Chapter 262: Whale Airship

“Is the Qiong Hua Sect expanding this rapidly?” Chen Luo frowned. Given their rapid growth, internal strife within the sect must be rampant. The advantage of joining such a powerful organization was access to abundant resources. With the sect’s backing, one could easily acquire rare resources that were difficult to obtain elsewhere. However, rapid expansion inevitably meant numerous enemies, significantly increasing the risk of encountering danger.

As they chatted idly, a colossal, wooden-patterned whale-shaped Flying Boat sliced through the sky, its passage creating a circular shockwave in the clouds. A tremendous wave of air pressure descended from above.

“It’s here,” Mei Qin announced.

The giant whale-shaped Flying Boat landed, its underbelly glowing with intricate Forbidden Script. The resulting shockwave scattered seawater into a towering tsunami. As the pressure wave dissipated, the whale’s massive eye lowered, and the Qiong Hua Sect tokens carried by Chen Luo and Mei Qin lit up.

“Come aboard,” a voice echoed from the Flying Boat, confirming their identities. The Restriction on its back faded, revealing an elevated platform.

Chen Luo and Mei Qin flew upward.

Boom!

With its new passengers aboard, the giant whale let out a resounding roar that reverberated through the sky. A mighty flick of its tail churned the sea into towering waves and whipped up a violent storm before it soared back into the clouds, the Restriction on its back sealing once more.

“Such an enormous Inter-Domain Magical Artifact,” Chen Luo marveled.

Chen Luo, a master of Restrictions and Artificing, naturally understood the immense value of this Transdomain Flying Boat. Compared to this colossal Whale Flying Boat, the God Lake Immortal Sect’s Transdomain Flying Boats were like children’s toys, requiring vastly different levels of resources and refinement techniques. Many of the rare materials used in its construction were completely new to Chen Luo.

A circular platform adorned the Whale Flying Boat’s back, where Chen Luo and Mei Qin landed after boarding.

The man who had spoken earlier was a burly, bare-chested giant with an oppressive presence, radiating heat like a furnace. A late-stage Foundation Establishment Body Refiner, he bore the Qiong Hua Sect’s emblem on his arm—the sect’s expert responsible for overseeing the Flying Boat.

“Two more fellow sect members have arrived,” he announced, his gaze sweeping over the pair. A flicker of surprise and doubt crossed his eyes when he looked at Chen Luo, realizing he couldn’t discern the young man’s cultivation level.

This meant Chen Luo was at least a Great Cultivator at the Perfection of Foundation Establishment, possibly even harboring a condensed Pseudo-Core Seed. Such a figure could lead an entire peak if sent out or become a core member within the sect.

“Greetings, Senior Brother,” the giant said, suppressing his aura and adopting a noticeably more respectful tone.

The other occupants of the Flying Boat instinctively turned to look. Upon sensing Chen Luo’s power, their faces mirrored the giant’s astonishment, except for two figures who remained seated cross-legged with their eyes closed, never once glancing in their direction.

The two men, like Chen Luo, were Great Cultivators of the Perfected Realm.

“Those two are the Peak Lords of Heart Sword Peak and Solid Rock Peak,” the burly man explained, noticing Chen Luo’s gaze. “They’re both Perfected Realm Great Cultivators, just like you, Senior Brother.”

The Peak Lords of two of the outer peaks? Chen Luo hadn’t expected to encounter such core figures of the Qiong Hua Sect so soon. He observed them carefully before withdrawing his gaze.

His sole purpose in coming to the Qiong Hua Sect was to condense a First-Grade Golden Core and break through to the Golden Core Realm. He cared little for anything else.

“May I ask your name, Senior Brother? I’m Zhao Long, a steward from Taiyuan Peak.”

The Qiong Hua Sect’s main headquarters comprised seven major peaks, each corresponding to one of the sect’s seven divine swords. These swords were the sect’s foundational artifacts, each a True Monarch-level Magic Artifact surpassing the Core Formation stage. Taiyuan Peak ranked fifth among these sacred peaks.

Zhao Long was straightforward, barely sparing a glance at Mei Qin, the mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator beside him.

“Chen Luo.”

A faint smile appeared on Chen Luo’s face, and his Divine Sense subtly stirred.

Two wastes who haven’t even condensed Pseudo-Core Seeds. They have no hope of reaching the Golden Core.

Over four hundred years of cultivation. The one on the left has been cultivating for over four hundred and fifty years, while the one on the right carries lingering traces of a curse. Their strength is mediocre.

Within the Immortal Sect Leader’s external brain, Chen Luo instantly recognized the true nature of the two Peak Lords.

“Ah, Senior Brother Chen,” Zhao Long said, his smile widening at Chen Luo’s acknowledgment. He had previously tried to engage the two Peak Lords in conversation, but they had been aloof and unresponsive.

Though the difference between late-stage Foundation Establishment and Perfected Foundation Establishment seemed small, it represented a formidable barrier that many cultivators never overcame in their lifetimes. If Chen Luo hadn’t been fortunate enough to acquire the Immortal Sect Leader’s brain, he would likely still be stuck at the ninety-ninth Flood Dragon, needing at least another twenty years to break through to the Perfected Realm.

As they spoke, they reached the front of the colossal whale, where they could look down at the breathtaking scenery below. It was from this vantage point that Zhao Long had first spotted Chen Luo and Mei Qin. Mei Qin, who had accompanied Chen Luo aboard, followed them to the front as well. As Foundation Establishment cultivators, they both understood the value of befriending a Great Cultivator like Chen Luo.

The whale’s tail swayed, each stroke churning vast clouds of mist and propelling the massive creature forward in massive leaps.

“Driven by formations and restrictions? Each sweep must consume a significant amount of spirit stones,” Chen Luo mused, calculating the energy expenditure from a Formation Master’s perspective. Every Second-Tier Formation he deployed required High-Grade Spirit Stones, and the formations on Gu King Peak drew power directly from the spirit meridians themselves.

“Spirit stones can’t power this behemoth,” Zhao Long said with a grin. Though he appeared to be a burly brute, his mind was surprisingly sharp. He deliberately ignored Mei Qin, who trailed behind him, unwilling to meddle in their relationship or play the villain.

“Transdomain Flying Boats run on spirit essence,” Zhao Long explained.

Spirit essence was a tier higher than spirit stones. Chen Luo had encountered it once in the demonic cultivation realm. Before the Blackstone Ancestor’s demise, Blackstone City had monopolized all spirit stone resources in the Southwest Territory, along with the spirit essence supply. At the previous exchange conference, the Black Carapace Daoist had used spirit essence, but Chen Luo hadn’t found any in his Pouch of Holding after killing him.

Spirit stones were primarily used by low-level cultivators. After reaching Core Formation, their effectiveness diminished significantly. Core Formation cultivators consumed vastly more spiritual energy than Foundation Establishment practitioners, whether in combat, formation deployment, or Qi Refining.

“This Whale Flying Boat consumes an astronomical amount of resources,” Zhao Long continued. “Only our Qiong Hua Sect can afford to operate it. Few other sects could manage its upkeep. The Artificing and Restriction techniques used in its construction were crafted by Third-Tier Refinement Masters. It can even withstand attacks from Core Formation cultivators for a time.”

The Flying Boat, capable of withstanding attacks from Core Formation cultivators, was truly impressive. Chen Luo estimated that even with the Corpse King’s assistance, it would likely take two strikes to breach its defenses.

“Ten Thousand Demon Mountain is not to be underestimated,” Mei Qin suddenly warned, breaking her long silence. “Senior Brother, when passing the main peak, please exercise extreme caution, especially against Divine Soul attacks.”

Ten Thousand Demon Mountain? Chen Luo recalled the bone scroll in the Teleportation Array cave, which described it as “the great mountain blocking the Transdomain Teleportation Array.”

“In other words, Ten Thousand Demon Mountain is obstructing our path. Otherwise, why would we waste our time like this?” Zhao Long said, a flicker of apprehension in his eyes as he mentioned the mountain.

Noticing Chen Luo’s confusion, he casually explained, “Ten Thousand Demon Mountain is a colossal relic from the Ancient Law Era. The entire mountain is blood-red, resembling a massive, ferocious bear. Countless demonic fiends inhabit its slopes, hence the name. The three perilous locations Shimei mentioned earlier—the Bridge of Helplessness, Gu Insect Ridge, and Wild Monkey Valley—are all located on the mountain.”

“Your warning about Divine Soul attacks implies you’ve crossed the Bridge of Helplessness before, correct?”

Zhao Long glanced at Mei Qin and casually remarked, “It’s not like we have much of a choice.”

Mei Qin’s face paled at the mention of the Bridge of Helplessness, as if recalling a painful memory.

“Hasn’t the Sect addressed this issue?” Chen Luo frowned, surprised to encounter so many dangers even on the Qiong Hua Sect’s special route. If I had stumbled in here alone without guidance, would I have been trapped forever?

“Thirty years ago, a One Wood True Immortal from Taisu Peak came here and perished,” Zhao Long said somberly.

A True Immortal? Fallen? Chen Luo was no longer the naive newcomer who had emerged from the Great Tomb of Yue. In the cultivation world, unlike the casual use of the term in the mortal realm, “True Immortal” referred exclusively to Core Formation cultivators.

“Even this route was forged by the combined efforts of our Sect Elders. Any other path would be even more perilous,” Zhao Long explained. As a Foundation Establishment cultivator responsible for managing the Qiong Hua Sect’s Flying Boats, he possessed confidential knowledge inaccessible to outsiders.

“If the Bridge of Helplessness is so difficult to navigate, what about Gu Insect Ridge and Wild Monkey Valley?” Chen Luo asked.

“Gu Insect Ridge is infested with Spirit-Devouring Gu, and Wild Monkey Valley teems with endless hordes of monkeys, including a Third-Tier Monkey King,” Zhao Long replied.

“Spirit-Devouring Gu?”

In Chen Luo’s mind, his external brain, specializing in Gu insects, immediately retrieved the relevant information.

“Spirit-Devouring Gu? These insects thrive on spiritual energy, and their bodies are tougher than Third-Tier Magic Artifacts. They love to swarm, with each swarm easily numbering over three thousand.”

“Those are the ones.”

A tense silence fell over the group.

Each of the three locations they would pass was more perilous than the last. Chen Luo, who had initially felt reassured by the Flying Boat, now questioned the safety of the Qiong Hua Sect’s specialized passage.

The Flying Boat wouldn’t stand a chance against any of these threats.

“When the Flying Boat passes through these areas, it will burn spirit essence to accelerate. Unless something draws their attention, we should be safe under normal circumstances.”

Chen Luo remained silent.

He thought of the Soul-Parasitic Gu and Life-Stealing Mite stored in his Pest Control Pouch. Both were Miraculous Insects of unparalleled rarity, but unlike the Soul-Parasitic Gu gifted by Elder FusionSpirit, the Life-Stealing Mite proved exceptionally difficult to refine. Refining such rare creatures required immense time and patience, a fact that underscored Chen Luo’s greatest weakness:

His limited cultivation experience.

As they entered the mountain range, swirling mist rose around them, revealing a colossal crimson peak ahead. The boundless clouds seemed like mere dust beneath the feet of this colossal red giant. Beside the towering mountain, the massive Flying Boat looked as insignificant as a mosquito.

“Is that a mountain?”