NOVEL NEXT Chapter 95: One More Look
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In the night, Lan Chang'an did not fly in the air. Using the Evergreen Technique to conceal his aura, he moved through the mountains and forests.
By relying on his fleshly body's speed, devoid of any spiritual energy fluctuations, cultivators under the level of an immortal would find it difficult to detect him.
Looking back at Feiyue Lake dozens of miles away, the Mu Family had erected a protective barrier around their territory.
Lan Chang'an climbed to a mountain's peak, where he sat down cross-legged, merging with the scenery, becoming a mere log, fading into obscurity.
"Wait."
Next, Lan Chang'an only needed to wait for an opportunity.
This opportunity might not come. But he didn't care, he had the rest of eternity to spare.
Breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage is a process that takes time, varying from person to person.
This process gathers the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, it was unavoidable that some disturbance would be caused, especially near the final moment.
This commotion is small in scope, not as terrific as the Core Formation Realm.
Nevertheless, Lan Chang'an was certain the Maple Leaf Huang Family would notice.
Firstly, the two families were in a standoff, and the Huang Family's scouts were monitoring every move of Feiyue Lake.
Secondly, it was hard to guarantee that there were no traitors within the Mu Family, as it was not uncommon for a large family to have one or two defectors.
...
Two days later.
Two days later, sharp sky-splitting sounds emerged from the southern end of Feiyue Lake, accompanied by three powerful auras of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Lan Chang'an sensed them from afar.
One in the mid Foundation Establishment stage and two in the early Foundation Establishment stage. However, without being on the scene, he was unable to ascertain their identities.
Squeak!
At Lan Chang'an's command, the Earth Burrowing Rat emerged from the pet pouch and scurried away underground.
...
Above the skies of Feiyue Lake, three figures hovered in midair, gazing down at Moonheart Island that was shielded by the clan-protecting formation. Their expressions were grave.
The middle-aged man in plain clothes, with a weathered aura and mid Foundation Establishment cultivation, was Huang Tankong, the number one cultivator of the Huang Family.
The plump beauty in a lotus skirt on his right was named Huang Yingchun, the only female Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Maple Leaf Huang Family.
The elegant young man in a purple jade robe on the left was Huang Yu, whom Lan Chang'an had seen a few days ago, the young master of the Huang Family from years past.
"Uncle Tan, according to our intelligence, the Mu Family cultivator currently undergoing the Foundation Establishment process is most likely the family head, Mu Chengji."
The beauty in the lotus skirt said coldly as she looked down.
"The Mu Family currently has no cultivators with high-grade spiritual roots. Without a Foundation Establishment Pill, Mu Chengji wouldn't have dared to attempt the breakthrough easily." Huang Yu pondered.
He then asked in confusion, "The key figures of the Mu Family haven't had the chance to acquire a Foundation Establishment Pill in recent years. Where did they get one? Could it be Lan Chang'an..."
"That's possible," Huang Tankong mused.
"Ordinarily, it would be difficult for a loose cultivator like Lan Chang'an to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. However, this person has excellent connections and might have helped the Mu Family in this regard."
"Yingchun, is Lan Chang'an currently in the Mu Family?" Huang Tankong looked at the woman in the lotus skirt.
"Yes! He has recently been in contact with Mu Xiuyun's disciple, Mu Bingyun." Huang Yingchun responded without much thought.
"Tsk, tsk, Lan Chang'an had a questionable relationship with the Mu Family's young lady for a long time and now he's targeting the young and beautiful maiden? Is he trying to get a taste of tender grass?" Huang Yu sneered, his tone full of mockery. He had heard that Mu Bingyun was the most beautiful young woman among the new generation of the Mu Family.
"Don't laugh at others when you're just as bad!" Huang Tankong shot him a cold glance, looking displeased.
Huang Yu felt embarrassed. He had indeed played around with many young ladies outside, so he had no right to criticize Lan Chang'an.
"Whether or not Lan Chang'an brought the Foundation Establishment Pill is no longer important. Firstly, there's no evidence. Secondly, as long as he doesn't directly participate in the fight, we have no reason to blame him."
"Uncle Tan, the Mu Family was prepared, and their protection formation is fully activated, making their defenses tight. The three of us alone can't do much." Huang Yingchun said worriedly.
The Mu Family secretly obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill and suddenly began the breakthrough process.
Upon receiving the news, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators came immediately. The main force of the Maple Leaf Huang Family was still some distance from Feiyue Lake and couldn't arrive quickly.
"No worries, during the critical moment of Foundation Establishment, the Mu Family won't dare to come out and fight. We can just harass them from above Moonheart Island and send people to attack the Mu Family's surrounding industries." Huang Tankong had a plan and remained composed.
"Excellent idea."
Huang Yu and Huang Yingchun exchanged smiles, understanding Huang Tankong's intentions.
When attempting to reach Foundation Establishment, one's state of mind was paramount. Even if they couldn't break into Moonheart Island, they would disrupt the process as much as possible to distract the one attempting the breakthrough.
In the following half day, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Huang Family unleashed powerful spells upon Moonheart Island's protective barrier.
Whoosh! Boom!
Firestorms, thunderballs, and earth-shaking spells were unleashed in waves, targeting the area of the Foundation Establishment breakthrough.
The Mu Family had two Foundation Establishment cultivators and many Qi-Refining stage cultivators. With the help of the second-rank clan-protecting formation, they naturally weren't afraid of the three Foundation Establishment attackers.
The Huang Family's offensive didn't cause substantial damage, but Mu Chengji, who was attempting the Foundation Establishment, surely felt the pressure.
"Chengji! Maintain your composure. They are just bluffing." Mu Renlong transmitted his voice.
At this critical juncture, the Mu Family didn't dare to rush out. Regardless of the number of cultivators, no one in the Mu Family could beat the mid Foundation Establishment cultivator Huang Tankong.
As long as the Foundation Establishment was successful, the Mu Family would win this round.
...
On the distant mountain peak.
Squeak!
The Earth Burrowing Rat emerged from the ground and nodded at Lan Chang'an.
"Huang Yu, as expected, came!" Lan Chang'an smiled, unsurprised.
When he saw Huang Yu a few days ago, Lan Chang'an had the Earth Burrowing Rat memorize his scent. The rat had just gone underground and detected Huang Yu's scent within a certain range.
Now, Lan Chang'an waited patiently for his prey to give him an opportunity.
Three days later.
Above Moonheart Island, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth rapidly gathered, forming a vortex.
The breakthrough process reached its most critical point.
The three Huang Family Foundation Establishment cultivators intensified their assault.
At this time, more than twenty late-stage Qi-Refining cultivators from the Huang Family arrived and formed a formation to launch a fierce attack on Moonheart Island.
The continuous bursts of spell attacks caused the surrounding spiritual energy to become chaotic.
"The instability of the spiritual environment is bound to have some effect on the Foundation Establishment process." Lan Chang'an murmured to himself.
Even such a trifling influence was worth pursuing to the Huang Family.
"It's crucial to maintain one's composure when attempting to breakthrough to Foundation Establishment." Lan Chang'an observed silently.
"Huh! A Foundation Establishment cultivator is moving alone."
Suddenly, Lan Chang'an's heart stirred, and he looked towards a direction near Feiyue Lake.
...
"Yu'er, take some people to destroy the Mu Family's herb gardens and mines." Huang Tankong shouted loudly, deliberately making his voice heard throughout the Mu Family territory.
"Yes, Uncle Tan."
Huang Yu's face lit up with joy as he led four late-stage Qi-Refining cultivators away. Such tasks usually come with some benefits.
Near the Mu Family Residence, there were herb gardens, mines, spiritual fields, and other industries. These were not under the protection of the clan-protecting formation. At most, they might have a separate spell formation guarding them.
Huang Yu first attacked a herb garden, finding that the cultivators had evacuated in advance, leaving only common and inexpensive spirit plants behind.
After rampaging through the garden, his gains remained meager.
"To the mines." Huang Yu led his men to fly to a mine one hundred li away.
This was the nearest spiritual mine of the Mu Family. It's relatively small in scale and only produces a small amount of cold iron ore per day. There was also a workshop at the side for the rough processing of the ore.
"Ah! Ah!"
Inside the mine, the elderly cultivator and a dozen mortal miners that were stationed there meet their end at the hands of Huang Yu and his entourage.
At this moment.
Whoosh!
Suddenly, a tremor ran through the vortex of spiritual energy gathered over Feiyue Lake, and like a flood bursting through a dam, collapsing in an instant.
"Hahaha... their Foundation Establishment failed!" Huang Yu's lips curled up as he laughed heartily.
"You guys continue the destruction!"
Huang Yu left a few cultivators from his family behind and flew towards Feiyue Lake.
He wanted to see the faces of those Mu Family cultivators, reveling in their despair and mocking them mercilessly, striking at both their morale and their psyche.
Just after flying several li, a man dressed in black robes with long hair emerged from the forest before him.
"Who?"
Huang Yu looked wary, examining the man in black. He had a straight nose and thin lips, but there was an eerie smile on his face.
A chill ran down Huang Yu's spine, as the image of a terrifying person surfaced in his mind, and cold sweat started oozing from his forehead.
"Brat! What are you looking at?" The long-haired man stood with his hands behind his back, his expression unfriendly, a surge of black demonic aura emanating from his body.
A wave of later Foundation Establishment spiritual sense hit Huang Yu, bearing down upon him with oppressive force.
"Liang Shaotian?!" Huang Yu paled in shock, he hastily activated his protective shield around him and unleashed several defensive magical weapons.
Boom!
A sharp pain pierced his mind and body as if he had been cut through by a blunt knife. Dazed, he gasped for breath.
"spiritual sense attack... Not good!" Huang Yu's consciousness struggled free just in time to register a powerful assault bearing down on him.
Crack!
A slender, pale hand closed around his neck, gently twisting.
A head, unwilling to leave the mortal plane, tumbled to the ground.
"Fourth Elder!"
Several li away at the mine, a few cultivators of the Huang Family who witnessed this scene cried out in terror.
"It's Liang Shaotian!"
A middle-aged man, a cultivator of the eighth layer of Qi-Refining, fled into the mine, terrified.
Word had it that Liang Shaotian disdained chasing down the weak.
"Liang Shaotian, why... why would you attack the Huang Family?" An old Huang Family late Qi-Refining cultivator murmured incomprehensibly, his body trembling.
"Looking for death! Do you dare look upon this venerable one more time?" The long-haired man in black robes sneered arrogantly.
"Liang Shaotian" reached out and snatched Huang Yu's storage pouch, his long hair whipping about wildly as a demonic aura roiled above his head. With a late Foundation Establishment-level spiritual pressure, he flew into the northern mountains and forest.
In a dozen breaths of time, he disappeared without a trace.
...
(End of chapter)