159 I'm Disappointed
All high-ranked cultivators in this continent were aware of the strength difference between realms after the 4th-stage. After achieving the 4th-stage, the Essence Gathering Realm, their energy pool would be massive. It would take at least a thousand 3rd-stage cultivators to pit their Qi and essence together to defend against a 4th-stage fighter's serious attack.
But once they got to the 5th-stage, the Foundation Establishment Realm, element qi would come into play. One strand of Qi could overwhelm several liters of Yang or Yin essence power easily if one utilized it properly. Moreover, even the weakest or trashiest 5th-stage experts could use at least 2-3 elements, and they had the same amount of element Qi volume as their Yin or Yang Essence Sea. The power gap was a whole level higher than the previous gap.
Then, the 6th-stage, the Core Pillar Realm, was a unique stage that could be separated into 3 levels, the initial stage, the mid-stage, and the late stage. The strength gap between ranks was comparable to the difference between the Essence Gathering and the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Fifth-stage cultivators fought with their element Qi. But for 6th-stage experts, they began utilizing special abilities of their element cores and advanced elements that ordinary 5th-stage experts couldn't use.
Early Core Pillar experts had at least one advanced element in their arsenals, such as blood element, poison element, metal element, or many other upgraded versions of basic elements. The effect and utility differed, depending on the personality of the cultivators' specialized techniques. Still, they could instantly kill late 5th-stage cultivators with ease.
Mid-stage Core Pillar rank was a crossroad where each cultivator had to choose which dao or ascension route they wanted to pursue. Dao seekers developed their mental strength, confidence, and willpower to the point that they could create a faint dao avatar, an alter ego persona, to help them in combat. As for the other routes, some enhanced and upgraded their advanced element power, some tried to create their unique element, and some followed an otherworldly guideline or tips from a higher existence, such as Dao Gods. Everybody's power became unique at this point. Unless they were vessels under the same Dao God, they never used the same skills, which made every powerhouse experts' combat skill beyond this realm unpredictable.
And lastly, Late-stage Core Pillar was a pre-nascent soul level. Cultivators at this stage had completed their golden core. With their cores, they could see and hear things that weaker cultivators could see or hear, such as the whisper of spirits or strands of natural Qi. 90% of cultivators in this stage could kill their opponents with only look since they could manipulate the energy of weaker opponents at will.
The smart newcomers flew away right away, but the remaining five were still inexperienced. They chose to keep their distance from the fight scene while they scanned the surroundings. It wasn't hard for them to locate Cao Mao and the lightning fog.
One of the remaining five made a bold move. He was merely a 5th-stage cultivator who was also mastered the lightning element. He flew toward Cao Mao to steal a portion of lightning element Qi.
But his action didn't escape Jia Wenhe's sense. The alchemist flew toward the rushing lightning master with his heaven-grade cauldron. However, he didn't fire his cauldron cannon. Jia Wenhe simply passed them, flying by without gazing at the greedy man.
The lightning master widened his eyes and looked back at Jia Wenhe in confusion. He didn't sense anything other than a glimpse of hot air.
It was too late for him to realize what killed him. The hot air that the lightning master had subconsciously inhaled already destroyed his dantian, heart, brain, bones, and inner organs from the inside. His eyeballs melted, and various juice leaked out from the boneless skin. He became a flesh corpse without innards before he flopped onto the ground like a drenched cloth.
Jia Wenhe flew back to the top of the tall pine tree, catching his breath. As for Ju Chen, she absorbed all blood mass and returned to the ground, where she had left a chunk of boar meat. She grabbed the leftover boar hind leg and continued eating it. However, her eyes locked on to the four remaining 5th-stage cultivators in the sky.
Fu De, the head elder of the Fu Clan, also stopped attacking. He gathered all blood mass below his feet, turning them into his cushion before he stood on it. He mocked Jia Wenhe while he glanced at Ju Chen. As for the other onlookers, Fu De didn't see them as a threat.
"Long time no see, Garden Master Jia Wenhe. Oh, no. You're not a garden master anymore. Well, what are you doing out here, senior Jia?"
"What are you doing here, Fu De!?" Jia Wenhe couldn't control his boiling rage when he saw the face of this heretic cultivator. He learned from Jia Shen that he was partly responsible for the fallen of the Mountain Goose Sect.
Fu De rubbed his goatee beard. His shining long black hair emitted red gas, which slowly crept around him, "Oh, please. An interesting junior is walking the same path as me. Why shouldn't I come and introduce myself to him? I've gotten through a few Hell Tribulations, so…"
At this moment, Fu De looked at Cao Mao, who was absorbing lightning Qi as if he were a small black hole.
"Well, well, well. Isn't this Xu Miao? He has long hair now. I almost didn't recognize him. To be honest, I'm shocked. I haven't heard of anyone under the 5th-stage that has to go through a Hell Tribulation. And he's quite young, too. It would be a shame if he has to grow up with no one to guide him through special tribulations like that, don't you think?"
Fu De implied his intention. He wanted to take Cao Mao back to his clan, so he could raise the latter as a pawn for his organization.
Jia Wenhe glared at Fu De with hatred. Since the paled man was his brother's enemy, there was no point in being polite.
Without saying anything, Jia Wenhe fired another cauldron cannon fireballs at Fu De.
Fu De raised his palm and moved his red gas around his hand.
As if there was a dimensional portal in front of Fu De's palm, the fireball disappeared.
Fu De sneered, "Thanks for the food. Your fire element essence will be useful."
"What!?"
Jia Wenhe frowned as he noticed what had happened before the fireball disappeared. It got sucked into Fu De's body and got dissolved.
Meanwhile, Jia Shan had heard the familiar voice of a nemesis. He came out of a carriage to check whom his brother was fighting with.
When Jia Shan realized that Jia Wenhe was battling against Fu De, he shouted, "Be careful around him, Wenhe! His father is a vessel of a demon god! That guy can use dangerous art!"
Seeing the panicking former sect master, Fu De laughed, "HAHAHA! How the table has turned, Jia Shan. If it was last year, I would have run away from you on sight. But now, look at you. You've sunken so low that you have to rely on others to survive. How pathetic. Well, since we all have met in this place, all of you will become the sacrifice for my greatness! All your blood essence will become the foundation for my next breakthrough!"
Fu De pointed his palms at the four onlooking 5th-stage cultivators. Then, he clenched his fists.
The observers widened their eyes in shock before their blood expanded and exploded. All watching 5th-stage experts in the air turned into blood mist.
After the witnesses were out of the way, Fu De turned his attention to Ju Chen.
Jia Wenhe gritted his teeth and grabbed Ju Chen's cloth collar. He threw her toward the carriage.
"Hahaha! Jia Wenhe, are you being overly paranoid? I merely get rid of annoying pests, so we can talk in secret, you know? You see, I haven't attacked you yet, right? I've come in peace. Let's talk, okay?"
Even though Fu De said that, he descended toward Cao Mao, who was still busy absorbing lightning Qi.
"Get away from him, you bastard!"
In anger, Jia Wenhe charged at Fu De, planning to get into his poison flame range.
"HAHAHAHA!! YOU'VE FALLEN TO AN OBVIOUS TRAP!!" Fu De pointed his palm at Jia Wenhe, "IT WAS NICE KNOWING YOU! NOW, YOU CAN'T ESCAPE!!"
Fu De clenched his hand, activating the unique technique that he had learned from his Dao God.
Blood Ritual, Sacrificial Detonation
Jia Wenhe squinted his eyes as he activated his core pillar abilities before the invisible seal reached him.
BOOM
Blood explosion scattered red mist everywhere. The invisible seal from Fu De's palm detonated upon contact. Jia Wenhe's body disappeared.
Seeing that Jia Wenhe's body disintegrated into a blood mist, Fu De burst into laughter, "Hahahaha!! I'm disappointed, brother of Jia Shan. I thought you could have at least defended against a simple detonation seal. But, wow! You're quite a trash for a late 6th-stage! Have you spent your life making nothing but basic pills? HAHAHAHAHA!!"
BOOM
While Fu De was laughing, a giant cauldron smashed the back of his head. Half of his head dented inwardly as his skull was crushed.
Jia Wenhe's real body appeared behind Fu De. He snapped his fingers, and Fu De's body shrank. The heaven-grade cauldron pulled the goatee man into the bottom of the pot.
Jia Wenhe covered the lid. Then, he sent his poison flame inside the cauldron. He muttered to himself.
"I'm disappointed, too. You don't have much combat experience against stronger fighters, I see."
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