192: Chapter 191 concludes the discussion.

Just as the three great elders of the Xuan Yin Sect were plotting their move, Chen Zilong had already left that desolate mountain range.

After restoring his Nascent Soul Cultivator cultivation, he did not delay for a moment and immediately set off toward the general direction of the Pill Mansion in his memory—

heading towards the core area of the Central Region.

The journey was long, far exceeding his imagination.

The Central Region was vast and boundless; he wanted to travel from the remote west where Qingyan City was located to the Pill Mansion near the alchemist holy land, "Pill City," in the middle of the Central Region.

Even with the flight speed of a Nascent Soul Cultivator, without the help of a teleportation array, it would likely take several years or even longer.

Moreover, there were countless dangerous places and complex forces along the way.

As he traveled, he gathered information at some of the cultivator gathering spots he passed.

The answers he received made his heart feel a bit heavy.

The Pill Mansion was indeed near Pill City, but Pill City was located in the heart of the Central Region, more than hundreds of millions of miles away from here!

It was simply impossible to arrive in time using conventional methods.

The only feasible way was to find a large-scale, ultra-long-distance teleportation array.

But these teleportation arrays were often controlled by top-tier sects, ancient families, or some super large cities; the cost of use was high, and specific tokens or qualifications were required.

"No matter the cost, I must go to Pill City..."

Chen Zilong clenched his fists; the sleeping face of Tu Shan Xiaoxiao in the ice coffin seemed to be right before his eyes.

This was his only obsession; no difficulty could stop him.

On this day, he arrived at a city named "Black Rock City."

This city was several times larger than Qingyan City, with towering walls built from a local specialty black rock, appearing heavy and oppressive.

The proportion of cultivators in the city was significantly higher, with people coming and going on the streets and various shops lining them, selling pills, artifacts, talismans, materials, and even some shady black market items.

It was a mixed bag, yet bustling and noisy.

Having traveled for many consecutive days, Chen Zilong planned to take a short rest here, inquire if there were any large teleportation arrays leading toward Pill City, and purchase some supplies he might need.

He restrained his aura, suppressing his cultivation to the late Golden Core stage, and blended into the crowd to look for a suitable inn.

The sides of the streets were covered with various notices—sect recruitment, task postings, rewards for lost items, all sorts of things.

Chen Zilong's gaze swept over them casually, not paying much attention.

However, as he passed a wall covered in notices, the corner of his eye caught a brand-new notice made of a special black beast skin.

At the top of the notice was a hideous ghost head pattern.

It was exactly the mark of the Xuan Yin Sect!

Below the ghost head was a lifelike portrait painted with special pigments.

That portrait, with sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes and a resolute face, was none other than Chen Zilong!

Beside the portrait, in blood-red script, was written:

Wanted Order from the Heisha Mountain Branch Sect of the Xuan Yin Sect.

Criminal to be apprehended: Chen Zilong.

Crime: Murdering Elder Tian Yin of this sect, despising the sect, an atrocious crime.

Reward: One thousand High-Grade Spirit Stones for those providing definite traces.

For those who capture or kill him, a reward of one hundred Top-Grade Spirit Stones, the position of Guest Elder of the Xuan Yin Sect, and a choice of one of the sect's secret techniques.

Note: This individual is cruel, his techniques are strange, suspected to have Nascent Soul Cultivator cultivation, and is aided by a powerful puppet; those who discover his traces must not act rashly and should quickly report to the various sub-branches of this sect.

The signature was the Heisha Mountain Branch Sect of the Xuan Yin Sect, stamped with a ghost head seal emitting a faint aura of yin baleful energy.

"Heh, they sure moved fast."

Chen Zilong sneered inwardly, but his face remained expressionless.

He had seen many such wanted orders.

In the cultivation world where the strong prey on the weak, being wanted was nothing new.

Especially after offending a local power like the Xuan Yin Sect.

He didn't take it to heart and intended to continue looking for an inn.

Just as he turned to leave, the low-voiced discussion of several rogue cultivators squatting in the corner pierced his ears like an ice pick:

"...See that? The kid in the portrait, Chen Zilong, the most famous bringer of calamity lately! I heard that over in Qingyan City, he offended the Xuan Yin Sect and the Wang Family to death, killing people without blinking, like chopping melons and vegetables!"

"More than that! I have a distant relative hanging around Qingyan City who sent word that this lord is simply a living Yama! That Elder Tian Yin of the Xuan Yin Sect, a Nascent Soul Cultivator, no less, was blasted into nothingness by heavenly lightning he summoned! The Wang Family is even worse; the young master is crippled, the family head is heavily injured, and their elites are dead all over the place... Tsk tsk, truly a ruthless man!"

"This isn't just a bringer of calamity; this is clearly a little demon king! To dare offend the Xuan Yin Sect so mortally, isn't he afraid of his sect being exterminated?"

"Exterminated? Hey, don't say that; the Xuan Yin Sect actually did it... No, they're just about to. I heard that to force this little demon king to show up, since the Xuan Yin Sect couldn't find him, they directly surrounded that Zhou Family he used to stay with! Right in Qingyan City, the Zhou Family residence is now surrounded as tight as an iron barrel; only entry is allowed, no exit, not even a fly can get out! They say they're going to use the lives of the entire Zhou Family to lure Chen Zilong into the trap!"

"Really? The Xuan Yin Sect is too... overbearing, aren't they? Misfortunes shouldn't involve the family; are they not even following the rules anymore?"

"Talk rules with the demonic path? Is this your first day cultivating? What wouldn't they do? I reckon the Zhou Family is doomed this time; if Chen Zilong doesn't show up, the hundreds of people in the Zhou Family, I'm afraid..."

...

The following discussions gradually became blurred.

But those few sentences about the "Zhou Family being surrounded," "entry allowed but no exit," and "using the lives of the whole family to lure him out" exploded in Chen Zilong's mind like a thunderclap!

The Zhou Family...

Surrounded by the Xuan Yin Sect?

Using the lives of Zhou Xiao, Zhou Yi, and the others to force him to appear?

Chen Zilong's footsteps instantly froze in place.

He slowly turned his head and looked at the few rogue cultivators who were still whispering, his gaze calm.

But deep in his pupils, it was as if a storm was gathering, and frost was spreading.

The wanted order he had originally intended to ignore.

Now, it seemed so glaring.

Xuan Yin Sect...

Good methods!

What a "heaven and earth limitless"!

A cold, almost tangible killing intent uncontrollably radiated from him.

Although it only lasted for a fleeting moment, it made several low-level cultivators passing by shiver for no reason, looking at him in surprise and suspicion before hurrying away.

Chen Zilong took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the surging anger and killing intent in his heart.

Reason told him this was likely a trap.

The Xuan Yin Sect couldn't find him, so they used such despicable means to force him back.

Going back meant walking into a trap, likely facing a meticulously arranged death trap.

But...

In his mind flashed Zhou Xiao's red, desperate eyes, Zhou Yi's hunched back as he dragged his sick body to stand in front of him, and Zhou Ao, Su Ling, and those Zhou Family Guards who stood up despite being afraid...

Ten years.

Karma.

He, Chen Zilong, did not like owing favors.

Even less did he like involving the innocent because of his own affairs, especially...

those who had once shown him kindness.

"Misfortunes shouldn't involve the family... Xuan Yin Sect, you've crossed the line."

Chen Zilong whispered to himself, his voice so cold it could crack metal and stone.

He no longer looked for an inn, nor did he inquire about teleportation arrays.

His gaze became as sharp as a knife, as if piercing through the thick walls of Black Rock City, looking toward the direction of Qingyan City.

On his face, there was no longer any hesitation or weighing of options, only a battle intent as chilling as deep winter and a resolve of "though thousands may stand against me, I shall go."

He turned around, no longer hiding his tracks, and with a flash of his figure, he transformed into a streak of light that was not dazzling but incredibly fast, soaring into the sky.

Under the astonished gazes of many cultivators in the city, he headed straight in the direction he had come from.

Toward Qingyan City, he sped through the air!

The wind howled in his ears, but it could not disperse the cold light gathering in his eyes.

Three great elders of the Xuan Yin Sect?

A trap?

A death trap?

Then let them come.

New grudges and old hatreds, settle them all together.

He wanted to see just how much weight this Southern Border demonic path carried, whether they could block his steps toward the Pill Mansion, whether they could...

make him go against his heart and sit idly by as the Zhou Family was destroyed because of him!

The streak of light was like lightning, piercing through the long sky.

Carrying a resolve that would not turn back, he threw himself toward that land that was about to be stained red by blood and fire once again.