Catching Them Off Guard

Oneself was what mattered most.

In the vast majority of situations, all one needed to do was mind one's own business.

So long as it did not affect oneself, it was not impossible to lend a hand to those closest to one.

But cultivators who still wanted to play the saint even when it put themselves in danger generally did not live long.

"Such was fate. If you and I had not been cautious this time, I fear I too would have died in this calamity." Hearing Wei Fan's sigh, He Song's expression also took on a trace of gravity.

If he had not been cautious, and if Wei Fan had not been willing to lend a hand...

He would likely have had no choice but to leave the Immortal Market and become a Rogue Cultivator in the mortal world.

If he did not leave...

Then the fate of those Rogue Cultivators on the outskirts of the Immortal Market would be He Song's fate.

After this ordeal, He Song began to warn himself inwardly.

From now on, he had to be even more cautious.

He absolutely could not let his guard down. The moment he did, in this cruel world of cultivation, the one who might die would be himself.

"Brother Wei, after today, I will return to the outskirts of the Immortal Market. I was only able to escape this calamity thanks to Brother Wei's wholehearted assistance during this time. He Song will not forget this kindness."

Having made his way to the outskirts of the Immortal Market, He Song saw from afar that his former house had not been damaged. He promptly clasped his hands toward Wei Fan in thanks.

Though he had long prepared a way out for himself, a favor was still a favor. He Song firmly engraved Wei Fan's kindness in his heart.

When he left Wei Fan's small courtyard, He Song had already taken all his belongings with him.

With Chengsan Real Person's return, the crisis at the Immortal Market had been resolved. Naturally, He Song would no longer live in Wei Fan's small courtyard.

It was inconvenient.

And it gave He Song the feeling of living under another's roof.

That feeling made He Song somewhat uncomfortable.

Although Wei Fan was his friend, and the two had gotten along very well while living together...

Once the crisis at the Immortal Market had been lifted, He Song still could not wait to return to his own residence.

For no other reason than that he felt more at ease there.

"There is no need for such formality between us. Stay here for now. On the first day of next month, I will transfer the right of residence for this house into your name. Only then will the rent start being counted."

Wei Fan shook his head and did not try to persuade He Song to stay.

Instead, he used the authority in his hands to save He Song several Spirit Stones.

As a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator and a steward of Lingjian Pavilion, Wei Fan's words carried some weight within Lingjian Pavilion. With a casual remark, he could exempt He Song from nearly a month's rent.

Of course, it was also because the Immortal Market had suffered such a great calamity this time. Most of the houses built by Lingjian Pavilion had been damaged, and reconstruction would take some time.

That was why he could say such a thing.

Under normal circumstances, even as a steward of Lingjian Pavilion, he would not have had such authority.

This was a small favor he had arranged for He Song.

After escorting He Song home, Wei Fan found an excuse to leave.

As a steward of Lingjian Pavilion, with most of the rental houses on the outskirts of the Immortal Market damaged, he would have plenty to keep him busy for a long time to come.

He had only made this trip in order to safely escort He Song home.

Otherwise, he would likely have already been at Lingjian Pavilion the moment Chengsan Real Person returned to the Immortal Market.

Returning home.

He Song opened his front door.

Only after entering did he discover that the room, once neat and tidy, had become a complete mess.

Before leaving, He Song had tidied up the house, but now it was utterly unrecognizable.

Someone—perhaps evil cultivators or others—had likely come here to "visit."

This mess had probably been caused by someone rummaging through the place.

But before leaving, He Song had taken all his belongings with him. What remained were only worthless items.

Thus, there had not been any loss.

Still, even though nothing had been lost, the chaotic sight before him made He Song frown.

Helplessly.

He could only begin tidying up.

As a cultivator, his physical strength far surpassed that of mortals.

On top of that, the spiritual power within his body could also be used for cleaning. Thus, He Song quickly restored the house to its former tidiness.

Before long, the once-disordered house had become spotless again.

He Song also sat down at the desk he had used for more than five years.

He brewed himself a pot of tea.

The events of this period began to flash through his mind.

Three months ago, driven by caution, He Song had gone to live at Wei Fan's home.

In the blink of an eye, three months had passed.

Only today did He Song move out of Wei Fan's home and return to his own.

He Song had not felt anything amiss about what had happened during those three months.

But when he recalled the scene from earlier today, when Chengsan Real Person had slaughtered enemies in every direction outside the Immortal Market, image after image flashed through He Song's mind. The more he thought, the more something felt wrong.

Chengsan Real Person.

Just from hearing his Daoist title, one could probably tell that the Magic Artifact he excelled with was seemingly the Azure Mountain Seal.

Yet upon seeing him today, the enormous Azure Mountain Seal in Chengsan Real Person's hand had seemingly failed to display its true power.

Instead, Chengsan Real Person had used a golden thread almost impossible to discern with the naked eye to sweep up all those evil cultivators in a single net.

By comparison.

He Song was more willing to believe that the enormous Azure Mountain Seal had been a smokescreen.

It had been specifically used to draw everyone else's attention.

He had even spared no expense in using his own Daoist title as cover.

The unfamiliar would pay special attention to the Azure Mountain Seal in his hand as soon as they heard his Daoist title.

Yet the golden thread in Chengsan Real Person's hand was his true specialty.

From the very beginning, whether it was He Song, the other cultivators, or even those evil cultivators, they had all focused their attention on the Azure Mountain Seal.

Only when the golden thread later displayed its might did everyone stare in bewilderment and marvel at Chengsan Real Person's formidable strength.

Yet aside from He Song, who had noticed a little.

Probably no one else knew what it was that had killed those evil cultivators.

No one had paid any attention at all to that Magic Artifact shaped like a golden thread.

"Using his Daoist title and the Magic Artifact connected to it as a cover, while finding another Magic Artifact that no one would notice as his trump card—catching them off guard, striking where they were unprepared."

After pondering for a moment, He Song quickly came to a realization and fully understood Chengsan Real Person's handiwork.

It was only because He Song had noticed that golden thread, nearly invisible to the naked eye, that he could infer so much information in reverse.

If He Song had not noticed that golden thread...

He could have racked his brains and still never figured out exactly how Chengsan Real Person had struck and killed those evil cultivators.

"Sure enough, I cannot underestimate anyone in the world. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators can proceed step by step, laying traps one layer at a time. Let alone cultivators of an even higher realm." Having understood everything, He Song's vigilance toward the cultivators of this world rose to its peak.

In this cruel world of cultivation, hiding one's trump cards and casting a fog of confusion seemed to be something every cultivator did.

It could both improve one's chances of survival.

And allow one to possess more methods.

It could even make it easier to kill one's enemies.

As scene after scene from his recent experiences continued to flash through his mind, He Song's expression soon calmed.