"The Seven Sects, or other cultivation families?"
Yan Taibai muttered to himself in a low voice, speculating in his heart.
If it were the Seven Sects, the Moon Masking Sect was almost out of the question—especially now that both Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan were already inner disciples of the Moon Masking Sect.
As for the Yellow Maple Valley, Qingxu Sect, and the other sects, the probability was also low. The only possibility with a slightly higher likelihood was the Spirit Beast Station, that spy planted by the Yuling Sect within the Yue Cultivation World.
Yet even that was just a higher probability. After all, the Moon Masking Sect was no pushover; it was, after all, the strongest faction among the Seven Sects of Yue Country. The Spirit Beast Station surely wouldn't be foolish enough to take such a massive risk to wipe out two Heavenly Spiritual Root disciples of the Moon Masking Sect.
Alternatively, cultivation families or cultivation sects from Yue Country or other nations were also possibilities.
Although Yan Taibai had never left Yan Family Fortress, he was well aware that the outside world lacked no evil cultivators who would abduct children of cultivation families for dual cultivation replenishment or ruthless slaughter.
For instance, Liu Jing of the Yellow Maple Valley's Liu family had been abducted by an evil cultivator some years ago. Though he was eventually rescued, his foundational roots were damaged, which severely hindered his cultivation.
Yet Liu Jing's spiritual root aptitude was far from comparable to Yan Taibai's.
Therefore, evil cultivators coveting Yan Taibai were bound to be numerous.
It was simply that over the years, Yan Family Fortress had protected him exceedingly well, almost never permitting any core disciples below the 10th Layer of Qi Condensation to enter the Scripture Pavilion.
Even if someone entered, they would be strictly guarded to prevent any accidents.
At the same time, the family no longer took in distressed secular mortals or rogue cultivators in an attempt to expand the Yan family.
After all, recruiting tens of thousands of secular mortals or rogue cultivators probably couldn't match the immense profits and benefits brought by Yan Taibai alone.
"Could it be... the Ghost Spirit Sect?"
After pondering back and forth, Yan Taibai finally locked onto the most probable sect—even though it was located thousands of miles away.
Yet, it was indeed the most likely culprit.
After all, the Ghost Spirit Sect was also planning to snatch his little fiancée.
No, that wasn't right; she should be a big girl now. The food at the Yan family was exceptionally good, and coupled with the fact that she was a cultivator, Yan Ruyan had already grown into a rare little beauty bud.
Yan Taibai also remembered that the Ghost Spirit Sect had long been plotting against Yan Family Fortress and Yan Ruyan.
The invasion of the various cultivation worlds by the Six Demonic Sects of Tianluo was merely a convenient coincidence—an opportune moment to absorb the entire Yan Family Fortress into their sect.
Not only would this instantly bolster their strength, but it would also grant them a cultivator with Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude.
Yet now, because of his existence, this plan was bound to encounter immense obstruction, making the Ghost Spirit Sect the prime suspect by far.
"It seems the Ghost Spirit Sect is indeed the most likely culprit. If so, I must at least cultivate the White Emperor Golden Emperor Slash to have the power to protect myself. I hope this Great Five Elements Divine Art will not disappoint me."
Having locked onto the Ghost Spirit Sect as the prime suspect, Yan Taibai resolved to cultivate the supreme divine art known as the White Emperor Golden Emperor Slash.
Though given his current circumstances, mastering it in a short time was impossible, even minor progress would be enough to grant him a certain degree of self-preservation.
After all, he possessed no shortage of treasures himself. Combined with the White Emperor Golden Emperor Slash, he believed he would have the strength to fight, or even annihilate, a Foundation Establishment cultivator if they crossed paths.
Be that as it may, he was already at the 13th Layer of Qi Condensation, and he owned more than one top-tier magical tool; it was just that using them consumed too much true essence and magical power.
As for a talisman treasure, he had to seize an opportunity to acquire one. Such things were marvelous; although somewhat troublesome to use, their formidable might would provide him with the capital to counter Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Having determined to cultivate the White Emperor Golden Emperor Slash and secure a talisman treasure, Yan Taibai rose, left the Scripture Pavilion, and headed toward the Flying Cloud Pavilion to find the Yan Family Ancestor.
Cultivating the White Emperor Golden Emperor Slash required a vast amount of metal-attribute spirit stones or other metal-attribute spiritual items—two things only the Yan Family Ancestor could provide. As for a talisman treasure, the entire Yan family had only the Ancestor who could produce one.
As for seeking out that nominal master whom he had only met once, he would have to leave Yan Family Fortress first.
Yet before achieving some level of mastery in the White Emperor Golden Emperor Slash, Yan Taibai had no intention of leaving Yan Family Fortress.
Compared to top-tier magical tools and talisman treasures, Yan Taibai actually valued this Great Five Elements Divine Art—namely, the Great Five Elements Technique from Eternal Life—far more.
Reaching major accomplishment was out of the question, and there was no hope for even minor accomplishment in the short term.
Still, it would at least grant him a significant boost in strength. If nothing else, the blade in his hand—
Bah, it should be the sword—would become much faster.
Of all martial arts under heaven, only speed is unbreakable!
The same principle applied in the cultivation world, and this White Emperor Golden Emperor Slash was the fastest speed and sharpest "sword" in the world, against which almost nothing could defend.
The premise, however, was reaching the ultimate realm of cultivation, under the condition of the Five Elements Ultimate Transformation.
To reach that step, however, he still needed to get his hands on the other four Great Five Elements Divine Arts.
The only way to acquire them was to complete the simulated cultivation tasks.
Truly, worker bees of the cultivation world, souls of the laborers, laborers are the masters of men!
Just like that, Yan Taibai studied and practiced the White Emperor Golden Emperor Slash while making his way toward the Flying Cloud Pavilion.
There was hardly a soul in sight along the way. In truth, the path he took had almost become a "forbidden zone" of Yan Family Fortress, as most of the people who were not originally members of the Yan family had entirely relocated away from it.
This was ample proof of the immense importance Yan Family Fortress attached to him.
...
Flying Cloud Pavilion.
"You want a talisman treasure, and you don't plan to leave the family to cultivate in the Moon Masking Sect for the time being, and on top of that, you want a hundred intermediate-tier metal-attribute spirit stones? Taibai, what are you doing with so many spirit stones? Such a huge quantity of intermediate-tier metal-attribute spirit stones—while the family does possess them, it is absolute nonsense to hand them all over to you. Metal-attribute spirit stones are already a scarce variety, let alone intermediate-tier ones. Your request is something I cannot agree to."
Upon hearing Yan Taibai's request, the Yan Family Ancestor's expression turned slightly gloomy, and Mr. Xuanye, standing nearby, immediately stepped forward to refuse.
After all, the request was simply too excessive. As for a talisman treasure, the Yan family indeed had a few, and giving one to Yan Taibai as a life-saving item was no big deal—that had been discussed beforehand.
Yet one hundred intermediate-tier metal-attribute spirit stones—though it sounded like mere hundreds—carried a value upwards of ten thousand spirit stones.
While the standard exchange ratio for spirit stones was one to one hundred, the actual rate was at least one hundred twenty or thirty. In the case of scarce attributes like metal, thunder, or wind, the rate could even reach one hundred forty or fifty.
Ten thousand spirit stones was a sum that even a Core Formation cultivator would find difficult to produce in one breath for a single person.
Even though Yan Family Fortress possessed vast wealth and great estates, it had even more clansmen. It was categorically impossible to give Yan Taibai such a massive stash of intermediate-tier metal-attribute spirit stones all at once.
This was precisely why the Yan Family Ancestor's expression had turned grim upon hearing Yan Taibai's words.
In his heart, he even felt that they had spoiled and pampered Yan Taibai far too much over the years.
Otherwise, how could he possibly make such an outrageous request?