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Lan Chang'an’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt a subtle sense of surprise.
In the past three lives, aside from the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu, this was only the second time that the Nine Seal Stele had shown any reaction.
The Hundred Abodes Soul Gu was the only known source of nourishment capable of illuminating the fourth life on the Nine Seal Stele.
Apart from this, no other substitute had been discovered.
Lan Chang'an had once speculated that the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu was a rare soul-path insect, requiring a physical host to inhabit, imbued with a mysterious soul-path power.
If that were the case, then could it be that the nourishment needed to activate regions of the Nine Seal Stele was related to soul-path energies? Especially something like a soul?
After all, the shadow of a past-life soul summoned by the Nine Seal Stele was also a unique form of soul power.
However, in his past life, Lan Chang'an had captured yin spirits and vengeful ghosts, and even interacted with the souls of cultivators, yet none of these had elicited any reaction from the Nine Seal Stele.
As for other soul-path items, the highest he had handled in his past life was a third-rank object, but still, nothing unusual happened.
“What’s wrong, Fellow Daoist Lan? Is there something wrong with my body?” Wang Feng keenly noticed the faint ripple of emotion that had briefly flashed across Lan Chang'an’s mind.
“No, there’s nothing wrong. Young Master Wang’s hidden injuries have been healing at a rate that exceeded my expectations. It seems you must have consumed quite a few rare medicinal pills.” Lan Chang'an replied with a friendly smile, though he grew cautious internally.
He couldn’t shake the suspicion that Young Master Wang might be hosting the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu.
By all logic, the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu should be wary of him after suffering a setback years ago and mysteriously vanishing. It shouldn’t dare approach him again.
Furthermore, Young Master Wang was a core disciple of the Flame Departing Palace, a Golden Dan Seed. He was watched over by the Flame Departing Palace’s True Dan elders and even the Nascent Soul True Monarch, which made the risk of the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu parasitizing him extremely high.
In fact, Lan Chang'an wouldn’t mind if Young Master Wang were indeed hosting the soul gu and even attempted to transfer it to him.
That way, he could use it as nourishment for the Nine Seal Stele.
“I joined up with the evacuation team from the Flame Departing Palace and received blessings from my elders, so naturally, I am not lacking in rare elixirs,” Wang Feng said with a faint smile, his back to Lan Chang'an.
Two hours later.
Lan Chang'an withdrew his hand from Wang Feng’s back, having finished the treatment.
During the healing process, a thought had crossed Lan Chang'an’s mind: should he strike from behind and capture Wang Feng in one swift move to search for the nourishment he needed for the Nine Seal Stele?
In the end, he dismissed the idea.
First, Wang Feng had no personal grudge against him; theirs was a simple transactional relationship.
Moreover, Wang Feng’s payment was generous, and he’d even promised Lan Chang'an a favor, making it well worth his while.
Second, Wang Feng wouldn’t have dared to travel alone if he didn’t have some hidden protection.
“Fellow Daoist Lan, your medical techniques and nourishing methods are no less skilled than a third-rank pharmacist's. The Flame Departing Palace has many injured disciples, and we plan to recuperate in Jing Kingdom for a few years. Would you be willing to come and assist with their recovery?” Wang Feng turned around and proposed.
Lan Chang'an was about to decline when Wang Feng produced a rare seven-petaled lavender flower.
“The Seven-Heart Mystic Moonflower!”
Lan Chang'an’s expression shifted slightly; this was the rarest main ingredient for the Crystal Condensation Pill.
Owning this flower was equivalent to owning the Crystal Condensation Pill.
He had already gathered all the other ingredients needed for the pill; only the Seven-Heart Mystic Moonflower was missing.
A couple of years back, when Wang Feng had requested faster healing progress, Lan Chang'an had tested the waters by suggesting either a Crystal Condensation Pill or a Seven-Heart Mystic Moonflower as compensation.
He hadn’t expected Wang Feng to bring it out now as a means of hiring him.
“If you’re willing to help for two years, this ‘Seven-Heart Mystic Moonflower’ will be your reward from the Flame Departing Palace,” Wang Feng said with a smile.
“My apologies, but I cannot accept,” Lan Chang'an replied, swallowing as if he’d struggled to refuse.
He already had a complete opportunity for Core Formation and didn’t want to take unnecessary risks.
“You don’t need to worry about your safety, Fellow Daoist Lan. The Golden Sun Sect has ceased its pursuit of the Flame Departing Palace, and the remaining threats are hardly worth concern,” Wang Feng persuaded.
Lan Chang'an still declined.
Wang Feng sighed but didn’t press the issue.
Lan Chang'an stood, cupped his hands in farewell, and took his leave.
“This man’s spiritual power is somewhat unusual. Although he’s not particularly skilled in combat, there’s an elusive quality about him...” Wang Feng muttered to himself as he sat there, his eyes flickering with thought.
...
After leaving the Xunxian Residence, Lan Chang'an found a modest inn within the Cloudsmoke Immortal City to stay.
As night fell, a mysterious figure in a gray-white hooded robe appeared in the shadows of his room.
“How did it go?” Lan Chang'an asked without turning his head.
“Master Lan, we lost track of Wang Feng after he left the city,” Xing Peng reported with a troubled expression.
After the meeting between Lan Chang'an and Wang Feng, Xing Peng had focused his surveillance network on Wang Feng, trying to gather intelligence.
“Has this happened before?” Lan Chang'an inquired.
“It’s happened twice before. We lost him halfway, and he only reappeared around the outskirts of Cloudsmoke Immortal City,” Xing Peng replied.
“Why not just apprehend him directly?” Lan Chang'an asked.
“For one, our Unseen Gate prioritizes infiltration and information gathering before a conflict. Direct action is rare, as it risks exposure,” Xing Peng explained. “Moreover, Wang Feng has a high danger rating from our superiors. If he dares to travel alone, he likely has some means of protection.”
Lan Chang'an nodded in agreement with the Unseen Gate’s analysis.
He, too, suspected that Wang Feng had some sort of hidden protection.
During the recent treatment session, his Evergreen spiritual power had entered Wang Feng’s body, yet he’d detected no abnormalities—this method was more direct than any spiritual sense probe.
From this, Lan Chang'an deduced that Wang Feng’s protection might come from some external source.
Upon leaving the Xunxian Residence, he had sensed a faint feeling of being watched.
With the arrival of his “second life,” although it was in a semi-dormant state to reduce its soul energy consumption, his senses were sharper than ever.
If that faint sense of surveillance was real, it was likely a late-stage Core Formation Great Cultivator at the very least.
This made Lan Chang'an cautious.
“How many Core Formation elders from the Flame Departing Palace escaped?” he asked.
“Besides Elder Wang, two others broke through the siege, though one’s life or death is uncertain. At the time, their escape direction wasn’t towards Jing Kingdom, but after a year, it’s anyone’s guess.”
“Oh, and have there been any leads on the Flame Departing Palace’s Supreme Elder?”
Lan Chang'an’s mind stirred.
“Anything involving a Nascent Soul True Monarch is beyond my access to classified information,” Xing Peng replied, shaking his head. “But we can confirm that the Master Lihuo was severely injured and is likely hiding somewhere to heal.”
Lan Chang'an nodded in agreement.
If he were the Master Lihuo, he’d definitely find a place to lie low, using the time to recover from his weakest state.
This would be the most cautious and stable approach.
Otherwise, several Core Formation experts joining forces could threaten his life.
So long as the Master Lihuo remained hidden, no one would dare make a move against Elder Wang or the others.
...
Late at night, in his guest room.
Lan Chang'an closed his eyes to concentrate, summoning the soul shadow of his second life to enhance his perception.
In this state, the consumption rate of his soul shadow increased tenfold, but the heightened awareness was worth it.
If there was a late-stage Core Formation cultivator spying on him, they would struggle to escape his detection.
Even an early Nascent Soul cultivator probing him with spiritual sense would likely be sensed, because this was a state of full alert and vigilance.
By dawn, Lan Chang'an hadn’t detected any unusual surveillance.
“Perhaps it was a mere coincidence. Young Master Wang’s hidden protector might have simply brushed over me with their spiritual sense as a routine check.”
To be thorough, Lan Chang'an maintained this vigilant state for another two days, but he sensed nothing suspicious.
His doubts gradually lessened.
A few days later, near dusk.
An elderly man in a straw raincoat arrived at the Snow Fox Merchant Association’s residence and was personally received by Hanyu Immortal.
To avoid drawing suspicion, Lan Chang'an didn’t always meet with Hanyu Immortal whenever he met with Wang Feng over the years.
...
In this critical moment, Lan Chang'an activated one of his strongest defensive talismans, narrowly escaping capture.
Four more crystal-blue shields rotated around Lan Chang'an, each capable of withstanding a blow from an early-stage True Dan cultivator.
“Activate!”
With a flick of his white robes, Lan Chang'an unleashed two more talismans in rapid succession.
Thunderbolt Talisman!
A vast storm of electric light and thunderclouds materialized between him and “Wang Feng,” engulfing the latter in an instant.
This was yet another mid-grade third-rank treasure talisman, crafted months ago, and was in his peak second life's state.
Thunderous booms, accompanied by “Wang Feng’s” furious roar, echoed from within the storm.
“Fortunately, he’s only possessing a Foundation Establishment body, and his magical power is insufficient to unleash the true power of his magical treasure and techniques.”
Lan Chang'an activated another talisman, a Flight Talisman.
Instantly, a whirlwind of wind formed around him, propelling him forward in a dazzling green streak of light as he flew toward the edge of the illusion formation.
“Turle Talisman Master! This fourth-rank remnant formation is not something you can break through!”
A chilling voice rang out as “Wang Feng” emerged from the storm, encased in a protective cloud of ice from a defensive talisman. He charged out of the turbulent thundercloud.
He activated a third-rank flight talisman and chased after Lan Chang'an with great speed.
Lan Chang'an headed toward the riverbank forest, approaching the boundary of the illusion formation.
Thanks to the amplification from his second life possession, Lan Chang'an’s spiritual sense was incredibly powerful, allowing him to locate the edges of the illusion formation and even detect its weaker points.
“Break!”
Lan Chang'an took out a stack of talismans—six or seven in total—all of which were third-rank Restriction-Breaking treasure talismans.
The first one alone caused the edge of the illusion formation to flicker and tremble, with the distorted images in the void wavering.
After all, this was merely a fourth-rank remnant formation without a controller, temporarily powered by spirit stones. Its defensive power was considerably weaker.
“So many third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talismans?”
“Wang Feng’s” pupils shrank, his expression frozen for a moment.
Third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talismans were precious strategic resources on the battlefield for cultivators.
This man, Lan Chang'an, surely possessed an extraordinary fortune.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Three consecutive blasts from the Restriction-Breaking Talismans caused cracks to form on the boundary of the illusion formation.
“Wang Feng’s” expression darkened.
A Nascent Soul, wearing a purple Daoist robe, appeared faintly on the surface of his body, radiating a dreadful aura.
Hum...
The Nascent Soul’s hands formed a spell seal, releasing an unsettling energy. A few purple flame-like characters, resembling tadpoles, encircled “Wang Feng.”
With a surge of purple flames beneath his feet, “Wang Feng’s” speed instantly doubled!
In a few breaths, he was within dozens of zhang of Lan Chang'an.
Boom!
A massive stone wall shot up from the ground within the forest, directly blocking his path.
“Damn it—!”
“Wang Feng” was moving too fast, and his current body lacked the control needed to avoid the stone wall conjured by a True Dan-level demonic beast.
Crash!
The stone wall shattered, and a cascade of rocks buried “Wang Feng’s” body, accompanied by faint screams.
“Well done!”
Lan Chang'an’s fifth Restriction-Breaking Talisman created a crack about a foot wide in the boundary of the illusion formation.
A flash of earthy yellow light darted into Lan Chang'an’s spirit pet bag.
Through the crack in the formation—
The illusion dissipated, and Lan Chang'an appeared above a clear, fresh stretch of river.
“At that speed, even with Wang Feng’s body, he’d be hard-pressed to avoid injuries.”
Lan Chang'an’s heart finally settled.
Fortunately, he had stockpiled a wealth of treasure talismans over the years, all of them third-rank or higher, amounting to over sixty in total. With an abundance of trump cards, he could mitigate unforeseen dangers.
He hadn’t expected that Master Lihuo’s injuries would be so severe that he would abandon his own body.
In truth, the exact state of Master Lihuo’s injuries was only known to himself and Chu Tianfeng; no other faction had accurate information.
...
To be able to escape from the hands of a Nascent Soul old monster is enough to be proud of oneself, even though it's a crippled Nascent Soul."
Lan Chang'an took a deep breath.
Whoosh!
Stepping onto a third-rank flight light, Lan Chang'an headed toward the heart of Jing Kingdom, rather than the Xia Family in Qingsha Bay.
He reasoned that “Wang Feng” would find it difficult to pursue him.
In terms of cultivation and physical strength, Wang Feng was no match for him.
As for using flight talismans, Lan Chang'an was not concerned.
Without enough body cultivation, a normal Foundation Establishment body couldn’t endure high-speed travel for long without sustaining damage.
However, barely ten li into his flight, a cold, resonant voice echoed in his mind:
“Lan Chang'an, I told you—you cannot escape!”
A foot-long purple-robed Nascent Soul appeared, flickering like an afterimage, closing the distance within a few breaths.
“A Nascent Soul out of body!”
Lan Chang'an’s flight came to an abrupt halt, and he gave a bitter smile.
A Nascent Soul in spirit form could fly several times faster than a typical Nascent Soul True Monarch.
Alone, a Nascent Soul was fragile and lacked combat strength, but it still possessed some soul-based techniques.
“A Foundation Establishment body with a five-hundred-year lifespan... this Taoist would like to see it for himself.”
In a flash, the purple-robed Nascent Soul drilled into Lan Chang'an’s body.
Lan Chang'an didn’t resist.
He sighed inwardly; unless absolutely necessary, he hadn’t wanted to risk this.
Ever since learning that Wang Feng was possessed by a Nascent Soul, he had suspected the reaction of the Nine Seal Stele earlier.
Boom!
The second life's soul shadow in Lan Chang'an’s mind dimmed by half, torn open violently.
The purple-robed Nascent Soul forced its way into his sea of consciousness, trying to seize control.
Buzz!
From the depths of his consciousness, an ancient, pitch-black stone tablet emitted a dim white glow, enveloping the invading Nascent Soul.
“No—!”
The Master Lihuo’s Nascent Soul was immobilized, bound by some kind of law-bound power.
A soul-shaking scream echoed and then fell silent.
In the fourth seal of the Nine Seal Stele, the purple-robed Nascent Soul was ground into fine particles.
Then, a radiant, crystal-clear white light emerged, spreading quickly through the gray, deathly silent region of the stele.
Not only that—
Within the fourth seal frame, a faint outline of the purple-robed Daoist began to take shape.