Chapter 126: Uninvited Guests

After leaving the county town, Lu Yang continued towards Canglan Prefecture City.

The journey was just as uneventful as always.

He encountered several merchants traveling between settlements, a few wandering cultivators, and the occasional caravan transporting goods. However, none of them attracted his attention, and he did not encounter any cultivator bandits along the way.

Fortunately, his business arrangement with Zheng Hui had been settled, and there was no immediate reason to worry about the matter. As long as that fellow continued operating honestly, Lu Yang would eventually obtain a steady source of income.

His primary objective was still cultivation.

Once he accumulated enough foundation, breaking through to the Second Stage of Spirit Awakening Realm in a few months should not be particularly difficult.

The real challenge would come later.

After all, the difference between the early, middle, and later stages of Spirit Awakening Realm was considerable.

Advancing through these stages required not only sufficient Spirit Qi but also a corresponding improvement in one’s Divine Sense, control over spiritualized Blood Qi, and internal body refinement, all of which required cultivation resources.

Lu Yang understood these requirements better than most cultivators.

He had experienced the realm in his previous life, and although his present cultivation was far lower than what he once possessed, his knowledge was still intact.

If he could obtain sufficient resources, his progress would naturally accelerate.

Unfortunately, knowledge could not replace every material requirement.

For now, he could only take it one step at a time.

...

Several days later, Canglan Prefecture City finally appeared before him.

Lu Yang slowed his pace as he approached the city gates, glancing at the sun setting below the horizon.

He had visited this place two years earlier, yet returning still brought a faint sense of familiarity.

The tall city walls stood beneath the afternoon sky, while merchants and travelers passed through the gates in an endless stream.

Compared with the county town in Luoyun Prefecture, this place was considerably more prosperous, but it was also far more dangerous.

Lu Yang did not release his Divine Sense recklessly.

The county town did not possess cultivators capable of posing any threat to him. There were only one or two Spirit Awakening cultivators from out of town at most, and even if someone discovered his Divine Sense, they wouldn’t provoke him just for that.

But a Prefecture City was different.

There were no fewer than a hundred Spirit Awakening Realm cultivators residing here permanently, and the actual number might be two or three times higher.

Among them were members of prominent cultivation families, disciples of local major factions, and Rogue Cultivators who had settled in the city.

There was also no shortage of cultivators stronger than Lu Yang.

Although a majority powerful cultivators preferred cultivating in seclusion within their respective residences, that did not mean they were completely unaware of their surroundings.

Some lf them might even be wandering outside for a moment of leisure.

If Lu Yang carelessly spread his Divine Sense across the city, he might attract unwanted attention.

That would be rather troublesome.

After entering the city, Lu Yang continued along the familiar streets.

He did not stop at the various shops or restaurants. Instead, he gradually made his way towards the quieter residential districts where government officials lived.

By the time Lu Yang approached the inner residential districts, the sun had long since set below the horizon, plunging the world into darkness.

The streets were gradually becoming quieter, and most merchants had closed their shops while pedestrians hurried home before the night grew too dark.

Lanterns illuminated the entrances of various residences, casting faint pools of light across the stone roads.

Lu Yang walked through the alleys at an unhurried pace.

His cultivation was concealed beneath the Dust Hiding Breath Concealing Method, making him appear to be a cultivator at the Sixth Stage of Body Tempering Realm.

To an ordinary observer, he was only a travel-worn young cultivator who had just come back from a journey, nothing particularly unusual.

However, as he passed through a narrow alley, his footsteps suddenly stopped.

Several figures were moving ahead of him.

They wore dark robes, and their faces were partially obscured by the shadows cast by the surrounding buildings. There were five of them.

Lu Yang glanced at them briefly.

The weakest possessed cultivation at the Seventh Stage of Body Tempering Realm, while the others had even reached the Eighth or Ninth Stage of Body Tempering Realm.

The leading figure was even at the absolute pinnacle of the Ninth Stage of Body Tempering Realm, the strongest tier beneath Spirit Awakening Realm.

Such a cultivation level was not particularly rare among the powerful families of Canglan Prefecture, but it was certainly enough to establish authority over ordinary cultivators.

What attracted Lu Yang’s attention was not their strength, but their destination.

They were moving in the same direction as he was.

Lu Yang’s expression remained calm, but his eyes gradually became colder.

He began to follow them at a distance, quietly releasing his Divine Sense to lock onto them while concealing his movements.

The group passed through one street after another with purposeful movements.

They did not stop to speak with anyone, nor did they appear to be searching for a particular address, just continuing forward.

Lu Yang quietly followed them into another alley.

The leading figure seemed to sense nothing unusual.

He continued walking, occasionally turning his head to exchange a few words with the person beside him.

None of them noticed that someone had been following them for several streets.

Eventually, the group reached a crossroads, with only two or three streets left between them and the residence of the Prefectural Judge.

Lu Yang suddenly stopped, his expression indifferent as he stepped forward.

His wooden mask had appeared in his hand at some unknown point, and he placed it over his face.

The movements were so natural that, had anyone been watching closely, they might have wondered whether he had been wearing it all along.

He approached the group without making a sound.

The five dark robed cultivators continued walking.

The leading figure, appearing to be a man with a sturdy build, was just about to turn into the next alley when he suddenly felt someone tap his shoulder.

His body stiffened slightly.

He immediately turned around, his instincts warning him of danger.

The other four cultivators reacted almost simultaneously, their expressions changing as they turned towards the newcomer.

A young man wearing a wooden mask stood behind them.

His physique was ordinary, and he did not exude any cultivation aura at all, appearing to be just an ordinary mortal.

Yet, none of them dared to underestimate him in the slightest.

The leading man’s eyes narrowed.

"Who are you?"

Lu Yang looked at him calmly.

Then, in an almost conversational tone, he spoke.

"Friends, where are you going at such a late hour?"