Chapter 2494 Departure

The people watching the commotion also swarmed over, each looking bewildered.

"What is this fellow trying to do? Hiding in a cave, isn't that just seeking death?"

"Exactly, the cave is a dead end, how could he possibly escape? This is like catching a turtle in a jar…"

"Is this fellow out of his mind? What exactly does he want to do?"

Baili Xingkong led his men in pursuit to the cave entrance. Just as they arrived, a naked figure flew out—it was none other than His Highness, Baili Hongjun.

Just like the previous two times, his clothes had been stripped clean, and his Storage Ring had also been taken.

"Damn it, this time I'll see where you run!"

Baili Xingkong had been holding back a belly full of anger. At this moment, he no longer held back any politeness. The long sword in his hand burst forth with a sword light dozens of feet long, fiercely slashing towards the small mountain.

With his Cultivation at this level, destroying mountains and breaking rivers was simple. This one sword strike directly split the small mountain in two, and even the cave was cut in half.

If it were an ordinary person, they would undoubtedly die under this sword strike.

But that Black-robed man had created too many miracles before, and no one was sure what would happen this time. Everyone's gaze simultaneously looked into the shattered small mountain.

The result was emptiness; neither a single human shadow nor a trace of blood was seen. It was clear that the previous sword strike had not harmed the opponent.

"Damn it, where did this fellow run off to?"

The enraged Baili Xingkong swung his long sword again, striking repeatedly, and in the blink of an eye, completely leveled the small mountain before him.

But even so, there was still no result; not a single shadow of the Black-robed man was seen.

"Did this fellow escape again? But how did he get away?"

The onlookers were filled with amazement. After several consecutive times, no one could discern what method the opponent used.

The Grand Elder came before Baili Xingkong, "Your Highness, do you think that Little fellow set up a teleportation array in advance inside the cave?"

"Impossible! Teleportation arrays have spatial fluctuations; there's no way we wouldn't notice anything here!"

The Second Elder said, "Could it be that he has a Magic Treasure like a spatial Small World?"

Baili Xingkong shook his head, "Impossible. Under this King's Divine Sense, even if he entered a spatial world, I would be able to sense it."

"This…"

At this, everyone around was completely dumbfounded. This wasn't it, nor was that, yet the opponent still managed to escape. What kind of method was this?

Baili Xingkong was even more exasperated. Being played with three times in a row, and still unable to discern the opponent's method, truly made him incredibly frustrated.

"Let's go!"

Having learned from the previous two experiences, he knew that offering another reward would be useless. Even if they dug three feet deep, they wouldn't find him.

Taking Baili Hongjun with them, they hurried back to the imperial palace.

In the sleeping quarters, Baili Xingyun's expression was extremely grim.

"Did that fellow escape again?"

Baili Xingkong said with a look of vexation, "That damned person used some unknown method; he truly comes and goes without a trace."

Baili Xingyun slapped the table, "Repeatedly toying with my Sacred Dragon Imperial Family, who exactly is this fellow?"

Baili Xingkong's heart suddenly stirred. Every time he went to the inn to deal with Ye Bufan, the Crown Prince would be kidnapped right after. Could there be some connection between the two?

But then he shook his head again, thinking he must be overthinking things. Now that Ye Bufan was dead, he should have no connection to this matter.

"Your Majesty doesn't need to worry too much. Tonight, I will sleep with Jun'er to ensure his safety.

Tomorrow, he will enter the Ten-Tier Tongtian Tower, so there's no need to worry about that fellow for a while."

Baili Xingyun nodded. At this point, there was nothing else to do.

If Baili Hongjun were kidnapped again, not to mention the loss of face, they wouldn't even be able to afford the ransom.

In the Dragon King Palace, Ye Bufan sat on Dragon King Island, looking at the Top-Grade Spirit Stones before him, his face filled with unconcealed joy.

He had originally thought these things would be very difficult to obtain, but unexpectedly, by a lucky coincidence, he had acquired so many at once.

Now, he had a total of three hundred and five pieces before him, which should be enough for him to advance to the Void Tempering Middle Stage.

He held a Spirit Stone in his hand. The Spiritual Qi was rich, but he always felt it was a Rank lower than the golden energy within Xuanyuan Zhantian.

What kind of Seal was that old man afflicted with, and where did he come from? Everything about it was strange.

But everyone had their secrets, and since he didn't say, Ye Bufan didn't press for answers.

He gathered all three hundred and five Top-Grade Spirit Stones in front of him, then sat cross-legged, preparing to break through to the Void Tempering Middle Stage.

He was about to enter the Ten-Tier Tongtian Tower, and he was unsure of what awaited him inside. The best he could do now was to raise his Cultivation as much as possible.

His Chaotic True Qi slowly circulated, immediately as if a valve had been opened. His entire being became like a bottomless pit, drawing in the surrounding Spiritual Qi like a roaring torrent.

After an unknown amount of time, a faint 'click' sound came from within his body, followed by his entire Aura soaring into the sky.

Void Tempering Middle Stage! He had finally succeeded.

Now, every time he advanced a Rank, he needed to absorb a massive amount of Spiritual Qi. As a result, the True Qi within his body was also incredibly vast, far more profound than that of an ordinary Cultivator.

Now that he had reached the Void Tempering Middle Stage, he was comparable to an ordinary Mahayana Middle Stage Cultivator.

With a heart full of joy, he glanced at the Spirit Stones at his feet, and his smile instantly fell.

Out of three hundred and five Top-Grade Spirit Stones, only five remained. The three hundred he had extorted were completely absorbed by him in one go.

He couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. His Cultivation consumed an enormous amount of resources; even an ordinary Sect wouldn't be able to support him.

It seemed he would have to find ways to acquire more Top-Grade Spirit Stones in the future, otherwise, advancing his Cultivation would be incredibly difficult.

After finishing his Cultivation, he left the Dragon King Palace and returned to his room, where he found Xuanyuan Zhantian sitting at the table drinking wine.

Seeing Ye Bufan appear, his drunken eyes looked over, "Little fellow, not bad, you've improved so quickly again."

Ye Bufan chuckled, "It's alright, I also have you to thank for your help."

His words came from the bottom of his heart. The first time he could kidnap Baili Hongjun, but without this old man, the subsequent two times would certainly not have been possible.

"It's nothing, just consider it the consultation fee I, an old man, paid you."

Xuanyuan Zhantian said, "We're even now; I don't owe you any favors. I, an old man, have come to bid you farewell."

Ye Bufan was stunned for a moment, "So fast? Are you leaving already?"

"Yes, I, an old man, still have many things to do."

Xuanyuan Zhantian said with a lewd smile, "Little fellow, are you perhaps a little reluctant to see me go?

How about this, you bring me, an old man, some more pig trotters and good wine. Every time I eat and drink, I'll remember your kindness."

"Sure, that's no problem."

Ye Bufan said, taking out a Storage Ring filled with various foods and fine wines.

He was truly grateful to this old man. Whether it was the One Qi Transforming into Three Pure Ones or those Top-Grade Spirit Stones, they had brought him immense benefits.

Xuanyuan Zhantian took the Storage Ring, and after a scan with his Divine Sense, he immediately beamed with joy, "Little fellow, well done!"

Ye Bufan asked, "Where are you going? Will we ever meet again?"

He hadn't spent much time with this old man, but upon saying goodbye, there was still a slight reluctance.

"Perhaps. I, an old man, wander the four seas. Who knows, maybe I'll come looking for you when I run out of food."

Xuanyuan Zhantian finished speaking with a chuckle, and his figure flickered, disappearing from the spot.