CHAPTER 445: TRACKING CYANWOOD, DUAL FACES OF YIN AND YANG

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Deep within the vast desert, desolate and devoid of life, a sandstorm raged as the corpse of a green-robed man floated out from an ice coffin, engulfed by the swirling winds and yellow sands.

Lan Chang'an stood with his eyes closed, hands forming intricate seals. Ancient divination artifacts floated around him, old copper coins, carved sticks, tortoise shells, and jade stones, each exuding a mysterious aura. Amid the cascade of his long black hair, strands of silver shimmered, carrying a sense of timeworn solemnity.

Invisible threads of fate wove across the corpse, intertwining like a great net. These threads stirred countless karmic ties and merged into the mysterious River of Fate that flowed beyond the mundane.

At that moment, a tremendous force of destiny, infused with the aura of national fortune, swept in from the Ice and Snow Sacred Mountain of Fengyuan Kingdom.

The power of divination around Lan Chang'an surged explosively, stirring even deeper strands of destiny and tearing through layer upon layer of obscuring fate.

Then suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

Spiritual brilliance swirled in his pitch-black pupils, piercing the fog of fate. For a fleeting moment, fragmented glimpses of the future emerged.

“He has reformed his physical body, just regained his Nascent Soul cultivation. Currently, he’s located deep within the central region of Great Qing.”

After deducing this, Lan Chang'an fell into silent thought.

The good news was True Monarch Cyanwood hadn’t fled to some far-off, hidden place.

The karmic bond between the original body and the Nascent Soul still remained.

Using the corpse as a medium, Lan Chang'an was able to track him with the fourth-rank divination art, aided remotely by the Heavenly Master.

After all, the Ten Xuan Sects in the Central Region also had grandmasters of divination.

Lan Chang'an feared Cyanwood might be entangled with them, so he had joined forces with the Heavenly Master to avoid exposing any traces and risking a counter-divination.

In the end, he confirmed both Cyanwood’s condition and general location.

The bad news was that Though Cyanwood hadn’t gone into hiding, he had chosen to stay within his sect, firmly within the influence of the Ten Xuan Sects.

“He’s turtled up in the sect, relying on their protection, slowly recovering over a hundred years… That makes him far more difficult to deal with.”

Lan Chang'an frowned. This wasn’t the scenario he had expected.

Cyanwood hadn’t fled, nor had he allied with demonic cultivators for a counterattack.

Even news of their Evergreen Battle hadn’t spread through the cultivation world.

Thinking deeper, Lan Chang'an had to admit Cyanwood's decision was actually the safer bet.

He had deep grudges with the demonic path, trust was out of the question. Compared to trusting the demonic sects, placing his future in the hands of a righteous sect in the Central Region seemed far more stable.

...

Several days later.

Lan Chang'an traversed the boundless desert, skimming past the Liang Kingdom from above.

Heading west, he passed over the Jing Kingdom.

After the demonic sects triumphed in the war, the Jing Kingdom absorbed part of the neighboring Chen Kingdom’s territory. The Xuan Yin Sect’s influence expanded, now dominating the entire region.

With the only Nascent Soul force being the Xuan Yin Sect within its borders, development proceeded with fewer hindrances. They were digesting the spoils of war and growing rapidly.

“The Xuan Yin Sect was born from an earlier demonic powerhouse, the ‘Xuan Yin Gate,’ one of the Seven Demonic Sects of old. In terms of heritage and foundation, it surpasses any of the local Nascent Soul sects in the Righteous Alliance.”

Memories flickered through Lan Chang'an’s mind.

“If not for Alliance Leader Chu’s open-mindedness to accept and support Liang Shaotian and the Xuan Yin Sect, our Alliance would have crumbled under even greater pressure during the early stages of the demonic war.”

The Xuan Yin Sect had effectively replaced the former Heavenly Net Sect of the Chen Kingdom.

Flying above the sect’s main headquarters, Lan Chang'an activated his fourth-rank divination dao and performed a Qi Observation Technique.

What he saw surprised him: The Xuan Yin Sect’s fortune surged upward, it was thriving.

He frowned slightly in thought: Liang Shaotian, now in the Nascent Soul stage, had already exhausted his potential. Years of intense combat had damaged his foundation. His prime disciple, Li Hai, had also perished in the demonic war.

With a thought, Lan Chang'an released his spiritual sense, almost reaching the level of a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, sweeping silently through the Xuan Yin Sect’s headquarters without alerting anyone.

In the main hall, the white-haired Liang Shaotian was instructing a young female cultivator in the Core Formation stage.

The woman had a quiet grace, her beauty as flawless as a painting. Her black-and-white eyes gleamed like pure obsidian gems.

Her name was Zhu Xueqing, Liang Shaotian’s grand-disciple, and the personal disciple of the late Li Hai.

She possessed a rare Yin Body Constitution, highly prized in cultivation.

Lan Chang'an had met her once upon returning to Great Qing. She had now reached the Core Formation stage, though her appearance hadn’t changed much.

Lan Chang'an swept his spiritual sense across the vast headquarters, finding no sign of Xiang Jinglong.

It was said that, nearing the end of his lifespan, Xiang Jinglong had chosen to die honorably in battle.

In one of the caves, Lan Chang'an sensed a robust young man cultivating. His wheat-colored skin and features bore a strong resemblance to Xiang Jinglong.

No need to calculate, Lan Chang'an instantly knew, this was Xiang Jinglong’s late-born son, Xiang Shaolong.

The youth sat cross-legged, palms cradling a glowing azure spirit shell, not a product of the Great Qing.

With the third-rank spirit shell nourishing his body, Xiang Shaolong’s recovery was faster, allowing him more time and energy for daily cultivation.

“Ambitious little thing,” Lan Chang'an chuckled quietly.

“Relying on the tenth birthday gift I gave his father, and now cultivating both body and spirit, he’s progressing quite well.”

He made no further move.

All karma between him and Xiang Jinglong had long been settled, washed away by the tide of time.

...

Leaving Jing Kingdom, he crossed into the vast and desolate region beyond.

This expanse was largely barren of spiritual energy, home to dead zones and perilous areas not fertile ground for any cultivation civilization.

The Righteous Dao Alliance and Seven Kingdoms Alliance were separated by this wasteland.

Without spiritual energy to replenish their power cultivators, even at the Core Formation level, needed a month or two to traverse it.

Lan Chang'an lingered for a time near the border of Jing.

At a certain moment, a plume of eerie black smoke silently swept through the mountains and landed not far from him.

From within the shadows emerged a man in a black cloak, features sharp and indistinct, devoid of emotion.

“True Monarch Lan,” the man greeted respectfully.

It was none other than True Monarch Jue Ying, who bowed toward the aloof Lan Chang'an.

Lan gave a slight nod. Compared to when they had last joined forces against Cyanwood, Jue Ying’s power and skills had clearly grown.

Under Lan’s gaze, a flicker of unease flashed in Jue Ying’s heart, a sense of danger.

As an assassin elder of the Unseen Gate, he had a sixth sense that this Lan Chang'an was now far more dangerous than before.

The two stood several zhang apart, lips barely moving, communicating via sound transmission.

From Jue Ying, Lan Chang'an learned of the demonic sects’ reactions following the Beast King Valley’s defeat.

As expected, the Six Demonic Sects had listed him as one of the greatest human threats in the Eastern Region.

Second only to the Black Mist King, a being of true spirit bloodline.

According to Jue Ying, the leaders of the six sects had even secretly sent envoys to the Black Fog Mountain Range, establishing a tentative peace agreement.

Years ago, when Jue Ying delivered Cyanwood’s severed head, he received great rewards from Unseen Gate and the demonic alliance.

Despite having colluded with Lan Chang'an to kill Cyanwood, the Unseen Gate Leader didn’t pursue the matter, in fact, he praised it.

The sect valued results over method.

From their view, whether Lan Changqing or Cyanwood lived, both were threats to the demonic path.

Now, Jue Ying’s status in Unseen Gate had soared, second only to the sect master and deputy master, and received personal cultivation from the sect master.

“So, it was you who influenced the events behind True Monarch Golden Moon’s death,” Lan muttered.

Through their exchange, he learned many previously hidden details.

When Beast King Valley faced collapse under threat from the Human-faced Flood Dragon, the Unseen Gate Master personally responded, yet no battle had erupted.

To reduce pressure, at the request and payment of the Beast King’s Grand Elder, the Unseen Gate Master agreed to act once.

Infiltrating the Righteous Dao Alliance to assassinate a Nascent Soul cultivator was risky.

Jue Ying, in charge of intelligence in that region, had provided the target list. Golden Moon, heavily injured, presented the lowest risk.

“This is the Central Region intelligence you wanted. However, Cyanwood has virtually disappeared over the years. No clear trace of him remains.”

Jue Ying handed over a jade slip.

“Bishan Sect… A major power in the Central Region…” Lan Chang'an scanned it briefly with his spiritual sense.

The report contained sparse information on Cyanwood, but highlighted Bishan Sect.

After reaching Nascent Soul, Cyanwood had been invited to join Bishan Sect, cultivating there for over two centuries.

Now, along with two other Nascent Soul elders, Cyanwood had elevated the Bishan Sect to become one of the Central Region’s top forces, just beneath the Ten Xuan Sects.

Before parting, Jue Ying hesitated and asked, “Has True Monarch Lan ever come into contact with our sect’s ‘Faceless’?”

“Why do you ask? Isn’t your sect’s ‘Faceless’ supreme treasure always held by your sect master?”

Lan replied with an unreadable expression.

“The ‘Faceless’ consists of Yin and Yang halves. Only when combined are they complete. During a sect upheaval millennia ago, one side was taken by a traitor and vanished into another region. Few among the Six Sacred Sects know of this secret,” Jue Ying confided.

“Oh? So that’s how it is.”

Lan nodded but didn’t pursue the matter.

He sensed that Jue Ying might be probing, unsure himself.

Seeing Lan’s calm, neutral response, a trace of disappointment crossed Jue Ying’s face.

Not daring to linger, he dissolved into shadowy mist and vanished into the distance.

Lan Chang'an watched the fading darkness, quietly divining the threads of cause and effect.

“Jue Ying oversees intelligence in Righteous Dao Alliance territory. It’s natural that some of my disguises were exposed. And since he’s dealt with both me and the sect master multiple times, it’s no surprise he’s noticed inconsistencies…”

But Lan had no desire to pursue the matter for now.

The Hundred Illusion Mask he possessed indeed felt damaged and incomplete. Against fellow Nascent Soul cultivators, its effectiveness had dropped noticeably.

Even if he coveted the Unseen Gate Master’s half of the Faceless treasure now, it was simply impractical.

The man was elusive, faster in escape than in combat. Even if Lan bested him in battle, killing and stealing from him would be several times harder.

...

Setting out once more, leaving the Righteous Dao Alliance territory.

Lan Chang'an sealed his Nascent Soul fluctuations and suppressed all spiritual power, relying on a quasi-fourth rank giant bird puppet to fly.

He did so to avoid being sensed by True Monarch Cyanwood during his approach to the Central Region.

Such resonation would become significantly more intense during realm breakthroughs or fierce battles. The more similar one’s cultivation to another practitioner of the Evergreen Technique, the stronger the karmic pull between them.

Years ago, True Monarch Cyanwood had also sealed his Nascent Soul power and traveled covertly to the Righteous Dao Alliance on a genuine Fourth Rank Peng Bird.

Lan Chang'an's quais-fourth rank puppet bird was crafted from the frame of that very Peng Bird once ridden by True Monarch Cyanwood.

The Peng Bird’s essence core and nourishing organs were gifted to Lord Earthrock for his cultivation. Its essence blood and belly skin were used as raw materials for high-grade ink and talisman bases.

Half a Month Later

The puppet bird carried Lan Chang'an near the borders of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

“The demonic war within the Seven Kingdoms Alliance hasn’t ended yet. It’s still locked in a stalemate.”

Lan Chang'an slowed down as he gazed toward the frontlines, cautiously avoiding patrol cultivators from Blood Spirit Sect and Illusion Demon Palace.

Reaching the Central Region without crossing the Eastern Region’s demonic battlefield was almost impossible.

Taking an alternate route would either involve entering the depths of the Black Fog Mountain Range or passing through territories controlled by Nether Spring Sect or White Bone Hall.

Crossing the battlefield without alarming any cultivators from either faction would be extremely difficult.

Back then, when True Monarch Cyanwood had come from the Central Region to the Righteous Dao Alliance, he had been discovered by the demonic faction and was forced into a killing spree, exposing his whereabouts.

Currently, Lan Chang'an had his Nascent Soul power sealed, which limited his spiritual sense.

Fortunately, his senses were still sharper than most Nascent Soul cultivators. With the aid of divination arts, he was able to avoid most trouble.

But entering the buffer zone between the two major factions increased the risk of his puppet bird being spotted.

When evasion was impossible, Lan Chang'an eliminated obstructive demonic cultivators using puppets or spirit pets.

“It’d be easier if the war actually broke out again. Amid the chaos, I could sneak through the Seven Kingdoms territory much more easily.”

Lan Chang'an frowned, significantly slowing down.

During a tense standoff, both sides maintained heightened vigilance.

In the buffer zone, Lan Chang'an had to avoid detection from both factions, bypassing layers of guard formations, detection arrays, and the eyes and ears of spirit birds and insects.

While he could kill demonic cultivators who got in the way, what would he do if he ran into a cultivator from the Seven Kingdoms Alliance?

After all, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance and the Righteous Dao Alliance were both local powers resisting the demonic invasion in the Eastern Region.

The two had even secretly agreed to support one another, essentially allies.

Hm?

Lan Chang'an sensed a familiar Nascent Soul aura a few hundred li away, someone from the Righteous Dao Alliance.

“True Monarch Purple Fire, Wang Feng.”

Due to his familiarity with the Flame Departing Palace’s cultivation techniques, Lan Chang'an was able to identify the aura even without it entering his spiritual sense range.

His mind stirred, and a plan took shape.

With his Nascent Soul sealed and power suppressed, sneaking through the Seven Kingdoms Alliance unnoticed was extremely difficult.

But if he had the cooperation of a local faction, passage would be much easier.

...

A few hundred li away.

In a floating palace tower high in the sky, Wang Feng commanded the Seven Kingodms’ forces from afar.

Wang Feng, Supreme Elder of the Flame Departing Palace, sat atop the main hall.

When alone, his face showed signs of fatigue, and he rubbed his brow.

The prolonged demonic war had worn down his body and spirit.

The newly rebuilt Flame Departing Palace occupied a special position:

One, it was near the border of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

Two, it lay on the most convenient route for reinforcements from the Righteous Dao Alliance.

As a result, demonic forces had tightly locked down this battlefield.

Flame Departing Palace alone couldn’t hold the line. Wang Feng frequently requested reinforcements and cultivated relationships with other Nascent Soul cultivators.

Though the palace had been restored to its former glory, the ongoing demonic tribulations were deeply exhausting.

A single mistake, and two centuries of effort would be wiped away.

Even if forced to start over, Wang Feng had no better option.

Without assuming some risk and duty, how could the Flame Departing Palace have reestablished itself in the Seven Kingodms’ territory? Even his Nascent Soul advancement had the tacit support of high-ranking figures from the Alliance.

“True Monarch Wang!”

A tearing sound from outside signaled the arrival of a Core Formation cultivator.

“What is it?”

Wang Feng, dressed in a purple-blue robe with fair skin and neatly combed whiskers, maintained a calm and scholarly demeanor in public.

“A mysterious cultivator has appeared outside the border, without any warning. Claims to be a reinforcement sent by the Righteous Dao Alliance.”

Wang Feng narrowed his eyes.

“A mysterious cultivator, claiming to be an ally?”

In recent years, the Righteous Dao Alliance had occasionally provided support. Usually, during active warfare, they harassed enemy rear lines or sent supplies.

But sending an individual during a standoff? That was a first.

“Did you attack him?”

“Sword Immortal Xue tried to subdue him, but his spiritual sense technique stunned her. She’s still recovering.”

The Core Formation cultivator looked embarrassed.

Sword Immortal Xue, a mid-stage Core Formation genius from Ancient Sword Mountain, had nearly late-stage combat power. Yet she was outclassed and humiliated, throwing the situation into chaos.

Hence the urgent report to Wang Feng.

“Quick, invite him in!”

A thought struck Wang Feng, and he immediately issued the command.

Soon after, under “escort” by several True Dan elites, a blue-robed youth entered the main hall, tall, proud, and expressionless.

“You all may leave.”

Wang Feng dismissed the guards with a firm gaze.

One white-robed cultivator carrying an ancient sword gave an angry glare. His pale, handsome face betrayed his frustration.

He was a sword cultivator from Ancient Sword Mountain, assisting Flame Departing Palace in guarding the front lines. It seemed this “ally” was acquainted with Wang Feng, and despite acting properly, he had been humiliated with no explanation or apology.

...

Inside the Hall.

“Senior Brother Nie, it really is you!”

Wang Feng broke into hearty laughter, delighted to see the blue-robed youth.

Over the years, he’d harbored suspicions about this so-called “Nie Yuan’s” true identity.

After all, their repeated encounters and strange coincidences were too numerous. He had long begun piecing together the truth.

But suspicion was just that, suspicion. Without confirmation, Wang Feng couldn’t confront him outright.

If he did, who knew if their fragile bond as fellow disciples would survive?

“That you came personally to support us, Senior Brother, on behalf of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, I offer my sincerest gratitude…”

Wang Feng treated Lan Chang'an with warmth and honor, even bringing out his treasured fourth-rank spiritual tea and serving it himself.

“Heh, you've misunderstood, Junior Brother Wang.”

Lan Chang'an sipped the tea, feeling divine energy wash through his organs, soothing him to the soul.

“I’m just passing through the Seven Kingdoms territory. I came to ask Junior Brother for an identity token.”

Wang Feng’s smile froze.

So it was all just wishful thinking. He’d gotten excited for nothing.

If Lan Chang'an, rumored to rival demonic leaders in strength, actually supported them, the pressure on him would’ve greatly eased, and casualties in the Flame Departing Palace would plummet.

Still, Wang Feng didn’t refuse the request.

Moments later, he produced a command token, infused with the spiritual imprint and aura of a True Monarch.

“With this, you can pass freely through all territory currently under Seven Kingdoms Alliance control as a Flame Departing Palace member.”

“Many thanks, Junior Brother.”

Lan Chang'an accepted the token and prepared to take his leave.

Wang Feng’s eye twitched subtly, and he forced a bitter smile.

“Senior Brother Nie, your abilities far exceed mine. Since you’re passing through anyway, could you help lighten the burden a little?”

“I have urgent matters to tend to. It’s not convenient for me to act openly.”

Lan Chang'an declined.

It wasn’t that he was unwilling.

But a battle would expose fluctuations from the Evergreen Dao Fruit, risking detection by True Monarch Cyanwood in the Central Region.

Still, since Wang Feng had done him a favor and considering their “fragile” brotherly ties, he couldn’t walk away entirely.

“What sort of trouble is it? When I return, I’ll handle it on the way.”

“The Blood Bat King. One of the six Palace Lords of Blood Spirit Sect. Could Senior Brother help deal with him?”

Wang Feng asked cautiously.

“His blood techniques are a menace. He’s been targeting me endlessly. His transforming blood bats have bled Flame Departing Palace dry. If this continues, we may face a generational collapse…”

“Blood Bat King?”

Lan Chang'an thought for a moment and quickly recalled.

Back when he escaped from the Great Qing and posed as Immortal Xiang, the Blood Bat King had marked his puppet.

“I wouldn’t ask you to kill him. Just injure him seriously once, so we can get a few years of breathing room.”

Wang Feng quickly added, fearing he was asking too much.

Blood-path cultivators were notoriously hard to kill. Even a mid-stage Nascent Soul powerhouse had once sliced the Blood Bat King in half to no avail.

Without hesitation, Lan Chang'an replied:

“The Blood Bat King isn’t much. I’ll help you kill him when I return.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother!”

Wang Feng was overjoyed, bowing deeply.

But once he calmed down, he found the promise oddly casual, too flippant.

Having fought the Blood Bat King many times and always been on the losing end, he knew the enemy was a seasoned powerhouse. There was no way he could be dealt with so easily.

Is he just humoring me?

While Wang Feng mulled it over, he noticed the hall had become empty.

“Until next time, Junior Brother Wang.”

Lan Chang'an, holding the command token, had already vanished into the Seven Kingdoms territory.