Chapter 70: Li Changsheng Stands Up

"What's going on?"

"Could there be an enemy?"

As Zhao San, accompanied by over a dozen guards at the late Qi Refining stage, stepped into the vicinity of the pavilion, an overwhelming aura, akin to the awakening of an ancient tyrannical dragon, pressed down on them.

"Ah!"

"This…"

Several screams sounded as Zhao San and the others were forcefully pinned to the ground by the aura, their faces pale, struggling even to lift a finger.

"Commander Zhao, what's happening?"

A peak Qi Refining cultivator who had been recruited by Zhao San asked in terror.

"I don't know…"

Fear was evident in Zhao San's eyes. Over the years, although he had mainly assisted Bai Qing'er in managing the market, he hadn't lacked cultivation resources. Moreover, eight years ago, when the young master returned, he had given him some precious pills, allowing him to smoothly reach the mid Foundation Establishment stage.

He had thought that he was now a figure of some significance in the Qi State's cultivation world, but he hadn't expected that he couldn't even withstand the aura emanating from the pavilion.

…

Misty Valley Market.

Countless cultivators in the market were staring in the direction of the spiritual eye.

Even with the protective formations in place, they could still feel an inexplicable pressure emanating from there.

"What's going on?"

"Is someone daring to cause trouble in Misty Valley?"

"Legend has it that the master here is at least a Golden Core expert, if not a Nascent Soul cultivator. Could someone really be bold enough to provoke such a force?"

The cultivators were abuzz with speculation.

Over the years, Misty Valley Market had developed rapidly, surpassing Sunset Valley to become the largest market in the Qi State's cultivation world. The number of cultivators in the market had multiplied several times over.

Among them were many Foundation Establishment cultivators, and even Golden Core cultivators had made appearances.

…

Flavor Pavilion in Misty Valley Market.

Flavor Pavilion was also one of Li Changsheng's ventures. It specialized in purchasing spirit beasts and turning them into delicacies. The spirit beast meat, combined with spiritual herbs, created spirit dishes whose effects were no worse than ordinary cultivation-aiding pills.

Moreover, the chefs at Flavor Pavilion were all spirit chefs, and the dishes they prepared were far more delicious than those made by the top mortal chefs.

Thus, business at Flavor Pavilion was quite good.

Ximen Xue was dining with two young people in a private room at Flavor Pavilion when she suddenly put down her chopsticks and looked in the direction of the spiritual eye.

Now sixteen years old, Ximen Xue had completely shed the childishness of her eight-year-old self. While not breathtakingly beautiful, her delicate features carried a hint of heroic spirit, with her short black hair just covering her ears and her eyes gleaming with vitality.

One of the young men at the table kept glancing at Ximen Xue, his eyes filled with admiration.

'Has Master broken through again?'

Ximen Xue murmured softly, her eyes flashing with admiration.

While others might not recognize the source of that aura, Ximen Xue, who cultivated the same technique, could sense it.

She was aware that her bloodline was extraordinary, allowing her to cultivate the Divine Demon Nine Transformations faster than others. Over the past eight years, she had trained diligently without a moment's slack, yet she had only reached the mid second transformation.

Her master was infinitely stronger, and in all these years, she hadn't seen him cultivate much. He spent most of his time refining pills and crafting array plates. Yet, he had broken through once again.

'I need to work even harder to keep up with Master's pace!'

Thinking this, Ximen Xue stood up and cupped her hands toward the young man and woman in the room. "Miaomiao, Brother Xu, I have something to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

After saying this, she turned and left the private room, heading straight for the spiritual eye estate.

After Ximen Xue left,

The young woman, Xu Miaomiao, smiled faintly. "Brother, it seems you have a long way to go if you want to win over the Snow Fairy."

Xu Zhenguan suppressed the admiration in his eyes, his face returning to its usual coldness. "What woman couldn't I, Xu Zhenguan, win over?"

"Ximen Xue may have good talent, but she's only at the peak Qi Refining stage, while I've been in Foundation Establishment for three years."

"Do you really think I like Ximen Xue? If it weren't for the orders from above, I wouldn't be wasting my cultivation time pretending to pursue her!"

"But from my observations over this period, Ximen Xue's body cultivation attainments are likely not low. The commotion earlier was probably caused by Li Changsheng's breakthrough. We can report this to the higher-ups."

Xu Miaomiao nodded slightly.

On the surface, the Xu family was just a family with a Golden Core cultivator in the Molo Country. But only the core members of the Xu family knew just how powerful they were. Even a force with a Nascent Soul cultivator would not dare to trifle with them.

It was just that the higher-ups behind the Xu family had ordered them to keep a low profile, which was why they remained so inconspicuous.

"But why do you think the higher-ups are so interested in Li Changsheng?"

Xu Miaomiao whispered, "Li Changsheng is still young yet already has such profound cultivation. Could he be connected to the higher-ups?"

"Don't ask questions you shouldn't," Xu Zhenguan glanced at his sister and said calmly. "Everything the Xu family has today is given by the higher-ups. We just need to do as they say."

"We've been in Misty Valley for two years now. I'll send the message back later and see what the higher-ups say."

…

Inside the pavilion.

Half an hour later, Li Changsheng finally opened his eyes.

"Phew!"

He let out a long breath and murmured:

"Indeed, the later stages are much harder to break through."

"It actually took me ten simulations to go from the peak fifth transformation to the sixth transformation. Now I only have one simulation left. I'm afraid further progress will be difficult."

Li Changsheng frowned slightly.

These simulations had yielded significant gains. Not only had he reached the sixth transformation in the Divine Demon Nine Transformations, but his array formations had also advanced to the mid sixth tier.

"My breakthrough must have been noticed by the outside world, especially by the Vajra Sect."

A cold smile appeared in Li Changsheng's eyes.

"Simulate!"

[Simulation begins.]

[Age 29, you return to the Su family's ancestral land with Ximen Xue.]

[After returning to the Su family's ancestral land, you take Ximen Xue to the Vajra Sect's secret realm.]

[Upon meeting Elder Su, you directly inform him that Ximen Xue may possess divine demon blood. Overjoyed, Elder Su summons the mysterious youth. You suddenly strike, killing Elder Su with a single punch, and engage in a fierce battle with the mysterious youth.]

[After half an hour of battle, you severely injure the mysterious youth. He activates a secret treasure in an attempt to kill you, but you withstand the attack, though you are heavily injured. The mysterious youth, having expended a large amount of vital blood to activate the treasure, is in even worse condition and flees on a semi-immortal artifact jade boat.]

[You plunder all the resources in the secret realm.]

[You consolidate the forces of the Tiannan Region and launch a comprehensive search for the mysterious youth, but to no avail.]

[Age 31, the Medicinal King Sect discovers that the Xu family in the Molo Country has a Divine Transformation cultivator. You single-handedly attack, annihilating the Xu family with a single palm strike. The mysterious youth emerges from the Xu family, and you engage him in battle.]

[You severely injure the mysterious youth once again, but he still manages to escape.]

[Age 59, you find the mysterious youth in the outer sea of the Starry Sea. Another intense battle ensues, attracting the attention of powerful sea beasts in the outer sea. A giant whale appears and swallows both you and the mysterious youth whole. You die!]

[Simulation ends!]

A smile appeared in Li Changsheng's eyes as he murmured:

"Finally, I've gained the ability to protect myself!"