Two Foundation Establishment Cultivators

"What! All the cultivators at the family residence have vanished?"

An hour later, Lan Chang'an looked at the young Mu Family girl who had returned with the news, suspecting he had misheard.

After confirming it several times, the girl's eyes reddened, and she stood there at a complete loss.

Not a single cultivator remained at the family residence. Only ordinary mortals were left in Jade Moon Mountain Villa and its surroundings.

Lan Chang'an realized that he might have overlooked some crucial intelligence.

"Could the Mu Family have foreseen Liang Shaotian's attack and hidden all their cultivators?"

After all, the Mu Family currently had no Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator to hold the fort. Faced with the evil cultivator Liang Shaotian, they had no power to resist.

Another two hours passed.

As dawn began to break, Mu Family cultivators finally came to investigate, moving with utmost caution.

"You... are all unharmed?"

Their jaws nearly dropped in shock.

Before long, Mu Maode, Mu Xiuyun, and the others arrived at the Medicine Garden one after another.

Everyone found it hard to believe.

If a few people had died or been injured, they could have understood.

Yet not a single person in the entire Medicine Garden had suffered any casualties.

"Liang Shaotian didn't kill anyone?"

Suppressing the astonishment in his heart, Mu Maode asked about what had happened.

"While I was patrolling the Medicine Garden, I suddenly sensed a terrifying Demonic Path aura. Knowing I was no match for it, I had everyone hide..."

"During the time I was unconscious, I don't know what happened. When I woke up, I discovered that almost none of the precious spirit herbs in the Medicine Garden remained."

Lan Chang'an explained the situation, while Li Ergou and the others added details from the side.

The entire account was too simple, making it difficult to find any flaw in it.

After listening, Mu Maode praised him. "Lan Chang'an, you truly are alert and composed in the face of danger."

He had been the one to override all objections and appoint Lan Chang'an as the Medicine Garden Guardian.

For now, that decision had indeed proven correct.

Mu Maode did not know that, in the unseen workings of fate, this decision had spared the Mu Family from disaster.

Without Lan Chang'an, given the evil cultivator Liang Shaotian's speed, after plundering the Medicine Garden, he would most likely have gone on to slaughter his way to the Mu Family residence.

Although Mu Xiuyun had discovered traces of the evil cultivator and returned in time to deliver the warning, her speed could not compare to that of a Foundation Establishment Realm evil cultivator. She might even have run straight into him.

"Hard to believe that the notorious evil cultivator Liang Shaotian could have a merciful moment too."

Mu Xiuyun stood silently for a long while before speaking.

Her lovely face was haggard, with faint bloodshot streaks at the corners of her eyes. Her bright, starry eyes occasionally turned toward Lan Chang'an, revealing concern and lingering fear.

"According to our intelligence, Liang Shaotian generally cannot be bothered to attack low-level cultivators who flee. Lan Chang'an's split-second decision was extremely correct!"

Mu Maode praised Lan Chang'an's calm wit once more.

"What exactly did Liang Shaotian do?"

Lan Chang'an could not directly ask why all the Mu Family cultivators had run away.

Mu Maode gave a dry cough, looking somewhat embarrassed.

Mu Xiuyun smiled brightly and began recounting the intelligence regarding Liang Shaotian's slaughter and plunder at the Zheng Family.

After hearing it, Lan Chang'an understood the truth of the matter.

If he had been the one steering the Mu Family, he might have made the same choice.

Looking back on this incident.

As the person who had frightened Liang Shaotian away, Lan Chang'an knew there was still one small doubt.

That was why Liang Shaotian had not gone to the Mu Family residence after "plundering" the Medicine Garden.

The Mu Family cultivators had all fled at the time. Perhaps they believed Liang Shaotian had come, found the place empty as a deserted tower, and did not dare linger for long.

Or perhaps Liang Shaotian had halted his plans for some reason.

The truth of the matter.

Likely only Lan Chang'an and Liang Shaotian knew.

"My cultivation and seniority are insufficient. Now that the fighting at the front-line Mine Area has stopped, I ask that the position of Medicine Garden Guardian be taken up by someone in the clan at the Qi Refining Late-Stage."

Taking advantage of the Mu Family Head's presence, Lan Chang'an made the request himself.

He felt the Medicine Garden had bad feng shui. In less than a year, it had encountered two crises.

One had been an insider traitor, and the other an evil cultivator.

"Lan Chang'an, you are a lucky general of our Mu Family. Even if you do not serve as the Medicine Garden's chief, you can still assist in guarding it."

Mu Maode tried to persuade him.

"Now that the conflict between the two families has ceased and the evil cultivator Liang Shaotian is being hunted by the sect, he absolutely will not dare remain nearby for long. You can rest assured..."

Lan Chang'an understood this reasoning, yet he still declined.

If he remained at the Medicine Garden, he would have to contribute some effort no matter what.

Though it was close to the family residence, it was slightly less safe.

At the family residence, he only needed to refine some Talismans each year. It was safer and more leisurely.

"Very well. Someone will come to take over from you in two days."

Mu Maode knew he could not force the matter.

At present, half the cultivators from the front-line Mine Area had withdrawn, though there were rather many wounded.

The Mu Family Head left ahead of time.

Mu Xiuyun remained behind to tally the Medicine Garden's losses and handle the aftermath.

"Lan Chang'an, there are some details I need you to verify."

Mu Xiuyun's gaze shifted as she pressed her lips together in a smile.

Lan Chang'an had originally wanted to slack off, but at the Mu Family Eldest Miss's request, he could only accompany her.

As they walked through the Medicine Garden.

Lan Chang'an caught a trace of a lingering, tranquil fragrance. He did not know whether it came from the gentle and serene Eldest Miss or the nearby spirit flowers and exotic grasses.

"Lan Chang'an, do you truly not wish to marry any woman from the Mu Family?"

Mu Xiuyun moved with lotus-like steps, her starry eyes lowered, as though she wished to continue her matchmaking attempt from last time.

"I do not."

This time, Lan Chang'an answered with a clear conscience.

Before, he had come to the Mu Family to enjoy their cultivation Dao Field for free. Having taken from others, he naturally lacked some confidence.

Now, as a veteran first-rank Talisman Master, he and the Mu Family were partners.

"Why?"

Mu Xiuyun unconsciously clenched the fabric of her skirt in her delicate hand and looked at him in confusion.

"The Cultivation World is ever-changing, and Qi Refining Realm cultivators are little more than cannon fodder. Only after reaching Foundation Establishment can one gain the first foothold to stand firm. Otherwise, one may not even be safe from morning to night—how could I dare marry and have children?"

Lan Chang'an repeated the explanation he had once given Li Ergou.

Had the recent conflict between the two families not proven those words?

Mu Xiuyun lightly bit her vermilion lips, wanting to speak but stopping herself.

Given Lan Chang'an's age, spiritual root, and current cultivation, his hope of Foundation Establishment was practically nonexistent.

Even Mu Xiuyun, who was around the same age as Lan Chang'an and had recently advanced to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, still faced a worrying path toward Foundation Establishment.

Compared to sects and great aristocratic families, it was simply too difficult for small cultivation families to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill!

"By the way, Eldest Miss. You said earlier that Liang Shaotian was notorious. Do you know why he is wanted by the sect?"

Lan Chang'an changed the subject, breaking the atmosphere between a lone man and a lone woman.

"It is said that Liang Shaotian violated and murdered a female disciple of the Profound Sound Pavilion..."

Disgust rose in Mu Xiuyun's eyes as she spoke with difficulty.

Lan Chang'an was stunned.

He had briefly dealt with Liang Shaotian before.

He truly could not tell that the man was capable of such beastly acts.

Two days later.

The Mu Family sent over a Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator to take over Lan Chang'an's post.

He was even an acquaintance.

"Brother Yunfei, congratulations on advancing to the Qi Refining Late-Stage."

Lan Chang'an looked at the one-armed young man before him. A dark purple burn scar had appeared on his once handsome face.

It reminded him of Zheng Wugong, who had once intercepted and killed Immortal Seedlings. That man had a centipede-like scar across his face. Had he been as handsome as Mu Yunfei in his youth?

"Brother Chang'an, I heard about your achievements at the Medicine Garden. Bringing you into the family back then was the Mu Family's most correct decision."

Mu Yunfei split into a smile. The scar on his face twitched slightly, lending him several more traces of fierceness than before.

Through their conversation.

Lan Chang'an learned that after fighting desperately on the front lines between life and death, Mu Yunfei had awakened his potential and advanced to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

There were usually two ways to break through a bottleneck.

One was to slowly polish one's cultivation over a long period; the second was to consume a Breakthrough Pill to increase the chance of success.

Mu Yunfei's case belonged to the uncommon third kind: awakening one's potential at the limit between life and death and shattering the shackles.

This method of breaking through a bottleneck had harsh requirements and carried the greatest risk.

Who would have thought that Mu Yunfei, after losing an arm, could break through in the most difficult way?

Although Lan Chang'an admired him, he kept his distance from such a breakthrough method.

In his view, only those legendary masters of destiny could repeatedly break through at the limits of life and death, turning peril into safety.

In this life, Lan Chang'an intended to steadily enter the Nascent Soul Realm, live a long life, and build his path with caution.

He had no desire to attempt an act with such an abysmally low margin for error.

After bidding farewell to Mu Yunfei, Li Ergou, and the others, Lan Chang'an returned to Jade Moon Mountain Villa and the familiar residence in its side courtyard.

On the third day after Lan Chang'an returned to the family.

Sect disciples came to the Mu Family to investigate clues concerning the evil cultivator Liang Shaotian.

They only went to the Medicine Garden to ask about the circumstances.

As one of the parties involved, Lan Chang'an was not summoned for questioning.

After asking a few simple questions, the sect disciples quickly departed.

Lan Chang'an believed fewer troubles were better than more, so naturally he did not step forward.

He shut himself away to cultivate and study the Cloud Sand Body Refining Art he had obtained from Liang Shaotian.

Body Refinement Techniques were rather obscure.

In his Previous Life, he had needed to cultivate, study the Talisman Dao, and labor for his Lineage. He simply had no energy to delve into this field and had never collected such techniques.

Two months later.

While in seclusion, Lan Chang'an suddenly sensed something and looked toward Jade Moon Lake.

"Mu Ancestor has returned?"

"No! There are actually two Foundation Establishment Realm auras!"

Lan Chang'an's heart jolted.

One of the weakening Foundation Establishment Realm auras belonged to Mu Ancestor.

The other Foundation Establishment Realm aura was rather unstable and easy to sense.

"A newly born Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator!"

Lan Chang'an immediately came to a conclusion.

As expected.

That afternoon, Mu Renlong appeared at Jade Moon Mountain Villa as a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator.

The second Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator!

The entire Mu Family erupted in excitement, celebrating from top to bottom.

Amid the fervent atmosphere, only Lan Chang'an frowned slightly, his expression less than pleasant.

"Two Foundation Establishment cultivators? It seems the struggle between the families is not over yet."

Because the balance between the two great families had been broken!

The very next day.

The Jade Moon Lake Mu Family convened a full-family mobilization meeting, preparing to counterattack the Zheng Family and wipe away their former humiliation!