Li An repeatedly swept the area with his Divine Sense. The demonic box buried beneath the soil was vividly projected in his mind.
He was certain—this was definitely planted by the Yin-Yang Demon Sect. There was no mistaking that Yin-Yang demonic aura.
Moreover, judging by the state of the soil, it had likely been here for one or two months already.
In other words, the Yin-Yang Demon Sect had resumed their covert operations in the Market District one or two months ago?
“The Yin-Yang Demon Sect has kept an unusually low profile in recent years, to the point that the world believed they had been thoroughly eradicated…”
“If their strength had truly diminished, there’s no way they’d dare to make such a bold move and target the Clear Sun Sect’s market district!”
“All these years, have they just been putting on a show for the three major sects? Lulling them into complacency?”
“That’s the most likely possibility!”
“And now, they’ve finally found an opportunity and are ready to strike…”
Li An pondered deeply. The taut string that had been stretched in his heart for years finally resounded with the overture of conspiracy.
He quietly departed, carefully erasing all traces of his presence at the site.
After leaving, he didn’t inspect the other parts of the grand formation.
Because he was worried that demonic cultivators might be watching from the shadows.
Over the next three days, he staggered his timing and acted naturally. Without being noticed, he completed a thorough inspection of the rest of the formation.
“There are seven formation nodes in total across the Bright Sun Market District’s grand array. So far, the demonic cultivators have planted Seals of Ban-Breaking at two critical nodes.”
“They’re extremely cautious!”
“Judging by their pace, we probably have four or five months of leeway left.”
“Moreover, the Bright Sun Market District is merely on the sect’s periphery. If they launch an attack on the outer districts, the sect’s core regions will surely be assaulted simultaneously.”
Li An was absolutely certain that there was a traitor within the sect.
After all, following the last attack on the Bright Sun Market District, the sect had taken extreme measures to keep the formation’s structure confidential. Only the innermost high-ranking officials could possibly have access to that information.
Yet the demonic cultivators were able to set up such precise formations, which meant they were receiving inside information from within the Clear Sun Sect.
“If I were a demonic cultivator, I’d definitely coordinate an internal and external assault when attacking the Clear Sun Sect…”
“Furthermore, the key to this entire conspiracy lies in Sect Leader Xuan Yang.”
“If Xuan Yang remains alive, even if the sect is severely damaged, it’s only a matter of time before they recover…”
“Therefore, the first priority must be to deal with Xuan Yang.”
“A direct confrontation? That’s highly unlikely. Even if they could win, the cost would be catastrophic. It must be through underhanded means—poison, traps, and the like… Now that the Demon Sect’s infiltrators have entered the Clear Sun Sect’s high command, that’s entirely feasible.”
“And if the sect leader were to fall during a demonic assault, the Clear Sun Sect would only have one ending—defeat and exile!”
“Where could they flee to? Who would escape, and who would the Demon Sect target first? Would the Demon Sect pursue them relentlessly, or let some slip through the net?...”
Li An simulated the entire scenario repeatedly in his mind, alternating roles between the Clear Sun Sect and the Demon Sect.
The next morning, Li An quietly left the market district and headed toward the Liuyang River Market District.
However, he didn’t enter the Liuyang River Market District. Instead, he lingered for a full month in the region between it and the Clear Sun Sect’s main sect!
After thorough deliberation, Li An concluded that if the Clear Sun Sect collapsed, the Liuyang River Market District would likely become the final safe haven.
For one simple reason—it was located near the Hundred Beasts Sect.
If the Demon Sect’s forces weren’t strong enough, they likely wouldn’t dare attack here directly, to avoid provoking the Hundred Beasts Sect’s involvement.
At that time, most of the surviving disciples from the Clear Sun Sect would undoubtedly rush toward the Liuyang River Market District in droves.
The Yin-Yang Demon Sect would very likely set an ambush along the way, to further weaken the remnants of the Clear Sun Sect.
What Li An was looking for was the most probable ambush site.
The Liuyang River Market District was more than eight hundred li from the Clear Sun Sect, and within that distance, the number of possible ambush locations was simply too great.
Eventually, Li An set his sights on a ferry crossing fifty li outside the Liuyang River Market District!
The Liuyang River Market District was unlike the Bright Sun Market District. Built along both banks of the Liuyang River and situated far from the Clear Sun Sect’s main sect, it was heavily fortified by the sect.
First of all, the only entry and exit points for the market district were via the river—only accessible by boat.
Secondly, the district’s grand formation was highly specialized, causing the river within its bounds to flow gently, while the downstream waters outside surged violently. There, numerous spirit beasts and Spiritual Qi vortices dwelled, making stealthy aquatic infiltration impossible.
The Masha Ferry Crossing was the most convenient point of entry to the Liuyang River Market District. Disciples fleeing from all directions would most likely converge here to board boats and enter the market.
Vast river waters flowed endlessly, and many boats of various sizes were moored at the crossing. The ferrymen were all low-level cultivators.
Li An loitered around the area for three days, calculating every possible scenario.
Only then did he finally leave and return to the Bright Sun Market District.
The first thing he did was check on the grand formation—and just as he had expected, yet another formation node had been inscribed with a Seal of Ban-Breaking.
The time was drawing near!
Li An steadied himself. The next day, he did two things.
First, he approached the owner of the formation shop, Long Tao, and asked him to help order a Second-Grade formation.
Over the years, Li An had maintained a cooperative relationship with Long Tao, and the two were deeply bound by mutual interests. Thus, although Long Tao had some doubts, he didn’t ask much. After accepting a deposit of one thousand spirit stones, he agreed to place the order for Li An—this was a special favor. Normally, ordering a Second-Grade formation required at least two thousand spirit stones as a deposit!
But it would take two months to arrive.
Second, Li An contacted the sect and increased the supply quota for the talisman shop, requesting more goods from the Talisman Hall.
Ordinarily, the sect would supply the shop with talismans, talisman brushes, talisman paper, and so forth, valued at around 1,500 spirit stones per month.
Now, he asked for 2,000 spirit stones’ worth each month.
It was a noticeable increase, but not enough to raise red flags with the upper ranks.
After making these preparations, Li An began closed-door cultivation, aiming to break through to the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining!
“My Spiritual Root Sensitivity has reached 57 points… I’m extremely close to a Mid-Grade Yellow Spiritual Root.”
“In fact, in some sects where the testing isn’t as precise… I could be directly classified as Mid-Grade Yellow!”
He was full of confidence and immediately consumed two Essence Spirit Pills!
…
With the advancement of his Spiritual Root and the increased dosage of Essence Spirit Pills, Li An’s breakthrough went smoothly.
A month and a half later, he formally entered the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining!
“Sixty-eight years old… nearing the twilight of life…”
He sighed in his heart. That age was generally considered elderly among cultivators.
But for Li An, he was still relatively young.
After reaching the Eighth Layer of Qi Refining, his lifespan extended to nearly three hundred years!
That was far beyond that of ordinary Qi Refining cultivators.
So even at sixty-eight, he was equivalent to a cultivator in his early thirties.
Still in his prime.
“Immortal Master, you’ve finally come out…”
His apprentice, Xiao Gou, rushed up to him eagerly. “We’ve got some stock piling up. Should we consider lowering prices to sell it off?”
The talisman shop had accumulated over a thousand spirit stones’ worth of goods during this time.
Even if they discounted the price now, they’d still take a loss, which would draw criticism from the sect.
Suddenly, Li An coldly snapped, “Do I need you to tell me how to handle my business?”
“Scram. Starting today, don’t come to the talisman shop again. Get out of the Bright Sun Market District—”
Xiao Gou froze at the words, then abruptly dropped to his knees and cried out, “Immortal Master, Xiao Gou will never speak out of turn again… Please don’t drive me away, please don’t drive me away!”
He had been a helpless farm boy, once participating in the Clear Sun Sect’s entrance test. But due to having a Mixed Spiritual Root, he wasn’t chosen, and his future in cultivation was bleak. During his wandering days, because he was honest and hardworking, he was taken in by Li An as an apprentice.
All these years, he had labored dutifully in the talisman shop. Li An had treated him fairly well, and Xiao Gou had managed to cultivate his Mixed Root to the peak of the First Layer of Qi Refining, now even on the verge of reaching the Second Layer.
Now, to be cast aside over one comment… he found it hard to accept.
“Scram.”
Li An tossed him a small pouch of spirit stones. “Don’t bother me again—”
With that, Li An turned and left.
Xiao Gou knelt there motionless for three whole days.
Li An came and went, completely ignoring him.
Realizing that Li An’s mind was made up, Xiao Gou finally, on the morning of the fourth day, kowtowed several times toward Li An’s quarters, wiped his tears, and left the talisman shop.
…
Over the next ten or so days after Xiao Gou’s departure—the third month since Li An had discovered traces of the Demon Sect—
The Second-Grade formation he had ordered finally arrived.
Li An went to the formation shop to retrieve it. After inspecting and verifying it, he nodded and suddenly said, “Brother Long, may I delay payment of the remaining spirit stones for two more months?”
…
(End of Chapter)