Sudden Bad News

Lan Chang'an placed his palm on the surface of the eggshell and faintly sensed a heartbeat and subtle movements within.

He confirmed that the Mystic Water Turtle had entered the hatching stage.

For some time afterward, he fed a portion of Evergreen Mana into the turtle egg every day, nourishing it with energy.

Whenever he sent in Evergreen Mana, the life inside the shell would transmit intimate, dependent spiritual ripples.

Lan Chang'an believed that once the turtle cub was born, even without a Spirit Pet Contract, it would acknowledge him as its master.

Two months later.

Crack!

A tiny turtle, smaller than a baby's palm, adorably struggled to break free of its shell. Gathering every last ounce of strength, it pushed out its head first, then its body and limbs, finally crawling out of the eggshell.

After emerging, the Mystic Water Turtle Cub's silly little eyes nervously looked around in every direction before quickly locking onto Lan Chang'an.

Sensing his familiar aura, the turtle cub crawled over affectionately and rubbed against Lan Chang'an's wrist.

Lan Chang'an spread open his palm. The Mystic Water Turtle Cub crawled onto it, taking up only a third of his palm. It kept rubbing against the aura on his hand, nearly toppling over in the process. It was utterly adorable.

After the Mystic Water Turtle Cub hatched.

The Earth Rock Rat inside Lan Chang'an's Spirit Pet Bag became unusually restless.

Squeak, squeak!

The massive Earth Rock Rat was released. Staring at the Mystic Water Turtle Cub on Lan Chang'an's palm, a flash of cold light passed through its rat eyes as it bared its teeth.

Startled, the Mystic Water Turtle Cub scurried into Lan Chang'an's clothes.

Bang!

Lan Chang'an kicked the Earth Rock Rat. It squeaked in pain, its killing intent fading as it put on a wronged expression.

"From now on, it is your master too. If you dare entertain any crooked thoughts, I'll send you to the Beast Fighting Arena..."

After warning it, Lan Chang'an put the Earth Rock Rat back into his Storage Bag.

Leaving aside the difference between a Middle Grade Bloodline and an Earth Grade Bloodline.

The Mystic Water Turtle had been personally nurtured and hatched by him, infused with his painstaking care.

The Earth Rock Rat was merely Spoils of War he had seized along the way.

Naturally, the two could not be compared.

Lan Chang'an fed the turtle cub some Spirit Liquid and examined its physical condition at the same time.

The Jade Cylinder Zhou Qingxuan had given him contained an illustrated guide to Mystic Water Turtles, including juvenile turtles.

Lan Chang'an compared them, and their appearances were basically identical.

Only the patterns on their shells differed slightly.

The shell patterns of Lan Chang'an's turtle cub carried faint leaf-like veins, subtle enough to escape notice without careful inspection.

The turtle cub was very small, so Lan Chang'an normally kept it in the Spirit Pet Bag, where he created a damp little environment for it.

This turtle was rather clingy. Every day, Lan Chang'an would take it out to interact with it and send it a small amount of Evergreen Mana.

Mystic Water Turtles were primarily water-attributed, though they also possessed some wood attributes.

The one Lan Chang'an raised could spit pale green Water Bubbles accompanied by faint mana fluctuations after being born for only a few days.

Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market.

Lan Chang'an's life remained much the same, without much change.

Though he had gained another pet, Mystic Water Turtles were actually quite easy to raise.

It neither made trouble nor caused a fuss.

It consumed few resources as well, nowhere near as costly as some Earth Grade spirit beasts. Its only drawback was its slow growth.

In the blink of an eye, one or two years passed.

Five years had already passed since the auction.

Lan Chang'an turned forty-three.

His cultivation was nearing the peak of Qi Refining Sixth Layer. He needed another year or two before advancing to Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

He looked around twenty years old, in the full bloom of youth.

By then, the Mystic Water Turtle Cub had grown to the size of an adult's palm, and the mana fluctuations it emitted had reached Qi Refining Early-Stage.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Lan Chang'an felt that his Mystic Water Turtle was growing slightly faster than described in the Jade Cylinder.

After feeding the Mystic Water Turtle, Lan Chang'an went down to the first floor of the shop.

"Eldest Miss, you're back?"

Mu Xiuyun, dressed in a long emerald gauze dress, was checking the Talismans at the shop counter.

Two years earlier, Mu Xiuyun had advanced to Qi Refining Ninth Layer. After that, she was often absent from the shop.

Lan Chang'an did not know whether the Mu Family had matters for her to handle or whether she was planning for Foundation Establishment.

Fortunately, the shop's business was stable for now, neither particularly good nor bad, and the two apprentices had grown up.

Mu Shan and Mu Ershun had become first-rank low-grade Talisman Masters. The low-grade Talismans they drew could now turn a profit.

Among them, Mu Shan was skilled at handling people and affairs, serving as the shop's second manager.

"Chang'an, this is a Spirit Pigeon Flying Letter delivered by the Marketplace post station."

Mu Xiuyun brushed her hair bun aside, graceful and soft in her charm, as she handed a letter to Lan Chang'an.

The envelope bore the mark of Golden Cloud Valley. It had been sent by Zhao Siyao.

In the Cultivation World, fixed cultivation gathering places such as major Marketplaces, sects, and Lineages had post stations for exchanging letters.

Spirit Pigeon Flying Letters were considered one of the faster methods.

Lan Chang'an used a special method to undo the Restriction on the envelope and opened the letter.

A few years ago, Zhao Siyao had gone to Yellow Dragon Immortal City near the Black Mist Mountain Range. She and Lan Chang'an had remained in occasional contact.

Recently, Zhao Siyao had more or less gathered the resources for a Foundation Establishment Pill and had returned to Golden Cloud Valley.

"Chang'an, what's wrong?"

Mu Xiuyun looked over at him with concern.

Lan Chang'an had read only half the letter when his expression changed sharply and his brows drew together.

His face was grave as he remained silent for a long while.

"Lin Yi... died from severe injuries?"

Mu Xiuyun took the letter, her lovely face draining of color as her slender fingers trembled faintly.

"What? Uncle Lin passed away?"

Mu Ershun, who was busy nearby, cried out in shock upon hearing their conversation.

Lin Yi had been his father's friend.

Over the past twenty years, Lin Yi had visited the Mu Family several times and had also come to the Marketplace during the auction.

Their last meeting had been five years ago.

At the time, Uncle Lin had even asked his proud son, Lin Lu, to spend more time associating with Mu Ershun.

Who could have expected such terrible news to arrive today?

Mu Xiuyun set down the letter and said softly, "Chang'an, are you going over there?"

"Yes."

Lan Chang'an nodded. After all, they had shared more than twenty years of friendship.

As a Talisman Master, he often conducted business with Lin Yi's Hidden Immortal Pavilion. The letters he had received filled an entire box.

Zhao Siyao was currently on her way to Hengshui Prefecture.

As for the cause of Lin Yi's death.

The letter stated that Lin Yi had led cultivators from Hidden Immortal Pavilion in assisting Golden Cloud Valley disciples to encircle a wanted Evil Cultivator. It should have been a sure thing, yet they unexpectedly fell into an ambush.

In the end, although they repelled the Evil Cultivator, Lin Yi was too gravely injured for any cure to save him.

By the time he was sent back to Hengshui Prefecture, he had already died of severe injuries.

"Let's find Changqing first."

Lan Chang'an boarded Mu Xiuyun's Flying Boat, and the two set off together.

This was the first time Lan Chang'an had left the Marketplace in ten years.

"Huh! The sun rose in the west today. That Turtle Talisman Master actually went out?"

Cultivators who knew Lan Chang'an in the Marketplace clicked their tongues in wonder as they watched him leave.

Bamboo Leaf Mountain and its surroundings were generally still peaceful these days. The few Robber Cultivators around were not enough to amount to anything.

The Evil-Faced Flying Eagle from back then existed only in rumors now, having vanished without a trace long ago.

Even if he appeared.

With Lan Chang'an's attainments in the Body Refinement Art and the Earth Rock Rat's first-rank peak strength, Lan Chang'an was confident he could handle him even without using his Talisman trump cards.

Besides, Mu Xiuyun, a Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator, was at his side.

The Flying Boat was swift, reaching the Mu Family's grounds at Jade Moon Lake in less than a day.

Ten years had passed since his last visit.

Seeing Jade Moon Lake, its rippling waters shimmering with a jade-like luster, Lan Chang'an unexpectedly felt a trace of familiarity.

Jade Moon Mountain Villa, along with the surrounding Spirit Fields and Medicine Gardens, had changed considerably.

The number of Lineage cultivators had clearly increased, with many new young faces among them.

The Flying Boat descended into Li Ergou's courtyard.

"Lin Yi died? The Young Marquis is dead?"

Upon learning the terrible news, Li Ergou's plump facial flesh quivered as he stood stunned for a long while.

Perhaps the deepest impression Lin Yi had left in his heart was still that young marquis from twenty years ago, radiating regal nobility and inspiring awe.

Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou discussed it and decided to travel to Hengshui Prefecture to mourn the deceased.

"Chang'an, I'll go with you."

Mu Xiuyun said softly.

"No need. You're part of the Mu Family's upper ranks now, and you have important matters to attend to."

Lan Chang'an shook his head.

He knew Mu Xiuyun was very busy, traveling between the Lineage and the shop while also planning for Foundation Establishment.

Besides, Mu Xiuyun had no particular friendship with Lin Yi.

The tenderness in Mu Xiuyun's eyes dimmed slightly. She gave a soft acknowledgment. "Then I'll lend you the Flying Boat."

Several days later.

The Flying Boat arrived at a valley a hundred li south of Hengshui City.

This was a Hidden Immortal Pavilion stronghold, concealed by an Illusion Formation.

Lin Yi had left word before his death that he wished to be buried here.

After landing in the valley.

Lan Chang'an saw five or six cultivators seated cross-legged in one corner of the valley.

There stood a tomb, with a gravestone erected before it.

Zhao Siyao, dressed in white, sat beside a slightly dark-skinned young man and waved at the two of them.

"Uncle Lu, Uncle Li."

Lin Lu knelt before the gravestone. Blood streaked the corners of his eyes, and his face was haggard and bleak.

Li Ergou stared blankly at the name on the gravestone.

Suddenly, his emotions collapsed, and he burst into loud sobs.

This caused Lin Lu, kneeling beside him, to begin weeping as well.

Lan Chang'an was somewhat surprised. Though Li Ergou and Lin Yi had known each other for a long time, their friendship had never seemed exceptionally deep.

When they first met, Lin Yi had looked down somewhat on Li Ergou.

Li Ergou had been very afraid of that Young Marquis.

Later, after they became friends, they had let bygones be bygones with a laugh and could talk about anything.

Zhao Siyao and several other cultivators came over to console Li Ergou.

"Big Brother, Lin Yi was smarter than me, more capable, and more resourceful. He built a cultivation force with one hand and enjoyed glory for a time. I'm far inferior to him!"

Li Ergou said, wiping away his tears.

"On this long cultivation road, how many more steps can we take than he did? When the time comes, one after another of us..."

Lin Yi's death dealt a severe blow to Li Ergou's Dao heart.

Lin Yi was the first, but he would absolutely not be the last!

The road ahead seemed to be swallowed by darkness.

This pessimism even infected Zhao Siyao and the other cultivators, leaving the atmosphere heavy for a time.

Lan Chang'an lit an incense stick and bowed once toward the gravestone.

He spoke, breaking the silence.

"You are right. We cannot see the end of the Immortal Path, and we may fall upon the Dao Path with every step. But with each additional step, we can behold scenery never seen before, and our immortal fate in this life will not have been in vain. If we fail in this life, there is still the next!"

"I seek not the eternity of the Great Dao; I ask only that the Immortal Path remain evergreen."