Chapter 415 - 240: Spiritual Root Rumors, Yin Yang Formation

’I don’t know how to combine them.’

He had tried many times but kept failing, unable to find a single clue.

The two Sword Arrays always remained separate entities.

’The complete Great Five Elements Yin Yang Sword Formation should contain a method for combining them, but I only received two separate Sword Arrays.’

He would have to figure out the combination method on his own.

But his current comprehension of the Sword Dao was insufficient.

The fastest way to enhance his Sword Dao comprehension was, naturally, to use the Three-Eyed Bodhi Seed.

Besides that, there was the option of exploring the golden symbol inside Ye Mengxian’s body.

’I haven’t explored it for so long. Maybe that golden symbol has let its guard down.’

Li Chang’an mused that he had to find some time to try again.

...

Time flew by.

Before he knew it, the day of Pei Yingyao’s Core Formation Ceremony had arrived.

Li Chang’an prepared another congratulatory gift and headed to Yellow Crane Immortal City to attend the ceremony.

At the grand ceremony, he saw many familiar faces.

Even members of the Zhou Family were present.

Li Chang’an noticed that a trace of Demon Qi was present within every single Zhou Family Cultivator.

’The Zhou Family must have been completely taken over by Demon Beasts. Zhou Sheng and Zhou Yunqiao haven’t been seen for years. Could they have been killed?’

Besides him, none of the other Cultivators noticed the problem with the members of the Zhou Family.

Even the Golden Core Masters in attendance didn’t see anything unusual.

With people from both the Three Great Sects and the Seven Great Noble Families present, the atmosphere at the Core Formation Ceremony was not exactly harmonious.

The auras of the Golden Core Masters clashed, subtly forming a terrifying pressure field.

The only reason a fight hadn’t broken out was purely out of respect for Yellow Crane Mountain.

Just then, an aged voice sounded by Li Chang’an’s ear.

"Li Chang’an, my grandson Wushuang... was he killed by you?"

Nie Yu’s face was grim as he walked up to him.

Li Chang’an looked completely astonished and asked, "Something happened to Daoist Nie?"

"You don’t know?"

Nie Yu stared at Li Chang’an, his eyes dark and menacing like a hawk’s, scrutinizing the expression on his face.

Li Chang’an said with a puzzled look, "Elder Nie, I truly don’t know. I haven’t seen Daoist Nie in a very long time. Even if I really wanted to go after him, I wouldn’t have the ability."

"Hmph. That’s true enough."

Nie Yu withdrew his gaze, his suspicion lessening slightly.

In his view, without that "turtle shell" of his, ten Li Chang’ans combined wouldn’t be a match for Nie Wushuang.

The prime suspects in this matter were still the Golden Core Masters of the Red Flame Sect.

However, he still had no intention of letting Li Chang’an off the hook.

Anyone under suspicion... deserved to die!

Bound by his previous Dao Heart oath, it was inconvenient for Nie Yu to act against Li Chang’an personally.

He summoned his adopted son, Nie Ting, and ordered him, "Keep a close eye on Li Chang’an. Find an opportunity to kill him. Be wary of Mo Qingxue."

"Yes!"

Nie Ting had a Fake Pill Cultivation, so killing Li Chang’an, who was at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, would not be difficult.

His eyes swept over Li Chang’an’s body, memorizing his appearance and aura.

Li Chang’an’s Divine Sense was sharp, and he instantly caught a flicker of killing intent.

’Looks like that old bastard Nie Yu has no intention of letting me go.’

His expression remained unchanged as he feigned ignorance and walked to the side to sit down.

Before long, two Cultivators with similar features walked up to him.

One of them was none other than the son of Xiahou Hong, a Golden Core Seed of Yellow Crane Immortal City, Xiahou Qian.

"Daoist Li, you certainly are lucky."

"Daoist Xiahou, what makes you say that?"

Li Chang’an asked in surprise.

Xiahou Qian said flatly, "Nie Wushuang was planning to kill you to consecrate his sword. Now that he’s met with an accident, isn’t that your good fortune?"

"So that’s how it is."

Li Chang’an acted as if he had just realized.

"If you put it that way, I suppose I am indeed lucky."

"Daoist Li, I’ve heard you have a Wood Sword Array Technique. I’m somewhat interested in it. Name your price."

Hearing this, Li Chang’an understood why this guy had approached him.

Apparently, Nie Wushuang’s deliberate targeting of him had made Xiahou Qian think of the Yin Yang Sword Array.

A flash of Spiritual Light appeared in Li Chang’an’s hand, revealing a Jade Scroll.

"Daoist Xiahou, this is that Sword Array. It’s called the Nine-leaf Sword Array. When cultivated to Great Success, it can control nine Wood Element Treasure Swords."

Having previously exposed his Nine Swords Array, Li Chang’an had come prepared.

He had long ago acquired a Sword Array that could form an array with nine swords—this very Nine-leaf Sword Array.

"I came across this Array by chance in my youth while exploring an ancient cultivator’s dwelling. Its Tier has reached Top Grade. If Daoist Xiahou is interested, please take it. I ask for nothing in return, only to improve my relationship with the Yellow Crane Mountain Lineage."

"Good!"

Xiahou Qian agreed at once, snatching the Jade Scroll, beginning its Refinement, and probing it with his Divine Sense.

Soon, a trace of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

This Nine-leaf Sword Array was indeed impressive.

Cultivated to Great Success, one could rely on the Nine Swords Array to fight opponents of a higher realm!

But this was not the Yin Yang Sect’s Sword Array that he wanted.

Xiahou Qian lost all interest and left after a few more words of casual conversation.

After he had walked some distance away, the young Cultivator beside him asked, "Brother, is that Li Chang’an the guy who Father suppressed so thoroughly at the Foundation Establishment Ceremony that he couldn’t even lift his head?"

"Yes, that’s him."

"No wonder everyone calls him a Turtle. Look at him, so timid and cowering. He doesn’t have a shred of a Cultivator’s edge. He’s destined to not get far in this life."

"Exactly. Yu, you must never be like him!"

Xiahou Qian warned solemnly.

This young man was his younger brother, Xiahou Yu.

After Xiahou Kun’s death, Xiahou Hong worried that his only remaining son, Xiahou Qian, would also meet with a mishap, leading to the end of the Xiahou Family’s bloodline.

Thus, he took several concubines and, after many years of effort, finally had Xiahou Yu with one of them.

Xiahou Yu was exceptionally talented. At a young age, he already had a Cultivation at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer and was about to attempt Foundation Establishment. It was highly likely he would have a chance at reaching Golden Core in the future.

At this Core Formation Ceremony,

Xiahou Hong repeatedly praised his two sons, saying they both had the potential to achieve Core Formation.

If they succeeded, the future Xiahou Family would experience the grand spectacle of having three Core Formation members in a single generation!

’Three Core Formation members in one family?’

Li Chang’an became pensive upon hearing this.

...

「One month later.」

The Core Formation Ceremony ended.

During the ceremony, Li Chang’an listened to many Golden Core Masters speak about the path of cultivation and gained a great deal.

After returning to Changqing Mountain, he immediately went into seclusion in the depths of his cultivator’s dwelling.

For a long time now, he had felt that he was not far from breaking through to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Now, his accumulation was sufficient, and inspiration struck.

’Today is the day I break through!’