Chapter 92: Four Letters

Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Four Letters

The farewell to Xiong Da took, rather unexpectedly, more than half an hour.

If Xiong Da hadn’t had other matters to attend to, it likely would have dragged on even longer.

"Late-stage Qi Refining!

I’m gonna break through to Late-stage Qi Refining!"

"Xiong Da, come back alive!"

"Alright! I still want to use a Middle-grade Magical Artifact and go Flying in the Sky!

Of course I’ll come back alive."

A faint smile touched Xu Chang’an’s lips. That silly bear had finally gotten his wish and truly reached Late-stage Qi Refining.

Once he got his hands on a Middle-grade Magical Artifact, his dream from all those years ago would be complete.

Given Xiong Da’s current stipend as a Langlang Mountain Elder, it shouldn’t be too difficult for him to save up for a Middle-grade Magical Artifact over time.

Xu Chang’an then made a trip to the Alchemy Hall on Hundred Arts Peak.

As a Quasi-second-rank Alchemist and, more importantly, a Sequence Elder of Langlang Mountain, the Alchemy Hall naturally fell under his purview.

However, he was stationed year-round at the Elixir Workshop in the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.

Specific affairs were handled by the other Sequence Elders in his stead, while the finer details of Alchemy were the Mountain Goat Spirit’s responsibility.

With Xu Chang’an’s promotion to Quasi-second-rank Alchemist and his appointment as a Sequence Elder, the Mountain Goat Spirit’s own status had risen accordingly.

Upon returning to the Alchemy Hall, Xu Chang’an made a point of seeking out the Mountain Goat Spirit.

He told him he was preparing to leave Langlang Mountain to seek the opportunity to become a Tier Two Alchemist.

Although the Mountain Goat Spirit was extremely reluctant to see him go, he ultimately respected Xu Chang’an’s decision.

Xu Chang’an left a book for the Mountain Goat Spirit.

It recorded his insights from his time as a Tier One Alchemist, along with the refining techniques for several elixirs.

This included the refining technique for the Tier One Lifespan Extension Pill.

The Mountain Goat Spirit had dedicated his life to studying the Alchemy Dao. He was sure to treasure such a parting gift.

By specifically leaving behind the refining technique for the Tier One Lifespan Extension Pill, he had also fulfilled his promise, keeping his word to Jin Yuanba.

After returning to his cave dwelling, Xu Chang’an wrote several letters in succession.

The first letter was for Jin Ling’Er, who was managing his shop in the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.

In the letter, he explained that he was leaving Langlang Mountain.

By the time she read this letter, he would have already left Langlang Mountain. He explained that he hadn’t said goodbye in person to avoid any needless heartache and that he was deeply grateful for all the care Langlang Mountain had shown him over the years.

He promised to write to Jin Ling’Er once he was settled so they could stay in touch.

At the end of the letter, Xu Chang’an stated plainly that his ambition lay with the Alchemy Dao and that he currently had no intention of seeking a Dao Companion. There could be no future between them.

He urged Jin Ling’Er not to wait for him and to marry a suitable Demon if she found one.

He ended by wishing her a smooth journey on her Demon Path and success in attaining Longevity.

That was the gist of it.

The second letter was for Cheng Mengying of Lion’s Mane Cave.

In it, he explained that his communications with Langlang Mountain had gone smoothly and he’d encountered no obstacles. He expressed his immense gratitude for her help, assuring her that he would always remember her kindness.

He concluded by wishing her a smooth and open road on her Demon Path.

Asking the little lioness from Lion’s Mane Cave to intervene on his behalf had used up the favor he was owed, but it was still important to express his gratitude.

Now that he was leaving Langlang Mountain to make his own way in the world, his need for reliable information and intelligence would be greater than ever.

The overall situation in the Red Cloud Mountain Range was currently stable.

But the affairs of the cultivation world were as fickle and unpredictable as the weather.

One moment it could be a bright, sunny day, and the next a raging tempest. It was impossible to predict.

He needed to establish multiple channels and relationships to stay updated on the latest developments in the Red Cloud Mountain Range.

He didn’t need minute details, just a general sense of the major trends and shifts.

When it came to establishing such channels, the little lioness from Lion’s Mane Cave was an excellent contact to cultivate.

Although having her mediate on his behalf had cost him a favor.

But the underlying connection remained. Staying in touch could prove beneficial in the future.

Of course, if Xu Chang’an faded into obscurity among the countless other Demons, this connection would likely weaken over time.

If, however, he successfully advanced to become a Tier Two Alchemist, their relationship would naturally grow much stronger.

When it came to relationships between Demons, aside from those of direct Bloodline, only connections between equals, built on mutual benefit, could truly last.

Xu Chang’an’s third letter was for Yu Ruyan of Red Cloud Mountain.

He started by asking if the matter she had mentioned previously had been resolved, and then offered his help, asking if there was anything at all he could do for her.

According to their prior agreement, Yu Ruyan was supposed to meet with him once she broke through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, using the pretense of going out for practical experience.

However, she had later sent a letter saying that something had come up and she had to postpone their meeting.

By asking this, Xu Chang’an was naturally showing his concern for Yu Ruyan.

And by offering his help, he was making his stance and attitude clear.

Considering Xu Chang’an’s overt status and power, he likely couldn’t offer any real assistance with a problem that troubled even someone with Yu Ruyan’s standing at Red Cloud Mountain.

But whether he could actually help was beside the point. Between friends, making the offer and showing that support was what truly mattered.

After all his years of weathering life’s ups and downs, this was a principle Xu Chang’an understood perfectly.

As he wrote this, a scene that seemed to have been sealed deep within his memory surfaced in his mind.

"I know I was wrong, but I just wanted you to understand!"

A soft and delicate voice.

An exquisitely beautiful face.

A pair of fine, dangling silver earrings.

A pair of jade-like hands with slender fingers, tipped in crimson. So very beautiful, so lovely to look at.

Scene after scene from the past flooded his mind.

Xu Chang’an shook his head, forcibly suppressing the thoughts and continued writing.

He told Yu Ruyan that he was preparing to leave Langlang Mountain in search of an opportunity to become a Tier Two Alchemist and that he would write to her again once he was settled.

He told her to use his new address for future correspondence, as he likely wouldn’t be returning to Langlang Mountain.

He also expressed his hope that she would soon become a Foundation Establishment Great Demon, so he could ride her coattails.

He joked that if she truly became a Foundation Establishment Great Demon, he hoped she wouldn’t forget the friends she made back when she was still starting out.

With a Foundation Establishment Great Demon from Red Cloud Mountain as a friend, he, a lone Demon out in the world, wouldn’t have to fear being bullied.

At the end of the letter, Xu Chang’an made a rare, bold declaration.

He hoped that by the next time they met, he would be a true Tier Two Alchemist in his own right.

The fourth letter was to the Yellow Wasp Spirit of Yellow Wasp Mountain.

He opened by asking about the Yellow Wasp Spirit’s Cultivation progress, inquiring whether he had broken through his bottleneck to become an Old Demon of the Late-stage Qi Refining.

He then told him that he was leaving Langlang Mountain and would be in touch again once he was settled elsewhere.

In the letter, he also asked after the Yellow Wasp Spirit’s offspring—the little wasp with the Middle-grade Bloodline.

He ended with well wishes for Yellow Wasp Mountain, hoping it would prosper and come to dominate the surrounding area. He also wished the Yellow Wasp Spirit a smooth journey on his Demon Path and hope for attaining Longevity.

After finishing all four letters, Xu Chang’an dispatched a Little Demon to have them sent out.

The Demon Race had learned from the Human Race, and there were merchant guilds that specialized in the business of delivering mail.

The price to send a single letter might not seem high, but maintaining connections was a fundamental necessity for Demons.

The profits to be made in such a business were therefore substantial.

Lesser merchant guilds with shallower foundations couldn’t hope to get a foothold in this lucrative market.