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The destruction of the Flame Departing Palace had long become a thing of the past, with fewer and fewer cultivators paying it any attention or discussing it.

In fact, in places like Jing Kingdom and Liang Kingdom, the traces of Flame Departing Palace cultivators had almost vanished.

Within Liang Kingdom\'s cultivation world, the Golden Sun Sect, which had migrated northward, had initially stabilized the situation.

On Autumnwind Isle, in the herb garden.

Lan Chang\'an, now over 163 years old, still looked youthful, with fair skin and a gentle, handsome appearance.

"Have all the Flame Departing Palace cultivators moved away?"

Lan Chang\'an stood with his hands clasped behind his back, facing away from the shadow of the fruit tree behind him.

A voice came from the shadows, belonging to Xing Peng.

"Yes, Master Lan. Hundreds of elite cultivators from Flame Departing Palace gathered and boarded a third-rank spirit ship, heading west toward the \'Seven Kingdoms Alliance.\'"

Lan Chang\'an\'s expression turned contemplative; he had heard of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

Over there, the trade between cultivation nations was more prosperous, and their strength far exceeded the countries surrounding Feng Kingdom.

"Does your Unseen Sect have any thoughts about Flame Departing Palace\'s migration?"

"The late-stage True Dan Great Cultivator of Flame Departing Palace has recovered from his injuries and gathered several True Dan cultivators. With our numbers, we couldn’t possibly contend with them. Even if a war broke out, our Unseen Gate has no desire to face a large number of cultivators head-on."

The hooded man in the shadows shook his head.

The intelligence network managed by the Unseen Gate extended far beyond the Feng Kingdom and the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

In regions already at war or about to be invaded, the Unseen Gate had spies embedded everywhere.

"Any news on the Flame Departing Palace’s Supreme Elder?"

Recently, Xia Wenyue hadn’t been on the island, so there was no need for the two of them to be overly discreet in their conversation.

"None," Xing Peng said in surprise. "I tried to probe the upper ranks, but it seems our sect has lost track of the whereabouts of Master Lihuo. In recent years, there’s been no public contact between him and the Flame Departing Palace cultivators."

Lan Chang\'an’s expression remained neutral. Given the short amount of time, it was difficult for the outside world to guess that Master Lihuo had already perished.

With the prolonged lifespans of Nascent Soul cultivators, it wasn’t uncommon for them to go into seclusion to heal or cultivate for ten or twenty years.

If too much time passed and Master Lihuo still hadn’t appeared, suspicions would arise in the outside world.

For now, Lan Chang\'an wasn’t too worried about getting entangled in the matter himself.

By that time, he would have already become a True Dan cultivator, joining the upper ranks of the surrounding countries.

Without realizing it, Lan Chang\'an had reached halfway through the eighth level of Foundation Establishment, drawing closer to the ninth level.

Returning to his cultivation chamber, Lan Chang\'an closed his eyes and resumed his studies. He had almost fully digested the Returning Dust Core Transformation Method he had obtained from Zhang Tieshan.

Without a master’s guidance, he had to rely solely on his past life’s experience and his own research and exploration.

The method for reforming a core was rare and exceptionally perilous, requiring utmost caution.

In his previous life, Lan Chang\'an had no experience with it; it was an entirely uncharted territory.

His consciousness entered the Nine Seal Stele in his mind.

The white-bearded old man of his second life was seventy percent illuminated. In another year or two, he would be fully revealed again.

The figure of the Daoist in purple robes from his fourth life was dim and unstable, more insubstantial than the soul shadows of his first two lives.

Over the past two to three years, Lan Chang\'an had managed to glean a few useful pieces of information from the vast, chaotic fragments of memory, including some secrets related to the Flame Departing Palace.

Among the three reincarnation methods of the Nine Seal Stele, Lan Chang\'an currently favored the second one—the reincarnation of this Nascent Soul into his past life.

This method offered the most stable benefits.

What tempted him the most was the insight and understanding gained during the Nascent Soul formation and tribulation.

In his past life, Lan Chang\'an had died attempting to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Of course, Lan Chang\'an wouldn’t put all his hopes on one path. Ideally, he’d complete the wishes of Master Lihuo, thus resolving the karma and moving on.

He was determined not to get himself drawn into the vortex of sect conflicts.

The other two methods could also serve as backup plans, depending on how events unfolded in this lifetime.

…

The next morning, Lan Chang\'an finished his routine cultivation and nurturing of treasure talismans.

Due to the limitations of his current cultivation level and mana, the effects of nurturing his third-rank treasure talismans, made with superior-grade second-rank materials, were negligible.

The same was true for the eight treasure talismans he crafted from Tong Ghost Bamboo.

In particular, the two third-rank superior-grade treasure talismans showed almost no change after nurturing.

"The mana I’m using to nurture them is too far below the grade of the talismans. I’ll probably need to reach Core Formation to see any improvement."

With his daily tasks completed, it was nearly noon.

In the afternoon, Lan Chang\'an would spend his time tending to flowers and plants or studying various arts of the cultivation world.

In the evening, he would devote two hours to using the Foundation Establishment Spirit Flame from his Evergreen Technique to refine his magical treasure embryo.

Lan Chang\'an planned to use the fourth-rank Soul-Nurturing Wood as the embryo for his future wood-element magical treasure.

For now, his primary task was to nurture the wood’s spirit with spiritual fire to establish a connection with himself.

As for the final form of the magical treasure, he hadn’t yet decided.

Ideally, he would seek out a trustworthy third-rank artifact refiner.

Lan Chang\'an already had someone in mind.

With his simultaneous focus on talismans, puppetry, and alchemy, he had little time or energy left for other arts of the cultivation world.

Among them, the Dao of alchemy was the furthest behind, as he hadn’t even advanced to mid-second rank yet. Lan Chang\'an was almost on the verge of giving up on it.

"Strange! Wenyue still hasn’t returned?"

Three days later, while taking his Profound Water Turlte for a breath of fresh air on Autumnwind Isle, Lan Chang\'an noticed something amiss.

Over the years, Xia Wenyue’s chronic illness had nearly been cured.

Her body was no longer frail, and as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it wasn’t possible for her to remain on Autumnwind Isle all day.

She would occasionally go out for social interactions, clear her mind, or visit markets and cultivation cities to purchase supplies.

Lan Chang\'an understood that truly powerful cultivators had to go through the trials and tribulations of the wind and rain. Flowers nurtured in a greenhouse would never grow into towering trees.

Until that evening.

A white streak of light, exuding cold air, wobbled unsteadily as it descended onto Autumnwind Isle.

Lan Chang\'an\'s expression changed slightly as he swiftly moved to support Xia Wenyue, whose aura was in disarray, her face pale.

"Master Lan… I was ambushed."

Xia Wenyue\'s hair was disheveled, and her snow-white dress was torn and stained with blood.

She had a deep wound on her shoulder and another on her lower back, both blackened as if injured by a spell or magical treasure.

Fortunately, the wounds weren’t life-threatening.

"Who attacked you?"

Lan Chang\'an’s tone was icy as he channeled Evergreen mana to stabilize her injuries.

"It was a Fake Dan Immortal, dressed in black combat robes, with his face concealed. If not for the life-saving items you and the clan leader gifted me, I might not have made it back today."

Xia Wenyue\'s voice trembled with lingering fear as her chest heaved, her pale face gradually regaining some color.

Moments later, a streak of light at the Fake Dan stage descended onto Autumnwind Isle.

It was none other than the clan leader, Xia Hongyu.

Seeing Xia Wenyue’s injuries, Xia Hongyu’s face darkened, and despite his usual calm demeanor, a flicker of anger appeared in his eyes.

"Talisman Master Lan, how is Wenyue’s condition?" Xia Hongyu suppressed his anger, looking at Xia Wenyue with concern.

"Don’t worry, Patriarch Xia. Wenyue’s injuries aren’t too severe; her foundation remains unshaken. With some time to recuperate, she’ll be fine."

Lan Chang\'an\'s words eased the heavy weight in Xia Hongyu’s heart.

…

Half an hour later, Patriarch Xia and Lan Chang\'an sat together in the study, discussing matters in secret.

"Judging from Wenyue\'s description of the assailant\'s methods, it sounds a lot like that old ghost Wu from the Xinyue Merchant Association!"

"That old wretch! How shameless of him! A dignified Fake Dan Immortal stooping to ambush a mere early-stage Foundation Establishment girl." Xia Hongyu, usually refined and composed, was now livid with rage.

The life-saving items Xia Wenyue carried included talismanic treasures, a quasi-third-rank protective talisman, and a third-rank escape talisman.

In terms of survival tools, she was no worse off than the core disciples of a Nascent Soul-level sect.

Without these measures, it would have been nearly impossible for her to return alive after being attacked by a Fake Dan expert.

"What does the clan leader intend to do about this?" Lan Chang\'an asked calmly.

The motive behind this attack was likely that the Xinyue Merchant Association suspected Xia Wenyue’s potential and wanted to snuff it out while she was still in her infancy.

It wasn’t that Xia Wenyue’s innate Dao physique had been exposed; rather, the truth is that one’s greatest enemy often knows them best.

The opposing forces had surely studied every key figure within the Xia Family.

In the past, Lan Chang\'an had advised Xia Hongyu to send Xia Wenyue to a major sect with a Nascent Soul True Monarch, but none of the three sects in Jing Kingdom were qualified for the task.

However, Xia Hongyu was determined to keep Xia Wenyue within the family. He believed that as long as she advanced to the True Dan stage, the danger would pass.

"Old Ghost Wu dared to lay hands on the Xia Family’s prodigy. Naturally, I intend to retaliate. An eye for an eye," Xia Hongyu said coldly, his gaze filled with killing intent.

Lan Chang\'an understood his meaning.

Since the Xinyue Merchant Association had plotted against the Xia Family’s talent, Xia Hongyu would target their own in turn.

There would be no point in appealing to the Merchant Alliance.

For such incidents, the Merchant Alliance’s stance was that the accuser must provide solid proof.

If the Xia Family suspected Old Ghost Wu, they would need to furnish irrefutable evidence themselves.

Only in especially heinous cases that disrupted the balance of power would the higher-ups of the alliance conduct a thorough investigation.

"If Old Ghost Wu failed in his ambush, he’s surely on guard now. If the clan leader retaliates by targeting their young talents, it might not yield any results. Worse, you might fall into their trap," Lan Chang\'an commented, disapproving of Xia Hongyu\'s approach to retaliation.

"Heh, I never intended to act personally," Xia Hongyu said with a sneer. "Once things settle down, I’ll spend a hefty sum to hire assassins from the black market."

"As long as there are enough spirit stones, even a Fake Dan-level assassin can be hired."

Xia Hongyu was, after all, a cultivator of the "health nurturing path." Given his advanced age, he preferred not to get his own hands dirty.

"Simply killing one or two of their prodigies won’t resolve the underlying problem," Lan Chang\'an sighed.

"Does Fellow Daoist Lan have any suggestions?" Xia Hongyu looked at him curiously.

"To kill a snake, strike at its vital spot. To catch a thief, seize their leader."

"You mean… to eliminate Old Ghost Wu of the Xinyue Merchant Association?" Xia Hongyu raised his eyebrows, feeling that it was an overly ambitious idea.

"To kill an experienced Fake Dan cultivator like Old Ghost Wu would require at least two of the same rank, or even a True Dan expert. That’s beyond what I can afford," Xia Hongyu admitted.

Among Fake Dan cultivators, strength differences were usually not vast.

Defeating one might be possible, but killing them was exceedingly difficult.

"I happen to have an old acquaintance from the Liang Kingdom—an Immortal with exceptional abilities who is confident in taking down a Fake Dan cultivator. This old friend of mine recently arrived in Jing Kingdom and is in need of spirit stones, third-rank spirit items, and medicinal herbs..." Lan Chang\'an said leisurely.

"Your friend truly has the confidence to kill a Fake Dan expert?" Xia Hongyu looked at Lan Chang\'an with a strange expression.

The normally gentle Lan Chang\'an, known for his easygoing nature, actually had connections to such a powerful assassin?

"There\'s a sixty percent chance. Patriarch Xia, would you be willing to give it a try?"

"And… the payment?" Xia Hongyu hesitated, worried that he wouldn’t be able to afford it.

"Only double the fee of a typical Fake Dan-level assassin. If the mission fails, the payment will be refunded."

"Agreed! I may not fully trust this assassin, but I trust Fellow Daoist Lan\'s character and integrity," Xia Hongyu decided quickly.

If they could eliminate the Xinyue Merchant Association’s Grand Elder, it would significantly weaken their biggest threat to the Wufu Merchant Association.

The Xinyue Merchant Association’s other Fake Dan expert had already been defeated by Xia Hongyu in the past, so he wasn’t a major concern.

…

Two days later, Xia Hongyu returned to Autumnwind Isle, handing a storage pouch to Lan Chang\'an.

"Rest assured, Patriarch Xia. I will make contact with my old friend in secret at the earliest opportunity."

Lan Chang\'an took a quick glance inside the pouch, noting the large pile of spirit stones and a few third-rank spiritual herbs. He nodded with a faint smile.

After Xia Hongyu left, Lan Chang\'an removed a thirty percent share of the earnings from the storage pouch and casually tossed it to the ground.

Squeak!

The Earth Burrowing Rat emerged from the ground and swallowed the storage pouch in one gulp.

"In another six or seven years, I’ll be able to advance to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment and start preparing for Core Formation. During this period, peace and quiet is paramount," Lan Chang\'an thought to himself.

His willingness to help the Xia Family resolve this hidden threat stemmed from multiple considerations.

Firstly, Xia Wenyue’s perilous encounter had irked Lan Chang\'an. Xia Wenyue was a seed he had planted, a potential key to his future Nascent Soul aspirations.

Secondly, with Core Formation on the horizon, he required a stable environment for cultivation.

Thirdly, the Earth Burrowing Rat needed to gain experience and hone its combat skills.

As for the potential risks of exposure, Lan Chang\'an had already taken them into account.

Having spent so many years around Xia Hongyu, he had a good grasp of the man’s character—they were very much alike.

Besides, he had been with the Xia Family for years now, and once he reached Core Formation, he would be leaving this place.

By the time he attained True Dan, any minor suspicions would be of little consequence.

In the cultivation world, who among seasoned cultivators didn’t have some connections and a few hidden secrets?

The following day, Lan Chang\'an went out briefly and returned two days later.

Since it was the Earth Burrowing Rat\'s first time involved in an assassination, it lacked experience.

He sought the assistance of the Unseen Gate\'s Incense Master to gather intelligence, address any oversights, and pass on some expertise.

…

After paying the fee, Patriarch Xia kept a close eye on Lan Chang\'an’s movements.

During the two days Lan Chang\'an was out, Xia Hongyu couldn’t help but worry—would he flee with the money?

Fortunately, Lan Chang\'an returned soon after, and life resumed as usual.

Over the ensuing days, Xia Hongyu found himself in a constant state of anxious anticipation, his mind consumed by this matter.

After all, he had paid a substantial amount for this; the outcome would determine the fates of both merchant guilds.

If it failed and left traces behind, it could lead to disastrous repercussions.

Finally, two months later, thrilling news arrived:

Wu Feng, the Grand Elder of the Xinyue Merchant Association, had fallen to a mysterious assassination, leaving no corpse.

A few fewer words today, the Core Formation plot is almost here.