Chapter 150: Return to Huanglong
Having previously purchased "Level B" intelligence on Huanglong Mountain at Tian Zhi Pavilion, this time, with that special jade slip, Lan Chang'an paid only one to two hundred spirit stones and obtained the latest intel.
"Huanglong Mountain has been preparing for many years, and after considerable effort and favors, they have finally refined the 'Crystal Condensation Pill'. Tian Zhi Pavilion estimates that two pills were successfully refined, with at least one being a genuine product."
"Fu Xuemei has recently reached the ninth level of Foundation Establishment and possesses the basic conditions to attempt Core Formation."
"Huanglong Immortal, after defeating Sanhu Immortal, is suspected of having held back some of his strength. For a detailed analysis, purchase the 'Level A' intelligence on Huanglong Immortal."
In a Liaoyuan Immortal City inn, Lan Chang'an's face twitched slightly as he read this information.
He was tempted to buy all the "Level A" intelligence on Huanglong Mountain and Huanglong Immortal, but doing so might attract too much attention from Tian Zhi Pavilion.
In his eyes, Tian Zhi Pavilion was even more mysterious and unpredictable than the Flame Departing Palace.
The upper limit of Huanglong Immortal's strength was clear—he was weaker than a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, and at most, he could only temporarily boost his power. This was a consensus among all the major forces.
"Huanglong Mountain currently has three True-Dan Formation cultivators. Besides Huanglong Immortal, the other two are his close friend and an elder who has resided there for over a hundred years."
Originally, Huanglong Mountain also had two Core Formation guest elders. But according to Tian Zhi Pavilion's intelligence, one of them, upon learning of the crisis facing Huanglong Mountain, withdrew half a year ago, possibly being poached by an enemy faction.
Having grasped the overall strength at the top of Huanglong Mountain, Lan Chang'an only needed to ensure that he stayed clear of direct involvement and there would be no real danger.
As for the Fake-Dan cultivators, he was confident in his ability to protect himself. This didn't even take into account the trump card that was his previous life's soul imprint.
...
Liaoyuan Immortal City, located in the central heartland of Liang Kingdom.
Lan Chang'an flew northward for half a month.
A towering, crystal-yellow giant city gradually expanded in his field of view.
It was at sunset, the dim yellow afterglow of the setting sun fell on the slightly weathered and cracked city walls, some of which bore the scars left by the beast tide.
This ancient city, having weathered centuries of storms, stood tall like an old, wounded lion.
Along the way, Lan Chang'an experienced the chaos surrounding Huanglong, where he scarcely encountered any lone Qi-Refining cultivators.
The solitary figures he did meet were mostly in the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Along his route, he noticed several hidden cultivators of unknown origin, including rogue and evil cultivators.
As he was disguised as a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, no one dared to target Lan Chang'an.
In the distance, Huanglong Immortal City's grand formation was operating normally, and even during wartime, the city hadn't been sealed off to prevent entry or exit.
This stemmed from two reasons.
First, as a neutral trade hub, Huanglong Immortal City's majority of assets were owned by various forces in the Liang Kingdom, including sects, many families, and individual cultivators.
Huanglong Mountain was considered the ruler of this Immortal City, as well as the landlord.
Only the core Huanglong Mountain itself was entirely owned by Huanglong Immortal's lineage, with its mountain protection formation fully activated and heavily guarded.
This city, with its massive population, would face enormous repercussions if it were to be sealed off.
Second, Huanglong Immortal City was vast. If multiple Core Formation cultivators from major forces attacked in unison, the defense pressure and resource consumption would be immense.
Moreover, the city's vast population likely included numerous undercover agents from hostile forces.
Defending only the third-rank spiritual vein of Huanglong Mountain was much easier.
Many of the city's businesses were owned by various forces, including the Liang Kingdom sects' branches.
Even if enemy forces infiltrated the city, they wouldn't dare recklessly disrupt the operations inside; they would focus solely on targeting Huanglong Mountain.
"The two sides seem to have a mutual understanding not to involve other forces or businesses in the city, only contending for the core interests of Huanglong Mountain. Even without the deterrence of sects, no one wants a ruined Immortal City," Lan Chang'an mused, having gleaned this from the intelligence.
If a major battle were to break out, it would most likely occur at Huanglong Mountain, which no longer housed any foreign cultivators.
...
The cultivation of the late Foundation Establishment was somewhat conspicuous in Huanglong Immortal City.
In a hidden spot within the mountains, Lan Chang'an used the "Hundred Illusions Mask" to change his identity and adjust his cultivation level.
When he arrived at Huanglong Immortal City, he had transformed into a plain-looking, unremarkable old man in simple clothing.
He lowered his cultivation to the early stage of Foundation Establishment.
Appearing no different from any other day, he entered Huanglong Immortal City.
The city was noticeably quieter than usual, with the number of people on the streets reduced by half, though most of the shops were still open.
However, the city's teahouses and taverns were bustling with activity, as these places were ideal for gathering information, with some even secretly selling intelligence.
"The Mo Family and Hengchuan Merchant Association, along with various other hostile forces, have currently gathered at the foot of Huanglong Mountain. They made a probing attack a few days ago, which was easily repelled by the mountain's protective formation," Lan Chang'an quickly gathered the latest news from within the city.
He surmised that the hostile forces were currently only testing the strength of the formation.
The real offensive would likely occur when Fu Xuemei attempted to form her Core.
Core Formation required the use of a third-rank spiritual vein to draw in massive amounts of heavenly and earthly spiritual energy.
At such a time, Huanglong Mountain's formation would be relatively weak—providing an opportunity for outside interference.
As long as she failed, it would only take another twenty or thirty years for Huanglong Mountain to be left without successors, crumbling on its own.
That night, Lan Chang'an checked into an inn within the city, keeping a distance of nearly a hundred li from Huanglong Mountain.
...
The next day, he visited Jinxiu District.
He wandered around the Water Moon Residence area where he had once lived.
Years ago, he had lived and cultivated here for twenty to thirty years, successfully planning his Foundation Establishment.
The plaque of Water Moon Residence remained unchanged, but the owner had changed; a lone female cultivator now lived there.
The layout of the courtyard's pond remained the same, with some ornamental spirit fish swimming within.
The neighboring Du Family residence was still owned by a family with the surname Du. The current owner looked somewhat familiar, likely a descendant of Alchemist Du Wei.
"Old Du must have passed away many years ago," Lan Chang'an reminisced about the greedy and lecherous middle-aged man with the mustache.
Through Du Wei, he had connected with Alchemist Hua.
Du Wei had failed to advance to Foundation Establishment, and since he was older than Lan Chang'an, he had likely passed away twenty or thirty years ago.
"Puppet Master Sang has also moved away," Lan Chang'an sighed inwardly as he saw the empty courtyard opposite Water Moon Residence.
Back then, he had received a puppet inheritance from Puppet Master Sang, but it was limited to superior-grade second-rank, with no third-rank content. Whether Puppet Master Sang had a third-rank puppet inheritance remained unknown.
If the man hadn't advanced to Foundation Establishment, he would likely have passed away by now, given his age.
"I was forty-five years old when I first entered Huanglong Immortal City. Now, I am one hundred and nineteen," Lan Chang'an reflected as he left Jinxiu District, feeling a deep sense of the changes over time.
Seventy years ago, Huanglong Immortal City was still at its peak, bustling with activity. The contrast between those vibrant memories and the current desolation was striking.
...
A few days later.
Lan Chang'an, who was quietly cultivating in his inn, suddenly opened his eyes and looked in the direction of Huanglong Mountain.
At that moment, he sensed the eruption of a Core Formation Immortal's power.
He even faintly heard the sound of explosions.
"The battle is about to begin!"
In the inn, some opportunists had expressions of barely concealed excitement.
With Huanglong Mountain's power being suppressed, the security in the city would be at its weakest.
Once the battle broke out, there would be no shortage of those trying to fish in troubled waters.
Petty thieves might cause chaos in the city, but they wouldn't dare provoke forces with strong backgrounds or large businesses.
The true opportunists were even eyeing Huanglong Mountain itself.
If the protective formation of Huanglong Mountain was breached, the opportunities within could be unimaginable, including the chance of a genuine Core Formation Pill.
In fact, some of the enemies gathered by the Mo Family and Hengchuan Merchant Association had no real grudges against Huanglong Immortal's lineage.
They were simply here to take advantage when the Huanglong Mountain was weak and take a share of the pie.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Some bold Foundation Establishment cultivators approached within ten li of Huanglong Mountain, openly observing the battle.
Lan Chang'an shook his head and did not follow.
In fact, he knew that even if he got a little closer, the forces opposing Huanglong Mountain, including the Core Formation experts, would not harm the onlookers.
The hostile forces weren't aiming to destroy; their true intent was to redistribute the core interests of this Immortal City.
...
At this moment, in front of Huanglong Mountain.
The overwhelming aura of four Core Formation cultivators gathered, with four patches of dazzling core force shining in the sky.
The highest cultivation among them was at the mid-stage Core Formation Realm, the grand elder of the Hengchuan Merchant Association.
This Core Formation elder was known as "Wantie Immortal," his entire body covered in thick, dark armor, with only his cold eyes exposed.
The Mo Family's Core Formation cultivator was a straight-backed young man in a blue robe with eyes like stars.
This Core Formation expert was named "Mo Weixing Immortal," the most outstanding genius of the Mo Family in centuries.
Below the four Core Formation experts, nearly twenty Gray-Dan
cultivators hovered in mid-air, taking turns attacking the protective formation of Huanglong Mountain.
The difference between the aura of these Gray-Dan cultivators and that of the True-Dan Immortals was more than just a minor gap—it was vastly greater than the difference between normal small realms.
The current lineup of Core Formation experts was nearly comparable to the power of an entire sect.
Whoosh!
At this moment, a Fake-Dan cultivator's aura came speeding from outside the city.
The newcomer was a stout, middle-aged man in wide robes.
If Lan Chang'an had been present, he would have immediately recognized this Fake-Dan cultivator.
"Fellow Daoist Xiang, have you found anything?" Mo Weixing Immortal of the Mo Family asked with a smile.
Xiang Jinglong was a Fake-Dan cultivator summoned by the Mo Family, claiming to have been framed by Huanglong Mountain for the death of Alchemist Hua.
"Immortals, I found a hidden tunnel outside Huanglong Immortal City that seems to lead to the depths of Huanglong Mountain..." Xiang Jinglong bowed to the four Core Formation experts in the sky, reporting his findings via sound transmission.
Upon hearing this, the four Core Formation experts' expressions changed slightly. They paused their attacks and exchanged a few words.
"There's no need to worry. We have inside agents within Huanglong Mountain. Their core members, including Fu Xuemei, are all on the mountain."
"That hidden tunnel might be a retreat route for the core members of Huanglong Mountain."
"Fellow Daoist Xiang, take some men and investigate that tunnel..."
...
That night.
Deep within Huanglong Mountain, in a secluded and elegant cave residence.
A young man with a clear and handsome face, dressed in a thick cotton robe, sat restlessly, worry etched on his face.
At that moment, a woman with soft purple hair, dressed in a moon-white robe, as graceful as an orchid in a secluded valley, stepped out of a secret chamber.
"Sister, I'm finally seeing you again," Fu Dong said with a smile as he stood up.
"Little Dong, you shouldn't have come back," Fu Xuemei sighed softly.
"Sister, a year ago, you sent me to a remote region for my own good, to preserve the Fu Family's bloodline. Now, I have left offspring behind and have no more worries."
"We siblings grew up together in the mortal world, relying on each other, supporting each other all the way to today. How could little brother let you face this danger alone? While you attempt Core Formation, I will guard you until the last moment."
Fu Dong's warm smile seemed capable of melting the winter snow, yet his gaze was exceptionally firm.
"Alright, now you won't have a chance to leave even if you wanted to," Fu Xuemei said with a helpless smile.
When she saw her younger brother, who had always protected her since childhood, standing before the cave residence, she felt inexplicably calmer.
Years ago, to help her brother achieve Foundation Establishment, she had done something that went against her principles.
That incident had slightly shaken her Dao heart, leaving a minor flaw in her mental state. However, with her brother standing guard in front of her, her heart had once again achieved perfection.
The two siblings talked for a long time., until a Core Formation Immortal sent a sound transmission, only then did they part reluctantly.
"Sister, you will surely succeed in breaking through and forming your Core, just as you have always overcome your obstacles."
"Little Dong, don't worry. With the help of a genuine Crystal Condensation Pill and Core Formation spiritual items to assist me, I have an eighty percent chance of forming a True-Dan. Now, with your support, I am ninety percent confident," Confidence and composure showed on Fu Xuemei's refined yet charming face as she spoke.
After her brother left, the smile faded from her face, replaced by a solemn expression as she entered the secret chamber once more.
(End of chapter)