The feeling of being watched vanished, and Li Xuanxiao resurfaced from underground.

However, just as he was about to proceed further, he suddenly stopped.

There was nothing strange in this place, but his intuition told him something was wrong.

Especially the divine sense that had swept over just now.

After hesitating for a moment, Li Xuanxiao turned and left the area.

The Yellow Sand Sect Sect Leader was at the peak of the Transformation Spirit realm.

He had merged his own Dao Domain with a part of the Yellow Sand Sect.

Any rustling in the wind, he could grasp clearly.

Withdrawing his divine sense, the Yellow Sand Sect Sect Leader Huang Chengqian spoke.

Huang Chengqian was the foremost fortune master of Zhongzhou, a disciple of Goushengzi.

He was also Goushengzi’s most favored disciple, having entered the Transformation Spirit realm before turning one hundred.

His cultivation and cunning were exceptional, earning Goushengzi’s trust.

Yet his ambitions were sky-high.

Instead of joining the Extreme Demonic Hall, he founded his own sect.

At this moment, Huang Chengqian knelt on the ground.

A phantom appeared before him.

The figure wore wide robes, had white hair, and sat cross-legged in midair, exuding an immortal aura.

It was none other than Goushengzi.

“Master!”

“It’s been a long time since I tested your knowledge. I wonder how your progress has been recently?” Goushengzi asked calmly.

Huang Chengqian replied, “Thank you for your concern, Master.”

After the master and disciple finished their teachings, the rooster crowed nonstop.

Goushengzi raised his hand lightly to brush his robe, and in the shadow of the sleeve, stars flickered like a galaxy.

“Master, is this a sign of entering Great Ascension?” Huang Chengqian asked in surprise.

Goushengzi smiled slightly.

After killing Greenstone Taoist, Goushengzi spent twenty years recovering from his injuries.

Then he spent ten years assimilating that power. Although ten years passed in the blink of an eye,

it seemed Goushengzi had already glimpsed his future.

He saw the bottleneck he had not broken through for many years beginning to crack.

Goushengzi was likely to become the first person in Zhongzhou to enter the Great Ascension immortal realm.

His former master had indeed not lied.

His cultivation method complemented Greenstone’s perfectly.

In the end, only one of them could achieve enlightenment.

“Recently, I have heard that remnants of Mount Shushan have appeared in the Jiangnan area,

even wiping out the Extreme Demonic Hall in that region, along with a few smaller sects,” Goushengzi said without hurry.

“Be careful in Yellow Sand City!”

“Master, rest assured. If those Mount Shushan remnants dare come to Yellow Sand City, I will capture them and offer them to you!”

Goushengzi nodded.

“You are my youngest and most capable disciple. Now that you have reached Transformation Spirit, if you can break through Fusion Transcension, you will be the first in Zhongzhou.

Remember not to be fooled by so-called prodigies. I teach you patience, and that is why.

Where are the geniuses who once surpassed you, Xue Yun and Lu Ziyin?

They are dead and gone. Don’t worry about temporary victories.”

Goushengzi’s ability to remain hidden under Mount Shushan’s rule for so long without being discovered demonstrated his endurance.

“I understand, Master!”

Goushengzi continued, “The carefree old man is scheming around the Dao. With Dragon’s Power, he also has hopes of reaching Great Ascension.

No one in this world has yet reached Great Ascension.

I don’t know which of us will take that step first. If he succeeds,

I wonder if I will still be allowed to reach Great Ascension.

In other words, if he succeeds, will he permit me to become Great Ascension?”

Huang Chengqian asked, “Master, could it be that you want to... strike first?”

Goushengzi shook his head with a smile. “If I fight him, we will only both be harmed, and others will benefit.

There is only one matter that concerns me deeply.”

“The Myriad Soul Banner?” Huang Chengqian asked tentatively.

Goushengzi nodded. “The world is in chaos. Not just me, but others across the lands are searching for the Myriad Soul Banner. It is said that the remnants of Mount Shushan took it away.

The Jiangnan incident is the best proof of that.

If we really find those remnants, don’t kill them first. Make sure to find out the whereabouts of the Myriad Soul Banner.”

“I understand!”

“...”

“Waiter, bring another pot of wine.”

“Got it.”

Inside the inn, though not overcrowded, business was booming.

Li Xuanxiao glanced at Di Nü Feng.

He had thought Di Nü Feng would be annoyed by all this.

But now it seemed she was enjoying herself.

Di Nü Feng was fully immersed in her role as the boss’s wife, counting money and watching the guests come and go, her face blossoming with a big smile.

It was a genuine happiness from the depths of her heart.

Just like when she played house as a child.

Although Di Nü Feng always miscalculated the money, either giving too much or too little,

that still didn’t shake her determination to become a shopkeeper.

Li Xuanxiao was relieved.

After several days of tracking and investigation, he had figured out most of the Yellow Sand Sect’s situation.

He had even secretly set up several hidden formations near the Yellow Sand Sect.

Tomorrow, Li Xuanxiao planned to head outside the city to probe the snake person tribe.

Hopefully, he could find two snake people to serve him, making it easier to locate his own corpse.

Li Xuanxiao was making plans when Di Nü Feng brought over today’s accounts.

“Li Xuanxiao, Li Xuanxiao, here is today’s ledger. We made a lot of money.”

Li Xuanxiao was still studying the newly purchased map of the outskirts and didn’t immediately respond to Di Nü Feng.

“Li Xuanxiao, Li Xuanxiao...”

When Li Xuanxiao looked up, he suddenly remembered Di Nü Feng.

He noticed she was turned away from him, fiddling with something.

Li Xuanxiao asked, “What did you just say?”

[○･｀Д´･ ○]

Di Nü Feng ignored him, still facing away.

Li Xuanxiao poked her.

Di Nü Feng shifted her hips.

Li Xuanxiao smiled, knowing she was sulking.

Sometimes he actually thought having Di Nü Feng around was quite nice, always bringing a few more smiles during his busy times.

It seemed only by her side could he find that innocence again.

Otherwise, he would have to face the cruelty of this world, the desperation of being cornered, and standing against the world alone.

The next evening, the inn closed for the day.

Li Xuanxiao warned Di Nü Feng not to wander at night, then left the city alone, heading outside.

“...”

“Whoosh whoosh whoosh!!”

With sounds of breaking the air, several snake people fell to the ground, instantly dead.

Several black shadows converged.

“Who did this? Are your eyes blind? All these good materials are dead!” the leader of the black-clad figures roared angrily.

The others instinctively stopped, no longer striking to kill.

Within moments, the dozen or so snake people were either dead or captured.

“Take them back!”

The black-robed men were skilled, clearly experienced in such tasks, packing the snake people into magical bags.

Li Xuanxiao watched this from the shadows. Seeing their method of subduing the snake people, he immediately realized they intended to refine monster pills.

“...”