145: Chapter 145 The Storm Arrives

These things are treasures for Qi Refining Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators.

For Golden Core Stage Cultivators, they are also rare Opportunities, and might even attract the attention of Nascent Soul Stage old monsters!

After all, True Lord Xuan Yun was once a Nascent Soul almighty.

His Relics might still hide things that Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators can use.

Once the news spreads...

Qinghe Town will once again become the center of a storm.

Those Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators will come, Golden Core Stage Cultivators will come, and it might even attract Nascent Soul Stage old monsters.

They will swarm in like sharks smelling blood.

At that time, what would he, a small Cultivator at Qi Refining Level 9, be considered?

He possesses the Dao of Longevity, and he has the nine-turn azure profound bead, True Lord Xuan Yun's Cultivation insights, and that Natal Flying Sword.

Any one of these, if brought out, could make Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators envious and Golden Core Stage Cultivators tempted.

If he were targeted by those people...

He didn't dare to think further.

"I must leave."

He stood up and paced back and forth in the room.

The sooner, the better.

Before the news spreads, before those Cultivators arrive, while there is still time.

But where to go?

Back to the Sect.

Only Qinglan Sword Sect is temporarily safe.

The Sect has a mountain-protecting array, and a Nascent Soul Old Ancestor presiding over it. As long as the array is not destroyed, even Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators would not dare to trespass.

As long as he hides in the Sect and Cultivates diligently, waiting until he successfully achieves Foundation Establishment, or even Core Formation, only then will he be qualified to stand in this chaotic world.

As for Qinghe Town...

He walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked outside.

The town was peaceful.

On the street, several children were chasing and playing; at the alley entrance, several old people were chatting under a tree; in the distance, smoke curled up, indicating families were preparing breakfast.

This was his hometown.

His relatives were here, his roots were here.

But soon, things would change here.

What would Qinghe Town become once those Cultivators swarmed in?

Would it, like five years ago, once again become purgatory?

He didn't know.

But he knew that staying here wouldn't help at all, and would instead harm them.

Only by leaving could he draw their attention away.

Only by becoming stronger could he protect this place in the future.

He took a deep breath, turned around, and began to pack his things.

xuan yun sword and two Storage Pouches were tucked into his embrace.

Nothing else was taken.

Pushing open the door, he strode towards the main hall.

Li Zhenshan and the Grand Elder were discussing matters in the main hall. Seeing him enter, both were a little surprised.

"Changqing? Weren't you resting?"

Li Changsheng didn't beat around the bush and said directly.

"Uncle, Grand Elder, I'm leaving."

Both were stunned.

"Leaving? Where to?"

"Back to the Sect."

Li Changsheng said.

"And the sooner, the better."

Li Zhenshan frowned.

"What happened?"

Li Changsheng was silent for a moment, then briefly recounted the events, omitting some details.

The threat of the Spirit-Devouring Demon Soul, the traces of the Blood Fiend Sect, and the consequences if the news were to leak.

Li Zhenshan and the Grand Elder's expressions changed after hearing it.

"You mean..."

The Grand Elder's voice trembled slightly.

"Those Cultivators who can fly and escape will come to Qinghe Town?"

Li Changsheng nodded.

"They will come. And probably many of them."

"Foundation Establishment Stage, Golden Core Stage, and possibly even Nascent Soul Stage."

He paused, looked at the two, and said seriously.

"I must go. I have what they want. Staying here will only bring disaster to you."

"But..."

"Uncle," Li Changsheng interrupted him.

"Listen to me, after I leave, you must keep a low profile."

"Hide everything related to Cultivation. To outsiders, just say I returned to the Sect and know nothing."

"Those Cultivators are here for the Relics, they won't trouble ordinary people."

"As long as we don't stir up trouble, we should be fine."

Li Zhenshan looked at him, his lips moved, but he didn't know what to say.

The Grand Elder sighed and patted Li Changsheng's shoulder.

"Child, you've grown up."

"Go, protect yourself. Don't worry about things at home."

Li Changsheng nodded, then looked at Li Zhenshan again.

Li Zhenshan finally spoke, his voice hoarse.

"Changsheng, you... must live well."

Li Changsheng solemnly clasped his fists.

"Take care, Uncle. Take care, Grand Elder."

He turned and strode out of the main hall.

Behind him, Li Zhenshan's voice came.

"What about Changqing and the others? Aren't you going to say goodbye to them?"

Li Changsheng paused.

Yes, Li Changqing, Shi Tiezhu, Li Xiaocao.

They were still in the town.

He hesitated for a moment, then finally shook his head.

"No."

"There's no time."

Li Changsheng took out a flying shuttle and handed it to Li Zhenshan.

This flying shuttle was found on Zhou Yuan. It could be used by inserting Spirit Stones.

"Give this flying shuttle to Changqing, and let her take Li Xiaocao and the others back themselves."

After speaking, he strode away.

Leaving the Li manor, he looked up at the sky.

In the distance, the faint wisp of black mist had disappeared.

The sun was bright, and there were no clouds for thousands of miles.

But he knew that a storm was coming.

He took a deep breath, summoned his flying shuttle, and flew towards Qinglan Sword Sect.

Behind him, Qinghe Town grew smaller and smaller, eventually disappearing beneath the clouds.

On the third day after Li Changsheng left, the first batch of visitors arrived at Qinghe Town.

They were five Cultivators dressed in black, the highest cultivation being Foundation Establishment Initial Stage, and the lowest only Qi Refining Level 7.

They silently infiltrated the Black Iron Mine and discovered the corpses of several Blood Fiend Sect Cultivators deep within the mine tunnels.

There were Qi Refining Stage Cultivators killed by Zhou Yuan, and also Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators killed by Li Changsheng and Shen Jun.

"It's Deacon Liao and the others!"

"Damn it! Who did this?!"

Angry roars echoed in the mine tunnel, but did not alarm anyone.

The five Blood Fiend Sect Cultivators searched the mine tunnel.

They found a few abandoned Magical Artifacts and Storage Pouches on the Qi Refining Cultivators.

They also discovered the ruins of the altar destroyed by Zhou Yuan.

They didn't know what had happened, but they knew one thing.

There was a secret here, a big secret.

The news spread from their mouths.

Initially, it only circulated among Loose Cultivators.

In a certain tavern, a drunk Loose Cultivator boasted that he "knew a big secret."

In a certain market, someone was quietly asking "how to get to Black Iron Mine."

Later, the news spread wider and became more exaggerated.

"Have you heard? An ancient Relic has been discovered near Qinghe Town!"

"What Relic?"

"True Lord Xuan Yun! The Relic of a Nascent Soul almighty!"

"Really?"

"Absolutely true! Someone has already gone in and found treasures!"

In just a few days, the number of Cultivators in Qinghe Town was more than the past five years combined.

Those Loose Cultivators came in groups of three or five, some from Chixiao City, some from further inland in Yunzhou.

They either flew on flying shuttles, rode Yao Beasts, or trekked on foot, swarming from all directions like sharks smelling blood.

Li Zhenshan stood at the entrance of the Li manor, looking at the Cultivators descending from the sky, his expression solemn.

"Father,"

Li An stood behind him and whispered.

"Clan Chief, Young Miss Changqing and the others have already left. What should we do?"

Li Zhenshan was silent for a moment, then slowly said.

"Close the gates, shut the doors, no one is allowed to go out."

The gates of the Li manor were tightly shut.

But those Cultivators didn't care about a small Li family.

Their eyes were all fixed on the Black Iron Mine.

Meanwhile, Li Changsheng traveled at full speed towards the Sect.

For the first few days, he traveled in a straight line, hoping to reach Qinglan Sword Sect in the shortest distance.

A few days later, he noticed many Loose Cultivators rushing, their flying shuttles or Flying Swords almost at their limit.

However, they were heading in the opposite direction from him.

Once, during a conversation between two Loose Cultivators, Li Changsheng vaguely heard something about 'Relics'.

"These people should all be going to Qinghe Town to investigate the Relics of True Lord Xuanyun."

Li Changsheng watched the departing Loose Cultivators.

"And, I can no longer travel in a straight line. I must take a detour to avoid these Cultivators."

"This path is no longer safe."

Li Changsheng instantly understood the key to the situation.

"Not to mention these passing Loose Cultivators might try to ambush me. Furthermore, after these Cultivators reach Qinghe Town and learn the news, will they follow my route to pursue and ambush me?"

Thinking of this, Li Changsheng immediately changed direction and took a detour to Qinglan Sword Sect.