You can never be too cautious when dealing with Demonic Cultivators, especially those who practice the Demon Planting Technique.

Li Chang’an had no intention of suffering an unexpected defeat.

He asked detailed questions, learning many of Murong Kang’s traits and habits.

’Demonic Cultivation Techniques are all incredibly strange. Before I make a move against Murong Kang, I’ll have to ask Qiuyan about them.’

Li Chang’an mused.

Mu Qiuyan had also advanced to Foundation Establishment and was quite famous among the Foundation Establishment Tribulation Cultivators in the area.

This was because she had recently killed a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from the Cyan Cloud Sect and successfully escaped the ensuing pursuit by several other Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the sect.

"By the way, Daoist Sima, I heard that Huang He Master has a fourteenth disciple?"

"That’s true, but he has been missing for many years."

Sima Rui explained briefly.

Since that junior martial brother had disappeared long ago, he didn’t have a strong impression of him.

"Daoist Li, if you want to know about him, you can go find his partner. His partner has been searching for him all these years."

"Alright, I understand."

Li Chang’an had only asked casually and didn’t take the matter to heart.

Next, he asked about more details concerning the Yellow Crane Mountain Lineage, such as the treasures inside its Treasure Vault.

Sima Rui answered truthfully, revealing that the Treasure Vault of Yellow Crane Immortal City contained Core Formation Spiritual Objects. It even held a normal-quality Five Elements Golden Condensation Pill, but that pill was being prepared for Pei Yingyao.

The Treasure Vault was protected by multiple Tier Three Arrays.

With Li Chang’an’s current abilities, it would be impossible to steal the pill.

Finally, Li Chang’an deployed his Sword Array again.

Rumor had it that Nie Wushuang could wield eighteen Treasure Swords at once.

Therefore, Li Chang’an also took eighteen Wood Element Treasure Swords from his Storage Pouch. Nine of them were from the set he had previously used for his Sword Array, while the other nine were spoils from his recent trip to the Black Dragon Mountain Range.

The eighteen Treasure Swords formed a Yi Wood Sword Array, pulsing with Sword Qi, and slowly levitated before Sima Rui.

"Daoist Sima, what do you think of my Sword Array? Does it bear any resemblance to Nie Wushuang’s?"

"It’s very similar..."

Sima Rui gazed at it for a moment before voicing his thoughts.

The way the swords combined in this array was almost identical to Nie Wushuang’s.

The only difference was that this Sword Array was Yi Wood Attribute, whereas Nie Wushuang’s was Geng Metal Attribute.

Sima Rui murmured in disbelief, ’Yi Wood, Geng Metal... Don’t tell me there are ten sets of such a powerful Sword Array in total?’

Just one set of the Sword Array gave Li Chang’an and Nie Wushuang such astonishing power.

If all ten sets were gathered, how terrifying would the combined power be?

After hearing this, Li Chang’an grew pensive.

’It seems Nie Wushuang’s Sword Array is indeed the Da Geng Golden Sword Formation. However, his mastery over it is still inferior to my own; he can only wield eighteen swords and has yet to reach the Minor Success Realm.’

After all, this Sword Array was the Ancient Yin Yang Sect’s Foundation Technique and was exceedingly difficult to master.

The reason Li Chang’an learned so quickly was due to his high aptitude; he was a fast learner when it came to any kind of Magic.

Even so, he could currently only master twenty-seven swords, a far cry from the eighty-one required for the Great Success stage.

Next, he asked for a few more details and learned that Nie Wushuang had a grandfather in the Golden Core Stage.

Nie Wushuang’s arrogance stemmed not only from his own considerable strength but also from his formidable background.

’Obtaining the Geng Metal Sword Array will not be so easy.’

Li Chang’an pondered for a long time.

...

「In the days that followed.」

While cultivating, Li Chang’an also kept an eye on the situation deep within the Black Dragon Mountain Range.

As it turned out, his earlier decision to leave had been extremely wise.

Not long after his departure, massive brawls erupted within the ruins.

In the short span of three months, more than ten Golden Core Seeds were killed, and the casualties among the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were countless.

The entire Southern Domain Cultivation Realm suffered heavy losses!

Almost no one who returned from those ruins could manage a smile.

「A few days later.」

A piece of news spread that shocked countless people.

A True Pill expert from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect had perished, while the Cyan Cloud Sect and Red Flame Sect had each lost a Fake Pill expert.

The successive deaths of three Golden Core Cultivators plunged the Three Great Sects into extreme grief and fury.

’Perhaps an even greater chaos is about to erupt.’

Li Chang’an frowned as he looked at the message in his hand.

In the days that followed, the enmity between the Three Great Sects spilled out from the Black Dragon Mountain Range, spreading across the entire Southern Domain Cultivation Immortality Realm.

News of disciples from the Three Great Sects slaughtering each other could be heard almost daily.

The Seven Great Noble Families were also drawn into the conflict.

’The Puppetry Mo Family and the Beast Taming Zhou Family have both allied with the Cyan Cloud Sect.’

Li Chang’an wasn’t surprised to see this news.

The Mo and Zhou Families had always been on good terms with the Cyan Cloud Sect. Many disciples from the two families had even become dao companions with disciples from the sect.

Soon, news about the other great families arrived.

’The three great noble families—the Mu, Jin, and Xiao Families—have chosen to remain neutral.’

The Mu Family’s Golden Core Ancestor had fallen in the last Beast Tide, and several of their Golden Core Seeds had also died in the ruins. Now, only a heavily injured Fake Pill Ancestor was left struggling to hold the family together.

That Fake Pill Ancestor had announced they were sealing off Red Leaf Valley, declaring that the Mu Family would not interfere in the affairs of the Three Great Sects.

The Jin Family was a Merchant Family with connections to all major powers, so they made a point of not offending anyone.

As for the Dan Valley Xiao Family, the chaos in the Cultivation Immortality Realm was good for their pill-selling business.

Therefore, the Xiao Family chose to watch the conflict from the sidelines, selling Elixir Pills to all of the Three Great Sects without showing favoritism.

’Although the Cultivation Immortality Realm is chaotic right now, it’s not yet enough to affect a family like the Xiao Family, which has several Golden Core Ancestors. If things get even more chaotic, I’m afraid even the Xiao Family won’t be able to remain on the sidelines.’

Li Chang’an analyzed the news in silence.