Chapter 289

She, Ninth Fish Old Ancestor, has plenty of experience protecting the Dao.

Back when she was on a mission in the Chifeng Star System, wasn't it her who protected little Yunlu?

In short, it's all more or less the same!

Soon.

Thanks to her wealth, the waiter eagerly brought over a pot of tea and poured it for her.

Even Zhang Yunlu, who came in first, hasn't gotten hers yet!

But Chi Jiuyu was deeply dissatisfied: "Do you even understand first come, first served? Serve the one who arrived first!"

"…"

You just handed out that much money…

And now this…

This remark left the waiter utterly speechless.

Crack!

The owner came over and slapped him straight away, frowning: "Didn't you hear? Don't you even know first come, first served?"

Rich people are eccentric—what's wrong with that?

The waiter was deeply wronged, but he swallowed his grievance and brought tea to Zhang Yunlu.

A farce.

Yet everyone inside the shop acted as if they hadn't noticed—no one looked her way.

Since everything is made fresh, it still takes quite some time.

Zhang Yunlu waited a while, growing bored.

She simply pulled out the World Seed that Bie Xuening had earlier asked Chi Jiuyu to deliver, and activated the Great Expansion World Contemplation Method.

Bie Xuening had already performed special processing upon capturing it, so there was no need to worry about it attracting the world's covetousness after arriving in the Three Days Realm, or failing to nurture properly.

But Foundation Establishment-level true qi is too low to offer much help in forming a cavern realm.

Still, observing its formation process through the Great Expansion World Contemplation Method greatly benefits the cultivator's cultivation.

"Little Yunlu is truly diligent."

Chi Jiuyu muttered, glancing around.

The guest at the next table had a plate of steamed crab before him, its roe plump and rich—making her a little hungry.

Yet not long after.

Two figures entered side by side, dressed in luxurious attire, utterly out of place in this setting.

The man wore a brocade robe, jade belt, and golden crown, resembling the attire of the Dingnan Prince Heir.

He also possessed cultivation—Qi Condensation Seventh Layer, like the Dingnan Prince Heir—but his foundation was superior.

The woman was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, clad in a pale yellow long gown, her foundation mediocre, her cultivation method clearly sharing lineage with the man's.

In summary: two weaklings.

After confirming there were no omissions, Chi Jiuyu's Jin Guang faded.

Hmm…

This is truly strange.

I wandered outside for so long and barely saw any cultivators—yet now, right after I've caught up with little Yunlu, I run into two?

Forget it, no need to act yet—let's see how little Yunlu handles this.

After the two entered the shop, the surrounding murmurs quieted considerably.

Chi Jiuyu strained her ears to listen.

Oh~

Turns out this guy is also a son of the Dingnan Prince—he's the seventh son.

He's usually very low-key, rarely appearing in public; little is known about him.

The two walked straight in and finally stopped beside Zhang Yunlu's table, sitting down opposite her.

Hm?

Zhang Yunlu frowned, exited the special state of the Great Expansion World Contemplation Method, and withdrew her gaze from the World Seed glowing with five-colored radiance.

"This seat is taken."

Yet the brocade-robed youth acted as if he hadn't heard, instead smiling casually.

"I've noticed the extraordinary pearl in your hand—would you consider selling it? I'm willing to pay a thousand gold..."

"Not for sale."

Zhang Yunlu spoke coolly, flipping her palm to conceal the seed.

Not a storage ring—due to the World Seed's unique nature, it cannot be stored in any spatial equipment.

But through the Great Expansion World Contemplation Method, it can be stored.

After stowing the World Seed, Zhang Yunlu had no intention of wasting words with them; she rose and walked to another table.

She didn't want to get into a conflict over such a trivial matter.

Her main goal now was to eat crab, then bring some back for her senior sister.

Yet the brocade-robed youth did not give up—he rose and sat down opposite Zhang Yunlu as well.

Hm?!

Zhang Yunlu's delicate brows lifted—Xiao Zhang doesn't seek trouble, but she isn't afraid of it either!

Instantly, purple qi swirled in her eyes.

The Purple Bastion Contemplation Method

Previously, in Xuanjian City, the cultivation method transmitted to her by Zihuan Zhenjun had now been refined to a level of extraordinary mastery.

Observing one's own deficiencies, anticipating the enemy's openings, perceiving the unseen…

Useful, but its level has begun to lag behind.

I originally planned to replace it with a more suitable method from the Transmission Hall after returning from Longxiang Qingtianzong, but the training expedition delayed it.

Of course, in this Three Realms, the "Zi Yuan Guan Qi Fa" remains a method of overwhelming superiority.

Their protective gear served no purpose whatsoever; with a single glance, Zhang Yunlu discerned their realms.

Qi Condensation Seventh Layer, Foundation Establishment Early Stage.

"I am Gu Cong, son of the Dingnan Prince."

The brocade-robed youth, Gu Cong, did not beat around the bush but spoke directly.

Gu Cong studied her eyebrows and eyes, as if recalling something, and grew even more satisfied.

Zhang Yunlu, however, thought of another matter: she had killed the Dingnan Wang Shizi before.

So that explains it.

"So you've come for revenge." Zhang Yunlu nodded lightly.

One is Qi Condensation Seventh Layer; the other's foundation doesn't even match a strong external-aid Foundation Establishment…

Easy to deal with.

As soon as she spoke those words, the woman in the pale yellow long dress, who had remained silent until now, suddenly felt uneasy, as if a cold wind had swept through her heart.

Her realm was higher than Gu Cong's, and she cultivated a technique to enhance spiritual perception.

Looking into Zhang Yunlu's clear, sharply divided black-and-white eyes…

No!

"No! We didn't come for revenge!" she cried urgently.

"Though they are brothers, they have always been enemies."

"You killed him—we would have applauded. And earlier, when you wielded your sword through the marketplace and someone reported you to the authorities, it was us who suppressed the report."

Gu Cong glanced back at her, displeased.

Is this the sort of thing to say in public?

Isn't sister usually cold and quiet? Why today…

"We apologize for disturbing you—we're leaving now!"

Gu Cong was genuinely puzzled now.

Wasn't the plan to recruit this cultivator who killed our elder brother?

"Sister, you…"

"Go!"

The power of Foundation Establishment was far beyond what Gu Cong, a Qi Condensation Seventh Layer, could resist—he was dragged away by force.

!. du

In an instant, the two vanished from sight.

Zhang Yunlu paused, but did not pursue them.

"Dingnan Prince…"

The intelligence provided earlier mentioned that in the Mortal Realm, cultivators barely existed—even the Emperor was merely an ordinary person who had not entered the path of cultivation.

Yet this Dingnan Prince has two sons who are both cultivators.

Very suspicious.

I'll go check later.

After all, this is a training expedition—I must seek out challenges myself, unlike the Tai Shang Dao Sect.

"Sir, your crab."

Hmm.

I'll go after finishing the crab.

Behind her, Chi Jiu Yu also withdrew his gaze.

It seems little Yunlu intends to visit the Dingnan Wang Fu.

I'll follow her.

After all, so many cultivators—this Dingnan Wang Fu must be connected to the 'Tai Xuan Tian.'

If some Nascent Soul elder comes to bully the young…

Hehe!

Then it's time for Old Ancestor Jiu Yu to show his prowess!

…………

Nightfall. Dingnan Wang Fu.

The mansion's scale was magnificent, nearly occupying one-third of Anqin County.

Inside, carved beams and painted rafters, hip-and-gable roofs with turning corners, double eaves and double brackets, painted ceiling coffers.

The main gate was coated in vermilion lacquer, gilded, and studded with bronze nails, radiating grandeur.

Within the compound, lights blazed brightly; lanterns by the pond reflected shimmering ripples on the water.

On the pavilion over the water.

Gu Cong leaned against the railing, gazing across the lake, as if waiting for someone.

"Sister…"

Her strange behavior today still confused him.

After emerging, Ye Shijie did not explain to him, only warned him not to provoke that person before leaving.

His fingers tapped lightly, then halted the next instant.

Across the distant lake, a woman in a pale yellow long skirt stepped lightly upon the water's surface, followed by an elderly man with long flowing whiskers and a lean face.

The old man stepped lightly through empty air, as if riding the wind and commanding the breath—calm and unhurried, yet never losing an inch of height.

In but a few moments, the two had arrived at the pavilion.

The old man's indifferent gaze swept over Gu Cong, startling him into immediately rising to his feet.

"This is Senior Uncle Fuyun, the Grand Elder of Chengyun Sect, a Jin Dan sword immortal of unmatched killing power," said the woman in the pale yellow long skirt.

Now that Ziqing Monastery has been destroyed, the mortal dynasty it long controlled has naturally drawn the covetous eyes of many.

Chengyun Sect is one of them.

After all, though they do not understand the art of refining humans into pills, the mortal realm is vast, no less than Tai Xuan Tian.

The absence of visible spiritual energy is no great matter—among such a vast population, some disciples with decent talent or special physiques will inevitably arise.

Or one could seek out lost treasures scattered in the mortal realm.

Coincidentally, earlier, they had taken a disciple within Dingnan Wang Fu, and thus stepped into the game.

They do not seek to claim it all, but to carve out a territory and get a taste of the meat is still possible.

Gu Cong's heart tightened, and he quickly bowed.

"Disciple Gu Cong, pays respects to Senior Uncle Fuyun!"

"Hmm."

Fuyun gave a faint reply, his gaze shifting aside to land upon the grand Wang Fu.

He had come here personally to the mortal realm to sweep away all obstacles!

"Young friend, no need to hide any longer before this one."

His voice, amplified by magic power, echoed throughout the entire Wang Fu, stirring it to alarm.

Gu Cong's expression changed, about to speak—but the woman shot him a glance, silencing him instantly.

As a Jin Dan True Person, Fuyun cared nothing for the mortal realm's so-called princes and marquises.

…

…

At this moment, behind a rock garden.

Zhang Yunlu activated the "Purple Qi Concealment and Spirit Hiding Technique," watching the three within the pavilion over the water.

When the voice reached her, her expression grew grave.

This Jin Dan had seen through her disguise—his foundation must be exceptionally solid.

It seems the coming battle won't be simple…

But it need not come to blows, after all, I have no ill intent yet.

Zhang Yunlu was weighing whether to leave or emerge.

Above, a loud laugh rang out.

"Hahahaha! What a total embarrassment—looks like my disguise still sucks!"

A dark shadow leapt down.

It was a massive man, broad-shouldered and burly, with eyes like copper bells and a voice like a bronze bell.

His robust blood qi roared like the surging Dajiang, yet also resembled a furnace, its searing heat warping the air around him. (End of Chapter)