CHAPTER 30: WILL AN EVIL SECT ATTACK THE CITY?

Elder Feng and Elder Qiu appeared from the forest as well.

They exchanged glances before Elder Feng spoke. "Young Master, your breakthrough was quite... remarkable. Congratulations."

"Thank you, Elder Feng," Tiandi replied politely.

The group rested for a few more hours before continuing their journey.

Xian Tiandi spent the next several days consolidating his new realm, ensuring everything was stable.

The dual cultivation had been successful, but he still needed time for his body and energy to fully adapt.

---

Nearly two weeks had passed since they left Xianling City.

The convoy had traveled through various landscapes, encountered a few weak demonic beasts that were easily dealt with, and passed through several small towns.

The journey had been relatively smooth overall.

Now, as evening approached, they finally arrived at their destination for today—Bluestone City.

Bluestone City was the last major stop before Crimson Lotus City. It was located about three days’ journey from their final destination.

The city was larger than the small towns they had passed through but still much smaller than Xianling City. It had perhaps thirty or forty thousand residents.

The city walls were made of dark blue stone, which gave the city its name.

The walls weren’t particularly high or thick, suggesting this wasn’t a militarily important location. The gates stood open, with guards checking travelers as they entered.

The convoy approached the gates as the sun was setting.

The guards examined their papers and, seeing the Xian Clan seal, allowed them through without much questioning.

Noble families received more respect and less scrutiny than common travelers.

Inside the city, the streets were busy with evening activity. Merchants were closing their shops for the day.

Residents were heading home after work. Street vendors called out about their last items for sale. The atmosphere was lively but not chaotic.

Bluestone City was known primarily as a trading hub. It sat at the intersection of several major roads, making it a convenient stopping point for caravans and travelers.

The city’s economy depended heavily on providing services to these travelers—inns, restaurants, repair shops, and supply stores dominated the main streets.

The architecture was practical rather than beautiful. Most buildings were two or three stories tall, made of the same bluish stone as the walls.

The roofs were slanted to shed rain and covered with dark tiles. Everything had a utilitarian feel to it.

The convoy made its way through the streets toward the largest inn in the city, the Azure Cloud Inn.

This inn was known for catering to wealthy travelers and cultivators. It had spacious rooms, good food, and, most importantly, defensive formations to ensure guests’ safety.

When the carriages stopped in front of the Azure Cloud Inn, Xian Tiandi stepped out first. He stretched slightly, having spent most of the day cultivating inside the carriage.

Ying Yue climbed out next, followed by Xiao Ming and Xian Long. Zhou Kang emerged from his carriage as well.

They all gathered near the entrance while servants began unloading their luggage.

"Young Master Xian, welcome to the Azure Cloud Inn!" A well-dressed man came out to greet them.

He was the inn’s manager, a round-faced man in his fifties with a professional smile. "We’ve been expecting you. Your rooms have been prepared."

"Thank you," Xian Tiandi replied with a polite nod.

"Please, allow me to escort you inside," the manager gestured toward the entrance. "We’ve arranged a private dining area for your group as well. You must be hungry after your journey."

They followed the manager inside. The inn’s lobby was spacious and clean. The floor was polished wood, and the walls were decorated with landscape paintings.

Several other guests were present, mostly cultivators judging by their clothing and bearing.

Some of these guests glanced at Xian Tiandi’s group with mild curiosity but didn’t stare.

It was normal for noble families to pass through this city on their way to larger destinations.

The manager led them up a staircase to the second floor where their rooms were located.

"These are our best rooms," he explained. "Each has a private bathing area and a small cultivation chamber with basic formations. I hope they meet your needs."

"They’ll be fine," Xian Tiandi said.

After ensuring everyone was settled in their rooms, the manager led them to a private dining room on the first floor.

The room was separated from the main dining area by screens, providing privacy while still allowing them to hear the general atmosphere of the inn.

They sat around a large table while servants brought out dishes.

The food was well-prepared—roasted meat, fresh vegetables, rice, and soup. There were also spiritual fruits that contained small amounts of spiritual energy, beneficial for cultivators.

As they ate, Xian Long talked excitedly about the journey so far.

Xiao Ming was equally enthusiastic, describing everything he had seen. Ying Yue listened with a smile, occasionally adding her own observations.

Zhou Kang ate quietly, though he seemed more relaxed than he had been at the beginning of the journey.

Xian Tiandi ate slowly, his mind elsewhere. Something was bothering him. This city, Bluestone City, was stirring memories from his past life.

Something had happened here around this time, though the details were hazy.

His brow furrowed slightly as he tried to recall. It was an incident involving an evil sect attack.

Innocent people had been killed. The city had been in chaos for days afterward. But which evil sect was it? And what exactly had they been trying to accomplish?

Then it clicked. The Moon Shadow Cult. They had attacked a city around this time to capture people for some dark ritual.

In his past life, he had heard about this incident weeks after it happened, when he was in a different city entirely. The details had been vague because by the time the news reached him, the attack was already over.

But there was another connection. Bai Xueyao had been hunting the Moon God Cult around this same time period and in this general region.

Were the Moon Shadow Cult and Moon God Cult related? Or were they the same organization with different names?

Xian Tiandi’s expression became more serious. He tried to remember more details.

When had the attack occurred? Was it in Bluestone City specifically, or a different city nearby?

His memories from that time were fragmented because he hadn’t been directly involved.

’The butterfly effect has already changed some events,’ he thought. ’Zhou Kang awakened his physique earlier than before. Ying Yue encountered me differently than in the original timeline. Will this attack still happen? Or has it already happened? Or will it not happen at all?’

He couldn’t be certain. The problem with having knowledge of the future was that every action he took could alter that future.

Small changes created ripples that spread outward.

By now, two weeks after his initial actions, those ripples could have affected many things.

"Young Master, is something wrong?" Ying Yue asked, noticing his serious expression. "You seem troubled."

Xian Tiandi glanced at her and then at the others at the table. He considered whether to share his concerns. Finally, he decided to at least give them a warning.

"Stay alert while we’re in this city," he said quietly. "I have a feeling there might be danger nearby. Don’t go out alone after dark, and keep your guard up at all times."

His tone was serious enough that everyone took notice.

"What kind of danger, Big Brother?" Xian Long asked, his expression becoming worried.

"I’m not certain," Xian Tiandi replied honestly. "Just a feeling. But my instincts have kept me alive so far, so trust them."

Zhou Kang’s eyes narrowed. "Should we leave the city immediately?"

"No," Xian Tiandi shook his head. "We need rest, and the horses need rest. We’ll stay tonight and leave at first light tomorrow. But everyone stays together. No wandering off."

They all nodded in understanding.

Xian Tiandi’s gaze drifted toward the window. Outside, the streets were growing darker as night fell.

Lanterns were being lit throughout the city. Everything appeared normal and peaceful.

But appearances could be deceiving. In the cultivation world, danger often came when least expected.

He hoped his concerns were unfounded. But something in his gut told him otherwise.

The night ahead might not be as peaceful as it appeared.