Chapter 212

The Gathering Qi effect of this clone was sixty percent of the main body’s, allowing it to gather spiritual energy at six times the concentration.

In healing capabilities, since the clone retained only a fragment of Chen Yang’s consciousness, its effectiveness in treating divine awareness and mental states was notably weaker, though it retained full physical healing abilities.

The clone’s true essence attacks suffered reduced power and range due to its limited true essence reserves.

Yet it remained an overwhelming threat to all in the Gathering Qi realm and posed some danger even to Condensing Essence stage cultivators.

The clone’s black armor was slightly weaker defensively than Chen Yang’s main body but could still withstand true essence assaults.

While unable to directly withstand mid to late-stage Condensing Essence cultivators, holding its own against early-stage ones wouldn’t be difficult.

Chen Yang had mastered consciousness separation during his Gathering Qi stage.

Upon reaching the Condensing Essence stage, his fused “observation” and “touch” consciousnesses enabled him to project his awareness over vast distances—a feat exclusive to Condensing Essence cultivators.

By combining consciousness separation, remote projection, and shared senses, Chen Yang could control the clone across immense distances.

After testing these abilities, Chen Yang sent a mental message to Yang Lingqing:

“I’ll be diverting part of my consciousness for a distant journey to retrieve certain items. Use the spirit pearl to contact me if urgent matters arise.”

Managing dual consciousness now came effortlessly to Chen Yang, who could freely shift his primary awareness between bodies—a direct benefit of his heightened cultivation.

Previously, such feats had been beyond his reach.

But having broken through to the Condensing Essence stage, the world itself became his playground.

“Understood. We shall abide by the Immortal Master’s decree.”

By the time Yang Lingqing’s group looked up after responding, the clone had already vanished from the ancestral hall.

Chen Yang’s clone dispersed into smoke, reaching Baishi Town’s skies within fifteen minutes.

Extending his consciousness through barriers, he located Gao Hui attempting a breakthrough in a sealed chamber.

The clone carried an egg-sized mass of mysterious power. Chen Yang peeled off a fingernail-sized fragment and flicked it downward.

Gao Hui was locked in mortal combat against a blazing sunlight beast manifesting from his inner demons, his situation precarious.

Suddenly, surging energy erupted within him, crushing the fiery creature instantly.

With this obstruction gone, his cultivation level smoothly ascended to the ninth level of Gathering Qi.

“This is…!”

Gao Hui instantly realized what had occurred, bursting onto the town hall’s roof.

His searching gaze found empty skies. Clasping his hands, he bowed deeply in all directions.

“To whichever senior passed through – this act of guidance will never be forgotten by Gao Hui!”

Chen Yang had already departed, indifferent to the gratitude. His assistance stemmed purely from Gao Hui’s consistent loyalty to the Yang Family—always keeping them informed of developments and sharing opportunities promptly.

As the Yang Family’s ancestral protection, Chen Yang felt he should make some gesture of goodwill. He visited the Wei Family to check their progress before circling around to inspect the remaining three affiliated families under the Yang Family.

After confirming no major issues existed, he traveled south to his first destination on this journey far – the Artifact Towers branch courtyard in the Tiger-Chasing Dynasty.

The Artifact Towers headquarters resided in Canglan’s central region, maintaining branch courtyards across every Canglan dynasty. Regarding weapon refining techniques, if Artifact Towers declared themselves second, no other force in Canglan would dare claim first. Over seventy percent of cultivation tools in Canglan came from Artifact Towers’ workshops.

To construct a complete cave realm, Chen Yang needed to secretly learn some techniques from them. However, Artifact Towers guarded its Inheritance strictly – cultivators who wanted to learn had to mine for Ten Years, forge iron for another Ten Years, then pass selection trials before accessing their forging methods. These twenty years of labor deterred most weak-willed opportunists.

But such rules only bound ordinary cultivators. Chen Yang couldn’t wait twenty years. Moreover, as a stone, infiltrating Artifact Towers to steal knowledge would be child’s play.

In Artifact Towers’ mines east of Shanyin City, Tiger-Chasing’s southern region…

A mining apprentice dug up a smooth gray stone from the earthen layer one day. Its surface bore turquoise green patterns that gleamed with treasure light when polished. "This must be spiritual ore! Reporting it could shorten my sentence!"

Imagining early promotion to forging apprentice, he excitedly showed the stone to the Gathering Qi full-level cultivator guarding the mine. The guard’s verdict crushed his hopes – it was ordinary blue stone with no spiritual energy, just unusually smooth.

Dejected, the apprentice threw the stone into a regular ore cart and resumed digging.

At the central battlefield of the eastern line, within the Eastern Wilderness’ hidden base:

Collapsed tents and scattered corpses surrounded the fallen "Desolation" banner. Only wind and distant flashes of beam of light accompanied sporadic roars.

"DIE! YOU’LL ALL DIE!" A blood-drenched female cultivator with wild hair shrieked, besieged by two shadows. One shadow flickered as blue Thunder Sparks, spraying blood with each pass. Before she could recover, three water rings erupted from below to immobilize her.

"May you perish wretchedly!" Her hoarse scream echoed as she strained to maintain the white deer projection behind her.

"Break." Yang Lingshu’s calm voice summoned a roaming dragon phantom that pierced through the deer’s form.

"Ah!!"

As the projection shattered, the female cultivator’s mental defenses collapsed entirely.

Qi Wei seized the chance, whirling around to send a Lightning Blade slicing through the air – severing the woman’s head from her shoulders.

When the female cultivator fell dead, the two individuals stepped closer.

"Should I have kept her alive?" Qi Wei questioned.

Yang Lingshu shook his head. "No mercy. Dead enemies make no comebacks."

Their slain target was the young Eastern Wilderness cultivator they’d been sent to eliminate.

As they spoke, Zhao Qi returned with two other team members after scouring the battlefield.

"Impressive skills," one remarked, eyeing the corpse. "This witch was supposed to be tough. Let’s report back now we’re done."

"Report where?" Yang Lingshu’s gaze sharpened. "To Tiger-Chasing… or Eastern Wilderness?"

The man stiffened. "Friend, what nonsense is this?"

His hidden hand twitched within his sleeve – but his companions moved faster. Golden light speared through his chest as an earthen spike erupted upward, impaling his dantian.

The Eastern Wilderness spy died bewildered. His forged identity had been perfect. He’d earned the base commander’s trust. No mistakes during the mission. So how-?

Truth was, the spy’s performance held no flaws. But among five team members, simple math revealed the traitor. Not Yang Lingshu. Not Zhao Qi. Not Qi Wei. The earth technique cultivator was clearly Lv Fangxuan – Tiger-Chasing’s hidden ace.

That left only one.

Zhao Qi’s golden light flashed, decapitating the corpse. "This way," he urged, gesturing to a narrow path. "Shorter route for retreat."