Chapter 190: Chapter 190: Soft Flood Dragon Powder

Another month passed.

The Tier Two Upper Grade puppet Li Ping was refining was beginning to take shape.

But now, he had to stop his puppet refining and head out to attend the celebration for Meng Qingyi’s breakthrough to late-stage Foundation Establishment.

In truth, Li Ping was reluctant to waste time on such matters.

However, he was living on the Meng family’s Immortal Peach Mountain, and their ancestor had personally come to invite him. Even if he was unwilling, he couldn’t disrespect the Meng family.

Li Ping sighed softly. "It really is better to be a Core Formation Master. You can do whatever you want without getting bogged down in social obligations like this."

’If I were a Core Formation Master,’

’who would dare bother me with something as trivial as Meng Qingyi breaking through to late-stage Foundation Establishment?’

...

The celebration for Meng Qingyi’s advancement to the late stage was held in the same place as his wedding: the Ministry Hall.

Arriving alone before the Cyan Dragon Mountain’s Protection Array, Li Ping presented his invitation to the guards and entered without a hitch.

He flew at a leisurely pace, and by the time he landed at the entrance of the Ministry Hall, he saw the Meng family’s ancestor standing outside, beaming as he welcomed the guests.

For a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator like him to deign to act as a greeter showed his profound affection for Meng Qingyi.

Li Ping offered his congratulations, presented his gift, and walked into the hall.

Many Cultivators were already seated inside. Li Ping spotted Artifact Refiner Wu Feng and Array Master Ning Wuxu at a glance, and with a small smile, he walked over and sat down beside them.

"Fellow Daoist Li!" The two men smiled and nodded when they saw him.

Li Ping smiled back and asked, "What are you two discussing?"

"What else? The war, of course," Wu Feng said, shaking his head.

Ever since this war engulfed the Western Wilderness, prices had been steadily rising, and as a Talisman Maker, Li Ping’s income had soared.

Wu Feng was no exception. In fact, he earned even more than Li Ping. After all, Li Ping worked alone, while Wu Feng had five or six apprentices providing free labor.

Ning Wuxu nodded and sighed. "The war has been going on for two years now. Who knows when it will finally end."

In reality, as an Array Master, he had also earned a great number of Spirit Stones during this time.

However, he was a man of peaceful disposition who dedicated his days to studying Arrays. He had no love for Magical Combat and despised war.

Li Ping shook his head. "Who can say? At least things are still relatively peaceful here in the Immortal City."

Hearing this, both men nodded in agreement.

Originally, the Immortal City, located deep within the Cloud Mist Mountain Range and surrounded by Demon Beasts, offered a poorer living environment than the Western Wilderness.

But now, with the four sects of the Demon Dao and the Tuluo People joining forces to invade, both the Northern and Eastern Realms were mired in war, and Cultivators lived a precarious existence.

Even in the Central-South and Western Realms, with large numbers of Cultivators being dispatched north to support the Yan and Liang Kingdoms, bandit cultivators were rampant and public order had deteriorated significantly.

The Immortal City, in contrast, had become a rare haven.

Of course, that was assuming a beast tide didn’t break out.

A Tier Two beast tide was manageable, but if a tide involving Tier Three Demon Beasts erupted, the Immortal City, lacking a resident Core Formation Cultivator, would instantly be in grave danger.

...

After everyone waited patiently, the banquet soon began. Meng Qingyi made a personal appearance to accept the congratulations from the assembled Cultivators.

Li Ping didn’t breathe a sigh of relief until the banquet was over.

’No incidents this time. It proves the Meng family’s control over the Immortal City is unusually strong now.’

’Because of this, my opinion of Fenglan Master and his disciple has fallen even lower.’

’That master and disciple pair really didn’t do a single thing to earn the goodwill of those beneath them!’

’After all, back in my world, even when the despised Dazi Dynasty fell—a dynasty that incurred divine wrath and popular hatred, ceded power, humiliated the nation, and did nothing of worth—there was still a crowd of loyalists mourning, attempting to restore the old regime, and observing rites for the dead.’

’How many years has it been since Fenglan Master and his disciple died?’

’Then again, it’s also possible that everyone close to them was sent to the Yan Kingdom, and they’re all there right now, missing them day and night.’

Li Ping couldn’t be too certain about it.

Just as he was thinking about the Cultivators dispatched to support the Yan Kingdom, Li Ping received some news related to them.

After the banquet, Li Ping didn’t rush to leave.

Instead, he went to Zhang Tie’s cave residence and had Gumu Sheng called over as well.

He was planning to return to the Jiang Kingdom soon for Yan Hengchuan’s wedding, and while he was there, he would see his Third Senior Brother one last time.

Since he was already on Cyan Dragon Mountain, he took the opportunity to inform the two of them.

When the two men learned he was heading to the Western Wilderness, they both reminded him to be careful on the road, as public order there was currently not very good.

Li Ping nodded with a smile.

Then, Gumu Sheng brought up another matter.

Xiong Pohai, who was far away in the Yan Kingdom fighting the Tuluo People, had recently broken through to late-stage Foundation Establishment. In fact, his breakthrough had even been a little earlier than Meng Qingyi’s.

"Oh? Is that so?" Li Ping nodded slightly after listening to Zhang Tie’s description.

’I originally thought Meng Qingyi was holding this celebration for his breakthrough simply to celebrate.’

’Now that I hear Xiong Pohai broke through even earlier than him, I immediately understand. This celebration is probably also meant to establish legitimacy.’

’After all, Xiong Pohai was also a disciple of Fenglan Master.’

’In theory, he’s also qualified to inherit the position of Sect Leader. His breakthrough to late-stage Foundation Establishment must have put considerable pressure on the Meng family.’

’Moreover, Meng Qingyi had made him the leader of the Immortal City’s Cultivators, sending them on the expedition with Purple Cloud Valley.’

’While this was intended to remove him from the Immortal City, it also gave him the chance to connect with Purple Cloud Valley and perhaps even befriend their Cultivators.’

’If he doesn’t die in the Yan Kingdom, his late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation will pose a certain threat to Meng Qingyi.’

’That’s why the Meng family is holding this grand celebration—to win the loyalty of the Immortal City’s Cultivators and shore up support for Meng Qingyi.’

...

Li Ping naturally didn’t concern himself with these matters. He’d had minor conflicts with Xiong Pohai before, but it wasn’t enough to make him want the man dead.

However, another piece of news from Gumu Sheng made his expression turn solemn.

"Xu Guikai, Lin Yue, and Ah Yun all went missing together during a major battle?" Li Ping was taken aback.

Gumu Sheng nodded. "Yes. They were in the same squad and disappeared during a mission. The loss of two Foundation Establishment Cultivators is no small matter. The Core Formation Masters in the Yan Kingdom even mobilized to search for them, but they couldn’t find their bodies or any trace of them leaving the country. For now, they can only be listed as missing."

"Is that so?" Li Ping nodded, not saying much more.

Before their departure, he had spoken with Xu Guikai and advised him to flee to Jixia if he got the chance.

’Now, I don’t know if he followed my advice or if something really happened to them.’

’In truth, neither outcome was good for them.’

’If something happened, there’s nothing more to be said. But even if they secretly fled to Jixia while on a mission...’

’Donghua Mountain is currently surrounded by the four Demon Dao sects, and even the Qi Kingdom has become a land ravaged by Demon Cultivators. Heading to Jixia now would be even more dangerous than staying in the Yan Kingdom.’

"I hope they’re all right," Li Ping sighed.

He had hoped that in the future, he’d have the chance to bring Xu Guikai back to Sword Casting Manor to verify whether he was truly the reincarnation of his master.

Now, it seemed that day was further away than ever.

"Musheng, while I’m away from the Immortal City, keep helping me collect the relevant Spiritual Materials," Li Ping instructed.

Hearing Li Ping’s words, Gumu Sheng smiled and nodded. "Don’t worry, Big Brother. I’ll keep a constant eye out."

...

Back on Immortal Peach Mountain, the news of Xu Guikai’s disappearance still left Li Ping feeling uneasy.

He only calmed down after meditating for several cycles, then resumed refining the Tier Two Upper Grade puppet.

’With my skill and one hundred percent success rate, I should be able to finish refining the puppet before I head to the Jiang Kingdom at the end of the year.’

’Once I have a puppet with the combat strength of a late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator as one of my standard methods, my own combat power will be greatly enhanced.’

...

「In an inn within the Immortal City.」

The cold, beautiful young woman looked at the person before her, her disgust almost palpable. "Hua Hong," she said icily, "what are you doing here?"

Standing before her was a young man in a white long-robe. His face was quite handsome, but his pair of long, narrow eyes made him look rather sinister.

Hearing the cold beauty’s words, the young man named Hua Hong hastily explained, "Senior Sister Wei, the Old Ancestor saw that you hadn’t returned for a long time and was worried you might have run into trouble, so he sent me to assist you."

Senior Sister Wei, or rather, Wei Yiling.

She listened to Hua Hong’s explanation with disdain in her eyes. "Even if I did run into trouble, what could a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator like you possibly do?"

Hua Hong was her junior brother. He also had another identity: he was a blood descendant of the Blood Shadow Sect’s Grand Elder, Hua Wuji.

Hua Wuji had always hoped to match her with Hua Hong as dual cultivation partners. However, as a dignified Core Formation Master, how could she possibly have any interest in a mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator?

Besides, Hua Hong was an utter lecher. Many of the Low-Tier Female Cultivators in the sect had ambiguous relationships with him.

Therefore, she had always bluntly rejected her master’s matchmaking attempts.

’But to think that Master would now send this detestable fellow to Fenglan Immortal City to carry out the mission with me.’

Despite Wei Yiling’s ridicule, Hua Hong’s expression didn’t change in the slightest. He replied impassively, "Senior Sister Wei, my Cultivation may be inferior to yours, but everyone has their specialty. When it comes to finding people, I might be able to help you."

Wei Yiling sneered. "Hmph... since you’re already here, fine. But go somewhere else. You are not allowed to stay in the same inn as me!"

With that, she flicked her sleeve, and a wave of Core Formation Magical Power pushed Hua Hong out the door. The inn room door slammed shut with a BANG.

Standing outside the door, Hua Hong’s face paled and flushed with anger. In the end, however, he did as Wei Yiling commanded, silently leaving the inn and finding another one several miles away to stay in.

Once inside his room, Hua Hong’s eyes filled with fury. "How dare she treat me with such contempt? If the Old Ancestor hadn’t taken you as his disciple, would you have ever reached Core Formation?"

But as he cursed, a wicked smile suddenly curled his lips. He whispered, "You refused the respect I offered, so don’t blame me for using other means."

He had been lusting after Wei Yiling for a long time.

The main reason he had come on this trip to Fenglan Immortal City was that he had obtained a dose of ’Soft Flood Dragon Powder’.

As its name suggested, Soft Flood Dragon Powder could even incapacitate a Tier Three Flood Dragon.

"KEKEKE..."

Hua Hong seemed to be picturing the look on Wei Yiling’s proud face as she yielded to him in ecstasy.

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