115: Chapter 74 An Old Friend Visits, Master Bestows a Treasure

The night wind in Fusheng Immortal City was very cold.

Chen Xuan stood in front of the window, watching the scattered Cultivators on the street below.

Their faces still bore the panic from the attack at the auction; they gathered in small groups, talking in low voices and occasionally looking up toward the north.

The north.

The direction of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range.

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze and tapped his fingers lightly on the window frame twice.

The communication Jade Slip flickered twice, and Chen Xuan looked at it with a deep, unfathomable gaze.

Someone was knocking on the door.

Three knocks, neither light nor heavy.

He turned, walked to the door, and opened it.

Outside stood a middle-aged man with a thin face, slightly greying temples, and wearing a grey Daoist robe.

There were fine wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, his lips were slightly dry, and his hands hung by his sides, though his fingertips were trembling slightly.

Chen Xuan looked at him, his pupils contracting slightly.

Liu He.

The Senior Brother who had brought him into the Sect in this life; after leaving contact information back then, there had been no lack of social exchanges during holidays.

At that time, Liu He was still at Late-stage Qi Refining, serving as a deacon in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Several years had passed, and his cultivation had reached Perfection of Qi Refining, but the wrinkles on his face had increased significantly.

"Fellow Daoist Liu."

Chen Xuan said, his tone flat.

Liu He was stunned for a moment, his eyes slightly reddening: "Fellow Daoist Yun, have you been well?"

Chen Xuan did not explain and stepped aside to let him in.

"Come in and talk."

Liu He walked into the room, sat at the table, and let out a long sigh.

He placed his hands on his knees, and his fingertips stopped trembling.

Chen Xuan poured a cup of spirit tea, handed it to him, and sat down opposite him.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, what brings you to me?"

Liu He took the teacup, took a sip, and set it down.

He took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at Chen Xuan.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, I want to ask about something."

"Ask away."

"Are the The Three Sects planning to attack the northern part of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range?"

Chen Xuan did not answer, but looked at him and nodded slightly.

These guys were truly well-informed; even though they were in the Sect, they had managed to rush to the Fusheng Sect so quickly.

One had to know that the two Sects were tens of thousands of miles apart; such urgency likely meant he had a request.

Chen Xuan did not speak, but simply looked at him.

Liu He's Adam's apple bobbed.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, I know I shouldn't ask about this news, for fear of ruining the plans of the Golden Core Masters."

"But for the sake of my Family."

"My potential has been exhausted; I will never reach Foundation Establishment in this lifetime."

"I also want to leave some inheritance for my descendants; it would be even better if I could leave behind an ancestral territory in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range."

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

What he sought, naturally, was a quota to enter the new Immortal City.

Chen Xuan understood this feeling, especially since Liu He looked so haggard now; he had clearly attempted to break through to Foundation Establishment.

But he hadn't succeeded.

Chen Xuan was silent for a moment: "This matter was never a secret to begin with."

"It's just..."

"Please, Fellow Daoist Yun, help me." Seeing Chen Xuan's hesitant expression, Liu He gritted his teeth and knelt on one knee.

"Why do this? Fellow Daoist Liu, please get up. We have known each other since my humble beginnings; naturally, I will help you." Chen Xuan helped him up.

"It's just that the plan to attack the north was not decided by me."

"If you want to join the vanguard army for the attack, bring your decree and join my command tomorrow."

Liu He nodded heavily, his eyes brimming with tears: "I understand."

"I will go through fire and water for Fellow Daoist Yun!"

He stood up and bowed: "Fellow Daoist Yun, there is something about you that I find familiar. You will surely achieve the Great Dao. I will go gather my clansmen now."

Chen Xuan nodded and watched him leave.

He pushed the door open and walked out.

The door closed gently behind him.

Chen Xuan sat at the table, looking at the cup of tea that had been sipped.

The tea was already cold, and the emerald green leaves lay motionless at the bottom of the cup.

Liu He.

Without realizing it, several years had passed.

"Dong, dong, dong!"

The knocking on the door sounded again.

Chen Xuan opened his eyes, got up, and opened the door.

Outside stood President Liu Yishou, dressed in a green brocade robe, with a token of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce hanging from his waist.

There was a smile on his face, but it didn't reach his eyes.

"Fellow Daoist Yun, is it convenient to speak for a moment?"

Chen Xuan stepped aside to let him in.

President Liu Yishou sat at the table and glanced at the cold tea.

"Has someone been here?"

"An old acquaintance."

President Liu Yishou nodded, not pressing for details.

He took a Jade Slip from his Storage Pouch and placed it on the table.

"This is the distribution map of all the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce's assets in the northern part of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range."

"Including the Wang Family's pastures, the Yao Clan's mines, the Liu Family's herb gardens, and the cooperative markets of several small families."

Chen Xuan did not take the Jade Slip, but simply looked at him.

"President Liu, what is the meaning of this?"

President Liu Yishou sighed.

"The The Three Sects are going to attack the north; those of us in business must make preparations in advance."

"Fellow Daoist Yun is a Disciple of Master Chonghe; your information is more accurate than ours."

"I want to ask for a favor: if the situation of the war changes, please notify me in advance."

"Our Chamber of Commerce is bound to become the biggest beneficiary of this war; various healing Medicinal Pills and demon-repelling Medicinal Pills are already being gathered."

Chen Xuan smiled: "I am also one of the presidents, so naturally, I will remind you."

President Liu Yishou took out another Jade Bottle and placed it next to the Jade Slip.

"Millennium Earth Marrow."

"Only precious things are worthy of precious people."

Chen Xuan chuckled: "Are you giving me back my own things?"

He waved his hand to refuse, and President Liu Yishou did not persist, smiling: "If Fellow Daoist Yun is unwilling to accept it, I will not force it."

He put away the Jade Bottle, the smile on his face fading slightly, and spoke again: "Fellow Daoist Yun, I want to go to the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range with you."

Chen Xuan frowned.

"Why are you going?"

President Liu Yishou's voice lowered.

"To open up new territory."

"The Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce has reached its limit in the Southern Region; further south is the Southern Border, which has already been destroyed. To the east is the Long Sea, filled with Yao Beasts, and to the west is the Wilderness, where there is nothing."

"Only to the north, in the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, are there Tier 3 Spiritual Veins, mineral deposits, Spirit Medicine, and countless undiscovered resources."

"If the The Three Sects really establish an Immortal City in the north, the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce must enter at the first opportunity."

"Whoever enters first will be the Dominator of the northern market."

Chen Xuan looked at President Liu Yishou with a deep gaze.

"You want to be the vanguard army."

President Liu Yishou nodded.

"I do."

"But not as the President of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce, but as a collateral branch member of the Tiannan Liu Family."

"The Tiannan Liu Family has hundreds of collateral Disciples, but resources are all concentrated in the main line."

"No matter how big I make this Chamber of Commerce, in the Family, I am just someone who manages money."

"To change the status of the collateral branch, I must risk my life."

Chen Xuan was silent for a long time.

He remembered himself in his second life: Pseudo Spiritual Root, no background, no resources; he had only carved out a path by risking his life.

President Liu Yishou's current appearance was exactly the same as his back then.

"You want me to introduce you?"

President Liu Yishou shook his head.

"No need for an introduction; as long as you nod, just let me follow by your side."

"You are a Disciple of Master Chonghe; following by your side means being in the vanguard army."

Chen Xuan nodded.

"Good."

"Go back and prepare; we leave in three days."

President Liu Yishou stood up and bowed deeply to Chen Xuan.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Yun."

He turned and left, his footsteps much lighter than when he arrived.

The door closed again.

Chen Xuan sat at the table, cleared his thoughts, and once again diligently practiced the Nine-Turn Sea-Steaming Method.

...

The next day.

The communication Jade Slip flickered.

Revered Master?

He immediately got up, left the room, and walked toward Master Liu Yun's residence.

Master Liu Yun's room was on the top floor of the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce headquarters; it was a quiet room with simple furnishings.

When Chen Xuan knocked and entered, Master Liu Yun was sitting cross-legged on a cushion, closing his eyes to rest.

His white hair was disheveled, his white eyebrows hung low, and he looked like a statue.

"Revered Master."

Chen Xuan knelt in front of the cushion.

Master Liu Yun opened his eyes and his gaze fell upon him.

"Do you know why I have called you here?"

Chen Xuan bowed: "Please, Revered Master, give me your guidance."

Chen Xuan continued: "This Disciple wishes to follow Revered Master to the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, but I know my cultivation is not enough."

"This Disciple wants to ask Revered Master how to survive on the battlefield."

Master Liu Yun looked at him for a long time, and a hint of gratification appeared in his gaze.

"That you can ask this question shows that you have not lost your head."

"Many young people, upon hearing that they are going to the battlefield, are full of thoughts of achieving great deeds and bringing honor to their ancestors."

"They forget that only by surviving can there be a future."

"I let you join this battle only to temper your Dao Heart. You are young but have outstanding talent; you need to be tempered to go further."

Chen Xuan lowered his head.

"This Disciple will not forget."

Master Liu Yun stood up, walked to the window, and turned his back to Chen Xuan.

"In the northern part of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range, there are still three Golden Core Great Yao."

"One is the Cloud-Swallowing Eagle, male, Middle Stage Golden Core, skilled in wind-type Divine Abilities, with extreme speed."

"One is the Iron-Backed Flood Dragon, Early Stage Golden Core, thick-skinned, and possessing immense strength."

"And there is the Nine-Tailed Fox, female, Early Stage Golden Core, skilled in illusions, and the most insidious."

"The five Golden Core Masters of the The Three Sects will hold back these three Great Yao."

"But there are no fewer than ten thousand Yao Race members below the Golden Core stage."

"There are at least three thousand or even tens of thousands of Foundation Establishment Yao Race members."

"There are countless Qi Refining Yao Race members."

Master Liu Yun turned around and looked at Chen Xuan.

"You, a Qi Refining Perfection, even if your combat power is comparable to Middle Stage Foundation Establishment, will be extremely prone to death on such a battlefield under overwhelming attacks."

Chen Xuan did not refute.

What Master Liu Yun said was the truth.

"Are you still going?" Master Liu Yun looked at his talented Disciple.

If the Senior Brother cannot hold this lineage, then in the future, it will be Chen Xuan who takes over.

And to inherit the "Liuyang Sword Canon", the Dao Heart is extremely important.

One must never retreat in the slightest.

Chen Xuan nodded immediately: "This Disciple will go."

"Why?"

Chen Xuan raised his head, his gaze calm.

"Because what this Disciple seeks is the Dao."

"The Dao is not cultivated through seclusion; it is walked out, and it is killed out."

"If this Disciple hides in the Sect, I will never become a Golden Core."

Master Liu Yun was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"What a good 'walked out' and 'killed out'."

He walked up to Chen Xuan and placed his hand on his head.

A warm stream of spiritual power probed into his body, traveling through his Dantian, Meridians, and bones.

The spiritual power lingered on his bones for a long time, then withdrew.

"Your Qi Refining Dao foundation is at the Eighth Turn, your spiritual power is pure, and your Sword Intent has merged into your spiritual power."

"Your combat power is indeed comparable to Middle Stage or even Late Stage Foundation Establishment."

"But it is still not enough."

Master Liu Yun took a small golden sword from his Storage Pouch and handed it to Chen Xuan.

"This is a Talisman Treasure."

"I refined it myself; it contains three Sword Qi, each equivalent to the full-strength blow of an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator."

"It is not enough to deal with a Golden Core, but it is enough to deal with Foundation Establishment."

Chen Xuan took the Talisman Treasure, his hands trembling slightly.

Talisman Treasure.

Something that only Golden Core Cultivators can refine; each one is priceless.

Revered Master gave it to him.

A treasure to protect the Dao!

This shows that Master Chonghe has already acknowledged him.

"Thank you, Revered Master." Chen Xuan knelt on one knee and bowed.

Master Liu Yun waved his hand.

"Don't thank me; thank yourself."

"Your Dao Heart is worthy of this Talisman Treasure."

"Go, and prepare well."

"In two days, the flying ships will assemble at the Immortal City airport; bring your squad and do not be late."

Chen Xuan bowed and exited the room.

He returned to his room, sat cross-legged on the cushion, and held the Talisman Treasure in his palm.

The small golden sword glowed with a warm luster under the candlelight, and the sword body was engraved with dense runes.

His Divine Sense probed into it, and he could sense three dormant Sword Qi.

Each one was extremely sharp, like three sleeping Dragons.

Chen Xuan stored the Talisman Treasure in his Dantian and nourished it with spiritual power.

The faint blue light sphere in his Dantian rotated gently, wrapping the Talisman Treasure within it.

The Sword Intent in the light sphere resonated with the Sword Qi in the Talisman Treasure, emitting a faint hum.

Chen Xuan closed his eyes and began to operate the Nine-Turn Sea-Steaming Method.

He was to set off in two days, and he needed to adjust his state to the best.

...

The day of departure.

When Chen Xuan opened his eyes, it was already dawn.

He stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, the streets of Fusheng Immortal City were crowded with people.

They were not ordinary pedestrians, but the gathered Cultivators of the The Three Sects.

The Sword Cultivators of the Liuyang Sword Sect, the Yao Cultivators of the Qingcang Sect, and the Technique Cultivators of the Fusheng Sect.

They wore the attire of their respective Sects, with Magical Artifacts hanging from their waists, and different expressions on their faces.

Some were excited, some were nervous, and some were expressionless.

Chen Xuan pushed the door open and walked downstairs.

Senior Sister Wen Yao and Liu Lili were already waiting at the door.

Senior Sister Wen Yao was still in her green tight-fitting outfit, with dual swords hanging at her waist, and her long hair tied in a ponytail.

Liu Lili had changed into a water-blue Dharma robe, with a jasper hairpin in her hair bun and a jade pendant hanging from her waist.

Her eyes were somewhat red and swollen, as if she had been crying.

"Junior Brother."

She called out, her voice slightly hoarse.

Chen Xuan walked over and looked at her.

"Senior Sister, you shouldn't go."

Liu Lili shook her head.

"I insist on going."

"You said you would take me with you; if I don't go, who will you take?"

Chen Xuan was silent for a moment and nodded.

"Let's go."

The three of them left the Qingyuan Chamber of Commerce and walked toward the airport.

The airport was already full of flying ships.

The three largest ones belonged to the Liuyang Sword Sect, the Qingcang Sect, and the Fusheng Sect respectively.

Each flying ship was full of Cultivators, at least three hundred people.

Adding the The Three Sects together, there were nearly a thousand Cultivators.

The three of them boarded the flying ship of the Liuyang Sword Sect, stood by the gunwale, and looked at the crowd below.

President Liu Yishou stood in the crowd, carrying a pack, with a Low Grade Spiritual Artifact hanging from his waist.

He saw Chen Xuan and nodded slightly.

Chen Xuan nodded as well.

Liu He had also come.

He stood not far behind President Liu Yishou, wearing an ordinary grey Daoist robe, holding a Magical Artifact in his hand.

There was no expression on his face, but his eyes were very firm.

Chen Xuan looked at Liu He's back, and a complex emotion welled up in his heart.

Struggling in the Mortal World, the Dao is hard to find.

How many heroes have been trapped and died at the bottleneck of Foundation Establishment, but this time, Chen Xuan would not.

"Junior Brother, what are you looking at?"

Liu Lili followed his gaze.

"Nothing."

Chen Xuan withdrew his gaze and looked toward the north.

There was a dark cloud on the horizon, moving slowly.

It was not a dark cloud, but Demonic Qi.

The Demonic Qi of the Ten Thousand Demon Mountain Range spread for three thousand miles, covering the sky and blocking the sun.

The flying ships rose slowly, one by one, forming a neat queue.

Five Golden Core auras rose from different directions of Fusheng Immortal City, landing on the five leading flying ships.

Master Liu Yun stood at the bow of the leading flying ship, his white hair flying in the wind, his long sword stuck into the gunwale, the tip pointing downward.

He looked back at the army of Cultivators behind him; his voice was not loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Set off."

The flying ships accelerated at the same time, turning into streams of light and shooting toward the north.

A thousand Cultivators, five Golden Cores, vast and mighty.

Chen Xuan stood by the gunwale, letting the gale blow against his face.

His hand rested on the hilt of his sword, his fingertips feeling slightly cold.

Cloud-Swallowing Eagle.

Just you wait.

The long-delayed revenge is here!