"Cousin, I don’t know who that man is. He started hunting for no reason! Luckily, we’re not far from the family estate. We fought as we retreated, but we’ll be safe once we get back."
Mu Siyu urged Li Chang’an to return to the family estate with her.
But Li Chang’an was in no hurry.
He looked at their pursuer and called out, "Friend, I’m not sure how my cousin offended you, but why are you chasing her so relentlessly?"
The man replied coldly, "This woman is quite attractive. If I sell her to the Mandarin Duck Valley in the Western Domain, I’m sure I’ll get a good price."
Mandarin Duck Valley was one of the Five Great Sects of the Western Domain.
The Sect had a rather poor reputation, not only because most of its cultivation techniques were Dual Cultivation Techniques, but also because it secretly trafficked Cultivators.
Li Chang’an asked again, "Friend, are you from the Western Domain?"
"That’s right!"
"Since you’re from the Western Domain, why have you co to our Southern Domain to cause trouble?"
"The Southern Domain? What a joke. Before long, the Southern Domain will cease to exist, and this land will all belong to our Western Domain!"
’His words revealed a crucial piece of information. It seed the Western Domain was planning to make a major move against the Southern Domain.’
Li Chang’an was about to ask another question, but Mu Siyu, beside him, was growing anxious.
"Cousin, sothing could go wrong if we delay! Let’s hurry back to the estate."
"Alright."
A cyan light flashed in Li Chang’an’s hand, and a round wheel materialized.
The Celestial Grade Magic, Celestial Wood Immortal Wheel!
Seeing he intended to fight, Mu Siyu grew even more frantic. She grabbed his arm and pleaded, "Cousin, we’re no match for him! We can’t fight him head-on!"
"Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing."
Li Chang’an smiled and launched the Celestial Wood Immortal Wheel from his hand.
The Western Cultivator sneered. "Interesting. You think you can fight soone above your stage? Fine. Today, I’ll show you—"
Before he could finish, he suddenly froze.
A look of astonishnt crossed his face as he slowly lowered his head to look at his body.
In that single instant, the Celestial Wood Immortal Wheel had sliced through his Protective Treasure with incredible ease, cleaving his entire body in two.
"Wh-what... what kind of Magic is this?"
he murmured in disbelief.
Li Chang’an didn’t answer. He simply raised his hand and unleashed a second Celestial Wood Immortal Wheel.
This one was even sharper, splitting the man’s skull in two and killing him instantly.
From beneath the ground, Dahuang shook the Venerable Soul Banner, collecting the man’s Soul.
The battle was over.
"Co!"
Li Chang’an beckoned with his hand, and the man’s Storage Pouch flew to him. He opened it and took a look inside.
Most of the Treasures inside were unremarkable; only two or three items were of any value.
’He was rather poor for soone at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishnt. No wonder he took the risk of venturing deep into the Southern Domain to stir up trouble.’
Li Chang’an shook his head slightly and put the Storage Pouch away.
"Siyu, let’s head back to the estate."
He turned to Mu Siyu.
At that mont, Mu Siyu’s face was slack with shock. She stood stunned for a long while, as if she had just witnessed sothing incredible.
She only snapped out of her daze when she heard Li Chang’an speak.
"Cousin Yuanchen, y-you can actually kill enemies in a higher stage?"
"Yes. I’ve had so fortunate encounters."
"That’s more than just a few fortunate encounters! Cousin, that makes you a Celestial Pride!"
Mu Siyu’s face lit up with surprise, her voice filled with excitent.
Li Chang’an shook his head. "It’s nothing special. I can only defeat soone one minor realm above my own. A true Celestial Pride can kill enemies across an entire Major Realm—they can slay a Golden Core Cultivator while they’re still at Foundation Establishnt."
"Nonsense, there’s no such person! Cousin, you’re the most powerful Celestial Pride there is!"
Mu Siyu refused to believe it, her perspective perhaps limited by her upbringing.
Li Chang’an simply smiled and didn’t explain further.
The two of them then headed for Red Leaf Valley.
Along the way, Mu Siyu clung to his arm, her pretty face full of curiosity as she asked about his two-year disappearance.
Li Chang’an was prepared for this.
"I was trapped within so ruins deep inside the Ancient Ruins Secret Realm..."
He narrated his story slowly, his voice steady, offering a tale rich in detail and free of any holes.
Before long, Red Leaf Valley was visible in the distance.
Li Chang’an’s gaze deepened. He stared for a mont and could make out Array Patterns hidden within the void.
’At least three Tier Three Top Grade Grand Arrays!’
With such astonishing Arrays, the Mu Family could fend off an ordinary Golden Core enemy even without a Golden Core Cultivator to manage them.
However, lacking a Golden Core Cultivator, the Mu Family was destined to weaken over ti until they could no longer afford to maintain the Grand Arrays.
Soon, the two of them passed through the Arrays.
An imnse valley spread out before Li Chang’an.
The valley was filled with red-leaf trees.
A sea of fiery red stretched as far as the eye could see.
Tens of thousands of buildings flickered in and out of view amidst the countless, dancing red leaves.
The Wood Spiritual Power in the air was exceptionally rich, making Li Chang’an, a Cultivator with a Wood Spirit Root, feel right at ho.
Li Chang’an flew toward the heart of Red Leaf Valley and landed before the Mu Family’s clan hall.
’According to the Mu Family rules, if you’ve been away for a long ti, you have to see the Patriarch first to explain the situation.’
The Mu Family Patriarch, Mu Chengsong, was inside the hall, discussing matters with a dozen or so Foundation Establishnt Cultivators.
Li Chang’an recognized more than half of these Cultivators.
’Mu Siyue, Mu Caiwei...’
His gaze swept across the room, and he saw many familiar faces.
All of them had previously visited Changqing Mountain to ask for his help, offering Cyan Profound Spirit Liquid in return.
Everyone was rather surprised to see him enter the hall, as there had been no news of him for a very long ti.
"Yuanchen, you’re finally back."
"It’s been so long. I was worried sothing had happened to you."
They spoke one after another, most of their words carrying a tone of concern.
However, one man’s expression was peculiar. Though he was smiling, it looked sowhat forced.
"Yuanchen, where have you been all this ti?"
This man’s na was Mu Han.
According to Mu Yuanchen’s mories, the two had been friends since childhood.
Two years ago, before Mu Yuanchen left for the Ancient Ruins Secret Realm to seek his fortune, he had entrusted a large sum of cultivation resources to Mu Han.
He had instructed Mu Han that if he didn’t return alive, the resources were to be used for the cultivation of his younger sister, Mu Yuanru.
Seeing Mu Han’s rigid smile, Li Chang’an guessed. ’The resources Mu Yuanchen left behind were most likely used by Mu Han himself.’
"Ah Han, I was trapped in a Secret Realm and only recently managed to escape."
Li Chang’an replied with a smile, acting as if he hadn’t noticed a thing.
He walked up to Patriarch Mu Chengsong and bowed with clasped hands.
"Grandmaster Chengsong."
"Mm, it’s good that you’ve returned."
Mu Chengsong smiled, his expression gentle.
"The outside world is in turmoil. You must have endured many hardships these past two years. Go get so rest. Once you’re rested, you can co and tell all about it."
"Yes."
Li Chang’an replied respectfully and was about to leave to see the sister Mu Yuanchen had entrusted to him.
But just then, Mu Han suddenly stopped him.
"Wait!"
Mu Han looked toward Mu Chengsong, his face etched with concern.
"Grandmaster Chengsong, Yuanchen has been gone for two years. I fear he t with so accident out there. This person could be an imposter. I request that we use the family’s Bloodline Stone and the Profound Truth Mirror to verify his identity."
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