Chapter 338: Eighth Collection: Silent Departure

The cultivator squad stayed in Yulan City for two days and engaged in Dao discussions with Luo Feng and Yuanxiang Hall Master. At their level, even a slight improvement is extremely difficult, so they often exchange insights with peers of similar stature to deepen their friendship.

Outside the city.

Luo Feng and Yuanxiang Hall Master saw off the cultivator squad.

“These two days have been thoroughly enjoyable,” said Bai Yin, the winged goddess, now more talkative after becoming familiar, smiling. “We shall return to the Dark Sacred Realm. Brother Luo Feng, I look forward to meeting you again in the Dark Sacred Realm.”

“Once you reach Chengfengcheng, be sure to contact us,” Luo Feng replied with a smile.

The Dark Sacred Realm has only five cities, and Bai Yin’s cultivator squad resides in “Chengfengcheng.”

“Let’s go.”

The old man and the red-robed teenager also bowed slightly to Luo Feng and Yuanxiang Hall Master.

The three of them flew into the ship, and under the watchful eyes of Luo Feng and Yuanxiang Hall Master, the ancient vessel swiftly vanished beyond the horizon.

“They’re gone,” Yuanxiang Hall Master gazed afar, smiling faintly. “Luo Feng, it’s time for me to leave too.”

Luo Feng froze.

“I originally planned to depart after the Yulan City battle. But I stayed two extra days with these three old friends.” Yuanxiang Hall Master looked at Luo Feng. “I trust Yulan City in your hands.”

“As for me, I will dissolve all my external incarnations. I will return to my homeland and devote myself entirely to combating the corruption—either suppress it, or be utterly consumed by it,” Yuanxiang Hall Master said.

At this moment, Luo Feng’s emotions were complex.

Yuanxiang Hall Master had reached a perilous stage. If he fell, his soul would be annihilated.

The myriad worlds were created by Elder Yuan and other beings of his level. Though cultivators born in the myriad worlds lack the technique of incarnations, if they can persuade the world’s creators to intervene, resurrection remains possible.

This knowledge has long been circulated among cultivators of the Jiuhe Sacred Realm.

Many cultivators in the myriad worlds harbor regrets and seek to resurrect their dearest loved ones. Elder Yuan, Elder Jin, and others have promised that those who escape the cage may earn a resurrection slot.

But the Source World is different!

The Source World is protected by supreme laws and possesses the technique of incarnations. Yet those same supreme laws block external forces—once a powerful being within the Source World dies, even Elder Yuan and the others cannot resurrect them.

Yuanxiang Hall Master is a powerful being who emerged from the Source World. If he dies, he is truly dead. Even Elder Yuan and the others cannot help.

“Even if I die, there’s no need to grieve,” Yuanxiang Hall Master laughed heartily. “The cultivation path is filled with countless hardships and dangers. I’ve reached this point—even in the Dark Sacred Realm, I stand among the peak beings. To die is no great regret.”

“Brother Yuanxiang,” Luo Feng said solemnly, “you’ve defeated countless great enemies on your path. You will defeat this great enemy—the High-Level Primordial Corruption.”

Yuanxiang Hall Master nodded: “I will defeat it. Farewell.”

With that, Yuanxiang Hall Master’s figure dissolved.

Luo Feng watched silently.

He knew…

Unless Yuanxiang Hall Master fully suppressed the corruption, they would likely never meet again.

Over time, the incarnations of the elders who died in the Yulan City battle returned one by one.

Elder Hall.

Seven elders were summoned to meet Luo Feng.

“Lord Mayor,” the seven elders bowed respectfully, tense yet hopeful—among so many elders in the city, only they seven had been summoned, and they naturally guessed the reason.

“During the Yulan City battle, all seven of you were targeted by the Ultra-Limit Mindworm,” Luo Feng smiled and waved his hand; seven mysterious artifacts appeared in midair. “These are yours, aren’t they? Take them.”

Few elders in the city carried powerful artifacts. These seven were the only ones who lost theirs during the war.

“Thank you, Lord Mayor!” The seven elders exclaimed in joyous excitement. They had suspected the possibility—but never imagined the Lord Mayor would return them without demanding any price.

You need to know…

According to the universal cultivator code, spoils from combat normally belong to the victor.

“You fought for Yulan City,” Luo Feng smiled. These seven elders carried vital artifacts and had established strong influence here, determined to settle down.

The seven elders now felt even more certain: with such a Lord Mayor, their future would be far easier.

When Lord Wei Yang’s faction dominated the city, he seized a heavy share of every resource. Had these precious artifacts fallen into his hands, he would never have returned them.

“Lord Mayor, Lord Wei Yang is secretly transferring some of the city’s resources.”

“He dares not come himself—he’s asked other elders to help carry them away,” several elders added in succession.

“I know.”

Luo Feng said.

With his control over Yulan City, Wei Yang’s petty movements could not possibly escape his notice.

“He’s transferring resources because he intends to leave,” Luo Feng said. “Don’t concern yourselves.”

“Yes,” the seven elders replied respectfully.

…

Only five days later.

Lord Wei Yang’s incarnation arrived in Yulan City to personally visit Luo Feng.

“Lord Wei Yang, the Lord Mayor has agreed to see you. This way,” a guard at the Elder Hall said, leading him.

Wei Yang could only follow.

He walked through the familiar Elder Hall, once believing he would fully seize control of it and become the master of Yulan City. Who could have imagined Luo Feng’s rise would be so swift—and his power so terrifying?

Single-handedly overpowering four Ultra-Limits?

Using arrays to ensure only one in ten of the massive Low-Level Primordial Life army escaped the city?

“Even with my artifact, I wouldn’t survive a single blow from him,” Wei Yang sighed inwardly. “His displayed power surpasses even Yuanxiang Hall Master at his peak.”

Soon, under the guard’s guidance, Wei Yang saw Luo Feng seated in a garden in the distance.

“Lord Wei Yang, pays respects to the Lord Mayor,” Wei Yang bowed slightly.

Luo Feng regarded Wei Yang with interest.

“You actually came to see me?” Luo Feng looked at him. “Do you still intend to stay in Yulan City?”

“With you as Lord Mayor, Yulan City is utterly secure—there’s no need for me,” Wei Yang said respectfully. “I’ve decided to withdraw completely from Yulan City. I’ve come now to make a request.”

“Oh? What is it?” Luo Feng looked at him.

“When I guarded Yulan City, my incarnation was killed by the Ultra-Limit Mindworm, and I lost two vital artifacts,” Wei Yang pleaded. “I beg you to return them. Whatever price you demand, I will pay.”

Luo Feng looked at him and laughed.

“You have the nerve to ask me to return your artifacts?” Luo Feng shook his head.

He once forced Luo Feng to resign as Commander of the Xuntian Palace! When Luo Feng refused, Wei Yang attacked!

Given this history, Luo Feng was astonished Wei Yang dared show his face—and dare ask.

“I know I offended you,” Wei Yang said. “But you know how vital a perfect artifact is to a cultivator! Name your price, Lord Mayor!”

Luo Feng looked at him and said: “I offer you two choices.”

Wei Yang’s heart leapt—this Luo Feng was truly so lenient? He’d heard the seven elders got their artifacts back, and had dared to hope.

“What are the two choices?” Wei Yang pressed. If he could recover his two artifacts, he’d pay any price.

“First, annihilate your own incarnation. Second, I destroy it for you.” Luo Feng stared at him. “Choose.”

Wei Yang’s face paled.

He sensed the coldness in Luo Feng’s eyes.

“I will annihilate myself,” Wei Yang bowed respectfully once more—then silently, his incarnation dissolved into nothing.

Luo Feng watched coldly.

His mercy is selective. Wei Yang clearly did not deserve it.

Long ago, Luo Feng erased Wei Yang and Gai Tao’s control over Yulan City’s core array, stripping them of their Hall Master positions.

…

Time passed.

The elders of Yulan City gradually grew accustomed to Luo Feng’s nature. Aside from his rightful share as Lord Mayor, he showed no interest in competing for other resources—this encouraged more powerful cultivators to settle in Yulan City.

Elders and Hall Masters alike began relocating here.

Even ordinary cultivators came in large numbers!

What could be done? A city deemed “absolutely safe,” with a Lord Mayor who disdained resource grabs and protected the weak—such a city naturally held immense appeal among the thirty-five cities of the Jiuhe Sacred Realm.

“The number of cultivators in Yulan City keeps growing,” said Di Qing, Di Ming, and Di Fu, watching over the city from the upper levels of the Elder Hall. As Luo Feng’s trusted aides, they handled his daily affairs.

“Meeting a Lord Mayor as benevolent as this is a great fortune for many cultivators,” said Di Ming. “In this cultivation world, most still follow the law of the strong devouring the weak.”

Di Fu nodded: “The strong devouring the weak is the norm. Lord Mayor changed Yulan City’s order through sheer personal power.”

Even without the Nest, the Deceitful Bazaar, or the Ten Thousand Shadow Pavilion, other factions would have stolen and plundered.

But Luo Feng’s power was too great! With his array, he could cover the entire city with a single thought and obliterate any faction.

Thus, his word became law: he forbade theft and plunder, and none dared exist.

“The Lord Mayor appears less and less,” Di Qing turned to gaze at the cave dwelling beside the Elder Hall—Luo Feng’s current residence.

“Like the Founding Ancestors of two nations rarely appearing on the Origin Continent,” Di Fu mused. “The Lord Mayor rarely shows himself in Yulan City—perhaps his main focus is already in other worlds.”

Di Qing and Di Ming were startled.

Luo Feng likely had already departed for the Dark Sacred Realm.

…

In truth, Luo Feng had secluded himself for half a eon, only emerging when the effects of the Hundred Trials Heart Core fully dissipated. Cultivating under its influence for half a eon granted him immense benefits.

After emerging, Luo Feng first erased the original array in Yulan City’s core layer and inscribed a far more powerful array he had meticulously designed. Then, after leaving behind a basic incarnation, he departed quietly.

A single basic incarnation, commanding the city’s even more terrifying array, would exert greater deterrence than during the Yulan City battle!

Luo Feng walked alone across the land of the Jiuhe Sacred Realm.

He traveled along all nine rivers, observing them thoroughly, encountering low-level primordial life that dared attack him—each became another corpse stored in his treasure.

After traversing the Nine Rivers, Luo Feng arrived at the heart of the Nine River Sacred Realm—Shengshan.

“It’s time to go to the Dark Sacred Realm.”

This time, Luo Feng did not go to the transmission pool at the mountain’s base; instead, he followed the mountain path upward toward the summit.

The invisible pressure along the path grew increasingly terrifying, but for Luo Feng, whose Immortal Blood Sea Body was now fully perfected, it felt as gentle as a breeze—he walked effortlessly to the summit. There, too, lay a dark, deep pool.

A thread of Luo Feng’s consciousness seeped into the pool, and he immediately sensed that this transmission pool led to a distant, otherworldly realm.

“Let’s take a look.” Luo Feng stepped into the dark pool and vanished; light swirled, and he was instantly transported.

(End of this volume)

Tomorrow, tomato will take a day off; updates will resume the day after.

(End of this chapter)