The Emperor of Cultivation Prediction

Chapter 7: Cold Alliance & Forbidden Treasure

The morning mist at Forbidden Peak brought not only a bone-chilling cold but also the faint scent of death from dormant ancient formations. Dexa stood on the branch of an old oak tree, his eyes staring sharply at the path below. Beside him, Leriana stood in a maroon cloak that masked her aura, her face tense yet full of determination.

"Are you sure the Shadow Elder won't notice our presence?" Leriana whispered, her eyes sweeping the surrounding area with high alertness.

"The System has already simulated his movements," Dexa replied without looking back. "Right now, he is at the Altar of Sacrifice, three kilometers from here. He is preparing a 'feast' for your death. To him, you are already within the range of his fake tracking talisman's radar."

Leriana frowned. "Fake? You said he used tracking powder yesterday."

"He used that powder as a distraction. He thought you would focus on purging the poison while he planted a resonance talisman on your carriage," Dexa leaped down from the branch with a silence impossible for an outer disciple. "But he doesn't know that I have already moved that talisman's resonance to a mountain marten that is now running in the opposite direction."

Leriana looked at Dexa with an unreadable gaze. "You are truly terrifying, Dexa. You plan everything down to the smallest detail. Is there anything in this world you don't know?"

"Many things," Dexa answered coldly as he began walking up the steep path. "But as long as it is within the reach of my simulation, it is no longer a mystery. It is merely a variable waiting to be executed."

"Then, what is my variable in this alliance?" Leriana caught up to Dexa's pace. "You saved me, you repaired my meridians, and now you are bringing me to the most dangerous place in this sect. What do you actually want from me?"

Dexa stopped for a moment, turning slightly toward Leriana. "I told you last night. I need a foundation. The Holy Phoenix Faction has an information network and resources that far exceed what I can obtain in this small sect. I saved you so you could take back your throne, and when you sit there, you will be my gateway to the wider world."

"So this is purely a business transaction?" Leriana snorted softly, though there was a strange sense of relief in her heart. "A cold alliance without emotion?"

"Emotion is a variable that often causes errors in the calculation of destiny, Leriana. I prefer an agreement based on mutual benefit. It is far more stable than emotional promises of loyalty."

"You talk like a man who has lived for thousands of years," Leriana muttered. "Fine, Architect of Fate. I agree. As long as you help me destroy those who betrayed me, I will be your right hand out there."

[Beep! Cold Alliance with Leriana confirmed.] [Trust Level: 45%. Status: Strategic Ally.] [Warning: You are entering the 'Qi-Devouring Formation' zone. Activating precision navigation mode is recommended.]

"Stop," Dexa commanded suddenly, raising his hand.

Leriana stopped immediately, her body tensing. "What is it? I don't feel any energy."

"That is the problem," Dexa pointed toward the empty air in front of them. "In front of you is a high-level Qi-Devouring Formation. If you step one inch further, your entire Phoenix energy will be sucked out until you become a dry corpse within ten seconds. This formation emits no energy because it is designed to absorb it."

Leriana swallowed hard, her face turning slightly pale. "How do we get past it? The Shadow Elder must know the secret path."

"He knows the long and winding path. But I know the blind spot," Dexa reached into his pocket and pulled out a few ordinary pebbles. "System, calculate the formation's absorption frequency."

[Beep! Frequency: 1.5 seconds per pulse. Blind spot appears at coordinates 4-2-9 every 3 pulses.]

"Follow my footsteps exactly," Dexa ordered. "Do not miss by a single millimeter, or I will not be able to save you."

Dexa began to move. He leaped onto a rock that looked slippery, then twisted to the left at a strange angle, and landed on a dry tree root. Leriana followed with bated breath, her heart pounding as she felt a cold tugging sensation trying to suck the Qi from her pores.

"One more jump toward two o'clock," Dexa whispered.

They both landed in an area surrounded by ancient stone pillars covered in moss. Instantly, the cold pressure vanished, replaced by an aura that was incredibly pure and warm.

"We... we made it?" Leriana panted, catching her breath.

"We are at the Heart of Forbidden Peak," Dexa pointed toward a small cave hidden behind a dry waterfall. "Inside there is what I am looking for. And what you need."

"What is it?"

"The Ancient Phoenix Heart Crystal," Dexa replied, making Leriana’s eyes widen. "The Shadow Elder thinks that treasure is only a legend. He has searched the outer altars for years, not realizing the true treasure is here, protected by a formation that even he dares not touch."

"The Phoenix Heart Crystal... if I have it, my damaged bloodline will fully recover," Leriana’s voice trembled with suppressed excitement. "Dexa, you... you are giving such a great treasure to me?"

"I am not giving it for free," Dexa walked into the cave. "The crystal has two parts. The Blood Essence for you, and the Energy Core for me. With that Energy Core, I can break through to the fifth layer of Qi Gathering in a single night without side effects."

"Only the fifth layer?" Leriana followed him into the cave, which glowed with a reddish light. "With that much energy, an ordinary person could reach the Foundation Establishment level."

"An ordinary person would explode because they couldn't process the energy," Dexa stopped in front of a red crystal mass that throbbed like a human heart. "But I am not an ordinary person. I need that energy to strengthen my System foundation, not just to increase a shallow cultivation level."

The cave was filled with pulsing red light. In the center of the room, the Phoenix Heart Crystal floated above an ancient stele.

"System, prepare dual extraction. Separate the blood essence and the energy core. Ensure there are no aura leaks that could be detected by the Sect Master."

[Beep! Starting Extraction Process...] [Estimated Time: 5 minutes. Please, Host, maintain area security.]

"Leriana, sit in front of the crystal," Dexa commanded. "When I break the seal, you must immediately absorb the red essence that comes out. Do not let a single drop go to waste, or your body will not be strong enough to withstand the remaining pressure."

Leriana nodded obediently; she sat cross-legged with her eyes closed, trying to calm her Qi flow. "Dexa... thank you. Even though you say this is a transaction, you are the first person to truly help me without trying to exploit me for dirty purposes."

"Don't thank me yet," Dexa touched the hot surface of the crystal. "The pain of absorbing this essence will make you feel as if you are being burned alive from the inside. If you pass out, you die. Are you ready?"

Leriana opened her eyes, a flicker of Phoenix fire appearing in her pupils. "I have already been through the political hell of my family. Physical pain is nothing to me. Do it!"

Dexa applied slight pressure to the center point of the crystal. Crack! Cracks appeared, and instantly, an overwhelming heat filled the cave. Blood-red light shot out, slamming directly into Leriana’s chest.

"AAAKHHH!" Leriana screamed, her body shaking violently. Her skin began to turn red, and steam rose from her pores.

"Hold on! Focus your energy on the seventh meridian I repaired last night!" Dexa shouted.

While watching Leriana, Dexa also began to absorb the dull gold energy core. The same heat hit him, but the Simulator System immediately went to work, distributing the energy throughout his meridian pathways with perfect precision.

[Beep! Absorbing Phoenix Energy Core...] [Cultivation Increase: Layer 4... Layer 5... Peak Layer 5.] [Destiny Foundation strengthened. Accumulated Destiny Points: 1500.]

Dexa felt his body become much lighter, and his senses became ten times sharper. He could hear Leriana’s heartbeat, and he could feel the movement of ants outside the cave.

"System, what is Leriana’s condition?"

[Analysis: Target is in the critical stage of bloodline integration. Success Probability: 92%. She possesses an incredibly strong will.]

Five minutes passed like an eternity. Slowly, the red light in the cave began to dim. Leriana slumped weakly, her breath coming in gasps, but her aura... her aura was now far more majestic and pure.

"I... I feel it," Leriana whispered, staring at her hands which now radiated a reddish-gold Phoenix fire. "My power... has returned. Even stronger than before."

"Congratulations, Phoenix Princess," Dexa stood up, brushing the dust from his clothes. "Now you have the capital to take your revenge."

Leriana rose to her feet, looking at Dexa with deep respect. "And you... you reached the peak of the fifth layer in such a short time? If this news spreads, the entire cultivation world will hunt you down."

"That is why this news will not spread," Dexa walked toward the cave entrance. "System, activate 'Illusion Echo'. Make it look as if this crystal exploded due to a formation failure, and leave an energy trail similar to the Shadow Elder's techniques."

[Beep! Executing Illusion Echo...] [Scenario: The Shadow Elder will be accused of attempting to take the treasure illegally and destroying it through carelessness.]

Leriana smiled thinly, a dangerous smile. "You are truly cunning, Dexa. You didn't just take the treasure; you also trapped your enemy with it."

"It's called efficiency, Leriana," Dexa replied flatly. "Now, let's get out of here before the 'explosion' occurs. We have a big show to witness at the sect hall tomorrow."

"Then what is our next move?" Leriana asked as she followed Dexa out.

"The next move is to bring down the Shadow Elder permanently," Dexa looked at the sky, which was beginning to brighten. "The first blood was taken from Elder Gao. The second blood... will belong to the Shadow Elder. And you, Leriana, will be the key witness who will destroy his credibility in front of the Sect Master."

"I understand," Leriana nodded firmly. "I will play my part perfectly."

"Good. Remember, Leriana, in this alliance, there is no room for error. I have simulated our victory, but the execution is in your hands."

The two of them disappeared into the morning mist, leaving Forbidden Peak behind, which would soon be shaken by a fake energy explosion. Dexa walked with full confidence; every step was part of the grand design he had constructed.

"System, what is the probability the Sect Master will suspect my involvement?"

[Beep! With Illusion Echo active: 0.01%. The Sect Master will be too busy handling the wrath of the Holy Phoenix Faction over the 'attack' on their Princess.]

"Perfect," Dexa whispered. "Let's see how the Shadow Elder tries to explain this 'accident' to the world."

The cold alliance had been sealed with the power of an ancient treasure. Dexa now had a powerful pawn on his chessboard, and Leriana had found the Architect who would lead her back to her lost throne. The cultivation world might not realize it yet, but the foundations of their old power had just cracked, and Dexa was the one holding the sledgehammer.

"The next chapter will be much bloodier," Dexa murmured while staring at the sect gates in the distance. "And I can't wait to begin."