Evil Cultivator Shaotian

The two great cultivation lineages called a truce and made peace, and the situation temporarily stabilized.

Yet Lan Chang'an, within the Mu Family, remained far from optimistic.

He had confirmed that Mu Ancestor had only three to five years left to live.

The Zheng Family had ceased fighting; perhaps if they endured for a few more years, they could simply wait for the Mu Family to die out.

However, it was said that Zheng Ancestor did not have much lifespan left either—only ten or twenty years at most.

Lan Chang'an often went to the mountaintops to sense Mu Ancestor's condition from afar.

If Mu Ancestor was to die one day, he would definitely know before the Mu Family's upper ranks did.

He could achieve this through the Soul Imprint of the First Life within the Nine Imprint Tablet, as well as the Ancient Wood Evergreen Art's acute sensitivity to the aura of lifespan.

"Hm? Why has he left again?"

Three days later, Lan Chang'an stood atop a high peak, and his expression abruptly changed.

Mu Ancestor had returned to Moon Heart Island only three days ago.

Yet he had once again vanished from Lan Chang'an's senses.

Even an ordinary Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator would not have noticed that.

What Lan Chang'an did not know was that—

On that same day, Second Elder Mu Renlong had also quietly disappeared from the Mu Family.

Three hundred miles from the Mu Family Medicine Garden.

Two Black-Robed Bamboo-Hatted Persons rode Spirit Steed Horses, one before the other, quietly leaving the Mu Family grounds beneath the cover of night.

"Forget it. The two lineages have stopped fighting anyway."

Unable to make sense of it, Lan Chang'an stopped dwelling on the matter.

Perhaps Mu Ancestor had concealed his aura, or perhaps he had gone out to handle some business.

Neither Lan Chang'an nor the Mu Family knew.

Three thousand miles away, the Zheng Family was facing a man-made calamity!

Several hundred miles from the Zheng Family grounds.

There was a Medicine Garden built along a river, similar in scale to the Mu Family's.

At this moment, dark clouds shrouded the vast Medicine Garden, while wails and screams rang out from within.

"Evil Cultivator! Run..."

"This man is at least at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer! We can't fight him—quickly send word to the family for help!"

In the depths of the Medicine Garden.

A Disheveled Man floated in midair, black qi curling around him and exposing half of his pale face.

"You should think this through. Our Zheng Family has a Foundation Establishment Ancestor overseeing it."

On the ground, a Qi Refining Sixth Layer Medicine Garden Guardian knelt halfway down, preferring death to submission.

"Too noisy!"

The Disheveled Man raised his eyelids, revealing black pupils that were cold and terrifying.

Pfft!

A sickle-shaped streak of crimson-black light swept past, cutting the Medicine Garden Guardian cleanly in two at the waist.

As for the low-level Qi Refining cultivators and mortal servants who had fled.

The Disheveled Man could not even be bothered to spare them a glance. He extended a long, fair hand and plucked precious spirit herbs one after another through the air.

A short while later.

Having reaped a rich harvest, the Disheveled Man flew toward the Zheng Family grounds.

"How dare you plunder the Zheng Family Medicine Garden!"

Two Qi Refining Late-Stage cultivators flew over from the direction of the Zheng Family grounds, shouting sternly.

One was at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, the other at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

The plump middle-aged man at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer bore a seventy-percent resemblance to the deceased Zheng Yuanhua.

He was the Zheng Family head, Zheng Yuanqing.

"How dare I? I was just about to take a look at the Zheng Family treasure vault."

The Disheveled Man sneered. Black qi swept around him, leaving only an afterimage where he had stood.

The next instant.

His fair hand rolled up a mass of Black Blade Wind Qi, howling as it swallowed the two men.

"Not good! Foundation Establishment Realm!"

Zheng Yuanqing's face drained of color. Without a second thought, he slapped out two High-Grade Talismans and deployed two defensive artifacts, retreating as he blocked.

"Ah!"

A scream rang out. The Qi Refining Eighth Layer elder at his side had his mid-grade defensive artifact sliced in two by the Black Blade Wind Qi, and his mana barrier shattered in an instant.

His entire body was ground into blood-stained fragments by the Black Blade Wind Qi.

"Black Wind Qi! You are... Liang Shaotian?"

Zheng Yuanqing's scalp went numb. Terror overwhelmed him as the barriers from the two High-Grade Talismans before him shattered within breaths, while one of his two defensive artifacts had already been destroyed.

With death looming before him, he was plunged into utter despair.

"Hm? You actually know Liang's name?"

The Disheveled Man inexplicably halted his attack. With his hands behind his back, he looked at Zheng Yuanqing with slight surprise.

"Young Master Liang's great name has long thundered in this lowly one's ears."

Having escaped disaster, Zheng Yuanqing's clothes were soaked through with cold sweat.

"What is your status in the Zheng Family?" The Disheveled Man showed half his side profile, his expression unfathomably wicked.

"This lowly one is the Zheng Family head." Zheng Yuanqing hunched over.

"Good. Take me to the treasure vault." The Disheveled Man ordered.

"What? The treasure vault... Yes, yes, yes!"

Before the Disheveled Man could change his expression, Zheng Yuanqing immediately agreed and obediently led the way.

Only then did the Disheveled Man nod in satisfaction.

Just as they neared the Zheng Family, a Foundation Establishment Realm spiritual pressure swept over them.

A scorching aura permeated the air.

"Liang Shaotian, why did you plunder my Zheng Family Medicine Garden and slaughter Zheng Family cultivators?"

Among the clouds, a gray-robed elder stood upon a crimson Flame Cloud and thundered in rebuke.

"Liang took those by his own ability! Naturally, those who got in my way had to die."

The Disheveled Man was unconcerned, another mass of Black Blade Wind Qi gathering in his palm.

"You go too far!"

With a sweep of his sleeve, Zheng Ancestor sent an Iron Fan flying forth.

The Iron Fan trembled and split into six flaming fan phantoms, which rushed straight at the Disheveled Man.

"Zheng Ancestor, if you can take ten of Liang's moves without dying, Liang will leave immediately."

With a wave of his hand, the Disheveled Man sent forth Black Blade Wind Qi threaded with arcs of lightning, crackling and popping.

Wind and thunder interwove, steeped in chilling evil.

The six flaming fan phantoms shattered in an instant.

The next moment, the Disheveled Man split into three figures, sweeping up billowing black wind as he charged into the clouds, forcing Zheng Ancestor to retreat again and again.

"Younger... stop! This old man admits defeat."

Zheng Ancestor's terrified voice soon came from within the clouds.

The Disheveled Man remained unmoved, cold light glinting in his eyes as his assault grew increasingly savage.

"Young Master Liang, please show mercy. This old man failed to recognize greatness..."

Zheng Ancestor's voice became ever more humble and deferential.

Only then did the Disheveled Man stop, saying blandly, "Let's go see my treasure vault."

"Yes, yes. This treasure vault has been prepared by my Zheng Family for Young Master Liang for many years..."

Blood trickled from Zheng Ancestor's mouth as he forced a smile.

Half an hour later.

Escorted out by the Zheng Family group, the Disheveled Man left the Zheng Family treasure vault.

"Oh, right, Young Master Liang. The Mu Family, two or three thousand miles from our Zheng Family—their treasure vault and Medicine Garden reserves exceed those of our lineage..."

Before parting, Zheng Ancestor offered a "kind" reminder.

The Zheng Family had suffered a bloody misfortune, running into such a terrifying Evil Cultivator.

The enemy Mu Family ought to have a taste of that same misfortune.

"Liang does not need you to teach him how to do things."

The Disheveled Man coldly left those words behind and flew toward the distant mountains.

Only after he landed within a ravine.

Pfft!

The Disheveled Man spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, coughing.

His cultivation also fell back to the Qi Refining Realm.

"Cough! There are too few treasure materials and spirit herbs here suitable for healing my injuries..."

Two days later.

The Mu Family, Moon Heart Island.

"Is the news true?"

"The Evil Cultivator Liang Shaotian, wanted in the north of Liang Kingdom, actually plundered the Zheng Family!"

"The Zheng Family Medicine Garden and treasure vault were both plundered by Liang Shaotian. They say that fiend kills anyone he sees."

"Zheng Ancestor was injured, and one elder was slain by Liang Shaotian."

Several Qi Refining Late-Stage upper-ranking members of the Mu Family erupted into uproar.

The news was truly beyond belief.

"What a pity Old Ancestor and Renlong aren't here. Otherwise, this would be the time to strike at the Zheng Family..."

"Liang Shaotian did not destroy the Zheng Family. Is it possible that he might come plunder our Medicine Garden and treasure vault?"

A gentle, graceful woman's voice sounded.

The speaker was Mu Xiuyun, whose cultivation had reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

After she had driven off Ge Alchemist and protected the Medicine Garden last time, the family recorded a merit for her and exchanged it for a Breakthrough Pill.

"Xiuyun, are you saying Liang Shaotian would dare attack our Mu Family as well? Isn't he afraid of being caught by sect experts?"

Family Head Mu Maode found it hard to believe.

If it had been him, after committing a crime once, he would surely lie low and keep a low profile for a while.

"It is said that this man is exceptionally rampant. We cannot fail to guard against him," an elder said.

"Quickly reinforce the formation and the treasure vault restrictions, and move some of the precious supplies."

"Right, notify the Medicine Garden side as soon as possible..."

Before the words had even fallen, Mu Xiuyun was already flying away.

In the night.

Mu Xiuyun stood upon a Silver Ruler, worry on her face as she flew toward the Medicine Garden.

When she was still twenty or thirty miles from the Medicine Garden.

Mu Xiuyun suddenly saw a mass of dark clouds in the distance, faintly radiating the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

It was hanging over the Medicine Garden.

"Not good! Lan Chang'an..."

Mu Xiuyun's pretty face turned pale. She froze in midair, terror and grief shining in her starry eyes.

One breath later.

She snapped out of her daze, clenched her pearly teeth, changed direction, and sped toward the family grounds.

"Medicine Garden steward, come out and see me!"

The Disheveled Man floated above the Medicine Garden, his icy black gaze fixed upon the residential area.

Upon arriving, he found the Medicine Garden completely empty.

No one shouted in defiance, no one fled in panic; there was only deathly silence.

He immediately felt slighted.

The life auras within the Medicine Garden could not evade his senses.

At this moment, in the basement beneath the courtyard.

Lan Chang'an secretly lamented his misfortune.

Not long ago, he had been patrolling the Medicine Garden when he suddenly sensed a powerful Demonic Path aura approaching.

It was incredibly fast and absolutely belonged to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The sense of threat it gave him far surpassed Mu Ancestor's.

Nor was it Zheng Ancestor.

In that flash of lightning and spark of flint, Lan Chang'an made a decision.

He had everyone in the Medicine Garden hide.

He himself hid in the basement beneath the courtyard, circulating the Evergreen Art and transforming into a withered log, devoid of any presence.

Based on his experience, there were two possibilities at this moment:

First.

That Demonic Path Foundation Establishment cultivator had merely passed by.

If he showed himself and fled, he might pique the other man's interest.

At that man's speed, no one in the Medicine Garden could outrun him.

Second.

He had come for the Medicine Garden, nothing more than to plunder precious spirit herbs.

As for little ants like them in the early and middle stages of Qi Refining, as long as they hid, the man could not be bothered to hunt them down one by one.

The facts proved that it was the latter.

After arriving at the Medicine Garden, he headed straight for the Medicine Field area, with no intention of killing.

Lan Chang'an had just breathed a sigh of relief.

But unexpectedly—

The man did not immediately loot the precious medicinal herbs.

Instead, for some inexplicable reason, he grew dissatisfied and demanded that the person in charge of the Medicine Garden come out.