36: The taste is too strong

The distance between Flame Feather City and Zhou Capital was still very far.

If Chen Xuan had recovered his previous Cultivation, it would have taken a day's journey. But now, he wasn't even at Foundation Establishment, let alone how long it would take.

After a long journey alone, he arrived at a small town called Qingshan Town.

This place was located on the edge of the Yao Beast Mountain Range and was relatively close to Zhou Capital, making it quite prosperous. Merchants, travelers, and Cultivators from all directions gathered here to trade, exchange information, and Cultivate.

Of course, more people were Cultivators who entered the Yao Beast Mountain Range for experience and treasure hunting. Or they would kill Yao Beasts; the Materials from their bodies, their meat, and so on, were all quite valuable.

However, the most expensive among them were the Yao Beast cubs.

Once a cub was obtained and raised from a young age, it would become a valuable assistant in the future.

If a highly potential Yao Beast was obtained, the profits it would bring would be even more immeasurable!

But Chen Xuan didn't have time for such experiences. Zhou Jingqi from Zhou Capital hadn't appeared yet, and he needed to prevent her from meeting Qin Feng in advance.

"Ding, an unknown Son of Luck has been discovered within a 1000-li radius."

"Now issuing a mission: Find the Son of Luck. Mission reward: 5 years of Cultivation."

Chen Xuan: "..."

"1000 li! What's the difference between that and not telling me at all!"

"Wait, this is a novel about Qin Feng, why is there a new Son of Luck?! Could this be a multi-world Fusion?"

Upon hearing the System's prompt, Chen Xuan couldn't help but complain. A 1000-li radius was just the radius; if he wanted to wander around the entire circle, it would probably take ages!

"Forget it, with you, System, these Sons of Luck and I are naturally at odds. Since I've found his trace, I'll give it a try. There's still some time before the matter in Zhou Capital."

Chen Xuan changed his mind.

He originally thought that as long as he took down Zhou Jingqi and then seized Qin Feng's Opportunity, his moment of reaching the peak would come. Unfortunately, there was another Son of Luck!

Entering Qingshan Town, Chen Xuan found a rather luxurious inn and checked in.

Generally, gathering information here was the fastest way. If he could find someone who "fit" the novel's plot, it would be an even bigger win.

That night, Chen Xuan was not in a hurry. He released Liu Yun and had her serve him.

The rest were all in the Secret Realm.

Lin Shuiyao was a Cultivation fanatic, focused entirely on Cultivation. The other three girls were pregnant and inconvenient to bring out, so Liu Yun was the most suitable.

"Master~"

"Stop! Just call me 'Old Master' when we're outside!" Chen Xuan quickly stopped her.

"Yes, Old Master~" Liu Yun's voice was soft.

"You little vixen, just watch me deal with you tonight!"

"Hehe, who's going to deal with whom is still up in the air!"

"How bold!"

...

The next morning, Chen Xuan went down to have breakfast alone, putting Liu Yun back into the Secret Realm. Mainly, her aura was slightly listless, clearly because she had spoken arrogantly last night and was severely taught a lesson.

"Hmph, let's see if you dare to be so presumptuous again! A mere Qi Refining second layer, yet you dare to challenge me!"

"I know, I won't dare again!" Liu Yun pouted her little face, looking like a girl of about 20, not at all like an adult.

"There's a medicinal meal made by Shuiyao in the Secret Realm; go back and replenish yourself."

"Mm~"

"Waiter!"

"Coming, sir, please speak!"

"Are there any interesting news here recently?" Chen Xuan casually tossed a few Spirit Stones to the waiter.

The latter's face lit up with joy after receiving the Spirit Stones.

"May I ask, sir, what kind of news you wish to know?"

"Tell me everything you know!"

"Recently... the Yihongyuan in Zhou Capital has a new beautiful girl named Ruhua..."

"Don't talk about that. Is there anything else?"

The waiter scratched his head upon hearing this. "Oh, please wait a moment, sir, let me think again."

Chen Xuan smiled, indicating for him to take his time.

A moment later, the waiter's eyes lit up, and he said, "Oh right, there's one more thing. Recently, someone discovered a mysterious ruin deep within the Spirit Beast Mountain Range. It's said to contain countless treasures."

"Oh?" Chen Xuan's heart stirred. This was useful information. That Son of Luck was very likely to go there.

"What's the exact location of that ruin?"

The waiter shook his head. "This humble one doesn't know, but I heard that many Cultivators have already rushed there."

Chen Xuan nodded thoughtfully and continued to ask, "Besides this, is there anything else?"

"Hmm..." The waiter thought for a while again. "I remember! Yesterday morning, a Cultivator discovered a particularly beautiful Spirit Beast at the entrance of the Yao Beast Mountain Range outside the town. I heard it had a pair of Golden Wings, like a Heavenly God descending, but that Cultivator couldn't catch it. What a pity."

"Golden Winged Spirit Beast?" Chen Xuan's heart stirred. This was a very important companion of Qin Feng in the original text, but it was supposed to appear much later. Why now?

"Is there nothing else besides this?"

"No, nothing else."

Just as Chen Xuan felt regretful, he suddenly heard people in a roadside teahahouse discussing a young man named Zhao Tianming.

"Have you heard? That kid Zhao Tianming has become famous recently!"

"Aren't you kidding me? Who hasn't heard of Zhao Tianming! Everyone in the entire Zhou Kingdom probably knows him, right?"

"Tsk tsk tsk, it's truly regrettable, a Genius famous in Zhou Capital, yet he became a cripple overnight!"

"Yes, I heard Zhao Tianming was exceptionally talented before, and at a young age, he was already a master at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm. His future achievements were immeasurable!"

"Who says they aren't? I also heard that kid had a marriage engagement with Princess Jingqi before. It's probably going to be called off now!"

"Hahaha, indeed, how could the royal family marry their daughter to a cripple!"

"Alas, things are unpredictable, like a big intestine wrapping a small one! I can't believe Zhao Tianming has fallen to this state!"

"Who says they aren't? But I did hear that Zhao Tianming suddenly gained fighting spirit these days and has been diligently Cultivating, hoping to restore his former glory."

"Tch, what's the use of that? A Genius turned cripple, how can he recover so easily?"

"That's hard to say, maybe he'll have some Opportunity?"

...

Chen Xuan: "..."

Too strong, this flavor is too strong! Does he even need to find this fated person? It's definitely the Zhao Tianming they're talking about! It's just that he's Zhou Jingqi's fiancé, which he never expected.

The original text had casually mentioned before that the Zhou Family royal family had indeed arranged a fiancé for her, but later, when she met the highly potential Qin Feng, she broke off the engagement. But it never said that this Zhao Tianming had such an encounter!

"Why didn't you tell me about this?"

"Sir, it's not that this humble one didn't want to tell you, but this matter has spread too widely; everyone in the entire Zhou Kingdom knows! This humble one truly didn't expect that you wouldn't know."

"Alright, you may go."

"Yes."

Then Chen Xuan walked up to the two Cultivators who were conversing.