Three Months

The next morning

Luo Heng changed into a clean blue robe, hung the core disciple badge of the Symbol Master Association at his waist, and walked out of the Bamboo House.

Zi Yue was already waiting outside for Luo Heng. Who knew how long she had been waiting?

"Young Master Luo, I'll see you off," Zi Yue said softly.

Luo Heng was somewhat surprised. "Miss Zi Yue, thank you, but you didn't have to wait for me like this. It's too much trouble for you." This girl was treating him far too well. Had his good looks charmed her?

Hearing this, Zi Yue smiled. "It's no trouble."

Then, the two walked side by side out of the Symbol Master Association. By the time they reached the west gate, the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild's caravan was already prepared to depart.

The caravan was quite sizable, with more than ten carriages and over thirty guards. At its head was a steward from the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild named Wang, who possessed Late Earthen Yuan Stage cultivation.

"Young Master Luo!" Upon seeing Luo Heng, Steward Wang hurried forward and said respectfully, "Chief Xuan Su has already given her instructions. Should Young Master Luo need anything along the way, please do not hesitate to ask."

"You are too courteous, Steward Wang." Luo Heng smiled and nodded.

"Young Master Luo, please board the carriage." Steward Wang led Luo Heng to an exquisitely decorated carriage.

This carriage had clearly been specially prepared. Its interior was spacious and comfortable, laid with soft beast pelts and furnished with a small tea table.

"Miss Zi Yue, farewell." Luo Heng turned to Zi Yue.

"Take care on your journey, Young Master Luo," Zi Yue said softly, a trace of reluctance flashing through her eyes.

Luo Heng nodded and climbed into the carriage.

The curtain fell. At Steward Wang's command, the caravan slowly set off.

The carriage passed through Flame City's western gate and took the official road toward Qingyang Town.

Looking back through the carriage window at Flame City's gradually receding walls, Luo Heng felt a surge of emotion.

Four months ago, he had come to this city alone, merely at the Earthen Yuan Stage and completely unknown.

Four months later, he had become a Peak Early Heaven Yuan Realm cultivator and a Peak Two-Seal Symbol Master, his name resounding among Flame City's younger generation.

Over these four months, he had gained strength, fame, and friends, while also planting the seeds of enmity with the Blood Wolf Gang.

"The next time I return will be the time to settle everything completely."

A flash of killing intent crossed Luo Heng's eyes. Then he closed them to rest. He had long wanted to destroy the Blood Wolf Gang.

The caravan traveled steadily along the official road.

Steward Wang was experienced and chose relatively safe routes. Along the way, there were also Myriad Gold Merchant Guild outposts where they could rest and resupply.

Luo Heng spent most of his time cultivating inside the carriage. Occasionally, he came out for fresh air and chatted with the guards.

From the guards, he learned quite a bit of recent news from Flame City.

For instance, the Blood Wolf Gang seemed to have recently been recruiting men and expanding its influence.

There was also a new bandit force around Flame City calling itself the "Black Wind Stronghold." They specialized in robbing passing merchants and travelers, and were incomparably vicious.

"Black Wind Stronghold..." Luo Heng's heart stirred.

The name seemed somewhat similar to the "Black Skull Stronghold" that had ambushed Han Chong three months ago.

"Steward Wang, do you know anything about this Black Wind Stronghold?" Luo Heng asked.

Steward Wang shook his head. "Not much. I only know that Black Wind Stronghold emerged within the last two months. They are ruthless and leave no survivors. Several caravans have already fallen victim to them."

"The route we're taking this time shouldn't pass through Black Wind Stronghold territory, right?" Luo Heng asked again.

"Probably not," Steward Wang said. "Black Wind Stronghold mainly operates around Black Wind Ridge north of Flame City. We're taking the eastern route and avoiding that area."

Luo Heng nodded and did not ask further.

Yet in his heart, he had a vague premonition.

This journey would likely not be peaceful.

Sure enough, on the evening of the caravan's first day out of Flame City, an accident occurred.

At the time, the caravan was setting up camp to rest within a mountain valley.

Steep cliffs rose on both sides of the valley, with only a narrow passage through it. The terrain was extremely dangerous.

Steward Wang was an old hand. He had specially sent four guards ahead to scout, only allowing the caravan into the valley after confirming that it was safe.

However, just as the caravan entered the depths of the valley, a sudden change erupted!

Boom!

Countless boulders suddenly rolled down from both cliff faces, blocking the paths both ahead and behind!

"Enemy attack! Stay alert!"

Steward Wang's expression changed drastically as he shouted sharply.

The thirty-odd guards swiftly formed up, protecting the carriages in the center.

Luo Heng lifted the carriage curtain and swept his gaze across the cliffs on both sides.

The cliffs were somehow already filled with figures. At a rough glance, there were no fewer than a hundred of them!

Every one of them wore black clothes and black face coverings, carrying blades, swords, bows, and arrows. Savage light gleamed in their eyes.

At the front stood three powerfully built men with formidable auras.

The man in the middle was built like a bear, with a vicious scar across his face. He wielded a Ghost-Head Broadsword, and his aura had clearly reached the Middle Heaven Yuan Realm!

The two men at his sides were both at the Peak Earthen Yuan Stage as well.

"Black Wind Stronghold!" Steward Wang's face turned deathly pale, his voice trembling.

"Hahaha! Old Wang, hand over the goods and valuables if you know what's good for you. Maybe we'll even leave you with intact corpses!"

The scarred man grinned ferociously, his voice echoing through the valley.

Steward Wang gritted his teeth. "Good sir, we are a caravan of the Myriad Gold Merchant Guild. Please show us some mercy. There will surely be a generous reward afterward!"

"The Myriad Gold Merchant Guild?" The scarred man sneered. "The Myriad Gold Merchant Guild is exactly who I'm robbing! Enough nonsense. Hand over the goods, or else... no mercy!"

With that, he waved his hand!

"Loose the arrows!"

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

A rain of arrows poured down from the cliffs!

"Form up! Defend!"

Steward Wang shouted, and the guards raised their shields, forming a circular formation.

But the arrow rain was too dense. Quite a few guards were still struck and fell.

Luo Heng frowned slightly and stepped out of the carriage.

"Young Master Luo, it's dangerous! Get back in the carriage!" Steward Wang urged anxiously.

But Luo Heng shook his head, his gaze settling on the scarred man.

"Middle Heaven Yuan Realm... Perfect. I'll use you to test my sword."

Before his words had even faded, Luo Heng's body flickered, and he vanished from where he stood.

When he appeared again, he was already in midair!

Flowing Cloud and Soaring Goose Steps: Soaring Goose Style!

His figure swept through the air like a soaring goose, unbelievably fast. In an instant, he passed through the rain of arrows and landed atop the left cliff.

"Courting death!"

The bandits on the cliff swung their blades at him one after another.

Luo Heng's gaze remained calm. He made a grasping motion with his right hand, and the Silver Feather Sword left its sheath!

Clang!

The sword's cry was clear and bright, its radiance spilling out like moonlight.

Tai Xu Swordplay: Void Blade!

Three extremely faint tears in space silently spread outward.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

The three bandits charging at the front abruptly stiffened. A thin line of blood appeared across each of their throats before they toppled backward.

Even in death, they did not see how Luo Heng had drawn his sword.

"An expert!"

The scarred man's pupils contracted as he roared, "Second, Third, attack together! Kill him!"

The two Peak Earthen Yuan Stage men on either side lunged out at his command, attacking Luo Heng from the left and right.

The two worked together seamlessly, their blade techniques vicious. They were clearly veterans of countless battles.

But Luo Heng did not even look at them. The Silver Feather Sword merely swept lightly through the air.

Where the sword light passed, ripples spread through the void.

Ssh!

Two tears in space precisely pierced their foreheads.

Their bodies froze, the light in their eyes rapidly fading as they collapsed limply.

Instant kill!

"Y-You... who exactly are you?!"

The scarred man's expression changed drastically, and fear finally appeared in his eyes.

He knew that he could defeat Second and Third as well, but he could never do so this easily!

This young man's strength far surpassed his own!

"A man about to die need not ask so many questions."

Luo Heng spoke calmly and took one step forward, appearing directly before the scarred man.

"I'll fight you to the death!"

The scarred man roared. His Ghost-Head Broadsword howled through the air as it hacked down viciously!

This strike contained all of his Primal Energy. Its power was astonishing; even someone in the Late Heaven Yuan Realm would not dare receive it head-on.

Yet Luo Heng merely shifted slightly to the side, evading the blade by a hair's breadth.

At the same time, the Silver Feather Sword darted out like a venomous serpent's tongue, stabbing toward the scarred man's heart.

Clang!

The scarred man barely managed to draw back his blade to block it. Sword and saber collided, scattering sparks.

But in the next instant, a strange force of "shattering" traveled along the sword blade, instantly dissipating more than half of the Primal Energy on his saber!

"What sword technique is this?!"

The scarred man was horrified and tried to retreat.

But it was already too late.

Luo Heng's sword intent shifted, and three tears in space appeared at once, sealing off every route of retreat.

"No!"

The scarred man only had time to let out a desperate howl before all three tears in space struck him simultaneously.

Blood burst from three vital points at once: his chest, throat, and forehead!

Thud!

The scarred man's huge body crashed to the ground, dead.

The entire valley fell silent!

All the bandits on the cliffs were stunned.

Their three invincible leaders had actually... died just like that?

Killed as easily as chickens and dogs by a single youth?

"Run! Run!"

Someone shouted, and the bandits immediately scattered like frightened birds and beasts, fleeing in panic.

Luo Heng did not pursue them. Such minor lackeys were not worth wasting his energy on.

He put away the Silver Feather Sword and drifted back down into the valley.

Steward Wang and the guards all looked at him with reverence.

"Young... Young Master Luo..." Steward Wang's voice trembled. He did not know what to say.

"Clean up the battlefield and leave this place as soon as possible," Luo Heng said calmly.

"Yes! Yes!" Steward Wang hurriedly answered.

The guards quickly cleared the passage and dragged the bandits' corpses to one side.

Luo Heng walked over to the scarred man's corpse and removed his Spatial Pouch.

His divine sense swept inside. There were quite a few gold and silver valuables, as well as some cultivation resources.

"What a poor bastard."

Luo Heng curled his lip and stored the Spatial Pouch in the System Space.

However, he found a blood-red token in the scarred man's robes.

The front of the token bore the character for "wolf," while the back was engraved with a ferocious blood wolf.

"Blood Wolf Token..."

A chill flashed through Luo Heng's eyes.

Sure enough, Black Wind Stronghold was connected to the Blood Wolf Gang.

Or rather, Black Wind Stronghold was simply a force secretly supported by the Blood Wolf Gang!

"Yue Shan... you really refuse to give up."

Luo Heng put away the Blood Wolf Token, the killing intent in his heart growing stronger.

This ambush had clearly been aimed at him.

Had his strength not greatly exceeded Yue Shan's expectations, he might truly have faced some trouble.

"Since you're seeking death, I'll grant your wish."

Luo Heng took a deep breath and suppressed the killing intent in his heart.

It was not time yet. Once the New Year was over, he would settle the score with the Blood Wolf Gang once and for all.

An hour later, the passage had been cleared, and the caravan continued on its way.

For the rest of the journey, they encountered no further trouble.

A day later, the caravan safely arrived at Qingyang Town.

Looking at the familiar outline of the town in the distance, Luo Heng felt a flicker of warmth rise in his heart.

"Finally... I'm home."

He jumped down from the carriage and said to Steward Wang, "Steward Wang, this is where we part. Please give Chief Steward Xuan Su my regards."

"Take care, Young Master Luo!" Steward Wang said respectfully.

Luo Heng nodded. His figure flashed, turning into a streak of azure light as he sped toward Luo Manor.

"Qingyang Town, I'm back."