125: Chapter 125 Tracking

Li Changsheng's gaze was solemn as he spoke slowly.

"On the way here, I felt like someone was following us."

Lu Yu was taken aback.

"Stalking? No way? I didn't notice anything."

Mo Han frowned, his Divine Sense sweeping across the surroundings. After a moment, he shook his head.

"I didn't find anything unusual either."

Li Changsheng said,

"It's just a feeling. That sensation of being watched was faint, but very real."

Mo Han was silent for a moment, then suddenly took out three Talismans from his robes.

The Talismans were pale gold throughout, covered in complex patterns and emitting a faint pressure.

"Second-grade Golden Armor Talismans."

Mo Han said proudly,

"My Master just broke through to the Golden Core and gave me a few life-saving items."

"Once activated, this thing can withstand a full-strength strike from a Foundation Establishment Initial Stage Cultivator. And this..."

He took out another palm-sized jade Talisman, within which the faint flow of sword light could be seen.

"This is a life-saving Sword Qi given to me by my Master. Once activated, it's equivalent to a full-strength strike from a Golden Core Initial Stage Cultivator."

"Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators can be killed on the spot."

Lu Yu's eyes went wide.

"Senior Brother Mo, you're... too rich!"

Mo Han said indifferently,

"Master said things haven't been peaceful lately and told me to be careful."

"These things are meant to save my life."

He looked at Li Changsheng.

"Even if someone is following us, with these items, there's no need to fear."

"If a Foundation Establishment Stage expert comes, I can make sure they never return."

Li Changsheng nodded, his mind slightly more at ease.

The five of them continued flying.

This time, Li Changsheng remained vigilant, but that feeling of being watched seemed to have vanished.

Had the stalker left?

He didn't know.

But he kept his guard up.

On the return journey, Li Changsheng suddenly said,

"Let's take a detour."

Everyone was stunned.

"A detour? Why?"

Li Changsheng pointed to an area below.

"I want to go down there and take a look."

That was a section of mountain forest they had passed on their way here; it was around that area where he had felt the sensation of being watched.

Mo Han glanced at him and nodded.

"Go ahead."

The five of them changed direction and flew toward that mountain forest.

After landing, Li Changsheng began a careful search.

The forest was dense, the ground covered in a thick layer of fallen leaves.

He crouched down, examining it bit by bit, not letting any suspicious trace escape him.

Lu Yu followed behind him, asking curiously,

"Brother Li, what are you looking for?"

Li Changsheng didn't answer, simply continuing his search.

A moment later, he suddenly stopped.

On the ground was a small pinch of fine powder.

The powder was silver-gray, shimmering with a faint metallic luster under the sunlight.

He pinched a bit of it, brought it to his nose to sniff, and then scrutinized it closely.

"This is... Artifact Refining Materials."

He said slowly.

Lu Yu leaned in, looking at the pinch of powder.

"Artifact Refining Materials? What kind of material?"

Li Changsheng thought for a moment.

"It should be black iron essence shavings."

"Only an Artifact Refiner would carry such Materials on them."

"And judging by how fresh these shavings are, they must have been left recently."

Mo Han walked over, looked at the shavings, and frowned slightly.

"You mean the person following us is an Artifact Refiner?"

Li Changsheng nodded.

A person suddenly flashed through his mind.

Zhao Guangyuan.

The Artifact Refiner from Wanqi Peak and Zhao Yan's uncle.

A Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator proficient in the Dao of Artifact Refining.

When Zhao Guangyuan had come to confront him back then, he had nearly admitted to killing Zhao Yan, and the evidence had already explained everything.

Zhao Guangyuan had said he would investigate thoroughly, but then there had been no further news.

He had originally thought that Zhao Guangyuan had given up.

But now...

He stood up and looked into the distance.

If the stalker really was Zhao Guangyuan, then what was he following him for?

Revenge?

The possibility was high.

Seeing his solemn expression, Lu Yu asked cautiously,

"Brother Li, what did you think of?"

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment, then shook his head.

"Nothing. Let's go, back to the Sect."

He didn't voice his suspicions.

Without evidence, saying it would be useless.

But he quietly collected that pinch of black iron essence shavings.

After returning to the Sect, Li Changsheng didn't go back to the Hundred Herb Garden, but went straight to Wanqi Peak.

He didn't enter the peak, but merely watched from a distance at the foot of the mountain.

Wanqi Peak was as lively as ever, with the rhythmic clanging of hammers rising and falling, interspersed with the shouts of Artifact Refiners and the responses of their apprentices.

Disciples were coming and going in an endless stream.

Some carried Materials in, while others left with Magical Artifacts; it was a scene of great bustle.

He stood at the foot of the mountain for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before he finally saw a familiar figure walking down the mountain path.

Zhao Guangyuan.

He was still dressed in green robes, his Face serious and devoid of expression.

He walked down the mountain toward the market, his pace neither fast nor slow, looking no different from an ordinary person.

Li Changsheng stared at his back for a long time.

Zhao Guangyuan didn't look back, nor did he show any unusual behavior.

He was like any ordinary Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator going about a mundane task.

But Li Changsheng's intuition told him that this man was not simple.

He turned and left.

Back at the Hundred Herb Garden, he sat in the tool shed, took out the pinch of black iron essence shavings, and stared at them in his palm for a long time.

"If it's Zhao Guangyuan, why was he stalking me?"

"Why did he disappear later?"

"Was he scared off by Mo Han's second-grade Talismans and Golden Core Sword Qi, or... does he have other designs?"

Li Changsheng asked himself repeatedly, but he didn't know.

"Regardless, from now on, I must be even more careful."

"And I can't just sit here waiting for death."

Li Changsheng clenched his fists and gritted his teeth, feeling certain.

If a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage Cultivator was determined to kill him, he wouldn't be able to escape at all.

The chasm in cultivation was right there; it wasn't something that could be bridged by skill and determination alone.

"Against a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, what trump cards do I have available now?"

Li Changsheng thought about the Secret Realm positioning teleportation Talisman he had, but it still wasn't enough.

"What if Zhao Guangyuan doesn't try to kill me head-on but chooses an ambush instead?"

"In that case, it would be extremely dangerous if I don't have time to activate the teleportation Talisman."

"I must find another way!"

He thought for a long time, considering many possibilities.

Fight it out?

No.

A Qi Refining Level 9 against a Foundation Establishment Middle Stage—the chances of winning were almost zero.

Even with Lu Yu and Mo Han added in, they might not be a match.

Senior Brother Liu had his own matters to attend to and wouldn't be following him all the time.

Moreover, without proof, the Sect wouldn't punish a Foundation Establishment Stage Artifact Refiner based on his suspicions.

Hide?

He couldn't hide forever either.

He still had tasks to do, contribution points to earn, and Foundation Establishment to achieve.

He couldn't stay curled up inside the Sect for his whole life.

"Actually, there's one more path."

Li Changsheng's eyes suddenly lit up.

Reconciliation!

"If I can get Zhao Guangyuan to let go of his hatred, or at least make him hesitant to act lightly, then I'll have a chance to breathe."

"Once I successfully reach Foundation Establishment, combined with centuries of combat experience, I won't be as defenseless against Zhao Guangyuan as I am now."

Li Changsheng crossed his arms over his chest and leaned back, finding a comfortable position.

"But how to reconcile?"

"Go directly to Zhao Guangyuan to plead my case?"

Li Changsheng shook his head.

"No."

"If the other party is in a fit of rage, delivering myself to his door would just be seeking death."

"Then I can only find a mediator."

As Li Changsheng thought of this, a name suddenly appeared in his mind.

Liu Qingchen.

Once this name surfaced, Li Changsheng had a plan.

"Right, it's him. Liu Qingchen is a Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivator with quite a reputation in the Outer Sect, and we have a history."

"If he's willing to step in and mediate, Zhao Guangyuan might give him some Face."

Li Changsheng nodded, continuing to think through every detail.

"But mediation alone isn't enough; there must be sincerity."

What would that sincerity be?