Chapter 240 - 185: Impervious to Time, Perfect Technique

Li Chang’an took a deep breath to calm himself.

’The Cultivation Technique isn’t in my hands yet. I can’t celebrate too early.’

’Tomorrow, I have to face Xiahou Kun, a Foundation Establishment cultivator. I can’t be careless.’

’As someone from Yellow Crane Immortal City, and the son of a Fake Pill Great Power no less, Xiahou Kun is most likely practicing an Earth Grade Technique. His Magic and Spiritual Artifacts won’t be weak either. He’s much stronger than a Foundation Establishment cultivator who’s just a Loose Cultivator.’

’He only reached Foundation Establishment a few years ago, and his realm is still at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment. He hasn’t accumulated much Liquid Magical Power. The Evil Soul and the Sword Array should be enough to suppress him.’

’Still, I should avoid a direct confrontation if possible. It would be best if I could kill him with poison.’

Li Chang’an silently calculated his plan.

...

「The next day, at the crack of dawn.」

Li Chang’an got ready and went to the Black Market as agreed, meeting up with Xiahou Kun and the other two.

The group of four discussed for a moment before setting off for the Black Dragon Mountain Range.

On the surface, all four of them were Qi Refining Cultivators.

Li Chang’an had adjusted his apparent strength, revealing the aura of someone who had just reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

However, he and Xiahou Kun were both at Foundation Establishment!

Each of the four had their own agenda as they quickly entered the Black Dragon Mountain Range. After slaying a few Demon Beasts that tried to ambush them, they successfully arrived at the entrance to the Ancient Wood Secret Realm.

’I’m back again.’

Li Chang’an stared at the entrance to the Ancient Wood Secret Realm, feeling a sense of nostalgia.

’It seems I’m quite fated to be here.’

’There are many Secret Realms around Yellow Crane Immortal City, yet I’ve ended up at this one several times in a row.’

Not long after, the group of four entered the Secret Realm and began to travel through this oppressive world.

The journey was not peaceful. Despite being extremely careful, they still encountered several crises.

During the most dangerous incident, Xiahou Kun was ambushed and nearly exposed his Foundation Establishment Cultivation.

Fortunately, thanks to their combined efforts, they managed to get through each encounter shaken but unharmed.

After that, the four of them began to work together with increasing coordination.

Before they knew it, dusk had fallen.

The four of them killed another group of vicious Secret Realm Demon Beasts and found a relatively safe place to rest for a while.

During the break, Ye Hao glanced at Li Chang’an with a puzzled expression.

For some reason, whenever he fought alongside Li Chang’an, a sense of familiarity would surface, and he found Li Chang’an to be very approachable.

It was as if they were old friends who had known each other for years.

And yet, they had only just met two days ago.

"Daoist Li, you remind me of an old friend."

"Oh?"

Li Chang’an seemed somewhat interested.

He smiled and asked, "And who might that be?"

Ye Hao replied, "My big brother from back when I was a mortal. He was the one who led me onto the Immortal Path and saved my life several times along the way. Without him, I wouldn’t be here today."

"Daoist Ye, is this big brother of yours still around?"

"He is, and he’s already reached Foundation Establishment."

After saying this, Ye Hao sighed wistfully.

Seeing his expression, Li Chang’an asked, "Having a big brother at Foundation Establishment should be a happy occasion. Why do you look so melancholic, Daoist Ye?"

"You don’t understand, Daoist Li. Back when I parted ways with my big brother and the others, I made a bold declaration that I would definitely reach Foundation Establishment before going back to find them... but I’m still only at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer."

Ye Hao’s face filled with reminiscence as he spoke of the past.

’It seems his melancholy stems from his dissatisfaction with his own cultivation.’

But... Li Chang’an sensed that he was hiding something else.

"Daoist Ye, are you confident you can reach Foundation Establishment now?"

"Not in the slightest."

Ye Hao gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

"Don’t you have a senior to guide you, Daoist Ye?"

"To be honest with you, Daoist Li, in my Sect, I’m the strongest one there is."

Ye Hao wasn’t sure why he trusted Li Chang’an so much, but he had revealed a great deal without even realizing it.

Back then, in front of the Immortal Sect, after he parted from Li Chang’an and the others, he had planned to try his luck elsewhere.

Unfortunately, his talent was insufficient, and he hit dead ends everywhere. He once again faced a life-threatening danger on his Immortal Path.

Fortunately, a passing Cultivator saved him.

That Cultivator, who later became his master, belonged to a very small Qi Refining Sect. The entire Sect had just over a dozen members, and the strongest among them was only at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

"I had nowhere else to go at the time, and I was grateful to him for saving my life, so I stayed with the Sect."

And just like that, Ye Hao became the cultivator with the lowest seniority in the entire Sect.

According to him, although the Sect was weak, it was very harmonious, like a family—not full of conflict like other Sects.

As he spoke of these past events, a smile unknowingly appeared on Ye Hao’s face.

"My master and my seniors always protected me, never letting me get involved in anything dangerous. Later, I asked when it would be my turn to protect them, and they said... once I reach Foundation Establishment!"

"I see."

A smile appeared on Li Chang’an’s face. ’It seems this old friend of mine is doing quite well.’

’The Sect may be small, but it’s congenial, free of strife, and filled with peace and harmony.’

’A life of cultivation like that... is actually what I long for as well.’

"However, reaching Foundation Establishment is extremely difficult. You must prepare well, Daoist Ye."

"Indeed!"

Ye Hao sighed again.

A moment later, the four of them ended their rest and set off again.

In the days that followed, they faced danger many times. They even experienced a collective hallucination, witnessing bloody scenes from an ancient war between immortals.

Fortunately, they ultimately arrived at the location of the cave dwelling, shaken but unharmed.

"We’re here!"

Xiahou Kun led the other three to an area that looked very ordinary.

Before them lay a vast lake, its blue-green waters stretching to the horizon.

"The cave dwelling is beneath the lake’s surface. Back then, I had to jump into the lake to escape a pursuing Demon Beast."

With that, Xiahou Kun leaped into the great lake.

Li Chang’an and the other two immediately followed.

They dove deeper and deeper, soon reaching the very bottom of the vast lake.