Chapter 492 - 266: Capturing Wan Xing and Entering Red Leaf Valley

Li Chang’an shook his head and tossed it into his Storage Pouch.

He continued to take inventory of the remaining treasures, discovering many Tier Three treasures suitable for Body Refinement.

Finally, Li Chang’an took the treasures he needed.

He returned the Storage Pouch to Wan Xing and sent him back to the Cyan Cloud Sect.

Wan Xing’s status within the Cyan Cloud Sect was comparable to a Golden Core Master, allowing him to exchange for almost any treasure in the Cyan Cloud Sect’s Treasure Vault.

From now on, he would be Li Chang’an’s eyes in the Cyan Cloud Sect and his tool for acquiring treasures.

...

Time passed quickly, and in the blink of an eye, more than half a year went by.

During this time, Li Chang’an constantly used his puppets—He Qianshan, Nie Ting, and Wan Xing—to acquire the treasures he needed from various Golden Core Influences to break through to Tier Three Body Refinement.

Most of the treasures had been gathered.

Aside from the Dragon-type Demon Beast Essence Blood, only three items remained.

They were the Thousand-Year Blood Pattern Wood, the Blood Cloud Vine, and the Fire Flood Dragon Flower—all of which were exceptionally rare Tier Three Spirit Plants.

Li Chang’an had used his puppets to make inquiries and learned that the Red Leaf Valley Mu Family happened to have these three Spirit Plants.

’The Mu Family rarely sells these three Spirit Plants, using them only to cultivate their own disciples. Once I disguise myself as Mu Yuanchen and infiltrate the family, I should be able to get my hands on them.’

’But there’s still no lead on the Dragon-type Demon Beast Essence Blood...’

In search of the Tier Three Dragon-type Demon Beast Essence Blood, Li Chang’an had gone to the Xiao Family to find Xiao Yiyue.

Xiao Yiyue had told him plainly that the Xiao Family did possess several vials of Tier Three Dragon-type Demon Beast Essence Blood.

But those vials of Essence Blood had already been claimed by their Late Stage of Golden Core ancestor, likely in preparation to attempt a breakthrough to Nascent Soul Formation.

Li Chang’an found this somewhat puzzling.

"Dragon-type Demon Beast Essence Blood helps with Nascent Soul Formation?"

"Yes. The Essence Blood of a Tier Three Dragon Beast can temporarily boost a Golden Core Cultivator’s qi and blood to their peak, which helps in breaking through bottlenecks."

"I see."

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but feel a pang of disappointment.

’Faced with a hurdle as immense as Nascent Soul Formation, the Xiao Family’s ancestor would surely use every possible means. He would never trade the Essence Blood away.’

After leaving the Xiao Family, he had also visited the Jin and Zhang Families, among others, but came back empty-handed each time.

Ultimately, he was forced to inquire at the Black Market on the border between the Western and Southern Domains.

But to this day, he still hadn’t found any useful leads.

「One evening.」

Li Chang’an’s Spirit Plant Skill officially broke through to Tier Two Low Grade—the same level Mu Yuanchen had reached before his death.

’It’s time to go to the Mu Family.’

After putting on the false skin and using the Blood Source Spirit Crystal, his appearance, bloodline, and even his Spirit Plant Skill were identical to Mu Yuanchen’s.

What’s more, he also possessed all of Mu Yuanchen’s memories.

Even Mu Yuanchen’s own parents, were they to be resurrected, wouldn’t be able to tell the two apart.

’It should be fine!’

’Still, I should check the divination.’

Li Chang’an was in no hurry, waiting patiently until deep into the night.

Just after Midnight, a golden light appeared before his eyes.

[Divination Refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Neutral]

[You will impersonate Mu Yuanchen and travel to the Red Leaf Valley Mu Family. You will pass their tests smoothly and arouse no suspicion.]

Seeing the divination’s outcome, Li Chang’an was completely at ease.

He immediately donned the false skin, transformed into a streak of Spiritual Light, and headed straight for the Mu Family’s Red Leaf Valley.

’Mu Yuanchen hasn’t returned to the Mu Family in two years. If anyone asks where he’s been, I’ll say he was trapped in a Secret Realm and had a few fortuitous encounters.’

Li Chang’an planned to build up the identity of ’Mu Yuanchen’ as a genius.

The Mu Family’s Spirit Plant legacy was of Tier Three Middle Grade. Ordinary clan members had no way to access the Tier Three portion of the legacy, and at most could only receive the Tier Two Top Grade teachings.

Unless they possessed exceptional talent in the dao of Spirit Plants, or held a sufficiently high status within the Mu Family.

For instance, the Mu Family Ancestor, Mu Song, and the family’s Golden Core Seed, Mu Xiaoxiao, who had been missing for many years.

The Mu Family currently had no Golden Core Seed.

The strength and talent of the remaining Foundation Establishment Cultivators were all unremarkable.

’I just need to reveal a bit of my strength to surpass the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators. Then I’ll receive the Mu Family’s special attention and resources.’

’I wonder if there are any opportunities for Core Formation left in the Mu Family Treasure Vault,’ he thought to himself.

’If there are enough opportunities for Core Formation, then I can just keep impersonating Mu Yuanchen and use the family’s resources to reach Core Formation myself.’

’According to Mu Yuanchen’s memories, the Mu Family Treasure Vault didn’t contain many Core Formation Treasures. But he was just an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator before he died, not a core member, so he might not have been qualified to see everything.’

Li Chang’an maintained his Escape Technique, mulling over his plans for after he entered the Mu Family.

Before he knew it, he was no longer far from the Mu Clan Territory, Red Leaf Valley.

Suddenly, Li Chang’an sensed the aura of Magical Combat nearby.

He immediately halted, sweeping the area with his Fake Pill Divine Sense, and quickly discovered two figures.

One was chasing, the other fleeing.

The one fleeing was only at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, while the pursuer was at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

The distance between them was closing rapidly.

Barring any surprises, the one fleeing would be caught in a dozen more breaths.

’The person fleeing for her life... that’s someone from Mu Yuanchen’s memories. She’s Mu Siyue’s younger sister, Mu Siyu.’

’As for her pursuer... his Magic is strange. Could he be a Cultivator from the Western Domain?’

After a moment’s thought, Li Chang’an transformed into a streak of Spiritual Light and flew toward them.

It wasn’t long before he appeared in front of Mu Siyu.

"Cousin Siyu, who’s chasing you?"

"Cousin Yuanchen?"

Mu Siyu started, but then her pretty face quickly lit up with joy.

Li Chang’an, in his disguise as Mu Yuanchen, had a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation—the same as the real Mu Yuanchen before his death.

Even if the two of them teamed up, they still wouldn’t be a match for the Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, but her chances of survival had just increased dramatically.