Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 113 - 108: Master Zhang’s Departure

That afternoon.

The last wave of Cultivators, riding their Escape Light, left Mang Mountain Marketplace before the curfew.

Zhang Yao also rode his Flying Sword Escape Light, quietly mingling among the other cultivators, leaving the Array’s range.

"No one stopped me, it seems I’m safe now."

After successfully leaving the marketplace and flying hundreds of miles away, Zhang Yao finally let out a long breath.

The worst-case scenario would be if the Li Family dispatched cultivators to keep an eye on him, preventing his escape, which would be troublesome.

However, the probability of this was actually quite small, as he didn’t even fully understand the Array, so he posed no threat to the Li Family’s interests.

"Let’s go."

Zhang Yao determined the direction and immediately rode his Escape Light, heading north.

The journey north to Da Li was something he had been preparing for quite some time, and leaving a few months earlier wouldn’t make much difference.

On the other side.

Two Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Li Family were discussing together:

"This approach should be feasible, just extremely difficult."

"I don’t think it’s feasible; the Array at that cave abode is too powerful. We almost got hurt last time."

"That’s true, but we don’t have Spiritual Artifacts like an Array Breaking Disc or Forbidden Breaking Cone, so we’re forced to use this clumsy method..."

While discussing, they checked through three Jade Scrolls, deliberating feasible strategies.

Next to them, Li Yuanying stood respectfully with hands folded, but couldn’t help feeling turbulent inside:

"So it turns out the two uncles found Daoist Wanhe’s cave abode..."

Decades ago, when Daoist Wanhe passed away, the Wanhe Alliance disintegrated, and their territory was divided between the Li Family and the Tiandun Sect.

But Daoist Wanhe was a Loose Cultivator, with no descendants or Direct Disciples, and his legacy remained missing.

Tiandun Sect and the Mang Mountain Li Clan secretly searched for Daoist Wanhe’s legacy throughout the Li Kingdom until a few days ago when the Mang Mountain Li Clan finally made some headway.

Daoist Wanhe’s cave abode was hidden deep in the mountains, guarded by a powerful Array.

Two Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Li Family attempted to break through once, nearly getting injured by the Array, and retreated to devise strategies for breaking the formation.

"Yuanying."

After discussing for a while, Li Changlin glanced at Li Yuanying, handed him two Jade Scrolls, and indicated:

"These are the formation-breaking ideas from Daoist Zhuo and Master Zhang. Take a look."

"Alright."

Li Yuanying nodded, respectfully taking the two Jade Scrolls, channeling Magical Power to peruse them.

"This..."

After glancing through them briefly, he couldn’t help but change his expression slightly, muttering:

"Such methods exist, this Zhang truly lives up to his reputation!"

Zhang Yao’s accomplishments in Arrays had reached the second grade. Even if he concealed his true ability, he still surpassed both Li Yuanying and Daoist Zhuo.

Such a result made Li Yuanying’s emotions very complex.

"You’ve noticed too, haven’t you?"

Li Changlin sighed and said:

"Initially, we didn’t think much of this so-called Master Zhang; inviting him was just an afterthought."

"Our real purpose was to probe Daoist Zhuo’s level, but we never expected this Master Zhang to be so surprisingly talented."

"Despite your eighty years of dedicated Array practice and family support, you’re still slightly inferior to him."

"Uncle Nine is right."

Li Yuanying’s tone was a bit gloomy:

"Aside from the Guardian Elder of Tiandun Sect, Master Zhang’s achievements in Arrays might truly be the greatest in the Li Kingdom!"

"We need his assistance to break through Daoist Wanhe’s cave abode Array as well."

"That may not necessarily be the case."

Another Foundation Establishment Ancestor of the Li Clan waved his hand, saying:

"Back then, Daoist Wanhe was himself an Array Master."

"Daoist Zhuo served under him for many years, and perhaps gained some true teachings, hence we regard him highly."

"Moreover, he might be deliberately holding back... "

Upon hearing this, Li Yuanying suddenly understood.

The Guardian Elder of the Tiandun Sect, in cooperation with Foundation Establishment Cultivators, had the ability to arrange a Second Order Array. Despite lacking widespread fame, his achievements were indeed the highest in the Li Kingdom.

But unless absolutely necessary, the Mang Mountain Li Clan couldn’t possibly collaborate with the Tiandun Sect.

Therefore, they pinned their hopes on Daoist Zhuo. No matter how high Master Zhang’s level was, he ultimately wasn’t a Second Order Array Master and didn’t warrant their serious attention.

"Uncle Nine, Uncle Seven."

Li Yuanying hesitated for a moment, then asked:

"What should our next step be?"

Li Changlin pondered for a moment, then said:

"I and your Uncle Seven plan to make another secret trip to that deep mountain cave abode, attempting to use these ideas to probe for more variations in the Spirit Pattern Array Veins."

"The more complete the recorded Array Map, the higher the probability of breaking the formation. This is destined to be a long-term process, and we cannot rush."

Hearing this, Li Yuanying also nodded.

The power of the Second Order Array is too great. For Qi Refining Cultivators, attempting to break through is suicidal. Observing from outside the Array wouldn’t reveal the Spirit Pattern Array’s changes either.

Gradual probing by Foundation Establishment Cultivators, slowly deciphering it, appears to be the safest approach at present, and also eliminates the possibility of leaks.

...

The next day.

While the Li Clan continued their secret preparations for breaking the formation, they suddenly received some unexpected news.

"What?"

Li Changlin was stunned when he heard the report:

"Master Zhang has disappeared?"

"Yes."

The Red Robed Cultivator lowered his head and said:

"I did some inquiries and confirmed that after he returned to his cave abode yesterday, he soon left the marketplace."

"Initially, no one noticed until this morning when his shop didn’t open, and that’s when we realized something was amiss."

"We checked with the management and confirmed that no one had recently commissioned him for an Array setup. His sudden departure might mean he secretly ran away..."

Hearing this, Li Changlin was quite speechless.

"This person really is..."

He didn’t know what to say.

Asking him to break a formation, there was no need for such an extreme reaction, was there?

Although he had considered killing him to silence him after successfully breaking the formation, it wasn’t even close to being implemented yet, was it?

"Could he have guessed something?"

This thought crossed Li Changlin’s mind, and he had a moment of doubt.

After all, second-grade Arrays in the Li Kingdom were very few, and if he really deduced something from mere clues, it wasn’t impossible.

But it was too late to regret now; half a day had passed, it was too late to chase him.

"Forget it."

Li Changlin waved his hand and said:

"We focused on Daoist Zhuo and ended up overlooking him, letting this timid person slip away."

"But let him go; he wasn’t a Second Order Array Master. We don’t need him."

He said, signaling:

"You can go now."

"Understood."

The Red Robed Cultivator quietly released a breath, respectfully retreating.

In Mang Mountain Marketplace:

Zhang Yao’s sudden departure indeed caused a small ripple throughout the marketplace, and even in the Cultivation Realm of the Li Kingdom, but it soon settled.

As the years passed, not many people still talked about the once-esteemed Master Zhang.