Chapter 463 - 432: Mortal Dynasty

Chapter 463: Chapter 432: Mortal Dynasty

News of the battle at Faqian City spread like a hurricane.

In the past, while battles between Golden Core cultivators occurred from time to time, and there were always casualties, a chaotic melee involving over ten Golden Cores with an unknown number of deaths was a rare sight. Looking back over the past century, the only recent event that came close was the clash between the Star-Picking Sect and the Primordial Sect on the Black Tortoise Calm Sea.

But even then, only four or five Golden Core cultivators had died, making it nowhere near as brutal as today’s battle.

Searches of the scene confirmed the discovery of six bodies.

The remaining seven, including Chen Che and Xiao Chan, were all missing.

For a time, the Primordial Sect and Jinyun Valley were in an uproar.

The Primordial Sect’s Interim Sect Leader, True Master Duobao, immediately issued a grand decree, ordering a search for Valley Master Chen at all costs—he was to be found, dead or alive. Nearly seventy percent of Jinyun Valley’s upper echelon was mobilized. Even Li Changqing, who had never once set foot outside Jinyun Valley, made his way to the Faqian City region.

Not to mention the various subordinate families under Jinyun Valley’s jurisdiction.

In addition, the Meng Family, the Lu Clan, and the Chen Clan also joined the search.

Including the cultivators of Faqian City, the number of Foundation Establishment Cultivators alone exceeded three thousand.

...

But what none of these cultivators could have possibly imagined, even if they racked their brains, was that the target of their exhaustive search was not hiding and healing in some desolate wasteland. Instead, he had openly entered a mortal dynasty.

He had even strolled right into a manor shrouded in mist.

"What is this place?"

Chen Che asked, curiously looking around.

The manor wasn’t large, covering only about a hundred acres, but it was elegantly appointed with rock gardens, courtyards, and flowing streams. What surprised Chen Che was that the Spiritual Qi here was quite abundant. Though it couldn’t compare to Jinyun Valley, it was still a rare spiritual land.

"The White Lion Dynasty, a Mortal Dynasty."

Xiao Chan walked forward, the mist parting before him. "Most of the time, I rest here. You could call it one of my Cave Mansions."

From Xiao Chan’s explanation, Chen Che began to understand.

Years ago, after killing Ye Jingzhou and bidding Chen Che farewell, he had left Jinyun Valley. He noticed that the Spiritual Qi in this mortal region wasn’t weak, so he decided to settle down. He then unexpectedly discovered that a group of Loose Cultivators had entrenched themselves here.

They controlled the imperial court, acted high and mighty, and enjoyed the offerings of the entire dynasty.

"These Loose Cultivators were mostly of mortal origin. They practiced fragmented and disorganized Cultivation Techniques, and the one with the highest Cultivation was only at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. For them, reaching Foundation Establishment was the greatest trial of their lives."

"Later, they found out I was here and treated me as an honored guest, asking me about the method for advancement."

Xiao Chan led them to a tree and invited Chen Che to sit. With a casual wave of his hand, a few luminous cups made of glazed glass and a teapot appeared on the exquisitely carved stone table. He then took out some tea leaves, placed them in the pot, and poured in some Spirit Liquid.

He heated it with True Fire, and a refreshing fragrance began to drift out.

"I told them that taking a Foundation Establishment Pill could increase their chances of advancing. Who would have thought that after hearing this, those Loose Cultivators would turn around and try to ambush and kill me, wanting to get a Foundation Establishment Pill from me."

Chen Che accepted the Spirit Tea. Hearing this, he couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow. "Something like that happened? Did they not believe you?"

"To them, a cultivator who had just reached Foundation Establishment was naturally far less dangerous than the entire Cultivator World."

Xiao Chan took a light sip of the Spirit Tea and said with a smile:

"Their Cultivation wasn’t high, but they had been entrenched here for four or five hundred years. Relying on this Mortal Dynasty, they had collected quite a few strange and bizarre things—they had even more Magical Artifacts than I did. First, they tried to poison me, then they ganged up on me. They treated me like a dog, hunting me for a full three months."

"After that, I used my Soul-Calling Banner to kill them all in return. Then I took over this place and made it my Cave Mansion. It’s not as luxurious as Jinyun Valley, so I hope you don’t find it too shabby, Brother Chen."

Although Xiao Chan spoke of it lightly, and even seemed to be reminiscing with a hint of bittersweet nostalgia, Chen Che knew that the danger he had faced back then was no less than what they had just endured.

This manor might not be as opulent as Jinyun Valley, but its strength lay in being hidden within the mortal world.

Without a thorough search, it would be truly difficult to find.

"Right, should we send a message back to Jinyun Valley? With both of us missing, things outside must be in chaos."

Xiao Chan asked after another light sip of Spirit Tea.

"We can’t. Jinyun Valley is definitely being watched by people sent by Duobao right now. If word of our location gets out, it might not be friends who come for us. It could be the Primordial Sect, or it could be cultivators from Faqian City."

Chen Che shook his head and gave a sarcastic smile. "Back then, a group of Qi Refining Ninth Level Cultivators dared to surround and attack you. In our current state, who knows, we might end up facing hundreds or even thousands of Foundation Establishment Cultivators."

Just as Xiao Chan was about to speak, he suddenly saw Chen Che’s eyebrows shoot up as he looked outside the manor.

His own senses stirred, and the Array outside the manor opened on its own. Then, a man in an Emperor’s Robe and Crown appeared, prostrating himself a hundred zhang away and calling out:

"Paying respects to the two Immortal Elders!"

Chen Che glanced at the man.

Xiao Chan explained with a smile:

"He’s the Emperor of the White Lion Dynasty, Li Cang, a mortal. After I took care of that group of Loose Cultivators, he wanted to venerate me as an Immortal. I figured since I was resting here, I might as well have someone to run errands, so I taught him a few techniques for Health and Longevity."

Chen Che couldn’t help but chuckle. ’So this is what a Supreme Emperor is like.’

’However, at their current Realm, what difference was there between them and Immortals in the eyes of a mortal?’

"This place is a convergence point for Spiritual Qi. Does it have some kind of history?"

Chen Che asked curiously.

"Brother Chen is as sharp as ever. This place does indeed have a history. It was once the sect grounds of a Nascent Soul Major Sect, one with an even greater background than the Star-Picking Sect. Later, the sect’s Nascent Soul True Monarch fell. The factions fought endlessly for power and profit, and then they were beset by external enemies, so the sect ceased to exist."

"But its foundations remain. There are still quite a few scattered cultivators in the mortal world here, but they just call themselves Grandmasters."

The two chatted casually as if no one else was there, completely ignoring the fact that Li Cang, the Emperor of a nation, was still kneeling not far away.

Only after they had finished a cup of tea did Xiao Chan finally look at Li Cang and ask casually:

"Why are you here?"

"Reporting to the Upper Immortal."

Li Cang’s forehead remained pressed to the ground as he spoke with the utmost reverence. "I observed auspicious purple qi arriving from the east and fortunate clouds descending upon the world, and so I deduced the Upper Immortal’s return. I rushed here at the first opportunity to have an audience."

Chen Che almost burst out laughing when he heard that.

’This is beyond flattery. The two of them were heavily injured Golden Cores who had suppressed their auras the entire way here. Where would any auspicious purple qi or fortunate clouds come from? It was obvious the man had people watching the manor, and they rushed over the moment they saw the mist disperse.’

"Rise."

Xiao Chan didn’t bother arguing the point. Instead, he said slowly:

"You’ve come at a good time. This fellow Daoist and I will be staying here for a while. This region might become a little unstable in the coming days. Keep an eye on things for us. Report any unusual movements."

"Yes... Upper Immortal."

Li Cang rose to his feet but kept his hands hanging at his sides in a posture of perfect obedience, not forgetting to sneak a glance at Chen Che.

The White Lion Dynasty had long been controlled by the ’Immortals,’ and was later saved by Immortal Xiao. Although Li Cang didn’t understand the differences in strength between Immortals, he knew that Immortal Xiao’s Dao Practice was profound, for he had single-handedly annihilated the other Immortals.

And this young man was sitting with him as an equal, so he must be an existence of the same caliber.

The only odd thing was the small, molting bird on the other man’s shoulder.

"I bestow this bowl of tea upon you."

Xiao Chan pushed the leftover Spirit Tea in front of him.

Even though it was just the dregs, the man was overjoyed.

After performing three bows and nine kowtows, Li Cang excitedly picked up the bowl and drained it in one gulp, even chewing and swallowing the tea leaves. He immediately felt a warm current flow down his throat and instantly fill his entire body.

"CRACKLE! POP!"

A series of cracking sounds, like popping beans, erupted from his entire body, and black grime began to seep from his skin. He felt as if a heavy burden had been lifted, as if he had become ten years younger, with boundless energy coursing through him.

Then, he couldn’t help but glance at the half-empty cup in front of Chen Che.

"We can drink this Spirit Tea without issue, but for a mortal like you, another cup would cause the Spiritual Qi within to make you explode."

Chen Che naturally saw what the man was thinking. He took out a bottle of Tier Two Elixirs and pushed it in front of him:

"I have a leftover bottle of elixirs here. Soak one pill in a vat of water, and you can drink one bowl of it a day. I guarantee you’ll be free from illness and disaster, strong and healthy, and you’ll easily live to be one hundred and fifty."

"Many thanks, Upper Immortal!"

Hearing this, Li Cang was so moved he bowed again in gratitude.

...