Chapter 174: Bad News from the Frontlines


    After Mu Bingyun left, Lan Chang''an began to consider how to handle the issue of Senior Brother Zhuo.


    He had already analyzed the situation. Senior Brother Zhuo had been removed from the me Departing Pce’s roster, so there likely wasn’t a soulmp connected to him within the sect.


    However, this person, as the ck glove of the me Departing Pce cultivators, might have connections with the higher-ups in the sect, and the possibility of there being other means of detecting his death could not be ruled out.


    At the very least, Senior Brother Zhuo couldn’t die at this particr time. It would be better for him to reappear in the future, in a different context, before meeting his end. This way, any connection between his death and Wuqi Mountain or Lan Chang''an could be severed.


    As for finding someone else to take the me, that could be left to chance—there was no need to force it, as that might make things worse.


    "Six months from now," Lan Chang''an decided. He set a deadline for Zhuo''s death—at least six monthster, or maybe even a year.


    The spoils from Senior Brother Zhuo were valuable, but few were of immediate use to Lan Chang''an.


    The golden magical treasure prototype, for example, was clearly stolen goods and couldn’t be used openly. Lan Chang''an already possessed a magical treasure prototype he had nurtured and refined for many years, which suited him better and consumed less of his resources.Generally, only those with the deep mana reserves of ate Foundation Establishment cultivator or an exceptional spiritual sense could effectively wield a magical treasure prototype.


    The two quasi-third-rank talismans—one offensive and one for escape—were valuable additions to Lan Chang''an’s collection of talisman treasures. However, these types of quasi-third-rank talismans were not suitable for nurturing due to the different methods and materials used in their creation.


    Quasi-third-rank talismans, which correspond to Fake-Dan, are typically created in two ways.


    One is throughcking craftsmanship, where third-rank materials are used to forcefully create a downgraded quasi-third-rank talisman.


    The other is through proper craftsmanship using the hide or fur of a pseudo-third-rank demonic beast.


    The promotion of a demonic beast to the third rank was simr to a human''s formation of the core, where the inner core had to be condensed within the body.


    If the inner core is of inferior quality, the beast is considered a pseudo-third-rank demonic beast, much like a human Fake-Dan human cultivator.


    "As for the materials for the Crystal Condensation Pill, if I ever get the chance to refine the pill, I might consider giving any extra pills to the Earth Burrowing Rat," Lan Chang''an mused.


    Demonic beasts advance to the third rank by forming an inner core, much like human cultivators forming a core. Therefore, the Crystal Condensation Pill could also be useful for the Earth Burrowing Rat.


    Although the Crystal Condensation Pill is specifically tailored for human cultivators, it would be less effective for demonic beasts. The closer a demonic beast’s physiology is to that of humans, the more effective the pill.


    Given that many human medicines are tested on mice, the Earth Burrowing Rat would likely benefit significantly from the Crystal Condensation Pill.


    In the past, Lan Chang''an hadn’t considered his own prospects of forming a core, and the Earth Burrowing Rat was only expected to reach the pseudo-third rank.


    However, if there were enough Crystal Condensation Pills in the future, the Earth Burrowing Rat could secure a pseudo-core at the very least, with a slight chance of bing a true third-rank great demon.


    ...


    Currently, Senior Brother Zhuo was bound in an underground chamber near the northern edge of Wuqi Mountain.


    The underground rock provided strong istion from spiritual sense detection. Without knowledge of the exact location, even a Core Formation Immortal flying nearby would be unable to detect him.


    The Earth Burrowing Rat was in charge of guarding Zhuo, keeping him nourished with Fasting Pills. With the restrictions ced on him, Zhuo couldn’t evenmit suicide.


    Lan Chang''an considered interrogating Zhuo, but given that the "Night Fisherman" had recently been sighted, and me Departing Pce cultivators might visit soon, he decided to postpone the interrogation.


    Three dayster, Song Wenshu arrived at Wuqi Mountain with two other me Departing Pce cultivators to gather information and track the "Night Fisherman."


    The three peak masters of Wuqi Mountain cooperated fully, providing any clues they had.


    Lan Chang''an and Fairy Shi truthfully recounted the events of that night, though Lan Chang''an omitted the part where he captured and killed Senior Brother Zhuo.


    After the formalities were over, Song Wenshu stayed as a guest at Little Turtle Peak, apanied by the three peak masters.


    "Fellow Daoist Lan, the ''Night Fisherman'' has struck again near Wuqi Mountain, nearly harming your junior. This is my fault!" In private conversation, Song Wenshu expressed his apology, lowering his tone slightly.


    Lan Chang''an had previously provided him with spirit stones to improve the security around Wuqi Mountain, so they had a bit of a rapport.


    Song Wenshu’s humble demeanor earned him some goodwill from Fairy Shi and Ye Fei. me Departing Pce cultivators usually held themselves above loose cultivators, rarely showing them such courtesy.


    "Fellow Daoist Song, you’re being too hard on yourself. These are unusual times, and your sect’s manpower is limited," Lan Chang''an replied politely.


    Had he not known the truth, he might have been swayed by Song Wenshu’s words for a moment.


    "Rest assured, three peak masters, I will further strengthen the patrols around Wuqi Mountain..." Song Wenshu assured them.


    "By the way, me Departing Pce ns to increase the bounty on the ''Night Fisherman.'' Are any of you interested in participating?" he added casually after some idle chat.


    Only Lan Chang''an understood that Song Wenshu hade to test the waters with these words.


    "Sigh, I don’t have the confidence to capture such a notorious bandit. That night, when we lured out the rogue cultivators, we had no idea who he was. Now, I’ll be lucky if he doesn’t seek revenge," Lan Chang''an replied with a wry smile.


    Fairy Shi added regretfully, "We missed our chance that night when he escaped severely injured. Now that he’s on guard, capturing him will be even more difficult..."


    Song Wenshu kept his expression neutral, noting that the three peak masters had no intention of pursuing the matter further.


    After sitting at Little Turtle Peak for another quarter-hour, Song Wenshu rose to take his leave.


    The three peak masters escorted him out of the cave.


    Ye Fei remarked, "This Fellow Daoist Song is truly a refined and amiable man, not at all haughty despite his status. He’s someone worth befriending."


    Lan Chang''an nodded with a smile but didn’t continue the conversation.


    Fairy Shi, who had a deeper rtionship with him, had a vague feeling that something was different. Although Lan Chang''an remained as courteous as ever, he seemed less interested in fostering a friendship with Song Wenshu than before.


    ...


    Half a month after the me Departing Pce cultivators left, Lan Chang''an finally visited the underground chamber north of Wuqi Mountain to interrogate Senior Brother Zhuo.


    In the dark underground cave, Senior Brother Zhuo looked pale, with sunken eyes and a vacant stare. When he saw Lan Chang''an, his pupils contracted, but he didn’t show any surprise.


    Over the past few days, while being guarded by the Earth Burrowing Rat, Zhuo had spected about this possibility.


    Lan Chang''an released some of the restrictions on him, allowing him to speak.


    "Brother Zhuo, if you answer my questions honestly, I’ll give you a quick death," Lan Chang''an said bluntly.


    "Lan Chang''an, do you know who I am? If you have any guts, kill me! When you do, the entire Wuqi Mountain will be buried with me!" Zhuo sneered, his expression cold and menacing.


    "Quite the bold statement," Lan Chang''an remarked, slightly surprised. Did this man really have such powerful backing?


    "Ha! If you had that kind of power, why would you be hiding and drifting around as a rogue cultivator?"


    "Hmph! I am the descendant of a me Departing Pce elder. If you don’t believe me, ask Song Wenshu," Zhuo retorted mockingly.


    "The descendant of a me Departing Pce elder? I haven’t heard of any elder with the surname Zhuo," Lan Chang''an replied skeptically.


    me Departing Pce elders, who were at least Core Formation Immortals, mostly served as either ordinary or outer sect elders. The core elders were few and far between, and Lan Chang''an, after a century of cultivation in the Liang Kingdom, was familiar with most of these figures.


    Zhuo fell silent, either due to some unspeakable secret or because he was deliberately trying to create an air of mystery. He didn’t borate on his background.


    Lan Chang''an decided not to use force for now. Zhuo''s injuries were severe, and with his cultivation crippled, he was essentially a mortal. His body couldn’t withstand torture.


    But Lan Chang''an had other ways to extract information from him other than torture.


    Several dayster, Lan Chang''an stopped giving Zhuo Fasting Pills, allowing hunger and weakness to cloud his mind.


    In this state, Lan Chang''an used a "Soul Enchantment Spell" on Zhuo, which quickly took effect.


    Whoosh!


    Within moments, Zhuo awoke from the spell. Despite his weakened state, his willpower, honed through years as a peakte Foundation Establishment cultivator, allowed him to break free quickly.


    "Who... who are you? A mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator with such a powerful spiritual sense..." Zhuo was drenched in cold sweat, staring at Lan Chang''an in disbelief.


    In me Departing Pce, only those for Golden Dan seeds could have such strong spiritual senses at thete Foundation Establishment stage.


    Lan Chang''an simply smiled without answering. He fed Zhuo another Fasting Pill, reapplying the restrictions to ensure nothing was missed.


    In that brief moment, using the Soul Enchantment Spell, Lan Chang''an extracted several crucial pieces of information from Zhuo.


    ...


    Back at Little Turtle Peak, Lan Chang''an spent a long time in deep thought.


    Zhuo''s real name was Zhuo Yangping, and he was indeed the great-grandson of a powerful me Departing Pce elder.


    Many years ago, Zhuo hadmitted a serious crime within the sect. He had used threats and coercion to defile several female disciples, including a Fake-Dan inner disciple. When the scandal broke, Zhuo fled to escape punishment.


    The elder, known for his strict adherence to justice, had dered that he would uphold thew even if it meant executing his own kin. Eventually, me Departing Pce’sw enforcement team imed to have "killed" Zhuo, bringing the matter to a close.


    Since then, Zhuo had been erased from me Departing Pce''s records, living under assumed identities and operating in the gray areas, colluding with me Departing Pce cultivators as a ck glove.


    ording to Zhuo, the elder never intended to protect him. Instead, it was a deputy hall master of the Law Enforcement Hall who, possibly to curry favor with the elder or for some other purpose, took it upon himself to secretly bail out Zhuo.


    This deputy hall master happened to be a rtive of Song Wenshu.


    Over the years, Zhuo had funneled a significant portion of his plundered wealth and captured female cultivators as tributes to this deputy hall master.


    "A Core Formation elder’s great-grandson... That’s a connection, but not an insurmountable one..." After learning the truth, Lan Chang''an felt both apprehensive and reassured.


    Zhuo''s background was indeed significant but far from invincible. His status is far inferior to that of the personal disciples of the me Departing Pce Master, the Law Enforcement Elders, and the like.


    The Nascent Soul True Monarch of the me Departing Pce, on the other hand, was a Supreme Elder who basically did not ask about the sect''s mundane matters.


    If Zhuo had been directly rted to a Nascent Soul True Monarch or a personal disciple with connections beyond Lan Chang''an''s previous life''s cultivation experience, he wouldn’t even think about it and just run away, possibly even abandon the Liang Kingdom altogether.


    ...


    Two months passed in the blink of an eye.


    There was no response from me Departing Pce regarding Zhuo, though Song Wenshu did indeed increase patrols around Wuqi Mountain, improving the security in the area.


    One day, Lan Chang''an received a letter from Jin Yun Valley.


    Zhang Tieshan and Lin Lu were engaged in battle in a neighboring country, and the letter was from Zhao Siyao.


    In her letter, Zhao Siyao hinted that the sect was preparing to draft a second batch of cultivators for the war effort in Feng Kingdom.


    Lan Chang''an guessed that Zhao Siyao was afraid that she would be on the list of cultivators to be drafted for the second batch.


    At the same time, the letter also brought bad news—possibly even catastrophic news—from the frontlines of the Feng Kingdom.