Chương 95: The Amber of Pine Fish Cliff

The two late-stage Qi Refining cultivators were already grievously wounded. Their auras churned like a storm-tossed sea. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably. Zhang Liwei, Yunli, Wujian and the spirit beast Haihu were more than a match for them. And that was before factoring in the terror that had seized their hearts, the brutal deaths of four Foundation Establishment cultivators had shaken them to the core. They couldn't even bring out a fraction of their true power. A few minutes later, the battle was over.

Two corpses lay sprawled across the blood soaked ground. Crimson liquid gurgled from their wounds, staining the earth a deep, rusted red. Zhang Huaijin had already stored the bodies of the three remaining Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"You three split the spoils from these eight Qi Refining cultivators evenly." He paused, his gaze sweeping over them like a cold blade.

"As for what happened today, bury it deep in your hearts. Don't say a single word to anyone. Not even to the family. Understood?" Zhang Huaijin slowly opened his eyes and spoke. His voice was utterly calm, yet it carried a pressure that made the air itself feel heavier. The trio nodded frantically, like chicks pecking at grain. Even Yunli, usually so lively and talkative, didn't breathe too loudly. The combat strength Zhang Huaijin had just displayed was absolutely terrifying.

'Was this the power of someone born with a spirit body?' And that was when the realization hit them. Zhang Huaijin walked three paths at once. On top of Body Cultivation and Qi Cultivation, he also cultivated the Soul. It was almost unbelievable.

"Clean up the battlefield. We're leaving," Zhang Huaijin ordered. Then he turned his gaze to the Purple Spirit Tiger Haihu.

"All these bodies are yours." The tiger's eyes blazed with excitement. It bounded forward and began tearing into the feast with savage joy. Zhang Liwei and the others summoned their own spirit beasts as well. These days, the Zhang family's Purple Spirit Tiger population has swelled to nearly thirty. Any family member who reached the late stage of Qi Refining Realm could choose one as their personal battle companion. Granted, their bloodline potential wasn't as exceptional as Haihus'.

Whether they could ever advance to the Foundation Establishment Realm would depend on luck and opportunity. Zhang Huaijin suddenly stood up, as if sensing something, and began walking toward Pine Fish Cliff. Behind him, Zhang Liwei and the others eagerly divided the spoils. If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it's taken without the author's consent. Report it. The resources of the eight late stage cultivators added up to a small fortune in Spirit Stones.

As for everything that had just happened, all three of them silently agreed to keep their mouths shut forever. This matter would die with them.

"The Jin Clan and the The Jiang Clan?" Zhang Huaijin had already identified the four Foundation Establishment cultivators. Every major family bore its own crest, after all. And Zhang Huaijin had learned the lay of the land in Qingtai Prefecture back during the battle at Blood Lion Mountain. Two of them were from the Jiang family of Jiangqu. The Jiangs were an old, established Foundation Establishment clan.

With two late stage Foundation Establishment cultivators guarding their ranks, their influence had already stretched all the way into Qingtai City. The remaining two came from the Jin Clan, a Foundation Establishment family based near Qingtai City. The Jin Clan was formidable. They had a full dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators on record, including one at the Perfection stage. More importantly, the Jin Clan had long been bound to the Fang Clan by marriage. The two families had stood together for centuries.

Jiang Wenshi had every reason to hold a grudge against him. He must have stationed men in Qingtai City, waiting for Zhang Huaijin to show himself. But what about the Jin Clan? Could it be that the Fang Clan had leaked the news because they didn't want him to get a Foundation Establishment Pill? Or perhaps this had come directly from the Fang Clan's leadership. Or maybe it was because he had walked out without showing Fang Tao the proper respect, and Fang Tao was nursing a grudge.

All kinds of possibilities churned through his mind. Zhang Huaijin stopped walking and frowned.

"No, that doesn't fit. Fang Tao holds a high position in the Fang family, yes, but his personal cultivation is only the fourth level."

"But the cultivators sent to kill me were at the fifth and sixth levels."

"Even with the close ties between the Jin and Fang Clans, Fang Tao couldn't command someone like that. It has to be someone else within the Fang Clan." He turned the matter over in his mind. The killing intent in his eyes slowly faded. He would settle this score later. Of course, the Jiang and Jin Clans wouldn't simply let such a loss go unanswered. But they wouldn't march on the Zhang family's home either. Still, from now on, Zhang family members would need to keep their wits about them when traveling outside.

The Zhang family's list of enemies had grown without them even realizing it. The Tian Clan was no real threat. But now there were the Jin Clan and the Jiang Clan, along with the Fang Clan whose stance remained unclear. Huaijin's eyes showed no trace of fear. His combat strength was already a match for a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. Once he advanced to the middle stages, his power would become even more terrifying.

"That energy fluctuation… it should be right here." Zhang Huaijin's figure appeared atop Pine Fish Cliff. While chasing Jiang Wenshi earlier, he had sensed a pulse of energy. If he wasn't mistaken, it came from a Tier 2, upper grade resource. He couldn't yet tell whether it was a spiritual herb, an ore, or some other special treasure. … A few seconds later, he stood before an ancient pine tree hundreds of meters tall. The bark was mottled and scarred by age.

The dense needles blotted out the sunlight, casting the ground below in a cold, murky shadow. Huaijin formed a giant hand of spiritual energy and tore into the ancient pine's roots. Dirt and rock flew in all directions. Within moments, a pit nine meters deep gaped open. Inside lay a piece of amber the size of a human head, glowing with a faint green hue. Thick strands of dense, powerful energy radiated outward in all directions.

"What is this thing?" Zhang Huaijin murmured, puzzled. Based on the energy concentration, it was definitely Tier 2, upper grade.

"It looks like some spirit beast died here long ago, and the amber formed around it over the years." He picked it up and examined it closely. The amber was crystal clear, revealing every detail within. Inside lay what looked like a small green fish. From the gaps between its scales sprouted dense clusters of black spines. It looked like a spiny hedgehog. Zhang Huaijin frowned and searched his memory, but he couldn't identify the creature. He put the amber away. He would investigate it when he had more time.

Whatever lay inside had been dead for countless ages. A little longer wouldn't matter. When Zhang Huaijin returned to the battlefield, the trio had already finished cleaning up. The four Purple Spirit Tigers had devoured the eight Qi Refining cultivators' bodies down to the last scrap. The tigers looked satisfied. Without any mishaps, after they refined this meal, they would advance at least one minor level in cultivation. Zhang Huaijin's own Purple Spirit Tiger, Haihu would likely jump straight to the ninth level.

Zhang Huaijin still possessed the bodies of four Foundation Establishment cultivators. Since they had tried to ambush and kill him, he felt no pity. They would become food for the Purple Spirit Tigers. With these four Foundation Establishment corpses, the Zhang family's first Tier 2 spirit beast probably wouldn't be far off. And when that happened, the Purple Spirit Tiger bloodline would grow even stronger.