Chapter 163: Return to Gengxin City

163. Chapter 163: Return to Gengxin City

After watching Si Yu leave, Li Xuan sat again in the carriage box, quietly waiting to set out.

Most of the upcoming activities will be within the Tian Dou Empire, and this is precisely the jurisdiction of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, so Li Xuan cannot appear easily; after all, Li Xuan holds the secret that could alter the sect's fate, and they will likely spare no cost to capture him and force him to reveal the secret of martial soul evolution.

Soon, Si Yu returned to the carriage, and the caravan began to move slowly.

"Little brother, have you retrieved your belongings?" Si Yu asked Li Xuan after returning to the carriage.

"Everything's been brought back, don't worry, Si Yu elder brother." Li Xuan nodded and replied.

"We expect to reach Tian Dou City by noon today. Our Blacksmith Guild has a base there; once we arrive, you can get off and rest comfortably. This bumpy ride has been a hardship for you as well." Si Yu smiled brightly and patted Li Xuan's shoulder.

"Si Yu elder brother, let's skip it, hold on a bit longer; we can relax after returning to Gengxin City, it's only a few days." Li Xuan smiled and shook his head, refusing Si Yu's suggestion.

"Looks like you really offended the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect badly. Fine, I'll have someone deliver meals to you on schedule." Si Yu nodded.

"Si Yu elder brother, that's unnecessary; my Soul Guide Device already contains plenty of food, enough for a year or two. No need to deliberately send me meals—that would risk exposing my presence. Si Yu elder brother, just treat me as if I don't exist." Li Xuan again declined Si Yu's offer.

"Alright, alright. I'll stay in Tian Dou City for about two days; after that I'll set out to return to Gengxin City, so the remaining journey will be at least half a month." Si Yu stroked his chin and said to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan nodded, said nothing, then slowly closed his eyes, sitting in the carriage to rest his spirit and conserve his vigor.

……

At noon, Si Yu's caravan entered Tian Dou City and stopped at the Gengxin City base located within Tian Dou City.

Si Yu gave Li Xuan a hand signal, then stepped directly out of the carriage without saying much.

Li Xuan made no sudden moves nor surveyed the surroundings; after half an hour he entered the Heaven‑Grasp Vessel space directly.

At that moment, Bang Chui was seated beside the Hot Spring, practicing a technique, while members of the Tao Family sat quietly in a row in the corner with their eyes covered.

Li Xuan nodded appreciatively, then made his way to the Hot Spring himself, sitting cross‑legged and beginning to cultivate.

Si Yu's caravan will stay here for two days, so during those two days Li Xuan can live inside the Heaven‑Grasp Vessel space.

The space inside the carriage is cramped, whereas the Heaven‑Grasp Vessel space is comfortable.

Soon, Li Xuan entered a cultivation state, and the surrounding soul power gradually flowed into his body.

After two hours, Li Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

"Brother, you've finished cultivating," Bang Chui said cheerfully to Li Xuan, and placed the warmed dishes on the table.

"Bang Chui, where did you get this table?" Li Xuan asked with a smile. "It was used in the basement before; it still looked new, so I brought it back," Bang Chui scratched his head and said sheepishly.

"Alright, come, let's eat together." Li Xuan gestured to Bang Chui, and the two ate together.

……

During the next two days, Li Xuan spent most of his time living inside the Heaven‑Grasp Vessel space; after all, he still had to stay in the carriage for half a month, and he wanted to enjoy life a bit early.

Only when the caravan prepared to leave Tian Dou City did Li Xuan return to the carriage and stop entering the Heaven‑Grasp Vessel space.

The anchor point of the Heaven‑Grasp Vessel space is fixed, meaning that when Li Xuan enters the space from the carriage and the carriage moves, he will fall from mid‑air when he exits; the anchor does not stay attached to an object, otherwise Li Xuan could remain in the Heaven‑Grasp Vessel space indefinitely.

So, in other words, Li Xuan can only travel with Si Yu's carriage.

For the next fifteen days, Li Xuan stayed cooped up in Si Yu's carriage; only at night did he return to the Heaven‑Grasp Vessel to eat and wash. He showed no sign at any other time.

……

Gengxin City, Blacksmith Guild's courtyard.

The caravan slowly stopped in the courtyard.

"Little brother, we're home." Si Yu opened his eyes suddenly and said lightly to Li Xuan.

"Huh… finally back." Li Xuan let out a long sigh; the pressure from the two Title Douluos of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect had been overwhelming, and if it weren't for thoughts of Bang Chui, Li Xuan would never have considered returning to the Tian Dou Empire.

"Little brother, I'm going to visit the teacher and report the numbers of this transaction; will you come with me?" Si Yu turned his head, looked at Li Xuan, and asked.

"That's natural. Since we've returned to Gengxin City, it's safe, so we should naturally go see Senior Lou Gao." Li Xuan smiled and nodded in response.

Si Yu nodded, then got off the carriage with Li Xuan and went straight to the fifth floor of the Blacksmith Guild.

Using a similarly complex series of decryption methods as Si Long, the main gate finally opened slowly.

Li Xuan looked at the massive gate and had a ridiculous thought: Lou Gao was being held captive here.

"Si Yu has met the teacher."

"Li Xuan has met Old Lou."

The two stood at the doorway and respectfully saluted the people inside.

"You two finally returned, come, come, take a look at my month's research results." Lou Gao's voice came from a corner on the fifth floor.

Si Yu and Li Xuan exchanged a glance, then approached Lou Gao.

Lou Gao was wearing suspenders and a gray‑white shirt, with glasses on, and his face no longer bore the black‑gray hue seen last time; he now gave the impression of a kindly, neighborly gentleman.

Li Xuan saw on the workbench in front of him the Silver White Long Sword he liked to use.

Nearby the sword lay dozens of various Blueprints.

The Blueprints depict patterns copied from the sword.

Not far from the workbench, a slew of steel‑forged long swords were scattered on the ground.

Each of these swords bore distinct patterns.

It seems Lou Gao is researching the function and effect of each pattern on the sword, producing experimental pieces.

It's unclear how far Lou Gao has progressed or whether he succeeded.

"Xuan Ge'er, you've used that silver blade before; try this one!" Lou Gao pulled a sword from the side of the workbench and tossed it to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan took the sword, paused, and found that although it was forged from refined iron, its weight differed little from the Silver White Long Sword.

Moreover, the surface patterns were almost identical.

(End of Chapter)