Three months passed quietly, like flowing water.
In the Spirit Hall Main Hall of the Star Chasing City, in that secluded courtyard, Xiao Yan sat cross-legged under a paulownia tree, surrounded by faint flames interwoven with pale and blue hues.
His breathing was long and steady, and with each exhale and inhale, fine flames seemed to enter and exit through his nostrils, as if he were one with the heavens and earth.
In three months, his breathing became even more robust.
"Call--"
Xiao Yan slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of stale air.
The turbid air transformed into a wisp of pale flame in the air, then vanished without a trace.
He stood up, stretched his limbs, and looked into the distance.
There, Zhu Zhuqing also sat cross-legged, surrounded by deep purple Soul Power.
The phantom of the Hell Spirit Cat loomed behind her, its cold, eerie eyes fixed on the void.
For the past three months, the two have hardly left their home, devoting all their energy to cultivation.
The turmoil in Star Luo City has subsided.
Dai Mubai, who had already chosen the path of the Evil Soul Master, and the appearance of the mysterious man in black made them realize even more clearly the importance of strength.
"A breakthrough?"
Xiao Yan walked to Zhu Zhuqing's side and asked softly.
Zhu Zhuqing opened her eyes, a glint of shrewdness flashing in them.
She nodded. "Level 55."
Xiao Yan smiled slightly, "Still a level above me."
"You cultivate faster than me."
Zhu Zhuqing stood up, a smile appearing on her face, and said:
"If you hadn't spent these past three months consolidating your foundation, you would have caught up with me long ago."
"A solid foundation is more important than rank."
Xiao Yan said calmly, "We have plenty of time, no rush."
Zhu Zhuqing nodded, her gaze drifting towards the direction outside the courtyard wall.
"These past three months have been quite peaceful."
"Yes." Xiao Yan nodded silently.
The calm was somewhat unusual.
The mysterious man in black, Dai Mubai who was rescued, have vanished into thin air in the past three months, never to be seen again.
News from Star Luo City also indicated that everything was normal and no more civilians had gone missing.
But Xiao Yan knew that the other party would definitely not let it go, Dai Mubai even less so.
They were waiting for the right moment, for enough strength, for a chance to strike decisively.
"Let's go." Xiao Yan turned and walked towards the room. " Xu Mu has probably been waiting impatiently for the past three months."
A cold glint flashed in Zhu Zhuqing's eyes. "That person... is not simple."
"I know." Xiao Yan continued walking. "It's just a Xiao Xin, I can understand it, but as long as he doesn't do anything wrong, there's no need to deal with him."
After all, it was the two of them who came here and blocked the other's path to advancement.
Therefore, even though Xiao Yan knew that the other party was making some underhanded moves, he didn't mind as long as it didn't cause trouble for him and Zhu Zhuqing.
Meanwhile, in the Spirit Hall Main Hall, the Deacon Hall.
Xu Mu sat in the main seat, toying with a jade slip in his hand, his face gloomy.
It's been three months.
Xiao Yan and Zhu Zhuqing have been back in Star Chasing City for three months.
For the past three months, the two of them have hardly left the house, spending all their time cultivating in that small courtyard.
The men Xu Mu sent to keep watch reported that they hadn't even left the courtyard many times.
"You're quite composed," Xu Mu sneered.
He originally thought that Xiao Yan's big commotion in Star Luo City would definitely attract the hostility of various forces.
He was waiting to see Xiao Yan ostracized, targeted, and slinked out of Star Chasing City.
But what was the result?
Xiao Yan's pill business is growing bigger and bigger, and the monthly orders from the Hundred Herbs Pavilion are doubling.
News also came from the Zhu Family that sales in the three southern provinces were booming, Zhu Xiaotian was making a fortune, and he was full of praise for Xiao Yan.
Even the Martial Soul Temple's own side, Bishop Aolade repeatedly praised Xiao Yan in public as "a pillar of the Spirit Hall."
Everything is moving in a positive direction.
Except for Xu Mu.
"Grown ups."
A man in black robes emerged from the shadows and stood respectfully before Xu Mu.
"Have you found out?" Xu Mu asked.
"It's all cleared up," the man in black said in a low voice. "The price of Xiao Yan's pills on the black market has tripled!"
Xu Mu's pupils suddenly contracted.
"And..." the man in black robes continued.
"I've learned that Xiao Yan possesses more than just Blood Coagulation Powder and Qi Gathering Pill."
According to information from the Zhu Family, he possesses even more advanced pills, but he hasn't revealed them.
Xu Mu's breathing became rapid.
Even more advanced elixirs...
If I could obtain those pill formulas, if I could master the methods of refining those pills...
Then, not to mention the main hall of the Star Chasing City Spirit Hall Main Hall, it would have its own place in the entire Northern Province, or even the entire Spirit Hall!
Xu Mu's breathing became increasingly irregular, and a resolute glint flashed in his eyes.
He stood up, walked to the window, and looked towards the city center.
That place is the City Lord's Mansion of Star Chasing City.
"Hasn't that old bastard Dai Wusi been asking about Xiao Yan lately?"
The man in black robes was taken aback. "Does Your Excellency mean..."
Xu Mu's lips curled into a sinister smile, " Xiao Yan is, after all, an elder of my Spirit Hall. Let that old Dai Wusi deal with Xiao Yan, and we'll just watch from the sidelines."
Regardless of who wins or loses, it won't harm us.
He walked to the table, took out a piece of paper, and wrote a few lines.
"Deliver this letter to the city lord's mansion. Remember, don't let anyone find out."
"Yes."
The man in black took the letter, and with a flash, disappeared into the darkness.
Xu Mu stood by the window, gazing into the distance, his eyes filled with greed.
" Xiao Yan... don't blame me for being heartless. Blame it on the fact that what you had was too tempting. It's all your fault, why did you even come to Star Chasing City..."
The City Lord's Mansion of Star Chasing City is located in the very center of the city, facing the Spirit Hall Main Hall across the street.
As the lord of the city, Dai Wusi has been operating in Star Chasing City for twenty years and has a deep foundation.
Although he was not a direct descendant of the Imperial Family family, he was related to the Star Luo Imperial Family and was considered a significant figure in this northern province.
At this moment, in the study of the city lord's mansion, Dai Wusi was sitting behind his desk, carefully reading the letter in his hand.
The letter was short, but its contents made him frown.
This was a letter containing information about the pills in Xiao Yan's possession. It was unsigned, but Dai Wusi had some guesses about it. After all, Xu Mu had been in Star Chasing City for so many years, and they were old "friends."
He placed the letter on the table and looked up at the strategist in front of him.
Mr. Zhou, what do you think?
The strategist's surname was Zhou, and his given name was Wenyuan. He was Dai Wusi's most trusted advisor.
Although this person's Soul Power is not high, he is meticulous and good at planning, and has given Dai Wusi many ideas over the years.
"Sir, this is a good thing."
Zhou Wenyuan smiled slightly, "'He' wants to use your hand to get rid of Xiao Yan so that he can take sole control of the Spirit Hall Main Hall."
"And this is a perfect opportunity for you, sir, to obtain the pill formula from Xiao Yan."
Zhou Wenyuan didn't reveal his identity, but the two knew perfectly well who he was.
"Oh?" Dai Wusi raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"My lord, you should think about it. Although Xiao Yan is an elder of the Spirit Hall, he has no foundation in Star Chasing City."
His greatest strength lay in his physical prowess and the elixirs he possessed.
Zhou Wenyuan said slowly, "If you can obtain the pill formula, you can refine the pills yourself. At that time, the entire pill market in the northern province will be yours."
A glint of greed flashed in Dai Wusi's eyes.
He was well aware of the profits in the elixir market.
Over the past three months, seeing Xiao Yan make a fortune, he had long been envious.
However, due to Xiao Yan's status as an elder of the Spirit Hall, they couldn't openly take action.
"But Xiao Yan is, after all, an elder of the Spirit Hall." Dai Wusi hesitated. "If we touch him, what will happen to the Spirit Hall..."
"Don't worry, sir."
Zhou Wenyuan laughed, "Although Xiao Yan is an elder of the Spirit Hall, he is not without enemies within the Spirit Hall. Isn't he the best example?"
With such enormous benefits, no one would be unmoved, especially since Xiao Yan is merely a Soul King. Even with talent, he still needs to grow stronger.
Moreover, we don't need to directly attack Xiao Yan.
"Then how do we do it?"
Zhou Wenyuan leaned forward and whispered something to him.
After listening, Dai Wusi's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"Great idea!" he clapped his hands and laughed. "Let's do it that way!"