Chapter 196 - 171: Parted for Many Years, Strangers on Different Paths

She was prepared for a fight to the death.

"Daoist Li, this is a life-or-death battle! We can’t hold anything back!"

With that, the longsword in her hand trembled, letting out a sharp ring.

An aura of grim resolve slowly rose from her.

Li Chang’an’s expression remained unchanged. He was still perfectly calm.

"Daoist Jiang, you just used a Secret Technique. You should focus on recuperating. Don’t use magic lightly, or you risk permanent internal damage."

Hearing this, Jiang Yuerong was startled.

’Judging by what he said...’

’Is Li Chang’an planning to face a dozen or so Tribulation Cultivators all by himself?’

She said urgently, "Daoist Li, this is no time to be a hero! Our only chance of survival is to fight together!"

"Alright. Daoist Jiang, just get ready for now."

With that, Li Chang’an turned to face the leader of the Tribulation Cultivators.

The man’s face seemed somewhat familiar to him.

So he asked, "What is Young Master Yan Yu of Blood Beast Valley to you?"

"Yan Yu? He was my older brother!"

"I see."

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but smile. The world worked in such coincidental ways.

’I just killed Yan Yu, and now I’ve run into his little brother.’

The man’s expression was cold as he asked, "What? Don’t tell me you knew my brother?"

"I did."

"And so what if you did? You’re not leaving here alive today!"

His killing intent flared. He planned to eliminate Li Chang’an first, then focus their efforts on dealing with the Cyan Cloud Sect disciple, Jiang Yuerong.

The other Tribulation Cultivators understood his intent and turned their gazes to Li Chang’an.

"Attack!"

Their eyes were vicious, and they were just about to act.

But, in that very instant.

A streak of spectral light shot from Li Chang’an. Like a Spiritual Snake, it weaved rapidly through the air, instantly piercing the skulls of the Tribulation Cultivators.

SPLAT! SPLAT! SPLAT...

Head after head burst like watermelons, creating a rain of blood that filled the air.

In the blink of an eye.

Only a dozen or so headless corpses remained on the spot.

Under the shocked gazes of Jiang Yuerong and Mu Qiuyan, the dozen or so corpses fell in unison, the blood gradually dyeing the lake red.

They were all dead!

Even the leader, a Qi Refining Ninth Layer Tribulation Cultivator, didn’t have time to react.

It was practically an instant kill!

WHOOSH!

The Soul-Chasing Shuttle circled once before returning to Li Chang’an’s hand.

In reality, it wasn’t Li Chang’an who had just controlled the Soul-Chasing Shuttle, but Dahuang, hidden underground.

Only by controlling the Soul-Chasing Shuttle with Tier Two strength could such terrifying power be unleashed.

At this moment,

Dahuang was underground, controlling the Venerable Soul Banner and collecting the souls of the dozen or so Tribulation Cultivators.

’Another bountiful day.’

A smile appeared on Li Chang’an’s face. With a wave of his hand, he collected the Storage Pouches and Treasures from the Tribulation Cultivators.

The cultivators of Blood Beast Valley had now delivered treasures to him twice in a row.

Although this haul wasn’t as large as the last one,

it still put Li Chang’an in a great mood.

He turned and said to Jiang Yuerong, "Daoist Jiang, there’s no need for you to fight. Just focus on healing."

Jiang Yuerong was frozen stiff, her eyes staring blankly at the headless corpses, as if she hadn’t heard Li Chang’an’s words.

Li Chang’an frowned and asked, "Daoist Jiang, are you alright?"

"I... I’m fine..."

Jiang Yuerong finally snapped back to her senses.

She took a deep breath and looked at Li Chang’an again, her heart filled with shock.

All this time, she had thought Su Yuyan’s "big brother" wasn’t particularly talented or strong—just a kind person with good character.

However, today’s battle had completely shattered her perception of him.

Jiang Yuerong finally understood that what Li Chang’an had said earlier—’they’re no match’—was the truth.

’If we had really fought, my fate would have been no better than that of these Tribulation Cultivators!’

"Daoist Li... you certainly hide your true strength well."

"Just a bit of good fortune, that’s all."

Li Chang’an smiled, his tone relaxed.

With that, he casually flicked out a few Talismans, incinerating the corpses of the Tribulation Cultivators to ash.

After taking care of that, he looked toward Mu Qiuyan.

"Qiuyan."

"Brother Li..."

Mu Qiuyan’s face was pale, the shock in her heart no less than Jiang Yuerong’s.

’If I hadn’t revealed my identity...’

’Then, just like those Tribulation Cultivators, I would have been burned to ash by now!’

Li Chang’an asked her, "What exactly happened? Weren’t you planning to return to your hometown back then?"

"My hometown..."

Hearing this, Mu Qiuyan’s expression darkened.

A hint of sorrow flashed in her eyes, and she sighed softly.

"Brother Li, I no longer have a home to return to."

"What happened?"

Li Chang’an wanted to understand what had happened.

But just then,

Jiang Yuerong suddenly spoke up. "So it was you! I remember now, you’re on the Sect’s wanted list! You’re the one who killed Junior Martial Uncle Liu’s disciple!"

"That’s right, it was me!"

Mu Qiuyan’s delicate brows arched, her tone turning ice-cold.

"That man deserved to die!"

She stared at Jiang Yuerong, her eyes filled with killing intent,

as if every disciple of the Cyan Cloud Sect deserved to die.

Her figure flickered. She didn’t attack. Instead, she transformed into a streak of crimson light and flew into the distance in an instant.

"Brother Li, the next time we meet, I will explain everything to you!"

Mu Qiuyan gave Li Chang’an one last look, then, without further delay, disappeared over the horizon.

A faint killing intent flickered in Jiang Yuerong’s eyes, but she didn’t dare to give chase.

Mu Qiuyan’s ranking on the Cyan Cloud Sect’s wanted list was not low.

More than ten Cyan Cloud Sect disciples had died at her hands!

Jiang Yuerong said urgently to Li Chang’an, "Daoist Li, you must not trust her!"

Li Chang’an asked her, "And why is that?"

"She’s not just a Tribulation Cultivator, she’s a Demon Cultivator who practices Demon Techniques! She’s vicious and cruel, and she’s killed over a dozen Cyan Cloud Sect disciples. Don’t be fooled by her looks!"

"Don’t worry."

Li Chang’an didn’t seem concerned. After all he had experienced, he wasn’t one to be fooled by appearances.

After resting for a moment,

the two of them returned to Yellow Crane Immortal City together. There were no further incidents on the way.

...

「A few days later.」

Jiang Yuerong recovered from her injuries and bid farewell to Li Chang’an.

She took the booklet Li Chang’an had given her, left Yellow Crane Immortal City, and returned to the Cyan Cloud Sect.

Time flew by, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day,

news arrived from the Cyan Cloud Sect regarding Su Yuyan’s Foundation Establishment.