Chapter 207: Wind Sounds

The Cangyang Mountain Range stretches endlessly, coiling for over a hundred thousand li; verdant peaks rise like a crouching dragon winding across the land, wreathed in mist and fog that obscure the view, a hazy veil of color, green mountains wrapped in thin gauze, mountain peaks like lotuses.

Serving as the boundary of the Wanxiang Sect, it borders Cangzhou to the north, its terrain majestic, rich in resources and infinite spirit beasts; therefore, quite a few cultivation forces have coiled and taken root upon it.

And Dongyang City is the first major city entrenched beneath this Cangyang Mountain Range; within it, forces are intricately complex, and it is also because the Yu Family recently produced a Foundation Establishment Ancestor that they dared send people here to probe for news and assess the situation.

The distance from Wanxiang City to Dongyang City cannot be called anything but vast; even though Yu Changsheng has already reached Foundation Establishment, he flew for nearly three days and three nights before it came into sight.

Sun rises, moon sets, stars shift and turn; by the time he arrived at Dongyang City, it was exactly evening, the sun sinking in the west.

Gazing from afar, a mighty city nearly five times larger than Haoyue City crouches upon the ground; half the slanting sun hides and appears among the clouds, scattering crimson radiance over half the city, adding several degrees of special charm, its momentum vast, city walls ancient and unadorned, and behind it stretches the boundless Cangyang Mountain Range.

"This cultivation world's territory truly is vast; the distance I flew these three days, I'm afraid in my previous life it could circle the Earth once, and this is only reaching Dongyang City."

Yu Changsheng clicked his tongue inwardly, sighed a couple of times, then descended in flight; after handing over a spirit coin, he entered the city smoothly without any mishap.

Inside the city, bustling and crowded, lively indeed; shops line all four sides, most occupants are cultivators, mortals are rare; however, the vast majority are merely at Qi Refining level, Foundation Establishment cultivators are seldom seen.

Following the crowd, according to the address Yu Dahai gave, winding along, Yu Changsheng finally stopped inside a lane; at the lane's end, a small courtyard stands.

"Bang bang bang, bang bang, bang bang bang..."

Yu Changsheng observed for a while, then picked up the door knocker and knocked rhythmically; before long, a sound came from within the courtyard.

"Who is it? What business brings you?"

"Me, Yu Changsheng." Yu Changsheng said lightly, simultaneously pushing his Yu Family identity token through the door crack.

The person opposite the door visibly paused; after receiving the token, he slowly opened a slit, a pair of eyes staring for a moment, half a beat later the door swung wide, a tall figure filling the view.

"It really is you, Changsheng, you've come."

Yu Zhang Ao's expression was moved; he embraced Yu Changsheng, then ushered him inside while saying: "These days, many cultivators have come inside and outside the city, inns are all packed full; fortunately we rented this place in advance, it counts as a temporary foothold."

Ever since Yu Changsheng's realm grew stronger and his backing became powerful, Yu Zhang Ao's attitude toward him rose in a straight line, no longer the cold arrogance of before.

While speaking, Yu Zhang Ao also instructed his subordinates to prepare tea and fruit, laughing "hehe".

"Is it because of the Qingluo Beast news?" Yu Changsheng asked with slight puzzlement.

"Mm, it's that," Yu Zhang Ao nodded, "The Qingluo Beast news has already spread completely; after all it's a rare spirit beast, whether Beast Tamers or other cultivators, all yearn to come share a cup of soup."

"One could say the Qingluo Beast's whole body is treasure, yet its own combat ability is not outstanding; whether sold or used for alchemy, it's an excellent material, attracting this many people is also normal."

Yu Zhang Ao explained, while Yu Changsheng was thoughtful, continuing to ask:

"The Qingluo Beast is indeed rare; these days, has everything been smooth, have you encountered any obstacles?"

"Currently there haven't been any, we've all been very low-key." Yu Zhang Ao blanked for a moment, carefully recalled for a while, then shook his head and said.

"Is that so." A flash of light in Yu Changsheng's eyes, he lifted the tea and took a light sip, his Adam's apple moving slightly.

"I recall the Tang Family's main base is in Dongyang City, right? Has there been no movement on their end?" "None, the Tang Family, I've been watching them too; the other party probably hasn't noticed us yet, or perhaps they don't want to, don't dare to meddle?"

Yu Zhang Ao hesitated slightly, looking at Yu Changsheng's complexion, his tone carrying a trace of probing.

"Perhaps." Yu Changsheng smiled faintly, didn't say more, closed his eyes; a streak of sharp light flashed within, the corner of his mouth curling up slightly.

"Is the Qingluo Beast news true?"

Half a beat later, Yu Changsheng exhaled a breath of hot air, and asked.

"It should be true; if it weren't, there wouldn't be so many cultivators coming; the specific location isn't known, but it can be confirmed to be in the Honghu Mountain area."

Yu Zhang Ao answered truthfully, looked up at the sky: "But now the hour is late, Changsheng you've traveled wind and dust all the way, you rest here for the night, tomorrow we'll set out together."

"Good, then I'll trouble Brother Zhang Ao."

Yu Changsheng nodded; Yu Zhang Ao is quite a bit older than Yu Changsheng, calling him Brother is perfectly justified.

The two continued chatting idly for a while; before long, the moon rose above the willow tips, Yu Changsheng also returned to his room; when closing the door, Yu Changsheng suddenly turned his head, looking toward a certain direction in the east, a glint of sharp light flashing in his eyes.

One incense stick of time later, a certain spot in the east that Yu Changsheng had been watching happened to be able to see the high rooftop of the building where Yu Changsheng's courtyard was located; within a patch of shadow, a black-clad figure slowly emerged.

This black-clad figure's aura was weak; upon appearing, the air trembled like water ripples, obviously a special concealment technique rendering him invisible to the naked eye.

"That guy, is he Yu Changsheng? How do I feel like he saw me?"

At this moment, the black-clad figure's face was full of shock and doubt, looking at Yu Changsheng's tightly shut door, somewhat unable to fathom him, hesitating and indecisive.

"Impossible, my Shadow Fusion Technique, even a Golden Core cultivator might not detect it if not paying attention, let alone a little brat like this?"

"Forget it, I'll go back and report to the Family Head; it must be me overthinking."

The black-clad figure pondered, half a beat later shook his head, glanced once at Yu Changsheng's direction, then rose and merged into the night color, rushing off toward a direction, leaving a faint afterimage slowly dissipating under the moonlight.

Judging by his speed, it's not Qi Refining, but Foundation Establishment!

Just half an incense stick of time, the black-clad cultivator arrived at Dongyang City's southeast corner, looking at the magnificent, brightly lit Tang Mansion ahead, without alerting anyone, quietly entered the mansion's side door study.

Inside the study, a figure half-turned with one hand behind his back, the other hand wielding brush and ink, slowly writing characters on rice paper.

"Family Head, already confirmed, Yu Changsheng has arrived at Dongyang City."

The black-clad cultivator half-kneeled on the ground, bowed with cupped fists and spoke respectfully.

The writing figure before him, between lowered brows, brush in hand pausing and moving, wore an azure brocade robe, overlaid with a white jade light fur coat, a same-color sash tied at the waist, middle-aged appearance, bearing a trace of weathered mature charm, cultivation like the midday sun, concealed yet not revealed — precisely the Tang Family's current Family Head, Tang He.

(Chapter End)