Chapter 126: A Perfect Opportunity

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Over these years, he had nurtured many treasure talismans, and with the second life imprint of the Nine Seal Stele illuminated, Lan Chang'an no longer lacked the ability to kill Alchemist Hua.

What he lacked was an opportunity to clear himself of suspicion, which required a scapegoat appearing at the right moment. Otherwise, even if he killed Alchemist Hua without leaving any evidence, Fu Xuemei might still suspect him.

Today, Lan Chang'an finally met such an opportunity. He didn't know what made Alchemist Hua confident enough to target him, but this man was undoubtedly alone.

While Alchemist Hua's attention remained fixed on Lan Chang'an, he failed to notice that he himself had also become the target of a vicious cultivator at Late Foundation Establishment.

Lan Chang'an, Alchemist Hua, and the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator were roughly in a straight line.

Earlier, there had been a team led by a Core Formation cultivator flying overhead, so all three were flying at a low altitude.

As they approached the Black Fog Mountain Range, the surrounding peaks were undulating, making the view not so open.

This led to a situation where Alchemist Hua was watching Lan Chang'an, and the late Foundation Establishment cultivator was only seeing Alchemist Hua.

Only Lan Chang'an noticed both people behind him.

Slowly, Lan Chang'an lowered his flight altitude, weaving between the peaks and valleys below, where the thick vegetation provided some cover.

“Hmm!”

After circling a few mountain peaks, Alchemist Hua lost track of Lan Chang'an and used his spiritual sense to search.

In such complex terrain, it was common to occasionally lose sight of one's target. This had happened to Alchemist Hua several times before and he usually found his target quickly. This time, however, after nearly ten breaths, he still saw no sign of anyone, which was a bit odd.

“Has he discovered me, or did I just lose him?” Alchemist Hua found it strange.

This time when he saw Lan Chang'an, and the other party was alone, he had a sudden urge to kill.

This was mainly for two reasons.

First, Lan Chang'an and Senior Brother Lin Ye were both at Wuqi Mountain. Lin Ye held a grudge against Alchemist Hua, as the latter had sort of stolen the former's childhood sweetheart.[1]

Upon learning of this, Alchemist Hua became somewhat paranoid, suspecting that his assassination attempt back then had something to do with the two of them.

Secondly, upon this encounter, Lan Chang'an's cultivation progress was not as slow as expected, and his connections weren't bad either, he dealt with a number of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Lan Chang'an was younger than him, and if his cultivation and talisman skills continued improving further, it would be a grave threat if he teamed up with Senior Brother Lin Ye.

“As long as I catch him, Lan Chang'an is dead!”

Alchemist Hua, disguised as a gray-robed, straw-hat man, was filled with murderous intent and confidence.

At this moment, in the wilderness a li or two behind him, a nimble middle-aged man flew low through the mountain wilderness, draped in a thin layer of green gauze that made him blend seamlessly into the surroundings, steadily closing the gap between them.

The green gauze not only reduced his presence but also isolated his mana fluctuations and sound.

“A great opportunity, this fat sheep is all alone.”

The sturdy middle-aged man was Xiang Jinglong, a fierce cultivator from Liang's loose cultivator circle.

Xiang Jinglong had set his eyes on Alchemist Hua because the other party was wealthy, being able to buy the main ingredient for Youth Retaining Pill and a special demon core from him.

Alchemist Hua was flying alone in the wilderness with a pensive look, wasn't this giving him an opportunity to strike?

“Who’s there?” Alchemist Hua suddenly looked back towards the other side of the mountain peak.

He had just sensed a piercing gaze that seemed to be filled with killing intent. This feeling was too obvious; it was as if someone was staring straight at his back, unintentionally releasing murderous intent.

“This old geezer, his senses aren't bad.”

Xiang Jinglong, who was hiding at the back, was stunned. He had thought that he could still get a little closer.

Either way, they were currently in the middle of nowhere, so he donned a black mask and boldly charged forth with a big grin.

“Old fool! Hand over your storage pouch, and I'll spare your dog life!”

Xiang Jinglong's figure left a trail of afterimages, creating a whirlwind as he approached Alchemist Hua.

Xiang Jinglong had stood out in the secret realm, becoming the biggest winner among the loose cultivators, and his strength was superior to most late Foundation Establishment cultivators.

He was born with immense strength and practiced body refining on the side. Though he didn’t have much time to invest in it, his body was comparable to a mid-grade second-rank demonic beast.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Xiang Jinglong wielded a supreme-grade magical weapon, a blue crystal broadsword, which created a chilling wind with its blade.

“Xiang Jinglong! How dare you rob me.”

Alchemist Hua shouted angrily and quickly summoned a banner made of adamantine material. As it struck the ground, a golden film of light covered him within a zhang radius.

“Tricks of the trade!”

Xiang Jinglong, as a late-stage Foundation Establishment, his mana was twice as strong, and the power of the supreme-grade magical weapon was utilized to the extreme.

Clang! Thud!

This talismanic treasure of his could be activated no more than once or twice, and he didn't wish to waste it so easily.

"Get lost!" Alchemist Hua shouted, pushing Xiang Jinglong away as his mood worsened further.

After Xiang Jinglong stirred things up like this, both his identity and intentions were exposed, and the nearby Lan Chang'an must have already discovered them.

Going forward, Lan Chang'an was bound to be wary of him, making it difficult to find such a good opportunity again.

...

After the earlier battle, Alchemist Hua was weak as a result of consuming the secret pill to enhance his mana, so he took two pills to recover fully.

Once recovered, he no longer hid his identity, and he flew south towards the Black Fog Mountain Range.

"Alchemist Hua's blade is still sharp, he successfully drove off that villain Xiang Jinglong with a single sword."

Nearby, some Foundation Establishment cultivators who recognized Alchemist Hua stepped forward to greet him.

Alchemist Hua showed little interest in cultivators from small forces; he only offered a few perfunctory words before speeding on toward Huanglong Immortal City.

"Very well, there is now a suspect." The corner of Lan Chang'an's lips lifted slightly as he tailed Alchemist Hua behind his back.

If Xiang Jinglong easily defeated Alchemist Hua, or if he attempted to swoop in to capitalize on the situation, neither would achieve the desired effect.

After flying a certain distance, Alchemist Hua reached the edge of the Black Fog Mountain Range, the Black Blood Road opened up by the ancient cultivators lay beyond.

Through the Black Blood Road, one could reach Huanglong Immortal City at the other end. This location wasn't the same spot as the valley passageway where Lan Chang'an had entered through.

On the Black Blood Road, there were also cases of cultivators attempting to rob others.

Alchemist Hua slowed down his speed.

As he approached, mist filled his field of vision. A woman with long violet hair, delicate as an orchid blooming in a secluded valley, stepped out from within it: her icy skin and proud bearing unmistakable.

"Miss Fu."

Alchemist Hua unconsciously squeezed out a smile, slightly flattering.

"No! This is an illusion!" He jolted awake, biting down on his tongue and operating his cultivaion technique, while also spreading out his spiritual sense.

The mist before him and Fu Xuemei instantly dissipated.

Boom!

With the illusion shattered, his mind was severely damaged, leaving him paralyzed for a breathless moment.

In the following instant, spell fluctuations that were nearly at the Fake-Dan level swirled above his head.

A spiral of greenish wind blades rolled, imitating a ten-odd zhang green dragon, piercing through the upper half of Alchemist Hua's body.

"Ah..."

Alchemist Hua let out a mangled scream, his upper body riddled with countless bloodstains, splintered beyond recognition.

He had no time to summon his magical weapons or the talismanic treasure.

"I overestimated you; You didn't bring any soul path defense treasures," said a cold young man standing nearby, as he reached across the air to take hold of the storage pouch at the waist of the half-broken corpse.

At the same time, another hand activated a second-rank Demonic Qi Talisman.

A cloud of demonic energy struck into the remaining roll of green wind blades and stirred into Alchemist Hua's corpse again.

In order to ensure a clean kill and prevent Alchemist Hua from summoning his talismanic treasure, Lan Chang'an deployed a second-rank superior-grade Heart-Illusion Talisman, a divine sense attack under the enhancement of the first life soul imprint, as well as a treasure talisman that had been nurtured for many years.

"Such powerful mana fluctuations, close to Fake-Dan!!"

Spell movements of this level could be sensed by the Foundation Establishment cultivators nearly a hundred li from the entrance of the Black Blood Road.

"Demonic energy? Could it be Liang Shaotian's sect?"

Cultivators who were slightly closer sensed the demonic aura emanating from the site of the incident.

"I heard that Liang Shaotian's disciple, 'Li Hai', made a big mess and escaped from the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm, could it be..."

"Not good! Run!"

The cultivators who sensed the disturbance did not dare approach but retreated in panic instead.

At the scene of the crime, the cold young man remained only a few breaths of time.

Whoosh!

His figure darted swiftly like an arrow as he scurried into the Black Fog Mountain Range, swallowed by the fog that impeded spiritual sense.

(End of chapter)

[1] Yep, this was a TL error, Lin Ye is the senior brother, not Hua.