Tracking and Encirclement

The Sect Leader Kang Da was led by the female cultivator in Hemp Robe to this wealthy manor used as a base by the Fearless Tower. He was slightly surprised, but did not show any fear.

Upon seeing the old coachman, he merely raised an eyebrow, bowed, and asked, "May I ask your name, sir?"

The stables were filthy and smelly, but the old groom seemed perfectly content with it, not caring at all. The old cultivator, upon seeing Kang Dabao, simply smiled and said, "Does Sect Leader Kang know that the Fearless Tower has a rule: 'One must not question one's esteemed status'?"

Sect Leader Kang Da didn't seem to mind, simply nodding and saying, "I have heard Fellow Hemp Robe Yi mention this before, but I also know of a rule of the Fearless Tower: only single-line communication. In that case, it seems that you broke the rule first, Senior."

The old groom smiled, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and praised, "Sect Leader Kang truly deserves to be called a rising star and a young talent of Cloud Horn Prefecture."

After praising him, the old groom stopped teasing him and said softly, "I Jiang Hongdao, and I am honored to serve as the second White-Clad Steward of the Cloud Horn Branch of the Fearless Tower of the Fearless Tower."

After speaking, Jiang Hongdao pointed to the female cultivator in Hemp Robe beside him and said with a smile, "This is Fellow Daoist Yan Qingwei, the head of the Hemp Robe disciples in Cloud Horn Prefecture, and currently in charge of Ping and Jin counties."

Yan Qingwei was still clearly angry with Sect Leader Kang Da. After giving Jiang Hongdao a sidelong glance, she grunted and said, "Old Jiang, you can talk your own thing. Why bother talking about me?"

Even though Jiang Hongdao had been humiliated by Yan Qingwei in front of outsiders, his slight smile remained unchanged. He continued, "If it were anyone else, whether they said it or not would be irrelevant."

At this point, the old cultivator turned to Kang Dabao and said, "But this girl has a mother who is at the False Core Realm and also works in the Fearless Tower. If she offends you in any way and angers Sect Leader Kang, she should think carefully before doing so."

"So this is a young lady from a noble family." Sect Leader Kang Da instantly understood. It was a good thing that Jiang Hongdao had explained these things to him; he was subtly pointing this out to him! When cultivators travel outside, the worst thing is to unknowingly provoke the wrong people, which could lead to the destruction of their entire family.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Yan."

Seeing Kang Dabao's respectful attitude finally made Yan Qingwei, who had been intimidated by him earlier, feel much better. Although her pretty face under the veil was still as cold as ice, she still returned the greeting to the Sect Leader Kang Da.

Seeing this, Jiang Hongdao squinted with delight. "Hmm, so our three stewards of the Cloud Horn Prefecture branch have gathered for the first time. This is indeed a great thing. Later, I'll go to the kitchen and get some freshly cooked braised donkey meat. Don't underestimate it just because it's cooked over an ordinary fire and stove; the taste is not much worse than the spiritual dishes in many markets."

Not only did Sect Leader Kang Da raise his eyebrows slightly, his face showing surprise, but Yan Qingwei, standing beside the old cultivator, also looked anxious. Before the latter could speak, Kang Dabao asked, "Senior wants me to become a disciple in Hemp Robe?"

Jiang Hongdao waved his hand and said, "It's not just that. You can command Hemp Robe disciples and gray-clad hangers from the thirteen counties of Cloud Horn Prefecture, except for the Yan family girl."

"Old Jiang!" Yan Qingwei could no longer suppress her shock and exclaimed.

Kang Dabao was equally taken aback by the old man's actions, but knowing the gravity of the situation, he said frankly, "As the leader of a sect, my ambitions lie elsewhere."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Hongdao did not offer any further advice, but simply said, "What's the harm? Our Fearless Tower values freedom of movement, and we have many sect leaders and elders from major sects within our tower."

"The longer you serve as this disciple in Hemp Robe, the more you'll appreciate the benefits. I've granted you this power; whether you use it or not is entirely up to you, it's up to you."

Yan Qingwei's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, but Sect Leader Kang Da remained calm and composed. He didn't respond to Jiang Hongdao's words but instead asked, "Fellow Daoist Yan mentioned earlier that Senior has already ascertained information about Bian Wei. Please enlighten us, Senior."

The old horse in the stable was awakened by the noise of the people talking, and it snorted several times, getting angry.

While grooming and soothing it, Jiang Hongdao said to Kang Dabao, "Speaking of which, the cultivator your family has gotten involved with, who goes by the alias Bian Wei, is quite something. If I hadn't seen him years ago and Old Jiang some impression of him, and recognized a bit of his spirit, it would have taken much more effort to figure out his background."

Kang Dabao remained silent, but the old cultivator continued, "Sect Leader Kang, the person you are looking for is not surnamed Bian, nor is he called Bian Wei, nor is he Rogue Cultivator. He is Wu Cangyun, the Battle Hall Elder of the Hongyi Sect in Ding Prefecture."

Since the minor battle between the Hongyi Sect and the Ye Prefecture Yang Household forty years ago, Wu Cangyun has never appeared again. It is rumored that he died at the sect because he was seriously injured by the aftermath of the battle between the Yang Household's Golden Core cultivators.

Unexpectedly, in these forty years, he not only recovered from his injuries but also became a late-stage cultivator. Furthermore, he learned the "Witch Scale Golden Armor Art" of the Mountain Rong King. This Cultivation Method was only learned by the best members of the royal family during the Mountain Rong.

It was quite surprising that Wu Cangyun possessed such talent. It should be noted that this method was not only incredibly powerful, but also extremely complex to cultivate.

After mastering this method, the practitioner will grow fine scales all over their body, including their anus and the head of a turtle, truly achieving defense without any blind spots.

However, before reaching the highest level of cultivation, cultivators not only have to transform the impurities in their bodies into qi and let them see through their seven orifices, but they also have to hide their bodies under deep robes, unable to see any sunlight, which is extremely painful.

Once it reaches its full potential, the situation will improve significantly. Not only will the power of the scales increase, but they can also be concealed under the skin and dispersed at will.

Fortunately, Wu Cangyun's cultivation of this method should only be at the initial stage, and he has not yet mastered this secret technique of the Zhou Grade. Otherwise, he probably wouldn't even be afraid of ordinary False Core, and you, Sect Leader Kang, might not be able to force him to retreat.

During those forty years, due to the lack of protection from True Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment, and amidst infighting among his fellow disciples, the bloodline he left behind in Ding Prefecture had all perished.

It seems that he returned to his hometown of Cloud Horn Prefecture from Ding Prefecture because his sexual function had been impaired and he had been unable to conceive before reaching adulthood, which is why he came to find his descendant.

"Hongyi Sect, Wu Cangyun?!" Sect Leader Kang Da murmured.

Based on his own prior assessment, Bian Wei was at most just an ordinary Rogue Cultivator with considerable skill. After all, if he were truly a member of a major sect, why would he need to hide his identity, and why wouldn't he use his family's influence to intimidate others?

However, if Wu Cangyun is a Battle Hall Elder of the Hongyi Sect, then his actions are quite reasonable.

Because the story Xie Yi how his family's Supreme Elder Kuang Liuting was already common knowledge, the disciples of the Hongyi Sect, a major Golden Core sect, couldn't muster any prestige after arriving in Cloud Horn Prefecture.

Even now, there are still many Foundation True Cultivator Foundation Establishment the Hongyi Sect listed in the state court. On a daily basis, they are not only not given a spiritual meal, but also have to be respectful and obedient to them.

No wonder Wu Cangyun had to hide his identity before daring to stir up trouble; he was afraid of alarming the Cloud Horn Prefecture Court and being framed for "unauthorized transgression."

If that's the case, then Kang Dabao, the Pingrong County, would have a perfectly legitimate reason to deal with Wu Cangyun.

Not only can they mobilize their own disciples and local militia from the two counties, but they can also request aid from the state court. They can even request the state court to transfer the Hongyi Sect True Cultivator Foundation Establishment that the Hongyi Sect has stationed there to assist in the encirclement and suppression of Wu Cangyun.

Thinking of this, Sect Leader Kang Da became somewhat anxious. "Please, senior, tell me the location of this person."

At this moment, Jiang Hongdao had also calmed the old horse in the stable. The old man flicked the brush in his hand, waved his hand, and a breeze blew into the stable, covering the horse and blowing away the dirt on its body.

The old man, who had been looking haggard, suddenly became much more energetic, and his gray-brown long robe turned as white as new.

After doing all this, he handed over a piece of yellow silk. Sect Leader Kang Da took it and looked at it, while Jiang Hongdao spoke:

"Sect Leader Kang's pupil technique is superb; he broke Wu Cangyun's witchcraft. His injuries are actually far more serious than they appear. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, he is currently recuperating in the Cold Crow Mountain Range."

Seeing Kang Dabao's furrowed brows, Jiang Hongdao leaned over and pointed to the red circle on the silk, continuing, "He is, after all, a late-stage cultivator. Even I, Old Jiang, personally went into battle and only managed to pinpoint his approximate location. However, seeing that he is quite badly injured, he shouldn't have gone too far."

Sect Leader Kang Da carefully put the yellow silk away, looked around, and said, "The residence you chose to conceal your tracks, Elder, is rather austere. Should I find another place?"

Jiang Hongdao grinned, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth, and waved his hand, saying:

"That won't be necessary. Cloud Horn Branch of the Fearless Tower was originally located in Tanggu County. However, your Sect Leader Kang Commander Tie, has a very keen nose and is also stingy. If someone had to share half of Tanggu County with him, that's why I, Old Jiang, came here before he made his move."

It's not as austere as you might imagine. The second wife is delicate, the third wife is frail, the cook is fertile, and I, your old companion, am always by your side. Few people know about it; even ordinary Hemp Robe can't find me. It's both peaceful and carefree."

"Well, this one's a bit of Buxiu too." Kang Dabao noticed that Yan Qingwei across from him was blushing, but he himself was preoccupied and had no time to respond to the old man's teasing remark. Just as he was about to leave, Jiang Hongdao called him back.

"Sect Leader Kang, I know your reputation for loyalty and righteousness is well-known throughout the Cloud Horn. But to be honest, there will always be times when you encounter difficulties on the path of cultivation. If you are willing to part with it later, please ask us for the price first."

Upon hearing the sound Sect Leader Kang Da paused, but without turning around, he leaped out of the manor in a few quick movements and then quickened his pace again.

Yan Qingwei didn't seem to care much about Kang Dabao's departure. Now that there were no outsiders around, the female cultivator could finally confront the white-robed steward directly.

"Old Jiang, you've broken all the rules of our Fearless Tower this time. If the Tower Master finds out and decides to punish you, I won't ask my mother to plead for you."

As soon as Sect Leader Kang Da left, Jiang Hongdao had been so energetic just moments before, reverted to his old groom persona. Even though the sun was high in the sky, he still lay down peacefully on his straw pillow, only speaking softly to Yan Qingwei before closing his eyes:

"What do you know, you little brat? Even if Kang Dabao were willing to reveal even the smallest details about Kuang Liuting, the Lord would be incredibly excited."

At this point, the old cultivator didn't even glance at Yan Qingwei's astonished expression, but whispered, "Don't be so short-sighted. This Shannan Circuit is going to get more and more interesting."

Just wait and see. In just another sixty or two years, the local tyrants of the Two Instruments Sect in several prefectures may not be able to hold their positions so securely. Even the Star-Picking Pavilion might be in for a headache."

Jiang Hongdao's words were so shocking that Yan Qingwei's mouth opened slightly, but she couldn't speak.

Ten days later, in the Cold Crow Mountain Range

The Cold Crow Mountain Range were frighteningly cold that night, but Wu Cangyun, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, was unaffected by the heat or cold as he sat True Cultivator in the Foundation Establishment meditating. However, a fire was burning in the cave, and on the fire sat the original owners of the cave, a nest of Sharp-Beaked Scarlet Eagle.

This First-Tier Supreme-Grade, hairy beast was a local tyrant. Because of them, many desperate mountain travelers had to detour. But now, it could only be used as Wu Cangyun's nutritional supplement.

This was the fourth hiding place Wu Cangyun had chosen in less than a month. But Wu Cangyun estimated that it would take more than two months for his injuries to fully recover.

That Kang fellow's pupil technique is truly ferocious!

Wu Cangyun secretly thought that if he hadn't worked hard to master the "Witch Scale Golden Armor Art," he might have died on the spot after taking Kang Dabao's pupil technique.

"Damn it, I haven't left the sect for forty years, and this is the first time I've stepped out!" Wu Cangyun felt a surge of dissatisfaction. He opened his mouth and sucked, and the carved flesh melted away from its bones and was devoured by Wu Cangyun in an instant.

Eating like this was utterly tasteless, but Wu Cangyun felt the pain in his wound lessen slightly. While he was delighted, he also reminded himself to be more careful in the future.

This time, he blindly believed what his fellow disciples said, believing that Kang Dabao was nothing more than a lucky fellow with impressive skills in bed. All his achievements over the years were obtained by relying on his wife's family, the Fei Household.

With such overconfidence, Wu Cangyun was completely unprepared for Kang Dabao's pupil technique and insect cloud, and it was only natural that he suffered a great loss.

He was already Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator, and he came from Golden Core sect with impressive Cultivation Method.

Even if he had to sell most of his wealth to buy pills for healing and breakthroughs, it wouldn't be a problem to borrow a mid-grade Spirit Artifact from a fellow disciple or even invite one or two fellow disciples to help him at the Foundation Establishment.

If he had made these preparations in advance, Wu Cangyun's trip to the Chongming Sect would not have ended in failure as he has now.

In Wu Cangyun's eyes, Shan Xuerong and her son were not even worth as much as a low-grade Spirit Stone. What he always regretted was the Jade Moon Shan Household, which was about to change hands. That was a huge piece of fat mutton. Who could bear not to take a bite when they saw it?!

Wu Cangyun cast aside all these distracting thoughts, calmed his mind, and spent half a day circulating his energy through his body more than ten times. When he opened his eyes, he still let out a long sigh.

He thought regretfully, "I was too hasty. That Shan Sheng, Shan Sheng, probably already saw through my intentions, which is why he so resolutely joined the Chongming Sect!"

But as he continued reciting, a fierce glint flashed in Wu Cangyun's eyes:

"You, Shan Sheng, won't live for many more years. Even if your family produces another Foundation Establishment, I'll find a chance to kill them. I won't stand by and watch your Shan Household be completely exploited and drained of their marrow by that thick-skinned and ruthless Kang Dabao! And that Chongming Sect, that Kang Dabao... Humph!"

Suddenly, the magic array outside the cave opened, and a faint sound of footsteps entered the cave. Wu Cangyun extended his Divine Sense, and then relaxed.

Bian Wu Yu entered the cave, looking travel-worn. He quickly walked to Wu Cangyun, returned the concealing Spirit Artifact, and presented two exquisite jade bottles. Bowing respectfully, he said, "Ancestor, I have brought back the Five-Herb Life-Giving Pill."

Wu Cangyun didn't go to pick him up immediately, but instead cautiously asked, "Are you sure no one was following you on this journey?! Have you caused any trouble outside?"

Wu Yu concealed his fear well and bowed his head, replying, "I dare not forget your instructions, Ancestor! Thanks to your great fortune, my journey has been very smooth."

Even these pills are half a percent cheaper than the market price. And the virgin blood ointment was also obtained on the way here, far from the Chongming Sect."

Wu Cangyun didn't find anything unusual after hearing this. Wu Yu had already reached the Perfected Qi Refinement and was ready to try Foundation Establishment. Moreover, his Spirit-Concealing Gauze was quite useful, and even ordinary Foundation Establishment Middle Stage True Cultivator Divine Sense. It was normal that Wu Yu could have a smooth journey.

Wu Cangyun examined the quality of the boy's blood ointment and was quite satisfied. He applied it to the wound and felt a cooling sensation.

Despite the relief, the doubts remained.

"Why is this pill so cheap again?" Wu Cangyun used a medicine spoon to gently scrape off a little powder from the pill, examined it, nodded, and then swallowed the pill.

Even after swallowing the pill, the doubts remained. Wu Cangyun felt uneasy and instructed Wu Yu, "We've lingered here for quite a while. Once I've refined the pill, we'll head back to Ding Prefecture together."

Upon hearing this, Wu Yu immediately suppressed his anxiety and respectfully agreed.

Wu Cangyun, oblivious to anything amiss, reassured him, "Once we return to Ding Prefecture, your great-grandfather will find you several concubines so you can focus on procreation. As for that Foundation Establishment spirit beast, don't worry, I already have some ideas!"

"Thank you, Ancestor!" Wu Yu's eyes gleamed with admiration as he immediately bowed. Wu Cangyun helped him up and then sent Wu Yu to another stone chamber, while he himself raced against time to refine the pills.

The next day, the grandfather and grandson emerged from the cave.

To avoid the countless Golden-Feathered Owl with their excellent eyesight, Wu Cangyun cautiously refrained from using Spirit Artifact or flying boats to travel, instead carrying Wu Yu to conceal their tracks and proceed on foot.

To avoid potential searches by the Chongming Sect, Wu Cangyun carefully took a longer route and changed his way several times.

Seeing that they were about to escape the Cold Crow Mountain Range, the grandfather and grandson both showed joy on their faces, but the joy disappeared after only a few breaths.

A white streak and two Golden Light pierced through the air. In his haste, Wu Cangyun could only haphazardly use his abilities to block them. Wu Yu, in his hand, could only withstand a few wisps of the dissipating Golden Light before being casually tossed behind him.

"They've found us?! How did they know I'd been hiding in the Cold Crow Mountain Range all this time?!" Wu Cangyun's expression changed drastically, filled with shock and horror.

The spear in his hand was still buzzing from the Golden Light of the flying sword when he turned his head and saw a dark figure, resembling a mad tiger, rushing towards Wu Yu in the distance.

"You wretch, die! Give me back my son's life!"

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