Half a year later—
“Ninth Layer of Qi Refining!”
Li An stepped out from his secluded cultivation spot, his expression calm, but his eyes filled with anticipation.
With the improvement in his spirit root, the exceptional quality of his spiritual power due to the Life-Nurturing Immortal Forging Art, and the aid of medicinal pills, this breakthrough had come effortlessly.
Li An was now seventy-seven years old!
Yet his appearance remained youthful. Compared to when he first entered the Clear Sun Sect, he only appeared more mature and composed—there were no visible traces of time etched on his face, not even wrinkles. In fact, his complexion looked even more radiant than before.
“The range of my divine sense has also expanded to ten meters.”
The growth of his divine sense brought him even more joy.
But after checking his current spirit stone reserves, Li An felt a sharp pang of heartache.
“The gains from eight years ago… are almost completely spent now…”
Eight years ago, he had looted over seventeen thousand spirit stones. Including what he already had, his total stock had exceeded twenty thousand.
But now, eight years later, only about a thousand spirit stones remained.
In fact, Li An’s personal cultivation hadn’t consumed all that much—most of the expenditure had gone into maintaining the valley’s formation.
Every month, it devoured around two hundred spirit stones.
And yet, this was an essential expense. Without the protection of the formation, Li An couldn’t have cultivated in peace.
Over the past eight years, a few wandering cultivators had wandered near Tempered Moon Valley, but all had been driven off by the formation.
After all, the valley was nourished by a Second-Grade spirit vein!
At moments like this, the disadvantages of being a wandering cultivator became all too clear.
If he were still in Bright Sun Market District, cultivation would be much safer and more stable.
“…Time to head out.”
Aside from spirit stones, Li An had also acquired other resources worth nearly ten thousand, magic tools, pills, runes, crafting materials, and so on.
But they were all miscellaneous. Selling them would take time and couldn’t be rushed.
Over the next six months, while consolidating his Ninth Layer cultivation, he also began changing his appearance and visiting small towns and cities to gather information.
Eight years had passed, and the events of that time had long since spread across the northern regions of Great Dawn. Li An didn’t need much effort to piece together the full picture:
Just as he had suspected, the Clear Sun Sect had been destroyed from within.
Years ago, the elder Li Yuan, who had led a team to Bright Sun Market District to slay the Horse Face of Death, had been possessed by that very demonic cultivator and had secretly plotted from within the sect.
With collusion from both inside and out, the entire Clear Sun Sect had been wiped out.
Its mountain gates and spirit veins had been destroyed, leaving nothing but crumbling ruins.
The Liuyang River Market District and the Clear Sun Sect’s spiritual mines had also changed hands—now controlled by the Divine Sword Sect and the Hundred Beasts Sect.
All the cultivation forces that once depended on the Clear Sun Sect had also pledged allegiance elsewhere.
For example, the Zhao family of Zhao Xianchuan had joined the Hundred Beasts Sect and were now highly valued. Over the years, they had absorbed many remnants of the Clear Sun Sect and gained considerable renown in the northern region of Great Dawn.
Li An tried to find out which of the old acquaintances were still alive, but the information was murky and unreliable.
“The waters of the Demon Sect run deep.”
Li An remained vigilant. Even after all this time, no one knew the precise details of how the Clear Sun Sect had fallen.
Especially the fate of Master Clear Sun.
After all, Master Clear Sun had been a Core Formation cultivator. Even if the Horse Face of Death possessed Li Yuan, he was still only at the Fake Core stage—not someone who could stand against a Core Formation expert.
Li An suspected that in that battle, there must have been another demonic cultivator of Core Formation level who had intervened.
If that were true, then the strength of the Demon Sect was far more terrifying than anyone imagined.
Moreover, after destroying the Clear Sun Sect, the Demon Sect had mysteriously vanished, leaving no trace behind.
“What are they plotting?”
Li An couldn’t figure it out. But he had a vague sense that the Clear Sun Sect might not have been their ultimate goal.
They likely harbored much grander ambitions.
Still, for now, it didn’t concern him. As long as it didn’t threaten him directly, the Demon Sect could tear the heavens apart and Li An wouldn’t care.
While out and about, he also sold off some basic materials, earning over three thousand spirit stones in half a year.
“…Time to move on.”
Li An considered his next steps. After reaching the Ninth Layer of Qi Refining, he had to start planning for Foundation Establishment. That meant he couldn’t continue hiding in Tempered Moon Valley.
He already had a direction in mind:
White Tiger City!
White Tiger City was a haven for wandering cultivators, protected by a cultivator known as Master White Tiger. Wandering cultivators who entered were under his protection.
Moreover, resources flowed more freely there, making it much easier to acquire medicinal ingredients and other supplies.
Another important reason.
Li An could no longer sustain himself in Tempered Moon Valley.
Even a small Qi Refining cultivator clan would struggle to afford the upkeep of a Second-Grade formation. Typically, only Foundation Establishment powers could manage such costs.
Li An fought alone, with no business or income sources. The drain was far too excessive.
But before heading to White Tiger City, he needed to make a few preparations.
Like the Soulbeast turtle shell and horn he had obtained in the Cloud Mirage Mountains, which he had never used.
If he could refine them into Second-Grade magic tools, he’d feel far more secure traveling to White Tiger City.
“…I’ll need to make a trip to Qiling County.”
The Foundation Establishment Zhao Clan was based in Qiling County. Li An’s real reason for heading there was to find Wang Dazhu.
If Wang Dazhu was still alive, the Zhao Clan would be the only place to find him. With his talent, he should be close to becoming a Second-Grade artifact refiner by now.
…
After setting everything in the valley in order, Li An departed for Qiling County.
…
A few days later—
Li An arrived at Zhao Clan Town, within Qiling County.
Qiling County administered seven major towns, each densely populated, and most had already come under Zhao Clan control in recent years.
Zhao Clan Town was the clan’s central hub. Most of the townsfolk were mortals, but there was a constant flow of cultivators coming and going.
Disguised as a small-time cultivator at the Third Layer of Qi Refining, Li An quickly gathered the information he needed—
Wang Dazhu was indeed still alive and living with the Zhao Clan!
What’s more, he held a prominent position there—treated as an honored guest. Three years ago, he had successfully refined two Second-Grade magic treasures for the Zhao Clan.
Recently, rumors spread that Clan Leader Zhao Xianchuan intended to marry off either his younger aunt or older sister to him.
Zhao Xianchuan himself was still alive, and over the years, he had led the Zhao Clan to pledge allegiance to the Hundred Beasts Sect, annexing several neighboring cultivation clans. His prestige had soared, and five years ago, he officially succeeded as clan head.
Lately, the Zhao Clan had even begun vying for control over the Liuyang River Market District. If successful, their strength would increase dramatically.
How strange the world was—ironically, the destruction of the Clear Sun Sect had, in a way, elevated the Zhao Clan.
Li An lingered in Zhao Clan Town for over a month before finally finding an opportunity.
That night, he staked out a place called Mianhong Residence in Zhao Clan Town.
After careful inquiries and repeated observation, he discovered that Wang Dazhu had developed a new habit since his days at the Clear Sun Sect—a strong lust for women.
He was deeply indulgent, with several lovers in Mianhong Residence.
Li An wasn’t too surprised by this. Back at the Clear Sun Sect, Wang Dazhu had only been an outer sect disciple, with low status and no chance to enjoy such pleasures.
But now things were different. He could refine Second-Grade magic tools. Zhao Xianchuan would surely have tried to win him over with wealth and women. At first, Wang Dazhu might’ve resisted, but over time, it was only natural to become entangled in it all.
Li An, who had once led a cultivation clan in a previous life, was no stranger to these tactics.
He waited until the next day. When the sun was already high in the sky, a now-middle-aged Wang Dazhu finally emerged from Mianhong Residence.
His face radiated satisfaction as he climbed into a luxurious carriage waiting for him.
Just as he settled in, his brow furrowed and he picked up a letter lying on the seat—
"Fleeing the spiritual mine to avoid the Demon Sect’s calamity, Brother Wang has risen high in life—this brings great comfort to an old friend’s heart. If you are free tonight, why not meet in the maple grove at South Hill?"
"From an old friend of the Spiritless Sect."
Wang Dazhu froze.
“Brother An?!”
…
(End of Chapter)