Chapter 487 488: A Comfortable Year

Several days later, Chen Dong was settled in Ningxian City. Meng Yingluo had already been taken back by her senior sister. It was unclear if her master or fellow disciples knew about the two souls inhabiting her body, but since Zisang Jin hadn't said anything, Chen Dong couldn't be bothered to bring it up either.

Jiang Hongqin and her husband left soon after, rushing off to save her younger brother. Xu Fu went with them, and as he departed, his lingering, reluctant gaze on Murong Qing made Chen Dong want to gouge his eyes out.

Murong Qing snickered at Chen Dong's jealous expression and tried to placate him. "Back when we were with Sister Jiang's group, Senior Brother Xu Fu was quite good to me. You don't have to be so petty!"

Her words had the opposite effect. An incensed Chen Dong swept Murong Qing into his arms, carried her back to their rented manor, and immediately administered some "domestic discipline."

As for Zisang Jin, after repeatedly warning Chen Dong not to wander off, she returned to her sect. She had initially planned to take him with her, but with Tian Sisi and now Murong Qing in the picture, she decided it was best to keep them separated for a while.

Chen Dong and Murong Qing ended up living in Ningxian City for three months. If not for Zisang Jin's warning, he would have liked to return to Lexian City to check on Li Zhixuan. Fortunately, Li Zhixuan sent a flying sword message after hearing news about Chen Dong.

He had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul realm and was now preparing for the sect's Peak Master trials, constantly taking on missions to accumulate contribution points.

News of Li Zhixuan's breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm was a major event, surpassed only by the Demon Race army besieging the great Guardian Array and Tian Sisi slaying a Nascent Soul cultivator while only at the Golden Core realm. This put Chen Dong's mind at ease, allowing him to cultivate peacefully in Ningxian City with Murong Qing.

As for Murong Qing's light blue hair, Chen Dong had also learned the reason for it. When Murong Qing broke through to the Foundation Establishment realm, her bloodline had awakened again. Not only did her Water and Ice Dual Spirit Root reach the ultimate grade, but she also obtained the Desolate Wave Water Technique from her lineage.

Chen Dong couldn't find any information about Murong Qing's bloodline, neither in the teachings of the Cyan Sky Sect nor the Qixia Sect. For now, however, all the effects seemed to be positive.

The two spent a shameless three months together, then another three, and then another…

An entire year passed. It was the most comfortable time of Chen Dong's life. He stopped thinking about the Human Race and the Demon Race, and stopped worrying about the fate that lay beyond his control.

His own cultivation level also steadily advanced to the Fourth-Layer Golden Core.

His greatest achievement this year was advancing his understanding of Teleportation Arrays to a whole new level; he even managed to repair the cracked Teleportation Talisman. Though not as potent as it once was, it was still stronger than an ordinary Tier Four Teleportation Talisman.

However, the Floating Shadow Realm had also changed a great deal that year. More and more people from the modern world were entering, even in a border city like this one.

While out for a stroll, Chen Dong and Murong Qing saw a female Martial Artist from the modern world dressed in a short skirt, stockings, and high heels.

Suddenly, Chen Dong felt a sharp pain at his waist as Murong Qing pinched him hard.

A murderous glint appeared in Murong Qing's eyes. "Just where are you looking!"

Chen Dong hastily defended himself, "I just saw the modern clothes. It felt familiar, so I couldn't help but look twice."

"Hah! Are you trying to find me a few more sisters?"

"No, no! I was just admiring! Purely admiring!"

Chen Dong laughed and led Murong Qing into a tavern named Drunken Immortal Brew.

The Shopkeeper spotted Chen Dong and greeted him enthusiastically. "Martial Uncle Chen, you're here! Please, come inside! Martial Uncle Yu An is already waiting on the second floor!"

Chen Dong nodded and headed upstairs.

This tavern was a joint venture between Chen Dong and the Cyan Sky Sect. He had provided the recipe in exchange for a small stake. Chen Dong didn't mind the low percentage; with the Cyan Sky Sect opening branches in every major city, his share of the profits was still incredibly substantial.

The Demon Race's blockade had forced the Cyan Sky Sect to abandon its plans to seize new mining veins. However, the Human Race's demand for Spirit Stones was enormous, and the number of operational mines within the Guardian Array was limited. Chen Dong's Drunken Immortal Brew recipe provided some much-needed temporary relief.

While Drunken Immortal Brew couldn't replace Spirit Stones, it was far more effective for Cultivators between the Qi Cultivation and Golden Core realms. The Cyan Sky Sect sold it at a low price, making only a slim profit, but the sheer volume of sales was staggering. This temporarily eased the Cyan Sky Sect's Spirit Stone crisis and provided low-level Cultivators with a superior cultivation resource.

With the exception of the fifth-grade brew, which was difficult to mass-produce, the first through fourth grades were readily available. On top of that, Drunken Immortal Brew had the added effect of improving the quality of a future Golden Core, which made it take the entire Floating Shadow Realm by storm.

Chen Dong had only taken two steps up the stairs when he overheard some patrons talking. "Have you heard? An incredible new disciple has emerged from the Heart Slaying Hall. They say she wields a small red umbrella as a Magical Artifact and formed a First-grade Golden Core after only three years of cultivation. It's completely unheard of!"

"For real? Three years? Doesn't that mean her aptitude rivals the great masters of ancient times?"

"Of course it's true! The news has spread like wildfire. Countless Cultivators are trying to join the Heart Slaying Hall now. They all think its Cultivation Techniques are the best among the three major sects!"

Murong Qing heard this as well. She knew Li Huiran was in the Heart Slaying Hall and that one of her Magical Artifacts was a red umbrella. It was rare for anyone to use an umbrella as a Magical Artifact, let alone the detail about having cultivated for only three years.

"Chen Dong…"

Chen Dong smiled. "She's doing well for herself. Isn't that a good thing?"