Living steadily in the world of gods and mystery

After perfecting the Immortal Muscles Jade Bones Skill, Chen Li felt as if his luck had turned, with one happy event following another.

About ten days later, just as short hair began to grow on Chen Li’s head, news finally came about the Second Order fifth-level spell technique he had been longing for.

...

At an auction house.

"Second Order fifth-level attack spell technique: Sky-Shaking Skill, single target attack, can release a terrifying shock towards the target, the attack is comparable to a full-force hit from a Foundation Establishment sixth layer cultivator wielding a top-grade magic artifact; those struck often have their bones shattered and turned to mush.

One last point, although the spell technique is slow to activate and requires a longer preparation time, the attack power is great, very useful in ambushes and sneak attacks, or when coordinating with others in a group attack... The starting bid is five top-grade Spirit Stones, with each increase in bid being no less than one top-grade Spirit Stone."

Compared to the intense competition over the "Void Flight Escape Skill."

This time, the number of people calling out bids was sparse.

Eventually, Chen Li won it smoothly for the price of eight top-grade Spirit Stones.

He didn’t linger, completed the payment, swore an oath of secrecy not to divulge the information, and then quickly left the auction house.

Life in Red Pillar City was becoming ever more bustling, with a constant stream of people on the streets, bumping shoulders left and right; all kinds of cultivators speaking various dialects could be heard everywhere. At the same time, public security within the city started to deteriorate. During the day, it was still relatively peaceful, but at night, the sounds of combat often broke out.

However, Chen Li didn’t pay much attention to it.

In fact, as long as one did not venture out at night, Red Pillar City was still relatively safe.

Moreover, he had formations in his residence.

Outside, there was the second order mid-quality Green Yuan Avoiding Disaster Array, and inside was the third order mid-quality Wu Earth Bright Light Array from Huanzhen Sect Scripture Pavilion.

Not to mention Foundation Establishment.

Even if a Golden Core were to come.

Without care, they too would meet their demise.

As Chen Li was walking, suddenly, a piercing scream not far in front of him erupted.

He saw an old man rolling around on the ground, screaming miserably, as bystanders scattered in fright, quickly clearing out half the street.

From the spiritual power fluctuations emanating from his body, the old man was surprisingly a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

He was already of advanced age, with white hair, and at this moment, a layer of bright light stuck to him, seeming to be invading his body. Chen Li was shocked to discover that this bright light, surprisingly, came from the City Defense Array of Red Pillar City.

"There’s something wrong with this person, he might be corrupted by evil!" someone in the crowd shouted.

"So that’s how it is, the City Defense Array has the power to punish evil, no Evil Wraith can enter the city!"

"However, with the evil spirit entering the body, I’m afraid this senior won’t survive."

"Alas, never heard of such incidents before, lately it seems they’re happening more frequently. I heard that just a few days ago, an incident occurred in the eastern part of the city."

"It’s all those people from the borderlands bringing it here..."

"Quiet down, want to lose your life? Be careful lest disaster strike from your tongue!"

The crowd muttered and whispered amongst themselves.

Chen Li listened with a furrowed brow.

Evil spirits,

Since moving here, he hadn’t really heard much about them.

Clearly, the more desolate and wild the area, the higher the presence of evil spirits, with fewer appearing the deeper one went into human territories.

However, weren’t the borderlands plagued by Demon Beasts?

How could there be such things! 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

Lost in thought, the old cultivator’s screams grew more and more ominous. Under the pressure of the City Defense Array’s bright light, his body seemed to be hastened in its mutation, his aged physique becoming increasingly hunched and emaciated, his eyes beginning to redden.

At the same time, streaks of evil aura began to emerge from his body, attempting to resist the invasion of the bright light.

But to no avail.

After ten more seconds.

With a strange howl,

The bewitched old cultivator finally stopped struggling, his body curling into a ball, silent and still.

Perhaps the possession hadn’t taken root too deeply, for after his death his body didn’t turn to ash as Bai Jinwang’s had, but left behind a strange corpse. It wasn’t long before an enforcement team from the Huoyun Sect arrived and removed the body.

...

On the way back, Chen Li’s heart was somewhat heavy.

"The frontier..."

He silently recited in his mind.

First, there were demon beasts, and now evil wraiths.

Something big must have happened in the depths of the forest!

Chen Li walked at an unhurried pace until he was almost home.

He found a young, beautiful woman lingering at the doorstep.

When Chen Li took a closer look, he immediately felt a headache, as if a strong gust of wind had hit him.

If not the remnant of the Tianxing Sect he had let go before, then who?

At first, since she seemed ignorant and he was soft-hearted, not willing to ruthlessly destroy such a ’flower’, he had been fooled into leaving Red Pillar City. He had thought out of sight, out of mind, as if he had never encountered her, but now she was back...

When Feng Min saw Chen, her pretty face showed a hint of joy, and she approached and bowed gently, "Fellow Daoist Chen, I greet you."

Compared to two years ago, she looked much thinner, her slender waist making her appear especially delicate and tranquil.

"You are... Feng Min, Fellow Daoist Feng." Chen Li pretended to identify her carefully, then as if having a sudden realization said, "What brings you here?"

"I didn’t expect Fellow Daoist Chen to remember me. I came to ask if you have seen Lin Qing, Fellow Daoist Lin, return! It’s quite fortuitous that I was about to pay you a visit when I saw you arrive."

"Alas, I have never seen Fellow Daoist Lin since that day. Ever since then, the Lin residence has been left deserted!" Chen Li pretended to sigh, then curiously asked, "Didn’t I advise you to leave before? Why have you returned?"

"The spiritual lands outside are of low grade and really not conducive for cultivation. Moreover, it’s not very peaceful out there these days. I thought that since so much time has passed, it should be safe, so I decided to come back and have a look, and then make further plans," Feng Min said softly.

"That makes sense!" seeing her say this, Chen Li couldn’t persuade her to leave anymore. Instead, he analyzed for her,

"However, for safety reasons, it’s best not to return to your original mansion. It’s better to switch to another house directly. Since Red Pillar City is so large, even if you have enemies, it will be very difficult for them to find you."

"Thank you for the advice, Fellow Daoist. I really have troubled you today. I will come to visit another day," Feng Min thanked him again a elegant bow.

Chen Li returned the courtesy.

Watching her figure gradually disappear into the depths of the alley, he finally withdrew his gaze, ready to open the Formation and return to his estate.

At that moment, his expression suddenly changed.

The Green Yuan Avoiding Disaster Array around his mansion had come from his good neighbor, Lin Qing.

He then remembered that Feng Min had been wandering in front of the door before he arrived...

He had been too careless.

In order to save Spirit Stones, he hadn’t thought to replace the Array. Seeing that it was good, he had used it without a second thought.

Perhaps deep down, he had never taken this potential risk seriously.

With that in mind, Chen Li quickly followed the direction in which Feng Min had disappeared, searching briskly for a while, but alas, the alley had too many exits, and by this time, there was no trace of her to be found.

There was no choice but to give up.

"So be it, just an ordinary Foundation Establishment practitioner. If the army comes, block them; if the water comes, cover it; but if it comes to that, don’t blame me for being ruthless," Chen Li made up his mind:

"I hope I am overthinking this, after all, few cultivators have the ability to discern Formations!"

He then turned and opened the Formation.

Return to the estate!

...

Just as Chen Li’s murderous intent was surging beneath the surface.

Three days later, Feng Min came to his door herself.

ps: Wishing everyone a happy Children’s Day, and also, I’m in need of some monthly tickets, aaaah!