Targeted by Someone

The recipe and medicinal ingredients for the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill had all been provided by the Green Ox Demon King. After all these years, Yang Zhengshan had long since studied the recipe inside and out, but this was still his first time refining the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill.

Even though his alchemy had already reached the pinnacle of the Myriad Flower Domain, he remained incomparably cautious about refining the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill.

There was no helping it!

The medicinal ingredients required to refine the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill were simply too precious. There were more than thirty kinds of Third-tier Spiritual Medicine alone, along with more than four hundred kinds of second-tier ingredients.

If he ruined several furnaces in a row, even the Rich Parvenu Green Ox Demon King probably would not be able to bear the loss.

Therefore, Yang Zhengshan had to be extremely careful. He had to make thorough preparations, devote all his attention, and refine the pill with complete concentration.

Not the slightest mistake could be allowed, and not a single detail could be overlooked.

Zhang Hexuan and Yang Zongyuan were both Second-Order Alchemists, so they were more than capable of assisting Yang Zhengshan.

Soon, the Bagua Furnace had been cleaned thoroughly, and all the medicinal ingredients had been prepared. Golden Crow stood beside the Bagua Furnace, staring at the Earthfire Formation below and waiting for Yang Zhengshan's command.

Yang Zhengshan himself inspected everything one more time. Only after confirming that there were no oversights did he begin refining.

He kindled the fire and heated the furnace, added the medicinal ingredients, and carefully observed the reactions between their medicinal properties inside the Alchemy Furnace. Everything proceeded in an orderly fashion, smooth and natural.

The most important thing in refining the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill was patience. The entire process required hundreds of medicinal ingredients, each of which had to be added at a strictly controlled time. Adjustments also had to be made according to the conditions inside the furnace.

This was not a matter of tossing all the ingredients into the Alchemy Furnace in one go and calling it done. Every addition required consideration of the furnace's internal conditions.

The order in which the ingredients were added was not set in stone, either. It had to be revised according to the changes in medicinal properties inside the furnace.

Thus, Yang Zhengshan was utterly absorbed in refining, almost to the point of forgetting himself.

Days passed one after another. Yang Zhengshan, Zhang Hexuan, and Yang Zongyuan remained inside the Pill Hall the entire time. The Pill Hall's Formation had been activated, cutting off everything from the outside world.

Just as Yang Zhengshan was devoting himself wholeheartedly to Alchemy, a Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat flew swiftly across the sky above the Hengshan Mountain Range.

Lin Xiqiu sat inside a pavilion aboard the Cloud Ship with his eyes closed to rest, while Yang Qingyu stood at the bow, gazing out at the surging clouds. Several hundred cultivators and Martial Artists were also aboard the Cloud Ship. Some were cultivating, while others chatted idly. Everything seemed relaxed and comfortable.

This Flying Boat traveled from the Spirit Source Land to the Hengshan Sect for trade. The Spirit Source Land arranged a voyage like this almost every two or three months.

Everyone was already thoroughly familiar with the route, so they all appeared quite relaxed.

Yet one person suddenly grew tense.

Yang Qingyu stood at the bow, her brows tightly furrowed as she searched the clouds ahead with her gaze.

Her brows drew together more and more deeply, and her expression grew increasingly grave. Her body had even gone rigid, while cold sweat poured from her forehead.

Who's watching us?

Golden Core cultivators? And there's more than one!

Yang Qingyu's heart pounded violently. She wanted to turn around and return to the pavilion to report to Lin Xiqiu, but she was afraid of alerting those people.

She sensed the surrounding situation while hesitating indecisively.

"No mistake. There are at least three Golden Core cultivators!"

"Where did these Golden Core cultivators come from? Why are they watching us?"

Yang Qingyu's heart was filled with confusion.

She forcibly suppressed her panic and tried her best to act as though nothing was wrong as she turned and walked toward the pavilion.

She did not know whether those people had failed to notice her or simply did not care whether she detected them. In any case, they made no reaction at all.

The Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat continued onward. Everyone aboard still chatted easily, while Yang Qingyu alone, thanks to her Super Strong perception, felt as though her heart had risen into her throat.

She entered the pavilion and arrived at Lin Xiqiu's room.

"Senior!" Yang Qingyu's voice trembled.

Lin Xiqiu slowly opened his eyes. Seeing that something was wrong with Yang Qingyu's expression, he could not help pausing.

"What is it?"

"I feel—I feel like someone is watching us!" Yang Qingyu even began to stammer.

Lin Xiqiu's expression turned stern. Without revealing anything, he spread out his Spiritual Sense. He did not release it completely or carefully search for hidden people nearby. Instead, he merely swept it casually across the sea of clouds surrounding the Cloud Ship, so as not to alert the enemy.

However, he found nothing unusual.

There were only two possible explanations for this result. Either Yang Qingyu's perception was wrong and no one was watching them, or someone really was watching them but had hidden so well that they had evaded Lin Xiqiu's perception.

Lin Xiqiu instantly rejected the possibility that Yang Qingyu's perception was mistaken.

Yang Qingyu's perception was Super Strong. Back then, when she had only been at the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, she had been able to see through the cultivation of a Golden Core cultivator like him. Now that Yang Qingyu had reached the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, both the strength of her Divine Soul and her perception far surpassed ordinary people. In terms of perception especially, many Golden Core cultivators could not compare with her.

It was not strange that Yang Qingyu could sense something he himself could not.

"How many people are there?" Lin Xiqiu asked.

"There are at least three Golden Core cultivators. Senior, what should we do?" Yang Qingyu was somewhat flustered.

As the saying went, the ignorant were fearless. The others could not sense the auras around the Cloud Ship and did not understand how powerful those auras were, so they naturally felt no panic or fear.

But she could clearly sense those powerful auras, and that perception was frantically warning her, leaving her mind in turmoil and her heart in constant alarm.

Lin Xiqiu enveloped the Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat with his Spiritual Sense. After confirming that there was nothing unusual inside the Cloud Ship, he said softly, "Since they haven't attacked, that means their target isn't just us. It's the Spirit Source Land!"

Although he did not know who was watching them, whoever it was could not possibly have a single Flying Boat as their target.

There was not much on them worth coveting, especially not enough to make several Golden Core cultivators covet it together. Clearly, their target should be the Yang Family's Grotto-Heaven—in other words, the Life Realm Immortal Palace.

"Go change our route. We're not returning to Chunyang Valley. We're going to Wanbao Immortal City instead!" Lin Xiqiu quickly thought of a solution.

A head-on fight was certainly impossible. He was confident that he could escape, but he could not take everyone aboard the Cloud Ship with him.

Nor could they lead the enemy to Chunyang Valley. The Formation there did not possess particularly strong defensive capabilities. If the enemy suddenly attacked, they could easily break through the Formation's defenses and enter the Spirit Source Land.

To prevent the enemy from attacking the Spirit Source Land, directing them toward Wanbao Immortal City was undoubtedly an excellent choice.

"Remember, don't change course immediately. Do it slowly, so they won't notice anything unusual!" Lin Xiqiu added another warning.

"Yes!"

Yang Qingyu's panicked heart settled slightly. She then went to the cockpit and quietly altered the Cloud Ship's route.

Just like that, they approached Wanbao Immortal City at an unhurried pace. At first, Lin Xiqiu was still worried that the enemy might suddenly attack, but as they entered the Wilderness of Ten Thousand Waters and drew closer and closer to Wanbao Immortal City, his hanging heart slowly sank back into place.

"Are they still there?" Lin Xiqiu asked.

"They're still there!"

"Looks like they really are targeting us!"

Yang Qingyu nodded. Her perception was even clearer now. The enemy was hanging behind them, following at a neither-distant-nor-close range.

"Senior, should we send word to the family for reinforcements?"

"We can't send word. The distance is too great, and the Communication Talisman won't be able to reach them. Once we enter Wanbao Immortal City, you all will remain there for the time being. I'll return alone!" Lin Xiqiu said.

Wanbao Immortal City was guarded by the Wanbao Sect. No matter what force one belonged to, no one dared to Act Wildly here. Yang Qingyu would still be safe if she remained there.

He could return on his own. With his abilities, avoiding these people's surveillance and quietly leaving Wanbao Immortal City would not be difficult.

The Cloud Ship slowly docked in the Outer City. Yang Qingyu led everyone to the Yang Family's residence inside White Jade Capital Immortal City, while Lin Xiqiu quietly left Wanbao Immortal City.

After confirming that no one was watching him, Lin Xiqiu sped all the way back to Chunyang Valley.

Outside Wanbao Immortal City, three figures emerged from the ethereal clouds.

Two men and one woman, with the woman at their head.

They came from the Wuchang Ghost Sect. The Wuchang Ghost Sect had been searching for traces of the Yang Family all along, but they had not paid much attention to the Yang Family before and therefore did not know much about its circumstances.

After more than a year of investigation, they learned that the Yang Family had trade dealings with the Hengshan Sect. Thus, they began watching the area around the Hengshan Sect, waiting until Lin Xiqiu took a Flying Boat to the Hengshan Sect.

They had finally found traces of the Yang Family, so they naturally wanted to locate the Yang Family's stronghold and wipe them out in one fell swoop. That was why they had not rushed to attack, but had instead quietly followed behind the Flying Boat.

The Soul Hooking Hall of the Wuchang Ghost Sect likewise had two divisions: the Soul-Locking Division and the Soul-Seizing Division. The woman before them was Ming Gu, the Division Master of the Soul-Locking Division, while the two people beside her were the Soul-Locking Division's Golden Core cultivators, Yi Shang'an and Shangguan Jie.

"Division Master, they couldn't have discovered us, could they?" Shangguan Jie gazed at the bustling Wanbao Immortal City and spoke softly.

Ming Gu had ordinary features and wore a gray robe. She looked just like an ordinary middle-aged woman. However, the aura around her was unusually cold, as though she were constantly radiating chill.

"They shouldn't have," Ming Gu said, though she was not entirely certain.

She knew that there was a Golden Core cultivator aboard that Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat, but she did not know Lin Xiqiu's cultivation or strength, nor did she know his Divine Path Intent.

"Then are we going to wait here?" Shangguan Jie frowned.

"What else can we do? Could we enter Wanbao Immortal City?" Yi Shang'an said.

Wanbao Immortal City was not a place where they could Act Wildly at will. Forget acting recklessly—even entering Wanbao Immortal City was impossible for them.

The Wuchang Ghost Sect's reputation was far too vile, and many people disliked them.

Neither the Wanbao Sect nor the immortals and Great Clans of Wanbao Immortal City liked the Wuchang Ghost Sect.

If they truly entered Wanbao Immortal City, they would likely incur the hostility of the Wanbao Sect.

To avoid clashing with the Wanbao Sect, they could only wait outside the city.

Meanwhile, Lin Xiqiu had already returned to the Spirit Source Land.

He had originally intended to find Yunxiao, but he heard that Yang Zhengshan had emerged from seclusion, so he went to the Pill Hall instead.

Inside the Pill Hall, Yang Zhengshan still sat beside the Alchemy Furnace, with his entire mind immersed in the furnace.

"Master, True Lord Lin is requesting an audience outside!" Zhang Hexuan came to Yang Zhengshan's side and spoke softly.

Yang Zhengshan's expression did not change. In a calm tone, he said, "Let him in!"

He was still focused on the changes in medicinal properties inside the Alchemy Furnace and did not allow himself to be distracted.

"Yes!"

A moment later, Lin Xiqiu entered the Pill Hall. Zhang Hexuan reminded him, "True Lord Lin, Master is refining a pill. Please keep to the point as much as possible!"

Lin Xiqiu nodded in understanding.

"Greetings, Venerable!"

"Mm. What is it?" Yang Zhengshan did not bother with formalities.

"Our Cloud Ship was being watched. According to Qingyu's perception, there should be three Golden Core cultivators. I've currently docked the Cloud Ship in Wanbao Immortal City." Lin Xiqiu explained as concisely as possible.

"Do we know who they are?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

"I can't be certain, but I suspect they may be from the Wuchang Ghost Sect," Lin Xiqiu said.

His suspicion was not unfounded. The Yang Family had few enemies, and White Jade Capital was a sect unknown to the world. There were not many forces that would target the Yang Family at a time like this.

Other than the Wuchang Ghost Sect, he truly could not think of anyone else.

Yang Zhengshan fell into thought. Since his mind was focused on the Alchemy Furnace, contemplating this matter while distracted was somewhat slow.

After a long while, he said, "Is there anything else?"

"No. I inspected Chunyang Valley, and there was nothing unusual," Lin Xiqiu said.

Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly. "In that case, withdraw everyone from Chunyang Valley first. Then go wait in Wanbao Immortal City. Once I finish refining this furnace of pills, I'll go find you."

His most important task at present was the furnace of pills before him. Since Yang Qingyu and the others were not in danger, there was no need for him to hurry to Wanbao Immortal City.

It would not be too late to deal with the matter after he finished refining the furnace of pills.

"Yes!"

Lin Xiqiu answered and then withdrew from the Pill Hall, while Yang Zhengshan continued his great undertaking of Alchemy.

Within an hour, Lin Xiqiu had withdrawn everyone from Chunyang Valley to the Spirit Source Land. Yang Zhengshan directly closed the Grotto-Heaven Portal, while Lin Xiqiu returned to Wanbao Immortal City.

Chunyang Valley was only a temporary stronghold. They had not cultivated any Spirit Fields there, merely built some houses and set up a Formation capable of isolating Spiritual Sense.

Abandoning Chunyang Valley would not cause the Spirit Source Land to suffer any great losses. However, under ordinary circumstances, Yang Zhengshan would not abandon Chunyang Valley either.

And so, Chunyang Valley was left deserted. Lin Xiqiu, Yang Qingyu, and the others aboard the Vermilion Bird Cloud Boat temporarily remained in Wanbao Immortal City.

The Yang Family also had businesses in Wanbao Immortal City, with Li Jianning and Li Jianan stationed there. Thus, they had a Place to Live inside Wanbao Immortal City.

Yang Zhengshan remained focused on refining the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill. His refinement had now entered a critical stage.

Condensing the pill was the most important checkpoint in this Alchemy session. The condensation process required Yang Zhengshan to perfectly control the medicinal properties inside the Alchemy Furnace, without allowing any Medicinal Property Conflict to occur.

Therefore, Yang Zhengshan quickly cast Lin Xiqiu's matter to the back of his mind and devoted himself wholeheartedly to Alchemy.