Chapter 817 - 369: Li Chang’an’s Choice, Zi Xia True Monarch Apologizes

Xun Haoyu smiled as he pointed Master Wan Xie in the right direction.

Master Wan Xie immediately gave chase. After he left, the old man who had overseen the auction looked worried.

"Young Master, according to the rules of the auction, we must not reveal the identities of our guests. I’m afraid your actions will bring disaster upon White Cloud Immortal City."

"Don’t worry. That person is merely at the Early Stage of Golden Core. Trading his life to befriend Master Wan Xie is a highly lucrative bargain." Xun Haoyu’s smile was unwavering and devoid of concern. "Furthermore, our White Cloud Immortal City is backed by the Purple Mist Sect. No one would dare retaliate."

Evidently, he had done such things more than once. The Purple Mist Sect was his ultimate source of confidence.

Meanwhile, outside the Spirit Cloud Mountain Range, Li Chang’an did not enter the mountains immediately. Instead, he inspected the Identity Token in his hand while waiting for Midnight to arrive.

"Since these are Ancient Ruins, I’m afraid there will be quite a few dangers. If the Divination shows it’s safe, then I’ll go in to explore. The material of this Identity Token is rather special; it seems to be some kind of Tier Four Spirit Wood..."

Li Chang’an examined it carefully, quietly waiting for the Divination to emerge.

However, before the Divination arrived, an uninvited guest appeared.

"Lin Fan, hand over the token, and I can spare your life!"

Master Wan Xie wore a malicious expression. Shouting harshly, he released his Golden Core Peak aura without reservation, intending to crush his opponent with sheer power.

In the very next instant, however, an oppressive might far exceeding his own suddenly descended, making his scalp tingle with dread.

"A Nascent Soul True Monarch?!" Master Wan Xie’s face drained of color, his heart consumed by shock.

He never imagined he would be so incredibly unlucky as to stumble upon a mighty True Monarch, a figure rarely seen in ordinary times.

Li Chang’an said indifferently, "Roll over here."

"Yes... yes..." Master Wan Xie didn’t dare disobey the command. He immediately dropped to the ground and literally rolled across the dirt, tumbling over and over until he came to a stop in front of Li Chang’an.

Terrified and despairing, his voice trembled. "P-Please... please spare my life, Senior. This junior... this junior is willing to serve you as a slave..."

"How did you know my name is Lin Fan?"

"It was Xun Haoyu, the Young Master of White Cloud Immortal City, who told me."

"Alright. I understand."

The questioning concluded, rendering the man completely useless. With a resounding BOOM, he exploded on the spot under the crushing Nascent Soul pressure. Not even a mist of blood remained; he was utterly reduced to fine dust.

Li Chang’an vanished from where he stood. In the blink of an eye, he had returned to White Cloud Immortal City.

With a mere thought, the massive City Lord’s Mansion collapsed in an instant. Rubble cascaded outward, and thick clouds of dust rose into the air.

More than ten Golden Core Cultivators soared into the sky, all wearing expressions of fury. The man leading them was, naturally, the City Lord of White Cloud Immortal City, Xun Baiyun.

He shouted harshly, "Who are you, Daoist, and why have you attacked my White Cloud Immortal City? I am a disciple of the Purple Mist Sect, and this city is its vassal! To attack White Cloud Immortal City is to attack the Purple Mist Sect itself!"

Beside him, Xun Haoyu’s expression was incredibly grim. He had recognized Li Chang’an at a glance and cursed his terrible luck.

"That Wan Xie Old Monster has a big reputation, but his actual abilities are nothing special. To think he would actually fall into this person’s hands," he thought.

He could naturally see that Li Chang’an had come knocking to demand an explanation. However, he wasn’t worried. Just as his father had said, striking White Cloud Immortal City was equivalent to slapping the Purple Mist Sect in the face.

Yet, the development of this matter soon far exceeded his expectations.

"Come!" Li Chang’an raised his hand and beckoned.

Xun Haoyu’s expression drastically changed. His body flew forward uncontrollably, landing squarely in front of Li Chang’an.

"What are you doing?!" he shouted, struggling desperately, but to no avail.

Li Chang’an didn’t reply to him. Instead, he looked toward an empty spot in the void. "Daoist Zi Xia, the conduct of your Purple Mist Sect members seems inconsistent with the Righteous Dao."

"Forgive me, Daoist Lin. It is my failure in discipline."

A soft female voice rang out. The figure of True Monarch Zi Xia emerged exactly where Li Chang’an had been gazing. She lightly raised her delicate hand, and a Tier Four Treasure flew out of her Storage Pouch, landing in front of Li Chang’an.

"This treasure can be considered my apology gift. As for the people of White Cloud Immortal City, Daoist Lin may deal with them as you see fit."

Hearing these words, Xun Haoyu’s entire body turned icy cold, as if he were plummeting into a bottomless abyss.

By now, how could he not know that the seemingly ordinary Loose Cultivator before him was actually a Nascent Soul True Monarch!

"Senior, please spare me! I had eyes but failed to recognize greatness! I beg you to take pity on my youth and ignorance and spare my life!"

At this moment, he couldn’t help but recall the words the old man at the auction had said to him. Breaking the rules might bring disaster to White Cloud Immortal City. At the time, he hadn’t taken it seriously. But he never expected the disaster to arrive so quickly!

"Youth and ignorance?" Li Chang’an cast an indifferent glance at him.

A person over a hundred years old, talking about youth and ignorance?

In the next instant, a loud BOOM echoed as Xun Haoyu exploded on the spot. His father, Xun Baiyun, also shattered, turning into a cloud of dust.

From now on, this White Cloud Immortal City would most likely have to change its name.

Regarding the deaths of these two, True Monarch Zi Xia showed no reaction at all, not even sparing them a glance. Her voice remained soft as she extended an invitation, "Daoist Lin, would you be willing to come to the Purple Mist Sect for a chat?"

"I intend to explore the Ancient Ruins of the Hundred Weapons Sect. After I leave the ruins, I will come to discuss the Dao with Daoist Zi Xia." Li Chang’an cupped his hands in greeting, then turned and left.

His mind was entirely focused on the Artifact Refining inheritance; he didn’t plan on wasting time at the Purple Mist Sect.

After he had gone far into the distance, Zi Xi rushed over from the Purple Mist Sect.

True Monarch Zi Xia instructed her, "Find someone you trust to take over this White Cloud Immortal City."

Zi Xi nodded. "Yes!"

"In the future, if you see Lin Fan, you must not slight him. Being able to achieve the Nascent Soul realm as a Loose Cultivator means he can already be considered a legend of his generation."

"Your disciple understands." Zi Xi’s eyes were clear as she looked toward the south. Hearing the phrase ’Loose Cultivator’, she couldn’t help but think of Li Chang’an.

True Monarch Zi Xia seemed to know what she was thinking and commented casually, "That Li Chang’an has decent comprehension, but his Spiritual Root is far too poor. In the path of Magical Power, the Golden Core is already his absolute limit. Now, it will just depend on how good his talent in Body Refinement is."