Chapter 47: Third Party

Upon learning that Chen Zhao held no grudge, the Duan pair felt a great weight lifted.

Especially Duan Yu, seeing Su Muqing present, let loose without restraint, chattering away to reveal every detail of his family and lineage.

Duan Ziheng sighed repeatedly at the sound.

"This old man brought him to your sect's disciple selection; seeing time was still early, we ventured into the outer reaches of Fulong Mountain for training."

"But we suffered heavy losses—please grant us a ride so this old man may return to our clan to summon a Guardian; the Duan Family will surely repay you handsomely."

How could there be miasma in the outer reaches?

Chen Zhao paid it no mind, instead smiling:

"Sister, what do you think?"

Hearing his teasing tone, Su Muqing flushed with shame and anger.

She knew perfectly well Duan Ziheng was lying; her face reddened slightly as she volunteered:

"Uncle Ziheng, Brother Chen is someone I trust as my superior—you may speak plainly."

At these words, the uncle and nephew both looked startled.

A younger brother as a superior...

Duan Yu studied Chen Zhao—his face like a jade crown, outstanding in bearing—and had assumed him to be Mu Qing's betrothed.

He couldn't help but feel curious.

"Sister, then... where's that Elder's son? Why isn't he on the carriage?"

Su Muqing let out a dry laugh at this.

Sensing the tension, Duan Ziheng quickly handed over a bamboo pen, steering the topic away:

"This old man failed to consider properly—please forgive this elder's oversight."

"Shanlian City is famed for its talisman pens and spirit ink; though this is but an ordinary pen, it was left by my grandfather, said to help uncover the hidden fortune of this place. But after losing many men, this old man still hasn't uncovered its truth."

Chen Zhao smiled faintly.

This display, though seeming to reveal all, was in fact a test—he knew Chen Zhao had already been to the middle layer.

"Elder, with your profound strength, have you noticed any clues?"

"Hmm..."

After careful inspection, it was merely a pen made of white wolf hair and bamboo, slightly worn, with no spiritual energy signature.

"I can't discern anything for now."

Chen Zhao spoke honestly and returned the pen.

He recalled Duan Bo's actions in the mountains—could they be connected to this pen?

Too bad the Divination Tube hadn't refreshed yet; he'd have to study it later.

Amid light conversation,

the carriage had reached the outer boundary of Fulong Mountain.

Xin Tong tightened her fox fur cloak and gazed out the window.

A vast white expanse—truly pristine.

Yet in the blink of an eye, a Red Paper Umbrella suddenly appeared on the road.

A refined male voice pierced through the snow, reaching the five of them.

"Forgive us—we bear you no grudge."

"We've received an urgent order to host you for a feast; please don't blame me once you've disembarked."

No sooner had he finished speaking—

Puff!

As the Red Umbrella unfurled, ten cultivators driven mad by demonic energy surged forth, the snow instantly stained crimson by evil qi.

Qi Refining Fifth Layer.

Chen Zhao's eyes narrowed slightly.

There was no miasma here—there shouldn't be so many Evil Cultivators. Could this man possess some secret art to control them?

Besides, they'd only been traveling for less than a day—could it be...

"Did Fang Zijing send you?"

The Duan uncle and nephew, already trembling, were startled further and immediately turned to look at Su Muqing.

Seeing her equally grave expression, they were thoroughly confused.

"He has no authority to command me."

Chen Zhao instantly understood.

From his tone, the two clearly knew each other—and Fang Zijing had hired him.

The letter hidden with the Longevity Pill must be connected to this man.

But Duan Ziheng knew none of this; he leapt out, shielding the carriage behind him.

"Elder, I repay your kindness today—I entrust my nephew and the young lady to you!"

With a hand seal, a massive earth dragon erupted from the ground, swallowing three Evil Cultivators whole.

But his own spiritual energy immediately dropped by half—he was already staggering.

He silently cursed—this man was stronger than the undead within Fulong Mountain, and before even transforming, he himself was on the verge of collapse.

Fortunately, Tiankui Sect was nearby—if only...

He stole a glance back, only to find the carriage still in place, and inwardly panicked.

The four inside the carriage were at most Qi Refining Seventh Layer—how could they resist?

In his moment of distraction, the three Evil Cultivators had already broken free.

Duan Ziheng let out a muffled groan as his internal Qi suddenly rebelled, forcing him back three steps as he collapsed onto the carriage shaft, gasping for breath.

Evil Qi pressed to his eyebrows when a flash of blue light swept through the carriage curtain, accompanied by a rumbling thunderclap.

Before the "evil cultivators" could react, they were severed at the waist, their Evil Qi recoiling in reverse.

Not three breaths.

Heaven and earth returned to snow-white.

"So it was you. It seems we have a certain affinity."

The paper umbrella slowly lifted, revealing Liang Chenfeng's altered face.

He formed a hand seal and pointed; the umbrella spun gently, sucking up the blood and flesh scattered across the ground, draining out a few drops of black blood.

After swallowing it, his cultivation reverted to Qi Refining sixth layer.

"The urgent order is complete, and my cultivation has recovered somewhat. Let us part ways here—we shall meet again at the Su Family."

He tucked away the paper umbrella and vanished into thin air, seemingly uninterested in the killing.

Chen Zhao's gaze sharpened.

Aside from the Red Umbrella evil cultivator, the others were far too weak.

It wasn't a test—it was a "warning." He knew the Su Family, and future attacks on them by evil cultivators were coming.

It seemed he and his behind-the-scenes force weren't particularly strong.

They could only wait for the Su and Ma families to fight, then reap the benefits.

"Could Elder Zhang be involved with them...?"

Chen Zhao lowered his head in silent thought, but immediately dismissed the idea.

No motive, and the risk was far too great.

Not long after.

The Qingming Naling Sword flew back into the carriage, and Duan Ziheng climbed aboard.

His face was pale with lingering terror after the near-death encounter.

He looked again at the white-robed young man before him, secretly astonished.

Such power.

No wonder, though a junior, he could serve as the Su Family's eldest daughter's "superior."

Duan Yu, recalling his earlier disrespect toward Chen Zhao, felt a mix of regret and embarrassment, shrinking into the corner.

It was Chen Zhao who spoke, easing the tension inside the carriage.

"What kind of Spirit Root does Duan Yu have?"

Duan Ziheng elbowed his nephew in the lower back; the latter quickly replied, his expression earnest:

"Th-thank you, Elder, for your concern—I'm a Three Spirit Root."

A Three Spirit Root was absolutely a prodigy for a small Qi Refining family—no wonder Duan Ziheng treasured him so.

Too bad, such protection was also harm; his nature would never be tempered. If he met a seasoned veteran from a sect, he'd likely suffer a silent defeat.

Five days later.

The carriage trudged through snow, arriving before the gates of Shanlian City.

With Su Muqing present, passage into the city faced no obstruction.

The Duan uncle and nephew dismounted soon after entering the city, promising to visit the next day with generous gifts.

Chen Zhao and the other two continued onward, reaching the city's center.

Beneath their feet lay a Second-tier Spiritual Vein, and the towering walls and courtyards ahead covered an entire main vein.

"Truly a local emperor."

Chen Zhao couldn't help but sigh—the entire complex was shrouded by a Spirit-Gathering Array.

"The City Protection Array is a second-rank great array, capable of resisting Foundation Establishment attacks."

Xin Tong glanced around and nodded.

The two were led into a side chamber, while Su Muqing, upon entering the courtyard gate, was quietly dismissed—no one knew where she went.

Chen Zhao noticed.

It seemed the Su Family did not know she was already under his control.

He was merely a guest advisor—if this became public, the Su Ancestor would demand control over her.

He kept Su Muqing for great purposes.

Not long after.

The two were brought to a side room.

The furnishings were crude, yet the Spirit Qi here was the densest.

Upon opening the door, they saw a withered old man seated on a bed, half-closed eyes.

"Young friend, you are Chen the Alchemist?"

"I am Su Zhiyuan, humbly serving as Su Ancestor."

"I invited you here regarding the brewing of Nourishing Spirit Pills."