Chapter 76: Hide for a Lifetime?

In the courtyard.

A thought flashed through Li Chang’an’s mind.

Nine streams of Sword Qi shot out in unison, their might astonishing, their sharp edges fully revealed!

They were just about to form a Sword Array.

But suddenly,

one of the streams of Sword Qi trembled and lost its stability. The flow of Qi between it and the other eight streams instantly fell into disarray.

The entire Sword Array failed before it could even take shape!

’Still a little off.’

Li Chang’an sighed softly and, with a casual wave of his hand, dispersed the nine streams of Sword Qi.

He swallowed a few Elixir Pills.

He pondered as he recovered.

In truth,

his current progress was already quite fast.

According to the records in the Small Yi Mu Sword Array,

most ordinary Cultivators needed several months just to reach the Entry-Level, and several years to reach Minor Achievement.

But in less than half a month, Li Chang’an had already touched the threshold of Great Success. Such talent was nothing short of astounding.

Furthermore,

every failure brought him closer to success.

’A few more days, and I should be able to succeed.’

Li Chang’an thought to himself.

Just then,

Dahuang suddenly appeared and rapidly wrote a line of characters with its paw.

"Oh? Zheng Lingfeng’s grandfather, Zheng Songcheng, has appeared and is heading toward my residence?"

Li Chang’an was slightly surprised.

He had interrogated Zheng Jinbao before, so he had a relatively clear understanding of the Zheng Family’s internal members.

This Zheng Songcheng’s Magical Combat strength was extremely high.

It was said that

he had once attempted Foundation Establishment and had been on the verge of success.

But at the critical moment, a traitor had suddenly appeared within the Zheng Family and interfered with his Foundation Establishment.

’This man’s strength is not to be underestimated. I must handle him with care.’

Li Chang’an did not let his guard down.

His current strength was indeed great, but there was always someone stronger. What if this Zheng Songcheng was also an old turtle hiding his true depth?

He had to be on guard!

Li Chang’an immediately pushed the two Arrays to their maximum operational capacity, hiding himself deep within them and leaving only a Puppet Body behind.

Before long,

Zheng Songcheng arrived outside the residence.

"Li, this old man, Zheng Songcheng, has a matter to discuss with you."

He spoke slowly, his tone laced with a hint of arrogance and confidence.

As soon as the words left his mouth,

the courtyard gate opened on its own.

"Elder Zheng, please come in!"

Li Chang’an’s voice echoed from the courtyard.

His Puppet Body did not step out to greet him.

"This old man will come in, then."

Zheng Songcheng was full of confidence and felt no worry. He took a step, preparing to enter the courtyard.

But...

In that very instant,

his heart suddenly tightened, the hairs on his body stood on end, and he sensed a wisp of death’s aura.

’What’s going on?’

A flash of shock crossed Zheng Songcheng’s old eyes, and his outstretched foot froze in place.

He had learned from Zheng Lingfeng that Li Chang’an’s residence was protected by an Array.

But he hadn’t paid it any mind.

Because...

his foundation was deep, built upon years of accumulation.

He had long since gathered a variety of Array-Breaking methods.

He possessed not only Breaking Charms and a Small Forbidden Array, but also an Array-Breaking Pestle—a Magical Artifact specifically refined for breaking Arrays—and a Forbidden Spirit Pearl, a natural Treasure that could disrupt the flow of Spiritual Power within an Array.

He could shatter any Array below Tier Two with a wave of his hand!

Logically speaking,

he shouldn’t be feeling this heart-pounding terror right now.

’Could it be... that the Array surrounding Li Chang’an’s residence is a Tier Two Array?’

Zheng Songcheng stared at the residence before him, motionless for a long time, an unbelievable thought rising in his mind.

How could a mere Middle Stage of Qi Refining cultivator possibly obtain a Tier Two Array?

From the courtyard,

Li Chang’an’s surprised voice called out.

"Elder Zheng, why haven’t you come in yet? This junior has prepared some fine tea for you."

Hearing this,

Zheng Songcheng’s expression flickered.

He had boasted to his grandson that he would definitely take Li Chang’an down.

But now,

he didn’t even dare to step into Li Chang’an’s courtyard.

The residence before him was like a terrifying beast with its great maw wide open, waiting to devour him just as it had devoured who knows how many others.

He had intended to overwhelm the other with his sheer presence.

But before even seeing Li Chang’an in person, his own aura had already weakened a notch. What did he have left to suppress him with?

"Elder Zheng, what are you doing just standing outside? If others were to see, they would likely think I’m a poor host."

Li Chang’an’s Puppet Body slowly walked to the edge of the doorway and met Zheng Songcheng’s gaze.

The two of them.

One inside the courtyard, one outside.

Separated only by the thin courtyard gate.

Li Chang’an’s figure was slight and his strength ordinary, yet the aura he projected showed faint signs of overpowering Zheng Songcheng’s.

Zheng Songcheng, wary at heart, stared at him vigilantly and spoke via voice transmission.

"Li, this old man came here for one reason only."

"Oh? And what might that be?"

Li Chang’an also replied via voice transmission.

"This old man wants you to support Lingfeng’s Foundation Establishment!"

"Elder Zheng, you must be joking."

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly and added, "This junior is but a Loose Cultivator. How could I possibly support the Second Young Master’s Foundation Establishment? This is an internal matter of the Zheng Family, something this junior would never dare to interfere in."

"No, this old man knows you dare!"

Zheng Songcheng’s tone changed, a harsh glint appearing in his eyes.

The aura around him surged.

The full power of his Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivation was unleashed without reservation, a terrifying pressure rushing straight toward Li Chang’an.

An ordinary Middle Stage of Qi Refining cultivator, faced with his powerful presence, would likely be crushed to the point they couldn’t even lift their head.

But Li Chang’an remained at ease.

"Elder Zheng, you hesitate to enter, so you must have realized my residence has an Array. Do you truly believe your aura alone can overwhelm an entire Grand Array?"

"Li Chang’an, do you think you can hide in your Array for the rest of your life?"

Zheng Songcheng’s tone shifted again, his voice turning icy and filling with killing intent.

Faced with this undisguised threat,

Li Chang’an simply smiled.

"And why not?"

he said with a lighthearted laugh.

"You may not know this, Elder Zheng, but I have enough food and drink stored in my Storage Pouch to last me for a hundred years. I don’t mind hiding in my Array at all."

"You..."

Zheng Songcheng’s face twitched, and he felt a sense of absurdity.

’What normal person would store a hundred years’ worth of food?’

But for some reason,

he felt that Li Chang’an wasn’t lying.

"Hiding under the protection of an Array all day, what’s the difference between you and a turtle?"

Hearing this, Li Chang’an was unconcerned.

’There’s nothing wrong with being a turtle.’

Zheng Songcheng stared at him coldly and sent another voice transmission: "Li Chang’an, you still have a choice now. Once Lingfeng succeeds in his Foundation Establishment, it will be too late for you to choose! At that time, you will be the first one to be dealt with!"

"Elder Zheng, Foundation Establishment is difficult. You shouldn’t speak with such certainty."

Li Chang’an remained completely unmoved, letting the threats and pressure wash over him.

Even his tone of voice barely changed.

In the end,

Zheng Songcheng was truly out of options.

He had no choice but to leave.

"Take care, Elder Zheng."

Li Chang’an chuckled softly and cupped his hands in a gesture of farewell.

Afterward,

he closed the courtyard gate and let out a soft breath.

He had to admit,

that Zheng Songcheng’s personal strength was indeed formidable, and his presence was immense. He was truly worthy of being someone who had nearly achieved Foundation Establishment Success.

Li Chang’an felt that if he hadn’t obtained the Thundercloud Annihilation Array, the Cloud Mist Hidden Killing Array alone would most likely not have been enough to stop the old man.

However,

even if the Array couldn’t stop him, he still had other methods.

’It’s good that he left. If he had tried to force his way through the Array, it would have been quite troublesome.’

Li Chang’an mused silently.

This was the Zheng Family’s Marketplace, after all, and Zheng Songcheng was one of the core members of the Zheng Family.

Even if he had really barged into the Array, it would have been difficult for Li Chang’an to kill him.

’If I ended up luring out a Foundation Establishment Ancestor, I’d have to forfeit my own life.’

It was just that

Zheng Songcheng hadn’t dared to take the gamble.

He considered himself a person of high status and great authority, and his life was far more precious than Li Chang’an’s. He was unwilling to trade his life for Li Chang’an’s.

Li Chang’an had precisely grasped this mentality, which was why he had been able to handle him with such ease.

"Dahuang, keep a close eye on that old man!"

"WOOF!"

Dahuang responded with a bark and immediately gave chase.

Li Chang’an stood in the courtyard.

He continued to practice the Small Yi Mu Sword Array.

Zheng Songcheng’s earlier words had not been entirely without effect on him.

After all,

if Zheng Lingfeng really did achieve Foundation Establishment Success, he would most likely come to settle accounts with Li Chang’an first thing.

A faint sense of urgency grew in Li Chang’an’s heart.

"Sword Array, rise!"

He continuously executed the Sword Formation Technique, failing again and again without a moment’s rest.

If his Magical Power ran low, he would swallow Elixir Pills.

He tried again and again.

Before he knew it, the night had deepened.

An unknown amount of time passed. When Li Chang’an once again sent out the nine streams of Sword Qi, they did not fall into disarray. The flows of Qi pulled at one another,

and actually formed a perfect Array.

"Finally..."

A look of joy appeared on Li Chang’an’s face, and he let out a long breath.

The Small Yi Mu Sword Array, Great Success!