Chapter 118 Meeting an Old Friend, Sun Deming of Ping City

About a day later.

Xu Guang leaned against a tree, silently adjusting the Searcher to find out how to begin cultivating the Nine Calamities Demon-Vanquishing Chaotic Profound Skill.

This Profound Skill was created by Yuchi Xu in the Profound Cave. It was exceedingly miraculous, utilizing calamities to condense a Profound Seed. With every calamity overcome, one’s Power would develop a new attribute. According to Xu Guang’s conjecture, the Power born from these calamities should share a similar principle with the Profound World Death Qi. The only thing giving him a headache was that it lacked a prerequisite Cultivation Technique—meaning, getting started was extremely difficult!

If he had to figure it out himself, it would probably take decades. Fortunately, he had yet to reach Five Viscera Seeing God, making this the perfect time to search for an entry method.

In the distance, the Cyan-Scaled Horse was digging by the river to find grass seeds, eating them along with some underground insects. At this rate, if Xu Guang continued raising it, the horse might eventually start eating meat.

Just as he was thinking this, the Messenger Owl suddenly let out a sharp cry in the distance and swooped down from the sky.

Xu Guang stood up, understanding the Messenger Owl’s signal. Someone was approaching from afar.

He climbed a tree, standing at a high vantage point to look in the direction the Messenger Owl had flown from. Soon, he spotted a long procession traveling along the official road. These people did not look like regular merchants. The group included many women and children, making them appear more like refugees fleeing their homes to relocate.

Most importantly, Xu Guang saw many familiar faces in the procession. Cheng Lian’Er, Xu Sanduo, his master Zhao Fu, and several people from the United Commerce Association and the Martial Arts Alliance.

Xu Guang was somewhat surprised. He wondered why they had left the city. Gesturing for the Cyan-Scaled Horse to hide, he leaped through the trees to follow them. His current journey to You State’s Yuan City might take an unknown amount of time. Running into old acquaintances like this, he felt he should at least go up and exchange a few words of greeting. After all, once they parted ways this time, they might never meet again in their lifetimes.

Xu Sanduo was feeling rather depressed, hiding in a secluded spot with Zhao Yong to drink away his sorrows.

"Junior Brother, I know you’re angry, but it’s already a great blessing that we were able to leave Feiyun City safely."

Xu Sanduo remained sullen and silent. Anyone would be depressed if all their family assets were confiscated. However, this order was given by the current master of Feiyun City, Zhang Qing, and they could not defy it.

As the two were drinking in the corner, a voice suddenly came from above.

"You two senior brothers are hiding here drinking, making it quite hard for this junior brother to find you."

"Who is it?"

The two looked up simultaneously. Upon seeing the newcomer, their faces immediately lit up with joy.

"Junior Brother Xu!"

Xu Guang dropped down from the tree with a smile, landing as silently as a swallow.

"Junior Brother Xu, why are you still here? Didn’t you already leave?" Xu Sanduo’s barrage of questions came like rapid-fire cannon shots.

Helpless, Xu Guang had to answer them one by one. He didn’t explain in too much detail, simply stating that he had returned to take care of a few things after sending his family away.

"You don’t know, you’re currently a wanted man!"

Hearing this, Xu Guang fell silent for a moment. "On what charges?"

"For launching a sneak attack on Feiyun City’s City Guardian, Duan Jue."

At those words, Xu Guang clenched his fists tightly, a surge of anger rising in his chest. "What about the Yellow Heaven Sect? They entered the city openly. What is the Court’s stance on this?"

Xu Sanduo let out a cold laugh. "Zhang Qing was appointed as the Commander of Qing State and granted the title of Yellow Heaven Marquis, giving him control over the twenty-three cities of Qing State.

"You have no idea to what extent the Court has rotted. These days, I’ve heard that factions with treasonous ambitions like the Yellow Heaven Sect have all been granted amnesty and recruited by the Court.

"Only now do I realize just how much City Guardian Duan did for Feiyun City. If it weren’t for him, Feiyun City would have long become a city of believers under the Yellow Heaven Sect, just like the other cities."

Zhao Yong sighed and added, "Treacherous officials currently hold power in the Court. That State Chief, Lin Yu, has completely become a lapdog for the Yellow Heaven Sect, and then there’s Li Zongkang..."

"Don’t mention that man!" Xu Sanduo shouted categorically.

It was Li Zongkang who had led men to expel all of them. They originally thought Li Zongkang of Feiyun City was a hero of their time, but they never expected that after the death of Duan Jue, who had treated him like a father and master, Li Zongkang would actually willingly serve as Zhang Qing’s lapdog!

"Did... no one avenge Lord Duan?" Xu Guang’s voice was far from calm. He didn’t bother explaining Li Zongkang’s actions to the two.

However, he could vaguely guess Li Zongkang’s intentions, especially when he recalled the term ’city of believers’ they had just used when mentioning the other cities. A city of believers—a city of faith? Perhaps Li Zongkang drove them away simply because he wanted them to live.

Xu Sanduo shook his head, suddenly letting out a heavy sigh and a scoff. He shot a somewhat mocking glance at Xu Guang. "How could there be no one? Lord Duan was killed by your sneak attack, Junior Brother Xu. Aren’t you already a wanted man?"

"Uh..."

"What is the Court’s official statement?" Xu Guang asked.

"There is no statement. I didn’t even bother looking at State Chief Lin Yu’s bullshit. However, an Elder of the Cyan Cloud Sect came by. I heard he was a good friend of Lord Duan. After entering the city, he had a talk with Zhang Qing, and afterward, Li Zongkang led the troops to drive us out," Xu Sanduo said with a gloomy expression.

In just a few words, Xu Guang had grasped the current situation in Feiyun City. Judging from the plight of these people, the situation there was far from good.

"Then... where are you planning to go?" Xu Guang asked with some hesitation. Inquiring about someone’s flight into exile was somewhat impolite.

"We’re still discussing it. We’ve only decided to leave Qing State first. Either You State or Tai State," Xu Sanduo said casually. Naturally, he had absolute trust in Xu Guang.

Xu Guang smiled and said offhandedly, "That works. Maybe we’ll run into each other again in the future."

Xu Sanduo remained silent. In his heart, he assumed Xu Guang would likely stay in Qing State and probably join the Cyan Cloud Sect. After all, City Guardian Duan Jue’s appreciation for Xu Guang was known to everyone.

"Oh, right. I’ll go call Miss Lian’Er. She’s looked for you many times since you left." Xu Sanduo suddenly remembered something and stood up as he spoke.