130: Chapter 13 Crimson Sun Bronze Mother

"The Hundred Sects Trial? Never heard of it. I'm not a Sect Disciple, so why would I participate in that?"

"Brother Xu truly is devoted to the Dao, to the point of not even knowing about this."

"Spare me the pleasantries. Tell me what's going on. Do you want me to participate? You saw that I only recently reached Foundation Establishment..."

"Of course not. The target of this Hundred Sects Trial isn't Foundation Establishment Cultivators like us, but Qi Refining Cultivators. We're just going to provide protection for them."

"Oh, so we're just guards."

"You could say that, Brother Xu. It really is just guarding. In previous years, Golden Core True Persons would usually oversee it themselves."

"But not this time? Is it because of something related to the Demonic Path?"

"Yes. Our Sect Elders are currently either heading to the border for negotiations or are busy with various Sect matters. Most of them simply can't spare the time, and it's the same for other factions."

"Because of this, the Hundred Sects Trial will be held simply. A Demon Hunting Competition will be held at the Border Mountain Range to wrap things up quickly."

"The Yao Beasts in the Three Realms Mountain aren't of a high grade, so it's enough for Foundation Establishment Cultivators like us to guard it. They're also recruiting Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators with clean backgrounds to participate."

Xu Changsheng said with a faint smile, "It sounds like there's no danger. Are you sure you want to use your favor on this, Fairy Ni?"

"I'm sure."

"You're not hiding anything from me, are you, Fairy Ni? The Demonic Path to the north is currently stirring. Is there a possibility of a surprise attack on the Three Realms Mountain?"

"Brother Xu is as steady as ever. Don't worry, the high-level members of the Demonic Path are currently negotiating with us. They won't be coming."

"Furthermore, our Sect will also send True Man Zhuzhao to oversee the entire event. You should have seen him last time. He is a great Half-step Nascent Soul Cultivator. With him there, there won't be any problems."

"But..."

"No buts. Even I'm going. Is Brother Xu really going to shrink back at the last moment, being even less than a weak woman like me?"

Crimson Rainbow put on a pitiful appearance.

Xu Changsheng rolled his eyes. "Fine, I promise you."

Internally, however, he didn't relax in the slightest. Even if he had used an illusion to slightly deflect suspicion, he was still one of the Ghost Shadow Sect's primary targets.

Moreover, he still hadn't figured out why the heavenly fiend sword was suppressing information about the defensive arrays of various Sects.

If this matter were to leak out, the events in Yellow Ox Immortal City would likely be traced back and linked together.

Currently, he seemed to be strolling leisurely, but in reality, he was walking on thin ice.

"I must prepare for the worst and make more preparations."

Hearing his agreement, Crimson Rainbow gave a satisfied smile, stood up gracefully, and walked toward the entrance of the Immortal Cave. "You two haven't seen each other for a long time, so you must have a lot to talk about. I won't disturb you."

As the stone door of the Immortal Cave opened and closed, only the two of them were left facing each other.

For a moment, neither of them wanted to be the first to speak.

It took quite a while.

Xie Wantang, with her gentle face and high hair bun, finally let out a soft sigh.

Hearing the sigh, Xu Changsheng recovered from his frozen state and looked fixedly at the quiet woman before him. "Tanger, thank you."

Xie Wantang turned her head away. "I didn't do anything. Why are you thanking me for no reason?"

He took the opportunity to grab her soft hand and leaned in closer. "Thank you for being willing to forgive me after not seeing me for so many years. Thank you for not asking anything just now and coming back with me."

Feeling the sudden movement, the tips of her ears turned slightly red. "Let go of me. Who said I forgave you?"

Xu Changsheng acted as if he hadn't heard her and instead held on even tighter.

Xie Wantang knew that since she was being held by Xu Changsheng, a Body Cultivator, she wouldn't be able to break free without using her magic power, so she simply gave up.

She said softly, "I came to participate in the Yellow Ox Auction and stopped by to see you on the way. Since you're doing well, I'm relieved. In... in a few days, I'll go back with Crimson Rainbow."

Hearing the underlying meaning, Xu Changsheng said, "I haven't been back to the Ancient Wood Mountain Range in a long time. It's time for a visit."

"Really?" Xie Wantang's beautiful eyes lit up.

"Of course."

"Then are you going back with me and Sister Ni?"

"I'm afraid not. I've been busy with the stock of the Spirit Talisman Workshop lately, so I can't go back with you."

"Alright." Xie Wantang's expression dimmed.

"Don't worry. I said I would go, and I definitely will. Besides, I can accompany you around the Immortal City these next few days. I'm much more familiar with it than you are."

Xie Wantang handed him a communication talisman. "Very well. When you arrive at the Ancient Wood Mountain Range, remember to let me know. I'll send someone to bring you into Donglin Fortress."

Xu Changsheng took the communication talisman and asked in confusion, "Why?"

In his memory, the direction of the Ancient Wood Mountain Range wasn't that hard to find.

"Because of the Lai Family."

"The Lai Family..."

"Yes. And after I reached Foundation Establishment, they became even more severe, swearing to eliminate the Xie Family. They've placed many hidden agents around Donglin Fortress specifically to watch me."

"What about the Zhou Family? Aren't they stepping in?"

"The Zhou Family? Since Du Hong died, the Zhou Family stopped investing resources into Donglin Fortress. Instead, they've withdrawn a large number of Disciples. The Zhou Family in Donglin Fortress now exists in name only."

"Does that mean Donglin Fortress now belongs to the Xie Family?"

"Essentially, but nominally it still belongs to the Zhou Family. Lai Tianxiang doesn't dare to actually take action; he can only surround it layer by layer."

"However, he doesn't know that I have a secret passage that can bypass his surveillance."

"The Lai Family..." Xu Changsheng thought to himself, already gauging his own strength.

In the past, his strength was insufficient, so he could only lay low. But now it was different. If he had the chance, he wanted to help Xie Wantang resolve this life-and-death enemy.

Xie Wantang finally found an opportunity to pull her hand away. "It's getting late. The time I agreed upon with Sister Ni is almost here. I have to go."

Xu Changsheng gave a wicked smile. "Won't you stay? The bed in the Immortal Cave is quite large."

The current Xie Wantang was even more graceful than she was years ago. Her waist had become more slender, yet she had borne abundant fruit, looking like a ripe peach.

Her temperament had also shifted from the "keep away" vibe she had when she first entered to a soft, charming, and gentle one.

Hearing this...

Xie Wantang's ears burned, and she said in shame and annoyance, "No."

After saying that, she directly left the Immortal Cave.

Meanwhile, Xu Changsheng continued to quietly watch her departing figure, his eyes flickering.

His purpose for not going back with Xie Wantang wasn't the Spirit Talisman Workshop.

Rather, it was...

"[Todays Intelligence (Blue): chi yang copper mother]"

"[In one month, thirty miles south of Yellow Ox Immortal City, a star will fall from the sky. Inside is a five-catty chi yang copper mother. This is a Yang-attribute Third Tier Medium Grade spiritual material.]"

"A Third Tier spiritual material, as long as it could be smelted, could also be used as a Quasi-Second Tier material."

"Finally, some work."

Xu Changsheng sighed inwardly. Since coming to the Immortal City, his intelligence System seemed to have malfunctioned. Until reaching Foundation Establishment, he hadn't seen any good intelligence.

It was either that tomorrow's weather would be clear or some strange anecdotes.

It had no effect whatsoever on his cultivation or the advancement of his strength. The ones that were barely usable were some First Tier Yao Beasts or First Tier spiritual materials, which he no longer cared for.

Now that he finally had such a piece of heavyweight intelligence, he could only temporarily fail Xie Wantang's intentions.