Chapter 131: A Legend

"Wisdom Tooth" and "Cavity"? Are these two individuals or two organizations? Are they formidable? Are you saying that the fangs Qianqian suddenly sprouted earlier were manifested from the energy of that Cavity? Could you elaborate on the Laughing Tooth organization?

Facing Lei Xiang’s rapid-fire questions, Daoist Master Wobo, who was in the middle of regulating his breath, gave a wry smile. "Cavity and Wisdom Tooth are two people—the top-tier existences within the Laughing Tooth organization. Like the Tooth Ancestor, no one knows their true identities or their cultivation levels, just as no one understands the headquarters of the Laughing Tooth. You... do you honestly intend to face them as enemies?"

Lei Xiang smiled and nodded. "No matter how mysterious the Laughing Tooth is, or how powerful the Tooth Ancestor and his cohorts may be, I must confront them. In this matter, I beg for your assistance, Daoist Master."

Daoist Master Wobo shook his head helplessly. "Helping you is fine. Since you destroyed Qianqian’s physical form on my grounds, the Laughing Tooth will not easily let the Boro Sect off the hook. However, although we reside in the same country of Xuanjing, we know very little about them. They are, without a doubt, the most mysterious organization in thousands of years. We only know their headquarters is supposed to be on a Hanging Island, but no one has ever laid eyes on it."

A Hanging Island?

It seemed that legend was true. Having just reunited with Dugu Yixiao, Lei Xiang had now heard that the headquarters of the Laughing Tooth was located on that legendary Hanging Island. It was said that mortals could not behold it; it existed in the sky, in a place very close to the Immortal Realm.

Lei Xiang suddenly asked, "Daoist Master Wobo, although your description makes the Laughing Tooth sound terrifying, you don’t seem overly worried. Is there something you are relying on?"

Daoist Master Wobo chuckled dismissively. "Not at all, not at all. While the Laughing Tooth is powerful, my Boro Sect is a millennium-old sect. We cannot show cowardice before the battle. We cannot hide; we must meet them head-on, even if it means death. By the way, Young Master Lei, what is that magical artifact in your hand that emits white light? It is truly formidable. Is it of the Immortal tier? If we possessed it, perhaps we would have a chance to contend with the Laughing Tooth."

Lei Xiang secretly cursed the old fox for deflecting the question and downplaying the issue. "You are too modest, Daoist Master. As you said, a great sect like the Boro Sect, having stood for a thousand years, must have its own strengths and hidden, mysterious powers unknown to outsiders. As for my 'Ninety-Nine Immortal-Shooting Spear,' it is merely a magical artifact I refined myself. Its grade is likely middle-tier; it is a long way from being an Immortal artifact."

"What? You refined it yourself... what kind of spear?" Daoist Master Wobo’s eyes widened. He scrutinized the unassuming young man from head to toe. To think this youth could craft such a powerful weapon—he must be a genius in artifact refining. He would have to cultivate a close relationship with him in the future.

Seeing that the other party was unwilling to reveal details, Lei Xiang naturally didn’t want to elaborate on the Immortal-Shooting Spear either. After brushing the topic aside, he stated his intent: "There are two things I would like to ask your help with. First, help me gather information about the Laughing Tooth. This is also for the sake of the Boro Sect, as we are now in the same boat. Second, help me breakthrough to my next cultivation stage. Once my cultivation increases, I might have a fighting chance against the Laughing Tooth when using the spear."

Daoist Master Wobo pondered for a moment. "The Boro Sect is duty-bound to help with the first request. The second is also in our interest, though I don’t know what kind of assistance you require. Whatever the Boro Sect can provide, we will fully support your breakthrough."

Lei Xiang replied calmly, "It is simple: help me find a remote location and lend me a large quantity of spirit stones."

Daoist Master Wobo naturally did not know that Lei Xiang needed a remote area to avoid damaging the Boro Sect during his tribulation. Lei Xiang had already undergone three tribulations on his cultivation journey; by normal standards, one would only experience one such trial by the time they reached the middle stage of Core Formation. However, the Daoist did not ask—he was not one to pry into others' secrets. As for the second condition, given the Boro Sect’s millennium of accumulation, the spirit stones were not an issue. Yet, for caution's sake, he asked, "How many spirit stones do you need?"

Lei Xiang calculated silently, murmuring, "Thirty thousand? Fifty thousand? Oh, no—at least seventy thousand..."

Daoist Master Wobo felt relieved. Such an amount was an astronomical figure for a rogue cultivator, but for the Boro Sect, it was trivial. "Seventy thousand spirit stones is manageable. Young Master Lei, you need not return them; consider them a gift for our collaboration..."

Before Daoist Master Wobo could finish, Lei Xiang spoke solemnly: "I meant seventy thousand *high-grade* spirit stones. But I will definitely return them."

Seventy thousand high-grade spirit stones?

Daoist Master Wobo’s eyes bulged again. Lei Xiang had defied his expectations yet again. Seventy thousand high-grade spirit stones were equivalent to seven hundred million low-grade ones. Even a major sect might not be able to produce that amount. The Boro Sect *could*, as they had been secretly hoarding high-grade stones for years. Why did Lei Xiang suddenly make such a demand? Was his true purpose in coming to the Boro Sect these stones?

At this thought, Daoist Master Wobo gave a faint smile. "Young Master Lei, you truly know how to joke. Where would I find so many high-grade stones? Even as a millennium-old sect, we have our limits. But may I ask why you need so many? Is it only for a breakthrough? A normal person only needs eight or ten thousand low-grade stones to reach the next stage."

The Daoist did not know that Lei Xiang’s meridians were like a bottomless pit; seven hundred million stones would barely suffice. Lei Xiang said with a bitter smile, "It is indeed for cultivation, and I will certainly return them."

"I don't have them; I am truly sorry," Daoist Master Wobo said, staring at Lei Xiang. "Has Young Master Lei heard some rumors? I have heard whispers lately that the Boro Sect has acquired a large batch of spirit stones, and naturally, people are covetous. The Laughing Tooth’s attack, while ostensibly targeting a fugitive, may very well be linked to these rumors. Hmph, they don't use their brains. If we had that many spirit stones, we would have swallowed every other sect and unified the Xuanjing country long ago. We wouldn't be like the greedy Laughing Tooth, scraping together so many stones and still plundering desperately—aren't they afraid of being crushed under their own wealth?"

Lei Xiang frowned. He realized the Daoist was now suspicious of his motives. He had to abandon the idea of borrowing the stones and find another way. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he smiled. "Your words have given me an idea. Since they are so greedy and filthy rich, why don't we go to the Laughing Tooth headquarters and take the stones ourselves? It would save us all the trouble."

Daoist Master Wobo was startled by the boldness of the idea. However, he realized that even if Lei Xiang were caught and killed, the Boro Sect would suffer no loss. He stopped objecting and merely promised to try to locate the Hanging Island, urged Lei Xiang to be careful, and then directed him to a secluded spot before leaving to attend to the Boro Sect's affairs.

Lei Xiang opened his divine consciousness and sat upon his white jade bed, flying at a low altitude to search for traces of Dugu Yixiao. Ever since Qianqian and the others had caused a disturbance, Dugu Yixiao had not appeared. If he had been hiding out of fear, that was one thing, but even after Lei Xiang and the Daoist Master had repelled the attack, he still hadn't shown himself. This was illogical. Lei Xiang concluded that he was either unconscious or in deep, life-or-death seclusion.

As it turned out, Lei Xiang had guessed correctly. At that moment, Dugu Yixiao was indeed in a crude cave dwelling within the Boro Sect, in deep seclusion, attempting to break through the bottleneck of the late Foundation Establishment stage. He had not eaten, moved, or thought for a month; nothing could disturb him. His senses were completely shut off, and even if Lei Xiang had searched right outside his cave, he would have received no response.

Confirming that Dugu Yixiao was safe, Lei Xiang decided not to disturb him. After all, Dugu Yixiao was safe within the Boro Sect, so Lei Xiang felt relieved to fly off toward the south.