Chapter 425 - 244: The Old Ancestor Takes Action, Array Inheritance

Xiahou Yu was dead.

He died at his own Foundation Establishment Ceremony!

When the news broke, the first reaction from outsiders was disbelief.

Xiahou Yu’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony was held on the mountainside of Yellow Crane Mountain, protected within its Tier Three Array.

Furthermore, his father, the Fake Pill cultivator Xiahou Hong, was right beside him.

Who could have killed him in front of everyone?

"I heard he just... exploded."

"That’s absurd. How does a perfectly fine person suddenly explode?"

"..."

The news soon reached Changqing Mountain.

Zhou Yunqiao was first shocked, then secretly relieved. Xiahou Yu would never bother her again.

Li Chang’an, however, was quite calm.

After all, he was the one who had done it.

As the master of the Wood Seed, he could control Xiahou Yu’s life and death at will.

Years ago.

After the Blood Seed in Mu Caiwei’s younger brother’s body was discovered, Murong Kang forced it to detonate, killing him instantly on the spot.

The Blood Seed and Bloodline within his body both dissipated into nothingness, as if they had never existed.

The Wood Seed had a similar characteristic.

Once it detonated, it would, along with its numerous roots and branches, transform into Spiritual Power and dissipate into the world.

"Elder Li, I heard that Xiahou Hong has gone mad. In his search for the killer, he nearly tore Yellow Crane Mountain apart, but he found nothing."

Zhou Yunqiao reported the latest news.

Li Chang’an was unconcerned.

"That Xiahou Hong is an arrogant man. Relying on his Fake Pill strength and the backing of Yellow Crane Mountain, he annihilates entire families at the slightest provocation. He incurred the wrath of heaven and the resentment of men long ago. Perhaps this is his retribution."

"Yes, maybe it’s true that Xiahou Hong committed so many evil deeds that the retribution fell upon his descendant."

Zhou Yunqiao nodded repeatedly. It never even occurred to her that Li Chang’an could be the killer.

When Xiahou Yu had exploded,

Li Chang’an was on Changqing Mountain, tinkering with a mechanical component. It would have been impossible for him to strike from so far away.

"Elder Li, I heard that all the guests who attended Xiahou Yu’s Foundation Establishment Ceremony have been detained. They’re being interrogated one by one. Do you think the killer is among them?"

"Perhaps."

Li Chang’an gave a faint smile and went back to tinkering with his mechanical component.

In any case, the matter had nothing more to do with him.

「In the following days.」

There was still no definitive conclusion regarding Xiahou Yu’s death.

Some speculated that he had suffered a cultivation deviation, causing his Magical Power to flow backward through his Meridians and his body to explode.

Others thought something had gone wrong during his Foundation Establishment, leaving behind a hidden flaw that ultimately led to his death.

...

「On Yellow Crane Mountain.」

Xiahou Hong’s eyes were bloodshot and his face was twisted, like a monster about to pounce and devour someone.

Over the past few days, he had interrogated every single guest.

But they all swore on their Dao Heart that they were not the ones who had acted.

Besides, even if they had, it would have been impossible to hide it from Xiahou Hong’s eyes.

"Who was it! Who in the hell was it?"

Xiahou Hong was seething with uncontrollable rage. He wanted nothing more than to slaughter every guest who had been present, but he knew he couldn’t do that.

The reason was simple: among the guests were many Cultivators from other Golden Core Influences.

"Second Junior Brother, calm down! Your current state won’t help you find the killer at all."

He Qianshan appeared and advised in a deep voice.

Xiahou Hong’s voice was hoarse. "First Senior Brother, my son is dead! How can I calm down? The killer is hidden too well. I have no idea who it is. Tell me, what should I do?"

"Before Yu died, did he have any private contact with anyone?"

"No!"

"Are you sure?"

He Qianshan asked patiently.

Xiahou Hong shook his head. "I was worried someone from the Huanghe Alliance might have snuck into Yellow Crane Mountain, so I kept a very close watch on Yu. I didn’t allow him to meet anyone alone. Before this, he hadn’t..."

As he spoke, he suddenly paused, as if he had remembered something.

"Changqing Mountain!"

"Changqing Mountain? You mean Li Chang’an’s Changqing Mountain?"

"Yes!"

Xiahou Hong clenched his fists tightly, killing intent rising in his bloodshot eyes.

"Before Yu died, he went to Changqing Mountain to find that Zhou Yunqiao from the Zhou Family. Li Chang’an has a grudge against me. It must have been him! He must have done something to Yu in secret. I’m going to kill him!"

Endless killing intent surged within his heart, twisting his face into a grotesque mask.

With that, he prepared to charge toward Changqing Mountain.

But He Qianshan held him back.

"Second Junior Brother, don’t be reckless!"

"First Senior Brother, don’t stop me! I should have just slaughtered that Li Chang’an back then!"

Xiahou Hong was filled with fury. The aura of his Fake Pill realm erupted as he tried to break free.

But He Qianshan kept a firm grip on him, saying gravely, "The Array on Changqing Mountain is formidable—it’s most likely a Tier Three Array. If you go, you’ll just be throwing your life away!"

"What?"

Hearing the words "Tier Three Array," Xiahou Hong instantly sobered up a bit.

He asked in disbelief, "How could that old tortoise Li Chang’an possibly have a Tier Three Array?"

"Li Chang’an excels at self-preservation. Furthermore, he has reached the Tier Two Top Grade in both Pill and Talisman crafting. Who knows how many Spirit Stones he’s accumulated over the years? Buying a Tier Three Array wouldn’t be difficult for him."

He Qianshan’s mind was much clearer, and he carefully analyzed the situation for Xiahou Hong.

Forcibly storming Changqing Mountain would be a purely foolish move.

Xiahou Hong was unwilling to accept this, but he forcefully suppressed his rage.

"First Senior Brother, what do you suggest I do then?"

"Don’t rush. Come with me to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. We’ll ask their Tier Three Array Master to crack open his tortoise shell for us."

"Fine!"

「That night.」

Two streaks of light rose from Yellow Crane Mountain and shot toward the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

...

「Meanwhile.」

In a cave-dwelling on Changqing Mountain.

Li Chang’an was tinkering with a mechanical creation.

Before he knew it, the time had come to Midnight.

A golden light materialized before his eyes.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Auspicious]

[The Luo Family is facing the danger of annihilation. The Luo Family Patriarch, Luo Yunhai, will offer the inheritance of a Tier Three Array in exchange for your help. You will readily agree and help the Luo Family overcome their crisis.]

"The Luo Family... danger of annihilation?"

Li Chang’an’s gaze sharpened as he read the message again carefully.