Chapter 258: Begin the Array

Chapter 258: Begin the Array

“Did you hear? Everything’s going crazy in the Cangyun Realm!”

“What happened?”

“You didn’t join the Central Continent secret realm, did you? Tch, Zhenwu Holy Land is basically public enemy number one now! One mistake led to tons of sects losing their top disciples, including the other two Holy Lands. Even Master Zhang died in battle. Zhenwu’s now facing massive compensation claims—they’re in total chaos. And to top it off, Sword Pavilion has a Patriarch who’s shielding a demon cultivator... what a messy time.”

“Come on, tell me more? I overslept and totally missed the Central Continent event. Damn…”

Even in mortal world taverns, it wasn’t rare to see cultivators appear.

Especially in cities close to cultivation sects, where you could spot rogue cultivators wandering around.

Compared to being nobodies in the cultivation world, these scattered cultivators with only Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment strength could act like kings among mortals.

Some of them, lacking ambition, actually enjoyed this kind of life.

If their lifespan wouldn’t improve anyway, they might as well live it up:

marry three to five beautiful wives, pop a few Beautifying Pills… wasn’t that the dream?

“Uncle Zhang died in battle?”

In a quiet corner of the Drunken Immortal Restaurant, Dan Bai’s face turned grim.

She was dressed as a man right now, in scholar’s robes with a bamboo basket on her back.

Inside the basket was her beloved fat mountain sparrow.

Master Zhang Yibai of Zhenwu Holy Land could be considered half her teacher.

When she was younger, he once granted her a wisp of sword intent to study.

But she’d never been interested in swordsmanship.

In the end, she followed her mother and learned alchemy instead.

That brief chance with Zhang Yibai had passed.

Even so, she knew Zhang Yibai was a good person.

Definitely not like the wolves in sheep’s clothing from Yaochi or Fanjing Holy Lands.

Unfortunately, in today’s world, the major sects were completely brainwashed by public opinion.

The Holy Lands were seen as the ultimate justice, the greatest blessings of the Cangyun Realm.

Anyone who dared speak against them was publicly shamed—

sometimes even accused of being a demon cultivator trying to defame the Holy Lands.

That’s why, after her mother was taken,

Dan Bai went into hiding for years and still didn’t dare seek justice—

because no one would believe her.

Not even those in Zhenwu Holy Land.

“Sigh… now that my mother’s formation is gone, my location’s probably been exposed.

No idea how long I can stay hidden…”

Dan Bai popped a peanut into her mouth—

but the famously delicious Drunken Peanuts of Jiangchi City tasted like ash.

“Immortals from Yaochi Holy Land have arrived!”

A joyful shout rang out on the street outside the tavern.

Rumble—

Before Dan Bai even reacted, the tavern was already empty.

Even the performers had scattered.

Everyone had gone out to see the Yaochi Immortals.

But Dan Bai felt nothing but a chill running through her whole body.

“The Yaochi people found me this fast? Was it just coincidence, or…

No, I need to get out of here now.”

She quickly swallowed a stealth pill and gave one to her fat mountain sparrow in the basket.

She’d already taken this pill before—this extra dose was just to be safe.

“Chirp-chirp!”

“Shhh! One more peep and you’ll be someone’s roasted dinner!”

Dan Bai made a fierce face, successfully scaring the bird into tucking its head back into the basket.

Then, carrying the basket, she slipped out of the tavern and merged into the crowd.

This was not the time to walk against the flow.

If everyone was going to see the Immortals, she had to go too.

Otherwise, with how sharp Yaochi cultivators were,

any sign of suspicious behavior would get her caught.

She just had to make it through this.

Then she’d find a chance to escape the city.

…

“What a disgusting swarm of ants.”

A cold, aged voice drifted out from beneath Real Person Yuling’s veil.

“Are we sure that girl’s in this city?”

Yuquan glanced at the formation disk, then nodded.

“The blood bead hasn’t moved. She’s still here—probably in the crowd right now.”

The streets of Jiangchi City were packed with people—

mortals and rogue cultivators alike, all begging for pills, discipleship, or immortality.

Even simple farmers had dreamed of digging up a divine pill in the fields and ascending overnight.

The noise boiled like water in a pot,

making Yuling and Yuquan’s temples throb.

The fawning of these “ants” no longer gave them any sense of superiority—

maybe it once had, but now… it was just disgusting.

“Silence.”

An invisible wave of sound rippled from Yuling’s mouth.

The crowd immediately fell quiet.

Those shouting prayers and requests froze in place.

The ones closest were knocked unconscious by the wave.

Yuling waved her hand, and water vapor coalesced into a girl’s portrait.

Dan Bai saw it from the crowd and quickly looked down,

nervously adjusting the fake mustache at the corner of her mouth.

“This person is a fugitive of Yaochi Holy Land.

She stole our Hunyuan Heaven-Mending Pill.

That thief is in Jiangchi City right now.

Whoever finds her or turns her in will be handsomely rewarded!”

She clapped her palm into the water vapor—

the portrait burst into a fine mist that landed on everyone’s forehead.

Dan Bai’s appearance imprinted itself in the minds of every mortal and rogue cultivator present.

People began recalling faces, hoping to win favor and rewards.

“She’s actually pretty cute.

Hard to believe she’s a thief.”

“Well, if she could steal from Yaochi, she’s gotta have skills!”

Rustling whispers filled the air.

Dan Bai clenched her fists, trembling with rage.

Those monsters from Yaochi had taken her mother,

and now they were smearing her name—accusing her of stealing pills?!

The truth was, Yaochi had stolen their alchemy recipe,

then forced her mother to make pills for them!

Shameless!

For the first time, she regretted not following Zhang Yibai to learn the sword.

If she had even

half

his strength—

she would’ve drawn her sword and cut down these two despicable witches right now!

“No one’s seen this little thief?” Yuling was already getting impatient.

“Immortal! I’ve seen her!”

A shifty-looking man stepped out.

But before he could say another word—

CRACK—!

A vine burst out from the ground and shredded him into pieces.

Blood splattered.

The crowd screamed and backed away.

“Don’t try any tricks in front of me.

The moment you open your mouth, I already know if you’re lying.”

Looking at the unrecognizable corpse on the ground,

no one dared speak again.

“Who would dare lie to a Yaochi Real Person? You know what level they’re at?”

“Ha! Exactly. Ants will always be ants—dumb as bricks.”

The rogue cultivators sneered, mocking the foolish mortals.

Those with self-awareness like them would never offend Yaochi Real Persons.

Naturally, the Real Persons wouldn’t bother them either.

But that smug thought barely lasted a minute.

Yuling saw no one stepping up, even though Dan Bai was definitely here.

Her expression darkened.

Useless trash.

Not one person had even a vague memory of seeing her?!

The formation disk only gave a rough location—

if they took too long, it might cause trouble.

“Yuquan. No more waiting.”

She said coldly,

“Begin the array.”

…

…