If Han Changming had not obtained a fourth-level puppet beast, he would not have agreed to go treasure hunting with Old Man Xuan Ya.
It is better to rely on yourself than on others. You are your own greatest support.
He is not as trustworthy as other Nascent Soul cultivators. The Han family of Huludao is famous in the Coral Sea for their puppet beasts. Before Han Changming formed the Core Formation, he used puppet beasts quite frequently.
The method of driving a fourth-level puppet beast is the same as that of a low-level puppet beast. The difference is that driving a fourth-level puppet beast requires more spiritual awareness.
Han Changming threw the metal ball forward and injected several spells into it.
The spiritual patterns on the surface of the metal sphere lit up brightly, and with the sound of a mechanism, it transformed into a giant golden eagle with a wingspan of more than ten feet. The golden eagle's entire body reflected a metallic luster, and its eyes were golden.
Han Changming made a hand gesture and the giant golden eagle spread its wings. It flapped them gently, creating a gust of wind and flew high into the sky.
The magical powers of a puppet beast depend on the refiner. Once a puppet beast is refined, its magical powers are fixed and will not change. However, it is different for spirit beasts. Even if they are the same kind of spirit beast, if they devour rare treasures or elixirs, they may mutate and acquire other magical powers.
Han Changming's magic spell changed, and hundreds of thin golden lights burst out from the surface of the golden eagle puppet beast, covering an area of a thousand feet in radius.
He threw out a green flying knife and headed straight for the golden eagle puppet beast.
As soon as the green flying knife touched the golden light, it seemed to fall into a quagmire and stopped in mid-air.
Han Changming's magic spell changed, and the golden eagle puppet beast let out a sharp hiss, flapped its wings fiercely, and a strong wind blew. Hundreds of golden wind blades swept out and turned into a golden hurricane, hitting the stone wall, making a muffled "clang" sound and sparks flying.
Han Changming nodded and changed the spell again. He wanted to see the magical power of the fourth-level puppet beast and familiarize himself with its use.
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Zhenren Jinxia is a native of the Qingha Islands. His ancestors for nine generations were all Qi-refining cultivators. For the sake of his spiritual path, his parents went out to sea to hunt monsters and died in the mouths of monsters.
When Jin Xia Zhenren was young, he worked as a guide in Qing He City. At that time, there were still many Qing He beasts and a lot of people. It was barely enough to maintain daily practice, and it was still very difficult to build a foundation.
He is a generous person with a wide range of friends.
By chance, Master Jinxia knew the purchasing deacon of the Qixia Chamber of Commerce and often gave him some benefits. The Jinxia Chamber of Commerce was in urgent need of a batch of third-level green clam skins, so the purchasing deacon asked Master Jinxia for help and gave him a sum of money afterwards. This was his first pot of gold.
Zhenren Jinxia also took this opportunity to advance to the foundation-building stage. Thanks to his relationship with the deacon of the Qixia Chamber of Commerce, he lived a comfortable life. Later, the Qixia Chamber of Commerce went bankrupt. Zhenren Jinxia started his own business and lost a lot of his savings. He had no choice but to hunt monsters.
By chance, Master Jinxia subdued a Jinxia beast, which had great magical powers and saved his life many times.
After True Man Jinxia formed his infant, he occupied Jinxia Island to practice and accepted several disciples. He was quite close to Old Man Xuanya.
On this day, Zhenren Jinxia was practicing in a secret room, and his whole body was covered by a golden glow.
After a while, a sound transmission note flew in. Zhenren Jinxia seemed to sense something. The golden light on his body dissipated and he opened his eyes.
He grabbed the sound transmission talisman with one hand and crushed it. Then a respectful male voice suddenly sounded: "Master, Senior Yang from Xuan Ya Sect sent someone to ask you to go to Qing He City."
Zhenren Jinxia frowned, stood up and walked out.
When I walked out of the residence, I saw a tall and thin young man in a green shirt standing at the door with a respectful look on his face.
"Don't you know the person coming?"
Zhenren Jinxia frowned and asked. He had a lot of interactions with Elder Xuan Ya and were quite familiar with their respective disciples.
"I don't know him. His name is He Yang. He said Senior Han sent him here. He has Senior Yang's keepsake and sound transmission talisman. I placed them in the meeting room."
The young man in green shirt said truthfully.
"Senior Han?"
Zhenren Jinxia was completely confused, as he did not know the Nascent Soul cultivator named Han.
"Go to the meeting room and take a look. Have you heard of this Daoist friend Han?"
Zhenren Jinxia asked as they walked.
"I've heard that this person is proficient in alchemy, but he lives a secluded life and rarely goes out. I haven't heard that he has any relationship with Senior Yang."
The young man in green shirt said honestly that Han Changming was a newly promoted fourth-rank alchemist in Qingha City. He lived a secluded life and rarely went out. All the well-informed forces knew of Han Changming's existence.
Zhenren Jinxia nodded, with a thoughtful expression on her face.
Not long after, Master Jinxia came to the meeting room, and He Yang and Chen Yao quickly stood up and saluted.
"Junior He Yang (Chen Yao), under the order of the shopkeeper, is to deliver Senior Yang's token and the sound transmission note to Senior Li."
He Yang took out the token and the sound transmission talisman and handed them to Master Jinxia with both hands.
Zhenren Jinxia checked carefully and confirmed that it was old man Xuan Ya's thing, and there was nothing unusual in the content of the sound transmission note.
"Why did you ask me to come to Qingha City for no reason?"
Zhenren Jinxia wondered, even if there was something important to discuss, Elder Xuan Ya should have invited him to the Xuan Ya Sect.
"We were just ordered to deliver the letter. We don't know anything else. But it should be a good thing, otherwise Senior Yang would not have invited you to Qingha City."
He Yang said politely.
"I understand. You guys go back first!"
Jinxia Zhenren waved his hand, signaling He Yang and Chen Yao to leave. He was allowed to attend the appointment with only a sound transmission talisman and a token? They didn't take him seriously enough! At the very least, send a few disciples over!
He Yang and Chen Yao looked embarrassed. It seemed that Master Jin Xia did not intend to keep the appointment. This was the first task assigned to them by Han Changming.
"Senior Li, do you know the Wang family of Jinlong Mountain?"
He Yang hesitated for a moment and asked cautiously.
"Of course I know. What does this have to do with your shopkeeper?"
Zhenren Jinxia was slightly stunned, his eyes full of confusion.
"Our shopkeeper recently attended the birthday party of Senior Yang on Yuding Island. Wang Changyang, the only son of the head of the Jinlongshan family, also showed up. He will marry Fairy Yuwei. Senior Wang also came to visit our shopkeeper in person. The shopkeeper and Senior Yang may have something important to discuss with you. It may be to discuss business with you. Our shopkeeper is proficient in alchemy and gave Senior Yang more than ten high-quality pills as a birthday gift."
He Yang said slowly that Han Changming's deeds on Yuding Island had not yet spread, and Zhenren Jinxia might not take Han Changming seriously.
Master Jinxia was a little surprised. He Yang would not dare to lie to him. He thought about it carefully and thought that Old Man Xuan Ya might really have something important to discuss with him, but due to some special reasons, it was inconvenient to send someone over.
"Okay! I'll leave right away. I want to see what Daoist Fellows Yang and Han are up to."
Zhenren Jinxia agreed. He gave a few instructions and left Jinxia Island with He Yang and Chen Yao.
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In a secret room, Han Changming sat cross-legged on a yellow cushion, with a Green Flame Burning Heaven Furnace placed in front of him, the bottom of which was engulfed in billowing flames. The room was filled with a strong medicinal aroma.
After a while, Han Changming retracted his magic spell, and the flames suddenly dissipated. He then cast another magic spell, and the lid of the cauldron automatically flew up and slowly fell down.
Han Changming walked forward and took a look. There were seventeen purple pills inside, all of which were mid-grade pills.
He is currently unable to refine high-quality elixirs for Nascent Soul cultivators to take. He can only refine mid-quality elixirs and then purify them using the Taiyi Hualing Gourd.
Han Changming put away the seventeen purple pills and planned to continue refining the pills. He seemed to realize something and took out a light green magic disk and entered a magic formula. He Yang's voice suddenly rang out: "Shopkeeper, we have invited Jinxia Zhenren to come."
"You bring him in! I'll be out right away."
Han Changming put away the Qingyan Burning Heaven Furnace and alchemy materials, contacted Sun Ming, and asked him to notify Old Man Xuan Ya.
After doing all this, Han Changming walked out.
He had just arrived at the stone pavilion and sat down when Old Man Xuan Ya, Chen Yingying and Zhenren Jin Xia walked in one after another.
"You guys go down! I will personally entertain Fellow Daoists Li and Yang."
Han Changming waved his hand, signaling Sun Ming and others to retreat.
Han Changming, Jinxia Zhenren, Xuan Ya Old Man and Chen Yingying sat down, and Han Changming took out the tea set and made tea.
Soon, a pot of fragrant spiritual tea was brewed.
"Friend Li, Friend Yang, Madam Yang, please have some tea."
Han Changming poured them each a cup of spiritual tea and said politely.
Old Man Xuan Ya and Chen Yingying picked up the teacups and took a sip, but True Person Jin Xia had no intention of drinking the tea.
"Friend Daoist Yang, Friend Daoist Han, what is the important matter that you invited me here for?"
Master Jinxia asked straight to the point.
"We discovered an ancient cultivator's cave, but the restrictions are too strong. Fellow Daoist Li, your Golden Cloud Beast's magical power can break it. I would like to invite you to break the restrictions and obtain the treasure."
Old Man Xuan Ya said softly, his eyes full of anticipation.
If Master Jinxia refused, they would naturally not gain much benefit.
"An ancient monk's cave? Do you know which monk it is? How was his cultivation level? How was it discovered? Where is it located?"
Master Jinxia raised a series of questions. If someone else had invited him, he might have refused, but he had a good relationship with Old Man Xuan Ya, so he could consider it.
Han Changming briefly explained what had happened so that Master Jinxia could feel at ease.
"I can go with you, but let me be frank with you. Whoever contributes the most will get a bigger share. Is that okay?"
Zhenren Jinxia had a solemn expression. Since the location of the ancient cultivator's cave was still unknown, it should not be a trap and they could go there.
Han Changming nodded and said, "I think so too. To be on the safe side, let's not bring anyone else with us. How about just the four of us going?"
The more people you bring, the easier it is for news to leak out.
Elder Xuan Ya and True Person Jin Xia had no objection and agreed.
After reaching an agreement, Han Changming and the other three left their residence and headed straight for the outside of Qingha City.
Not long after, Han Changming and his three companions left Qingha City, turned into four beams of light, flew high into the sky, and disappeared into the horizon.
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In Qingha City, a secluded courtyard.
A tall and thin old man in a green robe was talking to a graceful young woman in a red skirt. Both of them had the cultivation level of the Nascent Soul stage.
The young woman in the red skirt frowned and said, "Friend Han and Old Man Xuan Ya have become friends. Will they cooperate in treasure hunting?"
"Isn't this a good thing? It saves us trouble. But no matter whether we succeed or not, we have to leave this place after completing this crime. We can't commit crimes in one place more than three times."
The old man in green robe said in a deep voice, his eyes solemn.
"Of course. If Fellow Daoist Han also goes treasure hunting, should we kill him? He can refine top-grade elixirs."
The young woman in the red dress looked embarrassed.
"It depends on his performance at that time, whether Shunchang will be defeated or not."
The old man in green robe sneered, his eyes full of murderous intent.
He seemed to have sensed something, and took out a compass that glowed with green light, and entered a spell. A respectful male voice suddenly sounded: "Senior Li, they have left Qinghe City."
"Got it. You continue to stay in the market. We will release your partner after the mission is accomplished."
After saying this, the old man in green robe put away the communication compass.
"You idiot, do you really think we will let her go? Only the dead can keep secrets."
The young woman in the red dress sneered, with a look of disdain on her face.
"I originally wanted to recruit him to join the group, but he's too sentimental and not suitable for our business. After this job, let's push him out as a scapegoat!"
The old man in green robe said with a cold face.
"Oh, send someone to keep an eye on him. Don't let him get the chance to tip off the enemy. It's better to be safe than sorry. It would be bad if he ruins our plans."
The young woman in the red dress seemed to remember something and gave a worried reminder.
"Don't worry. I sent two Jindan cultivators to follow him closely. He has no chance to tip off. If he dares to make any unusual movements, I will immediately activate the restrictions and kill him. Fellow Daoist Han and his men have left, so it's time for us to leave too. I hope we can make more money this time. The five Yuanying cultivators didn't make much money last time."
After saying this, the old man in green robe left with the young woman in red skirt.
······
Three months later, over a vast blue sea, a group of blue seagulls flew across the sky at an extremely fast speed.
Four beams of light appeared in the sky. Not long after, they stopped over a deserted island with a radius of one hundred miles.
The escaping light faded, revealing the figures of Han Changming and three others.
There are many islands in the Qingha Archipelago. According to Wang Ning's analysis, Han Changming focused his investigation on the islands facing south. Unfortunately, no similar islands were found.
They adjusted their thinking and looked for islands in the southeast and southwest directions, checking dozens of islands.
"This island looks different than what's on the map. Did we find the wrong place again?"
Chen Yingying said with a frown.
"After so many years, the island cannot possibly have not changed. We can only use the most stupid method to find it."
The old man Xuan Ya flipped his hand and took out a small mirror that was shining with white light. There was a white crow engraved on the back of the mirror. This was a middle-grade magic weapon, the White Crow Mirror, which could detect traces of restrictions. If the restrictions were too high, it would naturally be impossible to detect them.
A crow's croaking sound was heard, and a white light was emitted from the white mirror, covering a slope on the island.
The white light moved slowly, checking every inch of land on the island.
Han Changming activated his golden eyes and looked down.
His pupils shrank and his eyes fell on a long and narrow valley. He vaguely saw a faint yellow light.
When the white light passed through the valley, nothing unusual was found.
"It doesn't seem to be here, let's go to another place!"
Old Man Xuan Ya sighed, his face full of disappointment.
"Wait, let's search it carefully. Your magic weapon is only a mid-grade magic weapon. The restrictions set by the Divine Transformation cultivator may not be discovered."
Han Changming suggested that he did not tell them that he had discovered the restriction and kept some things in reserve.
According to their previous practice, after the White Crow Mirror failed to respond, they would search the island to ensure that everything was safe.
"Friend Han is right. We will each be responsible for an area and hope to make some discoveries."
True Man Jinxia agreed deeply. If the White Crow Mirror was of a higher grade, perhaps it wouldn't have to be so troublesome. But then again, if the White Crow Mirror was of a higher grade, Old Man Black Crow would have already searched everywhere for the ancient cultivators' caves, and there would be no need to cooperate with them.
The four of them split up and searched the island carefully.
The ban is in the area that Han Changming is responsible for, so Han Changming only needs to pretend.
More than an hour later, there was a loud noise. The faces of the three men, Old Man Xuan Ya, changed slightly, and they all flew towards where Han Changming was.