The discussion continued, and the man's expression as he rushed about seemed somewhat unnatural. He furrowed his eyebrows at the strange gazes and the pungent stench around him, but his face was mostly filled with urgency and helplessness.

"Knock, knock, knock—"

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Within a dim yet elegant room emitting a faint orchid fragrance, a slightly tense voice could be heard.

The rhythmic knocking on the door seemed somewhat urgent. Soon, an annoyed female voice came from inside.

"Why are you so flustered? Come in."

The door was pushed open.

Lying sideways on the bed was a woman holding a pipe, laden with an air of allure.

Even more enchanting than Su Yi.

Her figure was graceful, with an almost exaggerated fullness that seemed unreasonable, leaving one wide-eyed with awe—over three feet of bust and waist, over three and a half feet of hips. Her slender waist twisted gracefully like a water snake, seemingly easy to break with a gentle twist. A light gauze draped over her, and the fallen goose skirt accentuated her figure, with a teardrop mole at the corner of her eye, adding an enticing allure.

However.

The room was neatly organized, without any other items. Only the cultivation techniques and tea, used for daily practice, were left on the table. The room was devoid of any intoxicating scent, replaced by a faint incense aroma wafting throughout.

The scent emanated from the pipe in her hand.

"Puff—"

"It's been three years, and you're still like this, getting flustered over small matters. Didn't I tell you to watch over Yao Er? Why did you rush back?"

"Are there people from the Southern Border sneaking in again?"

She shook the pipe, exhaling a breath of incense smoke. The pipe wasn't filled with tobacco but rather with low-quality ambergris, mixed with powdered medicinal herbs and ambergris residue to enhance its effect.

Despite her ornate appearance and seductive embellishments, like a teardrop mole, and her voluptuous figure, her actions belied a certain awkwardness and unnaturalness.

With obvious intent, she donned an ill-suited disguise to blend in with her surroundings, unlike someone whose allure was naturally inborn.

The description might as well refer to a certain fox spirit constantly hosting sensual gatherings.

Her tone revealed impatience, her husky voice magnetic, suggesting her age wasn't young just by appearances. As she got down from the bed, her expression showed none of Lu Luo's allure.

She expertly tapped the pipe on the table, and the burnt ashes fell neatly into a cup. Once off the bed, it was apparent that her body, though extraordinary, had limbs that weren't as long as the former shopkeeper's, and her figure not as tall as Su Yi or Lu Luo.

Though not remarkably short, the mismatch with her figure was noticeable, her looks couldn't compare to Su Yi and Lu Luo, but her features were still reasonably attractive, at least a six, almost to a seven out of ten.

However, just based on temperament... those two fox spirits at least possessed top-tier Demon Race bloodlines.

"Report! Madam An Xuan, there's a situation in the city! Someone's snuck in!"

"Hmm? Are those thieves back again? Those relentless remnants, have they forgotten how they nearly got slaughtered by me a few days back?"

Bang—

The pipe clanged on the table.

A slightly manic aura erupted, and from the energy emanating from her, it was clear she was a Core Formation Stage expert as well!

This was the underlying strength of the Purple Cloud Palace.

It was previously mentioned; the deaths of a few Core Formation Stage cultivators at the border wouldn't concern those Great Sects. Those stationed in such places were generally marginal figures, either having made mistakes or having no potential for development, or those marginalized by others.

This was the reason Yu Ying could act like an emperor in Feng Prefecture—offending her could lead to death without much consequence, as her sect wouldn't send experts to avenge insignificant disciples.

The woman in front of him also exuded an air of dominance, forcing the man to retreat two steps in surprise.

This woman was named An Xuan, a Core Formation inferior-grade cultivator.

At first glance, one would think a Core Formation Stage cultivator should be heavily nurtured by the sect. However, in reality, she was over fifty and had a daughter. Back then, it was to ensure her daughter could cultivate smoothly and take a head start that she had committed some wrongdoings.

She used improper means to seize Body Tempering Pills from fellow disciples, leading to injury. Although the other person chose not to pursue the matter, once the sect found out, it was unlikely she could continue within the sect.

Hence, she was dispatched to this remote location.

For a cultivator, fifty wasn't particularly old; it was still a time of pursuing vitality. But being in the early stages of Core Formation at fifty suggested little development potential in this lifetime.

Three years ago, after Su Yi and Lu Luo left Qingshui County, she was assigned there as a candidate, as a piece of trivia.

Her direct superior was Yu Ying, with the jurisdiction over Feng Prefecture and East Prefecture, and a nearly half the territory of Long Country under her arrangement. Now you understand where the title "local emperor" comes from.

Compared to Su Yi, while her power wasn't as significant as those two, her personality was much more assertive. Su Yi was relatively low-key in the city, whereas she was conspicuously high-profile, acting with fury whenever someone dared to intrude.

This was related to her environment—after all, a woman with a child, particularly during...

Menopause.

"No, no, it's not. By their attire, they don't seem like Southern Border people but rather from other parts of the Central Plains. As for cultivation realm, I, I couldn't discern it."

"Couldn't discern?"

Her expression showed some astonishment.

The subordinate before her had already reached Foundation Establishment Peak; if he couldn't see through the person's cultivation, was it Core Formation Stage?

Her brow furrowed tightly.

Recently, many people from the Southern Border had come over, and they dispatched many young disciples down the mountain for training.

Don't be fooled by the chaos within the Purple Cloud Palace, where Core Formation cultivators were common. Nascent Souls were everywhere. But that was at the core of the Purple Cloud Palace. Outside, particularly in remote places, an ordinary power having a few Foundation Establishment disciples trained was already impressive.

A Nascent Soul cultivator could become a mountain lord, establish a sect, and wouldn't descend casually. Most cultivators trying to exploit Qingshui County recently were just Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment trash, no match for her with ease.

"Could it be the evil cultivator who usually lingers outside the city?"

She couldn't help but comment.

About six months ago, while out of the city, she sensed an unusual aura.

The aura was strong but had a bloody stench, quite pungent. Even after she left the city, the person recklessly followed her for a while until she moved to strike, realizing the person's strength was comparable, if not superior, to hers.

This person looked handsome but had a stiff expression, dressed in black, head wrapped in a white turban, almost as if attending some funeral. He would lurk behind people, especially following Yan Family members out of the city, seemingly eager but constantly restraining.

With her experience, she easily identified him as an evil cultivator, likely one who enhanced his realm by force through flesh and Divine Soul Technique, realizing afterward none could gain ground in their exchanges.

While An Xuan had a fiery temperament, she was diligent with sect missions, stemming from her Purple Cloud Palace roots. To prevent accidental injuries, she discreetly followed.

She discovered, though this person always loitered outside, suppressing the urge to attack, they had never laid hands on others and instead slain many Southern Border disciples, using their flesh for cultivation, never harming Long Country people.

Moreover, since he always lingered outside, over time, she gradually dismissed this peculiar evil cultivator. But seeing today's situation, had he entered the city?

"It's not him, rather a peculiar young man. He's heading towards the miss's residence, and I, I didn't dare stop him."

"Damn it, why didn't you say so earlier!"

She exploded immediately.

With a curse, she rushed out of the room, kicked off with her legs, speeding towards the city center. The direction seemed like Jiang Feng's former residence...

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