Chapter 264 - 230-231: Core Formation Circle, Cyan Yang Secret Realm

Chapter 264: Chapter 230-231: Core Formation Circle, Cyan Yang Secret Realm

After seeing Mo Li off, Xu Chang’an did not return to his cave residence. He remained seated in the pavilion outside.

The Cyan Yang Immortal Sect was powerful, and the Demon Race of the Netherworld Mountain Range was a disorganized mess, posing no threat whatsoever.

And yet, the Demon Hunting Festival was still held regularly, once every ten years.

The Demon Race was weak, lambs to the slaughter.

Whether something was a threat or not was simply a matter decided by the strong.

He downed a cup of Spirit Wine in one gulp.

"Master Xu."

Wan Qianqian walked to Xu Chang’an’s side and curtsied.

Her long red dress swayed, and something on her chest seemed to jiggle.

Xu Chang’an paid it no mind.

"Go and buy some more Spirit Flower Seeds for me. The Spirit Flowers in the lake need replacing."

"Yes."

Wan Qianqian replied in acknowledgment.

"Time for some Alchemy."

Xu Chang’an rose, and with a flick of his long sleeves, walked toward his cave residence.

Wan Qianqian watched the back of the youthful, childlike figure, admiring his simple elegance and contented air.

’Before I stepped onto the immortal path, I was filled with a deep yearning for cultivation.’

’I thought becoming a Cultivator meant achieving ultimate freedom.’

’But once I truly embarked upon this path, I found it fraught with treacherous schemes, cunning plots, and incessant infighting.’

’Even without all that, one has to rush about constantly for the sake of their own cultivation, never able to stop for a moment.’

’I had assumed all Cultivators were like that, but this Core Formation Zhenren, Master Xu, has shown me another way to live—a way that matches my childhood fantasies about what a Cultivator should be.’

’The Cultivation Realm is a tumultuous place, full of countless entanglements. It’s so incredibly difficult to live as Master Xu does.’

...

In cultivation, time seems to stand still; several months passed in the blink of an eye.

Due to the upcoming Demon Hunting Festival, the number of cultivators within Qingyang Immortal City had been steadily increasing over these past few months.

One day, Xu Chang’an, dressed in a large cyan robe, transformed into a streak of Escape Light and departed from Cyan Lotus Mountain.

「In a valley nearly a hundred miles outside Qingyang Immortal City.」

The valley was immense and showed clear signs of artificial modification.

A great number of Cultivators had gathered within the valley.

They were a motley crew from all different backgrounds: Loose Cultivators, cultivators from various families, and even members of the Direct Lineage from major Sects.

In mid-air, a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Qingyang Immortal City was explaining the rules of the Demon Hunting Festival to the assembled crowd.

In addition to being able to sell any resources they acquired, cultivators could also earn points from Qingyang Immortal City for every Demon they killed.

These points could then be used for a discount when purchasing resources within the Immortal City.

Qi Refining Little Demons, Qi Refining Old Demons, Foundation Establishment Great Demons, Veteran Great Demons, Top-tier Great Demons, and even Demon Kings—each Cultivation Level of Demon was worth a different number of points.

"Master Mo, there are certainly a lot of cultivators here!"

In a tall building overlooking the valley, Xu Chang’an leaned against a railing, observing the scene below.

The cultivators were packed as densely as a swarm of locusts.

"Haha, Master Xu, this is actually a small crowd. Most of the people gathered in the valley are first-timers at the Demon Hunting Festival. A large portion of the cultivators didn’t even come here; they’ve gone straight into the Netherworld Mountain Range to start hunting Demons!"

Mo Li explained with a smile, standing beside Xu Chang’an.

Xu Chang’an nodded.

Most of the cultivators in the valley were at the Qi Refining or Early-stage Foundation Establishment Realms. Even Mid to Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators were exceedingly rare.

Let alone Core Formation Zhenren.

"Master Xu, this is a rare opportunity. Are you sure you won’t join us for the festival?"

The speaker was a middle-aged cultivator in a red robe.

The building they were in was no ordinary structure; it was the red-robed cultivator’s Magical Treasure, transformed.

"Fellow Daoist Zhong, my cultivation is too shallow. I’m content to just soak in the atmosphere; I won’t be participating."

Xu Chang’an repeated the same words he had told Moli Zhenren earlier.

"What a pity."

The red-robed cultivator nodded.

Inside the pavilion, besides the red-robed cultivator and Mo Li, were seven or eight other Core Formation Zhenren, all at the Early-stage Core Formation Realm.

They were all part of Mo Li’s circle of friends.

Since Xu Chang’an was on good terms with Mo Li, Mo Li had naturally included him in his circle.

"Haha, with Master Xu’s profound Alchemy Skill, he naturally wouldn’t care for the meager rewards of demon hunting. It’s perfectly normal that he wouldn’t participate in the Demon Hunting Festival."

The speaker was a blue-robed cultivator with a Magic Sword at his hip, surnamed Lu. He had just broken through to the Mid-stage Core Formation Realm over a decade ago.

His status was among the highest of the Core Formation Zhenren present.

"Master Lu, you jest."

Xu Chang’an replied humbly.

Using the Demon Hunting Festival as a pretext, the various Core Formation Zhenren enjoyed a rare get-together, naturally chatting about current events and interesting tidbits from the world of cultivation.

For instance, how a Foundation Establishment Cultivator from such-and-such family had successfully condensed a True Core and become a Core Formation Zhenren.

Or how an ancient ruin in the form of a cave residence had seemingly appeared in some location, and the nearby Sects were organizing cultivators to explore it.

They talked of which areas were plagued by Tribulation Cultivators, and which merchant guilds had been robbed.

Xu Chang’an mostly listened, rarely speaking. Still, he managed to gather a great deal of information.

"Oh, right! By my calculations, the Cyan Yang Secret Realm is due to open in just over thirty years. I trust all you fellow Daoists will be going?"

"Of course! The Cyan Yang Secret Realm opens only once every four hundred and eighty years. Even for people like us, it may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"

"Haha, the last time the Cyan Yang Secret Realm opened, I was just a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. I was worried the risks were too great, so I didn’t go in. This time, I’m definitely going to explore it."

"Haha, in that case, may great fortune smile upon you, Fellow Daoist! I hope you find a great opportunity!"

"And to you as well, Fellow Daoist!"

"..."

’The Cyan Yang Secret Realm!?’

Xu Chang’an’s heart stirred.

The Cyan Yang Secret Realm was a unique pocket dimension. It was first discovered by the Qingyang Immortal City, hence its name.