Pulled to Death

Lan Chang'an sought out Huang Tankong, not to fight.

Instead, the goal is to ensure this potential threat is brought under control and allowed to "pass away peacefully."

The following evening.

No one noticed that the figure inside Lan Chang'an's villa was merely a manifestation of the Illusion Truth Talisman.

Lan Chang'an had informed Li Erqing beforehand that no one would disturb his "quiet meditation."

There is a simple and direct way to find Huang Tankong.

The various important checkpoints leading to the Mu Family from the surrounding area are suitable for ambushing and searching one by one.

Out of instinctive caution, Lan Chang'an did not immediately search outside, but instead began searching from the inside out, starting with the area around Jade Moon Lake.

Avoid situations where the light is dimly lit.

Upon investigation, he was taken aback.

"That old scoundrel actually managed to sneak up to the Jade Moon Lake!"

Two days later, on the evening of the same day, Lan Chang'an sensed a faint fluctuation of Divine Sense near a mine a hundred miles away from the Jade Moon Mountain Villa.

He disguised himself as Qi Refining Mid-Stage cultivator from the Mu Family, only acting at night and using the Evergreen Art to minimize his presence.

It's quite a coincidence.

More than a decade ago, that Young Master Huang died near this mine.

Back then, this mine was completely wiped out by the Huang Family cultivators. Since it didn't have much mineral content, it was eventually shut down.

Stone Ridge a few miles from the mine.

Lan Chang'an sat between the rocks, closed his eyes, and merged his mind with the White-Bearded Elder of the Second Life of the Nine Imprint Tablet, amplifying his Divine Sense senses several times over.

The soul of the Second Life Peak Core Formation is too powerful!

Lan Chang'an could only integrate a small portion; any more would Sea of Consciousness to feel like it was expanding to its limit and tearing apart.

His Divine Sense easily passed through the mine's rock walls and found his target in an abandoned woodshed.

It was a ragged, hunched old man, resembling a dried corpse, with all his white hair gone.

A faint light appeared in his sunken eye sockets, like a candle flickering in the wind.

"Cough cough..."

Huang Tankong coughed violently, the blood at the corner of his mouth dried, and a soundproof barrier was set up around him.

"Huang Tankong dared to infiltrate Jade Moon Lake alone, probably because he knew Li Erqing would have a hard time finding him. Li Erqing, being timid, wouldn't dare leave his Lineage."

Lan Chang'an thought to himself.

Even though Huang Tankong's body is weakened and aging, his advantage as Foundation Establishment Middle Stage is undeniable.

However, in his current state, he posed no threat whatsoever to the Mu Family, which possessed Clan Protection Array.

You can only play dirty tricks.

Lan Chang'an estimated that the primary target was himself.

There was no chance to kill Li Erqing.

Keeping Li Erqing, an outsider with insufficient talent, to the Foundation Establishment could also cause division within the Mu Family.

Once the location is found, things will be easier; Lan Chang'an doesn't need to rush into action.

This old guy gets weaker every day he drags on.

Lan Chang'an left behind Earth Rock Rat to keep watch on this Stone Ridge.

Several miles away, Foundation Establishment Middle Stage's Divine Sense couldn't reach this place. Huang Tankong's Divine Sense was also weak and couldn't be used frequently.

Earth Rock Rat can also hide underground to avoid being seen.

Before dawn, Lan Chang'an sneaked back to the Lakeside Courtyard of the Jade Moon Mountain Villa.

"Huang Tankong probably didn't know about Huang Changling's death, otherwise he wouldn't have been patiently waiting for him."

Lan Chang'an analyzed.

Huang Changling's Soul Tablet was placed in the important ancestral hall of the Lineage. Huang Tankong went deep into enemy territory alone and received no news.

After several days of observation.

Lan Chang'an discovered that Huang Tankong possessed a spirit bird, which he used as his eyes and ears.

This bird is named "Swallow Scout Bird" and has a peak first-tier cultivation level.

This bird is small and weak, and is easily overlooked as an ordinary bird.

In reality, the Swallow Scout Bird is fast-flying, has excellent eyesight, and is highly intelligent, making it a great helper for detectives.

The Swallow Scout Bird kept watch around the Jade Moon Lake encampment; it would quietly return at night to eat the Spirit Feeding Pill that Huang Tankong fed it.

Lan Chang'an knew that Huang Tankong knew he had arrived at the Mu Family.

If Evergreen Art is not good at concealing his aura, he may be intercepted and killed by Huang Tankong on his way back.

"Let's see how long this old guy can wait."

Lan Chang'an has a long lifespan and holds the initiative; there's no need for him to confront the other party so early.

It's not too late to stomp on this person when they are extremely old and about to die.

A few days later.

Two Foundation Establishment Realm auras flew in from the west side of Jade Moon Lake.

They were a middle-aged cultivator with White Mask and a graceful female cultivator in a white dress.

"Daoist Zhao, Nephew Lin."

Li Erqing came out to greet them.

Lan Chang'an also flew out of the Jade Moon Mountain Villa to meet Zhao Siyao and Lin Lu.

These two Foundation Establishment from various sects, upon hearing of the changes at Jade Moon Lake, set off from Golden Cloud Valley to offer their condolences and assistance.

There is an unwritten rule in the Cultivation World that sect members are not allowed to interfere in the disputes between cultivation Lineage at will, or at least not openly.

Unless they come from a particular Lineage.

The sect trains cultivators not so that they can go out and invite trouble.

Otherwise, which Lineage doesn't know a few cultivators from various sects and have the corresponding connections?

Under normal circumstances, sect cultivators will at most participate in mediating disputes between surrounding Lineage forces.

Lan Chang'an and Zhao Siyao hadn't seen each other for many years.

Zhao Siyao was no longer the girl she once was. She wore Phoenix Hairpin, her face was radiant, she was elegant and composed, and her fairy dress was spotless.

The two chatted happily until late at night.

"Daoist Zhao, you intend to participate in the Azure Underworld Secret Realm more than ten years from now?"

Upon hearing this news, Lan Chang'an's heart stirred.

Zhao Siyao frowned slightly and said, "After the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, my cultivation progressed more and more slowly, and I occasionally felt a lack of mental strength. Most Foundation Establishment Realm in this world never manage to break through to the late stage in their lifetime."

"The Azure Underworld Secret Realm contains many rare and precious heavenly materials and earthly treasures that are extinct in the outside world, including fortuitous opportunity to break through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage stage. With good luck, one might even obtain Golden Core Realm spiritual item."

A glimmer of light shone in Zhao Siyao's bright and clear eyes.

That was a yearning for the path to the Golden Core Realm Formation.

"Unfortunately, my Law Power is too weak to accompany Daoist Zhao to explore the Azure Underworld Secret Realm."

Lan Chang'an sighed softly, a hint of regret in his voice.

Most of the spots in the Azure Underworld Secret Realm are controlled by the five major sects of the Liang Kingdom.

In order to appease the dissatisfaction of various Lineage and the vast number of Rogue Cultivator, a small number of slots will be sold to the public each year.

Zhao Siyao glanced at him, her lips pursed, revealing a smile that seemed to confirm her suspicions.

Zhao Siyao brought this up to discuss with Lan Chang'an whether they could buy high-quality second-tier Talisman ten years from now.

If Zhao Siyao had a high-grade second-tier High-Grade Talisman, it would be of great help.

"Lu's success rate in Mid-Grade Talisman is currently not high."

Lan Chang'an pondered, "Ten years from now, it's hard to say. At that time, Daoist Zhao can come to Wuqi Mountain."

Lan Chang'an's words sounded humble, yet full of uncertainty.

Zhao Siyao's beautiful eyes, however, were bright and clear.

Based on her understanding of Lan Chang'an, this "uncertainty" is probably quite likely.

Moreover, Lan Chang'an explicitly told her to come over at that time.

Lan Chang'an was willing to help Zhao Siyao, not just because of their friendship.

He won't go to the Azure Underworld Secret Realm, but he can place bets on Foundation Establishment friends to enter, mutually benefiting each other.

For example, providing Zhao Siyao with protection means to keep an eye out for the resources she needs in the secret realm.

Alternatively, Zhao Siyao could provide information about who obtained certain resources, Lan Chang'an could stake out the entrance to the secret realm, make private contacts, and offer to buy them.

Isn't this more comfortable than fighting your way through secret realms?

A few days later, Zhao Siyao left first.

To repay Li Erqing for his help during his Foundation Establishment, Lin Lu decided to stay at the Mu Family for a while longer to enhance his prestige.

After advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm, Lin Lu secured a position as an Outer Sect Deacon in Golden Cloud Valley.

"Fairy Yaoyue has many suitors within the sect, but she is never one to mince words. Uncle Lu is the first male cultivator of the same level who has been able to have such a deep conversation with her."

Watching the graceful figure in her flowing dress disappear into the distance, Lin Lu smiled, as if giving a hint.

Lin Lu knew that his father, Lin Yi, had a crush on Fairy Zhao back then.

However, he never had the courage to confess his feelings in his entire life.

A notebook left behind by Lin Yi records: After the sect's assessment was announced, he knew he was on a path to immortality, and from then on, the fates of immortals and mortals were different.

From Lin Yi's unintentional revelation before his death, Lin Lu also learned a detail:

In the early days of the Immortal Seedling, Zhao Siyao, who was only fourteen or fifteen years old, had some affection for Lan Chang'an, which displeased Lin's father.

However, later, due to the difference in their cultivation levels and status, Lan Chang'an "sensibly" distanced himself, nipping that budding romance in the bud.

"Your Uncle Lu and Fairy Zhao are simply old acquaintances who went through life and death together in the Black Mist Mountain Range and have a friendship spanning decades."

Lan Chang'an said in a calm tone.

"Don't spread rumors about this outside."

"Yes, Uncle Lu."

Lin Lu couldn't help but smile wryly.

As an observer, he saw it clearly: Zhao Siyao and Lan Chang'an had known each other for decades, and the fact that they could talk so late meant that they admired each other to some extent.

If one of them takes the initiative and breaks the ice, there is hope that they can become dao companion.

However, neither of them were proactive; they were devoted to the Tao and took a detached view of romantic relationships.

Moon Empress, Lin Lu returned to his sect.

Lan Chang'an did not consider having the two Foundation Establishment from various sects assist in dealing with Huang Tankong.

Doing so would violate the sect's principles, unless Huang Tankong launched an attack or framed him.

It's not worth incurring a favor for an old codger who's about to die.

Lan Chang'an remained at Jade Moon Lake.

He comes from the Mu Family and is Li Erqing's older brother, so it's not unusual for him to stay for a year or two.

Before I knew it, I had been at Jade Moon Lake for two months.

He secretly observed that Huang Tankong was becoming increasingly weak, and he was showing signs of impatience, indicating that he might be about to leave.

See here.

Lan Chang'an flew over Jade Moon Lake during the day, circled around for a while, and gave Huang Tankong a glimmer of hope.

His location for a drive was very close to the array formation of Moon Heart Island. With Li Erqing watching over him, Huang Tankong dared not make a move easily.

This took a month.

Huang Tankong showed impatience again and prepared to find an opportunity to leave.

Lan Chang'an went out on another flight.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Huang Tankong rallied his spirits and waited patiently for a month.

Repeat this pulling motion three times.

Huang Tankong finally realized something was wrong, and that his physical condition was getting worse and worse.

"Lan Chang'an is truly cunning!"

Huang Tankong looked like he was gritting his teeth, but he was so old that he had lost all his teeth.

He knew he had fallen into a trap.

Having been repeatedly pulled and pulled by Lan Chang'an, his aging body had exhausted too much of his energy and Divine Sense and could no longer withstand it.

It was late at night.

He finally abandoned his plan and sneaked out of Jade Moon Lake.

He was preparing to return to his Lineage to settle his affairs.

Huang Tankong was unaware that his every move was being closely watched by Lan Chang'an.

He thought that Lan Chang'an would at most guess that he was lying in wait.

Logically, at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, it's impossible for someone with such similar cultivation levels to simultaneously evade the detection of the Swallow Scout Bird and his Divine Sense sense.

Maple Leaf Huang Family is located in the southern part of Jade Moon Lake.

During the flight, Huang Tankong appeared to be struggling. He held Spirit Stone in his hand to replenish his Law Power, but it was not enough.

His bodily functions withered, and he could no longer retain his vital energy and Law Power.

Two days later, at night.

We were still hundreds of miles away from the Huang Family's residence.

Call!

Swallow Scout Bird flew ahead to the Huang Family to find fellow cultivators to come and meet them.

The bird had just left a quarter of an hour ago.

Thump!

Huang Tankong, feeling weak, collapsed onto the hillside below.

At this moment, he faintly smelled a herbal fragrance, and his fatigue and emptiness suddenly intensified several times over.

My eyelids are so heavy I can't lift them.

Huang Tankong struggled to keep his body upright, his consciousness resisting the onslaught of darkness, and said bitterly:

"Daoist Lu?"

"I'm an old man, my life is almost over, and half my body is buried in the earth, yet you still poison me?"

In the blurry vision, a burly man wearing a straw hat appeared.

Those who call her a nanny don't even understand the logic. The protagonist only took the initiative to attack and kill because he was threatened. Secondly, his visit to the Mu Family was just a side job to help his younger brother with some ideas. They don't even understand the cause and effect, so what are they talking about?

(End of this chapter)