First Meeting with Tieshan

The Frostwind Art dealt area damage.

The White Square Kerchief controlled by the Purple Skirt Beauty could only block one side. She was instantly engulfed by the frostwind, finding it difficult to move.

With great effort, she reached toward the Storage Bag at her waist.

At that moment, Lan Chang'an, seemingly no more than a withered tree trunk, drifted up from the bushes ten meters away.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

He instantly fired three dark-red Fire Bullets, battering the Purple Skirt Beauty until she could scarcely fend them off. Her dress exploded open, and icy shards scattered through the air.

"Young master, spare my life! I am willing to..."

The Purple Skirt Beauty collapsed to the ground, her teeth chattering. Under the double assault of ice and fire spells, large portions of her beautiful face had already festered away.

Even though the woman appeared utterly incapable of resisting,

Lan Chang'an kept his distance.

He picked up a stone and unleashed the martial art Celestial Finger Flick, striking from afar.

With a pop,

the Purple Skirt Beauty's head burst like a blooming watermelon.

"So weak, and you still dared come out to rob people?"

Lan Chang'an walked over to the Purple Skirt Beauty's corpse, picked up the magic-tool kerchief, and removed her Storage Bag.

Without even checking the Spoils of War inside, he swiftly left the scene.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea,

several people, including the Tall Thin Man Named Xu, arrived at the scene.

Looking at Purple Rose Fairy's corpse, the cultivators shuddered in fear. Their expressions were uncertain and wary.

An hour later, amid the wilderness forest,

after confirming that no pursuers followed him, Lan Chang'an began inventorying Purple Rose Fairy's Storage Bag.

He first removed anything that might be used for tracking.

He burned some women's clothing inside.

With a Storage Bag and a Low-Grade Magic Tool, Purple Rose Fairy had been rather well-off among rogue cultivators.

The Storage Bag contained over forty Spirit Stones, two bottles of Qi Nourishing Pills, one bottle of Qi Recovery Pills, one bottle of Detoxification Pills, and several cultivation books.

There were six First-Order Talismans, including two Mid-Grade Talismans that Lan Chang'an himself had sold.

Their total value was close to two hundred Spirit Stones.

"This woman was really fat prey! She probably wasn't an ordinary rogue cultivator."

Lan Chang'an secretly marveled.

As the saying went, a horse did not grow fat without night grass, and a man did not grow rich without windfall wealth.

Just one act of killing and treasure-snatching had earned him several times the wealth he made from drawing talismans.

"One who often walks by the river cannot keep their shoes from getting wet. In this life, I cultivate the Ancient Wood Evergreen Art. I must proceed steadily and cautiously; I absolutely cannot take the path of a robber cultivator."

Lan Chang'an cast aside the greed in his heart.

Killing for treasure ultimately carried risks.

Who could guarantee that every target who appeared weak could be easily devoured?

Take Purple Rose Fairy, for instance. How could she have expected today's outcome?

Lan Chang'an had heard a rumor in his Previous Life:

A certain Nascent Soul Realm evil cultivator had killed and robbed without restraint. Relying on peerless escape speed, he had left the nearby cultivation forces helpless against him.

Until one day, among the merchant caravan this evil cultivator robbed was a disguised Spirit Transformation cultivator whose outward cultivation was only in the Qi Refining Realm.

In the end, that Nascent Soul Realm evil cultivator died with eyes that would not close, and the lifetime of wealth he had painstakingly plundered merely became another's wedding gown.

Hengshui Prefecture governed seven prefectures.

AnDe Prefecture was one of them. The entire prefectural city had been built along the river, with waterways extending in all directions.

Where water transport flourished, jianghu gangs were seldom absent.

The Raging River Gang was one of AnDe Prefecture's foremost gangs, controlling nearly forty percent of the gray income from the surrounding waterways.

That day, at the Raging River Gang's General Headquarters,

Gang Leader "Qi Jingyun" suddenly summoned his three adopted sons to discuss matters in a Secret Chamber. They did not emerge for half a day.

"Adoptive Father, these martial arts manuals point directly to the Martial Arts Innate Realm."

"You should have heard of the Marrow Cleansing Pill, Evergreen Pill, and Greater Return Pill..."

As Lan Chang'an looked at his adopted father, now over sixty and broad-shouldered with a thick waist, warmth from past memories surged through him.

Qi Jingyun was a first-rate jianghu expert. Having operated in AnDe Prefecture for decades, he had made his might known throughout the upper and lower reaches of the river.

At their meeting today, Qi Jingyun remained as mighty as ever, though a few frost-white strands had appeared at his temples.

"The Marrow Cleansing Pill, Evergreen Pill, and Greater Return Pill." The three adopted sons' eyes gleamed as they stared at the three bottles of pills on the table.

The Marrow Cleansing Pill could cleanse the marrow and transform the sinews, improving one's martial aptitude.

The Greater Return Pill could increase one's cultivation by several decades.

The Evergreen Pill could prolong the life and increase the longevity of mortals.

"Chang'an, these pills must be very expensive, right?"

Qi Jingyun's expression was hesitant. Looking at that bottle of Evergreen Pills, it would have been hypocritical to claim he was not tempted.

"To us cultivators, they are worthless."

Lan Chang'an did not tell them that the three bottles had cost only one and a half Spirit Stones, practically dirt cheap.

"Good, good! Chang'an, you are thoughtful indeed."

Qi Jingyun's face was filled with gratification.

He was already old and greatly needed the Evergreen Pill. The Marrow Cleansing Pill and Greater Return Pill were better left for the younger generation.

"Chang'an, I originally intended to pass the position of gang leader to you. Since you have embarked upon the immortal path, I plan to have Li Hong manage the gang's affairs from now on."

As Qi Jingyun explained his arrangements, he was in truth also seeking Lan Chang'an's opinion.

"I trust Second Brother's ability."

Lan Chang'an replied with a smile.

His adopted elder brother Li Hong was a cold-faced young man and a second-rate jianghu martial artist.

Li Hong was deeply ambitious for power. In the past, he had wanted to contend with Lan Chang'an for the position of gang leader, leaving a slight rift between them.

Now, Lan Chang'an had risen beyond that level and no longer cared about the position of gang leader at all.

"Chang'an, do you think we can cultivate immortality?"

After remaining silent for a while, Li Hong finally could not resist asking.

Previously, Lan Chang'an had displayed immortal spells before them.

Several years had passed, yet Lan Chang'an's appearance remained unchanged, without the slightest trace of time.

For Li Hong and the others to say they did not yearn for it would have been deceiving themselves.

"Cultivators require spiritual roots. Besides, you have all missed the age for entering the Dao."

Lan Chang'an smiled, understanding their feelings.

So, he simply checked the spiritual roots of his three adopted brothers and his adopted father.

The result was that none of them possessed spiritual root aptitude.

In truth, no one in this world was absolutely without cultivation aptitude.

A spiritual sensitivity above ten meant a Low-Grade Spiritual Root.

A spiritual sensitivity below five meant an Inferior Spiritual Root.

A spiritual sensitivity below one could be ignored altogether, effectively meaning no aptitude.

After nightfall,

Lan Chang'an spoke privately with his adopted father again and gave him several First-Order Low-Grade Talismans.

In the future, if any of his adopted brothers proved unfilial, Qi Jingyun could easily suppress and kill them with the talismans.

"By the way, Adoptive Father, where did Daoist Guan, who guided me into cultivation back then, go?"

Lan Chang'an asked.

Daoist Guan had been a down-and-out rogue cultivator. Several years ago, severely wounded, he had fled to the Raging River Gang's territory and was taken in by Lan Chang'an.

It was also this man who had led Lan Chang'an onto the immortal path.

"After Daoist Guan sent you to the immortal sect's assessment, he stayed in Hengshui Prefecture for two months before leaving without saying goodbye..."

Qi Jingyun recalled.

"Two months?"

Lan Chang'an could not help suspecting that Daoist Guan had learned he failed the sect assessment and lost interest in investing in him.

The next day, Lan Chang'an did not remain at the Raging River Gang.

At his adopted father's request, he left behind a copy of the Open Source Scripture and drifted away.

If mortals could cultivate this attribute-less Open Source Scripture, it would prove they possessed cultivation aptitude.

"In this life, I have no clan or relatives. There is not much left in the mortal world for me to worry over."

Light in both body and mind, Lan Chang'an boarded a small skiff and drifted downstream.

Over the following month or so, he traveled through the rivers and lakes.

In the stillness of deep night, he meditated aboard the boat, cultivating the Ancient Wood Evergreen Art and absorbing the mysterious Aura of Time.

Lan Chang'an discovered that although cultivating mana in the mortal world made progress difficult, it did not affect the Evergreen Art's absorption of the Aura of Time.

He consumed Qi Nourishing Pills and used Spirit Stones to make up for the shortfall in mana advancement.

Until the time he had agreed upon with Li Ergou drew near.

Lan Chang'an returned to Hengshui Prefecture City.

Inside the Royal Marquis Estate,

Li Ergou had arrived only half a day earlier. His face was clouded with sorrow, evidently from having recently parted with his family.

Besides the two of them, another cultivator was visiting the estate.

"Brother Lu, let me introduce you. This is Zhang Tieshan, an Outer Sect disciple of Golden Cloud Valley."

Lin Yi welcomed in a sturdy young man with slightly dark skin.

"Zhang Tieshan?"

Lan Chang'an sized up the simply dressed young man at the Qi Refining Third Layer.

He seemed familiar somehow, and the name rang a bell.

"Haha! Zhang Tieshan took the sect assessment with us three years ago and won first place in the third trial, the Illusory Heart Platform. Brother Lu, remember now?"

Lin Yi laughed heartily.

"So it is Daoist Zhang. A pleasure, a pleasure."

After thinking briefly, Lan Chang'an did remember him.

Three years ago, he had only just recovered his memories and had not paid attention to who took first place on the Illusory Heart Platform.

Still, this person had indeed been present during the assessment, though he had not stood out much.

For him to take first place on the Illusory Heart Platform, he was certainly no ordinary person!

"Daoist Lu, I have heard of your deeds as well."

Zhang Tieshan smiled, without any airs.

His deeds within the sect?

Lan Chang'an did not need to think much. It was probably the amusing tale of an "older" Mid-Grade Spiritual Root being eliminated in the assessment and having no choice but to marry into a cultivation lineage.

Lan Chang'an was curious why Zhang Tieshan had come to the Royal Marquis Estate.

Zhang Tieshan was not an Immortal Seedling from Hengshui Prefecture.

"Daoist Lu, I sought you out this time because of a sect mission..."

After chatting for a while, Zhang Tieshan explained his purpose.

"Brother Lu, that Haunted House is not very dangerous. It is only that the Evil Ghost is somewhat cunning. Although Daoist Zhang can defeat it, it will be difficult for him to capture it alone, so he needs our assistance."

Lin Yi clearly knew the situation and added an explanation.

"A Haunted House with an Evil Ghost?" Li Ergou shuddered.

It turned out Zhang Tieshan had accepted a sect mission to exterminate a ghost in a Haunted House within Hengshui Prefecture City.

The owner of that Haunted House was a descendant of a Golden Cloud Valley cultivator.

After learning the details, Lan Chang'an felt the danger truly was not high.

However, he did not want to go.

For one thing, Zhang Tieshan had not clearly mentioned any reward. Perhaps, as an Outer Sect disciple, his pockets were already empty.

For another, the ghost might not seem powerful, but who could say there were no other hidden circumstances or traps?

The risks and rewards were not proportional.

Although he was willing to befriend Zhang Tieshan, he did not want to take an unnecessary risk.

"What unfortunate timing. The deadline for us to return to our lineage is approaching, so we cannot delay outside. I must disappoint Brother Zhang."

Lan Chang'an declined tactfully.

"Right! There isn't enough time. My wife is urging me hard, so I can't go to that Haunted House."

Li Ergou quickly chimed in.

Zhang Tieshan's expression shifted slightly as he froze for a moment.

He seemingly had not expected that, for merely lending a hand to eliminate a ghost and rid the world of harm, Lan Chang'an would refuse to do him this favor.