Chapter 154: Returning to Tianxuan City
In the Cloudmist Mountain Range, a fierce battle erupted.
During the chaotic fight, no cultivators discovered Su Miaoyin’s identity along the way, thanks to their cautiousness.
However, due to small-scale beast tides, there were indeed many demon beasts eyeing them, along with some robber cultivators lurking about.
As the battle ended, three Foundation Establishment robber cultivators lay dead on the ground, their eyes still wide open.
They had thought their opponents would be easy to bully, but never expected to crash into an iron plate instead.
“Brother Lin, are you alright?”
When the fight ended, Yun Yao completely ignored the weakened Su Miaoyin at the side, and instead turned her gaze toward Lin Changan.
As far as she knew, though the Killing Origin Sword Art was powerful, the more frequently it was used, the greater the backlash it inflicted upon the body.
Especially in the battle just now, the sword light Lin Changan unleashed had already shown faint traces of blood.
It was obvious that his body had reached its limit.
“It’s nothing, I can still endure.”
Facing Yun Yao’s concern, Lin Changan gave a small nod.
Along this journey, the two of them had also remained cautious. After all, a Core Formation Spirit Item was something that could stir greed even within their own hearts.
If not for their own respective reasons, both of them might have succumbed to temptation.
The three of them continued their advance toward Tianxuan City.
Through Yun Yao, Lin Changan also learned some information about Su Miaoyin.
“Daoist Su has twin souls in one body. Her family was exterminated, and she herself nearly lost her life. Later, when she forcefully cultivated a technique, she suffered from qi deviation, and only then did her second soul awaken…”
Hearing Yun Yao’s explanation, Lin Changan suddenly understood, secretly sighing. The world of cultivation was indeed vast and filled with wonders.
A body with twin souls was not unheard of in the cultivation world.
There were even stranger constitutions, and compared to those, a mutated spirit root was nothing unusual.
But all of this relied on one fundamental premise: strength. Only with strength could one continue writing their own legend.
The three continued on their way to Tianxuan City. The biggest change along the path was the rampancy of demon beasts.
……
Under the bright moonlight, outside Tianxuan City, the Core Formation cultivators’ battle had long since ceased.
It seemed the Core Formation cultivators had reached some sort of agreement—not to make further moves, and instead to wait until Su Miaoyin’s whereabouts were discovered.
After all, the four Core Formation cultivators of the Palace of Blazing Fire and the Shensword Sect were somewhat unsettled. Master Lu’s strength was terrifying, and if he were to unleash the late third-rank Xuan Shui Turtle at his side…
If that old fellow were to go berserk without restraint, not to mention the Three Major Sects of Yue Kingdom—even within all Seven Kingdoms, no one would dare provoke such a madman.
On a mountain peak—
“This old turtle has too many tricks, we can’t clash head-on.”
“That’s right. I say we wait until Master Lu’s lifespan runs out. If that Su Miaoyin forms her core, so be it. A newly advanced Core Formation junior will be far easier to deal with than this old turtle.”
“Agreed. Let us first strike at Xuanyin Pavilion. Once that old turtle sits down in death, even if Tianxuan City still has Core Formation cultivators, what can they do? One tree cannot hold up a collapsing wall!”
The four Core Formation cultivators from the Palace of Blazing Fire and the Shensword Sect exchanged solemn nods.
Though the Golden Core Chief Elder of the Palace of Blazing Fire was unwilling, the truth was undeniable. Over this period, even after several joint attempts, they had failed to subdue Master Lu.
They truly could not take him down, and thus could only settle for this.
In the end, the unwilling elder gave a cold snort. “I want to see just how long this Tianxuan City can hold out.”
“Though we did not gain much this time, as Fellow Daoist Huang has said, that elder of Xuanyin Pavilion has likely already passed away. Now only two Core Formation cultivators remain there, and one of them only recently advanced.”
Just then, a figure from the Palace of Blazing Fire stumbled in, looking miserable.
“Ancestor! Bad news!”
That disheveled figure was none other than Huang Tianxiao, the Palace of Blazing Fire’s prodigy.
“Ancestor, that Su Miaoyin actually had a third-rank early-stage demon beast, a Gold-devouring Mouse! Our and the Shensword Sect’s warships suffered severe damage, and even two False Core elders were gravely injured.”
“What!”
Hearing the news from the barely-escaped Huang Tianxiao, the four Core Formation cultivators of the Palace of Blazing Fire and the Shensword Sect all changed expressions drastically.
“Wasn’t everything fine before? Wasn’t that Su Miaoyin girl still being pursued by you all…”
One Core Formation cultivator from the Shensword Sect blurted out, but midway through, he seemed to realize something.
The four exchanged glances, their faces twisting with rage.
“Good! That old turtle is truly devious!”
“Master Lu is utterly untrustworthy, hiding a third-rank spirit pet all this time.”
“He hid it well—so many years, without the slightest leak.”
“We’ve searched for so long without finding a trace. That girl must have already returned to Tianxuan City!”
The four cultivators gnashed their teeth in fury, cursing Master Lu for his cunning. No wonder he had so readily agreed before.
Among them, the Chief Elder of the Palace of Blazing Fire, Old Huang, glared fixedly toward Tianxuan City.
“Fellow Daoists, since this old turtle is so shameless and sly, just as it happens that the Cloudmist Mountain Range is in turmoil, with sightings of several third-rank demon beasts—let us join hands and lure them out. I want to see how long that old turtle can hold out!”
The other three wore expressions full of anger. Their efforts had been in vain, and they had suffered huge losses on top of that.
……
In Tianxuan City—
Just as the four Core Formation cultivators of the Palace of Blazing Fire and the Shensword Sect had guessed, Su Miaoyin had already safely returned.
Bathed in moonlight, walking along the bustling streets of Tianxuan City, Lin Changan secretly exhaled a breath of relief.
So many supposed accidents, yet none had touched him after all.
“Brother Lin, we’ve finally arrived.”
Lin Changan and Yun Yao exchanged smiles.
Yet the moment they stepped into Tianxuan City, Su Miaoyin, seated atop her Green-Horned Ox, revealed a faint look of regret.
“Senior Sister Su, we’re here.”
As soon as they entered the city, Song Tingfeng and the others rushed forward with joy.
“That Fellow Daoist Hao is no good thing. When you sent word that you were returning to Tianxuan City, he secretly colluded with outsiders and leaked the news…”
As Lin Changan listened, his brow furrowed. Beside him, Yun Yao’s aura grew frosty as she fixed her gaze on Su Miaoyin.
“Daoist Su, shouldn’t you give us an explanation?”
Yun Yao’s expression was icy. That meant throughout the journey, their companion had been sending messages back to Tianxuan City. For them, this was extremely dangerous.
If anything had gone wrong, they would have been the first to suffer.
Lin Changan, on the other hand, seemed to realize something. His eyes flicked to Daoist Su’s chest, and he became even more wary.
This woman was not as simple as she appeared. Any cultivator who could survive Abyss City was far from ordinary.
Perhaps she and Master Lu had staged a great performance together—just to flush out traitors within Tianxuan City.
Of course, there might be even deeper schemes involved, but those were matters far beyond what a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like him could meddle in.
“Junior Sister Yun, Daoist Lin, I truly must thank you both for your protection along the way.”
Once within the city, Su Miaoyin gave a graceful flick of her horsetail whisk. Her expression was dignified, yet her smile warm as she nodded in gratitude.
Lin Changan, however, could only sigh inwardly. These people, with their constant scheming and hidden daggers—this was not the life for him. When he returned, he would focus on drawing talismans, alchemy, and cultivation, and never meddle in such matters again.
“Brother Lin, I truly must thank you this time.”
At the side, Song Tingfeng also smiled kindly, far warmer than before.
“You flatter me. Tianxuan City is the root of us rogue cultivators. Without Tianxuan City, the wandering cultivators of the Seven Kingdoms would truly have nowhere to go.”
Lin Changan clasped his hands humbly, then recalled his Green-Horned Ox into the Spirit Beast Pouch, presenting the appearance of someone who only wished to cultivate in peace.
At the side, Yun Yao also gave a faint nod, secretly exhaling in relief. Indeed, Su Miaoyin had held back another trump card.
Thankfully, she had not succumbed to greed earlier.
……
Inside his cave abode—
Having just returned, Lin Changan finally let out a long breath. He released the Green-Horned Ox and the Wind-Chirp Bird from his Spirit Beast Pouch.
In an instant, the cave abode became lively.
Especially the Wind-Chirp Bird, which chirped incessantly as it fluttered onto his shoulder. Though it had been stifled for so long, instead of sulking, it flapped its wings on his shoulder in a fawning manner.
“Alright, you two, go rest well.”
The Wind-Chirp Bird chirped excitedly, while the Green-Horned Ox let out a weary moo—it had no mood to play.
Throughout the journey, whether fighting demon beasts or encountering robber cultivators, it had been the one doing most of the work.
Returning to his cave abode, Lin Changan finally lowered his guard for once.
“Finally back. This trip to hunt that quasi–third-rank demon beast was truly filled with twists and turns, but fortunately, all ended without danger.”
Back in his cave abode, Lin Changan laid out all his gains from the journey.
“Besides the low-rank demon beast materials obtained at the Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace, there are also the spoils from the robber cultivators I encountered along the way.”
After sorting everything, Lin Changan revealed a satisfied smile. These materials could fetch a decent price even in the black market.
More importantly was the harvest from that quasi–third-rank demon beast.
“Quasi–third-rank demon beast essence, serpent skin, venomous fangs, poison sac, serpent bones… only a pity there isn’t much flesh left.”
It was no wonder cultivators were willing to hunt demon beasts—the rewards were indeed generous.
Looking over his harvest, Lin Changan couldn’t help but smile.
“The serpent skin can be tanned into third-rank talisman paper. This is the perfect chance to reveal my identity as a second-rank high-grade Talisman Master.”
In truth, his greatest gain this time was thanks to Yun Yao’s involvement in escorting Su Miaoyin back.
“The excess serpent skin can be refined into two defensive inner armors. Especially this quasi–third-rank demon beast essence—it’s enough to forge an exquisite spirit artifact in Tianxuan City.”
Looking at his overflowing harvest, Lin Changan sighed. No wonder people said bitter cultivation never starved nor overfed anyone.
Ordinary cultivators with talent in skills might not lack spirit stones or resources, but what they had was only enough for their own cultivation, with little surplus.
【Killing Origin Sword Art (Grandmaster 4972/5000)】
“And this sword art… with Tianxuan City’s crisis not yet over, I must break through as soon as possible.”
Lin Changan pondered silently. Though Su Miaoyin had returned, the fact remained—Master Lu’s lifespan was nearly exhausted.
And with the disturbances in the Cloudmist Mountain Range, even the small-scale beast tide fluctuations had such great impact.
One could only imagine how terrifying the true beast tide would be when it erupted.
“But all this has little to do with me. I am only a small mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in Tianxuan City. Such matters are far beyond my reach.”
Shaking his head, Lin Changan decided that for now, he would simply remain in the city, focusing on drawing talismans, alchemy, and cultivation.
With the beast tide, demon cores were not lacking in Tianxuan City anyway.
If not for the overwhelming temptation of the quasi–third-rank demon beast, he would never have gone out with Yun Yao.
In the days that followed, Lin Changan returned once again to his routine of daily talisman drawing, alchemy, and cultivation.
To outsiders, it seemed he had never left the city. None knew he had hunted a quasi–third-rank demon beast, let alone that he had been involved with Su Miaoyin’s affairs.
……
Three days later, the first visitors were not Tianxuan City officials bringing great thanks, but Shen Lie and Li Erniu.
Outside, the cold wind howled, but inside his abode, the seasons felt like spring.
In the pavilion, Shen Lie and Li Erniu—both nearly eighty years old, with hair at their temples gone white—looked through the formation barrier at Tianxuan City, now clad in snow-white armor, with faces full of melancholy.
It was unclear whether they lamented missing the chance to cultivate in their youth, or the fact that Foundation Establishment cultivators now stood on an entirely different level from them.
“Brother Lin, we’ve come to visit today with a request.”
Though their cultivation realms were worlds apart, even after decades of friendship, Lin Changan could still sense the instinctive respect that the two old men showed.
“There’s no need for such formality between us.”
In the pavilion, the two aged men had preserved themselves well through minor cultivation, but compared to Lin Changan’s unchanged appearance, they seemed to belong to a completely different world.
For two men of their age, to blush before Lin Changan was almost comical.
At last, Shen Lie spoke with embarrassment: “Brother Lin, you’ve seen Tianxuan City’s situation. Danger lurks everywhere.
Now that the beast tide approaches, no one knows how much worse it will get. We heard that you and some fellow seniors have set up a black market. Knowing our shallow cultivation…”
Li Erniu also stumbled through, awkwardly voicing their request.
Seeing them, Lin Changan smiled. So that was all.
They simply wanted to do some business in the black market. Coming to him was merely to seek a bit of shelter, not to covet resources.
For him, it was a trivial favor.
Nodding lightly, Lin Changan waved his hand.
“Back when the black market was still in its infancy, I didn’t want you involved, lest it bring disaster. But as you say, with Yue Kingdom in turmoil, where can one find stability…”
Lin Changan nodded again. The fact that Erniu came in person, rather than Li Yifan, showed they weren’t trying to overreach or seize control.
As a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, giving a few old friends cover to run a small business in the black market was well within his ability.
“Our thanks, Brother Lin.”
Shen Lie and Li Erniu beamed with joy, raising their cups in a toast. Lin Changan nodded with a smile.
Shen Lie, having spent many years in commerce, still had connections and channels.
Lin Changan also understood the deeper reasons. One was Yue Kingdom’s instability—Shen Lie wanted to stockpile resources for Shen Fan.
Another was likely seeing Li Yifan’s Foundation Establishment, which spurred him on to prepare for his own son Shen Fan’s Foundation Establishment.
Whether it would succeed or not, Shen Lie had to try. At the very least, he couldn’t let his son regret, nor let himself regret.
As for Li Erniu, after rising from being a son-in-law of the Zhou Family to becoming a proper son-in-law with Li Yifan advancing to Foundation Establishment, he had also grown ambitious and energetic.
Seeing his two old friends doing well, Lin Changan felt nothing but happiness.
Yet he could not help but wonder—how long could this peace in Tianxuan City last under the looming storm?