Chapter 185: Ten Years Later

185. Chapter 185: Ten Years Later

Seeing Su Wushuang's decisive expression, having discarded her centuries‑long relationship with Zhu Qingyun as if it were a worn‑out shoe, Gu Zongyuan could no longer refuse to believe it.

It seems the mysterious cultivator posing as his master is very likely Zhu Qingyun, a late‑stage Core Formation cultivator of Xingyue Palace, who is also the most promising Xingyue Palace talent likely to become a Nascent Soul True Lord in the shortest time.

Zhu Qingyun's cultivation broke through the late Core Formation stage years ago, and judging from the power he displayed today, the Core Formation Perfection is already close.

After all, even today he only showed a glimpse, without unleashing his full strength, yet he could already crush them with ease.

Moreover, his Golden Core is of exceptional quality, and Xingyue Palace supplies resources; the fourth‑tier spiritual vein is already in place, giving him an absolute advantage over a Scattered Cultivator like Character: Liyang Zhenren in innate power. As for Nascent Soul opportunity, even if it isn't the topmost, it certainly isn't lacking…

All these factors mean Zhu Qingyun has a considerable chance of breaking into the Nascent Soul realm in the future.

If he fails, that's one thing; if he succeeds, revenge will become difficult.

Even if Master Gu Zongyuan's teacher, Character: Liyang Zhenren, returns, it won't be easy.

"Seven Star Sword Sect, Dan Dao Alliance… why is Xingyue Palace getting involved now? My Character: Liyang Zhenren City is just attracting hatred like this?"

Gu Zongyuan let out a sigh in his heart, feeling immense pressure.

Until now, he had still been oversimplifying the problem.

He thought that the public threat left by his master before departing would make top powers hesitant, unwilling to strike Character: Liyang Zhenren City. And for ordinary Core Formation cultivators, with him present and the Character: Liyang Guard and city‑protecting formation, there would be little trouble.

But when these major sects resorted to underhanded tactics, he simply couldn't withstand them.

Fortunately, his master was foresighted; before leaving, he set some conditions and reached a cooperation with Brother Xiao.

"If there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now," Su Wushuang said, preparing to take her leave.

The plan to settle in Character: Liyang Zhenren City completely failed.

Where the future of Baihua Valley lies—she, who has always had clear goals, now feels a bit lost.

The rules of Baihua Valley prevent them from merging into any sect; her own special constitution and secrets also stop her from easily allying with any faction.

Even the 'friend' she once considered her only one harbors ill intent, treating her this way in secret; what hope can she still have? She doesn't know whether Zhu Qingyun's actions today stem from Xingyue Palace's orders to covertly eliminate her and annex Baihua Valley, or are his personal moves—perhaps he discovered her secret and thus launched a reckless attack, with further actions to follow…

Either way, it shows that her and Baihua Valley's situation is far from ideal.

Core Formation cultivators, top‑tier sects…

Normally, in the Cultivation World, such distinguished individuals or sects can stand atop the clouds, ruling a region.

But when turbulent times arrive and great upheavals loom, they still appear too weak.

Only by becoming a Nascent Soul True Lord can one truly remain untouched by storms, steadfast and unmoving.

Soon, the bewildered Su Wushuang, carrying the severely wounded Liang Yuehua and another fallen Core Formation elder of Baihua Valley, departed.

From now on, Baihua Valley must reconsider which path to take.

………

"Brother Xiao, I still don't understand. Do you think Su Wushuang's words are true or false? That the mysterious cultivator impersonating my master is really Zhu Qingyun of Xingyue Palace? I just can't find any reason!"

"Even if Su Wushuang's claim is accurate and their relationship isn't what the world assumes, Zhu Qingyun isn't some lovelorn fool. Setting aside his fiancée, who is already a Nascent Soul True Lord, Zhu Qingyun has indeed pursued Su Wushuang for decades, serving her selflessly… He couldn't suddenly flip his attitude and want to slay Su Wushuang, could he? Su Wushuang hasn't done anything wrong to Zhu Qingyun, like taking a Dao Partner or anything…"

On the way back to Character: Liyang Zhenren City, Gu Zongyuan remained puzzled and confused.

Xiao Zhangqing was also suffering a headache at this moment.

But his headache wasn't caused by the feud between Su Wushuang and Zhu Qingyun; it was the aftereffects of using the Dragon Chant Technique.

His Soul Transformation was overdrawn, his head throbbed, and he needed proper rest and calm cultivation to recover.

"I don't think he necessarily intends to kill Su Wushuang. Though his strike was ruthless and full of killing intent, there were signs of disguise—just to make the act look more authentic. Perhaps his goal was merely to grievously wound Su Wushuang, leaving her with no way out…" Xiao Zhangqing rubbed his head and explained.

Gu Zongyuan immediately understood: "Brother Xiao, you mean Zhu Qingyun came with a heroic‑rescue‑the‑beauty intention?"

"It's just my personal speculation. Other possibilities exist; grudges born of love are countless, who knows what entanglements lie between them…" Xiao Zhangqing waved his hand and said, "Alright, I'll go back to treat my injuries; you keep pondering and investigating. If there's any progress, like concrete evidence, just send someone to inform me."

He could vaguely sense that Su Wushuang and Zhu Qingyun share an unusual secret.

If his guess is correct and Zhu Qingyun came with a heroic‑rescue motive, there must also be deeper reasons! A towering Nascent Soul sect's pride, now a top late‑stage Core Formation master, pursuing a woman for decades, shamelessly acting as a sycophant, and now resorting to any scheming tricks…

If this were merely to win a beauty's heart, Xiao Zhangqing would say that's nonsense!

Zhu Qingyun surely has a grander scheme; such actions must bring him greater benefit, worth the effort.

However, Xiao Zhangqing wasn't very interested in the secret that Su Wushuang carried.

No matter how big Su Wushuang's secret is, could it compare to his inventory?

He decided not to contend with Zhu Qingyun.

He only needed to cultivate peacefully and achieve Core Formation soon—that was the real business.

………

………

A thousand li away.

The gaunt old man, the moment his illusion failed under Xiao Zhangqing's spiritual sight attack, fled instantly without any hesitation.

Now far from the battlefield, even a Core Formation cultivator would find it hard to chase him down.

He finally shed his disguise, revealing his true appearance: a refined middle‑aged gentleman with excellent bearing.

However, his eyes, which should have been calm, now held a hint of sinister ferocity.

Su Wushuang's senses were not mistaken, and Xiao Zhangqing's conjecture was correct.

This person is none other than Xingyue Palace elder Zhu Qingyun!

Three days ago he came with a sect order to meet Su Wushuang, ostensibly to persuade her to join Xingyue Palace, but secretly harboring ill intent and ulterior motives.

After failing to persuade Su Wushuang, he returned empty‑handed and left quickly.

His spiel to Su Wushuang was that he couldn't linger outside, had to return to the sect to make final preparations for striking the Nascent Soul. In reality, after leaving Baihua Valley's temporary base, he concealed himself and went into hiding.

He was fully aware of Su Wushuang's meeting with Gu Zongyuan, knowing the exact time and place. When the two met, it unfolded exactly as he expected—no agreement, and they would have to let cultivation strength speak.

He suddenly reappeared in disguise at that moment, intending to, under the guise of Character: Liyang Zhenren, grievously wound Su Wushuang, forcing her to flee in disgrace, her life in jeopardy, then reappear under another identity… Unfortunately, the flawless, near‑sure plan he thought was airtight failed.

It was ruined by an unnamed junior he never intended to face directly! "Damn it!!"

"Su Wushuang... have you discovered my identity?"

Zhu Qingyun's face turned grim; the injury to his Soul Transformation left him rather weak and in need of recuperation, yet at this moment he could not attend to it at all.

He worried that, although after being attacked by a Soul Transformation he discovered his illusion was broken and fled immediately, he still leaked a trace of Soul Transformation aura.

Su Wushuang had been acquainted with him for years; if he paid attention, he would certainly be able to identify him.

If Su Wushuang recognized that today it was him, not only would his plan fail, but even the strike on the Nascent Soul would be affected!

"Without Su Wushuang, my Nascent Soul probability would be at least twenty percent lower..." Zhu Qingyun's expression wavered, filled with anger and resentment, completely at odds with his usual gentlemanly, refined demeanor.

A twenty‑percent Nascent Soul probability may seem small, but for countless late Core Formation cultivators it is a coveted treasure! Even the highest‑grade Nascent Soul opportunity can roughly raise this figure.

Thus it is easy to see how much Zhu Qingyun values this plan and Su Wushuang.

Unfortunately, his efforts still fell short.

If Su Wushuang hadn't uncovered his identity, it would have been fine; he could simply proceed step by step. He could sense that Su Wushuang actually harbored a certain goodwill toward him.

He had previously been unable to wait any longer; as he was about to achieve Core Formation Perfection, he didn't want to delay further, so he resorted to this hurried method.

"Decades of scheming..."

Zhu Qingyun struck out forcefully, his spiritual power surging, shattering the mountain peak ahead.

"It cannot end here! This matter... is not over!"

"Before attaining the Nascent Soul, I must capture Su Wushuang!"

Zhu Qingyun squinted, glanced far into the distance behind him, then decisively fled toward Xingyue Palace.

He formally struck the Nascent Soul, estimating that it would still require over ten years.

By then, if he could not win Su Wushuang's heart and make her willingly obey him, he would devise other means!

He must secure that twenty‑percent Nascent Soul chance! Zhu Qingyun is determined to become Xingyue Palace's second Nascent Soul!

…

…

Spring passes, autumn comes; the seasons change repeatedly.

The task of guarding Character: Liyang Zhenren City was not as troublesome as imagined.

After resolving Baihua Valley, Character: Liyang Zhenren City entered a period of calm.

Perhaps it was because Su Wushuang, the mid Core Formation cultivator who ruled Baihua Valley, suffered setbacks in Character: Liyang Zhenren City and could not bring the valley into it; once the news spread, cultivators across the Da Yu Cultivation World who were eager to act against Character: Liyang Zhenren City calmed down.

With Character: Liyang Zhenren no longer seated, Gu Zongyuan, the newly risen Core Formation cultivator, proved quite formidable, and together with the Character: Liyang Guard possessed strength comparable to mid Core Formation.

Moreover, Xiao Zhangqing's reputation spread; this legendary Scattered Cultivator's Soul Transformation secrets were beyond imagination.

Thus, the evil demons, heretics, and calamity cultivators of the Da Yu Cultivation World temporarily abandoned their focus on attacking Character: Liyang Zhenren City.

Xiao Zhangqing's life became exceedingly leisurely; each day, aside from cultivation, he practiced the hundred arts of cultivation.

Occasionally Character: Liyang Zhenren City faced trouble, as scattered Demon Sect Evil Cultivators crossed the Cloud Mist Mountain Range into the heart of the Da Yu Cultivation World, some of whom roamed into Character: Liyang Zhenren City to cause unrest.

These Evil Cultivators were cruel, blood‑thirsty, and employed bizarre tactics, markedly different from Da Yu cultivators; at times, Xiao Zhangqing had to intervene.

In the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

During those ten years, with the aid of the Tianling Root, Xiao Zhangqing's cultivation progressed far faster than expected.

By the second year, he had already broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Having spent several years in the late Foundation Establishment, Xiao Zhangqing's spiritual power has now almost condensed to its limit, nearing Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Perhaps in another five or six years, he can contemplate Core Formation.

"Zixi, during the breakthrough you must not rush; keep the pace. With Foundation Establishment elixir, spiritual power can break through easily, but the crucial part is the Soul Transformation breakthrough—you must guard your mind and spirit."

"Also, during the breakthrough, as spiritual power and the flesh transform, it will be painful, but you must endure, not let your mind wander, and never lose heart!"

Inside the cultivation chamber with the highest spiritual energy concentration, this place is normally where Xiao Zhangqing retreats for solitary cultivation.

But today Xiao Zhangqing yielded it to Lin Zixi.

Because today is the day Lin Zixi has decided to attempt Foundation Establishment.

Sister Lin Ziyu is giving Lin Zixi her final instructions, passing on the breakthrough experience from back then.

Now the two sisters, originally Lin Ziyu was clearly older, not only more mature but also several years senior to Lin Zixi.

But now, in appearance, Lin Ziyu looks more like the younger sister, appearing even younger.

Because ten years ago, Lin Ziyu shattered her inner demon, resolved herself, and immediately succeeded in Foundation Establishment, becoming a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a lifespan of two hundred years.

Now just past sixty, even without the effects of the Youth‑Preserving Pill, she is equivalent to an ordinary person of twenty, naturally youthful and beautiful.

Meanwhile, Lin Zixi's cultivation speed at the ninth layer of Qi Refinement is relatively slow.

Only half a month ago did she finally reach Qi Refinement Perfection.

"Sister, don't worry. As for the cautions of Foundation Establishment, I memorized them thoroughly years ago; you needn't nag any more!" Lin Zixi waved her hand, brimming with confidence.

Compared with back then when Lin Zixi broke through Foundation Establishment, she had to undergo prolonged mental preparation, once fearing to try, terrified of failure; after months of grappling with her psyche, she finally dared to take the plunge.

Lin Zixi, however, seemed never to have considered the possibility of failing at Foundation Establishment, possessing unwavering confidence in success.

Only pity her low aptitude; although she also possesses a mid‑grade spiritual root, her cultivation speed is noticeably slower than sister Lin Ziyu's, taking an extra ten years to finally reach Core Formation Perfection.

If it weren't for her achieving Core Formation Perfection, Xiao Zhangqing would have let her calm her mind first; after she attained Core Formation Perfection, on the very next day she decisively began. (End of chapter)