Firmament Sword

This time, the Cultivation Technique from the Tianquan Star Soul came with extremely detailed explanations, which was a pleasant surprise for Xu Luo. His previous Cultivation Techniques hadn’t come with many explanations. Even with the Shadow Shaking Heart Method, it was only after cultivating for a long time that Xu Luo discovered it could be advanced.

It was the same for the Shaking Light Step. Cultivating the Shaking Light Step to its peak would also allow him to step into the Time Domain.

Then, the conditions for using the Time Reversal Skill appeared in Xu Luo’s mind.

”Each use requires a massive amount of Spiritual Power. Therefore, please prepare plenty of Spirit Stones!”

This explanation... seemed quite user-friendly, but it made Xu Luo’s heart pound. The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as he thought, ’This so-called ”massive amount of Spiritual Power”... exactly how much is that? Don’t tell me... I’m going to be scrambling for Spirit Stones forever now?’

Thinking of the Spirit Stone Vein that had been sucked completely dry by the five Star Souls, Xu Luo felt a pang of heartache. ’It’s just too extravagant!’

A Spirit Stone Vein that could have been mined for hundreds of years!

Gone, just like that... completely drained...

However, the thought of the Time Reversal Skill’s power still made him unable to contain his excitement.

”Ancient Peach Tree, come out, come out! I’ve struck it rich!” Xu Luo excitedly sent a Divine Thought to the Ancient Peach Tree.

”Don’t bother Master Tao. Master Tao is currently cultivating in the Star Domain!” the Ancient Peach Tree’s consciousness replied.

Although the Ancient Peach Tree had already entered the Shaking Light Star Soul’s Star Gate, it could still communicate with Xu Luo through its consciousness.

His gains were so great that Xu Luo didn’t know how to vent his excitement. He wanted to share his joy with someone, and right now, Master Tao was the only one he could talk to. But he sensitively picked up on a specific word in Master Tao’s message—Star Domain.

”Star Domain?” Xu Luo raised an eyebrow and asked, ”Is that the world inside the Star Gate?” He couldn’t help but think of the mysterious starry sky where he cultivated.

”Er... just pretend Master Tao never said anything.” After sending this, the Ancient Peach Tree went silent, refusing to answer no matter how many times Xu Luo asked.

”What’s the big deal? Once I break through my current realm, I’ll be able to go in too!” Xu Luo muttered. Then, he began to inspect the Cultivation Technique bestowed upon him by the Phecda Star Soul.

When he saw it, Xu Luo was instantly stunned, speechless for a long moment.

”Treasure Hunting Skill.”

If the detailed introduction to the Cultivation Technique from the Tianquan Star Soul had made Xu Luo feel that things were different now... then this time, he was completely speechless.

There was no introduction, only three words: Treasure Hunting Skill...

It was even worse than the Cultivation Techniques he received when the Shaking Light Star Soul awakened. Although those didn’t have much of an explanation either, the techniques were as if they’d been engraved in his mind, and he could use them instantly!

But what on earth was this Treasure Hunting Skill? A technique for hunting treasure? This... this was just too ridiculous.

In this world, there were masters who specialized in reading feng shui, and there were tomb raiders who understood it. Those raiders could use feng shui to determine the locations of ancient tombs, plunder them, and make astonishing profits.

But this Treasure Hunting Skill... what was it all about?

With this in mind, Xu Luo began to read up on the relevant information about the Treasure Hunting Skill.

In fact, just like with his previous Cultivation Techniques, this knowledge was imprinted in his mind. He only had to think about it, and it would appear.

Once Xu Luo understood the true meaning of the Treasure Hunting Skill, he couldn’t help but sit there and laugh like an idiot.

The Treasure Hunting Skill really was a technique for hunting treasure.

When cultivated to a high level, this technique would leave no treasure, whether it be Spirit Medicine or various Refining Materials, anywhere in heaven or on earth, with a place to hide!

The corners of Xu Luo’s mouth twitched. ’Isn’t this a bit too overpowered? This isn’t a Treasure Hunting Skill... it’s a Plundering Skill!’

’No matter where I go, as long as I use the Treasure Hunting Skill, won’t all the nearby treasures... be swept clean in an instant?’

With this in mind, Xu Luo subconsciously activated the Treasure Hunting Skill. At its current level, it was only a novice-tier skill, and its range was limited to a few dozen meters around his body.

Immediately, something appeared in his mind, and he subconsciously looked up.

Above his head, on a huge stalactite, grew a small, palm-high blade of grass. It looked very tender and vividly green, with dewdrops on its leaves. Although it looked pleasant, it seemed completely ordinary.

If not for the Treasure Hunting Skill, Xu Luo would never have paid much attention to this little blade of grass growing on a stone.

While it wasn’t common for grass to grow on stone, it wasn’t unheard of either. If you couldn’t sense any Spiritual Qi from it, no one would think twice about it.

But after Xu Luo used the Treasure Hunting Skill, this small blade of grass immediately became different in his Sea of Spiritual Consciousness!

Although the entire plant was only palm-sized, at this moment, it was bursting with an incredibly abundant Life Energy!

This surge of Life Energy was almost as great as the Life Energy Xu Luo had obtained in the Spirit Stone Vein!

”This... this is too... too exaggerated, isn’t it?” Xu Luo’s mouth fell slightly open as he muttered, dumbfounded.

He leaped into the air, gently plucked the small blade of grass, and landed back on the ground. Xu Luo observed it carefully and even released his Divine Sense, but he felt nothing at all.

But the moment he activated the Treasure Hunting Skill, everything changed.

The corner of Xu Luo’s mouth twitched slightly; he really didn’t know what to say. Just then, an unfamiliar male voice echoed in his mind, ”Eat it.”

”Are you... Phecda?” Xu Luo asked.

”Correct.” The unfamiliar voice sounded a bit cold, but it wasn’t a forbidding coldness. It was as if that was just its natural state.

”Alright.” Xu Luo knew the Star Soul wouldn’t harm him, so he immediately put the small blade of grass into his mouth.

Before he could even chew, the grass melted in his mouth. The taste was incredibly sweet and refreshingly cool as it flowed down his throat.

BOOM!

Xu Luo felt an incomparably powerful surge of Life Energy instantly fill every inch of his body!

Without even a moment to think, Xu Luo immediately sat down cross-legged, activated the Shadow Shaking Heart Method, and guided the Life Energy already in his body to merge with the Life Energy from the grass, using their combined force to charge at the shackles of his current realm...

...

”Did we miss something?” Huo Danqiong said, looking around with a puzzled expression. ”There’s no way that kid actually escaped. He must be hiding somewhere!”

This was already the sixth day of their pursuit of Xu Luo.

The five of them would regroup every hundred li, and they had chased him for several thousand li, but they hadn’t even seen a shadow of Xu Luo. This left them completely bewildered, and they simply refused to believe that Xu Luo could have escaped from right under their noses.

”Something is off. We might have really missed something,” Huo Wei said from the side.

Huo Wanzhang’s normally ruddy complexion was now ashen. With his status, position, and power, to relentlessly hunt down a young man only to lose him... if word of this got out, he would become a laughingstock.

”Along the way, we’ve searched almost every place suitable for hiding. The Lightning Sculpture has been patrolling the sky the whole time, and we’ve expanded the search radius to several thousand li... so I think we must have overlooked something,” Huo Wei said.

Huo Danqiong furrowed her brow in thought, then suddenly said, ”The places we’ve been searching... they’re all spots that are good for hiding. Do you think... that kid might have done the opposite and found a place that’s *bad* for hiding?”

”Aiya... why didn’t I think of that?” Huo Jinwen’s chubby old face was full of regret. He couldn’t help but say, ”About thirteen hundred li behind us, there’s a large area of hills. The tallest one is only a few hundred meters high, and there are hardly any trees on them; they’re almost completely bare. When we passed by, I even thought to myself that he definitely wouldn’t hide there... but after hearing what Dan Qiong said, an idea just popped into my head. Do you think... that kid could be hiding in those hills?”

”You know... that’s actually a real possibility. I saw that place too. It’s true that it’s not good for hiding since it’s so bare, but if you think about it the other way, the most dangerous place is the safest place!” Huo Jinwu added.

”Have the Lightning Sculpture continue patrolling from high up. We’re going back to check!” Huo Wanzhang said coldly. ”No matter what, we must find him! When we do, I’ll make him understand... the consequences of toying with us!”

Huo Danqiong and the others all knew that Uncle Wanzhang was truly furious this time. They even felt a little sorry for Xu Luo now. There were very few people who could provoke Uncle Wanzhang, and once angered, he was absolutely terrifying!

Years ago, on the Ancient Race Continent, a very powerful family had provoked Huo Wanzhang. After a few conflicts, Huo Wanzhang was finally pushed too far. With just his sword, he single-handedly slaughtered the entire family!

A powerful family, wiped out overnight!

Huo Wanzhang’s fearsome reputation was established at that time.

Many years had passed since then, and Huo Wanzhang had almost never been seen losing his temper. This white-haired and white-bearded Elder of the Huo Family was more often seen with a peaceful smile on his face.

Many of the younger generation in the Huo Family even thought Elder Wanzhang was incapable of anger.

Only people like Huo Danqiong and Huo Wei knew just how terrifying an enraged Huo Wanzhang could be.

Soon, the group of five returned to the hilly region. Standing high in the air, they continuously scanned the ground below with their Divine Sense.

Suddenly, a cold glint flashed in Huo Wanzhang’s eyes. He said, ”You little bastard, you really are cunning. Let’s see where you run this time!”

”Ah? Did you find him?” Huo Danqiong looked at Huo Wanzhang with pleasant surprise.

Huo Wanzhang nodded, pointing a finger toward the edge of the hilly area. ”My Divine Sense just swept over that spot. There seems to be a large cave underneath it, and I felt a strong energy fluctuation over there!”

”Ah, he really was hiding here? That kid sure is cunning!” Huo Jinwen exclaimed.

”And it’s all thanks to your reminder,” Huo Wanzhang said to Huo Jinwen with a smile. ”You’ve done well! Dan Qiong did well too! You... have all done very well. When we return to the family, I will request merits for you!”

”Thank you so much, Uncle Wanzhang!” the group said in unison, their faces beaming with joy.

”Let’s go. We’ll set up an Array there first to trap the area, and then... we’ll wait for him to crawl out on his own! I’d like to see how he escapes this time!”

Huo Wanzhang said with a cold smile. This time, he had well and truly learned his lesson and was determined not to leave Xu Luo any opportunity to exploit.