CHAPTER 31: ATTACK OF THE MOON SHADOW CULT!

’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.

...

Xian Tiandi sat cross-legged in his room at the Azure Cloud Inn, attempting to meditate.

The Jade Bed was packed away in his storage ring, so he simply sat on the normal bed provided by the inn.

His breathing followed the rhythmic pattern of the Chaos Dao Cultivation Technique, but his mind wouldn’t settle.

Something felt wrong.

The unease that had been nagging at him since they arrived in Bluestone City had only intensified as night fell.

His instincts, honed through thousands of years of experience in his past life, screamed at him that danger was approaching.

He opened his eyes and stood up, walking to the window. Outside, the streets were quiet now.

Most shops had closed. Only a few late-night establishments remained open, their lanterns casting pools of light in the darkness. Everything appeared peaceful.

But appearances meant nothing.

Xian Tiandi’s hand moved to his storage ring, checking his prepared items. Several talismans.

A few emergency pills.

The Void Step Talisman from the Zhou Clan. All his tools were ready. He had learned long ago that preparation saved lives.

His spiritual sense extended outward, sweeping through the inn and into the streets beyond.

Nothing seemed out of place. The other guests were sleeping or cultivating in their rooms. The inn staff were cleaning up downstairs. City guards patrolled at regular intervals.

Yet the feeling persisted.

Then, suddenly, screams erupted from somewhere in the distance.

Xian Tiandi’s eyes snapped toward the source of the sound. More screams followed, coming from multiple directions now. The peaceful night shattered in an instant.

He burst out of his room and ran down the hallway. "Ying Yue! Xian Long! Zhou Kang!" he called out.

Doors opened immediately. Ying Yue emerged with Xiao Ming clinging to her side, his eyes wide with fear. Xian Long came out of his room, already alert. Zhou Kang appeared from the opposite end of the hall, his expression grim.

"What’s happening?" Ying Yue asked urgently.

"We’re under attack," Xian Tiandi said tersely. "Ying Yue, take Xiao Ming back to your room. I’m setting up defensive arrays. Don’t come out no matter what you hear."

Xian Tiandi was a master at arrays. Unlike alchemy which he couldn’t practice in his past life.

As far as arrays are concerned...in this universe, he is first.

"Yes, Young Master," Ying Yue replied immediately, pulling her brother back inside.

Xian Tiandi quickly pulled out several formation flags from his storage ring and began setting them up around Ying Yue’s door.

His movements were practiced and efficient. Within thirty seconds, a basic defensive formation was active. It wouldn’t stop a Golden Core cultivator, but it would hold against anything below that for a while.

Xian Long stepped forward, his young face set with determination. "Big Brother, I want to fight too! I’m not afraid!"

Xian Tiandi looked at him carefully. The boy’s eyes showed no hesitation, only resolve. This wasn’t foolish bravado—Xian Long genuinely wanted to help protect people. That kind of courage deserved respect.

"Stay with Zhou Kang," Xian Tiandi said with a nod. "Don’t be reckless. Follow his lead and watch each other’s backs."

He said this because Zhou Kang was much stronger.

"I will!" Xian Long said firmly.

Zhou Kang moved to stand beside the younger boy. "I’ll keep him safe," he promised. He had no qualms about it.

He had already decided to follow Xian Tiandi’s lead.

More screams came from outside, closer now. The sound of fighting could be heard—metal clashing against metal, the crackle of spiritual energy techniques being unleashed.

Xian Tiandi moved to a window and looked out. His eyes narrowed as he took in the scene below.

Black-robed cultivators had appeared throughout Bluestone City. They moved with organized precision, clearly following a coordinated plan. These weren’t random bandits or rogue cultivators—this was an organized force.

The black robes bore a symbol on the back—a crescent moon dripping with what looked like blood. Xian Tiandi recognized it immediately from his past life memories.

The Moon Shadow Cult.

These cultists were known for their blood sacrifice rituals and dark cultivation methods.

They worshipped some ancient demon deity and believed that mass sacrifices could grant them power. In his past life, this cult had been responsible for numerous massacres before finally being destroyed by righteous sect alliances.

But that wouldn’t happen for years yet. Right now, they were still active and dangerous.

"The Moon Shadow Cult," Xian Tiandi said quietly. "Their goal is to capture civilians for blood sacrifice."

"Blood sacrifice?" Xian Long’s face paled slightly but his resolve didn’t waver.

"Yes. I have heard about them before," Xian Tiandi said with a narrowed gaze.

"Stay focused," Xian Tiandi commanded. "We’re heading out. Zhou Kang, Xian Long, you handle the weaker cultists. Save as many people as you can."

He turned toward another direction and raised his voice slightly. "Elder Feng, Elder Qiu, I know you can hear me. The enemy likely has Golden Core cultivators among them. They’ll need your attention."

Two figures materialized from the shadows at the end of the hallway. Elder Feng and Elder Qiu had been maintaining their concealment, but the situation was too serious for subtlety now.

"We sensed them," Elder Feng said grimly. His usually calm face was set in hard lines. "At least three Golden Core cultivators are leading this attack. We’ll handle them."

"Be careful," Xian Tiandi said. "I learned that this cult is known for using forbidden techniques that temporarily boost their power."

Elder Qiu nodded. "We’ll watch each other’s backs. You focus on protecting the others."

With that, the two Golden Core experts vanished, moving toward the strongest enemy presences in the city.

Xian Tiandi led Zhou Kang and Xian Long down the stairs and out of the inn. The street outside was already in chaos. Civilians were running in panic. Some city guards fought desperately against the cultists but were clearly outmatched.

"Split up," Xian Tiandi ordered. "Zhou Kang, take Xian Long and patrol the western district. Prioritize saving civilians over killing enemies. Go."

Zhou Kang nodded and grabbed Xian Long’s shoulder. The two of them took off running in the indicated direction.

Xian Tiandi stood alone in the street for a moment, his spiritual sense extending outward to survey the entire city. His past life experience allowed him to process the chaotic information quickly.

The cultists weren’t randomly attacking. They were herding civilians toward a specific location—the city center, where the main plaza was located. That was where the real danger lay.