lingyun Sect. He desperately wanted to return the Gold Fire Mark he had obtained.
However, the black mist man ignored his urgency, leisurely continuing their exploration of the Cloud Marsh Domain for an extended period.
A full year later, just as Fan Tong's patience was about to run out, the black mist man finally agreed to return to the Azure Ridge Domain.
With the assistance of a Divine Transformation stage cultivator, the journey from the Cloud Marsh Domain to the Azure Ridge Domain took only a few months.
As he gazed at the Lingyun Sect looming before him, Fan Tong's heart sank at the thought of their impending separation.
"This mountain gate looks quite imposing," the black mist man remarked casually. "Alright, now that we've arrived, go sever all ties with your past."
"Don't even think about trying any tricks. Unless your sect has a Divine Transformation Great Power, you won't escape my grasp."
The black mist man stood with his hands clasped behind his back, casually imprinting a wisp of black mist onto Fan Tong's body.
Fan Tong's expression flickered slightly as he stared at the mark. He understood the gravity of the situation; if he dared to betray his word, he had no doubt this man would annihilate his entire sect.
"I'm not that foolish," Fan Tong replied. "Since I've given my word, I won't go back on it."
"Wait here a moment. I'll be right back."
With that, Fan Tong's figure flashed toward the Lingyun Sect.
The black mist man glanced after him but didn't follow, remaining confidently in place to meditate.
Meanwhile, the Lingyun Sect's elders breathed a collective sigh of relief upon Fan Tong's return, having feared some mishap had befallen him.
But when Fan Tong revealed the fifteen Gold Fire Marks, their faces lit up with joy.
"He actually brought them back! It seems the Western Heaven Pavilion is quite reasonable after all."
"Phew, I thought we were on the brink of an Immortal Sect war. Guess I was overthinking things."
"All thanks to Heavenly Tiger Ancestor! May I ask, Ancestor, what price did you pay to obtain these Gold Fire Marks?"
Fan Tong didn't answer Xu Xia's question directly. He simply shook his head and said, "To them, these Gold Fire Marks were useless trinkets. I paid no real price."
Regardless, the Immortal Sect war that had threatened to engulf two great domains had been averted.
When Fan Tong requested to personally check on Li Qing, the sect members naturally raised no objections, knowing his close relationship with Ancestor Limitless.
On Azure Cloud Peak, Su Xin cleansed Li Qing's body within the Black Furnace, then instructed Fan Tong to personally embed the fifteen Gold Fire Marks he had retrieved into the furnace's inner wall.
Gazing at Li Qing, who still lay barely breathing, Fan Tong's eyes reddened. He whispered, "Big brother..."
He thought of the trials to come, realizing this might be his last glimpse of Li Qing. His heart ached with sorrow.
A Divine Transformation Great Power exerted immense pressure on the sect, like a mountain pressing down. Fan Tong didn't expect Li Qing to accomplish anything upon awakening; he only prayed for his big brother's safety.
With these thoughts, Fan Tong embedded each of the fifteen Gold Fire Marks into the furnace wall, one by one. The hazy glow within the Black Furnace intensified visibly.
The vitality within Li Qing's body grew stronger, though still faint. This at least proved the Gold Fire Marks were effective.
Fan Tong exhaled in relief, knowing his big brother would likely awaken in the future.
After embedding the final Gold Fire Mark, Fan Tong slowly stood up, his hand resting on the furnace's inner wall. He called out, "Sister-in-law Su Xin."
At the mention of "Sister-in-law," Su Xin's fair face flushed crimson, but she quickly regained her composure.
"What is it you wish to say?"
Fan Tong replied dejectedly, "Please take care of Big Brother from now on."
Su Xin's brow furrowed at these words, unsure of their meaning.
Caring for Li Qing had always been her responsibility, but Fan Tong's words sounded like a final farewell.
"Did you encounter trouble on your journey? Tell me everything. We can discuss it together."
(End of the Chapter)
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