Today was also the day the Xu Family and several other Qi Refining lineages had agreed to withdraw together.
In about two days, the Clearwind Ridge Wang Family would withdraw its guards and patrols, dismantle the great formation, and abandon this Market Ward, leaving it to its fate.
From idle conversations with the other shopkeepers, the speculation was that the Wang Family was taking this opportunity to shed a burden that yielded little profit, consolidate its strength, and strike anew-"storming mountains and seizing territory" in the Savage Wastes to secure resources and establish another Market Ward.
Thus, the lineage could advance another step.
If they could nurture a single False Core cultivator and add another two or three Foundation Establishment cultivators, then, with their current foundation of two Foundation Establishment cultivators standing side by side, they had a chance of rising to become an "Aristocratic Clan."
Cultivation was like rowing against the current: fail to advance, and you fell back.
This held true for cultivators, and for lineages as well.
By then, Lin Changheng had already packed away all the valuable and useful things in his cave abode to carry with him, but when he left, he still slung a bundle over his shoulder.
He pretended he had no Storage Bag.
If a "penniless wretch" like this ran into danger, robber cultivators were bound to give him less attention, most likely going after those empty-handed cultivators carrying Storage Bags instead.
Naturally, that reduced the danger somewhat.
When Master Mo came downstairs and saw Lin Changheng like this, he froze for a moment, then went over and patted his shoulder, reflecting inwardly that the young man was meticulous and cautious indeed! He himself could not compare.
Had he possessed even a tenth of such caution back then-no, even a twentieth-he probably would not have suffered those grave injuries. Despite every medicine he had tried, the lingering damage had remained incurable, severing his Dao Path.
Of course, only Master Mo knew that Lin Changheng had a Storage Bag; the other assistants, apprentices, and shopkeeper did not. Shopkeeper Xu Qianyou had even cheerfully asked whether he wanted to store a few things in the shop's Storage Bag, which still had plenty of room. Lin Changheng had politely declined, and seeing that his bundle was small, the shopkeeper had said no more.
When the group left the Market Ward, a Mid-Qi Refining cultivator from the Xu Family had already prepared enough half-spirit steeds for them.
Lin Changheng's gaze flickered, but he saw nothing wrong with traveling on horseback.
After all, only Foundation Establishment lineages could provide large numbers of spirit cranes or massive flying boats. The Xu Family was merely a Qi Refining lineage, and all it possessed was a flying Magic Artifact boat, called a Spell Boat for short, which could carry only two or three people.
There were twelve people here now.
They could only ride horses.
Yet every horse was magnificent, more than half again as tall as the famed blood-sweating steeds of his previous life. They were remarkably swift as well, capable of covering five hundred li a day.
Bred by crossing demonic beasts with fine mortal horses, they were called Dragon Horses.
"Everyone, mount up and stay alert! It should take about five days to get back to the lineage."
Xu Qianhuan, at the eighth level of Qi Refining, sprang nimbly into the saddle and shouted.
"Yes." Everyone, including Master Mo, nodded their assent and mounted without hesitation or delay.
"Take your positions in the agreed formation. Everyone else, follow me. Move!"
Xu Qianhuan swept his gaze around, his expression stern, then barked the order and immediately spurred his horse forward.
The three Mid-Qi Refining cultivators who had accompanied him guided their horses into position on the left, right, and rear, following as the group swept away.
Lin Changheng was hemmed into the center of the mounted formation, hoofbeats thundering in his ears.
Something stirred within him, and he abruptly looked back. Through the billowing yellow-brown dust, he could faintly make out the gray-brown outline of Zichuan Market, where he had spent twelve years. Now it was fading into the dust, as though an invisible hand were slowly wiping it away.
"So even the bonds of the immortal path, once severed, amount to no more than dust stirred by passing hooves..."
After a wistful sigh, Lin Changheng's gaze grew resolute. He looked only at the road ahead and urged his horse onward.
"The lineage's settlement is just ahead. We'll reach it within two hours. Stay sharp for this final stretch!"
More than four days of travel had passed in a flash.
Xu Qianhuan remained vigorous, seemingly without a trace of fatigue. His ringing reminder sounded like a lion's roar.
The cultivators were doing well enough. Their constitutions were strong, and though the jolting on horseback was uncomfortable, it was still bearable-nothing more than discomfort.
The assistants and apprentices were another matter. They felt as though their bones were about to be shaken apart, their buttocks and thighs bruised dark blue and black. Their misery defied description.
Even so, none dared ask to stop and rest. They could only grit their teeth and endure.
The journey had been nothing like the chaos described in the rumors. All had remained calm, with nothing happening.
Even the three Mid-Qi Refining cultivators of the Xu Family had grown somewhat relaxed and weary, which was why Xu Qianhuan had given that reminder.
His words struck everyone's ears like thunder, startling them into a shudder and instantly bringing them fully awake.
Just then,
"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!"
Sudden whistles tore through the mountain road's silence. Leaves shook wildly in the woods on both sides, and dozens of spell lights poured down like a torrential rain.
Water arrows, fireballs, wooden spikes, ice blades, and more hurtled toward the Xu Family party on the mountain road.
"Enemy attack!"
Xu Qianhuan, at the eighth level of Qi Refining, roared and reacted swiftly.
The jade pendant Magic Artifact at his waist instantly expanded into a blue-green barrier of light, pushing outward on both sides and colliding directly with some of the incoming spells.
"Bang, bang, bang..."
Only after the first wave of violent explosions rang out against the blue-green barrier did the three Mid-Qi Refining cultivators barely manage to unleash their first spells.
Golden Light Shield, Water Wall Technique, Rock Shield Technique...
They tried to protect those in the center.
But there were too many attacking spells, their collisions bursting like fireworks.
Seeing that they could not block them all, they hurriedly deployed Magic Artifact shields and talisman barriers as well...
They focused on sheltering the two Pill Masters and the shopkeeper.
"Slash!"
A Golden Light Shield at the very front was breached. An ice blade sliced through the gap and struck the young girl named Xu Ruolan.
"Aah!"
With a short, piercing cry of pain, she had half her body sliced away and fell from her horse into a pool of blood, her eyes still open in death.
At this brutal sight, the already disordered ranks at the center of the Xu Family party fell into even greater chaos.
One assistant was instantly terrified out of his wits, his liver and gall nearly bursting with fright. He fell from his horse, and a hoof snapped his leg with a crack, leaving him howling without end.
Master Mo and Shopkeeper Xu were startled as well, but they kept their heads, deploying Magic Artifacts and talismans to protect themselves.
Master Mo still had strength to spare. He searched for Lin Changheng and cried out, "Changheng... do you have any talismans to protect yourself?"
Yet Lin Changheng had already swung halfway out of the saddle, his feet still in the stirrups, curling his whole body beneath the horse's belly for cover.
A [Golden Shield Talisman] flicked from his sleeve. Before the paper could touch the ground, it burned to ash and became a golden shield on his exposed side, protecting his vital points.
"What... such quick reactions! Such nimble movements!"
Master Mo's aged eyes widened. Clearly astonished by the speed of Lin Changheng's decision and the aptness of his response, he nonetheless used his magical power to send a low-grade [Water Curtain Talisman] into Lin Changheng's hand.
"Thank you, Master Mo. Be careful yourself."
Lin Changheng called out, putting away the other mid-grade [Golden Light Talisman] hidden in his sleeve for the moment and holding the [Water Curtain Talisman] instead.
Life-saving measures must not be wasted. They must be used at the critical moment.
Yet he already had a vague suspicion about the situation-
Though these attacking spells were merely low-level methods, their coordination was exquisite. This was clearly an ambush planned long in advance!
He did not know whether they were old enemies of the Xu Family, or attackers who had followed them from the Market Ward and gotten into position ahead of them to rob and kill.